News
2024 UTME: Mixed experiences in Lagos CBT centres
The first day of the examination in Lagos report that technical hitches occurred at the Wisdom House, Yaya Abatan, Ogba, one of the Computer-Based Test centres, early in the day.
Some candidates claimed that the hitches led to some of them being logged out before the expected time.
One of the affected candidates, who gave her name as Precious, said she was scheduled for the first session.
She said that she got to the centre at 6:30 am, did her biometrics and went in for the examination.
According to her, a few minutes after commencement of the examination, there was power outage that led to the shut down of all the systems in the hall.
She said that it took about 45 minutes for the centre operators to rectify the challenge and even when they did, many of them could no longer log in.
“A lot of time was again spent by the centre owners battling to get the challenge resolved and eventually when they did, most of us could barely do only two subjects, while others could not attempt any before we were finally logged out, signaling the end of examination for the first session,” she said.
Confirming the issue, supervisor of the centre, Mrs Aisha Abdulbaqi, said no fewer than 50 candidates were affected by the development.
She cited land cable of the centre and the systems as the main issues.
“We are thinking of what to do about these candidates who are affected. I guess the only way out will be rescheduling them,” she said.
The centre administrator, who did not want his name in print, said the entire development came up abruptly.
He said that before now, the systems and all other backups had been in top shape.
“It was just a technical glitch, and when it occurred, we immediately rallied round to fix it and everything started working again”, he said.
NAN reports that the second session for the day that was supposed to begin by 9.00 a.m was postponed to 4.00p.m. in the same centre, because of another technical hitch.
“The examination for the second set has now been also postponed, because the technical officers from JAMB have been battling to push the examination to no avail.
“This is no longer a fault from the centre, rather a hitch from the side of owners of the examination.
“The candidates for the second and final session will have to wait and get another biometric verification done before the time,” the centre administrator told NAN.
At the Al-Miyzan CBT centre, Ikotun-Idimu, the same issue was also recorded, as candidates scheduled for the 7.00 a.m. examination were affected by technical hitches on the system.
The centre administrator told NAN that a complaint had been lodged at JAMB, to see how the issue could be resolved.
They noted that candidates affected would be sent emails of when they they might likely be rescheduled for the examination.
Mrs Ajike Ajibola, a business woman, whose daughter was posted to the centre, said that they left their home early so they could meet up with the 7.00 a.m examination.
“But my daughter told me she could not do any examination on entering the hall, because the system was not coming up.
“This is the second time of bringing my children to this center, it is always this same issue.
“JAMB officials must be aware of this situation and address it immediately, because my daughter must write her examination,”she said.
“Another parent, Mr Adeniyi Adesonkan, who said his son was affected, described the development as disappointing.
He said that the failure of technology during such critical events in the country was worrisome.
“My son had prepared rigorously for this examination but with this situation, he won’t be happy.
“JAMB officials should always monitor and supervise these centres before accrediting them,” he said.
Meanwhile, the examination began as scheduled in other centres visited, with record of few candidates coming in behind time and some others absent.
News
Application deadline for management of Nigeria’s $10bn Diaspora Fund extended
The Nigerian federal government has shifted the application deadline for companies interested in managing the $10 billion Diaspora Fund.
Minister of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, disclosed this in a circular on Thursday in Abuja.
Accordingly, the deadline for May 6 has been shifted to May 13, 2024.
The minister urged prospective applicants to utilise the extra time to complete their submissions, ensuring they are thorough and competitive.
She stressed that the extension is designed to allow stakeholders additional time to adequately prepare their applications following the guidelines established for the fund.
“The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment wishes to inform all interested parties that the deadline for the submission of Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Nigeria Diaspora Fund has been extended.
“The new submission deadline is May 13, 2024. This extension is intended to accommodate stakeholders who require more time to prepare their applications by the guidelines provided for the $10 billion Nigeria Diaspora Fund,” she stated.
News
Sanwo-Olu, NESG harp on PPP for economic growth
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has emphasised the role of public-private sector partnerships in driving accelerated sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.
He made the remark at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) Public Lecture and Founders’ Forum held at the Lagos Business School on Thursday.
The event, which marked the official launch of the 30th anniversary of the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) has the theme: “In the National Interest: Reflecting on the Past, Reimagining the Future.”
Sanwo-Olu said it was imperative that the public sector improved on its synergy with various actors pursuing a collective agenda of service for the citizens.
The governor highlighted the significant role the NESG plays in bringing together public and private sector leaders in the country in an ongoing dialogue to shape, influence and create a thriving competitive and successful economy.
“We’re not where we should be and we must continue to set goals to inspire ourselves to do better as a nation
“We may not always achieve our targets for our vision timelines, but that should not be an excuse for not trying,” he said.
He commended the NESG for its various interventions such as the flagship annual summit, roundtable and sectorial policy commissions, technical support work and policy innovation centre.
He, however, urged NESG to explore ways of deepening linkage between policy work and public consciousness that allows engagement with the citizenry.
Delivering the lecture, Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, Managing Partner, Compliance Professionals PLC, said that while there had been significant economic changes, more needed to be done to ensure accelerated economic growth.
Omoigui-Okauru said that there was need to build inclusive policies that reflect the realities of the nation rather than imposing replicas of other countries.
“In 30 years, we may have made some progress, but we can’t say we have radically transformed Nigeria.
“As we reflect on the NESG, there’s still a lot to be done in bridging the rural-urban divide and have an inclusive agenda.
“We see our journey as work in progress. We need to determine the parameters that would drive our success and put policies in place to move us in the direction where we need to be.
“It is important for us to move away from self interest, think of ways to use technology and other frameworks to collectively achieve the Nigeria of our dreams,” she said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Mr Niyi Yusuf, Chairman, NESG, said the 30th Summit reaffirmed the essentiality of public-private partnerships in tackling complex economic realities.
Yusuf, however, said that the journey to embracing market mechanisms has not been without its challenges.
He reiterated unwavering commitment in driving reforms through rigorous research, economic and social programmes, and inclusive summits, all aimed at shaping the socio-economic development of our nation.
“Thirty years ago, at a critical juncture in our nation’s history, the NES was born out of a necessity when the winds of economic challenges blew fiercely, necessitating a platform for robust public-private dialogue.
“Since our inaugural summit in 1993, the NES has been a progressive economic discourse rooted deeply in collaborative efforts between government leaders and private sector visionaries.
“Each Summit has crafted policies and strategies essential for removing barriers to competitiveness, growth, and inclusive development.
“Therefore, in commemorating this 30th anniversary, it is essential to assess and discuss the role of this public-private dialogue platform in Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape to provide us insights for future engagements,” he said.
The chairman assured collaborative efforts with the three arms of federal and subnational governments and private sector communities to propel Nigeria towards a more resilient, inclusive and prosperous future.
Dr Pascal Dozie, Chairman, NESG Advisory Board, listed political, economic, education and environment sectors as pathways to reimagining Nigeria’s future
Dozie, also pioneer Chairman of NESG Board of Directors, was represented by Mr Frank Aigbogun, Chief Executive Officer of BusinessDay.
He charged NESG to adopt new strategies in providing collaborative leadership in seeking answers to the following crucial questions.
“How do we strengthen democratic institutions and rule of law, foster culture of inclusiveness and representation?
“How do we promote transparency and accountability in governance and inculcate the culture of consequences for bad behaviour in every sphere of life?
“In economic reimagining, how do we diversify Nigeria’s economy, reduce dependence on oil, foster a business friendly environment and develop the much needed infrastructure base in a coordinated nationwide approach?
“How do we repurpose the educational system to focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, encourage technology entrepreneurship and innovation and address unemployment?
“For the environment, how can we develop sustainable agriculture and food security, promote sustainable practices, renewable energy and eco tourism?
“It is imperative that the NESG community leads from the front in not only providing actionable answers to these questions but also making sacrifices to ensure they are implemented,” he said.
Similarly, Chief Executive Officer of NESG, Dr Tayo Aduloju, said that strong institutions, political will, accountability by all stakeholders and the willingness for the government to allow private sector to drive growth were factors needed for a successful economic development.
“The challenge for us today is how to drive the country forward over the next 30 years in a way that is not just growth but growth that creates jobs and opportunities for everyone and no one is left behind.
“We are dealing with a country that is going through macro-economic volatility and instability.
“So, the lessons here at the forum are deep reflections of what should change in our approach, a stronger priority on execution, a deeper commitment on accountability of government systems to deliver and how economic barometers impact the ordinary man on the street.
“Our resilience to hold government accountable, to keep insisting that there must be an economy that works for all Nigerians, rule of law, an environment in which free enterprise is practiced, is what we must continue to fight for,” he added.
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