The Nation Newspaper

Category: Education

  • NYSC voids certificates of 101 UNICAL graduates

    NYSC voids certificates of 101 UNICAL graduates

    Certificates of national service issued to 101 University of Calabar, Cross River State graduates have been withdrawn by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    NYSC predicated the action on the fact that those affected were fraudulently mobilised for service in 2021, 2022, and 2023.    

    Director of  Information and Public Relations of the NYSC, Eddy Megwa, made this known yesterday.

    Read Also; How realistic are protesters’ demands?

    Megwa said “This is to inform members of the public that  99 persons and two others on exemption were fraudulently mobilised by the University of Calabar for national service during the 2021, 2022, and 2023 NYSC service years.

    “Management of the  National Youth Service Corps hereby restates its strong commitment to ensuring that unqualified locally and foreign-trained Nigerian youths, especially those purported to have graduated from unaccredited universities, are not recognised, while only qualified persons are issued with NYSC certificates of national service.

    “Arising from the above, their certificates of national service have been invalidated forthwith by the NYSC management.’’

  • 72% of candidates pass WASSCE with five credits

    72% of candidates pass WASSCE with five credits

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has said 72 per cent of the candidates who sat this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) got credits in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

    Addressing reporters yesterday while announcing the release of the results, WAEC’s Head of National Office (HNO), Dr. Josiah Dangut, gave a comparison of the percentage of the candidates in this category with those who wrote the same examination last year.

    The HNO said this year’s results showed a 7.69 per cent decrease in performance; that is, those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, was 79.81 per cent last year.

    Read Also: Consequences of tearing, mutilating international passport

    He said 73.79 per cent candidates obtained credit and above in a minimum of any five subjects with or without English language and Mathematics.

    Dangut said the results of 215,267 candidates, representing 11.92 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, were withheld for alleged examination malpractice. According to him, this is 4.37 per cent lower than the 16.29 per cent recorded last year.

    The HNO said 1,814,736 candidates registered for the examination from 25,126 recognised secondary schools in the country, but only 1,805,216 candidates sat the examination.

    He expressed worry over increasing use of cell phones in examination halls, despite existing ban, saying organised cheating were recorded in some schools.

    “All the cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate committee of the council for consideration and final decisions,” Dangut said.

    The HNO said candidates who have fulfilled their financial obligations can access their results on its results website: www.waecdirect.org, within the next 12 hours.

    He added that the results of candidates who were sponsored by states indebted to the council would not be released until they settle their indebtedness.

    “We appeal to the concerned to do so to enable the affected schools/candidates access their results,” Dangut said.

  • ‘Tuition-free education is possible in Nigeria if…’

    ‘Tuition-free education is possible in Nigeria if…’

    The founder/Proprietor, Transformation College of Business and Technology, Lagos, Dr Orlando Olumide Odejide, has urged the Federal Government to assist stakeholders in the private sector that are capable of running tuition-free education.

    He spoke in an interview on some issues in the sector and the forthcoming one year anniversary of the institution billed for October.

    Odejide affirmed that free education is possible if education practitioners are given the right environment.

    Odejide is optimistic that a free education programme is practicable in the country. 

    He said: “We believe that education should be free in developing countries of Africa.The government should subsidise tuition and when that is done, there will be no overcharge of fees by the tertiary institutions.”

    He added: “By offering 100 per cent tuition-free education, our targets are secondary school graduates whose parents can not afford their tuition for higher education, so we reach out to churches, mosques, and secondary schools to have direct access to these parents and have them send their children to our college. The response so far has been impressive.”

     Also, the proprietor advised the government to prioritise lecturers’ welfare to avert varsities’ crises, saying they are the pillars of the sector.

    He affirmed that this was the only way to stop the Academic Staff of Union of Universities (ASUU) constant face-off with the government.

    Read Also:Make FG tertiary institutions tuition-free — ECWA urges Tinubu

    He said: “Teachers play a vital role in building and grooming future leaders and they should be listened to and specially cared for, so they can give their best services to the students and the nation. We believe their demands should be looked into by the Federal Government.”

    But on the Student Loan Scheme, Odejide has a different view. He said it would appear that it had not been widely accepted by the public, “and that tells one the people do not feel it is beneficial to them”. His solution: “So, we believe instead of a Student Loan Scheme, education should be free or subsidised”.

