By Eberechi Obinagwam
Zoho Corporation, a leading global technology company, is partnering with Bridge International Academies to support the education of 200 children from underserved communities by sponsoring school uniforms, fees for four terms, and other essential items for students attending Bridge International Academies.
Kehinde Ogundare, Country Head, Zoho Nigeria who made the announcement on the sidelines of Zoholics Nigeria, the company’s annual user conference on Thursday at Eko hotels, Lagos said it is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative in Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda.
This initiative, he said, aims to address the issue of financial constraints that hinder many pupils’ access to essential school supplies.
He said one in every five of the world’s out-of-school children is in Nigeria while about 10.5 million children are not in school even though primary education is officially free and compulsory. “Education deprivation is driven by various factors: Economic barriers, socio-cultural norms and practices that discourage attendance in formal education, especially for girls. Zoho recognises the crucial role of education in societal development and is committed to breaking down these barriers by supporting Bridge international Academies pupils with necessary supplies. Adding to this, Zoho aims to assist Bridge international Academies in its digitalisation efforts, offering Zoho Wallet Credits to help them utilise the company’s technology,” he said.
Remarking on the initiative, Foyinsola Akinjayeju, Managing Director, Bridge International Academies, Nigeria said, “Every child has the right to education, yet many children from underprivileged backgrounds face significant barriers to accessing quality learning opportunities. That’s why we are committed to transforming the lives of millions of children in underserved communities by delivering life-changing education. Through strategic partnerships, we aim to bridge this gap by providing vital resources and high-quality education to the students we serve. We are thrilled and deeply grateful for our partnership with Zoho, as our shared commitment to delivering meaningful value is at the heart of what unites us.”
Zoho is also recycling the billboards of its out of home ads and turning them into bags. Over 500 flexes from Nigeria and 1300+ in Kenya have been recycled so far.
Ogundare emphasised that, “At Zoho, we believe that our growth should go hand in hand with the success of our customers, partners, employees, and the communities we are part of. In Nigeria, we embrace this same philosophy by hiring locally, expanding our partner network, and offering affordable technology tailored to meet local needs. For the community, we have been investing in youth upskilling initiatives and are now extending support to children’s education. We are also committed to strengthening our sustainability efforts, including expanding our recycling programmes, such as flex recycling.”
At the conference, Zoho also announced that it grew by 31% in 2023 in Nigeria, one of its key markets in the Africa region. The company has been providing its 55+ apps in Naira to help local businesses avoid fluctuating dollar rates.
Zoho plays crucial role in optimising business operations, improving customer experience and enhancing efficiency in Nigeria through its products; Zoho Workplace, Zoho Books, Zoho Desk, Zoho CRM, and Zoho One.
It recently launched a new version of Zoho Analytics—Zoho’s self-service BI and analytics platform that have added power, intelligence, and flexibility to serve a broader range of businesses and users than competitors in the market.
