By Chioma Obinna
In support of the Seeing is Believing Initiative, SiB, Standard Chartered Bank, SCB, Nigeria has doled out a total of N10 million to Nigeria Society for the Blind and Sight Savers International.

The N10 million, which was in two separate Cheques of N5 million each, were proceeds from the last weekend fund-raising annual walk organised by SCB, Nigeria through its Seeing is Believing 2011 walk for sight to tackle avoidable blindness in communities around the world including Nigeria.

In the last six years, the project through its walk has raised a total of $610,000 which has helped to fund successful cataract operations and treatment (still ongoing) for approximately 14,000 persons between January 2006 and October 2011.

The walk, described as the best so far, was graced by over 1,000 volunteers from all walks of life.

Speaking, the Chief Executive, SCB,Nigeria, Mrs. Bola Adesola, said: “It is quite gratifying to see that the $610,000 we have raised from this initiative in the last six years has made a positive difference in the activities of our two partner NGOs. We are also happy, that today, we have added another $70,000 to this, increasing the total amount raised from this initiative to $680,000.”

Pointing out that the project was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility said the gesture has shown that as a financial institution, they take Corporate Social Responsibility very seriously and are truly committed to Nigeria and the SIB Project. “This is a good way to amplify the bank’s new brand

“These are the same partners chosen in the last six editions and they were picked once again because of the fact that the bank has found them to be credible institutions with an unwavering commitment to aid the eradication of blindness in Nigeria.

Responding, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Society for the Blind, Mrs. Biola Agbaje, said “We have received unwavering support from SCB, Nigeria for quite a few years now. 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.We express our deep appreciation to the Board, Management and Staff of the Bank for their unwavering commitment to the centre.”

Also, Mr. Sunday Isiyaku, Country Director for Sight Savers International said: “We are quite pleased with the generous support we have received over the last few years from SCB, Nigeria. Over the last six years, investment by the Seeing is Believing programme in Kwara State has   increase the number of surgeries performed each year,  awareness about eye services has been created and there has been an increase in the number of  people accessing services. This means that the project is now well positioned to grow outputs over the next couple of years.”