News
FG To Stop Varsity From Producing Graduates Without Technical Skills
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has vowed to put a stop to the trend of tertiary institutions producing graduates who lack technical skills.
The minister, who recently got appointed into the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu to man the Ministry of Education, said he plans to shift to a model where education will be 20 percent theoretical and 80 percent practical.
He made the disclosure at the 2024 TETFund National Research Fair and Exhibition in Abuja, which officially opened on Monday.
While emphasising the need to promote technical and vocational education, across board, he decried a situation where tertiary institutions continue to churn out graduates who lack the requisite skills to function effectively in society.
“We are going to realign our educational system to meet the needs of Nigerians. We have a unique demographic profile—over 220 million people, with 70 percent of them below the age of 30.
“These young men and women are energetic, eager to learn, and ready to contribute to this country. We need to equip them with the right skills.
“We will shift to a model where education is 20 percent theoretical and 80 percent practical. That’s how we are going to move forward. Enough of producing graduates who lack technical skills.
“We need to create jobs and provide life skills for young Nigerians. For our TVET programmes, we will incentivise people to enroll in technical schools. We will cover their tuition and build capacity in these schools.
“During their training, 20 percent will involve classroom learning, while 80 percent will be hands-on apprenticeship. This is how we will ensure they are ready to contribute meaningfully to the workforce,” he stated.
The minister equally revealed that President Tinubu has approved N5 billion for investment in research activities for 2024 through the National Research Fund, managed by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
Alausa noted that the fund is aimed at ensuring that appropriate research is conducted in public tertiary institutions to develop solutions to many of Nigeria’s national development challenges.
According to the minister, “At this time in our democratic development, Nigeria is facing several challenges, including youth underemployment, the effects of poverty, insecurity, and infrastructure decay.
“However, we believe that the contributions of professionals, as showcased in this National Research Fair, will play a critical role in addressing these challenges.
“Our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has already emphasised that his Renewed Hope Agenda will be implemented primarily based on local research and innovation outputs.
“As seen in other countries, economic growth cannot be achieved without leveraging the outcomes of research and technological efforts.”
Alausa noted that the Research Fair would also foster the desired synergy among relevant research and innovation agencies to accelerate the application of their efforts and results toward nation building.
According to him, this synergy would ensure that the dividends of democracy are delivered efficiently and that research and innovation institutions, which are currently scattered across various ministries, are better coordinated for greater effectiveness.
News
SAD! 10 Family Members Die In Private Jet Crash
A tragic plane crash in the city of Gramado, southern Brazil, has claimed the lives of ten family members of influential businessman, Luiz Claudio Galeazzi.
The crash involved a private plane piloted by Brazilian businessman Luiz Claudio Galeazzi. He, along with his wife, three daughters, and other family members, died in the crash, according to a statement from his company.
The small aircraft reportedly struck a building’s chimney, as well as a house and a shop, before crashing. Local authorities confirmed that 17 people on the ground were injured, with two in serious condition.
Mr. Galeazzi, 61, was reportedly taking his family on a trip to Jundiaí, São Paulo state. All ten victims were members of his family, as confirmed by the Governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite.
The plane had taken off in poor weather conditions. The aircraft flew for about 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) before crashing into the urban area just minutes after takeoff on Sunday morning.
An eyewitness, Nadia Hansen, described hearing the plane revving up before it hit the building. “At the time, it was revving up. You could see that it was accelerating a lot,” Hansen said. “Then there was a bang as it hit the building and then it passed close to my house and then it fell, and I thought it had dropped in front of the house.”
Emergency workers were seen at the crash site, attending to the wreckage and debris from damaged buildings. Galeazzi was the CEO of Galeazzi & Associados, a corporate restructuring and crisis management firm based in São Paulo. His company expressed its condolences in a LinkedIn statement, honoring Galeazzi’s dedication to his family and his professional legacy.
The crash occurred near the center of Gramado, hitting a house, furniture store, and hotel. The cause of the accident is under investigation by the Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (Cenipa). Governor Leite assured that the state was mobilized to provide necessary assistance.
Gramado, a well-known tourist destination, has recently been hit hard by devastating flooding earlier this year, which caused extensive damage and displaced thousands of residents.
News
Renovation: Tinubu, Shettima’s official quarters to gulp N6.36bn
The Federal Government has allocated a total of N6,364,181,224 billion for the renovation and rehabilitation of the residential quarters of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and some of their aides in the 2025 budget proposal.
Sunday PUNCH’s analysis of the proposed allocation, contained in the 2025 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly, showed that the annual maintenance of the Presidential Villa would gulp N5.49bn.
According to the proposed budget, N765m will be used for the renovation of the Vice President’s quarters and guest house.
The renovation of the president’s quarters at the State House will cost N6.39m, while the renovation of security quarters, auditorium, gymnasium and presidential aides’ quarters will cost N49m.
In addition, the renovation of Prescott barracks at Maple State House officers’ mess building and signal office in Asokoro, Abuja will cost N51m.
Further analysis of the budget revealed that Tinubu and his vice are also expected to have N87m as honorarium and sitting allowances, while N127m was allocated for the procurement of SUVs.
Also, N3.66bn was budgeted for the purchase of State House operational vehicles and N1,09bn will be spent on replacement of SUV vehicles at the State House.
Under the budget of the State House Lagos Liaison Office, there is an allocation of N14.72m for the routine maintenance of State House Lagos facilities (Dodan Barracks, Vice President guest houses at Ikoyi, among others).
Another N140.10m was allocated for the completion of renovation and furnishing of the State House annex (Dodan Barracks), Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government is planning to spend N1.83bn on converting forfeited properties from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into State House quarters.
The plan to convert forfeited houses from the EFCC comes in the same month that the commission disclosed the recovery of an estate in the Lokogoma District of Abuja, measuring 150,500 square metres and containing 753 units of duplexes and other apartments.
The commission described this as its “single largest asset recovery” since its inception in 2003.
The estate rests on Plot 109 Cadastral Zone C09 of the district, and was forfeited in a ruling on Monday, December 2, 2024, by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie.
(Punch)
News
SEE NAIRA Rates Against The USD, GBP, EURO Today December 23, 2024
WHEN we look at this month, USD was traded at ₦ at the beginning of this December on Monday, December 2, 2024. As at today with USD being traded at ₦1,655 we see a % for United States Dollar to Naira exchange rate for this month.
On this page, we are primarily focusing on the Black Market Dollar To Naira Exchange Rate Today, the USD to Naira currency pair are the most traded currency in the FX market.
Black Market Exchange Rates
Buying Rate
Selling Rate
Dollar to Naira 1655 1640
Pounds to Naira 2150 2000
Euro to Naira 1730 1700
Canadian Dollar to Naira 1146 1135
Rand to Naira 52 43
Dirham to Naira 0 0
Yuan to Naira 62 62
G.Cedi to Nair 70 50
CFA F. (XOF) To Naira 0.83 0.81
CFA F. (XAF) To Naira 0.74 0.74
READ ALSO: INSIDE LIFE: 26-Year-Old Lady Died In Bangladesh With No One To Claim Her Body, She Is A Nigerian From Enugu (SEE PHOTO)
Having full knowledge how much USD to NGN black market exchange rate today will give you a better opportunity to plan and make informed decisions.
Nairatoday.com
-
Politics23 hours ago
Ihedioha’s Ex-CoS, Others Dump PDP For APC
-
Foreign11 hours ago
There will be no same sex marriage again -Trump vows to end ‘transgender madness ‘
-
News11 hours ago
Tinubu’s 50% transport reduction scheme may begin Tuesday
-
News11 hours ago
Nigerian Govt promises support for stampede victims’ families
-
News6 hours ago
BREAKING: FG declares Wednesday, Thursday public holidays for Christmas, New Year
-
Sports12 hours ago
Lookman On Score Sheet As Atalanta Take Top Spot In Serie A, Roma Hit Five
-
News5 hours ago
Nigerian Man Who Rained Curses On President Tinubu Nabbed
-
Economy11 hours ago
Petrol to sell at N935 per litre from today-IPMAN