Over 3,700 youths from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have been empowered by the Industrial Training Fund under the National Economic Growth and Recovery Programme of the Federal Government.

The two-month programme provided hands-on training and entrepreneurship development skills in various trades and vocations, including carpentry, catering, tiling, welding and fabrication, and electrical installation and maintenance. This initiative aims to equip Nigeria’s youths with essential trade skills to boost the nation’s economy.

Organised in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, the programme was held simultaneously across the states and the FCT and 100 candidates were trained in each state across the federation.

Heads of delegations and chairs of committees, includ­ing Accredited Ambassadors of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC), Relief Fund in Special Con­sultative Status with the Economic and Social Coun­cil of the United Nations (ECOSOC) rose from the maiden edition of the NgEd­ucators and International Human Rights Commission Model United Nations (NgI­MUN), Conference 2024 in Enugu at the weekend calling on governments at all levels around the world to take the lead in education.

They stressed the need to overcome urban-rural education gap and also improve access to quality education for rural popu­lations through increased investment in and the full use of modern technologies, including the establishment of remote education systems and training.

They declared that “edu­cation and training should contribute to sustained, inclusive and equitable eco­nomic growth by developing requisite skills, in line with labour market requirements and development needs of countries.”

AI is a broad term that refers to computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. Again, AI has the potential to revolutionise the way we teach and learn as well as the way we conduct research. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been hailed as the next revolution in education and research.

Students can benefit from using AI tools in education and research for several compelling reasons. AI can tailor educational content to individual students' needs, allowing them to learn at their own pace and address their specific strengths and weaknesses.

It can create and curate high-quality educational resources, such as textbooks, interactive simulations, and videos, making learning more engaging and effective. Functionally, AI can handle routine administrative tasks, such as grading assignments and scheduling, allowing educators and students to focus more on meaningful educational activities.

The National Universities Commission has identified inadequate funding as a major challenge facing both public and private universities in Nigeria.

The commission emphasised that adequate funding was crucial for the growth and development of universities, noting that the university system required significant funds to effectively fulfil its core mandates of teaching, research, and community service.

The Deputy Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Biodun Saliu, highlighted these issues at the seventh annual registry lecture of Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State. The lecture was titled ‘The Nigerian University System and Its Many Challenges: The Way Forward.’

The Kano State Government has offered full time jobs to 5,632 Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) teachers in the state.

The is even as the State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, approved the disbursement of the sum of N300 million as soft loan to teachers working under the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) across the state.

Delivering his address at Government House, on Saturday in Kano, Yusuf also approved the recruitment of additional 10,000 teachers with intensified effort of continuous periodic training and retraining to achieve the vision of making “ every teacher, a caring educator.

The School of Hard Knocks Talents, Nigeria, has entered into a partnership with an Australia-based SHEMAPS in order to address the dwindling standard of science education in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of SOHK, Dr. Jerry Akubo, made the disclosure at a press briefing in Abuja. Akubo, who raised concern over the dwindling standard of science education, noted that it poses a threat to the growth of the sector

He added that the development necessitated the organisation’s decision to bring together critical stakeholders at home and in diaspora to revamp the situation.

The Dean, Postgraduate Studies, Baze University, Abuja, Prof Abiodun Adeniyi, has proposed increased funding for tertiary institutions and better renumeration for teachers, in the country. Adeniyi, reminded the Federal Government that most Nigerians who are not opportune to school abroad would continue to wallow in ignorance and be stagnated without quality education.

He spoke yesterday at the 16th anniversary of National Waves Newspapers yesterday in Abuja with the theme: ‘Elevating Nigerian Tertiary Education: Competing with Global Institution.’

According to him, poor funding of Nigerian universities has given birth to the demotivation of staff; infestation of the academic space by ills of the town, like corruption, nepotism and favouritism.

The Margaret Modinat Foundation calls on the government to invest in vocational education for children to empower them. This plea was made during the 2024 Children’s Day celebration organized by the foundation in Agege, Lagos.

Pupils from seven government schools participated in extracurricular activities during the event. The foundation’s chairperson, Olarenwaju Oshibote, stressed the importance of government support for vocational skill acquisition in basic and high schools.

“The government should invest more in vocational skill acquisition in schools. Such training empowers children with skills that can shape their future careers. Unfortunately, public schools often overlook subjects related to vocational education, despite the presence of talented pupils,” Oshibote remarked.

The House of Representatives on Thursday, June 6, asked the federal ministry of education in conjunction with state ministries of education to conduct a comprehensive review of the curriculum across primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions in the country to improve the education standard.

The House said the reviewed curriculum should align with evolving global market demands, emphasising skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, digital literacy, and adaptability.

Adopting a motion on notice sponsored by Hon. Bamidele Salam, the House also asked the Ministry of Education to integrate practical applications, promote critical thinking and innovation, and enhance digital literacy.

The Lagos State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) says it will continue giving priority to teachers who major in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)- related subjects during recruitment.

Deputy Director, Public Affairs, TESCOM, Mr. Kayode Sutton, said this in Lagos that the commission had been specific in the employment of teachers.

Sutton said that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State’s administration had been proactive in the education sector, up-scaling teachers through training, to enable them make impact in the teaching and learning of students.

The Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) has commenced the implementation of Early Child Learning Advancement Programme (E-CLAP) in support of primary education in Abia.
Coordinator of the group for the South-East, Mrs. Eunice Egbuna, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba.

She said that the programme was sponsored by Sterling Bank, through its Education Support outlet, Sterling One Foundation, which engaged CSACEFA to implement the programme in Abia.

“In addition, it focuses on employment of new techniques, well-tailored technology, application of non-formal education curriculum and innovative resource materials in the teaching and learning of literacy and numeracy.

Founder of Jesus Desciples Bible College (aka Kingdom College), Ozu Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Areall, Abia State, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Ukoha, has called for a paradigm shift in the nation’s educational sector with an urgent review of the education curriculum.

He said the current curriculum had become obsolete and makes youth job seekers rather than job creators. Hence the problem of unemployment.

According to him, Nigeria’s limited success in technology and innovation was due to the over-reliance on theoretical aspect of learning, which, he said, has not been empowering graduates to explore the peculiarities of contemporary daily realities.