The Nation Newspaper

Tag: parents

  • South African varsity meets students, parents

    A delegation from the University of Venda, South Africa led by the Vice Chancellor Professor Peter Mbati will hold a public forum on Monday.

    It holds at the Sheraton Hotel Ikeja, Lagos by 9:30am.

    Tagged Friends of University of Venda, the forum is open to prospective students, parents and stakeholders in tertiary education.

    Mbati said: “The University of Venda is an internationally oriented rapidly growing, vibrant comprehensive university with approximately 15200 students in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered in science, engineering, technology, health, law and humanities with a mission to be a leading regional African University.”

  • Parents kick over students expulsion

    How will the rift between the Ajayi Crowder University (ACU) in Oyo and some of its expelled students be resolved?

    This is the question many are asking as parents of the students have accused the university of doing everything to destroy their children’s future.

    But the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Folorunsho Asaju, said the students won’t be reabsorbed because the institution’s Senate’s decision on the matter was final.

    The parents alleged that due process was not followed in expelling the students. The Students Handbook of Information and Regulations, they claimed, was circumvented in expelling the students, most of who were accused of taking hard drugs, is a criminal offence.

    It all started on April 7, when  Asaju visited the Halls of Residence over students’ complaint of power cut. Some students were alleged to have poured water on him during the visit. The chancellor who reportedly to left in anger.

    On April 11, 70 students were asked to appear before the university’s Disciplinary Committee the next day.

    The disciplinary committee comprises the VC registrar, Dean, Students Affairs, the university’s legal officer, two students (elected by students fellowship), and the Students Affairs Officer, who serves as secretary. The VC is the chairman. Also in attendance were the hall administrators, deans and heads of departments of the affected students, academic officer, chief security officer, guidance and counselling officer, and the university’s Chaplain.

    An  affected student said he was accused of smoking Indian hemp when he appeared before the committee.

    He said he denied the charge, adding that contrary to the students’ handbook provisions he was summoned before the panel for a criminal offence.

    Chapter three of the handbook categorises offences into two types, misconduct and criminal. Misconduct borders on unruly behaviour, indecent behaviour, vandalism, membership of secret cult and transfer of bed space, among others.

    Criminal offences include fraud, theft, burglary, assault occasioning harm, murder, possession of firearms, arson, rape  and possession and use of hard drugs and drug trafficking. Possession of Indian hemp is in this category. It further states: “All criminal cases shall be handed over to the police for necessary action”.

    Another student, who also appeared before the committee, denied the charges of throwing water on the VC and smoking Indian hemp. The student said he was wrongly accused by a porter of smoking Indian hemp, adding that he was ready to confront his accuser.

    Dissatisfied with their expulsion, which was only published on the university’s website, their parents got lawyers to fight what they described as “injustice”.

    The claimed that contrary to the university’s rule, they were not written over their expulsion nor granted a right of appeal.

    The parents’ appeal to tamper justice with mercy was also shunned.

    A parent, Chief Olu  Aiyemoniage, whose son Tosin was expelled, said no trace of hard drug was found on the boy when he was screened.

    He said the boy’s interrogation by the state security also indicated that he was not involved in any crime

    Mr & Mrs  Abiodun Segilola, whose son Olarenwaju was also expelled, wrote the university, condemning the manner of his expulsion.

    “This is totally unacceptable and it is not what I expect as a parent from this school. Ajayi Crowther University has the contact of all parents and regularly informs us of all happenings in the school which include: payment of school fees, resumption, holidays, and every update regarding our children in the school, but to my biggest surprise, this was never communicated to us and I was surprised when my son came home to inform me about this;

    “The allegations against him were not properly investigated, the investigation panel setup to confirm this misconduct did not give the students any chance to speak, instead, they were expelled without giving them any room to defend the allegations. My son was not among the group of guys that threw water at the school’s vice chancellor and I can comfortably beat my chest that he doesn’t smoke Indian hemp, cigarette or any drug whatsoever,‘’ the Segilolas said. Defending the school, Asaju said since the case had been decided by the university, there wass nothing anybody could do about it.

    On the letter from the students’ lawyers, he said they or their parents could go to court but the university still stands on its decision.

    His words: ’’I am sorry we can’t discuss that issue at all. It (expulsion) is a decision of the university’s Council and once anybody’s case has gone to the Council and the university Council has taken a decision, it is final. Nobody can even discuss the issue here. The affected students can go to court. If they decide to do that, they are welcome to it.’’

  • Lagos engages parents on child abuse prevention

    The Lagos State Government has engaged over 300 parents on issues relating to child protection.

    This is in furtherance of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s directives to ensure that Childs’ Rights are upheld and child abuse is eradicated.

    Tagged One-day Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Conference on Child Abuse, it was organised by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).

    In a statement yesterday, DSVRT Coordinator Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi said the participants from public and private institutions consisted of PTA members FROM over 100 schools in Education District Six.

    She said the parents were engaged in an interactive manner and empowered with information as to what Child Abuse entails, and the ramifications and importance of child’s rights.

    Mrs Vivour-Adeniyi said: “Parents were further informed of the signs to look out for if there is a suspected case of abuse, and steps to take if a child is indeed being abused.

    “The provision of the Lagos State Mandated Reporting Policy was also communicated to participants. Child abuse is indeed criminal and everybody is mandated to report actual or suspected child abuse to the relevant authorities. The utmost importance is the need for parents to be empowered with resources and contact details of relevant organisations to report to if there is an actual or suspected case of Child Abuse.”

    The DSVRT Coordinator said participants received booklets, pamphlets and other materials containing vital information.

  • Nigerian graduates: Their biological, educational parents

    Nigerian graduates: Their biological, educational parents

    In the African tradition, a responsible child cares and supports his parents when he/she is able.  As a matter of fact, parents expect their well-to-do children to bear some of their responsibilities as both parties advance in age. Even the Bible underscores the import of ministering back to those who nurture us. In Galatians 6:6, Apostle Paul said: “Let him who is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things”.

    With the word “communicate” here meaning “giving back to”, that settles the matter.

    So, if the Bible commands it and African culture recommends it, then it is time for the alumni of universities in Nigeria to wake up to their obligation of giving back to their alma mater as it is done by their peers in world-class  universities like Harvard, Stanford and Yale among several others.

    This way, a lot of money will be generated by each university to make education more accessible, affordable and available with less dependence on government subventions, which many consider a drop in the ocean, as it is the trend in Nigeria.

    For example, John A. Paulson, an alumnus of Harvard University, gave US$400 million endowment to his alma mater’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. John Arrillaga, an alumnus of Stanford University equally gave US$251 million to his institution; while Edward P. Bass, a former undergraduate of Yale University recently gave US$60 million to renovate and build science facilities, bringing his total lifetime giving to US$200 million.

    The above was the position of the Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) at this year’s edition of the yearly lecture of the Faculty of Education of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.  Babalola, who was the guest speaker, was also conferred with the faculty’s ‘Award for Excellence’ for what the organisers described as his ‘exemplary contributions to Nigerian education”.

    To further consolidate on his claim, Babalola said: “An alumnus of a university is the child of that university that trained and produced him/her. In reality, every alumnus has two pairs of parents: the biological and the university that trained him/her. There is no doubt that this great university has produced great scholars, industrialists, military bigwigs as well as seasoned administrators. One, therefore, expects an alumnus to recognise and treat the university the same way he/she treats the biological father. ‘’

    Babalola recalled how the institution, which was formerly University of Ife, before it was rechristened, following the death of the first premier of Western Region Chief Obafemi Awolowo in May 1997,  had graduated 136,270 students between 1964 and 2015. He noted that if only 75 per cent of these former students could support their alma mater with only N10,000 every year, OAU will would have been N1,022,020,000 richer today.

    Babalola urged that the  yearly distinguished lecture should henceforth be a platform to remind the alumni of the noble role of ploughing back to the institution some of their God-given resources. Babalola therefore challenged all former graduates of taking the university to greater heights by donating handsomely to the OAU Alumni Association.

    To him, it should not be difficult for members who are gainfully employed, including those in business and politics, to donate 10 per cent of their income to alumni association endowment fund.

    Babalola who spoke on the topic “The difficult march towards educational security in Nigeria: Law, policy and governance imperatives,” fears that Nigeria’s crave for affordable education may remain a mirage unless its Constitution recognises the basic right of its citizens to education as a justifiable and enforceable right.

    The frontline educationist frowned at the scenario whereby the 1999 Constitution foisted on Nigerians by the Military put education under Chapter II of the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.

    This chapter provides as follows: “The Government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy; and to this end Government shall, as and when practicable, provide (a) free, compulsory and universal primary education; (b) free secondary education; (c) free university education; and (d) free adult literacy programme”.

    As good and robust as the above provisions are, Section 6(6) (c), of the same constitution however provides that: ‘The Judiciary shall have no powers to decide on any issue or question as to whether any act of omission by any authority or person is in conformity with the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.’

    Consciously or unconsciously therefore, this provision makes it impossible for citizens to sue the government for failing to provide free or quality education. In essence, like a Greek gift, the constitution in one breath contains wishful aspirations or dreams about education, and in another breath takes it away from the citizens.

    Babalola, therefore, stressed the urgency to repeal these provisions which he described as ‘archaic’, including Chapter IV of the Constitution where the right to education is sadly cosmetic, being a chapter that cannot be enforced in any court of law in Nigeria,  as it fails to recognise education as an important and enforceable fundamental human right in Nigeria.

    His words: “While other serious countries have guaranteed the right to education through enforceable legal instruments that empower citizens to hold the political class accountable for failing to finance education, Nigerians are left to depend on the goodwill of the ruling class or pursue incessant strike actions, due to the failure of the political class to protect, defend and fulfill the fundamental human rights to education”.

    He added: “Not only have governments failed to finance and equip our education systems to be qualitative, competitive and functional, they have also failed to address barriers such as endemic poverty and conflicts that militate against access to quality education.’’

    Nonetheless, Babalola is optimistic!  He believes hope is not yet lost if all stakeholders in the education sector appreciate that they have pivotal, sacred and indispensable roles to play in contributing their voices, ideas and opinions to debates on how qualitative education can be more accessible, available and affordable in Nigeria.

    “The government’s inertia or failure is not the greatest loss; the greatest loss is when educated minds fail to inspire the next generation”. But with the caste of committed academic giants the country can boast of today, Nigeria has all it takes to inspire the next generation to greatness,” the legal luminary added.

     

    • Olofintula is Head of Corporate Communication, Afe Babalola University(ABUAD), Ado Ekiti
  • Parents, hospital clash over only child’s death

    Parents, hospital clash over only child’s death

    •Police clear hospital of ‘negligence’

    The death of a 14-year-old, Tobi Bakare, has sparked a row between his parents and an Ikeja-Based hospital.

    Tobi, the only child of Mr and Mrs Akeem Bakare, died on June 13, three days after he was admitted in the hospital.

    His parents are blaming his death on the hospital’s negligence.

    But the police have absolved the hospital of any wrong doing, claiming that the boy suffered from a terminal illness.

    The bereaved parents, who have refused to collect their child’s remains, accused the hospital of placing him on a plastered oxygen cylinder, which they claimed he choked on.

    In a petition to Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, written through the law firm of Bodede & Bodede, the Bakares accused the hospital of killing Tobi through its negligence.

    According to Mrs. Bakare, Tobi was taken to the hospital situated on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, after he suffered a toothache and ran temperature. She said he was diagnosed of malaria.

    She said the hospital’s staff on night duty on June 12 refused to listen to her request that another oxygen be brought when she observed that the one her son was on was almost finished.

    The woman said: “We took Tobi to the hospital on June 10. He was tested and diagnosed of malaria and the hospital told us an expert (paediatrician) would come and he came on June 12 and saw the CT Scan we did. He said we were lucky. Tobi was given oxygen and when I observed and pointed out that the oxygen will soon finish, the nurses on duty were shouting me down that I shouldn’t teach them their job.

    “I complained about a lot of things at the ward. There was no wheelchair to take Tobi to the ward the day he was admitted. There was also no ambulance to take us for scan. We had to pay the laboratory N5,000 to bring their own ambulance to the hospital. The ward was mosquito infested; they never changed bedsheets and only cleaned the ward once a day with ordinary water. I also complained that the nurses were never observant. I was the one who usually called their attention when drip was not flowing or something was wrong.

    “I kept complaining about the plastered and leaking oxygen. I also told the nurses to change the one he was on since it was almost finished and they might soon sleep but they refused. When the nurses later came to check him, it was too late. After my discovery and call to them to replace the finished oxygen, the doctor and nurses could not do it. They called an elderly man downstairs, who ‘fiddled and fixed’ but definitely, no oxygen passed and around 3am when they woke up, the boy was found dead as he had been on empty cylinder.

    “There was mucus in his mouth, which was not sucked all night. He died with plenty choking mucus.  I observed that the cylinder was leaking and the doctor plastered it. I told them it was still leaking but they ignored me. My son died as a result of the negligence of the nurses and doctor on duty. I reported to a doctor and also put it in writing because I told them I was not going to let them get away with their actions.”

    In the letter to Owoseni, the lawyers described the incident as “a clear case of negligence”.

    “A patient approaching a doctor expects medical treatment with all the knowledge and skill that the doctor possesses to bring relief to his medical problems. A breach of any of these duties gives a cause of action for negligence against the doctor.

    “We are therefore imploring you to kindly arrest, investigate, detain and prosecute the hospital and its staff and bring them to justice. On our part, we pledge to provide the necessary logistics to enable your office deal with this matter in accordance with the provisions of our laws.”

    The command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said he was not aware of the petition, adding that information availed him by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) indicated that the parents abandoned the body of their son.

    He said: “It is not my duty to find out whether a petition was sent to the Commissioner of Police. The information I have from the DPO is what I will tell you. He said that the hospital filed a complaint at the station that the body of a boy who suffered a terminal illness was yet to be collected.

    “The DPO said he has made several calls to the deceased’s parents to hear their side of the story but they have not been forthcoming. That’s all I know about the matter.”

    Efforts to get the hospital’s reaction failed. Contacted on Sunday, it said its medical director was not available and would be around by 10am yesterday.

    Several calls to the hospital yesterday were not picked.

  • Commissioner blames parents, teachers for pupils’ failure

    There is erosion of the once- noble roles played by parents and teachers in the lives of children and, therefore, militating against their quest for values, integrity and greatness, the Lagos State Commissioner of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson, has said.

    He spoke during the yearly leadership lecture of Dansol High School, Lagos. It had as theme: “Becoming an uncompromising leader of positive impact of values and integrity.”

    According to him, one of the  challenges for parents and teachers is to properly guide the children  before their minds were tainted.

    Akintola said: “This year’s theme bears a very relevant message for the society.

    “We seem to be bereft of leaders to whom our youths can look up to.

    “The best of our leaders is tainted with deeds and failings that do not encourage our youths to appreciate the place of values and integrity in an individual’s character and in the society as a whole. I urge our youths to choose the path of integrity as they pursue their life’s journey.”

    He listed seven lessons that would assist children and youths as they embark on the road to becoming world changers.

    He urged them not to forget that life is a test, noting that they should not underestimate the value of experience and wise counsel.

    “Indeed, if our youths will resolve to inculcate the noble values of integrity and patiently consistent hard work, they will become impactful leaders of your generation,” Akintola added.

     

  • Parents of six abducted Lagos students meet to raise ransom

    Parents of six abducted Lagos students meet to raise ransom

    Parents of the six pupils kidnapped from the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe, have decided to raise funds to meet the demands of the abductors, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The distraught parents met yesterday to brainstorm on how to raise the ransom for the release of their children.

    The abductors want N100m, down from the N400m they first demanded.

    They told the parents to seek Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s assistance in raising the funds.

    The state government has already ruled out any negotiation with the kidnappers.

    Yusuf Farouk, Ramon Isiaka, Pelumi Philips, Peter Jonas, Adebanjo George and Judah Agbaosi were whisked away from their hostels- Yellow and Green houses- on May 25, by gunmen clad in police uniform.

    Sources said the parents met in Epe yesterday and resolved to tax themselves following government’s refusal to negotiate with the criminals.

    The parents, who said they have become weary of government’s pledge to rescue the victims using security option, noted that their wards have been in captivity for nine days.

    The Nation gathered that a committee was formed at yesterday’s meeting for the purpose of raising a substantial amount from relations, friends and good spirited Nigerians.

    A parent who expressed disappointment at government’s handling of the issue, said he wondered how the government wanted them to feel, knowing that their children have been in the custody of armed criminals for so long.

    The parent said: “It’s nine days already and our children are still in captivity despite the government’s assurance to rescue them.

    “Our minds will not be at rest without seeing these children. The kidnappers have demanded N100m and they insist we should meet with the school authorities and the government to pay. But government said it would not pay any ransom.

    “All the parents have met again and we have decided to raise whatever amount we can through individual contributions. We have asked ourselves to call on friends and relatives to assist.”

     

     

  • Why parents must listen to their kids, by don

    It is said that one in three girls in developing countries suffers gender-based violence while over 140 millions girls and women have suffered genital mutilation.

    Provost, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LSUCM), Professor B. A. Solagberu, who was a guest speaker at this year’s Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) Children’s Day symposium, made this known.

    According to Solagberu millions of girls are trafficked in modern day slavery and women’s bodies are battle grounds and rape being used as tactics of war.

    “Gender violence is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights in the world; one of the least prosecuted crimes, and one of the greatest threats to lasting peace and development. It is estimated that seven in 10 women in some countries face physical and/or sexual violence in their life time. Violence against women has tremendous cost to communities, nation and societies. It results in reduced quality and quantities of life for those affected,”he said.

    The provost, who was represented by Prof Antonia Ogbera, however, sought support and good health care for victims of domestic violence. “A rape survivor must have a rapid access to a health clinic that can administer emergency medical care, including treatment to prevent HIV and unintended pregnancy and sound counseling. A woman who is beaten by her husband must have some place to go with her children to enjoy safety, sanity and shelter. A victim of violence must have confidence that when she files a police report, she will receive justice and perpetrators will be punished,”he said.

    A representative of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Unit, Mrs Alakija Oladapo  said: “I think it has always been there, but it is because of our cultural and traditional values we saw it as if it’s nothing. Now that there is awareness and the world is a global village it is obvious now that it is not cultural, it is wrong and that is why we are raising awareness about it. Citizens of Lagos State should speak out, although it goes beyond Lagos State because Lagos does not live in isolation. You will find out that we have so many laws in Nigeria, but the real issue is about domesticating those laws. If every other state domesticates that law then we’re going to have the same success story.”

    She continued: “Now people find out that domestic violence is all over the place- among the poor, the rich and some celebrated faces, which mean we need to do more. But how do we do more? First and foremost, we should go back to our homes; the family structure is wrong, wrong in the sense that we are all guilty for what we are now seeing. Then when we thought it was ok. The world was not a global village, now children can see everything going on elsewhere. So we need to as a people, as it obtains in Europe when you reach a certain age you leave your family home, instead of what obtains here where we find our nephews are still living with us with our younger ones or grandchildren, there and then, we are creating room for abuses.

