Education
VFD Group Boosts Literacy Skills in Anambra
By Dipo Olowookere
In order to boost literacy levels in Anambra State, VFD Group has renovated an administrative block with tables, chairs and donated other educational materials to two schools in the state.
The schools are the Uga Boys and Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Anambra State. This is part of the company’s efforts to nurture young minds and educate them, so that they contribute to the nation’s development.
A statement issued in Lagos explained that the financial institution donated the educational aids to mark its 10th anniversary on November 13 and 14 and use it to emphasise that education is a priority area in its CSR activities.
Group Managing Director of VFD Group Plc, Mr Nonso Okpala, explained that when he visited the school and found that the facilities were not suitable and conducive for learning, he decided to convince the management of the institution that the project, if approved, could enable the students to compete favourably with their counterparts in the state.
“We pen down the project idea and I went to convince my colleagues on how important it is for us to contribute to the uplift of the school. The difference between an advanced society and an unadvanced is education.
“If Uga is to do well, we must make education a cardinal point of our programme. I understand that there are huge challenges the student face in their daily lives, it should not hold them back in progressing.
“If Prof Charles Soludo graduated from this school and succeed, I believe nothing can hold anyone back from attaining great heights in life,” he said.
“I know that the school may still lack certain things but I also urge the students not to be held back by the challenges they face, believe in yourself and study like there is no other way to success. VFD contributes to a number of initiatives, funding and building schools. All these initiatives have been undertaken to benefit communities by helping increase the literacy levels,” he added.
Principal of Uga Boys Secondary School, lauded the efforts of VFD to transform the school that has produced several successful Nigerians.
The elated principal said, “VFD is a great company. It has done a great thing for us, deeming it fit to give back to a school that had fed great Nigerians. The company has fulfilled the dreams of JF Kennedy when he encouraged us to ask what we can do for our country and not what the country can do for us.
“The era when our student tried to avoid dripping water falling from the roof of the hall while writing examinations has gone with this development. We assure VFD that the infrastructure development will help towards improving teaching and learning in the school.”
He added that the school still needs the intervention of all stakeholders on perimeter fencing to check influx of trespassers including human and animal; renovation of its science laboratory, security personal, ICT complex, renovation of the principal house and provision of library shelves and current books among others.
While presenting some educational materials to the school authority of Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Managing Director, VFD Microfinance Bank, Azubike Emodi, said, “I am excited to make a little donations to the school like Education materials and we hope that it makes a lot of impact in the lives of the students. We will be back and do a lot more.”
While at DMGS, Nonso Okpala in his personal capacity made a promise to sponsor the university education of the best student in the upcoming Senior WAEC Examination, leaving the principal, teachers and administrative staff members delighted.
Commissioner for Basic Education, Anambra state, Prof. Kate Omenugha, also urged other institutions to emulate VFD to lift the faces of schools in the state and across Nigeria.
She said, “When I was coming here, I didn’t know what to expect. I salute VFD as the new examination hall dazed me, with amazing flat tables. It is beyond our expectations. The borehole and toilet facilities are amazing.
“With this development, the students would be able to know what it takes to learn in a serene environment and we must thank the VFD family for the lovely gesture.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, with 61.54 per cent of candidates obtaining credits in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
The Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, Mr Amos Dangut, announced the results at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday.
Mr Dangut said 1,200,514 candidates met the benchmark for admission to higher institutions, out of the 1,950,726 candidates who sat the examination nationwide, held between April 24 and June 19.
He said 102,708 examiners were engaged in the marking exercise held at 88 marking venues across the country between 2 July and 20 July.
“Today, I am happy to inform you that all the processes leading to the release of results have been completed. It is now my pleasure to announce the release of the results of candidates who sat the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2026 in Nigeria,” he said, directing candidates to the agency’s portal to access their results.
“UPDATE: 2026 WASSCE (SC) results have been released. Generate your PIN at waec.org and check your results now on waecdirect.org,” the examination body said, noting that candidates must obtain their Serial Number and PIN before they can check their results.
To generate the required credentials, candidates are expected to visit WAEC’s official website and select the “Serial Number and PIN” option at the top of the page.
They are then required to select the appropriate examination year and diet, enter their examination number and National Identification Number (NIN), and ensure that the NIN provided is the same one used during registration for the examination.
Candidates must also provide their email address and phone number to receive a One-Time Password (OTP).
After entering the OTP, candidates can recover their Serial Number and PIN, which they can subsequently use to check their results through WAEC Direct.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 200 senior students of Cleggs Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos, were on July 23, 2026, engaged in practical knowledge about the risks associated with smoking, vaping, and shisha.
This engagement was made possible through a collaboration between Breathe Life Foundation and Teach Nigeria Fellow.
Participants were students aged 15–19 years. They were also informed about the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes or other substances.
Through an engaging and interactive discussion, students explored the influence of peer pressure and learned practical strategies for making healthier, more informed lifestyle choices.
They also gained a better understanding of common environmental triggers of asthma and other respiratory conditions, including cigarette smoke, generator fumes, bush burning, mosquito coil smoke, candles, charcoal, and firewood.
The session highlighted an important reality: young people may not always recognise how seemingly routine lifestyle choices and environmental exposures can gradually affect their respiratory health, quality of life, and long-term wellbeing.
For Breathe Life Foundation, this reinforces the importance of shifting the conversation from treatment to prevention through awareness and education.
By equipping young people with the knowledge to identify risks and make healthier choices early, the foundation is helping to build a generation that is more conscious of – and better prepared to protect – its respiratory health.
The organisation said it is dedicated to advancing respiratory health, an often-neglected public health priority. Healthy lungs are essential to life, yet respiratory diseases remain among the world’s leading causes of death and disability, even though many are preventable and treatable.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes, the Obajana Plant of Dangote Cement Plc has distributed some educational materials to some pupils in Kogi State.
The items shared to the beneficiaries included school bags, exercise books, writing materials, water bottles, and other essential learning aids aimed at enhancing the learning experience of the pupils and preparing them for the next academic session.
The General Manager for the Social Performance Department of Dangote Cement at Obajana Plant, Mr Ademola Adeyemi, said the materials were donated days after Dangote Cement distributed similar education materials to pupils in public schools in its catchment communities of Oyo, Iwaa, Obajana and Apata; and commissioned a multi-million-naira hospital in Obajana, which added to the growing list of social investments that includes an earlier hospital project in Iwaa and Oyo Communities.
He noted that, over the years, the company has invested billions of naira in a wide range of social programmes for host communities, including empowerment programmes, road construction, and potable water projects, and it remains resolute in its commitment to sustaining and expanding its interventions.
He noted that the company’s corporate social responsibility programmes are aligned with government development priorities and are implemented through sustained, mutually beneficial partnerships.
“The intervention was informed by findings from a needs assessment conducted by Dangote Cement. During the assessment, it was observed that several pupils attended school without school bags, while others carried their books by hand. It was also discovered that many students lacked essential learning materials such as exercise books, pens, pencils, and other basic learning materials,” the cement firm said.
The Head Teacher of UBE LGEA School, St. Luke Model II, Adankolo, Lokoja Local Government Area, Mr Abubakar Sanni, expressed profound appreciation to the management of Dangote Cement for the gesture.
The Head Teacher expressed gratitude to the Group President of the conglomerate, Aliko Dangote, for extending the company’s educational support programme beyond its host and impacted communities to schools located at the state headquarters.
The beneficiaries, school management, parents, and community stakeholders expressed gratitude to Dangote Cement for the timely intervention and prayed for the continued growth and success of the company in its efforts to improve lives and support sustainable community development.
