Mr Taldar made this declaration while on a joint visit with the leadership of UNICEF and Airtel Nigeria.

The delegation, which included Dinesh Balsingh, the chief executive officer, Airtel Nigeria; Celine Lafoucriere, UNICEF chief of Field Office; and other senior executives from Airtel and UNICEF, engaged with school administrators, teachers, and pupils to assess the progress recorded under the Reimagine Education Programme.

This visit marks another significant step in Airtel’s long-standing collaboration with UNICEF to drive inclusive and technology-driven education, ensuring that more Nigerian children have access to quality learning resources.

Through the collaboration, Airtel has reported that over 1,200 schools have been equipped with tablets and data to connect teachers and learners to digital learning platforms.

Speaking with the media after a demonstration of NLP and digital learning devices, Mr Taldar said,

“What I saw today at St Agnes Primary School was impressive and we are encouraged by the impact made for students and teachers through our partnership with UNICEF,” adding that “our partnership with UNICEF is one of the ways we are ensuring that more children in Nigeria and beyond have access to digital learning tools that will equip them for their future. This visit reaffirms our dedication to making education more inclusive, accessible, and impactful.”

Also commenting on the company`s commitment to digital education and bridging the digital divide for Nigerian children, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, highlighted the importance of technology-driven learning, the impact of Airtel’s partnership with UNICEF, and the role of the Nigeria Learning Passport in providing students and teachers with essential digital learning tools.

“At Airtel Nigeria, we are deeply committed to empowering young minds through technology-driven education. Our visit to St. Agnes Primary School underscores our dedication to bridging the digital divide and ensuring that more Nigerian children have access to quality learning resources. Through our partnership with UNICEF, we continue to invest in initiatives like the Nigeria Learning Passport, which provides students and teachers with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital world.”

On her part, UNICEF Chief of Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts to reimagine education.

“Education is a fundamental right, and digital learning has become a key enabler in bridging educational gaps. Our partnership with Airtel Africa and Airtel Nigeria continues to provide innovative learning solutions, ensuring that every child, regardless of location or socio-economic status, has the opportunity to learn and thrive. We are excited about the ongoing implementation of the Nigeria Learning Passport and the transformation it brings to education in Nigeria,” she said.

Recall that in 2023, Airtel and UNICEF paid a similar visit to Oremeji Primary School Ajegunle Lagos, one of Airtel Nigeria’s seven adopted schools.

This visit to St. Agnes Primary School reflects a broader engagement with schools benefiting from the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) – a digital education platform developed by UNICEF in partnership with the Nigerian government and Microsoft.

The NLP is designed to provide accessible, high-quality educational content to students, teachers, and parents, supporting learning both in and outside the classroom.

Airtel’s collaboration with UNICEF aligns with its broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda to support education, digital inclusion, and sustainable development.

The Nigeria Learning Passport continues to gain traction as a powerful tool in ensuring that children, including those in remote and underserved areas, have access to interactive, high-quality educational content.

Oby Orogbu, the chairman, House Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility, gave this indication at a public hearing on “A bill to regulate CSR in Nigeria and for other related matters Nigeria on Tuesday.

This was just as the committee issued last warning to MTN and Airtel, telecommunication service providers to honour its invitation or face the warrant of arrest by the legislative panel.

The committee’s chairman noted that some companies operating in the country have over the time violated the law, hence the need for punishment to be imposed on them.

Orogbu frowned at the National Communications Commission (NCC), MTN and Airtel for several times ignoring the invitation of the committee, saying the panel will not hesitate to involve its powers and issue a warrant of arrest on them.

She said:

“Section 89, 8 of the Constitution mandates individual companies as invited to make themselves available to parliament but they break the law and I want to tell you Sir, MTN and Airtel they take so much from our nation and they feel too big to appear before the parliament we will not tolerate that.

“I want you as a regulatory body to organise those telecommunication companies were they will be meeting between this parliament and the telecommunication, we gave them the powers to operate in Nigeria so to refuse to honour the invitation of the parliament is a no, no, we take exception to it. The parliament is frowning at it and this is an opportunity to say clearly”.

