News

We’re impressed with Kwara’s use of UBEC grant — House of Reps

Published

2 years ago

September 14, 2022

…Says AbdulRazaq a focused Governor

…Recommends Kwara for award of quality delivery

Kwara State again came up for national applause on Tuesday as the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Basic Education and Services commended the state for efficient use of basic education grants and the state government’s determination to improve standard of education.

The commendation came barely one month after UBEC itself said Kwara now stands out for excellent utilisation of the grants — a feat the body observed is a clear departure from its horrible experience with Kwara State in the past when the grants were diverted, resulting in official blacklist of the state for at least seven years (2013-2019).

The committee specifically applauded Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for quality service delivery seen in the management of the Universal Basic Education Commission matching grants, saying the state deserves a pat on the back for the quality of the schools and other facilities funded from the money so far accessed.

“What we have seen so far in Kwara is of high quality and satisfactory. There is evidence of focus and commitment, and a clear interest in promoting basic education and empowering our children to survive in an increasingly complex technology driven global system,” Chairman of the committee Prof. Julius Ihonvbere told reporters on Tuesday in Ilorin.

Flanked by other members of the ad-hoc committee, Ihonvbere was speaking as the committee wrapped its two-day oversight visit to Kwara State to inspect the completed and ongoing UBEC-SUBEB projects.

“I think the best way to appreciate what is going on is to have the proper understanding of how it used to be, and we’ve seen a lot in Kwara,” he added.

“It is not always that we find a leadership (like AbdulRazaq) that understands basic education and its value to national growth and development. If the basics – the foundation – is contaminated and corrupted, what it produces can never promote peace, stability, growth and development anywhere in the world, that is why basic education is very critical.”

Some of the schools the committee visited included Ogele LGEA Primary School, Ogele and Otte LGEA Primary School Otte-Oja (both in Asa Local Government area); Sheikh Alimi Junior Secondary School (Ilorin West); Amoyo Junior Secondary School (Ifelodun); Gaa-Akanbi Junior Secondary School (Ilorin South); Shao LGEA Primary School, Shao (Moro); and Adeta UBEC Model Smart School in Ilorin West local government of the State.

Ihonvbere said his committee members were just as impressed as he was about how the projects have been greatly executed in Kwara State, adding that the committee will officially communicate their judgment of the assessment to the Governor and other appropriate quarters as part of its oversight functions.

“As an academic and the Chairman of this committee, and I am sure my members share the same sentiment, we are very pleased and happy with the programmes of Kwara State. There are states that have collected matching grants from UBEC and have not deployed them to basic education. A few (of the states) have jettisoned the action plans of UBEC; they are doing something else with the money. Some have done wishy-washy works. With time, this Committee will release a list of our observations in various states,” he said.

“Without education you cannot go anywhere. It is not rocket science. And I think Kwara State seems determined to change the narratives. We are pleased about it.”

He said no efforts will be spared to sanction the states found to have diverted the UBEC grants, including taking steps to retrieve some abandoned facilities the Commission allocated to some defaulting state governments.

“There are penalties for states where UBEC allocated critical infrastructure to some state governments but were abandoned. We are amending the UBEC Act so that UBEC can retrieve such facilities and put them to public use,” Ihonvbere added.

“Secondly, we are looking at ways to compel compliance with the law of the land; a situation whereby states that have not accessed the marching grant or have accessed it but used it wrongly will face some penalties.”

He also hinted that state governments that comply with UBEC’s action plans will be rewarded with more support to serve as an encouragement to do more.

“At the level of the committee, the National Assembly and the UBEC, states that utilised UBEC grants perfectly like Kwara will get additional support as a reward, so that it will encourage them to do more,” Ihonvbere added.

“I would like to advise state governments to take basic education seriously in their own interest. Bulletproof cars, dogs and barbed wire cannot save them from the anger of uneducated, abused and marginalised children in the consequences.”

He commended the management of the State Universal Basic Education Board and their Chairman, Prof Sheu Raheem Adaramaja for proper monitoring and their insistence on delivery of quality jobs by contractors.

