FCMB restates commitment to tourism, felicitates with Ijebuland on forthcoming Ojude Oba

FIRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has reiterated its commitment to support activities that promote and add value to Nigeria’s culture and heritage which are also capable of boosting tourism and other non-oil sectors in line with the Federal Government’s ongoing drive to diversify the country’s economy.

According to the bank, this is the rationale behind its decade long support for the annual Ojude Oba Festival, a carnival-like celebration of the traditional, cultural, spiritual, economic and other accomplishments of the people of Ijebuland in Ogun State.

Consequently, FCMB has assured its stakeholders that its participation in this year’s festival, which holds in Ijebu-Ode on September 3, 2017 will be grand, exciting and rewarding for the thousands of people within and outside the country that would grace the fiesta.

The Group Head, Corporate Affairs of FCMB, Mr Diran Olojo, gave the assurance at a press conference held on August 22, 2017 at Ijebu Ode, to kick-off activities for the festival.

FCMB has over the years been a major sponsor of the Ojude Oba festival and has continued to play a significant role in ensuring its success.

In a goodwill message to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Group Chief Executive of FCMB Group Plc, Mr Ladi Balogun, congratulated the monarch, sons and daughters of Ijebuland for promoting the values of the ancient city through the festival and other socio-economic activities.

He stated that FCMB was committed to the longevity of the Ojude Oba Festival and the economic prosperity of Ijebuland, just as he urged the people to see the festival as a fulcrum to inspire individuals and businesses for heightened creativity and increased productivity.

According to him, “Over the years, the Ojude Oba festival has grown to become the most popular gathering of the people of Ijebuland and a significant tourist attraction. With her large diaspora population, talented artists and rich cultural diversity, Nigeria is well positioned to reap the opportunities that globalisation presents to showcase her artistry and festivals, whilst bringing increased economic activity to communities that host such, such as Ijebu Ode. As we seek to diversify our economy, tourism and culture represent a low hanging fruit that must not go untapped’’.

In the same vein, the Founder of FCMB Group who is also the the Olori Omo-Oba Akile Ijebu, Chief  Michael Olasubomi Balogun, CON, in a goodwill message to the paramount ruler of Ijebuland expressed his gratitude to the Awujale, especially the paramount ruler’s selflessness in attending to the different requests and yearnings of the people of Ijebuland.