FCT

Stakeholders laud LMF initiative in rallying support for vocational education

Published

2 years ago

April 3, 2023

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***as over 1,000 students compete in sewing championship in FCT

Stakeholders in the education sector with one voice over the weekend lauded an initiative that has galvanized support across board for Vocational Education to be prioritized in order to provide alternative job opportunities for young graduates, secondary school leavers and school dropouts.

This they said will also serve to douse insecurity that has bedevilled the country over the past decade by keeping the youth busy and making them unavailable as willing tools in the hands of those that specialize in recruiting idle hands for terrorism.The project which is an Incentivised Pilot Schools Sewing Championship being organized and hosted by the FCT education secretariat is an initiative of the Ladi Memorial Foundation (LMF).The Championship held at the six Area Councils of AMAC, Bwari, Kuje, Kwali, Abaji and Gwagwalada simultenously had over 1000 contestants.The project, which is being supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and other partners, is targeted at motivating and harnessing creativity among young adults as well as identifying and promoting talented young skilled artisans and craftsmen of school age.The project which galvanised a lot of solidarity from the sector had the Representatives of the Ministry of Education, FCT education Secretariat, National Business, Technical Examination Board NABTEB, the Home Economics Teachers Association of Nigeria (HETAN) and the National Senior Secondary School Education Board in attendace.The stakeholders all agreed that for the country to wriggle itself out of the present insecurity, entrepreneurship education is the way to go hence the support the project has recieved

The Executive Director of LMF, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, said participants will undergo both practical and theoretical tests after which the best nine will be selected from each of the six area councils for the next stage.

She said the initiative was designed to sensitize the general public and targeted stakeholders on the benefits of vocational education and livelihood skills development.
Osikoya who was a former Commissioner for education and later Commissioner for environment in Kogi State said the 54 winners that will emerge from the first phase of the competition will undergo a five-day intensive training at a boot camp after which three overall winners will emerge.

She said participants and participating schools that will emerge first, second and third at the end of the competition will get sewing machines and sewing equipment as prizes.

According to her, the targeted beneficiaries/groups include young adults aged 12-20 years who are enrolled in both formal learning centres (JSS and SSS) and out-of-school youths or learners in non-formal learning centres in Abuja.

She said the initiative will bring about the engagement of creativity, innovative traits and boundless energy of young adults in a profitable, productive, rewarding and Incentivised engagement which rewards excellent performance.
According to her one of the education policies established that before a child finishes from a junior secondary school he or she should have functional skills for labour at least he or she should be able to stand on his own as an artisan.
She said the student should be able to practice by himself, adding that if that had gone through, Nigeria would have been having more welders, plumbers and artisans.

However she observed that most of such jobs are being provided by non-Nigerians so the country has to go back to the drawing board

The president, FCT Home Economics Teachers Association of Nigeria (HETAN) Mrs Rifkatu Lami Yisa said she came to observe and see how well the competition was going and how the students were being organised.
On the fact that vocational education had since been relegated to the background in Nigeria she said the teachers have been living up to their biddings in various schools especially those teaching clothing and textile which are part sof the garment making. “In the garment making aspect of clothing and textile a child is expected to put into practice what he has learnt in the class either practically or even theoretically because even at WAEC he is expected to write exams.

“With this, Nigeria would have been better off as it will have created more entrepreneurs because it is able to make them self reliant, is not like the apprenticeship but talking academically and educationally. When students learn of this skills it is a good omen for the profession.
On its sustenance she said with what has been done it will speak and when they lend their voice, it will get some attention.
She admonished the participants not lose hope as someone must come first and second but is not the end.

“They should just learn from their weaknesses and their strengths, learn to identify where some errors occured so that they will be able to share their experiences

The Director National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) Ruth Gyeyok Popoola said,

“The world is now a skilled Centered world and the idea behind this project is to bring the skills out of our children and if you look at the combination, there are some of them that are not in school, some JSS and others SSS, that is to tell you that skills cuts across, it does not choose category, no age barrier, at any point in time one can acquire a skill whether educated or not educated.
“That is the message that we are trying to pass across by bringing out people from the formal and none formal education setting together for the competition
“That is to say children after Junior secondary school can start off a life saving skill which immediately after junior secondary if he or she can not continue may be a lifeline for that child even after his senior secondary school, some may proceed to the university while others may not, that skill they have acquired can be a life sustaining skill for them.”
On whether the Government has failed, she said, no, “if you go to the UK or US if you look at them the professor’s salary may not be up to that of a plumber because when you call a plumber to the house he determines and dictates how much you will pay him but the professor his salary is determined by his employer.
“Skilled people, especially our children who traveled abroad with their PhD they don’t use that to work what they use to work is the skill. Some come back to get skill and go back to use it to work.”

“This has just made us to realise what is good for the citizen. Government can not give everybody white collar jobs. If you look at the students being churned out every year from the university how many jobs would accommodate them. “With skill all these students in this competition will be employers of labour in the nearest future.”

FCT

School Feeding Programme is Boosting Education, Empowering Farmers -FCT minister

Published

4 days ago

January 14, 2025

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has emphasized the transformative impact of the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP), describing it as a dual-purpose initiative that fosters education and drives local agricultural development.