     He noted: “Transformation College is a tuition-free Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to offer a National Innovation Diploma (NID) in Computer Software Engineering and Networking and System Security. Its objective is to offer world-class education to young and enthusiastic minds within and outside Nigeria, and to impact the present and future generations with skills and knowledge. Our courses are selected to suit the technological knowledge needs in today’s world.”

    At the moment, it has over 200 students.

    He advised the holders of the Senior School Certificate of Education (SSCE) SSCE graduates, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, university graduates, or professionals looking to diversify their skill set to come to the school.

     “For now, we have Networking and System Security, Software Engineering and Business Informatics. More will be added later.  Aside from obtaining a National Innovation Diploma Certificate after two years of study, our students will obtain a Microsoft certification courtesy of our affiliation with Microsoft. They will graduate with a two-year work experience because we offer paid provisional employment to the best students,” he added.

      While many Nigerians would root for free education, Odejide said, it wasn’t easy running the school.”Yes, it hasn’t been easy. But we are trying our best. We are reaching out to potential sponsors to share in our vision and so lend their support towards this cause. Without getting sponsors, we can only do little. We are also using this medium to call on well-meaning individuals as well as organisations to partner us so we can reach out to more underprivileged students.”

    Still, he is happy that they have a story to tell one year after take off. “We have made great progress within one year. We launched the maiden edition of our tuition free 12-week certificate programme in Business Analysis and ISO management System, last October where we had over 900 registrations. And this January, we kicked off our actual NID study in Business Analysis with about 50 students. Last June, we kicked off our second cohort, a12-week certificate programme in Business Analysis and ISO management systems, which will run until August 31, 2024. It has attracted over 600 registrations.”

  • Conflict reporting can’t be sheer content creation, by Tunde Akanni

    Conflict reporting can’t be sheer content creation, by Tunde Akanni

    Expectedly, this season of uncertainty unleashed on the nation by #EndBadGovernance campaigners is revealing acutely strange tendencies about the media.

    Whatever the stance of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, global broadcasting now runs ceaselessly on the telephone handset of individuals, courtesy of the internet. Facebook is hardly any less laden as the utmostly manipulable X’s Space.

    This is the same country where it took us, as relentless activists, to struggle for more than a decade to secure legitimacy for community broadcasting. And (in) security was often the excuse from the authorities. 

    But now that broadcasting has transcended the influence arena of NBC, the nation is still hanging on to NBC in spite of repeated recommendations by experts who keep citing the example of America’s Federal Communication Commission, FCC, and the UK’s OfCom. 

    These two bodies regulate broadcasting and telecommunication services in their respective countries.  In spite of the famous Orosanye report recommending the merger of a number of government organs, the Tinubu administration, coming after two other governments that should have radicalized the regulation of broadcasting and telecommunications by bunching them up, still appears timid.

    But if wisdom eludes a man while enduring some trial, can he ever get to muster wisdom? At the height of the 2023 presidential campaigns, caution was thrown to the wind by several bloggers in town, many of them doing the bidding of their sponsors who did not care whatever became of the fragile peace of the nation.

    Almost every report became breaking news. Such was the prefix severely abused that not a few of elders in journalism practice and scholarship expressed public concern. However, perhaps because the reckless indulgence in the deployment of that prefix may not attract any legal sanction other than undermine their credibility that bad habit has stuck. 

    This presents a clear paucity of solution journalism as prescribed by conflict-sensitive journalism, the respect for which every society requires during such tension-soaked periods as the election period.  And protest seasons such as those currently playing out.

    Yet again, only very recently, the executive director of Media Career Services, Lekan Otufodurin, felt so bothered about another variant of less than ethical conduct of folks who run news blogs. He tried to remind them that indulgence in plagiarism was most condemnable as it could be considered criminal to present someone else’s work as yours. 

    This disregard for caution in relation to plagiarism has however entered another worse level following the commencement of the #EndBadGovernance marches around the country. The operators of several so-called news blogs, in a manner suggestive of being appendages of bad governance, readily feign ubiquity. 

