OAU students march on Ooni’s palace to protest fees increase

By SIKIRU AKINOLA

Distraught students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife on Tuesday took their protest against the recently announced increase in fees to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

Though they could not get to speak with the monarch, palace chiefs, who received them promised to deliver their message.

Before retiring to the Ife palace, the protestors, who marched in their hundreds, had mounted barricades at the Gbongan junction, opposite the Oduduwa University, causing traffic snare at the ever busy route.

Travelers going to Abuja, Ondo, Lagos, Ibadan, Ekiti and other neigbouring towns were stranded as the students barricaded all the roads, thereby forcing the motorists to park their vehicles.

Led by the students' union president-elect, Isaac Ibikunle, the aggrieved students carried placard with inscriptions critical of the university management and the federal government as they sang solidarity songs to express their displeasure.

Among them were some post-graduate students of the university, whose payable fees have also been increased.

They chanted anti-management songs, saying that the increment is aimed at killing poor Nigerians whose standard of living have fallen abysmally.

One of the banners read: "Omole's increment is Boko-Haramic".

While explaining the reason for liking the university policy to that of the fundamentalist Boko Haram, Ibikunle, a part five Law student, said the only difference is that while the insurgents are killing and abducting innocent school children, thereby preventing them from being educated, the increment also has the potential of stopping indigent students from furthering their studies.

He said that after exploring all avenues to make the management see reason and reverse the new regime of fees, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. 'Tale Omole, only offered to cut N17, 000 from it.

"We'll not be destructive in our struggle because our aluta is scientific and humanistic," he noted.

Ibikunle implored all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the Federal Government and the University to reverse the fee, saying the protest became pertinent because ‘we are aware that the FG has in its plans to increase tuition fees in all higher institutions in the country, using Ife to test this unhumanistic policy’. "All Nigerian students should join the school", he pleaded.

The chairman of the Murtala Muhammed Post-Graduate Hall, Chris Falola, said he doubted if he would be able to complete his programme, adding that most of them came back for their master’s degree because of unemployment.

"How can someone who is jobless pay that outrageous amount", Falola asked.

One of the protesters described the action of the university management as tyrannical. "How can somebody like Prof. Omole who led a protest against anti-masses policies as an undergraduate, introduced such?”

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OAU students spoil for war over fees increase

By SIKIRU AKINOLA

Students’ union leadership of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife has reacted angrily to a decision of the university authorities to increase fees payable by new intakes.

Rising from an emergency meeting of presidents of associations, faculties, executives of the Association of Campus Journalists, Hall Executives Council, Students' Representatives Council, Central Executive council and stakeholders in the union, last Tuesday, the students’ representatives warned the university management to reverse its decision or face a major showdown.

In a release jointly signed by the newly elected president of the OAU students’ union, Isaac Ibikunle, and the Secretary General, Olatayo Shittu, the union said it perused the document proposing the 'irrational increment', saying the decision would have grave implication on the common man, whose children would be denied education by the increase.

“We cannot stand in anyway bear the brunt and failure of a failed and irresponsible government by jeorpadising and negotiating our future. It must be reiterated that it (education) is our right and not a privilege under the United Nation's Child Right".

“We may have all come in different ships, but we are in the same boat now as Great Ife. The leadership of the union have embarked on intellectual tactics and strategies as regards this issue by proper engagement, consultation and consolidation with internal and external forces to wield their influence for us on this shocking hike in fees,” the statement said.

The students later resolved that their elected executives should be inaugurated by the management before Friday, this week.

They also resolved that the mass media and social media be explored to publicize the struggle as they contact legal luminaries for assistance.

While advising all banks headquarters not to collect the new fee from prospective students of OAU, students equally agreed that sister unions like ASUU, SSANU, NASU and the Alumni body as well as parents and past student leaders should be contacted.

The management of the university had recently announced an upward review of entrants’ fee by as much as 300 percent, citing dwindling funding from the federal government among the reasons.

It also said it has consulted widely with stakeholders before the decision was made.

WITNESS NIGERIA recalls that the introduction of theN20,000 acceptance fee sparked off protest and led to the closure of the university and immediate proscription of the students’ union on February 23rd, 2011. The ban on the union was only lifted three months ago.

To allay students’ fear, the university said that it didn't take that decision without considering the Nigerian students.

It compared its fees with those of other universities like University of Nigeria, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Federal University of Agriculture,Abeokuta, University of Ibadan, University of Benin, University of Lagos, University of Ilorin, University of Calabar and newly established Federal University of Technology, Oye-Ekiti, saying that “it should be noted that all universities whose figures are cited above are currently revising upwards all charges”.

According to a document obtained by our man on campus, though the approval was recent, the management had been tinkering with the idea for long.

“Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, is presently the only Federal university with the lowest student charges in the country. Efforts to review the charges have been in the pipeline for some time now. It is now imperative to take further action on this matter in view of the following”.

“The overhead cost allocation and subvention received from the Federal Government has dwindled by over 50 per cent compared to what the university received five years ago.

“Despite the decrease in the overhead allocation from the Federal Government, inflation has eaten deep into the meager allocation to the university and therefore makes the current charges paid by fresh students unsustainable,” a statement circulated across the university campus read.

As against the N17150 paid by fresh students in the faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences, N72, 400 has been proposed for incoming students. For those coming to the faculty of Sciences, N78, 400 is the proposed amount as against the old fee of N22, 150. The proposed charge for fresh students in the faculties of Clinical Sciences and Pharmacy are N81, 400, four times higher than the old fee of N22, 150. The fee increase is in addition to the N20, 000 acceptance fee which was introduced three years ago.

A release by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olarewaju stated that the Senate of the University has approved the adjustment, adding that that the old order was no longer realistic in the present-day Nigeria.

"Accordingly, the Senate of OAU has unanimously agreed to further improve on the ratings of the university as the best in Nigeria, especially in terms of giving sound and quality teachings to its students. It, therefore, enjoined parents and guardians of new students to assist the university in this regard by being financially active in the payment of this fee.

"We would like to also inform the general public that tuition is still free in OAU and that acceptance fee remains N20,000:00. Even at the new charges, we are still the best and the cheapest in West Africa and students from other universities could attest to this assertion," the university spokesperson stated.

Olarewaju also noted that the Senate has constituted a committee to take care of the financial constraints of indigent students, adding that OAU will continue to do its best in uplifting the standard of education in Nigeria.

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Gambian varsity seeks OAU intervention, signs pact

By SIKIRU AKINOLA

Apparently impressed by the rising profile of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, especially the recent Webometric world rating which placed the OAU as best University in Nigeria for the third time running and the sixth best in Africa, the University of The Gambia has sent a high-powered delegation to the university to seek assistance in areas of academic, administrative and professional endeavours.

The team, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Muhammadou Kah, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the OAU on Monday, highlighting specific areas where urgent interventions are required in putting the fifteen-year-old Gambian University on a sound footing.

According to Kah, the immediate needs that require quick attention included provision of academic and administrative staff at senior level cadre, ICT and some instructors, Chief Librarian, Deputy Provost for its School of Medicine, Medical equipment, more teachers for the Faculties of Arts and Sciences, Law, Basic Sciences and Agriculture.

He implored OAU management to bring its magic wand and excellence to bear on the ares so that the link between its Faculty of Agriculture and its teaching and research farm, which is for real practical and demonstration of what has been taught in classes, would be replicated by its team of experts in the University of The Gambia. He applauded the big brother gesture of Nigeria and enjoined OAU to use all resources at its disposal to make The Gambia an educationally solid country.

Going down memory lane, Kah recalled how a Nigerian Professor, Emman Ekpon, as the pioneer Vice- Chancellor, laid a good, solid foundation for what is now called the hope and future of The Gambia.

He said Ekpon brought from Nigeria the pioneer Provosts, Deans, the Registrar and a few others to build an indestructible foundation for the university.

Kah appreciated the invaluable contributions of Nigeria to the present educational standard of The Gambia, adding that Nigeria has a tradition and history of University education with abundance of intellectuals whose ingenuity could shape the future of Africa for the best.

“The footprint of Ife (OAU) is far grounded in The Gambia, because all your graduates who are our citizens are doing well not only in our country but all over the world. We want to see our students in your campus here and also see your students in the University of The Gambia. OAU has enough resources, material, academic and financial, to assist us to attain a world class University.”

He expressed the gratitude of The Gambian President, Yaya Jameh, for the care and unique leadership which OAU has been providing for other Universities in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Responding, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Professor Bamitale Omole, assured the visiting team of adequate provision, stating that whatever it takes to make the MoU works shall be done. He reinstated his belief in the uniqueness of Africa and call on those in the diaspora to contribute their own quota to make the development of the continent rapid.

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Nigerian secondary schools heads condemn abduction of school girls in Borno

The All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPSS, has lent its voice to the growing global outrage against the abduction of over 200 girls from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno state.

ANCOPSS, an umbrella body of all principals of secondary schools in Nigeria, issued a communique at the end of its five-day 57^th annual national congress, held in Ibadan to frown at and condemned the incident, as well as the spate of insecurity in schools across the country.

The national president of ANCOPSS, Fatima Abdulrahman, who presented the position of the association to journalists in Ibadan on Thursday, also traced the many social evils bedeviling Nigeria to ‘lopsided or poor education status’ in the country.

