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Access Bank Plc, Fifth Chukker, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Kaduna state government have renewed their commitment to expanding access to quality education for vulnerable children, as the long-running partnership targets even greater impact across Northern Nigeria.
The renewed commitment was announced on Monday during the Access UK Polo Day hosted by Access Bank UK in London, where stakeholders celebrated more than 15 years of collaboration that has transformed educational opportunities for underserved communities.
The partners said the initiative, which began as a project aimed at supporting just 100 children, has grown into one of Africa’s leading private sector-backed education programmes, positively impacting more than 14,000 children through the Access Bank Fifth Chukker School and related interventions in Kaduna State.
According to the organisers, sustained investments in educational infrastructure, learning materials, teacher development and student support have significantly improved access to quality education.
Between 2018 and 2026, the Access Bank Fifth Chukker School graduated 2,538 pupils, with girls accounting for over 54 per cent of the graduates, reflecting the programme’s focus on promoting gender inclusion in education.
The school currently provides internationally recognised foundational learning programmes to more than 1,000 pupils annually, contributing to improved literacy and numeracy, while recording a reported 15 per cent increase in learning performance. Graduates have also secured admission into leading secondary schools, with teachers benefiting from continuous professional development and digital learning support.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna, said the initiative had exceeded its original vision and called for even greater ambition.
“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.
Ogbonna thanked donors and development partners for sustaining the programme, noting that investments in education generate lasting social and economic benefits across generations.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, described education as one of the most important investments any society can make, commending the enduring partnership between Access Bank, Fifth Chukker and UNICEF for restoring hope to thousands of disadvantaged children.
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The governor disclosed that Kaduna State had returned about 300,000 out-of-school children to classrooms over the past year through partnerships with UNICEF and other development organisations.
He also announced plans to construct an additional 120 classrooms at the Access Bank Fifth Chukker UNICEF School to accommodate more pupils.
“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,” Sani said.
The governor also paid tribute to the late Herbert Wigwe, acknowledging his contributions to expanding educational opportunities for underserved children.
Chairman of Access Holdings, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said the programme’s greatest achievement lies in the lives it has transformed rather than the physical infrastructure it has delivered.
“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. Together, we are proving that when purpose meets collaboration, we can create opportunities that change lives for generations,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of The Access Bank UK, Jamie Simmonds, described the event as “polo with purpose,” saying it reflected the bank’s commitment to using sport as a platform to mobilise support for education and sustainable social impact.
The event ended with stakeholders reaffirming their resolve to deepen investments in education, describing access to quality learning as critical to national development and social progress.
They said the Access Bank Fifth Chukker School remains a model of successful collaboration between the private sector, government and development partners in improving educational outcomes for vulnerable children across Northern Nigeria.
