Paradise News

Category: Education

  • Recounting Zana Akpagu’s 4 years achievements as UNICAL VC

    By Inyali Peter

    The award-winning Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, UNICAL, Prof. Zana Akpagu was four years into his five-year tenure on the 30th of November 2019. He assumed office formally as the 10th and first Alumnus Vice Chancellor of the University on the 30th of November 2015.

    Unarguably, UNICAL, a 2nd generation University has had its best days since its establishment in the last four years of Prof. Akpagu’s administration. It’s almost impossible to think of any aspect of the University that has not developed rapidly since he came on board.

    Renowned for his charismatic leadership style which involves blowing hot and cold depending on which strategy best suits what he intends to achieve, Akpagu has successfully taken UNICAL from a stagnant 2nd generation University to a fast-rising 21st century institution.

    Akpagu, despite assuming office at a time the nation was going through one of her worst recessions of all times, he has been phenomenal. He is leaving indelible marks in the areas of infrastructure and development, programmes expansion, security, among others. Gradually, the University is becoming a huge construction sites.

    It’s on record that no Vice Chancellor in the over 40 years lifespan of the institution has completed or come close to completing more capital projects than Prof. Akpagu. In terms of curriculum offerings, it’s also the same, he holds the record as the VC who has established more programmes to meet the contemporary labour demands than any other in the history of the University.

    Besides, the profile of the University, nationally and internationally is rising radically. UNICAL, like the United States of America extolled sometime this year has become not just a national pride but a global brand.

    Days were UNICAL was dismissed with a wave of hand are over as Students and products of the University have taken the international community by storm. It wasn’t long ago that Students from the University won the World Best Oralist Competition held at the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) headquarters, Washington DC, United States of America.

    The University which fielded Students that represented the entire Africa continent at the International Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition also emerged runners up in the competition.

    Also, within the same period, UNICAL football team took the country by storm when nobody gave the University a chance by becoming the winner of the 2019 Nigeria Higher Institution Football League (HiFL) tournament. This was of course the first of it kind.

    As if that wasn’t enough, in the area of theatre and stage performance, the University is also Nigeria’s champion. In the recently held Nigerian Universities Theatre Festival, UNICAL emerged the overall best by sweeping most of the awards. The event which had 16 Universities participating saw UNICAL coming first in Short Film, Spoken Word and Stand-up Comedy competitions. The University also won the best overall Female Actor in the event.

    In other categories, UNICAL came third in Drama, Contemporary Dance as well as first, second and third in “on the spot” Solo Performance Workshop Competition. In the event’s Carnival competition, UNICAL band was adjudged the most colourful and best interpreted.

    In the past four years, Akpagu has been magical as he has been phenomenal. He has touched virtually every area in the University – ranging from Sports, Security, Alumni relations, Campus aesthetics, Expansion of curriculum offerings, Staff and Students welfare, infrastructure etc.

    Also recall that, UNICAL got her first ever elevator after over 40 years under the Akpagu’s administration. Many former VCs tried and got frustrated at some point in trying to install an elevator in the University Library but Akpagu who sees impossibility as illusion took up the challenge and today, Students and staff who were finding it difficult to access the top floors of the building are now doing so almost effortlessly.

    Below is an attempt to highlight some of his achievements under different units of the University represented in themes. This is not comprehensive because it’s too difficult to try to remember all the numerous things he has done in such a short period.

    Expansion of Infrastructural Development; Construction, Supplies and Rehabilitation

    • Construction of 500-seater pavilion for faculty of Engineering

    • Construction of Laboratory, Resource room and Library for faculty of Dentistry

    • Construction of Department of Physics Workshop

    • Construction of Dance Studio for Department of Theatre, Film and Carnival Studies

    • Construction of packaged water treatment plant and connection to the central water supply system

    • Construction of ultramodern parking lot

    • Construction and furnishing of 1-storey capacity Chemistry Laboratory and classroom building

    • Construction and furnishing of 1-storey capacity Physics Laboratory and classroom building

    • Construction of classrooms and offices for Institute of Education

    • Construction of elevated water tank at the staff village

    • Construction of Post graduate hostel.

