Africa: As Young Africans Push to Be Online, Data Cost Stands in the Way

 By Kim Harrisberg and Kent Mensah

Johannesburg / Accra — Nearly three-quarters of African youth see universal Wi-Fi as a human right, but sky-high data costs from Ghana to South Africa mean only one in eight can afford to be online all the time, new research shows

• Sub-Saharan Africa has world's most expensive data
• Many youth view internet access as a human right
• Jobs, education, security on the line, advocates say

Alongside the food, clothing and nappies gifted to a shelter for South African flood victims, one donation proved especially popular - a Wi-Fi router.

The router allowed the students to finish assignments, helped the unemployed find jobs and meant seamstresses could download dress patterns - tasks that had been tricky for many of them previously due to South Africa's high internet costs.

"Accessing internet is a human right, but it is one we couldn't afford before," said Nozipho Sithole, a former care home worker who quit her job to help fellow victims of the devastating floods that hit KwaZulu-Natal province in April.

South Africans pay up to 85 rand ($5.29) per gigabyte (GB) of data, a cost equivalent to nearly four hours work for people earning the minimum wage.

That compares with about $1.53 per gigabyte in North Africa and $2.47 in Western Europe, according to new research by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation charity that highlights, among other topics, sub-Saharan Africa's sky-high data costs.

The region has the world's most expensive mobile data prices, according to the Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing 2021 report.

Expensive internet services widen the so-called "digital divide" between the world's tech and internet haves and have-nots, according to the United Nations, which says about half the global population falls into the latter group.

As young Africans in particular increasingly see internet access as a basic right, the high price of data could become a hot-button issue, said Ivor Ichikowitz, chairman of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation.

A survey, carried out by the charity, compiled interviews with about 4,500 18- to 24-year-olds across the continent, showing that while 71% saw universal Wi-Fi as a fundamental human right, only one in eight could afford coverage at all times.

"If we look through the survey, there are probably four or five things that would bring young Africans out into the streets - and this is one of the top ones," said Ichikowitz.

"It's bizarre to think of this, but there's actually a security risk on the continent, a huge security risk, if this is not addressed," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a video call.

SMARTPHONES AND COST SAVING

From homegrown social media platforms to grassroots internet providers, digital innovations are becoming more common across the continent, but tech entrepreneurs say the cost of data holds them back.

"There are a lot of things we can do here in Africa looking at the penetration of smartphones on the continent, but because of data costs we're limited," said Divine Puplampu, a Ghanaian software developer.

Smartphones are used widely on the continent, with 64% of Sub-Saharan Africans owning one in late 2021, a figure expected to grow to 75% by 2025, according to GSMA, an umbrella organization representing mobile operators globally.

But not everyone who has a smartphone will be online, due to the high cost and patchy availability of internet access.

Puplampu estimated that he was spending about 800 Ghanaian cedi ($100) on data each month, and that the cost had risen sharply in recent months.

"That alone is somebody's salary and higher than the wage of a national service personnel," Puplampu said.

A combination of poor infrastructure and the control that telecommunication operators have over consumer rates are among the leading causes of Africa's high data costs, said Ichikowitz.

"So it's not necessarily in the hands of government unless they change legislation ... to compel the telcos to make the investment required to get cost-effective high-speed data into as many hands as possible" he said.

Puplampu suggested policymakers needed to make it worthwhile for the telecommunications companies to cut their prices - for example, by reducing permit fees and allowing them to save money by using government-funded infrastructure.

"It will go a long way to improve on internet penetration in the country," he said, noting that Ghanaians were pushing back against a recent e-levy issued by government to raise revenue on mobile money transactions.

REMOTE WORKING

Making internet more affordable would be a huge boon for African economies, opening up one of the world's biggest pools of available labour, said Ichikowitz.

"There's no reason why young Africans can't be working remotely the same way as young Americans, Brazilians and Europeans are," he said.

In Kenya, which is dubbed "Silicon Savannah" for its hefty tech sector, 1GB of data is relatively cheaper - costing about 99 Kenyan shillings ($0.85).

But for young Kenyans hoping to break out of poverty into the country's flourishing tech industry, it is still more than they can afford on top of other essential costs.

Brighton, a 17-year-old student from an informal settlement called Kwangaware in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, finished secondary school in December and now wants to learn coding and become a software developer.

The problem is that by the time he has browsed a few sites to find out where he can learn coding, his data has run out.

"The data is too expensive," said Brighton, who has taken up a 300-shilling per month job on a construction site while he plans his next step.

Despite such hurdles, he is not giving up hope on a future in tech innovation.

"Everyone says that tech is the best sector to be in for young people," said Brighton, asking not to give his full name.

"I think I'm good with computers and see a future for myself in technology."

