The United Bank of Africa (UBA) on Thursday 15th April donated 1,300 aprons to aid the cleaning of the city to Mayor Aki Sawyer as part of their support to the Transform Freetown project.
Handing over the aprons to the FCC, UBA Executive Director Mohamed Samoura said as a bank, they commend the remarkable work of the council in improving the hygiene and sanitary condition of the city. “This city belongs to all of us living and doing business here; and with that in mind, I want to assure you that UBA (SL) is committed to the Freetown City Council Transform Freetown Initiative. We commend you for your laudable initiative. UBA also applauds you for the successful completion of this beautiful edifice strategically located in the Central Business District of Freetown.”
The Executive Director averred that as one of Africa’s largest financial services institutions, they recognise the need for a social contract between the Bank, the community and its people. To this end, UBA became the first bank in Nigeria to institute a foundation — UBAF, as the CSR arm of the bank. UBA Foundation, he said, is committed to the socioeconomic betterment of the communities. The bank funds its programmes and initiatives.
“As part of the bank’s support to the Freetown City Council, we are here today to hand over a total of 1,300 aprons worth over $15,000 to support the council’s Clean Freetown Initiative. Also, in May 2008, UBA Foundation joined a group of elite financial institutions who signed on to the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). Through this, we have pledged our commitment to improving the environment and promoting sustainable development by forging best practice throughout the industry.”
As part of the bank’s commitment towards sustainability of the environment, the UBA Foundation maintains several gardens across Africa. They have almost completed a garden in front of FCC on Wallace Johnson Street, which will be commissioned soon.
With respect to the above, Samoura concluded by saying a very big thank you to the Mayor and her team for all the great achievements the council has achieved over the years, adding that UBA remains committed in working with the council’s development agenda. Also Samoura congratulated the Mayor for her recent selection as Vice Chairperson of the Steering Committee of C40 Cities, which is a global network of 97 cities committed to address Global Climate Change issues.
The bank, the Executive Director noted, over the years has provided various support to the Government and people of Sierra Leone and will continue to do so. Receiving the items from UBA, Mayor Aki Sawyer said that they started the conversation last year and now the aprons have arrived, for which they are very happy.
She said this has been one of their problems as they were looking at different angles to get the aprons to help protect their staff and other workers, and to help them in the Transform Freetown project. “Presently six per cent of liquid waste and 20% of solid waste are being collected. We want to make sure we get up to 60% of both from the streets and we are going to achieve it as we are putting modalities in place for that. But with this support from you, we are now very happy as Freetonians will be able to see our workers well dressed and protective at night from accidents.”
She called on all Freetonians to stop throwing filth in the gutters and streets and engage the tricycle and trucks to get their filth to the dumping site. She thanked UBA and said as the rain settles in, the garden will be ready to be commissioned, and they will make sure they take good care of it. She also said that UBA has been one of their pillars, and they will continue to go to them for assistance.
AT/16/04/2021