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Microsoft /SchoolNet Innovative Teachers’ Competition Rewards Winners
Some teachers who found innovative ways to introduce information and communications technology (ICT) into the classroom as a learning aid were recently honoured in Abuja at the 2nd Nigerian Microsoft Innovative Teachers’ Forum Awards for their outstanding contribution to education in Nigeria.
Jummai Umar-Ajijola, citizenship manager, Microsoft Nigeria said the Innovative Teachers Forum, which is part of Microsoft’s Partners in Learning (PiL) programme, is a reflection of Microsoft’s commitment to bridging the digital divide in Africa’s education.
The Innovative Teachers’ Forum Awards is a global event which sees winners from countries around the world competing for the worldwide Most Innovative Teacher award. The Nigeria final served as a platform for the selection of teachers who will represent Nigeria at the pan-African Innovative Education Forum taking place in Mauritius in September 2009. The winners of the pan-African forum will go on to represent Africa at the worldwide Microsoft Innovative Teachers Forum.
The two-day Forum, hosted by Microsoft in association with SchoolNet in the FCT was also an opportunity for participating teachers to exchange best practices and share experiences with their peers from across the various states in Nigeria.
During the Forum, Microsoft and SchoolNet provided the teachers with professional development resources and new ideas about how to best utilise ICT efficiently and effectively in their classrooms – all for the benefit of their students.
Highlight of the Forum was the awards ceremony presided over by Hajia Aishatu Jibril Dukku, Honourable Minister of State for Education, where 12 teachers who have practically applied technology in the most innovative ways and had the most positive impact on their students were lauded for the impact that they are making to the Nigerian education system and the children that they are educating.
Entries from teachers were of a very high calibre, demonstrating that technology combined with a little bit of creativity can produce compelling and engaging educational tools.
“This has undoubtedly been a successful Innovative Teachers’ Forum for individuals, schools and organisations that have been an integral part of this process in Nigeria. Today’s Innovative Teachers’ awards is an opportunity to recognize and reward teachers who are employing technology in their classrooms to positively impact their students,” said Hajia Aishatu Jibril Dukku.
“Education is the key to helping Africa unlock its future prosperity. There is no doubt therefore that the developments in the use of technology have had a positive impact on education. The use of computers and the internet for enhancing the quality of education makes learning more relevant to life,” she said.
Commending the recent availability of the Microsoft Windows Vista Language Iinterface Packs (LIP) in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, Hajia Dukku said that teachers will find it easier to teach these languages and to make our culture more dynamic with access to technology in familiar languages to us.
Olalekan Adeeko of Remo Secondary School, Sagamu, Lagos went home with the first prize for his project on Eradicating Malaria. The project which culminated in the students using technology to educate their peers on the causes, prevention and treatment of malaria met the 3 major selection criteria of community, collaboration and use of ICT.
During his presentation, Olalekan told the audience that the students who participated in the campaign were divided into groups with each group assigned a particular area of data gathering. Subsequent to this, the students created a PowerPoint as class work then took this presentation to their peers and other members of the community.
Second place was awarded to Oboh Wellington who presented a project on statistics while the third place was awarded to Elizabeth Oyelola whose project centred on Solar Electricity as an alternative source of power.
Umar-Ajijola said that these 3 will represent Nigeria at the pan African finals later this year.
“This Forum has brought together Nigeria’s most inventive teachers, for the second time, to share ideas on how to use ICT in their classrooms and we hope that they will take all this newfound knowledge back to inspire and create excitement amongst their students,” said Umar-Ajijola.
Mr. Adeeko, the first place winner from Remo Secondary School in Sagamu, Ogun State said that he has been able to see a marked improvement in his students’ attention to the subject matter that they are learning since we began utilising technology in the classroom.
“Using ICT tools in the classroom not only encourages my students to interact more with each other and the learning material, but it sparks their imaginations and engages them on a level that they can easily understand,” he added.
“ICT is by far one of the best tools that a teacher can adopt because it brings a new and engaging dimension to the classroom and the positive results on the students’ report cards speak for themselves,” said Ronke Bello, Deputy National coordinator for SchoolNet Nigeria and a main judge of the Innovative Teachers Awards.
The first Microsoft Nigeria Innovative Education Forum was hosted in February 2008 where seven top teachers from Nigeria went on to represent their schools and their country at the Pan African Innovative Teachers Forum in Accra, Ghana. Two of these teachers qualified to represent Nigeria at the World Wide Innovative Teachers Awards in Hong Kong later that year.
“Our Nigerian teachers have already shown us that they can hold their own when competing against teachers from across the world and we wish our three winners from today much luck when they go to Mauritius in September,” concluded Umar-Ajijola.
Mobility technology company, Moove has raised $250 million in a Series C funding round at a valuation of $2.1 billion, reaching unicorn status.
The startup will deploy the fresh capital to build out autonomous vehicle infrastructure, expand fleet ownership, construct robotics-focused “Nests” for charging and maintenance, and grow its autonomous workforce from 150 to 500 by year-end.
The company plans to enter additional global markets, reflecting a strategy to build the operational infrastructure required for large-scale autonomous transportation rather than simply supplying vehicles.
Led by Mubadala Investment Company and co-led by Woven Capital, Toyota’s Growth Fund, and Ion Pacific, the round also included new investors BlueCrest Capital Management, Sona Asset Management and The Raptor Group, alongside existing backers BlackRock, MUFG, Franklin Templeton and Uber.
“Autonomous mobility is becoming an infrastructure race requiring fleets, charging systems, maintenance, data infrastructure and continuous city-level operations,” said Ladi Delano, co-founder, co-CEO and advisory board chairman of Moove.
