Kogi State Government has charged Examination Misconduct, Investigation and Disciplinary Committee to investigate the involvement of Schools and Persons indicted in the conduct of the 2024 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the state.

The State Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, who gave the charge on Tuesday while inaugurating the committee in Lokoja the state capital, described examination malpractice as a cankerworm that must be stem in the bud as it affects the future of children.

According to him, the committee is to investigate the level of involvement of schools and persons and to recommend the appropriate punishment for indicted persons in line with the provision of the Kogi State Education Law and Other Matters Connected Therewith, 2020.

The commissioner further stated that the newly inaugurated Committee had one week to submit their report and charged the members to work with a clear conscience and also to be fair and just in the discharge of their responsibilities.

“Government will implement the recommendation of the Committee as the current administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo abhors examination fraud,” he said.

“The State has invested so much in education and will not allow the activities of some principals in connivance with some supervisors to derail the progress being made in education.”

He mentioned the members of the committee to include the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Jibrin Saidu Alhaji as Chairman and the Director of Administration, Omolayo Barikisu Onozare as Secretary.

Other members of the committee were drawn from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Kogi State Secondary Education Commission (KOSEC), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), West African Examination Council (WAEC), NECO, NABTEB, ANCOPSS and NUT.

In his remark, the Permanent Secretary, Jibrin Saidu, who is the Chairman of the Committee promised that the committee would do a thorough job and would be fair and just in carrying out the task.

It would be recalled the that West African Examination Council (WAEC) de-recognized some schools for their involvement in aiding and abetting malpractice and blacklisted some supervisors in the conduct of WASSCE for 2024 School candidates in the state.

The U.S. Department of State has made updates to the Exchange Visitor Skills List, which will affect skilled workers participating in the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.

The changes, effective December 9th, 2024, are expected to provide new opportunities for skilled professionals who want to advance their careers while also contributing to their home countries.

These updates change how certain countries and fields are evaluated, potentially making it easier for some workers to meet the requirements for future U.S. visa applications.

According to the DAAD Scholarship, two key updates have been made to the Exchange Visitor Skills List. These changes introduce new economic criteria for determining which countries are prioritized, and they also offer more flexibility for workers hoping to achieve their career goals in the U.S.

Updated criteria for country designations
The U.S. has revised the criteria for determining which countries are included in the Exchange Visitor Skills List. The new evaluation process now considers three factors: economic development, availability of resources, and migration trends.

Countries with a per capita GDP below $7,500 are now given priority. These countries are seen as needing skilled workers to help improve their economies.

Smaller countries with a GDP between $7,500 and $15,000, but which still face development challenges, are also included. These nations need specialized skills to continue growing.

Additionally, countries that experience high levels of migration of skilled workers are now given more attention. This is intended to help these countries retain their talent and avoid “brain drain,” encouraging skilled workers to return home and contribute to their country’s development.

These changes mean that if a country’s economy or migration trends improve, its workers may no longer be required to return home for two years after completing a J-1 program. This removes the previous restriction, making it easier for skilled workers to pursue other U.S. visa opportunities without being required to leave the country for two years.

No changes in required skills
While the criteria for country designation have changed, the skills in demand on the Exchange Visitor Skills List remain the same. The list continues to prioritize fields such as:

Healthcare: Areas like medicine, nursing, public health, and clinical sciences remain important for addressing global health challenges.

Engineering: Fields such as civil, mechanical, environmental, and software engineering are crucial for infrastructure and technology development.

IT and Technology: Specializations in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, and database management are still in high demand.

Education: Roles in STEM education, curriculum design, and early childhood development continue to play a vital role in preparing future skilled professionals.

Creative Fields: Careers in graphic design, animation, visual arts, and performing arts contribute to cultural and economic growth.

These skills remain crucial, and workers specializing in these areas will continue to find opportunities to make a global impact. Professionals are encouraged to align their careers with these fields to maximize their potential and contribute to their home countries’ development.

What to know
If the economic conditions or migration trends in your country have improved, you may benefit from these updates. If your country no longer faces significant development challenges, you might not have to return home for two years after completing a J-1 program.

This opens up more possibilities for you to pursue additional U.S. opportunities, such as applying for an H-1B visa or permanent residency.

For those whose countries are still facing challenges, focusing on in-demand skills like healthcare, engineering, or IT can help you stand out in the global job market. Specializing in these fields will allow you to make the most of the J-1 program and contribute to your home country’s development.

The updates to the Exchange Visitor Skills List provide new opportunities for skilled workers, especially for those from countries with improving economic conditions or high migration rates.

Although the required skills remain the same, the changes could make it easier for skilled workers to continue their careers in the U.S. and contribute to global development goals.

