FCMB Supports SMEs Through Ibadan Cultural Festival

FCMB (First City Monument Bank) is actively leveraging cultural initiatives to deepen market connections and support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The bank's involvement in the Ibadan Cultural Festival, organized by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, aims to create a viable commercial ecosystem by bringing together thousands of vendors and creative service providers.

Diran Olojo, the bank's Division Head of Corporate Affairs, emphasized that this approach enables businesses to capture transaction flows within the ecosystem, enhancing their visibility and access to financing. The festival is expected to stimulate economic activities across various sectors, including hospitality, retail, transport, and the creative sector, while also engaging the diaspora to strengthen remittance flows and local investments.

Ajeniyi Ajewele, the President General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, noted that the festival has become a cultural economic platform that drives tourism and supports local businesses. Gbolagad Aker, the Chairman of the festival's planning committee, highlighted the importance of combining cultural expression with economic engagement to enhance Ibadan's profile as a tourism investment destination.