News Agency of Nigeria
How Regent became West Africa’s top secondary school – UK Inspectors
Education

How Regent became West Africa’s top secondary school – UK Inspectors

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Regent Secondary School, Abuja, has been named the first and only secondary school in Nigeria and West Africa to be rated ‘outstanding’ across all nine categories by British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspectors.

The inspection, commissioned by the UK Department for Education (DfE), places Regent Secondary School, Abuja, among an elite group of international schools globally.

The inspection, conducted by Penta International and led by Dr Mark Evans, found the school to provide the highest quality of education and care.

Evans told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that the Feb. 2025 inspection assessed education quality and pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development.

Other areas evaluated included the welfare, health, and safety of pupils; the suitability of staff, supply staff, and proprietors; and the premises and accommodation.

He added that the provision of information to parents, the handling of complaints and grievances, leadership and management, and boarding provision were also examined.

He explained that the purpose of the inspection was to inform parents of pupils in British Schools Overseas about how their standards compare to those of independent schools in England.

“Inspectorates approved by the DfE and monitored by Ofsted carry out inspections on British schools overseas and produce reports that are made available to parents and prospective parents.

“These reports inform parents and prospective parents about the quality of provision within the inspected school and its compatibility with independent schools in England,” he said.

Evans described the quality of education at Regent Secondary School as “broad, innovative, and child-centred,” praising its effectiveness in engaging students and delivering excellent academic outcomes.

“Students consistently achieve significantly above global averages, with 98 per cent securing A-C grades at the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), a globally recognised qualification, nearly half of which are A* or A grades”.

He commended the school for its exceptional spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, underpinned by its core values of ‘Respect, Responsibility, and Resourcefulness’.

He also highlighted how students developed an excellent understanding of tolerance, open-mindedness, and respect for the beliefs, cultures, and views of others.

Commending the school’s boarding facilities, Evans described them as ‘exemplary’, noting that “boarders feel safe, secure, comfortable, and enjoy their accommodation.

“Students are a true credit to the school, consistently demonstrating outstanding conduct, empathy, and academic dedication.

“This landmark achievement is the direct result of the collective efforts, commitment, and cooperation of the entire school community; students, parents, teachers, support staff, leadership team, and governing board.

“Together, their contributions have cultivated a thriving educational environment that nurtures globally-minded, academically accomplished, and socially responsible young individuals,” he added.

Highlighting the school’s leadership and management as key strengths, he praised its clear strategic vision and effective management practices.

“Leadership consistently fosters a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring a thriving academic and personal environment for both students and staff”.

The Principal of the school, Mr Philip Reynolds, while receiving the inspectors’ report, stated, “This recognition reflects the high standards we uphold at Regent Secondary School, Abuja.

“It is a proud moment for our school community and a testament to the dedication of our students and staff”.

Reynolds further described the achievement as a defining milestone for the school, having been rated outstanding in all nine categories.

He said this accomplishment was based on the school’s unwavering commitment to excellence, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

“The school’s outstanding achievements reflect not only its commitment to academic excellence but also the strength of its inclusive, nurturing community.

“This success is built on the dedication of students who embrace learning, teachers who inspire and challenge, parents who provide unwavering support, and a leadership team that continuously drives innovation and excellence in education,” he added.

NAN reports that the school now joins its sister institution, Regent Primary School, which achieved an Outstanding inspection rating in 2023, making it the first and only primary school in West Africa to receive this recognition.

Also, at the 2024 Cambridge Awards ceremony for top performance in Cambridge examinations in Nigeria, Regent Secondary School, Abuja, was recognised for producing the highest number of awardees. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

Kuwait commits to empower 200,000 out-of-school children in Kaduna
General News

Kuwait commits to empower 200,000 out-of-school children in Kaduna

Empowerment

By Sarafina Christopher

The Kuwaiti government has reiterated its commitment to empowering 200,000 out-of-school children in Kaduna State, through the Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) project.

Mr Salim Almuzayen, the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Nigeria, made this announcement during the 64th National Day and 34th Liberation Day commemoration of Kuwait in Abuja.

Almuzayen explained that the initiative aimed to provide equitable access to quality primary education, especially for children with disabilities, girls, and adolescents in Kaduna State.

He noted that the project, funded by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development in collaboration with partners and UNICEF, was designed to support more than 200,000 students.

The Ambassador also highlighted the long-standing bilateral relations between Kuwait and Nigeria, dating back to the 1960s, when the Al-Sabah School was built in Kaduna.

“It reflects the depth of these historical relations and shows the potential for further cooperation in various areas between our two friendly countries,” he added.

On his part, Mr Adeolu Okenla, the Senior Councillor of the Middle East and Gulf Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lauded the strong diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Kuwait.

