.
Schools in Warri, Delta State experienced a wave of inspiration through visits orchestrated by Education and Advanced Technology.” EDATECH, an innovative educational technology platform founded by Sylvester juwe ,featuring brand ambassadors and elite Olympians.
Sylvester, an accomplished athlete himself, spearheaded these visits with a mission to ignite minds and unlock the potential of students, leaving a lasting impact on both students and the community.
The core message emphasized resilience, attention to detail, vision, self-belief, self-critical thinking, consistency, and a process-over-outcomes mindset – principles that resonate deeply with EDATECH’s own mission.
EDATECH, at its core, leverages AI and emerging technologies to transform learning experiences.
The platform offers personalized learning paths, interactive assessments, a chatbot, and real-time feedback designed to help students achieve their full potential. Uniquely, EDATECH completes the assessment-for-learning loop by thoroughly assessing learning, understanding each student’s unique learning profile, and leveraging this information to accelerate their learning journey.
The organization’s mission, “Unlocking Futures, Igniting Minds,” centres on hyper-personalizing educational provision to empower children to become thriving adults.
Sylvester’s personal journey is a powerful testament to overcoming adversity.
Once a child who struggled with dyslexia and underperformed academically in his early school years, he defied the odds to excel at top universities, including the University of Cambridge.
His transformation from academic challenges to sporting and academic success served as a potent example for students, demonstrating that determination and the right mindset can unlock any potential. He reflected on his early days, recalling walking approximately 5km from Eyabugbe Primary to Edgeba Shell Estate as an afternoon section pupil, and how fortunate he was to eventually attend Dom Domingos School, located just next to his estate.
These early challenges, coupled with resilience, focus, drive, self-belief, and attention to detail, shaped him into the person he is today, directly informing EDATECH’s mission of personalized education.
Joining Sylvester were two exceptional athletes: Ese Brume and Prestina Ochonogor. Ese Brume, a 2021 World Number 1 long jumper, current Commonwealth Champion, Games and African Record Holder, Olympic medallist, multi-time African Champion, and a proud graduate of East Mediterranean University, Cyprus, shared her experiences with the students. Prestina Ochonogor, who achieved a remarkable eighth-place finish globally at the last Paris Olympics, in addition to her medals at the World U18 championships and All African Games, and currently commencing further studies at Tarleton University, USA on a scholarship, also connected with the students. Both athletes interacted freely with the students, creating a warm and engaging atmosphere.
They were described as down-to-earth, using their humble beginnings as anchors to deliver their message of perseverance and dedication.
The children had an exciting time interacting with them. As a token of appreciation for their dedication, teachers also received support through a collaborative effort between the athletes and EDATECH.
Sylvester also shared pivotal motivational experiences from his time as a first-year student at the University of Benin. Encounters with African champions and record breakers Moses Oyiki and William Erese ignited his passion for sports, despite being considered talented, but not exceptionally so, in secondary school.
This experience fuelled his desire to return home and give back to the community by inspiring the next generation of talent—a value now embodied by EDATECH’s work. Sylvester himself, despite being injury-prone throughout his athletic career, rose above these challenges to become a continental masters champion in 2022.
During the visits, Sylvester, Kayode, Ese, and Prestina shared their personal stories of overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness.
They emphasized the importance of the key traits mentioned earlier: resilience, attention to detail, vision and goals, self-belief, self-critical thinking, consistency, and focusing on the process rather than just the outcomes.
These traits, they explained, are central to their success both as athletes and in their learning journeys, and are also crucial for students navigating their educational paths, a journey EDATECH aims to support.
A particularly heartwarming moment occurred when Sylvester unexpectedly reunited with his Secondary School English teacher, Mr. Patrick Nwana, who is still teaching. Mr. Nwana’s presence served as living proof of Sylvester’s stories, adding a personal and touching dimension to the inspirational narrative.
The impact of these visits has been profound and lasting. Teachers and students have shared how these encounters have influenced their lives. Amy Tarek Victoria, Head Girl at Domingos College, stated, “Seeing successful individuals like Dr. Juwe, Ese Brume, Coach Kay, and Prestina Ochonogor reminded me to stay committed to my goals, no matter the challenge.
” a student from Delta Careers College, shared, “The visit to our school has had a tremendous impact on me… their stories and encouragement helped me realize my potential. Now, I’ve become more disciplined… and for the first time, I passed with ease.”
Benedict Ajiduah, a Coach with the Delta State Sports Council, reported an extraordinary increase in the number of students joining local athletics clubs, directly attributing this surge to the motivational visits. Coach Kayode Yaya, an alumnus of one of the visited schools and part of the visits, also noted a “radical increase in student enrollment” at the local athletics training centre. He nostalgically recalled his own school days, evoking the sensory details of “the smell of the lawn that was mowed a day before and that was wet by the gentle drizzling of the peaceful rain drop… the nostalgia… the homecoming to my alma mater.”
Keiza Afimo, Principal of Delta Careers College in Warri, summarized the broader impact: “Their presence actually encouraged the students to learn to love and realize that, even if we are not that strong academically now, we shouldn’t be discouraged.
It should always be a continuous effort in all aspects of life.”
As the year concludes, the impact of these visits is undeniable. Sylvester’s journey, combined with the inspiring stories of Ese Brume and Prestina Ochonogor, serves as a powerful source of motivation for the entire community.
The lessons of resilience, attention to detail, vision, self-belief, self-critical thinking, consistency, and process-over-outcomes thinking—values central to EDATECH’s mission—will undoubtedly continue to inspire students for years to come.
We need more on accolades on Prestina’s profile, including the school she is going to. Not the final draft sha, just to give them a indication. final draft will be ready tonight
The gesture no doubt reflects the company’s mission to revolutionize education in Sub-Saharan Africa by leveraging advanced technology, including personalized learning experiences and cutting-edge analytics.
Other ex athletes that involved in motivating the students included Italian based Matthew Agbontean, Fredrick Fashaya, Davidson Ohiafi, and Kessiena Egone-Yaya
