As part of efforts to build the economy and generate sustainable income for individuals, Sterling Bank has committed a whooping sum of 50 billion naira in support of the Nigerian education sector.

The move is a calculated attempt by the bank to invest in courses and professions that are in high demand and have the potential of producing skilled labour in specific sectors of interest.

A statement released by Obinna Nwachukwu, the Divisional Head of Business Growth and Transaction Banking at Sterling Bank, stated that it is essential to build professions that can solve Nigeria’s problems rather than pursuing grandiose projects with little applicability to society or the economy.

The statement maintained that the focus on the professions will enable individuals contribute meaningfully and productively to their communities and the nation where there is high demand in the public and private sector to absorb the graduates.

“We will support infrastructural development needed to produce skilled labour in specific sectors of interest. Most sectors broadly cover health, public goods and services like utilities, power, water and waste management etc. We believe that if the government is focused on developing these basic services, we will need skilled manpower to drive them, and these skills can only be provided by the universities.

“This way our universities will become more focused on clear curriculums that lead to developing such skilled manpower – this is the kind of value-chain Sterling Bank will back as it will produce a lot of graduates who will get jobs that will, in turn, create more value to sustain the initiatives,” Nwachukwu said.