The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Children

  • ‘Working with vulnerable children gives me great joy’

    ‘Working with vulnerable children gives me great joy’

    Olasimbo Ojuroye is a Chemistry graduate from the University of Lagos. In this interview with Yetunde Oladeinde, she talks about how she started her career with SAIPEM, an oil firm in Port Harcourt, and later moved to IT in the United Kingdom. She also shares her passion for less-privileged children through the Sparkle Foundation, making money as a realtor and life  after being married to Ayo Ojuroye, Bet9ja CEO.

    What inspired you to care for children?

    I have always had a heart for children. I have always had a heart for the needy and I have always wanted to put smiles on children’s faces. It has not been very easy to know how to conceptualise all this. I had an event in 2006 where we had Smiley faces for children in need. However, we want to take Sparkles Foundation far and beyond all of that. We want to give them a holistic package, so that we can follow a child from the beginning to the end. We want to empower them, educate them and give them qualitative healthcare.

    I actually had to go and do training on this for three years because I have always been an I.T person. I left that to do a healthcare course, just to understand the concept, because being able to travel around, I can see exactly where the deprivation is. It is heavily between the poor and the rich and the focus of our organisation is to give the normal child the basics of life which can empower their future. I believe that our children are the future.

    How do you identify these children and reach out to them?

    Most of the time, when I am driving or moving around I can identify a child that is malnourished. As a mother, you would know a child that is well looked after and the one that is not well looked after. We started originally by going to the orphanage homes and one thing I noticed is that, they give them food and they go to school but it is not a complete package. So, that influenced the programme I had at the beginning, taking them out of that and let them do what normal children do as well as engaging them more. We plan to do this because we have a plan for them in health education.

    At the moment, we go through a team called Loveworld. Once they identify a child in need, they send an email to us. Then we find out what they need, do our findings, then we support the child. The name sparkle was something that was dropped into my spirit and it is related to the idea of smiling faces. When things sparkle, it helps to make you brighter. The plan is to make it a yearly event, with the help of my other colleagues. We hope to do something every May 27, which is the children’s day. A time to eat, dance and have fun. For the healthcare, we are getting the process right, the location and getting the community involved. I have some health experts that I am working with and we already have a plan. The only thing we are waiting for is the location. I have doctors, nurses and people I would work with. Everything is on course and it is just the logistics and location.

    Initially, we were thinking of having a clinic for the community and they would be responsible for what goes on there. Then there was the other idea of making it a proper healthcare and we are just in the process of making that decision. At the moment, it is self financed. I have got four trustees and myself on board. Eventually, we hope to have more people on board.

    What are the other things that spurred you to do the things that you do?

    My mother was a matron. I lived half of my life in Nigeria and she always had the heart to care for people, always had the empathy kind of thing. While I was doing the course, I went to some hospitals in Nigeria to speak with consultants, to have an idea of what goes on. There is a big difference in what I am seeing compared to what should be. I noticed that a lot of things can be prevented if the right education is provided. For a child to die of malaria and a number of other things that we can prevent does not go down well with me, making sure every child goes to school in the right community is important.

    What are some of the challenges?

    There would always be a lot of challenges in everything you do in life. We try to embrace our focus and forget the distractions. Looking at the challenges would not get us to where we want to be. One of the things I find challenging is the organisation, but I believe that by working with the right people we would be able to overcome it.

    What are some of the projects that you are working on at the moment?

    For this year, we hope to give what we call Christmas giveaway. I believe that Christmas is a family affair. I believe that every family or child should be able to have something to eat and drink. With the poverty level in this country, I knew some children are not able to do this. We can’t feed the world but our desire is to do as much as we can. At the moment, we have some children that we are sponsoring in school. The plan is to have a health clinic and also empower mothers who are struggling. The truth is that if the mother is not right, the children definitely would suffer. Our plan here is to empower parents, put them on their feet, so that they can do what they need to do for the family. Also as much as they are learning, they must also play. It is always nice to have a balanced life.

    Tell us about your personal life

    I am married with three children. I went to Grace School, Gbagada and then went to the University of Lagos where I did a Chemistry degree. After graduation, I worked with Saipem, an oil company in Port Harcourt, and then went to the United Kingdom where I went into IT. I have been in the UK for about 20 years. I worked on internet applications and I also went into properties, trading and later went into something they call simple furnishing or interior décor. Along the line, I did something for children and that was how the charity part of me came into being. I started the foundation and went for training, a course in general medicine for three years, and I finished this year in October.

    Of all the things you have done, which do you consider the most interesting for you?

    To be honest with you, I would say that the charity work is the best for me. During the 2006 event, I felt it and knew that this is something I had to do. Most of my career was just money making, but the charity thing was different. We are touching millions of lives and we believe that charity begins at home. For me, it started from in-house supporting family and friends. Every situation is unique and what I always say at the end is that all the glory goes back to God.

    What was it like growing up?

    I am the second of four children. I was very close to my mum and we came from a middle class family in those days. My father was an engineer and my mother was a nurse. The caring thing runs in the family, we always want to do this. Also the love shown to me by my parents, I just feel it is time to give back. My mum’s influence also rubbed off on me. She didn’t live very long but her short life was purposeful. She died when she was about to celebrate her fiftieth birthday. A lot of people came to talk about the extent she went to help people and I think I took a bit of that from her.

    Let’s talk about your husband. What are the things that you like about him?

    He is a very real, down to earth guy. He has always been very hard working. There are lots of things that we share in common. He has been very supportive and this goes a long way. If it wasn’t for his support, the foundation won’t be happening now.

    How did you meet him?

    I was on my way to a friend’s house for a party, walking down the road with another friend, and then he drove past with his friend. Then he stopped and just smiled. I had this hard-to-get look and asked my friend, why he was smiling at me. A few days after, he saw me again in church, Kessington Chapel, and he came hugging me saying, “Opa arugbo e wani ekule mi.” I was wondering what a strange guy he was, he didn’t even know how to go about toasting. But he did try and it went on from there. I must say that I have had a blissful marital life.

    What is his mood like when business is good?

    Even when he is excited, you won’t see him jumping all over the place. All you would see is this nice smile that comes up his face. When they are winning or losing, he stays calm, but when they are winning big, his smile is different.

    How did you feel when he told you he was starting a betting business?

    I didn’t feel anyhow because he has been a man of purpose. He has always been successful in what he did. So when he told me about betting, I said “betting ke?” Then he told me that his dad used to be in betting and we started the journey by going for a course and that was how Bet9ja was birthed. One thing I have learnt in my journey in life is that you would meet different kinds of people, they must never change who you are. Don’t try to be somebody else. Don’t try to be what you are not.

  • Man held for raping seven children in Ebonyi

    Man held for raping seven children in Ebonyi

    Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested a middle aged man, Chinedu Nwoja, for allegedly defiling seven female children at Onueke in Ezza South local government area of the state.

    The state police spokesman, Mr. George Okafor, stated this in Abakaliki Thursday.

    The Command took up the matter following a petition by the Family Law Centre, Abakaliki.

    Narrating their ordeal, some of the victims aged between six and 10 alleged that the man who was a father of three had on several occasions lured them to his vehicle and other isolated places where he repeatedly carried out the act.

    Some of the parents of the children, Mrs. Elizabeth Nweke and Mr. Monday Obaji said they became aware of the development when their children started complaining of pains in their private parts, pointing out that the accused admitted to the offence when confronted by the community members.

    The Chairman of Family Law Centre, Mrs. Elizabeth Nwali, explained that the Centre petitioned the State Criminal Investigation Department following complaints that the accused who was handed over to police at Onueke was discharged same day without proper questioning.

    But the police spokesman said the matter was under investigation, but claimed that the affected families were yet to bring the victims for medical test.

     

  • Children first!

    I attended the launch of a library somewhere in Lagos a few days ago.  As is common with events organised by the government, it did not start on time.  The sun was hot and guests took shelter under the canopy or the side of the building we were there to inaugurate.

    Almost all the seats had been taken when six pupils from a secondary school (I actually thought they were primary school pupils because they looked so small) in the community arrived in company of two teachers.  That was when I knew there was a security guard on duty.  It was not that I had not seen him earlier.  Moments before their arrival, he had joined some women to arrange additional sets of chairs that were brought in.  However, when the pupils came, he suddenly remembered his sentry duties and refused them entry.  The gates had been wide open all the while and all guests had come in without being questioned.  The old man spoke gruffly to one of the teachers, asking her to establish they had permission to attend the event.   She was allowed to come in to locate a senior person who could ascertain they were indeed invited for the event.

    When she got the affirmation, with a wave of hand, she called to the pupils to join her.  But no! Our sentry still refused them entry.  I wondered why he had to be hostile to children and felt bad.  They were finally allowed in but had to remain standing for a while near the security post until a sensitive person among the organisers got them seats.

    It was not the first time I had seen children not given priority at some public events.   I do not mean all.  I have seen cases where children were either left to stand or sit under the sun without canopy to protect them, or where they are neglected when it comes to food.  At such public programmes, adults come first.  But the reverse should be the case, which, I have observed to be so at programmes organised by the private sector.  Many corporate organisations take special care to ensure that children get seats and are served first when it is meal time.  They get to feel special.   This should be the norm in all events children attend, irrespective of the organisers of the programme.

     

  • School opens to special needs children

    Lekki British International School (LBIS), Lekki, Lagos State has disclosed plans to open up a department for children with special education needs, from next academic calendar.

    The school’s New Development Manager (SDM), Dr Dolapo Ogunbanwo, said she included the new department as one of her first agenda in office, based on her experience as a special needs child herself.

    Dr Ogunbanwo called on the society to be patient with children with special needs, as they have potential to be great in life.

    “I am somebody with special education needs myself. I grew up finding learning very difficult; but I was smart. Special needs children are just children who learn differently. It is not that they cannot learn, but what may take an ordinary child an hour to learn, a special needs child may take four hours to learn it, but the child can still learn it. You should not give up on them,” she said.

    The new SDM, who only recently returned to the country after completing her term as Programme Leader at the London Centre for Leadership in Learning (LCLL), Institute of Education (IoE), University of London, said she hoped to add value to LBIS as well as help raise standards in the education system.

    She faulted the government for not putting enough money into education, like developed countries.

    “The missing link between Nigeria and other countries whose education standards are high, is that the government overseas puts a lot of money in education and ours does not. In UK (United Kingdom), education is free but there is no free lunch or dinner, like our governments promise. Nigerians are eager and willing to learn, but learning needs money,” she said.

    Among other plans for the school’s 2016 calendar include introducing Years 12 and 13, as well as the  International Baccalaureate curriculum.

    LBIS founder, Mrs Abiodun Laja,  announced her retirement.

    “I am stepping aside because I am tired and I recognise her (Ogunbanwo’s) passion. I believe she is one person with integrity that can handle the school and I have other programmes I want to focus on.”

     

  • ‘68m Nigerian children homeless’

    • 4m contributed to NHF

    The Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr. Gimba Ya’ukumo yesterday said about 68 million children are either improperly housed or rendered homeless as a result of house deficit in the country.

    Speaking at a meeting organised by the Initiative for Leadership and Economic Watch in Nigeria, in Abuja,  he said only four million Nigerians subscribed to the National Housing Fund (NHF) over the last 23 years.

    He  said since 1992 when the fund was set up, about 50 million subscribers ought to have contributed to the fund.

    “A figure has always been reported in the media with regards to housing deficit in Nigeria that ranges from 17 – 20 million, as stated in the World Bank World Habitat Report of 2007. If you relate it with average Nigerian family of four and apply it with the number of deficit you have about 68 million people either improperly housed or not housed at all.

    “So when the NHF Act was enacted 23 years ago, the funding window was divided into four-collection from workers; banks are supposed to give a percentage of their total portfolio; the insurance companies ought to contribute a percentage of their life and non-life insurance scheme. So, it’s the responsibility of the people to ensure that government agencies complied with the law.”

    Ya’ukumo warned that the nation would be thrown into crisis if stakeholders failed to work together to end homelessness.

    The FMBN chief said financial institutions and insurance companies have failed to make statutory remittance to the fund in order to make housing available to the masses.

    He said the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has committed itself to ensuring that all insurance firms comply with the provisions of NHF Act, such that a percentage of life and non-life insurance is paid to the fund while 10 per cent of banks’ total loan will be remitted into the fund as investments.

  • UN tasks Nigerian leaders on violence against women, children

    UN tasks Nigerian leaders on violence against women, children

    Leaders at all levels in Nigeria have been told to ensure that all hands are on deck in fighting to a standstill the rising trend of gender based violence (GBV) and violence against children (VAC)

    The representative of United Nations (UN) Women to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr. Grace Ongile spoke in Gombe during a one-day consultative meeting aimed at strengthening partnership and commitment with community and religious leaders in the state towards tackling the menace

    She said the UN under its Women, Peace and Security Programme has called on community and religious leaders because they are value bearers, spiritual mentors and critical stakeholders in the quest for sustainable peace.

    Ongile who was represented by Peter Mancha, Deputy Programme Manager, UN Women said violence against women slows down poverty eradication, just as much as it is a consequence of discrimination against women.

    She nevertheless emphasised the need for GBV/VAC prevention strategy to be backed by political will and holistic participation of all sectors of the community so that it could have a long-lasting and permanent impact.

    In his remark, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Muhammadu Adamu Bappah said a draft copy of the domesticated Child right Law was before the state Ministry of Justice for consideration and onward presentation to the as bill to the State Assembly.

    He said it was against this background that they were community and religious leaders and other stakeholders to discuss how best to handle and manage GBV/VAC in our communities.

    “I wish to call on all of us to reconsider our belief systems, norms, values and practice which provide acceptable ways.

    “These are traits that shape our perception, thinking and behaviours on GBC/VAC. We are aligned to our thinking in this modern age and present realities (digital age). GBC/VAC is moral imperatives,” he said.

    He therefore called on participants to step down the benefits of the forum in their respective areas.

     

  • NGO offers free surgery for children with cleft lip

    NGO offers free surgery for children with cleft lip

    A group, Smile Train, a Non-governmental Organisation in partnership with University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH),   has offered free surgery for children with cleft lip. The group, which came with eight specialist surgeons to carry out the operation using UPTH theatre, said no child needs to live with cleft.

    Over 30 children were operated  and as of when the Nation  left the theatre room some parents whose children had the defect were seen at the UPTH reception  making necessary preparation to benefit from the free surgery.

    Briefing reporters at the UPTH conference room after the first successful operation, Mrs.  Victoria Awazie, the team leader, Smile Train, said some parents had disowned their babies when they discovered that they had cleft lip problem.

    She said it was evil to throw away babies because he or she had defect.

    Awazie said it was because of the challenges children with the defect pass through that made Smile Train to offer free cleft surgery in Nigeria. She noted that over 11, 345 children have been successfully operated in Nigeria.  She added that there operation had been expanded to West African countries, India and other countries of the world.

    She said the main purpose while her group decided to offer free surgery around the world was because parents were seeing babies with defect as bad baby. She narrated how a woman who delivered a baby with cleft lip problem poisoned her baby twice because she did not want people to know that the baby she delivered has a defect.

    “This is not the first time we have been coming to Port Harcourt to partner with UPTH over this surgery. It is on record that some parents are now killing their own baby just because that baby has a defect. But it is bad, we are trying our best in terms of publicity to inform parents that they don’t need to kill their baby because of defect. Now we are in Port Harcourt we have been using the media to invite the public to bring any of their babies, relative, neighbour and friend who has cleft lip problem for free operation.  We are going to correct that defect and nobody would know that such baby has a defect.

    “The most important thing is for public to understand that the service is free. One thing the parent or the public needs to know is that no child needs to live with a cleft. And cleft lip child is not a curse or bad omen, anybody with a cleft lip problem can be helped. We have our specialist surgeons to do a neat operation. Our main objective is to bring smile to the faces of children and adult with cleft lip problem.

    The Chief Medical Director of UPTH, Prof. Aaron Ojule who showed gratitude for the free surgery offered by Smile Train said he wants privilege Nigerians to take the opportunity to contribute on the free surgery by donating to Smile Train since other faceless privilege individuals are paying bills to make the surgery free.

     

     

  • The effect of divorce on children

    GOOD afternoon, I need an advice about effect of divorce on children. Thanks.

    Ed Shaeed.

