Business

Expert identifies UNICEEF’s NLP As Spring Board To AI In Benue

Published

1 year ago

January 30, 2025

An expert in Information technology, Michael Agaba, has identified that the coming of a UNICEF initiative, the Nigeria Learning Passports (NLP), a digital learning platform that provides learning access for students, teachers and parents, done in partnership with the Federal Government, has set the stage for the smooth adaptation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and technology in teaching and learning in Benue State schools.

This initiative, he said, has also helped the state set up AI digital learning platforms with high quality digital education aimed at improving the quality of education for school children and also enhance their capacity to learn even without being in the confine of schools.

Agaba, who works in the Directorate of Knowledge Management, in the Educational Management Information System (EMIS) Unit of the Benue State Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, disclosed this while speaking on the 2025 International Day of Education, with the theme: “AI and education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation”.

He observed that the coming of the NLP, “a brainchild of the UNICEF, and a platform that helps learners to learn online and teachers also to get more knowledge, one is left with no other option but to commend the global organisation.

“And in that regard UNICEF has donated alot of materials to improve teaching and learning with the aid of AI and technology in our schools.

“In 2023 alone they gave us 660 Tablets to register both teachers and students on the NLP. The devices were distributed through the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB to schools and they have been using it to register on NLP.

“Again in 2024, UNICEF was able to give us additional 50 laptops, this was after they gave us 30 in 2023. The laptops were meant for school-to-school network connectivity to help those other schools to also register students and teachers.

“And they also put measures in place to help in giving those schools data for Internet access for one whole year to enable them register the students.

“They are also training our teachers in the zones of the state. Our teachers have been trained in Otukpo, Vandeikya and Logo LGAs all with the aim of having our teachers have the knowledge of the NLP.

“Also Benue SUBEB has established Smart Schools in Makurdi where the use of AI and technology is key. And to take it farther, late last year there was a flag off of digital training and skills in schools for teachers and students alike in the three Senatorial Districts of the state. The participating teachers were trained on simple IA tools.

“So the collaboration is great and it is yielding tremendous benefits. In fact, UNICEF has done so much for us in Benue state to help us deploy AI and technology in teaching and learning in the state”.

The Executive Chairman of Benue SUBEB, Dr. Grace Adagba also lauded UNICEF’s invaluable contributions to education and child development in the State. While commending the support of the Benue state Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia for his unwavering commitment to Basic Education.

Dr. Adagba thanked UNICEF for its support in the training of teachers, as well as the provision of iPads, routers, and power banks among others to Basic Schools to enhance teaching and learning in schools.

Transport

Automated Points Concession : FAAN Workers Gave 72hrs To Revise Decisions In PH

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The trapatriate Unions conprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (ATSSSAN), has given 72 hours Ultimatum to Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria FAAN, Omagwa Airport, Portharcourt to revise its recent decision on the concession of Tollgates and Parks to private hands.

The chairman of the Trapatriate Union, Comrade Felix Ohwoefe gave the Ultimatum yesterday immediately after the joint Unions meeting held at the Airport office of the union, Omagwa, Portharcourt.

Comrade Ohwoefe who double as the chairman of the National Union of NUATE said the two Unions have agreed to take drastic actions if the Authority of the Airport declined to step down it’s decision of concessioning the major revenue points to private hands.

According to the Union chairman, the two union was not aware of the concession plans, and that there were no due process to the procedures.

Comrade Ohwoefe said any attempt for the Airport Management to decline it’s demands towards the concession will result to barricading all entrance and access points of the Airport.

Expressing the the challenges associated to the concession, the Union Chairman said the gesture might resulted to massive sack of workers in the Airport.

The chairman also expressed foul play on the part of either individuals or government in the terms and conditions so given to the concessionaires, demanding the reasons of contracting the automated points to private hands for only 14 millions, when the FAAN is presently generating over 28 million naira monthly, even when the tariff was not reviewed upwards.

He describes the process to the procedures as fraud with intention to increase unemployment in the state.

“We are not against the concession of the Automated points, but due process must be followed. If government is concessioning the place, we are asking what will happen to our workers in the existing units.

“Secondly, if the concessionaires is taken over, they must pay higher than what the FAAN is generating presently, we are generating to the Management over 28 Millions monthly, but we had that the private company is required to pay only 14 Millions monthly, which is far below 5 percents of what we are generating presently, even when the tariff is increased, which means there is a foul play.

“The process is fraud either on the part of individual in the Government, or Government itself.

” The unions is saying no to the Concession until we come to a terms of understanding ourselves., we are afraid of loosing workers, we don’t want to loose any workers if due process is not followed in this hard of economy, we even demanding for employment of more workers in FAAN.” Comrade Ohwoefe said.

The Union used the opportunity to called on the minister of aviation, and the President of the Country, Bola Tinubu to intervene.

When contacting the Management of the Airport Authority through the head of Corporate Affairs, Dr Ngozi V. Onyeanwuna-Nwosu, she said the management has not given her the approval to say something.

Transport

FAAN Announces Pick-Up Points for Go-Cashless Cards

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced designated pick-up points for individuals wishing to obtain their Go-Cashless cards ahead of the March 1, 2026 deadline.

This was announced in a statement signed by the Director Public Affairs and Consumer protection, Henry Agbebire and made available to the Tide last Friday in Portharcourt.

According to the statement, Go-Cashless cards is at all FAAN commercial offices and access gates of Airports in the country .

The release further stated that cards will also be available at designated branches of Fidelity Bank Plc from March 16, 2026.

FAAN in the statement said the cashless policy followed the Federal Government directive mandating all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to transition to a cashless system to enhance transparency and reduce revenue leakages as well improve transaction traceability in the Aviation sector.

FAAN reiterated its commitment to full compliance with the directive, appealing to the public for their understanding and cooperation during the transition period.

FAAN also inform that the Go-Cashless cards can still be obtained at the designated points after the March 1, deadline.

The Authority assures airport users that the initiative will promote faster, safer, and more convenient transactions across its airports nationwide.

By: Enoch Epelle

Business

Fidelity Bank To Empower Women With Sustainable Entrepreneurship Skills, HAP2.0

Published

6 days ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has announced the launch of the second edition of its flagship women-empowerment initiative, the HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme 2.0 (HAP 2.0).

According to the report, the programme is designed to equip women with practical, income?generating skills and structured pathways to entrepreneurship.

Accordingly, the HAP 2.0 will build on the success of its inaugural edition held in 2023.

During media chat with journalists to herald the launch of HAP 2.0, the Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc, Osita Ede, explained that the initiative has been enhanced to deliver greater impact.

He said HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme 2.0 reflects their commitment to continuous improvement, having evaluated feedback from the first edition, they have returned with stronger partnerships and deeper mentorship programmes to ensure that women acquire not just skills, but sustainable economic opportunities.

Mr Ede, who said the programme is guided with real?world learning, also said that participants will undergo intensive apprenticeship training under reputable institutions and industry experts across selected fields such as hair styling, shoe making, auto mechatronics, and interior decoration.

Additionally, he said HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme 2.0 goes beyond skills acquisition by offering participants a wide range of business advisory services.

These include business and financial literacy training, mentorship support throughout the apprenticeship journey, access to Fidelity Bank’s women?focused and SME financial solutions, as well as guidance on business formalisation and growth strategies.

Emphasizing the bank’s vision further, Ede said: “By integrating structured mentorship with entrepreneurial development, Fidelity Bank is positioning women not just as trainees, but as future employers, innovators, and economic contributors within their communities.

This aligns with our mandate to help individuals grow, businesses thrive, and economies prosper”.

It is noteworthy that interested participants are encouraged to indicate their interest by visiting https://bit.ly/Apprenticeshipbyherfidelity.

It is important to note that Fidelity Bank Plc is ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, with a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 10 million customers through digital banking channels, with 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

It is reported that the Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine.

By: Nkpemenyie mcdominic, Lagos