Education

European – American University confers award of professorship on Dr. Aliyu Idris

Published

1 month ago

November 10, 2024

…. Appointed as an Ambassador of peace by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).

The European – American University, Common Wealth of Domican Republic of Panama, has confered the special assistant on technical matters to the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Dr. Aliyu Idris, with the award of professorship in Financial Management.

The occasion, which took place on Saturday, 9th November 2024, at the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Embassy. Wuse 2 Abuja also marked his induction as an ambassador for peace by the organisation

The Chairman of the occasion, Professor Paul Baro, who is also a retired general of the Nigerian army, congratulated all the awardees and encouraged them to continue their selfless service to humanity. He described a typical Nigerian as a person who is selfless and dedicated to the wellbeing of his neighbour while recalling the remarkable role that Nigeria played to gain independence for several African nations as well as to restore peace in many others. He therefore urged Nigerians to take pride in their nation.

In his welcome address, the northern representative of the university, Dr. Musari Audu Isyaka disclosed that the conferment was due to the exemplary achievements, dedication, commitment to excellence in his field and outstanding contribution to the development of countless individuals by the recipient.

Also speaking, the president of UPF Rev Imo Nkanta who was assisted by his wife Mrs. Juliet Nkanta to present the Certificate of the award of an Ambassador for peace by the Universal Peace Federation to Professor Aliyu Idris extolled his sterling qualities .

The Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission Dr. Muhammad Bello Shehu OFR, who was represented by the member representing Kebbi State in the Commission, Hon. Barr. Rakiya Tanko Haruna expressed joy over the awards of recognition given to Dr. Idris Aliyu.

She said, ” The feeling is quite incredible. He is an exemplary Staff. Dr, Aliyu Idris, being confered with a professorship award in Financial Management, demonstrates the quality of staff that we have in the Commission.” I have watched him work on several occasions, he delivers, so I’m really happy and I think he deserves these professorship and Ambassador of peace awards.” She added.

In his paper presentation on Fiscal Management and National Development, Professor Idris talked about the Nigerian economy in comparison to the economies of other emerging nations in Africa and advanced countries.

The paper focused on domestic revenue mobilisation, equitable allocation of resources, debt management and control, public spending and national development. The paper also discussed how revenue can be pooled together into the federation account, equitably allocated to the three tiers of government and distributed to the various sectors of the economy for national development.

Professor Idris noted the improvement in the non oil sector from taxes, though , not yet there, but advised for the fiscal framework to create more incentives to bring informal sector to the tax net. Prof. Idris attributed the poor contribution of solid minerals revenue to lack of proper fiscal framework in the sector and poor investment. He observed that the contribution of solid minerals to the national coffers in spite of its abundance in the country is absymaly low compared to other African countries. He therefore advised the Nigeria government to take the fiscal framework in this sector very seriously and create funding for exploration and ready data for acquisition to attract foreign investors to the sector.

The Professor emphasised the need to harness its potentials to get Nigeria out of low revenue crises.He also identified low revenue from the oil sector to the Federation account in post PIA implementation and advised the National Assembly to revisit the fiscal framework in the PIA for improvement. Prof. Idris cited the low production in Nigeria oil sector compared to other oil producing countries as one of the major challenges accountable for the low revenue contributions to the Federation Account

He pointed out other challenges facing the oil sector of the economy to include insecurity, corruption, and high operational cost .

He supported the decision of the Federal government on harmonization of revenue collection and called for the need to properly fund the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission ( RMAFC) so as to enable it mobilise revenue and monitori it efficiently. On National Development, Prof. Idris advised the government to amend the constitution to ensure that the responsibility of the Federal Government on Agriculture is given to the Local Government under Residual legislative list where farming is taking place and create the database for the farmers at the local government level for proper utilisation of the resources and intervention to enable the country boast of food security while the Federal Government could retain only the regulatory roles.

Professor Aliyu Idris was born on the 25th of July 1980 at Odu – Ogboyaga, Dekina local government of Kogi State.

He attended LGEA Primary School Odu Ogboyaga from 1983 to 1988. He graduated from Ikanni Ebo Memorial College in 1998

Between the years 2000 and 2004, professor Idris attended the University of Maiduguri, where he graduated with a B.Sc degree in Accounting and Finance. Later in the year 2014 he earned a M.Sc degree in Accounting and Finance from Nassarawa State University, and in the year 2018, he obtained a Ph. D in Accounting and Finance from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Professor Idris started his career with the defunct Oceanic bank, where he served in various capacities. He later joined the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission. He currently serves as the special assistant on technical matters to the Chairman of the Commission.

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Education

Educationist call for integration of STEAM into primary, secondary school

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

The Gleamer

Mariam Sanni

A team of academics overseeing implementation of the Science, Technology Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, STEAM, initiative has called for the integration of the scheme into pre-primary, primary and secondary schools to enhance growth in technological advancement.

Speaking at the presentation of the STEAM project report in Abuja, the Chairman of the Implementation Team, Prof Emeritas Nwaorgu, said addressing hindrances to the STEAM project was critical for Nigeria’s competitiveness in science and technology-driven world.

Nwaorgu expressed confidence that STEAM would promote interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, problem-solving and hands on activities, adding that integration of STEAM in schools across the country would also improve the performance of candidates in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

She however lamented that despite the benefits of STEAM education, in Nigeria the project lacks the necessary priorities and support for its full implementation.

She stressed Nigeria’s need for the STEAM initiative to imbue students with the ability for critical thinking, at a very young age.

“When you introduce design into learning, programme it makes it better and you can start teaching children at a younger age, moulding them to have critical minds at a younger age,” she said.

Nwaorgu disclosed that the project, which was piloted in the 6 states of Adamawa, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Rivers and Sokoto; had 222 teachers selected by the Ministry of Education for interaction with the implementation team.

She added that already the scheme, which started in 2023, is being implemented by some private schools while public schools were yet to adopt the initiative.

She disclosed that the Nigerian Academy of Science, The Nigerian Academy of Letters and the Nigerian Young Academy are working with the implementation team for the objective of implementing locally appropriate STEAM education policies into the curriculum of schools, strengthening the capacity of teachers and creating awareness in the schools.

Nwaorgu said one of the achievements recorded so far by the project was its inclusion in the 2024 education roadmap of the federal government, and a draft policy document for STEAM in Nigeria.

She recommended the replication of the STEAM educational activities in the 30 remaining states of the federation, noting that the team expects improvement in UTME performance in the 6 pilot states of the STEAM project.

Earlier, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, who was represented by JAMB’s Director of Finance and Accounts, Mufutau Bello, stated that the project should be the beginning of collaboration with various academies in Nigeria.

Oloyede expressed hope that soon, the team would leverage the many opportunities available in research to impact the education sector positively.

Also speaking, the representative of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Prof Salihu Mustapha, said there was increased awareness amongst schools on the STEAM education because of the activities of the team.

Mustapha assured that the academy will see to the full implementation of the project, while expressing hope that given its importance, the project should be implemented in all states of the federation.

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