Business
The Making of a CSR Masterstroke: An X-Ray of FirstBank’s Yeoman Effort to Move One Million Children to e-Learning
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The rabbit hole of uncertainty, confusion and fear that pupils and their parents fell into in the dying days of March when the country was in lockdown was best captured in a Saturday Sun feature of May 16, titled, “COVID-19: Troubles of e-Learning.”
The story catalogues the challenges that erupted out of the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the fears and frustrations brewed by the new abnormality foisted on the world, the pessimism that pervaded the globe from developed to underdeveloped countries and the possibilities that blew up in the aftermath in the education stratosphere.
With the new order of social distancing, self-isolation, government-enforced quarantine and the ubiquitous lockdown, the prospect of indefinite stay at home until at least an elusive vaccine is found, loomed. This precipitated a distress as never seen before in the education space.
Yet, a panacea was at hand: Digital learning, though hitherto given scant attention. But crossing into that nirvana was an uphill task, especially, in this part of the world. Why: The existence of a huge digital deficit both in infrastructure and the requisite skill.
The dilemma confronting parents, pupils and tutors are multi-dimensional as illustrated by these three vignettes from the story:
Oko Odinakachi, a student of Abia State University, faced frustration on two fronts: her institutions dillydallying about adopting the e-learning strategy on the one hand; her little faith in digital learning, on the other hand. “I was on the verge of writing my first-semester examination. How possible can we do that digitally when there are issues with even JAMB CBT here in our country?”
A father whose daughter, a student of Federal Government College Shagamu preparing for her Senior School Certificate Exam, was compelled to seek a suitable e-learning portal because WAEC advised students to be studious during the lockdown as they’d be going straight into the exam hall at short notice as soon as the pandemic is over. The search led him to an online WAEC Preparatory Class that demanded payment for requisite online resources. “One subject is N1, 500, four subjects N4, 500 and six subjects cost at N6, 500. I didn’t go further because of the fee, which I think is exorbitant, given the current state of the country,” he complained. He joined the rank of other parents who raised concerns over exploitation by mercenaries masquerading as e-learning groups.
Abolade Kunle, a JSS3 student was aware of the government-sponsored tutorial on the radio but he was unable to enjoy the benefits: “We don’t have a radio set in the house. I use my dad’s phone once in a while but he doesn’t allow me to use it all the time,” he railed. A related drawback was cited by one of his teachers at the public school in Mushin: “In the past five weeks, we have had barely three days of electricity supply. It is not every parent that can afford a generator. Is it not when you have electricity supply that the children can watch [government educational programme on] the television?”
The absence of curative or prophylactic breakthrough against the virus meant that academic activities would remain in limbo, while pupils and their parents are faced with the undaunted possibility of a long spell at home. The prospect of a long lull of academic inactivity struck a palpable fear that fueled the scramble unto digital learning platforms as educationists and institutions across the country experimented with remote learning, albeit on a trial-and-error basis. The efforts were at best tangled; the process muddled; the result ineffective. Even, for students of tertiary institutions, the online class was to many a Lala-land.
With the option inevitably narrowed down to digital learning, a Catch-22 situation evolved. Who’s going to make it happen? How? When?
Best foot forward
Eventually, the first foot forward––and indeed the best one––came and it was from First Bank of Nigeria Limited.
The bank, a leading financial inclusion services provider, announced its intention to roll out an innovative e-learning initiative on the heels of its philanthropic contribution of the sum of one billion naira to the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), a private-sector task force that partners the Federal Government, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to combat the coronavirus in Nigeria.
In the months to come, the bank’s effort would resonate forcefully in the education space. The reason for this was not farfetched. Since responsiveness remains a cornerstone of Corporate Social Responsibility, when it is timely, it becomes a major coup. The severity of the pandemic required “uncomfortable, transformative responsiveness,” not the usual CSR response where organisations choose and design responsiveness on their own terms, described by Wayne Visser in Evolution and Revolution of Corporate Social Responsibility, as “when giving is easy and cheque-writing does nothing to upset their commercial applecart.”
