A 33-year-old teacher, Mrs Bukola Odeyemi, has dragged her husband of 16 years to court, for allegedly abusing her.
The petitioner also accused her husband of constantly beating her, stubbornness and lack of care.
“My husband causes me emotional pain; he said so many things that ordinarily a responsible man would not say to his wife. He is adamant to any positive ideas. I am fed up and I do not think I can continue with this marriage,” she said.
In his response, Ademola, denied his wife’s accusations, but begged for reconciliation.
The Court president, Mrs Abiola Omolara, after hearing from both parties, adjourned the case till March 10.
She also ordered both parties to bring two family members each to court on the next adjourned date.
Tag: Teacher
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Teacher seeks divorce over alleged abuse
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A teacher in the mirror
The owl is known to be cryptic but it will come as harmless. That, perhaps, is the summary of this memoir, My Life: Memoirs of a Fulfilled Teacher, which Mrs Omolade Oludare, a retired Tutor-General in Ondo State, has written. Assuredly, there is beauty in innocence, for as long as it is contemplative. Written in simple and courageous prose, the book remains a watershed, leaving individuals with various posers as to why the author chooses so, and so expressions.
It is in about the life of Omolade Ogundaisi, who later in life got married to Dr Patrick Dele Oludare, a surgeon. She looks back with deep contemplation on her early days as a child to the family of the urbane, with the book reaching a crescendo at the period of adulthood, a period when she was in the service of the Ondo State Government.
She retired last year as the Tutor-General for Ondo Senatorial District of Ondo State, crowning her career with a clean bill of health. But as in ‘Homage to Catalonia’, a war-account written by world-acclaimed author, Eric Arthur Blair, popularly known as George Orwell of the Animal Farm fame, My Life, Memoirs of a Fulfilled Teacher, preaches endurance in the face of hardship and sundry frustration. It also talks about focus, of how didactic it is to live under authority with humility.
In this book, there is no hiding place. The author, herein simply referred to as Omolade, has lain bare, the fact that everybody has secrets, many of which some will opt to take to the grave. In this memoir, the author comes short of expressing the features of her nakedness, edifying all with the rare quality of sound home-training that gets expression in a no less rare morality.
To wit, she has not found any reason to hide the fact that she protected her virginity till the marriage era. To find a replica in Nigeria of nowadays, to a large extent, is no more than looking for a virgin among nursing mothers. The author recalls the days of yore as a girl-child and makes no pretension that she is patently paranoid. How about the fact that Dad took his dog, Bingo, to a beer parlour simply because he had a baby boy after having christened two babies that happened to be girls? Omolade was the second baby girl, and so did not have the luxury of putting Dad in the right mood.
Yet, Omolade was loved and cherished by both Dad and Mum, giving her the leverage and composure that prepared her for the challenges ahead in life.
Again, the memoir presents the changing times; how some awkward primordial sentiments have been rendered effete by advancing modernity. In her days at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State) she wanted to change her course from Biology to Dentistry. But her mum, who was also on campus for an advanced diploma course, was averse to it. Mama then told her that ‘how many people suffer from tooth-ache’? Meaning that, Mama did not want her daughter to go for a course that would not fetch her enough money.
The author is, indubitably, not a female chauvinist. She states of how supportive her husband has been, with a preposterous vow that if she has to re-live her life, she will be married again to Dr Patrick Oludare. In the realm of the surreal and to tinker with pun, that is predicated on the possibility of another earthly existence re-match; of nationality and locality recur, and of love and affection re-consummated!
In her career as a teacher, Omolade got to know that politics is everywhere, and the survivor is the one who knows how to play it. Playing the politics of the teaching profession, which is an arm of the civil service, requires tact, discipline and native intelligence. An incorruptible teacher that she is, she was transferred to a school as principal in Oda, a community in Akure Local Government Area of Ondo State, with a bait as red carpet. The entire money contributed by the Parent-Teacher Association was handed over to her for safekeeping. And safely it was kept.
Though Omolade had been a principal in elitist schools, her transfer to the grassroots, which ordinarily would be seen in some parlance as victimisation, became to her, challenges that must be met. In this same Oda, she sought audience with the community’s stakeholders, having observed the dwindling pupil enrolment plaguing the school. In no time, there was transformation.
Apart from that, the author has seen it all, having been posted to first-rate secondary schools as well as the fairly graded ones. Indeed, the story of her experience as a secondary school girl is interesting enough to make the book a compelling reference point for all students.
