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Court Orders Okowa to Account for N200bn School Fund

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Ifeanyi Okowa Delta State

By Adedapo Adesanya

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, in a landmark judgment brought by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has ordered the disclosure of the spending details of over N200 billion public funds collected by the government of former Delta State governor, Mr Ifeanyi Okowa, from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) fund and allocations from the Federation Accounts.

The court ordered the current Delta State Governor, Mr  Sheriff Oborevwori, to “disclose details of budgetary allocations and actual spending by his predecessor between 2015 and 2019, including specific projects carried out to improve primary education in Delta State, and the locations of such projects.”

The judgment was delivered by Justice Daniel Osiagor, following a Freedom of Information suit number: FHC/L/CS/803/2019, and held that, “SERAP has cognisable legal right to inquire and know the way and manner public institutions manage public funds. I must say that every citizen has a duty to demand transparency and accountability in the governance of public institutions.”

Justice Osiagor also stated that “Why should a request for details of disbursement and spending of public funds between 2015-2019 by Delta State be a cause of litigation for four years? Public officials are fast developing a state of anomie and cold feet when confronted with requests for audit reports of public duties and budgets.”

He ordered the Delta State government to “disclose how the Okowa government spent over N7.28 billion received from UBEC between 2015 and 2017, and N213 billion received from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) in 2018, at an average of N17.8 billion monthly.”

SERAP’s suit followed the case of seven-year-old Success Adegor, who was sent home because her parents could not pay the illegal school fee/levy of N900 and the poor quality of her Okotie-Eboh Primary School 1. Miss Success had, in a viral video in March 2019, said, “No be say I no go pay, dem go flog, flog, flog, dem go tire.”

Justice Osiagor ordered the government to “disclose details of the primary schools that have benefited from the projects carried out on access to free and quality primary education in Delta State, and information on indirect costs, including uniforms, exercise books, and transport costs to students and their parents.”

The judge also ordered the government to “disclose specific details of the steps Delta State Government is taking to improve the overall welfare of children in primary schools across Delta State, including details of government’s fee-free programme, if any, across primary schools in Delta State.”

He dismissed all the objections raised by the Delta State government, UBEC and the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board and upheld SERAP’s arguments. Consequently, the court entered judgment in favour of SERAP against the three respondents.

“SERAP’s application cures so much disinformation in the public space. The request by SERAP falls within the categories of records accessible by the public.

“However, public institutions are becoming increasingly hysterical upon any request served on them for information bordering on accountability.

“The arguments of the Delta State government and the Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) that the Freedom of Information Act applies to only Federal Government officials cannot be sustained as public institutions are defined in Section 31 of the Interpretation section to include State institutions,” the court held.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

Education

Hydrogen Donates to Ikosi High School Lagos

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Hydrogen Payment Services Company Ikosi High School

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A company fostering financial and technological inclusion, Hydrogen Payment Services Company Limited, has donated some items to Ikosi Senior High School, Ketu, Lagos.

The company partnered with the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Education District II to provide a 5KVA solar-powered inverter system to the school.

In addition, the school had its water outlet area renovated to improving both its aesthetics and hygiene in line with Hydrogen’s commitment to enhancing learning environments.

Further, it donated some textbooks to the school library, ensuring they have the academic resources needed for a well-rounded education.

Also, the firm invested in the future of the students by equipping them with essential digital skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

Through expert-led, interactive sessions, students were introduced to key tech-driven career paths, including Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Software Development, Payment Technology, Product Management and Design, Sales and Business Development, Customer Experience, Digital Marketing, and Project Management.

According to Hydrogen, this comprehensive initiative reinforces its commitment to bridge the digital divide, fostering financial and technological inclusion, and preparing the next generation for the future of work, calling on all stakeholders to join in igniting potential, fostering financial and technological inclusion, and shaping the future of Africa’s digital economy.

It stated that by merging sustainability with digital education and academic support, it is ensuring students not only have access to reliable infrastructure and learning materials but also the knowledge and skills to navigate the global digital economy.

“At Hydrogen, we believe sustainability is about more than just environmental responsibility, but about investing in people, communities, and the future we are building together.

