Education

Model Schools: Head Teachers Laud Rivers Initiative

Published

14 years ago

November 28, 2011

The Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON) has described the Rivers State educational system as world-class which other states of the federation are silently emulating.

The Chairman of the Association, Rivers State Chapter, Comrade Tennyson Amadi, stated this in an address at the 10th Annual National Workshop for Headteachers and Teachers in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.

Comrade Amadi, who described school building renovation in Rivers State as a taboo, said that it is total pulling down of old and dilapidated buildings and erecting a world-class edifice with state-of-the-arts facilities that cannot be compared with any primary school in Nigeria.

He recalled that in 2008, the Governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi, enlivened the lives of primary school teachers by taking over the payment of all salaries and allowances from the local government councils.

The Chairman of AOPSHON acknowledged that the training and retraining of about 3000 teachers in Rivers State has improved the teaching and managerial skills of teachers.

He expressed optimism that primary school teachers would attain the status of Permanent Secretary since they also possess Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate Degrees.

He explained that “Rivers 2011 with its theme: “Basic Education: Place in the National Transformation Agenda – The Head Teachers Challenges,” was very apt because most of the teachers are yet to comprehend which direction Nigerian educational system is heading to in transformation agenda of the present administration.

He maintained that the theme also became necessary concerning the roles the Head teachers have to play in the current dispensation especially where they are faced with so much challenges ranging from unstable school cumculum, non-engagement of head teachers in policy formulation and massive politicisation of education which the end product is mass failure at the upper level of our educational system, as well as the use of ICT.

His words: “We have chosen to practise teaching at the lowest rungs of service to humanity, the lowest of education profession, the sorriest in incentive and motivational encouragements, yet the most noble of all the professions world over”.

He, therefore, appealed to the government to release the domesticated curriculum for use in primary schools as well as reconstitution of local government education authorities to properly manage schools as provided in the edict establishing UBEB.

The AOPSHON chairman, who is also the Head teacher of State Primary School, Rumueme, said the challenge encountered last September was the influx of pupils from private schools from that area.

He disclosed to our correspondent that he recorded population of about 1000 pupils while the facilities available were meant for 300 only, stressing that the rest were asked to leave.

He, therefore, urged the government to put up storey buildings to utilise the available spaces since good things must attract more people.

Another challenge he maintained, was the reformation of the children since some of them come from poor background. He recalled a situation where some pupils come to school even at 9.00am when first lesson might have been taught.

He advised government to evolve a policy where children would be picked up while loitering during school periods, keep them somewhere while their parents / guardians would be meant to pay fines or be prosecuted, because according to him, “It is child abuse”.

He emphasised that provision of car loans to head teachers would also ease their mobility stressing that government should have confidence in the head teachers by giving imprest grants and duty post allowances for minor expenses instead of running to the ministry for every little maintenance.

“To the head teachers and workshop participants, he said, it is pertinent to know that our challenges and added responsibilities which gave supervisory role over our teachers and the academic performance of our pupils lie squarely on our ability to manage both human and material resources at our disposal.

“The teaching profession is our treasure and heritage that we need to guard jealously from crumbling. We must show the way with our wealth of experience,” he emphasised.

Mr Amadi enjoined the headteachers to guide their teachers aright urging them to strive for high ethical standard and good work ethics.

Eunice Choko-Kayode

Education

Professor Olonisakin Seeks More Funding for Research On Medicinal Plants, Laboratories

Published

2 days ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

An organic chemist at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Professor Adebisi Olonisakin has charged the government and relevant stakeholders to strengthen investment in research that explores the various known and undiscovered health and industrial potentials of plant secondary metabolites, in order for ‘Africa to evolve organic, home-grown methods of tackling health challenges if it must preserve its population and save its economy’.

He made this call on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, while delivering the 57th inaugural lecture of the institution titled ‘Nature’s Pharmacy: Unlocking the Secrets of Plant Secondary Metabolites’.

He further advocated sustainable governance principles, encouragement of conservation efforts and clubs, establishment of botanical gardens, biotechnology research units, approval of complementary herbal medicine, and setting up of laboratory infrastructure and central analytical facilities as avenues to getting the most from nature.

Prof. Olonisakin posited: ‘Secondary metabolites are nature’s valuable compounds that have contributed significantly to human well-being, safety and economic activities. These compounds have been a rich source of medicines, food additives, and other valuable products. Their diverse biological activities and potential applications make them an important area of research, offering new opportunities for improving human health and quality of life.

‘The isolation of secondary metabolites from plants has led to the discovery of numerous bioactive compounds with potential applications in medicines, agriculture and other industries. These compounds have shown promising results, making them attractive candidates for further research and development in order to uncover more of nature’s hidden treasures.’

Professor Olonisakin said secondary metabolites are natural compounds found in leaves, roots, bark and seeds of plants that protect them from insects and infection, adding that scientists study these plant chemicals to produce drugs for treating illnesses.

While affirming that nature can be seen as a pharmacy because it provides healing substances, the organic chemist urged students and researchers to pay attention to local plants, saying that Nigeria is blessed with many medicinal plants whose properties are yet to be fully discovered and utilised to help improve healthcare and boost the country’s economy.

Prof. Olonisakin noted that mosquito-borne viral diseases such as malaria continue to pose significant global health challenges with increasing resistance of mosquitoes to conventional insecticides. This, he said, has created an urgent need for alternative vector-control strategies through further research and development of plant secondary metabolites.

He, however, stressed the need for intentional scientific research into beneficial and safe plant-derived compounds, noting that genetic and environmental factors significantly influence the efficacy and chemical composition of plant secondary metabolites.

The chemist highlighted some of the challenges associated with secondary metabolites research to include complicated extraction process, low yield of secondary metabolites in sources, compound instability, structural diversity, high-demanding purification techniques, and limitations in analytical techniques.

To address these challenges, Prof. Olonisakin called on the Nigerian government to adopt integrated management principles that include responsibility, scale-matching, precaution, adaptive management, full cost allocation and stakeholder participation. He added that large-scale botanical gardens be established in all Nigerian states to conserve and manage useful plants effectively.

He also urged relevant stakeholders to encourage the establishment of conservation awareness and clubs from primary schools to universities and across local communities.

While presenting the inaugural lecturer, the Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, described Prof. Olonisakin as a distinguished scholar whose work sits at the intersection of tradition and science, as well as nature and human well-being. He commended him for his unwavering commitment to solution-driven research that advances knowledge within the university and benefits society at large.

Education

Over 10,000 Teachers Register for TRCN Exam

Published

2 days ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, announced that over 10,000 teachers across the country have successfully registered for its upcoming Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) scheduled for May 14 to 16, 2026. The development is being seen as a major sign of growing confidence in the council’s digital registration platform, which has become central to teacher licensing and certification in Nigeria.

According to TRCN Registrar and Chief Executive, Dr. Ronke Soyombo, the high turnout reflects increasing trust in the portal’s ability to manage registration, licensing, and certification efficiently on a national scale. She explained that although the system faced early technical difficulties after its September 2025 launch, those issues were largely caused by heavy traffic, system upgrades, and users adjusting from manual to digital processes.

Soyombo further stressed that the portal is now operating smoothly and remains the only approved channel for TRCN registration, warning teachers against unofficial third-party agents or fraudulent form sales.

Beyond the numbers, the milestone represents a broader shift in Nigeria’s education sector toward digital efficiency, transparency, and professional standardisation, with the TRCN positioning itself as a key driver of modern teacher regulation.

Education

ESUT flags off construction of 1,600-capacity ultramodern students hostel

Published

2 days ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) has flagged off the construction of a 1,600-bed ultramodern students’ hostel as part of efforts to tackle the growing demand for accommodation driven by rising student enrolment.

Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, disclosed that the project had a completion timeline of 12 months, describing it as a strategic intervention aimed at improving students’ welfare and enhancing academic productivity.

He attributed the university’s recent strides to what he termed the “disruptive innovation” model of Governor Mbah’s administration, noting that ESUT’s management had aligned with the vision to deliver measurable results rather than mere promises.

“This is a management driven by demonstration and practicality. We have keyed into the governor’s philosophy of innovation, and that is why we are recording visible progress,” Okolie said.

The Vice Chancellor particularly lauded Governor Mbah for his forward-looking investments in technology and education, highlighting the approval of an Artificial Intelligence Application Centre at the former NCC facility in Nike.

According to him, the centre will serve as a practical hub for research, training, and certification in emerging technologies, positioning ESUT at the forefront of digital transformation in Nigeria’s tertiary education space.Nigeria investment guide

He further disclosed that, with the governor’s backing, the university had commenced plans to send selected academic staff to leading global centres in cities such as Doha and Dubai for specialised training in Artificial Intelligence, adding that the initiative would enable the institution to import global best practices and build a critical mass of experts capable of driving innovation and research.

Okolie also commended the governor for providing consistent and massive support to the institution, including funding for critical infrastructure, recruitment of academic and non-academic staff, and ongoing interventions at the College of Medicine and Teaching Hospital.

According to him, ESUT has witnessed a sharp increase in its admission quota, rising from about 2,842 in 2022 to over 8,700 currently, a development that has intensified the need for expanded accommodation facilities.

Okolie added that the university was repositioning itself as a model of a modern institution, citing ongoing reforms, completion of previously stalled projects, and a renewed focus on quality delivery.

In his goodwill message, the TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, said the hostel project reflected the agency’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education through impactful interventions, noting that the initiative would significantly improve student accommodation and enhance teaching and learning outcomes.

Echono, who was represented by the South East Zonal Coordinator, Mrs Catherine Onuoha, also commended the governor for fostering an enabling environment for educational development and urged contractors to adhere strictly to approved standards and timelines.

Also speaking, the representative of Africa Plus Nigeria Ltd, Dipo Lawore, described the project as part of a broader national programme to address the acute shortage of student housing across tertiary institutions, stressing that the ESUT hostel would feature modern facilities including reading rooms, a cafeteria, 24-hour security, laundromat, and en-suite rooms designed to provide comfort and safety for students.Nigeria investment guide

The firm noted that the project was being funded through a partnership involving TETFund, Family Homes Funds Limited, and Africa Plus Partners, with TETFund providing 25 per cent of the funding, while the private partners cover the remaining 75 per cent.

The Student Union Government representative, Comrade Okeke Raphael, praised both the governor and the Vice Chancellor for their commitment to transforming ESUT into a world-class institution.

He noted that the new hostel would significantly ease the burden of rising accommodation costs on students and improve their learning environment.

In a similar vein, the host community, represented by the traditional ruler of Umueze Community, Igwe Emeka Ani, described the project as timely and inspiring.

He commended the governor’s developmental strides across the state and assured the university management of continued support and cooperation from the community.

Performing the foundation-laying ceremony, Governor Mbah lauded the Vice Chancellor for what he described as proactive and result-oriented leadership, noting that the university’s progress was a reflection of effective alignment with his administration’s vision.

“I must commend the Vice Chancellor for being a strategic game changer. The success stories we have heard today show clear alignment with our governance philosophy,” the governor said.

He also expressed appreciation to TETFund and other development partners for their contributions, assuring that his administration would continue to prioritise education by providing the right infrastructure and support systems.

Mbah added that the project underscored the state’s commitment to innovation, academic excellence, and community development, expressing optimism that ESUT would continue to evolve as a hub for knowledge, research, and progress.