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FirstBank’s Taking Conscious Steps to Prepare Future Generation for Meaningful Growth, Development – Adesola Adeduntan
By Eric Elezuo
The Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, has said that the primary aim of FirstBank towards emancipating the Nigerian nation is to take conscious steps towards preparing the future generations for meaningful growth.
Dr. Adeduntan said this as a remark while giving his opening speech through his representative, the Deputy Managing Director, FirstBank, Mr. Francis Gbenga Shobo, at the FirstBank Youth Empowerment Seminar, Series 3.0 at the Harbour Point, Victoria Island. The theme of the programme is Let’s Talk.
He appreciated the youths who left the pleasures of the season to attend the seminar, saying they have made the wisest of decisions.
Chairman, FirstBank Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika with DMD, Gbenga Shobo
“By meeting the needs of young people, we are securing the individual, communal and global long term and national development. Hence, we have carefully drawn out programmes to invest on capacity building for young people to enable you chart the course for a prosperous future,” he said.
Encouraging those with mefirst or explorefirst accounts, the CEO said the accounts are specifically created to enable the youths to become enterprise-minded.
Tracing the origin of the youth empowerment seminar, which is in its third edition, the CEO noted that the programme was created in 2017, and aimed to sensitise the youth on the importance of financial and investment discipline.
“This year’s topic focuses on entrepreneurship in areas that will interest you – music, fashion, media and photography,” Adeduntan said.
He informed that aspects are on hand to take participants through the areas that have been advertised, and ‘walk through the process of passion, learning and success’.
Former governor of Anambra State, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has officially defected to the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi announced the decision on Tuesday at an event held at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu.
“We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a rescue journey,” Obi said.
The National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, was among the attendees.
United States Representative Riley Moors has said further military strikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria could follow recent operations ordered by President Donald Trump, describing the actions as aimed at improving security and protecting Christian communities facing violence.
Moore made the remarks during a televised interview in which he addressed U.S. military strikes carried out on Christmas Day against militant targets in North-west Nigeria.
The strikes were conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government, according to U.S. and Nigerian officials.
“President Trump is not trying to bring war to Nigeria, he’s bringing peace and security to Nigeria and to the thousands of Christians who face horrific violence and death,” Moore said.
He said the Christmas Day strikes against Islamic State affiliates had provided hope to Christians in Nigeria, particularly in areas affected by repeated attacks during past festive periods.
According to U.S. authorities, the strikes targeted camps used by Islamic State-linked groups operating in parts of north-west Nigeria.
Nigerian officials confirmed that the operation was carried out with intelligence support from Nigerian security agencies as part of ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation between both countries.
The United States Africa Command said the operation was intended to degrade the operational capacity of extremist groups responsible for attacks on civilians and security forces.
Nigerian authorities have described the targeted groups as a threat to national security, noting their involvement in killings, kidnappings and raids on rural communities.
Moore said the strikes marked a shift from previous years in which attacks were carried out against civilians during the Christmas period. He said the U.S. administration was focused on preventing further violence by targeting militant groups before they could launch attacks.
U.S. officials have said the military action was carried out with the consent of the Nigerian government and formed part of broader security cooperation between the two countries. Nigeria has received intelligence, training and logistical support from international partners as it seeks to contain militant activity.
Moore had previously called for stronger international attention to attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria and has urged continued U.S. engagement in addressing extremist violence. He said further action would depend on developments on the ground and continued coordination with Nigerian authorities.
Nigerian officials have maintained that counter-terrorism operations are directed at armed groups threatening civilians, regardless of religion, and have reiterated their commitment to restoring security across affected regions.
World-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua on Monday survived a ghastly road accident in Makun, Ogun State.
Eyewitnesses report that the incident occurred along a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The vehicle carrying Joshua, a Lexus Jeep with the number plate, KRD 850 HN, reportedly collided with a stationary truck under circumstances that are still being investigated.
Joshua reportedly sustained minor injuries, while two persons were said to have died on the spot.
