Grassroots sports development outfit, Champs City, has announced FirstBank as its first lead partner in its efforts to raise Nigeria’s next champions.
 
Champs City, at the weekend, said that the “strategic partnership” with FirstBank, which has a 131-year history of success and sustained growth, marked a significant milestone in its efforts “to speak to humanity and inspire the world through sports.”
 
The partnership, according to Champs City, will enhance its ability to train Nigeria’s next generation of elite athletes, expand opportunities for more aspiring athletes to access quality education and coaching, encourage more children to leave the streets by redirecting their interests and energy,  strengthen its capacity to recruit and train more coaches, sports professionals, and administrators.
  
According to Champs City, the partnership will also significantly contribute to the overall development of sports in Nigeria and bolster its community development initiatives.
 
Speaking on the development, Champ City’s President, Odinaka Iloh, said: “We are very excited to have FirstBank as a lead partner; trusting us with their reputation is a big vote of confidence in our vision. We are ready and pleased to accept the responsibilities this new relationship entails.
 
“We fully understand that the best way to reward FirstBank’s and other partners’ trust is to deliver on our promises and achieve our objectives.”
 
He said that the partnership will offer FirstBank branding rights, including prominent logo placement on Champs City’s official match and training jerseys, videos, digital content, and more, collaboration on grassroots football programmes and community initiatives, rights to utilise Champs City’s video clips, images, and logos for relevant campaigns, co-branded fan experiences and the status of official financial services partner.

Speaking on the deal, FirstBank’s Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Olayinka Ijabiyi, said: “We are pleased to partner with Champs City on this impactful initiative. At FirstBank, we have long recognised the power of sports to drive individual, community, and national development.
 
“Our First@Sports initiative is a testament to our long-standing commitment to nurturing talent and fostering community through decades of strategic investment in golf, polo, and basketball. Partnering with Champs City will help us deepen our grassroots impact in a way that is sustainable. The combination of education and sports in their approach to developing sports talents and community engagement is particularly compelling to us.”