Dipo Olowookere
All is set for the unveiling of an annual fundraising event for a community investment program called ‘Futuremakers by Standard Chartered’ (Futuremakers).
The event is slated for Saturday, September 7, 2019 and Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria aims to support disadvantaged young people from low-income households, and not young people from middle-income or affluent households through the initiative.
On the launch day in Nigeria, the lender will hold an awareness walk and cycling event. It was gathered that the event also doubles as the bank’s Community Employee Volunteering Activity as part of its 20th Anniversary celebrations.
Futuremakers is the bank’s global initiative to tackle the issue of inequality and seeks to promote greater economic inclusion for young people in our communities.
The bank will achieve this by supporting disadvantaged young people from low-income households, particularly girls and young people with visual impairments, to take part in programmes focused on Education, Employability and Entrepreneurship.
Globally, Standard Chartered’s ambition is to raise $50 million (through fundraising and Bank- matching) between 2019 and 2023 to empower the next generation to learn, earn and grow. Futuremakers builds on the success of our existing community programmes such as Goal, designed to empower adolescent girls in rural communities through sports, vocational and life skills.
Speaking on the bank’s community investment activities in Nigeria, Lamin Manjang, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria said, “Since we commenced operations in Nigeria, the bank has played a prominent role in supporting communities across the country.
“Under the Seeing is Believing project, over $1 million was raised between 2006 and 2018 to fund free corrective eye surgeries and treatments for approximately 40,000 beneficiaries across the country. 700,000 individuals Living with HIV/AIDs received support through various intervention programs and nearly 170,000 young women and girls have benefited from the Goal program.
“We are excited about the immense opportunities Futuremakers will also provide to young people in the country, helping them to become financially educated; employable and successful as entrepreneurs.
“As an international financial institution, with twenty years of experience in Nigeria, this is one of the many ways we continue to reinstate to our stakeholders and the community that our commitment to the development of the communities in Nigeria is resolute and that we are indeed truly Here for good,” Manjang said.
The implementation partners are the Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF), who have successfully co-managed the Goal program in Nigeria since 2011 and WAVE Nigeria who help train youths to be employable and also assist with job placements.
The two-part event, consisting of cycling or an awareness walk, is set to become an annual event with participants being drawn from all walks of life including representatives of donor companies, clients, vendors, media, spouses, children, friends and relatives of staff.
