FirstBank Throws Weight Behind Calabar Entertainment Conference as Official Sponsor
Hit FM, the leading radio station in Cross River State and organizer of the Calabar Entertainment Conference (CEC), has announced First Bank of Nigeria Limited as the official banking partner for this year’s flagship youth engagement event in the creative sector.
Since its inception in 2017, the CEC has become a pivotal platform for young talents, industry leaders, investors, and policymakers to explore opportunities, address challenges, and foster sustainable growth within Nigeria’s vibrant creative economy. Now in its ninth year, Executive Producer and CEO of Hit FM, Patrick Ugbe, emphasized that the creative sector “has never been more in need of interventions that support capacity building, funding, distribution, and thought leadership.”
This year’s conference is scheduled for October 17th and 18th at Hogis Royale in Calabar, Cross River State, and will feature keynote speeches, masterclasses, panel discussions, and networking sessions aimed at inspiring and empowering participants.
FirstBank’s partnership highlights its longstanding commitment to youth empowerment, innovation, and entrepreneurship across various sectors. Ugbe expressed enthusiasm, stating, “By becoming the Official Bank, FirstBank further demonstrates its role as a catalyst for growth, promoting financial inclusion and nurturing creativity among young Nigerians.”
Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at FirstBank, added, “We are excited to partner with the Calabar Entertainment Conference. Supporting platforms that empower young people and nurture talent aligns with our mission to promote innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship as key drivers of Nigeria’s future.”
He further explained, “Through our First@Arts initiative, which consolidates support for the creative arts, we leverage platforms like CEC to help our stakeholders explore the vast opportunities within Nigeria’s creative industry.”
This two-day event promises to be a vibrant gathering of ideas and opportunities, inspiring the next generation of creative leaders and entrepreneurs.