File photo: Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo speaks at an event.
The Vice President of Nigeria Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is advocating for the design and development of suitable curriculum assessments and monitoring systems that will focus on improving the quality of education during and post-COVID-19 pandemic, adding that this requires urgent steps.
The Vice President stated this in Abuja on Tuesday at the 2020 Annual Education Conference.
The Vice president, represented by Minister of State for Education, Mr. Chukuemeka Nwajuiba, stated that the adaption of the curriculum was necessary to facilitate learning in hybrid schooling situations in view of the unexpected disruptions of education system by COVID-19 pandemic.
He said the possibilities of designing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics curricula such that they can be taught virtually should be worked out by appropriate government offices and stakeholders.
“The theme of this conference is a true reflection of an unusual global challenge faced by education in recent days.
“The emergence of Coronavirus pandemic has no doubt adversely affected the education sector and the economy at national and global levels.
“Let me point out that to cushion the effects of the pandemic, the world is embracing technological innovations. Virtual interactions have increasingly replaced face-to-face engagement and limit the total disruptions to many sectors,” he said.
Also at the event, the Minister of Education Malam Adamu Adamu reiterated the commitment of the ministry for continued deployment of technologies and the internet in education to ensure that online education became an integral component of school education.
The conference was organised by national and international partners in the education sector, and has the theme “Building an Effective, Resilient and Sustainable Education System for Nigeria’s during and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic: The Way Forward”.
Following alleged withdrawal of policemen, commercial banks in Ikere-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ikere Local Government Area of Ekiti State shut-down on Tuesday.
According to report by Rasaq Ibrahim of The Nation, who visited the second largest community in the state, the financial institutions in the town as well as Point of Sale (POS) outlets were under lock and key due to fear of being attacked because of the alleged absence of policemen.
The absence of policemen in the community is the aftermath of the recent EndSARS protest which was highjacked by hoodlums who took advantage to perpetuate their sinister motives.
It was learnt that the burning of two policemen and destruction of the Area Command in the unrest led to the absence of officers in the town since they had no station to operate.
“The town was said to have suffered the most grievous attacks and destructions during the last EndSARS protests: structures and property estimated at millions of naira were either burnt or vandalised.
“At the end of the attacks, the Area Command and divisional police stations in the town were attacked and vehicles as well as other vital items on the premises were either damaged or burnt”, The Nation’s Rasaq Ibrahim gathered.
According to report, banks in the town did not open for operation yesterday, Tuesday, due to alleged withdrawal of policemen.
The situation, as it was learnt, consequently forced many customers who wanted to transact business to travel kilometres to Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, to access banking services.
in their reaction to the bank shut-down in Ikere-Ekiti, “some bank customers, particularly those who wanted to deposit money, withdraw money and transact other businesses, expressed disappointment over the development.”
They added that it had affected their businesses negatively.
A bank official, who spoke in confidence with The Nation, disclosed that the development was as the result of alleged absence of policemen in the community.
Entrance to the prestigious University of Lagos (UNILAG) in Nigeria's commercial nerve centre. Photo: LAGSCHOOL
Suspended Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, may return to his seat own Wednesday.
This is according to The Guardian’s Iyabo Lawal who reported that the return of Pro. Oluwatoyin to the position of UNILAG VC followed the recommendation of the panel set up by the Federal Government to investigate allegations of abuse of office and financial recklessness levelled against him by the Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) led Governing Council.
A source confirmed to The Guardian on the condition of anonymity that Prof. Ogundipe has been exonerated from the charges of corruption and recklessness levelled against him and will return as Vice Chancellor of UNILAG.
Prof. Ogundipe who had been in loggerheads with the now resigned Chairman of Governing Council, Dr. Babalakin challenged his removal and refused to vacate office.
Echotitbits had previously reported that the Babalakin-led council named an acting vice-chancellor to take over from Ogundipe pending when a substantive VC would be appointed.
“But following protests from the university community, particularly the Senate and the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Federal Government constituted an emergency visitation panel to look into the crisis and come up with recommendations.
“While the panel was yet to submit its report, Babalakin resigned his chairmanship of the council, faulting the composition of the panel, saying he had no confidence in them”, Iyabo Lawal of The Guardian stated.
