Teachers in public primary and secondary schools in Kogi State may soon heave a sigh of relief as their outstanding salaries and allowances will be paid within the next two months.

The Deputy Secretary in charge of school services, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Yakubu Gambo disclosed this in Lokoja last week while addressing teachers at the premises of the State Universal Basic Education Board.

He explained that he was dispatched to Lokoja by SUBEB to come and engage the state government and other stakeholders on the plight and welfare of teachers in primary and junior secondary schools in the state.

The Deputy Director who stated that he had already met with all relevant agencies and individuals connected to payment of teachers salaries said that the unpleasant experience they have been subjected to over these years would soon become a history.

He said the leadership of UBEC was shocked about the numerous reports of non-payment of their salaries and allowances, saying that it was the responsibility of the local governments to do that.

Gambo commended the teachers for their peaceful conduct, urging them not to embark on any action that may jeopardize the ongoing efforts to quickly resolve their grievances.

Earlier in his address, the state Chairman of the Basic Education Staff Association of Nigeria (BESAN), Mr. Yakubu Adomu urged the UBEC to prevail on the government to pay the November and December salaries of his members which have been remitted to its account by the Ministry of Local Government Affairs.

He said while teachers in Ofu, Omala, Okene, Ajaokuta and Olamaboro local governments did not receive November, 2014 salaries, all teachers in the state were yet to receive their December, 2014 salaries.

He also said that teachers’ salaries from January till May this year were haphazardly implemented as some were not paid at all while some did not receive full salaries.

He also raised the issues of non-payment of leave bonus to teachers for the past five years while government had also refused to provide cash backing for promotions of teachers within the same period.

Adomu appealed to the UBEC to prevail on the state government to quickly look to the grievances to guarantee industrial peace in the sector, promising that the group will continue to conduct itself in a peaceful manner.

The accreditation team of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has concluded its visit to the College of Medicine, Ekiti State University, EKSU, Ekiti State.

The visit was to verify and conclude its findings based on the earlier outing in January.

After touring all facilities including laboratories and assessment of lecturers, the team led by a Professor of Surgery from the University of Jos, Prof. Dakum commended the university on the significant improvement which took place within the two visiting periods.

Prof. Dakum specifically commended the funding of the Biochemistry Laboratory which has been greatly stocked with necessary equipment.

He expressed satisfaction with the overall preparation of EKSU’s College of Medicine, adding that the accreditation team would present its findings to the Medical and Dental Council education committee for final decision.

Earlier, the Provost of the college, Prof. Mathew Araoye thanked the team for their thoroughness and constructive suggestions.

He said the college required enormous financial resources, adding that the Vice-Chancellor and the management had shown spirited commitment to the development of the college.

In his remark, the VC, Prof. Oladipo Aina, represented by his deputy in charge of Academic, Prof. Ibiyinka Ogunlade said the college was a collective project of Ekiti people who he said longed for the accreditation.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY of June 21, 2015, welcomes us today: “In this report, our correspondent in Yenagoa…writes about oil spill in some communities and how the people are demanding for action from the oil firm responsible.” News Review: delete ‘for’ in the interest of Bayelsans.

Next is the COMMENT: “In the South-west, the two factions of the OPC contested amongst themselves (contested between each other) which of them deserved to gain the contract.”

“…a high school boy was kidnapped last Tuesday morning, but rescued by security men (security guard) acting on tip-off (a tip-off).”

“Why Lagos Assembly leadership election was rancour free (rancour-free)—Majority Leader”

THE GUARDIAN opinion pages of June 16 take over the deconstruction of the English language with four errors: “A wiser President Buhari will seek to track where the crooks have stashed away their loots, whether at home or abroad.” ‘Loot’ is uncountable.

“…scrap all those policies and practices that have (had) hitherto not worked to solve Nigeria’s problems….”

“Odigie-Oyegun said the election is (was) one of the challenges the party had to face….”

Education Review: “…have helped to allay their fears (fear) about Islamic religion”

“Happy World Milk Day from your calcium fortified (calcium- fortified) Loya Milk”

“On number (a number) of issues….”

National Mirror of June 4 takes over the baton from the preceding medium: “Ambode reads riot act (the riot act) to LASTMA, KAI, VIO” “…because that is (was) where I proposed to my late wife.”

The next three faults are from a full-page advertisement by Diamond, Your Bank, published in DAILY SUN of June 22:

“The Central Bank of Nigeria, (needless comma) CBN has recently (yank off ‘has’) directed all banks in Nigeria to periodically publish….”

“Failing the above, the Bank will be constrained to, amongst (among: language currency) other measures….”

“No room for looting in Buhari (Buhari’s) govt, says Adesina”

“So, we want to take our destiny in our (our own) hands. We are the architect (architects) of our own future. We want to win election (an election or elections) in this state and I cannot see reason why we cannot win.” Use either ‘reason’ or ‘why’—do not mind some dictionaries and English language pamphlets that condone the faux pas.

“My very good friend and brother, Ike Ekweremadu, misfired when he said he has (had) got the share of the South East.”

“NWF begins All Africa (All-Africa) Games build up (buildup)”

“Promasidor assures on NYSC female volleyball tourney” Who did the sponsor assure specifically?

FEEDBACK

WRONG: She has taken driver’s seat as the Managing Director of the company.

Right: She has taken the driving seat as the Managing Director of the company. – 305 ERRORS IN THE USE OF ENGLISH In Nigeria (Page 4) by Femi Owa. The writer lied. As Chief Olusegun Obasanjo said in his book entitled “MY COMMAND”, “It is either the teacher is not qualified or he is incompetent”. This teacher is not qualified.

The situation is indeed dire but it is also a time that calls for quick – minded leaders especially governors in the “driving” (driver’s) seats of states – THE NATION EDITORIAL, June 11, 2015. Special note on usage: “In the driver’s seat”, meaning “in control”, is a formal (fixed) idiom. It cannot be changed to “in the driving seat”! Examples: While the General Manager is on holiday, his assistant will be in the driver’s seat. She is in the driver’s seat as the Managing Director of the company. The governors in the driver’s seats must do something differently in their states this time round.

