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BREAKING: FG Gives New Directive On WAEC, NECO Age Limits In Nigeria

Published

2 months ago

September 5, 2024

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The federal government has announced that exceptionally gifted children under the age of 18 may be permitted to take the West African School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.

Naijablitznews reports this announcement comes amid controversies surrounding the earlier age limit declared for school candidates to enroll in WAEC, NECO, and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the country.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during a visit to the Federal Government Academy in Suleja on Thursday, said: “We are going to develop criteria to guide what we will call Gifted children.’

Mamman made this announcement while attending to questions on the government’s plans for gifted children, given the government’s new education policy that sets age limits for candidates writing WAEC and NECO examinations.

Following a tour of the National School for the Gifted, Prof. Mamman, accompanied by Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, addressed the media to announce a two-week extension of the resumption date for students at the Federal Government Academy, Suleja.

He clarified that ongoing renovations at the institution necessitated this decision.

Mamman emphasized that students should not be permitted to return to an environment that is not conducive to learning.

As a result, instead of the original resumption date of Sunday, September 8th, students are now expected to return on the 18th, provided there are no unforeseen issues.

He said: “We cannot have this young children here when there is work ongoing. The plumbing facility, showers, water, and everything else are a bit unstructured because of the ongoing work, so the facility needs to be ready.

“We have granted 10 days which is the embodiment of two weeks. They will make up somehow.”

Worried over the current state of the school, the minister pledges the commitment of the government to provide the needed support to help upgrade the school to what it should be.

Mamman added: “This is the only school of its kind in the country where we are supposed to assemble students who demonstrate special attitude and capacity to come here for special training.

“For us we need to showcase the school and for us to do that, we need to see that the necessary supportive infrastructure is there, that the academic environment is suitable for that purpose.

“Maintenance has been a problem. What we have seen doesn’t answer our expectations of the type of school that it should be. They have achieved some mileage but that is not the destination we are looking at.

“The principal has done her bit within the limited resources available to her and it’s probably one of the few places where students are supposed to be here free and not pay anything, unlike some other places where they pay small charges here and there.

“We are going to come in with a very massive support to elevate and bring the place to the standard that it’s supposed to be.

“We have seen a general decay across schools in the country. It is worst in many places at the lower tier of government but we have to act our act to make sure that schools are environment where students want to be, where they can learn and socialise and not a place they want to come and go back home quickly.”

The minister expressed satisfaction with the newly organized skills acquisition centre, highlighting it as a progressive step for education in Nigeria, spanning from foundational education to senior secondary schools.

This initiative aims to assist Nigerians in developing skills that they can utilize to enhance the quality of their lives.

“Skill the system right from the foundation level to senior secondary school so that those who finish from there can have some skills and trade to engage themselves without necessarily being stranded out there after they have finished secondary school, and people can even determine their career pathway from here with what the skills set we have being developed in this place,” he added.

News

Tinubu Heads to Brazil for G20 Summit

Published

2 minutes ago

November 17, 2024

Naijablitznews

…set to Join World Leaders in Rio de Janeiro

President Bola Tinubu will soon depart Nigeria for Brazil to attend the 19th meeting of the G20 Leaders’ Summit taking place in the South American country.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, announced this in a statement on Sunday.

The trip comes five days after Tinubu returned to Abuja after attending the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The summit, which was hosted by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on Monday, focused on current issues in the Middle East.

In his statement, Onanuga said the latest trip is at the instance of the Brazilian President and current President of the group, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

“President Bola Tinubu will leave Abuja for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sunday to attend to attend the 19th meeting of the G20 Leaders’ Summit taking place in the South American country.”

“The Nigerian leader’s participation is at the instance of the Brazilian President and current President of the group, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

“The Summit holding from Monday, November 18 to Tuesday 19, will bring together leaders from the world’s top 20 economies, including the European Union, the African Union, and multilateral financial institutions among others.

This year’s meeting, under the theme, ‘Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet,’ will see the participants discuss the fight against hunger and poverty; reform of the Institution of global governance and; sustainable development and Energy Transition.

“Nigeria has always strongly advocated for a reform of the global governing institutions, and often presented its impressive credentials as a strong contender for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

“President Tinubu is also expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Summit in advancement of Nigeria’s socio-economic reforms.

“He will be accompanied by top government officials including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Ministers of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Art, Tourism, Culture and Creativity, Hannatu Musawa, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.

“The President will return to Nigeria at the end of the visit.”

News

Tears flow as husband bids farewell to wife, two children lost in Owabi River

Published

7 minutes ago

November 17, 2024

Naijablitznews

Atwima Koforidua in the Ashanti Region was plunged into a state of mourning as sympathisers gathered for the final funeral rites of Helena Yasan and her two daughters, who tragically lost their lives when their car submerged into the Owabi River.

Emmanuel Yasan, Helena’s husband, was overwhelmed with grief as he said his final goodbye to his family.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, on November 17, 2024, Emmanuel, surrounded by friends and family, was seen shedding tears profusely.

Several mourners at the funeral were visibly heartbroken, with one person openly weeping in the crowd.

The victims were laid to rest amidst prayers and intense grief.

What Emmanuel initially said after losing his wife and kids

In an earlier video shared on Angel FM on October 30, 2024, Emmanuel recounted the devastating events of the fateful day he lost his family.

He explained that he had last seen his wife and children that morning before the tragedy struck.

“I called my wife, but she didn’t answer. I thought her phone was off because of the blackout the night before. When I went to the children’s school and didn’t find them there, I returned to the river where the car had fallen. That’s when I realised it was her car,” Emmanuel recalled, his voice filled with emotions.

To him, the painful moment when his family was finally pulled lifeless from the water remains etched in his memory.

According to reports, the rescue efforts were delayed due to high water levels, and traditional rites had to be performed before the vehicle could be retrieved.

News

JUST IN: Gov Aiyedatiwa Opens Up Election Victory

Published

13 minutes ago

November 17, 2024

Naijablitznews

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has reacted to his victory in Saturday’s governorship election.

Aiyedatiwa promised to serve the people of Ondo State.

Addressing journalists in Akure, the state Capital after he was declared winner, Aiyedatiwa said: “I thank Ondo for the renewed mandate given to me to be their gov beyond 2025 and I promise to serve them.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State.

Aiyedatiwa was declared winner after polling the highest number of votes in the election.

The incumbent governor battled Ajayi Agboola of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Olorunfemi Festus of the Labour Party, LP, and Abbas Mimiko of Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, among others, in Saturday’s poll.

INEC’s Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, Prof. Akinwumi Olayemi Durotimi, said Aiyedatiwa polled a total of 366781 while Ajayi got 117845 while LP had 1162.