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World Book Day: ANA President Tasks Students on Creative Writing Funmi Ogundare The President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Mr. Denja Abdullahi, has called on students to cultivate the habit of writing creatively, which he said is intertwined with character formation. Abdullahi, who made this known recently at a programme organised by Flipbook to commemorate the World Book and Copyright Day, said creativity is paramount in all people do if they are able to observe their environment well. He said students should be able to read widely as this would also inform their character. “You must think outside the box, you can’t write well if you don’t read, the more you read, the more you will begin to exploit your vocabulary.”
He said reading and listening to African traditional folk tales would also help to form their character traits to develop the power of imagination. “Creative writing can lift your emotion and relief you of stress, it teaches you empathy and compassion. You are able to develop sincerity and truthfulness.” The Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Education District III, Mr. Olaniyi Gbemi, who was represented by the Director Co-curricular, Science and Technology Department, Mrs. Aderonke Odunsi, described the event as a celebration of reading, while expressing concern that public school students usually find it difficult to settle down and read. “It has been affecting the results we have been having
in WASSCE and BECE for some time, until the Lagos State government in partnership with the World Bank intervened.” She said the day gives children the opportunity to get closer to books and read on their own, as well as get familiar with the authors of the books. “There is nothing stopping you as a child from writing your own books and develop your talents by so doing. You can do what the likes of Williams Shakespeare have done.” The Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Consult, Mr. Cdon Adinuba, emphasised proficiency, saying, “you don’t have to be a graduate of communication, English or any related field for you to write well. You must know how to communicate and be considered diligent and efficient to be given
high responsibilities. “If you write well, you will become the conscience of the society and people will respect you. Being a writer helps you in many ways and also enhances your communication skills.” The Executive Director of Neimeth Pharmaceuticals, Chief Chris Mmeje, commended the initiator of the programme for bringing young people together to focus their attention on the need to think. “Thinking precedes writing. You cannot write down what you have not thought of. One of the criticisms of our current educational system is that it produces schooled people who are not educated. The core of the weakness is that individuals go to school without developing the responsibility for the arduous task of thinking.”
WhyAreYouSleepinginClass? What would make a teacher constantly drop his/ her head on the table in the staff room and sleep off? Worse still what would make you doze off during staff meetings, whilst important matters are being discussed. Why are you not addressing the constant embarrassment you suffer when your students catch you sleeping or dozing in class? A common culprit in this matter is insomnia. Insomnia refers to repeated or recurrent experiences of inadequate sleep. Sleep is an essential part of good health and wellbeing. A good night’s sleep helps you feel good, look healthy, work effectively and think clearly. Sleep impacts positively on your mind, body and soul. Your body’s organs and systems are at work, conducting healing and tissue repairs, whilst you are asleep. Your brain and mind re-calibrate whilst you are sleeping and body growths occur whilst you are asleep. Sleep however is not always easy to come by. If you sometimes or always have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, you are not alone. Daytime drowsiness is often indicative of a sleep problem that is potentially dangerous to your health, if not treated urgently. World-wide, there are current statistics showing that nearly a quarter of the population cannot go to, or remain asleep. Every year, doctors write out millions of prescriptions of sleeping tablets worldwide. Do you have a repeat prescription for insomnia? Have you honestly identified why you are sleeping in class? Omoru writes from the UK
Samsung, Skool Media Partner Govt on Digitalised Classrooms
The founder, Digital Bananas Technology, Mr. Keji Giwa, addressing a cross-section of participants during the launch of the Career Insights in Lagos… recently
Firm Empowers Youths through Online Project Mgt Uchechukwu Nnaike An ICT firm, Career Insights, a subsidiary of Digital Bananas Technology, is poised to curb the problem of unemployment in the country by creating an online platform for youths to gain practical work experience in project management or business analysis on a voluntary basis after being trained by a team of digital project management and business analysis experts. Briefing journalists at the launch of Career Insight Nigeria, in Lagos recently, the founder of Digital Bananas Technology, Mr. Keji Giwa, said the company, which has operated in the UK for about 10 years, has helped about 10,000 people to secure jobs abroad. He said he decided to launch the company in Nigeria to provide youths with experience that will give them competitive advantage at a
subsidised rate. According to him, the firm offers comprehensive and well blended work-based learning environment with senior leadership workshops, innovative projects to work on, inspirational sessions, as well as one-to-one mentoring to help over 30 candidate secure life changing roles each month. “At Career Insights they are not just trainers but also passionate researchers, analysts, consultants and most importantly, practitioners. Meaning, the insight and advice you get is completely up to date and relevant to your chosen industry so you can be confident that what you are learning is cutting edge.” He said with a monthly subscription of N39,000, which is minimal when compared with the N810,000 (1,790 Pounds) charged in the UK, participants get to work with others on live digital projects
to give them the experiences they will be able to draw on throughout their careers. However, he said those who have experience in certain fields, who come on the platform to add value to the inexperienced ones do not need to pay the subscription fee. He said the platform will benefit graduates as “the more work experience you have as a graduate, the stronger your chances of securing a well-paid role relevant to your educational and career status.” It also serves as a career changer for those that are fed up with their current roles and need a career change; something more challenging, exciting and pays well; as well those who feel they need to move up to a more managerial or an analytical role. He said one does not require much experience to be on the platform, adding, “all we
require is for you to have a strong desire to succeed, not afraid to get your hands dirty, willing to learn and apply yourself.” Giwa said the business has grown through word of mouth, adding that when one of the candidates secures a project management or business analysis role as a result of the e-Workexperience, they tend to tell their friends and family members, which in turn generates more business for the company. On the kind of services the company renders, he said it provides digital solutions and digital transformation, as well as helps companies have a digital strategy. “Because we are living in a digital age, you need to find a way to connect with the customers and transform your businesses. We missed out on the industrial age; we must not miss out on the digital age.”
Samsung Electronics West Africa has partnered Skool Media and the Federal Ministry of Education to digitalise classrooms on the mobile learning platform across unity schools in Nigeria, as part of efforts to enhance digital learning and to ensure that students get the opportunity to have their classrooms literally on their palms. Speaking on the new partnership, the Director, Business to Business, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Charles Ojei, said the solution provides tablets for students with relevant and practical educational content hence putting the ‘classroom in the palms’ of the students. He said it would make the classroom interactive, collaborative and conducive for students and teachers. “The solution also provides security of the device and helps the schools to filter contents consumed by students; it makes the device purely for academic purpose. The initiative is a laudable milestone in the Nigerian education system as it will give teachers control over the classrooms and give students an atmosphere that makes learning easier and more memorable.” The Project Director, Skool Media, Moses Imayi, expressed hope that the partnership would promote ICT development in Nigeria, while providing tools for facilitating process values. “The vision is to see the average Nigerian student become familiar and truly comfortable with learning in a digitalised classroom.
This we believe will be the beginning of better performing educational system in Nigeria. Through this project, we are building the IT competence of the next generation of leaders and providing employment opportunities to over 200 young Nigerian graduates.” He said many Nigerian students are not familiar with new learning tools such as tablets, electronics boards and even accessing appropriate educational content online, adding that the purpose of this partnership is to change such mindset among the students and the teachers. In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, expressed delight about the impact the partnership would have on education. He commended Samsung for its efforts and contributions towards ICT development in the country, saying, “we are indeed grateful to Samsung for tapping into the goal of the ministry of education to train quality teachers. We encourage all beneficiaries of this project to take full ownership of it and let the improved quality of teaching reflect in our students’ results.” He urged all stakeholders in the education sector to partner the ministry to salvage the country’s education system. “As ICT becomes more and more entrenched in our lives, it is essential that our students are exposed to it, guided by teachers who can use technology to add real value to the learning experience.”