Oando foundation upgrades 10 early childhood centres in Rivers

Oando Foundation commissions ten upgraded ECCD centres in Rivers State, enhancing learning spaces and training teachers for quality early childhood education

Port Harcourt, Rivers State — Oando Foundation, an independent charity supporting Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education (UBE) goals, has commissioned ten newly upgraded Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centres across four public primary schools in Port Harcourt.

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The upgrades were executed under the Foundation’s LEARNOVATE-SEED initiative (Supporting Early Childhood Education and Development), which aims to improve learning outcomes for young children and strengthen inclusive education systems nationwide.

According to UNICEF, only one in three Nigerian children are enrolled in early childhood education, highlighting the urgent need for investment in ECCD.

The SEED initiative addresses this gap by improving infrastructure, providing age-appropriate instructional and play materials, and equipping teachers with modern ECCD pedagogy.

The four beneficiary schools include:

• Seabed Model Primary School
• St Paul’s Model Primary School
• Cornel Abbe Model Primary School (CAMPS)
• Community Primary School

Across the ten ECCD centres, the Foundation provided:

1.  720 ergonomic chairs and 120 ECCD tables
2.  Wall-mounted whiteboards and bookshelves
3.  Playmats and 50-inch LED TVs preloaded with educational content
4.  Visual learning tools, educational displays, and reading corners
5.  One ECCD block fully overhauled with new playground equipment, murals, and an outdoor interactive learning game

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Tonia Uduimoh, Head of Oando Foundation, emphasised the importance of early learning:

“The first five years of a child’s life are critical for cognitive and motor development. Through SEED, we have upgraded learning spaces, provided age-appropriate materials, and trained teachers to ensure children from low-income backgrounds can learn in environments comparable to private schools.”

Mrs. Mina Gabriella Tolofari, representing the Executive Chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBEB), praised the initiative:

“On behalf of RSUBEB, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Oando Foundation for this incredible upgrade to our early childhood classrooms. This is a remarkable contribution to our education system.”

Alongside physical upgrades, Oando Foundation facilitated a two-day, hands-on training programme for ECCD teachers, headteachers, education officers, and caregivers. The training covered:

1.  Child development and curriculum delivery
2.  Inclusive classroom practices and experiential learning
3.  Application of the national ECCD curriculum
4.  Tailoring instruction for children with learning difficulties or physical disabilities

To date, Oando Foundation has upgraded 41 ECCD centres, benefiting over 6,500 children.

The SEED initiative is part of the Foundation’s broader LEARNOVATE strategy, which promotes innovation, equity, and quality foundational learning to create better opportunities for children and youth.

Also read: Oando CEO Wale Tinubu praises Oramah as he exits Afreximbank

“As an indigenous organisation, we are committed to building human capital and restoring the glory of public schools. By supporting early education, we are shaping a generation prepared to add value to society and the workforce,” added Uduimoh.

David Okere