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Tag: Didier Drogba

  • FirstBank Partners Lagos for Inaugural E1 Lagos GP

    FirstBank Partners Lagos for Inaugural E1 Lagos GP

    First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced its partnership with the organisers of the inaugural E1 Lagos Grand Prix (GP), an all-electric powerboat racing championship scheduled to hold from October 3 to 5, 2025.

    The disclosure was made at the E1 Lagos GP Stakeholder Immersion session in Lagos, where Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communication at FirstBank, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to promoting sports and developmental initiatives nationwide.

    “Our involvement in the E1 Lagos GP is about driving legacy and enabling the passions and aspirations that unite Nigerians. Sports inspire and elevate us as a people, and through our First@Sports initiative, we continue to invest in platforms that deliver impact,” Ijabiyi said.

    He noted that the bank has a long history of supporting sporting events, including hosting the Georgian Polo Cup for over 105 years and the Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship for 64 years.

    Ijabiyi also linked the partnership with the bank’s annual DecemberIssaVybe campaign, which curates cultural, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences during the festive season. “As presenting partner, we are creating meaningful touchpoints with customers and prospects, offering them a world-class experience of relaxation and celebration that captures the true essence of Lagos,” he added.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, described the championship as a platform to not only grow sports but also showcase Lagos’s vibrant culture, dynamic people, and global relevance. He commended FirstBank for its role in making the event possible.

    The Lagos GP will feature teams owned by global stars including Tom Brady, LeBron James, Didier Drogba, Will Smith, Marc Anthony, Steve Aoki, and Rafael Nadal. The Lagos leg will precede the grand finale of the 2025 E1 season in Miami, USA.

  • Afreximbank reconstitutes its Creative Africa Advisory Group ahead of CANEX Weekend

    Afreximbank reconstitutes its Creative Africa Advisory Group ahead of CANEX Weekend

    …This group oversees and provides guidance for implementing the Bank’s Creative Africa Nexus Programme

     Ahead of the upcoming CANEX Weekend in Algiers, Algeria, from 16 to 19 October, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced the reconstitution of the Creative Africa Advisory Group (CAAG). This group oversees and provides guidance for implementing the Bank’s Creative Africa Nexus Programme.

    The first meeting of the reconstituted Advisory Group took place at the Waldorf Astoria, Heliopolis, Cairo on 9 July 2024. Co-chaired by H.E Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the African Union Commission, and Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, Founder of Silverbird Group, Nigeria, the CAAG is tasked with guiding Afreximbank’s strategy to support the growth of creative and cultural industries in Africa and its diaspora. Each member will serve a two-year term.

    During the meeting, the CAAG was updated on the overall implementation of the CANEX Programme and particularly on the preparations for the upcoming CANEX Weekend in Algeria. Members were also briefed on the status of the CANEX Africa Digital Platform and the establishment of CANEX Creations Incorporated, the Bank’s intellectual property investment vehicle. Amongst the recommendations shared by CAAG members was to establish a finance subcommittee to ensure optimal disbursement of the Bank’s financing facilities and funding, and continued outreach on our financial products to creatives.

    Co-Chair H.E Amb. Minata Cessouma-Samate commented: “The Bank has been instrumental in helping the AU’s Culture and Sports Programme deliver initiatives aligned with our long-term development objective – The Africa We Want Agenda 2063, and the Revised AU Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industries, 2023. We look forward to continued collaboration with the Creative Africa Advisory Group and galvanizing opportunities between the Bank and the Commission leading to conducive policies and regulatory environment for Africa’s creative and cultural economies.”

    Co-chair Senator Ben Murray-Bruce emphasized the crucial role of the Bank in supporting creative ventures through innovation. He stated: “Some of the biggest artists in the world today are Africans and we must be innovative so that channeling money to the continent ceases being an enigma.”

    Dr. Gainmore Zanamwe, Acting Director, Trade Facilitation & IATF – Intra-African Trade Bank, spoke on behalf of Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development.  He expressed the Bank’s deep appreciation for the contributions of the members of the first cohort of the CAAG.

    “Reconstituting the Creative Africa Advisory Group marks a significant milestone in our journey to elevate Africa’s creative and cultural industries to new heights. The contributions of the first CAAG cohort have been invaluable in bringing us to this point. As we move forward, I am confident that the reconstituted CAAG will build on their legacy, driving innovation, fostering investment, intra-African trade and export development, and enhancing cultural expression across the continent. Together, we will continue to support and empower Africa’s creative talents, in the context of a Global Africa, ensuring their rightful place on the global stage.”

    Other members of the reconstituted CAAG are: Alex Okosi, Managing Director, Google Africa; Vincent Berry II, Singer, Songwriter and Producer; Didier Drogba, renowned African footballer and President, Didier Drogba Foundation; Omar Ben Yedder, Group Publisher and Managing Director, IC Publications; Azza Fahmy, Founder, Azza Fahmy Designs; Oscar ‘Oskido’ Mdlongwa, Recording Artist and Record Producer, Legend Live; Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director and CEO, Bank of Industry; Kibonen Nfi, CEO, Cameroon Clothing; Mamou Daffe, President, African Culture Fund; Hana El-Beblawy, Founder, ARD Art Institution; Orlando Romain, OECS Advisor on the Creative Economy; George Gachara, Founding Partner, The Heva Fund and H.E. Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy of Nigeria.