($1 = 15.8305 rand)

($1 = 7.7000 Ghanian cedi)

($1 = 117.2000 Kenyan shillings)

(Reporting and writing by Kim Harrisberg @KimHarrisberg in Johannesburg, Kent Mensah in Accra and Nita Bhalla in Nairobi; Editing by Helen Popper. The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, and covers the lives of people around the world who struggle to live freely or fairly. Visit http://news.trust.org)

Nigeria Rejects Ulrainean Online Medical Degree

 "We wish to inform the General Public that Medical and Dental Degree Certificates issued by Medical Schools from Ukraine from 2022 will NOT be honoured by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria ..."

Nigeria will not accept medical and dental degrees from Ukrainian universities obtained from 2022, the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (MDCN) has said.

"We wish to inform the General Public that Medical and Dental Degree Certificates issued by Medical Schools from Ukraine from 2022 will NOT be honoured by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria until when normal academic activities resume," the council which regulates the medical profession in Nigeria said in a statement published on its official Twitter handle.

The decision is because of the ongoing war in Ukraine that has seen many of its higher institutions closed for physical classes. Many of them are still, however, holding online classes, something the MDCN is against for medical and dental programmes.

"For the avoidance of doubt, Council categorically states that online medical training done in any part of the world is short of acceptable standard and is not recognised by the MDCN," it said.

The council advised students currently studying medicine or dentistry in Ukrainian medical schools to seek transfer to other accredited institutions in other countries for the completion of their programmes.

Nigerian evacuees from Ukraine lament

PREMIUM TIMES reported howhundreds of Nigerian students were evacuated from Ukraine when the Russian invasion started.

Some of the returnees, who are affected by the stance of MDCN, have condemned it.

Esther Ebiru, who in June graduated from Dnipro Medical state Ukraine in an online graduation ceremony, called the MDCN's policy inhumane.

"This policy is inhumane. It is devastating because we did not study online for six years, it is only a few months in 2020 due to Covid which happened all over the world and the remaining three months," she told PREMIUM TIMES.

"I am clearly devastated and tired. I cannot imagine waiting for this war to be over or restarting again.

"I finished high school quite early, I joined the RSSDA scholarship two years after high school. Wrote every necessary exam. I was promised to start medicine in Germany.

"My parents even went ahead to pay for German classes. The scholarship was later cancelled due to the political instability in Rivers State at the time. My parents had to struggle to make my medical dreams come true and send me to Ukraine," Ms Ebiru narrated.

According to her, she left high school over 10 years ago "only for me to come back to the same limiting policy. It seems like the Nigerian govt and environment don't want me to move further."

Ms Ebiru said that unlike in Nigeria, her colleagues from Ghana and UK are moving on with their dreams just fine.

She told PREMIUM TIMES that in a bid to familiarise herself with the medical atmosphere in Nigeria, when she returned to the country in March, she paid for a clinical attachment which commenced in April.

"I did one month of gynaecology and one month of paediatrics. I am now on internal medicine which I opted for two weeks because I decided that by July 11th, I'll register for the MDCN exam tutorials before this news broke out last Friday," she said.

Another returnee medical student who sought anonymity asked this reporter rhetorically how a six-year programme can be cancelled because of three months of elective courses taken online.

"I was astonished and in reading the insensitive MDCN advertorial discrediting our medical degrees from Ukraine, China and other unspecified countries and thereby denying us the opportunity to practice in our country," he said.

MDCN reaffirms position

When contacted, Tajudeen Sanusi, MDCN's registrar, said the council's position was to protect Nigerians.

"Tell me anywhere in the world where they are studying medicine online. When you have your lectures in the classroom, you move to the hospital which is the most important... ," he said.

When this reporter reminded him that the online classes were as a result of the war in Ukraine, he asked again, "was there no war in Sierra Leone and Liberia before? Why did they not study online there?"

"We have made provision for whoever wants to transfer to Nigerian university medical college, so why are they doing online? You want to put the health of Nigerians and other people living in this country in jeopardy? I won't do that," Mr Sanusi said.

When this reporter asked him to shed more light on the provision to enrol the returnees in medical schools in Nigeria, he said, "I am not the one who will call them, they are the ones to apply."

He noted that the students should apply to the medical schools and if the institutions have spaces, they can be enrolled.

"When the students were going, did they tell anybody?... Did they tell me they were going anywhere? Do I have their record that they are anywhere?" Mr Sanusi asked rhetorically.

Over 100 Kidnapped girls still Missing

 

Mary Dauda and Hauwa Joseph, the two rescued girls abducted from the GGSS Chibok in Borno in 2014, have revealed that more than 20 missing others are still in Gazuwa camp in Sambisa Forest, eight years after being kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents.

