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ACT Foundation Opens Applications for Changemakers Innovation Challenge
Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation has announced the opening of applications for the 2024 Changemakers Innovation Challenge. Themed The theme for this year’s Changemakers Innovation Challenge is “Driving Change With Digital Innovation,” this initiative seeks to empower community non-profit organisations and social enterprises that utilise technological advancements to create grassroots impact and enhance the lives of individuals and communities.As technology continues to transform the global landscape, it offers unprecedented opportunities for real-time services and improved quality of life. In Africa, the social sector is increasingly adopting digital innovations to address developmental challenges and improve community well-being.Osayi Alile, Chief Executive Officer of ACT Foundation, emphasised the importance of technological adaptation in Africa’s evolution, saying, “Africa is fast evolving and embracing technology. As changemakers, we must be able to move with the times and adopt innovative digital and technological solutions that address Africa’s challenges in-depth, be it in agriculture, education, health, or empowerment. Technology has proven to aid greater impact, and this Challenge seeks to identify and support nonprofits and social enterprises who are driving social impact through innovative solutions.”The 2024 Changemakers Innovation Challenge will award grant funding and technical support to the top 3 winners and 10 finalists, enabling them to scale their innovative solutions across targeted communities. Interested organisations can apply at http://changemakers.actrustfoundation.org/.Applications close on July 12, 2024. Winners will be announced at ACT Foundation’s 8th Breakfast Dialogue on October 10, 2024.ACT Foundation is an award-winning Pan-African nonprofit organisation dedicated to addressing challenges and vulnerabilities across the African continent through grant making and capacity building in health, entrepreneurship, environment, and leadership.
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ZENITHBANKPARTNERSLAWMA,LASWATOCOMMEMORATEWORLDENVIRONMENT DAY 2026 WITH TWO-PHASE LAGOS CLEAN-UP
Inlinewithitscommitmenttoenvironmentalsustainabilityandresponsiblebusinesspractices,
ZenithBankPlchascommemoratedthe2026WorldEnvironmentDaywithatwo-phase
environmental clean-up initiative in LagosState, held under theglobal theme “Inspired by Nature.
For Climate. For Our Future.”
The first phase was a morning clean-upconducted by staff of the Bank on Wednesday,3 June
2026, along Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The exercise mobilised employees to
clear waste, sensitise residents on proper disposal practices, and reinforce the Bank’s culture of
community service and environmental stewardship.
Thesecondphase,onThursday,4June2026,featuredawaterwaysclean-upattheFalomo
Waterways, Ikoyi, Lagos, executed in collaboration with the Lagos Waste Management Authority
(LAWMA)andtheLagosStateWaterwaysAuthority(LASWA).Thejointeffortfocusedon
removingmarinedebris,promotingcleanerwaterways,andsupportingtheState’sbroader
climate-resilience agenda.
Speakingontheinitiative,DameDr.AdaoraUmeoji,OON,GroupManagingDirector/CEOof
Zenith Bank Plc, said: “At Zenith Bank, sustainability is integral to how we operate. Clearing our
streetsandourwaterwaysisapracticalreminderthatprotectingtheenvironmentisashared
responsibility – and one we are proud to take up alongside LAWMA and LASWA. Through these
exercises, we aretaking deliberate action topreserve our communities,support climate action,
andinspireotherstoact.Ouroperationswillcontinuetoalignwithglobalenvironmental
standards as we build a more sustainable future for Nigeria and Africa.”
