…Reiterates commitment to provide high-quality education to Nigerian Child***

Dr. Larry Jones- Esan, the Director of London Academy Business School (LABS), joined other Nigerian leaders from other industries to celebrate children on Children’s Day. In his words, Dr. Larry stated that children remind us of the future.

While speaking to reporters, he emphasized the aura of love that children create in the homes and throughout society, Also that “the joy and happiness from children are amazing, sufficient enough to drive energy for nation building.”

Dr. Larry also advocated for effective child protection policies and implementation, urging all critical stakeholders, including parents, teachers, and the government, to protect and celebrate children.

To ensure that high-quality education is available to children in Nigeria, London Academy Business School has established a Lagos Study Centre with state of the art facility and modern technology with plans to expand across all cities in Nigeria.

Dr. Jones-Esan, who has big plans to change the face of education in Nigeria, has also urged the government and private stakeholders to work with him and his team of professionals to change the face of education in Nigeria. He claims that many children have big potentials but can’t realise them because they’re not in school.

The Federal Government (FG} of Nigeria has been called upon to take advantage of the infrastructural opportunities and assets of Upland College of Education to jump start economic and entrepreneurial growth of the country and Ondo state in particular.

 Dr. Folorunso Balogun, Chairman governing council, of the college,which is  located in Ifira-Ipesi Akoko Ondo State,made this call  during the 2018-2023 convocation of the college, as he revealed that the Upland College of Education is endowed with resources and assets which could be tapped into by the federal government to strengthen research, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and other entrepreneurial initiatives to further strengthen the country’s economy.

The Chairman is confident that a lot could be tapped from the college’s assets, which include about 72 hectares of arable land, of which more than 50 per cent remained used and undeveloped.

“This is why we are calling on the federal government and private individual to come to this school and invest” said Dr. Balogun.

Upland College of Education governing Council Chairman called on the federal government to beam its focus on the College for developmental investment initiatives, in tandem with the college’s focus on enhancing the wellbeing of Nigerians through abundant food availability to be driven by agriculture and agriculture products value chain.

“Government, Balogun said “can come and invest in agriculture here, because we are looking forward to feeding Nigeria through our agriculture scheme, this is quickly to say that the private investors should come and get us tractors, bulldozer, fertilizer and more of these will go a long way in reducing the stress of those of our students who want to read agricultural education as their Core course. 

"One big challenge we are also facing is internet facility, it take us much resources to pull our students out of the institute to other neighbouring village for their ICT courses. Internet provider and network communication outlet should come here and erect one (mask) here, for lack of internet e-learning is very difficult in this institute.

Even though upland college of education happens to be the best private college of education in Nigeria, we want to beg the federal government to also add TETFUND benefits to the direction of private institute in Nigeria because it is the same Nigeria children that are also attending those schools.

The Asiwaju of Idoani Kingdom, Otunba Olakunle Olusegun,who is a former Principal of Kings College, Lagos in his address, advised this new government to look at the problems facing Nigeria, and look for the possible solutions in solving them.

“There should be no blame games now, the right People should be appointed in this direction, if we must get it right’ he counselled.

The CEO of the college, Professor Kayode Sunday thanked God for spearing his life to experience the college’s 2018-2019 convocation. 

“The very year the certificate of the institute was issued to me was the same year I had a terrible accident that confined me in the hospital for two good years. This is what I have been praying for and it has come to pass, for the graduating student I am proud of them because of the Entrepreneurship, moral and academic progress they have obtained from this institute, I know they will be able to adjust properly into the society", he said.

 Prominent personalities were awarded among whom are Hon. Adejoro Adeogun, member federal house of representatives, Representing Akoko, South East/South West constituency, who singlehandedly paid tuition fees of over 500 students.

Others are Member, Ogun State House of Assembly, representing Ado Ado Ota Constituency, Hon. Musefiu Olatunji Lamidi, former National Secretary of Labour party, former Chairman, Ondo State Radio Vision Corporation and the Mayekun of Oodua, Bar. (Dr) Olukayode Ajulo, 

Also awarded were, the principal, Kings College, Lagos, former Director in the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, former supervising director, South West, Federal Polytechnics and Federal College of Education and the Asiwaju of Idoani Land, Otunba Olusegun Oladele; and former chairman, Ondo State West Management Board; first executive chairman, Akoko South East LGA and the Asiwaju of Epinmi Land, Chief Bailey Arohunmolase.

…As Kogi Monarch Pours Encomiums On Pastor Williams, State NYSC Management 

 The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed has said there will be transformational changes in the scheme’s Skills Acquisition Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) Programme.

He said this on Monday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the Unity Walk involving staff and youth corps members to launch celebrations for the scheme’s 50th anniversary.

Ahmed said the scheme had recorded giant strides in its 50 years of existence and that the SAED programme had helped in ensuring youth corps members became self-employed after the service year.

The NYSC boss said: “After passing out from service, youth corps members can start their entrepreneurship, instead of depending on the government for employment, and they turn out to be employers of labour.

His Royal Majesty, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, the Obaro of Kabba, Kogi State

“However, we want to carry out transformational changes in terms of skill acquisition.

“This is so that a lot of youth corps members after service will no longer sit back and wait for government work
but will depend on themselves, establish their own businesses and turn out to be employers of labour.

“We believe that most especially with the NYSC Trust Fund, it will give opportunity for the NYSC to achieve this.”

On progress toward the realisation of the bill for the trust fund to become a law, he said it was awaiting the President’s assent.

“So, we want to make people know that we are celebrating our 50th anniversary. Apart from that is a normal routine to exercise
ourselves. Youth corps members and staff alike all exercise ourselves, you know that all walk without play makes Jack a dull boy.”

He commended youth corps members’ inputs to the success of the 2023 general elections, saying “we have done a lot, especially during
general elections: NYSC members from over 75 per cent of the ad hoc staff.”

The NYSC Director, of Press and Public Relations, Mr Eddy Megwa, who said that the Unity Walk was to commence the NYSC@50 celebration, added that “the scheme wants Nigerians to know what it has been doing over the years.

“We want to announce to Nigerians that from inception in 1973 till date, we have come of age and we have made our impact.

“We have told Nigerians that NYSC is a scheme to beat. We are everywhere in the local government areas and in all the states of the federation,
even where indigenes from regions or particular states are not willing to work, youth corps members are there”, he also said.

In a related development, the Kogi State NYSC commenced its week-long activity to celebrate NYSC at 50 programmes like its counterparts across the 36 states of the federation and FCT, with a Unity Walk.

Specifically, the anniversary activities was flagged off by the State Coordinator, Pastor Mrs M.A Williams with a 5km Unity Walk, in a united body of serving Corps Members in Kabba LGA, an NYSC Band and selected course officials who took off from the Orientation camp, through Kabba township, to the Palace of the Obaro of Kabba, His Royal Majesty Oba Solomon Owoniyi. 

 The Obaro of Kabba who received the management of NYSC and corps members, recounted his NYSC days and experiences 44 years ago.

The monarch thanked the founding fathers of the great scheme and eulogize the achievements of the Scheme in fostering national unity. 

 He especially appreciated the State Coordinator for her transformation works at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp and lauded the management of the Scheme for their continuous transformation of the Scheme to meet present-day realities. 

The Unity walk was concluded successfully with a return walk to the Orientation camp.