The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Senate tasks FG on comprehensive computer education

    The Senate on Tuesday asked the Federal Government to urgently address the issue of computer education in the country.

    The upper chamber said that the Federal Government should provide comprehensive training for teachers and pupils in primary and secondary schools.

    It also advised government at all levels to formulate policy for building and equipping of computer laboratories for pupils in primary schools.

    The measure, it said, would to give the pupils sound foundation and training in computer education.

    The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Akom Etim Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom South) and 34 others.

    Senator Eyakenyi in her lead debate said that the National Policy on Education recognised the importance of computer education and ICT by providing for the training of teachers and provisions of basic facilities for teaching computer knowledge in primary and secondary schools.

    She noted that though the Senate was aware that computer education was being taught in schools across the country, ” it is a practical subject that must be practised for effective understanding”.

    Read Also: Senate begs SSASU, NASUU to shelve strike

    Most public schools, she said, lacked teachers in computer education while the basic facilities to properly teach children in primary and secondary schools computer were also lacking.

    Eyakenyi said “almost all aspects of Nigerian and global sectors are now ICT based and our future generations are not being prepared for the future”, reminding that education, (inclusive of computer education), is a fundamental right”.

    In his contribution, Senator Godiya Akwasiki (Nasarawa North), reminded his colleagues that Section 21(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) states that government should provide science and technology education for schools in the country.

    Akwasiki said: “Even in Rwanda, the government has initiated one laptop computer per child and if the principle of this current government is to move the nation to the next level,  then, science and technology education is key.”

    Senator Albert Bassey Akpan (Akwa Ibom North East), said that pupils of private schools were better off in computer education, adding that private schools pay attention to computer education than public schools.

    He said, “In private primary schools for instance, pupils already know how to operate computer,  but not public schools and now that we are in a global world,  computer education is important in our public schools.”

    Former Education Minister, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano Central), recalled challenges faced by Nigerians when JAMB introduced Computer Based Education, (CBE) between 2014 to 2015.

    He noted that JAMB candidates subjected themselves to computer training when it was obvious that the examination body insisted.

    He added that proprietors of private schools should ensure that they employed teachers who were computer literate.

    “The idea of computer education is good for our pupils.  I recalled when I was Minister of Education between 2014 and 2015, JAMB introduced CBE and candidates were compelled to learn computer.”

    “Today they have become used to Computer Based Education.”

    Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said that the National Council on Education should ensure the implementation of computer education policy.

    He promised that the Senate would through legislation, address funding of computer education in Nigeria.

  • Senate begs SSASU, NASUU to shelve strike

    The Senate on Tuesday appealed to the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (SSASU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASUU) to shelve their planned nationwide strike in the interest of the country.

    The upper chamber promised to engage stakeholders to resolve their grievances.

    The resolution followed a point of order by Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North), on the impending nationwide industrial action by the two unions.

    The Senate stressed the need to engage SSASU and NASU with a view to amicably resolving their differences.

    Jibrin in his lead debate noted that “it is saddening that the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSASU) and Non-academic Staff Union of Nigeria Universities NASUU) have given notice of commencing an industrial action over a number of issues.”

    He said that if not addressed and resolved, the action of the union would truncate the smooth running of universities in the country.

    Read Also: Senate calls for National Security Summit

    He expressed concerns that the issues raised by two unions were matters of concern with the relationship of the two unions with ASUU) and the alleged refusal by the federal government to heed to their request since 2006.

    He observed that the grievances of the unions also included the delay in the payment of the gratuity and pension of their members and refusal to attend to other agreements earlier reached with the government.

    He said that the claim of the two unions that Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU) was being accorded preferential treatment by the Federal Government should be considered. He noted that funds released by the government 80per cent, was earmarked as academic allowances while the 20% was allocated to the non-academic staff.

    According to him, rather than accept what they were given by the Federal Government, SSANU and NASU were making fresh demands of the release of N20 billion to non-teaching staff and allowance for 2009 to 2016.

    Other senators who contributed to the debate supported that the Senate and other relevant government agencies should quickly step into the matter to avert the looming strike.

    Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, commended Jibrin for bring up the matter.

    Lawan assured that the Senate would intervene to stop the strike.

  • Why I’m investing in education- Okorocha’s daughter

    Daughter of the immediate past governor of Imo State and the President of the East High College, Uloma Rochas Nwosu, Tuesday, said that her decision to own and operate a “world class’’ private school was motivated by her father’s vision to promote education in the African continent”.

