First Bank of Nigeria Limited, a leading Nigerian financial institution, has thrown its weight behind Linda Ikeji, the blogger, in projecting the good image of Nigeria through First-Class Material, a television programme that commenced airing during the week.
(L-R) Sipasi Olalekan of L’Africa Integrated Farms, Folake Ani-Mumuney, group head, marketing and corporate communications, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Linda Ikeji and Abdulhakim Bashir at the media briefing where the partnership was unveiled recently
The show aims at digging deep across the country to discover and showcase a generation of Nigerians who are doing very well in their respective endeavours.
The 15-20 minutes programme airs on the Linda Ikeji Television every Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as, on Linda Ikeji YouTube and her other social media platforms.
With First-Class Material initiative, both organisations are offering platform to entrepreneurs and professionals who are making a great impact on the economy, as well as, on human capacity development programmes to be profiled on television for promotion and public reckoning.
Speaking at a media conference, which held recently at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, where the partnership was unveiled, Folake Ani-Mumuney, group head, marketing and corporate communications, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, said the financial institution backed the initiative because it projects a good image of Nigeria.
“First Bank of Nigeria Limited partnered Linda Ikeji TV for the broadcast of the TV programme, First Class Material because apart telling our story as a country, First-Class Material also aims to make education, vocational training and skill acquisition trendy, attractive and fashionable to the nation’s human capital by celebrating and rewarding exceptional Nigerians that have made an indelible mark in their chosen endeavor, irrespective of where they are, thereby inspiring the next generation”, she said.
She explained that the reason for the partnership with Linda Ikeji Television was informed by the need to make the programme become a wider dream, as television is tailored to such an idea.
While urging the government, individuals and corporate organisations to emulate the idea, Ani-mumuney said, there are lots of talents in the country waiting to be celebrated.
Explaining the reason behind the project, Linda Ikeji explained that she was moved by the negative narratives being spread about Nigeria, saying in spite of the challenges the nation is going through, there are lots of First Class Materials among Nigerians.
Ikeji explained further that the initiative focuses on Nigerians who have performed incredibly well, adding that it targets 200 people across board to select the best among them for profiling.
Two of Nigerians who are billed to feature in the first airing of the TV programme are; Abdulhakim Bashir, the founder of CHINIKI Guard, which provide updates on activities going in retail stores by analysing video feed from CCTV and Sipasi Olalekan of L’Afrika Integrated Farms.
Bashir, who was at the unveiling, recently went to Dubai for a competition on artificial intelligence comprising 7050 contestants and won an award. He built an application that helps retail shops to report shoplifting and theft by analyzing using CCTV cameras.
He said he has a passion for artificial intelligence and that when he learnt about the First-Class Material initiative he submitted the form and got selected.
However, the criteria for featuring on the show is based on evidence that the person is doing something remarkable. The initiative is for people who have been discovered, while the general public is encouraged to look out for candidates for the First-Class Material from across the country.
