Education
UNHCR Honours Nigerian Educator Zannah Mustapha

By Dipo Olowookere
A Nigerian educator named Mr Zannah Mustapha has been honoured with the 2017 Nansen Refugee Award by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Mr Mustapha was recognised in Geneva for founding a school in Maiduguri, Nigeria, the epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency.
The school has stayed open throughout the conflict with Boko Haram, which has seen some 20,000 killed across the Lake Chad region, and millions more displaced.
The school provides a free education, as well as free meals, uniforms and health care, to children affected and displaced by violence. Those orphaned by the conflict on both sides are welcomed into Mustapha’s classrooms as a sign of the reconciliation he hopes to achieve in the region.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, presented the Nansen medal to the Nigerian.
“Tonight we recognize and celebrate the achievements of Zannah Mustapha, a man of courage and peace,” said the UN refugee chief.
“He had the courage to build a school. He had the courage to offer education to children affected by violence. I cannot think of any better choice for this year’s Nansen Award.”
In the decade since its inception, Mustapha’s school has swelled from 36 students to 540. Desperate for an education, thousands more children have added their names to its waiting list. In 2016, Mustapha opened a second school just a few kilometres away from the first.
UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie also provided a video message of congratulation for Mr. Mustapha. In her address she praised his work and its legacy.
“The courage it takes to defend children’s’ rights to education in the face of Boko Haram is extraordinary”, she said. “Zannah Mustapha has brought light to a region that has been terrorised for years.”
“Mr Mustapha, you are an inspiration. I hope this award encourages you and others to continue this vital work.”
In his speech, Mr Zannah Mustapha thanked all of the teachers and widows he has worked with and praised the students at his schools, “I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would see these children progressing in such a traumatic period in their lives”, he said. “When I look at the children’s faces I see resilience and stability.”
“We are not in a journey to be the same but we are in a journey to understand our differences and overcome our adversity. That we can achieve with education”, he continued.
“There are so many children in conflict zones not able to go to school. We have shown what is possible.”
Mr Mustapha’s work in the region also includes negotiating the release of Boko Haram hostages. When the 21 young women who had been held captive for more than two years were released, Mustapha was there. He had been instrumental in securing their freedom – as well as the release of 82 additional Chibok girls in May 2017.
For more than 60 years, UNHCR’s Nansen Refugee Award has recognised those who have shown outstanding dedication to the refugee cause. The 2017 winner was honoured with a ceremony that featured renowned Afrobeat musician Tony Allen, an acoustic set by Japanese artist Miyavi and a classical violin piece from renowned soloist Mariela Shaker. The host for the evening was Anita Rani and the keynote address was given by Syrian refugee Nujeen Mustafa.
The Nansen Refugee Award alumnae include the famous as well as unsung heroes; Eleanor Roosevelt, Graça Machel and Luciano Pavarotti among its laureates, but a number of remarkable unsung heroes, such as Mr.Mustapha, who have dedicated themselves to fighting the injustices suffered by the forcibly displaced.
Banking
Fidelity Bank ‘Lighting Young Minds’ With Solar-Powered School Bags

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.
Education
20 Aspiring Creatives Begin 9-Month Training at Lagos MTF Academy

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.
Education
Stakeholders Seek Inclusive Learning, Curriculum Redesign at EduFuture Conference 2025

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.
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