Grievances over unpaid four-month salaries of SSANU and NASU members had prompted the leadership of both unions to issue a strike threat, which was expected to commence on Thursday, July 4.

Both SSANU and NASU members had incurred the wrath of government when they joined an indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, back in 2022, denying them their salaries for four months. Fortunately, while the government under President Bola Tinubu has ordered the payment of ASUU, other unions within the university system are yet to get their fair entitlements.

Sunrise recalls that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Employment, then under Chris Ngige as minister had invoked the ‘No Work, No Pay’ policy, which caught up with the entire unions when they went on a protracted strike.

Despite the presidential directive to release their salaries, SSANU and NASU members have been ignored by those implementing the directive.

Shortly after assuming office as Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman reiterated that all affected unions are to benefit from the payment.

DAILY POST was reliably informed that government had begun a move to avert the looming strike, following a memo inviting the officials to a meeting by 1 pm on Thursday to address the contentious issues.

A source privy to the meeting said: “The Minister of Education has called to meet with SSANU and NASU today, maybe to persuade us not to go on strike. We will honour the invitation. We are also going to meet with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment by 3 pm.”

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Managing Director and CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, speaking about the program, emphasised the importance of engaging young minds in the business of creating a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Lagos environment, especially as the state tackles cholera outbreak.

He said, “Our internship program is designed to equip the younger generation with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective waste management and environmental preservation. At LAWMA, we believe education is key to achieving our aim of entrenching proper waste management as a lifestyle”.

Dr. Gbadegesin noted that the hands-on experience provided by LAWMA would enable the interns to understand the complexities and challenges of waste management operations, adding that the training would help them become environmental stewards, positively influencing others.

“Our interns will be exposed to various aspects of LAWMA’s operations, from waste collection and disposal to recycling and public education campaigns. With these, they will gain practical insights and develop innovative solutions to waste management issues”, he stated.

The Director of LAWMA Academy, Training and Development, Mrs. Bola Adewunmi, who welcomed the new set of graduate interns, briefed them on the nature of the four-week program, which included theoretical lessons, practical sessions, and field visits, for exposure to the fundamentals of waste management and diverse LAWMA operations.

In a related development, the academy has extended its environmental cleanliness education drive to schools in Agege and Ajeromi Ifelodun local government areas, teaching the pupils, basic waste management practices, recycling, fostering a positive relationship with the environment, and the negative impact of banned Styrofoam packs.

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Sunrise News, June 4, 2024 – A one-day training workshop organised by the non-governmental organisation Youth Advocate for Change (YAFC) provided teachers and school owners in Lagos State’s slum communities with new resources and opportunities to collaborate with key figures in the education sector.

The event, held recently, featured prominent speakers including Professor Tiabat Lawanson, Professor of Urban Management and Governance, University of Lagos, (UNILAG), Mrs. Funmilayo Arowoogun, the National President of NECA Network of Entrepreneurial Women, Funmilayo Arowoogun, The Executive Director of SEED Care & Support Foundation, Olanrewaju Oniyitan,  Founder, Street to School, Oluwatosin Olowoyeye- Taiwo, Digital Oncologist and Entrepreneurship Lecturer at the University of Lagos, Dr. Bukola Amao-Taiwo represented by an Adjunct Lecturer at UNILAG, Dr Funmilayo Grace Adetumobi.

The training which started with the opening speech of Professor Tiabat Lawanson, tasked school owners and administrators on the need for training and retraining for teachers in slum communities so that they can groom the kind of children they desire, considering the state of the low-income schools they attend.

Amongst the lots of trainings from various guest speakers, the Director General, Lagos State Office of Transformation Creativity and Innovation, (OTCI), Mrs. Toyin Anjous-Ademuyiwa, redefined education, by saying “Education is not merely about imparting knowledge, it is about nurturing young minds to become creative thinkers and innovative problem solvers.”

Anjous-Ademuyiwa, who was represented by Mrs. Osobu Titilayo said that in today’s world where the only constant thing is change, “it is imperative that our education system evolves to meet the demands of the 21st century.”