    • Construction of faculty office for the faculty of education

    • Construction and furnishing of 1-storey Education complex building (inclusive of classrooms, offices, Laboratories and conference room)

    • Construction and furnishing of 350 computer capacity laboratory building

    • Construction of drainages

    • Renovation and equipping of Lecture rooms, laboratories and studios

    • Provision and expansion of teaching and research equipments to faculties and departments

    • Supply of library books to faculties

    • Supply of central gas to the faculties of physical and biological sciences

    • Supply of 2000 lecture theatre seats with swivel writing pads

    • Supply of (500) 8-spring double bunk beds and (3000) 8-spring mattresses

    •Procurement of (1) 30-seater bus (2) Toyota Hilux and (1) Hiace bus

    • Rehabilitation works in hall 8&9 (Female hostels)

    • Rehabilitation works in hall 4 (male hostels)

    • Rehabilitation of work-tops in some laboratories in the college of Medical Sciences, Sciences and Agriculture

    • Refurbishing and completion of abandoned building for department of Fine Arts, Music and Mass Communication.

    SPORTS DEVELOPMENT:

    • Formation of a Board for UNICAL Sports Council

    • Commencement of work on the lawn tennis
    court
    • Flagging off of a keep-fit exercise programme

    • Introduction of the Vice Chancellor football Club Competition

    • FIFA Graded Referee

    • Winning Laurels

    • Attracting External donations

    • Reviving of Malabor World Cup (MAWOC)

    • Formation of a female Soccer team

    SECURITY

    • Improved Security on Campus

    • The issue of acute shortage of security personnel is being addressed with the employment of 17 new security staff

    • Provision of three (3) serviceable patrol vehicles mounted with relevant security accessories/equipments

    • Provision of necessary security equipments like Matches, touch lights, rain capes etc

    • Provision of new set of uniform for all security personnel

    • Re-enforcement of internal security with about 30 armed Policemen patrolling the Staff quarters on 24 hours basis and other vulnerable points on campus

    • 90 % completion of a Police station building at the staff quarters to checkmate violent crimes like Kidnapping and armed robbery

    • Securing approval from the Chief of Naval Staff for the establishment of a Naval security post and Jetty at the Qua River axis of UNICAL to checkmate violent crimes on the waterways.

    • Unprecedented promotion of security staff.

    • Special promotion of security staff who exhibited extra-ordinary
    gallantry in the execution of their duty

    • Erection of new security posts at new faculties and departments

    IMPROVEMENT IN ALUMNI RELATIONS

    • Unification of the entire alumni body

    • Elevation of UNICAL alumni to a Directorate

    • Identification with the various UNICAL alumni branches across the federation

    • Renewed interest in alumni activities manifested in springing up of several branches

    • A period marked by the recognition an elevation of many alumni in various fields of human endeavor

    • Alumni enrichment of Departments by visiting alumnus

    CAMPUS AESTHETICS/REBRANDING

    • Shuttle Park

    • Hogan Bassey parking lot

    • Landscaping and planting of ornamental plants

    • Uniform color of the University structures

    • Upgrading of UNICAL main gate

    • Upgrading facilities in the Senior Staff Club

    IMPROVEMENT IN CAMPUS MUNICIPAL SERVICES

    • Campus Shuttle service
    • Improved Water Supply
    • Move to up constant power supply
    • Recreational facilities
    • Improved Campus traffic

    EXPANSION OF CURRICULUM OFFERINGS/ ACADEMIC VISIBILITY

    • Expansion of the academic curricula by the introduction of new and marketable programmes like Music, Fine and Applied Arts, Tourism and Hospitality, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Engineering, Mass Communication and
    Digital Studies, Architecture, Estate Management and Evaluation,
    Surveying and Geo-informatics, Urban and Regional Planning, Physiotherapy, Food Science and Technology and Criminology and Anti-corruption studies

    • Increase in the number of faculties from 12-16

    • A hundred per cent accreditation of programmes to the National
    Universities Commission (NUC) for re accreditation

    • Establishment of a ranking and visibility committee

    • Elevation of UNICAL to centre of excellence (CEO) human resources for health management training across the country

    SUSTENANCE OF EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING, LEARNING AND RESEARCH

    • Sustained increase in the tempo of academic activities like Faculty conferences, public lectures, departmental lectures, institute
    lecturers and over 16 Inaugural lectures

    • Creation of innovators club

    • Creation of a Quality Assurance/ Control unit domiciled in the Directorate of Research and Quality Assurance

    • Setting up of Quality Assurance ambassadors in the faculties

    STAFF AND STUDENTS’ WELFARE

    • Uninterrupted peace and stability on campus attributed to proactive interaction with students

    • Unprecedented swift response to issues affecting students

    • Enthusiastic about set targets for addressing complaints

    • Commissioning of laundry bay to aid laundry challenges

    • Rehabilitation of the female scholarship hostel for use

    • Massive rehabilitation of hall six which was long abandoned. Now ready for use

    • Instituting an enviable culture for sanitation of the hostels which involves not only paid staff but volunteer students

    • Adding value to the hostels through massive landscaping, tiling, re-piping, re-wiring, constant supply of cleaning materials, evacuation of sewage, de-silting of soak-away and delivery of over 3000 mattresses

    • Easing of obtaining accommodation in the hostels through an electronic platform that is linked to the payment portal

    DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF UNICAL PRODUCTIVE CAPACITIES AND CONSUMER SERVICES

    • Developing UNICAL Agro-allied industry with capacity for the production of Animal feeds in commercial quantity

    • Commencement of Commercial Paint production by the Department of Applied Chemistry

    • Upgrading of UNICAL table water to the status of a Directorate, and functioning at optimal capacity

    • Opening of new branches of UNICAL Microfinance Bank to provide community services across the state

    • Upgrading and optimizing the UNICAL Bookshop

    COBOC, HOST COMMUNITY’S ECONOMY AND IMPROVED COMMUNITY RELATIONS

    • Allocating spaces to prospective business operators to carry on with their businesses

    • Regulating influx of businesses on campus

    • Creating secluded areas for businesses to thrive instead of allowing indiscriminate display of products

    • Assisting with the beautification of the campus by making sure business operators keep their surroundings clean

    • Putting an end to makeshift shops and trade hence the introduction of solid building on owner occupier basis subject to COBOC’s
    guidelines

    COLLABORATION AND LINKAGES BETWEEN 2016 TO DATE

    • Institute for Universal Harmony (INUH)- for training certified Universal Conflict Resolution Management Experts and Peace building
    Consultants and advocates

    • New Creation Educational foundation and Ivote, Macedonia- for provision of Multi-media e-learning technologies for UNICAL.

    • Estuary Academic and Strategic Institute (IUES-INSAN), Douala, Cameroon- collaboration in Health and Management Sciences

    • Southern Universities USA and ICT University foundation, USA- for establishment of e-learning center and exchange program

    • Montclair State University, character Scotland and Dreams learning Solutions-for establishment of Resource and implementation character Education and Evaluation Center.

    • Delta State University, Abraka- for staff/ students exchange program

    • Cross River College of Education, Akamkpa- Affiliation for award of degrees in Education

    ONGOING PROJECTS

    • Construction of proposed 500-seat lecture pavilion

    • Construction of Academic building incorporating Science Laboratory for the faculty of Education

    • Construction of offices and classrooms for the faculty of Science

    • Construction of faculty of Engineering complex

    Like earlier stated, this list is not absolutely comprehensive as it’s herculean task to try to capture. Many projects may have missed out in this but howbeit, UNICAL al has risen in the last four years more than any other Nigerian University and this is enough to celebrate.

    As he enters his last year in office, there’s no doubt that he will do more because his passion to turn things around in the University is as strong as the first step he assumed office

  • CRSHA finally intervene in NACRISS election crisis

    The Cross River State House of Assembly has amended and adopted recommendations of the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution on the National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS) World Wide election that led to two factional executives and members of the Association.

    Advising the substantive elected president of NACRISS, the Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt, Hon. John Gaul Lebo, said he should not take the decision of the House as victory but as intervention for peace and justice.

    Lebo, called on the NACRISS president to devise measures for peaceful coexistence by reaching out to the other aggrieved group since they are responsible to the entire students of tertiary institutions in Cross River State and not see themselves as bosses.

    Following a motion moved by the chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution on the National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS), Hon. Nelson Ofem, member representing Yakurr I State Constituency and seconded by Hon. Itam Abang, member representing Boki I State Constituency.

    The House resolved that the purported re-run election led by John Adamson on 20/8/2016 is declared unconstitutional, illegal, and null and void.

    The House also resolved owing to the constitution no provision to suspend the constitution, the suspension of the constitution therefore remains null and void.

    In view of the circumstances of the case, having taken into consideration the interest and purpose of the association, the House resolved that the election held on 13th August, 2016remain valid as the executive committee of NACRISS World Wide.

    The House resolution erected that the former exco should hand over all properties including finances belonging to the Association.