These ties, he noted, began in 1971, with collaboration in political and economic areas.

Okenla explained that Kuwait’s National Day and Liberation Day were significant milestones in the country’s history.

“The National Day marks Kuwait’s independence from British protection in 1961, while the Liberation Day commemorates the country’s freedom from Iraqi occupation in 1991.

“Kuwait has made significant progress since then, becoming a wealthy and safe country with a high standard of living,” he said.

He further commended Kuwait for its contributions to regional peace and development, particularly within the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Okenla also expressed appreciation for Kuwait’s free education policy, which spans from primary school to university and has contributed to a 96.46 per cent adult literacy rate in the country. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Niger Govt. invests N1bn on special needs education
Education

Niger Govt. invests N1bn on special needs education

 

By Rita Iliya

Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger says the state will invest N1 billion on the provision of education for children with special needs.

 

Bago announced this during the inauguration of Resources, Inclusivity and Strategic Communication (RISE) project on Wednesday in Minna.

 

It is organised by Farid Centre in collaboration with MacArthur Foundation and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD).

 

The governor said that the state government was partnering with Farid Centre to establish a pilot scheme of Schools for Special Needs in four public schools in Minna.

 

He said the pilot schools would be at IBB Primary School, Bosso Primary School, School for Children with Special Needs and Dutsen Kura Primary School.

 

Bago also announced a donation of N50 million to the centre and another N25 million each for the four pilot schools.

 

The governor said the N1 billion would be used to establish the pilot schemes across the 25 local government areas as part of efforts to scale up the special needs education project.

 

He commended Farid Centre for coming up with the initiative aimed at attending to the needs of people with disabilities and special needs as well as making education free, accessible and inclusive.

 

Earlier in her address, Hajiya Jummai Gimba, the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Farid Centre, said the initiative was aimed at integrating children with special needs into inclusive learning environments.

 

She noted that Niger ranks among the top 15 worst states in Nigeria for the problem of out-of-school children, with a staggering 57.1 per cent of children lacking access to education.

 

“At the Farid Centre, we believe that the true measure of a society’s progress is how well it includes and uplifts its most vulnerable populations,” she said.

 

Gimba expressed gratitude to MacArthur Foundation and partners at JONAPWD for their support, saying the project was about building an educational framework that recognises diversity as a strength and inclusion as a necessity.

 

In her remarks, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to promoting inclusive education for children with special needs.

 

She stressed the importance of integrating children with special needs into mainstream classrooms because of its benefits of social integration, academic performance, teacher skills and community building.

 

Mohamed called on educators, community leaders and advocates to work collaboratively to ensure that every child has access to quality education and the opportunity to thrive alongside their peers.

 

In their separate remarks Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Etsu of Nupe and Dr Umar Farouk, Emir of Minna, commended the initiative aimed at increasing enrollment of children, especially those with special needs, in schools.(NAN)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu/Maureen Atuonwu

FG commits to girls’ education, empowerment
General News

FG commits to girls’ education, empowerment

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening support for girls’ education and empowerment in the country.

Ahmed spoke in Abuja on Thursday during a road walk for the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Employment (AGILE) programme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inscription for the AGILE road walk is tagged Madubi, and the programme is designed to improve secondary education for girls in Nigeria.

Madubi is a Hausa word meaning “mirror” and it aims to increase public awareness and action on girls’ education.

The minister stressed the importance of girls’ education in driving national development, noting that more support would be given to the initiative.

According to her, the road walk is for “the girl to see herself in us as a mirror for a better future.

“We support every programme that seeks to empower the girl-child.

“At the Federal Ministry of Education, we have our own programme that we are going to launch soon to ensure that we empower the girl-child.

“But AGILE is wonderful in terms of giving opportunity to the girl-child by providing access and opportunity for the girl-child to flourish in our society.

“We hope to see other programmes that will ensure every girl-child has the opportunity to reach her full potential,” she said.

Also speaking, the AGILE National Project Coordinator, Mrs Amina Haruna, said the initiative was established to ensure that no girl is left behind in education and to reduce the number of out-of-school children.

Haruna explained that educating girls leads to societal transformation, saying that the slogan Madubi symbolises the girl as a reflection of society.

Sharing the project’s success stories, Haruna said the initiative was being implemented in 18 states, resulting in the construction of classrooms, provision of WASH facilities, and distribution of learning materials to schools.

“We have renovated about 10,000 classrooms. We have built about 475 schools.

“Where there’s a primary school, we try to build a junior secondary school. Where there’s a junior secondary school, we build a senior secondary school.

“We are doing this to bring schools closer to the girls. We don’t want the girls to walk long distances before reaching school.

“And according to the education policy, no girl-child or any child should have to walk more than five kilometres to access school.

“So that transition from one level to the next will be easier for adolescent girls,” she said.

The national coordinator further stated that in 2025, plans were underway to accelerate progress by constructing more classrooms, expanding WASH facilities, and providing more scholarships to the poorest households.

Regarding the challenges of girls’ education due to social norms, she said the organisation was partnering with the Sultan Foundation to address any resistance from communities hosting the projects. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

FG deploys 30 mobile labs, virtual headsets to boost education in North East
Education

FG deploys 30 mobile labs, virtual headsets to boost education in North East

By Talatu Maiwada

The Federal Government, through the Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme (ASSEP), has provided 30 mobile laboratories and virtual reality headsets to enhance educational development in the North East.

Mrs Sa’adatu Shehu, Chairperson of the ASSEP Project Implementation Committee, announced this during a Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting and Programme Assessment on Monday in Yola.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the ASSEP intervention project was launched on May 20, 2024 by Vice President Kashim Shettima in Bauchi.

Shehu explained that the programme, an initiative of the Office of the Vice President and funded by the North East Development Commission (NEDC), aims to address gaps in the quality of secondary education across Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states.

She said the provision of instructional materials is designed to equip students with the academic knowledge and practical skills required for the modern workforce.

“The region has faced persistent challenges due to conflict, limited infrastructure, and gaps in teacher quality and educational resources.

“As part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, ASSEP is transforming education in Northeast Nigeria by focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Agriculture (STEMA).

“This initiative aims to improve student learning, foster healthy competition, and promote excellence in STEMA subjects,” she said.

Mrs Aisha Umar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Adamawa, commended the Federal Government for the initiative, describing it as a great step towards improving education in the region.

She noted that the Northeast has suffered from longstanding neglect in the education sector due to persistent conflict.

Umar encouraged teachers and students to embrace the programme, emphasising its potential to transform education in Adamawa.

She also expressed gratitude to the NEDC for its efforts, stating that the initiative would significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children and enhance teacher capacity.

Mrs Godiya Mamza, a teacher at General Murtala Mohammed College also praised the NEDC, noting that the training provided under the initiative has greatly improved her teaching skills and students’ learning outcomes. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Nabilu Balarabe/Tosin Kolade

Second Chance Education for Kaduna Girls: Challenges and way forward
Features

Second Chance Education for Kaduna Girls: Challenges and way forward

 

By Aisha Gambo, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Bilkisu Aminu was just 16 when she was married off by her parents.

Coming from a less privileged background in Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna, young Bilkisu had keen interest in learning. She wanted to become a medical doctor.

“When a well-to-do suitor came to my house seeking my hand in marriage, I told him I would continue my education after marriage because I was in JSS 1 when he proposed.

“But he refused, he said he didn’t want me to go to school after marriage and my dad didn’t give me the support I needed; so I kept begging even after marriage.

“I kept my uniform in a safe place because I love school and would want to return.

Aminu is now 21 and divorced with a child. Her interest in learning is reignited. She wants to go back to school but does not know where to start.

According to a report by Save the Children78 per cent of girls in the northern region of Nigeria are married before the age of 18, while 44 per cent of girls are married before their 18th birthday in the whole country.

The report titled “State of the Nigerian Girl Report – An Incisive Diagnosis of Child Marriage” shows that child marriage is more prevalent in the northwest and northeast of Nigeria.

The report also states that 48 per cent of girls were married by age 15 and 78 per cent were married by age 18.

A survey by the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics in 2020 shows that 31.1 per cent of children within the primary school age were out of school.

It also showed that 31.9 per cent of children within the junior secondary school age were out of school in the state.

Kaduna State’s Second Chance Policy

The Kaduna State School Census Report 2020 revealed that 25 per cent of adolescent girls dropped out of school. This is due to factors like early marriage, insecurity and poverty, among others.

With this development, the Kaduna state government developed an Education Policy in 2019 which made provision for Second Chance Education (SCE)

The state also developed a 10-year Education Sector Plan (ESP) named Kaduna State 2019 – 2029 Education Sector Strategic Plan.

The plan is a comprehensive and strategic framework developed with the support of development partners to guide planning, implementation and evaluation of education policies and programmes.

UNICEF says to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4, which is inclusive and equitable quality education for all, a Gender-Responsive Education Sector Planning (GRESP) is essential.

The Director of Planning, Kaduna State Ministry of Education, Salisu Lawal, stated that SCE is being implemented with support from development partners for girls who dropped out because they got married.

He said the programme had so far reached 14 communities in 10 Local Government Areas across the state with about 700 drop-out married adolescent girls benefitting since inception in 2018.

Aisha Muhammad, Deputy Director,  Female Education stated that the department creates awareness in communities and engages traditional and religious leaders on the need for drop-out married girls to go to school.

“Those leaders now announce in churches and mosques urging girls interested in going back to school to join the programme.

“We also engage husbands and show them the importance of education to their wives and family at large.

“Some will agree while others will not and some of the adolescent girls who dropped out to get married may later get divorced.

“Others may lose their husbands and come back to school while some who dropped out of school due to medical challenges would want to go back to school.

She said that the ministry is planning to scale up the programme to other local government areas.

Beneficiaries’ Plea

Rabi’at Aliyu, an enrollee in SCE, called on the government to adjust the school time for married women, saying most married women find it hard to be in school in the morning.

Aliyu, who married at the age of 15, could not complete her secondary education as she dropped out of school after JSS 3.

After having her first child, Aliyu decided to go back to school but her husband would not allow her.

She eventually got divorced and remarried. The new husband is supportive; he allowed her to go back to school.

Aged 21, Aliyu enrolled in Government Secondary School, Rigasa and is now in SS 2.

“My challenge started when I got pregnant; I had to go on a break because it wasn’t easy and the school authorities understood.

“Whenever there is a need for me to go back home during school hours, the school authorities allow me because they are aware I’m married.

“I want to become a journalist that is why I’m not giving up,” she said.

Another beneficiary attending Government Secondary School (GSS), Rido in Chikun LGA, Nafisa Aminu, who is a nursing mother, urged the government to include virtual learning in the SCE programme

“We go to school late due to house chores and children; my attention is usually divided since we are not allowed to bring babies to the class.

“If we can get a crèche where we can keep our children till lessons are over, it will help us a lot; we can learn online or on radio just like the way it happened during COVID-19,” she said.

Experts advocate programme flexibility, awareness 

In spite of efforts by the state government to sustain the SCE policy, some experts are of the view that more needs to be done for effective implementation.

Barr. Jennifer Abaji , Founder, Basileia Vulnerable Persons Rights Initiative (BVPRI), stated that one of the things stopping married adolescent girls from joining the second chance education programme is insufficient flexibility.

“We are advocating for the Kaduna state government to leverage ICT to make this second chance education programme more flexible.

“That means instead of the girl getting worried about always getting to school, the school can get to the married adolescents through remote learning.

“Our organisation has successfully convinced the government to allow out-of-school married adolescents to be able to learn from home leveraging ICT.

“We are glad that the government has bought into it and they are excited to review the second chance programme and they promised to invite us to the review of the entire policy,” he said.

According to Abaji, the second chance programme has not been fully utilised saying it would have reached more people if it was flexible.

She recommended that skills acquisition should be added to the programme so that married girls can be able to solve some small financial issues and take care of themselves properly.

Abaji called on the government to ensure that these out-of-school married adolescents are able to have access to the technological tools needed to learn remotely.

As some experts advocate the flexibility of the programme by leveraging ICT, others are calling for intensified awareness campaigns on the programme.

Mrs Margaret John, the principal of Babban Sauran Junior Secondary School stated that most of the girls who are interested in going back to school are not well informed about the programme.

“The government needs to step up in advertisement in jingles both on television and radio.

“It should also use government schools to invite communities around and inform them on the need to bring out these interested girls.

“Most of the problem now is that they are not even aware of the opportunities and if they do, the response would be very interesting,” she said.

Stakeholders however agree that the SCE policy of Kaduna State represents a transformative initiative to address the educational challenges faced by adolescent girls, particularly those impacted by early marriage and other socio-economic barriers.

While significant progress has been made in providing opportunities for school dropouts to return to learning, much remains to be done to enhance its impact.

Flexibility in the programme, including virtual learning options and provision of childcare facilities, as well as the integration of skills acquisition, can help address the unique needs of married girls and young mothers.

Moreover, intensified awareness campaigns are crucial to ensuring that more girls and their families are informed about the programme’s existence and benefits.

As the Kaduna State government works to scale up the initiative, collaboration with stakeholders and leveraging technology will be key to ensuring that no girl is left behind in the pursuit of education.

By empowering these young women, the state not only transforms their lives but also strengthens the foundation for a more inclusive and prosperous society. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria

Former VC urges college to broaden STEM education
General News

Former VC urges college to broaden STEM education

 

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

Advocacy group assesses IDPs education in Niger
General News

Advocacy group assesses IDPs education in Niger

 

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

ACCI to establish university to bridge skills gap in Africa
Economy/Business

ACCI to establish university to bridge skills gap in Africa

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

UNICEF, journalists move to strengthen  health, education reportage
Health

UNICEF, journalists move to strengthen  health, education reportage

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

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