The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NURSERY

  • First Lady inaugurates remodeled workplace nursery

    First Lady inaugurates remodeled workplace nursery

    The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has inaugurated Mrs. Victoria Gowon Work Place Nursery (creche)) to bring relief and improve the lives of working and nursing mothers.

    The project, which the First Ladu unveiled yesterday in Abuja, is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Development.

    Represented by the Vice President’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima, the First Lady said the project represented a significant milestone and the commitment of the Federal Government to support working and nursing mothers.

    She said the facility was put in place to bring relief to working mothers and their families as well as make it a comfortable environment for children to grow.

    “So, we are all gatherer here on this occasion to inaugurate and open the facility to use for the benefit of mothers.

    “This facility will serve as a preparatory ground for early child education and recreational activities for the children.

    Read Also: Tinubu laying foundation for more formidable Nigeria, says First Lady 

    “It will also ensure that the policy thrust of the baby-friendly initiative of the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration is achieved,” Senator Tinubu said.

    The First Lady noted that the inauguration was a testimony to the Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for working and nursing mothers.

    She said the facility was earlier unveiled in April 2001 but ceased operation.

    The First Lady added that the operation of the Work Place Nursery (Creche) was stalled over 13 years ago.

    “We happy to occasion to commission and open the facility to use for the benefit of mothers,” Senator Tinubu said.

    She hailed Women Affairs Minister Uju Kenddy-Ohanenye for her supportive role in ensuring the resuscitation of the facility.

  • New school opens in Abuja

    The GAAT International School, a co-educational day and boarding institution for crèche, nursery, primary and secondary school education levels, has opened for academics in Gudu, Gaduwa District, Abuja.

    The school’s state-of-the-art facilities, which include air-conditioned classes, well-equipped sick bay that  offers 24-hours service, science and technology laboratories, water treatment plant and boreholes, well furnished auditorium and swimming pools, was dedicated last week by Ven Ukaejiofor Vicar of Sir James Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja.

    Chairman, Board of Directors of the School, Senator Ikechukwu Abana, said he was motivated to establish the school, not necessarily for financial gain, but to provide quality education for young ones.

    He said the tuition fees were pegged at far less than those schools of comparable standard.

    Abana also said the school was part of his social responsibility to create employment and conducive environment for youths to realise their potential.

    Other clergymen at the event included: Ven. Princewill Iraba of All Saints Church Wuse; Rev. Elias Fatile also of St. James Church Asokoro and Rev. Adeola Oyeniyi of Christ Church, Garki, Abuja.

    Dignitaries included Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Ossy Obienica (rtd), AVM Anene Okafor (rtd), Senator Ugochulwu Uba, Chief Dennis Anekwe, Chief Sir Dozie Ekpe, Group Capt. (rtd) Segun Kushalu, and Chief I.K. G Nwozo.

  • Associations train nursery teachers

    Over 250 nursery teachers in the Amuwo Odofin Local Government area of Lagos State last weekend attended a workshop put together by Mabysgold Montessori Centre, a nursery teacher training institute.

    The exercise was aimed at restoring professionalism in nursery teachers, as they are considered the foundation upon which children need to develop a firm and balanced background.

    Facilitator of the programme and national secretary, Early Childhood Association of Nigeria, Mr Ashimolowo Ademuyiwa, said the training was to offer a new orientation to nursery teachers.

    He said:  “We are trying to re-profile the nursery teachers and enlighten them more on endangered issues in nursery education. We are trying to end brute learning; we want children to be allowed to play again, enjoy their classes while teachers enjoy what they do.”

    Ademuyiwa noted that the event was the second edition, adding that the team hopes to reach more teachers in the state.

    “We are actually trying to move around Lagos to train 2,000-5,000 teachers so that they can begin to work in the best interest of the child. We started last month in Agbara Lagos, but we discovered that nursery teachers are not seeing themselves as professional. We are committed to reversing this trend and making nursery teachers believe they are not going to leave the job sooner than later.”

    Chairman of the Association For Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Amuwo Odofin Chapter, Mrs Cordelia Eboagu, also said of the exercise: “This is the foundation of education for children.

    “If you are building a structure, and the foundation is faulty, it will collapse after some time.

    “When you see students in tertiary institution having problems it is because there is something wrong with the foundation. Therefore, this seminar is trying to ensure these children are given proper foundation so that those teaching them will actually know they are teaching.”

    The high point was presentation of certificates to participants.

  • Nursery graduation necessary’

    Graduation period is a time parents have to invest in new outfits for their wards in terminal classes in primary and secondary schools.

    However, they moan about the cost, especially when it involves graduation from pre-school to nursery, and nursery to primary. But Mrs Morenike Adepoju, Director of Learning Gate Schools, Ilupeju, Lagos said the transition from nursery to primary is a big deal.

    In an interview with The Nation at the school’s graduation for 18 Primary Five and 16 Nursery Two pupils, Adepoju said: “I think when a child has spent almost three to four years playing and moves to primary section, it is a significant milestone. It is quite necessary that parents encourage and support them.

    “Before, they played a lot. They read by picture reading. Now they will read letters, words and construct sentences. It is a different ball game. It shows they have grown and matured.”

    Adepoju counselled parents to make worthwhile investments in their children’s education.

    “I want to encourage all of us that there is no amount of money that is too much to spend on our children’s education. If God has given it to us, then we should do it,” she said.

    The school’s PTA chairman, Mr Olukayode Fasoyiro, said he was confident that the children would have a smooth transition to their new classes at the beginning of the new session.

    “Yes, they are really prepared for the next level. They have given them a lot of qualitative education, moral education and extra-curricular activities. You can see the way they are building them up all round,” he said.

    As a way of supporting the school, Fasoyiro said parents were completing the library and improving the play area.

     

  • ‘Make nursery education compulsory’

    In educationist and board member of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBEB), Mr Ugochukwu Worluh, has urged the Federal Government to make nursery education compulsory.

    Speaking after attending an educational summit in Finland, Worluh said the Finnish have the best graduates in the world because they ensure their citizens get a solid foundation. If made compulsory, Worluh said nursery education could reduce crime, especially among the less-privileged children who do not have access to quality pre-school education.

    Mr. Lucky said: “I want the Federal Government to emulate what the wife of the Rivers State Governor Dame Judith Amaechi is doing. She has a pet project on kindergarten education; it was not financed by the government but it is the best project in the world because of its importance in the future of this country.

    “The rich send their children to the best nursery schools in the world before allowing them to be admitted into primary school. What of the children of the poor? Yet many have not recognised the efforts of the wife of the governor in establishing kindergarten schools in all the local Government areas in the state.”

    He added: “The best way to fight crime in our society is to toe the line of Judith Amaechi to give our children the best education as a social capital development which Rivers State children are enjoying today. Government at all levels must declare compulsory kindergarten education if in future, we must sleep with our two eyes closed.”