Accolades poured freely at the gala night, commending the financial support of Nigeria’s largest bank, United Bank of Africa Plc to the successful organisation of SilverBird Man of the year Award for 2006.

At the occasion to present the winner prize of N2.5m donate by UBA Plc to Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, The Minister of Federal Capital Territory is the new Chairman of the bank, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba who in his speech rationalized the involvement of the bank to the project as a continuation of the Bank’s mission to grow Africa business, Africa entrepreneurship and quest for social economic upliftment through good leadership.

“I call on Nigerians to join Silverbird Group in thanking UBA Group. The bank has demonstrated, continuously an unequal commitment to the success of Silverbird Man of the Year, typical of their commitment to nation building” remarked Mr. Ben Bruce Murray. Mr. Ben Bruce in the midst of glamour and showmanship thanked UBA Plc.  He solicited for continuous financial support of the bank to the project.

Mallam El Rufai while accepting the cheque from UBA’s Chairman, Mr. Alabraba, and ably supported by Mrs. Dora Akunyili, NAFDAC Chairman and 2005 winners, pledged the donation to Movement for Better Future, a non- governmental organisation based in Kaduna.

Mallam Saliu Lukmon, the President of the Movement in an interview with the writer shortly after the ceremony, noted that the donation will be used to fix Jamal Girls College, Zaria. Jamal Girls College is the first all female post primary institution, North of Niger.  Seen better years, Jamal infrastructure had been depleted largely as a result of neglect and overused. A common denominator of public schools in the country. “We are grateful to El-Rufai, the donor, but most importantly Silverbird Group who facilitated all these and United Bank for Africa Plc who supported the project. This donation has taken us beyond advocacy. What we will do or fail to do with this money will determine the people’s perception of our organisation” Mallam Lukmon concluded.

Jamal Girls College according to the Group will need N10m to fix the facility of the premier college.

The  bank’s donation to the Award winners  comes in the heel of recent activities of its social responsibility arm- The UBA Foundation. The Foundation recently donated N5m to University of Jos towards infastrure upliftment of the university.