NGO, local bank partner to strengthen girl-child education in Lagos

 

A non-governmental organisation, Evolve Charity in partnership with Polaris Bank donated educational materials to over 400 students in Ikeja and Surulere areas of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria. The donation was made as part of the events commemorating the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) International Day of the Girl.

The donated materials comprising school uniforms, school bags, pens, sandals, and various books, were presented to the students of both Opebi Junior Secondary School, Opebi, Ikeja Lagos, and Gbaja Junior Girls High School and Gbaja Senior Girls High School, at their school premises in Surulere.  

Speaking at the presentation of the educational materials, at Opebi Ikeja, the Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank, Adekunle Sonola, spoke of the Bank’s commitment to quality education of the girl-child. “At Polaris Bank, we are of the firm belief that every investment in education, especially in 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.”

READ MORE: Girl child education: 122 million girls still out of school -UNESCO

 

Sonola said the initiative seeks to empower underprivileged girls to pursue their education by making available school supplies and personal development tools required for them to succeed.

During his remark, the Managing Director of Pacegate Limited, owner of Evolve Charity, Umesh Amarnani, cited the importance of having sustainable education interventions. He stated that his NGO in partnership with Polaris has adopted the school and will continue providing the students with school supplies while focusing on the girl-child.

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. 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”. 

Earlier, the Principals of the beneficiary schools expressed their profound appreciation on behalf of the management and students of their respective schools.

Omolara Awosan, the Principal at Opebi Junior Secondary School, expressed her delight at the good gesture saying: “I’m so excited, on top of the world. I think this is the third time since I became the principal of the school that they have been here, giving our children school bags, uniforms, sandals, and some other writing materials. I’m so happy”.

Like their teachers, the students at all the beneficiary schools could not hide their excitement as they were full of appreciation and prayers for the kind gesture towards their academic development.

“I have gained from the writing materials I was given and got a bag and school uniform, and I don’t have to buy another uniform to sow aside this…and this presentation has been helpful”, Ogunsanya Kemisola, a JSS 2 Student of Opebi Junior Secondary School remarked.

Evolve Charity, a non-profit organization is the CSR arm of Pacegate Limited, one of the leading manufacturers of UN Certified Steel Drums and distributors of Adipro Lubricant Additives and chemical solutions to various sectors of the Nigerian Economy. Its partnership with Polaris Bank, Nigeria’s leading Digital Retail Bank was consummated in 2021.