“Congress in session condemned in totality the activities of the insurgents and the abduction of over 200 female students of GGSS Chibok in Borno state, and urged the abductors to release the students immediately,” the statement, signed by the president and Ahmed Madugu, National Public Relations Officer, read in part.

Describing as apt the choice of “Education: An Investment in Security” as the 2014 conference theme, Mrs. Abdulrahman stressed the need for governments at all levels in the country to pay attention to education to reduce security risk among the people.

The congress also made case for the promotion of e-learning, which, it said was not receiving deserved priority in many states of the country.

While suggesting ways to address the problems associated with illiteracy, ANCOPSS laid down 10-point recommendation.

It called on all stakeholders, particularly governments, to ensure that at least 26 percent of the nation’s annual budget is committed to education, as recommended by the UNESCO.

“Governments at all levels as a matter of priority should institutionalize and sustain security of lives and property in the country.

“If our national development is not going to be a mirage, insecurity in all its ramification should be fought by all stakeholders.

“Increased access to education with the modern education system with high standards would help to foster security and stability in the country.

“The government should adequately sensitize the citizenry on the negative effect of these vices such as suicide bombing, kidnapping, armed robbery, ritual etc,” the communique stated.

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University of Ibadan proposes International Mathematical Centre

By MAYOWA OKEKALE

Dignitaries from walks of life, including the academia, were gathered at the Trenchard hall of the University of Ibadan early this week to launch and raise the fund for the proposed Adegoke Olubummo International Mathematical Center, conceived in post-humous honour of Nigeria's first Professor of Mathematics, Adegoke Olubummo.

In his opening remark, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Isaac Adewole, explained that the event was unique as it showcases an icon and first Professor of Mathematics in Nigeria, who had done a lot in the discipline which most people like to dread.

According to him, the idea of establishing International Mathematical Centres in citadels of learning is global, adding that the premier university is only attempting a replica.

"We are copying this initiative because we believe it is the way it's being done in the developed world. Also, we have to imitate good things and use them for our own benefits and development".

Stressing the importance of the proposed centre, Adewole said, the it will derive support and nutrition for the university community, and also train people in the area of mathematics and Engineering respectively.

"In this country, we can only be developed through plans and calculations, and that is why the centre would be instituted to look into the challenges surrounding these aspects and assists our students in the right attitude of getting data and figures to developing the society and country at large," he said.

In his inaugural speech, the Vice President of Nigeria, Architect Namadi Sambo, represented by Chairman, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Dr. Musa Babayo, remarked that the University of Ibadan deserves to be commended for the noble initiative, saying that is why the institution is synonymous with excellence and dignity in the face of the world.

"Today's event is also supported by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, to improve the needed research and teaching of mathematics as the time would not have come better than now. More so, it is a laudable achievement which would go a long way in providing adequate training for staff and students, so as to be able to use mathematical science to solve our daily problems in the nation. Therefore, it must meet national standard," he added.

Sambo, however, called on well-meaning Nigerians to generously donate to the initiative as government alone cannot provide everything needed for its sustainability.

While reading the profile of the Late Professor Adegoke Olubummo, the Head, Department of Mathematics, University of Ibadan, Professor Ezekiel Ayoola, said: "The Orin-Ekiti indigene had established locally, a respectable tradition of good Functional analysis in Nigeria in general, and in Ibadan in particular".

He said that the centre would focus on excellence in the mathematical sciences, reaching across the discipline, and out to other disciplines.

“It shall provide opportunities for students and postdoctoral fellows to interact with leading researchers in the mathematical sciences and other disciplines”, he stressed.

Professor Olabisi Ugbebor of the Department of Mathematics, University of Ibadan, in her goodwill message, described the honoree as a thorough teacher and supervisor, saying he teaches with simplicity and moderation.

She further described him as a simple Nigerian who believed in his students’ ability, and who was always contented with what he had. In her words: “this honour is long overdue to the first Professor of Mathematics in Nigeria. I hope and pray that this centre will become an oasis for those searching for knowledge.

Speaking on behalf of the Oyo state Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the state Commissioner for Education, Professor Solomon Olaniyonu, admitted that mathematics, as a subject of value, must be given due attention if Nigeria must develop technologically and scientifically.

He, however, expressed shock at the behavioral disposition of students towards the subject, saying that it is quite unfortunate that students have phobia for the learning and internalization of the subject.

Adding, he said: “I wish to assure you that in Oyo State, we spare no efforts in order to promote the mathematics and making it teachable in our primary and secondary schools. We shall continue to sponsor teachers and students to attend workshop, with a view to exposing them to learning and teaching of the subject”.

