First Bank Nigeria Plc says it is committed to supporting the development of sustainable financial models to drive the development of raw materials in Africa.
The Managing Director/CEO of the bank, Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu, said this at the ongoing Africa Raw Material Summit in Abuja organised by the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the summit is “Shaping the future of Africa’s resources landscape.”
Represented at the event by Mr. Abiodun Famuyiwa, the Head of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Banking, Alebiosu said that the summit was a rallying point for forward-looking partnerships.
He said the bank was ready to direct funds into processing infrastructure, industrial parks, and green energy corridors linked to our raw materials.
“We are committed to building not just a resource-rich Africa but a resource-empowered Africa.
“We are committed to an Africa that is environmentally responsible, economically competitive, and strategically united,” he said.
He said the bank, being one of the continent’s premier financial institutions, was committed to building Africa’s industrial future.
Alebiosu also said the bank would also support policies, businesses, and innovations that would move the continent forward in the value chain of its natural resources.
He congratulated the organiser of the summit, particularly RMRDC, for granting the bank the opportunity to contribute to the dialogue of adding value to the continent’s natural resources before exporting them.
“It captures the urgency of redefining our approach to raw materials, not as mere commodities for export but as strategic assets for driving Africa’s industrial revolution, economic diversification, and sustainable development.
“At First Bank, we believe that the future of Africa’s resource landscape must be built on value addition, inclusive financing, and green industrialisation,” he said. (NAN)