KORA 360 Professionals on Saturday launched its maiden Open Gala in Abuja, during which educators were brought together to strategically network and socialise for greater productivity.

Convener of the Open Gala Launch, Onyinyechi Etusi said the unique convergence of educators on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was put together to provide a platform to accord educators the right accolade that they deserved.

According to Etusi, “Education being one of the sectors KORA 360 is interested in, it is just appropriate for KORA 360 Professionals to host teachers to a memorable evening.

“The aim of OPEN Gala Launch is to bring educators together to strategically network, socialise, be empowered, unwind, and have fun.

“More specifically, it is to officially launch the educators’ Social and Professional Network (SPN) called OPEN – ORGANISATION OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS IN NIGERIA.”

Etusi, in her welcome address, explained that KORA 360 Professionals was a coaching and consulting firm driving change in education, entrepreneurship, hospitality, and humanitarianism.

From left, Executive Director KORA 360 Professional, Onyinyechi O-Etusi, Executive Secretary Health Reforms Foundation of Nigeria, Dr. Sonny Okorie presenting Award to Mrs Adeola Remi-John during KORA 360 Professional Launch in Abuja.

“With pastoral care, we offer a holistic approach to personal and organisational growth. We are committed to empowering the workforce in every organisation, hence increasing productivity and efficiency.”

She explained that the name KORA 360 Professionals means – Keeping Organisation Running Ahead all around professionals, adding that “Our pride values at KORA 360 Professionals include – Professionalism, Reliability, Innovation, Diversity, and Empowerment.”

She said there was a clearer perspective of other areas KORA could function based on passion and expertise, including education and entrepreneurship, stressing that this led to the birth of KORA 360 Professionals in 2024.

“Since becoming what we are now, we have touched lives through humanitarian services and empowered entrepreneurs and educators through training, webinars, and mentoring. We have also provided pastoral care to individuals who need spiritual guidance and companionship,” Etusi stated.

She said that KORA 360 Professionals as an organisation was interested in the personal development of teachers both on leadership and personal levels through coaching/mentoring, training, seminars, and workshops, among others.

Other interests of the organisation, she said, included Organisational structuring and development, professional recruitment and consultation in expert areas, event planning ranging from small business meetings to large conferences and the likes, ergonomic designing, online shop and a foundation.

She listed the organisation’s upcoming event to include Charity Walk – Feed a child/family this holiday and Entrepreneur Workshop.

The keynoter at the event, Dr Oyenike Babayemi-Saulawa spoke on “The Role and Impact of Emotional Intelligence in Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century in Nigeria,” saying that Emotional Intelligence (EI) played an active role in almost all of decision making.

She said that the ability to identify, understand, and manage those emotions was such an invaluable skill, adding that “in a competitive workplace, developing your EI skills is vital to your professional success.”

She submitted that major companies had compiled statistical proof that employees with emotional intelligence undoubtedly affected the bottom line.

“In fact, companies with employees that have high levels of emotional intelligence see major increases in total sales and productivity,” she further posited.

She listed a number of factors that undergird emotional intelligence in the learning environment and the workplace, including self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills.

Babayemi-Saulawa cited a study by the University of Lagos (2021), which showed that 70% of students in EI-focused programmes had improved interpersonal skills; teachers with EI training report a 40% reduction in classroom disruptions, schools with EI initiatives see a 25% increase in student academic performance, while emotional resilience programmes reduce student dropout rates by 15%.

She listed benefits of EI for teachers and students to include, for teachers, building stronger connections with students, enhancing classroom management and reducing stress and burnout; while for students, improving academic performance, fostering emotional resilience and encouraging collaboration and teamwork.

She listed strategies for promoting EI in Nigerian schools to include incorporating EI training into teacher education programs, developing EI-focused curricula and activities, engaging parents in fostering EI at home, establishing mentorship and peer-support programmes, and leveraging technology to teach and assess EI skills.

KORA 360 Professionals conferred awards of recognition on some educators on the occasion, including the Permanent Secretary FCT Education Secretariat, Mrs Joy Chinwe Okoli who was represented by Director School Services, Mrs Magdalene Uzonanya; Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Education, Ondo, Hajia Adeola Ganiat Yusuf; and Dr Sonny Okorie, among others.