Literature in English: Third Term's Scheme of Work for SSS 1 and SSS 2

Do I have Literature teachers and students in the house? If 'yes' is the answer, here is third term's scheme of work for Literature in English. As a teacher, you can teach your students using this scheme while as a student you can use it to read ahead.

Literature in English: Third Term's Scheme of Work for SSS 1

Week 1

Introduction to "Black Woman" by Leopard Sedar Senghor.

Look at:

• The background and setting of the poet/poem.
• Subject matter/summary of the poem.
• Effective use of poetic devices/techniques.
• Effective use of imagery/symbolism.

Week 2

Themes and Style of the poem, "Black Woman" by Leopard Sedar Senghor.

Week 3

"The Leader and the Led" by Niyi Osundare.

Look at:

• The background and setting of the poet/poem.
• Subject matter/summary of the poem.
• Effective use of poetic devices/techniques.
• Effective use of imagery/symbolism.

Week 4

Themes and Style of the Poem, "The Leader and the Led"

Week 5

Introduction to Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronté

Week 6

Themes and Style in Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronté.

Week 7

Characterization (Major Characters in Wuthering Heights and their significant roles).

Week 8

Characterization (Minor Characters in Wuthering Heights and their significant roles).

Week 9

General Overview (Give Project work to the students).

Week 10

General Overview (Continued).

Week 11

Revision.

Week 12/13

Examination.

Literature in English: Third Term's Scheme of Work for SSS 2

Week 1

Introduction to "The Grieved Lands" by Agostinho Neto.

Look at:

• The background and setting of the poet/poem.
• Subject matter/summary of the poem.
• Effective use of poetic devices/techniques.
• Effective use of imagery/symbolism.
• Themes and style.

Week 2

Introduction to "The Song of the Woman of My Land" by Oumar Farouk Sesay

Look at:

• The background and setting of the poet/poem.
• Subject matter/summary of the poem.
• Effective use of poetic devices/techniques.
• Effective use of imagery/symbolism.
• Themes and style.

Week 3

Introduction to "Raider of the Treasure Trove" by Lade Wosomu

Look at:

• The background and setting of the poet/poem.
• Subject matter/summary of the poem.
• Effective use of poetic devices/techniques.
• Effective use of imagery/symbolism.
• Themes and style.

Week 4

Introduction to "The Good-Morrow" by John Donne.

Look at:

• The background and setting of the poet/poem.
• Subject matter/summary of the poem.
• Effective use of poetic devices/techniques.
• Effective use of imagery/symbolism.
• Themes and style

Week 5

Introduction to "Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou.

Look at:

• The background and setting of the poet/poem.
• Subject matter/summary of the poem.
• Effective use of poetic devices/techniques.
• Effective use of imagery/symbolism.
• Themes and style.

Week 6

Introduction to "The Journey of the Magi" by T.S Eliot

Look at:

• The background and setting of the poet/poem.
• Subject matter/summary of the poem.
• Effective use of poetic devices/techniques.
• Effective use of imagery/symbolism.
• Themes and style.

Week 7

Introduction to "Do not Go Gentle into the  Good Night" by Dylan Thomas 

Look at:

• The background and setting of the poet/poem.
• Subject matter/summary of the poem.
• Effective use of poetic devices/techniques.
• Effective use of imagery/symbolism.
• Themes and style.

Week 8 - 9

Introduction to "Bat" by David H. Lawrence

Look at:

• The background and setting of the poet/poem.
• Subject matter/summary of the poem.
• Effective use of poetic devices/techniques.
• Effective use of imagery/symbolism.
• Themes and style.

Week 10

General Overview of the poems.

Week 11

Revision.

Week 12/13

Examination.

SEE ALSO: Literature in English: Second Term's Scheme of Work for SSS 1 - 3

Read More

See How to Reprint Your Mock Exam Slip as JAMB Slates April 29 for the 2017 Mock Exam.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has slated Saturday, April 29 (this weekend), for the conduct of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mock examination in some selected centres across the country.

JAMB's Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede made the announcement during a workshop to train its officials for the coming UTME examination in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to him, the mock examination would take place in 633 computer based test (CBT) centres across the country.

READ ALSO: The Comprehensive summary of JAMB's new novel, In dependence by Sarah Ladipo Manyika.

SEE: JAMB's latest syllabus for all subjects and courses. Free download

Prof. Oloyede said:

We have identified those technical hitches and quickly made necessary correction and tighten loose nuts. As a matter of fact, a trial mock was conducted last week in 10 states and the exercise was 99 percent successful.

