By Chioma OBINNA
In a bid to tackle blindness in developing countries, particularly Nigeria, Standard Chartered Bank through its “Seeing is Believing Initiative” donated N16m to the Nigerian Society for the Blind (NSB) and Sight Savers International.

Speaking during the bank’s 2010 annual Walk for Sight in Lagos weekend, the CEO, Christopher Knight, said: “We are very proud of what we have achieved with our Walk for Sight initiative in the last five years.

We could not have done this without support from our staff, customers, friends, family members and the media. It is quite gratifying to see that the $510,000 we have raised from this initiative in the last five years has made a positive difference in the activities of our two partner NGOs.

We are also happy, that today, we have added another $106,000, increasing the total amount raised from this initiative to $616,000.”

Knight said the two NGOs have been chosen in the last five editions and were picked once again because of  credibility and unwavering commitment to the eradication of blindness in Nigeria. Each NGO obtained a cheque for N8 million. Both cheques were given based on  funds raised over the last few weeks with the support of partners.

Chief Olu Falomo, Chairman, Governing Council, Nigerian Society for the Blind, stated: “We have received unwavering support from Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria. Without this support, it would have been extremely difficult for us to achieve the objectives of our Vocational Training Centre for the Blind in Oshodi. Over the years, the bank has provided us with amazing financial, infrastructural and administrative assistance”.

Mr. Sunday Isiyaku, Country Director, Sight Savers International expressed gratitude for  the generous support  received  from the bank.