In Nigeria, the first day
of December ushers in the advent of the festive season which runs through the
month progressively till early January when businesses and official duties
resume fully again. December, in the world’s most populous black nation, is
characterised, with fascinating scenery, by shops, streets, offices and homes
getting decorated with twinkling lights and dazzling ornaments.
The month also welcomes the religious festivities of Christmas, the biggest celebration for Christians
globally which takes place just a week before the New Year rolls in amidst a celebration unmatched by any other from the rest of the year. The season is
generally enveloped by festive concerts, feasts, celebrations, carnivals,
musical shows, colourful decorations and family reunions.
For almost everyone, it’s
a time to merry with friends and family, attend celebratory events, give and
accept gifts, enjoy entertainment and feast together. December is such a big
deal in Nigeria and the people know just how to savour the moments well.
Interestingly, the celebration is not limited as it cuts across all classes and
shades irrespective of social status, religion, personality or age – the rich,
poor, young, old, cool and radicals. It’s usually a time everyone earnestly
awaits for fun, merrymaking and relaxation, mentally and physically. In fact,
to get ample time for merry making, employees in Nigeria push hard in offices
to get annual leave approvals for the period.
Another key, exciting
hallmark of the festive season is the homecoming visits of Nigerians who have
travelled abroad for greener pastures, a trend popularly called ‘Japa’ in local
parlance. It’s a common belief that the Nigerian spirit is a hustling one, and
no distance is too large to scare a Nigerian from a potential source of income,
be it the journey from the remotest village to Lagos, or from there to the
farthest corners of the world. The December period thus presents an opportunity
to reunite families.
The returnees constitute
an essential ‘life of the party’ as they hit the country ready to visit places,
mingle and bond, to the admiration and embrace of peers and family members.
It’s always a great period for the returnees and their loved ones to create
great memories, spending time, going round town for great entertainment and
having fun together.
Their presence also
commands attention and adds colour to village and town hall meetings, community
projects and social gatherings, especially wedding parties, as well as other
family functions deliberately fixed around the season to court the beloved
presence of the “I just got backs” who bask endlessly in the euphoria.
First Bank of Nigeria
Limited as a company with the mantra of being woven into the fabrics of society
has continued to demonstrate its understanding of the uniqueness and essence of
the festive season with its consistent support for same through the ‘December
Is a vybe’ campaign.
Unfortunately, the
Nigerian economy has struggled sluggishly for some time with attendant harsh
impact on individual and household finances and sliding purchasing power. This
gets worsened by the galloping inflation, increasing cost of living and the sky
rocketing price of premium motor spirits (PMS) locally called petrol.
Yet, the average Nigerian
craves for great fun and quality entertainment during the Yuletide season. So,
the December festivities come as added weight with tickets as high as N70K for
A-list musical acts like Asake, Kizz Daniel, Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid and
others.
To throw off the weight,
the December Is a vybe campaign offers free VIP tickets from FirstBank to
Nigerians for access to coveted A-list musical concerts, opera, comedy shows,
stage plays, dance and other genres of entertainment throughout the festive
season to assure maximum pleasure.
Folake Ani-Mumuney,
FirstBank Global Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications said, the premier
financial institution which has operated in Nigeria for over 125 years
deliberately orchestrated the campaign to create platforms for Nigerians at
home and those returning from abroad to enjoy entertainment, bond well and
enjoy the best of the festive season together after a period of separation in
pursuit of excellence and success.
“Through ‘December Is a
vybe’, FirstBank has always brought Nigerians the best exciting, fun-filled,
memorable experience in December with the sponsorship of concerts, creative
arts; food Fiesta; fashion etc and it’s set again with a bang in 2022 ready to
enable people relive the experience and live their dreams, ” she stated.
She noted that the 2022
edition offers fresh opportunities and platforms for yet another memorable
Homecoming experience this December for Nigerians visiting from abroad; wedding
celebrants; friends and family reunions. FirstBank ‘December Is a vybe’ offers
the returnees a good opportunity to reunite and enjoy premium entertainment
with family and friends.
She explained: “The
programme has not slowed down since it kicked off. We supported Waka the
Musical in 2017 which was also taken to Abuja in 2018. We gave Nigerians
premium access to Davido show amongst others in 2017, Burna Boy in 2018, Future
in 2019, Davido and Burna in 2021 and for 2022, we will start with VIP access
to Kizz Daniel’s show, followed by many more.
The foremost banking
giant has in recent years made December quite memorable. From the exciting
Alternative Sound 4.0, held at Terra Culture on 5 December, 2019 to the
memorable Cardi B live in Lagos by Livespot Concert on 7 December 2019 and the
unforgettable “An Evening with FBNHoldings” held on 13 December, 2019 to the
pleasure overload of Island Block Party at Oniru Lagos on 14 December, lucky
customers and followers of the Bank’s social media handles were given free
tickets to have loads of fun!
Also, in the bouquet of
fun extravaganza was Teni – The Billionaire Experience musical concert held at
Eko Hotel on Monday, 16 December 2019 which had many thrilled to the finest of
tunes by the Billionaire crooner and other guest artistes present.
The annual Nativeland
music festival at Muri Okunola Park was another fun spot which has since its
inauguration in 2016, featured breathtaking performances by A-list artistes.
Youth and teenage
fashionistas were not left out; as with Street Souk, they had a feel of current
trends and creativity in the fashion industry. The event held on 18 December
2019. For those keen on getting the best and latest designs, wears and fabrics in
fashion, the African Fashion Week Nigeria was another port of call. The event
which held 20 – 21 December, 2019 attracted leading players in the fashion
industry and deepened the fashion appetite and interest of participants.
Building into Christmas
was Flytime Rhythm Unplugged, which started on 20 December at the Eko Hotel and
Suites. The 5-day music festival had performances from leading artistes in the
country. Olamide, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, MI, Ycee, Patoranking, Mayorkun,
Teni, Zlatan, Joeboy, Fireboy, B Red, Tolani, Jeff Akoh, Oluwadamilola thrilled
fun lovers to the best of charts topping tunes not just in Nigeria but the
continent. On the wheels of steel was DJ Neptune, DJ Consequence, DJ Obi, and
DJ Cuppy.
Kizz Daniel’s Toro
concert on 26 December 2019 and Tu Face’s musical show on 28 December built up
to the wrap-up of the list of December events with Future, the American rap
music sensational performance live in Lagos.
The Future Live in
Concert held on 29 December 2019 at the Eko hotel. The 80s boy band, New
Edition performance at the FlyTime Music Festival in Lagos was also
electrifying with Burna Boy Live, Davido Live and many more in action!
For plays, the December
Issavybe train featured sponsorships of Moremi and Oba Eshugbayi plays which
focused on highlighted history of Lagos: the struggle over water tax imposed by
the British on the people of Lagos and the expulsion of Oba Esugbayi, who stood
against tax, to Abeokuta. The play was from the stable of Joseph Edgar of the
iconic Duke of Shomolu Production.
Two lucky fans, Tina
Ediale and Timilehin Anibaba, amongst others got to see their favourite star
Davido Live in Concert; another winner, Azeez Animashaun couldn’t believe his
luck when he got a VIP Rhythm Unplugged ticket while some got special treat
watching ace actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde as Esumirin in Moremi The Musical.
Social media followers also scored invitation to parties including Island Block
Party, All Black Everything; conferences Golas Grit Grind 2.0; festivals:
Native Land, Palmwine Festival; and pop-up sales: Mente de Moda.”
For the 2022 campaign,
FirstBank says it will start the festive season with VIP access to rave of the
moment, Kizz Daniel’s show. Kizz is so loved right now and many Nigerians
especially women can’t seem to get enough of his monster hit, Cough (Odoyewu).
He also has many songs that will make his show a delight any day, including
Buga, Lie, No Wahala, Oshe, Yeba, One Ticket, Woju, Laye, Jaho, Sofa and many
others. With First Bank, December promises to be an awesome experience!
To participate, all that
is required is to just follow FirstBank’s social media pages and updates on –
Facebook: First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Instagram: @firstbanknigeria and from
there get the tickets.
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