Polaris Bank has reinforced its commitment to education and human capital development with the funding of a major renovation project at the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences building of the University of Ibadan.
The intervention revives a historic facility originally donated to the university in 1985 by the defunct International Bank for West Africa (IBWA), one of Polaris Bank’s legacy institutions. Over the years, the building has served as a hub of academic excellence, producing generations of professionals in economics, banking, and finance.
The facility previously housed MBA and MSc Banking and Finance programmes until 2016 and continues to serve postgraduate students in Economics, hosting thousands of lecture sessions and impacting over 500 students, many of whom have gone on to play key roles in Nigeria’s financial services sector and academia.
Speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony, Polaris Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Kayode Lawal, represented by Head of Retail Banking, Njideka Nwabueze, described education as a critical driver of national transformation.
“By renovating this historic Faculty building, we are not only preserving a proud institutional legacy, but also creating a conducive, inspiring space for the next generation of economists, bankers, and financial experts,” he said.
Lawal noted that the project goes beyond infrastructure upgrades, reflecting the bank’s commitment to investing in human capital and supporting disciplines essential to economic growth, including Economics, Banking and Finance, and Accounting.
The renovation, expected to be completed within six weeks, will deliver upgraded lecture theatres, improved amenities, and enhanced research facilities, significantly improving the teaching and learning environment.
The initiative aligns with global development priorities, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on Quality Education and Economic Growth, while reinforcing Polaris Bank’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda.
Polaris Bank said the project underscores its long-standing commitment to supporting tertiary education and bridging infrastructure gaps, as it continues to invest in building a knowledge-driven economy and nurturing talent capable of addressing national and global challenges.
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