    Rather than modestly characterise themselves as being particularly reliable for reports from a particular locality, they harvest copiously with reckless abandon from other sources and proclaim already published reports as theirs, even when it may be obvious that the report being used hours later no longer reflects the truth about wherever they are trying to report.  So, even when peace may have been restored to an otherwise tumultuous scene, the plagiarists are still giving their unsuspecting readers the wrong impression

    Lekan’s position is derived from his observation of bloggers’ seeming blindness to ethical uprightness especially in relation to plagiarism.  It readily derives from armchair journalism characteristic of one-person blogs giving the impression of owning multiple bureaux spread around the country.  What has happened to the pride of giving credit to the rightful sources even as the window of access may not get diminished in any way?

    Scholars and professionals in journalism have always reckoned with other media as veritable news sources. It only requires that the user of a previously published report should endeavour to verify the truthfulness or otherwise of the report in question.  A smart reporter will also, as a matter of necessity, endeavour to add more value either by updating or enriching with thorough analysis by experts or some other informed minds.

    No respectable medium will routinely indulge in copying and pasting and expect to have a quality audience.  What is left of professionalism? It’s the road to the cascading and seamless realm of content creation where anything goes.

    Content creation being a new, technology-induced, concept in the media ecosystem may never cease to amaze media professionals and scholars. So fluid and hard to define, content creation can be as amusing as may be stupefying.

    Being audio-visual and ubiquitous being phone compliant and requiring no sophistication to access, they are incredibly popular yet require no training to initiate. It’s the worst form of mimicry for genuine journalism practice.

    Content creation has featured ludicrous conversations that their producers would prefer to identify as interviews.  Some of them have paraded humanity diminishing spectacles revealing subjects ranging from the weirdest narrations and display of sex-related demonstrations in the most revealing forms even as they brandish varying sums of cash as baits for unsuspecting respondents who surrender to sometimes incomprehensibly laughable manipulations resulting from the hardship inflicted on citizens by the harsh economic conditions

    Unfortunately, some of the self-acclaimed news bloggers have, unknown to them perhaps,  slipped into what presents them as charlatans best reckoned with as casual content creators in the way they run their routines.

    Some roads attempted to be blocked in Abuja in the morning period but were cleared by security operatives almost immediately get unashamedly flaunted in the evening by the spineless bloggers as “Breaking News”. 

    To achieve what? What’s the capacity of the fellow hungry folks of Nigeria to endure the ceaseless flow of unnerving news? Do these bloggers have professional considerations in running their sites? Do they reckon that their recklessness may also rub off on their counterparts who are decidedly thorough?

    Rather than wait for complainants, is it completely impossible for the National Media Complaints Commission populated by our professional elders like Lanre Idowu and Eugenia Abu and others to be proactive in arresting this dangerous slide?

    The general public is the victim of the unpleasant degeneracy of professionalism in the media.  If it is convenient to be ignored by some other citizens, it should not be the same for us as critical stakeholders. Indeed, it is our proactiveness to matters such as we raise here that will lend credence to our sincerity of purpose on some other pending issues. 

    The same way digital technology has fueled the craze for unfounded competition on “Breaking News” is the same way digital technology has given rise to the Cybercrime Prohibitions Act of 2015 with its conspicuous imperfections betraying a rather reductionist disposition to the entire media sector.

    How much more disempowering to us can the Cybercrime Advisory Council be?  Ensuring that our charity begins from home, however, may be quite inspiring.  We must be seen to be paying the needed attention to our inadequacies.

    Tunde Akanni, PhD, a media and conflict expert, is an associate professor at the Lagos State University.

  • IYD 2024: Youth digital pathways for sustainable development, by Adewale Olamoyegun

    IYD 2024: Youth digital pathways for sustainable development, by Adewale Olamoyegun

    Every 12th day of August, the world celebrates the youths on the occasion of International Youth Day (IYD), an awareness day designated by the United Nations (UN) to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youths.

    The day gives an opportunity to commemorate and mainstream young peoples’ voices, actions, and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal, and equitable engagement.

    As the world commemorates International Youth Day (IYD) 2024 today, we reflect on the theme “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” celebrating the role of young people in harnessing technology for a better, more sustainable future.

    In an increasingly interconnected world, the digital revolution has transformed every aspect of our lives, from communication to commerce, education, and beyond. For today’s youth, this digital landscape offers unprecedented opportunities to contribute to sustainable development, driving change with just a click.

    Digitalization is transforming our world, offering unprecedented opportunities to accelerate sustainable development. Digital technologies such as mobile devices, services, and artificial intelligence are instrumental in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    The youths of the world occupy a prime position in the global demographics. Half of the people on our planet are 30 or younger, and this is expected to reach 57% by the end of 2030. A survey shows that 67% of people believe in a better future, with 15 to 17-year-olds being the most optimistic about this. The majority of people agree that the age balance in politics is wrong. More than two-thirds (69%) of people across all age groups agree that more opportunities for younger people to have a say in policy development/change would make political systems better. Globally, only 2.6% of parliamentarians are under 30 years old, and less than 1% of these young MPs are women.

    Nigeria, often referred to as the “Giant of Africa,” is home to a vibrant youth population that forms the backbone of the nation’s progress. With over 60% of its population under the age of 25, Nigeria’s youth are pivotal in driving the country’s social, economic, and technological transformation. In the digital age, their potential is amplified, making them key players in achieving sustainable development.

    As we commemorate International Youth Day (IYD) 2024, this piece highlights the role of Nigerian youths in leveraging technology to create a brighter future.

    “The youth of the world represent our legacy and our values. It’s up to all of us to ensure they have every opportunity to succeed. IYF does exactly that. Let’s collectively strive to ‘leave this world a better place than we found it’ by assisting every child in succeeding in this mission.” —Andrew J. Elder, President & CEO, The Elder Group, LLC

    I’ll look at certain areas of Nigeria that have had some quick wins. These include the following;

    1.    Improving the Digital Landscape in Nigeria:

    Nigeria has witnessed significant growth in its digital infrastructure over the past decade. With approximately 108 million internet users as of 2024, Nigeria ranks among the top countries with the highest number of internet users in Africa. This connectivity has opened up a world of opportunities for young Nigerians, enabling them to access information, build networks, and create innovative solutions to local and global challenges.

    However, while urban areas in Nigeria enjoy relatively good access to digital tools and services, rural areas still face significant challenges. Bridging this digital divide is crucial to ensuring that all Nigerian youth can contribute to sustainable development.

    2.  Youth-Led Digital Innovations:

    Nigerian youth are at the forefront of digital innovation, developing solutions that address critical issues in areas such as agriculture, education, healthcare, and finance. One notable example is Farmcrowdy, an agritech platform co-founded by Onyeka Akumah. Farmcrowdy connects small-scale farmers with investors, providing them with the resources needed to expand their operations and adopt sustainable farming practices. This digital platform has not only improved food security in Nigeria but also created jobs for thousands of young people.

    Read Also: Int’l Youth Day: Okotete urges youths to harness Tinubu’s reform initiatives

    Another inspiring example is Lifebank, a healthcare technology company founded by Temie Giwa-Tubosun. Lifebank uses digital tools to connect blood banks with hospitals in need, ensuring that life-saving blood is delivered in the shortest time possible. This innovation has had a profound impact on healthcare delivery in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where access to medical resources is limited.

    3.  Digital Skills for Sustainable Development:

    To fully harness the potential of digital technology, Nigerian youths must be equipped with the necessary skills. Initiatives that provide access to digital education and training are crucial in ensuring that young people across the country, can participate fully in the digital economy. Programs like coding boot camps, online courses, and digital entrepreneurship training offer pathways for youths to develop the skills needed to innovate and drive sustainable solutions.

    Remarkable initiatives such as the Andela program have been instrumental in providing young Nigerians with training in software development, preparing them for careers in the global tech industry. Andela’s success in training world-class developers has not only created job opportunities but also positioned Nigeria as a hub for technological talent in Africa.

    Moreover, the Nigerian government, in collaboration with private sector partners, has launched various digital literacy programs aimed at empowering youths with the skills needed to thrive in the digital economy. Programs like the Digital Economy Skills Program of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy are helping to build a generation of digitally savvy youths who can contribute to sustainable economic growth.

