Education
“Enough is enough,” Buhari tells striking varsity teachers
“Enough is enough,” Buhari tells striking varsity teachers
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday called on ASUU members to reconsider their position on the ongoing strike, saying “enough is enough.’’
The union began the strike on Feb. 14.
The president expressed worry that the strike would have generational consequences on families, the educational system and the future development of the country.
Malam Garba Shehu, his media aide, stated that Buhari made the call when he received some governors, legislators and political leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at his residence in Daura, Katsina State.
The visitors were in Daura to pay Sallah homage to the president.
Buhari noted that the strike had already taken a toll on the psychology of parents, students and other stakeholders, throwing up many moral issues begging for attention.
He noted also that Nigeria’s future rested on the quality of education.
He assured also that the government understood the union’s position, but that negotiation should continue with students in lecture halls.
“We hope that ASUU will sympathise with the people on the prolonged strike. Truly, enough is enough for keeping students at home. Don’t hurt the next generation for goodness sake,’’ he said.
The president called on all well-meaning Nigerians, particularly those close to ASUU leaders and members to persuade the lecturers to reconsider their position and its effect on an entire generation and the nation.
According to Buhari, Nigerian students will be faced with the challenge of competing with others in technology-driven workspaces.
Keeping them at home, he argued, only deprived them of time, skill and opportunities to be relevant on the global stage.
“Colonial type education was geared towards producing workers in government. Those jobs are no longer there.
“Our young people should get an education to prepare them for self-employment. Now education is for the sake of education.
“Through technology, we are much more efficient. We should encourage our children to get an education not only to look for government jobs,’’ he stressed.
Buhari said resources should be channelled more into building infrastructure and operations of the health and educational sectors, not to expand the bureaucracy to create job opportunities.
“By this time next year, I would have made the most out of the two terms, and in the remaining months I will do my best,’’ the President assured.
He urged those in political positions and places of privilege to be mindful in helping the many Nigerians that were looking for opportunities.
“If you are greedy, you won’t look around to see what is happening with those who are less-endowed,’’ Buhari noted.
The president told his guests that he had not been to his house in Daura for close to a year because of the demands of the office.
“The observation that I abandoned my base was made by the Emir of Daura, Dr Faruk Umar Faruk, at the Eid prayer ground.
“He held the microphone and told everyone that the last time I was in Daura was during the Eid-el-Kabir of 2021,’’ he mused.
President Buhari said he would retire to Daura and not Kaduna, where he has a better house.
“In 10 to 11 months; time, I will come here (Daura). I have a better house in Kaduna, but it is too close to Abuja,’’ he said.
The president explained that his work schedule was so heavy that he sympathised with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, who had to be away from his family most of the time.
He urged the APC stalwarts to keep working for the good of the people and that of the country.
“ We are lucky people. We need to reflect more on where we are coming from,’’ h said.
The president said relative to the resources available, and compared to the preceding administration, the government had done well in many areas, particularly in infrastructure.
“I wish the person who is coming after me the very best,” he said.
On security, the president said the Northwest had posed more challenges, while some success had been recorded in other regions; the Northeast and South-South.
Buhari also admonished agitators in the South-South to stop vandalising national assets, an action which, he said, also affected their livelihoods.
“I am eager to go. I can tell you it has been tough. I am grateful to God that people appreciate the personal sacrifices we have been making,’’ he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Kebbi’s Gov. Abubakar Bagudu, thanked the president for his leadership role in improving the nation’s economy and the many successes recorded by the APC.
According to him, such successes include two conventions to produce the party leadership and the presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We will work hard to ensure the success of our party. We have reasons to work very hard,’’ he stressed.
He noted that favourable weather conditions supported the vision of ensuring food production and making agriculture a priority with clear results in rice pyramids in various states.
“In spite of attacks by renegades, our country remains self-sufficient in food production. We have seen investments that were not there before you (Buhari) came into power.
“Not less than 20 states now have agriculture processing zones. We have rice pyramids in Ekiti, Gombe and Niger state, while maize pyramids were revived in Katsina and Kano states,’’ he said.
He added that more than 54 rice meals were inaugurated in various states, and 57 fertiliser plants were revived or built afresh.
“All these were achieved because of your commitment and patriotism,’’ the governor told Buhari.
Bagudu also appreciated the president for providing ease of access to governors and political leaders, noting that the opening of the National Economic Council for a more fluid exchange of ideas greatly helped in improving the economy.
APC governors at the lunch were Aminu Masari of Katsina State; Malam Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Hope Uzodinma of Imo, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa and Abubakar Bello of Niger.
Others were Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Simon Lalong of Plateau and Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi.
“Enough is enough,” Buhari tells striking varsity teachers
Borno State Scholarship Board Defends 2025 Budget Before State Assembly Committee
By: Our Reporter
This morning, the Borno State Scholarship Board, led by its Executive Secretary, Malam Bala Isa, appeared before the Borno State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation to defend its 2025 budget proposal.
The budget defense session was chaired by the Committee Chairman, Engr. Mohammed Gambomi Marte, representing Marte Constituency, with support from other committee members, including Hon. Mohammed Kawajjafa, representing Hawul Constituency.
During the session, the Scholarship Board outlined its proposed budgetary allocations and key initiatives aimed at improving access to education for Borno State students. The discussions emphasized the importance of continued scholarship programs to enhance educational opportunities and human capital development across the state.
Borno State Scholarship Board Defends 2025 Budget Before State Assembly Committee
THREE NEW PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF BOSU RESUME OFFICE
By: Our Reporter
Three newly appointed Principal officers of the Borno State University, have been presented with their letters of appointment.
The presentation which was performed by Professor Emeritus Abubakar Mustapha on behalf of the Pro – Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Alh. Dr. Muhammadu Indimi follows approval of their appointment by Visitor to the University and Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum on recommendation of the University’s Council.
Those appointed are Hajiya Jallaba Musa Sheikh as Registrar, Malam Kyari Dunoma Dunoma as Bursar and Dr Hamsatu Kadala Ali as the University Librarian.
Their appointment is for a period of five years with effect from 16th December 2024.
The new Registrar Hajiya Jallaba M. Sheikh is an indigene of Maiduguri Metropolis. Until her appointment she is the Director and Head, Admissions office, University of Maiduguri.
The new Bursar, Kyari Dunoma Dunoma, hails from Manguno Local Government of Borno State. Until his present appointment, he was a Deputy Bursar at University of Maiduguri.
The new University Librarian, Dr Hamsatu kadala Ali on the other hand, hails from Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State. She was acting Librarian Federal University Gashua for five years. Until her present appointment she was the Head of Department Library and Information Science, Federal University Gashua.
In their separate remarks both Prof. Emeritus Abubakar Mustapha and the Vice-Chancellor BOSU, Prof. Babagana Gutti, congratulated the new appointees and urged them contribute their quota in the progress and development of the University.
The outgoing Registrar, Zanna Mustapha Kashim commended all that sat for the interview as they have all done well and urged the new appointees to help management build a verile University.
The new appointees in their separate acceptance remarks pledged to put in their best to move the University forward.
THREE NEW PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF BOSU RESUME OFFICE
Education
2 DIVISION COMMAND SECONDARY SCHOOLS HOLD QUIZ, DEBATE COMPETITION 2024/2025 ACADEMIC SESSION
2 DIVISION COMMAND SECONDARY SCHOOLS HOLD QUIZ, DEBATE COMPETITION 2024/2025 ACADEMIC SESSION
By: Polycarp Okoye
Headquarters (HQ), 2 Division Nigerian Army (NA), organised quiz and debate competition for Command Secondary Schools within 2 Division Area of Responsibility (AOR) for 2024/2025 academic session. The event was held at the Division’s Auditorium from, Monday 18 – Thursday 21 November, 2024. It afforded participating schools and students the opportunity to compete amongst themselves, featuring varied questions from different academic fields, including Information Communication Technology (ICT), current affairs and general Knowledge.
While declaring the one week event open, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division Nigerian Army (NA), Major General Obinna Onubogu, noted that exposing students to quiz and debate competitions amidst their academic activities, remains a major driving factor that challenges their thinking mechanism, while redoubling developmental processes with appropriate and effective career prospects for achieving desired result. He said that, quizzes and debates, are empirically proven to reinvigorate continuous and effective education system that give students a break from the normal traditional classroom learning, and prepare them to excell in practical and realistic circumstances. He added that the academic competitions would serve as strong interactive and motivational platform for students to imbibe team spirit, acquire knowledge, and embolden their speech and communication skills.
General Onubogu, further said, that the competition was aimed at exposing students to critical thinking, and make them appreciate the importance of extensive research for improved innovation and intelligence. “This event, is therefore another forum through which schools can expand their students’ frontier of knowledge; making them even famous amongst their peers”, he said. He implored all students to utilise the opportunity to develope themselves, and as well earn glory to their respective schools and families.
The GOC, expressed deep appreciation to the Acting Chief of Army Staff (Ag COAS) Lieutenant General Olufemi Oloyede, for his unwavering support towards the competition; while applauding the Director, 2 Division Education Services (DDES), Colonel AO Sofoluwe, as well as teachers and organisers of the event for their priceless contributions to human capacity development. He
urged the panel of judges to be fair and firm in order to ensure a balanced, honest and realistic result.
The participating students at the competition, represented Command Secondary Schools (CDSS) Odogbo, Mokola, Akure and Ijebu – Ode. Others were, CDSS Ede, Esan – Ekiti, Saki, and Ibadan. Students in the senior category, competed in English language, Mathematics, Phisics, Chemistry, Biology, General paper, and current affairs; while those in the junior category, slogged it out in English language, Mathematics, Basic Science, Basic Technology, Agricultural Science, General knowledge, and current affairs. After three days of intense intellectual battle, winners in the different categories emerged.
For the junior category, CDSS Akure and Ijebu – Ode came 3rd and 2nd runner ups with 139.95 and 141.1 points respectively; while CDSS Ede came first with 143.65 points. In the senior category, CDSS Mokola and Odogbo finished 3rd and 2nd positions, with 73.61 and 73.70 percentages respectively; while CDSS Saki, took the day with 77.50 percent. Winners in the two categories were duly rewarded with appropriate trophies, awards, and cash prices to motivate them, and increase commitment for improved future performances. Their teachers and organisers equally received cash gifts as appreciation for the efforts they invest in training the children.
The DDES, who delivered vote of thanks, appreciated God for sustaining the committee in its various engagements towards preparing for the event. He further thanked the GOC for his unwavering support; saying the competition was inspired by his (GOC’s) burning interest to ensure that NA schools across 2 Division AOR, and beyond, are well positioned to meet up global standards. Colonel Sofoluwe, also appreciated the Schools Commandants, organising committee members, panel of judges, and teachers for their contributions towards the success of the event. Principal Staff Officers, Units and Formations Commanders, as well as Officers and Soldiers of the Division’s HQ witnessed the competition.
2 DIVISION COMMAND SECONDARY SCHOOLS HOLD QUIZ, DEBATE COMPETITION 2024/2025 ACADEMIC SESSION
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