The general director of the FirstBank Group, Mr. Olusegun Alessuu, has requested collective actions to expand financial access for small businesses as a means of developing the capacity for the economic growth of the country.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at a breakfast during the 31st Economic Summit of Nigeria, with the theme “Expand access to finance and boost growth in intermediate markets and emerging corporate segments,” Alebiosu reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to close the financial gaps and take advantage of digital solutions to address commercial challenges in the key sectors of the economy.
He said that a prosperous nation is built on the backbone of its real sector, adding that access to financing remains essential to release all the potential of the sector.
According to him, FirstBank empowers small and medium enterprises (SME) and emerging corporations through personalized products and services designed to stimulate growth in their value chains and support Nigeria’s economic evolution.
Alebiosu emphasized that the collaboration between policy formulators, industry actors and technological partners was vital to achieve a lasting impact.
“By forging associations between policies, industries and technologies, we can create a conducive environment that opens new opportunities for companies to prosper. That is the main purpose of today’s session,” he said.
He stressed that with a legacy that covers 131 years, FirstBank remains a reliable partner for SMEs and large corporations, offering comprehensive bank solutions that improve innovation, resilience and diversification of the economy.
For its part, the group executive, commercial banks, North Division, Mrs. Aishatu Bubaram, said the average market and emerging companies are fundamental for Nigeria’s future prosperity.
He described these companies as vibrant promoters of employment creation, innovation and diversification in key sectors such as agribusiness, medical care, digital services and light manufacturing.
Bubaram said that, despite their potential, these companies face persistent challenges, including limited access to financing, inappropriate advice and fragile operational ecosystems.
“FirstBank acknowledges that addressing these barriers is not just a bank imperative; it is a national imperative.
“This session is not simply banking; it is about reimagining how finance can accelerate inclusion, how policies can create conducive environments and how collective action can turn Nigeria’s enormous business energy into shared prosperity,” Bubaram said.
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