All we are trying to do is to do things the best way that will not be wasteful, that will not make Nigeria inferior in the community of examination bodies. What we are trying to do is find the most efficient way of conducting our examination.

I believe whatever can work in another place can work in Nigeria. For us, what we are trying to do is to give the best of our services to this great nation of ours. I need not be the registrar of JAMB if there will be no change positively.

We believe that come next Saturday (this Saturday), we will do our best. What we have done now is that last Monday we conducted a preliminary mock in ten places across the country and it was 99 percent success.

We conducted it in Sokoto, Abuja, Lagos, Ilorin, Nasarawa, Lokoja and we tested the technology again it was working but it worked because of the cooperation of all.

I don’t expect full perfection from all the system. There would be saboteurs that might work against us and that was why we have plans A, B and C, in addition to several other backups in case any of our plan fails. At the end of the day, it would be said of me that I have done my best.

Prof Is-haq Oloyede further alleged that powerful forces were working hard to derail the smooth conduct of the examination nationwide, ensuring  that JAMB doesn't return to status quo:

People are head bent on creating problems where none exist. I believe their toes are very big and I don’t mind stepping on them. Believe that at the end of the day Nigerians will know the truth and who to appreciate and who to condemn.

So I expect all other stakeholders involved in the system not to sabotage the efforts of the board but reciprocate such gesture and goodwill so that we could give Nigerians the best of services they deserve.

To this effect, the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) has started dispatching the new exam center, date and time for the 2017/18 UTME Mock Test scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 29, 2017 to candidates who registered for the examination via Mail and Text Messages.

Many candidates who received text messages from JAMB Confirmed this information though they were told to check their JAMB Profile or Mail to view or download their Mock Test Schedule.

Below is the type of the message candidates received from JAMB regarding the mock examination:

Please check your JAMB profile email address for your e-Registration slip which contains the name of your Examination centre and time for the Mock test scheduled to hold on Saturday 29th April, 2017. Thank you.

Hope you are aware that you cannot make use of the former JAMB mock examinations print out as it is outdated. Therefore, you are expected to reprint your JAMB mock examinations slip.

Follow the simple steps below to reprint the new 2017 JAMB mock exam slip.

HOW TO PRINT OUT THE NEW 2017 JAMB MOCK EXAM SLIP

1. Visit the JAMB E-faclity Portal by click HERE

2. Login with your email address and password you used while creating your JAMB profile.

3. Once Logged in, Click on the red box that states 'Print Mock Slip.'

4. Download and Print Out Your slip and the new date will be reflected.

I wish you good success!

Read More

Nigerian Indigenous Languages: Negotiating Place in the Face of Imminent Abandonment

Boma Batubo, the Author

Through years of paying close attention to language, I have arrived at one striking truth which happens to be that language is very much alive and kicking. As much as humans grow, move and interact, language enjoys same luxury on a leveled platform. This is no creation error but is a perfect practical display of the creator’s wisdom and benevolence. Language is a thing of the soul; the soul being the storehouse of the intellect, the emotions and the mind. These three components are what are expressed in language as a communicative tool irrespective of the age, class, educational qualification, religion, sex of the users of language (known in linguistic circles as interlocutors) and the situation/context such users may have to deal with. The growth of language is synchronous to the growth of the individual (speaker or user); being mindful of the fact that language here could refer to any language at all and not just the English language which has indisputably claimed for itself the front seat out there in the field; a disposition which I, at best, term “mock superiority.”

READ ALSO: The Nigerian Pidgin: A Prostitute in Nigeria

Mock Superiority? Why this assertion? The rationale behind this is not far-fetched. Once successful interaction between two or within more parties in a given language as a communicative tool can take place, then that particular language has acquired some level of maturity and can stay afloat, being second to none. In the light of this, it suggests that Kalabari, Igbo, Ịzọn, Yoruba, Efik, Ibibio, Hausa, Urhobo, Ibani and others are full languages in themselves and play no second fiddle to the English language. As much as the English language has grown, all these aforementioned languages and more possess the potency to attain the same height. None is superior to the other. Apparently, English is a non-native language in Nigeria but we can lay claim to it due to the relevant roles it plays in the Nigerian society. Take English away and the Nigerian nation will cease to exist. It is the binding force of the national fabric. As much as we as Nigerians, and by extension Africans, are concerned about English, we must also pay due attention to our indigenous languages in the same vein. Our indigenous languages are major constituting factors of our cultural heritage; each tribe has a language (usually with varying dialects); each tribe is microcosmic of the Nigerian nation at large. Our cultural heritage is our identity. It is what makes us a people. Set culture aside and be greeted with a people bemused and wandering hopelessly in a desert with no margin, tossed from side to side by the whirlwind.

