Education
Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: VFD Group’s Perspective for Vision 20
In a world brimming with untapped potential, the need to nurture and empower our youth has never been more pressing. VFD Group, a leading proprietary investment company, recognizes the importance of early mentorship and has embarked on a socially conscious initiative known as Vision 20.
On March 8, the investment company opened its doors to students from Readland Foundation, marking a special celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.
The visit was meticulously designed to provide young girls with invaluable insights into business processes and organisational culture, aiming to ignite their aspirations and fuel their dreams.
Led by esteemed employees and executives, including Niyi Adenubi, Executive Director, Business Development & Investment Management; John Okonkwo, Executive Director, Finance, Risk and Compliance; Morenike Ominike, Chief of Staff to the GMD/CEO and Head, Regulatory Compliance;
Muyiwa Olowoporoku, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications; Nkem Offonabo, Head, Human Resources; Chinenye Ezeh, Treasury Officer; and Elmer Aluge, Soft Power Specialist; representing diverse backgrounds and skill sets within the management team.
The day unfolded with a series of interactive sessions, where students were encouraged to set goals, believe in themselves, and embrace the importance of societal impact.
This visionary program is not merely about empowering young women; it’s about laying the foundation for a brighter, more equitable future.
At its core, Vision 20 is a commitment to fostering gender inclusivity and leadership development, particularly among young women. It’s about providing them with the right tools, resources, and support they need to thrive in a world of limitless possibilities.
Through mentorship from seasoned female executives within VFD Group, Vision 20 pairs aspiring young women with mentors who provide invaluable guidance and knowledge to help them excel in their chosen paths.
But Vision 20 is not just a short-term endeavour; it’s a long-term commitment to tracking the progress and success of these young ladies over the next two decades. This ensures ongoing support and guidance as they navigate the complexities of adulthood and leadership.
The importance of mentoring cannot be overstated. Through Vision 20, VFD Group is not just imparting knowledge and skills to these young women; they’re instilling confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose.
They’re opening doors and expanding horizons, showing these individuals that with determination and support, anything is possible.
The highlight of the mentorship session at VFD Group was a visit to the office of the GMD/CEO, Nonso Okpala. Impressed by the students’ ambitions, Mr Okpala delivered an inspiring message, urging them to think big and pursue their dreams fearlessly.
“Hold on to your dreams and push yourself forward,” he exclaimed. “Remember, when your ambition scares you, that’s when you know you’re on the right path.”
As part of its commitment to empowering young women, VFD Group provided mentorship and seed funding to support their education. The provision of seed funding to each visiting student, presented by the company’s GMD/CEO, underscored the company’s dedication to nurturing future leaders.
In empowering the students of Readland Foundation, VFD Group isn’t merely shaping individual destinies; they’re sculpting the future of our nation.
As these young women embark on their journey, embedded in the unwavering support and belief of VFD Group, we eagerly anticipate witnessing the remarkable achievements and contributions they will undoubtedly make to society.
As Women’s History Month draws to a close, what better way to wrap up this celebration than with VFD Group’s visionary initiative, Vision 20? With the seeds of empowerment planted and the path to leadership set in motion, these young women stand ready to carve out a future where their voices resound with power and their achievements leave an indelible mark on society.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has approved the renaming of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, in honour of the late statesman, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, in a move aimed at preserving his legacy while strengthening Nigeria’s specialised energy education framework.
The PTDF announced that, following a presidential directive, the institution will now be known as the General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology.
In a statement, the Fund said the renaming reflects the federal government’s recognition of Yar’Adua’s contributions to national unity and Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
The late statesman, who died in 1997, was a prominent Nigerian soldier, politician, and businessman. He served as the Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, under General Olusegun Obasanjo’s military administration from 1977 to 1979. He was the elder brother of former Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
“This historic renaming honours the enduring legacy of the late statesman, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, celebrating his profound contributions to national unity and the democratic journey of Nigeria,” the PTDF stated.
