Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The annual charity walk put together by Stanbic IBTC was held at the weekend in three major cities of Nigeria.
It was gathered that on Saturday October 27, 2018, a full contingent of Stanbic IBTC staff as well as other well-meaning Nigerians thronged the streets of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt to raise awareness on the need to support limbless and indigent children.
Coming under its flagship corporate social investment (CSI) initiative, ‘Together 4 A Limb,’ this year’s walk was a remarkable departure from previous editions as it specifically focused on generating awareness for people living with limb loss.
It also featured a song and dance to celebrate the 20 children who have been fitted with prosthesis since the initiative was launched in 2015.
Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mr Yinka Sanni, said a cardinal objective of the walk was to raise awareness about the importance of supporting the vulnerable in society, especially indigents and underserved children.
The event was also used to connect with other Nigerians who share the passion for impactful social causes.
“We understand how challenging it must be for the parents and guardians of these children, especially considering the high cost of acquiring these prostheses (artificial limbs). Our ultimate objective is to help these children to lead very productive and fulfilling lives,” Mr Sanni stated.
Apart from raising awareness, through the ‘Together 4 A Limb,’ initiative, Stanbic IBTC also provides financial and educational support to beneficiaries through an educational trust fund of N1.5 million per person. Twenty children drawn from across the six geopolitical zones have benefitted so far from the initiative.
The walk, which is approximately eight kilometres long, kicked off at 8am in each location, with adequate protection provided by security forces and traffic wardens. It is the signature CSI initiative of the Group, which is focused on three key areas of human life: health, education, and economic empowerment.
“We are passionate about this initiative, which helps Stanbic IBTC to contribute meaningfully to the society. Through the provision of prostheses and education trusts to indigent children who have suffered limb losses, we are assisting young Nigerians to get on with their lives in a productive manner,” Mr Sanni said.
According to the helmsman, “The education trust will provide for the education of the beneficiaries for as far as they are willing and able to go and will enable them realize their God-given potential.”
