First Bank of Nigeria Ltd as part of its long-term commitment to sustainable educational development in Nigeria has constituted Professional Chair Endowments in 10 universities across the nation. These endowments have provided platforms for scholarly research, academic excellence and economic development in these institutions and the country at large.
One of such institutions to benefit from this endowment is the Federal University of Technology Akure, where the FirstBank Professional Chair in Computer Science Annual Lecture was delivered recently. Represented by the Branch Manager of the Bank’s Public Sector Group in Akure, Mrs. Olubukola Tolu-Akinbogun, at the public presentation of the Bank’s sponsored research report themed ‘Security Issues in Nigeria: Getting Ready for The Digital Challenge’, Onasanya said the endowments are meant to promote capacity building and complement the efforts of the Federal Government in educational development.
The research which focused on Cybercrime and its security challenges enumerated the various issues arising from such crimes and challenges faced in the fight against its increase. It was presented by Dr. B.K. Alese, chair occupant of the Bank’s endowment at FUTA.
In a welcome address read on his behalf, Onasanya said the research would become a resource tool in aiding our fight against electronic fraud and malpractice as well as enhancing professionalism, regulation and grooming of future leaders for the sector.
“FirstBank is proud to be associated with projects that enhance human capital and economic development in the nation. Since 1994 till date, we have Professorial Chairs in ten Nigerian Universities, with the total endowments worth over N440 Million and we have also strengthened the scheme with infrastructure development. Our vision is to generate sustainable manpower development to drive rapid growth of the national economy,” the Bank’s GMD said.
In addition to the Professorial Chair endowment, the bank recently contributed the sum of N40 million, to support the completion of a 1,000 capacity lecture theater, in the university. Some of FirstBank’s infrastructural projects over the years include an ICT Park at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, an Auditorium at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan, a Lecture Theatre at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife and a Faculty of Dentistry Building at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla.
Others are an Entrepreneurship Centre at the University of Abuja, a Faculty of Social Sciences Building at University of Port Harcourt and a Lecture Theatre at the Federal University of Technology, Minna. In some other universities, we have provided buses to ease the challenges of transportation on our campuses.