NANS protests epileptic power supply in Osun
By Ismail Azeez
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D has staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday to decry the persistent epileptic power supply affecting the region and the country at large.
The demonstrators marched through major areas of Osogbo, including the November 24 Bridge, Ogo-Oluwa, Aregbe, Olaiya, and MDS, before concluding the rally at the office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
Protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as "End Power Failure in the South-West," "Stable Electricity is Our Right," and "No More Darkness in Our Campuses."
Comrade Josiah Adeyemo, Coordinator of NANS Southwest Zone D, stated that the worsening electricity situation has become unbearable for students.
He noted that despite previous press conferences raising concerns about the impact of outages on academic and social activities, no tangible improvements have been recorded.
"You cannot expect our students to thrive in darkness. Electricity is a basic need for successful academic activity. We have decided to take to the streets to let the world know we are agitating for the whole of society. While we are not anti-government, we plead with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to look into this matter. This is just a preamble; if our concerns are not addressed, we will be forced to organize a more massive protest," Adeyemo said.
Adding to the call for action, the South-West Coordinator of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Comrade Ogunsola Adewale, urged the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to address the crisis urgently.
He highlighted that the lack of lighting has led to increased instances of theft on campuses, resulting in students losing valuable property.
In response, the management of IBEDC issued a statement apologizing for the service interruptions.
The company attributed the disruptions to gas supply limitations affecting the National Grid, which have necessitated load shedding across its franchise areas.
IBEDC further assured customers that it is engaging with industry stakeholders to improve supply.
AbdulRazaq distributes multi-million naira school materials
By Muyideen Aliyu, Ilorin
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has flagged off the distribution of over 6,000 school items, including instructional materials, furniture, and sports equipment, as part of the Renewed Hope agenda for schools across the state.
The multi-million naira distribution includes English and Mathematics textbooks, exercise books, plastic chairs and tables for primary and junior secondary schools, and digital tablets for three e-learning centers. Additionally, 320 mosquito nets were provided for boarding students at Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin, alongside agricultural tools and other essential learning resources.
Speaking at the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) headquarters, Governor AbdulRazaq, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Mamman Saba Jibril, urged teachers, parents, and pupils to make effective use of the materials.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to heavy investment in the education sector.
Dr. Aisha Garba, Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), commended the Governor for his consistent provision of counterpart funding.
Represented by her Special Assistant, Ibrahim Gold, she noted that the Governor's effective utilization of UBEC matching grants has led to improved learning participation and stronger educational foundations in the state.
The State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, emphasized that the intervention aims to ensure equity.
"This is about ensuring the same opportunities given to children in Ilorin West are available to those in Baruten, Kaiama, and Oke-Ero. When a child has the right tools, learning becomes meaningful and outcomes improve," he stated.
Prof. Shehu Adaramaja, Chairman of Kwara SUBEB, noted that the materials were procured by UBEC under its Direct Intervention Programme in collaboration with the state government.
He emphasized that the items were carefully selected to support academic excellence, digital literacy, and the general welfare of learners within the basic education system.