  • Lucas Radebe Picks Drogba As Greatest Premier League African Player

    Lucas Radebe Picks Drogba As Greatest Premier League African Player

    Former Leeds United and Bafana Bafana captain, Lucas Radebe, has picked former Ivorian striker and Chelsea legend, Didier Drogba, as his greatest African player to have graced the Premier League. 

    The revered defender revealed this at the Premier League Africa XI trophy showcase in Lagos on Wednesday. 

    The Premier League trophy showcase was part of the activities lined up in celebration of PL Greatest Africa XI, to be announced at a Gala Night in Lagos on July 6. The event will be hosted by Lucas Radebe and 1997 African Footballer of the Year, Victor Ikpeba.

    Fielding questions at the event, Radebe said “My greatest African Premier League player is Didier Drogba.” 

    Radebe also disclosed that Arsenal Football Club legend, Thierry Henry, was the hardest striker he faced in his Premier League career. He said Henry’s dynamism made him a very tough opponent, not just for him, but for other opponents.

    “The toughest striker I faced in my Premier League career is Thiery Henry. You don’t just know how to approach him. If you go tight to him, he lifts the ball over your head, and he’s gone. He has a good understanding of the game. He drops deep, receives the ball, and he breezes past you with speed.”

    Asked about his best moment as a Premier League player, Radebe said “I had many good moments with Leeds United. But my most memorable moment was when I had to filed-in as a goalkeeper.”

    Premier League Africa greatest XI is part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the Premier League. 

    Between March 24 and June 30, a 30-man list was presented to football fans across Africa to vote their best African footballers to have graced the EPL, on SuperSport website. Players with the highest votes will be unveiled as EPL Africa XI. 

  • AFRIMA & CANEX WKND Announce All-Star Line up for Closing Concert

    AFRIMA & CANEX WKND Announce All-Star Line up for Closing Concert

    All is set for Creative Africa Nexus, CANEX WKND 2022, coming up from 25th to 27th November 2022, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, as creatives, investors, industry leaders, creative industry businesses and government representatives, gather for a 3-day event with a strong focus on sharing skills and best practice from sectors across Africa’s creative and cultural industries. 

    More than simply a business-to-business conference aimed at Africa and the diaspora’s booming creative sector, CANEX WKND is also a celebration of the creative talent that is taking the world by storm. The CANEX WKND is an initiative of the African Export-Import bank (AFREXIM), which has been a key player in developing the African creative industry.

    According to the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Professor Benedict Oramah, “The CANEX WKND presents an opportunity to unlock the best of Africa.” 

    He also further emphasized the value of CANEX WKND as a goldmine for Africa’s untapped talents, citing the depth of insight and opportunities to be shared at the free-to-attend event.

    In addition to a high-profile fashion show, film screening and a range of live performances, CANEX WKND will close with a multi-artist concert that features some of the best talents from Africa and beyond.

    In proud partnership with The All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, on Sunday 27 September, CANEX WKND is proud to present a concert featuring:

    • Yemi Alade, Singer (Nigeria)
    • Josey (Côte d’Ivoire)
    • Nandy (Tanzania)
    • Nadia Nakai (South Africa)
    • Suspect 95 (Cote d’Ivoire)
    • Didi B (Côte d’Ivoire)
    • DJ Mohgreen (Morocco/ France)
    • Julian Marley (USA)

    This line-up, especially curated by AFRIMA and CANEX WKND aims to showcase the diversity of talent from across the continent, and with an important nod to the diaspora. Artists representing the various regions of Africa will bring their star talent and energy to the closing event of what promises to be an historic event for Africa’s creative sector.

    CANEX and AFRIMA are aligned as platforms with the mission to promote, develop, and celebrate African talent. As Africa’s leading music awards event, AFRIMA has developed a strong reputation based on its key values of Fairness, Authenticity, Creativity, Excellence, Integrity and Transparency.

    According to the Executive Producer/President, AFRIMA, Mr. Mike Dada, the partnership with CANEX WKND is a great move to consolidate efforts in developing Africa’s creative economy.

    “Having seen that AFREXIM’s vision for CANEX WKND aligns significantly with our primary objectives of stimulating the creative economy, and developing it for the future generations, we are very excited to partner on this. We are happy about the fact that this will also help further promote African talents to an international audience, and give them more access to career-lifting opportunities. This is the beginning of more great collaborations for the growth of the African creative space.”

    CANEX WKND is free to attend for all delegates who will be able to attend all the key event sessions including a range of intensive masterclasses commencing on Thursday 24 November, the main plenary sessions that will include experts such as; Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya (Nigeria); Didier Drogba, Retired Professional Footballer (Côte d’Ivoire) Alex Okosi, Managing Director of EMEA Emerging Markets at YouTube (Nigeria); Elvis Adidiema, Director, Sony Music for French-speaking Africa (Congo); Abdul-Karim Abdullah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Culture Management Group (CMG) and Afrochella Festival (Ghana); Magali Ohouens, Modern Art Specialist & Exhibition Coordinator at Cécile Fakhoury Gallery (Côte d’Ivoire); Armando Cabral, Founder and Creative Director, Armando Cabral (Portugal); and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Author (Nigeria) amongst others.