Paradise News

Category: Education

  • Cross River State flags off Smart School programme in Calabar

    As part of measures to ensure that secondary schools in the state are Information and Communication Technology (ICT) compliant and fully digitized, Cross River State Government has commenced its Smart School programme with a pilot scheme at Government Secondary School, State Housing Estate, Calabar.

    The programme, which is in partnership with Samsung West Africa Electronics Ltd., will ensure that seven secondary schools spread across the state benefit from the over N50million worth of computer laboratory.

    Apart from the Smart School programme, the partnership is expected to give rise to the establishment of a Samsung Technology Academy in Cross River state.

    Read Also | Governor Ayade Commissions Samsung Smart School In Calabar (Photos)

    Flagging off the Smart school program, Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, represented by his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu, said the initiative was a testimonial that signed MoUs by the administration were beginning to come to fruition.

    Prof. Esu said: “The project is focused on training the trainers and Calabar will soon be a smart city, “adding that “fibre optic cables have been laid, relevant contracts have been prepared and very soon, wherever you are, you will be able to access the internet.”

    He charged the beneficiaries to use the facilities wisely in order to meet the demands of the 21st century technology and for the centre not to colonise its gains but allow others to benefit as well.

    Making the presentation thursday, Samsung Managing Director, represented by Head, Enterprise & IT Business, Mr. Rotimi Agbola, affirmed that the initiative will make quality education delivery a reality in the state.

    His words: “Education is a basic human right and it is something Samsung takes seriously. We also believe that Cross River State and Samsung Electronics share same goal in improving education, hence our smart school and global lining concept is going to impact on the lives of the people.”

    He noted that the school will focus on the “training of 50 teachers in basic computer literacy, provision of teachers with access to tools, empowerment of teachers to access digital contents as well as conducting assessment of students progress and providing them with learning tools from any location.”

    Explaining that the Smart School in Calabar is among the first three of ten ICT laboratories which Samsung intends to roll out across the country in the nearest future, the Managing Director said: “Guidance from teachers who understand the technology will be the first step for students to gain the skills needed in a rapidly advancing ICT world.”

    Lauding Governor Ben Ayade for his passion for the full digitisation of the state, the state Commissioner for ICT, Chief Offu Aya said: “Long before coming into office, Governor Ayade realised that one of the major tools required for the liberation of the state from the quagmire of poverty was to build a robust knowledge economy with ICT as the critical enabler.”

    According to Education Commissionewin Mr. Godwin Ettah, “the smart education program has three folds which include the training of 50 teachers to retrain their colleagues, negotiating with Samsung to provide ICT centres and the building of a Samsung Technology Academy in Cross River state.”

    Ettah hinted that “arrangements were in top gear for the establishment of two ICT centres in each of the 18 LGAs in the state to move Cross River from having a minimal four JAMB centres to 36.”

  • July 29: A Significant Date In Nigeria’s History

    July 29 is an unforgettable date in Nigeria history. It was a date the country witnessed the overthrow of two military regimes-the first in 1966 and the second in 1975.

    It is reflection time today as Nigeria marks the 50th anniversary of July 29, 1966 coup that toppled the regime of late Major General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi, and 42nd anniversary of the overthrow of his successor, General Yakubu Gowon on July 29 1975.

    The 1966 military putsch, which was dubbed counter-coup to Nigeria’s first coup of January 15, 1966, claimed the live of Ironsi and the then military Governor of Western Region, late Lt.  Colonel Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, among several others.

    Ironsi was only 6 months in power. Conversely,the one that deposed Gowon after being in power for nine years were bloodless.

    Ironsi seized power in the ensuing chaos following the January coup and was in Ibadan as part of his reconciliation tour after the first coup which saw the killing of mostly prominent Northern politicians and army officers, when he and Fajuyi were arrested and murdered by a group of mutinous soldiers of Northern extraction.

    More to follow…

    [George’s print]

  • Attend a 3-weeks Ankara Skill Acquisition and Capacity Building Seminar in Calabar on August 8-27th

    A man’s Skill maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. A skill acquired man is a self-employed man.

    Work and make money from your acquired skill. For skills open doors to greatness. A skillful man speaks with confidence while the none skillful is filled with fear.

    Register Now and stand a chance to become, relevant self-employed Man/woman in your society.

    Date: 8th – 27th August 2016
    Time: 10am
    Registration fee: N15,000.
    Venue: Nico Commercial Secondary School, Old Ikang Road, Calabar, Cross River State. 

