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Tag: Academics

  • NIPR Lagos Unveils PRFest 2026, Sets Stage for Week-Long Celebration of Public Relations Excellence

    NIPR Lagos Unveils PRFest 2026, Sets Stage for Week-Long Celebration of Public Relations Excellence

    The premier and leading chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Lagos State Chapter, has officially unveiled the 2026 edition of Lagos PRFest, a flagship event designed to celebrate excellence in public relations, promote professional development and reinforce the role of strategic communication in nation-building.

    The unveiling took place during the Chapter’s Monthly Meeting/PR Clinic held on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Eko FM Multipurpose Hall, Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Speaking at the unveiling, the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of NIPR, Samuel Ayetutu, PhD, fnipr, described PRFest as one of the chapter’s most significant professional initiatives aimed at bringing together communication professionals, business leaders, policymakers, academics, students and other stakeholders to engage on issues of national importance.

    According to him, the 2026 edition is particularly significant as it focuses on the critical intersection of security, nation-building and public trust at a time when strategic communication has become indispensable to national development and social cohesion.

    Dr. Ayetutu urged members of the Institute and communication professionals across the country to actively participate in the festival, noting that PRFest provides an invaluable platform for learning, networking, mentorship, industry collaboration and professional growth.

    “Public relations practitioners have a crucial role to play in fostering trust, promoting responsible communication and strengthening the relationship between institutions and the public. PRFest 2026 will provide a unique opportunity for stakeholders to collectively examine these responsibilities and contribute to national development,” he stated.

    While providing updates on the progress made so far in planning the programme, the Planning Committee Chairman, PRfest 2026, Bolaji Abimbola, disclosed that the committee was working diligently to deliver a memorable and impactful festival. He assured members that all arrangements were being put in place to ensure a successful event that would meet the expectations of participants and stakeholders.

    The chapter chairman and selected leaders in the Chapter subsequently unveiled the theme and programme of activities for Lagos PRFest 2026, scheduled to hold from Friday, July 3 to Thursday, July 9, 2026, under the theme:

    “Security, Nation Building and Public Trust: Fostering Collective Responsibility through Strategic Public Relations.”

    The week-long festival will feature:

    • Sports and Fitness Event
    • PR Mentorship and Leadership Clubs Launch
    • Practitioners’ Hangout and African Night
    • Media Tour of Lagos
    • Annual Conference Lecture
    • Annual General Meeting (AGM)

    The Lagos State Chapter of NIPR invites members, communication professionals, corporate organisations, government agencies, students and other stakeholders to participate in the various activities lined up for the festival, while also expressing confidence that the programme will further strengthen the public relations profession by promoting meaningful conversations around public trust, national security and collective responsibility in nation building

  • UNCTAD16: World’s leading trade and development conference convenes amid uncertain times

    UNCTAD16: World’s leading trade and development conference convenes amid uncertain times

    The Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
    Default image copyright and description© Shutterstock/Sean Pavone | The Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

    UN Trade and Development convenes world leaders, ministers and experts to tackle today’s pressing issues, strengthen cooperation and build a brighter future.

    From 20 to 23 October 2025, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will welcome to Geneva, Switzerland leaders from governments, business, academia and civil society for its 16th ministerial session – UNCTAD16.

    The conference comes at a time when trade, investment and technology are reshaping economies at high speed. For developing countries, the stakes are clear: to secure access to finance, markets and innovation while building resilience against shocks.

    A platform for solutions

    Over four days, UNCTAD16 will feature more than 40 high-level sessions, ministerial roundtables and events. Discussions will focus on how countries can navigate today’s uncertainties while finding practical pathways to growth and sustainability.

    “This is not just another conference,” said Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development. “It is a chance to rebuild trust, bring fresh solutions to the table, and show that multilateralism can deliver for people and for the planet.

    Leaders and voices from across the world

    The official programme includes daily high-level dialogues on pressing global issues, a ministerial round table on trade and finance, and a closing segment on rethinking cooperation in a fragmented world.

    Nobel Prize laureates, heads of state, ministers and CEOs will be among the speakers, engaging with civil society, youth and academia.

    Building on a legacy in Geneva

    UNCTAD16 marks a symbolic return to the city where UNCTAD was created in 1964. Since then, the organization has served as a bridge between advanced and developing economies, ensuring that trade and investment contribute to inclusive prosperity.

    The outcomes of the conference will guide UNCTAD’s work for the next four years and provide input to broader debates on global economic governance.

    Registration now open

    Registration is open for governments, international organizations, business leaders, academics, civil society representatives and media. Participants can attend in Geneva or follow the debate online.

  • African Union of Broadcasting (ABU) to be hosted in Abidjan, Ivory Coast from June 18 to 20, 2025

    African Union of Broadcasting (ABU) to be hosted in Abidjan, Ivory Coast from June 18 to 20, 2025

    The African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) will hold its 16th General Assembly from June 18 to 20, 2025 in Abidjan, capital of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, under the theme: Empowering the media: what strategies for financial and technological resilience and innovative content?  

