First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, has announced the call for participation in the second edition of its FirstBank Technology Academy.

Interested participants are to visit the website https://hdbc.fa.em2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX/job/877 and complete the online application form.

The application, which closes on Friday, August 11, 2023, is open to individuals in Nigeria and the Bank’s subsidiaries in Africa: FirstBank in The Gambia, FirstBank in Sierra Leone, FirstBank in the Republic of Congo, FirstBank in Guinea, FBNBank in Ghana, and FBNBank in Senegal.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews and assessments to gain entry into the Technology Academy in the coming weeks.

FirstBank Technology Academy targets young and recent graduates with a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) background. These tech enthusiasts will undergo a comprehensive and practical program that will expose them to a wide array of cutting-edge technologies, including IT Fundamentals, Application support and development, cybersecurity and infrastructure, and data science, which will strengthen their hands-on experience in the field of digital technology.

According to Folake Ani-Mumuney, Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, FirstBank “As a digitally led financial services institution in Africa, we recognize the impact of technology in shaping the world in all spheres of human endeavor, including the global financial services industry. Technology is indeed the gateway to unlocking endless possibilities in the banking industry.”

“We invite young graduates with a passion for innovation and a strong desire to create a positive impact on the banking landscape to join us on this transformative journey as we collectively contribute to leaving no stone unturned in plugging FirstBank into being the Bank of first choice in the continent,” she concluded.

95% of customer-induced transactions on FirstBank’s digital channels are enjoyed by 22 million of its digital product users. The Bank processes over 12% of the industry’s payment volume in Nigeria.

FirstBank Technology Academy is one of the many ways the Bank reinvents itself to leave no stone unturned in exposing its customers to a state-of-the art and leading digital banking experience on the continent.

About FirstBank

First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) has been the premier Bank in West Africa and the leading financial inclusion services provider in Nigeria for 129 years.

With over 750 business locations and over 215538 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 42 million customers. The Bank has an international presence, with subsidiaries operating in nine other countries. These subsidiaries are FirstBank (UK) Limited in London and Paris, FirstBank in The Gambia, FirstBank in Sierra Leone, FirstBank in the Republic of Congo, FirstBank in Guinea, FBNBank in Ghana, and FBNBank in Senegal, as well as a Representative Office in Beijing, China. The Bank is at the forefront of promoting digital banking in the country and has issued over 12 million cards, becoming the first bank to achieve such a milestone.

FirstBank has continued to make significant investments in technology, innovation, and transformation, and its cashless transaction drive has been steadily accentuated with almost 22 million active FirstBank customers signed up on digital channels, including the USSD Quick Banking service through the nationally renowned *894# Banking code.

FirstBank’s commitment to Diversity is shown in its policies, partnerships, and initiatives, such as its employees’ ratio of female to male (about 39%:61%; and 32% women in management), as well as the FirstBank Women Network, an initiative that seeks to address the gender gap and increase the participation of women at all levels within the organization. In addition, the Bank’s membership in UN Women is an affirmation of a deliberate policy that is consistent with UN Women’s Women Empowerment Principles: Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, and Nondiscrimination.

Since its establishment in 1894, FirstBank has consistently built relationships with customers, focusing on the fundamentals of good corporate governance, strong liquidity, optimized 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 privatization and commercialization schemes. With its global reach, FirstBank provides prospective investors wishing to explore the vast business opportunities available in Nigeria with an internationally competitive, world-class brand and a credible financial partner.

For six consecutive years (2011–2016), FirstBank was named “Most Valuable Bank Brand in Nigeria” by the globally renowned The Banker Magazine of the Financial Times Group and “Best Retail Bank in Nigeria” eight times in a row, 2011–2018, by the Asian Banker International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards.

Notably, in 2022, the Bank took a long stride on its growth trajectory, with the Bank’s Viability and Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings upgraded to ‘B’ from ‘B-‘ (with stable outlooks) by Fitch, a leading global rating agency. This is an indication of the Bank’s strong internal capital generation and the corresponding recession in its risks to capitalization. Fitch also upgraded the Bank’s National Long-Term Ratings to ‘A (nga)’ from ‘BBB (nga)’, to reflect its improved creditworthiness relative to that of other issuers in Nigeria. Furthermore, the Top 100 African Bank Rankings 2022 released by The Banker Magazine revealed FirstBank’s ranking as number one in Nigeria in terms of Overall Performance, Profitability, efficiency, and Return on Risk.

Other laudable feats in 2022 include FirstBank’s international recognitions on major indices by Euromoney Market Leaders, an independent global assessment of the leading financial service providers, where FirstBank was crowned:

• Market Leader: (tier-1 recognition) in Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR),
• Market Leader: (tier 1 recognition) Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG),
• Highly Regarded: in Corporate Banking and Digital Solutions,
• Notable: in SME banking

Also, in 2022, International Finance Magazine named the Bank “Most Innovative Banking Product in Nigeria” and “Best Retail Bank in Nigeria”. FirstBank was also awarded “Best Corporate Banking Western Africa, 2022” and “Best CSR Bank Western Africa, 2022’’ by Global Banking and Finance Magazine. Other notable awards in FirstBank coffers include: “Best Bank in Nigeria” by Global Finance magazine fifteen times in a row; “Best Private Bank in Nigeria-2021” awarded by Global Finance magazine; “Best Internet Banking Nigeria” and ‘’Best CSR Bank Africa’’ by International Business Magazine.

In 2023, FirstBank has received notable awards, including “Best Private Bank for Sustainable Investing in Africa 2023” by Global Finance Awards; “Best Sustainable Bank in Nigeria 2023” by International Investors Awards; “Best Bespoke Banking Services in Nigeria 2023” by International Investors Awards; “Best Financial Inclusion Service Provider in Nigeria 2023” by Digital Banker Africa; and “African Bank of the Year” by African Leadership Magazine.

Our vision is to be Africa’s Bank of first choice, and our mission is to remain true to our name by providing the best financial services possible. This commitment is anchored on our core values of EPIC: entrepreneurship, Professionalism, innovation, and Customer-Centricity. Our strategic ambition is to deliver accelerated growth in profitability through customer-led innovation and disciplined execution, and our brand promise is always to deliver the ultimate “gold standard” of value and excellence to position You First in every respect.

Folake Ani-Mumuney

Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications

First Bank of Nigeria Limited