Also speaking at the event, the Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, who was represented by Kehinde Ojo, asserted that: “the honoree, whom also was a son of Ekiti soil, was a legend and great motivator to students. During his teaching days, he goes to class without textbooks”.

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UNESCO harps on use of indigenous languages to promote learning process

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has said that the use of indigenous languages for education had a major impact on the quality of learning processes and outcomes.

The UNESCO Regional Director, Prof. Hassana Alidou, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday at a workshop to pre-test an action research guidebook in multilingual and multicultural contexts.

The theme of the workshop is tagged ``Action Research to improve youth and adult literacy’’.

Alidou said the guidebook on action research would facilitate involvement and empowerment of community, mass literacy and adult education centres in the country.

She noted that the reality of linguistic diversity and cultural differences required people to be competent in several languages.

"In 1996, the world commission on culture and development mandated by UNESCO raised a concern that culture should be an integral part in policy making to achieve social and economic development and wellbeing of the people.

"Culture shapes our thinking, imagining and behaviour, and its importance has been underestimated.

"In the agenda of education, development and culture are going to be intertwined in order to account for diverse learning and development needs of all people,’’ Alidou said.

She said that the use of languages in education would make people to communicate appropriately in different domains of life such as locally, regionally, nationally and across borders.

The Programme Specialist, UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning, Ms Christine Glanz, said that the programme to improve youth and adult literacy had been incorporated in 15 countries including West Africa.

According to her, sharing international ideas and experiences on the quality of adult literacy through the use of language would go a long way to minimise illiteracy rate in country.

Glanz noted that the workshop was aimed at developing a guideline that would support people around the world to build their capacity in learning.

"We have incorporated ideas from a minimum of 15 countries like Asian region, Indonesia, South Africa, Mali and Senegal.

"If we want to reduce illiteracy rate, then we need to get people engaged, and support them in improving the quality of their lives as well as their literacy programmes,’’ she said.

Glanz, however, called for collaboration to develop a language that would be used for learning in a multilingual and multicultural context.

NAN

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Court orders reinstatement of expelled BUK student

The management of the Bayero University, Kano has been ordered to reinstate Hafsat Mangal, a Part Three English Language Studies student of the institution, expelled in January 2011 for alleged examination malpractices.

The order was given by Justice Fatun Riman of the Federal High Court, Kano on Tuesday while delivering his judgement on a case instituted against the university by the expelled student.

While ordering that Mangal's full rights of bona fide student of English Language Studies of the institution be reinstated, the court also declared her expulsion as null and void.

According to the judge, the evidences and authorities presented before the court in the course of hearing the case indicated that Mangal was not given fair hearing before she was expelled.

He said he relied on the questions asked the plaintiff at the Dr. Khamisu Sani-led Committee on Examination Malpractice.

“The questions created a lacuna in the proceeding and thereby infringed on the fundamental right of the plaintiff as guaranteed in the constitution.

“The plaintiff has discharged the onus placed on her to prove her case within the balance of probability in civil case,” he said.

The court ordered the university and other defendants to re-instate Mangal to continue with her English language study in the Faculty of Arts without any loss of rights and privileges.

“These include the right to participate fully in normal academic and extra-curricular activities that would lead to her successful completion of Bachelor of Arts Degree programme in English,” Riman said.

Mangal, who testified for herself, denied the allegation leveled against her, including owning the handwriting in the confiscated booklet.

She also denied being the person caught with the booklet.

The university, through its lawyer, Francis Ithunokia, called two witnesses to prove its case before the court.

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One feared dead as UNIBEN screens new intakes

By OLALEKAN BADMOS

One person was feared dead and several others injured as the University of Benin screened its new intakes on Wednesday.

The incident was coming barely a fortnight after dozens of youth were killed in stampede during a recruitment exercise for the Nigerian Immigration Services held at designated centres across the country.

Eyewitness to the UNIBEN’s incident told WITNESS NIGERIA that attempt by security personnel of the university to control the large crowd of candidates scrambling to get screened at the same time led to stampede which has allegedly claimed a life.

“The guys were trying to shut the gate of the screening venue against them to prevent the surge. Some fell in the process and those still finding their feet marched on them.

“It was a terrible thing and so serious. It began when the students were attempting to enter into the hall and the security men said no. It was then that some of the students attempted to force their way into the place and the security men forcefully closed the gates on them. That is how hundreds of them fell.

"Those who got up marched on those still on the ground to get out of the confusion, the source said.

The University's Public Relations Officer, Harrison Osarenren, could not be reached for comments as his phones were switched off.

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Police foil planned attack on college students in Kebbi State

The Kebbi Police Command said on Monday that it had foiled an attempt by unknown gunmen to attack the Kebbi State College of Basic and Advanced Studies in Yauri, headquarters of Yauri Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Benjamin Onwuka, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi that the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday.

