Following a recent criticism and condemnation from members of the public over the report of N42 million as school fees per annum for each primary school student and N2 million as a non-refundable registration fee at the Charterhouse, a private-owned British school which is newly opened in Lagos and its first in Africa, the management has reacted.

Meanwhile, some had described the fees as extremely outrageous and also a waste of scarce resources for any parent to pay such a huge amount of money to sponsor just a primary school pupil in an economy such as Nigeria’s where the majority of citizens wallow in abject poverty and the minimum wage is just N30,000 per month.

Some others also expressed reservations on the matter, which went viral on the social media space, especially X (formerly Twitter), stating that it is not by compulsion for any parents to enrol their children in the school.

But the school in its reaction denied knowing the public outrage against its fees.

It says people have the right to express their opinions and feelings on their fees and any other issues they feel concerned about, but parents who have an interest in bringing their children to Charterhouse are not complaining.

ALSO READ: Sanwo-Olu, British envoy excited as UK private school opens in Lagos

Speaking to Tribune Online in an exclusive interview, the director of Communications, Admissions and Marketing of the school, Mr Damilola Olatunbosun, explained why the school has to charge up to that amount.

He said, “Charterhouse is not just like every other school anywhere globally but a prestigious and value-driven world-class educational institution that parents, who love quality and second to none education will always want their children to be.”

He noted that since the school was officially launched last September, many parents have shown interest in enrolling their children.

According to him, most parents who come to us are not surprised about our fees as it is within what they can afford.

“Some parents are here in Nigeria and some based abroad. And they know the quality of education we will give to their children. It is about value and not whether the fees is high or not.

“They know it will cost them more if they are to send their children abroad and get the same quality and value we will give them here in Nigeria. The foreign exchange and the associated costs as well as nearness.

“Even though, we are yet to commence academic activities and we have not also done with our construction works, no school in Nigeria has the facilities we have already put in place.

“And it is not all about physical structures in Charterhouse, but also about quality, both academic and extra-curriculum, and value for our learners.

“Schooling in Charterhouse Lagos will be the same as in Charterhouse UK or any other high-profile UK-based school. The only difference is that the Chaterhouse here will be immersed in the Nigerian culture thereby giving our students the best of British education in a multicultural environment.

“So, we are not just any other school, and many prominent Nigerians, who are either products of Charterhouse or have any of their children or relations attended the school in the UK are very glad that Charterhouse is now here in Lagos Nigeria.

“Even here in Lagos, there are some schools, for example, that charge in millions of Naira per annum while some in hundreds of thousands and yet some others charge something lesser.

“So, it is now left for parents to decide which one to enrol their children based on the value they want and their purse.

“We are building on 70 hectares of land in Lekki and it will cost us over $150 million at completion and that is why we are very sure that by the time we are done, people will appreciate us better.”

Olatunbosun explained further that even though the original plan of the school is to open its primary school section doors for its first batch of pupils this September, the second batch which is for junior secondary school students in 2026 and the third batch, which are senior school students two years after, the school has now decided to bring backwards the second batch to 2025 based on the parents’ demand.

“So, those who want quality and familiar with Charterhouse know why their children must come to our school.

When asked if the school had ever envisaged huge patronage even at inception, he answered in affirmation, saying “We knew that most Nigerians value quality education and those who have the financial wherewithal would not mind to pay for it.

“So, to us, we are not surprised about the large number of patronage we have received so far.”

Speaking on whether the school would now likely adjust its fees downward particularly due to the wide criticism, the school’s spokesman emphasised that parents coming to enrol their children know and understand that accessing quality education will not come cheap.

According to him, “education is like somebody who is hungry and wants to take lunch and go to a restaurant where a plate of food is N5,000 and another go elsewhere to take the same size of food at just N2,000 and yet another go elsewhere where he or she will get it for N15,000 or more.

“Though the food may look alike, their value will never be the same.

“So, it is about providing value for money and that is what we do at Charterhouse.”

The federal government says it will pin down Ways and Means advances to deal with the problem of too much liquidity in the system to stem inflation.

Wale Edun minister of finance and co-ordinating minister of the economy, spoke to journalists in Washington DC, United States, shortly after a meeting with investors at the on-going spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

He told the global gathering that the current administration, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is fully determined to “pin down” Ways and Means to alleviate the pressure of the excess money in the system.

The minister said the fiscal and monetary authorities are also working towards bringing down inflation.

“The two authorities are working hand in hand to bring down inflation and pressure on price stability and stabilising the exchange rate with the target of bringing down interest rates so that investors can borrow at a more affordable rate with a view to getting the economy going the right direction again,” Edun said.

“We need to borrow less and focus more on domestic resource mobilisation. We want long-term resources to avoid repayment and refinancing pressures.”

Speaking on food security, Edun said the present administration is dealing with the problem in order to provide farmers’ with access to their farms, especially in parts of the country where insecurity has played a major role in reducing food production.

Edun added that agro clusters are being developed in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to increase food production in the country.

Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Lydia Shehu Jafiya, permanent secretary, federal ministry of finance, and Zainab Ahmed, former minister of finance, were some of the top government officials who attended the meeting.

On February 9, Cardoso had said the CBN would halt its Ways and Means advances to the federal government.

He said the apex bank would no longer be a part of the Ways and Means agreement with the federal government until all outstanding debts are refunded.

Adesola Adeduntan, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, has resigned from his position.

According to a letter addressed to Tunde Hassan-Odukale, the bank’s board chairman, Adeduntan’s tenure ought to elapse on December 31, 2024.

However, he voluntarily decided to step down on April 20.

“As you are aware, my contract would be expiring on 31 December 2024 after which I would no longer be eligible for employment within the Bank having served as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank for a record time of nine years,” Adeduntan said.

“During this period the Bank and its subsidiaries has undergone significant changes and broken new grounds. We have repositioned the institution as an enviable financial giant in Africa.

“I have however decided to proceed on retirement with effect from 20 April 2024 to pursue other interests.”

Furthermore, he expressed gratitude towards the board of directors of First Bank and FBN Holdings for the support he received from them during his tenure.

Adeduntan was appointed as CEO of First Bank in 2016.

Prior to his appointment, he served as the bank’s executive director and chief financial officer (CFO).

Before joining First Bank in July 2014, he was a director and the pioneer CFO/business manager of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Adeduntan formerly worked as a senior vice-president and CFO at Citibank Nigeria Limited, as a senior manager in the financial services group of KPMG Professional Services, and as a manager at Arthur Andersen Nigeria.

The naira reversed the appreciation trend at the parallel section of the foreign exchange market on Friday.

The local currency depreciated by 17.14 percent to N1,230 per dollar — from N1,050/$ on April 17.

Currency traders, known as bureau de change (BDC) operators, quoted the buying rate at N1,200 and the selling price at N1,230 — leaving a profit margin of N30.

“The price of the dollar against naira increased since yesterday, probably due to the fact that there has been an increased demand since yesterday,” Aliyu, a BDC operator, said.

Meanwhile, the decline ended the upward trend of the naira at the street market since March 20, when the FX rate was N1,500/$.

At the official window, the naira depreciated to N1,169.99 against the dollar on Friday — a 1.38 percent drop from the N1,154.08/$ traded on April 18.

The local currency traded at a high of N1,236 and a low of N1,021, according to FMDQ Exchange, a platform that oversees official FX trading in Nigeria.

The development comes a day after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) denied selling FX to BDC operators at the rate of N1,001/$1.

CBN, in a post on X on April 18, said a circular claiming the apex bank announced the sale of $10,000 to BDCs at the rate of N1,001/$1 was “fake”.

The apex bank urged Nigerians to always refer to its website for authentic information.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nigerian chess master, Tunde Onakoya, on setting a new world chess record and sounding the gong of Nigeria’s resilience, self-belief, and ingenuity at the square of global acclaim.

Onakoya broke the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest chess marathon on Saturday, after playing for over 58 hours and winning every match in tow.

President Tinubu, in a statement by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, celebrated the Nigerian Chess Champion and founder of Chess in Slums Africa for the rare feat, but especially for the reason driving this compelling demonstration of character, which is raising funds for African children to learn and find opportunity through chess.

The President stated that Onakoya has shown a streak customary among Nigeria’s youth population, the audacity to make good change happen; to baffle impossibility, and propel innovations and solutions to the nation’s challenges, even from corners of disadvantage.

The President affirmed that Nigeria’s youths have demonstrated in all fields, including Afrobeats, Nollywood, the pulsating skit-making enterprise, education, science, and technology, that great exploits can truly come from small quarters.

President Tinubu commended the inclination of Nigerians – across artificial partitions – for unity, once again exemplified through their undiluted support for this epoch-making endeavour.

The President assured all citizens that his administration remains strongly committed to creating and expanding opportunities for the youth to explore and exercise their abilities and become the symbols of greatness our nation represents into the future.

Tunde Onakoya, a chess master from Nigeria, achieved a remarkable feat on Saturday, April 20, by setting a new Guinness World Record for the longest continuous chess marathon.

On his official X account, he excitedly shared the news with his followers, expressing determination to push the record to 60 hours while emphasizing the charitable cause behind his endeavor – raising funds for the education of underprivileged African children worldwide.

Surpassing the previous record of 56 hours and 9 minutes set by Norwegian players, Tunde’s marathon took place at the iconic Times Square in New York City. 

Partnering with US counterpart Shawn Martinez, both national masters, Tunde aimed not only to break a record but also to draw attention to the importance of providing educational opportunities to disadvantaged children across Africa.

As of Saturday morning, Onakoya has garnered nearly $100,000 in donations.

Joined by Martinez after 23 hours of play, the duo continued their quest, garnering support from notable figures including Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and musicians Davido and Adekunle Gold.

Through their determination and support, Tunde and Shawn showcased the power of unity and love in making a positive impact on the world.

Renowned Nigerian songstress Tiwatope Omolara Savage, affectionately known as Tiwa Savage, caused quite a stir on social media with a sizzling video where she didn’t mince words about her longing for a man to share her bed.

During a fiery interview on MTV Base, Tiwa Savage was grilled about the driving force behind her viral hit song ‘Men are Crazy’, a scorching collaboration with fellow songstress Simi.

In her bold response, Tiwa Savage revealed that despite the rollercoaster of experiences with men in her life, she still desires their presence in her bed, emphasized the inevitable role they play in women’s lives.

The ‘Somebody’s son’ crooner showered Simi with accolades, expressed her admiration for the talented artist and admitting her longstanding desire to collaborate with her.

Tiwa lauded Simi as a queen of Afrobeats, drew parallels between their status in the music industry.

Simi and Tiwa Savage are two of the most popular Nigerian female stars who have dazzled fans with their music for over a decade.

In an Afrobeats industry where collaborations between female stars are few and far between, Simi and Tiwa Savage came together to give fans an unforgettable song titled ‘Men Are Crazy’.

On the single released on April 5, 2024, the award-winning stars combined their captivating vocals as they discussed the complexities of romantic relationships with men.

“Men are mad but I still want one in my bed,” Simi sings as she sets the mood for the track where both stars navigate the ups and downs of romantic relationships before reaching a conclusion to embrace love despite its many challenges.

Nigerian singer, Adewale Emmanuel Mayowa, popularly known as Mayorkun, has taken legal action against TikTok influencer Nicki DaBarbie, filing a N1 billion lawsuit for defamation.

The lawsuit stems from accusations made by Nicki DaBarbie, alleging that Mayorkun, along with fellow musician Skiibii, were involved in occult rituals.

According to reports from Within Nigeria, Nicki DaBarbie publicly accused Mayorkun and Skiibii of attempting to exploit her for occult rites.

These serious allegations have prompted Mayorkun to take swift legal action to defend his reputation.

Mayorkun, through his legal representatives, issued a letter demanding that Nicki DaBarbie cease making defamatory remarks about him and Skiibii.

The letter refuted all allegations made by the TikTok influencer and demanded the removal of the offensive content from all social media platforms within 24 hours.

Furthermore, Mayorkun’s legal team has demanded a payment of N1 billion in damages to compensate for emotional distress, lost endorsements, and legal fees incurred as a result of the defamation.

In addition to the financial compensation, Nicki DaBarbie has been instructed to issue a formal apology to Mayorkun on the same social media platforms where the defamatory remarks were made.

See below;

Ọlawale Ọlọfọrọ, the famous Nigerian singer, who is popularly known as Brymo has again called out his colleagues in the music industry, Burna Boy, Tuface and Davido, claiming they came for him first.

He made some shocking allegations against his colleagues in his new claim.

In a video he shared, Brymo stated that coming for him was Davido, Tuface and Burna Boy's worst mistake.

He claimed that 2face does not live with his sons and that Burna Boy may never give birth to children. He also claimed that Davido kills every male child he comes across.

Brymo also claimed they are playing with their lives while adding that the trio represents ''men's absence in their lives.' Brymo went on to describe them as murderers.

Watch the video below…

City FM is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Programme: CITY TALKS WITH REUBEN ABATI

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Date: 20th April, 2024
                         
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