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  • Jubilation in Ogun state as Gov. Abiodun begins payment of N10,000 cash award to primary, secondary pupils

    Jubilation in Ogun state as Gov. Abiodun begins payment of N10,000 cash award to primary, secondary pupils

    The Ogun state government on Wednesday began the payment of N10,000 cash award to 100,000 primary and secondary school learners in the over 2, 000 public schools across the four divisions of the state.

    The 10,000 being disbursed to the students is in fulfilment of the promise made by the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to pay N10,000 to indigent pupils and students in the state’s primary and secondary schools.

    The commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, in the state, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu while speaking during the monitoring process noted that the payment was one of the strategies used by the governor to provide succour to parents as a result of the present economic situation in the country.

    Prof. Arigbabu noted that the gesture was meant to provide succour to pupils and their parents.

    He said: “In view of the economic realities in the country, the governor decided to provide succour to the people of the state using multiplicity approaches to achieve this.

    “He believes that another strategy that could be used which has never been used by any government before is the health and education sectors to reach the populace. Through the education sector, you can truly reach out to those who need the palliative.

    “We have over 2, 000 primary and secondary schools in all the four divisions of the state, and 100,000 learners in these schools would receive N10,00 each.”

    He emphasized that the government decided to pay through parents whose children are in public primary and secondary schools as the children do not have bank accounts due to their age.

    “As we meet and give the parents the governor’s message, they are receiving the alert for payment.The governor’s gesture is to support the parents in meeting their children’s needs,” he added.

    On how the children were chosen, the commissioner maintained that the process was objective, adding that it was easy to come up with the list of indigent students as teachers who are part of the school system were given the burden to find the indigent students as they are the closest to them.

    “That is why we have not involved anybody who is not in the school system. The school system is not political. Civil servants are not supposed to be politicians, so the principals and the teachers have selected these children based on the fact that they have always seen them to be indigent students.

    “How do they know them? These are children without shoes, some of them have torn uniforms, some don’t have enough exercise books, and some can’t even buy textbooks. There are a number of things they would have seen, some of them, it is these teachers that will be contributing money to the support system.

    “I can assure you that the children we have chosen are children that are indigent. To confirm that for you, a parent came to me, she said that her child in this school was chosen, but she has another child in another school that was not chosen. That is telling you that indigency is relative,” he said.

    He disclosed that 50,000 students of Ogun State origin in both public and private tertiary institutions have been captured to be paid N50,000 each.

    The payment, he said, has started with about 20,000 students to be covered by the end of the week.

    “In the tertiary level, we are giving out N50,000 to each student. We have captured 50,000 students from all the tertiary institutions whose details have been submitted to us after we wrote to the Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts.

    “We are paying directly to the students to ensure that the money get to them. We started payment last week, and we have paid over 10,000 students, and before the end of this week, we would have paid 20,000, “the commissioner assured.

    Prof. Arigbabu also revealed that five exercise books would be given to 850,000 primary and secondary school learners, including those who did not benefit from the N10,000, adding that the governor was also preparing another package for the education sector.

    Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, who also monitor the disbursement exercise, opined that money would make a difference in the lives of those who really need it, noting that those who have received their alert have promised to make judicious use of it.

    Speaking in an interview, the Principal, Baptist Boys High School (Junior), Lasabi Olarenwaju, noted that some of the beneficiaries were chosen based on the inability of their parents to cater for their basic needs,adding that the gesture by Governor Dapo Abiodun would go a long way in helping the beneficiaries.

    Mrs. Odutayo Titilope, Principal, Senior School, Lisabi Grammar School, Idia-Aba, said 120 students were registered to benefit from the cash award.

    Alhaji AbdulRahaman, a parent whose child is in African Church Grammar School, appreciated the governor for the gesture, saying it would go a long way in meeting the needs of his child, while Mrs Funmi Alaka, a widow, appreciated Governor Abiodun for the kind gesture, saying the cash award would help her in getting some of the things needed by her daughter.

    Zainab Babatunji and Abosede Ashamu, whose wards attend Holy Prophets Primary School, said though they initially had doubt about the workability of the cash award, the fact that they have received the money is a testimony that it is not fake and the governor has the interest of the people at heart.