    She noted that education remains the most viable tool of developing Nigeria and Africa, adding that the hidden potentials of the African child can only be nurtured through quality education.

    According to the former governor’s daughter, who is the proprietor of the East High School, a high profile private school in Owerri, the Imo State capital, she did not venture into the education sector to make profit but rather to fulfil a childhood dream of promoting education.

    She added that though, not every Nigerian child has her kind of privileged background but could realize their goals and become great through education.

    Mrs. Nwosu, who spoke at the maiden edition of the East High College and East High Academy Speech and Prize Giving Day, said that the College was conceived to give the best of training to the scholars at an affordable rate.

    Read Also: Ambode urges quality education for women

    She said, Ï stand here as a very proud woman having realized my childhood dream. The dream for the East High School started when I was 19 years old. As a young girl, I worked so hard to create something and be a leading woman, I realized quite early that education is indispensable in the making of leaders and we all should be involved in the efforts to bequeath our children with quality education as that is the only way they can become great in life”.

    Speaking earlier, the Principal of the School, Mr. Graham Meredith, pointed out that leadership skills can only be acquired through quality education, which he said has been the focus of the school.

    In his words, “we in the school know that education is very important and that is why we have been training our scholars on how to be good leaders of tomorrow, the scholars should listen to their teachers and parents, success can only come to people who have manners and respect”.

  • Commonwealth table tennis: Aruna Quadri’s absence excites Indian star

    India’s captain Sharath Kamal has admitted the absence of African champion – Aruna Quadri from the Nigeria team has doused their fear at the 21st Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, which serves off today with team event at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in India.

    India has been drawn in group B alongside Singapore and Scotland while Nigeria is in Group C alongside Malaysia, Bangladesh.

    Sharath said: “The way my teammate – Sathiyan ranked 24th in the world, has been playing, we should not face much difficulty in the team events.

    “He is in the form of his life. That apart, two seasoned campaigners each from England (Liam Pitchford and Paul Drinkhall) and Nigeria (Aruna Quadri and Segun Toriola) are not coming.

    “Singapore, too, is fielding a young side. Other teams are not so strong. I think the absence of top players like Aruna Quadri has given up confidence that we can dominate all the events.”

    Nigeria’s women team led by Spain-based Edem Offiong will face a Herculean task as they are expect to battle against England and Bangladesh in group D of the women’s team event.

    The Indian legend added: “Since England, Nigeria and Singapore are not fielding their best players; Indian men should win the team and open events.”

    Read Also: Aruna Quadri rises to 21 in latest ITTF ranking

    Portugal-based Bode Abiodun will lead the Nigeria’s men team alongside Bode Abiodun, Azeez Solanke, Jamiu Azeez and Jamiu Ayanwale.

    The female team, which has Offiong as captain has Cecilia Otu-Akpan, Ajoke Ojomu, Tosin Oribamise and Nimota Aregbesola.

    The tournament will be declared open by Governor Ganeshi Lal with group matches following. The two top teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage while the six-day event will be telecast live by Doordarshan.

    Men – Group A: England, Sri Lanka, Cyprus; Group B: India, Singapore, Scotland; Group C: Nigeria, Malaysia, Bangladesh; Group D: Australia, South Africa, Wales.

    Women – Group A: Singapore, Wales, Scotland; Group B: India, South Africa, Sri Lanka; Group C: Australia, Malaysia, Cyprus; Group D: Nigeria, England, Bangladesh.

  • No going back on grazing reserves in Niger – SSG

    Secretary to the Niger State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ahmed Matane, has insisted that the state government will not renege on its plans to establish grazing reserves in the state.

    Matane disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Minna.

    He said that the establishment of grazing reserves was meant to curtail the lingering skirmishes between herdsmen and farmers in the state.

    According to him, the grazing reserves will also create job opportunities for most unemployed youths.

    He said that grazing reserve would help in the quality of meat and milk production for healthier nourishment.

    Read Also: Governor approves money for three Ruga settlements

    Matani claimed that the project would generate revenue for the state and discourage rural urban migration.

    “There is no difference between grazing reserve and the Ruga settlement only that some people for their selfish interests are bent on overheating the polity.’’

    Matan, while calling for more understanding, said the government was ready to do anything that would promote peace and economic well -being of its people.

    “That is why the state government is expending millions of naira at Bobi grazing reserve in Mariga Local Government Area, where hospital, schools and roads are put in place for the comfort of herdsmen and  farmers in the state.’’

    He said already there are 10 registered companies willing to take part in the multi-million naira Bobi grazing reserve project.

    (NAN)

  • Association demands regulation of borehole drilling activities

    Association of Water Well Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP) has called for the regulation and standardisation of borehole drilling and water supply activities in the country.

    It said this would serve as a source of internally generated revenue for government at all levels.

    The National President, Michael Ale and National Secretary of the association, Yomi Adeyemi, said this in a statement at the end of its fifth annual general meeting in Abuja.

    The statement said collaboration between AWDROP and other government water regulatory agencies would enhance water supply sustainability to the public.

    The association appealed to the Federal Government to make sure that locally fabricated rigs are considered and given priority under the President Muhammadu Buhari –led federal government for water sustainability in the country.

    Read Also: ‘Indigenous oil, gas firms play in deepwater terrain’

    It said there is need for an upgrade in economic value chain that could lead to indigenously fabricated equipment and materials from the prospecting stage to completion stage in order to generate employment and alleviate poverty.

    The statement also said there is a need for immediate government financial intervention in the revitalisation of the moribund indigenous unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) manufacturing company sectors along the value chain of the water supply industry.

    The statement said the association has resolved to profile all water well drilling rigs (borehole drilling rigs) operating in all states.

    It said this would enable it to have a baseline insight of probable causes and effect of drilling activities in Nigeria and to advise the appropriate arm of government after the exercise.

    The association called for immediate stoppage of all non-statutory collection of fees, (site fee, registration fee, and licensing fee) and other fees being collected from the general public or drilling rig operators.

  • ‘Amend TETFund Act to benefit private institutions’

    The Federal Government has been advised to amend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Act so that both private and government schools can benefit from its interventions.

    Executive Council Member of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Ladela Schools Abuja, Mainasara Umar said the Act needs to be amended if the country’s education system must be taken to the desired level.

    He stated this during Ladela schools 2019 graduation and prize giving ceremony at the weekend in Abuja with the theme: “Reaching for the Stars.”

    Umar noted government palliatives to the education sector should benefit both private and government schools since the products of both institutions will work for the development of the country.

    He said: “The government should amend the TETFund Act to benefit both private and government schools because the products of these institutions will not work for themselves but the government: taking away responsibility of the government.

    Read Also: Deliver quality project for us, TETFund tells surveyors

    “Government should not segregate private and public institutions when it comes to support.

    “It is disappointing that funds for tertiary education are restricted to only government schools. It is wrong because attention to education should be general.

    “Government prepare guidelines and standards for both private and government schools, there is no need to segregate when it comes to funding and other palliative support from government.

    “The teeming unemployed are the ones to fill up the industries, government and they are the ones to bring up the ideas for government to run well so educational support should be for all if government must be seen as the repository of the guidelines and rules as regards to education in Nigeria.”

    Proprietor of the schools, Mrs. Angela Ajala, said the theme was to challenge the pupils and students to not be satisfied with average but break academic records wherever they are.

    She said with constant power supply, dedicated fund or a single digit interest loan for education there would be tremendous improvement in the sector.

    “If you notice the society today there is a kind of despondency where people are satisfied with mediocrity and they think normal average is okay for them and we are saying no, if you reach for the stars you might catch the clouds and so we are telling them to stretch themselves out of comfort zone, don’t be laid back to follow mediocrity or average and do what others are not doing.

    “As a school proprietor we see curriculum of government as a basic guideline and as a school we infuse it with the kind of skill we want to see.

    “The preparation we give the children now the jobs are not yet available so there are certain skills we need to build into the curriculum from adaptive skills, communication, creative, emotional intelligence skill, social digital, financial literacy skills gives the children resilience to whatever they will meet in the future,” she added.

  • Investor commits $250m to Benin Enterprise, Industrial Park

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that an anchor tenant has committed about $250 million dollars investment to the Benin Enterprise and Industrial Park project.

    Obaseki said this during a courtesy visit by a World Bank Team led by Gloria Joseph-Raji, at Government House, in Benin City, on Tuesday.

    The governor said his administration has continued to make considerable progress on the Benin Enterprise and Industrial Park project, adding that the plan is to commence construction at the site before the end of the year.

    “We have made considerable progress on our industrial park as we touched on an anchor tenant who has committed close to 250 million dollars for their operation. This has been confirmed as I speak. We have two others from China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and we are working closely to get a commitment from them,” he noted.

    Read Also: NCDMB throws weight behind Benin Industrial, Enterprise Park

    Obaseki said his administration is focused on building conducive business environment to rev-up investment and create more job opportunities, noting that the state government is concentrating on key elements to improve ease-of-doing-business in the state by improving land reforms, law and order, streamlining the state revenue service and human capital development.

    He noted, “We have gotten support from Universal Basic Education Fund to build a digital laboratory at the College of Education in Abudu and we will work with you to build human capacity. The law for restructuring the College of Education is before the parliament and will be considered soon.

    “Procurement for laboratory equipment for the Government Science and Technical College (GSTC) has been completed and will be ready for use by the last quarter of the year.  We have identified three other technical colleges in Isi, Irrua and Igarra for similar projects.”

    Leader of the World Bank delegation, Gloria Joseph-Raji ,said the visit was planned as a follow-up to the visit by the World Bank Team in January 2019, noting, “Our overall objective is to support your government to boost job creation for youths in the state.

    “We settled on supporting your administration to build a conducive environment for the private sector to thrive. The private sector creates the jobs but the government ensures an enabling environment for businesses to thrive,” Gloria added.

     

  • Patient kills self at UBTH

    A yet to be identified man who was admitted at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has killed himself.

    The incident was said to have occurred last Saturday at the Accident and Emergency (A & E) Ward of the hospital.

    Witnesses said the man stabbed himself to death with a broken louvre beside his bed while waiting for doctors to attend to him.

    According to the witness who said he was also admitted at the hospital said the deceased came to the hospital with his wife.

    “The man suddenly became wild and broke a louvre beside his window and stabbed himself to death”, he said.

    “His wife was not around. She went out to buy something outside. There was blood everywhere. We were lucky not to have been injured.

    Read Also: UBTH to provide healthcare services at Okpekpe race

    “The dead body of the man was accompanied by his wife to the hospital, to be deposited at the morgue.”

    Spokesman for the hospital, Mr. Joshua Uwaila confirmed the incident.

    He said, “An unfortunate incident happened on Saturday night 13th July, 2019 at about 10:30 pm when a young man who was a patient at the male medical ward of our hospital (diagnosis not disclosed for confidentiality sake), suddenly broke a louvre and stabbed himself. All efforts to resuscitate him proved abortive as he was certified dead at 11:00 pm.

    “The result of autopsy is being awaited at the moment.”

  • Makinde’s N48b declared assets suspicious-APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has called on the federal government to investigate claims Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde he is worth over N48 billion in assets and cash.

    The party picked a hole in the public asset declaration, alleging the governor was playing the ostrich in anticipation of possible acquisition of questionable wealth at the expense of the citizens of the state.

    Makinde had on Monday made public the assets he declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau, declaring his companies are worth N48 billion.

    He also listed some properties in Nigeria and abroad as well as cash at home and abroad.

    But reacting to the public declaration, Oyo APC in a statement by its Assistant Publicity Secretary, Prince Ayobami Adejumo, said: “The governor’s action was a ploy to give a false impression of his real financial status now so that he would have a safe landing when he leaves office with stupendous wealth.”

    The party further added: “Most of the companies listed in the declaration were relatively unknown even in the local Oil and Gas industry let alone the global arena as far as members of the general public are concerned.

    Read Also: Makinde declares N48bn assets

    “How many oil rigs are in his possession and since when? Where are the operations base of those companies and what is their staff population?

    “As a graduate of Electrical Engineering, we do not know of any ground that has ever been broken by Makinde to have fetched him such a humongous wealth.

    “Even if he had had to lay claim to the commonwealth of a group of business partners to attract political favour, the governor should know now that elections are over.

    “What manner of billionaire would abandon his business partially or completely for 13 years in pursuit of political ambition and still claim to have multiplied his wealth more than corporate players in a globally competitive sector like oil and gas?

    “Does it mean that all monies he has lavished since 2006 were from donor agencies or directly from heaven?

    “Without mincing words, we call on relevant agencies of the federal government to beam their searchlight on the content of the governor’s asset declaration form and dig out the real fact of the situation so as not to give room for a scripted looting of the resources of the Pacesetter State as this is the stock in trade of an average PDP governor.

    “There are facts on ground indicating that the declaration made by Gov. Makinde is an anticipatory looting technique perfected during his recent secret visit to a fellow PDP governor in one of the oil producing states.

    “Therefore, we urge those concerned to be on the lookout and ensure that no resources of the state are allowed to be either siphoned or diverted into private hands.”