First Bank of Nigeria Limited has pledged to continue to support the arts sector as part of its effort to grow a robust creative economy. Executive Director of Corporate Banking, Tosin Adewuyi, said this during the stage performance of ‘The Noble Warrior’, a theatrical production of Eni Ogun.

The performance of the play sponsored by FirstBank was part of activities to honour Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, at 90. The executive director noted that the 130-year-old bank had a history of supporting all sectors in the nation, including the arts industry, adding that FirstBank’s sponsorship of Eni Ogun was to celebrate Soyinka’s contributions and project Nigeria’s culture to the world.

“It is also a way of supporting what is ours, a lot of history, a lot of stories, a lot of moral teachings coming through. It’s a representation of what we are as a people. This is where you see First Bank doing what it does best, supporting,” he said.

Speaking on the play, Adewuyi explained how the British Major, a major character, still requires a Nigerian chief to implement his agenda and plan.

“And in the end, the new king ascended the throne because the community came together and agreed that certain things were not done in the right way and decided to put their foot down. This is just life, this is just social. At the end of the day, everyone has a role to play – individuals and institutions.

The producer, Cash Onadele, appealed to the Federal Government to promote ethnography and honour Indigenous promoters of the country’s rich cultural heritage.