FCMB to drive inclusion at fiesta
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) is positioning culture as an economic engine, leveraging Ibadan Cultural Festival, and others to support small businesses, deepen inclusion, and connect local enterprises to broader
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) is positioning culture as an economic engine, leveraging Ibadan Cultural Festival, and others to support small businesses, deepen inclusion, and connect local enterprises to broader markets.
As a lead partner in the festival organised by Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), the bank said cultural gatherings are becoming viable commercial ecosystems, bringing together vendors, creatives, and service providers to drive real economic activity.
Speaking at a news conference in Ibadan, Divisional Head of Corporate Affairs, Diran Olojo, said the bank’s approach is to enable participation, support business growth, and capture transaction flows in these ecosystems.
“We see culture as a functioning marketplace. Events like this concentrate demand, talent, and enterprise in one place. Our role is to help businesses plug into that, through access to finance, visibility, and the systems that support transactions and growth,” he said.
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He noted that the festival stimulates activity across hospitality, retail, transport, and the creative sector, while also attracting diaspora engagement that strengthens remittance flows and local investment.
Ibadan Cultural Festival (Okebadan) attracts residents, indigenes, and visitors, driving a surge in commercial activity across the city.
President-General of CCII, Ajeniyi Ajewole, said the festival has become a cultural and economic platform.
“It drives tourism, aids local businesses, and creates opportunity for indigenes in the diaspora to return, reconnect, and contribute to the city,” he said, adding FCMB’s involvement reflects private sector interest in culture-led development.
Chairman of the Planning Committee, Gbolagade Akere, said this edition is structured to strengthen Ibadan’s profile as a tourism and investment destination, with activities that combine cultural expression and economic engagement.
FCMB said its involvement reflects a broader strategy to build ecosystems that connect informal and small-scale businesses to finance, markets, and opportunities for scale.
