Access Bank has been recognised by the International Film and Broadcast Academy (IFBA) for its support to the growth of the entertainment industry in Nigeria.
The lender got the recognition during an award presentation ceremony in Lagos.
Speaking in Lagos, the founder, IFBA, Mr. Victor Okhai said the academy provided students the opportunity to network with film makers and broadcasters from all over Africa and the rest of the world.
He said: “The truth is that the new generation has to take over and so we have to give them the opportunity to compete in the international level. If they are to start doing films today, you will find out that our standard will shoot up“.
“Of course, we needed to encourage this sector by creating a platform where talents can be discovered, nurtured and where they can get a springboard to the next level. With what we have done so far, the careers of many of them have exploded. So, for us, a natural partner was Access Bank“.
In her remarks, its Executive Director, Information Technology and Operations, Mrs. Ojini Olaghere, who represented the bank’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, said the partnership with IFBA was part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR).
She said: “For us, it is about partnership and support. Here in Access Bank, we are encouraged to carry out CSR. It is not just as a bank, we are also encouraged as groups to carry out CSR initiatives and at the end of the year when we have the CEO award, whichever group has the best CSR, the bank will refund the amount spent on the project to the group. We do a lot of things and we don’t make noise about it. We make sure that these projects have a lot of impact“.
According to her, Access Bank believes “in catching them young“, hence the need for the partnership with IFBA.
“We have products for children and our partnership with the academy is also in line with our mission of catching them young“, she added.