By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

Hajiya Hadiza, the wife of a former president, the late Shehu Shagari, is dead. She was 80.

The family head, Muhammad Bala Shagari, said in a statement: “We regret to announce the demise of our beloved mother, Hajiya Hadiza Shehu Shagari, the wife of H.E late President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, GCFR (Turakin Sokoto).

“We lost her in the early hours of Thursday at about 3.00am, after battling COVID-19 at the Gwagwalada Isolation Centre in Abuja.”

Read Also: Why I’ve had to meet with every President from Shagari to Buhari — Ex-NUPENG Gen. Sec. Akinlaja

Her Jana’iza (funeral prayer) took place at the National Mosque, Abuja yesterday.

Shagari, the first democratically elected president, was in power from 1979 and 1983. He died in 2018, aged 93.

President Muhammadu Buhari commiserated with the family.

A statement by presidential spokesman Mr Femi Adesina reads: “President Buhari describes the departed as a pillar of strength and support, holding forth for the family while her husband busied himself with service to the nation.

“President Buhari extends condolences to the government and the people of Sokoto State, urging the family to be consoled by the good deeds of Hajiya Hadiza.”

The Ojodu Local Council Development Area Chairman, Mr David Olusegun Odunmbaku, has alerted the residents on the third wave of the Coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria.

Odunmbaku made this known during house to house sensitisation on the COVID-19 third wave and Delta variant of the pandemic.

The Council boss also advised the residents to adhere to full compliance with all protective protocols set up by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Lagos State Government.

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Odunmbaku also instructed all workers of the council on the no mask no entry policy from Monday.

He urged Lagos residents to get vaccinated.

“From August 16, the government will begin administering the second batch of the vaccines. Those who have not received their shots should to do so now. We can’t afford another lockdown.”

 

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday said it has received $15million of the World Bank’s  $750million given to Nigeria as COVID-19 Intervention fund.

FCT Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, spoke when he inaugurated a steering committee to pilot the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) programme.

The Permanent Secretary, represented by the Director, FCT Human Resources Management, Bashir Mohammed, said the fund would be channeled to programmes that can cushion the effects of the pandemic on citizens.

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Adesola explained that the fund received will support the Administration’s quest to empower about 42,606 individuals directly and 180,000 people indirectly.

He also added that part of it will support its commitment to boosting food security, by empowering 12,293 farmers directly, while about 100, 000 people will benefit indirectly.

“CARES is a result-oriented program to deliver the results in the following three key areas: social transfers, basic services and livelihood support to the poor and vulnerable household.

“Under this, 42,606 individuals are expected to benefit directly, while over 180,000 people will benefit indirectly,” he said.

From Moses Emorinken, Abuja

The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday announced the next phase in its Solidarity Trial, which will test three new drugs for their potential in reducing the risk of death in enrolled and hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

The drugs are: artesunate, imatinib and infliximab. They were donated for the trial by their manufacturers.

The drugs are already in use for other treatments. Artesunate is used for severe malaria, imatinib for certain cancers, and infliximab for diseases of the immune system such as Crohn’s Disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

The WHO stated that the Solidarity PLUS trial for promising drugs, which is an unprecedented global collaboration for COVID-19 Research and Development (R&D), will roll out in 52 countries.

Read Also: Nigeria not a testing ground for Moderna vaccine – FG

 

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: “Finding more effective and accessible therapeutics for COVID-19 patients remains a critical need, and WHO is proud to lead this global effort.

“I would like to thank the participating governments, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, clinicians and patients, who have come together to do this in true global solidarity.”

Also yesterday, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said  the insinuation in certain quarters that Nigeria is going cap in hand seeking donations for COVID-19 vaccines is incorrect.

The minister made the clarification during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja

According to him, Nigeria is expecting large number in batches of doses of COVID-19 vaccine brands in few weeks, which are being paid for.

The Federal Government has said its strict travel protocols are meant to protect its citizens from being infected by COVID-19 pandemic.

Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said this yesterday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Mohammed said Nigeria had been tagged as a very strict country in travel protocols, explaining that the stand of the government was to protect its people against the spread of the virus.

“We have been accused that our rules are being stringent. We say no. We are not being tough for toughness sake. We are being tough because that is what science demands. We are tough because we want to protect our people.

“This is why you will see that the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) has designated and ranked different parts of the globe where the Delta variant is prevalent or the very high risk of contracting COVID-19.

“We have labeled them restricted countries. As of today, we have only four of such: South Africa, India, Brazil and Turkey. And there are strict travel protocols around these countries because we want to prevent and protect our people.

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“The first instance, nationals of these countries are not allowed into Nigeria. If you are a Brazilian and you are coming from Brazil, an Indian coming from India, a South African coming from South Africa, or Turkish coming from Turkey…

“It doesn’t mean a Brazilian living in London cannot come. You can come if you are coming from London. Also, it’s not everybody coming from these countries that are banned. We make exemptions: diplomats are exempted, high-level government officials, those coming to fix our infrastructure and economy are exempted by the PSC.

“But no matter what category, whether a Nigerian coming from Turkey, or you are exempted for whatever you are coming to do in Nigeria, you must observe the travel protocols. This means you check in straight into a quarantined facility approved by the Federal Government.”

The minister aid consistent testing and non-compliance to non-pharmaceutical interventions are responsible for high reported cases of COVID-19 at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camps.

“The truth of the matter is that if we ramp up testing today, there will be more cases.

“People have  actually let down their guards. We are no longer obeying non-pharmaceutical interventions such as washing of hands regularly with soap and water or sanitising of hands when that (washing of hand) is not available.

“Also, wearing of face masks in public places, not gathering people for party, keeping social distancing” he said.

According to him, Nigerians are behaving as if COVID-19 is not real.

“If over 4.2 million people have been lost to the virus world-wide and it is not abating.

“So, we need to take more seriousness on the protocols around COVID-19 especially on non-pharmaceutical interventions”.

 

By Halimah Balogun

The Nigerian Navy (NN) over the weekend has embarked on Community exercise as part of their Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR) and to welcome the United States Navy Ship HERSHEL WOODY WILLIAMS’ visit to Nigeria.

The community relations exercise was conducted at the Lagos State Model Nursery  and Primary School, Ajegunle.

On behalf of the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Johnson Gbassa, Command Project Officer, Captain Olumide Faleye welcomed the US Navy team to Lagos State Model Nursery and Primary School, Ajegunle.

He noted that the command had commenced renovation works as part of its CSR in line with the Chief of the Naval Staff strategic directive 05 2021.

“This school  is the second that would be benefitting from such intervention this year by the command.

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‘’Based on the request from United States ship and the United States consulate that the ship wishes to join Western Naval in her little effort to provide CSR, we shall be witnessing community services being carried out by the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy. The community service will include physical sweeping, painting,’’he said.

He added that all the activities were geared towards making teaching and learning more conducive.

The Education Secretary, Ajeronmi Ifelodun Local Government Secretary Committee praised the Nigerian Navy for its contribution to the school.

“We want to thank the Nigerian Navy for giving back to the society and recognising and picking our school for this community service.

“The local government chairman was on his way to repair this school before because we had sent letters here. They have been around here before to see how the school is and they promised to do it.  But when I came here today, it was a wonderful job I met,” he said.

 

Winners of the Annual National Mathematics Competition (ANMC) organised by the Nigeria Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) in collaboration with the National Mathematical Centre (NMC) have been rewarded with scholarship and other prizes.

Twenty-eight of the cleverest pupils in Mathematics drawn from primary five and six classes across the country were rewarded for their uncommon performances during the 18th edition of the Award held recently at the well-furnished Nile University’s conference hall, Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Group Managing Director (GMD) First Surat Group of Companies, Yasar Ovenc, said the pupils would get 100 per cent scholarship and other rewards for their feat.

The pupils include: Ifunanya Nwanegbo from Mabel Divine International School, Anambra State; Tejiri Esemitodje; Mind Builders School, Lagos;  Chibuzo Obiyo, Pleroma International School, Rivers State; Oluwayemi Akere, University of Lagos Women Society, Lagos; Darasimi Olusola, UCH Staff School Ibadan, Oyo State; and Ebubechukwu Uzoigwu; Saint Jude Private School , Lagos.

The list also include: Bryan Okahia; Bereton Montessori School, Port Harcourt, Rivers; Temitope Akinluwade, Franciscan Nursery and Primary School, Osun State; Abela James, Bimstar Montessori School, Edo State; Farida Suara,  Premier International School, Abuja;  Oluwanifemi Ajoo, Learn at Ease, Utako, Abuja; Kalu Munachimso, Springfield Academy, Anambra State; and Chikamso Kevin; Pleroma International School, Rivers.

Others are Kaosisochukwu Enebe; NTIC, Abuja; Emordi Kamsiyochukwu, Mount Olive School, Onitsha, Anambra; Muhammed Ajibolu, UCH Staff School, Ibadan, Oyo State; Oladehin Oluwatobiloba, Bofoat Model International Group of School, Ondo State; Akwazie Franklin, Springfield Academy, Anambra State; and Tochukwu Ezema, Learn at Ease, Utako, Abuja.

Ovenc said the 100 percent scholarships worth N370,000,000, would be for their six years of secondary education at the NTIC, which has colleges in various states across the country.

“28 students would be awarded 100 per cent scholarship worth N370 million  for six years, N8 million cash awards along with prizes for the schools will be distributed in two zones.

“I want you all to know that the journey does not end here. You got to this level because you are a genius and an outstanding student. Keep the passion for mathematics burning because your limits are far beyond the sky.”

Ovenc said about 10,000 pupils participated in this year’s competition across Nigeria among whom the winners emerged.

Read Also: Maths competition unveils scholarships for winners

 

The first round of the competition took place on June 19, while the second round was on July 23.  The 40 pupils that made it to the second round competed under two zones.

He said NTIC had been organising ANMC since 2003 in collaboration with NMC to harness outstanding young mathematics minds and groom them to become strong and proficient in sciences.

“The ultimate goal is to produce remarkable students that would lead to changes in the inventions that would shape the future of sciences in Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large,” he said.

He charged the pupils to remain focused and assured them of getting the best education at NTIC.

“We look forward to having you all on board at Nigerian Tulip International Colleges, where we set the atmosphere and make the environment right for learning. We are passionate about quality education and do all that is within our power to give our students quality education with global excellence in mind,” he said.

On his part, the Director/Chief Executive Officer, NMC, Prof. Stephen Onah, who expressed delight over the ANMC, praised NTIC for promoting the study of Mathematics in Nigeria.

Represented by Dr Azuka Benard, Acting registrar of the Centre, Onah said “NMC as a body has been collaborating with NTIC for years since its inception (competition).

“I want to say NMC and NTIC have a congress of interest in the area of development of mathematics science. And it has been mentioned that any nation that does not bring up its young ones in Mathematics has no future, because the future of any nation depends on the level of teaching mathematics.  This is the mission and interest of NMC and that is what NTIC is also trying to do,” he said.

Also speaking, the managing director of NTIC, Fevzullah Bilgin, said the ANMC had produced 180 scholarship beneficiaries since 2003, who he said had excelled at NITC.

“Right from 2003, over 210,800 pupils have participated in the competition spread across the 36 states in the country and we have offered 180 pupils 100percent scholarship which includes the tuition and hostel fee for six years. All the students that came into NTIC through ANMC have been harnessed and are doing remarkably well in their academic endeavours,” he said.

He listed Henry Aniobi – a 2007 winner as one of them. Henry is a three-time Pan African Mathematical Olympiad Winner with two Gold medals and a Silver medal (Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Nigeria). He has also received Bronze medals four times at the International Mathematics Olympiad (Holland, Argentina, Columbia, South Africa).

Another high flyer, Ayomide Bamidele, a 2008 winner, was a National Physics Olympiad winner in 2014. He also won a bronze medal at the International Physics Olympiad in 2014 in Kazakhstan.

The roll call of the champions also includes Vincent Anioke – a 2006 winner who scored 239 out of 2400 in S.A.T and gained a scholarship into MIT, U.S. for his university education.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Twenty indigent pupils of the Bridge International Academies, a network of schools serving low-income earners, were presented with a full academic year scholarship, courtesy of the Alabaster Network, a group of working-class Christian women with a common goal of sharing principles on how to excel in their careers, at the home and impact lives.

