Daily Archives: Feb 14, 2013

Uduaghan Hosts Super Eagles, Rewards Keshi With Land, Building

Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan has commended the Super Eagles for their wonderful performance that earned them the trophy of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament held in South Africa.

Uduaghan, who gave the commendation when the Super Eagles paid him a courtesy visit on Thursday in Asaba, noted that Nigerians did not give the team any chance of doing well in the championship.

He expressed delight that the team surprised everybody by bringing the trophy home and did not allow the situation to discourage them.

Uduaghan commended Coach Stephen Keshi for his leadership role and assured the team of the Delta government's support.

The governor announced that a parcel of land had been approved for Keshi and that the state would not only provide the land but would also build the house.

``We are not just giving the land, we will also ensure that we put the structure in place; this will enable you to visit home frequently,’’ he said.

Uduaghan called for the mentoring of young players ``since it is the younger ones that will take over from the present crop of players’’.

Responding, Keshi expressed delight at being honoured by his state government.

``I am truly happy to be here; I am glad to be in my own state and whatever we did in South Africa was for all Nigerians.

``When I took over this job, my aim was to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians,’’ he said.

He thanked Uduaghan and the government of Delta for the land and proposed building.

 

              

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Poor Performance In Mathematics, English Worries Govt.

The Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike,  on Thursday said  the poor performance of students in mathematics and English Language had given the Federal Government cause for concern.

Wike made the statement in Abuja at a meeting of the Steering Committee on Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) Nigeria Project.

He said that if Nigeria was to attain its vision 20:2020, improving teaching and learning in mathematics, English language and sciences would be vital.

The minister said that poor performance in the subjects, especially at the basic level, would hamper the building of a solid foundation for the Nigerian child.

He said the role mathematics and sciences played in building human capacity for national development in a technology-driven global economy could not be over-emphasised.

Wike said the meeting would enable the committee to assess the project and its implementation to take decisions on the success of the second phase of the project.

He urged the committee to ensured full implementation of the activities ear-marked in the project document.

He also urged the Department of Technology and Science Education to work with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other stakeholders to evolve strategies to enhance timely completion of the project.

``The report of our Japanese counterpart of April last year for the mid-term review evaluation of the project, drew my attention to the challenges of the project.

``It made me to constitute a bilateral task team to assess the progress of the report on the  project, identify the gaps and challenges based on the assessment.

``I, therefore, proposed strategies for accelerating the process of the project implementation and to prepare a memo to the National Economic Council on the SMASE Nigeria Project".

 

 

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Obasanjo Advocates Quality Education For Women

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday called for the provision of quality reproductive health services for women in the country.

Obasanjo made the call at the first Dr Abel Guobadia Memorial Lecture, organised by the Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, in Benin.

He named some of the services needed to be provided by government as medical care, family planning, delivery care and treatment as well as prevention of sexually transmitted infection.

The former president added that ``until we are able to have the issue elevated and addressed, we will not be dealing with the issue on the basis of root, stem and branch solution''.

``The beginning of such solution will be giving the girl-child education a pride of place and the seriousness it truly deserves.

```Education is core in resolving a lot of the questions and challenges around women’s health.

``The person who said `educate a woman and you educate a nation’ could not have phrased or captured it better.

``And I strongly believe that even more now than ever. Your work here in this centre is highly desirous, if we must make a headway that is meaningful to our society.’’

He said government also needed to ensure that there was improvement in the social and political conditions of women, rather than emphasise on the increase of their numerical strength.

He said that government should provide the enabling environment to encourage women to have access to quality education.

``Women are faced with hard tide of second best education, after their male counterparts.

``Women must be able to access more economic opportunities, more education and they must be able to have a lot to contribute to decisions that challenge and affect them.’’

On the life of Guobadia, he said the former INEC boss’ interest in women’s health was infectious.

``His championship had effect on my administration in paying greater attention more than any other administration on women’s health, in terms of legislation passed,’’ he said.

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole commended Obasanjo for his interest in the affairs of one of his appointees, even after death.

Oshiomhole described the former president as an ``African voice that is respected across the globe''.

``Those who have respect for what people have done, will surely get respect when they die.’’

He said Obasanjo was known for his hard work, dedication and delivery on his commitment.

Oshiomhole, however, tasked the public to encourage women to participate in all human endeavour and encourage girl-child access to quality education.  

 

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No Going Back On Foreign Technical Director – NFA

The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) said on Thursday in Abuja that there was no going back on its plan to hire a foreign technical director for the national teams.

Mr Emaka Inyama, a board member and Chairman of NFA Media and Publicity Committee, said there had not been any rebuttal to the arrangement since Musa Amadu, the General Secretary of the NFA, disclosed the plan in 2012.

Inyama, who was fielding questions from journalists at news conference, said that the idea was to have a template for football development in the country.

 ``There has not been any rebuttal since the general secretary said so; so, we are going ahead with the plan.

``What we have always said is that there is a need for us to develop a structure and a template for football development in this country.

``That is the beauty of a technical director. He doesn’t coach the teams but he will be able to say this is the mode of scouting, equipment and so on.

``Every federation in the world has it; even at club level, they do it (employ technical director) and I don't think there is anything wrong with it,’’ Inyama said.

The NFA board member, who is also the chairman of the Nigerian National League (NNL), said there was no need for the hues and cries by Nigerians on the matter, as it would not interfere with the job of any coach.

On Keshi’s resignation saga, Inyama explained that his job as the Super Eagles’ Head Coach was intact.

``The programme we gave to you was submitted by Keshi, if we have plans to do away with him, we will not ask him to submit his programme for 2014 and the World Cup.

``If Keshi was to go, will you pay him ahead to motivate him without holding back?

``If there are issues, can’t they be resolved. Should they be a national issue after we won the trophy?

According to him, the NFA should be commended for the feat achieved by the Super Eagles’ rather than being criticised.

Inyama, however, advised Nigerians to criticise the board constructively, adding that the Eagles’ excelled in South Africa because of the enabling environment provided by the NFA for it to succeed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Keshi has expressed concern over the plan by the NFA to hire a foreign technical director for the national team.

There are also fears that the foreigner can usurp the job of the coach.

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