Access Holdings, Coronation Group partner Tate Modern for World art day celebration on Nigerian modernism

Access Holdings Plc and Coronation Group commemorated World Art Day through a landmark virtual session held in partnership with Tate Modern, one of the world’s leading cultural institutions.

The event, titled, “In Conversation with Osei Bonsu: Inside Nigerian Modernism,” spotlighted the global significance of Nigerian modernism and reinforced a shared commitment to democratising access to art.

The session brought together staff members across Access Holdings and Coronation Group, reflecting strong institutional engagement with arts and culture as a critical pillar of societal development.

The session featured a virtual tour of the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, followed by an insightful conversation between Osei Bonsu, Tate Modern Curator, and Daniel Wallis, Educator at Tate Modern, offering participants a unique depth into the evolution of modern art in Nigeria.

Opening the session, Ngozi Akinyele, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer of Coronation Group, emphasised the enduring value of art in shaping society and identity: “We recognise that true wealth of a nation lies in three forms of capital- financial capital, cultural capital, and intellectual capital as championed by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede CFR, Chairman, Access Holdings and Coronation Group. While financial capital builds prosperity, cultural and intellectual capital give that prosperity meaning.

One strengthens institutions, while the other shapes identity and inspires dialogue. At Coronation Group and Access Holdings, we share a conviction that access to art must be democratised, it should be for all, not a select few.”

A central focus of the conversation was on the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, which traces the development of modern art in Nigeria throughout the 20th century, highlighting pioneering artists who established schools, collectives, and new artistic movements that transformed artistic expression in the country.

Importantly, the discussion underscored how Nigerian Modernism emerged from the country’s rich ethnic and cultural diversity.

Artists drew from a wide range of indigenous traditions, languages, and worldviews, blending them with global influences to create distinctly Nigerian forms of modern art.

This plurality not only shaped the aesthetics of the movement but also challenged narrow, Eurocentric definitions of modernism.

Speaking during the session, Bonsu noted: “Nigerian Modernism is not an extension of European modernism, it is a powerful, independent reimagining of what modern art can be. Rooted in Nigeria’s rich ethnic diversity, artists developed new visual languages that reflect multiple cultural identities and histories, fundamentally reshaping how we understand modern art on a global scale.”

The event also underscored the growing global recognition of Nigerian art, particularly through the ongoing exhibition at Tate Modern, which recently welcomed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a milestone moment that highlights the increasing international prominence of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

Delivering the closing remarks, Amaechi Okobi, Chief Communications Officer, Access Holdings Plc, reaffirmed the importance of such collaborations: “This partnership with Tate Modern reflects our broader commitment to advancing African narratives on the global stage.

By creating platforms for engagement, dialogue, and learning, we are not only supporting the arts, but we are also preserving identity, fostering understanding, and investing in the cultural capital that defines who we are.”

The event ultimately reinforced a shared commitment between Access Holdings, Coronation Group, and Tate Modern to elevate African art on the global stage, ensuring that Nigerian stories, creativity, and cultural heritage continue to shape conversations and inspire future generations.

FirstBank partners Ekiti State Government on launch of innovation enterprise support fund

FirstBank has said it is in partnership with the Ekiti State Government in launching the Innovation Enterprise Support Fund, a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower startups, scale tech-enabled businesses, and accelerate innovation-driven economic growth across the state.

The programme provides funding, mentorship, and market access to high-potential enterprises, with a focus on strengthening Ekiti’s innovation ecosystem, creating jobs, and supporting youth, women, and underserved communities.

Notably, at least 40 percent of the fund has been reserved for female-led enterprises.

The Innovation Enterprise Support Fund Initiative is structured as a three-phase programme covering ideation, pre-acceleration, and acceleration for about 60 startups. Each enterprise will receive financial support ranging from ₦150,000 to ₦1,200,000, enabling job creation, revenue generation, and market-ready product launches.

Speaking on the partnership, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank Group, Olusegun Alebiosu, said “Entrepreneurship and Innovation are two of our core values at FirstBank.

“We believe MSMEs are enablers of economic growth and for 132 years, we have stood beside Nigerian businesses through every phase of growth, transition and transformation.

“We have remained committed to building stronger business through improved access to finance and capacity building; we created the SME Connect Platform to serve as a digital hub where Nigerian entrepreneurs find the resources to move from vision to value.

We are excited about this partnership, and we see more than startups. We see future industry leaders, employers of labour, and perhaps our next big partners.”
 
The partnership aligns with FirstBank’s longstanding commitment to financial inclusion, SME development, and youth empowerment, with an emphasis on supporting women entrepreneurs, who represent 35% of Nigeria’s startup cohort.

FirstBank has been a consistent promoter and supporter of the innovation ecosystem and SMEs in Nigeria, providing notable interventions to help them scale their platforms and businesses. The Bank has designed multiple digital platforms for its SME customers to leverage on for business growth and expansion.