    The National Digital Economy & e-Governance Bill which has passed the first reading at the National Assembly, is poised to significantly transform Nigeria’s digital landscape, fostering sustainable economic growth, enhancing public services, and promoting an inclusive digital society. The bill sets a solid foundation for Nigeria to thrive in the digital age, ensuring sustainable development and a competitive edge in the global market. The Act also made provision for the establishment of the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship, a Startup Investment Seed Fund.

    4.  Addressing the Digital Divide:

    Despite these successes, the digital divide remains a significant challenge in Nigeria. Access to affordable internet, digital devices, and electricity is still limited in many rural and underserved areas. To address this, initiatives such as Project 1000, launched by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), aim to provide internet connectivity to rural communities across the country. Additionally, the expansion of the National Broadband Plan is expected to increase internet penetration and improve digital access for all Nigerians.

    A robust digital economy is impossible to achieve without a digitally skilled population. For many years, Nigeria struggled to improve its digital literacy rate. As of 2021, over 50 percent of Nigerians lacked digital skills and could not utilize data services, according to the 2021 World Bank Development Report.

    To reverse this trend, the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy in its policy document, set an ambitious target of achieving 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030. The first step the ministry took was to launch the 3 Million Tech Talents (3MTT) Programme, which plans to train over three million youths in highly sought-after IT skills.

    Addressing the digital divide is essential not only for social inclusion but also for ensuring that all Nigerian youths can participate in and benefit from the digital economy.

    5.  The Role of Digital Platforms in Advocacy and Social Change

    Nigerian youths have effectively used digital platforms to advocate for social change and hold leaders accountable. The #EndSARS movement, which gained global attention in 2020, is a prime example of how young Nigerians have leveraged social media to organize, mobilize, and amplify their voices. The movement, which called for an end to police brutality, demonstrated the power of digital platforms in driving social justice and influencing policy.

    Beyond social activism, Nigerian youths are also using digital platforms to promote environmental sustainability, gender equality, and entrepreneurship. These efforts are critical to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.

    As we commemorate International Youth Day (IYD) 2024, it is evident that through innovation, advocacy, and entrepreneurship, young Nigerians can turn digital clicks into tangible progress and further drive sustainable development across the country.

    I will recommend that the government, educational stakeholders, and those saddled with the task of handling youth-related issues, adopt the following strategies;

    a)  Involving youths in planning and policy formulations – youths are better positioned to understand the challenges they go through and the psychology of their peers. Young people feel marginalized and rejected when their voices are not heard or trusted as credible. Youths must be heard and allowed to express their opinions and most importantly, contribute to digital solutions and the growing discussion of national development.

    b)  Developing and investing in digital education – youths should be provided with practical digital education like Coding, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Robotics as early as Secondary schools. This will make them globally relevant and put them on the global digital map. Digital hubs can be created and accessible to Nigerian youths so they can achieve their digital potential. The policy document of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy should be carefully implemented.

    c)   Redesigning and upgrading the school Curricula – the school programmes and curriculum need urgent redesigning to reflect current educational realities and develop the knowledge base of the youths as well as prepare them to be future leaders. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs provide a solid foundation of knowledge that students can build upon. This will develop the problem-solving, innovative, and creative thinking abilities of youths.

    d)    Rewarding outstanding young achievers – youths should be motivated and rewarded as this stirs them up to do more. Plain reward systems such as certificates, prizes, and scholarships can serve as great incentives for youth. It is important to avoid rewarding “bad behaviour and gangsterism” by incentivizing young people who are positively contributing to their communities and societies. Our recognition and National awards should include not just money-bags or political jobbers, but outstanding youths who have contributed to the positive image of the nation. This makes them serve as role models to others.

    e)   Mainstreaming the IYD – since youths constitute a huge part of the national and global demographics, it is advocated that governments and stakeholders should mainstream and draw more attention to celebrating youths on 12 August each year, more like the Children’s Day celebrated every 27th May. Programmes such as youth-related conferences, symposiums, workshops, and summer

    Bootcamps can be organized. This will positively engage the youths and make them today’s leaders that they truly are.

    In conclusion, for Nigeria to fully realize its digital potential and not take the global digital back seat, it is imperative for the government at all levels and all stakeholders to invest in digital education, bridge the digital divide, and create an enabling environment for youth-led innovations. By doing so, Nigeria can harness the energy and creativity of its youth to achieve a more sustainable and prosperous future.

    Adewale Olamoyegun is a Leadership Coach, Business Executive and Consultant. He coordinates the Leadskills Initiative, a youth-based Leadership and Mentorship initiative where leadership values are democratized. He is a prolific writer and is the Author of “Second to None – Capstones to becoming the very best‟ and “Leadership Guide for Youths – Nuggets for emerging leaders‟.

    Adewale Olamoyegun writes from Lagos, he can be reached via adewaleolamoyegun2012@gmail.com.

  • Ekiti varsity gets new VC Ayodele

    Ekiti varsity gets new VC Ayodele

    Ekiti state governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has approved the appointment of Professor Joseph Babatola Ayodele as the new Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

    Ayodele, a Professor of Education Management, is until the appointment, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University.

    Prof Ayodele’s  appointment as Vice Chancellor takes effect from August 20, 2024.

    He takes over from Prof, Edward Olanipekun, whose tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University ends on August 19, 2024.

    Prof Joseph Babatola Ayodele was born in Ikere-Ekiti, Ikere Local Government  Area of Ekiti State on August 13, 1963. He attended Annunciation School, Ikere-Ekiti from 1974-1979. He later proceeded to the Ondo State College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti for the Nigeria Certificate in Education between 1982 and 1985.

    He obtained a First Class Bachelor of Education (B.ed) degree in Economics from the Ondo State University, (now Ekiti State University), Ado- Ekiti in 1992. He also bagged a Master’s degree in Education Management from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan in 1997; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education Management from same University in 2000.

    Prof Ayodele started his lecturing career as a Graduate Assistant at Ondo State University (now Ekiti State University), Ado-Ekiti, in 1995 and rose through the ranks to the position of a Professor in 2012.

    Read Also: Killer-suspect of Ekiti varsity DVC held

    He had served the University in different capacities notably as Assistant Director, Affiliate Programmes, (2006-2008); Acting Head, Department of Educational Foundations and Management (2010- 2012); Dean, Faculty of Education (2018-2020); Director, Directorate of Continuing Education Programmes/Distance Learning (2020-2022); Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) 2022- date.

    Governor Oyebanji, who is the Visitor to the University, urges the new Vice Chancellor to bring his wealth of experience as an academic and a seasoned administrator to bear in the bid to further reposition the University as a world class institution of learning, even as he wishes him a successful tenure.

    The Governor thanks the outgoing EKSU Vice Chancellor, Prof Edward Olanipekun, for his meritorious service to the University and wishes him success in his future endeavors.

  • Library Trust Fund committed to making NASS Library world-class- NASS Committee

    Library Trust Fund committed to making NASS Library world-class- NASS Committee

    The National Assembly Library Trust Fund is committed to making the National Assembly Library a world class center for the generation and accumulation (and dissemination) of knowledge pertinent to the Nigerian legislature and national development. 

    This was made known at the National Assembly Library Committee Retreat 2024 with the theme: International best practices for library management, research and documentation. 

    Speakers at the retreat organised by the National Assembly, in collaboration with a consulting firm, Prime Consult, said in addition, the Library is committed to providing equal access to this information by everybody irrespective of their peculiarities or abilities. 

    At the retreat, led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gordon Isiakpere, said the programme will explore how technology can be used to overcome the challenges of accessibility and convenience for library users in the National Assembly community. 

    One of the Resource persons at the retreat Mrs Vivian. N. Niemanze, who spoke on the role of budget research officers and legislative committees’ clerks in fastracking the approval of MTEF/FSP document, the appropriation bill and finance bill with emphasis on policy and programmes analysis and monitoring and evaluation, highlighted the need of Legislators to have access to government sources of Information for effective oversighting and decision making. 

    She also pointed out the importance of Legislative Research in (Planning, Budget Analysis, Policy Analysis, Monitoring & Evaluation) in providing independent sources of information to Legislators and Committee Clerks. 

    The role of Legislative Committees’ Clerks and Budget Officers to ensure efficiency and drive effectiveness towards achieving the objectives of the Budget process. 

