Category: Education

Multimix Academy has supported the restructuring of supply chain in the education sector at a roundtable conference with stakeholders in the logistics and supply chain industry.

The discussion was aimed at providing Multimix Academy with the required value to the  trade industry and a curriculum review with intense industry participation.

The roundtable, which is novel in the Trade Industry, was well attended by executives and faculty members of Multimix Academy, other academics of the supply chain, logistics and school of transport from the Lagos State University and the University of Lagos, the Chairman and board members of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Chief Executive Officers of reputable supply chain and logistics companies, and executives of Supply Chain, Logistics, procurement and sales departments of some of the biggest FMCGs, Manufacturing, Health and Finance companies in Nigeria.

Chairman of Multimix Academy and Director General, African Centre for Supply Chain, Dr Obiora Madu, said the Academy has provided consistent value and proficient industry leadership in the global trade sector.

The major highlight of the roundtable discussion was the division of participants into groups that focused on supply chain, procurement and sourcing, logistics and warehousing and International trade.

The group session was for the executives to draw from their personal experiences working with colleagues, subordinates and stakeholders in the field to create real-life situations within the Nigerian environment while maintaining global practices and having sincere conversations to solve the issues facing the industry.

At the end of the breakout session, each group highlighted problems within the industry.

The groups explained the industry requires development training on strategic influencing, leadership skills, project management skills, driver management skills, assets management, finance, communications skills, and the need for more onsite internships.

Madu assured participants of the planned execution of their assessments and the influence it will have on the restructuring of the curriculum to meet the current need of the industry.

The programme was also an opportunity for Multimix Academy to unveil its new brand identity.

Oluchi Okafor, the Managing Director of Multimix Academy, during the unveiling, mentioned that the current business environment in Nigeria, driven by innovations in technology and knowledge, is the reason for the change of the brand identity.

“In the last two decades, Multimix Academy has been in the forefront of providing Logistics and Supply Chain Education in Nigeria.

“We have digitalised all internal processes, channelled partners for major international Supply Chain certifications, certified over 3000 individuals, created our online Learning Management System and most recently became an ISO 9001:2015 Accredited Organization.

To this end, Multimix Academy has hosted this inaugural Supply Chain Roundtable with identified Supply Chain professionals at the top of their field in various sectors of the economy to get a first-hand and credible view of the challenges and educational needs in the industry.”

The Special Foundation (TSF) has collaborated with Bridge Nigeria to provide a full scholarships to children from economically disadvantaged communities.

As part of the collaboration, 10 pupils of Bridge International Academies have received full scholarships for their primary and post-primary education.

The scholarship opportunity tagged, Inspire Scholarship will be extended to more children in the coming terms.

Speaking at the scholarship signing ceremony at a Bridge Academy in Ifako Ijaiye, Seyi Akinwale, founder, TSF said the decision to set up the foundation was informed by the need to provide a platform to improve the quality of leadership in Africa through access to education for the less-privileged children.

He said the scholarship would help TSF achieve its goal of grooming future leaders for the African continent.

“The Inspire Scholarship is targeted at orphaned and vulnerable children in disadvantaged communities. We provide tuition, including the cost of books and other materials to children in primary and secondary schools. Bridge Nigeria is one of our partner organisations for our education intervention programmes.

“We decided to partner with Bridge because their mission of providing quality education to children of low-income families aligns closely with our goal. We intend broadening the partnership with the Bridge and furthering the impact of their work while ensuring the sustainability of same,” he said.

Praising the initiative, Managing Director, Bridge Nigeria, Foyinsola Akinjayeju said the collaboration would add value to the lives of beneficiaries, especially as Bridge serves low-income communities with quality education.

“At Bridge, we believe that a child’s potential should not be limited by his or her socio-economic status, hence our support for low-income families through the access we provide to life-changing education and by collaborating with credible individuals and organisations like The Special Foundation to offer scholarship opportunities to indigent pupils.

“If there is anybody or organisation seeking to make a real impact, there is no better place to invest than in the lives of children who are the future of any nation,” she said.

Parents of the beneficiaries who were also in attendance were filled with joy and commended TSF and Bridge for the scholarship.

Parents of five-year-old Chidera and her three-year-old sister, Prudence, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley, who are both visually impaired, said the scholarship was a huge relief for their family.

 

Mrs. Funmi Oluranti-Davis, who is the guardian to another beneficiary, eight-year-old Inioluwa, and a single parent with three children of her own, said she decided to take care of Inioluwa after she lost her father and was left with the option of dropping out of school and working as a house help somewhere.

She thanked TSF and Bridge for their intervention at supporting children’s access to life-changing education.

