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By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has said 11,487 candidates passed its annual Professional Qualifying Examination conducted recently across the country.

Registrar/Chief Executive of TRCN, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, made this known on Friday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the achievements recorded by the Council.

He said a total of 17,602 candidates sat for the examination that qualifies one as professional teacher.

Ajiboye added that 3,650 teachers failed the exercise conducted in November.

He said: “A total of 17,602 candidates took the examination, 11,487 passed which is 75.9percent while 3,650 candidates failed, which is 24.1 per cent.

“The examination, which was the second series to be conducted by TRCN for 2020, took place between 12 and 14 November.”

While saying the announcement of special salary package and other benefits for teachers by President Muhammadu Buhari remains top as its greatest achievement for 2020, the TRCN boss expressed delight that the National Council on Education has recently approved the reforms announced by the President during this year’s World Teachers Day.

He said the next step is to secure the nod of the Federal Executive Council on the reforms, adding that the National Assembly is also expected to intervene in amending relevant laws to allow for the increase in service and retirement years for teachers.

The TRCN boss commended President Buhari, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu and Minister of State, Emeka Nwajiuba, for their support to the teaching profession.

Ajiboye said the TRCN mobilised over 60,000 teachers for various digital skills training in 2020 in collaboration with other relevant bodies.

On the number of qualified teachers, Prof Ajiboye put the number at about 2.2 million, adding that TRCN will soon release the present figure of quacks operating in the nation’s teaching profession.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

 

Founding fathers of the Lagos State University (LASU), former Vice-Chancellors and members of the Council, top government functionaries and others poured encomiums on the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lanre Adigun Fagbohun, naming him the best ever vice-chancellor to manage the 37-year old University.

They spoke at a valedictory lecture on Friday, December 18, 2020 during which Fagbohun gave an account of his stewardship as the eighth VC of the University.

Fagbohun is the first in the history of the University to hold a valedictory lecture exiting the office.

While giving their goodwill address, some of the dignitaries who had held positions in the University admitted that Fagbohun’s tenure stood tall among all.

Former Acting Vice-Chancellor, Distinguished Professor Peter Okebukola said himself and former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abisogun Leigh exchanged notes and agreed that Fagbohun surpassed his predecessors combined.

“When we take the measure of all the vice-chancellors of LASU have done together, none of us can match what Fagbohun has done. From all our measures Fagbohun stood out,” said Okebukola, a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Leigh added, “This young man has actually raised LASU to a height that the founding fathers will be proud of. You are the best so far,” he said.

Pioneer Librarian, Alhaji Tajudeen Seriki, said Fagbohun worked like no other. “When I was discussing with a former Vice-chancellor, he said it seems we did not work the way this boy is working,” he said.

Chairman of Governing Council, Prof. Adebayo Ninalowo said the University would appoint Fagbohun as emeritus vice chancellor as a way of emotionally dealing with his tenure ending next month.

In his lecture titled: “LASU: My Stewardship”, the Vice Chancellor said LASU had improved in all ramifications under his watch.

He said the institution’s internally-generated revenue increased from N900m to over N2 billion annually; it ranking rose to second best University in Nigeria and among the top 600 in the world.

“From an institution with which we were all disenchanted and not proud to associate with, we have succeeded in embedding peace within the system; gave ourselves positive visibility nationally and globally; deepened teaching, research and Community service; and turned quality assurance and excellence into a culture,” he said.

Agency Reporter

Mr , Lagos State University (LASU) Best Graduating Student for the 2018/2019 academic session, has become an Ambassador of the International Vocational Center (IVC), under its World Free Education Programme (WFEP).

Dr Pedro Manuwa , Founder and International Liaison Officer, International Vocational Center (IVC), made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shotunde, who graduated from the Department of Business Administration, was the best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.95.

Manuwa said that Shotunde’s appointment was made public on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, during the 24th Convocation Ceremony of LASU, where he was also awarded several other prizes in recognition of his academic feat.

“In addition to the IVC Ambassadorial appointment, Shotunde was presented with a cash reward of N500,000 and an announcement that he would have a project built in his name, in the university.

READ ALSO: UNIZIK best graduating students to enjoy overseas training

“The International Vocational Center, through its scholarship scheme, gives leverage to brilliant but indigent students in Nigeria.

“This initiative, it believes, will help motivate those coming behind toward attaining academic excellence,’’ Manuwa, a Japanese trained Doctor of Letters and a Turkish-Nigeria trained orator of international repute told NAN.

To encourage other students, he said that any graduating student who is able to exceed Shotunde’s 4.95 CGPA in the next three years would get a cash prize of one million naira.

“We congratulate Oladimeji Shotunde and by extension, the Lagos State University on this feat,’’ Manuwa said.

Our Reporter

 

ONE of the leading researchers at the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, Dr Folashade Olajuyigbe, has won the International Research Grant from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Collaborative Research Programme (ICGEB-CRP) Italy.

