Government Orders School Inspection To Identify Unethical Books

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January 30, 2023

Tanzania’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has directed education officers and quality controllers to visit all schools and libraries to identify unethical books being used by the institutions.

The government directives follow complaints by some stakeholders that some books being used in some schools are immoral.

The call was made in Dar es Salaam by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Francis Michael in a meeting with secondary and primary education officers and quality controllers from Dar es Salaam.

The Permanent Secretary cautioned some school officials against barring government officials, especially education officers to conduct inspections in their institutions.

He said that he received a call from the Commissioner of Education, informing that some schools have denied education officers entry to inspect them, especially private schools.

Michael added that, the Commissioner is the one who provide permits for running schools thus if they refuse to be inspected it raises doubts over the school operations.

He noted that, although some schools have policies which restrict any one to enter the school but it is different when it comes to government officials.

Dr Michael added that, although some schools rejected the pupils from being interviewed unless they are permitted by their parents, the ministry was waiting for the Commissioner’s report so that it can take action against such institution.

Nigerian Artist Uses AI To Re-Imagine Life For The Elderly

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Koko Lawrence

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January 30, 2023

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A Nigerian artist is using artificial intelligence to re-imagine life for African elderly people by showcasing near real-life pictures and videos of them walking down the fashion ramp and on the beach.

Malik Afegbua, who is also a film maker, said because many elderly people were marginalised in society, especially in the fashion world, he began to imagine how they would look if they were models.

He said the idea to explore a different world for old people came when his elderly mother fell ill. Using an artificial intelligence app, he started creating content showing a brighter side of old age.

Afegbua started posting some of his work on social media and it went viral.

He came up with ‘Elders Series’, a catalogue of pictures and videos showing white-haired women and bearded men strutting the runway for a virtual fashion show in Afrocentric attire, including ornamental neck and arm bands.

‘So I wanted to … imagine the elderly people in a place that is not either in a sad space or in a suppressed state,’ Afegbua said in an interview.

‘However, when I was making it, I kind of knew there was something there. I was like this is dope. I’m loving what I’m seeing.’

Afegbua was not always an artist. He studied business in university but stepped into the world of filming after a friend bought him a camera in 2011.

YABATECH Appoints New Acting Rector

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 30, 2023

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The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Yaba College of Technology, Yabatech, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) on behalf of the Council has approved the appointment of Uduak Inyang-Udoh as the Acting Rector of the College effective from Monday, January 30, 2023.

In a statement on Monday by the Head of Public Relations, Joe Ejiofor the appointment is pending the appointment of a substantive Rector.

Inyang-Udoh, a Chief Lecturer in the Department of Quantity Surveying was until this appointment, the Deputy Rector (Administration).

Other previous positions held by Inyang-Udoh include Director, Yabatech Consult, Director, Academic Planning, Dean, School of Environmental Studies, and Head, of the Department of Quantity Surveying.

Recall that the tenure of the former Rector, Engr Obafemi Omokungbe ended at midnight on 29th January 2023.

The Governing Council has made a recommendation for the appointment of a new Rector to the appropriate authority at its meeting held on November 25, 2022.

The Governing Council is however yet to receive a response in this regard.

DSS Intercepts Syndicates Allegedly Selling New Naira Notes

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Koko Lawrence

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January 30, 2023

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The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has intercepted some syndicates in parts of the country for allegedly selling the new redesigned Naira notes.

This is contained in a statement issued by Dr Peter Afunanya, the Public Relations Officer of the DSS, on Monday in Abuja.

He said the syndicates were intercepted by operatives of the service during an operation.

“Investigation has also shown that some Commercial Bank officials were aiding the economic malfeasance.

“Consequently, the Service warns the currency racketeers to desist from this ignoble act.

“Appropriate regulatory authorities are, in this same vein, urged to step up monitoring and supervisory activities to expeditiously address the emerging trends,” he said.

He said the DSS has ordered its commands and formations to further ensure that all persons and groups engaged in the illegal sale of the notes were identified.

The DSS spokesman, therefore, urged anyone with useful information relating to the sales of the new currency to pass the same to relevant authorities.

SA Ministry of Works Mulls Expansion of Bursary Programme

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Precious Obazee

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January 30, 2023

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Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille says she will lobby for more money for her department’s bursary programme so more learners can continue their studies in the field of the built environment.

The bursary programme forms part of the Skills Pipeline Programme where pupils are encouraged at high school level to start considering careers in the built environment.

The bursaries are awarded to pupils in need of financial assistance, who display excellence and have been accepted for courses in the built environment for their tertiary education.

Speaking at the bursary award-giving ceremony in Pretoria, de Lille congratulated the 2022 matriculating class on the achievement of completing their school career.

She told the learners that the last three years at school were challenging but today they can be proud of themselves because they have reached a big milestone.

De Lille encouraged the bursary recipients to continue to work hard in their tertiary education so that they can become a successful part of the country.

The DPWI bursary programme has benefitted 452 students since 2014 including the recent 72, which brings the total to 524 beneficiaries.

The total value of the bursaries awarded this year is estimated at R165 000 per student per year.

Director-General in the Presidency Phindile Baleni, speaking at the event, said more female students should be given the opportunity to be involved in the built environment.

Of the total number of this year’s bursary recipients, 42 are females.

As part of building a capable and ethical state, the DPWI annually awards bursaries to pupils in need of financial assistance.

The programme further aims to increase the number of built environment professionals and ensure transformation of the sector.

The programme serves as a feeder to the department’s Internship and Young Professionals Programme and later forms a pool of qualified built environment professionals to serve the state in the delivery of infrastructure projects.

UNILORIN To Begin Virtual Lectures for Large Classes

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 30, 2023

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The management of the University of Ilorin, Kwara State has said that it has assigned a 500 user accounts of 300-capacity zoom licences to its various faculties and departments for the immediate commencement of virtual classes.

A statement released to the media on Monday by the university’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Kunle Akogun, said that the virtual classes would run simultaneously with physical classes.

The statement pointed out that “about 500 user accounts of 300 capacity zoom licences have been assigned to Faculties and Departments for effective virtual delivery of lectures.”

It added, “We have also developed virtual class schedules for courses with class sizes of about 1,000, 3,000, and 5,000 students using the large capacity zoom licences.”

It pointed out that “physical delivery of lectures/practical sessions in classrooms/laboratories is very important and should be consciously sustained.”

It would be recalled that in the wake of the transportation challenges facing the students and staff of the university, the management rolled out several measures to mitigate the effect of the unfortunate situation on the students in particular.

These included the directive to the Time-table and Room Usages Committee to adjust lecture time-table to make it more flexible.

The management also renewed the university’s zoom licences to activate the virtual lecture option, the statement said.

Recall that the university, last week, said that it would begin virtual lecture for the students in the institution to assuage the transportation problem being faced by the students and staff as a result of the bad road and construction work ongoing along the main road leading to the university from the town.

Court Remands Kogi Varsity Worker Over Alleged N4m Fraud

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 30, 2023

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A 46-year-old worker with the Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Kennedy Wilfred, was on Friday remanded in Kabba Custodian Centre for an alleged fraud amounting to N4million.

The accused was arraigned by the Department of State Services before the Chief Magistrates’ Court 3 in Lokoja, presided over by Mohammed Yakubu.

The accused, charged on four-count of criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, forging documents pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He allegedly scammed students of money totaling N4m as school fees and accused of issuing fake receipts to the students. It was gathered that the fraud was discovered during examinations that the students did not pay school fees.

It was further learnt that the money belonging to 34 students of the institution was collected by the accused on the pretext of helping them to generate Remita codes.

The Chief Magistrate, Mohammed Yakubu, ordered the accused to be remanded at the Kabba Correctional Centre until February 6, 2023.

Brain Drain: 2,000 Doctors left Nigeria 2022 – NARD

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Cleopatra Okohai

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January 30, 2023

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The President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Orji Innocent, raised the alarm over the huge number of members of the association moving out of the country for greener pastures, saying that the association has lost over 2,000 members in the last two years.

He said if the situation is not tackled, it may degenerate to a point where Nigerians would wake up one day and discover there are no more doctors in the hospitals.

Innocent raised the concern while fielding questions from journalists after the presentation of a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s conference in Uyo.

He said a survey conducted in December revealed that over 2,000 members left for greener pastures.

Meanwhile, in the communiqué, the association called for increased budgetary funding of the healthcare sector in the country, to the tune of 15 per cent annual budgetary allocation to improve the quality of healthcare delivery.

The communiqué read in part, “The National Executive Council welcomes the committee set up by the Federal Government to mitigate the brain drain in the health sector.

“The association urges a speedy conclusion of the task and immediate implementation of their recommendations to improve healthcare service delivery and reduce the emigration of skilled healthcare workers from the country.

“NEC calls for increased funding of the healthcare sector in the country, to the tune of 15 per cent annual budgetary allocation in line with the 2001 Abuja Declaration for healthcare financing in Africa and global best practices as well as the digitalisation of the healthcare services to improve the quality of healthcare delivery to Nigerian citizens.”

The President said NEC urged the Chief Medical Directors of tertiary hospitals in the country to take responsibility for security in their various hospitals as NARD would no longer continue to watch her members being assaulted by staff members, patients, relatives or security operatives.

He said the association called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate and arrest the perpetrators of the illegal shooting of one of its members in Delta and to ensure they are adequately punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

NPFL Round-Up: Big Win For Enyimba And Lobi Stars

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Emenike Agu

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January 30, 2023

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There were fewer goals this weekend compared to previous match days.

The concluding fixtures of the NPFL matchday four were played across different centres on Sunday.

Five home wins and three draws with 11 goals were recorded in the eight encounters.

Enyimba and Lobi Stars were the teams with the highest scoreline during Sunday’s home games.

The People’s Elephant bounced back from last weekend’s loss to Plateau United with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Kwara.

Lobi Stars recorded their third consecutive win against newcomers, Bayelsa United with an identical scoreline

Emeka Obioma’s brace and a debut goal from Adebambo gave the Elephant some respite after the disappointment in Jos.

For Kwara United, their woes continue as they are now the only club yet to score in the 2023 season.

Big wins

The Peoples Elephants came in front in the 11th minute from Emeka Obioma’s tap in to Sadiq Abubakar’s through ball.

Meanwhile, Enyimba doubled the lead from Adebambo who scored his debut goal against his former club seven minutes later.

However, the floundering Kwara United failed to reduce the deficit after Ayobami Junior wasted a goal-scoring chance in the 25th minute.

Another attack from the Harmony boys was poorly delivered by Bright Etagbara, whose shot was saved by John Noble in the 33rd minute.

The hosts couldn’t add their third goal after Obioma’s shot went wide four minutes later.

Tanzania Special Operation To Uncover Missing Students

By

Precious Obazee

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January 30, 2023

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The Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner’s office will begin a special operation to identify Form One students who have not reported to school.

Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Nurdin Babu revealed at the weekend that only 87 per cent of all Form Ones had reported to school, since they reopened on January 9, this year.

Speaking at an occasion to hand over digital tablets to teachers in Same District, Babu said his office would embark on a special operation of flush out those whom he suggested, could be hiding in their homes.

According to Babu, it is understood that some of the missing students had opted for private schools after shunning public schools.

He asserted that while this is not a problem, the low enrolment is still alarming.

Babu also urged teachers to closely work with parents and guardians with a view of addressing the decay of morality in the society.

On the distributed teaching aids, the Regional Commissioner said he was optimistic that with the digital tablets, students will get inspired, motivated, and overjoyed by their newfound freedom when learning is no longer limited by the walls of a classroom.