Gen. Oladayo Popoola

By Ibukun Emiola

A former military governor of Oyo State, Gen. Oladayo Popoola, has lauded the Maths bee initiative organised as a veritable means of revamping the standard of education in the state.

Popoola who was the chairman at the Final and Awards presentation ceremony of the Mathematics competition in Oyo State tagged “Maths bee” stated this in Ibadan.

He lamented the sorry state the education sector had been in and recognised the importance of mathematics, which he regarded as the basis for other subjects in reversing the downward trend of the education system in the state.

“These are the things we need in this country, to encourage our youths, especially the younger ones, our grandchildren to come up with ideas. Then, we will start seeing a four-year-old that is very good with computers.

“The standard of education is going down, it is not the fault of the teacher as the person who taught the teacher had the same issue, having the same problem, that is what I have seen,” Popoola said.

Another special guest at the event, Prof. Mojeed Akinsola, said at the WAEC level in Oyo State things were not looking good but with the kind of Mathematics competition, things would get better in the state.

Akinsola commended all the 26 participants, who made it to the final, stating that they were all winners.

“One of the simplest subjects is Mathematics. So what you need to do as a student is to be focused and think about what you want to become in life. Once you have that goal and you continue to stay in line, you will be successful,” he said.

Two of the three overall winners, Nadia Akin and Toluwanimi Ogunmodede, appreciated the organisers of the competition, adding that though the competition was tough with determination and focus they emerged overall best.

In his remarks, the Convener, Maths Bee, Mr Seun Addie, said the rationale behind the programme was to contribute to children being better in Mathematics.

Addie said he had a degree in Mathematics, “and it is not as difficult as people think it is.”

He recalled the challenges in organising the event, which he said most people did not believe in it being a maiden meditation.

“I believe it is high time we looked at the methods we adopt in teaching some subjects, Mathematics for example.

“If the teacher’s teaching gives an impression that it is hard, the pupils would also believe that Mathematics is hard. Mathematics is not as difficult as it has been projected,” Addie said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the maiden edition of the  Mathematics competition started at the local government level for all primary schools both private and public, where the best were taken to the zonal level before 26 pupils made It to the final.

NAN also reports that the best 11 pupils from various primary schools in the state were given medals while cash gifts were given to the overall best three pupils.

The first position went away with N100,000, while the second position got N60,000  and N40,000 was given to the pupil who came 3rd.

Other awards of recognition were given to notable personalities for their contributions to the progress of Maths Bee. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Gami Tadanyigbe

The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) on Saturday graduated 28,740 students, comprising 21,339 undergraduates and 7,401 post graduates, from all the institution’s study centres across the country.

The Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, at the 12th convocation ceremony in Abuja, said 58 of the graduates are inmates of various Correctional Centres in the country.

Olufemi, while congratulating the students, also charged them to diligently apply themselves in whatever capacity with integrity as true ambassadors of NOUN.

According to him, every graduate should look forward with great expectation to the future, a future that holds the potential for the realisation of their dreams.

“I am delighted to inform you that it is now 20 years since the resuscitation of the National Open University of Nigeria and commencement of academic activities therein.

“This convocation therefore marks the commencement of activities to commemorate the resuscitation of the University.

“At the undergraduate level, we are presenting a total of 21,339 students, 6 students made First-Class degree; 2,306 students had Second Class Upper Division; 11,075 had Second Class Lower Division.

“Also, 5,558 had Third Class Degree, we also recorded 279 students’ Passes. We are graduating a total of 2,057 students in the Bachelor of Nursing Science Programme.

“85 of these are graduating with distinction; 1,231 are graduating with credit; while 75 are graduating with Pass degrees in the new classification system,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Gami Tadanyigbe

The Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of South Africa (UNISA), Prof. Puleng LenkaBula, says African universities must deal with legacies of colonialism for the development of education in Africa.

LenkaBula made the call on Friday, during a convocation lecture at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja.

She said the pan-African university must out of necessity help Africa to achieve Goal 2 of Agenda 2063, adding that the priority area would focus on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) driven skills.

According to her, a progressive pan-African university is an organic one that identifies the condition of the people, locally and globally, and seeks to question and improve the human condition.

“The pan-African university must possess a progressive and relevant pedagogy that returns knowledge to the people – the real originators of knowledge.

“The people, who inspire and provoke us to think, dream and do! The university of the future must return to its past to rediscover its ontology, epistemology, and pedagogy.

“If we are to ensure that no one is left behind in this century under the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals, we must ensure that all structures of exclusion, discrimination and dehumanisation are addressed.

“The nationally oppressed people across the world are totally demolished even in the knowledge generation and dissemination processes and must be inspired by the past as much as it is by the idea of futures,” she said.

The VC added that African universities must also deal with racism, apartheid, and cultural imperialism as well as curriculum transformation to development of infrastructure, partnerships, and sustainable funding.

She, however, maintained that in constructing new futures for African universities and knowledge economies entails institutional, intellectual and ideological struggles and negotiations.

“The pan-African university must reimagine questions about who we teach, what we teach, where we teach, how we teach, why we teach, when we teach, will continue change.

“For example, there are massive convergences and divergences in the services industry which are influenced by knowledge, experiences and pedagogies across countries, regions, cultures, and histories.

“The pan-African university must define its role in questioning and advancing pan-African unity in the region and the Diaspora.

“The African universities must deal with legacies of colonialism, racism, apartheid, and cultural imperialism, from curriculum transformation to development of infrastructure, partnerships, and sustainable funding,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Grace Yussuf

By Patricia Amogu

Global Scholarship Trust Academy has urged the Federal Government to re-evaluate and re-organise the university system in the country to make the institutions rank favourably among the world’s best.

The founder of the academy, Mr Adeniyi John made the call in Abuja during a Students’ Career Conference organised to educate and guide students in making future career choices.

“We are unbarring educational access for grassroots prosperity.

“We are in this environment to bring the young people together to tell them about their careers now and for the future.

“The educational curriculum needs to be reviewed because we are in the knowledge economy. What our children are learning can no longer sustain them after school.

“We need to rejig the system and bring in the right people to the right positions,’’ he said.

The founder of the academy also called for capacity building for university teachers and the funding of research in universities.

“We are doing our best to ensure that while still on campus our youth and students would become employable after they graduate.

“There is a need for capacity building for lecturers and teachers at all levels. You see our teachers moving to other countries to seek greener pastures.

“There is a need to fund research and establish research centres to support national development.

John said the conference was organised to expose the participants to the abundant scholarships available abroad.

“We have been able to interface with relevant government agencies such as the Nigerian Communications Commission, National Universities Commission, and the Federal Ministry of Education to improve the standard of education through the evaluation of our curriculum and ensuring that the quality assurance of our educational system is improved.

Speaking during the event, Victoria Nwaogu, Zonal Coordinator for Municipal Area Council, who represented the Director, Department of Mass Education, commended Global Scholarship Trust for the initiative.

Nwaogu said the conference was in line with the mandate and vision of mass education.

According to him, the FCT Department of Mass Education is involved in providing mass education for all with its Second-chance Education in the FCT.

The second chance education programme is focused on providing a safe space within the community environment where young women, girls and adult women alike could express themselves through creative activities.

They are also expected to develop basic literacy and numeracy skills using contextually-relevant materials.

Beyond the scope of the basic literacy and numeracy skills, the second chance education programme encompasses vocational skills, life skills, Socio-Emotional Learning (SEL), psychoeducation sessions on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights as well as sporting activities. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Thompson Yamput

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has fully accredited seven academic programmes of Salem University, Lokoja in Kogi, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Alewo Johnson-Akubo, has said.

The accredited Bachelor of Science (BSc) courses are: Computer Science, Information Technology, Geology, Microbiology, Biochemistry and MSc/MBA Business Administration.

Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday in Lokoja, Johnson-Akubo said that with the development, all courses in the university were now fully accredited.

He said that the commission’s approval was contained in a letter dated March 9 and signed by Arc. S.S. Ikani, the Deputy Director (Programme Accreditation) for the NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed.

The elated VC said that the approval letter came as cheering news to the students, staff and management which needed the accreditation to continue to operate as a full-fledged university.

“We give God the glory now that all our programmes in the seven colleges have been fully accredited by the NUC.

“In fact, with this accreditation, Salem University Lokoja can admit more students in the 2022/2023 academic year, for which admission is still open.

“With the kind of infrastructural development we have in Salem University, we now have what it takes to admit more students,” Johnson-Akubo said.

He expressed gratitude to the university Chancellor, Archbishop Sam Amaga, for his impressive and encouraging leadership qualities, which he said had driven the university to greater heights. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chidi Opara/Ejike Obeta

By Ruth Oketunde

Nigerians in the UK have raised about N23 million in their bid to start tackling the out-of-school problem in Nigeria which has forced 20.2 million kids out of school.

The amount was raised at the Fourth Annual Black-Tie Charity Ball, staged by the international charity, IA-Foundation in London on Wednesday.

In an e-mail to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the event, the Chief Executive Officer of IA-Foundation, Mrs Ibironke Adeagbo, said the event was attended in full force by Nigerians from all walks of life in the UK.

She said that Nigerians attended the event in their numbers, to show their solidarity with the efforts of IA-Foundation to tackle the menace of young people staying out of school in the West African nation.

Nigeria, which is Africa’s top petroleum exporter has a huge population of its younger population currently out of school, according to UN agency, UNESCO.

However, the British-registered IA-Foundation has risen to the challenge since 2019 in a bid to tackle the problem and get the international community and the Nigerian government to rise to the challenge.

In a speech she delivered at the charity ball, Adeagbo reiterated the need for people of goodwill to help Nigeria to salvage the future of its children.

She said there was need for Nigerians everywhere in the world to make collaborative social investments in the education sector to put every Nigerian kid in classroom.

Adeagbo noted that no effort should be spared in ensuring that the 20.2 million out-of-school children in Nigeria were given opportunities to have access to quality education.

She urged Nigerians in the diaspora to be part of the army of impact makers, contributing to secure the future of not just children but Nigeria at large.

Speaking on “Securing the Future: the Imperative of Quality Education for All’’, Prince Afolabi Andu, the founder of the Nigerian Global Business Forum, said that providing education for a child in a family could be the game-changer for generations in that family.

He described Nigerians as people with great potential to thrive and excel if given the opportunity.

Andu appealed to wealthy individuals and corporate bodies to create opportunities for thousands of children on Nigerian streets by supporting education initiatives for the poor.

In a goodwill message, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria lauded IA-Foundation for bringing the attention of the world to the state of education in Nigeria.

He said that it was not enough to send a child to school but it is more important to examine the quality of education that the child is receiving.

“It is important to have teachers, facilities and the curriculum, to give quality education to every learner.

“In Nigeria, we have horizontal inequalities where certain regions are more disadvantaged than others with Northern Nigeria having the highest rate of out-of-school children,’’ Sanusi said.

Earlier in a message, the Nigerian High Commissioner to the UK, Amb. Sarafa Ishola, stressed the need to give quality education to the younger segment of the Nigerian population.

“A huge number of our children are not getting education and those being educated are harvested by other countries,’’ he stated.

The Chairman of the board of IA-Foundation, Mr Jide Olagundoye, commended the foundation for the impact it was making over the years in tackling the out-of-school crisis in Nigeria.

He assured that the foundation would continue to make the difference for less-privileged Nigerian kids to give them assured future.

NAN learnt that more than 250 Nigerians residing in the UK attended the event, which also featured side-attractions, including raffle draw and American auction. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Patricia Amogu

Dr Hassan Sule, Director, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), says plans are being made to make Peace Club part of extra-curricular activities in schools within the FCT.

Sule disclosed this when the Three C’s Met, an institute that engages in mediation, negotiation, counselling, and conciliation, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.

According to him, education is not only about offering children the opportunity to explore their potentialities, but also about helping them to build on core foundational values including discipline and ethics.

“Inculcating discipline and ethics, building their psyche about the society, and doctoring their mindset on avoiding bias on religion, tribe, and culture, will foster understanding that we are all Nigerians.

“We are looking to actually streamlining into the education system as a club for now, as an extra-curricular activity.

“We will write formally and follow adequate procedures to get it into the system,” he said.

The UBEB director added that plans were also being made to ensure sustainability, to see that peer mediation and the Peace Club  initiative is completely absorbed into the system even in future administrations.

Founder/Principal Partner at the institute, Mr Chijioke Nnanna-Ibeku, who led the team, praised the board for a job well done.

Nnanna-Ibeku said the board had offered the institute a platform upon which to run the Peer Mediation programme in schools.

“We are here to say a big thank you for your support and for the resources you have given us to build this programme on, to ensure that there is no generational gap in the practice of mediation.

“Mediation has come to stay. Our aim is to make sure these children relate peaceably across the borders of religion, culture, tribe, and race, especially in Nigeria.

“As much as within the practice of mediation can get, we hope that when these children grow up and get into positions of authority, they will know how to manage issues and prevent rancour degenerating into disputes and conflicts,” he said.

Nnanna-Ibeku observed that If children were well taught at their formative years, the society would be sure to have a peaceful and accommodating environment in the future.

He explained that the institute’s mantra is “there is no better time to practice mediation than now”.

Nnanna-beku, therefore, called on stakeholders and other sectors to form partnerships with the institute and make peace the foundation upon which Nigeria should thrive and explore its rich potentialities. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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(Edited by Chidinma Agu/Emmanuel Yashim