Rivers
BoI, CloudNotte Task Educators On Strategic Funding For Dev
The Bank of Industry (BoI) Limited has called on school owners to embrace its robust plan to support schools across Nigeria with patient, innovative, and accessible financing.
The BoI Divisional Head, Medium Small Macro Enterprises (MSME), South-South, Mr. Pacqueens Irabor, made the call during a workshop, tagged “Educator’s Insight”, held in Port Harcourt.
Irabor said the bank’s plan was designed to drive national development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said the workshop was organised by the bank, in collaboration with Cloudnotte Limited, adding that the event had the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, with over 700 school owners and administrators in Rivers in attendance.
According to him, the programme aims to train and empower school owners with digital knowledge, skills, and tools to access MSME funds to improve learning and teaching in the country.
Irabor said the bank’s 2025-2027 Strategic Plan is focused on impact-driven development financing, structured around six priority themes under the acrostic D-MYGIC – Digital Economy, MSMEs, Youth and Skills, Gender, Infrastructure, Climate and Sustainability.
Schools, he explained, are uniquely positioned to help the bank achieve all the six focused areas of the strategic plan.
He introduced the project “Education Around Sustainable Enterprises” (EASE), a groundbreaking initiative, designed to transform schools from traditional learning centers into business-integrated environments, where students learn by doing.
“Project EASE proposes the integration of entrepreneurial ventures within school premises, such as digital hubs, agribusiness units, creative workshops, and clean energy labs.
“These ventures serve both as practical training platforms for students and additional revenue streams for school proprietors”, he said.
Irabor continued that the bank was ready to provide financing to schools for the acquisition of productive capital, including digital systems and educational software, solar energy solutions and inverters, and assets for commercial ventures and skills hubs.
He said the initiative was a strategic catalyst for achieving several UN SDGs, including SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 5 – Gender Equality, SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 13 – Climate Action.
He listed the benefits of the initiative as hands-on exposure to real-world enterprises for students, access to affordable finance for school owners, new income streams from in-school enterprises, and improved learning outcomes for parents.
Also, the Chief Executive Officer, CloudNotte, an education technology company, Mary Matthew, said the company understood the problems faced by school owners, including access to finance, and deemed it necessary to collaborate with BoI to provide funds to schools.
Matthew stated that the company provides schools with technology and organises capacity building programmes for school owners, leaders, administrators, and decision makers.
She affirmed that CloudNotte’s goal was to position Nigerian schools on a greater pedestal, enabling them to confidently compete globally.
“We are committed to empowering educators with digital tools and innovation to facilitate access to quality and inclusive education for all learners in Africa”, she said.
Matthew advocated for equity education and called on the Federal and State Governments to invest more on education.
“Governments are trying, but they need to do more. The private sectors are trying, but when you look at the government schools, there is much to be done.
“We call on the Federal and State Governments to step up. Government should empower schools and also ensure that they provide them with access to the basic amenities that they need in order to improve the delivery of education in Nigeria”, she said.
She advised school owners to leverage the BoI School MSMEs Loans to grow smart schools.
She also urged them to prioritise spending that drives learning and enrollment, maintaining emergency funds and spending.
On their oart, she advised school owners to use computer-based test (CBT) system for their exams to improve in external exams, such as Joint Admission Matriculation Board examination.
By: Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso
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The Commissioner of Police (CP) Delta State Command, Mr. Yemi Oyeniyi, has urged traditional institutions to continue to support law enforcement in the country.
Oyeniyi gave the advice on Tuesday at the palace of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Dr. Emmanuel Sideso, Abe 1, in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
The Commissioner, who was on a familiarisation tour of police formations across the state, including the Effurun area command, solicited continued partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence.
He commended the Ovie of Uvwie for his unwavering commitment to peace, security, and community development.
“I acknowledge the invaluable role of traditional institutions in supporting law enforcement in the country.
“I equally solicit continuous partnership of the Uvwie domain in strengthening intelligence gathering and promoting peaceful co-existence among the people”, he said.
In his remarks, the Ovie of Uvwie, welcomed the Commissioner and his entourage to the domain.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the people to supporting the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.
The royal father urged his subjects to continue to cooperate with the security agencies by way of providing timely and credible information.
