- By Halimah Olamide
Vice President Kashim Shettima has on Wednesday led other political and investment heavyweights to witness the groundbreaking ceremony for what is expected to be the tallest building in Nigeria when completed.
The 40 storey described as “new green-certifiedIconicHead Office Building” of First Bank is located in in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.
According to a statement made available to the NPO Reports, which was signed by
Olayinka Ijabiyi, Ag. Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, “This ambitious project40-story building project set to be the tallest building in Nigeria, willbe an engineering and environmental delight due to itstechnologically advanced, eco-friendly and sophisticatedconstruction which would set anew standard for the financial services sector in Africa.”
Ijabiyi went further to state that event “signifies the beginning of a transformative journey that reinforces FirstBank’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction.”
He added that the new headquarters is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring a green-certified building that reduces operational costs and positions FirstBank as a leader in sustainable banking practices.
Quoting Olusegun Alebiosu, CEO, FirstBank Group, he said, “We are proud to mark this significant milestone in our journey towards excellence. Our new Head Office is envisioned as a world-class structure that represents our dedication to innovation, customer satisfaction, and sustainability. We believe that this development will play a crucial role in fostering economic growth and development across Africa, creating long-term value for all our stakeholders.”
He said that with a legacy spanning over 130 years, FirstBank has consistently demonstrated its commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and sustainable business practices.
“The Bank has a robust international presence, operating subsidiaries in nine countries across three continents.
Femi Otedola, Chairman, FirstHoldCo, added, “Today’s gathering highlights the importance of collaboration and support from various sectors in bringing our ambitious plans for the new headquarters to life. We appreciate the unrelenting support from our customers and stakeholders as we work together to turn this vision into reality.”
The groundbreaking ceremony will beattended by prominent dignitaries, including the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR,Senators and Lawmakers,State Governors, Federal Ministers and Captains of industry. This event marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in FirstBank’s storied history, solidifying its role as a leader in the African financial industry.
At the event, Chairman of Folawwiyo Group, Tunde Folawiyo, while speaking, said he had known Otedola since he was 11 years old adding that Otedola “is very intentional about whatever he does” He said before Otedola, before he starts anything, must have thought about it more than 200 times.l
Dr. Deji Adeleke, while speaking, Otedola, since he took over the chairmanship has done wonderfully well.