By Bosede Olufunmi

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has engaged proprietors of public and private secondary schools in Kano State on the importance of education system management: ISO 21001.

The Director-General of the organisation, Mallam Farouk Salim, said ISO 21001 certification was a management system standard specifically designed for educational organisations with the aim of improving quality and effectiveness of education.

According to him, the standard provides a framework for implementing and maintaining a management system that ensures the holistic development of learners.

“It covers all aspects of the educational organisation, including curriculum development, teaching and learning processes, assessment and evaluation, student support services, and staff development,” he said.

Similarly, Muhammed Sai’d, Assistant Director of Education Education Quality Assurance Service (FEQAS), from the Federal Ministry of Education, described the system as part of activities in education sector, where all hands must be on deck.

Sai’d said there was a little gap in education system where non governmental organisations, individuals and influencial indigenes needed to step in to bridge the gap.

Some stakeholders, Kassim Akinriola from St Louis Secondary School, and Hassan Ibrahim from Gwarzo Secondary School, both in Kano State, thanked the organisation for organising the forum, which they said was beneficial to them.

NAN reports that stakeholders from private and public secondary schools, education sector, union bodies, among others, attended the forum.

The Director, System Management Certification, Mr Nyako Felix, presented a paper on Implementing ISO21001 and its benefits to schools. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Joy Madaki
The Editorial and Publicity Board, Community Development Service (CDS) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has empowered 100 Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) with entrepreneurial skills.
Mr Samuel Isangedighi, president of the CDS, said the training was to make the IDPs self reliant as well as give them a sense of belonging.
Isangedighi said that the corps members impacted the women with skills like fascinator making, tye and dye among others.
He said that the children were also taught basic English and art work to lay a good foundation for them as schools resumed.
Isangedighi expressed satisfaction with the reception of the corp members by the IDPs, adding that they were happy to put smiles on the faces of women and children.
”We hope to make this visit regularly because as a group, we are committed to the well being of the IDPs,” he said.
He thanked the management of Arise Academy for making their facilities available for the children to use.
Isangedighi also said they were happy to put smiles on the faces of the women and children and wished to visit again
Responding, Idriss Ibrahim, the coordinator of the camp, said he was excited with the visit and thanked the group for impacting on the children.
Ibrahim also thanked the group for taking out time to come and teach what they knew to the people at the camp.
He pointed to a set of classrooms that was built by three corp members that had been closed for four years due to lack of teachers.(NAN) www.nannews.ng
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Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Idris Abdulrahman

By Taiye Agbaje

A Federal High Court, Abuja has restrained Seplat Energy Plc from holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) fixed for May 10 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, directed parties in the suit not to tamper with the subject matter until the issues before the court were resolved.

The ruling was handed down at the hearing of a motion on notice for interlocutory order moved by Kalu Onuoha, counsel to the plaintiff, seeking for an order, restraining the respondents in the suit from holding the AGM.

The development followed the oral application by Onuoha, urging the court to caution the respondents from taking any action until the matter was dispensed with, after the court learnt that some of the respondents were yet to be served in the matter.

“When parties have submitted to the court , parties should hold themselves, restrain themselves from doing anything that will affect the res (subject matter) until the issues are resolved.

“Parties are hereby order not to tamper with the res until issues are resolved,” Justice Ekwo had declared in a ruling on April 28 but sighted on Wednesday.

The judge consequently adjourned the matter until May 31 for respondents to show cause.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plaintiffs; Boniface Okezie, Hon Bright Nwabuogu, John Isesele, Okonkwo Timothy, Augustine Ezennachukwu had sued Seplat Energy Plc, Mr Roger Thompson Brown, Mr Basil Omiyi, Dr Charles Okeahialam and others.

Others include Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, Rabiu Bello, Mrs Bashirat Odenewu, Emma Fitzgerald, Mrs Edith Onwuchekwa, and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as 1st to 10th respondents respectively.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, on Wednesday inaugurated the first secondary school built by the Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA).

