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CATCHING THEM YOUNG’ THROUGH TECHNOLOGY TO STAY AHEAD OF COVID-19

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By KEHINDE TAIWO

The coronavirus pandemic has adversely affected many countries in various ways; from the loss of lives to the congestion and exhaustion of health facilities, then the global economy which is not left out of the damage, dwindling various business and economic activities.

Many organisations have since resorted to alternative means of doing business, exploring remote working opportunities for staff including; virtual meetings, webinars and a host of other ways to ensure their adherence to the lockdown enforcement, thus limiting the physical interaction of people – one of the ways to control the spread of the virus. The ‘new normal’ has remained integral to ensuring the economy is not at a standstill, whilst the battle against the invincible enemy persists, a war that no one knows its end.

The educational sector has not been left out of the fight against the coronavirus, with schools advised to remain closed until further notice due to the dangers it poses to a community spread at very high levels. According to the World Economic Forum, “there are currently more than 1.2 billion children in 186 countries affected by school closures due to the pandemic. In Denmark, children up to the age of 11 are returning to nurseries and schools after initially closing on 12 March, but in South Korea students are responding to roll calls from their teachers online.”

Nigeria is not left out of these numbers, as an estimated 46 million schoolchildren have been affected by the closure of schools on Monday 23 March 2020.

However, whilst a handful of schools – private – have the required infrastructure to ensure its academic activities and school calendar is not adversely affected, the majority are deficient of the needed facilities, restricted to remaining hopeful on when they would be directed to resume.

Understanding the impact of education towards national development and the growth of any given economy, one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, announced its support of the Lagos State government and Roducate e-learning initiative. The initiative was noted to include the government accredited curriculum for primary, secondary and tertiary schools designed to ensure children are adequately guided and engaged through their learning experience. 
This partnership is among the various ingredients by the Bank to help ensure the educational sector is not malnourished but reinforced to stay healthy for the school children, Another notable partnership in the bank’s resolve to move one million children to e-learning includes that with IBM, which is providing opportunities for the acquisition of digital skills including Coding, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science & Analytics which would promote opportunities to learn skills of the future. These measures are taken in identifying with the roles of children at securing the future of any country.
Reflecting on the words of Benjamin Franklin, thus ‘an investment in knowledge pays the best interest’ Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, CEO, FirstBank said “in keeping with who we are at FirstBank, our commitment to self-development and continuous improvement is never far from our thinking. As such we are encouraging all to consider and register for any of the excellent programmes being offered free by Ivy League schools and we are curating a list of them covering topics such as management, personal development, and entrepreneurship that would be provided in due course.

Another institution impacting education is Jos-based uLesson founded by Sim Shagaya. In an interview with techcabal, Shagaya noted that “when we launched, to solve the problem of data, we bundled our content into an SD card and dongle and shipped to the user,” Vice President, Marketing and Analytics, Al-Hassan Yusuf Junior said. “But because of COVID-19, we had to create a stream-only service for our customers.”

uLesson’s content database comprises over 3,000 richly animated, curriculum-based, personalized video learning modules, quizzes and tests in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology tailored to help students excel in continental examinations like the West African School Certificate Exams (WAEC), GCSE, SAT and more. 

Without these and other laudable support on the horizon, the problems posed by the lockdown are a threat to the educational sector in particular. Without the functioning of schools, the economy would be handicapped to explore imminent developmental opportunities. And in the current global age, infusing technology to the development of the child cannot be overemphasized and a compulsion to any meaningful government that takes the business of securing the future of its country.
This concern is in tandem with the phrase “catch them young”, a phrase I opine speaks to the curiosity of the essence of life and living by adolescents – school children – as they develop into adulthood. The teenage cycle of one is largely the defining moment in one’s behavioural pattern and attraction to ways of living which subconsciously become a lifestyle, as the child – notably teenager – is most vulnerable at this point and if not well guided is at risk of attitudinal dysfunction.

Times of India defines ‘catch them young’ as that phrase which expresses the desire of the adolescents as far as their demand for information, education and preventive programmes for enhancing positive sexual health and responsible behaviour is concerned”.

From these, I opine that the demand for information is central to the mould of a child’s behavioural pattern on all fronts as regards his or her development and with the internet being the primary source of information in the current age, children are indeed at risk of being misguided, losing focus, thus diminishing the essence of moral value.

The learning in one’s teenage years are most times manifested at adulthood, a scenario I would best illustrate with the popular computer terminology, GIGO; entailing the ‘Garbage In’ occurring at the adolescent phase and ‘Garbage Out’ at the adult phase.

At this point, the million-dollar questions to us are; as a parent, what is your child – especially the teenagers – exposed to and as an adolescent – be you a teenager or young adult – what are you exposed to?… Information indeed remains key to one’s growth and development until one’s final breath.

The internet means many things to different people, with each individual actively or transiently participating in various activities considered fun to him or her. Fun no doubt is relative!

But with today’s world being a global village, without the internet, one would be lost and subconsciously taken back to the stone-age.

What then is the Internet? According to the oxford learners dictionary, the internet is “an international computer network connecting other networks and computers from companies, universities, etc.”

The internet as a whole has indeed made the world less difficult, more fun, travelling one through the world with a press of the cell-phone screen. From the comfort of one’s bedroom, the internet could create a feeling of touring the world.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
The advantages of being on the internet are unprecedented, with diverse benefits essential for ease of acclimatisation to all spheres of global activities; economically, sports, fashion and entertainment, business and of course, education.  Regardless of where one is, one has the world at one’s fingertips.

The internet has been instrumental to promoting the development of children and this period of the coronavirus, when schools are not in operation has created that opportunity for kids to develop themselves and learn various skills, thereby exploring various avenues for their continued growth.

In general, the internet and technology is a coin with two sides. Its advantages, amongst which are; it serves as a connecting point for trade – regardless of business size, it bridges the gap between people, whilst being a place where information and knowledge are easily accessed amongst others– irrespective of country, culture, age or distance.

On the other hand, its disadvantages are central to one’s distraction when abused, especially without close monitoring by parents and guardians. The negatives are indeed troubling and could change the course of a child’s life forever which is why it is very pivotal for parental guidance to be closely implemented by parents through this period. 

How well do you interact with your child, how often do you interact with your kids on opportunities on the internet for their continued growth, how often do you subtly check through your kids’ activities on the internet. These are just a tip of the iceberg in having children better shaped for the future.
As children spend more time, learning and exploring amazing ways of developing themselves, by activating parental guidance and control on mobile phones and computer devices, parents play the biggest role at ensuring the internet use is optimally maximised.

Without these, the child would be exposed to lots of misfits that could hinder his or her moral and educational development.

Education

GIRAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MILLENNIUM CITY KADUNA, OPENS ADMISSION FOR THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION

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GIRAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MILLENNIUM CITY KADUNA, OPENS ADMISSION FOR THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION

*GIRAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MILLENNIUM CITY KADUNA, OPENS ADMISSION FOR THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION

 

Girau International School (GIS), a premier educational institution located in the heart of Millennium City, Kaduna, has officially announced the commencement of admissions for the forthcoming academic year. The school invites applications for its comprehensive educational streams: *Early Years, Primary, Secondary, and Islamiyya*.

Renowned for its unwavering commitment to academic excellence and holistic development, GIS stands as a beacon of learning in Northern Nigeria. The institution is built on a foundational philosophy dedicated to providing *world-class education* that meets international standards while being firmly rooted in positive cultural and moral values.

The school’s mission extends beyond conventional academics. With a dedicated focus on *nurturing young minds and shaping future leaders* of tomorrow, GIS employs a curated blend of innovative teaching methodologies, a blended curriculum, and state-of-the-art facilities. The environment is meticulously designed to ensure that every student excels *academically, socially, and morally*, preparing them to thrive in a dynamic global landscape.

*A CAPACITY FOR EXCELLENCE*

GIS boasts significant capacity to deliver on its promises:
* *Modern Infrastructure:* The campus features purpose-built, technologically integrated classrooms, advanced science and computer laboratories, expansive sports facilities, and dedicated learning spaces for creative and performing arts.
* *Qualified Faculty:* The school employs a team of highly trained, experienced, and passionate educators who are specialists in child-centered and participatory learning.
* *Blended Curriculum:* The academic programme seamlessly integrates the Nigerian/British curriculum ensuring international best practices, complemented by a strong emphasis on character building, leadership skills, and Islamic ethical teachings in its Islamiyya section.
* *Secure and Conducive Environment:* Situated within the serene and secure Millennium City layout, the school provides a safe, inclusive, and stimulating atmosphere ideal for learning and personal growth.

Prospective parents and guardians seeking an educational partnership that prioritizes excellence, discipline, and comprehensive development for their wards are encouraged to secure a place.

Admission forms are available at the school’s administration office. Early application is advised due to limited vacancies across all classes.

 

GIRAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MILLENNIUM CITY KADUNA, OPENS ADMISSION FOR THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION

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NIGERIA’S EDUCATION STRIDES, GLOBAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT: When Evidence Travels from Jigawa

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Governing Through Hardship: How Tinubu’s Policies Targets the Poor. By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com 

NIGERIA’S EDUCATION STRIDES, GLOBAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT: When Evidence Travels from Jigawa

…as President Tinubu set to commission Africa’s largest schools complex in Lagos

By O’tega Ogra

 

There is a quiet shift happening in Nigeria’s education system. You will not find it in speeches neither will you find it in long policy documents. But if you look closely, you will see it in something far more difficult to dismiss. Evidence.

Last week in San Francisco, at the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) conference, data from classrooms in Jigawa State was presented before a global audience. Not projections. Not estimates. A record of what is happening inside a public system in Nigeria. 

That distinction matters. For years, much of what the world has understood about education in countries like ours has been assembled from a distance. National averages. Modelled estimates and reports written long after the fact. What was presented this time came from within. Attendance tracked daily. Teachers reassigned based on need. Classrooms observed as they function. All under a digitalised ecosystem.

In Jigawa, under the JigawaUNITE foundational learning digital programme, the numbers tell a simple story. Within roughly 150 days of implementation which commenced at the end of 2024, 95 previously understaffed schools were fully staffed. Pupil teacher ratio moved from 114:1 to 70:1. Daily attendance rose from 39 per cent to 77 per cent. This remarkable improvement was not achieved by expanding the workforce. It came from reorganising what already existed under a digital umbrella.

There is something instructive in that. Nigeria has never lacked policy. What we have often lacked is the discipline of execution. The ability to take what already exists and make it work as intended. That is where the real shift is beginning to show.

But it would be too convenient to reduce this to one programme.

At the federal level, the direction has also been adjusting. The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has placed measurable outcomes, foundational learning, and teacher quality back at the centre of policy. UBEC, the Federal Government’s Universal Basic Education body, continues to drive national interventions around school improvement and teacher development, even as it insists that reform must remain system-led and not fragmented.

The First Lady’s education interventions, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, have reinforced education as a national priority, particularly around access, learning materials, and inclusion. These are different levers, but they are part of the same ecosystem.

And then there is the fiscal reality.

Recent reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have increased allocations to subnational governments, creating more room for states to act. In a federation like Nigeria, that matters. Because education is not delivered from Abuja. It is delivered in states. In schools. In classrooms.

What Jigawa has done is to use that room and the Executive Governor of the state, the State Universal Basic Education Board, and their partners on the JigawaUNITE project, New Globe, must be given kudos.

However, Jigawa is not alone in this journey.

In Kwara, efforts to align teaching with actual learning levels are beginning to correct a structural mismatch in classrooms. In Lagos and Edo, structured pedagogy and closer monitoring are improving consistency in teaching. Across the entire ecosystem, state governments, federal institutions like UBEC, and delivery partners like NewGlobe are pushing at the same question from different angles.

How do children actually learn better?

In a prior reflection, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, VP at NewGlobe, captured the urgency clearly. With the right tools, training, and use of data, foundational learning outcomes can improve at scale. The real risk, she noted, is delay, allowing learning gaps to become permanent.

That warning should not be ignored because the context remains difficult. Nigeria still carries one of the largest out of school populations in the world. Learning gaps remain. Progress in one state does not resolve a national challenge, but it does something else.

It proves that movement is possible.

What was presented in Washington did not claim success. It demonstrated function. It showed that a Nigerian sub-national can generate evidence that holds up in a global room. That reform does not always require something new. Sometimes it requires using what already exists more honestly and more efficiently.

The real question now is whether this remains an exception.

Or whether it becomes a pattern.

Because reform at scale is never built on isolated wins. It is built on systems that can reproduce them.

And perhaps that is why the timing matters.

This week, another subnational, Lagos State, is expected to commission the Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle, a sprawling 36-school integrated facility spread across 11.7 hectares, designed to serve over 20,000 students, and described as the largest school community in Africa. 

There is a connection here that should not be missed.

On one hand, a classroom system in Jigawa is learning how to organise itself better. On the other, a state like Lagos is building the physical scale required to carry thousands of learners at once.

One is structure. The other is capacity.

Real progress sits where both meet because education reform is not only about what we build, it is about how well what we build actually works.

For once, the data was not explaining Nigeria from the outside.

It was coming from within.

And it carried weight.

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FAB Luxury Court Sets A Rare Benchmark For Excellence In Africa

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FAB Luxury Court Sets A Rare Benchmark For Excellence In Africa

~By Oluwaseun Fabiyi

Fab Luxury Court distinguishes itself as the premier choice for reliable investors and proactive developers in Nigeria and Africa.While numerous real estate entities operate within the country, Fab Luxury Court stands out for its exceptional honesty and integrity, delivering on the promises showcased on its social media page to distinguished customers globally.

As of now, no investors, whether domestic or international, have expressed regret over investing in or partnering with Fab Luxury Court. The company’s commitment to accessibility, accountability, and transparent financial reviews sets it apart from its contemporaries, rendering it a prized asset among its extensive clientele worldwide. Thousands of customers continue to patronize Fab Luxury Court due to its impeccable integrity and visionary approach.

 

*Why is Fab Luxury Court a worthwhile investment that warrants prompt consideration rather than hesitation?*

Fab Luxury Court’s security measures are exemplary and deserving of commendation, providing investors with capital protection through a robust structured framework, transparent reporting, and comprehensive legal documentation, thereby guaranteeing outstanding and secure returns.

Fab Luxury Court has further cemented its position as a leading developer and real estate powerhouse in Nigeria and Africa, currently managing several high-end estates in Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos and its surrounding areas.Fab Luxury Court demonstrates its unwavering commitment to excellence in Nigeria’s real estate sector through its best-selling estates in Ikeja.

Undoubtedly, partnering with and patronizing Fab Luxury Court will significantly contribute to securing your future; as you plan to associate with them in 2027, we encourage you to maintain a positive outlook and unwavering confidence in your future wealth.

 

FAB Luxury Court Sets A Rare Benchmark For Excellence In Africa
~By Oluwaseun Fabiyi

 

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