WINDHOEK - Standard Bank Namibia (SBN) on Tuesday donated N$ 100 000 to the San Development Trust and N$ 50 000 to the National Alliance for Improved Nutrition (NAFIN).

NAFIN was launched in December 2010 to strategically manage and advance national nutrition activities through the participation of its members, who include key Cabinet ministries, leading international agencies and corporations, as well as local organisations such as the Namibia Agronomic Board.

The alliance’s activities focus on reducing malnutrition and promoting good nutrition for all Namibians, with a focus on women and children.

The donations were also meant as a gesture in celebration of Prime Minister (PM) Nahas Angula’s 69th birthday on Tuesday. The PM received the donations on behalf of the two organisations.

Speaking at the handing over of the donations here, SBN Managing Director (MD) Mpumzi Pupuma said the bank strives to assist government in achieving its developmental goals of Vision 2030 and the fourth National Development Plan (NDP4).

“On behalf of SBN it gives me great pleasure to be here today to officially mark the bank’s contribution towards marginalised Namibians,” he said.

The MD said as a corporate financial company, SBN remains committed to corporate social investments (CSIs) which are geared towards enhancing the lives and dignity of vulnerable Namibians.
It is for this reason, Pupuma said, that the institution on an annual basis pledges one per cent of its net profit to corporate social investment initiatives.

“The strategic focus of the bank’s CSIs programme is mainly on health and wellness, education, poverty alleviation and entrepreneurial development,” he said.
On his part, the PM applauded the bank for making the donations, saying that both organisations deal with matters which are “close to his heart”.

He further stated that nutrition can only be enhanced if all role-players coordinate their efforts and “cross-fertilise” their input.
Angula also noted that Standard Bank Namibia will over the next three years be represented as a stakeholder in NAFIN. – Nampa