Category: Uncategorized

By Toba Adedeji, Osogbo

The Fountain University in Osogbo, Osun State has obtained approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence Nursing Science, Environmental Health Science, Law, Medical Laboratory Science and Public Health programmes 2020/2021 Academic Session.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr Toyeeb Olayinka, explained Director of Academic Planning, Dr N.B Saliu, in a letter conveyed the approval on behalf of the NUC Executive Secretary.

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“Dr Saliu congratulated the University for the accomplishment, stating that the NUC panels of experts were satisfied with the human and material resources made available for the commencement of the programmes during the resource verification visit.

“The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Amidu Sanni commended the proprietor, staff and stakeholders of the university for putting all hands-on deck at ensuring the successful commencement of the programmes.”

The VC assured the institution will sustain the approved programmes.

By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has approved the resumption of all public and private nursery, primary and secondary schools for the second term of 2020/2021 academic session for Monday, 1st March 2021.

A statement by Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Barr. Chris Ezem said that the second term would end on Friday, 7th May 2021.

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It further added all school heads and proprietors must ensure that COVID-19 guidelines and protocols are strictly observed in their schools.

But there are doubts teachers in public schools may not resume classrooms if government fails to pay their salary arrears, which they have been agitating for since January.

By Moses Emorinken, Abuja

The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has expressed readiness to begin the development and production of indigenous vaccines to tackle the covid-19 pandemic.

The President of the Association, Prof. James Damen, made this known in Abuja after its emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

He also stressed on the need to subject imported vaccines to validation by relevant indigenous bodies to ensure its safety and effectiveness for Nigerians.

He said, “Imported vaccines must be such that will be easily adaptable in our clime in view of our peculiar weather. The said vaccine(s) must also be subjected to in-country validation procedures to ascertain their safety and effectiveness in line with international best practices.

“NEC wishes to assure Nigerians that as Medical Laboratory Scientists who are skilled in knowledge and techniques of vaccine(s) production, we are ready to start the development and production of indigenous vaccines against SARS-COV-2 in collaboration with other stakeholders and indeed all other infectious diseases. All we need is adequate funding and necessary Laboratory infrastructure.

“NEC commends the FG for the passion demonstrated so far in up-scaling Laboratory infrastructure during this COVID-19 era 4s seen with the establishment of over seventy (70) Molecular Biology Laboratories in Nigeria adding that the Federal Government can take it a step further by re-activating Human Vaccine Production Laboratories in Nigeria as the world is constantly being challenged by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.”

Concerning the Medical and Dental Practitioners (MDP) reenactment bill currently undergoing review at the National Assembly, AMLSN raised concerns over its conflict some parts of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) Act.

Damen said, “What the MDP re-enactment bill is asking the National Assembly to do is what the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Nigeria has rejected from the eye of the law on many occasions.

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“NEC to this end, calls upon the National Assembly to follow suit and reject the bill in line with the submissions of National Universities Commission (NUC), Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria AMLSN), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) and the generality of Nigerians.

“NEC wishes to call on the Senate President, Sen. Dr. Anmed Lawal, CFR to immediately replace the current Chairman, Senate Committee, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, who doubles as the sponsor of the proposed amendment of the Medical and Dental Prac itioners of Nigeria (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2020, in view of his clear lack of objectivity, clear biased and preferred interest on the bill.

“NEC regrets that the Nigerian Health space has been turned into an acrimonious war zone by medical doctors whose insistence on leadership of the system from the hospitals to the ministries and to every health-related committee has created more harm and calls for unbundling of the system to have other Health Professionals man these leadership position as history has shown that the system functioned better in this respect.

“Synergy among Health Professionals would help create a better working environment, which is important to patient-centred Healthcare delivery and safety. The leadership of World Health Organization (WHO) as we speak, is under a laboratory.”

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

The ongoing strike by the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Bayelsa State chapter, has shut down the activities of primary healthcare centres (PHCs) across the state.

The strike has hampered access to basic healthcare services such as ante-natal for pregnant women and child immunisation at health centres across the eight local government areas in the state.

The union, which draws its membership mostly from primary health centres, began an indefinite industrial action on Friday over alleged non-payment of 15-month salary arrears.

The Chairman, MHWUN, Bayelsa State, Mr Barnabas Simon, who gave an update on the strike on Saturday, said the union embarked on the strike as the last option following the expiration of earlier deadlines and fruitless meetings with government officials.

He explained that the arrears owed the union members ranged from two to 15 months.

Simon expressed displeasure over many unresolved issues by the government as it affects PHC workers in the state, adding that after several talks, none of their demands had been met.

He regretted that there were no signs from the government on meeting the demand for payment of the outstanding emoluments of the health workers to justify the pressure on union leaders to suspend the strike.

He said: “The Bayelsa State Council of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria directed all her members to down tools from February 12, 2021, after the expiration of ultimatum on February 11, and so far the compliance is total.

