Sterling Bank Partners NAPPS on Capacity Building

Sterling Bank Plc is in partnership with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Lagos Chapter, as part of its commitment and contribution to enhancing capacity building and quality education.

The move, beside ensuring that students are equipped for tertiary education, would also aid their capacity development in terms of required skills to take on leadership roles that will meaningfully impact the society.

Shina Atilola, Sterling Bank’s Group head, Strategy and Communications, said the lender was pleased with the partnership as NAPPS is an embodiment of professionals, who know how to bring about change needed for growth and development.

“The decision of the Bank to support NAPPS was based on the association’s resolve to work with like-minded institutions to improve the poor state of the education sector in the country for good and our choice of projects to support in the education sector was based purely on the outcome of research conducted on the key issues affecting the sector,” he said.

He pointed out that the primary focus of the bank is to enrich lives by adding value through capacity building and development, especially as private sector cooperation is needed now that government alone cannot solve the problem of education.

Atilola, who explained that the partnership was not in consideration of the financial benefits that may ensue, however said that it is the belief of the financial institution that if a value is added to people, they may be voluntarily obliged to reciprocate.

“There is a need for the intervention of the private sector in the development of education to bring the sector back to its rightful place in the country. Government is doing its best, but we are not there yet. That is why the private sector must come in and invest in the education sector if our children to obtain qualitative education without having to pay over the odds for it. Sterling Bank’s intervention in the sector will help to ameliorate some of the challenges the sector faces.

“We were the pioneer bank in Nigeria to partner the Lagos EKO Project, using our staff as volunteer teachers to teach different subjects. Apart from that, Sterling Bank has helped to improve the look and feel of some schools and we are also supporting with books, writing materials, as well as textbooks. Our books ‘My Little Money Book’ and ‘Funds’, represent our way of providing a learning/teaching guide on savings, loans and other financial concepts.

“We are looking at all actors in the value chain. For instance, the Bank has set up an education desk to look at the total value chain of the education sector, from suppliers of inputs to the end users. The Bank intends to use its expertise to contribute to the development of the sector through a variety of initiatives”, he added.

Chief Yomi Otubela, president of NAPPS, Lagos Chapter, said that the choice of Sterling Bank Plc was overwhelmingly endorsed by the association based on its contribution to the growth of the sector through capacity building, sponsorship of activities and commitment to the development of education in the country.

Otubela said that by the partnership, the bank will be actively involved in the association’s yearly retreat tagged, “Effective Empowerment of Schools through Collaborative Capacity Building and Leadership”, slated for February 25 to 27.