Onwuka, however, dismissed insinuations that the attackers were insurgents.

He stated that normalcy had been restored in the institution as both the students and residents of the area had resumed their normal daily activities.

The police commissioner called on residents of the area to remain law abiding and to avoid spreading rumours.

Onwuka, however, appealed to the public to continue to assist the police with relevant information that would assist security agencies to contain crime in the state.

Meanwhile, a student of the college, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the gunmen gained entry into the school’s premises at about 2 a.m. on Saturday.

NAN

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Ibadan Poly students protest power outage, extra charges

Students of the Polytechnic Ibadan went on rampage on Monday to protest alleged unjust N500 Enterprenuership Programme charge and epileptic power and water supply on the campus.

The protest paralysed academic and social activities within the Sango main campus of the institution.

Police vans were seen at the main gate as students ensured that no vehicle gained access to the premises.

Protestors threatened to attack journalists, who were at the scene to gather information about the protest.

While speaking after a meeting with the management of the Polytechnic, the Students Union President, Iyiola Oladimeji, explained that the protest was staged to register their displeasure over a N500 levy allegedly imposed on them for the school's Entrepreneurship Development (EED) programme as well as irregular electricity and water supply.

"We are protesting because of some misunderstanding between the management and the students. We don't want payment of extra charges on  (EED) which has been unproductive. The students are complaining that the charges are too much and that the conditions on campus are not conducive for learning because we don't have stable electricity and water supply. We have been experiencing these for years now" he maintained.

But the institution's Public Relations Officer, Soladoye Adewole, insisted that the students should have exercised some patience and understanding since the electricity situation was a general problem across the country.

"The polytechnic Ibadan is not from another planet. It is also part of the Nigerian society. I dare to say that none of us is having regular electricity supply in our homes. And these students are also individuals from different homes and what they are experiencing here is not different from what they are experiencing in their various homes," he said.

He however stated that the N500 fees being charged for the Entrepreneuship programme was justifiable and not too much. According to him, it was to help run a programme that would give the students skills to create employment for themselves when public or private jobs elude them when they graduate.

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SPED provost in trouble over college’s shoddy project presentation

By JIDE JEGEDE

Provost of the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, Emmanuel Adeniyi, may have put himself into serious trouble over a shoddy presentation made by his institution in a forum chaired by the supervising minister of education, Nyesom Wike, in Ibadan on Thursday.

 

Adeniyi was to be at the Trenchard hall, University of Ibadan where a stakeholder town hall meeting was held for tertiary institutions in the southwest to showcase projects executed with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) within the zone.

The programme was the fourth of its series as Federal Government congregates stakeholders in tertiary education in each of the geopolitical zones across the country to give account of TETFund interventions in their respective institutions.

But the Provost neither attended nor sent apology for his absence. He only sent an official, who made extremely poor presentation on behalf of the college.

Among the institutions that presented, the college’s, also known as SPED, was the worst.

Unlike two other institutions that presented before it, SPED’s few slides contained structures in their worst states, leaving many people to wonder if the school management really understand the import of the gathering.

This probably struck the attention of the minister, who interrupted the presenter to find out why.

“Excuse me, are you the Provost?” the minister asked the official.

Apparently sensing trouble and already fidgeting, the official responded, “I am not the Provost, sir. I am the Deputy Director (Technical).”

Another official of the college, whose name and designation was not known, rose from the audience to assist in answering the minister’s many queries to the presenting colleague.

Though no one knew exactly what could become of the Provost after the day’s meeting, the minister was apparently furious by the development as Vice Chancellors from University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, University of Lagos, Rectors of Polytechnic and Provosts of Colleges of Education with the zone were there to personally showcase the wonders the intervention had performed in their territories. Those who could not come sent apologies and were represented by officials whose presentations were well applauded.

At the end of the drama, Wike pointedly told the official, “I considered that you have not presented,” while the humiliated official feebly walked through the audience to take his seat.

Another drama also ensure during the question time when the SPED official, who had earlier assisted in answering Wike’s query of the college’s poor showing, rose to make comment on the presentations made so far.

“Are you not the one whose institution could not present,” the minister interrupted again.

“Yes,” the man answered.

“Then, you cannot ask questions or make any comment. If you were given opportunity and you could not present, why would you make any comment. Please sit down, I would not listen to your comment,” he said angrily.

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Many Nigerian tertiary institutions lack project implementation capacity, says Wike

The supervising minister of education, Nyesom Wike, has identified lack of project implementation capacity in many tertiary institutions in Nigeria as one of the major challenges facing the federal government in its effort to change the face of education in the country.

