NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
General News

Former VC urges college to broaden STEM education

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By Peter Okolie

A former Acting Vice Chancellor, Imo State University, Prof. Peter Akah, has urged institutions in the country to prioritise  Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.

 

Akah made the call in a lecture to mark the 75th anniversary celebration of Bishop Shanahan College (BSC), Orlu, near Owerri, on Saturday.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the diamond jubilee celebration, has theme, “Honouring our Past, Celebrating our Present, and Inspiring our Future,”.

 

It was attended by members of the college alumni, students and prominent Nigerians.

 

Akah, an alumnus of the college, emphasised the need for the institution to continue evolving to meet the changing demands of society.

 

He called for the incorporating of sophisticated digital literacy programmes and establishment of coding laboratories to equip students with the necessary skills to thrive in a technologically-advanced society.

 

“Strategies should be in place to ensure that the curriculum is consistently updated, incorporating critical thinking, problem-solving, and research components that maintain students at the forefront of intellectual and academic growth,” he said.

 

The former vice chancellor underscored the importance of mentorship programmes, workshops on career development, smart classroom technology and new innovations to maintain the college’s academic track record.

 

He also called for the construction of a modern sports complex, counselling and wellness centre, among others, at the college.

 

Akah disclosed that the college had produced 17 professors and five vice chancellors, while a good number had been appointed judges or served in government’s positions.

 

According to him, there is no area of human endeavours that BSC Old Boys are not doing “fantastically marvelous”, be it engineering, pharmacy, architecture, surveying, civil service, teaching, medicine, religious and traditional institutions or business.

 

He said the celebration aimed to foster a sense of unity among the community, alumni, and students, and to motivate current and future students on principles that the college had upheld.

 

In a speech, the National President of BSC Old Boys Association, Hyacinth Mbachu, called for the establishment of more branches in the country and diaspora to foster physical, social interactions among members.

 

Mbachu commended the Old Boys for embarking on various projects that had lifted the aesthetic value and functionality of the college.

 

Earlier, the Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Tochukwu Ukwuoma, urged the alumnus not to lose hope in the face of challenges.

 

He commended them for celebrating the diamond jubilee and solicited more support from the body to give the college a facelift.

 

The Principal of the College, Rev. Fr. Chidubem Ohaeri, also assured the association that he would continue to promote morals, character, academic excellence and human development of the students in the college.

 

NAN reports that the celebration also featured the launch of BSC Endowment Fund, meant to support the college’s development and sustainability. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sam Oditah

General News

Advocacy group assesses IDPs education in Niger

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By Rita Iliya

High Level Women Advocacy (HiLWA) in Saturday visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Niger to assess the living conditions and education of the girl-child.

 

President of HiLWA in Niger, Hajiya Hassana Adamu, led a delegation to the IDPs camp at Central Primary School, Gwada, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that HILWA is a non-governmental organisation that sensitise rural communities on the importance of girl-child education.

 

Adamu explained that the visit was to assess the living standards and education of out-of-school children, particularly the female ones.

 

She said that HiLWA’s focused on promoting girl-child education, adding that the organisation was concerned about the lack of guidance and counselling for the girls.

 

She observed that the girls in the IDPs camp were not exposed to the importance of education, adding that HILWA would take the issue up with the state chairman of Universal Basic Education.

 

“Although we sensitised the girls on the benefits of education, there is need for alternative location for the IDPs instead of the school premises,” she said.

 

She added that the organisation also plans to advocate for the provision of guidance and counselling officers to educate the girls on the importance of education.

 

The Head Mistress of Central Primary School, Gwada, Mrs Justina Barde, said that the IDPs presence in the school premises was affecting the education of pupils.

 

She also highlighted the accommodation challenges, stating that six families, including males and females, live in a single classroom, posing a danger to the female children.

 

Some of the girls who spoke, Rita Iliya and Jennifer Nehemiah, expressed their desire to become a medical doctor and a tailor respectively, in spite of their irregular attendance at school.

 

NAN reports that the organisation presented items, including cartons of biscuits, detergents, soap, and bags of pure water, to the IDPs.

 

NAN also reports that the delegation includes female permanent secretaries, officials from the Adolescent Girls’ Child Education (AGILE) and the Niger state Child Rights Agency.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Economy/Business

ACCI to establish university to bridge skills gap in Africa

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By Lucy Ogalue

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has announced plans to establish a Continental University aimed at addressing the skills gap across Africa.

The President of ACCI, Dr Emeka Obegolu, said this at the chamber’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja.

