The Nation Newspaper

Category: Education

  • JAN launches Meta SafeOnline program in varsities

    JAN launches Meta SafeOnline program in varsities

    Junior Achievement Nigeria (JAN) has announced Phase 2 of its Meta SafeOnline Program.

    This phase is expected to reach over seven hundred (700) tertiary students at five prominent institutions of learning, including the University of Abuja, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, the Federal University of Technology, Akure, and the University of Ibadan.

    In a statement, it said: “The Meta SafeOnline Program is an initiative designed to enhance digital literacy among young Nigerians, with a focus on digital safety and cybersecurity.

    “As digital technologies become increasingly intertwined with everyday life, the importance of equipping students with the knowledge to navigate the digital world safely cannot be overstated.

    “While the initial phase of the program targeted secondary schools, expanding to tertiary institutions is crucial. University students encounter distinct challenges, being heavily involved in online activities for academic and social purposes.

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    “This phase seeks to heighten awareness of cybersecurity risks and educate students on safeguarding themselves from possible online threats.

    “The upcoming phase of the Meta SafeOnline Program will place a strong focus on current digital safety trends, techniques for detecting fraudulent schemes targeting students, and the significance of upholding a safe online profile.

    “Engaging sessions and discussions facilitated by experts will enlighten students on safeguarding their online personas, identifying possible cyber risks, and comprehending the broader repercussions of their digital behaviours.”

    The Executive Director, Ugonna Achebe, said: “We are excited to extend the Meta SafeOnline Program to tertiary institutions, as it allows us to further equip young Nigerians with the necessary knowledge and skills to safely navigate the digital world and also nurture responsible digital citizens.

    “Our gratitude goes to Meta for their support, and we are confident that this expansion will greatly enhance the students’ digital safety practices.”

  • Concerns as Fed Govt raises SUBEB matching grants to N3.5b

    Concerns as Fed Govt raises SUBEB matching grants to N3.5b

    The quest to deliver quality basic education as well as address the challenge of out-of-school children in Nigeria required stakeholders to join forces together to achieve. But there are concerns that N45.7 billion in funds allocated for the implementation of Universal Basic Education (UBE) between 2020 and 2023 was not accessed. Despite this, the government recently approved an upward review of the matching grants of state governments for infrastructural projects under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) to N3.5 billion, Assistant Editor Bola Olajuwon reports

    THE Federal Government recently approved an upward review of the matching grants of state governments for infrastructural projects under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) to N3.5 billion.

    The increase in matching grants is coming as UBEC Executive Secretary Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, in July, declared that over N45.7 billion in funds allocated for the implementation of UBE between 2020 and 2023 have not been accessed by many states.

    Bobboyi, at a five-day financial training for SUBEB Chairmen and Board Secretaries in Ibadan, said the increase in matching grants to the states for infrastructural projects was realised from the two per cent  consolidated revenue fund allotted for basic education in Nigeria.

    He said that the approval followed the passage of the 2024 Appropriation Bill, which was assented to law by the President.

    “The 2024 Federal Government Statutory Allocation of the UBE Matching Grant to each state is over N3.5 billion. The grant complies with Section 11 (2) of the UBE Act, 2004.

    “The state governments are requested to provide an equivalent amount of N3.5 billion as Counterpart Fund to execute the first to the fourth Quarter, 2024 UBE intervention projects,” Bobboyi said.

    He noted that states previously were getting about N1.3 billion per year, as matching grants, but the grant had now been jacked up to N3.3 billion.

    Bobboyi, however, urged state governments yet to access the 2023 matching grant with the commission amounting to N1.4billion as of July 1, 2024, to do so.

    States fail to access N45.7b with UBEC as basic education suffers

    Before the increase in matching grants, Bobboyi had declared that over N45.7 billion in funds allocated for the implementation of UBE between 2020 and 2023 have not been accessed by many states.

    He made this known when he received members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education and Services on an oversight visit to the commission in Abuja.