    “Most of us are working, but we need to plan ourselves if we need to copy we need to copy right. In the western world the couples don’t work at the same time either they work in shifts, but here everybody goes to work and you leave the children at the mercy of a keeper.”

    She added: “You take the child to crèche very early, but the teachers are not yet there because they resume maybe 8am, so you keep your child with the security man or the gardener, who possibly may abuse. And you pick your child very late and it’s the same routine simply because your work must not suffer. So, we need to create a balance in our home and then the way we bring them up and the way we share the household chores too.”

    A consultant pediatrician and head of pediatric unit of the clinical science department, NIMR, Dr Nkiruka David  said the girl child is more vulnerable to domestic violence, hence, the need to raise more awareness.

    “Every child is vulnerable, but the girl child is more vulnerable and that is why we are raising awareness about the girl child, but actually we will like every child to be protected from violence because even the boy child is at risk, but the girl child is particularly vulnerable and that’s why we are focusing on the girl child.

    “Sometimes parents don’t listen to their girls so they don’t have anybody to run to, but as a mother, we must learn to listen to our children, we must become their friend and confidante so that they can be able to come to us and talk to us about any problem they are facing.

  • Please release our kids, parents beg kidnappers

    Please release our kids, parents beg kidnappers

    •Pupils’ whereabouts remain unknown 

    •Victim’s mother ‘collapses twice’

    Where are the six kidnapped pupils of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe? Their whereabouts remained unknown yesterday, three days after they were kidnapped from the school by gunmen.

    Their distraught parents yesterday accused the government and the school of being insensitive to their plight.

    Likening their children’s kidnap to the 2014 Chibok school girls’ abduction, they appealed to the government to give it “the deserved attention”.

    After a meeting in Epe, the parents expressed displeasure over what they called the school’s nonchalance to the incident.

    Farouk Yusuf, Ramon Isiaka, Pelumi Philips, Peter Jonas, George Adebanjo and Judah Agbaosi were whisked away from their dormitories last Thursday by gunmen clad in police uniform.

    The kidnappers, who contacted the parents on Saturday, demanded N400 million ransom.

    They were said to have told the parents to brief the school and the government about their demand.

    According to the parents, the kidnappers said they were aggrieved with the school and the government.

    At yesterday’s meeting to discuss the kidnappers’ demand, tempers ran high when the school’s representatives arrived late.

    The parents became enraged when the representatives – two vice principals – could not give them any update on the issue.

    A source told with The Nation: “It seems we have been too quiet and that is why the authorities have not told us anything yet. No one has given us any update. When we call them, they say they don’t know any development.

    “Two of the patents called the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education separately, before coming for the meeting we had at Epe and you won’t believe he told them to call the police because he doesn’t have any update. He told them he doesn’t know anything that only the police can give information.

    “What kind of reaction is that? How can he ask parents who are already distraught and do not even have contacts to call the police? Are they not supposed to be briefing us daily on efforts being made to rescue our children?

    “As I speak to you, my wife has collapsed twice and was revived.  She hasn’t stopped crying since Thursday. It is lives we are taking about. Six children cannot be accounted for at the moment and no one is saying anything.

    “This is not different from the case of the Chibok girls. The only difference is the number. It seems government has been more concerned with celebrating Lagos at 50 than in helping us get our children back. Now that the celebrations are over, we are begging the government to bring our children back safely.

    “The government did not send any representative to the meeting and the Vice Principals that came called a female permanent secretary but the woman said she was in a meeting.

    “They now called another man, who was in charge during last year’s kidnap but has been transferred to Ikorodu. It was that man that promised to come on Monday. That was why the meeting was adjourned.

    “Government needs to show concern and help us get the children back. Some of the parents came from Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebu Mushin and there’s also a parent who came from Port Harcourt.”

    Another parent said: “It is obvious the school doesn’t appreciate our pain. They don’t care about what happens to our children.  Our children have been kidnapped from their care since Thursday and yet, we haven’t heard anything concrete.

    “The kidnappers told us they have an axe to grind with the school. We were asked to tell the school and the government to provide the ransom, which we have done.

    “We even fixed a meeting of all stakeholders but the school sent representatives, who came two hours late. We haven’t heard anything from the government either. We are not happy and want the world to hear our cries. The kidnappers should please release our children for us. We are begging them.”

    The Nation gathered that security forces have been combing the creeks in order to rescue the pupils’.

    It was learnt that Friday’s offensive against the militants was unavoidable because they allegedly attempted to snatch the Marine Police gunboats.

    The kidnappers who were in three speedboats, were said to have run into the patrolling troops.

    He said: “The kidnappers planned to snatch gunboats but they were unsuccessful. The marine police and the local vigilantes combing the areas engaged the militants. Three of their notorious commanders were among those killed.

    “When they opened fire, the police returned fire. The gunboats were fully loaded with weapons and the policemen overpowered them. Their boats sank. As the fight was going on, they called for reinforcement and soldiers and naval personnel joined them.

    “No policeman was killed but some of them sustained injuries. They have commenced mop up of the general area to retrieve the bodies of the militants. Nigerians need to support the police and other security agencies to achieve greater results.”

     

    We’ll bring them back, says govt

    Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule has assured parents of the kidnapped pupils of their children’s safe return.

    Mrs Adebule, who visited the school shortly on arrival from Abuja on Friday, said efforts were on to get the children released unhurt.

    “We are on top of the situation and the governor has directed all security operatives to move into action, details of which I cannot disclose in order not to undermine their operation,” she said.

    Mrs Adebule urged the parents to be calm.

    She appealed to the kidnappers to release the children to reunite with their families.

    An Igbonla indigene, Mr Folabi Fakeye, called on the government to help the community facilitate the siting of a naval base around the creeks for security.

    Fakeye promised that the community would provide land for the project.

  • Flying gets better for executive club members who are new parents

    British Airways’ loyalty programme, The Executive Club is unlocking even more benefits and flexibility to deliver greater loyalty rewards and value to its members.

    Executive Club Members who may be travelling less than usual as they are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave will now be offered a ‘status freeze’.  This means their membership will be put on hold for a year, so they do not lose their hard-earned Executive Club Bronze, Silver or Gold status – even if they take fewer or no flights.

    As a further bonus, parents who take the status freeze and enrol their children as part of their household account will receive a welcome gift of 1,000 Avios for doing so.

    Kola Olayinka, British Airways’ Regional Commercial Manager, West Africa, said: “A huge number of our customers are parents so we are extending their benefits for maternity and paternity leave and offering a gift of 1,000 Avios for their new baby. Just because they are not flying for a while, does not mean their loyalty and new arrival should not be celebrated and rewarded!”

    The British Airways Executive club recently won best European frequently flyer programme and best FFP benefit for lounge access at the FlyerTalk 2017 Europe and Africa awards.

    Executive Club members collect Avios, the Club currency, to spend on things like flights and cabin upgrades.  Members also earn Tier Points, moving them through the Executive Club tiers to unlock more benefits.

    Silver and Gold members of the British Airways Executive Club can gain access to airport lounges with complimentary premium food and drink and quiet areas to relax or work.

    There are many ways to earn Avios through hotel bookings, car hire and even every day shopping.  In the last year alone the British Airways Avios e Stores  has helped Executive members earn over 268 million Avios, that is enough to fly 2,680 times in Club World to New York.

    British Airways will be investing four hundred million pounds in Club World with an emphasis on improved catering and sleep.