    In the same vein, the House Committee on Education is mandated to ensure the full implantation of the resolutions of the House.

    In the same development, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs should remain as a liaison between NACRISS and the Government and should not interfere in any Student Union activity.

  • CRUTECH 2016/2017 2nd Choice/Supplementary and Direct Entry Screening Exercise Holds Nov 1-4th

    This is to inform all prospective candidates that scored 180 and above in the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), and Direct Entry (DE) Candidates, that the screening exercise into the 2016/2017 academic session will commence from Tuesday November 1, 2016 to Friday November 4, 2016 at the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), Calabar campus.

    The screening exercise is for candidates who:

    1. Made CRUTECH their Second Choice (Preferred Degree Awarding Institution)
    2. Are for Direct Entry (First and Second Choice)
    3. Made CRUTECH their First choice (more preferred Degree Awarding Institution) but missed the first screening exercise
    4. Did not Choose CRUTECH in the UTME but are interested in schooling in the Institution (Supplementary).

    Registration is online and commences on Monday 10th and ends on Friday 28th October 23, 2016.

    REGISTRATION PROCEDURE

    To register, candidates:

    • In (1), (2) and (3) above should purchase eTranzact Pin at N2,500.00, while candidates in (4) above should purchase eTranzact Pin at N5,000.00 (N2,500.00 for Supplementary Form and N2,500.00 for Screening Fee) from any First Bank Branch in Nigeria.
    • Log on to www.crutech.edu.ng and click on the CRUTECH Online Application link.
    • Follow the instructions on the Online Application Portal.
    • Print out the Registration Confirmation Slip after a successful registration.

    Items to come along with to the Screening venue:

    1. 2016 UTME Result Slip
    2. CRUTECH Online Registration Confirmation Slip
    3. Original and photocopies of O’level Result(s) (obtained in not more than two (2) sittings) in a file.
    4. WAEC/NECO/NABTEB Scratch Card(s) as applicable.

    NOTE:

    The CRUTECH Online Registration Confirmation Slip contains your Bio-data, Screening Venue, Date and Time. This confirmation slip admits you into the Screening Hall.

    Enquiry: 08037539136, 08077083959

    Help Lines: 080151118002, 09096417140, 08066462239

    SIGNED:

    Gabriel Beshel
    Registrar

  • Cross River State: The Labour or our Heroes past in Vain?

    Once upon a time, we had the old Cross River State (CRS), made up of today’s Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State, in the old Cross River State, we had Asbestonit company in Oron, we had the Calabar cement company, calcemco in calabar, we had the Peacock paint, we had the Oku Iboku paper mill, we had the Pamol rubber estate and the Cross River Estates limited, CREL, we had the qua and agbokim water falls, we had the obudu cattle Ranch, we had the Dr pepper bottling company in Eket, Mobil in Eket and Alscon in Ikot Abasi. We had Palmil industry in Abak. We had companies all over the old cross river state and established metro hotels all over the state and had our bank the Mercantile bank an airport and a standard stadium. We had the Calabar Rovers FC, we had the Jetimo FC in uyo and secondary schools played a vibrant Governor’s cup. You can add the ones you remember.

    Today, with better education, more exposure and more intense prayers, more anointed men of God, we have two states created from the old cross river state and they were created for supposedly better management and administration. Today we have seen how those companies are better embezzled into oblivion, the employment they created disappeared, the hope they gave lost and their contributions to social development ceased.

    Where are the leaders who thought out and built the state housing estate on Marian , the state secretariat and the federal housing? Where are the leaders who built the the police and Navy barracks and the customs barracks? Who built the prison, where are those leaders, where are their spirits, what did this generation do wrong?

    Do we have leaders yet have a prison that animals can’t survive inside? Do we have leaders yet we don’t have better housing plans that everyone is now stealing to be able to rent a home? Do we have leaders and no sensible person wishes to send their children to a public schools, the same public schools that produced this evil greedy spirits who pose as leaders? Haba! Something is wrong with us.

    We didn’t have so many churches but we had higher morals, we didn’t have so many political office holders but we had better leaders, we didn’t have so much exposure to better training facilities but we had better administrators. We have failed ourselves, failed posterity, failed God!

    Today we pay higher tithes, and attend church services every other day, we attend more than one church in the hope that we will prosper, yet we are poorer socially, poorer morally and poorer spiritually. We are poor because we are collectively selfish, self centered and evil in our hearts as a people. Looking around now, one is forced to ask, is the Labour of our heroes past now in vain?

