Category: Education

An educator Dr Leo Igwe, has appealed to government to make incentives available to scholars and researchers to aid the production of literatures and development of curriculum models for the teaching of critical reasoning as a subject in primary schools across the country.

Igwe, a Post- Doctoral research fellow at the University of Cape Town, South Africa said although there is a policy framework for the teaching of critical thinking as a subject, there is a vacuum in the area of implementation and enforcement.

The scholar spoke while addressing teachers from selected primary schools in Ibadan North local government area of Oyo State trained on developed teaching materials for critical thinking of primary school pupils in the state.

The training, which held at Immanuel College Primary School, Samonda, Ibadan was attended by about 100 teachers.

Explaining that critical thinking has been globally identified as an essential skills needed in the academia and workplace, Igwe said the essence of the training workshop for teachers was to encourage government approve critical thinking as a subject that should be taught to primary school pupils as a way of preparing them for the future.

Igwe said: “There is an existing policy, the National Policy on Education, page 10 states that primary education should aim at inculcating reflective, scientific and critical thinking.

“So, it is there as a policy but the problem we have in Nigeria is not about policy but implementation and enforcement. When I saw it, that was what emboldened me that I can actually persuade policy makers and educational management boards to offer to help to turn the policy into practice.

“It is there already, so, what they need is to get the subject into schools and help encourage the development of books on critical thinking and reasoning for schools. I want more and more books for school.

“Let the government incentives the production of literatures and development of curriculum models and I think the Oyo state government has started something good by giving the approval for the training.”

Speaking on the importance of the training, the scholar said although there are teaching materials and subjects in the areas of verbal and quantitative reasoning, the vacuum of critical thinking as a subject needs be filled.

“Right now we have verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning but there is no specific subject with respect to critical thinking and that is why I am trying my best to fill that gap and develop Critical Thinking books and we are doing a pilot programme to train teachers and getting them to see the modules, assess it and working to see how that can be recommended.

“Luckily for me, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OyoSUBEB) gave me the approval to do the training throughout state.

“We have gone to some local governments, what we do is to get teachers from the schools in the council areas and train them and after now, we go to some specific schools where we will train the pupils and where the books will used.

“From the feedback we get, we will send the books to the Ministry of Education and hope that the subject will be introduced.”

Teachers who attended the training in their various remarks commended the initiative saying the measure will help the public school pupils be at par with their contemporaries in the private school.

They appealed to the government to sustain the training and also allow for the introduction of critical thinking as a subject to complements verbal and quantitative reasoning which are being taught.

WITH projections that Nigeria will be the third largest country in the world in 25 years, President of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Dr. Margee Ensign, has said young people must begin to prepare to harness the country’s potential.

In an interview with The Nation, Ensign, an American, who recently returned for a second tenure as President of AUN, after leaving in 2017 (at the end of a seven-year tenure), said: ”In about 25 years, Nigeria will be the third largest country in the world. Right now, it is China, India and U.S, my country.  In about 2045, it will be India, China, Nigeria.

“I  believe in the young people, the future leaders of your country and it’s in honest opportunity and responsibility to come back and make sure that these same people are ready because Nigeria has a great opportunity but also big challenges.”

Ensign said she had faith in young people because during her first time as AUN President, students of the school actively participated in the university’s initiatives to solve problems caused by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“Our primary goal is to make sure our students are ready to learn and work and solve problems, not only in Nigeria but in the world. So, we are creating global leaders. During those challenging years out there, it was young people, basically Nigerian students, who were doing the feeding; they were taking care of people. They are ready to solve problems,” she said.

During her second tenure, Ensign said the university would be doing a lot on researching big issues plaguing Nigeria, like food security, climate change and public health.

“We have established a lot of graduate programmes. So, we focus also on the research needed. It is not just teaching; you got to do the research to understand how you solve issues of food and security; the population doubling every 21 years. You got to grow enough food or import it and I hope you don’t import it,’ she said.

She also said the university would continue its culture of getting students involved in community development initiatives.

Speaking on increasing school abductions, the AUN President decried school closures in the north, urging the government to address the problem of insecurity instead.

She said closing schools was unacceptable, worsening the out-of-school crisis and robbing children of a bright future.

Also, the university’s Assistant Vice President, Safety and Security Operations, Dr. Lionel Von Frederich, said bandits and insurgents target children for a number of reasons.

He said schools should be provided with the right equipment and security personnel to keep them safe.

His words: “Like the president said, why would you close the school? Just protect the school. If you went to school and the security officers are poorly kitted, it means the security is poor. If you went to school and there is no technology, no CCTV, it means you are sending the children to unsafe environment. At AUN, we do all we can to protect students, faculty, and staff and visitors as well.’’

Pupils of Community Junior High School, Wasimi, Maryland, have been told not to be silent witnesses to bullying.

