The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • 50 get overseas scholarship

    50 get overseas scholarship

    Fifty of the 500 graduates who applied for an overseas scholarship scheme sponsored by a lawmaker Hon. Ossy Prestige have been selected.

    One of the criteria required that the candidates must be resident in the Aba North and South constituencies which Prestige represents at the House of Representatives.

    The gesture is organised by the lawmaker’s Youth Empowerment Scholarship Scheme.

    The successful candidates from various universities and polytechnics in Nigeria will study for their Master’s degree in any European universities of their choice free of charge.

    Mr. George Ezeikpe, the Director General, Ossy Prestige Foundation, said the lawmaker will also fund  their feeding, accommodation and tuition.

    Ezeikpe stressed that the 50 students were chosen by merit.

    Addressing the successful candidates, Hon. Prestige congratulated the candidates, warning against truancy or absconding from the programme.

    He said that  sending them abroad for studies was to acquire and transfer the knowledge to their host communities and state except those that their host countries may wish to offer employment after graduation.

    Prestige was optimistic that by the end of his first  four years at the National Assembly, he would have sponsored over 200 graduates.

    “I want to say congratulations to all of you. If you remember the day you were taking the exams, I was there briefly to encourage everybody to work hard because what we are doing is something that has to do with the ability of you to prove yourself. It is a very simply thing for me to sit in the comfort of my parlour to write names of those to send overseas for their degree programmes. I am sure that out of 55 or more of you here, I may not be able to know up to three persons among you, which means that it is truly by merit. There was no influence from anywhere and I never influenced anything because I wanted the best to emerge.

    “I had over 1000 phone calls from friends and relatives, even associates on one choice or the other, but I said NO, that it was going to be purely on merit. And why I want it to be on merit is that I want to encourage those who are actually working hard; those who knows the importance of education but doesn’t have the means from their various families to better their education.

    “I am sure that, there is no relation of mine that I can’t take care of, but there are some who have this certificate but do not have anyone that would train them further in their education because there is no means.

    “So, I want you to see yourself as very lucky to have come through this very particular process. It is not all about going to the overseas to study. If God has given you this opportunity, you should use it very well and make the best out of it. We want to develop people and it is based on one of the promises I have made during my campaign that, one key area I will do my best is on human capital development.”

     

  • Agony on Abakaliki-Afikpo Road

    Agony on Abakaliki-Afikpo Road

    The agony on Abakaliki-Afikpo Road persists, leaving motorists and commuters groaning. The road has become virtually impassable.

    Speaking to The Nation, a commercial bus driver, Mr Lawrence Eze lamented the inability of the Federal Government to complete the road.  He said a journey on the road which usually took 45 minutes now takes between one and a half hours and two hours.

    He said:” We spend more on fuel and repairs on our cars because of the bad road”.

    A passenger, Mrs Cecilia Otu, urged the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to immediately start remedial work on the road to help reduce the suffering of commuters pending when the federal government will complete the road.

    A few years back, contracts were awarded for the construction of the road by the Federal Ministry of Works to two companies. While the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) was awarded the portion from Afikpo to Abaomege, an indigenous company, UNIGLOBE, was awarded the section from Abakaliki to Onueke. Both sections have since been completed.

    Curiously and disappointingly, the middle section from Abomege in Onicha Local Government Area to Onueke in Ezza South Local Government Area of the State Onueke was abandoned by the federal government.

    This section which has since become a death trap to road users is what is causing lots of pain.

    At the height of the rainy season, that section was impassable as many trucks usually break down on the road, blocking the road and trapping road  users who are forced to navigate dangerous pathways though the villages.

    The villagers also capitalize on this by erecting emergency toll gates and levying taxes of between N200 to N1000 on the drivers before you are allowed passage.

    A bus driver of Imo State Transport Company (ITC) who gave his name as Okey Emmanuel complained bitterly on the deplorable state of the road.

    “My brother, that portion is very bad; it slows us down each time we are driving to our destination. The federal government should quickly award that road if they have not done so, because it is posing serious threat to road users.

    “Each time, I am driving through that spot at night, I hold my heart in my hands; armed robbers can easily attack and rob any vehicle without any restriction from security operatives in the area. That spot is very bad”.

    He wondered why the federal government will award contracts for both ends of the road and leave the middle section unattended.

    “Their action defeats the purpose of the road construction as one can’t get the maximum satisfaction of plying the road.”

    The gullies on the roads are so deep that most cars which ply the road are often sent to the mechanics for repairs.

    Mr James Nweke, who lives within the axis of the road, complained how commuters would leave the bad spot and navigate through family compounds because of the state of the road.

    He called on the Federal government to expedite action adding that the completion of the road would add aesthetic value to it and further give commuters confidence to ply the road.

    Meanwhile, Ebonyi State House of Assembly summoned the Director of Federal Ministry of Works in the state over the deplorable state of Abakaliki-Afikpo highway which it said has led to carnages on the road.

    Moving a motion under matters of urgent public importance, the member representing Afikpo North-West constituency and Deputy Leader of the House, Hon. Kingsley Ikoro said the road has become impassible and has disconnected the Southern part of the state from the capital city and the neighbouring states of Enugu, Cross River, Abia and others.

    He called on state government through the ministry of works to intervene on the road by providing palliative measures to reduce frequent road crashes on the road.

    He maintained that as an agrarian state, transportation of farm produce from that part of the state to the capital city has become difficult following the deplorable state of the road.

    Hon. Nkemka Okoro representing Afikpo south-west who seconded the motion corroborated the need for urgent repair of the road to douse the sufferings of the people that ply the road on daily basis.

    Other lawmakers who spoke including Chris Usulor representing Ezza South state constituency aligned themselves to the timely and urgency of the motion.

    Hon Usulor said the situation becomes worrisome especially given the fact that the it is already ember months and the festive period of yuletide is fast approaching when more vehicular traffic is to be witnessed on the road.

    The Speaker, Hon. Ogbonnaya Nwifuru after listening to the contributions of the lawmakers urged the state government through the ministry of works to immediately embark on emergency repair on the road to alleviate the sufferings of those who use the road.

    He directed the House committee on works to invite the Federal Ministry of works in the state to assess the level of work done on the road and the cause of delay in its completion.

  • Relief in Anambra as federal roads come alive

    Relief in Anambra as federal roads come alive

    From the depths of despair, residents are starting to savour the joys of smooth roads. NWANOSIKE ONU reports that the people have the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to thank for it

    The casualty statistics is grim. In the last 10 years no fewer than 136 people have died on the roads, said a driver. Others recalled that an uncountable number of vehicles have been damaged on the poor roads. Then consider the sheer agony of farmers and traders moving from one location to another.

    Federal roads in Anambra State have been in such disrepair that those who travel on them simply gave up hope.

    Now, that hope has returned, thanks to the Federal Road maintenance Agency (FERMA). The agency’s intervention in the state is said to be massive, giving the people hope to live again.

    Before now, road accidents on the deplorable federal roads in the state had reached an alarming state, with all the federal roads including the Onitsha-Enugu expressway impassable.

    One of the drivers in the state, 46 year old Chukwubuike Okoye told The Nation that in the past 10 years, no fewer than 136 lives had been lost on those roads through accidents.

    Some of these federal roads in Anambra state which had suffered neglect included Awka-Ekwlubia road, Oba-Nnewi road, Nnewi-Arondizuogu-Okigwe Road and the Onitsha-Enugu expressway among others.

    For the past 30 years, the Oba-Nnewi-Okigwe road had been neglected by the successive federal governments, while the Onitsha-Enugu expressway had become a past tense to the residents.

    But last week, FERMA began rehabilitation of some of those roads to alleviate the sufferings of the road users for the ember months as Christmas is fast approaching.

    Already, the agency had moved its equipment to Ekwulobia, Nnewi and Onitsha to fix the roads, especially, those critical ones.