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    According to the UBEC boss, 27 states failed to access over N45,730, 811,745 00 set aside by the Federal Government for basic education. The figures obtained from UBEC dated July 1, 2024, covered grants from 2020 – 2023, which the 27 states failed to provide the counterpart funds to access the money.

    Abia, Ogun, and Imo states had a larger share of the amount with the commission as of July 1, 2024.

    A breakdown of the figure showed that: Abia (N4, 288, 389, 014.05); Adamawa (N2, 600, 237, 320.29); Akwa Ibom (N1, 395, 780, 708.52); Anambra (N2, 600, 237, 314.29); Bauchi (N2, 600, 262, 186.61); Bayelsa (N1, 395, 804,960.52); Benue (N20,007,39); Cross River (N2,047,028.41); Ebonyi (N2, 600, 237,314.29); Edo (N2, 600, 237,314.29); Ekiti (N1,396,784,956.76); Gombe (N1,395,784,959.14); Imo (N3,546,883,977.36); Kaduna (N1,395,784,959.14) and Kano (N581,577,066.31) failed to provide counterpart funds to access the grant.

    Other states included: Katsina (N1,395,784,959.15); Kebbi (N1,395,784,959.15); Kogi (N1,395,784,959.15); Lagos ((N1,395,784,959.14); Niger (N237,312.90); Ogun (N4,261,958,112.52); Oyo (N2,600,237,312.90); Plateau (N1,395,884,959.14); Rivers (N697,892,480.96); Yobe (N1,395,784,959.14); and FCT (N1,395,784,959.15).

    Bobboyi said only 16 states have so far accessed the 2023 matching grant, representing 41 per cent of the appropriated N51.6 billion for basic education. The states are: Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Enugu, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara.

    The executive secretary said N51.6 billion was appropriated by the Federal Government as a matching grant to states in 2023, explaining that only N21 billion was accessed by the 16 states as at June 30, thus showing 54 per cent utilisation. He said one of the challenges being faced by the commission was the inability of some state governments to access UBE matching grants as and when due.

    Bobboyi noted that the quest to deliver quality basic education as well as address the challenge of out-of-school children in Nigeria, required all stakeholders, including the National Assembly to join forces together to achieve.

    He lamented that some state governments lacked political will and commitment to basic education issues, saying this further exacerbated the menace of out-of-school children in the country.

    The need for urgent amendment

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Universal Basic Education and Services, Mark Useni, described the about 20-year-old UBEC Act as obsolete and inadequate to address the emerging challenges of basic education in Nigeria. The lawmaker said there was an urgent need to amend the law.

    Useni, who is a member representing Takum/Ussa/Donga Federal Constituency, revealed that already, the bill to that effect had already passed first and second readings in the House and was now at the committee stage.

    He said: “The UBEC Act has been in place for nearly 20 years. From the time the law came into force till today, we have passed through several stages of development; so one cannot hold on to one thing over the years.

    “Like the issue of un-accessed funds, if we don’t amend the Act, the challenge would continue to be there but if the Act is amended and there are measures to make sure that we overcome un-accessed funds, the primary and secondary education would serve our children better.”

     He said the oversight function was necessary to see how basic education has fared in the last one year. Useni said the committee needed to know the areas of interventions the commission would be required to enhance quality basic education in the country.

    He added: “In our drive towards ensuring every Nigerian child is back to school and able to learn, we have high expectations from UBEC over the years. If the Federal Government has not established UBEC, you can only imagine what will become of basic education in the country.”

    UBEC Finance Director: lack of political will responsible for accumulated funds

    Also, the Director of Finance and Accounts at UBEC, Adamu Misau, attributed the accumulated funds with the commission to “lack of political will from governors”.

    Misau, in a paper presented during a meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Effective Schools Programme in Abuja, lamented high discretionary powers of the executive and legislature, which results in lack of prioritisation of basic education, poor budget credibility and implementation.

    He also blamed the lack of clear policy on funding basic education at the state and the local government levels on the increased funds with the commission.

