Izah Azahari
Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) yesterday bid farewell to a BIBD Advocating Life-Long Learning for an Aspiring Future (ALAF) student who will be pursuing his studies in the United Kingdom (UK).
The event also saw a signing of the BIBD ALAF Scholars offer letter between the bank and the student, in the presence of programme stakeholders such as the Department of Schools and the Islamic Studies Department as well as BIBD officials.
Lai Fook Looeng, a student from the second batch of the programme, is set to undertake a five-year Master of Pharmacy course at University of Nottingham.
“I’m really grateful to BIBD ALAF for giving me the opportunity to study abroad, especially at a world-renowned university,” Lai said. “Not everyone gets this chance. So I hope I will be able to earn the skills and knowledge needed to help with the development of Brunei in the future.”
The 20-year-old added, “Your background doesn’t matter. If you really want to study and you believe you can do it, a programme such as BIBD ALAF can help. The programme also helps to develop your mind and groom you into a confident and focussed student.”
Meanwhile, BIBD Chief Marketing Officer Hajah Nurul Akmar binti Haji Mohd Jaafar said the bank is extremely proud of Lai’s achievements.
“Alhamdulilah, BIBD has been granted the opportunity to be a part of his journey to achieve his life-long ambition. We look forward to the successes of many more students from the current and upcoming batches of the ALAF programme,” she said.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lai’s travel arrangements were made under the guidance of the Brunei Government to ensure potential risk of exposure to the virus has been minimised.
BIBD ALAF has become a mainstay corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme since its inception in 2013. To date, some 240 students have enrolled in the programme.