    For more details, please contact: 07031047619 or 08148279411

  • What is your Need without a corresponding purpose and time Cross River?

    In the Germ of life, every need have its corresponding purpose and time,  but the limitations to reach these needs is stored up in the heart of impossibilities. Scarcity is man’s creation to hoard. Hoarding creates greed, doubt, fear and animosity.

    In time, to meet a set of needs, the Dinosaur was formed, to meet another, the Butterfly. Before it got to the time of man, we see the unlimited resourcefulness displaced by our creator in a thousand ways.

    To escape the dangers in the  water, land was sought. Pursued on land, it took to air. To breathe in the sea, it developed gills, stranded on land, it perfected lungs. To meet one kind of danger, it grew fur. In temperate climes, hair. Subject to alternate heat and cold, it produced feathers. But ever from the beginning, it showed it’s power to meet every changing condition, to answer every creature’s need.

    If  it has  been possible to kill this life Germ, it would have perished ages ago, when fire and flood, drought and famine followed each other in quick succession.  But obstacles,  misfortune,  cataclysms,  were to it merely new opportunities to assert its power. In fact, it required obstacles to awaken it, to show its energy and resource.

    Cross Riverians,  as all the monster beasts of antiquity, passed on.  Life principle stayed. Changing as each age changed, always developing, always improving.

    Call this “Principle of life Germ,” Nature, call it Providence,    call it what you will, rising to meet every need in life, requires your positive efforts, desire and conviction, faith and believe in whatever you put your mind to.

    God never made the abundance of environment to suffocate man, rather to expand man’s knowledge in sorting for the best means to reach his needs. Early industrialist, met so much iron, and built and program their world to be iron driven, today iron is replaced with plastic and we have a Plastic driven world.

    Today we have the Scarp Agency, because man in his wastage during time of plenty, have to  revolutionize his thought system to recycle as desirable materials became limited or too far or hoarded by greed.

    In like manner today, Governor Ayade dream lofty dreams, our ability to recognise these lofty dreams as our needs, shows this is the corresponding time and purpose of this dream. And as we dream along, so shall we become.

    “Our vision is the promise of what we shall one day be; our ideal stored strongly in these dreams is the prophesy of what we shall at last unveil.”

    My steps are getting stronger by day, my sight getting brighter and my hopes are beginning to be galvanised with fulfilment.

     If we therefore regard the fulfilment of our purpose as contingent upon any circumstance, past, present or future, we are not making use of first cause. We have descended to the level of secondary causation,  which is the region of doubts fears and limitations.

    Do not let a minute of your breathe for impossibilities,  alibis and excuses of no money. You can draw money with ideas. Our deep seaport and superhighway are ideas drawing money for themselves.

    “When you think it, you can make it.”

  • Governor Ayade Commissions Samsung Smart School In Calabar (Photos)

    Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade on Thursday 28th July, 2016, commissioned the Samsung Smart School at Government Secondary school State Housing Calabar.

    Governor Ayade was represented by the Deputy governor, Professor Ivara Esu. Towards a digital Cross River State.

    See photos below….

  • The Launching For The Building Of CRUTECH Alumni Centre To Hold On July 30

    Finally the long awaited launching for the Building of CRUTECH alumni centre is here. All members, staff of CRUTECH, Polycal graduands and the general public are invited to come on

    Cross River University of Technology, CRUTECH Alumni Association heartily invite the general public to the 200 million naira Launching for the Building of her Alumni Centre under the  Distinguished Chairmanship of Sen. Victor  Ndoma-Egba.

    Special Guest of Honour: Barr. Musa Lawan

    Chief Launcher: Mr. Odey Ochicha

    Date: Saturday July 30, 2016.
    Venue: Transcorp Hotels,  Calabar.
    Time: 4pm.

    Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, Vice Chancellor CRUTECH. Chief Host

    Inyali Peter
    National PRO, Announcer
    Please be there to support this course…!

  • Screening For NACRISS WW Intend Senators To Hold On July 30th, 2016

    Screening of the National Association of Cross River State Students Worldwide (NACRISS WW) intend senators by the Electoral Committee has been scheduled for Saturday 30th July 2016. The screening takes place at the National Secretariat; No. 5 Nyok Esu Street, Big Qua Town Calabar by 10: am

    The screening will feature both oral and written test. 

    In view of the foregoing, intend senators that have met the first criterion of purchasing and completing the form are here by invited to appear before the Electoral Committee on the above stated date.

    Other requirements for the screening have since been forwarded  via SMS to all the intend senators.

    The Electoral Committee, wishes to reassure all aspirants, intend senators and the entire NACRITES of our unwavering commitment towards prejudice free processes in all aspects of the election not excluding the formation of the Parliament. We therefore disclaim in totality any information relating to giving out slots to stakeholders for nomination of senators and also paying any sum of money to serve in the Parliament. Selection will be strictly based on merit. Whoever engages in any contrary act does so at his/her own peril.

    Good luck.

    This is signed by:
    Comr. Obo Emmanuel
    ELECO Chairman.

  • UNICAL First Choice screening Exercise for 2016/2017 session to hold on August 11 and 12, 2016

    The University of Calabar (UNICAL), Calabar has called for the screening of prospective students for admission into the varsity for 2016/2017 academic session.

    This announcement is for the benefit of all candidates who have chosen the institution as their First Choice in their application for admission into the 2016/2017 academic session. The cut-off mark/point for admission is between 180-200 depending on the choice of course of studies. The First Choice screening Exercise has been scheduled to take place on 11th and 12th of August, 2016 respectively.

    DAY ONE (11th August): 9am – 4pm
    For all programmes, Candidates with Scores ranging from 180 – 200

    DAY TWO (12th August): 9am – 4pm
    For all programmes, Candidates with Scores ranging from 200 and above.

    Venues for the Screening of Candidates will be made available at the University Campus.

    PAYMENT AND REGISTRATION PROCEDURE


    The following options are available:

    1. E-transact option: This option is available in all commercial banks nationwide. At the bank your are required to pay and obtain an E-transact PIN. With the PIN log into the portal http:www.myunical.edu.ng and follow the instructions on the portal after login.

    2. Scratch Card Option: This option is available in the following banks within Calabar Metropolis ONLY:

    • Unical Microfinance Bank
    • WEMA Bank
    • First city Monument Bank
    • Heritage Bank
    On obtaining the scratch card proceed as follows:

    LOG ON TO: http://www.myunical.edu.ng and click on Screening UTME link
    On the home page, enter your correct JAMB Registration NO in the box provided:

    1. Enter the scratch card pin in the box provided
    2. Click on login and follow the online instructions.
    3. Confirm your entries and CLICK ON SUBMIT
    4. Print out the completed form.

    APPLICATION FEE:
    For either option(s), the application fee is N2,500.00 only, which covers the screening fee, portal and bank charges.

    REGISTRATION DEADLINE:
    REGISTRATION WILL SHUT DOWN AT 12.00am MID NIGHT ON AUGUST 06, 2016.
    NOTE:

    1. Candidates are required to come with their Original UTME Result Slip showing the Candidate’s photograph.
    2. Originals and photocopies of WAEC, NECO, NABTEB Certificates in two (2) files.
    3. Two (2) recent passport photographs
    IT MUST BE FURTHER NOTED THAT:
    Impersonation is a serious offence and anyone caught will be handed over to the Law Enforcement Agents and may be liable to up to 5 years imprisonment.
    Any candidate who fails to take part in the screening exercise automatically loses his or her chance of being considered for admission.
    Early commencement of registration is advised to avoid congestion in the dying hours.

    For More Information, Contact:
    HELP DESK
    Zellence Unical Office
    Database Office, Philosophy Department
    University of Calabar
    08183626190

  • SA on Job Creation and Head of Service assures CRS graduates of GIS employment as the screening kicked off in Calabar

    The Graduate Internship Scheme, GIS, screening commences Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd of July, 2016 at the UJ Esuene stadium, Calabar at 9:00am prompt. The screening was attended by the directors from the office of the Special Adviser, SA, on Job Placement, Head of Service and other panels, namely; Lillian, and Mr. John. Also conducting and coordinating the screening was Mr. Ita Effiong Okon, Managing Director, MD, Endlink Investment Limited who gave a vivid description of the internship programme.

    Graduate Internship Scheme, GIS, created by the Federal Government, FG, is to enable unemployed graduates to leave their homes, to be mentored for them to have work experience, since most graduates are not taken when they go for interview because of no working experience. Throughout the scheme, stipends will be paid, and it is paid directly to the graduates running the intern.

    What Cross River State Government, CRSG, is doing is to ensure not to lose their slot, for if the state allows the FG to come to conduct the screening; the state might lost some slots. So, the state is doing this to secure whatever number of slots that will be allotted to Cross River State, CRS. Since the FG is the custodian of the project, the state will in time wait for the FG to give the final order. For what the state is just doing a selection to make an appeal to the FG, so to let them know their people.