NAN Reports that Gazuwa camp is the acclaimed Headquarters of the Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād, Boko Haram faction, formerly known as Gabchari, Mantari and Mallum Masari, located about 9 kilometres to Bama Local Government Area of Borno.

They disclosed this while interacting with newsmen on Tuesday in Maiduguri, at a news conference at the Command and Control Centre Maimalari Cantonment.

Marry Dauda, who recounted her experience in the hands of the insurgents, said she could still vividly recall her compulsory marriage eight years ago after she was abducted at the age of 18 years.

Dauda said she walked through the deadly forest for many days before she found help.

Like the others conscripted by the militants, she had been told that she would be hunted down and killed if she deserted.

She said: "I took excuse from Malam Ahmed, that I will be visiting my relative from Chibok in the town of Ngoshe and he gave me one week. That is when I began my journey for freedom.

"I left Sabil Huda, popularly known as the camp of Abubakar Shekau, and proceeded towards Njimiya and Parisu, where I met some of the Mujahedeens. They asked where I was going and I told them I was given permission to visit my sister in Ngoshe.

"I finally arrived Gava village in Gwoza, after walking for many hours through the deadly forest under hardship condition. I asked some people to direct me to the home of daughter of Chibok.

"After meeting her, I told her of my plans to return home, she told me she had wanted to come with me but her husband has placed her on strict surveillance for attempting to run. I then left her and proceeded toward Ngoshe town.

"On my way, I met an old man who promised to help me to escape. But he told me that it won't be possible in the afternoon until the sun had set. At about 8 p.m., he took me to Ngoshe town and told me to pass the night in the outskirt of the town and proceed the next morning.

"When the day broke, I took myself to some soldiers where I was rescued with my baby," she said.

On her part, Hauwa Joseph said she was forcefully married to Amir Abbah, Commander of Boko Haram (Munzul), at Gazuwa camp, who was later killed during an encounter with the troops of the Nigerian Army.

She said she voluntarily escaped from the camp of the terrorists during a massive incursion of the troops of the Nigerian army into their camp in Gazuwa on June 12.

Ms Joseph said as people were running in the same direction where the sect members were hiding women and children, she took a separate route to escape from the terrorist camp.

She said on her way, she met with some of the insurgents who asked her where she was going, but she tricked them and told them that she was following some women to hide in the nearby forest.

"I slept under the tree with my child, then proceeded the next day until I arrived at the road where I approached a military checkpoint. Initially, they thought I was a suicide bomber, but when I explained myself, they took me along with them.

She thanked the military for rescuing her, saying that she hoped other girls still in the camps of the terrorists would be rescued.

Christopher Musa, a major general, who is The Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai North East Joint Operation, said that both girls were on the list of the missing Chibok girls.

Mr Musa said the girls were rescued due to a massive military operation in Sambisa Forest, Mandara Mountain, and the Lake Chad area.

"We are putting more efforts to ensure that the rest of the girls are rescued through the ongoing Operation Lake and Desert Sanity," he said.

Also, another Major General, Waidi Shuaibu, The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Army, said the girls were rescued between June 12 and 14, around Bama and Gwoza general area.

Mr Shuaibu said the girls had received necessary medical attention and would be handed over to the appropriate authorities shortly.

Boko Haram kidnapped 276 female students, aged between 16 and 18 from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State in April 2014.

Over 100 of the girls were still missing as of April 14, 2021, seven years after the initial kidnapping.

 Culled from Premium Times

School Connect Partners CIIN on Media, Insurance Education

  

There is no doubt that there is low level of insurance awareness among the younger generation in this part of the world. In order to further strengthen this campaign and advocacies among students and bridge the divide in schools in Lagos State, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) has partnered with School Connect Magazine, an education based magazine in order to give students insurance education thus making them to be well- informed about insurance matters. This was during a two-day media cum insurance education training workshop organized for senior secondary students at Emcoy Favoured Comprehensive College, Ogba, Lagos today by School Connect Magazine in collaboration with the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria.

The Citizen  Journalism training which was an initiative of School Connect Magazine is aimed at giving students media education towards creating a well-informed school community and reporting events and activities within the school.

To make the programme far-reaching School Connect Magazine has collaborated with the CIIN not only to give students media education, but also to bring the apex insurance institute to give insurance education and prepare them towards becoming professional members of the institute.

During the presentation to the students today at Emcoy Favoured Comprehensive College, Ogba, Miss Adejumo Oluwaseun, a representative of CIIN said, "life itself is a risk. That is why we need to really consider insuring ourselves against eventualities and other risks and losses as taking insurance cover gives peace of mind."

In the course of her presentation to the students, Oluwaseun gave the definition of insurance, types of insurance, policy cover and most importantly how to become a member of the CIIN.

