Polaris Bank, a financial institution in a strategic partnership with Evolve Charity, a non-profit organization, has donated educational materials to over 400 secondary school students in the Ikeja and Surulere areas of Lagos State.
According to the bank, the donation which was carried out through its ‘Girl-Child Education Project’ was to celebrate the International Day of the Girl.
The donated materials which include; school uniforms, school bags, pens, sandals, and various books, were presented to the students of both Opebi Junior Secondary School, Opebi, Ikeja Lagos, Gbaja Junior and Senior Girls High School, at their school premises in Surulere.
Speaking at the materials presentation at Opebi Ikeja, Adekunle Sonola, the Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank said, “At Polaris Bank, we are of the firm belief that every investment in education, especially on empowerment of the girl-child, leaves a lasting impact, not only on the child, but on the society. This is why we partnered with Evolve Charity to launch the Support for the Girl Child Education Project.”
Sonola reaffirmed the Bank’s confidence in education, saying, “We believe in education as an organization, and more importantly, we believe in identifying with the pupils in these schools. We have done this over the past few years, and it is something we’re committed to doing, and will continue to do”.
He further explained that the initiative aimed at keeping the girl child in school and educated, thereby reducing the growing cases of early marriages in society. “The objective is to empower these underprivileged girls through education by providing them with school supplies and personal development tools they need”, he said.
On his part Umesh Amarnani, the Managing Director, Pacegate Limited, owners of Evolve Charity, said “The essence of sustainable education intervention, noting that the selected schools are now our responsibility by adoption, and we will continue to provide the students with school supplies, whilst focusing especially on the girls and teaching their teachers value-based education that impact good manners on the students”.
He commended the partnership with Polaris Bank, saying, “We’re happy to partner with Polaris Bank and other institutions that have supported us in our cause. And what is most interesting is that all the work is being done voluntarily by all Nigerians working in the company. And we are covering 36 schools across 6 states. We started this initiative four years ago, and we are planning to go on every year and do more and more”, he added
