THE NMB Bank's Rural Education and Integrated Financial Services Platform, 'NMB Kijiji Day,' has continued to be used to implement the bank's commitments to the Government to Promote Sustainable Development through the Environmental Conservation Program and the National Strategy for the Use of Clean Cooking Energy.

Earlier this year, when it launched a Sh. 100 billion Special Fund for affordable loans for sellers, distributors and agents of Clean Cooking Energy, and later when it awarded the Best Schools for the Million Tree Planting Campaign, NMB promised to continue using NMB Kijiji Day to bring these positive campaigns to the villages.

In continuation of the platform, NMB has donated and planted 1,000 trees at Rusesa Primary and Secondary Schools, located in Rusesa Village, Rusesa Ward, Kasulu District, Kigoma Region, in parallel with providing a Financial Education and Integrated Banking Services Seminar to 20 groups with 600 members in the ward.

Representing the Kasulu District Commissioner, Colonel Isaac Mwakisu, Buyonga Divisional Secretary, Paul Ramadhan, commended NMB for continuing to be a leader in supporting the Tanzanian Government's efforts in the fight against Climate Change and promoting the use of Clean Energy and Integrated Rural Services.

“As citizens continue to celebrate NMB Kijiji Day here, a platform used to provide Financial Education and Integrated Banking Services, I would like to commend NMB and its partners for supporting the efforts of the Sixth Phase Government on Environmental Protection of President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan.

"We have witnessed today not only that they are giving seminars to Social Groups of Entrepreneurs, Traders, Farmers, Livestock Keepers, Bodaboda and Mama Lishe, but they have gone further by handing over 1,000 trees to our Rusesa Primary and Secondary Schools, which is going to be a great help in environmental conservation."

"Environmental degradation that has been rampant in rural areas due to indiscriminate logging, charcoal burning and social activities in isolated forests has brought many challenges including cyclones and drought. NMB has seen this and today they have held our hand to show us the way," said Ramadhan.

He urged the citizens of Ruresa Ward, Kasulu District, Kigoma Region and Tanzanians in general, to use the correct tree planting procedure in residences, institutions and various places to combat climate change by abandoning the use of firewood and charcoal and switching to Clean Energy.

"On behalf of the District Commissioner, I would like to call on citizens to make good use of the education they received here today through NMB Village Day on Integrated Banking Services, Environmental Protection and Clean Energy Use, while we ask NMB to consider us whenever they have campaigns of this kind," emphasized Ramadhan.

For his part, NMB Kasulu Branch Manager, Ipyana Mwakatobe, admitted to being impressed by the awareness of members of more than 20 groups who participated in the NMB Village Day Rusesa Seminar and stressed that he believes the gathering will have positive results for individuals and the community as a whole.

"We believe this platform will make a significant contribution to the growth of the residents of this Ward and the Kasulu District in general. Here they have been informed about Integrated Financial Services, Insurance, Affordable Loans, Environmental Protection and Clean Cooking Energy, things that will stimulate the health, educational and economic well-being of the citizens."

"This year's NMB Village Day expects to reach more than 2,000 villages across the country, where we plan to stimulate the spirit of saving among citizens, which is why I feel comforted that our bank has chosen Rusesa and its villages and the Kasulu district in general, to bring this positive campaign," said Mwakatobe.

He urged teachers and students of Rusesa Primary and Secondary Schools to take care of the 1,000 tree seedlings they had donated and planted and ensure they grow well, while urging seminar participants to seize the opportunities arising from the arrival of Village Day in their villages and be educated by various trainers.