Category: Uncategorized

By Sampson Unamka

The Alternative Business School (TABS), a transformative school that teaches people how to live, work, and do business in a godly way is set to launch its virtual flagship conference, The 7,000, on Sunday.

The conference would showcase and celebrate key individuals in government, business, and the New Wineskin church, who uphold the tenets of righteousness and justice in their service to humanity.

Special Adviser to the President on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole is the Keynote Speaker for event.

Read Also: Access to education, key to poverty reduction, says Obi

Other speakers are: Co-founder, Sahara Group, Mr. Tonye Cole; Director, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund and co-founder ElectHER, Mrs. Abosede George-Ogan; Member representing AFIJIO State Constituency, in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Seyi Adisa; National Chairman, Alliance for New Nigeria, and Mr. Emmanuel Dania.

The conference which will adopt a Ted Talk format with a live studio audience of selected guests will also be on TV and streamed online.

Speaking on the essence of the conference, the founder, TABS, Dr. Esther Longe, said “As Nigeria’s 60th birthday is around the corner, there is an urgency to begin to refocus the minds of those who will attend the conference and Nigerians on the direction of transformative nation-building.”

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

The Lagos State Examinations Board has called on private schools to submit Continuous Assessment Scores (CAS) of Primary Six pupils seeking admission into JSS1 classes of public secondary schools before the September 11 deadline.

Friday is also deadline for registration for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for JSS3 pupils and the Screening test for admission into JSS1 classes of the 16 Lagos State model  colleges and upgraded schools.

Public Affairs Officer of the board, Mr. Fatai Bakare, noted that placement test into secondary schools would be done with the use of the CAS as directed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu – though the modalities are still being worked out.

Bakare also noted that no new dates had been fixed for the (BECE) for JSS3 pupils.

Read Also: Lagos: Mixed feelings on resumption

He said: “The Exams Board’s attention had been drawn to the various rumours being circulated in the social media on the dates and modality for the conduct of examinations.

“For the avoidance of doubt, therefore all schools’ Proprietors / Proprietresses are hereby enjoined to disregard all such information and advised to focus squarely on the registration processes taking cognizance of the extension of the a week grace starting from 7th -11 the September, 2020.

“However, this might be extended further thereafter, if there are any other directives from concerned authorities.

“Please be informed that the modality and dates for the conduct of the examinations would be conveyed to all schools as soon as necessary arrangements are concluded bearing in mind the prevailing situation.”

By Damola Kola-Dare

The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), through its Deputy President, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, has urged parents to adapt to the latest trends in digital education and be conversant with current educational programmes to be able to help their wards.

“Parents should monitor the educational programmes on television. They should also make sure they have television and radio in their homes to help their wards. It will help them also to be abreast of not only educational programmes but events around the country in this age of digital education,” he told The Nation.

He advised parents to ensure they have electronic devices like television and radios for their children to cover up lost grounds in their academics through on air learning.

Read Also: How media supported education amid COVID-19

He recommended ‘The Total Education Show’, a television programme launched by the Lagos State Government last month, for pupils in both public and private primary and secondary schools to parents, describing it as a ‘fantastic idea’.

The Education Commissioner, Mrs.  Folasade  Adefisayo, said  the programme would focus on Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STREAM). Other aspects include, Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) and Child Protection Advocacy against abuse.

A 300-Level student of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Abdulhakeem Azeez, has won the MSD Animal Health/World Veterinary Association 2020 Veterinary Student Scholarship.

In a statement, Dr.Ismail Odetokun, Head of the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine of the university, said Azeez is the only Nigerian among the 41 winners of the scholarship worldwide.

Read Also: UK awards scholarships to 49 Nigerians

He said the award would support students by offering direct financial support in recognition of their academic achievements.

“This will also aid in the development of their academic and veterinary career.

“MSD Animal Health is a leading global biopharmaceutical company, which has been investing in medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases,” he said.

From Fanen Ihyongo, Kano

To boost education in Kano, the state government has recruited over 10,000 teachers in primary and secondary schools.

Speaking at the National Consultative Workshop on the ECOWAS Post-2020 Vision, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said the recruitment would fast-track the implementation of Kano State’s free Compulsory Education programme.

“The recruitment (of teachers) is designed to improve the teacher-pupil ratio, enhance school enrollment and reduce the number of out-of-school children in the state,” he said.

Ganduje, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office, Musa Yahaya-Bichi, said the recruitment is coming few days after the 44 Local Government Areas of the state got N880 million for the renovation of secondary schools in the councils.

Each of the 44 council chairmen received a check of N20 million and were asked to work together with the ‘education promotion committee,’ which comprised of elders and community leaders that was set up for the renovation purpose.

Read Also: Kogi recruits 2,200 for school feeding programme

“The renovation becomes necessary preparatory to the resumption of schools after COVID-19. The renovation is also line with the Kano State educational policy of ‘Compulsory Free Education’ which requires that school facilities must be provided for learning,” he said.

Ganduje said the population of the out-of-school children had dropped to less than 400,000 as against 1.3 million before the introduction of the free compulsory education programme in the state.

He added that the measure was in line with the ECOWAS vision, aimed at achieving sustainable social and economic development in the sub-region.

The head of ECOWAS Unit, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Oyi, said: “We are looking at how education in the region will be harmonised so that we don’t have a disparity in the education certificate. And within the member states, education certificates can be used without problems.

“The workshop is designed to articulate the views of stakeholders on the impact of the ECOWAS Vision 2020.

“This means that all activities of ECOWAS should be people-oriented and people inclusive in its programmes such as education and democracy, among others.”

The Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)  has said it would continue its EdoBEST@Home programme beyond COVID-19 closures.

Its Chairman, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe said the board intends to continue using the e-learning initiative introduced to keep pupils engaged at home during the pandemic to bridge learning gaps.

“This will allow Edo State to prevent the learning gaps that the interruption of education can cause and increase its resilience to future shocks.”

The remote learning programme includes self-study activity packs, virtual classroom experiences, learning guides, audio lessons, digital storybooks and mobile friendly quizzes that help parents and caregivers test what their children are learning.

Read Also: SUBEB chair urges teachers to monitor COVID-19 safety rules

The mobile friendly interactive quiz feature is particularly popular with parents. The interactive tool helps children practise what they have been learning in various subjects and helps parents assess what their children have been learning.  Parents can access quizzes on various subjects from Primary one to Junior Secondary School (JSS) three on WhatsApp or online.

A parent from Esan Northeast, Mr. Okpebholo, said the quizzes have been keeping his daughter, Melody who intends to write the national common entrance exams engaged.

“I took the quizzes myself before giving them to my child. I am truly happy with the programme,” he said.

Another parent, Mrs. Glory Ayemoba from Etsako East, said she tests her wards regularly using the tool.

“With schools closed, I didn’t have a way to know if my children, Joy and Destiny in Primary 6 were learning. But with the mobile quizzes now I can test my children. For each question taken, the quiz provides a response indicating whether the answer provided is right or wrong. We get immediate feedback. Now, I can test my children’s performance at home,” she said.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, a member of the Standard Bank Group, has called for applications for the maiden edition of its  Scholarship Programme.

The Stanbic IBTC 2020 Scholarship Programme, geared towards encouraging hard work and academic excellence among undergraduates, is open to students who scored 200 and above in the 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and have  gained admission into any of the tertiary institutions.

The foremost end-to-end financial services provider has said that the total scholarship value of at least N40 million, would be spread across four years and disbursed in tranches of N100,000 per academic year. The firm also said that subsequent disbursement of the funds would be based on the maintenance of at least second-class upper grade and good conduct of the student as referenced by the university.

Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Dr. Demola Sogunle, said the organisation recognises the importance and impact of education in the life of every youth.

“Education empowers and encourages the youth to prepare for the future while also confronting challenges. Education is a panacea for growth and enduring development of any nation or organisation,” he said.

Upon the close of entries and completion of the scholarship process, 100 successful applicants will be offered their scholarship letters.