[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has been true to its mandate, which it actualized through the application of its power of assessment, setting and maintaining high standard in education delivery. Its mission is to promote excellence. And it has been doing this successfully for more than 60 years, adding value to the education systems of its stakeholders.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has concluded arrangements for the release of the results of the WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2018-First Series.

You will recall that upon the approval of Council during the 65th Annual Council Meeting held in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in March 2017 for WAEC in each of the member countries to commence the conduct of an additional diet of the WASSCE for Private Candidates effective the year 2018, the Management of the Council in Nigeria under the leadership of Mr. Olu I. Adenipekun took up the challenge for the implementation of the Council’s decision for the conduct of an additional diet with effect from January, 2018.

The WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2018-First Series was conducted from January 29, 2018 to February 12, 2018. Coordination of Examiners and Marking of Candidates’ Scripts took place thereafter.

In line with the earlier promise made to the Nation by the Head of National Office, Mr. Olu I. Adenipekun on the Council’s determination to release the results of any WASSCE diet within 45 days after the conduct of the examination and to issue certificates within 90 days, feelers from the Council in Nigeria, indicates that the results of the WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2018-First Series will be released on or before Tuesday, March 13, 2018.

This will mean that the results of the examination would have been released in less than 30 days after the last paper was written. By this information, candidates who sat for the examination should be able to check their results in the next 48 hours.

The Mr. Olu I. Adenipekun-led management team has always worked round the clock, by strategizing and re-strategizing in order to render the best services to WAEC stakeholders.

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]or eating the forbidden fruit of his 16-year-old sister-in-law, a 52-year-old, Olusola Williams, is to cool his heels in prison, an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court ruled on Friday.
Olusola is to remain in Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos, for the next 38 days, according to Chief Magistrate Taiwo Akanni, who had refused to take his plea.The accused, a generator repairer, who resides at 19, Water Andem St., Abule-Egba, a suburb of Lagos, is being tried for sexual assault.
At the arraignment of the accused, Police Prosecutor Clifford Ogu told the court that the offence was committed between 2009 to February 2018 at the apartment of the accused.Ogu said the secondary school girl, who is related to the accused’s wife, has been living with him since 2009.“The girl who could not hide it any longer, told her principal when some social workers came to their school to show a film on sexual assault.
“According to the girl, her uncle has been sleeping with her since 2009 when she was eight years old,” Ogu told the court.
He added: “The girl said the sexual abuse reduced to two times a week when she started menstruating in 2013 .
“Before 2013 , the accused used to sleep with her almost every day and the last time he slept with her was on Feb. 28, 2018.
“The case was reported at the police station and the accused was called for questioning and from there, he was detained and charged to court.”The offence contravened Section 269 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The offence carries life imprisonment under the Criminal Law.

[dropcap]D[/dropcap]elta State Governor,  Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, on Friday inspected the multiple storm drainage projects and  charged contractors to speed up the pace of work. According to the Governor, “the contractors must fully mobilize to site, they must get to appreciable level before the rain commences in full.”

The Governor frowned at the pace of work at the drainage site by St. Mary Vianney Catholic Church designed to empty flood water from Marian Babangida Way, DBS road, and adjoining areas. “The pace of work here is very slow, if the rains come earlier than expected, the drainage will collapse, in some areas, the soil is softer than others, the contractors must mobilize fully to site and increase the pace of work,” the Governor said.

Governor Okowa disclosed that when completed, issues of flood in the state capital will be a thing of the past, observing that the contractor handling the storm drain that will take water out of DLA and Jesus Saves Road was doing a good job. He urged motorists and commuters who are using alternative road to the Nnebisi road which was cut off as a result of the construction work to be patient as the contractor had shown commitment to open up the road within two weeks as envisaged.

Governor Okowa accompanied by some members of the Delta State Executive Council, members of House of Assembly also, inspected the drainage that will empty water from Okpanam and the level of work done on Okpanam/Asaba road project.

Source’ Grassroots Publishers

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Oba Ewuare II, has placed curse on perpetrators of human trafficking and their collaborators including native doctors and priests who administer oath of secrecy on victims. The Oba placed the curse Friday, in Benin City while meeting with Enogie, Edionwere, priests of different deities in Benin and native doctors at his palace.

The monarch who said the oath of secrecy administered on the victims has been encouraging the illegal trade called on all native doctors to shun the act and join hands with the palace to attract development and progress to the kingdom. “It is reported that at the beginning the traffickers take their victims to native doctors to take oath that they will not disclose the names of their traffickers and sponsors.

“Your power is to fight for the progress of Benin kingdom and not to be used for the destruction of our young people”. The monarch who also invoked his power as the spiritual leader of Benin kingdom nullified all the oaths of secrecy administered on all victims of human trafficking and urged them to speak out and seek assistance.

While disclosing that statistics from relevant agencies reveal that most of those trafficked in Nigeria are from Benin, Oba Ewuare deplored the practice where gainfully employed artisans sell their working tools to pay their traffickers.“We have some people gainfully employed as mechanics, welders, tailors, selling their working tools to pay traffickers to take them to Italy, Germany.

“Those who traffic people to Italy, Germany and other countries first take them to Libya where they are enslaved”.He urged the native doctors to tell all victims of human trafficking to speak out as all oaths of secrecy have been norlified.

“From today, we no longer want to hear of human trafficking in Benin. I hope those who have been involved in this illegal trade will stop from today.“All native doctors who have administered oath of secrecy on victims of human trafficking should also tell those they administered such oath on to speak out.

“Am appealing to all native doctors to stop administering such oaths on trafficked victims and all such oaths are hereby nullified.

“No native doctor should do any charm for any potential illegal migrant to cross international border. Those who did it before now are forgiven and whoever does it from today will face the wrought of our ancestors”, the monarch warned.

Speaking with news men after the royal pronouncement, zonal commander, National Agency for the Prohibition in Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Barrister Nduka Nwanwennee pointed out that the Oba’s intervention is a significant milestone in the war against human trafficking and illegal migration.

“Before now, victims of human trafficking rarely open up to give evidence in court because of they have taken. They are afraid and believe that the oath will have effect on them as the  native doctors who administered such oaths have their personal items like finger nails, pubic hair, menstrural  pads, pants, photographs etc.

“Now that those oaths have been nullified by the monarch, our power of prosecution has been enhanced and we can now rescue more victims,” he said.

Also speaking, the Enogie of Ukhiri, His Royal Highness, Godwin Aigbe thanked Oba Ewuare 11 for the royal pronouncement and urge the Edo State House of Assembly to complement the Oba’s efforts by enacting a law with stiff penalties for offenders.