I repeat, nobody has any licence – poetic, literary, journalistic or editorial – to change, restructure, alter or rearrange a formal (fixed) idiom! My brother, keep the flag flying! (BAYO OGUNTUNASE/08056180046)

I must profusely thank Dr.S.C. Chuta (08038094832) of the University of Nigeria Nsukka for his enduring words and counsel. His biblical references are quite apt in the circumstance and apposite to my resolution over the forgiveness of former govern of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji. I accept the ecumenical injunctions and your advice on grounds of my spiritual beliefs and reconsideration of the gory abduction incident. In addition: “Ebere, my brother, please forgive and forget for God will surely bless you the more.” (Dr. Benny Davids/08163136985)

I declare that I have forgiven T. A. and wish him well. I appreciate all those who intervened, one way or another. Let me also plead with the publisher of The Sun and former governor of Abia State (1999-2007), Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, a devout Catholic, to forgive his successor in office in the spirit of the foregoing espousals. I extend the same call to all colleagues of mine in The Sun to let bygones be bygones. As someone rightly pointed out, The Sun has grown bigger than just Abia State. “It has evolved a nationalistic outlook and should reflect that instead of your columnists’ obsession with good riddance.”

We must move on with our lives and extricate ourselves from the burden of angst against controversial Senator Orji. Continual and indeterminable grouse about T. A. can only endanger our essence of existence. I have decided to drop this load of otiose animosities involving all those I bear grudges against henceforth.

I am obligated to forgive T. A. for reasons adduced above. After all, the Almighty Father says that vengeance is His. (From this columnist and contributors)

The newly appointed Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, University of Ibadan, Dr. Umar Mustapha has reeled out his plan for the university, saying his administration’s overall interest is to ensure make UI not only a first choice for all Nigerians but also a world-class university.

He made the disclosure during a meeting with the members of the council in Ibadan recently. He succeeded General Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd) in April.

Mustapha, a mathematician, said he would take the university to the level where Nigerians who are concerned in becoming well-rounded graduates at first and other levels of degrees would not think of going Some of the students entertaining guests during the graduation eremony elsewhere other than UI for their studies.

He also stated that efforts would be directed towards the transformation of the institution’s newly established School of Business to be one of the best in Africa as in the case of its Medicine, Forest Resources Management, Fisheries, Ecotourism, Mathematics, History and English programmes and so on.

Expressing his belief in education as a life-long project, Mustapha in a press release by the university’s Director of Public Communication, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, said he would seek more harmonious working relationships between the academic and nonacademic staff and improving the teaching and learning environment on campus.

Urging the university’s management to vigorously pursue implementation of polices that would improve the welfare of students, especially in terms of accommodation, feeding arrangements, transportation, medicare, spacing of lectures, among other welfare issues, Mustapha promised to assist the VC in a possible way towards the actualisation of the Mathematics Centre Project.

He also emphasised the need for both lecturers and students to stay-off plagiarism which carries serious penalty which could bring the reputation of university to public disrepute.

Calling for more collaboration between the university and other world-class universities, including Nigerian universities, especially in the areas of Economics, Business Studies, Medicine, Forest Resources Management, History, Fisheries Management and Aquaculture as well as Wildlife and Ecotourism, the new chairman urged various staff unions to work in unison so as to jointly move the university to another level.

Alumni Association, University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka held its 3rd annual memorial lecture in honour of former Vice-Chancellor, late Prof Adetokunbo Sofoluwe, last week.

The event which was held at the university had in attendance members of the alumni group who came from far and near. Also present at the occasion was the Vice- Chancellor of the university Prof Rahamon Bello.

Delivering a lecture on ‘A Banner without Stain’ which was the theme of the event, the Speaker Prof. Akin Oyebade, a Professor of Law and former vice-chancellor, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State charged the school alumni to maintain the worthy legacy of the institution which at different quarters has received national and international recognitions.

Just six days after the students of King’s College, Lagos returned from a week-long midterm break on June 22 like their peers in other 103 unity colleges nationwide, some of their parents have stormed the Victoria Island annex of the college to protest the visiting day policy while also alleging the mismanagement of the association’s finances.

Numbering about 30 under the name- “Concerned parents,” the group protested the cancellation of the monthly visiting day for June. The school had announced the cancellation on the premise that the visitation, scheduled for June 28, would no longer be necessary since the students had just returned from their homes six days earlier and also in view of fact that the students will soon be writing their promotional exam.

The group, which came with placards bearing different messages about the alleged deplorable conditions of facilities in the 104-yearold college, especially toilet, water and power supply, also accused both the PTA chairman, Chief Emmanuel Oriakhi and the college’s principal, Otunba Oladele Olapeju of misappropriating the association’s funds.

They claimed that based on the audited account of the association for the year ended February, 2014, the income and expenditure during the 2013 and 2014 academic years were N145, 045, 430 and N134, 062, 932 respectively with a balance of N10, 982, 498 while that of the year before it stood at N161, 410, 876 and N150, 595,012 in that order and with N10, 815,855 balance.

Another issue raised was that the association claimed to have spent N59, 949,500 to pay salaries and wages within the same two years without clear information about who the beneficiaries were and for what purpose.

“We also discovered that the association claimed to have spent N3, 376,100 as donation within the period to stakeholders without telling us the beneficiaries and why the money was given out,” said, Mr. Obisike Nwosu, the group’s spokesman at a press conference.

That is not all. The group, also claimed that spending N25, 253,832 in two years on student’s laundry as well as N3, 549, 612 on sewage dislodge and repairs were too high for a school.

On the award of contracts, they said “It is also sacrosanct to note that the PTA chairman and the school principal unilaterally award contracts to their cronies without the consent and approval of the general meeting.

