Education
Premiere Academy: Family, Human Rights Groups Mark Memorial of Late 14 year old Rape Victim
***Organise Public Speaking event for secondary school students
***Deceased’s mother says Govt, Police failed them
A public speaking event to mark the 2nd year memorial late 14 year old boarding student of Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja, Keren-Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher has been organised by family and human rights groups – Keren’s Safe Haven Foundation and Men Against Rape Foundation.
Keren died on the 22nd of June 2021 after being raped and the condom left inside her by a killer-rapist, which infected her with sepsis, compromised her immunity and spiked her blood sugar.
Speaking during the public speaking event tagged Abuja Public Secondary School Challenge on Public Speaking To Raise Awareness of rape and Child Sexual Abuse among students, mother of late Keren and co-convener of the event, Mrs Vivien Vihimga Akpagher said the event was aimed at empowering the students.
“While we continue to seek #justice4keren , we are determined to empower our children with knowledge to identify the “red flag” and courage to speak up and speak out against any semblance of abuse or threat of abuse.
“This is why we are organising this event and this is what Keren would have wanted. Keren would not want the fate that befell her to befall any other child”, she stated.
On the quest for justice for her late child, Mrs Akpagher decried the failure and lack of commitment of government, the police and other relevant institutions of government in bringing her daughter’s killler-rapist to book.
“They failed my daughter while alive and unto death they have all continued to fail her. They are neither committed nor honest with the process of getting the culprits”, she stated.
Shedding light further she explained thus:
“The police compromise things they should not compromise. Imagine that we told them to share samples of the condom and spermatozoa found in it which was extracted from my daughter and safely preserved by the doctor who first detected that she had been abuse, Dr. Amugo.
“We told them not to carry the entire sample, but share with me and the school for all of us to go do our individual DNA test and matchings with samples taken from the male staff of Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja. We told them our request is to enable both parties balance out their results with that of the police for transparency and credibility of the exercise.
“They ignored our official request and went behind us with Premiere Academy officials to Dr. Amugo’s hospital to retrieve the materials without us. You can guess what will become of this compromised process. There is so much to say on this. And at the right time, we will expose all the police did that tainted the process and question their credibility.
Also speaking at the event, the co-convener and Executive Director of Men Against Rape Foundation (MARF), Lemmy Ughegbe reiterated his pledge that “Keren will not be a mere statistics. We shall continue to call out government and the police to do right by God and Keren by bringing the culprit to book.”
“It’s a shame that after two years the police refused and woefully failed to get the CCTV footages from the school Keren attended as a boarding student, which would either vindicate the school or indict it”, Ughegbe lamented.
“The school has 54 CCTV cameras and we told the police that the answers lie in their footages. They failed to act on it. They did not explain why they failed to get those footages. Instead, we heard the school on police radio explaining that their CCTV cameras automatically deletes footages monthly. This claim is quite laughable. And the police with all its expertise failed to recover those deleted footages”, he added.
On the sad coincidence of his birthday being the deathday of Keren, Ughegbe noted “sadly I celebrate my birthday these days very sober as it is the same day this beloved child from rape complications. So, every year from last year, this is my way of celebrating my birthday. If we save, at least, one child each year, then my life is meaningful.
Speaking further, he said “the world is becoming increasingly unsafe for our children especially. Pedophiles are on the prowl. Safe spaces are becoming a mirage. To give our children a fighting chance of safety, we must empower them with knowledge and fortify them with courage to speak out.”
Meanwhile, during the explosive public speaking event, students of Government Secondary School emerged first position, Government Secondary School, Wuye came 2nd and Government Secondary School, Garki came 3rd position.
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has expanded its international reach by accrediting additional foreign schools in Niger Republic and Equatorial Guinea to conduct its Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
These newly accredited schools will join those in Saudi Arabia, which previously secured NECO’s accreditation, to begin writing the examinations starting next year.