Taking on the e-learning challenge head-on was an self-assigned project for which the bank was not under any compulsion to undertake. That it volunteered to tackle the challenge is an indication of the largeness of its CSR aorta.
Suffice to say that a handful of digital learning initiatives exist before the advent of the Covid-19 lockdown; the First Bank effort, however, resonates louder because it has a measurable stated goal: Moving one million pupils into e-learning platform.
A response apt and adequate
Lagos State’s prompt response to the pandemic included the immediate shutdown of schools. By March 25 (four days before Lagos State went into total lockdown on the order of the President), the First Bank initiative was rolled out, and it inalienably took the optics of “the” response to the glitch caused to the education system by the coronavirus pandemic.
First Bank went into collaboration with Lagos State Government and an indigenous mobile learning platform, Robert and John Limited, whose trademark Roducate e-solution, a comprehensive curriculum-based education, is a cornucopia for a broad spectrum of students.
Having powered similar projects in the past, Robert and John was an obvious best in the e-learning business, a fact reinforced by First Bank CEO, Adesola Adeduntan: “In searching for the best fit solution, several options were considered by educators and teachers from the state and First Bank over the last couple of weeks before adjudging Roducate the offering from Robert and John, an innovative technology firm, to be the best of all reviewed.”
Is Roducate the Rosette stone of online learning? The facts were in its favour. Its claim of being the “most comprehensive e-learning platform in Nigeria and indeed Africa” is justified on its curriculum-based education for primary, secondary, and tertiary students. Moreover, ;it has been active in the e-learning space as far back as 2014 and has perfected the mechanics of effective digital learning, winning endorsements along the way from NUC, NERDC, JAMB and Lagos State Ministry of Education.
And by tweaking its blueprint, it came up with an e-learning mother lode––lecture notes, assignments, mock exams, videos, podcasts, and educational games––a rich vein of contents for primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, structured in consonance with the government-accredited curriculum. From the interactive tutorial videos to the innovative feature that enables the learner to take notes for quick reference, it was a whole new experience and an enjoyable learning process.
Suffice to reiterate that the First Bank/LASG Roducate is not the first of its kind; before it, there was Glo Mobile Tutor (since 2014) and UBA LEARN (unveiled in 2018) amongst others. However, certain factors gave it an edge.
The comparative advantage
The CSR takeaways from the initiative are writ large in what makes it different from others––in other words, its comparative advantages.
On the first count, the effort surfaced at a time of need, a time when there was an urgent need to close the gap caused by the disruption in children education due to schools closure following the Covid-19 lockdown. In one fell swoop, a solution materialised that provided succour for all, from kindergartens kids to grad-year students of tertiary institutions.
Secondly, while it is indeed a rolling scheme, it nevertheless came with specific number goal of one million pupils to be empowered with digital learning; this calibrated objective makes the intervention easy to evaluate, compared to other similar initiatives.
Thirdly, the biggest boon: subscription-free.
Consider what this means to parents such as the one cited in Sun story who had to shell out approximately N6, 000 for his daughter to access the needed resources. With the First Bank initiative, students simply get on the platform by registering free at https://www.firstbanknigeria.com/e-learning/.
And then the masterstroke: the enhanced offline feature of the initiative. It means students can study offline without having to bear the burden of buying data. What’s more, First Bank gave further impetus by providing 20, 000 devices that came preloaded with the curriculum.
Elaborating on the low-end devices preloaded with Roducate offline content, Adeduntan disclosed that “the phones have SIMs and limited data tied, only, to the Roducate learning product.”
Kayode Abayomi, the spokesperson for Lagos State Ministry of Education, further hit the nail on the head.
“The devices are efficient and fit for purposes for all students especially indigent students given the fact that data consumption of most e-learning solutions has been a major stumbling block for the majority of students and teachers alike,” he said.
Its fourth edge is from its collaborative nature. One of First Bank’s collaborators on the project is a partner with leverage in the education space: the Lagos State Government. That made a big difference, as it gave the initiative authority and legitimacy that immediately gained traction.
In return, the initiative was well-appreciated by Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu: “It is not out of place that we are witnessing more infusion of technology in learning and this intervention by First Bank could not have come at a better time.”
