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NMB Bank has set aside more than TZS7.4 billion to support social development projects across Tanzania in 2026, with a strong focus on education, health and environmental conservation.
The allocation forms part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility strategy aimed at giving back to communities that support its operations.
The funds follow the bank’s strong financial performance, having recorded a profit of more than Sh746 billion in the 2024/25 financial year.
The announcement was made on Saturday in Rorya District, Mara Region, by NMB Chief Financial Officer Juma Kimori during the handover of health and education equipment worth over Sh430 million to various institutions in the region.
Kimori said NMB recognises the government’s efforts to improve social services, particularly in health, education and environmental protection, and has decided to complement those initiatives to help improve service delivery.
“We have more than nine million accounts owned by members of the public. These are the same communities that enable us to operate, so it is our responsibility to give back to them,” he said.
“We will continue working closely with the government to strengthen social services and build a better society.”he added
He added that over the past five years, the bank has spent more than Sh23 billion supporting social services in the same sectors across the country.
On environmental conservation, Kimori said NMB supported the planting of more than one million trees during the 2024/25 financial year as part of efforts to protect the environment and address the impacts of climate change.
Detailing the support provided in Mara Region, he said the donated items include eight infant warmers for premature babies, mattresses, hospital beds, bed sheets, school desks and roofing materials for classrooms. The support has been distributed to six districts in the region.
Receiving the donation, Rorya District Commissioner Dr Halfan Haule thanked NMB for the contribution and used the occasion to urge parents and guardians to ensure their children report to school on time.
He said some pre-primary, Standard One and Form One pupils had not yet reported to school, despite the academic year having started.
Dr Haule said a follow-up operation to identify parents of children who have not reported will begin on February 2, 2026, although he did not disclose the exact number of affected pupils.
He added that the Bunda District authority has already instructed teachers to receive all pupils, including those without basic requirements such as school uniforms, exercise books and pens, as efforts continue to support children from poor households.
“A child’s responsibility is to study, while a parent’s responsibility is to ensure basic needs are met,” he said. “However, my office has already secured school bags and exercise books for children from vulnerable families so they can start learning as parents continue to look for other necessities.”
Meanwhile, the Medical Officer in Charge of Shirati KMT Designated Hospital, Dr Bwire Chirangi, said the facility is still facing a shortage of infant warmers for premature babies.
He said the hospital receives an average of 300 deliveries each month, with about 30 babies born prematurely and requiring specialised care, including thermal support.
Following the donation, the hospital now has a total of 10 infant warmers, a number Dr Chirangi said remains insufficient compared to actual demand.
“The shortage of this equipment continues to be a major challenge for health workers in our efforts to save the lives of babies born before term,” he said.