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Tag: Mrs. Ronke Soyombo

  • Nestlé trains over 1,000 children on Sustainability

    Nestlé trains over 1,000 children on Sustainability

    Nestlé Nigeria is helping over 1,000 children, beneficiaries of Nestlé for Healthier Kids (N4HK) program in six primary schools in Ogun State and the FCT to imbibe a sustainability mindset at an early age.

    In collaboration with the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI), Nestlé Nigeria is training the primary five learners on a more sustainable approach to managing and recycling waste in a bid to enable them to become better stewards of the planet. 

    This is one of the initiatives to support the company’s ambition of ensuring that none of  its packaging, including plastics, ends up in landfills as litter, or in waterways, rivers or oceans.  

    In a statement announcing the kick-off of the training at Methodist Primary School 2,  Ago-Oko, Abeokuta, Ogun State, the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Victoria Uwadoka said, “Nestlé Nigeria is committed to driving more sustainability awareness to help protect the planet for future generations as embedded within our purpose at Nestlé. We are therefore delighted with the collaboration of all stakeholders including the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, Ogun State Ministry  of Education, Science and Technology, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board and  the Special Adviser to Governor on Education on this shared objective.”  

    “As multiple researches have proven, habits imbibed early in life are more likely to remain with us into the future. Therefore, training children on the importance of protecting our  environment is a strong contribution towards ensuring more responsible management of  post- consumption waste as they grow, taking us closer to achieving a waste free future.”  

    Elaborating on the objectives of the training, Mr. Olumide Idowu, founder of the  International Climate Change Development Initiative said, “The sustainability training is designed to equip the children with the requisite knowledge and support, enabling them  take responsibility in school and at home. Everyone, including children, need to be  involved in this huge task of protecting the environment.” 

    The Chairman, Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Dr. Femi  Majekodunmi represented by the Board Secretary, Mr. Olalekan Kuye, commended Nestlé Nigeria for the laudable initiative aimed at enhancing sustainable environment-friendly practices within public primary schools in the state. He stated that training  learners on waste management and recycling will ultimately contribute positively to a safe  and hygienic environment. 

    In her comments, The Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Primary and  Secondary Education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo appreciated Nestlé’s consistent contribution and investment in education within the state. She stated that the expected outcomes of  the training are positive behavioral change to enhance environmental sustainability and in addition, the opportunity for learners to be upskilled in the conversion of waste to useful items.  

    In 2021, over 150 children in 2 primary schools in Ogun State benefited from the Sustainability Training. This year, the program has been scaled up to 6 N4HK beneficiary schools, 4 in Ogun State and 2 within the FCT. The schools include – Methodist Primary  School 2, Ago-Oko, Abeokuta, Oke Ona United Primary School, Abeokuta, NUD Primary School, Owode and All Saints Primary School, Owode. The schools in the FCT are UBE Primary School Kuje and Science Primary School, Kuje. 

    Nestlé for Healthier Kids (N4HK) is a flagship initiative that aims to help 50 million children globally lead healthier lives by 2030.  

    In Nigeria, N4HK incorporates a school-based nutrition education program, which helps children imbibe healthy habits including good nutrition, active lifestyles through adequate physical activities, good hygiene practices and healthy hydration.

  • Teach For Nigeria commemorates the International Day of Education

    …urges continued support from government & education stakeholders to transform education

    Teach for Nigeria, a non-profit organization focused on expanding educational and life opportunities for low-income children has joined the rest of the world to mark the 4th International Day of Education. Since 2017, the organization has been focused on providing quality education to all children regardless of their backgrounds.

    To commemorate this year’s International Day of Education, Teach For Nigeria organised a week-long stakeholder’s engagement to sensitise stakeholders on their role in transforming the foundational education system. These meetings also provided the opportunity to deepen relationships with critical stakeholders and secure partnerships towards achieving educational equity. The engagement concluded with a closing ceremony in Ogun State and had in attendance school leaders from public schools, government officials, parents, religious leaders, Teach For Nigeria fellows and students.

    In a keynote speech, the CEO, Teach For Nigeria, Folawe Omikunle, reiterated the organization’s commitment to attaining an excellent education for all children in Nigeria. She said that transforming education in service to all children regardless of their economic status requires an urgent need to work more collaboratively with stakeholders to achieve a transformed and equitable education for all children. She noted that while progress had been made there is still room to improve the situation for millions of children who had limited or no access to quality education.  

    Also speaking at the event, the Honourable Commissioner for education in Ogun State, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, represented by the Special Adviser to the governor on primary and secondary education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, said  “The fellowship programme of Teach for Nigeria has attracted numerous achievements in the state’s education that cannot be undervalued.  The active participation of the Fellows in Ogun Digi class, a digital class on TV for students, added colours to the State government initiative. She praised the organization for the continuous training and retraining capacity of Fellows’ development since 2017. She ended her speech by encouraging the Fellows to keep up with the spirit of leading and impacting.”

    Mr. Olu-Ola Aikulola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, also commented on how Teach For Nigeria is raising a crop of young leaders who are gifts to under-served communities in Ogun State. While recounting the numerous achievements some of the Fellows are making through their schools and community, he urged the zonal education officers, SUBEB field officials and teachers to continue to work in a deeper partnership with the Fellows and Alumni of Teach For Nigeria.

    A 2020 Teach For Nigeria Fellow, Charles Bernard, recounted his experience to highlight the importance of partnership. Charles noted that at the school he was posted to serve, only 5% of his pupils at a public primary school in Ilaro could read. Working with Ifeoluwa Olubodun, another fellow, they introduced a literacy drill program to improve the reading and writing skills for affected children and now, the initial reading and writing skills has grown to 62%. He also discovered that some children had eye problems which led to a partnership with an optical firm to provide eye-care intervention to more than 200 pupils and aged members in the community. 

    Highlighting education as the bedrock of every nation, Folawe noted that accelerating impact for a transformed education system that will serve all children equitably would require more dynamic leaders like Bernard. Leaders working in deep partnership with students, teachers, parents and community members will drive positive learning outcomes for children and provide opportunities to help them fulfil their potential. Folawe sought Ogun state’s support to deepen its partnership with Teach for Nigeria to place fellows in under-resourced schools.

    This year’s International Day of Education, which marked the fourth since it was proclaimed in 2018 by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), highlighted the need for a new way forward in transforming the education sector.