She further encouraged teachers and school administrators to take on free trainings organised by the state government through the Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) saying creativity is the livelihood of innovation.

She stressed that having the ability to think outside the box, to see possibilities where others see obstacles is a way of using creativity potentials to bring change in the world.

She however, reiterated the commitment of the Lagos State Government, at fostering an educational environment where a peaceful teaching strives and flourish.

During the Plenary Session, Mrs. Funmilayo Arowoogun, the National President of NECA Network of Entrepreneurial Women, Funmilayo Arowoogun called for the need for the Private Sector and their Foundations to support these low-fee private schools, stressing the fact that not all private schools are high-fee paying schools. There are actually “private schools for the poor” that charge fees as low as N100 (about $0.07) per day.

Also, The Executive Director of SEED Care & Support Foundation, Olanrewaju Oniyitan called for increased partnership and collaboration from stakeholders to support low-fee private schools.

She said that government to review the school approval guidelines, taking these schools and the communities they serve into consideration.

The Director of Basic Education Service, Mr. Adebayo Ishola, represented by the Deputy Director of Education, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs. Shitta-Bey A. H, was asked how the government intends to meet schools in small communities halfway considering the fact that they do not have enough equipment’s and better facilities, said that “there are collaborations between governments and NGO’s and private sectors. What is needed from them is for them to come forward and speak with the government in any areas they needed to be attended to.”

She stressed that the underserved schools need to learn how to collaborate with each other.

She said, “If someone has the space and the other have the funding, they can come together with their different resources and make things work.”

The Vice President, Sales, Educare, Mr. Botex Chinenye stated that the use of Montessori approach and traditional pedagogy will aide teaching in underserved areas effectively.

The convener of the workshop, Mr. Adeola Ogunlade, said that the programme was set out to create self-reliant teachers, develop teacher leaders, and help educators undertake innovative teaching methodologies and gain confidence in using educational technology with their students.

He lamented that teachers in low-income communities do not have access to quality training and thus, providing them with access to quality training and conversations will help to enhance teaching and learning within their classrooms.

He opined that with over 100 of informal settlements in Lagos State, there are thousands of low-income schools in Lagos, and they cater for millions of children in the state. “We must empower teachers in these communities with the right information, exposure and best practices as well as the latest technology in the pursuit of excellence in their classrooms.

Ogunlade called for more public/private partnership and investment for schools in low-income communities so that we can raise up children that can compete favourable in the future world of work.

He called for more support for ongoing YAFC projects in areas such as Makoko, Bariga, and Ketu.

He detailed projects including a lesson center in Ilaje community, and efforts to reconstruct an abandoned digital learning center housing 39 computers in Agboyi Ketu.

Some of the recommendation at the workshop included: enhancing Teacher Development, creating engaging learning environments and promoting empathy and inclusiveness. It also called to action for educators, policymakers, and community members to collaborate and innovate to improve educational outcomes in Nigeria. The overarching message was one of hope and determination to drive positive change through empathy, technology, and community engagement.

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The call for the speedy drafting of a legal framework for the effective implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration (SSD) initiatives in Nigeria that will serve as a security blueprint for the safety of students and staff of educational institutions in the country have been emphasised Sunrise.ng now reports.

Participants at a one day interactive session on the need to draft a legal document for the policy posited that 9 year after the SSD policy was developed in 2015 in Norway, and the establishment of a national policy, the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence Free Schools to help implement the SSD, Nigeria is yet to witness any meaningful implementation of the agreement partly due to the absence of a legal framework.

They spoke at a one day ‘Roundtable Meeting with Stakeholders on the imperative for a legal framework on Safe School Declaration (SSD)’ organised by the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) and the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARD C) in Lagos.

Speaking, National Network Coordinator for Wanep Nigeria, Dr. Bridget Osakwe urged the federal and state governments to increase funding for education and ensure that children and teachers are in good environment of leaning that is free from violence, molestation, from abuses, harassments of any kind.

She said “the SSD is to prepare the children, prepare the environment in order to prevent any form of violence in the school environment and to respond immediately in case of any breaches in the school and it is important that all stakeholders come together to make the whole environment conducive because education a right to the child irrespective of the sex, and for children to optimally enjoy that education.”

