Douala: Ecobank donates ICT tools, didactics to enhance inclusive education.

The gesture, officials said, was part of activities marking Ecobank Day 2025. It was celebrated in Cameroon on Wednesday, November 26.

The ceremony was attended by Littoral Regional and administrative authorities, parents, teachers, and community members.

Officials said the event highlighted the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, priority this year under the theme: “Education for All, Building a More Inclusive Society”.

Inclusion at heart of Ecobank values 

According to the Managing Director of Ecobank Cameroon and CEMAC Cluster Head, Gwendolyn Abunaw, the donation aligns with Ecobank Group’s longstanding commitment to inclusion, equality, and community development.

She explained that Ecobank Day, celebrated annually across all 35 African countries where bank operates, is not just symbolic but a deliberate opportunity for staff to volunteer in addressing social challenges. 

This year’s theme, she said, is a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of education when accessible to all.

“Inclusive education is not charity, it is empowerment. It is about giving every child the tools to participate meaningfully in society,” she stated.

The MD added that: “As a pan-African bank, we believe that investing in human capital is the most sustainable way to build a prosperous continent”.

She further noted that Ecobank’s choice of an inclusive school is intentional, highlighting the bank’s desire to support children who are often overlooked in mainstream development efforts.

The MD encouraged teachers to continue their often-demanding work with dedication. Abunaw reminded them that the children under their care possess enormous potential that can flourish with the right support.

A lifeline for school serving vulnerable children

Speaking during the ceremony, the school’s director, Martial Mbebi, expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the institution’s staff and pupils to Ecobank. 

Mbebi said the donation would significantly improve learning conditions for children living with disabilities. He emphasised that GIPS Bali receives learners with varying physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities, most of whom require tailored teaching aids, specialized seating, and a supportive learning environment. These demands, Mbebi said, are not always available due to limited resources and limited public funding.

“Our mission is to ensure that no child, regardless of disability, is left behind. Today, Ecobank has strengthened our capacity to fulfill that mission,” the director said.

Mbebi took the audience on a journey through the legacy of the Government Inclusive Primary School of Bali, highlighting its longstanding role in Cameroon's education landscape. 

He noted that the school was established in 1952 as the École Principale de Bali and later split into Groupe I and Groupe II in 1960, with a separate primary school. 

Today, he added, the complex spans 3,000 square meters and accommodates 1,028 pupils, including 98 children with special educational needs, 55 of whom have confirmed disabilities.

Among the learners, Mbebi said are: seven typologies; hearing, speech, visual impairments, autism, intellectual disabilities, and others.

The director emphasised the school’s strategic position in inclusive education. 

When the government, in 2015, created the first 68 inclusive schools nationwide, Bali was selected among the pioneers in Wouri Division, reflecting its excellence and commitment to inclusive pedagogy, Mbebi sated.

He explained that at that time, the school lacked adequate practical teaching tools, despite having experienced and committed teachers capable of delivering quality education.

Donation in line with school’s mission

With the donation of a high-end ICT laboratory and specialized assistive tools from Ecobank Cameroon, the school now possesses the means to bridge the critical gap, the same official stated. 

The director highlighted that the items will enable teachers to implement “learning by doing”, particularly benefiting students with special needs.

The items included; 25 desktop computers and a projection screen for multimedia lessons, braille tablets and punch tools for visually impaired students, hearing aids for students with auditory challenges.

 Beneficiaries also receive Pilates balls and other adaptive materials to support physical and cognitive development.

The resources, the director explained, will allow teachers to differentiate instruction and provide hands-on, practical learning experiences, helping every child reach their full potential.

By equipping the school with modern tools, the Head teacher said the donation will strengthen its mission as a top-performing inclusive school. 

The Ecobank offer, he added, also ensures that children with disabilities are not left behind but instead empowered to thrive academically and socially.

Mbebi paid glowing tribute to Ecobank’s Managing Director, describing the gesture as a profound act of selflessness that would leave a lasting imprint on the lives of children with special needs.

He remarked that, the Abunaw-led bank has through her generosity through your generosity, “lifted us to new heights,”.

“You have given our children a chance to learn through experience. learning by doing’ with a high-end multimedia room equipped with 25 computers and tools adapted to the needs of our special pupils. Your altruism will mark us for life” he said.

Mbebi emphasised that the donation go beyond equipment as it reaffirmed human dignity and a powerful message of hope to children who often face exclusion.

“The hand you have extended to give joy to our pupils, to parents, and to us teachers may that same hand be filled with blessings and divine grace,” he added. 

The head teacher declared that Ecobank’s support embodied compassion, solidarity, and a rare commitment to inclusive education.

He has called on other corporate institutions, NGOs, and community stakeholders to emulate Ecobank’s example, stressing that inclusive education thrives only when society embraces collective responsibility.

Ecobank’s commitment to inclusive education

The Secretary General at Littoral Governor’s Office, Aboubakry Tchioutu Haman, commended Ecobank for complementing government’s action in improving the education sector. 

He noted that inclusive education remains a national priority and forms part of the government’s broader strategy to ensure access, equity.

Haman gave instructions to teachers, local authorities, and school administrators to focus on discipline, accountability, and proper management of donated items.

“Let me remind the teaching staff and the PTA that these materials are for the children. They must be used exclusively for their wellbeing and learning,” the Secretary General cautioned.

“Local authorities must work hand-in-hand with the school administration to ensure maintenance, security, and monitoring. Government policies can yield results only when local actors play their part,” he said.

He reiterated the Governor’s insistence on strengthening community-school partnerships, especially for vulnerable learners, and urged parents to enroll children with disabilities rather than hiding them at home due to stigma.

Also speaking at the event, was the Regional Delegate for Basic Education for the Littoral, Benjamin Bidjo, who praised Ecobank for responding to a major need in the region.

Bidjo acknowledged that while the government continues to invest in inclusive schools, the demand far exceeds available resources. The private sector’s involvement, he said, is therefore not only welcome but essential.

“Inclusive education requires specialised materials and trained personnel. The items received today will greatly enhance teaching and learning, especially for children requiring adapted instructional methods,” he stated

The Delegate also commended the dedication of teachers working daily with children living with disabilities, describing them as “silent heroes” whose patience, resilience, and technical skill often go unnoticed.

For many parents present, the day marked a rare moment of visibility for children with disabilities- who are often marginalized or excluded due to social stigma.

The ceremony concluded with a guided tour of the school’s facilities, during which Ecobank staff interacted with pupils, teachers, and parents. 

The emotional exchanges, officials noted, underscored the importance of empathy and community involvement in shaping a more inclusive educational landscape as pupils.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3642 of Monday December 01, 2025