     Falana sues 36 states

    Early this year, Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), dragged the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory before the Federal High Court in Lagos over their failure to access N68 billion Universal Basic Education Commission funds to provide free basic education for their citizens. The SAN said the states failed to pay the counterpart funds necessary to access the UBEC funds to provide free basic education for citizens.

    Also joined as defendants in the suit are the Attorney- General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman (SAN) and UBEC.

    Falana urged the court to determine “whether the refusal or failure of the respondents to access the sum of N68 billion for the Universal Basic Education of children of school age in Nigeria is illegal as it violates section 11(2) of the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.

    Reactions from states

    When the story came out, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, said the state government had finalised the payment of the outstanding counterpart fund, following an approval for the release of the fund by the state government.

    On why the payment was delayed, Adeniran said 2023 was an election year, which means that many decisions could not be taken immediately. He said the board was constituted late last year, adding that it has been working assiduously since then, with the payment of this counterpart fund as one of the results of its efforts.

    The Adamawa State Government said it was up-to-date with payment of counterpart funds to the UBEC. Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, who spoke on the matter with our correspondent, asserted that because the state has paid all necessary counterpart funds to the commission, it has in turn accessed the funds due to the state.

    On being told of information that the state has outstanding grant of N2,600,237,320 to collect, Wonosikou said although he could not put the transactions between the commission and the state in figures, he was sure the state is up-to-date with its obligations and entitlements from the commission.

    The Ebonyi State Government said it is accessing the UBEC funds available to it. It said it is ever ready to pay its counterpart fund to access all the funds.

    Commissioner for Education Paul Nwobasi stated this in Abakaliki, the state capital.

    Also, the Ekiti State Government faulted the report by the UBEC that the state had failed to pay counterparts fund to access the grant. Commissioner for Education Dr. Adebimpe Aderiye, in a telephone chat with our reporter when the story broke, said the report by UBEC was  largely outdated.

    Dr. Aderiye said contrary to the claim that Ekiti State owed counterparts funds, the state government had paid N1.395 billion in June, this year.

    She said: “The Ekiti State Government in June 2024 paid N1,395,784, 059.14 as its counterpart fund.”

    Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has shown willingness and determination to access the 2020, 2023 UBEC grants, which past administration was unable to access, it was learnt.

    The governor has, therefore, intensified efforts towards that to enable the state government claim the grants.

    Last month, Katsina State Government accessed N2.79 billion as the 2023 matching grants for the execution of projects from the UBEC, Malam Aminu Badaru-Jikwmshi, said.

    Badaru-Jikwmshi, who is the Public Relations Officer, Katsina State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB), made the disclosure in a statement yesterday in Katsina. The PRO said the amount was for the execution of projects under the SUBEB across the 34 local government areas of the state.

    He stated that the funds would cater for the construction, rehabilitation, provisions of furniture, offices, stores, toilets, and water points across primary and junior secondary schools in the state.

    UNICEF laments non-payment of funding

    According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria is experiencing a learning crisis that is made worse by the growing issue of out-of-school children, hence it is surprising that some state governments have not made education a priority. It can also be said that UBEC lacks strong enforcement mechanisms based on the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act of 2004 as the law does not provide for an oversight body to ensure compliance.

    Given the persistent challenges in accessing UBEC matching grants, it said it was necessary to reassess the provisions of the UBE Act.

    A review of the UBE Act could adjust the counterpart funding requirements and also include mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation to effect implementation and ensure that no state is left behind.

    NAPTAN threatens to engage state governors

    On the non-payment of the funding, NAPTAN’s Deputy National President, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, wondered why the states are not paying up.

    Ogunbanjo said: “If I bring 50 percent and then UBEC is also giving me 50 percent, why not? Then, it’s attractive to the states, meaning they are helping me, assisting me to fund education with my marching grants.

    “You can only pay your marching grants to access it. Okay. The moment I pay my N3.5 billion, then they will now give me the projects and all that and add their own N3.5 billion.