    She said expectations at the retreat include: “To identify practical measures to guide Committees’ Clerks and Budget Officers in the Analysis, Monitoring and Evaluating of FGN budget-MTEF /FSP Document, the Appropriation Bill and the Finance Bill, the inherent specific challenges and how to reverse the challenges. 

    “At the end of this presentation, Participants should be able to Understand some basic steps in Budget Analysis, Monitoring and Evaluation and the role of Committees’ Clerks and Budget Officers in Legislative Research. 

    “Consider the specific obstacles facing effective analysis and monitoring of FGN budget as well as how to better support the Legislators for effective engagement of MDAs.”

    Read Also: TETFund provides funding support for 5,525 infrastructural projects

    Mrs Njemanze further said effective budgeting and the budgetary process are critical to Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development. 

    According to her, Sections 80 (1-4) and 81 (1-2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered) empowers the National Assembly to receive, scrutinize and approve the annual budget estimates laid before it by the President. 

    She said budget serves as the mechanism for achieving government priorities and programmes. 

    She said critical review of the budget is essential to ensure that government resources are allocated in such a way that they produce maximum benefits. 

  • Scholar advocates language-centred approach to national security

    Scholar advocates language-centred approach to national security

    Nigerian academic and Fulbright alumnus Olamide Eniola has called for a language-centred approach to addressing insecurity in Nigeria, highlighting the critical role of indigenous languages in shaping national security narratives and fostering public resilience.

    Eniola, who is currently pursuing a PhD in Anthropology with a specialisation in Linguistics at Tulane University, United States, made this known during a media literacy workshop recently held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    The workshop, which was attended by journalists, media vendors, and students, forms part of his fieldwork on how terrorism is reported and interpreted in Nigeria.

    Speaking at the event, Eniola explained that his research explores how news about terrorism is produced and consumed, with a particular attention to the power dynamics between journalists, security agencies, insurgent groups, and citizens.

    He argued that indigenous languages remain instrumental in improving communication and trust between the state and the public.

    “In Nigeria, media narratives on insecurity are not neutral. They shape what people fear, who they blame, and how they respond. Therefore, when these narratives are told in indigenous languages, they incorporate emotional and cultural registers that local communities rely on to make sense of violence. These narratives become powerful enough to shape people’s perspectives,” Eniola said.

    A former journalist with the Nigerian Tribune, Eniola previously taught Yoruba in the United States through the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program between 2019 and 2020. He held classes at Michigan State University and also guest-lectured at the University of Michigan, in a collaborative initiative supported by the African Studies Centres of both institutions.

    During that time, he also participated in community outreach programmes, including a visit to Coldwater Correctional Centre, where he shared Yoruba folktales with African-American inmates during Black History Month.

    “Those stories of resilience were well received,” he noted, “and they underscored the role of language and storytelling in promoting socio-emotional wellbeing, even among marginalised populations.”

    Since returning to Nigeria for fieldwork, Eniola has been engaging with journalists, media consumers, and local vendors across multiple states to investigate how news related to terrorism is produced and circulated.

    Given Nigeria’s linguistic diversity, where security discourse is often shaped by dominant languages such as Hausa, Kanuri, Arabic, and English, his research prioritises local-language interactions. Through interviews and participatory sessions conducted primarily in Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and Kanuri, Eniola and his multilingual research team are analysing how Nigerians interpret security threats in their own linguistic and cultural contexts.

    Speaking on the discrimination and job insecurity faced by women in journalism, Eniola affirmed that women are a key element in building inclusion in the media space.

    He said, “Female reporters are not only navigating dangerous reporting environments but also institutional bias and limited support. Their perspectives and experiences are crucial to building more inclusive and resilient media systems.”

    According to Eniola, the goal of his research is to encourage a more reflective and inclusive media culture, one that treats language as more than a medium of communication, but as a strategic resource in national and international security.

    “The way we use language, both in media and policy, shapes our national consciousness and resilience. To ignore indigenous languages in security discourse is to ignore the people most affected by conflict,” he further stated.

  • ‘How evaluation expert enhances learning, others’

    ‘How evaluation expert enhances learning, others’

    An expert in educational evaluation, Oluyemisi Ajoke Oloniyo, is pioneering transformative evaluation methods within STEM and non-STEM programmes in an era where inclusivity and cultural sensitivity are paramount in education.