    THE effect of divorce on children is one of the most questions I received recently therefore reading through my mail I decided to treat it again although a few months back we did have two publications on the topic of how divorce affects children in respective of their age. The latest global statistic on divorce is alarming. There are strong signals that more and more marriages are crashing for different reasons with the children in the center of the whole issue. Divorce is traumatic for not just parents alone but also children most times parents worry about how they can deal with their new status forgetting the fact that their children are also going through the same emotions only that they level of their upset varies depending on the child’s age and the amount of information given in respect of the circumstances surrounding the divorce in the first place. Children, toddlers, teenagers and youth have different ways of expressing their emotions when it comes to issues like divorce, don’t forget that some of them have grown to seeing the way their parents interacts whether good or bad and trust me children always have it in mind that things are going to get better in some cases. Every child wants to see his/her daddy and mummy living together happily, no child wants to be separated from his mummy or dad except in a case of domestic violence. Children whether younger or older view divorce different and if not manage properly can affect them in so many ways, could be presently or later.  Children experience a lot of feelings as a result some children may respond in multiple and varied ways to the decision of their parents’ divorce/separation.

    Some of their reactions are based on the fact that their parents are not going to be together again. some of the factors that affect the children are as follows;  anger, fear, a sense of loss, guilt and blame,  shame and embarrassment, relief, insecurity / low self-esteem, academic problem, grief, depression and isolation or loneliness and so on. Anger is one of the most common reaction children shows to parental divorce. Children , grown up or teenagers may be so anger because the divorce has disrupted their family setting by creating disorder especially in situation where they already have their friends and schools but now have to move as a result of the divorce some of them really get angry at their parents and people around them. If not address can truly lead to resentment while some might repress their anger with the feeling of denial, pretending that the divorce is not true. Children who suppress their anger may suffer heightened stress. They may experience anxiety attack, night mare, moodiness, and severe depression.

    Next effect of divorce on children is fear; the greatest challenge for children in situation like divorce is the fear of the unknown. A lot of questions come to their mind, where they will live especially if they now have to move to a new place, what will happen to them? Who will be responsible for certain things for them? How often will they get to see the other parent? They may fear total abandonment by one or both parents that’s for the youth. They may also fear how their friends are going to react to them knowing that their parents are now divorce. A teenager/ youth going through this may react by withdrawing and becoming less communicative with parents or peers. further effect of divorce on children is the feeling of blame or guilt; most children see their parents divorce or separation as their fault, they are quick to think that the divorce was as a result of what they did that their parents were not happy about, it leaves them with the feeling of guilt at all times and if not address properly can affect the child’s personality. That is why in most cases children are the one who tries to bring their parents together again except in an abuse case. In addition to the effect of divorce on children is Relief: if the relationship has been an abusive one, some children especially the teenagers might have witness or suffered abuse themselves. Situations like this where children are constantly living in fear and pain because of domestic violence. Academic problem is not left out when mentioning the effect of divorce on children; it is more difficult for a child to concentrate on schoolwork in times of family pandemonium. Slipping grades may be a means of gaining attention or expressing rebellion, and at the initial stage with all the happenings the parent have his or her issues to start adjusting to, will find it a bit challenge in mentoring the children’s school work. More over insecurity/low self esteem is also a factor that affects children when divorce takes place, going by the definition that self esteem is the collection of belief or feelings that we have about ourselves (perception) which influences our motivations, attitudes and behaviour. Children from divorce homes are vulnerable to feeling of insecurity and low self esteem, they always belief their existence brought about their parents’ divorce.  They feel stigmatized by everybody, the children if care is not taken will lack confident in themselves or what they can achieve.

    The fact that in a divorce one parent seems to be with the children without the other, so the circumstance surrounding the divorce always makes it harder for either parents to give attention and affection to the children who in return feel unlovable and abandoned. Other factors that can affect children in the case of divorce are shame and embarrassment, grief, depression, isolation which can lead to lonely feeling. The dealing with the affect of divorce on children  as mentioned above are: communication; talk to your children reassure them that no matter the situation they are your priority and that you will forever love them because divorce can create wound in children. Talk to them about what’s going on, what they are feeling, and how things will get better. Involve them. If they know there are things they can do to help this transition, it will give them a feeling of power. Learn to encourage them in whatever they are doing and make them understand that the divorce is not their fault at all. Offer support, ask them what they feel will make them if better about the divorce. Spend quality time with them, show them love and care. On your part do take good care of yourself, keep yourself physically and emotionally healthy so that you can shape your family again but if you feel you need help don’t hesitate  visit a trained professional ( counselor/therapist) who will help your children and yourself go through this major change in a healthy way. Special thanks to those readers who send in questions and suggestions through email and text messages. We appreciate you!

     

    Harriet ogbobine is a counselor and a motivational speaker. Send your questions and suggestions to her on bineharriet@gmail.com or txt message only 08054682598. You can also follow her on twitter: @bineharrietj

  • Immunisation: NPHCDA targets children at IDP camps

    Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammed Wednesday disclosed plans to extend a follow up immunisation campaign on measles to 96 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the North East.

    Meanwhile, the Federal Government has planned to immunize 39million children from measles in this year’s measles vaccination campaign, which kicks off at the weekend.

    The campaign which was officially flagged off on Friday in Abuja is aimed at vaccinating children within the ages of nine months to five years.

    Minister of Health Dr. Isaac Adewole who flagged off the Nationwide campaign ‎said “For this present campaign, the goal is to immunise 39million Nigerian children, this we shall do and if there is the need to go beyond that, we will do so, I want to assure you that we should make sure that this becomes a routine, so that we do not have to conduct follow up campaigns every now and then, we should spread the gospel that the vaccine is safe and cheaper to prevent measles than treat the complications of measles like pneumonia, deafness, blindness etc.”

    He also explained that “Measles has ravaged our land, decimated our children, inflicted untold miseries on our children and killed many of them, as of year 2000, estimate indicated that about 523,000 children died from measles, this will be unacceptable to any serious government and therefore we join the campaign of the WHO to contribute to the elimination of measles by 2020.

    “We will raise the bar and coverage of this campaign beyond 80%, our believe is in universal health coverage we want to ensure that every Nigerian, young or adult, has access to health and we will reach them with every available means of health care delivery, particularly preventive measures to ensure that they live well.

    “It is going to be an administration with a change, change in the sense that we want to cover Nigerians, we want to target poor people, over 65% of our people are poor and so we must take health to their doorsteps, we recognise the fact that many of them cannot pay for the cost of transportation, so our duty as a responsible administration is to put health at their doorsteps, so that they can contribute meaningfully as Nigerians to the development of our great nation.”

    NPHCDA boss, Dr. Ado Muhammed said during a briefing on Integrated National Measles Campaign in Abuja‎ that the programme would be implemented at IDP camps in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    According to him, the campaign became important to reduce measles epidemic in the country. He said addressing measles epidemic would reduce under-five mortality by 40 per cent, adding that it would be replicated in the southern states of the country.

    He said that the first phase would start from 21st November to 26th November, 2015 ‎in the 19 northern‎ states while second phase would commence on 28th January to 1st February, 2016 in the17 Southern states.

    Muhammed said: “The campaign is structured in two ways. One is facility-based immunization in which we expect children and wards to primary health centres. We also have outposts that we have identified such as churches, mosques, schools and homes of our traditional leaders. We also build transit point so that we will not miss any child in that age range. We will also target motor parks and other hard-to-reach areas in-between states and international borders…

    “We also have made arrangement that all the IDP camps in the security-challenged areas of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. As at last count, we have identified about 96 IDP camps, distributed in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, and also part of FCT. Those IDP camps are also part of temporary posts…

    “The essence is that no child should be missed. We do not want to miss any child. We are determined to have quality campaign. We are determined to ensure that we have optimal uptake of this exercise. We are trying to ensure that we achieve 95 percent coverage, so that we can reduce and bring to the barest minimum, the burden of this disease in this country.

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency is committed to child survival. We know with effective immunization, about 40 percent of deaths in under-five can be reduced. We are committed to ensuring that we reduce to the barest minimum the burden of disease in this country.”

    However, Mohammed said the agency planned to achieve 95 per cent immunisation coverage in partnership with other development and health partners.

    “The agency has partnered other relevant agencies especially Non-Governmental Organisations to ensure the campaign is successful. The children to be targeted are from 9 months to 59 months. It is
    very important because a successful campaign would reduce 4 per cent of under 5 mortality in the country.

    “We want the media to also help us create more awareness on this campaign for the benefit of the masses. It will hold virtually at all public places including bus stops, churches, major traffic points, border towns among others,” he added.

     

  • ‘Equip the children digitally now’

    ‘Equip the children digitally now’

    •Corona holds public lecture

    Participants at the panel discussion of Corona School 60th anniversary public lecture, have called on governments and private school operators to prepare the children technologically so they can meet up with the projected leap in ICT for knowledge acquisition.

    Aside being digitally inclined, panellist also harped on the need for government to have a paradigm shift, which goes beyond producing graduates versed in various specialisations, but children equipped with learning skills with which to tackle the problems affecting the country in future.

    The lecture, which held at Muson Centre on Thursday last week, formed part of activities marking the 60th anniversary of Corona School Trust Council (CSTC).

    The lecture, delivered by an expert in personalised adaptive learning, Dr Johann Ari Larusson, was themed: ‘Teaching and learning for the next generation.’

    Keynote speakers included: CEO Leading Learning Ltd Mrs Folasade Adefisayo; Acting Director, (Quality Assurance), Universal Basic Education Council (UBEC) Dr. Tokunbo Onosode,  immediate past chairman, Lagos  State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Mrs Gbolahan Daodu; Head Teacher, St. Saviour’s School, Ikoyi Mr Craig Heaton.  Others were:Mr. Olisaemeka Osakwe Adetunji Adegbesan, a young ICT entrepreneur and Corona alumnus; and Mrs. Yemisi Ikuomola Project Director, Panache Meets Ltd, who was the moderator.

    With the direction the country is drifting, Mrs Adefisayo said governments need to redefine education philosophy so as to produce graduates with global  focus and armed with knowledge that would address the nation’s challenges.

    “In this country, we appear to be too outwardly. Can we teach our children to be global citizens and creative thinkers, and not just children that can merely pass exams?” she asked.

    She continued: “Nigeria is sliding towards anarchy and time is running out fast. We need to start grooming children that would arrest this development in future.”

    Adefisayo also couseled parents against choosing career path for their wards. She said today’s education requires graduates, who are intellectually and emotionally liberalised. When this is done, she is optimistic that such child is able to unleash his or her potentials.

    In his own assessment Mr. Heaton, feared that Nigeria, nay the world, is preparing the children for jobs that no longer exist.

    According to him, technology increases exponentially, adding that this provides more tasks for schools to steer their ship towards building future leaders with problem solving skills.  Education, heaton added, also needs to be transformed into learning and transforming children minds for enquiry.

    Corroborating Adefisayo, Daodu sough cooperation of parents in making their wards  finished products.  She noted that children spend more than half of their time at home rather than school; hence the call by parents to entrench solid foundation in which the child can later consolidate later in life.

    “We as teachers cannot succeed in our task if we don’t have your collaboration,” she appealed.

    “Truth is, each of these children realised they cannot get to the outside without having the foundation and this responsibility lies majorly with parents before every other.”

    Nonetheless, Onosode said UBE prioritises teaching and learning. According to her, the commission during inspection, dedicates 70 per cent of their time to classroom activities.

    “Whenever we are on inspection, we ensure we give 70 per cent of our time to the classroom because we want to know what teachers give to learners and their (teacher) performance will show in the effectiveness of the school and the teacher.”

    She assured the commission is also looking more seriously into basic education as well as the NCE which is the minimum qualification for basic school.

    Earlier, Dr. Larusson, who shared his knowledge on the possibilities of educational future in Nigeria, posited that a key focus of future education and learning, like all countries, should be on preparing learners for success in a dynamic, 21st Century world.

    “If our current and next generation of learners are to thrive in future, the 21st Century environment must provide them with content that will prepare them for the jobs and workplaces of the future; and deliver this content in a way that reflects modern life. This will require a transformation of how, when and where we teach, all the while focusing on providing educational experiences that make a real and positive difference to the lives of learners and the communities in which they live”.

    Speaking on the reason for the event, Chief Executive Officer of CSTC Mrs. Olufunto Igun, said the lecture hopes to: “explore global trends and best practices for teaching and learning as well as possible solutions for addressing challenges and constraints, Identify areas of collaboration among education stakeholders, Discover innovative ways to improve learning in the classroom.”