By Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan

The head of Araromi village, Chief Tafa Apanpa, and his wife have been abducted in Bakatari, Iddo local government area of Oyo State by unknown gunmen.

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Sources said the gunmen took away the Baale and his wife on Tuesday.

Police spokesman Adewale Osifeso confirmed the incident, saying there were efforts to release the captives.

Rector of the Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu (FEDCODTTEN), Dr. John Emaimo, was has been conferred with the Most Outstanding Rector of the Year Award in Nigeria by the Association of Southern Nigeria Students (ASONIS)

The group said Emaimo’s selection followed an examination of the activities and profiles of various rectors that it received.

President of ASONIS, Comrade Chinedu Edeh, said the decision to confer the award on Emaimo was taken by over 60 selected Southern Nigeria students’leaders from the three geo-political zones.

“It is a tradition for ASONIS to choose people based on what they are doing and what they are capable of doing next, because from what one has done, we’ll be able to predict what he can do next. So many names were forwarded but Dr. Emaimo represents a father, a mentor and a great administrator because he has done so much for the Dental College. ASONIS picked him because of his good policies,” Edeh said.

Emaimo said he did not know that people were watching and taking note of the trends in the college under his watch.

He described the college as a student friendly institution where both academic and non-academic staff would not have been engaged if students were not there in the first instance.

“This college has transited from awarding Higher Diplomas to the level of degree awards. This is the first federal degree awarding institution in Enugu State and in the future, it becomes only a degree awarding institution and the college is focusing on critical areas of need,” Emaimo added.

The Language, Arts and Culture Day at Chrisland Schools, Lagos, provides an opportunity to remind its pupils of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage, says its Principal, Mr. Eric Van Der Merwe.

Speaking at the event held at the school’s premises in Opebi, Merwe lamented that many pupils were not in touch with their culture.

“Nigeria has one of the best cultures in the world and this is what has kept me back in Nigeria for the past 11 years. As a school, we have discovered that a lot of students are not in touch with their background and culture, hence the reason for this occasion. This is an event the school has successfully done each year as a way of keeping students in touch with their roots,” he said.

The event, which featured fashion parade, dances and other presentations reflective of the cultures from the six geo-political zones of the country, dramas and a local food fair, had as theme: “One Root, Many Branches.”

Special guest at the occasion, Olufunke Rekiya Hassan of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Authority, described the event as remarkable and praised Chrisland High School for its commitment to the promotion of culture.

“We must highlight and promote our culture, not just as matter of individual preferences or styles but collectively as our national identity. I applaud the organisers, Chrisland Schools, for serving as custodians of our rich cultural legacy, which is one of our resources,’ she said.

Also present at the event were Oba Olusegun Adeyemi Ajasa, Awuse of Onigbongbo Kingdom; Mrs Mofoluke Oluwasanmi of the Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture and Mrs Osayande Osaro of the Centre for Black African Art and Civilisation.

By Justina Asishana, Minna

The Niger State government has honoured 12 class teachers, head teachers and Education Secretaries for their outstanding performance and dedication to duty.

The award was conducted by the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB).

Four Education Secretaries, three Head teachers, one Principal and four teachers got the award.

The Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, who presented the awards, said teachers were vital to nation-building and social change.

“Indeed teachers are the most veritable stakeholders in the education system. I believe the desire to identify and award deserving teachers at this time is very apt as we consolidate on creating a sustainable education system in the State,” he said.

He praised Niger SUBEB for boosting teaching and learning through capacity development of the educators.

“The empowerment of teachers is a priority to us because we cannot raise the quality of our students without first standardising the quality of those who are to impart the character and knowledge,” he said.

Chairman, Niger SUBEB, Dr Isah Adamu said the Board identified those who had distinguished themselves despite challenges for the award.

He noted that the recipients were selected because they satisfied the the process.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, the Education Secretary, Kontagora Local Government appreciated the NSUBEB for recognising their efforts and assured of more commitment to work

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

In four years, the distinguished professor of Science Education, Peter Okebukola, has promised to strengthen the Samuel Adegboyega University, Ogwa, Edo State.

The university owned by The Apostolic Church Nigeria (TACN), LAWNA Territory, will keep Okebukola who retired from the Lagos State University (LASU) in February after clocking 70 busy as Pro-chancellor/Chairman of Governing Council.

Speaking after the inauguration of the council, Board of Trustees(BoT) and Resource Mobilisation Committee for the university at TACN Council Hall in Ketu, Lagos, Okebukola said the Council would collaborate with the university management and BoT to improve the university.

Okebukola said: “God will give us the enabling to move Samuel Adegboyega University higher. Here, as I speak, there are 39,200 universities in the world. The first university was established almost like 2,000 years ago actually 1,921 years ago. Samuel Adegboyega is like a toddler just 10 years old so we cannot expect it to be better than the old ones but I assure you that as the Lord liveth in the next four years, Samuel Adegboyega University, as you said, will come up really strong.”

The former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) said his findings from the NUC revealed that the institution was not doing badly after 10 years of existence.

“I asked the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission …, Tell me what Samuel Adegboyega University is in the profile of the Nigerian universities and he checked and he told me that we are not doing badly at all. Academic development – our programmes – all of them fully accredited with our physical facilities that are passable for its age, our academic staff are top notch. They are very good,” he said.

In his speech, the Visitor/Chancellor of the university, Pastor Emmanuel Segun Awojide, said the 10-man BoT chaired by Prof. Samson Fatokun, would serve a tenure of five years, while the 18-member Council would serve for four.

He charged the new members to make transparency their watchword.

“Members are called to service with love knowing full we shall all account for our ability on the day of judgment.  Transparency and accountability should be our watchword.  The Board and the Governing Council should raise the standard of accountability and probity in the university,” he said.

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) Nigerian Chapter has donated an Occupational Safety and Health Electronics (IOSH) library to the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State.

Described as the first of its kind in the country, the library was inaugurated last weekend.

The Society’s President, Mrs. Mercy Omoifo lrefo, said the PTI leadership provided the venue for ASSP to site the library after Memorandum of Understanding was signed by both.

She said the project was the signature project for her and other executives during their tenure.

She said: “The passion to establish an e-library came after identifying this gap and considering what to do in my tenure as the President of ASSP, NC.  that would be most beneficial to ASSP and professional bodies in Nigeria. I finally chose my alma mater, the Petroleum Training Institute.”

“My team and I approach the management of PTI during my courtesy visit and it was granted with their commitment to partner ASSP-NC to see that the project is not just coming up but also being involved in provision of space for the library, provision of office space for us to operate from and commitment to maintain and provide human resources to manage the library after handing over etc. The sacrifices and commitments went  a long way to see that the project came to reality.”

She said the project was expensive and that she had to raise funds from organisations, government agencies, families and friends to achieve her objective, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation as many of the commitments were not met.

She said only 70 per cent of the project was done.

She appealed to the state Deputy Governor Kingsley Otuaro and others to help in completing the project. The items that are: 15pcs 3-1 computers valued N 3.9million; solar panels for the inverter unit N420, 000 and 60 ergonomic chairs N 1.3million. A total of N5.620million is needed, she added.

She thanked Otuaro, the Principal and Chief Executive, Dr Henry Adimula and PTI, the Director of Library and Information Technology, Mr Richard Obashe, members of ASSP and others for making the project a reality. She advised the students to make good use of it.

Otuaro praised ASSP for the gesture, noting that it would serve the state. He promised to assit in completing the library.