According to Obegolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the proposed university, known as the ACCI Continental University, will provide hybrid online and full-time education.

He said the institution would operate as a truly pan-African university, offering training in five major languages including English, French, Arabic, Portuguese, and Swahili.

According to the ACCI boss, the diverse languages will serve the diverse regions of the continent.

“We are engaging with the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) to secure approval for the university.

“The facilities are already in place, and we are consulting with international education specialists to design a comprehensive curriculum, particularly for the language components,” Obegolu said.

He said that the university would focus on equipping students with practical and technical skills tailored to meet the demands of the labour market.

The ACCI president restated the need to address the mismatch between university graduates’ qualifications and the skills required by industries.

“It is no longer enough to graduate with degrees in political science or sociology without the necessary foundational skills.

“Many of these graduates end up in unrelated fields, such as banking, without adequate preparation,” he said.

The ACCI president added that the university would support businesses by providing trained personnel in high-demand fields such as carpentry, medicine, and other vocational areas.

Obegolu also emphasised that the university would bridge the gap in skilled manpower across the continent, ensuring businesses had access to a workforce tailored to their specific needs.

On the timeline for the university’s launch, he said it would depend on the NUC’s approval.

“We are ready on our part, but the timeline is subject to the NUC’s decision. Once we secure their approval, we will announce a definitive schedule.

“I am calling on the media to support the initiative by promoting its vision and objectives, which aligns with fostering economic growth and reducing unemployment across Africa,” he said.

According to Obegolu, the year 2024 has been challenging for many businesses as they continued to stay afloat without sinking.

“The Chamba is a sub-component of Nigeria, so businesses have not had it easy for 2024, but again, there are pointers that 2025 may be better.

“If we are able, as a country, to deal with the stability of our national currency, the Naira , it will help businesses to plan ahead.

“The challenge we faced in 2024 is the inability of businesses to plan because without knowing what the exchange rate will be, it is difficult for businesses to plan.

“So what they resorted to was more of gambling, and some won, some lost. So businesses thrived, some businesses also suffered and shut down,” Obegolu said.

On projections for 2025, Obegolu said the ACCl would focus on advocating for the development of the Idu Industrial District, as it had the potential to support employment in the country.

According to him, the hub will support industrialisation and the economy of the Federal Capital Territory.

Obegolu therefore reiterated the importance for state governments to set up a minimum of one or two industrial districts with dedicated power, infrastructure, and everything needed for businesses to thrive.

On the increased inflation rate, Obegolu said instability rather than rate increase was the challenge, thus the importance of regulating the Naira to enable businesses to plan.

On the increased inflation rate, Obegolu said the major challenge was the instability of the naira, thus the importance of regulating the naira to enable businesses to plan.

While commending the Chamber for the strides achieved over the years, its First Deputy President, Prof Adesoji Adesugba, reiterated the importance of collaboration among members.

Adesugba said, “We can only be stronger as an organisation when we work together.”

Also, the ACCI Second Deputy president, Dr Aliyu Hong, commended the vision, courage, and boldness of the chamber’s president.

“We have a formidable president who is thinking for tomorrow and not today. That is why we have been able to achieve the things we have achieved today.

“I want to urge members to take advantage of the initiatives we have at the chamber as they provide basic solutions to most of the problems we face as a business,” he said.

The President, Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Mr David Etim, urged the government to include the private sector in its projects as it was a major way of growing the economy. (NAN)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Health

UNICEF, journalists move to strengthen  health, education reportage

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By Sani Idris-Abdulrahman

UNICEF has brainstormed with journalists from Kaduna State, Nasarawa, Niger and Kwara on bolstering reportage of health and education issues.

This was in an effort to expand media buy-in at all levels to strengthen terms of engagement to promote reporting and broadcasting of health and education programmes,

UNICEF’s priority areas of intervention for the four states are; reducing the number of zero-dose children, which falls under health, and reducing the number of out-of-school children, which falls under education.

At a dialogue session in Zaria, Kaduna State, Dr Sule Meleh, a Health Specialist with UNICEF, tasked the media to actively participate in creating awareness on the issues.

According to him, this is  through news and programme contents with a view to reducing maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria.

Meleh said the essence of media dialogue was to bring journalists together to brainstorm on issues of maternal and infants’ mortality.

Similarly, it was to identify the major challenges confronting pregnant women ranging from antenatal to postnatal at the facilities and look at possible ways of addressing the issues.

He said that the media were good partners that could help UNICEF spell out some of its interventions on health and education to the public.

This is for them to key into considering the indices of maternal mortality and infants’ death in 2023 cut across the states.

Meleh explained that bringing journalists onboard would go a long way in linking the population with the available services as provided by UNICEF and other NGOs.

He assured more collaboration with journalists to achieve the target objectives.

Similarly, the Kaduna State Education Officer, Primary Health Care Development Agency, Isa Yusha’u, said media practitioners can reach millions of people through their news reportage and programmes contents.

He believed that the discussions would impact positively on improving maternal, newborn and child health across the four states.

Also, Bala Dada, the Education Officer, UNICEF, Kaduna Field Office, said the engagement was to give them information about the programmes UNICEF run along with the government.

He said UNICEF works directly with the state government to focus on the interventions and priorities of the state.

Dada explained what the state governments were focusing on currently which UNICEF was greatly interested in.

He said, ”This is because of the interest they have about out-of-school children and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN).”

Dada lamented that recent data showed  an upsurge of out-of-school children.

He said: “In Kaduna, Nasarawa, Niger and Kwara  we work with government partners and other education sector players to roll out interventions to reduce the upsurge.

“This engagement with the media across the states is to let them know what exactly we are doing and how we are doing it and what we are trying to achieve.”

The specialist emphasised the need for coordination between what development partners and government were doing.

“We all need to have proper data, we need to know exactly where the out-of-school children are located in our communities.

”When we do this, all the interventions by development partners and the government will be more targeted and better results will be seen,”he said.

Hadiza Muhammad, UNICEF’s Communication/Advocacy/Partnerships Officer, Kaduna Field Office, said the two- day dialogue would add value to the lives of the people particularly women and children in the four states and Nigeria as whole.

Salisu Lawal, the Director, Planning, Kaduna State Ministry of Education, said the media engagement was timely, adding that the educational sector has a myriad of problems that could be reduced heavily by the media.

Describing the media as critical stakeholders in awareness creation, he said they were also critical in influencing government policies.

Lamenting the state’s high burden of out-of-school children, Lawal said Kaduna was the first state that accessed the Islamic Development Bank’s loan to address the issues.

“Kaduna State has serious concerns about the issues, but it can’t address it all without critical stakeholders.

‘They include the media, school based management committees and the parents teachers association, CSOs among others.

“The programme, intended to return 200,000 out-of-school children back to school has already started.

”It is going to construct more schools, renovate structures and also improve the school management across the state,”Lawal said.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that a paper titled “Digital Reports and Use of Social Media”, was presented by the Managing Director of Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC), Mr Ahmed Maiyaki.

He stressed the need to apply innovation and advancement in carrying out their responsibility amidst the
social media era where citizen journalists can write and post without adhering to ethics.

Also, Dr Murjanatu Abba from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, took the participants through a practical session on development of storylines/media action plan for health and education programs.

The journalists from the four states commended UNICEF for the dialogue.

They pledged their commitment towards ensuring that the essence of the engagement is achieved in their respective states.

They called on their respective states’ governments’ officials especially Public Relations Officers in MDAs to be open and avail information when needed by the journalists.

”Access to information also aids journalists’ work.We are committed to upholding the ethics of journalism and protecting our sources when the need arises,” they added. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Education

Tinubu pledges funding, infrastructure support for tertiary education

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By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

President Bola Tinubu has pledged to provide the enabling environment for productivity in tertiary institutions through funding and infrastructure support.

Tinubu made the promise on Thursday at the 36th Convocation Ceremonies of Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) in Lagos.

A total of 8,139 students set of the 2022/2023, graduated at the occasion.

Tinubu was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Dr Suwaiba Ahmed.

The President charged Yabatech management to do more to encourage impactful education that would bring about sustainable development.

“The college’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurial skills among students has greatly enhanced our nation’s capacity for innovation and self-reliance,” he said.

The President advised the graduands to build on the strong foundation of the college and leverage acquired skills for professional growth and impacts.

According to him, the skills gained at Yabatech are not just tools for personal advancement, but also instruments for national growth and transformation.

“You are equipped to not only succeed but lead and inspire, making meaningful contributions across various domains, including science, technology, commerce, environmental design, art, agriculture and entrepreneurship,” he added.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, said that a bill to eradicate dichotomy between HND and B.sc holders was underway.

He said that there must be equal opportunity for all.

Abbas said, `’We all know what the country will gain by promoting vocational and technical education, this country needs people with skills to raise the nation’s profile technologically.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ceremony also featured conferment of Honorary Fellowship of Yabatech to Abass, who was represented by Mr Fuad Laguda, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Tertiary Institutions.

