Education
UBEC Audit: Kebbi Registers 857,185 Pupils, Students -SUBEB Chairman
The Kebbi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has so far registered 857,185 pupils and students in Primary and Junior Secondary Schools.
The Executive Chairman of SUBEB
Prof. Suleiman Khalid-Jega, made this known at a stakeholders’ meeting on the conduct of the National Personnel Audit (NPA) with Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) team on Monday in Birnin Kebbi.
Khalid-Jega said the exercise is aimed at collecting basic information on schools, pupils, students and personnel.
He said the data being collected will assist the country to plan effectively towards expanding access to quality education and promoting gender parity at basic and other levels of education.
“At present, 857,185 pupils have been registered in basic schools in the state.
“Out of this, 65 per cent (534,584) are in public schools and 35 per cent (302,601) in private schools,” he said.
Khalid-Jega said out of the figures, about one third were taken by the private schools.
He said that the pupils were enroled in 2,320 private primary schools and 426 in private and public secondary schools.
Khalid-Jega said 350,000 learners were enroled in 5,343 non-formal learning centers, adding they had 3,912 facilitators.
He also said that private schools in the state had been good partners in providing quality education.
Khalid-Jega said the private schools had 35 per cent of pupils and 4,141 personnel.
“The aim of the NPA is to provide answers to series of questions on how to move the education sector forward in the state and the country, in areas of teaching and learning environment as well as enrolment of girl-child.
“What we are doing in the state is to provide quality assurance to our schools and also to the learning environment.
“We want to know are there enough classrooms? Are they in good conditions? And how many of them are in dilapidated?
“This has to do with all the facilities in the schools and the toilet facilities which could be a determining factor for attending the schools, especially for a girl-child.
“Not only that, how many schools have WASH system, that is hand borehole, water; how many teachers do we have in the schools and how many of them are qualified and what is their level of the qualification?
“The minimum qualification for a teacher now is NCE. How many of them are teaching in public and private schools? These are the questionnaire for this activity. We can’t plan without adequate data.
“What they are bringing out now is to update 2018 National Personnel Audit and like I said, Kebbi has the most vibrant education management system in Nigeria,” he said.
The chairman said that virtually, all the information required on its personnel were on its website.
He said that every information about the children, facilities on ground, including physical facilities, completed and the ongoing projects’ were all on its website.
Earlier, the Team Leader of UBEC from Abuja, Prof. Onoja Onuche, said the main objective of the exercise was to check enrolment of pupils, quality of the teachers, both non- and teaching staff, and the learning environment.
He also said that the state had done well in the past and hoped that it would perform excellent again in the audit exercise. (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.