FG Pledges Support for Professional School Leadership

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to enhancing the quality of education in Nigeria through the implementation of professional standards for school leadership.

Speaking at the Public Presentation of the Professional Standards in Abuja, Mamman emphasized the pivotal role of teachers in shaping the values of learners and underscored the importance of supporting their crucial roles.

Mamman pledged to provide necessary resources, training, and support to empower teachers and school leaders to succeed in their profession.

He described the professional standards as a comprehensive framework designed to enhance the effectiveness of school leadership and promote institutional success.

Addressing school leaders directly, Mamman encouraged them to embrace the standards with passion and dedication, viewing them not as rules but as a shared vision of excellence.

He highlighted the transformative potential of effective school leadership in building an education system that anticipates and prepares for future challenges.

The Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, echoed the importance of instructional leadership in school leaders, emphasizing the need for effective management of instruction in addition to administrative tasks.

Ajiboye commended Nigeria for being the first country in Africa to establish professional standards for school leadership under the TRCN, expressing optimism about the positive impact it will have on the education system.

Chikodi Onyemerela, Director Programmes at the British Council, emphasized the critical role of school leadership in creating an effective learning environment for students. He highlighted the five core domains of the professional standards, including promoting school improvement, leading teaching and learning, developing self and others, managing the school, and engaging with the community.

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Nigerian Teachers Accuses Government of Neglecting Profession

NUT, TRCN logo (photo credit: Internet)

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has criticized the Nigerian government for prioritizing other sectors over the teaching profession, which they believe is the foundation for the development of all other fields.

The National President of NUT, Audu Amba, expressed his concerns during a meeting in Abuja on Thursday where he called on the Federal Government to reconsider its decision to halt funding for the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

Amba emphasized the importance of TRCN as the regulatory body that professionalizes educators at all levels of education in the country.

He questioned the government’s commitment to the teaching profession, stating, “I have never seen everywhere in the world that a regulatory body that is supposed to regulate the teaching profession is not funded, do we really mean business when doing this?”

On his part, the Registrar/Chief Executive of TRCN, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, highlighted the significance of reviewing the Professional Standards for School Leadership to align with the evolving instructional roles of school leaders.

He said, “The document is setting the stage for a transformative impact on the educational landscape of Nigeria.

“The standards outlined herein are intended to promote a culture of continuous improvement, professional growth, and accountability among school leaders.”

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SGCI Awards $250,000 Grant to Nigerian Research Teams

SGCIAfrica on X ( image credit: Internet)

The Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) has recently granted $250,000 to four innovative research teams in Nigeria.

This grant stems from the successful implementation of the Research for Impact Initiative (R41) through Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), with Innov8 Technology Hub as the technical partner.

Speaking on Monday in Abuja, the director of research and development at TETFund, Dr. Saliba Girei Bakare,  emphasised the transformative potential of this collaboration, stating, “The impact of this collaboration is poised to be transformative.”

The grant aims to support Nigerian research teams working on projects with the capacity to drive significant change.

Dr. Bakare highlighted initiatives such as advancements in garri processing and renewable energy, among others.

He stressed the importance of bridging the gap between research and practical application, with a focus on commercialization.

“The essence is to help them transform their research findings into commercializable goods and services in this country,” Dr. Bakare explained.

A key aspect of the grant is assisting research teams in developing their innovations into market-ready prototypes.

Dr. Bakare noted, “Four teams are going to use this money to develop their research into prototypes and pitch them with industries so that there will be take-off of the product coming out from the research.”.

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President Tinubu Allocates ₦13B for Research, Lab Upgrades

Nigerian president,  Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a total of ₦13 billion for the National Research Fund (NRF) and the provision of Central Multipurpose Laboratories in select universities nationwide.

Education Minister, Professor Tahir Mamman, who disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, expressed gratitude for this significant investment, stating, “President Tinubu’s approval of ₦5 billion for NRF and ₦8 billion for Central Multipurpose Laboratories underscores his commitment to advancing research for national development.”

Speaking during the inauguration of key committees, the Minister emphasised the importance of enhancing research capacity across various fields.

He highlighted the need to elevate academic publications in Nigeria and reduce reliance on foreign materials through initiatives like the Higher Education Book Development Project.

The Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Arc Sonny Echono,  praised the expertise of the committees in driving the implementation of the National Research Fund.

He noted, “The NRF has awarded 912 research grants totaling ₦24,021,679,195.88 since its inception in 2009, promoting applied research and innovation in public tertiary institutions.”

The committees were urged to uphold credibility and maintain high standards in their roles to advance research and book publication for national development.

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Zamfara Governor Seeks FG Support for Abandoned University Projects

His Excellency Governor Lawal , Governor of Zamfara state

The Zamfara State Government has reached out to the federal government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), to seek assistance in completing several abandoned projects at the State University.

Governor Dauda Lawal emphasized the importance of these projects in expanding access to university education in the state during a visit to the TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc Sonny Echono in Abuja on Thursday.

Governor Lawal acknowledged the financial challenges facing Zamfara State and highlighted the state of emergency declared in the education sector, stressing the need for extensive funding support. Stating, “Remember, sometimes in November, we declared emergency in education and that is why I’m here to continue to follow up wherever we can get help, so that things will be better in Zamfara.”

He expressed gratitude to TETFund while also appealing for additional intervention to improve the educational landscape in Zamfara.

In response to the security challenges plaguing the state, Governor Lawal assured that the government is actively addressing the issue.

Meanwhile, Sonny Echono reassured the Governor of TETFund’s commitment to supporting education in Zamfara despite the security concerns.

Echono underscored TETFund’s dedication to ensuring quality education access for students nationwide.

He acknowledged the Governor’s specific requests to complete ongoing projects at state institutions, citing funding challenges as a hindrance to their progress.

The TETFund boss explained that Governor Lawal proposed completing existing projects rather than initiating new ones to maximize benefits for the state.

He noted the complexities involved in taking over abandoned projects initiated by previous administrations, emphasizing the need to differentiate between TETFund projects and state-led initiatives.

While acknowledging the challenges, Echono affirmed TETFund’s willingness to collaborate with Zamfara State to address the educational infrastructure needs and enhance learning opportunities for students in the region.

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Renowned Business Tycoon Sir Chukwuma Dismisses Detention Rumors

Sir Paul Chukwuma

Renowned business tycoon and philanthropist, Sir Paul Chukwuma, has dismissed rumors circulating on social media and news outlets alleging his detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC).

His media team clarified that Sir Chukwuma is actively working in his office and is not in any form of detention.

In a statement to Plateau news, on Thursday, his Media Assistant, Obi Chukwuemeka, emphasized Sir Chukwuma’s commitment to work and denied the detention claims.

Chukwuemeka highlighted the company’s dedication to fulfilling contractual obligations and maintaining transparency.

“Fides et Ratio has consistently adhered to the principles of accountability and transparency,” Chukwuemeka affirmed, addressing the allegations.

The ICPC also confirmed that their requests for documentation from companies are standard procedures to ensure regulatory compliance.

A spokesperson for the ICPC explained, “We request necessary documents to ensure companies meet regulatory provisions.”

Fides et Ratio expressed its commitment to cooperating with the ICPC to showcase compliance with regulations.

Chukwuemeka reiterated, “Our company was built on principles of transparency and respect for the law.”

The public is urged to disregard misleading reports about Sir Paul Chukwuma’s alleged detention, as they only serve to tarnish his reputation as an accomplished businessman and philanthropist.

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JAMB Reschedules UTME for 24,535 Candidates Due to Non-Compliance

JAMB logo (credit: Internet)

In a recent development, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has taken the decision to reschedule the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for 24,535 candidates on Saturday, June 22.

This decision comes in light of certain centers’ non-compliance with the Board’s standards during the 2024 UTME process and conduct.

Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Public Communication Advisor of JAMB, in a statement on Sunday explained, “Consequently, 24,535 candidates have been rescheduled to retake the examination in their chosen Examination Towns on Saturday, June 22, 2024.”

He also revealed that an additional 3,921 UTME results have been released, bringing the total number of released results to 1,883,350.

However, it was noted that 322 candidates have been identified as being involved in examination misconduct.

Dr. Benjamin stated, “The remaining 322 candidates have been migrated to the category of candidates under examination misconduct as a prima-facie case has clearly been established that those who had registered were not those who appeared for the examination, bringing the total number of candidates involved in misconduct to 431.”

In response to requests and pleas from stakeholders and authorities, JAMB has extended the Direct Entry (DE) registration period until Monday, June 17.

Dr. Benjamin emphasized, “It is our belief that all eligible candidates would take advantage of this opportunity to register as no further extension would be entertained. The previously announced criteria for DE registration remain unchanged.”

Moreover, a special registration exercise will be conducted for 3,633 prospective candidates who did not participate in the 2024 UTME,”  Dr. Benjamin assured that efforts are being made to support and promote the aspirations of qualified candidates, even if it requires going the extra mile.

Candidates affected by the rescheduling are advised to check their results for confirmation and to print their supplementary Examination Notification Slip starting from Tuesday, June 4.

The rescheduled examination date of Saturday, June 22, aims to provide ample time for the candidates to prepare adequately.

Dr. Benjamin concluded by mentioning that candidates with prima facie cases of examination misconduct will undergo further investigation to determine their culpability, and appropriate measures will be taken and announced accordingly.

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Economic Hardship Leads to Decrease in NCEE Registrations, NECO Laments as Over 70,000 Candidates Sit for Exams

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has raised concerns over the low registration numbers for the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE), with only 70,603 candidates participating in the exams.

NECO Registrar, Professor Dantani Wushishi, who expressed worry over the decline in registrations compared to previous years while monitoring the exercise on Saturday in Abuja, attributed  it to economic challenges faced by parents.

Professor Wushishi highlighted that economic factors were the primary cause of the decrease in registrations, with 33,335 males and 37,268 females signing up for the exams this year as against the 2023 which had 34,064 males and 38,801 females, totalling 72,865.

He emphasized, “Economic factors are the most prevalent hindrance to the large registration numbers seen in previous years.”

Data from NECO revealed that Lagos state recorded the highest number of candidates with 17,751 registrations, while Bayelsa, Borno, and Gombe had the lowest participation rates.

Responding to concerns about underage candidates, Wushishi clarified that students taking the NCEE were either 10 years old or close to turning 10.

The smooth conduct of the exams was commended by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, who praised NECO for providing conducive examination environments.

Senator Lawal Adamu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Basic, and Secondary, lauded NECO and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for their efforts in enhancing education, revealing that he personally sponsored NECO and JAMB examinations, contributing over N250 million to support parents in affording examination fees.

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