CBN staff builds over N100m hospital, orphanages for less-privileged

Over N100 million has been spent by employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) in building hospitals, orphanages for less-privileged people in the society within the last decade, Mr. Naibi Yahaya, Head of Human Resources of the apex bank has said. Yahaya, who stated this in Abuja at the official opening of an Islamic Orphanage in Kuje and a boys’ hostel at the Saint Mary’s Home for Orphans and Destitute, said that the two orphanages were built through alms donation by staffers of the regulatory bank. He added that the concept of alms-giving by the workers of the bank was initiated by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former governor of the bank, as far back as 2003, as a way of helping to bear the burden of the down-trodden in the society. The bank’s boss, who represented the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, at the Saint Mary’s Orphanage, stressed that the bank had also embarked on various charitable projects across the state. Advertisement In Yangoji, he said the bank built a health facility at the cost of NI0 million for the people of the area, while at Amuwo Odofin in Lagos, about N35million was spent on another facility, even as NI5 million was spent in Owutu to support the welfare of people. He added that the bank built the boys hostel at the cost of N25 million, up from an initial cost before it was gutted by a midnight fire outbreak. While saying that the bank intends to commence multiple humanitarian projects in various locations from next year, he advised genuine organizations in the human interest support services to apply to the bank for possible assistance. Dr. Sani Dogowa, Head of Statistics Department of the bank who represented the CBN governor at the Kuje orphanage project said the building was completed at the cost of N30million, adding that initial relocation of site for the construction of the home from Karshi to Kuje contributed to a longer completion time of the project. Rev. Sister Henry Udodike and Amina Alhassan, who spoke on behalf of Saint Mary’s Home For Orphans and destitute Gwagwalada, and Al- Ansar Association Kuje respectively, thanked the staff of the bank for the kind gesture, adding that they have by their actions set a good precedence for staff of other corporate organizations to follow.