By John Egbokhan

Nigeria’s preparations for the London Olympics Games got a boost yesterday as the Nigeria Olympic Committee and First Bank entered into an agreement that has made the bank an official partner of the body for the event holding next year.

Aligning with the values of respect, friendship, and excellence that drive the Olympic Games, First Bank of Nigeria Plc said it will serve as Official Banker to the NOC at the London event..

According to Folake Ani-Mumuney, Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, “First Bank and the Olympic Movement share a rich pedigree of being organisations that have been promoting excellence, social responsibility and respect for globally acclaimed ethical principles for over 100 years of existence.”

Ani-Mumuney said the Olympic symbol of five interlaced rings, which represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world, is one of the most profound emblems in the world.

“The quest for a united and peaceful world is a noble one that FirstBank identifies with. Our various CSR interventions in sports are borne out of our conviction that sports is a vehicle for promoting unity, youth empowerment and excellence,” she stated.

The Olympic Movement also promotes the cause of sports practised without discrimination. Ani-Mumuney said FirstBank’s stance against discrimination is evident in its policy on equality in the workplace, superior service delivery to all classes of customers, and provision of alternative channels to ensure financial inclusion the unbanked and under-banked in Nigeria.

“For a period of one month some 4 billion people across the world would through various media channels witness unusual display of determination, excellence, friendship, respect and courage by the world’s best athletes. These are values that FirstBank subscribe to; they are the very foundation for our success story after 117 years and the motivation to remain the best through continuing transformation,” she said.