EIB Global & First City Monument Bank Join Forces to Support Private Sector & Sustainable Agriculture with €85 million Funding.

The European Investment Bank Group’s international development arm, EIB Global, and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) have announced the financing totalling €85 million to support private-sector companies across agricultural value chains in Nigeria. At least 70% of the financing will target cocoa and dairy value chains.

The announcement was made during the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Bangkok in the presence of EIB Group President Nadia Calviño, Nigerian Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele, EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela and FCMB Chief Executive Officer, Yemisi Edun.

The operation is EIB Global’s first investment covering the dairy sector outside the European Union and is fully aligned with Nigeria’s development objectives in sustainable agriculture and inclusion as well as environmental and social standards (ESS). The EIB Global financing will address market gaps in the dairy sector, enabling the growth of EU businesses in Nigeria requiring an increase in milk supply.

With Nigeria being one of the world’s largest exporters of cocoa, the investments provided by EIB Global through FCMB will strengthen the industrial processing capacities along the whole value chain, provide liquidity support to cocoa cooperatives and farmers and improve the traceability of products. Compliance with the EU Regulation on Deforestation (EUDR) will be ensured, fostering biodiversity conservation and reducing environmental externalities while supporting inclusive rural development in line with EU standards, the EIB Group’s Climate Roadmap and the European Green Deal.

Alongside the credit line, EIB Global is providing technical assistance to support FCMB’s climate action strategy and the Nigerian agriculture sector’s capacity to manage environmental and social risks.

“The EIB Group invests in agricultural value chains in Africa – main drivers of food security and economic growth,” said EIB Group President Nadia Calviño. “These projects also open business opportunities for EU companies in Nigeria, building a truly a win-win partnership.”

“With this financial partnership with First City Monument Bank, EIB Global concretely supports Nigerian agribusinesses to grow competitively while meeting international environmental and social standards,” said EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle. “Such investment is important for the country in terms of employment, health and the economy, with real impact on the local population. It is a concrete example of the EU Global Gateway initiative in which the EIB Group, as the EU bank, is a key actor and partner in Africa.”

“Nigeria has enormous potential in agriculture,” said European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Sikela. “To turn that potential into more jobs, stronger businesses and new economic opportunities, we need to ensure that more value is created and retained in Nigeria. This Global Gateway investment with EIB Global and First City Monument Bank will help businesses across the cocoa and dairy value chains access the finance they need to grow and expand local processing. That is how we build stronger value chains and deepen the EU-Nigeria partnership for the benefit of both sides.”

“For farmers and agribusinesses, access to finance can make the difference between selling raw produce and building businesses that process more, earn more and create more jobs,” said FCMB Chief Executive Officer Yemisi Edun.  “Through our partnership with EIB Global, businesses across Nigeria’s cocoa and dairy value chains will have access to the long-term funding needed to increase production, expand processing capacity and reach new markets. By combining financing with technical support, we aim to strengthen rural livelihoods, promote sustainable growth and help build a more resilient agricultural sector.”

The project aligns with the EU’s geopolitical priorities and Nigeria’s development plans by supporting sustainable food systems and strategic food autonomy. The investment also contributes to the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) on Green Economy, which promotes climate-smart agriculture, inclusive agribusiness, rural access and access to agricultural markets.

Overall in Nigeria, the EIB Group has invested €2.3 billion since the start of its activities in the country in 1978. The financing has supported impactful and transformative investments in crucial areas for Nigeria such as sustainable urban transport, climate adaptation, innovation and digitalisation, and agribusiness logistics as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps.

About EIB Global

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives.

EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner of Global Gateway. We aim to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027. Within Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the EIB Group closer to people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world. High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here. 

About FCMB

FCMB provides personal, business, and corporate banking services across Nigeria. Its financial solutions empower individuals and businesses to pursue their goals with confidence. In this way, FCMB brings “My Bank & I” to life while fostering inclusive and sustainable growth in the communities it serves.

About Global Gateway

Global Gateway is the EU's positive offer to reduce the worldwide investment disparity and boost smart, clean, and secure connections in digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education, and research systems. The Global Gateway strategy embodies a Team Europe approach that brings together the European Union, EU Member States, and European development finance institutions. Together, we aim to mobilise up to €300 billion in public and private investments from 2021 to 2027, creating essential links rather than dependencies, and closing the global investment gap.

Delivering his goodwill message to the Obi and the people of Onitsha, Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga, said, “our association with the Ofala Festival since 2011 has been much more than a corporate partnership. It has been a relationship which we cherish deeply and regard as a privilege”.

He thanked the Obi for giving Globacom the opportunity to contribute to the preservation and promotion of Onitsha’s cultural heritage. Dr. Adenuga said, “It gives us great satisfaction to join Your Majesty and the people of Onitsha each year in showcasing to Nigeria, Africa and the wider world the beauty, dignity and enduring values represented by Ofala,” reaffirming the company’s commitment to celebrating the kingdom’s rich traditions.