The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pupil

  • Lagos pupils prepare for debate

    Lagos pupils prepare for debate

    Single-sex schools are better for students’, ‘Nigeria should stop taking foreign aid,’ and ‘Oil producing states are doing the nation more harm than good”, are some of the 54 topics that pupils of public secondary schools in Lagos State will be debating on from this week in the Season V of the Lagos Schools Debate.

    Debating teams of 64 senior secondary schools in the competition received grooming on how to handle their topics and improve their public speaking skills at a grooming session held at the Lagos State Education Resource Centre last Thursday.

    Lead Consultant for the debate and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gradient Hills, Mr Ivor Ekpe, exposed the pupils, many of whom had never debated before, to the principles good debaters must know to be successful including confidence, research, clarity of delivery, appearance, planning and team work.

    He told The Nation that since the competition started five years ago, participants have improved with each new edition.

    “I think in the last five years that I have been doing this, every year has shown a slight improvement. They speak better and dress better. If you have a large pool of very confident, presentable, well spoken individuals, you then have better opportunity for people who can represent your company or the state at work and play. They stand a better chance in a competitive environment,” he said.

    Addressing the pupils, the Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, said the state government takes the programme seriously because of its contribution to the speaking and cognitive skills of the pupils.

    She urged them to work hard to excel in the competition. She added that even if they do not all win, the skills they gain in the process would help them for life.

    “It is a sustainable programme and it deserves the best of attention. It is to ensure that we have a brighter, rewarding future for you; to ensure that you are able to speak well, have analytical minds and be able to think on your feet. Work as hard as you can. Even if you don’t win, you would have participated. Most of those who have been participating are already doing well even in the university,” she said.

    After this group of 64, 32 schools will proceed to the next stage.

     

  • Pupils catch invention ‘fever’

    Pupils catch invention ‘fever’

    Twenty-five minutes was the time allotted for pupils that attended the Kid Inventors Day (K.I.D) programme penultimate Friday to build a two-deck conveyor belt structure from bricks and other relevant materials provided them.

    The event, held at the Lagos E-Learning Centre, was organised by InnovateLagos (an initiative of the Lagos State government) and the Young Engineers Edutainment in commemoration of the K.I.D.

    It was the first time the K.I.D, marked yearly to celebrate young inventors worldwide, was being celebrated in Nigeria with the aim of stimulating the pupils’ interest in scientific innovations.

    And it, indeed, served the purpose as many of the 70 pupils from seven junior secondary schools that participated in the programme listened and watched with rapt attention as their representatives created wonders with plastic lego-like bricks.

    Prior to the building challenge, Mr Francis Ojo, the Operations Director for Young Engineers Edutainment, gave the pupils a pep talk on the importance of inventions and how they provide solutions to various problems of the society. He charged them to think of the way out of a problem by creating something.

    “If you face a problem, then invent a solution to it,” he said.

    Giving the steps of inventions, Ojo added: “Look for a problem; design a machine; build what you have designed; then design again.”

    Ojo also demonstrated how scientific concepts can be learnt in a practical and fun way. To explain transmission (the transfer of power from one source to another), he invited two pupils out to the front, told both to stretch out their hands side by side. He then instructed one of them to rotate his hands and link with the other pupil whose hands involuntarily started rotating because of the first boy.

    In an interview with The Nation, Ojo said the firm makes learning fun for pupils through practical demonstrations.

    He explained that scientific concepts in the school curriculum are demonstrated by constructing various structures provided for in the Engino learning packs.

    “Basically, our aim is to develop young inventors by engaging them in hands on learning. By combining education and entertainment the students learn better. Rather than teaching this same things we have done with the chalk and board, we now teach them with a more realistic point so the child can now understand better. This is different from the abstract way of teaching,” he said.

    Representatives of each of the seven schools present were called out to build conveyor belts in two batches. The top three winners, who were able to complete the belt or advance beyond the first stage of the process, were rewarded.

    In the first batch, Soliu Mujitaba, a JSS2 pupil of Epetedo Junior High School, Lagos won the challenge, completing the two-level conveyor belt in less than 25 minutes. He was followed by Nurudeen Adesina of Lafiaji Junior Secondary School, Oli, in the second position, and Fatima Sanni of Girls’ Junior Academy in third place.

    In the second batch, Moses Okinwale of Lafiaji Junior Secondary School came first, Isiaka Oshodi of Epetedo Junior High came second, while a pupil of Ebute Elefun Junior Secondary School, Yaba, came third.

    Other schools that participated included: Okesuna Junior Secondary School, Lagos Island; Eko Akete Junior Secondary School, and Isale Eko Junior Grammar School, all in Lagos Island.

     

  • Centre mentors pupils

    Centre mentors pupils

    rom studying Agriculture to practising Accountancy, Mrs Gbanjubonuola Sanni, guest speaker at a career programme organised by the African Child Social Empowerment Centre (ACSEC), gave pupils the formula to choosing fulfilling careers.

    Mrs Sanni urged the young ones to work on their dreams rather than allow others, especially parents, to pressure them into pursuing careers they have no interest in.

    Speaking at the programme, tagged ‘Moment with children’, Mrs Sanni told them how she managed her own challenges.

    She said her father would have loved her to be a pharmacist. However, though she made a good grade in Chemistry, she never loved pharmacy. Eventually, she studied agriculture, a course she did not like as well before venturing into accounting, which she loves.

    Had she been mentored as a child, the chartered accountant said she would have realised her dreams at an early stage. She, therefore, advised the young ones to embrace the concept of HAPPY-heart, ability, passion, personality and yesterday to realise their dreams.

    According to her, they must discover where their heart is, discover their ability, put passion into it and work on their personality.

    The Executive Director of the Centre, Mr. Bonaventure Enemali said the event was aimed at assisting young pupils to realise their dreams.

    Aside quarterly mentoring sessions, Bonaventure said the centre also tries to help the pupils develop in their areas of interest early in life.

    “We allocate them to different professionals based on their areas of interest. For those who wish to be medical doctors, we attach them to hospitals once in a month to stay with the doctors with minimum of two hours, to see what it means to be a medical doctor,” he said.

    Bonaventure said funding has been a major challenge facing the centre but thanked people who have supported them to run the programme.

     

  • NGO trains pupils on food production

    NGO trains pupils on food production

    Oxfam, through its global campaign Grow, Think, Act, has urged secondary school pupils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to embrace farming in order to eradicate hunger and poverty.

    The international non-governmental organisation (NGO) also educated the students of Government Junior Secondary School Kubwa on the importance of nutrition and good feeding.

    Earlier, art exhibition was held by the secondary school students within the FCT.

    The initiative was launched in the country on June, 2011 to promote campaign against hunger.

    Speaking at the event shortly after the talk show, Gender Officer, Oxfam Nigeria, Mr. Boyowa Roberts said the talk show was meant to enlighten youths on ways to fight poverty and eradicate hunger from the country.

    Roberts said: “Today, we are having what we call the grow talk show where we would be working hand-in-hand with three government schools.

    “The essence of this school talk show is to work with young people to raise school heroes. We are going to be working with our partners like association of agro producers in Nigeria to teach the children these farming practices and how to use fertilisers.

    “The whole essence is to encourage youths to take to agriculture and tell them that farming has gone beyond farming with hoes and cutlasses to mechanised farming. Apart from the oil sector, you can make a lot of money and secure your livelihood.”

    The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala observed the quantity of food imported into the country has continued to dwindle on an annual basis.

    Okonjo-Iweala said efforts by local farmers were yielding meaningful results as most foods consumed in the country were locally produced.

    “Nigeria is trying and one way to measure that in economics is to look at the amount of food imports over the years.

    “The statistics we have shows that food import is going down and this means that domestically, Nigeria is trying to cover up most of the imported foods. This therefore points to the fact that we are doing more in terms of food security,” she said.

    The minister, who was represented by her Special Assistant, Dr. Emmanuel Nwosu said the country had intensified efforts to achieve food security.

    She further said it was imperative to educate school children on the importance of food security so that when they grow, they can develop interest in food production.

    “This is because, in Africa and most developing world, we have malnutrition problems and one of the MDG goals is to fight hunger and provide food for the population,” she added.

    However, she observed the challenge in Africa had a lot to do with its growing population, adding that this often leads to food security problems.

    She said the programme was important as it would help inculcate the right ideas in youths to help combat problems of food security.

    “There is a lot of work because most people in Nigeria are running away from agriculture. They think that it is just for the old. But when agriculture is taken seriously, we will achieve better results,” she said.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Speakers’ Corner Trust Nigeria, Ramatu Umar restated that the show was organised to help youth acquire necessary skills to empower themselves.

    “We also educate them on nutrition, feeding and eating good food. We want young people to grow, think and act in agriculture process,” she added.

  • NBC gives school kits to 4,020 pupils

    The Nigeria Bottling Company Limited (NBC) has presented 4020 “Back-to-School” kits to pupils of select primary schools in Lagos, Kaduna and Kano.

