The Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) Chief George Moghalu, has offered scholarships to five children in various orphanages in Anambra State.
Moghalu gave the scholarship during his visit to the Nigeria Red Cross Society Babies Home and the Onitsha South Motherless Babies Home, both in Onitsha; Tender care Motherless Babies Home and Jesus Kids Motherless Babies Home, both in Awka, as well as Sisters of Charity Motherless Babies Home in Nnewi.
He said the scholarship, particularly to little Miss Mmesomachukwu, followed her brilliant, charismatic and leadership skills while leading other children in prayer over the gifts they received.
The NIWA chief, who also presented food stuffs, cash and other items worth thousands of naira to the homes, described orphans as important members of the society who deserved adequate love and care.
“The scholarships are borne out of my quest and love for education and acquisition of skills for the younger children.
“If we look at what is happening in our society at the moment, I believe children can have a better deal irrespective of their situation in life whether orphans or not,” he said.
Expressing joy over the gesture, Directors of the Homes prayed for God’s blessings and protection on the benefactor, promising judicious utilisation of the items.
The 2020 Samuel Alaba Odumade Education Initiative National Examination Council (NECO) examination intervention put a smile on the faces of some SS3 pupils by paying their NECO SSCE fees.
Speaking on the initiative in honour of her father, Samuel Alaba Odumade, Ms. Modupe Odumade said it was to immortalise him.
“The youth of Nigeria whose lives we touched this year in remembrance of our beloved father will not forget us. They are already asking questions about the life and times of Samuel Alaba Odumade, said Ms. Odumade, a journalist and teacher.
In 2021, she said the Foundation would sponsor five indigent pupils from 10 public secondary schools across the six education districts of Lagos State.
English teacher, Olasukanmi Opeifa was one of the 10 finalists of the Global Teacher Prize held last month. Though he did not win, he got a part of the $1 million prize because the eventual winner, Ranjitsinh Disale shared his prize with others. He tells KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE how he plans to use the money in Nigeria.
Thanks to the generosity of an Indian teacher, English Language teacher, Olasunkanmi Opeifa has $55,000 dollars to spend on enhancing education in Nigeria.
The Indian teacher, Ranjitsinh Disale, won the 2020 Global Teacher prize of $1 million last month and right there on the stage announced that he would share half of the prize with the nine other finalists, one of whom was Opeifa.
The top 10 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize were selected out of 12,000 teachers nominated from 140 countries. Opeifa earned a place among the top 10 because of his versatility in using fun ways to teach English to children in his school – most of who are from disadvantaged backgrounds. He introduces rap and songs that make the topics fun and memorable for the learners.
During the award held via the virtual paltform on December 3, 2020, 32-year-old Disale said he recognised the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had had on the education sector and was sharing his prize to support his fellow finalists in their work to keep children learning.
He said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed education and the communities it serves in a multitude of ways. But in this hard time, teachers are giving their best to make sure every student has access to their birthright of a good education.
“Teachers are the real change-makers who are changing the lives of their students with a mixture of chalk and challenges. They always believe in giving and sharing. And, therefore, I am very pleased to announce that I will share 50 percent of the prize money equally among my fellow top 10 finalists to support their incredible work. I believe, together, we can change this world because sharing is growing.”
This gesture has helped Opeifa kick-start his dream project to create a digital learning hub for teachers and students as well as a scholarship scheme.
opeifa olasunkanmi
The 35-year-old, who teaches at the Government Day Secondary School Karu, Abuja, is grateful that Disale’s graciousness means he can begin some of the projects he had planned to do if he had won the prize himself.
While the Ogun State born teacher cannot immediately begin his dream projects on a full scale, he said his share of the global prize – which would be paid in instalments of $5,555 for 10 years – can help him achieve significant success.
Opeifa told The Nation: “I planned to build a digital school in the space of 10 years, give scholarship to different students – at least have about 100 students on our list every year – once they graduate we renew them; and do some other basic activities in the community – build libraries in small communities. But the money is not coming that way and then the project is bigger than the money. So, what I have decided to do now is to have a small ICT hub that can run both as a library and an ICT hub for teacher training and students learning of ICT, at least those that want to prepare for JAMB for instance, may come in and learn how to use certain things, how to use one or two gadgets.”
For starters, Opeifa said the hub would be in his school. He already has a room dedicated to that purpose in the block of classrooms his school got because he won the Maltina Teacher of the Year award in 2018.
Opeifa, a graduate of the Lagos State University (LASU), said he was already equipping the room with computers and other necessary equipment.
“It will be in my school – at least that is where I can have full access to it and control. It will be well equipped with possibly the modern learning gadgets that you can think of – marker boards, projector, computers everywhere. For now, I am installing about five computers using ink-line for teacher training and students practice too. I am going to install more than 20. It is a small room; it is one of the rooms given to the school by Maltina when I won the Maltina Teacher of the Year, so it is one of the classrooms that the school has released to use for that project,” he said.
Apart from the hub, Opeifa will be giving scholarships as well to help indigent students get through school from primary to tertiary.
“I will still go ahead for the scholarship programme for students. They won’t be up to 100 as I said earlier; maybe 10 in primary school, 10 in secondary school, and a fixed amount for higher institution. It will just run every year like that. Whoever we assist now, in higher institution for instance, we will continue until the person graduates. We don’t want a case where we assist now and such a student cannot continue his education. So, once we pick you as our candidate- maybe 10 from higher institutions and we are using N50,000 to assist your parents, it could be half scholarship or whichever way until you graduate, regardless of your grade. But make sure you are not having a spill over. We give you a space of four years that you are supposed to use,” he said.
Even after the prize runs out in 10 years, Opeifa hopes to continue supporting the education of indigent students.
“I am hoping it is going to be a continuous thing as a foundation till I die, even when the money stops, we should be able to roll it on
Opeifa was full of praises for Ranjit, describing him as a worthy winner of the global teacher prize instituted by the Varkey Foundation and awarded in partnership with UNESCO.
He said he had prayed Ranjit would win the prize because of his humanness.
He said: “We all were ordinarily praying for such a man to win, having seen his application. Ranjit was not just magnanimous, very human and extra human – someone who has the phenomenal nature of man that if I should win one million dollars and other contestants should go, home they won’t be happy.
“I read it one day and I told my wife that I prayed this man won. The possibility that I was winning was a little bit dicey because an African won last year and the world may shout ‘Ahah na only African dey‘, and two of us were again from Africa. I became hopeful when I was told I am the first person from West Africa and Nigeria. I became very hopeful and I can I see a ray of hope in that way.
“But as soon as Ranjit’s name was announced, I said,’ Okay, that is good.’ I had even forgotten so when he announced (that he would share his prize), I said yes, ‘that is the secret’.”
Opeifa said Ranjit deserved to win his prize given his contributions to peace in many countries.
“Reading his story, he is a boss and he has done a lot of projects in India; and he is doing inter-country projects to foster peace in countries. I mean, who else will be a global teacher other than not someone who is connecting about five foreign countries and trying to foster peace club? I think that Ranjit deserves the award and I give it to him,” he said.
According to the Global Teacher Prize website, Ranjitsinh, who started his career in a rural school in India, won acclaim for producing text books in local language embedded with QR (Quick Response) Codes loaded with videos, poems, and other resources for Grades 1-4 classes.
The school won the best school award in 2016 in its district. His effort won him numerous awards in India, including the 2016 Innovative Researcher of the Year, and the 2018 National Innovation Foundation’s Innovator of the Year award.
The other finalists for the Prize were: Carlo Mazzone (Italy), Doani Bertan (Brazil), Hà Ánh Ph??ng (Vietnam), Jamie Frost (UK), Jeong-hyun Yun (South Korea), Leah Juelke (U.S.), Mokhudu Machaba (South Africa) and Samuel Isaiah (Malaysia).
