•Partners SME.ng on female empowerment solution
Peter Uzoho
Access Bank Plc has successfully completed the refurbishment of dilapidated educational infrastructure at Akodu Primary School, a rural school in Mushin, a suburb in Lagos State.
Also, the last phase of the renovation exercise was inaugurated yesterday.
The newly refurbished and inaugurated block of four classrooms was the final phase of a three-year intervention project undertaken by the Internal Audit Group of Access Bank as its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) that started in 2019.
The bank also donated 70 sets of tables and chairs in the final phase of the project to enhance the pupils’ learning experience.
The project, according to the bank, was carried out in collaboration with its consulting non-governmental organisation (NGO), Mushin to the World.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Chief Audit Executive, Access Bank, Mr. Yinka Tiamiyu, who was represented by the bank’s Head of Risk Audit, Mr. Martins Ogbu, said the project was carried out to improve the learning environment for the children and the staff.
Tiamiyu said, “The project started in 2019 with renovation works on the restrooms of two schools within this locality, namely, Akodu Primary School and Mainland Model Primary School, both in Mushin Local Government Area.
“In 2020, we followed up with the renovation of three dilapidated classrooms in Akodu Primary School. This was done to improve the learning environment for the children and the staff.
“The final phase, which we are here to commission today involves completion of the renovation of a block of four classrooms which commenced in 2020, and the procurement of 70 sets of tables and chairs for use by the pupils to further enhance the quality of their learning environment.”
He expressed the bank’s enthusiasm about the successful completion of the project, adding that they trust that the school would put the faculties to good use and facilitate excellent maintenance of them.
He explained that the bank chose to intervene in the education sector because of its fundamental place in the development of human.
He stressed that apart from the basic necessities of life which include security, protection of lives and property, food, clothing and shelter, education comes second, as an enlightened mind is capable of constructing and solving society’s problem.
Tiamiyu added, “So, that informed our decision to intervene in the education sector. And in doing this, we looked around and asked, where can we make the most impact? Could it be in the established schools in the cities? We said no, these are already established schools and they are running.
“So, we decided that we have to go to the rural communities that are deprived, where the opportunities are few and far between; where the amenities are likely to be lacking or dilapidated.
“We set out to search the various communities within Lagos State which is our major area of operation. By the time our searchlight got to Akodu Primary School, we knew we didn’t have to look further.
“The state of this school before our intervention was a sorry sight. Our heart bled when we saw the condition of the six blocks of classroom. In fact, out of the six, only two were in use because the roof of the rest had completely cave in.
“So, over a two-year period -2020 and this year 2021, we set out to intervene to completely renovate these classrooms, we reroofed and painted the entire structure completely.”
Appreciating the bank for the gesture, the Head Teacher of Akodu Primary School, Mrs. Caroline Adewewe, said: “I thank the Internal Audit Group of Access Bank and their partner, Mushin to the World, for working tirelessly, daily and night, to make this project and it’s commissioning a reality.
“I must say that the dedication and contribution of the Access Bank Audit team towards this project is worthy of emulation by other corporate organisations. They thought it wise to give back to the public in their own way of lifting the lives of the less-privileged. May God bless you all.”
Meanwhile, SME.NG in partnership with Access bank Plc and other leading institutions, including the Bank of Industry (BOI), LAPO Microfinance Bank, Chapel Hill Denham, and the Impact Investment Foundation Nigeria are launching the Ebi Marketplace – a Nigerian innovation for female entrepreneurs.
A statement yesterday explained that the Ebi Marketplace consists of an access to capital market, an e-commerce mall and a knowledge market for female entrepreneurs in Nigeria seeking to digitise their businesses.
“Conceptualised and developed by SME.NG as a tangible solution to the impact of COVID-19 on female entrepreneurs, the Ebi Marketplace aims to close the gender digital divide in Nigeria by supporting women’s digital literacy and financial inclusion, while providing access to capital and markets,” it added.
Thelma Ekiyor, the brain behind the Ebi Marketplace stated that SME.NG was committed to investing in facilitating female entrepreneurs’ profitability, so that they are positioned for infusion of capital.
According to her, the innovation was supported by Nigerian investors for the Nigerian market.
“We at SME.NG see ourselves as an indigenous solutions provider in Nigeria’s SME ecosystem. Women in Nigeria establish businesses more than men but struggle to grow beyond a certain point. We believe we have a strategic role to play in breaking that financial and growth ceiling,” she noted.
