Education

FG to investigate alleged Abuja school ‘sodomizing deaf children’

Published

5 years ago

March 27, 2019

BY: Oliseama Okwuchukwu

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has promised to ensure that justice was served in the case of a student of the FCT School for the Deaf Imran Kunan, who was allegedly sodomised.

Adamu stated this on Tuesday in Abuja, during the ministry’s 11th Ministerial briefing.

He said a petition was received from one Dr Hannatu Ayuba, alleging among other things, sodomisation of her child Imran, at the school, owned and managed by the FCT administration.

The minister said following the petition, the ministry set up a committee, chaired by Dr Jake Epelle, which looked into the allegation.

He further explained that a joint committee of the ministries of education and FCT was also set up, with assistance from security agencies, to ascertain the veracity of the petitioner’s claims.

He said the police report to the committee stated that they were able to obtain a confession from the alleged abuser Sani Filo, a senior student who happened to be Kunan’s school father.

According to the minister, investigations are ongoing and as it stands, the report is inconclusive.

He, however, promised that the victim would be adequately catered for and justice served in the matter.

On the reports of cannibalism, sucking of human blood and existence of a cult in the school, the minister said the allegations were “unfounded and baseless.”

“On sexual abuse, cannibalism, sucking of human blood and existence of a cult, the police and security report did not lend credence to all these allegations of untoward things taking place in the school or in Kuje Area.

“No parent reported any missing child or of children dying in the school, at least for the past five years.

“A medical team comprising of 12 doctors from both public and private sectors, carried out a random medical examination on 170 out of 630 children of the school and did not find any evidence to support this claim.

“’There was also no evidence of blood extraction found. These allegations are therefore, unfounded and baseless,” the minister said.

Adamu also shed light on allegations of poor feeding and children eating faeces.

He said that the committee, while carrying out its investigation, also found out that the children were reasonably fed and that there was no evidence of malnutrition.

“’The committee sent several invitations both orally and in writing to the petitioner to appear before it and to bring her son.

“But all efforts proved fruitless,’’ he said.

Adamu, however, still urged the petitioner to come forward and help in the investigation to enable the ministry get to the root of the issue.

In his response, Epelle also said in spite of the committee’s several invitations to the petitioner, she was yet to honour its call.

Meanwhile, the victim’s mother, Ayuba, who spoke in a telephone interview with newsmen, said the family was currently focused on rehabilitating their son.

She said the more people kept asking the boy questions, the more he kept recalling the traumatic experience.

“They sent me a letter of invitation for dialogue; I ignored it because I believe they should collaborate with the police, who are also investigating the matter.

“’The medical report ascertained that he was abused sexually. The FCT Police Command has its report on the boy, my son has been cheated, and he is suffering from a traumatic health disorder.

“In the interest of the boy; and in as much as investigations are ongoing, the harm has been done to him; but we have to start picking up the pieces of what is left of this experience.

“We have to be calm and focus on rehabilitating him,’’ Ayuba said.

When contacted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the matter, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, said the command was aware of the case.

Manzah, however, said investigation was ongoing.

Education

Federal Government Sets To Commence School-To-Work Scheme

Published

1 week ago

May 3, 2024

Alice Ginika Simon

The Federal Government says plans are underway to launch a school-to-work scheme to enable youths to become productive and self-employed.

The Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi disclosed this in Abuja during a meeting with Commissioners of Education, Executive State and FCT Universal Basic Chairmen, Education Boards and UBEC on the School-to-Work Scheme.

Bobboyi in his keynote address, disclosed that the target group for the scheme are learners in the junior secondary schools. He added that it will provide them the opportunity to detect early in life where their talents and potential lie, between academic pursuit and vocational skills development.

Explaining how the Scheme will run, the UBEC Boss stated that it is structured to provide at least six months training, broken into two months per year of study in the junior secondary school.

Also speaking, the Director Basic Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Folake Davies, stated that the Scheme which is inline with the road map policy of the ministry, is designed to provide youths with the requisite experience necessary to excel whenever they find themselves in the working environment.

The Director, who was represented by Rose Onoja stated that only collaborative effort from the Federal, State, and Local Government levels and active involvement from the private sector will make the implementation of the program successful. Liberate actions to mitigate the living conditions of their constituents.

Education

Fake University Degree Holders Soon To Be Fished Out And Arrested – Minister Of Education Announces

Published

1 month ago

April 3, 2024

Alice Ginika Simon

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on Tuesday, said security agencies will go after individuals with fake university certificates in the country.

According to the minister, the individuals will be tracked after the committee set up by the Federal Government to investigate the activities of university certificate racketeers in the country submits its report.

The Federal Government had set up an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling to probe the activities of certificate racketeers following an investigative report published by Daily Nigerian which exposed the activities of degree mills in the Benin Republic.

The investigative report, which exposed the illegalities perpetrated by some tertiary institutions in the West African countries, led to the Nigerian government placing a ban on the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from Benin Republic and Togo.

The committee set up by the Federal Government was also tasked with investigating Nigerian private universities established in the last 15 years. Recently, the committee invited memoranda from the public. Selected members of the committee also visited institutions in the Benin Republic.

While speaking at the first quarterly citizens engagement in Abuja on Tuesday, the education minister, Mamman, said;

“On the issue of the fake degrees, we set up a committee and we expect them to submit their reports soon. Once the report is submitted, I can assure you that individuals with fake certificates will be apprehended. They will be tracked by security agencies.”

Also speaking at the engagement, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, noted that the quarterly citizenship engagement was aimed at creating awareness of the activities of the ministry.

He noted that the engagement would “ also promote mutual understanding with stakeholders and citizens, build and sustain public trust, and improve transparency and accountability in the sector.”

“Worthy of mention is that this engagement also aims to improve efficiency and streamline government operations by identifying and addressing bottlenecks,” Sununu said.

Education

Stakeholders Head To Enugu For First South East Educators Conference

Published

2 months ago

March 16, 2024

Alice Ginika Simon

Stakeholders in the education circle are warming up for the maiden edition of Southeast Educators’ Conference 2024(SEEC’24).

The two-day SEEC’24 scheduled to hold 18th & 19th, April 2024 at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu under theme: Future-‘Focused Learning – Igniting the Competitive Edge’

Promises to host key players in the education sector with a potential attendance of over 500 delegates.
The conference will feature a diverse lineup of speakers, covering topics ranging from holistic learning approaches to cutting-edge technology integration.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Mrs Doris Chinedu-Okoro,CEO, Evergreen Group, said SEEC’24 is the first of its kind in the Southeast region, presenting a historic opportunity for stakeholders to pioneer positive change in the local education sector.
“It brings together diverse perspectives and innovative ideas,fostering collaboration and networking among educators and stakeholders.
Hundreds of delegates will be in attendance.
“SEEC’24 is dedicated to exploring transformative practices, emphasising holistic learning, technology integration, globalcitizenship, life-long learning, and community engagement”, she said.

Mr. Osita Chidioka, the former Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation, who recently launched an online mentorship and leadership programme for Nigerian youths named Mekaria Mentorship Programme (MMP) Foundation Course, will deliver the keynote at SEEC’24.

Prof. Pieter Verdegem; Dr. Joy Isa, Mrs. Bukola Adewuiyi, Lady Uju Dike, Fr. John Njorteah, Alex Onyia, Rotimi Eyitayo, Rhoda Odigboh, Elfrida Diete-Spiff Omole, Dr. ChibuezeLawrence Ofobuike, Ify Obidi-Essien, Dr. Abimbola Ogundere, Angelina Ikeako, Odetola Ebenezer Israel and OgochukwuOnyia, are some of the speakers lined up for the event.

The Evergreen Group CEO added that the conference thrives on a vision to create a dynamic platform that equips educators with the tools and knowledge needed to make a lasting impact on the educational landscape of South-Eastern Nigeria.

SEEC’24 is open to School Owners, Heads of Schools (Public and Private), Educational Stakeholders, Counselors, Teachers, Parents, Investors, Startups, and others in the education ecosystem.
“Participants will have the opportunity to engage in two full days of conference sessions, diving deep into the future of Education.
“There will be ample networking opportunities with school leaders from across the geopolitical zone and beyond.
“The evening Gala Night promises a delightful atmosphere for dancing, dining, wining, and fostering deeper connections in a relaxed setting”, she further explained.

Registration is N100,000 via: https://bit.ly/3uTcv9e