By Ayomide Otitoju
The Access Bank UK Charity Polo Day returned to the Guards Polo Club in Windsor, celebrating a decade of philanthropic partnership with Fifth Chukker and UNICEF. This year’s edition reaffirmed the initiative’s commitment to improving access to quality education in rural Nigeria.
What began as a high-profile sporting event has evolved into a strategic fundraising platform, generating significant support for inclusive education. Since its inception, the initiative has expanded from supporting one school of 400 pupils to constructing and equipping 60 classroom blocks, impacting over 14,000 children. The 2024 event aims to double that impact with funding targeted toward building an additional 60 classrooms.
Dignitaries at the event included the Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II; Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Access Bank CEO Roosevelt Ogbonna; Acting GCEO of Access Holdings Plc, Bolaji Agbede; and CEO of The Access Bank UK Limited, Jamie Simmonds, among others.
“This event reflects The Access Bank UK’s mission—to bridge continents and drive purpose with prosperity,” said Simmonds. “By championing education, we are investing in a more inclusive and sustainable future.”
Speaking on the power of sport to mobilize change, Aig-Imoukhuede noted, “We have used polo at Guards as a platform to unite changemakers around one common cause—investing in Africa’s future through education.”
The event’s long-standing collaboration with UNICEF ensures that funds raised address both infrastructural needs and long-term learning outcomes. As it marks its tenth year, the Charity Polo Day stands as a testament to the transformative power of strategic philanthropy and public-private partnerships.
