2022 WASSCE: WAEC Dissociates Self from State Performance Ranking

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September 3, 2022

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has described as untrue, claims that it carried out ranking on performance of states in its recently released examination for school candidates.

WAEC’s Head of National Office, Patrick Areghan, dismissed the claims, which he described as misleading, false and the handiwork of mischief maker.

Areghan, in an interview on Saturday in Lagos, said that the report did not emanate from the council.

“We read from some social media that WAEC has rated performance of states in our recent West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), presumably the 2022 examination for school candidates.

“It ranked Kebbi as being 20th out of the 37 ranked states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in the public school-based performance data, supposedly made available by council.

“The malicious report rated Enugu as being first, followed by Edo and Benue, with 93.9, 93.5 and 91.7 per cent respectively among others.

“I want to say here that the ranking is completely false as it did not emanate from council, because there are many other things to be considered to arrive at such percentage and this is not part of our job.

“We, as WAEC, do not do state ranking. We only indicate number of credits in subjects and other categories.

“We do not dabble into areas that are not part of our duty as council,” the WAEC boss said.
He urged the public to disregard the ranking, noting that it was false.

FG Targets Deworming 10million Pupils In School Feeding Programme

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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September 3, 2022

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The Federal Government of Nigeria is poised to deworm 10 million primary school pupils enrolled in the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

The deworming programme is to boost the health status of the pupils.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, will conduct the deworming.

The minister, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, disclosed this in Kano on Wednesday at the opening of a training of trainers for the implementation of the national deworming and school feeding programme.

Umar-Farouq said the exercise would be implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health.

She was represented by the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Social Investment Programme, Muhammad Nasiru-Mahmud.

Umar-Farouq noted that President Buhari introduced the NSIP, which also encompassed the NHGSF to boost pupils’ enrolment and to boost nutrition.

“More than 10 million children are being fed under the programme nationwide. More than 1.2 million of them are in Kano State.

“No matter how you feed the children, if they have worms, they will be sharing the food with the worms, hence the need to deworm them,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the programme’s focal person in Kano State, Baba Aminu-Zubairu, said the state government also introduced its school feeding programme for pupils in Primary Four to Primary Six.

He noted that the school feeding programme had increased pupil’s enrolment and contributed to the success of the state government’s policy on free and compulsory education.

“According to a census conducted recently, there is an increase of about 700,000 pupils in the state, the number has now increased to more than two million,’’ Aminu-Zubairu added.

Artemis Moon Rocket: US Space Agency Postpones Second Launch

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Angel Gimalo

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September 3, 2022

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The US Space Agency has had to postpone the launch of its new Artemis I Moon rocket for the second time in a week.

Controllers were unable to stop a hydrogen leak on the vehicle, almost from the start of Saturday’s countdown procedure.

Nasa now has another opportunity to launch the rocket on Monday or Tuesday.

After that the vehicle will have to return to its assembly building for inspection and maintenance, which will mean further delays.

The Space Launch System is the most powerful rocket ever developed by NASA, and much of the enormous thrust comes from burning almost three million litres of super-cold liquid hydrogen and oxygen in four big engines on the vehicle’s underside.

But when controllers sent the early morning command to fill the rocket’s hydrogen tank, an alarm went off, indicating there was a leak.

Beautiful Nigeria: Gurara Waterfalls, Nigeria

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Angel Gimalo

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September 3, 2022

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Gurara Waterfalls are big waterfalls that are located in the Local Government Area of Gurara, in the Niger State, in Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Having a height of some 30 meters (98 feet), the waterfalls are 300 meters (984 feet) wide and slopping from the rocks in a very graceful manner.

According to the local history, there is a story which states that the waterfalls were discovered in 1745 by a Gwari hunter who was called Buba, as he was traveling from Zaria to hunt for animals.

This happened until 1925 when the first Europeans came to the area and they turned Gurara Waterfalls into a nice recreational area for everyone to enjoy in the wonderful nature.

Even today, there are some plans for the entire area to be turned into a resort with a recreation center and a hotel around it, however, it is not certain whether the natural peace and tranquility which is enriched with the strong sound of the water falling down will be maintained.

When the water is calm and clear during the more dry months between January and March, it is possible for visitors to swim in the pools just under Gurara, which even though sometimes is dangerous it is quite nice and relaxing just to be in touch with the cool water and amazing greenery that surrounds it.

Exploring First Circular Skyscraper In Hong Kong, Hopewell Centre

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Angel Gimalo

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September 3, 2022

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Hopewell Centre is a 216 meters (709 feet), 64 floors skyscraper at 183 Queen’s Road East, in Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong.

It is the first circular skyscraper in Hong Kong, which actually is named after a Hong Kong-listed property firm, Hopewell Holdings Limited, which constructed the building. Hopewell Holdings Limited is headquartered in the building and its Chief executive officer, has his office on the top floor of the building.

The construction of the building began in 1977 and it was completed in 1980.

When it was completed, at that time it was the tallest building in Hong Kong, surpassing the previous tallest Jardine House, and second tallest building in Asia.

The skyscraper kept its title for only 9 years, when then finished Bank of China Tower, took over the title. Since there are new skyscrapers rising all over Hong Kong, Hopewell Centre is the 20th tallest building in Hong Kong.

The front entrance of the building is on the ground floor, where the visitors/workers are taken through set of escalators to the 3rd floor lift lobby, from where with the elevators takes them around its circular floor plan.

It stands on top of a slope of a hill so steep that the back entrance actually is on the 17th floor, towards Kennedy Road.

The lobbies are as said located on 3rd and 17th floor, a mini-sky lobby is on the 56th floor and serves as a transfer floor which connects the restaurants 60/F and 62/F.

On the exterior of the building, it can be seen white bumps between the windows which serve as a built in window-washer guide rails. In the end, as it goes high in the sky, and once had the tallest building title, it still can take your bretah away when you are in front of it!

Once Upon A Time – Sept. 3 – 301 – San Marino, World’s Oldest Republic Still In Existence, Founded By Saint Marinus

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Angel Gimalo

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September 3, 2022

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301 San Marino, one of the smallest nations in the world and the world’s oldest republic still in existence, founded by Saint Marinus

1650 Battle of Dunbar; Oliver Cromwell’s English New Model Army defeats Scottish force in surprise attack

1783 Treaty of Paris signed in Paris ends the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain and United States of America

1791 French Revolution: The new French Constitution, declaring France a constitutional monarchy, is passed by the National Assembly

1900 With a proclamation by General Lord Roberts, Britain annexes the Boer Republic of South Africa

1939 World War II: Britain declares war on Germany after invasion of Poland. France follows 6 hours later quickly joined by Australia, New Zealand, South Africa & Canada

1944 Holocaust diarist Anne Frank sent to Auschwitz concentration camp

1988 Estimated by this date 50,000 Kurdish civilians and soldiers killed by Iraq, many using chemical weapons, in aftermath of Iran-Iraq War

HISTORICAL EVENTS TODAY

TODAY IN FILM & TV

1951 TV soap opera “Search for Tomorrow” debuts on CBS

TODAY IN MUSIC

1912 Arnold Schoenberg’s “Funf Orchesterstucke” (Five Pieces for Orchestra) premieres in London at a Promenade Concert

TODAY IN SPORT

1950 Giuseppe “Nino” Farina wins inaugural Formula 1 World Drivers Championship by taking out the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in an Alfa Romeo; wins by 3 points from Juan Manuel Fangio

MORE FACTS…

1777 Flag of the United States flown in battle for the 1st time at Cooch’s Bridge, Delaware, a skirmish during American Revolutionary War

1752 Britain and the British Empire (including the American colonies) adopt the Gregorian Calendar, losing 11 days. People riot thinking the government stole 11 days of their lives

FAMOUS WEDDINGS

1921 American author and journalist Ernest Hemingway (22) marries 1st wife Hadley Richardson (29)

1923 Cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead (21) weds field archaeologist Luther Cressman (25)

1937 Author Muriel Spark (19) weds teacher Sidney Oswald Spark in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia

48th Edition: Deauville American Film Festival Raises The Curtain

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Angel Gimalo

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September 3, 2022

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The Deauville American Film Festival Has Raised The Curtain For Its 48th Edition. The Jury Is Presided By French Film Director Arnaud Desplechin.

The Film Festival Is A Yearly Film Festival Devoted To American Cinema, Which Has Taken Place Since 1975 In Deauville, France.

Although Not Competitive At Its Origin, The Festival Began To Award Prizes For Feature Films In 1995 And Short Films In 1998.

From Indie US Cinema To 2022 Festival Favourites, This Year Will See Plenty Of Stars Gracing The French Northwestern City In The Calvados Commune.

It Will Run Till September Eleven, 2022.

Gov Sanwo-olu Sets Up Independent Education Trust fund for Lagos Varsities

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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September 3, 2022

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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, announced that his government will be setting up Lagos State Tertiary Education Trust Fund for tertiary institutions in the state.

He said the initiative would be an autonomous funding mechanism that would keep all three Lagos tertiary institutions on the path of sustainability.

Sanwo-Olu made the announcement when he received members of the Visitation Panel to LASU led by the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Abdulrahman Bello, at the State House, Marina.

This was contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, titled, ‘Sanwo-Olu floats autonomous financing channel for Lagos’ tertiary schools, sets up dedicated trust fund’.

According to Sanwo-Olu, the move will creatively revolutionise the model for the funding of tertiary education in the country.

Sanwo-Olu said the need to create an independent funding channel for the state’s tertiary institutions became pertinent, given the nature of disputes characterising the national university system which had led to the perennial staff strikes and closure of campuses across the country.

The governor said the fund would be a pragmatic strategy to meet the schools’ requirements.

Sanwo-Olu, however, directed the Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, and the Special Adviser on Education, Hon. Tokunbo Wahab, to fashion out the statutory framework that will give legal approval to the Fund.

He said: “Now that we have three universities in Lagos, I believe there is a need for us to set up Lagos State Tertiary Education Trust Fund, which, in our view, will create a sustainable model and the funding that is required, both internally and externally, to strengthen academic research, learning and all that is necessary to keep these universities on track of their mission.

“This is an idea whose time has come at the appropriate period many schools are under closure due to industrial disputes. I am issuing the responsibility to Attorney General and Special Adviser on Education to create the legal framework for the birth of the Trust Fund. This will be another legacy initiative our Government is bringing to sustain education in our State. This will create a financial model that will ensure sustainability of these schools.”

Sanwo-Olu said the Trust Fund would create an additional funding source to the three universities, aside the monthly subvention and intervention funds from federal education agencies, including Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

INS Vikrant: India’s Launches Warship After 17 Years Of Construction

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Angel Gimalo

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September 3, 2022

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India has commissioned its first indigenously-built aircraft carrier, Vikrant, at a ceremony in the southern state of Kerala.

The 45,000-tonne Vikrant got the prefix INS (Indian Naval Ship) at a formal commissioning ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It is a moment that was 13 years in the making.

The vessel – 262m (860ft) long and almost 60m (197ft) tall – is the first aircraft carrier India has designed and built on its own. It has the capacity to hold 30 fighter planes and helicopters.

Modi called the carrier “a floating city” and the “symbol of indigenous potential”.

“With INS Vikrant, India has joined the list of countries which manufacture huge aircraft carriers with indigenous technology. It has filled the country with a new confidence,” he said at the commissioning ceremony.

India’s other aircraft carrier, INS Vikramaditya, can carry more than 30 aircraft.

The UK Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth can carry about 40 and the US Navy’s Nimitz class carriers can accommodate more than 60 aircraft.

Ogoniland Pollution: UN Describes Shell Clean-Up Bid As Incompetent

By

Angel Gimalo

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September 3, 2022

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A Billion-Dollar Project To Clean Up One Of The Most Polluted Places On Earth, The Nigerian Region Of Ogoniland, Has Been Described By The UN As Incompetent, Wasteful And Lacking Transparency.

The Anglo-Dutch Oil Giant Shell Is Partly Funding The Clean-Up After Leaving Ogoniland In The 1990’s Following Complaints Of Leaking Pipelines.

Shell’s Huge Cleanup Began In 2019, Backed By The United Nations And Was Considered To Be One Of The Most Ambitious Projects Of Its Kind In The World.

But, Far From Improving The Situation, Documents From The Un Environmental Programme Reveal The Pollution Could Now Be Getting Worse.