Category: Education

Michelle Ada David’s exceptional academic achievements with her 99 per cent score in Mathematics at the just-concluded UTME  exams have earned her praises.

In one of such praises, the Fountain Heights Secondary School, Surulere, Lagos – her school – said her remarkable score in Mathematics marked her out as a brilliant lad with a future to watch out for.

The school authorities said the 15-year-old Michelle demonstrated outstanding level of proficiency in Mathematics and other sciences, making her parents and school proud with her aggregate score of 334 in the UTME.

Read Also: Direct Entry, UTME candidates to sit for same examination henceforth — JAMB

The school Principal, Mrs. Adebimpe Delano, said: “This is a testament to her incredible intelligence and dedication to her studies. It is a true inspiration, especially given how challenging this subject can be for many students. Her score is a clear indication of her exceptional ability to solve complex problems and think critically.”

The Delta State-born Michelle  said her ambition is to study Software Engineering.

Stakeholders have expressed divergent views on the policy of the Federal Government banning pupils who are not up to 11 years from sitting for the National Common Entrance Examination conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO) for admission into unity colleges. DAMOLA KOLA-DARE reports.

The Federal Government has said henceforth, underage children would no longer be allowed to participate in the National Common Entrance Examination conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO) for admission into unity colleges nationwide.

The government told the examination body to deploy strict measures to stop underage pupils from registering for the examination, adding that birth certificate would be compulsory for registration.

It stated that to get into secondary school, a candidate should be at least 12 years and that a pupil could be 11 plus during the examination and by the time of admission, such a person would have attained the age 12.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejo, gave the order in Abuja while monitoring the conduct of the Common Entrance Examination into the 116 Federal Government Colleges across the nation.

Checks revealed that 72,821 candidates sat for the examination.

Government’s argument

Adejo was unimpressed that many underage persons wrote the examination after monitoring the exercise at the Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, and Government Day Secondary School, Bwari, Abuja.

He described registering candidates less than 11-year-old as “unacceptable”. According to him, Air Force School, among others, does not accept pupils less than 12 years for admission.

Adejo said: “This year, I have advice for parents and I beg you, take this advice to any single home you know. We are killing our children by allowing underage children to write the Common Entrance Examination.

Read Also: NECO shifts entrance exam for ‘gifted pupils’

“I  saw children that I know that are not up to 10, and three of them accepted that they are nine years old. We are doing many things; one, we are teaching the children the wrong values. Education is not about passing exams. Education is teaching, learning and character formation.

 “I beg the parents, let these children do the exams when they should. We don’t get value by pushing a child too far. Most of the times, if a child starts too early, he or she will have problems later in life.”

Our stance, by stakeholders

But,  reactions from stakeholders have trailed the permanent secretary’s directive.

Deputy National President, National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, appealed to the Federal Government to reduce the age to 10, so that when pupils clock 11, they could proceed to secondary school. He noted that the pressure to make ends meet made parents enrol their wards early in school.

“In today’s age and world, mother and father are working. They want to ensure they can provide for their children. Hence, they put their wards in creche or day care. That means schooling has started; education is on. By the time you look at how the child is doing at school, he or she can do what older kids are doing in school.

“We want them to start school early not because we like it but because of the situation of the country. Because they want to make ends meet, parents make children start school from age two or three. In our days, we put our hands to ears. If it didn’t touch the ear, we couldn’t start school. But during that time, we had people to stay with even if we didn’t start school.

“We appeal to the government to consider today’s parents who can’t afford house helps or get them. The government should reduce the age to 10. So that by 11, they enter secondary school. One year reduction won’t mess up that policy,” he said.

But, the Coordinator, Child Protection Network (CPN), Lagos State chapter, Mrs. Ronke Oyelakin, noted that if policymakers insist the child must be 12 years, it meant that educators were experiencing more challenges in schools. According to her, a child is mature to cope in JSS1 at age 12.

