The Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas has commended the management of the National Youth Service Corps( NYSC) for their dedication and commitment to the realization of the objectives of the scheme in the state. 

Dr. Kefas made this known when he presided over the Closing ceremony of the 2023 Batch C Stream 1 orientation course for the Corps Members deployed to the state, held at the permanent orientation course, Sibre.

He also used the medium to implore the members, particularly those who will be posted to the private and public schools in the state to make painstaking efforts and avail themselves of their attained academic qualifications and the training garnered from the orientation course to impact and mentor the students in those schools.

While appreciating the Corps Members for their excellent performance, during the orientation course, the Governor further stated that this shows glaringly that there is a renewed hope that the Nation will be one, united, and developed.

The State Chief Executive further tasked the members to see their training as one of the ways of repositioning themselves as future leaders of the Nation, urging them to always remain law-abiding, committed, focused, dedicated, and set to contribute to the development of the state.

Earlier in an address,  the NYSC State Coordinator, Mr. Anthony M. Nzoka expressed his gratitude to the Governor for his invaluable support and assistance to the scheme.

He used the opportunity to reassure the Special Guest of Honour of the scheme’s readiness to partner with the state government to deliver the dividends of democracy at all times.

In attendance include the Deputy Governor of the State, Alhaji Aminu Abdulahi Alkali, and the Secretary to the Government of the State, Barr. G. T. Kataps, the Hon. Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Amb. Joshua Joseph, other members of the state executive council amongst others.

Mr Abdullahi Idris, Climate Change Education teacher, Government Junior Secondary School, Sakwa in Zaki Local Government Area of Bauchi state, says that the climate change education introduced by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was averting future dangers in the state.

He stated this in an interview with newsmen when a team from UNICEF Bauchi Field Office visited the school to assess the impact of the incorporation of climate change education into the school curriculum as part of activities to commemorate the 2023 World Children’s Day.

According to him, teaching students about climate change at the junior level would not only avert several imminent dangers in the future, but also broaden the pupils’ knowledge about climate change and how to protect the environment against its adversities.

“UNICEF trained us on climate change last year, provided teaching materials and we are teaching our students the subjects.

“Not only that, we have about 100 pupils in our Nature Club who have projects they carry out.

“Each member of the club has at least one tree he is nurturing and watering daily.

They now preach afforestation against deforestation in our little community and they learn about waste recycling and erosion control and many other things,” he said.

Idris also stated that had embarked on massive tree planting in not only the school premises but in their various places of residence.

One of the students, Hafsat Sanda, said she had been effectively taught about climate change as well as waste recycling.

She said “after drinking coca-cola, people throw away the bottle, others will pick, wash and put zobo drink inside.

“Likewise sachet water bags, the polythene bags are used to make pillows, and cartons are used in making mosquito repellent and ceiling boards.

“Also if the latrine is full, the waste can be packed and used on the farm as manure. These are few of what we have learned from the climate change subject,” she said.

UNICEF also organised an inter-school quiz competition on climate change to commemorate the world children’s day in Azare, the Headquarters of Katagum Local Government Area of the state.

Government Junior Secondary School, Ungwan Hadejia from Shira LGA took the first position by scoring 20 points, while Government Junior Secondary School, Katagum took the second position with 17 points.

Government Day Junior Secondary School, Yana from Shira LGA took the third position with 17 points.

Mr Jibril Shiramah, the Proprietor, Ummul Qura Science Academy, Azare, Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State has lauded the Water Sanitation and Hygiene programme of UNICEF for making effective impacts on schools.

Shiramah, who made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Azare on Thursday, said even though the school was WASH compliance, the introduction of Environmental Sanitation Club (ESC) in the school, had positively impacted the lives of students towards hygiene.

According to him, the WASH team of Katagum LGA had visited the school and sensitised them on the need to be WASH compliance so as to reduce outbreak of diseases.

“The sanitation club was established in this school about two years ago and we have 45 classrooms in the school with 45 toilets, so each class has its own toilet.

“The pupils are trying to take care of the toilets as there is competition on who to clean them

“There have been great changes ever since the club came into existence in this school because it’s playing a great role in the sanitation lives of members and the school generally,” he said.

He however, appealed to government agencies in charge of WASH to ensure that private schools were included in the various WASH interventions in order to ensure improvement on hygiene issues.

He also called on UNICEF to come to the intervention of the school to promote WASH activities, adding that the WASH Club of the school was very active.

Also, Hadiza Ilyas, President, Environmental Sanitation Club (ESC), Ummul Qura Science Academy, said that the club sensitised the general students on how to take care of their environment and themselves, health wise.

“We tell the students how to take care of their hands and themselves when they come out of the toilet as there are WASH facilities put in place at all the 45 toilets in the school.

“There are some of our members we assigned to wash the toilets, however, we are not much in the club and I’m using this opportunity to call on more students to come and join the club,” she said.