Category: Education

A group of journalists has felicitated the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu, on his diamond jubilee birthday anniversary, describing him as a selfless investor in Nigeria’s education sector.

The group- Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN)- a body of print, online, and broadcast journalists reporting issues around education, innovations, and entrepreneurship in Nigeria and beyond, said the businessman has continued to prioritise education and entrepreneurship through the corporate social responsibilities of various organisations he leads. 

In celebration of his landmark birthday, EWAN at the weekend presented a portrait to the philanthropist, urging him to do more, and that he should “encourage his coterie of friends to also prioritise education in their support for humanity.”

In a statement by the association, the presentation was done as part of the activities organised by the financial institution to welcome the new Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Relations, Alero Ladipo.

Ladipo was introduced to the media at a lunch organised by the bank’s media and public relations unit, where she received the gift on behalf of Elumelu.

EWAN was represented at the event by its Chairman, Mojeed Alabi, and the Education Editor of The Guardian Newspaper, Iyabo Lawal.

Alabi is the Head of the Development Desk at PREMIUM TIMES, one of Africa’s leading online investigative media platforms. 

Speaking during the presentation of the gift, the EWAN Chairman, Alabi said no nation develops beyond the quality of its education sector, adding that since successive governments have failed to invest adequately in the sector, “it is not out of place to look in the direction of private investors and philanthropists.”

Alabi said: “Whether through the Tony Elumelu Foundation or the UBA Foundation, Mr Elumelu stands out as one with deep interest in the promotion of quality education and entrepreneurship not only in Nigeria but the continent of Africa.

“Journalism does not bar people from being appreciated when they do well, but without doubt, the reasons for such appreciation must be well known. We believe it is in order to commend Mr Elumelu’s investment in this all-important sector he has prioritised for support and encourage him to bring more selfless friends on board.”

Alabi said without investing adequately in education, every other sector of national development cannot stand the test of time.

The association also presented a congratulatory letter framed in a plaque to the bank’s Head of Media and External Relations, Ramon Nasir, who also marked his birthday recently.

Alabi said apart from his support for the association, Mr Nasir’s recent return to his alma mater- Ado Odo High School, in Ado Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State for a donation of a block of classrooms to mark his birthday is commendable and inspiring. 

Alero thanked EWAN for being thoughtful and pledged to deliver the message to Mr Elumelu.

According to the new head of marketing and corporate relations for the UBA group, the call by the journalists would be heeded not only by the chairman but by the corporate body as an entity.

Nasir said he was overwhelmed by the association’s encouragement, saying the donation to his alma mater would soon be completed.

The Chairman ad-hoc committee of the Iseyin community on the establishment of the College of Agricultural Science and Renewable Natural Resources of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH) Hon. Waheed Olaniyan has said the take-off of the college as pronounced by Oyo Governor of Oyo State, Engr.Seyi Makinde is sacrosanct. 

Olaniyan noted that people of Iseyin and Oke-Ogun have been grateful to the Governor for establishing the college in the community, saying the gesture would improve the socio-economic outlook of the region.

Speaking at the Iseyin-Okeho road during the handover of land for the construction of 250-seater capacity Information and Communication Technology (ICT) center to a special team from the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) and the contractor of the project, the former legislator said planned protest by some people in Ogbomoso against the establishment of the campus was in bad taste as LAUTECH belonged to all the communities that make up Oyo State and not Ogbomoso alone.

A jingle was released over the weekend by a particular group from Ogbomoso, calling on all the indigenes of the community to join a protest against the establishment of the new campus of LAUTECH at Iseyin.

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Olaniyan thanked the Chairman, Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande for deeming it fit to construct the 250-seater ICT center for the new campus, saying it was an indication that the college would be commencing academic works with ease with the ICT centre in place.

“We appreciate our amiable Governor for the establishment of this campus and the gesture has really gotten the appreciation of the people of Iseyin with their votes for his second term, we are grateful, we heard that some people are planning to protest on Monday at Ogbomoso against the take-off of the campus, this is in bad taste, the Ogbomoso people have been partners in the progress of Oyo State with us over time, why are they creating this divisive tendencies now?

“When we look at it closely, LAUTECH is a university owned by Oyo State and not Ogbomoso, every community in the State has a stake in the institution and the establishment of a college of the university in Iseyin will boost its development and help the State achieve its set goals in using education to broaden human development,” he added.

The Contractor for the construction of the 250-seater ICT center, Still Earth Holdings, represented by its Head, Business Development and Intergovernmental Relations, Oladipo Oshodi promised that the project will be delivered within the next twelve months as mandated by NCC.

He said the college should expect a quality job that will stand the test of time and benefit students, management of the institution and the entire community.

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) was created to mitigate the effects of Boko Haram insurgency in the six states of the Northeast. Correspondent Onimisi Alao reports on the commission’s support for education, particularly the donation of notebooks to pupils in the sub-region as part of its latest intervention.

The North East Development Commission (NEDC), established on October 27, 2017, is mandated to assess, coordinate, harmonise and report intervention programmes and initiatives by the Federal Government, states and other development partners for the reconstruction of the Northeast states of Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe. In less than four years, the commission has many achievements to showcase in the area of social infrastructure, education, health, rural roads, and partnership with local and international agencies.

Donation of exercise books, other materials to schools

In its fresh gesture at easing the pressures on public education around the Northeast, the NEDC recently donated exercise books, other writing materials, as well as school bags to pupils in public schools across the states in the sub-region.

In Adamawa State, for example, the commission gave out 271,560 exercise books and other items to pupils in 56 primary schools.

The commission handed the items to head teachers of the benefitting schools in a symbolic distribution exercise in the state capital, Yola. It asked the head teachers to share the items equitably among their pupils.

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The items comprised 102,600 pieces of 20-leave, 85,440 pieces of 40 leaves, and 83,520 quantities of 60 leaves. The donation also included mathematical sets, large rulers, pencils and pens as well as 200 sets of schoolbags.

NEDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alhaji Muhammad Alkali said in a message to the Yola handing over of the donated items that the donation was in furtherance of NEDC’s educational support to the teeming pupils whom the commission continues to encourage.

Alkali, in the message delivered by his Adamawa State Coordinator, Mr. Mike Tarfa, said: “We hope that the exercise books and educational packs will be useful to the pupils and distributed equitably.”

Other interventions in education

Alkali said the donation of books was coming after many other interventions in education and other sectors in the state, including tarring of a 2.5km road to the state College of Education in Hong; a mega primary/secondary school each in Song, Guyuk and Maiha; rehabilitation and building of new classrooms in each local council and several sessions of self-empowerment training, which hundreds of Adamawa youths have benefited from.

NEDC, since its establishment in 2017, has done much in education and other sectors to rebuild the Northeast shattered by more than a decade of Boko Haram destruction.

One of the most notable interventions is the commission’s mega school initiative, from which each of the six states in the Northeast is to have three, one in each of the senatorial zones. The 18 mega model schools, each comprising a primary section and a secondary section complete with a staff housing estate, a sports centre, a library, a power generation set and other facilities, all in a fenced complex, are either now completed or nearing completion.

The NEDC explained the mega school concept last December when it performed the foundation laying ceremony for the model mega school in Song, meant for the Adamawa Central Zone.

Speaking at the foundation laying of the school where construction of buildings had gone far, the NEDC CEO, Alkali said the schools would go a long way to bridge the educational deficit in the state and the rest of the Northeast, which had suffered serious setbacks during the Boko Haram insurgency.

Announcing that the 18 schools would cost the commission N21.6 billion, Alkali had said each of the schools would consist of 16 classrooms, six laboratories, an all-round fencing, 480 capacity student hostels, a solar power plant, and a standby 500kva power generator.

In a similar move, the NEDC assured of the establishment of an ICT training centre in each of the three senatorial districts in Adamawa State.

To be replicated in each of the five other Northeast states, the ICT centres are to train 10,000 youths yearly and equip them with starter packs.

Other training sessions, in addition to the specialised ICT training, are randomly carried out around the sub-region and they included training of youths in automobile repairs; vehicular diagnostics and maintenance, smartphone repairs, graphics design, training of youths/scavengers on efficient waste management; training of youths and women on briquettes and stove fabrication; as well as refresher training for teachers for effective modern teaching skills.

At the tertiary level, the commission has intervened in providing amenities, including the 2.5km road in the College of Education in Hong, Adamawa State, and similar interventions in institutions of higher learning in the other Northeast states.

On many occasions when the NEDC had to intervene in the education sector, it emphasised that the Northeast is a highly disadvantaged sub-region needing whatever intervention that it could get.

On one such occasions, Alkali had said the model mega schools in particular were aimed at redressing shortfalls in education delivery at both primary and secondary schools.

NEDC praised

The Network for Good Governance in Nigeria recently applauded NEDC for its extraordinary contributions to the development of the region.

According to a statement by its Executive Director, Mr. Adam Abu, the NEDC has effectively tackled the menace of poverty, illiteracy and ecological challenges in the North-Eastern states.

Abu noted that the NEDC has gone beyond resettlement, rehabilitation, integration and reconstruction of infrastructure for victims to develop the Northeast into a safe, economically vibrant, ICT-driven 21st-century region.

Outlining the recent projects of the agency, Abu said the construction of the 54-kilometre Ngalda-Mutai Road abandoned due to the activities of Boko Haram, was a welcome development.

He said the road is economically-strategic as it links many agriculturally viable communities of Fika and Gujba local government areas of Yobe State.

In education, Abu said the establishment of a mega school in each senatorial district across the Northeast would positively impact the children, whose learning was hampered by insurgency.

He also noted that the provision of ICT centres, educational materials and others would further enhance understanding.

He had said: “This deficit meant that the region is part of the country with the lowest literacy rate and highest poverty index in the country.

“Low literacy and high poverty are recognised by experts to be among the root causes of the violent insurgency that bedeviled the region and the situation was further exacerbated by the large-scale destruction of schools and losses in the lives of youths, teachers, students and so on.

“The destruction of schools, especially where they have not been rehabilitated throughout the decade of insurgency, resulted in the truncation of the education of primary and secondary school students, and even where schools remained standing, widespread poverty coupled with insecurity rendered an estimated 600,000 young people unable to go beyond the primary or secondary school levels.

“As such, millions of out-of-school children in the region remain uneducated, justifying the need for massive intervention in the development of school infrastructure.”

The Nigeria Institute of Physics (NIP) has said one of its major mandates is to continue to push for the promotion of science subjects particularly physics, a subject many students in secondary school consider enigmatic.

Its National President, Prof. Hyacinth Aboh, said though it takes some level of intelligence quotient to study Mathematics or Physics, yet it is not as difficult as many think.

Aboh spoke during the institute’s 44th National Conference at Agriculture Auditorium of Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu. The event was themed: ‘Physics as a Technological Solutions for Sustainable Development Goals’.

The NIP boss said the scenario is further complicated by dearth of qualified physics teachers to impart the right knowledge into the students, a fallout of which is the drop in performances of students in West African Senior School Certificate Examination as well as National Examination Council NECO.

He said: “There is this misconception that physics is a difficult subject. We want to demystify it and let the society know that physics is mathematical and it is the king of science. It actually requires individuals with focus and mental IQ that is above average.

“Another factor that makes it complex is that we don’t have good physics teachers. So, those who are teaching physics at the basic level are making the subject more difficult with the way they handle it. If you look at the recent performance of students in WASSCE and NECO, it is a bit shaky. The reason is that the government is not encouraging the study of sciences enough generally.”

The NIP helmsman lamented that the government seems to have given so much of its attention into other areas such as arts and politics as compared to its level of investment in science and education.

Against this background, he said the institute has proposed a National Physics Centre to be erected on the institute’s two-acre land along Airport Road in Abuja.

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Aboh called for financial support from Federal Government and well-meaning Nigerians.

Guest Speaker and Vice-Chancellor of Mountain Top University, Prof. Elijah Ayolabi, who delivered a lecture on the theme of the conference, said there is no doubt that Physics, as a discipline, crisscrossed the entire 17 SDGs.

Ayolabi canvassed more inclusion of experts in physics for national development.

Representative of the Lagos State Governor Mr. Kasali Adeniran Waheed, a permanent Secretary from the Office of the SAE, noted that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s government has been upbeat in the development of Science and Technology education in the state.

The host and Vice- Chancellor Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, said though the lopsidedness in the level of science and technology between the West and Third World countries are poles apart; yet this is not to say developing nations are at dangerous end.  According to him, it may only take sometimes.

The event also witnessed induction of new fellows of the institute. One of the new inductees Dr. Okedeyi Abiodun Sakiru expressed his excitement on his new status.

The University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka has launched its project ‘Innovation to Market’ (I2M).

It is aimed at empowering innovators and researchers in the country to take their products to the market.

The I2M, funded by UKAID’s Research and Innovation System for Africa (RISA), is meant to nurture innovations at various stages, by providing training, incubation, mentorship, advisory, funding, patenting company and support needed for commercialisation to solve problems.

The initiative, which places premium on innovations from youths, women and persons with disability, is designed to create avenues for innovations to get to the market.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, said the project seeks to bridge the gap between innovation and commercialisation, adding that the project recognises the challenges that exist in the business ecosystem for start-ups.

She noted that despite their brilliant ideas, many innovators face challenges when they intend to commercialise their ideas.

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Ogunsola said the idea of the project is to provide innovators and researchers with resources, mentorship and support to transform their ideas into products and services for market.

The VC expressed confidence that participants would have access to prototype funding, business registration, and intellectual property protection, among others.

“The main objective of the project is to bridge the knowledge gap-by providing learning robust resources on how to innovate and translate research to output into the market,” she said.

Deputy Vice Chancellor, Development Services, Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa said the university was poised to drive innovation in Nigeria and Africa. She stressed to the need to solve societal challenges through innovation.

 Project director at the Innovation and Technology Management (ITMO), UNILAG, Abiodun Gbenga-Ilori noted that Nigeria was not doing well when it comes to innovations.

She expressed hope that the project would solve unemployment in the country and also enable innovators commercialise their research output.

Acting Director of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship (DSDE) of NUC, Ladan Ashafa, who represented Abubakar Rasheed, chairman of the National Universities Commission (NUC) said the project was in line with the commission’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standard (CCMAS).

• •VP inaugurates N315m KAAF auditorium in UI

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has advised universities to embark on aggressive marketing to meet their needs rather than blaming the government for all their inadequacies.

He gave the advice at the opening of the Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation Auditorium donated to the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Public Health, University of Ibadan.

Osinbajo noted that successful universities are those which engage in aggressive fundraising, adding that private funding is very vital to universities.

According to the vice president, the the government’s yearly budget is inadequate to meet its national developmental needs.

He lauded the UI Department of Nutrition and Dietetics for its earlier role in the food chain and urged the department to engage more in research that is in synergy with the needs of relevant government agencies.

He added that Nigeria is abundantly blessed with the potential to produce food to feed the whole of Africa, if efforts are coordinated.

Also, the Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Olubanwo Adeosun, appreciated the KAAF for the donation on behalf of the state.

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She noted that Sir Kesington Adebutu is a philanthropist, who donates generously, irrespective of political or religious affiliations of the beneficiaries.

She urged the university to maintain the auditorium properly.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof.  Kayode Adebowale, who was also represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Ezekiel Ayoola, thanked the donor organisation and assured that the auditorium would be put to good use and be well-maintained.

He noted that the project was particularly significant and praiseworthy at a time like this, when Federal universities required all the support they could get from all quarters.

The Provost of the College of Medicine, Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun, urged the government to relax its policies such as TSA, which are strangulating research in the universities.

She urged the government to transform the universities to discourage brain drain.

The donor, Sir Dr. Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu, who spoke through Aare Kola Oyefeso, said KAAF is a veritable blessing from the Lord, established when he turned 70  in 2005.

The N351 million and 250-seater auditorium is air conditioned, with  multimedia facilities, a 150KVA generator with a backup 10KV Inverter attached to solar panels, and a 15KVA Lithium battery.

A university don, Prof. Barigbon Gbara Nsereka, has canvassed sustainable partnership between the universities and digital platforms to train next generation of skilled workforce in the tech ecosystem to take up sensitive leadership roles at top Nigerian and global companies.

In a keynote speech at a stakeholder engagement event in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital organised by Educatial, a software-as-a-service ecosystem platform, Prof. Nsereka, who is the Head of Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Rivers State University, said universities should partner tech companies like Educatial to transit to new methods of teaching and learning in universities.

Such transition, according to him, will prepare the Nigerian graduate for global competitiveness.

“It is important that the Nigerian educational system be reviewed to specifically incorporate the right contents that would not only adequately produce skilled individuals for the workforce but furnish them with critical abilities that would prove useful to the entire nation when applied,” Nsereka said.

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He listed the eight skill areas for the future as including Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Blockchain, Drones, Internet of Things, Robotics, 3D printing and Virtual Reality.

During his presentation at the roundtable, digital strategist, Mr. Celestine Achi, said Educatial, a software as-a-service tech ecosystem is putting Nigeria on the threshold of revolution in the education sector as a new e-learning platform with multiple applications that will enable the students acquire  competences  in the eight areas of skills with global demand listed by Nsereka.

Achi said Educatial is a one-stop digital ecosystem for everything education. “It is a convergence of learning management system, course management system and information management system,” he explained.

 Founder of Educatial, Mr. Francis Muofunanya said during his opening speech at the event that the software-as-a-service platform was developed by a team of indigenous software engineers in response to the increasing needs of online learning following the disruptions in academic calendar by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Muofunanya, Educatial will revolutionise education in Nigeria as it will provide quality and affordable learning for students in both rural and urban areas.

The Founder of the Reading Awareness Society for Development in Africa, Mrs Bukola Ladoja has stressed the need to overhaul the country’s education sector to make it more functional.

Mrs Ladoja said that the nation’s education system was long overdue for reform in such a way every child will have access to the same standard of learning irrespective of their background and the school they attend.

She spoke in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State while delivering a lecture organized by the Association for Formidable Education Development, a group created by school proprietors to bridge the education gap between the rich and poor.

She said the government and stakeholders in the education sector must put in place the necessary measures to end the existing dichotomy between public and private schools.

He equally advocated a review of the education curriculum to accommodate, creative learning, entrepreneurship and skills acquisition, regular excursion from the creche level, and self-esteem.

She said:”We must change our pattern of teaching, while must you lock up pupils in the class for several hours in the name of learning.

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“We must learn to take children out for excursion, sometimes we need to let them take a look at nature as this will reshape their thinking and sense of reasoning.

“I am one of those that have hope that this nation will be great but we cannot continue with this poor and unrealistic pattern. We must close the gap between international students and lower students. We want to have a new Nigeria based on knowledge.

“Reading culture must be encouraged, with reading, pupils will be confident, get their minds remodeled, If you do not give poor children the opportunity, Nigeria will continue to sink. We must take a step to help these children and not create a gap.”

In his remarks, AFED National President, Hon. Orji Emmanuel, appealed to the Ekiti State Government to partner with the organization noting that AFED is committed to the growth of education in the state.

He said: “AFED will do what it can to beam our searchlight towards Ekiti to ensure the gap in education is covered. I want to crave the indulgence of those in government that the value AFED is creating is accepted here.”

The Acting Rector of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, (AOPE) Oyo State, Dr. Gbade Akinteye, has said the institution is now one of the best Polytechnic in Nigeria.

He said considering rapid increase in numbers of admitted students on yearly basis, its lists of accredited courses, qualified personnel, serene academic environment and quality of graduates it continues to produce, the institution remains one of the best.

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Speaking at a briefing ahead of the maiden convocation of the institution, Akinteye informed the convocation ceremony of the institution shall witnessed award of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates to over 8,000 deserving graduands from 2015 to 2021.

He added there would also be presentation of prizes and conferement of honors on some selected dignitaries for their contributions to the institution on Friday.

He said though the institution has witnessed challenges in the last nine years of its autonomy, it has always come out better and stronger.

He thanked Governor Seyi Makinde for his support for the institution and love for education.

Over 8,000 students are set to graduate at the maiden convocation of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic (AOPE), Eruwa I. oyo State. 

The ceremony, according to the Acting Rector of the institution, Dr. Gbade Akinteye would cover graduated students from 2015/2016, 2016/207, 2017/2018, 2018/2019, and  2019/2020 sets, adding that outstanding graduands will also be awarded at the event. 

Akinteye stated that  Governing Council, management, and staff of the institution are set to receive dignitaries to the first Convocation Ceremony in the history of the institution. 

He said the long-awaited and first-of-its-kind convocation programme has been slated for May 19 after proper consultation, deliberation and consideration.

“The convocation ceremony will be coming up as planned by the Governing Council and management of this institution in order to improve the standard of the institution and to celebrate our graduands in a grand style.”

“AOPE is one of the leading polytechnics in Nigeria and we are glad to receive the approval of the date for the programme from the state government. The programme is coming up as scheduled in the academics calendar of the institution, to further underscore the fact that our institution is on the course of piloting a sound educational system anchored on innovation and technologies towards driving development in Oyo State, in particular, and Nigeria at large.”

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“Series of activities have been lined up to mark the first Convocation Ceremony of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa. Such activities include Jumaat service at the Central Mosque of the institution by 2pm on Friday, 12th May, 2023; Sunday Service at the institution Chapel on Sunday, 14th May 2023; and Press Conference, where selected journalist in Oyo State will converge with the school management to interact on significance of the program and how far the institution has come, on Monday, 17th May, 2023 at NUJ Headquarters, Ibadan, Oyo State.”

“Also, there will be a Public Lecture on 18th May, 2023 at the Assembly Hall of the school, where Dr. Festus Adedayo will be educating the general public on the theme of the program” “Reinventing Polytechnic Education for 21st Century Nigeria.” This will be followed by a cocktail party by 6 pm on the same day.”

“Exhibition from each departments to mark the convocation ceremony will commence on Monday, 15th May, 2023 till the main event day. The main event comes up on Friday, 19th May 2023 at 9 am at the Sports Complex of the institution. Guests are expected to be seated by 9am. Also, there will be foundation laying of Alumni Building on the convocation day.”

“The management equally urged all graduands to make it a point of duty to attend the epoch-making programme and wish them a happy celebration ahead.”