    This high-level meeting will bring together Directors General representing the media, the broadcasting industry, officials, experts, academics, content creators from across the continent, representatives of sister Unions and partners. This year’s event aims to explore the challenges and opportunities offered by the evolution of digital technologies in the broadcast media sector.  

    The AUB aims to examine all the possibilities available to African media to obtain quality content amidst scarcity of financial resources, competitiveness and significant technological development. Broadcasters in Africa will also address the issue of satellite broadcasting costs which are increasingly weighing on their organizations’ budgets.  

    During this General Assembly, the African Union of Broadcasting will reward excellence in African broadcast production at the grand AUB MEDIA AWARDS 2025. 

    The African Union of Broadcasting is the largest organization of media professionals in Africa, bringing together public and private radio and television broadcasters and associate members. The AUB is responsible for developing all segments of television and radio broadcasting in Africa. It works to develop the exchange of authentic African content through its content distribution platform, AUBVISION. 

  • Nigeria to Host 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings from 23 to 28 June 2025

    Nigeria to Host 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings from 23 to 28 June 2025

     The Federal Government of Nigeria and Afreximbank have signed the Host Country Agreement for the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM) in Abuja, Nigeria, from 23-28 June 2025.

    Afreximbank Annual Meetings is one of the most anticipated gatherings on the African continent, featuring high-level policy discussions, presentations, and side events on issues pertinent to the socio-economic development of Africa as well as business networking sessions that drive integration through trade and investments.

    The 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings in June 2025 is expected to be the largest gathering of Global Africa in the Bank’s Annual Meetings history, bringing together over 6,000 delegates including Heads of State, government officials, captains of industry, businesspeople, decision-makers, academics, respected experts and advisors from Africa, the CARICOM region and globally.

    Commenting on the significance of the agreement, H.E. Wale Edun, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy for Nigeria, emphasised Nigeria’s strong partnership with Afreximbank and its commitment to fostering trade and economic growth for Africa and beyond.

    He said: “Nigeria is honoured to host the 2025 Afreximbank Annual Meetings, which will serve as a critical platform to drive discussions on trade financing, economic growth, and investment opportunities across Africa.” He added: “This event is a testament to our commitment to strengthening Africa’s financial sector and positioning Nigeria as a hub for economic transformation.”

    Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Afreximbank, said: “We greatly appreciate the Federal Government of Nigeria’s acceptance to host the 2025 Afreximbank Annual Meetings, which demonstrates our united determination to accelerating Africa’s economic growth and development.

    “The Government of Nigeria has been a steadfast partner and a strong backbone of the Bank. It has consistently responded positively to capital calls, injecting significant equity into the Bank even when the economic environment seemed challenging; removing regulatory hurdles that would otherwise inhibit the Bank’s business in Nigeria, and being at the forefront of rallying continental support for the Bank.”

     “This year’s theme, ‘Building the Future on Decades of Resilience,’ reflects the progress that we have made over the past three decades and the bold steps that are imperative to navigate the increasingly complex global landscape. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) has given our continent an unrivalled opportunity to deliver sustainable economic transformation that will propel Africa’s economic growth and raise living standards and prosperity for all Africans.

    “Afreximbank Annual Meetings will provide a platform to reflect on our journey, celebrate contributions, and chart a path forward that reinforces our continent’s economic independence and global influence. We look forward to welcoming and meeting stakeholders from across Africa and other parts of the world to Abuja for this prestigious event.”

    Prof. Oramah noted that Nigeria’s unwavering support to Afreximbank has been the primary driver of the Bank’s strong continental impact. “The impact on the Nigerian economy is equally palpable. Being the largest recipient of the Bank’s trade and development finance, Nigeria has attracted cumulative disbursements of about US$52 billion in addition to being the first beneficiary of several flagship transformative projects being executed by the Bank such as the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), African Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC), Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC), among others.

    This year’s event comes on the backdrop of the highly successful 2024 AAM, held in Nassau, The Bahamas and attended by over 4,000 delegates, including over 20 Heads of State, government ministers, high-level dignitaries, global experts, and world-renowned celebrities and artists.

    Afreximbank was established when the shareholders held their first General Meeting in Abuja, Nigeria in October 1993. Today, Nigeria is Afreximbank’s second-largest shareholder.

  • Stakeholders Advocate for Safe Motherhood and Responsive Fatherhood to Improve Child Well-being

    Stakeholders Advocate for Safe Motherhood and Responsive Fatherhood to Improve Child Well-being

    Stakeholders have advocated for safe motherhood and responsive fatherhood as key ingredients required for the proper upbringing of children while calling for the eradication of child labour in our society.

    The stakeholders at the Strengthening Capacity for Research and Policy Engagement in Shifting Notions of Motherhood and Fatherhood for Improved Children’s Well-being in Africa (SCaRPE-A) Conference include experts, academics, non-governmental organizations, scholars, educators, NGOs, researchers, and students all came together to discuss parenting and children’s well-being in a changing world.

    The conference organised in collaboration with the Department of History, UI and Women’s Research and Documentation Centre (WORDOC), University of Ibadan, Nigeria held at the Otunba Subomi Balogun Conference Centre, UI.

    Highpoint of the conference was the presentation of the policy report titled: “Parenting and Children Well-being in Nigeria: Dynamics, interventions and Agenda Action”.

    The report was presented by the two conveners of the conference, Dr. Mutiat Oladejo, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of History, University of Ibadan and Dr. Sharon Omotoso who is a Senior Research Fellow (Gender/Media Studies) at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan.

    In his opening remark, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Professor Solomon Oyetade, said organising the Conference on parenting and children’s wellbeing in Nigeria is an important area of consideration in the world today owing to the changing notions in parenting and child upbringing.

    He noted that the upbringing of a child is the collective responsibility of society, but due to the high level of decadence in society nowadays, the upbringing of the child suffers a setback.

    He also made reference to how modernity has affected the upbringing of a child and thereby making it worse, the product of this according to him is what he described as (Abi Iko) one who was born but not trained and (Ako Igba) one who received moral training but refuse to put the training into use.

    Also, the Head of the Department of History, UI, Prof. Rasheed Olaniyi while joining the conversation called for the eradication of child labour in society.

    He attributed some challenges facing children in society to bad parenting and that adequate steps needed to be taken to address those challenges.

    He, however, enjoined the political elites to address socioeconomic problems confronting the nation as this will reduce the economic burden on parents who engage their children in hawking and other forms of street trading when they were supposed to be in school.

    Speaking with reporters on the Policy report, Dr. Mutiat Oladejo highlighted some of the challenges facing motherhood in society which she said have placed the burden of child parenting strictly on mothers while neglecting the important role of fatherhood as an integral component in child upbringing.

    She said “We have been on this project since 2021 and our advocacy is to improve children’s well-being and ensure proper child upbringing irrespective of whether you are father or mother.

    “Notion of motherhood is usually entangled in the problem of women discrimination, biases against women in the society as there is too much burden on being a mother while fatherhood is relegated to only financial support to mother thereby neglecting the aspect of social, psychological and moral support to the mother.”

    She therefore called for responsive fatherhood and safe motherhood to improve parenting and children’s well-being in Nigeria.

    Some of the highlights that emerged from the conference included the importance of education and tackling child labour, the impact of poverty and societal pressures on parenting, and the need for collaboration among stakeholders to improve children’s well-being. The conference also highlighted the complex and evolving nature of childhood identity in Nigeria. The urgent need for action to address issues such as child labor, out-of-school children, and illicit economies like baby factories and juvenile prostitution. Some of the recommendations are increased enforcement against child trafficking, prioritizing education, and collaborative efforts from families, schools, NGOs amongst others.

  • Africa Resilience Forum: AfDB Boss says peace-building in Africa must be an aim of investment decisions

    Africa Resilience Forum: AfDB Boss says peace-building in Africa must be an aim of investment decisions

    …the Africa Resilience Forum is a call to action to work together and make a transition from policy dialogue to investment, and then from investment to impact

    Peace and security in Africa must be an aim of investment decisions, the African Development Bank President told delegates at a forum aimed at exploring ways to strengthen the resilience of the continent’s people and states.

    “The Africa Resilience Forum is a call to action to work together and make a transition from policy dialogue to investment, and then from investment to impact,” said Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group.

    Mr Adesina was speaking in a video message to participants at the 5th Africa Resilience Forum, which is being held in Abidjan from 3 to 5 October. The theme of this year’s Forum is “Financing Security, Peace and Development for a Resilient Africa”.

    “We need to reverse current trends and establish an alliance of partners so that we can adopt a new investment approach that favours peace,” he said. “This will truly change the development-peace-security paradigm on our continent.”

    Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, the African Development Bank Group’s Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, emphasised that “by adopting peace-based actions, we can actually eliminate violence.”

    “As development actors, we must put the communities we serve at the heart of our actions,” she continued, noting that the Bank was the first development finance institution to incorporate the issues of peace and fragility into its programmes. The institution has a Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in Africa the aim of which is to bring an end to, in particular, the “triangle of disaster” – rural poverty, youth unemployment and environmental degradation – mentioned by Dr. Adesina in his speech.

    There is a need for innovative approaches to financing peace, security and development in African countries that find themselves in situations of fragility, sometimes driven by conflict. This can only be achieved through governments, the private sector, civil society and development partners cooperating closely, say the Bank’s leaders.

    As part of this commitment, the African Development Bank is working with the African Union and the continent’s Regional Economic Communities to develop Security-Indexed Investment Bonds (SIIBs), which will require a minimum of US$5 billion dollars by 2030. SIIBs offer a holistic investment strategy that combines peacebuilding and development expertise to offset the fiscal implications of high security sector spending.

    Noura Hamladji, Deputy Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Africa Bureau, said a coordinated approach should be taken to addressing humanitarian, developmental, peace and security needs. “Development aid, aid for income-generating activities for communities affected by conflict, and the establishment of basic social infrastructure (schools, health centres, water and sanitation) are just as valid as humanitarian action,” she said during a panel discussion. “We need massive investment in countries in conflict.”

