One of the leading schools in Ogun State, Adedokun International Schools, has honoured 16 exceptional students who have been representing the school and winning laurels in various external competitions.
Their laurels include Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) competition; Mathematics Association of Nigeria (MAN) Cowbellpedia; Our Generation Foundation Mathematics Competition (OGF); Interswitch Mathematics Competition; Adewale Science Competition; Prof Wole Soyinka Essay Competition; Ogun State Government Essay Competition among others.
In his welcoming address, the school principal Pastor (Dr) Mike Fatukasi, while congratulating the award-winning students, said the school would continue to remain forthright, undeterred, and resilient and raise the bar.”We are assuring the parents that we will always provide them with a nurturing and stimulating environment that encourages curiosity, creativity, competitiveness, and above all personal development.’
Mr. Jacob Etim, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State and commercial motorcyclist was determined to ensure that his children obtain quality education because he himself did not have the opportunity for same because of the circumstances of his birth and his environment. Unfortunately, he lost his only son in very bizarre circumstances, reports SUNNY NWANKWO.
Like many other poor Nigerian families, the parents of Mr. Jacob Etim, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, could not muster the funds to train him in school. Born into a large family, Etim hadn’t the luxury of joining other children of his age to play or while away time in the village as he was always busy helping his parents with farm work to ensure that there was food on the family’s table.
Having waited and got tired of watching his parents suffer, Etim decided to leave his family house in Akwa Ibom for the commercial city of Aba in neighbouring Abia State to face whatever challenge life would throw at him.
His mission in Aba was to come see how God could help him fend for himself and also ensure that his parents in the village got some stipends every month from his little savings.
Shortly after arriving Aba in 2008, Etim decided to learn furniture making; a skill that he anticipated would help him to grow his business to compete favourably with other brands in the market, using his little savings as a start-off.
In 2016, as part of his desire to have a helpmate and begin raising his own children, Etim used part of the little money that he was able to save from his furniture business to marry his beautiful wife, Onyekachi, in 2016. Mercifully, the marriage produced two beautiful children, a girl and a boy.
In 2018, the furniture workshop closed down despite his efforts to rejuvenate his business. Rather than stay idle, Etim was able to raise some money to buy a motorcycle which he used for commercial transportation to ensure that he not only put food on the family’s table but also meet the children’s academic needs and upkeep.
Penultimate Tuesday, Etim, like every other member of the household at their No. 2 Ugwumba Street residence in Aba South Local Government Area, woke up hoping that the day would bring good fortunes only for cruel fate to greet him with the sad news of the death of David, his only son.
If the death of David was shocking, the circumstances made it even more so, as he was said to have fallen to death from a three-storey building that housed his classroom. Not surprisingly, David’s has thrown up several questions that would take prudent investigation by the Abia State Police Command to unravel; the most pungent being why a teacher or class assistant would leave their toddler pupils in a three storey building without thinking of possible consequences.
Since the news of the death of the two-and-a-half-year-old baby broke, Abians and indeed Nigerians have been asking whether the teacher actually left him and other children to buy snacks and why the management of the school would keep pupils of that age in a three-storey building without thinking of possible dangers or threats to their lives.
Father’s account
“On Tuesday, October 17, I drove my two children to their school, Emerald International Academy, at N0. 20 Crystal Park, off Port Harcourt Road, Aba South Local Government Area, Abia State.
“On getting to the school, I made attempt to take the children inside but one of their teachers called me back to ask if I had paid their school fees. They said that they were on school fees drive and had been instructed not to allow any child entry into the school or their classrooms if they had not paid their school and other necessary fees.
“I didn’t have such money because I didn’t make any budget for such expenses. But because I didn’t want my children to be at home when other children were in school, I rallied round to ensure that I got money to pay their fees before they allowed them to go to their classes.
“Their school dismisses at 3 O’clock, and by 3:20 pm, I was in the school to pick my children. On getting to the school, I saw my daughter but didn’t see the brother, David. The sister told me that her brother fell from the building, but I didn’t understand what she was saying until a much older student that should be about 11-12 years came to explain to me.
“According to the boy, they were the people that first got to the scene to pick my child up from the floor and raised the alarm before some of the teachers came to collect him from them and rushed him to the hospital. From their account, blood was gushing out of my son’s nose and mouth when the teachers rushed to the hospital.
“I rushed to John Okorie Memorial Hospital, behind the Emerald School, where they said that my son was taken to. When I got to the hospital, I saw some nurses and the teacher who looks after them until parents came to collect their children.
“I saw my child lying on the floor and surrounded by the nurses as well as the teacher and some others who were crying.
“I asked what was happening, and the teacher told me that after the school dismissed, she went to buy snacks and returned to witness what had happened. The question is why would the teacher leave the children in such a high rise building to go and buy snacks as she wants us to believe, and leave the children in the hands of no adult?
“Usually, what happens is that when the school dismisses, the children are kept at the school’s security post where the security man looks after them until their parents come to pick them up. But what happened that day is what I don’t know.
“How can a teacher leave the children to go and buy snacks? Can’t she take the children to the security post before going to buy the snacks that she claimed she went to buy?
“At that point, when it was obvious that my son was dead, I didn’t know what else to do than to go to Ndiegoro Police Division (Cameron Barracks) to make an entry. It was after the entry that I went with the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) 3 to deposit the body of my boy at the mortuary.
“As we speak, the boy comes to me in dreams every day to ask that I should come and take him away from the mortuary. The sad thing is that until this time that we are talking, the management of the school is yet to reach out to us; not even to send a condolence message.
“That is heartless and insensitive of a school as big as Emerald International School.
“The next day, I was told that we were going to the State CID. When we got there, they said that the paper was not properly documented; that we should go back and properly document the papers. That is where we are.
“I want the government to come to my aid. A child is not owned by one person. My son who has a bright future just died because of the negligence of the teacher. I simply want justice for my son, David.
Mother’s account
“I am Mrs. Onyekachi Jacob, the mother of David Jacob.
“On Tuesday, October 17, I dressed my children up for school only for my husband to tell me that they (Emerald International School) said that our children would not be allowed into their classes unless we paid their school fees for the term.
“We did as we were told. We rallied round to pay their school fees the same day before they allowed them entry into their classes.
“While I was in my shop, something pushed me to start going to their school. What I had in mind was to bring them back from school. But to my greatest shock, what I met there has until date kept me traumatised.
“How do I explain to people that my son, David Chikamso Jacob, who went to school with his sister, Blessing, is dead?
“When I got to their school, it was Blessing that told me that her brother, David, fell from the last floor and crash landed. When I came into the school compound, even the gate man did not tell me what had happened. It was my daughter that held me by the hand and led me to the spot where her brother’s blood stained the floor.
“While I was still trying to know if what the elder sister said was true or not, another pupil in the school came and directed me to the hospital where my son was taken to. I went to the hospital to meet the corpse of my son who left home hale and hearty.
“At the hospital, no one was able to tell me how my only son died. I have been left shattered since the incident. I am pained and traumatised that a child I carried for nine months, a child that will always read my mind and knows how to act to lift my heart when I am not happy.
“He may be two-years-six months old, but he acts beyond children of his age. Why would the carelessness of a teacher end the journey of a bright son like Chikamso as I fondly called him?
“It has been my husband and I that have been running around since this incident. The teachers and school management have kept quiet. The school is on and no one cares. They have been acting as if nothing happened. Maybe they are doing all these because we don’t have the money to fight for justice.
“There was no adequate protection for the safety of the children in the school. The said teacher was careless and that was what resulted in the death of my son.
“My son is my blood and I will not just want this to go without my son getting justice.
“My son died not just a premature but a painful death, and the school is not perturbed. There is no atom of remorse from the school. No phone call from the school or the teacher. Nobody among them has cared to visit the family over the incident.
“Sometimes, if I went to the school and they have not dismissed, I do go to their class to pick them. If they had dismissed, they normally leave them with the gate man who I pick them from at the school gate. Why did their classroom teacher leave the children at the upstairs instead of keeping them with the school’s gateman as she used to do?
“From indications, Chikamso hit his head on the floor which caused his death. He has internal bleeding. I was told that, they tried placing him on oxygen, but instead of the air passing through, it was causing him internal bleeding.
“I am begging government for assistance. They should help us get justice for our son.”
School’s position
When contacted on the phone, one Peter Nwoke, who claimed to be one of the owners of the school, told our correspondent that the accounts of the parents to the late David were false and do not represent the true account of the death of their child.
This is even as Nwoke, who disclosed that he was at the State CID office in Umahia at the time of filing this report, affirmed that David was a pupil in their school.
The Commissioner of Education in the state, Prof. Uche Eme, told our correspondent that at the time of inquiry on the incident from her office, she was in a meeting.
The Education Commissioner said on the phone: “I have seen your text. In a case like this, there will be investigation.”
Contacted by our correspondent, the Public Relations Officer of the Abia State Police Command, Maureen Chinaka, said: “On the evening of October 17, 2023, at approximately 2000hrs, Mr. Jacob Etim Udo, residing at Ugwumba Street, Aba, accompanied by two individuals, arrived at the Ndiegoro Divisional Headquarters with the heartbreaking news of his son David’s tragic accident.
“David, a pupil of Emerald International School located by Crystal Park Road, Aba, was reported to have fallen from a school building, leading to his untimely demise.
“David was swiftly rushed to the hospital, but despite the best efforts of medical personnel, he tragically succumbed to his injuries.
“The child’s body has been recovered and placed for autopsy as part of our ongoing investigation.
“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a comprehensive and discreet inquiry to unravel the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident.
“We understand the concerns and emotions that this incident has stirred within the community. We want to assure the public that a meticulous investigation is underway to uncover the truth.
“We urge everyone to remain calm and patient as we conduct this inquiry.
“The authorities are committed to a transparent and thorough examination of the facts, and we will keep the public informed of significant developments.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to Mr. Jacob Etim Udo and his family during this profoundly difficult time.
“We request the public’s cooperation and understanding while the investigation progresses.
“Rest assured we are dedicated to ensuring justice and will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of the truth.”
“Government should not exert any serious effort to take on the trivial exercise of changing the names of schools for the mere fun of it. There must however be rhyme and rhythm in naming schools. Changing the name of an institution will always generate some heat. University of Ife alumni protested to the heavens but UNIFE is today OAU and the heavens have not fallen. It should be possible to reconcile all views with no ulterior motives through dialogue.”
False Claim
According to Pa Fagbulu, “the claim that the federal government enforced the takeover is false. Those who are old enough will remember that the exercise was not uniformly executed across the country. The Catholics put up a very tenacious resistance in the East and that slowed implementation. Some states only half-heartedly carried it out simply because Education has always been on the concurrent list and no central government could successfully enforce such a complex maneuver at a swoop even under the military. Decrees merely backed the intention of governments and the people who had spoken through Asabia.”
He went further thus: “One lingering and unfortunate consequence of the takeover of schools is the undeniable fact that standards of education have fallen over the years since the takeover. It is in no way a direct consequence of the proposal but one of implementation by government. In fact the takeover was to be a new beginning whereby the following would take place in the spirit of Adefarasin and Asabia (recommendations): “
All existing and new schools would be registered: that implied that the basic minimum requirements for providing good education would be provided in all schools irrespective of who was the proprietor. That would satisfy the demand of the NUT that all educational institutions should provide equal facilities for the children to learn and the teachers to teach
All schools would be bound by the same rules and treated equally when being assessed in respect of management, number and quality of staffing, and other areas that deal with the evaluation of the outcome of learning. I had the unpleasant duty of writing to the government of the Western State to give notice of closure in respect of the famous Government College, Ibadan of which I was by law the stand-in proprietor on behalf of the government, due to poor accommodation and general neglect. That decadence as it developed had shown that governments could default in providing fully for their schools and that any measure to avoid that unfortunate situation must be a corner-stone of any changes.
All schools would have properly constituted Boards of Governor to oversee the management of the schools as outlined in law. That body would be independent and good enough to get governments to act appropriately in funding schools.”
“At the primary school level in particular, the Local Education Authorities have been greatly handicapped to the extent that it is difficult to believe that they exist at all. The (naked) truth is that governments have increasingly been unable to fund education adequately and though the rates might have been perhaps slower, the rot would have set in anyway if even schools had not been taken over.”
Undeniable Fact
Commenting on the recent hullaballoo over hijab and ownership of schools in Osun State, the sage observed as follows: “It is regrettable that a respected body like CAN can display so much ignorance in respect of education in Nigeria. To start with, the State of Osun like the rest of Nigeria cannot discriminate in the provision of educational facilities on the basis of gender or religion. Secondly CAN is operating from a false premise that some schools are Christian schools. All public schools belong to all the people irrespective of their religious beliefs.
“If we Christians want to have schools over which we will have full control, the constitution provides for that. Finally the history of the take-over of schools credited to Gowon is also false. The take-over of schools was a direct consequence of the Asabia Commission and I was the originator of the idea with my colleagues who served after me as advisers to that body.”
Reason for the Brouhaha
“A main reason for that action was that the proprietors who received grants from government and fleeced parents through high fees made education very expensive. In spite of not investing their own money in education they failed to pay teachers on time if at all; they tyrannised teachers; they even went as far as not promoting teachers on merit especially if those teachers belonged to other denominations. CAN should please do its research and acknowledge that Adefarasin emancipated teachers and Asabia, its sub-committee recommended the procedures for achieving that end, If CAN needs being educated on this issue, I will oblige. In the meantime, it should stop spreading falsehood. Aregbesola may or may not be guilty of wanting to Islamise Osun; that is not my concern here. Accusing him of using education is however not true.”
Conclusion
Concluding, Dr. Fagbulu said: “it should be reiterated that public schools belong to the people and that government as the representative of the people has the responsibility to determine the future of education and the direction and shape schools take. There is no problem of education that cannot be solved through dialogue if those involved are sincere and have no hidden agenda. And for the sake of our children, let us take interest in education and make constructive inputs. Government should take the lead and we should walk and work with it all the way.”
Yet another Embryologist, Professor Keith Moore of the Department of Anatomy, University of Toronto, Canada, after carefully examining the translation of the Qur‘anic verses presented to him admitted thus: ‘most of the information concerning embryology mentioned in the Qur‘an is in perfect conformity with modern discoveries in the field of embryology and does not conflict with them in any way..
Professor Moore had no prior knowledge of anything leechlike about embryo until he read chapter 96 of the Qur‘an where Allah says ‘Read! In the name of your Lord who created. He created man out of a leechlike clot…. He then went to verify this fact in an embryo under a powerful microscope and compared his observation with a diagram of a leech. He was astonished at the resemblance of the two. That prompted him to go fully into studying the Qur‘an and Hadith to acquire more knowledge until he was able to answer about 80 hitherto unanswered questions in that field.
That prompted him to correct the contents of his book ‘The Developing Human‘ which he published earlier and he re-published it in 1982. It was with that revised edition that he became the recipient of an award for the best medical book written by a single author in the 20th century. That book has been translated into many major languages of the world and is mostly used as textbook of embryology today in the first year of medical studies in various Universities in the world.
Sciences and Signs
Yet, despite talking about all sciences, the Qur‘an is not a book of Sciences but that of ‘Signs‘. Those ‘Signs‘ invite man to realise the purpose of his existence on earth and live in harmony with nature.
Judging the above verses of the Qur‘an revealed close to 1500 years ago with the wonderful reality of scientific civilisation of today what further proof does anybody need of the genuineness of the Qur‘an? And who else can give better guidance than the Supreme Creator Himself? And who else can be better called the ‘PATH FINDER‘ than Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who showed humanity the way to that all time guidance?
Perhaps, this was why Michael Hart, a Jewish American Astrophysicist, named Prophet Muhammad the greatest man that ever lived in his famous book entitled ‘The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History‘.
Further Testimonies
If all the descriptions given above about Prophet Muhammad (SAW) sound exaggerated because they are given by Femi Abbas, a Muslim and an ardent follower of that Prophet, and if Michael Hart is seen as crazy in his judgment let us read the views and impressions of some other non-Muslims about this great Prophet. One of them (Alphonse de Lamartine of France) had the following to say in his book ‘Histoire de la Torque‘:
‘Never has a man set for himself, voluntarily or involuntarily, a more sublime aim since this aim was superhuman; to subvert superstitions which had been interposed between man and his Creator; to render God unto man and man unto God; to restore rational and sacred idea of divinity amidst the chaos of the material and disfigured gods of idolatry, then existing.
Never has a man undertaken a work so far beyond human power with so feeble means, for he (Muhammad) had in the conception as well as in the execution of such a great design no other instrument than himself, and no other, except a handful of men living in a corner of a desert…. If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad? The most famous men created arms, laws and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled before their very eyes. This man moved not only armies, legislations, empires, peoples and dynasties, but millions of men in one-third of the then inhabited world; and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and the souls. On the basis of a book, every letter of which has become law, he created a spiritual nationality which blended together peoples of every tongue and of every race…..As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured we may well ask, is there any man in human history greater than Muhammad?.
On his own, Napoleon Bonaparte, the great 18th century French conqueror of Europe was so much amazed by the traits of Islam which he saw in Egypt during his military expeditions that he made the following historic statement about that divine religion and its great Prophet:
‘Muhammad, in reality, was a great leader of mankind. He preached UNITY among Arabs who were, till then, torn asunder due to internecine quarrels, sometimes resulting in bloody war fares. He brought them out of the obscure world in a short time and the discipline which they maintained under his leadership was simply marvellous, and so was their bravery, courage and devotion to the cause which they loved and cherished. This, coupled with the contempt for death, as taught by their leader, made them great soldiers and fighters like of whom history rarely produces. I simply marvel at the achievements of this great ‘Son of the Desert’ within a mere period of less than 15 years; a thing which Moses and Christ could not do in 15 centuries. I salute this great man; I salute his qualities of Head and Heart…..
George Bernard Shaw
And, in corroboration of the above statements, variously made by renowned men of letters and intellect, another foremost Orientalist, playwright and dramatist, George Bernard Shaw, had the following to say about Islam and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in his book ‘The genuine Islam’ (vol. 1 No 8 of 1936):
‘The Christians and their missionaries have presented a horrible picture of Islam. Not only that, they also carried out an organised and planned propaganda against the personality of Prophet Mohammad and the religion he preached. I have carefully studied Islam and the life of its Prophet. I have done so both as a student of history and as a critic. And I have come to the conclusion that Mohammad was indeed a great man and a deliverer and benefactor of mankind which was till then writhing under a most agonizing pain. I have always held Islam in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing face of existence which can make it appealing to every age. I have studied him-the wonderful man and in my opinion, far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the saviour of humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness.
I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today. For confirmation of Bernard Shaw‘s remark quoted above, see ‘The Genuine Islam, vol. 1, No. 8, 1936.
Conclusion
These are just some of the facts that make an orphan, unlettered Prophet, Muhammad (SAW), the greatest human being that ever lived on earth. None of the attestations above made any reference to his birth or birthday because they knew that his birth had nothing to do with his achievements. If non-Muslims could go as far as shown above to benefit from the greatness of Prophet Muhammad‘s mission on earth what is expected of Muslims for whom that mission is primarily meant?
Wife of Ekiti State Governor Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji has counselled school girls to be focused on their studies and pursue their dreams with determination for them to achieve greatness in life.
Dr. Oyebanji gave the advice when she marked this year’s International Day of the Girl-Child with the students of Mary Immaculate Grammar School, Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
The governor’s wife urged the girls not to distract themselves with issues like having boyfriends, which, she identified, as a factor that has negative effects on their academic performance and capable of entangling them with unwanted pregnancy.
The governor’s wife urged the students to learn from her experience as a schoolgirl at Baptist Comprehensive High School, Ado-Ekiti, where she was serious with her studies and never distracted herself with premature relationship with any boyfriend.
This, she said, laid the foundation for her success in secondary and tertiary education, culminating in studying up to PhD level and rising to the position of a senior lecturer, who is now producing PhD holders.
Dr. Oyebanji also admonished the girls not to be afraid of speaking up anytime they are going through harassment, intimidation, gender-based violence and inappropriate sexual behaviour from anybody towards them.
She said: “Girls all over the world have the power to change the course of history, break barriers, and inspire change. Their smiles are not only a testament to their innocence but also to their strength and determination! Girls ! You are the architects of change, your dreams and your actions can shape a better world for all.
“As we commemorate this day, let us commit ourselves to ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to smile, dream, and thrive. Let us empower them with education, protect their rights, and create a world where their smiles shine even brighter.”
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, hailed the governor’s wife for always championing the cause of the girl-child, urging the students not to allow any vice and anybody to abort their dreams.
A lawyer, Mrs. Shirley Atane, identified poverty, rape and teenage pregnancy as enemies of progress for schoolgirls, which can block their opportunities and hinder them from attaining greatness.
She added that the future of the girls must be adequately looked after and invested in identifying education and relevant legal frameworks as parts of measures being taken by the Ekiti State government to secure their future.
Commissioner for Education, Dr. Adebimpe Aderiye, said this year’s theme was apt and speaks to the essence of protection of the rights of the girl-child and preparing the girls for leadership roles in the future.
Chairman of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos, Mayor Olufemi Okeowo, has promised that no child would withdraw from the 23 public primary schools within the Ifelodun LCDA area because they could not afford basic school materials.
He made the pledge during the distribution of school materials to pupils.
He said the gesture was another form of palliative designed by “this administration to ensure that we reduce basic burdens from our parents at this critical moment to provide the needs of their children for no fault of theirs.”
The council boss added: “From the survey we carried out and assessment of events around us, some parents could not afford to buy uniforms for their children. Due to the psychological effects this may have on the pupils, this administration is distributing free school materials to our almost 10,000 pupils in all the public primary schools.”
Similarly, a programme named, “Okemoney” was launched where 50 peasant traders received N50,000 each.
Speaking at the event, Okeowo said there were families who could not raise N20,000 to start businesses like selling groundnut nuts, roasted plantain, oranges, fish, roasted corns and other petty trading.
He said the beneficiaries were drawn from all the seven wards that make up Ifelodun LCDA.
According to Okeowo, the idea is to lift 50 people out of poverty every month for the next 24 months.
The occasion was witnessed by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun; a lawmaker, Sahaad Olemoh; and Vice Chairman of the council Mrs. Adetoun Ojora-Adejiyan, among others.
Mrs. Oromoni Rosemary, mother of the late Sylvester Oromoni Jnr., the 12-year-old pupil of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, yesterday expressed disagreement with the authority of the college on the cause of death of her son.
She told a Lagos Coroner, Magistrate Mikail Kadiri, sitting in Ogba that her son, the late Sylvester, told her they beat him in school, contrary to the claims of school officials, who told her that he had injury during a football match.
She insisted that the late Sylvester did not have any prior health challenge before the incident that led to his death.
Rosemary had been summoned to testify before Magistrate Kadiri in the ongoing inquest to unravel the actual cause of his death.
Mrs. Oromoni told Coroner Court that her late son identified three pupils of the college who allegedly bullied him.
She was been led-in-evidence by the family’s counsel, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN).
The bereaved mother, who amid tears, also responded to questions from Magistrate Kadiri, narrated that the late Sylvester said the three pupils switched off the light before they allegedly bullied him.
Rosemary further told court that the deceased returned from school with high temperature, peeled lips and swollen hips.
Under cross examination by Mr. Anthony Kpokpo, counsel for the school, whether her son suffered any infection before the health challenges that led to his death, she replied, ” no.”
She said she could not take the deceased to hospital in the first three days of his return from Lagos to Delta State because the hospital beds were occupied.
She replied in the negative when Kpokpo asked whether she was the figure seen in a video that surfaced on social media showing a woman holding and supporting the deceased to walk.
The witness said she was aware of the video and that it was made in her house, but denied instructing anyone to make it.
She also denied knowing the figure who was recorded offering assistance to her deceased son and denied knowing how many of such videos were made.
Asked by Mr. Nosa Iyamu, one of the counsel for one of the pupils alleged to have bullied the deceased, whether she recorded the videos to send to the school, Dowen College, she said yes, that the videos were made for the school.
She answered in the affirmative when Magistrate Kadiri asked her to confirm if she wrote the police statements contained in the documents he had with him.
The court admitted the documents and statements in evidence, as there were no objections from the lawyers.
Magistrate Kadiri thereafter adjourned the case till November 20, 2023, for the adoption of written addresses from the counsel representing the parties.
City Club of Abuja has carried out philanthropic initiatives at Workman Teachers Academy in Bwari, Abuja.
The social club renovated the school, established a library and gave out scholarships to pupils to ensure they access quality education.
Founded and incorporated in 2018, the club’s principles include promoting philanthropy, welfare, fostering cohesion and growth, and championing brotherhood and health.
Club President, Danjuma Ahmed, Vice President, Oladipupo Fasan, and Secretary, Okoduwa Akhigbe, stressed the club’s resolve to make an impact on society through charity and social engagement.
Omonlumen Innocent, director of Operations at Workman, hailed the Abuja club for its love and humanitarianism.
Innocent noted that the club’s establishment of a well-equipped library, scholarships to 10 pupils represents unprecedented kindness.
“While words may fall short in conveying our appreciation, we offer our prayers that God will continue to elevate and bless members of the club, leading them to even greater heights in life,” he said.
Owing to new economy realities, the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State has announced new school fees for both fresh and returning students of the institution.
This is as police command in Lagos State has deployed its men to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to maintain law and order as students express dissatisfaction with an increase in their school fees.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the deployment on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Also, a statement by the Obafemi Awolowo University Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the decision to increase the institution’s was taken by the university’s Senate at its emergency meeting on Tuesday.
He said: “For those in the Faculties of Arts, Law and Humanities, the ‘freshers’ will pay N151,200 while returning students of the same faculties will pay N89,200.
“For those in the Faculties of Technology and Science, the new students will pay N163, 200 and the returning students of the same faculties are to pay N101,200.”
He added that the new students being admitted into College of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Pharmacy are to pay N190,200 and N128, 200 for returning students.
“We, therefore, wish the students resounding success in their academic programmes. The above adjustable fees are just for an academic session.”
On UNILAG, SP Benjamin Hundeyin said that the policemen were deployed to prevent breakdown of law and order.
“The policemen were only posted to the campus to maintain peace and order.
“They are not meant to restrict movement in and out of the school. People are going in and coming out freely,” he said.
Hundeyin said the students and the school authorities were discussing the increase in fees and working together to ensure that both parties would be satisfied at the end.