 

The minister, who spoke at the South West edition of the stakeholders’ town hall meeting on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) intervention, held at Trenchard, University of Ibadan on Thursday, noted that no other government has funded the nation’s education sector as much as Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

“The federal government recognizes the importance of tertiary education in driving development objectives and enhancing global competitiveness. It is for this reason that critical attention have been paid by the administration to supporting our tertiary institutions for growth,” he said.

According to the minister, between 2010 and 2013, the government has consistently increased allocation to the education sector, adding that from N234.8 billion it earmarked in 2010, the sector got N437 billion in 2013.

He disclosed that within the same period, the government also disbursed N125 billion as matching grants to states to support development of infrastructure and resources in basic education, but, however, regretted that many of those states do not make available their counterpart funding to ensure proper takeoff and delivery of projects for which the monies were meant.

Mr. Wike stated further that TETFund has help tremendously in improving the infrastructure and human resources in tertiary institutions across the country, urging Nigerians to appreciate this in President Jonathan’s administration.

Tertiary institutions within the southwest zone took their turn to present to the audience how much they have benefited from the intervention funds and the many problems it has helped put behind them.

Some of the projects exhibited include renovation of old structures and construction of new one, purchase of equipment, local and overseas training of members of staff among others.

Former minister of information and pro-Chancellor of University of Lagos, Jerry Gana, lauded the programme.

"I am happy to be here. It is a very good initiative. At the end of these presentations, those who have done well know they have done well. Those who did not do well should have realized areas where they should work on to do better in future. With what we have seen, those who say the federal government is not doing anything will be very unfair,” he said.

In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Isaac Adewole, remarked that apart from providing the opportunity to showcase what they had done with government money, the meeting would provide opportunity for heads of educational institutions to rob minds together and share ideas for better governance in their respective territories.

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Bauchi govt. finds 4,485 unqualified teachers in payroll -- SUBEB Chairman

The Bauchi State Government has uncovered no fewer than 4,485 teachers not possessing the minimum qualification of Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) to teach in primary schools on its payroll.

 

The Chairman of the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Abdullahi Dabo, said this on Wednesday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi.

“We have 4,485 teachers who have not yet obtained NCE qualification in Bauchi State and they are on the payroll of the board up till now.

“Previously, we discovered many of our teachers lacking the abilities to deliver good lessons to our pupils in the primary schools.

“We in fact had to make sure that we give these children their own legitimate entitlements because they are entitled to be taught.

“There are some who are in possession of these qualifications but the qualifications were not obtained through the legitimate process; some certificates were obtained by proxy, others were bought.

“I believe some of the teachers bribed their instructors so that they can be given these NCE certificates; they couldn't defend the certificates.

Dabo said that in the process of screening the affected teachers, some resorted to violence while others fled.

“We in fact insisted we must screen them. In the process of trying to screen them, some of them wanted to resort to violence.

“That attracted the attention of the governor. So he inaugurated a committee to screen all these teachers.

“When they were at the last stages of the screening at the Teachers’ Service Commission, many were given proficiency tests prepared from the instruments on primary four textbooks, yet many of these teachers failed.

“And they were given a second chance to sit for the examination. Still these teachers could not measure up.

“I cannot imagine what kind of training that will groom these teachers to be useful teachers. It is something difficult.”

NAN

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The many challenges of Pharmacy practice in Nigeria

By DEBO AKINOLA

Nigerian pharmacy graduates are often ill-equipped for challenges ahead and are practically thrown into a system that is completely strange, leaving them to struggle in all areas of practice, a pharmacist, Lolu Ojo has said.

Speaking on the challenges of the pharmacy profession in the 21st century, at this year's annual Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS) of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife , Ojo said that despite the sound education, the environment of practice does not allow young graduates to give their best.

"In the hospital, the doctor is the boss. He has cornered everything and in fact, will prefer Pharmacy and other irritating para-medicals to be thrown out of the hospital. There can only be one head of department who will probably retire as an Assistant Director or at best a deputy director. Everyone one else must wait. The situation is not different in the various ministries, parastatals and agencies. It is the same experience at the community and industrial arena," he noted.

Explaining further that the available space has been occupied and practically locked up by businessmen, entrepreneurs, he said "paradoxically, the very well trained graduate eventually become a wanderer moving one job to the other seeking an elusive comfortable altitude to fly".

According to him, this, has taken many colleagues back to school to acquire additional degrees in other areas like accountancy, law and engineering, adding that this has led to a collection of a class of hybrid pharmacists, dissatisfied and unhappy others.