ZenithBankremainscommittedtoembeddingEnvironmental,SocialandGovernance(ESG)
principles across its operations, investing in green initiatives, energy efficiency, and community-
focused programmes. These efforts advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
–particularlySDG7(AffordableandCleanEnergy),SDG11(SustainableCitiesand
Communities)andSDG13(ClimateAction).Sustainabilityremainsanoperationalimperative
across the Bank’s Nigerian base and its broader African, UK and European footprints
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Much more than commemorating the annual Children’s Day marked every May 27, Zenith Bank Plc is championing thenarrativethatchildrenarethetrueleadersoftomorrow.TheBankhasdeepeneditsinvestmentincarefullycuratedinitiativesthatelevatechildrenacrosseducation,financialliteracy,health,digitalinclusion,andsocialprotection,building a generation equipped to thrive and lead. For Zenith Bank, every child matters, and the Bank’s footprint reflectsa deliberate, pan-African strategy to nurture potential from the earliest age.Zenith Bank has been the financial institution partner to Kiddies Corner on Inspiration 92.3FM Lagos for over threeyears, anchoring the Tuesday edition and Zenith Financial Literacy Friday show. The programme blends spelling beecontestswithfinancialliteracyquestions,creatingawarenessandonboardingchildrenintotheZenithChildren’sAccount (ZECA). This partnership came alive at the Inspiration FM Children’s Day Carnival on Saturday, May 23, 2026,whereZenithBankhostedover1,000childrenandtheirparents,celebratingZECAwinnerswithgames,skits,andZenith Bank branded gifts.The Bank’s Zenith Financial Literacy Week, held quarterly, takes this mission into select schools across all 36 statesandtheFCT.Studentsaretrainedonsavings,budgeting,basicinvestments,anditsretailproducts,withthetopperformer in each school awarded N50,000. Complementing this is the Bank’s nationwide Financial Literacy ProgramundertheCBN-mandatedGlobalMoneyWeek,whichin2025alonereached3,622studentsacross22LGAs,deploying 137 bank employee volunteers as educators.In alignment with the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on Quality Education, Zenith Bankhasdonatedstate-of-the-artICTcentresandcomputersystemstoschoolsanduniversitiesnationwide,includingaComputerCentretoBamainaAcademy,Dutse,JigawaState.Itstransformativeinterventionsincludefullyequippedlibraries,vocationalfacilities,andlarge-scaleschoolrenovations,fromOjotaSecondarySchoolandVictoriaIslandSecondary School in Lagos to Hugallawa Primary School in Jigawa. Targeted financial support further breaks barrierswith N1 million cash donation to Louisville Girls High School, Ijebu-Itele, supporting girl-child education; infrastructureupgrades at Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School; a N1 million scholarship endowment for St. Francis CatholicSecondary School; and support for the North-East Children’s Fund to aid education in conflict-affected communities.Through its Primary Healthcare Centre Initiative across all 774 LGAs, Zenith Bank educates parents on early childhoodsavings during routine visits, linking health and financial well-being. The “PAD-A-QUEEN” Initiative commemorates theInternational Day of the Girl Child, reaching5,000 girls in 10 schools withsanitary pads, hygiene kits, and menstrualhealth education to keep girls in school and promote SDGs 3, 4, and 5.The Bank’s compassion extends to the most vulnerable. At Bethesda Home and School for the Blind, Idi Oro, Lagos,Zenith donatedbraille materials,food, and toiletries.For the2026 InternationalDay forStreet Children,it partneredwithBosco Child Protection Centre on medical check-ups, food, clothing, and counseling. Annual Christmas Charity Visits toorphanagesdelivercash,toys,andessentialsupplies,whilesupportfortheSmileandShineChildrenFoundation’sStrive Conference empowers over 2,000 adolescents with life skills and leadership training.Commenting on the Bank’s intentionality towards the development of children, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, GroupManaging Director/CEO, ZenithBank Plc, said, “AtZenith Bank, weare deliberate about initiativesthat elevate childrenbecausetheyarenotjustourfuture,theyareourpresentresponsibility.AsWhitneyHoustonsopoignantlysang,‘Ibelievethechildrenarethefuture,teachthemwellandletthemleadtheway.’Thatisthephilosophydrivingourinvestmentsineducation,financialliteracy,health,anddigitalinclusion.FromKiddiesCornertoICTcentres,fromPHCs to orphanages, we are teaching them well, equipping them early, and giving them the tools to lead. Zenith Bankrenews its commitment to every Nigerian child, to nurture their dreams, protect their dignity, and secure their tomorrow.”Championing youth expression, the Zenith Annual Youth Parade, hosted by the Bank for 19 years, stands as a flagshipCorporate Social Responsibilityinitiative. Bringing togetherthousands of childrenand teenagers in avibrant showcaseof unity and discipline, the parade has remained dedicated since inception to the vital mission of supporting, nurturing, -
andempoweringtheNigerianchild,reinforcingtheBank’sbeliefthatleadershipislearnedearlythroughteamwork,confidence, and celebration of young Nigerian identity.ForZenithBank,Children’sDayismorethanadateonthecalendar.Itisadailypledgetoempower,protect,andprepareNigeria’schildrenforleadership.Fromclassroomstocommunities, the Bank’s initiatives are teaching them welland letting them lead the way because the future belongs to children who are equipped today.
