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	July 21, 2010 Interswitch Attains Payment Card Data Security Standard Certification (PCI DSS). February 09, 2010 InterSwitch Invests in Nigerian Children’s Education, Initiates CSR Programme. January 04, 2010 Interswitch Receives Honour From Global Atm Association, Becomes Loyal Member.

INTERSWITCH INVESTS IN NIGERIAN CHILDREN’S EDUCATION, INITIATES CSR PROGRAMME.

InterSwitch, Nigeria’s electronic payment transaction and switching company, in partnership with Freedom Foundation has initiated ‘Switch A Future’, the first ever electronic payment cause related CSR (corporate social responsibility) campaign in Nigeria. The aim of the campaign is to touch the lives of children who would have never had access to education, by providing them with an education.

Specifically, each time an InterSwitch cardholder uses an Interswitch ATM or Verve Debit card on another bank’s ATM, InterSwitch will make a donation to Freedom Foundation, and by doing so “Switch A Future” for a Nigerian Child.

The ‘Switch A Future’ initiative is also designed to examine how children’s futures are tragically truncated because they are disadvantaged or orphaned with no one to care for them. The campaign would extensively make use of celebrities as models to demonstrate how bright and promising futures may not have been achieved without some form of educational support. The campaign would heighten public awareness and engender the citizenry’s empathy and action to change the plight of our children who otherwise would have no hope.

Notable Nigerian celebrities and personalities have consented to be part of the campaign; they are M.I, Basketmouth, Zizi Cardow, Joke Silva, Kelechi Amadi-Obi and Mitchell Elegbe, Chief Executive Officer of Interswitch amongst others. These stars have endorsed the ‘Switch A Future’ programme as their contribution to changing the lives of the children, and would be included in all promotional material.

Highlighting the benefits of the programme, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of InterSwitch, Mr. Mitchell Elegbe said the campaign would help Freedom Foundation raise funds to meet the needs of less privileged children. It would also create an avenue through which members of the public can reach out to the less privileged in society and encourage other private organizations to create social campaigns that meet the needs of the vulnerable members of society.

On the novel CSR programme, he said “Investments in education is never an exercise in futility, education often makes the difference, and with increasing technological advancement, many will find it difficult to operate in the global economy without it. Education has the capacity to contribute to economic growth and stability and studies have shown that increased levels of education in a country like Nigeria can reduce the outbreak of conflict. With education, children have the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty, even children who wish to pursue the creative arts in the future; will find education a definite advantage as have many of the celebrities endorsing this campaign”.

Elegbe added that “Since corporate organisations do not function in isolation, some form of corporate giving should be part of a company’s activities. We thank the Interswitch ATM and Verve debit cardholders that will be participating; we believe together we can all contribute to change the plight of children who otherwise would have no hope. This is why InterSwitch has developed the ‘Switch A Future’ campaign, part of a larger CSR framework which covers not only corporate philanthropy, but economic, environmental and social responsibility as well” he said. ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDERS: InterSwitch Limited InterSwitch is Nigeria’s premier electronic payments and processing company. It provides interbank switching services, to the 24 banks in Nigeria. It also provides payment solutions to government, banks and corporate organizations across a variety of industries in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. InterSwitch’s vision is to be a world class company that challenges itself to do the right thing on time the first time and every time. It was established in December 2002 as an independent, private sector led limited liability company, owned by a consortium of banks, private firms, management and staff. Freedom Foundation Freedom Foundation is a non- profit, non- governmental organization, set up in 2001 to pioneer the concept of humanity security. To us human security does not just express the usual or common understanding which relates to human protection against violence, rather it embraces the individual’s right to the provision of his basic and social needs. To Freedom Foundation, Human Security means protecting vital freedom, protecting people from significant threats and situations including hunger, poverty, homelessness which we feel are the building blocks of human survival, dignity and livelihood. In order to guarantee the fulfilment of this vision as well as bridge the gap between the privileged and underprivileged in the society we operate using four core programs: ‘Genesis House’ A shelter that offers counselling services and vocational skills training to vulnerable and displaced women, including ex-prostitutes. ‘House of Refuge’ A dedicated, residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for men located in Lekki. ‘Bethesda Child Support Agency’ provides scholarships for orphaned and vulnerable children and sets up tuition-free schools in poor communities. ‘Freedom Empowerment Fund’ provides career assessment, vocation training, job search assistance and access to microfinance loans through King Solomon’s Microfinance Bank.
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