Author: The Nation

Mr Adeoye Aribasoyo (APC- Ikole 2), has been elected as the speaker of the 7^th assembly of the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aribasoyo was elected shortly after proclamation of the 7^th assembly by the clerk of the house, Mr Tola Esan in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday.

The speaker was unanimously elected after he was nominated by Mr Femi Akindele (APC-Irepodun Ifelodun Constituency 1).

Mrs Bolaji Olagbaju (APC- Ado 2) was also elected as the deputy speaker.

Read Also: Oyebanji and challenges of governing Ekiti

Olagbaju was the daughter of the immediate past Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, late Bisi Egbeyemi.

Speaking with newsmen, the speaker said the 7th Assembly would ensure that the people of the state enjoyed dividends of democracy.

Aribasoyo said the assembly was ready to work for the betterment of the people of the state.

“We will be futuristic in our approach and worked tirelessly, performing our major roles for the betterment of our people.

“We are ready to offer selfless service to our dear state, we are fully prepared. I am using we because it is not going to be a one man’s show, we are going to work collectively with my colleagues.

“I see the light shining in Ekiti State because  the 7th assembly will bring about meaningful impacts to the lives of the people of our dear state.

“The 7th assembly will join hands with all stakeholders  to take the state to the height that we desired,” Aribasoyo said.(NAN)

Residents of Bauchi have decried lack of water supply within the metropolis, saying it has caused them untold hardship.

Some of the residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Bauchi, said there had not been water supply within the metropolis in the last two weeks.

A resident, Mr Emma Alex, expressed concern about the water scarcity, saying the situation could result in outbreak of epidemics, if something was not done urgently by the state.

Read Also: Our school with 350 students has only three teachers – Bauchi community

According to him, lack of potable water can also have a telling effect on the health of the children.

Mrs Aisha Mohammmed, a resident of Wuntin Dada on the outskirts of Bauchi metropolis, said that the situation had forced people to depend mostly on those selling water through tankers, popularly called ‘mai ruwa’.

This, she said, had resulted in increase in the price of water by the ‘mai ruwa’.

According to her, a 20-litre keg of water now costs N400 as against N200 they used to buy it.

“We are finding it difficult to have access to good water. We are experiencing serious water shortage,” she said, pleading with pleading with government to intervene and salvage the situation.

Mustapha Isa, a resident of Dutsen Tanshi, said those living in the area had been experiencing water shortage since May without prior notice from the authority.

Another resident, Rayyanu Wahu, of Durumi Biyu, Nassarawa Jahun, said that for ten days running, there had not been water supply, saying that the situation required urgent government’s attention.

The situation was the same in Tashar Gulmammu Jahun, as a resident, Lukman Adamu, said that water supply to the area had ceased for the past nine days.

A resident of  Zannuwa Primary School in Yakubu Wanka area of the metropolis, Malam Ahmad Musa, described the situation as ‘horrible’, calling on the state government to come to their aid.

In his reaction, Managing Director of the State Urban Water and Sewerage Corporation (BSUWSC), Mr Aminu Gital, attributed the situation to lack of power supply from the electricity distribution company serving the state.

Gital said that the corporation was currently finding ways of resolving the water scarcity with relevant authorities, calling on the citizens to be patient, as water would soon be available within the metropolis.

He, however, urged the residents to always pay their water bills directly to the corporation or its accredited agents in their respective areas to enable it serve them better.

(NAN)

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has approved N130 million as intervention for polytechnics in its 2023 intervention line, geared toward reinvigorating skills acquisition in polytechnics across the country.

Malam Buhari Mika’Ilu ,  Director of Infrastructure of the Fund, said this at the TETFund/ National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) sensitisation workshop in Abuja on Tuesday.

The workshop was on the 2023 Zonal Intervention on Skills for Rectors and Directors of Skills in Beneficiary Polytechnics.

Read Also: TETFund funded researchers develop prototypes for hunger, poverty

Mika’Ilu said that the intervention was to consolidate the efforts of the NBTE in increasing the capacities of polytechnics to deliver on their mandate.

He said the intervention was mostly used to support institutions to meet basic requirements for accreditation.

“Funds are allocated in line with the provision of the establishment Act and guided toward addressing critical and essential needs of the beneficiary institutions for the improvement of quality and maintenance of standards in the tertiary educational institutions.

‘“NBTE has been at the forefront in championing the need to have skills in the educational system in Nigeria.

“It is in response to this, that the fund has prioritised the 2023 Zonal Allocation to polytechnics to be geared toward reinvigorating skills acquisition in the polytechnics across the country.

“This is to further consolidate on the efforts of NBTE to increase the capacities of Polytechnics to deliver on their mandate.

“Therefore, the sum of N130million only allocated to each polytechnic has the main focus of procurement, installation, testing, training and commissioning of relevant training materials,’’ he said.

The director also revealed that since inception of the Zonal Intervention in 2016, the Fund had allocated N52,046,079,584.7 as zonal Intervention to enlisted polytechnics.

“In the year 2017, the fund focused the Zonal intervention on student dignity project.

“Hence, the intervention was used to upgrade and standardise all lavatory facilities or provision of new ones where necessary in academic areas of institutions, also shuttle buses (coaches) were also procured for students use among other projects.

“Most recently, the 2022 intervention was used for deployment of ICT facilities within the institutions in line with the guidelines developed by the Fund. This is essentially to increase the capacities of institutions to function effectively and deliver their programmes online,” he said.

He said the intervention, a post-research activity, has created an opportunity for academic staff in Science and Technology Programmes to fabricate equipment, thus promoting skills development in the Polytechnics.

Mika’Ilu expressed optimism that the intervention would in the long run, support the institution to resuscitate skills and improve graduate employability.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, charged rectors of polytechnics to explore innovative approaches to skills development and devise effective solutions that would enhance the quality and relevance of technical education in the institutions.

Echono said that skills development and entrepreneurship represented a holistic process in which individuals in society pursue opportunities and address needs through innovation.

“Today, we recognise the significant strides made by TETFund and NBTE in promoting skills development in our beneficiary polytechnics.

“Our unwavering commitment to advancing technical and vocational education has paved the way for countless success stories, empowering individuals and transforming communities across our great nation.

“The purpose of this sensitisation workshop is to discuss and enlighten participants on two key areas: One is the skills agenda and occupational areas as a panacea for gainful employment of graduates and the second is the formalisation of the informal skills sector.

“By focusing on these aspects, we aim to address the critical needs for aligning our educational system with the demands of the labour market,” he said.

The TETFund executive secretary acknowledged that graduates equipped with relevant skills and competencies were more likely to secure gainful employment and contribute meaningfully to the development of our nation, hence the need for the intervention.

He added that the 2023 Zonal Intervention on Skills was a significant step toward transforming our education system and empowering students and citizens for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Similarly,  the executive secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris Bugaje  said that TETFund had been a very active promoter, supporter and financier of skills development in the country.

Bugaje called on polytechnic rectors to key into the formalisation of the informal sector using technology to drive the sector.

He said the N130 million given to polytechnics in the 2023 intervention line would be used for  upgrading facilities for skills training, especially as about 10 skills had been identified.

While calling on the government to stop the conversion of polytechnics to universities, said henceforth, polytechnics without skills development centres would not be given accreditation for National Diploma programmes.

(NAN)