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Vanguard online:First public high school web portal for Niger State
Related to country: Nigeria
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

By Emeka Aginam (04 March 2009)

Originally posted here: http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/30163/51/.

A batch A 2008 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Mr. Oluwakorede Asuni has successfully launched the first public high school web portal in Niger State - www.GovernmentSecondarySchoolMX.org.

The system, which was created for the Government Secondary School Minna Niger State, where Mr. Asuni is completing his primary community service assignment, will serve a number of purposes for not only the staff and students of the school, but also the general public and a broader worldwide audience.

These purposes include:

• An online billboard – making the school accessible to a worldwide audience;

• A means of internal communications (for staff and students) – allowing teachers to leave home work for their students, for example;

• A central source of information for internal and external use _ divided into two major sections: public or general area and member area which requires registration;

• And a custom email system.

At the launch event on Thursday 19th February 2009, the school management, led by the Rev. Fr. J. D. O’Connell (MFR) was positive about the project, which he described as something long in the making.

He thanked Mr. Asuni for taking time out to design, implement and train teachers and students to manage the system, which will be in place well after he has completed his one year community service as a part of the NYSC.

Jummai Umar_Ajijola, Citizenship Manager for Microsoft Nigeria who was represented at the event by Nana Mintah Adjooh, citizenship co_ordinator, said that the strides that Mr. Asuni has taken regarding the empowerment of the state’s youth to participate in the emerging knowledge economy serves as an example of the positive change that locally_relevant and meaningful technology can bring about.

“There is a clear need for multi_stakeholder partnerships to ensure the entrenchment and continued utilisation of technology in Nigeria’s Education system,” Hajia Umar_Ajijola said.

“Microsoft Nigeria has many partnerships with Government and other stakeholders involved with education – all of which aim to empower teachers and students in Nigeria to take advantage of the vast resource base that comprises Microsoft for Education.”

The school’s old boys association’s delegation _ some of whom had travelled down from their bases outside the country have pledged to take over all financial responsibilities for the school’s web portal _ to cater for any upgrades that may have to be undertaken after the first two years that have been funded by Mr. Asuni.

Mr. Abubakar Salisu, director of the Department of ICT in the ministry of Science and Technology for Niger State, speaking on behalf of the ministry’s commissioner, has lauded the project, which he described as a positive pre_emption of the state government’s plan to create a central school web_portal for all schools in Niger State.

“The ministry pledges continued support from the government for such initiatives, which aim to improve the way that teachers and students interact with each other and the inter_connected world outside of the school’s boundaries.

“Mr. Asuni is very driven, energetic and a positive optimist who other young people should emulate for the general betterment of Nigeria as one of Africa’s most technologically_progressive countries,” he said.

The portal, which is built on Microsoft technology, can be supported from virtually anywhere in the world, which makes Mr. Asuni’s commitment to the school even greater.

As part of his commitment, Mr. Asuni, who is also an Anti_Cyber Crime ambassador for Microsoft, will also spend a few days annually in the school helping out with other engagements that can help the school develop its students’ technology capabilities and prepare them adequately for the challenges they may face in a world of evolving technology.

”I am beginning work to create similar systems for other educational institutions in Nigeria, utilising a social enterprise business model, which entails cost_effectively delivering important services not necessarily for financial returns,” Mr Asuni said.

”These efforts are in line with my commitments to engaging young people positively in the use of technology and creating alternative channels away from the menace of cyber_crime, which plagues our country’s youth and tarnishes the country’s image everywhere,” he added.

“It is critically important that in today’s modern society, we promote access to technology for Nigeria’s youth. It is very necessary to help them prepare for a place of relevance in the emerging knowledge economy, and the earlier we do this in their education, the more experience they will gain when the time comes to enter the working world,” Mr. Asuni concluded.

March 4, 2009 | 12:10 PM Comments  0 comments


Understanding Representation: Legislative, people, power and participation
Related to country: Nigeria
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

What ever your response is, attending the The 4th Global Youth Conference 2009 tagged “Understanding Representation: Legislative, people, power and participation” scheduled to hold between the 2nd and the 3rd of March 2009 at the British Council Abuja, will sure shore up your knowledge base and set you apart to effect and support change!

Please read on:

Understanding Representation: Legislative, people, power and participation

———————————–

The 4th Global Youth Conference 2009 tagged “Understanding

Representation: Legislative, people, power and participation” is scheduled to hold between the 2nd and the 3rd of March 2009 at the British Council Abuja.

