. . . Foundation set to give back at ItsAnnual Food Bank

Africa’s global bank, United Bank for Africa, through its UBA Foundation has been spreadingjoy across Africa for many years as they continue to give back to the underpriviledged in the communities in which they operate.

At the UBA Foundation gardens in Lagos where the bank is head quartered, a lights up ceremony was held to mark the start of the festive season. The garden lights were activated byUBA's Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Kennedy Uzokawhowas joined by other key management staff and some customers of the bank.

Uzoka who is also the chairman oftheUBA Foundation,emphasised that giving back was the main tenet of the UBA Foundation. He said ‘Wehave 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.’ Continued Uzoka.

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, donatingover $14m toits communities acrossAfrica to support the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, the Foundation will be feeding tens of thousands of people across Africa through its annual Food bank initiative where food, hygiene products and other gifts items are handed over to those who have less, especially during the festive season.

The CEO, UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta, said that the light up ceremony was important for the Foundationadding:“This goes beyond lighting uptheMarina andadorning the streets withbeautiful colours.Itreminds 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.

•PHOTO: Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; flanked by Executive Director, Chukwuma Nweke; Head of Operations, Alex Alozie; MD-CEO, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, and other staff members at the 2021 Christmas and New Year Light Up Ceremony of UBA Foundation Garden, at Marina, Lagos on Friday