“This initiative is a comprehensive investment in young minds, ensuring they have both the resources and the skills to lead Africa’s digital transformation,” the Business Head for Payment Switching and Processing at Hydrogen, Fiyinfoluwa Olorunsola, said.

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Education

GOMYCODE Offers Master’s Degree in Software Engineering in Nigeria

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GOMYCODE Woolf University

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A leading technology education provider, GOMYCODE, has partnered with a global collegiate higher education institution, Woolf University, to offer a Master of Science in Computer Science with a Specialization in Software Engineering.

This provides an opportunity for aspiring and established tech professionals in Nigeria to hone their skills at GOMYCODE, with a globally recognised certificate to show for it.

The institution disclosed that the program’s online and flexible structure caters to the demands of working professionals, enabling them to balance their studies with existing commitments.

Students will benefit from Woolf University’s rigorous academic standards and GOMYCODE’s practical, industry-relevant approach to learning.

This is because the Master’s program is designed to empower busy professionals and ambitious individuals with advanced skills and qualifications, opening doors to global job opportunities and facilitating potential emigration for those seeking international careers.

This Master of Science in Computer Science with Specialization in Software Engineering program is ideal for tech professionals seeking to enhance their qualifications, individuals aiming for global job opportunities, those considering emigration and requiring advanced degrees, and ambitious individuals looking to accelerate their career growth.

“In today’s competitive tech landscape, advanced degrees are increasingly essential. This partnership allows us to provide a flexible, world-class education that empowers our students to achieve their career aspirations, whether they seek to excel locally or on a global stage,” the co-founder of GOMYCODE, Yahya Bouhlel, stated.

Also commenting, the Head of Strategy and Growth at Woolf University, Naveen Jangir, said, “Our mission is to democratize education, and this partnership aligns perfectly with our goal of providing accessible, accredited degrees to learners worldwide. We believe this program will equip Nigerian tech professionals with the skills and credentials they need to thrive in the global economy.”

On his part, the Country Head of GOMYCODE in Nigeria, Mr Babatunde Olaifa, said, “By offering a globally recognized Master’s degree, we are empowering our professionals to compete on a global scale, giving people an opportunity to level up their careers, and to open doors that they previously thought were closed. We are very excited to see the impact that this program will have on the lives of our students and the broader Nigerian tech community.”

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Education

ComInfFest 2025: MTUCI Discusses Prospects for Exporting Russian IT Education

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By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh

An initiative, designed to foster a strategic collaboration between educational institutions from Russia and Africa, is set to bring together exceptional young professionals in the field of information technology. On 13th March 2025, the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI) hosted a large-scale roundtable discussion on “Exporting Russian IT Education” as part of the International Science Festival “Festival of Communications and Informatics Science – ComInfFest 2025”.

The event became an important platform for discussing issues of promoting Russian educational programs in the field of information technology in the international arena. The roundtable was attended by representatives of embassies of 15 foreign countries and diasporas, interested government bodies of the Russian Federation, leading IT companies, international student organizations, as well as the president of the Cameroonian diaspora in the Russian Federation and chairman of the commission for work with African diasporas of the Russian-African Club of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, Louis Gouend.

MTUCI Rector Sergey Erokhin, the roundtable moderator, emphasized the growing interest in Russian IT education students from different countries, noting the need to create favorable conditions for their successful studies, adaptation, and professional development.

Deputy Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Pavel Shevtsov emphasized the importance of creating attractive conditions for professional growth and employment of foreign students.

Louis Gouend emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between the Russian and African educational communities and the role of the Russian IT sector in developing the potential of African students. He also touched upon the issues of adaptation of international students, proposing innovative integration methods and stressed that Africa will be a huge growing market for Russian IT education by 2050.

The participants discussed issues of social and cultural adaptation, competitiveness of Russian education, and ways to overcome language barriers.

The experts further emphasized the need for active interaction with foreign partners, popularization of Russian IT education, as well as interaction between educational institutions and businesses to create practical-oriented programs. At the end of the large-scale roundtable, Louis Gouend discussed with the university management the possibility of receiving subsidies for African students studying in the preparatory course.

Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI) is a Russian university which specializes in the field of information technology, telecommunications, and information security. It currently has a total enrollment of approximately 15,000 students. In January 1992, in accordance with Order of the Government of Russia, it received the status of as a technical university and transformed into the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUCI).

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