Education
IFC Sponsors Ghanaian Student Architects to GBCSA Conference
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, in collaboration with Orthner Orthner & Associates, is sponsoring three architectural students from Ghana to attend the annual conference of the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) in Cape Town. The project has been funded by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) with technical support provided by SGS and thinkstep.
The students are the winners of a sustainable design competition using IFC’s EDGE green building software.
Participants in the competition, launched on July 18 this year, were selected from the Architecture Department of the Central University in Accra.
The competition challenged students to design a cutting-edge, single-family home intended for a young family located around the outskirts of Accra using only locally available materials. A panel of experts decided on the top three designs.
The students who emerged as winners of IFC’s Student Architectural Design Competition were awarded an all-expense paid trip to Cape Town to attend GBCSA’s 12th Green Building Convention, to be held October 2-4. They will also receive professional training on the EDGE software and engage with accredited EDGE Experts, with the intention of bringing home best practices upon their return.
David Ekow Ampiaw, aged 20, emerged the topmost winner with Olufemi Abodunrin and Cheryl Omani-Baah placing second and third respectively.
The winners were full of praise to organizers for the competition and emphasized they were eagerly awaiting the trip and their chance to contribute to the greater knowledge of EDGE and green building design in Ghana.
Ninnette Quao Fio, a lecturer at the Architecture Department of the Central University, explained to News Ghana in an exclusive interview why the competition has come at an opportune time.
She said, “The world is now going green so it is relevant that we inculcate in the education of our students how to design in a sustainable way, making use of affordable, high-quality local materials while taking care of the environment.”
The Central University Architecture Lecturer commended IFC for introducing the competition and expressed optimism it will continue in the coming years. “I hope going forward this will last because it’s an innovative idea that IFC has introduced. It’s relevant to the construction industry and students are also getting the idea of how to design buildings in a sustainable manner.”
By 2050, the built environment is expected to double due to high population growth and urbanization trends. This has serious implications for global warming, as buildings already generate 19 percent of energy-related GHG emissions and consume 40 percent of electricity worldwide.
Switzerland, through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, considers the need for more sustainable buildings so important that it provided seed capital for IFC’s EDGE.
EDGE is a green building certification system available in more than 150 countries with an online, free-to-use application that is tailored to emerging economies. The EDGE platform, available at www.edgebuildings.com, allows those involved with designing and developing projects to proceed to being certified when the requirements of 20 percent savings across energy, water and embodied energy in materials are met.
SECO’s support for EDGE has resulted in an upward trajectory of certified buildings in Ghana and the region, where the construction sector is booming. “Green building standards, such as the EDGE standard, can play an important role in greening the economy and in ensuring greater resource efficiency and environmental sustainability of new buildings,” said Matthias Feldmann, Deputy Head of Mission /Head of Cooperation for SECO.
He further emphasized, “With EDGE we found a way to push design practices to higher levels and foster innovation in the financial sector to accelerate green buildings.”
In Ghana, mortgage rates are more than 30 percent and annual inflation is 9 percent, so a certified green home makes a measurable difference in the lives of homebuyers struggling to make ends meet. Lower utility bills translate to a better quality of life, as families can reinvest savings into other areas such as education. It is envisaged that IFC and SECO will have a generational impact by encouraging greener building practices with EDGE.
Let’s be real: holidays are a vibe for kids. No early mornings. No homework. Just endless episodes of their favorite shows, and somehow, they still find the same joke funny after the tenth replay.
But for parents, it’s a different game. You’re trying to let the kids have their fun, and secretly wondering if they’ll forget everything they were taught in school before back to school season rolls in.
GOtv gets it. And that’s why they’ve created the perfect win-win: a holiday lineup packed with shows that are just as educational as they are entertaining. Now kids can enjoy screen time that actually teaches without feeling like they are stuck in a classroom.
Here are some shows on GOtv that are bringing the right blend of fun and learning this holiday season:
1. Cowbellpedia (Africa Magic Family, GOtv Channel 2)
Cowbellpedia is a quiz competition that tests students in subjects like mathematics and general knowledge. Beyond boosting academic skills, it helps kids improve their confidence, think critically, and build resilience. It is competitive, exciting, and a great way to show that learning can actually be fun.
2. The Loud House (Nickelodeon, GOtv Channel 60)
Living in a house with ten sisters is no joke, and Lincoln Loud is proof. The Loud House takes kids through the ups and downs of growing up in a big family. With every episode, children learn how to handle disagreements, share space, communicate better, and build stronger relationships with siblings and friends. It is like a crash course in real life, but with more laughs.
3. PAW Patrol (Nick Jr., GOtv Channel 61)
PAW Patrol is perfect for younger kids who love action and adventure. Ryder and his team of rescue pups go around saving the day in Adventure Bay. Each pup has a unique skill, and together, they teach kids the value of teamwork, helping others, solving problems, and staying calm during emergencies. It is a fun way to teach big lessons through little heroes.
4. Coop and Cami Ask the World (Disney Channel, GOtv Channel 57)
Coop and Cami are the kind of siblings who turn everything into an online poll. Instead of guessing, they ask their fans what to do next and make decisions based on the responses. Kids watching get to laugh along while learning about making smart choices, thinking through decisions, being responsible, and understanding how their actions affect others. It is all fun and games, but with meaningful takeaways.
5. Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network, GOtv Channel 67)
Craig and his friends are always off on new adventures in their neighborhood creek. But behind all the exploring and creativity, kids are picking up serious life skills. The show encourages problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, and how to be resourceful. It celebrates imagination and reminds kids that learning does not only happen in classrooms.
With GOtv, the holiday season is looking brighter for kids and less stressful for parents. Renew your GOtv subscription or upgrade your package today via the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. And if you are always on the move, download the GOtv Stream App so your kids can keep learning and having fun no matter where they are.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An organisation known as Jesin Games on Monday, April 7, 2025, launched a new educational game, AfriTrivia, in Lagos.
The trivial game was designed to promote facts about the African continent, improve awareness about Africa, even among Africans themselves, and to better connect the African Diaspora from all over the world to their continent of origin, according to the chairman advisory board of Jesin Games, Professor Soji Adelaja.
It was stated that AfriTrivia would amuse and challenge everyone with a host of intriguing questions for beginners and experts.
The game will also be launched in Marrakech at the African Heritage Concert and Award Ceremony this weekend, while that of United States launch will come up in few weeks to come.
“Many Africans know little or nothing about the rest of their continent, and many people in the diaspora have little opportunity to learn what they lack about their continent because they are left relying on books written by historians or other means of learning not presented by Africans,” Mr Adelaja stated.
He described AfriTrivia as more than just a trivia game but an educational tool that can be used to “discover all the cultural and historical diversity in Africa through different topics.”
The chief executive of Jesin Games, Mr John Esin, on his part, said, “AfriTrivia is a game that challenges you to test your knowledge on some of the most interesting categories like Quotations, History, Sports and Entertainment, Arts and Culture, Government and Politics, and People and Places about some of the historical sites such as the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, to The Great Pyramids of Giza.
“It is meant for families to play together, friends to play with each other, and classrooms to become “creative centres of learning about our world.”
A former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Mr Donald Duke, while speaking at the unveiling of the product, praised the organisation for the initiative.
“AfriTrivia Jesin Games will fill the void of lack of knowledge about the African continent,” the former presidential candidate remarked, urging the developer to make it available for schools in Nigeria so that they can know more about Africa.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Nigerian students interested in getting funds for their tertiary education can now apply for the scholarship programme of MTN Foundation.
In the past 15 years, MTN Foundation has awarded 14,728 scholarships worth over N3 billion to students as part of its ongoing investment in education.
The scholars have been given platforms to acquire relevant skills and practical knowledge to thrive in today’s evolving job market.
This gesture has been done by the organisation to encourage excellence in academic pursuit, deepen diversity and inclusion by empowering blind students in Nigeria.
The main objective is to strengthen the development of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in the country.
The scholarship is in three categories, the Science and Technology Scholarship (MTN STS), which is for all 300-level Science and Technology students with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.5 (Second Class Upper or its equivalent); the MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (MTN SBS), which caters to the educational needs of blind students in 200-level with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 or its equivalent; and the Top 10 UTME scholarship for top 10 scoring candidates of the UTME, as announced by JAMB.
The application process is straightforward and conducted online, making it accessible for students nationwide. Eligible candidates are encouraged to visit mtn.ng/scholarships/ and apply before the application deadline on April 25, 2025.
Awardees are given N300,000 annually for three years until graduation, provided they maintain the minimum grade point requirement.
“Education is the backbone of national development, and at MTN Foundation, we are committed to ensuring that no bright mind is left behind due to financial constraints.
“This scholarship is not just about funding education; it is about investing in Nigeria’s future leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers,” an Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, stated.
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