Olajuyigbe, a prolific scholar, who won the 2017 Fulbright African Research Scholar Programme (ARSP) award for advanced research in the United States for the 2017/2018 academic year, was awarded the International grant that was contested by applicants from 50 ICGEB member countries at both national and International levels.

With the grant comes her designation as the Principal Investigator for the project entitled: “Enzymatic Analysis of the Cellulolytic System of Ligninolytic Stenotraphmonas sp. and Development of Bifunctional Chimeric Enzyme for Efficient Simultaneous Delignification and Saccharification of Lignocellulose Biomass.”

The FUTA Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Fuwape, praised Olajuyigbe for doing the university and Nigeria proud stating that the award would boost its image of and spur other academics to achieve greater.

 

Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

 

THE words that the finalists of the Lagos State Spelling Bee 2020 had to spell during the grand finale yesterday (Tuesday) were difficult English words of Latin, Greek, French, German, Hindi,Yiddish and other origins.

However, just when the audience thought there was no way a particularly difficult word could exist, a contestant spelt it correctly, especially the last six standing.

The words, many of which are a mouth full included – bewusstseinslage, koinonia, oophorectomy, jabberwocky, cwtch, schmegegge, terpsichorean, chaudfroid, and rorschach – all of which the last six contestants spelt with ease to the applause of dignitaries present.

The word Myrmidon, meaning “someone who would do whatever he is told” was the undoing of three of last four contestants standing but not Jemimah Marcus who spelt it at one try and clinched the grand prize of  N250,000 and a trophy.

The SS3 pupil of Angus Memorial Senior High School, Somolu, said the words were easier than expected, having prepared well studying the Scripps National Spelling Bee Dictionary, the New Era Foundation Spelling Bee Dictionary and other Apps and resources.

“It was not as difficult as I expected. I was already familiar with the words because I really worked very hard and studied words from different sources before the competition.

As part of her prize, Jemimah will also act as the One Day Governor of Lagos State on a future date during which she would be accorded the respect attached to the office of the Governor, visit both public and private sector offices in official capacity and meet with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his cabinet members.

Sixteen-year-old Ajose Sotin of Topo Senior Grammar School Badagry came second, while Rhema Edeh of Denton Junior Grammar School Ebute Metta came third.

Read Also: Unity Bank holds Spelling Bee competition 

Ajose got N150,000 and a trophy, while Edeh won N100,000 and a trophy.

The top six finalists also got cartons of Indomie noodles from sponsors, Dufil Prima Foods. They would embark on a cultural exchange programme to Finland.

The Education Commissioner, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, said she was impressed by the pupils’ performance, which she said was a testament to the level of government’s investment to improve the quality of tuition in public schools.

“This is an indication of the quality of teaching and learning taking place in our schools that we believe is improving steadily and the policies and programmes in the education sector are addressing the purposes for which they were intended,” he said.

Also speaking, Director-General, Office of education, quality assurance, Mrs. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni praised the pupils, especially the last six, for their level of preparation for the competition.

“I think the final six were there for over an hour which shows that they are extremely resilient and were far more prepared than was expected of them. It shows again that our teachers have been doing awesome and that the children are committed to doing well,” she said.

Group Public Relations and Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods, Tope Ashiwaju, said Indomie brand had been at the forefront of education in Lagos State, sponsoring competitions to enhance learning outcome for students.

“As a brand, Indomie has a keen interest in education development for the Nigerian child and has been unwavering in the support of the Spelling Bee project in Lagos State for years.  As a company, we are committed to wholesome child development, and this we will continue to do,” Ashiwaju said.

A total of 57 pupils from the six Education districts of Lagos participated  in the finale held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa.

 

Moses Emorinken, Abuja

The World Health Organization (WHO) Wednesday stated that Nigeria is well on its way in its effort to providing quality healthcare services to its people with the revitalization of the primary healthcare system and the Basic Health Care Provision Funds (BHCPF).

Noting that access to quality health care for all is a major goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the WHO stressed that it is the fundamental human right of every citizen to access quality health services without becoming impoverished.

The WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, made this known in Abuja during an event to commemorate this year’s Universal Health Coverage Day, with the theme: ‘Health for all: Protect Everyone’.

Mulombo said Nigeria is on track with its efforts at providing quality care to the people everywhere anywhere through primary healthcare revitalization and leveraging on the Basic Health Care Provision Funds (BHCPF) which indeed is one of the nine-point next level agenda of Nigeria.

Knowing that health for all requires investments and action by all stakeholders – the WHO urged the government, development partners, civil society organisations, communities, and everyone to rally towards achieving UHC so that all people can enjoy good health and well-being.

