FCMB champions culture-led inclusion, business growth at 2026 Ibadan festival

First City Monument Bank is deepening its push for financial inclusion by tapping into Nigeria’s cultural economy, using the 2026 Ibadan Cultural Festival as a platform to empower small businesses and connect local enterprises to wider markets.

As a lead partner of the festival organised by the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, the bank said cultural events are evolving into vibrant economic hubs, bringing together thousands of traders, creatives, and service providers while generating significant commercial activity.

Speaking at a press conference in Ibadan, FCMB’s Divisional Head of Corporate Affairs, Diran Olojo, explained that the bank’s strategy is focused on enabling participation and supporting growth within these ecosystems.

“Culture is no longer just about tradition—it is a marketplace,” he said. “Events like this concentrate demand, talent, and enterprise in one place. Our role is to help businesses plug into that through access to finance, visibility, and payment systems that support growth.”

He added that the festival drives economic activity across multiple sectors, including hospitality, retail, transportation, and the creative industry. It also attracts diaspora participation, boosting remittances and encouraging local investment.

The annual festival, widely known as Okebadan, draws large crowds of residents, indigenes, and visitors, creating a surge in commercial opportunities across the city.

President-General of the CCII, Ajeniyi Ajewole, said the event has grown into both a cultural celebration and an economic platform.

“It promotes tourism, supports small businesses, and provides an avenue for Ibadan indigenes in the diaspora to reconnect and contribute to development,” he noted, adding that FCMB’s involvement highlights increasing private sector interest in culture-driven growth.

Chairman of the planning committee, Gbolagade Akere, said the 2026 edition has been designed to strengthen Ibadan’s position as a tourism and investment destination by blending cultural expression with economic engagement.

FCMB said its participation aligns with a broader strategy to build inclusive ecosystems that link informal and small-scale businesses to financing, markets, and opportunities for expansion—positioning culture as a key driver of sustainable economic development.