By Ayomide Otitoju
First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has partnered with the Rotary Club of Lagos, District 9112, to empower over 200 widows through micro-credit and skills acquisition programs. This initiative underscores FCMB’s commitment to promoting women’s empowerment and financial inclusion in Nigeria.
The announcement of this collaboration was made during the installation ceremony of Adetunji Lamidi as the 64th president of the Rotary Club of Lagos.
Speaking at the event, Adetunji Lamidi outlined the club’s ambitious goals for the year, including the commissioning of a secondary school in Iboku Aro village, support for over 200 children, empowerment of 200 widows, and donation of five incubators to general hospitals in Lagos. FCMB had already initiated its support with the donation of infant incubators to Island Maternity as its first project of the year.
Managing Director of FCMB, Oluyemisi Edun, emphasized the bank’s perspective on the Rotary Club as a crucial platform for promoting inclusion, national cohesion, and sustainable development. She expressed delight in supporting the Rotary Club’s efforts under Lamidi’s leadership to empower widows through micro-credit and skills acquisition.
Lamidi further disclosed plans to expand the club’s micro-credit fund to N20 million to benefit markets in Gbagada, Oke-Arin, and five additional communities across Lagos. The club also aims to undertake five bore-hole projects and provide annual scholarships for 20 university students nationwide.
Recently, FCMB launched an initiative to enhance its support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Nigeria, following a $25 million agreement with the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank and the European Commission. This initiative underscores FCMB’s ongoing commitment to fostering economic growth and development within Nigeria’s SME sector.