Holding at the prestigious Sir Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports Hall in Surulere, Lagos, from June 12th to 18th, 2023, the global tennis competition will play host to notable players such as Nigeria’s very own Quadri Aruna, who will face formidable opponents from China, Tapei, Korea, Germany, Portugal, Denmark, Egypt, Slovakia, Poland, and Sweden.

The WTT Contender was introduced by the International governing body, ITTF in 2019. This tournament is a prestigious event that showcases the participation of highly skilled professional table tennis players from various countries, both male and female, competing for the championship title. 

The WTT professional tour has energized the elite player base by allowing them to vie for incentives and world ranking points, while also allowing up-and-coming stars of the sport to work their way up the ladder. 

The WTT Contender Series will make its African debut in Durban, Lagos and Tunisia respectively. 

Speaking during the media briefing in Lagos, Mr Olamide Olajolo, the CEO of Coronation Insurance Plc, state that “we are proud to be one of the sponsors of this event.

“We congratulate the LOC for organizing this wonderful event. Coronation Insurance Plc, is one of the top insurance company in Nigeria; hence, we have provided insurance cover for all players in this tournament.

“We recognize that safety is very key for sportspersons. This is a partnership that will grow the sport. We will continue to explore more avenues to support tennis and other sports in Nigeria.”

According to a report issued by the Centre for the Study of the Economics of Africa (CSEA), Sport contribution to Nigeria’s GDP remains low due to inadequate finance and investment. 

Assessing the impact of sports on Nigeria’s GDP, the report shows that the entertainment and recreation sector contributed 0.19, 0.31, 0.33 and 0.35 percentage to the Nigerian GDP in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Coronation is driven by its mission to provide transformational solutions for Africa through various human enterprise. 

Its products and services provide self-sufficiency, financial independence, creation and preservation of wealth for the future.

Similarly, Akinlolu Akinyele, the CEO of Life Assurance, said that “we are excited to be a part of this epoch-making tennis fiesta. Indeed, Sporting tournaments such as the WTT Contender Tournament can be utilized as a medium to democratize wealth creation and access, thereby encouraging participation in all sporting activities in primary, secondary, and tertiary educational institutions. These will help make the sports sector more appealing for the youth to pursue as a career and profitable for businesses”.

He maintained that sports can provide an important platform for youths to develop life skills that will enable them to cope better with everyday life challenges and transition away from drug abuse, violence, and crime.

Coronation Insurance  is a leading financial service partner that helps build enduring legacies that lead to sustainable wealth creation in Africa. 

It offers a wide range of financial solutions to professionals, institutions, and individuals across Africa and globally. It was established to help more people attain financial well-being and prosperity.

Since 2007, the organization has made it a tradition to provide between 2,000 and 2,500 patients with free eye surgery; they accomplished a similar number in the most recent year.

The Managing Director/CEO of AIICO Insurance Plc, Babatunde Fajemirokun, recently mentioned at the 2022 Sharad Purnima Dandiya event in Lagos that his insurance company offers to help the less fortunate restore their sight through the support it offered to Indo-Eye Care Foundation.

Asserting that this action is in keeping with the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the communities and humanity, Fajemirokun, who was represented by the Communication Manager of AIICO Insurance, Ademola Adenekan, promised that the company will continue to support the underprivileged and initiatives like the eyecare foundation.

The management of the underwriting company, he claimed, is pleased that its gesture has allowed more blind people to regain their sight.

He stated that fast payment of claims has been and will remain a defining feature of the insurer’s operations and that it will continue to uphold its expectations and civic duties.

The Nigerian Medical Association is the professional association registered for medical practitioners in Nigerian covering the six major medical specialties. The association collaborates in specific projects on health issues with public and private organisations to achieve its agenda for better healthcare service delivery to Nigerians. In partnership with Bolt, medical practitioners will have quick and affordable access to Bolt rides which gives the practitioners unfettered mobility access to their duty.

Speaking on the partnership, Abisola Odukoya Nigeria Public Policy Specialist, said, “We are committed to the welfare of those that have kept us going during the height of the pandemic. This remains a priority for us and as such we are continually looking for ways to contribute to their wellbeing.

The partnership with the Nigerian Medical Association is important to us as we understand the importance of access to resources and solutions to make certain things convenient for them. We will continue to fulfil our CSR initiatives to empower and enable our communities for cities built around people”.

The NMA Chairman, Lagos Chapter, Dr Tajudeen Salau, shared his excitement about the support. He said, “the Bolt CSR to NMA Lagos is a carefully selected type of CSR which affords the doctors some comfort to perform their duty and also makes it easier for patients to receive care easier than usual”.

In line with its commitment to civil society, Bolt will continue to be a socially responsible platform that contributes and associates with organisations that support the communities in which it operates. Bolt will continue to seek out such partnerships with relevant stakeholders to create a direct positive impact on the society and communities.

At the premiere of Airtel Touching Lives Season 6, on Friday at Ebony Place, Victoria Island, Lagos, Sam Egube, commissioner for Budget and Planning, who represented Governor Sanwo-Olu, thanked Airtel Nigeria for truly showcasing love for humanity by supporting and building a better society for the poor.

He explained that what the telecom operator was doing impacts positively on the overall well-being of Lagos State.

“Lagos cannot be Lagos without its people like Airtel.” He said it was people like Airtel Nigeria and other corporate bodies that made Lagos what is today.

The commissioner encouraged individuals who were present at the event to start doing what Airtel is doing in their tiny spaces.

“Sometimes, it appears that philanthropy is for only wealthy people and that’s not true. No matter how little we have as individuals, there is more we can do.”

As an example, he explained that diaspora remittances in Nigeria were all aggregates of small tokens from millions of people but not large sums of money from a few wealthy people.

“Remittances are from millions of Nigerians who are helping to intervene in their homes and in their communities. These acts change people’s lives and make society a better place.”

Continuing, “during Covid-19, it was reported that Lagos State did extremely well, but the truth is that “Lagos is not Lagos without its people.”

He revealed that it wasn’t just the Lagos government but the private sector that contributed their quota during the period. “It was the combined effects of those actions that raised the implication of what was done. It’s the people of Lagos that made it happen.”

“We have seen Airtel behave truly like a Lagosian, other people can see and be encouraged to act in their various small spaces. Sometimes, you don’t really need too much money to touch people’s lives.”

The commissioner gave an account of how he intervened in the lives of widows who trade agricultural products in a certain rural community.

“At the end of everything, it was only N500,000 I needed to help those 25 widows in form of a cooperative and I am sure many of us can do it,” he said.

In a goodwill message delivered at the event, Bamidele Abiodun, wife of Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State commended Airtel for the bold steps it has taken over the years to help build the society.

“What Airtel Nigeria is doing is exemplary, this is showing love to humanity.”

She urged stakeholders to demonstrate kindness and express value for humanity while making society better.

“I encourage you to share these inspiring stories with the world. To me, this is not boasting rather it’s about setting an example for others to follow. Airtel cannot do it alone, they need partners and collaborations.”

The first lady revealed what her office and Ajose Foundation were doing to relate with many people from the grassroots and the communities.

Ajose Foundation was founded by Mrs. Abiodun to work in partnership with the Ogun State Government, civil society, and other organizations in making life better for the people of Ogun State while championing programs and initiatives toward meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

She suggested that the mobile operator expands the Touching Lives program.

“Expanding it will make it more far-reaching and further make the society a better place. I am also looking forward to partnering with Airtel through my foundation.”

In his opening remarks, C. Surendran, chief executive officer, Airtel Nigeria said the initiative focuses on giving succor and comfort to the poor and needy in the society.

Explaining the philosophy behind the initiative, the CEO said it’s all about inspiring the strong and the wealthy to support the vulnerable and the poor.

“Airtel believes that if you are committed to giving and making efforts to collaborate, we can solve the problems faced by the society in some parts of the country.”

Surendran highlighted some of the previous editions of the CSR initiatives had recorded milestone achievements, some of them include building schools, and boreholes, providing facilities for learning, refurbished cancer centers, setting up ICT facilities for underprivileged kids, giving scholarships, supporting individuals to fulfill their dreams, building hospitals and other things.

He revealed that Airtel was also partnering with UNICEF to provide Schools in rural areas to have access to education and digital learning. “We are providing 10 schools in Lagos State, and 10 schools in Kano State.