UBA Foundation wins THISDAY’s ‘Philanthropy of the Year’ award

UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has won ‘Philanthropy of the Year’ award for 2024 at the THISDAY Award ceremony.

The event, which took place at Eko Hotels & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos, on Sunday, marked both the 30th anniversary of THISDAY Newspapers and the 12th anniversary of Arise News Channel.

The ceremony, themed ‘When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Rewarded,’ brought together ministers, political party chieftains, and entrepreneurs from various sectors.

UBA Foundation emerged the winner in the category which had other nominees including Dangote Foundation, NLNG, MTN Foundation, and Fidelity Bank Foundation.

While presenting the award, Mohammed Idris, minister of information, commended UBA Foundation for its impactful programs, particularly in advancing education, and emphasised the need for more organisations to emulate the foundation’s model of sustainable philanthropy.

“This award is a testament to the remarkable achievements of the UBA Foundation over the past year, this honour is well-deserved, and I urge other organisations to follow this exemplary model in contributing to the societies they serve,” Idris stated.

Receiving the award on behalf of the foundation, Ramon Nasir, UBA’s group head, media and external relations, expressed gratitude for the recognition, attributing the success to the foundation’s commitment to improving lives across the continent and beyond.

“We are deeply honoured to receive this award, which comes at a pivotal moment for us. It is a powerful affirmation of the work we have done and a reminder of the responsibility we carry to do even more,” Nasir said.

Bola Atta, UBA Foundation’s chief executive officer (CEO), who spoke on the award, expressed her appreciation to the public, THISDAY Newspapers, and Arise Media Group for the honour.

“We are appreciative of this award, and for us, this is our call to action to do even more. In the coming year, we will not rest on our laurels, we will launch new initiatives and strengthen existing programs to deepen our impact and broaden our reach across communities.” she noted.

“Over the years, the Foundation has focused on key areas such as education, environmental sustainability, economic empowerment, and special projects, leaving a lasting legacy of transformation, rolling our initiatives that continue to impact positively on the communities around its areas of operation.”

“The award reaffirms the UBA Foundation’s position as a leading force in philanthropy, underscoring its unwavering dedication towards giving back to the community and creating a sustainable future for generations to come.”