From online activism to physical protests, Sam Adeyemi, Aisha Yesufu and Burna Boy were active voices in the calls for an end to police brutality in Nigeria
A human rights activist, Mr Kenechukwu Okeke, has filed a criminal complaint Against 50 persons including musicians Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Davido and the Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Sam Adeyemi for their roles in the #EndSARS protests that took place nationwide in October.
Okeke sued them before a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja on Tuesday, Channels TV reported.
In the suit brought before the court, he is asking that the defendants who promoted the protests be brought to justice for allegedly destroying his properties.
Other defendants listed in the suit are musician, Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz and social media comedians, Debo Adebayo fondly addressed as Mr Macaroni and Maryam Akpaokagi also known as Taoma.
Others include Peter and Paul Okoye, Innocent Idibia, also known as TuFace, Bankole Wellington popularly known as Banky W, Tiwa Savage, Michael Ajereh (Don Jazzy) and Yemi Alade.
Human rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, former Super Eagles Star, Kanu Nwankwo, a former Director-General, Bureau for Public Sector Reforms, Doctor Joe Abah, Kiki Mordi, and actors, Yul Edochie and Uche Jombo, Feyikemi Abudu, Olorunrinu Oduala, Pamilerin Adegoke, Japhet Omojuwa, Ayo Sogunro and Deji Adeyanju., were also listed in the suit.
In his supporting affidavit, Mr Okeke claimed that the defendants, using twitter and internet web source, played active roles in the #EndSARS protest which later became violent and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 97(2) of the Penal Code Act, C53 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. According to Channels TV, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
African Energy Chamber has released its Energy Outlook for 2021, assessing Africa’s competitiveness compared with other frontiers, while highlighting the countless opportunities that continue to emerge and exist across the entire energy value chain.
The report explored the forces shaping up continent’s energy market after the historic shocks of 2020, and analysed the upcoming recovery on the back of the global energy transition and persisting market uncertainties.
After a year of historic crisis, the outlook offered guidance and solutions for African energy stakeholders to navigate troubled waters and support a strong recovery in 2021 and beyond.
The report provided detailed information in areas of critical importance, and included sections examining jobs and employment, cash-flow and profit forecasts, the expenditure and investment outlook, carbon emissions, oil and gas market projections, and regional production outlook.
Pressing issues including notably the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)’s production cuts, ongoing regulatory reforms, the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) by region and country, and offshore drilling demand across multiple continental shelves are analysed in detail.
‘’It goes without saying that Africa has witnessed its fair share of difficult times this year.
“Even though oil and gas activities have taken a hit, optimism surrounding African projects, fiscal regime and investments still exist but requires all of us as stakeholders to do more.
“There has always been opportunity in drastic and unprecedented times, which gives us a lot to look forward to,” said the Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, Nj Ayuk.
The outlook was the result of strong regional and international cooperation between actors of government, and public and private sector stakeholders across sub-Saharan Africa.
It gathered the latest available data on sub-Saharan Africa’s hydrocarbons markets, and benefits from the insights of key local, regional and international companies, experts and economists, making it the most comprehensive resource to date on the future of African energy markets.
‘’The report highlights the expected outcome of post COVID-19 mitigation strategies to the African energy sector in 2021 and beyond.
“It also assesses Africa’s competitiveness compared with other frontiers, and highlights the countless opportunities that continue to emerge and exist across our entire energy value chain.
“We look forward to this report serving as a basis for sound decisions towards a thriving energy industry in Africa,’’ said Senior Vice President at the African Energy Chamber, Verner Ayukegba.
African Energy Chamber issued rallying call to all industry stakeholders to work together on a reform agenda to keep African natural resources competitive and create jobs; short-term outlook for African oil and gas remains marked by COVID-19 and uncertain market conditions expected to result in a $30 billion cut in Capex spending (2020-2021); South Western Africa expected to emerge as the next energy frontier on the continent on the back of high-impact wells coming up in 2021 and 2022; the continent’s production of oil and gas is expected to increase in 2021 as OPEC’s sanctions ease and on the back of increase oil output from Libya and increased gas production from Algeria and Egypt.