“So, these, among others are what we considered suspicious and with the background that the chairman has been running the affairs of the association with impunity, we are convinced that there is gross mismanagement and misappropriation of funds in the association,” the group stressed.

But both the principal, Otunba Oladele Olapeju and the PTA Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Oriakhi however debunked all the allegations, saying they were not true.

They noted that the ‘concerned parents’ were working for perceived ‘enemies’ not only to rubbish them but also to push them out of office untimely for their sponsors to come in.

They said that was why they chose to hide under the cancellation of the visiting day which all the parents were duly informed of through the Short Messaging Service (SMS) before that day to stage a protest.

The principal, who is due for retirement in about four months told National Mirror that aside from being a member of PTA, he as the principal, is supposed to be the secretary of the group, but he chose not to, to enable him have full concentration on his job and also not to interfere in the running of the association.

While maintaining that he is no signatory to the PTA account and does not also get involved in the spending of its money, he acknowledged the fact that PTA is a saving grace to the college just like any other public schools in the country.

When asked for the school’s financial responsibilities if PTA could shoulder so much, he said the work are enormous and bigger than what the school authority could do all alone more so that the government’s subvention to the college is grossly inadequate like other unity colleges nationwide.

“If not for the support of PTA, the school might have been grounded and I must confess that parents are really doing their best to see that the college sustains its standards in all areas.

“So, since I am not privy to PTA account, how then could I misappropriate its funds? But what I can say now is that the so-called concerned parents are not only agents of confusion but have shallow knowledge of the running of PTA’s affairs and it is a pity that they go this way. But I think the PTA Chairman should be able to use this medium to enlighten them on the running of the association,” the principal said.

When contacted, PTA’s Chairman, Chief Oriakhi also said the action of the factional group was done in bad faith to discredit his leadership and that of the college for their selfish ambitions.

While exonerating the college’s principal from the running of the affairs of the association including spending of its funds, he also claimed that his own hands were cleaned.

He noted that he was appointed into office just last year while the allegation of financial impropriety leveled against him by the group was referring to the period between 2011 and April 2014.

He claimed that most of the factional group members are parents of JSS1 students who are not only new in the system but also do not have clear understanding of how the association is being run. And to this, the group confirmed that their children are only in the JJS arm at the school annex but are out for the entire students of the college.

On the principal’s claim that PTA stands as the college backbone since government is incapacitated to meet most of the financial needs of the college, the chairman asked rhetorically that how then could a fraction of a group who only became members in less than one year champion the cause of the entire group.

“Such is the case of these so-called concerned parents. They are sponsored agents to unionise the association and cause division among members for their selfish interest,” he argued, adding that it was absurd that just 30 out of 6,000 current members of PTA could choose this ignoble way.

Oriakhi noted that the last audited account of the association and the one before it that the group was referring to were both discussed and adopted by the whole house at the annual general meeting, adding that the concerned parents were not members of the association at those periods.

He told National Mirror that due to inadequate teachers in the college for example, the association currently has 44 adhoc subject teachers in its payroll with the least receiving about N40, 000 monthly salaries.

“There are about 50 other categories of workers including stewards and gardeners. So, we pay over N3 million as salaries and wages alone monthly to all of them. We are doing all these to ensure that academic and moral standards which the school has known for since inception are sustained and the records of past students are there as testimonies.

By calculation, the amount would translate to about N36m yearly which is even higher than the quoted N59, 949,500 for two years by the concerned parents.

While disclosing that the whole college had only two Mathematics teachers before additional five were employed by PTA, Oriakhi attributed the difference in the amount to such additional teachers hired after the report.

On stakeholders’ bill, he said the money, among others, were being used as an endowment fund to sponsor category of awards to exemplary students and teachers during annual speech day and prize-giving ceremony in addition to the one organizes separately by the association.

He said the idea was to reward excellence as well as encouraging healthy competition among target audience for the development of the school and education at large.

On the alleged award of contracts to ‘cronies’ as claimed by the concerned parents, the chairman said awarding of contracts is usually a transparent exercise like every other activity of the association.

He acknowledged that truly some of the concerned parents had approached the association for contracts on some of its ongoing projects like the ultra modern hall which has been on for over two years but were turned down simply because it is not logical to revoke contracts when the contractors were not found wanting.

“So, for them to even mention contract awards as part of their grouse is a clear indication that they are only fighting for personal course and they should be ignored,” he said.

Legal luminaries, rights activists, students among others on Thursday converged on the University of Lagos, Akoka, to celebrate one-time President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Emma Ezeazu.

Convening in honour of the human rights advocate, Media Rights Agenda in collaboration with the University of Lagos Students’ Union held a lecture, themed: “The role of human rights and democracy activists in a democratic Nigeria,” discussed by Dr. Olisah Agbakoba.

Speakers at the event noted that Nigeria at the moment needs what was described as a new generation of activists.

It was further stressed that it was imperative for students to reconnect the students’ movement to the larger society to press down a concerted national struggle.

“Whatever you study in school, there is always connection with the human right movement as to how the country could be salvaged from its current problems.”

As tributes continued to pour in for the late Ezeazu, students were however, advised to look beyond their immediate interest in building the new generation of activists.

In his remarks, constitutional lawyer and the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Femi Falana advised students and rights activists to intervene decisively with the Labour congress and other rights movements.

He said students should be prepared so that they can be supported in the quest for establishing justice in the society.

Falana also disclosed that plans were underway to set up a foundation in order to cater for the children of activists who died in the course of fighting for justice.

The students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, Osun State recently gathered at the Awolowo Hall Cafe to honour their five union leaders killed by gunmen suspected to be members of Black Axe Confraternity on July 10, 1999.

The gunmen who stormed the Awolowo and Fajuyi halls of residence on the fateful day gunned down George Akinyemi Iwilade (alias Afrika) who was in 300-Level Law and Secretary General of the Students’ Union Government (SUG).

Others were Yemi Ajiteru, Eviano Ekelemu, Efe Ekpede and Babatunde Oke. They were all killed over issues that are not cleared till today.

However, the students organised a public lecture, titled: “16 years since July 10; Afrika’s struggle remain unfinished” as part of the activities of the event.

The guest speaker, the National Coordinator of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Hassan Soweto represented by the secretary, Michael Ogundele, said Iwilade was killed because of his activism, his defence of students’ interest, his struggle against high school fees and victimisation of student leaders as well as because of strong stance against campus cultism and his radical belief that a better education system and a better Nigeria was possible.

He said unfortunately all these vices remain with us in the country and even getting worse by the day.

Soweto therefore challenged students to emulate Iwilade and not allow his tears dried in vain.

He said the only way to mourn him and others was to actively take up their unfinished struggles and that can only be done when “we rise up in our thousands in struggle against fee hike and all neo-liberal attacks on education.

Earlier, President of the students’ union, Omotayo Akande, said the slain comrades were dogged fighters for the benefits of not only Nigerian students, but for humanity and best way to remember them is to join hands with the union in the fight against injustice, impunity and recklessness in the society

Bauchi State College of Agriculture has warned its newly admitted students to exhibit good character throughout their stay in the institution.

The Provost of the college, Professor Ladan Muhammad Shehu gave the warning while addressing them during their matriculation ceremony recently. They are 1,263 in all, admitting into the various departments of the college for the 2015/2016 academic year.

Noting that gaining admission is not the ultimate but how well they do in their academic and other activities including behaviours, he urged them to make good use of the limited facilities in the college.

He observed that provision of sound education was not government’s responsibility alone but also involved other stakeholders including parents.

He however noted that as a monotechnic institution receiving nothing as intervention fund from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), the college is surviving on internally generated revenue, which he termed meager.

Professor Mohammed added that with the little resources, the college was able to execute many projects including renovation of male hostel, academic staffroom complex, construction of over half a kilometer long drainage and resuscitation of boreholes, among others within one and a half years of its existence.

He used the occasion to appeal to the state government to extend a take-off grant to the college to ease its operation.

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors (CVC) of Nigeria has appointed the Vice- Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Professor Adebiyi Daramola as its chairman.

He was unanimously appointed by members of the committee in the nation’s federal universities at their special meeting held on Thursday, June 25, 2015.

The letter to that effect was signed by the secretary general of the committee, Prof. Michael Faborode who explained that by extension, the members of the committee also extend to VCs of both state and private universities nationwide.

In line with the tradition of CVC according to Faborode, Daramola’s appointment takes effect from August 18, 2015 when the serving chairman and his alternate, Professors J.A Ajineka and Abubakar Rasheed would have completed their tenures.

This appointment confers Professor Daramola with the authority to represent both the CVC and the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) in all important meetings, functions and engagements that require the attention of the two bodies.

Faborode assured Adebiyi of the unalloyed cooperation and support of the secretariat in ensuring the accomplishment of his vision during the period of his stewardship.

THE NATION ON SUNDAY Front Page of June 28 did not defend its freedom: “Five northern govs raise alarm (the alarm) over ‘evil forest’” In headline casting, it is usually the tradion to drop ‘the’, but that should not affect fixed/stock or idiomatic expressions. Alternatively, avoid such words or phrases.

“Marcel Witschard Jr. and Carl Witschard said it will (would) take at least a week for them to remove the bees.”

“It declared tomorrow black Monday during which there will be no lectures at (on) all the campuses of the institution in honour of the dead.”

“UN agency praises Nigeria’s drug control (drug-control) master plan”

“As a matter of fact, they (legislators) can even remove each other’s (one another’s) teeth with blows….”

“As we removed his cloths (clothes) to clean him up, we noticed his back.”

Still on THE NATION ON SUNDAY under review: “I use (used) to patch my trousers by myself…”

“At a time like this when the fortune of oil is dwindling and the economy is nose diving (nosediving)…reports that a peep into the potentials (potential/potenialities) in cashew production can be the launching pad.”

“It is only when they fail to act that we may see a full blown (full-blown) crisis over the issue.”

“Media seige (siege) on (of) Abia: The limit of indulgence” (THE NATION ON SUNDAY Bold Headline, June 28)

From DAILY SUN of June 29 comes the following: “National Assembly crisis: APC holds make or mar (make-ormar) meeting tomorrow”

“Politician arrested over (for) theft of polls documents”

“It was believed that he was abducted by unknown gunmen.” Crime watch today: Is it possible to know the gunmen?

“I will recover all loots—Buhari” (DAILY SUN Front Page Headline, June 24) ‘Loot’ is uncountable.

“Our grouse with (about) oil firm” (DAILY SUN, June 9) The next set of flaws is from Vanguard of June 25: “2 remanded in Kirikiri Prison over N465m fraud” Yank off ‘prison’, which is implied.

DO you know that most people use “change” in place of “balance” when asking for their outstanding money in a transaction. It is very wrong! According to Longman Advanced Dictionary of Contemporary English, among other reference books consulted, ‘balance’ (money/uncountable) means: “The money that you get back when you have paid for something with more money than it costs: Here’s your change, sir. b) money in the form of coins, not paper money: in change/have about a dollar in change. I asked for some spare change (=coins that you do not need). C) coins or paper money that you give in exchange for the same amount of money in a larger unit: change for £1/$10 Excuse me, have you got change for a pound?/make change AmE (=give someone change) can you make change for $20? THESAURUS MONEY BALANCE: The amount of something that remains after some has been used, spent, mentioned etc SYN the rest: The firm owns about 96% of the portfolio, with the balance belonging to our family.

