Nigeria’s top banking executives presented critical relief materials to Mohammed Umaru Bago, governor of Niger State, in Abuja on Saturday, in a show of industry-wide solidarity with victims of recent flooding in Mokwa Local Government Area. The coordinated donation, valued in millions of naira, signals the banking sector’s continued commitment to corporate social responsibility as an anchor of financial system resilience.
Led by Oliver Alawuba, chairman of the Body of Bank CEOs and Group Managing Director of UBA Plc, the delegation handed over bags of rice, beverages, vegetable oil, and mattresses intended to ease the suffering of flood-affected families and demonstrate the financial industry’s role in disaster response.“As custodians of trust and key drivers of economic growth, we understand the intrinsic link between the well-being of communities and stability of the financial system,” Alawuba said during the presentation.
The relief materials were received by Governor Bago at the Niger State Government House in Abuja, in the presence of senior state officials, several banking CEOs and media representatives. The donation followed catastrophic floods in Mokwa and surrounding areas, which displaced thousands, damaged homes, and left communities in urgent need of support.Alawuba acknowledged the delay in response but reassured stakeholders of the industry’s commitment to long-term recovery efforts. “This donation is just the beginning; we pledge continued collaboration with the Niger State Government to ensure long-term recovery and resilience,” he said.
He noted that recent flooding incidents are a consequence of global climate change and expressed hope that valuable lessons have been learned—particularly the need to discourage construction along floodplains. Other executives present included Adaora Umeoji, Zenith Bank’s Group Managing Director; Hassan Imam, Keystone Bank’s MD/CEO; Hamid Joda, TajBank’s MD; and Akin Morakinyo, Registrar/CEO of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.