On August 8, the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Council (NANS JCC), Lagos State Chapter, suspended its planned protest against increase in UNILAG school fees due to intervention by the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Idowu Owohunwa.
Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has put smiles on the faces of about 400 indigent pupils with the donation of school bags and other materials ahead of their resumption in school next Monday.
Dr. Oyebanji, through her Back to School Programme for Vulnerable Children, said the initiative was aimed at making the kids happy and make their return to school in a week’s time worthwhile.
Speaking while distributing the materials, Dr. Oyebanji said the Education Empowerment Programme was also to relieve guardians and caregivers the burden to be shouldered as the school resumption neared.
Each schoolbag contained a water bottle, a mathematical set, food warmer, six 60 leaves exercise books . Each of the pupils also received transport allowance back to their destinations.
She explained that the gift was an opportunity to make an impact in their lives, give them a sense of belonging, support their education and ensure their smooth resumption back to school was not hampered by poverty.
Dr. Oyebanji explained that the Back to School package for indigent kids was an integral part of her pet project, Widows and Orphans Hope (WAOH), which would be unveiled in October.
She emphasised that the scheme was not government sponsored but was bankrolled by her friends and partners, urging individuals, corporate bodies and interest groups to support her with funds to enable her assist the poorest of the poor.
Dr. Oyebanji said: “This is not a political jamboree, this is not a government sponsored programme. It is with the support of my office, friends, partners. This is an opportunity for people and organizations to support our project so that we can make more impact on the lives of the vulnerable persons among us.
“Every week, I dropped N200,000 I. WAOH’s office to be shared to the needy widows but God has put us here to have impact on their lives. We have to give them live, we have to give them hope and we have to give them platform to assist them and give support to those who have been left on the fringes of the society.”
She said orphans in tertiary institutions and other matured orphans who are not in schools would be accommodated when WAOH comes on stream in October.
Dr. Oyebanji noted that over 30,000 widows in the state had registered for assistance through her WAOH Project, noting that the screening conducted for the intending beneficiaries had helped to identify their needs and how to meet them.
Speaking earlier, Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, lauded her for taking a personal interest in offering hope to the needy, especially widows and orphans.
The deputy governor said the Back to School Programme would boost pupils’ interest in education and give them a sense of pride among colleagues as the session takes off in the state.
She commended Dr. Oyebanji for coming up with the WAOH initiative which she noted would alleviate the suffering encountered by widows.
Schools resumed this week in Lagos State amid the growing concerns of hike in tuition fees, among other charges, following the removal of fuel subsidy. DAMOLA KOLA-DARE, VICTORIA AMADI and VICTORIA ADEWUNMI-ONI report
Both public and private schools in Lagos resumed on Monday, for the 2023/2024 academic session. Unsurprisingly, the turn out was low as many pupils did not resume. To some parents whose wards attend private schools, the resumption came a little too early given the current economic climate of the nation as hike in tuition fees, school bus expenses, among others, would certainly take their toll on them.
Majority of parents who spoke to The Nation are apprehensive about hike in charges and the current hyper inflation occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government. However, they want timely intervention by government and the schools management.
However, Deputy National President National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo urged Parent Teacher Associations (PTA’s) to dialogue with management of schools to agree on how reasonable fees would be charged to ensure fairness to all concerned. The NAPTAN chief also urged government to ensure parents and schools get palliatives to mitigate the effects of the fuel subsidy removal. He said to ensure proper distribution of the palliatives, Community Development Associations (CDA’s) of every area should be assigned the duty.
He said:” The Parent Teacher Associations of all schools should hold meetings with school managements to discuss the situation. For instance, concerning new fare for school buses, both parties should come to agreement on a reasonable amount that would be fair to all parties. At this point, the meeting is crucial with current harsh economic realities in the country. Then, to cushion effects of the subsidy removal, Lagos State Government should ensure that parents and schools get palliatives. This should be done through the various Community Development Associations to ensure transparency and fairness.”
In a chat with The Nation, President, Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Mr. Emmanuel Orji, urged government to consider private schools, especially the low cost ones for palliatives,adding that many were on the verge of closing down.
He said: “Whether you are a private school owner or a public school teacher, we are all citizens of Nigeria. And education is a social enterprise,thus any administration should not discriminate when it comes to the issue Her words: ,”The challenge we parents are facing is that there is no business. And if one is working under government parastatals, there is no increase in salary
“ We can copy the diaspora; for example, in some countries, they don’t pay any school fee at a certain age; the government can give standard education to public schools, then nobody would go to private schools.” She added that infrastructure in public schools should be improved on.
