News
Nigeria Needs More Investments To Achieve SDGs -UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says Nigeria needs more investments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda of 2030.
Mr Abdourhamane Diallo, Head of Office and Representative of UNESCO to Nigeria, said this yesterday at a two-day workshop on Capacity Development Training of Executives of the Federal Ministry of Education (FME).
The workshop was facilitated by UNESCO’s International Bureau of Education (IBE), an expertise organisation of UNESCO dedicated to curriculum development.
Diallo said that Nigeria was grappling with lots of issues that deterred it from attaining the SDGs, which included Goal 4 targeted at quality education.
“We have about six years to the time limit of achieving the SDGs. We are not there yet because the challenges are very high.
“The population is increasing, we have the problem of access, there is increasing number of out of school children.
“We need to accelerate investments, because the government cannot do it alone, and in the spirit of the SDGs, we need the private sector, Civil Society Organisations, everybody to be involved.’’
He added that UNESCO was supporting the roadmap of the country to fast track the attainment of the SDG 4, by building the capacity of entities in charge of curricula development.
According to him, curricula development is critical to SDGs and at the heart of education.
He added that as a fall out from the workshop, a curriculum Community of Practice (COP) would be developed to ensure that knowledge gained and ways of curricula development could be cascaded to necessary quarters.
Dr Muyibat Olodo, Director, Technology and Science Education Department, FME, reaffirmed that education was very key to the development of any nation.
Olodo said that delivering education to citizens without the right curriculum, cannot address the targeted purpose.
“In developing the curriculum, you have to take into consideration what the society wants, the employer’s needs, what the individual wants for gainful employment, which review of the curriculum is very important.
“The people going to develop the curriculum also need to know what is required globally to deliver an efficient curriculum for the education sector,’’ she said.
She added that the federal government would sustain curriculum review and update, to meet up with emerging demands across the globe.
Mrs Florence Ssereo, Senior Project Officer, Curriculum Transformation, Norms and Capacity Development, UNESCO-IBE, said the FME reached out to UNESCO in May 2023 for the training.
Ssereo recalled that the training began in May and had been in three phases, both physically and virtually, with 49 participants.
She mentioned that the course of the training took place in eight modules, adding that her organisation deliberated on policy dialogue and formulation, curriculum change, design, development, curriculum governance, evaluation, among other concerns.
Dr Garba Gandu, Director, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) Centre, said the training would translate into finding ways to update schools’ curriculum.
Gandu added that the council had been better informed and would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure best practices for curriculum cycle from planning to implementation.
Some of the recommendations from the workshop included for the FME to engage state and local stakeholders of education in consequent capacity development on curriculum.
“FME should ensure effective monitoring of teachers on the implementation of the curriculum implementation in Nigeria.
“FME should encourage the sensitisation and advocacy on issues affecting the implantation of curriculum, foster industrial support and resource allocation for the establishment and sustenance of Community of Practice in Nigeria.
“UNESCO-IBE should offer continuous technical support to the Community of Practice in Nigeria for effective implementation of the curriculum and sharing of best practices on curriculum.’’
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
News
We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
?
?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
?
?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
?
?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
?
?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
?
?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
?
?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
?
?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
?