 

Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola has said cultism and drug abuse are the result of a breakdown of a societal value and family system.

Aregbesola spoke at a lecture/ award ceremony organised by the management of The Gazelle News, with the theme: ‘Advocacy as a tool for eradicating bullying, cultism, drug abuse and other anti-social vices in schools’.

The minister, who was represented by his aide, Sola Fasure, an engineer, said: “It reflects a breakdown of the societal value, failure at homes, breakdown of school authority. It is also a breakdown of law enforcement because if you do anything wrong and commit a crime, then the law should take its course.

“Failures and challenges from the homes, to the society, to school and to government agencies contribute to these. It is at these four or five levels that we need to take new steps to address these issues. Parents should reinstall their authorities in homes. The major challenge we have is that a lot of children are from broken homes. The home is the building block of the society and so should play vital role in bringing up responsible children.”

Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Dr. Hamid Bobbing said the agency is trying its best in restoring morality in the lives of the students, adding that education would help curb ignorance.

He said: “Education is the bedrock of dismantling ignorance, poverty, hopeless values and education is the responsibility of all.”

Delivering a lecture, a professor of Community and Environmental Health of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Prof. Barisat Olusola Oladipupu, said involvement in these practices affects the psychology of the culprits, adding that cordial relationship between parents and their children would help discourage them from indulging in such practices.

“Parents should relate with their wards in love. So that they would not have the need of involving themselves in cultism, drug abuse and bullying system, because, once a child joins a secret cult, the chances of coming out is very slim.”

Speaking with The Nation, Commissioner, Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs and Special Duties, Borno State, Kabir Wanori, who represented Governor Babangana Zulum, said the governor and his exco members “are making sure that life is lived meaningfully by the citizenry”.

Dignitaries that received awards include: Zulum, All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bukola Sofidiya, Aregbesola, Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board(LASUBEB), Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King, Babajide Kolade Otitoju, Mr. John  Igbaifua and others.

 

FORTY-two indigent pupils will for the next one year benefit from over N2 million raised by members of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Nigeria from trees’ planting.

The initiative is part of the association’s commitment of acting as a force for public good through achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The money raised was presented by Head of Nigeria’s ACCA Office, Mr. Tom Isibor, to officials of Slum2School Early Childhood Development Centre, Lagos, after the flag-off of the association’s 100 trees’ planting project, under, “The Green Canopy Project: The Planting for sustainability” at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, Lagos.

The project was initiated in collaboration with the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) and it’s the first Google-Tracking project, which is designed to enable the tracking of the growth of the trees planted anywhere in the world.

Isibor, who said the project was not a public relations stuff, said the association decided to leverage members’ commitment to achieve the Goals 4, 13 and 17 through partnership, education and sustainable environment – parts of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 SDGs designed to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030.

According to him, it is a pilot project for which 55 ACCA members raised the money for the education of the indigent pupils, adding that the association still had a lot to offer the society and the country.

A Global Council Member at ACCA, Babajide Ibironke, who also spoke at the event, said the project was very dear to ACCA as the world is demanding net zero emission of greenhouse gas, reduction of pollutions and tackling of depletion of ozone layer.

The General Manager, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency Adetoun Popoola, said the agency was excited that ACCA, a global body for professional accountants, decided to support the Lagos State Government’s greening mandate, through their Green Canopy Project by planting 100 trees at this time as part of a larger sustainability agenda.

Popoola said: “We commenced the tree planting exercise yesterday and will be concluding same with the ceremonial planting of 10 trees today.

“It is gratifying for an association like ACCA to indicate interest to plant trees. We are indeed happy with this commitment by ACCA and we implore individuals, public and private organisations, as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to emulate same.

“Lagos is one of the world’s megacities with rapid urbanisation. In the next couple of years, it is projected that the city will experience population explosion and when this happens, ecosystems and the essential natural assets they provide will be depleted therefore, it behoves us to ensure complete restoration of the environment and this can only be achieved through planting as many trees as possible.”

“Impacting our environment is not as audacious as we think. We can plant trees in our homes, places of work, schools, recycle, reuse, refuse plastics and so many other ways. Tree planting still remains the cheapest nature-based solution to mitigate the effects of global warming. The best way for us all to make a difference and prevent the city of Lagos from sinking.”

The pupils of the Slum2School Early Childhood Development Centre, Lagos, also addressed the guest on the SDGs goals on education and sustainable environment.

 

Human capital development experts have canvassed for a review of national curriculum of education to align academic tutorial with current job requirements and imbue students with employable skills.

Experts spoke at the second employability seminar organised by MAPAMA Education Fund (MAPEF), an arm of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta Muslim Alumni (MAPAMA), for students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The theme of the programme was: ‘Employability Skills of the 21st Century’.

Director, People Experience and Market Development, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Mr. Patrick Umo-Adiasung, said people must understand that so many things have changed in recent time.

He noted that the way of doing and running businesses has changed from analogue to digital and an employee, who must be employed, must change with time and learn the new ways of doing things.

He urged participants to arm themselves with learning skills, which will be used to process and communicate information which includes creativity, critical thinking ability, collaboration and communication.

He added that participants must arm themselves with literacy, which includes information literacy, media literacy, technology literacy – all of which will focus on the employee ability to evaluate and process new information, particularly those found online.

He also added that participants need life skills that will create a well-round individual that can thrive both on their personal and work lives, which includes adaptability, leadership initiative, efficiency and social skills.

Managing Director, KnewRow Resources, Mr. Ayo Muritala, said Nigeria’s school curriculum is obsolete and no longer operative in the real world, yet the stakeholders in the academic sector have refused to do something about it.

He said participants should go online and check when a student of Edinburgh Napier University, who studied sciences, started testing for hypothesis compared to when a student in Nigerian universities will be exposed to the same.

Ayo said another reason for today’s graduates being unemployable is their parents influence on their choice of course of study.

He explained that some parents forced their wards to study a course they have no passion for, but had to study to please them.

He urged participants who are undergraduates to be innovative and took them through the steps, which they can take and become marketable for employers of labour after their graduation.

 

Alhaji AbdulSemii Akinwunmi, a chartered accountant, a member of the board of trustees of MAPAMA, his remarks, urged parents to stop forcing courses of study on their wards as the consequence is deadly and can be irrevocable in the life of the wards.

He explained how he gave his own children freehand to determine their choice of course of study.

President of MAPAMA, Mr. Taofeek Oyeniyi, a professional accountant, while delivering his welcome address, mentioned that the purpose of founding the association is to evolve a system that shall enhance economic development of members and to assist members in their careers and professions.

The event, which took place at Babalakin Lecture Hall on the school campus, had in attendance the former B-Zone President of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Alhaji Mushafar Alaran. The event was also attended by Hadjia Taibat Alimi, Chairperson, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter, Hadjia Ajumah Onasanya, a business tycoon, Alhaji Abdur Rahman Ajala, HoD, Department of Planning and Transportation, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro

Also present at the event were Mr. AbdulWasii Oyeniyi, the Lagos State Chapter Coordinator of the association, Mr. Ismael Ayinla Adebare, the Oyo State Chapter Coordinator of the association amongst other national executive members.

 

An expert in technology education, Adeyemi Odutola, has emphasised the need to drive the interest of the female child in technology and bridge the gap between the two genders through balancing academic materials.

Odutola, who is the Communications Officer, Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC), represented Broadoaks British School Head of Information Technology Communications, Samuel Odeleye, at the Africa NXT 2022 segment, entitled: “Conquering poverty with Tech: Women and The Next Decade”, at Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

On how society needs to consciously involve the female child in technology, he said: “Starting from the cradle, for the girls, you are buying her a toy (a baby doll). If it’s a boy, you give him a car or gun. Then, they go into school.

“In the primary school to secondary school, they subconsciously positioned technology as men. The figures they see in the books, more of men are seen at the computers; men fixing things and the people driving the caterpillars. So, subconsciously, you have started to position these things as male jobs. So, the ladies too grow up and think the jobs are only for men.

“Our thinking like for example a girl who is into technology is supposed to be tomboyish – looking like a boy. Most of the girls you see studying technology too they are positioned as boys until lately. It’s subconsciously being done in the school system. We are not cautious about how to make sure that the information we put there are more gender-balanced, even in many of the books.

“During my research, I discovered that in Vietnam from 2010, they made sure that their education figures are gender-balanced, whereby anything is both male and female, even nurses. For doctors, they make sure that you have a male and female figure standing so that that way, you make sure that you get the girls to know from the beginning that it’s for both of us. I still believe that in Nigeria in many places, where we still have old books that we have still produced mostly by men, we still have to make sure that we balance up things with new messaging,” said Odutola.

Furthermore, he noted that the government also has a role to make this possible in the education sector.

“Education has a lot to play in the sense that we have to be deliberate to ensure that we bring in a lot of females along with it,” he said.

“The government has to make sure that, for instance in public schools, the internet access has to be improved and facilities are well-serviced. We have to make sure that we do the proper tracking of students as they progress from secondary school. Girls in science class should be tracked from the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) level, even those in the university into their career level. You have to encourage them that they should pursue careers in these fields. We need the contribution of women in these fields,” said Odutola.

He added that government has to make sure that the data system for gender balance is monitored in other to make it equal.

 

Secondary school pupils have until May 20 to enter for the 17th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for 2022 with the theme: “Nigeria a Country at War Against Itself: The Problems; The Solutions And The Way Forward.”

The top three essayists stand to win cash prizes of N100,000, N75,000 and N50,000 in addition to other gifts for the winners and their schools – laptops and computers.

The prizes for the competition, which are aimed at enhancing the writing skills of secondary school pupils, will be presented during the 21st Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, scheduled for Thursday, September 8, 2022, to mark the 77th Birthday of Dr. Mike Okonkwo, the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).

After submitting a 2,000- word essay on the stated topic, the best essayists would be invited for a retake that would produce the winners that would be unveiled at the Shell Hall of the Muson Centre on September 8.

The Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition spans over a decade of developing and rewarding the writing skills of Nigerian youths towards national development.

 

Vice Chancellor, Augustine University, Ilara (AUI), Epe, Lagos, Prof. Christopher Odetunde has asserted that the youths can positively change the country’s current narrative through hard work, improved moral standing and thinking out of the box.

He stated this during the seventh matriculation ceremony of the institution, where 207 new students were admitted into the university.

He, therefore, urged the students to start building for the future with their admission into the school.

“What is your raison d’etre in AUI?  This is the time to start answering such a question because, there is no better way to judge the future than to take a quick pick at the present and the past.  ‘’For most Nigerians, the future looks bleak for our nation.  There is no need to despair because, I believe, the youth in Nigeria can, as a matter of urgency, change the present narrative through hard work, improved moral standing, thinking out of the box and finding a niche in spite of Nigeria being almost dead morally and not having a value-adding education.

“What will be your goal for coming to AUI: Is it to join millions holding degrees without value, those pilfering our resources for their families only or to make Nigeria work for all of us?  Today, you will make a moral choice that will impact humanity, benefit you, your family and our nation; the choice is yours.

“You must always conform to the rule of ethics even when it is it is a difficult choice. Immorality has been at the foundation of our challenges as a nation in distress.  Those that decide to short circuit the system through corruption are also indirectly sucked in to the vortex of drugs, strange sicknesses and waywardness.  Some are not alive today to testify one way or the other.

“Furthermore, as members of the university community, it is important that you abide by the rules and regulations that guide your existence in the community, to ensure that you live and learn in peace and harmony with your fellow students and with the staff. Remember, formal education will make you a living, but consistent education with good character formation will make you a fortune.”

Odetunde noted that formal education is not cheap and lauded the parents for the sacrifices made to give their children quality education.

He said all courses run in the school have accreditation from relevant bodies and agencies, urging the students to be ready to be taught to become total men and women.

He advised the students and their parents to note that AUI is a Catholic University, and “as such, our Catholic human infrastructure will be defended at all times and that you must buy into this philosophy. Always remember that Augustine University is a faith-based university.”

To spur students to aim to be excellent academically and morally, Odetunde said a number of prizes and awards are given to students and urged the new intakes to strive to benefit from such.

“Some of your colleagues will be recognised today for their academic excellence; those on the Vice-Chancellor’s list with Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.50 and above and those on the Dean’s List with Cumulative Grade Point Average between 4.00 and 4.49.  They have worked hard to ensure they are the best in their various classes and the University acknowledges that today.

 

“For those of you who are not on either of the two lists, and even those on the list, I want you to remember that the beginning of a race does not determine the final outcome.  Therefore, continuous improvement is required to make it to the end successfully by simply being a Primus inter pares in your class.

 

“Let it be known that AUI does not measure academic excellence by GPA alone but by the totality of performance taking into consideration, AUI’s Motto for Learning and Character.  You must dedicatedly reject the null hypothesis of peer pressure, cultism, drug use and all other forms of immorality.”

 

He thanked the Catholic Church, Lagos for its support for the university, as well as appreciating the Visioner, Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie.

 

He also acknowledged the Catholic Bishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Adewale Martins, for his support for the institution.

 

In his matriculation lecture, titled:  “The Nigerian youth and education as the key to brighter future”, the Guest Lecturer, Prof. Sola Fosudo, said in spite of all odds, education is still key to succeeding in life.

 

According to him, any youth, who thinks there is a short cut to success, would regret later in life.

 

He admonished the students to strive to be the best in their callings.

On March 15, at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Lumen Christi International High School, Uromi, once again took the centre-stage for producing the best aggregate school results in the West Africa Senior Secondary school Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for 2021.

It was the sixth time the Edo State-based school will be winning the Augustus Bandele Oyediran Award for producing the best aggregate results in WASSCE for School Candidates in 2021 in Nigeria.

The all-boys Catholic boarding school had shown brightly by clinching the award in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2016.

The award was received by the school’s principal, Revd. Fr. Theophilus Itaman, at the 70th Annual Council Meeting of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

Itaman, who said the sustainability of the award was through hard work, added that supervision was key to get the desired result any organisation wanted.

According to him, many people are not paying attention to supervision, thinking that by paying salary alone is what is required. We also ensure that the teachers are well-motivated to give their best.

“Sustainability is something you have to work for in any organisation. So, with that, we made a conscious effort to ensure that starting from the admission process, we are thorough and ensuring that there is a foundation to build on our admission.

“We also work on our teachers knowing full well that the products of our today’s universities cannot really do what we are looking for. So, we put in place ongoing formation for our teachers and ensure that our educators are properly trained from time to time through seminars to bring them up to date.

“We also ensured that the teaching-learning process is managed properly and supervised.”

Bishop of Uromi Diocese and Proprietor of the school, Most. Rev. Dr. Donatus Ogun said the award was a fresh reason for the school to celebrate hard work.

The clergyman renewed the commitment of the school to giving society, through the ministry of education, well-formed young leaders who will help build a more just and moral world.

Ogun said: “This year’s award which our school, Lumen Christi Int’l High School recently received, is a fresh reason to celebrate hard work. We are joyful and again congratulate the principal, staff and students. We also thank the organisers of this award ceremony/recognition as this, on the long run, will make the students appreciate hard work and strive towards building a society founded on conscientious human labour rather than corruption and shortcuts to success.

“Going forward, as an institution of the Catholic Church, we renew our commitment to giving the human society (Nigeria and global) through the ministry of education, well-formed young leaders who will help us build a more just and moral world.

“We commend all, the principal, staff and students to the mercy of God as they contribute their quota towards improving on creation through education.”

Itaman added that the students of the school were also motivated to give their best in whatever they do.

He said this had created a form of competition among students as rewards were being given for best performance.

“The students are also motivated to give their best as we create opportunities for healthy competition among the students. A student with the highest aggregate in every session is rewarded and by doing this, in the session following the best student will not pay school fees. Asides from not paying school fees, the student will not have to live in the hostel with other students but be given a self-contained apartment to live in.

“This is motivating the student in that regard. Thus has also been a form of competition among the students.

“Also, to sustain this we ensure that we try to put in place Infrastructure and as well upgrade our facilities to meet the present day reality and the needs of our children,” he said.

The principal, therefore, called on the examination body to do more aside from the presentation of the yearly trophy given to the school with the best aggregate results.

A former student of the Lagoon School, Lekki, Lagos, Miss Isabela Nweze, emerged the overall best student for the 2021 WASSCE for school candidates.

She made all A1s and obtained a total score of 606.8766 in her eight best subjects, including General Mathematics and English Language.

Miss Isabela was then conferred with the National Distinction/Merit award for WASSCE for school candidates 2021.

Also, a former student of Air Force Comprehensive School, Agbani, Enugu, Godswill Edeani and Pascal Unini, who graduated from Christ the King College, Gwagwalada in Abuja, were second and third place winners respectively.

 

National Librarian/Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria (NLN) Prof. Chinwe Veronica Anunobi has urged Nigerians living at home and abroad to ensure that their native languages do not go into extinction.

Anunobi said Nigerians needed to wake up to defend their native languages before they disappear.

She spoke at a one-day event organised by the NLN to commemorate the day set aside by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) General Assembly in 1999 with the theme: Using technology for multi lingual learning.

She noted that there was need to preserve and document local languages for future generations.

Prof. Anunobi said the NLN is committed to go down the grassroots of Nigeria’s communities to seek for materials and information concerning prominent personalities in those communities and their profiles.

Thereafter, she said the materials on those personalities will be used to write history about them in three major Nigerian languages of Igbo, Hausa Yoruba and English language to enable the next generation know their original identity and languages, which would be published, preserved and documented.

She added that the materials would be processed and digitised, uploaded into the website for people to get access to  them easily.

High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, Amb. Masudur Rahman stated that the idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh and was approved by the UNESCO  General Assembly in 1999.

Ambassador Rahman said this had created lots of awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

He called for the preservation of indigenous languages.

The envoy said 40 per cent of 7,000 languages used worldwide are at some level of endangerment.

Minister of Education Adamu Adamu said students will learn faster using their mother tongue to study.