Education
Students lament as Yola Disco throws UNIMAID into darkness
Students lament as Yola Disco throws UNIMAID into darkness
Students of the University of Maiduguri and other residents of the Mairi Kuwait community in the Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State are currently lamenting the power outage being witnessed in the area.
PUNCH Metro gathered on Wednesday that the lingering outage is also affecting the water supply, therefore compounding the students’ woes.
Students are already raising concerns over the possible negative effect of the situation on their performance in their forthcoming examinations.
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Our correspondent learnt that while the Mairi Kuwait community where the school is located has been witnessing power outage for over two months, the blackout on the campus itself had lingered for more than three weeks.
A student in the Department of Mass Communication, who identified herself simply as Esther, told our correspondent on the telephone on Wednesday that helpless students have been spending about N500 daily to charge their phones and other gadgets.
Esther said, “For the students staying outside, it has been over two months but those on campus have been battling with power supply for more than three weeks now.
“This has affected the water supply too. If the taps cannot provide water due to power supply issues, we buy from wheelbarrow hawkers. This has become an additional burden on the student. Those in the community too also buy water from hawkers.
“Since this water scarcity started, the usual reading at night has become an issue and you know our examinations are just a few weeks away. We need those responsible to come to our aid.”
A 300-Level student of Business Administration, Amina Husseini, who lives off-campus, also told PUNCH Metro that the amount her schoolmates spend on charging their gadgets such as phones, power banks and rechargeable lanterns was disturbing.
She said, “For over two months now, this issue of light in the school community is affecting everyone. We have all become desperate because our examinations are approaching.
“We will be starting on June 19. Many students enjoy reading late at night. This has affected them. The water too is another problem. Some parts of the community have water because they are closer to the water corporation, and thermal power plants to get water. But the school has been having water since the blackout.
“Sometimes, the students use their lamps and phones to read at night. You know all these would not last long because they have to charge them as well. For a small gadget, they will charge N100. But for power banks and laptops, you pay N200 each.”
The school Registrar, Ahmad Lawan, has, however, attributed the blackout on the campus to a payment dispute between the university and the Yola Electricity Distribution Company.
Lawan disclosed this in a release titled, “Disconnection of power supply by the Yola Electricity Distribution Company,” dated June 5, 2023, a copy of which was sighted by our correspondent on Wednesday.
He assured the students and staff members that the university was working hard to resolve all issues.
“While the university management expresses regret and displeasure over the action of YEDC, it urges staff members and students to patiently bear with the situation as efforts are being made to resolve the matter,” the release partly read.
Students lament as Yola Disco throws UNIMAID into darkness
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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