A High Court of Justice, Ota Judicial Division, sitting in Ilaro, Ogun State, in Charge No. HCT/78c/2021—The State vs. Stephen Ukenna—on 5th June 2024, struck out a three-count charge of sexual intercourse, sexual exploitation, and rape against Dr. Stephen Ukenna, a former lecturer in the Department of Business Administration at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

Ukenna was alleged to have committed the act against a 17-year-old female student of the Department of Human Resources of the same university on or about the 11th day of March 2021.

The defendant was subsequently charged to court and the case pended for more than three years without the prosecution producing their witnesses to prove the alleged offences.

During these period, the case came up first before Honourable Justice N. O. Durojaiye (later transferred to another Judicial division) and later Honourable Justice A. A. Shobayo.

Premised on this, on 5th June, 2024 the prosecutor, O. A. Osunsami, State Counsel, informed the court that she has been directed by the Director Public Prosecution to withdraw the charges against the defendant as all efforts to get their witnesses have proved unsuccessful.

The High Court, presided by Honourable Justice A. A. Shobayo, struck out the case and the defendant discharged.

As parents, one of our most important roles is to prepare our children for their future, including their transition to primary school.

In Nigeria, primary school marks the beginning of formal education and lays the foundation for future academic success. To ensure a smooth transition and set our kids up for success, here are five essential lessons to teach them as they approach primary school.

1. Teach them basic hygiene practices
Good hygiene habits are necessary for maintaining health and preventing the spread of illness, especially in a school setting.

Teach your kids the importance of sneezing or coughing into their elbows, washing their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and using hand sanitiser when hand-washing is unavailable.

Practice these habits together at home and fortify their importance through gentle reminders.

2.  Inculcate in them independence and confidence

Guiding children to perform basic self-help tasks builds independence and confidence inside and outside the classroom.

Teach your kids essential skills such as dressing, tying their shoelaces, and packing their school bags.

Break down tasks into smaller steps and provide opportunities for practice and mastery.

Try to celebrate their achievements and offer encouragement as they develop these essential life skills. It will help them in their interactions with their new transition.

3.  Practice with them name recognition and writing

As children enter primary school, they will learn fundamental literacy and numeracy skills that form the cornerstone of their academic journey.

Before they start school, introduce your kids to fundamental concepts such as letter recognition, phonics, and simple arithmetic.

Reading together, playing educational games, and engaging in hands-on activities will help strengthen these skills and build a strong foundation for future learning.

Teaching children to recognise and write their names is vital in fostering a sense of personal identity and ownership.

Before they start primary school, encourage your kids to practice writing their names using tracing activities or other hands-on materials.

Always incorporate their names into daily routines and activities, such as labelling belongings and creating personalised identities.

By mastering this skill, children develop confidence and a sense of belonging in the classroom environment.

4  Emotional control: managing their feelings and behavior

Transitioning to primary school can be emotionally challenging for children as they helm new experiences and interactions.

Teaching kids to recognise, express, and regulate their emotions is essential for their social and emotional development.

Teach them that they can always express their feelings better than crying, throwing tantrums, or laughing uncontrollably.

Encourage open expression about feelings and provide methods for coping with strong emotions, such as deep breathing, taking a break, or using calming techniques like counting or visualisation.

Children can navigate challenges with confidence and self-control by enabling them to build emotional awareness and resilience.

5.  Strengthen their mental skills by encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving

Primary school encourages children to think critically, solve problems, and express themselves creatively.

Foster these skills in your kids by encouraging curiosity, asking open-ended questions, and providing opportunities for exploration and experimentation.

Similarly, strong social skills are essential for thriving in primary school, where children interact with classmates, teachers, and other adults daily.

Teach your kids critical social skills such as sharing, taking turns, listening actively, and showing empathy and respect for others.

In conclusion, as our children prepare to embark on their primary school journey, they must have the skills and values to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

By teaching them essential lessons in social skills, independence, literacy and critical thinking, we can assign them to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead of them.

Godfrey Okoye University (GOUni) in Enugu has decried the placement of the university in the electricity Band A.

In April, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) raised the rate for the Band A tariff class from N66 to N225 per kwh.

Customers under the Band A category are expected to have a minimum of 20 hours of electricity in a day.

Band B category is 16 hours, Band C is 12 hours, Band D is eight hours, and Band E is four hours.

The tariff hike attracted public outcry and calls for its reversal, with many communities raising concerns about affordability.

Christian Anieke, the vice-chancellor of GOUni, said the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) placed the campus on Band A.

He addressed the institution’s campus while unveiling plans for the 2024/2025 academic session which commenced on Friday.

The VC said the billing of GOUni on the electricity tariff class is “ridiculous” and excessive.

“It is only in Nigeria that you see things like this; billing a university like a business entity,” he added.

Anieke said the university is looking to install solar lights in all the student hostels.

He said the institution would boost its internally generated revenue (IGR) through research, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Anieke said each department in the university must show evidence of IGR without additional payment by the students.

The VC directed all faculties and departments to double efforts to generate funds through research, grants, and alumni collaboration.