    The director of Public Works of FERMA, Abuja headquarters who visited Anambra to kick-start the programme, Mr. Godson Chimezie Amos, an engineer, said all the sections that had dangerous potholes must be recovered.

    He said he was in the state to ensure that deplorable roads were given adequate attention and rehabilitation to meet specified standard.

    Amos lamented the high rate of accidents recorded during ember months nationwide, adding that the federal government under the president Muhammadu Buhari administration was out to get it right this time around, the reason according to him for the massive intervention by (FERMA).

    He went round the roads with the South East zonal coordinator, Mr. Rufus Onimisi and the road maintenance engineer in Awka, George Francis Usoroh to assess the damage caused by erosion in some of the roads.

    Another residents, Mrs. Onome Nwajiaku, told The Nation that what FERMA was doing was a way of wiping away the tears of the road users in the state.

    She commended the agency for what she called its new idea adding that the Buhari administration had begun on a good footing which the previous governments failed to do in their era.

    The FERMA team advised motorists to be cautious while driving on Onitsha-Owerri Expressway because of the gully erosion on it.

     

  • Ebonyi doctors hire guards after colleague’s kidnap  

    Medical Directors of most privately-owned hospitals in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, have beefed up security in their facilities following the kidnap of a medical doctor.

    Before the security alert, the medical director of Smile Hospital, Abakaliki, Dr. Johnson Obuna was kidnapped by three gunmen.

    A pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in the state was also abducted.

    Both men have been rescued by the state police.

    Dr. Obuna, a former chair of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), according to the State Commissioner of Police, Peace Ibekwe Abdullah, was kidnapped at about 8pm recently.

    Investigations revealed that since the kidnap, there has been tension and panic among most medical directors in the state as many of them have now hired security operatives as bodyguards.

    It was also observed that some of them who are yet to engage the services of security operatives visit their private clinics in disguise and also spend little time in the clinic.

    A patient in one of the clinics along Afikpo Road, Mrs. Chinyere Iteshi said, “Since the news of the kidnap of the medical director of Smile Hospital, Dr. Obuna, my doctor who usually came to the clinic at about 4pm and stayed till 8pm, now comes around 4pm and leaves in less than 30 minutes.”

    Continuing, she said, “On two occasions, the doctor came to the clinic on a commercial tricycle or Keke NAPEP, a development that was strange to most of us until we were informed that he is being security conscious. At times, you see him with a T-shirt, Jeans trousers and face cap, all in a bid to disguise himself; I think the security personnel should reassure people of their safety to enable them go about their normal business”.

    When The Nation visited some other private hospitals and clinics within the capital city, it was also observed that some security operative now guild the hospitals and clinics while cars and other vehicles now go through serious checks before they are allowed to go also within the city.

    Meanwhile, The State Commissioner of Police, CP Peace Ibekwe Abdallah has warned those who want to bring disquiet and disorder in the State to stay clear from the state as the command would engage such persons with all lawful force to ensure that they are dealt with.

    The CP state that; in the early hours of 8th September, 2015, a distress call was received by the operations control room of Ebonyi State Police Command that a medical doctor in Abakaliki was kidnapped by hoodlums”.

    “A combined team of SARS, Anti kidnapping, SIB operation, patrol teams from central police station and Area Command Abakaliki quickly swung into action and rescued the victim hale and hearty”.

    The CP who stated that she believes in team work noted that every police officer in the state is key to providing adequate security to Ebonyi community adding that security is every one’s business.

    She assured residents of the State of her determination to put to a stop kidnapping, armed robbery, communal conflicts and cult activities adding that men of the command would comb all criminal hideouts in the state to arrest and prosecute those arrested.

    A medical Practitioner who spoke to The Nation on grounds of anonymity commended the new Commissioner for Police for rescuing the kidnap doctor in less than 24 hours he was abducted adding that she has exhibited her readiness to fight crime to a stop in the State.

    The Medical Doctor also commended men of the command for the stop and search approach especially at night pointing out that with such measures, hoodlums would find it difficult to operate in the state.

