Polaris Bank, in partnership with Evolve Charity Trust, has empowered 1,000 students in public secondary schools across five states and the Federal Capital Territory with school essentials.
The 2025 distribution, which covered ten schools nationwide, provided beneficiaries with uniforms, school bags, sandals, exercise books and pens. The initiative targets students from low-income households, where the lack of basic learning materials often contributes to poor attendance and dropouts.
According to Polaris Bank, the intervention forms part of its long-term Corporate Social Responsibility strategy focused on education and gender inclusion. Since 2021, the programme has supported over 24,000 students in 49 locations nationwide.
Beyond education support, the bank said the programme also stimulated local economies, as uniforms were produced by local tailors, while books, bags and sandals were sourced from community traders in beneficiary states.
Speaking on the initiative, Polaris Bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Kayode Lawal, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to advancing girl-child education, describing the materials as an investment in the future of young Nigerians.
School administrators across the states said the intervention addressed urgent needs, eased financial pressure on families and boosted students’ confidence and academic engagement. Principals and vice principals from Kano, Abuja, Lokoja, Imo and Lagos noted that many beneficiaries would otherwise struggle to remain in school.
Evolve Charity Trust’s Project Manager, Godwin Ejeh, described education support as a catalyst for wider community development, stressing that investments in children have long-term social impact.
The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on Quality Education (SDG 4) and Gender Equality (SDG 5), reinforcing Polaris Bank’s pledge to partner with credible organisations to deliver sustainable educational outcomes across Nigeria.