Kogi Govt. Closes Schools For Guber Poll

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November 9, 2023

The Kogi State Government has announced the closure of schools for the Off-Cycle Governorship Election scheduled for November 11, 2023 in the state.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones who gave the directive in a statement issued in Lokoja, said all schools must shut down from Friday, 10th November 2023 for the election.

He said by this notice, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, hereby directs all institutions at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels be closed from Friday 10 to Tuesday 14 November 2023.

He said normal academic activities will resume on Wednesday, November 15th 2023.

The commissioner added that the reason for the closure is to ensure the safety of all students during the election period and allow those of voting age to exercise their voting rights.

UK Confirms Plans To Ban Smoking

By

faith Jegede

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November 9, 2023

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King Charles III confirmed that the UK Government will introduce legislation to raise the age of sale for tobacco, ensuring no one currently aged 14 or under can ever be legally sold cigarettes or other tobacco products.

The announcement, made in the King’s Speech during the state opening of Parliament, follows on from last month’s Conservative party conference, where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak committed to creating the first smoke-free generation.

In response to New Zealand’s aim to be smoke-free by 2025, King Charles announced plans to gradually raise the tobacco sales age every year.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill introduced by the King, which also includes measures to curb youth vaping, ties in with government plans to provide extra funding for local stop-smoking services and invest in mass-media campaigns encouraging people to quit.

UK Pledges To Support Jigawa To Improve School Enrollment

By

Nzubechukwu Anodo

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November 9, 2023

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The United Kingdom government through the British High Commission in Nigeria has pledged to support the Jigawa State government in developing education in the state.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) announced this during an Education Reform Dialogue that aims to address the challenges of out-of-school children and the dearth of teachers in Jigawa.

The event, which took place at the Three Star Hotel, in Dutse with the theme: ‘Repositioning Teaching and Learning for Human Capital Development’, was convened by the Ministry of Basic Education.

The ministry highlighted the 12-point agenda of the new administration geared towards repositioning the state as a centre of excellence.

FCDO’s Senior Education Adviser, Lan Attfield, commended the effort of the state government while pledging the UK government’s support.

He commended the government on the steps taken to address key strategic issues in education especially its efforts to address the critical shortage of teachers.

He said Nigeria is still experiencing a learning crisis and one of the most vital ingredients that any state or government can do is to supply qualified, motivated and adequately supported teachers.

He added that the UK is delighted to see the progress being made across the board, under the leadership and vision of Governor Umar Namadi.

Namadi appreciated FCDO for its interventions in the state which he said spanned over a decade.

He stated that the state is still reaping the benefits of the Public Financial Management reforms done by the UK government through the then Department for International Development (DFID).

Hea said the state’s Tsangaya programme (Almajiri School) is designed specifically to drastically reduce the number of out-of-school children and called on FCDO to join hands as it is poised to replicate FCDO’s interventions.

In his remark, the commissioner for Basic Education, Lawan Danzomo, said the state has set aside more than N2.6 billion to recruit and train 6,000 new teachers.

Danzomo said the reform is in line with key recommendations highlighted in a new Teacher Recruitment and Deployment Policy approved by the state, which the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office supported through its Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) and Partnership for Reform and Learning (PERL-ARC) programmes.

The PLANE team leader in Jigawa, Mustapha Ahmad, said FCDO will support the state during the recruitment, training and deployment of the new teachers.

He said FCDO will also provide technical inputs in materials supply to Jigawa State.

Hea said that so far, PLANE trained 2,361 teachers in the state and donated thousands of literacy and mathematics textbooks to pupils in the state, while also supporting teachers with guides.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Jigawa State has the fifth largest number of out-of-school children in Nigeria after Bauchi, Kebbi, Katsina and Kano State.

Africa’s Education Ministers Collaborate On Foundational Learning

By

Nzubechukwu Anodo

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November 9, 2023

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Ten African Ministers of Education and a similar number of ministerial representatives have agreed to champion foundational learning as a priority for the 2024 African Union Year of Education (AUYoE) and beyond.

This initiative is part of the resolution made in Lusaka, at the end of the 2023 policy dialogue forum on foundational learning, organised by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and hosted by the Ministry of Education in the Republic of Zambia.

In a communique issued at the end of the forum, participants agreed on foundational learning starter pack model as a resource guide to ensure uniformity, continuity and sustainability.

They further resolved to collect relevant data, working with ADEA and partners, to inform policy and decisions, foster dialogue and share good practices on what works in foundational learning.

They also agreed to strengthen links between Early Childhood and Primary Education, advance the adoption of structured pedagogy, implement age-appropriate teaching methods and harness the power of technology to increase the number of qualified teachers and enhance their well-being.

Zambia’s Minister of Education, Douglas Munsaka Syakalima, who represented President Hakainde Hichilema said the forum underscores the belief that foundational learning is at the base of any effort to change the course of Africa’s development by building people that will derive the resources to craft a new vision and bring such to life.

The Executive Secretary of ADEA, Albert Nsengiyumva said Africa is the continent most affected by learning crisis and the solutions must be developed from within.

While commending participants for providing the needed leadership, Nsengiyumva said we must build on the momentum to accelerate the progress that will make the region a leader in global response to the learning crisis.

The Director of Global Education at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Benjamin Piper, advocated scaling of what works.

He said we know what works to boost foundational learning in Africa, structured pedagogy is one way, teaching at the right level is another, so we need to do more of what works at scale.

The Founder of Human Capital Africa and co-convener of the foundational learning ministerial coalition, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, said ministers need to design appropriate solutions for their national contexts, and ensure that progress is tracked, remedial action taken and transparency and accountability embedded.

During the school visits, participants witnessed the nexus between policy and practice, as well as integration of socio-emotional skills through play-based learning.

UNILAG Student Wins Start-Up Pitch Competition

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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November 9, 2023

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A 300-level student of the Department of Finance, University of Lagos, UNILAG, Barnabas Peter, has clinched the top spot at the start-up pitch competition of the project Innovation 2 Marketing (I2M) accelerated incubator programme.

The programme, organised by the Innovation Technology Management Office (ITMO) of the institution, showcased the entrepreneurial brilliance of young minds selected from across the country.

Peter’s innovative venture, Travaye, a digital platform designed to assist tourists, low-income earners, and individuals seeking exciting places and locations to visit, emerged overall winner.

The closing ceremony, which was held at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre (AMDRC), was witnessed by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Digital Economy, Communication and Innovation, to the President, Jennifer Adighije.

Addressing the first set of cohorts, Adighije identified the critical role of innovation as a key driver of economic growth and competitiveness.

She observed that despite Nigeria’s struggling economy, the start-up ecosystem has remained a hub for innovation, a source of hope and an assurance of a better future for the nation.

She charged the cohorts to seek opportunities with innovative creation as the non-oil sector has suddenly become the new oil boom, attracting local and international investors.

According to her, over a billion-dollar investment flowed into the Nigerian market from viable start-ups in 2022, which made up 28.4 per cent of Africa’s total funded ventures, with Nigeria receiving 29.3 per cent of the continent’s total investments.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, described the talents on display as immeasurable.

Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Management Services, Prof. Lucian Chukwu, the vice chancellor highlighted how immeasurable the I2M project is to the institution.

She said Peter’s victory not only marks a personal achievement, but also stands as a testament to the academic excellence and innovative spirit fostered within the institution.

She reiterated the university’s leadership commitment to the creation of an enabling environment that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation through initiatives like the I2M accelerated incubator programme.

Director of ITMO, Dr Abiodun Gbenga-Ilori, said the competition is a culmination of weeks of hard work and dedication by the participants, who had undergone intensive training and mentorship.

She disclosed that 20 of the participants would receive N850,000 each, while another N500,000 would be awarded by the SSA to participants with outstanding start-up ideas as part of plans by the university and its partners to nurture and support aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as equip them with necessary skills and resources to succeed from ideation to commercialisation.

Similarly, Research and Innovation Systems for Africa (RISA) Country Head, Alice Omisore, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the six-week programme, noting that the exercise has met her organisation’s expectations.

Swimming World Cup Cancels Transgender Opens Races As No One Shows Up

By

faith Jegede

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November 9, 2023

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A year after banning transgender women from competing in elite female swimming events, the World Aquatics, has had to cancel its first open races for transgenders after no one registered for the event.

The World Cup meeting was scheduled to take place in Berlin but the organisers were forced to scrap the event after receiving no entries.

The swimming governing body had promised to stage the “pioneering pilot project” to promote commitment to inclusivity, welcoming swimmers of all sex and gender identities”.

However, its intention to hold an “open” category, with 50m and 100m races across all strokes alongside its men’s and women’s competition, has been put on hold as all those who fit into this category did not register.

World Aquatics’ decision to bar transgender women from elite female competitions if they had undergone male puberty came following research showing that trans women retained a significant advantage over female swimmers even after reducing their testosterone levels through medication.

Another factor in its vote in June 2022 was the success of American Lia Thomas, who had been a moderate college swimmer as a male competitor but was able to win an NCAA national college title in the women’s category after transitioning.

Over the past 12 months several other sports bodies, including athletics and cycling, have gone down a similar path.

Make-Up Artist Hawker, Stirs Controversy Amidst Identity Crises

By

faith Jegede

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November 9, 2023

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Disability in the beauty artistry world is not a new thing, illusion and transformation are often the name of the makeup game.

But rarely have both combined in the way that it did this week.

Following a video posted by a social media influencer and comedian about a disabled make-up artist hawking in the streets to raise funds, attention has been drawn to cross-dressing make-up artist Eniola after being called out for impersonation and intent to deceive.

The video posted on social media was supposed to be inspirational, drawing attention to the virtues of hard work, despite disabilities until an organization that had rendered help to the con artists called him out for trying to obtain under false pretence.

Eniola who appeared like a woman at the time the video was made, where she solicited funds for and advertised her business, turned out to be a man, who had been helped similarly in the past.

Foreign Airlines Claim Over $700m Remains in Nigeria

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 8, 2023

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Foreign airlines have disclosed that about 90 per cent of their $783m trapped funds have not been paid.

The airlines stated this during a stakeholders’ forum convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in Lagos recently.

According to data from the International Air Transport Association, as of August 2023, Nigeria accounted for a substantial $783m of airlines’ blocked funds.

Despite recent efforts to alleviate the situation, the airlines said a significant portion of those funds remained inaccessible to them.

The Chairman of International Airline Operators, Chima Kingsley, emphasised that while international banks had received some funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria that only accounted for a fraction, less than 10 per cent of the trapped funds.

Aviation Industry: Foreign Airlines Threaten Withdrawal As Stuck Funds Hit N328 Billion

“The bulk of the blocked funds are with Nigerian commercial banks. The bulk of the money has not been paid,” he said.

President Bola Tinubu two weeks ago had promised to clear the estimated $7bn outstanding foreign exchange obligations of the Federal Government on forex forwards contracts owed to commercial banks.

The CBN had started clearing the forex backlog to commercial banks to ease pressure on the foreign exchange.

The CBN had initiated steps to clear the forex backlog to ease pressure on foreign exchange, but challenges persisted in disbursing the funds effectively.

Domestic carriers, represented by the Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Obiora Okonkwo, highlighted their struggles, with trapped funds and limited access to forex impacting their operations.

He cited examples, including aircraft maintenance fees accumulating due to the inability to source forex for payments.

The Area Manager of West and Central Africa for IATA, Dr Samson Fatokun, underscored the need to reduce operating costs in the Nigerian aviation sector, advocating for sector-specific support.

Keyamo assured stakeholders that efforts were underway to address the forex challenge.

While the minister did not disclose the exact disbursement figures, he reiterated the government’s commitment to resolving the issue in the coming weeks, offering a glimmer of hope for the airlines grappling with financial constraints.

NPA Plans $1bn Port Rehabilitation

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 8, 2023

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Determined to fortify Nigeria’s trade competitiveness, the Nigeria Port Authority has said it is launching a whopping $1.1bn for the rehabilitation plan of all the ports in Nigeria in the first quarter of 2024.

The Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, said this on Tuesday in Lagos, during a panel session at the 43rd Annual Council Meeting of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa.

He said almost all the ports in Nigeria need rehabilitation and NPA is initiating a substantial overhaul, starting with the Tincan Island and Apapa Ports in Lagos.

According to him, “The objective of the authority is to enhance the physical infrastructure of these ports to accommodate vessels of all sizes and increase the draft at the quayside. Increasing the draft is intended to achieve draft depths of up to 14 meters and this initiative will render Nigerian ports more competitive on a global scale,’’ he said.

Bello-Koko further stated that the NPA was also strengthening collaborations with the private sector to establish new seaports.

He said the Lekki Deep Seaport had already commenced operations, and the Badagry Deep Seaport recently signed an agreement with a Middle Eastern party, with construction scheduled to commence early next year.

6,000 Seafarers Visit Nigerian Ports Monthly – NPA

The NPA boss noted that these endeavors exemplify the NPA’s determination to create a multimodal transportation system connecting all ports seamlessly.

Speaking on the challenges of cargo evacuation by road, Bello-Koko said the agency was actively working on alternative initiatives like barges and also expanding rail infrastructure.

“The survey for deploying cargo rail and tracks to Onne port has been completed, setting the stage for the project to kick off next year. The authority has automated its collection system and is collaborating with the International Maritime Organization to introduce a state-of-the-art port community system, poised to optimise cargo clearance processes. The authority is working on clarifying the responsibilities of government agencies within the ports with the newly developed port process manual aimed to reduce overlaps and eliminate duplication of duties,’’ he said.

On security challenges on waterways, he said, ‘’the deployment of the deep blue sea project, equipped with air and sea assets, would enhance security in the Gulf of Guinea and contribute to significantly reducing piracy incidents within Nigerian waters.’’

He added that NPA was collaborating closely with the Nigerian Customs Service in reducing bottlenecks and cut the cost of doing business within the ports.

The NPA boss disclosed the development of a 25-year port master plan that would guide the location, sizes, and activities of ports, terminals, and jetties in Nigeria.

The master plan will serve as a national working document, uniting all stakeholders towards marine and logistics development.

Also speaking, the President PMAWCA, Martin Boguikouma, urged African countries to address challenges facing the region to be able to receive the new volume of traffic that would emerge due to AfCFTA.

Boguikouma listed ways to solve the challenge as, a collaboration between customs and port authorities to harmonise customs procedures.

“We need to ensure capacity building of all seaport and customs officials, sensitise them on how to address cross border trade. There is a need to work in reducing transport cost, investing in efficient transport infrastructure, safety maritime safety through enhanced interstate cooperation,’’ he concluded.

Tinubu Signs N2.17Tn Supplementary Budget

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 8, 2023

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President Bola Tinubu has signed the 2023 supplementary appropriation bill of N2.17 trillion into law.

Tinubu signed the Supplementary Appropriation Act, 2023 in his office at the State House in the presence of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Abubakar Bagudu; and Chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacheaus Adedeji.

The supplementary budget became a subject of controversy days ago due to several line items, especially N5 billion allocation for a “Presidential Yatch.”

Cabinet Okays N2.1Tn Supplementary Budget For 2023

However, addressing State House correspondents on October 16, 2023, Bagudu said the largest chunk of N605bn was earmarked for security, to further enhance the capacity of the armed forces and security agencies to address current and emerging security challenges nationwide.

Other items include N5.5bn for the student loan scheme and over N616bn in wage awards for civil servants to augment the heightened cost of living post-subsidy