Category: Education

  • University of Abuja Issues `no work, no pay’ Warning To ASUU, Others

    The management of University of Abuja (UniAbuja) says it may enforce the “no work no pay’’ directive on unions that joined Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) strike over recent increase in fuel price, NAN reports.

    A statement issued by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Adikwu, on Sunday in Abuja said the warning was in compliance with the directive from the Federal Government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal Government, on May 11, announced an increase in the price of petrol from N86.50k to N145 per litre.

    Adikwu listed the unions as the local branches of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff of Nigerian Universities (NASU).

    He called on the striking staff to return to work without further delay in the interest of the growth and stability of the university.

    “ We appreciate the reasons adduced by a faction of labour for going into the strike.

    “However, considering the fact that concerted efforts are being made by government and all concerned to address the issues, we call on our staff on sympathy strike to resume work immediately in order to sustain the tremendous progress we have jointly made so far in stabilising the institution.

    “We may be forced to comply with the government directive on the strike if they failed to heed this appeal. ’’

    NAN also recalls that some labour unions on May 18 embarked on strike following the breakdown in negotiation and expiration of their ultimatum to Federal Government to reverse the increment in petrol price.

    [NAN] 
  • PZ Wilmar Offers Scholarship To 75 Tertiary Students In Cross River

    Governor Ben represented by the State Commissioner of Education, Mr. Godwin Etta charged them to sustain the gesture as it is part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and see it as a panacea to community motivation.

    He challenged the awardees to be good ambassadors in their different institutions of learning.

    While responding to goodwill messages and the charge from the Governor, the General Manager PZ Wilmar Limited, Mr. Ahmad Mustafa Goh said the company was not only for investments but also to deliver on its corporate social responsibilities.

    The seventy five (75) awardees are selected from Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), Cross River State College of Education Awi/Akamkpa (CRSCOEA) and Cross River State College of Health Technology (CRSCOTECH) Calabar.

    And they are to be sponsored for their entire academic period.

  • PTDF – Nigerian students to study in Brazilian University for free

    Nigerian Students under the scholarship scheme of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) are to study on free tuition at the University of Sao Paulo, Butanta in Brazil, beginning from September.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Kalu Otisi, PTDF Head, Media and Public Relations on Thursday in Abuja.

    The statement said the development was part of a new initiative of the fund under its overseas scholarship programme.

    “As from September 2016, PTDF will start sending Nigerian scholars to the University on free tuition arrangement.

    “ This development is historic and a great milestone achievement for the fund,’’ it said.

    According to the statement, the signing of the agreement between the two countries marks the formalisation of relationship between PTDF and one of the outstanding universities in Brazil.

    It added that it would be the first time PTDF would be sending Nigerian students overseas to study oil and gas related courses on free tuition.

    “So, we are highly excited with the collaboration. We believe that this is going to be the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship between PTDF and the University of Sao Paulo and between Nigeria and Brazil,” it added.

    The statement quoted the Dean of the institution, Prof. José Roberto Castilho Piqueira, as saying that the agreement sign-posts the commencement of an enduring relationship between the two institutions.

    Castilho Piqueira added that the partnership through PTDF would help to achieve technological independence.

    “We are very committed to starting a new international collaboration.

    “It is important to have a country like Nigeria as our partner because for us, it is very important to have technological independence for countries like Nigeria and Brazil.

    “So, it is a pleasure to receive your students here and we are going to do our best in our graduate programme for the students.

    “We hope that this relationship will survive for years in order to sustain the collaboration between us,’’ said Castilho Piqueira

    Also, the Consul-General, Consulate of Nigeria in Brazil, Muntari Kaita said the partnership would re-enforce the long relationship between the two countries.

    Kaita said that the renewed partnership would also open a new vista of opportunity for transfer of knowledge and technology.

    “The relationship between Nigeria and Brazil has been on for a very long time. We have lots of Nigerians that passed through the University of Sao Paulo.

    “Today they have settled here and are contributing their own part. But this new agreement between PTDF and USP will open a new vista of opportunity for us.

    “We have seen in Brazil a lot of things that we envy and we want to have them in Nigeria.

    “And since you are willing to transfer such knowledge and technology to us, it is a thing of pride,’’ Kaita said.

    Under the partnership, every research area that will be conducted by Nigerian scholars in the university will be toward solving problems of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. (NAN)

  • PTDF – Nigerian students to study in Brazilian University for free

    Nigerian Students under the scholarship scheme of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) are to study on free tuition at the University of Sao Paulo, Butanta in Brazil, beginning from September.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Kalu Otisi, PTDF Head, Media and Public Relations on Thursday in Abuja.

    The statement said the development was part of a new initiative of the fund under its overseas scholarship programme.

    “As from September 2016, PTDF will start sending Nigerian scholars to the University on free tuition arrangement.

    “ This development is historic and a great milestone achievement for the fund,’’ it said.

    According to the statement, the signing of the agreement between the two countries marks the formalisation of relationship between PTDF and one of the outstanding universities in Brazil.

    It added that it would be the first time PTDF would be sending Nigerian students overseas to study oil and gas related courses on free tuition.

    “So, we are highly excited with the collaboration. We believe that this is going to be the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship between PTDF and the University of Sao Paulo and between Nigeria and Brazil,” it added.

    The statement quoted the Dean of the institution, Prof. José Roberto Castilho Piqueira, as saying that the agreement sign-posts the commencement of an enduring relationship between the two institutions.

    Castilho Piqueira added that the partnership through PTDF would help to achieve technological independence.

    “We are very committed to starting a new international collaboration.

    “It is important to have a country like Nigeria as our partner because for us, it is very important to have technological independence for countries like Nigeria and Brazil.

    “So, it is a pleasure to receive your students here and we are going to do our best in our graduate programme for the students.

    “We hope that this relationship will survive for years in order to sustain the collaboration between us,’’ said Castilho Piqueira

    Also, the Consul-General, Consulate of Nigeria in Brazil, Muntari Kaita said the partnership would re-enforce the long relationship between the two countries.

    Kaita said that the renewed partnership would also open a new vista of opportunity for transfer of knowledge and technology.

    “The relationship between Nigeria and Brazil has been on for a very long time. We have lots of Nigerians that passed through the University of Sao Paulo.

    “Today they have settled here and are contributing their own part. But this new agreement between PTDF and USP will open a new vista of opportunity for us.

    “We have seen in Brazil a lot of things that we envy and we want to have them in Nigeria.

    “And since you are willing to transfer such knowledge and technology to us, it is a thing of pride,’’ Kaita said.

    Under the partnership, every research area that will be conducted by Nigerian scholars in the university will be toward solving problems of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. (NAN)

  • 4 easy steps to confirm the authenticity of your Driver’s Licence whether genuine or fake

    There’s been a lot of people issuing out fake Driver’s Licence including the FRSC, so beware and don’t fall a victim or you’ll be convicted. Also news had it that the Licence will now last for five years and now more three years as said the the FRSC Commandant.

    Below are the 4 most appropriate steps to confirm the authenticity of your Driver’s Licence. 

    1. Go to www.nigeriadriverslicence.org

    2. On the homepage, click DL application
    DL application pops up three(3) options

    • Re-issue
    • Renewal
    • New Licence 

    3. If the Driver’s Licence you want to confirm has not expired, click Re-issue.

    4. Enter the Licence Number (LN) and Date of Birth (DoB) as seen on the Licence and then click search.

    Wait for reply, if the Driver’s Licence is genuine, the holder’s personal information is automatically displayed to confirm genuineness. Then if fake, it will not display the holder’s personal information but rather say “No Record Found” to confirm to you that the Licence is fake.

    ALSO, if the Driver’s Licence you want to confirm have expired, click Renewal and then follow step four(4) as seen above to confirm authenticity.

    That’s all, and you’re in. #Goodluck.

  • 4 easy steps to confirm the authenticity of your Driver’s Licence whether genuine or fake

    There’s been a lot of people issuing out fake Driver’s Licence including the FRSC, so beware and don’t fall a victim or you’ll be convicted. Also news had it that the Licence will now last for five years and now more three years as said the the FRSC Commandant.

