FBNBank Senegal backs Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics, expands

FBNBank Senegal, a subsidiary of FirstBank Group, has partnered with the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games as the event’s first Official Bank Partner, strengthening the group’s push to use sports to empower young people across Africa.

The Games, scheduled for October 31 to November 13, 2026, in Senegal, will be the first Olympic event to be hosted on African soil.

About 2,700 athletes from more than 200 countries are expected to participate in the Games, which will be held under the theme, “Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates.”

The partnership is being delivered through First@Sports, FirstBank Group’s sports initiative, which supports youth development, talent discovery, inclusion and sporting excellence.

FirstBank Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun Alebiosu, said the partnership reflected the group’s belief that investing in young people was critical to Africa’s future.

“Young people are the architects of Africa’s future. Investing in them is one of the most meaningful ways to secure the prosperity and stability of our continent,” Alebiosu said.

He said the sponsorship would help nurture sporting talent across Africa, promote excellence and give young people a platform to pursue their ambitions.

“As the first Official Bank Partner of the Games, our support for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games through our First@Sports initiative is about nurturing talent across Africa, promoting excellence, and providing a platform that inspires young people to dream big and achieve their full potential,” he said.

The Games are expected to bring together young athletes while promoting values including friendship, respect, teamwork, excellence and cultural exchange.

Beyond sports, the partnership is also expected to support financial inclusion and community development, in line with FirstBank’s sustainability objectives.

General Coordinator of the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee, Ibrahima Wade, said the partnership demonstrated the importance of African institutions supporting a major event taking place on the continent.

“This partnership is the culmination of an approach initiated several months ago, driven by a strong ambition and a clear desire on the part of FirstBank Group and FBNBank Senegal to fully participate in this adventure,” Wade said.

“When Africa calls, it is essential that African actors be the first to respond,” he added.

FBNBank Senegal has been involved in the Dakar 2026 project from its early stages and has supported the development of critical infrastructure for the Games, including financing for the Diamniadio Olympic Village.

The bank is also providing financial services and supporting the event’s banking and operational requirements.

As part of its contribution to financial inclusion, FBNBank Senegal has introduced the “Japandi” programme, which will allow athletes and members of the Youth Olympic Games committee to open bank accounts at no cost.

FirstBank Group said the initiative was designed to make it easier for participants to access formal financial services during the Games.

The partnership adds to FirstBank Group’s long-standing involvement in youth-focused initiatives covering education, entrepreneurship, technology, financial literacy and sports.

For more than a century, the group has supported programmes aimed at creating opportunities for young people and developing talent, with First@Sports serving as a platform for both grassroots and elite sports development.

Through its partnership with Dakar 2026, FirstBank Group said it was reaffirming its commitment to creating opportunities for young Africans to develop their talents, compete at the highest level and contribute to the continent’s future.

The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games are expected to provide a major international platform for the next generation of athletes while showcasing Africa’s capacity to host a global sporting event.