COVID-19: FirstBank tackles education challenges

The CEO of FirstBank Dr. Adesola Adeduntan has announced that the bank in partnership with government and other stakeholders is extending its attention to immediate needs in our society in the face of the widespread COVID-19 by putting in place complementary efforts in education to support students and minimise the disruption to education resulting from schools’ closure.

This is following the activation of the Bank’s Business Continuity Process and subsequent deployment of safety initiatives and measures implemented across its business outlets nationwide, to help flatten the curve and ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff, customers and other stakeholders.

Dr. Adeduntan explained that many parents are concerned about children and wards whose education is truncated by the current crisis and are particularly worried about keeping children at home idle as all schools from primary to tertiary institutions are closed across the nation. Emphasising the urgent need to ensure that children are not disadvantaged, remain engaged and stay safe during this period, he announced the bank has concluded plans with the necessary authorities to enable as many children as possible access e-learning.

Speaking on the initiative to enable as many children move on to safe e-learning, Dr Adeduntan said: “We are warmed by the fact that different organisations have risen to the various challenges and are supporting in areas such as health and welfare, and we feel the peculiar needs of our children and youth must not be left out and have therefore elected to focus on contributing to solving the current education challenge. Education remains the bedrock of any society and we believe that when we educate our children we enable our nation and produce global citizens who provide groundbreaking solutions for the continent and the world at large.”

He continued: “So, building educational partnerships is an avenue to support our children to remain resourceful and fully engaged at this time so they can compete favorably with their peers internationally. It’s a responsible approach to empower them given that they are our future and the foundation to build our country to greatness. By partnering on this we are solving a problem for families and for our future.”

Calling on all concerned organisations and individuals to join in addressing the challenges made worse by Covid-19, the FirstBank boss noted that the solution has the full curriculum on both the online and offline versions with the offline version of particular interest as it eliminates the challenge posed by data affordability.

“To this end, we are working with the States; United Nations Global Compact; innovative technology firms such as Robert & John to provide e-learning solution with the government approved curriculum for students across the country. The rollout begins first week in April starting with Lagos State where FirstBank will support the rollout of Roducate which has been adjudged a best fit solution by educators, teachers and all necessary authorities.

“We call on well-meaning organisations and individuals to join us and collectively rise to address the challenges this current pandemic presents to our children and youth and are reaching out to other organisations with complementary solutions to also partner on this initiative for the youth who are our future. They must not be lost in this pandemic,” he concluded.