By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A sustainability-focused programme known as Airtel Green Schools has been launched by Airtel Africa Foundation, as part of activities to commemorate the 2026 World Environment Day, themed Climate Action.

The initiative will create environmental learning spaces in primary and secondary schools, with the spaces to be branded Airtel Garden.

Already, the company’s 10 adopted schools, located in nine states across the country’s six geopolitical zones, have been onboarded as Green Schools.

Each of the schools now features an Airtel Garden, with dedicated sections for edible crops, fruit trees and shade trees, enabling pupils to learn firsthand about food cultivation, biodiversity and the importance of increasing green cover to help mitigate the effects of climate change.

The gardens also incorporate composting stations where organic waste generated within the school environment can be converted into nutrient-rich compost. To boost circular economy practices, plastic recycling segments have also been built into repurpose common wastes such as plastic bottles and tyres.

The beneficiary schools of the programme include St. George’s Nursery and Primary School, Ipaja, Lagos; Yahaya Primary School, Zaria; Iyeru-Okin Primary School, Iyeru-Okin, Kwara; St. John Primary School, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, and Community Primary School, Amumara, Imo State.

Others are Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba, Cross-River; Migrant Farmers Community Primary School, Umuahia, Abia State; Gwange III Primary School, Maiduguri, Borno State; Mayflower Secondary School, Ikenne, Ogun State; and Government Day Primary School, Gombe State.

“We are excited to inaugurate Airtel Green Schools, which are designed to go beyond awareness and create real behavioural change within Nigeria’s school communities.

“Through the Restore, Reduce and Educate pillars, we are equipping young people with practical tools such as gardens, recycling awareness, and environmental learning resources.

“Our goal is to create a replicable Green School model that can be scaled and sustained over time, ensuring that environmental education becomes part of everyday learning for the children in our adopted schools,” the chairman of the foundation, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, stated.

Also speaking, the chief executive of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Dinesh Balsingh, said, “Climate action becomes meaningful when awareness is translated into action. Through the Airtel Garden, we are creating living classrooms where pupils can learn practical lessons about environmental stewardship, sustainable agriculture, waste management and the importance of protecting our planet.

“We believe that empowering young people with these experiences today will help shape a more environmentally responsible generation tomorrow.”

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, has been appointed as the chairman of the governing board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

He was chosen for the role by President Bola Tinubu, according to a statement on Monday by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.

Prof Ogundipe succeeds Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned his appointment after less than one year in office.

President Tinubu appointed Professor Aina in July last year, and the board members were inaugurated in November 2025.

As NUC Chairman, Prof Ogundipe will oversee the regulatory body of the Nigerian university system, focusing on funding, global competitiveness and academic stability.

He is expected to provide visionary leadership at the NUC and sustain the credibility of the Nigerian university system by advancing quality, access, and integrity in the education sector.

Prof Ogundipe headed the University of Lagos between 2017 and 2022. He is a professor of Botany with expertise in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.

He holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos.

Currently, Prof Ogundipe, 66, serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.

He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology, London. He has also served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

To improve sanitation and enhance the learning environment for students at Ebenezer Grammar School, Iberekodo, Abeokuta, Ogun State, a four-unit toilet facility has been built by OPay Digital Services Limited (OPay) in partnership with Dolly Children Foundation (DCF).

The project was commissioned on Thursday, June 18, 2026. It is expected to provide a safe and hygienic environment for the students and contribute to improved health outcomes.

It will also benefit hundreds of students by promoting healthier hygiene practices, reducing sanitation-related challenges, and creating a safer and more conducive environment for learning.

The OPay Clean Future Project aligns with broader national and global efforts to advance sustainable development, environmental protection, quality education, and community well-being. It further reflects OPay’s commitment to creating value beyond financial services through impactful corporate social responsibility initiatives while reinforcing Dolly Children Foundation’s mission of empowering children and strengthening underserved communities through sustainable development programmes.

At the commissioning, students were also given some educational and hygiene materials, while outstanding learners were recognised with school bags, sandals, and other learning resources in celebration of their academic excellence and exemplary conduct, underscoring the importance of supporting education while rewarding positive values and achievement.

“Education is the foundation of a brighter future, yet many children still face barriers to quality learning. Through the OPay Clean Future Project, we are improving sanitation, supporting education, and ensuring more students have the opportunity to learn in a safe and dignified environment,” the CSR Manager for OPay Digital Services Limited, Mr Itoro Udo, said.

Also, the Executive Director of Dolly Children Foundation, Adedolapo Osuntuyi, said, “Every child deserves access to a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment. This project addresses a critical sanitation need while promoting environmental responsibility and helping students reach their full potential.”