“They have to have a conducive environment and that environment is not just for the children alone, even for the teachers that will deliver. Everyone that will guide the children within the precinct of the school needs that conducive environment to be in their optimal skills.”

National Programme Coordinator of WARD C, Jennifer Nwokedike bemoaned the downward trend in the safety of school children affirming that government must halt the adduction of student in schools across the country.

Nwokedike said “Is Nigeria government implementing SSD, I will say yes and no. for some states implementation has started, but considering the trend in education we expect government to do more. It is ten years after the adduction of girls in Chibok, the trend indicates that we are going down the slop.”

A project consultant, Dr Ola Akintayo, explained that there are several policies in place that are geared toward effective implementation of the policy but the absence of a legal frame so far has been the Achill hill of that policy initiative.

“Since the policy has been put in place, you can see that there have been no impacts. Most people in the country are not even aware that such things are even in place in Nigeria.” He said.

Also speaking, Dr Obadina Ibrahim of the University of Lagos declared that “We must realise how imperative it is to have a legal framework. After Chibok, it’s been a lot of challenges trying to secure schools in the country.”

The UNILAG Don said “We must itemise the basic requirement any school must have to ensure that they protect the student and staff, trainings and critical engagement within communities so that they can speak up when we see suspicious activities and individuals coming to the school.

We talk issues of perimeter fencing, surveillances, panic alarms across schools and including sanctions for those complicit in attacks in schools as well as recovery processes when schools are attack. Issues of funding and infrastructures should also get attention.”

Participants at the interactive forum included traditional leaders, Civil Society Organisations the network of Civil Society on Education, the police, civil defence, members of the Lagos state house of assembly, officials of ministry of education, the school base management boards, head teachers association and the Parent Teachers Association among other.

The Safe Schools Declaration outlines a set of commitments to strengthen the protection of education from attack and restrict use of schools and universities for military purposes and seeks to ensure the continuity of safe education during armed conflict.

It was opened for countries to endorse at the First International Conference on Safe Schools in Oslo, Norway, in May 2015 while in October 2021; Nigeria hosted the Fourth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration in Abuja.

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Zooka Kids, a clubhouse which focuses on creative play and edutainment for kids ages 0-16 in Abeokuta has organized the 2024 edition of Talent Show as part of activities to celebrate the kids during the year’s Children Day to showcase the gifts and talents that are inherent in them.

The Creative Director of Zooka Kids Club House, Mrs. Olamiji Shodunke while speaking with journalists on the reason for the yearly celebration revealed that  “we are doing this because we have observed that there is nothing much here in Abeokuta that we do for our children. Our kids go to school and they study all the time and there is nothing that speak to their development in the social in a gifted manner”.

Mrs. Shodunke added that the organization is committed to celebrating the gifts and talents of the children because according to her, “every child has greatness inside of them and if we don’t help them to bring it out there is no way they’ll be able to explore and express it”.

The Creative Director disclosed that aside identifying and discovering talents and the gifts inherent in children, the event also serves as a means to foster unity and bridge the gap between children from high and low-income in the communities. 

The free admission Talent Show held at the fun clubhouse located in a serene environment of Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta had in attendance hundreds of children aged 5 to 16 from various primary and secondary schools across the State. 

On their parts, Miss Lawal Oreoluwa, Miss Teniayo Shodunke and Mr. Olatomiwa Malaolu who participated in various competitions said, they had so much fun, calling on the organizers to continue as this will continually give the children the needed avenue to express themselves and relate better.

The trio enjoined other parents to register their children with the club house because the training they get at the Creative Art Academy builds their confidence and empowers them to follow their dreams.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of gifts to winners of different categories of performances; Performing Arts, Miss. Harmony Badejo came with 1st position while Tanimonure Tijesutonifunmi and Oreoluwa Lawal came out with 2nd and 3rd positionsrespectively.

