Education

Intelsat and MaxIQ Launch Second Year of STEM Learning for African Students

Published

3 years ago

February 22, 2022

Intelsat is bringing the love of space to teenagers across the African continent as it welcome 30 new students to the second year of our MaxIQ Space (formerly Xinabox) Space STEM (space, technology, engineering and math) program.

The popular and intensive program culminates in students designing, building and launching satellites into space. This unique opportunity is entirely virtual, with each student receiving a STEM kit and engaging in virtual workshops delivered by space education specialists.

In the second year, Intelsat expanded the program to include 30 students from all over the continent including South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria, Egypt and Uganda.

Mission 1 of the program begins once students receive their modular electronics Space STEM kits.

Students will then be guided via virtual STEM teachers through 10 workshops spanning four months.

“We are proud to renew and grow our partnership with MaxIQ Space in Africa and build the pipeline of the next generation of satellite engineers,” said Hans Geldenhuys, Director, Sales-Africa, Intelsat. “Sparking that tech interest at such a young age inspires future leaders who will soon lead the way with advancements we never dreamed possible.”

During last year’s mission, students used the MaxIQ modular electronics space STEM kits and educational programs to design and build satellites that could feasibly launch into space. In the final project, students used their satellites to monitor the sustainability of the planet, following U.N Sustainable Development Goals. Participants learned about climate monitoring, as well as transportation and methane pollution.

Last year’s finalists received prizes and certificates of appreciation.

Most of the participants were high school seniors and used this opportunity to help launch their educational careers in STEM-related fields.

To learn more about Intelsat’s commitment to STEM education and supporting the next generation of STEM professionals, visit www.intelsat.com/about-us/corporate-responsibility/.

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Strike Action to Linger Till May – ASUU

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Education

ECOWAS Donates $380 Million to Electrify Public Schools and Health Centres Across 18 African Countries

Published

6 days ago

September 27, 2024

Bassey Marshall

The Economic Community of West African States Commission (ECOWAS) has announced a donation of $380 million for public schools and health centres in 18 African countries.

The donation was announced by the Senior Adviser on the Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project at the ECOWAS Commission, El hadji Sylla, during a stakeholders meeting in Abuja.

According to Sylla, with the move, the ECOWAS aims to promote a new innovative chain to electrify public schools.

Sylla, who stated the goals of the initiative funded by the World Bank, the Clean Technology Fund, and the Dutch government, revealed that the project will kick off from Nigeria and Benin.

He noted that the project covers 15 countries in the ECOWAS region.

According to Sylla “The cost of the project is $380m, and we want to promote a new innovative chain to electrify public institutions. Our target is to electrify schools and health centres to improve service delivery.

“We are piloting the project in Nigeria and the Benin Republic. The project covers 15 countries in the ECOWAS region and four countries in the Sahel region,” Sylla said.

“We are targeting schools and health centres to improve service delivery,” Sylla said, adding that the project is expected to be completed in five years across all participating countries, with the pilot phase in Nigeria and Benin to be executed within 18 months.

In Nigeria, the initiative will begin with electrification projects in selected schools and health centres in the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, and Nasarawa states,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who was represented at the meeting by Bem Ayangeaor, noted that electrification in Nigeria has seen significant growth.

He, however, attributed the growth to the grants and subsidies flowing into the sector.

“I do not doubt that the rural electrification space in Nigeria, thanks to grants and subsidies, has grown significantly and will soon reach a stage where public support leverages private sector financing at higher efficiencies than it is presently done.

“A stage where the private sector would be more excited in investing in the electrification space because of the benefits to be gained,” Adelabu said.

Education

Federal Government Approves 133% Allowance Boost for NYSC Members, Now ₦77,000

Published

1 week ago

September 26, 2024

Bassey Marshall

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced an increase in the monthly allowance of corps members in Nigeria.

The news was announced on Wednesday by the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Yusha’u Ahmed through the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations of the NYSC, Caroline Embu, following the federal government’s approval.

In a statement sighted by Investors King, the NYSC revealed that the monthly allowance of corps members has been increased to ₦77,000 after the recent increase in the national minimum wage.

This represents a 133.33 percent increase from the ₦33,000 previous monthly allowance.

According to Embu, the increase was in line with the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024 by the President Bola Tinubu-led government.

The service expects the increase to boost the morale of corps members and motivate them as they serve their motherland.

As detailed in the statement, the new allowance will take effect from July 2024.

The statement reads, “The Federal Government has approved the increase of corps members’ monthly allowance to N77,000 with effect from July 2024.

“This is in line with the enactment of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024.

This was contained in a letter from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, dated 25th September 2024 and signed by the Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta”.

“Before this, the Director General, NYSC Brigadier General YD Ahmed, had paid an advocacy visit to the Chairman in which he solicited for a robust welfare package for corps members.

“The NYSC boss is thankful to the Federal Government for the timely gesture and is optimistic that it will not only bring much-needed succour to the corps members but also boost their morale and motivate them to do even more, in their service to the nation.”

Education

15 Years on, FG Yet to Meet ASUU Demands as Union Plans Showdown

Published

1 week ago

September 25, 2024

Ugwoke Ogbodo

After about fifteen years of meeting deadlocks in its negotiations with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared its readiness to down tools.

The Union has, however, issued a 14-day warning ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve some lingering issues dating as far back as 2009, or the union will embark on a fresh strike that would paralyze the nation’s university education sector.

The president of ASUU, Emmanuel Osodeke, disclosed that the lecturers union is seeking the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021.

In a statement he issued on Wednesday, Osodeke explained that the union had given the Nigerian government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, September 23, 2024, during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the union.

He said the union should not be held responsible for any industrial disharmony and university education delay that arise from the government’s failure to seize the new opportunity offered by ASUU to resolve the agelong crisis.

The ASUU president said the union is also demanding the release of withheld salaries due to the 2022 strike action, and expressed frustration with the government’s lack of commitment and delay tactics.

According to him, the union is also demanding the release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and the payment of outstanding third-party deductions such as check-off dues and cooperative contributions.

ASUU president pointed out that agitation for funding to revitalise public universities which is partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget, adding that the payment of Earned Academic Allowances is also partly captured in the 2023 federal government budget.

While identifying proliferation of universities by federal and state governments, the implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, the reversal of the illegal dissolution of governing councils, and the adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a replacement for IPPIS as other demands of the union, Osodeke asked the Federal Government to be serious and sincere in its dealings with the union moving forward.