Cautioning on blame trading, Ojo said, "everybody blames everybody. To the youths, our leaders had been docile, unimaginative, selfish if not outrightly stupid or foolish. They have sold our franchise to the dogs. Others blame the doctors, the traders, the government, etc. Yet, the situation gets worse and our supposedly formidable enemies are consolidating while we continue to agitate challenging every imaginable foes and adversaries".

As solution, he offered that the challenge will be on how to use the instrumentality of Pharmacy to achieve that aim.

"Mercantilism or professionalism? There is always this delicate balance between the professional and mercantile nature of pharmacy. Your training in pharmaceutical sciences does not prepare you adequately for the business of pharmacy. Drug is a specialised article of trade and most of the very successful pharmaceutical entrepreneurs are not pharmacists. If, therefore, you have your eyes on the mercantile Pharmacy, then you must retrain yourself appropriately. You must learn the trade and become an expert in it".

While welcoming participants to the event earlier, dean of the faculty of pharmacy, Prof. Onawumi, advised them to make good use of the lecture.

The event also witnessed a debate which was won by the host university, OAU.

The debate was organised to encourage pharmacy students to know what is going on outside their discipline.

The debate, which was the 2nd edition of the Shade Olafimihan Inter-Pharmacy Debate, saw Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, University of Ibadan and Igbinedion University, Okada coming second, third and fourth respectively.

On the third day, residents of Aba Gboro, a village within the university community, benefited from the PANS' health outreach. Drugs were given free to the villagers. The students also held a seminar and rendered charity service to their host villagers.

Renowned professor of Pharmacy, Adebayo Lamikanra, who was the chairman of panel of judges, while commenting on national issues, berated politicians for naming universities after themselves.

He said that "naming universities after after politicians who have contributed in no small measure to our underdevelopment is bad. What did Olabisi Onabanjo do to Ogun State University other than he was a governor? What did Obafemi Awolowo did to the University of Ife to have warranted a change of name of the university to his name? He was not even the premier of western region when this stupidity was carried out. The Cambridge University has never been renamed. We don't have a Churchill University in the United Kingdom".

Saying that the planned national conference would not achieve anything, he explained that "we talk about freedom, peace and unity, insecurity has loomed large in the northern Nigeria; Boko Haram has spoilt everything. We talk about the labour of our heroes' past. Which heroes? If they are dead, they should bury their heads in shame, if they are still alive, they should go and die".

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University of Ibadan scholar wins international award

 

A female scientist at the University of Ibadan, Dr. Taiwo Elufioye, has won a $5,000 research grant of the 2014 Elvevier Foundation Award for early carrier Women Scientists in Developing World.

 

Elufioye, a staff of Department of Pharmacognosy of the premier university, was the only African among the five winners in this year’s edition.

She received the award for her research on the treatment properties of native Nigerian Plants, with particular bias on the effectiveness of different species in treating malaria, wounds, memory loss, leprosy and cancer.

Other four career Women Scientists, whose researches into medicinal properties of natural compound secured them the award, came from Central and South Asia, East and South-East Asia and the Pacific, and the Arab Region.

The Awards was jointly organised by Elsevier Foundation, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) was held in Chicago.

Apart from the $5,000 grant, the awardees will also enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to the United States to attend the 2014 AAAS Annual meeting which focuses on the application of Chemistry of nature to pharmaceutical science.

Reacting to the award, Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Isaac Adewole described Dr. Elufioye as a pride of Nigeria and the African Continent as a whole.

According to him, the feat recorded by the woman scientist would inspire other women in science.

He also reiterated the university’s commitment to providing the needed environment for her researchers to come top as they compete in global community of scholars.

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Shut down all federal schools in Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Old Students tell Nigerian government

Nyesom Wike

The Unity Schools Old Students’ Association, USOSA, on Wednesday called for the immediate closure of Federal Government Colleges in the North Eastern States of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa.

USOSA was reacting to the killing of scores of students of the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi in Yobe, by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the President-General of USOSA, Muhammad Nuhu-Koko said; “the situation is so agitating and alarming; the danger to innocent students so present and deadly.

“The Unity Schools Old Students Association is left with no option but to call for the adoption of the following measures:

“The immediate closure of all the eight Federal Government Colleges in the three states under the emergency rule, that is, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa as well as every other school that lies in harm’s way.

“Transfer of all the students in these Unity Colleges to other Federal Unity Colleges in the country to continue with their studies.’’

He also called for the immediate deployment of adequate security personnel to secure the schools pending evacuation of the students to safer environments.

The president-general urged the Federal Government to deploy all necessary resources to end the insecurity situation in the North East.

Also speaking at the solemn event, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who is also an alumni, Garba Tetengi, described the attack as a dastardly act and a cankerworm that should not be allowed to spread to other parts of the country.