During a question and answer session, one of the participating students who asked how to become a member of the CIIN if she could become a member while in school. In response to this, Oluwaseun said that students in secondary school can become a member of the institute as far as they are sixteen and have their WASSCE.

Buttressing the importance of registering as a member of the institute,  while still in school, another partner of the Institute, Miss Helene Fawehinmi said that "climbing the career leader while others are struggling to do so becomes easier as a professional member." She said even if you studied Insurance as a course, you still need to be a member of the Institute to become certified and one is likely to get more job and career opportunities by being a member. 

After the presentation, Olugbenga Adebiyi, Editor of School Connect Magazine thanked the CIIN for the collaboration saying that it would go a long way to preparing the students for a career in Insurance and the become a certified member on time while others are struggling to make headway in that line of career.

"There are Learning Crises in Education - Mrs. Adefisayo (Hon Commissioner for Education, Lagos State)

 Education experts have opined that education is going through series of crisis that is from the learning crisis learners are facing. The learning crisis simply put is a state where pupils are having difficulty in learning. It is also described as a waste of talent and human potential. It is a global pandemic that affects children and adolescents the more. It can be rightly said that the learning crisis in Nigeria is a value chain. That is to say that one problem leads to another. 

According to a UNESCO report of 2018, it is estimated that about 617 million children and adolescents globally  are not proficient in either reading or mathematics. This data shows that two-third of children are not learning, are actually in school, or were not in school, but dropped out.

Students with learning difficulties may have problems with reading, writing, math, paying attention in class. They may also be disengaged or show signs of poor social-emotional health.

The view of Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, the Honorable Commissioner for Education in Lagos state wasn’t different as she said this during a presentation to the body of researchers in Lagos.

Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo is an experienced educationist spanning over forty years, having been in administrative capacities in top schools like the Corona Trust Schools, Osogbo Government High School, Federal Government College, Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind and also volunteered with the Junior Achievement, Fate Foundation, Yedi, Teach for Nigeria, Oando, SWORTIE Talks among others. 

With her exuding profile and pedigree, there is no better person to talk about this subject than the Honourable Commissioner for Education in Lagos State in the person of Mrs, Folashade Adefisayo

In this very brief follow-up interview with Olugbenga Adebiyi, Editor, School Connect Magazine, Mrs. Adefisayo talked about the reason for the learning crisis and how education has transformed in the state. Below are excerpts.

You assumed office at the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic when the education sector was caught napping. How were you able to stem the tide, manage this novel challenge and still ensure that learning still goes on uninterrupted?

No. I did not assume office at the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 was already on at that time I assumed office. In response to the question on how we were able to manage the crisis during the COVID pandemic, when I came in as Commissioner for Education, we had a lot to grapple with at that time because we had to address the issue at hand at time which was the pandemic. So, we started looking for a bail-out from some organizations and fortunately, MTN came to our aid and supported us with data for about three years. Although, it wasn’t sustainable enough, but we were able to achieve something with that.

Despite the pandemic, we were able to get devices for students; the data support we got was used to. The learning crisis was done to the population of learners to support students in learning.

During a presentation to researches and scholars about three weeks ago at LCCI Alausa, you made mention that there was learning in the education sector. Could you expatiate on this?    

When we talk about the learning crisis, we are trying to say that students are not learning and the facts are that students are not really learning at all. It is what we can see.

You also said you came across a student in SS3 who could not read and write. This was when you were administering a school in the state of Osun.

Yes, the problem or the learning crisis is the same everywhere whether in Lagos or Osun. I wasn’t a commissioner in Osun; I was just leading a school then.

The Eko Excel initiated by our amiable governor, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is aimed at developing highly-skilled teaching workforce, supporting and motivating Lagos state teachers and to succeed in the classroom of tomorrow and enhance the state Basic Education curriculum thereby empowering children effectively in the world of work. How has this initiative fared as we haven’t seen much impact on the pages of the newspaper?      

We just had a recent publicity and articles on the pages on the newspaper and it is everywhere. We can’t run the curriculum on the pages of the newspaper. It is not possible. 

The achievements can only be seen in the classroom not on the pages of the newspaper. We can’t highlight all the achievements of Eko Excel on the pages of the newspaper since the programme is meant to be runned in the classroom. 

Cuts in…. if we go to the website of Lagos state, we would see all that the state is doing as far as education is concerned. But it seems we have not been hearing much since Eko excel was launched although it was a land able programme. 

That is what I am saying. The programme is meant to be runned in the school and not on the pages of the pages of the newspaper.            

