BRIEFSGOVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State may have approved 60 out of 106 autonomous communities earlier suspended by his regime when it came on board this year.He had asked his Special Adviser on Legal Matters, Prof. Francis Dike, to review the staff of office offered to the 106 monarchs by his immediate predecessor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, just before he left office.On assuming office, Okorocha suspended the approvals and set up mechanism to review them.The Guardian gathered at the weekend in Owerri that the panel was still reviewing the status of about 45 more autonomous communities.Mushin PDP Members ProtestAgainst LeaderMEMBERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Mushin Local Government , Lagos yesterday marched to the Victoria Island office of the party's former Vice Chairman in the South West, Chief Bode George to protest against the alleged poor handling of the party's affairs in the council under the leadership of the incumbent Chairman, Hon. Taiwo Kuye, saying they want him to be check mated.Addressing the aggrieved crowd, Chief George assured them that the party will be handed over to a good manager in the coming congress, stressing that there won't be imposition of any sort against the peoples wishes. He added that the congress will be one that will be based on the will of the people.'The future of the state is in our hands and we must not fold our hands and watch the future of Lagos State lie in the wrong hands,' he said.The immediate past contestant for the House of Representatives in Mushin Constituency II, Hon. Oluremi Adeyelu who spoke on behalf of the protesters, said they are not trying to force the chairman out but rather want him to perform better and carry them along.Akunyili, Olusola, OthersExtol IbekweERSTWHILE Minister of Information and Communication, Professor Dora Akunyili, Ambassador Olushola Olusegun, Professor Benjamin Osisioma and others, graced the launch of the biography of pioneer Registrar and Chief Executive, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Sir Peter Ibekwe titled, 'The Visionary Bridge Builder' and written by Eugenia Irobiegbulam.Prof. Dora Akunyili said the theme reflects the life, beliefs and activities of Sir Ibekwe, adding that those who are privileged to know or work closely with him would agree that he is a visionary leader.As the pioneer Registrar and Chief Executive of ANAN, Akunyili disclosed that Sir Ibekwe did not feel overwhelmed by the challenges of building ANAN to become an acceptable accounting regulatory body in Nigeria despite the existence of an older accountancy body in the country.'He had a clear vision of where he wanted to take ANAN and he worked very hard to achieve that during his tenure to the extent that it is now said that the history of the accountancy profession in Nigeria will be incomplete without the him,' she said.Jukun Association's Awards Hold TodayTHE End of the Year Party and Award Ceremony of Jukun Development Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, will hold today with the theme, 'Mobilising for Socio-Economic Development of Jukun Land.'The event will hold at the Air Force Officers Mess, 1, Kofo Abayomi Street, Off Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos at 12.30pm.According to a statement signed by the Chairman, Media/Publicity Committee, Mr. Gabriel Usman Danjuma, the event, which will be used to recognise and reward deserving sons and daughters of Jukunland, will be chaired by the Minister of State for Power, Architect Darius Ishaku while the Governor of Taraba State, Pharm. Danbaba Suntai and Senate President David Mark will be Special Guests of Honour.Also expected at the event are Gen. T. Y. Danjuma and the Aku-Uka of Wukari and traditional leader of Jukun Kingdom, Dr. Shekarau Angyu Masa-Ibi who will serve as father of the day and royal father of the day, respectively.ECWA Holds Glory Concert TomorrowThe Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA's) Glory Musical Concert/ Convention 2011, titled: We Are God's Workmanship' holds tomorrow at 371 Agege Motor Road (Challenge Compound) Mushin, Lagos. Guest Speaker is Rev. Folaranmi, Minister of 1st ECWA Church Igbaja, Kwara State. Host Rev, Dr. JB Odofin, Chairman, Mushin District Church Council (MDCC) in Lagos West Senatorial District.UMCOBA Marks Founder's DayOLD boys of the Methodist College, Uzuakoli, will from Friday, November 25 to Sunday, November 27 mark its founder's day. Lectures and merit awards hold on Saturday while a thanksgiving service holds at the college chapel on Sunday, followed by election into a new national executive council of the association. The Lagos branch of UMCOBA holds a special rededication and thanksgiving at the Methodist Cathedral, Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos tomorrow.IOD Tasks UK On Nigeria's DevelopmentINSTITUTE of Directors (IOD), Nigeria hascalled on the British governmentto play a key role in Nigeria for the country to attain her set goals in the year 2020 since Nigerians see Britain as asecond home.Past President of IOD, Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere madethis call whilewelcoming the British High Commissionerto Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Lloyd at the Civic Centre, Lagos during a breakfast seminar.On her part, IOD's first Vice President, Mrs. Eniola Fadayomirepresented by the Institute's President, Arc. Chuckwuemeka Awagu suggested that since Britain is an old ally, she should boost here in Nigeria instead of Nigerians struggling to go abroad to acquire education.Responding, Mr. Lloyd said Britain would always improve the Nigerian economy since both countries have shared language and history. He emphasised that Nigeria is blessed with different resources including human resource and is the most populous country in Africa.ECOBA Meets TomorrowEDO College Old Boys Association (ECOBA), Lagos Branch, will hold her bi-monthly meeting tomorrow at the Mr. Chang Restaurant, 126 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, opposite Mobil petrol station at 3pm.According to the Association's Secretary, Soji Omole, the meeting to be presided over by the association's Chairman, Air Vice Marshal Joe Ehigie (rtd), is to be hosted by Class of 1983, amongst whom are Theo Amadi, Solo Olotu, Ebiye Ebimami, Obia Uzorka, Mathew Origbo, Isichei Osamgbi, Charles Igbinidu, Adegboyega Jamgbadi, Chuks Ugha, Aminu Momodu, Emmanuel Aziken, Napoleon Agbelogode, Philip Ikpo and Ik Okungbowa. Matters on the agenda include, scholarships, annual dinner and school projects.Fayemi Begins Tour Of CouncilsAS part of his efforts at deepening citizens participation in governance, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, is embarking on Town Hall Meetings in all the 16 councils of the state from Monday, November 21.The visit, which will be interactive, is aimed, among others, at collating inputs from the respective councils on their priority needs towards 2012 budget formulation.The visit would also provide the people the opportunity and platform of speaking on other issues agitating their minds.According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, other highlights of the tour include question and answer sessions and critical evaluation of some policies.The governor, who is billed to be in Efon and Ekiti West on Monday, would round off the tour on December 1 with visits to Ikere and Ado councils.Experts Seek Qualified Teachers In SchoolsA THREE-DAY workshop organized by the Federal Ministry of Education on item writing for junior secondary school teachers nationwide has ended in Minna, the Niger State capital, with a call on governments at all levels to ensure that only qualified teachers are recruited to teach in schools.In a communiqu issued at the end of the workshop, the participants unanimously agreed that the mass failure of students in both NECO and WASC in recent times could easily be traced to poor teaching caused by the engagement of unqualified teachers.The communiqu observed that majority of teachers in public schools across the country do not possess the relevant competencies necessary for the implementation of continuous assessment, competence needed in writing objective, reliable and standardized test item.The communiqu signed by a 13-member communiqu drafting committee chaired by Prof. Lawal Adetula of the National Mathematical Centre, Abuja said: 'Most teachers in our schools are not grounded in the principles of test construction and a lot of teachers have poor knowledge of scoring and interpretation of test score and weak knowledge of last scores,' he said.
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