Access Bank to invest $1.7m raised from UK polo tournament in improving Nigerian education

ACCESS Bank has announced plans to invest the $1.7m it recently raised at its charity polo tournament in the UK at the Guards Polo Club in Surrey towards improving the state of education in Nigeria.

On Saturday, July 16, the bank held the tournament at Egham in Surrey, getting it going for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The tournament, which is executed in partnership with Fifth Chukker and Unicef in Kaduna, South Africa and the UK, has been an extension of Access Bank’s efforts to support anti-poverty and anti-HIV/Aids campaigns in Nigeria.

This year's event proved very successful and the bank has announced that the money raised will be directed towards the building and equipping of over 100 classroom blocks in the less developed areas of Nigeria. Roosevelt Ogbonna, Access Bank's managing director, said that the polo event remained the greatest investment towards ensuring a great future for the vulnerable Nigerian child.

Herbert Wigwe, the group managing director of Access Corporation, added: “They serve as building blocks towards achieving a brighter future for the country, while challenging the various state governments to take sustainable actions towards ensuring all boys and girls complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education. We thank all attendees and donors for buying into our vision and assure that Access Bank will not relent in its efforts to see that every Nigerian child regardless of tribe, gender and religion is given a fair chance for a better tomorrow.”