First City Monument Bank (FCMB), in partnership with MOD Education, is supporting its customers who are aspiring to study abroad

Both institutions also organised a two-day International English Language Testing System (IELTS) training in Lagos for candidates seeking admission.

The bank’s Executive Director, Retail Banking, Olu Akanmu, said the bank  packaged this programme to meet students’taste. While commending the Federal Government for accelerating development in various spheres, he underscored the need to prioritise education as a sector that deserves a very critical and urgent rescue.

Seeing quality education as the fulcrum for economic reactivation and sustainability, Akanmu said: “The education programme is focused on young people and persons who aspire to study abroad or at some high-quality institutions of international standard in Nigeria. This begins with proper and standard acquisition of spoken, written and listening language skills to aid the process of admission and provide ease in learning.

‘’The exercise is part of FCMB’s commitment towards the nation’s social and economic development through quality education. Immediate beneficiaries are children of FCMB’s customers and the bank’s young customers who aspire to pursue their studies abroad or in any indigenous higher institution of international standard.”

The sessions hosted over 13,000 registered candidates    and others who live-streamed to participate in the programme. It featured interactive sessions with leading examiners and experts with decades of experience and information on how to prepare and succeed in the IELTS exams.

A trainer, Dele Owolowo, of the International Development Programme (IDP), Australia proffer solutions to the various aspects of the exams.

He shared tips required on how to improve their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in preparation for the exams.

Also present at the event were the Group Operations Manager, MOD Group (owners of MOD IELTS Test Centre), Farouk Oyebanjo and Head of IELTS Nigeria Operations, Kazeem Tijani.

A participant, Shola Akinyemi said: “To be sincere, I’ve always wondered if I would ever get the opportunity to attend any form of class or training before attempting the IELTS exams based on my tight schedule, but FCMB handed this opportunity to me free.

‘’The consultants who facilitated were very eloquent and understood every aspect that we Nigerians usually have serious challenges with. For this reason, I would like to say a big thank you to FCMB for always being the bank that provides opportunities for Nigerians.”