Without doubt, the arms and feet of our indigenous languages measure up to that of the English language. Their roots run deep into the soil of interaction and their heartbeats are no less precious than that of English. Human attitude towards these languages is what makes all the difference and differences, usually, are conspicuous.

GUEST POST!

Article Authored by Boma Batubo

B.A (English and Literary Studies).

Read More

11 Rigid Misconceptions about Gay Men

Over time with regards to gay men, diverse ideas or beliefs have risen and have thrived. It is true that every individual is entitled to personal opinion and belief, but it is also true that not all of these beliefs are accurate or even reasonable. A majority of them are rather outrageous. The tendency to judge a book by its cover or to make attempt at describing the pain caused to the foot that stays in a particular footwear which one has never tried on has always been high among folks and about gay men and their own “normal” world, the case is no different. There are several misconceptions about gay men but few are highlighted here to enlighten even the least number of persons who may stumble on this piece.

1. Being Gay is a Choice

This is one of the most incorrect misconceptions heterosexual persons have about gay men. If a majority of gay men had the luxury of choice, they would have forced their way into the rigid stereotypic sphere carved out by society called heterosexuality. No one has ever chosen to be gay. Even those who may claim to have been pushed to the wall after a very distressful disappointment from a person of the opposite sex can be proven to have that disappointment as an immediate cause founded on one that is remote when a closer look at their past or sexual cravings is taken.

2. Being Gay is a Curse or Punishment From God

If God wanted to punish a person, I’m quite certain this wouldn’t be his last take on the menu.

3. Gays Can Never Love a Lady Sincerely

An attraction to the same sex may be present but the truth is that the heart (perceived to be the part of the human that beats in sync with human emotions of love or hatred) is not a sexual organ and the mind of the individual is not regulated based on sexual parameters. They don’t really care. Love and care from whoever is all that counts. Gay men have the same hearts as heterosexual men.

4. They are a Notoriously Promiscuous Group Even When Seriously Involved with another Partner

While it is generally thought that gay men usually cannot help but have numerous sexual partners, it does not make heterosexual men anymore righteous than gay men are. Sexual orientation really has nothing to do with attitude towards commitment. As a matter of fact, their chances of being less promiscuous are higher due to the closed circle within which they exist and the societal disapproval they have to put up with.

5. They are Born That Way and are Therefore Doomed to Their Fate

A good number of gay men have experiences of sexual abuse and molestation by adult males who have always claimed membership of the heterosexual class. Having been exposed to this part of life, they gradually grow into the real deal.

6. Gay Men are Sexually Excited By and Attracted to Anything That Has a Penis

This is a very deep and unfortunate misconception. Gay men also have taste and exercise the power of choice in this regard just like heterosexual men do. A gay man may see someone of the same sex fully clothed or even nude before his presence and still find him as disgusting as fuck!

7. They Can Never Have a Stable Marital Experience With the Opposite Sex Due to the Challenges of Addiction

No matter how high a particular hurdle is, it can always be overcome. With discipline and determination, their heterosexual relationships can succeed well enough.

8. Gay Men are Usually Queeny or Effeminate

This is so not true. There are gay men out there who are very much masculine and muscular with belly packs. Body build, dress sense or walking step isn’t all there is to it. A guy may also be somewhat effeminate and not even gay at all. These variables aren’t really as fixed as society has made them seem. Recently, the ones coming out as gay men are masculine than the word masculine.

9. Gays are Mentally Deranged

This assertion holds no water. There are successful gay individuals, celebrities and others who have shown no trait of mental illness. Besides, there is even no specific proof in favour of that.

10. Gay Men are the Pedophiles in Our World

All men possess equal tendencies of pedophilia. It ought not to be restricted to gay men. Majority of cases where boys are molested reveal the culprits as heterosexual men judging from their adult relationships (since many of them are married persons). While some gay men could be pedophilic, heterosexual men also have their share of the space. This cannot be denied.

