Zambia Industrial Commercial Bank (ZICB) has officially handed over a 1×3 classroom block to Nakabu Primary School in Nangoma Constituency, Mumbwa District.
The project, valued at over ZMW 850,000, aims to enhance access to education for learners in the area, marking a significant milestone in the school’s 50-year history.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, ZICB’s Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Louis Kabula, representing CEO Mr. Ngenda Nyambe, underscored the Bank’s commitment to its mission of “making tomorrow possible” through investments in education.
Dr. Kabula highlighted the alignment of this initiative with the government’s free education policy introduced in 2021, emphasizing ZICB’s role as a responsible corporate citizen.
At the event, Hon. Eng. Collins Nzovu, Minister of Water and Sanitation and area Member of Parliament for Nangoma Constituency, applauded ZICB for the transformative contribution.
“Nakabu Primary School is now 50 years old, and since it was constructed, no one has made such strides to improve the school. I am grateful for this structure, which will impact many pupils and generations to come,” he said.
The new classroom block increases the number of classrooms at the school from 8 to 11, a development that will significantly reduce overcrowding.
According to Nakabu Primary School Head Teacher, Mr. Luhanga Joseph, this improvement will provide a more conducive learning environment.
“This is a game-changer for our school. With the additional classrooms, we can now accommodate more pupils comfortably and improve the overall quality of education,” he said.
District Education Standards Officer, Mr. Davy Chilembo, revealed that Nakabu Primary School now qualifies to become a secondary school.
“This year, we will begin rolling out the new education curriculum from Form One. This will eliminate the need for learners to travel long distances for secondary education, keeping them closer to their families,” he said.
For pupils like Abraham Bvute, a Grade Seven learner who has been at Nakabu since Grade One, the new infrastructure is life changing.
“I remember when we used to sit on the floor because there were no desks or enough classrooms but now, we have more classrooms and desks, and we can focus on learning. Thank you, ZICB, for giving us hope and a better chance at education,” he narrated.
This initiative reflects ZICB’s ongoing efforts to support sustainable development and empower local communities by investing in critical sectors like education.
By improving access to quality education, ZICB is contributing to building a brighter future for Zambia’s children and the leaders of tomorrow.