…set for nationwide strike August 21

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), on Thursday in Oweri, the Imo State capital, said it will shut down Polytechnics and Mono-technics nationwide to protest the non-payment of 14 months salary arrears of its members and the  Federal Government’s refusal to implement the agreement reached with the Union two years ago.

The Union, said the planned industrial action will commence after the 21st of August, when the one month ultimatum it earlier gave to the government will expire.

The Coordinator of ASUP Zone D, Comrade Chika Ogonwa, who disclosed this during a media briefing shortly after an emergency meeting of the Union at the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, recalled that the Union suspended its nine month strike in 2014 “on the strength of the appeal by parents and other stakeholders and the promises of the government to resolve the 13-point demand of the Union within three months”.

But he noted that, “two years have elapsed and yet government has not come around to effectively address the Union’s demands”.

According to him, “several attempts by the Union to engage responsible government officials both under the past and present administration to address the demands have met with lethargic response from them. The effect of this may be likened to a sour left unattended to for too long; the challenges facing the sector have continued to worsen.

“The worsening state of the sector has been brought to the attention of the present government. The indifference shown by government has compelled the Union to issue a one month ultimatum to the government, effective from 21st July 2016 to address the current challenges if we are to stop the decay in the sector”.

He listed the Union’s grievances to include the non-implementation of the Needs assessment report of 2014, the conduct of needs assessment survey for public polytechnics and monotechnics and the review of Polytechnics Acts, the victimization of union officials and non-release of check off dues and interference in the union activities by the management of Federal Polytechnic Oko and four others.

“Our officials are being suspended, sacked, and bounded by these campus dictators and this is the prevailing situation in Federal Polytechnics Oko and Mubi, Delta state Polytechnics Ogwashi-Uku, Adamawa State Polytechnics, and Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic Ikot Osurua”, he stated.

The Union also expressed worry over the non-payment of salaries of its members in 14 institutions spread across the country in the last ten months.

It named the affected institutions where workers are owed between two to ten months salaries to include Abia, Edo, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, and Benue.

Others are Imo, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Ondo, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun, and Nasarawa.

Ogonwa noted that in spite the release of the bailout fund by the Federal Government the state-owned polytechnics and Colleges of Educations in these states were still being owed arrears of salaries.

ASUP particularly express serious concern over the current situation in Oko, where the Union alleged high level of victimization of its members and decay in academic standard.

According to the Union, “in Federal Polytechnic Oko, the Rector, after destroying academic standard in the institution, has seized the check off dues of the Union for two years and is currently hounding Union officials through spurious queries, suspensions and Court cases”.

However when contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Oko Polytechnic, Mr Obini Onuchukwu, described the allegation by as misleading.

He said that ASUP in Oko is currently factionalized.

Onuchukwu who described the Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Godwin Onu,  as `a union friendly Rector’, said “he would not have withheld the check off dues meant for ASUP if the union was not in dispute”.

According to him, “the matter between the two factions are in court, and I hope it will not be prejudice talking to you, but all the same the rector cannot withhold the check off because it does not belong to him.

“The Rector had made spirited effort to resolve the matter and the matter continues to deepen such that the matter is even threatening the peace of the institution’’.

Onuchukwu explained further that, “after due consultation in other not to have the place in flame, the rector decided to keep the check off in safe mode pending the final resolution of the matter. Whatever is due the Union as check off is intact”.

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The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Idowu Olayinka has said that only 3,000 candidates out of the over 29,000 who scored 200 and above in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and chose the premier university would be offered admission.

The Vice Chancellor lamented that poor funding, infrastructure deficit, student-lecturer ratio and limitation of Hostel accommodation would not allow the University go beyond its present carrying capacity.

Candidates who chose the university have been anxious to hear the admission guideline from the premier university since the ban on post-UTME examination which the Vice Chancellor attested had improved the quality of graduates and reduced those asked to withdraw from the University.

While speaking on the topic “Challenges of Building a World Class University” at the 68th Interdisciplinary Research Discourse of the Postgraduate school under the Deanship of Professor Adeyinka Aderinto, Professor Olayinka noted that Nigerian government must decide if it wants her universities to be globally competitive or not by adequately funding research and fixing infrastructural deficits bedeviling them.

While noting that without research a university is a glorified secondary school, the Vice Chancellor noted that Nigerian government should go beyond expressing ‘suspect’ regret at the ranking of her universities at public functions, rather, it should allocate more funds to revatilise teaching and research.

The professor of Geology listed inadequate teaching and research facilities, problem of attracting and retaining top-class faculty, poor funding, overstretched infrastructure, inconsistent policy of education, inadequate suitable staff, and government attitude to education as factors affecting the global competitiveness of the university.

“Funding is needed to make UI a world class university. A globally competitive university is that which can boast of top-class scholars with sound funding of research because without research, a university is a glorified secondary school. While our goal is to train new generation of leaders we have challenges towards achieving this. The mark of a truly world class institution is measured by what her graduates do after leaving the institution.

“Oxford will boast that they have produced more Prime Ministers so is Harvard on world leaders. Of course UI graduates are doing well all over Nigeria but we must do more so that our graduates can be blessing to Nigeria and the global community. Nigerian leaders should go beyond feeling bad at the ranking of our universities. If UI is presently ranked 19 in Africa and the top 4 varsities are in South Africa, then Nigeria government should understudy what they do in south Africa for their universities including research grants and learning environment and infrastructure. We cannot be globally competitive without electricity. We will be more productive if power is available. We should be playing leading role in research and innovation, contribute to local and regional economies and this will drive our global competitiveness.”

In his speech, Chairman of the occasion and former Vice Chancellor, Prof Bankole Oyediran noted that universities are the power house of knowledge designed to contribute to the development and planning through the production of innovative works, ground breaking research and high quality personnel.

However, he noted that while it is obvious that universities and academics can play vital role in development most African countries including Nigeria declared recognition of the role of universities in national development remains mere politically correct rhetoric.

The former VC then noted that a world class university, which by implication is research active can play vital role in regional economy and development.

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Three students, lecturer lose lives

ASUU reduces demands, denies suspending action

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has failed to resolve the ongoing industrial action involving all categories of workers at the only state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) five months after the institution was shut down.

Investigations revealed that the closure of the institution has dealt deadly blows on the students and lecturers who are at the receiving end of idleness and economic hardship caused by non-payment of salaries.

Lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other categories of workers commenced industrial action in April to protest the inability of the government to pay them salaries since January.

The workers said having suffered to discharge their duties without salaries from January to April, they were no longer unable to cope with domestic pressure and cost of going to school for their lectures.

ASUU declared work-to-rule, asked its members to stay at home pending when government would ameliorate their hardship by paying their backlog of salaries.

But negotiations to resolve the conflict between the government and the workers were said to have met brick-walls following allegations by ASUU that the government instead of seriously tackling the issues resorted to blackmails to cow them.

It was further learnt that while ASUU had reduced their terms demanding only two months salaries out of the four they earlier wanted, the government had yet to shift ground on its proposed 50 per cent salaries for two months.

It was further learnt that within the period of the strike, three students and a lecturer of the university lost their lives in circumstances blamed on the action.

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Sterling Bank’s Back-To-School Campaign may provide succor for many parents, guardian, teachers and proprietors of schools in Nigeria as they prepare for the new school year in September.

The primary target for the campaign are the primary and secondary schools (administrators, owners and teachers) while the secondary audience are all primary and secondary school-students and their parents.

Areas covered under the campaign include school financing, asset finance, textbook and educational materials finance for schools; school fees finance for parents; coding and robotics Summer Boot Camp for children, and household equipment finance and training for teachers, among others.

The Bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Finance, Mr. Shina Atilola in a statement, explained that the school fees financing solution was introduced to provide parents with instant financing for school fees and allow them put their kids in school while awaiting salaries and other receivables.

He explained that under the Bank’s Asset finance scheme, existing and new account holders will qualify for short-term financing against receivables while “Sterling Bank can finance acquisition of Buses, ICT Infrastructure, Interactive Boards and other items the school may wish to purchase in the Back-to-School season under the asset finance scheme”.

The chief strategist added that schools patronizing the bank can access finance for a 90-day tenor at good rates.

“This would be an incentive to school owners as surveys have shown that a large number of schools have challenges with payment of salaries and for renovation projects when school fees are not fully received.  Existing and prospective schools can also enjoy free deployment of our Eduportal and Payment Gateway at no cost to the school. The solution, he noted, provides a platform to integrate the payment of school fees, levies and any other school-related payments. The platform also  aids record-keeping, and make for seamless day-to-day management of operations in schools.

While the Bank offers schools a quick financing solution to purchase textbooks and learning materials from major publishers and bookshops like Learn Africa Plc, Doroena Books and other designated outlets for the school year, Atilola explained that schools that open salary accounts for their teachers this season will have their teachers qualify automatically for the bank’s Personal Financial Management and other training programmes (for both local and foreign courses).

Under the Household Equipment Finance, he explained that teachers with salary accounts would qualify for discounted acquisition of household items with flexible payment plans.

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Fifty students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) were arraigned on Friday at a  magistrate court  sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, for arson and destruction of properties.

The peaceful campus of the institution and the adjoining communities had slipped into chaos last Thursday when a peaceful protest by the students turned violent.

At least five persons – two students and three police officers, were said to have been injured when a detachment of policemen drafted to contain the highly incensed students, clashed with them.

For over five hours, the students took to the Alabata road and Abeokuta – Ibadan road and helped by people suspected to be street urchins and miscreants, they set ablaze nine vehicles, vandalized scores of others in their trail.

The church where FUNAAB Vice – Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole is the founder and General Overseer, and located few metres away from the Headquarters of the Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force(NPF), was not spared of the students’ wrath.

The church’s window panes, doors and properties were vandalized. Worshippers’ and visitors’ vehicles packed at the premises of the church were also damaged.

On Friday, the Police arraigned 50 persons in connection with the chaos and destruction. While 43 of the accused persons were charged in suit number, MA/429c/2016, the other seven were charged in a separate case with charge number, MA/430c/2016.

But the offences for which they were all arraigned however remained the same.

The Students who were ferried to the court in many Police vehicles were charged with arson, taking part in an unlawful assembly, riot and malicious damage of properties including a Toyota Camry Saloon Car belonging to one Assistant Superintendent of Police,  Ariyo Adejuwon.

They were also accused of “willfully and unlawfully set fire to Osiele Police Station, property of Nigeria Police Force” and “willfully and unlawfully destroyed or damaged louvers property of Divine Height Bible Church Kotopo, Abeokuta.”

The Police prosecutors, Sunday Eigbejiale and Emmanuel Kayode informed the court that the offences were committed at Camp Area of Abeokuta in the Abeokuta Magistrate District.

They also told the court that the offences are punishable under section 516(a), 443(a), 70, 71 and 451 of Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

The accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the offences.

Bunmi Adelabu, one of the counsel, applied for their bail before Magistrate Sofowora Oriyomi, arguing that the accused persons are presumed innocent until otherwise proven by the court.

The prosecutors opposed the bail applications.

Delivering her ruling on the application, Magistrate Sofowora admitted the accused persons to bail with N100, 000 each with two sureties in the like sum.

One of the sureties, according to the Court, must be a guardian or parent of the accused person, resident in Abeokuta, depose to affidavit of means while each of them must be a regular tax payers with evidence of tax payment in the last one year.

Magistrate Sofowora also ruled that two passport-size photograph each of the sureties and the accused person be attached to the bail bond while the addresses of the sureties should be verified by the court ordeal.

The case was however adjourned till September 29.

The post FUNAAB: Police arraign 50 persons over violent protest appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.

Nigerian undergraduates and youths between 18 and 30, who are endowed with innovative and sustainable project ideas, are eligible to participate in the fifth international LafargeHolcim award.

Lafarge Director of Aggregate and Concrete, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Laren Zanin, made this known at a one-day workshop organised in Lagos to sensitise and mobilise stakeholders in the construction and building industry to participate in the award.

Zanin described the award as the “most significant project competition in sustainable construction”, noting that it reinforces Lafarge’s commitment towards ensuring net positive contribution to society and nature. He explained that the workshop was meant to share not only the value with stakeholders, but also ensure that their efforts in sustainable construction earns a deserving global recognition.

The firm’s boss noted that the workshop was in accordance with the company’s vision of building a stronger Nigeria, safely, ethically and sustainably through innovative construction solutions.

