Education
School Feeding: FG Begins Enrollment of 642,500 Pupils in Borno
The Federal Government has begun biometric data capture of 642,000 pupils to scale up implementation of the National Home-Grown School Feeding programme (NHGSFP) in Borno.
Alhaji Mohammed Alfa, the Consultant of the programme, stated this in an interview with the reporters, on Thursday in Maiduguri.
Alfa said the one-week enumeration exercise was going smoothly across the state.
“Initially; we planned for 112,500 beneficiaries in Borno, however, the figure based on updated data rose to 642,500, and so far, we have only 55 tablets and expecting delivery of 212 others to speed up the exercise.
“Any moment from now, that would go round the 27 local government areas of the state.
“The good news for Borno is that this programme is supposed to be for 20 days, but because of our peculiarities, we have been given the opportunity to extend it beyond that,” Alfa said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Shettima Ja’afar, Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the state, said the Agency was saddled with responsibility for the distribution of the registration forms to public schools.
Jaafar said that personnel of the Agency with support of local councils’ officials were distributing the forms in some areas with security challenges.
He said the personnel would also handle the biometric registration alongside Corps members engaged for the exercise.
According to him, the Corps members will handle the registration exercise in Maiduguri, Jere and Biu LGAs, while personnel of the Agency would conduct the exercise in the remaining 24 LGAs.
Mr Hauwa Balami, the Headteacher, 1,0000 Housing Estate Primary School, Konduga, said over 400 pupils had been captured in the ongoing enumeration exercise.
Balami said that no fewer than 12 food vendors were engaged to supply meal to the pupils in the school under the programme.
“We have a committee of four people responsible for ensuring the quality of the food,” she said
Some of the parents, Bukar Usman, Yagana Modu and Fatima Ali, lauded the initiative, saying it encouraged enrollment and retention in school.
“The feeding programme made the pupils eager to rush to school without waiting to take breakfast at home. It should be sustained,” Usman said.
A food vendor of the programme, Amina Mohammed, also commanded the programme, adding it created employment opportunity for her and other women in the state.
“I also want to appeal for an upward review of fund because prices of food commodities have gone up, and we (vendors) wont make any gain if we continue like this,” she said.
The school feeding programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in collaboration with state governments.
The programme is designed to ensure that each pupil from primary 1 to primary 3 in public school receive one free nutritious meal during school hours. (NAN)
Education
Bells Varsity Honours 91 Students with First Class at 16th Convocation
Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun, on Saturday awarded 91 students of the institution First Class (Honours) at its 16th Convocation Ceremonies.
The convocation ceremonies are for the 2023/2024 academic session.
Ojediran said that a total of 969 students graduated in the academic session.
He said that they comprised the 91 students who made First Class grade, 505 who secured Second Class (Upper Division), 313 with Second Class (Lower Division) and 60 graduating with Third Class.
The vice-chancellor said that 220 students were graduating in the post-graduate category.
Mr Sally Farouk from the university’s Department of Architecture emerged the overall best student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.
94, according to Ojediran.He said that the institution set out to proffer best solutions from collective knowledge, shared experiences and resources, recognising that education was a lifelong activity.
The vice-chancellor lauded the staff of the university for cooperation and dedication to giving the students quality education.
“You have joined hands with the management of the institution to work on this fertile ground,” he said.
The Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Bart Nnaji, said that university was the first private university of technology in Nigeria, noting that it was established in 2005.
Nnaji said that the institution had made remarkable achievements in teaching and research as part of its vision to contribute to the growth and development of Nigeria.
“Let me also congratulate the graduating students who have distinguished themselves through their hard work and discipline and are being rewarded today.” he said.
In his remarks, the Chancellor of the institution, Dr Ibrahim Dankwambo, commended former President Olusegun Obasanjo for contributions to education development in the country.
Dankwambo also congratulated a former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, and the Executive Director of Sahara Group, Mr Temitope Shonubi, for honorary doctoral degree given them by the university.
Report says that Okebukola and Shonubi were conferred with the degree for their outstanding pedigrees and services to humanity. (NAN)
Education
Prioritise Teachers’ Welfare, NUT President Urges Governors
President of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Audu Amba, on Tuesday, called on state governors to prioritise the welfare of teachers to enhance quality education at the grassroots.Amba made the call at the Adamawa NUT Delegates’ Conference, with the theme: “Education Challenge in an Economy of Uncertainty: Effect of Teachers,” in Yola.
While appreciating Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri for the immediate implementation of N70,000 minimum wage, he called on other governor, who had yet to implement it in their states to do so. The NUT president advised members to be productive and strive to undergo training and retraining to further enhance their efficiency and effectiveness.He called on delegates to elect leaders who would lead well and be bold enough to protect the interests of teachers.Amba also appealed to the governor to implement the minimum wage for primary school teachers and local government workers.In his address, Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Adamawa chapter, Emmanuel Fashe, decried what he called over-taxation of the civil servants in the state, following the implementation of the new minimum wage.Fashe commended the state government for the recent employment of qualified teachers, calling for employment of more, especially primary school teachers.He urged the delegates to conduct themselves in an orderly manner and vote wisely.The governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Education Reform, Prof. Sofema Geoffrey, reiterated his administration’s commitment to the development of education in the state.According to him, NUT has a lot to showcase in term of support to government to ensuring quality education in the state.Fintri urged the delegates to conduct a peaceful conference.He assured that other issues at the forum, especially the ones on over-taxation, would be put into consideration. (NAN)Education
Over 40 Students Bag First Class at FUL
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
No fewer than 41 Students out of the total number of 1,863 bagged first class degree at the 8th convocation ceremony of the Federal University, Lokoja
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, disclosed this in his speech at the 8th convocation ceremony held at the Felele main Campus of the institution in Lokoja at the weekend.
He said that 461 students were conferred with Second Class Upper and 974 got Second Class Lower while 384 students bagged Third Class and 3 students were awarded Pass Degree.
Professor Olayemi Akinwumi also announced that a total of 117 students were awarded Diploma and 216 with postgraduate degrees: Ph.
D, Master’s and PGD.He said that within his short period in office, the university had embarked on a landmark Collaboration with Rural Electrification Agency to provide reliable power generation via renewal energy solutions such as installation of campus-wide street lighting and establishment of renewable energy training centres.
The Vice Chancellor also announced that Federal University, Lokoja under his administration established the first-ever Zoo and Conservatory in Kogi state to serve not only as a significant hub for research and education but also provide a unique platform for community engagement and environmental conservation.
“It is worth noting that prior to my assumption of office in 2021, only two inaugural lectures were held at our university but now I am proud to share that we have successfully conducted a total of twenty-two inaugural lectures since then.
“In our commitment to fostering engagement with critical societal issues, we have prioritised public lectures as the cornerstone of our mission at FUL. Since our last convocation, we have successfully organized six impactful public lectures that have addressed a variety of important topics” Professor Olayemi Akinwumi further disclosed.