Founded in Lagos in 2020, Moove has grown into a global mobility platform employing about 3,300 people across 29 cities in 13 countries, operating approximately 42,000 vehicles and reaching $420 million in annualised recurring revenue.
It has expanded organically and through acquisitions, including Kovi in Brazil and Tokyo Taxi in Japan. Moove also operates autonomous vehicle fleets in partnership with Waymo in Phoenix and Miami, with London expected to join its footprint.
The $2.1 billion valuation places Moove among Africa’s small group of tech unicorns, alongside Flutterwave, OPay, Moniepoint, Andela, Chipper Cash, Wave, Tyme, MNT-Halan and Interswitch.
The $250 million round is the largest single funding deal announced by an African startup this year, though EV mobility firm Spiro raised $270 million cumulatively across two separate rounds.
Heirs Life Assurance, the specialist life insurance company of Heirs Insurance Group, has appointed Pastor Jerry Eze as an Independent Non-Executive Director on its Board, effective August 10, 2026.
L – R: Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Life Assurance; Pastor Jerry Eze, incoming director, Heirs Life Assurance
The appointment reinforces Heirs Life Assurance’s commitment to expanding financial inclusion and accelerating insurance adoption by strengthening public trust, consumer education, and long-term financial resilience across Nigeria.
Despite being Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria’s insurance penetration remains below one percent – among the lowest globally – highlighting the need to expand financial protection and build greater public trust in insurance.
As Heirs Life continues to pursue its mission of making insurance accessible to every Nigerian, Eze’s appointment brings a unique perspective on community engagement, value-based leadership, and broad societal impact.
Pastor Jerry Eze is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Streams of Joy International Ministry, a growing multinational ministry with 34 branches across West Africa, Southern Africa, Europe and North America.
He is also the convener of the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declaration (NSPPD), one of the world’s largest digital prayer platforms, reaching millions of people daily. Through his ministry and humanitarian initiatives, he has become one of Africa’s most influential voices, championing hope, compassion, and community transformation.
Beyond ministry, Eze is the Founder of the Jerry Eze Foundation, a faith-led philanthropy where he provides housing support and grants to vulnerable and underserved communities.
In 2026, he announced N1billion in grants to support young entrepreneurs across agriculture, technology, and manufacturing, further advancing enterprise development and economic opportunity.
Before entering full-time ministry, Pastor Jerry Eze built a career in development communications, serving as a Communications Specialist on a World Bank HIV/AIDS programme and with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in History and International Relations from Abia State University and a postgraduate degree in Business Administration from Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Speaking about the appointment, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, Chairman, Heirs Life Assurance, said: “Pastor Jerry brings an exceptional combination of integrity, influence, and a deep understanding of people and communities.
“As we continue our mission to democratise access to insurance, his insight will help strengthen consumer trust, deepen financial inclusion, and reinforce our commitment to protecting the financial future of millions of Nigerians.
“We are delighted to welcome him to the Board of Heirs Life Assurance and the broader family of Heirs Insurance Group.”
Commenting on his appointment, Pastor Jerry Eze said: “I am honoured to join the Board of Heirs Life Assurance at a defining moment for the insurance industry. Financial security empowers individuals, families, and businesses to pursue their aspirations with greater confidence and resilience.
“I look forward to working with the Board and Management to advance the company’s mission of making insurance more accessible, relevant, and impactful for every Nigerian.”
Heirs Life Assurance has become one of Nigeria’s leading specialist life insurance companies, ranking 7th on the Financial Times list of Africa’s fastest-growing companies.
It is one of the three insurance businesses of Heirs Holdings, the leading pan-African investment company, with investments across 24 countries and four continents.
Combining an omni-channel digital presence with physical branches spread across the country, Heirs Life continues to redefine life insurance through innovation, customer-centric solutions, and a commitment to making financial protection accessible to every Nigerian.
Heirs Insurance Group, comprising Heirs Life Assurance, Heirs General Insurance, and Heirs Insurance Brokers, collectively serves over 3 million people directly and indirectly.
The Group is championing financial inclusion and leading the digital insurance play in Nigeria, demonstrating its mission to democratise access to insurance.
The World Bank Group has announced the 31-month debarments of United Aviation Services Limited (UNASEL), a transportation services company based in Nigeria, and Air Vice Marshal Alkali Mamu, its owner and president, “in connection with fraudulent practices under the Enhancing Niger Northeastern Connectivity Project,” according to a press release issued by the multilateral development bank.
The statement said that the project aims to enhance connectivity and road safety along the Zinder-Agadez Road section and improve access to basic socioeconomic infrastructure for selected communities in that road section.
However, according to the statement: “UNASEL and Mr. Mamu presented false experience documents in a prequalification application to qualify for a contract under the project. This was a fraudulent practice under the World Bank’s sanctions framework.”
“The debarments make UNASEL and Mr. Mamu ineligible to participate in projects and operations financed by Bank Group institutions. The debarments are part of two settlement agreements under which UNASEL and Mr. Mamu admit culpability for the underlying sanctionable practices,” it added.
The statement further said: “Per the Bank Group Sanctioning Guidelines, the settlement agreements provide for a reduced period of debarment in light of UNASEL and Mr. Mamu’s cooperation.
As a condition for release from sanction under the terms of the settlement agreements, UNASEL and Mr. Mamu commit to developing and implementing integrity compliance measures that reflect the relevant principles set out in the Bank Group Integrity Compliance Guidelines, and Mr. Mamu further agrees to complete corporate ethics training.
UNASEL and Mr. Mamu also commit to continue to fully cooperate with the Bank Group’s Integrity Vice Presidency.
“The debarments of UNA SEL and Mr. Mamu qualify for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions that was signed on April 9, 2010.”
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