FirstBank Partners Calabar Entertainment Conference as Official Bank Sponsor
FirstBank Partners Calabar Entertainment Conference as Official Bank Sponsor
Favour Rotimi
The Calabar Entertainment Conference (CEC) has announced First Bank of Nigeria Limited as its official banking partner for this year’s flagship youth engagement program in the creative sector.
Now in its ninth edition since its debut in 2017, the conference will take place on October 17 and 18 at Hogis Royale, Calabar, Cross River State. The event will convene young talents, industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to address challenges, explore opportunities, and chart strategies for sustainable growth in Nigeria’s creative economy.
CEC’s Executive Producer and CEO of Hit FM, Patrick Ugbe, said the creative sector is in urgent need of interventions that provide “capacity building, funding, distribution, and thought leadership.” He added that FirstBank’s involvement reaffirms its role as “a catalyst for growth, providing financial inclusion and fostering creativity among young Nigerians.”
Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications at FirstBank, noted that the partnership reflects the bank’s commitment to empowering young people and nurturing talent. “Through our First@Arts initiative, we are leveraging platforms like CEC to unlock the wealth of opportunities in the creative industry,” he said.
The two-day event will feature keynote addresses, masterclasses, panel discussions, and networking sessions designed to inspire and equip participants to maximize opportunities in the entertainment and creative space.
Established in 1894, First Bank of Nigeria Limited is the premier bank in West Africa and a leading provider of financial inclusion services. With operations across Africa, Europe, and Asia, the bank’s subsidiaries and representative offices facilitate international banking and trade flows across continents.
Organized by Hit 95.9 FM, Calabar, the Calabar Entertainment Conference is a youth-focused platform that fosters innovation, collaboration, and empowerment in Nigeria’s creative economy. Since 2017, it has become a key gathering point for creatives, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers. The 2024 edition expanded into a two-day program that included a food, drinks, games, and music festival.
