NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Education

Okonjo-Iweala urges increased investment in girls, women education

242 total views today

By Ikenna Osuoha

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Friday urged increased investment in the education sector to ensure quality of education to school age children, particularly girls.

Okonjo-Iweala said this in Abuja on Friday at a summit with the theme: “Girl Child Now: Nurturing Our women-Nigeria’s own wealth “.

She described investment in the education of the girl child as a ‘smart investment’, saying that it fosters inclusion of women in economics.

Mr Gordon Brown, UN Envoy, Global Education, said the summit reinforced the importance of education for the girl child.

Brown affirmed his support for a social contract between Nigeria and girls to enable them thrive and not just to survive.

Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organisation (WHO), said that investing in women and girls education would enhance societal prosperity and equality.

Ghebreyesus expressed optimism that education for girls and women would go a long way in reducing early marriage and other forms of Gender Based Violence.

Mrs Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs, reiterated the commitment of the Buhari-led administration to improving the welfare of women and girls through education.

Tallen, who described the girl child as a representation of the continuation of the cycle of live, said education for a girl child was education for the society.

She therefore called for mass enrolment of women and girls in schools to create a sustainable economic future for them.

Ms Ulla Mueller, Country Representative, UN Population Fund (UNFPA), called for a continued conversation between parents and relevant stakeholders to promote girl and women education.

Mueller said that education was important to successful and prosperous society especially for women and girls.

Dr Adeleke Mamora, Minister of Science and Technology, expressed the need to support girls and women to achieve their potentials to the fullest.

Mamora urged the dismantling of societal prejudices that tend to subjugate the girl child impeding her access to education.

“The societal monsters that subject women to cultural and mental subjugation must be confronted.

“Government’s social contract forbids discrimination in many ways,” he said.

The minister said there was a strong chord between health, education and wealth which women and girls must be provided access to.

He explained that the mission of his ministry was to move the Nigerian economy from resource based to knowledge based.

Dr Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, expressed the commitment of the Federal Government to adequate funding for safety of schools in Nigeria.

Ahmed said that they had included in the National planning for Agencies and Ministries to be gender focused.

According to her, the government is working with the private sector to create fiscal incentives to promote girl child education.

Dr Ayoade Alakija, Founder Emergency Coordinated Centre (ECC), WHO Special Envoy, urged women and girls to always be bold and courageous.

Alakija said that such boldness would only be possible with foundational education as support.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit is organised by Emergency Coordinated Centre (ECC), to address the plight of women and girls in the area of educational marginalisation. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Uche Anunne

Education

Foundation offers scholarship to undergraduates in Niger Delta

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By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Ojah Scholarship Foundation has opened its portal for application into its annual scholarship programme for indigent undergraduates in the Niger Delta region.

The foundation’s Secretary, Mrs Bisi Olabode-Foghi, who made the disclosure in a statement, on Friday in Abuja, said that the portal would remain open till April 30.

Olabode-Foghi added that the applicants must be students with interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics areas.

She said: “The applicants must have gained admission for the current year (2023 -2024) to a Nigerian public university (state or federal) or is already in year onevor year two in a Nigerian public university.,”

While advising interested applicants to log on to https://www.ojascholarships.org/ for registration, Olabode-Foghi said non-Niger Delta students with extraordinary performance in academics could also apply.

The secretary, who doubles as a trustee said that the organisation was a non profit one providing access to higher education for remarkable, yet indigent students from the region.

She said: “Our interest is to contribute towards closing the present gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) in this region.

“We also want to set in motion a strategic advancement that will see Niger Delta become a giant in the STEM field in the near future.”

Olabode-Foghi added that the vision to launch such an initiative has been a slow-cooking plan, saying: “we have always helped people get education.

“We also yearn to see a real change, systemic and lasting improvements/projects that breed better life and growth for our people at home.

“So, merging these two aspirations together was the next best thing for us.

“The idea is not to only grant scholarships and set them on their way, we are keen to providing necessary mentoring, career opportunities and support for as long as it is needed.

“We are looking to help shape this younger generation into renowned professionals.

“We want these people to be advantageously placed so that they are also be able to give back much more and altogether build the Niger Delta,”she added.(NAN) (www.nannewd.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Education

Education stakeholders list consequences of children skipping classes

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By Jacinta Nwachukwu

Some stakeholders in education sector have urged parents to allow their children pass through all the academic stages as stipulated in the education policies instead of skipping classes.

