Access Bank, Fifth Chukker, UNICEF Renew Education Partnership for Vulnerable Children

 Access Bank, Fifth Chukker, UNICEF Renew Education Partnership for Vulnerable Children

L- R; Ifeyinwa Osime, Chairman, Access Bank; Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, Co-Founder, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation; Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman, Access Holdings; Adolfo Cambiaso, a professional polo player; Dikko Umaru Radda, Katsina State Governor; Uba Sanni, Kaduna State Governor, and Mohammed Umar Bago, Niger State Governor. Front Row: , Hamza Bello and Maryam Dauda, students of Access Bank Fifth Chukker School, at the Access Bank UK Polo Day in Windsor, United Kingdom…Saturday

LONDON, United Kingdom, July 6, 2026 — Access Bank, Fifth Chukker, UNICEF and the Kaduna State Government have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding access to quality education for vulnerable children in Northern Nigeria, marking more than 15 years of collaboration through the Access UK Polo Day in London.

Hosted by Access Bank UK, the event celebrated the long-running partnership, which organisers said has positively impacted more than 14,000 children through the Access Bank Fifth Chukker School and related education interventions in Kaduna State.

Since its establishment, the initiative has grown into one of Africa's notable private sector-supported education programmes. Between 2018 and 2026, the school produced 2,538 graduates, with girls accounting for more than 54 per cent of the total, reflecting efforts to improve access to education for female pupils.

According to the organisers, more than 1,000 pupils benefit annually from the school's foundational learning programme, which has contributed to improved literacy and numeracy, alongside a reported 15 per cent increase in learning outcomes. The programme also provides teacher training, digital learning support, improved infrastructure and expanded educational resources, while graduates continue to gain admission into leading secondary schools.

Speaking at the event, Access Bank Plc Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Roosevelt Ogbonna, said the initiative had grown beyond its original target of supporting 100 children.

"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 thanked donors and development partners for sustaining the programme, noting that investments in education generate long-term benefits for communities and future generations.

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani described education as one of the most important investments governments and institutions can make, commending the partnership between Access Bank, Fifth Chukker and UNICEF for improving educational opportunities for underserved children.

The governor disclosed that about 300,000 out-of-school children had been returned to classrooms across Kaduna State over the past year through collaborations with UNICEF and other development partners. He also announced plans to construct an additional 120 classrooms at the Access Bank Fifth Chukker UNICEF School to accommodate more pupils.

"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," Sani said.

He also paid tribute to the late Herbert Wigwe, praising his vision and commitment to expanding educational opportunities for disadvantaged children.

Chairman of Access Holdings, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said the partnership's greatest achievement lies in the lives it continues to transform.

"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."

Earlier, Chief Executive Officer of The Access Bank UK, Jamie Simmonds, described the Access UK Polo Day as "polo with purpose," emphasising the bank's commitment to supporting initiatives that promote sustainable social impact and broaden access to quality education.

The event concluded with stakeholders renewing their commitment to strengthening investments in education, describing collaboration between the private sector, government and development partners as critical to improving learning outcomes and expanding opportunities for vulnerable children across Northern Nigeria.