The Nation Newspaper

Tag: school

  • Niger warns against withdrawing girls from school for marriage

    The Niger State Government has warned parents against withdrawing female children from school, so as to give them out in marriage.

    Hajia Fatima Madugu, Commissioner for Education, gave the warning while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Minna.

    “A major challenge we face in Niger is that of parents withdrawing their female children from school for early marriage‎.

    “We are not going to tolerate this anymore; we have had enough of that. There is an act specially designed for that purpose and we shall apply it.

    “Any person, who attempts to withdraw a child for early marriage, will have to face the wrath of the law,” she said‎.

    She said that the Ministry of ‎Education had begun a sensitisation through radio jingles, TV talk shows and other mediums targeted at exposing the dangers of early marriage.

    “The girl-child should be allowed to explore her potential; she should be allowed to achieve her dream ‎no matter her religion.

    “If the girl-child is withdrawn from school, she would have been cheated and this is not good for the country,” she said.

    ‎The commissioner cautioned parents against citing poverty as a reason for child abuse, saying that the state was poised to take stern measures against parents involved in that.

    “Poverty should not be an excuse for child labour. No one should force a child to to hawk instead of going to school.

    “Hawking is a molestation and an abuse of the child involved. In Niger, we will not tolerate that. A task force has been set up to fish out those engaged in that,” he said.

    She explained that children forced into the streets t0 hawk were prone to many risks like rape, kidnapping and trafficking. (NAN).

  • School plans 60th anniversary

    School plans 60th anniversary

    Saint John Old Boys Association Alor in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has revived its moribund Lagos State chapter. The revival is ahead of the forthcoming 60th anniversary celebration of the school next year.

    Members of the association held a meeting in Lagos which was chaired by Chief Peter Pan Okafor, former Lagos chapter chairman and former national president of the association

    Okafor, a retired Customs officer, during the meeting, said the association was being revived to mobilise members for the 60th anniversary of their alma mater.

    Lagos chapter  Chairman  Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) assured that  those factors that led to members’ apathy towards Lagos chapter would be addressed.

    Ngige said the objective of the of association was primarily to help their alma mater through provision of infrastructure and other things that would make teaching and learning conducive for staff and students since the government could not shoulder the responsibility of quality education alone.

  • German govt rehabilitates school’s facilities

    The German Development Cooperation (GIZ), on behalf of the German government, has rehabilitated the sports ground of the Muslim Girls High School, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

    At the official opening of the rehabilitated facility, GIZ’s portfolio manager, Mr. Michael Sato, who represented the Country Director, Dr. Thomas Kirsch, said the support dates back to the visit of a government official in 2014.

    “This football ground was rehabilitated, and a multi-purpose court and changing room constructed at 95,000 Euros. The site was completed in time and certified fit for handover. “We hope the new ground gives the pupils access to regular sport activities and to development opportunities.

    “We acknowledge the support from the German government in Information Technology, and specifically the donation of 10 sets of internet-ready computers and two printers,” Sato said.

    Germany’s Consul-General to Nigeria Mr. Ingo Herbert urged Nigerians to operate with team spirit.

    “Team spirit is the secret of the success of the German economy, and this should be emulated by Nigerians,” he said.

    Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Mrs. Modupe Mujota, who was represented by Mr. Salako Taiwo, urged the pupils and management of the school to use the facilities positively.

    His words: “I urge direct beneficiaries of these projects to maximise the opportunities provided, by upscaling their academic performance and competitive exploits so that our benefactors will be encouraged to do more. The school management should carefully maintain the facilities so they can serve us for long.”

    The school principal, Mrs. Ibrahim Bolanle Wasiat,  thanked their benefactors and prayed God to replenish their pocket.

  • A community school’s many challenges

    A community school’s many challenges

    Once the pride of the community, Ede-Oballa Central School in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, has become an eyesore. Dilapidated roofs, and defaced walls have become the school’s lot. Who will restore its glory? JAMES OJO, a 400-Level and GIDEON ARINZE 300-Level Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) report.

    It was 8.am. Clad in sky-blue and black trousers/skirts – their official departmental uniform- 300 – level students’ of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) were excited as they set out to visit Ede-Oballa Central School in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State.

    The visit was part of their requirements for the course, Development Journalism, aimed at acquainting them with practical knowledge.

    But on arriving in the school, their joy gave way to pity. Welcome to Ede-Oballa Central School.

    Pitched along the road, the school used to be a pristine destination for parents yearning for quality education for their children.The school used to have enough class rooms for its Nursery 1 to Primary 6 pupils. Being the first primary school in the community, it has produced many top-notch individuals.

    However, since its building fell years ago, the school’s problems have been compounded. It is in a sorry state with no state-of-the-art facilities.

    When the students visited the school, some of the roofs of its buildings have been blown off. The dust-spattered walls of the buildings have become weak from torrents of rain.

    The school is now using one of the remaining buildings,originally meant for pupils in the nursery, leading to congestion.

    The classrooms are partitioned. The pupils find it difficult to breathe while lessons are on due to lack of ventilation. The walls are used as blackboards; there are no tables and chairs for teachers. The teachers use the pupils’chairs.

    Also, Primary Six pupils are asked to come with their own chairs. There are no visible teaching aids like good drawings on objects. What they have are hand-written on cardboard sheets. Noise from one class filters into another during lessons, distracting the pupils and their teachers.

    The school’s fence and signboard were demolished during road construction, The school has no rest room. A part of the building needs refurbishing while another part needs to be repaired from the foundation to the roof

    The situation, it was gathered,  gets worse when it rains. Most pupils and their teachers are drenched from the leaking roofs. During dry seasons, the pupils sometimes receive lessons under mango and cashew trees in the school compound.

    Lamenting the situation, Mrs. Chinyere Asadu, who has just been  transferred to the school said teaching is more strenuous for the teachers because the classes have no boundaries.

    “If we want to make their voices audible enough as well as gain full attention of their class, the teachers have to talk at the top of their voices. Also, there is a problem of keeping the younger pupils from wandering into other classes which have no doors.”

    Mrs. Felicia Ezeugwu, the Primary Five class teacher, said the government has failed in its responsibility of providing quality education.

    She, however, promised that the teachers would continue to play their roles despite the problem.

    A Primary Six pupil, Ezeugu Samson, urged the government to intervene.

    The Headmistress, who did not want her name mentioned, said the school building was razed over seven years ago.

    On efforts to address the challenges, she said the school has written to the government, parents and some indigenous sons and daughters for support.

    Her words: “We have written to the government and there was no response. We even took snapshots of the building. I followed the letter up.

    “All we get from them is empty promises and nothing else. We have also had politicians who came here and made promises but after they left, no one heard from them anymore.”

    She added: “We are just managing the classes, because noise is usually too much. From one class, you hear what another person is saying and most times, it is usually difficult to control them.”

    Some residents of the community expressed fears that if nothing is done, it would affect the quality of education and pupils performance in examinations.

    They sought the support of the government, parents and the rich indigenes to restore the school.

  • School takes culture beyond Nigeria

    School takes culture beyond Nigeria

    Ever heard of ‘African Culture Day’ in Nigerian schools before? This was what was on display at the T-Square Private School, cultural fiesta .

    Aside pupils displaying costumes of various ethnic groups as well as their song rendition, performers’ exhibition of South African and Ghanaian costumes was another cultural menu that provoked guests  to endless applause.

    So excited and nostalgic was Mr Attah Amankwa, a Ghanaian national resident in Nigeria, that he leapt up  and joined in the chorus by performers dishing out songs in Ghana. Call it a musical homecoming, if you like.

    The expansion of the festival beyond Nigeria was to consolidate on the gains of the maiden edition last year, said T-Square Head of School, Mrs Adebusuyi Ifedapo Abiodun.

    “We had our maiden Cultural Day last year and it was very successful,” she said of the school located in Ahmmadiyya.

    “Based on that , we have decided to consolidate by having ‘African Culture Day’ as the theme of this occasion.

    “We need to let these children know a little bit about what happens beyond their immediate environment. We need to let them know the history of Ghana and South Africa. They have heard of apartheid and xenophobia before, but we need to teach them the real meaning. This is the rationale behind our concept this year.”

    Adebusuyi, who described culture as a way of life of a particular people, added that participants need to imbibe their cultural heritage to insulate them from Western contamination.

    “You will agree with me that our culture is being endangered and if nothing is done to rescue the situation, some of these cultural assets our forefathers left behind might go into extinction.”

    Both Mr Amankwa and a parent Mrs Angela Ezeh agreed with Adebusuyi.

    “I am here to welcome my Ghanaian contingent, Amankwa, who is from the Assanti tribe, said referring to the young performers.

    For Eze, a legal practioner, Africans are one regardless of the geographical ceilings put in place by the West.

    “We should not allow this borderlines that separate one country from the other by the West to be a hindrance. Africa is one, and we should promote that togetherness despite language variation,” she said.