“We have been holding meetings with state and local government officials and nothing concrete has been offered to the aggrieved workers, they have been asking us to suspend the strike and discussions are on.

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“We made our position clear that we are open to dialogue and negotiations but what we really want is the implementation of the prior discussions have had.”

An expectant mother, Mrs Ebiboere Michael, said that she had visited the Amarata PHC in Yenagoa but could not get attention for her antenatal clinic due to the strike.

“I was at the health centre on Friday but the health workers there were on strike and i have to go back, it is not even easy to go to another place to register again because of costs, so I have to wait and pray they resolve it.”

Bayelsa Commissioner for Health, Dr Newton Igwele, said that efforts were ongoing to resolve the industrial action by MHWUN whose mem had withdrawn services at health centres across the state.

“I hope you know that these health workers are not employees of the state government? They are a staff of the local governments and they are having discussions to resolve the dispute,” Igwele said.

By Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan

The Convener of Raising Girls Ambition (RAGA) Conference, Dr Adepeju Oti, has appealed to relevant stakeholders including parents, teachers, corporate organisations and government to consider placing a higher priority on more pressing issues affecting the girl-child.

Oti, who is also the founder of a non-governmental organisation, Global Youth Leadership and Girl-child Foundation (GYLGF), said if the government and relevant stakeholders would place half of the kind of supports being given to entertainment shows to education, the future of the youths would be more secured.

She made the appeal at the post-RAGA conference awards ceremony and press conference at the Oyo State Ministry of Education in Ibadan.

Speaking on the impact of the annual conference, the RAGA convener said over 2000 girls have been positively influenced in the last six years that the effort had started.

RAGA is an annual conference organised by GYLGF in partnership with Lead City University, Ibadan.

According to Oti, GYLGF envisions a society where the potentials of youth and girl-child are fully developed, supported to become socially responsible and able to lead self and contribute meaningfully to society.

She disclosed about 50 girls have participated in the RAGA global mentorship programme, with 25 mentors from different nationalities, while three girls are on secondary school and university scholarships.

Oti called for support of the government and relevant ministry and agencies to ensure that every girl attains the highest level of education and reaches her optimum potential, adding that every youth should be gainfully employed and or able to create employment.

She said the NGO is also supporting the government in its responsibilities and needs the authorities to cooperate more with her.

Oti said: “It is appalling for society to place a priority on entertainment shows when there are more pressing issues like girl-child education begging for attention.

“The result is the incessant rape cases and money consciousness in society today. The ‘omoluabi’ concept, in Yoruba parlance, we used to cherish is ebbing out. We need to make a detour in order to raise a generation that is sound.”

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The highpoint of the brief event is the award of cash prizes to winners of secondary schools’ debate, quiz, creative arts, and essay competitions.

She added in 2020, the GYLGF awarded $10,000 grant sponsored by Rachel Chanel Clarke Globalization Program, USA to a winning female-led business proposal. The grant was won by Olubukola Kupoluyi-Bakare of Moov Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, one of the mentees, Kimberley Dirisu of Lead City High School, said she had been attending RAGA with her seniors for years, learning new things with RAGA inspiring her to improve herself and those around her.

While appreciating the work done by GYLGF, founder of the IITA Women’s Group, Mrs Charlotte Sanginga who was represented by Ms Margaret Olaoluwa charged recipients of the awards to make the foundation proud through diligence and believing in themselves.

Oyo Commissioner for Education, Olasunkanmi Olaleye was represented at the event by the permanent secretary, Mrs Atere Aminat.

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has said despite the inauguration of the advisory council of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the commission is still sidelining oil-producing Governors from its affairs.

He said the NDDC was acting like a state on its own, refusing to interface with Governors to strategically develop the Niger Delta region.

Wike, in a statement by his Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, spoke when members of the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC led by its Chairman, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday.

The Governor explained the Governors were not in the real critical stakeholders in the affairs of the NDDC as assumed in some quarters.

He said since the inauguration of the NDDC advisory council last year, the Federal Government had ensured that the governors were sidelined in the affairs of the commission.

He said: “Even when we are inaugurated, we were not involved in anything that happens in NDDC, Which is most unfortunate.

“NDDC is like a state on its own without working with the State government and why is it so. It is so because the states of NDDC are controlled by the opposition party therefore there is no need to consult with them.”

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The Governor explained that to ensure NDDC did not embark on indiscriminate execution of projects, the Rivers State Government recently obtained a court order that prohibited the commission from carrying out projects without its consent.

Wike urged the National Assembly to be resolute in its oversight function by ensuring the NDDC stopped frittering the resources meant for the development of the Niger Delta region on building roads in Army barracks, police stations and spending billions of Naira to ensure he did not win reelection.

The Governor said that NDDC and the Rivers State had once agreed to collaborate on a legacy project but the commission ended up defrauding the state government

He said: “NDDC fraudulently duped us over the Mother and Child hospital. They duped us. They had an agreement with the State government to build a regional hospital called Mother and Child hospital. They agreed that it will be N1.7 Billion Naira.

“State government to bring N800million, they will bring N900 million. State government at that time paid their N800million.

“NDDC mobilised the contractor with N400 million of the N800 million we brought and then abandoned the contractor and the contractor left site.

“And when we came on board, we said okay, we don’t want to partner with you again, give us back our N400 million. It became a problem. Politics came in”.

From Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

The member representing Arochukwu/ Ohafia federal constituency Uko Nkole has flagged off the distribution of furniture and Instructional materials worth over N200 million to public schools in the constituency.

The materials included school band, white board, and modern classroom chairs and desks.

Speaking at the event at the Abia Community Primary School, and Amangwu Community School Ohafia LGA Nkole said that he attracted the materials to public schools in his constituency following an appeal by teachers he met with in 2017.

He noted that the gesture aimed at improving enrolment into public schools would complement Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s efforts towards providing quality education for all Abians.

He said the materials would go round the 186 public schools in Arochukwu Ohafia/ federal constituency.

He urged the schools to make judicious use of the materials while calling on the youths in the communities to help provide security to enable the materials serve their purpose.

In their speeches, the traditional ruler of Abia Community Ezieogo Emmanuel Amah Ebere, the President General of the Community Elder Nduka Okwara and the Head Teacher of Akanu Ohafia Community School, Mrs. Precious Eke Obidiya praised Nkole for being a true servant -leader.

Also Speaking the traditional ruler of Amangwu Ohafia  Ezieogo Akuma NMECHA, President General Amangwu Ohafia, Chief Olugu Kalu Ugba and the Head Teacher Amangwu Ohafia Community School Mrs. Ume Dina George praised the lawmaker for being a good example.

From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

The Human Development Initiatives (HDI), a Non-governmental organisation has called for improved education service delivery in the face of COVID-19 pandemic.

The organisation noted that the shutting down of schools last year following the outbreak of the pandemic in March exposed the inadequacies within Nigeria’s education sector.

Executive Director of HDI, Mrs Olufunso Owasanoye, said this at the 2021 National Education Summit in Abuja.

She said some children from rural areas were left out of the new mode of learning as they were not equipped to adapt or transition to the new methods of learning.

Owasanoye said the organisation was able to distribute 500 hand-held radios, 5,000 facemasks, hand sanitisers to children in hard-to-reach communities to continue their learning.

She said: “Most of their parents could barely survive the lockdown as most businesses were shut down, how much more afford radios and televisions. Some of their parents could barely feed their families during the lockdown.

“Like never before, this is a time of serious concern and demand to improve the delivery of effective quality education at all levels in Nigeria, especially basic education which remains the foundation of life-long learning.

“It is a time for a national discourse and dialogue; a time to strategise and deliberate on the way forward for education in our nation.”

According to her, the summit would provide the opportunity for critical dialogue, to deliberate on the way forward for the sector.

“Education for all is the responsibility of all. Together, with your commitment and involvement we can support government to deliver quality basic education.

“Our collective resolve throughout this program should then be to contribute rich ideas and come up with a working document to further support the delivery of quality, equitable and total education to all Nigerians,” she added.

By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council have launched the new Igbo and Yoruba early grade reading materials entitled: Ka Anyi go! and Je Ká kawe!.

These resources expand the availability of quality local language teaching and learning materials for reading in Nigeria, targeting all Igbo and Yoruba speaking primary grade 1 to 3 learners in the southern regions.

“Teaching children to read in a language they understand equips them with a powerful tool for lifelong learning,” said USAID Mission Director Anne Patterson during a virtual launch last weekend.

“Building foundational reading skills accelerate English language acquisition and other skills and contribute to developing a new generation of leaders equipped to help Nigeria meet the challenges ahead,”  she added.

Developed by the Research and Development Council with support from the USAID Northern Education Initiative (NEI) Plus activity, the new Igbo and Yoruba curricula will be available for any interested state to adopt, print, and distribute with their own resources.

The curriculum is tailored for a 21st century audience of emerging readers, rich with culturally relevant stories, colourful pictures, gender-balanced representation, and a clear sequence of content that gradually builds upon the abilities of each learner as new skills and proficiencies are acquired.

“Let’s Read” promotes active learner engagement, comprehension and critical thinking through three levels of instruction that ensure learners develop critical skills necessary for all aspiring readers: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

The comprehensive curriculum package includes learner textbooks and workbooks, teachers’ guides, and storybooks for practice in school or at home, all available at no expense for download.

Praising the books, Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba said at the launch: “I commend all these laudable achievements and reiterate that the Ministry of Education will continue to partner with USAID to provide basic education services that promote self-reliance. We are ready to consolidate and sustain gains made by USAID’s NEI Plus project beyond the two states of Bauchi and Sokoto.”

Bauchi and Sokoto were the first two states supported by NEI Plus, which other states can learn from.

Since October 2015, NEI Plus has delivered over seven million teaching and learning materials to more than one million primary grade 1 through 3 learners in 2,500 formal schools.