CBN’s workforce donates multi-purpose hall to physically challenged persons

The Central Bank of Nigeria under the auspices of CBN Staff Alms Fund (C-SAF) yesterday commissioned N40million multi-purpose hall for the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria (SCIAN).

Speaking at the commission ceremony, the Governor of CBN, Godwin Emefiele said that the project was as a result of a request to the apex bank’s Alms Fund by SCIAN to build a 3-bedroom block of flats and multi-purpose hall for the association.

He, however, explained that upon screening the proposal by the Board of Trustees (BoT), the building of multi-purpose hall was agreed on as a means to generate revenue for SCIAN.

Emefiele, who was represented by the Director of Human Resource, Ms. Chizoba Mojekwu hinted that the fund which was generated via individual donations of the staff of CBN was established under the leadership of Dr. Joseph Sanusi, with the aim to collectively address nagging issues of street begging, and the destitute in major cities of Lagos and Abuja.

He stated that other branches of CBN across the country would key into establishing a similar Fund in their various locations, as five projects have been concluded under the C-SAF.

The governor, however, explained that the construction contract awarded in 2011 and scheduled for completion within six months at the cost of N33.5million to Messrs. Dual Omaa Ltd was finally completed in January 2013 at the cost of N40million due to further works.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman of SCIAN, Mr. Obioha Ononogbu said that the hall would generate funds for the development of the centre to make it more habitable for the comfort of person with disabilities.

According to him, a lot of selfless service and humanitarian gestures have been committed to the project by staff of CBN.

Meanwhile, Ononogbu disclosed that the critical challenge of the SCIAN was funding and the need for self-reliance through income generating projects had become both a necessity and fact.

“It is against this background that the CBN Staff Union accepted the idea of an income-generating project instead of constructing 2-residential bungalows. Thus, they decided to support our vision for self-reliance by the donation of this ultra modern multipurpose hall. Today, this elegant edifice stands as an enduring legacy for sustenance of this foremost rehabilitation centre,” he affirmed.