By Isaac Aregbesola

Two transparency groups have threatened to drag the leadership of North East Development Commission (NEDC) to the EFCC and ICPC over alleged mismanagement of N146.19 billion.

The groups, People Advocacy for Transparency and Accountability (PATAI) and Al-Mushaid Initiative for Transparency and Accountability (AITA), gave the NEDC up to March 15, to respond to the allegations.

The Executive Chairman of PATAI, Mr Francis Bassey, and the President of AITA, Amb. Aminu Majidadi, issued the ultimatum during a joint news conference on Thursday in Abuja.

According to them, the commission has refused to respond to the petition earlier sent to it by some patriotic Nigerians.

He added that the two groups have also sent three reminders to the commission dated Janu. 18 and 31, as well as Feb. 14, 2023, without response.

Bassey explained that the core allegations bordered on corruption, financial misappropriation and abuse of office.

He claimed that the N146.19 billion was the budgetary allocation to the commission.

According to him, money has been paid in full for projects not completed or even abandoned.

“The abandoned projects include construction of central workshop in Maiduguri, Borno; construction of Birma Primary School at Kashimbila in Taraba; Madagali and Pinlla primary schools projects in Adamawa.

“Others are supply of equipment at Eye Clinic Centre in Azare; construction of ICT training centre; construction of College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Misau, all in Bauchi state,” he said.

Bassey listed other abandoned projects to include the mass housing project in Dadin Kowa, Gombe State, and 200 mass housing units in Nguru as well as a 300 mass housing project in Damatutru, both in Yobe.

He claimed that there were also abandoned projects in Jalingo, Sadauna, Zing and Ussa Local Government Areas of Taraba, among others.

According to him, the two groups have conducted thorough investigation of the claims in the petitions and awaiting the response of the NEDC.

He said that their concern was to ensure accountability in the handling of public funds so that it would benefit Nigerians.

“It is on the account of promoting transparency and accountability by holding those in authority accountable that we gave the Commission a chance to respond to issues of grave allegations raised against them.

“We also wrote several memos to the Commission to address the issues raised in the petitions against them. It is sad to note that they have not responded positively to our enquiries till date,” he stated.

Reacting to the allegations, the Head, Corporate Services, NEDC, Mr Abba Musa, declined comment, stressing that he was not authorised to speak on the issue.

He said that it was only the managing director that had the mandate to speak on the matter. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng).

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Ginika Okoye

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), has emphasised the need for hospitals and stakeholders in the health sector to strengthen their patients’ care regulation.

The Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Mr Babatunde Irukera said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

Irukera was reacting to the verdict of a Corona inquest into the death of a Lagos-based chef, Mrs Adepeju Ugboma, after undergoing hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) at Premier Medical Centre, Lekki, Lagos State.

Irukera welcomed the verdict of the Coroner in the case given by Chief Magistrate Mukaila Fadeyi on March 9.

He said the Commission upon the death of Ugboma, opened an investigation with the expectation that consumer protection issues associated with standard of care would be addressed.

“The coroner’s conclusion that Premier failed to exercise due diligence prior to the procedure from a corporate responsibility standpoint shows the importance of FCCPC’s role in this case and other medical case.

“It also emphasised infringed Rights 11 of the FCCPC’s Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBoR).

“The PBoR 11 reiterates the right to quality care in accordance with prevailing standards and other provisions of the FCCPA.”

According to Irukera, the conclusion that Premier failed in the duty of care it owned to a patient underscores the role and need for strengthening patient care regulation.

“This is in addition to and apart from individual practitioner professional regulation.

“The FCCPC is grateful to Lagos State and the coroner in this case, and other parties to the inquest such as Evercare Hospital for the commitment demonstrated through this process,” he said.

NAN reports that the Chief Magistrate in his verdict, said that Ugboma’s surgery lacked due diligence on the part of the physicians who performed it.

Fadeyi said that autopsy carried out on her revealed that the deceased died from massive inter-abdominal bleeding, as 500ml of blood and 900ml of clotted blood were found in her abdomen.

He said that the deceased’s medical history was poorly documented, adding that doctors of Premier Medical Centre failed to involve appropriate surgeons.

According to him, absence of vital machines and unwillingness of the doctors to address the issues immediately after surgery were questionable.

NAN reports that Ugboma died on April 25, 2021, in a bid to remove fibroids.

The surgery was done on April 23, 2021, at the Premier before being transferred to Evercare Hospital due to complications from the surgery but was pronounced dead shortly after.

NAN reports that FCCPC had set up a panel of public enquiry to probe the death of Ugboma while the corona was set up by the Lagos State Government to investigate the case. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Oluwatope Lawanson

A non-governmental organisation, Women Liberation and Transformation Group (W-LIT), have called on women to embrace innovation and technology to enhance gender equality.

The Executive Director of W-LIT,  Mrs Olanike Mic-Taiwo, made the call at a meeting of market women at Bariga/Shomolu, Lagos, to celebrate the 2023 International Women’s Day (IWD).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, which was sub-granted by Women Advocate Research and Documentation Center (WARDC), was funded by Ford Foundation.

IWD is celebrated on March 8 annually to raise awareness on women issues.

The 2023 IWD had the theme: “Digital Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”.

Mic-Taiwo said that the theme was apt considering the Nigeria’s transition to a cashless society where technology was playing a vital role.

She urged governments to provide information and communication technology hubs in markets and rural communities so that women and girls could  be trained to be digitally inclined and  leverage social media platforms to grow their businesses.

She called on governments to bridge the digital gap especially in rural communities, saying that  women and girls were lagging behind in the digital space.

She said that technology was essential in advancing gender equality.

“If women and girls can access and use technology safely, they can amplify their voices.

“Women should take advantage of opportunities in the digital space  to improve their businesses and end violence against them.

“Quite a number of market women are not digitally inclined and it has really affected their businesses especially with the cashless policy in Nigeria.

“Some of them are already experiencing various challenges  at home and in their businesses,” she said.

Mic-Taiwo advised market women to be digitally inclined to attain greater heights.

She also encouraged women to be active and contribute their quotas to societal development through innovations and technology.

“They should know that the cashless policy is the new normal and a reality.

“The era of carrying huge cash about is phasing out; therefore, market women have to embrace technology to  be relevant in their businesses,” she said.

Mic-Taiwo advised market leaders to have a database of market men and women, indicating their businesses.

She said: “By so doing, when opportunities arise from the state government, they can be easily accessible.

“Also, it helps to monitor activities of their members, they can be easily identified. It will also help to curb violence.”

The Iyaloja-General (Market Leader) of Somolu, Mrs Modupeola Olufojude, urged governments to sensitise market leaders about technology and innovations.

According to her, this is the time for market men and women to embrace best global practices.

“They should know how to leverage technology and social media space to boost businesses,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

Don seeks adoption of outcome-based education in engineering

Engineering

By Olatunde Ajayi

Ibadan, March 10, 2023 (NAN) Prof. John Olorunmaiye, the former Vice-Chancellor, Crown-Hill University, has called for the adoption and implementation of the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) to enhance the quality of engineering education in Nigeria.

Olorunmaiye made made the call at the second Prof. Olusoji Ofi Distinguished Academic Lecture 2023 organised by the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), Ibadan chapter, on Thursday.

He said the adoption of OBE in the training of engineers would make them employable globally.

According to him, OBE emphasises student-centered learning and focuses on output instead of input.

Olorunmaiye, the guest lecturer at the event, listed some of the problems affecting the delivery of high quality engineering education in Nigeria as inadequate number or quality of academic and non-academic staff in many universities.

“We also have excessive number of students in some universities especially public universities, lack of modern equipment or inadequate number of equipment in the laboratories, weak or poor industrial training programmes and poorly motivated staff, among others,” he said.

“Specific and clearly defined outcome must be described to the students to set their own expectations and means to achieve the desired outcome.

