Mohammed Shosanya
Access Bank UK Limited will host its annual Polo Day at Guards Polo Club, Windsor, today, Saturday, July 20.
The Access Bank UK Polo Day, an annual charity event, which is part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is the culmination of a year-long fund-raising programme in partnership with UNICEF for education projects in Kaduna State, the Northern part of Nigeria, in particular. CSR and exemplary Corporate Governance form part of the hallmarks of Access Bank.
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 128,000 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. At the 2023 Access Bank Polo Challenge over a million dollars was raised to support the Access Bank- UNICEF programme.
The Access Bank UK Polo Day with the support of the Access Bank Group, the flagship subsidiary of Access Holdings PLC, celebrates reaching out to and highlightsing the plight of vulnerable children and orphans as well as and internationally displaced persons.
In partnership with Fifth Chukker and based in Kaduna, Nigeria, Access Bank Polo Tournament is the biggest charity Polo Tournament in Africa and ggenerates funds and stimulates support for the work of the UNICEF/Access Bank initiative across Africa.
The primary objective is to empower underprivileged children through education and ensuring that these deserving children have the opportunity to dream, learn and grow.
Last year’s event was filled with two exciting polo matches between Malcomines, Delaney, Fifth Chukka and Access Bank. On the field of play Malcomines Polo won the Khalifa Cup, beating Delaney Polo 7-4 across four chukkas.
However,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.
After the prize giving, guests adjourned to the marquee for an enjoyable celebration accompanied by a performance by the Cavemen.
At the event, Herbert Wigwe, the then Group Managing Director of Access Holdings PLC and Chairman of The Access Bank UK Ltd (now late), said:
“Together our continuing support for the Fifth Chukker – UNICEF initiative reflects our view of our role as a change agent in Nigeria and Africa that can help institute socio-economic development through responsible business practice, social initiatives and environmental consideration.”
Jamie Simmonds, The Access Bank UK Ltd CEO and Managing Director, noted the successful Charity event at Guard’s Polo with Fifth Chukker was a tradition, which was only possible due to the loyalty of the customers.
This year’s Polo Day promises to be more exciting than the previous one, with more guests with mind of giving back and creating impacts, expected to grace the epoch-making event.
The annual event is coming as Access Bank UK recently posted financial results that demonstrate another year of outstanding international growth.
The bank has made notable and rapid progress, carrying out its mandate to expand its international operations in Europe – United Kingdom. France, Malta and Asia – Hong Kong as well as UAE. Subject to the necessary approvals from relevant financial and regulatory authorities, the bank hopes to make further announcements on its international operations.
According to Jamie Simmonds, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Access Bank, UK, “We are a bank where ourOur growth is fuelled by the strength of customer relationships. It enables us to develop innovative products and financial solutions with, rather than just for, our customers.
“We invest significantly in attracting, retaining and developing professional staff in order to ensure customers always deal with an expert who is familiar with their business and personal financial needs, it is a modern interpretation of relationship management”.
“External accolades are a valuable endorsement of our commitment to be part of the best regarded African Bank. We are proud that investors in people have re-accredited us Platinum status and winning the ‘Best African Trade Finance Bank’ from International Finance and Best ‘Africa Trade Finance Bank’ from Capital Finance International CFI for the sixth and the eighth consecutive year,” Simmonds added.
Access Bank UK Limited was established in 2008, and is regulated in the UK, to provide Trade Finance, Asset Management and Commercial Banking services for Access Bank Group’s dealings in OECD markets.
At the Facts Behind the Rights Issue in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of Access Holdings ongoing Rights Issue, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director, Access Bank PLC, commented, “Access Bank UK is well positioned to become one of the top 20 banks in the UK.”
The Rights Issue was designed to strengthen the Group’s financial footing and support ongoing working capital needs including organic growth funding for its banking and non-banking subsidiaries.
Also,recently at the signing of a monumental syndicate Tier II Facility agreement of USD295 million, in partnership with the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO).
Ogbonna said:“Putting these funds to use, we aim to catalyse growth across various sectors, stimulate business development, create jobs, and deepen financial inclusion, aligning with Access Bank’s mission to drive progress and development throughout the continent and beyond.”