  • Watch: How to get rid of dry Lips using Toothpaste and Toothbrush

    We are approaching the dry season and very soon most of us, especially the guys will be facing a tough task with our lips. Sometimes it goes down to torn lips or peradventure broken and cranked lips, the pains, discomfort and more. Just as you’re reading this article, so your problems have been solve. Take your time and read thoroughly through each and every paragraph and don’t forget to watch the video too as it harbours more practical aspect of the lesson.

    Before we start, make sure you leave whatsoever thing that’ll distract your attention and focus on the way of improving your lips softness within just two days or so. It might not go immediately, but as a matter of fact, I guarantee you less than one week; in one week, you’ll throw away your lip balms, gloss, oils, or whatsoever products you are using for the sake of this lesson.

    First, get a normal toothbrush, not too soft and not too strong plus a good toothpaste with water by your side for the purpose of this lesson – though you can do it subsequent times when brushing your teeth. Most medical practitioners would say, it is preferable to brush your teeth at least twice a day to keep your mouth fresh and free of bacteria so it won’t be smelling around…and I take that too.

    Enough of the long thing, let’s get back to work. Just follow the simple steps listed below for clearer understanding…

    • Get your toothbrush and toothpaste,
    • Spread your toothpaste on the toothbrush just like you usually do before brushing (you can as well soak the brush in water to help aid the foamy nature of the paste and also for aesthetics sake),
    • Now rub the toothbrush including the toothpaste around your lips. For a better result, rub circularly, horizontally and also vertically in between the contour and steeps of your lips.
    • Repeat the above step continuously for about 40 seconds or more and do it gently to avoid pains or injury.
    • Then, rinse your lips with portable water thoroughly, make sure you rinse the entire toothpaste to avoid the effect of the it whence it dries up,
    • Dry your lips with a clean hand towel or a handkerchief very well,
    • Lastly, apply lip gloss, petroleum jelly (Vaseline), lip balms or any other products you wish. But remember that this last step is not essential; you may leave it out if you want.

    And that’s it, it is over! The reason you are doing this is to help remove all dead skin or debris that always stick around your lips, leaving it tender and soft again, just like a day old child.

    Watch Video Below…

    Follow me (Frankie Ifop) on Twitter/Instagram: @frankieifop; Facebook: fb.com/frankieifop and also subscribe to my YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCelXTlBEoeSekH48FCdwvWg

    Goodbye, till next time.

  • Women deserve Respect and Protection

    By ASHIUBRE AMOS AJARA

    One may find it difficult to understand the modern civilisation in our society today. To some it’s more better, modernised, socialised and organised. While to others, it’s rather corrupt with a lots of evil atrocities, material things, hatred etc.

    To me, it all depend on individual views. We can’t take away the fact that education play a major role in rebuilding our society today.

    I can recall vividly in the book of GENESIS, where God says he created a woman to be a helper to the man. But my question is, “WHAT HELP”? There is a popular adage that WHAT A MAN CAN DO, A WOMAN CAN DO EVEN BETTER. Hahaha! Is it really true to an average man? Yea to some extent. 

    Majority of notable woman like NGOZI OKONJO (World Bank/Finance minister), PATRICIAL ETEH (Speaker House of Rep), OLUFUMILAYO KUTI (First Woman to drive a car), EFURONYE Tinubu (First Woman to by a car), CHIOMA AJUNWA (First Olympic Gold Medallist, Long Jump), PEPERTUAL NKWOCHA (Six time Africa soccer champion), FLORENCE ITA GIWA (Senator), these and many more are some female pillars who endanger there lives and contribute immensely to make sure this country make a better name.
    Will it rather make me responsible to say “MY WIFE BELONG TO MY KITCHEN AND MY LIVING ROOM AND THE OTHER ROOM”? I think even when God says a woman will be a helping hand to the man, it was not really in d form of a house help, rather it was an assistance to the man (PA). The world has globalised beyond keeping women behind close doors. At the institutions nowadays, some Ladies are doing excellently more than the Guys. 
    To even be neutral with my sentiment, NGOZI OKONJO IWEALA, manage the resources of this country more than a lot of her male predecessors. How then can we limit women to such department? An English man says if “one bullet can kill a man why wasting many”? 
    This show’s that with a lot of notable contributions above by women, it is time we give them the chance to manifest, it is time we let them compete with the rest of the world, it is time we move them out from the kitchen, it is time we give them full right to showcase there talents, it is time we say they don’t only belong to d cooking room, television room, sleeping room and labour room. Women are responsible fellows and they deserve full respect from us. 
    It’s time we CALL A SPADE A SPADE.

  • Don’t tell me to live below my means: when you keep me from exploiting my riches to the full


    By Inok Solomon 


    The worst financial fairy tale in the old and modern times, is the concept, “Live below your means.” Economist will say, “The end justify the means.” How justified will the end be when the means are exploited below expectation of a person? Parents will say to their children, “Go to school and get a good job.” “Work hard and save.” For what reasons? To live below your means?

    I think these words are dreams killers, mental imprisonment and complete derivatives of poverty. It has become a part of us, eating deeper into our mental consciousness and setting limitations and doubts in our personal abilities.

    By the way, who enjoys living below their means? Who enjoys poverty and self-imposed recession? Is it a fact that most people don’t want to live a full, rich, and abundant life? Life of infinite progress and plenty?

    Have you ever run a race, or worked at utmost capacity for a protracted period, or swum a great distance? Remember how, soon after starting, you began to feel tired? Remember how, before you had gone any great distance, you thought you had reached your limit?

    But remember, too, how, when you kept going, you got your second wind, your tiredness vanished, your muscles throbbed with energy, you felt literally charged with speed and endurance? Then you win and determine your world according to your desires. You control that achievement with all the greatness attached to it. At that point you become greater than all, both the rich and poor identify with you and desire you.

    Stored in every human being are great reserves of energy of which the average individual knows nothing but rather run under the pretense of “Living below ones means.”

    These words keep many people financially poor, emotionally empty, and spiritually neutral. One author said, “If you look into the deeper meaning of these words, you can come up with multiple meanings, such as “Don’t desire the finer things of life,” or, “You can’t have what you want.” This creates an atmosphere of Hatred, Jealousy, Envy, Covetousness and War.

    It is said, “Take away a man’s dreams and you take away his life.” You may never reach the stars, but they will guide you on your path through life.

    Cross Riverians, Ayade dreams are truly designed to take us to the stars, and no Cross Riverians will be forced again to live within the concept of “Living Below their means.” We will create wealth and determine the direction of wealth in our Ideas. Never again will we keep forcing our young generations to live below their means and kill their abilities to exploit and expand and create instead of waiting to be given.

    Governor Ayade till the end!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Dr Stephen Odey’s 365 Days As Cross River State SUBEB Chairman: The Difference

    By Paul Ojeka

    One year ago, Cross River State Universal Basic Education board received Dr. Stephen Odey as the new foremost administrator and this development witnessed an opening ceremony of a new chapter in the history of SUBEB. The appointment of Dr. Odey did not come as a surprise to the vast majority of Cross-Riverians who had expected nothing less than total overhaul of the primary schools in the state. It would be a wild idea to think that Dr. Odey’s appointment fell from the blues because lots of reasons abound why SUBEB was to have a veteran educationist on the saddle.

    Since the governor of Cross River State, prof. Ayade Benedict has a deep vision to cause robust transformation nay advancement in the socioeconomic life of Cross River, it’s in line that his appointments reflect his masterplan drawn from his high performance brain as a professor of no mean repute who sees education as a bedrock of a great society.

    Indeed, no sane man travelling across continents would prefer a bicycle to an airplane. This singular logic is responsible for the appointment of Dr. Odey who had received adequate tests – on integrity, judicious resource management from the digital governor, prof. Ayade before putting him on the saddle to take SUBEB to a new level of enhanced development. Apart from the glaring fact that Dr. Odey has a dossier replete with distinguished marks as an uncommon achiever in leadership, his personal qualities of love for service to humanity broadened the expectations of the people to see quick results as outcome of his appointment considered as a square peg in a square hole.

    To a carpenter, with hammers, chisels and nails, there is a means to make the work of carpentry easy for the enthusiastic carpenter. Literally, Dr. Odey may have no need for those concrete tools mentioned, but literarily, the case is constantly the other way round as he has the need for some equipment to help him in working his work. Thus, having set his transformation target, precisely 365 days ago, on assumption of office, he constructed some psychological devices in a mantra coined: “Rescue Mission”.