“If the students trained in the engineering programmes run in Nigerian universities are to compete well with products of similar programmes trained in developed countries, there is a need to enhance the quality of engineering education,” he said.

Also speaking, the National Chairman, NIMechE, Dr Olufunmilade Akingbagbohun, said that the lecture was apt as it addressed what the country needs for growth and development.

Akingbagbohun said engineering remains the bedrock of growth and development for any country.

“Any nation that aspires to grow or develop requires engineering because the profession is about problem solving,” she said.

She said that NIMechE had created many solutions in engineering with professional development and innovation strategic programme.

“We have started industry academic parley by taking people from industry to the academia to bridge the huge gap between the classroom and industry,” she said.

The celebrant, Prof. Olusoji Ofi, the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, University of Ibadan (UI), said that the guest lecturer who also graduated from UI represented the original design concept of engineering profession of the university.

Ofi, a Fellow of Nigeria Society of Engineers and the inventor of the first instant powdered pounded yam in the world, thanked NIMechE for the recognition of his contributions to the engineering profession.

Earlier, Chairman, NIMechE, Oyo State chapter, Mr Victor Ogunranti, also a Fellow of Nigeria Society of Engineers, said that the lecture was named after the celebrant to give him a long-deserved proper recognition for his humble sacrifice and service as the doyen of Mechanical Engineering. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
TUN/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Temitope Ponle

Women’s Forum of the ECOWAS Court of Justice has described gender balance as not an issue concerning the woman, but an economic one.

President of the forum Mrs Frances Ibanga, said this at the Women’s Forum of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration which was held on March 8.

She identified advocacy, inclusive mindset, and tangible action as elements needed from all at the sub-regional level.

“Framework for the protection and promotion of the rights of women are provided for the ECOWAS vice treaty and annex protocols and convention,” she said.

She also said the day was a global one to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

“This day provides a useful opportunity to reinforce the fact that everyone has a role to play in forging a more gender-balanced world and the importance of treating women fairly and equally, without any bias or prejudice.”

The theme of the 2023 IWD is “Digit All: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”.

She said the theme was carefully selected to celebrate the women who were championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education.

“This theme – exploring the impact of the digital gender gap widening economic and social inequalities – aims to highlight the importance of protecting the rights of women in digital spaces and the need to address ICT gender-based violence.

“Furthermore, technology and innovation are part of our everyday life.

“We needed to tackle our daily humanitarian challenges in every sphere of life be it business, education, or entertainment.

“As technology advances, we see the wide digital divide between genders, and the divide has become the new face of gender inequality,” she added.

Ibanga, however, said the growing inequalities were becoming increasingly evident in the context of digital skills and access to technologies.

She said the United Nations 2020 data revealed that seven per cent of women did not use the internet and were also grossly underrepresented in tech-related fields.

She said the report showed only 22 per cent of positions in artificial intelligence held by women.

She also said 2023 IWD was the day to take the campaign to the next level, “re-emphasing gender equality is basically creating the same opportunities to the human perspective agenda”.

“Let us, therefore, speak in one voice and ask in unison to protect the rights of women and girls in digital spaces as technology empowers women to capitalise on opportunities and express their opinions,” she said.

Also speaking, Mrs Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development said the aim of the IWD celebration at the court was to discuss and raise awareness.

Tallen said the awareness raised was on how to improve access to digital tools for achieving gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.

“A gender-responsive approach to innovation in digital education can increase the awareness of women and girls regarding rights and civic engagement.

“Advancements in technology offer different opportunities, address development, and humanitarian challenges and achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.”

The minister, however, said growing inequalities were becoming increasingly evident in the context of digital skills and access to technologies, with women being left behind.

She said the need for inclusive and transformative technology, and digital education was crucial for a sustainable future.

Also, Beatrice Eyong, United Nations Women Representative to Nigeria said the 2023 IWD theme was allied with the theme of the ongoing 67th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York.

“The theme for the CSW 67 is innovation and technology, technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women.

“DigitAll also is a call is a clarion call from all stakeholders for the need to invest more in digital solutions and this theme is also reminding us of the importance of innovation and technology for gender equality.”

Eyong said there were many studies that had shown the importance of gender equality.

The UN representative, however, said the world women’s levels of internet connectivity were low due to a number of gender-specific barriers, which create a digital gender gap.

“Women with internet access are around twice as likely to recall that they were able to find products at a good price.

“They were able to open a bank account and they were able to find people to hire to do work for them.

“Such examples show the transformative potential of internet access and inclusion in digital technology for women, which contribute to closing the gender gap, advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.

“Failing to do so brings significant political, social and cultural costs and in particular economic costs.”

She also said there was a digital platform, developed by UN women globally, that enabled women to access information in real-time about the climate of the market of inputs and enabled agricultural extension officers to train women online to monitor farms. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

By Ephraims Sheyin

The Lagos State Government and GetBundi Education Technology Company have inaugurated a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) laboratory at Wesley Girls Senior Secondary School, Yaba, Lagos.

The STEM laboratory is the pilot phase of an ongoing partnership between the Lagos State Government and GetBundi that would see the deployment of GetBundi’s education technology platform across schools in the state.

Speaking at the ceremony on Thursday, Dr Adetola Salau, Special Assistant on Education to the Governor of
Lagos State, emphasised the importance of STEM education, saying it would prepare students for emerging challenges.

“STEM will prepare students to constitute an effective workforce; it will equip them with the skills needed to excel in a rapidly-changing, technology-driven society,” she said.

She explained that what the Getbundi was offering was in tandem with the Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math (STEAM UP) Lagos project which she oversees.

According to her, the goal is to infuse the ideals of a globally unified STEAM curriculum, making learning fun, accessible, sustainable, relatable to learners, while inculcating critical thinking ability, problem identification and solving skills.

It also encourages collaboration and creativity in designing solutions to identified challenges in society, she added.

She said that by virtue of the partnership, GetBundi would help to “provide students with real-world experience and help them to develop the skills that are in demand in the job market.

According to her, that goal will be better achieved with the donation of a STEAM laboratory equipped with the latest equipment and software.

“They (Getbundi) supported our district here – Educational District IV, specifically Wesley Girls Secondary School – through this generous support which aligns with our goals that ultimately focus on the provision of quality education for all of the state’s children.

“This encourages educational innovation that aims to improve learning outcomes.

“We are also glad that this laboratory will be at a girls’ secondary school because we are focused on inspiring girls to pursue STEM courses and careers – by providing access to STEM resources directly at their school.

“That is expected to lead to the setting up of clubs and activities that would support students to learn more about STEM and its relevance to their lives,” she said.

Mr Osita Oparaugo, founder/Chief Executive Officer of GetBundi, in a remark, explained that the STEM laboratory that had been set up at Wesley Girls Senior Secondary School was a pilot programme to enable the Lagos State government to assess the platform and get feedback from students and teachers.

“The ultimate aim is to ensure that government and GetBundi could then formulate the right framework to deploy the technology across Lagos government schools,” he explained.

He said that GetBundi, a government-approved online educational technology platform, was focused on using technology to make high-quality and engaging STEM subjects for secondary school and digital skills courses accessible to all across Africa.

“Less than 18 percent of Africans, Nigerians inclusive, who enter the universities, pursue science-related fields due to lack of appreciation of STEM caused by inability of African countries to invest in science education mostly at the secondary school level.

“For instance, by 2030, there will be nearly 250 million job gaps in the digital space as our world is constantly changing through technology.

“African youths must be equipped with the right skill if they want to be productive and competitive,” he said.

He said the existing gaps were the reason for setting up GetBundi with the goal of “massifying STEM and Digital Skill courses across Africa”.

According to him, GetBundi has a target to upskill 10 million African workforce by 2030 under the GetBundi Vision 2033.

He disclosed that GetBundi currently offers online vocational training on 16 digital skills courses six of which had courses in pidgin English developed by industry experts in Africa and around the world. (NAN)(nannewsngr.con)

Edited by Ephraims Sheyin