The Nation Newspaper

Tag: literacy

  • Lafarge Literacy contest final today

    The final of third Lafarge Africa National Literacy Competition will hold at the MUSON Centre, Lagos on Thursday.

    Twelve pupils from Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Lagos and Plateau states who qualified from the regional finals, would strive for supremacy at the event which is organised in partnership with the Ovie Brume Foundation has reached its peak.

    The competition tests the pupils’ ability to read, write and spell correctly. It features literacy tests, essay/summary writing and spelling bees to evaluate their reading and writing abilities.

    Group MD/CEO, Lafarge Africa PLC, Michel Puchercos hoped the brilliance displayed by the pupils in the preliminaries would play up in the final.

    He promised that the organisation would continue to intervene in the education sector as part of its focus areas of social investments.

    “When our children have the right literacy skills, they develop a strong sense of individual well-being and citizenship, which stimulates the foundation to be future contributors to economic development” he declared.

    Chairperson of the Ovie Brume Foundation, Ms Evelyn Oputu, said the initiative has had a positive impact on the pupils and schools.

    “The last three years have brought out the best in the children in terms of confidence building, competitive spirit, greater knowledge and cognitive skills, including the ability to handle pressure,” she said.

     

  • Lagos kicks off literacy project

    Lagos State has launched the Kick Illiteracy out of Lagos Eko N Ke KO (Lagos is Learning). The literacy project aims at increasing literacy rate in the state by 95 per cent.

    It was launched a week ago at the Police College, Ikeja, by Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Oluranti Adebule, who also supervises the Ministry of Education in the state.

    The Governor said the initiative targets illiterate Lagosians in every age group.

    Ambode said the project entailed spreading literacy centres across the state in order  to increase access for Lagosians as well as multiply and diversify delivery channels for literacy content.

    He said various centres have been located across the state in such a way that would make it most accessible to people.

    Ambode said the state already has 532 centres, adding that government plans additional 100 basic and post literacy centres in due course.

    The programme, the governor explained, is for nine-month duration for each applicant, with a certificate equivalent to that of Primary Three.

    He said: “We will aggressively promote radio literacy programmes, mobile literacy centres, and other innovative channels would be used as well as the social media.

    “Upon resumption, I promised and assured Lagosians of our avowed commitment to the vision of providing equitable, functional, effective and quality education for all the citizens. This is a long term project.”

    He added that the project will partner other stakeholders who are involved in adult and mass literacy programmes.

    The Governor’s Special Adviser on Education, Mr Olufela Bank-Olemoh, said the project was to ensure that illiteracy is kicked out of the state.

    “Those who benefit from this training will no longer lack basic literacy, numeracy and essential life skills, which make them more efficient and capable to resist criminal and anti social groups,” Olemoh added.

    He said textbooks, exercise books, erasers and pencils would be given to the beneficiaries of this project.

  • Benue governor’s wife to promote literacy

    Life of the Benue State Governor, Mrs Eunice Ortom, has said her pet project known as Eunice Spring of Life Foundation (ESLF) is poised to advance the intellectual development of the average Benue child.

    Mrs Ortom stated this at a two-day literacy development and talent show competition organised by ESLF in Makurdi.

    According to Ortom,there is need to reawaken the reading culture among children to reduce the time they spend on frivolities.

    “This programme is intended to highlight the importance of literacy and promote commitment to lifelong reading among Benue children,” she said.

    She described as impressive, the enthusiasm shown by the children in various activities including timed reading, spelling, art, impromptu speaking and writing composition.

    She noted that the programme targets children across the 23 councils of the state who fall within the primary and secondary school category. She also promised to hold similar competition in years ahead.

    “I am happy with the talents displayed by the children which are an indication that you are indeed tomorrow’s leaders. With you, I am proud to say that our tomorrow is bright, “Ortom said.

    Twenty-three public and private schools participated in the two-day event that showed winners go home with star prizes and other items.

     

  • Heritage Bank deepens financial literacy

    Heritage Bank deepens financial literacy

    Heritage Bank has launched, The Protector, a comic book to deepen financial literacy among school children.

    The initiative is a fall-out of the declaration of last month as “Children Banking Month” by the bank. The project, according to the bank, is in recognition of the pivotal role children play as leaders of tomorrow.

    At the unveiling of the book in Lagos, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo, who was represented by Executive Director, Lagos/South West and Corporate Banking, Mrs. Mary Akpobome, explained that the lender has been at the forefront of driving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) financial inclusion initiative and is constantly thinking of creative and innovative ways of introducing the younger generation to the concept of wealth creation through Financial Literacy

    Sekibo added: “With this Comic book project, we envisage the birth of creative writers, voice over artistes, motion graphic producers among children.

