Group Chairman of First Holding Company Plc (FirstHoldCo) Femi Otedola, has been recognised as Activist Investor and Market Maker of the Year, at the inaugural Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards, in recognition of his influential role and strategic interventions in Nigeria’s capital markets over the past two decades.
Described as a driving force behind market-moving decisions, Otedola’s award acknowledged his consistent impact on capital market reforms, corporate governance, and investor confidence. Speaking on the recognition, Otedola said “I am delighted at this recognition bestowed on me and the awards won by the companies in the First HoldCo Group. This attests to a collective focus in shaping the future of the Nigerian Capital Market and the strategic synergy in executing effective goals and objectives in the various locations where we operate as a Group.”
The FirstHoldCo Group also saw its institutions win major accolades across key financial categories. FirstHoldCo Plc was named Tier-One Bank of the Year (FUGAZ Bank of the Year), highlighting the group’s positioning among Nigeria’s elite banking institutions.
Meanwhile, FirstBank, the flagship banking subsidiary, received the Agency Bank of the Year award. The recognition reflects the bank’s expansive network, operational excellence in retail and agency banking, and its continued relevance in deepening financial inclusion.
First Asset Management, the investment arm of the group, also clinched the Fund Manager of the Year title, underscoring its leadership in asset management and its growing influence in Nigeria’s financial services sector.
Group Managing Director of FirstHoldCo Plc, Wale Oyedeji, hailed the awards as a testament to the group’s trajectory and operational excellence. “The awards show the laudable progression the Group is making toward delivering excellent service across the board. This indeed will continue unabated,” he said, also congratulating the Group Chairman on his well-deserved recognitio.
In his opening remarks, Ugo Obi-Chukwu, Founder and CEO of Nairametrics, explained the rationale behind the awards: “The Capital Market Choice Awards is our way of reinforcing the values that drive a robust capital ecosystem, trust, performance, and progress. These awards will now become a tradition.”
