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No fewer than three thousand girls drawn from Senior Secondary Schools across Nigeria have benefitted from a 3-day capacity building initiative on maritime commerce and National Virtual Maritime Quiz powered by Unity Bank Plc.
The capacity building initiative, which focused on Information Communication Technology, ICT, maritime transportation and logistics ecosystem, was hosted by Ocean Ambassadors Foundation to promote the participation of Indigent Girl-Child in maritime commerce.
Unity Bank partnered the programme as part of the Bank’s Corporate Social
Responsibility initiatives targeted at the education sector and to draw attention to
the imperatives of training the girl-child to participate actively in the relevant sectors
of the economy.
This is coming against the backdrop of the negative impact of COVID-19 on the
education sector which has affected millions of girls across Nigeria, resulting in
“many girls being unable to return to schools and many others becoming child
brides,” according to a recent report by the Economist.
The programme coincided with the International Day of the Girl-Child which was
marked to highlight how “the pandemic has accelerated digital platforms for
learning, earning and connecting, while also highlighting girls’ diverse digital
realities”.
The Managing Director/CEO of Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Somefun represented by
the Chief Customer Service Officer, Mrs. Titilayo Abraham officially opened the
event. Commenting on the initiative, she stated that: “Unity Bank has maintained its
commitment to supporting the girl child by supporting several advocacy initiatives
and investing in the education sector. The National Maritime Quiz is yet another
opportunity to contribute to the movement to encourage, educate and empower the
Girl-Child to participate in the economy while driving access to education.”
“We commend the Ocean Ambassadors Foundation for their initiatives aimed at
bridging the gender gap in the ICT, maritime, transportation, and logistics sectors in
Nigeria.”
Unity Bank has in time past demonstrated commitment to supporting the education
sector, especially for initiatives targeted at children. One of the Bank’s flagship
initiatives – One Minute Genius (OMG) and others such as Unity Bank Spelling B
Competition, One Day CEO, are annual educational platforms of the Bank aimed at
boosting financial literacy among Nigerian children.
The organisers, Ocean Ambassadors Foundation commended Unity Bank, adding
that “the sensitization for the Girl-Child to take advantage of career opportunities in
the ICT and maritime cannot be over-emphasized.
According to the Group, this also amplifies the “Global Advocacy of the Sustainable
Development Goal’s 4, 5, and 14” stating that “Gender equality and women
empowerment require deliberate transformative shifts, new technological solutions
and integrated approaches”.
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