Mr Peter Amangbo, the Managing Director of Zenith Bank, has pledged the bank’s support towards closing the digital skill gaps in the country.
Amangbo,represented by Mrs Adaobi Nwapa, General Manager, said at the 2018 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship sponsored by Zenith Bank in Lagos on Wednesday, said it was part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility projects.
The ceremony was to recognise and reward the students and teachers that competed in the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship in Nigeria.
The winners are: Miss Olubunmi Agusto of Day Waterman College, Abeokuta, Ogun State, as the second place winner in Word 2007 and First African Champion in 2014.
Master Atafo Abure, Childville School, Ogudu, as the 10th place winner in Excel 2010 in 2015. Miss Katherine Eta of Childville School, Ogudu, won the 10th position in PowerPoint 2013 in 2016 and also third place in Word 2016 (2017).
Amangbo urged stakeholders in the education sector to work together to equip students with digital skills.
“I particularly want to acknowledge the efforts of our partner in this project, ReadManna.
“I also would like to encourage our schools to include the acquisition of the commonly used desktop productivity Microsoft Office tools in their curriculum.
“Zenith Bank is proud to be a partner in this laudable project that is designed to provide the students with computing expertise they need now and after they graduate.
“As a bank, we are committed to youth empowerment which is at the core of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),” said the Zenith bank boss.
According to him, Zenith Bank has over the years undertaken notable CSR social initiatives that have impacted schools, cities and the youth.
“These include the sponsorship of the Nigerian Female Basketball League, the National Under-13 and Under-15 Football Teams.
“Others are Delta State Principals Cup as well as the donations of ICT Centres to major higher institutions and cities in the country,” Amangbo said.
Mrs Edna Agusto, the Chief Executive Officer of Readmanner, the partner of Zenith Bank in the project, appreciated the management of the bank for its decision to grow the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship in Nigeria.
She said the bank’s support would help every Nigerian student to know the importance of acquring basic digital skills at an early age.
The Microsoft Office specialist encourages schools to embrace the competition. “The Computing Fundamentals Competition enables schools to evaluate their ICT curriculum. “It gives an independent assessment of your student’s ability in basic ICT that is taught in the school, and it is aligned to school curriculum and international standards.
According to her, students who compete in this competition stand a good chance of getting ‘A’ in Computer Studies in all national and international examinations.