    Below are the 4 most appropriate steps to confirm the authenticity of your Driver’s Licence. 

    1. Go to www.nigeriadriverslicence.org

    2. On the homepage, click DL application
    DL application pops up three(3) options

    • Re-issue
    • Renewal
    • New Licence 

    3. If the Driver’s Licence you want to confirm has not expired, click Re-issue.

    4. Enter the Licence Number (LN) and Date of Birth (DoB) as seen on the Licence and then click search.

    Wait for reply, if the Driver’s Licence is genuine, the holder’s personal information is automatically displayed to confirm genuineness. Then if fake, it will not display the holder’s personal information but rather say “No Record Found” to confirm to you that the Licence is fake.

    ALSO, if the Driver’s Licence you want to confirm have expired, click Renewal and then follow step four(4) as seen above to confirm authenticity.

    That’s all, and you’re in. #Goodluck.

  • How smacking or spanking children by way of discipline could have opposite effect on them

    A new study has found that smacking or spanking children by way of discipline could actually have the opposite effect.

    A team from Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Texas examined 75 studies conducted over the last 50 years, which included information on about 160 000 children. Their conclusion was that spanking can lead to long-term behavioural, emotional and cognitive negatives.

    “We found spanking was related to less of all the good things,” said researcher Elizabeth Gershoff.

    “And it was not significantly related to compliance. It did not make children more or less likely to comply. It doesn’t achieve what parents want: compliance and acting appropriately in the future.”

    Of course, this directly contradicts the old wisdom, “spare the rod and spoil the child” – which was the controversial message even Pope Francis himself seemed to be preaching last year.

    As any parent who’s been faced with disobedient or defiant children will know, the answer isn’t always as simple as putting them on the naughty step.

    But there are alternatives to smacking that work, experts say. Here’s a look at other ways to discipline.

    INSTEAD OF SPANKING

    The trick is to learn to respond and not react to your child’s behaviour, says South African parenting coach Andalene Salvesen, author of A Brand-New Child In 5 Easy Steps. Hitting a child isn’t effective because it places the focus on the parent’s anger instead of what the child did wrong, says Salvesen, who founded the Monsters To Munchkins website and travels the world giving parenting seminars and courses. Here are some tools to try.

    THE SO HAPPY/SO SORRY METHOD 

    This is suitable for kids aged three and older. “Get two boxes or jars that can hold a few pieces of folded paper. Mark one So Happy and the other So Sorry,” Salvesen (59) says. Sit with your child at a time when you’re both feeling relaxed and discuss things to put in the jars – punishments in the one and rewards in the other.

    Write them down on pieces of paper, fold them and put them into the appropriate jars.

    When a discipline situation arises, ask your child to select one of the folded pieces of paper out of the So Sorry jar – this is the consequence for their bad behaviour. “Your children have to learn that their choices determine their consequences,” Salvesen says.

    A tip: put one blank piece of folded paper in the So Sorry jar. “This is a wonderful opportunity to teach about grace. Sometimes we deserve punishment but we don’t get it.”

    Use the So Happy jar to reward good behaviour. It’s vital rewards don’t involve sweets or toys but rather positive time spent  together.

    EXAMPLES OF CREATIVE PUNISHMENT

    Extra chores – these are in addition to your children’s regular chores which they should be doing anyway from the age of six. They can include cleaning and repacking cupboards, weeding the garden, sweeping the yard or cleaning the fridge.

    EXAMPLES OF CREATIVE REWARDS

    These could be an extra bedtime story, a later bedtime, extra screen time, choosing their own dinner, not making their bed for a week, breakfast in bed, dessert before supper or choosing a game to play with mom or dad.

    TIME-OUTS USED PROPERLY 

    Younger children respond better to the naughty corner or time-out, while older children can be disciplined by taking away  privileges, says Durban-based psychologist Tessa Burnard, who provides psychotherapy and assessment to children and adults.