“Whoever they are, whatever they are, they should know that the Almighty sees them killing the children with such impunity.’’

Chyna Iwuanyanwu, also a member of USOSA and a politician, said: “the act is wicked, callous satanic and beyond politics or religion.’’

Mr. Iwuanyanwu urged security agencies to step up intelligence gathering because all Nigerians were endangered with the current trend if events.

In his speech, Ini Akpabio, the National Vice President of USOSA said the activities of the insurgents was a direct attack on the unity of the nation “and we are saying enough is enough’’.

Mr. Akpabio also urged the Federal Government to take another look at its present strategy to tackle activities of insurgents.

The insurgents attacked the Federal Government College in the early hours of Tuesday, killing scores of students.

 

(NAN)

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COEASU/FG discussion on strike ended in deadlock, says union official

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) on Tuesday in Lagos said its discussion with the Federal Government concerning its ongoing strike has ended in a deadlock.

Mr Olayanju Abolaji, COEASU Chairman, Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the strike would therefore continue until its demands were met.

Abolaji said COEASU’s National Executive Council met with Federal Government representatives, led by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr Emeka Wogu, on Thursday, Feb. 20.

He said the union could not reach an agreement with the Federal Government team because government’s offer to the striking workers was not appreciable.

``COEASU is not ready to take empty promises. The Federal Government must be committed to implementing our demands to an appreciable level before we can call off the strike.

``We are ready to call off the strike, even if it is necessary today, but that is if there is a commitment on the part of the Federal Government,” Abolaji said.

He said the union would not relent in its struggle to improve the standard of the Colleges of Education.

Abolaji said government was yet to give the cash backing needed to cater for the needs of the Colleges of Education as reported to it by the Needs Assessment Committee.

``The Needs Assessment Committee set up by the Federal Government has visited the colleges, collated their needs and sent the cost implication to the government.

``But we are yet to receive the cash backing to that effect,” he said.

NAN reports that COEASU had on Dec. 31, 2013 declared an indefinite nationwide strike to press home its demands.

It had complained about the poor state of infrastructure in the colleges, as well as their poor funding.

The union also rejected the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) already operational in the Federal Civil Service and the non-implementation of the 2010 Federal Government-COEASU agreement.

(NAN)

 

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Use of Hijab is religious, constitutional right-Southwest Muslims‏

An Islamic group under the auspices of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) has said that use of the veil (also known as Hijab) is constitutional right of Muslim women, adding that it must be protected by every government.

The body gave the position in Ibadan at a press conference on Thursday as it assessed the raging crisis over the reclassification policy of the Osun state government in its public primary and secondary school education.

The Executive Secretary of the group, Prof. Dawud Noibi, who addressed journalists, urged the Osun state Governor Rauf Aregbesola to ensure that Muslim pupils and students in the state's schools are allowed to use hijab without any hindrance.

“We call on Ogbeni Aregbesola to guarantee for Muslim pupils and students in the state who wish to obey Allah by using the hijab to do so without let or hindrance. We demand that the religious freedom of the girls to comply with Allah's instruction be respected and protected,” he said.

He wondered why the exercise of constitutional right should be seen as an offence as accentuated by Christian Association of Nigeria's position in the state and the Iwo Baptist High School saga where, on February 2 and 3, some students variously appeared in choir robes, Ifa beads, masquerades, hijabs, turbans and many attires that depicted various religious inclinations.

Mr. Noibi, who rebuked CAN for regarding the use of hijab as attempt to islamize Osun, said "they are all attempts to divert attention from the impressive records of a government that has positively impacted the lives of people both within and outside of the state".

According to him, the development was a way of sponsoring a campaign of calumny against the governor as the governorship election in the state approaches.

“Yet, the muslims of the South West are resolved to remain calm and patient as usual with the patience and perseverance which have so far made peaceful co-existence possible and sustainable in Yoruba land. However, we expect our Christian counterparts to realise that the old order has changed. It is no longer business as usual. We expect them to reciprocate our gesture of patience and our spirit of accommodation for the good of all,” he said.

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Unilorin expels 51 students in two years

The University of Ilorin said it expelled no fewer than 51 students for various academic offences in the last two years.

 

The university spokesman, Mr Kunle Akogun, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Thursday that the exercise was a routine one.

 

According to him, it is meant to sustain the rich tradition of the university in line with character and learning.

 

Akogun said that their offences ranged from being members of secret cults to bribing lecturers to upgrade their scores after examinations.

He said that others include examination malpractice, theft and Internet fraud, adding that the affected students were from various faculties of the institution.

 

He said those who were not expelled were either warned or exonerated or rusticated for a semester.

 

Akogun said ``the university authority has over the years maintained zero tolerance for acts of indiscipline. (NAN)

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