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Democratizing Education – Airtel’s Oremeji Example

Fourteen years ago, as Head of Corporate Communications & CSR at Airtel Nigeria, my team and I visited the famous Tolu Complex in Ajegunle, Lagos – a cluster of over 20 public schools serving thousands of children in one of Nigeria’s most underserved communities.
What we saw that day changed us forever. Children between 6 and 12 sat on the bare ground under a tree, their teacher using the cracked wall of a collapsed classroom as a blackboard. Some of us shed tears.
Right there, we made a decision: we would adopt and rebuild Oremeji Primary School 2.
From Collapse to Catalyst
In just six months – cutting through layers of government bureaucracy, battling security challenges, and even replacing stolen ceiling fans on commissioning day! – we delivered a modern school building:
•Six fully furnished classrooms with whiteboards
•An office for the head teacher
•Toilets for boys, girls, and staff
•A borehole with water reservoir
•Power supply
We didn’t stop there. We gave every child uniforms, shoes, books, and school bags. Later, through our Airtel Employee Volunteer Scheme, staff donated a mini-library, taught classes, and inspired students with career talks. An ICT lab soon followed, with computers and access to free, government-approved learning materials.
The Ripple Effect
Enrollment rose. Academic performance improved. Teachers began winning laurels. Most importantly, the small spark ignited bigger change: the then First Lady of Lagos, Mrs. Folasade Fashola, apparently persuaded her husband to rehabilitate other contiguous schools in the complex. Over time, the Lagos State Government transformed the entire landscape with massive new school blocks.
When I revisited Oremeji Primary School 2 last week, during a working tour of Nigeria, I was overwhelmed. Oremeji – once the pride of the complex – now looked modest, surrounded by gigantic, ultramodern buildings. And that’s exactly the point.
A Lesson in Development
What started as one bold corporate initiative grew into sustainable, government-backed transformation. Development truly begets development. No amount of darkness can cover the light of a single candle, it’s said.
That’s the power of partnerships, purpose, and persistence. The Airtel Adopt a School Program embodies all the aforementioned attributes.
And that’s why democratizing access to education must remain a collective mission – because the children of Ajegunle, and millions like them, are our future leaders.
It’s truly heartwarming that the major item on the agenda during my visit to Nigeria was a joint Media Briefing by Airtel Africa plc and Airtel Africa Foundation, where it was announced, amongst other things, that the Foundation, which is sponsored by Airtel, will adopt 100 schools across its 14 markets in Africa (10 in Nigeria) over the next 12 months, for a start.
By Emeka Oparah , the Vice President, Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Africa plc.
NLNG :  Community Secondary School, Igboh Etche, Emerge Winner Of 2025 Science Quiz Competition

 

By Winifred Bosa

Eight schools reached the climax of the 2025 NLNG Science Quiz Competition on Saturday, showcasing brilliance, speed, and scienti’c prowess in a ‘ercely contested ‘nale, with Community Scondary School, Igboh Etche, emerging victorious over seven other schools to clinch the championship.

 

 

Held in Port Harcourt, the competition drew students from across Rivers State in a bid to crown this year’s top science students under the theme “Renewable Energy Solutions.”After rounds of intense intellectual display, Community Secondary School, Igboh Etche emerged as the winner in the Senior Secondary (SS 2) category.

 

 

Their victory marked the conclusion of a rigorous three-phase contest comprising the Championship, Science Project Exhibition, and Grand Finale.

 

 

The school distinguished itself through accuracy, composure, and a strong grasp of science concepts related to clean energy.In the Science Project Exhibition, Oginigba Comprehensive Secondary School, Oginigba, secured the top position, followed by Bonny National Grammar School (Senior) in second place, and Community Secondary School, Kira Tai, in third place.

 

In the Senior Secondary 1 (SS1) category, the competition concluded at the Championship stage. Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori, Khana claimed the top position, while Niger Delta Science School, Obio/Akpor, secured second place, and Government Secondary School, Abua, came third after a closely contested challenge among peers from across Rivers State.

 

 

The remaining ‘nalists in the competition included Government Secondary School, Eneka (4th); Niger Delta Science School, Obio/Akpor (5th), Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Port Harcourt (6th), Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori, Khana (7th) and Government Secondary School, Abua (8th).Speaking at the ‘nale, Sophia Horsfall, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, emphasised the company’s commitment to nurturing scienti’c excellence and promoting sustainability.

 

 

“The world is moving fast towards cleaner, greener energy. NLNG is proud to be leading this shift by exporting LNG, a cleaner fossil fuel, and supplying LPG to Nigerian homes. Through this quiz, we are not only investing in education, but inspiring the scientists, engineers, and innovators of tomorrow,” she stated.

 

 

“Science is the heartbeat of progress. That’s why we support platforms like this, where young minds can discover their potential. Since inception, over 200 public schools have bene’tted from this competition, proving that when given the opportunity, our students will shine,” she added.

 

 

In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr. Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, represented by Tam Job Inise’ekabo, stated that the theme was both timely and signi’cant.

 

 

NUC Grants Full Accreditation To 18 Academic Programmes At Ekiti State University

Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, has recorded another major academic milestone with the full accreditation of 18 academic programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC), following its October/November 2024 accreditation exercise.

 

The confirmation of the accreditation was conveyed in a letter dated April 30, 2025, and signed by Engineer Abraham Chundusu, Acting Director of Accreditation, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the NUC. The letter was addressed to the Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University.

