Imo: No fewer than 300 students of Imo state schools have received educational materials donation from the Polaris Bank Limited, in collaboration with Evolve Charity Trust, to inspire learning, especially among the girl-child. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three schools namely: National High School Arondizuogu, Iheme Memorial Secondary School, and Akokwa High School, all in Ideato North Local Government Area, benefitted from the gesture.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, presenting the items, the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Kayode Lawal, represented by the Business Development Manager, Urualla branch, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Nwokoro, charged students to embrace the opportunities that education offers. Lawal stated that the intervention was in line with the bank’s ongoing sustainability efforts aimed at reducing Nigeria’s current out-of-school children population and increasing access to quality education, especially for the girl-child. He emphasized that the initiative is intended to educate the g
irl-child without limitations, addressing concerns from parents who struggle financially to provide education for their daughters. Additionally, the program supports the Imo State Government’s free education efforts in public schools and aims to discourage early marriages among young girls.
Lawal further mentioned that the school essentials, including sandals, bags, school uniforms, books, and other writing materials, would assist the beneficiaries in attaining a certain level of education in life. Since the commencement of the Corporate Social Responsibility intervention in 2020, the bank has collaborated with Evolve Charity Trust and other stakeholders. He highlighted that the bank has reached out to 15,000 students in over 35 schools across various states, including Imo, Kano, Lagos, Abuja, Kogi, Rivers, Edo, Delta, and Akwa Ibom.
He also disclosed that the project, which contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4) of the United Nations, hopes to reach 50,000 young girls in eight years. This year
, 1,000 students across 10 designated public secondary schools will be reached in five states.
Also speaking, Mr. Godwin Ejeh, the Project Manager of Evolve Charity Trust, a non-governmental organization, stated that the objective was essentially to reverse the effect of global warming. He explained that research has shown that educating the girl-child contributes to reversing the impact of global warming, which inspired the project’s vision. He disclosed that the global number of students who have benefited is over 25,000.
Appreciating the donors, the Principal of National High School, Arondizuogu, Mrs. Chike Anaekwe, commended Polaris Bank and the NGO for the items. She highlighted the appreciation from the school, parents, and students for the support provided over the years, noting that not every parent can afford such items at present. Anaekwe expressed hope for continued gestures from Polaris Bank.
Two beneficiaries, Miss Victory Chukwuye from Iheme Memorial Secondary School and Master Chika Utazi fr
om Akokwa High School, expressed their excitement over the gesture. Chukwuye emphasized that the educational items would help them further their education and achieve their life goals. Utazi shared his excitement about receiving sandals and a good uniform, upgrading from wearing slippers to school.