Students, teachers and residents are all lamenting poor and deteriorating infrastructure at Government Day Secondary School Alore in Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State, where quality learning has been a nightmare, reports ABDULWAHEED SOFIULLAHI.
For Alao Abdulateef, an SSS 3 pupil of Government Day Secondary School, Alore, Ilorin, Kwara State, the lack of a library in the school is not only appalling but having a terrible impact on learning.
“The pressure to study would not have been much if the school had a specific space where books would be provided for us to read.
“There is no way I can perform well in our examination because I did not read extremely well. It does not speak well that a school of this stature lacks a library where pupils can study.
“If not that we are striving and struggling to read, it would have been impossible for us to reach this final stage,” he said.
He said the school has been struggling with various challenges ever since he started attending.
Besides lack of a library to read in the school premises, he lamented the inadequate classrooms, non-availability of computers, lack of specimen and apparatus in science laboratories. He, however, hopes those challenges making quality education a mirage would be solved soon by the state government.
He continued: “Government Day Secondary School, Alore, is my second home. I have been in this school for some years. The problem with our school is not collapsed classes alone. We don’t have computers, libraries, even the science laboratory is filled with collapsed chairs without any equipment.”
Pointing to a nearby class, Abdulateef said: “That class is roofless, it would have occupied SS2 students, but now they’ve joined them together in a poorly-ventilated class.”
Poor learning environment
The deplorable conditions of all the classroom blocks are simply beyond human imagination. The ceilings have caved in while the walls are so weak that the students had to be evacuated from them to learn in the other buildings for fear that the structure could collapse at any time and that could spell a disaster.
Only three classroom blocks for both the Junior and Senior section had its roof in fairly good condition, leaving other students whose classroom roofs had fallen off to seek refuge in the dilapidated structure.
•School signage
The walls are decorated with cracks while the rubble of damaged furniture and collapsed ceilings complete the sorry sight of the ‘door-less’ classroom blocks.
Sources said the infrastructural decay in the school began years ago when the classrooms, furniture and toilet facilities became decrepit and nothing was done to fix them despite repeated promises made by the education authorities in the state after it was brought to their attention.
“The situation is beyond us. There is nothing we can do about it. Several letters have been written and forwarded to the state government with photographs of the terrible conditions of the classroom blocks in the school attached, but there has not been any fruitful response from the authorities,” a source in the school said, pleading anonymity.
One of the school’s senior officials who spoke with this reporter in confidence bemoaned the lack of standard facilities, good classrooms, indoor toilet, among others.
She said: “When past students visited the school, they were shocked that the school had remained the way they left it. They even went down to where the then exam hall was built, saying that this was where they wrote their WASSCE. There was once a foodshed here. It collapsed during the rainy season. We don’t have conducive classrooms, toilets, libraries and laboratories. All our classrooms are damaged, we tried to fix windows and doors in three junior classrooms and in some senior classes. But more work needs to be done. The laboratory we have is empty. We’re in an advanced age where computers are being used for learning, we don’t have enough computers.
“The photocopier machine has stopped working. The parking lot needs to be fixed. The staffroom is leaking, including the staff toilet. Students excrete in the bush. Some unknown people entered the school premises and later built houses on the school land since there is no fence.
“We have been sending letters to the government, yet nothing has been done. I heard from a reliable source that GDSS Alore is not among the selected schools that the government wants to renovate with UBEC funds. I pray the government should please come to our aid and help the pupils.”
Parents, pupils worried
A female student who craved anonymity explained that their teachers had shown concern about their plight. She said the situation had negatively affected their performance.
She said: “We can no longer concentrate because of the conditions. They joined pupils in the Commercial Department with those in Science because most of our classes have collapsed. We usually enjoy staying there during the harmattan season. Most times, we panic as the weather changes because our session would be halted when rain starts.
“The state authorities should help to rescue us from the hopeless situation of dilapidated structures and lack of good facilities.”
Assistant Headboy of the school, Shittu Abdullah also lamented how the poor learning environment had affected them. He praised their teachers for striving to give their best despite lack of facilities.
He said: ” Our teachers are working tirelessly to impart knowledge, despite the lack of facilities. What makes us look like dullards among others in society is that we’re lacking many things including classrooms, libraries and science laboratories. Especially for those pupils in the Arts Department, there is no library to read novels. Secondly, there are many collapsed classrooms in the school and five pupils sit on a chair, it is very bad. How can we learn conveniently? I hope the government listens to our problems. I pray they help our future, it is very important.”
Also, Suliman Oba Ramat, an SS3 Science pupil, said their science laboratory usually borrows specimens from other schools.
• One of the classrooms with broken roof
She said: “The situation at our school is very bad and we students are not happy about it. We lack learning facilities — like libraries, and science labs. We usually borrow some specimen from other schools. It is terrible. All our classes are in poor condition. There is no roof, window, door and we don’t have a toilet.”
A parent-teacher, who craved anonymity, said:” The staff tried to rehabilitate some classrooms before they completely collapsed. They have been trying to send letters to the government but they’re yet to come to our aid. A politician came to the school, took pictures and promised changes,but nothing has been done.
“This school is at the centre of Ilorin Emirate, it shouldn’t have been neglected. We are pleading with the government to come to our aid.”
Former pupils want speedy intervention
Former pupils of the school are unhappy about the situation of their alma mater. They want the Kwara State government to intervene swiftly.
Musa Muritala Banda, a former pupil said: “We inspected the school premises. Some of the school buildings are roofless, some have collapsed. I plead with the state government to please take a quick action towards the reconstruction of the school.”
Another former pupil, Temitope Habeebat, said: “My eyes were filled with tears when I saw the present situation of my alma mater. We urge the state government to act quickly and reposition the school.”
Sofiullahi , a campus journalist, is a student of the Uthman Danfodio University (UDUS)
A new Afro-Pop artiste, Dike bright Nnamdi also known as DK Regan is upbeat about his chance to make a big mark in the music industry and has revealed his plans to drop his first body of work, an EP.
According to him, the proposed project would be his way to consolidate on the success of his latest single entitled Big Chief. For the song, the D’Grand Record acts teamed up with Jaysynths, the wave-making producer critical to the success of hits by Teni such as Case and Uyo Meyo. A video of the song shot abroad by the director, Mose Visual is also receiving rotation on satellite TV and digital platforms.
He reveals, “I see my music and brand as one of the biggest in the future because of what I know I carry and ready to deliver. My goal is to use my music to reach out to the society, send positive messages and help calm the troubled hearted.”
Speaking on his forthcoming EP, “Working with the right talents on my projects is unnegotiable for me. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag but I want music fans to watch out for the type of song that will blow their minds. I think those who have seen my song Big Chief which by the way is available on YouTube and digital stores can relate with my confidence. I am in this game to leave a big mark.”
“I love MI Abaga, Wizkid, Tekno, Davido, Drake and Lil Wayne with due respect to names of other artistes who are not mentioned by me. All these artistes bring life into their music and their passion for what they do is exceptional. I will like to collaborate with Burna Boy, Wizkid and other top artist in the music industry. The reason is because they will help bring out the best in me thereby igniting my passion,” he disclosed.
The Afro Pop artiste was born on July 31 into a family of six and raised in the city of Benin, Edo State. “I used to sing in the choir back then. Back then in those days, I use to have a friend whom together we travel to a few local areas in Edo State to do some performances. I have been singing from a very young age and I believe that the time has come for me to bring my artistry to fruition. I believe the time is now to make a mark and a stand.
He explains, “I am someone that is very persistent and consistent because I believe in the famous saying by Napoleon Hill, “what the mind of man can conceive, the hand of man can achieve. I’m a very disciplined and humble young man with great respect for my predecessors. This is one thing that has been keeping me going. I believe this positive attitude will one day take me to great heights in my career and aspirations.”
