Education
Minister Proposes Merger of Public Schools for Efficiency
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has proposed the merger of some public schools in the country in order to improve the quality of education.
He also called on key players in the education sector to support the federal government in its efforts at moving the vital industry forward.
Speaking at the maiden edition of Re-ignite Public Affairs National Dialogue Series where he was the keynote speaker, he said “we have a lot of public schools that are not doing well.
“So, instead of building new schools, why can’t we concession some of these schools to those who have the capacity to adopt and manage them very well?”
According to him, “Those are the kinds of work I want to do. I had proposed this when I was the Chairman of TETFUND.”
While responding to a submission by one of the panellists at the webinar, Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu,
The Minister said his ministry was already working out a framework for bringing in private sector players to come in and adopt public schools that are not doing well.
At the event held in partnership with Businessday Media and themed Nigeria @ 60, Education: Navigating a New Normal, Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu, a STEM education advocate, canvassed for the government to collaborate with key players in the areas of curriculum, skills development and schools adoption.
In his response, the Minister said, “Essentially, we are going to be changing to the STEM curriculum and enhance it. We are going to be responding more to what players in the sector are going to be asking us to do.
“We are stepping up with private sector players because we have realised that we cannot do it alone. We are bringing everybody on board through Public-Private Partnership.
Speaking further, he said government “does not have all of the funding or the essence but we have regulators; National Assembly is a regulatory agency, the ministries and all of us functioning in the ecosystem will have to step up and participate a bit better and that is why I am here at Reignite Public Affairs National Dialogue Series, this opportunity is great.”
Speaking on schools resumption in the face of the COVID-19 new normal, the Minister disclosed that “government’s priority is to safeguard ourselves, our learners and teachers in navigating the new normal. Most of the things we are doing now are how to carry the leaners forward in the new system”.
The event was moderated by Dr Modupe Adefeso-Olateju, an education policy expert specialising in public-private partnerships in education.
She is the Managing Director of The Education Partnership Centre (TEP Centre) and Programme Director of the LEARNigeria Citizen-Led Assessment and Advocacy Programme.
Mr Nwajiuba was the Keynote Speaker, while an eminent faculty of discussants made up of Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Chairman, Federal House Committee on Basic Education; Hajia Fatima Hamza, former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Jigawa State and Founding Trustee, Al-Amanah Foundation/ School Head, Al-Amanah Academy, Kaduna; and Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu: STEM Education Advocate, Mentor, Speaker, Girls Champion/Obama Foundation, African Leader/Mandela Washington Fellow, made the event outstanding with robust conversations on how to reposition the education sector to meet the opportunities of the 4th industrial revolution.
In the course of his submission, an erudite scholar and former Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Programmes Monitoring, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, stated that COVID-19 has provided Nigeria with a good opportunity to develop its infrastructure.
“It has exposed the underbelly of the weaknesses of the society and the political class and now we see the relative weaknesses not just in Nigeria but the world and thus a good opportunity for us to rethink and reset,” he said.
He added that, “It is not too late, it is not impossible, but there has to be the commitment and leadership at the resources and we have to address both the content and context of education.
In his opening remarks, Franklyn Ginger-Eke, Executive Director/COO Re-ignite Public Affairs, stated that Re-ignite Public Affairs National Dialogue Series which is a knowledge-based policy analysis forum for collating refined submissions of public and private sector stakeholders.
“This will form the basis for shaping the immediate and long term future. As Nigeria marches towards her 60th Independence anniversary, there is a critical need to review her progress in key sectors that have the extreme potential to catalyse national development.
“This becomes even more strident in this era of COVID 19 pandemic which demands a fresh approach to old challenges.
“For this purpose, our focus areas are health, education, economy, agriculture, governance, infrastructure and security,” he stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Top cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, has announced a partnership with AltSchool Africa to provide full-tuition scholarships to 500 young Africans for next year.
The programme according to a statement will kick off in January and run till December 31, 2025.
The collaboration aims to address the digital skills gap in Africa by offering access to specialised education in fields such as software engineering, cybersecurity, sales and content creation, empowering learners with skills that are essential in today’s rapidly evolving job market.
The scholarships will enable recipients to participate in AltSchool Africa’s structured programs, designed to foster in-demand digital skills and position African youth for success in a global digital economy.
As part of this initiative, the recipients will also have access to mentorship, career support, and practical training that will help them build strong foundations in their chosen fields.
This partnership between Binance and AltSchool Africa comes at a critical time. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) by 2030, 230 million jobs in Sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills, yet only 2 per cent of the workforce currently possesses them.
“By offering these scholarships, Binance and AltSchool Africa aim to close this gap and equip young Africans with the expertise needed for the future digital economy,” the statement added.
Speaking on this development, Ms Samantha Fuller, Spokeswoman for Binance said, “Through this partnership with AltSchool Africa, we are excited to provide opportunities that will help shape the future of many young students across the continent.”
“Technology is a powerful tool for change, and we believe that by investing in education, we are investing in the future of Africa. Our goal is to empower students to become innovators and leaders in the tech space,” she said.
Binance’s scholarship initiative forms part of its broader commitment to supporting educational programs across Africa, helping young people gain the skills necessary to thrive in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
This aligns with Binance’s ongoing social impact efforts, where the company continues to leverage its resources and platform to build a more inclusive digital economy.
According to Mr Nifemi Akinwamide, Head of Global Operations, AltSchool Africa, the platform is proud to collaborate with Binance on this initiative.
“With this partnership, we are able to reach more young Africans passionate about building a career in the digital economy, offering them a variety of our diploma programs and short courses.
“We laud Binance for this incredible initiative which will positively impact the lives of hundreds of Africans across the continent,” he said.
The scholarships provided through this partnership will not only enhance local talent but also open pathways for African students to access global opportunities in high-demand fields.
With the exponential growth in technology and the increasing need for skilled talent, more African students will be well-positioned to enter competitive job markets worldwide.
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.
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