The pandemic notably came at a particularly difficult moment in Africa, exacerbating already challenging market conditions on the back of a competitive American shale industry, the delaying of major projects due to regulatory uncertainty, and increasing global attention to decarbonisation.
African Energy Chamber notably expected a CAPEX spending cut of $30 billion over the 2020-2021 period, and has identified a further $80 billion of investment whose sanctioning would depend on improving market conditions, along with bold policy and fiscal reforms from African regulators.
Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria, Babajide Sanwo-Olu presents a N1.155 trillion budget for year 2021 to the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tuesday, November 10, 2020.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Tuesday unveiled a 2021 budget proposal of N1.155 trillion before Lagos State House of Assembly.
Titled: “Budget of Rekindling Hope,” the Sanwo-Olu administration said it would be investing heavily in the development of human capital, with special focus on youth employment and provision of social safety for young people.
The focus, the governor added, would be raising human capital, creating jobs and strengthening security for businesses to flourish.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the 2021 estimated expenditure is designed for the restoration of economic balance as Lagos State continues to navigate its way out of the negative impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the destruction of public assets, following the hijacked #EndSARS protests.
Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria, Babajide Sanwo-Olu presents a N1.155 trillion budget for year 2021 to the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tuesday, November 10, 2020.
The budget, the governor said, would be funded from a projected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N962 billion, pointing out that the N192.495 billion deficit would be financed through bond issuance, internal and external loans.
About N704 billion, representing 61 per cent of the total budget, is earmarked for capital expenditure in the proposed 2021spending: an estimate of N451.75 billion, representing 39 per cent, would go for recurrent expenditure, which includes personnel cost and other staff-related expenses.
Sanwo-Olu said the budget was designed to improve the state’s economic conditions and create the social safety needed for the youth and all hardworking residents to flourish. He said his administration would leverage its developmental efforts and focus on sectors with job-creating potential, such as agriculture, construction, technology and security.
According to him, “The year 2021 is one of Rekindled Hope, in accordance with recent events of global and national proportions, especially the coronavirus pandemic, the #EndSARS protests, the general feeling of disenchantment in the polity and the socio-economic yearnings of Lagosians for good governance.
“This budget reflects our desire to rebuild the trust of the people in this government, even as we commit significant human and financial resources to the rebuilding of Lagos, while doing all we can to move on from the destruction and vandalism recently witnessed in the state, barely three weeks ago.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and #EndSARS protests have only heightened the need to urgently implement various programmes under the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda.
“The 2021 budget will, among other things, provide for youth employment, security, and youth engagement and social works. We are set to improve the economic conditions and social safety needed for our youth to flourish.
“We are committing resources to sectors that need to grow for our people to become self-reliant and economically empowered. In agricultural sector, our food security plan has a cumulative budget of N22.21 billion while we are committing a cumulative budget of N311.43 billion to provide infrastructure.”
Sanwo-Olu revealed his administration’s strategy to keep the cost of governance low in the face of dwindling revenues and general inflation occasioned by multiple factors, announcing the repeal of Lagos State’s Payment of Pension Law of 2007, which provides payment of pension and entitlements to former governors and their deputies.
The governor said he would be sending an Executive Bill to Lagos State House of Assembly for the repeal of the Pension Law, noting that public service would now be predicated on selflessness in the state.
“In light of keeping the costs of governance low, we will be sending a draft executive bill to the House of Assembly imminently for the repeal of the Payment of Pension Law 2007 (Public Office Holder), which provides for payment of pension and other entitlements to former governors and their deputies.
“It is our firm belief that with dwindling revenues and inflationary growth rates, that we need to come up with innovative ways of keeping the costs of governance at a minimum, while engendering a spirit of selflessness in public service,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also added that the proposed budget would support entrepreneurship and expand the opportunity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to facilitate socio-economic advancement.
He pledged his administration’s commitment to continuously supporting entrepreneurs in the state through Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), saying this would also strengthen technical and financial support for beneficiaries to generate employment that would stimulate economic prosperity.
The governor said there would be increment in its financial commitment to youth mentoring, mental health support, and substance abuse rehabilitation. This project, he said, would be driven through the Office of the Civic Engagement, and Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
He said: “As we work on reviving the growth of our economy, we must commit resources to our state-wide security architecture, especially in the areas of intelligence gathering and the motivation of all security personnel in the Neighbourhood Watch.
