FirstBank restates commitment to building sustainable communities

First Bank Nigeria Limited said it is committed to building sustainable communities as it recognizes that its ability to operate successfully in a multi-cultural society is hinged on building mutually beneficial relationships with its stakeholders and strengthening the communities where it operates.
The group head, marketing and corporate communications, Folake Ani-Mumuney, said the bank would continue to invest its time and resources to enrich the communities in which it operates.
In a statement, the bank said its quest to enhance the economic development of its communities had seen it structure its corporate responsibility and sustainability efforts to deliver long lasting impact along the strategic areas of education, health, economic empowerment and environment.
“Included in these initiatives are the FutureFirst programme, educational endowment scheme, youth leadership programme, infrastructure development programme, Hope Rising initiative and employee giving and volunteering scheme to mention a few.
In education, the bank said it had endowed 16 federal universities located in the different geopolitical zones of the country through its endowment programme. Some of these endowments, the bank said “have been converted to infrastructural projects including the University of Abuja Entrepreneurial Centre, ICT Park at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Lecture Theatre at the Federal University of Technology, Minna amongst others.” Currently, the bank’s total endowment portfolio is in the region of N500 million.
Aside education, the bank said it also reaches out to people living with disabilities with the Hope Rising Initiative. The initiative is designed to empower them while “engendering inclusivity and diversity through education and advocacy; as well as skills acquisition through training.”