Education
UBA Sets Aside N1m for National Essay Competition Winner

By Dipo Olowookere
The sum of N1 million has been set aside for winner of the 2017 National Essay Competition organised by UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
At a well-attended press conference held last Tuesday at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos to announce the call for entries for the 2017 edition, Chief Executive Officer of UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta, said the essay competition, which is eligible for all senior secondary schools students across the country, provides an opportunity for students to win prizes in the form of educational grants to help them realise their goals in life.
The contest is to promote a reading culture and encourage healthy and intellectual competition amongst secondary school students in Nigeria and across Africa.
“We are well aware that if you help get one child educated, you help support an entire family as that child will eventually positively impact his/her community.
“The competition is a key aspect of our investment drive in human capital and we will continue to sustain the initiative because education is very important to UBA and we are more than committed to providing the necessary support for students in Nigeria and throughout the African continent,” she noted.
Mrs Atta also explained that each year, the bank donates thousands of books to students in Nigeria and other parts of Africa, under the ‘Read Africa’ initiative to encourage and promote the reading culture in secondary schools.
“We are driven by the mantra to do well and do good and we will not relent in our efforts at touching lives through our various projects, and initiatives,” she told the excited students.
According to her, the first prize for the UBA National Essay Competition is a N1 million educational grant for the winner to study in any African university of his or her choice while the second and third prizes are N750,000 and N500,000 educational grants respectively.
She explained that entries received from students for the competition will be reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges made up of professors from reputable Nigerian Universities, who will then shortlist 12 best essays for further assessment.
A second round of the competition will involve the 12 finalists who will write a second supervised essay from which three best essays will be selected. “Three best essays will be selected as the overall winners from 12 finalists that will emerge from the first round of the competition,” she noted.
Mrs Atta explained that the choice of essay for this year’s competition is one that helps promote creative and analytical thinking in students. The students are to develop a manual on any chosen form of technology or innovation (real or imagined) and make this manual discernable for the simplest of minds.
It is important to note that apart from Nigeria, the national essay competition is also held in other African countries including Ghana and Senegal with more countries to be rolled out in the first quarter of 2018.
Also Speaking at the event, Deputy CEO, Anglophone Africa, Mr Ebele Ogbue asserted that Knowledge is power and the only effective way to transform Africa is through Education.
“Undoubtedly, the future of any nation rests on the younger generation. Hence, the legacy passed on by the preceding generation could make a nation.
“Therefore, investing in the future of the youths is key to redeeming the economy for the collective good. This is why UBA’s support of education across Africa is relentless,” he stated.
As a the CSR platform for the UBA Group, UBA Foundation embodies the Group’s CSR objectives and seeks to impact positively on the society through a number of laudable projects and initiatives.
Education
No School, Still Learning: How GOtv is Helping Parents Win the Holiday Season

Let’s be real: holidays are a vibe for kids. No early mornings. No homework. Just endless episodes of their favorite shows, and somehow, they still find the same joke funny after the tenth replay.
But for parents, it’s a different game. You’re trying to let the kids have their fun, and secretly wondering if they’ll forget everything they were taught in school before back to school season rolls in.
GOtv gets it. And that’s why they’ve created the perfect win-win: a holiday lineup packed with shows that are just as educational as they are entertaining. Now kids can enjoy screen time that actually teaches without feeling like they are stuck in a classroom.
Here are some shows on GOtv that are bringing the right blend of fun and learning this holiday season:
1. Cowbellpedia (Africa Magic Family, GOtv Channel 2)
Cowbellpedia is a quiz competition that tests students in subjects like mathematics and general knowledge. Beyond boosting academic skills, it helps kids improve their confidence, think critically, and build resilience. It is competitive, exciting, and a great way to show that learning can actually be fun.
2. The Loud House (Nickelodeon, GOtv Channel 60)
Living in a house with ten sisters is no joke, and Lincoln Loud is proof. The Loud House takes kids through the ups and downs of growing up in a big family. With every episode, children learn how to handle disagreements, share space, communicate better, and build stronger relationships with siblings and friends. It is like a crash course in real life, but with more laughs.
3. PAW Patrol (Nick Jr., GOtv Channel 61)
PAW Patrol is perfect for younger kids who love action and adventure. Ryder and his team of rescue pups go around saving the day in Adventure Bay. Each pup has a unique skill, and together, they teach kids the value of teamwork, helping others, solving problems, and staying calm during emergencies. It is a fun way to teach big lessons through little heroes.
4. Coop and Cami Ask the World (Disney Channel, GOtv Channel 57)
Coop and Cami are the kind of siblings who turn everything into an online poll. Instead of guessing, they ask their fans what to do next and make decisions based on the responses. Kids watching get to laugh along while learning about making smart choices, thinking through decisions, being responsible, and understanding how their actions affect others. It is all fun and games, but with meaningful takeaways.
5. Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network, GOtv Channel 67)
Craig and his friends are always off on new adventures in their neighborhood creek. But behind all the exploring and creativity, kids are picking up serious life skills. The show encourages problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, and how to be resourceful. It celebrates imagination and reminds kids that learning does not only happen in classrooms.
With GOtv, the holiday season is looking brighter for kids and less stressful for parents. Renew your GOtv subscription or upgrade your package today via the MyGOtv App or dial *288#. And if you are always on the move, download the GOtv Stream App so your kids can keep learning and having fun no matter where they are.
Education
Firm Unveils New Educational Game AfriTrivia in Lagos for African Children

By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An organisation known as Jesin Games on Monday, April 7, 2025, launched a new educational game, AfriTrivia, in Lagos.
The trivial game was designed to promote facts about the African continent, improve awareness about Africa, even among Africans themselves, and to better connect the African Diaspora from all over the world to their continent of origin, according to the chairman advisory board of Jesin Games, Professor Soji Adelaja.
It was stated that AfriTrivia would amuse and challenge everyone with a host of intriguing questions for beginners and experts.
The game will also be launched in Marrakech at the African Heritage Concert and Award Ceremony this weekend, while that of United States launch will come up in few weeks to come.
“Many Africans know little or nothing about the rest of their continent, and many people in the diaspora have little opportunity to learn what they lack about their continent because they are left relying on books written by historians or other means of learning not presented by Africans,” Mr Adelaja stated.
He described AfriTrivia as more than just a trivia game but an educational tool that can be used to “discover all the cultural and historical diversity in Africa through different topics.”
The chief executive of Jesin Games, Mr John Esin, on his part, said, “AfriTrivia is a game that challenges you to test your knowledge on some of the most interesting categories like Quotations, History, Sports and Entertainment, Arts and Culture, Government and Politics, and People and Places about some of the historical sites such as the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, to The Great Pyramids of Giza.
“It is meant for families to play together, friends to play with each other, and classrooms to become “creative centres of learning about our world.”
A former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Mr Donald Duke, while speaking at the unveiling of the product, praised the organisation for the initiative.
“AfriTrivia Jesin Games will fill the void of lack of knowledge about the African continent,” the former presidential candidate remarked, urging the developer to make it available for schools in Nigeria so that they can know more about Africa.
Education
Entries for 2025 MTN Foundation Scholarship Programme Open

By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Nigerian students interested in getting funds for their tertiary education can now apply for the scholarship programme of MTN Foundation.
In the past 15 years, MTN Foundation has awarded 14,728 scholarships worth over N3 billion to students as part of its ongoing investment in education.
The scholars have been given platforms to acquire relevant skills and practical knowledge to thrive in today’s evolving job market.
This gesture has been done by the organisation to encourage excellence in academic pursuit, deepen diversity and inclusion by empowering blind students in Nigeria.
The main objective is to strengthen the development of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in the country.
The scholarship is in three categories, the Science and Technology Scholarship (MTN STS), which is for all 300-level Science and Technology students with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.5 (Second Class Upper or its equivalent); the MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (MTN SBS), which caters to the educational needs of blind students in 200-level with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 or its equivalent; and the Top 10 UTME scholarship for top 10 scoring candidates of the UTME, as announced by JAMB.
The application process is straightforward and conducted online, making it accessible for students nationwide. Eligible candidates are encouraged to visit mtn.ng/scholarships/ and apply before the application deadline on April 25, 2025.
Awardees are given N300,000 annually for three years until graduation, provided they maintain the minimum grade point requirement.
“Education is the backbone of national development, and at MTN Foundation, we are committed to ensuring that no bright mind is left behind due to financial constraints.
“This scholarship is not just about funding education; it is about investing in Nigeria’s future leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers,” an Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, stated.
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