FirstBank, Gobet247, Guinness others back 9th AFRIMA, January 7 – 11
By Amechi Obiakpu
A long list of sponsorship lineup that include FirstBank of Nigeria, the Lagos State Government, Guinness Nigeria, The Address Homes, the Government of Sweden, Gobet247 and several other major organisations have thrown their weight behind the 9th edition of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).
Scheduled to hold from January 7 to 11, 2026, in Lagos, AFRIMA is in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and with the theme: “Unstoppable Africa”.
The 9th edition, themed “Unstoppable Africa,” has attracted support from key sectors including finance, real estate, beverages, digital platforms, media, hospitality and international cultural institutions.
Following the acceptance of Lagos State Government of the offer from the African Union, Lagos will once again serve as the Official Host City, reinforcing the state’s position as Africa’s leading creative and entertainment hub. With the strong backing of the awards from the Federal Government of Nigeria, the 9th AFRIMA promises to be hugely successful.
The African Union Commission remains AFRIMA’s legacy Institutional Partner, supporting its mission to promote African music and culture across the continent and beyond.
At the top level of sponsorship, fast-growing digital payments and lifestyle platform Utilita and leading gaming and entertainment brand Gobet247 are headlining the event as National Gold Sponsors.
At the Silver level, First Bank of Nigeria, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) and The Address Homes have been confirmed as National Silver Partners. Guinness Nigeria joins as the Official Beer Sponsor, bringing added energy to this year’s festivities. AFRIMA also welcomes international cultural support from the British High Commission in Nigeria and the Embassy of Sweden, both serving as Cultural Exchange Partners.
In travel and hospitality, Wakanow, Pan Atlantic Travels and Dorf Travels & Tours Ltd have been named the Official Travel Partners. Vaniti Lagos and Knowhere Restaurant will host nominees and special guests as Hospitality Partners.
Popular youth culture platform Mainland Block Party Lagos is also supporting the celebration, adding street culture and community energy to the awards week at the AFRIMA Music Village holding at Ikeja City Mall on Friday,January 9,2026.
AFRIMA has also confirmed a strong coalition of leading media organisations across radio, television, digital platforms, print, and Out-of-Home (OOH) channels as its Official Media Partners for the 9th Edition. These include DSTV/Multichoice, HIPTV, Afro Music Pop, Base FM, Beat FM, Classic FM, Hot FM, Kennis FM, Lagos Talks, Inspiration FM, Traffic Radio, Radio Lagos, Eko FM, and Lasgidi FM.
Speaking on FirstBank’s support, Olayinka Ijabiyi, Acting Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications at FirstBank, said the partnership aligns with the bank’s long-standing commitment to Africa’s creative industry.
“At FirstBank, we are dedicated to promoting Africa’s vibrant creative industry, and our partnership with AFRIMA reflects this commitment. Through our First@Arts initiative, we have consistently supported projects across the creative value chain, nurturing talent and enabling production. In doing this, we preserve Africa’s rich cultural heritage while promoting unity, education and entertainment.”
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