News
Access Bank, Edtech Firms Equip Youngsters with STEAM Skills
Foremost financial institution, Access bank Plc. in collaboration with four indigenous edtech companies have channeled efforts and resources towards promoting and inspiring STEAM education among youngsters.
STEAM which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics education, provides essential 21st-century knowledge to equip students with future-ready skills for innovative and tech-driven workforce.
The bank’s commitment to this cause was further demonstrated as a major sponsor at the 2nd ‘STEAM Fun Fest conference and exhibition’, that held at Landmark event center, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The initiative was birthed through the collaborative effort of Jadesola Adedeji of STEM-MET, Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu of Edufun Technik, Titi Adewusi of 9ijakids and Wale Ogunjobi of SabiTeach.
The conference themed, “STEAM: From Classroom to the Real World,” gathered no fewer than 6000 children and led participants from classroom experience to a world of reality in an interactive and fun-filled environment.
Participants from across public and primary schools were equipped with relevant practical skills such as robotics, coding, engineering, design, science experiments, and drone technology to complement their classroom learning.
Featured Masterclasses included seasoned speakers including Tarebi Alebiosu, Founder, QShop Tech Inc.; Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho, CEO of Future Softwares; Hugo Obi, Founder of Maliyo Games, Charles Emembolu, Co-founder of Tech Quest Academy and Anita Odiete, Lead, Customer Success Strategy of Flutterwave, amongst others.
Remarking, Head Sustainability at Access Bank Plc., Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan restated the bank’s commitment to children’s development as a child’s friendly and future-oriented institution.
“We are passionate champions of educational causes and we are pleased to be a lead sponsor of the 2022 STEAM Fun Fest that equipped over 6,000 children who are the next generation, with the skills needed to succeed in the future.
“We believe that STEAM education is indispensable to the sustained growth and stability of the nation’s economy and in building a workforce that is relevant for the future.”
Speaking on the programmme, one of the organisers and Co-Founder of 9ijakids, Titi Adewusi stated that early exposure to skills and knowledge of STEAM would prepare children to be successful innovators now and in future.
She said, “This is an opportunity to expose children to the future of work as we know that technology is going to account for 75% of future jobs and to ensure that children are aware of this. We must expose them to a world beyond mathematics, English, and science.”
One of the participants, Agnes Adewusi from Alimosho Senior Grammar School commented that the experience was worth the while, adding that she had a detailed grasp of robotics skills and also caught fun.
News
Legit.ng, Shade of Life Foundation Partner to Advance Autism Awareness in Nigeria
Legit.ng recently joined forces with the Shade of Life Foundation to become a voice of autism, and drive advocacy for improved media support during Autism Awareness Month.
Conversations around media support exploration was led by Joseph Omotayo, head of Department for Human Interest Stories at Legit.ng, and Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, founder and CEO of the Shade of Life Foundation,
This partnership is a response to the concerns raised by organizations like the Shade of Life Foundation about the level of support received from the media in discussing autism as a disability.
While other disabilities may receive attention, autism, with its critical developmental implications often lacks adequate representation in mainstream media.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Legit.ng took proactive steps by integrating itself into the essence of autism awareness.
It facilitated a one-hour workshop with Dr. Nwokolo, the founder of the foundation, to deepen our understanding of autism, its various spectrums, and the language boundaries associated with it.
Other steps we took in advocating autism awareness in the media, can be seen in our attached press release.
Legit.ng believes that by amplifying the voices of autism and advocating for better media representation, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
News
As Nigeria Struggle, Tanzania Turns off Power Plants Due to Excess Supply
While 85 per cent of Nigeria is in darkness, Tanzania, an African country has shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
Kassim Majaliwa, prime minister, Tanzania, has said the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, alone generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to be almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile, while the country has an installed capacity of 1,938MW and the grid installed capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria which has an installed capacity of 13,000MW is struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
News
President Tinubu Appoints Jim Ovia as Student Loan Fund Chairman
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Ovia’s appointment is contained in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as Chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,’ and issued on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the President, Media & Publicity.
The statement noted that “Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
“He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.”
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
“The President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds,” the statement partly read.
Ovia’s appointment will also ensure “that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.”
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President Tinubu Appoints Jim Ovia as Student Loan Fund Chairman