Bank supports child victims of insurgency with prosthetic limbs

Stanbic IBTC supports child victims of insurgency with prosthetic limbs, education trust funds.Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, a member of Standard Bank Group, has reiterated its commitment to help children and the youth lead very productive lives that will enable them contribute to the development of the society. This commitment was restated during its annual signature corporate and investment initiative andcharity walk held on Saturday, 24 September 2016, tagged ‘Together4 A Limb’, where underserved children victims of the Boko Haram insurgency, which has plagued the northern region of the country, were the primary beneficiaries.

A 3-kilometre charity walk aimed at raising awareness and awakening public consciousness of children without limbs was flagged off by the Guest of Honour, the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, who was represented by the wife of the Zamfara State Governor, Hajiya Asmau Yari in Abuja.

This was immediately followed by cheque presentation of education trust fund of N1.5 million to each of the eight beneficiary children whom had been successfully fitted with artificial limbs. Six of the eight children beneficiaries present at the charity walk were presented cheques by Hajiya Yari while two others were presented at a separate ceremony. Last year, five children benefitted from the initiative and received education trust fund and prostheses, bringing to 13 the number of children beneficiaries so far.

According to the Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, the initiative is an important part of the Group’s corporate social investment, which focuses on health, education and economic empowerment. She said while the charity walk is important to draw attention to the plight of children who have limb losses, of greater benefit to the children, their parents/guardians and the society are the prostheses and education trusts Stanbic IBTC is giving to the beneficiaries.

“This event is a very important CSI initiative and one of the ways by which Stanbic IBTC contribute meaningfully to the society. Through the provision of prostheses and education trusts to indigent children who have suffered limb losses, we are assisting young Nigerians to enable them get on with their lives in a productive manner,” David-Borha said. According to the Chief Executive, “The education trust will provide for the education of the beneficiaries for as far as they are willing and able to go and will enable them realize their God-given potential.”

Hajiya Yari commended Stanbic IBTC for the initiative and said it was a wonderful cause that should be emulated by other corporate organizations and well-meaning Nigerians. Hajiya Yari said the First Lady is particularly pleased with the initiative because she is so passionate about children. “I feel honoured to be a part of this wonderful cause. Reaching out and helping children with limbs losses and giving them a new lease of life to become worthwhile individuals has gone a long way to show that Nigeria is indeed ready for change,” she said.

David-Borha assured that the Stanbic IBTC Group will continue to impact the lives of children and society as much as possible through its CSI initiatives.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, a full service financial services group with a clear focus on three main business pillars – Corporate and Investment Banking, Personal and Business Banking and Wealth Management. Standard Bank Group, to which Stanbic IBTC Holdings belongs, is the largest African bank by assets and market capitalization.

It is rooted in Africa with strategic representation in 20 countries on the African continent. Standard Bank has been in operation for over 153 years and is focused on building first-class, on-the-ground financial services institutions in chosen countries in Africa; and connecting selected emerging markets to Africa by applying sector expertise, particularly in natural resources, power and infrastructure.