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THE NATION THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013
EDUCATION
Ex-pupil donates N5m house to alma mater
ACE FILE
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NAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi has unveiled a six-classroom brick house worth over N5 million built by Mr John Nwosu for his alma mater, Odida Central School Nnewichi, Nnewi. Obi, represented by the Education Commissioner, Dr Uju Okeke, praised Nwosu, Chairman of Jet link and Governorship Aspirant under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), for his gesture urging others to emulate him. Nwosu, who announced a scholarship for Chioma Okolocha, a primary six pupil for her brilliant performance in debates and other brain tasking activities, said his gesture was devoid of politics, but inspired by the desire to contribute to the development of his former school. "My intention is to give the pupils
•Chief Babalola
Afe Babalola praises Provost
• The building From Odogun Emeka Odogun Nnewi
the best to learn under conducive environment. But I want to use this opportunity to advise contractors and builders to be sincere in dealing with the public and by being selfless
in doing projects they are paid for in the society as shoddy jobs don't pay anybody any good," he said. He praised Obi for returning schools to the mission. HeadTeacher of the school, Lady Pauline Obi, also praised the donor. But the listed areas of need of the
school, including new buildings to replace an existing structure which, she said, has become a death trap, classroom and teachers' furniture, computers as well as repairs of the damaged boreholes and an overhead tank.
Parents seek infrastructural development in Unity schools
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ESPITE the plan by the Federal Government to employ 1,000 teachers for the 104 unity colleges nationwide, parents are seeking infrastructural development. The challenges pupils face learning were the while focus of discussions at the Southwest zonal meeting of the National Association of Parents of Federal Unity Secondary Schools (NAPAFUSS) held at the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Yaba, Lagos penultimate Friday. During the meeting, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) chairmen of the 17 colleges underscored the importance of
By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie
partnership with the government and management of the institutions to improve quality of education service delivery in the single and mixed sex colleges in the southwest. In an interview, the Southwest Zonal Coordinator of the association, Pastor Rufus Famuwagun, said many of the colleges need infrastructure and urged the federal government to enhance their facilities. "The standard of education in the unity schools is not the way we want it. There are still some problems with the underfunding of education by the Federal Government that is why we say we
are not where we want to be. We don't have enough teachers, lack of infrastructural facilities, buildings; so we always assist the schools in the employment of parttime teachers; building of infrastructural/hostel accommodations, etc. But we want the government to do more," he said. Also speaking, the Acting PTA Chairman of the host school, Mrs Obi Igwillo, said the group would appreciate the absorption of parttime teachers the PTAs have employed into the Federal Civil Servive by the Federal Ministry of Education. She said at the FSTC, Yaba, the PTA pays the salaries of 35 of the
97 teachers part-time teachers employed by the school. "The FSTC, Yaba has 97 part-time workers. PTA pays for 10 and the school is asking us to pay for more. The PTA has other support workers so our bill runs into a million every month," she said. However, principal of the college, Mr William Iweama, commended the Federal government's invest in the unity schools. "Every month we get N5.5million to run the school; we get N3 million for feeding. It is just that education is expensive. A private school that wants to employ our kind of teachers will not charge less than N200,000 a month," he said.
Etisalat workers train Lagos pupils on counselling
• From Left: Mr Idowu, Mrs Awoyomi and Mr Dolapo Biodun at the event.
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UPILS from select public secondary schools in Lagos have benefited from a career counselling programme organised by Etisalat Nigeria. The event, the eighth to be organised by the company, was held in partnership with the Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN). Over 500 pupils from Ogba Junior Grammar School, Oke-Ira Junior and Senior Grammar Schools,
By Sampson Unamka
Ojodu Junior High School, Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Secondary School, Omole Junior and Senior Grammar Schools and State High School, Ikeja learnt various career choices, creatively delivered by workers of Etisalat. A financial analyst Akinjide Obanewa, explained the rudiments of the accounting profession; Bankole Alao, Etisalat's
Manager, Data Marketing spoke on marketing technology while the sessions were rounded-off by a presentation on the attributes and duties of a Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) professional. Representing the Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans, Director of Legal Services, Adeolu Idowu, said the event enabled Etisalat employees to fulfil a desire to give back to society by volunteering time
and their skills in providing career counselling and mentorship to the pupils. "Career counselling scheme brings a great feeling for us at Etisalat because it enables us to demonstrate our passion for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), through both internal and external platforms. We are aware that students need appropriate direction to make compatible and fulfilling career choices, because a wrong career move may have some serious negative longterm effects," she said. Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Dolapo Biodun, praised Etisalat for its impact on the students' knowledge bank, future contributions to society and self-development. Addressing the pupils, LEARN Executive Director, Mrs Bisi Awoyomi, encouraged the pupils to make career choices based on God-given talents, not because of family values or societal influence. There was excitement when Etisalat rewarded all winners of competitions with prizes, including laptops and HP printers. The competitions included mental exercises like spelling bee and inter-school debates. The students also watched a performance by Nigerian singer and producer, DJ Zeez and Sean Tizzle. The sponsors have lined up two more career counseling sessions for Lagos to hold in Surulere and Lagos Island later in the year.
THE founder, Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ado-Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), has praised the ACE Provost, Prof Adeyemi Idowu, for the warm reception accorded him, his wife and ABUAD workers who accompanied him to the 32nd convocation of the college. In a letter, he praised the hospitability of the provost who ensured that he was comfortable throughout his stay at the college. "In particular, I want to appreciate you for going out of your way to accompany my entourage and lead us out of the bustling and crowded town to the outskirt. May God bless you, your wife and your children and continue to guide and protect you in the seemingly impossible task of achieving quality education without proper and adequate funding. I can assure you that I will take positive steps and revert to you on the university project soonest," Chief Babalola stated.
Two dons on Council TWO members of the Academic Board of the Adeyemi College of Education of Education (ACE), Ondo, have been elected as representatives in the newly inaugurated Governing Council of the College. They are Dr Olufemi Olajuyigbe, the Deputy Provost and Dr Yemi Ogunsiji, Dean School of Languages and Chairman, Committee of Deans. The Federal government had on April 22 appointed Ambassador Musa John as the Chairman of the Governing Council - with Dr Buki Olamigoke, John Pribi, and Kalu Ama Nkama as members.
Provost, others mourn don THE ACE Provost, Prof Adeyemi Ibukunoluwa Idowu, principal officers, workers and students were among the personalities who attended the funeral service of the Head for Fine and Applied Arts Department, Mrs Veronica Mopelola Aladenika. In his sermon at the service held at Don Bosco Catholic Church, Oke-Odunwo in Ondo, Rev. Fr. Tai Oludare, urged the congregation to maintain a close relationship with God, given the inevitability of death. At a commendation service organised the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), ACE, Ondo chapter at Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium in her honour, her colleagues eulogised her good virtues as a lecturer and mother. In a message by Pastor Johnson Falade, he said the Bible described life at its best stage as a vapour, which is very short. He, therefore, encouraged all to move closer to God to earn everlasting life.