Category: Education

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been sounding warning of an impending strike again.  Students are not looking forward to it.  However the union insists it is for good reports, KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE, OLUWATOYOSI ADEGEYE and TIMOTHY ISHOLA.

Since July, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been threatening to go on strike.  It is for no other reason than the non-implementation of the 2009 Agreement between the union and the Federal Government and the Memorandum of Understanding and Memorandum of Actions that issued from it over the years.

Last December, ASUU called off a strike that had lasted nine months over the same demands.  The Federal  Government promised to implement the nine demands immediately from January.  However, nine months later, only two of the demands have been implemented.  The union is therefore threatening to down tools again.

The reason for strikes since 2009 has been the non-implementation of the said agreement – something students and their parents are tired of.  This is particularly so this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted the academic calendar for most of last year.  Many schools are yet to recover from the disruption.

Jesse Dike-Bernard, a 400-Level student of Mathematics, Federal University of Technology Owerri said he felt both parties were playing with his future.

He said “I feel they are playing with our future.  It is a norm now.  Every year we go on a forced vacation because of this issue. It is sad because the strike would definitely kill dreams. I am supposed to be in finals by now but I am still in 400 Level because they do not take education seriously in Nigeria.” He added: “Both ASUU and the Federal Government are selfish.  You cannot jeopardise the educational system because of money .They don’t think because their kids don’t go to our schools. All the money ASUU gets where does it go too? We don’t know.”

Abdullateef Barakat a student of the University of Abuja lamented the time wasted during strike lasts and its effects on students.

“The strike causes delay and wastage of time. Not everyone is happy with where they are staying during their studies.  Strike just prolongs the suffering. The last nine-month strike was not productive for me at all,” he said.

Okere Caleb of Enugu State University of Science annd Technology said should ASUU go on strike, it would affect students in so many ways, including lethargy for studies and disruption of the academic calendar “which usually results in rush of activities when we finally resume to meet up with the normal education curriculum.”

Okebiorun Mercy, a mathematics student at the University of Nigeria Nsukka said the strike would extend her stay in school. “I should have been done with my degree this year. Because of the COVID-  19 and ASUU strike, I am currently in 300-Level.  It is so saddening,” she said.

However, Oluwabukunmi Akintunde, a 200-Level student of the University of Lagos does not think ASUU is selfish about strikes. She believes the government should meet their demands .

“ I cannot say the strike does not bother me because it does but who am I to complain when they are yet to pay the people who will add knowledge to our lives? I feel ASUU is not being self-centered. Prices of things increase every day in Nigeria; they need to be paid. So I do not blame them; I blame the Federal Government for not meeting their demands. It is either the government pays or we student stop paying school fees and we begin to protest,” she said.

For Daniel Ifeanyi a 300-Level student of FUTO, ASUU’s demands should not be too hard for the Federal Government to implement.

“Yes we are affected but if you actually look into it what they demand are the basic things; therefore Federal Government should be able to meet their needs.  Also ASUU should consider the students in everything they do,” he said.

 

ASUU justifies demands, strike

Though many students feel like the grass trampled upon when the two elephants, ASUU and the Federal Government fight, members of the union said they do not enjoy going on strike.

Coordinator of the ASUU-Lagos Zone, Comrade Adelaja Odukoya, said that members of the union suffer during strikes as well.

During a press briefing held at the UNILAG-ASUU secretariat on Tuesday, Odukoya highlighted the negative effects of strike on lecturers.

“Like our students, we suffer tremendously as a consequence of any strike action.  Industrial actions affect us in more ways than one – as parents who have children in Nigerian public universities; as lecturers who cannot ply their trade, denied their salaries during strikes while they continue doing their non- teaching duties of research and community development; stalled promotions; disruption of their planned professional activities such as workshops, seminars, conferences etc. that are indispensable for their career advancements; and extended semesters to make up for lost time which makes annual vacation impossible and imposes stress on our members.”

Read Also: FG forcing us to resume strike – ASUU

Odukoya added that strikes were difficult to prosecute.

“People think we enjoy strike.  What the average chairman hates the most is a strike action.  We do not like it.  You know why? Your best friend may be your enemy during the strike . It is difficult to prosecute but it is a patriotic duty we owe ourselves and that is the only way we have salvaged the Nigerian University system,” he said.

If pushed to the wall, like it is currently happening with the government failing to match its words with actions, then, he said ASUU was not afraid of strike.

