Education

Forum Raises Alarm over Growing Rate of Out-of-School Children

By Web News 492

By Bunmi Agboola

The rate at which out-of-school children in the country increases on a daily basis has been described as a menace that should be urgently addressed by all and sundry in the country.

This was the submission of Civil Society Network for Peace and Restorative Justice in collaboration with the Oyo State Government at a one-day stakeholders round-table talk at MUSWEN Conference Hall, Iwo Road, Ibadan to commemorate this year International Day of Peace.

The guest speaker at the forum, a retired chief lecturer, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Professor Sabitu Olagoke, who described the high rate at which out-of-school children in the country increased by the day, said it posed a huge threat to the progress of the country.

Also contributing, the Secretary, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr Jacob Dairo, represented by Mr Muslideen Olanipekun, said about 20 millions children in Africa aged between 6 and 18 years are not enrolled in school, citing UNESCO.

He noted that approximately one million out-of-school children are in the country, pointing out that the Oyo State Government led by Engineer Seyi Makinde free education programme was a total package aimed at transforming the state into an egalitarian one.

While reacting, the Zonal Director Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria, Mr Dominic Mokikan,  represented by Deputy Director, Outside Broadcast and Sports, Mrs Abiodun Ogidan, said parents should wake up to their responsibilites in shaping the future of their children.

In his address, the chairman of the forum, Professor Rasheed Aderinoye, said collaboration across board was needed to nip the menace in the bud.

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Education

Rector Sends SOS to Government

By Web News 459

By Olusegun Folarin

Governments at all levels have been encouraged to come to the rescue of students and staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro who are recently affected by flood.

The Rector of the Institution, Dr Mukail Akinde made the call during an on-the-spot assessment of flood ravaged areas of the ancient town largely inhabited by students after the weekend’s heavy downpour. 

Dr Akinde who advised the Students and Staff of the institution to stay away from flood prone areas of the town to avoid loss of lives and property noted that the step became imperative in view of the impending heavy rainfall in the coming months as predicted by Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET and National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.

While commiserating with those who lost valuable goods and properties to the unfortunate incident, the Rector implored the students to desist from renting houses in areas prone to flooding such as Riverside, advising those who still reside in such areas to relocate to safer places. 

Dr Akinde who gave personal donation to the affected students called for the reactivation of projects and reconstruction of the badly damaged roads and bridges in the erosion and flood prone areas of the town in a bid to forestall recurrence.

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Politics

Don’t exclude women from governance over indigeneship – Gender Advocate

By Web News 497

A gender advocate at the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Dr Jade Mohammed says that marriage should not exclude women from participating in governance where they reside or get married, even in their father’s state of origin.

This, she noted should be an additional opportunity for them to contribute to the development of the nation.

Dr Mohammed made stated this while presenting a paper in Ibadan entitled ‘Citizenship/Indigeneship and Women Participation in Governance’.

Mrs Mohammed, who frowned at indigeneship which political parties adopted in the just concluded primaries across the country instead of citizenship, said the development prevented many qualified women from representation at different levels of government.

According to her, the approach of indigeneship to elect representatives being employed in most cases negated the provision of Nigeria’s constitution and federal character system.

Mrs Mohammad, therefore, urged women to rise up and support competent women at all times, describing discrimination against women as a barrier to development.

“What is in the Constitution is not what is being practiced? What is being practised in most places is indigeneship not citizenship as envisaged by the 1999 Constitution, Section 26&27.”

“Indigeneship over citizenship is a barrier to development in every society. Women are particularly affected especially if they are outside their place of origin”

“It is already rearing its head in recent times, in the just concluded primaries where many women were dropped based on indigeneship.”

“As a woman, who is competent and suitable, wherever she shows up, such a person should be promoted, appreciated and allowed to contribute her quota to the development of her community.”

“Women need to rise more than ever and understand that politics is beyond voting. They need to promote competent women and see them through in all ramifications to emerge and be able to render quality service in whatever level she finds herself”.

Another speaker, Dr Mistura Sanni said the nation needed some actions that are targeted at bringing everyone to a level play-ground in addressing women’s inequality.

She said “When we talk about imbalance, our situation in Nigeria is such that we take a blanket disposition in managing our affairs. Our data are not gender-sensitive. When we set our data right, we will be able to move forward because the data is what decision is based on”.

