By Ayomide Otitoju
FirstBank has reiterated its commitment to bridging financing gaps and leveraging digital innovation to tackle business challenges across key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Segun Alebiosu, stated this during a breakfast session at the 31st Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja, themed “Expanding Access to Finance and Driving Growth Across Middle Market and Emerging Corporate Segments.”
Alebiosu emphasized that a prosperous economy depends on a vibrant real sector, noting that access to finance remains critical to unlocking its full potential.
“A prosperous nation is built on the backbone of its real sector. That is why we have placed access to finance at the heart of our discussion—to catalyse sustainable growth and inclusion where it matters most,” he said.
He explained that FirstBank continues to empower Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and emerging corporates through tailored financial solutions that stimulate growth along their value chains and support Nigeria’s broader economic development.
The FirstBank CEO also underscored the need for collaboration among policymakers, industry stakeholders, and technology partners to achieve lasting impact.
“By forging partnerships across policy, industry, and technology, we can create an enabling environment that unlocks new opportunities for businesses to thrive. That is the driving purpose of today’s session,” Alebiosu added.
Highlighting the bank’s long-standing legacy, he said FirstBank’s 131 years of operations reflect its continued commitment to supporting innovation, resilience, and diversification in the Nigerian economy.
Also speaking, the Group Executive, Commercial Banking (North Division), Mrs. Aishatu Bubaram, noted that the middle market and emerging corporate segments remain central to Nigeria’s future prosperity.
She described these enterprises as dynamic drivers of job creation, innovation, and diversification in key sectors such as agribusiness, healthcare, digital services, and light manufacturing.
Bubaram, however, identified limited access to finance, weak advisory support, and fragile operational structures as major challenges hindering their growth.
“FirstBank recognises that addressing these barriers is not just a banking imperative; it is a national imperative,” she said, adding that the conversation goes beyond banking to reimagining how finance can drive inclusion and sustainable development.