 

The newly accredited programmes cut across six faculties, reaffirming EKSU’s commitment to academic excellence and its strategic focus on expanding access to quality education in critical fields. The accredited programmes include:

 

Faculty of Administration

•     M.Sc. Business Administration

•     Master of Personnel Management

•     M.Sc. Finance

•     Master of Public Administration

•     Master of Business Administration

 

Faculty of Arts

•     Arabic Studies

•     Islamic Studies

•     Philosophy

 

Faculty of Education

•     Building and Woodwork Technology Education

•     Electrical and Electronic Technology Education

•     Metal and Auto Mechanic Technology Education

•     Education Christian Religious Studies

 

Faculty of Engineering

•     Civil Engineering

•     Electrical and Electronic Engineering

•     Computer Engineering

 

Faculty of Law

•     Law

 

Faculty of Sciences

•     Geology

 

Faculty of Social Sciences

•     Psychology

 

Reacting to the development, the Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele, described the full accreditation as “a dream come true” and a testament to the tireless efforts of the university’s academic and administrative staff.

 

“This achievement underscores our continued commitment to delivering globally competitive education and producing graduates who are equipped to solve contemporary challenges,” Prof. Ayodele said. “We are more prepared than ever to meet the educational needs of Nigerian youth in relevant and future-facing disciplines.”

 

He further attributed the success to the unwavering support of the university’s leadership, expressing deep appreciation to the Governor of Ekiti State and Visitor to the University, His Excellency, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, who is also an alumnus; the Chancellor, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe; and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Professor Akin Oyebode, for their pivotal roles in the advancement of EKSU.

 

This development comes on the heels of EKSU’s recognition as the best state university in Nigeria, as ranked by Times Higher Education 2025, cementing its reputation as a centre of academic distinction.

 

JAMB Admits Mistake, Candidates In 157 Centers To Retake Exams

Breaking News: JAMB Admits Error That Affected 157 Centres - EduTimes AfricaThe Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has admitted errors in the results of some candidates who took the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

On Tuesday, the board commenced the review of the candidates’ results with some stakeholders after widespread complaints of low scores by candidates who have a track record of better performance.

Speaking on the outcome of the review on Wednesday, JAMB Registrar Is-haq Oloyede, a professor, apologised to the candidates and admitted some errors.

Mr Oloyede said the board has decided that all candidates affected in 157 out of 882 centres will be contacted to retake their examinations starting Friday, 16 May.

A total of 379,997 candidates across the 157 centres in Lagos and the South-east would retake their examinations.

“So, I appeal to the candidates and those affected by the error of our system to accept this explanation as the truth of the matter without embellishment, Please. I apologise and take full responsibility, not just in words,” he said.

Mr Oloyede said affected candidates would be contacted by JAMB through text messages sent to their registered phone numbers, email addresses, profiles, and phone calls.

He directed them to reprint their examination slips for the rescheduled examination dates.

He said the board has contacted the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), which is currently holding its West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), to allow JAMB some slots for candidates to take the exams, and WAEC has agreed.

“Any candidate with a clash of timetable, particularly for Agricultural Science on Friday, would be rescheduled,” Mr Oloyede said.

“However, we have endeavoured to ensure that no such exist. Most, if not all, such candidates are scheduled for Saturday. Fortunately, the prescribed texts for SSCE are also the prescribed texts for UTME, apart from the reading text of the UTME, which carries just 10 marks in our Use of English test.”

Magnitude of error
Mr Oloyede explained that the errors happened in 157 centres – 65 centres in the Lagos zone and 92 centres in the Owerri zone.

Lagos zone comprises only Lagos State but Owerri zone comprises the five South-east states: Abia, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi and Anambra.

While 206,610 candidates were affected in the 65 centres in Lagos zone, 173,387 candidates were affected in 92 centres in Owerri zone.

He said the reviewers examined samples from across the country, but no sign of any abnormality has been detected in any centre other than the ones mentioned.

He added that the exercise continues.

How the error occurred
Mr Oloyede explained that JAMB groups the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) into ‘KAD vehicle’ and ‘LAG vehicle’ to manage operations efficiently and in a balanced way.

 

KAD vehicle comprises all South-south states and most Northern states except Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Niger, Kogi, and Abuja.

LAG vehicle comprises all states in the South-west and South-east as well as Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Niger, Kogi, and Abuja.

He explained that the mixed grouping is deliberate and is meant to prevent any regional bias in how the examinations are organised across regions.

What went wrong
Mr Oloyede noted that after the mock exams, the board noticed that the exam questions were not properly shuffled in the LAG category. The board shuffles questions so candidates have different questions, which makes it harder to copy or cheat.

The board corrected this problem and tested the fix ahead of the actual UTME.

“However, on Friday 25 April, the second day of the actual UTME, JAMB found that there were omissions in the LAG category.”

Mr Oloyede said corrections were made instantly and tested on Saturday, Sunday and Monday before they were applied after 12 a.m. on Tuesday.

“That was why all the examinations from Tuesday till the end of UTME had no problem,” he said.

The correction that never worked
The JAMB Registrar said to correct and re-upload the results from LAG for the glitch from Thursday to Monday, the service providers concerned with the ‘LAG vehicle’ were deployed to effect the patch.

He said, unfortunately, the errors were still found in two locations –Lagos zone and Owerri Zone–, resulting in errors in the candidates’ results.

“In clear terms, in the process of rectifying the issue, the technical personnel deployed by the Service Provider for LAG (Lagos and South-east zones) inadvertently failed to update some of the delivery servers,” he explained.

“Regrettably, this oversight went undetected prior to the release of the results.”

Source: Premium Times