    The most important thing is to be consistent, Salvesen says. One minute a year of your child’s age in time-out is standard and they must do exactly as you’ve asked and stay in the time-out spot.

    Time-out will not be effective if you do any of the following:

    • Use your child’s bedroom for time-outs instead of a boring place such as the bathroom or a spare room.
    • Say “Go to time-out until you’ve stopped crying.”
    • Ask “Do you want to go to time-out?” as a threat.
    • Allow your child to stand, walk around or play instead of sitting in the designated spot.
    • Allow your child out of time-out before time is up.
    • Allow your child to leave time-out with a bad attitude.

    CENTRING

    American writer, educator and consultant Emily Plank, who’s been working with children for 13 years, suggests parents focus on whether their children are centred before disciplining them.

    “When we human beings are feeling strongly (angry, sad, frustrated) we lose contact with the problem-solving area of our brain,” she writes on her site, Abundant Life Children. You need to teach your children how to recognise when they’re “uncentred” and help them to get out of it so they can reconnect with their problem-solving brain.

    Disciplining children when they’re not in charge of their emotions could result in them not taking in what they’re being told, she says. You need to give them something to do to get them to that “centred” state again.


    “It seems so counterintuitive to ‘give’ a  child something when they’ve acted inappropriately,” Plank says. “In truth, this is the only way to be helpful. Once a child has access to her problem-solving brain she can learn how to get her needs met, make amends for any wrongs caused, and work to form a strategy so it doesn’t happen again.”

    TEACH KIDS TO HANDLE CONFLICT

    Learning how to negotiate with others to solve problems is an essential life skill. When kids are arguing with each other, perhaps over a toy, take them through a problem-solving process, Plank says.

    “With the older ones I simply enter the argument to remind them of what to do: ‘It sounds as if you’re having a disagreement. I’ll hold this toy while you solve it. Let me know when you come up with a plan’.”

    With younger children, talk them through each step of the negotiation.

    LOSS OF PRIVILEGES 

    You’ll know which privileges your child really values – withhold those when the need to discipline arises, says Wilma Calvert, a  counsellor and community worker at The Family Life Centre. This is particularly effective with preteens and teens. “The removal of a cellphone or games console seems to be equal to a death sentence for some teens.

    WHY SPANKING MAY NOT BE THE BEST OPTION

    According to a study by Cape Town-based non-governmental organisation Rapcan, 57 percent of South African parents interviewed use their hand to spank their children while 33 percent use other objects such as belts.

    Parents need to learn to deal with their own frustrations without using violence, says Reverend Patrick Godana, government and media liaison officer for Sonke Gender Justice. The organisation promotes positive discipline methods that develop children’s coping and learning skills without the child learning fear, he says.

    He believes hitting a child simply erodes that child’s self-esteem and confidence.

    “There are no benefits to smacking,” Reverend Godana adds. “There are only regrets and the perpetuation of violent nations. Children must trust their parents, not fear them. Violence begets violence.”

    Other arguments against smacking include that it teaches children they don’t deserve respect, that it leads to children becoming indifferent to the pain of others, and that children who are spanked are more susceptible to delinquent behaviour.

    It’s also a reaction that’s more about the feelings of the parent (who’s in fact out of control) than it is about the behaviour of the child. While the act of smacking a child is abusive, it doesn’t necessarily mean the parent is abusive, Childline’s Joan van Niekerk says. “Some parents just don’t know how else to discipline their children.”

    Extra sources: thetelegraph.co.uk, rt.com, politics.co.uk, africasacountry.com, www.inspiredparenting.co.za, abundantlifechildren.com, endcorporalpunishment.org

  • How smacking or spanking children by way of discipline could have opposite effect on them

    A new study has found that smacking or spanking children by way of discipline could actually have the opposite effect.

    A team from Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Texas examined 75 studies conducted over the last 50 years, which included information on about 160 000 children. Their conclusion was that spanking can lead to long-term behavioural, emotional and cognitive negatives.

    “We found spanking was related to less of all the good things,” said researcher Elizabeth Gershoff.

