Category: Education

Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Prof Suleiman Bogoro has lamented that most of the low and medium skilled jobs in the country are being handled by people from Francophone countries.

Bogoro said this at the opening of a two-day capacity building workshop for heads of selected institutions and staff of TETFund Centres of Excellence in Abuja.

To bridge the skill gap, Bogoro called on the Centres of Excellence in the polytechnics to focus on skills development, entrepreneurship and start-ups.

“For the polytechnics, the centres of excellence are to focus on skills development and support entrepreneurship; start-ups in areas of competitive advantage and you know that skills development is central; it is fundamental. If you miss that area, if your polytechnic does not have the capacity to develop skills or the entrepreneurial ability of its students and researchers, then it has failed the nation.

“That is the area that has been very worrisome for us each time will reflect. It is very embarrassing that in Nigeria, if you go to construction sites, it has improved recently, believe me, Some 10 years back, you will to likely to see Francophone personnel that are at construction site more than Nigerians, that shows something is missing, but the polytechnics are trying to address it,” Bogoro said.

TETFund recently established Centres of Excellence in six polytechnics and six colleges of education.

The beneficiary institutions selected equally from each of the six geo-political zones in the country are; Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Nasarawa State; Federal College of Education, Pankshin, Plateau State (Northcentral), Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Federal College Education, Yola, Adamawa State, (Northeast), Federal Polytechnic, Kaduna, Kaduna State, Federal College of Education, Zaria, Kaduna State (North-West).

The Southeast has Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State and the Alvan Federal of Education, Owerri, Imo State. The Southsouth’s beneficiaries include Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State and Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Rivers State while Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and Adeyemi College Education, Ondo State made it from the South-West.

While saying the Centre of Excellence in the colleges of education will focus on relevant pedagogical development, the TETFund boss said beneficiary centre will get about two million dollars.

He called on polytechnics and colleges of education in the country to up their games in academic programmes’ innovation to position the country on the path of rapid development.

Bogoro, who said there are indices that are globally associated with Centres of Excellence, especially in bringing about innovation and development, said the two-day event was organised to ensure proper understanding of the concept of the centres by those that will be in charge of them.

Also speaking at the event, which had in attendance experts from the World Bank-sponsored African Centres of Excellence in universities, Executive Secretary of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Bugaje, praised Bogoro for his passion for institutionalisation of Research and Development.

Bugaje said polytechnics must wake up to their responsibility of producing skilled manpower in the country.

The NBTE boss expressed serious concerns that major infrastructure projects in the country are being dominated by skilled personnel from other countries.

“There is a need for our polytechnics to be focused on skills training, that is why we say from 2023, NBTE shall never go for any accreditation to any polytechnic where there is not a single skills training centre,” Bugaje said.

A Catholic cleric, Rev. Fr. Humpherey Nwojoko, has paid examination fees for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) for 12 pupils of the Holy Trinity Parish Umudike Ukpor.

Father Nwojoko, who is the Parish Priest of the church in Nnewi South Local Goverment Area of Anambra State, said he was moved to pay the fees after a ‘42-day prayers’ recently concluded in the parish.

Handing over envelopes containing the cash to the beneficiaries, Nwojoko charged them to face their studies squarely so as to come out in flying colors to enable them contribute their quota for nation building in the nearest future.

He said, “During last Sunday Ministration, I announced that parishioners who are to sit for the WAEC and NECO exams should come for special prayers for them.

“Many of the qualified students did not put up appearance, it was only the 12 that turned up for the prayers.”

The visibly excited students expressed gratitude to the benefactor for the gesture.

One of them, Miss Chinecherem Ikwueme, who disclosed she had ambition of studying Law, however, noted that her parents lacked the resources to sponsor her.

“I thank Fr Nwojoko for his show of love, at least, I am sure of writing my WAEC now, after which I will look unto God for more help on the course I desire to pursue in the university,” she said.

As part of its reward to the winner of the Maltina Teacher of the Year, Miss Oluwabunmi Anani, Nigeria Breweries (NB) Plc, recently inaugurated a 200-seater auditorium at the Concordia College, Yola, Adamawa State built in her honour.

The handover attracted dignitaries and stakeholders from Adamawa State Government, top management staff of NB Plc, among others.

Secretary to the Adamawa State Government, Umar Bindi, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Wilbina Jackson, thanked NB Plc for investing in the education sector as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Bindi applauded Anani for the milestone achievement, noting that the sterling performance recorded could not have been possible without the conducive learning environment created by the government and Concordia College.

“I want to applaud the very teacher who won the grand prize of the sixth edition of Maltina Teacher of the Year. This achievement would not have been possible without the enabling environment set by Concordia College, Yola. Above all, this giant stride would not have been possible without the efforts of Governor Ahmadu Finitri for providing security and a conducive learning environment in the state,” he said.