NECO’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mallam Azeez Sani, announced this in a statement issued on Saturday in Minna. He said the initiative reflects NECO’s commitment to broadening its horizons and establishing a global presence.
Thorough Accreditation Process
According to Sani, NECO’s Accreditation Team visited the schools to assess their readiness for the examinations.
The evaluation process included inspections of classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer labs, workshops, examination halls, and sports facilities.
“After a comprehensive assessment, the schools were granted full accreditation status for both SSCE and BECE,” he said.
This expansion, he added, highlights NECO’s dedication to delivering quality education assessments that transcend Nigeria’s borders, offering opportunities for students to benefit from its expertise and standards.
Strengthening Regional Impact
The council’s growing influence has made it a key player in Africa’s education sector. Currently, NECO examinations are being conducted in several countries, including Benin Republic, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger Republic, Equatorial Guinea, and Saudi Arabia.
NECO also disclosed that the ongoing NECO SSCE External Examination is being conducted at the UNHCR School in Diffa, Niger Republic—the first NECO SSCE External Centre outside Nigeria.
The council reiterated its commitment to advancing education on the continent and beyond. “With its expanding global presence, NECO is poised to become a leading examination body in Africa, fostering educational excellence and contributing to the development of the education sector across the region,” the statement read.
This international accreditation further reinforces NECO’s standing as a credible examination body, providing students worldwide with access to reliable and standard assessments.
The Senate has reaffirmed its commitment to making Nigeria a beacon of educational excellence, emphasizing the critical role of education in driving national progress.
This pledge was made on Thursday during a public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund to discuss two bills: The Federal Polytechnic Onueke, Ezza South, Ebonyi (Establishment) Bill, 2024 and The Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri (Establishment) Bill, 2024
Representing the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Senator Titus Zam (Benue North West) highlighted the Senate’s dedication to fostering inclusive and sustainable development through education.
“Education remains a cornerstone for national progress,” Senator Zam noted. “Its accessibility to all Nigerians, irrespective of geographical or socio-economic status, is a priority for this Senate.”
He emphasized that the input of stakeholders at the hearing would underscore a shared resolve to strengthen Nigeria’s educational framework, expand opportunities for intellectual growth, and provide technical and vocational training for the nation’s youth.
Akpabio, through Senator Zam, assured Nigerians of the Senate’s dedication to legislative measures that promote equity, national growth, and prosperity.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse, explained that the Federal Polytechnic Onueke Bill aims to bolster technical and vocational education, aligning with the government’s efforts to reduce unemployment and enhance socio-economic conditions.
Similarly, Senator Kenneth Eze (Ebonyi Central), sponsor of the Federal Polytechnic Onueke Bill, emphasized that the institution would address pressing challenges in the labor market by focusing on skill-based education, ICT, and applied sciences.
“This initiative represents a paradigm shift for a nation grappling with high unemployment rates. It is a step toward advancing human capital development and securing a brighter future for Nigerian youths, particularly those in Ebonyi State,” Senator Eze said.
The Senate reiterated its commitment to legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening the education sector and creating opportunities for skill acquisition and intellectual development. By supporting these bills, the Senate seeks to position Nigeria as a global leader in education and human capital development.
The Federal Government has suspended 13 students of the Federal Government College (FGC) Enugu for six weeks following an alleged bullying incident that was widely circulated on social media.
The suspension was ordered by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who emphasized that safety and discipline are paramount in federal schools.
According to Folashade Boriowo, the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Education, the incident involved a gang assault on an SS1 day student and raised serious concerns about student welfare at FGC Enugu.
The viral video prompted the ministry to establish a disciplinary committee to investigate, leading to the temporary suspension of the students involved.
Dr. Alausa has directed the School-Based Management Committee to collaborate with security agencies to conduct a thorough probe into any possible external influences.
In addition, the government has introduced enhanced security measures at the college, with law enforcement presence and strengthened safety protocols.
As part of the response, the ministry will also provide counseling and rehabilitation services to promote a safe, positive school environment for all students involved.
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