“We do not want to go on strike but we are not afraid to do so,” he said, flailing the Federal Government for meeting only two out of nine demands it agreed with the union.

“We are saying we are being pushed to the wall.  What we are doing is sensitising the government and calling its attention to its own misdeeds.  The Minister of Labour said they have actually met some of the demands.  We had about nine issues when we went on strike.  Two could be said to have been met.  When you have an examination, two over nine is a total failure,” he said.

Responding to whether ASUU strikes have been effective over the years, Dr. Akinloye Oyewunmi, of the Lagos State University (LASU) branch, said but for ASUU fighting for demands, nothing would have been left of universities.

“Without these struggles, there would be nothing left of universities in Nigeria. Our skins are used to struggle. To some of us, we enjoy it,” he said.

Odukoya added that it was because of ASUU that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) was established and has become a major source of funds for infrastructural development, research, and training for not only universities but other tertiary institutions in Nigeria from an education tax collected from private sector firms.

Showing the picture of a beautiful edifice on his phone, he said: “You think it is Afe Babalola University? That is Kwara State University.  That is the proceeds of TETFund.  It is our struggle. That building costs N3 billion. Ninety-five per cent of structures in that university, are TETFund structures. Go to Gombe State University; go all over the country, particularly our state universities; go to Akungba; go to Bayero; go to OAU…and somebody will say the strike does not pay.

 

What ASUU is fighting for

Odukoya said ASUU wants the Federal Government to replace the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) with the ASUU-developed University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS); implement the condition of service reviewed since 2012; and renegotiate the 2009 Agreement, among others.

Regarding UTAS, Odukoya said the government was purposely hindering the adoption of the software which they claim is better than IPPIS.

Throwing more light on the hindrances ASUU had faced despite the government’s promises to adopt the software, national treasurer of the union, Prof. Olusiji Sobande, said NITDA, the agency saddled with the responsibility of scrutinising the software had failed to get in touch despite ASUU successfully demonstrating its use to stakeholders.

He said: “Once they made that pronouncement that the issue was actually with us; which they had not told us until we had that meeting, we conducted that stakeholders’ acceptability test within one week and NITDA was present. There are certain key areas in their questionnaire that we did not even know about, like ‘were the users able to log in?’, ‘were they able to use the facility?’, ‘was it functional?’

“All those were clearly taken care of during that process and all the stakeholders present actually gave pass mark to the software.

“Our expectation was that after that test within a very short time, there would be a pronouncement as to what is the outcome of the test.  Up till now we have not gotten any responses,” he said.

However, following the demonstration, Sobande said the Federal Government adopted a feature of UTAS, its ability to be operable from any institution, for IPPIS.

With the continued use of IPPIS, Odukoya said the Federal Government was centralising corruption.  He lamented that for about a year under IPPIS, the government had failed to remit check-off dues of ASUU members to the union’s account.

“For over one year now, the government through IPPIS has implemented a deliberate policy of systematically strangulating our great union by denying us our check-off dues which payment is now at the whims and caprices of IPPIS.  Our union is being owed billions in unremitted check-off dues, in addition to third party deductions like cooperative contributions. It is important to point out that government more than anyone else should know that the non-remittance of deducted check-off dues according to the Trade Union Act is a criminal act,” he said.

Regarding the union’s demands that the government commit funds for the development of universities’ infrastructure, Odukoya said the Federal Government was doing it illegally – dipping into TETFund funds.  He said: “TETFund is not government money.  It is from the private sector.”

The lecturer said it was imperative for the public to note the government’s insincerity in meeting its demands nine months after the last strike so they are not surprised should the Union resume its strike.

“To be consistent on the side of history, we are again expressing our frustration at the depressing arrogance with which government has continued to wish away the collective sacrifice of our members, our students and their parents on these struggles.  That the government after six months, true to character, has again failed to fulfil most of what was agreed upon well after the timelines have expired, is scandalous and underscored the government contempt to the Nigerian academics and its pathological hatred for knowledge and the educational development of Nigerians,” he said.

 

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

The need to integrate indigenous languages with digital education resources in promoting literacy skills has prompted stakeholders in the education sector to seek public-private partnership to make the resources available to learners.

This was the focus of discussions during the August edition of Ed-tech Monday – an initiative of Mastercard Foundation in partnership with CcHub Limited.

The virtual discussion with theme: “Access to Digital resources” featured discussants from different segments of the education industry.

