Education
Institute Trains 100 Teachers In Kogi
The National Teachers Institute (NTI), recently commenced training for 100 government secondary schools teachers in Kogi State under the aegis of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) project.
According to a source, the five-day workshop was organised by the institute in collaboration with the Kogi State Government.
The Director-General of the institute, Prof. Garba Azare, at the opening ceremony of the workshop said that the training would enhance participant’s knowledge in Language Communication Skills.
Azare added that the training would also improve the teachers in Basic Classroom Teaching Methods and Techniques, Effective Management Skills, Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
He noted that the participants would be trained in Academic Leadership, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SENDs), HIV/AIDS Awareness and Digital Literacy.
Azare, who was represented by Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim, the Principal Accountant of the institute, said that Nigerian teachers deserve all the encouragement to enable them performe optimally on the job.
He said that the teachers should also be encouraged to undergo regular retraining programmes that would equip them with the current best practices around the globe, as they deserve improved remuneration.
According to him, sponsoring teachers to participate in capacity building programmes such as this, will enhance their cutting edge as professional classroom teachers.
The director-general, however, appealed to relevant stakeholders to ensure timely release of funds meant for the purpose of organising retraining programmes.
Azare also urged State Governors to help the institute by partnering with NTI at affordable costs to train teachers.
The State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, congratulated the participants for being part of the first 100 teachers that would be trained in Kogi State as master trainers.
Osikoya urged them to ensure they utilise the golden opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge on the job, stressing the need for the teachers to add professional value to themselves.
According to her, Kogi State has about 24, 000 teachers and only 100 are being trained in the first phase.
“There is the need for teachers to be skilled, competent, trained and motivated’’.
The commissioner thanked the Federal Government for the support, and commended the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for making education a topmost priority among the five thematic areas of his administration.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.