    Iyabo Kushimo, whose child attends Ebenezer Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Saje, Abeokuta, also confirmed the receipt of the N10,000 cash award, saying she would use the money to buy school sandals and use the other part to pay her child’s transport fare.

    Other schools visited by the Commissioner included, Abeokuta Grammar School, African Church Grammar School, Baptist Boys High School, Saje, Saje High School, Ebenezer Grammar School, Unity High School, Lisabi Grammar School, Idia-Aba, Ebenezer Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Saje, Holy Prophets Primary School, Adedotun, and Agunbiade Victory High School, Magbon, all in Abeokuta.

  • Kano governor, Yusuf stops payment of salaries to 10,000 workers employed by Ganduje

    Kano governor, Yusuf stops payment of salaries to 10,000 workers employed by Ganduje

    The governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf has ordered the Accountant General of the state to stop the salaries of 10,800 workers employed by the previous administration. of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    Governor Yusuf had earlier accused Ganduje of illegally employing over 10,000 workers in the dying minutes of his administration.

     

    The Accountant General, Abdulkadir Abdusalam, announced the governor’s directive on Monday while addressing journalists in Kano.

    Abdusalam said the governor ordered his office to remove the affected workers from the state’s payroll.

    He further stated his office would carry out an investigation to find out the genuineness of their engagement and procedures so as to remove those illegally recruited.

    Concerning local government workers in the state, Abdusalam disclosed that those who were converted to state workers by the former administration would continue receiving their salaries.

    However, he said it would be based on local government levels, asking them to continue working in their new state’s MDAs until the investigation is concluded.

  • 2023: YPP welcomes 10,000 decampees from APC, PDP in Akwa Ibom

    2023: YPP welcomes 10,000 decampees from APC, PDP in Akwa Ibom

    About 10,000 members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Congress, (APC), have dumped their parties to team up with  Young Progressives Party, (YPP) in Akwa Ibom State,

    The event, which took place in Ifa Ikot Akpan, along Airport road, Uyo, had Senator Bassey Albert, the former Chief of Staff to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen, the member representing Ikono/Ini federal constituency, Hon Emmanuel Ukpong Udo and the lawmaker representing Ikono State constituency, Hon Asuquo Nana Udoh, as well as numerous party men, join the YPP.

    The national chairman of the party Bishop Comrade Emmanuel Amakiri chieftain of YPP, Senator Ifeanyi Uba, the State Chairman of YPP, Apostle Nyenime, and some party stalwarts were on the ground to receive the decampees.

    At the event, the State chairman, who was also the gubernatorial candidate of the party, announced that he was stepping down for Senator Bassey Albert Akpan.

    The national chairman of the party in his speech noted that the YPP had come to stay in Akwa Ibom State and urged every young progressive citizen to take their destiny into their hands.

    He expressed pleasure over the overwhelming support the people had shown to Senator Akpan whom he said would liberate Akwa Ibom from its current quagmire.

    Addressing the gathering, Akpan who is the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East (Uyo) district, said that in line with the electoral laws, he willingly offered himself as an aspirant in the upcoming primaries for substitution, following Andy’s withdrawal of his candidacy.

    He assured the delegates that if given the chance at the primary, he will not disappoint the party, adding that as a governor, all the civil servants would be treated with social justice and welfare.

    Ephraim Inyangeyen, who spoke on behalf of other decampees, promised that together with OBA, “we will make the difference.“

  • Kaduna govt set to recruit 10,000 teachers after mass sacking

    The Kaduna State Government has concluded plans to recruit 10,000 primary school teachers to replace disengaged ones in order to improve the quality of teachers in the state.

    The Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, made this known in Kaduna on Wednesday at the inauguration of the distribution of learning materials to pupils in 4,260 public primary schools and 838 learning centres.

    Recall that the state government had on June 19, announced the sack of 2,357 primary school teachers for failing the government’s competency tests.

    The state government had in 2018 sacked 21,780, for failing a similar test while 233 others were sacked in December 2021 for allegedly presenting fake certificates.

    According to the deputy governor, the government shall continue to weed unqualified teachers in public schools and no amount of distraction will stop it.

    “The quality of instruction is very important in determining the educational outcomes of our children and we cannot allow only the children of a few to steal the advantage that education provides.

    “Nor shall we continue to allow poor quality education to be available to the children of the weak and vulnerable in our society, who attend public schools.

    “Children of the poor also deserve competent teachers, and it is our sworn responsibility to ensure that they get it, “he said.

    Balarabe said that the state government had renovated more than 500 public primary and secondary schools and provided perimeter fencing in many schools as required by UN agencies for the security of children.

    She added that new schools were built including new science secondary schools and many blocks of classrooms constructed in primary and other secondary schools across the state.

    Balarabe said that the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) and the state primary education development projects had ensured construction of more classrooms at the primary school level.

    This, according to her, is to accommodate the return of out of school children to classes.

    “However, as important as classrooms and physical structures are in creating conducive learning environments, lack of access to books pose an even greater challenge to learning.

    “Therefore, our free book policy is to increase access to textbooks, exercise books, sandals, sharpeners, pencils, erasers, school bags and magnetic boards.”

    She said that when poor children were exposed to books early, they would learn to read better, adding that the more children had access to books the more likely they would learn better.

    She noted that the problems in education were “simply overwhelming” adding that the government alone could not bear the burden.

    “That is why other stakeholders must come in with more commitments if we are to make any meaningful progress.

    “To the best of my knowledge, the private sector has of recent been relatively quiet in terms of their contributions to education and public schools.

    “We will, therefore, be happy to see the private sector come in with interventions in education as part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities.

    “As government provides leadership, teachers, parents, community-based organisations, religious leaders, traditional rulers and even the school children need to give their support and contributions.”

     

  • Russia residents with more than $10,000 barred from leaving country

    Russia residents with more than $10,000 barred from leaving country

    Russian residents are no longer allowed to leave the country with more than the equivalent of 10,000 dollars as the Kremlin tries to keep capital inside the country.

    The country faced sharp sanctions due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    The rule affects the movement of foreign currency too.

    It seems designed to make sure that people attempting to leave Russia as sanctions were slapped on the country don’t take all their hard currency with them.

    Long queues are now common at cash machines that still have banknotes as people try to withdraw their holdings.

    This is against the backdrop of a rouble that is rapidly losing most of its value in light of the sanctions.

    Prices of imported goods are shooting up and people are trying to purchase some items, like new phones before they become unaffordable.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin said the rule limiting cash movements was a reaction to “unfriendly” steps taken by the U.S. and other Western countries.

    The unfriendly steps included sanctions that had been slapped on multiple Russian banks.

  • How I earned N10,000 for my first movie role-Stella Damasus

    How I earned N10,000 for my first movie role-Stella Damasus

    Veteran actress, Stella Damasus has recounted how she earned N10,000 for her first movie role in Nollywood.

    Damasus made this known during an interview with media personality, Ebuka Obi-Uchendu,

    “My first movie was ’95 into ’96, that’s the film ‘Abused’. I had no idea what I was doing but I went for it. I got it by accident. I didn’t plan to be an actor. I thought I was going to be a singer because I worked in a studio,” she said.

    “A friend came to my house and said they were going for an audition. I lived in Surulere and she was going to Ikeja. I went with her. I saw tons of people standing outside under the sun. She went in and came out.

    “Someone called me and asked if I had auditioned. I said I haven’t and didn’t come there for that. They said they liked my look and how I sound. They asked that I come read for the movie. They gave me a script. I read and left.

    “Three weeks later, they called to inform me I got the part. My pay was N10,000. My studio salary then was N700.”

    Asked why she left Nigeria at the peak of her career, she said: “I’ve been in the US (myself, my husband, and my kids) since 2013. One of my children had to study a course not offered in Nigeria. Another was for health reasons,” the actress said.

    “My husband had to take a project at an American university. Having considered these, we decided to move.

    “Before I made for the US, I didn’t act for about two, three years. I had this routine of taking breaks to examine my strides and the impact of my work. I had a rethink about the prospect of my career outside entertainment.

    “If I hit my 40s, what will I do? Wait for scripts or create my own thing? Leaving my country, who’ll know me? I decided I’ll build my brand globally. That’s what I hope to do and it’s a gradual process.”

  • Urhobo Roundtable Discussion at No. 10 Downing Street, UK

    The Urhobo’s are a people with a proud history, culture and heritage; originating from Nigeria and have spread across the world. The UK is the major hub of Urhobo people in diaspora.

    Our fathers before us founded our great Urhobo Progress Union, to promote the values of unity and togetherness as the bedrock of progress. This next generation of Urhobo people must draw on the strength and conviction of our fathers to drive forward a new and bold vision of togetherness and development amongst Urhobo people, as the right legacy of the efforts of our fathers, to take advantage of the opportunities in the United Kingdom for the advancement of all Urhobo people.

    This was the rallying call of Nero Ughwujabo, the Special Adviser – Social Justice, Opportunities and Young People to Prime Minister Theresa May; calling on 10 Urhobo younger people to a roundtable discussion to understand the challenges facing the Urhobo community but also to understand the vast opportunities open to us to help our community flourish.

    The Special Adviser is in a unique position being the first person of African descent to hold the position of Special Adviser to a Prime Minister of Britain. In his very important role as the Special Adviser on Social Justice, Opportunities and Young People, he is actively involved in helping the government to deliver its response to the Race Disparity Audit which identified significant disparities for black and minority ethnic communities.

    The Roundtable discussion was held on 13th April 2018 at N0.10 Downing Street, the heart of Her Majesty’s Government. The Special Adviser led the discussion in the same way he hosts other community groups lobbying the government for support. It was a very fruitful discussion with strong ideas on the way forward for our community.

    There was consensus that the Urhobo community needs to be better coordinated and better led so that it is better able to access the range of government support at its disposal. It was agreed that this generation of Urhobo people should build an organisation that uses the skills and abilities of Urhobo professionals, which works with existing Urhobo community groups, so that progress and change can begin to happen.

    Delegates identified a number of immediate challenges the new organisation can help to tackle, including:

    • Building capacity within existing Urhobo organisations and helping to realise the vision of an ‘Urhobo Resource Centre’

    • Advancing education and access to leadership opportunities

    • Supporting younger generations to access and appreciate their Urhobo roots

    • Co-ordinating access opportunities, creating development and empowerment activities for the Urhobo youth

    • Using modern tools and social media to raise awareness of Urhobo culture and language Through the creation of a “special purpose vehicle”, efforts to realise these aspirations can commence without further delay.

    The overall goal is to create an organisation with a clearly defined purpose, which the entire community in the UK endorses to work in its best interest.

    There will be further information on how to get involved in this new movement, so that through our collective efforts, our community will become more effective, stronger and better placed to deliver to its aspirations.

  • More than 10,000 candidates caught cheating in Anambra – JAMB

    More than 10,000 candidates caught cheating in Anambra – JAMB

    The Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) says more than 10,000 candidates caught for examination malpractices in the ongoing UTME in Anambra have been handed over to appropriate authority.

    Lynda Nwachukwu, the Coordinator of the board in Anambra, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Saturday.

    NAN reports that the all computer-based testing (CBT) mode 2017 UTME, which started on May 13 in 642 centres nationwide, ended on May 20.

    Ms. Nwachukwu said the examination, which took place in 28 centres in the state, was successful.

    “There was no disruption of the exercise in any of the examination centres,’’ she said.

    The coordinator said the candidates adhered strictly to the requirements of the examination, adding that JAMB provided all the materials required for the examination.

    NAN correspondent, who monitored the last batch of the examination, reports that some parents complained of system failure in some CBT centres in the state.

    Eucharia Okonkwo, a parent, said her daughter, who wrote the examination at the St Mary’s High School Ifite-Dunu centre, could not complete the examination due to the faulty computer and network failure at the centre.

    According to her daughter, many candidates could not complete the questions in record time because of the faulty system.

    Ms. Okonkwo advised JAMB to plan well for examination in subsequent years to avoid the technical hitches that could give the candidates psychological trauma.

    Mose Mojekeh, Head, Department of Marketing at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, told NAN on telephone that such system failure in UTME was not acceptable.

    According to him, the hiccups could potentially deny young people from Anambra State university admission.

    Mr. Mojekeh advised JAMB to urgently collate the number of candidates affected and set another examination for them.

    He also decried the practice whereby JAMB sends officials from one state to supervise examinations in another state.
    “Experience has shown that such officials do not care much about the candidates when problems arise, as they leave them to their fate,’’ the lecturer said.

    He called on the management of schools, whose candidates experienced the computer failure, to take their complaints to the State Ministry of Education to present their cases.
    JAMB concluded the 2017 CBT UTME on May 20.

    (NAN)