Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Saturday commissioned the ultra-modern Baptist Primary School, Ikogosi Ekiti, recently remodelled by Premium Trust Bank as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative to support education and improve the learning environment for Ekiti pupils.
Facilities at the remodelled school include newly built classrooms, ICT facilities, staff quarters and other supporting infrastructure.
It was officially handed over to the Ekiti State Government by the bank to provide conducive environment for teaching and learning.
Speaking while commissioning the project, Governor Oyebanji expressed deep appreciation to the Managing Director/ CEO of Premium Trust Bank, Dr Emmanuel Emefienim and the management of the bank for the intervention, describing the gesture as a demonstration of the bank’s commitment to education and community development.
He commended the bank for responding promptly to the need of his alma mater and providing facilities that would improve the teaching and learning environment.
Describing Premium Trust Bank as a partner in progress and a dependable ally in the development of Ekiti State and noting that its intervention was not the first of its kind in the state, the Governor said the commitment of the bank to improving educational infrastructure across the country reflected its understanding that the future of education depended on not only what is taught but also on where and how teaching takes place.
Governor Oyebanji stated that the intervention aligned with his administration’s vision for educational transformation, which focuses on where children learn, how they are taught and what they are taught.
He expressed confidence that the improved facilities, alongside efforts to strengthen teaching and curriculum delivery, would help prepare pupils to meet the demands of the 21st century.
While maintaining that the upgraded facilities in school would enhance the quality of teaching and learning while providing pupils and teachers with an environment that support quality academic development, the Governor assured the bank that his government would continue to provide a business-friendly environment that will attract Public-Private Partnership (PPPs) and encourage more private sector investment in the development of the state.
“What we have here today is part of the Social Corporate Responsibility of Premium Trust Bank, Ekiti State Government did not have one naira in this project. I thank my brother the CEO of Premium Trust Bank, Dr Emmanuel Emefienim for facilitating this.
“Standing behind me was my classroom while I was in primary six, and I did not know I will be standing here today as a Governor of this state, so you have given hope to people without hope, you are shaping lives, shaping futures and leaders of tomorrow and it is my prayer that in your life time, an alumnus of this school will become something as a result of what you have done here today,” he asserted.
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Speaking shortly before handing over the project, the Managing Director of Premium Trust Bank, Emmanuel Emefienim commended Governor Oyebanji, for his commitment to education, people-oriented governance and the creation of a conducive environment for investment in the drive to improve educational infrastructure and learning outcomes across the state.
Emefienim, who described the remodelled school as more than a renovated structure, stressed that it represented hope, opportunity and a collective commitment to the future of children.
According to him, every classroom and its improved learning space reflects the belief that every child deserves a safe and inspiring environment to learn, nurture dreams and develop their potential.
The bank’s Managing Director, who explained that education occupies a special place in the Bank’s corporate social responsibility agenda, stressed that the future of every society depends largely on the quality of education provided for its children. He noted that while government provides leadership and policy direction, the private sector also has a responsibility to complement its efforts.
Also speaking at the event, the senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele commended Governor Oyebanji for building enduring relationships that continue to attract support and development to the state saying the remodelled School’s structure is an initiative supported by the Bank as part of efforts to complement the Oyebanji administration’s commitment to educational development.
The Senate Leader described the intervention as a product of the longstanding friendship between Governor Oyebanji and the bank’s leadership, noting that such relationships had continued to yield positive results for the state and its people.
Bamidele praised the bank’s leadership for its generosity and commitment to supporting development, recalling that Dr. Emmanuel Emefienim had provided over a hundred million naira in financial support to the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences when the institution needed assistance. He said the contribution reflected the banker’s character and commitment to public good, praying for continued growth and prosperity for the Bank.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Femi Akinwumi commended the bank for the school’s upgrade describing the intervention as a significant contribution to educational development and a demonstration of effective partnership with the administration of Governor Oyebanji. The Chairman added that the school was designed to promote inclusive education and expand access to quality learning opportunities for children.
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