LAGOS, Nigeria — A charitable initiative launched by Access Bank over 15 years ago has transformed the lives of more than 14,000 disadvantaged children across underserved communities in Northern Nigeria, turning a modest commitment to educate 100 children into a movement that continues to expand its reach.
The initiative, which is funded annually through the Access Bank UK Charity Polo Day at Guards Polo Club in Windsor, has become one of Africa’s most impactful private sector-backed education programmes. Through a partnership binding Access Bank, Fifth Chukker and UNICEF, the programme has delivered over 120 classroom blocks across Kaduna State, with 60 additional classrooms currently under construction in Maraban Jos.
Between 2018 and 2026 alone, the Access Bank Fifth Chukker School graduated 2,538 pupils, with female students accounting for more than 54 percent of graduates, underscoring the programme’s contribution to advancing girls’ education in a region where they are often the first casualties of poverty.
More than 1,000 pupils benefit annually from the school’s internationally recognised foundational learning programme, which has contributed to improved literacy and numeracy outcomes and a reported 15 percent increase in learning performance. Students continue to secure admission into leading secondary schools, while teachers receive ongoing professional development and digital learning support.
Speaking at the 2026 Polo Day event, Access Bank Managing Director and CEO Roosevelt Ogbonna reflected on the initiative’s remarkable growth and set an ambitious target for the future. “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,” he said.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who has made the return of out-of-school children a defining priority of his administration, framed the partnership as an investment in humanity. “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,” he said. He also announced plans to construct an additional 120 classrooms at the school and revealed that approximately 300,000 out-of-school children have now returned to classrooms across Kaduna State through collaborative efforts.
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings, emphasised that the initiative’s true success should be measured by the lives it transforms rather than the infrastructure it delivers. “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,” he said.
