Standard Chartered Bank has announced its P800 000 sponsorship of the 2nd Annual UB Marathon, a flagship event aimed at promoting sports development, health, and wellness. The sponsorship underscores a long-standing joint commitment between the University of Botswana and Standard Chartered Bank Botswana to be active players in the growth and empowerment of local communities.
“Today marks the reveal of a new partnership between two organisations that have entrenched legacies within Botswana. One of our values we stand for as a Bank is in Lifting Participation, which call us to make banking accessible at scale and connect our clients to opportunities to make a societal impact. Our relationship with UB, which is decades in the making, exemplifies how we are enacting on this value system. UB has been a valued client of ours for many years.
Standard Chartered Bank previously provided student accounts, thus enabling the inclusion of youth into the banking system. Over the years we have continuously promoted financial literacy to both students and staff. We have now evolved this partnership into this arena to promote a healthier, more active society while simultaneously contributing to education.” remarked Standard Chartered Bank Botswana, Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mpho Masupe.
This year’s UB Marathon aims to highlight its commitment to education. The proceeds from the event will be channeled toward the University of Botswana’s scholarship endowment fund. This fund is dedicated to sponsoring graduate students at UB, enabling them to access quality education and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s growth and development.
Part of the sponsorship from the Bank will be providing the prize earnings for the 42.2km male and female winners as well as the prizes for winners in the category of Runners Living with Disabilities.
“Our goal is to be a purposeful partner, continuously striving to improve and innovate for
Botswana and her people as we offer unrivaled opportunities to work with our partners to build relationships with the view to have a sustainable impact in our communities,” said Mr Masupe.
The highly anticipated marathon is set to take place on the 24th of September, 2023, at the UB Stadium. This event has grown in popularity and notoriety since its start. In 2022, the Marathon attracted local and international athletes and garnered participation from over 800 individuals, highlighting its growing significance on the sports calendar. The event features a range of running distances, catering to diverse interests and fitness levels. Participants can choose from the 42km and 21km routes, the 10km course, or the vibrant 5km fun run.
