According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), of the 244 million children globally between ages 6 and 18 who are not in school, more than 98 million, or over 40% reside in sub-Saharan Africa. This includes significant numbers in Nigeria (20.2 million), Ethiopia (10.5 million), the Democratic Republic of Congo (5.9 million), and Kenya (1.8 million).
Sub-Saharan Africa exhibits the highest levels of educational deprivation worldwide, with an alarming figure of 90% of children unable to competently read or comprehend a basic text by age 10. Children entrenched in areas plagued by conflict or climate-related emergencies are disproportionately impacted by this learning deficit, suffering the highest rates of educational shortfall in the region. Over half of all children worldwide affected by crises are in sub-Saharan Africa.
The awareness of Access Bank Plc of the danger of the trend of education backwardness in Sub-Saharan Africa and the benefits that will acrrue to the our world when more children have access to education is what motivated the bank to initiate several education empoowerment schemes in countries where they operate their business.
From an economic standpoint, education is a driving force for expansion and improvement, boosting the productivity and innovative capacity of the labor market. Individuals with education are more likely to land better-paying careers, foster technological progress, and spearhead business initiatives, which in turn enriches overall economic performance and consistency.
Access Bank Plc, one of Africa’s premier financial institutions, continues to reaffirm its dedication to education and community development through its annual UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament. During the 2024 event, Access Bank announced the construction of 60 additional classrooms in Maraban Jos, Kaduna. This initiative underscores the transformative power of sports in driving community upliftment.
The tournament, which attracted dignitaries, sports enthusiasts, and philanthropists, highlighted how sports can serve as a powerful catalyst for social good. This year’s announcement builds on the Bank’s commendable efforts in 2023, where they commissioned 30 blocks, each comprising two classrooms, during the same event.
Upon the project’s completion, Access Bank aims to double the enrolment capacity of the Access Bank Fifth Chukker School. This expansion is poised to significantly enhance educational opportunities, building on the school’s success in providing quality education and social welfare to approximately 14,000 children to date. The Polo Tournament has also been extended to include South Africa, with a partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation forming a foundation for scaled impact across the continent. Access Bank’s initiatives include scholarships, mentorship programs, and providing a comprehensive educational experience for underserved students.
Continuing with similar initiatives, Access Bank, in collaboration with the Temitayo Awosika Help Foundation, launched the Back to School Project to lessen financial pressures on parents and guardians of children with sickle cell disease. This noble cause has provided over 12,000 underprivileged students with vital scholastic materials. These materials comprise textbooks essential for thorough learning, backpacks for the efficient and safe transport of items, notebooks designed for effective note-taking and homework, along an array of stationery crucial for everyday learning tasks. Through this provision, TAHF aims to promote educational opportunity and equity, ensuring that children from all economic backgrounds have the essential instruments to thrive academically.
Access Bank, in partnership with The Bethesda Child Support Foundation, introduces the “SHE Reads” initiative, an ambitious project designed to enroll, empower, and transform the lives of 5,000 out-of-school young women in Nigeria over the next five years. This initiative focuses on a one-year intensive literacy program to teach reading and writing, establish literacy centers across various states, and address gaps in numeracy and financial literacy. Additionally, it includes health workshops to ensure overall well-being.
By enrolling an initial cohort of 200 young women, the program aims to provide them with the tools needed for personal and professional growth, fostering independence and self-worth, with the support of local communities, educational institutions, health organizations, and corporate partners. Continuous monitoring and evaluation will ensure the program’s effectiveness and sustainability, ultimately contributing to a brighter future for the participants.
Furthering its efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children, Access Bank partnered with Kidpreneur Africa to launch “Project Educate Me.” This initiative aims to empower internally displaced and underserved youth with essential literacy, financial, digital, and life skills. Targeting vulnerable populations in Adamawa, Katsina, and Borno states, Project Educate Me will support children in specific local government areas. By collaborating with stakeholders, the project seeks to directly benefit over 150,000 children, ensuring positive, lasting impacts on their lives and futures.
Access Bank Ghana’s partnership with CHAINT AFRIQUE on the “A Sandal More” project, an initiative focused on upcycling used car tires into eco-friendly, durable school sandals. This innovative project addresses the dual needs of promoting quality and inclusive education for all children by providing sandals to underprivileged children and promoting environmental sustainability by repurposing waste materials. The project was launched in 2023 and supported 1,000 schoolchildren in Ghana with sandals made from tires. The initiative has impacted over 400 communities and involved skills acquisition programs for youth and entrepreneurs to build capacity on recycling old tires, with 1,000 individuals trained. Collection hubs were provided in various locations for the collection of old tires from customers and employees
Building on its success in Ghana, Access Bank Nigeria partnered with FREEE Recycle to launch a transformative initiative in Oyo State. The program collected and recycled 706 discarded tires from the Oyo environs through FREEE’s network of aggregators. The recycled tires were utilized to produce 2,500 rubber sandals, benefiting school children in various communities across Oyo State.
This initiative not only addressed critical waste management challenges by promoting recycling and reducing carbon emissions but also enhanced access to education by providing footwear to school children. In addition, Access Bank and FREEE Recycle were committed to empowering local communities through skills development, ensuring sustainable contributions to FREEE Recycle’s manufacturing operations, and fostering environmental stewardship across the region.
In Zambia, many girls encounter formidable challenges due to the considerable distances they must travel to reach school. These distances often pose a barrier to their education, especially in rural areas like Kasama. Recognizing this obstacle, Access Bank Zambia has made a significant contribution to the Strong Girls Strong Zambia Campaign by donating 60 bicycles. These bicycles play a crucial role in enhancing educational opportunities for vulnerable girls. By providing a means of transportation, Access Bank Zambia is helping to overcome the logistical hurdles that often prevent girls from attending school regularly and punctually. This initiative ensures safer and more efficient travel and empowers girls to prioritize their education, thereby fostering their academic success and personal development.
Access Bank actively addresses educational barriers, empowers vulnerable populations, and promotes sustainable development. By focusing on literacy, empowerment, and community engagement, Access Bank transforms individual lives and contributes significantly to the socio-economic advancement of communities. As we all know, education is a fundamental human right and we must ensure no child is left behind.
