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Fagbemi urges prioritization of education in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy

by Editor
written by Editor

Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef O. Fagbemi, SAN, on Friday emphasized the importance of education in nurturing democratic values and building a stronger future for Nigeria.

Delivering the convocation lecture titled “Nurturing Democratic Values and Education for the Future of Nigeria,” at the 39th Convocation of the University of Ilorin, Fagbemi highlighted the role of education as a key pillar in advancing democracy, fostering social cohesion, and promoting national unity.

In his address, Fagbemi commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its commitment to education, notably through initiatives like the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

He stated that NELFUND has already begun to impact the education sector positively by granting over 351,000 loans worth N84.2 billion as of September 2024. The scheme, according to him, is a testament to the government’s efforts to make education accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic background.

Fagbemi stressed that education plays a crucial role in nation-building, stating that “a well-educated citizenry fosters stability, social cohesion, and progress.”

He encouraged graduates to reflect on how they can contribute to the development of their communities and the country at large, urging them to adopt the mindset of service to the nation rather than focusing solely on personal gains.

He cited former U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s famous words: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

Fagbemi also expressed the role of education in upholding human rights, stating that all educated individuals share the responsibility to advocate for justice and equality.

He argued that education equips citizens with the tools needed to actively engage in democratic processes, ensuring that leaders are held accountable.

The Attorney General further called for reforms in Nigeria’s educational system, advocating for improved infrastructure, teacher training, and inclusive policies that address the needs of marginalized populations, such as girls, children from low-income families, and people with disabilities.

He emphasized that achieving gender equality in education is crucial for the country’s democratic growth, highlighting the need to break down barriers that hinder girls’ access to education.

Fagbemi decried the challenges facing Nigeria’s education system, including political interference, corruption, and inequality in access to education, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions.

He urged the government to create policies that foster inclusivity and democratic values within the education system, stressing that “education is not just about individual success; it’s about building a prosperous and democratic society.”

The lecture, however, called for Nigeria to emulate countries like South Africa and Singapore by integrating civic education into the curriculum, promoting critical thinking, and empowering teachers to adapt their teaching strategies to the needs of their students.

Fagbemi emphasized that a reformed education system, which ties economic progress to democratic governance, is essential for Nigeria’s long-term success.

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Isanlu-Isin Community rallies for transformation of local college into science school

by Editor
written by Editor

By Omotayo Ayanda

In a demonstration of unwavering commitment to advancing education and nurturing bright futures, the Isanlu-Isin community in Kwara State has commissioned a new block of classrooms and modern toilet facilities at the Isanlu Isin Comprehensive College (IICC).

This event brought together distinguished indigenes from home and abroad, the Honourable Commissioner of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, the Isanlu Isin Traditional Council of Chiefs, as well as Principals and Staff of IICC, among others.

In his address, the National President of the Isanlu-Isin Development Association (IIDA), Kayode Babalola, warmly welcomed attendees on behalf of Oba (Dr) Solomon Oloyede and the entire community of Isanlu-Isin.

The presence of top government officials from the Ministry of Education and the State Teaching Service Commission signaled the government’s commitment to improving educational institutions within the community.

The Isanlu-Isin Comprehensive College, established in 1981 in response to a genuine need in the community, has a rich history spanning 32 years.

Throughout its existence, the college has witnessed countless students graduate and achieve success in various fields, both within Nigeria and abroad. The community’s contributions to the college’s development have been significant, with initiatives such as the construction of classroom blocks, the provision of security personnel for both day and night protection, and even the generous donation of a mathematical laboratory.

Notably, Chevron, a renowned Nigerian oil company, contributed to the college’s development by donating a cutting-edge science laboratory equipped for Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. This invaluable addition was officially commissioned in March 2017.

The event also shed light on the college’s adaptation to modern educational needs, particularly the introduction of an E-learning scheme. Over the years, the college employed conventional teaching methods, but recognizing the evolving world, it is now embracing Electronic Learning (E-learning) to remain effective and relevant in education.

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This initiative, supported by members of the diaspora, aims to provide a platform for electronic learning, facilitating parent and guardian access to academic performance monitoring, enhancing students’ skills to meet national and global standards, and simplifying research and external examination preparation.

Babalola expressed the community’s gratitude for the Kwara State Government’s continuous support during the college’s 32-year journey. This included regular staff salary payments, the renovation of dilapidated buildings, the provision of institutional materials, and consistent supervision by the Ministry of Education to ensure that the college adheres to the government’s educational policies.

The Isanlu-Isin Comprehensive College boasts state-of-the-art science and mathematical laboratories that rival facilities in some universities, making it a point of pride for the community. These laboratories are well-equipped, feature individual workstations for students, and enjoy modern amenities, including a borehole water supply, electricity, and ceiling fans for comfort.

Most striking is the mathematical laboratory, a unique asset in Kwara State, equipped with modern apparatus that simplifies the teaching and learning of mathematics, even for students who may struggle with the subject.

One of the proposals highlighted during the event was the community’s earnest appeal to the state government to convert the Isanlu-Isin Comprehensive College into a science school. This call was reinforced by the exceptional laboratories and equipment within the college.

The proposal aims to avoid the underutilization of these advanced facilities, attract students from across the state and neighboring regions, and ensure that science teachers are available in all fields of science. The favorable response from a 2021 inspection by Ministry of Education officials has heightened anticipation for the college’s transformation.

The community raised specific concerns that urgently require attention, including the shortage of teaching staff, especially in crucial subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Technical Education, as well as the need for additional non-teaching staff. Dilapidated buildings and roofs damaged by rainstorms also require renovation, and enhanced security measures, such as the appointment of two security guards for night duty, are needed to protect the college.

In her speech, the Honourable Commissioner of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, commended the Isanlu-Isin community’s dedication to fostering a brighter future through education.

She underscored the importance of providing toilet facilities in schools, especially for girl students, and noted that the state government, in partnership with the World Bank, is implementing the Adolescent Girl Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) programme, aimed at improving girl-child education.

“Happiness filled me, that this community like before has once again demonstrated commitment to building a glorious future for itself by supporting the government of His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRaham AbdulRazak, the Executive Government of Kwara state.

“Isanlu – Isin community has really demonstrated a great understanding of the popular saying that Government cannot do it all. Indeed, this donation will no doubt increases school enrolment. This will therefore give brighter future to the indigent students. It has been observed that absence of toilet facility has robbed some chiidren, especially girl child, the needed access to education.

Hence, His Excellency has directed that all construction and renovation projects in all schools must be with provision of toilets and potable water. It is largely on this premise that His Excellency Mallam AbdulRaman AbdulRazak has with some other states entared into an understanding with the World Bank to put in place, a programme caied Adolescent girl initiative for learning and empowerment (AGILE) which will change the normative for girl-child education in the state.

“On this note, I am assuring everyone present here that education in the state is going to the next level. And by God’s grace, we shall achieve this soonest. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I am indeed full of gratitude for your taking the time and effort to be here today at the commissioning of this laudable project”, she said.

The event’s attendees were left with a sense of optimism for the future of education in Kwara State, emphasizing the collective efforts to nurture quality education and address pressing challenges.

As the event concluded, the words of gratitude and hopes for a brighter educational future echoed throughout the Isanlu-Isin community.

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EducationCommunityNews

Governor Abdulrazaq receives commendations on KwaraLEARN initiative

by Tayo Ayanda
written by Tayo Ayanda

The effort of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq led administration to transform the education sector in Kwara State including the introduction of KwaraLEARN, a transformational initiative to boost learning and teaching, using cutting-edge technology has received commendations from various stakeholders.

Stakeholders in education sector and government functionaries had made the commendations at the KwaraLEARN’s Annual Performance Review Meeting held in Ilorin, yesterday.

The performance review was aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of the KwaraLEARN programmme’s progress, achievements and impact.

Addressing newsmen, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Prof. Shehu Adaramaja noted that KwaraLEARN was launched in April 22 and the programmme has made a remarkable achievement in improving basic education in Kwara State. 

He affirmed that the programmme has a coverage of 872 schools across 10 local government in the state. The programmme so far has trained 6,500 teachers and has enrolled over 115,000 pupils from primary one to primary six, which he said that the number highlighted the extensive impact of KwaraLEARN in enhancing basic education in the state. 

According to him, “KwaraLEARN supervisors have devoted over 25,000 hours to provide valuable support to schools, teachers, head of schools, school administrators including our education secretaries in delivering quality instructional learning and teaching.

“Additionally, the system has distributed 1,184,915 text books and other learning materials to ensure that every pupils have access to essential learning resources.

“The system has also equipped 7,000 teachers, and head teachers with digital devices and empowering them with necessary tools to enhance their teaching services”, he said. 

Adaramaja said further that the programmme has contributed to the significant increase in pupils enrollment with a minimum raise of 13% in number of students enrolled in the state for the last a academic section.

Also, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kwara State, Rafiu Ajakaye thanked the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for coming up with the most important initiative, stressing that the most important legacy you can give to a state or a country is to ensure that you have a solid education, particularly at the foundational level.

“This is exactly what his excellency has done by introducing technology to educational sector. The most important layer of education that is the primary education. 

“We look forward about the brighter future of our children. We look forward whereby our children will be able to compete with their peers anywhere in the world because this is digital in nature” he added. 

He, then, thanked the KwaraLEARN team, the SUBEB and everybody who have contributed to the success of the programmme for the wonderful job they have been doing, even as he assured government continuous support to the programmme.

Speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said that it is not a gainsaying that KwaraLEARN is a laudable achievement of the Kwara State Government. She thanked His Excellency for giving much to the ministry of education 

“KwaraLEARN is a very big initiative and at our end at the Ministry of Education we so much enjoyed the programmme. Lateness has reduced drastically, it has improved the life of our pupils. KwaraLEARN has been impactful and to the glory of God our pupils can compete with their peers globally”.

Her counterpart in the Ministry of Communications, Mrs. Christiana Asonibare testified that today people are celebrating a significant milestone in the journey of education reform in Kwara State. 

She added that the programme has reformed our education sector and provided quality education that met global standard for Kwara child.

The Managing Director of KwaraLEARN, Isaiah Owolabi appreciated everyone’s contributions for creating an enabling environment to let the children of Kwara State have access to world class education. 

“The bottom line of the programmme is to leave no one behind and the single goal of KwaraLEARN is to make sure that all children in Kwara State are not left behind no matter your social economy status or wherever you leave in kwara state we want you to have access to quality education” he added.

He said further that they are committed to expand to the remaining local government in the state to make sure that all children in Kwara State no matter were the live or who gave birth to them they have access to the best education in the world.

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EducationNews

Adeyemi identifies factors affecting education in Nigeria… suggests strategies for private schools sustainability

by Editor
written by Editor

The Rector, The Polytechnic Igbo – Owu, kwara State, Dr. Moses Sunday Adeyemi said, education is the most powerful weapon which has the potential to change the world.

According to him, out of all agencies of education, school is the only formal and important agent that must be taken seriously for the advancement of the society.

Dr. Adeyemi stated this while presenting a lecture titled, ‘ Strategic Educational Factors for Sustainability of Private Schools in Nigeria new Dispensation,’ at a function in Ilorin, recently.

He however, expressed dismay over the rate at which Nigeria’s education policies were undergoing various unnecessary changes, especially in the last decades, saying that the incessant changes was making the system very unstable.

The Rector explained that each policy change affects majority of all other policies, since all policies are geared towards national goal.

” Such frequent change often have multiplier effects on the activities of every organizations and individuals in the nation.The problem or question now is how do private schools fair in the calculation of different policies and how do we sustain our schools in Nigeria’s ever growing instability and harsh conditions”,he said.

He identified other factors that were adversely affecting the progress of the nation’s education system in recent times to include insecurity, harsh economy condition, growing competitions, high and multiple taxes and social maladies among others.

Adeyemi who double as the proprietor of The Polytechnic, Igbo – Owu said, ” as a result of insecurity, students are kidnaped for ransom, killed and enslaved, while as a result of the persisting harsh economy condition, parents could not pay their wards bills and school could not sustain their overhead expenses.

” High and multiple taxes, growing competitions, unsanitized school environment, legal and illegal schools competing situation also affect the education system.

” Social maladies, students lack of reading culture, laziness,quick money syndrome, cash for marks and other vices are parts of the problems confronting the country’s education system.”

Adeyemi who is a foremost management consultant and trainer, said the ugly situation was posing a threat to survival of private schools in the country, as such schools are managing to stay afloat, according to a survey recently conducted.

” Many of the schools are already drowning while some have drowned and closed down or sold out by the proprietors. Some schools are leased out.
While, many schools are only sustained with bank loans, family funds e.t.c.”, he explained.

While suggesting practical solutions in addressing the pitiable condition of private schools, Dr. Adeyemi, the proprietor of the foremost private polytechnic in Kwara State, said the strategic operational factors to sustain private schools in Nigeria new dispensation are :

” 1. Accountability: schools should have a veritable Bursary/Account department that keeps all accounting records as it is the only source to measure the school performance for evaluations.

“II. Planning, Budgeting and Execution: from your account records, you can plan, budget, execute and control your expenses.

“III. Prudency: this is an action to curb extravagances in spending. Some proprietors spend more than their income. Proprietors should put themselves on salaries.

“IV. Monitoring and Control: from your planning and budgeting, you take total charge and control to avoid excessive spending.

“V. Structural & Infrastructural Improvement: we should ensure yearly maintainance of our school buildings, furnitures e.t.c.

“VI. Strategic Marketing : Good marketing strategies should be carried out not only when admission is ongoing but at all times, advertisement on radio, papers, face-book, twitter, bill boards e.t.c.

“VII. Employer, Employee, Students/Pupils, Parent, Relationship: a good relationship between the five stakeholders is very important for sustainability of private schools.

“VIII. Ploughing back into the business: a percentage of your surplus / profit should be invested back to the school either to add value to the infrastructure or improve them. Creating a conducive environment for teaching and learning is also important

“IX. Effective Communication: there should be good communication and ensure there is no gap in communication between proprietor and staffs, students and parents as a complement to number (VII) above.

“X. Motivation: the schools should motivate the staffs by ways of promotion, training and hopefulness. Students can be motivated by awarding prizes to best students in academic, neatness, promptness etc.

“XI. Usage of ICT: Information Technology has brought changes in various dimensions. Teaching and other operations can be digitalized

“XII. Commitment to excellent academic standard: even though students, parents are no more ready for academic stress but the school should be committed to a good standard of education. Many interesting methods can be adopted to impact on students and pupils.

“XII . Encouragement, Engagement and Collaboration: as it is being done by the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools ( NAPPS ) bringing schools proprietors and students together, to share ideas and work together is equally necessary.

“XIV. Audit: please every year try to engage consultants, auditors to help you audit your work and recommend ways to improve your works. All the above factors, if well worked out, it is capable of will bringing about sustainability in private schools under the Nigeria’s new dispensation.

” In conclusion: I know some of the activities above will require professional approach. I will like to encourage NAPPS under the able leadership of our president Dr. Ajibola to propose in-depth training on some key areas above, for members to be able to carry out some operations.

“Members can equally engage professionals at a very reduced rate to carryout consultancy work for them on their school activities for proper evaluation, recommendations and progress”.

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EducationNews

KWSUBEB Chairman assures proper monitoring of distributed instructional materials to schools

by Editor
written by Editor

The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB), Prof Shehu Raheem Adaramaja has assured that the Board would ensure proper monitoring of the distributed instructional materials to schools in the state so that they would be used for the intended purpose.

Adaramaja stated this while distributing instructional materials worth millions of naira to primary and junior secondary schools in the state at SUBEB office, Ilorin.

The instructional materials were received on behalf of the various local government areas by the Education Secretaries for the councils.

Some of the items distributed included 20,200 copies of customised lesson notes, 15,000 copies of attendance register books, 2700 world globes, assorted ECCDE toys and other materials for small children among others.

Adaramaja noted that the items were received from the Universal Basic Education Commission, Abuja for onward distribution to the schools.

He explained that the gesture was part of the gains of present administration’s commitment to the development of basic education through the payment of counterpart funds.

He added that the Board would soon receive items like plastic chairs and tables for ECCDE, mathematical sets for junior secondary schools and scheme of works, while the Board had also secured approval for the procurement of white boards with markers and dusters.

According to him, “I must state that this gesture is part of the gains of our reformed relationship with UBEC. In the past few years, it wasn’t like this because Kwara State was neglected and nobody think of us, our classrooms are dilapidated, we had no instructional materials, teachers were using exercise books as attendance registers.

“Now that His Excellency Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq has put money and UBEC supported us, the narrative has changed and today’s event is a testimony to the fact that narrative has changed. We are happy that gone are the days when teachers have to contribute money to buy lesson notes, to buy scheme of works and attendance registers. The era of asking pupils to contribute money to buy chalk is gone because we distributed it recently and this exercise will be a continuous one”.

Adaramaja said the materials were part of government efforts aimed at motivating the teachers to ensure that they impart qualitative education into the younger generation.

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