AN ADDRESS BY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LAPO MICROFINANCE BANK, MR  GODWIN EHIGIAMUSOE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 5^TH LAPO MICROFINANCE BANK SCHOLARSHIP AWARD CEREMONY ON OCTOBER 4^TH  2012, AT LAPO HEAD OFFICE, 18 DAWSON ROAD BENIN CITY, EDO STATE.

Special Guest of Honour

The Chairperson,

Beneficiaries, Parents and Guardians,

Gentlemen of the Press

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to welcome you to the award presentation ceremony for the 5^th round of scholarship awards to deserving children of clients of LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited.

I am particularly happy to have the Special Guest of Honour to grace this ceremony. He is a man who for many years has earned my admiration though I have not met him in person.

The rationale for the scholarship scheme is that often our clients require something more than credit. Their aspirations and concerns go beyond accessing financial services. Our experience working with women has shown that, the demand for loans is prompted by some stronger desires. They engage in micro-businesses in order to meet needs and address challenges they contend with on a daily basis. They entertain fears and concerns about the future of their children.  Our women aspire to send their children to school for quality education. This aspiration is informed by the fact that these women feel and rightly so, that their own standard of living would have been better, if they had the opportunity to have formal education. We agree with them and share this aspiration with them.

We are also involved in the health and social empowerment. In collaboration with LAPO NGO, the microfinance bank is reaching a large number of its clients with innovative health awareness programmes on malaria, diabetes and cervical cancer. We implement very creative HIV/AIDS awareness and support programmes across the country. For two years, LAPO Microfinance Bank has partnered a major insurance company, Goldlink, to provide insurance policies for all our over 700,000 clients.

With the formulation of our Sustainable Microfinance Policy, we promise that in the coming years, LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited shall expand its social empowerment activities. More of our clients’ children shall benefit from the scholarship awards; more women shall be assisted to manage their risks and we shall act to preserve the environment.

I want to commend members of the scholarship board of LAPO for their commitment to the realization of the goal of the scholarship. I want to acknowledge the support of GoldLink Life Assurance Plc for the scholarship scheme.

I want to use this opportunity to appeal to our partners and well-meaning individuals and organizations to financially support the scheme in order to reach a larger number of needy children.

I thank you all for gracing this occasion and God bless

 

Godwin Ehigiamusoe

Managing Director

LAPO MFB Limited

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