First Bank of Nigeria Ltd. has applauded the Federal Government’s efforts to boost agriculture and achieve food sovereignty.
The bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu, made this known at the 2025 FirstBank Agric & Export Expo on Tuesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the expo, themed “The Fundamentals of Building an Export-Driven Economy,” is designed to promote non-oil exports and strengthen Nigeria’s diversification agenda.
Alebiosu praised the government’s renewed push for food security and pledged FirstBank’s continued support for the growth of the agricultural sector.
“Agriculture that was once overlooked is now central to Nigeria’s development agenda. We commend the Federal Government’s commitment to elevating the sector and reaffirm our role as a steadfast partner in this journey,” he said.
The FirstBank boss described the expo as a “beacon for collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth,” noting that the bank has consistently financed agribusiness, solid minerals, and other non-oil sectors across sub-Saharan Africa.
Also speaking, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, represented by his Special Adviser, Mr. Ibrahim Alkali, commended FirstBank’s contribution to agricultural financing.
According to him, the bank’s agricultural portfolio has grown by N11.6 billion in recent years, with over 23 per cent of all enterprises financed under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his goodwill message, urged more financing for agro-industrial enterprises, stressing the need for competitiveness and value addition in the non-oil sector.
“For over 130 years, FirstBank has been part of Nigeria’s economic story by promoting exports. You are signaling to farmers, processors and exporters that they have a reliable partner in building a truly export-driven economy,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State also commended the bank for aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s transformation agenda in agriculture.
The expo brought together exhibitors across agricultural value chains as well as farmers’ associations from across the country.