“We are ensuring this by creating an opportunity for Nigerians in the construction industry to participate in this award and leave a significant mark that will turn them into leaders and models for other countries,” Zanin said.

Speaking to the participants, Lafarge Head, Sustainability and Corporate Brand, Mrs Temitope Oguntokun said the project ideas must showcase innovations which are at the cutting edge of sustainable construction, provide advanced response in terms of environmental and ethical performance, social responsibility, preservation of natural resources, economic growth, and a lasting aesthetic impact on the surrounding environment.

She noted that efforts were being made to disseminate information about the award to more stakeholders in the building sector including undergraduates.

In his remarks, a Higher National Diploma student of the Department of Architecture, Yaba College of Technology, Oscar Ernest, said the workshop has not only motivated his colleagues to develop interest in the award, but has also opened their minds to the use of eco-efficient materials in the construction of buildings.

“It is a welcome development for me and my colleagues here today. This workshop has opened our minds to the fact that we need to use eco efficient materials in the construction of buildings.”

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Kano State Government has spent over N2 billion to off-set the back-log of students’ scholarship inherited from the immediate-past administration of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

Speaking to reporters in his office on the issue, the state Commissioner for Information, Mallam Muhammad Garba, said the amount encompasses allowances, upkeep and tuition fees of students of Kano State origin studying both at home and abroad.

Garba said the Ganduje administration discovered discrepancies in the payment process of the scholarship scheme spear-headed by the immediate-past administration,

“As a responsible and responsive government that believes in prudent management of public fund, we are fine-tuning the process. I must also assure you that this government will ensure that our students, who were sent out to study, will not suffer; and they will come back home happy, so that they will also make their immediate families, Kano State and Nigeria happy,” he said.

He added that Ganduje’s administration remains committed to ensuring that Kano indigenes get qualitative education.

“In the scholarship programme, you must believe me that the Ganduje administration has shown more concern than any other administration in the history of Kano.

“Already, payment of outstanding liabilities inherited since 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 academic sessions for students of Kano State indigenes in public universities and tertiary institutions within the country have been approved.

“It is also important to inform you that the total number of these students is 54, 862; and the total amount of money for the payment is N677, 589 million.

“These students are studying in all Nigerian universities. This N677, 589 million has been approved and payment has already commenced,” he said.

Ganduje also said about 100 students are undergoing extensive training on auto-mobile at the prestigious Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) training centre based in Kaduna.

“They are going to graduate at the end of this month, and government will empower them with tools and working capital. This administration has spent about N80 million so far for the one-year training.

“This administration has concluded plans to empower about 5000 youths into marketing Diamond Yellow account in MTN Close User Group. This is in partnership with a company called SSCL/MTN. After the training, MTN would make these 5000 youths agents of the company; MTN would be giving them products monthly between N50, 000 and N100, 000, and whatever they sold, they will have their commission. This is basically going to make them self-reliant.

“The government has also decided to facilitate the formation of the Nigerian Peace Corps. We are projecting to train about 2000 youths to engage in the Peace Corps, hoping that the corps will formally be integrated into the Ministry of Interior because the Bill has passed Second Reading,” he said.

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Thirty-four teenage girls left the ninth W.TEC Girls Technology Camp penultimate week feeling confident about applying technology to solve various problems.

The girls, drawn from both public and private secondary schools in Lagos and other states, learnt to program, build mobile Apps, animate, create games, and take and edit photos using software applications like Scratch, MIT App Inventor, Alice and others.

They also learnt about business plan development, online branding, and self defense, and went on excursion to Swift Technologies, which provided broadband internet access for the duration of the two-week camp at Laureates College, Mafoluku.

On graduation day penultimate Saturday, the girls happily showcased what they had learnt to their parents and guests.  Those whose work was outstanding were rewarded with group and individual prizes for their effort.

The duo of Hafsoh Badirudeen and Mistura Sanni gladly showed off their Mobile Quiz App to this reporter which they developed using the MIT App Inventor in collaboration with three others, Ekundayo Oluwaseyi, Chidinma Nwosu, and Mariam Awotubo.

The quiz game posts Current Affairs questions, which the player must answer correctly to progress on the game.  Their app won the Mobile App Development award.

Hafsoh and Mistura said they compiled the questions from their school curriculum.

Emmanuella Okongwu of Orile Girls Grammar School was the first runner up in the individual Mobile App Development category for her application called Talking Tom, which pronounces words typed into it; while Esther Odunsi of Girls’ Senior Academy, Lagos, won the main prize for her painting App.  Chidinma Ogbuagu was recognised for developing a photograph-editing app; while Mercy Eze won the award for Scratch Programming for her brick break game, which was lauded for moving in all directions.

Character Prizes went to Sayo Ogunbekun (Miss Purposeful); Chisom Cephas (Miss Capable); Mercy Eze (Miss Blossom); Amidat Amusa (Miss Humour); Miss Juliet Agbate (Miss Congeniality); Adeyemi Omotade (Miss Courageous); Ayobami Ogunfemi (Miss Leadership); and Atinuke Chinemerem-Isreal (Miss Prim & Proper).

Atinuke also won the overall Miss W.TEC prize for being an all-rounder in all aspects of camp life.

W.TEC Programme Manager, Ms Modupe Darabidan, said about 90 per cent of the girls enjoyed scholarships from various sources to attend the camp which cost N50,000 per participant.

“We picked 10 of the girls from our W.TEC After School Academy; the FGGC Sagamu Alumni Association sponsored three girls; four girls were sponsored by the Ovie Brume Foundation; while the Braveheart Initiative from Delta State sent us one of the girls.  Laureates College also sponsored four girls. These were apart from some parents who called to tell us they wanted their wards at the camp but could not afford it and we took them.  Last year, 90 per cent paid for the camp but the reverse was the case this year,” she said.

Mrs Oreoluwa Lesi, Executive Director, W.TEC, said the aim of the programme is to bridge the gender gap in the use of technology.  She said the camp was borne out of research that fewer women use technology and earn money from it than men.

“What we are trying to do is to introduce technology to them in a fun and entertaining way.  I was doing my Masters and I found that research showed that there is a big gender gap between men and women.  We started with a one-week camp and that was not enough so we increased it to two weeks.  Two weeks is enough to give the girls an introduction but it is only scratching the surface.  As they go, they need to have access to computers and mobile devices so they can continue to develop.

“We started the W.TEC Academy two years ago because we know the two-week camp is not enough.  We run weekly technology camps in 10 public schools.  They learn all that is taught in the camp for one academic year.  Sixty percent of the girls said they were influenced to study technology-related courses.  For those not planning to study technology courses, they are now informed on how to use technology,” she said.

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Early Childhood Association of Nigeria (ECAN) has expressed concern on the rising wave of violence against children in the country.

More worrisome, the body said, are many underreported cases of violence against minors because they and their parents and guardians “have limited knowledge of appropriate quarters where such cases can be reported”.

While praising the government for incorporating Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) into policy documents and domesticating the Child’s Rights Act (2003), ECAN said it was not happy that authorities had not earmarked a day to campaign on violence against children and advocate for the protection of child’s rights.

The above and several others formed part of the communiqué  ECAN came up with after its five-day national conference in Agbor, Delta State, last week.

“The prevalence of violence against Nigerian children is on the increase and becoming unbearable. Thus, urgent and drastic measures should be taken to reduce or stop violence against children,” the communiqué stated.

It added: “As a matter of urgency, government should create more centres, especially at local levels where cases of violence can be reported and counseling services provided for victims. Government should put in place practical measures leading to timely prosecution of culprits/perpetrators of such crime.”

The body also called on government to sensitise the public on the content, interpretation and protection of child’s rights in Nigeria. It further challenged every custodian of children to see it as a duty to participate in protecting their wards physically, financially, psychologically and otherwise.

The body added that intervention training exercise with the purpose of “empowering children with negotiation skills and knowledge was needed to protect them from violent circumstances”.

The conference, which kicked off on Monday last week with the theme: ‘Violence against Children’, featured over 80 presentations that revolved around the theme.

One of the lead paper presenters, Dr Sopekan Serah, from Department of Arts and Social Science Education, University of Lagos, spoke extensively on various cases of violence on Nigerian children in schools, homes and work places.

Serah condemned the increase in rape cases and other forms of child abuse, charging government and stakeholders to rise against the menace.

She further sought vigilance on the part of caregivers in immediate environment, adding that most parents and teachers lacked adequate awareness of violence and its distinct forms.

Aside the conference, there was also a workshop organised for teachers across private and public schools in Delta State. The session, which was coordinated by Mr. Simeon Sunday Fowowe from Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos, had as its theme: ‘Reducing the violent tendencies in our school system through sensitisation and advocacy programmes.’

Fowowe highlighted other forms of violence such as emotional, psychological, verbal, spiritual, financial, cultural/neglect, among others. “Religious bodies should include contemporary topics like rape, abortion and other violent acts in their bulletins, tracks, Sunday school manuals,” he argued.

The event also featured the investiture of Prof Segun Akinbote from Department of Teacher Education, University of Ibadan as the second Fellow of ECAN.

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Rotary Club of Onigbongbo has spent N1.5 million on the renovation of toilets, provision of water and wash-hand basins at Wright Memorial Primary School, Somolu, Lagos.

The inauguration of the projects held recently as part of activities to welcome the District Governor, Pat Ikheloa, to the club’s area of jurisdiction.

The club’s President, Sola Benson, said he was overwhelmed by the district governor’s visit. He said the project was started by his predecessor, Mr George Dasaolu, but completed by him as soon as he assumed office few months ago.

He said the club embarked on the project when it discovered that the school had only one pit latrine for over 400 pupils.

He said the initial cost for the project was N.5million, but it was done for N1.5 million due to inflation.

Ikheloa said Rotary believes in assisting people and the school’s programme was one of their numerous contributions to Nigeria and making life better. He said the funds for the project came from Rotary and that the government had no hand in it. He urged the school’s authorities to ensure that the toilets were well-maintained.

The school’s Assistant Headteacher, Mrs Iyabode Quadri thanked Rotary for the gesture, which she said would avert an epidemic and promote good health in the school. She promised to maintain the toilets, adding: “That will be no problem.”

The school’s Headgirl, Adewoye Oyinkansola said: ”We thank Rotary Club. We are grateful for the new  toilets you have provided for us.”

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Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM), Prof Emmanuel Kucha, has warned striking unions in the university of the Federal Government’s policy of “No Work no pay” policy.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) of the university have been on an indefinite strike to demand for the immediate implementation of all components  of earned allowances.

The strike started last week after the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum.

Leaders of the unions turned back all non-academic and senior members of staff that showed up for work from the gate.

Most of the offices were locked to enforce compliance with the strike.

At the Vice chancellor’s office, which also houses the Registrar, Bursar, and General Administration, no worker was seen on duty.

A page of the bulletin of the UAM, signed by the Registrar, Mrs Helen Nyitse the university administration cited a circular from the Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC) dated  13th July, 2016, where the VC stated that he has been directed to strictly implement the “No Work, No pay“, rule as contained in section 43 of  the Trade Dispute Act Cap T 8, laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.

The circular advised all staff of the university to be mindful of the consequence of participating in any strike which will disrupt the service of the university.

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Students’ health issues have caused crises in many tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The crises usually follow avoidable deaths of students in ill-equipped medical centres or poor response time at health care institutions.  The Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) was initiated to help post-secondary students to access medical services with ease.  PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA reports on how the scheme is faring in tertiary institutions in Rivers State. 

The Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) has been in existence since 2009.  It is part of programmes by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to insure the health of all Nigerians by the year 2020.

If it works the way it was designed, the TISHIP would transform institutions’ clinics from mere consulting centres to patient centres with requisite manpower and infrastructure for qualitative health services. Expectedly, this would reduce the number of students who die as a result of lack of access to care when needed, and ease the burden on their families to foot medical bills.

According to the Operational Guidelines for Implementation of the TISHIP, the administration of funds for the programme should be done as follows: “The strategy is to operate the TISHIP as a sickness fund with a Committee responsible for its administration.  It will operate with maximum pooling, strategic purchasing by the Committee and  Health Maintenance Organisations  (HMOs)  at  the  core  of  its  operation,  with  high  level  monitoring  to  ensure  transparency, accountability and value addition in the whole process. The programme will include a sustainable system of funds mobilization, collection, management and disbursement for financing a defined standard TISHIP benefit package.  It will also provide the platform for the implementation of supplementary packages as demanded by students, but at an additional cost to them. Scope of cover is for the contributing student, and baby delivered by a married female student is entitled to care for 12 weeks post-natal for a maximun of two (2) livebirths.”

