The Nation Newspaper

Category: Education

Dickson offers grants to over 1,000 undergraduates, others
- Diri hails ex-governor’s education support scheme
The Henry Seriake Dickson Foundation (HSDF) has announced more than 1,000 awardees as part of its 2023/2024 education support scheme.

It is in continuation of Senator Seriake Dickson’s investment in education and human capacity development.

The 2023 beneficiaries of the scheme comprised 300 undergraduates from Bayelsa West Senatorial District; 300 undergraduates of Bayelsa State origin from the universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in the state, who are on First-Class or Second Class Upper standing, the high fliers and others the committee deemed eligible. They got N40,000 each.

Other beneficiaries were students in Master’s degree programmes who got N50,000 each. Those running their PhD courses and 80 Nigerian Law School students from Bayelsa State’s three Senatorial Districts received N100,000 each.

A 22-member committee, which the Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Prof. Barclays Ayakoroma, chaired, with Deputy Vice Chancellor, Hensard University, Toru-Orua, Prof. Tawari Fufeyin, as Co-Chairperson, Prof. Christine Odi, former Deputy VC, Academics, Niger Delta University (NDU), Vice-Chairperson, and the Registrar, UAT, Dr. Akpoebi Adesi, Secretary, screened thousands of the applications that were received.

A breakdown of the distribution of the awards indicated that in Bayelsa West Senatorial District, comprising Sagbama and Ekeremor local government areas, Sagbama beneficiaries got 150 slots as well as Ekeremor which also got 150, totalling 300 beneficiaries.

For the High Flyers (Bayelsans on First Class and 2nd Class Upper standing), University of Africa Toru-Orua got 129, Niger Delta University (NDU), 51, Bayelsa Medical University, 48, Federal University Otuoke, 25, IJB College of Education, 25, Bayelsa State Polytechnic, 25 and Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, 25, amounting to 328 beneficiaries.

For the candidates on Master’s degree programmes, Sagbama Local Council got 46 slots and Ekeremor Local Council, 33, while for the candidates on PhD programmes, Sagbama Local Council: 29 and Ekeremor Local Council, 16. Beneficiaries from the Nigerian Law School from Bayelsa origin from the Senatorial Districts were 80.

Other awardees included secondary school students, who got special considerations. They include Jayland Royal Schools, Toru-Orua, a childhood educational centre, in the community, whose standards, Senator Dickson said impressed him, would get support for the development of its facilities.

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Governor Douye Diri, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo, spoke glowingly of Dickson’s contributions to education.

Diri hailed Dickson for his large heart and tasked the students to make the best use of the opportunities education offers.

The Royal Father of the Day was King Seiyifa Koroye, Pere of Tarakiri Kingdom. High Chief Fidelis Agbiki, a former diplomat, chaired the event.

Dickson challenged the recipients to embrace education for self-development and as the best form of empowerment, adding that it is capable of transforming families through generations.

The former governor promised more grants and scholarships in agriculture, technology and film-making, areas he said were at the forefront of development.

He called on individuals and corporate organisations to support the educational programmes of the foundation.

Dickson also announced the commencement of Hensard University, which is located at a distance from the venue of the event, saying the university would lead cutting-edge learning, research and practical impacting of skills through its international linkages and collaborations to produce entrepreneurs and wealth creators.
January 18, 2024
Don seeks upgrade in English language’s standard among students, workers

Professor of Stylistics, Gabriel Osoba, has called for an upgrade in the standard of communicative competence in English language among students and staff in the Lagos State University (LASU).

Osoba, a lecturer in the Department of English, LASU, Ojo, made the call at the 94th Inaugural Lecture of the institution, in Lagos.

The theme of the lecture was “What God Has Brought Together, Language and Literature at the Altar of Stylistics”.

He said the Department of English is a very important service department in any university.

“The positive or negative impression about any institution is determined by the quality of English used in their memos, letters and releases.

“Hardly will any student pass through the university without contact with the department or its lecturers through the use of English course.

“English, as the official language in Nigeria, is the language of education, politics, business and so on,” Osoba said.

He said talks on falling standard of education did not really mean that it was falling like the Nigerian Naira.

“Rather, the standard of education is really increasing with amazing knowledge, especially in science and technology.

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“What is really happening is the lowering standard of communicative competence in English.

“I recommend to the university management that academic staff should partake of the programme in what we may call English for academic staff and purposes,” Osoba said.

He said the arts and the sciences should continue to connect in knowledge to form the Faculty of Adaptation, which all students and scholars should pass through.

“Language and literature are compatible companions that can meet and should always meet.

“Stylistics has provided the meeting place, the bridge, altar for the constant interaction of the two.

“The trend this day is that many scholars in English studies are shifting from stylistics to discourse analysis, pragmatically, and computer-mediated linguistics.

“This is not unexpected in a dynamic world, but the scholars should not ignore stylistics as the mother of all the branches of applied linguistics,” Osoba said.

January 18, 2024
APU celebrates VC’s appointment to board
- By Ahmed Abdullahi
The Founder, Board of Trustees, Governing Council, management, and staff of Ahman Pategi University (APU), Kwara State, have congratulated its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, on his recent appointment as a board member of the National Hajj Commission.

A statement by the Acting Director University Public Relations, Muhammed Jiya, said Adedimeji’s new role with the commission is a testament to his exemplary leadership and dedication to excellence, adding that he has played a pivotal role in steering APU towards unparalleled success, fostering an environment of academic innovation, and promoting a culture of excellence.

“The APU community takes immense pride in Prof. Adedimeji’s achievements and sees his appointment to the National Hajj Commission Board as recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of education and administration. His visionary leadership has not only elevated APU but has also positioned him as a distinguished figure in the national arena, ” he said.

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Founder of APU, Dr Aliyu Ahman Pategi, said: “We are thrilled to witness Prof. Adedimeji’s achievements being acknowledged at the national level. His commitment to academic excellence and leadership at APU has set a high standard, and we are confident that he will bring the same dedication to his new role on the National Hajj Commission Board.”

He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for recognising the don’s worthiness for this notable appointment, expressing confidence in his ability to elevate the Commission to greater heights.

“As we congratulate Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji on this well-deserved honour, the APU community wishes him continued success in his endeavours. We are confident that his wealth of experience and passion for service will contribute significantly to the goals and objectives of the National Hajj Commission,” he added.
January 18, 2024
Utilise govt’s students loan scheme, Bello urges youths

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has advised youths to take advantage of the newly introduced Students Loan Scheme initiated by the Federal Government to acquire university education.

Bello said this at the opening and matriculation of the first set of students of Kogi State University (KSU), Kabba.

President Bola Tinubu had introduced the Scheme to assist the less-privileged students to acquire tertiary education.

“Nigerians now have no reason not to acquire university education. I call on Nigerians to latch on to the students’ loan scheme of President Bola Tinubu to acquire education,” he said.

The governor said he met a state that was in a deplorable situation, but expressed gratitude to God that he would be handing over the state better than he met it.

“Today, I’m fulfilled. I promised to be part of the ceremony for the first set of matriculating students of Kogi State University, Kabba. I feel fulfilled and satisfied that we achieved our dreams.

“When we started this university, there were many distractions. But because I remained focused, I refused to be distracted.

“We made education one of our thematic areas on assumption of office. I’m happy that we are rated the best in our geopolitical zone in the area of education,” Bello said.

He urged the people of the state to play politics of inclusion rather than adopt the pull-him-down style of politics.

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Bello said the state had the best health facilities in Nigeria, urging the people to take advantage of the Reference Hospital, Okene, rather than travel for medical attention outside the country.

He thanked the people for their support, which had made his administration a reference point.

“I came hale and hearty and I’m happy I’m leaving fulfilled,” the governor added.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Wemi Jones, commended the governor for giving utmost priority to quality education delivery to the people.

He said the governor had brought outstanding and remarkable development to education at all levels in the state, saying history would forever be kind to him.

The Vice-Chancellor, KSU, Kabba, Prof. Kehinde Eniola, described the inauguration of the university and the matriculation as a fulfillment of governor’s love for education.

The vice-chancellor said the new institution would focus on citizenship and leadership training, adding that it would run digitally toward making the students ready for the future.

The don said the institution would be the preferred and superior brand for academic excellence, praising Bello and his administration for unquenchable love for education.

The Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, eulogised the governor for repositioning the traditional stool of Kabba and for giving the area a university.

About 1,200 students were matriculated at the ceremony.

January 18, 2024
2024 SSCE: Benue education quality assurance agency rolls out guidelines

Ahead of the beginning of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) registration, the Benue State Education Quality Assurance Agency has rolled out registration guidelines for private and public schools.

The agency said the decision became necessary after it discovered that schools were floating entries for registration of school candidates for the 2024 SSCE Examinations by West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO) and National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB).

In a statement, the agency’s Director-General, Dr. Terna Francis, indicated that every school that would register candidates for SSCE must be cleared by the agency before proceeding to register pupils for any of the examination bodies.

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The statement directed principals and proprietors to provide attendance validating the enrolment history of students sitting for the examination from SS1 to 2023/2024 academic session at the agency’s Headquarters in Makurdi.

“All schools must have their candidates validated to ascertain the authenticity and enrolment history of the same. Therefore, schools must bring Attendance Registers for 2021/2022, 2022/2023 sessions, to show when their candidates were in SS1 and SS2 as well as the Attendance Registers of the current session (2023/2024).

“Schools are to provide the 2023 Mock SSCE results of the candidates they are presenting for the exercise. In addition, all schools are to present evidence of up-to-date payment of all statutory levies before they shall be cleared,” the statement by the D-G stated.

January 18, 2024
Kano to spend N8b on three ‘mega primary’ schools

The Kano State Government has earmarked N8 billion for the construction of three ”mega primary” schools across the state.

The schools, according to Governor Abba Yusuf, would have full educational facilities to give enough conducive atmospheres for children coming from poor parents to have a sound educational background for their prosperous future.

The governor said the mega schools would be sited in each of the senatorial districts with modern learning materials for qualitative education at the grassroots level.

He also said N6 billion had been set aside for the renovation of primary schools.

In the same vein, he said that the government approved the renovation of 26 Special Institutions created by former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and 17 have been completed.

”The era of pupils receiving lessons on the bare floors is over.

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”We will continue to accord attention to the provision of basic learning facilities would enable our young pupils to have conducive teaching and learning atmosphere.

“We also spent N500 million on the construction of a hostel at the Aliko University Wudil and another N150 million was paid for the new environmental and Climate Department at Maitama Sule University.

“N500 million was paid for new courses at Wudil and Yusuf Maitama Sule University.

“Kano Islamic Legal Studies and other Institutions also benefited from the payments of over N100 Million for the registration of their new courses.

“About 93 per cent tuition fees of 501 Masters Students in India and other foreign countries were settled and their four months upkeep allowances were also settled to allow them face their studies,” he said.

The governor also said government had paid N700 million as registration fees for students studying in Bayero University, Kano, and also paid N1.5 billion as WASCE and NECO examination fees for the state secondary school students.

January 18, 2024
Adeboye challenges Redeemer’s varsity vice-chancellor on integrity

General Overseer (GO), Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has urged the new Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Redeemers University (RUN), Ede, Prof. Shadrach Akindele, to embrace integrity in running the institution.

Adeboye gave the charge during the inauguration of Akindele as the fourth VC of the university, yesterday, in Ede, Osun State.

The GO, represented by Pastor Kayode Pitan, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the university, said the integrity of the institution must be maintained at all times.

“The integrity of the university should be maintained in all its dealings so that RUN can remain an institution where many will be willing to work because of the importance attached to conducive environment and staff welfare.

“It should also be a place where every student will love to be and it is my prayer that the university will record success in the next few years”, he said.

He congratulated the new VC, and urged him to ensure that the university continued to ride on the path of excellence it was known for.

“It is noteworthy that the past administrations had contributed to the growth and development of the university in their own capacities.

“I, therefore, use this opportunity to encourage the vice-chancellor to ensure that the university continues to ride on the path of excellence it is known for.

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“RUN is God’s own university and the new administration must be ready to make sacrifices in order to ensure that it remains the pride of the past and the future generations.“I, therefore, pray that the tenure of the new VC will witness peace, unity and progress in all ramifications” he said.

Akindele urged the staff members of the institution to support him in moving the university forward.

” I accepted this role with a clear understanding that it is a call to service and I am here to improve, motivate and committed to promoting an environment where innovative idea will thrive.

“And being mindful that this is a private university, therefore, we cannot afford to be casual or lazy in the way we do things.

“We will do our jobs to the best of our abilities,” he said.

Akindele urged the staff of the institution not to entertain any fear or anxiety due to the change in leadership, saying, ” I am here to do God’s will”.

The new VC urged the staff of the university to give their best to the students so that they could compete globally with their counterparts in any part of the world.

Akindele said that he would expand the revenue base of the university to meet its demands and also for the university to maintain its uniqueness as a Christian university.

“Our students must be Christ-like so that they can become positive change agents in the society”, he said.

January 18, 2024
ABU to confer honorary degrees on ex-CJN Uwais, two others

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria has approved the award for Honorary Degrees to former Chief Justice Justice Lawal Uwais and two other eminent personalities at its 43rd Convocation.

In a statement, the university’s Director, Public Affairs Directorate, Auwalu Umar, in Zaria, said the ceremony is scheduled for January 27.

He said besides Uwais, the two other honorees are the late Wazirin Fika, Malam Adamu Mu’azzam Fika, and the former African Union Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao.

“Justice Uwais will be conferred with the degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D) Honoris Causa, the late Fika is recommended for posthumous conferment with the degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) Honoris Causa.

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“While Ambassador Chihombori-Quao is to receive the degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) Honoris Causa,” Umar said.

He added that ABU’s decision to confer the personalities with the degrees was in accordance with Statute 11 of the institution’s Laws.

Umar added that Uwais had an excellent career in the Nigerian judiciary and international judicial organisations between 1964 and 2006.

He said Uwais rose through the ranks by dint of hard work and dedication to duty to become the Chief Justice in 1995.

January 18, 2024
I’m fulfilled, says Bello as Kogi varsity kicks off, matriculates first set of students

Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello has advised Nigerians to take advantage of the newly introduced Students Loan Scheme initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to acquire university education.

He said this at the official opening and maiden matriculation of Kogi State University, Kabba on Tuesday, noting that his vision for the establishment of a University in Kabba had been fulfilled.

The Governor said he met a state that was in a deplorable situation, but expressed gratitude to God that he would be handing over the state better than he met it.

“Today I’m fulfilled. I promised to be part of the ceremony for the first set of matriculating students. I feel fulfilled and satisfied that we achieved our dreams.

“Nigerians now have no reason not to acquire University education. I call on Nigerians to latch on to the students loan scheme of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to acquire education.

“I urge the people of Kogi State to play politics of inclusion rather than adopt the pull-him-down style of politics. When we started this University, there were many distractions. But because I remained focused, I refused to be distracted.

“We made education one of our thematic areas on assumption of office. I’m happy that we are rated the best in our geopolitical zone in the area of education.

“Today, we have the best health facilities in Nigeria. Rather than travel to seek medical attention outside the country, I urge our people to take advantage of the Reference Hospital, the best in Nigeria, to seek medical attention,” he stated.

Read Also: Gov. Bello appoints 21 LG caretaker chairmen

Bello thanked the people of Kogi State for the support he enjoyed, which had made his administration a positive reference, saying, “I came hale and hearty and I’m happy I’m leaving fulfilled.”

Vice Chancellor, Kogi State University, Prof. Kehinde Eniola, described the official opening of the University and the Matriculation as a fulfilment of Governor Bello’s love for education.

The Vice Chancellor described the new institution as one that would focus on citizenship and leadership training, adding that the University would run digitally towards making the students ready for the future.

The Vice Chancellor described the KSU as the preferred and superior brand for academic excellence, praising the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello for what he called his unquenchable love for education.

The Obaro of Kabba, Oba Owoniyi, was full of praises for the Governor, lauding him for his outstanding repositioning of the Traditional stool of Kabba and for giving the area a University.

January 16, 2024
OEQA monitors Lagos schools resumption activities

The Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) recently embarked on the monitoring of compliance on resumption for the 2nd term 2023/2024 academic session in schools.

A statement signed by Mrs. Adepeju Adeyemi explained that the monitoring was aimed at ensuring schools’ compliance with the Lagos harmonised academic calendar.

Some of the schools visited include: Omole Senior and Junior Grammar Schools, Agindingbi Senior and Junior Grammar Schools, Fasta International Nursery and Primary School, and Agape Bundles Montessori School amongst others.

Members of the monitoring team include top management staff of the Agency: Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Remi Abdul; Zonal Director, Ikeja Zone, Mrs. Olubunmi Adekoya; Director, Monitoring (OEQA), Mrs. Kafilat Ashimi; Deputy Director, Public Affairs Ms. Adepeju Adeyemi and Mr. Kamorudeen Amusa.

During the visit, the Director, Private Education and Special Programmes (PESP), Mrs. Bambi Falayi in her remarks said: “The essence of the exercise is to ensure that schools comply with government directives and students are ready to learn.”

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While emphasising that the safety of learners and other stakeholders remains paramount, Falayi reiterated the need for school owners to put adequate safety measures in place.

Falayi further encouraged teachers to register for the mandatory online training/ course on Safeguarding and Child Protection which is free via the OEQA website: www.oeqalagos.com.

She said: “I’m particularly impressed with the welcome tests organised for students in some of the schools visited, this will encourage them to read, refresh their memories and prepare them for the second term academic activities.”

Falayi further encouraged teachers to continue to help reposition the State’s educational system in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S plus agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration by giving their best in the dispensation of quality knowledge for the benefit of the students.

Also, the Director, Monitoring and Investigation, Mr. Kamardeen Akodu, a member of the team said the exercise, involving all OEQA evaluators would cover both Government and Private schools across the six Education Districts to ascertain their readiness for academic activities in line with State Government directives.

Akodu noted that the visit would avail the teams, opportunities to inspect the learning environment and ensure they are fit for learning.

He noted that schools with challenges or in critical conditions would be escalated to the relevant Department for further action.

January 16, 2024