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  • Mar, Mon, 2020
Health

COVID-19: Gombe State Govt. closes schools

COVID-19 : Gombe State Govt. closes schools

Virus

By Ibrahim Kado

Gombe, March 23, 2020 (NAN) The Gombe State Government has ordered the closure of all schools to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in the state.

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya said this while speaking during a radio and television broadcast on COVID-19 in Gombe on Monday.

He said the closure will take immediate effect from Tuesday March 24.

“In accordance with the directive by the Presidential Task Force on COVID 19, all schools in the state are hereby directed to close effective from tomorrow Tuesday  March 24, 2020 until further notice.

“Furthermore, congregations for ceremonies, religious and other social activities are advised to limit numbers so as to not exceed the 50-person maximum as advised by the committee,” he said.

Yahaya said that the epidemic was a reality, and assured of government’s commitment towards fighting the disease.

“I must appeal to the general public to complement government’s effort in the fight against the dreaded disease irrespective of different shades of opinions or positions.

“Experience has shown that Coronavirus is no respecter of colour, creed, religion, size or level of development of any nation,” he said.

The governor also appealed to traditional and religious leaders to sensitise their followers on the dangers of the virus and the need to adhere strictly to medical advice.

Yahaya expressed government’s readiness for the fight virus in the state, adding that government had already released funds for sensitisation campaign and procurement of some equipment. (NAN)

IMK/FF/ABI

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Edited by Fela Fashoro/Ali Baba-Inuwa

  • Mar, Fri, 2020
Health

How Lagos school adopts handwashing technique to prevent coronavirus – Headteacher

 

How Lagos school adopts handwashing technique to prevent coronavirus – Headteacher

 

 

Handwashing
By Joan Odafe
Lagos, March 13, 2020 (NAN) As Coronavirus continues to spread across nations, Rochester Schools in Lagos on Friday called on Nigerians to be informed and observe recommended precautionary measures to prevent the disease.

Mrs Gloria Nwachi, Head Teacher, Rochester School, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the spread of the disease to the nation was a wake up call for everyone to be more hygienic and health conscious.

“We weren’t just concerned about the school alone but our community and Nigeria as a whole.

“We invited the school nurse who taught us how to wash our hands properly; we started using hand sanitisers while the wash hand basins were being installed.

“The parents were also educated and encouraged to practise the precautionary measures at home because if any is affected anywhere, it will affect every other person.

“The children know the importance because they were educated before the handwashing commenced; it’s now a lifestyle for them to be more hygienic, not just because of Coronavirus,” she said.

Rochester Head of Schools, Joel Olaniyan, said it was very important for everyone to remain calm and be updated about the disease, so as to know exactly what should be done.

“As part of the sensitisation process, we held a school assembly; we also played videos so the students could see what the virus can cause, the damages and how it can be prevented.

“What the school had put in place as precautions, we also sent home through a newsletter to inform parents on the roles they need to play too,” he said.

I

Olaniyan noted that children who come to school coughing and sneezing were reassured that they hadn’t been infected because they had been observing the precautionary measures.

“We reinforce the instructions on not coughing or sneezing on their hands and to make sure they cover their noses and their mouths,” he told NAN.

He further urged Nigerians to be calm saying, “the major precaution is to make sure they are hygienic and most importantly if anyone feels any of the symptoms, don’t go to anyone, instead call any of the health lines.”

A student, Favour Iheacho, said hand washing had become a habit for the students because they washed their hands when they come into the school, also before and after eating.

Iheacho, who is also the Senior Prefect of Rochester College said: “I also avoid crowded areas and stay two metres away from a person that is sneezing and coughing.

“In the absence of water, I use hand sanitisers to make sure my hands are clean.”

A parent, Mrs Euphemia Ezimorah, commended the school on its proactive approach in preventing the spread of the virus.

“Before the news went viral, I received a notification from them; they also organised a seminar to sensitise parents about it, through them we got to know the precautionary measures,” she said.

