By Stephen Ubanna
Ahead of the 2024, Christmas celebration, the United Bank of Africa,UBA, plc, popular, Pan African Bank, under the Chairmanship of multi- billionaire business mogul, Tony Elumelu, appears to have put smiles on the faces of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of Lagos state and officials of the state Security Trust Fund, SSTF.
As part of the UBA Group, Social Corporate Social Responsibility, CRS, which it had sustained over the years without failing, despite the downturn in the nation’s economy due to the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu harsh economic policies which many believe had forced some companies to close down or scale down their operations including Banks over the last one year, but the UBA Group, appears to have stepped up their efforts, for other Corporate Organizations to follow suit.
Ony recently, the Oliver Alawuba led Money Deposit Bank, MDB, had donated N500 million to the Lagos state Security Trust Fund, ‘’to support the Sanwo-Olu’s government’s efforts in improving the security of the south western state’’. The Bank may have taken the bold initiative because of what is happening inothers parts of the Federation, particular, the north western states of Zamfara, Sokototo, Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina and the north central states of Benue, Plateau, Niger including the south eastern states of Imo, Abia, Anambra and Eboyi where Banditry, terrorism and kidnapping activities have become very common in the recent time.
While Dauda Lawal, Dikko Umar Radda, governors in the north western states Zamfara and Katsina state respectively and those of Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger in the north central geopolitical region, including governors from the south eastern states of Imo, Anambra and Eboyi states go cap in hand begging President Tinubu, for financial assistance to effectively address the security challenges in their respective states, the situation may be different in Lagos state.
This is because, UBA Group and other Corporate Organizations operating in Lagos state, were said to have stepped up their efforts to give financial support to the Center of Excellence, to help address the security challenges of the state, where people will go about their business without fear of being attacked or kidnapped by the Criminal elements as obtained in the north western states of Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto and north central state Niger, or Imo and Anambra in the south eastern geopolitical region and other parts of the Federation.
Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos state governor, who had scheduled to receive the UBA plc, top Management Team at Lagos House, Marinna, on Sunday, Dec.15, 2024, may have mobilized some top officials of his government for the official engagement at the marina House, Lagos.
The UBA plc, team, was said to have been led by Elumelu, the Bank’s Chairman, who an insider had told The Value News online Magazine that governor was delighted to see Elumelu and his Team. The governor may have used the opportunity provided by the one-on-one interaction with the Delta state born multi-billionaire business mogul and Chairman of UBA plc, to make a financial donation to the state Security Trust Fund to make other demands to the bank.
In presenting the UBA Foundation, N500 million Cheque to the Lagos state governor, Sannwo-Olu, at Lagos House, Marina, the Pan African Bank Chairman had said that it has to do it because ‘’it is part of its continued commitment, to secure the places , both within and outside the country where operates for the betterment of individuals and businesses.
An eyewitness account had confirmed that Muyiwa Akinyemi, the Bank Deputy Group Managing Director, DMD, and some other top officials of the bank had accompanied Elumelu, the bank Chairman, Chairman, who incidentally is the Chairman of Tony Elumelu Foundation, to make the N500million Cheque presentation to the governor use of the SSTF.
In making the N500 million cheque presentation to the Lagos state governor,the TEF, Chairman, was said to have reiterated the bank’s initiatives that to continue to ensure the safety of lives and prosperity of Communities across Nigeria’’, noting that in the bank, they prioritize security issues because ‘’it is critical for the economic growth and societal well-being’’.He noted that the bank’s donation to the LSTF, is a reflection of its belief in building safer Communities to enhance the quality of life for all.
Hear him: We are happy to partner with the Lagos state government to achieve this shared vision of a secure environment conducive to investment and development. The UBA Group Chairman, was said to have emphasized the bank’s role as a leader in the nation’s banking industry in giving back to the society what it has got from it.
He averred that in pledging its financial support to the Lagos state government’s efforts at improving security to contain the activities of criminal elements and other states across the country,’’ the bank recognizes the pivotal link between safety and economic stability’’.
He had said that ‘’the partnership between the UBA Group with the Lagos state government reinforces its belief in collaborative efforts as the key to addressing security challenges and creating conducive environments where individuals live’’ without fear of harassment from criminal elements and businesses thrive.
He may have gladdened the heart of the Lagos state governor when he stated that ‘’a secure south western Lagos state is integral to a secure Nigeria’’. This may have informed why he had told those that cares to listen that ‘’the UBA Foundation will continue to support transformative initiatives that uplift lives and drive development’’.
According to Elumelu, the UBA Foundation, which is the league of the Tony Elumelu Foundation which is committed to development of Small and Medium Scale Industries within the African Continent, the former is committed ‘’to the socio-economic betterment of Communities in which the bank operates in the African Continent.
While receiving the mouth watery N500 million Cheque, from the UBA plc, Chairman, at Lagos state Houe, marina, an elated Sanwo-Olu, whose face was radiating with smiles was said to have’’ expressed appreciation to the UBA Group for’’ the significant contribution’’. He was said to have also commended the UBA Foundation Management team’’ for their unwavering commitment to impactful projects, the state progress and well-being of residents of the state’’.
He was said to repeated echoed ,‘’We are grateful to the UBA Group for their significant contribution to the Lagos Trust Fund, stating that the donation will go a long to strengthen the state government’s efforts ‘’to further enhance security, protect lives and property in the state’’. We are building a safer Lagos for all, he had remarked.
A top official of the UBA Group, who spoke to the online Magazine on condition of anonymity had said that the latest gesture of the UBA Group, to the Lagos state government, clearly aligns with the Foundation’s special projects initiative, which focuses on addressing pressing issues through strategic partnerships and impactful interventions.
There is no gain saying the fact that over the years, the UBA Foundation, had actively contributed to enhancing education, the environment, and economic empowerment as well as executing special projects such as making critical donations in Nigeria and other countries in the African Continent where it operates.
The UBA Group Chairman, may have said to the hearing of he Lagos state governor and his officials when he declared that the UBA Foundation’s commitment to security as a driver of attainable development of Nigeria and other parts of the African Continent is evident in its support for programs like LSSTF.
