The lawmaker representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Chukwuka Utazi, has visited the Space Science of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to collaborate with the Centre to achieve its objectives.
Receiving the lawmaker, who graduated from Political Science Department, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, said the institution was proud of its alumnus, hoping that the lawmaker would use his position to attract more federal presence to the institution and its host communities.
He said: “The Governing Council and members of this great citadel of learning are proud of you. We hope you would contribute meaningfully to the progress of our nation and your alma mater.”
Utazi said the culture of academic excellence must be maintained by the university, advising that its recruitment and admission processes must be based on merit.
“For the institution to be ahead of its counterparts, the quality of its education and research must be fully established,” he said.
During his inspection of the research agency established in 2004 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Utazi observed that there were meaningful research being carried out at the Centre with little funding, adding that the activities must be made known to promote the nation’s innovation and technological transformation.
He called on the Centre’s Director, Prof Fidelis Opara, to get the list of equipment needed by the Centre to improve and lead astronomical research in the continent for Senate’s approval. This, he said, would back up his request to the Federal Government to support the Centre’s projects.
Opara urged the lawmaker to persuade the government to provide radio telescope for the Centre to record space information, weather and track crimes, such as kidnapping, bombing and robbery.
The director said one of the aims of the Centre was to train young Nigerians on astronomy and space research, noting that over 10 secondary schools had benefited from its training.
The lawmaker was optimistic that the administration would give education and research agencies support, pledging the National Assembly’s cooperation.
No fewer than 1,200 drug addicts have been given an opportunity to lead a productive life upon being weaned off drugs.They have been trained in skills by a Kaduna State-based organisation, the Nigas Rehabilitation Centre.
The founder of the organisation, Alhaji Lawal Muduru made the gesture known at a briefing in Sokoto.
According to Muduru who said the centre was established in 2006, the graduates were part of the nearly 1600 inmates who had been rehabilitated by the centre.
He said that the graduates who were hitherto drugs addicts were trained in carpentry, blacksmithing, ICT, tie and dye, shoemaking, saloon operations, cosmetics production and sewing and knitting, among others.
Maduru said the Centre assisted them with tools to start up their own businesses so as to facilitate their re-integration into the society.
“This is to make them self-reliant and reduce the likely stigma they may face after leaving the Centre,’’ he explained, adding,
“The Centre currently has about 240 inmates, including Muslims and Christians, and the task of taming the drugs menace is not the responsibility of the government alone. NDLEA should be adequately funded, staffed and equipped to make it more efficient [in order to] boost the anti-drugs war.”
No fewer than 1,200 drug addicts have been given an opportunity to lead a productive life upon being weaned off drugs.They have been trained in skills by a Kaduna State-based organisation, the Nigas Rehabilitation Centre.
The founder of the organisation, Alhaji Lawal Muduru made the gesture known at a briefing in Sokoto.
According to Muduru who said the centre was established in 2006, the graduates were part of the nearly 1600 inmates who had been rehabilitated by the centre.
He said that the graduates who were hitherto drugs addicts were trained in carpentry, blacksmithing, ICT, tie and dye, shoemaking, saloon operations, cosmetics production and sewing and knitting, among others.
Maduru said the Centre assisted them with tools to start up their own businesses so as to facilitate their re-integration into the society.
“This is to make them self-reliant and reduce the likely stigma they may face after leaving the Centre,’’ he explained, adding,
“The Centre currently has about 240 inmates, including Muslims and Christians, and the task of taming the drugs menace is not the responsibility of the government alone. NDLEA should be adequately funded, staffed and equipped to make it more efficient [in order to] boost the anti-drugs war.”
A groundbreaking to expand the Toyota Technical Centre near Ann Arbor is further evidence that Michigan is one of two North American pillars for the Japanese automaker in North America.
Toyota is investing $126 million to add two more buildings to its complex in York Township. One will be a prototype facility for vehicle development; the second is a supplier centre.
The powertrain development facility on the Ann Arbor Township campus is also being expanded as the automaker develops more of the engines and automatic transmissions here for vehicles that are designed and manufactured in North America.
The construction is to be completed in late 2016.
More than 300 jobs are relocating to Michigan, including employees from Erlanger, Ky, who worked in purchasing and supplier engineering as well as some vehicle and powertrain development staff from Calif. Consolidating people from all functions in one campus will make quick decision-making easier.
The expansion is part of Toyota’s unification of its North American operations with much of the research and development centred in Michigan and the move of the corporate headquarters to Plano, Texas, from Torrance, Calif. Toyota will no longer have a third hub in Kentucky.
The Toyota Technical Centre opened in 2008 on land acquired from the state of Michigan. There are about 1,200 employees now.
Toyota has 14 plants in North America, including 10 in the U.S., and employs nearly 40,000 of which 37,000 are n the U.S.
There is an effort in Anambra State to keep the reading culture from dying. The resource centre situated at Esther Obiakor Housing Estate in Awka, the state capital, built by the late literary giant, Prof Ezenwa Ohaeto, is credited with that effort.
•Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Ohaeto and a guest at the colloquim
The Centre’s contribution to reviving the reading culture was made known at the third edition of Ohaeto’s colloquium, led by his wife, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Ohaeto, chief executive of the resource centre.
The event was chaired by another literary icon, Odia Ofeimun, who lauded those who pulled their resources together to establish the centre.
Ofeimun noted that Anambra is the gateway for African literature, because it is home to such renowned African writers as the late icons Professor Chinua Achebe and Christopher Okigbo, and Chukwuemeka Ike, now a traditional ruler, among others.
Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano was represented by his special Assistant on education Dr. Ifeanyi Paul.
The governor told the gathering that his administration was passionate about the education sector, the reason according to him, behind setting up of some reforms to encourage the students in the state.
Some of those reforms were the handing over of the schools back to the missions and making sure that the students do not lack anything in their different schools.
He also promised to encourage the use of the published books of the bi-annual colloquiums in schools across the state.
For Ofeimun, “literary endowment should not be allowed to waste or die rather, the state government should strive to create monuments to celebrate the literary icons found in the cultural environment of the state”.
The guest lecturer and professor of English language at the University of Lagos Akachi Ezeigbo, while delivering her lecture, advocated for the introduction of peace education in the country’s school curriculum.
Ezeigbo spoke on the topic “human rights, citizenship, culture, women empowerment and peace education in Nigeria”.
According to her, such introduction could come in handy in addressing major challenges facing the country including politics, economics, cultural violence, Boko-Haram, armed robbery, militancy, rape and kidnappings on the land.
According to the English professor, “peace education is the type of education that will raise awareness in the child about the issues of strategizing on issues of conflict resolution”
“It should be enshrined in the curriculum from primary to tertiary institutions, apart from introducing it into the school system, it should also be encourage and practiced at homes, in governance, markets and religious places and town unions” Ezeigbo said.
The participants at the colloquim, were moved including the senator representing Anambra central Dr. Chris Ngige and his counterpart from the south senatorial zone, Dr. Andy Ubah.
The embattled vice chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (Unizik), Prof. Joseph Ahaneku was all, but clapping throughout the event.
Speaking with The Nation, the wife of the late Prof and literary giant, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Ohaeto, said that the centre plans to hold literary competitions for secondary schools in the state any moment from now.
She said the place was established to encourage creative writing and reviving reading culture among children, exactly what her late husband had in mind.
But Mrs. Ohaeto did not stop there; she appealed to the state government and public-spirited individuals to support the centre in the interest of the youths.
It was with fanfare that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) launched its first customer service centre penultimate week.
The centre is to act as a clearing house for all issues clients may have. It is expected to give special attention to their requests – whether simple enquiries or issues related to certificate verification or corrections and the like.
Its inauguration was graced by top echelons of WAEC, both present and past, who lauded the initiative because of its potential to address the concerns of candidates and other clients effectively.
However, they also acknowledged the concern that the centre may not be effective if the poor culture of customer service delivery that is typical in public institutions is allowed to take root in the running of the facility.
Prof Pius Obanya, former chairman of WAEC, was apt in describing the front desk officer from hell in his speech, hoping that the new centre would not be manned by such people.
He said: “The best way not to advertise a company is to put terrible people in the front desk – those people who think they are doing you a favour and not earning their salaries.”
Anyone who has seen the film, The Meeting, immediately understands the kind of person Obanya described. Rita Dominic depicted that person in the movie and I loved it. She acted as a middle-aged secretary to a minister of the federal republic of Nigeria who treated guests badly. Rather than screen and send genuine people to the minister, she delayed and exploited them. However, she allowed a girlfriend (who had bribed her with gifts), and the chief of the minister’s village to go in.
When I watched the film, I felt like I had met that secretary many times – unfortunately, mostly in public institutions (schools and hospitals). The way Rita Dominic chewed gum, fail to look up at people beyond a condescending glance, and talked so rudely was, sadly, familiar.
We meet such secretaries (or other officials) regularly in schools, particularly tertiary institutions, where they sit in departmental offices, exams and records, alumni offices, among others. You greet them; they do not respond. If they do; then grudgingly. You ask questions; they ignore you. You ask for clarifications; they snap at you. Their looks tell you that you are not relevant. They are so intimidating that you might even stutter in their presence while trying to explain your mission. If you lose your cool, then, to put it in Pidgin, ‘your own don finish’, because you are unlikely to achieve your aim.
I remember arguing with a records officer once in the hospital over an ‘attendance’ list. The list was created so that people were seen on a first come, first serve basis. But what usually happened was that people paid the workers to write their names. So, no matter how early you arrived, you may not be among the top five on the list – even if you met no other person in the waiting area. On that day, I told the lady to discard the list and create a fresh one based on the few people that were around but she refused, telling me I could not teach her how to run her office. I proceeded to write my name where I thought it deserved to be. By doing so, I challenged her authority. She reported me to a superior, who confronted me. But I stood my ground; and he ‘dealt’ with me. My file was declared missing and I was delayed for some time. But for the intervention of a senior nursing officer, that day may not have ended well for me. That was bad customer service. As far as those workers were concerned, they were employed to do favours, not work to earn their keep.
We hope that those that run WAEC Customer Service centres (there are plans to establish more of them in all branch and zonal offices) will not be like the secretary in the movie, or the clerical workers in the hospital.
The Head of National Office, Mr Charles Eguridu, assured us at the event that the workers deployed to the centre underwent special training on how to attend to customers courteously . He also said they would be monitored. Our fingers are crossed in anticipation that they will not disappoint us.
When parents needed a place to take their children with disability, the Child Care Trust (CCT) easily came to mind.
The Child Care Trust consists of critical facilities such as classrooms, health care centre, large playgrounds as well as vocational training centres. These facilities aim at providing best form of care and upbringing of special children. Its operations are more of a boarding school.
The facility is a non-governmental organisation (NGO), established by former First Lady, Mrs. Stella Obasanjo to cater for under-privileged children in the country. However, the once best rated school for the less-privileged in Africa is in dire need of revival.
•A part of the facility
Some of the facilities that made it so exceptional are almost moribund. The health centre, which was a point of attraction for children suffering from one health issue or another, is no longer active. Prior to this time, there were concerns over survival of the school after the death of Mr. Obasanjo. It was gathered that the school had to suspend operations due to funding challenges until three years ago. So, basically the supports are meant for up-keep of the pupils, including the hard at hearing and different categories of mentally challenged kids.
Situated in Bwari Local Council Area at the outskirts of Abuja, the school is tucked in a quiet environment, highly fortified with strong concrete fence. The fence is painted in white with a big tree right at the entrance of the premises. Aside from the presence of both uniformed security men and those on mufti, the entire premises were very tidy.
During a visit to the school, Abuja Review met the pupils during their lunch time. The first pupil who met our correspondent was Chisom Obi, a Primary four student. He was careful in his pace because he could hardly get his steps right, as he walked in a meandering manner.
After much effort, he managed to move some inches. On his face was an expression of someone who has been fed. He smiled out of the cafeteria as he approached our correspondent.
On his experience at the school, Chisom said: “I like this place. They take care of us very well and we eat three times a day…” Shortly after, the other pupils left the cafeteria for the alley. They were about 40 in number and of different ages, both male and female.
Some have hearing impaired while others could hardly see. Yet, they were so excited to welcome visitors. The youngest among them was little Success who is about six years old. She is fair in complexion and looks so innocent. She solely depends on crouches before she could walk.
Supports
In a chat with one of the senior members of staff of the school, it was gathered that the school depends on volunteers and supports from individuals and big schools in the territory.
Students of Durben Polytechnic, a higher institution in Bwari Local Council Area often celebrate their birthdays with the kids.
“This place is not an orphanage. All these children have parents. So, during the holiday, they go home and come back to school after the holiday. So, it’s not an orphanage home per se,” the Coordinator, Mr. Thomas Ojo said.
Continuing, she said: “We depend on volunteers in meeting our needs because the school is an NGO. So, with little supports from outside, we meet some of their needs.”
When the school was inaugurated in May, 2000 by the late philanthropist, she did not know the edifice will become derelict decades after. It was her dream that the school would make greater exploit and create lasting impression in the minds of millions of children with challenges.
Abuja Review further gathered that the son of the late Stella Obasanjo, Mr. Muyiwa Obasanjo, who is also the Chairman of the school, supported it immensely, the last time he visited from the United States. Prior to the visit, a Kubwa-based NGO, Solid Rock Foundation had visited the pupils.
Mr. Ojo acknowledged it has become an annual event for the foundation to visit the school. As for him, the foundation was always offering many relief materials, including foods, to support the children. Ironically, there was silent murmur when our correspondent inquired when last the former President visited the school. “Former President…?” One of the members of staff asked. “He has not visited this place since he left office. I think when the woman passed on was the end of his visit to this place.”
