FirstBank supports healthcare facilities to facilitate economic growth
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
FirstBank has supported national healthcare delivery with N2.01 billion loans to health facilities from January 2021 to date, and may surpass that figure in 2022 with over N488 million already granted between January and March.
It granted loans worth N1.53 billion in 238 transactions in 2021 and the N488 million disbursed in the first quarter of 2022 (Q1 2022) involved 65 transactions.
FirstBank says the facilities help mitigate the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic which ravaged all countries in 2020, and were granted in line with the drive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to lift the economy.
A document FirstBank produced to mark World Health Day on 7 April shows the details as follows:
- Volume of transactions (loans disbursed) 2021 – 238
- Value of transactions (loans disbursed) 2021 – N1,531,070,000
- Volume of transactions January to date 2022 – 65
- Value of transaction January to date 2022 – N488,050,000
- Value of transactions from January 2021 to March 2022 – N2,019,570,000
- Target market – Pharmacies, Hospitals, Diagnostic centres, and Chemist shops
- Number of users/customers (2021) – 238
- Number of users/customers (January to date 2022) – 65
- Interest rate – between 18 and 26 per cent
- Top 3 unique selling propositions (USPs) – Overdraft facilities, Collateral free, Competitive interest rates
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Before the pandemic
The contributions of FirstBank to the development of various socioeconomic sectors, including healthcare, are well recognised.
FirstBank was among 30 corporates who won accolades at the Africa Safety Awards 2019, given for exemplary health and safety executive (HSE) performance at the maiden edition of the Africa Safety Award for Excellence (AfriSAFE) in Lagos.
FirstBank won AfriSAFE Financial Sector Award 2019 for its contribution to the improvement of health, safety, environment, and well-being in Africa.
The event held in November 2019 before the outbreak of the pandemic in Wuhan, China in December that year, from where it spread to the rest of the world.
April 2020 – Salute to healthcare workers
With the hashtag #FirstBankSalutes, all staff of FirstBank transformed social media and got many Nigerians to do same in April 2020 by using their Profile or Display Pictures to display photo messages to healthcare workers battling coronavirus.
In one picture captioned “We salute our frontline warriors”, a healthcare worker dressed in protective gear with a message underneath that read:
“No capes, just lab coats. No superhuman capability, just dedication, strength and compassion. As we play our parts by staying at home, we thank our medical professionals for being our Avengers.”
Another picture captioned “The world called and they responded” had the picture of a nose/mouth mask and a stethoscope. The message underneath read:
“There are many ways to say thank you to the medical professionals tackling COVID-19 and putting you first like FirstBank. One of them is to stay at home, another is to share this message with someone.”
FirstBank Chief Executive Officer Adesola Adeduntan applauded health workers and everyone else delivering essential care at great and grave personal risk.
“Selflessness and resilience in the face of adversity stand us out and are the hallmark of heroes,” he said in a broadcast message.
“All of us at FirstBank acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of our unsung heroes, the frontline Nigerians who toil day and night to care for us and keep us all safe as we collectively fight this battle we face.
“We add our prayers to that of all Nigerians and lift you up at this time with all we can offer.
“To that end, it is our hope that our ‘Thank you’ in its simplicity can go some way to expressing our deep and profound gratitude in recognition of your service to humanity.”
FirstBank joined other philanthropists and organisations to donate funds and healthcare equipment to beef up the nationwide effort to combat the pandemic after the index case on 27 February 2020.
However, morale boosters in the form and magnitude of FirstBank’s appreciation initiative was a first in Nigeria.
December 2020 – “Mask Up, Stay Safe” campaign
FirstBank launched in December 2020 a “Mask Up, Stay Safe” digital campaign for everyone to consciously protect themselves against Covid virus.
It urged people to observe safety guidelines, signposting its customised face mask filter on Instagram made of FirstBank 125th Anniversary pattern in Ankara fabric.
“In the spirit of walking the talk, I have uploaded my Instagram story with the virtual face mask and I crave your indulgence to join me in doing the same,” Adeduntan counselled, per reporting by Nigeriagalleria.
“This campaign is targeted at informing our customers and the general public that staying safe and protected through face mask-wearing is paramount now, more than ever, as it is a way of mitigating the unforeseen tragedy of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Stay Safe First!”
May 2021 – Children’s health and education
FirstBank says children’s education is at the core of its values.
It marked Children’s Day on 27 May 2021 reiterating that it had in 2020 announced that thousands of students signed up and had access to the e-learning solutions it provided for free (in partnership with Roducate and Lagos State government).
FirstBank pledged to continue to support such interventions in line with its corporate mandate to put you first!
It urged parents seeking more information on support for the education and financial literacy needs of their children, on other services, and how they can open a suitable bank account, to visit: www.firstbanknigeria.com/e-learing to access the Roducate e-learning, powered by FirstBank for free.