    The initiative kicked-off under the Lagos State Support our School initiative launched by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) in 2003 with the thrust of courting the private sector to invest in public education.

    In Lagos, the kits, comprising school bags, sandals and socks, exercise books, and writing materials were presented to 520 pupils of Saint Theresa’s Nursery and Primary School, Apapa.

    At the event, the Head public Affairs and Communication (PAC), Mrs Adeyanju Olomola, said NBC’s investment in Education is borne out of the company’s commitment to contributing to the sustainability of the communities it operates in.

    She said through the initiative, NBC hopes to motivate more pupils to excel in the new school session, as well as take off some of the financial burden on parents and guardians.

    Mrs Olomola added that NBC’s next focus in its partnership with the schools will be in the area of capacity building. To execute this plan, the company has engaged the Stephen Adams Social Reformation Foundation (SASRF), to implement the Teachers4Change Project. Under this platform, 24 teachers from two adopted schools will undergo training to improve their pedagogical skills and enrichthe learning experience for the pupils.

    In response, the executive Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mrs Gbolahan Daodu who was represented by Mrs Abosede Otun thanked NBC for adopting the school.

    She appealed to the Company to also support the teaching of vocational skills at the school as a way of securing a future for pupils who are unable to pursue academics to the university level.

    Also at the event, Mr Dosumu, the Education Secretary Apapa Local Government Area and the Baale of Marine Beach, Dr. Joseph Ogunmola expressed appreciation to NBC’s laudable activities in Apapa, one of the company’s host communities.

    The company has also renovated and equipped classrooms in Panshekara Primary School, Challawa, Kano State and a block of classroom and sanitary facility at Demonstration Primary School, Kakuri, Kaduna State.

    In Kano and Kaduna states the Permanent Secretary of the ministry of Education, Alhaji Audi Abdulkadiri Adamu and the Zonal Director, Kaduna State Ministry of Education Authority, Mrs. Felicia Leo thanked NBC for its generosity and laudable CSR initiatives in their host communities.

     

  • 20 pupils off to US

    It was a mixture of fun and lecture for 20 pupils of Pacesetters College, Abuja as the school management took them on a three-week  summer study tour of the United States of America (USA).

    The trip led by the chairman of the School, Kenneth Imasuagbon alongside other four staff, exposed the students to different perspectives of American curricula.

    The  students who were received on arrival by the Nigerian Ambassador to United States, Ade Adefuye also visited  the White House, the American Embassy in Washington DC, the Kings Dominion among other places.

    Kenneth Imasuagbon while speaking with Abuja Review last week after returning from the trip said the aim of the summer study was to make the students have a comparison between what is obtained in the Nigerian Educational system and that of the United States.

    “The School aims to make  the children  have a comparative educational and  vocational knowledge,to see how the American Educational  system is, the setting there,to see what we can learn from the American educational system and how we can use it  to restructure the Nigerian Educational system and most especially  Pacesetters school”

    “They were taught the rudiments of  Algebra, calculux among other things, it was a mixture of academics and fun”he added

    The students were also taught the basic  English writing skills and word formations among others things”

    “Beyond the learning and academic aspect, they were also exposed to the various characters and traits of hardwork and discipline”

    “ They have also learnt things that they can do to take Nigeria to the next level as future leaders of the country”

    Imasuagbon while speaking on the interest shown by the pupils throughout the tour said with all what they have been exposed to, he believes that they are well groomed to compete with their contemporaries anywhere they find themselves in the world.

    “The student are now well  prepared and with their various experience and interest while in the United states, they are set to do exploits in their studies here in Nigeria”he assured

    He commended the  American Embassy for facilitating the visa of the students which he said was made possible within a very short period which he said was  due to the great importance the US Government attaches to the education of the Nigerian Child.

    “The Americans are wonderful people, when  it comes to education, I can tell you the Americans are one of the best, they assisted the school to make the trip a successful one”he said

    The Vice Principal of the Wuye Campus of the School, Roseline Olumobi was also part of the trip alongside the School Director and wife of the Chairman, Mrs Kate Imasuagbon, Segun Awogbade, the Principal of the Wuse Campus and Amaechi Osuji, the Head of English Department of the Gwarinpa Campus of the Pacesetters School.

    Mrs Olumobi who also narrated her experience said it was really a great opportunity for the students to improve on their academics after been exposed to foreign studies and tutelage for a period of three weeks.

    She commended the school management for the  gesture that was extended to them as it was an opportunity that they never dreamt of.

    “This opportunity is what we never dreamt of but by the grace of God and with the passion we have for the school , Pacesetters management have  make it possible”

    “The Chairman and the wife sponsored the teachers’ trip,they paid for the visa, accommodation and the flight ticket,they made us have a wonderfull stay in the United States”she added

    “The students learnt a lot from  the American system as well as modern technology in teaching ,interactive teaching and discipline as well”

  • Report sexual abuse, pupils told

    Police officers, social workers, health officers and counsellors have taught pupils attending primary and junior secondary schools under the Agege Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) how to manage sexual abuse.

    The professionals gave expert advice to the young ones at the Education Week organised by the LGEA. The pupils were told not to endure sexual abuse even on the threat of death but cry out for help and seek medical treatment.

    Leading the talks was Dr Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, Executive Director, Project Alert on Violence Against Women and Consultant to Justice for All project of the United ingdom (UK) -funded DFID.

    In addition to giving them hotlines they could call to ask for help, she told them they could get free and prompt medical attention if sexually assaulted at the Mirabel Centre of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

    “If you go to Isokoko (Police Station) right with a child who has been sexually-assualted, they will take the complaints and send you to LASUTH. Treatment there is free. If you go there, they will attend to you promptly and the child will be counseled,” she said.

    To check the activities of rapists, Dr Effah-Chukwuma underscored the importance of reporting them so, they can be punished under the law.

    “We must protect our children; but we must name and shame the perpetrators. We must stop this,” she said.

    Explaining the dangers of child abuse, Ms Hamzat Adebowale of the State Social Welfare/Family Support Unit, Ministry of Youth and Sports, said such children are not able to function well in school. As a result, she said abuse must not be tolerated.

    “Any child that is abused should report. When a child is being abused physically, sexually… it demoralises the child. Abuse also comes in form of maltreatment and neglect,” she said.

    On her part, Sgt Pat Osifo, a police officer attached to the Family Support Unit of Isokoko Police Station, Agege, counselled the pupils not to be afraid to come to the police.

    “The Police is your friend. If you go out and someone touches you, tell your parents. If they don’t listen, tell your teacher. Your teacher will take you to FSU,” she said.

    Sgt Osifo also told them to make reports on the behalf of other abused children.

    “There are some of your neighbours; they ought to be in school but they do not go to school. They brought them from the village to enslave them. You can report to us so we can help them,” she said.

    In an interview, Education Secretary of Agege LGEA, Mr Olalekan Majiyagbe said the authority decided to make the Health Education seminar part of Education Week because of the prevalence of child abuse cases that had come to their notice.

    “What motivated us is because of the pathetic situation we find ourselves whereby we hear stories about sexual harassment, abuse, violence; a father having sexual intercourse with the children; all those nonsense. And it is becoming rampant. We may find it difficult to capture the elders but now that we have captured the pupils, we are now grooming them to show resistance; to protect themselves; to cry out. As stakeholders, we asked the counselors, the social welfare officers, the NGOs to come to our aid,” he said.

    Other programmes that featured during the Week included the presentation of educational materials to orphans; public lecture; distribution of generator, computer, school uniforms and sandals to pupils; health walk and festival of arts and culture.

     

  • Pupil thrills audience with Igbo News

    Little Mesoma Nwankwo stunned guests at the graduation of the Notre Dame Nursery and Primary School, Enugu with her fluent delivery of “The news in Igbo language.”

    The school featured the ‘broadcast’ during the 2013 graduation to encourage parents and guardians to speak their local languages to their wards.

    Mesoma and her peers were dressed in the traditional Igbo attire for the part, and they did not exhibit any childish behaviour.

    The six-year old primary one pupil was splendid to watch as she fluently read the two-page type written news items with accurate pronunciations of the Igbo words.

    Although Mesoma was the lead newscaster, the other three were no pushovers as they also read fluently in Igbo.

    Mesoma was outstanding, however, and the ovation she received from her audience was deafening. Parents and guests could not hold back from spraying her with naira notes. They were impressed by her confidence and the way she used proverbs to drive home the message to all.

    Many of the parents were ashamed of themselves as they could not read what Mesoma and her team read.

    Even the school’s headmistress, Sister Martina Akhibi was impressed.

    The chairman of the occasion could not hide his elation as he embraced the kids one after the other and made a cash donation to each of them.

    Appreciating the kids later, the headmistress, Rev. Sister Martina Akhibi thanked the parents for making “us a choice and entrusting us with your children.”

    Akhibi congratulated the pupils for their respective performance and thanked them for embracing the inner qualities of Notre Dame School.

    She congratulated the graduands of primary 6 and nursery 3 upon achieving the success and told the other pupils to copy the good works of others and set the pace.

    “Your predecessors lifted high the name of Notre Dame School and over 90 per cent of them are in reputable schools,” she said.

    While recalling the achievement of the school in winning for the second time, this year’s Children’s Day match past, the headmistress admonished the pupils to always maintain good discipline, demonstrate hard work and use their time in on academic work well.

     

  • Best pupil gets scholarship

    Master Bamigboye Emmanuel, overall best graduating pupil of Livingstone College, Ikorodu, for the 2012/2013 academic session, has been offered a scholarship to study in any university of his choice in the United Kingdom or the United States.

    The scholarship was given to Emmanuel by a travel agency-Femmirate Travels at the college’s 2013 valedictory and prize giving day held for its Senior Secondary 3 pupils at the Ikorodu Town Hall, Lagos.

    The agency’s ticketing executive, Mrs Aderayo Adenola, said the scholarship would cover accommodation, feeding and other academic expenses apart from school fees.

    The 16-year old beneficiary expressed his delight and advised his juniors to always respect constituted authority.

    “I feel very happy to be the overall best student. Although I did not know before, I just came here and discovered that I am the best overall student. My advice to my junior ones in the school is that they should always obey the school’s rules and regulations. They should not think they know more than their teachers.

    Speaking at the event, the Deputy Director, Lagos State Ministry of Establishment, Training and Pension, Mrs Funlola Ariremako, described youthful age as a period of “battle” for the youths.

    She, therefore, urged the graduating pupils to take this phase of life very serious and prepare for their future.

    Her words: “Your youthful age is very important. You must not toy with this age. It is the age of permanence and battle, therefore you must lay a good foundation for yourselves because whatever you do now will determine your future. Do not make a wrong choice now that you are still young and when you gain admission into the university, pursue God first.”

    In addition, the founder and chairman of the school’s Governing Council, Dr Kola Olusola-Christwealth, in his message tagged: ‘Determination Wins’ also advised the graduands to be determined, courageous and bold to achieve their set goals.

    “Do not expect that everything will go as planned, because the paths of life are not straight. To get to your destination, you must be determined, courageous and strong. Things may not work the way you want it, but if you are determined, you will be successful at the end of the day.”

     

  • ‘Let your child complete primary six’

    This year’s graduation was special at Mind Builders Schools, Ikeja, Lagos as it was the first time the secondary education arm of the school, Mind Builders High School was producing graduands.

    The six pioneer SS3 graduands joined 19 Primary Six pupils who had completed their education in the Omole and Central Business District (CBD) branches of the school for the colourful valedictory service and graduation held at the CBD School hall.

    Given that many parents do not allow their wards to complete Primary Six, it was a delight for the school to have up to 19 Primary Six pupils for the graduation.

    In the course of the programme, parents were counseled by Head Teacher, Mr Ezekiel Awe to allow their wards to complete six years of primary education, as stipulated by the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Law, rather than drag them to secondary school after completing Primary Five.

    Awe said going to secondary school is not just about passing entrance examinations but maturing. He said completing Primary Six helps pupils to mature and even have an edge academically.

    He gave examples of pupils who completed Primary Six who are now excelling in various secondary schools.

    “Please parents, let your children pass through Primary Six. If they do, they will be better prepared for secondary schools. Those that passed through Primary Six here are now excelling, winning scholarships,” he said.

    The valedictory/graduation programme featured hymns, bible readings, exhortation, special performances by the pupils of other classes, as well as presentation of testimonials and awards.

    Speaking on the High School graduation, Education Director, Mrs Bolajoko Falore, said she was particularly happy that despite their small number, the SS3 graduands sat for the 2013 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the school.

    “I feel very proud and happy. It has not been easy. This is the first set and what gives me joy is that they wrote their WASSCE in this hall. WAEC told me that I had to pay a surcharge but I did not mind. If we had to take them to another school, I won’t be able to know their standard. I want to be able to know our lapses; where we have to measure up,” she told The Nation.

    Addressing the graduands, Mrs Falore urged them never to forget the school’s core values of character and excellence, wherever they go. She counseled them to also be hard working.

    “Education will pave the way for you but hard work is very essential. Instead of being discouraged by challenges, recognize that the more you struggle. The sweeter the reward will be in the end,” she said.