FirstBank promotes food economy initiative

partners Eventful to host food, beverage fair

In a bid to diversify the economy and focus on agriculture, First Bank Nigeria Limited is promoting food economy initiative and has gone into partnership with Eventful, an event management firm, in hosting a food and beverage fair.

Agriculture, which has a high potential for growth and economic boom, is yet to be fully harnessed in Nigeria, as the sector has not been given the necessary prominence in building the nation’s economy.

“Agriculture was the main stay of the Nigerian economy before the oil boom and there is the need to return to the base of Nigeria’s industrialisation to stimulate the much needed economic growth at this time,” Folake Ani-Mumuney, group head, marketing and corporate communications, FirstBank, said in a statement made available to BusinessDay.

“The bank’s venture into the food space takes us back to the basis of our economic development as a nation. FirstBank is set to support agriculture across the entire value chain to promote economic growth and sustainability, especially in the face of dwindling oil revenue,” she said.

The bank realises that support for the agricultural value chain and by extension food, will enable individual and communal self-reliance, self-contentment and self-sufficiency, which will translate to national growth.

According to Yewande Zaccheaus, CEO, Eventful, “We thought it was time for us to own our own events, rather than wait for clients to ask us to plan events and what better way to start than to showcase our food and beverage vendors who are at the crux of our event planning business whether corporate or personal.

“There is so much for us as Nigerians to learn, see, feel and experience about our food and we invite you on a culinary journey to discover it. Fiesta of Flavours will show that we have a rich heritage that can be expressed through our food.”

The food and beverage fair with the theme ‘Fiesta and Flavours’ is scheduled to hold at Habour Point in Victoria Island, Lagos, from December 4 – 6, 2015.

The three-day fair will provide an avenue for attendees to fully experience the entertainment, art and business of food. It will showcase the best in local and international cuisine, cutting-edge food technology and cooking techniques, as well as the best beverages, wines and spirits the world has to offer.

It will also provide management and training seminars, competitions, food demonstrations and performances as well as a live band. Through this, FirstBank has again set the pace for the sustainable development of Nigeria’s economy.