The transformative power of collective action in expanding access to education took centre stage in London as Access Bank UK, Fifth Chukker, UNICEF and the Kaduna State Government reaffirmed their shared commitment to creating brighter futures for Nigeria’s most vulnerable children.

Hosted by Access Bank UK, Access UK Polo Day celebrated more than 15 years of impact driven by a shared vision to expand educational opportunities for underserved children. What began as a modest initiative has evolved into one of Africa’s most impactful education programmes, with the Access Bank Fifth Chukker School in Kaduna State and its associated interventions positively impacting more than 14,000 children across underserved communities in Northern Nigeria.

At the heart of this transformation is the Access Bank Fifth Chukker School, where investments in educational infrastructure, learning resources and student support have created lasting opportunities for thousands of children.

Between 2018 and 2026 alone, the school recorded 2,538 graduates, with female pupils accounting for more than 54 per cent of the total, underscoring the programme’s contribution to advancing girls’ education and promoting inclusive access to learning.

More than 1,000 pupils benefit from the school’s internationally recognised foundational learning programme each year, contributing to improved literacy and numeracy outcomes and a reported 15 per cent increase in learning performance. Students continue to secure admission into leading secondary schools, while teachers receive ongoing professional development and digital learning support.

Enhanced infrastructural facilities and expanded learning resources have further strengthened the overall learning environment, helping to sustain the programme’s long-term impact.

This year’s event reinforced a compelling message: Every pledge should lead to a classroom, every classroom should empower a child, and every child should have the opportunity to shape a brighter future.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna, reflected on the remarkable growth of the initiative and the unwavering commitment of its supporters.

“What began as a dream to transform the lives of 100 children has grown into a movement that has positively impacted more than 14,000 young people. We want to return next year talking about 28,000 children. Education remains the greatest leveller, giving every child a genuine opportunity to realise their potential and contribute meaningfully to society.”

Ogbonna expressed appreciation to donors and partners whose support has sustained the initiative, noting that investment in education creates lasting intergenerational impact.

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani described education as one of the most valuable investments any society can make. He praised the longstanding alliance between Access Bank, Fifth Chukker and UNICEF, noting that it has restored hope and opportunity to thousands of children from underserved communities.

Highlighting Kaduna State’s ongoing education reforms, the Governor revealed that approximately 300,000 out-of-school children had been returned to classrooms over the past year through partnerships with organisations including UNICEF and other development partners.

He also announced plans to construct an additional 120 classrooms at the Fifth Chukker Access Bank UNICEF School, enabling even more children to access quality education.

“What we are doing here is about humanity. By giving children access to quality education, we are empowering them to dream, to lead and to build a better future for themselves and their communities.”

Governor Sani also paid tribute to the late Herbert Wigwe, acknowledging his vision, leadership and enduring commitment to improving educational outcomes for underserved populations.

For Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings, the true success of the initiative is reflected in the lives being transformed.

“The most meaningful measure of success is not the number of buildings we construct, but the opportunities we create. Every child who receives an education, every young person who discovers their potential, and every community strengthened through learning represents the lasting impact of this partnership. Together, we are proving that when purpose meets collaboration, we can create opportunities that change lives for generations.”

Welcoming guests, Jamie Simmonds, Chief Executive Officer of The Access Bank UK, described the gathering as polo with purpose, a celebration not only of sport but of a shared mission to create opportunity through education.

He highlighted the institution’s commitment to supporting initiatives that deliver sustainable social impact and broaden access to learning for underserved children.

The event concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to deepen investment in education as a catalyst for national development and social progress.

The Access Bank Fifth Chukker School continues to demonstrate the impact of sustained collaboration among the private sector, government and development partners, delivering measurable outcomes for vulnerable children in Northern Nigeria.

Communications infrastructure company, IHS Nigeria, in partnership with the Federal Capital Territory Health Services and Environment Secretariat (FCT-HSES), has successfully concluded the Project Breathe Clean Air Abuja, a landmark initiative designed to help the underserved communities across the Federal Capital Territory to access Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders as a cleaner alternative for household cooking.

The Grand Finale Ceremony, which held at the Bwari Area Council Stadium, marked the successful completion of the project following months of implementation across all the six Area Councils of the FCT. The event also featured the symbolic presentation of LPG cylinders and refill vouchers to beneficiaries in Bwari, the final beneficiary community under the programme.

Speaking at the event Mr. Dapo Otunla, Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Services Officer, IHS Nigeria who represented the Chief Executive Officer, Mohamad Darwish, described the initiative as a practical demonstration of the company’s commitment to delivering sustainable impact in the communities where it operates.

“When we launched this initiative in November 2025, we committed to supporting the FCT Administration in reducing household air pollution and improving the health and wellbeing of vulnerable communities. Today, we are proud to celebrate the successful fulfilment of that commitment,” he said.

Mr. Otunla noted that Project Breathe Clean Air Abuja aligns directly with two of IHS Nigeria’s core sustainability pillars: Environment and Climate Change, and People and Communities.

He explained that by supporting the transition from traditional biomass fuels such as firewood and charcoal to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), the initiative has contributed to cleaner household energy use, reduced exposure to indoor air pollution, and improved health outcomes, particularly for women and children.

According to him, the project delivered 10,000 LPG cylinders across communities in the FCT over two phases, while also enrolling 2,000 beneficiaries into the IHS Project Clinic Without Walls (PCWOW) Health Insurance Scheme, thereby extending the project’s impact beyond clean energy to improved access to healthcare.

“As we celebrate the successful completion of this initiative, we are also celebrating the strength of partnership. The collaboration between IHS Nigeria, the FCT Administration, community leaders and the implementing partners has transformed a shared vision into measurable impact,” he added.

Delivering an overview of the project, the Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, reflected on the journey that led to the initiative and expressed appreciation to IHS Nigeria for supporting the FCT Administration’s vision of promoting cleaner, healthier communities.

She explained that the project was conceived as a practical response to the widespread use of firewood and charcoal for cooking across communities in the FCT.

“We could not simply ask people to stop using firewood and charcoal without providing them with a practical alternative,” she said.

Dr. Fasawe commended IHS Nigeria for embracing the vision and providing the support required to make the project a reality.

She noted that, through the partnership, beneficiaries across the six Area Councils received LPG cylinders alongside refill vouchers, helping their households transition to cleaner cooking methods while reducing exposure to harmful household smoke.

She further described the project as an example of how collaboration between government and the private sector can deliver meaningful improvement in the lives of citizens.

Beneficiaries also shared testimonials on how the access to clean cooking energy has improved their daily lives, while officials of the Federal Fire Service conducted a practical demonstration on the safe handling and use of LPG cylinders.

The ceremony brought together senior officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, representatives of the Honourable Minister of State for the FCT, Area Council representatives, traditional rulers, and community stakeholders in celebration of the successful completion of the initiative.

The IHS Nigeria delegation was led by Mr. Dapo Otunla, Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Services Officer, and included, Director, Sustainability, Titilope Oguntuga, Director, Corporate Communications, Sylva Ifedigbo and other members of the company’s leadership and sustainability teams.

The successful conclusion of Project Breathe Clean Air Abuja reinforces IHS Nigeria’s commitment to advancing sustainable development through strategic partnerships that promote environmental responsibility, improve public health outcomes and strengthen the resilience of host communities.

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