    Dr. Odey, a veteran educationist who found his way, through hard work and perseverance, from the primary school to the peak of academic height, realised that education is the best legacy that any society can bequeath to the next generation; consequently, on his appointment as SUBEB chairman, constructed two phrases as his motto: namely, “Rescue Mission” and “It’s unacceptable”.

    Rescue Mission, a newly crafted watch word by Dr. Odey, is the force that propels him to carry out the actual necessary reforms in the schools (primary schools) under his jurisdiction.

    Meanwhile, the phrase, “It’s unacceptable” serves as an alarm against unethical conducts in the teaching profession. Suffice it to say that regular inspection tours on schools has become a regular feature on the roster of SUBEB chairman to enable him carry out thorough checks on all the primary schools in the state in order to correct all practices in the primary education sector that violate the ethics of the teaching profession.

    It will be called that barely two hours after the SUBEB chairman, Dr. Odey Stephen was sworn into office, instead of treating himself to some form of amusements in celebration of his appointment, the burning desire for reforms in him drove him to schools where he conducted a thorough inspection of some schools in Calabar metropolis, for the first time.

    Further inspections and the personnel audits carried out so far has paid off – on one hand, some teachers who deserved to be upgraded have been elevated. On the other hand, those with forged results have also known their fate. Non-existent teachers (ghost workers) have been traced in their huge number too. This is a typical example of odd situations which triggers his proclamation, “it is unacceptable!” What is the rationale for having “ghost teachers” on the pay list of government when we have real qualified unemployed workforce roaming the street searching in vain for a teaching job? It is an elementary logic that while some of the corrupt stakeholders in the educational sector make money from filling the school staff list with ghost workers to make money, our schools become understaffed. Needless to mention the danger quack teachers constitute in the realization of the goal of teaching and learning.

    It is therefore an open secret that the victims of the rescue operation (mostly, beneficiaries of the gains of ghost workers and teachers with questionable qualifications) have come out to build an alliance to resist the Rescue Operation of Dr. Stephen Odey, who promises to fight the evil in SUBEB, no matter whose ox is gored. The only sin of Dr. Odey then was that he has come to salvage the primary educational sector. However, as darkness can never surmount light, cheap blackmail, lies and persecution are rather factors that could strengthen him to work more to restore professional ethics to the schools under his jurisdiction.

    Some of the achievements within the period are as follows;

    *Accessed UBEC Marching Grant from 2012-2015, through the instrument.

    *Embarked on Personnel Audit Exercise to rid the sector of ghost workers and also to determine the number and quality of Teachers in the system. The exercise has saved the State about N10 million monthly and about 250 teachers with fake certificates have been uncovered in the process.

    *Approval to employ 1,000 credible and qualified Teachers to replace the retired and death ones. Recruitment process is on-going.

    Commissioned by the Governor, to midwife the establishment of one world class model school fashioned in line with the Canadian International School.

    *Commencement of academic activities at the UBEC-built Junior Secondary Schools at Itigidi and Okuku.

    *Rehabilitation of three abandoned dilapidated SUBEB vehicles, for effective monitoring/supervision.

    *Implementation of 2011 Universal Basic Education (UBE) Intervention Fund; this led to the constructions of twenty-nine Classroom Blocks and Rehabilitation of forty-nine Classroom blocks in several schools across the State. About Twenty classroom blocks have been concluded and handed over to SUBEB.

    *Accessed the balance of the Excess Funds from UBE 2005-2007 Intervention Projects, which hitherto was unclaimed in the Central Bank of Nigeria; Similarly, six more Schools across the three senatorial districts are currently benefitting from the accrued balance of the Excess Funds, as sites have been handed over to Contractors and work is on-going. Also, the purchase of one brand new Hilux has been made to aid monitoring/supervision and purchase of 500 Quartet Magnetic boards; about 250 boards have been supplied.

    *supplied about 348 chairs and 174 table sets for teachers in schools across the State.

    Supply of 10,400 plastic chairs and table sets for Early Child Care Development (ECCDE), Primary and Junior Secondary pupils across the State.

    *Carried out 2014 Universal Basic Education Teachers Professional Development programme workshop also known as cluster. This is done to improve teaching capacity.

    *Carried out 2014 SMASE Cycle II workshop; 148 core teachers were successfully trained on strengthening Mathematics and Science Education.

