In a stirring fusion of glamour, global goodwill, and grassroots impact, Access Private Bank UK, in collaboration with the Fifth Chukker polo club and UNICEF, celebrated the 10th annual Charity Polo Day at the prestigious Guards Polo Club, Windsor on July 12, 2025. This landmark event marks ten years of a unique fundraising and development partnership aiming to uplift educational opportunities for children in rural Nigeria. Over that period, the initiative has facilitated the construction of 60 fully equipped school blocks—directly transforming the lives of more than 14,000 children.
What began as an elegant equestrian gathering has flourished into a symbol of purpose‑driven banking, reinforcing Access Private Bank’s commitment to sustainable development and empowering the next generation through quality education.
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An Elegant Platform with Real Impact
The Charity Polo Day, co-hosted with Fifth Chukker, blends the best of sport and philanthropy. This year’s event brought together high-profile diplomats, corporate leaders, philanthropists, and polo enthusiasts for a day of distinguished sport and meaningful networking.
Speakers underscored a powerful message: this is not charity—it’s an investment in Africa’s future. Funds raised support UNICEF-led infrastructure projects in Kaduna State, including teacher training, classroom infrastructure upgrades, and essential learning materials in rural communities.
Leaders Who Believe in Education as a Right
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings, described the event as “a platform that unites global changemakers around one common cause: investing in the future of Africa through education.” He praised the partnership with Fifth Chukker and UNICEF as “symbolic and transformative” .
Roosevelt Ogbonna, Group MD and CEO of Access Bank Plc, added:
“At Access Bank, we believe education is a fundamental right. By aligning our brand with purpose, we are proud to demonstrate that financial success and social impact can and must go hand in hand.”
Jamie Simmonds, CEO of Access Private Bank UK, emphasised the strategic value of the initiative, stating:
“This event reflects the essence of Access Bank UK’s vision — serving as a bridge between continents, connecting purpose with prosperity…” which reinforces “empowering young minds across Africa ultimately shapes a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.”
Tangible Outcomes: Classrooms Built, Futures Made
From its inception, the annual event has funded 60 school blocks accommodating around 14,000 pupils.
- £2.2 million (∼₦800 million) raised to date.
- 60 new classrooms completed, with another 60 in the planning phase.
- 14,000 children directly benefiting from safer, more accessible education.
The aim isn’t just to build walls, but to build futures—providing equipped learning environments, textbooks, hygiene facilities, and trained teachers, aligned with UNICEF’s goals to accelerate SDG 4 (inclusive, equitable quality education).
A Sporting Stage for Serious Progress
Polo, often perceived as an elite sport, has found a purposeful role in advancing educational equity.
- Global Awareness: The juxtaposition of Windsor’s polo greens with Nigeria’s classroom sites grabs attention, drawing influential donors and media.
- Showcasing Partnership: The collaboration between the private sector, sports culture, and a UN agency highlights innovative philanthropy.
- Grassroots Influence: Funds mobilized abroad directly support community‑based outcomes in Kaduna State.
Each year, elite players—including UNICEF ambassadors—compete alongside rising African talents. Notably, polo legend Adolfo Cambiaso and daughter Mia joined 2025’s Fifth Chukker squad, symbolizing global solidarity through sport.
Beyond Bricks: Investing in Long‑Term Change
UNICEF’s involvement ensures funds are applied with purpose. The objectives include:
- Classroom Construction – safe, modern, and accessible for all genders.
- Teacher Development – bolstering pupil-teacher ratios and enabling quality instruction.
- Learning Resources – supplies, hygiene, and sanitation.
- Community Engagement – involving families and locals for ownership and sustainability
Such multi-layered investments help ensure Nigeria’s future workforce is skilled, literate, and innovative.
A Repeatable Blueprint: Corporate-UNICEF-Sport Overlay
What began with classroom building in Kaduna now serves as a scalable model:
- Corporate Strategy: Access Private Bank showcases how profit motives and social purpose can align.
- UN Partnership: Joining forces with UNICEF provides legitimacy and technical expertise.
- Sport as Catalyst: Polo Day blends prestige with purpose, maximising visibility and funds.
- Measurable Impact: Quantified outputs—classrooms built, students reached—drive accountability and confidence.
This replicable model can inspire other banks, corporations, and agencies to embed philanthropy into their core ethos.
Access Private Bank & UNICEF: What Lies Ahead
With 60 more classrooms funded this year, the ambition is to double the impact in the next decade:
- Stretching into new regions, beyond Kaduna, to apply lessons learned.
- Strengthening learning ecosystems, including digital access, vocational programs, and community centres.
- Ongoing transparency, with annual audits, progress reports, and stakeholder gatherings.
At today’s event, cross‑sector leaders and diplomats reiterated their support for scaling this pilot into a continental campaign.
Final Reflection
The Access Private Bank & UNICEF educational pilot isn’t just a fundraising event. It is a living testament to what we can achieve when finance meets empathy, when sport drives social change, and when education transforms nations.
From Windsor’s pristine pitches to Kaduna’s rural classrooms, this initiative writes a story of hope—one classroom at a time. As Access Bank UK CEO Jamie Simmonds aptly stated:
“Empowering young minds across Africa ultimately shapes a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.”
Access Private Bank & UNICEF: Key Takeaways
- 10 years, 60 classrooms, 14,000 children, £2.2M raised
- Annual Charity Polo Day blends sport, elite networking, and philanthropy
- Strong leadership from Access Bank, UNICEF, and Fifth Chukker
- Scalable CSR model with global-local impact
- Clear mission: bridge opportunity gaps through education
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