South East
COEs To Focus On LCA
It is now mandatory for all the 96 Colleges of Education in the country to shift emphasis from teaching to learning, using Lerner Centred Approach (LCA).
This is a result of the decision of the National Commission For Colleges of Education (NCCE) to restructure its academic programme to fall in line with what is obtainable in other countries of the world.
The introduction of the new approach, which is already in practice in the African Thinkers Community of Enquiries College of Education, Enugu, is to make students of colleges of education in the country more skillful than was the case in the past.
Disclosing this in a chat with newsmen in Enugu recently, shortly after the impact assessment tour of the African Thinkers Community of Enquiries College of Education, Enugu, by officials of NCCE, the Chief Programme Officer of the establishment, Chief Ajao Tajudeen Ayoade, said the introduction of the programme is to shift emphasis from Lecturers to Students in other to make them better skillful students of Colleges of Education across the country.
According to him, Education Trust Fund (ETF), in 2008 made available to the commission some amount of money to enable it train a number of College of Education lecturers, adding that in that same year, the commission conducted the training programme.
“In 2009 and this year 2010, the commission requested for more funds to enable it increase the number of beneficiaries” Ayoade continued, revealing that from that time till date, the commission has so far trained over 600 lecturers drawn from four Colleges of Education in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.
The chief programme officer further revealed that already the commission has invited provosts in all the 96 Colleges of Education in the country for a meeting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory with a view to briefing them on the restructuring now taking place in the commission, “so that the public will know what we are doing with regards to the restructuring”.
He stated that “we are working in collaboration with some international development partners, such as a United Kingdom Organisation, Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN).
They are assisting us in the reform programme”, he explained.
Assessing the performance of the Enugu-based College of Education, Chief Ayoade described their performance as above average.
“You know this college championed learner centre teaching out of the 96 Colleges of Education in Nigeria. It is the only one using learner centred approach in teaching.
“From the year 2011 to 2013, all the remaining 95 colleges of education in Nigeria must emulate them by using learner centred approach in teaching”.
In a brief speech, the President and founder of the institution, Rev. Fr. Professor Stan Ani, expressed gratitude to God that some people are beginning to find some meaning in what they are trying to do in the college.
“I learnt it from some people in the world. I accepted the value of teaching and thinking the school system. I tried to teach myself how to think. With that experience of teaching myself how to think, I believe it is helping me. I have convinced myself that it will help others if they learnt how to think”, he further stressed.
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.