Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said he introduced the EKOEXCEL programme in all public primary schools in the state to change the learning outcomes for pupils.
The Governor stated this whole speaking with Chairman House Committee on basic education and services, Professor Julius Ihovnbere, members of the committee, Commissioner for Education Folashade Adefisayo, Chairman, Lagos State Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) Wahab Olawale Alawiye-King and other stakeholders at his office.
Sanwo-Olu said: “In the last couple of years, we have built strong foundations and this fiscal year, we increased our budget on education from eight to twelve per cent. We invested in curriculum development through EKOEXCEL to change the learning outcomes from our schools.
“We believe a solid foundation for our children starts with qualitative primary education hence our deliberate focus on primary school education and reform.
“Our administration will continue to increase investment to bring up the standard of education across board”.
The programme has been widely endorsed by educators across the state.
Lagos NUT Chairman Hon. Adedoyin Adesina hailed Sanwo-Olu for the initiative, noting he has surpassed all previous investments in education.
“Since we have been having budgetary allocations to education since I started teaching in Lagos, I noticed that Sanwo-Olu has surpassed all,” he stressed.
EKOEXCEL is a Lagos State government funded education reform programme successfully developing more highly skilled teachers with thousands of teachers re-trained State-wide in future ready pedagogy, which is dramatically accelerating learning with twice more learning math and 3 times more in literacy.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Thursday, said that the National Assembly is focused on strengthening regulatory mechanisms to ensure that the nation’s cherished do not suffer degeneration as a result of drug abuse.
Lawan made this known in a keynote address delivered to declare open a Public Hearing on the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency Act 2004.
The Senate President who was represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (Kwara Central), said that the issue of drug abuse in the country “has become a hazard” too difficult to ignore.
Lawan said: “Equally important is that drug abuse has become a hazard. While we may often identify abuse with the youths, emerging evidence reveals that it cuts across all social strata.
“What this means is that more and more people are resorting to dangerous mechanisms for escape. The consequence of this is multiple, as has been proved.
“We (National Assembly) have severally demonstrated that we cannot allow the degeneration of our values, through drugs, and other substances, considering our concerted quest for growth.”
Also speaking at the hearing, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Hezekiah Dimka, said that the repeal and re-enactment of the NDLEA Act 2004 became imperative in view of the severe threat posed by drug abuse and trafficking on security in the country.
AstraZeneca said its COVID-19 vaccine was 76 percent effective at preventing symptomatic illness in a new analysis of its key trial in the United States slightly lower than the level 79% announced earlier this week in a report that was criticized for using outdated information.
The latest data was based on 190 cases of coronavirus among more than 32,400 participants in the United States, Chile and Peru.
The earlier interim data was based on 141 infections up until 17th February.
The latest data had been presented to the independent trial oversight committee, the Data Safety Monitoring Board.
It was reiterated on Thursday that the AstraZeneca shot, developed with Oxford University, was 100 percent effective against severe or critical forms of the disease.
It also said the vaccine showed 85 percent efficacy in adults 65 years and older.
The updated 76 percent efficacy rate contrasts with rates of about 95 percent for vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, which not only require more careful storage and handling but are also more expensive.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is cheaper and easier to handle and has been given to millions of people in the United Kingdom.
More than 70 countries have already granted the drug conditional marketing or emergency use authorization, and it is the mainstay of the World Health Organization’s COVAX facility, which aims to get required vaccines to the less wealthy parts of the world.
The remarkable rebuke from US health authorities had marked a fresh setback for the vaccine after more than a dozen countries, primarily in the European Union which temporarily suspended it after a tiny blood clot cases arose.
Although EU’s drug regulator said last week the vaccine was clearly safe and the benefits surpass the risks.
The Lagos State Agency for Mass Education has promised to collaborate with tutorial centres to identify centres not captured on the government’s database.
Director of the Agency, Mrs. Kemi Kalesanwo said at a stakeholders meeting with operators of continued education centres (CEC) that the government was willing to work with the registered centres to identify the unregistered operators as a way of reducing dues payable to the government yearly.
During the meeting held at the T.Block conference room, Alausa, the tutorial centres operators had complained that those of them registered by the government bore the burden for the multitude of unregistered operators.
National Public Relations Officer of the Association of Tutorial School Operators (ATSO), Mr. Adewale Idowu said: “Some tutorial centres are hiding. We are ready to work with the government to identify them. We pay dues for those that are hiding. We are ready to point them out so our annual dues can reduce.”
Idowu also lamented that tutorial centres were suffering from lack of patronage because of a government policy that has kept pupils in school longer in the name of reading sessions or extra classes – which do not hold regularly. He called for a review of the policy.
Responding, Mrs. Kalesanwo attributed the low patronage to COVID-19 pandemic. She said the agency would deliberate on their concerns and was ready to work with the CEC operators to identify those not captured by the government.
She said the annual dues was gradually being reduced, adding that the Agency only collects approval fees once during registration, and afterwards annual dues.
“If you observe, the dues is gradually being reduced. When I got to the Agency, we had less than 200 centres. Last year, when we did a census, we had 2,000 centres. By the time we have a lot more, the annual dues will reduce,” she said.
In an interview after the meeting, Mrs. Kalesanwo assured the CEC operators that they would benefit from partnership with the government.
“We have a lot of them. They are the people at the centres and they have told us where they think the government can come in to assist them. Like I told them, there are some that are out of my purview but I will take it back. This is the beginning of a beautiful partnership because it is the first of its kind where we will meet with this large number of CEC operators. I can assure you that at time goes on we will have positive changes and the out-of-school youth will be the one to benefit from it,” she said.
Mrs. Kalesanwo however admonished them not to lure young people to perpetrate examination malpractice.
Other issues raised at the meeting were certificate of approval for CECs, enrolment of CEC students for the Basic Education Certificate Examination, among others.
Regarding the certificates, the director said the operators should regard their approval letters as certificates. She also said if they had school-aged students in their centres, the agency could help facilitate their registration for the BECE.
All is now set for the first National Conference and Workshop of the Association of Nigerian Universities Alumni (ANUA) to be hosted by the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).
The event with theme, “Developing a Platform for University Alumni Associations’ contribution to university education in Nigeria”, is scheduled to hold at the UNILORIN Auditorium between April 7and 11, 2021.
Expected participants at the workshop include principal officers of universities, alumni presidents and secretaries, directors of Alumni/Alumni Relations, and university directors of endowment.
Already, the Chairman of ANUA, who is also the National President of the UNILORIN Alumni Association (UILAA), Dr. Wale Fasakin, has inaugurated the event’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), under the Chairmanship of Prof. Lukman Azeez, and about seven sub-committees for the logistics planning towards ensuring the success of the Conference/Workshop expected to be attended by graduates of Nigerian universities based in the country and in the Diaspora.
The Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Obafemi Omokungbe, has been inducted into the Fellowship Hall of Fame of the Chartered Institute of Public Resources Management and Politics(Ghana).
The investiture held at the Council Chamber of the Administrative Block of the school.
Omokungbe, an engineer, was honoured with the prestigious lifetime award for his selfless services and enviable track records as a phenomenon and his contributions to national development.
Omokungbe said he saw the recognition as a motivation to re-dedicate himself and continue with good services to humanity which he had always been known for.
He said: “As I receive the symbol of my investiture today, I make a solemn pledge to continue to remain faithful, loyal and honest to my country and always uphold the Green and White flag as an ambassador and distinguished compatriot of this great nation, Nigeria.
Presenting the award on behalf of the Advisory Board and Governing Council of the Chartered Institute was the Executive Director, West African Region of Chartered Institute of Public Resources Management and Politics (Ghana) CIPRMP, Mr. Richard Kpoku-Aquarte.
Kpoku-Aquarte said Omokungbe was an accomplished service personality and a statesman who had made and still making tremendous contributions towards national development for the progress, peace and unity of one Nigeria.
He said: “We can observe that you are an embodiment of selfless service and have proven professionalism and a shining example of Integrity,and has therefore been recognised by the chartered institute.
The representative described the Rector as an exceptional academic trailblaser and management expert which has been replicated in the academic standard of the institution as he recognises the students of the institution to have been an emblem of prestige that demonstrate resounding qualities of academic excellence in every academic pursuit. He said the honour was awarded to appreciate his effort to be a mantra of change and make YABATECH an institution to be reckoned with right from beginning of his tenure in 2018.
“You have furthered projected this institution into global excellence,” he said
The representative of the institute urged the rector not to relent and see the achievement as more calls to service in delivering his best to any segments of humanity.
The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, has warned that the government should stop the discrimination between public and private universities in funding research else, Nigeria may not benefit fully from its results.
Speaking with reporters at the university’s library, the VC noted that the country may not reap any benefit from research if it failed to put proper structures in place.
“For research to serve Nigeria well, there must be a structure, there must be a challenge for each research centre to address and in the case of failure to meet their target, there should be consequences. This will discourage nepotism and enhance result-driven goals.
“There is a need for collaboration among universities in Nigeria, no one school can do it all. We must acknowledge that a school is better in a field and also celebrate our scientists, instead of waiting for them to go abroad and be celebrated.
“Private universities don’t enjoy TETFUND at all, and before they can, the National Assembly will have to amend the act to accommodate them. We must stop the discrimination, research effort does not choose to come whether from a public or private school. Research output emerges from the national effort, so, our discrimination may not help the national research enterprise at all.
“As university administrators, we do not have to wait for the National Universities Commission to overhaul the national curriculum, the body has set a Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS) for each school to surpass. So, it is the responsibility of schools to look inward and develop a standard for itself,” he said.
Ogunwole also stressed that efforts geared towards improving education.
Founder of Pretty Valued Kids, Nigeria, Mrs. Chinenye Azubike-Onyegbu, popularly known as Nenye Azubike, has urged education stakeholders to instill positive values in children.
Azubike, while giving her remarks during the unveiling of value-adding products for children, said children should not be raised basically to achieve academic excellence.
Some of the products unveiled like mug, water bottle, shirts, had affirming words inscribed on them.
“Pretty Valued Kids, Nigeria, is an organisation whose major project is to teach, validate and help kids develop strong values through our range of character-building products that children use every day. Our model is to consistently help children build positive reinforcements.
“We hope to partner with parents who want to take the responsibility to do the ‘extra’ needed to raise children with positive values and strong character. Our range of products include t-shirts, shirts, throw pillows, hand sanitisers, water bottles, mugs, story books, journals, frames. Products like bags, towels, flashcards and even more will be introduced shortly,” she said.
She also encouraged parents to create more time for their children.
During a panel discussion at the unveiling, a personal development coach, Mrs Sabrina Ben-Salmi advised parents to understand the skills set of their children as this would help guide them on the right career path.
“Parents need to make it a habit to invite the children to have a say in the decisions regarding their future, this will help groom positive 21st century children.
Director of White Oak Schools, Lagos, Mrs Teresa Oniru said parents and teachers needed to come together in the grooming of children.
At the Federal Polytechnic Nekede in Imo State, students do not carry file from department to department signing registration forms at the beginning of every session.
Its Rector, Rev. Michael Arimanwa said this was possible because of the Smart Campus Initiative launched in 2019.
In an interview with The Nation, Arimanwa said not only did students not need to sign forms to register soon, they would not even need to complete paperwork to register or check results physically until graduation as everything would be done online.
He said: “We launched the Smart Campus Initiative in 2019 and the whole essence of the concept is to digitalise our operations so that everything about the institution is automated and digitalised.
“Now, if you are a student in this polytechnic, you do not need to queue behind a window to pay fees; you do not need to queue behind a window to get the receipt of fees you have paid; you do not need to go to a lecturer’s office to get your semester results. Even if you are doing clearance after graduation, you do not need to go from office to office to get it done. All these activities and more have been integrated into our website portal so that any student that needs to do anything only needs to go to the website.”
Arimanwa said students only need to show up physically to collect their statements of results. He said automating the process protects students from extortion, harassment and other vices.
“The only time the student will need to make contact with officials physically, is when he wants to collect his or her statement of result and that is for obvious reasons. We do not need to post it online, you need to physically come, sign and collect the statement of result.
“Beyond that, every other thing from beginning to end can be done without making unnecessary contact with people. Even courses are registered online, examinations are written online and lecturers mark and grade the examinations and move the results to the necessary departments through the same portal until it gets to the final authority whose responsibility it is to approve results.
“As we complete the project cycle of the Smart Campus Initiative, what will happen is that from the beginning of their registration to their graduation, students will have no need to interface with anybody. And it should be noted at this point also, that it is such physical interface that usually creates room for bribery, extortion, intimidation, manipulation and harassments. So far, the system is running perfectly and we shall continue to raise the bar in learning and innovation,” he said.
Parents, pupils, teachers, and authorities of St. George’s Primary School, Okeagbe-Akoko in Ondo State are in dire straits following a rainstorm which destroyed facilities they once took pride in, reports DAMOLA KOLA-DARE
Teaching and learning at St. George’s Anglican Primary School, Okeagbe, Akoko in Ondo State were unhindered until March 12, when a rainstorm damaged almost all the facilities in the school. Though now dilapidated, the school administration refused to be discouraged; it is making do with the available facilities to serve the needs of its 467 pupils.
Before the incident, there were five blocks of classrooms. The school had a functional IT laboratory with 30 computers, and a library.
The school closed normally that March 12, for the weekend. However, a rainstorm that started by 5pm that Friday wreaked havoc, leaving the facilities a shadow of their selves. When classes resumed the following Monday, what the pupils and teachers met was destruction.
The roofs of the school’s five blocks, including the library and computer room; the computers and hundreds of books were destroyed. The Head Teacher’s Office was partially affected as well as other buildings in the school’s host community.