In the Creative Arts competition, Mr. Olatomiwa Malaolu won 1st position, while Abudulsalmi Yusuf and Agemo Omokorede, won 2nd and 3rd positions, while in Modelling competition, Miss. Zion Malaolu & Miss. Bella Adeoluwa went home with 1st positions, while Deborah Samuel and Emerald lme went home with 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.

the children the needed avenue to express themselves and relate better.

The trio enjoined other parents to register their children with the club house because the training they get at the Creative Art Academy builds their confidence and empowers them to follow their dreams.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of gifts to winners of different categories of performances; Performing Arts, Miss. Harmony Badejo came with 1st position while Tanimonure Tijesutonifunmi and Oreoluwa Lawal came out with 2nd and 3rd positionsrespectively.

In the Creative Arts competition, Mr. Olatomiwa Malaolu won 1st position, while Abudulsalmi Yusuf and Agemo Omokorede, won 2nd and 3rd positions, while in Modelling competition, Miss. Zion Malaolu & Miss. Bella Adeoluwa went home with 1st positions, while Deborah Samuel and Emerald lme went home with 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.

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Akintunde Sawyerr, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday while giving an update on the scheme.

Sawyerr explained that the about 30,000 students who have successfully applied are currently undergoing approval evaluation.

The MD revealed that applications will be opened for state higher institutions to apply for the loan on 25th June 2024.

According to him, the scheme goes beyond providing financial assistance to students to equipping youths with employable skills.

He announced that NELFUND will commence a launch of comprehensive skills acquisition skills in various vocational and technical fields.

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Addressing a press conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Monday, the Zonal Chairperson of ASUU, Dr Happiness Uduk, said it was disheartening that the people who attended schools on scholarship, enjoyed meal subsidies, bursary awards among others were the ones making some of these obnoxious policies adding that the union would not relent in opposing such policies.

Uduk in a statement jointly signed by the eight union Chairpersons reasoned that instead of giving loans for students’ education; FG could use the money for interventions in higher institutions.

She added that such a move would bring about a positive turnaround of events that would make the institutions self-reliant with highly subsidized tertiary education in the country.

Uduk said “It is disheartening that people who attended schools on scholarship, enjoyed meal subsidies, free laundry services and bursary awards are the same running our economy today. Their Children are on scholarships in the best foreign universities in the world but after siphoning our economy, they turn around to impose a strangulating Education Loan on taxpayers’ children so that they will be enslaved and remain indebted to the country forever.

“They do not mind the devastating effect of this scheme on the country such as depression, suicide, and colossal loss of intellectuals.

“To this end, we vehemently condemn the idea of Education Loans and state clearly that using the money for intervention in higher Institutions will bring about a positive turn-around of events that will make our institutions self-reliant with highly subsidized tertiary education in Nigeria.”

The ASUU chairperson called on the Federal Government to come to a renegotiation table and reconvene a committee to review the agreement reached by ASUU leadership and Prof. Nimi Brigs-led Government committee with the view of adjusting the document according to the current economic realities to have an acceptable salary structure for university lecturers.

She also condemned the indiscriminate proliferation of universities in Nigeria without adequate funding by both the Federal and state governments noting that the 2020 ASUU-FGN Memorandum of Action (MoA) which stressed the need to review the NUC Act to make it more potent in arresting the reckless and excessive establishment of universities be fully implemented.

“We urge the President Tinubu-led administration to refrain from further proliferation of universities and rather consolidate on the already existing ones. What we need are universities that are adequately equipped and empowered to address the challenges confronting Nigeria not glorified schools,” She said.

On the ongoing minimum wage negotiation, the ASUU Calabar Zone urged the FG to immediately deploy the instrumentality of collective bargaining to conclude the social dialogue saying that such would lessen the invasive decline in the socio-economic lives of Nigerians.

She further urged federal, state and local governments to take a critical look at all unworkable policies and programmes sponsored by international money lenders such as the World Bank and IMF to reclaim the country’s sovereignty and restore the confidence of Nigerians.

She, however, advised governments and her agencies to read the Act establishing universities and stop interfering and threatening the autonomy of the universities especially in terms of policy, academic planning and administration even as it advised that suspended members in Ebonyi State University be recalled in obedience to the declarations and orders of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

She added that outstanding salaries of academics in all institutions should be paid without further delay noting that failure to accede to their demands would make them embark on industrial action even as it regretted that it resorted to strike to press home its demands as that was the only language the government understands.

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Tinubu made the call at the second combined 3rd and 4th convocation ceremony of the Federal University Gusau, FUGUS, which was held in Gusau on Saturday.

The president, represented by the Vice-Chancellor of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Prof. Lawal Bilbis, said universities as centres of learning and shaping the critical thinking of people, especially youth, need to take the lead in fighting corruption and other social vices among the teeming generation.

Tinubu said: “This administration had increased budgetary allocation to education, defence, humanitarian and health sectors because of the importance it attaches to them.”

He assured of government’s commitment in bringing the perpetrators of students’ abduction and all other criminals to book.

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Tinubu stated that if left unchecked, it would depreciate the quality of academic programs in the universities and urged labour unions to address the problems.

Represented by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Professor Charles Igwe, the President spoke at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi state, during the University’s 7th and 8th combined convocation.

He said his administration’s concern for industrial harmony and peace in the universities, urging unions to maintain harmony and peace.

Tinubu encouraged unions and labour associations to address poor work ethics and avoid industrial actions that could compromise academic programs.

He justified his decision to remove fuel subsidies, acknowledging short-term hardships but citing the need to address economic problems and absurdities like exporting crude oil only to import refined petroleum products.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Sunday Elom, commended the President for his efforts to reposition the university system through policies like the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Safe School Initiative, and exemption from IPPIS. Two notable Nigerians, Chief Martin Elechi and Chief Innocent Chukwuma, received Honorary Doctorate Degrees during the convocation.

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A Community Development Service (CDS) group of the Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State National Youth Service Corp have encouraged school children to value education as it is of great importance.

The Servicom and Gender CDS Group had on Monday, May 20, 2024 organised a children’s day-themed quiz competition among five schools under Education District VI, Lagos State. The event which took place at Ilupeju Secondary School Hall had in attendance, Ilupeju Junior Secondary School, Ilupeju Junior Grammar School, Oshodi Comprehensive Junior High School, Oduduwa Junior Secondary School and Estate Junior Grammar School.

Speaking at the event which was sponsored by Nestle, Wey Practice and Red Square Network Limited, the CDS group president, Uchenna Emelife, told the children that the Servicom and Gender CDS group are concerned and passionate in promoting service delivery, gender equality, education as well as projects that promotes issues that concern young people.

“We observe that we are in a generation where people are losing interest in the things that matter, education for instance has become sidelined, seen as a second option no longer a first option as it is,” he said.

Uchenna, continued by telling the children that the competition organized by the Servicom and Gender CDS group is to celebrate children’s Day and as well as to emphasise the importance of education.

He said, “Education is at a state of emergency, and if concerned citizens do not step up, our future is endangered. That’s why we have taken it upon ourselves as a CDS group to maximise the platform of the NYSC in championing educational projects like this.”

The NYSC Mushin Local Government Inspector, Mrs Funmilayo Lasaki, in her speech stressed the need for school children to take their education seriously and avoid bad company.

She said, “It is a privilege that you are here. I want you all to take your education seriously. I congratulate you because you are here. I congratulate you because you are in school and I want to beg you all to please don’t join bad gangs.

“Make sure you are focused on your education that is the only way you can encourage your parents to do more for you, make sure you attend classes very well and don’t join cults.” She continued.”

Amongst those present at the events was the Somolu Zonal Inspector, Lagos State NYSC, Mrs Fayinto B. I, Representative of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mrs Ayomidele.

After a keenly contested competition on Mathematics, English Language and General Knowledge, Estate Junior Grammar School emerged the Winner with a total of 70 points, while Ilupeju Junior Secondary School and Oduduwa Junior Secondary School came Second and Third place with 69 and 64 points respectively. Oshodi Comprehensive Junior High School and Ilupeju Junior Grammar School on the other hand, received consolation prizes for coming Fourth and Fifth respectively.

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