FG To Conduct Census Of Out-Of-School Children

The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I has said Nigeria would conduct a head count of out-of-school children in 2014.

Rufa’I announced this when she received a delegation from UNESCO in Abuja on Monday.

She said President Goodluck Jonathan had directed that the Ministry to partner with states and come out with a clear and workable strategy to address the issue of out-of-school children.

According to her, the ministry plans to reduce the number of out-of-school children significantly between now and 2014 as Nigeria has the highest number of such children in the world.

She said Nigeria was willing to accept statistics given by agencies as the country’s development partners.

“We will not challenge such statistics. What is most important to us is to address the main issue; and that is let every Nigerian child be in school, that is our target,” she said.

The minister said Nigeria was always ready to partner with organisations to enhance data to be used for development and measurement of progress.

Rufa’I, therefore, called on UNESCO to assist Nigeria in addressing the issues of enhancing data and ranking of Nigerian universities.


“Every Nigerian university has something to showcase, but because of inadequate ICT facilities and power instability, not much is discovered about them. This contributes to their being ranked low,” she noted.

The Director of UNESCO Office in Dakar, Dr Ann-Therese Ndong-Jatta, pledged the agency’s support to help enhance Nigeria’s data quality for the development of the education sector.

Ndong-Jatta expressed UNESCO’s readiness to support Nigeria in the development of the sector, especially in the area of teacher training and development.

She said the Agency could only do that based on accurate and timely data.

She said education was a vital component of the agency’s mandate and called for an enhanced data on the sector to enable it to fulfill its mandate.

The director said Nigeria’s role in the actualisation of the agency’s goal was vital because it occupied a strategic position on the African continent.

She urged the country to speed up preparations toward post Education for All (EFA) Goal 2015 and support other African countries in doing so.

Ndong-Jatta urged Nigeria to mobilise other African countries toward the realisation of this goal as Africa is lagging behind. (NAN)

Bank Security Man Breaks own bank ATM, Steals N12m

A security man and employee of First Bank Nigeria Plc, Jibowu Branch, Seyi Jaiyeola, is standing trial at a magistrate’s court in Ebute Meta for allegedly breaking the company’s automated teller machine and stealing a sum of N12, 533,900.

The bank’s branch Service Manager, Mr. Kayode Aiyewunmi, who gave evidence in court, said Jaiyeola was on a N20, 000 monthly pay and was a member of the Odua People’s Congress.

He said the company had observed that one of the bank’s four ATMs was having a reconciliation problem and had employed the service of an expert to help unravel mysterious disappearances of money.

Aiyewunmi said, “We discovered that there was always a shortage of cash in the machine.

“Despite our reconciliation efforts, the ATM was still having problems and we engaged the service of an expert who submitted his report and said the machine did not have any reconciliation issue.

“He said somebody was breaking into the machine in the middle of the night to steal the cash.

“I reported the matter to my boss, who said I should conduct an investigation into the matter. “When the last breakage happened, we went to play back the branch’s CCTV, and we now saw Jaiyeola in the middle of the night, opening the window at the back of my office. There’s a control panel which controls the security door, which he touched. So, the CCTV stopped.”

He said it was at that point the company concluded he was the brain behind the theft.

Repent From Your Evil Ways - Catholic Priest Tells Charles Inojie

Popular comic actor, Charles Inojie has been given a stern warning by a Catholic Priest to repent from his ways. This warning was given to him by one Rev. Fr. Anya of the St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish, Uzuakoli, Abia State.

In his sermon at the funeral service held for late father of Nollywood star, Chinedu Ikedieze well known as Aki, held last week Saturday in Abia, the Priest went towards the actor, when he (Charles) jestingly allegedly gotuncomfortable with the topic of the sermon, said to the actor’s face that he should repent and change from his evil ways.

The pronouncement left many into wondering what the servant of God must have seen in Inojie. However, after hissermon, he returned and prayed for the star actor.

Source

”I have only 8 - 9 weeks to survive” – OJB Jezreel

In a recent interview with Encomium we found out that things are not looking Good with Ojb Jezreel at all.

Pls remeber his account details are: Babatunde Okungbowa. UBA – 1015075120. He says he has about 8 weeks to stay alive except he undergoes the operation.