They expressed this concern on Monday, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

They said students who skipped classes were most times slaves to their emotions, being not mature for the challenges ahead.

According to them, education is the bedrock of development and for any meaningful development to take place a person has to pass through some stages of development both physically, mentally and psychologically.

Mr Pius Godwin, the Principal of Kings’ Kids International School, Gwagwalada, frowned at the rate JSS 2 and SS2 students enroll for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE).

“We are in an era, where students are in a rush to graduate from school as soon as possible without putting into considerations, first their mental and academic development,” he said.

He said that parents were part of the problems, adding that parents of such student always come up with excuses that favour them not minding the consequences on their children.

According to him, when a child is pushed above his or her class, such student may not be able to stand academically to defend the certificate.

“He or she may not be able to solve problems that involve intellect in the place of work and may not be able to make meaningful contributions in policies that concern education.

“Also, such an individual may not be able to teach others; he or she will be unemployable in any institution whether government or private sector.

“Equally, he or she may not be able to replicate who they are in any sector they found themselves not minding the implications,” he said.

The principal further said that psychologically, such students might exhibit arrogance and rudeness when they failed to carry out an assignment perfectly after graduation.

He said that the most annoying aspect was that this might extend to even their next generations.

He, therefore, encouraged parents to allow their wards pass through all the academic stages as stipulated in the education policies.

Similarly, Mr Haruna Idachaba, a father of three said that some parents took pride on their wards or children’s capability above their mates; hence they encouraged them to skip classes.

Idachaba noted that allowing a child to skip his or her class might cause more harm than good for that child in future.

He said that for the sake of academic development of that child parents should allow their children to go through all the academic processes.

Also, Dr Olatunji Jekayinfa said schools might allow students to sit for external examinations such as BECE and SSCE in JSS2 and SSS2 to assess the readiness of the students and their level of preparedness ahead final year.

Jekayinfa, who is a Research Fellow at the National Mathematical Centre, said students who happened to come brilliantly well at the penultimate year should be made to stay back to write again at the final year.

According to him, this is because students at the penultimate year most times, although academically sound may not be emotionally and physically mature.

“And, ready for the next level of their education if they are allowed to skip the final year class.

He said that in spite of the child’s academic brilliance such student tend to be easily influenced negatively by their older colleagues.

According to him, due to their tenderness and age disparity among their colleagues, such a student is more vulnerable to vices associated with adolescence.

“The school system ultimately should produce rounded graduates who are sound academically and are morally and emotionally matured.

“This may be a far cry if students are allowed to skip vital and important classes just because they are successful in their external examinations at the penultimate class.

“The disadvantages are too enormous to waive aside,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ben Ezuwu/Isaac Aregbesola

Education

Foundation sensitises varsity students on peaceful coexistence

103 total views today
Students
By Favour Ukabiala/Funmilayo Adeyemi
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)’s National Research Foundation for the 2020 Grant Cycle is  sensitising the students of the University of Abuja, on peaceful coexistence.
The Convener and Co-Principal Investigator, University of Abuja, Prof. Rafatu Abdulhamid at the workshop and launch of Faith for Peace and National Integration in Abuja on Tuesday, said students remained key in  enshrining peace in the country.
Abdulhamid said that ignorance among people of different religions was capable of breeding violence if not checked.
She said that many people were ignorant of the beliefs of other parties, and if this was not checked could spur tension leading to violence in the country.
“University of Abuja happens to be one of the  universities that is representing the north central zone and this is why we are having the workshop with the students to promote peaceful coexistence among them.
” We want to make the students peace ambassadors wherever they find themselves, whether in Nigeria or any part of the world.
” And then tell them wherever they have other religions like the Muslims or Christians, they should learn to live together harmoniously.
” One of the major problems that causes religious conflict is ignorance, many Muslims do not know about the Christian religion and vice versa, so we want to engage with the students to make them peace ambassadors,” she said.
The don stressed the need to erase some of the misconceptions about some religious beliefs in the society, saying that these misconceptions were actually fuelling violence in the country.
” You will discover that there are lots of misconceptions between these two religions- Islam and Christianity.
“For example, somebody ask me if it was true that in Islamic religion, when you kill a non-Muslim you will be giving six virgins in the heaven. I told her that I have never heard of such in the religion.
” So, you can see that if the orientation of such a person is not changed, he or she could be used as an instrument of spreading wrong belief capable of endangering the lives of others,” she said.
Also, a Professor of Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Prof. Ibrahim Uthman highlighted abuse of public space for religious preaching and ignorance on the part of religious practitioners as factors that drove religious conflicts in the country.
Uthman said that failure on the part of government to punish perpetrators and lack of mutual respect for one another had been seen to have resulted in continuous crises, “and such should be checked”.
” We see our religion as supreme religion and this is one of the factors responsible for the crises in our society.
” We should recognise the fact that both religion are from the same source and  misinterpretation of religious text could arouse conflicts.
” Therefore, the fact that we are propagating our faith should not push us to dishonesty,” he said.
Uthman charged religious leaders and their followers to always be confined within their boundaries and avoid taking every space as an avenue for crisis. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
==========
Edited by Grace Yussuf
Education

Foundation sensitises undergraduates on peaceful coexistence

96 total views today
Participants at the event on Tuesday 
By Favour Ukabiala/Funmilayo Adeyemi
 The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)’s National Research Foundation for the 2020 Grant Cycle is  sensitising the students of the University of Abuja, on peaceful coexistence.
The Convener and Co-Principal Investigator, University of Abuja, Prof. Rafatu Abdulhamid at the workshop and launch of Faith for Peace and National Integration in Abuja on Tuesday, said students remained key in  enshrining peace in the country.
Abdulhamid said that ignorance among people of different religions was capable of breeding violence if not checked.
She said that many people were ignorant of the beliefs of other parties, and if this was not checked could spur tension leading to violence in the country.
“University of Abuja happens to be one of the  universities that is representing the north central zone and this is why we are having the workshop with the students to promote peaceful coexistence among them.
” We want to make the students peace ambassadors wherever they find themselves, whether in Nigeria or any part of the world.
” And then tell them wherever they have other religions like the Muslims or Christians, they should learn to live together harmoniously.
” One of the major problems that causes religious conflict is ignorance, many Muslims do not know about the Christian religion and vice versa, so we want to engage with the students to make them peace ambassadors,” she said.
The don stressed the need to erase some of the misconceptions about some religious beliefs in the society, saying that these misconceptions were actually fuelling violence in the country.
” You will discover that there are lots of misconceptions between these two religions- Islam and Christianity.
“For example, somebody ask me if it was true that in Islamic religion, when you kill a non-Muslim you will be giving six virgins in the heaven. I told her that I have never heard of such in the religion.
” So, you can see that if the orientation of such a person is not changed, he or she could be used as an instrument of spreading wrong belief capable of endangering the lives of others,” she said.
Also, a Professor of Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Prof. Ibrahim Uthman highlighted abuse of public space for religious preaching and ignorance on the part of religious practitioners as factors that drove religious conflicts in the country.
Uthman said that failure on the part of government to punish perpetrators and lack of mutual respect for one another had been seen to have resulted in continuous crises, “and such should be checked”.
” We see our religion as supreme religion and this is one of the factors responsible for the crises in our society.
” We should recognise the fact that both religion are from the same source and  misinterpretation of religious text could arouse conflicts.
” Therefore, the fact that we are propagating our faith should not push us to dishonesty,” he said.
Uthman charged religious leaders and their followers to always be confined within their boundaries and avoid taking every space as an avenue for crisis. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Grace Yussuf
Education

LASUED matriculates 3,300 pioneer students

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By Oluwakemi Oladipo

Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Otto/Ijanikin, on Tuesday, matriculated 3,300 out of the no fewer than  8,000 students who applied for admission at the institution.

The acting Vice-Chancellor of LASUED, Prof. Bidemi Lafiaji-Okuneye, made this known at the 2022/2023 first matriculation ceremony of the institution, in Lagos.

Lafiaji- Okuneye said only the best candidates, who had been found successful in United Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the simple screening conducted by the university, were offered admission.

“Students have been admitted into the various colleges where their programmes are domiciled, such as: College of Humanities Education, College of Science Education and College of Management and Social Sciences Education.

“Others are: College of Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education, College of Specialised and Professional Education and College of Language and Communication Arts Education.

“It should be noted that the university’s capacity for admission was pegged at 3,300 by the National Universities Commission, based on the result of the resource verification exercise conducted in the last quarter of 2022,’’ she said.

The acting vice-chancellor added that the wide margin between the number of candidates who applied to LASUED and those given admission underscored the justification of the state government’s decision to establish more universities.

“For instance, embarking on massive expansionist programme that is complemented by special renewal of physical and infrastructural facilities in the university campuses and other factors can shoot up the university’s admission capacity.

“We earnestly appeal to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to build in each of the two campuses a 1,000 capacity lecture theatre, standard senate building and befitting main auditorium.

“Furthermore, there is an urgent need for government to help reclaim the swampy portion of the university’s land at Ota/Ijanikin campus and control encroachment at the Noforija campus, including proper landscaping.

“We also need support to build students’ hostels and staff quarters through a public-private partnership arrangement,” she said.

Lafiaji-Okuneye said that as a university of education, we were privileged to have scientifically discovered the enormous potential for teacher education’s innovation capable of driving the attainment of equity in education.

“We are fully set, not only to scale innovations from the margin to the Centre of Teacher Education system but also, source support and sustain those superlative inventions that address inequality and quality.

“As the pioneer acting vice-chancellor, I am determined to build on our well-established leading position in the teacher education sector to become a highly sought-after university of education within a short time possible,” Lafiaji-Okuneye said.

The vice-chancellor advised the matriculating students to steer clear of cultism, hooliganism and other forms of social menace that might impugn the integrity of the institution. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam and ‘Wale Sadeeq

Education

Bauchi school enrollment hits 2m

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By Olaide Ayinde

The Bauchi Commissioner for Education, Mrs Jamila Dahiru has said that the state recorded over two million students enrollment in its public schools.

She disclosed this during a meeting with the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Christian Munduate on Wednesday in Bauchi.

Dahiru said the students had been enrolled in post basic and basic schools including Kindergarten, adding the state currently has 5,060 schools and 30,752 teachers.

“We have a number of higher institutions, five that are domicile under the Ministry of Education including a university, polytechnic, College of Education and vocational training colleges.

“We also have quite a number of primary schools, junior and senior secondary schools under the ministry.

“These are all in our effort to ensure that we enhance the educational standard of the state,” she said.

According to her, the state government will recruit additional teachers and strengthen capacity building programmes in line with recommendations to address human resource challenges in the education sector.

“The teachers who want to stay, we are having issues around that and we are working towards retaining some of them even if it is looking at how we can compensate by paying more to those that are located in local government areas.

“This shortage of teachers, we experience more in the primary than the secondary section including quality teacher – pupils ratio.

“We have a very good number of teachers in the senior secondary schools but we are doing very poor when it comes to primary

“This is because we have more enrollment in the primary than secondary, and that also speaks to the retention, that is the dropouts we are talking about,” she said.

Dahiru said the government also embarked on rehabilitation and infrastructure development projects in schools across the state to create enabling teaching and learning environment as well as enhance effective service delivery.

The Commissioner said the government was working closely with traditional institutions, development partners and other relevant agencies to stem the tide of out-of-school-children and dropouts in the state.

Responding, Munduate said that the UN agency would collaborate with the government of Nigeria to address education and health challenges. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

Education

Don seeks research to address GBV in nation’s varsities

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By Oluwakemi Oladipo

 

A Professor of Sociology, Olabisi Yusuff, has urged the nation’s universities to provide conducive environment and opportunities for scholars to conduct research that would address Gender-Based Violence in the tertiary  institutions.

Yusuff, a lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Lagos  State University (LASU), Ojo, made the assertion at the 88th Inaugural Lecture of the institution, on Wednesday, in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that theme of the lecture is: “Gender Equality is To What? What Do Women Want? What Women Should Want From The Triads in Nigeria”.

Yusuff noted that addressing gender-based violence in universities and research organisations was a crucial endeavor.

She said that it would enable a better evidence-based research that is beneficial to humanity.

“Addressing gender-based violence in universities and research organisations also increases the capacity of staff and students to combat it.

“Decreasing violence against women and girls requires a community-based, multi pronged approach and sustained engagement with multiple stakeholders.

“Campaigns that are meaningful such as the use of drama should also be used to create awareness on the health implication of gender-based violence,” Yusuff said.

She added that only women academics were presently involved in women and gender studies as their core area of research because male lecturers always shy away from being gender experts.

“Few male lecturers examined their research work from gender dimension, they can not be tagged as gender experts.

“More male researchers are needed to be seriously involved in women /gender and development studies,” Yusuff said.

The don noted that men could help the change with women in enacting legislation that promote women’s rights, repealing laws and policies that discriminate against women and limit opportunities.

“They can also support the advancement of women in decision making bodies by advocating for temporary special measures.

“In political parties, men and women can work together to champion women’s participation, including nominating more women, having hard targets or quotas for women in leadership roles in the party,” she said.

Yusuff also called for the creation of institute of gender and development studies which would help to bring different areas of knowledge to current issues.

“The institute will help to explore how gender studies and analysis is necessary across numerous disciplines and how the institute will be central to the transformation toward greater sustainability, equality and social justice,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Oluwole Sogunle

Education

Don urges investment in youth for Nigeria of our dream

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By Cecilia Ijuo

Prof. John Abhuere has called on government at all levels and relevant stakeholders to invest in the youth to fulfil the dreams of Nigeria’s founding fathers.

Abhuere, founder of the Centre for Childcare and Youth Development (CCYD), said this at children’s event organised by the centre on Tuesday in Abuja.

CCYD is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), established to help proffer solution to socio-economic problems largely affecting young people in the country.

The event was organised to mark the International Day for Education and World Day for African and Afro-Descendant Culture.

The don, a former Director with the National Youth Service Corps(NYSC), said the best way to put Nigeria back on the path of glory was to make quality education a priority.

He said, “our generation has failed this country but we cannot continue to live in disappointment.

“We need to properly groom our children, input in them the right morals, teach them character, integrity and develop their skills to lead us to the promise land.

“Investment in children education is the best way to develop the Nigeria of our dream.”

The don said proper investment in education would go a long way in creating job opportunities while reducing crime rate, particularly among youths.

On the activities to mark the day, Abhuere commended the schools that participated in the event.

He also commended the creativity, intelligence and smartness displayed by the students in the various activities lined up to mark the day.

“What we are doing today will assist them into becoming ambitious and working towards success in life.

The Programme Officer of CCYD, Chiamaka Ekele, said government and relevant stakeholders should prioritise education.

She said prioritising education would accelerate progress towards all the Sustainable Development Goals.

On celebration of African and Afro-Descendant Culture, Ekele said promoting African culture was crucial for the development of the continent.

She said it was time for relevant stakeholders to “join hands to promote education and protect African culture.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were cultural displays, quiz, presentations and other activities by the different schools that attended the event to mark the day.

Certificates and prizes were also presented to schools that emerged winners in the various activities.

The International Day of Education and World Day for African and Afro-Descendant Culture are annual events marked on Jan. 24.

The 2023 International Day of Education has the theme, “To Invest in People Prioritise Education”.

Meanwhile, the World Day for African and Afro-Descendant Culture is aimed at celebrating the various cultures of the African continent and African Diasporas around the world. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Education

Organisation tasks leaders on quality education

104 total views today

 

By Uchenna Eletuo

An NGO known as A Mother Love Initiative (AMLi) wants governments to create affordable and quality education system for children in the country.

AMLi focuses on the provision of interventions to aid individuals and families advance children’s educational pursuits.

The Founder of AMLi, Mrs Hanatu Enwemadu, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, as the United Nation’s (UN) 2023 International Day for Education is marked on Tuesday.

NAN reports that the UN marks  Jan. 24 annually to celebrate education and review its prospect for the development of the society.

The theme of the 2023 International Day for Education is “Invest in People, Prioritise Education”

Enwemadu, who said  that without education, humanity was doomed, called for the prioritisation of education  for a sustainable future.

She described education as “the light that shines for the common good.

“A better society should raise its children to ensure that the children are stable and balanced in order to make the children useful for self, family and the community.”

The educationist frowned at the unstable nature of Nigeria’s education sector, and tasked parents and leaders to ensure that children’s education is taken seriously for societal sustainability.

According to her, such measures when taken, give hope for a happy future.

“African leaders, especially from Nigeria, should ensure that youths access quality and affordable education that would groom, prepare and provide the continent with quality future leadership.

“That would promote social, national and economic development that will position Africa for global business competitiveness.

“Since 2021, our organisation has increased the awareness and level of engagement at the national level to ensure that every home is aware and sensitised on the need to stop the practice of hurrying children through life without planned education.

“One of the objectives of AMLi is to push for serious advocacy against total elimination of hurried child syndrome in Africa. In this year’s International Day of Education, we appeal to parents to discard this syndrome for its bad outcomes,” she said.

According to the educationist who stresses the importance of education to national development, education is a human right affecting Africa’s development. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Vincent Obi

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