Mrs Tinubu donates 50,000 notebooks to pupils in Kogi

 

The Wife of Nigeria's President, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has donated 50,000 notebooks to public Primary schools in Kogi State under her "Renewed Hope Initiative" project.

The distribution of the note books was flagged off by the wife of Kogi Governor, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, on Thursday at Glass House, Government House Lokoja.

In her remarks, Hajia Ododo appreciated the President's wife for her commitment to education development and empowerment of children in public schools across the country.

She commended Mrs Tinubu for her visionary leadership and passion to ensuring quality education for all, stressing that the initiative remained an inspiration worthy of emulation.

The Kogi governor's wife promised to continue to emulate and support the Nigeria's first lady for a better output, noting that the notebooks were being distributed across the 36 States of the federation.

Mrs Ododo urged the people of Kogi to continue to support her husband to take Kogi to greater heights.

She reaffirmed the governor's commitment to continue to bridging the gaps in ensuring quality education in the state.

She advised the pupils to take their studies seriously while urging the stakeholders to ensure equitable distribution of the notebooks across public primary schools in the state.

Also speaking, the state's Commissioner for Education, Mr Wemi Jones, commended the wife of the President for the gesture towards the development of education in Kogi State.

Jones emphasised that education palliative remained the most sustainable assistance to the people, stressing that Gov. Ododo's administration would not compromise the educational needs of Kogi children.

"We are indeed very grateful to the wife of the President for the gesture because palliative in education is the most sustainable palliative that you can give because education is the bedrock of any development," he said

Jones stressed that the former Governor, Alh Yahaya Bello, handed over to Ododo who had been trained and groomed to take education to another higher level in Kogi State. 

The Commissioner assured that the necessary structure had been put in place to ensure that the notebooks get to the targeted beneficiaries.

Jones reaffirmed the commitment of Ododo's administration to ensure that education remained free at basic and secondary levels in public schools across the state.

"Education is free in Kogi. We are paying for all exams; both internal and external examinations at basic and secondary school levels in the state.

"As a ministry, we are irreversibly committed to taking education to higher level in Kogi because we have a governor that is fully ready and committed to education development," Jones said.

On her part, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Fatima Momoh appreciated the Mrs Tinubu's efforts in improving education standards in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the Education Secretaeies in the state, the Chairman Forum of Education Secretaries, Mall. Salihu Usman, appreciated the initiative and promised to ensure the distribution with fairness.

The highlight of the occasion was the flagg off of the notebooks' distribution by Kogi first lady, who subsequently handed them over to the commissioner for education for onward distribution to pupils across the state.

By Stephen Adeleye 

Hon. Wemi Jones hosts Ojo Olorunleke on AFCON 2023 success, reiterates Kogi State Government's commitment in all round development of a child

 

Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Honorable Wemi Jones has again re emphasized the desire of Kogi State Government to develop a school child in all ramifications in including engaging them in sporting activities.

Hon. Jones stated this on Friday when he received Ojo Olorunleke MON one of the members of Nigeria's Super Eagles team who finished second at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament held in Cote d'Ivoire.

The amiable Commissioner who expressed delight to receive the goalkeeper along with his family and friends noted Olorunleke's feat with the Super Eagles was a reassurance for the government to do more in school sports.

He disclosed that the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo will continue to encourage a child to grow with quality in all positive areas of life endeavors. 

While appreciating Olorunleke for his humility and dedication, Hon. Jones promised that the ministry will be ready to collaborate with individuals or corporate bodies to promote school sports in the state. 

Earlier, Ojo Olorunleke informed Honorable Commissioner that the visit was to identify with him as proud son of the state. 

Olorunleke who is also from same Ayede, Bunu in Kabba-Bunu LGA of Kogi State as Hon. Jones intimated the Commissioner of his plan to organize football tournament later in the year as a way of giving back to the society and discovering talents footballers like him.

He used the occasion to solicite the support of the Commissioner to revive both Principal's Cup and Governor's Cup tournaments that had given him platform to develope in the state. 

The Enyimba captain thanked Hon. Jones for the warm reception and prayed just as he promised to be good ambassador of Bunu and Kogi State. 

Highlights of the visits was presentations of medals and natural award to Honorable Commissioner as well as donation of Textbooks to the highly rated goalkeeper.

Kogi AGILE SPSC chairman commends SPIU on proactivity, hard work

 

The Chairman of the Kogi State Project Steering Committee (SPSC) for Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), Hon. Wemi Jones, who doubles as  the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, recently commended the State Project Implementing Unit (SPIU) for its proactivity and hard work in achieving significant milestones within a short period.

