Niger Delta

Bank, Others Take Financial Literacy To A’Ibom Schools

Published

2 years ago

April 5, 2024

In a thrilling display of the power of gamification in enhancing financial knowledge and wellbeing of students from across Akwa Ibom State, participants showcased their financial literacy skills at the Yellow Cowries Financial Literacy Brainee Competition, Organized by Yellow Cowries, in partnership with Junior.

Achievement Nigeria, Ministry of Education, Akwa Ibom and generously sponsored by Stanbic IBTC Holdings, the competition brought together enthusiastic students from 18 secondary schools across the state to battle it out for the top prize.

Held at the Uyo Tropicana Entertainment Mall, Udo Udoma Avenue, Uyo, Nigeria, the event buzzed with excitement as students tackled the Yellow Cowries PSI (Plan-Save-Invest) learning card game designed to test their understanding of financial planning, saving, and investment.

The Yellow Cowries PSI card game’s dynamic features and its engaging sessions kept players alert and created a stimulating, competitive learning atmosphere.

“Financial literacy is a crucial life skill that empowers individuals and guides their financial future”, Head, Sustainability, Risk and Capital Management at Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Tosin Leye-Odeyemi, said.

He continued that “We at Stanbic IBTC Holdings are proud to support this initiative by Yellow Cowries, which equips young minds with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed financial decisions”.

Building upon the success of the last competition held in Lagos in 2023, the 2024 edition expanded its reach to empower students in Akwa Ibom State.

“This year’s event signifies Yellow Cowries’ commitment to providing a nationwide platform for young Nigerians to learn and develop crucial financial literacy skills, using the power of gamification”, Head of Programmes, Yellow Cowries, Ibeleye Paul-Otu, explained, adding that, “We are grateful for the support from Stanbic IBTC Holdings and thrilled to partner with Junior Achievement Nigeria and Ministry of Education, Akwa Ibom, whose expertise in youth empowerment complements our gamified learning approach perfectly”.

With the support of 40 facilitators, Yellow Cowries trained over 200 students from more than 20 secondary schools in Uyo for a period of 2 weeks, with financial literacy knowledge and skills, utilizing the Yellow Cowries financial wellbeing curriculum and PSI learning card games.

The Financial Literacy Brainee Competition saw the participation of top students from some of these schools; and at the conclusion of the competition, four schools emerged as the top three winners.

Topfaith International Secondary School, Mkpatak, clinched the first prize, while Uyo High School and St. Benedict High School tied for the joint-second position, and Crystal City International School secured the third position.

“This competition has been an invaluable learning experience”, remarked Iwuji Joella, a student of first-place Topfaith International School.

She said, “The card game and learning club made learning about finance fun and engaging. We are grateful for this opportunity to develop our financial literacy skills, which will undoubtedly benefit us in the future”.

Yellow Cowries, founded by Tokunboh Ishmael, envisions a state whereby all Africans are financially literate and empowered to make better informed financial decisions, with a resultant improvement in financial health and well-being.

The Yellow Cowries Financial Literacy Brainee Competition serves as a testament to the power of using non-traditional learning models in fostering financial inclusion among young Nigerians.

With continued support from sponsors like Stanbic IBTC Holdings and dedicated organizations like Yellow Cowries and Junior Achievement Nigeria, this initiative has the potential to equip countless young minds with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the ever-evolving financial landscape; and to build a brighter future.

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

11 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

11 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

11 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.