FEEDBACK

AT the end of your opening paragraph (The Sun blazes on Shema), you wrote: “Insha Allah, your light will never deem, Your Excellency.” So what happened to DIM?” (Watchingthewatcher/ 08098384624)

THE correct expression is simply “at the helm” without any other thing—affairs, etc. (Folurunsho B. F./09033604976/ Ilesa) A news report recently quoted a wealthy lover of football as saying that “I developed a likeness for the team…” The word “likeness” (noun) means “being alike, resembling sb/ sth”, while “liking” (also a noun) means “to become fond of sth or sb”. So, Paul has a liking for Manchester United or Chelsea, but definitely not likeness, a common error.

Also, when someone “controls what happens in a situation, organisation or relationship”, he is said to be “in the driving seat” (British English) or “in the driver’s seat” (American English), according to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English for Advanced Learners, page 1570. Oxford Advanced Learner’s equally supports “in the driving seat (idiom). Definitely, both fixed expressions are grammatically correct. Related to this is the expression “driving licence” (British English) while it is “driver’s licence” in American English. (KOLA DANISA/07068074257)

BETWEEN 2006 and 2015, “a lot” (much/a great deal) had happened on the political plane to further strangulate the economy and further spread mass poverty, since strangely, the so – called paper growth hardly resulted in development, “talk less” (not to talk/not to speak about/not to say/not to mention or let alone) of mass prosperity. – THE NATION ON SUNDAY EDITORIAL, June 28, 2015. Grammar and Usage Notes: “a lot” (two words) not “alot”, like “a lot of” and “lots of”, is obsolescent, and depending on the context, has been replaced, in modern usage, by the following phrases: a great deal of/a number of/a great number of/plenty of/a good number of/a good many of/a large quality of, and so on.

In affirmative sentences, “many” (for countable nouns) and “much” (for uncountable nouns) are generally replaced by the above phrases. Besides, Editorials must be written in Editorial English (Standard English) because Editorial writing is a statecraft. Above all, editorialists or editorial writers must keep abreast of the changes and the current tendencies – the dynamics – in the language. Correct usage will always win. Usage is king! (BAYO OGUNTUNASE/ 08056180046)

FROM Oguntunase’s language clinic: Health is wealth (wrong); Health is better than wealth (right); Practice makes perfect (wrong); Practice makes perfection (right); All hands on deck (wrong); All hands to the pump (right)

National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) has elected a Student of Adekunle Ajasin university, Akungba Akoko, Adeola Iwakun as the president of the body.

The new president defeated three other candidates in election held in Akure under the watch of security agencies and student observers.

Chairman of the electoral committee, Yusuf Abdul-Rahman who announced the results said the election was free and fair.

Speaking with Campus News, the new president, Adeola Iwakun popularly known as Solution, appreciated his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him, assuring that their interests would always be his priority.

Iwakun, a 400-level student of Religious and African Culture appealed to co-contestants to team up with him to move the association forward.

Other elected members are Olamabamiji Oladapo(vice president); Tosin Akinbulumo(General Secretary); Oluwafemi

Sanni(Assistant secretary); Tosin Amuniu(Public Relations Officer) and Eunice Adewunmi as the Senate President.

The newly graduated students of Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC), Yaba, Lagos have been advised to be armed with ‘I can do it spirit’ as they go into the larger society to continue with life. They were 604 in all.

Advising them during their graduation and prize-giving ceremonies held recently, the Director of Technology and Science Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Rosetta Isiavwe and her counterpart from the Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. D.C. Uwaezuoke urged the graduands to make good use of the sound moral and academic knowledge, creative thinking and management skills the school had imparted on them in their future endeavours.

Isiavwe for instance told them that the larger world they are going into are full of challenges that may seem intimidating but that with the positive mindset coupled with the knowledge and skills acquired and above all God’s support, they would overcome and achieve their ambitions.

Emphasising the importance of science and technology education to country’s development, the director also advised parents to encourage their children to acquire skills that would make them economic relevant now and in future rather than be looking for the non-existing jobs after schooling.

In his own contribution, the Principal\Director of the college, Rev. Chris Ugorji while congratulating the students on the achievement, equally urged them to be guided by the spirit of God, well-behaved and focused wherever they find themselves, saying that would help them to become asset and not liability to themselves and the society.

He promised that the college would continue to produce well-rounded students that would compete favourably with their peers around the world.

Students from JSS1 to SS3 who performed excellently in academic across subjects, behavior, dressing and other considerations within the last academic year were all rewarded at the event. Mr. Bede Opara, General Manager of Oshogbo Region Transmission Company; Dr. A.R. Awopetu, former HOD of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Lagos and Mr. Rafiu Abiodun, CEO of Fomort Nigeria Ltd were chairman on the occasion, and guest speakers respectively at the event.

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) of Igabi Local Government area of Kaduna State last Thursday awarded corps members who were outstanding in their service year.

The awards were presented during the Collection of Certificates (COC) of the 2014 Batch B corps members at the state secretariat of the scheme.

Suleiman Mubarak, the outgoing Corps Liaison Officer (CLO) was given award for ‘exemplary leadership, Saratu Abdulkadir for ‘humanitarian service’ and Kemi Busari, the only Batch C recipient was rewarded for his role as the mouthpiece of the local government. He was given an award for ‘excellence in journalism’

The Batch B corps members also decorated the local government inspector Hajia Hauwa Dauda with an award of honour.

In her reaction, the Local Government Inspector, congratulated the corps members for the successful completion of their service and appreciated them for their effort especially in carrying out most of the programs for their project.

“I was skeptical about the ability of this set at the beginning but they perform far beyond my expectation. I’m more surprised at the kind of unity you displayed in carrying out your duties.”

He enjoined them to continue the good work as they proceed in their endeavours.

Expressing joy and surprise at been honoured, Mubarak said that the award shows that his sacrifices and effort is been recognised.

Speaking on the task of leading multitude, he maintained that it wasn’t easy.

“Igabi has more than 900 corps members from different parts of the country and honestly it has not been easy acting as CLO.”

A Kano High court sitting at Miller road has ordered a school(NIIT) to pay more than half a million to a former student, who was denied of completing her studies.

