Aduragbemi Omiyale
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Nigerian banking giant, Access Bank Plc, has donated the sum of R360,000 to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Trust Fund (NMCF)
Access Bank has been at the forefront of creating awareness and supporting the education of underprivileged children in Africa through raising much-needed funds for organisations such as UNICEF for this purpose.
The donation was announced at the maiden Polo tournament hosted by the lender at the prestigious Val de Vie Polo Club in Cape Town, South Africa.
The event was held to further create awareness and raise funds to support the education of underprivileged children in Africa, with funds generated from the sale of artworks at the event going to the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
It was gathered that the charity tournament was organised by the bank in partnership with Fifth Chukker to further deepen its commitment towards impacting the environment and positively affecting the lives of underprivileged children in Africa.
Speaking at the event, the Group Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr Herbert Wigwe, stated that, “About 12 years ago, we decided to act and positively impact the lives of underprivileged children in Africa, including South Africa.
“The first charity tournament saw us impact 400 children and now, the number has grown to 12,000 children who have been educated across the northern part of Nigeria.
“Henceforth, every December will be dedicated to this cause; we will set aside money to support underprivileged children in South Africa through the Nelson Mandela Foundation,” Mr Wigwe said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank South Africa, Sugendhree Reddy said, “This successful engagement was made possible because of the opportunities provided by the South African government to establish our presence in this relatively new market.
“Access Bank is here to deliver value and excellent service to customers in South Africa. Hence, we will collaborate with all stakeholders to create optimal solutions and serve as Africa’s gateway to the rest of the world.”
The event attracted hundreds of game enthusiasts as teams competed for the Access Bank Gold Cup and Emily Aig-Imoukhuede Memorial Cup, commissioned by Fifth Chukker in memory of one of Nigeria’s most accomplished women and former President of the National Council of Women Societies, Emily Aig-Imoukhede.