  • Lawmaker distributes uniforms to Lagos school

    Member of the Federal House of Representative representing, Amuwo-Odofin constituency, Mr. Oghene Ugoh, has distributed free 1,000 school uniforms to four schools in Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State.

    The exercise, which had the support of a charity body-Warri Boys Social and Welfare Association, was held at the Palace of Alafin of Kuje Amuwo-Odofin, with hundreds of residents comprising teachers, parents, community development association and representatives from beneficiary schools.

    Speaking at the event, the donor said the items were to support parents whose children in the area go to school with torn uniforms

    He said: “I gave free buses to the children. Sometimes I board the bus together with them and I see a lot of children in torn uniform. So I informed the Warri Boys Association to help with 1, 000 uniform and they obliged, I am very grateful.”

    He noted that the development of local communities is a responsibility of every public office holders. He noted that  he was willing to do his best to lessen the suffering of the rural poor.

    President of the Warri Boys Social and Welfare Association, Pius Enakerakpo, said the body’s decision to sponsor the production of the uniform was informed by their desire to spread love, goodwill and care to hapless individuals in the society.

    He said Warri Boys Social and Welfare Association comprised top businessmen who came together for the purpose of supporting member’ gestures geared towards charity.

    Some of the beneficiary schools include; Satellite Secondary School, Ibese Secondary School, Festac College, and Z I Primary School.

  • Obi donates N1m to school

    The Manager of St. Kizito Secondary School, Umudioka, Rev. Fr. Nonso Okoye, has described former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi as the best governor since Anambra State was created.

    Fr. Nonso was speaking  when Obi visited the school,  which is one of the schools he returned to the Church in 2010

    The cleric said:  “Mr. Peter Obi has remained my best Governor since the inception of Anambra State. When he was the governor, he touched every nook and cranny of the state. In health sector, he did wonders in the state. In the area of road construction, he made Anambra to be a state with the best network of roads in the state. He remains the only governor in Anambra State that did not leave debts and arrears of salaries at the time he handed over. In the area of education, Oh, he was exceptional, which all of us, including our school can testify to.  Obi has remained an icon, an institution. The way he treats people manifestly shows him as a good man.”

    Obi thanked the cleric, staff and students of the school for the massive infrastructural development of the school.

    However, he reminded them that they must at all times strive to match the improvement with good performances and being many notches ahead of others in values, manners and morals so that when they graduate from the school, they would be intellectually and morally fit to conquer the world.

    The highlight of the visit was the presentation of the cheque of N1 million to the school for  infrastructural development.

    Speaking on behalf of the students, the Senior prefect of the school, Miss Onochie Perpetua said that the visit would remain green in the memories of students. He thanked Obi for remaining a noble role model in Nigeria and assured him that students would always abide by his fatherly advice at all times.

  • School holds Unity Day

    School holds Unity Day

    A conglomerate of schools founded and managed by a renowned educationist, Dame Christy Toby, has held her 2017 Unity Day celebration in Rivers State.

    The annual event was to bring together the authorities, students as well as parents of all the students in the schools run by Mrs Toby.

    The schools  are Archdeacon Brown Education  Centre,(ABEC), Mary Virginia Nursery and Primary School and Christie Toby Inclusive Education Centre . Other schools in the list also include, Archdeacon Brown Secondary School (Day and Boarding), and Archdeacon  Brown Advance Level Centre.

    Pupils of the schools trilled their audience with their colourful displays as they showcased their talents,  mastery, artistry and professionalism as budding Nollywood stars, artists  beautiful dancers, fashion stars as well as their high intellectual know-how.

    Established 17 years ago, ABEC Group of Schools has the vision of raising excellent children for Nigeria’s future.

    Speaking at the event,The Executive Director of the schools, Dame Toby, explained that her vision for establishing the schools was borne out of the need to raise educationally excellent children in the midst of falling standards and moral decadence.

    She said the special education centre, Christie Toby Inclusive Education Centre, (nursery, primary and secondary), was established with the believe that no child is ineducatable, and that all students/pupils, irrespective of their challenges are endowed with God-given talents and abilities; which if harnessed would help them not only function better in society, but help them attain their maximum potentials in life.

    She said: “ABEC Group of schools was founded 17 years ago. It’s a vision borne out of the need to nurture and raise distinguished Nigerians with a view for our country and our passion for excellence.

    “As an educationist who has raised several generations of children both in Nigeria and beyond, I was perturbed at the falling standards and moral decadence in our system. “Having worked in the public service several years as an operator in the education sector, I was determined to translate my vision and educational mission that delivers of all spheres.

    “Today, I am glad that God has helped us achieve our goal in raising children who are making marks. Here in ABEC our children are proud. Here in ABEC, we Lead, we excel, we achieve, we respect, and we nurture. These are our core values. That is what we try to inculcate in all our children; to make them good leaders, to make them excellent achievers.”

    The wife of the former Deputy Governor of Rivers state, Sir Gabriel Toby continued,  “We show them how to respect anybody not minding class, their age and colour and to help them have confidence in themselves, and again, we can beat our chest that our children are making us proud in all spheres. From graduating 1st class in various schools and Universities around the world, and today entrepreneurs and chief executives.

    “It is in acknowledgment of this that we have tagged this year’s event, We Lead.” She bragged.

    She expressed gratitude to her partners for assisting to make the day memorable.

    The Chairman, 2017 event Planning Committee, Betty Anorue, described the day as opportunity for all the schools to come together as one big family to strengthen their bond and as well, showcase their various talents in various fields.

    “Right from inception, Archdeacon Brown Education Centre has always equipped it’s pupils with high quality education, life sustaining skills and constructive programmes even in unusual areas rather than mere bland certificates.

    “Our Unity Day is an opportunity for all the schools in the group to come together as one big family of schools to strengthen our bond as well as to showcase our talents in various fields such as Sciences, Arts, Sports, Health, dance, music, home economics, cookery and in other endeavours of our every day life.

    “Apart from our outstanding academic records, the need to enhance the civil knowledge, training, social well-being and impartation of lasting values of integrity, respect for law and order, honesty, trust and humility on children cannot be overemphasized in our present day Nigeria as we, as a nation continually strive to shift away from  crime to better the lives of our present and future generations.

    “It is therefore important to arm our children with skills for creative and productive optimal solutions to unemployment, crime-prevention and a better future for our great country, Nigeria.”

    From the results announced, 7-year-old Master Pureheart, from the Christie Toby Inclusive Education Centre, won the cooking competition, student from ABEC Day came tops in the song completion, while Princess Akinwunmi of ABEC Day emerged winner of the Science Exhibitions.

  • Lions Club donates borehole, generator to school

    As part of activities to mark Lions Clubs International 100 year’s celebration, its District 404 B2 donated 1,200 liter water tanks, 5KVA generating set and First Aid Box with drugs to St Saviours’ Anglican Primary School I and II in Ijoko, Ogun State. The club’s region 7 and Ijoko district also planted trees in the school.

    The 404-B2 District Governor, Taiwo Adewunmi, while commissioning the project urged political leaders, individuals and captains of industries to emulate the spirit of giving back to the society.

    He said it would go a long way in eliminating poverty in the country.

    Speaking on the project, tagged: ‘Legacy Projects’ Adewunmi said, the gesture was to reduce the stress the pupils undergo to get potable water.

    “The pupils cross the road in search for pure water and this is dangerous for them in terms of safety,” he said.

    He said the  project  was also to fulfill the Club’s obligation to make the country a better place for the less privileged by feeding the hungry, empowering women and youths, providing health /vision screenings  and an enabling environment for a better and happier society.

    He appealed to the club members to continue to embark on legacy project and make a great impact on humanitarian services.

    The Schools’ Head teacher, Mrs Alamutu Oyebimpe, thanked all the members of the Club for the gesture, noting that water is an essential commodity for them.

    She said the borehole would prevent the pupils from crossing the express road in search for drinking water.

  • Forum backs school feeding programme

    Feed Nigeria Summit Secretariat’s Director–General Mr Richard Mbaram has said free meals and take-home rations under home grown school feeding (HGSF) will  enhance pupils’ performance and boost income generation and entrepreneurship in local communities.

    Mbaram said in Lagos that homegrown school feeding adopted by this administration would improve education, boost local economies and smallholder agriculture.

    To support the government, he said his organisation was planing a summit on how to work with development partners and the Federal Government to implement innovative solutions that can bolster agricultural performance.

    The summit set to hold between April 6 and 7 in Lagos, will bring together some of the most influential organisations and leaders in the food industry .

    The outcome of the summit will help support the government in implementing HGSF programme  and help them allocate resources accordingly.

    The event tagged: “Feed Nigeria, to Feed Africa” is a first of its kind in Nigeria, and will bring together prominent stakeholders, NGOs, government officials and ministries, campaigners, continental and international players and other influencers in the agricultural space, to discuss bugging issues aimed at advancing development of the agriculture sector in Nigeria. According to him, some of the key challenges faced by the food industry will be discussed in the summit.

    Mbaram said there was a need to bring together producers and leading industry representatives to agree to boost future production and open up opportunities.