For those in high-demand fields, these updates offer exciting possibilities for both career growth and international impact.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State on Media, Mr Nelson Egware, has been admitted into the Nigerian Institute of Social Media Analysts, NISMA, as Distinguished Fellow.

NISMA, a member of the International Association of Social Media Analysts, is the foremost professional body committed to advancing the standards and practice of Social Media in Nigeria, was established for the training, certification and ethical practice in Social Media Management.

The Institute plays a pivotal role in creating a structured approach to harnessing the power of Social Media while promoting professionalism, accountability and innovation.
Egware was inducted alongside other distinguished fellows at the 3rd induction/inaugural ceremony of new members of NISMA, held at the Nigeria Police School of Public Relations, Abuja, on Thursday.

The induction followed a two-day rigorous Mandatory Educational Training and Development (METAD) on Advanced Analytics of Social Media Platforms; Social Media Psychology and Consumer Behaviour; Content Development and Management; Fake News Identification and Management; AI in a Virtual Society; Practical Application of AI in Private and Public sectors; Fact Checking and Social Media Professional Ethics and Best Practice.

Keynote Speech at the ceremony with Theme: Navigating the Future: The Crucial Role of AI in the Virtual Society, was delivered by Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District in the Senate.

In his address, President of the Nigerian Institute of Social Media Analysts, DIG Frank Mba, represented by Provost of the Nigeria Police School of Public Relations, Retd CP Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu congratulated the inductees on their admission to the institute and urged them to champion and sustain ethical Social Media practice in line with the Institute’s corporate governance code.

Egware, is a seasoned accountant, banker, lecturer and journalist, he holds a Bachelors Degree in Accounting, Master in Banking and Finance, Master in Business Administration from the Delta State University Abraka and a Master of Science Degree in Accounting and currently pursuing a PhD in Accounting at the University of Benin.

He is a Fellow and Council Member of the Society For West African Internal Audit Practitioners, SWAIAP, Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (ICEN).

Egware also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the International Institute of Journalism, IIJ, in conjunction with the University of Maiduguri.

A Reuters and Meta certified digital journalist, Egware is a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and a certified fact-checker from the West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy, WABMA.

He is Publisher and Editor in Chief of Truth Reporters and a former Editor of the Veracity Magazine, a quarterly publication of the Delta State Ministry of Information and Deputy Editor of Delta Revealed, a weekly newspaper publication of the Delta State Government New Media Office.

Egware, a prolific Google scholar with over 15 academic scholarly articles has 21 citations with 2 in h-index and 1 in i10-index, with numerous feature articles published in National Newspapers and the Social Media.

Also inducted as Associate Members were Daniel Bayagbon and Christopher Odamah who are both Special Assistants to Governor Oborevwori on New Media.

Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has been granted bail by the Ekiti State High Court.

The court granted Farotimi bail in the sum of N50 million, with a surety of the same amount.

The court ruled that the surety must possess a landed property and adjourned the matter to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.

Farotimi was taken to court by Chief Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, after being arrested by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command.

Babalola, 95, accused Farotimi of defaming him in a book titled Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.

The arrest sparked outrage across the country, prompting civil society organizations and the Nigerian Bar Association to call for the activist’s release.

Dailypost

Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Friday, said his administration was taking advantage of the dry season to complete some of its ongoing projects across the state.

Governor Oborevwori disclosed this during an inspection of the Sector ‘A’ of the Ughelli-Asaba dualization project at Km 77 in Aradhe, Isoko North local government area of the state.
The Governor urged contractors to take advantage of the dry season to achieve some milestones on their projects.

He said, “First and foremost, we are not playing with the dry season that has started and we are urging all our contractors to utilise the dry season to deliver on their projects.
“For us, this dry season is all work and more work. We just finished Beneku bridge inspection and we are now here in Sector “A” of the Ughelli-Asaba road dualization project.
On the issue of the risk of vehicular accidents happening because of the smoothness of the road, Governor Oborevwori appealed to motorists to exercise caution and observe all traffic rules to safeguard their lives and vehicles.

The governor added, “The road is very smooth, and the people are happy accessing the road. We know that by the time they finish this 139-kilometer road, it will serve these towns and villages.
“So, we are very happy with the progress of work and the good news is that they promised to finish this road between now and April.”

Oborevwori said that many projects had been completed but yet to be commissioned, noting that the most important thing was that the people were now making use of the projects.

“There are many roads that have been completed, but we’re not commissioning them, yet they are already using them.

“Like the Adagbrasa Road has been completed. The Upper and Lower Erejuwa Road, have been completed and they are using them. So, at a convenient time for us, we’ll commission some of those projects.

“The total stretch of this road is 139km; so, it’s a huge project, in fact, one of the biggest projects that we have ever embarked on in this state.

