By JKNewsMedia
STRUGGLES TO regain economic stability after breast cancer treatment are often overlooked once the awareness campaigns fade each October.
Responding to this critical recovery gap, Polaris Bank has launched the Adopt a Survivor Breast Cancer Support Initiative — a social impact programme created to empower survivors to rebuild their livelihoods and restore financial independence.
The initiative marks a deliberate shift in focus from awareness to post-treatment empowerment. By providing livelihood assistance to verified survivors, Polaris Bank seeks to help women restart their small businesses and return to sustainable income-generating activities after months or years of medical treatment and recovery.
Delivering the message of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank, Mr Kayode Lawal, to beneficiaries at the Bank’s NGO partner office, Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E.) in Lagos last Thursday, the Head, Brand Management and Corporate Communication, Mr Rasheed Bolarinwa, said the programme reflects the Bank’s ongoing commitment to translating business growth into meaningful social impact.
“At Polaris Bank, we believe true impact happens when corporate growth translates into empowerment for people.
“The ‘Adopt a Survivor’ initiative allows us to stand with women, not just in the fight against breast cancer, but in rebuilding their confidence and independence,” Bolarinwa stated while addressing the beneficiaries and representatives of the partner organisation.
According to him, the initiative is anchored on the Bank’s strategic Corporate Social Responsibility pillars, which prioritise health, women empowerment, and community wellbeing.
He added that the programme also supports key global frameworks, including the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused on wellness, inclusion, and gender equality.
The Adopt a Survivor programme forms part of Polaris Bank’s broader social investment agenda, which integrates humanitarian impact with sustainable community development.
Through targeted partnerships and verified beneficiary outreach, the initiative ensures that breast cancer survivors receive not only symbolic support but practical assistance in the form of livelihood resources.
These include small business start-up support and financial tools that enable survivors to reintegrate into productive life with renewed confidence.
Mr Bolarinwa noted that the Bank’s approach to social impact is designed to be measurable and enduring. “Beyond the awareness walks and pink campaigns, we want our support to make a tangible difference in the lives of survivors.
“Every business rekindled, every skill revived, is a testimony that recovery can be complete when communities stand together,” he said.
The 2025 edition of the initiative builds upon previous survivor-focused interventions by Polaris Bank, which have included wellness retreats, capacity-building workshops, and community-based engagement sessions tailored to help women who have overcome breast cancer adjust to post-treatment realities.
These programmes have consistently aimed to address the often-unspoken emotional, financial, and social challenges faced by survivors once their medical journey ends.
Representatives of C.O.P.E., the Bank’s long-standing partner in breast cancer advocacy, expressed appreciation for Polaris Bank’s continued support in driving survivor welfare.
The organisation, which has worked for years to increase awareness and provide screening opportunities for women, highlighted the importance of corporate partnerships in sustaining survivor-focused initiatives.
Polaris Bank’s collaboration with C.O.P.E. reflects an evidence-based commitment to tackling the broader economic implications of breast cancer.
Data from global health organisations continue to show that many survivors experience financial distress following treatment, particularly in emerging economies where employment disruptions and medical expenses can lead to long-term hardship.
By providing direct economic empowerment, the Adopt a Survivor initiative seeks to reduce this vulnerability and restore stability.
The Bank emphasised that its corporate responsibility extends beyond philanthropy to building systems of resilience that help individuals and communities thrive.
Through deliberate alignment with global sustainability targets, Polaris Bank continues to integrate inclusive practices into its business model, ensuring that corporate success translates into tangible social progress.
Bolarinwa reaffirmed that the Bank remains committed to sustaining the Adopt a Survivor initiative as a recurring platform for empowerment. “Our vision is to see survivors regain full participation in economic life,” he explained.
“We are deliberate about ensuring that the programme continues to evolve with new tools, partnerships, and innovative support models to meet the needs of more women across Nigeria.”
He also noted that the initiative underscores Polaris Bank’s belief in collective action as the driving force for social transformation.
“We understand that health challenges often leave long-term social and financial effects. Supporting survivors to regain their footing is not charity—it is investment in human resilience,” he added.
Survivors who benefited from this year’s intervention expressed gratitude for the Bank’s consistent effort to support their recovery journey.
Many shared personal accounts of how small business grants and empowerment training have helped them restart livelihoods interrupted by illness and treatment.
Their testimonies reflected renewed optimism and independence, underscoring the initiative’s practical impact.
Polaris Bank’s corporate social responsibility portfolio continues to expand across key areas, including education, environmental sustainability, and youth development.
However, its sustained focus on women’s health positions it as one of the leading financial institutions driving gender-responsive social investment in Nigeria.
The Bank’s Adopt a Survivor programme represents a model of how financial institutions can leverage partnerships and resources to address post-treatment recovery challenges, reinforcing the principle that wellness extends beyond medical survival to include economic and emotional stability.