For Mrs. Okafor Irene, things are very tough at the moment.
“ I advise that if it’s something that you can’t cope with, it is better to transfer your child to a lesser school, because some schools are very expensive. If it’s something one cannot do, it is just to transfer the child to another school with good teachers, or get him a private teacher to assist,” she said.
Another parent, Mr. Chiedozie Alumana, said the hike in school fees had affected parents’ purchasing power.
“Parents are not able to provide enough for their wards, because, the school fees are unapologetically increased. The sad reality is that salary can no longer take you home.”
He, however, urged the government to subsidise education in the country as any country that wants to thrive and develop, needs to invest in education.
“Regarding tertiary education, most people go outside the country to study, because of the low quality of education here; lecturers also go out of the country, resulting in brain drain.
“It still boils down on the inability of government to fund education and come up with proactive educational policies that will help to boost education. The government’s future plan must coincide with their educational plan.
If any government has a plan, for example, Vision 2030, they must come up with curriculum that will suit that future plan. So, the government has to sit up.
Education is education; whether public or private. So, government should invest in it,” he added.
A parent, who craved anonymity, said: “At this stage, there’s nothing we can do about it. We just have to go the extra mile, and adapt.”
“Everybody knows the fault is from the government in respect of the increase in the price of commodities, especially petrol. Once petrol price is increased, every other thing skyrocketed. People use that as an avenue to increase the price their products. So, when the price of fuel reduces, every other thing will also reduce.”
A journalist and a parent, Mr. Gboyega Alaka, said his major concern is how to raise the huge school fees, and still meet up with other basic things such as; feeding, transportation, utility bills and house rent. He described the situation as quite overwhelming.
“Especially because, income has not gone up. I said I choose not to worry because I hope on God’s benevolence. Besides, worry will cause another problem,” he said.
Mrs. Chidimma Akajiaku, a teacher in Imo State, noted that parents are living in their worse fear, which is not being able to sufficiently provide for their wards.
“One of the greatest fears of a parent is not being able to take care of the child. It makes such parent feel worthless and unfulfilled,” she said.
NAPPS reacts
National President of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Nigeria (NAPPS), Mr. Yomi Otubela, in a telephone conversation with The Nation noted that the country is facing numerous challenges at a time schools are resuming for another academic session. He highlighted rise in the price of fuel, high exchange rate and rise in prices of different commodities including food, as some of the challenges most parents are facing presently.
He noted that NAPPS has held several sensitisation campaigns, to expose school owners to efficient and effective ways of managing schools in an unfavourable business environment, as schools resume across the country.
Addressing the untold hardship being faced in the country, he added that he has urged its members to charge fees that are not only affordable to their prospects and parents based on the values offered, but sustainable enough to ensure profitability to meet both direct costs and associated costs.
“School owners have been engaging their parents on the need to effect fair adjustments to school charges in the areas where necessary.
“In addition, we have been constantly reminding school owners of the need to concentrate on viable and valuable projects and programmes,” he said.
He added that efforts have been put in place to equip its members to adequately handle these unfavorable situations. He however, implored government to also review the fees that are being paid by private schools to reflect the unfavorable situations that private school owners and Nigerians generally are going through.
Solution
Otubela urged the federal and state government to work hand in hand to review policies that have adverse effects on the welfare of the populace.
“Government policies should be directed toward improving the living conditions of the populace and not inflicting more hardship. We, therefore, implore governments to offer sustainable palliative measures to cushion the effect of these policies. Cash palliatives are not enough and sustainable,” he said.
Speaking on what the government should do to address the situation, a parent, Obieri, said: “First, there should be reduction in the prices of goods and services. The government should also look into the educational system. There are a lot of government schools that children can go to, but most parents don’t send their kids there, because they are not well-equipped. If it’s okay in government schools, people would not go to private schools.”
Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State wing, Mr. Akintoye Hassan, was confident that adjusting school calendar to 10 to 12 weeks, rather than the usual 15 week, would help minimise the harsh economic condition bedeviling the country.
His words: “Lagos State calendar has 15th week to make up a plan. We felt that would be too long especially in this harsh economic situation. How can parents make up when there is no end in sight?
“Palliative is not a solution to problem, but a means to alleviate the problem. We can reduce terms to adjust to the economic challenges’’.
“On Monday, Schools in Lagos State, commenced 2023/2024 academic session. And it was observed that the turnout of pupils was very low. This would tell you the level of hardship in the country.”
