NEWS
Benue SUBEB Embarks On Enrollment Drive to Public Schools
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has embarked upon an enrollment campaign and sensitization Programme to attract high increment of pupils and students across public primary schools in the State.Executive Chairman State Universal Basic Education Board(SUBEB), Dr Grace Adagba, said the exercise was in line with Governor Hyacinth Alia’s vision to prioritize education and make public schools more attractive to people.
Adagba who stated this while launching the campaign at Leach Hotel Otukpo for Benue South Geo political zone also known as zone c, said already the programme had successfully launched in Makurdi for Zone B. She maintained that the campaign is targeted at achieving massive turnout on enrollment in public Schools in the next academic session.Adagba lamented that despite efforts to make education compulsory, public schools lack pupils to utilize the provided infrastructure, facilities, and quality teachers.According to her, stakeholder’s education sectors including parents, teachers’ traditional and religious leaders will be part of the body to drive the campaign across every nook and cranny of the State.She explained that the government has announced a plan to recruit 9,700 teachers to strengthen quality education in the State.The SUBEB chairman called on all stakeholders to embrace free and compulsory basic education available in public Schools; which has been revitalized to benefit the State’s Children, adding that Governor Alia’s administration has revitalized Public Schools for optimal outcomes and urged all parents to take advantage of the opportunity.”Teachers in public primary schools in Benue received quarterly training from experts from Universal Basic Education in conjunction with donor agencies like UNICEF. It is our priority and our desire that all public schools in Benue are adequately enrolled and equipped”, Adagba stated.In his remark, Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management,Rev.Dr. Frederick Ikyaan, lamented the high number of Out -Of -School Children in the State.Ikyaan, who declared the programme open, however called for collective participation of all stakeholders to ensure children receive quality education that prepares them for the 21st Century. He emphasized that the enrollment drive campaign programme is aimed at unlocking potentials and building a prosperous society.While receiving both the executive chairman and the commissioner of education in his palace, O’chi Idoma, His Royal Majesty, Dr. John Elaigwu Odogbo, pledged to partner with SUBEB to encourage parents to enroll their children in public schools.Osogbo described the programme as timely and commended Adagba for her efforts, assuring that the Idoma Traditional Council would mobilize its members to support the enrollment drive. He tasked traditional rulers in his domain to sensitize their people on the importance of education, emphasizing that it is key to unlocking the potential of their children. He assured SUBEB of his council’s commitment to ensuring the success of the enrollment drive campaign.In a paper presentation tagged “Free Compulsory Basic Education For all Children: The role of parents and the community,” Dr. Jackson Odey of Benue State University Makurdi posited that while the government may be implementing its statutory responsibility of providing free education, parents are bound to play their complementary role of preparing their children to access basic education. In other papers presented by Dr Nasela Pila,Dr Peter Akpen and Ruth Kwaghkaha, all emphasized the need for Parents and Guardians to enroll their children into Early Childhood Care Development Education (ECCDE)Centres, Public Primary and Junior Secondary Schools.In their Separate Goodwill messages, The Ad’Ohimini,Chief John Ochai, The State NUT Chairman, Comrade Levi Akuma commended Dr Grace Adagba for the ECCDE initiative and pledged their commitment towards its successful implementation in Benue.A statement by the SUBEB information, Emmanuella Akese, said the sensitization campaign was attended by Traditional Leaders, Religious Leaders, Community groups, Principals, Head teachers, Education Managers from the nine Local Government Areas in the Zone.NEWS
Shettima to Lead Nigeria’s Delegation to UNGA
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)NEWS
NECO Releases 2024 SSCE Results
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
NEWS
NDDC Unveils Initiative to Enhance food Security in N’ Delta Programmes
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is committed to advancing projects and programmes that enhance food security and sustainable growth in the region.Chief Monday Igbuya, the Delta representative on the NDDC Board, made this pledge in a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama.
Igbuya spoke at the inauguration of a training and empowerment programme for women and youths in livestock and agro processing in Amukpe, Sapele area of Delta. He stated that the NDDC was prioritising livestock training in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.“NDDC is focussed on implementing programmes to ensure food security and agricultural growth in multi sectors, aiming to improve living standards.“It is our belief that for socio-economic development to take place, there is need to develop manpower in the agricultural sector,” he said.Igbuya expressed confidence that training farmers would enhance livestock production, create jobs, and alleviate poverty in the Niger Delta.Mrs Winifred Madume, NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said that training farmers and entrepreneurs was essential for improving productivity and market access.“The commission has been promoting research and development through various institutions and providing farming techniques to beneficiaries,” she said.The Project Consultant, Dr Simon Akhaine, said that 200 women and youths had registered for the livestock and agro-business skill acquisition programme.According to him, the programme aims to equip them with the essential knowledge and skills for self-sufficiency in livestock farming, thereby boosting regional food security. (NAN)