Zenith Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Engr. Mustafa Bello as the Chairman of its Board of
Directors.Theappointment,whichtakesimmediateeffect,hasbeenapprovedbytheCentralBankof
Nigeria (CBN) and ratified by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held on May 5, 2026.
Engr.Bello’sappointmentrepresentsastrategicsteptoensurethecontinuity,stability,andsustained
effectivenessoftheBoard,whilereinforcingthehighstandardsofcorporategovernance,regulatory
compliance,andstrategicoversightforwhichZenithBankiswidelyrespected.HejoinedtheBoardof
Zenith Bank Plc on 29 December 2017 and has served on several Board committees, including the Board
Audit and Compliance Committee, Board Governance, Nomination and Renumeration Committee and as
Chairman of theBoard RiskManagementCommitteeuntilhisappointmentasChairmanof theBoardof
Directors.
He has extensive leadership experience at Board and executive levels, a strong understanding of corporate
governanceprinciplesandregulatoryexpectations,andaproventrackrecordinstrategicoversightand
organisationalgrowth.Hehasconsistentlydemonstratedintegrity,independenceandsoundjudgement,
qualities that distinguished him as the natural choice to lead the Board into its next chapter.
Engr. Mustafa Bello is a distinguished engineer, statesman and corporate leader. His career spans more
than four decades across the public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy. He served as Minister of
CommerceoftheFederalRepublicofNigeriafrom1999to2002underPresidentOlusegunObasanjo,
GCFR,whereheledthedevelopmentofNigeria’sWTO-consistentTradePolicy.Healsooversawthe
CorporateAffairsCommission(CAC)onlineprojectof2002,whichmodernisedthewaybusinesses
registerandoperateinthecountry.FromNovember2003toFebruary2014,heservedasExecutive
Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Investments Promotion Commission (NIPC), where
hewasinstrumentalinattractingforeigndirectinvestmentintoNigeria,buildingmultilateralandbilateral
partnerships, and representing the Federal Government at international conferences and missions.
HegraduatedfromAhmaduBelloUniversity(ABU),Zaria,in1978withaB.Engr.inCivilEngineering
(SecondClassUpperDivision),winningtheShellPrizeforthebestprojectandthesisintheFacultyof
Engineering.HebeganhiscareerwiththeNigerianArmy’sDirectorateofQuarteringandEngineering
Service from 1978 to 1979, before joining the Niger State Housing Corporation as a Senior Civil Engineer
from 1980 to 1983.
HeiscurrentlytheChairmanofInvest-in-NorthernNigeriaLimited,aspecialpurposevehicleforthe
economic and social transformation of the Northern Nigerian economy, and has previously served on the
boards of Eskom Holdings Limited of the Republic of South Africa (2004 to 2008) and FrieslandCampina
WAMCO Nigeria Plc as an Independent Non-Executive Director. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of
Engineers and a Registered Member of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) as
well as Fellow of the Academy of Natural Sciences & Engineering in Nigeria (ANSEN).
Zenith Bank stands among Africa’s leading financial institutions, with a strong capital base and operations
acrossNigeria,theUnitedKingdom,theUnitedArabEmirates,Ghana,SierraLeone,TheGambiaand
Côte d’Ivoire.
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