They were sensitised during an anti-bullying seminar organised by the Rotary Club of Maryland, Ikeja District 9110 held at the school.

Chairman of the club’s Basic Education and Literacy Committee, Dr. Grace Bamigboye, said as much as bullying is a vice, it is not good to witness it and do nothing.

“Bullying is not to be tolerated.  When you see someone being bullied don’t be a bystander,” she said.

She identified the types of bullying as physical, verbal, social, and cyber bullying.

Rather than laugh, join in or be silent when witnessing bullying, she counselled the pupils to report to an adult or tell the bully to stop the act.

The programme also featured the donation of exercise books to some pupils and the inauguration of a storey building built in partnership with the Chris Bamidele Onalaja Foundation.

The club’s President, Mr. Chris Onalaja, who also runs the Foundation with his wife, Tolulope, said the building, which has a hall, principal’s office, three classrooms and a staff- room, was constructed based on the school’s needs assessment.

He said the building, which was handed over with classroom furniture, would be maintained by the club.

He said: “We have three classrooms that can take 150 pupils; then we have a staffroom that is en-suite. We want the teachers to be comfortable. We have the principal’s office upstairs and then a big hall. It is well structured and planned for the children and teachers.  By the time we hand over this hall today we are planning to work with them to maintain it so that by the time we come back in two or three years time, it will still remain beautiful,” he said.

Mrs. Onalaja, CEO of the foundation, said the body collaborated with the club on the project by imbibing the Rotary culture of giving.

“We actually believe so much that the children are the future of any country and we really need to pay attention to them. They need to learn in a befitting environment, so I am particularly happy with this project,” she said.

 

The Director of Distance Learning Programme (DLP) of Federal College of Education Technical (FCET) ,Yaba, Lagos, Mr. Oti Eyetsemitan,  has  said the school’s certificate was well recognised in the country.

“The presence of Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar’s representatives attest to the quality of our programmes. Our certificate is well recognised in every university in Nigeria, making it easy to gain admission at the end of the programme,” he said.

He spoke at the college matriculation last Friday.

The school matriculated  324 students.

On the high academic standard of the institution, the Students Union President,  Jubril Ismail Kola, said: “The school  places emphasis on hard work and high moral standards.

“It frowns upon all forms of indiscipline. I admonish you to stay away from all vices like cultism, robbery, examination malpractice,drugs and sexual harassment that could affect your peaceful stay on campus.

“You must, therefore, respect your matriculation oath and endeavour to be students  who will be useful to themselves and the society,” he said.

The institution is in affiliation with the University of Benin (UNIBEN). It offers award of Bachelor of Arts and Science in courses like: Vocational and Technical Education, Psychology and Curriculum Studies, Educational Studies and Management.

 

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West), has restated his commitment to advancing education and skill acquisition in his constituency. These, he said, are means of eradicating unemployment and youth restiveness.

He spoke at the weekend during the distribution of educational materials in his constituency.

He distributed textbooks, exercise books, mathematical sets, school bags and modern writing boards to 10,000 pupils.

The lawmaker also donated a 16-seater school bus for teachers at Vantage Events Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.

He noted that he was a product of public school. He said 97 Senior Secondary Schools, 97 Junior Secondary Schools and 200 Primary Schools benefited from the distribution of educational materials with focus on Mathematics and English Language.

“This is the first phase of my educational empowerment for my constituents. I will soon embark on a second phase of similar magnitude for other schools yet to benefit before the year runs out. I must say that if not for the privilege I had to attend public school like this students and pupils, I would not have become a senator. I am a firm believer that with good education everyone can be a productive and useful member of the society,” he said.

He praised teachers for their role in the society, stressing that without their diligence and sacrifice, many in positions of authority would not be there.

“If not for these teachers, we cannot be where we are and I cannot be a senator. I will not be able to speak on the floor of the Senate, where we must be able to speak constructively,” he said.

Earlier, the Director, Education District 6, Mrs. Oluwadara Okelola, lauded Adeola for supporting pupils with essential textbooks as well as other educational materials.

“This is encouraging, the beneficiaries can adequately follow what is being taught in the schools. If for whatever reason their parents cannot afford the textbooks, they have the assurance of having the books free,” she said.

 

THE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) branch, has condemned the recent assault on the assistant-general secretary of the union by soldiers.

Addressing reporters on the assault of a Computer Science lecturer, ASUP YABATECH Chairman, Mr. Olusegun Ajiboye, said the lecturer intervened when the soldiers were assaulting some students on campus but they turned round to beat him up.

Ajiboye said the lecturer lost a tooth and had to receive treatment from the hospital.

The chairman said the management of the institution had intervened and the hospital bill will be paid by the soldiers.

Ajiboye said it was the first time the union was witnessing physical assault from soldiers.

