The Nation Newspaper

Tag: materials

  • Commissioner donates writing materials, bags to 4,270 pupils

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Pharm (Mrs) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, on Thursday donated exercise books, bags and mathematical sets to 4, 270 students of 12 selected primary and secondary schools in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    The initiative tagged Goodwill Project with the theme, ”The role of education in national development,” was held at Glorious Event Centre, Command, Ipaja, Lagos.

    Akinbile-Yussuf, revealed that the gesture was to complement the giant strides of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in transforming the education sector of the state.

    ”The Goodwill Project is conceived to uplift humanity and our society. Currently in its fourth year, the project among others, has contributed to community development, job provision and accessible healthcare for the people of the council area. The project was initiated to curb poverty and generate employment to the good people of Alimosho Local Government Area in my own capacity.

    ”The first set of beneficiaries of this novel project  were artisans, market men and women, entrepreneurs and host of others in 2013, while serving as Supervisory for Agriculture and Social Development in Agbado/Oke -Odo Local Council Development Area. This year, the project is focusing on children with a strong bias for their educational development through the provision of basic educational materials for pupils in 12 selected public primary and secondary schools in Alimosho council area.”

    The Chairman of the occasion, Prof Olumide Longe of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, advocated the promotion of good traditional values inherent in our society in the times past.

    He said: ”Proactive approach must be developed to offer our children holistic education, when that happens, the focus on religious and ethnic considerations to develop our country would be less. Values are disappearing and parents are not giving enough of their time to their children. We must not disappoint our ancestors by lack of proper education and mentoring of our young ones. The only way to go in this regard is to pass the values of hardwork, discipline and integrity to our young generation.

  • Education materials rot away in Ogun schools

    Education materials rot away in Ogun schools

    Some education materials procured for secondary schools in Ogun State since 2012 are rotting away at the Abeokuta High School, Idi-Aba Library.

    The materials, which were said to have been procured by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration shortly after he was sworn in for his first term in office in 2010, could not go round all the secondary schools.  The distribution was suspended and the remaining materials were moved to Abeokuta High School, Idi Aba for safe-keeping. However, the materials have been abandoned in the past six years.

    Southwest Report gathered that while some schools were lucky to have received the items, including branded school bags, ball pens, education and instructional materials for science and technical colleges, branded exercise books and laboratory materials, others are yet to get theirs.

    The materials that were kept at the Frederick O. Oridota Library since 2012 have prevented the students to have access to the use of the library for many years and most of the books have been covered with dust; a sign of many years of abandonment.

    When Southwest Report visited the school premises, students who were supposed to be in the library in accordance with the school’s timetable were seen playing on the field. They were warned not to go near the school library.

    Investigation revealed that some of the items, especially the ball pens, had dried up.

    Speaking to Southwest Report on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, a member of staff of the school explained that bureaucratic bottleneck by the Ministry of Education might have caused the continuous retention of the education materials in the school library.

    He said: “The excuse adduced by the government for keeping the materials was not tenable because if the materials could not go round, they should have been given to some of the schools instead of allowing it to get rotten here”

    He pointed out that since the materials have been kept in the school since 2012, the students did not have access to the library and all the school programmes concerning library education has been suspended.

    “This is very unfair; the government should have stored the materials at the Ministry of Education or in any government store instead of keeping them here for keeping sake,” our source said.

    A student of SS3 who simply identified himself as Oluwatosin explained that the materials have been kept in the school library for many years and the students can no longer use the facility again.

    “You can see that majority of the students are playing on the field while some are loitering about. If the library is not forbidden for the students, some of us would have loved to be there to read our books.

    “I was in JSS 1 when they brought those materials to our school and we were warned not to go near the library again because government properties are kept there. It was later that we learnt that education materials meant for some selected schools were kept in the library.” he said.

    Another student, Sola Aderibigbe (JSS3) said he met the library of the school sealed up with a warning that no student was allowed to loiter around the place, let alone entering inside.

    “I later learnt that government properties were kept there” he said.

    Speaking to Southwest Report on phone, the Principal of the school, Mr. Olusegun Obadimu explained that the alumnae of the school recently met and the issue was discussed at length, adding that they promised to intervene; indicating that the materials would be removed from the library soon.

    While speaking on the issue, the Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Modupe Mujota said the educational materials were not deliberately abandoned. She said the materials could not go round all the schools as the reason for the materials being stored at Abeokuta Grammar School, Idi Aba.

    Mujota, who spoke to Southwest Report on phone, explained that as soon as some issues are resolved in the ministry, the materials would be removed from the school.

    “The materials will be removed soonest, that is what l can say about the issue,” she said.

    However, a top government official in the Ministry of Education who spoke to our correspondent in confidence argued that the materials were rotting away because of the bureaucratic bottleneck from the ministry.

    “It is sad that the governor himself will not be happy that the materials that were bought with the taxpayer’s money are now rotting away somewhere on the flimsy excuse that it cannot go round. Is it not better to give the materials out to any of the available schools instead of allowing it to rot away like that?” he said.

     

  • Unity Bank donates relief materials to IDPs’ school

    Unity Bank donates relief materials to IDPs’ school

    Unity Bank has donated relief materials to The Praxis Catholic School for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and Vulnerable Children. The donation was made during an excursion of the pupils to the bank’s regional office in Abuja. A delegation of the school led by its proprietor, Ben Onwujifor, received the items.

    The bank’s Head, Corporate Communications, Matthew Obiazikwor, in a statement, explained that the gesture was part of the lender’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), aimed at partnering government, institutions, donor agencies, non-governmental organisations and humanitarian agencies for Northeast rehabilitation, particularly by reaching out to the IDPs.

    Such gestures, he said, would ameliorate the sufferings caused by the insurgency in the North East. “Beyond our CSR and the bank being in the forefront of private sector intervention initiative in the Northeast, it has equally kept faith in the Northeast, being the only lender that did not close operations to its teeming customers even in the thick of the insurgency experienced in Borno State,” he said.

    Commending the bank for hosting Praxis School for the IDPs, Onwujiofor urged the bank to open a dedicated IDPs account to assist in collecting voluntary donations from other public-spirited individuals and organisations wishing to support IDPs cause.

    He noted that Praxis Catholic School for the IDPs has an ambitious educational programme for its pupils and this can be sustained if there is increased assistance and inflow of donations to execute outlined initiatives to fully reintegrate the IDPs into the mainstream of activities in the society.

    “We are grateful to Unity Bank and for the opportunity of the excursion and we use this platform to call for greater partnership from all well-meaning members of the public to bring succor to the victims of the insurgency”.

    The stament said the Praxis Catholic School for the IDPs was opened in December 2016 by the First Lady  Hajiya Aisha Buhari.

    In 2016, Unity Bank supported Borno State Government with the donation of relief materials worth millions of Naira, having also been acknowledged by Governor Kashim Shettima for another donation of N25million made in the previous years.

  • Akeredolu donates materials to community invaded by soldiers

    Akeredolu donates materials to community invaded by soldiers

    Residents of crisis-ridden Ajapa riverine community in Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State at the weekend got materials estimated at N25 million to victims of military invasion in the area/

    Last May, some soldiers of Operation Delta Safe (ODS) invaded Ajapa, following the killing of a soldier by suspected militants.

    Since the invasion, residents of the community have been counting their losses; many have fled the town and refused to return home, despite government’s assurances to protect them and their property.

    The materials include iron sheets, nails, asbestos, mattresses, bags of rice, bags of garri and cartoons of vegetable oil.

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredoluu urged the residents to joins hands with government in improving security.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, frowned at soldiers who rendered the residents homeless.

    He noted that it was proper for the residents to report people of suspicious character to appropriate authorities.

    Akeredolu advised the community to flush out criminals as well as their collaborators to stave off an army invasion in the future.

    The governor said the materials were not meant for people who would always disrupt the economy and security of the state but for peace-loving residnts whose property were damaged when soldiers entered the town while chasing fleeing bandits.

    The community’s traditional ruler, the Eginabou of Ajapa, High Chief Titus Ekikei, hailed the state government for the gesture, despite the prevalent economic situation.

    He said the materials would enable the residents to resume their normal lives after the trying moments.

    Another community leader and a retired police commissioner, Tonye Ebitibituwa, urged parents and guardians to nurture children into becoming responsible citizens.

    He bemoaned the upsurge in criminality along the coastline.

    Ebitibituwa described what he called gangsterism and other forms of criminality as alien to the community.

  • ‘Difficult terrain hampers distribution of relief materials in Taraba’

    The Taraba State government says the difficult terrain is slowing down distribution of relief materials to victims of the farmers/herdsmen clash in the Mambilla area.

    Deputy Governor Haruna Manu, who visited victims of the violence in Gembu and Nguroje areas, however promised that the government will find a lasting solution to the problem.

    He added that some of the relief materials had started arriving at the various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

    Manu said relief materials had since arrived at the various IDPs camps, while more were on the way.

    At the palace of the chief of Mambilla, Manu said what happened was a big surprise to the government, because Mambilla has been a peaceful community.

    He said: “The ethnic groups in Mambilla have lived together peacefully for many years without conflict. This is certainly the handwork of the devil and it must not be allowed to happen again.”

    According to him, the Federal and state governments have big plans to develop Mambilla with world class facilities, saying the Mambilla Hydro Electricity project is among the global 100 biggest projects. He urged the people to abstain from actions that could create the impression that Mambilla is unsafe for such huge investment.

    At Nguroje, the deputy governor urged the people to be peaceful, law-abiding and tolerate one another, assuring them that Mambilla was home for all and no ethnic group will leave for the others.

  • 500 get textile materials in Kebbi

    The District Head of Ambursa in Kebbi, Alhaji Haruna Rasheed, has doled out clothing materials to 500 indigent persons in his domain, ahead of Sallah festival.

    Rasheed who addressed the beneficiaries in Ambursa, said the donation was to bring succour and enable them celebrate the Eid-el-Fitr, coming up in less than two weeks.

    “The donation has been an annual event for the past 15 years; it is aimed at bringing succour to the people to enable them celebrate the Sallah in happiness,” he said.

    The district head appreciated his subjects for their support and loyalty, and advised them to use the remaining period of the Ramadan to pray for peace and unity of the country.

    Rasheed directed village heads in his domain to sensitize the people on the need to conduct themselves peacefully during and after the July 15 local council election in the state.

    “We have been directed by the Gwandu Emirate Council to urge you on the need for peace and unity during the forthcoming council election.

    “ We are also asked to warn politicians against using youth to achieve their selfish interests,” he said.

    The district head advised the electorate to come out enmasse to cast their votes peacefully and cooperate with security agencies during and after the election.

  • Pupils get materials

    A non-governmental social club, Hope of Tomorrow, has donated school items and food to pupils of five government Primary Schools in Bariga Local Government.

    The schools are, Temple Primary School, Bariga Primary School, Alubarika Primary School, Abule-ayo Primary School and Shomolu Local Government Nursery and Primary School.

    The club’s President, Ademola Adewuyi, said the gesture was to give back to the community.

    According to him “Bariga is well known for violence, but today’s gesture to the student’s shows that something good can come out of Bariga. There are good and responsible people in Bariga and this group comprises of youths who grew up in Bariga; we all attended different government schools while growing up, we are done with tertiary institution and decided to give back to where we emerged from.”

    He promised Bariga to expect more from the group, saying plans are ongoing to make the gesture an annual event which promises to reach out to the old and young ones to offer free health care, sensitization on drug and cultism among others.

    He called on government to partner with them by sponsoring some of their programs.

    Representative of Oba Timson Badiru Jagunmolu of Bariga Shomolu, Kann-Jones Njoku, urged the pupils to embrace and be proud of their culture, adding that they must respect each other’s ethnic group.

    He applauded the club for the gesture.

    Divisional Police Officer, Ilaje Police Station, Titilayo Ayomide, represented by Inspector Raji Wakili urged the pupils to study hard and be punctual in all they do.

    He advised them not to make bad friends, noting that crime does not pay. “Be helpful to your parents because you are the future of tomorrow.”

    Head teacher of Alubarika primary school Mrs. Oyegunle Esther, thanked the club, describing the gesture as good intentions for pupils in Bariga.

  • Stop using substandard materials, contractors told

    To stem frequent building collapse, the Lagos State government yesterday asked contractors to abide by construction laws.

    Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) Director-General Hakeem Dickson gave the charge at safety training for construction workers.

    He lamented that many people have died in construction sites, saying the training would help to prevent disasters at sites.

    He warned contractors to stop using sub-standard materials and avoid incorrect mixture of concrete.

    “Once you get your approval, come to LSSC, let us know when you are moving to the site so that we can tell you how to put all the safety measures on,” he said.

    He also warned site engineers to be around daily to ensure that workers do what is required of them.

    “Our aim is to save lives and we all must ensure that safety is part of our culture, because being safety conscious costs nothing but the neglect of safety consciencess is costly and dangerous,” he said.

    LSSC Safety, Training and Education Director Adeyinka Adebiyi said the agency is to ensure is saddled every work place is safe, devoid of accident, death and injury. He said the training was about safety at height and application of first aid.

    Adebiyi said: “The construction workers are those that work at height in most cases, when they fall, they record serious injuries and in most cases death. This is why we are taking this training to the construction workers, health and safety environment managers working in the construction sector, so that precautionary measures would be taken before they start to work at the site

    “All personal protective equipment including safety boots and eye protection must be in place. Our aim for this training is to ensure that there is zero accident at construction sites, because we know that 80 percent of accidents is as a result of human errors, both in the construction site, manufacturing company or the likes. Most accidents that happened were as a result of individual error; 10 percent is as a result of machine failure, which is most times caused by human negligence to maintain the machine. Only 10 percent is caused by natural disaster.”

  • 25 persons arrested for extortion, selling UTME registration materials

    25 persons arrested for extortion, selling UTME registration materials

    Twenty-five persons have been arrested across the country for illegally selling registration materials for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates.

    Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) RegistrarProf. Is-haq Oloyede said this at weekend.

    The culprits were apprehended by a combined team of JAMB’s Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Police, following a tip-off.

    Among the registration materials being sold by them included copies of the UTME e-Brochure and e-Syllabus.

    The agency said the e-Brochure and e-Syllabus, which were meant to be free, were being sold by the culprits as high as N800 each nationwide, while at the same time also extorting money and inflating cost of registration from candidates.

    Oloyede, in an interview with reporters in his office in Abuja, said the people that were caught are those “doing what they are not supposed to do”.

    He said: “Our quality assurance unit, particularly the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit had to go out to see what is happening, following reports of extortion. We were having reports that candidates are paying more than the N5,500 that is required. The perpetrators have been cautioned and are presently under surveillance.

    “For many of them that have been caught, I don’t think they will want to be caught for the second time in the future after serving the severe punishments awaiting them.

    “We keep on telling people that they are to pay just N5,500, which is N5,000 to JAMB and N500 for the book (e-Brochure and e-Syllabus) and that is all. But for the centre where they register, the owner of the centres will get a maximum of N700. We have arrested about 25 persons, all over the country. They are those who are doing what they are not supposed to do, by charging the candidates higher than expected. They will not escape justice, they will appear in court.”

    According to him, JAMB has not asked anybody to pay extra money or asked anybody to go to any business centre for the creation of profile.

    The JAMB registrar said the banks and Computer-Based Test centres had reached an agreement with JAMB that they would create the profile for the candidates.

    He said: “And whether you go to the banks, NIPOST or anywhere to buy the pin, it is part of their responsibility to create the profile for the candidates. Nobody is expected to pay more than what we have specified. But what we have found out is that many people are gullible. What we have done is that the ACTU had gone out and raided the centres. We found out that many of the centres are playing on the ignorance of the candidates. We have advertised in 10 national newspapers, yet they still allow themselves to be extorted.”

    Oloyede faulted claims by many of the candidates, who have the impression that it would be better for them to register only in JAMB-owned centres.

    “It is not true. Whether you register at the JAMB centres or in any accredited centres, there is no difference.

    “People are saying that there is poor connectivity. I don’t know what they mean by that. May be, they are using old terms. Many of the business centres, who want us to return to the old practice or those who are producing the scratch cards and want to continue extorting money from people are the ones echoing this noise and creating unnecessary problem for the candidates,” he said.

  • Oil spill: Affected community yet to receive relief materials

    The Elembiri community, Gbanraun in Bayelsa State, affected by the Seibou II oil leak in 2015, said they were yet to receive relief materials to cushion the effect of the spill.

    The victims told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Yenagoa none of them received relief materials.

    NAN recalls that the spill from Seibou oilfield, owned by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), discharged about 550 barrels of crude into the Ogboinbiri River.

    Mr. Joseph Obari, SPDC’s spokesman, told NAN the oil firm sent relief materials to people affected by the spill from Seibou Well II head.

    But Rev. Festus Konbofa, leader of Elembiri community, said victims did not receive relief material from Shell.

    “We are SPDC’s immediate host. Seibou Well II is on my land and the creeks polluted are in our community.

    “So, if they claim to have sent relief items, chances are that they were diverted and taken elsewhere.

    “I am also part of the community leadership and we crosschecked with one another. I can confirm that nothing came in.

    “It is very unfortunate that they neglected payment of compensation to the affected community even when the regulators recommended so.

    “We have resolved that we shall not allow them to work until they tell us who they gave the materials.

    “Unfortunately for us, the facility has not been producing for a while now,” he said.

    Konbofa accused the Anglo-Dutch oil giant of evading payment of compensation for the pollution which, according to him, was caused by equipment failure.

    NAN recalls the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) recommended payment of compensation by SPDC to the impacted residents.

    Dr. Peter Idabor, the director-general, said: “Our assessment of the Seibou Well 2 facility leak of January 23, 2015 at Ogboinbiri, Bayelsa, confirmed the cause of the leak was equipment failure.

    “The assessment showed the volume of crude discharged was 549 barrels.

    “The joint investigation visit was conducted on February 10, 2015 by NOSDRA officials from our Warri office.

    “Our Port Harcourt office did the assessment and recommended payment of compensation, based on the impact of the spill. There is no status report on the compensation,” Idabor said.