Promoting academic excellence: Afriland First Bank launches 2025 back-to-school bonanza!.

In line with other concrete actions within its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR policy, Afriland First Bank has officially launched the second edition of its B-First programme.

The strategic and ambitious civic initiative that places education at the heart of Afriland First Bank's priorities, was launched on August 12, 2025. 

The banking sector leader, the release detailed, through B-First programme, aims to “honour schools that stand out for their exceptional results, while rewarding the most deserving students for their outstanding academic performance and discipline”.

In the press release launching the second edition of the scheme, the Director General of Afriland First Bank, Célestin Guela Simo, said the initiative reflects the Bank's “ongoing commitment to promoting quality, inclusive, equitable, and accessible education”.

“Founded on the principle of excellence, our institution has built a reputation as a leader in the finance sector. By placing the quality of training at the heart of our concerns since our inception, we have instilled in our teams a culture of operational and managerial excellence,” Guela stated in the release. 

The Director General said the institution is “building on this firmly rooted corporate culture,” to launch the B-First programme.

He said the initiative demonstrates the commitment of Afriland First Bank to “Cameroonian youth and the development of our country”.

“Convinced that excellence is the result of hard work, unwavering perseverance, and constant humility, we want to contribute to building a prosperous nation that is confident in its potential,” the Director General added. 

Components of B-First programme 

The B-First programme, designed to support the education of future generations, has two main components viz; recognition of academic excellence and Afriland First Bank 50 Scholars Competition. 

The recognition of academic excellence component aims to honour best students at all levels of education in the best schools in the country's 10 regions with awards of excellence for their outstanding academic results.

The 50 Scholars Competition, per the release, is open to high school graduates from the 2024/2025 academic year to compete to be selected among the 50 brightest students in Cameroon. 

Winners, the release noted, will receive a full or partial university scholarship, fully funded by Afriland First Bank, giving them the opportunity to pursue higher education in the best learning conditions.

By supporting young Cameroonian talent in their academic careers, Afriland First Bank, the release stated, is reaffirming its role as a catalyst for social and economic change and its commitment to building a prosperous future for Cameroon.

The initiative, it was added, is part of a long-term vision aimed at actively contributing to the development of human capital, which is essential for sustainable social transformation. 

Through the move, Afriland First Bank also reaffirms its position as a preferred partner in the education sector, committed to promoting the values of merit, hard work, and excellence. 

The bank, through the programme, reaffirms its guiding values: questioning, ongoing training, a culture of hard work, and fair distribution of growth benefits.

About Afriland First Bank

Afriland First Bank is a leading Pan-African banking institution, distinguished by its commitment to the development of an unapologetic African leadership class that is resolutely focused on the prosperity of the continent. 

It articulates its deployment across all its operating units through a culture of innovation, sustainable development, and the promotion of social inclusion. 

Through concrete actions, particularly as part of its CSR policy, the bank contributes to the well-being of communities and the economic growth of the countries in which it invests. 

The B-First programme is part of the dynamic, working for the intellectual and academic development of young Cameroonians, who are the future leaders of the country's development.

In 2024, Afriland First Bank invested approximately 300 million CFA francs in the transformative initiative. 

Thanks to the commitment, the B-First programme has awarded prizes to 23,100 students and reached 306 schools across the country, demonstrating their impact and desire to contribute to the training of tomorrow's leaders.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3537 of Monday August 18, 2025