To make the TISHIP successful, the document also spells out specific roles the NHIS, tertiary institutions, HMOs, Students’ Union, and regulatory bodies, among others, are to play.

Four years shy of that deadline, the scheme is yet to have a firm foothold in many tertiary institutions. Awareness is still poor, remission of contributions (N2,000 per student per session) is irregular, and difficulties in accessing the funds contributed, among other challenges.

Of the six tertiary institutions in Rivers State, which are: the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST); Federal College of Education Technology (FCET), Omoku; Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE); Rivers State College of Health Technology, and the Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori; only FCET and the polytechnic are yet to key into the TISHIP.

For those that have, it has not been a smooth sail. Last August, Kelechi Precious, a 200-Level student of Theatre Arts and Film Study, UNIPORT, died after collapsing in the bathroom, despite the school subscribing to TISHIP.  She could not access healthcare at the University of Port Harcourt (UPTH) because of lack of bed space.  Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Prof Aaron Ajule, said at a recent forum that the situation could not be helped.

However, Dr Olubumi Oyagbodo, who monitors the TISHIP programme at UPTH, said Precious would have been attended to if there was greater awareness about TISHIP, and the students who brought her knew what to do.

Oyagbodo said:  “The death of Miss Precious was a very big mistake on the side of the personnel of the UPTH; most of them are not aware of the TISHIP. So they attended to her as an individual and I believe such mistake would not repeat again. When we started the programme in 2014, the rate of payment for TISHIP was very poor but later, there was an improvement in UNIPORT and the students are not only paying, but have accepted TISHIP.”

Despite the progress the programme has recorded, Oyagbodo said the NHIS need to do more to increase the faith of hospital managers in the scheme.

“The interaction with NHIS is very important because there are areas where we need their help to speak with our management to guide. Despite the progress we are making, there are still areas we want the management to bend a little so that the scheme would be speedy,” he said.

Dr. Nwala Romanus, who oversees the medical centre of the Rivers State College of Health Technology, said the school faces challenges in the area of remittance of TISHIP fund from the bursary account.  She said it was easier to get students to pay as part of tuition fees.  However, getting the TISHIP contribution from the fees is another matter.

“It was very difficult for us because students found it difficult to pay TISHIP when it was separated from the school fees; and the best way to make them pay is to build it inside the school fees. But, the bursary department finds it difficult to pull out the fund at the end of the day. Of course, if you want to know how powerful a man is, give him power and money. So, as soon as the fund enters their hand it becomes a big problem. Another issue is that in a situation where students pay for TISHIP this semester and they failed to pay in the next semester, how would the bursar reconcile the account?” Romanus queried.

Mr. Chioma Onwugbuta of IAUE said the institution was in the process of signing up for the programme because of its benefits.

“We want to accept it because the programme is a welcome development.  If the management will cut off the medical fee and convert it to TISHIP account, it would work. Since the SU has been carried along, it would be easy to talk to students over the new payment,” he said.

Dean of Students Affairs, (FCET) Omoku, Mr Matthew Gimba, said his institution was just learning about the programme and would embrace it to ensure that every student had access to health care service.

“We just received letter from NHIS over TISHIP. Before now, we have been suffering so much trying to save the lives of students when they are sick. Recently one student fell ill at midnight. Without considering the insecurity in Omuku, I took the risk to take her to one of the hospitals in the area. The worst thing is that we don’t have good health centre at the institution so if we are keying into the TISHIP, is government going to upgrade the existing health centre or they are going to recommend a centre outside the institution?” he said.

HMOs are to pay some percentage of the contribution they receive to institutions to improve their health centres.

Dr.  Chinwe Anyanwu of Regenix Healthcare Service Limited, one of the HMOs, said this has helped to improve many health centres.

“Most of the health centres being used for TISHIP before now were death  centres but today, I can beat my chest to say health centres have improved a lot. At least, the most important thing  is that we are ensuring that they enjoy what Federal government is offering them,” she said.

Though compliance to regulations has improved, Dr Anyanwu said HMO managers needed to get best practice training from other countries to improve their performance.

“Before now the payment was very difficult because HMOs were very greedy to pay fees for services but now, a lot of HMOs are beginning to see that our regulatory body is serious. And that if they don’t pay their charges, they would be delisted. We need to go to training and see how its work in other countries. I can tell you that the issue of none remittance has actually reduced,” she said.

The NHIS Coordinator for Rivers State, Mr Ebiokobo Williams, said efforts were on to ensure all institutions signed up for TISHIP.

“The NUC is coming to Port Harcourt because two years before now, we sent out letters to all the universities in Nigeria to key into the pragramme. So, the NUC has been waiting for us to give feedback, which we have been doing; telling them that there has been some resistance. One thing we must know is that TISHIP fund is different from the fund that goes into the bursary. Ordinarily, once a fund gets to bursary, it became a problem to separate and give to the hospital in the school. That is why the NUC is coming to see how it is being done. The report they have in the headquarters shows that we have three schools already running the programme.  UNIPORT, RSUST and Rivers State College of Health and Technology and they have chosen UNIPORT and RSUST to visit for now,” he said.

Williams also refuted claims that TISHIP contributions are diverted for other purposes.

“I would say people do not have the right information about how funds are being disbursed. The truth is that we pay capitation fee for service and others, but for now, we operate under the system of fee for service and capitation. And when the money comes in, the HMO will ensure that payment is made to the hospital; that money covers the service when the students come; and part of that money is meant for the purchase of drugs, equip the hospital and to empower the personnel. So nobody is diverting any fund. We have heard the cases of UNIPORT and RSUST and in the case of UNIPORT, it is an excellent report. Although there are still pockets of challenges but it is working well,” he said.

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Owing to the pronouncement made by the Federal government to scrap Post UTME, the screening form is out in different schools. The Lagos state polytechnic (Laspotech) is on with the registration of applicants for the screening.

According to a source, the institution has begged the screening form at N2, 200 and bank charge N300, together makes it N2, 500 for applicants.

According to the Administrative officer, Information and Communications Technology (Laspotech), Mr. Ajiboye Oluwasegun Babatunde, “the screening exercise is not about questions and answer but it just simple procedure.

“For the screening, the O’level result must correspond with the requirements for the course which the applicant picked, then the cut off mark for the school must also be accurate with the school’s requirement, which is 180 and above,” he said.

He concluded that the requirements would be sent to the Abuja  Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) office for checking and the admission list would be updated on the school portal and other social media platform which the school operates on.

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The Lagos State University authorities (LASU) issued 84 students warning letters for indecent dressing and also disqualified a student who was among the candidate who was to contest in the forthcoming student union election.

According to the breakdown analysis, eight among the culprit are final year students,43 in 100level,20 in 200level,and three in 300level.

In the list of students sanctioned, it showed that 24 students are in faculty of Management Science, 18 from faculty of sciences, faculty of Education and Social Sciences were recorded as 11 students each and the faculty of communication has four students.

It was reported that the Students Affair Department (DSA) of LASU gave the letter to the students for going against the dress code of the institution.

It was also gathered that one of the disqualified student was to contest for the presidential post of the Lagos State University Student Union (LASUSU).

The 300Level Economic Education Department Yusuf Wasiu Omolola the presidential candidate was disqualified for concealing his suspension at the Federal College of Education, Akoka.

It was alleged that Yusuf was suspended from the college for participating in cultism in the year 2012.”There was no documentary evidence to prove he has been cleared of his allegation and suspension from the college”.

‘’The students have been magnanimously pardoned by the university authority and were warned to desist from the act of indecent dressing, henceforth or face disciplinary action, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations (CIPPR) statement noted’’.

He was given the opportunity to free himself by voluntarily opting of the LASUSU presidential contest.

‘’Mr. Yusuf, Wasiu Omotola was given several opportunities to redeem himself by voluntarily and honourably opting out of the LASUSU presidential race.

It was also recorded that he refused to complete the security background form made for all the LASUSU contestants, the Director Student Affairs DSA said.

The presidential contestant (Yusuf) remains disqualified pending when he can provide evidence that the allegation against him is no true.

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it will soon commence the uploading names of candidates who have been offered admission into tertiary institution on their website.

The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

According to him, the board will ensure that Nigerian children are not unjustly denied admission in any institution of their choice.

He said that the names of candidates that had satisfactorily met the admission rules and regulations of the institutions and that of the Federal Government would be uploaded soon.

“We have just concluded a five-day Technical Committee meeting on Admission that started on Aug. 22 at the Bayero University Kano.

“A lot was deliberated upon and at the end everything came out successful.

“We have ensured that the admissions are done in line with the set rules and regulations as provided by the Federal Government and the various institutions.

“We are aware that the function of admission of candidates is solely the job of the Senates of institutions and what we do as a board is to see the guidelines used in admitting the candidates and ensure ratification.

“We are passionate about ensuring that no candidate that meets any of the admission rules and guidelines as provided by both the institution and government is denied admission for whatever reason,’’ he said.

The Registrar of the board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, had at the opening of the meeting said that admissions would be carried out based on guidelines approved for each institution by their respective proprietors.

He also said that preference expressed for the institutions and courses by the candidates would also be followed.

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…parades 39 suspects

Imo State Police Command on Monday recorded a major breakthrough in its fight against cultism with the arrest of 39 suspected cultists.

Parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters, the State Commissioner, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, disclosed that the suspects were arrested at different points in the state during their initiation ceremony.

According to him, “considering the spate of  cultism in the state and following a tactically coordinated operation by operatives of the State Police Command through credible source stormed the initiation party organized by the cultists for new members within the Nekede area of Owerri”.

He continued that, “on the receipt of the information, covert operatives of the Command were promptly mobilized and dispatched to the area to monitor the situation. Notable flashpoints within Nekede and environs namely, ‘South Africa ‘, ‘Shrine Tree Square’ and Pentagon Bar Umuofocha’ were surrounded and cordoned off by ever ready operatives.  As a result, 39 suspected cultists who converged in the aforementioned location for initiation and other cult activities were rounded up.

“The suspects have made useful statements confessing their membership of the Aiye confraternity.  Thorough investigation has commenced with the view of charging the suspects to court accordingly “.

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike to press home its demands for the implementation of its 2009 agreement with the Federal Government.

The ASUU Lagos Zone Coordinator, Prof. Olusoji Sowande, said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos.

Sowande said that the union was planning to toe this part after several efforts to ensure that the government address the pending demands, proved abortive.

He said that the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on funding of state universities, breaches of the conditions of service and re-negotiation of the agreement, were still pending.

The coordinator also mentioned other demands like the exclusion of Nigerian universities from Pension Management Company and non-release of NEEDS Assessment Intervention Fund.

He said that funding of state universities, earned academic allowance and renegotiation of the agreement were parts of the outstanding issues.

Sowande recalled that the union had embarked on strike in 2012 and 2013 as part of the efforts to make the government implement the agreement, adding that the issues remained unresolved.

He said that the 2009 agreement provided for a periodic review after every three years which had not been done.

“The review of the agreement should have been undertaken in 2012 and 2015 but that did not happen.‎

“The implication is that our union has shown enough patriotism and understanding on these matters in the last four years.

“We are perplexed and disappointed that both the Federal and State Governments are not responding to our consistent appeals to bring about genuine transformation in the education sector, ‘’ he said.

According to him, embarking on strike has never been a favourable choice as the Students and ASUU members have always suffered the pains more.

“It is unfortunate that the only language government appears to respect and listens to is that of industrial action like strike,”he said.

The don said that the National officers of the union had met with the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu on May 10 and tabled ten-point demand.

He said that the minister had promised that the issues would be resolved within two weeks but nothing had been done till now.

Sowande said that based on MOU signed in November 2013, “Nigerian universities requires N1.3 trillion to revitalise the system’’, adding that the government was already in arrears of N605 billion as at the third quarter of 2016.

He said that the government had refused to release N128 billion and N250 billion respectively for the earned academic allowance of three years after the MoU was signed.‎

“In order to forestall this avoidable crisis, we appeal to all genuinely progressive individuals and groups to prevail on both the Federal and State Governments to commence release of funds for the listed purposes.

“This is to arrest the brewing and potentially combustible situation in the Nigerian university system before it degenerated into a serious conflagration,” he said.

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The Federal Government on Monday said about 25.3 million Nigerian children and youths are out of school across the country.

