Educatial, “E-d-u-c-a…what?”…Make way for Onitsha…Amarachi and Bob aiming to convert the world...plus South East Digest…

Educatial, “E-d-u-c-a…what?”

Like most people in Anambra State, that was the question on my mind for most of last week.  However, unlike most people in Anambra, I had the privilege to attend what I can describe as a soft launch of Educatial last Wednesday at Hilton Leisure Hotel, Awka.

I am not a techie, but let me try and explain what Educatial is all about:  The Future of Learning is here, and it is being pioneered by Nigerians!  “Educatial is an exciting Software as a Service Ecosystem platform for the education sector, laser focused on transformational learning for today and tomorrow.”  This operation led by Francis Chizoba Muofunanya, from Umueri in Anambra East Local Government Area, as Founder/Chief Visionary Officer, has created an educational SaaS ecosystem to provide a one-stop-shop solution for all educational needs by linking educators, businesses, students, and schools into one community.

The Educatial platform has amazing features “EduSims”, a school information management system; “EduHub”, a cutting-edge learning and talent management solution; “EduForum”, an innovative collaboration solution; “EduTV”, where subscribers can own their own channels; “EduRadio”, a social call-in radio app; and “EduSocial”, a social media network designed to bridge the social and educational gap between students, teachers, and across institutions, among several other features.

Make way for Onitsha

Onitsha is in the news again for yet another feat on technology.  This time, a team of students from Queen of the Rosary College Onitsha (QRC) have clinched global second place in the just concluded World Affairs Challenge. The World Affairs Challenge (WAC) is an international program and competition for middle and high school students to develop and implement their own S.M.A.R.T. solutions for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The team from Queen of the Rosary College Onitsha innovated Queens’ Lyfe bags – a 100% plantable biodegradable bag made from rice straws, banana fibres, corn husks and infused with tomato, pepper and watermelon seeds so that the bags can grow into plants when disposed of. This innovation won them second place in the global challenge. A team from the USA won first place and a bilateral team of students from USA and Iraq won third place.

 

The students led by their teacher mentor, Mr John Onuigbo, competed with over 760 participants during the various preliminary rounds, which narrowed down to 28 teams in the Global Championship, where the girls were named the Global second-place winning team in the high school division. There were 9 countries represented in WAC global finals this year: Nigeria, Ghana, USA, France, Iraq, Turkey, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Morocco.

It would be recalled that students of Regina Pacis girls secondary school, Onitsha, Anambra State won the 2018 edition of the “Technovation World Pitch” competition, which was held in California, United States of America. The students developed a mobile application called ‘FD (Fake Drug) Detector’, which was adjudged the most innovative entry in the competition.  The FD Detector is designed to tackle the nagging problem of fake pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.

Reacting to the win, the school principal Rev Sr Maria Chijioke Nwankwo expressed her joy and gratitude to God for the win saying “We have been putting in the work to provide our students with world-class tech education. This has been evident in the win of our students in global innovation competitions like this and we thank God. We are building students who would make Onitsha their Silicon Valley”. 

Amarachi and Bob aiming to convert the world

Amarachi Attamah and Bob-Manuel Udokwu and outstanding personifications of that Igbo belief na agadi nwanya adi akanka na egwu omalu agba (the old lady is never rusty in the dance she learnt to dance much earlier in life).  Both have continued to be in the news for the promotion of Igbo music, traditions, and customs. 

For a long time now, Bob-Manuel has been on a one-man campaign for the promotion of Igbo customs and traditions with particular reference to spiritual beliefs and the place of modernity, and the call for ndi Igbo to take another look at their customs and traditions with a view to reviving those that had been dropped as a result of poor understanding of Christianity.  He was on BBC recently with the same message.

Amarachi’s Igbo chant performance as part of her presentation at the Graduate Hooding Ceremony of the Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts has gone viral and is making waves across the world.

 

(A digest of latest reports on the Economy, Industry, Politics, Sports, and developments around the South East of Nigeria)

EBONYI STATE

No Tax imposed on PEDAN

The Ebonyi Board of Internal Revenue has said the board did not impose any tax on the Petroleum Dealers Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) operating in the State.  Mr Agwu Nweze, Chairman of the Board told the media in Abakaliki on Wednesday that they only placed demand notice on them over the money owed to the state government.

“They have refused to pay the N3.5 million owed to the state government. We did not impose fine on them; we were only following the law of the Federal Government.

“Some members of the Association have not been filing the tax they paid since 2015. Filing of tax paid gives authority the break down to ascertain whether you have under or over paid the state government.

“So many filling stations have not been filing since 2015 when this administration came on Board.

“The filling stations are to pay N3.5 million each to the state government. That is N500, 000 per year for seven years.

“The Association have not been fair to the government of Ebonyi. Though, some of the operators have started filing and hopefully others will follow suit,” he said.

PEDAN had on Monday, shut down all its stations in the state over what it described as excessive taxation and fines by the State Board of Internal Revenue Office (IGR).

It was however observed that filling station operators had on Tuesday resumed work in the state.

In his reaction, the State Chairman of PEDAN, Mr Silas Njaka, said its members shut down operations on Monday was because of the state government’s action on the issue of Pay as You Earn Income Tax.  Njaka explained that some of his members failed to make their filing on the issue of Income Tax.

“Our members, who are involved have been sued to court over the matter and the case will be heard on May 15,” he added. 

IMO STATE

Imo elders praise Governor Uzodimma

The members of the Imo Council of Elders on Friday, May 12, showered encomiums on Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma as he reeled out numerous remarkable achievements in the last 40 months of his administration. The assessment of the elders was based on the governor's promises made to the people of the State over the last three years.

A former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu in his remark, commended the governor for reviving the old Igbo tradition where issues of the state are communally deliberated. He said that the Governor has done a great job preparing Imolites for the new world. He, however, advised the Governor to set up an academy to re-train Imolites in digital skills.

On his part, a former national chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Dan Anyanwu applauded the Governor for the visible achievements in the streets of Imo state. He said: ''You have satisfied some of us who were afraid if you will deliver and you have delivered beyond our satisfaction. The internet tigers have been subdued by your performances." 

Also speaking, the Archbishop of the Owerri Ecclesiastical Province Communion, His Grace, Most Rev David O. C Onuoha commended the Governor for sponsoring 1000 Imo people to Israel. He also noted other numerous remarkable achievements in the state which he said has impacted on the lives of Imolites.

While highlighting the achievements of his government, Governor Uzodimma announced the recruitment and training of 10,000 primary school teachers in the state. He reiterated that the Imo state charter of equity has come to stay and he will ensure that his administration religiously adheres to the laid down principles.

Governor Uzodimma stated he had the interactive session with members of the Imo State Elders Council, at their instance. He further wrote: ''As the commendations rolled in from members of the council over our dedication to the creeds of Shared Prosperity, I became emotional to the fact that in the past, lack of such purposeful leadership had eluded our people, the benefits of democracy and productive partnerships.