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Find solution to out-of-school children crisis—Expert tells govts

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SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, a child-centered international organisation, has advocated urgent need to find solutions to barriers that keep millions of Nigerian children out of school.

The National Director of SOS Children’s Villages in Nigeria, Mr Eghosa Erhumwunse, made the call during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja.

Erhumwunse said an urgent collective effort was required to ensure that every Nigerian child had access to quality education in the safest environment.

He said the call was imperative as the world celebrates the International Day of the African Child with the theme “Education for All: The Time is Now.”

“There is a dire need to re-evaluate the concerns of education and the growing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

“According to a recent report from UNICEF, Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, with about 18.4 million children out of school in Nigeria.

“What is the fate of the Nigerian child if 1 in 3 Nigerian children is out of school and 12.4 million children have never seen the inside of a classroom”, he said.

The director further said that 5.9 million children leave school earlier than the stipulated graduation time.

He stressed that Nigeria accounts for 15 per cent of the global total of out-of-school children according to a 2022 UNICEF report.

Erhumwunse  listed the barriers as conflict and insecurity, vulnerability and scarce resources, cultural and gender norms, effects of climate change, limited infrastructure, and accessibility challenges.

“Education is not just about knowledge acquisition; it is a fundamental right and a catalyst for breaking the cycle of poverty as seen in many other countries.

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“Nigeria, as a country, must double its efforts in tackling the issues of out-of-school children in society, especially in rural communities”, he said.

Erhumwunse said that SOS Children’s Villages prioritise the education needs of children through numerous programmes.

The SOS Children’s Villages director in Nigeria therefore urged governments to increase reinvestment in actionable policies and implementations that would take children off the streets.

He said that families’ economic capacities needed to be strengthened to meet the education and other needs of their young ones.

Erhumwunse said all hands must be on deck to ensure safe and peaceful atmosphere in schools through full implementation of the Safe School Declaration across states and communities.

He also said that communities and relevant stakeholders should create awareness on the importance of education for children.

He also emphasised the need to implement children’s right to education as contained in the Child Rights Act.

“Providing alternative care for children in emergencies reduces the number of out-of-school children.

“This method provides psychosocial and educational support for children who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care.

“It ensures that they grow in a loving environment fit and mentally ready for school and the society”, he said

Erhumwunse also urged policymakers, educators, civil society, and individuals to renew their dedication to creating conducive environment for children to dream and aspire regardless of their circumstances.

He said such environments would empower future generations to build a brighter and more equitable world. (NAN)

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Federal Government Confirms Continuation of Naira-for-Crude Oil Deal

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The federal government has announced that the naira-for-crude oil deal will persist following the conclusion of its initial phase on March 31.

This confirmation came from the Ministry of Finance on Monday, during a meeting attended by key figures, including Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance, and Zacch Adedeji, the Chairman of the committee and Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The meeting also included representatives from Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Dapo Segun, the Chief Financial Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, NNPC Trading management, and senior officials from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Additional stakeholders present were senior members from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), representatives from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and Hauwa Ibrahim, the committee’s secretary.

The Ministry stated, “The stakeholders reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to the comprehensive execution of this strategic initiative, as mandated by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).”

The Crude and Refined Product Sales in Naira initiative is characterized as a fundamental policy directive rather than a temporary measure. Its objectives include fostering sustainable local refining, enhancing energy security, and minimizing dependence on foreign exchange in the domestic petroleum market.

The committee acknowledged potential implementation challenges inherent in any significant policy change, emphasizing that these issues are being proactively managed through collaborative efforts among all involved parties.

“The initiative will remain active and continue as long as it serves the public interest and aligns with national economic goals,” the ministry added.

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Initiated on October 1, 2024, the sale of crude oil and refined petroleum products in naira aims to bolster supply, save the nation millions in petroleum product imports, and ultimately lower fuel prices.

On March 10, TheCable reported that NNPC had suspended the naira-for-crude deal until 2030, citing that the government-owned entity had forward-sold all its crude oil.

Subsequently, nine days later, Dangote Refinery announced a temporary halt in the sale of petroleum products in naira. The refinery stated that this decision was “essential to prevent a discrepancy between our sales revenue and our crude oil purchasing commitments, which are currently in U.S. dollars.”

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Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire Congratulates Otunba Olufemi Pedro on LASU Honorary Doctorate

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The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has congratulated former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Otunba Olufemi Pedro, on the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate Degree by the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.

The honorary degree is being awarded as part of the institution’s 28th Convocation Ceremony, scheduled to hold on Thursday, 10th April 2025, at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, Main Campus, Lagos.

In a statement released on Wednesday by her Special Assistant on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications, Desmond Utomwen, Princess Orelope-Adefulire described the honour as “well-deserved and long overdue,” noting that Otunba Pedro’s life and career reflect a legacy of excellence, innovation, and integrity in both the public and private sectors.

“Otunba Pedro’s remarkable journey—spanning the financial sector and public service—is a shining example of visionary leadership and selfless dedication to national development,” the statement read.

“As former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, he played a pivotal role in laying the foundations for the fiscal reforms that have contributed immensely to the state’s economic growth and transformation.”

Princess Orelope-Adefulire further stated that the conferment by LASU is not just a recognition of Pedro’s achievements, but an affirmation of the enduring values he represents: humility, integrity, and service to humanity.

She commended the Lagos State University for recognising one of its most distinguished alumni, adding that the honour would serve as motivation for emerging leaders and professionals across Nigeria and beyond.

“This award is a timely reminder that true greatness is measured not only by accomplishments, but by the positive impact one has on people, institutions, and society at large,” she added.

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She prayed for God’s continued guidance, strength, and good health for Otunba Pedro as he continues to contribute meaningfully to the development of Lagos State, Nigeria, and the global community.

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Alleged N3bn fraud: Zenith Bank staff tenders exhibits against Gov. Ododo’s CoS

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A Zenith Bank Plc’s staff member, Femi Remigus, on Tuesday tendered exhibits against Mr Ali Bello, the Chief of Staff (CoS) to Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi, in the alleged money laundering trial to the tune of N3 billion.

Remigus, a Compliance Officer, tendered the exhibits while being led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The banker was the 6th prosecution witness (PW-6) in the ongoing trial of Ali, who is also a nephew to ex-Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi.

The EFCC had, on Feb. 8, 2023, arraigned Ali Bello, Abba Daudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat and Rashida Bello (at large) on 18-count of criminal misappropriation and money laundering of N3,081,804,654.00.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts when they were read to them.

When the matter was called on Tuesday, Oyedepo informed the court that the matter was slated for trial continuation.

While being led in evidence, Remigus explained how millions of naira were deposited into Komfort Koncept Company’s bank account from the bank account names of different local government areas (LGAs) in the state on different dates in 2018.

The witness said that on specific dates, monies were simultaneously transferred from the said account, at different times, into some of the defendants’ bank accounts, especially Daudu’s.

“On October 4, 2018, there were nine credits or inflows into the account of Komfort Koncept Company,” he said.

He told the court that N18,629,944 came from Ibaji LGA of Kogi.

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He said N20,887,537 came from Adavi LGA and N17,496,929 came from Kogi LGA.

The PW-4 also said N18,460,565 came from Kabba LGA while N17 million came from Ankpa LGA.

“Yagba West Local Government credited N18,234,063, while Ofu Local Government credited N21,363,633,” the witness added.

When asked how much was in the Komfort Koncept’s bank account before the inflows, Remigus said: “N7,275.”

According to him, on the date of the inflows, there was a transfer of N105 million to Abba Daudu and others.

Earlier in the proceedings, the EFCC’s witness identified associated bank documents, including the statements of account, account opening packages and certificates of identification of accounts of Komfort Koncept, Yakubu, Daudu, and others.

Oyedepo, therefore, applied to tender the documents as exhibits but defence legal team, including Nureni Jimoh, SAN, objected to the admissibility of the documents but reserved objections for the final written address stage.

Justice Egwuatu subsequently admitted the exhibits in evidence, noting that the probative value of the exhibits would be determined by the court during the judgment.

The judge consequently adjourned the .after until May 5, May 19, May 20 and May 21 for the continuation of the trial.

It would be recalled that the EFCC is also prosecuting Ali Bello in another case before Justice James Omotosho.(NAN)

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