Otedola’s Vision Brings FirstBank’s 43 Story Headquarters Building to Reality

…as Engine Room For Innovation, Sustainability

It had been on the drawing board for so long that most people thought constructing the iconic FirstBank Headquarters building in Eko Atlantic was a pipe dream. That was, until the right man with the right vision at the right time Femi Otedola, emerged as head of FirstHoldCo Plc, the parent company of First Bank of Nigeria.

FirstBank of Nigeria has performed the groundbreaking ceremony of its iconic Headquarters in Eko Atlantic city, Lagos a 43 story building going up to 252 meters with the antenna.

Present at the ground breaking ceremony where captains of finance and industry, Governors of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun aand Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Former Senate President Bukola Saraki, the Vice President of Nigeria Kashim Shettima and Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote.

However, all eyes were on the Chairman of FirstHoldCo Plc Femi Otedola whose vision brought the project to reality.

“Otedola had the courage to start this futuristic building, a testament to his vision of making First Bank number one in Africa and worldwide,” said Gilbert Chagoury, co-founder of the Chagoury Group, developers of Eko Atlantic City.

The new 43-Story tower will become an incubation centre for innovation in banking and the tallest building not just in Nigeria but West Africa, helping to redefine the Lagos skyline.

The Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun praised Otedola for his foresight in making the project come to light.

“First Bank has jumpstarted the Lagos International Financial Centre right here in Eko Atlantic City all due to the visionary, Femi Otedola.”

Otedola who emerged as Chairman and the largest shareholder in FirstHoldCo Plc has engineered a turnaround in the fortunes of the banking group.

FirstHoldCo recorded a 142% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in Profit Before Tax (PBT) to N862 billion in Full Year 2024, while Gross Earnings surged by 113% y-o-y to N3.33 trillion.

Building the new 43-story headquarters of FirstBank Plc is an investment that will change the future of the city of Lagos, according to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“It’s a building for the future and a realization of the dreams of doers. I congratulate the audacity of Femi Otedola to do this,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The new building signifies the beginning of a new chapter in the legacy of FirstBank, which is set to continue shaping the future of banking in Nigeria.

“I congratulate Femi and the FirstBank Group,” Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and Chairman of the Dangote Group said.

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