Victor EzejaUNITED Bank For Africa Foundation has concluded plans to feed more than ten thousand people during the Yuletide season through its Annual Food Bank Initiative.
This is part of the foundation’s commitment to giving back to host communities across Africa and also providing succour to the underpriviledged in the communities where the financial institution operates.
The UBA Foundation which is the CSR arm of the bank, will distribute food, hygiene products and other gifts items to those who have less during the festive season.
This was disclosed during the Light-up ceremony performed recently at the UBA Foundation garden in Lagos to mark the beginning of the festive season.
The garden lights were activated by UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka who was joined by other key management staff and some customers of the bank.
Uzoka who is also chairman of the UBA Foundation, emphasised that giving back was the main tenet of the UBA Foundation.
He said ‘We have over the years, engaged in various activities aimed at appreciating our host communities all around Africa and especially in countries where we operate and so for us, these lights symbolise hope for the future and all the goodness it will bring into people’s lives.
“It is hard to believe that we have been in this pandemic for almost two years. People have lost friends and family members and businesses decimated by the effects of the pandemic. There has been a general feeling of hopelessness but our desire is to fill people’s lives with hope once again,”
The UBA Foundation has been very active in combatting the spread of Covid -19 across Africa as the bank did not waste any time at the start of the pandemic, donating over $14m to its communities across Africa to support the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the event, CEO, UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta, stated that the light-up ceremony was important for the Foundation. She said, “This goes beyond lighting up the Marina and adorning the streets with beautiful colours. It reminds us as an institution of our promise to continue to touch lives and treat our communities with kindness. We are living in very difficult times and a little gesture to put a smile on even one face, goes a very long way. We should all endeavour to do whatever we can, within our power, to uplift others.”
The Lighting Ceremony which observed all necessary Covid-19 protocols was witnessed by members of staff and customers, and featured Christmas carols by UBA’s CFC choir, as well as a guided tour around the beautiful UBA Foundation Garden at the Lagos Marina.
UBA Foundation, the CSR arm of the UBA Group, is committed to the socio-economic betterment of the communities in which the bank operates, focusing on development in the areas of Education, the Environment, Economic Empowerment and other Special Projects.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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