The Commissioner, thereafter, proceeded to perform the groundbreaking of the Effurun area command at the instance of the Insp.-Gen. of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu.
The Senate of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, has approved the establishment of a University Leadership Assessment Centre as proposed by Professor Veronica Okogbaa of the Department of Educational Management.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, said the centre will, among other things, identify and develop high potential skilled leaders and talents.
It will also evaluate participants through multi dimensional approach rather than rely on subjective perceptions, indulge in leadership trainings, and generate income from services with succession planning.
Similarly, Senate also approved the establishment of a centre for languages, digital Humanities and intercultural studies as proposed by the Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ibiere Ken-Maduako.
The proposed centre, according to he statement, will have seven units namely language teaching unit, where French, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, German, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Rivers State indigenous languages will be taught.
It will also have Translation and interpretation unit, indigenous languages documentation unit, Digital Humanities Laboratory, Artificial intelligence and language teaching unit, professional certification unit, as well as Research and Publication unit..
The statement quoted the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Ken-Maduako, the centre will offer certificate in language proficiency for beginners, intermediate, advanced Diploma programme, translation and interpretation courses, Digital Humanities certification programme, Artificial intelligence and language technology workshops, online and Hybrid learning programmes, weekend and evening public classes, indigenous languages documentation training and Business and professional communication courses.
Professor Ken-Maduako firther said the center “will increase visibility of the University nationally and internationally, generate sustainable internally generated revenue, increase opportunities for grants and donor funded projects, enhance interdisciplinary research output, promote cultural preservation and community engagement, strengthen the University”s profile in innovation and digital transformation, attract research collaboration and international partnerships, and improve graduate employability and digital competence.”
In his speech, the Chairman of Senate and Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, encouraged sponsors of the centre to source for funds for the take off of the centre.
He explained that Directors will be appointed for the self-sponsored centres and reiterated that his administration will continue to support all proposals geared towards the growth of the University as long as they are consistent with the academic brief of the Ivory Tower.
Earlier, Professor Samuel Otamiri commended Professor Veronica Okogbaa for the proposed centre which, he said, is a remarkable development, amd described it as a robust programme that would attract the necessary patronage .
In another development, the Senate welcomed a suggestion by Professor Priye Iyalla-Amadi that Valedictory Senate sessions be introduced and held for retired Professors.
Results from the Postgraduate School as presented by the Dean of the School, Professor Chibuzor Chile Nwobueze, was approved by Senate.
Senate also approved that presented by the Director of the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), Professor Goddey Wilson, and that of the Graduate School of Business by Dr. Florence Ironawusi.
Sogbeba Dokubo
The National President, Forum of Inclusive Educators and Readers (FIER), Mr. Onyeka Innocent, has admonished school owners and parents alike to learn how to prepare their children/wards ahead time in order to beat challenges irrespective of the angle they may spring up from.
Innocent made this known at the Forum’s meeting held partly in honour of the Spelling B, 2025 winners, in Port Harcourt.
“Soldiers are not trained during war, rather, they are trained and kept in the Barracks, waiting for war”, he said.
He said students must be provided with the necessary educational tools capable of boosting their academic pursuit.
According to him, proprietors of schools must conform with the Government’s authorities and guidance if they are determined to succeed in the project.
Another solution to educational management, he said, is the availability of Education Committees in schools, saying that it will improve the quality of its learning process.
Though he did not rule out decay in the society, he said there are few that still hold fast to determination and sincerity.
The FIER leader said his association was one of the bodies with the zeal to right wrongs in the society, especially in the Education sector.
He noted that his group was also prepared to reduce the number of out-of-school children by ensuring that education was taken to all parts of the Country.
On registration of private schools as directed by the State Government, he said his members are in compliance and assured of a cordial relationship between the Government and his Association.
Meanwhile, the winners of the Competition were Master Fredrick Jeffrey of Daisy Dan School, who emerged first; Badubulachi Maryan of Fertile Vineyard Academy, 2nd; and Itode Samuel of Baridoo Sam Joel School, 3rd.
They winners where rewarded with cash prices of N100,000, N50,000 and N30, 000 respectively.
King Onunwor