Other members of the National Assembly Ad-hoc Committee on the oversight visit were: Hon. Mayowa Akinfolarin; Hon. Bashir Dawudu; Hon. Oluyemi Taiwo; Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe; Hon. Cook Ganiyu Olododo; Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga; Hon. Usman Abdullahi; Hon. Peter Owolasi; and Hon. Bukola Oyewo.

UBEC was represented during the tour by Dr. Jimmy Equensen and Engr. Yissa Yakubu.

Chairman Kwara SUBEB, Professor Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, said the school projects cover renovation, construction, and comprehensive remodelling of various structures across at least 605 public schools in the State, including provision of furniture, public toilets, and water facilities.

He said the turnaround of the education sector under Governor AbdulRazaq has led to increase in students’ enrolment, decrying how hundreds of classrooms were left dilapidated under the previous administrations.

“In terms of renovation, we have renovated 605 schools as contained in our action plan. The project consists of construction and comprehensive remodelling of classrooms, and provision of furniture for teachers and students,” Adaramaja said.

“The situation before was so pathetic that nobody wanted to put their children in public schools. But the story is different now. Enrolment of pupils into government owned schools has now increased.”

Adaramaja, who conducted the team round the places of their choice, described the Governor as the wisest leader for paying the N7.1billion UBEC counterpart fund to access another N7.1bn with which the government is now fixing public schools.

PTA Chairman for Amoyo Junior Secondary School, Prince Adeyemi Garba, appreciated the government for the work done and how the Amoyo community is given a sense of belonging.

“We have to thank the authorities for remembering Amoyo town. I have now discovered that not only does every child counts in the State’s education policy, but every community also counts, and we are grateful,” he added.

Chairman, School Based Management Committee (SBMC) for Shao LGEA school, Elder Adigun Abel, said the choice of Shao primary school for the UBEC’s renovation project was appropriate, given that the whole Shao has no other community school for basic classes.

Adigun lauded the vision of the government in turning around the education sector in Kwara and renovating school structures in their community.

News

Oba Adetona College of Governance to be affiliated to NIPSS – Abiodun

Published

27 mins ago

May 5, 2024

NewsDirect

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed that efforts are in top gear to affiliate the Oba Sikiru Adetona College of Governance with the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, for the training of high ranking government officials.

The governor made this known at the 90th birthday and 64th coronation anniversary thanksgiving of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, held at the Cathedral Church of Our Saviour, Ita-Olowajoda-Ijasi, Ijebu-Ode on Sunday.

He said Permanent Secretaries from the state would be the first to enrol to enable them benefit from the college, which is the brain child of the Awujale.

Prince Abiodun also said that he sought and got the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to grant the College the full status of the campus of the NIPSS.

“I told Kabiyesi this morning that our Permanent Secretaries will be the first set of students at that Oba Sikiru Adetona College of Governance, and they will be the first set to benefit from the Awujale’s initiative

“I have further made a case to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow Baba’s school of Governance to become a campus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, a request that Mr President has graciously approved,” he stated.

Abiodun described Oba Adetona as a living legend and a phenomenon whose reign has been a monumental success and a pride to the entire Ijebuland and the state at large.

According to the governor, the monarch represents the beauty and the candour of the ancestral heritage of the Ijebu people, emphasizing that his passion for governance and accessible commitment to education led him to institute the Oba Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance in the Department of Political Science of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

“This initiative has led and given birth to the establishment of the world class Oba Sikiru Adetona School of Governance, the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“He championed the Ijebu Development Board on poverty eradication that has become a model in the entire country,” Abiodun submitted.

In his sermon titled; “Serve the Lord with Gladness,” Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Reverend Dr. Ephraim Adebola Ademowo said God’s purpose for man was to serve Him unconditionally, noting that no man serves God faithfully without rewards.

Taking his text from Psalms 100 verse 2, the Most Reverend Ademowo regretted however that though God put people in places of authority to serve, most Nigerians do not see themselves as servants once they assume leadership positions, calling for a change of heart to move the nation forward.

He called for national rebirth beginning from the family, saying this would reposition the country and bring back its lost glory.