Omolade is not perfect, and that she has been able to demonstrate with the fact that she was queried in the course of her career. But the query was also well answered with the panache of the obedient, diligent teacher.
No doubt, this memoir is potentially volatile, as some individuals with unendearing acts and who have been exposed will be naturally hurt. But she deserves forgiveness for the decency and plainness of her expressions as the cases may apply.
The author also owes a lot of gratitude to the Christian community, especially her Catholic Church setting, where devoted clerics made much impact in her life’s moral and spiritual upswing. Head or tail, My Life, Memoirs of a Fulfilled Teacher, is a must read. -
Students, Turkish teacher, others kidnapped in Ogun
Three female supervisors, a female cook, a female teacher and three students have been kidnapped by gunmen at the Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) in Ogun State.
They were kidnapped on Friday evening by a group of people armed with dangerous weapons who gained entrance to the girls’ section of the school through different means.
The Spokesman of the school, Cemal Yigit, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said security agencies are currently on the kidnappers’ trail as the whole area has been cordoned off.
” We wish to assure parents and guardians that the students and teacher will return to safety soon as everything possible has been deployed to ensure that our teachers and students return unhurt by God’s grace,” Yigit stated.
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I am still in shock, says first teacher to become Perm Sec in Edo
Before Friday, November 11, Mrs. Obosamwinye Obazee was the Head of Edo State School of the Blind. She was then a level 15 officer. It was the last working day of Adams Oshiomhole as governor and just like other citizens of the state and teachers, Mrs. Obazee prayed for the incoming administration to provide better welfare package for teachers.
Unknown to her, Oshiomhole had already provided a package for her. Mrs. Obazee was about going home after making sure the students have left school when she got a strange call from the Edo Government House congratulating her on her new appointment as a Permanent Secretary.
Her first response was, ‘this is a wrong number’ but the caller impressed on her to come to the Government House immediately for swearing in. She called her husband to accompany her to Government House to ascertain whether the call was genuine and to her surprise, they were ushered into the exco chambers.
Mrs. Obazee was among the four Permanent Secretaries Oshiomhole appointed before leaving office. The announcement of the appointment was a surprise to all the beneficiaries.
Others appointed were the Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Kadiri Bashiru, Mr Anthony Okungbowa of the state Ministry of Justice and Mr. Y. A Imoudu, Chairman, Association of Secondary School Principals.
They were all between level 14 and 15 in the civil service.
Speaking at the swearing-in of the four Permanent Secretaries few hours to the end of his tenure, Oshiomhole said he made the appointments to prove that progress in the civil should not be determined by how many years spent but the quality of time devoted to work.
On the appointment of 46 years old Anthony Okungbowa, the former governor said he worked diligently to ensure the state cases scaled through at the court of law.
According to Oshiomhole, “I felt this young man should be encouraged. In the face of scarce resources, he made sure our cases were prosecuted. I want other young civil servants to emulate you and work hard. I like stubborn people. You were hardworking and loyal.”
To the head teacher, Oshiomhole said he wanted to use her to demonstrate that a classroom teacher is not inferior to others in the state employment.
His words: “I know many of you are shocked by this appointment. It was not based on lobby but to inspire other teachers. I hope your elevation will attract more people to the teaching profession.”
Speaking on behalf of the new Permanent Secretaries, Kadiri said he was preparing to go to mosque for prayers when somebody called to congratulate him.
“We must pay you back by gratitude and hardwork. We are yet to come out of the shock about this appointment.”
At a meeting with the new governor, Godwin Obaseki, Mrs. Obazee said she never dreamt of sitting at a State Executive Meeting.
She said the appointment shocked her husband and that she was yet to believe that the promotion was a reality.
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Adversary as teacher
As one singer once sang, “Your best friend could be your worst enemy; and your worst enemy could be your best friend.” Surely, it sounds strange; but it is perhaps not impossible.
With the noise and noisemaking about the possibility or impossibility of President Muhammadu Buhari getting a second chance, meaning a second term, in 2019, the noisemakers need to be advised to appreciate the sound of silence.
The Buhari administration is just approaching its second anniversary, and has just over two more years to go. There is high tension in the land, as the people groan under a harrowing recession. What is to be done? What is not to be done? These central questions deserve the concentration of the administration; and there should be no question of distraction.
When Alhaji Buba Galadima reportedly declared that Buhari would be abandoned by the people in 2019, it suggested that Buhari would stand for re-election when the time comes. Let’s background the development. Galadima was a member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a party to which Buhari also belonged before things changed. In 2013, the party merged with the Action Congress of Nigeria, the All Nigeria Peoples Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance to form the All Progressives Congress (APC), which achieved a historic electoral victory in 2015 and became the federal ruling party, with Buhari as President.
Perhaps not surprisingly, this history came up when the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, responded to Galadima’s unfavourable utterance. Shehu said in a statement: ”President Muhammadu Buhari is far from isolation. He enjoys a very strategic relationship with ordinary Nigerians. This relationship is as solid as the proverbial rock. If Buba Galadima thinks that because he has no role and no job in this government that means the President is isolated, he is putting himself up to ridicule.”
Interestingly, Shehu made reference to incidents that allegedly happened when Buhari and Galadima belonged to the CPC, which erected a wall between them. He said of Buhari: “Consequently he dispensed with the services, such as they are, of Buba Galadima; ran and won the 2015 elections without them.”
In other words, Galadima’s words are the words of an enemy. That may well be the case, but it doesn’t necessarily reduce the value of the words. Buhari’s adversary could be his teacher; and there may be lessons to learn from the enemy. The useful message is that Buhari should get his act together if he has his eye on re-election in 2019.
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Teacher held for ‘assaulting’ pupil
A school teacher Olamilekan Enilolobo, 20, has been apprehended by the police for allegedly sexual assaulting a pupil.
The suspect said he only put his manhood inside the mouth of his 12-year-old victim.
Paraded by the police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), Enilolobo said he didn’t know what got into him.
He said: “I usually teach the victim and two others after school at Ikotun. When the girl was brought to my place, I said they should buy a notebook for her but her parents didn’t. So, last Wednesday, I gave her an assignment but she didn’t do it. When she came to me on Thursday during school period, I asked if the notebook but she said her mother didn’t give her the money.
“I told her to go to JSS one class and join the other two girls that I would soon be with them. When I was done with my classes, I joined them there and teaching them for the day. My house is not far from the school and my mum had called that I should do the dishes.
“So, I told the girl to follow me that I would buy the notebook for her at a woman’s shop near my house. She followed me down, I bought the book for her and she said she was hungry. In order for her to understand what I would teach, I bought biscuit for her and as I was about to go, the woman said I should bring her bottle which has been with me.
“I told her I would bring it later but she refused and said instead, the girl should follow me to the house so that I would give her the bottle. So, that was how the girl followed me to the house and I took her inside our parlour.
“I put her on the chair and put my manhood in her mouth. It just came over me. I don’t know what happened. I didn’t touch her private part. They have done a test and confirmed I didn’t touch there.
“She didn’t cry and she didn’t complain. But she went home and reported to her parents and they came to the school to complain. I teach them business studies.
“I know that I have committed a crime and I am guilty. Whatever is my punishment, I would face it and hope God would have mercy on me. I have never done something like this before. I don’t have a girlfriend.”
Badmos said the school’s head teacher reported the case and handed the suspect over to the police, adding that he would be charged to court for indecent assault on a teenager.
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Maltina’s Teacher of the Year Thursday
The Maltina Teacher of the Year 2016 will be unveiled on Thursday in Lagos to celebrate and showcase exceptional teachers and the teaching profession.
The race for the Maltina Teacher of the Year 2016 has sparked excitement and expectations from teachers. After a rigorous screening, the pool of state champions are in the final.
The Maltina Teacher of the Year, established to recognise, reward and celebrate exceptional teachers, is an initiative on the platform of Nigerian Breweries – Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. The Fund was established in 1994 by Nigerian Breweries to enable it play active roles in the development of education in Nigeria.
Since then, the Fund has impacted over 20,000 students across the country. It has built and furnished over 280 classrooms, 280 sanitary facilities and libraries in 40 communities. It has granted scholarships to students and tertiary institutions.
According to Kufre Ekanem, Corporate Affairs adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, “the Education Trust Fund expanded its intervention in education in 2015 through the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative. The initiative was hinged on the realisation that teachers seldom get recognition despite their pivotal role in training, coaching and determining the quality of education.”
At the end of collecting, screening and judging of entries, 19 State Champions, two runners-up and a winner, Mrs Rose Nkemdilim Obi, emerged.
Each State Champion will get N500,000, the 2nd and 1st runners-up will receive additional N750, 000 and N1, 000,000.
The Maltina Teacher of the Year 2016 will get additional N1,000,000 instantly plus N1,000,000 every year for five years, a development training abroad and a block of six classrooms built at her school.
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Vice Principal, teacher, four pupils kidnapped in Lagos
It all seemed like an action movie.
A group of gunmen stormed a Lagos school, shot in the air to cause commotion and abducted the vice principal, a teacher and four pupils.
The Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe, was in a sombre mood yesterday after the kidnapping, which occurred around 8.am.
The school, which is about three decades old, is located at the swampy area of the riverine town.
Those kidnapped are: Vice Principal A.O Oyesola, English teacher Lukman Oyerinde and four pupils identified as Abu, Emmanuel Okonkwo, Jeremiah Ruth and Isaac Adebisi.
All the pupils are in JSS One. They are freshers.
The English teacher is the late Olaitan Oyerinde’s brother. Oyerinde was Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s aide, who was murdered in Benin City.
The gunmen, including one believed to be a woman, barged into the Junior School Assembly Hall while the children were praying. Two of them were said to be hooded.
They came in three speed boats, entering into the premises from the gate of the boys’ hostel shortly after the senior students had vacated their assembly hall.
Some students told our reporter that five of the six men had guns and one held a cutlass.
A student who recounted how it all happened said they scampered for safety as the gunmen ordered them to lie down.
He said: “It was around 8am. They came here, shooting in the air. They entered through the hole under the gate by the boys’ hostel. They were wearing different clothes. One wore blue and red clothes, another tied something on his head and two of them covered their faces.
“They just entered and said, ‘everyone lie down’. We started running. Many of us ran into the bush. People were just running in different directions. Then, they took some students away and some were following them.”
Apprehensive parents attempted to take away their wards. They were however stopped by the management and Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule, who assured them that security had been strengthened.
The State Government immediately deployed security personnel in the school. A search party both on air and on land was immediately launched to track down the kidnappers.
Scores of policemen led by Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, soldiers and local vigilantes joined the rescue battle.
A man, Oluwafemi Adebisi whose 10-year-old son was among those kidnapped said: “A family friend called this morning and told me that there was an incident at my son’s school. I just brought Isaac to school on Tuesday. He is in JSS1 and has only spent two nights in the school. He complained the day we were coming that this area is bushy and lonely.
“But I never knew anything like this would happen. My wife and I left immediately for the school and when we got here and we did not see my son, we met the Vice Principal and he said Isaac was around during the assembly but that after the invasion, he didn’t answer his name during the roll call.
“They looked around and didn’t see him. Some people said they saw the gunmen carrying three children and that others were following them. No one said they saw Isaac; he has not been found.
“I know my God is able. I leave everything to him and want him to take control.”
Another parent, Titus Adeeko, who was yet to see his 11-year-old daughter, Oluwatimileyin, said her guardian assured him she was safe.
Adeeko said so many parents wept after they were denied access to their children.
The deputy governor described the incident as “unfortunate”, adding that such had never been experienced since the establishment of the school 29 years ago.
“Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has directed the police, the Navy and other security agencies to rescue the children within the shortest possible time.
“This is an incursion and we shall fix it and deal with it appropriately. We are not happy about this incident. It is a great challenge to us as a government but this is why we are serving at this time. We want to implore the parents planning to take their children away to not panic. We have met with the affected patents and school management.”
Adebule was accompanied by top government functionaries. She pleaded with parents and families of the victims to cooperate with the government and security agencies in ensuring prompt rescue of the victims.
Deputy governor told a crowd of parents: “It is true that in the last 29 years that this school was established, we have never experienced such a thing like this, but now that it has happened and it is confronting us, we must come together to find a lasting solution to it. We, as government, parents, the school and security agencies, must remain
united to solve this problem.
“I know you are angry, I know you are worried and I know you are agitated, but we must look for solution. But I plead for the understanding of parents in this matter. I know how traumatic it could be, I know how emotional the issue we are discussing could be, but the best we can do is to handle it with care and with utmost wisdom that God can give us.
“It is God who secures; it is God who protects and even in other climes where you have everything, you still have this type of incursion once in a while, but what we should be talking about is how we can collectively solve this problem,” the Deputy Governor said.
She added that all security agencies, including the Police, Air Force, Navy, the Army and others had been fully mobilised to ensure the rescue of the victims.
Speaking to reporters at the premises, Owoseni confirmed that four children, a teacher and Principal were taken away.
He said the abductors kidnapped six children but two were found by policemen.
The police boss said helicopters had been deployed to survey the surrounding bushes, adding that detectives were combing the forests.
He said: “The suspects escaped through the Ogbere river. We have contacted the Ogun State Police Command; the Marine Unit of the force as well as naval personnel have circled the river. Two of the students have since been rescued by our men. We will soon rescue the other victims.”
The Oyerindes confirmed that Lukman was among those abducted, pleading with the kidnappers to release the victims unhurt.
“Yes, he was among those kidnapped. We do not have details yet but we are begging the kidnappers to release them. No contact has been made,” said a family source.
Senator Gbenga Ashafa, who represents Lagos East, in whose constituency the incident occurred, in a statement, urged the people “in my constituency in the Epe division to remain security conscious and to note that our communal security is our collective responsibility.”
He added that “everybody in the vicinity must cooperate with security agencies by reporting all suspicious persons and movements.”
He assured the people that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would “stop at nothing to ensure the safe return of the victims of this heinous crime”
The House of Representatives urged Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris and the Police to ensure the prompt release of the principal and the students.
The lawmakers condemned “in its entirety the callous and grossly inhuman action of the abductors under whatever guise as it is against the tenet of seeking qualitative education.”
Hon. Olawale Raji (representing Épe Federal Constituency, Lagos), moving a “Motion of national Importance on urgent need to seek the release of adducted principal and students of Lagos State Model College in Igbonla, Epe, Lagos State”, told his colleagues.
“This unfortunate incident is a setback to the expansion of access to education and determination of parents to ensure their wards get basic education. Members passed the motion without debate.
It is the second time this year that pupils are being kidnapped from their school by gunmen. On February 29, three pupils of Babington Macaulay Junior School, Ikorodu were abducted. They were rescued on March 6.
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Retired teacher dead
A retired teacher and prayer warrior, Mrs. Bernice Adenike Fatade, is dead.
She was 80.
Mrs Fatade died at 6 p.m on October 2 at the Detomi Specialist Hospital in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
A statement by her son, Olukayode, said his late mother built the lives of many personalities in the town and its environs.
The late Mrs Fatade was a devoted Christian and prayer warrior.
Olukayode added that burial arrangement would be announced later.
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God forbid I end up as a teacher!
SIR: You either say this often or hear people say the above every now and then. You’ll like to know what prompted this. I had a talk with one of my students at the end of a class recently and the beautiful young lady said to me, ‘I wanted to study Medicine but I was offered Chemistry. It’s manageable anyway but what I ain’t cool with is the education.’
I laughed and remembered that when I chose to study English Education back in Lagos State University, LASU, only about 10 of us in a class of 30 willingly chose the course. In fact, education students are seen as second class students; the same way teachers are seen either as second class workers or poor people. I even recalled how some parents I knew kept their children at home for a year more because they didn’t want them to study education.
What’s the truth of the situation?
First, like I enlightened the young lady, let me also make it public that education is just a double honour. It is nothing but an advantage. A graduate of Chemistry Education can do most of the things, if not all the things that a graduate of Chemistry can do. But, a graduate of Chemistry is not a teacher and must take a Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) to become a teacher. Again, those days in LASU, when the English major students would refer to the Education students as second class students, I can remember I stood up in one class and asked them (the English major students): What job awaits a graduate of English? Of course they were quick to mention the many things they can do but the truth is there is no specific work that awaits them. A graduate of ENGLISH EDUCATION, CHEMISTRY EDUCATION, BIOLOGY EDUCATION and other educational courses is a QUALIFIED AND CERTIFIED TEACHER. And the next big question: Why should anyone want to be a teacher?
Now, permit me to argue subjectively here. Teaching is the first job that will never cease to be available. Decrease in juvenile delinquency, crime rates and other things might play down the role of lawyers in any society. You can say this of many other disciplines. But of course a society that stops the services of teachers is on the ruin. Again, there is no profession as dignifying on earth as being a teacher. Guess the fulfilment of any of those who taught Ambode. He doesn’t need to give them a kobo; it’s just fulfilling sitting in the corner of your room and saying to yourself I taught that number one citizen of Lagos State.
Let’s get religious now. I don’t know what Christianity says on this. But in Islam, there is only one job you will continue to be blessed for even when you are dead: TEACHING. Every time people use the knowledge they gained from you positively, it gets to you as a blessing in heaven. I shouldn’t forget to add this. At least four of those who taught of me and other education students as second class students back then in LASU have called to know how they could go about a PGDE since teaching is the most guaranteed occupation.
Any day, anytime, anywhere: TEACHING IS A NOBLE PROFESSION!
- Bamgbose Ganiu,
University of Ibadan.