 During a meeting held at his office in Lokoja, he emphasized the importance of teamwork and transparency in achieving success and encouraged the SPIU team to continue with their hard work. 

The state Project Coordinator, Dr. Bello, Abdulhakeem, expressed gratitude to the SPSC Chairman for his ongoing support and reiterated his team's commitment to exceeding expectations and ensuring the success of the AGILE project in the state. 

He stressed that the success recorded by the SPIU so far is solely based on the hard work and sacrifice of his team, adding that they showed passion and dedication all the way.

The PC further promised that his team is more than ready to exceed the expectation of the governor, the SPSC, and the World Bank, noting that the AGILE project in the state will be a success.

The AGILE project aims to provide adolescent girls with education and empowerment opportunities, particularly in the area of secondary school education.

Signed:

Bishop Aturu

Communication Officer

Kogi Govt inaugurates project steering committee for AGILE initiative

 

The Kogi Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones (FCIB), has inaugurated the Kogi State Project Steering Committee, (SPSC) for Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment.

In his opening remarks, the Commissioner disclosed that AGILE is a Federal Government World Bank-sponsored project that is expected to use secondary schools as a platform to empower girls through education, life skills, health education, gender-based violence awareness and prevention, and digital literacy skills. 

He disclosed that the World Bank haven seen the success of the project with the initial seven states that kick off the project, they recently approved 11 additional states which Kogi is part of the first six enlisted states to commence. 

He commended Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello for approving the project and making available all requirements needed to make the project fully operational in the state. 

Hon. Wemi further stressed that if the project is well executed and managed, the state stands a chance of being able to renovate public schools across the various Local Government in Kogi State and train young girls to be digitally sound, self-dependent through skills acquisition, and empowered via Conditional Cash Transfer.

While officially inaugurating the committee, the commissioner admonished all the SPSC members to bring their wealth of experience to bear while ensuring that supervision and all necessary support are given to the State Project Implementing Unit (SPIU). 

He further disclosed that the SPSC will be meeting  quarterly for oversight functions to achieve the Project Development Objective (PDO).

The commissioner further congratulated the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Bello Abdulhakeem, and all other members of the SPIU, urging them to put in all efforts and expertise to ensure that the project succeeds in the state. 

Earlier in her remark, the Executive Chairman, Kogi State Science, Technical Education and Teaching Service Commission (STETSCOM), , Mrs. Cecilia Cook commended Governor Bello for the approval of the project and Hon. Wemi Jones for the proactive measures taken so far in ensuring the success recorded so far.

She expressed her joy towards the benefits that the project will bring especially to the Adolescent Girls across the 21 Local Government Areas, adding that she will be readily available through her office and as a member of the SPSC.

Similarly, the Executive Chairman of State Universal Basic Education Board, (SUBEB), Abdullahi Ndalayi Suleiman stressed that the project calls for sacrifice from both the State Project Steering Committee and the State Project Implementing Unit.

He advised that the project must be driven by the passion and desire to help change the narrative about girl child education, get those out of school back to school, and help create a safe and conducive environment for learning for both the girl and the male child.

Members of the committee into the SPSC are; the Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, (Chairman) Director EPRS, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Ahman Animoku, (Secretary), Permanent Secretaries of, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ministry of Information and Communication, Ministry of Health,  Executive Chairman, STETCOM, and the Executive Chairman, SUBEB.

School Adoption, Mentorship: Kogi Commissioner Counsels Students on Discipline, Determination, Focus

 

By Stephen Adeleye

The Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, IION, has advised students in the state to be disciplined, determine, focus on their academic pursuit, and develop their talents with additional skills.

The Commissioner gave the advice when he kick started the School Adoption and Mentorship program at Crowther Memorial College (CMC) and Government Science Secondary School (GSSS) to mentor the students on Thursday in Lokoja.

Recalled that His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello on January 25, inaugurated the School Adoption and Mentorship Programme, aimed at restoring the glory of education and to motivate learners for improved performance across the state.

The programme was an initiative of the State's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology,  aimed at encouraging stakeholders to encourage learners' interest in school by adopting and mentoring students in public secondary schools across the state.

It would also enable stakeholders offer career guidance and values to learners; gives first hand information to stakeholders regarding the needs and challenges facing schools in their immediate communities, among others. 

While mentoring the SSS3 students in their various classrooms at CMC and GSSS, the Commissioner charged them to exhibit the virtues of discipline, determination, tenacity focus, integrity, perseverance in their academic pursuit, and develop their talents with additional skills.

  

The students took their turn to introduce themselves to the Commissioner as well as their hobbies and talents.

