Reliance Infosystem Group, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, PlungeSmile Foundation, over the weekend in Lagos, reached out to corporate bodies for support in its drive to reach out to a target one million less-privileged school children across Africa in the next five years.

The event, which turned out to be a double as it also marked the Group Managing Director’s Golden Jubilee Celebration, further highlighted the first 20 years of the Foundation’s activities and its vision.

Speaking on the objectives of PlungeSmile Foundation, the Group Managing Director at Reliance Infosystems, Mr. Olayemi Popoola noted that the Foundation seeks to give young ones opportunities to achieve their goals as they are seen as the future leaders.

In his words: “When we set up our business, the Reliance Group, we felt like we shouldn’t just be focused on making money and making our employees happy. We also want to impart happiness to the people all around us, especially the younger ones who we see as the leaders of tomorrow.”

He explained that this informed setting up the Foundation 20 years ago.

Mr. Popoola, who disclosed that the Foundation has a 50-year ambitious plan to impact 30 million students across Africa with its mission, noted: “20 years down the line, we have only adopted 7 or 8 schools.

“Today we feed 1000 students on a daily basis. So long they go to school, they are sure of one meal, which we provide today. We are hopeful that we will be able to extend this to other schools all across Nigeria, with the help and support of corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians.

We are building our first model in Kwara State. This is because we have limited funding for now. And we are doing public schools because that is where the impact will be felt the most.”

He further solicited the support of corporate bodies and individuals. “What we are trying to do today is to canvass support from well-meaning Nigerians and corporate bodies, to join force with us. It is also an opportunity for them to extend social good to their own businesses as well.

“So, we want to find a way to get as many corporate bodies and well-meaning individuals, to join force with us to extend this good work we are doing.”

Andy Eberechukwu Akukwe, Vice President, PlungeSmile Foundation, in a media chat, said that PlungeSmile has actually transformed the lifestyle of thousands of individuals.

“Our programmes are carried out in public secondary schools, and some of the people that we actually impacted are now graduates in their rights, and doing very well in the society, and some of them are even supporting the charitable works of PlungeSmile, that is speaking to transformation.”

Backed by Reliance Infosystems and its sister companies – DigiTanks, Cloudway Africa and Reliance Datatech, PlungeSmile Foundation is an educational and welfare nonprofit seeking to holistically educate and empower individuals to reach their full potential and become self-reliant.

The Foundation, which empowers and uplifts marginalised individuals and communities by providing comprehensive support and resources, through collaboration, advocacy, and innovative solutions, aims to breach the cycle of poverty and inequality, fostering sustainable development and long-term positive change. Its interventions cross into Education, Infrastructure, Health & Nutrition, among others.

Under its intervention in education, PlungeSmile Foundation has initiated School Feeding Programme (SFP) for some public schools; Kit-Up-a-Child scheme designed to provide complete school clothing attire, including uniforms, socks, shoes, and bags, for pupils in public schools, thereby providing a sense of belonging to the child; and the Audiovisual Learning programme, which creates and serves as an enlightening platform for students in underserved rural areas, helping them realise the importance of learning, and dedication to work.

According to Bukky Shonibare, Technical Assistant at PlungeSmile, the programmes of the Foundation, which has a Co-Creation element to it, supports the Renewed Hope agenda of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has pledged to closely monitor local government activities to ensure good governance, accountability, and transparency. This initiative follows the recent Supreme Court judgment granting financial autonomy to local governments.

At a national dialogue organized by Agora Policy in Abuja on Monday, themed “Enthroning Accountability in Local Government in Nigeria,” the EFCC emphasized its commitment to scrutinizing local government operations.

Representing the EFCC Chairman, Friday Ebelo stated, “Good governance encompasses three essential elements: accountability, transparency, and citizen participation. For these elements to be effective, we need dedicated and development-minded individuals to manage local government administrations.”

The commission stressed the importance of ensuring that citizens feel the impact of governance in their daily lives, particularly in healthcare, education, and infrastructure development. The EFCC warned that “business as usual” would not be tolerated, signaling a renewed focus on holding local governments accountable for their actions.

Waziri Adio, founder of Agora Policy, highlighted the need for reform in rural government areas, stating, “Local government areas are the least trusted, least capacitated, and least interesting to the public.”

He noted that despite being expected to perform crucial functions, local governments are failing to meet expectations.

According to Adio, only 28% of citizens trusted local government administration, down from 58% in 2000, citing Afrobarometer’s 2008 survey.

Adio called for increased awareness, engagement, and accountability, emphasizing the need to involve people directly in decision-making. “We need to fix the broken representative government by involving people directly in decision-making,” he added.

Kole Shettima, Africa Director of the MacArthur Foundation, also emphasized the need for local governance reform. He recounted a conversation where a villager expected President Buhari to fix a local water issue, illustrating the unrealistic expectations placed on the presidency.

Shettima praised the Agora Policy Center for promoting policy conversations and acknowledged efforts by some local governments to involve citizens in decision-making.

Credit: Punch

A federal high court sitting in Lagos has nullified the sale of 49 percent equity stake in Nigeria Air to Ethiopian Airlines.

In the ruling on Monday, August 5, Judge Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, said the stake sold to Ethiopian Airlines is null and void after determining the issues in the suit.

Lewis-Allagoa also said the government’s plans to establish the national carrier, Nigeria Air, should be halted.

The case was brought against the FG by the registered trustees of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and five other aviation industry stakeholders.

The five other stakeholders are Azman Air Services Limited, Air Peace Limited, Max Air Limited, United Nigeria Airlines Company Limited, and Topbrass Aviation Limited.

The defendants are Nigeria Air Limited, Ethiopian Airlines, Hadi Sirika, former minister of aviation, and Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation.

The plaintiffs had sought an order to nullify the entire bidding and selection process for the Nigeria Air project, as well as the approval and selection of Ethiopian Airlines by the defendants.

In 2023, the Ministry of Aviation, under Sirika, unveiled Nigeria Air, three days before the end of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.