Unity Bank Plc, in partnership with Ocean Ambassadors Foundation, has empowered no less than 3,000 girls drawn from senior secondary schools across Nigeria following a three-day capacity-building initiative on maritime commerce and National Virtual Maritime Quiz.
The initiative which forms part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility was mapped out to draw attention to the imperatives of training the girl child to participate actively in relevant sectors of the economy.
With focus on ICT, maritime transportation and logistics ecosystem, the capacity-building initiative coincided with the International Day of the Girl Child.
This is coming against the backdrop of the negative impact of COVID-19 on the education sector which has affected millions of girls across Nigeria, resulting in “many girls being unable to return to schools and many others becoming child brides,” according to a recent report by The Economist.
Unity Bank’s managing director/CEO Tomi Somefun represented by the chief customer service officer Titilayo Abraham officially opened the event.
Commenting on the initiative, she said: “Unity Bank has maintained its commitment to supporting the girl child by supporting several advocacy initiatives and investing in the education sector. The National Maritime Quiz is yet another opportunity to contribute to the movement to encourage, educate and empower the Girl-Child to participate in the economy while driving access to education.
“We commend the Ocean Ambassadors Foundation for their initiatives aimed at bridging the gender gap in the ICT, maritime, transportation, and logistics sectors in Nigeria.”
Unity Bank has in time past demonstrated commitment to supporting the education sector, especially for initiatives targeted at children. One of the bank’s flagship initiatives – One Minute Genius (OMG) and others such as Unity Bank Spelling B Competition, One Day CEO, are annual educational platforms of the bank aimed at boosting financial literacy among Nigerian children.
The organisers, Ocean Ambassadors Foundation, commended Unity Bank, adding that “the sensitisation for the Girl-Child to take advantage of career opportunities in the ICT and maritime cannot be overemphasised.”
