Second Home, Second Mother: Life Inside an Early Years Classroom

By Ohore Emmanuel Ufuoma



The Early Years classrooms have effectively become surrogate homes where educators now tie shoelaces, calm separation anxiety, supervise naps, enforce discipline, and provide comfort after minor injuries, which ought to be duties that should be performed by parents.

The extended work hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for 6 days in a week, economic realities, and the proliferation of all-day, weekend-inclusive early learning programs have repositioned schools as the primary environment for early childhood development.

For a typical four-year-old, 9.5 hours in school accounts for about 75% of waking weekday time. With Saturday sessions added, the home is reduced to a space for meals, sleep, and brief routines.

The mandate of Early Years teachers has expanded far beyond academics. Current practice requires them to handle physical care, emotional regulation, and behavioral guidance concurrently.

Daily responsibilities include toileting assistance, feeding, conflict mediation, fatigue monitoring, and maintaining individual routines for 15–20 pupils.

Youth and State Actors: No Nation K1lls Its Future

Prior to the 2020 ENDSARS protest, at least 7 out of 10 Nigerian Youth aged between 17 and 35, would have faced one form of brutality, a wanton violation of human rights and or a total disdain for the rule of law from state actors, and the protest was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Intended to be the first in the series of good governance demands from the Youth, it was not only slain, but several Nigerian Youth were also murdered in their prime. The few that survived, fled the country for safety, hence the now popular migration parlance, Japa. Japa is a combination of two Yoruba expressions, já | pa, meaning “to flee”. However, it’s more than an expression for migration as it reflects the desperations, hopelessness, and fears of the Youth. Better put, japa means to “flee to safety”.

From pre-colonial era, protests have continued to be a significant aspect of our civil life with different movements and groups addressing inflations, bad governance, unemployment, and insecurity in Nigeria. In 1929, a protest was staged by women in Southeastern Nigeria Abia State labelled Aba women riot against several colonial administration policies. Many years after in 2017, the Nigerian Army clashed with Youth in Abia State after setting up an operation code-named Operation Python Dance ll (Egwu Eke ll) in five states of the Southeastern region. Typical of state actors, actions don’t often march intentions. The military said the operation was to address kidnapping, armed robbery, among other crises in the region. Unfortunately, it only delivered anguish and gnashing of teeth to the people of Abia state.

Leaders had disregarded their criticisms, and, for some youth, it seemed futile to continue struggling for a Nation that seeks to destroy them.

This goes to prove to the international community that the ENDSARS protest of 2020 was not the first time state actors are violating human rights and frustrating the Youth. A writer, Ademolawa Michael Adedipe, in his Play published by Research Gate in 2021 had put it better. Adedipe said; “Python Dance was a brutal Military mission against those they were supposed to protect”. The situation in Nigeria is very scary as participating in any protest against the government is almost tantamount to a criminal offence for which some protesters have spent years in prison, tortured, maimed, killed or forced into exile, especially Youth leaders, protest sponsors or human rights activists.

URGENT: Vacancy for Lawyer

The service of a Legal Practitioner is urgently required in Lagos.

The successful Candidate will be a Counsel to serve in a law firm led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Interested candidates should have practised for between 7-10 years Post-Call Experience in Litigation.
If you satisfy the criteria or know someone who does, kindly call 09090575734, 01-2914405.
Deadline: June 22.
Location: Lagos Mainland, Nigeria.

When and How Often To Post on Social Media

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I stumbled on this post and thought it useful for everyone who has a thing or two with the Social media space;; managing accounts or marketing brands and products.

One of the most challenging aspects of social media marketing is knowing when and how often to post. Organic posts are most challenging because you are relying on the algorithms to show your content to the right people. If your post isn’t relevant or appealing, people won’t interact with it and it will get pushed down in the news feed.

How To Create GIFs For Use in Journalism

This is a guide to making smoothly looped GIF, or cinemagraph. The process is a combination of two disciplines: making the loop and making the GIF.

It’s important to note up front that in this guide, both of these steps are accomplished with software in the Adobe Creative Suite. Any prosumer-level-or-better video editing software should be able to make the loop with the logic presented here. I’ll use Photoshop to make the GIF since it’s the most comprehensive tool I’ve seen. Other GIF outputters give less control over similar options, so you might still get something out of checking that section out if you don’t have this software.

Poem on Nigeria

 Oh! My Fatherland, I pledged to be faithful, loyal & honest

These I have achieved above average despite circumstances

Why watch me treated as a slave on your soil

Why am I not valued by those steering your wheels

I am like Leah Sharibu before insurgency

What shall happen if my faithfulness is faced with bandit's AK47

What if my daughter is among the 39 from Oyo still in the forest

Finally, R. Kelly faces sex crimes charges

R. Kelly is now facing four sets of separate sex-crime charges, with the newest filed Monday by authorities in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced at a news conference in Minneapolis that Kelly is being charged with two counts of prostitution and solicitation involving a girl under 18 for an alleged incident in 2001. Freeman said Kelly is charged in an incident involving a girl he met at a concert. The girl sought an autograph from Kelly, and he gave her the autograph and a phone number, Freeman said. When the girl called the number she was invited to Kelly's hotel and offered $200 to take off her clothes and dance, the prosecutor alleged. He says Kelly took his clothes off and they danced together. Kelly is already facing multiple federal and state sex-crime charges in three separate indictments in the Eastern District of New York, in the Northern District of Illinois and in Cook County in Illinois. “It is despicable that Mr. Kelly used his fame in order to prey on underage girls,” Freeman said. “While there are more numerous charges in the Illinois and federal cases, we wanted to make sure that our victim here in Minneapolis also receives a measure of justice. We fully expect that at some future date, Mr. Kelly will have to account for his actions in Hennepin County.” Freeman says his office investigated after getting a tip from a Chicago tip line. "We felt we had more than enough to charge based on her testimony and corroboration from her brother," Freeman told reporters. "I don't like buying sex from minors, and I don't think most other people do either." According to the criminal complaint, the woman contacted police in January (when the anti-Kelly film series, "Surviving R. Kelly," aired on Lifetime) to report an incident that occurred the day of Kelly’s concert on July 11, 2001. She was 17 at the time. Freeman said the three-year statute of limitations for such cases in Minnesota only applied if Kelly remained in the state, which he did not. Kelly's lead defense attorney, Steve Greenberg, tweeted: "Give me a break. This is beyond absurd."

Re: New charges @RKelly give me a break. This is beyond absurd

— Steve Greenberg (@SGcrimlaw) August 5, 2019

Gloria Allred, the crusading attorney who represents multiple Kelly accusers, said she represents this newest accuser of Kelly, whom she did not identify. But she sought to clarify that her client is not a prostitute despite the language of the charges against Kelly. "I would like to emphasize that my client is not a prostitute. She is instead a child victim of Mr. Kelly," Allred said in a statement emailed to USA TODAY. "My understanding from law enforcement in that state is that the only available statute for which Mr. Kelly can be charged is the prostitution statute." She urged Minnesota to change its laws to "more properly reflect crimes" against children. "In its present form, some victims may be fearful of coming forward because they don’t want to be classified as prostitutes when nothing can be further from the truth," Allred's statement said. At least one other accusation in a different state, Michigan, also has been under investigation: In March, the Detroit Police Department acknowledged it was investigating allegations that Kelly sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in 2001 in Detroit. Police Chief James Craig issued a statement then saying Detroit police got a tip about the alleged crime from Chicago police. Allred said she also represents that accuser, now an adult. She told USA TODAY that her client had been interviewed by police and was willing to testify about her allegations, but no charges have been filed in Michigan.

Male Basketballer Banned after Testing Positive for Pregnancy

 

An American basketballer has been banned for two years after his drug test came back positive for pregnancy.

After missing out on selection at the 2013 NBA draft, Donell Cooper had played professionally in Greece and France, where he recently starred for AS Monaco.

Last year, Cooper left the French side citing "family reasons".

But it's since been revealed that a failed drug test during a bid to become a naturalised player for the Bosnian national team was the cause for his departure.

Officials found that the sample he provided contained human chorionic gonadotropin - or hCG - a hormone produced during pregnancy.

Funded Trip Opportunity for Social Media, Photo Journalist, Video Editor, Etc.

Call for Young Journalists

 18TH IACC

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

22-24 OCTOBER 2018

The 18th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) is looking for young journalists from all over the world who are passionate about anti-corruption and have a desire to speak out on social issues related to transparency and integrity. 

Who can apply?

Applicants are expected to meet the three criteria listed below

Internship at United Nations, Washington

Internship at United Nations, Washington by The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. This position is located in the UN Environment, North America Office in Washington, DC. The incumbent will report to the Regional Information Officer. Interns work on a range of diverse topics related to public awareness, media and outreach, interact closely with staff members and are given responsibilities based on their experience and skills. Applicants must be willing to intern full-time for a period of not less than 3 months and not exceeding 6 months. The internship will involve 35 hours of work per week and is unpaid.

Online 'Immersive Journalism' Training For Everyone

The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas at the University of Texas at Austin welcomes interested individuals to the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) “Intro to Immersive Journalism: Virtual Reality & 360 video”.

This is a free course open to anyone from anywhere in the world interested in virtual reality as it applies to non-fiction storytelling and journalism, ranging from content creation to content consumption.

Fully Funded British Council Conference for Young Journalists

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The British Council is the United Kingdom’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. They create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. They do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries they work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.

Future News Worldwide is a unique partnership programme between the British Council and some of the world’s leading media organisations. It aims to assist young people to develop a wide range of journalism skills and to establish the UK as a global leader in the nurturing of young journalists and media figures.

Big announcement from LinkedIn

When we speak with marketers who are advertising on LinkedIn, we often hear: “How can I get better insight into the impact of my campaigns, right down to the audiences that are driving the greatest value for my business?”

If you have a similar question, then we have great news to share: You now have more ways to track the performance of your advertising on LinkedIn.

$20,000 opportunity for data-driven Journalists in Africa

ImpactAfrica, Africa’s largest fund for data-driven investigative storytelling has launched its second call for proposals, seeking investigative story pitches by journalists in six countries.

According to impactAfrica, Journalists with digital storytelling ideas that go beyond ordinary reporting to expose new or under-reported issues in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia stand to win cash grants, technology support, and editorial mentoring on their projects.

Being a ruler is a call to serve not to be served - Oba Elegushi

You have been the Elegushi for some years now, how have you been able to fit into your role as royal and father to the people of Ikate Kingdom.

Royal duties have always been a part of my life, don’t forget that the immediate past Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom was my father. We were all groomed consciously and unconsciously on roles and responsibilities of the monarchy. When I say unconsciously, I refer to being in the palace and around the late Kabiyesi, you are bound to pick up something either from observation or participation. Also working closely with two former Governors of Lagos State has contributed to my understanding, managing and handling of issues and challenges, especially with diverse stakeholder groups. But no matter how prepared you think you are, the most important aspect of this role is to constantly ask the Almighty to grant you the required wisdom, grace, knowledge and understanding to be a just and fair leader with the integrity of heart.

Fellowship Opens With YES! Magazine

An experienced Journalist with deep knowledge in community underrepresented by traditional media is needed for a one year fellowship with YES! Magazine based in its office in Bainbridge Island, Washington, near Seattle.

According to information on the media firm website, the fellow will research, report and write articles for the magazine's website and print magazine. Candidates must be deeply committed to uncovering and reporting on progressive solutions for a better world.

Talking about its 2016 SurdnaReporting Fellow, the firm said: "YES! Magazine seeks a journalist for a one-year, full-time, in-house reporting fellowship based in our Bainbridge Island, Washington, office, near Seattle. The fellow will receive a salary of $40,000, plus vacation, commuting, and health benefits. YES! established this fellowship to support journalists from communities of color and to increase the diversity of voices and perspectives in our social justice reporting and writing.

"YES! Magazine is an award-winning, national, nonprofit media organization. Our print publication reaches 60,000 people each quarter. Online we reach nearly 1 million readers every month. Our editorial mission is to support social change by investigating potential solutions to social problems through reporting, analysis, and compelling writing. While we try to avoid articles that merely describe social problems, we ask hard questions about the solutions we cover and do our best to investigate how well they're working.

"The fellowship offers the opportunity to work with experienced writers, editors, and designers to create incisive articles about solution-based responses to the news of the day and to pursue in-depth reporting projects. The fellow’s reporting will land in any of our major content areas: economic inequality, racial justice, new economy finance and business, food and health justice, climate change and environmental justice, and social justice in popular culture.

"The fellow will research, report, and write articles for our website and print magazine. Online, the fellow will contribute a mix of long and short pieces, with the emphasis on substantial, reported features. In print, the fellow will contribute one article to each quarterly issue. We’re looking for thoughtfulness and impact more than daily turnarounds. We expect to see one shorter piece (500-1,000 words) per week, one to two substantial, reported pieces (1,500-3,000 words) per month; and three to four high-investment, long-form pieces over the year."

