News

World Teachers’ Day: NTI Introduces One-year Mandatory Teacher Intern Programme – DG Teachers

Published

3 years ago

October 5, 2023

Editor

Prof. Musa Maitafsir, the Director General of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI)Kaduna, says it plans to introduce a mandatory one-year Teacher Internship Programme by January 2024.

Maitafsir disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja when he addressed newsmen to mark the 2023 World Teachers’ Day.

The News of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the day has as its theme ‘ The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage ‘.

NAN also reports that held annually on October 5 since 1994, the day is observed to commemorate the adoption of 1996 ILO/UNESCO recommendation concerning the status of teachers.

The day also focuses on the rights, responsibilities and standards of teachers’ initial preparation and further education, recruitment and employment.

Expatiating on the planned internship programme, the director general said that it would be introduced in partnership with the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

He further stated that the programme was initiated in compliance with Section ‘C’ sub-section (1), page 21 of the National Teacher Education Policy (NTEP) (2014).

It states: “After graduation from any Teacher Education Programmes, every new teacher shall be registered by the TRCN after at least one year of successful Internship and Mentoring to qualify for licence.”

Maitafsir said that the internship was a mandatory programme that is expected to last for one year for the holders of NCE, B.ed, PGDE, M.ed and PhD in the education sector.

He added: “The duration of one year is similar to Internship Programmes of other professions like Law and Medicine.

“This will be operated in two diets, March and November of each year before or after the commencement of NYSC by those with Degree Certificates.”

Maitafsir, however, said that the programme would only be applicable to would-be teachers and not to those that have already been inducted by TRCN and given its certificate.

He said that the programme would acquaint the ‘ Trainee-Teachers ‘ with the practical knowledge of trashing and the learning process.

“They include e-facilitation and teacher integration in teaching skills, psycho–principles of commitment of teaching and delivery and retention techniques.

“Others are aesthetics and conventional wrong skills, entrepreneurship education skills and monthly teachers’ acculturation lectures.”

According to the director general, on the success of the programme, the trainees will be awarded a ‘Teacher Internship Certificate’ that will qualify them for TRCN ‘Induction and Certification’.

Maitafsir said that all the interns would pay an application fee of N7,000 and an internship fee of N50,000.

He added that the programme would be run at the Institute’s headquarters in Kaduna and the six geopolitical zones in the country.

Maitafsir further stated that the programme would go a long way in advancing teaching and learning in Nigeria.

He added: “It will certainly help in producing highly motivated, efficient and effective teachers for our schools.

“FME, NTI, TRCN and all other relevant stakeholders should have their hands on deck to ensure successful implementation of the programme as enshrined in NTEP.

“The teaching profession in Nigeria had over the years been intruded on by unqualified individuals making it an all-comers job and just a stepping stone to other jobs.

“There is the need to ensure that only qualified individuals are engaged as teachers to teach in schools.”

According to Maitafsir, for teaching to be fully professionalised in Nigeria, there is a need for such a compulsory internship programme for the teachers.

He explained: “The programme will ensure that only individuals that have passed through it would be licenced and called ‘Teachers’ and then be allowed to practice the profession.”

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.