The Brain Wealth Project (BWP) Utvecklingsbolag of Eddalands and Scandinavia has announced plans for a $502bn programme to strengthen functionality of Nigeria’s education, selecting Ekiti State as a starting point, with the goal of ensuring that every child and youth passing through in the state and throughout Nigeria is equipped through quality functional education with capacity to compete with their counterparts globally in industrial capabilities for creating values and transforming resources in the country, their talents and intellects into modern goods, services and infrastructure that meet domestic needs of the state and the country in all sectors, and respond to global demands.
The 25 years private sector driven programme will be focused on 23 identified areas of national needs of the education system, society and industry, including supportive school administration and quality teachers, and would be implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and Association for formidable Educational Development (AFED), Ekiti State Chapter.
As part of actions towards capturing all key stakeholders on the programme, the company will co-host a two-day sub-national workshop for private school owners and public school administrators in Ekiti with AFED. This is in a bid to fermiliarize school owners and school administrators with the ideal of functional education that meets Nigeria’s knowledge and skill needs to level up with the developed rich countries of the world, and how to benefit from provisions available on the programme.
Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti via a virtual call, Nigeria and Africa Head of Business Action of Education, Business Development, Food Security and Strong Institutions at BWP Utvecklingsbolag, His Grace, Clerk Brandon av Öddström, described the workshop as part of the broader initiative known as the Strategic Knowledge Base Advancement Programme, the 25-year national programme dedicated to building a knowledge-driven, industrially capable citizenry with capacity for modern production from Nigeria’s aboundant resources.
According to him, the initiative is focused on basic and applied research to create practical solutions to Nigeria’s key development challenges, spanning 23 identified areas of national need including supportive school administration, and other areas that span from the basic to tertiary education level.
The grand duke and business leader, affirmed that the initiative represents a long-term commitment to building a comprehensive value chain in education in order to develop capabilities, connect research, industry and innovation to real economic growth and build the baseline for a future characterized by shared prosperity for Nigeria and for Nigerians.
The workshop, which will be held on 30th and 31st October, 2025 at GIGMOF Event Centre, Obafemi Awolowo Civic and Convention Centre, Ado-Ekiti, will also bring together scholars and experts such as Permanent Secretary of Ekiti State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Omolayo Michael, Vice Chancellor of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI), Prof. Olufemi Adeoluwa.
Others are Dean, Management Science Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti (EKSU), Prof. Clement Olaoye, Director, Education Support Services & International Partnerships of NCCE, Badmus Razaq and Ekiti State Controller of Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Samson Ibitoye.
His words, “The Strategic Knowledge-Based Advancement Program is a $502 billion initiative designed to run for 25 years. It is focused on basic and applied research aimed at creating solutions for the various areas of need identified by the program.
“At the national level, the Federal Government will provide counterpart funding to the states and similar support will be extended to school associations as their state-level equivalents.
“Already, the program has subsidized registration fees for members of AFED in Ekiti State who will participate in this upcoming workshop.
“This is not about teaching for exams, it is about building a knowledge system that translates talent and intellect into modern goods, services and infrastructure thereby moving our country from poverty to prosperity.
“The Strategic Knowledge-Based Advancement Program is a 25-year journey. It’s about equipping Nigerian children and youths with the mindset, values and capabilities to sustain a modern, productive and prosperous nation”.
Speaking on the significance of the upcoming workshop, Ekiti State Controller of AFED, Pastor Samson Ibitoye stated that the 2-Day Special Sub-National Workshop offers a unique opportunity for school owners and administrators in Ekiti to gain direct access to global education reform tools and innovations designed to elevate teaching and learning outcomes.
Pastor Ibitoye highlighted that participants would enjoy opportunities for teacher recognition and capacity development as well as eligibility for national and state-level award schemes aimed at celebrating excellence in education delivery.
The State Cordinator added that the event will provide extensive networking opportunities by with education leaders, government representatives and international development partners working in the sector..
