Union Bank of Nigeria, through its employee volunteering platform under the UnionCares initiative, has completed and inaugurated a major infrastructure upgrade project at Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School in Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
The corporate social responsibility intervention was fully conceived, funded, and executed by the bank’s 2022–2024 Management Trainee cohort. The project was designed to provide immediate and impactful support to one of Lagos State’s densely populated and underserved learning communities.
The intervention addressed critical water, sanitation, and power challenges at the school. Facilities delivered include newly constructed toilet blocks for teachers and students, renovated classrooms, a functional borehole for clean water access, a generator set for stable electricity supply, and various educational materials.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Lagos, the Chief Brand and Marketing Officer of Union Bank, Olufunmilola Aluko, described the project as a strong example of corporate purpose meeting community needs.
“This project is proof of what happens when young professionals are trusted with purpose,” Aluko said. “Our 2022–2024 Management Trainees didn’t just complete a CSR mandate, they identified a need, rallied around it, and delivered real change for real children.”
She added that the bank intentionally integrates community service into its human capital development strategy to encourage empathy and social responsibility among employees.
“At Union Bank, we believe impact begins from within, and UnionCares exists to channel the talent and passion of our people into communities that need it most,” she stated.
According to the bank, the Ebute-Metta project reflects its broader commitment to promoting social development across Nigeria’s public education sector, especially in underserved communities where poor infrastructure continues to affect learning outcomes.
A representative of the management trainee cohort explained that Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School was selected after a detailed needs assessment to identify where support could deliver the greatest immediate impact.
“We saw an environment where students were eager to learn but faced structural bottlenecks like a lack of clean water and inadequate sanitation facilities,” the representative said. “By pooling resources and executing this project from scratch, our cohort wanted to ensure these children get the dignity, safety, and modern learning tools they deserve to build a better future.”
School authorities and community leaders at the event expressed appreciation to the bank, noting that the intervention would help reduce absenteeism linked to poor hygiene conditions while improving students’ morale and learning environment.