Oyelakin believes the government has cogent reasons for such a decision, adding that many parents of private schools want their wards to enter secondary school even at 10, which eventually becomes a challenge to the schools because many of them find it difficult to cope very well in class.  She said an issue like that causes corruption in many schools among teachers, parents and students while also affecting  universities in the long run.

She said: “Firstly, what age do they classify as underage? If it’s below 10 years when writing the exam, I think, the child is underage.

“Some of these children are actually very timid when they enter JSS1 and could be vulnerable. They get intimidated and this could affect their mental wellbeing and sometimes affect their academic performance.

“I believe the age approved for secondary school entrance is 11 years; that is if the child started Primary School 1 at age five. Spending six years in Primary School will make the child 11 years by the time he or she enters JSS1.

“But if they insist the child must be 12, maybe they are experiencing more challenges in schools.  Because really, by 12, a child is more matured to cope in class at JSS1 and by the time the child is in SSS3 he or she is 18, a more appropriate age to cope in university. This is relative because age may not be the only determinant of level of maturity.

“It is believed that at 18, someone is mature enough, (age of independence). So, he or she should be able to cope better in the university.

“The government will have their reasons for such a decision, many parents of private schools pupils want their wards to enter secondary schools even at age 10, which eventually becomes a challenge to the schools because many of them can’t cope well in class. This brings corruption in many schools among the teachers, parents and pupils, which fall back to our universities.

“Some students feel they have grown to an adult who can make his or her own decisions. Students think going off to college is a declaration of independence. Sometimes this is fine. When a student is mature, motivated, self-directed and responsible, he or she can be expected to make good choices, to learn from mistakes, and to use his time, money and mind well.

“There are some factors contributing to readiness to learn which are: maturation, intelligence, motivation and readiness. These can generate active, self-directed learners and improve learning outcome/achievements.

“The assessment of a child’s readiness for learning involves the combined consideration of children’s socio-emotional, cognitive and behavioural strengths and vulnerabilities and the individual literacy and numeracy skills the child brings to school.”

Principal, King’s College Lagos, Mr. Andrew Ali Agada, in a short response on WhatsApp, backed the directive.

He wrote: “I don’t have to react to what my boss has said. That’s the view of the ministry and he’s given enough reasons. I concur with the policy.”

A parent, who doesn’t want her name in print, said: “There is no need to hurry in life.  This jet age mentality is the cause of many social vices today; we want everything fast. Let us wait for these children to grow in spirit, body, mind and wisdom.

“In the past, you have to use your hand to cross your head to your ear to start school. Later, you have to be six years and now what do we have? Let’s take it easy with these children; there is no need to be in a hurry. God has blessed each one for a mission in this world.

“May this policy help our children to grow in wisdom, knowledge and greatness to the usefulness of the family, the society and the world.”

Vice Chancellor Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello has said the institution could only grant admission to 10,301 students out of over 40,0200 applicants that subscribed to the university. 

“You must count yourselves very lucky to be among the very few that applied. It is on this note that I will advise you to face your studies so as not to lose the huge opportunity of getting a university education,” she said.

Olatunji-Bello made this known on Tuesday at the institution’s 2022/2023 matriculation ceremony on campus in Ojo, Lagos.

The VC also reiterated the university’s commitment to its policy that guarantees 50 per cent refund of tuition fees to students who consistently maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.50 every session.

Read Also: TETFUND Boss to deliver LASU’s 26th convocation lecture

The don also noted the university under her watch has zero tolerance for sexual and gender-based violence, which informed the decision to establish the Directorate of Response and Prevention of Sexual and Gender- based violence. 

She urged students not to keep silent in the face of harassment.

She stated that the objective at LASU is to produce graduates who will be catalysts to the process of transformation of the state to a Greater Lagos.The VC enjoined the students to strive for academic excellence and shun social vice.

“Avoid examination malpractices, do away with corruption and hooliganism and other vices that can expose you to danger as those found culpable will be dealt with in line with our disciplinary mechanisms,” she said.