    “And it was not significantly related to compliance. It did not make children more or less likely to comply. It doesn’t achieve what parents want: compliance and acting appropriately in the future.”

    Of course, this directly contradicts the old wisdom, “spare the rod and spoil the child” – which was the controversial message even Pope Francis himself seemed to be preaching last year.

    As any parent who’s been faced with disobedient or defiant children will know, the answer isn’t always as simple as putting them on the naughty step.

    But there are alternatives to smacking that work, experts say. Here’s a look at other ways to discipline.

    INSTEAD OF SPANKING

    The trick is to learn to respond and not react to your child’s behaviour, says South African parenting coach Andalene Salvesen, author of A Brand-New Child In 5 Easy Steps. Hitting a child isn’t effective because it places the focus on the parent’s anger instead of what the child did wrong, says Salvesen, who founded the Monsters To Munchkins website and travels the world giving parenting seminars and courses. Here are some tools to try.

    THE SO HAPPY/SO SORRY METHOD 

    This is suitable for kids aged three and older. “Get two boxes or jars that can hold a few pieces of folded paper. Mark one So Happy and the other So Sorry,” Salvesen (59) says. Sit with your child at a time when you’re both feeling relaxed and discuss things to put in the jars – punishments in the one and rewards in the other.

    Write them down on pieces of paper, fold them and put them into the appropriate jars.

    When a discipline situation arises, ask your child to select one of the folded pieces of paper out of the So Sorry jar – this is the consequence for their bad behaviour. “Your children have to learn that their choices determine their consequences,” Salvesen says.

    A tip: put one blank piece of folded paper in the So Sorry jar. “This is a wonderful opportunity to teach about grace. Sometimes we deserve punishment but we don’t get it.”

    Use the So Happy jar to reward good behaviour. It’s vital rewards don’t involve sweets or toys but rather positive time spent  together.

    EXAMPLES OF CREATIVE PUNISHMENT

    Extra chores – these are in addition to your children’s regular chores which they should be doing anyway from the age of six. They can include cleaning and repacking cupboards, weeding the garden, sweeping the yard or cleaning the fridge.

    EXAMPLES OF CREATIVE REWARDS

    These could be an extra bedtime story, a later bedtime, extra screen time, choosing their own dinner, not making their bed for a week, breakfast in bed, dessert before supper or choosing a game to play with mom or dad.

    TIME-OUTS USED PROPERLY 

    Younger children respond better to the naughty corner or time-out, while older children can be disciplined by taking away  privileges, says Durban-based psychologist Tessa Burnard, who provides psychotherapy and assessment to children and adults.

    The most important thing is to be consistent, Salvesen says. One minute a year of your child’s age in time-out is standard and they must do exactly as you’ve asked and stay in the time-out spot.

    Time-out will not be effective if you do any of the following:

    • Use your child’s bedroom for time-outs instead of a boring place such as the bathroom or a spare room.
    • Say “Go to time-out until you’ve stopped crying.”
    • Ask “Do you want to go to time-out?” as a threat.
    • Allow your child to stand, walk around or play instead of sitting in the designated spot.
    • Allow your child out of time-out before time is up.
    • Allow your child to leave time-out with a bad attitude.

    CENTRING

    American writer, educator and consultant Emily Plank, who’s been working with children for 13 years, suggests parents focus on whether their children are centred before disciplining them.

    “When we human beings are feeling strongly (angry, sad, frustrated) we lose contact with the problem-solving area of our brain,” she writes on her site, Abundant Life Children. You need to teach your children how to recognise when they’re “uncentred” and help them to get out of it so they can reconnect with their problem-solving brain.

    Disciplining children when they’re not in charge of their emotions could result in them not taking in what they’re being told, she says. You need to give them something to do to get them to that “centred” state again.


    “It seems so counterintuitive to ‘give’ a  child something when they’ve acted inappropriately,” Plank says. “In truth, this is the only way to be helpful. Once a child has access to her problem-solving brain she can learn how to get her needs met, make amends for any wrongs caused, and work to form a strategy so it doesn’t happen again.”

    TEACH KIDS TO HANDLE CONFLICT

    Learning how to negotiate with others to solve problems is an essential life skill. When kids are arguing with each other, perhaps over a toy, take them through a problem-solving process, Plank says.

    “With the older ones I simply enter the argument to remind them of what to do: ‘It sounds as if you’re having a disagreement. I’ll hold this toy while you solve it. Let me know when you come up with a plan’.”

    With younger children, talk them through each step of the negotiation.

    LOSS OF PRIVILEGES 

    You’ll know which privileges your child really values – withhold those when the need to discipline arises, says Wilma Calvert, a  counsellor and community worker at The Family Life Centre. This is particularly effective with preteens and teens. “The removal of a cellphone or games console seems to be equal to a death sentence for some teens.

    WHY SPANKING MAY NOT BE THE BEST OPTION

    According to a study by Cape Town-based non-governmental organisation Rapcan, 57 percent of South African parents interviewed use their hand to spank their children while 33 percent use other objects such as belts.

    Parents need to learn to deal with their own frustrations without using violence, says Reverend Patrick Godana, government and media liaison officer for Sonke Gender Justice. The organisation promotes positive discipline methods that develop children’s coping and learning skills without the child learning fear, he says.

    He believes hitting a child simply erodes that child’s self-esteem and confidence.

    “There are no benefits to smacking,” Reverend Godana adds. “There are only regrets and the perpetuation of violent nations. Children must trust their parents, not fear them. Violence begets violence.”

    Other arguments against smacking include that it teaches children they don’t deserve respect, that it leads to children becoming indifferent to the pain of others, and that children who are spanked are more susceptible to delinquent behaviour.

    It’s also a reaction that’s more about the feelings of the parent (who’s in fact out of control) than it is about the behaviour of the child. While the act of smacking a child is abusive, it doesn’t necessarily mean the parent is abusive, Childline’s Joan van Niekerk says. “Some parents just don’t know how else to discipline their children.”

    Extra sources: thetelegraph.co.uk, rt.com, politics.co.uk, africasacountry.com, www.inspiredparenting.co.za, abundantlifechildren.com, endcorporalpunishment.org

  • Lily Williams Foundation in rescue for schools in Ogoja without desks, uniforms and roofs

    Lily Williams Foundation is putting a smile on school pupils Faces with their charity works. 

    The Foundation which started recently has now grown into a full house and is aiding the needy, especially school children.

    Read Also: Lily Williams Foundation, A Timely Rescue To Our Generations – Emmanuel Idris

    Their visit to St. John’s Primary School, Bansang, Mbube, Ogoja LGA of Cross River State was awesome and you need to see that happiness and joy on the pupils Faces. The Foundation was like Christ to them, as many were able to express themselves. Even their bitterness turned into sweetness as the Foundation gave them a glimpse of a bright future. A hope that’ll last forever.

    See photos and videos below…

    Video

    Want to reach out, support or encourage Lily Williams Foundation? Then call this number:
    08055838822
    +2348055838822 (Int’l).



    Or visit: www.lilywilliamsfoundation.org

  • Lily Williams Foundation in rescue for schools in Ogoja without desks, uniforms and roofs

    Lily Williams Foundation is putting a smile on school pupils Faces with their charity works. 

    The Foundation which started recently has now grown into a full house and is aiding the needy, especially school children.

    Read Also: Lily Williams Foundation, A Timely Rescue To Our Generations – Emmanuel Idris

    Their visit to St. John’s Primary School, Bansang, Mbube, Ogoja LGA of Cross River State was awesome and you need to see that happiness and joy on the pupils Faces. The Foundation was like Christ to them, as many were able to express themselves. Even their bitterness turned into sweetness as the Foundation gave them a glimpse of a bright future. A hope that’ll last forever.

    See photos and videos below…

    Video

    Want to reach out, support or encourage Lily Williams Foundation? Then call this number:
    08055838822
    +2348055838822 (Int’l).



    Or visit: www.lilywilliamsfoundation.org