By Gami Tadanyigbe

Students of the University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, FCT, on Monday staged a protest on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Expressway and main entrance to the campus against alleged hike in tuition fee and other issues.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the  students were also seen carrying placards with different inscriptions kicking against alleged closure of the portal meant for the payment of school fees and others.

Oladeja Olawale, the Student Union Government (SUG) President, who led the protest told NAN that major demands of the students included reopening and extension of school fees portal to the end of the session.

Others, according to him include scraping of late registration fee, review and reduction in school fees ahead of next session and postponement of first semester examination from Feb. 8 to March 8.

Olawale said the expressway would be closed with the protest continuing till all their demands were met by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na-Alllah.

Reacting, the Public Relations officer of the University, Habib Yakoob, said the management would sit with the students union to address their demands.

NAN reports that the protest led to a serious gridlock on the expressway with motorists and other road users spending hours before reaching their destinations. (NAN)

By Ariwodola Idowu
The State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in Ekiti and the Universal Learning Solutions (ULS), are partnering to train 2,625 primary school teachers on specialist phonics literacy teaching practices for primary school teachers.

The initiative, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports, is being held in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission.

NAN also reports that the training being organised under the Teachers Professional Development Programme would last two weeks.

Mr Gary Foxcroft, the Chief Executive Officer of ULS, a not-for-profit organisation, who spoke on the sidelines of the programme, described the Jolly Phonics Literacy Project in Ekiti as a specialised training programme for teachers of pupils in elementary classes.

He said the exercise, which began on Jan. 25, would cover all the three senatorial districts of the state.

” This training is planned to equip teachers with the expertise and tools required to enable them to transform Primary 1, 2 & 3 pupils in government schools across the state,” he said.

According to him, Jolly Phonics is an interactive teaching tool that uses the synthetic phonics literacy teaching methodology.

He explained that synthetic phonics methodology had been recommended and mandated by many governments around the world because of its immese capacity to provide children with the skills needed to read and write.

” The Ekiti State Jolly Phonics is a fantastic opportunity for all children in Ekiti State to benefit from the opportunity to learn to read and write.

” The project will therefore help increase equity and equal opportunities for all children in Ekiti State,” he said.

He commended UBEC for its continued support in the adoption of Jolly Phonics in government schools across Nigeria.

“UBEC has really recognised the tremendous impact that Jolly Phonics has been having on literacy levels in Nigeria’s government schools and has taken it on as one of its flagship programmes.

” This has helped us to initiate new projects across the country. Jolly Phonics is now being taught in all 36 states and FCT.

” This is truly amazing and will help to improve the reading and writing abilities of millions of children in the years ahead,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Patrick Uzu, Nigeria Country Director at ULS, commended the exceptional support and partnership offered by Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board.

“We are delighted to be partnering with SUBEB in Ekiti to train, resource and mentor its teachers in Jolly Phonics.

” This project gives the children of Ekiti State a brighter future.

” Our sincere appreciation goes to the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Prof. Femi Akinwumi, and his team who have helped in overseeing the training very professionally,” he said.

The Project Manager of ULS in Ekiti, Adeoye Adeyemi, urged participants to replicate the knowledge gained during the training in their various schools.

He also advised the participants to ensure that the knowledge acquired had the desired impact on the pupils through systematic and demonstrable teaching methods.

By Emmanuel Afonne

No fewer than 700 teachers employed by the Ekiti State Government for its public primary schools across the state have been given special training.

The training facilitated by a private organisation, NSF Developments Limited, is aimed at meeting the State Government’s vision to increase learning outcomes within the basic education sector.

A statement signed by the NSF’s Head of Communication, Mr Kelvin Nwachukwu, and issued to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, said that the training was designed to help the recruits  settle into the school system.

Nwachukwu said it would also help them to perform as professionals with the right knowledge, skills and attitude to ease learning.

The three-day training which commenced on Monday was also organised in collaboration with the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

Declaring open the training, the Executive Chairman, Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Femi Akinwumi, admonished the newly employed teachers to pay close attention to the lessons being taught by the trainers.

Akinwumi, who was in the company of the Permanent Secretary, SUBEB, Mr Oluwadare Ajayi, and other members of staff of Ekiti SUBEB, urged the trainees to be passionate about their work.

He encouraged the teachers to focus on character-building of students and bring about a change in the social attitude towards the promotion of quality education for all.

COVID-19 protocols were observed as the trainees were grouped and trained simultaneously in four separate centres.

At the opening day of the induction training, the new teachers were introduced to the “Teacher Professional Standards” of the Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), to enable them conduct themselves as professionals. (NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved an increase in the retirement age of teachers across the country from 60 to 65 years or 40 years in service as against 35.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu revealed this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the Council meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to him, the new retirement age for teachers is now 65 years or 40 years of service.

He said the Federal Executive Council also approved that bill to be known as ‘Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill 2020’ be sent to the National Assembly to give legal backing to the approval.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prior to this development, the retirement age of teachers in the country was 60 years or 35 years in service.

The minister said government decided to increase the years as a reward for teachers’ dedication to duty and also to attract more people to the profession.

He said: “This memo that was approved for the Ministry of Education is a giant step towards what we set out to do last year, with the approval of some special packages for teachers by the President.

“So, at the meeting today, Council approved that a bill which will be called harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill 2020 be sent to the National Assembly for enactment into law so that all the promises made by the president and all the approvals he had given to me will now begin to be put into effect because this is the legal backing that is required for it.

“The essence of the bill actually is to give legal backing for the approval of a new retirement age of 65 for teachers and then the service period being extended to 40 years.

“The intention is to attract the best brains to the teaching profession and for that, the president approved the reintroduction of bursary awards, improving teacher quality, funding teaching practice from TETFUND, enhanced entry point for teachers.”

Adamu announced that the president also approved that there should be some special allowances, like rural posting allowance and science teachers’ allowance to boost teacher education in the country.

Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, who also spoke on the outcome of the meeting, said the Council approved N1.4 billion for the upgrading of electricity facilities at the Calabar Free Trade Zone Area.

He said: “On behalf of one of our parastatals, the Nigeria Exports Processing Zones Authority, we brought a memo for the award of contract for the upgrade of the electricity component in the Calabar Free Trade Zone Area.

“The contracts were initially awarded in 2018 to upgrade the electrical facility in the Area but it was not completed so we brought a memo today and council approved the sum of N1,000,484, 000 for the completion of electrical upgrading at the Calabar Free Trade Zone Area.”

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, also disclosed that the Council ratified Nigeria’s membership of the global treaty on the Genetic Resource for Food and Agriculture.

According to him, this will enhance the capacity of agricultural scientists and agricultural production in the country.

He said: “This memo which was approved today was a treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

“The import of this treaty is for the advancement and enhancement of the agricultural resource base of the member countries.

“Nigeria has signed the treaty for a long time but it is only today that the FEC approved the ratification.

“We will now become a full-fledged member of this treaty and it will enhance training and research of our agricultural scientists and so on and so forth.

“In short, the entire treaty is meant to boost agricultural production in the country as it affects other countries, 167 of them.” (NAN)

By Naomi Sharang

The management of Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola, Adamawa, says it plans to transform the institution into a conventional university in line with its new status.

Vice Chancellor, MAUTECH, Prof. Abdullahi Tukur said this while paying a courtesy visit on President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Jan. 6, signed the amendment Act of the university converting it from technology oriented institution to a conventional university.

“Our visit to the President of the Senate along with Sen. Aishatu Dahiru is to thank the National Assembly for the all encompassing legislation made on the university and assented to by Buhari.

“With the new status, machineries are being put in place to make the university very universal like other conventional ones as against the specialised status it started with.

“Technological courses will still be run in the university but other equally important ones in the area of management , social and medical sciences will also be added in living up to the new status with attendant multiplier effects in so many ways for the university, Adamawa and Nigeria as a country,” he said.

In his remarks, Lawan thanked them for the visit and promised sustained efforts towards uplifting education in Nigeria.

“I will take this opportunity to commend the President for assenting to the bill. This is what we call cooperative governance. We work with the executive to ensure that Nigerian people benefit from democracy.

“We have set our eyes on our target of making Nigeria better and making Nigerians safer. What matters to us is what we are able to achieve at the end of the day.

“History will judge us very very fairly, and without sounding immodest, I’ll like to take this opportunity to congratulate the 9th National Assembly,” he said. (NAN)

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The University of Ilorin on Tuesday announced the reopening of hostels on campus, following the resumption of academic activities.

Prof. Lanre Ajibade, the Dean, Student Affairs Unit of the university, announced the reopening of the hostels in a statement in Ilorin.

Ajibade stated that further to phased reopening of the university for physical activities, hostels have been reopened to students on campus.

He explained that the hostels would be opened on Jan. 24, for those having outstanding examinations and Jan. 31, for final year and postgraduate students.

“Students, in this category, in the first phase of reopening will only be allowed into the hostels after providing required details in the online form; http://bit.ly/unilorin-hostel-capturing.

“Students are expected to come with minimum of five re-usable face masks and, avoid crowded environment under any disguise.

“It should be noted that no visitor will be permitted in the hostel while common rooms remain locked,” he said.

Ajibade also stated that “students who have symptoms of any ailment are advised to please stay off the campus and make necessary report through their Faculty Sub Dean to the Student Affairs Unit”.

He added that this was to act responsibly for the safety of all.

By Philip Yatai
The Kaduna State University (KASU) is to reopen on Jan. 25 for the 2019/2020 second semester academic session, while Ahmadu Bello University, Federal College of Education, Zaria and Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic disclosed plans for resumptions.

KASU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Muhammad Tanko, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Yohanna Tella, made this known in Kaduna during a stakeholder’s meeting on the reopening of schools.

The meeting was organised by the Kaduna State Ministry of Education and attended by heads of tertiary institutions in the state, private school owners, parents and government officials.

He said that the university proposed a six-week lecture if allowed to open on Jan. 25.

He added that virtual lectures for large classes of more than 50 students would be conducted for students in the lower levels and physical lectures for small classes of 50 students for those in higher levels.

“We have also planned practical classes in batches of fewer than 25 students for smaller classes and 45 for larger classes. The examinations for 100 level and 200 level students will be computer-based,” he said.

The vice chancellor said that the Student Affairs Division Protocols Enforcement Task force would ensure the fumigation and general sanitation of the hostel’s environment.

He said that arrangements had been made for regular waste disposal, availability of disinfectants at toilet facilities, constant water supply, availability of hand sanitiser and face masks.

“We will also train and sensitise our staff and students on COVID-19 safety awareness and the need for social distancing. We equally planned to develop and implement hygiene protocols for food and service vendors on campus and employ more cleaners in the hostels for regular toilet cleaning,” Tanko added.

On clinical services, the vice chancellor said that the university would provide adequate basic and essential medications, particularly isolation centre and screening services for suspected cases.

Prof. Muhammad Fatihu, Dean Student Affairs, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said that the university would resume in phases to prevent overcrowding in the campus.

Fatihu said that university, with more than 43,000 undergraduate and 11,000 postgraduate students could not afford to ask all the students to resume at the same time without putting them at risk.

“We have decided to phase the resumption for the continuation of the First Semester 2019/2020 academic session by dividing the semesters into two.

“Half of the students will resume and conclude the semester before the second batch resume, while the first batch are at home.

“This we believe will help curb the spread of the virus, while all COVID-19 protocols will be strictly adhered to. We will consider normal school hours when normalcy is restored,” he said.

Also, Dr Jibril Lawal, Registrar, Federal College of Education Zaria, said that the college would use radio to deliver lectures to its students as part of strategies to decongest the school.

Lawal said that the physical lectures would be staggered, explaining that while some students would listen to lectures via radio, others would be attending lectures in classes in controlled numbers.

“This will be rotated among the students from different levels until each level has four weeks of extensive lectures and continuous assessment.

“We will, thereafter, create a period for each level to write the first semester examination for the 2019/2020 academic session. This is what we will continue to do until the situation improves,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kaduna Polytechnic, Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, College of Education Gidan Waya and other tertiary institutions in the state also considered resumption in phases.

Authorities in India’s capital New Delhi, on Monday reopened schools for the first time since March 2019, officials said.

The schools have been reopened only for classes 10 and 12.

However, the school administrations have been asked to strictly follow the COVID-19 protocols in the campuses and classrooms.

According to officials, the decision has been taken in view of the board examinations to be conducted this year.

“Students of class 10th and 12th have been allowed to attend class work in schools so that they are able to complete their practices, project work and counseling requirements.

“This followed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examinations that will be conducted between May 4 and June 10,” an official said.

The government has reiterated that physical attendance is not compulsory and students would attend schools only with the consent of their parents.

On Monday, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and education minister Manish Sisodia extended his wishes to the students on the opening of schools.

“It feels good to see the children back in schools. The children are also happy.

“Life is coming back on track. Schools have been re-opened in a restricted manner with all protocols,” Sisodia told media.

Schools and colleges across the country have been taking online classes since last March when the government ordered a countrywide lockdown to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Though the lockdown has been relaxed, however, schools are yet to reopen fully. (Xinhua/NAN)

By George Odok
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi has urged youths to fight unemployment with entrepreneurial and vocational skills.

Prof. Obi gave the charge on Friday in Calabar when the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Cross River Chapter Executive, led by its Chairman, Comrade Daniel Obo paid her a courtesy call in Calabar.

The VC said her administration would strengthen the Entrepreneurial and Vocational Centres in the University in order to provide the needed training for the youths.

According to her, Nigeria has been faced with unemployment challenge, hence the need to equip the youth with skills that can get them jobs beyond their paper qualifications.

“When these centres are up and running, we are going to train a good number of youths from the institution’s host communities and also give them a token to start their businesses.

“At all times, we must focus our energy on building the youths because they are a strong force. I have so much respect for the young ones because no one can ever predict what they will become tomorrow,” she said.

She decried the destruction of properties in the University by hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSars protest in Calabar on Oct. 24, 2020, adding that the destruction had compromised the growth in the institution.

The VC told the NYCN delegation that she is working on a programme with a view to have a session with young girls in order to mentor and build their capacity.

She granted approval to the request made by Chairman of the Council, that youth should be considered for employment and for her to also pick one of them as her Special Assistant on Youth Affairs.

Speaking earlier, Obo said that the visit was to congratulate the VC on her appointment as the first female VC of the institution, 45 years after its creation.

Obo commended the VC for the appointments she has made so far, adding that she has been very balanced in selecting her management team.

He described the VC as a mother and a disciplinarian who has mentored her students to greatness in the past 30 years of her service in the institution.

“The news of your emergence as the first female VC of Unical was widely celebrated because you merited the position; as a mother, we are so proud of you.

“You have become a role model to the younger generation. I want to assure you that the 2.8 million youths in Cross River are solidly behind you,” he said.