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100 Students Get Trained On Digital Skills In Oyo School
An ambassador of The Education Sustainability and Vocational Development Initiative, Mutiat Temitope Ibrahim has trained 100 students of Novelty International Academy, Kishi, Oyo State, Nigeria, on digital literacy.
The training is part of the Digital Champions Project Digital Literacy Training on Computer fundamentals, skills, working with design techniques & tools, communication, netiquette and understanding the Web (World Wide Web).
Speaking on the project on Friday, Mutiat said, “the project took place in the school from 7th – 26th, and we we impacted 100 students in digital literacy. We also provided the school with Wi-Fi, so they could have access to the internet to practice their lessons.
“As a quality education and girl-child advocate, this programme is conceived due to being a global ambassador for Educational Sustainability and Vocation Development, so basically this is to improve literacy and each child has access to digital skills and others.
“We aimed to impact thousands of children. An ambassador is meant to impact 100 students, that’s how I came about the programme.
“We have planned this for a while now and I’m happy it finally worked. We tried bring it on the fore in Cameroon.
“We provided them with Wi-Fi, so after the training they would fall back in digital studies and skills. We are looking at monthly subscriptions for the school.
“The challenge we have is in funding. We did fundraising yet could not raise enough money for the project,” she said.
Also, the project manager, Wakilat Kikelomo Zakariyah said, “being a World Literacy Foundation Ambassador in 2020 sets the precedence for all my advocacy works, as it relates to Quality Education and Literacy. As an SDG4 (Quality Education) Advocate, the underlying purpose and impact of my literacy work is to promote Quality Education and make it accessible at the grassroots to children, especially the Girl-Child from the deprived sector.
“I want children in the grassroots to have access and to obtain quality education which starts from basic literacy skills which is the ability to read and write.
“Hence my track records revolve around SDG4 and the Girl-Child. Acting as the Project Lead and Manager for Digital Champions Project executed at Novelty Academy, Kishi, Oyo State, is one of the most fulfilling things I’ve experienced this year. It goes without saying that it is one of my 2022 Bucket List.
“I conceived the idea when I was serving at the sister branch of the school– Novelty Polytechnic. Then I found how far away the students were from technology and innovation and I wanted to bridge the gap but I was constraint by human and material resources. After my National service, I harnessed the support that I needed through READ Initiative and kickstarted the project.
“We had no real challenges. I had a solid, indefatigable team and working with them was seamless. What would’ve been the challenge would be the distance but technology and the support I got from my team made it all work out well. I did not have to be present before they got the job done. In fact, I was only there on the grand finale throughout the three weeks training.”
Wakilat, who was also a World Literacy Foundation Ambassador 2020 said that the most fulfilling moment was seeing the joy on the children’s faces.
Acting Head of Department, Computer Science, Novelty Polytechnic, Kishi, Abdulmuqtadir Yunus said his involvement in the project was due to passion.
“My passion for training the coming generation led to my first campaign which is techknow-kids. I have organized series of training classes ever since then till date using different platform. Afterwards, I co-founded the biggest tech-community in Kishi.
“The most fulfilling moment is that against all odd, I saw to the success of the training. The joy at the end is immeasurable.
“My prospective plan is to ceate a great space profile on the internet.”
Furthermore, a volunteer, Adeola Musbaudeen Bakare said his involvement in the project born out from passion to impart in young talents.
Adeola, who is also an agriculturist and a learning facilitator at Novelty International Academy, stated that “in this 21st century, digital skill is actually dominion over all other skills. Without the knowledge of computer, then other skills cannot function to their full lengths. This means that, it’s an indispensable skill to getting other things done properly in this generation of ours.
“This is why I was enthusiastic to be involved immediately I was informed.
The little challenge encountered was when there was power outage that caused the programme not to hold for the day and challenge is the limited available PC for the students but every problem was overcome.
“Continuity of the programme would be fine if there can be a standby tutor in the school. Financial support and follow up would equally be helpful in the long run.”
The Education Sustainability and Vocational Development Initiative is a national development organization dedicated to empowering one child, one school, one teacher, and one community to ensure equal access to educational opportunities by working through volunteers and partners.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has raised concerns over alleged monopolistic practices by Dangote Refinery, following a public dispute about fuel pricing in the downstream petroleum sector.
Recall that the refinery, Africa’s largest, recently disclosed its petrol pricing at N990 per litre in trucks and N960 per litre into ships, a move it justifies as being in line with international rates.
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PETROAN, however, sees this as an attempt to suppress competitors and dominate the Nigerian market.
The rift began when Dangote Refinery claimed that complaints from marketers regarding its pricing were fueled by intentions to import cheaper, potentially substandard products.
In response, PETROAN strongly rejected these allegations, suggesting that Dangote’s claims are tactics designed to maintain a monopoly in the sector.
Joseph Obele, PETROAN’s spokesperson, stated that the association remains committed to importing high-quality products at more competitive rates to ensure affordability for Nigerian consumers.
According to PETROAN, competition in the market is essential for achieving fair pricing, and any attempt to stifle it would be detrimental to consumers.
They argue that Dangote Refinery’s pricing should reflect production costs and fair margins rather than international benchmarks, especially given concessions granted by the government for the refinery’s establishment.
PETROAN also announced its plans to partner with foreign refineries and financial backers to import premium-quality petroleum products at prices below current rates.
The association aims to enter the market by December 2024, pending necessary regulatory approvals.
“The allegations that PETROAN will import substandard products are unfounded and aimed at creating an unfair playing field,” the statement read.
PETROAN warned that similar claims in the past had led to significant price hikes when competitors were pushed out, emphasizing that the entry of new players into the market would lead to more competitive pricing and ultimately benefit Nigerian consumers.
PETROAN expressed appreciation for President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s state-owned refineries and urged the government to consider privatizing the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries once rehabilitation is complete.
The association believes a transparent privatization process will help strengthen Nigeria’s downstream sector and counter monopolistic tendencies.
To address the ongoing pricing challenges in the sector, PETROAN called on the government to convene a comprehensive meeting of industry stakeholders, including major associations like IPMAN, DAPPMAN, MEMAN, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN.
PETROAN believes that collaboration among these groups will be instrumental in establishing a sustainable and competitive pricing framework for petroleum products in Nigeria.
Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Mohammad Abubakar II, has called on Nigerians to avoid publicly criticizing their leaders, instead urging citizens to place their trust in God to address leadership concerns as He deems fit.
Speaking at the Regional Conference on Climate Change-Induced Conflicts in Northern Nigeria, organized by the Kaduna State Bureau of Interfaith in collaboration with International Alert, the Sultan emphasized faith and patience in navigating the country’s challenges.
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Acknowledging Nigeria’s current economic and social hardships, the Sultan encouraged continuous prayer, not only for the nation but for its leaders as well.
“Even though many feel times are particularly hard, we believe relief will come. Let’s increase our prayers for our leaders, trusting God to address them in His way,” he said, expressing hope that divine intervention could bring stability and prosperity.
The Sultan reminded political leaders of their ultimate accountability to God, cautioning that they will stand alone on the Day of Resurrection, with only their deeds to support them.
“On that day, every leader will stand alone. Governors, advisers—none will have support except their own deeds. Let us act with a deep sense of responsibility and fear of God,” he stated.
Addressing religious leaders, he warned against misleading their followers for personal gain, underscoring the trust many place in their religious guidance.
“Only God can save any human being,” he said, encouraging Nigerians to remain faithful and discerning in their spiritual beliefs. “Focus on worshiping Allah and leave the rest to Him. Don’t follow those who might lead you astray.”
With leaders from various religious communities, including the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in attendance, the Sultan called for unity, resilience, and communal effort to tackle pressing issues such as climate change, poverty, and insecurity in the northern region.
He praised the North’s history of unity and resilience, warning against divisive narratives that threaten communal harmony. “When we are united, we can face any challenge and build a prosperous community,” he asserted.
The Sultan’s remarks come amid ongoing social and environmental issues in the region, including a recent surge in climate-related challenges that have exacerbated poverty and security threats.
In light of these issues, he called on both Muslims and Christians to intensify their prayers, saying, “Our country faces many challenges, and we must turn to God in prayer. Let us intensify prayers in our mosques and churches.”
In a decisive move, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate release of all minors detained by police during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests.
The directive, announced by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris on Monday, underscores the government’s commitment to protecting children’s rights and ensuring justice.
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Idris confirmed that President Tinubu’s directive prioritizes the welfare of detained minors, instructing the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to facilitate their safe reunification with their families.
A committee led by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs will be established to oversee the welfare of the released minors and ensure compliance with the president’s orders.
Additionally, President Tinubu has directed a formal investigation into the actions of law enforcement agencies involved in the arrests.
The president emphasized that any misconduct uncovered during the investigation will result in disciplinary action, affirming his administration’s dedication to accountability within law enforcement.
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