Day: May 3, 2023

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has called for a review of Nigeria’s educational curriculum to meet present day realities.

The Director, UNESCO International Bureau of Education (IBE), Mr Ydo Yao, made this appeal at a capacity development training workshop for officials of the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja on Tuesday.

Yao said to address education crisis, there was need for actions in making curriculum relevant for assuring quality in education and ensuring that values, knowledge and skills thrived.

He said curriculum was a central and irreplaceable component of any educational policy which are also pivotal in the transformation of education.

”You know, we use to say that curriculum is for education, while a constitution is for a democracy. It means curriculum is the heart of education.

”So, when you talk about education, you are talking about content, programmes and learning.

”So, if you want to transform education, and you don’t transform what is at the core of it, which is the learning, content and the programmes, your transformation has no meaning,” he said.

Yao described the curriculum as being overloaded, outdated and short of present day development, hence the need for review.

He said the training was put in place to strengthen the capacities of specialists and officials in the ministry on eight thematic modules.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Education, Mr Goodluck Opiah, said steps had been taken in the curriculum transformation plan of the country.

Opiah said the ministry was already working on the democratisation of curriculum review process to give voice to all critical stakeholders, including parents and students.

”We recognise the fundamental role of curriculum in the drive for the attainment of globally agreed goals and country specific aspirations.

”It remains the singular instrument capable of transforming the human capital base of a nation for effective contribution to nation building and development.

”Thus, in setting our education targets as articulated in the Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) (2019 to 2022) for the education sector, curriculum and policy matters were identified and prioritised,” he said.

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Educational Research Development Council (NERDC), Prof. Ismail Junaidu, said the ministry had continued to strengthen school curricula with knowledge and skills on entrepreneurship, job creation and capital market studies, among others.

Junaidu said that teachers and education managers had also been provided with resource materials to help them implement the curriculum seamlessly.

”It is heart-warming to us at NERDC that this workshop is taking place at this time when we are set to review the Senior Secondary Education Curriculum.

”As part of preparations for the review, we have evolved a curriculum review model that is anchored on a participatory and equity framework.

”A model that gives voice to all legitimate citizens in the curriculum development process,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 16 weeks training would cover modules on policy dialogue and formulation, curriculum change, curriculum design, system management and governance.

Others are development of textbooks and other teaching and learning materials, capacity development for curriculum implementation, processes of curriculum implementation; and student assessment and curriculum evaluation.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The choice of Ahmed Wase as Speaker of the 10th National Assembly will bring a new lease of life to legislative responsibilities in the country, says a group.

They attributed to Wase’s long legislative experience as the deputy speaker and principal officer in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

This was disclosed in a statement by Mr Mustapha Sani, National Coordinator of the Friends of Wase, a non-profit organisation, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Sani said that with the expectations of a new Nigeria, the House of Representatives would require an outstanding personality to steer the ship of the elected members.

‘’We are indeed in an interesting time in the life of the country and no doubt the 2023 elections threw up the challenges that Nigeria requires to join the comity of democratically advanced nations. It has been 23 years of unbroken democratic rule in Nigeria. This is quite a feat in the over 60 years of chequered history of the country.

‘’We, the Friends of Wase, a non-profit group, have decided to join in the struggle of finding the right person to take up position of authority in the political sphere of the legislative arm of government.

‘’One challenge the 2023 elections threw at us was the fact of having a united, strong and acceptable person in the scheme of things for the electorate to buy-in. The same qualities, no doubt, are required in choosing who becomes the leader of the House of Representatives in 2023,’’ Sani said.

He said that Wase has become a household name in the legislative affairs of the Nation especially since he became the deputy speaker in 2019 with an outstanding number of member voting for him.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wase was elected into the lower Chamber of the National Assembly in 2007 and is currently serving his fourth term.

He worked in the following committees as Member: Federal Character, Environment, Emergency & Disaster, Public Account, Area Council, Housing and Habitat, Capital Market, Poverty Alleviation, Petroleum (Upstream), Justice, Public Petitions and Labour, and Youth and Employment Head of Section.

Wase was elected Deputy speaker in the 9th assembly with 358 votes unopposed; Deputy House Leader- 2018–2019; Member of the Federal Government Delegation to the 89th Session of the United Nations General Assembly held in New York- 2016; Governing Council Member of the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), 2015.’’

NAN reports that a speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the House elected by its membership.

The House Speaker is third in line of succession to the Nigerian Presidency, after the Vice President of Nigeria and the President of the Senate of Nigeria.

The speaker’s official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like.

The speaker decides who may speak and has the powers to discipline members who break the procedures of the chamber or house.

Sani said that in a democracy, legislative duties significantly have a direct impact on the citizens in terms of sustainable development that are backed with appropriate legislative laws.

‘’In the nation’s March towards self-sufficiency, true federalism, justice and unity, the right legislations are paramount. Making such landmark legislation is the handiwork of the legislatures. In the coming days, the 10th assembly would be inaugurated to conduct the affairs of the nation.

‘’Just as we stated earlier, the challenges of the 2023 elections showed that Nigeria has to conquer its problems through a concerted, discretionary and deliberate effort to change those imperatives that have impacted our development as a people; especially religion, ethnicity and nepotism.

‘’A competent person like Wase with the right democratic credentials is needed in this journey to a new Nigeria where all barriers must be broken. His state of origin known for its religious ambivalence makes him similar to Mr President who comes from same religiously tolerant society.

‘’Wase on many occasions has steered the affairs of the house competently in the absence of Mr Femi Gbajabiamila (the speaker) as deputy. His experience will definitely wield together the old and new members-elect coming in under different parties.

”He will serve as a bridge in the house in which he has meritoriously served in the last 16 years,’’ Sani said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

As part of activities to commemorate its 59th Anniversary, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday, conducted medical outreach to over 1000 women, children and elderly persons in Biseni Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

The Public Relations Officer, NAF Mobility Command, Sqn.Ldr. Olayinka Lawal, made this known in a statement on Tuesday.

Lawal said the services rendered by the NAF medical team included free medical consultations, blood pressure checks as well as eye and blood screenings.

He added that drugs, corrective glasses and insecticide-treated mosquito nets were also distributed during the outreach.

The Air Officer Commanding Mobility Command, AVM Elijah Ebiowe, said that NAF would continue to employ other non-kinetic measures to win the hearts and minds of its host communities.

The commander, who was represented by the Command Operations Officer, Air Commodore Friday Ekpah, stated that NAF had been extending such kind gesture to the people of Bayelsa.

According to him, the NAF has since 2012 been at the forefront of airlifting relief materials and evacuation of victims of flood disasters in the state.

This, according to him, is in addition to working in concert with other security agencies and the state government to guarantee the safety of lives and property in the entire state.

Ebiowe added that NAF had made several gains in the various theatres of operations across the country, to bring lasting peace and security to all.

He added that the medical outreach was designed as a civil-military cooperation effort, to win the hearts and minds of residents of the host communities.

According to him, it is also for them to know that the military is not all about guns and violence, so that they can volunteer information to security agencies in the quest to secure lives and property.

In his remarks, the Commissioner of Health, Bayelsa State, Dr Pabara Igwele, expressed delight that NAF conducted that kind of non-kinetic operation in Biseni community.

According to him, this is not the first time the NAF will be conducting an outreach such as this in the state, it has been at the forefront of providing humanitarian assistance to the State whenever the need arises.

“I am happy to recount that the Nigerian Air Force has a long history of providing humanitarian assistance to the State whenever the need arises.

“One such assistance was a similar medical outreach to the one we are having today which was conducted at Gbarantoru Community on May 18, 2021.

“The outreach, in no small measure, helped to ameliorate the health challenges in the community at the time”, he added.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government has released a 1,564-page compendium detailing the numerous achievements of the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023.

The compendium, which came in two volumes and documented by the Ministry of Information and Culture was made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

In the preface, signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, he said the compendium was one of the outcomes of the multi-dimensional programmes designed by the Ministry to showcase the administration’s achievements.

According to the minister, “the compendium contained the aggregation of the scorecards of the various ministries.

“Making it the most authentic and detailed collection – in a written form – that anyone can have on the achievements of the Buhari Administration from its assumption of office in 2015 to the end of its two-term tenure in 2023.

Mohammed said the collection came under the Administration’s Scorecard Series (2015-2023)’, launched by his ministry in October last year, to consolidate the propagation of the government’s achievements.

The scorecard series, according to him, provided the platform for ministers to tell Nigerians how they had fared in executing the policies and programmes of the administration from their various sectors.

Mohammed said other components of the multi-layer programmes included a documentary showcasing in vivid terms the giant strides of the administration in all spheres of life.

He said a Testimony Series was also organised, which gave ordinary Nigerians the opportunity to express how they had benefitted from the administration’s policies.

The minister said the ministry equally launched a Legacy Portal that would preserve for posterity all the achievements of the administration.

“I can boldly say that we have achieved our objective of launching the entire Scorecard Series, which is to tell Nigerians what the Buhari Administration has done in all the sectors to positively impact on

their lives.

“Prior to the launch of this Scorecard Series, the refrain from the opposition was that the APC and the Buhari administration have nothing to campaign with in the run-up to the 2023 general elections.

“But we have proven them wrong. Not only do we have achievements to campaign with, we are spoilt for choice,” he said.

The minister appreciated all the ministers for their support and cooperation in making the compendium and all the other components of the scorecard series a reality.

He also expressed gratitude to the members of staff of his ministry, heads of the agencies under the ministry as well as the media, which consistently reported the presentations.

On behalf of other ministers, Mohammed gave gratitude to President Buhari for his unflinching support for them to deliver on their mandates.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Emmanuel Agbaxode, Chairman, of the Volta and Oti Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association has saluted all journalists for their efforts in pushing journalism to the height that protect democracy, governance, and rule of law in the two Regions. He said as journalists and media practitioners, the crucial role was to speak the truth to power, expose lies and build strong, resilient institutions and societies for prosperity and growth ‘which are essential works of media in advancing press freedom and also the foundation of democracy and justice.’ Mr Agbaxode gave the commendation during the celebration of this year’s ‘World Press Freedom Day’ celebration at the Ho Municipal Assembly Hall, which is on the theme, ‘Shaping a Future of Rights; Freedom of Expression as Driver for Human Rights towards Ghana’s Development.’ He said on World Press Freedom Day, the world must speak with one voice to protect media workers and end impunity for crimes committed against them. Mr Agbaxode stated that Press Freedom gave the fact that journalists and media practitioners needed to shape opinions and speak the truth to power which also represented the lifeblood of human rights. He also called on the government, media organizations, and all stakeholders to support the effort in promoting and protecting the freedom of journalists. ‘Freedom of the Press is under attack globally and our country has not been immuned to such threats.’ Mr Agbaxode said disinformation and hate speech blurred the lines between fact and fiction and national laws and regulations that stifled journalists expand censorship and threatened freedom of expression, whilst journalists and media workers were directly targeted on and offline as they carried out their duties. ‘This year, we have witnessed an alarming 50 per cent increase in the number of media workers killed worldwide and nearly three-quarter of women journalists have experienced violence online.’ He urged all journalists to remain focused on pursuing transparency and proper democratic leadership to drive the nation. The ceremony was attended by journalists and media practitioners, security agencies, state-owned and private institutions, and members of the public.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The President of the Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Area, Obrempong Nyanful Krampah XI, has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the appointment of Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo as the next Chief Justice. Speaking to the media in an interview, at Gomoa Ajumako in the central region, Obrempong Nyanful Krampah XI praised the government for championing the empowerment of women in the country. The omanhene said Justice Torkornoo’s nomination was never a surprise to the chiefs and the people of the Central Region, especially, the Gomoa and Effutu enclave where she started her humble life as a child. ‘On behalf of Nanaanom and the people of Central Region, we once again express our gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for the enviable appointment; we are grateful to him,’ he stated. He said Justice Torkornoo through hard work and selflessness held many positions at the Judicial service from the lower courts to the Appeals court before her appointment to the Supreme Court by the government in 2019. The paramount chief said no wonder the president saw the humbleness in her and therefore appointed her to the high office as chief justice to succeed Chief Justice Anim -Yeboah who retires on May 24, 2023.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Isaac Kofi Agyeman Smart, a Kumasi-based businessman and philanthropist, has constructed a modern church auditorium for the A.M.E Zion church at Pakyi No. 1, in the Amansie West District. The chapel, estimated at GHc 500,000.00 was in fulfilment of a promise he made to God some 25 years ago, that if He elevated him from poverty, he would also build a house for His worship. Speaking at a ceremony to dedicate the building to the glory of God, Mr Agyeman, said at a point in time of his life, where he and his family was in dire poverty, with no place to sleep, he made a promise to God that if He blessed him to even construct a single room for his mother, he would also work to construct a chapel for Him. ‘At that poor state and challenging moment, I told God to help me to build my own house, at least a single bedroom. I challenged God that should He bless me, I will build for Him a temple’, he told the congregation. ‘God has blessed me more than enough and this is the time for me to fulfil my side of the bargain’. Right Reverend Dr Hillard Dela Dogbe, Bishop, Western West Africa Episcopal District of the church, who dedicated the chapel, commended Mr Agyeman for fulfilling his promise to God. He asked God to fill the chapel with His blessings so that worshipers would continue to find blessings anytime they entered the chapel. Rt. Rev. Dogbe appealed to the local heads of the church and the congregants to exercise the culture of maintenance as they utilized the facility. Rev. Dr Seth Frimpong Coleman, Bishop’s Deputy, Ghana Region, thanked Mr Agyeman for offering himself up as Solomon to the church. He asked for God’s continuous blessings to enable him to continue to support the growth and development of the church in the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency