Stakeholders in the education sector have called for a concerted effort to strengthen the education system through scholarship support and other initiatives in Nigeria.
Speaking at the 10th year Anniversary of the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International Scholarships held in Lagos, they described education as a seedbed of national transformation and a strategic empowerment that can fast track community advancement and build capacity of the future generations.
At a media briefing in Lagos, Chairman of COFI’s Board of Trustees, Rev. Tom Amenkhienan, said that the foundation’s decade-long impact signalled accountability, strategic growth, and transparency.
He said; “Ten years ago, the COFI Scholarships Initiative was established as a deliberate and structured response to a pressing need: to expand access to quality education for deserving young minds, eliminate financial barriers, and position education as a catalyst for sustainable transformation.
“Over these 10 years, the initiative has secured academic futures for countless students, repositioned life trajectories, strengthened families through educational stability, contributed to community advancement as well as built a growing network of emerging leaders equipped for national and global relevance. This is not aspirational language. It is documented evidence.”
“This milestone is not a conclusion. It is an acceleration point. The first decade established foundation and proof. The next decade demands scale, innovation, deeper partnerships, and expanded reach across borders.” Amenkhienan said.
In her remark, the COFI’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Dr. lfeoma Chiemeka, explained that the faith-based foundation is committed to empowering individuals to reach their full potential.
She noted that beneficiaries have achieved extraordinary feats, including constructing a locally assembled vehicle despite limited manufacturing infrastructure.
Others at the occasion including the Pro- Chancellor British-Canadian University, Pastor, Afolabi Oketunji also lauded the gesture, while calling on other well meaning individuals to key into such initiative towards building a life-transforming platform for the next generation.
The event also featured a public lecture with the theme “Reshaping the Educational Ecosystem: Reforming Curricula and Empowering Educators to Build our Societies and Nation’.
The Guest Speaker, Prof. Chukwuemeka Eke, described education as the engine of national destiny.
Professor Eke stressed he need for curriculum reform and teacher empowerment to meet the demands of a rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
He urged investment in digital fluency, critical thinking, and professional dignity to transform classrooms into innovation laboratories driving sustainable development.
“Education is the engine of national destiny; when we align curriculum with reality and empower educators, we unlock innovation, reduce unemployment, and secure sustainable prosperity,” Professor Eke said.
A Nutritional and Pharmacological Biochemist at the University of Lagos, Prof. Ngozi Imaga, in her presentation also said that effective learning requires students to pursue courses aligned with their passions, transforming classrooms into vibrant spaces for critical thinking, engagement, and personal growth.
She acknowledged that the milestone reflects COFI’s commitment to shaping future leaders through education, demonstrating that strategic investment in young people can yield lasting societal impact.
The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI) Scholarships said that it has empowered about 154 deserving students, expanding access to quality education across Nigeria and beyond in the last 10 years.