Mohammed Shosanya

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has celebrated eleven beneficiaries of its 2023/2024 Post Graduate Scholarship Programme, who graduated with distinction from the Coventry University in United Kingdom.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who spoke during the graduation ceremony, observed that it was a demonstration of the Commission’s commitment to the scholarship scheme and a celebration of academic excellence.

Ogbuku led a delegation, which included the Senate Committee Chairman on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong; the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; the Director, Education Health and Social Services, Dr George, Uzonwanne; the Director of Legal Services, Dr Steve Ighomuaye and the Director Education, Mrs. Idara Akpabio.

The NDDC Chief Executive Officer stated that the Commission was very serious with its human capital development programmes, noting that education was the most powerful weapon for changing the fortunes of the Niger Delta region.

He said: “I am very happy to be in Coventry to celebrate our scholars. Their outstanding performance confirms the transparent process through which the beneficiaries were selected. It is remarkable that 11 of the students graduated with distinction in Coventry University.”

Speaking,the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, said that the scholars had justified their inclusion in the programme, noting that the Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Scheme, which was started in 2010, was meant to equip Niger Delta youths with advanced training and skills.

Iyaye stated that the NDDC was pursuing improved investments in the educational sector as part of plans to ensure that the youths were gainfully employed.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Senate Committee Chairman on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, remarked: “This ceremony is especially unique, as all 200 of the scholars from the 2023 programme performed exceedingly well with 11 students from the batch earning a distinction and coming top of their various programmes.

“This is a testament to the recent review of the selection process of beneficiaries of the programme which is transparent and merit based. I commended the NDDC Board and Management for sustaining the scholarship scheme.”

He said further: “Last week, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched the Education Loan Fund and at that occasion he remarked that education is the greatest weapon to be used to fight poverty. I couldn’t agree more. Today, the NDDC sponsors 200 graduates annually to foreign universities for post graduate studies. This gives them the opportunity to study with the best minds across the globe and the experiences they gather will help us to develop the Niger Delta region.”

Mohammed Shosanya

Access Bank UK Limited will host its annual Polo Day at Guards Polo Club, Windsor, today, Saturday, July 20.

The Access Bank UK Polo Day, an annual charity event, which is part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is the culmination of a year-long fund-raising programme in partnership with UNICEF for education projects in Kaduna State, the Northern part of Nigeria, in particular. CSR and exemplary Corporate Governance form part of the hallmarks of Access Bank.

From inception to date, the UNICEF/Access Bank, funds from the charity event have been used to rebuild schools in Kaduna and keep more than 128,000 students in continuous education. At the same time, new solar-powered school blocks and a computer literacy building all in a more secure and friendly school environment have been developed.

The communities surrounding the schools are being supported with boreholes for water and sewing and grinding machines to secure employment and stimulate economic and social development. At the 2023 Access Bank Polo Challenge over a million dollars was raised to support the Access Bank- UNICEF programme.

The Access Bank UK Polo Day with the support of the Access Bank Group, the flagship subsidiary of Access Holdings PLC, celebrates reaching out to and highlightsing the plight of vulnerable children and orphans as well as and internationally displaced persons.

In partnership with Fifth Chukker and based in Kaduna, Nigeria, Access Bank Polo Tournament is the biggest charity Polo Tournament in Africa and ggenerates funds and stimulates support for the work of the UNICEF/Access Bank initiative across Africa.

The primary objective is to empower underprivileged children through education and ensuring that these deserving children have the opportunity to dream, learn and grow.

Last year’s event was filled with two exciting polo matches between Malcomines, Delaney, Fifth Chukka and Access Bank. On the field of play Malcomines Polo won the Khalifa Cup, beating Delaney Polo 7-4 across four chukkas.

However,Delaney Polo’s Damian Duncan, who had a standout game in the number one position, was rewarded with the Access Bank Most Valuable Player prize.

The second match of the day, for the Access Bank Charity Cup, saw a win for Access Bank.

They beat Fifth Chukker 4-3 in a fast-paced game that featured some of the sport’s top players including Juan Martin Nero, Polito Pieres, Alfredo Bigatti and Guillermo Terrera.

Access Bank’s Sayyu Dantata received the Most Valuable Player prize from Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II – Emir of Kano. He then stepped up to receive the Access Bank Best Playing Pony prize for Bayita, whom he had played in the fourth chukka.

After the prize giving, guests adjourned to the marquee for an enjoyable celebration accompanied by a performance by the Cavemen.