Two of the participants, Pastor Biodun Popoola, from IPAC and Mrs Felicia Opatunde called for perseverance and consistent participation of women in politics to make headway.

They equally urged the leadership of the country to address the issue of women’s inequality in politics head-on in order to tap the potential of women in the social, economic and political development of Nigeria.

Iyabo Adebisi

Education

Robbery Attack: Polytechnic Ilaro Refutes Rape Claim

By Web News 1266

Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Dr Olusegun Aluko says no student of the institution was raped during the robbery attack in the town.

The rector, while speaking at stakeholders meeting over the armed robbery incident Ilaro, said he was at the scene of the incident for on-the-spot assessment and no report of rape was reported by the students.

Dr Aluko warned those spreading wrong information on the internet to desist from such acts and advised newsmen to always verify the information before publishing.

The Chairman of Ilaro Community Development Council, Mr Adams Sangosina had warned students to desist from wandering about late at night as part of the measures to stem the tide of insecurity in the town.

He decried students wandering around between the hour of eleven 11p.m to 3 am-midnight without regard for community laws and respect for landlords.

At the end of the meeting, the stakeholders agreed that students must stop moving around the town from eleven pm to 4 am.

The meeting was attended by members of Polytechnics, Ilaro Community Forum, landlords associations, representatives of all arms of students, including representatives of security agencies in the town.

Wale Oluokun

Religion

Islamic Cleric Harps On Moral Rebirth For Societal Reformation

By Web News 765

The rector of the newly established Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Ogbomoso in Oyo State, Dr Taofeeq Abdulhameed has identified moral rebirth as essential for societal reformation. 

He stated this at an annual Ramadan Lecture/ Appeal Fund for the School Mosque organised by Muslim Old Students Association, Lagelu Grammar School, Agugu, Ibadan held at the school hall.

Dr Abdulhameed who until his new appointment was the Chief Imam, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, said every individual has a role to play in reforming the society through good moral conduct which is the foundation of everlasting reformation.

“Societal reformation starts with you and I. It starts with each individual. Except we reform ourselves morally, the society will be in chaos”.

“To achieve this, there is no need for everybody to be craving for material things all the times. Excessive craving for material things would lead to corruption. We should try as much as possible to emphasize on morals.”

“Where morality is the order of the day, there will be discipline and there will be consideration for others unlike being selfish. Today most of us are self-centered in our daily activities, in everything we do, we considered ourselves first. There is nothing bad in considering oneself first but should not be at the detriment of others”.

Dr Abdulhameed urged Nigerians to appreciate Allah, make firm their belief and control their innate desires as well as greediness for the betterment of the society. 

Chairman on the occasion, former Secretary to Oyo State government, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Olajide represented by Chief Gbade Oyepeju advised youths, especially students to make contentment and uprightness their watchwords for better future.

“As Muslim students, they should not be found wanting in all ramifications of life. They should not join bad gangs like Yahoo boys. Let them use good characters to preach Islam to others.”

In a keynote address, Chairman, Old Students Association, Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan Branch, Alhaji Kola Animasahun pointed out that the lecture was a means of guidance to the upcoming generation, urging parents to spread the message to their children.

Earlier, the Amir, Muslim Old Students Association, Lagelu Grammar School, Branch, Dr Ibraheem AbdHameed said the lecture was put in place in a bid to see how the society could be better from its current troubled state. 

The theme of the lecture is “Societal Reformation: My role as a Muslim”.

Sherifdeen Nashirdeen

Crime

EFCC Arrests Five Undergraduates, Twelve Others for Alleged Internet Fraud

By Web News 1012

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Office, on Monday, October 7, 2019, arrested 17 suspected internet fraudsters among whom were five who claimed to be students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti.

The suspects were arrested in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital, following meticulous consideration of intelligence reports detailing their alleged involvement in internet fraud and other related offenses. 

Hitherto, operatives of the commission in the zone had conducted preliminary investigations to ascertain the merits of the allegations against them. 

After establishing substantive facts, the EFCC sprang into action and effected the arrest on Monday.

While five of the suspects claimed to be students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, others said they were into various vocations.

Some items used in perpetrating the crime were recovered from them and registered as exhibits to be tendered in court.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

Nafiu Busari