It was gathered that no tangible help comes from the family. “Nothing is coming from the family. The only support we got is from the Chairman of the school, who is the son of late Stella Obasanjo who doesn’t live in Nigeria but in US,” our source said.
Extra-curricular activities
•The children at play
Apart from regular normal school activities, the pupils were also engaged in vocational activities such as bead making. Others include salon and hairdressing and tailoring, among others.
The school authorities appealed to public-spirited individuals to help in training some of the students.
Alaba is the most popular student in the school. He is considered as one of the talented students who love drama and dancing. The 18-year-old boy, despite his situation, was willing to showcase his creative talent. Deliberate efforts are, however, being made to ensure their needs are met. There are plans to also visit corporate organisations and other related institutions to solicit supports for the school.
On staff motivation, the coordinator said the organisation is trying its best. “When they are sick, we take them to the general hospital to see a doctor. We are actually short of funds and that’s why we cannot employ medical personnel,” Ojo, who suggested that actors and artistes could promote the centre through their activities and songs, said.
“Empress once came to take pictures with them some time ago and during December, 2014, the artiste invited them to a party to celebrate with her, he said.” Expectations are, however, high that the Federal Ministries of Education and Youth Development would consider addressing some of the needs of the school as private individuals could unite to reposition the Child Care Trust.
The Centre for Gender and Development Studies, Ekiti State University (EKSU), has organised a one-day “Train the trainers” workshop on Gender Mainstreaming.
Director of the centre, Prof Olabisi Aina said Gender Mainstreaming has become a practice in academic, socio, political and economic orders in first-class institutions all over the world.
She said such universities have infused Gender Mainstreaming and its values into their Curricular. As such, she said EKSU should not lag behind.
Dr. Toyin Ilesanmi, a clinical psychologist at the Centre, said the approach was not to elevate the female over the male gender but to achieve a balance in the improvement of the learning abilities of both gender.
A psychiatrist and Clinical psychologist from the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Dr. Boladale Mapayi, noted that lecturers and university managers should be aware of the differences and similarities of both male and female to enable teaching methodology and pedagogy. The workshop also featured questions and answers, group works by the participants which included Deans and Departmental Heads.
Provider of innovative telecom services and network solutions for businesses in West Africa, MainOne, has unveiled its Tier III Lekki Data Centre to address the growing demand for colocation, cloud and disaster recovery services in the sub-region. It cost the firm N7 billion.
In a statement, the firm said the facility designed to international TIA 942 standards, will be managed under a new subsidiary branded as MDX-i.
Speaking during the inauguration of the infrastructure, Chairman of MainOne, Fola Adeola reiterated the company’s commitment to nurture the growth and impact of the Internet ecosystem through the provision of high-quality infrastructure to power businesses and governments across West Africa.
Its Chief Executive Officer, Ms Funke Opeke said: “We are delighted to launch West Africa’s largest and best-connected data centre. “This reaffirms our capabilities in meeting the needs of business for reliable connectivity and data centre services in a dynamic and fast paced global economy.”
The Minister of Communications Technology, Dr. (Mrs.) Omobola Johnson, who performed the commissioning of the facility, said the launch of MDX-I data centre facility is a notable accomplishment that complements initiatives required to further drive the realisation of the National Broadband Plan of the Federal Government.
She said: “Availability of world class Data centres in Nigeria is critical infrastructure required for the implementation of our Broadband initiatives. The accomplishment by MainOne is indeed significant as it provides an outsourcing and cost effective model to further drive ICT adoption.”
MDX-i’s Tier III Lekki Data Center is the first of many planned data centers by the company in Nigeria. It is a N7 Billion investment and has capacity for 600 racks. The data center provides corporate customers with world class co-location, cloud and managed services and the first set of customers will enjoy services starting from next week.
The Ondo State government has announced the accreditation of its Trauma and Surgical Centre, Ondo, for residency training programme by the National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria.
A statement in Akure by the Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, said the accreditation certificate was presented to Governor Olusegun Mimiko at the weekend by the college president, Prof. Rasheed Arogundade, in company of the college registrar, Prof. Oluwole Atoyebi.
Mimiko said the massive investment of his administration in healthcare delivery can only remain a sustainable benchmark for Africa, if the residency training programme is pursued with all sense of responsibility and commitment.
The governor said the centre has conducted over 500 major surgeries, including brain and spinal surgical operations.
He assured that the proposed Ondo State University of Medical Sciences would build on the enviable platforms already established to ensure the sustainability of qualitative healthcare system development.
