By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A student of Glorious Covenant School, Rivers State, Ikenna Ikechukwu, has won the 2024 edition of the MTN Nigeria mPulse Spelling Bee Competition.

At the grand finale held on Saturday, November 30, 2024, in Lagos, the winner impressed the audience and judges by correctly spelling the winning word, Cornucopia, within six seconds to go home with a N5 million scholarship, a laptop, a smartphone, mPulse goody bag, and a chance to serve as chief executive of the company for a day.

The contest, in its fifth edition, started in September with thousands of participants across Nigeria and 20 top young spellers converging over the weekend to slug it out for the grand prize, which was taken by Ikechukwu, who thanked MTN “for this amazing platform that helps students learn, play, and shine,” noting that “this opportunity has been truly life-changing.”

In addition to the individual prizes, the champion’s school, Glorious Covenant School, was awarded an ICT lab equipped with 10 laptops and MTN 5G routers, while the student’s teacher received N500,000 in cash.

The second and third-place winners, Ayomide Ibigbemi and Munachimso Opara, also received significant prizes, including scholarships, laptops, and smartphones, reinforcing MTN’s focus on rewarding excellence in education.

For the first time, the grand finale was streamed live on the mPulse website mpulse.mtn.ng, myMTN app, and on Event channels 198 and 49 on both DSTV and GOTV, allowing Nigerians nationwide to witness the brilliance of these young spellers.

The livestream attracted thousands of viewers, who cheered and celebrated the contestants from the comfort of their homes.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer of MTN Nigeria, Obiageli Ugboma, said, “This year, over 40,000 young spellers competed for the chance to stand here today.

“It is inspiring to see the incredible effort these 20 finalists have put in to make it this far. At MTN, we are deeply committed to education and nurturing young talents.

“The mPulse Spelling Bee reflects our belief in empowering the next generation. Today isn’t just about winning; it’s about celebrating effort, resilience, and the role models these students have become for their peers.”

The mPulse Spelling Bee has grown into a hallmark event for Nigerian primary and secondary students, creating a lasting impact on participants and their communities.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A Sienna bus worth millions of Naira has been donated to the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State, by old students of the higher institution.

The vehicle was given to the school by its alumni on Wednesday during the 16th convocation ceremonies and Alumni Lecture held at the Folorunsho Alakija Law Faculty of the university.

It was stated that the bus was handed over to the institution to ease the movement and activities of its principal officers.

“To meet the increasing demand for quality education, the university urgently requires the support of its old students, to enhance the infrastructure on its campuses,” the president of the alumni association, Mr Busoye Ogunlade, said, noting that it was not the first time a similar gesture has been made by the group, revealing that under his leadership, it has purchased a set of computers for the Transcripts department to ease collection of transcripts for old students within and outside the country.

Mr Ogunlade, who also chairs the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA), promised that the association would continue to make contributions to the development of the university.

While handing over the bus to the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Timothy Adebayo, the alumni chief urged all old students to endeavour to contribute to the development of their alma mater, pointing out that the school authorities alone cannot provide all the needs of the institution.

Business Post reports that as part of the activities lined up to celebrate the university’s academic achievements and the strides made in nurturing excellence among its students, the group also awarded some selected staff of the institution for their dedication to the university.

He announced that the alumni website, to be launched in December 2024, would avail old students, both at home and in the diaspora, the opportunity to bond, towards achieving a greater goal as a body.

In his remarks, Professor Adebayo expressed gratitude to the Ajayi Crowther University Alumni for its contribution to the university’s development.

He affirmed that the association has been a worthy partner in progress since he assumed office nearly a few years ago, recalling the several donations made in the past.

“We are grateful to the university’s alumni for purchasing this bus. It is timely and we appreciate it,” the VC stated.

While explaining the numerous feats of the school in the last year, he said Ajayi Crowther University has signed many pacts with various bodies and institutions which have aided academic developments, stability, accreditation, and expansion of frontiers.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Six classrooms and the Head Teacher’s office at the Waziri Primary School in Minna, Niger State have been renovated by Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc.

The company revamped the facilities as part of its Adopt-A-School initiative, which exemplifies its commitment to fostering better learning environments for Nigerian children.

The renovation and infrastructure upgrades carried out at the school reflect Stanbic IBTC’s dedication to sustainable educational development.

The project involved several key improvements, including the renovation of two classroom blocks; the Installation of 120 new pieces of classroom furniture; the construction of a modern computer laboratory; a modern block of 12 toilets; planting of 50 trees to enhance the school environment; and the development of a football area for recreation and physical education.

In addition to these infrastructural advancements, Stanbic IBTC provided essential learning materials to enrich the educational experience for both pupils and teachers.

These enhancements will directly benefit 1,000 students and 117 teachers; equipping them with improved resources to achieve their full potential.

This project marks another significant milestone in the Adopt-A-School initiative, which is already improving the learning conditions of those impacted in Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Ekiti, Sokoto, Borno, and Gombe states.

Through these efforts, Stanbic IBTC continues to reinforce its commitment to improving lives and shaping future generations.

Waziri Primary School is the seventh school benefiting from the organisation’s commitment to educational development in Nigeria.

At the commissioning of the project recently, the acting chief executive of Stanbic IBTC, Mr Kunle Adedeji, said, “The Adopt-A-School initiative is part of our broader mission to foster sustainable growth and development in Nigeria. We are dedicated to creating an environment where children can learn and thrive.”

In his speech, the chairman of Chanchaga Local Government, Mr Aminu Ladan, said, “It is essential to recognise and appreciate the individuals and organisations actively working to create a better future for our communities. Their efforts inspire hope and lay the groundwork for the next generation to achieve their dreams.”