The 4th Edition is proudly being organized in conjunction with Young People We Care, Ghana. Young People We Care (YPWC) is a youth led and youth focused organization that is headquartered in Ghana and has satellite offies in the UK, USA and Canada. The organization is operated by young people (ages 15–30) and adult allies working on youth and development related issues worldwide. Further details on YPWC can be found on www.ypwc.org

Youth for Transparency International (YTI), the 2008 CIVICUS Nelson Mandela-Graca Machel innovation awards winner, is the major organizer of the event after three successful hosting of the previous editions.

YTI is an international non-governmental, non – profit organization established in January 1998 by Theodore Ogbonna.


YTI is dedicated to contributing innovatively to the task of nation building through promoting democracy, good governance, rule of law, human rights, equitable sustainable development, ICT education, human capital development, and ethics in corporate governance. YTI hosted the 3rd Global Conference on Democracy & Political participation 20th -22nd Feb 2007 at the British Council Lagos, Theme: Accountability:

Achieving participatory governance – From the foregoing we have moved ahead to consolidate on our Programmes on Democracy and Political Participation to further organize subsequent Programmes that seeks to bring out critical issues on good governance in Nigeria.

The 4th Edition is aimed at:

• Aacquainting participants with the elements of a good governance and civic responsibility • Equipping participants with the understanding of the roles that governments, Non Governmental Organisations and citizens can play in good governance • Building youth capacity as a means of preparing the youths to assume leadership roles as positive change agents in their community • Equipping participants with alternative leadership programme in response to declining quality and content of our leadership culture in term of widening gap between the governed and the governors.

Pedagogy

This conference will provide an opportunity for focal discussion on the critical issues of enhancing greater understanding of democracy and representation by the people themselves for better public policy and practice.

The conference will critical highlight key constraints faced by the citizens and civil society in engaging with government for effective participation and explore ways in which to overcome some of these challenges. By focusing on participatory governance at the local level we are more likely to achieve a better democracy.

It will be a public event based on open interactive sharing and learning through presentations

Expected result:

The first major impact we expect is that, participants will acquire a better understanding of legislation and new leadership culture based on pragmatic servant leadership, enhance participatory governance and civic responsibility, encourage local development driven through transparency, accountability, inclusion and collective responsibility.

It is also expected that participants will be inspired to become agents of change in fostering good governance, considering the new challenges that maybe thrown up in the intervening years with our emerging democracy and political trends development in Nigeria.

Speakers expected include:

1. Adam Giambrone - Former President New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP), Chair - Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), - International Guest Speaker.

2. Hon. ‘Femi Gbajabiamila- Minority Leader, Federal House of Representatives, Abuja, Nigeria.

3. Mr. Michael Boampong- Executive Director, Young People We Care Ghana

…and a host of others.

February 9, 2009 | 5:24 AM Comments  0 comments
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Happy New Year
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I owe gratitude to many supporters and well wishers who stood stunchly by me in the just ended year.
I am grateful and pray the good Lord continue to bless you and your family.
I wish you the very best of this year (2009) and look forward to the coming year.
Thank you all.

December 31, 2008 | 6:42 PM Comments  0 comments
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How Much Longer....?
Related to country: Nigeria
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

How much longer

How much longer will we live together
Yet harbour so much indignation
And prepare to maim and murder each other at the slightest provocation

How much longer will we secretly sharpen our knifes
And charge our arrows
In preparation for war with people we open profess our brothers

How much longer will we defy the logic of peaceful co habitation and refuse to eat from its fruit of prosperity and promotion

How much longer will perpetrate evil in the name of God and in the service of man
Without questioning if violence is ordained by God
Or if violence is any good to humanity

How much longer will we allow ourselves the men and women on the street instruments of evil
In the hands of the pervert politician and
Religious macho

How much longer I ask?
Nigerians, How much Longer?

December 5, 2008 | 1:59 PM Comments  0 comments
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JAMB is 30, will she survive another thirty?
Related to country: Nigeria
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

A few days ago the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) the examination body conducting entry examinations into tertiary institutions in Nigeria (except for the NDA-Nigeria Defence Academy) struck thirty years. Thirty years of mixed achievements.

In the thirty years of her existence she had moved from organising the most ‘cheated in’ tests to one that is most feared by students and parents and wished by many to go away.

I don’t have access to a TV here in Minna and I am sure to have missed the pomp and pageantry at the celebrations which must have taken the dimensions of a national celebration. But I witnessed the sensitization campaign part of the activities marking the institution’s anniversary when the Minna train hit my school, Government Secondary School, Minna. Led by her state Director Mallam A. G. Abubakar, the team enjoined students to prepare well for the exams stressing that the tests were designed to be passed, and all went well until the director and his train struk a low point by declaring of the one million plus expected to write the Universities Matriculation Exam this year only a tenth will eventually secure admission.

The factors responsible for this will the subject of a future blog post.

That JAMB celebrated thirty years of existence is considered by many as a miracle borne out unchanging policies in the education sector of this country. That it will mark another thirty is an issue of great speculation at best and worst a non-possibility. Evidence that the mammoth examining body has over stayed her welcome is obvious in many universities finding a way of admitting students outside the JAMB provision and more recently legalising university based entry qualification exams meaning that each admission candidate will write two entry exams, first the JAMB UME and then the individual school moderated tests popularly referred to as post JAMB tests.

Long before post JAMB many universities created many sub degree programs (Remedial School, Pre-Degree Science, Foundation Degree program etc), admissions into this program were not monitored by JAMB in any way and upon completion of this programs students who excel are offered admissions by the university into their choice degree programs leaving only a handful of places for JAMB candidates to fill. It was not long before students realised the best way to get into a degree program in the country is to go the sub-degree route…and in no time people just wrote JAMB for the sake of it and just in case.

Then came post JAMB tests that allows universities set their own admission standards oblivious of JAMB-so to speak.

The grouse in many quarters is that JAMB makes a lot of money from organising the exams/tests and does not nothing to really justify the ‘huge’ fees charged candidates’. It has been argued in some quarters that this funds if earned by the universities may go a long way in helping to fund their activities. And some people just believe JAMB should go! And Universities should be allowed to manage their admission processes and procedures themselves like it was in the ‘good old days’, the argument that the o’level exams that candidates seeking admission must pass is standardized and the need for subsequent tests is unnecessary.

Whilst I have experienced insensitivities of JAMB to the many woes of students and candidates who form a base of her customers, I will not advocate that we throw the baby away with the bath water, rather, a think-tank comprising some of those who should know in this country should be convene and empowered to determine a responsible and sustainable future for the examining body.

And in the interim, students should get as much resources as possible to help them prepare for the tests and do their very best at the tests, who knows they may form the crux of tenth.

Long Live Nigeria!

*Oluwakorede Asuni author of the Students’ Survival Kit- a performance guide for undergraduates studying in Nigerian Universities, is completing his one year National Youth Service in Niger State. ‘Korede as he is fondly called by friends and associate maintains a personal website at: www.OluwakoredeAsuni.com.

November 28, 2008 | 1:04 PM Comments  0 comments


Duties of a student
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

This excerpt is taken from chapter 59 of the Guanzi, a book on statecraft by legalist philosopher Guan Zhong. It is one of the earliest discussions of education in China.
From Guanzi
“Duties of the Student”
Attributed to Guan Zhong
The teacher presents his teachings; students take them as their standards.
By being docile and reverential, and keeping their minds completely open, their learning is maximized.
On seeing goodness, they follow it; on hearing of righteousness, they submit to it.
Docile and compliant, filial and respectful toward their elders, they never display arrogance or resort to physical force.
Never false or depraved in purpose, their conduct is certain to be correct and straightforward.
Observing constant standards whether abroad or at home, they are certain to seek out those who are virtuous.
Their features being well composed, their inner thoughts are certain to be exemplary in their correctness.
Though they awaken early and go to bed late, their dress is certain to be tidy.
Mornings being devoted to enhancing their learning and evenings to practicing what they have learned, they are ever cautious of doing anything wrong.
Being ever diligent in concentrating on these things, such are the standards for study.
Young students in rendering service are late to bed and early to rise.
When sweeping the floor in front of the teaching mat, washing their hands, and rinsing their mouths, they conduct themselves in a respectful manner.
Once they have finished dressing and prepared the wash-basin for the teacher, he also rises.
When he has completed his toilet, the students remove the basin, sprinkle and sweep the floor, and adjust the teacher's mat.
The teacher then seats himself, and the students in going out or coming in are as respectful as if they were greeting guests.
They sit in a dignified manner facing the master, their features composed and never changing.
For receiving instruction, there are guidelines:
The eldest student must come first.
The first time around, it is like this, but thereafter it is not.
The first time students recite their lessons, they must stand, but thereafter they do not.
If a student arrives late, his fellow students on either side will stand.
Should there appear a guest,
A student will immediately arise.
Since a guest cannot be denied,
The student will welcome him and hurry to carry out his wishes,
Rushing to the teacher for instruction.
Even though the person the guest seeks is not there, the student will still report back to him.
He then returns to his seat and resumes his studies.
If a student has a question,
He will raise his hand to ask it.
When the master leaves, everyone stands.
In his every word and action, the student takes moderation as his guide.
Those who were to flourish in the past were certain to begin like this.
At mealtimes, when the teacher is about to eat, a student prepares food for him.
Having pulled up his sleeves, washed his hands, and rinsed his mouth, the server then kneels down to present the food.
When the sauces, grain, and various dishes are set forth, it must be done in an orderly fashion.
Vegetable stews are served before dishes of fowl, meat, fish, or turtle.
Both the stews and sliced meat dishes are placed in the middle but kept separate.
Meat dishes having been placed in front of the sauces, the entire setting forms a square.
The grain is served last; on the left is the wine, on the right is the soy.
Having reported that everything is ready, the student withdraws and, cupping his hands before him in obeisance, stands to one side.
The normal meal consists of three servings of grain and two dippers of wine,
The student holds in his left hand a pottery serving dish, in his right chopsticks or a ladle.
He refills the various dishes in order as soon as he sees they are becoming empty.
If two dishes become empty at the same time, he refills them in the order they were originally served.
Having refilled all the dishes, he begins the cycle again.
Since his serving implement has a foot-long handle, he does not need to kneel. Such are the guidelines for making refills.
When the teacher has finished eating, the student clears everything away,
And hastens to bring in a basin for the teacher to rinse his mouth, sweeps the floor in front of the mat, and gathers together the sacrificial utensils.
Once the teacher gives the order, the students then begin their meal.
They arrange themselves properly according to age, and are certain to sit at the very front of the mat.
Grain must be picked up and eaten with the fingers, but stews are not eaten with the hands.
It is permissible for them to rest their hands on their knees, but not to lean on their elbows.
Having eaten to the full, they should cup their hands and touch the edges of their mouths to see if any food particles remain there,
Shake their skirts to get rid of any food crumbs, brush them off the mat, and having completed their meal, rise from their places.
Gathering up their clothing, they step down from the mat and turn to face it.
Each person then clears away the remains of his food as though he were a guest.
Having cleared the food, they put away the utensils,
And then return to their positions before the mat.
Whenever sweeping the floor in front of the teaching mat, students should use the following method:
They should fill a basin with water and roll up their sleeves to the elbow.
In a large hall, they may sprinkle the water by tossing it widely about; in a small room, they should sprinkle by taking only a little in their hands.
When holding the dustpan, the tongue should be pointed toward the sweeper; in the middle is placed the broom.
The sweeper, on entering the door, stands for a while to make sure his demeanor is without fault.
He holds the broom in his hand, and lowers the dustpan, leaning it against the doorjamb.
For sweeping in front of the teaching mat, there are guidelines:
The sweeper must begin with the southwest corner;
Moving back and forth with his back bent in the shape of a bent chime,
He makes certain that he does not knock into anything;
From the front of the room, he works backward,
Collecting the dirt just inside the door.
Then squatting down, he gathers up the dirt by pushing it into the dustpan with his hand.
He points the tongue of the dustpan toward himself and places the broom across it.
Should the teacher rise from his place on the mat, the sweeper will straighten up and excuse himself.
Then, after squatting down to grasp the dustpan and broom, he reassumes a standing position and proceeds to remove them.
Having finished with his sweeping, the sweeper then returns to his position—this all being in accord with the object of his studies.
During the evening meal, the students repeat the morning's ritual.
At dusk they light the torches, in each corner sitting and holding them.
The method for placing the faggots is to lay them crosswise to the torch holder's sitting position.
When the torch has burned down to an appropriate length, he lights a new one by pacing it at right angles to the old one like a carpenter's square.
He leaves a faggot's width between them, the one that is already burning being just below the one being lit.
At the same time he holds up a basin to catch falling embers.
Then with his right hand grasping the old torch,
He trims the burning end with his left, but should any embers be about to drop, another student will replace him in holding the torch.
When exchanging seats, students must not turn their backs on those who hold positions of honor.
Subsequently, the burned ends are taken out and discarded.
When the teacher is about to retire, the students all stand.
They respectfully present him with his pillow and mat, and ask him where he would like to place his feet.
The first time they arrange his sleeping mat, they request this information, but once the pattern has been established, they do not.
After the teacher has retired, each student seeks out his friends;
Dissecting and polishing,
Each one strengthens his arguments.
The day's routine having been completed, the next day it begins anew.
Such are the guidelines for students.
Translated by W. Allyn Rickett.
Source: Victor Mair, ed. The Columbia Anthology of Traditional Chinese Literature. New York: Columbia University Press, 1994.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

November 17, 2008 | 1:40 PM Comments  0 comments
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My Stand Up Events
Related to country: Nigeria
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

My Commitment to Development especially in rural communities came to the fore when last weekend I held two Stand Up and Take Action events I tagged ENGAGE I and II.

Both events held in Minna the capital city of the Niger state and the home of the Federal University of Technology, Minna. Both events were planned to inform young people of the MDGs, the journey so far and what we as a nation must do to achieve that these set of goals which many has rightfully described as minimum developmental goals must be achieved on or before the agreed deadline of 2015, but also ensure we surpass them in the years following the deadline.

At both meetings young people were charged to contribute their best to the development of their immediate community and encourage their friends, peers and allies to do same because this way and this way only can we gradually but eventually spread development across the geography of our nation.
Having identified that Governments control the most resources and can be the most effective in initiating, sustaining and ensuring development of any country, state r people and bearing in Mind that they were our representatives who dreamed up and accented to the MDGs in 2000, young people signed a petition asking our leaders to commit to the MDGs and ensure they are achieved by the target dates. Participants also pledged their support to their leaders in actualising the MDGs.

For me it was a wholesome experience as I saw young people enthusiastically pick interest in the MDGs (some were obviously hearing for the first time about these goals) and resolving to reach out to their communities contributing several man hours in the areas of their expertise to the development of their people.

Though numbers fell short of my anticipations, I was quite fulfilled that those who participated each event returned to their various homes with a quite resolve to make the world better. I have commenced plans for follow up events that will keep attendees fired up for a long time thus ensure they act out their commitment while I also continue to use resources at my disposal to ensure many more commit to the collective tasks of achieving the goals.

Oluwakorede Asuni,
Oluwakorede Asuni is an author, a Youth Empowerment Advocate, he lives in Minna where he is currently completing a one year national youth service. He believes in the resourcefulness of young people and notes that if properly guided they can make the much needed difference between where we are and where we want to be.
He is very optimistic about of the future!
____
Links to my events on the Stand Against poverty website:
Engage I: http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/en/node/894
Engage II: http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/en/node/3185

October 20, 2008 | 2:49 PM Comments  0 comments
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Oluwakorede Asuni engages school children to support the MDGs, in ENGAGE, Friday 17th October, 2008, Government Secondary School, Minna
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

ENGAGE is a 30 minute event that will incoporate:

A short lecture on the MDGs: by Mr. Oluwakorede Asuni, focusing on the History of the MDGs, local accomplishments in Nigeria, and what we will benefit if the MDGs are achieved.

A video showing extreme poverty

Circulation of a leaflet highlighting and advocating the attainments of the goals. This document will be written in English, Hausa, Gwari and Nupe —the last three being the local languages of the community.

Collection of 500 or more signatures of participats for a petition asking all stakeholders — Federal Government of Nigeria, Niger State Government, Local Government, Local Education Authority etc.—to work hard and accomplish the gooals on time.

Event Goal: Is to obtain 500 signatures or more of young people who want their leaders to commit to achieving the MDGs, on or before the deadline.

Date of Event: Oct 17 2008 10:20am - 11:00am

Event Host Organization: I (Oluwakorede Asuni) am hosting this event with moral and organisational support from: Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO), Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA), International Young Proffessionals Foundation (IYPF) -- all of whom I have enjoyed affiliations with over the last 12 -36 months.

October 11, 2008 | 8:11 AM Comments  0 comments
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