    “Great. We now know that at least N3.5 billion is there in the Federal Government’s coffers to be sent to each state of the federation as long as the state is also remitting its own N3.5 billion.”

     He urged all state parent teacher associations, state education stakeholders, including the NUT, Nigerian conference of principals of secondary schools, head teachers association of Nigeria to ensure that they engage their various states to access the funds because education is paramount.

    He added: “So, why are the states not accessing it? They should give us a reason, and then we should now at least, become a movement. The parents and other associations must also come together to bring pressure to bear on each state of the federation that has not accessed this fund to ensure that they now at least pay their own in order not to bring education backwards in their various states.

    “Bring in N3.5 billion. We give you another N3.5 billion. That is an incentive. That is attractive enough in order to ensure that education is put in a good state in their states.

     “So, I must tell you that the education sector associations should now take it upon themselves to engage their various state governments to ensure that they access funds.

    “We never knew this. You know, everything is in secrecy. But now that it has come out, then we need to engage our various state governments and the governors.”

  • Mutfwang awards contract for new 55 secondary schools in Plateau

    Mutfwang awards contract for new 55 secondary schools in Plateau

    Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has awarded contracts for the construction of 55 new secondary schools across the state.

    The contract signing ceremony, held at the Twin Theatre, New Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, marked a significant step in the governor’s commitment to transforming the state’s educational infrastructure.

    During the event, Governor Mutfwang emphasised that the new schools must adhere to international standards and serve as models for future educational developments.

    “This project, under the Plateau State Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), funded by the World Bank, is a crucial investment in improving the learning environment for our students,” Mutfwang stated.

    He stressed that these projects are designed to empower the girl-child, acknowledging that educating women leads to far-reaching benefits for society as a whole.

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    In a symbolic presentation of award letters to contractors, the governor issued a firm directive: “Let me warn you ahead of time, you must do a good job. We will ensure that these projects meet the highest standards.

    “Our supervisory mechanisms will be top-notch because we want to set a precedent with this initiative. When the World Bank team comes for evaluation, we must not be found wanting.”

    The governor emphasised that the funds allocated for these projects are not free grants, urging contractors to strictly adhere to the specified building standards and timelines.

    Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mohammed Nyalun, expressed gratitude to the World Bank, the Federal Government and Governor Mutfwang for their roles in making the project a reality.

  • Police hold forum to avert attack on schools in FCT

    Police hold forum to avert attack on schools in FCT

    Security and safety of students and teachers has gained significant attention from the government, following incessant attacks on schools, a situation which has created panic in the minds of teachers, students and parents.

    The Federal Government, to reduce the number of out-of-school children, launched the Safe School Protection (SPS) programme in 2022.The Police, as one of the implementing agencies of the SPS, in August, launched the standards to ensure the safety of schools across the country.

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    At the Police strategic stakeholders forum on security of schools in Federal Capital Territory  (FCT) and training of the schools protection squad held at the Nigeria Police Resource Centre, Abuja, Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police, Operations, Ede Ayuba, said the NPF is committed to preventing attacks on schools across the country, hence the establishment of SPS by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, in all states of the federation and FCT to complement the efforts of the Federal Government to achieve a safer and secure school environment.

     Ayuba added that the forum aims at fostering effective partnership between the Police, sister security agencies and other relevant stakeholders, as it will enable host communities to have better understanding of their roles in safeguarding schools and a secured learning environment for the children

     The FCT Police Command also reassured residents of the capital territory of its readiness to make schools in FCT safe and secure.

  • Expert advocates curriculum retool, professional growth for teachers

    Expert advocates curriculum retool, professional growth for teachers

    Executive Director, Development of Education Action Network (DEAN) Initiative, Mr. Michael Semiye, has called for a retool of the curriculum to include essential skills for targeted societal challenges.

    Semiye addressed reporters on the introduction of “NextGen Teachers Bootcamp”  on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He recommended continuous professional development for teachers to attain speedy national development.

    The executive director said that many schools focused on theoretical knowledge which did not translate into practical skills required in the job market to create collective prosperity.

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    Semiye said while literacy rate was improving in the country, Human Development Index (HDI) remained low at 0.539.

    He said Nigeria ranked 161 out of 189 countries, which reflected a problem with the vision, design and implementation of education agenda.

    Semiye said empathy, leadership, creativity, analytical thinking, critical thinking and emotional intelligence must find clear expression in the curriculum, to attain desired national goals.

    “Despite basic educational attainment, many Nigerians lack the skills to improve their living standards, and contribute effectively to the economy.

  • Firm chief launches four books to enrich knowledge

    Firm chief launches four books to enrich knowledge

    The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Neros Pharmaceutical Limited, Prof. Poly Emenike, has contributed to education and learning by writing and publishing four books.

    The books are: The Economic Trajectories of the Igbos After Nigeria-Biafra War: My Personal Perspective; Mental Emancipation: How To Control Your Conscious and Subconscious Mind For Effective Performance; Shrines As Arbiters: Is Reverse The Case of Christianity in Igboland? and 15 Writing Principles on How to Be A Celebrated Author.

    Delivering his welcome address during the public presentation of the four books in Lagos, last week, Prof. Emenike said it was the third in the series of his book presentation event, the first being the presentation of his first book, titled, ‘Entrepreneurial Spirit’ through the 17 principles of Napoleon Hill, that took place on November 26, 2014.

    The second, he said, was on June 20, 2019, when his fifth book, ‘Think And Grow Rich: The African Perspective’, was unveiled. The two books were published under the auspices of Napoleon Hill Foundation, USA.

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    “The four books being presented today were, however, published in Nigeria under the stables of Entrepreneurial Spirit Publishing Company Limited (ESPC),” Prof. Emenike said.

    On ‘Mental Emancipation: How To Control Your Conscious and Subconscious Mind For Effective Performance,’ he said the book would help readers to engage their brains optimally and use it to think themselves into achieving their hearts’ desires.

    As the Neros Pharmaceutical boss said, “I posited in the book that human minds work in very mysterious ways, it can be like a garden which, if effectively cultivated, would be fruitful and yield desired results.

    “However, if left uncultivated or fallow, it gives room to several unwanted wastes to fester in it, hence, making the garden unfruitful.

  • Parents, Ondo govt differ on free basic education

    Parents, Ondo govt differ on free basic education

    The concept of the Universal Basic Education is to ensure free education for the first nine years of a child. It extends to the Junior Secondary Schools. But in Ondo State, parents do not agree that basic education is free, Osagie Otabor reports

    AS school is set to resume in Ondo State, it is brisk business for many carpenters operating within vicinities where secondary schools are located. This is because pupils entering Junior Secondary One (JS1) are expected to bring a desk and a locker or the child would be made to sit on the floor to learn. Checks showed that a set of locker and desk cost N16,000. Besides, the money parents said the money they were asked to pay to enrol their children into JS1 put to question the concept of free basic education in the state, especially at the Junior Secondary level. To many of the parents, education is far from being free.

    The 2024 budget for the education sector is about N48 billion, which represented 12.4 per cent of the total budget. However, desks and lockers have not been provided for the pupils. It is, therefore, a common sight to behold within Akure, the state capital, for pupils to be carrying desks and lockers to school.

    A parent said he had to pay over a N100,000 for his son into one of the public secondary schools in Akure. The money, according to him, is for books, desks and lockers, school uniforms, sportswear and other collectibles such as brooms.

    At the entrance of many secondary schools, many carpenters were seen displaying various lockers and chairs.

    Checks showed that pupils in Ondo Primary school pay N23,000 annually while those in secondary schools pay N43,000 annually. The money is not termed school fees but covered school bus maintenance, computer, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) fee, examination fee, digital platforms, administrative charges, security, medicals, utility and others.

    Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Victor Olabimtan, said it was the PTA executives that met with the state and proposed to be paying the money as part of their ways to support educational growth.

    Olabimtan insisted that education remained free in the state, saying it was the PTA that collects the money and disbursed. He said no pupils are allowed to pay for locker and desk.

    “Any school that collects money from parents for locker and desk or books is doing illegal business. Schools are not supposed to sell books to parents. In the new dispensation, we want to start providing lockers and desks for Junior Secondary Schools. We will start supplying furniture in the 2024 action plan of SUBEB. Basic education is totally free in Ondo State.”

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    On his part, Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Olaolu Akindolie, said N3 billion has been earmarked for renovation of secondary schools across the state. He said parents were not supposed to bring chairs and lockers to schools.

    Akindolie stated that it was not state government policy that parents should pay any fees and vowed sanctions for any school principal that demanded for money.

    “There is nothing like that. That is not government policy. I have gone round and sensitised parents. Parents are not supposed to bring desks to schools. They should protest to us and we will sanction such principal.”

    Some parents, who spoke after paying the necessary fees declined to mention their names for fear of victimisation.

    They were seen at the entrance of some secondary schools in Akure, the state capital, buying chairs and desks.

    One of them said: “Education is not free in this state. School fees are N20,300, uniform is N34,500 and list of books is N39,500. Everything I paid for my son to enter JS1 is over N150,000. I even bought desk at N11,500.

    “Government will say education is free. Education is not free. We buy everything. I am going to the bank to pay the school fees. There are school fees. I do not agree there is free education in Ondo State.”

    Another parent said he had to borrow money to ensure his daughter got enrolled into JS1.

  • Amend constitution to make education compulsory, says varsity don

    Amend constitution to make education compulsory, says varsity don

    A Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Azubike Chinwuba Onuora-Oguno, has recommended the amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to make education compulsory in the  country.

    Prof. Onuora-Oguno also canvassed for the strengthening of key institutions in Nigeria in a way that would ensure the full realisation of citizens’ right to education.

    The law professor said this in Ilorin while delivering the 264th inaugural lecture of the university.

    The lecture was entitled: “Order in the order of the economic and social rights jurisprudence in Nigeria.”

    For his suggestion to be achieved, the don said that collaboration and synergy among institutions are an essential instrument that would ensure that every Nigerian is given his inalienable right to be educated to the extent of his capacities.

    Prof. Onuora-Oguno also enjoined critical stakeholders and institutions such as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the National Teachers Institute (NTI), the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), among others, to ensure that concerted efforts are mobilised for the realisation of quality education.

    He added that an enhanced capacity would enable the institutions and other non-state actors in the field of education rights advocacy, to realise the potentials they have in changing the narrative.

    He also called for increased involvement of the judiciary in the matters of economic and social rights. He encouraged individual lawyers and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), as well as other stakeholders to always show interest in challenging the poor delivery of education in their respective communities.

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    Prof. Onuora-Oguno stated further that education must be approached from what he called a “classical theory perspective”, saying that it should be enshrined in the Chapter Four of the Nigerian Constitution. He, therefore, encouraged the National Assembly to amend the nation’s Constitution accordingly.

    The don also called for the review of the welfare of teachers and other stakeholders in the nation’s education sector, explaining that when the welfare of the teachers is improved upon, it would definitely impact positively on the quality of education obtainable in a given community.

    He added that the role of pupils, parents, teachers, and the community must also be adequately recognised for the right to education to be ensured.

    He also suggested that policies and laws relating to education should be aligned from a right-based perspective to aid the advocacy of the right to education and adjudication of the same.

    “In addition, we must all ensure that the relevant policies are sufficiently adaptive enough to avoid halting of access to education,” Prof. Onuora-Oguno explained.

    The inaugural lecturer also said that it is important to ensure that adequate and verifiable data is available especially as it relates to educational needs of persons with disabilities, saying that the information will ensure adequate budgetary and logistical plans towards quality and inclusive education.

