Access Bank Turns Polo into a Power Play for Education

On the manicured lawns of the Guards Polo Club in Windsor, a different kind of victory was celebrated — not on the field, but in classrooms thousands of miles away.

Access Bank hosted its 10th annual UK Charity Polo Day, bringing together top business leaders, philanthropists, and diplomats for an event that blended sport with purpose. But behind the glamour of the day was a serious mission: driving access to education for children in Nigeria.

The event, now a staple on the international polo calendar, has grown into a powerful fundraising platform. Since its inception, Access Bank, in collaboration with Fifth Chukker and UNICEF, has constructed 60 fully equipped classrooms and impacted more than 14,000 children in Kaduna State. This year’s proceeds will fund a second phase, targeting an additional 60 classrooms.

Top executives in attendance included Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings Plc; Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group CEO; Roosevelt Ogbonna, Group Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank; and Jamie Simmonds, Managing Director of Access Bank UK. Their presence underscored a clear message: corporate success must go hand-in-hand with social impact.

“We believe that sustainable leadership in business must be matched by social responsibility,” said Ogbonna.

For Aig-Imoukhuede, the annual event goes beyond sport. “We’ve used polo at Guards as a platform to unite global changemakers around one common cause — investing in the future of Africa through education,” he said.

Agbede added, “If we can build an ecosystem that supports children from basic education to economic empowerment, we’re shaping entire communities.”

Simmonds echoed the vision. “This event reflects our mission to serve as a bridge between continents, connecting purpose with prosperity.”

What began as support for a single school of 400 pupils has evolved into a growing network that plans to reach over 28,000 students. For Access Bank, education is not charity — it’s a long-term strategy for development.

While spectators enjoyed world-class polo and hospitality, the true impact of the day was far-reaching. Access Bank’s initiative highlighted how business leaders can leverage influence, capital, and collaboration to tackle one of Africa’s most pressing challenges.

As the sun set over Windsor, one message was clear: when power players lead with purpose, the results go far beyond the field.