TheCable

UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa, on Friday launched its ‘Each One, Teach One’ initiative, hosting a huge impact day in Nigeria and across all its subsidiaries in Africa.

According to the bank, the community service presents an opportunity for UBA staff members to give a little of their time and skills to their communities.

Thousands of the bank’s staff across the continent took part in the event.

Kennedy Uzoka, UBA group managing director, who attended the event in Lagos, said the bank decided to give back by imparting knowledge to students and participants.

Uzoka, who is also the chairman, UBA Foundation, said: “Our goal with this initiative is to help the under privileged and young children learn vocational skills that will assist them along the path to financial freedom as they start businesses of their own.

“We have therefore, created a platform to encourage people who have various skills and talents to pass this on to the younger generation.

“Interestingly, we have over 15,000 staff across the UBA network and we know that if each of them can teach two people, then a lot of people would be impacted with a lot of skills within a very short period.”

After engaging in a group reading session with the students, Uzoka seized the opportunity to educate the youth and the students on financial literacy, the gains of savings and investing from a young age.

GMD/CEO of UBA, Kennedy Uzoka conducting reading session with some secondary school students at the event

“As a bank, we want students to inculcate the habit of savings, especially for the rainy day. It is important that you are cautious about the future, because nothing is guaranteed. Therefore ensure that you bear this in mind when you receive your allowance no matter how little,” Uzoka said to the students at Onikan community centre, Lagos.

Bola Atta, CEO of UBA Foundation, said the initiative is aimed at helping to impact lives positively and in a very meaningful way.

Nduka Omeife, staff of UBA, conducting a practical class on creative arts at the event

“At UBA Foundation, we really genuinely care about our communities and about doing good,” she said.

“I see how excited staff members are when they get involved in any of our CSR initiatives. There is something really gratifying about giving back. It helps the communities and helps you grow as an individual. Today was an extremely productive exercise.”