Securing their Future

The theme of this International Children’s Day celebration is “A better future for every child”. With over 10.5 million children out of school in Nigeria, can we say that the children day is worth celebrating for the Nigeria child? Malnutrition, child molestation, lack of access to qualitative education and utter violation children's rights are the challenges that Nigerian children are facing. As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the International Children's Day celebration, Olugbenga Adebiyi, Editor, School Connect Magazine in this article examines the state of the Nigerian children amidst the socio-political challenges, insecurity, bad leadership, corruption among others, with the hope that their future will be secured in the nearer future. 

Grace, a seven year old lad clad in a pale brown dress with unkempt hair was writing on the floor with her bare hand. The sunlight of the Friday afternoon gave her hope. She was all alone enjoying herself sitting on the parched ground around the ever-busy Oba Ogunnisi road, Ojodu-Berger axis.

Looking into her white bright eyes, what one could see is hope for the bleak future for children in whose their commonwealth and hope is almost scuttled by the present crops of greedy corrupt selfish leader.

 When I asked what she was doing there all alone, she said, “Nobody was at home”. On further questioning about her parents and other siblings, the poor girl replied “They have gone to sell something”. On question about why she was not in school, she said “I no get papa or mama. I know no where dem dey”, she spoke in Pidgin English.

Abdullahi Ukmar, a five year old boy is a well-known face on the Maryland Junction. On sighting a black jeep, he chases the car with a bid to making his daily bread. The mother, Asana in her mid-fifties clutches, a nine-month old baby who was tugging the mom for breast milk.

Olane, Nkechi and Obinna had set out for the business of the day. Everyday they trekked a long distance from Ogba to Ikeja to make some sales for their mom as a groundnut seller. For them schooling is really out of it as the proceed to make from hawking groundnut is enough to give them a sort of livelihood. The only challenge is that sometimes, the KAI officials usually raid them.

Toheed, a nine year rold pupil with a vitamin K deficiency was having a nice time with his friend Kunle with a small round white leather ball. Despite his health condition, with his knocked knee, Toheed was a good player. He waited for Kunle to come for the ball as he held it on his leg, as he approached him, he passed the ball under his toros and run after it, he made another passes as he smiled while the other children watched in amazement.

May twenty-seventh is a day set aside globally to celebrate children – rich or poor; black or white; educated or illiterate. This day is usually observed with a lot of fun fare and celebration as at is a public holiday for school pupils. But the question is “has this celebration have impact in the lives of the children?” “What is the government doing on the safeguarding of the children from sexual harassment, child molestation, education exclusion and securing their future?”

This year’s theme for the International Children’s Day celebration is, “A BETTER FUTURE FOR EVERY CHILD”. This theme prompts a lot of questions for every right-thinking Nigerians. First, “Is it possible to have a better future for every child in Nigeria? "I am not pessimist. I am asking because of the present situation in Nigeria. With children’s policy not in place and with utter disregard for children’s right, it is doubtful if we can have a future for the Nigerian’s child.

With about 10.5 million children out of school in Nigeria, this is the highest rate in the world according to a UNICEF report of 25th January, 2022. The figure indicates that one-third of Nigerian children are not in school, and a one in five out-of-school child in the world is a Nigerian.

According to the Peter Hawkins, the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, “Millions of Nigerian children have never set foot in a classroom – and this is a travesty. Perhaps, equally tragic is the high number of children who make it into a classroom, but never make the transition from primary school to secondary – thereby cutting off their chances for a secured future”.

He continued further, “It is estimated that 35 percent of Nigerian children who attend primary school do not go in to attend school. Half of all Nigerian children did not attend secondary school in 2021.

“As we celebrate the International Day of Education today amid concerns in much of the world about the impact of COVID-19, on education, we must take a close look at what is happening to our children in Nigeria and the opportunities they are missing out on when they lack education”.

“We need to look towards communities – leaders, parents, teachers, caregivers – and together find the best strategies to secure that all children enroll into school, have access to continuous learning and ensure they emerge with quality skills that equips them for a prosperous future”.

Talking about gender equality in this regard, Hawkins said, “All girls have much to offer to find solutions to Nigeria’s challenges – and we have to nurture their creativity and innovations”. He said.

He further advised that Nigeria’s education system could be transformed through adequate funding to ensure safety in schools, the application of gender- responsive policies, including recruitment of female teachers and improved facilities for girls; the creation of multiple and flexible learning pathways for students such as digital and transferrable skills learning; the integration of fundamental numeracy and literacy in Quranic schools; and teachers training in the latest methodologies”.

Ahead of the children’s day celebration, the first lady of Lagos state, Dr. Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has charged all parents in the state to pay close attention to their wards and create an enabling environment for them as this will go a long way to addressing social ills towards creating a better future for the children.

Still stressing further on the import of education for every child in the state, she said, “There is no question about the fact that education remains the bedrock of the society and potent tool for modernization and transformation of the human mind.