At the event, Herbert Wigwe, the then Group Managing Director of Access Holdings PLC and Chairman of The Access Bank UK Ltd (now late), said:

“Together our continuing support for the Fifth Chukker – UNICEF initiative reflects our view of our role as a change agent in Nigeria and Africa that can help institute socio-economic development through responsible business practice, social initiatives and environmental consideration.”

Jamie Simmonds, The Access Bank UK Ltd CEO and Managing Director, noted the successful Charity event at Guard’s Polo with Fifth Chukker was a tradition, which was only possible due to the loyalty of the customers.

This year’s Polo Day promises to be more exciting than the previous one, with more guests with mind of giving back and creating impacts, expected to grace the epoch-making event.

The annual event is coming as Access Bank UK recently posted financial results that demonstrate another year of outstanding international growth.

The bank has made notable and rapid progress, carrying out its mandate to expand its international operations in Europe – United Kingdom. France, Malta and Asia – Hong Kong as well as UAE. Subject to the necessary approvals from relevant financial and regulatory authorities, the bank hopes to make further announcements on its international operations.

According to Jamie Simmonds, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Access Bank, UK, “We are a bank where ourOur growth is fuelled by the strength of customer relationships. It enables us to develop innovative products and financial solutions with, rather than just for, our customers.

“We invest significantly in attracting, retaining and developing professional staff in order to ensure customers always deal with an expert who is familiar with their business and personal financial needs, it is a modern interpretation of relationship management”.

“External accolades are a valuable endorsement of our commitment to be part of the best regarded African Bank. We are proud that investors in people have re-accredited us Platinum status and winning the ‘Best African Trade Finance Bank’ from International Finance and Best ‘Africa Trade Finance Bank’ from Capital Finance International CFI for the sixth and the eighth consecutive year,” Simmonds added.

Access Bank UK Limited was established in 2008, and is regulated in the UK, to provide Trade Finance, Asset Management and Commercial Banking services for Access Bank Group’s dealings in OECD markets.

At the Facts Behind the Rights Issue in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of Access Holdings ongoing Rights Issue, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director, Access Bank PLC, commented, “Access Bank UK is well positioned to become one of the top 20 banks in the UK.”

The Rights Issue was designed to strengthen the Group’s financial footing and support ongoing working capital needs including organic growth funding for its banking and non-banking subsidiaries.

Also,recently at the signing of a monumental syndicate Tier II Facility agreement of USD295 million, in partnership with the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO).

Ogbonna said:“Putting these funds to use, we aim to catalyse growth across various sectors, stimulate business development, create jobs, and deepen financial inclusion, aligning with Access Bank’s mission to drive progress and development throughout the continent and beyond.”

Mohammed Shosanya

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has further demonstrated its commitment to its Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Programme by attending the graduation ceremony of scholars from the scheme at the Coventry University, United Kingdom.

At the sidelines of the graduation ceremony in UK, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, underscored the need to celebrate academic excellence.

A statement signed by Seledi Thompson-Wakama,Director, Corporate Affairs,quoted thatg Ogbuku led a delegation which included the Senate Committee Chairman on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong; the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; the Director, Education Health and Social Services, Dr George, Uzonwanne, as well as the Director of Legal Services, Dr Steve Ighomuaye and the Director Education, Mrs. Idara Akpabio.

He stated that the Commission was very serious with its human capital development programmes, noting that education was the most powerful weapon for changing the fortunes of the Niger Delta region.

He said: “I am very happy to be in Coventry to celebrate our scholars. Their outstanding performance confirms the transparent process through which the beneficiaries were selected. It is remarkable that 11 of the students graduated with distinction in Coventry University.”

Speaking,the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, said that the scholars had justified their inclusion in the programme, noting that the Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Scheme, which was started in 2010, was meant to equip Niger Delta youths with advanced training and skills.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, remarked: “This ceremony is especially unique, as all 200 of the scholars from the 2023 programme performed exceedingly well with 11 students from the batch earning a distinction and coming top of their various programmes.

“This is a testament to the recent review of the selection process of beneficiaries of the programme which is transparent and merit based. I commended the NDDC Board and Management for sustaining the scholarship scheme.”

The NDDC sponsors an average of 200 scholars for postgraduate studies in institutions across the world every year.

The scholars are expected to acquire the requisite knowledge and skills to further the development of the Niger Delta region on their return.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has completed its unified tertiary matriculation examination for prospective undergraduates in Nigerian universities for the 2024/25 University Matriculation Examination (UME) in the United Kingdom.

The online examination was held last weekend at the Nigeria High Commission, Northumberland Avenue, London, and was attended by no less than 20 candidates.

Senator Dandutse Muntari Mohammed, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, who represents the Katsina South constituency, told journalists shortly after the examination that it was a huge success.

“We are here to witness JAMB’s examination of Nigerian candidates living in the United Kingdom. This is to demonstrate that Nigeria is making efforts rather than wasting resources by sending their children to other countries for education, as there are many Nigerians in the UK who are determined to travel to Nigeria and study in Nigerian institutions.

“That is why the examination is held in approximately nine countries around the world. We can have a prosperous country instead of wasting resources on foreign exchange, especially since the exchange rate is skyrocketing daily and the global economy is deteriorating.

“To succeed,we must look within ourselves. The examinations are being written today in South Africa, Cameroon, Benin, and Saudi Arabia.”

He stated that as lawmakers,they ensure that parents and students have the opportunity to send their children to Nigerian universities through the establishment of the TETFund, which is available to Nigerian students.

He disclosed that one per cent of the total TETFund revenue is generated internally, so Nigeria could become dependent on internal educational sector integration.

“The provision of security in our schools is critical to our education. The governing councils, vice-chancellors, and the ministry of education, in collaboration with lawmakers, are working to improve security in the country, particularly for students.

“There are also coordinated efforts by the country’s security agents to end banditry and criminality.

“In fact,the National Security Adviser is working hard to ensure that all security agencies collaborate and engage herders and other elements in dialogue and reconciliation to ensure the country’s peace and prosperity.

“Cultism is a widespread problem, and we must educate parents on how to engage their children responsibly to prevent them from joining peer groups and engaging in nefarious activities. We are enacting laws to combat these anti-social behaviours in the country, such as cultism, Yahoo-Yahoo boys, illicit drug abuse, and the rest of the country’s immoral and indisciplined behaviours.

Speaking on the new student loan scheme, Hon. Mohammed stated that any student who qualifies and is admitted to the university is eligible to apply for the student loan.

“On our part, we will ensure that a large number of students benefit from the funds because there is a lot of intervention and resources coming in to ensure that students benefit from the loan and that their upkeep is guaranteed because of the country’s economic situation, which is very timely and important.

“We are grateful that the majority of these students believe they must return to their home country to study. There is hope and goodwill for parents who want or encourage their children to study in the country.

“By next year, wherever we have our embassy, foreign missions will participate in this because there are Nigerians all over the world. If a Nigerian parent can afford to send their children to study abroad, they can invest that money in the country, which will undoubtedly help the country’s development,” the legislator stated.

Babatunde Solanke

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman has rescinded his decision to peg the admission age of undergraduates to 18,following protests from stakeholders at the ongoing Policy meeting, organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

He soft pedalled on his initial position when he said Heads of tertiary institutions could be allowed to admit candidates who are 16 years of age, gain admission into tertiary institutions of their choice.

He was forced to succumb, following the argument that students under the age of 18 had already registered, sat and passed the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and awaiting admission for the current academic year.

Leading the motion, Vice Chancellor of Elizade University Prof. Kayode Thadius Ijiadunola who got massive support from other heads, registrar’s and admission officers participating in the policy meeting, proposed 16 as minimum age requirement for admission into tertiary institutions.

He said: “What happens to those who have written this year’s exams and passed their exams. We reject 18 years as minimum age requirement and are proposing 16 years.”

While the hall erupted in support of 16 years as minimum requirement, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, asked where parents and candidates were rushing to?

Oloyede said: “The only point is they have taken examination and at that time they were not told or aware and therefore if we want to enforce it, it should be from subsequent years.”

The minister in response had said, “I can work with that but I want to remind you of one thing, even that argument cannot stand if we want to go by the law which states 6-3-3-4 as our system of education, it won’t stand but for practical reasons, for this year, I will allow it to stand.”

Reiterating the minister’s decision amidst a resounding applause, Prof Oloyede added, “We thank the minister for conceding but from next year we will enforce it.”

Earlier, the minister while delivering his address as chairman of the 2024 Joint Admissions Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) policy meeting on Education holding on Thursday in Abuja, had called for enforcement
of 18 years as the new minimum admission age for admission into tertiary institutions in the country.

Immediately after the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman made the announcement, the stakeholders who turned out in their members from across tertiary institutions in the country, voiced a resistance which turned the session into a rowdy one.

The minister,who was unable to proceed with his address as a result of the uproar, had asked “are we together?”

However,the stakeholders had responded with a resounding “No!”

The minister who seemed unperturbed with the development, had continued with his address as he tried to give reasons for pegging the new admission benchmark at 18.

It took the intervention of the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, to restore order to the policy meeting with his plea of “Please attention please!”

Mohammed Shosanya

The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has implored the National Universities Commission (NUC) to arrest and prosecute both owners and staffers of the identified universities and other private institutions in Nigeria .

He spoke after his investiture as Fellow of the King’s College, London”, and expressed concern over failure of the NUC to take punitive action against those who fun foul of its laws .

The award was conferred on him by the International Engagement and Service of King’s College, London,for his transformative contributions to the society.

He said:NUC published their names, why don’t they arrest owners of such illegal universities, why don’t you close them down.Why can’t they make the staffs of such universities face punishment and put them before the court of law and yet, they are building new ones everyday”.

According to him, these illegal institutions are major weapons against quality and functional education in Nigeria and world at large.

He added:“The biggest menace facing quality education today, especially in Nigeria and across Africa, is the proliferation of mushroom satellite campuses and study centers that have long deviated from their original conceptualization and intent.

“What we expect is for the National University Commission (NUC) to close down mushroom universities. There are many universities which are illegal, which commenced operations without the permission of NUC.

Babalola, noted that if societal ills such as religious bigotry, corruption, ineptitude, bribery are to be wiped out in the country, education remains the surest panacea to quality and productive living to ameliorating such ills in Nigeria.

“Poor leadership and fellowship, wanton acquisition of illegal wealth, disobedience to legitimate court orders are among such ills bedeviling the nation”.

The Governor of Ekiti State,Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, commended the giant strides of the founder in the areas of medicine, law, invention and sciences.

Oyebanji,represented by the State’s Head of Service, Folakemi Olomojobi,said his footprints across all sectors has made him the father of the state, stressing that his uncommon humanity and impact have ranked him higher against all odds.

The Vice President, International Engagement and Service of King’s College, London, Professor Funmi Olonisakin, who led the team to ABUAD, said the fellowship award was in recognition of the transformative contributions of the legal luminary to the society.

“We are here to award the fellowship of King’s College, London to Aare Afe Babalola, whose fellowship is typically given to people who have made transformative contributions to the society at large or King’s College, London”,she said

In her remark,the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Smaranda Olarinde stated that the investiture was in recognition of Afe Babalola’s efforts in all ramifications, which according to her, makes the legal icon the exemplar of the power of transformative education.

Mohammed Shosanya

About 1,376,391 candidates registered for the ongoing 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal being conducted by the National Examinations Council (NECO).

NECO Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, disclosed this on Wednesday, while monitoring the conduct of the examination in selected centres.

He expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examination when he visited several centres in Enugu State.

According to a statement by Azeez Sani, Acting Director of Information and Digital Communication at NECO, Prof. Wushishi noted that reports from across the nation confirmed the smooth conduct of the exams.

He attributed the success to the innovative measures implemented by NECO, which have significantly reduced incidents of examination malpractice.

He encouraged candidates to strive for excellence through hard work, emphasizing that “there is no shortcut to success.”

Since the commencement of the exams, Prof. Wushishi has visited examination centres in Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, Imo, and Anambra States to obtain firsthand information on the conduct of the exams.

He reported that stakeholders in these states have commended NECO for the effective measures ensuring a seamless examination process.

The Registrar highlighted that the NECO SSCE is also being administered in Togo, Benin Republic, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Niger Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Saudi Arabia.

He noted that the international extension of NECO examinations reflects the global recognition and acceptance of NECO certificates.

Mohammed Shosanya

The 200 beneficiaries of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, 2024/2025 Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Programme, have received their award letters from the Commission.

This was conveyed in a statement signed by Seledi Thompson-Wakama,Director, Corporate Affairs of NDDC

Presenting the scholarship letters to the successful candidates during a pre-departure and award ceremony in Port Harcourt, Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, charged the scholars to be ambassadors of the Niger Delta region as they carry the flag of Nigeria to foreign lands.

He implored the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity given to them to acquire technical expertise for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta region.

Ebie described the scholarship scheme as an important component of the NDDC’s human capital development programme, noting that education was the most powerful weapon for changing the fortunes of the Niger Delta region.

Also addressing the beneficiaries, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, enjoined the scholars to be of good conduct. He assured them that funds for their fees and accommodation would not be delayed, stating that their success was a testament to their resilience.

He observed that previous beneficiaries of the scholarship programme set enviable standards for the current set to emulate, stating: “You need to come back and add value to the society and make the Niger Delta proud.”

Ogbuku advised the scholars to avoid distractions in order to excel in their studies, saying, “We are sending you out to go and study and come back to impact the Niger Delta region and the entire Nigerian society for good.”

He reminded them that they owed the Niger Delta a duty to succeed, promising: “Any of our scholars that gets a distinction in the Master programme stands a chance to be sponsored for a Ph.D. programme.”

In his remarks, the NDDC Director of Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. George Uzonwanne, disclosed that out of 56,000 applicants, only 200 were selected through a transparent electronic examination process. He said, “I congratulate the successful candidates who applied and went through a seamless selection process.”

Uzonwanne, explained that the Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship programme, which was started in 2010, was meant to equip Niger Delta youths with advanced training and skills.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the best performing scholarship student, Mr. Azuka Chinedu, thanked the NDDC for giving them the opportunity to go for further education abroad. He pledged that the beneficiaries would do their best to be good ambassadors of the region and return to contribute to the development of the Niger Delta region.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) Joint Venture has inducted 27 Nigerian academics and research interns.

This year’s programme, a 35% increase from the previous year, welcomed eight professors, four senior lecturers, and 15 other participants.

The induction ceremony which held at the company’s headquarters in Port Harcourt,marked the beginning of a one-year programme focused on knowledge exchange and skill development. Drawn from 13 Nigerian universities, these participants will gain valuable industry experience in fields like biodiversity, petroleum engineering, and environmental impact assessment.

“The research and internship programmes are central to our commitment to supporting higher education in Nigeria,” explained Shell Nigeria’s Head of Corporate Relations, and SPDC Director, Mr. Igo Weli. He described the programme as mutually beneficial nature by offering Shell access to specialised expertise from professors and lecturers, who in turn acquire practical industry knowledge and exposure to cutting-edge technologies.

Mr. Weli reaffirmed Shell’s position as the industry leader in fostering a positive learning environment and empowering people.

Representing the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, Mrs. Bunmi Edith Lawson echoed Mr. Weli’s sentiments. She highlighted the programme’s significance in scientific exploration, environmental stewardship, and knowledge advancement. “This is an investment in the next generation of innovators,” she stated, “and a way for us to give back to our stakeholders.”

The 2024 programme includes participants from a diverse range of universities across Nigeria, including the University of Benin, Rivers State University, University of Ibadan, Niger Delta University, and Ahmadu Bello University.

Others are Bingham University Karu, Federal University Wukari, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo State, Covenant University, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, University of Uyo, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC) and its joint venture partners – Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC); TotalEnergies and Nigeria Agip Oil Company,Thursday inaugurated a state-of-the-art ICT centre at the Sa’adu Zungur University (formerly Bauchi State University), Gadau in Bauchi State in the latest support for education in Nigeria .

The centre,fully funded by the SPDC-operated joint venture, boasts a visually stimulating collaborative workspace where students can engage in group work and brainstorming sessions.

At the inauguration, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who was represented by the Director of ICT in the state, Hayatuddeen Babamaji said: “The landmark project would complement the efforts of the government to improve education and boost digital transformation in Bauchi State.”

SPDC Managing Director and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, who was represented by Director SPDC and Country Head Corporate Relations, Igo Weli, said: “The journey to establish this facility was driven by a vision to enhance critical educational infrastructure, support access to high-demand IT skills and inspire growth of the IT ecosystem in Bauchi State and Northeast Nigeria.”

Bala Wunti, Chief Upstream Investment Officer (CUIO) of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services described the project as “a glimpse of the positive impact of the oil and gas industry on the fortunes of our nation,” and requested “sustained collaboration as we strive to do more.”

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Sa’adu Zungur University, Professor Fatima Tahir, had said the centre would serve as a hub for innovation by improving teaching and learning in the institution. The Emir of Bauchi and Chancellor of the university Dr. Rilwanu Adamu sent in a goodwill message thanking the SPDC-operated JV for initiating the project.

The ICT centre has its own power and water supply, offering a chance for uninterrupted learning for students and lecturers and link up with the rest of the world real-time.

To foster sustainable development, the construction strategy included upskilling of indigenous contractors with some of them playing key roles ranging from critical supplies and craftsmanship to medical services and scaffolding.

In addition, 75 staff and students were trained in data science, embedded systems, robotics, and hardware engineering to grow in-house capacity. Sa’adu Zungur University marked the sustainability content of the project with the set-up of a tree planting club which has already planted about 1,000 fruit-bearing trees.

The establishment of the ICT centre is just one aspect of several interventions of the joint venture in Northeast Nigeria. Early this year, the joint venture inaugurated a primary health care centre and completed two livelihood-strengthening programmes to support displaced families in Yobe and Borno states.

The JV has also supported a broad range of initiatives in the region including education, health, shelter and Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects.

The support for education by the joint venture has seen the award of hundreds of secondary school and university scholarships, donation of physical infrastructure to schools and the provision of industry experience for students and lecturers from Nigerian universities through sabbatical and internship opportunities.