The state-of-the-art secondary school located at NAF Base Asokoro, Abuja, was conceptualised by the President of NAFOWA, Mrs Elizabeth Amao.

The first lady commended NAFOWA president for her commitment to providing quality education to children and the general educational development of Nigeria.

She said that the project was not only an important milestone in the journey of the association, but also historic and commendable.

“The completion of this school has numerous advantages, including meeting up with Mr President’s desire to provide quality education for every Nigerian child.

“Let me start by congratulating the NAFOWA President, Mrs Elizabeth Amao and and her industrious team for coming up with such a gigantic project.

“I am indeed happy that the establishment of this school offers our young ones a conducive learning environment to explore and discover the world in this serene environment.

“It also offers teachers the opportunity to teach, impact and nurture our children to become future leaders and responsible citizens of Nigeria.

“Education is a key to a successful future and a visionary initiative such as this needs to be encouraged by ensuring that necessary tools and resources are provided to help the students achieve their dreams.

“To the teachers, your duty to remain committed to your students and instill in them appropriate knowledge, values and skills remains crucial to the success of this laudable projects,” she said.

The first lady also commended the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao and the Nigerian Air Force for championing the activities of NAFOWA.

She also commended the wife of the Chief of Defence Staff for initiating the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Center, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the completion of the centre within the next three months.

Mrs Buhari urged the armed forces to maintain their loyalty to the constitution and ensure a united and indivisible nation.

In his remarks, Amao said the school signified the commitment of the association to the educational development of children.

He described education as the key to citizens’ empowerment, poverty reduction, economic growth and bedrock of societal development.

The CAS hailed the leadership of NAFOWA for the achievement and urged them to maintain the very high standard of which the Nigerian Air Force schools were known.

Amao believed that the schools would provide conducive learning environment and capable teachers “who will impart the pupils and students with moral knowledge and balanced education even beyond the classrooms and touching all aspects of life.”

He pledged continuous support for all NAFOWA projects and programmes.

The President, Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association, Mrs Vickie Irabor, said as wives of military personnel, they had done much in filling identified gaps within the military community.

Irabor said it was in this respect that NAFOWA engaged in the project and multiple other programmes in barracks across the country.

“The peculiar challenges of financing sustainable educational institutions to accommodate the continuously growing families within the air force barracks make this secondary school and the Little Angels School a welcome and timely addition to the pool of educational institutions that we have,” she said.

The President of NAFOWA said the conception of the school was borne out of the association’s belief in the power of knowledge.

Mrs Amao said that the school was to meet the educational needs of children in the barrack and those of members of the public, in order to provide them with solid foundation essential for their growth.

She said the association currently operates nursery and primary schools in various NAF bases across the country.

“In order to improve upon this, we have decided to take the educational foundation of our children further by establishing the first NAFOWA secondary school at NAF Base, Asokoro Abuja.

“The purpose of establishing these schools is to create a suitable learning environment for our pupils and students which will foster their growth and help them acquire the skills they need to succeed in life.

“The NAFOWA secondary school that is about to be commissioned today, comprises of 21 classrooms, seven laboratories, one music studio, one sick bay, cafeteria, three staff rooms on each floor, library, CBT center and 48 toilets.

“Also the completed Little Angels school comprises of 24 classrooms, four laboratories, two halls, two playgrounds, one assembly hall and parking lot among others,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

By Ibukun Emiola

CLAIM: A viral WhatsApp message that has been circulating claims UNICEF is recruiting.

VERDICT: FALSE

The message making the claim contains a link http://archive.today/2023.04.15-110154/https://unicef-recruitment.offernow.online/ which directs to the UNICEF-impersonated page

The site, which appears as https://unicef-recruitment.offernow.online/, also attempts to impersonate the UNICEF’s original website.

The impostor website asks users to fill in personal information as part of the recruitment process. The information required on the ‘Application Form’ include the user’s name, phone number, email, country and state, then, click ‘Apply’ which takes the user to the next page, where the user has to click on `continue, stating that his/her application to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is now on the process and then it takes the user to another page where the user is required to validate their names and state the level of education and then ‘Send’.

It will then congratulate the user, adding that it should send the link to 5 groups or 15 people on WhatsApp to receive a confirmation email.

This sequencing is consistent with phishing scams designed to mine personal information.

VERIFICATION:

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) found out that the recruitment exercise was false.

The logo on the original UNICEF is different from that of the imposter, it has the image of two children painted in white inserted into the logo of a sketched globe with two leaf-like images all in white with a blue background. Whereas, the imposter’s website has all these in blue colour with a white background.

Also, the slogan of UNICEF on its original website is ‘for every child’, but the imposter’s website has the slogan ‘unite for children’.

The WHOIS information of the imposter website shows that it was registered July 1, 2022, and update on April 20, 2023 in Iceland and is identified as ‘Namecheap’.

On the other hand, the WHOIS information of the UNICEF’s legitimate website shows that it was registered March 10, 1993 at New York in the United States of America. Legitimate domains are usually older than impostor domains.

NAN also found out that UNICEF had issued a disclaimer on its website warning against the activities of fraudsters, which reads;

“UNICEF only advertises its employment opportunities on its global Careers website and the Vacancies page, or on the websites of its National Committees.

“UNICEF also utilizes bona fide and established media, newspapers, as well as online professional platforms (e.g. LinkedIn) and job boards to disseminate its vacancies. All job offers are made by UNICEF human resources personnel following a competitive process.

“Beware if an offer of employment looks too good to be true (see below an example of fraud). Never divulge personal and banking information or send money if you are unsure of the authenticity of an email or other communication in the name of UNICEF.

“Financial loss and identity theft could result from the sending of money or personal information to those issuing such fraudulent correspondence.

“If you fall victim to fraud, it is recommended that you contact immediately local law enforcement authorities. If you wish to report any potential fraudulent activities related to UNICEF, please contact UNICEF’s Office of Internal Audit and Investigations,” the statement read in part.

VERDICT; NAN found that the claim being circulated on WhatsApp on UNICEF recruitment is FALSE (NAN)

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Edited by Ebere Agozie/Isaac Aregbesola

By Ahmed Ubandoma

The Federal Government has canvassed for effective implementation of the national action plan on Ageing in Nigeria.

The Director-General, National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), Dr Emem Omokaro said this on Tuesday in Abuja.

She stated this during a 2-Day Training Workshop for Desk Officers on the Implementation of NSCC’s Strategic Roadmap on Ageing 2022 -2032.

Omokaro said that the Strategic Roadmap on Ageing provides a framework for assessing the effectiveness of actions taken to effect change.

”This strategic framework will provide the needed multi-sectoral foundational thrust for the robust implementation of the strategic objectives of both the National Senior Citizens Centre Act 2017 and the National Policy on Ageing, aligned with the tenets of the SDG goals.

”This strategy should deliver transformational changes needed to promote and protect older persons’ rights to dignity, security, health and wellbeing, happiness, independence and continued participation in what they have reasons to value.

”It will also set the institutional precedent for sector-wide efforts to improve the quality of lives and wellbeing of older persons in Nigeria,” she said.

Omokaro said that the objective of the exercise was designed to increase the understanding of the desk officers in relevant MDAs on Ageing.

”Their role and responsibilities in the implementation of this strategic roadmap is necessary to develop Desk Officer Engagement Framework towards increasing feedback and Desk Officers’ effectiveness.

”NSCC has through its partnership successfully mainstreamed older person into the NDE Matured People Program and signed an MoU with relevant Agencies to support older persons in Nigeria.

”So, with the desk offices, we should be able to strengthen our partnerships with various MDAs, where they already exist and, to leverage on the enhanced understanding of ageing and issues of older persons to evolve more effective partnerships on mainstreaming ageing into specific programsme,” she said.

The D-G, therefore, expressed determination to establish ageing desks with focal officers in relevant MDAs to interface with NSCC so as to ensure effective inclusion of older persons.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop had in attendance participants from 40 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as three officers from House Committee on Disabilities and the Committee on Women. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail AbdulAziz

By Deji Abdulwahab
The Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) on Tuesday urged the youth to eschew acts capable of destroying the peace being enjoyed in the region.

Its National Coordinator, Mr Abido Jator, made the call in Abuja, while pleading with the aggrieved youths to shelve their planned protest against the management of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The youth had accused the management of NDDC that they did not carry them along and also failed to attend to their needs.

Jator said his group averted the protest planned by the youth at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, adding that people of Niger Delta area have had enough violence and now needed to learn to tow the path of peace.

According to him, peace is an inevitable part of social and economic development.

“As law abiding citizens and people of Niger Delta, we have seen enough violence and we need to learn to tow the path of peace now.

“Engaging in acts capable of destroying the fragile peace currently being enjoyed in the Niger Delta region and indeed Nigeria, is a costly mistake that should not be contemplated,” Jator said.

The group coordinator promised the aggrieved youths that he would use his position to intervene in the matter for a quick resolution of the misunderstanding.

Jator told them to hold him responsible, if the commission failed to address their grievances and meet their needs.

“I have confidence in the present management and the Board of NDDC.

“I can assure you that I will personally table your grievances and I can confidently say hold me responsible, if your grievances are not addressed as soon as possible.

“You should, therefore, remain calm and law abiding as everything will be fine in no distant time.

“As you all know, the present Board of NDDC is a brain child of the agitations of youth groups and Civil Society Organisations so they cannot fail us,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Olagoke Olatoye
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By Rukayat Moisemhe

Outgoing president, Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA), Olorogun James Emadoye, has charged the Lagos state government on the strategic importance of promptly completing the regional roads along the Lekki Epe Axis.

Emadoye said this during the inauguration of the new Executive Council of LERSA on Monday in Lagos.

He acknowledged all efforts Gov., Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and urged him to also begin the construction of the coastal road in addition to all other road infrastructure going on in Lekki Epe Area.

The outgoing LERSA president listed some of his major achievements over the last few years to include the presentation of a memorandum to address the increase on land use charge and a very active environment safety community.

Emadoye said his tenure saw regular roundtable with the state government, political associations, electricity distribution companies, security agencies, businesses and healthcare professionals within the axis.

He said that his administration provided a platform for almost 200 Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) and companies to showcase and expand their market reach and procured an official property for LERSA.

“We consistently engaged with government to improve road infrastructure, power and had regular interventions with them on issues pertaining to the toll gate.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic and following the Xenophobic and Endsars attacks, we intervened with donations of medical items, donated a Toyota Hilux and rebuilt the Ajiwe police station.

“We have also commenced the provision of temporary accommodation for police and traffic officers working on the axis by raising funds for the ongoing construction of sleep over bay in Ogombo police station.

“I appreciate everyone for your good work and support throughout my tenure as head of the executive council and pray you extend same to the new executives,” he said.

The incoming president, Mr Sulyman Bello, said his administration in view of the declining life expectancy in Nigeria, was determined to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to increase life expectancy on the Lekki corridor and ultimately the nation.

Bello said the focus of the new regime would also be on public infrastructure, health, education and security.

“I am quite excited with the sterling quality of the assemblage of men and women arrayed beside me in the new LERSA executive council.

“Together, we pledge our unflinching loyalty to our residents and stakeholders; working seamlessly with all relevant organs of the state as well as the traditional authorities.

“In accepting the mantle of leadership of LERSA, I am aware of the onerous responsibilities involved and pledge my dedication to the cause.

“Our role is to work harmoniously together with the elected and appointed officials of state from local government up to the state and federal levels; cutting across the familiar legislative and executive boundaries,” he said.

Mr Ayodeji Amodu, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Sanwo-Olu, expressed the state government’s commitment to opening up the hinterlands across the state to drive development.

He said that the Lagos state government would continue to have a listening ear and collaborate with all stakeholders to turn Lagos into the mega city it truly is.

NAN reports that an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Qudus Salami, received the LASTMA man of the year award for his dedicated service to the region. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle