Education: Sanwo-Olu Rewards EDD1 Agege Teacher, Other Outstanding Teachers With Brand New Cars | AgegePulse Magazine

 

… Lauds Teachers for Placing Lagos on National Pedestal

… Inaugurates Finalists as Ambassadors of the State

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, today presented cars, among other gifts, to outstanding teachers and school administrators in the State in fulfilment of his promise to reward excellence and hard work in the teaching profession.

Speaking at the grand finale of the Y2020 Teachers Merit Awards held at the Sports Pavilion, Lagos House, Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasised that the initiative is in line with the State Government’s commitment to using education as a weapon to change the world, adding that through education, which represents the third pillar of the present administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda, a template was developed towards rewarding selflessness, dedication and diligence amongst teachers in the State.

While appreciating the feats achieved by teachers in the State, especially in national competitions, he declared that “Our teachers keep placing Lagos on national pedestal”.

Sanwo-Olu opined that if teachers have such exceptional qualities, pupils will not only excel in academics but will also exhibit innate sterling abilities in cognitive, psychomotor, affective and co-curricular areas of learning.

His words: “Our teachers must continue to uphold the ethics of the teaching profession and display an uncommon sense of responsibility and greater commitment to duty”.

The Governor affirmed that the group of awardees will serve as Lagos State Ambassadors of Excellence in Education for the next year, while advising the teachers not to see the initiative as a contest but a way to motivate them to continue to put in their best, believing that such commitment will one day be rewarded.

“We will continue the massive investment in the education sector by improving the capacity and welfare of our school personnel, making the sector more ICT-compliant, exposing our teachers to international best practices as well as ensuring that our schools become a destination for work and learning”, he asserted.

Earlier in her welcome address, the State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, stressed that the event is indeed a testament to a promise made and fulfilled. She highlighted that the committee received over 3200 applications and through stringent evaluation criteria, they were able to select the finalists.

Mrs. Adefisayo lauded the Governor for his passion towards rewarding excellence, most especially enhancing the welfare of teachers, which adds value to the growth of the education sector.

The Commissioner informed that the finalists will be showcased and exposed to multiple opportunities which will enhance the vision of the State in restoring the prestige of the teaching profession and encourage the return of teaching as a career of choice for the youths.

Each of the winners of the Y2020 Award, which include Adesola Akindele, Temitope Gbadamosi, Temitope Ibiwunmi, Rasheed Odenike, Rebecca Oyinloye, Oluwaseun Balogun, Joshua Olasehinde, Abosede Padonu-Daniel, Ekundayo Ajiborisade, Tolulope Odusanya, Tawakalitu Akinleye and Ovinuyon Buhari, was presented with a car, tablets and plaques among other gifts by the State Government.

Responding on behalf of the awardees, an elated Mrs. Ovinuyon Buhari expressed appreciation for the gesture by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, describing it as a dream come true.

Mrs. Buhari applauded the State Government for its commitment towards supporting teachers and ensuring their welfare is given utmost priority, noting that the screening process was indeed intense but fulfilling as they were able to learn better ways of delivering service to their respective schools.

She, therefore, promised the Governor that all the awardees will not relent in ensuring qualitative teaching is enshrined in all Lagos Schools.

Education District 1 Teacher Braces For $1m In Global Teachers' Competition

AgegePulse Magazine

A Nigerian teacher in Lagos Education District one, Soji Megbowon, who teaches Mathematics and Computer Science at Jakande Comprehensive Senior College, Abesan, within the district is among the 50 teachers worldwide vying for the Global Teacher Prize of $1million.

Megbowon’s nomination as a finalist was announced by the Varkey Foundation on Thursday, which said it scoured the four corners of the world to pick the finalists.

There were over 10,000 nominations from 179 countries, out of which 50 finalists were selected from 39 countries.

The prize in its fifth year is awarded to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to their profession.

“Our top 50 finalists include teachers developing peace-building skills and advocates for inclusivity to teachers changing curriculum’s in their countries and integrating migrants into classrooms – they are all champions for change and are inspiring students and communities around them”, the foundation said.

There were eight other finalists from Africa, with Kenya’s Maina Gioko, from Aga Khan Academy in Mombassa and Peter Tabichi from Keriko Secondary School in Nakuru, taking two slots.

Other African teachers in the race are Assane Ndiaye from Senegal, Chifuniro M’manga Kamwendo(Malawi), James Linville(Somalia), Robert Gbari Gariba(Ghana) and the only woman Thejane Malakane from Maseru, Lesotho.

Megbowon, from Ondo State, apart from teaching in the state school in Lagos, runs a non-for-profit enterprise and is a social innovator in edutech.

He became a Tony Elumelu Foundation entrepreneur in 2016, with his Calculus EduAIDS, which he founded in 2015, to research and develop inclusive curriculum-based educational aids that bridge the learning gaps created by large class sizes.

With help from the foundation, he also developed TEENPRENEURS HUB, a leadership incubation, STEM education and entrepreneurship centre that trains and empower teenagers and other young people from his host community – Abesan, Lagos, Nigeria, to become transformational leaders and solution providers through our holistic education mode.

Through his classroom practices and the introduction of curriculum-based learning aids, he has recorded and maintained a 20% improvement in academic performance in the past two years. Over 50 students from other schools who have attended his organised student leadership programme are now leaders in their respective institutions.

In 2017, Megbowon was one of the local trainers selected for AFRICA CODE week to train over 500 teachers in Ondo State. He has also received the Lagos State Education District commendation, the Creative and Innovative Teacher award, and a commendation from the Vice-President of Nigeria.

If awarded the Global Teacher Prize, Megbowon said he would use 30% of the funds to acquire equipment to distribute 30,000 free copies of his curriculum-based learning aids; 40% would be used to distribute 15,000 free copies of his newly invented “letters and digits” board games that teach literacy and numeracy; and 30% would be used to start a mobile technology hub to bridge technology gaps affecting people in rural and underserved communities.

 (NAN)

Kogi LG workers to receive 54% of salary

Local Government workers in Kogi State have applauded the state government for its decision to increase their monthly percentage salary from 30 per cent to 54 per cent with effect from this month.


The state chapters of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees gave the commendation in a statement in Lokoja on Sunday.
It said that the decision to raise the bar was commendable and urged the government to take cognizance of the percentages of salary yet to be paid.

The statement signed by Mr Onu Edoka, Mr Tade Adeyemi and Mr Thomas Ayodele, state Chairmen of MHWUN, NULGE and NUT respectively urged the government to continue this gesture until 100 per cent salary payment is regularised.

“Government should include in the payroll the names of all the staff and teachers that have been cleared but are to be captured on the payroll, while the case of the uncleared undergoing review should be resolved without further delay,“ the statement said.


The workers promised to reciprocate the government‘s gesture by continuous loyalty, support and dedication to duty.

NAN
Punch

Apapa: FG must revive Ports in other states, oil pipelines to save Lagos from gridlock - Ambode

...Calls for redistribution of tank farms to outer borders
…Approves employment of 1000 teachers
...Holds 12th Town Hall Meeting in Ibeju Lekki

AgegePulse Magazine

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday tasked the Federal Government to do everything within its powers to revive existing Ports in other States of the federation so as to bring about permanent solution to the perennial traffic congestion in Apapa axis of the State.

Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Third Quarter Town Hall Meeting, the 12th in the Series, held at the Community Primary School, Iberekodo in Ibeju Lekki Local Government, said the recent chaos witnessed in the area was beyond traffic issues, saying that concerted efforts must be made to revamp moribund ports.

According to him,  beyond getting other ports up and running,  the issue of tankers queuing up to lift petroleum products from Tank Farms in Apapa was also a major issue causing gridlock and damaging road infrastructure in the area,  which according to him was inimical to the economic growth of not just the State,  but Nigeria in general.

"It would be very unfair to Lagosians if I don't talk about issues relating to traffic management and integrated transport management most especially what we have witnessed in the last one week in Apapa, but again I would like to tell Lagosians that every stakeholder that is ‎relevant to resolving the Apapa crisis, we have gone to work and you can see that there is a major improvement.

"But again, this issue has become perennial and in the last six years, it's always been there, it comes and goes, but the challenge is to be able to find a permanent solution and in that reason Mr. President had directed the Vice President to come and see what the situation is and to actually give us a permanent solution. We are grateful Mr. President, we believe strongly that every layer of government should collaborate to be able to resolve this Apapa crisis.

"But we all must know that Apapa crisis is more than traffic issues. That is where all States depend on for revenue through Customs because the revenue is shared at FAAC. If anything goes wrong in the Port, whatever they get from Federal Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) could reduce,” Governor Ambode said.

Stressing that the Apapa congestion was a national issue that required urgent attention, the Governor also noted that oil pipelines should be revived to discourage the trend of thousands of trucks coming from other parts of the country to lift petroleum products from Apapa.

"It is bad that we still use truck to lift petroleum products from Apapa to other parts of the country. As it is now, other ports in Nigeria must begin to work immediately to decongest gridlock in Lagos.‎ Whatever has led to continual use of trucks to lift fuel, which is, vandalism of pipeline should be addressed immediately.

"We believe that this will allow the roads to become free.  We don't need to continuously use tax payers’ money to build road that were destroyed by tankers.  We call on the Minister of Petroleum and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to work towards reviving the pipelines," he said.

The Governor also expressed concern about the approval for the development of tank farms in Ijegun area of Lagos, saying that as much as the State supports redistribution of tank farms, such should be located in areas that are not populated.

"We don't need tank farms within Lagos metropolis anymore. There are 68 tank farms in Apapa alone. That is a serious danger waiting to happen. Beyond Apapa, they have approved tank farms in Ijegun axis and that is where we have huge population.

"We need to redistribute tank farm establishment to outer borders and other parts. This is what we believe should be done at this moment to free Lagos roads," he said.

Speaking on the efforts of his administration to develop the economy of the State, Governor Ambode said his administration has continued to keep faith with its mandate to ensure that the future of Lagos remains on a sound pedestal.

He said the Town Hall meeting, which had moved round the three senatorial districts in the State from its first edition held in October 6, 2015 has continued to provide the Government with first hand information on the needs of the people and how best to solve them.

"Our promise from the very beginning was that we are going to give you a government of inclusion and it's very clear that we are on track. When we look at our scorecard, which is to keep Lagos on a trajectory of growth and development, we are on that track.

"We are happy to be here. We are everywhere meeting the needs of our people, asking them what the issues are and wanting to respond positively to those issues. Yes, we are not perfect, we would try our best but our people know that we are doing things that would create prosperity for their future," Governor Ambode said.

Besides, the Governor said that his administration was not oblivious of the fact that the Eastern and Western axis of the State were pivotal to the future prosperity of Lagos.

Giving an insight on the next plan of action for the Ibeju Lekki axis,  Governor Ambode also said the construction of the Epe Airport and reconstruction of the Coastal Road were very much on course, adding that the dualization of the Eleko Junction to the T-Junction would commence in January 2019, while the 27 network of roads in Ojokoro, Ayinke House, among others would be completed before the next quarter.

The Governor, while thanking traditional rulers, community heads and residents of Ibeju Lekki for their unflinching support towards the advancement of the multibillion dollar projects ongoing in the Lekki Free Trade Zone assured that all issues relating to compensation would be resolved before the end of the week.

Governor Ambode also announced the commencement of recruitment of 1,000 teachers in the State, adding that more would be recruited as the need arises.
 
Taking questions from residents, Governor Ambode said his administration would go back to the drawing board and respond accordingly to issues raised, appealing to residents to be patient as the Government would continue to deliver more life changing projects to make life more comfortable for the people.

A physically challenged resident and graduate of Computer Studies, Micheal Ogunyemi who said he had been jobless for five years could not hold back his joy as the Governor directed the Civil Service Commission to grant him immediate employment from August 1, while relevant agencies were directed to address various issues raised by residents.