GOVERNOR ALIYU BLASTS WIKE OVER COMMENTS ON EDUCATION

 

Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, on Wednesday, berated the acting Minister of Education, Mr. Nyeson Wike, over his comments on the state of the education sector in the states.

The governor said education administration was not for 'riff raffs.'

Aliyu spoke while signing into law the Niger State University of Education Bill at the Government House, Minna. He said, "I don't know when he got into education; education is not for riff raffs.

"Wike should be warned to stay clear of Niger State. If he (Wike) can fight the governor of his state (Rivers), he cannot fight other governors, he should take his time."

Reacting to the comment, Wike's Special Adviser (Media), Simeon Nwakaudu, said the minister would not be distracted by criticisms but would rather focus on the delivery of access to quality education.

Nwakaudu said, "He (Wike) believes that all Nigerian children deserve access to education, hence he advocated that state governments should invest more in education.

"As a seasoned administrator, lawyer and former secondary school teacher, Wike is passionate about education, hence he has consistently built synergy to develop the sector, working closely with governors at all times.

"Nigerians are conversant with the Almajiri girl child and library projects supervised by the minister to uplift access to education in the country. He will continue to focus on the onerous task of improving education in the country."

Aliyu had said that the Niger State University of Education, to be located at the present site of the Niger State College of Education, Minna, would provide avenue for training of teachers.

Defending the decision of the government to establish the university, Aliyu lamented that all the states in the northern part of the country could not boast of 50 per cent qualified teachers to man their primary schools. He assured that the University of Education in Minna would attempt to bridge the gap.

He said when the university became operational the government would set deadline for unqualified teachers to be certified.

He added that the country had to be more serious about educating its children, insisting that "education should be the priority of every government".

French to be part of UTME as from 2014 – Ruqayyatu Rufa’i

 

The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I, said on Thursday, August 29 2013 in Abuja that French would be part of  the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as from 2014 for interested  Candidates.

Rufa’I said this at farewell reception held in honour of the French Language Project Manager, Mr Jean-Phillipe Roy.

She said that being multi-lingual in the 21st Century was essential as it helps individuals to operate more effectively in the international community.

“For Nigeria, the study of French language is quite key, considering the fact that our neighbouring countries are French-speaking.

“Apart from the English Language, French Language is one of the major international languages, ‘’she said.

She said Roy came to Nigeria in 2009 under the 2nd Bilateral Agreement between Nigeria and French.

The minister noted that  he had worked hard to ensure that various components of the project received due attention.

Rufa’I lauded his contributions to the reform of the UTME for 2014 in addition to the scholarships awarded to 16 teachers of French Language to study in France for one month.

She said the project manager’s contributions, included supply of books to schools, award of Masters Degree in French as a Foreign Language and supply of DVD and CD player to the project office, among others.

The minister lauded the support of the French Government to the Nigerian French Language Village, Badagry, Lagos, the Regional Network of French Language centres in Africa.

She also commended the Association of French Language Teachers, and  noted the proposed handing over of the project vehicle to the ministry for the monitoring of the teaching and learning of the Lanaguage.

“Nigeria and France have come a long way in their relationship. It is a relationship built on mutual respect, cooperation and interest.

“I wish to assure you that the ministry will continue to be committed to the teaching and learning of French Language in Nigeria and sustenance of the cordial relationship,’’ she said.

She called on the French Government to introduce similar programmes to complement, sustain and consolidate the achievements made so far.

Responding, Roy lauded the collaboration between the Federal Government and  the French Government.

“Since I have been here, you have shown a lot of interest in what we have been trying to do in terms of decision-making in critical issues and, with your help, we have been able to keep the project on the right track.

He said that French Government had so far organised 160 training sessions in various parts of the country, adding that 4,290 people participated in the programme.

Roy called for continued collaboration between the Nigerian Government and the French Government.

In his remarks, the Counsellor of French Cultural Affairs, Mr Patrick Perez, stressed the need to sustain good relationship between the two countries.

“We will like to thank you for all your efforts to promote French Language in Nigeria and we hope that this collaboration will continue to grow from strength to strength, ‘’he said.