Headline

Obaseki Inaugurates 1000-member Parent’s Council

Published

1 year ago

June 12, 2024

Editor

… tasks parents, traditional rulers to insist on sustaining reforms

… Cardinal Onaiyekan commends Obaseki for creating new era of excellence in education

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has tasked parents and traditional rulers in communities across the State to get involved in ensuring gains recorded by his administration are sustained.

The governor gave the charge during the inauguration of a 1000-members Parents’ Council at the Parent’s Summit held as part of activities to mark the Education Week in Benin City, the State capital.

He said sustainability is only possible when the citizens insist that things should be done properly and done right.

In a keynote address, titled: “Parents, School and Education”, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan commended Governor Obaseki for creating a new era of excellence in education in the State and for inaugurating the Parent’s Council.

Obaseki who said Edo children are the future of Nigeria, noted: “Our children are our greatest assets. Human capital development begins with them as they are the future of Edo State and Nigeria. That is why it is very important that we spare no resources in building critical institutions and structures to ensure that systems required are put in place to secure a better future for them.”

He said, “This Parents’ Summit is important and can’t be over emphasized because the actions, decisions and choices which we make today will greatly impact the lives and shape the future of our children.

“This gathering will provide a perfect umbrella for bringing parents, guardians, educators, policy makers, leaders and other stakeholders in the education ecosystem together to discuss various challenges and opportunities related to parenting and the development of our children not only for today but also in the future.”

Obaseki continued: “When we began the reforms in education, we knew the challenges were enormous. We decided to start with the foundation – the basic education level. As we thought through the reform process, we looked at five pillars. The most important element in the reform process are the teachers. We had to focus on them and make sure teachers are supported and encouraged to teach the child properly so that they can learn.

“One key pillar we introduced is the communities in the governance of our school system. That pillar led to setting up of the school-based management committee, the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), alumni association for various schools as well as the Parents’ Summit, which is holding today.

“As a government, we have moved from a situation where the government feels arrogantly that it knows everything and owns everything to a situation where we know that our citizens know more than us. That is why we rely on our people to make the decisions we have implemented.

“The input of the community is key in terms of the educational outcomes we seek for our children. Education is not only a responsibility of the government but a shared responsibility. Parents have a larger share of that responsibility.”

Obaseki further stated, “In the last few years, one thing stands out for us in Edo State, which is the Edo Basic Education Section Transformation (EdoBEST) programme. Edo is now the best in Nigeria. For Edo to become the best, we must focus on the next generation. We must move from schooling to learning.

“We have over 400,000 children in our basic school system learning today. They are going to be our stars tomorrow and form the bulk of human capital for Nigeria. This has been made possible because of the cooperation of communities and parents.

“Sustaining the progress of eight years is possible if only parents and traditional rulers in our communities get involved. Sustainability is only possible when the citizens insist that things should be done properly and done right.

“For sustainability of what we have created, we want to establish the right structures. That’s why I am here today to formally inaugurate the Parents’ Councils of schools in Edo State to further emphasize the role of parents and parents’ participation in our educational system.”

He added, “I congratulate the 1,000 parents who are representatives of the Parents’ Council. As we inaugurate this Parents’ Council today, I believe these parents will lead and advocate for quality education and should be champions of their welfare and ambassadors of good parenting.”

On his part, Cardinal John Onaiyekan noted that governor Obaseki has been able to raise the standard of public schools in the State to compete with private schools, saying that achievement is good news for all.

Onaiyekan noted, “Every Nigerian child’s education deserves to be funded by the State. There should be a forum where leaders and education stakeholders will gather to discuss the funding of Nigeria’s educational system. I congratulate Edo State Governor for his contributions to improve education in the State.”

In her welcome address, a primary 3 pupil of Obaseki Primary School, Osaigbovo Melody, thanked the governor for the reforms in the education sector, noting that the EdoBEST Programme has improved the learning and reading ability of Edo children.

Headline

Most Followed Tiktoker Khaby Lame Deported From US Over Visa Violation

Published

2 days ago

June 12, 2025

Editor

Italian-Senegalese social media sensation, Khaby Lame, known as the world’s most followed TikTok creator, has been deported from the United States after allegedly overstaying his visa, The New York Times reported.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that Lame, 25, was detained last Friday at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

The agency confirmed the detention in an official statement, stating that Lame entered the country on April 30 but “overstayed the terms of his visa.”

Lame, who rose to international fame for his silent comedic reactions to overcomplicated “life hack” videos, has amassed over 160 million followers on TikTok.

His online popularity led to collaborations with global fashion brands, a role in a Hollywood film, and a reality show on Tubi titled Khaby Is Coming To America.

His deportation has sparked a storm of reactions online.

“Every single illegal alien needs to be DEPORTED. When I found out the biggest TikTok star, Khaby Lame, is an illegal alien evading taxes, I worked with Trump’s ICE to have him removed. He’s since been detained by ICE and removed,” Bo Loudon, a Gen Z Trump supporter and self-styled activist, wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Following his deportation, Lame has not issued any formal statement. However, on Monday, he posted an Instagram story tagged in São Paulo, Brazil, marking his first confirmed location since leaving the US

Lame’s former legal representative, Riccardo Lanzo, told The New York Times that the influencer had spent significant time in the US recently but acknowledged uncertainty regarding his visa status.

The case came amid a broader immigration enforcement push under Trump’s renewed administration.
APF

Headline

Trump Unveils Website For $5m US Residency Visa

Published

2 days ago

June 12, 2025

Editor

President Donald Trump touted a new website for his planned $5 million US residency permit on Wednesday, saying the waiting list for the golden visa has opened on TrumpCard.gov.

“Thousands have been calling and asking how they can sign up to ride a beautiful road in gaining access to the Greatest Country and Market anywhere in the World,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

Trump unveiled the first such visa aboard Air Force One in April, holding a golden prototype that bore his face and promising the special permit would probably be available “in less than two weeks.”

The visas are not available yet, but the website announced Wednesday allows interested parties to submit their name, desired visa and email address under a header that says “The Trump Card is Coming.”

Trump previously said the new visa, a high-price version of the traditional green card, would bring in job creators and could be used to reduce the US national deficit.

The announcement comes as deportation raids are being ramped up across the country, prompting protests, and as Trump’s administration faces ongoing lawsuits and accusations of rights violations over its anti-immigration blitz.

Trump has said the new card would be a route to highly prized US citizenship. He said in February that his administration hoped to sell “maybe a million” of the cards and did not rule out that Russian oligarchs may be eligible.

AFP

Headline

19-year-old Nigerian Artiste Beaten To Death In Ghana

Published

3 days ago

June 11, 2025

Editor

A 19-year-old upcoming Nigerian artiste identified simply as Destiny has been beaten to death in the Volta Region area of Ghana.

According to The PUNCH, the incident happened on May 28.

It was gathered that a yet-to-be-identified Nigerian based in Ghana accused him of failing to remit funds related to a business venture they introduced him to.

The male adult, who was also said to be among those who facilitated his trip to the country, stormed his apartment alongside two others to question him about the funds.

However, Destiny’s failure to provide answers led to a severe assault meted out to him.

A source privy to the incident told The PUNCH on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity because he lacked the authority to speak with the media that the Edo State-born artiste thereafter succumbed to the injuries sustained from the assault.

“Destiny went to Ghana to further his education, and the travel was facilitated by someone he called his street brother. These are the same people who provided an apartment for him over there. Those who broke the news to us from there said the men introduced him to a business, which they later accused him of diverting some funds meant for the business. This angered them, and they went to his apartment and beat him up. The beating was so intense that he felt weak and gave up the ghost in the process,” the source narrated.

It was further learnt that the suspects left the deceased’s body in the room after they discovered that he was motionless.

Another source who spoke to newsmen said the police later discovered the corpse a few days after the incident.

“The police were alerted to the incident, and some officers were deployed to the apartment where Destiny’s remains were found. We were told that no suspects had been arrested since his death. We hope the Ghanaian authorities find his killers and bring them to justice.”

In a video obtained by The PUNCH, Destiny was seen speaking about himself and what his plans were.

He said, “I am Destiny and I am a streamer from Nigeria. I want to apply to Streamers University, and this will be a great joy for me, my mother, and everybody. I am also an artiste and a gamer. I do all sorts of things.”

Recall that in April a 77-year-old Nigerian Uber driver, Olatunji Bolaji, was killed in a shooting outside a hookah lounge in Philadelphia, United States.

Bolaji, who lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania, was on duty around 2 a.m. on Wednesday when he picked up a passenger, a 22-year-old man, outside the Byblos Hookah Bar near Rittenhouse Square in Centre City, CBS reports on Friday.

Police said shortly after Bolaji picked up the young man, another vehicle pulled up behind his SUV, and two men got out.

One of them opened fire, shooting both Bolaji and the passenger.