The non-governmental organisation, Alabaster network, has carried out social impact projects like supporting orphanages and adopting a local government hospital and donating equipment to make the lives of women in that community better, especially during childbirth and delivery.

The scholarship award to the 20 Bridge pupils is their first social project in education.

Speaking at the scholarship presentation ceremony held at the Bridge Lagos office last Monday, a representative of the Alabaster network, Ms Iye Rotimi noted that investing in the lives of children through education is a pivotal way to securing Nigeria’s future.

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“If there is anybody seeking to make an impact, there is no better way than to invest in the lives of children because they are the future of our country,” she said.

Rotimi added that she hopes that the scholarship will support the families and encourage the children to continue to soar high and excel in their studies.

One of the beneficiaries, Obaloluwa Olusesan, a primary four pupil at Bridge International Academies in Ipaja, said he was happy because Bridge had helped him so much in his studies. He said he enjoys reading because of the electronic reading programme in his school. The virtual storybook library also called the ERP has hundreds of stories to help children practise literacy.

A parent of one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Modupe Alfred, said she was so excited to receive the notification of her son’s scholarship as it would go a long way in supporting her family. She thanked Alabaster and Bridge for their intervention at supporting children’s access to life changing education.

 

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

Pupils from the six education districts of Lagos State put up their best chart-stopping performance at the 2021 Choral and Classical Music Competition held at the Adeyemi-Bero Hall last Friday.

The programme featured solos and choral presentations by soloists and choirs from the six districts as well as guest appearances from the CMS Grammar School choir, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) choir, Lagos State School Choral and Orchestra, and Mr Adeniyi Olaewe (Niyi Sax).

At the end of an exciting competition that had the choirs dressed in colourful costumes, Ogundele Oladotun of Lagos State Junior Model College, Agbowa representing District III emerged overall best soloist and stage performer ahead of Ikechukwu Denzel of Ikeja Junior Grammar School (District VI) and Uche Chisom of District Junior College, Agege (District 1).  The soloists won school bags, which the Commissioner said were loaded with goodies.

In the Choral presentation, Education District IV emerged first position with 242 points, well ahead of District III, which had 218 points and District VI, which had 215 points. The three districts were rewarded with trophies.

Education Commissioner, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, praised the performances put up by the pupils, especially the soloists, whom she said she thoroughly enjoyed listening to.

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“I thought it was quite good I enjoyed the music, I enjoyed the songs and those soloists, I love their voices and with training of course it will get better. But for now totally untrained voices to sing like that, I thought that was remarkable,” she said.

Mrs. Adefisayo said the competition gave the pupils a platform to exploit talents that could earn them income in future.

“In the world of today, music and so on are not things that parents need to say, ‘my child should not do this,’ ‘my child should not do that’. It can be a veritable source of great employment for some of these children someday,” she said.

On her part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Abosede Adelaja, said the pupils would get more training to get better.

“Today’s competition is just to bring out the skills in our students and also to help them to do better. We have noticed areas that we need to go and work on for a better outing. What they have done today is not bad at all; they did well but now that we are realising the importance of all these activities, they may need to get professionals who will train them so that they can be professional in everything and even at their level they can be making their money and supporting their parents,” she said.

Lead Soloist, a 14-year-old JSS3 pupil, Oludotun, said she gave the solo her best to emerge winner.

 

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

The Lagos State Education Commissioner, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, has said the admission into Lagos State model colleges and upgraded secondary schools would soon be concluded.

Speaking at the launch of the Eko digital school at the Ministry of Education conference room on Tuesday, Mrs. Adefisayo said the 2021 model college’s screening test was totally digitised which has helped the process.

“One of the things that we do with technology is the Computer Based Test (CBT). We had CBT for our model schools examinations and within two to three days, the result was out. We have given out the results and in a few days now, we are going to conclude our admissions. This is something that rarely happens,” she said.

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In a statement on Monday, the Permament secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Abosede Adelaja, directed candidates who took the entrance examination to visit the Lagos State examinations board portal to check their result using their serial number and PIN provided during the registration process.

The statement also noted that the admission status would be uploaded onto the portal very soon.