    As an experienced educator, teacher trainer, programme evaluator, and a strong advocate for promoting experiential learning and culturally responsive pedagogy, Oloniyo leverages her extensive background to enrich the evaluation process, ensuring that it measures success and amplifies the voices of underrepresented students.

    Thus, she is set to deliver a paper entitled: “Empowering Emerging Voices through Reflective Practices: An Evaluation of the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Summer Program,” on Thursday, October 24.

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    The programme is organised by the American Evaluation Association (AEA). Tagged:  “Evaluation 2024”, it will hold from October 21-26, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon, United States.

    Oloniyo’s journey in evaluation work began as Head of Curriculum and Quality Assurance at Supreme Education Foundation School in Lagos, Nigeria. Her role involved developing inclusive learning experiences, conducting regular assessments of teaching staff, and ensuring the optimization of educational programmes.

    The Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) summer program at Washington State University, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), utilises her innovative evaluation methods to enhance the experience of diverse undergraduate students in STEM fields across the United States. Key components of her approach include pre-program surveys, reflective journals, detailed mentor feedback, interactive workshop sessions, conclusive research presentations, and post-program interviews.

     Oloniyo’s culturally responsive evaluation practices have set a new standard for inclusive education, emphasizing the importance of reflective practice and cultural sensitivity in academic evaluations.

    Her innovative approaches to culturally responsive pedagogy offer a compelling blueprint for engaging and empowering underrepresented students, continuing to inspire and transform educational evaluation.

  • Why science is essential for job creation, by Covenant University VC

    Why science is essential for job creation, by Covenant University VC

    The Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Professor Abiodun Adebayo, has emphasised the pivotal role of science in job creation and technological advancement in Nigeria. 

    Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Science Olympiad, Prof. Adebayo highlighted the potential of science to unlock millions of job opportunities across the nation.

    “Science is not just a subject; it is a powerful tool for building the future,” Professor Adebayo stated. 

    He urged the federal government to place a stronger emphasis on technological studies to ensure that children adopt technology from an early age. “By doing so, we can harness the abundant supernatural resources available to us and foster technological progress,” he added.

    The Science Olympiad, an annual competition aimed at improving the quality of science education in Nigeria, serves as a platform for students to showcase their talents and be recognized for their outstanding achievements. 

    Prof. Adebayo reiterated that the competition is essential for “increasing a technologically literate workforce,” which is crucial for the country’s development.

    National Director of Science Olympiad Nigeria, Adewunmi Odunaike, also underscored the importance of nurturing young minds in science. 

    “We cannot develop without science, so it is essential to catch these students when they are young,” he said. 

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    Odunaike explained that the Olympiad challenges students to apply both theoretical and practical knowledge in solving everyday problems, thereby preparing them for future scientific endeavors.

    Echoing similar sentiments, Secretary of the Executive Committee on Innovation and Strategy at the Chemical Society of Nigeria, Okeh Ochulo stressed the significance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in nation-building. 

    “As nations are built by science, Nigeria should focus more on STEM,” Ochulo said, emphasising that education and the application of technology empower students to be creative and develop critical problem-solving skills.

    In the same vein, a staff member at the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) School in Lagos, Oluwafemi Adenuga highlighted the participation of 26 schools from various states in the National Tournament, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Abia, Osun, Anambra, Kaduna, and Zamfara. 

    However, he lamented that some schools from the northern part of the country were unable to join due to insecurity along their routes.

    Adenuga made a passionate appeal to parents, urging them to encourage more young people to embrace STEM education. 

    “STEM is a major determinant of national prosperity and fortifies the capability of the nation’s workforce. It can help us achieve the economic objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he stated.

    The competition is divided into three stages: Division A for elementary science, Division B for junior secondary, and Division C for senior secondary reached its climax with the announcement of the winners with Skyfield International College, Oba Ile, Akure, Ondo State, emerged winner, taking home a cash prize of N30,000.

    Ifako International School, Ifako-Agege, Lagos, secured the second prize in Division A, while Mrs. Eze Ndidi Regina from the same school was awarded the Science Olympiad Nigeria Coach of the Decade for Division A. TSI Nursery & Primary School, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, was crowned the overall champion in Division A.