The institution, established to develop high-level manpower and technical expertise for Nigeria’s petroleum and energy industries, is expected to continue its academic and research activities without disruption despite the name change.
According to the PTDF, the university will maintain its focus on delivering advanced education, research and technology-driven solutions for the country’s oil, gas and emerging renewable energy sectors.
“The institution remains firmly committed to its mandate of delivering world-class research, specialised training, and cutting-edge engineering technology solutions to power Nigeria’s oil, gas, and renewable energy sectors,” the statement added.
The Fund further assured students, academic partners, industry stakeholders and development institutions that all existing programmes, collaborations and operational activities would continue seamlessly under the university’s new identity.
“All ongoing academic programs, partnerships, and operations continue uninterrupted under this new institutional identity,” PTDF said.
The renaming comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to build local capacity and technical expertise to support energy transition goals, deepen indigenous participation in the petroleum industry and strengthen research-driven innovation across the energy value chain.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A sustainability-focused programme known as Airtel Green Schools has been launched by Airtel Africa Foundation, as part of activities to commemorate the 2026 World Environment Day, themed Climate Action.
The initiative will create environmental learning spaces in primary and secondary schools, with the spaces to be branded Airtel Garden.
Already, the company’s 10 adopted schools, located in nine states across the country’s six geopolitical zones, have been onboarded as Green Schools.
Each of the schools now features an Airtel Garden, with dedicated sections for edible crops, fruit trees and shade trees, enabling pupils to learn firsthand about food cultivation, biodiversity and the importance of increasing green cover to help mitigate the effects of climate change.
The gardens also incorporate composting stations where organic waste generated within the school environment can be converted into nutrient-rich compost. To boost circular economy practices, plastic recycling segments have also been built into repurpose common wastes such as plastic bottles and tyres.
The beneficiary schools of the programme include St. George’s Nursery and Primary School, Ipaja, Lagos; Yahaya Primary School, Zaria; Iyeru-Okin Primary School, Iyeru-Okin, Kwara; St. John Primary School, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, and Community Primary School, Amumara, Imo State.
Others are Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba, Cross-River; Migrant Farmers Community Primary School, Umuahia, Abia State; Gwange III Primary School, Maiduguri, Borno State; Mayflower Secondary School, Ikenne, Ogun State; and Government Day Primary School, Gombe State.
“We are excited to inaugurate Airtel Green Schools, which are designed to go beyond awareness and create real behavioural change within Nigeria’s school communities.
“Through the Restore, Reduce and Educate pillars, we are equipping young people with practical tools such as gardens, recycling awareness, and environmental learning resources.
“Our goal is to create a replicable Green School model that can be scaled and sustained over time, ensuring that environmental education becomes part of everyday learning for the children in our adopted schools,” the chairman of the foundation, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, stated.
Also speaking, the chief executive of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Dinesh Balsingh, said, “Climate action becomes meaningful when awareness is translated into action. Through the Airtel Garden, we are creating living classrooms where pupils can learn practical lessons about environmental stewardship, sustainable agriculture, waste management and the importance of protecting our planet.
“We believe that empowering young people with these experiences today will help shape a more environmentally responsible generation tomorrow.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, has been appointed as the chairman of the governing board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He was chosen for the role by President Bola Tinubu, according to a statement on Monday by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
Prof Ogundipe succeeds Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned his appointment after less than one year in office.
President Tinubu appointed Professor Aina in July last year, and the board members were inaugurated in November 2025.
As NUC Chairman, Prof Ogundipe will oversee the regulatory body of the Nigerian university system, focusing on funding, global competitiveness and academic stability.
He is expected to provide visionary leadership at the NUC and sustain the credibility of the Nigerian university system by advancing quality, access, and integrity in the education sector.
Prof Ogundipe headed the University of Lagos between 2017 and 2022. He is a professor of Botany with expertise in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.
He holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos.
Currently, Prof Ogundipe, 66, serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.
He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology, London. He has also served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).
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