Uche Cecil Izuora
FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, will be celebrated for its long‑standing and transformative contribution to the nation’s sports landscape at the forthcoming Sports Industry Awards Nigeria.
The event, set for Tuesday, 19 May in Lagos, recognises excellence across sponsorship, events, marketing campaigns, and partnerships from January to December 2025. FirstBank will be honoured for its sustained support of grassroots and elite sports, including its globally recognised sponsorship of the Georgian Cup at Kaduna Polo Club, a partnership dating back to 1919, making it one of the longest‑running sports sponsorships in the world.
The Bank will also be recognised for its decades‑long backing of its football and basketball teams, which have served as training grounds for talented athletes who have gone on to represent Nigeria at national and international levels. Through its innovative First@Sports initiative, FirstBank continues to drive the growth and professionalisation of the Nigerian sports industry. Notably, the Bank powered the continent’s first-ever E1 Lagos Grand Prix, turning Lagos into a hub of clean energy, glamour, and innovation for two days in 2025.
FirstBank’s football club, popularly known as the “Elephant Boys,” has nurtured players such as Fatai Amoo, Sam Nwobum, Lookman Oshun, and Wasiu Ipaye, all of whom have donned the national colours at various stages. The team has competed across multiple tiers of the Nigeria Football Federation leagues for over four decades, including in the historic Division One League alongside renowned clubs like Shooting Stars, Rangers International and Calabar Rovers.
Equally iconic is the FirstBank Basketball Club, nicknamed the “Elephant Girls,” which has enjoyed more than 30 years of success, highlighted by continental championship victories in 2003 and 2009 and representation at the 2025 Women’s Basketball League Africa.
Commenting on the Bank’s recognition, **Ojeikere Aikhoje**, CEO of the Sports Industry Awards Nigeria, praised FirstBank’s deep commitment to nation‑building through sports. “FirstBank has demonstrated a strong commitment to nation‑building through the development of the sports industry and has remained innovative with sustained sponsorship,” he said. “The bank’s sponsorship of the Georgian Cup is legendary. Moreover, it remains the only financial institution in Nigeria to sponsor both football and basketball clubs within the national leagues for decades.”
FirstBank is also nominated in two additional categories: Sports Sponsor of the Year and Sports Event of the Year, underscoring its broad impact across the sector. The awards ceremony will take place at the prestigious Lagos Country Club, Ikeja GRA, bringing together stakeholders, industry leaders, and partners to celebrate outstanding achievements in Nigerian sports.