Health insurance: Oyo enrolls 10,000 primary school pupils, gets UNICEF commendation - ITREALMS

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The Oyo State Government has enrolled about 10,000 vulnerable children in public primary schools into the state's Health Insurance Scheme under the Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA).

Oyo State governor, 'Seyi Makinde, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal, presented the health insurance identity cards to beneficiaries at the flag-off of the public primary pupils health insurance scheme, held at the Ibadan Civic Centre, Idi Ape, Ibadan, on Thursday.

ICT centres: 2,500 Lagos pupils to benefit @Dangote Cement infrastructure rehabilitation - ITREALMS

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Estimated 2,500 Lagos pupils are to benefit from the Educational Support programme under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), of the Dangote Cement Plc, as they deploy Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centres, reports ITREALMS.

The company commissioned these centres at the weekend and handed over several multi-million naira rehabilitated educational infrastructure in Lagos Island, Lagos State.

Confession: We specialize in abducting Lagos pupils for money rituals, see video - ITREALMS

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A notorious member of kidnappers and ritualists syndicate who gave his name as Temisayo Olafisoye was on Monday arrested in Omole Phase 1, new Alausa in Lagos, reports ITREALMS.

This followed a failed attempt, just as he confessed of having specialty in kidnapping pupils from Lagos and taking them to Ibadan, Oyo State.

Data Science Nigeria targets 1m AI experts in 10 years, unveils book for pupils - ITREALMS

ITREALMS: 

Leader in upskilling revolution in Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills, Data Science Nigeria (DSN) has revealed its target in the next 10 years will be to train some 1 million AI experts, reports ITREALMS.

This is coming as DSN unveiled its first AI book for pupils, so as to enable them become more productive.

DSN, a non-governmental organisation is bent on democratising knowledge in AI and related fields for socio-economic development in Nigeria.

Speaking at the AI Summit in Lagos, the Convener, Data Science Nigeria, Dr. Olubayo Adekanmbi, said that he desires that by 2025 every Nigerian child under 10-years understands the concept of AI, it’s applications and builds the right skills set so that Nigeria becomes the talent pool for the rest of the world.

He reiterated the vision to raise 1 million high-qualified, and world-class AI talents in the next 10 years.

DSN, he said, believes that building a local data science/big data/AI ecosystem will position Nigeria to become the outsourcing hub for international Data Science/Advanced Analytics/Big Data projects with opportunity to access 10 per cent share of the global data science outsourcing projects, worth USD 3.3 billion in revenue by 2020.

In a keynote presentation titled, ‘Artificial Intelligence for Development’, Distinguished Professor (Emeritus) and Director of Intelligent Systems Research at Oregon State University, Prof. Thomas Dietterich, described AI as catalyst for economic advancement.

He said that AI presents opportunities for economic transformation in unique.

According to him, although the developing economies still lag behind in some areas with regards AI adoption and applications, however, organisations like Data Science Nigeria, have shown clear roadmap capable of putting the country on the right footings and build the national competitiveness given the right skills set.

He emphasised that developing AI enabled weather management solutions, for instance, will assist the continent address some challenges faced by farmers thereby leading to improved food production/sufficiency.

Prof. Dietterich, said that with the growing community of AI enthusiasts and learners, Nigeria and indeed Africa will witness a major boost in skills needed for research and development focused on bringing applied Artificial Intelligence solutions to existing community problems.

He, however, emphasised that to make progress in this direction requires making sense out of the big data and applying the results to track diseases, and make the nation safer, better, and well-structured for collective well-being

Prof. Dietterich, who is one of the founders of the field of Machine learning, applauded Data Science Nigeria for taking the lead to connect experts with AI developers/enthusiasts to develop solutions that can transform the society.

While applauding the First AI Book for Primary and Junior Secondary School students in Nigeria, the keynote speaker further urged experts and stakeholders to rave-up DSN’s mission to deliver positive impact to the society using Artificial Intelligence.

Further, Dr. Adekanmbi, said that as a nation of 200 million people, with median age at 18 years, it is important to prepare the young people for the future by exposing them to the right skill set; “especially when we know that most of the jobs we know today will go into extinction in the next 5-10 years.

“So, the question is: what becomes of our country with so much young people who are lacking in the right skills for the ‘future jobs’. That informed the whole idea of Data Science Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Skill Building. It has become a mandate. We have taken up the responsibility to say: it is not going to be the son of a rich-man or an average man; wherever they are in this country, have access to the same knowledge that students in San Francisco, Paris and London have access to., by creating a book that will be distributed free. We are not going through the traditional model ‘I buy for my child’ rather ‘you buy for a community or the whole school’. The approach is: make knowledge in a simplified manner.

The second thing is to build a system that will allow that knowledge to be passed. That is why we are working various State Governments. We are going to run a lot of ‘train-the-trainer- program where we will equip the teachers to also know, because you can only give what you have. We are going to train the teachers in AI. Afterwards, we are going to give them a few copies of the Book. It is going to be on batches till we reach every part of the country.

He pointed out how government can be part of the process to raise one million inspired young people to change the country’s narrative and make Nigeria the AI destination in future, he called for integrating AI as part of the national curriculum.

This, he said, would generate more attention by the students towards learning the discipline. “In addition to that, government can also support the effective production of this book which we are giving out free. DSN is a non-profit, everything we are trying to do is to democratise AI; from Lagos to Maiduguri to Uyo, to Sokoto, let every Nigerian child be exposed to the possibilities of AI. Let them build the right skills and let’s get our nation ready for the opportunities that AI presents; shaping opportunity creation, innovation, invention research, and transformational possibilities.

The Summit also exposed participants to DSN’s practitioner-led model where experienced and hands-on data scientists in Nigeria and in the Diaspora train and mentor young Nigerians through face-to-face, virtual coaching classes, project-based support and holiday boot camps funded by individuals and corporate organizations such as Softcom, Terragon Group, Microsoft, MainOne, TechCabal, BlueChip Technologies, amongst others.
Chuks Egbuna/Editor

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Pix 1: L-r: CEO Retina-AI, USA, Dr Stephen Odaibo; Toyin Adekanmbi (Mrs); Convener, Data Science Nigeria, Dr. Olubayo Adekanmbi; Director/HOD, Curriculum Services Dept., Ministry of Education, Lagos State, Adegbamigbe Esther Ibukun (Mrs) and Emeritus professor of Computer Science at Oregon State University, Prof Thomas Dietterich, at the Unveiling a Book – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Hands-on Python for Grades 5-9 as part of activities for Data Science Nigeria AI/Big Data Conference 2019 held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos on Tuesday, November 19, 2019.

Pix 2: L-r: CEO Retina-AI, USA, Dr Stephen Odaibo; Convener, Data Science Nigeria, Dr. Olubayo Adekanmbi; Toyin Adekanmbi (Mrs); a student-participant; Director/HOD, Curriculum Services Dept., Ministry of Education, Lagos State, Adegbamigbe Esther Ibukun (Mrs) and Emeritus professor of Computer Science at Oregon State University, Prof Thomas Dietterich, at the Unveiling a Book – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Hands-on Python for Grades 5-9 as part of activities for Data Science Nigeria AI/Big Data Conference 2019 held at Oriental Hotel, Lagos on Tuesday, November 19, 2019.

Ekiti to arrest parents of pupils hawking at school hours - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has warned that henceforth, government will arrest parents of pupils found hawking during school hours; stressing that parents must take advantage of the free education policy of his government to reduce the number of out-of-school children, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti at an Education Stakeholders’ meeting at the Conference Hall of the Governor’s office in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the Governor said all hands must be on deck to checkmate the declining school enrolment rate in the State so that the State’s slogan- ‘Fountain of Knowledge’ does not become an exaggeration.

Governor Fayemi, had shortly after his inauguration last year October declared free education from primary school to senior secondary school in the state and abolished all education levies and the education tax introduced by the immediate past administration in the state.

He lamented at the meeting, which was well attended by all stakeholders in the education sector, that many parents were yet to take full advantage of the free and qualitative education policy of the administration, adding that part of the responsibilities of government is to ensure that children and youth- who are the future of the nation- were properly groomed through qualitative education that will prepare them for the future.

The Governor said the current school enrolment rate of 55 per cent as against 96 per cent recorded in 2014 was unacceptable to his government, adding that something must be done urgently to reverse the ugly trend.

A press statement made available to ITREALMS by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, Dr Fayemi also disclosed that government has started compiling the records of retired teachers, with a view to determining available vacancies in the teaching service.

He added that his administration will soon commence recruitment of competent and qualified teachers who will help to raise the standard of education in the State.

The Governor also disclosed that the administration had commenced the process of returning mission schools to their original owners, but stressed that government would continue to monitor them to ensure that the schools do not decline in standard.

Earlier in their remarks, the highly elated stakeholders in the education sector had commended the Governor for the various steps already taken by the administration in restoring the lost glory of the education sector.

Representative of the State chapter of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Mr Babatunde Abegunde, said the abrogation of education levies had taken off the burden of debts of school fees from parents; adding that many parents could not afford to pay their children’s school fees as salaries were not regular.

Abegunde urged Governor Fayemi to look into issues of multiple taxations in the education sector, which according to him, had hindered many school owners from undertaking infrastructure development in their schools.