The All Progressives Congress(APC) 2023 senatorial candidate for Benue South, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, has showered encomiums on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the Students’ Loan Bill into Law.

In a statement, Onjeh expressed optimism that the new law will ameliorate the sufferings of indigent students and reduce the dropout rate in institutions of higher learning.

The law, he stated,could not have come at a more opportune time considering the prevailing harsh economic climate occasioned by the rising cost of living.

Onjeh also commended the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, who initiated the Bill.

He stated that he and all former NANS Presidents ,as well as all students across Nigeria, will continue to appreciate him for initiating the Bill and seeing it to fruition.

Read Also: Tinubu will deliver dividends of democracy — Gbajabiamila

He added the law is poised to bring succour to many intelligent but indigent students who are compelled to take time off their studies in search of menial jobs to earn money to pay for their tuition and upkeep.

A former President of NANS and West African Students Union( WASU), the Students’ Loan Bill was one of the demands he made at a grand rally he organised in Abuja in 2002 tagged: “Save education, save the future.”

Onjeh urged students across the nation to avail themselves of the unique education financing opportunity, while appealing to the implementers of the noble law to ensure that the loans are awarded to only those who truly need them.

Kwara Governor and Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday visited the school for special needs in Ilorin, the capital city, to spend the Democracy Day with the children. 

Accompanied by school officials, the Governor inspected some facilities in the school, including classrooms recently fixed by the administration and those freshly affected by rainstorms. 

Read Also: Subsidy: Abdulrazaq slashes workdays to three for Kwara workers

He later interacted with the school head Abdulganiyu Olododo on pending issues in the school that once hosted the government’s budget review sessions — a gesture AbdulRazaq said was meant to refocus attention on the plights of the students and other underserved communities in the state. 

AbdulRazaq then took photographs with the elated children and their tutors and cheered them, in a symbolic gesture of his commitment to always support the underprivileged to attain their full potentials. 

• By, Rafiu Ajakaye 

On a sunny afternoon in February 2022, I engaged my principal, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, in a talk over the propriety of an international conference centre that hosts a four-star hotel at a location just a spit distance from the iconic Kwara Hotel, Innovation Hub, and Visual Arts Centre. He grinned, and calmly asked if I had been to Dubai before. I told him I hadn’t. He told me right there that I would be joining a contingent from the state to the Emirati in April. 

That visit answered many of the questions I had for him on the under-construction Ilorin International Conference Centre — and a lot more. That trip helped to further explain in practical terms his vision for Kwara without him saying a word more on the topic, apart from our usual long sessions on his projects, programmes, and approaches. Dubai is an economy built around tourism, conferencing, hospitality, and trade. I now see a man wanting to build an economy on the back of the strategic location of Kwara as the gateway between the south and the north, a state that is peaceful, rich in arable land, and is home to some of Nigeria’s oldest monuments like the Mungo Park, Owu Fall, Sobi Hill, Patigi Regatta, the first national museum in Esie, and a potpourri of rich cultures and hospitable people.

Read Also: Subsidy: Abdulrazaq slashes workdays to three for Kwara workers 

The recent visit of a powerful delegation of French government to Kwara State offered another insight into how this dream is steadily gaining a toehold. As the Governor and many government functionaries accompanied the French minister of state for development, francophonie and international partnership Chrysoula Zacharopoulou and her entourage on a tour of the visual arts centre, and they were talked through different things that the centre offers in arts and tourism attraction, what came to my mind was my failed visit to the Museum of the Future. My 11-year-old son had requested me to visit the place, which he himself had only read about. The Museum of the Future is a beauty to behold, and clearly a gold mine that generates millions of dollars for the Dubai economy. My visit was a failed one as I could not enter, having not bought a ticket online ahead of the time. My quick search showed that I had to buy a ticket online many weeks earlier before visiting. Even so, I watched in awe, from the exterior architecture, how the Dubai authorities had deployed Arabic calligraphy in the designing of one of the most beautiful structures in the world, one superbly etched in the Arabian culture. The Museum of the Future is a signature architectural masterpiece that clearly fits its name. Of course, the museum is just one of the many iconic structures that define Dubai, including the much-talked-about Burj-al-Khalifa, world’s tallest building to date. It is a place you really want to visit. Vision!

