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Oando Foundation Commissions 10 early Childhood Care Development Centers in Rivers State

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Oando Foundation, an independent charity established to support the Nigerian Government in achieving its Universal Basic Education (UBE) goals, has commissioned ten newly upgraded Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centers across four public primary schools in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

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The intervention, executed under the Foundation’s LEARNOVATE-SEED (Supporting Early Childhood Education and Development) initiative, reinforces the Foundation’s commitment to improving learning outcomes for young children and promoting inclusive and equitable education systems in Nigeria.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), only one in three children are enrolled for early childhood education in Nigeria, underscoring the urgent need for increased investment in ECCD.

The LEARNOVATE-SEED initiative addresses this gap by improving access to quality early learning through upgraded infrastructure, the provision of age-appropriate instructional and play materials that foster cognitive and social development, and enhanced teacher capacity through targeted training on modern ECCD pedagogy.

In addition, the initiative directly supports Sustainable Development Goal 4, particularly Target 4.2, which calls for ensuring that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education.

The Foundation commissioned comprehensive upgrades across four public primary schools in Rivers State — Seabed Model Primary School, St Paul’s Model Primary School, Cornel Abbe Model Primary School (CAMPS), and Community Primary School — enhancing a total of ten ECCD centers.

The project included the donation of 720 ergonomic ECCD chairs, 120 ECCD tables, wall-mounted whiteboards, bookshelves, playmats, and digital learning aids such as 50-inch LED televisions preloaded with age-appropriate educational content.

Each classroom was also fitted with visual learning tools, educational displays, and reading corners to stimulate curiosity and creativity among pupils.

In addition, one ECCD block received a full overhaul featuring new playground equipment, exterior painting, murals, and an outdoor interactive learning game — creating a safe and engaging environment for early learners.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Tonia Uduimoh, Head of Oando Foundation, underscored the significance of investing in early childhood education as the bedrock of long-term learning outcomes.

She said: “As an indigenous organization that draws a significant pool of its talent from the local labour market, it is important that we contribute meaningfully to national development — especially in building human capital.

“Our goal, through the Oando Foundation, is to help restore the glory of our public schools. We see ourselves as collaborators with the government — doing our part to ensure that the next generation is better prepared to add value to society, and to organizations like ours, when they enter the workforce.

“Today, we have taken a significant step in that direction through the SEED initiative — Supporting Early Education and Development. With this, we are handing over ten newly upgraded Early Childhood Care and Development Centers across four schools here in Rivers State.

“Research shows that the first five years of a child’s life are critical for cognitive and motor development, yet many public ECCD centres are not fit for this purpose. Through SEED, we have upgraded learning spaces, provided age-appropriate instructional materials, and trained teachers with the requisite skills to deliver quality early learning. Our aim is to ensure that children from low-income backgrounds can learn in environments comparable to their peers in private schools.’

Also commenting on the initiative, Mrs. Mina Gabriella Tolofari, Director of Administration and Supplies, representing Sir Samuel Ogeh, Executive Chairman, Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBEB) commended Oando Foundation’s efforts, noting: “On behalf of RSUBEB, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Oando Foundation for this incredible upgrade to our early childhood classrooms and this marvelous work in our schools. I am overwhelmed with joy that such a good thing would happen in our education system. Thank you, Oando Foundation.”

Also, complementing the physical transformation, the Foundation facilitated a two-day, hands-on teacher training programme for ECCD educators, headteachers, education officers, and caregivers across the ten learning centres.

The training equipped teachers with practical tools to deliver high-quality early learning, focusing on child development, curriculum delivery, inclusive classroom practices, outdoor and experiential learning, and effective application of the national ECCD Education curriculum.

Teachers were also guided on tailoring instruction to meet the diverse needs of learners, including children with learning difficulties or physical disabilities.

To date, Oando Foundation has upgraded 41 Early Childhood Care Centres, benefiting over 6,500 children.

This initiative forms part of the Foundation’s broader LEARNOVATE strategy, which prioritizes innovation and investment in foundational learning to create better life opportunities for children and youth through equitable, quality, and climate-sensitive education.

A key component, LEARNING, focuses on advancing innovation in education to promote equity, strengthen foundational skills, and enhance outcomes for in-school children and youth.

 

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Rotary Club Ikeja Supports Youth Leadership Academy

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The leading club in Rotary International District 9111, Rotary Club of Ikeja, has donated N1 million to support this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Academy, RYLA 2026.

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The donation was made by the Impact President, Rotarian Kayode Osokomaiya on behalf of the club last Monday, August 3rd, 2026 during the club’s meeting at the Sea School , Apapa where the week long RYLA 2026 is taking place.

Speaking at the event as a Guest Speaker on the theme, ‘Creating Lasting Impact: Igniting Purpose Driven Leaders’, the Managing Director of Knewrow, Mr. Tomiwa Anjorin said that young people have the capacity to make as much impact as the adults.

Mr. Anjorin said: “If impact was only a conversation for adults, this event would never have been organised. The fact that we are here today is proof that you are not too young to make a difference.

“With over 50 million teenagers in Nigeria, your generation represents one of our nation’s greatest opportunities. The question is not whether you can change Nigeria, but whether you will choose to.

“Many of us have been taught to pursue success first and impact later. I believe we have the order reversed. Impact comes before success.The world’s most successful organisations, such as Google and Microsoft, became successful because they solved meaningful problems and created value for millions of people. Success is often the reward for sustained impact.

“I encourage you to shape your future through four choices: choose character over popularity, service over selfishness, growth over comfort, and responsibility over excuses. These decisions build trust, develop competence, and prepare you for lasting leadership.’’

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Gbenga Daniel Boosts Atan General Hospital with Solar-Powered Mini Grid

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Gbenga Daniel

Atan General Hospital solar grid project boosts healthcare services as Senator Gbenga Daniel delivers stable power to the Ogun facility

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Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation, Zinox, TD Africa, others donate Multi-Million Naira AI-Tech Centre to Holy Ghost College

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Africa’s foremost serial digital icon, Leo Stan Ekeh, last weekend donated a multi-million-Naira AI-Tech Centre to Holy Ghost College, Owerri, Imo State at a ceremony that added colour to the 77th years anniversary of the school.
The centre was built by the Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation in partnership with all the companies under the Zinox Group, namely TD Africa, Zinox Technologies, Task Systems, Konga Group, etc.
The AI -Tech centre construction supervised by Mr. Ekeh himself from block quality standard to final finishing is equipped with highly integrated All-In-One Zinox Computers, 24-hour solar-power and enabled with high speed Starlink corporate internet connectivity signed up for the college for five years. In addition to its Eco-friendly features, like the lifestyle integrated computer tables and chairs, it is fitted with two large AI-active screens for real- time online tutorials, turning the popular Catholic secondary school into one of the global smart tech colleges that will explore infinite possibilities in Africa.
Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, an alumnus of the school, said he was inspired by the desire to turn graduates of the college into 21st Century globally-certified whizzes who can effectively compete with their mates from all over the world.
He said: “It is my prayer that this centre shall produce Nigeria’s tech driven billionaires who can defend their wealth and alter the destinies of millions of Nigerians. Few of us who are wealth creators in Nigeria are miracle kids because during our time we technically lacked everything, but God helped us to emerge as wealth creators. It is my wish that this centre shall create a tech culture for our kids and that the training on AI and certified contents which we have signed with different globally rated consultants shall make the centre a standout tech hub.
“This centre shall earn the status of Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Starlink certification centre very soon and a model to other colleges in the Southeastern part of Nigeria and by extension Nigeria. We are hiring a Director for the Tech Centre and few other staff to complement its leadership. We have structured trainings on finishing school, ethics, etc., including retraining the teachers on modern skills of teaching, transparent communication, and digital psychology in dealing with today’s smart kids.
R-L: Catholic Archbishop Rev. Lucius Ugorji, assisted by Mr. Cosmas Ibe, an old boy of the college to cut the tape, while Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh and Mr. Jerry Chukwueke watch in admiration. Top is the exterior and interior of the centre.
“My family and I through the Foundation and companies under the Zinox group have done similar projects including Entrepreneurial centres in over 123 Primary, Secondary, and tertiary institutions across Nigeria quietly since 1996 and when we are done with few committed projects in the next 12 months, we shall now concentrate on our 1000 tech university scholarships project. It is our way of giving back to the society and appreciating those who supported and are still supporting our companies while providing world-class tech human capital that shall drive their growth and defend the nation in future. I also hope other Nigerians can do same in educational institutions around them or their alma mater. We must consciously upgrade Nigeria by investing in tech and the youths.
“We have budgeted to do more. We shall refurbish and create an intelligent hostel with Al-amenities to celebrate wizkids in the college and encourage their mates on healthy living and competition. It will be a privilege to be accommodated in this intelligent hostel and each year, a student accommodated here shall earn a congratulatory letter from the foundation with a token gift. We need to reset the mind set of our kids to earn global citizenship if we must earn a decent future,” he told the audience which included Catholic Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, Bishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, priests, principal of the college, Rev. Dr. Samuel Agu; the state commissioner for education (Primary and Secondary), Professor Bernard Ikegwuoha, old students, parents, and over 1,600 secondary school students drawn from different schools in the state.
Describing the AI-tech centre as the first in the south east, he urged the students to take full advantage of it to make a success in life, stressing that in the 21st century, ICT provides children of the poor the pathway to upset the rich. He urged the students to take advantage of the 1000 tech university scholarship instituted by his Foundation in partnership with Zinox Technologies, TD Africa, Task Systems and Konga Group for Nigerian indigent tech students in Nigerian universities and polytechnics.
The scholarship is now live on konga.com, just click the 1000 tech scholarship banner and get full information regarding the scholarship.
Ekeh promised to ensure that those manning the centre are properly skilled and remunerated. He listed no fewer than seven secondary schools across the country that will benefit from infrastructural development including building residential apartments for some teachers and knowledge workers, and mini-ICT centers to create tech culture in these institutions within the next one year.
Ekeh who shared with the audience his life’s experience, also narrated how ICT has lifted and raised global billionaires like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, among others. He told the students that they can be the next generation game-changers and billionaires if they get serious with ICT, adding that in life
“Many are called but few are chosen. You can become the chosen ones if you acquire the right ICT skills with structured mentality which is an opportunity that the tech-center offers.” He added.

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