They are our friends, we go to their officers’ mess to eat. We live like neighbours. It is not good for soldiers to enter a campus and beat staff or students,” he said.

He said the soldiers came for a different mission and while returning to the barracks they saw students taking pictures and the military men assumed the students took their pictures and they attempted to seize the phone.

Ajiboye explained that the lecturer intervened but was beaten by the soldiers. He said the management of the college got across to their Commander and the soldiers were arrested and they agreed to settle the  medical bill of the lecturer.

The victim, Mr. Adebayo Adeniran, said the soldiers numbering 10, tried to beat some HND Accounting students who were taking pictures while they were celebrating their last day in school and he defended them. But the military personnel assaulted him.

Adeniran said: “We need the soldiers and they also need us. We are all working for the peace and unity of the country. So, nobody is superior to other. We need to work together. We want people to know that we are not mediocre and that we are law-abiding people but will not take rubbish from anybody.”

ASUP also said it intends to build an ICT centre at Epe campus of the institution for the benefit of members and that already, the management had allocated land for the project.

He said the branch would hold an International conference from November 16 to 17.

He explained that promotion was ongoing as members would soon receive thei letters while the branch election would hold in December

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Senator Adetokunbo Abiru has given N50, 000 each to 600 indigent and indigenous undergraduates in his Lagos East District.

The senator, who chairs the Industry Committee in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, promised to sustain the yearly Endowment Bursary Fund for the benefit of the 16 local councils in the district.

No fewer than 1,000 Small and Medium Scale Businessmen and women were also empowered by the legislator, who had served as Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State.

Beneficiaries converged on the School of Agriculture Auditorium, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu where Abiru also tendered his stewardship as a legislator.

Accompanied by his wife, the Senator promised to continue to assist constituents with more empowerment programmes.

The guest of honour Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Special Adviser on Education, Tokunbo Wahab, emphasised the importance of investment in human capital, which is also one of his many achievements.

Wahab noted that countries that invested more in human capital are more developed than other nations.

He said: “For us in Lagos State, we did not just invest in human capital development, we also invested in technology through our various digital skills programmes in order to prepare our young minds for the 21st-century world – the IT revolution.

“It is also important to note that in the last two years, the Sanwo-Olu administration has awarded over N490m as Bursary to 27,000 students and N499m to 2,801 students across Lagos.

“On behalf of Mr. Governor, we’d like to appreciate the distinguished Senator for this wonderful initiative of complementing the State’s efforts in motivating the students”.

Former Deputy Governor, Abiodun Ogunleye, who chaired the event, commended Abiru , urging other elected leaders to emulate him.

He said the banker-turned politician had taken after his illustrious father, Justice Abiru, who was a senator from Lagos East between 1979 and 1983.

The Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Ojo, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello thanked Abiru for his contributions to the education sector.

Abiru said in partnership with the Fate Foundation, between November 8 and 9, he will train 1,000 Micro Small and Medium Business Owners across the district at a two-day MSME Clinic.

At the event tagged: ‘Doing Good,’ the Senator said young people are at the core of his legislative agenda, adding: “The minimum we can do as leaders and in fidelity with our social contract with the esteemed constituents who majorly fall within this demography is to provide support for their dreams to have the full and maximum expression”.

He added: “I am passionate about ensuring ‘greater good for greater number’. This mantra guides my philosophy and strategy in giving a lease of life to our people as much as is within my power. The tactics to drive home this strategy is encapsulated in the resonating and reassuring ‘Doing Good’ drive.

“One of the major agenda on my social contract with the good people of Lagos East Senatorial District is youth development for global readiness.

“This, I have sought to achieve with multi-dimensional approaches, which include: collaborations; co-creations; funding; infrastructural interventions, capacity building; etc. It is a part of this that has given birth to the annual ‘’Senator Tokunbo Abiru Bursary endowment fund’’ to support and encourage our star students in their respective tertiary Institutions of learning- the reason we are all here today”.

Abiru emphasised that the objective of the scheme is to promote higher qualitative education by supporting brilliant students who are beset with financial challenges.

The Senator said: “In this maiden edition, 600 eligible students across the 98 wards in the 16 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in the Lagos East Senatorial District were shortlisted and screened by the TACT Bursary Advisory Board, which is an independent Committee.

“The board is chaired by an erudite scholar, Dr. Abiodun Fatai-Abatan, a lecturer at the Lagos State University, LASU and comprises of the following eminent scholars; Dr. Abiodun Okedeyi, Dr. Gabriel Benson, Mr. Peter Oluwo, Dr. Muritala Seriki, Lekan Biliaminu-Oba, Mr. Segun Anifowoshe and Dr. Saheed Ibikunle

“I want to appreciate the board for conducting the selection process in a most competitive and merit-based manner.”

Abiru promised that the bursary scheme has come to stay, urging them to focus on their studies.

The senator tendered his achievements in the last 10 months, saying: “Our strides in terms of providing effective representation for our people have been phenomenal in the last 10 months in the saddle. I won’t bore you with details that are unnecessary for now.

“However, in fulfillment of our promise during the electioneering campaign to provide financial supports for widows, physically challenged persons, unemployed youths and others who were most impacted by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, about 2500 people have been benefitting from this scheme which took off this January and will terminate in December”.

Abiru said at the heat of the pandemic in February 2021, 150, 000 facemasks were donated to primary school pupils in the senatorial district through the Lagos State Universal Basic Board (LASUBEB).

He also disclosed that the fully-equipped ultra-modern four-blocks of twenty-four classrooms and sixteen toilets facilitated to Aga Primary School have been completed to enhance a conducive learning environment.

Abiru added: “We are also concerned about upskilling our youth to be relevant in the job and entrepreneurship spaces. In partnership with Co-Creation Hub, CcHub, Africa’s leading innovation hub space, we are setting a Community Innovation Centre in our district.

“This concept will leverage on social capital and technology in accelerating economic prosperity for our teeming youth population. It will be up and running in a few months from now.”

Abiru spoke on the Copyright Act Repeal and Re-enactment Bill, 2021, which he co-sponsored to create a better rewarding system for the creativity of the youth in technological space and allied creative sectors.

READ ALSO: Council gives bursaries to students

Acknowledging the import of innovation, he said:”It is not enough to create enabling environment for our youths to dream, their ideas and ingenuities must equally be protected and allowed to translate into economic prosperity. “The creators, Innovators and Inventors amongst our youth MUST be effectively safeguarded. This was my motivation for championing the repeal and reenactment of the Copyright Act.”

The Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Ojo, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello thanked Abiru for his contributions to the education sector.

The co-founder of the Flutterwave Tech Company, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, commended Abiru for investing in the youth.

He said it takes a man with foresight like Abiru to know that the currency of the time is knowledge.

He said: “Technology is shaping the economy. Over the last 50 years, our country has been sharing proceeds from oil but unfortunately, the world is fast-changing

“Renewable energy has become more attractive. The like the electric car is gaining more traction by the day

“The largest Foreign Direct Investment flowing into the country is flowing towards technology.

“Softbank, a Japanese multinational conglomerate invested $200m in Andela.

“Abiru has a foresight that is why he is investing in the youths”.

He also commended Abiru for adopting a progressive approach to politics.

Also at the event were members of the Governance Adversary Council-Chief Olorunfunmi Basorun and Senator Anthony Adefuye-Rector Lagos State Polytechnic, Dr. Oluremi Nurudeen Olaleye, and House Representatives members Jimi Benson and Rotimi Agunloye, council chairmen, monarchs and community leaders.

A Court in the Adamawa State capital, Yola, has remanded an Education Secretary and four other persons for allegedly diverting 800 bags meant for school children.

The Criminal Area Court II in Yola remanded the Education Secretary of Mubi South Local Government Area, Jibrilla Babale, and four other individuals for allegedly diverting the 800 bags donated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for pupils in public schools in Mubi South and Mubi North LGAs.

Those the court remanded along with Jibrila Babale include the UNICEF Coordinator of Distribution for Mubi South and Mubi North LGAs, Mustapha Mohammed as well as Musa Mahmud, Aliyu Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya.

The five were charged to court by the Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Barde, on charge of criminal conspiracy, breach of official trust and receiving of stolen property.

CP Barde, who is being represented in the case by Inspector Boyom Alex, told the Court that a team of operatives attached to State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) Yola, led by Abraham Adamu, apprehended the suspects following a tipoff in connection to the alleged crime on the 14th and 16th of October, 2021, respectively.

READ ALSO: Court orders release of Odili’s passport

Jibrilla, said to have been officially entrusted with UNICEF school bags to be distributed to pupils in public schools free of charge, allegedly diverted 800 pieces which he gave to the UNICEF Distribution Co-ordinator, Mustapha Mohammed, who in turn sold some to Musa Mahmud of Mubi North at N330, 000.

The prosecutor said Musa Mahmud later sold the bags to Aliyu Mohammed and Mohammed Yahaya at N420, 000, “while knowing fully well that the bags were provided to be distributed free of charge and not sold to anyone.”

When the First Information Report (FIR) was read and explained to the defendants they all pleaded not guilty.

The Counsel to all the defendants, T. U. Danjuma, prayed the Court to admit all his clients to bail, saying that the defendants had given assurances that they would neither jump bail nor interfere in the ongoing investigation.

Responding, the prosecuting officer objected to the application filed by the Defence Counsel, saying that their operatives are out there to get others arrested and that granting them bail will jeopardise their effort.

Ruling, the presiding Judge, Hon. Musa Nuhu Garta, ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody, and adjourned the case to 1st November, 2021 for further hearing.