Sterling Bank Plc has partnered with the Lagos State Government (LASG) to feed about 158,000 children in 32 public schools for five days in the Lagos Island area of the state.

The bank disclosed this at an event to appreciate volunteers who participated in the pilot stage of the project recently.

Snacks4Thought, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the Office of Civic Engagement, which is still at the pilot stage, isdesigned to feed disadvantaged children from Nursery one to Primary six in public schools in Lagos State.

While commending Lagos State for the initiative and the successful outcome of the pilot, Education Sector Lead of Sterling Bank, Ms. Eniola Obe, explained that the bank decided to partner the state government on the Snacks4Thought initiative because the project aligns with the education component of its HEART of Sterling programme, which focuses investments in five critical sectors, namely health, education, agriculture, renewable energy and transportation.

Obe explained that the bank was willing to partner with operators in both public and private sectors as part of efforts to improve the quality of education in the country.

She said 270 members of staff of Sterling Bank across all levels participated in the project as volunteers across the 32 schools earmarked for the pilot stage, which represents a total of 2,700 volunteering hours in January alone.

Speaking at the event, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, said the Lagos State Government launched the Snacks4Thought initiative as part of an effort to encourage primary school children to stay in school and complete their primary education.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan