Day: October 5, 2023

As Nigeria today joins the world to commemorate the 2023 World Teachers’ Day celebration, teachers have been advised to be appreciative of efforts by the Federal Government to reposition the teaching profession.

The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman at the 2023 commemoration in Abuja on Thursday,said the day is set aside to honour teachers for their invaluable roles in the development of humanity and society.

The theme for this year’s commemorate is : “The teachers we need for the Education we want: Global imperative to reverse teachers shortage.”

Mamman said some of the promises made to teachers had been fulfilled as they can now retire at either 65 years of age or 40 years of service; whichever that comes first.

He added that teachers’ salary had since been placed on the first line charge for timely payment.

“Today, we have come together not merely as individuals but as a global community to celebrate the unsung heroes of our society. World Teachers Day is not just an annual observance but a testament to the transformative power of education and the dedication of those who facilitate it.

“As we embark on this event with the theme “The Teacher We Need for the Education We Want: The Global Trend to Reverse the Teacher Shortage” let us reflect on the impediments that teachers encounter while instilling knowledge, values, and hope.

“We have to re-evaluate our approach to teacher training, recruitment, welfare and equip teachers with the skills, resources and the recognition they deserve to meet the evolving demands of education in the 21st Century.

“It is, therefore, paramount that while reaffirming the importance of their invaluable role in shaping a brighter tomorrow every year, there is dire need to clear the hurdles that prevents the optimal realisation of their roles and targets,” he said.

Mamman explained that the travail of educating young minds goes beyond the confines of the classroom.

According to him, it is a continuous effort to inspire, motivate and guide students towards their full potential.

“Teachers should note that their words resonate deeply with their students and pupils thereby reaffirming the importance of the educator’s role in nurturing creativity or cluelessness and curiosity or apathy.

“We all know that teaching is more than imparting knowledge and involves instilling a lifelong love for learning, character building, inducting positive attitude and general relationship with people outside the classroom.

“All these are informally transmitted through the teachers conduct.

“As we celebrate teachers today, there is need for teachers in Nigeria to be appreciative of efforts by the Federal Government to reposition the teaching profession,” he said .

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, explained that shortage of teachers in the country and in other parts of the world poises challenges.

Sununu said that it was time to reflect on the critical role teacher’s played by instilling knowledge, values, a thirst for learning in their students to transform them into responsible citizens.

“If all equipped teachers are passionate and ready to pursue excellence, the teachers we have in our schools can collectively revolutionise the basic and secondary education sub-sectors.

“In Nigeria, as in many other countries worldwide, the shortage of qualified teachers and the desired form of education pose a significant challenge.

“Ongoing international deliberations recommend changes that anchor on commitment, connections, communication and creativity in the prevailing traditional education methodology.

“Therefore, education is in a critical juncture and teachers in service require constant training and retraining to fit into the scheme of things.

“The teacher we want shall be creative, active listener, engaging, collaborative and has empathy. He also must be adaptive, focused on growth, patience, respectful and prepared to engage in lifelong learning,”he said.

Sununu added that the inability of some teachers who may be computer literate but unable to deploy Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning affects education outcome and the ability to achieve national development goals.

“It is, therefore, imperative that teachers in Nigeria should take advantage of the Open Education Resource (OER) and other online and in-person study centres to upgrade and become “the teachers we want”.

“This is for us to collectively ensure that every child in Nigeria has access to quality education,” he said.

The celebration witnessed match pass by teachers across the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as presentation of President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards.

Omolade Adeyemi, a teacher from the SUBEB Model Primary School, Ekiti came best in the public school categories, while St. Paul Academy, Jos is the best school in the private school categories.

Ijeoma Ekumankama of the Federal Government College, Nise, Anambra, is the Best Principal, Best Teacher in the Private School Categories is Ruth Oraekwu, Best Administrator in the Public Category is Oladimeji Bello, among others.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has commended the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps (NAIC) for deepening collaboration with other intelligence agencies, which he said had resulted in remarkable successes.

Lagbaja, who was represented by the Chief of Training (Army), Maj.-Gen. Sani Muhammed, gave the commendation at the opening of the NAIC Training Seminar 2023 in Abuja on Thursday.

The theme of the seminar is, “Improving Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps Proactiveness in Support of Nigerian Army Operations within a Joint Environment.”

He appreciated the sister intelligence agencies for their support to the corps, adding that the seminar would further deepen their partnership “as we all collectively confront the security challenges confronting the nation.”

The COAS said the seminar was one of the major training activities lined up for the year and was designed to enhance the intelligence corps’ capability to provide optimum intelligence in support of the operations of the army.

He said the theme of the seminar also emphasised the necessity for preemptive action, which remained the key factor for success in today’s constantly evolving threat environment.

“It is gratifying to note that the theme falls in line with my command philosophy, which is to transform the Nigerian Army into a well trained, equipped and highly motivated force towards achieving our constitutional responsibilities within a joint environment.

“The topics to be discussed during the seminar have been carefully selected to address the emerging intelligence related issues encountered in our operations.

“I am, therefore, pleased that the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps is providing this important forum where some persons and members of the intelligence community will discuss critical issues of our intelligence efforts, which is due to improving them accordingly.

“I am optimistic that the lessons and solutions that will emanate from the deliberations will positively shape the future of our intelligence operations,” he said.

Lagbaja urged the participants to take advantage of the seminar to share ideas and also disseminate the knowledge gained to others at the end.

“I wish to use this opportunity to appreciate sister intelligence agencies for their support to Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps.

“I have received several briefs on collaborative efforts between the Nigerian Army Intelligence Corps and other intelligence agencies, which have resulted in a remarkable successes.

“I am glad this seminar will further deepen our partnership as we all collectively confront the security challenges confronting our dear nation,” he said.

The army chief thanked President Bola Tinubu for his strategic guidance and unwavering support to the Nigerian Army and reaffirmed the loyalty of the army to the Commander in Chief and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Acting Chief of Military Intelligence (Army), Brig.-Gen. Thompson Ugiagbe, said the seminar was designed to equip participants with the needed skills and mindset to better address the nation’s security challenges.

Ugiagbe said the move became necessary with the changing nature and character of threats to national security and military security in particular.

He said the topics for this seminar, which revolved around loyalty, information management and positive behaviours, had been carefully selected to reinforce the vision of the COAS to ensure that personnel gave their best while carrying out their duties.

The lectures, according to him, are in line with the pillars of the COAS command philosophy, which are leadership, operational effectiveness and sound administration.

He said the event was an opportunity to reinforce comradeship, collaboration and synergy and implored participants to maximise the opportunity provided by the seminar to become better informed.

Ugiagbe thanked the COAS for providing the resources needed for seminar and assured him of their unwavering commitment and support towards taking the army to greater heights

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government has expressed readiness to deepen bilateral relations with European Union (EU) on security cooperation.

The Minister of Defence, Mr Mohammed Badaru, said this in a statement by the Acting Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence, Mr Hope Attari, on Thursday in Abuja.

Badaru disclosed this when he received the delegation of the European External Actions Service ( EEAS), on Wednesday, at the Ship House.

He said that Nigeria as a nation was desirous of restoring partnership with EU and strengthening collaboration with the union in fighting violent extremism, maintaining peace and security as well as enhancing regional cooperation .

He noted that the country needed intelligence and security equipment from the EU to combat insecurity in the country.

According to him, the major challenges facing the country were banditry in the North West and North Central, Boko Haram in the North East, Oil vandalism in the South South, sectional agitation in South East and general insecurity at the Gulf of Guinea and the Lake Chad region.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, said that Nigeria as the “Giant of Africa” needed the cooperation of the EU in the fight against insecurity bedeviling the country.

He noted that the safety of Nigeria was the safety of Africa, and therefore called for cooperation of the EU in the fight against insecurity in the country.

Earlier, the Head of the delegation, Deputy Secretary General of the EEAS, Helena Konig, said the purpose of the visit was to seek Nigeria’s area of priorities in terms of security issues where the EU could intervene.

Konig added that the priority areas would be discussed extensively at the forth coming high ministerial meeting.

According to her, EU wants to work extensively with Nigeria in counter terrorism, to stabilise the region, considering that the country was a strong supporter in maintaining the Africa territorial region.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Benson Olugbuo, Country Director, Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), has called on the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts at mitigating conflict in Nigeria.

Olugbuo made this known on Wednesday during a project close-out webinar on “Advancing the Protection of Civilians and Stabilisation of North-East Nigeria Project.”

The project is funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by CIVIC, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO).

The country director, while stating that CIVIC had contributed its quota over the years to conflict mitigation, said such was necessary to engender peace in the country.

He said: “The peculiarity of Nigeria is such that there is conflict in virtually every part of the country.

“The challenge is that we as CIVIC cannot be in all the 36 states.

“However, we collaborate with other agencies like the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and also train military and security institutions.”

The country director said that, while the primary responsibility of protecting civilians from harm was not that of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) but the government, CSOs would continue to support the government in achieving that.

“We are not the government and we can never be the government. So what we do at CIVIC is to remind the government of their responsibility.

“We make sure we remind the government of meeting her primary responsibilities and obligation to protect lives and properties,” Olugbuo said.

CIVIC’s Project Manager Saratu Pindar said that the CSO had resolved 100 out of 135 concerns through the project, adding that part of the resolution included returnees who had no access to accommodation.

Pindar said that with the collaboration of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, several other milestones had been achieved.

This, she said, included establishment of 17 dialogue platforms, enhancement of civilian protection as well as training of 374 civilian vigilantes among others.

The CIVIC Team Lead, Mr Mujidand Sitdang, said that strengthened civilian protection and improvement in civil-military relations through dialogue platforms had facilitated dialogue to encourage security agencies collaboration.

Sitdang stressed the need to look for renewed funding, adding that there would be opportunity to continue to engage in the discourse.

Mr Julius Gaiya, Communications and Programmes Manager, CIVIC, expressed satisfaction that the programme had made so much impact.

He said that “When we started Phase I and II, it was to provide an avenue to sustain training among security institutions.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Acting Comproller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mrs Wura-Ola Adepoju, says 112,351 passport booklets are yet to be collected by applicants across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

Adepoju, who said this during a press briefing at the Service headquarters on Thursday in Abuja, added that the figure was as at Oct. 5, 2023.

She said the service had cleared all the 204,332 passport application backlogs after the Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo’s two-week deadline to the Service.

“91,981 passport booklets had been collected so far. There are 112,351 others not yet collected,” she said.

The NIS boss called on applicants to go to their respective application centres to collect the travel document.

“I invite applicants who have applied for passports to come and pick them up without paying anything extra,” Adepoju said.

The Ag. CG observed that there was high demand for the travel document in the last few years as a result of the ‘Japa syndrome’ in Nigeria

She assured that the two-week timeline set by the Minister for the processing of passports would be adhered to.

“The Service and its partners had upgraded their facilities to meet the demand for the document by Nigerians.

“NIS is working with its partners to make the passport application process fully automated and when the process is completed, an applicant would only visit a passport office for biometric capturing, ” she said.

Adepoju warned applicants to shun touts, urging them to contact the Service via 08067761196 if any personnel demand for bribe from them to get a passport.

“Any personnel caught demanding bribe would be severely punished; the minister has directed that we make scapegoat of any corrupt official caught,” she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Elder Statesman and legal icon, Afe Babalola, on Thursday said if there was anything called life after life, his prayer would be to return to life as a farmer.

The 94-Year Babalola, who is the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), expressed this view at the opening ceremony of the 2023 annual edition of Afe Babalola Agric Expo, (ABAEX-2023) in Ado-Ekiti.

He described farming as the most profitable and energy charging profession if well pursued.

Babalola instituted ABAEX eight years ago to give millions of naira annual cash reward and tools as well as encourage more farmers’ to participate in food production.

“If I am to come back to this world, and asked what I love to do, I will pray to return to life as a farmer, and not as anything else; farming is an act of God; farming is of God; it is the only profession identified with creation.

“Any country that has genuine interest in growth and development must first embrace farming, ditto the citizens.

“Aside being a major source of employment generation, farming varnishes hunger and discourages laziness and stealing in any form.

“Those who started acts of corruption in Nigeria are not farmers but educated people who are invariably public officers.

“ An average farmer is known to be hardworking, contented and perseverance.

“People say I am a successful lawyer and wonder why I should have anything to do with farming, but I tell them, I will continue to identify with farming because I grew up with it and enjoyed it.

“ It may surprise many Nigerians that there is nothing we consume in my home that I buy from market; I grow them and I am proud of that; if many others can emulate me, Nigeria will be better for it,” he said.

He called on all tiers of government, especially Federal Government to focus more on agriculture, right from the grassroots, and through the local government councils, while every individual, no matter their profession, should also embrace farming.

“Farming is best done at the local government level, and by extension, the grassroots; this is why I am again calling on the Federal Government to allocate local government funds to them directly, and not through state governments, many of which often divert such funds,” he added.

He said he had established Industrial park in ABUAD which accommodates over 100 industries to further boost food production.

According to him, the industrial park will buy farm products like mornings, rice, maize and others, direct from farmers, so as to put a stop to incidences of wastage and economic losses on the part of farmers.

Babalola promised to continue to invest his money and everything humanly possible in Agriculture, and lift as many farmers that showed interest, until Nigeria had a change of attitude in that regard.

Speaking earlier, the Local Organisng Committee, (LOC) Chairman of ABAEX- -2023, Prof. Abiodun Ojo, explained that the agricultural revolutionary vision of Babalola was to transform Ekiti into a prosperous society, through agricultural rejuvenation of farmers with financial support.

He said ABAEX programme provided agricultural extension services to the farmers to evaluate their farms for productivity yields in large scale.

Ojo said that that the programme was implemented in all the local government areas of the state, adding the sum of N32 million had so far been committed to 2023 edition.

In her welcome address, the ABUAD Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samaranda Ayorinde, said the institution was doing as much to promote agriculture in diverse ways with huge investment in the country.

The vice chancellor commended Babalola for his patriotism and generosity.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Maternal Reproductive Health Research (MRHR) Collective, an NGO, says that its programme, campaigns and financial support for women,will reduce maternal mortality rate in Nigeria by five per cent by December 2023.

Prof. Bosede Afolabi, Chairperson, MRHR Collective, made this known at a news conference organised by the organisation on Thursday in Lagos.

Afolabi said that MRHR Collective campaigns tagged “Women For Her” targets to save the lives of 5,000 pregnant women at the rural communities, by ensuring that they do not die at child birth.

She said the objective was to reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria by five per cent between October and December 2023.

She explained that the organisation planned to achieve the target by ensuring that the indigent women have access to quality healthcare, received the needed information and give birth under a safe and skilled care environment.

According to her, MRHR Collective campaigns will provide health financing support for institutional interventions and care delivery at the grassroots to the women using traditional and innovative finance vehicles in partnership with public, private and development sector.

She decried that Nigeria had the highest number of women dying at child birth, saying that the country contributed to 30 per cent of the global maternal mortality.

She said,l: “Maternal mortality occurs in the urban areas but it is more common in the rural communities where access to healthcare is usually a challenge.

“We believed that part of the causes is that most women are not well informed.

“So, awareness is key and that’s why part of our programme centered on awareness campaigns to ensure that women have access to the needed information and care before, during and after pregnancy.

“The targeted 5,000 indigent pregnant women will be picked from the rural communities, registered in healthcare facilities and ensured that they give birth under a safe, secured and skilled healthcare”.

Speaking, Mrs Temitayo Etomi, Board Member, MRHR Collective, said that the ‘Women For Her’ campaign aimed at raising N100 million that would go into savings 5,000 Nigerian women from maternal mortality.

According to her, statistics shows that 82,000 women died in 2020 at childbirth, saying that the goal is to put an end to the trend because maternal mortality can totally be prevented.

She explained that part of the activities to inaugurate the campaign was the grand finale – ‘maternal health walk’ scheduled for Oct. 28, where every participant will register with the sum of N20,000.

“Statistics shows that it cost N20, 000 to have a safe delivery free from maternal mortality.

“So, if a person registers for the maternal health walk with N20,000, it means that such individual has succeeded in saving one pregnant woman from maternal mortality.

“And if 5,000 pregnant women are saved from dying at child birth between October to December, that will translate to reducing the maternal mortality by five per cent,” Etomi said.

Prof. Abidoye Gbadegesin, Chairman, Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), Lagos Chapter, identified primary postpartum hemorrhage as major causative factor of maternal mortality.

Gbadegesin said that bleeding (hemorrhage) after child birth and other birth complications contributed to a greater percentage of maternal mortality in Nigeria.

According to him, poverty and lack of access to quality healthcare, long trekking during labour to health facilities, lack of adequate preparation for delivery among others can cause a woman to die during delivery.

Gbadegesin, who applauded the Initiative, reiterated readiness of the Society to partner any organisation on programmes to reduce maternal mortality, which he said was high at five digits in Nigeria while other countries were dealing with a single digit.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has solicited enhanced defence cooperation with the respective militaries of all allied countries in Nigeria.

Abubakar made the call when he hosted foreign Defence Attachés of allied countries accredited to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the gathering of the military diplomats had showcased the profession of arms as not only a guardian of territorial integrity, but also bridge builder across geopolitical and strategic boundaries.

The CAS said the increasingly fragile global security landscape had brought to the fore, the indispensable role that military forces played in ensuring peace and stability in the world.

He added that the event underscored the long-standing commitment of the countries to maintaining strong ties in the field of defence and security.

The event, according to him, offers him a unique opportunity to share his command philosophy with them and solicit their cooperation towards realising his vision for the Nigerian Air Force.

According to him, the NAF as an integral component of the Nigerian Armed Forces, has consistently played a pivotal role in regional stability in Africa, and the West African subregion in particular.

“The NAF’s role in tackling security challenges in concert with other security services, demands sustenance of a diverse range of credible air power capabilities.

“These capabilities are often products of innovations and advancements in technology developed beyond the shores of anyone country, hence the need for strong alliances orchestrated by Defence Attachés.

“As Defence Attachés representing the respective military services of your countries, you are charged with the task of developing and promoting the defence interests of your respective countries in Nigeria.

“It is thus pragmatic to pursue those interests within the context of NAF’s aspirations.

“By so doing you would easily sustain a synergistic and symbiotic relationship with us,” he said.

Abubakar said his command philosophy was, “To transform the Nigerian Air Force into an agile and resilient force that effectively meets the airpower demands of national security in all operational environments.”

He enumerated five key enablers of his philosophy to include optimising force structure and establishment for enhanced operational effectiveness and deliberate training and mission-oriented force development.

The third key enabler, he said, was proactive logistics support and strong maintenance culture, while the fourth is prioritising research and development leveraging cutting-edge technology, strategic partnerships and lessons learnt.

The fifth according to him is maintaining a highly motivated force by enhancing welfare and infrastructural renewal.

The air chief said he considered Defence Attachés and Advisers as crucial players in translating his vision into reality by promoting collaboration, and mutual growth between the NAF and their respective militaries.

He said the NAF was ready to partner with friendly military forces on international defence and security and expressed willingness to extend similar assistance to allied partners in any identified area of NAF’s defence interest.

He thanked the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) and his team for making the meeting possible, adding that it was an opportunity to strengthen relationship and deepen defence cooperation with all allied countries.

The defence attachés were led to NAF Headquarters by the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria