Education
Heritage Bank, Lawmaker Hold Seminar for JAMB Candidates
By Dipo Olowookere
A one-day seminar was recently held for students intending to write this year’s Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Lagos.
The event, sponsored by Heritage Bank Plc and a lawmaker from Lagos State at the National Assembly, had no fewer than 20 schools represented with an average of at least 1,500 students from two local government areas of the state comprising of both government schools and private schools.
The beneficiaries, mainly from Ifako-Ijaiye, were told that the ultimate goal of the seminar was to ensure that the majority of the participants pass this year’s JAMB qualifying examination.
The seminar, which is part of Heritage Bank’s initiative to develop the advancement of education in Nigeria, was held at the weekend at Obawole to commemorate the first 100 days in office of Mr Nurudeen Olaitan Akinwunmi as member of the House of Representatives.
Mr Akinwunmi is representing the Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency at the National Assembly.
Addressing the participants at the occasion, the lawmaker said just like illiteracy, ignorance is a dangerous circumstance because anybody who is ignorant on any issue is not different from an uneducated person.
He stated that excelling in a higher institution admission qualifying examination like JAMB requires more than being brilliant.
“Being sound in the combination of subjects on which questions are to be set may not necessarily translate to being admitted. There are so many issues involved. That is why millions of brilliant candidates who have sat for JAMB up to two, three times have failed to gain admission,” he specified.
“My belief is that while most parents can afford the cost of the JAMB Form, most parents cannot afford to teach what you’ll be taught today,” he said.
Corroborating him, Mr Jide Johnson, one of the facilitators at the forum, advised the audience to ensure they concentrate in their examination.
He said concentration is key to success for any student who would pass in JAMB examinations.
Again, he said they should always bear it in mind that they are going to the examination for a specific purpose and not for fashion show. Bearing this in mind, Johnson charged them to build on their courage as they prepare for this year’s JAMB examination coming up in May.
He stated that it is difficult for any student to understand all the questions in JAMB examinations; however warned them to attempt only those questions they are sure of.
“Answer only those questions you are sure of and leave those you do not understand. You cannot know every question; do the ones you know and leave those you do not understand”, he counselled.
Justifying the Heritage Bank’s support for the seminar, Ms Jake-Biosa Ogechi, team member (Cowry & SME), Heritage Bank, explained that the financial service provider is a bank that loves to work with its partners.
She said the bank decided to stay by the students even before their planned admissions into tertiary institutions with a view to boosting their understanding of the need for saving culture.
Ms Ogechi therefore charged parents, whose children plan to gain admission into higher institutions of learning in Nigeria, to embrace the various banking solutions in the stable of Heritage Bank. According to her, parents should ensure they open Heritage Bank Board Account for their wards; as doing that would make financial communication easy between them and their children.
She said there are several other banking solutions like HB Tier 1 Account and YIEDP Intervention Scheme that Heritage Bank has developed for the benefit of its numerous customers and other stakeholders.
Ms Ogechi assured the students and their parents that Heritage Bank is a bank they can always count on as a timeless wealth partner.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Plans have been concluded by Nigerian Breweries to support about 1,000 Nigerian students in Lagos, Ogun, and Enugu States.
The foremost brewing company is carrying out this empowerment initiative with a leading non-profit organisation, FATE Foundation, through the Orange Corners Student Ambassadors Programme of the Netherlands.
This partnership marks a significant step in advancing youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria, equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed to build sustainable businesses and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy.
This is because the scheme is to promote entrepreneurship and offer networking opportunities in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Ambassadors are selected from specific universities to inspire students to see entrepreneurship as a desirable career path and to foster a culture of innovation within universities.
It targets students aged 18–35 currently enrolled in tertiary institutions across Lagos, Ogun, and Enugu States.
“The partnership reinforces Nigerian Breweries’ long-standing commitment to youth empowerment and entrepreneurship development. Through initiatives like this, we are creating pathways for the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders in Nigeria,” the Corporate Affairs Director for Nigerian Breweries, Mr Uzodinma Odenigbo, stated.
He further highlighted the company’s track record in youth empowerment, noting that since the renewed focus on youth empowerment and entreprenuership, Nigerian Breweries has impacted 2,365 young Nigerians across 24 states and the FCT.
Also speaking on the partnership, the Executive Director of FATE Foundation, Ms Adenike Adeyemi, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration between Nigerian Breweries and the Orange Corners Programme.
“Nigerian Breweries has been a longstanding partner with Orange Corners Nigeria in many ways. We are delighted to have the company continue to support the Orange Corners Programme and elated that this commitment will reach an additional 1000 young Nigerians leveraging the proven Orange Corners Student Ambassadors framework,” she said.