What is the state of your health?

The state where we are is the state we actually need a transplant. When early diagnosis was done it was just a case of Renal Infection. Right now, the two kidneys are gone,but we a running dialysis at the moment.

When did you observe that you have this illness?

It was two years ago, but it was not depreciated to this level. Then it was a gradual process. it was just like a doctor’s prescription to control your blood pressure level. we did all that , but having off and on experience until it got to this stage.

What would you attribute to this ailment?

Most time people tend to atribute kidney problem to drunkenness or smoking. I was told that it doesn’t have anything to do with that, because as much as i drink and smoke then, it was casual drinking. maybe, they offer you a bottle of drink and all that, not that i have to drink 15 bottles or drink all through the day.

How much do you need for a transplant?

For transplant itself, it varies, because the procedure is $25000. The whole process of the treatment from pre-process,transplanting and post-transplanting will cost about $100,000. I(n two years i have spent up to five million which i have been trying to maintain myself. that is why it has been kept secret.

When are you going for the transplant?

God willing, i have like 8 to 10 weeks more to get it done. It’s strange, i still walk around a little. I can’t eat much again, N20 rice is even enough. I trust God and Nigerians for their financial assistance.

Owerri Is Not Safe - Olu Jacob Warns

Embittered that his iPad could not be found after it was lost while on a movie set, veteran Nollywood actor, Olu Jacobs has reportedly warned his colleagues on the same movie set with him in Owerri, Imo State to be careful of how they handle their valuables while in the city.

According to what we gathered, Olu Jacobs, who is the husband of another veteran actress, Joke Silva, though never made emphasis of Owerri being an unsecured place, but advised them (his colleagues) on the same movie location in Owerri to be mindful of misplacement of valuables, furthering that nobody or place is crime free again.

The actor lost his iPad which he is yet to get it back till this moment. We heard he is scared of the contents in the device.

Source

Aregbesola’s A Good Example Of Good Governance – Okonjo Iweala

Accolades once more came the way of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State as the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that through his programmes, he has demonstrated that good governance is possible.

Okonjo-Iweala, who was represented by the national coordinator of the Federal Government-initiated Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO), Mr Peter Papka, at a two-day workshop organised by the World Bank in Iloko-Ijesha, at the weekend, said with the successful implementation of OYES, Aregbesola had shown that youth development was not impossible.

According to her, “You have demonstrated that good governance is possible with your programmes. You have demonstrated that youth development is possible. Your programmes so far have demonstrated that you are a good example of government and governance.”

Aregbesola, while addressing participants drawn from seven states, including Osun, the host state, said the nation deserved a lot of attention as the leadership that should drive people for development was missing.

The governor stressed that it was possible for the citizens to have a good life if the nation utilised its productive capacity, saying unemployment was the bane of excruciating poverty, total insecurity and under-development in the country.

Aregbesola said it was in appreciation of this negative development that his administration came up with OYES Scheme to serve as a cushioning measure for drastic reduction of poverty.

“There is grim and excruciating poverty unimaginable in this country 18 to 20 years ago. And if we continue like this, the situation will be bad. To nip the situation in the bud, we came up with OYES” he explained.

Lagos Begins Drainage Clearing, Demolition Of Structures To Prevent Flooding

Lagos state government has embarked on aggressive clearing of drainages in Apapa area of the state in order to control perennial flooding and as well ensure free flow of traffic.

The government also directed the supervising officials of all ongoing drainage projects to remove or demolish all obstructing objects along drainage paths to achieve maximum result.

Speaking at the weekend during an inspection of the area as part of measures to check cases of flood in the current rainy season, Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, said it was important to ensure water channels are not blocked.

Currently, work is ongoing on some of the collector drainages in the area.

Clearing of drainage system is ongoing in Liverpool/Signal Barrack/Creek Road, Marine Road, Randle Road, while construction is also on course around Marine Beach and Leventis/Arakan Barracks collector drain.

However, on Warehouse, Pelewura and Randle Roads, the drainages were discovered to be blocked, causing flooding and obstructing motorists who had to wade through the water.

The commissioner explained that the ministry had received several complaints from residents on the challenges they faced whenever it rained.