The commissioner who took the students down the memory lane of his academic, professional and political careers, enjoined them to prepare themselves and be disciplined in all things.

''You cannot achieve anything in life and career without discipline; you must discipline yourself and study very hard to succeed in life. 

''Anyone that is not disciplined, cannot amount to anything in life.

''I needed to be disciplined for me to achieve anything in life. It was discipline that singled me out among my peers at the early stage of my life,'' he said.

He noted that education has greatly improved and dynamic, and urged the students to have a mentor in which they could emulate.

He admonished the students to strive to develop their talents with additional skills as soon as they discover them, citing the Best World Footballer for several years, Christiano Ronaldo as a typical example.

''Whatever talent God has given you, don't burry it, develop it with additional skills. Your Talent is anything that you do that gives you joy,'' he said.

He further advised the students to be tenacious and focus in achieving their goals and never get distracted by anything.

He further charged them to persevere with integrity and never give up irrespective of the challenges, saying they would surely succeed in life.

He encouraged the students not to get involved in any form of social devices and other related crimes and criminality, while commending them for conducting themselves very well.

''We are desirous to ensuring that selfish and wicked politicians do not use you as tools for destruction and insecurity in the state,'' he said.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the visit, the Commissioner said the exercise was to demonstrate the ministry's level of commitment to the program, saying His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello is committed to it.

''What we are doing today is symbolic. I have just done one part, the other part of the program is where volunteers would adopt a child, block of classroom, a school, bring computers, texrbooks, equip laboratory, among others. 

''This would cut across the grassroots in all the 21 local government areas of the state'', he said.

He commended the governor for his total commitment to taking education to the highest level in the state.

The Principal of CMC, Mrs M.O Ogunmola, said she felt so happy that their school was the first school to benefit from the school adoption and mentorship programme in the state.

''I am very grateful to the Commissioner for the gesture, and I pray that God will bless him,'' she said.

She called on other stakeholders in the state to follow the foot step of the commissioner by coming to mentor their students as well as school adoption.

Some of the students, who spoke on behalf of others, Praise Durotoye of GSSS;  Danjuma Tukura and Victoria Paul of CMC, thanked the commissioner for coming to their schools to mentor them, describing it as a lifetime experience.

Tukura who is a talented Comedian, and Durotoye, a talented Singer, both entertained the Commissioner and his team with comedies and song respectively.

The Commissioner donated textbooks to the two schools, and presented textbooks to some of the students for their biliant performances. 

End

Kogi Government Restates Commitment To Improving Secondary Education

 

By Stephen Adeleye

Kogi State Government has restated her commitment to programmes that will improve the secondary school education in the state.

The State's Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, gave the assurance while speaking at the ''North Central Advocacy and Sensitization Forum and Stakeholders' Meeting'', on the establishment of the National Senior Secondary School Education Commission (NSSEC) at Makurdi, Benue State.

Jones said that the Administration of Governor Yahaya Bello, was ready to support the ideas of NSSEC in developing secondary education in the state in its bid to lift the education sector to a higher pedestral

According to Jones, to salvage the education system of the country, the secondary school system must not be neglected.

“As you are all aware, basic education, comprising primary and junior secondary education has Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) as its regulatory and intervention body, while the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Universities Commission (NUC) regulate colleges of education, polytechnics and universities respectively.

“In the same vein, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) serves as an intervention agency for higher institutions in Nigeria.

"From this analogy, only Senior Secondary Education has no functional regulatory and intervention agency", he said.

He stressed that the secondary school education remained a critical stage where students decide their careers in life, insisting that it could not  be neglected.

The commissioner maintained that it was time for the North Central to rise and take their rightful place in academic excellence.

He commended the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and the Executive Secretary of NSSEC; describing the initiative as a step in the right direction.

''It is noteworthy that the NSSEC is seeking partnership with critical stakeholders, state governments and traditional institutions to reposition senior secondary schools in Nigeria'', he said.

The commissioner emphasised that NSSEC remained a brilliant move towards repositioning secondary Sshool education in Kogi State.

The commissioner was accompanied by the leadership of the State Technical Education and Teaching Service Commission (STETSCOM), 

End

Kogi Govt. begins closure of illegal schools

 

Stephen Adeleye

 The Kogi State Government on Wednesday began the closure of sub-standard and illegal schools operating in the state.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the exercise in Lokoja, the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Wemi Jones, said the ministry had been empowered by law to close down any illegal school in the state.

Jones, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, said Kogi State Education Law came into effect in 2020 which empowered the ministry to close down sub-standard and illegal schools.

”We are surprised that these kind of schools are still in existence in Kogi, this is an eyesore

”Our team of directors were here yesterday to officially serve the school the letter of closure, but the proprietress refused to collect the letter.

”This is not acceptable, we cannot allow our children to be kept under this harsh condition all in the name of learning.

”We have put a seal of closure on the school and it remains sealed and closed until the owner of the school comes to the ministry to do the needful.”

He stressed that until the affected schools fulfilled the ministry’s conditions for operations in the state, they  would remain closed.

According to him, there is a taskforce already set up by the ministry that is going round, adding that the exercise would continue until set goals were achieved.

He, therefore, advised owners of other sub-standard schools in the state to be ready for the same exercise.

”Any school operating illegally in the state should get itself closed down or do the needful before we get to them.”

He said that government could not continue to allow the children to be learning under bad conditions, saying, ‘it is unfair and wickedness on the part of school owners; it is not acceptable.”

Among the closed schools were: Abundant Life Academy Nursery and Primary Schoool, Felele and Knowledge Academy, Zango.

NAN reports that the proprietors of some other schools were advised to report at ministry on Thursday. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Kogi Government reiterates commitment to support school sports

The Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, has given assurance that school sports would continue to receive the necessary Support and attention from the Kogi Stte Government.

Jones gave the assurance on Wednesday while addressing Kogi Contingent to the National Racket game competition holding at Teselim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

The Commissioner charged the contingent   to be good Ambassadors of Kogi State, and go all out to make the State proud by winning medals.

He further enjoined them to imbibed the spirit of sportsmanship by following the laid down rules and regulations to excel at the competition.

Responding, the Director of the Department, Mr Daodu Peter, commended the management of the ministry of education for their continued support in sponsoring Kogi State indigenes to National competition.

Peter promised that the contingent would not let the State down to justify the huge resources invested on them by winning medals.

Giving the analysis of Kogi State contigent to the competition, the Desk Officer on Sports in the Ministry, Mr Gwatana Silva, stated that six technical crew and coaches and participating students made the trip to Lagos.

According to him, the scope of the National Racket competition, Kogi State representatives are  currently participating in Table tennis, Badminton among others.

Meanwhile, reports reaching the Ministry from the Venue of the competition in Lagos indicated that Kogi State contigent at the competition had started on a bright note.

End

 

Kogi Education Commissioner Expresses Satisfaction With Entrance Examination Conduct

 

By Stephen Adeleye

The Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, has expressed his satisfaction with the conduct of the 2021 Common Entrance Examination Council (CEE), held on Saturday across the state.

 

Jones made the assertion while speaking to journalists shortly after monitoring the conduct of the entrance examination at some Centres in Lokoja. 

  

The Commissioner thanked His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, for the prompt release of fund which had ensured the smooth conduct of the examination across the state.

Represented by Mr Dipo Ayenibe, the Director Exams, Admissions and Certifications of the Ministry, Jones said the government had put the necessary things in place by creating enabling environment for hitch free examination conduct.

According to him, by the ministry's statistics over 44,000 pupils of both public and private schools are sitting for the common entrance examination across the 21 local government areas of the state.

He expressed his satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise in Lokoja and across the state, saying the ministry have been receiving reports from its officials from all other LGAs of the state.  

He commended the teachers, pupils and their parents/guardians for their support and understanding in maintaining examination standards. 

Also speaking, Mr Kassim Abdulmalik, the Education Secretary, Lokoja Local Governments Education Authority, said the conduct of the exam was timely and without any form of challenges.

Abdulmalik, who doubles as Chairman, Forum of Education Secretaries, Kogi State, noted that the monitoring of the exam was decentralized at the local government level to ensure effective monitoring.

 

''The children arrived on time and exam started timely despite the rain, and where we have shortage of papers, we called the ministry and they responded immediately'', Abdulmalik said. 

Some Exam Supervisors at the Centres visited, commended the State Government and the Ministry for putting the necessary arrangements in place in ensuring a smooth and hitch free examination.

Mr Musa Sulieman, the Exam Supervisor of Holy Trinity School centre, said that a total of 17 schools both public and private, with population of 487 pupils sat for the exam at the centre.

On his part, the Supervisor of Lokongoma LGEA School Centre, Mr Abdulmalik Abdullahi, said that pupils from 29 schools sat for the exam at the centre, adding that the conduct was successful.

One of the pupils, Ezekiel Ogunleye from Mamas Christian Academy, said he was excited to participate in the entrance exam as he would be advancing to secondary school.

Other examination centres visited were: Saint Mary LGEA School, Army Day Secondary School Barracks, Saint Luke Model School Adankolo, among others.

End