Diamond Bank PLC, a leading
retail bank in Nigeria, has restated its commitment towards the intellectual
development of children in the country.
Victor Ezenwoko, Executive
Director, Lagos and West Businesses, Diamond Bank PLC, who spoke during the
public presentation of the finalists of the 2015 edition of the Vision Of The
Child competition, stated that the Bank’s support for the competitive programme
was in recognition of the importance of children to the future of the country.
Diamond Bank is a sponsor of the Vision Of The Child, which is a live painting
and literary arts competition for children, which forms part of activities
commemorating the Lagos Black Festival of Arts and Culture.
He said: “Nigeria’s future
depends not only on our children but also on the investment we make on them. It
is in recognition of this that Diamond Bank supports the Vision Of The Child
Competition. As a responsible corporate institution, we will continue to
support this initiative because it is our own little contribution towards the
wellbeing of the Nigerian Child.”
Ezenwoko further emphasized the need to
nurture and develop the intellect of children from an early age. In doing this,
he noted, the children will grow up to become intellectually sound adults and
in the long term stem the incidence of unemployable adults which is currently a
national malaise.
While commending the organizers
of the competition, Ezenwoko expressed confidence that the Vision Of The Child
competition would afford children the opportunity to reveal their minds.
He added: “This has made it easy
for them to write and paint on the challenging theme posed at them annually by
Professor Wole Soyinka. This generation will overtake the generation of
unemployable graduates produced in the last few years. These children will win
laurels from international competitions with adequate preparation that is being
given to them through the Vision of a Child project.”
Ayona Trimnell, Head, Corporate
Communications, Diamond Bank PLC, said the bank has been consistent in
supporting the project because of her belief in the Nigerian child; adding that
every Nigerian child is a bundle of potential waiting to be explored.
She noted: “Children in this
competition have two areas of arts to show competence in painting and literary
arts. Though, the theme could be challenging for adults but children get
inspired from all societal happenings and come up with expressions that are
ingenious.”
There would be three categories
of rewards at the end of the competition: painting, literary arts and a
combination of both skills. The combination skills category was introduced in
the 2015 edition in recognition of the fact that while some children excel in
painting or literary arts, there was also the need to recognize the unique abilities
of some children who excel in both areas.
Diamond Bank has collaborated
with the Lagos State Government from the inception of the programme. The 60
finalists are drawn from 35 schools in Lagos including public and privately
owned institutions. The age bracket for participation is 9 to 12 years.
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