Access Bank Cup Polo raises $2.2m for classrooms
This year’s Access Bank Polo Day,
held at the prestigious Guards Polo Club, was one of the prominent initiatives
sponsored by the private banking arm of The Access Bank UK
(www.TheAccessBankUKLtd.co.uk) in its drive to aid educational and social development
in the communities the bank serves.
Over $2.2m (Naira800 million) was
raised in pledges to build new school classrooms that will provide continuous
education for underprivileged and displaced children over the next 5 years. An
auction of contemporary African Art by Bonhams raised over $30,000 that will go
towards classroom and student equipment.
Access Bank UK chief executive
officer and managing director, Jamie Simmonds, said of the occasion, “The way
in which we balance our economic, environmental and social impact while
continuing to grow our business and enhance our reputation is an area of key
importance for us. This year we have grown our balance sheet by 26 percent and
increased year on year profits by 76 per cent. Our achievements owe much to the
strong partnership we have with our parent bank. Our joint support of this new
decade of the ACCESS Bank Group\UNICEF Charity Shield with Fifth Chukker is
evidence of the social and economic values of that partnership.”
Since the UNICEF/Access Bank
initiative was started in 2007 it has seen the rebuilding of two schools in
Kaduna and more than 8,000 students sustained in continuous education. At the
same time new school blocks and a computer literacy building all in a more
secure and friendly school environment have been developed. The communities
surrounding the schools are being supported with bore-holes for water, and
sewing and grinding machines to secure employment and stimulate economic and
social development.
So far in collaboration with
Fifth Chukker Polo and Country Resort Access Bank has seen more than
N100million raised for underprivileged children in the north of Nigeria.
According to UNICEF, “there are Nigerian children out of school, many of them
in the North, and education has the power to transform society. UNICEF looks
forward to expanding the partnership with Access Bank to advocate the realisation
of children’s rights.”
Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director of Access Bank
PLC and Chairman of The Access Bank UK Ltd, also spoke, saying, “In a year that
marks the end of its 9th full year of trading, the bank has gone from strength
to strength despite the long-lasting worldwide financial and economic
challenges that have followed on from the global crisis of 2008.
“Our continuing support for the
Fifth Chukker UNICEF initiative is predicated on our view of our role as a
change agent in Nigeria and Africa that can help institute socio-economic
development through responsible business practice, social initiatives and environmental
consideration. We continue to look for ways through which more resources can be
pooled towards supporting the children. We are part of the community and as
such support its wellbeing.”
Free broadcast quality B-Roll
footage and video news release are available for media to download:
The Broll full res:
we.tl/DkQ0dJk0BS
The dope sheet:
apo-mail.org/180715.txt
The Broll on YouTube: youtu.be/_hWbxRXorbE
The Broll h.264: we.tl/GeAvcFAB8x
THE FILM full res:
we.tl/NkiQF2J8LE
The FILM h.264: we.tl/wKGNsKdbqT
The film on YouTube:
youtu.be/v8M2bfI8g6k
Video: 11th edition of the Access
Bank Polo Day on July 14, 2018
Link: Access Bank Group
Link: The Access Bank UK
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