Education
Physically-challenged girl begs Govt, Nigerians for support on university admission
Physically-challenged girl begs Govt, Nigerians for support on university admission
A 22-year-old physically challenged girl, Miss Maryam Umar, who recently gained admission into Gombe State University has appealed to the state government, Federal Government and Nigerians for support.
Umar, who is a beggar in the state, made the appeal while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Friday.
She said her dream of going to school was about to be cut short by paucity of funds.
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She stated that her dream in life was to empower herself through education, become a successful business woman and engage in philanthropic activities to make positive impact in the society.
Umar, who moves from one motor park to another, fuel stations and other public structures to seek for daily bread, said her father was not financially capable of taking care of her education.
According to her, her father and mother are peasant farmers who can barely provide money to feed their eight children.
She said it would be devastating for her if lost the admission and opportunity to go to school.
“I was able to struggle through support from Nigerians and particularly my guardian, Mr Abdon Balanga, who had been doing more than what my father could do and made me to sit for my senior secondary examination in 2022.
“I passed my SSCE papers, sat for JAMB and applied for Accounting but I was given Bsc Economics, which is also fine by me.
“But my hope is about to be shattered by lack of fund.
“I want the Gombe State government and the good people of Nigerians to help me through school and also provide school aids to help me cope in school,’’ she appealed.
Umar, who broke down in tears, said she had been begging for nearly a decade and that her only chance at ending street begging was to become a graduate.
“Once I am well educated and I pursue my dream of becoming a successful business woman like Aliko Dangote, I will never beg.
“It bleeds my heart that I am begging. I am not responsible for the way I am because I was born without arms and I am the only one like this in my family. We are eight and I am the third.
“I will not be happy if I don’t get educated. That is why I have been studying in spite of the fact that I also beg on the streets.
“I have dreams and my being born armless is not going to stop me. I have all the abilities I need in my disability because there is nothing I don’t do by myself.
“I wash my clothes, pick phone calls, dress myself and even cook with my legs,” she said.
Umar said she would surprise Nigerians if she gets the opportunity to enroll into the University as her aim was to graduate with first class honours.
According to her, she is yet to register in spite of being offered admission over one month ago and all efforts to raise money had so far proved abortive.
She said she would be needing nearly N300, 000.00 to help her pay her fees, get accommodation and other materials that would help her as a physically-challenged person.
“Whatever help I can get will be fine by me,” she told NAN.
While appealing to Nigerians to always support girl-child education, especially physically-challenged girls, Umar advised young girls to be determined and pursue their education with all seriousness.
Physically-challenged girl begs Govt, Nigerians for support on university admission
UNIBEN Partners with OpenBinacle to Preserve African Languages
……Collaboration Aims to Promote AI-Driven Language Preservation
The University of Benin (UNIBEN) has joined forces with OpenBinacle, a Nigerian-owned tech company, to advance the preservation and promotion of African languages through the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT).
The partnership, formalized through a joint statement issued in Benin, focuses on standardizing and preserving indigenous languages across Nigeria and Africa. Vice-Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Lilian Salami, praised the collaboration, highlighting its alignment with the university’s mission of being a globally recognized institution in research and education.
OpenBinacle’s CEO, Emmanuel Gabriel, emphasized that the initiative would foster the development of AI researchers and software developers, enhancing language translation technologies across the continent. The project aims to preserve over 2,000 African languages, providing job opportunities and technical training for students and youths.
Sprezzatura Publishing Introduces Innovative Resource for Young Learners
By Halima Abdulkadiri
Sprezzatura Publishing Limited has launched a pioneering new book titled “Taxation: Essential Knowledge for Nigerian Children,” authored by Arabinrin Aderonke and Ejura Blessing Haruna. The 147-page guide is designed to make the complex topic of taxation accessible and engaging for young readers in Nigeria.
The book opens with a foreword by Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), underscoring the importance of early tax education. Dr. Adedeji highlights the role of tax knowledge in shaping financially responsible citizens, emphasizing its relevance to the nation’s democratic future.
Structured into 13 chapters, the book covers various aspects of taxation, from its historical roots to the different types of taxes and the government’s role in tax collection. The authors utilize simple language and relatable examples, making the subject approachable for children and young adults.
To further enhance learning, the book includes interactive elements such as questions and activities at the end of each chapter. This method not only reinforces key concepts but also encourages readers to actively engage with the material, fostering a deeper understanding.
“Taxation: Essential Knowledge for Nigerian Children” is being recommended for educational institutions across Nigeria, offering a valuable resource to equip young minds with the knowledge needed for their financial futures.
WAEC announce 215,267 Results Over Exam Malpractices, Records 73.79% Pass Rate
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) announced the release of the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results on Monday, revealing that 73.79% of the candidates achieved credit passes in at least five subjects. However, the results of 215,267 candidates, representing 11.92% of the 1,805,216 candidates who took the exam, have been withheld due to various cases of examination malpractice.
Dr. Amos Dangut, Head of WAEC Nigeria, stated that the 2024 exam was conducted over seven weeks, from April 30 to June 24, across Nigeria. He noted that 1,301,941 candidates, or 72.12%, obtained credits in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. Additionally, 93.39% of the candidates had their results fully processed and released, while 6.61% are still under processing.
Dangut attributed the withholding of results to incidents of malpractice, including the use of cell phones in examination halls and organized cheating in certain schools. The number of withheld results this year is 4.37% lower than in 2023, where 16.29% of results were withheld.
Investigations into the malpractice cases are ongoing, and decisions will be made by the appropriate WAEC committee. Candidates whose results have been withheld will be informed through their schools, and they have the option to appeal via the WAEC website.
Furthermore, Dangut highlighted that the results of candidates from states owing the council will not be released until the debts are settled. The WASSCE was conducted in four WAEC member countries: Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
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