    He urged the State Governor Chief Dave Umahi to urgently make available to the command the security gadgets pointing out that it would go a long way in communicating the different patrol teams of any eventuality.

    Dr. Obuna, an Obstetrician gynecologist with the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki was kidnapped by unknown gunmen when he was about leaving his hospital after the day’s work at Aguogboriga Estate in Abakaliki.

    Similarly, the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA has shelved their intended strike action following the rescue of their former Chairman.

    The union State Chairman Dr. Agwu Umahi had in a chat with newsmen threatened to embark on strike action if their colleague was not released to them.

    He noted that kidnap of medical doctors in the state has become a trend and should be discouraged by security agencies.

  • Ebonyi acquires equipment to boost rice production  

    To boost rice production in Ebonyi State, the government has procured mechanised equipment to be distributed to farmers.

    The state governor, David Umahi at an event organised at the State University permanent site, Abakaliki to test-run the equipment, said his administration would also introduce irrigation farming soon.

    Chief Umahi gave the state Ministry of Agriculture and the Faculty of Agriculture at Ebonyi State University two weeks to test-run the equipment on all the available arable farmland in the university. He said government was ready to provide all the funds needed.

    While reaffirming his administration’s commitment to turn around the fortunes of the state through rice production, Governor Umahi said that his government would purchase three bulldozers to boost farming activities.

    He stated that the Agricultural equipment will be thoroughly tested before handing it over to local council for proper management.

    In her address, the chairman of the occasion and provost, Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Prof (Mrs) Justina U. Mgbada assured the farmers of regular training on the use of the equipment and expressed her confidence that with the introduction of mechanised Agriculture in the state, youths would start to engage the farmers to make effective use of the equipments.

    In a speech, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Barrister Uchenna Orji observed that the event was the practical “manifestation of the political will of the state governor, Chief David Umahi to mechanize and commercialize Agriculture in the state.”

    Barr. Orji noted that the event was the outcome of the colloquium on rice production convoked by the state Governor on the need to tap the incentives and potentials in rice production.

    He stated that the event was to train the farmers on the use of farm machinery to attain the full accomplishment of the state governments desired to make Agriculture the hub of the state economy.

    Good will messages were delivered by the representative of the permanent secretary, federal ministry of Agriculture; the forum of agricultural cooperative societies in Ebonyi State, and the representative of the university community.

    Some of the equipment demonstrated at the occasion include; manual, power tiller, manual transplanter, weeder, motorized transplanter, power tiller and grain winnower.

  • Abia police partner landlords to fight crime

    House owners in Aba, Abia State may yet have the answer to violent crime challenges in the commercial hub as a new group, Aba Landlords Protection and Development Association (ALPADA) has been launched at the Aba Sports Club.

    It was an occasion that the state police used to assure Aba residents of their protection from hoodlums and men of the underworld.

    The police aim to liaise with the landlords hoping to obtain useful information from them on their tenants and their dependants.

    In his speech on the occasion, the state Commissioner of Police Mr Habila Joshak said that the birth of this great association is the greatest thing that has happened to Aba residents which he said will help to curb the excesses of armed bandits.

    Habila said that the word protection which is the main focal point in the association that the problematic issue of security in Aba will soon be a thing of the past, stressing that the police will now be more alive to their responsibility as they are now assured of the support of the landlords.

    The CP said, “With the word ‘protection’ in their name as a group of Aba landlords, it means that they are out to cooperate with law enforcement agents in the city to rid Aba of crime and criminality and the security agencies will stop at nothing to give the people of the

    commercial city their best”.

    He said that for crime to be brought down to be barest minimum in Aba, landlords in the city will have to cooperate with all security agencies by giving them useful information that will lead to the arrest of the criminals, police and other arms of security in the state are not spirits, “We work better with information and not through guess work which hamper the progress of work in any security situation”.

    The Commissioner, who was represented by his deputy, DCP Anthony Ogboji said that since the criminals live among the people and the people know them, “If the people who know them cover them, the police will not be able to give the required security to the people”.