Speaking through the FCT Focal Person on Social Investment Programme (SIP), Hajia Maijidda Adamu Kuku, at an interactive session with stakeholders across the six area councils of the FCT, Mahmoud highlighted the programme’s reliance on locally sourced produce.
Special Adviser on Media to the minister Austine Elemue, in a statement quoted the minister to have indicated that the approach, is to empower farmers, strengthen the rural economy, and enhance community participation.
Mahmoud affirmed the FCT Administration’s commitment to facilitating the programme’s effective implementation by fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
“Regular interactive sessions like this are vital to reflect on successes, address challenges, and chart a sustainable path forward,” she said.
She commended the efforts of government officials, school administrators, farmers, cooks, and development partners, stressing the administration’s determination to ensure inclusivity and leave no school behind in the programme.
The Minister also called for innovative ideas and practical solutions to sustain the programme’s impact, urging stakeholders to work in synergy to confront emerging challenges.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on School Feeding Programme, Dr. Yetunde Adeniyi,
underscored the initiative’s national importance, citing its role in improving school enrollment and learning outcomes.
“Since its inception, thousands of children have benefited from nutritious meals, leading to increased attendance and retention in schools,” she noted.

Adeniyi encouraged stakeholders to prioritize transparency, accountability, and active community involvement to ensure the programme’s longevity and effectiveness.

FCT Programme Operations Officer, Hauwa Abubakar, outlined the objectives of the stakeholders’ dialogue, emphasizing its focus on enhancing service delivery through transparency, accountability, and linkages with other empowerment initiatives in the FCT.

World Food Programme representative, Agnes Mungatia, further stressed the importance of collaboration, urging stakeholders to unite efforts to amplify the programme’s reach and impact.

The Home-Grown School Feeding Programme has remained a beacon of hope, providing nutritious meals to children while empowering local farmers. With continued commitment from stakeholders, the programme promises to sustain its role as a cornerstone of education and rural development in Nigeria.

FCT

FCT-IRS Urges Employers to File Annual Tax Returns Ahead of January 31 Deadline

Published

6 days ago

January 12, 2025

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Michael Ango

The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has called on private companies, Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and other employers of labor within the Federal Capital Territory to file their employees’ annual tax returns for 2024 by January 31, 2025.

This directive is in line with Section 81 of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) 2011 (as amended) and PAYE regulations, which mandate employers to submit detailed annual returns of emoluments paid to employees and total taxes deducted for the preceding year.
A statement issued on Sunday by the Corporate Communications Manager of the Service, Mustapha Sumaila urged Employers are required to use the forms prescribed by FCT-IRS for this purpose.
The statement quoted the Acting Executive Chairman of FCT-IRS, Mr. Michael Ango, whike speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement recently tobhave emphasized the importance of compliance, warning that failure to meet the deadline would attract penalties and sanctions.
He encouraged voluntary compliance, highlighting its role in fostering accountability and easing tax administration.

“We urge all private organizations, MDAs, government enterprises, and sole proprietorships within the FCT to fulfill their tax obligations.
Beyond avoiding sanctions, this compliance will contribute significantly to the development of the FCT and support the Honourable Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON, in his vision of transforming the FCT into a modern city,” Ango stated.

The FCT-IRS reiterated its commitment to efficient tax administration and calls on all stakeholders to cooperate in building a financially sustainable capital territory.

FCT

Police Inaction in Abuja Property Fraud Sparks Outrage

Published

1 week ago

January 9, 2025

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***As Barrister Maxwell Opara demands Justice for Mama Yesufu

In a fiery press conference held on Tuesday, Barrister Maxwell Opara reignited calls for justice in a high-stakes property fraud scandal that has left 79-year-old Hajia Colleen Mero Yesufu fighting to reclaim her properties in the Katampe and Guzape districts of Abuja.
The case, involving allegations of forgery, criminal trespass, and fraudulent property sales, has also raised questions about police integrity and accountability.
Central to the case is Rebecca Omokamo Godwin Isaac (alias Bilkisu Ishaku Aliyu) and her company, Homadil Realty Limited.
They are accused of orchestrating a conspiracy to fraudulently seize Yesufu’s properties, allegedly with the complicity of certain police officers.
Despite substantial evidence presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), including forged documents used to manipulate the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), the Nigeria Police Force has controversially dismissed the matter as a “civil issue.”
Opara criticized the Nigeria Police Force, specifically the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and spokesperson ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, accusing them of shielding the accused.
“How can the Police classify a case as civil without conducting any investigation?” he asked. He further revealed that the EFCC had not only identified the fraudulent documents but also secured an interim forfeiture order on the disputed properties. Yet, according to Opara, the Police have not only failed to act but have allegedly provided armed escorts to protect the suspect’s illegal constructions.
Opara highlighted what he termed the Police’s selective approach to justice. “If the Police can arrest someone for stealing a chicken or detain activists over tweets, why can’t they prosecute those involved in such brazen fraud?” he asked, launching the #ProsecuteTheCrime campaign to demand accountability.

The human rights lawyer also condemned alleged police harassment of the Yesufu family and journalists covering the case, stating that such actions undermine public trust in law enforcement. “Justice in Nigeria often wears the veil of influence instead of being blind,” he said, urging the IGP to distance himself from the case to ensure impartial investigations.

Opara called on the EFCC to expedite the prosecution of the suspects and appealed to the media to amplify the call for justice for vulnerable citizens like Mama Yesufu. “This is not just about one woman; it’s about the future of justice and the protection of the weak in our society,” he said.

In closing, Opara vowed to pursue justice relentlessly, declaring, “We will not stop until every shred of influence shielding criminals is removed and Mama Yesufu’s rights are restored.”

This case, which highlighted the interplay between corruption, influence, and justice in Nigeria, has sparked public outrage and rekindled debates about the integrity of the nation’s justice system.
The call for justice for Mama Yesufu is not just a legal battle but a test of Nigeria’s commitment to fairness and equality before the law.