Education
Stakeholders Seek Innovative, Sustainable Education for Underprivileged Children
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Operators within the private sector have been charged to promote innovative and sustainable approaches to uplift the educational standards for underprivileged children living in low-income communities.
It was submitted that private sector collaborations would offer the advantage of diffusing emotional burdens, leading to more informed and intelligent decision-making, as together, they can achieve much more to support the provision of sustainable education for the Nigeria youth.
This was the view of some participants at the Special Foundation annual summit, the Transforming Education Summit 2023, themed Enhancing Access and Quality Education in Africa.
The event, held at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos, had in attendance visionaries, partners, corporate leaders, and esteemed diplomatic representatives.
Some of the participants were Mrs Oluwayemisi Ogunmola, Managing Director of EDC Fund Management Limited, a member of the Ecobank Group; Mr Abubakar Suleiman, CEO of Sterling Bank; Mrs Oluwatomi Somefun, CEO of Unity Bank; Gbenga Oyebode, Board Chairman at African Philanthropy Forum; Asue Ighodalo, Founding Partner at Banwo & Ighodalo; Adeyemi Ademola, MD of First E&P; and Chukwuma Nwanze, MD Credit Direct.
In his opening message, Mr Seyi Akinwale, Founder of The Special Foundation, said the landmark occasion sought to redefine the trajectory of education and leadership, as “we build a formidable platform that can confront societal challenges, proper solitaires and uphold the aspirations enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals. The summit aimed to chart innovative and sustainable approaches to uplift the educational standards for underprivileged children living in low-income communities”.
“Founded several years ago, The Special Foundation’s mission is to raise Africa’s future leaders by tackling the educational crisis in our society through increased access to education.
“What’s truly rewarding is our journey from a single child nine years ago to now impacting over fifteen thousand children and continuing to educate more than four hundred children. This success is a testament to the collaborative spirit of the institutions and individuals here today,” he stated.
Mr Abubakar Suleiman, in his speech, articulated the role of the private sector, emphasising its responsibility to improve the lives of underprivileged children.
“In societies where children reside in impoverished conditions, we, the privileged elite, are responsible for eradicating their suffering. It is not an act of benevolence but a solemn obligation,” he said.
“A significant issue within the corporate sector is the pursuit of success at the expense of society. Some corporate actions inadvertently contribute to the creation of impoverished communities.
“Then, after achieving success, they attempt to ameliorate the problems they have indirectly caused. This approach raises concerns, and I believe that corporations must build their enterprises responsibly, avoiding the creation of slums and societal impoverishment,” he submitted.
On her part, Mrs Oluwatomi Somefun emphasized the power of collaboration for the greater good, stating, “Individual efforts can be limiting, as we often find ourselves overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenges. Collaborations offer the advantage of diffusing emotional burdens, leading to more informed and intelligent decision-making. Together, we can achieve much more.”
Also, Mrs Ogunmola said the organisation supports the promotion of quality education for youths as an avenue to create future leaders for both Nigeria and Africa. This, she said is at the centre of the corporate social responsibility activities of the EDC.
She maintained that the initiative is ensuring that children who come from underserved communities are given the opportunity and a shot at making it in life.
“The value connection between us and TSF was instant. As one of the thriving asset management firms in Nigeria, we don’t just proffer top-notch financial solutions to our clients but also promote financial inclusion in our society.
“We recognize there is an urgent need to support the indigent in our communities to enable them to integrate with the larger society, where opportunity is available for everyone to thrive, especially the young people amongst us,” she stated.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A conference with the theme Flourish and Thrive: Investing in Boys for Stronger Families and Communities will take place at the Local Government Training School, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
The programme, in its second edition, is part of activities lined up to mark the 2026 International Boys’ Day Conference. It is being put in place by Boys Aid Network to confront a question many institutions have quietly ignored: Who is intentionally preparing the next generation of boys for the realities of leadership, responsibility, and manhood?
Expected to grace the occasion are educators, mentors, advocates, parents, and students.
The speakers include Jesudamilare Adesegun-David, Co-founder of Enovate Lab; Samson Folarin, Editor of Punch Newspaper Weekend Titles; Oluseye Joseph, Founder of EnterpriseCEO; Barrister Dotun Akinsanmi, Managing Partner at Dotun Akinsanmi LP; and media personality, Folakemi Arowolo, popularly known as Folakemi Mighty.
The convener, Barrister Olufunke Oyinlola, described the initiative as a deliberate effort to create safe and transformational spaces for boys to learn, reflect, and engage in meaningful conversations about their future.
“Too many boys are growing up without guidance, without safe spaces to express themselves, and without people intentionally helping them navigate the realities of life. This conference is our response to that challenge. We want boys to know that they are seen, valued, and capable of becoming responsible men who positively influence their families and communities,” she stated.
She added that the conference is ultimately about helping boys see possibilities differently and exposing them to conversations that can shape their confidence, choices, and sense of purpose.
More than 300 secondary school boys from across Oyo State are expected to participate in the event, which is organised in partnership with the Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The programme will combine keynote sessions, mentorship conversations, interactive learning, and a spelling bee competition aimed at boosting confidence and intellectual engagement.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A popular Nigerian actor, Alex Ekubo, has reportedly passed away after a protracted illness.
According to reports, the movie star died after a battle with cancer, which kept him away from public glare and social media.
Last year, some of his fans expressed concerns over his sudden absence from social media, asking about his whereabouts.
On Tuesday evening, news about his demise flooded the blogosphere.
One of the sympathisers, Peter Okoye of the P-Square fame, wrote a Rest in Peace on the Nollywood star’s picture on X, formerly known as Twitter, confirming his death.
Several personalities and others have also expressed shock over the passing of the 40-year-old entertainer, who dazzled many with his acting skills.
During his lifetime, Alex Ekubo, who was said to have died of cancer, won several awards.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The secondary school category of the 2026 Ecobank National Schools Team Chess Championship has been won by Platform School, Baruwa, Ipaja, after defeating Dayspring School.
The competition was sponsored by Ecobank Nigeria, in partnership with SchoolMate, Newcross, Exploration & Production Limited, GZI Limited, Frutta and the Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF).
The contest attracted over a thousand students from schools across the country to the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos.
Platform School clinched the first spot after six rounds with 16 match points, edging Dayspring School, which also finished unbeaten but settled for second place on tiebreaks. King’s College Lagos claimed third position after an impressive campaign.
The result further strengthened the growing rivalry between Platform School and Dayspring School. Platform School won the maiden edition of the Ecobank-sponsored championship before Dayspring School emerged as champions in the second edition. Platform School, however, bounced back strongly by reclaiming the title in the third edition and has now secured back-to-back titles after winning the fourth edition. Meanwhile, Dayspring School have now recorded consecutive second-place finishes following their triumph in the second edition.
In the primary category, Chess in Slums Africa delivered a dominant performance, winning all six matches to finish with a perfect score of 18 match points. First Baptist Group of Schools also finished with a perfect win record but settled for second place on tiebreaks, while Jareb Private School, Ogun, finished third. The event witnessed remarkable performances from young players, further highlighting the rapid growth of grassroots chess development in Nigeria.
The Primary Category title was especially significant for Chess in Slums Africa, as the team received celebrations and support on-site from Tunde Onakoya, whose presence added excitement and inspiration to the young players during the close of the championship and the closing ceremony.
Speaking about the event, the Head of Educational and Social Services at Ecobank, Mr Kunle Adewoyi, urged the students to strive hard to become Grand Masters in the near future.
“There are Grand Masters in Kenya, Rwanda and some other African countries, but, sadly, we don’t have any in Nigeria at the moment. It is our prayer that some of these students will become one in the near future,” he stated.
Mr Adewoyi said that Ecobank was particular about chess sponsorship because it helps in the development of the kids.
The Vice President of the Nigerian Chess Federation, Mr Adeyinka Adewale, was full of praise for Ecobank and other partners for sponsoring the tournament, just as he promised that next year’s edition will be bigger and better.
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