“It’s a big project that serves different communities and different towns. It is the only gateway from Wari to Asaba; so, it’s very important to all of us.”

On the Beneku bridge linking Ndokwa West and Ndokwa East local government areas, Governor Oborevwori expressed displeasure with the finishing, describing the aesthetics as poor.

He pointed out, “The last time we came for inspection, some of the things we observed, been done. But I’m not satisfied with the work, because the finishing is very poor.

“We know the bridge is solid, but the aesthetics is really bad. The finishing is very bad. This is not the kind of work I really need.

“So, I have spoken to the commissioner and also the engineer. They should see what they can do to make all these corrections before we commission the project.

“I have given the contractor enough time. This is a project I was supposed to commission about two months ago. We have paid 95%; so, we are not owing them.

“As it is today, we are not owing the contractor. It is for the contractor to deliver on the 5% that is left which is very, very key.

“But I will not even say 5% because of the wearing course; what is left is 40% of the wearing course.

“The aesthetics is not good. So, giving them time is not the issue now and I believe that I need to talk with the contractor. I will send for the contractor to explain why the finishing is poor.

“The issue of the finishing is not good because this is a bridge we need to celebrate because this particular bridge is very dear to the people of this area.”

Oborevwori recalled, “Over the years, they used pontoon to cross trucks, other vehicles and the rest. In 2019, we passed through the pontoon, too. Today, I am happy that you can drive across which is the beauty of it.

“This bridge is of great economic importance to the people here; it is one big project that the people of this particular area appreciate so much.

“We know some people will not be happy for this particular bridge because they were getting money and extorting people but now there’s no more extortion.

“People can pass here freely, before now you see companies bringing materials here; whatever they charged was what you will pay but now who do you want to charge when there is a free road?

“It is a free road you don’t pay anything to pass this road; it’s free. So, it’s very important to them. They are already using the bridge just, that the aesthetics are not too okay but they will put some finishing touches to enable us commission the bridge.”

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Friday, distanced itself from those who endorsed the demand for the creation of Anioma State.

A faction of Ohanaeze had written to President Bola Tinubu endorsing the creation of Anioma State.

The advertorial in some national dailies was signed by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Professor Chubikeya Achokawa, Chief Alexander Chikalue Okemiri, Prince Eze Ozobu, Prof. Obasi Igwe, and Justice Alpha Ikpeama on behalf of Ndigbo.

However, Ohanaeze’s Secretary-General, Okey Emuchay, said it’s unthoughtful for a faction to endorse the creation of Anioma State when there are other demands like Aba, Adada, Etiti, Orashi, and Orlu states.

In a statement he signed, Emuchay said: “The attention of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to an advertorial in the Vanguard Newspaper of December 5, 2024, to the effect that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has endorsed the demand for the creation of Anioma State. The Open Letter to His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, purports that “the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, representing all the Igbo speaking peoples in the 13 states of the major and minor indigeneity in Nigeria, as well as the millions in the Diaspora, writes…”

“We are aware that the Igbo nation will surely be incensed and rattled by such an advertorial that did not pass through the Igbo cultural consensus.

“We have pleaded with the above characters that the Igbo problem is far beyond them. The egalitarian Igbo formed an Imeobi Ohanaeze and the Ohanaeze General Assembly, where the major issues affecting the Igbo are deliberated upon before arriving at a resolution.

“It must be clearly stated that we do not in any way begrudge the legitimate and inalienable right of the Anioma movement led by Sen. Ned Nwoko.

“We commend the courage and steadfastness of the Distinguished Senator Nwoko but a situation where we have other demands for state creation, such as Aba, Adada, Etiti, Orashi, Orlu states, etc; it is very unthoughtful, harebrained and a huge embarrassment to the Igbo nation for a few persons to use the hallowed name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to issue a far-reaching press release without adequate consultations with the Igbo stakeholder.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Imeobi Ohanaeze will soon be convened to constitute an electoral umpire for the January 2025 Ohanaeze election. During the meeting, Ohanaeze will review the state of affairs in Nigeria and other matters affecting the Igbo.

“Within the week, Ohanaeze had issued a statement to debunk a press release to the effect that Ohanaeze is in a deep crisis. In the release, we reiterated that the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is Ambassador Okey Emuchay, MFR and that any other press releases emanating from elsewhere should be taken for what it is.

“We once again plead with the above characters to desist from desecrating the sacredness of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization; reminding them that the Igbo all over the world owe a profound emotional attachment to Ohanaeze Ndigbo. For emphasis, Ohanaeze represents the soul, passion, history, culture, cosmology and politicality of the Igbo. Thus, it is inconceivable that any meaningful Igbo will become the willing tool for destabilizing the Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Once more, we urge all sons and daughters of the Igbo nation to remain calm.”