“As we celebrate this year’s children day, I appeal to our teachers to recommit and key into the vision of the Lagos State Government under the THEMES Agenda to give only qualitative education to our children, and thereby secure their future”.

She concluded by imploring the children to face their studies, obey their parents and elders as there are critical factors towards preparing them for a greater future.

Apart from giving the children education, one of the conflicting challenges is insecurity especially in the northern part of the country.

In 2021 alone, there were 25 attacks on schools. 1,440 children were abducted, and 16 children killed. In March 2021, no fewer than 38 schools were closed down in six northern states (Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Kastina, Niger and Yobe) over fear of attack and abduction of pupils and members of staff. The closure of schools in these states significantly contributes to learning loses for over two months.

Looking at the attacks on schools in which children are the worst hit, one cannot talk of having uninterrupted education or schooling for the children. The issue of security is one major area that the future of the children as everything is in shamble.

In the eastern part of the country, the IPOB are having a field day as they have almost taken over power. Last year, while other candidates in other states were writing WASSCE/NECO, they ordered all the candidates to stay at home. Up till now, the spate of insecurity in the state is frightening. With this worrisome development there appear too bleak.

If the future of any child is to be secured, qualitative education should be put at the foremost of our policy. Increasing the education budget, endorsing the child right act and ensuring that all those who abuse children in any form or another are policies that should be put in place to secure the future of the children. We hope that our government will give this an important consideration even as the world is marking the International Children’s day.

"Nurture them to Achieve their Dreams - Sanwo-Olu Charges Parents

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babjide Sanwo-Olu has called on parents and guardians to live up to expectations of nurturing their children and/or wards in good ideals towards actualisation of their dreams and aspirations.

Sanwo-Olu gave the charge at the 2022 Children’s Day Celebration (Parade and Rally) in Lagos State, on Friday, saying while the State is committed to children’s development through educational policies and programmes, parent must be responsive to their obligations of training and nurturing their children.

Sanwo-Olu who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folasade Jaji, said the theme of the Celebration, “A Better Future for Every Child” was apt in line with the Child’s Right Protection Law.

He lamented that children are now falling victims of various vices as violence, rape, child abuse, drug abuse, deprivation of happiness and parents’ love and care.

He urged “parents and guardians to inculcate the right values, with continuous training, guidance, and mentoring, to ensure their (children) dreams and aspirations are actualised.”

According to him, the celebration was an “opportunity to reflect and renew our commitment to build a society that would guarantee for a better future.”

“The State is continuously embarking on series of initiatives and intervention programmes in line with the Child’s Right Protection Law,” he said.

According to him, over 1,449 projects covering 136 schools have been executed by the administration across the State as part of the Government’s effort to improve teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools.

“This projects include construction, renovation and rehabilitation of dilapidated public schools and supply of basic units of furniture, among other infrastructures,” he said.

He disclosed the reflections of the investment have begun to take course as the results of the performance of the students in the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) have experienced a boost in the minimum five credit requirements, including English and Mathematics, with an upscale from 38.79 percent in 2020 to 80 percent in 2021.

He assured the government will do its best to implement policies and programmes to “nurture children with the ideals of quality education, ensuring no child is left behind.”

Sanwo-Olu said his administration has intensified effort on the project zero tolerance policy to curb the rate of out-of-school children to bring them back to the classrooms.

He disclosed the State has commenced the comprehensive school model in 12 schools, as a pilot, to give opportunities for student to learn a range of vocational skills alongside academic curriculum.

According to him, the Government intend to increase the comprehensive schools to 50 before the end of year 2022.

“Our administration will continue to invest in the education of our children and will not relent in retaining our several recreational programmes introduced to develop our human capital, making teaching and learning conducive,” he assured.

Sanwo-Olu urged the children to explore the advantage of technology to enhance their creative thinking skills, taking full advantage of the deliverables of E-learning models.

“In addition, you need to add and embrace modern technologies,” he said, mentioning that “in today’s world, there are different educational applications on mobile phones that would impact your creativity.”

“Beacuse of incorporation of technology into the school curriculum, you must try update yourselves in the lastest,” he charged.

Sanwo-Olu urged the students “to strive hard to make the entire State and their parent proud” saying that would inspire the government for stronger investment.

Charging them against toying with their future, he urged them to dream of a better nation, saying “whatever you can conceive, you can achieve, provided you are determined.”

“My dear children, may I at this junction remind you that education remains a veritable means of attaining greatness,” he said, charging them to “strive hard to make your parents and the entire state proud. Do your part. This would inspire us to further fulfil our mission to raise young and quality leaders that will lead us.”

He appreciated teachers for their “relentless contributions and outstanding initiatives towards ensuring their students are actively engaged.”

The State’s Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, appreciated Governor Sanwo-Olu the State’s Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for what she described as “their genuine interest in the education, welfare and comfort of every child in Lagos State.”

“It is imperative to note that your immense support, investment in education and the mileage covered are legendary,” she said.

“I must let you know that the administration of our Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has invested enormously in your education by providing all that you need to meet your true potentials,” she told the children.

She implored the children, as future leaders, “to continue to work harder and excel both in academic and co-curricular activities,” reminding them that the State Government “has put a lot of facilities at your disposal and you have to effectively use them to your advantage.”

Speaking on the impacts of the investment on performance and quality of education, she said: “It is interesting to note that our students have continued to distinguish themselves in national and international competitions winning several laurels and trophies for the State.”

She noted that despite the various contending needs struggling for resource allocation in the State, the administration has continued to commit huge resources to the upbringing and wellbeing of children in Lagos State.

“This administration is raising the stake to higher levels and our children have shown competence to match their counterparts anywhere in the world by winning laurels at home and abroad, their ingenuity in competitions is very encouraging and all points to the fact that our future is in the hand of good and reliable keepers,” Adefisayo observed.

Executive Secretary, Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Lagos State, Mrs. Titilola Vivour, said “children are the best creation of God, the future, and therefore needs to be nurtured appropriately to grow up and become able and compassionate leaders.”

“Children are the strength of the nation and the foundation of our society,” she said, calling for the protection of child’s right.

“Under Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration, matters relating to important treatment and abuse of children has taken centre stage,” she said, stating the Government remains “committed to ensuring the well being and best interest” of children.

She charged the children to speak out when they are faced with threats of any form of abuse, domestic or sexual violence.

“Please speak up, tell a trusted adult, tell your teachers, keep telling someone until something is done,” she charged them.

2022 One Day Governor and student at Oriwu Senior Model College, Abdulazeez Abdulraman, appreciated governor Sanwo-Olu for the annual upward increase in the budgetary allocation for education.

Lagos First Lady Leads War Against Drugs Abuse in Schools

Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has pledged to work with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other critical stakeholders to reinvigorate the war against drug abuse, especially in schools and communities across the state.

The First Lady made the pledge on Wednesday at a strategic meeting held in Lagos House, Ikeja, with the NDLEA and other critical stakeholders, including the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, senior officials of the Ministries of Education, Health, Youths and Social Development, wives of Local Government Chairmen, Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), School Principals, Market Women and the Medical Director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr. Gbenga Owoeye.

According to her, drug addiction, especially among the youths, has become a worrisome menace in society that no one could longer pretend about its existence.

In her words: “The earlier we begin to tackle the daunting challenge, the better for our youths, ourselves and the social health of our society. This strategic meeting is aimed at putting the menace of drug abuse and associated social vices on the front burner”.

“We are truly and deeply concerned about the increase in the rate at which the younger ones are now getting addicted to illicit drugs, a development that brought about the need for all relevant stakeholders to embark on a campaign to fight the menace and enlighten victims on the dangers inherent in such lifestyle both now and in the future”, the First Lady said.

Maintaining that the time was ripe for real action to tackle the war against drug abuse and not just mere rhetoric, Dr. Sanwo-Olu disclosed that a series of initiatives would be unveiled in the coming weeks to advance the fight against the menace in schools and in communities across the State.

She said: “At the level of the Nigerian Governors' Wives Forum (NGWF), we are all concerned about this and we have resolved in our respective States to frontally confront the menace, looking at it from a holistic point of view”.

“We have to be proactive and connect with the schools, the religious bodies, community leaders and associations and others to cascade the message to all segments and sectors of the State”, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu asserted.

On his part, Commander of the NDLEA, Lagos State Command, Barr. Callys Alumona, commended the First Lady for convening the meeting of relevant stakeholders to advance the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), noting that something urgent must be done to prevent Lagos from becoming a gateway for illicit and dangerous drugs, both within and outside Nigeria.  

He also urged the First Lady to organise a training workshop for women in government who are mothers themselves, as well as political and social leaders, to enable them to have a better understanding of the consequences of drug abuse and the signs to note when a child is engaging in drug abuse or illicit dealing in drugs.

Visa renewal no Longer Necessary for Nigerian Students

 The United States Embassy & Consulate in Nigeria has announced no-interview visa renewals for Nigerian students seeking to continue their studies in the US.

This is contained in a statement on the embassy’s website on Thursday, April 21, 2022.

The statement read in part: “If you are currently studying in the United States, you may be eligible to renew your student visa without an interview when you return to Nigeria this summer.

