FirstBank partners E1 Lagos GP to drive legacy with all-electric powerboat championship
By Seun Ibiyemi
First Bank of Nigeria Limited has thrown its weight behind history in the making as it partners with the organisers of the maiden E1 Lagos GP, an all-electric powerboat racing championship set to hold in Lagos from October 3 to 5, 2025.
The announcement was made during the E1 Lagos GP Stakeholder Immersion Session in Lagos, where key industry players, government representatives, and brand leaders gathered to chart how the global sporting event would leave lasting impact in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communication at FirstBank, said the bank’s involvement in the E1 Lagos GP goes beyond sponsorship.
“Our involvement in the E1 Lagos GP is about driving legacy and enabling the passions and aspirations that unite Nigerians,” Ijabiyi explained. “We recognize that sports drive us as a country, which is why through our First@Sports initiative, we continue to invest in platforms that inspire and elevate our people.”
FirstBank’s decision to back the powerboat championship is consistent with its long-standing tradition of supporting sports development in Nigeria. The bank proudly pointed to its heritage of nurturing sports, including hosting the Georgian Polo Cup for over 105 years and supporting the Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship for 64 years—both tournaments that have become permanent fixtures in Nigeria’s sporting calendar.
With the E1 Lagos GP, the bank is not just investing in a new sport, but also cementing its role in creating memorable experiences that blend innovation, culture, and national pride.
The partnership also ties into FirstBank’s flagship DecemberIssaVybe campaign, which has become synonymous with curating cultural, entertainment, and lifestyle experiences for Nigerians during the festive season. By backing the E1 Lagos GP in October, the bank sees it as a curtain-raiser for the final quarter of the year, one that will energize communities and put Lagos on the global sporting map.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, praised the bank for its bold support, stressing that the E1 Lagos GP will go far beyond sports.
“This championship will not only advance sports but also showcase Lagos’s culture, dynamism, and global relevance,” Omotoso noted. “It is a clear opportunity to show the world the energy and creativity that define Lagos.”
The Lagos GP is not just about speed and technology on water it is also bringing global star power. Teams are backed by some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment, including Tom Brady, LeBron James, Didier Drogba, Will Smith, Marc Anthony, Steve Aoki, and Rafael Nadal.
For Lagosians, this promises a spectacle that blends sport, celebrity, and innovation, with the city serving as one of the elite hosts before the season wraps up in Miami, United States.
The E1 Lagos GP represents more than an adrenaline-pumping race on water. It reflects the growing intersection of sustainability, innovation, and sports in Africa’s largest economy. By being part of this global movement, FirstBank is positioning itself as more than a financial institution it is reinforcing its brand as a custodian of legacy, a promoter of culture, and a catalyst for national pride.
As the countdown to October begins, anticipation is already building. For Nigerians, the race is not just about who wins on the Lagos waters, but about how the event redefines the country’s place in the world of sports and entertainmens.