The International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment (Cambridge) has announced Odufeso Tajudeen, a teacher from Isara Secondary School in Isara Remo, Ogun State, as the regional winner of the 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards. The Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards is a global competition that celebrates the achievements of teachers around the world. Now in its sixth year, the competition highlights the important role that teachers play in shaping the lives of their learners and preparing them for the world. It gives students, parents, and peers the chance to nominate a current primary or secondary teacher for their outstanding commitment to their students’ education. As a regional winner, Odufeso will receive £500 worth of books for his class, a trophy, and participate in a regional awards ceremony. He will also receive publicity for himself and his school during the coming year, and he will appear on a ‘thank you’ page at the front of new Cambridge textbooks. Odufeso has been named the regional winner in Sub-Saharan Africa for his dedication to equity and inclusivity, and his advocacy for sustainable education and empowerment. The judges praised Odufeso for his student-centred teaching methods that allow students to effectively collaborate and improve their critical thinking skills. Odufeso was also applauded for the online learning classes he ran for students in vulnerable communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. Expressing his gratitude for the recognition and publicity received, Odufeso said, “I am deeply honoured to receive the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Award for our region. “This recognition not only highlights my personal commitment but is also a testament to the resilience, enthusiasm, and relentless pursuit of excellence by my students. It reaffirms our collective belief that education is a transformative tool, empowering us to make meaningful changes in our community and beyond. “I am grateful for this award, and it inspires me to continue advocating for innovative and inclusive educational practices. I appreciate everyone that supported me on this journey”. 2024 saw a record number of nominations from people wanting to thank a teacher. Cambridge received 14,840 nominations across 141 different countries, topping the previous record by over 1,000 nominations. Rod Smith, Managing Director of International Education said, “We need 44 million teachers worldwide by 2030 if the world is to meet the UNESCO Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 of inclusive and equitable quality education. For this to happen, at Cambridge we believe we should be celebrating the profession and highlighting the hard-working teachers currently instilling a love of learning, often in difficult environments. “We launched the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards to ensure we took the time to thank those preparing their students to be ready for the world, whether tackling challenging educational issues like climate change or breaking down cultural barriers. I wish to congratulate Odufeso Tajudeen for his immense accomplishments, which I’m sure will inspire teachers and learners across Nigeria”. The public can now vote on their favourite teacher out of the nine regional winners, to become the overall winner of Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards 2024. The deadline to vote is 6 May 2024 and the Global Winner will be announced on 29 May 2024.

  Food insecurity worsened around the world in 2023, with some 282 million people suffering from acute hunger due to conflicts, particularly in Gaza and Sudan, UN agencies and development groups said Wednesday. Extreme weather events and economic shocks also added to the number of those facing acute food insecurity, which grew by 24 million people compared with 2022, according to the latest global report on food crises from the Food Security Information Network (FSIN). The report, which called the global outlook “bleak” for this year, is produced for an international alliance bringing together UN agencies, the European Union and governmental and non-governmental bodies. 2023 was the fifth consecutive year of rises in the number of people suffering acute food insecurity — defined as when populations face food deprivation that threatens lives or livelihoods, regardless of the causes or length of time. Much of last year’s increase was due to report’s expanded geographic coverage, as well as deteriorating conditions in 12 countries. More geographical areas experienced “new or intensified shocks” while there was a “marked deterioration in key food crisis contexts such as Sudan and the Gaza Strip”, Fleur Wouterse, deputy director of the emergencies office within the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), told AFP. Some 700,000 people, including 600,000 in Gaza, were on the brink of starvation last year, a figure that has since climbed yet higher to 1.1 million in the war-ridden Palestinian territory. Children starving Since the first report by the Global Food Crisis Network covering 2016, the number of food-insecure people has risen from 108 million to 282 million, Wouterse said. Meanwhile, the share of the population affected within the areas concerned has doubled 11 percent to 22 percent, she added. Protracted major food crises are ongoing in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Syria and Yemen. “In a world of plenty, children are starving to death,” wrote UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the report’s foreword. “War, climate chaos and a cost-of-living crisis — combined with inadequate action — mean that almost 300 million people faced acute food crisis in 2023.” “Funding is not keeping pace with need,” he added. This is especially true as the costs of distributing aid have risen. For 2024, progress will depend on the end of hostilities, said Wouterse, who stressed that aid could “rapidly” alleviate the crisis in Gaza or Sudan, for example, once humanitarian access to the areas is possible. Floods and droughts Worsening conditions in Haiti were due to political instability and reduced agricultural production, “where in the breadbasket of the Artibonite Valley, armed groups have seized agricultural land and stolen crops”, Wouterse said. The El Nino weather phenomenon could also lead to severe drought in West and Southern Africa, she added. According to the report, situations of conflict or insecurity have become the main cause of acute hunger in 20 countries or territories, where 135 million people have suffered. Extreme climatic events such as floods or droughts were the main cause of acute food insecurity for 72 million people in 18 countries, while economic shocks pushed 75 million people into this situation in 21 countries. “Decreasing global food prices did not transmit to low-income, import-dependent countries,” said the report. At the same time, high debt levels “limited government options to mitigate the effects of high prices”. On a positive note, the situation improved in 17 countries in 2023, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ukraine, the report found. AFP

  Wednesday 24 April 2024 EFCC Chairman: If I Can Go After My Kinsman, Why Not Yahaya Bello? FG Appoints 17 New Chargé D’affaires, Consuls General What Yahaya Bello Told Me When I Called Him On Phone – EFCC Chairman Emefiele Printed N684.5m Notes With N18.9bn – EFCC Senate May Amend Law To Enforce Entry Age Into Varsities Yahaya Bello Moved $720,000 From State Coffers To Pay Child’s School Fees — Olukoyede Fubara Reshuffles Cabinet, Redeploys Wike’s Loyalists Appeal Court Reserves Judgment As Baba Ijesha Challenges Conviction EFCC Quizzes Ex-Aviation Minister Sirika Over Alleged ₦8bn Fraud EFCC Freezes Over 300 Accounts Over Suspicious FX Flows CBN Sells Fresh Dollars To BDCs At N1,021/$ Olukoyede Vows To Resign If Yahaya Bello Is Not Prosecuted Dangote Cuts Diesel, Aviation Fuel Prices Further To ₦940, ₦980 UNN Suspends Lecturer For Sexual Harassment Kogi Assembly Demands Delisting Of Yahaya Bello From EFCC Wanted List Jonathan Stresses Need For State Police To Tackle Insecurity LAUTECH Students Block Roads, Protest Colleague’s Killing Youths Protest EFCC’s Planned Arrest Of Yahaya Bello ‘$10bn investments targeted’ — FG launches new fiscal policies for oil, gas sector Adelabu: Cartels, saboteurs frustrating efforts to stabilise power supply Ihedioha resigns from PDP, says party no longer credible opposition Okuama-Ewu: Community declares 17 soldiers killed along Forcados River Passengers overpower bandits in Zamfara, kill one, seize 2 AK-47 rifles Anxieties in Abia communities over erosion menace as rainy season sets in Releasing Binance executive from custody risky, EFCC insists High Commission to sanction workers barring Nigerians from Indian school Ondo 2024: Jimoh Ibrahim, Omogoroye file appeals against result Govt tightens import duty exemptions Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, of approving the printing of N684,590,000 at the rate of N18.96 billion. Although approved by ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, the naira redesign policy of CBN under Emefiele has generated huge controversy for the former bank chief. In a fresh four-count charge filed against him at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the EFCC alleged that Emefiele broke the law with intent to harm the public during his implementation of the naira swap policy. Baring unforseen circumstances, he would be arraigned before the FCT High Court, Abuja, on April 30, 2024. Counts one to four of the charge, read, “STATEMENT OF OFFENCE: Public Servant disobeying direction of law with intent to cause injury to the public contrary to and punishable under Section 123 of the Penal Code Law, Cap. 89 Laws of the Federation, 1990. “PARTICULARS OF THE OFFENCE: That you GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE between the 19th day of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of N375,520,000.00 pieces of colour swapped N1, 000, at the total cost of N11,052, 068,062 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.” COUNT 2: “That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, between the 19th of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 172,000,000 pieces of colour swapped N500 (Five Hundred Naira) Notes, at the total cost of N4, 471,066,040 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence. COUNT 3: “That you GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE between the 19th day of October 2022 and 5th March 2023 in Abuja, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 19 of the CBN Act, 2007, by approving the printing of 137,070,000 pieces of colour swapped N200 (Two Hundred Naira) Note, at the total cost of N3, 441, 005, 280 without the recommendation of the Board of Central Bank and the strict approval of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.”   COUNT 4: “That you, GODWIN IFEANYI EMEFIELE, on or about the 7th day of October 2020, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, knowingly disobeyed the direction of Section 80 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), by approving the withdrawal of the total sum of N124, 860, 227, 865.16 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation in a manner not prescribed by the National Assembly, which conduct of yours caused injury to the public and you thereby committed an offence.”

  Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has implemented a minor cabinet reshuffle in the state. Affected by the reshuffle are the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Zacchaeus Adangor; and the Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu. A statement on Tuesday signed by the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Tammy Danagogo, announced that Governor Fubara has redeployed Adangor to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s Office) while Kamalu was transferred to the Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment. The statement directed both officials to hand over official documents related to their previous offices to their respective Permanent Secretaries, with the redeployments taking immediate effect. The statement emphasised that “All hand-over processes must be completed immediately.” Both commissioners, who are loyalists of ex-governor Nyesom Wike, had previously resigned from their positions last December in the heat of the political crisis in the state and the rift between Fubara and his predecessor who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However, they were reinstated as part of the peace agreement initiated by President Bola Tinubu. The Rivers State Government did not provide a reason for their redeployment.

  Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, says “saboteurs and cartels” are frustrating the federal government’s efforts to achieve a stable electricity supply in the country. Adelabu spoke during a programme, tagged, ‘Confronting Nigeria’s Power Challenge as the Nation Migrates to a Multi-Tier Electricity Market’ on Tuesday in Abuja. The programme was organised by the house of representatives committee on power, according to NAN. “We have saboteurs, cartels, and those who prefer to perpetrate evil for their selfish interests to frustrate our efforts,” Adelabu said. Adelabu said all efforts must be geared towards propelling the country to the league of productive nations, adding that Nigeria is looking at reserves that would eliminate incessant power collapses. He said the federal government is also considering the liberalisation of the power sector. “We also encourage the state government to invest in power generation in their states,” the minister said. Adelabu said Abia is one of the states that has invested in power, disclosing that the federal executive council (FEC) has also granted Ekiti and Enugu the right to generate tariffs — meaning that the states would be responsible for power generation, transmission, supply, trading, and system operations. The minister also expressed concern that a lot of investors did not come with their private equity, saying they had to borrow money from the bank to operate in the sector. He, however, said with time, investors would be made to operate the right way for the benefit of the sector. The politician also said the federal government is planning on deepening rural electrification in collaboration with the state governments. ‘OVER 100 POWER PROJECTS IN NIGERIA UNCOMPLETED’ On electricity projects, Adelabu said there are over 100 uncompleted power projects across the country. He said the projects would not be energy-efficient without being completed. Also speaking, Kola Adeshina, the group managing director of Sahara Power Group, expressed regret that Nigeria cannot supply electricity efficiently despite its abundant gas resources. He said if electricity was not a priority in the budget provision, it would be difficult for the country to work, stressing that Nigeria has the resources to double its power generation. “If the executive brings an appropriation bill before you (lawmakers) and the power sector is not number two after defence, then don’t allow it,” Adeshina said. Adeshina urged the government to prioritise industrial areas in power distribution. “After the industrial areas have had light during the day, we can shift power at night to residential areas because production takes place during the day,” he said. “Let’s sequence our investment along the line of value-added. Nigerians are resilient, we are strong, and we have tenacity. Nigerians are tired of power collapse.” On April 22, the minister had said the federal government would sell off five electricity distribution companies (DisCos) under the management of banks and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in the next three months to technical power operators. He also said the ministry would prevail on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to revoke underperforming licenses and change the management board of the DisCos — if it becomes the solution.

  WORKERS of the Anambra State House of Assembly have begun an indefinite strike over alleged non payment of their entitlements. The workers, under the platform of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, carried placards and banners during the protest and marched round the three arms zone, chanting protest songs and demanding for their entitlements.   They accused the state lawmakers of recruiting members of the National Youth Service Corps to perform the functions of the statutory staff of the House of Assembly. Deputy National President of PASAN Comrade Promise Onwukwe said they decided to go on strike because they could no longer bear the hardship occasioned by the deliberate decision to deny them their rights. Onwukwe said: “We had embarked on this strike before, but the Conference Of Speakers of the thirty six State Assemblies and the Governors’ Forum appealed to us that all our entitlements would be settled after their meeting. We agreed and the time they gave us has elapsed. Some states have started paying and meeting the needs of their staff, but here in Anambra State House of Assembly, nothing has been done. “We are talking about the payment of enhanced salary called CONYRESS, staff training, provision of laptops, establishment of ICT unit, employment of more staff and provision of utility vehicles for the House of Assembly. “We trek from one office location to another under the sun, while those that we are working for are cruising in air condition vehicles. “It might not be far from the truth that Gov Charles Soludo may have provided all these things, but they are nowhere to be found and this is unfortunate. “The House of Assembly compound has been overgrown by grass and staff of the Assembly kill all manner of reptiles, snakes and scorpions almost every week, which shows that this place is not conducive to work.” Reacting to the protest, the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, Hon Ikenna Ofodeme dismissed the workers’ claims, accusing them of a deliberate attempt to disrupt the activities of the legislature. According to him, it is only the Anambra State PASAN that is on strike, adding that they are not on strike because their statutory payments are not being paid, but because of their welfare which has to do with allowances. He said:”This is Anambra State House of Assembly and most of those staff are strictly under the office of the Head of Service who are posted to come and work with the state Assembly members. “They are duty bound to listen to where they are posted and know exactly what they are expected to do. And whereby they don’t want to work at the House of Assembly, they are free to go back to the Head of Service and not to come here to disrupt the activities of the House of Assembly.”