Education Minister Calls For Equity In Admission To Unity Colleges

By

-

July 5, 2022

As Principals of the Nation’s 110 Unity Colleges converged on Benin city to kick-start this year’s admission, Education Minister, Adamu Adamu directed that they must be guided by the principles of fairness, equity and good conscience in the conduct of the admission.

In a message to the body of Principals handling the exercise, the Minister emphasized that every part of the country must be given a sense of belonging in the admission exercise.

He said that the process must reflect the ideals of the founding fathers of unity colleges as centers of academic excellence and models for states and private schools as well as instruments for National integration and unity.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Minister, the Director Senior Secondary Education, Binta Abdulkadir said that responsible citizens must be produced, then the rules must be adhered to in order to make the right choices of qualified candidates as a foundation for future academic excellence.

The Minister reminded the principals that they should stick to the National policy of the ratio of one teacher to forty students per class in line with UNESCO regulations, adding that carrying capacity must be adhered to.

Adamu emphasized that candidates who have applied for admission into Unity schools outside of their immediate communities should be given priority.

The Minister directed principals to adhere strictly to the criteria for the selection which is 60 percent national merit, 30 percent equality of states and 10 percent exigency.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairperson of Principals of Federal Unity Colleges, who is also the Principal of Queens Collage Lagos, Yakubu-Oyinloye, said government’s guidelines on merit and equality of states will be followed strictly so as to get the best candidates for the nation’s unity colleges.

One of the highlights of the opening ceremony was a guided tour of the host college, Federal Government Girls College Benin.

The Principal of the College, Aghedo Osamudiame who led her colleagues on the guided tour said, the new look of the college was made possible courtesy of the intervention of the ministry.

Wimbledon: Cameron Norrie Prepares For Centre Court, With Novak Djokovic Later On Tuesday

By

Emenike Agu

-

July 5, 2022

0

Cameron Norrie will bid to become the first British man to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals since 2016 when he takes on the unseeded David Goffin in Tuesday’s second match on Court One.

Norrie is the last Brit left in the draw after he beat American Tommy Paul 6-4 7-5 6-4 to reach his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final on Sunday.

On Centre Court, Novak Djokovic plays Jannik Sinner in the last eight at 13:30 BST before third seed Ons Jabeur takes on world number 66 Marie Bouzkova.

Should Norrie get past Goffin, a potential semi-final with defending champion Djokovic could await on Friday.

Norrie will follow Tatjana Maria, who will face Jule Niemeier as she aims to continue her fairytale run.

The 34-year-old world number 103 is the oldest player left in the women’s draw.

She plays the 22-year-old Niemeier – who beat Heather Watson in the fourth round – at 13:00 BST on Court One.

Briton Joe Salisbury and American Rajeev Ram are also in men’s doubles action, taking on French pair Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the quarter-finals.

And there is women’s doubles action as Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez face Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova.

Norrie urged the British public to give him their support after her clinical with over Paul in his first Grand Slam fourth-round appearance on Sunday.

“Unfortunately I’m the last [Briton] standing,” said the 26-year-old left-hander.

“But I think it’s even more reason for everyone to get behind me.”

The ninth seed is the first British man to reach the singles quarter-finals since Andy Murray in 2017 and first British player since Johanna Konta in 2019.

“I think from the first round everyone has been behind me and supporting me,” he added.

“It’s showed in tough moments in matches.”

Belgian opponent Goffin beat 23rd seed Frances Tiafoe in a long five-setter on Sunday.

‘I lived my dreams’

Tatjana Maria made her Wimbledon debut in 2007

Norrie’s run to the last eight is not the only spectacular story at SW19.

Maria returned to the sport last July following her second maternity break and has now become the first mother-of-two to reach this stage at Wimbledon.

She said she “did everything to live her dreams” as she stunned 12th seed Jelena Ostapenko to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final.

The world number 103 saved match points as she fought back to beat the 2017 French Open champion 5-7 7-5 7-5.

“I can appreciate it more,” she said. “For me it’s super great. I did everything out there to live my dreams at the end. But I know also there are more important things outside,” Maria added.

“For me, it doesn’t change anything on my outside. I’m a mum. I love to be a mum. I love my two kids.”

Maria, who practised with the elder of her two daughters prior to her last win, faces compatriot Niemeier after the 22-year-old world number 97 defeated Britain’s Heather Watson 6-2 6-4 on Centre Court.

‘Driving my opponents crazy is one of my hobbies’

World number two Ons Jabeur said Wimbledon reminded her of a “wedding” claims on Monday after she Ellis Meters on Court One in the fourth round.

The Tunisian, who is the highest ranked player left in the competition, now faces underdog Bouzkova, who upset seventh seed Danielle Collins in the first round.

In her column Jabeur said: “I just love to make the player think and so they don’t know if it’s going to be a dropshot, or slice or a flat ball.

“Changing the rhythm and driving my opponents crazy is one of my hobbies right now.

“I’m hoping to keep trying to do that at Wimbledon until next Saturday.”

Jabeur is looking to reach the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time while Bouzkova is playing in her second Wimbledon quarter-final having fallen at this stage last year.

Peseiro Visits Remo Stadium In Ikenne

By

Emenike Agu

-

July 5, 2022

0

Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro was among the spectators yesterday in Ikenne to watch the NPFL game between Remo Stars and Enyimba.

Yesterday’s was the third game NPFL match watched by the Portuguese coach after his visit to the Kwara Sports Complex in Ilorin for the Kwara United versus Sunshine Stars tie as well as the visit to the Godswill Akpabio Stadium pm Uyo to watch the encounter between Akwa United and Plateau United.

Peseiro is going the league venues to fulfil part of his contract terms which stipulated scouting match venues to spot the best of domestic talents for the Super Eagles.

Meanwhile, Moses Omoduemuke has expressed happiness after his brace earned Shooting Stars a 2-2 draw against Enugu Rangers at the Awka City Stadium in Awka on Saturday.

The Oluyole Warriors were two goals behind after Shedrack Asiegbu and Chidiebere Nwobodo in the 46th and 55th minutes gave the Flying Antelopes the lead but Omoduemuke goals in the 74th and 89th minutes restored parity as the Ibadan side moved to 45 points from 36 games.

The former Rivers United striker said: “What a point to win at Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium( Enugu). We will continue to work hard as a group, to keep improving and growing as a team. Happy for the brace.”

Nigerian Forward, Odey Linked With Move To Premiership Club

By

Emenike Agu

-

July 5, 2022

0

Stephen Odey is ready to leave Danish club, Randers FC this summer.

The Nigerian forward has been linked with a move to Scottish Premiership clubs, Rangers and Celtic.

The 24-year-old linked up with Randers on a permanent deal from KRC Genk last summer after scoring seven goals in 23 games during a previous loan spell.

Before then, the former MFM striker had a loan spell at French Ligue 2 side, Amiens.

“If the right club comes, Randers have no choice but to let me go,” Odey told Amtsavien.

“But I am happy to be in Randers, and that does not change the fact that there are some rumours about other clubs.

“For me, it’s about the preparations for the new season with the team I’m part of.”

Aside from Rangers and Celtic, a number of clubs in Europe are also interested in the striker.

Odey said he is not distracted by the persistent rumours.

“Rumors can spread quickly, but it’s not something I want to be distracted by,”he added.

“My agent takes care of everything that may be around the transfer market. I’m not trying to think about it. The important thing for me as a player is to focus on the preparations for the new season.”

Epl: Ronaldo To Accept Pay Cut To Leave Man Utd, Preferred Destinations Revealed

By

Emenike Agu

-

July 5, 2022

0

Cristiano Ronaldo is prepared to take a pay cut in order to force a move away from Manchester United.

According to the UK Independent, Ronaldo will accept a reduction in his £500,000 per week salary to join a new club.

His preferred destinations are understood to be Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

The 37-year-old is so desperate to play in the Champions League next season and is ready to make sacrifices to ensure that.

Chelsea are in need of a focal point in attack after Romelu Lukaku returned to Inter Milan on a one-year loan deal.

Robert Lewandowski is also trying to force an exit from Bayern Munich to Barcelona.

Epl: Chelsea To Sign Two Players From Neymar, Ronaldo, Raphinha, Sterling

By

Emenike Agu

-

July 5, 2022

0

Chelsea is concentrating on completing transfers for Raheem Sterling and Raphinha, according to Sky Sports.

However, senior officials at Stamford Bridge have also discussed moves for Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.

Chelsea is already in advanced talks with Manchester City for Sterling.

Sterling will cost the Blues around £50 million, while they have also reached a £60 million agreement with Leeds for Raphinha.

However, Raphinha is stalling on the move, with the hope he can seal a transfer to Barcelona.

The club have made it clear they will only sign players that their manager Thomas Tuchel wants.

Morocco 2022: Banyana Snatch All Three Points In 2-1 Over Super Falcons

By

Emenike Agu

-

July 5, 2022

0

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana edged the Super Falcons 2-1 in the opening match of Group C of the 12^thWomen Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Monday, in the process picking all three points and shooting to the top of the pool.

It was a somewhat balanced first 45 minutes with both teams unable to achieve any breakthrough.

But South Africa were up 2-0 within two minutes of the hour-mark after Jermaine Seoposenwe hooked the ball into the Nigeria defence to get a clear chance to beat goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi from close range, after great work by Natalie Cesane who beat hard-working Ashleigh Plumptre with classy footwork on the edge of the Nigeria area and then sent the striker on her way.

The cheers and back-slapping on the Banyana bench had hardly died down when, after nifty exchange of passes in the middle, Michelle Alozie was beaten with a long ball on the Nigeria right and Hildah Magaia shot past onrushing Tochukwu Oluehi.

The Super Falcons looked rejuvenated after Francisca Ordega and Uchenna Kanu came into the fray for Asisat Oshoala and Ifeoma Onumonu respectively. Two minutes into added time, Rasheedat Ajibade reduced the deficit when she found the ball at her feet in the box after good work and pass by captain Onome Ebi.

Cup holders Nigeria must gain all three points against Botswana in their second match of the competition on Thursday to revive their campaign.

Bayelsa Owned Varsity Seeks Endowment Funds For Research

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

July 5, 2022

0

The University of Africa Toru-Orua, (UAT), Bayelsa State, is seeking the establishment of an Endowment Fund in the institution which will be used for research funding towards solving developmental challenges and the advancement of the society.

To this end, the university through the Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences has organised its second annual public lecture with the topic, “Utilizing Untapped Research Funding Opportunities: An Imperative for Innovative Research in the University System,” to enlighten stakeholders on the need for such support to the University.

The Dean, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Professor Francis Sikoki, in his welcome address at the event on Thursday at the university’s multi-purpose hall, said that the catchment area of UAT was bedevilled by many challenges, which could be addressed through research.

He listed such constraints to include flood and erosion, the menace of waterborne diseases on account of our terrain, and resource depletion occasioned by pollution and environmental degradation.

Sikoki said, “Unfortunately, despite the large pool of experts in various disciplines in the university system, the paucity of funds to carry out problem-solving researches has been a major constraint. Fortunately, there is a large number of research funding sources which are not being adequately explored.

In his words, “One of such area is the establishment of an Endowment Fund dedicated to research funding. This is precisely the reason for this public lecture being held today, first to create awareness and secondly to mobilise resources for research.”

Speaking on the topic, the guest lecturer and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Godknows Igali, stressed the need for universities to seek alternative funding as public sector funding of the country’s university system was on a decline.

He, therefore, suggested that apart from endowments, research funding could also be sourced from alumni bodies, partnerships with industry, accessing development funding, and university linkages, through putting on the entrepreneurial cap and the adoption of a blending approach to funding research, among other sundry sources.

Igali while advising the university’s management to be innovative, said, “The question ahead of us is where does the University of Africa want to belong? My submission would be, we should be on the right side of history, of being a national problem solver and a much sought-after institution around the world.

“It is our disposition towards today that would determine where the University of Africa will be in terms of its relevance in the global education market. But then as the saying goes, it is impossible to make an omelette without breaking eggs.

“This will require innovation and creativity from the management of the university. For this, as stated earlier, the university must be able to recruit and have the right calibre of staff who can handle this highly specialised duties of raising funds from multiple sources. This is because it would be difficult for a researcher to be the one who has the responsibility of carrying out investigation and studies and at the same time, be saddled with the hunt for resources.”

In his remarks, the Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, called on federal agencies such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to support the state in the funding of research projects by its tertiary institutions.

The governor represented by his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, also charged the state-owned institutions of higher learning to redouble their efforts to tap research funds lying idle at the NCDMB and other public-spirited corporate bodies.

He emphasised the importance of research in tertiary education and the overall development of society, noting that what makes an educational institution stand out is the quality of its research works.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of UAT, Professor Kingston Nyamapfene, had stated that the public lecture was a clarion call on all stakeholders, especially the government, to invest more resources in research and development to meet the manpower needs of the university system and the society at large.

Drinking Alcohol while taking Medications dangerous – Pharmacist

By

Cleopatra Okohai

-

July 4, 2022

0

A former National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Adekola, has urged Nigerians to stay away from alcohol while on medication.

He noted that drinking alcohol while on medication will alter the potency of the drugs and even worsen their side effects.

Adekola stated that most patients do not consider the possibility of alcohol interacting with medications, warning that such interaction could even result in the damage of vital organs of metabolism such as the liver and the kidneys.

According to the pharmacist, combining alcohol with drugs will either nullify the effects of the drugs or over increase the effects of the drugs.

Adekola who spoke with Newsmen on how alcohol affects medicines said anyone on medication should avoid alcohol consumption, especially those battling non-communicable diseases.

He explained, “We know that some of the chronic diseases have alcohol intake as one of the predisposing factors, for example, hypertension.

“One of the predisposing factors for hypertension is alcoholism. It is the same with kidney disease, diabetes, and liver disease. If a patient is being treated for any of these diseases, he or she should know that alcohol is a culprit.

“In terms of interaction, there are different forms of interaction of alcohol with medications. It’s either perhaps the alcohol reduces the effects of the drugs or in some cases increases the effects of the drugs.”

Dr. Adekola pointed out that it had been established by literature that there are drugs that alcohol will potentiate.

“So, there are certain drugs that alcohol will directly affect. In such cases, what patients attribute to are side effects and complications. There are some drugs that alcohol will act as an antagonist. In that case, alcohol will reduce their activity and negate the action of that drug.

“Once they block the action of those drugs, what you will see is a therapeutic failure. What that means is that you use the drugs and there is no positive action,” he said.

The pharmacist stressed that many complications are associated with drug and alcohol interaction.

He also urged Nigerians to stop patronising quacks who cannot share knowledge about the rational use of drugs.

“There is end-organ damage in alcohol and drug interaction; the liver or kidney can be a victim and there are complications. If you take paracetamol and you take alcohol like one hour later, you are in trouble. Alcohol potentiates drugs. When you are on medication, you are not supposed to be on any alcohol and no patients with chronic disease should be on alcohol,” he added.

Dr. Adekola called for pharmaceutical care in Nigeria to sensitise the public on the rational use of drugs while advising Nigerians to live healthily and avoid alcoholism.

According to The US Pharmacist, a clinically-focused monthly pharmacy publication by United States pharmacists, most patients do not consider alcohol as a drug capable of interacting with medications.

The Pharmacist stated that alcohol had been reported as a risk factor for adverse drug-related hospital admissions.

“Alcohol intake can alter the pharmacokinetics of medications, including their absorption and metabolism. Conversely, alcohol pharmacokinetics can also be altered by medications.

“Examples of pharmacodynamic interactions involving alcohol and medications are an increased risk of adverse drug events or increased susceptibility to the medications’ effects.

Furthermore, alcohol intake can play a negative role in certain disease states such as diabetes mellitus,” the US pharmacist noted.

Sokoto: Newly Established FCE Targets 1,000 Students for Take-off

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

-

July 4, 2022

0

The newly established Federal College of Education, Gidan Madi, in Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State has targeted no fewer than 1,000 students for its take-off.

The Provost of the College, Prof. Omar Zaki, made the disclosure in an interview in Sokoto on Monday.

According to Zaki, the academic activities in the college would take off between the months of September and October.

“However, only students that applied through Joint Admission And Matriculation Board (JAMB), would be admitted into the college.

“More so, the college will pay more attention to technical courses such as Metal work, wood work, Electrical and Electronics, Computer and Entrepreneurship in addition to education courses and General studies,” he said

He added that the aim of giving more emphasis on technical courses was to produce skilled students, who could survive on their own without waiting for white-collar jobs.

“We have put all the necessary infrastructures, including classes, hostels, workshops, staff quarters clinics among others as well as recruited staff for the smooth take off of the college,” he said

He assured parents and staff that the management of the college had been in touch with various security agencies to ensure safety