FirstBank sports development Nigeria gains momentum as CEO reaffirms support for golf, football, basketball, and polo as tools for unity and growth

FirstBank sports development Nigeria agenda remains a top priority for the banking giant, as the Group Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun Alebiosu, reaffirmed its commitment to sports as a tool for national unity and societal growth.

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Speaking at the closing of the Python Golf Club 2025 Amateur Open Championship in Port Harcourt, Alebiosu praised the unifying power of sport and FirstBank’s long-standing investment in its promotion.

“At FirstBank, we support sports across the country. We believe that sports can play a significant role in nation-building and societal development,” he said.

While the event spotlighted golf, Alebiosu noted that FirstBank’s involvement spans football, basketball, tennis, and polo.

“We have a football academy, a team in the national league, and a basketball team that has won trophies. We also sponsor polo and other sports,” he added.

These efforts, he explained, are not just corporate gestures, but part of a strategic CSR focus to empower youth and create lasting social impact.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr. Raphael Onoshakpo, hailed the Port Harcourt tournament as a resounding success, with over 300 players from within and outside Nigeria participating between 13–19 October.

Onoshakpo noted that the COVID-19 lockdown sparked renewed interest in golf, leading to over 200 new players trained at the Python Golf Club in recent years.

Alebiosu acknowledged that while golf is often seen as elitist, it should be more accessible:

“Golf is not about being rich. I started playing when I was a nobody. It’s not as cheap as football, but with second-hand clubs and passion, anyone can join.”

He added, with a smile, “People don’t understand the stretch. I call it elite farming – the way farmers feel when they go to the farm, that’s how golf feels.”

Alebiosu also confirmed that FirstBank will host the 65th edition of its Lagos Open Golf Tournament on 20 November, an annual event that attracts over 400 golfers and their families.

“Today is about golf, next week Sunday it will be about polo in Kaduna. We’ve supported sports across Nigeria for more than a century,” he said.

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With consistent support for both traditional and emerging sports, FirstBank sports development Nigeria initiative continues to bridge communities, foster talent, and promote economic and social progress through sport.