Metro
World Chess Day: NOMA Celebrates EcoBank for Transformational Strides in Education Sector
As the World celebrates World Chess Day 2025, the Nigeria Online Media Alliance (NOMA) has commended EcoBank Nigeria for its outstanding contribution to education and youth development through its sustained investment in chess as a cognitive empowerment tool.
NOMA’s recognition comes in the wake of the highly successful EcoBank National School Team Chess Championship, which paraded over 2,000 students from more than 500 schools across Nigeria.
In her commendation, Chairperson of NOMA, Theresa Moses, in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Association, Mr. Oluwamuyiwa Oyedele said, “EcoBank is setting a powerful example of how the private sector can transform education and empower our youth through smart, skill-based initiatives like chess.
“We urge other stakeholders to recognize the potential of such platforms in building a stronger, smarter generation.”
The championship, held from June 26 to 28, 2025, at the EcoBank Pan African Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, featured teams from primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, making it one of the most inclusive and impactful educational competitions of the year.
“As a truly pan-African bank, we are proud to again partner with the Chess Federation for this important championship,” said Adebukola Ademuyi, Head of Education Field and Social Services at EcoBank stated. This partnership supports our broader human capital development goals and aligns with our CSR strategy to empower young Nigerians intellectually and economically.”
Mr. Austin Osokpor, Head of Corporate Communications at EcoBank Nigeria, also emphasized the long-term impact of the initiative:
“We are proud to support this event, which plays a vital role in developing young talent in Nigeria. Chess is a silent teacher of strategy, patience, and resilience—all qualities we want to see in the future of this country. This tournament is a legacy project that will leave a lasting impact on education.”
The Nigeria Chess Federation, in collaboration with EcoBank and other stakeholders, created a platform for young players to showcase their talents, build strategic thinking skills, and foster unity across schools nationwide. The tournament also promotes social inclusion and indirectly creates jobs by encouraging the training and employment of chess instructors in schools.
As part of its commitment to education-focused advocacy, NOMA used the occasion of World Chess Day—celebrated every July 20th globally—to call on other corporate organizations to emulate EcoBank’s model of sustainable and purposeful investment in education.
However, NOMA reaffirms its commitment to promoting youth-centered development and celebrating partnerships that drive positive change.
World Chess Day, designated by the United Nations in 2019, marks the founding of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in 1924 and celebrates chess as a universal language that promotes peace, education, and global unity.
Nigeria’s technology and digital solutions services provider, Globacom, has become the first in the Nigerian telecommunications industry to offer its customers Device Protection cover. This novel project was unveiled in collaboration with Cubecover, a top enabler of technology solutions in Nigeria.
For a nominal fee, both new and existing Glo subscribers can use the cutting-edge service to shield their mobile devices against water and screen damage. They can get up to N50,000 in screen replacements or repairs when damage happens.
Globacom’s Head of Value Added Service (VAS), Mojeed Aluko, disclosed that users may guarantee their smartphone is protected against screen or water damage at any moment for as little as N50 per day. For those who would want to pay the premium on a weekly basis, there is a N300 subscription. However, those who would rather pay the premium on a monthly basis simply need to pay N600 each month.
According to Aluko, users of this reasonably priced micro-protection will be eligible for free screen repairs up to N50,000 in the event of damage. But the gadget protection only kicks in when the customer has subscribed for at least a month.
“As a responsive and innovative network, we are leveraging this opportunity to provide meaningful protection to our customers, helping them stay connected even in the event of accidental damage,” Aluko added.
The customer must select a daily, weekly, or monthly subscription by dialing *7013*1# to enroll via USSD in order to subscribe for this device protection service. New customers without Glo SIMs can walk into any Gloworld shop across the country, purchase a SIM and any phone device of their choice and subscribe to the device protection instantly.
Customers have the option of a one-time subscription or auto-renewal, and they pay for the device protection subscription by deducting it from their Glo airtime. A URL to check the device screen’s integrity is sent to the subscriber upon successful payment. Once the screen passes the diagnostic scan, the device’s IMEI is registered with Cubecover, Aluko explained.
Mr. Deji Macaulay, Managing Director of Cubecover, noted that the strategic partnership with Globacom will give users one less thing to worry about by eliminating the common anxieties associated with phone usage, accidental damage and repairs.
“The device protection service is unique because of its simple enrolment process via mobile phones and its affordable micro-premiums. It is also fast as its tech-driven verification process eliminates delays and paper works. It also provides peace of mind for millions of Nigerians using smartphones daily,” Globacom added.
The Enugu State Police Command has arrested two sisters, Juliet Chukwu and Ngozi Nancy Chukwu, for allegedly masterminding the abduction of their elder brother, Mr. Friday Chukwu.
Both suspects, who serve in Nigerian security agencies—Juliet in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Ngozi in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)—were accused of arranging the kidnapping, which took place last month along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway near the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, in Nkanu West Local Government Area.
According to sources familiar with the case, the sisters’ actions led to the payment of a ₦30 million ransom for Mr. Chukwu’s release. The victim hails from Amaeze village in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Further investigation reportedly linked the two to the recent abduction of the General Manager of China Oriental Mining Company, Engineer Dennis Igwe, who was also kidnapped in the same vicinity earlier this week. A ₦10 million ransom was allegedly paid for Igwe’s release.
Police operatives tracked the suspects to a hotel where they were reportedly caught while attempting to share the ransom money. Authorities say four other individuals believed to be part of the syndicate remain at large.
Commenting on the incident, the Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area, Chief Emmanuel Ajah, confirmed the arrests and said he had written to both the Enugu State Police Command and the Ebonyi Command of the NSCDC regarding the matter.
“Though the incidents occurred outside my jurisdiction, the safety of our people remains a top priority,” he said.
Local reports suggest the two sisters may be linked to a wider network of criminal activities in the Ishiagu area, including vandalism and collaboration with external criminal elements.
Efforts to reach the Ebonyi State Police Command for confirmation were unsuccessful as Police Public Relations Officer SP Joshua Ukandu did not respond to inquiries as of the time of filing this report.
Police say investigations are ongoing, and the remaining suspects are being pursued.
Source: The Guardian
As the world marks World Youth Skills Day on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, with the theme “Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills,” the Nigeria Online Media Alliance (NOMA) has called for a nationwide action aimed at tackling Nigeria’s youth digital skills deficit.
In a statement signed by NOMA’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Oluwamuyiwa Oyedele on Tuesday, the Chairperson of the Association, Theresa Moses, urged governments at all levels, corporate organizations, development partners, academic institutions, civil society, and the media to prioritize investments in digital learning, artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, and equitable access to ICT resources for Nigerian youth.
“We are sitting on a ticking time bomb if we continue to ignore the urgent need for AI and digital empowerment among our youth. This is no longer optional — it is a national emergency,” Moses warned.
Nigeria youth population, with nearly 60% of the total population, faces significant barriers to digital inclusion. According to recent statistics: Only 36% of Nigerians currently use the internet and insignificant 7% of youth possess basic ICT skills.
It also revealed: Only 15% have advanced digital competencies, and a staggering 31% of Nigerian youth are not in employment, education, or training (NEET).
This growing divide is particularly intriguing as the global economy rapidly shifts toward automation, green innovation, remote work, and AI-driven industries.
“With AI already transforming industries worldwide, Nigeria risks being left behind unless urgent, coordinated efforts are made to close the digital skills gap,” Moses added.
Media Advocacy, Real Stories, and Youth Voices
To commemorate this year’s World Youth Skills Day, NOMA and its media partners are launching a week-long advocacy campaign spotlighting young Nigerians who are applying AI and digital skills to create change in their communities. The campaign will also feature subject matter experts in digital learning and innovation, who will share insights on challenges and opportunities in the digital economy.
Moses emphasized the importance of amplifying youth voices, promoting positive success stories, and shaping policies and investments that create pathways to meaningful digital inclusion.
A National Call to Action
NOMA is urging key sectors of society to step up: Federal, State, and Local Governments to Strengthen digital education policies, scale programs such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, and integrate AI and ICT training into both formal and informal education systems.
Corporate Organizations: Support youth-focused innovation hubs, provide mentorship, and invest in digital internship and apprenticeship schemes.
Development Partners and Donors: Prioritize funding for technology-driven education and youth digital inclusion projects.
Academic Institutions: Embed digital literacy, AI, and emerging technologies into school curricula at all levels.
Media and Content Creators: Use storytelling platforms to promote awareness and inspire action through compelling narratives on digital transformation and youth empowerment.
“If we want inclusive economic growth, then AI and digital literacy must be recognized as a basic right — not a privilege,” Moses said.
“Let this year’s World Youth Skills Day be the turning point. Together, let’s ensure Nigeria’s youth are truly WorkLifeReady.”