However, the Head Teacher, Mrs. Olukemi Bello, said the poor state of facilities did not deter the 467 pupils of the school from learning.
“The school is in a terrible state as I speak to you. The storm that occurred on Friday, March 12, has really affected the school and other facilities, including my office.
‘’However, pupils continue to come to school. They have not allowed that to discourage them. We now use the partially-destroyed classrooms for lessons, though they are not conducive,” she said.
She said the Local Government Chairman for Akoko Northwest, Hon. Ayo Akande, as well as officials of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) had visited the place to assess the damage and chart a way forward.
Appeal for government’s support
During his inauguration in February for the second term in office, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, reiterated his commitment to repositioning education.
“This administration has renovated, rebuilt or constructed almost 800 primary schools through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). Our goal is to make all public schools as attractive as possible. We have given approval for the recruitment of teachers in primary schools in the state. As soon as the economy begins to look up, the secondary schools will have their fair share,” he said.
However, St. George’s Anglican Primary School, Okeagbe was not one of the schools rehabilitated and is now in urgent need of government’s intervention.
Parents, teachers and pupils have been sending ‘Save Our Soul’ (SOS) messages to the Ondo State Government, well-meaning individuals and philanthropists for urgent help to reconstruct the school.
The Parents, Teachers Association (PTA) Chairman, Mr. Awe Samuel, expressed sadness on the porous nature of the school after the destruction.
“What happened to the school is disturbing and worrisome. The pupils are now exposed to danger. Classrooms and facilities which cost a lot have been destroyed. I urge the state government to save the future of our children. The school needs to be rebuilt,” he said.
Funsho Abiodun, a Social Studies teacher, said: “The interest of the children is paramount to us. Government should assist us in rebuilding the school. Many of the structures were dilapidated. But the storm worsened everything. Our computers, UPS, and books have been destroyed. We want government to erect new buildings for us. We know the Ondo State Government is committed to education.”
The National President of National Congress of Akoko Students (NACAS), Comrade Lemuel Akinyele, while sympathising with the school, urged the state government to come to the aid of the school and save the future of the pupils.
•The library after the storm
The Head Boy, Timileyin Ajulo, a Primary Six pupil, lamented that they were learning under terrible conditions, urging the government to come to their aid.
“We are learning under poor conditions. When it rains, we get soaked; our books as well. We are not spared by the sun, too. The classroom we now use, though partially broken, is not convenient for us. We plead with the government to urgently address the situation. We do not want our education disturbed,” Ajulo pleaded.
While also appealing for quick help, Sarah Olugbenga, the head girl, said: “Since our classrooms got destroyed, learning has been tough for us. Concentrating in an environment like this is difficult. The state government should rescue us as fast as possible.”
Another pupil, Afon Joshua, said: “We learn in the sun. We learn in the rain. It is affecting us. Our school has been blown off by storm. Government should help secure our future.”
Local government cash-strapped
The Local Government Chairman, Akoko Northwest, Ayo Akande, said he could not say how soon reconstruction would commence, citing lack of funds.
“I don’t know how soon the rebuilding will start because the local government does not have the needed funds to embark on the project. Nevertheless, we have contacted the State Universal Basic Education Board and officials in the Ministry of Education.
‘’We have also written letters to the governor and other relevant agencies and forwarded our report to them.”
The copy of the letter was made available to The Nation. The letter entitled: “Rainstorm Havoc in Akoko Northwest Local Government,” was written by the Director-General Services and Administration, T.O. Ibrahim, on behalf of the chairman. It was addressed to the Managing Director, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), office of the Deputy Governor, Akure, Ondo State.
It reads in part: “I am directed to inform you that the heavy rainfall of March 12, 2021 was accompanied with a storm that wreaked havoc in Okeagbe, Akoko precisely, where properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.
“The properties destroyed included government buildings, schools, electric poles and ,houses, among others.
“You may also note this for the state government’s possible assistance.”
He called on kind-hearted individuals and prominent indigenes of Akoko for support towards rebuilding the school, adding that the state government couldn’t do it alone.
SUBEB promises help
Chief Education Officer, School Services, Akoko Northwest, Mr. Aina Benjamin Babatunde, who lamented that the school was in bad shape, noted that SUBEB would notify appropriate authorities of the damage.
He said: “Teaching and learning will be seriously disturbed. I was there last week. It was a huge damage. Classrooms were affected, computers and books were destroyed.
“Thus, I asked the headmistress to take the photos of the building which will be submitted alongside her report at the SUBEB headquarters in Akure, the state capital,” Babatunde added.