US

“To qualify for this procedure, you must be physically in Nigeria renewing a student visa that is still valid, or has expired within the past 24 months and is; renewing your visa either to: (a) continue participation in the same major course of study even if at a different institution; or (b) attend the same institution even if in a different major course of study.”

Specifically, the statement advised students applying from Abuja to visit: “www.ustraveldocs.com/ng and follow instructions to complete your application and visit a designated DHL facility to drop off your application.”

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Also, Lagos applicants are also advised to visit: “www.ustraveldocs.com/ng and follow the instructions to make an interview waiver appointment for a student visa. You must come in person to the U.S. Consulate on the date and time of your appointment.”

Also, according to the statement, Abuja applicants are required to include with their application: “a printout of their Submission letter (printed from ustraveldocs.com/ng; completed DS-160; an approved I-20; receipt for your I-901 SEVIS fee; GTBank (MRV) receipt for your visa fee; your passport containing the expired student visa; and a passport photograph meeting these requirements.”

Appointment day

Meanwhile, all the documents will be; attached to the application and dropped off at the designated DHL facility.

Further, the statement also said Lagos applicants are required to visit the US Consulate on their appointment day and time; with “a completed DS-160; an approved I-20; receipt for your I-901 SEVIS fee; GTBank (MRV) receipt for your visa fee; your passport containing the expired student visa and passport photograph meeting these requirements.”

However, the statement advised students who do not meet the criteria stated above to schedule a regular appointment.

“Applicants who do not meet these criteria should visit www.ustraveldocs.com/ng to schedule a regular appointment.

Follow the steps

“If someone in your family or group, does not meet the qualifications above, they must schedule a regular appointment.  Each applicant must meet the qualifications individually. For instance, we cannot accept a renewal for a child because the parent qualifies under these guidelines. In that case, the child would need to schedule an appointment and come to the Embassy or Consulate for an interview.

“To remove a dependent that does not qualify for a; student renewal from your profile, please follow these steps: Log in to the primary applicant’s profile; Click New Scheduling Appointment; Follow the steps until you reach Step 6; At step 6, check for the dependent’s information and click “x” to; remove the dependent’s information from the primary applicants’ profile.

Student Renewal

“Scheduled applicants who qualify for the student renewal based on the above criteria can cancel their appointments and re-apply on this link . During the rescheduling process, you will be asked questions confirming; eligibility for the student renewal program, and be provided instructions on how to submit the application through the document delivery center. Scheduling instructions can be found on this link.

In addition, the statement advised those who do not qualify for a student renewal not to cancel their appointment.

Meet Six Old Year Dubai Programmer

 At the age of six, when children are often busy with toys and video games, Kautilya Katariya is already shaping the future of programming.

Based in Northampton in the UK, Katariya was just six years old when he won the Guinness World Record as the world’s youngest computer programmer. Now 8 years old, he is an IBM Artificial Intelligence (AI) Professional and a Certified Microsoft Technology Associate.

Speaking to the Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the World Government Summit, Katariya said her passion for computing started at the age of five when her father gave her a book on building a basic curriculum. .

“I liked it so much that I finished the book in a day. That’s when I wrote my first computer program and installed Python,” noted Katariya, who describes himself as a computer explorer. .

During the Covid-19 lockdown, the ninth grader invested his time in learning coding, maths, science, origami and puzzle solving.

He has completed four professional certifications from IBM for Python and AI. Now he joins math lessons with high school students and competes with university students in computer science and programming, in addition to his occasional speaking role at key global events.

Initially, Katariya explored computer languages ​​such as Python, JavaScript, and HTML support before focusing on Python as the best programming language to learn for AI and machine learning.

“I have developed AI projects using IBM Watson and Python, including a chatbot, voice assistance and an image recognition system to detect fire and smoke.”

Explaining the image recognition program which aims to reduce the number of fire fatalities, Katariya noted, “It can be used in places where the risk of fire is high so that the camera can be connected to my model. AI and can then check if there is fire or smoke, and if there is, then he can call a firefighter.

Through her YouTube channel, Katariya solves problems on different coding platforms in an effort to inspire the younger generation to learn programming.

“Programming develops problem-solving skills for future challenges. You can do almost anything using programming.

The young student stressed that governments must help future tech talent become young programmers by expanding learning resources and providing access to places like labs and research.

Ultimately, he said, AI and technology must be part of the curriculum.

To develop his skills, Katariya said he explores different areas of computing through books and online tutorials.

In January 2021, he earned an IBM Professional Certification for Data Visualization and Applied Data Science with Python.

In the future, Katariya said he plans to design a new kind of AI and become a mathematician and computer scientist.

“One day I would like to build an AI program that could do anything if you were sick it could be a doctor, if you want to talk it could be a friend, if you need a ride , it could become or build a robot or rocket car for you,” he said.

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com