Again, Patience Jonathan Says Port Harcourt Visit Not About Amaechi, 2015

First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan has again dismissed insinuations that her recent visit to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, was to hatch the plot for the impeachment of embattled Governor Rotimi Amaechi and campaign for her husband in the build up to the 2015 presidential election.

In a statement issued by one of her aides, Isiaka Aliagan, Mrs. Jonathan wondered why a private visit to Port Harcourt was given varied interpretations from different quarters.

The First Lady’s visit to the garden city generated mixed reactions from Nigerians and even moreso as the governor, his wife nor state government officials were seen at any of the events attended by the President’s wife thereby fuelling the speculations of a political cold war.

But the statement in dismissing the speculations, said, “It is important, therefore, to, for the records, state here that her Excellency’s visit was not in connection to 2015 nor was it to unseat the embattled governor of her state as speculated in some quarters,” the statement said.

Read full statement below.

The recent visit of the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan to her home state, Port Harcourt, has generated much speculation in the national dailies with varied interpretations from different quarters as to the reason for her Excellency’s visit.

It is important, therefore, to, for the records, state here that her Excellency’s visit was not in connection to 2015 nor was it to unseat the embattled governor of her state as speculated in some quarters. Her Excellence was in her home state to attend some private events whose dates were closely fixed. The right thing to do therefore, as she has done, was to stay for the programmes.

It should be noted that the very people who are giving interpretations to suit their own political inclinations on Her Excellency’s supposedly ‘long stay’ in her own home state would be the very people that would want to crucify her for ‘wasting’ state resources if she decides to attend each event separately.

For the records, her Excellence was the Special Guest of Honour at the official commissioning of the Yitzhak Rabin International School, Port Harcourt on Friday, June 15, 2013, during which she also received an award from the Yitzhak Rabin Centre for African Development for her successful advocacy for women empowerment and the achievement of enduring peace in Nigeria and around the continent.

The following day, Saturday 16, the First Lady was Mother of the Day at the wedding reception of her brother, a member of the Rivers State Legislature, Hon. Evans Bipi, which held at the Civic Centre in Port Harcourt.

Also on Wednesday, June 19, 2013, the First Lady formally opened the South-South Zonal Office of one of her NGOs, the Women for Change and Development Initiative, in Port Harcourt. An event which dovetailed into the distribution of socio-economic empowerment items to less privileged persons.

Lastly before returning to Abuja today, Sunday, June 23, 2013, the First Lady received well wishers at the burial of her grandfather.

Tinubu moves to replace his mother with his daughter as leader of Lagos State market women.

The Lagos State PDP has warned former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, to rescind his decision to impose his young daughter, Shade Tinubu-Ojo, as the new Leader of Market Women in the State.

In a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Taofik Gani, the Lagos state PDP said it noted “that the much touted democrat should allow the simple tenets of democracy to prevail in the selection of a new leader for the Market women, more so as there is no cogent evidence that his nominee and daughter is a full time market woman.

The former governor had announced this choice during the 8th day firdau prayer for his foster Mother and former Leader of Market Women, Abibat Mogaji.

The statement said Mr Tinubu plans to confirm this choice to market leaders at a meeting he has summoned to hold on Tuesday at his residence.

“This new development portends great danger for our democracy and indeed Lagos integrity. We are thus calling on the State Governor, Raji Fashola, not to sit on the fence at this auspicious time.

“Fashola must rise up and be counted now. He must exhibit control in governance especially when Tinubu’s interest conflicts with the Public interest. He must see to it that the process leading to the emergence of market Leader and any other leadership in the State is transparent, liberal and credible.

“Politics must not be overplayed to erode human decency and respect for due process. Any act that would break down the assumed Peace in the State must indeed be avoided.

Source

BREAKING NEWS: Judge sends Lagos speaker, Ikuforiji, to prison

Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has refused granting bail to the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, on self recognition, instead slamming a N1 billion bail on him. The judge ordered Mr. Ikuforiji to meet the bail condition within 48 hours or be held in prison pending the determination of the corruption case against him.

Mr. Ikuforiji was re-arraigned for alleged money laundering offence, alongside his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, before Mr. Buba; after the former judge, Okechukwu Okeke, retired from the bench.

Mr. Okeke had granted the speaker bail on self recognition.

Details later…