The Kaduna State University (KASU) will resume academic activities on Jan. 29, says its Registrar, Mr Samuel Manshop.
Manshop said this in a statement in Kaduna on Wednesday.
He said that the decision followed Kaduna State government’s approval for tertiary institutions in the state to reopen from Jan. 25.
“The management of the Kaduna State University wishes to notify staff, students and the general public that academic activities resume on Jan. 29.
“This is sequel to the state government’s approval for tertiary institutions to reopen,’’ he said.
The registrar, however, explained that postgraduate students were expected to resume academic activities on Jan. 29, while undergraduate students would resume on Feb. 1.
He directed that all COVID-19 preventive protocols be strictly observed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the university had earlier expressed readiness to reopen on Jan. 25 if approved by the state government.
The approval did not come until Jan. 24, when government announced its approval for tertiary institutions across the state to reopen on Jan. 25.
Mrs Phoebe Yayi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education had explained that the approval came after assessing all tertiary institutions in the state to ensure their level of preparedness and plans for reopening.
She, however, urged managements of all the tertiary institutions to ensure strict adherence to all the guidelines and protocols put in place by the state government.
The permanent secretary listed some of the guidelines to include compulsory temperature checks and wearing of face masks by students and members of staff, both academic and non-academic.
Similarly, she urged that washing facilities be situated at strategic locations in the school premises as well as constant water supply and the use of alcoholic based hand sanitiser.
Yayi advised that people avoid overcrowded places both in classes and hostels and the availability of functional health facilities for isolation of suspected cases.
Nigeria’s delectable celebrity queen and influential business tycoon, Elizabeth Jack-Rich was in high spirit as she celebrates the love of her life, her husband, Engr Tein T.S Jack-Rich who added another colorful year to his age.
Speaking with the press at the heels of a quiet but boisterous celebration for her dear love, Mrs. Jack-Rich, who could not hide her enthusiasm reeled out in style what her husband meant to her.
In her words, she said; “Happy birthday to a great man, a man filled with empathy and wisdom. Your existence is a gift to humanity. On this day I pray the Lord continues to make you a blessing to humanity. I love you, Engr Tein T.S Jack-Rich, from your loving wife.”
Meanwhile, messages of goodwill from family members, friends, associates, and well-wishers have haven been pouring in to celebrate a humble, unique and influential personality who turns 46 today.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought negative economic consequences in the form of job losses, threatened the sustainability of firms and depressed growth in GDP. Nigeria has the challenge of a large informal sector that is most vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic. Nigeria’s informal sector is also the employer of the largest number of citizens.
The federal government and other stakeholders must roll out measures to provide temporary support to the informal sector. Nigeria must design and roll out measures to support targeted groups and individuals in this sector.
The need to continuously drive Nigeria’s economy through support for small business may have become eminent. Recently, an innovative solar-powered cubicle, known as Elite Solar kiosk is playing a key role to bridge the gap and create opportunities for SMEs, especially with the persisting challenges posed by the vicious Covid19 pandemic.
Speaking with the CEO of Elite Solar Kiosk, Mr David Adesanya stated that the innovative initiative, though already being adopted by several state governments is envisioned to support small scale entrepreneurs and owners of small businesses to surmount adverse economic challenges, thereby helping them survive and grow rapidly.
The CEO is optimistic that Elite Solar Kiosk will improve the Informal sector with indications and reports that provides a positive future for the sector.
According to findings, the informal economy employs millions of Nigerian youths, which amounts to about three-quarters of the nation’s labour force). The International Monetary Fund(IMF), has years ago noted that the informal sector in Nigeria is estimated at about 65% and consists of activities ranging across several sectors and contributing significantly to the country’s national GDP, as it keeps rising over the years.
Also, an unpublished survey a few years ago stated that the informal sector in Nigeria accounts for about 90% of new jobs in the country.
The entire idea is to ensure that Nigerians and state governments see the need to adopt the new Elite Solar Kiosk for small retail businesses, so as to help subsidize the economic challenges created by the coronavirus in the country.
Elite Solar Kiosk is already making a sustainable impact in areas of improving the informal sector by making available and affordable it’s an innovative solar powered kiosk to potential small business owners.
With regards to the Sustainable Development Goals which is designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”, Elite Solar Kiosk at www.elitesolarsmartkiosk.com will play a multiplier effect to enhance decent work and economic growth, Zero hunger, No poverty, gender equality, Employment opportunity, affordable and clean energy, poverty eradication especially Small business owners with low income, for Youths, both male and female adults in the various communities in our various States within Nigeria. Just like the SDGs, the Elite Solar Kiosk project is universal to action by Individuals, Government and the private sector to end poverty.
The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) led by Hajiya SARATU IYA-ALIYU who also doubles as the National President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) on the completion of her tenure as has transferred the batton of leadership to the President of Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) Mr. Tayo Adeniyi who will paddle the association affairs for the next two years.
Iya-Aliyu noted that the OPSN under her watch concerted efforts in intervening and contributing to the National Action Plans of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
She said, “We engaged the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service on trading across borders, especially, the closure of land borders; petitioned the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission on its Order on the Transition to Cost Reflective Tariffs in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry; worked with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment on a variety of economic issues such as the Economic Sustainability Plan and the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement; and facilitated the disbursement of Central Bank of Nigeria policy measures in response to COVID-19; to name just a few activities.
“As you may be aware, the OPSN is a coalition of the major Business Membership Organizations in Nigeria; the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigerian Employers ’Consultative Association (NECA), the Nigerian Association of Small Medium Enterprises (NASME), and the Nigerian Association orbf Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI).
“Together, we promote the growth and sustainability of the private sector by advocating a conducive business environment.”
In his acceptance speech, Adeniyi pledged to intensify efforts in advancing the cause of the OPSN, adding that he is ready to work with the stakeholder, including the public and private sector.
He stressed that he will not relent until the issue of multiple taxes and undue levies are permanently laid to rest.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NACCIMA, Ambassador Ayoola Olukanni, noted that Nigerian banks are already offering financial services, adding that Nigerian industries would still benefit more.
He added that the OPS has championed advocacy on the area of electricity tariffs adding that it will continue to agitate for a better operational environment.
Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers state and Minister for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire have been certified by Advisory Board of the Nigerian National Legacy Awards (NNLA) for 2021 Nigerian National Legacy Prize for Leadership.
Executive Secretary of the Board, Amb Ovie Odubu, who disclosed this in Abuja, said after weeks of nominations since October 2020, teeming nominees for the prestigious awards were streamlined to 12 and later upgraded to 14 distinguished Nigerians following a merit-based screening by the Advisory Board of juries drawn from various spheres of life across Nigeria.
Odubu said, “The Nigerian National Legacy Awards rated by Forbes as one of the most reputable across Africa has consistently honoured great Nigerian community builders, captains of industries, public servants, the academia and heroic sportsmen across the nation.
Other Nigerians profiled for the 2021 Awards are Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Mr Olukayode Pitan, Mr Richard Akinaka, Mr Anthony Ikott , Mr Chimezie Emewulu, Mr Harry Ebohon, Mr Kenneth Ebong, Mrs Mo Abudu, Chief Musa Danjuma and Barr Chris Agara, Engr Aminu Shehu, Engr Augustine Emelobe and Mr Ibrahim Dikko.”
Odubu said over five hundred and thirty-six persons were nominated by the Nigerian public from which sixty-five were shortlisted and subjected to screening/evaluation which produced eventual 14 recipients for this year’s prestigious awards.
The selection, free and fair, represents the will of the Nigerian people who participated in good faith”, Odubu clarified on the 2021 NNLA leadership prize.
