Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has donated relief materials to economically challenged individuals and widows in rural communities of Keana, Madagalli and Bakassi communities in Nasarawa, Adamawa and Cross River State, respectively.
The initiative, the bank said, is intended to alleviate the challenges being faced by the affected communities, support the cause of the displaced persons, and rehabilitate victims of insurgency.
Speaking on the donation, Tony Okpanachi, DBN managing director, said the posture of the bank, which is anchored on giving back to the society it operates, motivated it to present the donations as part of its corporate social responsibility.
“Beyond our mandate of providing access to finance to MSMES to stimulate economic growth, the Bank decided to come together to extend a helping hand to these beneficiaries by providing relief materials to the economically challenged in Keana – Nasarawa, Madagali – Adamawa, and Bakassi in Cross River State,” he said.
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He added, “We hope that this little gesture will go a long way in addressing some of the challenges being faced by the beneficiaries, especially women in these communities.’’
The bank intends to sustain this support programme going forward, he said.
Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, represented by his Chief of Staff, Maxwell Gidado, commended DBN for the support towards IDPs in Madagalli, emphasising that it would help alleviate the sufferings of victims of insurgency in the North East especially, during these festivities’ seasons.
Also, the commissioner for woman affairs, Nasarawa State, Halima Jibrin, commended DBN for this initiative, saying, “DBN has heard the cries of our vulnerable widows and has come to provide succour at a time that is meant for showing love and being our brothers’ keepers.”
Likewise, Eyadim Eyadim, chairman, Bakassi Local Government Area, while commending the initiative, said, “DBN has touched the lives of widows and vulnerable, who have been forced to live as refugees due to the unrest faced in Bakassi in the past.” He appealed to the bank to include the people of Bakassi in its future capacity building and financial literacy programmes.