Studio Contra’s Jeffrey Adjei, who took the visitors round Kwara’s visual arts centre, mentioned one of the things to wait for as the project gets to its final stage: art galleries that will host exhibitions of great works and monuments from different parts of the world. I instantly had an eureka moment: the Governor once mentioned to me how Ilorin could well host a display of the world’s oldest manuscript of the Qur’an and other great relics. I had wondered how this would happen. 

The presence of the visual arts centre, also called the Institute of Contemporary African Art & Film, already makes Ilorin, Kwara State, a destination for tourism and arts. This is exactly one of what the French visit pointed at. A section of the facility will house a Dolby studio and high-end facilities for last-mile movie productions, creating a unique hub for the creative industry in Africa. It also has a film screening room and lecture hall, a café to enhance the local food and beverage industry, a co-working space, a bookshop with wide selection of books on art, culture, film, architecture and literature, a multipurpose room, and a sculpture garden with additional courtyards for public use.

Next door is the innovation hub, one of the reasons the French delegation was in Kwara. Nothing better points the bright future of the facility than the traffic it has attracted. Alliance Francaise, French version of the British Council to push its soft power, has just booked itself a space at the innovation hub. With that comes an opportunity for rich cultural exchanges between the French and the people of Kwara, a state bordered to the north by French-speaking Benin Republic. This opens huge opportunities for residents of Kwara and surrounding areas to learn French and give themselves a leap in social mobility. 

Sometimes, the facilities may not be the big deal themselves. The real deal is that each of these facilities has its quality crowds, who in turn move thousands of enthusiasts, events, businesses, jobs, and huge revenues in any direction they travel worldwide. These crowds need hospitality and conferencing facilities that support quality relaxation and conducive networking. That brings in the Ilorin International Conference Centre (IICC) with a four-star hotel. Vision! 

Add those to the sugar film factory, a garment factory, multimillion dollar agroprocessing zone that is to reduce herders-farmers’ conflict and strengthen food security, industrial park at Eiyenkorin, completion of the Osi and Ilesha Baruba campuses of the state-owned university, and Shea-butter processing plant in Kaiama, investments in human capital development, unrelenting efforts to link rural communities to the city centres, and the push for sustainable living through the phased master plan for the capital city and other parts of the state. Again, vision!

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has said the Federal Government disbursed N57,165,751,416.12 to states for teachers’ professional development programmes in the last 13 years.

Executive Secretary of UBEC Dr. Hamid Bobboyi made this known at the National Conference on Teachers Professional Development in Abuja.

Bobboyi said the conference, which had its theme as ‘Transforming Teacher Professional Development in Nigeria for Improved Learning Outcomes in Basic Education,’ testified to the Federal Government’s commitment to shore up the level of knowledge in the teaching profession.

The UBEC boss, however, expressed concern over the poor number of teachers that have undergone training in recent years, even as he challenged state governments to live up to expectations in teachers’ capacity building schemes.

The executive secretary said: “The UBEC 2022 NPA reveals that 67.5% of teachers in public schools and 85.3% in private schools have not attended any in-service training in five years (2018-2022). This prevailing situation has implications for quality education delivery.

“The Federal Government, through UBEC, has contributed a total of N57,165,751,416.12 as assistance to the states for teachers’ professional development between 2009 and 2022.

“This is grossly inadequate to cover the training needs of the teachers. The states that are being assisted have come to depend largely on the Federal Government’s fund for their TPD, with little or no contribution. This is a major challenge in assuring quality learning outcomes at basic education level.”

The UBEC Executive Secretary lamented the poor learner/pupil ratio in Nigerian schools, saying such negative development had resulted in poor learning outcomes.

He said: “The following data were returned from the UBEC 2022 National Personnel Audit of basic education institutions in the country. There were 177,027 basic education institutions with a total enrolment of 47,010,008, made up of 7,234,695 in ECCDE, 31,771,916 in primary schools and 8,003,397 in junior secondary schools. For teacher supply, there were 354,651 teachers/caregivers in the ECCDE centres, 915,593 in primary schools and 416,291 in junior secondary schools.

Read Also: UBEC laments states’ inability to access N46b fund for basic education

“The learner/pupil ratio varies from state to state, but none is within the recommended ratio. There are states where the learner/pupil ratio is as high as 1:100 pupils. Nigeria is yet to attain the 100% qualified teachers in primary schools. It is sad to find that some of the people teaching in schools are holders of the First School Leaving Certificates, Basic Education Certificates, Senior Secondary School Certificates, Associate Certificates in Education, Diploma Certificates.

“It is more about the quality of learning (knowledge, skills, attitudes and values) acquired and the ability of learners to apply this as they journey through life. Since it is the teacher who facilitates learning, it goes without saying that for him to perform this task effectively, he needs to attain a certain level of competency at the end of his pre-service training and build on this continuously throughout his teaching career. This brings to the fore the significance of Teacher Professional Development.”

He challenged the participants and resource persons to come up with new ways to boost learning in basic schools across the country.

Declaring the two-day conference open, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Andrew Adejo, expressed the readiness of the Federal Government to implement programmes aimed at boosting learning outcomes in schools.

Adejo said the conference was in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in improving the education fortunes of the country, adding that it would get the full attention of the incoming Minister of Education.

Saying that teachers were the foundation of the education system, Adejo called on states to improve on teachers’ development schemes and recruitment processes.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund has allocated N60,290,000,000 as zonal intervention for 2023 to 219 beneficiary institutions.

The agency said of this figure, N9,230,000,000 was allocated to polytechnics.

It said each benefitting polytechnic would receive N130,000,000 to reinvigorate skills acquisition.

Director of Infrastructure, TETFUND, Buhari Mika’Ilu, stated these at the TETFund/NBTE Sensitisation Workshop on the 2023 Zonal Intervention on Skills for Rectors and Directors of Skills in beneficiary polytechnics in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mika’Ilu said the intervention was to consolidate the efforts of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in increasing the capacities of polytechnics to deliver on their mandate.

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

According to him, the intervention focuses purely on projects with academic relevance, thereby addressing deficiencies in core areas of acquisition of essential instructional materials and equipment for teaching and learning and building capacities to use the equipment procured.

He added: ”Funds are allocated in line with the provision of the Establishment Act and guided towards addressing critical and essential needs of the beneficiary institutions for the improvement of quality and maintenance of standards in tertiary educational institutions.

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

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

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

“This is to further consolidate on the efforts of NBTE of increasing the capacities of polytechnics to deliver on their mandate.”

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

”In the year 2017, the Fund focused the Zonal intervention on ‘Student Dignity Project’. Hence, the intervention was used to upgrade and standardise all lavatory facilities or provision of new ones where necessary in academic areas of institutions, also shuttle buses (coaches) were also procured for students use among other projects.

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

He said the intervention, a post-research activity, had created an opportunity for academic staff in science and technology programmes to fabricate equipment, thus, promoting skills development in polytechnics.

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

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

He, however, said that acquiring skills prepares individuals for employment across all sectors of the economy and helps overcome numerous challenges as well fostering a brighter future for both the nation and individuals for global competition.

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

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

He said the N130 million given to polytechnics in the 2023 intervention line would not be used for building projects but rather to upgrade facilities for skills training, especially as about 10 skills had been identified.

Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has declared a state of emergency on primary and secondary schools. Victor Gai xrays the government’s decision.’

About a week ago, the Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, at a meeting with reporters in Jalingo, declared a state of emergency in education. The declaration caught the attention of Tarabans and the media, considering the timing and the implication of the action.

Kefas was barely a week in office when he made the statement; and placing a “state of emergency” on a sector only suggests that there is a problem that needs attention. This is coming against the backdrop of the media hype on the achievements of former Governor Darius Ishaku Dickson-led administration in education.

Governor Kefas’ justification

The question is: Did the education sector in Taraba deserve a state of emergency? Kefas explained: “We need to do something about the state of our primary schools and the environment in the secondary schools. We already have samples and templates of what we want to do in the schools. Also, we will include training of teachers for effectiveness. So, when we appoint our commissioners, we will be able to take up that one as soon as possible.

“But the one that is a must is to declare a state of emergency on our primary and secondary schools. We are not talking about security, because that is the  standard and the primary responsibility of the government to provide to its citizens. Security is my constitutional responsibility.”

Facts on ground

However, the Ishaku-led administration made major inroads in the education sector.

For instance, Ishaku recruited 3,000 teachers to man secondary schools. Initially, they were recruited as casual workers known as “rescue teachers”. But, in May 2023, just before he handed over, they were recruited as permanent teachers. This single effort was applauded by stakeholders, considering the neglect of secondary education by past administrations.

The massive recruitment of teachers contributed to the success of the state in WAEC/SSCE. In the 2019 WAEC performance data by states, Taraba was 14th with 85.74 per cent.

The then Commissioner, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Johannes Jigem, gave reasons for the success. He said the factors behind the success and improvement of the WAEC results in recent years in the state was the regular payment of examination registration fees in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 for pupils of Special Education Centres and students of two exchange schools by the state government.

“This has enabled many indigenes and non-indigenes and physically-challenged pupils to participate in the examination without stress.

“Employment of 3,000 teachers by the state government was also a major leap forward in reducing the huge students/teacher ratio in core subjects and also boosted the level of learning across schools in the state.

Read Also: ‘Pay attention to children’s moral education’ 

“The supply of instructional materials by the state government to secondary schools was also key to the recent successes recorded in the examination,” Jigem stated.

However, one of the lows of the Ishaku-led administration was the poor handling of the welfare of primary school teachers, which lingered throughout his administration. Unfortunately, he left without tackling the issue of salaries of primary school teachers. This attracted the attention of labour leaders.

During the last May Day celebration, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Taraba State chapter, Peter Jediel, called on Ishaku to pay the backlog of teachers’ salary.

“We want to draw the attention of the government to the plights of workers in the state. The major one has to do with the outstanding six months salaries of local government staff and five months for primary school teachers as well as the non-payment of yearly increment, which stopped since three years.

Taraba’s worst education indices

Despite the successes and challenges, Taraba has some of the worst education indices in the country, which need the attention of any serious government.

Data published in 2018 by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) shows that Taraba is among the 10 states housing more than half of Nigeria’s out-of-school children. According to the data, Taraba has 499,923 out-of-school children behind Kano State with 989,234, Akwa-Ibom (581,800), Katsina (536,122) and Kaduna (524,670).

Civil society coalition and others speak

On the pronouncement, Chairman, Coalition of Civil Society, Taraba State, Joseph Gimba, expressed shock at the pronouncement by the governor, but at the same time praised him.

“I must say that I received the news with shock and awe at the simple fact that politicians do not invest in public education but private. Most of those politicians you see, their children are in private schools and not public schools. But, for him to come out and say he has declared a state of emergency on primary and secondary school education is something commendable. We should be able to give him that allowance. Let’s see to what extent that declaration can translate to something concrete and tangible,” he said.

He alleged discrepancies in the recruitment and posting of teachers in Taraba, saying spouses of highly-placed civil servants and politicians were favoured at the expense of others.