In her remarks, Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, who was also conferred with the honorary fellowship, announced a N50 million endowment fund for the college, to support the best graduating female student.

According to her, Nigeria needs to support education of the girl-child and remove barriers on her path.

“When I was in the Senate, my focus was on how to make life better and easier for our young ones, they are our future,” she said.

The First Lady was represented by Mr Wahab Alawiye-King, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs and Strategy (Office of the First Lady).

The Rector of Yabatech, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, described the ceremony as a testament to hard work, resilience and vision.

He charged the graduands to be curious, bold and be ethical.

“As you step out into a world that is rapidly changing, realise that it is a world driven by technology, innovation and insatiable hunger for progress.

“The world is not waiting for you, it is challenging you.

“Remember, success in the 21st Century is not just about knowledge, it is about adaptability and vision.

“Technology will evolve, industry will transform and the problems of today will give way to challenges of tomorrow,” he added.

The rector said that 316 of the students graduated with distinction; 2, 381 with upper credit, 3,939 with lower credit, and 1,503 with pass.

Prof. Funso Afolabi, the Chairman of Governing Council of Yabatech, lauded the management of the college for achievements recorded so far.

Afolabi charged the graduands to make maximum use of skills, knowledge and values gained from the institution.

NAN reports that Mr Adeoye Samsudeen of the Yabatech’s School of Electrical Engineering got the college’s Award for the Overall Best Student at Higher Natiomal Diploma level, while Dhikrullahi Ishola of the School of Civil Engineering got the Overall Best Student Award at National Diploma level for the 2022/2023 set. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

Gender , General News

Stakeholders urge FG to prioritise girl-child education policies

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By Justina Auta

Education stakeholders have called for the implementation of policies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promote girl-child education, and reduce Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases.

The stakeholders made the call on Thursday at the 2024 Girls Education Summit (GES’24), organised by the Girls Education Access Initiative (GEAI) and the Network of Youths for Sustainable Development Goals (NGYouthSDGs) in Abuja.

Mrs Kemi Gbadamosi-Braimah, Founder of GEAI, highlighted the alarming figure of over 10 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, with girls and young women accounting for more than 60 per cent of the total.

“Nigeria faces a crisis of uneducated girls. If unaddressed, this will lead to a generation of women lacking literacy. Educating girls with at least 12 years of quality education can bring trillions in development gains,” she said.

Gbadamosi-Braimah stressed the need for collective implementation and strengthening of policies and practices to address this challenge.

She also called on community leaders, NGOs, and stakeholders to champion girls’ rights and education policies.

She noted that GEAI has empowered over 200 young girls and women through improved access to education, skills training, and community mobilisation on girls’ rights.

James O’Donoghue, First Secretary for Development Diplomacy and Education at the British High Commission, reiterated the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s education sector.

He described girls’ education as a transformative investment that boosts economic and social development, alleviates generational poverty, and contributes to national GDP growth.

“It also reduces child marriage and maternal mortality rates,” he added.

Mrs Christina Uzo-Okamgba, Founder of the Tabitha Empowerment Centre (TEC), identified child marriage, harmful cultural practices, patriarchal norms, and sexual violence as key barriers to girls’ education.

“These vices deprive girls of their right to education and limit their potential to contribute meaningfully to their communities and national development,” she said,

She also urged stakeholders to ensure inclusive education for vulnerable children, especially survivors of GBV.

Speaking on behalf of traditional leaders, Alhaji Yunusa Bako-Abdullahi, District Head of Karonmajiji community in Abuja, appreciated the organisations for their role in promoting girl-child education.

He was represented by Alhaji Mohammed Gidado.

The summit also featured panel discussions on bridging policy and practice in girls’ education and addressing barriers to education with strategic recommendations.

Students from Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Local Education Authority (LEA), Kpegi, shared how GEAI projects in their community had motivated them to return to school and complete their education. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

Education

Education: Senate pledges brighter future for Nigerian children

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By Naomi Sharang

The Senate has assured Nigerian children of a brighter future, enabling them to reach their full academic potential.

Chairperson, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Sen. Ireti Kingibe, gave the assurance at an event to mark the “Universal Children’s Day” held at the National Assembly complex.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of this year’s event is “Investing in Our Future: Empowering Children to Build a Better World”.

Kingibe emphasised that children are the future of Nigeria, and it was essential to invest time, energy, and resources in helping them become the best version of themselves.

She stressed that children would ensure Nigeria’s greatness in the future.

The President of the NSE, Margaret Oguntala, represented by Dr Felicia Agubata, highlighted the importance of empowering and inspiring children to build a brighter future.

Oguntala emphasised that education, healthcare, and skill acquisition were essential investments in children’s potential to create a better society.

“Children are our pride and joy; they are the leaders of tomorrow’s progress.

“As leaders, parents and professionals, we bear a collective responsibility to nurture their dreams, safeguard their wellbeing, and equip them with the tools they need to thrive in an evolving world.

“Education, healthcare and skill acquisition are not mere privileges but essential investments in their potential to create a better society.

“I would like to call on all parents to take special interest in the development of their children.

“Let me also use this opportunity to urge our children to embrace education and skills acquisition with dedication and discipline.”

Also speaking, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP-Kogi), called for the digitalisation of education, suggesting that e-libraries and digital learning platforms would improve efficiency and accessibility for students.

Sen. Neda Imaseun (LP-Edo), emphasised the importance of handing over the baton to children, acknowledging their crucial role in shaping the future.

However, he also stressed the need for better welfare and remuneration for teachers to provide quality education. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Politics

Reps pledge support for digital, technical education

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By EricJames Ochigbo

Speaker of House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has pledged the commitment of the house to passing appropriate legislation that will foster digital learning and technical education in the country.

Abbas gave the pledge at a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education in Abuja on Monday.

The hearing was on four bills seeking to establish the National Vocational Centre; Federal Artificial Intelligence Institute, Aliade, Benue; Federal College of Science and Technology, Askira-Uba, Borno and National Institute for Technical and Vocational Education, Wamba, Nasarawa State.

Represented by Rep. Auwalu Gwalabe (APC-Bauchi), Abbas said that the initiative required a strong collaboration on the side of the government and all stakeholders.

He said that polytechnic education would continue to be relevant to the Nigerian economy for the much-needed industrial development.

According to him, there has been an increasing recognition of the important role that science, technical and vocational education plays in national development.

Abbas said with the emergence of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, it was no longer sufficient for educational institutions to merely impact theoretical knowledge.

He said that youths must be equipped with practical skills that would enable them to thrive in an ever-evolving technologically-driven job market.

“We are hoping that the eventual establishment of these proposed science and technical institutions will provide access to quality technical education.

“We are also hoping that it will address the skills gap by equipping our graduates with employable skills, promote innovation and entrepreneurship as well as support the current efforts of government to diversify the economy.

“These proposed institutions will serve as beacons of excellence – providing qualitative education that meets international standard, while also being tailored to meet local needs.

“Therefore, today’s hearing aligns seamlessly with our legislative agenda as mentioned earlier, aimed at enhancing the educational framework within Nigeria.

“We recognise that in an increasingly competitive global environment, it is imperative that our youths have the relevant skills and knowledge,” he said.

The speaker expressed the committed of the house to ensuring access to quality education as well as improving educational infrastructure and teacher quality.

Abbas said that the public hearing was a reflection of the desire and commitment of the house to prioritise technical and vocational education as part of the ongoing social sector reform and development of the present administration.

He said that reforming and modernising science and technical education were critical steps toward promoting skill acquisition and empowering youths to contribute meaningfully to the economic growth and development of the country.

According to the speaker, the ongoing fight against insecurity must, as a matter of necessity, consider the provision of functional education for students and youths to ensure that they are gainfully engaged.

Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Rep. Fuad Laguda (APC-Lagos), said that the bills were designed to improve Nigeria’s educational development and promote sustainable human capital development necessary for a self-reliant society.

Laguda said there was the need to prioritise the advantages of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in driving economic growth.

The lawmaker said that the passage of the bills would ensure that the workforce was technologically empowered.

According to him, it will be used to tackle the issues of unemployment, wealth creation, poverty reduction and insecurity, while it will also as a veritable tool in curbing youth restiveness.

“The main objective of establishment of vocational, entrepreneurship and technical skills acquisition institutions in Nigeria is to train technicians and middle-level personnel who will act as catalysts for rapid industrialisation and development of the real sector of the economy.

“There is the need for all stakeholders here present to be dedicated and committed to purposeful deliberations as well as make positive inputs and opinions on all the contending issues of the bills, to further enrich the content and intendment of the proposed laws.

“The contributions of all the stakeholders are important for the success of these bills which seek to address contingent economic issues in Nigeria,” Laguda said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo and ‘Wale Sadeeq

Education

Navy inaugurates school in Niger village

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By Rita Iliya

The Nigerian Navy has inaugurated Major I. E. Muazu Memorial Primary School in Adunu community in Paikoro Local Government of Niger State.

Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), inaugurated the project in Adunu on Thursday.

Ogalla, represented by Rear Admiral Julius Nwagu, Acting Chief of Naval Transformation, said the project was a civil-military engagement, aimed at fostering harmonious relations between the Navy and local communities.

Ogalla said the project was executed under the CNS Special Intervention Quick Impact Project Scheme in honour of Rear Admiral Istifanus Mua’zu -Albara, Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command.

“We decided to encourage every Rear Admiral in Nigeria Navy to initiate projects that will benefit their communities; we have over 15 CNS-sponsored projects nationwide.

“The rear admirals are to identify critical quick impact projects that will have maximum impact on the socio-economic wellbeing of grassroots communities,” he said.

He said provision of infrastructure for early educational training was key to emancipating illiteracy and poverty, adding that through the project, children would have access to quality education.

Ogalla added that the renovated school, benefiting over 118 children, symbolised hope and opportunity for youths in Paikoro Local Government.

In his welcome address, Mua’zu-Albara, disclosed that Major I.E. Muazu Memorial Primary School started as a missionary school in the early 50s.

He disclosed that the project was a two new classroom blocks consisting of five classrooms, two offices as well as three renovated blocks of classrooms.

He added that the project included the construction of a perimeter fence for the school, construction of a security post in line with the safe school initiative.

According to him, others are modern toilet facilities, furniture for the classrooms/offices along with provision of solar powered lightning units within the school premises.

Mua’zu-Albara said the project would address infrastructure deficit in the community and elevate its educational standard, foster a deeper connection between the community and the armed forces.

In his remarks, Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger, emphasised the need for collective support to revamp the educational sector.

Bago, represented by Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, called on council chairmen to take ownership of school properties, given their deteriorated condition statewide.

He said as products of public schools, they should ensure institutions does not fall short of expectation and urged all stakeholders to collaborate and take charge.

The District Head of Adunu, Alhaji Kabiru Bawa, thanked Bago for addressing security concerns in the area enabling residents to sleep peacefully.

He commended the Navy for the new facility and called on the state government to intervene on the deplorable Kafin-koro-Adunu road and the restoration of electricity in Adunu community. (NAN)
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Joe Idika

Education

Prioritise education over strikes, minister urges labour unions

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By Joan Nwagwu

Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, has appealed to labour unions in the sector to prioritise education over strike for the good and future of the Nigerian students.

Alausa said this at the 359th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) on Wednesday in Abuja.

The theme of the conference was, “Respecting Collective Bargaining Agreements and Industrial Peace in a Democracy”.

He said that industrial action should not be the first line option in seeking government”s attention to the unions’ demands.

“I know you as an association, together with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non Academic Staff of Universities(NASU),. collectively, your psyche has been affected.

“The government has gone into agreement with you, and most of the time, the government has not fulfilled their own part of the agreement.

“But let me promise you this, President Bola Tinubu is a democrat, he will work to meet his obligation and agreement that he enters with you.

” Let us prioritise the future of our children and work together to keep them in school,” he said.

Alausa also said that the government was constrained by certain financial limitations like heavy expenditures by the previous administration on subsidies and artificially low exchange rates.

He said that these policies had drained the country’s resources and benefitted the wealthy at the expense of crucial sectors like education.

“Subsidies cost Nigeria nearly one billion dollars daily, while artificially maintaining the exchange rate added another 500 million dollars monthly.

“These unsustainable practices took resources away from critical sectors,”he said.

He urged the labour unions to give the government the benefit of the doubt and engage in collective bargaining with mutual respect.

“We have assembled a committee led by respected Nigerians, including Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, former Head of Service, to negotiate with unions,” he said.

Also, Mr Ayuba Wabba, Former President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said that labour unions’ were frustrated by repeated breaches of agreements with the federal government.

“Failure to honour collective bargaining agreements has been a major source of strikes in Nigeria,” he said.

Wabba called for establishment of a Labour Council, similar to South Africa’s model, that would facilitate quarterly meetings between government and union representatives.

He added that this would help in addressing the emerging issues proactively and fostering trust.

Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, National President of SSANU, called for a shift in perceptions around unions.

Ibrahim said that SSANU and other unions were often mischaracterised as “strike-happy” and called for a new narrative that promotes industrial peace.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

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