By Ben Igbokwe

In keeping with its resolve to promote local content language, Heritage Bank Plc, has rewarded the winners of the rendition of the October 1st National Pledge in Pidgin English competition which was organized as parts of the activities to commemorate Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary.

The four individuals who emerged as the winners at the end of the competition were presented with cheques of N250,000 each at the bank’s corporate headquarters in Lagos, recently and they include Idowu Ilesanmi (Lagos); Christiana Chukwu (Lagos); Onovo Chukwuebuka (Edo) and Paul Eze (Abuja)s.

It would be recalled that the bank organised an online competition for customers to make videos recitation of them presenting the “National Pledge” in Pidgin English and the four best videos were rewarded with total cash prize of N1million. The bank explained that the event was specifically designed to not only ‘commemorate the independence but also to inculcate patriotic spirit in the citizens on the importance to reflect on the past, what led them here and the bright future that awaits Nigerians’.

Speaking on the reasons why they participated in the online pidgin language competition, Ilesanmi, one of the winners said having being brought up in Benin City where Pidgin English is natural to them and adopted by all and sundry hence, it was golden opportunity to participate as a patriotic Nigerian.  He commended Heritage Bank for the initiative while encouraging other customers including youths to always take advantage of such opportunities.

According to Fela Ibidapo, Divisional Head, Corporate Communications/Product Management, Heritage Bank Plc, ‘the bank considered use of Pidgin English as a marker of identity and solidarity, also as means to promote local content use of language’.

He noted that the importance of reciting the National Pledge in Pidgin English would help invoke in every individual their national pride of love, devotion and sense of attachment to our fathers’ land and alliance with every citizen who share same sentiment. ‘This attachment could be a combination of different feelings relating to the country in terms of socio-cultural, ethnic, political and historical interests’, he said.

He reiterated, “we are not just excited, but we are also reflecting on what our commitment as individuals has been to our great country Nigeria. Looking inwards at our journey over the last 60years, we believe as an institution that this is the best time to reflect on the National Pledge and what it means to us as a Nation.” ‘To this end, Heritage Bank championed the movement to keep our commitment as a nation by rewarding those who recited the “National Pledge” in various creative ways’.