FG spends N49bn to feed pupils in two years -Presidency

Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

The Presidency on Thursday said the Federal Government has spent N49bn on the feeding of primary school pupils under the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, a component of the government’s Social Investment Programme, in the last two years.
The Special Adviser to the President on NSIP, Mrs. Mariam Uwais, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja.

Uwais said 8, 596,340 pupils were currently being fed in 46,247 public primary schools in 24 states.
The 24 states, according to her, include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, and Zamfara.

The presidential aide said through the programme, 90,670 Nigerians had been engaged and empowered as cooks while over 100,000 local farmers had also been linked with the programme to supply locally sourced farm produce.
She said, “We have created a value chain with significant economic benefits to the microeconomic development of the states.

“The value chain offers additional benefits of job creation and increased livelihood outcomes for both cooks and small holder-farmers, hence improving livelihood and the local economies.”
Uwais noted that government was having challenges with the implementation of the school feeding programme in Niger and Benue states.

She said already some officials in the programme in the two states have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for the investigation and prosecution.

“The National Social Investment Office is ably empowered to suspend the programme in any state where the prescribed standard is reported to have fallen below expectation until a redesigned and realignment is achieved,” the presidential aide noted.

Uwais said the government has achieved 30 percent improvement in school enrollment in the country since the commencement of the programme.

She said while the Federal Government budgeted and appropriated N500bn for the 2016 fiscal year and the same amount in 2017, only about N140bn was released in 2017 while N80bn was accessed in 2016.


Other components of the SIP are N-Power, National Cash Transfer Project, and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme.

Punch

Our Teachers Worth More Than Gold, Diamond-Permanent Secretary, Education District 1, Agege, Dr. Yinka Ayandele

As the 2017 World Teachers Day approaches, If you think you have seen the best in the manner at which teacher are being celebrated across the world, then you have not seen anything as managers of Lagos Education District One, under the leadership of Dr. Mrs. Yinka Ayandele are set to give teachers domiciled in the district awesome teachers day celebration treat.

According to Dr. Ayandele, the district has resolved to use the 2017 Teachers Day to celebrate the teachers in a unique way adding that a week long programme has been designed to complement efforts of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and his Deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule who have been ensuring massive improvement in teachers welfare.

"Our teachers have been enjoying massive welfare packages under this present administration coupled with holistic improvement in the standard and quality of education in Lagos State.

"We have decided to complement the efforts of the state government by designing a week long program in conjunction with the Nigerian Union of Teachers and the Local Government Education Authorities under our district to make the 2017 Teachers Day memorable for our teachers.

"We believe, this kind of arrangement, is needed, to serve as a source of motivation for our teachers who have always given more than hundred percent while discharging their duties. They are worth more than gold and diamond." Said Ayandele.

The one week-long programme started on Saturday September 30th, with a-5kilometers fitness Walk tagged "Building Healthy Workforce", where over 1500 teachers and principals alongside, Dr. Mrs. Ayandele, retired TGPS, Dr. Mrs. Soname, Executive Secretary of Agege LGEA, Hon. Olamilekan Majiyagbe, wife of incumbent Agege LGA Chairman, Mrs. Egunjob, ANCOPPS President, Education Secretary, Alimosho LGEA, Hon Airat Mojirade Alamu, and a host of others walked from Government College, Iyana Ipaja to the prestigious Agege Stadium amidst the rainfall.

AgegePulse learnt that the celebration continues on Tuesday October 3rd, with a seminar for teachers in the district.

Also,  It was learnt that students across the 99 (Ninety-nine) schools under EDDI will use their co-curriculum period on Wednesday October 4th, to celebrate their teachers with interesting presentations, drama, staff rooms decorations and many more. In addition, Teachers will carry out exhibitions of various instructional materials that they have designed in the last one year.

Then, there would be icing on the cake of the celebration on Thursday October 5th, 2017 (World Teachers Day) with a colourful event for the teachers.

Establishment Of Cooperative College Will Boost Lagos economy Says Lagos Assembly Speaker, Obasa

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa on Thursday said that the establishment of Lagos State Cooperative College would further enhance economic progress of the state.

Obasa spoke at a Public Hearing on a Bill for a Law to Establish the Lagos State Cooperative College and for Connected Matters organised by the House Committee on Commerce and Industry led by Hon. Oladele Adekanye.

The Speaker, who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, said that the bill, when passed into law, would afford cooperators with adequate skills for economic promotion.

Obasa said: "This bill is geared towards effective administration of cooperative societies and enhancing the economic progress of the state.

"If the bill is passed into law, it will ensure the qualitative training of cooperators who with their professional skills in turn promote the economic activities.

“The bill when passed into law also will empower the college to provide courses of instructions leading to the award of degrees, diplomas and certificates and other studies as prescribed by the college.

"This bill, which seeks to give statutory backing to the Lagos State Cooperative College, will go a long way in the production of seasoned and well-trained cooperators to enhance the cooperative movement in the state.”

One of the stakeholders, Mr Abdulwaheed Baruwa, President, Zero Interest Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Alausa advocated the inclusion of Islamic Finance Mechanism in the curriculum of the college.Baruwa called for inclusion of experts in Islamic financial system in the governing council of the college.

Education: Capacity Building

Agege LGA Mobilizes Youth for Vocational Training

A new batch of youth in Agege Local Government Area has been mobilized for new session at the world class Agege Vocational Training Centre. This is coming after the graduation of about 400 youth that have been trained on various vocations over the year.

In a chat with AgegePulse at the sensitization cum orientation exercise organized for the new intakes, the Sole Administrator of Agege LGA, Hon. Olugbenga Abiola stated that acquiring a vocational skill is necessary to impart positively on the youth especially those who live and reside in Agege, stating that this type of initiative would re-orientate, reshape and redirect the youth by giving them a sense of belonging towards achieving success and enjoyment of the dividend of democracy.

He revealed that the new session is part of his plan to ensure an intensive youth empowerment programme with a curriculum to instill discipline in the youth.

 “It is more intensive than just a regular vocational training. For instance, we have tailoring programme which is a year course, the hairdressing /cosmetologist section is a 6 mo

nths course, computer studies is a three months course, computer engineering takes three months, phone engineering is three months, catering is 6 months and after the training, participants get certificate just like a diploma” S.A highlighted .

Speaking on the theme; Youth Unemployment & Role of Vocational Training to Nation Building, Agege LGA Head of Education, Mr. Peter Bamidele Adetimeyin noted that financial crisis, lack of adequate skills, as well as skills and education mismatched are major causes of unemployment in Nigeria.

detimeyin stressed that the consequences of the aforementioned causes of unemployment should endeared youth to take advantage of the practical system of vocational training, adding that university undergraduates should also consider acquiring practical skills to give them edge upon graduation. 

He affirmed that vocational training is the key to solve youth unemployment.