Foremost financial institution, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, FBN, has reitrated commitment to education growth as it donated 20,000 units of e-learning devices to the Lagos State government.
This will keep children engaged and reduce the effect of the disruption in education system on children as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19.
The devices, meant to be distributed for school children, was presented in partnership with Robert & John (an edu-tech company that owns Roducate).
So far, the bank has enabled over 10,000 free sign-ups to the Roducate e-learning platform with the goal to empower one million students.
Commenting, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated that the intervention was apt and timely.
He said, ” We found a “real development partner” in FirstBank, especially at a time like this when government was deploying technology to transform the conventional mode of teaching and learning.
“When we were developing our vision to change the face of education in Lagos, we knew from the outset that we could not achieve much progress in improving the quality of learning without using technology as a strong enabler. So, it is not out of place that we are witnessing more infusion of technology in learning and this intervention by FirstBank could not have come at a better time.
“It feels great when you have people and organisations share in your vision and working with you to realise it. I’m glad to say that we have found a real development partner in FirstBank, which has supported us to actualise the vision we have signed to achieve.
“Many years back, nobody foresaw Coronavirus would come and disrupt our ways of life. These devices will be useful to our pupils in the current circumstances we have found ourselves.”
“FirstBank and all technical partners that worked on this project have written their names in the heart of students that will be using the device to learn. They will be forever grateful for passing the future to them.”
Presenting the devices, Chief Executive Officer of First Bank, Dr . Adesola Adeduntan stated that the e-learning initiative was part of it corporate social responsibility and sustainability initiatives in line with one of bank’s strategic pillars, Education.
“We are excited to promote education and have consistently demonstrated this in our support of 10 universities and 3 secondary schools on infrastructure projects; our support of 10 universities with professorial Chairs and provision of financial literacy, entrepreneurial and career counselling to over 80,000 students in over 80 secondary schools in the country”, he added.
The Bank has also collaborated with IBM and Curious Learning to ensure the e-learning initiative swiftly moves across the country to school children and individuals with the need to promote the pursuit of knowledge, irrespective of age.
The e-learning device is configured in line with government’s accredited curriculum for primary, secondary and tertiary schools across various fields of academic endeavours.
This includes: Science, Commercial and Arts. It is built to promote cost-effective learning as there is minimal need for internet connectivity, whilst learning on the device is on-going.