Ms Adeyemi outlined FATE Foundation’s role to include designing and delivering the training curriculum, managing student registration and participation, maintaining accurate records of all beneficiaries, and coordinating all logistical and technical aspects to ensure successful programme delivery.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has announced the reopening of the 47 unity schools earlier shut down due to security concerns on November 21.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Education on Thursday.
It said that the decision to reopen the affected colleges across the country reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding students and ensuring the continuity of education.
On November 18, 2025, over 20 schoolgirls were kidnapped by unidentified armed men from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi state.
Just three days later, on November 21, about 303 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger state.
In response, the federal government shut down 47 Federal Unity Colleges, and some states including Katsina, Taraba, and Niger also closed schools or restricted school activities, particularly boarding institutions.
Rights group including Human Rights Watch lamented that while these measures were aimed at protecting students, they disrupted learning for thousands of children, denied them access to education, and the social and psychological support schools provide.
FULL LIST OF AFFECTED UNITY COLLEGES
North-West:
FGGC Minjibir, FTC Ganduje, FGGC Zaria, FTC Kafanchan, FGGC Bakori, FTC Dayi, FGC Daura, FGGC Tambuwal, FSC Sokoto, FTC Wurno, FGC Gusau, FGC Anka, FGGC Gwandu, FGC Birnin Yauri, FTC Zuru, FGGC Kazaure, FGC Kiyawa, FTC Hadejia.
North-East:
FGGC Potiskum, FGC Buni Yadi, FTC Gashua, FTC Michika, FGC Ganye, FGC Azare, FTC Misau, FGGC Bajoga, FGC Billiri, FTC Zambuk.
North-Central:
FGGC Bida, FGC New-Bussa, FTC Kuta-Shiroro, FGA Suleja, FGC Ilorin, FGGC Omu-Aran, FTC Gwanara, FGC Ugwolawo, FGGC Kabba, FGGC Bwari, FGC Rubochi, FGGC Abaji.
South-West:
FTC Ikare Akoko, FTC Ijebu-Imusin, FTC Ushi-Ekiti, FTC Ogugu.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Online learning platforms, Coursera and Udemy, have reached an agreement to merge in an all-stock transaction, with the combined company’s implied equity value estimated at approximately $2.5 billion.
The agreement, unanimously approved by both companies’ boards of directors, stipulates that Udemy shareholders will receive 0.8 shares of Coursera common stock for each Udemy share held.
Upon completion of the merger, Coursera shareholders are expected to own about 59 per cent and Udemy shareholders approximately 41 per cent of the new entity on a fully diluted basis.
The combined company will continue under the Coursera name, and maintain its headquarters in Mountain View, California.
Coursera, founded in 2012 by Mr Andrew Ng and Ms Daphne Koller, is an online learning platform with 191 million registered users as of September 30, 2025. It collaborates with over 375 universities and industry partners to offer courses, specialisations, professional certificates, and degrees.
The platform includes features such as generative AI (gen AI) tools (Coach, Role Play, Course Builder) and role-based solutions (Skills Tracks) to support scalable and personalised learning. Coursera is used by institutions for workforce development in fields such as gen AI, data science, technology, and business.
Udemy is a platform that provides on-demand, multi-language courses to help companies and individuals develop technical, business, and soft skills. It uses AI to offer personalised learning experiences and supports workforce development in a changing workplace.
Mr Greg Hart, currently CEO of Coursera, is set to lead the enlarged organisation as CEO after the merger.
The board will consist of nine members. Six from Coursera’s board, including chairman Mr Ng and CEO Mr Hart, and three from Udemy’s board.
“We’re at a pivotal moment in which AI is rapidly redefining the skills required for every job across every industry.
“Organisations and individuals around the world need a platform that is as agile as the new and emerging skills learners must master,” Mr Hart said.
The combination is said to create a complete ecosystem of top instructors supported by AI tools, data-driven insights, and broader distribution, enabling more engaging, personalised, and dynamic learning at scale.
Projected operational efficiencies include anticipated annual run-rate cost synergies of $115m within two years after closing.
Udemy CEO, Mr Hugo Sarrazin said: “For more than 15 years, Udemy has helped millions of people master in-demand skills at the speed of innovation.
“Through this combination with Coursera, we will create meaningful benefits for our learners, enterprise customers, and instructors, while delivering significant value to our shareholders, who will participate in the substantial upside potential of the combined company.”
The merger is anticipated to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory clearances, approval by both companies’ shareholders, and other customary closing conditions.
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