Edith CHUKU
As part of proactive measures to build a future where every child can access quality education, develop essential financial skills, and have the opportunity to pursue their dreams, Capital Portfolio Investment System CAPIS, has launched the Entrepreneurship Education Fund EEF.
The official launch and signing of the EEF Governance Charter, held in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, was in partnership with the National Association of Proprietors of Private School NAAPS, Rivers State chapter.
CAPIS is a retail venture capital, sustainable financing and investment holding firm, established to create an ecosystem for sustainable financing and accessible capital for people and individuals from all works of life.
The CAPIS-NAPPS partnership is expected to be a model for how the private sector, educational institutions, and responsible capital can work together to transform both the educational and economic outlook of Nigeria over the next decade and beyond.
The collaboration was described as the beginning of a long-term institutional commitment to moving from education to enterprise, from knowledge to opportunity, and from opportunity to sustainable economic participation.
Speaking during the event, CAPIS Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Paul Adonis Peters, described the EEF as a perpetual educational endowment that will continue strengthening schools while preserving its capital for future generations.
Peters explained that the partnership between CAPIS and NAPPS is in promotion of one of its flagship services; Kids Capital Trust KCT.
According to him, “one of the most important thing a parent will do for their children is to send them to school, to educate them but as we are all aware, education is not enough. Children need strong financial foundation to start life as adults, that’s what the Kids Capital Trust does.
“For us, in order for a parent to achieve that, you don’t have to bear continuous financial burden, that is why we structured the KCT with a one time set up capital, for children from zero to 12 years, by the time the child gets to 21, they will have access to a capital structure that helps support if they want to start investment in the capital market.
“As a Securities and Exchange Commission licensed Venture Capital Manager, we understand that responsible capital has the power to transform lives when combined with sound governance, discipline and vision. That philosophy gave birth to the Kids Capital Trust.
“The KCT is more than a financial product, it is an expression of hope, it is a declaration that every child deserves not only education but also the opportunity to begin adult life on a stronger financial foundation.”
On the EEF, CAPIS MD noted that, “today, we formally launch the Entrepreneurship Education Fund. The Entrepreneurship Education Fund is not a programme, it is not an intervention, it is not an event, it is an institution; institutions change nations, institutions outlive governments, institutions outlive founders, institutions preserve vision across generations. That is exactly what this fund has been designed to become.”
Also speaking, one of CAPIS official who presented the CAPIS–NAPPS Strategic Partnership, Mrs. Okeoma Ebelechukwu Opusunju, described the Kids Capital Trust KCT, as a gift that continues to create opportunities across generations.
Opusunju said the KCT represents one of CAPIS’s flagship platform access services which combines access to capital with ongoing financial and investment advisory support to provide an enabling foundation for every successive generation to achieve greater financial outcomes.
“The overriding vision of Capital Portfolio & Investment Systems (CAPIS) Limited) as a venture capital firm is to invest in businesses and sectors that solve real market frictions, facilitate capital accumulation, and expand access to capital through our platform access services, thereby creating opportunities for financial inclusion and meaningful economic participation.
“As a responsible venture capital firm licensed and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria, we believe that expanding access to capital through productive economic activities provides one of the most sustainable pathways to addressing rising poverty in Nigeria.
“When more people are equipped with access to capital and opportunities to participate productively in the economy, we create the conditions for individuals, families, businesses, and communities to prosper.
“We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to begin adulthood not only with an educated mind, but also with a strong and sustainable financial foundation. This is what the KCT represents: an oasis of manifold opportunities crafted by CAPIS, gifted by parents to their children, and ultimately received by tomorrow’s young adults as a foundation upon which they can build an excellent life.”
She commended NAPPS and its members for playing a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s educational landscape and in sustaining the private education sector through periods of significant national challenge.
She described the CAPIS–NAPPS Strategic Partnership as a partnership founded on a shared understanding that education and economic empowerment must advance together.
Opusunju revealed that discussions around this strategic partnership commenced in 2021 and culminated in the signing of a Strategic Partnership Agreement between NAPPS Rivers State chapter and CAPIS Limited on 9 March 2022.
Speaking on the importance of the partnership, Opusunju noted that “through this partnership, we will facilitate the enrolment of tomorrow’s leaders onto a platform access service designed to open the doors to manifold opportunities for financial growth and economic participation.
“But the significance of this partnership extends beyond the KCT. Today also marks the birth of the Entrepreneurship Education Fund (EEF), a perpetual education endowment fund established to support qualitative and sustainable educational development across the private school sector, for this generation and for successive generations.
“The EEF represents our shared conviction that the future of education cannot depend solely on today’s resources. We must build institutions and financial structures capable of supporting educational development long into the future.
“Through the EEF, we seek to create a sustainable mechanism for supporting innovation, strengthening educational institutions, promoting entrepreneurship education, and contributing to the continuous development of the private education sector.
“As partners in nation building, we are persuaded that CAPIS and NAPPS, working within their respective areas of responsibility and strength, will deliver on the commitments under this partnership.”
In his remarks, Edo State NAPPS Chairman, Dr. Wisdom Okwe, described the event as a significant milestone in their collective commitment towards building a stronger educational system and creating a brighter future for our children.
His words: “This partnership is not just an agreement between two organisations; it represents a shared vision, a commitment to innovation, financial inclusion, and the empowerment of young minds through qualitative education.
“Education remains the foundation upon which every developed society is built. However, in today’s rapidly changing world, education must go beyond classroom learning. Our children must be equipped with entrepreneurial skills, financial knowledge, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and the confidence to become creators of opportunities rather than only seekers of employment.
“The Entrepreneurship Education Fund introduced through this strategic partnership is a welcome development. It will provide a platform to expose our students to the principles of entrepreneurship, financial responsibility, investment culture, and sustainable economic development from an early stage.
“By doing so, we are preparing a generation that can compete effectively in the global economy.As NAPPS, we recognise that private schools play a vital role in Nigeria’s educational development. Our schools are not only centres of academic learning but also environments where talents are discovered, character is built, and future leaders are nurtured. Therefore, any initiative that supports schools, enhances learning outcomes, and improves the future prospects of our students deserves our full support.
“The partnership between CAPIS and NAPPS demonstrates the power of collaboration. Government alone cannot carry the entire responsibility of developing education. The private sector, educational organisations, parents, and communities must work together to provide solutions that will positively impact our children.”
Addressing newsmen after the event, the Chairman of NAPPS in Rivers State, Adefa Sunday Jaja, assured CAPIS that, as a partner, NAPPS would provide the platform needed for CAPIS to thrive and achieve its objectives.
“As private organisation we are committed in partnering with CAPIS to making sure that this partnership sees the light of the day. There is alot to benefit from this partnership.”
