It started as a round table discussion last Monday but it soon became a peaceful protest with many of those present brandishing placards and singing solidarity songs to express their grievances and press home their demand.

The reading habit of Nigerians came under scrutiny as most of them don’t read to acquire knowledge but only to pass examinations.

There are indications that the federal government has mapped out a programme to create more jobs in the informal sector anytime from now. Labour minister, Alhaji Ibrahim Kazaure has spoken of government’s determination to tackle youth employment.

The Nigeria Industrial Relations Association ( NIRA) is to host the 6th African Regional Congress of Industrial Relations in Lagos , January 24- 28, 2011. The International Industrial Relations Association based in Geneva, confirmed Nigeria’s hosting in Geneva.

The Police at the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Adeniji-Adele, Lagos recorded a breakthrough last Monday when it intercepted a truck loaded with large cache of ammunition. Three suspected notorious illegal arms dealers were also arrested with the truck at Shaki-Oke-Ogun border in Oyo State while they were trying to smuggle the truck into the country. At the end of the operation, 97,250 rounds of 12 mm live cartridges and a barretta pistol were recovered from the truck.

Ten resource centres for the use of public schools in Akwa Ibom State have been put in place by MultiChoice, bringing the total number of beneficiary schools in 19 States of the federation to 161.

The launch of the fourth edition of the inspirational yearbook otherwise known as “We Are the Future of Our Nation” which took place yesterday in Lagos had in attendance about 1,200 graduating secondary school students.

The Administrator of Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School, Idimu, Rev Fr. Emmanuel Ugwejeh has called on governments to do everything in their capacity to hand over public schools back to mission, adding that the academic and moral decadence prevalent in the educational sector started when schools were taken over by governments.

There are a number of challenges; but the most important ones have to do with the issue of dilapidated structures that this administration inherited. The structures were in very bad shape and were not conducive for quality learning to take place. We also have the problem of congestion as you find about 60 pupils in a class in some schools and sometimes, you find up to 80 in a class in other schools.

A new initiative that offers parents simple approach for sponsoring their children’s education as well as creating a solid financial foundation that will guarantee the future of the beneficiaries has been unveiled. Called Meristem Child Education Guaranteed Plan (MCGEP), it is a long-term savings and investment portfolio where the child’s education is sponsored with the investment.