Nigerian Newspapers
HIStory!
How Adeniyi became the most outstanding teacher
BY CHIKA ABANOBI
These days when you talk about Olusegun Adeniyi, you must be careful in describing which one you are talking about: is it Olusegun Adeniyi, the former editor of Thisday newspaper, former Special Adviser on Communications to late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and now, Chairman of Thisday editorial board or, Olusegun Adeniyi, the Cultural and Creative Art teacher of Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta?
Whereas the first may be well known to you as a newspaper columnist and author of Power, Politics & Death, that biographical work that provides unique insider’s account into the presidential life and times of late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, his namesake at BBHS may not.
Well, from today, not any more. The news just in is that Olusegun Adeniyi, the Cultural and Creative Art teacher has won the BBHS’s Most Outstanding Teacher for 2012/2013 academic session, thanks to his own artistry with drawing pen and paint brush.
“My Art teaching adventure at the prestigious citadel of learning, BBHS, started when I was offered a job to teach Cultural and Creative Art with employment letter dated 5th of October, 2012,” he told Education Review. “For me, it was a chance to touch lives (positively) and produce future creative leaders.
“I am passionate about art, and I see its teaching as far beyond a subject. I see it as a tool for social change. Art, beyond the ability to draw, is, indeed, a veritable platform to nurture divine talents, build character and harness intellectual capacity of people.
A Platform For Self-Discovery
“Art opens a child to self-discovery; the reason why I have supported and invested heavily in any artistic endeavour I engaged with the children. Art is a springboard for social development and interaction, a platform for empowerment and personal talent development.
Art provides young people with practical opportunities to learn and develop their creative skills. More so, with the inclusion of Art as one of trade subjects in schools, basic skills can be learnt through art education such as fashion design, painting, sculpture, music, textile design etc.”
A few quotations that justify the enormity of art education in schools are the reason Adeniyi says he has taken it so seriously and is giving his best ability in its teaching.
“Learning of arts and creativity is indispensable for the growth and sustainable development of societies and of individuals,” so says UNESCO and “art education is essential for building innovative thinkers who will be leaders for tomorrow,” adds Barack Obama, while speaking at US Global Development Policy of 2010.
“We know that countries are more likely to prosper when they encourage entrepreneurship and tap the talents of all their people.” Albert Einstein (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955), the Father of modern physics, crowned it all when he noted that, “it is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”
Every child is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up, Adeniyi says to you, quoting Pablo Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973), the Spanish painter and sculptor and 20th century most outstanding artist who is said to have demonstrated extraordinary artistic talent in his early years.
His emergence as the Most Outstanding Teacher has made him a living example of what he is talking about. In the following account, he tells our readers how the verdict came about and the role Education Review unwittingly played in setting up the scenario. Excerpts:
Blogging And Beginning
“I got the appointment to teach Art with BBHS in the month of October, 5th of October to be precise. Upon my resumption of duty, I was preoccupied with the thought of what to do to move the school forward and to make a difference. The first thing I engaged the boys with was to make beautiful posters to decorate the school with the quotable quotes culled from Education Review, every Tuesday. This was meant to teach them good morals and instill in them good attitude to study.
“Consequent upon the above, I created a virtual platform packaged to brand and project the image of the Baptist Boys High School through blogging. Blog is the short term for web log referring to an online journal that can be accessed by others. Blog is a veritable means of documentation and dissemination of information to a wider range of people.
In the new era of global e-community it was of optimum necessity for me to create the blog as it makes BBHS to be visible and accessible to all with just a click. The blog, www.baptistboyshighschool.blogspot.com, serves as a virtual portal for sharing the Baptist Boys High School activities, events (such as end of the year party, inter-house sport competition, Christmas party etc). This is a viable platform to tell the school’s story and it is accessible to everyone, the parents and guardians, the students, the teachers etc.
“Realizing the enormous potential of online social network (facebook) geared me to create a Facebook group page for the school with the name Baptist Boys High School. I also created an online network and portfolio for the art students on www.artwanted.com/bbhs.
I also forwarded my students’ articles, stories and poems to the print media which were published at different times on the “Kiddies’ Column” of The Nation newspaper and also in The Punch, The Guardian, The Vanguard, Tribune and many others. At the close of the term I hosted the parents to an art show at the art studio.
They all enjoyed it and even made commitment of purchasing some of our handmade cards. The proceeds from the sale were used to get more Art supplies for the studio. At the beginning of the year in the month of January, I registered nine of my students for the 7TH Toyota Dream Car Art Contest which took place in Lagos on the 16th of February, 2013.
Great Exposure
“It was indeed a great exposure for our boys. Apart from the gifts and certificates that would have been awarded to our school if we had won, the Baptist Boys High School stood the chance of representing our nation, Nigeria, at the world stage of the competition in Japan. Our students performed brilliantly though we did not win. But then, one of my students, Tobi Ogunlade’s painting was showcased at the Global Canvas Competition on Thursday, 7th March, 2013, at the Natural History Museum, London.