    “Dear young ones in our midst, Heritage Bank remains committed to your development because you represent the future, if we do all we can to support you and equip you, our country will be a much better place to live in.”

    He stressed that financial education is a key success indicator for socio-economic development, adding that the bank believes in empowering the youth with requisite skills to make solid financial decisions in adult years

    The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, represented by Mr. Adesina Odeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, commended the bank for the initiative, which he described as a strong foundation for the nation’s development.

    He said the state is desirous of an organization that is ready to educate the youth and help them realise their potentials.

  • Banks take financial literacy to youths

    Banks take financial literacy to youths

    The financial inclusion project of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) backed by the Bankers’ Committee is getting the support of many commercial banks. Skye Bank Plc has taken its financial literacy campaign for  youths to Bayelsa and Ogun states to boost their knowledge of savings and investment, writes COLLINS NWEZE

    The Bankers’ Committee is taking financial literacy for the youth very seriously and so are many commercial banks. For Skye Bank Plc, now is the time to promote financial inclusion, especially among the youth and grassroots. The commercial bank last week took its mentoring programme for students in financial literacy to Bayelsa and Ogun states to underscore the imperatives of the savings culture among the beneficiaries.

    The bank’s officials were at Biedomo Premier School, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State where they taught the students the fundamentals of financial planning, investment instruments and the need for imbibing the savings culture at an early stage.

    The bank’s Head of Sustainability and Consumer Protection Department, Mrs. Bola Adesanoye, who took the students through the various teaching sessions, explained the various bank account types.

    She, however, focused on the savings account, being the one suitable for students, in addition to other financial investments such as bonds, insurance, treasury bills, mutual funds, among others and the benefit of each of them. The participants had the opportunity to ask questions after the lecture sessions, with the successful getting various gift items which included children’s books.

    Explaining the rationale for the programme, Adesanoye said the programme was an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) designed to expose the students to saving money in banks. “The purpose is to catch them young and expose them to modern art of banking. The programme is an initiative of the CBN and we are to cover the 36 states. And from the responses of the kids, you would discover that the programme has achieved one of its aims. At least, the kids are now familiar with what we do in the  banking sector,” she said.

    “My appeal goes to the parents. As they are operating different bank accounts, they should impress the habit of savings on their children by opening an account for them. At Skye, we have Rainbow Savings Account which is specifically designed for children.’’

    Speaking further, she said the programme would make the kids money intelligent, disciplined and wise spending. “And in order to put the programme into practical purpose, Skye bank has come up with a special account known as Rainbow Account”, she added.

    While at Biedomo Premier School, Yenagoa, Skye Bank officials took the pupils through the basic principles of savings and the need for the them to start saving at a very early stage. Similarly, students of Leadway School, Divine International Primary School and Amass Primary School, all based in Abeokuta, also benefitted from the bank’s financial training and mentoring programme. The enthusiastic pupils were told to save money given to them so as to build a large pool of funds by the time they become adults.

    The lender, last year took the  training programme to Osogbo. Phobestar Royalty School benefited from the programme, with the pupils all exposed to the essence of savings.

    The Proprietress of the school, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Segun, disclosed that her joy knew no bound with the decision of CBN to choose her school for the lecture.

    She said the lecture would not only help the students to be money wise but would also prepare them to be financially independent when they graduate from the school.

    The bank had also renovated three blocks of 12 classrooms at Government Day Secondary School, Wuse 11, Abuja, under its ‘School adoption’ and financial literacy mentorship series in line with the CBN ‘Adopt a school project’. The renovated classrooms were handed over to the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Department of Education and the Principal of the school, Joseph Akor, in Abuja last week.

    The bank’s Executive Director, Abuja /Northern Directorate Idris Yakubu, said the lender was committed to creating conducive atmosphere for students and teachers to learn and teach respectively.

    For him, the bank has made investment in corporate social responsibility in the education sector, adding that it would continue to support the school and help it achieve its objective of producing high quality students. He appealed to parents to save for the education of their children as a way of overcoming the challenges of funding their wards’ education, noting that savings ensured that parents were not put under pressure over payment of school fees.

    The Principal of the school, Joseph Akor, praised the lender for its support for the school in the last three years, which has led to a positive transformation of the school. He said the financial literacy mentorship series of the bank and the provision of infrastructure at the school have significantly enhanced the school’s ability to live up to the expectations of both parents and the students in terms of adequate and conducive classrooms.

    Akor appealed to the bank to assist the school to provide sporting infrastructure that will enable the students become good sportsmen and women in the future.

    The Deputy Director, Education, FCT Department of Education, Gama Yakubu, praised Skye Bank for its outstanding contributions to education in the FCT.

    He urged other corporate bodies to emulate the bank by coming to the aid of public schools.

  • UNESCO, others to facilitate mass literacy in Northeast

    UNESCO, others to facilitate mass literacy in Northeast

    The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), National Council for Adult Education (NCAE), in partnership with the National Mass Education Commission (NMEC), is to facilitate mass literacy and education in the Northeast.

    UNESCO’s Regional Director Mr. Benoit Sossou, spoke at the weekend when he presented 50 laptops and other learning materials to Community Model learning Centre in Bauchi.

    Represented by Dr. Safiya Iliyasu, Sossou said: “Nigeria is in the process of curriculum reform to make literacy curriculum more responsive to the challenging needs of the 21st century knowledge economy.”

    NCAE’s Chairperson Prof Fatima Umar noted that the learning materials would improve mass literacy delivery in the region.

    She urged women to key into the programme to benefit from the vocational training and literacy education introduced at the centre.

  • Akwa Ibom governor’s wife seeks financial literacy for women

    Wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel, has identified lack of business skills, saving support and financial literacy as   factors militating against women in business. The governor’s wife made the disclosure at the 8th edition of the Onna Women’s day held at the Onna sports stadium.

    Represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Glory Edet, the first lady noted that though many women have business ideas, they do not often have information and access to the small capital they need to launch themselves. “Our women need business skills, saving support, and financial literacy, often times, they have good ideas but they do not have access to the small capital they need to launch out and help themselves and their families.” She remarked.

    Mrs. Emmanuel stated that the need for the empowerment of women is long overdue, hence remains a key priority of the Udom Emmanuel’s development agenda, adding that on her part, she is poised to do all she can towards ensuring that Akwa Ibom women will never take the back seat in the economic life and development of the state.

    As part of the celebration, the governor’s wife  performed the ground breaking of the Onna Women’s daily market along Onna-Eket road.

    The chairman of occasion, Mrs. Ini Akpauso, thanked the governor’s wife for her love and support for the event adding that over the years, any programme aimed at touching and impacting the lives of women, she is always passionate about it. She appreciated the founder for the insight of establishing the programme saying it will go down in history.

    She also congratulated the governor on his first 100 days in office saying that with him on the saddle, the women will be better off.

    Also speaking, the founder and initiator of the event, Akwa Obongawan Patience Akpabio Ukpa  appreciated God for making the week long programme a success.

    She appreciated the governor’s wife for her motherly and supportive role in making sure the event was a success as well as her pivotal role in encouraging and developing Akwa Ibom women saying that indeed she is a noble and worthy daughter of the soil.

    Dignitaries at the event were thrilled with various cultural dances and renditions by the various women groups. Traditional titles were also given out to deserving daughters and friends of the area for their meritorious and selfless service by the Paramount Ruler of the area, His Eminence Akwa Edidem Akpabio Udo Ukpa, Oku Ibom Ibibio (111).

    Among dignitaries who accompanied the first lady were, former chairman, Technical School Board,  Comfort Etuk, wife of Commissioner for Investment, Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Anne Enoidem, wife of Commissioner Housing and Urban Renewal, Mrs. Inem Enobong Uwah, legislators’ wives and wives of transition chairmen.

     

  • FCT literacy level above 70%, says minister

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has achieved a literacy level above 70 percent and ranks among the highest in Nigeria.

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed disclosed this at the just concluded 58th Annual National Congress of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS).

    The Minister, who was represented at the occasion by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu said, “This was solid dividend of investment in this sub-sector by the FCT Administration”.

    Mohammed remarked that the education sector in the Federal Capital Territory has enjoyed a priority position in its budgetary allocations under the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

    The Minister recalled that the greatest challenges his Administration had encountered on assumption of office was the unbearable high level of congestion in the classrooms due to the ever influx of people into the Territory.

    Mohammed, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, reiterated that his Administration confronted the problem through concerted programme of massive construction of more classrooms and establishment of new schools.

    His words: “In addition, to the provision of infrastructure, attention was paid to the procurement of instructional materials, as well as recruitment, promotion and development of teachers”.

    He revealed that in the wake of the Ebola scare last year in the country, the FCT Administration expended N100 million to safeguard its school children and teachers.

    While appreciating the corporation and understanding of the FCT ANCOPSS, he urged them to continue to ensure prudent management of available resources to make our schools a better place.

    Senator Mohammed also appreciated the National ANCOPSS under the leadership of Hajiya Fatima Abdulrahman for bringing its National Congress to Abuja, which has the theme “A good School Community Relationship; A Tool for Effective Implementation of the New Curriculum”.

    The FCT administration Secretary for Education, Mallam Kabir Usman also advised Principals of Secondary Schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and entire Nigeria to ensure a harmonious relationship with the communities where their schools are located.

    Usman said that the role of the community in the school administration structure is very important.

    According to him, in the FCT where school based management system is being implemented, the support of the communities have been actively sought and this has yielded positive results, saying that the success of the newly introduced trade subjects is also heavily hinged on the support of the community.

    The FCT president of ANCOPSS, Mohammed Ladan, said that in spite of the remarkable feats achieved by the FCTA in the education sectors, there is the need for recruitment of more teachers, completion of on-going projects some FCT Secondary Schools, also provision of computers to all junior and senior secondary schools in the FCT.

    “The minister should also consider the perimeter fencing of schools yet to be fenced in view of the current security challenges, also the appointment of Principals into key positions such as making them board Chairmen, Executive Secretaries, Advisers and Special Assistants.

    “The promoting of Principals to Grade Level 17 as it is the case in some states, the posting of well trained security men to all schools in the FCT, organising and sponsoring principals, vice principals and teachers to capacity building workshops within and outside the country, the provision of land for building FCT ANCOPSS headquarters and the provision of an 18 seater bus to ANCOPSS, as it is in the case in all the states of the federation,” he said.

    The National President of ANCOPSS, Fatima Abdulrahman also appealed to state and federal government to urgently address the persistent challenges bedeviling the educational system, particularly at the basic and post basic levels.

    Abdulrahman also highligted some of the major challenges facing the education sector, to include, inadequate number of teachers, inadequate science laboratory equipment and lack of trade subjects equipment, among others.

    She stressed the need for a more robust ICT and E-learning resources in Schools and the construction of new schools to meet the ever increasing population of children of school age.

  • Fidelity Bank boosts financial literacy

    Fidelity Bank Plc will not relent in promoting financial literacy among youths as part of the bank’s commitment to deepen the economy, its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nnamdi Okonkwo, has said.

    He said this would be achieved by partnering with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to introduce financial literacy in the curriculum of schools across the country.

    Okonkwo spoke during the Financial Literacy Day organised by the bank with the Junior Achievers, Nigeria for the pupils of Day Waterman College, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    He was represented by the Chief Compliance Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc., Adeboye Ogunmolade.The bank chief praised the CBN for mobilising stakeholders to ensure that financial literacy becomes part of schools’curriculum and assured the regulator that the lender would make its input in making the project a reality.

    According to him, as a commercial bank with presence and Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) in many educational institutions, the bank must take interest in projects which have the objective of teaching students financial education and literacy.

    “For a start, we must emphasise and give credit to the Central Bank of Nigeria. They are the Initiator and the champion of this agenda. They are mobilising all stakeholders, including even the Federal Ministry of Education to incorporate this financial literacy project as part of schools’curriculum.

    The Principal, Day Waterman College, Linda Potticary, said it was imperative that children were educated about finances and saving culture at a tender age.

    She added that the youth as the future leaders of the country who would manage the economy in the near future should be financially literate.

     

  • Group seeks improved literacy campaign

    The 14th biennial conference of the Reading Association of Nigeria (RAN) has been held at the Oodua Auditorium of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti.

    Prof Dele Orisawayi of the Achievers University in Owo, Ondo State, while speaking on Literacy for good governance, said literacy challenge was a universal concern facing many countries. He said illiteracy was still prevalent in Nigeria, noting that socio-cultural and political factors as responsible.

    He said reading and writing provided the basis for good governance, saying: “What is written derives its inspiration partly from reading and partly from direct exposure and experience. Both provide the baseline of communication and interaction with the human brain.”

    He urged students and scholars to imbibe the reading culture, stressing that it was the fundamental root for achievements and development.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Oladipo Aina, lauded the efforts of RAN, saying the association remained the effective society promoting reading culture and enlightening the minds of the young generation.

    The VC, who described reading as the best road to knowledge, urged supports for the association remove the traits impeding development of minds.

    The National president of the association, Prof Olu Oyinloye, said: “When we beamed our searchlight into the political situation in the country because of the problems of unemployment and insecurity, we discovered that lack of education was the cause. This is why we came out with theme of the event to promote literacy and good governance.”

    Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, two of the participants, who are students of EKSU, Ayodeji Ariori, 400-Level Chemical Engineering and Bukola Owatoye, 400-Level Political Science, promised to share what they learnt at the conference with their colleagues.