Also, Chairman, NB, Chief Kola Jamodu, represented by the Head of Public and External Relations of the firm, Uzodinma Odenigbo, congratulated Anani, noting that her commitment was a reminder that no society can exist without the solid foundation provided by teachers.

“I congratulate the people of Adamawa State, the governor and his team, and the management and staff of Concordia College for participating and winning the 2020 Maltina Teacher of the Year Awards.We are proud of you and your achievements”, he added.

While expressing hope that the facility would be of immense benefit to the people of Adamawa State, he said the company remains committed to contributing its quota to the educational sector.

Since its inception in 2009, the Nigerian Breweries/Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund has delivered several intervention projects in education. These include constructing and furnishing over 140 classrooms, libraries, and toilets in various schools in Kano, Sokoto, Plateau, and Kaduna states.

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has called for the constitution of an implementation committee for the newly-upgraded Adeyemi University of Education.

In a letter to the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, signed by the General Secretary, COEASU, Dr. Ahmed Bazza Lawan, the union appealed to the ministry not to impose academic staff from universities on the college as has happened in other college-to-university upgrades but consider the contribution of the existing academic staff of the institution who contributed over the years to strengthening the institution to the point of being upgraded to university of education.

It hoped the workers would not be shortchanged in the process of the upgrade.

“The history of conversion of colleges of education to universities by state governments has left sour tastes in the mouths of staff as existing staff members were whimsically downgraded and new staff drawn from the university sector were imposed on the system,” the union said, adding that such a tendency has resulted in frustration and untimely death of some of the affected workers.

To forestall such a development, COEASU appealed to the Education Minister to  constitute a “Transition Committee that comprises of critical stakeholders to work out the implementation so that our members will not be short changed”.

It pledged the commitment of its members to work hard to sustain and improve on the legacies of the institution.

The group applauded the minister for using his good offices to champion the cause of teacher education in Nigeria.

Government Senior College Hall, Agege,  Lagos State was agog recently during the 15th Annual Merit Award of Education District I, comprising Agege, Alimosho and Ifako-Ijaiye areas of Lagos State.

The programme was organised to reward members of staff who distinguished themselves in their various schedules to motivate them for more productivity.

The award covered best subject teacher, best principal, junior and senior category,  best school, senior and junior category, best non- teaching staff and many others.

The programme was remarkable as the district celebrated the good performance of its schools in the 2021 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

With seven A1s and two B3s Adeyemi Emmanuel Ayomide, from State Senior High School, Oyewole, Agege was the best candidate in the 2021 WASSCE.

The Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary (TG/PS), Mrs. Solarin Margaret Titilayo said the purpose of “is to ensure and enhance quality and competitive service delivery in line with Lagos State government policy of acknowledging and rewarding hard work, dedication, diligence, selflessness and excellence, thereby putting smiles on the faces of her staff’’.

“We are also following the footsteps of our governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Recently, he gave out 13 brand new cars to hardworking teachers and principals. He also gave out two bedroom flats to two principals in the state, who excelled at the national level. We reward hardwork and excellence.

“It is no gainsaying that the Lagos State government has placed a strong value on  education sector as attested to, in the proposed 2022 Appropriation Bill. The inauguration of various infrastructural projects in schools is second to none in the history of our great state,” she said.

The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) has awarded Simioluwa Yesufu, a final year Babcock University Law student with the BOSAN Award for excellence in academic performance and character.

The award, which comes with a cash prize of N500,000 and scholarship at the Nigerian Law School, is to motivate Law students to aspire to academic excellence and solve the problem of falling standard of the legal profession at all levels

It is also to provide sustainable positive impact on the quality of legal education.

Beneficiaries can use the name of award through their professional practice.

Dean of the Babcock School of Law and Security Studies, Prof. Deji Olanrewaju, is ecstatic.

“It is a further recognition of the quality of graduates we produce here in the School of Law & security Studies,” he said, adding: “The competition was opened to all Law undergraduates with CGPA of not less than 4.5 in all 54 Law Faculties in Nigerian universities.”

Yesufu will be receiving her award at the BOSAN dinner at the Eko Hotel and Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos, January 29, 2022.

A professor of Anatomy at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Oluwole Akintola has canvassed the establishment of crime laboratories to check crime rate.

Akinola added that the use of forensic DNA profiling (DNA fingerprints) will make detection of criminals easier for prosecution.

The don made the recommendations at the 213th inaugural lecture of UNILORIN entitled: “Human anatomy: Beyond flesh and bones.’’

He said: “It is high time governments at the Federal, state and local levels considered the establishment of forensic DNA database and forensic laboratories across the country to check the high rates of crimes in the nation.

“Graduates of anatomy are a source of skilled human resource that can be given short training to operate such forensic laboratories.”

