Telecom
Airtel, UNICEF Express Delight at Progress of Re-imagine Education Program in Nigeria
Airtel and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have expressed their satisfaction and delight at the progress rate of the Re-imagine Education program in Nigeria, describing the students’ enthusiasm and improved learning outcomes as proof to the effectiveness of the initiative.
This was revealed during a joint visit of both organizations to Oremeji Primary School, Ajegunle, as part of the activities to assess the impact of the program on the learning outcomes of the students.
The delegation, which was led by the Group Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, Segun Ogunsanya; had Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Carl Cruz; , UNICEF Chief of Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere; and other corporate leaders from Airtel and UNICEF engaged teachers, pupils, and school administrators to evaluate the impact of the program on the learning outcomes of the students.
In his remark at event, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, Segun Ogunsanya described the pace of activity witnessed at Oremeji Primary School as impressive.
“As a business, we have focused on education as a key area of our Corporate Social Responsibility, and this far-reaching partnership with UNICEF helps us to accelerate results. So far, we are pleased that this partnership which is aimed at advancing the education agenda on the continent through facilitating connectivity and online access, is also driving change,” he said.
Corroborating Ogunsanya’s thoughts, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Carl Cruz, noted that the visit to the school is a testament to Airtel’s commitment to ensuring the impact of the Re-Imagine Education project, while the students’ enthusiasm and improved learning outcomes are proof to the efficacy of the initiative.
“Our commitment is the reason we have come as a full team, to pay a visit and be well acquainted with how much this project has impacted both the teachers and students of Oremeji Primary School, and we are delighted to see the tangible impact of the Re-imagine Education program.
“At Airtel, education, especially digital learning, forms a significant part of our sustainability agenda for Nigeria and Africa at large and we will stop at nothing to bridge the huge digital gap that currently exists in many primary schools across the country,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, UNICEF Chief of Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to reimagine education.
“We are happy to join hands with Airtel in improving the digital learning landscape to create a brighter future for children and young people in Nigeria. We believe every child deserves an equal opportunity to learn and thrive; we will continue working together to provide innovative solutions that empower children to fulfill their potential,” Lafoucriere said.
The visit provided an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the digital tools and resources provided to the school as part of the program. Teachers and pupils showcased how they have been utilizing these resources to create engaging and interactive learning experiences, promoting critical thinking and creativity among students.
The Airtel/UNICEF Re-imagine Education program which officially kicked off in Nigeria in December 2022, aims to transform education, leveraging the power of technology to enhance teaching and learning experiences for children across the country.
With a shared vision of empowering children through education, Airtel and UNICEF have been working together to provide innovative solutions that bridge the digital divide and create equal opportunities for all children.
Both organizations disclosed that they will continue to work hand in hand to expand the program’s reach, bringing the benefits of technology-enabled education to more schools and communities across the country. In line with this, Airtel disclosed that 109 more schools have been added to the list of beneficiaries in Nigeria.
Lynda Saint-Nwafor, chief Enterprise business officer, MTN Nigeria, has assured the network subscribers that the new end-user billing system for the use of USSD services will jot affect them.
USSD, otherwise Unstructured Supplementary Service Data codes are commonly used for banking transactions, airtime recharges, and other mobile services.
The telco said that there is no significant impact or change other than the fact that they will now pay the same N6.98 per session (120 seconds) with their airtime instead of direct bank debit.
Saint-Nwafor, said this during a chat with MTN MIP fellows, explaining that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have ordered telecom operators to ensure that the new billing model resolves trust issues and ensures transparency in the billing process.
“Our regulator insisted that at the end of every month, we are going to be providing history and statistics on the performance of the service across the board”, she explained.
Saint-Nwafor added that the new billing model has standardized messaging across all operators and ensures consistent communication with customers.
“We will take all the error codes and map them into messages that are standardised across the board. So, if you initiate a transaction, you will know if it is failing. And, when the transaction fails, you will know if it is from your bank or the telco,” she explained.
The U.S. government has recovered $225 million in what is now the largest seizure of funds linked to a cryptocurrency investment scam.
In a statement released Wednesday, June 18, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the recovery followed an extensive investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, using blockchain analysis and other forensic tools. The statement did not confirm whether any arrests had been made.
According to the authorities, the stolen funds originated from fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes that tricked victims into believing they were making legitimate investments. More than 400 individuals around the world, including dozens in the United States, were reportedly affected.
The operation involved a sophisticated money laundering network that carried out hundreds of thousands of blockchain transactions to obscure the source and ownership of the stolen assets.
“These scams prey on trust, often resulting in extreme financial hardship for the victims,” said Shawn Bradstreet, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Secret Service office in San Francisco.
Bradstreet added that U.S. officials hope the recovered funds can eventually be returned to the rightful victims.
Cryptocurrency investment fraud accounted for over $5.8 billion in reported losses in 2024 alone, according to the statement.
In a rousing declaration that is electrifying minds across the continent, Hon. Nnaemeka Ani, Special Adviser on ICT to Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has called for a homegrown digital revolution under the banner “Africa Will Rise: By Code, By Courage, By Us.”
Hon. Nnaemeka Ani
The message, part challenge, part philosophical—seeks to galvanize African innovators to move beyond buzzwords and build technology with impact and legacy in mind.
“Let’s stop building for hype. Let’s start building for legacy,” Ani urged while speaking to ICT journalists over the weekend. “Let’s stop waiting for someone else. Let’s start creating the future—on our own terms.”
At the heart of Ani’s vision is a shift from tech consumerism to tech authorship. With innovation hubs sprouting across cities like Enugu, Lagos, Kigali, Jo’Burg, and Nairobi, and a growing community of developers, engineers, and entrepreneurs determined to solve Africa’s unique challenges, the movement is already taking shape.
Ani emphasized that Africa’s future lies not in flashy apps or international admiration but in persistent, intentional solutions that uplift communities—solutions that digitize public services, bridge rural-urban divides, empower women and youth, and build resilience in food and climate systems.
“We have the talent,” he said. “Now it’s time to harness it—to stop building for likes and start building for lasting impact.”
With support from leaders like Ani and rising momentum in Africa’s tech corridors, it seems that a new chapter is being written—one line of code at a time.
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