NEWS
Osinbajo, Bagudu, Mull Provision of Basic Education for Girl Child
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday tasked governments at all levels to deliver on their roles on provision of basic education for the benefit of all Nigerians, especially the girl child.
Osinbajo made the call as the special guest at the Mallpai Foundation 2021 Literacy Day, with the theme: “Promoting Literacy for Better Education in Nigeria,” in Abuja.
According to him, education is the best ticket to the full enjoyment of all human civil, socio-political and economic rights.
Osinbajo said: “So, when we talk about human rights that have been declared, the only way to access those rights, including economic rights, is by education at the most basic level.
“The ability to read and write, not just in one’s own language, but other global languages is crucial; to be deprived of education is to be deprived of means of pursuit of a dignified existence.
“It is the only means where one can fully contest or collaborate with others for the benefits that life offers and it is so important for us, especially those who are policy makers.
“We owe our people the duty to educate them, we owe our people the duty to lift their minds to the level where they can benefit maximally from their environment and give benefits to others.
“Every study, every survey that you have seen confirms that education, especially of women, has a multiplier effect on everything around them.
“If you educate a woman, she transforms her environment completely. It usually means a longer life span for herself and for her children.
“It means they are less likely to die of communicable diseases, since they understand the modern practices of hygiene and sanitation and follow useful material on healthcare.
“All of these things are possible; everything is possible if the mind of a human being is educated.
“Every child has talent, every child that is born is born with some talents and some abilities, but nothing will happen if they are not educated to express those abilities.”
The vice president commended the Foundation for its initiative towards improving people’s access to education and skills acquisition opportunities for poor and underprivileged communities.
He also noted that such had enabled disadvantaged and out- of-school children surmount the hurdles of getting formal education, especially on account of prevailing culture.
“In every zone of the country where there has been free education, particularly Western region, there was a great deal of resistance in Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s introduction of free education.”
He reiterated that a lot needs to be done through the courage of individual and corporate convictions, for the goals of girl-child education to be achieved.
Also speaking at the event, Gov. Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State commended the Federal Government’s efforts under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, to provide basic education, aimed at meeting future challenges.
According to him, with several successes, Kebbi state had keyed into some educational programmes that provided access to those without access to education.
“We challenged Professors of Higher institutions and told them that under our Universal Basic Education Board law, our best brains should lead where the greatest challenges are in the state.
“These professors accepted and today 21 Local Education Authorities in Kebbi State are led by dons from across different universities.
“The remarkable success recorded is that they were able to face the challenges as trusted and able to look at the government, to say we can do better here and differently.
“In spite of this, the community has to get involved; today there is a consequence in poor investment in getting children back to school, especially the nomadic.
“There is therefore the need for society not to avoid inclusion of young people in accessing quality education.”
The Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, said that what the Foundation had done was expected of everybody, saying “government is all of us”.
According to him, since 2009, the Founder of Mallpai Foundation, Hajiya Aisha Atiku-Bagudu, started this programme she had reached out and touched many lives positively.
Nwajiuba said: “The only way we are going to uplift one another is to help one another grow.
“Essentially, education provides that something that turns nobody into somebody, by putting something inside that body.
“The thing you put inside that body, you put in the brain and that is what education enables a country to do, we are all here to support Mallpai and recommit ourselves that no child is left behind.”
The event attracted people from all walks of life and featured panel discussion on policies aimed at reshaping the education of the girl-child.
MALLPAI means “Mass Literacy for the Less Privileged and Almajiri Initiative”. (NAN)
Israel has sent two planes to evacuate fans from Amsterdam after violent clashes between Israeli supporter and pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the fringes of Ajax versus Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa Cup match.
“The Prime Minister has directed that two rescue planes be sent immediately to assist our citizens,.
“The harsh pictures of the assault on our citizens in Amsterdam will not be overlooked’’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office posted on X on Friday morning.
The Israeli leader’s office called the incident horrifying and demanded that the Dutch government and security forces take vigorous and swift action against the rioters, and ensure the safety of our citizens.
This clash was however unclear and yet to be unfolded.
The exact events remain unclear. The violent disturbances occurred around the Europa League football match between Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday evening. Ajax won 5-0.
There were clashes in several locations in the centre of the Dutch capital; though it was not specified which side started the violence.
Around 60 people were detained temporarily on Thursday evening, the police said.
Amsterdam TV station AT5 reported that demonstrators threw chairs at Maccabi fans.
The police’s mobile units reportedly shielded the Israelis and escorted them to their hotels.
There were also clashes in the afternoon between Israeli football fans and security forces in the city centre.
According to police, about a dozen people were arrested for disturbing public order and illegal possession of fireworks.
Even before the match, there were isolated altercations near the stadium in the south-east of the city, the police said.
More than 200 demonstrators attempted to reach the venue, according to the police.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned these “unacceptable antisemitic attacks on Israelis’’ on X and said he had since spoken with Netanyahu.
Far-right Dutch leader Geert Wilders called it a pogrom.
“We have become the Gaza of Europe,’’ he said, adding that Muslims with Palestinian flags were hunting down Jews.
Israel’s UN ambassador also referred to the incident on X as a pogrom.
Steffen Seibert, Germany’s ambassador to Israel condemned the incident.
“Chasing and beating up Israeli soccer fans is not anti-war protest.
“It is criminal and intolerable and we must all stand against it. As a European I am ashamed to see such scenes in one of our great cities,’’ he wrote on X.
However the Reaction from the United States (U.S.).
In New York, Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), described itself as the world’s largest anti-hate organisation.
He demanded that the Dutch government ensure the safety of Israeli fans, apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators and apologise for the violence.
“This is exactly what ‘globalise the intifada’ looks like,’’ Greenblatt wrote on X, saying there were mobs of hate-filled people who had attacked Israelis who came to Amsterdam to enjoy a football game.
Even New York Attorney General Letitia James chimed in on X, calling the attacks against Jews in Amsterdam “deeply disturbing and horrifying.’’
New York State, particularly metropolitan New York City, has a large Jewish population.
“We must do everything in our power to protect Jews in America and across the world.
“This anti-Semitism and violence must end now,’’ she wrote. (dpa/NAN)
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has given insurance companies Dec.31 deadline to clear all outstanding claims.
The Head, Communication and Stakeholders Management Sub-committee of the Insurers Committee, Mrs Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, made this known while addressing a news conference after a meeting of management in Lagos.
The meeting marked the first gathering of the Insurers Committee with Mr Segun Omosehin, as the Commissioner For Insurance.
Nwachukwu, also Managing Director, Rex Insurance Ltd., said the commissioner charged insurance companies CEOs at the meeting to ensure that no outstanding claims is captured at the close of their 2024 financial accounts.
The NAICOM boss, she said, tasked the insurance company’s executives to defend the insurance industry through payment of genuine claims, which is integral.
“The regulator said it would be checking in an intensive and focused manner, the outstanding claims in the insurer’s books.
“The commission said its focus is on the soundness of the insurance industry, measured by the ability of meet their obligations when due,”she said.
According to her, the commissioner also charged the insurance companies to take steps towards recapitalisation, by evaluating their financial position, as to the need to raise fresh capital.
She said the charge came by the regulator,having exposed a draft of the Risk Based Supervision (RBS) regulations to the operators, in the event that recapitalisation takes-off.
“If there will be need to raise capital, insurance companies need to start speaking with their different boards, shareholders about the possibility of recapitalisation happening, before it becomes a regulation,”she said.
Nwachukwu revealed that the commissioner further encouraged brokers to ensure strict compliance with the “no premium, no cover” regulation, having observed some violations to the regulation.
She said the commissioner also charged CEOs of insurance firms to get involved in addressing complaints.
Nwachukwu also stated that the regulator encouraged the insurance operators to submit the financial statements of their companies early enough, to create more confidence on the industry.
She mentioned that Omosehin charged the insurers to focus their attention significantly on Nigeria’s Data Protection regulations for the insurance industry.
The sub-committee chairman said NAICOM boss also wants insurance operators to pay specific attention to the implementation of the 10- year Insurance Strategic Plan.
She said this was important, having unanimously agreed to seven thrusts of commitment that would enable the industry meets its objective by year 2027.
Nwachukwu added that the commissioner charged the insurance operators to also pay attention to the legal and regulatory framework for the industry, under the Insurance Bill 2024.
“He spoke about focusing of compliance issues, under the Prudential Guidelines released by NAICOM to the insurers and put an end to Corporate Governance abuses, recognised within the industry.
“The commissioner discussed the National Credit Guarantee Scheme signed by President Bola Tinubu.
“If insurers invest in the scheme, we have the potential of sitting on the board of the facility, where a lot of decisions would be taken,”she said.
According to her, Omosehin also informed the insurance operators on the significant progress made on the Agency’s portal, noting that all resources are in place to continue the efficiency of the portal.
Nwachukwu said the present administration of NAICOM is very clear on the insurance industry and what it expects to see and has hinged its success on the collective Insurance Industry Reforms plans agreed upon as an industry.
She further said that the regulator insisted that insurers get the right approval from NAICOM before newly appointed Executive Director of insurance companies assumes their appointment.
The insurer stated that the committee also reconstituted its sub-committees in line with the pillars of its 10-year roadmap for the insurance industry.
Nwachukwu listed the reconstituted sub-committees of the Insurers Committee as, the Insurance Sector Stability committee,Communication and Stakeholders Management committee, Technology and Talent Management committee and Customer Service and Market Expansion committee.(NAN)
Three Israelis are missing following clashes between Israeli football fans and pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the fringes of football club Maccabi Tel Aviv’s match in Amsterdam, according to Israeli authorities.
Ten people were injured in the violence, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Friday morning.
The degree of their injuries was initially unclear.
The ministry urged its citizens to use public transport to travel to the airport, after Israel had announced it was sending two planes to evacuate the fans.
Local security forces had been deployed, the ministry said.
The ministry had initially advised fans not to leave their hotels.
It also advised its citizens not to wear Jewish or Israeli symbols in public.
(dpa/NAN)
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