    Gilles Carbonnier, Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), welcomed the burgeoning partnerships between development finance institutions and humanitarian actors, pointing to the agreement between the ICRC and the African Development Bank to strengthen the resilience of communities in the Sahel, especially in Niger, Chad and Mali. “Hope has created an environment that is conducive to peace,” he said. “In conflicts, we must protect civilians, but also infrastructure (schools, health centres, etc.) that constitutes a public asset.”

    The African Development Bank signed a Peace Financing Facility with the peacebuilding organisation Interpeace at the Forum. “There are children who are born and grow up in refugee camps, where they become adults – all these people ask of us is to lead a normal life,” said Elhadj As Sy, a member of the governing board of Interpeace.

    Nearly 200 people – humanitarians, development, peace and security actors from the public and private sectors, politicians, investors, academics and members of civil society – are attending the Africa Resilience Forum in person, which can also be followed by videoconference.

  • New Book on Salvaging Widow’s Dilemmas Debut, Offers Insights for Peaceful Co-existence

    New Book on Salvaging Widow’s Dilemmas Debut, Offers Insights for Peaceful Co-existence

    The state of widowhood, which comes with scorn and neglect, would now be properly understood as a natural circumstance with the insights from the new book, “Widowhood and The Society: Need for New Thinking,” which makes it a phase in marital relationship couples must face as mortals.

    Authored by Mrs. Josephine Njiko Okafor (Nee Odita), a renowned Banker, and the Founder of Elite Widows Foundation, the book has 10 chapters that offer in-depth knowledge into the plights of widows in a simple language and style, and new status in society due to the loss of their spouses, mostly done in the name of age-long culture, tradition, and indigenous belief.

    Painstakingly, she has put forward practical solutions on how a widow can enjoy full fundamental human rights without her husband, combining cultural, psychological, moral, spiritual, and governmental concerns.

    Indeed, all the points enumerated in the book were factors that prompted the special recognition of widows by the United Nations, that even though there are more than 258 million widows around the world, they have historically been left unseen, unsupported, and unmeasured in our societies, hence the globe marks the International Widow’s Day on 23rd June, every year, since 2011. This is to draw attention to the voices and experiences of widows and to galvanise the unique support that they need. It is also an opportunity for action towards achieving full rights and recognition for widows.

    The wonderful piece, with the e-book link, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6V7DJDH, and paperback link, https://www.amazon.com/dp/9785965309, according to Okafor, is the product of years of hands-on experience and after several distraught cases of widows in rehabilitation stages, decided to document their experiences and recommendations on how to give or treat wives (and/or husbands) of a deceased with love, care and civility in sub-Saharan Africa and globally.

    Written in simple language and domesticated innuendos for the delight and literary engagement of even an alien reader, the well-thought solution to widow’s problems in the book, if adapted and adopted in many African societies, would erase the fears associated with widowhood that makes it a regrettable experience, instead of a natural cause.

    Brilliantly, the innovative book is recommended to researchers, academics, community leaders, traditional rulers, churches, legal practitioners, community-based institutions, non-governmental organizations, governmental establishments, family and social ministries, and all who thirst for equal rights and justice. 

  • Inspirational Nigerian school named in Top 10 shortlists for $250,000 World’s Best School Prizes 2023

    Inspirational Nigerian school named in Top 10 shortlists for $250,000 World’s Best School Prizes 2023

    …Government Girls Day Secondary School, Sambo, Sokoto named in Top 10 shortlist for World’s Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity

    An inspirational Nigerian school has been named in the Top 10 shortlists for the $250,000 World’s Best School Prizes. The five World’s Best School Prizes, founded last year by T4 Education in collaboration with Accenture, American Express, Yayasan Hasanah, and the Lemann Foundation, are the world’s most prestigious education prizes.

    Government Girls Day Secondary School, Runjin Sambo, Sokoto, Nigeria, which has transformed the lives of thousands of teenage girls through its Menstrual Hygiene programme, has been named in the Top 10 shortlist for the World’s Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity.

    The five World’s Best School Prizes – for Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives – celebrate schools everywhere for the pivotal role they play in developing the next generation of learners and for their enormous contribution to society’s progress, especially in the wake of COVID. The Prizes were established to share the best practices of schools that are transforming the lives of their students and making a real difference to their communities.

    Vikas Pota, Founder, T4 Education and the World’s Best School Prizes, said: “The schools shortlisted for the World’s Best School Prizes, no matter where they can be found or what they teach, all have one thing in common. They all have a strong school culture. Their leaders know how to attract and motivate exceptional educators, inspire change, and build excellent teaching and learning environments.

    “I must congratulate Government Girls Day Secondary School on being named in the Top 10 shortlists for the World’s Best School Prizes 2023. Schools across the globe will learn from the story of this trailblazing Nigerian institution and the culture it has cultivated.”

    About the school:

    Government Girls Day Secondary School, Runjin Sambo, Sokoto, Nigeria, has brought about a transformative shift in the lives of thousands of teenage girls through its Menstrual Hygiene programme, breaking down barriers to education and empowering them to reach their full potential. The school’s unwavering commitment has not only improved the academic performance and health of its students but also produced future nurses and health personnel who are serving the community. This inspiring initiative is a shining example of how education can be a powerful tool for social change, providing hope and opportunities for girls who were once held back by taboos and stigma.

    With a school population of about 4,000 teenage students aged 11 to 18 years old, Government Girls Day Secondary School created a multi-pronged approach to address the crisis in girls’ access to quality education, with girls facing stigma, exclusion, discrimination, bullying, and gender-based violence. This approach involved guidance and counselling services, teacher-led programmes tackling menstrual trauma, physical, and mental effects, as well as referral services in the case of menstrual infections to access medical care, and mentorship to reconnect students to learning.

    The school also organised in-school training programmes, clubs and societies, and peer-to-peer student forums, which created a supportive social environment with no restrictions in accessing menstrual hygiene management information. The peer-to-peer programme also encouraged communication towards ending taboos and stigma, sharing problems and experiences among students relating to menstruation.

    Through these programs and activities, the school was able to impact about 4,000 girls with basic menstrual hygiene skills and knowledge. The school also produced many nurses and health personnel who are now serving the community, contributing to other sustainable areas such as introducing students to WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) and reproductive health.

    Next steps:


    The Top 3 finalists for each of the five World’s Best School Prizes will be announced in September 2023 followed by the winners in October. The winner of each Prize will be chosen based on rigorous criteria by a Judging Academy comprising distinguished leaders across the globe including academics, educators, NGOs, social entrepreneurs, government, civil society, and the private sector.

    A prize of US$250,000 will be equally shared among the winners of the five Prizes, with each receiving an award of US$50,000. 

    All 50 shortlisted schools will be invited to share their best practices through events on the T4 Communities app or School Transformation Toolkits that showcase their “secret sauce” to innovative approaches and step-by-step instructions on how others can replicate their methods to help improve education everywhere.

    The School Transformation Toolkits from last year’s winning and shortlisted schools are now available online.

  • African Development Bank, Production Partner on New Podcast Presented by the World Trade Center in Washington, DC

    African Development Bank, Production Partner on New Podcast Presented by the World Trade Center in Washington, DC

    Africa-USA Now, a new weekly video podcast spotlights current events at the intersection of Africa and the United States. The 10-week series launches at a pivotal time following the historic US-Africa Summit and the renewed commitment to partnership between Africa and the US. 

    The current events talk show features African and American policymakers and experts examining issues around burgeoning trade and investment opportunities. The program is presented by the World Trade Center, Washington DC, and is launched in partnership with the African Development Bank, Africa Investment Forum and AfricaGlobal Schaffer.

    “This is an important program that will address roadblocks to engagement, highlight significant trade and investment opportunities, and hopefully change the narrative on Africa and the dynamic changes taking place on the continent,” said Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, which is sponsoring the program.

    “This is a must-watch series for international trade professionals and industry experts,” says Allyson McKithen, Executive Director of the World Trade Center in Washington, DC, which will distribute the program to the 320 World Trade Centers around the world, reaching over 715,000 businesses worldwide. “We are proud to be a partner on this initiative, particularly as the World Trade Center Association looks towards our annual meeting this spring that will be held in Ghana, themed “Towards African Economic Integration and Enhanced Global Presence.”

    The show covers an evolving continent that is clearly on the move, from the new African Continental Free Trade Agreement to increased investment from China and other major economic powers, infrastructure enabling free movement of goods and people, tech hubs leapfrogging forward, and a strong COVID response that has made Africans feel increasingly empowered. However, it also notes that despite the opportunities, the United States – the largest economy in the world – lags behind in investment and often overlooks Africa.

    “This show fills a missing gap,” says Carol Pineau, host and producer of the program. “Every day, events happen in Washington and the US that deeply affect Africa, but the media is often not connecting these actions to Africa. At the same time, Africa is rapidly evolving, and it’s in our strategic interest to understand these changes, especially with so much global competition out there,” adds Pineau.

    Pineau is an award-winning filmmaker and journalist specializing in Africa for over 20 years. Her first documentary, Africa Open for Business, won the BBC Documentary of the Year and was part of changing the narrative on Africa in Western media. Her other films include Africa Investment Horizons, which launched at the New York Stock Exchange and was broadcasted throughout the world. Pineau has reported internationally and in the US for major media, including a posting in Africa with VOA and another with CNN.

    Africa-USA Now launches Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Each episode of the inaugural 10-week season will focus on a singular topic and will feature a roundtable discussion with African and American government officials, investors, business leaders, journalists, academics, and other policy shapers.

    “The U.S. needs to put more focus on engaging with Africa because it is in our interest to do so. We need to reset in addressing current realities so that we don’t end up locked out of critical resources, and growing opportunities and partnerships,” says Mima Nedelcovych, Chairman of AfricaGlobal Schaffer, a production partner of the program, who has invested throughout Africa for more than 40 years and sits on the African Advisory Committee of the U.S. Export-Import Bank.

    Africa-USA Now is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts and www.AfricaUSAnow.com. Viewers can subscribe, follow and comment on the show across all platforms.

  • Uganda’s Project Shelter Wakadogo wins inaugural World’s Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity

    Uganda’s Project Shelter Wakadogo wins inaugural World’s Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity

    • ….The five World’s Best School Prizes, founded this year by T4 Education in collaboration with Templeton World Charity Foundation, Accenture and American Express, are the world’s most prestigious education prizes and see winning schools share $250,000
    • …Best Intellectuals Model School in Nigeria was named in the Top 10 shortlist for the World’s Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity

    Project Shelter Wakadogo in Uganda, which was founded in the wake of war and now educates over 450 children with one of the highest student retention rates in the country, was today named the winner of the inaugural World’s Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity. The five World’s Best School Prizes, founded this year by T4 Education in collaboration with Templeton World Charity Foundation, Accenture and American Express, are the world’s most prestigious education prizes and see winning schools share an award of $250,000.

    The five World’s Best School Prizes – for Community Collaboration, Environmental Action, Innovation, Overcoming Adversity, and Supporting Healthy Lives – celebrate schools everywhere for the pivotal role they play in developing the next generation of learners and for their enormous contribution to society’s progress especially in the wake of COVID.

    Project Shelter Wakadogo was chosen as the winner of the World’s Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity from among the Top 3 finalists for the prize, which also included Pinelands North Primary School in South Africa and Escola Evandro Ferreira Dos Santos in Brazil.

    The Prizes were founded by T4 Education in collaboration with Templeton World Charity Foundation, Accenture, American Express, Yayasan Hasanah, and the Lemann Foundation to share the best practices of schools that are transforming the lives of their students and making a real difference to their communities.

    Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education and the World’s Best School Prizes, said:

    “Congratulations to Project Shelter Wakadogo for winning the World’s Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity. It’s time for world leaders to sit up and listen to institutions like this outstanding Ugandan school.

    “Far too many children will continue to be left behind in the wake of COVID unless governments take urgent action to tackle the education crisis. As a first step, they must turn to the knowledge and experience contained within our schools because those at the frontlines of education know better than anyone else the change we need to see.

    “We founded the World’s Best School Prizes to surface the expertise of trailblazing schools from every corner of the globe so that leaders can learn from their incredible stories.”

    Project Shelter Wakadogo in Gulu, Uganda, has flourished from a school with only two classrooms founded in the wake of war to now educating over 450 children with one of the highest student retention rates in the country.

    In the aftermath of two decades of civil war and the violence committed by the Lord’s Resistance Army, which displaced over a million people in Northern Uganda, families in the village of Pece Acoyo in Gulu were slowly returning to their homes. Amongst the wreckage left by the war, calls for a safe, quality school began to grow. Through a large community effort Project Shelter Wakadogo was born – land was procured, roads leading to the school were levelled and vegetables were planted to be used for school meals. In 2009, the school opened. The name Wakadogo reflects the school’s mission to extend a duty of care to those who walked through its doors, meaning ‘for the little ones’ in Swahili.

    Its commitment to providing free school meals, healthcare and quality education for the surrounding community, has seen the school become a second home for many.

    When Uganda imposed a long lockdown during the pandemic, Project Shelter Wakadogo quickly determined that online schooling wouldn’t be possible for its students. In Uganda, only 2% of the population has access to personal computers and less than 9% of the rural population has access to the internet. Instead, Project Shelter Wakadogo pivoted to conducting 36,000 home-schooling lessons during the pandemic. This dedication to continuing to provide education to its students was crucial as the school closures across Uganda saw children forced into the labour market, a rise in teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence.

    Project Shelter Wakadogo will use the prize funds to offer more scholarships for marginalised and underprivileged children in the community. It will also use the funds to set up an online learning platform to facilitate hybrid and catch-up learning, in case schools should ever close again, and share its approach and technology where possible with schools in the region. It will also use the funds to continue to provide mid-morning porridge and midday meals to its students as most in the wider community live on one meal a day.

    The winners of the five World’s Best School Prizes were chosen by a Judging Academy, comprising distinguished leaders all across the globe including academics, educators, NGOs, social entrepreneurs, government, civil society, and the private sector, based on a set of rigorous criteria. Judges were informed by a public advisory vote in which nearly 50,000 people from around the world voted for their favourite schools.

    At the same time, Dunoon Grammar School in the UK won the World’s Best School Prize for Community Collaboration. Escuela Emilia Lascar in Chile won the World’s Best School Prize for Innovation. Bonuan Buquig National High School in the Philippines won the World’s Best School Prize for Environmental Action. And Curie Metropolitan High School in the US won the World’s Best School Prize for Supporting Healthy Lives.

    A prize of US$250,000 will be shared equally among the winners of the five Prizes, with each receiving an award of US$50,000. 

    All shortlisted schools across the five Prizes will share their best practices through School Transformation Toolkits that showcase their “secret sauce” to innovative approaches and step-by-step instructions on how others can replicate their methods to help improve education everywhere. These will be available on the new T4 Communities app launched at World Education Week.