Lastly, the First Bank e-learning project took care of both the short-term and the long-term interest of Nigeria in the digital race. Beyond the exigency of the moment, which was to get the children into learning mode, the intervention took on the imperative of helping young Nigerians develop relevant skills in emerging technologies, thereby enhancing their competitiveness in the interconnected world of today.
How? Via two other initiatives, both partnerships with IBM (that schooled youths in coding Artificial Intelligence, cloud, internet of things, blockchain, data science, analytics and cybersecurity) and Curious Learning (which offers academic contents for pre-learning and early-stage children aged 3-8 through self-guided learning apps). These two threw open the door of digital technology and made available for free the opportunities to transform them into tech geeks.
Taking responsibilities
For organisations with a sense of CSR, Covid-19 was an opportunity that was too good to miss. Where and how they responded depend on their preexisting corporate responsibility culture, their focus, the heft of their commitment.
Adeduntan said of the First Bank initiative: “We are warmed by the fact that different organisations have risen to the various challenges and are supporting in areas such as health and welfare, and we feel the peculiar needs of our children and youth must not be left out and have therefore elected to focus on contributing to solving the current education challenge.”
He said further: “It is a responsible approach to empower them, given that they are our future and the foundation to build our country to greatness. By partnering on this, we are solving a problem for families and our future.”
In September, schools re-opened, and education activity, deflated for months, gradually regains shape and gathers momentum. The number of students enrolled on the platform has increased significantly. The big question: is it going to be one of those projects that got abandoned after the ovation died down? Or is it likely to be sustained?
The cue is in the stated goal of the initiative. FirstBank has placed on itself the onus to continue to build on the effort and to give the needed impetus that will accelerate the achievement of the set goal of 1,000, 000 registered children in record time. It is expected that FirstBank will sustain the race to the finishing line.
Business
InnovateX Hackathon: Ecobank Rewards Young Innovators with N22m, Reinforces Commitment to Entrepreneurship
Ecobank Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment, innovation and entrepreneurship with the successful hosting of the grand finale of the InnovateX Hackathon, its flagship innovation challenge powered by Blaze by Ecobank in partnership with Verve.
Held in Lagos on Friday, the competition brought together some of Nigeria’s brightest undergraduate innovators, culminating in the emergence of Team Vhorde as the overall winner. Other top-performing teams were E-Nation (first runner-up), Konvoy (second runner-up), Kredo (third runner-up), and Aselabs (fourth runner-up).
All 20 finalist teams received cash prizes in recognition of their innovation and outstanding performance. Team Vhorde received N5 million, while the first and second runners-up were awarded N4 million and N3.5 million respectively. Even the team placed 20th received N500,000, reflecting Ecobank’s commitment to encouraging innovation at every level. In total, the Bank distributed N22 million in prize money to the finalists.
The grand finale marked the culmination of a rigorous innovation journey that attracted 168 teams comprising 672 students from 90 universities across Nigeria. Following a highly competitive selection process, 20 finalist teams drawn from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja advanced to the final stage, where they pitched innovative solutions addressing challenges across multiple sectors.
Speaking at the event, Kola Adeleke, Executive Director, Commercial and Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, said the InnovateX Hackathon was established to provide a platform for young Nigerians to transform ideas into practical solutions capable of addressing real-world challenges. “InnovateX was created to give young Nigerians a platform to transform ideas into practical solutions to real-world challenges across banking, technology, business and society. The diversity of ideas emerging in areas such as financial technology, artificial intelligence, sustainability, digital services, education and enterprise solutions demonstrates the breadth of innovation taking place among our young people.”
According to Adeleke, the initiative goes beyond identifying winners. “Our objective goes beyond identifying winners. We want to help nurture ideas, develop entrepreneurial capabilities and connect promising innovators with the resources, mentorship and networks they need to succeed.”
He further emphasized Ecobank’s commitment to developing the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. “At Ecobank, we recognise that young people are not merely the leaders of tomorrow; they are innovators, entrepreneurs and contributors to economic growth today. As a pan-African bank, we believe that digital transformation and innovation are essential to expanding opportunities, improving access to financial services and creating sustainable economic value.”
Also speaking, Victor Yalokwu, Head, Products and Analytics, Ecobank Nigeria, described InnovateX as an extension of Blaze by Ecobank’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians. “The InnovateX Hackathon is driven by Blaze, our dedicated youth proposition that serves as a vehicle for young people to express their talents, ideas and abilities to drive economic growth. Through Blaze, we continue to create opportunities that empower the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.”
Yalokwu highlighted other youth-focused initiatives under Blaze, including the Campus Ambassadors Programme, which provides students with stipends and opportunities to develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills while serving as brand ambassadors on their campuses.
He noted that all 20 finalist teams were rewarded for their creativity, resilience and innovation, with Ecobank committing N22 million in prize money to support the participants and encourage the growth of their ideas.
Speaking on behalf of the winning team, Henry Uti of Team Vhorde expressed appreciation to Ecobank and its partners for creating the opportunity.
“Winning the InnovateX Hackathon is both an honour and a huge motivation for our team. This platform has shown us that young Nigerians have the creativity and capacity to build solutions that can transform industries and improve lives. We are grateful to Ecobank, Blaze and Verve for believing in young innovators and providing an opportunity to showcase our ideas.”
The InnovateX Hackathon forms part of Ecobank’s broader strategy to support innovation, entrepreneurship and digital transformation by providing young Nigerians with access to funding, mentorship, industry exposure and growth opportunities.
Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank, most innovative and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has announced November 6, 2026, as the date for the grand finale of Hackaholics 7.0, its flagship innovation platform.
Themed “Festival of the Future.” The grand finale will bring together innovators, technology leaders, startup founders, investors and other key players in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem for an immersive celebration of ideas, technology and the possibilities shaping the future.
Beyond the much anticipated announcement of this year’s Hackaholics Finalists, the event will feature innovation showcases, interactive experiences and conversations exploring how emerging technologies are transforming the way people live, work, build and create.
Designed to go beyond the traditional innovation competition, the Festival of the Future will provide a platform for participants and attendees to experience emerging technologies, discover innovative solutions, connect with industry players and engage in conversations about the opportunities and challenges of a rapidly evolving world. The event will also recognise and celebrate outstanding innovators whose ideas have demonstrated the potential to address real-world challenges and create meaningful impact.
Speaking on the significance of the grand finale and the inspiration behind the Festival of the Future, Wema Bank’s MD/CEO, Moruf Oseni, explained that the concept builds on the Bank’s commitment to creating a future of possibilities while encouraging Nigerians to take a more active role in shaping that future.
“The world is changing at an unprecedented pace. Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are transforming industries, businesses and everyday life, creating opportunities that would have been difficult to imagine just a few years ago. The question is no longer simply what the future holds, but how prepared we are to shape it.
“This thinking inspired the Festival of the Future. We want to create an experience that brings innovation closer to people, encourages meaningful conversations and challenges us to think differently about how we will live, work, build and create in the years ahead,” he said.
Reaffirming Wema Bank’s commitment to supporting innovation and empowering young Nigerians, Oseni noted that Hackaholics has continued to evolve beyond a competition into a platform for discovering talent, nurturing ideas and connecting innovators with opportunities.
“Since we launched Hackaholics, our goal has remained consistent; to provide young Nigerians with the platform, resources, opportunities and support they need to transform their ideas into practical solutions. We believe that the future of innovation in Nigeria must be driven by the talent, creativity and potential of our people.
“With Hackaholics 7.0, we are taking that commitment further. Beyond recognising outstanding ideas, we want to bring together the people, conversations and experiences that can inspire the next generation of solutions. Our ambition is to continue building an ecosystem where innovation thrives, possibilities are unlocked and Nigeria is better positioned for the future,” he added.
Launched on July 1, 2026, under the theme “Powering Possibilities,”Hackaholics 7.0 commenced with a nationwide pitch centre tour designed to discover and support innovative ideas from young Nigerians across different regions of the country.
The four-month tour attracted 5,329 participants and 1,632 innovative ideas and solutions, with pitch centres hosted across seven locations: Uyo, Kano, Yabatech, Benin, Ibadan, Enugu and Lagos.
