By Adedapo Adesanya
Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group, Mr Tony Elumelu, has made donation of a multipurpose information technology centre to his alma mater, Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State.
Categorised as part of the corporate social responsibility arm of the bank, the state-of-the-art multipurpose information technology building is for the benefit of students of the institution.
The hall, to be named The Tony O. Elumelu Multipurpose Hall, is furnished with computers, desks and chairs. It measures 839 square meters and has adjoining offices and conveniences.
Speaking on the motivation for the infrastructure, Mr Elumelu said, “Education is crucial to Nigeria’s human capital – whether our young people join our national institutions, the private sector or, as I did, take the entrepreneurial path, no one can afford to be cut off from the digital world.”
“It has been a personal mission to ensure that the hall was delivered to specification, for the benefit of the students at the AAU.
“Success brings with it the duty to give back, and I am just grateful that I am now in a position to meaningfully help the next generation,” Mr Elumelu, who was represented by the Directorate Head, South Bank, UBA, Mr Chris Ofikulu, said while handing over the hall to the university, at a ceremony attended by members of the school’s governing council and staff, led by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ignatius Onimawo.
He highlighted the contribution of UBA, through its Foundation, to education and development across Africa, saying, “As a pan-African bank, operating in 20 countries across our continent, UBA is committed to being a socially responsible institution, and a role model for businesses in Africa.”
“The UBA Foundation actively promotes the socio-economic improvement of the communities in which UBA operates, with a particular emphasis on development in the areas of education, environment, and economic empowerment
“We believe in intervening and building capacity within communities, facilitating projects that will act as catalysts for social and economic development,” he further stated.
Vice Chancellor of AAU, Mr Ignatius Onimawo, who expressed his gratitude towards the gesture by the UBA Group Chairman, noted that one of the most pressing needs of the University for 2020 had been met, and thanked UBA and Mr Elumelu.
Mr Onimawo noted that Mr Elumelu is a product of the university and is conscious of the need to give back and the fact that there is no substitute for world class educational infrastructure.
“This is what has informed the construction of these facilities, that will help equip the future leaders of our great nation Nigeria,” he said.
He challenged students to make proper use of the facilities provided by UBA, and to ensure that they emerge great leaders and mentors like Elumelu, whose commitment to catalysing entrepreneurial growth across Africa, through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and institutionalising African philanthropy, had created a strongly positive role model.
“We at Ambrose Ali university are so proud of our son Tony Elumelu and every time we see him doing good across Africa, we feel joy and accomplishment” Mr Onimawo added.