    To know more about the school, watch the video below-

  • Return to Eden, excellence at PraiseVille’s Celestial Showers Convention 4.0 edition

    Return to Eden, excellence at PraiseVille’s Celestial Showers Convention 4.0 edition

    An all-day Celestial Showers 10XBetter Convention 4.0 was hosted by the Shepherd-in-Charge, CCC PraiseVille, Dr. Kunle Hamilton over the weekend. Its focus was excellence. In his opening remarks, the veteran media practitioner and life coach said, “All Christians around the world would be wise to see what is special about the Year 2022. It is a year of supernatural return into the divine favours of the biblical Garden of Eden.

    “The secret lies in the configuration of this year, where the sum of 2+0+2+2 is 6 and the bible records 6 as the number of mankind for man was created on Day 6 when God described His own feat as ‘very good.’ Therefore, for all believers, 2022 is our ‘Year of Goodness’ or if you prefer, our ‘Return to the Goodness of Eden.’

    “It is upon this premise of goodness that our wonderful guests from England, Ms. Toyosi Ogunseye and Ms. Yetunde Odebiyi, Prof. Jaiyeola from Ile-Ife, and our lead speaker from Sierra Leone, Mrs. Vinod-Khatumal crafted their thematic spectrum of the superlatives ‘From Good to Better to Best’ and their delivery was impeccably brilliant as our YouTube videos and viral clips show” Hamilton said.

    Barrister Sally Hamilton Vinod-Khatumal is the Chairman, NP Sierra Leone, the West African country’s largest oil trade and marketing company. She is also the country’s acting Chairman, Ecobank – the transnational bank that straps the continent like a colossus.

    Khatumal is on two weeks’ personal visit to Nigeria, a part of which she spent as the lead speaker on excellence and the need for Nigerians, and indeed all Africans to eschew mediocre mindsets in politics, parenting, academics, religion, corporate governance and personal living.

    Speaking at the annual Celestial Showers 10XBetter Convention in Yaba, Lagos at the behest of the Celestial Church of Christ, PraiseVille on Saturday January 29, Khatumal said, “My intention is to encourage the spirit of excellence in us as Africans, so as to inspire everyone, regardless of your faith or what part of the African continent you may come from. We must all strive to be the best at whatever we do right.

    “Excellence is actually work in progress and when you become the best, you cannot be complacent, for that breeds mediocrity, which is the enemy of excellence. Young Africans must strive to be the best in academics, their careers, in business, sports, entertainment and different professions. But we should also know that the road to being the best can be hard, painful and sacrificial” said Khatumal.

    Also speaking at the 2022 Convention, which is its fourth edition, were Ms. Toyosi Ogunseye and Prof. Temitope Jaiyeola. Ogunseye is the new Head of News and Commissioning of the BBC World Service, London. She’s a Mandela Washington Fellow, two-time CNN African Journalist of the Year, and Nigeria’s most decorated journalist with over 35 professional awards.

    Jaiyeola is a Professor of Mathematics at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife and Head, Nigerian Branch of the Neutrosophic Science International Association, University of New Mexico, USA. He won the 2022 Chebyshev Grant for the International Congress of Mathematicians, Russia. He is the Staff Adviser to the Celestial Church of Christ Students’ Parish, OAU.

    Song ministers at the Convention 4.0 were Qhemmy Onasanya, CCC PraiseVille Echoes with Aaretivity Toba and the Seyifunmi Olakiigbe-led CCC Ikorodu Central Choir.

    tion

  • FirstBank’s Sponsored ‘’First Class Material’’ Continues to Empower and Celebrate the Nigerian Youth.

    FirstBank’s Sponsored ‘’First Class Material’’ Continues to Empower and Celebrate the Nigerian Youth.

    First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial services provider has again reinforced its commitment to Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship through its sponsorship of the docuseries “First Class Material” from the stables of Linda Ikeji TV

    Arguably Nigeria’s most valuable bank brand, FirstBank continues to pride itself as indeed the Bank of many firsts. First Class Material is a docuseries designed to celebrate Nigerians who are excelling in various fields of endeavour whether academic or non-academic. It is a programme that aims to chronicle the success stories of Nigerians who are distinct and exemplary in their achievements and importantly, a testament to the greatness of the West African country. This docuseries aims to make education, vocational training and skill acquisition trendy, attractive and fashionable to the nation’s human capital by celebrating and rewarding innovators and trailblazers in various sectors. First Class Material is a celebration of notable Firsts by Nigerians which underscores what FirstBank stands for. The essence of the programme is to have many more people informed and encouraged by the successes, thereby having these feats emulated in their chosen endeavours.

    First Class Material aims to change the narrative about Nigeria and Nigerians by highlighting the great work Nigerians are doing in different fields, including Academics, Technology, Arts, Music, entrepreneurship, and many more. It also aims to inspire others to aspire to excellence and to see hard work, legitimate work, and diligence as something rewarding and deserving of emulation. FirstBank was the official sponsor of the maiden edition of First Class Material by Linda Ikeji TV and based on its success, the Bank is now also sponsoring Season 2 which will commence 3rd week in August.

    This innovative partnership would have viewers exposed to Nigerians across the globe that have carved a niche for themselves by being exemplary and influential in their chosen endeavours and career path. Success stories of notable firsts and trailblazers would be highlighted, with viewers encouraged to go beyond limits and leave no stone unturned at making their dreams a reality. Like the first season, which showcased exceptional individuals, the forthcoming season promises to share truly inspiring stories of great feats and accomplishments by some of the most unassuming Nigerians, in the country and dotted around the world. FirstBank’s goal is to inspire the youth and encourage them to make informed choices, critical to securing their future whilst impacting mankind and society at large.

    FirstBank, historically, has had diverse interventions in promoting thought leadership and promoting initiatives that will stimulate the advancement of skill acquisition and capacity building for the Nigerian Youth to equip them for a bright future. The Bank’s sponsorship of the Programme is in tandem with the noble objectives of the bank which includes building and instilling values into its customers. FirstBank’s core values of people, passion and partnership very much align with the vision of the First Material towards building the youth to become tomorrow’s leaders. With over 127 years of continuous banking operations, First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) is giving a good account of itself in this regard not only as a true financial powerhouse but also as a life enabler, helping Nigerians live better and achieve their dreams.

    Apart from the First Class Material initiative and in the furtherance of the Bank’s long term commitment to promote youth development, professional excellence and education, FirstBank has also in the past and currently actively supporting various activities and initiatives in the youth segment. The bank partners with Eventful Nigeria Ltd for Fashion Souk, a platform that creates an opportunity for players in the fashion industry to exhibit and sell their wares to the thousands of event participants. The bank, also in a bid to ensure the sustainability of the industry, recently introduced fashion design loans specifically designed to offer financial support to the participants in the textile industry.

    Through its First@arts initiative, FirstBank consolidates all its efforts in the arts, supporting the entire value chain of the creative arts, providing much-needed financing and advisory support, showcasing and facilitating the successes of the industry, and enabling customers to explore and access the wealth of opportunities the creative industry has to offer.

    Achieving these and a host of many others have been implemented through strategic partnerships with organisations like the British Council, Duke of Shomolu Productions, Live Theatre Lagos, Freedom Park, Terra Kulture, and the Cross Rivers State Government (Calabar Festival), among others.

    With the sponsorship of similar socio-cultural initiatives in the creative arts industry like Moremi, Makaliki, Oba Esugbayi stage drama, October 1st (a movie), the Calabar Festival and the recently concluded, The Voice Nigeria (Season 3) the Bank remains exemplary to expose the youth to a wide range of opportunities that are integral to the realisation of their dreams, as they contribute to the continued socio-economic development of their immediate environment and the country at large.

    Indeed, FirstBank remains a noble brand close to the heart of the youths and the deliberate efforts made by the bank has indeed been a catalyst of socio-economic growth of Nigerian youths and the nation as a whole.

    Culled from Nairametrics

  • Babcock VC lauds Nigeria’s first set of Church Admin diplomates

    Babcock VC lauds Nigeria’s first set of Church Admin diplomates

    The Vice-Chancellor and President of Babcock University, Prof. Tayo Ademola, has lauded the 17 pioneer graduates of Church Administration (Executive Diploma) the first of their kind in the history of professional Christian education in Nigeria. He called them first fruits of the university in its collaboration with the Church Administration Society of Nigeria (CASON).

    In his address at the graduation ceremony held Thursday in Babcock’s Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State campus, Ademola said, “I wish to congratulate the graduands for sticking to the battle to the end. They are the first fruits of our relationship with CASON in their bid to foster greater professionalism in the administration of churches in Nigeria.”

    He further affirmed, “If there is a need for church workers to get or receive more training, the time is now. The world is getting more sophisticated and so are the members of our different churches.”

    In his own remarks, CASON President, Pastor Seyi Oladimeji said, “By providence, our partnership with Babcock University was birthed in August 2017, followed by two years of intense preparation and today, we witness the graduation ceremony of the first set of university diplomates in Church Administration; a first in the history of the Church in Nigeria.”

    Oladimeji concluded by saying, “The Church is a critical stakeholder in the building and development of a nation; to give direction towards peace and progress. Therefore, the Nigerian Church must rise to the challenges of our country. Hence the need for the upscaled training of church workers and stakeholders.”

    The 17 diplomates, sourced by CASON, comprise of general overseers, pastors and career-minded church administrators. Already the second stream of candidates have been admitted for the 2021 Executive Diploma in Church Administration with registration ongoing, while the partners, CASON and Babcock hope to institute an Executive MBA in Church Administration a few years into the future.

    Others at the ceremony were the Senior Vice President, Academics, Prof. Philemon Amanze; the Registrar, Prof. Jonathan Nwosu; and the Director, Babcock Centre for Executive Development, Prof. Johnson Egwakhe for the university.

    CASON Board members in attendance were the Vice President, Pastor Steve Akoni; Secretary, Pastor Ayo Daniels; Treasurer, Mr. Segun Shelleh; Registrar, Pastor Segun Adegoke; Director of Media & Communication, Dr. Kunle Hamilton and Pastor Sunkanmi Obisesan.