The Registrar and Chief Executive of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Professor Josiah Ajiboye, says the Council is partnering with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, to train 28,000 teachers in Nigeria.

He said that the teaching profession was no longer an all-comers affair because “a new sheriff is in town.”

According to him, Nigerian teachers are currently being sought globally, especially in Europe and Canada, because of the positive changes that have been brought to bear in line with global best practices.

Ajiboye stated these during the second edition of the one-day training workshop for Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria which held in One Man’s Village, in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, with the theme, ‘Professionalism of teaching and teacher education in Nigeria.’

He said the narrative about the proficiency of Nigerian teachers had begun to change for the better due to innovations being introduced to keep them at par with their counterparts globally.

According to Ajiboye, “The TRCN is collaborating with UNESCO to train 28,000 teachers in Nigeria. Today, Nigerian teachers are not only sought after locally, but globally, and it gives me joy that Nigerian teachers are becoming more competitive. That is why we are doing everything within our power as a government to improve the welfare of teachers.”

Federal Government’s Visitation Panel to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has called on the institution’s community to submit their memoranda and be actively involved in the assessment of the university for its overall development.

They have until May 18, 2021 to submit their memoranda to the panel.

In a statement signed by the secretary to the panel, Bukola Olatunji, its chairman, Professor Gambo Laraba Abdullahi, said the assignment was a very important one aimed at addressing the challenges facing the institution in order to proffer solutions to them.

Professor Laraba who is a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, said the panel is to review the institution’s performance and advise the Federal Government in the areas of governance, academic standards, quality assurance, management of finances, relationships between management, staff and students as well as conditions of physical infrastructure and instructional facilities, among others.

The Federal Government constituted Visitation Panels to all Federal tertiary institutions with the panels inaugurated by the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu last month at the National Universities Commission, Abuja.

The panel has 60 days to submit their reports covering 2011 to 2015 and 2016 to 2020.

Other members of the UNN Panel are: Prof. Prekeyi Tawari-Fufeyin, Alhaji Jimoh Ayinla Bankole, Prof. Danladi Slim Matawal, Prof. Osy Ezechukwunyere Nwebo, and Abdul Ibrahim Radda.

Their Terms of Reference are:

To inquire into the level of implementation of the White Paper on the last Visitation Report;

To look into the leadership quality of each University in terms of the roles of Governing Council, the Vice Chancellors and other Principal Officers;

iii.            To look into the financial management of each institution, including statutory allocations and Internally Generated Revenue over the recommended period and determine whether it was in compliance with  appropriate regulations;

To investigate the applications of funds, particularly the special grants and loans meant for specific projects in order to determine the status of such projects and their relevance for further funding;

To examine the adequacy of the staff and staff development programmes of each University;

To determine the relationship between the University and the various statutory bodies it interacts with, according to its Law for the purposes of supervision, planning, finance, discipline, guidance and any other relationship (i.e. Governing Council, National Universities Commission and Federal Ministry of Education);

vii.          Examine the Law establishing the University, including the relationship between the various internal organs, units and offices and indicate the ways the Law has been observed by the competent authorities and also suggest any modifications to the Law;

viii.         To trace the historical evolution of the University and take stock of its net achievements and problems as well as its style and direction;

To examine the general security in the University and how the University has dealt with it and recommend appropriate measures; and

To examine the process and structures of discipline of students in each University, in line with due process of the rule of law.

The Lagos State University (LASU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Triune Biblical University (TBU), United States global extension to teach students in Nigeria General Nigerian Studies (GNS) courses.

The signing of the MoU which took place at the Vice Chancellor’s conference room, Babatunde Raji Fashola Senate building, LASU campu, was signed by the Acting Vice Chancellor, LASU, Prof. Oyindamola Oke and the TBU African representative and director of studies, Dr. Maurice Azubuike Odote.

The Director, Centre for General Nigerian Studies, LASU, Prof. Biodun Akinpelu, said the COVID-19 fiasco, had brought the world closer to reality beyond the Global Village concept.

He said it had given a more realistic view of the concept of classroom without walls.

He added: “Today, we are gathered to celebrate an educational handshake between Countries. The Triune Biblical University Global Extension USA that has made its presence felt in a number of States in America, Europe and some Countries in Africa has extended its instructional content interest to Nigeria through the Lagos State University, LASU, and specifically the Centre for General Nigerian Studies of the University. This is a priority that is indeed well placed, as LASU has proven itself over the years as a leading university, not only in Nigeria, but in Africa. Our Human Capital and Teaching-Learning infrastructure stand us out in the competitive Knowledge Industry,”.

Also speaking, Dr. Odote said TBU covers a lot of countries especially in Africa with over 12 countries including Benin Republic, Togo, South Africa, Uganda, and Kenya among others. 

He said it sees the need to associate with LASU given it has the requisite facilities.

In a bid to improve school governance and administration in public schools, the Lagos State Government has introduced a Volunteer Mentorship Programme for public school teachers and administrators.

Retired and experienced school principals, teachers and administrators will be engaged to serve as mentors and will coach existing school personnel across the state.

Disclosing this during an interview at her office, the Education Commissioner, Folasade Adefisayo, said the initiative was in line with Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s Education Transformation Plan aimed at improving the capacity of school personnel.

She added that the programme would create opportunities for education stakeholders to support the government in mentoring teachers and school administrators.

The Commissioner said the mentorship programme was open to retired permanent secretaries, directors, principals and teachers of private and public institutions who through years of experience in the education sector can collaborate with the state to improve the education system.

She said the selected mentors would engage their mentees on contemporary teaching methods, leverage on feedback for improved performance and work with the school principals for effective and efficient management in their schools.

Adefisayo urged interested professionals to apply online through the “Teachers Mentoring Corp Project” on the Lagos State Volunteer Corp website www.lsvc.ng or through a link on the State Government’s Portal www.lagosstate.gov.ng and social media handles of the Ministry @lasgeducation.

She said the selected mentors would be briefed and provided with handbooks for the assignment.