The plaintiff, Florence Ogbonugafor had dragged her former school before the court, accusing it of terminating her studentship halfway without any reasonable justification.

Ogbonugafor who was at the Kano affiliate of the school, Next Trust, urged the court to pronounce the decision by both NIIT and Next Trust to bring to an abrupt end the continuation of her course of study as an act of breach of trust.

She further prayed the court to order the two institutions to refund the registration and school fees amounting to N475.000.00 to her.

But Justice Aisha Mahmud in her judgment instead awarded a sum of N575, 000 as special and general damages to her. The amount stood for expenses incurred while in the school and the psychological trauma she suffered as a result of the action as well as cost of hiring solicitor who handled the case.

… Board says it’s to ensure standards

There is palpable fear among the management staff and engineering students of Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State over the recent ban by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) on the admission of fresh students into the institution’s School of Engineering.

NBTE is an arm of the Federal Ministry of Education regulating technical and vocational education outside the university system in the country. It aims, among others, to promote quality technical and vocational education and training for the sustainable development and leadership roles of Nigeria in African and global affairs.

However, the 34-year-old institution has remained in a state of panic since June 26, 2015 when the board imposed the ban in its letter with reference C/TEB.235/VOL.I A/235 and signed by its executive secretary. It will be recalled that some OND students who are studying engineering courses and are also on Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) programme had petitioned NBTE complaining of the institution’s inability to engage them in meaningful practical learning as its workshops and laboratories were permanently locked while its classrooms are always overcrowded during lectures.

Based on the petition, National Mirror further learnt that the board carried out an undercover investigation and found out that both the allegations were true and consequently placed a ban on the institution from admitting new students into its engineering programmes.

It also instructed the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to comply with the ban until all the observed deficiencies are corrected.

This development however has thrown the school community, especially the rector, Dr. Mathew Akpata and the final year engineering students into confusion. While Akpata is worried that the development, if not well managed, could damage the school’s reputation, which he said was hard earned, the students are worried that they may overstay on campus while their certificates may not be recognised for further studies or in the labour market if they eventually graduate.

When National Mirror visited the institution during the week, most of the workshops and laboratories on the campus were opened with students and instructors engaging in practical learning.

Contrary to the reports, there were no visible signs that the workshops had been under lock and key for several months. For instance, the refrigerator/airconditioning, fluid power and electronic sections as well as mechanical and flitting/machine workshops were a bee hive of activities as students were seen engaging in different practical works. The students told National Mirror that this had been the practice over time. Euchi John, an HND I Meteorological student who was just coming out of the exam hall denied that the workshops were always locked, saying the students often combine both theory and practical works together.

“Even our practical exam in my department will come up this afternoon!” he stressed, noting that the current situation had really affected them psychologically.

In his own reaction, the rector, Dr. Akpata who also countered the allegations and asserted that all the laboratories and workshops are not only well-equipped but also functional. He noted that the school and himself in particular received the news of the ban with shock, saying that apart from the fact that all the engineering courses offered by the polytechnic, except two, are fully accredited by NBTE, the 32 workshops and laboratories in the polytechnic are also operating optimally.

“As an institution, we had received many commendations in the past from different organisations including NBTE on our programmes and products,” he added. “And we are not in any way relaxed but always strive to ensure we build on our achievements.”

That is why, he argued further, it was doubtful if the board actually carried out any investigation before banning the school.

“While we are disturbed by the development, we are already doing the needful so that the ban can be lifted on time,” he added.

Speaking in the same vein, the Dean of School of Engineering, Engineer Ahon Martins also faulted the allegations, saying it did not represent the true opinion of the majority of students. He corroborated the rector’s earlier claim on the state of the engineering programmes, saying it is one of the best schools of engineering in the nation’s polytechnics in terms of facilities, personnel and graduates being produced.

But NBTE’s spokesman, Malam Suleiman Gwarzo while reconfirming the ban said the board does not just bark but responds to evidence. He told National Mirror that the board carried out secret investigations based on the petition received from the students of the institution.

“It is a common knowledge that if you inform somebody or an organisation that you are coming for a particular mission especially like investigation, such a person or organisation will quickly put his or its house in order most times as a window dressing. That is why we don’t inform institutions under us before we carry out any investigation on them and that is the same thing we did in the case of Federal Poly Idah,” he explained.

Gwarzo however pointed out that the ban was temporary pending when all the necessary facilities are in place and the expected practical engineering activities resume in the school.

“NABTE is out for standard and we will not relent in ensuring that our schools are following guidelines,” he stressed.

The 2015/2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted on the Computer Based Test (CBT) platform has come and gone but the ripples created have refused to go away. Those who conducted the examination have been thumping their chest at their success, others have been lamenting the misfortune of been caught in the CBT web. While some congratulated JAMB for a job well-done, others have vilified the organization for putting them through such a harrowing experience.

While admitting hitches in the exercise, Mr. Peter Eze, the JAMB board Chairman has claimed a 90 percent success in the conduct of the computer based test. The media consultant to the ICPC Mr. Folu Olamiti also had a similar opinion, but the then minister of education Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau assessed the success more moderately at about 80 percent.

But looking at the various reports, it is obvious that all is not well with the computer based test conducted by JAMB. The problems which are many and very fundamental have been glossed over by those claiming success. These may be divided into three principal categories namely; insufficient number and lopsided distribution of centres, poor infrastructure and equipment, and lack of prior preparation of candidates for the computer based test.

There were insufficient examination centres for the examination. For example, there is not a single computer based test centre in three contiguous local government areas in Delta State including Warri North, Ethiope West, and Sapele local Governments Areas of Delta State. The nearest test centres in Warri and Abraka, already oversubscribed were between 45 to 60 kilometres away.