Founder,  Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative, Mr. Gideon Olanrewaju noted that a lack of digital skills and non-access to digital resources were major challenges affecting digital learning in Nigeria.

He said while developed countries had adopted strategies such as the flip classroom method, the lack of access to digital resources was limiting the adoption of forward-looking strategies that enhance learning locally.

“The foundation of learning which begins with comprehension skills has been affected due to failure of educators at both private and public sectors to adopt languages best understood by the students. As you are aware, if the children are unable to have such foundational skills, it would be very difficult for them to access or use the knowledge that is obtainable from digital resources,” Olanrewaju said.

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He enjoined government and educators to employ the use of indigenous languages in teaching students. He further urged the government and stakeholders to invest in community-level infrastructural development to end the problem of access.

Airing his views, the Digital Content and Innovation Manager, Airtel Networks Limited, Bankole Alao noted that connectivity remained a huge barrier to the adoption of digital learning in Nigeria especially with the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the solution to the challenge lies in the readiness of stakeholders to collaborate in creating the right content and bringing technological solutions while making devices affordable and available.

“In tackling the problem of connectivity, we must adopt a strategy based on collaboration where all stakeholders agree on what the right content should be while considering the connectivity and affordability of the devices. This means that, if we are looking at solving the problem, we can begin to look at the primary school level. Once we are done, we are then rest assured that those who are going to secondary school have the right foundation”, he said.

Also speaking, Kayode Akinwale, a member of Virtual Learning Teachers noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has further proven how effective and valuable technology can be in aiding digital learning not only among the pupils but also the parents. Akinwale identified connectivity cost, poor power supply, limited understanding of digital resources by students, teachers and cost of digital devices as major barriers which need to be overcome in Nigeria to guarantee equitable access to digital resources for the students. One key issue which needs to be tackled is the problem of affordability both for connectivity and devices, Networks providers can also provide free access to learning platforms just as it is done by Facebook”, he added.

 

By Oluwatoyosi Adegeye

The Human Development Initiatives (HDI) held its highly anticipated ‘Day out with the HDI Beneficiaries’ where vulnerable children and those living with disabilities were given educational support materials.

Executive Director, HDI, Mrs. Olufunso Owasanoye, said the Nonprofit supports the less privileged in the society by giving educational items that will ease learning. Items such as Braille machine, wheelchairs, laptops, typewriter, digital recorder, guide cane, school bags, exercise books, textbooks, sandals, socks and mathematical sets for the new 2021/2022 academic session.

The event was organised with the support of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Provide a meal Nigeria and others.

Mrs. Owasanoye explained that the Human Development Initiatives-Education Trust Fund (HDI-ETF) foundation is an extension of the NGO set up to address the plight of widow, orphans and special children, many of whom are highly prone to dropping out of school as a result of their challenges or parent or guardian’s inability to meet their educational needs.

She said “It is obvious Government alone cannot meet the educational needs of these children. This initiative is a way of supporting the government to reduce out-of-school children. This foundation therefore supports the education of selected beneficiaries from nursery, primary and secondary schools to tertiary institutions, based on consistent good behaviour and academic performance of the beneficiaries”.

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Mrs. Owasanoye thanked donors, sponsors and those who support the scheme despite the hard times.

She also thanked Lagos State government for its efforts in ensuring standard and quality education for all children in the state.

She advised the beneficiaries not to take the scholarship for granted and urged them to be of good behaviour, and prayerful.

Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Joke Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs. Bola Banjo, in a keynote speech commended the act of charity by HDI and its sponsors which focuses on giving hope to the vulnerable.

She further thanked HDI for coming up with the progressive and thoughtful intervention for the less privileged.

Chairman of the day, Mrs. Oluwole Familoni  in a goodwill message advised the beneficiaries to use whatever they got well.

 

• Seek nod for security outfits to carry licensed guns

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

The non- teaching staff of public universities have warned the Federal Government that growing insecurity may increase the number of out-of-school children in the country.

The public university workers, under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), condemned the increase in insecurity across the country, especially the incessant abductions/demand for ransom and killings of students and staff of secondary and tertiary institutions by bandits, especially in the Northern part of the country.

In a communique issued at the end of its 40th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Nasarawa State University, Keffi, the union called on the Federal Government to strengthen the security agencies to ensure effective tackling of this “monstrous menace.”

The group also called on the Federal Government to give approval of licences to security outfits in all institutions of learning to bear firearms in order to adequately checkmate security threats and criminal incursions.