“We will be increasing the size of the Neighbourhood Watch personnel across the state and ensure their training, including community engagement, de-escalation techniques, and proactive information gathering within communities.
“We believe that as the population of Lagos State increases and becomes more sophisticated, so should the training of our security personnel to cope with emerging challenges.”
Despite the slowdown of activities occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanwo-Olu said this year’s budget had performed at 77 per cent, a performance benchmark of 86 per cent was projected by the end of last quarter.
The governor also hinted that his administration has trained 9,000 teachers in modern teaching techniques to boost learning outcomes and provided complementary textbooks and other ancillary teaching aids for over 350,000 students.
Sanwo-Olu said his administration has also spent N25 billion for the construction, refurbishment and equipping of our healthcare centres across the state, in line with its health programmes. He added that the state government built and rehabilitated 589 classrooms, while also providing 1,568-bed hostels in secondary and primary schools.
“We have audacious governance goals, which we cannot achieve without the concerted efforts of all our people. We should not allow the events of the past few months to obliterate our consistent cycles of socio-economic progress.
“Let us begin to rebuild our state with determination and optimism, even as we advance the interests of the electorate and restore their confidence in this government,” the governor said.
In his remarks, Speaker if Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, praised the governor’s courage in the face of the recent challenges that faced the state, pledging the readiness of the legislature to work with the executive arm to rebuild the state.
He promised speedy passage of the budget, assuring the public that the Assembly would properly vet the details in line with its mandate.
He said: “We have all listened with attention how the wealth of the state will be utilised for our common good in Year 2021.
“The responsibility is now on the members of the Assembly to meticulously perform their constitutional duty. I reiterate our commitment as responsive Assembly in working together with the Executive to bring succour to all individuals affected in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests.”
President Buhari receives in audience Hajia Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations in State House on 9th Nov 2020.
President Muhammadu Buhari Monday said he has mandated his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, to meet with traditional rulers across the nation with a view of addressing some of the demands being made by the youths.
While responding to the recent #EndSARS protest and the mayhem and destruction of public and private property that came in its wake, Buhari tasked Nigerian youths to embrace peace, saying it’s in their own interest ultimately.
President Buhari receives in audience Hajia Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations in State House on 9th Nov 2020.
The President spoke at State House in Abuja, while receiving in audience the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, who’s Nigeria’s former Minister of Environment.
Buhari said: “Our own generation is on the last lap, we are exiting.
“It is in the interest of the youths to keep the peace. They want jobs, infrastructure and development. I have sent a team led by the Chief of Staff (Professor Ibrahim Gambari) to go round the country, talk to traditional rulers, who will then talk to the youths.
“The views of the youths have been heard.”
He added that the current administration inherited severe infrastructural deficits, “and that is what we are fighting to correct. We can’t just sit, fold our hands, and do nothing. We are doing our best within the limits of resources.”
Buhari rued the fact that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shrunk the global economy, noting that “this is something you can’t see, smell, or hear,” but which has wrought devastation on lives and livelihoods round the world.
On climate change, the President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Nigeria was concerned about the recharge of the Lake Chad, which has great implications on security, irregular migration, and livelihoods.
In her remarks, the UN Deputy Secretary-General said she was on a courtesy call with her team to flag interest on challenges that concern the global body, particularly COVID-19, climate change, security, and humanitarian responses to the diverse challenges.
Mahmood Yakubu, Monday handed over to a National Commissioner (North-east), Ahmed Mu’azu, to serve as acting chairman of the Nigeria's electoral body
A re-nominee for chairmanship position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, Monday handed over to a National Commissioner (North-east), Ahmed Mu’azu, to serve as acting chairman of the electoral body, pending the confirmation of former’s re-nomination or otherwise by the Senate.
Mu’azu, who’s in charge of the Electoral Logistics Committee of the commission, received the handing over note from Yakubu at a ceremony which took place at INEC headquarters in Abuja.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had in October reappointed Yakubu as INEC chairman for a second and final term, sending a letter to the senate for confirmation of this reappointment.
