Bank PHB Offers Scholarship To 400 Students

Over 400 students presently studying in some higher institutions in Nigerian have benefited from the Bank PHB scholarship scheme instituted to encourage and motivate students, particularly those from poor back ground who have mental power to pursue academic excellence in their various fields.
This was disclosed to Newsday by the Executive Director of Bank PHB, Mr. Charles Ojo during the 17th National Training Conference and Exhibition of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) held last week in the Yar'adua Centre at Abuja.
Mr.Ojo said as part of their social responsibility, several projects targeted at empowering the people have been undertaken by his Bank, adding that about 80 up-to-date libraries have also been constructed to assist and encourage students who want to make head-way in their various educational pursuit.
To achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Executive Director advised all Nigerians to collectively play their role well, adding that with total support many things could be achieved without necessarily waiting for government to do every thing, including the means of livelihood of every Nigerian.
Director Ojo remained optimistic that given all the necessary support, Nigeria with vast human and materials resources is capable of meeting the MDGs by the year 2020 as spelt out by the United Nations Organization (UN).
Apart from what his organization has done to improve the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians, which he enumerated, he also advised all to try their best toward ensuring that peace reigns in the country in all sphere of its endeavour, irrespective of tribe and religion.
He urged Banks in the country to see themselves as a channel through which positive development could be achieved by sponsoring people-oriented projects and programmes instead of seeing their role always as money making venture by always insisting on presentation of collateral before assistance is given to people and organisation that may need financial assistance.
“Banks are catalyst through which basic development could be made to advance and stabilize the economy.
“The Bank PHB has played, and will continue to play a vital and crucial role in the general development and promotion of the country's economy toward ensuring that Nigeria as a nation join her counterparts in the world in meeting vision 2020 as encapsulated in the 7-Points Agenda of the present administration”, said the Executive Director.
At the occasion, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong said the 7-Points Agenda of the present administration is a policy put in place for the actualization of vision 2020.
“It is clear that the process of training the administrative, technical and vocational personnel, must be put in place so that the right caliber of people and managers could be made available for the purpose of actualizing the millennium Development Goals by the year 2020”, said the minister.
According to him, human resource development will certainly be decisive in achieving the Vision 2020, which has prompted the federal government to commerce the process of repositioning the education sector to make it more responsive to the present day needs of the country.
He reasoned that the 7-Point Agenda of the government, which ultimately will take the country to being one of the 20 strongest economies in the year 2020 will be a reality if the country develop a modern workforce that is prepared to face the challenges of the global economy, guided by the best work ethics and reliance on modern technology.
While commending the ITF for a job well done, he re-emphasized the important of emulating its footsteps in all ramifications to ensure full realization of the government vision.
Stressing the importance of the Conference theme: “Technical Vocational Skill Acquisition for Employment and National Development”, he stated that it was carefully chosen to meet people quest and aspiration in meeting the vision 2020 as a crucial agenda whose out come will determine the many variables on which the future of our country depends.
The Minister called on the ITF to produce for the country very confident, competent and patriotic workforce, who would be honest and capable of discharging their duties with public trust, noting that until such groups of people are produced, the hope for economic growth and progress will be dashed.
The occasion that attracted different groups and personalities saw also a presentation of certificates to some participants, with the aim and objective of encouraging them to do more in the service of their father land and humanity in general.