Mbah Advocates for Productive Skills in Education, Allocates 33% of Enugu Budget to Revamp System – Trending Today

Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;

1. Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has attributed Nigeria’s underdevelopment to the country’s education system’s lack of productive skills. Speaking on November 19, 2024, during the first Distinguished Personalities Lecture Series at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Mbah delivered a lecture titled “Experiential Learning: Building the Wealth of the Nation.” Mbah criticized the country’s education model for failing to equip youths with critical skills, creativity, and problem-solving capabilities, describing this as a root cause of Nigeria’s underdevelopment. He questioned why Nigerian universities rarely rank globally and fail to produce inventive graduates, stating that education should be linked with industrialization and economic growth. As part of his reforms, Mbah announced that all state-owned tertiary institutions in Enugu must adopt experiential learning, reflected in planning, curricula, budgets, and research. His administration has allocated 33% of the 2024 budget to education—twice UNESCO’s recommended benchmark. Mbah pledged to construct 260 smart green schools across the state and eight Science, Technical, and Vocational (STV) schools to support experiential learning, starting with the Government Technical College (GTC) in Enugu.

4. Bitcoin reached an all-time high of $95,000 on November 20, driven by strong momentum and several bullish factors. Key contributors to the surge include significant inflows into Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), such as ARK’s ARKB with $267.3 million in 48 hours, and BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), which saw $1.9 billion in options traded on its first day. The total Bitcoin held by U.S. ETFs has also surpassed 1 million units, according to CryptoQuant. Analysts attribute the rise to increasing demand amid persistent inflation, fiat currency instability, and declining trust in central banks. Cory Klippsten, CEO of Swan Bitcoin, described the situation as a “perfect storm” of rising demand, a supply crunch, and conviction from long-term holders.

5. Kenya’s Catholic Church rejected a $40,000 donation from President William Ruto, citing ethical concerns and a commitment to avoid political exploitation. The donation, made during a Mass on Sunday, November 17, at Soweto Catholic Church in Nairobi, included $20,000 in cash, a pledge of the remaining amount, and a promise of a bus for the parish. Nairobi’s Archbishop Philip Anyolo announced the return of the money and declined all other pledges, emphasizing that church events should not be used for political self-promotion. The rejection follows growing criticism of the close ties between churches and politicians in Kenya, where over 80% of the population identify as Christian. Earlier this year, young protesters accused churches of siding with the government amid controversial tax hikes, leading to the withdrawal of a finance bill in July. Last week, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a scathing statement criticizing the government for over-taxation, corruption, and human rights violations, among other issues, warning that public trust in leadership was eroding. In response, Ruto dismissed the clergy’s concerns as unfounded, and a government senator accused the church of spreading misinformation. Kenya’s Anglican Church has defended the Catholic bishops’ stance, with Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit stating the bishops had accurately reflected the struggles and frustrations of many Kenyans.

6. Steve Mounie, captain of the Benin national football team, criticized the poor treatment his team endured during their trip to Libya for the final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. Despite the challenges, Benin secured qualification after a 0-0 draw against Libya in Tripoli on November 20, finishing second in Group B on goal difference ahead of Rwanda. Mounie described the experience as a “war zone,” recounting that Libyan fans disrupted celebrations by throwing objects at players, and security personnel allegedly attacked the team bus, injuring coach Gernot Rohr and others. He noted that Libyan supporters disrespected Benin by whistling during their national anthem. This incident comes weeks after Nigeria’s Super Eagles faced similar hostility in Libya. The Nigerian team was stranded for over 12 hours at Al Abaq Airport after their flight was diverted mid-journey. Players and officials were denied access to food, water, or phone connections, prompting defender William Troost-Ekong to call the treatment “disgraceful.” The Confederation of African Football (CAF) later awarded Nigeria three points and three goals for the disrupted match.

7. Olajumoke Orisaguna, popularly known as “Olajumoke Onibread,” has returned to the spotlight as a radio presenter. On November 20, she launched her talk show, Kilon Shele, on City FM following a long hiatus. Speaking at a news conference in Lagos on November 20, Orisaguna expressed deep gratitude to renowned photographer TY Bello, who was influential in her rise to fame after she accidentally walked into a 2016 photoshoot with British rapper Tinie Tempah. This moment transformed her life from a bread seller to a celebrated model. During the event, Olajumoke candidly discussed her challenges, including manager exploitation, financial struggles, and the impact of her limited education. She revealed plans to return to school and use her platform to share her story, highlighting both the highs and lows of her journey. Her show will focus on emotional resilience, self-discovery, and inspiring conversations with guests who have faced similar challenges. Reflecting on her past mistakes, which strained relationships with benefactors, she advised others to work hard, value their supporters, and learn from adversity. Olajumoke stated, “Even in the darkest moments, there is hope for a better tomorrow.”