Deputy managing director of First Bank of Nigeria, Gbenga Shobo, says the bank is committed to promoting home-grown human capacity development across several art platforms.
Speaking at the premier of the bank sponsored-filmmaking competitive reality TV show recently, Shobo said through this strategic initiative, “FirstBank will continue to take purposeful steps towards economic diversification and the support for rising talents in the creative industry.”
In line with its age-long heritage of nation building and human empowerment, FirstBank had in September 2015 launched FirstStars – a premier filmmaking competitive.
Under the reality TV show, Nigerian youths were given the opportunity to project their creative skills in directing, producing, art directing, script writing and acting – in partnership with Ebony Life TV, Africa’s first Global Black entertainment and lifestyle network.
The bank said the journey of filmmaking began with the electrifying process of selecting the most outstanding talents through several auditions, which identified the brightest talents for the reality show.
The finalists’ movies were premiered mid December 2016 at the Film House, Lekki Phase one and hosted by FirstBank and EbonyLife TV.
It was a keenly contested exercise as both teams put up their best, showcasing their talents in directing, producing, art directing, script writing and acting to produce novel movies with insightful themes, suspense-filled plots rising to intense climaxes and strong resolutions. At the end of the two movies’ premiere, Team Sisterly was voted winner with 30 votes, beating Team It Takes Five, which garnered 23 votes. A cheque of N5 million was presented to Team Sisterly by the, First Bank of Nigeria Limited.
The two movies; Sisterly and It takes Five featured on Ebony Life TV, DSTV Channel 165 on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 9pm and 10pm respectively. There would be repeat broadcasts on Sunday, February 5, 2017 at 9pm and 10pm.
Also speaking, Mo Abudu, Executive Chairman and CEO of EbonyLife TV commended FirstBank, noting that the Bank is leading in the support of the creative sector across all categories as depicted through FirstStars.
Daniel Obi
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