“Under my supervision, my students created Graffiti on the school wall by the gate during the BBHS 90th Anniversary. It was a huge contribution of the BBHS (Mission) to the BBHS 90th Anniversary. The students from JSS 1 to SSS 3 were engaged in portrait painting of which the best portraitures were displayed in the Art studio and was also published in Sunday Mirror newspaper of Sunday 2nd of December, 2012. The SSS 3 students were taught how to make silhouette from human model and created suitable background for them. After making series of silhouette among themselves, they made some for the teachers and also for the principal.
“Weekly, I engaged the students in series of drawings, from life drawing to still-life drawing, and general drawing. The JSS1 students had fun making tie-dye with their handkerchief in their textile practical class. My students and I were featured in six episodes of TRIP LEARN, an OGTV (Ogun State Television) programme for the children to learn specific skills.
On TRIP LEARN I taught the art of photography, photo framing, costume make-ups, papier mache, face-painting and portraiture (of a hero). Through this platform I was able to reach wider audience of kids with my artistic prowess and also to project the school I work with (BBHS).
Promise And Award
“I presented one of my personal paintings to the Chairman of the Old Boys Association, Mr. Ladipo Ajayi, during his visit to the school to mark the BBHS 90th Anniversary. Mr. Ajayi made a promise of N100, 000 to support the art studio. The money, if given, will be used to engage the students in making customized shirts for the BBHS Old boys. And the financial proceed, will, in turn, be used to purchase art materials for the art studio.
My art students from the junior classes won three prize awards at the 2013 National Gallery of Art, Ogun State Children’s Day Art Exhibition on MAY 27, 2013.
“I continued to create series of art project with my students till the close of the session. It was really fun creating art with these boys. I was fulfilled. That’s how I was awarded the Most Outstanding Teacher during the school’s 3rd Prize Giving programme.
The award is dedicated to my queen, Oyenike Adeniyi, to my students and everyone that have contributed to my works. I have been able to achieve all these to the glory of God. I am humbled and proud by the recognition conferred on me”.
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•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The people of the South East region have been urged to explore the power of negotiation and mutual settlement in the face of ongoing killings and security challenges in the zone because the east can not afford another war at present.
Stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone made the remark on Thursday, at the unveiling of the book, “Igbo, 50 years after Biafra,” written by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services, Joe Igbokwe, held at Ikeja G.R.A.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Cutis Adigba,
urged the people of the South-East to learn to build bridges across the country, so that they can realise their ambition of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Adigba urged leaders from the zone to discourage the move and agitation by some youths in the South East to go to war and secede out of Nigeria.
Also read: Banditry: Disregard viral video, Niger State gov’t urges residents
He said that Igbo have always found it difficult to rule Nigeria because they refused to build bridges across the six geo-political zones that made up Nigeria.
While describing the agitation as uncalled for, Adigba noted that after two decades that Nigeria returned to civil rule, the Igbo has predominantly identified with only one political party.
He maintained that remaining in one party can not advance the cause of the people of South East and cannot make them realise their objective of producing an Igbo man as president.
He maintained that the publisher of the book, Igbokwe played politics outside his state, so that the Igbo race can be integrated with one another race.
Adigba said the failure of the Igbo to reintegrate with other ethnic nationalities politically was responsible for the retrogression of the race in Nigerian politics.
Igbokwe, also addressing guests on the occasion, maintained that the Igbo are not advancing politically because they refused to be integrated into National politics, lamenting that, despite their success in business, they are not successful in playing politics at the national level.
Corroborating Dimgba, Igbokwe noted that there was the need for the Igbo people to stand up and build bridges so that their objective of producing the next president of Nigeria could be realised.
According to him: “I have decided to raise my voice, I hope my people will hear me while trying to quell the effect of the war, our people are spoiling for another war, mayhem is being unleashed in Igbo land, and there is palpable fear.
“Those who could speak have lost their voice, mindful of the consequences of their actions, I am calling on all Igbo leaders to speak up because all actions carry consequences, consequences of the silence will be too dastardly to sustain.
“Those silently supporting the wild wind should be careful or else they hand over to their children,” he said.
Igbokwe urged those spoiling for war to jettison their plan and embrace dialogue, urging them to learn from the South West region that despite the challenges faced after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, they did not go to war, and the region had the opportunity of producing two of her sons for presidential position in 1999.
“You have to build bridges to become president of Nigeria, but it is unfortunate the Igbo are burning bridges.”
Speaking at the event, Chief Uche Dimgba who is the coordinator of Igbo in All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, described Igbokwe as “a Frank, fearless and reliable leader, who based his views on issues and stand by his opinions, and we the Igbo have confidence in him and believe he can lead us aright.”
“He is a leader we Igbo believe in and we will follow him. If he can serve all the governors produced in Lagos State since 1999, he is a better man to follow because he possesses all the experience that can be of benefit to Igbo both at home and in the diaspora.”
The post Attacks on S’East: We must explore all options of negotiation — Stakeholders urge Igbo appeared first on Vanguard News.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
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Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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