11. All Gay Men are Cooks and Lovers of Household Chores and all Male Cooks and Lovers of Household Chores are Gay Men

Society has made cooking and household chores a woman’s thing in a house where both man and woman feed and live. The nourishment of one’s own body isn’t what should be left to the care of another. If a man takes delight in cooking, cleaning and tidying up even in the presence of his wife or girlfriend or sister, it doesn’t make him less of a man; it doesn’t push him into the woman’s world as such. On the other hand, certain men who are gay find these same tasks irritating and demeaning. These things have their straight paths which, of course, should be respected.

In sum, because times change, judging a book by its cover can be very misleading. We are now in a world where people put on fictional characters in order to blend with the socially constructed norms and beliefs.

What other misconception(s) about gay men do you know?

Read More

BEWARE: Read How Fraudsters Spent N20million to Hack JAMB Registration Portal

This year's JAMB examination comes with so many told and untold stories. Could it be as a result of the delay in the sales of forms or any reason I don't know of?

Well, let me tell you this, you really need to be very careful as you proceed with the 2017 UTME registration because there are many fraudsters out there. The worse part is that the fraudsters are even owners of accredited CBT registration centers. Household demons are the most dangerous you know.

It is obviously obvious that the renewed partnership between the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has begun to yield result with the arrest of five alleged registration fraudsters who had been sabotaging the efforts of JAMB to conduct error free 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The fraudsters were arrested at various locations where they were allegedly defrauding candidates with fake and unapproved registration processes that might be noticed on the day of the examination.

According to JAMB's spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the fraudsters were arrested in Oyo, Ogun and Maiduguri by officers of the NSCDC and were brought to Abuja where they made startling revelations in the presence of the  Commandant General of NSCDC, Alhaji Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu.

Futhermore, the statement indicated that some of the registration fraudsters were Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre owners licensed by JAMB to conduct registration exercise for prospective candidates this year:

More worrisome is the massive investment by E- Kindle CBT centres located in Oyo and Ogun states as well as their co-travelers in Kwara State to manipulate the Airtel router we are using to perpetrate all forms of unwholesome practices.

They register candidates without proper biometrics which implies that such candidate would have difficulties with verification during examination if not corrected immediately.

JAMB alleged that the fraudsters enjoyed the support of some strong and powerful godfathers that had sworn to sabotage JAMB and discredit the effort of the Prof. Ishaq Oloyede-led management:

If not, how would one justify the investment of over N20 million to construct a radio platform just to hack into the JAMB’s registration portal if not to destroy the entire system and put JAMB in bad light?

It is true that JAMB had given access code only to accredited CBT centres to register candidates. However, some operators allegedly used the privileged information at their disposal for monetary motive.

The statement further revealed that:

These registration fraudsters deployed fake biometric capturing mechanisms and super-imposed registration slip just to satisfy the curiosity of innocent candidates that their registration was successful and on the day of examination such candidate’s data would either be edited or not found on the JAMB data base and such candidates won’t be allowed for the exam.

JUST BE CAREFUL!

Read More

Contingent of the Niger Delta University Storm NUGA 2017 with 'From NDU 2d World T-shirts'

The Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA), kicked off its 25th edition (hosted by the University of Agriculture, Makurdi) with an opening ceremony on Saturday, April 22, 2017, at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

The event was spiced with an amazing march past from participants of different universities. In fact, it was really colourful as fifty out of the expected fifty three universities participated in the opening march past of the ceremony.

One of such participants is a contingent of the Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State. Clothed with black T-shirts with the inscription "From NDU 2d World", a contingent of this institution (NDU) was seen in high spirit and immersed in gyration as they march past dignitaries and other participants.

Team NDU

According to one of the gyration kings, the T-shirts were produced by Sylvester Chisom a.k.a MC Monica, to showcase to the world the skills, morals and educational values the Niger Delta University has inculcated in her students; hence the need for putting on the T-shirt. 

Team NDU will be competing for honours against other Universities in some of the 15 sports: Athletics, Basketball, Chess, Football, Judo, Table-tennis, Volleyball, Scrabble, Squash, Swimming, Taekwondo, Handball, Cricket, Badminton and Tennis.

Veteran Nollywood Actor, Sam Dede, Captain of Team UNIPORT

The 25th edition of the NUGA Games which was earlier scheduled to hold on Wednesday, April 19, kicked off on Saturday, April 22 and will be ending on Sunday, April 30, 2017. The Games are holding in five venues across Makurdi, Benue State.

See more photos from the match past HERE

Do you wanna know about NUGA? Click HERE

Read More

"Don't Agree to Pay More than the Amount on any Printed MTN Recharge Card" Says MTN

Recharge card business is known for its little profit (although many still use it to comfortably pay their bills) but that shouldn't warrant any seller to hike the price when he/she still buys at the normal price from the company.

Recently, instead of the official price, some persons have started selling MTN recharge card at a higher price. This is not a story I heard from someone or somewhere. Yesterday, I went to buy a N400 MTN recharge card and was surprised when the seller told me it was N420. When asked why, she said, "MTN don add moni for recharge card becos of recession." I had to recharge with my FCMB mobile app

This has been a normal thing especially during festive periods but bringing it up at this time really kept me startled. I was filled with soft anger and already blaming MTN when I got this message from MTN

Dear customer, please do not agree to pay more than the amount that is printed on any MTN recharge card. Remember - what you see is what you pay!

After reading, I only shook my head in amazement. Why will someone decide to add N10 or N20 to the official price when the company has not officially increased the price. Obviously, this is stealing by tricks. Man will always be man!

Please note that the prices of MTN recharge card are still the same and not hiked. Don't allow anybody to trickily steal your N10 or N20 all in the name of recession.  

See the official prices of all MTN recharge cards below:

N100.00

N200.00

N400.00

N500.00

N1000.00

Remember, MTN has instructed you not to buy any of its recharge cards that is above the aforementioned prices because the hike in price is artificial. If you do, NA U SABI oh!

Read More

NYSC Registration: How to Pay for Your NYSC Call up Letters Online Using Debit Cards via Remita

I am very sure you are not ignorant of the fact that NYSC registration for prospective corps members (PCM) is ongoing. 

One major and relevant area of the registration process is the payment for NYSC call up letters. Unlike previous years, for some time now, NYSC had provided PCM with the opportunity of printing their call up letters once it was time for its collection/printing. That, had really saved PCM from the stress of travelling from far and near to their various institutions for the collection of their letters. 

However, some still patronize the old method (i.e. going to their different schools to get their call up letters) for reasons best known to them while those who preferred to pay for their call up letters online didn't know how to go about it; hence the need for this tutorial.

Are you among those registering for the for the forthcoming orientation course? If you are, are you interested in making payment for the printing of your call up letter online? If yes is your answer, bring your seat closer as I dish out the steps you are to follow.

Before I proceed, note that NYSC has introduced the use of "Remita Payment Engine" for making all kinds of payment on its portal. In other words, you can now pay for your call up letter or make any other payment on NYSC portal via "remita pay engine".

Remita payment engine provides you with two payment options:

1. The use of debit cards (your ATM card) or wallet payment.

2. The use of any designated bank.

Now see how to make payment with any of the aforementioned two.

How to Make Payment on NYSC Portal via Remita Payment Engine.

Note: Payment for call up letters is not the first thing you do when carrying out your registration process. For those of you who are yet to register, as you proceed with your registration, it will get to a point where you will be asked to make such payment via remita pay engine. It is optional but I think it is necessary.

On the other hand, if you had registered without making the online payment for reasons best known to you but later decided to make the payment, you can try the steps below:

1. Click here to visit NYSC registration portal.

2. Click on "login" as you can see on the image above. After clicking, a login page like the image below appears.

3. Enter your email ID and password to login.

4. Click on "click here to make payment."

5. After a successful login, click on "proceed to make payment." Once the payment confirmation page is displayed, you will be redirected to Remita Payment Engine with various payment options:

1. Option A: For Cards and Wallet Payments

i. Click on “Pay now with Cards or Wallets”

ii. Provide your card details, pin and any other information required and if the transaction is successful, the redirect URL is loaded.

iii. You will see the status of the transaction.

iv. Print the status of transaction.

SEE ALSO: Registration requirements for the 2017 NYSC Batch "A" Mobilization.

2. Option B: Paying in any Bank Branch:

i. Copy the RRR number generated by NYSC portal and take to any of the approved banks. Click on “see available bank branches” to view the banks.

ii. After making the payment at the bank branch, you can check payment status here or check it using the URL: https://portal.nysc.org.ng/nysc1/TransactionStatus_remita

iii. Input your transaction reference number/email id or phone number used in registering online. Click on “continue” to query Remita and view the transaction detail?

iv. Click on “Get status” to view the details of payments.

v. Print the details of payment.

I will advise you use option A as it is stress free, fast and easy.

If I may ask, which state will you like to serve? I wish you the best!

Read More