READ ALSO: HIUOR will increase access to quality healthcare services – WHO

“At WHO, we are placing emphasis on high impact areas, such as supporting whole-of-system reforms and exploring innovative ways to get more services to people, including using information technology,” he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, added: “UHC Day reminds us of our most urgent priority: providing quality healthcare services for the wellbeing of our citizens.

“It is everybody’s right to have access to quality healthcare, whenever and everywhere. Any country that wants to have a healthy and viable workforce needs to be able to provide quality healthcare as there is nothing as damaging as an unhealthy population especially from diseases that can easily be prevented.

“It is based on this that the federal government is striving to rehabilitate and revitalize the primary healthcare as the bedrock of development of the health sector. The newly revised BHCPF Guidelines is expected to be used to establish one primary healthcare centre per political ward where Nigerians will be able to access health services with a reasonable financial implication, he explained.”

Our Reporter

Perturbed by the litany of challenges militating against tertiary education amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, a leading institute for higher education in the country, Executive Trainers Limited, has charged stakeholders on effective online teaching.

At a convergence for higher education discourse themed: “Pauses, Pivots and Possibilities in Post-COVID-19 Higher Education”, held virtually, recently, both organisers and stakeholders agreed on boosting internet facilities in citadels of learning, if an effective higher education must be sustained.

In an opening address, the Chief Executive of the institute, Dr (Mrs) Ajoke Ogunsan, beseeched all stakeholders in the academia to do more for their institutions, regardless of the sufficing setbacks.

Ogunsan, however, read out a brief biography of the guest speaker, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, who held the podium for two hours and 40minutes.

Okereke began his delivery by drawing up an inference that every decision prompts one’s focus and response in tackling a problem. He lamented the impact of the COVID-19 as he wondered if its impact on the global economy is either from the pandemic itself or from the efforts to contain the virus. The results of the impact of the COVID-19 were outlined as the crash of the financial stock market, recession, temporary food shortage and price hike, disruption of travel; 400 million jobs lost as a result of high mortality rate.

“The fact that the COVID-19 spread is encouraged by a high concentration of people- a place where there is a hub of activities; points at the different institutions of learning which include the universities.

“Both private and public universities can synergise as the strengths of one could be the weakness of the other and vice-versa,” he said.

Using the SWOT Analysis, he analysed the various decision-making tools to effect a response which are: SWOT, scenarios, cause and effect, force field analysis, preto analysis and decision matrix.

“I can say that 80% of profit is generated from 20% of activities. We need a contingent arrangement so as not to be caught unawares.

“Universities could engage in community service responsibilities to sell themselves and buy members of the community to register at the university. Universities should build relationships, research before delving into online teaching and determine the appropriate tuition fee that is levied so as not to scare potential students,” the university don added.

In his contribution, the Vice-Chancellor of Mcpherson University, Prof. Adeniyi Agunbiade, expressed concerns about the decline in interest by potential students from visits to public schools due to inability to pay tuition fees.

In response to the submission of the VC, Okereke suggested that an agreement can be signed whereby the proposed student or students either work for the institutions to enjoy the privilege to study at the universities or that some form of loaning system is established such that these group of students can study and can pay back their tuition over a period of time.

One of the attendees, Ibrahim Ahmed, raised a concern on the unavailability of internet facilities in certain areas, especially considering the demography. He asked how to combat these challenge of reaching out to the students who do not have these internet facilities available.

In response, Okereke lashed certain quarters, who have backlashed some universities, for not migrating online “when in reality, there isn’t any empowerment on the ground to make online teaching a reality”. He expressed that he could not give an answer to the question asked as he was incapacitated as Mr Ibrahim was. He, however, charged on the use of every available method of delivery of teaching until they can get internet facilities.

In a bid to seek clarification, another attendee, Dr. (Mrs) Adenike Jimoh, expressed the need to identify the balance point where there is no compromise on the quality of education after migrating courses online and also expressing confidence and innovation to improve on the new normal type of education which is the online education.

Prof. Okereke agreed with Dr Jimoh but however enjoined that universities should provide the online infrastructure to encourage online learning. He opined that there should be a blend of culture and innovation so as not to run beyond one’s capacity.

Okereke wrapped up his presentation by expressing that — “don’t do nothing because you cannot do all”.

Okereke is a Professor of Environment and Development at the University of Reading where he also serves as the Co-Director of Climate and Justice Centre and the Leverhulme Climate Justice Doctoral Scholarship Programme.
Previously, he was a Senior Research Associate at Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia, UK, and Head of Climate and Development Centre at the Smith School Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford, respectively. He remains a visiting fellow at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute (ECI).

The programme was rounded off with an announcement that certificates of attendance will be issued to all participants.

Among the 23 dignitaries in attendance were the Vice-Chancellor of Mcpherson University, Prof. Adeniyi Agunbiade; Registrar, Mcpherson University, Mrs. Tokunbo Alaba Kehinde; Bursar, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Helen Onuoha; and other bigwigs drawn from the academia.