    Addressing the graduates, the SA on Job Placement, Mr. Ejemot William Esu said, at the end of the screening, whatever the state is vying for, they’ll surely have it.

    Mr. Ejemot in his remarks said; “I’ll like to advice all graduates here that, there’s and Empowerment programme known as N-POWER ongoing, please do try and register for it too. For I got a letter from the Special Adviser to the President on Job Placement that CRS have to register for it too. Though at the end of the day, the GIS may stand or the N-POWER may come up.

    “After now, some of us here might have registered for the N-POWER, so, I’ll advice those that haven’t to try and register, for at the end I believe every one of us here will benefit from this programme.

    “I’ll advice everyone to be very straight forward, very obedient and I also apologise for coming late too. Mr. Ejemot added.”

    Also addressing the graduates was the Permanent Secretary to the Head of Service, Mrs. Geraldine Akpet Ekannem, who said the Head of Service would have loved to come, but he’s attending an official meeting in Abuja.

    Addressing the graduates, Mrs.Ekannem said, the pain of unemployment is a very serious issue that is troubling the state, not just His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade, but everyone including all parents, since they are parents too.

    In her speech, Mrs AKpet said; “Practically all of us have unemployed graduates at home, so we’re concern about it. That is why we have tried in so many ways to bring out projects like the Green Police, Garment Factory, hoping that, at least, through those special purpose vehicles, we can reduce the number of unemployed graduates in CRS.

    “Be that as it may, you know that in the Civil Service, gradually people are retiring from there. But because of the new cost of the State Government and the economic crunch which we’re presently experiencing in Nigeria, it is not easy to employ. However, our conducting a Man Power analysis is to know the areas of need in that state.” She said.

    The final screening will be taking place on Friday 22nd July, 2016 at the UJ Esuene stadium by 9:00am prompt.

    Check out more photos from the event below…

  • FG scraps Common Entrance Examination (Must Read)

    Has the Federal Government, FG, taken the right decision over cancellation of Common Entrance Examination after cancelling First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) examinations in 2008?

    Following calls for the overhauling of the Nigerian educational system, the ministry of education has announced the cancellation of the National Common Entrance Examination (NCCE) into unity schools.

    The announcement was made on Monday, July 18 by minister of education, Adamu Adamu.

    This came as former minister of education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, yesterday, stressed the urgent need to overhaul the education system in the country to avoid total collapse of the sector.

    A statement issued by the federal ministry of education yesterday in Abuja, said the cancellation of the test for NCCE would take effect from the 2017/2018 academic year.

    The statement signed by the deputy director, press, Bem Goong, said the minister could not establish the rationale for a second test for NCCE organised by the National Examination Council (NECO).

    Mr Adamu was quoted as saying: “The second test is an unnecessary additional financial burden on parents/guardians”.

    “The era of multiple examinations attracting prohibitive fees cannot be accommodated by the Buhari administration, especially against the backdrop of government’s determination to increase access to education as a platform for breaking the cycle of poverty,” the statement read.

    It said Adamu had directed NECO to strengthen its examination processes with a view to achieving quality and credible examination for admission into unity schools at the first test.

    The statement said the minister argued that multiple examinations did not necessarily translate to the admission of quality pupils in secondary schools.

    Adamu maintained that the 2016/2017 academic year remained the effective date for the ban on Post-UTME, advising vice-chancellors to adhere strictly to the policy in the overriding public interest.

    Meanwhile, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, yesterday, stressed that a change was needed urgently in the educational sector.

    Ezekwesili made the statement at the 2016 Nigerian Education Innovation Summit organised by Education Partnership Centre (EPC) in Abuja.

    She said education left in the hands of policy makers was problematic.“Systems are very important; when you have system, then you have a higher probability of good outcomes.

    “If your systems are not functional, then you would need to overhaul them, because dysfunctional systems, can’t give you any good outcome.

    “When we talk about education, you have to look at it as a system that has input, output, outcome and your measurement of the impact that the outcome really stand for.

    “When you do that, you will realise that we have been in serious trouble since the time that I was even Minister of Education. The Managing Director of EPC, Dr Modupe Adefeso-Olateju, urged the federal government to scale up educational intervention in Nigeria and ensure every child in Nigeria benefited from it.

    “Every stakeholders in the sector must ensure that every child in Nigeria benefits from successfully tested education interventions by focusing on efforts to scale up impact,’”he said.