Part of the communique signed by SSANU National President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, reads: “NEC in session condemns in strong terms, the absurd and unabated increase in insecurity across the country, especially the incessant abductions/demand for ransom and killings of students and staff of secondary and tertiary institutions by bandits, especially in the Northern part of the country.

“The recent invasion of the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna was a National embarrassment and disgrace, indicating a total collapse of the security architecture of the country. This dangerous dimension has forced several states to shut down schools in violence-prone areas.

“This will no doubt, add to the over 13.5millions out of school children in Nigeria today. From all indications, this is a great threat to the educational system, bearing in mind that the economic growth of any nation directly depends on the level of her educational standard and stability.

Read Also: NGO supports out-of-school pupils with tuition-free enrolment, school materials

“NEC therefore, calls on the Federal Government to urgently stem this ugly tide by vigorously strengthening the security agencies to ensure effective tackling of this monstrous menace. Furthermore, relevant enforceable laws should be enacted to curb this savagery.

“NEC also strongly canvasses for Government’s approval of licences for security outfits in all institutions of learning to bear firearms in order to adequately checkmate these security threats and criminal incursions.”

Speaking on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the union frowned against the shoddy and lopsided implementation of some core components of the payment platform.

“Specifically, Hazard and other Earned Allowances that are yet to be fully implemented in the monthly salaries of our members as earlier agreed. Granted that implementation of the allowances has commenced, it is rather surprising that they are scandalously captured.

“Government is therefore earnestly urged to stabilise the mode of salary payment vide IPPIS and immediately commence the payment of Hazard, Responsibility, Excess workload, overtime, and others alongside monthly salaries without further delay,” the communique reads.

The university workers also expressed concerns about the alleged reluctance of some Federal/State Governments to implement the new national minimum wage and its accumulated arrears.

It urged the Federal Government to pay the arrears of New Minimum Wage as previously agreed in the Memorandum of Agreement.

The university workers enjoined States and the Federal Government to effect payment of the long overdue arrears of the minimum wage which has lost value due to the high rate of inflation currently experienced in the country.

On the issue of re-negotiating the 2009 FGN/SSANU Agreement, the union said: “NEC was briefed that the exercise would soon commence after it was halted last year as a result of Covid-19.  Government’s Committee for the purpose was expecting a date from the SSANU/NASU delegation.

“Consequently, a date to kick start the re-negotiation exercise would soon be communicated to Government after all logistics had been put in place.

“NEC urges government to show sincere commitment to the course of the exercise when it eventually takes off, bearing in mind that same agreement was entered over a decade ago and ought to have been re-negotiated twice.”

End

The members of the Board of Trustees of the Association of Private Polytechnics in Nigeria held their first meeting at the Conference Hall of Oduduwa Polytechnic, Lagos last Friday.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Association and the first Nigerian to establish a private polytechnic in the country, Dr. Abdulrahaman Adedoyin advised on the roles and responsibilities of the board of trustees.

These roles and responsibilities include – providing the association with sound governance, fiduciary and strategic oversight, and direction, overseeing the operations of the association, ensuring that the public’s trust is upheld, the mission addresses a community need, the practices are ethical and all legal requirements are met.

He added that the board is also responsible for assuring the financial integrity and solvency of the association and establishing procedures to safeguard the association from fraud and risk.

The chairman, caretaker committee of the association and proprietor of The Polytechnic, Igbo-Owu, Kwara State, Dr. Moses Adeyemi gave a highlight of the work done by the committee since it was inaugurated.

Read Also: Students jittery over impending ASUU strike

Part of the achievements recorded, according to him were; the introduction of the Association to the Central Bank of Nigeria-CBN, Federal Ministry of Education-FME, National Communication Commission-NCC and Tertiary Education Trust Fund-TETFund among others.

He also intimated the members of the developments and headways they made in the abolishment of the HND/B.Sc. dichotomy as well as the inclusion of private institutions as beneficiaries of TETFund as well as the registration of the association with the Corporate Affairs Commission among other achievements.

Also speaking at the meeting, the proprietor of Bilmor Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof Abimbola Morakinyo made a call for the review of the current constitution of the association. He suggested that the five-man caretaker committee be given a month to go back and complete their work.

In attendance at the meeting were; the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the association and the proprietor of The Polytechnic, Ife, His Royal Eminence, Dr Abdulrahaman Adegoke Atobatele Adedoyin, five-man caretaker committee of the association and proprietor of The Polytechnic, Igbo-Owu, Kwara State, Dr. Moses Adeyemi, the proprietor of Bilmor Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof Abimbola Morakinyo, Dr Emmanuel Ekott of Heritage Polytechnic and Mrs. Oluwakemi Fanimokun.

