Access Bank, a prominent financial institution in Africa, has forged a partnership with the British Council for the seventh iteration of the British Council Recognition and Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards (BROCLA).

The collaboration aligns with Access Bank’s dedication to supporting the education sector and acknowledging students who have demonstrated exceptional performance in the May/June 2023 and Oct/Nov 2023 Cambridge International Examinations.

The well-attended event held on Thursday evening at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, serves as a testament to Access Bank’s strategic brand positioning and its successful collaborations with esteemed partners.

Access Bank stated that the new partnership provides a distinctive combination of international recognition, strategic networking opportunities, increased brand exposure, alignment with corporate social responsibility objectives, and favorable public relations.

At the British Council Recognition and Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards, Chioma Kema Ogwo, Head of Emerging Businesses at Access Bank, emphasized the paramount significance of education. She highlighted that Access Bank places substantial investment in the education sector, recognizing its crucial role in societal development.

Access Bank values education, which is why it collaborated with the British Council for the seventh edition of the British Council Recognitions and Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards (BROCLA), she said.

Ogwo mentioned that in addition to the accolades presented during the ceremony, Access Bank will be providing the distinguished students with financial assistance as they embark on this new chapter in their lives..

“At Access Bank, we prioritize education and offer a comprehensive suite of services to support the education value chain. We provide financial solutions to parents, enabling them to conveniently pay school fees and access exclusive offerings when traveling abroad to visit their children. Additionally, we offer supplementary cards that can be utilized by students studying abroad, ensuring their financial needs are met.

“Ogwo mentioned that schools are included in the availability of affordable finance options for working capital, asset finance, and school expansion projects. There is a special school account tailored to their unique term cycles, along with a variety of non-financial services.

During his opening remarks, the Senior Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa at Cambridge International Education, Der Riet, acknowledged the outstanding achievements of the 48 recipients of the high achievement awards and the eight students who demonstrated exceptional proficiency across multiple subjects, earning them the prestigious best awards. He commended their unwavering dedication to their studies and remarkable ability to excel in a wide range of disciplines.

He acknowledged Access Bank's collaboration with the British Council for the Recognition and Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards 2024, stating that it serves as a validation of the bank’s unwavering commitment to fostering educational advancement in Nigeria.

“In addition, I would like to express our gratitude to Access Bank for their significant contributions. Access Bank is playing a pivotal role in this endeavor and will further recognize the awardees present in the room by presenting them with awards. We extend our sincere appreciation to the bank for their unwavering support and partnership, which serves as a testament to their unwavering commitment to fostering education,” he remarked.

Juan Visser, the Regional Director of Sub-Saharan Africa at Cambridge International Education, noted that among all the remarkable learner events globally, Nigeria shines as the most glamorous. He praised all the successful students for their brilliance, ambition, strength, and for simply being outstanding.

“We are gathered here to commemorate the achievement of 95 Cambridge students from 37 Cambridge schools, or international schools accredited to offer Cambridge, who have collectively earned 134 awards. The British Council in Nigeria, in collaboration with Cambridge, plays a crucial role in delivering high-quality education to our schools and learners globally," he stated.

Visser, who firmly believes that high-quality education serves as the primary catalyst for societal and individual transformation, emphasized the significance of the students gathered for the event. He acknowledged, “I understand that this is a momentous occasion for all of you, and you have dedicated immense effort to reach this milestone. Despite the disruptions caused by the global pandemic, you have persevered in your studies and achieved remarkable success. It is important to recognize that the current cohort of learners has been profoundly affected by the pandemic and has had to navigate through challenging circumstances.”

The Cambridge Learner Awards acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of learners who excel in Cambridge examinations globally. These awards are generated electronically through Cambridge’s advanced data generation system.

Cambridge awards are determined by the overall standard marks rather than percentage marks or grades. The student with the highest overall standard mark globally or in a specific country/territory will be recognized with the award for that particular subject.

The 2024 British Council Recognition and Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards ceremony was attended by students from various schools, parents, teachers, British Council Nigeria officials, and other distinguished guests, including the Honorable Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education.