Ezimorah urged parents to put hand sanitisers in school bags for their wards and ensure they always wash their hands. (NAN)
JOJO/WOJ
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Edited by Wale Ojetimi

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General news

Communities living on Kagoro hill demand secondary school

Communities living on Kagoro hill demand secondary school

By Moses Kolo
School
Kafanchan (Kaduna State), Nov. 5, 2019 (NAN) Communities living on Kagoro hills in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State have called for the establishment of a secondary school to make education accessible to their wards.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a delegation of the communities made the appeal on Tuesday when they paid a solidarity visit to the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council, Mr Bege Katukah, in Kaura.
Mr Dabara Akachim, leader of the delegation, said the absence of a secondary school on the hills had discouraged their children from attaining post primary and tertiary education.
“This situation has subjected those interested to untold hardship as they have to trek several kilometres from the top of the hill to Schools on the plains,” he said.
Akachim also requested that the local council to intervene in what he described as critical area of concern for the general well-being and development of their communities.
“We wish to again request the Local Government to provide us with street solar lights and bags of cement to enable us construct the foot paths that lead to the hill from neighbouring communities on the plains since the roads cannot be graded due to the mountainous nature of the terrain,” he said.
Responding, Katukah commended them for the visit and assured that his administration had good developmental plans for the hilly communities because of their peculiar challenges.
He pledged to address the problems listed and also promised to channel same to Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i for state government intervention. (NAN)
MGK/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Father of 14 calls for domestication of school feeding programme

Father of 14 calls for domestication of school feeding programme
By Peter Uwumarogie
Feeding
Dukku (Gombe State), Sept. 12, 2019 (NAN) Father of 14 children, Mr Musa Malala, has appealed to Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State to domesticate Federal Government’s school feeding programme to address the menace of out-of-school challenge in the state.
Making the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday at Malala, Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State, he said that the policy would also boost school enrolment, if implemented.
According to him, since the programme was stopped, parents in the community found it difficult to convince their children to return to school, noting that the programme is a relief to both parents and children.
He said: “I am a father of 14 children with two wives, and it has not been easy for me to send my children to school but I must have to do it.
“Many children have stopped going to school because the school feeding programme stopped. All they keep saying is no food, no school.
“I am calling on our dear Gov. Inuwa Yahaya to pick up the programme to encourage all these kids who are out of school back to school. It will really help the school win back the pupils.”
Malala emphasised that “education gives value to people and I want my kids to be important tomorrow.
“I have eight of my kids in primary school and four in junior secondary while two are still breastfeeding. All of them must go to school as long as I am alive.
“I have seen how education has reformed the social and financial status of families that invested in it and I want my family to be used as an example in that light.
“I am also a primary school teacher, having acquired my National Certificate of Education. In my school, we use to have over 50 pupils per class but today we are struggling to have about 20 pupils.
“The remaining pupils are either at home or going to farm. It is difficult for parents to convince them to go back to school with the stoppage of the school feeding programme.”
While acknowledging that the programme was capital intensive, Malala advised the state government to consider different options including partnership to ensure that the programme was revived to encourage school enrolment.
The teacher also urged parents in the state not to hold back their children from school, adding that “education remains the only ladder to greatness that I know”. (NAN)
UP/KOO/MST
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

School Feeding: Kaduna Govt to deal with erring education secretaries

School Feeding: Kaduna Govt to deal with erring education secretaries
By Moses Kolo
Feeding
Kaduna, Aug. 20, 2019 (NAN) The Kaduna State Government has threatened to deal decisively with Education Secretaries who extort or interfere with the ongoing School Feeding Programme.
The state Commissioner for Education, Dr Shehu Mohammed, said issued the threat on Tuesday at the opening of a one-day summit tagged “Building a grassroots movement on the Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) in Kaduna State”.
The event was organised by a Kaduna-based NGO, Connecting Gender for Development (COGEN), at the Catholic Centre, Kaduna.
Mohammed particularly cautioned education secretaries at the various local government councils to desist from luring especially vendors to extort monies given them to carry out their responsibility of providing quality food to the pupils.
“I want to assure you that the State Government through my Ministry, is monitoring closely and anyone found wanting would be dealt with appropriately,” he warned.
Earlier, Mrs Sewuese Isaiah, COGEN’S Board Chairman, said the meeting was to chart a path for a grassroots movement that will ensure that communities track implementation of government’s projects especially on the HGSFP in Kaduna state.
Isaiah further disclosed that COGEN recognised few individuals for their outstanding performance working on delivery of the school feeding programme in COGEN’s three local government areas as well as their support for field staff in tracking of delivery.
“We appreciate the support of the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, Chairman of SUPEB and the State HGSFP Technical Working Committee for providing enabling environment for our tracking the school feeding programme,” she said.
In a key note address, Mr Titus Mann, the Board Vice Chairman of COGEN, advised State Governments to scale up the school feeding programme in their respective states to include pupils of primary 4-6.
Mann said the need for the scale up was necessary considering the fact that the current programme was only restricted to cover pupils of primary 1-3.
“Only pupils in primary 1-3 are covered. Children in Kindergarten are not covered.
“States are supposed to scale up the programme to include pupils in class 4-6. No State is known to have scaled up the programme,” he said.
Mann, who is a Legal Practitioner, expressed the optimism that while government intervened in tackling some of its challenges, local communities and stakeholders should also monitor the performance of the programme at the grassroots for timely and reliable feedback.
Malam Daudu Musa, the Programme Manager for HGSFP, in a presentation on “The Journey so far,” said currently the Kaduna state government gets allocation of about N1.5 billion as one tranches of payment for 20 days feeding of over one million benefiting pupils across the state.
NAN reports that the event witnessed presentation of meritorious award to School Head Teachers, Vendors and School-based Management Committees as well as other stakeholders for their active involvement in the support and monitoring of the programme. (NAN)
MGK/ASS/MST
Edited by Saidu Adamu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Defence/Security

Nasarawa Govt to support establishment of mobile police training school

Nasarawa Govt to support establishment of mobile police training school

By Awayi Kuje
Police
Nassarawa Eggon (Nasarawa State), Aug. 9,2019 (NAN) Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State says he would support the establishment of a mobile police training school in Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the state.

Sule made this known during the flag off ceremony of 2Km solar streetlights in Nassarawa Eggon on Friday.

He said that the establishment of the mobile training school, apart from training mobile police officers, would also help in promoting security in the area and the state at large.

“I want to announce to you that the state government will establish a mobile police training school in Eggon Hill of Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Area of the state.

“Survey has already be concluded for the establishment of the proposed school,” he said.

The governor said the SDGs solar streetlight projects would be extended to all the 13 local government areas in the state.

“The Nasarawa State government will install 2kms of high quality solar power streetlights in each of the 13 LGAs of the state,” Sule said.

He explained that the solar power project was among the 47 different projects to be executed by the SDGs office in an effort to achieve its 17 goals.

“The importance of the solar power streetlights cannot be over emphasised, hence the need for its inauguration,” he added.

Sule therefore called on the affected communities to take ownership of all projects in their areas to ensure their durability.

He enjoined contractors handling the project to adhere strictly to specifications and to provide quality job.

The governor restated the state government commitment to provide social service to the people of the state.

Earlier, Mr Abubakar Murtala, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on SDGs, said that due process was followed in awarding contracts for the job.

The SSA said that his office was carrying out the projects in collaboration with LGAs and the state ministry of Environment.

In his vote of thanks, Mr Danlami Mohammed, the Chairman of Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Council, appreciated the governor for the gesture.

He assured Sule of his people’s readines to support his (the governor) administration to succeed. (NAN)
AKW/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Education

Education: Old boys plan massive renovation of school

Education: Old boys plan massive renovation of school
By Awayi Kuje
Renovation
Akun (Nasarawa State), June 24, 2019 (NAN) The Old Boys Association of Government Secondary School, Aloce, Nasarawa State, has pledged to conduct massive renovation of the school to boost education in the area.
Rev. Fr. Lawrence Soja-Anyembugu, the President of the association, made this known on Monday while addressing newsmen after a meeting of the group in Akun Development Area.
Soja-Anyembugu, also the Parish Priest of St. Sylvester Catholic Church, New Nyanya, explained that their intervention was aimed at providing conducive learning/teaching for students and teachers to reposition the education sector.
He said the importance of education to societal development cannot be overemphasized, hence, the need for their support.
The president disclosed that the body had already reactivated a broken down bore hole in the school to address the problem of water supply.
According to Soja-Anyembugu, in 2014, he distributed customised exercise books to students of the school as part of his personal contribution to complement government efforts in improving the standard of education in the state.
He noted that the development of any society is dependent on the quality of education that is given to children, hence the need of the gesture.
“We met today to discuss ways to contribute our quota to the development of this school, the state and the country at large.
“This school made us what we are today and the only way to pay back is to initiate good projects in the school.
“We are planning to renovate the school library, principal’s office and ICT room to give it a new look.
“Education is the lee-way to success in life and a route to escape from poverty box. Education is the bed rock of every good society.
“I also want you to know that in 2014, I organised quiz competition for the school, gave awards to students and also provided customised exercise books which was distributed to the students,” he said.
Soja-Anyembugu assured of their continued commitment to initiate good policies and programmes that would create an enabling environment for learning and teaching.
He urged parents and guardians to ensure good education for their children for the overall development of the country.
Besides, the president of the old boys appealed to Nigerians to live a life worthy of emulation by shunning all negative acts. (NAN)
AKW/OIF/MST
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Education

NGO takes human rights advocacy to orphanage school

NGO takes human rights advocacy to orphanage school

By Mohammed Lawal
Rights
Zaria (Kaduna State), April 3, 2019 (NAN) An NGO, the Arewa Youth Trust Foundation (AYTF), on Wednesday organised a one-day sensitisation workshop for an Orphanage School, AYTAM (Orphans) Foundation College, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The programme was to educate the learners on the need to know their rights as well as shun violence and other forms of vices.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitisation which was mainly organised for SS3 students held at the college auditorium hall, drew participants including male and female.

Presenting a lecture on a book entitled: “What are Human Rights’’, the AYTF Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Fahad Ahmed-Chikaji, said the programme was meant to sensitise the future leaders on the need to know their rights.

Reviewing some important points in the book, Ahmed-Chikaji said the book consisted of 30 rights as contained and certified by the United Nations.

He said: “We are all born free and equal, that means we all have our own thoughts and ideas and we should all be treated in the same way.

“Don’t discriminate; these rights belong to everyone whatever your differences’’.

Others, according to him, include the right to marriage and family, meaning everyone has the right to marry and establish a family, and right to social security and workers’ right.

He encouraged them to know that they have the right to play, right to food and shelter for all, so long as they were human beings.

“Another important right is right to education, where every child has a right to education and primary education should be free as proposed by the United Nations.

“No one should take away your human rights so long as such rights do not go contrary to the constitution of your country,’’ he said.

Ahmed-Chikaji advised that as they graduate to higher schools, they should shun all sorts of social vices such as cultism, drug abuse, alcoholism, mingling with bad peer group and living a flamboyant life.

He encouraged them to strive hard to live a successful life and they should do everything possible avoid anything that would destroy their life.

In his presentation on “The Way to Happiness: A common Sense Guide to Better Living”, a member of the AYTF, Malam Muhammad Sufiyan, urged them to take good care of themselves.

“Make sure you keep your body clean, preserve your teeth, eat properly, get rest and get care when you are ill, don’t take harmful drugs, don’t take alcohol.”

Sufiyan also advised them not to be promiscuous as it would destroy their lives, rather he advised they should be faithful to their partners (husbands and wives).

He said: “Unfaithfulness on the part of a sexual partner can heavily reduce one’s survival.

“History and newspapers carry floods of instances of the violence of human passions aroused by unfaithfulness,’’ he said. (NAN)
KLM/VIV/MST
Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Army renovates primary school, offers medical support to 3,000 in Kaduna

Army renovates primary school, offers medical support to 3,000 in Kaduna
By Mohammad Tijjani
Outreach
Kaduna, Nov. 17, 2018 (NAN) The 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, on Saturday inaugurated a renovated primary school, offered free medical treatment to 3,000 people and donated 250 treated mosquito nets to pregnant women at Sayen Lemu village, Zaria Local Government Area, Kaduna State.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Mohammed, disclosed this during a medical outreach and inauguration of two renovated blocks of classrooms.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the medical outreach included free medical screening for hypertension, diabetes, kidney and eye diseases.
Others include mass de-worming, dental care, provision of lenses and reading glasses, health education, hepatitis B and HIV screening.
The outreach also witnessed the distribution of about 240 treated mosquito nets and free medical consultation to expectant mothers.
Mohammed explained that the army community engagement programme was aimed at winning the confidence of the people in the Army and the Armed Forces in general.
The GOC explained that the Army was not only formed for war but also to provide succour to all communities under its area of responsibility so as to get their cooperation, especially in information gathering as well as encouraging youths to join the Armed Forces and move the country forward.
He noted that the programme was in line with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff to all formations to promote civil-military relations.
The GOC said beneficiaries with minor cases would be given on the spot treatment, while those with critical cases would be referred to Kaduna for further treatment.
He noted that the idea of renovating the two blocks of classrooms was conceived to complement efforts of reducing the number of out of school children, assuring that the division would in the next few weeks construct boreholes to ease water scarcity in the community.
The Vice Chairman, Zaria Local Government Council, Malam Aliyu Ibrahim, expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Army for the kind gesture and pledged to complement the effort.
NAN also reports that some of the communities that benefitted from the Division’s medical outreach this year include Kasuwan Magani, Buruku, Kakangi, Tegina, Kawo, Pandogari and Sayen Lemu. (NAN)
TJ/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Commandant’s wife renovates hospital, donates building to NAOWA school

Commandant’s wife renovates hospital, donates building to NAOWA School
By Mohammed Lawal
Healthcare
Zaria (Kaduna State), Sept. 14, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Applonia Ndidi-Ezugwa, wife of the Commandant, Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, has renovated and donated some health facilities to Depot NA/Nigerian Military School (NMS) Medical Centre in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports Mrs Ezugwa also built and donated a block of classrooms to Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) Nursery/Primary School, Chindit Barrack, Zaria.
Both projects were inaugurated on Friday by the wife of Chief of Army Staff, Mrs Umma-Kalsum Tukur Buratai.
Mrs Buratai described the gesture as a wonderful contribution to national development.
She said: “I am highly delighted to share in this joy of improving the health of women and children in the cantonment in particular and the society in general.
“This clearly shows that NAOWA is alive and very active in Zaria as well as striving to positively affect lives of officers, soldiers and their families.
“In the same spirit, I am glad to inform this august gathering that the multi-million Naira ultra-modern NAOWA Specialist Hospital, Abuja, which is my pet project is on the verge of completion and will soon be commissioned.
“The hospital, when completed will be equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities geared towards providing the necessary healthcare required for families of troops in the barracks as well as communities around.”
Mrs Buratai observed that the ceremony was timely considering the importance of quality education in the lives of children as well as the risk associated with pregnancy and child birth.
She encouraged parents to take advantage of the NAOWA school and enrol their children as the atmosphere in the school was very conducive for learning.
She also encouraged women to patronise the newly equipped maternity to cater for their antenatal and postnatal services.
The commandant’s wife had earlier said the main objectives of NAOWA was to promote the wellbeing of families of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army and to build capacity for the less privileged and the needy in the society.
“In line with these objectives, NAOWA Zaria chapter under my watch has made frantic efforts to actualise the realisation of NAOWA set goals.
“One of such efforts is the establishment of NAOWA Primary School and renovation/equipping of this maternity for the benefit of our children and women in Chindit Cantonment.
“This is because I observed that when I came to Zaria, NAOWA school had just Crèche and Nursery Section. In a bid to further enhance our children’s learning, I deemed it fit to establish a primary section.
“Secondly, I observed that the maternity was not befitting and ill-equipped to serve the large population in this cantonment; this informed why many women prefer to give birth at private hospitals outside the barracks.”
She said it was in view of such reasons that she resolved to redress the situation, hence the efforts to give the maternity a facelift.
NAN also reports that Umma-Kalsum had earlier visited the Depot Commandant, Maj-Gen. Victor Okwudili-Ezugwu, to explain her mission.
She told the commandant that: “As you are already aware, we are here in Zaria to commission some projects undertaken by your amiable wife, Barrister (Mrs) Appolonia Ezegwu.
“I am gladdened that your wife came up with these wonderful initiatives of boosting healthcare and educational facilities in Chindit Cantonment.
“These projects will no doubt boost the main thrust of NAOWA’s mission, vision and aspirations, which is basically complementing the Nigerian Army’s efforts in improving the quality of education as well as efficient and comprehensive healthcare services for troops families.”
She urged all Army officers in Zaria to encourage their wives to join NAOWA in addition to extending necessary support and cooperation to enable the association achieve its set goals and objectives.
Responding, the commandant said: “This is about a year four months since I was posted to Zaria, we have always been looking forward to host you as a mother of the Nigerian Army; both officers and soldiers.
“I want to assure you Mummy, all of us here have queued into the vision of NAOWA which you are heading and various projects have been undertaken both in Depot and NMS, and we are working as family to support our wives.
“Both officers and soldiers are very happy and appreciative to see you around because it is not always that you see an eagle around your vicinity.
“We therefore want to thank you for the huge support you have been giving to the Chief of Army Staff because all that he has achieved is because of your support,” he said. (NAN)
KLM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola