RMB sees Nigeria’s creative industry as catalyst to economic growth

In a clear move to replicate feats already achieved in South Africa’s creative arts sector, Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) Nigeria Limited has unveiled a new partnership with the Nigeria Theatre Society, aimed at harnessing the immense potentials of the country’s creative industry to spur economic growth.

The new partnership which will provide a viable platform for indigenous talents to be discovered, grown and nurtured, is also expected to berth economic growth, innovative thinking, employment and trade.

Speaking at the sidelines of an event to unveil the new partnership, Michael Larbie, CEO, RMB Nigeria, explained that the new move will also help more Nigerian’s engage effectively and profitably in the broader economy.

“It is part of what we hope will be the beginning of RMBs participation in the Nigerian creative art industry, replicating we have done in South Africa where the creaive arts sector, has always been an essential aspect of our culture,” Larbie said.

The CEO stressed that the brand which is synonymous with the arts industry in South Africa hopes to replicate the same feat in Nigeria, adding that the bank’s commitment will enable it play an increasingly important role in growing the arts sector by uniting its aims, goals and ultimate effectiveness in society.

“Our partnership, with the arts has been well received working with the very best of South African arts society and we aim to do the same here,” he said.

According to him, the bank’s commitment to the creative economy is hinged growing realisation that effective arts education provides useful strategies for communicating across communities, engaging and persisting inspite of challenges and difficulties.

“We believe that the growth of this sector will enable many more Nigerians engage effectively and profitably in the broader economy,” Larbie said.

According to Larbie, through its sponsorship and funding, the bank has give more young Africans access to learning opportunities offered in the creative arts, regardless of physical or socio-economic background.

“We currently have 27 partners in our creative arts funding programme, including schools teaching the disciples of ballet, music and opera. RMB remains one of the few corporates that has a pragmatic funding plan for the arts sector in South Africa, where we funded selected initiatives in three year cycles,” he added.

RMB Nigeria Limited, is a division of FirstRand Bank Limited. Having established a representative office in Nigeria in 2010 and subsequently opened a full-fledged merchant bank in early 2013, the bank boasts of five years of transactional experience ranging from advisory on infrastructure projects to funding of various transactions across multiple sectors in Nigeria.