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9mobile Launches Code Lagos Centre at Rabiatu Thompson Primary School
9mobile, Nigeria’s most innovative and customer-friendly telecommunications company, has launched a coding centre at one of its adopted schools, Rabiatu Thompson Primary School, Surulere, Lagos, as part of the Code Lagos initiative of the Lagos State Government.
Code Lagos, which seeks to teach at least one million Lagos residents to code by 2019, has 9mobile as one of its key partners, with the telecommunications firm setting up coding centres at its adopted schools.
Speaking at the launch, Oluseyi Osunsedo, acting director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, 9mobile, said the telco’s partnership with the Lagos State Government on Code Lagos was borne out of its commitment to education and the empowerment of young Nigerians to succeed in the digital age.
Osunsedo said, “As a company committed to promoting academic excellence, 9mobile has introduced a number of initiatives that contribute to sustainable development in Nigeria. One of such initiatives is our Adopt-A-School programme, through which we have adopted four schools for life, and are driving the delivery of qualitative primary and secondary education, in partnership with respective state governments.
“In sustaining our commitment, we have collaborated with the Lagos State Government, on the laudable Code Lagos initiative, and today we are launching a fully equipped coding centre at Rabiatu Thompson Primary School.
Osunsedo added further that “The present and even more so the future will be ruled by technology; artificial intelligence presently plays a major role in modern day living and with the technological advancements that have been made, we believe that our children should be exposed and empowered not just to participate, but to compete in the digital evolution space.”
Whilst encouraging the students to maximally utilize the coding centre, Osunsedo expressed the hope that in another 10-15 years, the school would have produced some of the ICT gurus that will create phenomenal programs that add value to life.”
Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, director-general, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State Ministry of Education, who represented Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, special adviser on Education, at the launch, stated that the state government was strongly committed to Code Lagos, and thanked 9mobile for its unrelenting support for the initiative.
Soyombo said, “Lagos State Government aims at making coding education framework accessible to every student in Lagos State by encouraging the private sector to key into this new initiative, as the state would continue to create an enabling environment conducive for investment.
“Code Lagos centres have continually been established across Education Districts in Lagos State, public libraries and other community spaces, to drive the mega-city dream that will generate employment and business opportunities; and qualified candidates must be available to take advantage of all the available opportunities.
Mrs. Mercy Ejindu, head Teacher of Rabiatu Thompson Primary School, expressed profound gratitude to 9mobile for its support for the school and for setting up the coding centre.
“We are very grateful to 9mobile. Since 9mobile adopted this school, they’ve supported us in many ways and now they have set up this coding centre that will help our pupils to learn and be in tune with current trends, especially in digital technology,” Ejindu said.
9mobile had also supported in the setting up a coding centre and ICT laboratory at two of its other adopted schools in Lagos, Akande Dahunsi Memorial Senior and Junior High Schools in Ikoyi.
British High Commission in Nigeria has reiterated the strong, long-standing relationship between the United Kingdom and Nigeria following the release of the UK Immigration White Paper earlier today.
A spokesperson for the High Commission stated that the UK remains a top destination for Nigerians seeking opportunities to work, study, visit, and settle, acknowledging the valuable contributions Nigerians make to the UK economy and society.
The White Paper outlines reforms to legal migration, aimed at restoring order, control, and fairness to the system while promoting economic growth.
The spokesperson assured that changes would be gradual, with further engagement between the UK and Nigerian government officials once implementation details are finalized.
“The UK has a proud tradition as an outward-looking nation, investing and trading abroad, and welcoming the creativity, ideas, and diversity of those who come to contribute here,” the spokesperson said.
The UK government has pledged to work closely with Nigerian authorities to ensure a smooth transition as the new immigration policies take effect
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed nine electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to compensate Band A customers residing in 557 streets across their franchise areas for failing to meet the minimum power supply requirement under the new electricity tariff regime.
According to NERC, the affected DisCos must implement compensation across 152 electricity feeders due to poor supply in April.
The compensation will be provided through electricity credit or improved power supply, as outlined in the April 2025 Multi-Year Tariff Order.
The directive affects the following DisCos:
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC)
Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC)
Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED)
Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO)
Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO)
Ikeja Electric (IE)
Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC)
Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC)
Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC)
The development follows a tariff hike of over 300% for Band A customers in 2024, which mandated a minimum daily power supply of 20 hours. Despite the increase, many consumers have continued to report poor service delivery, leading to the latest compensation directive.
NERC stated that affected DisCos must upgrade power supply in designated areas or provide electricity credits to customers who experienced service failures.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to immediately disclose whether it has commenced the direct disbursement of allocations to the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, following the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment nullifying state governors’ control over LGA funds.
In a letter dated 10 May 2025 obtained by our correspondent, addressed to the CBN Governor, Mr Olayemi Cardoso, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the group also demanded that the bank “widely publish the amounts, if any, so far sent directly to each of the local governments” and provide a detailed explanation of any payments already made—particularly to LGAs in Rivers State.
The group stated: “We are writing to request you to use your good offices and leadership position to immediately disclose whether the CBN has commenced the direct disbursement of allocations to the 774 local government councils in Nigeria from the Federation Accounts with the CBN, and to widely publish the amounts, if any, so far sent to each of the local governments.”
This request follows a Supreme Court judgment declaring the practice by governors and the FCT Minister of retaining and disbursing LGA allocations unconstitutional and unlawful.
The court ruled that no governor or agency has the authority to interfere with allocations meant for LGAs from the Federation Account.
Citing this judgment, SERAP argued: “Local government councils are entitled to a direct payment from the Federation Account of the amount standing to their credit in the said Federation Account. States should not be collecting, receiving, spending or tampering with the local government council funds from the Federation Account meant for the benefit of the councils.”
The advocacy group expressed concern that despite the ruling, many state governors have continued to “starve local governments of funds and put them in peril,” thereby undermining their autonomy and capacity to function as the third tier of government.
In the letter, the group warned that if the CBN fails to act within seven days, it would take legal action.
“If we have not heard from you by then, the Incorporated Trustees of SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the CBN to comply with our request in the public interest,” the letter stated.
SERAP referenced a past revelation by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who in December 2022 described how governors allegedly short-changed LGA chairmen.
“If the money from the Federation Account to the state is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the chairman, but he will sign that he received N100 million. The chairman will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with,” Buhari had said.
The organisation argued that the CBN has a constitutional and statutory obligation to protect the financial interests of all tiers of government.
“The CBN ought to act in the public interest to protect the allocations in the Federation Account and the public funds disbursed from that Account directly to each of the constitutionally recognised three tiers of government,” it said.
Highlighting the March 2025 revenue distribution by the Federation Account Allocation Committee, SERAP noted that a total of N1.578 trillion was shared among the three tiers of government. It queried whether the LGAs had received their fair share directly, as mandated by the court ruling.
“Ensuring that all restrictions against direct disbursement of allocations from the Federation Account to the 774 councils are lifted will comply with the orders by the Supreme Court and stop states and the FCT from tampering with the allocations ahead of the 2027 general elections,” SERAP warned.
The group further argued that Nigerians have a legal and moral right to know how their money is being managed, referencing several legal frameworks, including the Nigerian Constitution, the Freedom of Information Act, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“The public interest in publishing the information sought outweighs any considerations to withhold the information. Nigerians are entitled to the right to receive information without any interference or distortion, and the enjoyment of this right should be based on the principle of maximum disclosure,” SERAP stated.
The group also reminded the CBN that “the Freedom of Information Act is applicable and applies to public records in the Federation, including those kept by the CBN.”
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