September 14, 2024

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Education

Specialised varsities will revolutionise education sector– Pro-chancellor

 

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

Prof. Adamu Ahmad, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Federal University of Education, Kano (FUEK), says the establishment of universities of education in Nigeria will revolutionise the country’s education sector.

 

Ahmad, in his goodwill message during the council’s inaugural meeting with the university’s management at its main campus in Kano, described the specialised universities as a permanent fixture, set to usher in a new era of excellence in the education sector.

 

He commended the Federal Government’s visionary decision to upgrade the former federal colleges of education, Kano and Zaria, to universities of education.

 

He described it as a timely response to the growing need for specialised institutions in the education sector.

 

“The conversion of these institutions into universities of education is justified by the pressing need to focus on the intellectual growth of education disciplines, often constrained within conventional universities,” Adamu said.

 

He said that the specialised universities of education could no longer be neglected as they carried the hopes of a region desperate for improvement in its education landscape.

 

Highlighting the benefits of the upgrade as witnessed in the agriculture, health and transportation sectors, Adamu said that the stand-alone universities of education would allow for greater specialisation.

 

He added that it would also enhance teachers’ education quality and contribute to national development.

 

“Isolating education disciplines into dedicated universities will foster innovation in teaching methods and educational research, leading to better-prepared educators and a more robust educational system,” he said.

 

Ahmed also commended the institution’s management for maintaining industrial harmony, which led to a smooth transition of the universities.

 

He highlighted the shared historical significance of FUEK and Federal University Education, Zaria, both founded in the early 1960s as pioneering teacher-training establishments.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kayode Olaitan

Education

We’ll uphold past leaders high standards- Pro Chancellor

By Hafsah Tilde
Dr Mohammed Santuraki, the newly appointed Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, FUT Minna, says the council will uphold the high standards set by past leaders of the institution over the past 40 years.

Santuraki said this during the first meeting of the council members after the inauguration of the 10th governing council in FUT Minna.

“The meeting was incredibly useful, and I am deeply impressed by the exceptional credentials and experience each member brings to our well-deserved positions.

“The quality of  discussions was remarkable, and I am confident that together we have the capacity to elevate this great university to even greater heights during our tenure.

“I truly look forward to working with all of you, including the internal members and institutional representatives on the council that I am yet to officially meet. I eagerly look forward to meeting them too.

“Kudos to the current management under the leadership of VC Prof Faruk Kuta and all those before them who have silently built such an incredible institution over the last 40 years,

“Beginning with the legendary tenure of our pioneer VC, Prof. J.O. Ndagi. We stand on the shoulders of these giants and their legacies. We owe it to them and all University stakeholders to uphold and enhance the high standards they have set.

“It is my immense privilege and honour to lead this charge, and I believe we can achieve great things together,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Tinubu approved the appointment of governing Councils of Tertiary Institutions May 18 and they were inaugurated July 4.

The council plays a crucial role in shaping the direction and policies of their respective institutions, influencing everything from academic standards to administrative decisions.(NAN)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Education

FG to address gender gap in technical education – Mamman

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Federal Government has pledged to close the gender gap being experienced in the National Business and Technical Examinations.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said this while monitoring the examinations being conducted by the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mamman said the ministry was introducing skills programmes in schools from basic to tertiary education levels, noting that schools would be bound to implement the programmes.

“We have a lot of policies and measures to foster female participation in technical courses.

“I have been in the university and I know how the numbers are growing rapidly in engineering, environmental sciences, medical and allied courses, the ladies are practically taking over .

“For us in the ministry, there are programmes already in place that is supporting the boasting of female education and I believe in no distance time we will see overall parity closing completely.

“Once the skill programme is adopted, all schools will be bound to implement it and it’s going to be a game changer,” he said.

Mamman encouraged students to take up skills programme, to address the problems of quality and employment, adding that once students were able to acquire skills, they would be ready for absorption by employers of labour.

The minister assured that the challenge of funding university education was over, and urged the students to take advantage of the newly introduced scholarship scheme of the government to finance their education.

The Registrar of NABTEB, Prof. Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe, said that societal attitude was the bane of low female participation in technical education.

Isiugo-Abanihe said that there had been enlightenment programmes going on, stressing the importance of skills as top priority in building the country’s middle manpower.

According to her, there is a slight increase in the number of candidates that registered for the exams as 67,751 candidate took part in 2024.

“It is the societal attitude, we don’t have as many girls as you are seeing here. In this school, you have over 100 boys and 31 girls.

“There is gender gap in the percentage of female participation in technical schools but it’s coming up. What we are seeing today is not what we used to see before.

