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Category: Education & Innovation
The goal of education and innovation in Nigeria is envisioned to be ruled by true wisdom and self-consciousness. The Nigerian innovative spirit coupled with humane values is acknowledged in its dynamic and universal applicability.
Bilyak Consulting Firm developed mAcademy – a mobile application that enables students, teachers, and parents access past questions of school and professional examinations, curricula and other key information in the education sector.
A representative of the firm, Oladayo Pelumi, said the platform will ensure availability of quality learning through online courses and assessment to a vast number of Nigerians.
He said the application will bridge the educational and learning gap, noting that it will ensure that quality learning reaches all individuals in all walks of life at an affordable cost.
According to him, the e-learning platform is for learners and teachers. He said teachers can upload their contents on the platform for students to access “at [₦]100 for seven days. It cuts across about 98 categories and over 400 courses in various areas for all ages and professions.”
Mr. Pelumi said the application has been endorsed by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Open University of the United Kingdom.
In the words of Mr. Oladayo Pelumi:
“The school curriculum is according to NERDC standard.
Recently, we are all aware of the pass rate of teachers in the public sector; it was quite poor and we cannot send them back home, we have to train them.
The Teacher Education For Sub-Sahara Africa, TESA, module is on the platform to retrain the teachers.”
According to Hadiza Mohammed, a co-founder of the firm:
“Everything is moving to technology and we decided to come up with this product where education should be moved to a phone. We feel the launch will give us the government endorsement that we need.”
Miss Olasubomi Gbenjo, a 15-year-old student of Good Shepherd Schools, Meiran in Lagos State, has emerged winner of the 2017 Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Essay Competition.
Olasubomi Gbenjo, an SSS 3 student, emerged winner out of the 10,100 entries received from the Senior Secondary Schools category.
She won the competition with her outstanding essay entitled: “Investors Education Critical to Investors’ Participation in the Capital Market’’.
She received a ₦250,000 worth of shares, ₦500,000 scholarship for university education, a laptop, certificate of participation, three sets of computer, a printer and headlining the closing of the stock market.
Also, Master Opeyeoluwa Olanipeku, a student of Orita-Mefa Baptist Model College, Ibadan, Oyo State, came second, while Miss Oluchi Chuwkuemeka, a student of Notre Dame Girls Academy, Amoyo from Kwara, won the third prize.
Olanipeku received ₦200,000 worth of shares, ₦400,000 scholarship for university education, while Chuwkuemeka got ₦150 worth of shares and ₦300, 000 scholarship.
Each of them also got a laptop, a set of computer and trophy in addition to the cash reward.
According to Miss Olasubomi Gbenjo:
“I want to study Law in the university because of my love for reading and writing.
The competition spurred me to do a lot of research, because I was not too conversant with the topic, but I gave it my best.
At the moment, I feel blank, but I am really excited.
Above all, I am thankful to God Almighty for making this possible.
I also thank the Nigerian Stock Exchange for this initiative and to my parents for always supporting me and my passion for writing.
The award will motivate me to reach for the stars; I know now that I am a winner and whatever I put my mind to, I can actually achieve it.
Giving your best places you in a position to get the best.”
This is to challenge the senior secondary students to develop the personal financial skills needed to make real-work financial decisions with confidence and deep understanding of opportunities, consequences and benefits.
The competition is a financial literacy initiative aimed at bridging the gap between the classroom learning and practical knowledge required for long term personal financial planning.
Master Yusuf Hassan and Miss Faith Toun-Agbai have won the keenly contested first prize of the 2017 Lafarge National Literacy Competition, which was held in Lagos State.
Yusuf Hassan is a pupil at Eso Nerie Primary School in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State while Faith Toun-Agbai attends Eguare Primary School in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has congratulated the pupils saying that their triumph in the competition would inspire other students across the state to aspire to great heights in their educational pursuit.
He further said that the feat showcases the boundless spirit of healthy competition among pupils in the state and reaffirms his administration’s commitment to discovering more talent in the state through the various educational initiatives.
According to the Governor:
“The performances of the pupils underscore the effort of the state government to deliver quality education. Even with outings such as this, we are not resting on our oars in the state. There are ongoing reforms at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to ensure that more pupils in Edo State continue to come tops in competitions such as this.”
Salihu Dasuki has become the youngest senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom.
The 29-year-old Dasuki gratefully announced his resumption to work as a senior lecturer of Information Systems with the following words:
“By Allah’s grace, not only am I the youngest, I resume teaching as a senior lecturer of computing at Sheffield Hallam University, UK”
Salihu Dasuki has brilliant academic records in foreign universities. He graduated with a first class degree in Information Technology from Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), North Cyprus at 21. He went further to have his Master’s degree at Brunel University, UK and bagged his PhD in the same university in 2012.
15-year-old Samuella Sam-Orlu of British Nigerian Academy, Abuja, has emerged the overall winner of the 2017 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition.
Samuella Sam-Orlu wins an educational grant of ₦1,000,000.00 to study in any African university of her choice, as well as a laptop.
