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FirstBank of Nigeria Limited has renewed its partnership with the Calabar Entertainment Conference & Festival (CECF) as the event’s Official Banking Partner for the second consecutive year, reinforcing the bank’s commitment to Nigeria’s growing creative economy.
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The partnership, announced by Hit FM, organisers of the festival, comes as CECF prepares for its 10th edition, positioning the annual gathering as an increasingly important platform for conversations around entertainment, creative entrepreneurship, investment and cultural development.
The renewed collaboration reflects FirstBank’s broader strategy of supporting platforms that promote innovation, enterprise development, youth empowerment and sustainable economic growth through the creative industries.
FirstBank Deepens Support for Nigeria’s Creative Economy
The creative economy has become an increasingly important source of employment, entrepreneurship and cultural influence across Nigeria, with platforms such as CECF providing opportunities for industry stakeholders to connect, exchange ideas and explore new business models.
Now in its 10th edition, the Calabar Entertainment Conference & Festival brings together policymakers, business leaders, investors, artists, media professionals, content creators and young entrepreneurs to examine emerging opportunities across Africa’s creative and entertainment ecosystem.
Patrick Ugbe, Executive Producer of CECF and CEO of Hit FM, described FirstBank’s return as a significant endorsement of the festival’s vision.
“Having FirstBank return as our Official Banking Partner for the second consecutive year is both an honour and a vote of confidence in what we are building,” Ugbe said.
He noted that the partnership goes beyond sponsorship, reflecting a shared belief in the creative industry’s capacity to drive economic development, job creation, youth empowerment and national growth.
First@Arts Anchors FirstBank’s Creative Economy Strategy
As a Platinum Sponsor, FirstBank’s involvement is anchored on First@Arts, its flagship initiative dedicated to supporting the arts and creative ecosystem across Africa.
Through First@Arts, the bank provides funding, visibility and capacity-building support to artists, curators, galleries, festivals and cultural institutions.
The initiative is designed to contribute to the preservation of African heritage while promoting creative enterprise and strengthening the role of the arts as a driver of economic growth and cultural diplomacy.
The renewed CECF partnership therefore forms part of a broader effort by FirstBank to connect financial support with the people, institutions and platforms driving Africa’s creative economy.
FirstBank: Partnership Will Unlock New Opportunities
Olayinka Ijabiyi, Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FirstBank, said the bank remained committed to creating value for customers and communities while supporting initiatives capable of generating sustainable opportunities.
“At FirstBank, we remain committed to enabling success and creating value for our customers and the communities we serve,” Ijabiyi said.
He added that the partnership aligns with the bank’s strategic focus on supporting the creative economy by providing platforms that encourage innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable growth.
According to him, FirstBank will continue to support the creative arts ecosystem through First@Arts.
CECF Builds Platform for Creative Industry Collaboration
The two-day festival will feature keynote addresses, masterclasses, panel discussions and networking sessions aimed at strengthening collaboration across the creative value chain.
The programme is expected to provide opportunities for participants to examine the commercial, technological and investment trends reshaping the entertainment industry, while connecting creative talent with business and institutional opportunities.
For emerging entrepreneurs and young creatives, such platforms can provide more than visibility. They can create access to networks, knowledge, partnerships and potential sources of investment needed to transform creative ideas into sustainable enterprises.
Calabar Strengthens Its Creative Economy Position
The continued growth of CECF also reinforces Calabar’s position as a destination for creative exchange, cultural tourism and entertainment business.
By bringing together local and international perspectives around the future of the creative economy, the festival is helping expand the conversation beyond entertainment into entrepreneurship, investment, technology and economic development.
As Nigeria increasingly looks to diversify economic opportunities and harness the potential of its large youth population, partnerships between financial institutions and creative platforms could become increasingly important.
For FirstBank, the renewed CECF partnership extends its longstanding engagement with the arts, while for Calabar, the festival provides another platform to showcase the city’s cultural assets and strengthen its place within Africa’s expanding creative economy.
