Education
Don Charges FG On Life-Threatening Metals’ Importation
A Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUOE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Prof Ozioma Adaunwo Ekpete, says there is heightened concern among policy makers and scientists concerning the effects of human and wildlife exposure to chemical compounds in the environment.
She said heavy metals which tend to persist in the environment over a long period, accumulate and produce toxic effects on humans and animals.
She therefore called on federal government and relevant agencies to stop the importation of cadmium, lead and mercury based toys and cheap jewelry into the country as these constitute harmful hazards to man and society at large.
Prof Ekpete stated this while presenting her inaugural lecture at the 22nd Inaugural Lecture series of the institution on the topic “Heavy Metal as Human Associates The Ubiquitous Inevitable,” held at the university’s auditorium recently.
She opined that the heavy metals consisted of degradable and non-degradable, adding that those degradable metals contribute to both economic and wellbeings of human
According to her, non-degradable pollutants are mutants, heavy metals, radioactive substances that are not broken down in the natural processes like actions of microbes and added that most of these are mutants that get accumulated in the environment and also get biologically magnified as these moves along the food chains in an unrecompensed state.
She described heavy metals as metals having a density that is greater than 5g/cm3 atomic weights or atomic numbers, adding that they stick around in the body and burrow in adipose.
Ekpete averred that the ubitiquos of these heavy metals cut across every spheres of human endeavor including foods, clothing and water among others ,adding that they also have some essential benefits to human survival such as in arsenic, cadmium, lead, Mercury, copper and chromium.
“The existence of heavy metal pollution in our environment as a result of natural and anthropogenic activities is a fact and not a fable or myth.
Heavy metals are found everywhere ,at homes ,in our offices ,inside cars and on the cloths we wear.etc, When released into land, water and air environment these pollutants find their ways into the human body during breathing, eating or drinking or by direct contact.”
“Heavy metals are not respecter of persons and know no boundaries since they are hardly forced to remain where they are produced.
Everybody is at risk, if no measure is taken to reduce heavy metal pollution people will be exposed to chemical threats,” she added.
The second female professor of Chemistry in Rivers State urged women to protect their children from heavy metals by reducing the application of lipsticks and chemicals to their hair as well as various make-ups and added that drinking water should be adequately treated before consumption.
Earlier in his speech, the vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Ozo Mercury Ndimele lauded the lecturer and described her as a thorough bred who had distinguished herself in academic excellence.
By: Akujobi Amadi & Ngozi Dennar
The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board has released the names of 5,600 newly recruited primary school teachers and 80 caregivers in the State.
The SUBEB Chairman, Nureni Adeniran, who announced this in Ibadan, the state capital, on Friday, explained that the list had been duly approved by the state Governor, Seyi Makinde.
“The newly appointed teachers and caregivers are the first batch of successful applicants from the recent recruitment exercise carried out by the board,” he said.
“The list will be uploaded on the portal and will be available for candidates to check their names from the portal.
A Professor of Accountancy in the Department of Accounting , Faculty of Administration and Management, Rivers State University, Prof Lawyer Chukwumah Obara has advocated the adoption of African traditional values as a managerial tool to eradicate systemic corruption and mismanagement of public funds in governance.
According to him , the use of such African traditional methods like shrine oath-taking by public servants will deter such public officials from misappropriation of public funds while in office. He said accounting system is evolutionary science that recognises the practice of some pragmatic ideological practices such as African norms and values to fight corruption and mismanagement of funds that is predominantly noticed in both public and private governance.
Prof Obara stated this while delivering his inaugural lecture at the 106th inaugural lecture series of the state university with the topic, “Pragmatic Ideologies and Visionary Accounting: Reinforcing the Helmet, “ held at the Senate auditorium,last Wednesday.
He noted that all the 36 States including the Federal Capital Territory in the country can convinently survive without any federal allocation if they embrace pragmatic ideological accounting systems that are visionary accounting methods.
“Every State must adopt pragmatic approaches in their accounting system,there should be accountability and transparency, ,we must be flexible in our Constitution as constitutional rigidity is bane of the growth of the nation and we must go back to our root , traditional values and that will promote wonderful accounting system and the world will celebrate us,”he stated.
The erudite scholar noted that Accounting science helmet provides a safety umbrella to shade RAIR from shady accounting practices and can serve as both protective measure and forward looking.
Mr Vice Chancellor,in the foregoing senses, reinforcement can increase the probability that the accounting’ behaviour will occur again in similar situations.This implies that reinforcing the helmet is a powerful tool in shaping accountants behaviour, learning and development and this can lead to more effective strategies in accounting therapy and everyday interactions”,he stated.
The lecture examined the evolution of philosophical thought in accounting, notion of pragmatic ideologies in accounting, visionary accounting paradigm , transparency , differences and similarities,the helmet metaphor : balancing protection progress.
He posisted that accounting plays vital role in the socio-economic development of nations , stressing that Accounting is the instrument for financial management , transparency, and resource allocation.
“Over the years ,the accounting system has undergone significant transformations influenced by historical developments , regulatory reforms, and the adoption of global standards which serve as the helmet reinforcing and protecting socio_economic development.”
Reinforcement is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology and learning theory, particularly in the context of operant conditioning. it refers to any stimulus or event that increases the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated in the future.It can be understood as a mechanism that encourages certain behaviors through rewards or consequences,”he stated.
In concluding, Prof Obara stated that Nigeria’s economic landscape demands an accounting profession that is both pragmatic and visionary .
Earlier in his speech,the Vice Chancellor of the university Prof Nlerum Sunday Okogbule represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof Victor Akujuru the lecture said is valuable and is capable to advancing the growth and development of any society if adopted, even as he commended the lecturer for a thoughtful and impacted inaugural lecture.
By: Akujobi Amadi
A team of board members and directors of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board led by Member in charge of Supervision / Monitoring, Chief Nwuke Anucha visited Ogboloma,a riverine community in Abua/Odual Local Government Area of the State to inspect a six classroom block built single handedly by the community recently.
Speaking at the King’s palace shortly after inspecting the building and facilities in the school, Chief Anucha, who represented the board chairman, Alabo David Briggs, commended the people of Ogboloma for remaining united and working in synergy for the good of the community and the younger generation.
While assuring them that the board chairman would surely be briefed on the effort so far made by the community in encouraging education in the area, Anucha expressed optimism that he (Briggs) will not hesitate to give his approval for the school to kick off and called on the people to see education as the responsibility of all.
He used the medium to thank the King of Ogboloma His Highness Micah Brother, the councilor, Hon. Thomas Carlson; CDC Chairman, Lucky Brave Egba, Chiefs and elders and youths for working in synergy for the progress of community.
Also speaking, the board member in charge of projects Dr. Walson Ominini lauded the people for promoting education in the area, assuring them that their effort will not be in vain.
Earlier in his speech, the King of Ogboloma, His King Micah Brother thanked the bfor finding time to visit the community, pointing out that the six classroom block was the singular effort of the community and appealed to the board chairman to give approval for the school to kick off.
The King who spoke through the councillor representing the area, Hon. Thomas Carlson narrated how children in the community are trekking long distances to neighbouring communities in search of quality education and sometimes would be bitten by snakes called on the board to come to their aid as government presence is not in any way felt in the community.
The chiefs also spoke, thanking the board officers for coming to see things for themselves.
By: Akujobi Amadi