    Prof. Onuora-Oguno also appealed to the Federal Government to support those he called “non-state actors” in carrying out their various roles in providing education. He added that everybody should be encouraged to play one role or the other in providing quality education for the citizens.

  • Mastercard Foundation to organise Africa’s secondary education, women’s empowerment forum

    Mastercard Foundation to organise Africa’s secondary education, women’s empowerment forum

    The Mastercard Foundation will host two events at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) on September 22, 2024. Both gatherings will address the critical issues of girls’ education and women’s economic empowerment in Africa and will be held at the Millennium Hilton New York, One UN Plaza Hotel.

    Under the themes: “Powering Parity—Inclusive Education for a Sustainable Future” and “Invincible: Empowering Women, Transforming Africa,” the events will showcase successful educational models and explore solutions to create a more equitable economic landscape for women in Africa.

    “Powering Parity—Inclusive Education for a Sustainable Future” will focus on effective strategies and programmes to improve young African women’s learning access, outcomes, and transitions to and from secondary education. The session will also include an important announcement on the expansion of a key Mastercard Foundation partnership focused on initiatives for girls and young women.

    Additionally, it will explore the pivotal role of education technology in fostering resilient and inclusive learning in Africa. The Mastercard Foundation is committed to accelerating access to dignified and fulfilling work for 21 million young women in Africa by 2030 as part of its Young Africa Works strategy.

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    “The foundation is proud to collaborate with exceptional institutions to co-create and scale solutions that drive meaningful impact for communities. Our approach resonates strongly with the UNGA 79 general debate theme of leaving no one behind,” said Tina Muparadzi, Executive Director of Education & Transitions at the Mastercard Foundation.

    Various stakeholders, including education ministries, multilateral institutions and donors are expected to use the key approaches highlighted at the events to accelerate impact and scale-proven solutions. Confirmed attendees include Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education for Sierra Leone; Prof. Birhanu Nega, Minister of Education for Ethiopia; and Hon Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy for Nigeria.

    Reeta Roy, President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation noted the importance of this work given the reality that in Sub-Saharan Africa, 101 million young people between the ages of six and 18 are excluded from formal education.

  • UNIBEN alumni association to resolve internal crisis

    UNIBEN alumni association to resolve internal crisis

    • Fresh election holds November

    The University of Benin Alumni Association (UBAA) has resolved to put its house in order with the constitution of a reconciliation/planning committee at its  emergency general assembly, which held last month at the Senate Chamber of the institution.

    The meeting was approved by chairmen of 12 branches of the association.

    The reconciliation committee is poised to reconcile all aggrieved persons arising from the 2020 Biennial General Assembly (BGA); appeal to them to suspend/discontinue any appeal/cross-appeal arising from the Judgment of Justice  C. A. Obiozor sitting at the Federal High Court, Benin City.

    The UBAA’s previous election of its Executive Committee held on November 20, 2020  had resulted in a court case with suit no. FHC/B/CS/ 145/2021 –  between Engr. Ikenna Obiasor & 2 Ors. Vs. Incorporated Trustees of the University of Benin Alumni Associations & 4 Ors.

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    Thus, the constituted committee would also take all  steps necessary  for the holding of the Biennial General Assembly (BGA) for the election of officers of the association on Saturday November 16, 2024. The committee shall be made up of one person each from the following seven  branches, namely: Lagos, Benin, Port Harcourt, UNIBEN, Ondo, Warri, and Abuja.

    An electoral committee to conduct the 2024 Biennial General Assembly (BGA) at the University of Benin was also  constituted. It consisted one person each from five branches, namely: Bayelsa, Asaba, Ogun, Owerri and Sapele.

    At the meeting, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, was represented by Prof.  Buniyamin Adesina Ayinde, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Ekehuan Campus, with  Prof. Eddy Erhagbe, the Director of University Advancement and Development, and Dr. Stephen Obeki Obeki, the Acting Director of Alumni Relations also present.