Yakubu was first appointed by Buhari in October 2015 and assumed office on November 9, 2015, where he has been overseeing the activities of the commission.
Five other national commissioners also bowed out of the commission on Monday.
Mua’zu was born on September 6, 1957 in Gombe State.
He had his early education in Gombe, Kaduna and Maiduguri between 1964-1975.
The Nigerian Senate has warned the Buhari-led Federal Government to dedicate a substantial part of the 2021 budget to create employment opportunities, reduce poverty and ensure food security for Nigerians or risk another agitation similar to the recent EndSARS protest by Nigerian youth.
The warning was sounded by Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture Abudullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West) during the 2021 budget defence session by the Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono, in Abuja.
The “abysmally low” budget allocation to the agricultural sector in past years was decried.
Senate President Lawan affirmed agriculture as a potential job creation vehicle.
In his advise, Lawan said the Federal Government (FG) ought to be “practical and radical” in applying its resources to address the urgent needs of the masses.
“Recently, we had some of our youths protesting genuinely. They were seeking the attention of leaders and they got the attention of leaders.
“So, our budget, especially for 2021 should be mindful of what we do to provide employment opportunities for these youths.
“They demonstrated and protested because they could do so, there are so many other people who may not be youthful but are also in the same need and they didn’t protest.
“Let’s meet them where they are. We don’t have to wait until they also start to grumble or protest.
“We should be proactive, we should reach them and most of them are in the rural areas and give them what we can and what they need to some extent within the purview of our resources and keep them there to live a productive life and that is the only way that we can make a difference in the lives of the people.
“And for us, elected people, we are going to be accountable. If we escape this one (#EndSARS protests), the other one is inescapable and I am sure people will know what I am saying”, he said.
Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture, Abudullahi Adamu also lamented that despite the Maputo declaration that stipulates 10 per cent of national budgets should go to agriculture, the FG’s 2021 allocation to the agricultural sector is less than two per cent of the N13.8 trillion total appropriation.
“In 2021, the sector (agriculture) witnessed a slight increase with a total allocation of N139,458, 322,208.00.
“Over the years, the sector’s allocation has been abysmally low, a far cry from the Maputo declaration which states that a country should allocate at least 10 per cent of their national budget to the agricultural sector.
“This year’s budget proposal only allocated less than two per cent to the agricultural sector.
“The sector’s N139,458,322,208.00 is broken down as follows: Personnel – N68,031,135,074.00, overhead – N3,186,608,895.00, capital – N110,240,253,439.00”, Adamu said.
The Minister of Agriculture, Nanono however argued that the agricultural sector recorded meaningful progress in 2020 and remains one of the fastest growing sectors in the country.
He regrettably admitted the current budgetary allocations for the sector has been low.
Two dismissed corporals were arraigned at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kubwa in Abuja on Monday for the killing of a 69-year old man, Solomon Eze, on May 10 this year.
The Nation’s Nicholas Kalu reports that the ex-policemen, Abubakar Adamu, 28, and Ibrahim Alfa, 36, first and second respondents respectively, both pleaded not guilty in court.
The dismissed police officers who were attached to the FCT Command, are standing trial for shooting dead Eze, an innocent passersby, while carrying out an arrest around Karmo.
An investigation carried out by FCT Police Command was said to have followed the incident and led to the dismissal of both officers from the police service.
The two count charge filed by the FCT Commissioner of Police at the High Court, Kubwa, reads in part, “That you ex-corporal Abubakar Adamu, male, 28 years old and you ex-corporal Ibrahim Alfa, male 36 years old, both dismissed officers under the FCT Police Command, Abuja, on or about the 10th day of May, 2020 at about 4pm at Ereke Junction, Karmo, FCT, Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed a criminal offence to wit: culpable homicide punishable with death; in that, on the said date, you both caused the death one Mr Solomon Eze, 69 years old opposite Area Court, Karmo, Abuja, when you Abubakar Adamu shot him in the eye with AK47 rifle knowingly that death is a probable consequence of your act. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 (a) and (b) of the Penal Code Law.”
Prosecuting counsel, Donatus Abah, applied that the two suspects who have been in police custody be remanded in prison custody in Kuje and adjourned the matter to January 25, 2021, Nicholas Kalu of The Nations reported.
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