    He said that the emphases on the day of the inauguration of the association is on community policing, in which  all stakeholders in security of the place are expected to watch their neighbor and their neighbor will watch them and pass information on those living around, stressing that it is one of the ways for crime rate will be reduced.

    Habila said that he was sure that the association will serve the purpose for which it was being formed based on their name and mission which they have made public and encouraged property owners in the city to identify with the association so that the issue of security will be a thing of the past in the nearest future.

    The CP said, “If you are watching your neighbor and you notice that somebody is doing something against the law, it is your civic responsibility to inform the law enforcement agents to correct that anomaly so that we will sleep with our two eyes closed.

    We all want to create enabling environment for you to move around with ease, do your businesses without any fear and sleep with your two eyes closed while we on our side will try to make sure that peace that has been created is maintained”.

    In his inaugural speech the president-General of the Association, Chief Sir Alphonsus Udeigbo said that the inauguration of the association marks a new stage in the affairs and expectations of Aba residence, particularly, the Land Lords especially where it concerns security.

    Udeigbo said that he is convinced that the type of people who are members of the association will ensure that work will no longer in progress but will be at full throttle work for the benefit of the city and its people at all times.

    He said, “I am convinced that going by the caliber of members of this association, who today have been officially presented to the people, the property owners in Aba and its environs can find a new model of purposeful leadership and accountability.

    We also act as the mouth piece for understanding and love among the landlords in Aba and its environs, thereby fostering unity among the landlords, providing adequate protection for members and their properties”.

    He said that the aims and objectives of the association is to create a forum that will be a rallying point for all the land lords in Aba and its environs, irrespective of tribe, race, ethnicity sex  or any other differences.

    The Chairman of the occasion, former deputy Governor of Abia state, Chief Acho Nwakanma, described Aba as a blessed city and a land of opportunities where people who work hard are always blessed through a dint of their hard work and favour of God.

    Nwakanma said, “When I looked at the name you gave the association, I became so interested because it has to do with the development of the place, protecting one another and I felt that this is the real thing to do as it is what we need”.

    He described the association as the first of its kind, stating that it is something that we really need at his time and thanked those who brought the idea, the organisers and everybody that has been part of it.

    The former deputy governor encouraged members to come together, come out strong, speak with one voice and be bold enough to say what they want because they are part and parcel of the place.

    In his speech, the Chairman, Board of trustees of the Association, Sir Enukeme said that the inauguration marks the dawn of a new beginning as we shall be witnesses to a new identity with the birth of Aba Landlord Protection and Development Association.

  • Ohanaeze youths to Buhari: revamp Enugu coal mine

    Ohanaeze youths to Buhari: revamp Enugu coal mine

    The youth wing of the apex Igbo cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has  urged President Muhammadu Buhari to revive the Enugu coal mine, which has been comatose for over four decades.

    The youths also urged the President to rely on Federal Character in his subsequent appointments.

    They equally condemned Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha for reportedly saying that “Igbos are the cause of their exclusion in recent appointments made by the President in a recent interview.”

    The remark was contained in a statement jointly signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the president and the secretary, respectively, after a meeting between the national executives of the group and  members of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the organization. The meeting was centered on the need to foster  the wellbeing of the Igbos in the state.

    “We call on President Buhari to work towards fulfilling his electoral promises to Ndigbo especially the revamping of Enugu Coal Mine which has remained moribund for 43 years now. We are not happy with the interview credited to Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. Instead of castigating the Igbos, he should use his position in the party to make the President  to make use of Federal Character in his appointments.

    Speaking, the Akwa Ibom chapter president, Mazi Emmanuel Ikechukwu-Jonathan, appealed to the Department of the State Services(DSS), to “release the report of its finding on the recent invasion of Akwa Ibom Government House by its operatives to calm the nerves of both indigenes and non-indigenes in the state.

    “The silence of the DSS after the raid is enough to put fears on those who want to invest in the state or currently doing business in the state. We are making this appeal because of our people who have invested heavily in the economy of this state as we don’t want anything that will create civil unrest because it is our people who will suffer most.