Unfortunately, there was no guarantee that a candidate would write the examination in the nearest centre. Hear an aggrieved student who arrived late for the CBT; “Imagine, I live at Ajah, Lekki, Lagos State and went to Igboho Oyo State to write my exam which is about 12 hours drive”. There were allegations of candidates who were registered in Lagos but posted to neighbouring states of Osun, Ogun and Kwara to write the CBT examination. The financial and safety implications arenot difficult to imagine; the transport fares for candidates, parents or guardians, as well as hotel accommodation could easily add tens of thousands of Naira to the examination cost. This was the experience of many who had to cross many state borders in search of the Golden Fleece.

The next problem is the quality of the equipment in the various examination centres including the computer hardwares, the servers and the local area network that link the servers to the computer terminals. A very common result of hardware malfunction reported during the CBT is “network getting hooked” and or automatic submission of the examination by the system. The candidate most likely fails the examination since he cannot write again! Or how can you ameliorate the pains and trauma of a candidate who reported to a CBT centre at 6 a.m. on one day, and did not get home until the next day because of equipment failure? No amount of “looking into the complaints” will reduce the agony of such victims of equipment failures and malfunctions.

According to an opinion in “The Nation” on March 19, 2015, computer illiteracy is a major obstacle to success in the JAMB’s CBT. According to the findings of The Nation’s correspondents, the majority of candidates who wrote the CBT in Kano were not computer literate! I dare say that the most likely victims of the hurriedly introduced CBT are those already regarded as educationally disadvantaged, who never had the opportunity to acquire computer literacy, and live far from potential CBT centres in the North East or the North West geopolitical zones, or other rural communities elsewhere in Nigeria. Any testing platform that denies a single qualified candidate an opportunity for admission into a higher institution ought to be reviewed without delay.

By the way it is currently implemented, JAMB’s CBT potentially denies hundreds of thousands of otherwise qualified Nigerians the opportunity to gain admission into a higher institution. Time is of essence in the natural development of institutions and facilities that could facilitate the execution of the computer based test nationwide. First, the tertiary institutions need to be systematically equipped with functional Information and Communication Technology facilities to improve the output of their staff and students alike. Such facilities could be routinely used by JAMB for the yearly exercise.

The introduction of computer education facilities into secondary schools along with other instruments of science education would adequately furnish the senior secondary school graduates the basic skill they may require for the CBT thereafter. This must precede the full implementation of the CBT. Meanwhile, the paper and pencil test must be allowed to run side by side with the CBT until the nation is ready! We cannot run away from the devastating reality of examination malpractice in Nigeria; we must tackle it headlong by implementing measures to reduce it to the barest minimum at every level of our educational system.

The Proprietress, Gemsville International Schools, Ifako, Lagos, Mrs. Liz Emmanuel has urged government to ensure that school’s curriculum is reviewed regularly to accommodate new innovations.

This, according to her, will improve the standard of education and make schools 21st Century inclined.

She stated this during the 3rd graduation and prize- giving day ceremony of the schools held recently.

Emmanuel explained that the world which has become a global village is now into critical thinking and creativity and if the curriculum of Nigerian schools is not reviewed at the appropriate time to accommodate these changes, the students will lag behind.

The educationist disclosed that her schools make use of both British and Nigerian Curricula which enable their pupils to be exposed to critical thinking and creativity.

She noted that British curriculum which her schools apply is always being reviewed to make it relevant to international level and this according to her helps their children to put theory into practice and also gives them the ability to compete at international level.

The proprietress also stated that the school was established to raise God fearing future leaders who will attain greater heights and also become nation builders.

The chairman of the school board, Rev. Adeola Emmanuel said that the school is being rebranded in order to take their pupils to the next level.

In her remark, the head of school, Mrs. Olufolake Bisiriyu reiterated that the British curriculum the schools use exposes the pupils to better knowledge acquisition.

***We’ll arrest and prosecute them soon –Govt
***Applicants finger scholarship staff over fraud

The Federal Government has raised the alarm over activities of fraudsters in its scholarship programmes for Nigerian students within and outside the country.

Government said the impostors present themselves to the public as staff of its Scholarship Board and rake in illicit money from the act.

This is even as National Mirror met with two victims of the impersonators in Ondo and Osun states at the weekend. They gave accounts of their transactions with the fraudsters; but blamed staff of the Scholarship Board and entire staff of the Federal Ministry of Education for the crime.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, MacJohn Nwaobiala, said the impostors deceive their victims asking them to pay some thousands of naira to enable their applications receive prompt processing and approval.

The victims, he said, are either candidates, or their relatives who seek admissions into Unity Colleges, Federal Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education through government scholarships.

Nwaobiala said government introduced the scholarships to make education more accessible to Nigerians, and to make government more committed to education in the country.According to him, three forms of scholarship are made available to the public by the Federal Government. They are the Nigerian awards (tenable in Nigerian Tertiary institutions), the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) (received from countries with which the country has bilateral education agreements) and the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan awards (made to Nigeria and reciprocal awards by Nigeria for postgraduate studies tenable in Commonwealth countries.

All the categories, he informed, are ongoing. He explained that the impostors contact applicants/scholars via telephone calls and text messages demanding payment of some money to help approve the processing and approval of their scholarships.

The victims, he further disclosed, pay at least N20, 000 in the first phase of the transaction; followed by other payments which could stretch to three or more by the dupe.

“The Ministry does not charge money to offer admission at any level. If a candidate is not selected under national merit, state equity or other criteria, there are no agents that would be paid to make the admission possible. Please be mindful of admission racketeers. .

“The general public is hereby informed that these fraudulent persons have no relationship with Federal Ministry of Education and Federal Scholarship Board and that no money is collected for processing and awarding of scholarship and for admission into the Unity Colleges or any Federal Institution. Candidates are advised to disregard these calls and messages. Whosoever does any transactions of such does so at his or her own risk. Please, note that these fraudulent acts have been reported to the law enforcement agents for further investigation with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book,” he added.

He maintained that the official channels for dealing with the Federal Scholarship Board or Federal Ministry of Education are through their websites – www.fsb.gov.ng, and www.fme.gov.ng – as well as their official telephone numbers and personal visits.

