By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Fidelity Bank Plc under the leadership of Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe is doing everything possible to improve the human capacity index of Nigeria by investing in education.

Recently, the financial institution donated about 1,000 solar-powered school bags to pupils in public primary schools in Ogun State.

The gesture was through its Lighting Young Minds initiative developed to improve access to quality education across the country.

“At Fidelity Bank, we see education as not only a means of knowledge transfer, but as a transformative force—a bridge to opportunity,” Mrs Onyeali-Ikpe said at the unveiled of the programme in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Friday, July 4, 2025.

The initiative reflects the bank’s commitment to tackling systemic barriers to learning—particularly the challenge of limited electricity in underserved communities, and it specifically aligns with one of the lender’s core Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) pillars of expanding access to quality education.

The bank executive explained that through the company’s SWEETA initiative, 1,000 solar-powered school bags are being donated to enable children to study safely at night, without the dangers associated with candles or kerosene lamps.

“Beyond helping them improve their academic performance,” she added, “we want to inspire young minds to see that innovation and resilience can light the path to a better future.”

The chief executive also highlighted Fidelity Bank’s broader investment in education, such as the SWEETA School Fees Support Initiative, which has disbursed over N8 billion in tuition support to eligible customers; the Read2Lead Writing Competition, which has impacted more than 3,000 students across Nigeria through prizes and grants; the Back-to-School Loans for parents; the Fidelity EduLoan which helps schools with infrastructure upgrades and asset acquisition; as well as the Green Energy Financing Program, which complements the solar-powered bag initiative by promoting sustainable energy use in education via solar energy.

The solar-powered bags—designated for schools across all 20 local government areas in Ogun State—were officially unveiled by Mrs Onyeali-Ikpe alongside the First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun.

The wife of Governor Dapo Abiodun praised the project, calling it a crucial and timely intervention in child development and foundational learning.

“This initiative directly enhances learning for children in communities with limited electricity. It’s a brilliant example of how simple, practical innovations can drive profound change—keeping children in school and helping them thrive,” she said.

She further noted its alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education for all, and called on other private sector players to emulate Fidelity Bank’s leadership in social impact.

The Lighting Young Minds initiative is an extension of Fidelity Bank’s mission of empowering Nigeria’s future generations through inclusive, sustainable, and forward-thinking educational solutions. As the bank continues to bridge opportunity gaps, it remains steadfast in its pursuit of a brighter future for children across the country.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

No fewer than 20 aspiring creatives have been selected for this year’s MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) West Africa Academy in Lagos for a nine-month training in filmmaking and production. The MTF Academy is accredited by the Pan-Atlantic University.

The training is taking place at the Lagos MTF Academy, which is one of three in Africa, with the other two in Nairobi (East Africa), and Lusaka (Southern Africa).

This year’s MTF West Africa course has a slightly redesigned curriculum, with six months of online learning and three months of physical, in-person training.

Throughout the period of the course, tutors will sharpen the skills of the participants in storytelling, cinematography, production and editing.

It is the eighth cohort of students to enter the MTF Africa programme, in what has become the recognised source of new filmmaking talent on the continent.

MTF students are chosen after a gruelling, multi-stage application process. During their training, they will receive hands-on instruction from leading industry professionals and ultimately collaborate to create a student film that will be shown on MultiChoice channels such as Africa Magic.

MTF West Africa Academy Director, Ms Atinuke Babatunde, said, “We are really excited to welcome another intake of MTF students. This is their first step to creating truly African content that reflects the African audiences we are here to entertain.

“We’ve made some adjustments to our programme, and in doing so, we’ve unlocked greater efficiencies while continuing to deliver the industry’s leading training platform.”

“The primary goal of MTF is to grow the African film and television industry. In the years since our establishment in 2018, we have produced hundreds of qualified filmmakers, with many alumni going on to careers at MultiChoice, or as successful entrepreneurs in various parts of our industry.

“We’re excited to connect with this year’s MTF students and support them in producing work that will resonate with African audiences for generations. Having witnessed the talent within this year’s cohort, we’re confident the future of our industry is set to reach new heights,” she stated.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The urgent need to redesign the outdated curriculum in Nigeria and Africa has been emphasised at the EduFuture Conference 2025.

Participants at the event said it is unfortunate that the continent was still using last century’s solutions for this century’s problems, noting that efforts must be made to rethink education through action and inclusion.

One of the speakers at the conference held on July 10 at the American Corner Ikeja, Lagos, Ms Adétọ́lá Aríyìíkẹ́ Salau, who is the Special Adviser to the Governor of Kwara State on Education, Policy Formulation and Human Capital Development, challenged stakeholders to align educational systems with the realities of today’s learners.

“We’re using last century’s solutions for this century’s problems,” she warned. “We must reimagine African education, ensuring children are given the space to dream, create, and lead. This conference reaffirmed my belief in equity across gender and ability.”

Another speaker, Tobiloba Ajayi, noted that, “EduFuture has been a fantastic space filled with powerful calls to action. Unlike many conferences that dwell in talk, this one focused on what we must begin to do immediately.”

Also, Bimpe Femi-Oyewo stated that, “The conversations here are essential for Africa’s growth. It was inspiring to see educators and stakeholders ready to build the next skillset for future leaders. Adedolapo has done something truly significant here.”

Similarly, Bose Ogidan disclosed that, “If we want every child to have access to quality education, we must be ready to do the work. Designing inclusive curriculum isn’t optional, it’s necessary.”

Further, Temitope Ifegbesan underscored the need for grassroots involvement, submitting that, “Partnerships matter. Religious bodies, NGOs, citizens, everyone has a role to play. The government can’t do it alone.”

“At EduFuture, we discussed how to mobilize stakeholders to improve learning outcomes and increase resource mobilization. Every player must contribute to the bigger picture,” shared Temidayo Musa.

Obasanjo Fajemirokun described the conference as a necessary platform for real collaboration, noting, “It brought together people from across the education sector to think, share insights, and act. We need more of this.”

The EduFuture Conference 2025, organised by the Dolly Children Foundation, established by Ms Adedolapo Osuntuyi, brought together a powerful coalition of voices committed to reimagining education across Africa from government advisors and EdTech leaders to grassroots advocates and nonprofit founders.

“We can’t keep having the same conversations without measurable action. EduFuture is about doing the work-raising questions, building partnerships, and acting on the urgency of now,” Ms Osuntuyi stated.

A memorable highlight of the conference was a spoken word performance by Perpetual Eghonghon Adenuga, whose poetic delivery on equity, unity, and the power of education earned warm applause and a standing ovation. Her performance echoed the day’s core values, hope, justice, and possibility.