The cleric described Oba Adetona as a unifier, a monarchical colossus and “a Solomon of our time,” who used the palace to unite all Ijebu sons and daughters irrespective of their political or religious linage.

The Awujale, the Most Reverend Ademowo noted, is a mentor, enabler, whose life is full of monumental achievements in his 64 years on the throne, saying he has touched many lives through endowment programmes.

News

Tanker explosion: Delta police begin probe, condole community

Published

35 mins ago

May 5, 2024

NewsDirect

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Olufemi Abaniwonda has led an investigating team to the site of Friday’s fuel-laden tanker explosion which led to the death of no fewer than seven people at the Ometan community junction, along the Warri-Sapele road in Okpe Local Government Area of the state.

The tanker fire incident ruined property worth millions of naira.

The team, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), DCP Aina Adesola, the investigating team stormed the accident scene on Saturday.

It took some eyewitness accounts of the tragic occurrence, especially from traders and artisans who operated along the highway.

The team also engaged some community leaders in discussions to have first-hand information on the extent of damage caused by the fire.

The police team commiserated with the victims of the explosion, particularly the families of the deceased and the entire community “for the lives and property that were lost during the incident.”

Adesola later addressed journalists, saying that the team’s visitation was based on the directive of the CP Abaniwonda “to ascertain the actual cause of the accident, and how the tanker explosion and its devastating consequences occurred.”

He said, “My boss – CP Abaniwonda, expressed his sincere sympathy with the families who lost their loved ones in this tragic incident and prayed to God to console each and everyone of them at a time like this.

“Just as we also pray that God replenishes those who lost their property in this unfortunate occurrence.”

In the visiting team with DCP Aina were some political aides to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, including the Director-General of the Warri-Uvwie Environs Special Area Development Agency, Godwin Ejiyeren; the Senior Special Assistant on Community Development, Anthony Ofoni, among others.

News

NSA, FAAN to cut security checks at airports

Published

3 hours ago

May 5, 2024

NewsDirect

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has said it has concluded plans with the Office of the National Security Adviser to reduce the number of security checkpoints where personnel physically come in contact with both passengers and their baggage at the nation’s airports.

Travelers have continued to complain of delays in their movement while traveling through Nigerian airports over multiple physical security checks.

Speaking with newsmen the on Saturday in Lagos, the Managing Director of FAAN, Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, stated that the agency and the office of the NSA have agreed to carry out short and long-term measures to address the issue including the creation of a joint coordination room where all the agencies can view CCTV cameras to ascertain what they are looking for.

Kuku described the development as disturbing but affirmed that the issue was the first thing she inquired about upon assumption of office, adding that she sat down with the National Security Adviser, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, to discuss how to streamline the facilitation processes.

The FAAN MD said, “On the issues of the checking of baggage, it borders me so much, and that was the first inquiry that I made when I assumed office. As far back as 2011 and 2012, when I was in the industry, I have worked on this with the former minister.

“It goes beyond FAAN, a lot of those agencies, Customs, NDLEA, Quarantine, Agriculture, we now have EFCC, we have almost everybody at the airports, we had Executive order 001 during the Buhari administration to move them out under the then Vice President office, now we have the National Single Window, I have personally sat with the NSA over the last five weeks to have conversations with him as to how we will streamline the facilitation.”

Hinting at her resolutions with the security agencies, Kuku noted, “We have agreed on a few things, the first one is a short-term intervention where we reduce the number of agencies at the airports because we have some that were doing just sort of routine checks, just moving around to observe rather than disturbing passengers.

“The second is the longer term, a joint coordination room, we do have cameras, so we are asking all of those agencies, depending on what it is they are looking for to move to the joint coordination room to look at the cameras and observe and for those that are more concerned with the baggage, they can move down to where we load the bags, that way they have better visibility than disturbing passengers.”

However, she explained that the opening of passengers’ baggage was for a reason adding that “I believe that came about a couple of years ago, a lot of countries had issues with scanning devices that were coming from certain countries, and as such they require secondary screening. You will see that some of the airlines have companies doing secondary screening on their behalf, but a lot of passengers will think that it is FAAN because we are the face of the agency and the airports.”