Through three distinct tracks; the Ideathon, Hackathon and Social Impact, the initiative provided opportunities for students, graduates, technology enthusiasts, developers and social innovators to present solutions addressing challenges across different sectors. The Ideathon focused on promising ideas, the Hackathon provided a platform for technology developers and builders, while the Social Impact track recognised solutions designed to deliver measurable value to society.
At the conclusion of the nationwide tour, 59 participants emerged from the various pitch centres, reflecting the diversity of ideas, talent and innovation discovered throughout the programme.
As Hackaholics 7.0 progresses towards its final stage, the 59 finalists will be further shortlisted to 20, who will present refined versions of their solutions at the Pre-Pitch scheduled for November 4, 2026.
On November 5, the participants will embark on an Ecosystem Tour powered by Wema Bank, providing an opportunity to visit other top institutions within the technology and innovation ecosystem, interact with industry professionals and gain practical insights ahead of the grand finale.
The journey will culminate on November 6 at the Festival of the Future, where the top innovators will be recognised and celebrated.
Through Hackaholics, Wema Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to driving innovation, supporting entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for young Nigerians to contribute meaningfully to economic development.
Boost Africa, a joint initiative of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), supported by the European Union, is launching “From Capital to Impact,” a communications campaign highlighting the achievements of the initiative and the experiences of innovative Nigerian businesses supported through its venture capital investments.
Running from 1 November to 31 December 2026, the campaign will bring the impact of
Boost Africa closer to the public through entrepreneurial success stories, investment
insights, digital storytelling and media engagement.
Launched to address financing challenges facing innovative African businesses, Boost Africa has helped strengthen the continent’s venture capital ecosystem by investing in funds that provide financing and strategic support to promising startups and growing enterprises.
The initiative demonstrates how development finance can help mobilise private investment and enable businesses to develop solutions, expand operations, reach new markets and create employment opportunities.
Putting Businesses and People Behind the Numbers
At the heart of the campaign are stories of Nigerian businesses whose growth journeys
illustrate the wider impact of investment.
The campaign will feature companies including Daya, ChipMango and TradeDepot, highlighting their innovations, entrepreneurial journeys and experiences working with venture capital funds supported by Boost Africa.
From developing cross-border financial infrastructure to strengthening digital commerce and creating opportunities for technology talent, these businesses demonstrate how investment can support solutions to real economic and societal challenges.
Through founder interviews, beneficiary success-story videos, digital content and editorial features, the campaign will explore not only the financing received by businesses but also the expertise, networks and strategic support that help them grow.
From Investment to Measurable Impact
Boost Africa’s achievements extend beyond the capital committed to venture funds.
According to EIB-reported results as of December 2023, the initiative had invested €88 million, supported approximately 15,000 jobs and helped mobilise nearly €400 million in additional investment across Africa.
These figures illustrate the potential of development finance to catalyse private investment and strengthen the businesses contributing to Africa’s economic transformation.
The campaign will connect these broader achievements with the experiences of Nigerian entrepreneurs, investors, employees and customers, demonstrating how investment translates into tangible opportunities.
Amplifying Africa’s Entrepreneurial Success Stories
The From Capital to Impact campaign will feature a coordinated programme of social media storytelling, video documentaries, thought-leadership articles and online media publications.
It will also provide perspectives from venture capital fund managers on the importance of patient capital, technical expertise, business networks and investment partnerships in helping African enterprises scale.
By making investment outcomes more visible and accessible, the campaign aims to
strengthen public understanding of Boost Africa’s contribution to entrepreneurship,
innovation and sustainable economic development.
The central message is simple: the true value of investment is reflected not only in the capital deployed, but in the businesses strengthened, opportunities created and
impact made possible.
About Boost Africa
Boost Africa is a joint initiative of the European Investment Bank and the African
Development Bank, supported by the European Union. The initiative promotes
entrepreneurship and innovation across Africa by supporting venture capital funds investing in innovative startups and growing businesses, alongside complementary technical assistance and ecosystem support.
Media Contact
European Investment Bank
Press Office
press@eib.org
www.eib.org
