As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Access Bank UK Limited held its annual Polo Day at Guards Polo Club, Windsor, on Saturday.
The Access Bank UK Polo Day, an annual charity event, is the culmination of a year-long fund-raising programme in partnership with UNICEF for education projects in northern Nigeria.
According to a statement from the bank, CSR and exemplary Corporate Governance form part of its hallmarks.
The statement read in part, “From inception to date, the UNICEF/Access Bank, funds from the charity event have been used to rebuild schools in Kaduna and keep more than 12,000 students in continuous education. At the same time, new solar-powered school blocks and a computer literacy building all in a more secure and friendly school environment have been developed. The communities surrounding the schools are being supported with boreholes for water and sewing and grinding machines to secure employment and stimulate economic and social development.
“The Access Bank UK Polo Day with the support of the Access Bank Group, the flagship subsidiary of Access Holdings PLC, highlights the plight of vulnerable children and orphans as well as internationally displaced persons. In partnership with Fifth Chukker and based in Kaduna, Nigeria, Access Bank Polo Tournament generates funds and stimulates support for the work of the UNICEF/Access Bank initiative across Africa. Essentially, the primary objective is to empower underprivileged children through education and ensuring that these deserving children have the opportunity to dream, learn and grow.”
It added that last year’s event featured two polo matches between Malcomines, Delaney, Fifth Chukka and Access Bank. While Malcomines Polo won the Khalifa Cup, beating Delaney Polo 7-4 across four chukkas, Delaney Polo’s Damian Duncan, who had a standout game in the number one position, was rewarded with the Access Bank Most Valuable Player prize.
“The second match of the day, for the Access Bank Charity Cup, saw a win for Access Bank. They beat Fifth Chukker 4-3 in a fast-paced game that featured some of the sport’s top players including Juan Martin Nero, Polito Pieres, Alfredo Bigatti and Guillermo Terrera. Access Bank’s Sayyu Dantata received the Most Valuable Player prize from Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II – Emir of Kano. He then stepped up to receive the Access Bank Best Playing Pony prize for Bayita, whom he had played in the fourth chukka.”