Nwaobiala stressed that the procedures for obtaining the scholarship awards are via online application, followed by nationwide nomination interviews, “after which the Inter- Ministerial Committee meeting, made up of Federal Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Federal Character Commission and National Planning Commission, ratifies the results.

“The process above provides the Data Bank for the Board’s nomination and selection as the case may be. It should however be emphasized that no payment of money is required throughout the entire process and the awards are usually advertised in national media…

“Once again, parents, guardians, applicants and the general public are advised to be wary of fraudsters and racketeers and to conduct their business through official, approved channels,” he stated. He however informed that security agencies in the countries had been briefed and that they had begun a manhunt for the masterminds of the act.

He told National Mirror at the briefing that no one had been apprehended but that security officials had pledged they would make arrests for prosecution.

Speaking with our correspondents in separate telephone interviews at the weekend, two victims, Eniola Makinde and Peter Orimolusi said they had received messages from the tricksters over their applications. Makinde said he got two different messages on his phone on second day of July this year, informing him that the sender was working on his application for the Nigerian Award scholarship.

Mr. Olawale Bashorun, Provost, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Otto\Ijanikin, Lagos State assumed office four years ago. Before then, he had been the head of Department of Agricultural/Education where he started as a Senior Lecturer in 1998. He is also a former Dean of the School of Vocational and Technical Education of the college. In this interview with TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE, Bashorun, an alumnus of Virginia State University, USA where he obtained both his first and masters’ degrees in the mid 80s bares his mind about the recent upgrading of four colleges of education into degree-awarding institutions and his journey so far as the helmsman of the college. Excerpts:

It has been observed by many that the majority of students consider colleges of education as their last option after failure to secure admission into the university. How do you react to this?

The observation is correct and there are many factors for it. However, I will blame the situation on the society. Gone are the days when teachers were held in high esteem in the society. To have a teacher in a family then was a proud to such a family. It is not that teachers are no more respected again but not like those days. Another issue is that of fallen standards of performance of students in examinations. Many of them are just too lazy to study and when they don’t have opportunity of cheating in exam, they end up obtaining low marks. And when they can’t meet up with cut off marks for degree courses after several attempts, they consider coming to colleges of education as last option. So that is the issue. But then, those who start their teaching training programmes at colleges of education and have strong passion for teaching are usually very good on the job.

Then, how can it be addressed?

It is simple. Government should make teaching an attractive profession. The issue of professionalism, proper regulation of the profession by the Teachers Regulation Council of Nigeria (TRCN) must be brought to bear. Regulation of school population by the supervisory agencies and sustainability of training and re-training of teachers are also important.

Apart from paying teachers prompt and competitive salaries and allowances, those who distinguish themselves at work should equally be adequately rewarded. All these will greatly help in addressing social degradation and deprivation associated with teaching when compared to other professions.

So, as a whole, the subsector needs effective regulations. Quacks should not be allowed to teach. Quacks are those who are not trained as teachers but find teaching as last option for them when they could not secure job elsewhere.

Jonathan’s administration towards end of the regime upgraded four colleges of education into university status, what is the implications of the development on the NCE programmes in future?

This is an interesting question. We all know that college of education serves as the third leg which tertiary education stands in the production of manpower needs anywhere around the world. To narrow it down to Nigeria, the unit is charged with the responsibility of producing qualitative middle-level manpower (teachers) who should be capable of laying and sustaining solid foundation for the country’s education development. We should not forget the fact that whatever the kind of education the children are exposed to at the primary school level will largely determine their performance as they move up the ladder.

So, one striking implication of the upgrading is that the development can lead to gradual extinction of colleges of education and consequently inability to produce middle-level manpower for the country in the long run. What I am saying is that many more people may not want to come to college of education again to study. And you know what that means on the primary education and junior secondary schools. But then, the development is not totally unnecessary because, it will help boosting enrolment for education courses in the universities.

It is almost four years you have been on this seat; how would you assess your administration so far.?

This is a hard thing for me to do. I would have preferred somebody else to do the assessment. But then, this will only be difficult if there is nothing to point to as the achievements and challenges of my administration. And I will first of all say that whatever achievements I mention is not for me alone but for the entire college community-the governing council, management and entire staff, the students and other AOCOED stakeholders. We all do the work together with the support of God. It is only that I am on the driver’s seat.

Those who are familiar to AOCOED will agree with me that the environment was not like this before I assumed office. By the grace of God AOCOED is now wearing the look of a standard higher institution. We have been able to secure full accreditation of all our NCE and degree programmes by relevant bodies. Our graduates are being inducted into the teaching profession just after graduation. This is done in collaboration with the Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

We have been able to complete our e-library 50-seater facility with members of staff and students now accessing useful materials online. The institution’s School of Languages has been connected to internet and this is boosting students’ oral communication skills in both local and foreign languages. Similarly, everything about admission, course registration and fees payment is now carried out online. Collection of results and certificates are equally now processed online. These are plus to the college. AOCOED is now carrying out its services in conformity with the world best practices.

Staff welfare has also been improved tremendously. Their salaries are being paid as due and those who are due for promotion are being promoted. We equally organise, from time to time, capacity building for our staff most especially those in academic and in the registry.

We have also been able to boost our internally generated revenue base. Now, the college produces its own table water for sale, and so and so forth.

Does it mean all is well with the college.?

That is by the grace of God. But even at that, we still face some challenges like every other institution. An inadequate fund has prevented us from having fresh recruitment of lecturers for the departments where we have shortage. We are also unable to equip our new health centre fully and that is why the centre cannot operate maximally.

Inability to integrate adhoc staff who have served the college meritoriously into full employment as promised by the state government as well as reclaiming of some portion of land from intruders are part of our challenges. Another one is that of staff pension, particularly of the retirees, which the college cannot still meet up with. Some of our road networks are also not motorable.