The Nation Newspaper

Tag: school

  • Idowu: NASCOM will revive school sports

    Idowu: NASCOM will revive school sports

    Why did you accept to chair the board of NASCOM?

    First for me sport is a passion. Second, I consider this not just an appointment but a national assignment to help reposition Nigerian sports. When the Sports Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi called me and unveiled his vision for the sector, I was moved by his passion for grassroots sports development and it was easy to connect with his new thinking and direction for sports in Nigeria. So I accepted to chair the Board of NASCOM, even though it meant more tedious work for me, considering my very tight schedule as a director of a National Bank and other associated business. I am also a member of the Governing Council for Bank directors where i am the secretary and I am a member of the National Industrial Policy committee. I am also a director of the Lagos Junior League. So it was not an easy decision.

    As the chairman of NASCOM what are your objectives and vision?

    My vision as the Chairman of NASCOM is to create an irreversible framework for grassroots sports development in Nigeria by increasing the participation of young people in all manner of sporting activities.

    My objective is to work consistently and tirelessly with all the stake holders to ensure that more young people start to enjoy sporting activities just like we all did when we were much younger. We would like to create a sporting revolution that starts from the school play ground.

    The NASCOM constituency is made up of school age children either in formal education or non formal education. We are not responsible for people above school age. This is the responsibility of the sporting federations under the National Sports Commision. The Honorable Minister has a “Playground to Podium” Vision which he intends to achieve by reforming the NASCOM, the Sporting federations and the National Sports commission. Nigerian Football Federation is just one of the many sports federations in Nigeria.

    Our strategy is simple. If we have a 1% chance of finding talented children in a normal distribution of children playing sports. Then it makes good sense to actively seek to increase the number of children playing sports if you want to increase your talent pool. To increase the number of children we will need something attractive and exciting to make them want to participate in sports.

    When we have a bigger talent pool, we should have enough exciting activities to keep them interested in sports for a longer period so that they can graduate to elite sports through a discovery program with the national sporting federations.

    Elite sports is not just talent, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication from all parties concerned. Parents, family and the larger community should also be motivated to support talented children so that they can have the required support structure in order to achieve success. my sister who is also an Olympian says “ Talent is cheap, dedication and commitment is rare”.

    Longer term if we follow this approach, we will start seeing the fruits of success. It will not be an instant success.

    How do you intend to achieve these vision cum objectives?

    We will work closely with individual schools, the Nigeria School Sports Federation, the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission to realize our vision and objective. NASCOM needs to act the role of facilitator and supporter. We will not attempt to re-invent the wheel; rather we will complement already existing efforts by these bodies. For avoidance of doubt NASCOM will NOT be organizing any events at the grassroots level rather we will initiate ideas, brands and uniform products which will be easily recognizable for all stake holders to support and identify .

    You need to note that NASCOM will not duplicate existing efforts but to support, refine and repackage what is already on ground and galvanizing private sector support for grassroots sports. However, we will continue to encourage all stakeholders at the grassroots to embrace the kind of creativity and innovation that is youth-friendly and attractive to the private sector. If we can achieve these, our core objectives would have been far accomplished.

    The Dearth of competitions caused by lack of fund has been a major factor in school sports and how do you intend to ensure that series of tournaments are staged in order to engage the youths throughout the year?

    many countries with fantastic infrastructure and many competitions have never won as much as Nigeria. People win competitions not infrastructure. To win competitions you need to train well and practice hard. You do not need money to train, you need dedication and commitment on all sides. We intend to encourage all the Zonal Co ordinators of the National Sports commission, Principals of schools through the various organisations like the national school sports federation and other similar bodies to increase the participation of children in school sports. We will also make all the government sporting infrastructure available to schools and children free of charge during the week and for syndicated interhouse sports days for children of school age. School children should not compete with Owambe parties and religious festivals at Stadiums and sports grounds.

    Zonal Co ordinators will be encouraged to visit schools and invite local schools and local children to make use of their facilities. They will try to co ordinate sporting activities for schools at the inter school level and also provide technical support for the sporting activities of children. For example they may choose to ask a few schools to hold their inter house sports at the same venue on the same day.

    It will be easier to attract technical support and financial support for such local and regional events. It could even be an area wide competition of the best/ gifted athletes in the area. The Zonal Co ordinators will hold training clinics once a week for specific sports and it will be free for school children.

    This type of approach will require less funding because the events will be funded by the schools, parents and other stake holders. Surely it is easier for 300 parents to seek sponsors for an event than one zonal co ordinator who will probably be expected to approach the same sponsors for another similar event at the same venue on multiple occasions.

    We have designed a national campaign that will throw our country into a sporting frenzy within the next few months. The aim of the campaign is to help expand opportunities for youth participation in sports. The Federal Government will launch the campaign in the first quarter of 2013.

    Hopefully when we have many children participating in sports, we will have a larger talent pool within a short period. Then the next step will be talent discovery and enhancement.

    The National Sports Commission has instituted the National Youth U-17 Games, which will be organized by Ministry of Sports. This will be the only NASCOM event. The Games will serve as a platform to enhance school age participation and increase our national potential for talent discovery.

    How do you intend to run NASCOM in terms of funding?

    NASCOM has not received any money from government thus far. However, we hope that we will receive something to help the project. At the moment I am funding the project with the support of the minister and other like minded board members. NASCOM is empowered to seek for funds by itself and going forward we have created products that we believe can begin to attract the kind of private sector funding that we need. But note that private sector money is not charity. Corporate sponsorship must also bring value to the sponsor and private sector funding will only come when we have unique sponsorship friendly “products” to offer. So, in addition to what the National Sports Commission is able to provide as support, we are confident that we will be able to raise the kind of funds that we need and not just in terms of cash but also merchandise, a lot of which we need for our programmes and sporting activities.

     

  • Osun shuts school over pupils’ clash

    The Technical College in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, has been shut, following last Friday’s violent clash between pupils of the school and those of Fakunle Comprehensive High School.

    Deputy Governor Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, who is also the Commissioner for Education, warned pupils of the school to stay off the premises. She said any pupil found on the premises would be handed over to law enforcement agents.

    The deputy governor directed the headteacher to report at the Ministry of Education with details of the events that led to the crisis.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Burnt school gets N10m

    Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State has given an initial cheque of N10 million to the Guardian Angel Nursery and Primary School, Abatete, Nnewi to commence the rebuilding of its two-storey building razed by fire earlier this month.

    Obi presented the cheque when he visited the school with some top government officials.

    He said the gesture was in fulfillment of his promise during an earlier visit to assess the level of destruction wrecked by the inferno.

    Obi said the government would support the school to complete the structure and reinstated the determination of his administration to continue to assist schools irrespective of ownership status.

    The governor appealed to privileged individuals and groups to contribute in actualising the project.

    The Headmistress of the school, Reverend Sister Maria Goretti Ngwuagu, who expressed gratitude to the Governor for his kind gesture, noted that his prompt intervention brought a lot of relief to the school. Reverend Sister Ngwuagu said the Governor has remained responsive to the needs and yearnings of the people, assuring that they will continue to support his administration with prayers.

    Also speaking, Reverend Father Ignatius Okeke of Most Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, Abatete said the Governor’s intervention had consoled them and praised the high level of success recorded in the church’s partnership with government in promoting the education and health sectors.

     

  • School seeks sport location from govt

    Chairman 2013 sport committee of Pampers Private School, Surulere Mr Akinbola Akinlade, has called on the Lagos State government to assist the school in securing an ideal location to carry out sporting activities at affordable charges.

    He said this at the 2013 annual Inter-House sport competition of the school held at the University of Lagos (Unilag) Sports Centre.

    He said: “It is not easy securing a venue for an activity like this. We cannot afford the price given to us by the national stadium or the Teslim Balogun Stadium; that is why we are using Unilag stadium and the place is not of standard.

    “The Unilag sport ground is not the same as the one we used to know in those days, a lot of things have been taken for granted here.”

    He described the sport meet as ‘coincidental and inspiring’, coming the day (Monday 18) after Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) cup.

    At the end of the inter-house sports competition, red house emerged first with 10 gold, nine silver and eight bronze; green house emerged second with 10 gold, eight silver and five bronze while yellow house emerged third.

     

  • New day at medical school

    New day at medical school

    After about eight years, medical students of the Benue State University (BSU) College of Health Sciences began their first professional exams last week. MSONTER ANZAA (200-Level Medicine) writes.

     

    After years of accreditation battle, the College of Health Sciences of the Benue State University (BSU) has started conducting professional exams for medical students. Three sets of 400-Level students wrote their exams last week; another wrote the exams penultimate week.

    The 400-Level students, who wrote their exam last week, were divided into A, B and C groups. The first two groups were merged to take their second professional exam. The other was writing its first professional in the college.

    Following the accreditation crisis in the college, five sets of classes were promoted to 400 Level. But none could write the professional exams because the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and National Universities Commission (NUC) could not certify the facilities of the medical college.

    The first two sets, which were promoted to 400-Level, finished their syllabus early but remained at that level without any academic activity for, at least, a year. When MDCN endorsed the medical courses last November, students were called to write their exam.

    Since the certification of medical courses, life in the college has taken a new turn. In the part, students would play music loud in their hostels and watch movies from daybreak till evening. The patronage at the campus snooker board was at its peak because they did not attend classes for a year. All these changed the moment accreditation was secured. The atmosphere has become serious as students now burn the midnight oil.

    The exam is the second professional assessment taking place in the history of the college. It is considered significant to everyone, especially the pioneer students, who have overstayed in the medical school. There is a feeling of ecstasy, which suggests that the exam is important not only to the students but the entire college community.

    This is evident in the comments, which students have been making on the institution’s Facebook page.

    One such message came from the Speaker of the Benue State University Medical Students Association (BESUMSA), Andrew Iorkyaan, a 400-Level student. He posted: “Today, a bus that has broken down on the road side is about to continue its journey. Today, we shall begin to reap tangible academic fruits from our struggles. History shall be made in the college as the first ever pathology and pharmacology final exams begin; I predict a profound success for the pioneer class.”

    The Financial Secretary of the association, who is also a 400-Level student, Joseph Agogo, prayed for the pioneer students’ success. “May God of inexhaustible blessing unleash His unquantifiable blessings on all the pioneer students; may He, in fulfillment of His word in John14:26, make you all to remember all you have read,” he wrote.

    As it is done in the college during exams, the Christian Medical and Dental Association – Students (CMDAS) raised a cooking committee to prepared food for the students to erase their worries over what to eat during the period.

    The exams, which will last for two weeks, will enable the student to proceed to 500-Level for the first time since the inception of the College 10 years ago.

  • Turkish language class: Yobo goes to school

    Turkish language class: Yobo goes to school

    For fear violating an obligatory term in his contract with Fenerbahce, Super Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo on Thursday began attending Turkish classes at his club’s Can Bartu Facility.

    The Nigerian, who started learning the basics of Turkish with tutorial aids, is expected to spend a total of 100 hours with the club’s language tutors.

    Yobo, and seven of his non-Turkish mates, after the Turkish course programme, is expected to be self-sufficient in communicating with Fenerbahce’s technical staff and teammates on a daily basis during training.

    Manager Aykut Kocaman recently complained about a lack of understanding and team cohesion due to the communication barrier.

    Kocaman was recently quoted as saying, “Hiring translators for our foreign players make their lives easier in the short-term, however, it ends up preventing their adaptation to the club and country.

    “Nobody is above the club; neither the players nor myself.”

    Kocaman believes that if all the members of his squad can understand footballing terms and basic commands in Turkish it will benefit the team as a whole and help foreign players settle in.

  • School seeks funding at reception

    School seeks funding at reception

    Newly-admitted pupils of Holy Ghost College Sankera, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State were treated to a reception by the founder and principal of the college, Rev.Fr. Kuha Indyer, last Saturday.

    The reception for the new pupils of the school named after Holy Ghost fathers and brothers, also called spiritans, was to thank God, ask for his blessing on the new pupils as well as allow parents and guardians interact with teachers and pupils.

    A mass was anchored by Rev.Fr. Richard Awange, with Fathers Kenneth Koughna and Idyer as co-celebrants.

    The pupils, dressed in their white tee-shirts, knickers with sandals to match, promised to be obedient.

    In his welcome speech, Father Indyer traced the history of the college, which he said started in September 2006, with one four-classroom block, that also served as a dormitory.

    He said the college is the child of a project Spiritans In Integral Development named after Holy Ghost fathers from Europe and American who came to plant the Catholic faith in Nigeria. It is run by Holy Ghost fathers and brothers of the Northeast province.

    With 30 pioneer pupils, Father Indyer said the school enrolment stands at 250. He said from one block of four classrooms, the school now has a sick bay manned by a competent nurse, science laboratory library, staff quarters, school hall, generator room which is in a dilapidated state and therefore needs replacement.

    He said the greatest problem facing the school was electricity as the school was being run on diesel.

    He appealed for support from the public to help the college hook on to a natioinal powere grid less than a kilometre away.

    When The Nation visited the college the pupils were constructing an 800-siting capacity hall through direct labour

  • Strike suspension: Lagos teachers, pupils fail to report in schools

    Strike suspension: Lagos teachers, pupils fail to report in schools

    Teachers in public primary and secondary schools in Lagos State on Wednesday failed to report for duties, despite the suspension of their two-day old strike.

    Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria, who went round the metropolis, report that virtually all the schools did not open for business.

    The state NUT Chairman, Mr. Samson Idowu, had on Tuesday night announced the suspension of the strike at the end of the union’s meeting with Governor Babatunde Fashola in Ikeja.

    At Iponri Estate Junior and Senior High Schools, students failed to show up as the gate was locked.

    The security man at the gate told NAN that the news of the suspended strike was received at 9.00 am on Wednesday.

    “I just heard the news of the resumption this morning and since I was not sure, I asked some students who came to go back,” he said.

    The situation was the same at Cleg Junior and Senior High Schools and Gbaja Boys Senior High School in Surulere as some boys were seen playing football.

    Two teachers, who were returning home, said they were disappointed with the short strike called by the NUT.

    However, at Adebola Baptist Senior High School, Surulere, Ijegun Junior and Senior High Schools and Community Primary School, Ilupeju, some teachers reported for duty without the pupils in attendance.

    Teachers also reported for work at St. Paul Catholic Nursery and Primary School, St. Peter Catholic Nursery and Primary School and United African Methodist Church Nursery and Primary School, all in Ebute Meta.

    The Headmistress of St. Paul Catholic Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Abioye Ayanbajo told NAN that the teachers’ turnout was impressive.

    “We are ready to work, but the students had refused to show up.

    “I heard this morning that the strike had been suspended till further notice. My teachers and I are ready to work. We expect that the pupils will resume fully by Monday,’’ she said.

     

  • Hustle, bustle of shopping for school items

    With a new academic session fast approaching, it is time to shop for school items.

    Buying such items at the beginning of a new academic session can be challenging for parents, particularly the busy ones.

    In a world where many children are struggling with academic overload and growing demands on their time, parents are expected to provide them with the materials to ease their learning.

    Parents can make the best use of this weekend to shop for their children’s’ needs.

    This is the period parents flood shops selling school items to buy things their children need for the new session.

    For prudent management of the funds available, parents should make a list of everything their wards need and work through it; they should tick off items as they buy them.

    Divide your list into two; one part for those items you need to purchase once in a session —schoolbags, scissors, textbooks, cardigan, shoes, uniform and others. The second part should have items that will be replenished during the school year, like notebooks, stationeries and other consumables.

    The list will also ensure you don’t buy more than you need or spend more then you have.

    It is proper for school supplies to be bought before resumption. It saves stress and money. Being ready when it counts matters.Avoid last-minute trips to the stores.

    Endeavour to shop with your children. It is interesting, fun and less stress for you. You are sure to get more comfortable items for them, because they will be opportuned to pick what they want and what suits them most.

    Like everything else, school items have fashion trends. Don’t let your child end up disappointed if all the latest designs are sold out before you get to the market.

    The Nation Shopping spoke to some parents while they were shopping at the Idumota Market, Lagos, during the week.

    Mrs Theresa Omokaro, a housewife, said “I am now doing the last set of shopping for items like stationery and shoes. It was easy getting all items since the prices are still reasonable. I have four children who go to school; I have been able to get uniforms for them. The only problem I have is the branded items such as Hannah Montana lunch box which my children like; it is more expensive. Aside that, I have got everything else.”

    Mrs Latifat Usman , also a housewife, said “I have three children in secondary school and I’m finding it very difficult because of the prices and I am a single parent. Since 2005, I have been taking care of my children on my own since I do not receive any help from their father. So, I have to walk so that I can find prices which will suit my pocket; I have to do lots of walking to find the right places to buy from too. Time is catching up with me since this is the last week of shopping so I have to try to get some bargains on the items I still have to buy for my children.”

    Mrs Elizabeth Otoide, another housewife, said: “I find this shopping harassing because I have to do much searching. However, I have managed to buy the majority of items needed for school. Now, all that is left are the smaller items which I am buying right now. The prices are reasonable, so, it makes it easier to pick up the necessary stuff for my two kids. I will finish my last minute shopping today,” she said.

    Don’t leave it too late to start shopping for essential items for a new term, particularly shoes and uniform. You might end up not getting your choice and the child’s size. Buy items that enhance the school year for students.

    Some school supplies are necessary year after year, no matter what class a child is in. When planning for a new school year, it is safe to invest in Colored pencils, Eraser, Graph paper, Hand sanitizer, Organizer/planner, Pocket dictionary, Public Library card, Scissors for boarding students, Markers, Paper clips, Pens/pencils, Pencil sharpener, Spiral notebook, Tissues, razor blade, etc.

    However, extra supplies will be necessary. Requirements differ from school to school and class to class.

     

    Shopping for school bags and lunch boxes

    When it is time to start a new school year, most kids want a new school bag and lunch box. Therefore, when shopping for a school bag, look for sustainable materials, like leather, wool,or cotton.

    Stainless steel water bottles

    Stainless steel water bottles keep your children free from plastic toxins. They also last a longer time, so these bottles can be used for more than one year. Kid Konserve stores situated in Lagos Island makes some great sustainable lunch kit, with complete recycled organic cotton napkins, cotton lunch bags, stainless steel food containers and drink bottles.

     

    Note books, pens and pencils

    You can purchase these items in bulk, which helps keep the cost down. Pencils and pens either come in wood or plastics. They are of different colours and designs. Each pack cost less than N500

     

    Uniform

    When purchasing school uniform, look for good cotton fabrics, they last longer. The manufacturing of clothing has become a chemical based process, so avoid these harmful chemicals by purchasing natural fabrics.

    Art supplies

    Crayons are one of the school supply staples for young children. Unfortunately, traditional crayons are used mostly in schools today, probably because they are cheaper. The penciled crayon are better but more expensive, they are also higher in quality. They produce a smoother and richer colour when used. When looking for earth friendly markers and highlighters, search for brands that are made of plastic. The Red apple school supply is a store where you can find a variety of earth-friendly art supplies also situated in Lagos Island.