    *Carried out 2015 Jolly Phonics workshop, about 2,400 teachers were trained across the state

    *Renovation of SUBEB Conference room, Offices, Toilet facilities and SUBEB environs.

    *Accessed 2013-2014 Special Education grants from UBEC; this has led to construction of 1.no. 4 Classroom block at Special Education Centre Ogoja, provision of motorized borehole at special Education Centre Ogoja, provision of Special Education learning materials, provision of 80 units of dual desk and seat, amongst others.

    *Purchased and distributed 18 Desktop computers, Printers, Ups and Generators to Local Government Education Authorities across the 18 Local Government Areas, which was non-existent for the past 15 years.

    *Procurement of 18 thousand Diaries and 18 thousand Registers to be distributed to Schools.

    *Converted about 7 casual Staff to Staff.

    Within just 365 days in office, we have these giant strides to his credit. Now, it’s obvious that since Ayade is involved in the affairs of governance of the state, Cross River state Education can no longer crawl, but fly!

  • NANS storms Turkish Embassy, Protest over the Victimisation of Nigerian students in Turkey

    Yesterday, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS stormed the Turkish Embassy in Abuja for peaceful protest over the maltreatment of Nigerian students in Turkey. 

    The protest was peaceful just as stated earlier as NANS President, Comrade Aruna Kadiri sent a message to the Higher Commissioner (Ambassador), stating that they must not continue to toil with the lives of Nigerian students and be continually victimised and intimidated while abroad. 
    Aruna said, “We have over 50 of Nigerian students in Turkey that they claimed they are terrorists and locked in a room, after a failed coup. 
    “They are treating our students like animals and feel there is no one to speak for them. And we wish you safe trip by to your destination”, Aruna added. 
    However, news has been flying all over the country concerning the locking of Nigerian Student(s) in the Turkish Republic. Meanwhile the Nigerian government has given deaf ears on that. Thanks to NANS for their prolific concern as they made it to the embassy to let the government know that Nigerians abroad are Nigerians at home. 
    Check out Photos of their peaceful demonstration below… 
    NANS President, Comrade Aruna Kadiri addressing Nigerian Students 

  • What Is Ankara And What Is Ankara Bag?

    The fashion is a very flexible thing that is changing all the time. Along with changing, it also makes up some new trends and styles, comes up with using new kinds of fabrics, materials, and accessories. Sometimes, they are accepted by the society, sometimes not – and in some rare cases they turn out to be a nation’s treasury. This is exactly what happened to the Ankara style.

    The History
    Even though the Ankara has originally come from Europe, the peak of its popularity and admiration was mainly seen in the Western Africa. The thing is that the material was primarily associated with Africa due to its tribal-like patterns and motifs. And even though, the Ankara fabric was originally manufactured by the Dutch and was directed on the Indonesian market, it has gathered much more interest among Africans. The raise of its glory came in 2010 and henceforth the Ankara is considered as something traditional for the people of Africa.

    The Print

    Due to its cultural motifs, Ankara fabric has got a universal acceptance all around Western Africa, especially in Nigeria. It is featured with the bright colors, mixed in various shapes and prints that provide one with the feeling like you are in a wild Africa, with all those giraffe and zebra prints on them.

    The Price

    One of the reasons of such a great Ankara’s popularity in Africa is that it is much cheaper than the traditional native fabrics, and even than the Chinese ones. For example, such widely-known African fabrics as Aso Oke are used for special occasions only, but Ankara is affordable for everyday use.

    The Ankara Bags

    Due to its traditional motifs and affordable fabric prices, the Ankara style has spread for almost every item of one’s wardrobe. Starting with the dresses, blouses, skirts, trousers, shoes it has spread onto such clothing accessories as earrings, necklaces, and bags. People have invented their own methods of making Ankara bags at home and started selling them online. Today, it is easy to find all kinds of Ankara bags on sale at the most affordable prices and with a special opportunity to contact the sellers directly asking them about the technology of sewing these kinds of bags.

    Making Your Own Ankara Bags

    For those who want to set up their own business or just need some extra source of income – it is worth considering an idea of making your own Ankara bags and selling them on one of the top reliable online markets in Nigeria – Jiji. The best way to start and check whether the business will work is to look around your home, find the unnecessary old bags and clutches, purchase Ankara fabrics on Jiji and create Ankara bags right at your home. Then make a picture of your creation, put an ad on Jiji – the picture together with a description of your bag and how much all African ladies will like it – and wait for your first customer to give you a call.