 

By Adamu Suleiman, Sokoto

National President, Nigeria Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) and Wife of the Chief of Army Staff, Mrs. Salamatu Yahaya has laid the foundation stone for the construction of a block of six classrooms at the Giginya Barracks Nursery and Primary School, Sokoto.

Mrs. Yahaya presented sets of furniture and vocational training items to the barracks.

She said the drive was to boost opportunities for barracks communities and the less privileged in the society.

She explained that it was cardinal to extend hands of friendship by enhancing developmental initiatives that would support human survival in many respects of legitimate pursuits.

“All these are tailored at ensuring both the education of our children and women empowerment are assured and protected,” she said.

Mrs Yahaya who earlier inspected the school’s building, explained that education was an important instrument of attaining progress for development, noting that it was also necessary to give children the opportunity to acquire knowledge as a build up to knowledge independence and dream for self actualisation in their endeavours.

Read Also: NGO supports out-of-school pupils with tuition-free enrolment, school materials

“NAOWA is desirous of building and strengthening avenues towards effective collaboration with relevant governments, agencies and associations in order to enhance the quality of lives for the less privileged,” she said.

However, she solicited the support of governments, agencies and related organs in driving the responsive course for the benefit of the society.

The President presented assorted food items and cooking oil to 120 widows who lost their husbands as a result of insurgency and other accidental occurrences while in active service.

Similarly, She extended same gesture to Lugga Tsara community and wives of soldiers in the barracks.

Earlier in her welcome address, Chairperson Sokoto NAOWA Chapter, Mrs Glory Bassey commended the National President for her giant steps towards sustaining the tempo of infrastructural development in the barracks community where challenges of infrastructure was needing attention.

She added” I am optimistic that your steps symbolises good omen . We are glad to have functional secretariats and vocational centre that will drive the basic needs of the barracks community”, pointed out Bassey.

 

Chrisland schools graduated a total of 278 students in a joint ceremony across four of its branches which include Chrisland College Idimu, Chrisland High School VGC, Chrisland High School Ikeja and Chrisland High School Abuja.

The class of 2021 valedictory service with the theme: “Destined for Greatness and Distinction” held virtually on  September 3, 2021.

According to the management, this year’s theme was crafted to inspire the students to excel in life.

The graduation ceremony opened with a fellowship session which was officiated by prominent clerics, Dr Ishmail Akinlade Jimoh (JP), Senior Research fellow and Former Acting Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan; Reverend Professor, Dapo Folorunsho Asaju, Professor of Theology, Lagos State University and Former Vice Chancellor Bishop Ajayi Crowther Memorial University.

The clerics commended and congratulated the teachers and management of Chrisland for their effort in giving their best into the development of the students which has in turn prepared them for the next stage of their lives.

Guest speaker of the day, Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development also charged the students to live up to the theme as they navigate the journey of life through the pursuit of excellence in higher institutions across the globe.

“Today you have all grown up to be bold and young adults ready to take on society. For you to achieve that dream, “destined for greatness and distinction”, you must be committed to following the rules of life anchored on integrity, hard work. So, success is observing and sustaining a high standard of integrity in life and not caving into a negative peer or social pressure by following  what others are doing.”

Read Also: SUBEB partners task force for Lagos schools safety

Ogah also urged them to retain memories and lessons from Chrisland school which will help in their journey through life.

“The good thing today is that the social media platforms provide you with an opportunity to keep friendships alive. I therefore, enjoin you to always stay in touch, share experiences, task and challenges in life in your group chats for this friendship when every other thing fails, will never fail you.”

Speaking also to the graduating students, Mrs Ibironke Olatokunbo Adeyemi, Managing Director, Chrisland Schools, said that the school is proud of their commitment to learning even in the face of the pandemic.

“Members of the Class of 2021, I commend your resilient and indomitable spirit, which saw you through, especially during the period your learning was disrupted and the modality was changed for a while. I commend your zeal and courage to adapt quickly, even as you had to work tirelessly and assiduously to adequately prepare for your final examination.”

“Once again, I congratulate the class of 2021, a very special and unique set. You have been role models. You have brought honour to the school; you have represented the school in so many ways, going out for competitions and bringing back laurels. Thank you for being worthy ambassadors.” she said.

“As you are about to embark on the next stage of your journeys, we reflect with pride on all the time that we have spent, along with your families, preparing you for an exhilarating and successful future,”she said.

In attendance were local management of each school, Chrisland College Idimu, Chrisland VGC, Chrisland High School Ikeja and Chrisland High School Abuja, led by their respective principals and vice-principals, parents and students of Chrisland Schools.

 

•VC: It will address infrastructure deficits

By Shola O’Neill,  Port Harcourt

Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and its JV partners have delivered the first phase of a $5 million infrastructural project to the Nigeria Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko, Warri, Delta State.

The country chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of SPDC, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, during the inauguration and handing over of three lecture auditoria, among others, said the projects included furnished 220 combined seating capacity auditoria, eight classrooms, 14 office spaces, with projector systems, as well as a solar powered water system for the university community.

He said: “SPDC and its Joint Venture partners embarked on providing these facilities to the Nigeria Maritime University, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the university in March 2019, to help close the gap in facilities available to the university, when it was established in February 2018 by the National Universities Commission.

“In the MoU, SPDC JV committed to spend $5 million to support infrastructural development in the Nigeria Maritime University; development as determined in order of priority by the university and phased over three years.

Read Also: Students jittery over impending ASUU strike

“This donation builds on a long history of the SPDC JV’s contribution to improve access to quality education in Delta State, the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.,” he added.

Okunbor said SPDC had sponsored professorial chair and other projects for Federal University of Petroleum Resources, as well as committed $7.7 million in scholarships, while more than 9,500 secondary school and around 6,000 university grants have been awarded to students since 2011.

The Shell MD further thanked the former vice chancellor of the school, Professor Ongoebi Etebu Maureen, who signed the MoU that kick-started the project, as well as the community, people and government of Delta State for their support.

Replying, vice chancellor of NMU, Prof. Emmanuel Munakurogha Adigio, noted that the donations will address “infrastructural deficits” facing the institution.

He stressed the need for other stakeholders, including oil companies, to join in providing infrastructures for the school, which he remarked “is of strategic importance to the socio-economic growth of this country”.

According to him, despite obvious limitations, the maritime university has continued “to grow, in fame, integrity, content, research and scholarship,” among others.

He commended the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and other stakeholders for the school’s establishment and continued support.

In a goodwill message, the Registrar of the university, Dr Alfred Mulade, reechoed the call for more infrastructural support for the school.

 

By Victoria Amadi and Princess Okafor

Youths of Obalende South Ikoyi, Lagos State are happy with  the Lagos Achievers Lions  Club.

About 50 of them have received some  basic entrepreneurship training  organised by the  club in affiliation with Lagos Achievers Leo Club.

The initiative is borne out of concern to engage 50 youths within Obalende into either of these four skills: cabinet making, graphic design, soap making and small chops.

The major idea behind the two-day  project is to train youths in life skills that would make them stand out among other competitors.

The chairperson for the Lagos Achievers Lions Club, Abayomi Adetola, in an interview, said that the organisation had given an opportunity to four youths who participated in the two-day programme for financial backup covering the four businesses of the skills learnt. Four business names would be registered with FCMB. The company names would also be registered with Corporate Affairs Commission. The club is magnanimous enough to start up these accounts with  (N15,000) each.

Mr. Yusuff Adeniji, the programme facilitator said: “Your business is your life. It is you and you are your business. If you do not want failure, do not go near failure. We have to re-energise ourselves for the system to work  Hence, the youth are the main focus to galvanise  productivity in our nation’’.

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This move was a synergy between  two clubs; The Lagos Achievers Lions Club and  Lagos Achievers Leo Club. Lagos Achievers Lions Club is the parent body while Lagos Achievers Leo Club is the youth wing of the former. The latter is a platform built to engage the youth in a fun-like way to ensure that they also understand the need to serve their community in their little ways.

Leo Blessing Odjegba Onome and Leo King Dolapo Moshood, among other participants of the training, testified of the need to have at most a handiwork.

“Handiwork cannot deceive one. We can use our hand to do anything,”Leo King Dolapo said.”

The Regional Director of Academics Rhoda Odigboh, said: “Knowing that we are supporting children to excel in our country inspires those working at Bridge each and every day.

“Now, with three years of successful results we are confident that what we are doing in the underserved communities of Lagos and Osun states is working, and this motivates us to work even harder and impact more children. A good education will give children the opportunity to change their future and hopefully the future of the community and Nigeria at large. Every child deserves that.”