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Six More LGs Join KwaraLEARN As Gov AbdulRazaq Restates Commitment To Quality Education

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Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said his administration remains committed to quality education and human capital development, recalling how he had saved the sector from collapse and relaunched Kwara for greater future.

Fidel Info reports that the Governor said the huge investment in the sector continues despite dwindling revenues and competing priorities for governments worldwide.

“Our expenses have really gone up. We are implementing KwaraLEARN. We’re paying UBEC counterpart funding, which the previous administration could not pay. We are investing heavily in education and human capital development because we prioritise the sector and the future of this state, ” AbdulRazaq said on Saturday in Ilorin at the induction of new set of teachers trained for KwaraLEARN programme.

KwaraLEARN is a flagship education programme of the AbdulRazaq administration, which involves the use of modern technology to train teachers, improve teaching techniques, and boost education outcomes for school children. It berthed in four local government areas (Baruten, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, and Offa) last year, with at least 45% rise in school attendance by November 2022 and significant improvements in literacy and numeracy skills of pupils.

The Governor said the programme costs a lot of money but is hugely necessary to secure the future of the Kwara child.

“If you look at the figures, between 2015 and 2019 the income to the state – FAAC, IGR and the likes were higher than what we have received between 2019 and today. By December last year, we earned N44bn less than the last administration. Yet, we are paying the N30,000 minimum wage and consequential adjustment which they could not pay,” he explained, pointing up the prudence of the administration and its commitment to people’s welfare.

AbdulRazaq assured teachers of improved welfare packages with the planned introduction of housing scheme and car loan support to address mobility and accommodation challenges.

He added: “We will continue to work on your welfare, not just salaries. We are working on the housing scheme, which will come in place very soon by the grace of God. You have seen how we appreciated the best teachers and so on. We will also come up with a scheme under which you will have access to car loans. So, stay the course with us. Things will improve. If the former administration had not dropped the ball, you would have been singing different tunes now. For instance, last month, we paid N3.5bn for pensions and gratuities to cover 2009 and 2010, among other arrears. We should have used that money to do some other projects under this administration. But we used it to clear the liabilities they left. That is what happens in all sectors. We are using our resources to cover liabilities of the past. We feel it is a necessity to do so as a matter of government’s obligation to the people.”

He urged the teachers to continue to support his administration to consolidate on the achievements recorded so far.

“When I walked in here and I saw your faces, I saw excitement. I saw that you are happy with what you are doing. You appreciate what the state government is doing. Do we need to do more? Yes. We will do more. Your welfare is important to us. We would have gone beyond this level,” he said.

“It is part of our commitment to education that brought you here. Stay the course with us. We will improve on what we do to consolidate on the successes achieved so far. We thank you for the success of our children in the presidential school debate. With the right motivation, we believe you can do better. This is a serious government. We will continue to invest in education. We thank you for the service you are rendering to Kwara.”

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Mary Adeosun, for her part, said the administration has changed the narrative in the education sector, saying the teachers are now more dedicated, committed and responsive in line with the commitment of the governor.

KwaraLearn Project Director Olusegun Abiola disclosed that six more local government areas have been integrated into the KwaraLEARN programme to ensure that the pupils get quality education in line with global best standards.

“We started with four local governments (Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Baruten and Offa) in April last year for the pilot scheme and we now extended to six more local government areas to make it 10. Now, we have Asa, Patigi, Irepodun, Ilorin South, Oke-Ero and and Ekiti local government areas enrolled to the scheme. So, we are looking forward to integrating the remaining six local governments before the year runs out,” he said.

“KwaraLEARN programme is designed to improve learning outcomes in the state. This kind of programme only exists in four states in the country. The essence of the programme is to integrate technology into learning and to ensure that the pupils get quality education in line with global standards.

“This programme is to make the children learn like their counterparts in Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda and other countries where this programme is being deployed. So, the Governor, being a visionary leader with people of Kwara State at heart and knowing the children of Kwara State as the future of the state, has invested heavily in the programme to ensure that the pupils stand side-by-side with their counterparts anywhere.”

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JUST-IN: Makinde Sacks Auxilliary, Other Park Management Chiefs In Oyo

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The Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has ordered the dissolution of the Disciplinary Committee, Park Management System (PMS) headed by Alhaji Mukaila Auxiliary.

The newly appointed Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, May 29, 2023, said the dissolution was with immediate effect.

The terse statement reads, “I have the directive of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde to inform you of the dissolution of the Disciplinary Committee, Park Management System with immediate effect from today, Monday, 29th May, 2023

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Henry Dele Alake: The Scintillating Profile of President Tinubu’s Chief Press Secretary

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Henry Dele Alake, a prominent figure in Nigerian journalism and politics, has been appointed as the Chief Press Secretary to President Tinubu. Born on October 6, 1956, in Ekiti State, Alake is currently 66 years old. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to democratic values, activism, and public service.

Alake’s journey in activism began under the mentorship of the late Chief MKO Abiola. He played a pivotal role in the controversial 1993 election, which was unfortunately annulled by General Ibrahim Babangida, the then military president. Despite facing oppression and terrorization, Alake fearlessly advocated for justice and the preservation of democratic principles.

Between 1999 and 2007, Alake served as the Commissioner for Information and Strategy to Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of Lagos State. During this period, he contributed significantly to the development and growth of the state, effectively communicating the government’s policies and initiatives to the public.

Currently, Alake holds the position of Director of Media and Communication of The Tinubu Campaign Council, supporting the presidential aspirations of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the upcoming 2023 election.

Education played a crucial role in Alake’s path to success. He attended Surulere Baptist Primary School in Lagos for his elementary education, followed by Christ’s School Ado Ekiti for his West African School Certificate. He furthered his studies at Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos, where he obtained his Higher School Certificate in 1975. In the same year, he enrolled at the University of Lagos, Akoka, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and later pursued a master’s degree in Mass Communications.

Alake embarked on his professional career as a journalist after completing his education. He began as a Senior Sub-Editor at the Lagos State Broadcasting Corporation (LSBC) after a year of national service with the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC). Over the years, he held various positions in journalism, including Current Affairs Officer, Senior Current Affairs Officer, and Principal Current Affairs Officer. Alake played a vital role in the establishment of Lagos Television (LTV 8).

In 1985, Alake transitioned to print journalism, joining the Concord Press as an editor and writer for the National Concord and Sunday Concord newspapers. He became the editor of Sunday Concord in 1989 and continued in that position until 1995. During this period, he also served as a columnist for the National Concord.

Alake’s career took a significant turn when he became Chief MKO Abiola’s Adviser on Information, contributing to his election campaign for the 1993 general election. His dedication to Abiola’s cause led to confrontations and oppression from the dictatorial regime of General Sani Abacha. Faced with immense pressure, Alake went into exile, actively engaging with other prominent figures in the National Democratic Coalition of Nigeria (NADECO), such as Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Senator Bola Tinubu, Chief John Oyegun, and Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade (Rtd.).

Returning to Nigeria’s political landscape, Alake’s talents and expertise were recognized by Governor Bola Tinubu, who appointed him as his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy. He later served as the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy during Tinubu’s tenure as governor.

In 2010, Alake declared his intention to contest for the senatorial seat of Ekiti Central in Ekiti State. However, due to intra-party crises within his political party at that time, he decided to withdraw from the aspiration.

In preparation for the 2015 general election, Alake was appointed as the Director of Media and Communication for the Buhari Campaign Organization, supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential ambition.

Continuing his involvement in political campaigns, Alake currently holds the position of Director of Media and Communication for The Tinubu Campaign Council, supporting Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential aspirations in the upcoming 2023 general election.

While information about his marital life remains private, it is worth noting that one of his children, Olatunbosun Alake, serves as the Special Adviser on Innovation and Technology to the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu.

Alake’s contributions to journalism and politics have earned him several notable achievements. He is a fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, where he once served as Vice President. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the West African Union of Journalists. In 2000, he received the prestigious Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) International Gold Award, recognizing his exceptional contributions to society.

Henry Dele Alake’s multifaceted career and unwavering commitment to democracy and public service have left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s media landscape and political sphere. His dedication to his craft and his tireless advocacy for justice and transparency serve as an inspiration to aspiring journalists and politicians across the nation.

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President Tinubu Makes First Appointments with Alake, Adeleke and Dada

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Mr Dele Alake as his spokesperson hours after he took oath of office on Monday.

Mr Alake is a long-time associate of Mr Tinubu. He served as his Commissioner of Information and Strategy from 1999 to 2007 while he was Lagos State governor.

The president also appointed Ambassador Kunle Adeleke as the State Chief of Protocol (SCOP) to the President.

The APC National Youth Leader Olusegun Dada was named as Special Assistant to the President on Digital Media.

The appointments add with immediate effect, it was learned

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