With the global economy facing serious challenges due to incessant inflation across all sectors, there is no doubt that this has affected societal and cultural moral values which many hold in high esteem. Today, the tendency for people to think of themselves only, while neglecting those around them are very visible.
In order bridge this social deficit, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, one of the key members of FBN Holding Plc, listed on the floor of Nigeria Exchange Limited (NGX), is at the forefront in reigniting the moral values with the SPARK initiative, which simply stands for (Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness) .
First Bank strongly believed that it’s important to raise people that choose to do the right things, because this would help entrench a return to our moral values which appears to be eroding fast.
According to the bank “our big aspiration is that this country has a day of promoting acts of random kindness facilitated by First Bank. There should be a day to awaken national consciousness on the need to act within individual spheres of influences to promotes kindness”
Explaining the initiative, First Bank management team noted that SPARK was introduced in the maiden edition of the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (CR&S) week in 2017, focusing on creating and reinforcing an attitude of going beyond just meeting the material needs of people who are unable to help themselves. Also with the aim of inspiring people to make a difference.
Some of SPARK successful experiences and testimonies includes, baby Ijeoma who was in dire need of cardiac surgery to correct a heart problem she was born with. Through the SPARK initiative, she got over N1.5 million for the surgery.
A widow with five children, Mrs Mary Pius, who sells fruits to sustain her family, was unable to send her children to school, but her business received some boost with the N100,000 she got from the SPARK initiative.
Another beneficiary of the SPARK initiative is Lawal Seun, the third child of a virtually impaired woman in Ondo town, whom his father abandoned with his three siblings and their mother some years ago. Seun is now able to pay his school fees in his secondary school due to the SPARK N150,000 offer.
Needless to mention that over 10,000 victims of Sierra-Leone mudslides got $100,000 from SPARK crowdfunding effort. The values of the SPARK initiative are structured along 4Cs namely Compassion, Civility, Charity and Connection.
As the entire world enters the threshold of 2023, with a celebratory mood, First Bank, said it is using the SPARK platform regardless of how little or in whatever form to empower people and create a positive ripple effect that expands and strengthens the Nigerian economy.
First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) is the premier Bank in West Africa and the leading financial inclusion services provider in Nigeria for over 128 years. With over 750 business locations and over 189,000 Banking Agents spread across 99% of the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria, FirstBank provides a comprehensive range of retail and corporate financial services to serve its over 30 million customers.
The Bank has an international presence through its subsidiaries, FBNBank (UK) Limited in London and Paris, FBNBank in the Republic of Congo, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Sierra-Leone and Senegal, as well as a Representative Office in Beijing. The Bank has been handy at promoting digital payment in the country and has issued over 10million cards, the first bank to achieve such a milestone in the country.
FirstBank’s cashless transaction drive extends to having more than 12 million people on its USSD Quick Banking service through the nationally renowned *894# Banking code and over 4.5 million people on FirstMobile platform.
Since its establishment in 1894, FirstBank has consistently built relationships with customers focusing on the fundamentals of good corporate governance, strong liquidity, optimised risk management and leadership. Over the years, the Bank has led the financing of private investment in infrastructure development in the Nigerian economy by playing key roles in the Federal Government’s privatisation and commercialisation schemes. With its global reach, FirstBank provides prospective investors wishing to explore the vast business opportunities that are available in Nigeria, an internationally competitive world-class brand and a credible financial partner.
FirstBank has been named “Most Valuable Bank Brand in Nigeria” six times in a row (2011 – 2016) by the globally renowned “The Banker Magazine” of the Financial Times Group; “Best Retail Bank in Nigeria” for seven consecutive years (2011 – 2017) by the Asian Banker International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards and “Best Bank in Nigeria” by Global Finance for 15 years.
Our brand purpose is always to put customers, partners and stakeholders at the heart of our business, even as we standardise customer experience and excellence in financial solutions across sub-Saharan Africa, in consonance with our brand vision “To be the partner of the first choice in building your future”. Our brand promise is always to deliver the ultimate “gold standard” of value and excellence. This commitment is anchored on our inherent values of passion, partnership and people, to position You First in every respect.