“If you look at the recruitment, you will discover that at the state level, wives of directors, commissioners and other big civil servants are in schools within the township and hardly do what they are supposed to do. In the villages, we do not have teachers. To counter this, it would be good that recruitment and training are done at the local level, so that people can fill the spaces at the local level,” he said.

On the best strategy to adopt to ensure the success of the plan, Gimba said: “The state of education in Nigeria and Taraba State is not better. Infrastructure are in decay, lecturers, teachers’ salary do not come as at when due, there is no motivation, and in whatever government’s policy, teachers are not considered. Even if they are considered, you discover that the response towards them has always been very poor. So, I hope that, before he starts, he should have the basic understanding of the state of decay of basic education in Taraba State. And after making that declaration, we hope that the governor constitutes a high-powered committee from all shades of opinion, private sector, civil society and opinion leaders that would sit and look at the issues on ground. We want him to depart from the previous administration in the area of funding education.”

Also, the spokesman of the APC Taraba State, Aaron Artimas, welcomed the development, describing it as a positive one.

He, however, said funding was key to the success of the plan.

“It is a positive and promising statement. It shouldn’t only be  rhetorics. Government must investigate to determine the scope of the problem. Funding is very fundamental.

“When I was in government, the Ministry of Education had a monthly running cost of N10 million, which is shared among schools.

“He has to go into all these in order to know the level of destruction before he would know what to do,” Artimas advised.

Also, the immediate past Commissioner of Basic Education said he was satisfied with the pronouncement and that he did not see any thing extra-ordinary with the term “state of emergency”.

Jigem made reference to the successes of the immediate past administration such as in the WAEC examination, which he said the present government could improve on.

“He has to start from where we stopped. Education is a bottomless pit. You can’t satisfy every sector. He has to improve. That word ’emergency’ doesn’t mean anything, it is normal,” he said.

Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has advised students and staff to adopt the use of bicycles to keep their health sound, ensure mobility and decarbonise the environment.

Prof. Olatunji-Bello, who was represented by Prof. Charles Asenime, Dean, School of Transport and Logistics, LASU, spoke at the celebration of 2023 World Bicycle Day, tagged: “Royal Edition” in Lagos.

The theme of the programme, organised by LASU and Asian – African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AACCI), was: “Promoting Mobility, Good Health and Sustainable Environment”.

She said that cycling enhances blood circulation to vital parts of the body, even as it strengthens the muscles, giving no room for blood-clotting.

 “World Bicycle Day event is in line with the “T.H.E.M.E.S” Agenda of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and our institution has also keyed into the agenda.

 “This celebration is for everybody and it is designed for each and every one, not only to be able to move easily, but to become healthier.

 “Instead of spending hours on the same spot on a treadmill, get a bicycle for good health, mobility and to decarbonise the environment,” Prof. Olatunji-Bello said.

She said the use of bicycles would go a long way to reduce carbon print.

 “Students who live around the Iba community can also make use of bicycles to their various departments and faculties in the university,” Olatunji-Bello said.

Read Also: How LASUTH is reducing medical tourism, by CMD

Asenime, speaking in his own capacity, said that this year’s royal edition was apt as it had come at a time when the petrol subsidy was removed.

Asenime said it came at the right time in Nigeria when the people were complaining of no money for short distances.

 “I encourage Nigerians to get their bicycles, mount, and embark on short distances; it is safe.

 “I also appeal to motorists to accommodate bicycle riders, as they too are equally road users and have to be respected as well,” he said.

Mr. Anrinle Adekunle, President, Asian – African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AACCI), Nigeria, said that the event was meant to encourage the usage of bicycles as a sustainable means of transportation.

Adekunle said that they were collaborating with LASU to start the advocacy on the need for what is known as cycling infrastructure.

 “LASU is one of the foremost universities in Nigeria and it comes first when we talk on innovations,”he said.

About 260 people registered and took part in the 2023 World Bicycle Day competition.