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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
EDUCATION
Fashola, Mimiko laud MTNF skills project W ITH the inauguration of facilities donated by the MTN Foundation to four technical colleges under its Youth Skills Development Project (YSDP), the governors of Lagos and Ondo states, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and Dr Segun Mimiko are optimistic that more youths will be gainfully employed. The foundation, which is the Corporate Social Investment vehicle of MTN Nigeria, upgraded the workshops of technical colleges in Ondo, Lagos, Kaduna and Sokoto. The beneficiaries' schools are: Government Technical College, Ikorodu, Lagos, Government Technical College, Owo, Ondo, Malali Government Technical College, Kaduna and Government Technical College, Farufaru, Sokoto. While Ondo and Lagos have been inaugurated, those in Kaduna and Sokoto are to be launched this or next month. The MTNF YSDP intervention project involved the refurbishment of laboratories in the beneficiary schools in six skill areas: electrical installation and maintenance, instrumentation mechanics, refrigeration and air conditioning, furniture design and construction, plumbing and
By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie
pipe fitting, fabrication and welding. The laboratories have also been fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and furniture installation. In addition to the facility upgrade, the foundation trained the teachers and students on the use of the equipment and will provide one year posthandover technical support to the colleges. At the inauguration of the project in Government Technical College, Ikorodu, Fashola thanked the foundation and other partners for complementing government's efforts to reinvigorate technical education. He lamented that foreigners usually get jobs that should be taken up by skilled Nigerians, a situation he said would be reversed if technical and vocational education gets the requisite attention. "The importance of technical and vocational schools cannot be overemphasised because they provide the country with the requisite skilled workforce in every conceivable vocation. We are happy that
MTN Foundation believes in the idea of revamping technical schools around the country," he said. Similarly, Dr Mimiko of Ondo State said MTNF's investment in TVE would contribute to improving the country's economy. "MTN Foundation has identified an important aspect of education that is required to move the economy of the nation forward and they are complementing government's efforts to uplift this sector of education. Your assistance is commendable and it would lead to the building of capacity for students making them competent and employable," he said. The Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Dr. Pascal Dozie, said the YSDP is aimed at improving entrepreneurship skills of young people. He said: "Youth Skills Development Project was conceived from MTN's recognition of the importance of empowering the Nigerian youth. The project is aligned with the Federal Government's efforts to raise the level of entrepreneurial skill acquisition as this will boost technological advancement, which MTN also recognises as a major driver of socio-economic development."
• Group Managing Director, UBA, Mr Phillips Oduoza (left) during a working visit to President/Vice Chancellor, Babcock University Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Prof Kayode Makinde.
Stakeholders canvass re-strategising of education
W
ORRIED by the recurrent mass failure in the Senior School Certificate Examinations, stakeholders in the sector
UNILAG swears in new students’ leaders
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HE Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Ade Bello has expressed the management's willingness to lift the ban on students’unionism soon. He made this known at the swearing-in of students' representatives for the 2013/2014 session, who were elected from faculty associations, departmental associations and halls of residence. He said: "The university management is fully committed to the realisation of an ideal students' unionism in the nearest future. We are poised to work with you to finalise the model. The way and manner you the present students' leaders conduct and organise your affairs will to a large extent, also pave the way for this." Rahamon, who was represented by his Deputy (Management Services), Prof Duro Oni, congratulated the students, urging them to be diligent, responsible and selfless in the discharge of their duties. "I used this medium to congratulate you on your election as the president and executives of your respective faculty students' asso-
• A cross section of the newly elected students' leaders across faculties, departments and halls of residence. By Ibrahim Yusuff
ciations. You have to put yourself forward to serve colleagues, and you had been popularly excited. "Please do serve diligently and with utmost sense of responsibility. The general interest of the students should be your priority. By your election into these executive positions, you are now the link between the students and the management. It is expected that you maintain decorum in all your dealings," he said.
Earlier, the Dean of Students' Affairs, Prof Olukayode Amund, urged the students to be exemplary, accountable and feel free to approach the DSA Unit for complaints. Amund, who said he looked forward to working with the students' leaders, also advised them to follow the right channel of communication when lodging their complaints. He said: "As leaders, you are enjoined to be exemplary in your disposition and carry your fellow
• Lagos State First Lady Mrs Dame Abimbiola Fashola (2nd right), flanked by Vice-Chancellor Caleb University Imota, Lagos, Prof Ayodele Olukoju(right) and Administrator, Caleb Group of Schools Dr Funmi Oboye(second left) with Principal Mrs Colettet O'Heir during an interactive session with Mrs Fashola and pupils of the school at the school premises.
students along due to the confidence they reposed in you to have elected you as leaders. There must be financial accountability and probity. Please feel free to approach the Dean of Students' Affairs Division on any matter of our collective interest for dialogue so that together, we can take the university to the Promised Land". Listing some of the achievements in the last one year, the outgoing chairman, Council of Faculty Presidents, Nelson Emmanuel, said the council was able to organise a peaceful protest to control and regulate prices of commodities on the campus, reduce fares and ensure financial accountability in the students' associations, among others. "If we want SUG, we have to be level-headed; we should not make unguarded statements and ensure that we repose confidence in the school authorities," he advised. President, Faculty of Arts Students Association (FASA) Mr. Fatunbi Olawale Jimmy sought cooperation from members. "I feel elated because it is a privilege to be called upon to serve in this association, and at the same time it is challenging because you will not want to fail those who have confidence in you. "I expect cooperation and support from students, because one cannot become a leader until your followers are ready to be led. I therefore solicit for their support and cooperation towards the success of this administration," he said.
By Medinat Kanabe
have canvassed regular training of teachers and strategic planning as measures to reposition the sector. They made these submissions at a forum organised by ThistlePraxis Consulting in Lagos. Speaking on the theme: "Education: Building viable frameworks for fustainability", the Chairman, West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Prof Pai Obanya, who was the lead discussant,recommended holistic assessment of the sector towards ensuring appropriate policies, programmes and processes. He stressed that exam failure is a manifestation of various issues with the major one being system assessment. According to Obanya, it requires good politics to have good education, because it will provide sound policies, which would engender good programmes and compel good processes. He said: "Strategic planning means in depth and not cause analysis to address the challenges from their very ‘Strategic roots. There planning must also be situational means in analysis, policy planning, ac- depth and tion planning and an in-built not cause monitoring and e v a l u a t i o n analysis to framework." A professor of address the C o u n s e l l i n g challenges and Psychology, University from their of Lagos, Ngozi Osarenren said very roots’ continuous development of teachers is critical. Teachers, she stressed, must be aware of updates in the sector, especially as it affects their job. They must be aware of new pedagogies and be provided with teaching materials. Praising the giant telecommunications outfit Etisalat Telecommunications for sponsoring the event, Osarenren said it's about time the Organised Private Sector showed more interest in teachers and the teaching profession. The Lagos State Team Leader of Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN), Mr Olabode Oyeneye, said that a shift of focus from certification to functionality is imperative in the quest for viable frameworks for sustainability in education. "Certification has been so much glorified to the detriment of ability, capability and performance," Oyeneye lamented.