Access Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to education and community development by breaking ground for the construction of 60 additional classrooms in Maraban Jos, Kaduna. This development took place on the sidelines of the 2024 Access Bank Charity Polo Tournament, building on the Bank’s previous efforts, having commissioned 30 blocks of two classrooms each during the 2023 tournament.
Upon completion of the project, Access Bank aims to double the number of enrollees in the Access Bank Fifth Chukker School. This institution has already benefited around 14,000 children, providing them with access to quality education and social welfare.
Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, highlighted the importance of the project as part of a broader mission to enhance educational opportunities for underprivileged children and ultimately alleviate poverty across Africa.
“Nigeria faces a profound challenge. Over 12 million of our children are out of school, with a significant number residing in the northern region. This unpleasant reality compels us to act, transforming despair into hope, and ensuring that every child is afforded the opportunity to dream and achieve,” Ogbonna stated. He emphasized that these new classrooms will serve as more than just buildings; they will be sanctuaries of hope where thousands of children’s dreams will be nurtured and futures forged.
“In line with our mission to drive prosperity across Africa, we are proud to flag-off the construction of an additional 60 classrooms that will soon echo with the laughter and choruses of our young minds learning. We will continue to work with our partners to create a brighter, more equitable future for the African child,” Ogbonna noted.
The executive Governor of Kaduna, Uba Sani, praised the efforts of Access Bank, Fifth Chukker, and UNICEF for their commitment to improving education in the state. He affirmed Kaduna’s dedication to reducing the number of out-of-school children in the region. “Kaduna is happy to have partners in Access Bank, Fifth Chukker, and UNICEF as we work to ensure that our children have access to quality education. We believe that all children have a right to formal education, and we look forward to more groundbreaking projects,” Sani stated.
Access Bank’s efforts have had a substantial impact in previous editions of the tournament, addressing the pressing need for educational facilities and helping to reduce overcrowding in classrooms. Beyond Nigeria, the impact of the Polo Tournament has extended to South Africa, where yearly donations support underprivileged children through the Nelson Mandela Foundation Children’s Fund.
Access Bank, a subsidiary of Access Holdings Plc, operates as a full-service commercial bank with a network of more than 700 branches and service outlets across three continents, 22 countries, and over 60 million customers. The Bank’s ongoing initiatives underscore its dedication to fostering educational growth and community development across Africa.