FirstBank has announced its sponsorship of “The Jewel,” a musical theatre production by Eko Hotels and Suites, underscoring the bank’s ongoing commitment to supporting the creative industry in Nigeria
First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced its sponsorship of “The Jewel,” a highly anticipated musical theatre show produced by Eko Hotels and Suites.
The announcement was made at a press conference held on Wednesday at Eko Hotels, where FirstBank representatives emphasized the sponsorship as a reflection of the bank’s long-standing dedication to the growth and development of the creative industry in Nigeria.
FirstBank has consistently demonstrated its support for the creative sector over the years, with recent initiatives including the sponsorship of the stage play “Kurunmi” at the Lagos International Theatre Festival and the launch of its entertainment channel, Bluu TV.
Speaking at the press conference, the Acting Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications at FirstBank, Olayinka Ijabiyi, reiterated the bank’s broad support for various forms of artistic expression.
“From music to entertainment, theatre, stage performances, to poem performances and everything in between, FirstBank has always supported,” Ijabiyi stated.
Ijabiyi further elaborated that FirstBank’s commitment to the creative industry extends beyond providing visibility for artists to supporting the entire value chain, including back-end production. He also emphasized the bank’s long-term perspective on its partnership with Eko Hotels.
Also present at the event, the Head of Sponsorships, Partnerships, Events & Collaborations at First Bank, Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, highlighted the financial institution’s role in providing crucial support to the arts sector and meeting the diverse banking needs of players within it. “We see that this is a value chain.
It is bringing banking into the art space. So, people have different needs around the financial space. They could want to book a facility and learn new skills, so this is beyond them doing this performance and empowering them to put food on their table.
With FirstBank supporting the initiative of art, it means a whole lot of people, even those in the backstage that you do not see, have something to do and have reasons to wake up every day to continue to pursue their passion,” Bode-Akinwande enthused.
The General Manager of Eko Hotels, Danny Kioupouroglou, affirmed the shared vision between Eko Hotels and FirstBank in providing first-class entertainment experiences.
He clarified that FirstBank’s support was specifically for the arts and the ecosystem surrounding the theatre production, including the musicians and technicians, aiming to foster a more robust and economically viable creative sector.
Dr. Iyadunni Gbadebo, the Director of Sales and Marketing at Eko Hotels and Suites, provided insights into the musical itself. She described “The Jewel” as a Broadway-style musical theatre show inspired by the works of two renowned Nigerian playwrights, Wole Soyinka’s “The Lion and the Jewel” and Ola Rotimi’s “Our Husbands Have Gone Mad Again.”
Dr. Gbadebo emphasized the creative license taken to reinterpret these classic works in a way that offers major entertainment and appreciation, while also highlighting the strong moral and social themes embedded in the original plays.
She stressed the importance of preserving and showcasing African theatre to a global audience, ensuring that the richness of African literature is not forgotten.
Dr. Gbadebo also mentioned that the Broadway musical adaptation of these plays was showcased on the 18th and 19th of April at the Convention Centre, proudly sponsored by FirstBank, and is set in the future, offering a unique and contemporary perspective on these timeless stories.
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