In his remarks, the chairman of the State chapter of the Parent-Teacher-Association (PTA), Chief Adeola Osadare, lauded Governor Fayemi for paying the 2019 WAEC fee of about 14,000 students in the public schools across the State.

Osadare said the gesture will help many students who had dropped out of school to re-enrol, as there is hope of free school certificate examination registration under Fayemi’s watch.

Other stakeholders such as the chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Mr Samuel Olugbesan also thanked the Governor for prioritizing the welfare of teachers.

Olugbesan declared the second coming of Fayemi has been a huge blessing to teachers because “things that directly affect teachers are being addressed and given priority attention by the Governor”

Uj. N. Dom/Editor

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Fear of Monkey Pox injection envelopes Anambra: Pupils reject Army free medical outreach

ITRealms:

Some school pupils in Anambra State on Wednesday rejected the Nigerian Army free medical outreach forcing the schools to close earlier, reports ITRealms.

These pupils, ITRealms gathered include students from both primary and school schools were seen basically running home to dodge being injected the alleged ‘MonkeyPox’ virus.

Correspondent reports that  all schools shut Wednesday afternoon as the Nigerian Army Medical team were alleged to being forcing students to take undisclosed injection, hence, students were asked to go home before now.

“Students were now asked to go home immediately,” an eye witnessed to ITRealms at Nnewi in Anambra State.

Our source also noted that all the primary and secondary schools in Oraukwu, Abatete, Adazi Ani, Neni and other neighbouring towns closed all the schools and children were seen running home to save their lives.

In Onitsha, the case was reportedly not different as a trader told correspondent to go approach his children school and take them home.

Our source had declared to ITRealms “Whether or not its fake If you have any kids in any school in Awada, better go and carry them to avoid any story... Later we go hear the real gist.”

Meanwhile ITRealms  gathered that there has been some WhatsApp messages being shared alleged that the Army Free Medical Service to old people at a field in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State was a ploy by alleged Boko Haram soldiers to infect the South East.

Also the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Imo State chapter, has warned the general public to be mindful of any unauthorized ‘immunization’ saying there is no official approval for any form of immunization to prevent any killer disease in children that is ongoing in the state.

A press statement purportedly endorsed by the Secretary, NMA Imo State Chapter, Dr. Dike Victor and made available to ITRealms, said that as a result, parents and teachers are advised not to submit their wards to persons or group of persons for any purported form of immunization.

This, he said, was on the backdrop of alarm being raised about "forced immunization"  in some places in the state on Wednesday 11th October, 2017.

However, the Nigerian Army has denied any allegation of plan to spread or inject any virus as part of the free medical outreach.

Ozo Nweke Ozo/GEE

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Pix: Some students running home in Anambra on Wednesday for fear of MonkeyPox injection

Pupils begins 30-year anniversary, clean-up Oja-Oba market in Lagos

ITRealms:

The pupils of MD School number over 200 on Saturday cleaned up the Oja-Oba market in Abule Egba, Lagos, reports ITRealms.

The exercise, ITRealms gathered was part of the activities lined up for the school's 30 years anniversary celebrations, began at 8am with parents and teachers guiding the students.

Excited Executive Director of the school, Omolara Adedugbe, said the exercise was part of their corporate social responsibility to the community where the school is situated.

“We chose to be here because the market is a filthy place and this goes to show that we are conscious about our environment and its people. As you can see, the marketers are very happy about the exercise.  We were well received and have promised not make it a one-off thing. We hereby enjoin other corporate organizations in the state and the country at large to adopt the exercise.

“We want people to come out and should not feel too big to identify with these people,” she said.

The Secretary of Oja Oba Market, Alhaji Adeshina Akanni Jimoh, on behalf of the market executives and the traders expressed appreciation to the school's management, students and parents for carrying out the exercise.

“Though, we carry out the exercise weekly in collaboration with LAWMA, but today's exercise is commendable and we are saying a very big thank you to the school's management for this strategic move,” he said.

Commending the school further, he said, this is first of its kind, just as the exercise was supported by Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and the Highway Managers.

Uj. N. Dominic/GEE

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Kidnappers @ Model School Epe, made away with VP, teacher, pupils

ITRealms:

Some suspected gunmen on Thursday morning confronted the Lagos State Model School, Epe, reports ITRealms.

At press time, the Nigeria Police Force confirmed this through the office of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni.

According to the ITRealms correspondent, the kidnappers took away with them the school’s Vice Principal, a teacher and quite a few pupils.

ITRealms gathered that although Police is yet to confirm the number of persons kidnapped, but it was evident at least four persons including the vice principal, a teacher and some two pupils.

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Owoseni, was reported to have relocated to Epe to aid investigation by his command.

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