The Nation Newspaper

Tag: secondary

  • Energy expert renovates, equips dilapidated Navy secondary school

    Energy expert renovates, equips dilapidated Navy secondary school

    A Leading energy servicing company in Nigeria, Kenyon International West Africa Limited (KIWAL) has rehabilitated and equipped sections of Navy Secondary School, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    The Chief Executive Officer, KIWAL, Dr Victor Ekpenyong, said the gesture was part of the organisation’s policies of supporting education in the society.

    A statement yesterday by the firm’s Public Relations/Corporate Communications Coordinator,  Ms Jennifer Chioma Amadi, quoted Ekpenyong, also the Founder of Victor-Helen Foundation, as carrying out the philanthropic activities through the VHF.

    Ekpenyong noted that the renovation was a display of his commitment to education and to impact communities in his state of operations and across the country.

    The Kenyon’s boss was said to have sponsored the transformative initiative at NSS, Borokiri, that saw the renovation and equipment of the administrative block of the institution

    The unveiling ceremony of the facility was witnessed by the Chairman of the school’s Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Hon. Ahmed Olufemi, the school’s Commandant, Captain I. A. Gambo, students, educationists, among others.

    Ekpenyong noted that he had a vision of educational support which included secondary and tertiary scholarships to indigent students.

    He said that the ceremony, which marked a significant milestone, showcasing the Foundation’s dedication to leaving a lasting positive imprint on the society, had become a culture in VHF.

    The highpoint of the event was the farewell ceremony for Captain I. A. Gambo, who worked to see the fruition of the project.

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    Ekpenyong noted that Gambo’s commitment and passion resonated with everyone present, emphasising the impact of dedicated individuals on community development.

    The statement read in part: “The Victor-Helen Foundation continues to push boundaries, actively seeking opportunities to make a meaningful impact in society.

    “Dr. Ekpenyong’s leadership reflects the collective dedication to contributing positively to the communities. This is marking a transformative chapter in the school’s journey towards educational excellence.”

    In his brief remarks, the outgoing Commandant of Navy Secondary School, Bokiri, Captain I. A. Gambo, under whose leadership the college achieved the milestone, applauded the Vixtoe-Helen Foundation for the gesture.

    He stated that the philanthropic gesture came at a time the school was in dire need as the facility was dilapidated and needed urgent rehabilitation.

  • World Bank to lift 50 primary, secondary healthcare centres

    More than  50 Primary and Secondary Healthcare Centres in two local governments of Bauchi State are to benefits from World Bank Nigerian States Health Investment Project (NSHIP).

    Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency spokesperson, Suleiman Alhassan Damban said yesterday that the 50 health facilities are selected  of 170 in Bauchi and Katagum Local Governments based on the new mappings.

    According to him, this followed a unanimous decision taken by stakeholders in the health sector at a Validation Meeting held at Azare, the Katagum Local Government, adding tha”the selection of the health facilities was based on merit”.

    Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health,Dr.Saidu Aliyu Gita, represented by Director, Planning and Statistics Dr. Dayyabu Mohammad Hassan warned managers of the facilities,”do not joke with the opportunity given to you,you must treat these items very tenderly”.

    He added that “you must also ensure the success of this program as we are all stakeholders.Th NSHIP programme to the two local governments would encourage health facilities in other  councils to stand on their feet so as to be included in the project”.

    Earlier, NSHIP Project Coordinator, Dr. Adamu Muhammad said the aim of the meeting was to present the data mapped for validation and to ascertain the mapping of the health facilities it was conducted objectively”.

  • Secondary schools still remain closed in Nasarawa

    PUBLIC secondary schools in Nasarawa State have remained shut in spite of the embattled Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Abdullahi Adeka, announcing the suspension of workers’ strike on May 26. By Friday, both teachers and students had not returned to classes, a check by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in some schools revealed.

    Some of schools NAN visited were Government Secondary School, Laminga, Nasarawa Local Government Area, and Government Secondary School, Uke in Karu Local Government Area. Others are Government College, Keffi in Keffi Local Government Area and Government Secondary School Akwanga in Akwanga Local Government Area. The situation in the schools, however, contrasts with what obtains in some sectors of the public service, such as health, judiciary, which were still functional.

    The labour union had called out the workers on an indefinite strike on May 12 over the payment of their salary arrears, payment of their full salaries, among other entitlements. On May 26, Adeka, who was removed as the Chairman of the union, announced the suspension of the strike and said the government had begun meeting the demands of the workers. But on May 27, Mr Bala Umar, who replaced him, urged workers not to resume work, insisting that the government had yet to meet their demands.

  • Why we established secondary schools, by Police

    Why we established secondary schools, by Police

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Idris Ibrahim, has explained why the Nigeria Police Force(NPF) established Police Secondary and Children Schools nationwide.

    He said the initiative formed part of the welfare package for serving and retired police officers to give qualitative education to their children, as well as the public.

    Idris, represented by the Force Education Officer (FEO), Rabiu Ladodo, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), spoke at the inauguration of the new boys’hostel at the Police Secondary School, Ita-Ogbolu, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    According to him, the schools were founded not to deny the public schools their rights, but to let the public know the ability of police authorities in providing quality education.

    The new hostel was named after the IGP.

    Ladodo said there were 10 police secondary schools and 86 police children schools across the country, adding that because of agitations by some state governments and other relevant stakeholders, five additional police secondary schools had been approved for Bayelsa, Gombe, Abia and two other states.

    Already, Ondo, Niger, Cross River, Oyo, Kano, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Katsina, Rivers and Zamfara states, have secondary schools.

    He explained that the schools were not meant for police family members alone, as civilians are also beneficiaries.

    The FEO described Police Secondary School in Akure as one of the best in the country, because of its high academic standard.

    He urged the public to embrace police the more, addding that its welfare package is being extended to the civilians through the schools.

    In addition, Ibrahim approved a new bus to ease mobility of the students and staff of the school,  promising to assist the school with  resources.

    The Commandant of the School, Police Superintendent (SP)Peter Augustine hailed the IGP for facilitating the construction of the hostel, adding that it would reduce accommodation problem in the institution.

    He, however, pleaded for the completion of new girls’ hostel still under construction, provision of library, more classrooms as well as 200KVA generator, among others.

  • Foundation to build secondary school in Delta community

    The management of Felix Anirah Foundation has pledged to build a secondary school at Ugbakele village in Mosogar community of Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    It said this would fulfil its quest to make education accessible to the residents, irrespective of social status.

    Addressing reporters at the weekend on the project site, a former chairman of Sapele Local Government Area and the foundation’s President Felix Uruemuesiri Anirah said the foundation emphasised helping the needy and ensuring their happiness.

    The former council chief said the first phase of the project – a block of six classrooms with a staff quarters – would be ready by in April while the other phase would be ready by in December.

    On the need for children to get quality education at all levels, the activist emphasised the need to have a good learning environment.

    Anirah said residents of Ugbakele had suffered long enough, hence the foundation’s resolve to help them.

    He thanked God for giving him the grace, love and providence to help the needy.

    The activist said the foundation would any resident, irrespective of his or her background, to uplift them.

    Residents of Ugbakele received members of the foundation during the inspection of the proposed site for the school.

    They expressed joy that the area would get a secondary school where their children would get good education.

    On behalf of the community, Chief Friday Anuya, Chief Johnson Tobi, Mr. Emmanuel Orogumoku and Mr. Benson Ewhariemu expressed gratitude to the foundation.

    They pledged to ensure that the project’s success.

    The foundation’s Coordinator Tony Uba said the school was among the projects the foundation would complete in the New Year.

    Dignitaries in Uba’s entourage included Chief Thomas Akpodiete, Ogheneovo Dumi, Anderson Opefu, Prince Osioh, Chris Anthony and Amos Tadaferua.

  • Lagos plans to upgrade 21 secondary schools’ libraries

    Lagos plans to upgrade 21 secondary schools’ libraries

    •State digital library takes off

    Plans have been concluded to upgrade 21 secondary school libraries in the six educational districts in Lagos State with the take-off of the state digital library project.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, who said this in a statement yesterday, added that the libraries would be upgraded this year.

    According to him, the government’s private-public-partnership initiative tagged: “Adopt-A-Library”, was geared towards transforming the public libraries into modern and ICT-enhanced knowledge centres.

    He said the Ipaja Public Library has been upgraded and the Ilupeju Public Library was upgraded by Custodian & Allied.

    Bank-Olemoh added that the Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba is under renovation by Guaranty Trust Bank.

    He said the libraries and ICT centres at Ireti and Falomo Secondary Schools were upgraded by ARM Pensions. Citibank also upgraded the library facility at Government Senior Secondary School, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    He added that PricewaterhouseCoopers and Leadway Assurance have committed to adopting school libraries in Victoria Island and Surulere.

    Speaking on the digital library, Bank-Olemoh said the project was in line with the vision of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    According to him, it was aimed at providing unlimited access to knowledge for all through the collection and curation of digital content through an online portal.

    The portal, he added, would be accessible via an internet connection on a range of devices, including desktop computers to feature phones.

    He said the content would include, among others, E-books on numerous topics, 1,600 videos covering English, mathematics & sciences for all classes, 2,000 study aids in key subject areas for secondary school subjects, quality research papers from Lagos State tertiary institutions covering a wide variety of topics to be digitised for the platform, vocational training videos, creatively presented history lessons as well as online course on coding.

    The  said the first phase of the digital library would be launched in January 2017, adding that on completion of this phase, the digital library will feature Study Aids, Tutorials, Instructional Videos and selected e-books for Primary to SS3 approved texts, Brief History of Lagos State and an Online Forum.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor said the digital library is principally designated to benefit all Lagosians, just as he said that the platform would be accessible from around the country and around the world.

    He added: “It would also be designed to ensure optimal user experience for the designated community, which includes producers of content, publishers of approved school textbooks

    “Lagos State Library Board content providers, external content providers, external providers could include individuals who want to self-publish, providers of study materials who provide their resources for a fee and other third parties.

    “One of the key mandates of his excellency is that we solve problems and create value. In creating the digital library, we are committed to ensuring that we are not just setting up “another online portal”, but providing a solution…”

  • Army officer takes drug abuse campaign to secondary Schools

    An officer of the United States Army, Captain Sunday Adebomi, has an essay competition to help secondary school pupils in Ekiti State fight drug abuse.

    Adebomi, who hails from Ise-Ekiti, headquarters of Ise/Orun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was concerned that many youths are hooked on drugs.

    He bankrolled the initiative in conjunction with Youth Saving Lifestyle Creation Initiative (YSLCI), a non-governmental organisation, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to create awareness on the evils of drug abuse.

    Forty one pupils from various schools were short listed after undergoing series of tests in their schools to participate in the final competition.

    All 41 wrote an essay titled: “Drug Abuse, Cultism and Youth Violence in Secondary Schools in Nigeria” in the presence of the audience at the Sheikh Ibiyemi Hall of Olaoluwa Muslim Grammar School, Ado -Ekiti.

    The essays were graded and results were announced immediately, producing three female winners. Deborah Ekunloluwa of Comprehensive High School, Ado-Ekiti, came first with 80.5 percent; Kolawole Kehinde of Ijaloke High School, Emure-Ekiti came second with 77.5 percent and Fabunmi from Okemesi High School, Okemesi-Ekiti came third with 77 percent.

    The three winners would represent Ekiti in the southwest zonal competition.

    Adebomi, while giving out prizes to the three winners, congratulated them for their outstanding performance.

    He gave the first 10 students in the essay competition certificates and notebooks for participation while the top three winners got laptops.

    He promised to pay the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fee of the overall winner.

    Ekiti State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Sulaiman Jadi, hailed Adebomi for the gesture which he said would go a long way in discouraging drug abuse among pupils.

    The programme was chaired by the Onikun of Ikun-Ekiti in Moba Local Government Area of the state, Oba David Olatunde.

  • Foundation backs quality secondary education

    New Nigeria Foundation (NNF), a non-governmental organisation that promotes sustainable community development initiatives through public private partnerships, has called on government to enhance the quality of secondary education in Nigeria.

    Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Prof Obafemi Ajibola, made this known at the celebration of NNF’s 15th anniversary in Lagos.

    He explained that NNF since its inception has continued to work hard to justify the vision of its founders by implementing social sector development activities that reduce poverty, generate wealth, create jobs, enhance economic growth and improve healthcare and general well-being of Nigerians through the facilitation of partnerships between public and private sector organisations.

    Ajibola said the management of NNF focused on education as a key area of concern in the celebration of its anniversary partly because of observable steady decline in the performance of students in national examinations in the last 10 years.

    “We must find a solution to this problem and we must prepare our young people in such a way that they will be able to deliver the Nigeria of our dreams,” he said.

    As part of NNF’s contribution to enhancing secondary school education, the Foundation hosted a symposium with the theme “Making secondary school education relevant for the 21st Century student.”

    The event featured a keynote address by renowned educationist, Prof Abiola Lanre Awosika and a panel of discussants that comprised leading lights in education management, notably Prof Francis Adesina; Dr Muyiwa Bamgbose; Mrs Folasade Adefisayo and Ms Igho Pearl Ugbogbor. The symposium was moderated by Dr Tunji Abimbola.

    The panel discussed the role of critical stakeholders in making secondary school education effective; integrating technology in the secondary education sector – barriers, opportunities and strategies; the place of private sector investment in advancing secondary school education towards achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) and mainstreaming entrepreneurial training in secondary education.

    In her keynote address titled: ‘Teachers and technology as critical resources for teaching and learning in secondary school in the 21st Century,’ Awosika spoke on the need to close the gap between the way students live and the way they learn so that they can be better engaged.

    “As a nation, we have to quickly embrace the integration of technology into our learning systems to enhance quality, excellence and productivity. It may take some time for teachers and institutions to be equipped with what is needed to learn in the 21st century but once they are, the impact will be dramatic,” she said.

  • Total counsels secondary school pupils on careers

    About a hundred pupils from some public and private secondary schools on Lagos Island left the 3rd Deep Water Open Day Forum organised by Total E&P Nigeria Limited (TEPNG), Deep Water District last Saturday better educated about oil and gas operations, career opportunities, and success tips.

    The programme, which held at Total Tower Staff Canteen, Victoria Island, Lagos, featured various presentations by workers of the company and officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Education and an interactive session that gave the participants an opportunity to ask questions.

    In his speech, the Deputy Managing Director, Lagos District, Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria (TUCN), Mr Musa Ahmadu-Kida, said the programmes was designed to provide the young ones with useful information that can guide their career choices.

    “As part of our company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy to our society and its citizens, the Open Day is designed to be an annual youth development programme organised by the company both in Deep Water and Joint Venture Districts. The objective is to afford students opportunity to plan their future careers by exposing them to industry activities and professionals, said Ahmadu-Kida, who was represented by Mr Olalere Babalola. Executive General Manager, Authorities and Regulatory Agencies.

    On her part, the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adegbule, represented by the Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Mrs Ronke Soyombo, praised the company for organising the programme, which she described as laudable.

    She counseled the pupils to be attentive and learn from the programme.

    The motivational talk by Mr Louis Ogbeifun, The Manager Tax, was the icing on the cake of a fulfiling day learning about Total’s operations.

    Speaking on the topic, “The Dreams of today are the Realities of Tomorrow”, Ogbeifun encouraged the pupils not to give up on their dreams because they lack the capacity, qualifications or funds but make efforts to address whatever is deficient in their lives.

    He also counseled them to nurture their talents so they could stand out in the crowd.

    “Identify your X-factor – the extra factor you have that gives you an edge.  You must create something in yourself that sets you apart. When I got to military school, I was so slim compared to others. But I decided to find my x-factor. I found I could do well in marathons because I was slim. I was the best marathon runner. I would run and look back and for the last 2km nobody would cross. There was no rival. Find your X-Factor; it will make you in life,” he said.

    Other presentations included: human resources (by Patrick Ucho; CSR (by Mrs Igazuema Okoroba); Field Operations (Mrs Oghenero Ozobeme); Health! Safety and Environment (John Oyelakin) and overview of TEPNG by Mr Babalola.

    Speaking on the benefits of attending the programme, Popoola Basit, an SS1 pupil of Ebute Elefun Senior High School, Sura, Lagos Island, said his experience at the programme would make him more courageous to follow his own goals.

  • First coaching course ends for secondary pupils in Efon

    he first ever holiday coaching programme for Junior and senior Secondary schools pupils in Efon Local Government Area of Ekiti state has ended in Efon Alaaye.

    The course, which covered such core subjects as English Language, Mathematics, Civic Education, Arts and the Sciences was sponsored by Chief Afolabi Akanni, a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly representing Efon Constituency.

    The course was organised to keep the pupils busy during the holidays and steer them away from mischief and wasteful propensities. It was concluded with assessment tests for the participants.

    At the closing ceremony in Efon during the week, Akanni presented the best three pupils in the tests in the Junior and Senior Secondary School categories with mobile phones, Mathematical sets, dictionaries and cash gifts.

    Akanni, who chairs the House Committee on Works and Transport, also announced that he would payment for the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) application forms for the first three in the SS3 class.

    Akanni said he organised the classes as his contribution to the Ayo Fayose administration’s efforts to deliver quality education to children in Ekiti State.

    Present at the ceremony were the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Pastor Wole Oluwawole; the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Jide Egunjobi; Chairman,  Efon Local Government Caretaker Committee, Hon. Peter Daramola; the Alaaye, Oba Aladejare; Quarter Heads, Chiefs and other prominent personalities.