Application deadline is June 13. For more information, click here

Knight-VICE Innovators $5000 Fund Calls for Applications

Innovative media practitioners from around the globe can now apply for funds to carry out their projects.

The Knight-VICE Innovators Fund are inviting innovative journalism projects for a share of US$500,000 to bring their idea to life.

In 2015, VICE Media, the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, and the Knight Foundation teamed up to create a new innovation fund that provides seed money for journalists with big ideas. Starting today, the Knight-Vice Innovation Fund is open again for new applicants.

How will the world be consuming news in the next five, 10, or 20 years? This is a key question that applicants will need to ask themselves while developing specific story pitches with clear goals and deliverables. If chosen, journalists will receive a share of the $500,000 fund to bring their idea to life.

Click here for details on eligibility and how to apply.

WPFD2016: President Buhari Assures Press Freedom in Nigeria

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said that his administration is committed to defending the freedom of the press and the freedom of information in Nigeria.

The President made this known in a social media post while joining the world to mark the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2016.

The posts read in part: "Under President Buhari's administration, the Nigerian press - Africa's most vibrant - will continue to enjoy the space to thrive."

It will be recalled that every year on May 3rd is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

The international day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the 26th Session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)'s General Conference in 1991. This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark Windhoek Declaration on media pluralism and independence.

The UNESCO and the Government of Finland co-host the World Press Freedom Day's main event and the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize Ceremony in 2016 which will take place in Helsinki, Finland, from 2-4 May 2016.

Recall that 250 years ago the world’s first Freedom of information (FOI) law allowed for accountability & gave citizens the right to express themselves.

The WPFD2016, which started on Monday, May 2 and scheduled to end on Wednesday, May 4th, is organized under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Finland, Sauli Niinistö.

Developing Successful Social Media Campaign

Social Media marketing is one area that most social media users as well as social media managers usually have challenges operating maximally.

If you find yourself in this category of social media persons, little worry, you aren’t alone as there are several others out there who are struggling with maximizing their social media skills.

Recently, I was just digging the internet and I stumbled on website that was talking about social media marketing. So, I decided to put up this write to help someone with social media challenges.

For me, you might not study social media or new media in the college or in the university while starting out, but for efficiency, you might want to consider acquiring a certificate or more in new media management.

According to the website I mentioned earlier, you can write blog posts, spend six figures on pay-per-click ads, send newsletters, and tweet to your heart’s content. Within these choices are even more micro-choices.

Then consider these questions I found helpful from them:

What targeting options and images should you pick for your Facebook ads?

Should you develop your blog posts in house, or should you outsource the writing to ghostwriters?

How do you choose the right email subject headlines?

Should you choose a cost-per-click or cost-per-impression pricing model?”

From the content of that website, these questions are daunting. It’s easy to get bogged down and feel like a hamster in a wheel. As you move forward in your research, you’ll come across experts who’ll tell you to “just start testing.”

Succeeding in any form of business, one of which marketing is, requires strategic planning. You should be able to clearly spell out your goals

Similarly, you are either working on it as a personal marketing strategy or as corporate, you might want to consider having a framework for what you are setting out to achieve. This has nothing to do with how long you have been in the race. You could be a late starter and be exposed to better social media marketing tools than folks who started long before now. It doesn’t matter at all.

So, before you start your first social media campaign:

Be sure to understand your exact Needs.

Clearly state your social media marketing goals.

Do not be too shy or proud to consult anyone you think knows better. However, if you can’t, then dig the internet. I mean ask Google anything you wish to know or learn.

Develop a strong self discipline – This is because the internet, social media in particular can eat up your valuable time if you do not teach yourself to be focus on purpose.

Finally, track every step you take and the corresponding effects they bring to your organization or to your business.

Training Opportunity at BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation, a public service broadcaster of the United Kingdom, headquartered at Broadcasting House in London has announced an apprenticeship classroom-based training (with the BBC Academy and at an external college) and on-the-job work experience.

According to the Corporation on its website, the aim is to train apprentices to be a BBC junior journalist.

"When you complete your apprenticeship, you’ll be able to research, develop and produce news stories for mobile, social media and online platforms as well as across our radio and TV output.  Being able to tell the same story in different ways across many platforms will be a key part of what you learn.

For details on eligibility and how to apply for this opportunity, visit BBC CAREER