Emeka Moses
From left: Michael Ighalo, Group Chief Financial Officer, Pointek; Bolanle Onime, Group Head, HR and Admin, Pointek; Godwin Ajala, Director of Business, Pointek; Abednego Ugwueke, Group Head, E-Business and Retail Products, FirstBank; Chukwuka Okonkwo, Head, Personal Banking, FirstBank; Acharu Osime, Head, Internal Communications, Content Management and Merchandising, FirstBank and Charles Akunna, Head, Acceptance Business, FirstBank at the official partnership press conference of FirstEase and Pointek held in Lagos, recently.
FirstBank, West Africa’s premier financial institution and the leading financial inclusion service provider, and Pointek, one of Nigeria’s leading technology and consumer electronics retail chains, have announced a strategic partnership to onboard Pointek as a merchant on FirstEase.
This partnership was announced at a press conference held at Pointek’s Head Office in Ikeja, Lagos.
FirstEase is FirstBank’s Buy-Now-Pay-Later digital lending solution which enables customers to manage purchases and pay bills easily and split payments over time, for a maximum period of 180 days.
It is targeted at salary earners, professionals, entrepreneurs, and individuals seeking convenient access to essential goods and services without disrupting their financial stability. The initiative reflects FirstBank’s commitment to driving financial inclusion, improving access to everyday necessities, and empowering customers with innovative financial solutions that enhance their quality of life.
The partnership enables eligible customers to purchase a wide range of products, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, home appliances, and other essential devices from Pointek outlets using FirstMobile or LIT App, while spreading payments over flexible and convenient repayment periods.
Speaking at the press conference, Abednego Ugwueke, FirstBank’s Group Head, e-Business & Retail Products, said, “We are continuously developing innovative ways to support our customers to meet their needs, and that is why we are expanding access to FirstEase, to make life easier for our customers. Through this partnership with Pointek, we are empowering customers to acquire devices and appliances they need today while paying over time in a structured and affordable manner.”
Highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership, Dr Godwin Ajala, Director of Business, Pointek said, “We are making it easier for Nigerians to get the technology they want and pay for it at their own pace. Through our partnership with FirstEase, Nigerians can now own the devices they need from Pointek today and pay conveniently in installments with Pay Small Small.”
The onboarding of Pointek on FirstEase is another milestone in FirstBank’s commitment to promoting financial inclusion and supporting economic participation through responsible consumer financing. It also reinforces Pointek’s dedication to delivering value-driven solutions that make technology and essential products more accessible to consumers across the country.
Interested customers can make purchases from Pointek through FirstBank’s FirstMobile or LIT App.
Chukwuka Okonkwo, Head of Personal Banking at FirstBank, said, “The product builds on the bank’s experience in digital lending and shifts its focus towards financing customers’ lifestyle needs rather than providing cash loans alone”.
He said that customers can initiate the process through the FirstMobile app or Pointek’s website, where the financing option is integrated into the purchase journey.
Okonkwo, said, “We have created a very seamless way for people to purchase phones, laptops, electronic equipment from Pointek; and do it over six months at an interest rate of 3%.”
He said that customers also have the option of repayment within shorter period.
