 |
| L-R; Cynthia Sanyaolu Head, Talent Management, Polaris Bank; Bukola Oluyadi, Group Head, Customer Experience & Value Management, Polaris Bank; Olanrewaju Oyekunle, Ag. Chief Talent & Culture Officer, Polaris Bank; Rasheed Bolarinwa, Head, Brand Management & Corporate Communications, Polaris Bank; Abimbola Ozomah, Executive Director, Corporate & Investment Banking, Polaris Bank; Njideka Nwabueze, Head, Retail Banking, Polaris bank & Olamide Adeyeye, Leaning & Development Officer, Polaris Bank at the “Bring Your Child to Work” event. |
Polaris Bank has hosted children of its employees for a day of fun, learning and workplace discovery, giving the young participants an opportunity to see where their parents work and gain a firsthand understanding of life in the banking industry.
The initiative, organised under the bank’s “Bring Your Child to Work” programme, brought together children aged six and above for an experience designed to combine education, creativity, interaction and entertainment.
The programme formed part of Polaris Bank’s efforts to strengthen employee engagement while creating meaningful opportunities for staff members to connect their professional and family lives.
Children get firsthand banking experience
A major highlight of the programme was a guided tour of the Polaris Bank premises.
The children visited the banking hall and various departments, where they were introduced to some of the functions that support the day-to-day operations of a financial institution.
They also interacted with employees and had the opportunity to see their parents in their professional environment.
For many of the children, the experience provided a different perspective on what their parents do at work every day.
The participants were selected through an internal trivia draw conducted for employees, after which they took part in a series of activities focused on learning, teamwork, creativity, networking and curiosity.
Polaris Bank CEO encourages children to ask questions
Speaking during the programme, Polaris Bank Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Kayode Lawal, welcomed the children and encouraged them to make the most of the experience.
According to him, the workplace should be viewed not simply as a place for meetings and desks, but as an environment where people solve problems, serve others, learn and make meaningful contributions.
He encouraged the children to remain curious, ask questions and enjoy the experience.
Representing the CEO at the event, Head of Human Resources, Olanrewaju Oyekunle, said the programme was designed to help the children understand their parents’ professional lives while exposing them to different career possibilities.
He encouraged the children to dream broadly, noting that they could grow up to become bankers, entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, technology professionals or leaders in different fields.
Children learn how banks work
The programme also featured an interactive session led by Polaris Bank Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking, Abimbola Ozomah.
Ozomah introduced the children to the basics of banking in a simple and engaging manner, explaining how banks operate and the role they play in the economy.
The children also learnt about saving money, responsible financial habits and how banks help individuals and businesses manage their finances.
The interactive session gave participants the opportunity to ask questions and share what they understood about banking.
The organisers also encouraged the children to interact with one another, make new friends and discuss what they had learnt during the programme.
Connecting work and family
For the participating parents, the programme provided an opportunity to give their children a closer look at an important part of their daily lives.
Beyond introducing children to banking, the initiative highlighted values such as responsibility, teamwork, collaboration, service and continuous learning.
It also gave employees an opportunity to share their professional experiences with their families in an informal and engaging environment.
Polaris Bank said the programme reflects its broader focus on employee wellbeing and engagement, recognising the connection between employees' professional responsibilities and family lives.
By creating opportunities for employees to involve their families in workplace experiences, the bank is seeking to foster a more inclusive and people-focused workplace culture.
More than a day at the office
For the children, the experience was more than simply visiting their parents' workplace.
It offered them an opportunity to explore a professional environment, learn about banking, ask questions, make new friends and discover some of the career possibilities that could await them in the future.
The Bring Your Child to Work programme also provided a reminder that workplace engagement can extend beyond employees themselves, creating experiences that help families better understand and appreciate the work their loved ones do.
For Polaris Bank, the initiative represents another effort to build stronger connections among its employees while encouraging the next generation to remain curious, ambitious and open to learning.