The Nation Newspaper

Tag: school

  • School pick up, delivery service hold promising option

    School pick up, delivery service hold promising option

    In these days of frequent job lay-offs, converting ones car to picking up kids around your neighbourhood and taking them to school, or lesson could be a filler in these trying times. Adding delivery service to it, may well be an extra means of income, writes, OLUWAKEMI DAUDA.

    Pick-up and delivery service is a great concierge service which one easily and inexpensively conduct from the comfort of ones  home. As a pick-up and delivery service, you would be paid to perform tasks such as drop-off and collection of laundry, grocery pickup, pick-up and delivery of documents or parcels, for individuals and businesses.

    To run a successful pick-up and delivery service,  you require  great organisational and communicational skills along with punctuality and a reliable mode of communication and transportation.

    Investigation has revealed that there has been an increased demand for pick-up and delivery service providers. The main reason behind this is the busy lifestyle of the present era. In many households, both spouses have full time careers which leave them with little or no  time to carry out other tasks. Idealy, such busy individuals are the main target market in this profession. Other than these, there is another group of people who rely on concierge service providers.

    These are the people who require help to perform their tasks because of the inability, or constrain imposed on them, either as a result  of the arrival of a new child, disability, illness or old age. In addition, small businesses also rely on pick-ups and delivery services to carry out tasks for them. Accounting firms, law firms and advertising agencies are some of the companies that would rely on, or engage such service providers.

    A well conducted pick-up and delivery service is able to yield profitable returns for you. Usually in this industry, clients are charged by the hour or the type of service that is provided. Some pick-ups and delivery services even provide memberships for their regular clients. In this case the client would pay an annual fee for a certain number of requests per month.

    To many full-time working parents, school pick-up has never been easy for many parents. The nature of their jobs makes it tough or difficult for them to just dash off in the middle of their work engagement to pick up their children majority of whom are kindergartens.

    Findings revealed that these category of parents, in a school year, make it to school pick-up exactly twice: Once on the first day of school resumption and another is when the students are vacating on long-term holidays.

    “I actually forgot it was my day to pick up my two sons from school. It was around 6.35pm when I remembered my children. The two of them were crying because I did not show-up to pick them. Although my younger son was very forgiving, but he was very upset. Ditto the senior one.  I still have flashbacks about it on many occasions. We have to look for somebody that would be helping us to bring them home every day, and that is where the school pick-up business is good.

    “For those of us working in Lagos and other major cities, that is the area where those who have cars can assist parents and make good money,” said Dr Ayodeji Olufowobi, who works at one of the best hospitals in Lagos.

    Also, a banker who craved anonymity, told The Nation, that many parents are interested in getting somebody to do the pick-up business for their children.

    “I know I am not the only scouting for after-school pick-up. One colleague, for example, checks in with her caregiver each day to make sure her driver  is at school to pic-up the little kids.

    “In my family, things are getting better because somebody is now doing the pick-up job for us. My son loves his after-school programme,  so he is happy to get picked up for that. And his teacher tells me some parents are habitually late, so he sees that pick-up is imperfect for other kids, too.

    “But there are some days where he comes home and says, “all the other parents were there at 3: 35pm but you were not there and I was missing you. Although I am aware that it’s not entirely true–some of those “mommies” were actually babysitters. But that doesn’t make it feel any better for me.

    “My little baby was waiting to get picked up at school about three weeks ago and was asked by a classmate why her mother was never there at pick-up. One of his closest friends replied, “that’s easy. it’s because she doesn’t care about her. The remark was not good to me; it was one of those extreme  moments where if I could have quit, I would have. She will get over it I’m sure, but I feel guilty that she has to take comments like  that, and  her confidence in me has been shaken.

    “Regardless, I’ve decided that when the school resumes, I will try to make sure I take a half-day every two or three months to make a special afternoon for my children.  My husband promised that he will try to do the same once in six months. Despite the fact that we have somebody doing it for us now, we would be there at pick-up and we’ll do something funny together,” she said.

    ‘With the high rate of kidnappings and rituals going on, the process of getting individuals and companies for the business would vary from place to place. Furthermore, a pick-up and delivery service may involve a high amount of liability. So it is advisable that you may obtain business insurance for your pickup and delivery service’

    To run this type of business, you would be required to get a guarantor that you are not going to run away with their kids and goods where applicable, and put them for sale.

    With the high rate of kidnappings and rituals going on, the process of getting individuals and companies for the business would vary from place to place. Furthermore, a pick-up and delivery service may involve a high amount of liability. So it is advisable that you may obtain business insurance for your pickup and delivery service.

    To get clients, it is necessary that you promote your business, in the area you wish to operate. Networking is a great way to spread the word. Join community groups and get to know and identify the people who live around your area who would require your services. Hand out your business cards and flyers which would provide your potential clients with more information regarding your venture. Advertising in the local papers, magazines will also assist you. Sending direct SMS and emails to people is another effective way to make your services known.

    You should establish a professional outlook for your business by being punctual, dependable and proficient. Satisfied clients are the best marketing tool for your business, since they would happily promote your services to others.

    ‘In my family, things are getting better because somebody is now doing the pick-up job for us. My son loves his after-school programme,  so he is happy to get picked up for that. And his teacher tells me some parents are habitually late, so he sees that pick-up is imperfect for other kids, too’

     

  • School sends off ‘superstars’

    Diamonds Mine Schools, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos has graduated her sixth set of ‘super stars’ at valedictory and prize-giving ceremony.

    Proprietress of the school, Mrs Grace Aderibigbe, said this year’s set were highly intelligent and promising, hence, she was confident of their success.

    “These children are wonderful, brilliant and intelligent. They passed all the exams they sat for. They went for Lagos State Model examinations, state school examinations, federal and even command school examinations and they did brilliantly well in all of them. I am not panicky for them about any secondary school they go to. They have morals and they are super stars,” she said.

    Mrs Aderibigbe expressed her gratitude to parents and workers for constant support and the love they showed their children by sending them to school, despite biting economic challenges.

    A parent, Mrs Remi Samuel, said: “I like the school and the proprietress also. She is very nice and welcoming. I wish the pupils success and more progress in all their endeavours. They must remain true to their morals and standards.”

    The class teacher of the graduating class, Mrs Olabisi Akinbosede, who described her experience with the pupils as ‘tedious, yet exciting’, charged them to be morally upright and godly.

    “It has been exciting and full of activities teaching the graduating pupils due to preparations for Secondary School.

    But I thank God for these children; they are all hardworking and brilliant. God saw us through despite how tedious it was. We took them through practical and theoretical education. I wish them prosperous years ahead and more exciting experience in their educational life,” she said.

     

  • Rotary club donates sick bay to school

    Rotary Club of Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos, has donated a sick bay to Community Senior High School, Wasimi in Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area of the state.

    Rotn Mallinson Ukati, a philanthropist, donated the sick bay on behalf of the club.

    Speaking at the event, the district governor, Rotn.Otunba Bolaji Onabadejo, paid tributes to the initiator of the project, Mrs. Mercy Ola Adegboyegun, a deceased head teacher of the school whose zeal, according to him, facilitated the actualization of the project.

    He charged children and youths to justifiably appreciate the huge investments on them by their parents and the nation at large by excelling in all their endeavours.

    The pupils elated by the donation, expressed appreciation to the club for supporting the school.

  • Boko Haram turns school into bomb factory

    Boko Haram turns school into bomb factory

    Soldiers who retook Dikwa, in Borno State from Boko Haram penultimate week made a curious discovery in their subsequent mop-up of the town: the terrorists had converted the chemistry laboratory of the College of Education in the town into a bomb-making factory.

    Items found at the laboratory included a welding machine and a mine detector, spokesperson for the army, Colonel Sani Usman, said yesterday.

    Also recovered during the operation were four Toyota Hilux pick up vans .

    “The gallant troops are in a very high spirit and more determined to further pursue the fleeing terrorists to all known enclaves and sanctuaries,” Col Usman said on his Twitter handle.

     

  • School dedicates chapel in Ondo

    School dedicates chapel in Ondo

    The proprietor of Greater Tomorrow International College (GTIC), Agbaluku in Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State, Chief James Lawal and his wife, Mojisola, have dedicated a 1,000 seater church auditorium.

    Christened ‘Chapel of Praise’, the auditorium, which has offices was built in the school premises.

    It was declared opened by the Bishop of Akoko Diocese Rt. Revd Gabriel Akinbiyi.

    The cleric praised the couple for the edifice. He said building a place for God was always a right step in the right direction.

    Lawal said the chapel is meant for everybody and not just for the school.

    According to him: “I have been on this project since 2007 and I thank God He fulfilled His promises at last in seeing the project completed.”

    He said the chapel would enable students and staff worship God better.

    The chapel is besides a mosque for Muslim students to also worship.

    Mrs. Lawal explained the reason behind the two worship centres.

    According to her: “If you are a Christian, there is no need of going out of the school compound looking for where to worship.

    “If you are a Muslim, you too don’t need to go out looking for where to pray.

    “We have what it takes to succeed but one still need to put God first in everything. Morally, it would help the students to practice their religions and to be able to tolerate one another.”

     

  • Of JAMBGATE and Nigerian Law School

    Of JAMBGATE and Nigerian Law School

    “Surely, Allah does not change the situation of a community until that community is ready for a positive change” Q. 13:11 

     

    Preamble

    The Nigerian mass media throbbed, last week, with the shocking news of an unprecedented scandal allegedly perpetrated by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in relation to post JAMB examinations and admission into Nigerian Universities for 2015/2016 academic session. The strange game is tagged ‘JAMBGATE’ by this column (The Message).

     

    The Shocking News

    According to the shocking news, which spontaneously caused a national brouhaha, JAMB had surreptitiously shortchanged thousands of Nigerians by unilaterally changing the choices of applicants for admission into certain Universities without the knowledge of those applicants. For instance, names of applicants who made Universities of Nigeria, Lagos, Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo, Benin, Calabar and others their choices of study were sent to certain private Universities or public Universities far away from the ones they chose without any recourse to them.

    It was a monumental fraud typical of the impunity with which the immediate past Nigerian Federal government was known. The cat was first let out of the bag at the University of Lagos where hundreds of parents and their wards resorted to protests even as some of them took JAMB to court. Anyway, enmeshing in such a scandalous act is not strange about JAMB.

     

    In Retrospect

    In the 2009 for instance, the University Matriculation Exam (UME) in Nigeria was subject to serious controversy when the poorest results ever released by that body almost caused a revolution. Much to JAMB’s embarrassment, the spokesmen for the Board later revealed that the machines which optically graded the papers had erroneous answers and the JAMB changed some students’ scores by as much as 15%. Ever since, there has hardly been a year without some examination skirmishes continually paving way to public loss of confidence in that Board. Surely, something fundamental is wrong with JAMB which requires sanitization.

     

    Reaction

    Reacting to the alleged scandal, the Federal Ministry of Education ordered an immediate reversal of that obnoxious act which was not known until the affected candidates had reached their post JAMB examination centres. Although the ministerial intervention was welcomed as a momentary relief for the affected candidates and their parents, analysts think that the highly embarrassing case must not end there. They contend that the scandal should be officially investigated by an independent body and the culprits be brought to book. To some observers, that scandal was part of the usual ‘under table’ bunko by which most Nigerian public office holders are known and which gave Nigeria the international appellation of a ‘corrupt nation’.

     

    Observers’ Thought

    The similitude of that scam, according to those observers, was like the case of the so-called fuel subsidy removal which Goodluck Jonathan government callously forced on the already wretched masses of Nigeria to further deepen their abyss of penury in 2012. The end result of that evil policy was a monumental official scam that is still haunting today Nigeria like a demonic spectre. It seems that the customers of the Jonathan’s era of scandalous impunity are yet to realize that a clement wind of CHANGE has begun to sweep our dirty country clean hence the current JAMBGATE.

    Were the government of impunity still in place, the JAMBGATE saga would have, as usual, been upheld to justify the usual ‘under the table’ deal that would have forced thousands of qualified University admission seekers to either go to private University or forget University education altogether. That is Nigeria for you a country in which sanity, until two months ago, was an aberration and impunity was the rule.

     

    Information

    The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was established in 1977 by the then Federal Military Government of Nigeria. It has since become Nigeria’s official Entrance Examination Board for candidates below the Advanced Level (A/L) education seeking admission into all Universities in the country. Before then, the existing federal universities in Nigeria (numbering seven by 1974) conducted their own ‘concessional’ entrance examinations and admitted their students according to their individual policies. With time, however, that system of admission was observed by the federal government as having limitations through a waste of time and resources in the process of administering the examination especially on the part of the candidates.

    The Committee of Vice-Chancellors therefore felt concerned about the general clumsiness in the coordination of admissions into the nation’s universities especially when the problem of admission into the universities became more acute with the establishment of additional six universities in 1976 by the Federal military government.

     

    Duties of JAMB

    In addition to its functions, JAMB is also supposed to undertake the following duties statutorily:

    Conducts the Universities Matriculation Examination (UME) and sends the results to Universities chosen by the candidates, so that each university selects and recommends candidates to JAMB for admission.

    Allows each university to conduct tests/interview termed screening for candidates (since . . .) before selecting those to recommend;

    Conduct similarly, entrance examination for candidate applying to Polytechnics and College of Education;

    Admits qualified candidates by Direct Entry to Universities that recommend them;

    Allows these institutions that operate Remedial Programmes to admit successful candidates, but announced in 2007 that it was counseling such from 2008. (For further information, please, see Perspectives on the History of Education in Nigeria, 2008).

     

    Key Departments of JAMB

    JAMB consists of eight key departments which statutorily carry out the day-to-day operations of the Board.  These are:

    1. Office of the Registrar which is headed by the Chief Executive who is appointed by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Education. The Registrar is responsible for the execution of policies of the Board and the day-to-day running of the affairs of the Board.

    By law, the Registrar shall hold office in the first instance for a period of five years and shall be eligible for reappointment for the same period as the president may be pleased from time to time. It is through this process that all applicants do register and get printed results online.

     

    Comment

    With JAMB becoming the gateway to tertiary education in Nigeria that examination body must live up to its responsibilities by upholding the national trust reposed in it and by utilizing that trust to propel the potential greatness of Nigeria as a foremost African country. It is pertinent for JAMB to understand that any failure on its part is Nigeria’s failure in all spheres of life since without qualitative education any nation can be pronounced dead. Thus, with such a strategic position, JAMB must know that it cannot afford to take the Nigerian populace for granted.

    Like JAMB like Nigerian Law School

    For good observers of education in Nigeria, JAMBGATE could not have come as a surprise. What JAMB did to cause uproar last week is what the Nigerian Law School has been doing in recent time. As a matter of fact, it was as if JAMB borrowed an idea of a ‘profitable’ venture from the Nigerian Law School. How many Nigerians know today that the Nigerian Law School that was once the right of every Law graduate in the country to be qualified for practice has become a privilege for just a few?

     

    Point of Departure

    Unlike in the past when the test of the prowess of the legal profession in Nigeria was accentuated by the Nigerian Law School, the real accentuation of Law practice in the country today, in grooming the practitioners of that profession, has become an instrument of power in the hands of a few who hold sway in that School. Through the use of that power the children of the poor have been tacitly declared personal non-grata in the Law profession. For instance, out of about 6000 students of Nigerian Law School in 2013/2014 session, only about 2000 were able to cross the huddle of the Bar exam. Although that cannot be strictly attributed to administrative policy the conditions laid down for enrolment in the Law School are strict enough to dissuade some students from concentration.

     

    Objective of Decentralisation

    The original objective of decentralizing the Nigerian Law School was to enable the Law Students from each geographical zone to attend the Law School in his or her zone with convenience. But this was changed by the authorities of that School who are now allocating Law School campuses arbitrarily to those students irrespective of their zones of origin and depriving them the right of changing their allocations if they are not satisfied. For instance, students from the Southwest of Nigeria who wanted to attend the Lagos Law School were arbitrarily posted Yola, in Adamawa despite the Boko Haram threat to lives. And those from the North-West who chose Kano were posted to Enugu campus without an option. The cost of this alone especially for indigent students is distractive enough. Yet, these students will still be forcefully posted to anywhere for in the country for National Youth Service after their call to the Bar. What kind of country is this?

     

    Unaffordable Charges

    The exorbitant, unaffordable levies charged for reseat in the Bar exam have prevented thousands of potential Lawyers from becoming legal practitioners. The imposed cost of feeding per meal alone is enough to scare away any prospective Law student from enrolling in that School. Eventually, thousands of University graduates in Law who are unable to realize their dream by passing through the Law School have become like marauders roaming the streets of Nigeria like Egyptian gypsies of yore, after five years of rigour in the University. What kind of country is this? And in this case, what is the difference between JAMB and the Nigerian Law School?

     

    Autocratic Song

    The song of these days, as far as the Nigerian Law School is concerned is that ‘the Law Profession is not for the Poor’. And to emphasize that oppressive song, the tuition and other fees in that school have been taken beyond the affordability level of an ordinary Nigerian. Besides, all sorts of oppressive polices are being regularly formulated to reduce the number of Nigerian Lawyers drastically and to discourage new entrants into the profession. Thus, the Law profession in Nigeria is gradually becoming an exclusive right of the senior practitioners in the profession whose children are seen and treated as their heirs apparent. For how long will this be allowed in a country that claims to maintain human rights and freedom of exercising such rights? God save Nigeria.

  • School celebrates 100 years of scouting

    It was a memorable day for pupils of the scout group in Omololu Primary School, Lagos when they marked the centenary anniversary of the Scout Association in Nigeria.

    In their excitement, the pupils decked in their scout uniforms, displayed parades, grand howl, chorography and a drama centered on safety.

    The Scout was formed by Barden Powell in America which was generally accepted in Nigeria in 1915.  Assistant Chief Environment and Health Officer, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs Odusanya Ifeyemi, enlightened the pupils on safety measures to abide to in school.

    Speaking on the topic: “General golden rules on safety in schools,” she advised the school to have safety plan which should be discussed with both pupils and member of staff of the school in order to guide them during emergencies. She urged pupils to report any case of fire to any teacher around rather than attempt to put it off themselves.

    “If you see an abandoned luggage, bag, object or parcel, do not pick it up and report to a teacher straight away. Always stay calm when you hear a loud unusual noise, do not run around but lie flat on your face,” she warned.

    Ifeyemi urged the staff to monitor play grounds, and watch for bullying and other forms of violence among pupils.

    She noted that the government would ensure safety in schools to provide a healthy learning environment. She urged the school to have a Safety Prefect, who would inspect the school for risk objects, document incidents in the school as well as have a first aid box with a professional first aider to attend to injuries daily.

    Chairman, School Based Management Committee Mr Austem Igwonobe suggested that the state government should create an additional exit gate for the school.

    He also requested for security at the school gate to monitor pupils’ entry and exit and a safety club.

    Scout leader of the school, Ojekale Oladipupo said the group is a voluntary organisation which teaches honesty and prepares one for future challenges.  He lamented that except state governments that usually donate uniforms, the Federal Government had not done anything for them.

  • Airtel rehabilitates school in Kwara

    Airtel rehabilitates school in Kwara

    Telecoms firm, Airtel Nigeria Limited has rehabilitated a primary school, Iyeru-Okin, in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

    Airtel Nigeria has earlier done a similar thing at Oremeji Primary School II, Ajegunle, Lagos Stata, St. John’s Primary School, Oke-Agbo in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, Community Primary School, Amumara, Imo State and Presbyterian Primary School, Ediba, Cross River State under its Adopt-a-School Programme.

    Speaking during the commissioning of the newly transformed Iyeru-Okin Primary School, the Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria Ltd, Segun Ogunsanya said under the company will adopt government-owned schools in rural and semi-urban communities for rehabilitation or rebuilding.

    Represented by Chief Sales Officer Godfrey Efhebor, Mr. Ogunsanya said that is embarking on the programme as part of its corporate social responsibility or CRS.

    He said, “We are pleased to partner your government and indeed the people of Nigeria to participate in the area of primary education for the undeserved rural poor; education, to us, is the bedrock of development of the nation and the best place to start is the formative stage of children.

    “Nigerian government has taken various initiatives in this direction but has often not reached the poorest section of the society.”

    Airtel managing director added that has brought notable transformation to these schools by providing ultra-modern blocks of classrooms, borehole, furniture and provision of uniforms, bags and educational materials on an annual basis.

    His words: “Last year hundreds of pupils and teachers benefited from Airtel free eye screening exercises conducted in the adopted schools. In addition to this, several teachers in the schools have been trained by Airtel in collaboration with state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) of the various states.

    “It is pertinent to add here that we have not just come to upgrade infrastructure and go away, but we will continue to support the adopted school on a long-term basis. It is certain that government alone cannot bring about the change we all are craving for, but we know that an enabling environment is necessary for change to happen.

    “We are hopeful that this project will add value to the lives of the children of Iyeru-Okin community, and who knows we may be providing classrooms for the grooming of future employees of Airtel Nigeria.

    “I will request the government to keep supporting our efforts as we strive to contribute our quota to making Nigeria a better place. Specifically, we want to urge the community members to help protect the facilities from hoodlums and vandals.”

    In a remark, the state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said the Airtel’s gesture deserves commendation and applause.

    The governor who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Alhaji Lamidi Alabi said that “the project represents a contribution to our educational development through corporate social responsibility intervention. We are therefore grateful to board, management and staff of Airtel for initiating and completing this project.

    “While soliciting similar intervention to other schools across the state, I urge other organizations to emulate Airtel and give back to the communities in which it operates.

    I understand that Airtel has upgraded three blocks of classrooms and equipped with white box, chairs and tables. Further the company is providing uniforms and school bags for 400 pupils including other support infrastructure materials.

    “Doing so will not only be pragmatic, it will also create significant goodwill for such communities and the companies. On our part we remain committed to promoting the security and welfare of the people through targeted social and physical infrastructure. We are also implementing policies to stimulate economic activities and attract investment inflow as pathway for people’s economic empowerment.

    “In line with this determination, I will soon outline our strategic programmes for the socio-economic and infrastructural development of our state.”

    Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of SUBEB, Dr. Musa Dasuki said the programme would touch the lives of many in Offa and humanity at large.

    Dr. Dasuki, who was represented by Direct of Planning, Research and Statistics in the board, Raudat Yusuf said the project comprises the renovation of three blocks of eight classrooms, three offices; installation of lightings and ceiling fans; construction of borehole with an overhead tank; provision of 43 sets of table for the pupils; eight set of tables for teachers; 400 school uniforms and 400 school bags for pupils.

  • Another chance at school

    Another chance at school

    Medinat Kanabe who recently visited an adult school, writes on a developing urge by Nigerian unlettered adults to take another shot at schooling.

    UP until recently, Chinwe Obianuju was an illiterate who had never had any form of education. To take her out of the ‘hood,’ her husband enrolled her in an adult school; but she didn’t take it seriously, so he stopped paying her tuition. But Obianuju did not mind, as she was never interested in the first place.

    Obianuju was however forced to make a u-turn one day. Hear her: “One day, I was disgraced as a result of my inability to read and write English, so I ran back to the school.  My husband insisted that he would not pay my tuition again, but I decided to shoulder the payment myself, not knowing that he didn’t want me to continue because he had gotten into a relationship.

    “One day, I caught him sending a love SMS to his girlfriend; he was doing it in my presence because he didn’t know that I had learnt to read and write. In school we were also taught Mind Programme, which included how to relate with our spouses at home; so I didn’t quarrel with him, unlike before.

    “Rather, I read out the text clearly and told him ‘well done o!’ He realised his folly, apologised and we made up.”

    Now in her forties, Obianuju is proud of her achievement and now goes around encouraging her illiterate friends to go back to school.

    On her part, Mrs Oluwatobi Jamiu said; “Since I started going to school, I have changed a lot. My children too noticed the changes in me. One day I was very sick but insisted on going to school. My children thought I was charmed because they knew the condition I was in. I threatened to sneak out unless they called my aunty (her teacher) to tell her I was sick, which they did before I stayed back home. I hate missing classes because I learn a lot at school.”

    She, like Obianuju enrolled to learn to read and write after having all her children, and she is happy about it.

    Another woman who gave a testimony of her new-found knowledge was Khadijat Musiliu, a trader. Musiliu told The Nation that she didn’t just learn how to read, write and speak good English but also grew her confidence and learnt to manage her business very well. “I learnt how to manage my business very well and respect my customers. It was raining one day and I went to my place of business in the rain. If it were before, I would have stayed back at home. The sale I made that day was unbelievable.”

    As if echoing the feeling of the three respondents above, a professor of Curriculum and Science Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Shola Ehindero, said when a person achieves adult literacy, he or she becomes happy.

     “The problem of inferiority complex will no longer be there. She may have had problems relating with her children and husband before, but she will now gain more confidence. She will not see herself as a burden to the children and husband. She may be very rich but that inferiority complex will be there, if she is an illiterate. So if she acquires these basic things where she can communicate confidently and with conviction, the family becomes one and they will be involved in collective decision-making.”

    Expatiating further on the value of adult education and the best way to apply it, Ehindero said literacy is of different types and the concept of adult education should be regarded as basic literacy because there can be technological literacy, scientific literacy, medical literacy, literary literacy among others.

    He said “The basic thing the adult goes through is the basic literacy because he or she is learning how to write and read.”

    A nation of high level of illiteracy

    In 2013, Mr Nyesom Wike, then acting as Supervisory Minister of Education declared that the number of adult illiterates in Nigeria had risen to an alarming 35 million. That was from the previously established figure of 25 million in 1997, justifying inadvertently a strong need for stakeholders to redouble effort at educating the adult citizenry.

    The minister, who made this known at that year’s International Literacy Day, also added that an embarrassing 10.5 million children were out of school; most probably on their way to swelling the current figure (of 35million). He therefore identified literacy as one of the key solutions to national challenges of insecurity, poverty, poor health condition amongst others.

    He also said that eradicating illiteracy in the country should not be left in the hands of the federal, state and local governments alone, stressing that such era was gone.

    As if corroborating the minister’s declaration, Ehindero said one of the major problems Nigeria is having is high illiteracy level. He said a country with low level of literacy is very likely to have high level of corruption and explosion. For instance, he said if President Buhari, despite his good intentions of fighting corruption, is not able to carry the populace along, all sorts of negative consequences will set in, including superstition, corruption and the likes.

    He concluded that the greatest problem any country can have is a prevalence of illiterate citizens, and lamented the current situation, where the government is investing massively on higher education at the detriment of basic education.

  • Lad tops school twice

    Lad tops school twice

    Master Zerah Ukoko of Julliard Academy Magodo, Lagos shone like a million stars at the school graduation.

    Intestingly, Ukoko  who won the best student last year also repeated same feat at the ceremony, while Charles Chineme of Berkeley Science Magnet School, the junior arm of Julliard, won in the Julliard junor category.

    Julliard’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Maria Onyia, who spoke at the school hall, venue of the event, said the purpose was to reward the best students.

    She said: ‘Julliard Academy is just a year old and we are graduating students. I think people should be rewarded for hardwork. When I started it, I noticed the competition increased. The truth about competition is that everybody that struggled to win, moves a step further. I also gave award to staff and parents, that is my own way of motivating them because they are doing a wonderful job.”

    On her advice for graduands, she said: “I  don’t want to advise the graduands because they have been equipped. They are change in motion because they are taught to make change when necessary. Most of them are going to university abroad, I don’t want them to forget quickly all that we taught them. I want them to keep to what they have learnt, they should lead and not be led.”

    Zerah Ukoko, the best graduating student also said: “I won last year and this year because my parents have been pushing me the extra mile. They don’t allow me to watch TV. It’s either we rest or study.”

    Master Charles Chineme also told The Nation how his parents encouraged him to work harder.