The professor also frowned at illegal mining activities in parts of the country, adding that such activities are exacerbating insecurity.

“The illegal mining activity in some parts of the country is not only fuelling insecurity, but is also of public health concern. High morbidity and mortality have been reported in the affected communities. They include brain damage and male subfertility arising from lead toxicity.

“The government should, therefore, ensure that mining activities are strictly regulated in the interest of mental and reproductive health of the people,” he said.

He also cautioned pregnant women against exposure to environmental toxins in the interest of foetal brain and wellbeing.

He said “congenital anatomical and/or functional defects of the brain could arise from exposure to environmental toxins and ingestion of certain food substances during pregnancy.”

The anatomist also counseled diabetic patients to desist from self-medication, “rather they should seek prompt medical attention.

When untreated, diabetic mellitus could result in several complications that include psychiatric and cognitive problems.”

The pupils were presented with gift prizes at the event held at the school hall and organised by YOD, in collaboration with members of the pioneer set of the school who graduated in 1987.

President of YOD, Ambassador Emmanuel Ejiogu, said in his address that the pupils were rewarded to inspire others to see the value in education.

He lamented that young people were losing interest in education at a time when up to258 million children and youths were out of school and about 617 million children and adolescents cannot read or basic mathematics.

Ejiogu called on the government and other corporate organisations to do something to address the gaps in education.

“The recent disturbing trend that sees many young people beginning to lose interest in school, in favor for other fast means of wealth and affluence, is one reason we have chosen to hold today’s Program within a school setting in order to get the attention of the students here.

“Our decision to also recognise and award those who have distinguished themselves with excellent academic performance will further stimulate other to aspire for excellence. We also call upon the government, parents and other stakeholders in education to do more to encourage young ones to value education,” he said.

The Lagos State Education Commissioner, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, represented by Mrs. Mosunmola Adebambo, urged the young ones to fight for their rights and endeavour to learn a craft in line with formal education.

“Through the knowledge you have acquired, you must be able to fight for your right. Knowledge acquisition makes you fight for your right. Again, skill acquisition is the manpower manipulative aspect of education. In as much, you know how to read and write, you must be able to make income for yourselves,” she said.

Skool Media Nigeria Limited, an educational technology firm, is working on an App to help students prepare for examinations.

A statement from Skool Media’s Head, Corporate Communications and Strategy, Mr. Sola Oluwadare to mark the International Day of Education celebrated on Monday, noted that the app, Exam Padi, is the firm’s contribution to educational transformation.

It reads: “We are working on a one-stop-shop application called ‘Exam Padi’ that will address challenges students face in preparation for examination at this time and make it friendly to students.

“This app will therefore be a best-in-class teachers’ and technology solution to provide Nigerian students with high-quality, affordable, and open education. This serves as a gap-bridging device that will fast track learning rate. We also believe that it will enable Nigerian children to compete favourably with their counterparts all over the world. When education in Nigeria experiences transformation, the future is indeed secure for our nation.”

In line with the theme of the January 24 celebration, “Changing course, transforming education”, the firm urged government and other stakeholders to contribute their quota to transforming education.

“Skool Media Nigeria Limited urges all stakeholders to put all hands on deck towards changing the course of education to make it a tool of transforming the society. It is of utmost importance that a transformed education will give birth to a transformed society.

“We believe that transformative education is the responsibility of the family, the school system, the society, and the government.  African countries in particular need to work hard to ensure that education is placed in its prime position in the 21st century, particularly as the COVID-19 curve is flattened.”

The Proprietor of Olashore International School (OIS) Iloko-Ijesha, Osun State, has inaugurated a five-member panel of inquiry into a sexual assault claim by a former pupil of OIS, Obiamaka Azubuike.

Last month, Ms. Azubuike alleged on the social media that she was sexually assaulted by 13 pupils 18 years ago in the school.

Azubuike attended the school between September 1998 and July 2004.  She claimed that the school tried to cover up the incident and stripped her of her prefect position.

Members of the Five-man panel are: Justice Olusola Williams, a Retired Judge of the Lagos High Court and Board member, Mirabel Centre (chairperson); Dr. Alero Roberts, a lecturer, public health consultant and member of Board, Corona Schools Trust Council; Mrs. Adeyinka Adefope, an educationist and safeguarding consultant; Dr. Sade Olajubu, a forensic psychiatrist; and Mr. Ebuka Ekeanyanwu, a lawyer.

Azubuike demands that the school publicly apologises to her in print and on social media; reinstate the records to show that she was a prefect in the school; and also organise a ceremony via zoom where she will be awarded the honors she allegedly earned. where she will be awarded the honors she allegedly earned.

A statement issued by Mrs. Olapeju Sofowora, Chairperson, Olashore International School Association, noted that the panel has eight weeks to complete its assignment.