“The female lady mechanics and the rest were not there before, so I am hopeful that there is going to be improvement,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the examination,FG monitored at the Federal Science and Technical College, Garki began on June 24, and expected to end on July 29, 2024. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

General News

FG urges collective effort to bridge adult literacy gap

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Federal Government has solicited stakeholders’ collective engagement to close the literacy gaps among youths and adults in the country.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, made the appeal at a National Stakeholders’ Engagement on Achieving Youth and Adult Literacy in Abuja.

The event, organised by the National Commission For Mass Literacy, Adult and Non- Formal Education (NMEC) has the theme: “Addressing the Challenges of Data Collection, Out-of-School Children/Youths.”

A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Yobe had the lowest literacy level of 7.23 per cent in 2017, Zamfara 19.16 per cent, Katsina 10.36 per cent and Sokoto 15.01 per cent.

The report shows that Southern states were far better with Imo the highest with 96.43 per cent, Lagos 96.3 per cent, Ekiti 95.79 per cent, and Rivers 95.76 per cent.

The minister, however, said that there must be an holistic approach towards improving the quality of knowledge and certificate given to the adults and non-formal schools.

“The stakeholders engagement is to carry everybody along and get the buying in of all Nigerians.

“The way forward for us is to pay attention to education and this is not only for children but holistic in adults and non-formal education and this education must be backed with certification.

”We are trying to see how we can improve the quality of knowledge and certificate that can be given to our adults and non-formal schools.

“We also want to incorporate skills acquisition into it so that they can also have skills,” he said.

Sununu added that there was the need to begin to create awareness campaign that would help parents appreciate the importance of an educated society.

“For you to have an educated children, you must have an educated family.

“There is a direct relationship of the education of the offsprings to that of the parent,” he said.

The minister said that with President Bola Tinubu’s attention on education advancement, low literacy level would be eradicated in the country.

According to him, the president has achieved relative success in this with the return of over 2 million children back to school.

Also, the Executive Secretary of NMEC, Prof. Simon Akpama, said the roadmap for the Nigerian Education Sector had provided a strategic framework to tackle illiteracy challenges head-on.

Akpama urged stakeholders to harness the diverse expertise and resources to create inclusive and effective educative programmes that would enhance unhindered access to quality education.

“The population increase contributes to increasing number of out-of-school children and once parental illiteracy is high, it will contribute to increasing the number.

“We must support government in funding adequately youth and adult literacy. Except this commission is properly funded, we will continue to compound the problem of out-of-school children,” he said.

The Chairman, House Committee on Alternative Education, Mr Ibrahim Mustapha, commended the political will of the President towards changing the literacy narrative of the country.

Mustapha also expressed the commitment and support of the National Assembly in achieving an educated society. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bayo Sekoni

General News

I’ll turn around fortunes of FUT, Minna- Pro-chancellor

By Ismail Abdulaziz
The new Pro-chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Dr Mohammed Santuraki, has pledged to turn around the fortunes of the institution.

He said his wealth of experience as an education administrator would be deployed to ensure that the institution retains its pride of place.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Minna, Santuraki said FUT, Minna would also maintain its academic excellence.

‘’FUT, Minna is one institution that has been a rallying point for not only people of Niger  or the North but for all Nigerians.

‘’It is a microcosm of the country where youths are engaged in inventions, innovations and technology development with one common cause of realising the dream of a better Nigeria.

”Nigeria youth deserve to be encouraged to realise their full potential especially in a conducive educational environment,’’ he said.

NAN reports that President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of Santuraki as the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of FUT, Minna a fortnight ago.

He is a seasoned tertiary education administrator having served earlier in the same position at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), the Niger University.

Santuraki also served as the Vice Chairman of the Committee of Pro-chancellors of State-owned Universities in Nigeria.

The new pro-chancellor said that the appointment of the new boards of tertiary institutions would accelerate the Renewed Hope Agenda of Tinubu in the education sector.

He said that the education sector of the country would be revitalised with a strong board comprising men and women with wealth of experience and passion to make positive changes.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Education

FG applauds smooth conduct as 1.8m write WASSCE

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has applauded the smooth conduct of the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

During a visit to monitor the examination at Government Secondary School Garki in Abuja on Thursday, Mamman expressed confidence in the examination’s conduct, noting no reported incidents.

However, he expressed dissatisfaction with some of the school’s infrastructure and promised that steps would be taken to give the school a needed facelift.

“We are here to check the ongoing WAEC examinations and the exams is going on very smoothly, we are happy with the nationwide exams and so far we haven’t had any incident in the exams,” Mamman said.

Speaking on the examinations, the Head of National Office (HNO) of WAEC, Dr Amos Dangut, said about 1.8 million candidates were sitting for the examination.

Dangut said the 2024 examination had slightly more females above the number of males with the ratio of 51:49.

He added that the examination is taking place in over 20,000 school centres nationwide, while commending the candidates’ comportment in the ongoing exercise.

“This year’s exam has been very successful as there has been no report of any leakage whatsoever, so it’s going on smoothly.

“As the minister has attested to it when moving round, you will see that there was calmness as the students were well comported and writing very well,” Dangut said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the May/June WASSCE which began on April 30, is expected to end on June 24.

The examination is ongoing in four WAEC member countries namely, Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra-Leone and Liberia. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Razak Owolabi

Metro

Guarantee our future– pupils urge Tinubu

Guarantee our future – pupils urge Tinubu

By Safia Abdulrahman
Some Pupils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritize education, healthcare of the Nigerian children in order to guarantee their future.

The Pupils who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja as they resumed from the Children Day’s break, also appealed to state governors to give education and healthcare priority attention.

In separate interviews with NAN, the pupils said accessible quality education and healthcare delivery are key to the development of a Nigerian child.

They also urged the federal and state governments to see them as the future of a great Nigeria

Alicia Adewumi, a nine-year old pupil of a public school in Dakwa, Bwari Area Council of FCT, said primary education should be made free while one meal should be served to pupils in school

Asked whether her school has ever benefited from free meal programme of any government, the primary five pupil answered in the negative.

Adewumi expressed concerns and unhappiness over many children of her age, hawking and some begging on the streets during and after school hours.

“I am not happy when I see these children of my age walking in group around our area with plates on their hands begging people for money and food

“I always see them, particularly at Dei-Dei junction. One day I asked my father why they dressed in dirty clothes and begging on traffic.

“I think the government should do something to take them out of the streets,” she said.

On the children day celebration, she said though, her parent did not take her out for ice cream as she expected, but the holiday gave her the opportunity to relax, refresh her mind and play with her friends around the house.

Another pupil, 11 year-old Nmesoma Jonah, said that government should provide free reading books and other reading aids for pupils.

She said it is difficult for her parents to provide her with books and most times, she has to borrow from her colleagues to do her home work.

Jonah who said she would like to be a Medical Doctor when she grew up, said she was fascinated with the profession because of the care she got when she was admitted in a hospital.

Lantana Dogo, a 10-year-old groundnut seller said, there is nothing special about the children day celebration, because it is like a normal day for her to go out to hawk her goods.

“My parents cannot afford to pay for my school fees that is why I am hawking so that we can have something to eat, and buy other important things.

“I have friends who go to school and I wish I have the opportunity to go to school to learn too, ” she said. (NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

From left: Chairman, De Norsemen Kclub International (DNKI), Abuja Chapter, Mr Kolawole Otepola; International President of DNKI, Chief Chidi Anokwu; Convener/Director of Northern Liaison, DNKI, Comrade Jegede Femi-Daniels; and the Chairman, National Advisory Council of DNKI, Mr Oliver Ityobegh, during the DNKI’s Northern Directorate 2024 Children’s Day celebration at Government Secondary School (GSS) Kantoma in Suleja, Niger State on Monday
Education

Children’s Day: NGO tasks government on increased investment in education

By Sarafina Christopher

De Norsemen Kclub International (DNKI), an international humanitarian organisation, has urged government at all levels to invest more in education in order to groom children to become responsible citizens.

Chidi Anokwu, International President, DNKI, made this advocacy at the Northern Directorate 2024 Children’s Day celebration held at the Government Secondary School (GSS), Kantoma in Suleja, Niger.

According to him, the future of a nation depends on the type of training its children receive.

“Children are the future of tomorrow; without the children, we have no hope; without the children, there is no future for this nation; the children are our hope and they are very important to us.

“Government should do more on education; Nigeria as a country is lacking behind and we should actually improve our facilities and education funding.

“We are not there yet; we need to do more,”Anokwu said.

On his part, Oliver Ityobegh, Chairman, National Advisory Council (NAC), DNKI, said that the major objectives of the organisation were to render service to humanity and raise men and women of honour.

He said that in the area of the children, the organisation worldwide provided scholarship, textbooks and amenities in schools in all its branches globally.

“It is important that we provide easy way for the children to learn and encourage parents to send their children to school.

“Let us set good examples and encourage our young ones to look up to us and see that it pays to serve.

“We want them to grow up and become responsible citizens to the country and to their families,” he said.

Ityobegh also appealed to government to make education accessible and attainable for all.

The Chairman, DNKI, Abuja Chapter, Mr Kolawole Otepola, said that the Northern part of Nigeria was classified as an educational disadvantage area; hence, the need to give back to the society to nurture children into responsible adults.

“We still have other programmes for the north; like the security agencies, we have plans for them; it is not just on education alone,” he said.

Otepola said DNKI would in December, organise a programme to give patrol vehicles to Nigerian Police to boost security in the north.

Convener/Director, Northern Liaison, DNKI, Jegede Femi-Daniels, said the organisation aimed to eradicate high rate of illiteracy in the north.

DNKI is an NGO that conducts humanitarian services with the aim of giving back the society. (NAN)(www.nannews.com.ng)

===========
Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

General News

UBEC to host continental Edutech conference on revitalising education

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) is set to host the 6th edition of the African Education Conference (Edutech), aimed at proffering solutions on revitalising the education system using technology and innovations.

The Chairman, Board of Trustee, Education First Nigeria, Dr Macjohn Nwabiaola, who disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, underscored the importance of technology in up-scaling educational needs of the people.

Nwabiaola said there was the need to come up in speed with global trend as well as change the narratives in the nation’s educational pursuit.

“We are in a world, where things are changing and we must ensure that our children can be enabled to compete globally when it comes to education.

“Some years ago, when our students sit for JAMB, it was paper and pencil examination but gradually we made it a Computer Based Test (CBT) which was criticised, but here we are, CBT has come to stay.

“Edutech is very critical and we need to look at our policies in education, we need to bring all stakeholders and it will be holistic as children with special needs will be involved,’’ he said.

Nwabiaola, who is also the former Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, said the education sector is faced with a lot of challenges that must be solved through collaborations.

Also, Founder, Education First Nigeria, Moses Imayi, said the organisation and Skool Media had supported over 110 educational institutions through setting up of their digital centres.

Imayi said the goal was to put technology at the heart of learning in schools across the country, noting that the centres had helped to bridge digital gaps.

“The conference will serve as a platform to mobilise every stakeholders to begin to popularise the importance of education,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator, UBEC Digital Resource Centre, Prof. Bashir Galandaci, said the commission underscored the importance of technology in learning which crystalised the basis for hosting the conference.

Galandaci said UBEC had introduced several digital programmes with the aim of radically transforming basic education in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference with the theme: Building an Effective African Edutech Ecosystem for Global Impact, will take place in Abuja, between Oct. 29 and Oct. 31. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Education

Why we admitted more female students – Ila-Orangun Varsity VC

By Victor Adeoti

Prof. Akeem Lasisi, Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Osun, said the institution admitted more female students for 2023/2024 academic session due to its passion for girl-child education.

Lasisi, said this during the second matriculation and investiture ceremony of the university’s pioneer Chancellor, Alhaji Ibrahim Al-Amin El-Kanemi, the Sheu of Dikwa, on Thursday in Ila-Orangun.

The vice-chancellor said that out of the 673 students that were admitted, 429 were female students, which according to him, constitutes 63.7 per cent.

Lasisi said that 2,069 candidates applied to the university, but only 673 were offered admission into 13 programmes of the university.

“I congratulate the matriculants and your parents for being the successful ones among the 2,069 applicants.

“I must, especially felicitate with the female students who constituted 63.7 per cent out of 673.

“This is the confirmation that our university has keyed, from onset, into the era of the advocacy for girl-child education and female leadership”, he said.

Lasisi urged the new students to be diligent in their studies to justify the labour of their parents.

The VC said that in the last year of his administration, he had worked closely with stakeholders of the university to pursue and realise the purpose of the university.

“My administration has seen to the construction of the faculty of basic sciences, health centre, science laboratory building, library and the university teaching hospital,” he said.

Al-Amin El-Kanemi, after his investiture, pledged to serve diligently and advocate for academic pursuits in the institution.

“Together, we will strive to create an environment that fosters intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a spirit of innovation”, he said.

The Chancellor urged the new students to go forth with courage, hope and knowledge to achieve greatness.

Earlier in his lecture, Prof. Adewale Akinsola (Emeritus), said the new trend of setting up specialised medical universities was conceivably a critical strategy to confront the serious and formidable challenges in the health care delivery.

Akinsola, spoke on the topic “Leveraging on the Emergence of Specialised Medical Universities to Bridge the Performance Gaps in Nigeria’s Healthcare Delivery”.

The don said that there was a frequent attrition of the personnel through the famous “JAPA syndrome”.

“In the last one or two years, over 2,000 health professionals, including doctors/nurses/physiotherapist and laboratory scientists have been affected.

“” We should harness the potentials of the specialised medical university to build a resilient, responsive and effective health community, with good health indices, contributing to the socio-economic well-being of the nation”, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 673 admitted students later took matriculation oath. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Benson Iziama/Tayo Ikujuni

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