The Stanbic IBTC group has awarded up to N100.5 million in scholarships to youngsters across the country who have lost limbs.
They have also been given prosthesis to help with their movement and physical activities by the company.
Dr Demola Sogunle, CEO of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, made this remark during his speech at this year’s edition of the company’s ‘Together-4-A-Limb Walk’ event, which was recently conducted in Lagos.
‘Together-4-A-Limb Walk’ is a corporate social responsibility initiative of the company where participants comprising IBTC group staff members, students, policy makers, newsmen, among others, take a long walk along major roads to create awareness about the plights of children who have lost their limbs and other vulnerable to garner support for them to live a fulfilled life.
Demola expressed great happiness with the intervention after the long walk, claiming it is delivering wonderful effects.
He stated that the corporation launched the effort nine years ago and has since identified and assisted up to 100 youngsters in that physical health condition around the country, with each receiving N1.5 million to fund their education as well as prosthesis.
He estimated that 45 people would benefit from the project this year, the most in a single year since the project’s inception.
According to him, the long walk is to raise people’s consciousness at all levels to take intentional measures toward creating an all-inclusive society in which everyone, regardless of physical obstacles, finds fulfillment.
He believes that by doing so, individuals will be able to realize their full potential and become constructive change agents in society.
According to him, the beneficiaries lost their limbs owing to a variety of circumstances, including congenital disorders or birth deformities in some cases, and accidents or untreated injuries in others.
Sogunle stated that Stanbic IBTC is so dedicated to the cause that the last three editions of the long walk and scholarship award presentations were cancelled owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, promising that the corporation will not back down.
In separate statements at the ceremony, the wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Mrs Oyindamola Ogunsanwo, and the vice consul, German Embassy, Nigeria, Viola Van Loock, both praised IBTC Holdings for the effort, calling it a wise investment.
Sanwo-Olu’s wife specifically stated that investing in children’s education is the best legacy that any society can leave.
She said that many people, particularly children from less privileged homes, are naturally talented but only just a little help to achieve their goals, hence the need to go in their direction.
“That is why I will implore other corporate bodies, religious institutions, and philanthropists to take a cue from IBTC group to join in this type of laudable project for the sake of humanity and the society at large,” she stressed.
Beneficiaries of the scholarship and prosthesis were present at the event, some with their parents, and expressed gratitude to the Stanbic IBTC group, saying the move has given them hope for a better life.