    “You know that any part of this country where there is civil unrest, it is the Igbos who usually suffer the damages because they are the highest in number in terms of the non-indigenes you will find in any state outside the South East. Currently the APC and the PDP are trading blames and you don’t know what may come out of such actions.

    The group sympathised with the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over the accident he was involved in on his way to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to board an international flight.

    “We wish our in-law quick recovery from the injuries he sustained from that accident and pray God to continue to protect him in all his endeavours,” the group said.

     

  • Some sacked Abia workers refute recall

    Some civil servants in Abia State whose appointment were terminated in October, 2011 have debunked the claim by the Okezie Ikpeazu administration that they have been recalled.

    They warned that the state government and politicians in the state should stop politicising their situation.

    About 4, 000 disengaged workers who operated under the aegis of Abia Disengaged Non-Indigene Workers (ADNIW) were disengaged from service on October 1, 2011, though some of them were later recalled.

    The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mr. Godwin Adindu, in a statement credited to him, stated that about 102 of the workers, who were teachers, had been reinstated by the Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB), Umuahia, adding that 63 others had also been cleared for reinstatement.

    But in a release signed by Ihejirika I. and Unogu U. leader and secretary, respectively, ADNIW said that the claim by the CPS was not true.

    ADNIW stated that it was disheartening for the present state government to start playing dangerous politics with the issue.

    According to them, they have made several representations to the state government on the need to rescind the decision without success which prompted them to write a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari in May stating their plight.

    They said as soon as they heard about the recent reinstatement claim by government of 102 disengaged teachers by the Secondary Education Management, their members went to ascertain its veracity only to be told by officials that the “reinstatement was on radio, that no memo had been sent to them in that regard”.

    “We members of ADNIW unequivocally state that the recent claim by the state government that disengaged non-indigene workers in Abia State public and civil service had been recalled is false.

    “Should government be given the benefit of the doubt and her claim taken on [face] value? If 102 of the disengaged workers had been recalled, which is invidious, what happens to the rest number? The over 4, 000 workers were sacked the same day; why is government claiming it recalled that infinitesimal number, if they are serious? Nothing will rest the issue except total recall,” the release read in part.

    The group lamenting that their condition have been politicised warned that Abia State Government should stop playing politics with the fate of the over 4, 000 disengaged workers who it said had suffered undue hardship and even deaths.

  • Special reading lessons for Anambra teachers

    Special reading lessons for Anambra teachers

    Teachers in three local government areas in Anambra State have been lectured in what was called special reading lessons.

    The local government areas are Anambra East, Awka South and Orumba South.

    The lessons were conducted at the Girls Secondary School, Amenyi, in Awka South Local Government Area.

    The programme was organised by the reading Association of Nigeria (RAN) at the roll out ceremony and workshop for Master Trainers of the Literacy Enhancement and Achievement Project (LEAP).

    It was for junior secondary schools in the state by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Reading Association of Nigeria, led by Prof. Chukwuemeka Onukaogu.

    Teachers were taken down memory lane by Prof Onukaogu by answering on the spot questions as it is done in the classrooms.

    The president of the Reading Association of Nigeria, Dr Gabriel Egbe and the American Consultants that came to Anambra because of the pogramme Mr. and Mrs. Ronald and Alis Headlam were all thrilled.

    The chairman Board of Trustees of the non-governmental organisation, Prof Onukaogu, former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Anambra state, said every September 8, the world celebrates the literacy day.

    Letters and poems were read by Onukaogu and Anambra state commissioner for Education, Prof Kate Azuka Omenugha who represented Governor Willie Obiano, to the teachers and other guests.

    In all, 60 participants from the three local government areas and other allied participants from the state government took part in the reading exercise.

    One of the participants from Nneoma Community Secondary School Nibo in Awka south council area, Adibe Adaora, described the exercise as a laudable project.

    The lady told The Nation that if what the state government and the organisers said were carried along, that it will bring a lot of changes and transformation on the children.

    For one of the allied participants Dr Mrs. Ngozi Okereke, the programme was fantastic and will have a good impact on the children.

    While speaking with The Nation, the president of reading Association of Nigeria (RAN), Dr Gabriel Egbe, said Anambra state had been the leading literacy professional organization in Nigeria for the past 33 years.

    Furthermore he said the state had given the association the mandate to transform the literacy landscape of the state.

    Egbe said, “This hiatus is necessary because without it, you cannot shift from your comfort zone. If you shift from your traditional practices, then there will be a change; there will be a transformation; and then you will make a difference and your students will learn the way they have never learnt before”

    “This Project will challenge what you have always done and expose you to evidence-based best practices. You will learn the value of inclusiveness and diversity in unity in teaching, the importance of deep thinking, and the need to allow students take ownership of their learning”

    “In the cause of this Project, you will come to appreciate the relevance of working with the five principles of effective teaching which are: students’ learning builds on the previous knowledge, learning best takes place in a social setting, knowledge taught in a variety of contexts is more likely to support learning across students with diverse learning needs, connected,   organised   and   relevant   information   supports   both   knowledge   and development of higher order thinking skills; and feedback and active evaluation further students’ understanding and skill development”

    Obiano’s representative, Prof Kate Omenugha, told the Nation that the state government wanted a strategic object in making the state the lowest illiteracy state in Nigeria, adding that the government had found one in (RAN).

    “Obiano is passionate about education in Anambra state and its teachers and that is why he has made policies that are favourable to the teachers”

    She lamented how the government visited a remote community called Ndi-Ukwuenu recently and found out that the children were not going to school because of lack of none, while according to her, arrangements were in top gear by the government to erect school in the area.

    “Education is key to us and therefore, every parent should find a way of giving their children the needed education, literacy is not about reading and writing, but also, ability to be creative”

    “We do not have dull children, what we have in the society is dull classrooms, this is something we need to drive, it is a programme for the children, this is a serious business that should not be trivialised”

    “The government has done a lot in education in Anambra state and therefore, anything thought here today, should be put in practice in classes in this state, we want this state to maintain its lead in education in this country” Omenugha said.

    The two expatriates, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald and Alis Headlam, told the Nation that they came from America to participate in the Reading exercise, which according to them, would make serious impact on the students and teachers in Anambra, nay Nigeria.

  • Year of Action to End Violence Against Children launched

    President Muhammadu Buhari has launched the Year of Action to End Violence Against Children in response to the high rate of violence revealed in the Nigeria Violence Against Children Survey, released last week.

    Millions of children suffer violence every year in Nigeria – approximately 6 out of every 10 children under the age of 18 years experience some form of physical, emotional and sexual violence before the age of 18 years, according to the Nigeria Violence Against Children Survey, carried out by the National Population Commission, with support from UNICEF and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Announcing the launch of the year-long campaign to end violence against children, the President said “This is a historic day, a day when Nigeria stands up and says to our children – we commit to protecting you from violence.”

    The survey found that one in two children experience physical violence; one in four girls and one in ten boys experience sexual violence; and one in six girls and one in five boys experience emotional violence. The majority of children do not tell anyone what has happened to them and fewer than five per cent receive the help they need to recover.

    “These findings are an urgent call to action not only for the Government, but also for civil society organisations, religious and traditional groups, the media, the private sector, communities, parents and families to come together to tackle violence against children,” the President added, pledging the full commitment of the Government of Nigeria during the campaign and beyond to tackle violence against children.

    To develop a robust response plan to the findings of the survey, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has brought together representatives from key Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as Civil Society and Faith Based Organisations.

    “The Government of Nigeria and its partners are to be congratulated on their commitment to end violence against children” noted UNICEF Nigeria Representative Jean Gough. “UNICEF will continue to support Nigeria in its efforts to ensure that children are protected from sexual, physical and emotional violence”.

    “We have made progress in this fight but much still remains to be done” added U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim, Maria E. Brewer. “All children must be protected from abuse, violence, exploitation and neglect.  Violence against children is never justified.  Violence is preventable.”