Samuella clinched the first position at the grand finale, which was held in Lagos, ahead of 11 other finalists selected from over 1,000 entries received by the UBA Foundation from students of senior secondary schools across Nigeria.
Samuella Sam-Orlu who was escorted by her guardian, Mrs. Jacqueline Uzoadibe said that winning the competition would propel her to do more in attaining her dreams of becoming a Medical Director.
The second prize was bagged by Deborah Chinwendu Innocent aged 15 of Enal International Schools Abuja, who won ₦750,000 educational grant and a laptop while the third prize went to Yahofon Ettah Essien of Nigerian Christian Institute Akwa Ibom State, coveting a ₦500,000 educational grant and a laptop. The other 9 finalists were given laptops. All 12 finalists also went home with certificates.
In his remark, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka said:
“Seeing past winners tell their stories on the impact the grants have made on their education and particularly how the financial burden was lifted off their parents, gives us joy that our foundation is unique and stands out from others in touching lives.”
He informed the gathering made up of parents, students and media that the essay competition had produced over 100 winners, since its inception in 2011 in Nigeria, with winners studying varied courses in universities in Nigeria and within the African continent.
Mr. Kennedy Uzoka further stated on the 2017 UBA Foundation National Essay Competition:
24-year-old Nemitari Ajienka has emerged the youngest lecturer at Edge Hill University in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2017.
In the words of Nemitari Ajienka:
”Immensely Grateful. BSc & MSc distinctions & PhD. A new journey now begins at 24; youngest lecturer at Edge Hill University, UK. #PhD #brunel #MDX #Bham #nigeria #proudlynigerian #PortHarcourt”
Ajienka who now works as a lecturer in Computer Science at Edge Hill University appreciated the effort of one of his lecturers, Dr. Andrea Capiluppi for his unconditional support and PhD supervision.
Jessey Uche-Nwichi and Munachi Ernest-Eze have emerged overall winners respectively in the junior and senior categories of the 2017 Cowbellpedia Maths Quiz.
By winning the 2017 Cowbellpedia Maths Quiz, Jessey Uche-Nwichi and Munachi Ernest-Eze emerge Nigeria’s youngest next inventors.
Munachi made history however, having won the 2015 edition in the junior category and coming back to win in the senior category.
Munachi is a 16-year-old student of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja. He was the Cowbellpedia 2015 junior champion and is the first person to win the competition twice, as a junior and as a senior.
Jessey Uche-Nwichi is a 13-year-old student of Graceland International School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Each of the champions got ₦1 million and an all-expense paid education excursion outside the country.
In the senior category, Munachi Ernest-Eze was trailed by Oluwanifise Onafowokan of The Ambassadors College, Ota, Ogun State and Evans Owamoyo of Greater Tomorrow International College, Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State, who finished as first and second runners-up respectively.
Michael Paul of Excel Grace Academy, Akaajime-Gboko, Benue State; Ikechukwu Ibeh of Federal Government College, Suleja, Niger State; and Tomiwa Olatunbosun of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesha, Osun State were the other finalists in the Senior category.
Munachi Ernest-Eze said:
“I thank God for the end of the journey today. I am now confident to tell Nigerians that I was a Champion and I am a Champion again today. God has done it and it is marvellous in my eyes.”
Uche-Nwichi scored 115 points to confine Oluwafemi Adeyanju of Jesuit Memorial College, Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Ezekiel Ekanem of Advanced Breed Group of Schools, Sagamu, Ogun State to the second and third places respectively.
Uche-Nwichi dedicated his victory to God and his parents, while promising to maintain the momentum.
The first and second runners-up for each category won ₦750,000 and ₦500,000 respectively.
Each teacher of the 2017 champions in each category was rewarded with ₦400,000, while those of the first and second runners-up received ₦300,000 and ₦200,000 respectively.
Also, the winning schools won Mathematics textbooks, desktop computers and printers.
According to the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Anders Einarsson:
“The programme has absolutely met its objectives.
We are committed to this initiative and by next year, we will celebrate 20 years of Mathematics and Cowbell.”
In his remarks, the Registrar of the National Examination Council, Prof. Charles Uwakwe, commended Promasidor for the Cowbellpedia initiative and stated that education remained the best legacy parents and society could give to children.
Uwakwe pledged NECO’s continued technical support for the project in appreciation of what he described as Promasidor’s great Corporate Social Responsibility to the Nigerian society.
The journey of the finalists began when 52,000 students wrote a preliminary test. Out of the 52,000, 108 made it to the live-show. These 108 were the 74 best junior and senior students from all 36 states and the FCT (to ensure every state is represented). The remaining 34 were the best students nationwide – 17 junior and senior. In the end, 12 finalists emerged – 6 in the junior and senior categories and 2 of them (Munachiso and Jessey) won the grand prize of 1 million Naira each, an all-paid educational excursion outside the country and the ultimate bragging rights of being the 2017 Mathematics Champions.