Sterling Bank recommits to promotion of arts

By Rosemary Iwuala 

Sterling Bank has lent its support to the Kaduna Book and Arts Festival (KABAFEST) as a way of promoting literacy and education.

This is in alignment with the bank’s ‘HEART’ strategy which focuses on investments in five key sectors of the economy, namely, Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation.

KABAFEST is the largest art and literary event in Northern Nigeria. Annually, it converges art and literary lovers in Kaduna State to engage in a variety of activities including panel discussions, film screenings and art exhibitions, among others.

Abubakar Suleiman, managing director of Sterling Bank Plc, said in a statement that the bank invests consistently in education as a tool for human capital development, noting that education is one of the keys that would drive prosperity in Nigeria.

“There is no doubt that the arts enriches our lives, it gives us hope and enforces our desires,” Suleiman said.

Congratulating Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on this year’s KABAFEST, Suleiman said this is the third year that Sterling Bank has sponsored the book and arts festival, adding that the bank was proud to be associated with “such an excellent showing of creativity and the celebration of the arts”.

Before officially opening the festival, Governor El-Rufai praised Sterling Bank for its sponsorship of the event. He also touched on the history of KABAFEST, saying, “I am pleased and honoured to stand here with you during the opening of the 4th edition of KABAFEST.”

Lola Shoneyin, director of Book Buzz Foundation, organisers of the KABAFEST, expressed her appreciation to the state government and the sponsors.

“I want to say how grateful we are to you for being part of a project that has been truly life-changing. As of this moment, yours is still the only state government in Nigeria that is fully funding a book festival for the people of the state,” she said.