Education
Facebook Gives Edo Teachers Access to Online Training
Over 2,000 teachers in Edo State were recently given the communication and collaboration tool of Facebook called Workplace. This was made possible by the partnership between the American tech giant and the state government.
This was a first for Facebook in Nigeria and was part of its ongoing commitment to building community and improving connectivity through its Workplace for Good programme.
The communication platform transforms teams and organisations into connected, empowered and purposeful communities and uses familiar features like Live, video calling, chat, Feed and Safety Check to connect everyone and turn ideas into action.
Building on its Infrastructure and Connectivity projects and aiming to bring further connectivity to schools within the area, Facebook also partnered with MainOne and Tizeti to provide fast, affordable, and reliable Internet through Facebook’s Express Wi-Fi programme.
The programme, which started early in 2019, now provides free teacher connectivity to four schools within Edo State, with Facebook providing assistance from education Technology Support partner re: Learn to the Edo State Universal Board of Education (SUBEB).
To further support the tech ecosystem, Facebook also invested in a meeting space in the South-South Innovation Hub for teacher training and local developer meet ups.
Commenting on the project and partnership, Facebook’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Ms Adaora Ikenze, said, “We’re proud to be pioneering a first for Facebook in Nigeria, and across Africa.
“This partnership with Edo State government is a perfect example of how technology can positively impact education not only for students, but teachers alike.
“According to the Edo Basic Education Transformation Sector (Edo-BEST), 1 in 5 teachers don’t receive relevant training to improve learning outcomes in their classrooms. That’s why partnerships like this are critical in impacting positive change in classrooms.”
Director of Education Partnerships, at Facebook, Adam Seldow, added that, “It’s impressive to see the number of partners who have come together to help drive impact for this programme in Edo State – including the Edo State government, our education partners re:Learn, and our infrastructure and connectivity partners MainOne and Tizeti.
“We look forward to continuing our work in adding value to education in Edo State, with an additional 8,000 primary school teachers who will be added to this programme throughout 2020, but also further afield across Nigeria and Africa.”
Due to its current success, the Edo State Government has committed additional budget to connect 100 new schools in Edo State by leveraging the fibre investments and Express Wi-Fi, ensuring that over 15,000 students and teachers will have continued internet access.
Speaking about the partnership, Chairperson of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, Ms Joan Osa Oviawe, stated that, “The support from Facebook will assist the state government in preparing pupils in Edo State to compete with their contemporaries not only in Nigeria, but across Africa.
“We have to prepare the Edo child for a competitive world; a world without boundaries where they can build valuable skills for the future, and the use of technology and internet access is an important part.”
Commenting on the impact of the programme to the local community and the digital ecosystem in the state, MainOne CEO, Ms Funke Opeke, said, “We commend the Government of Edo State for the commitment to empowering the next generation of digitally enabled youth and their teachers to transform education in their state.
“MainOne is committed to bridging the digital divide across Nigeria through continued investment in infrastructure that contributes to the growth of our local economies.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, with 61.54 per cent of candidates obtaining credits in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
The Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, Mr Amos Dangut, announced the results at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday.
Mr Dangut said 1,200,514 candidates met the benchmark for admission to higher institutions, out of the 1,950,726 candidates who sat the examination nationwide, held between April 24 and June 19.
He said 102,708 examiners were engaged in the marking exercise held at 88 marking venues across the country between 2 July and 20 July.
“Today, I am happy to inform you that all the processes leading to the release of results have been completed. It is now my pleasure to announce the release of the results of candidates who sat the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2026 in Nigeria,” he said, directing candidates to the agency’s portal to access their results.
“UPDATE: 2026 WASSCE (SC) results have been released. Generate your PIN at waec.org and check your results now on waecdirect.org,” the examination body said, noting that candidates must obtain their Serial Number and PIN before they can check their results.
To generate the required credentials, candidates are expected to visit WAEC’s official website and select the “Serial Number and PIN” option at the top of the page.
They are then required to select the appropriate examination year and diet, enter their examination number and National Identification Number (NIN), and ensure that the NIN provided is the same one used during registration for the examination.
Candidates must also provide their email address and phone number to receive a One-Time Password (OTP).
After entering the OTP, candidates can recover their Serial Number and PIN, which they can subsequently use to check their results through WAEC Direct.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 200 senior students of Cleggs Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos, were on July 23, 2026, engaged in practical knowledge about the risks associated with smoking, vaping, and shisha.
This engagement was made possible through a collaboration between Breathe Life Foundation and Teach Nigeria Fellow.
Participants were students aged 15–19 years. They were also informed about the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes or other substances.
Through an engaging and interactive discussion, students explored the influence of peer pressure and learned practical strategies for making healthier, more informed lifestyle choices.
They also gained a better understanding of common environmental triggers of asthma and other respiratory conditions, including cigarette smoke, generator fumes, bush burning, mosquito coil smoke, candles, charcoal, and firewood.
The session highlighted an important reality: young people may not always recognise how seemingly routine lifestyle choices and environmental exposures can gradually affect their respiratory health, quality of life, and long-term wellbeing.
For Breathe Life Foundation, this reinforces the importance of shifting the conversation from treatment to prevention through awareness and education.
By equipping young people with the knowledge to identify risks and make healthier choices early, the foundation is helping to build a generation that is more conscious of – and better prepared to protect – its respiratory health.
The organisation said it is dedicated to advancing respiratory health, an often-neglected public health priority. Healthy lungs are essential to life, yet respiratory diseases remain among the world’s leading causes of death and disability, even though many are preventable and treatable.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes, the Obajana Plant of Dangote Cement Plc has distributed some educational materials to some pupils in Kogi State.
The items shared to the beneficiaries included school bags, exercise books, writing materials, water bottles, and other essential learning aids aimed at enhancing the learning experience of the pupils and preparing them for the next academic session.
The General Manager for the Social Performance Department of Dangote Cement at Obajana Plant, Mr Ademola Adeyemi, said the materials were donated days after Dangote Cement distributed similar education materials to pupils in public schools in its catchment communities of Oyo, Iwaa, Obajana and Apata; and commissioned a multi-million-naira hospital in Obajana, which added to the growing list of social investments that includes an earlier hospital project in Iwaa and Oyo Communities.
He noted that, over the years, the company has invested billions of naira in a wide range of social programmes for host communities, including empowerment programmes, road construction, and potable water projects, and it remains resolute in its commitment to sustaining and expanding its interventions.
He noted that the company’s corporate social responsibility programmes are aligned with government development priorities and are implemented through sustained, mutually beneficial partnerships.
“The intervention was informed by findings from a needs assessment conducted by Dangote Cement. During the assessment, it was observed that several pupils attended school without school bags, while others carried their books by hand. It was also discovered that many students lacked essential learning materials such as exercise books, pens, pencils, and other basic learning materials,” the cement firm said.
The Head Teacher of UBE LGEA School, St. Luke Model II, Adankolo, Lokoja Local Government Area, Mr Abubakar Sanni, expressed profound appreciation to the management of Dangote Cement for the gesture.
The Head Teacher expressed gratitude to the Group President of the conglomerate, Aliko Dangote, for extending the company’s educational support programme beyond its host and impacted communities to schools located at the state headquarters.
The beneficiaries, school management, parents, and community stakeholders expressed gratitude to Dangote Cement for the timely intervention and prayed for the continued growth and success of the company in its efforts to improve lives and support sustainable community development.