To reduce this figure, the government said it plans to enrol about 2. 9 million pupils annually in four years to reduce the figure of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

Nigeria currently has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world with 11. 4 million out – of – school children out of the 20 million worldwide.

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said 60 per cent of the 11.4 million out-of-school children in Nigeria are girls.

Adamu, who said this at the presentation of “Education for change: a Ministerial Strategic Plan (2016-2019) to stakeholders in Abuja, said only 3.1 million or 17 per cent nomadic children of school-age had access to basic education despite decades of intervention.

He therefore said government would urgently raise the national Net Enrolment Rate (NER) to ensure that are enrolled in basic education schools in the next four years.

The Minister said: “About 25.3 million students at all levels of education are out- of- school in the country.

“Nigeria has the highest number of out of school children in the world with 11. 4 million out- of-school children of the 20 million worldwide. These include the girl-child, Almajiri-child, children of nomadic pastoralists and migrant fishermen and more recently the children displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency.

“60% of the 11.4 million out-of-school children in Nigeria are girls. Only a fraction (17%) of the 3.1 million nomadic children of school-age has access to basic education despite decades of intervention. Similarly, only a small proportion of the FME’s 20120 estimate of 9.5 million Almajiri children have access to any form of basic education.

“An increasing number of displaced children (1 million) are being forced out of school in the insurgency-stricken states. These figures suggest that the educational process has given these groups of marginalized children very little access to education.

“For the 11.4 million out-of-school children the most urgent concern is raising the national Net Enrolment Rate (NER) to ensure that all of them are enrolled in basic education schools in the next four years. To achieve this target, the government planes to enrol, 2, 875,000 pupils annually for the next four years.

“The FME will come up with more effective strategies for engaging with states in addressing the problem of escalating numbers of out-of-school children including where necessary, the use of targeted funding that deliberately addresses the factors of exclusion.”

Adamu said the government would renovate the schools destroyed by Boko Haram and construct additional 71, 875 classrooms annually for the next four years to accommodate the pupils.

The minister also said the government would provide additional 71, 875 qualified teachers through the deployment of the 14 per cent of the new teachers to be recruited by the federal government annually to cater for the anticipated increase in pupils’ enrolment.

“The government will renovate the schools destroyed by Boko Haram and construct additional 71, 875 classrooms annually for the next four years to accommodate the anticipated increase in enrollment of out-of-school children.

“Provide additional 71, 875 qualified teachers through the deployment of the 14% of the new teachers to be recruited by the federal government annually to cater for the anticipated increase in pupils’ enrolment.

“Raise the current enrolment of girls in the basic education schools by 1.5 million girls annually for the next four years if the 6 million girls currently out of school are to be provided with access to basic education as required by the UBE law.

“Deploy 37, 500 qualified female teachers, (or 7.5% of the 500,000 new teachers to be recruited by the federal government annually), to serve as role models for female pupils/students; and determine the amount of resources in terms of the learning materials and other facilities, as specified in UBEC’s school norms and standards, required for training the Education For All (EFA) goals,” he added.

Earlier, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, said the education sector needed strengthening for Nigeria to meet goal four of the SDG.

According to Anwukah, the efficient and effective implementation of the Strategic Plan when finalized by all levels of governments and stakeholders would offer Nigerians the means to optimize opportunities, create solutions and find new paths to a better future.

He said: “For Nigeria to meet the targets of the SDG 4, the education sector needs strengthening, our dilapidated schools must be provided with befitting infrastructure to become learner-friendly for all learners, including girls, the vulnerable and those with special needs.

“We must recruit and re-train existing teachers for quality delivery. Every child, girl or boy must not only enroll in school but must complete the full cycle of basic education and must be seen to learn. Our tertiary institutions must be citadels of learning that foster innovation to meet the needs of the workforce, strengthen research capacities and advance knowledge by increasing higher education opportunities for young people.

“It is important also to say that education for change must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet the needs of their own times.”

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The terrorism allegations against the Nigerian Turkish schools in the aftermath of the failed July 15 coup in Turkey gave parents, teachers and students the goose pimples. But they defended the schools, which have been in operation in Nigeria since 1998.

The July 15 coup in Turkey shocked the world.  Nigeria, with a large Turkish presence, felt the heat of the putsch.

In the wake of the crisis, the Turkish government revoked the licence of 15,000 teachers and shut 15 universities run by Fetullah Gulen, who was accused of sponsoring the coup.

On July 29 the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Hakan Cakil, called on the Federal Government to close  the Nigerian-Turkish schools because of the alleged links of their founders to the failed coup.

There are 17 such schools in Nigeria, operated by the First Surat Group of Companies. The Nigerian-Turkish International Colleges (NTIC) and pre-Nursery/Primary schools started in 1998 in Abuja.  They have since spread to Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Kaduna and Yobe states.  The Nigerian-Turkish Nile University (NTNU) started in 2009 in Abuja.

With a combined enrolment of about 5,000 and a workforce of about 2,000 Nigerians, the news caused some concerns among parents, who queried the connection between the coup plotters and the schools in Nigeria.  Many of them described the decision as political and inimical to their wards’ development.  They had no suspicion of the allegations about the running of the schools.

A member of the Parent-Teacher  Association (PTA) at NTIC, Kano, who pleaded anonymity, said the allegations were not enough to make her withdraw her two children from the school as long as the government does not shut them.

“I see no reason I should suddenly withdraw my wards from NTIC simply because of an unsubstantiated allegation that owners of the school are involved in a coup in Turkey. For goodness sake, this is Nigeria and not Turkey. So, if they have a political problem there, they should find better ways of settling it and not to distort the academic curriculum of Nigerians who are seeking for knowledge in NTIC.  I believe the Nigerian government will take a wise decision on this matter,” she said.

Another parent, Mr Segun Ayobami, who has a ward in JSS2 in NTIC, Kaduna, said parents liked the school because of its quality, urging the government to resolve the issue with Turkey.

“Many of us just like the school because of their academic calendar in terms of time-table and curriculum for the students.  The coup we are talking about has not been established to have been carried out by staff of the Turkish Schools here in Nigeria. The Nigerian government needs to weigh the consequence of such action, especially on the employment aspect and see how the two countries can find a common ground to look at diplomatic means of addressing the challenge,” he said.

Another parent who has children at NTIC, Kaduna, Mrs. Hajara Mohammed, said the politics in far away Turkey should not be allowed to affect children’s education in Nigeria.

“My own fear is that, if the school is closed, where do we start from? It would affect our children education and even psychologically, because they would have to change schools.

“For now, we have not resolved to withdraw our children from the school and my prayer is that we will not have any reason to do so. In My own case, I have two kids there and am comfortable with their performance so far.

“As for the alleged involvement in the failed coup, the Turkish government should adopt a means of prosecuting whoever is found wanting, but should not allow their politics affect our own children education in Nigeria,” she said.

A Nigerian, who is a senior staff member in NTIC, Kano (name withheld), said he had not noticed anything untoward about the school’s operations since he joined at its inception.

“I have not observed any external business like politics. All the school management is concerned about is how best they can impact knowledge, discipline and morality on the students; so to me, the call for the closure of the school remains unnecessary and it is not in the interest of Nigeria, Turkey and students,” he said.

There were concerns that the announcement may affect enrolment in the new session.  In the aftermath of the announcement, The Nation gathered that parents refused to pay fees and hostel accommodation at the NTNU because of fears over the fate of the schools.

So far, Mr Olayinka Aderoju, Vice Principal, NTIC, Mowe in Ogun State, said the downturn in the economy affected enrolment more than the coup claims.  He added that parents asked questions, following the announcement and their fears were allayed.

“We noticed the drop in admission rate at the beginning of the year, but the comment added to the already worrisome situation. But we have a firm belief that the school would weather the storm.

“Down South, the parents are learned and informed so they make their school decisions based on standard of the school, conducive environment, among others.  The situation has had some effect on the school, both positive and negative – positive in the sense that people who didn’t know about NTIC got to learn about its existence – negative in the sense that people got suspicious and they wanted to know if it was true.  But we thank God that even our parents have been supportive. Both the chirstian and Muslim parents,” said Aderoju, who joined the school in 2004.

Aderoju added that it was not only Nigeria that was asked to close schools, saying the same request was made to Germany, which declined to do so based on lack of evidence.

“The Turkish government made a similar request in Germany and they refused due to lack of evidence,” he said.

School Administrator Mr Hafeez Idowu said the college was preparing for the new session.

“Our school is in session, everything is fine. In fact, we are holding our teachers seminar today in preparation for the new session,” he said.

Managing Director, NTIC, Abuja, Orhan Kertim, denied all terrorism links to the schools, which he said had been law abiding and were more Nigerian than Turkish.

In a statement, the spokesperson for the NTIC, Cemal Yigit, urged the general public to ignore and disregard the claims as the institutions were not political.

He said: “The NTIC is not a Turkish government run institution, but a privately funded institution by a group of Turkish investors. As a responsible organisation operating in Nigeria since 1998, we are conversant with the laws of the land and we have to our best ability abided by these stipulations.

“The call, therefore, by the Turkish Ambassador, is not only baseless, but it is also unfounded and of poor taste. Nigeria is a sovereign country and the call by the Turkish ambassador is not only an affront to the sovereignty of the Nigerian nation but a display of the crass ignorance.

“The NTIC schools in Nigeria are Turkish in name but Nigerian in deeds. We are partners in progress as evident in all our activities since 1998. NTIC is non-political and non partisan.Our philosophy is centered on dialogue, love and tolerance.”

Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu, however, put to rest all concerns about the continued existence of the schools when he told The Nation that there was no evidence of terrorism linkages that would warrant closing the schools. Adamu said Nigeria, as a sovereign state, had rules and regulations guiding its operations, either diplomatic or otherwise.

“These institutions came to Nigeria and indicated interest in investing in education system. Conditions were presented to them and they apparently met the requirements, and were issued operational license, and they have been operating in line with the specification of the licence they have.

“In that regard, it would be morally and legally unfair to yield to the call of the Turkish government on mere allegations. We have no evidence against the Turkish schools and other investments in Nigeria that would warrant that we take the action as requested by the government and close the schools or other investments. Until the Turkish government proves otherwise, they will continue to do their legitimate business here in Nigeria,” he said.

Happy with the Federal Government’s decision, Principal, NTIC, Mowe, Mr Ercan Yilmaz, said: “The education minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has certified us to continue operations since the accusations are unfounded and untrue. Besides the name of the school is Nigerian Turkish, but it is established as a Nigerian organisation, so even if there’s something wrong, it is not Turkey that can say do this or that but the Nigerian government. We are happy working here and we will continue our work here.”

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The premises of the Command Secondary School, Ipaja, Lagos, wore a cheerful look during its valedictory service held at the school pavilion.

The Commandant of the school, Col M. Kadai, said the graduands should be celebrated because they made it through their determination even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

The school pavilion venue of the event, was decorated with blue and a touch of gold, with graduads looking resplendent in black blazer suit, white shirt and a red tie to match. The girls styled their hair beautifully and the boys had nice haircuts. Their teachers and parents were not left out of the paparazzi. They were decked in their best attires.

Col. Kadai urged parents to continue to counsel and not leave their wards  as this could make them vulnerable to outside influences.

The guest speaker, Mrs Ngozi Onyemekara told graduands to be conscious of the decisions they make, as it will be recorded as part of their story in future.

“Life is like a book and it can only be interesting if we read it in chapters. Your life in this school is getting to a close and you are about to open a new chapter. Be cautious of how you open this next chapter, because you are moving to experience new set of situations in life,” she warned.

Father of the day, Ambrose Uduechi, urged graduands to remember their alma mater, embrace hard work and move closer to God in their quest for greatness.

“Wait on the Lord to achieve great heights. Have accurate vision like the eagle, which flies directly towards the sun. Eat what is right. The eagle will never stoop so low as to eat dead meat. So reduce your consumption of junk food. Don’t dwell on your past success, rather, aim to achieve greater ones and never forget who you are. You are an eagle, not a chicken,” He said.

The mother of the day, Haijia Hindatu Yauri gave tips on making a successful journey out of life.

“Everything we have taught you, keep them, especially self-control and patience,” Yauri said.

She added: “Life is a journey, so run with these values. Have a goal and a vision so that you would not be sidelined by bad company. Keep to your pillars of character as taught by Command Secondary School.”

The event, anchored by special guest of honour, Maj Gen Isadore Edet, also featured presentations of awards and the launch the school magazine Comlag Star.

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