Nation
FG Will Continue To Invest Big In Education, Says Minister
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has assured that the Federal Government will continue to invest hugely in education to boost the quality of teaching and learning in the country.
Adamu made the pledge in a message he sent to the 33rd convocation ceremony of the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, near Nsukka in Enugu State yesterday.
The Tide source reports that no fewer than 1,611 students were awarded Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE), while 69 others got their Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) from the institution.
Adamu said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had always given education special attention, which he said, informed the decision to upgrade teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
“This administration invests hugely in education to ensure quality teaching and learning.
“Government has ensured that all tertiary institutions in the country received robust interventions from TetFund to boost infrastructure in institutions.
“Many structures I inaugurated earlier today in this college before the convocation ceremony, attest to government’s huge funding on tertiary institutions in the country.
“It is because of the regard government has for teachers as critical stakeholders in education that it upgraded teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years,” he said.
Adamu, represented by Mr Chukuemeka Nwajiuba, the Minister of State for Education, urged teachers to reciprocate government’s gesture by being dedicated to their duties and to be good role models to students.
“Teachers are critical stakeholders in education, so they should always strive to comport themselves to dignity and respect the teaching profession deserves.
“I commend the Provost of the college, Dr Pauline Ikwuegbu, for her good performance and judicious use of funds as testified to by the facilities I inaugurated today in the college.”
The minister, who congratulated the students, advised them to put the knowledge they acquired to good use so as to contribute their quotas to national development.
Also speaking, Ikwuegbu, who is also the first female provost of the college, said that the convocation was meant to confer certificates on students found worthy in character and learning.
“At this 33rd convocation, we conferred 1,611 graduates with NCE and 69 with PDE certificates, having been found worthy in character and in learning.
“I congratulate them for successful completion of their courses and urge them to always be good ambassadors of their alma mater.
“Don’t see your academic attainment today as the climax but a pedestal for more academic pursuits in life.”
She listed some of her achievements since assumption of office in 2018, attributing them to good working relationship between staff, students, management and the college’s governing council.
The provost expressed appreciation to the minister for finding time to witness the 33rd convocation and 40th anniversary of the college as well as the inauguration of projects completed within three years of her administration.
Some of the projects inaugurated by the minister include an administrative building, 1,000 capacity auditorium and a farm-house, where chickens, rodents and pigs would be reared.
New buildings for the school of arts, school of social sciences and school of languages were also inaugurated.
Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education and Mr Doifie Buokoribe, Chairman, FCE Eha-Amufu Governing Council also attended the convocation.
In their separate remarks, they commended the provost for her achievements within three years of assumption of office, urging her to keep it up.
Some of the graduands told The Tide source in separate interviews that they were grateful to God, who made it possible for them to graduate successfully, pledging that they would be good ambassadors of the college.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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