The event brought together key stakeholders from the education sector, including ministers, private school owners, education service providers, and development partners.
Mr. Kebba M.I Gaye, Group Manager for Education, Faith-Based and Social Services at Group Commercial Banking (ETI), gave an in-depth overview of the School Ecosystem CVP. He explained how the initiative is designed to foster connectivity among all education stakeholders and provide tailored banking solutions for schools, students, education service providers, and fintech companies. He emphasized Ecobank’s Pan-African commitment to education through financial inclusion, digital transformation, and sustainable partnerships.
In his opening remarks, Ecobank Gambia Managing Director, Mr. John Nyaaba, emphasized: “At Ecobank, we believe that for education to truly thrive, it must be supported by systems that are resilient, inclusive, and forward-thinking. The School Ecosystem CVP is a transformational solution developed by the Ecobank Group in response to the unique and evolving needs of the education sector across Africa. It supports the entire education value chain from nursery schools to tertiary institutions, and from school suppliers to parents.”
Minister for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Habibatou Drammeh, commended Ecobank for its foresight. She noted that the initiative aligns with The Gambia’s Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (2023–2027), Dube Yiriwa. “The launch of the School Ecosystem CVP is expected to create access to affordable finance for schools and educational institutions, enabling them to invest in infrastructure, learning materials, and technology, ultimately creating environments conducive to effective teaching and learning. MOBSE proudly associates itself with Ecobank in delivering financial and non-financial solutions that meet the holistic needs of the education ecosystem,” she added.
Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Pierre Gomez, Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, stated: “Africa is the youngest continent on Earth, yet our education systems remain among the least financed. Africa will never develop if we don’t put our house in order and that begins with education. We must invest in human capital and develop highly trained citizens who can take charge of our destiny.”
He praised the School Ecosystem CVP as a “timely, strategic, and visionary response” to the urgent need for innovative financing mechanisms in education. “This 360-degree model recognizes all stakeholders, students, teachers, administrators, suppliers, and parents as valuable actors in the education enterprise. When we invest in education, we are producing torchbearers we are producing light out of darkness,” he concluded.
The event also featured inspiring testimonials from principals of partner schools, who shared their journeys with Ecobank. They recounted how the bank supported their institutions from inception providing critical financial services, guidance, and operational support that helped them grow into well-established centers of learning.
Fintech partners echoed similar sentiments, applauding the School Ecosystem CVP as a timely innovation that integrates financial technology with the education sector to drive access, efficiency, and impact.
The event concluded with a lunch held in honor of the invited guests.
