The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Philippines plans varsity in Kwara

    The Kwara State government has struck a deal with the government of the Philippines to establish a university in the state.

    The Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Saka Onimago told reporters that the proposed university, which will be called AMA University, would have its temporary site at the old Ilorin Teachers’ College, Lagos Road, Ilorin which, has seven hectares of land.

    Onimago said the university would be owned and funded by the Philippines government while the the state government would only provide the land for its temporary site.

    He also announced the government’s resolve of gradually ease out primary and post primary school teachers with no qualifications in education  from the system.  The Head of Service, Alhaji abarako Muhammed, Onimago said, has been asked to work out modalities for absorbing the teachers who would be affected by the exercise into the mainstream civil service. He said the government’s decision   to disengage unqualified teachers from the teaching job is informed by the need to improve on effectiveness of education received in the schools.

    He said teachers  among the 21, 000 NCE holders without specialisation in primary education would be encouraged to go for a sandwich course for the specialisation to enable them fit in at the level they teach.

     

  • Staff School fetes head teacher

    As Mrs Dorcas Akinduro bowed out as Head-teacher of the AAUA Staff Primary School, members of staff, Parent-Teacher Association, (PTA), and pupils of the school organised a befitting sendoff party for her last Wednesday.

    Those who spoke at the event described Mrs. Akinduro as an exemplary teacher, mother, God-fearing and administrator par excellence.

    The Acting Head-teacher, Mr. J.O. Ehineni, said her huge contributions to the development of the school would remain indelible.

    Mrs. Akinduro joined the then Ondo State University Staff School, Ado-Ekiti, in 1985 as a teacher.

    She acted as Head Teacher from 2000 to 2008 when she was confirmed as the substantive head.  She retired at 60 July last year after 28 years of meritorious service.

    In her response, Mrs. Akinduro, thanked God for seeing her through her service years. She appreciated the university management for giving her the necessary support.

  • Foundation’s $10,000 for LASU’s best

    The Oba Adeniji Adele Foundation is set to unfold a scholar grant, an intervention of not less than $10,000 that will be given annually to the Best Graduating Student of the Lagos State University (LASU) to pursue a post graduate course in any institution of the beneficiary’s choice.

    The announcement was made during a briefing in Lagos to unfold the grant in commemoration of the 50th remembrance anniversary of the of Lagos monarch Oba Adeniji Adele. Oba Musendiq Adeniji-Adele was the 19th monarch of Lagos who reigned between  1949 to July 1964.

    Daughter to the late monarch Princess Kudirat Adele-Sanyaolu, who spoke in Lagos described the grant as epochal and reflective of the person of Oba Adele who in his lifetime was a disciplinarian and visionary traditional ruler, and whose works and deeds cherished the pursuit of academic excellence. Adele-Sanyaolu said her father did everything to propagate the gospel of well rounded education not only within his family but also in the larger Lagos Isale Eko community.

    She said the grant will be launched on Saturday July 12th of July and be managed by the foundation.

    The general secretary of the foundation, Prince Sanmi Babatunde Adele, said the grant is to encourage students who are performing well and inspires others towards attaining excellence.

  • Monarch praises VC

    Monarch praises VC

    For maintaining a cordial relationship with the Umudike Uku autonomous community, inspiring and employing its youth, the Vice Chancellor of Michael Opara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Prof Hilary Edeoga, has won the heart of the trandtional ruler, Eze Ben Ogichi Oriaku.

    Describing Edeoga as God-sent, the monarch told The Nation that his good work has resonated beyond the institution to touch the host community.

    “In most universities, we hear things like riots and demonstrations, but we have never heard such in MOUAU because of the managerial dexterity of Prof Edeoga,” he said.

    The Eze added that the university has positively affected the psyche of the youths in the community “to the extent that all the youths are now interested in attending the university.”

    The traditional ruler of the university host community added that the university has witnessed unprecedented growth under Edeoga, whose five-year tenure ends in 20 months’ time.

    He praised the vice chancellor for ending the practice of ‘sorting’ – giving money for grades; and checked cultism.

    “The issue of sorting in MOUAU has been put to a stop, as students are seen in the midnight studying hard to pass their examinations unlike before when students bank on giving money to lecturers to pass their examination.  We now have brilliant graduates from the university in our community.

    “I took time out to go round the university and noticed 10 new hostels, many lecture halls, tarred roads, and shuttle vehicles for students at subsidised rates; Prof Edeoga should live long,” he said.

    Unlike previous administrations, Eze Oriaku said the university had never considered members of the community for employment.

    “But right now the situation is different as Prof Edeoga has remembered our people and that is the kind of thing that makes host communities happy,” he said.

    The monarch, however, urged the Vice Chancellor to employ members of the community, who are qualified into senior positions in the university.

    On his part, the President-General of Umudike Ukwu Improvement Union, Chief Philip Ukonu, urged youths from the community to study hard to sieze employment opportunities in the university when they come.

  • …PTA shows appreciation too

    The Chairman, Adeyemi College of Education Demonstration Secondary School Parent Teacher Association(PTA), Mr. Omoliki Zacheus, has described Prof Idowu as the architect of modern school.

    Zacheous made this disclosure during the send off party organised in Idowu’s honour.

    According to him, the school established 20 years ago, had witnessed monumental development in the last eight years of Idowu in the saddle.

    Mr. Omoliki praised Idowu for turning the school into one of the best in Ondo town with modern facilities in place.

    This, he said, had resulted into improved performance of pupils in external examinations such as the Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) and National Examination Council (NECO) with the school recording over 90 per cent.

  • Varsity research Foundation gives grants to groups

    Varsity research Foundation gives grants to groups

    The University of Ibadan Research Foundation (UI-RF), has awarded a collaborative research grant of N10 million to be disbursed over  three years to seven research groups within the university.

    The groups will focus on four thematic areas- agriculture, energy, health and water resources.

    The leaders of the groups are: Dr. Omolade Oladele; Prof. James Olopade; Prof. E.O Agbedana; Prof. A.A Aiyelari; Prof. Adeboye Olatunbosun; Dr. Abiodun Claudius-Cole and Prof. Moshood Tijani.

    In his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Isaac Adewole, said the UI-RF marks an important chapter in the evolution of the university as a research intensive institution, adding that it highlights the dedicated effort at providing support for research as a platform to realise the university’s vision.

    The university, he said, has created UI-RF with an important overarching objective, which is to provide unique opportunities for the staff to participate in interdisciplinary, leading-edge research funded by the university as well as international funding agencies.

    Prof. Adewole said: “The expectation is that efforts of the UI-RF in meeting these objectives will enable individual staff member to be more responsive to states and national needs that could be met through the research programmes, training and services. More importantly, it will enhance the ability of UI to continue to succeed in effort to deliver the best education and training for students.”

    He urged benefactors to be frugal on how they spend the money, as they all would be accountable. He enjoined them to work as a team and justify the purpose of the grant.

    Also the Chairman of UI-RF board, Chevalier Itsueli, said the board will task itself to make UI achieve more firsts by producing the first post-doctoral research positions at the institution within the next 12 months.

    “We must commercialise at least, one research finding from this portfolio within the same 12 months. We must create a Think-Tank to define and direct our national ethos, in that same time frame. We must provide our home within the next 24 months,” he assured

  • VC counsels 3,634 freshers

    The Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Prof. Femi Mimiko, on Tuesday last week, advised the 3,634 fresh students admitted for the 2013/2014 academic session to shun vices capable of jeopardising their scholarship.

    Mimiko, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rotimi Ajayi, said they should take the matriculation oath seriously.

    “Let me make it abundantly clear that AAUA has zero tolerance for social vices. I urge you to respect and observe the oath by eschewing all social vices such as cultism, examination misconduct, truancy, drug addiction, indiscipline, rape, murder, prostitution, indecent dressing, kidnapping and any form of violence,” he said.

    He congratulated the freshers for making it out of the 18,019 candidates that applied to the university.

  • Salem varsity gets full accreditation

    Salem varsity gets full accreditation

    It was another landmark in the history of a young Salem University Lokoja as it played host to the National Universities Commission in the accreditation visit on April, 2014.

    The visit of the NUC to the University was to access and inspect the physical facilities/structures as well as the academic content of the programmes (Criminology & Penology, Economics, International Relation & Diplomacy and Peace & Development Studies) offered in the Department of Social Sciences and (Public Administration) Department of Management Sciences.

    The team was impressed at the acceleration of physical and man power development recorded by the University within the last six years of its take off.

    The programmes received 100 per cent (full) accreditation from NUC. Salem University has recorded several milestones and has continued to offer the best in improving the standard of education in Nigeria.

    Prior to this, Salem University got 100 per cent (full) accreditation in Accounting and Business Administration Programmes.

  • Oyedepo is an asset to the world, says don

    Oyedepo is an asset to the world, says don

    With the successful completion of the ninth convocation of Covenant University(CU), Ota, Ogun State,  last Friday, the Vice-Chancellor(VC), Littoral University (Institute Littoral Des Etudes Professionnelles Superieures (ILEPS), Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin, Prof. Reuben Oyebode Ayeni,  has described the Chancellor and Chairman, Board of Regents (CU) Bishop David Oyedepo as an asset to mankind.

    “Bishop Oyedepo is a gift to the world and everyone needs to tap into it. I visit the university often to see what God is doing and everyday miracle in the university gives me joy and inspiration. It simply shows God is really working in Covenant University. I also try to learn, so that I can replicate what I see there in Littoral University. On behalf of my family and ILEPS, I want to congratulate Bishop Oyedepo for the success. This is also why I am here today with some of our students to celebrate this great achiever,” he said.

    Ayeni urged other institutions to take a cue from CU’s giant strides. “No wonder products from this great university are never stranded in the labour market or found looking for placements. This is a pointer that these new graduands, like their mates in the past, will surely make it in life. ILEPS will get there too,” he said.

    Speaking to The Nation shortly after delivering ILEPS’ goodwill message to CU, Ayeni, who came in company of some the university’s students and top management, expressed his happiness on the planned signing of an MoU between the two universities scheduled for July 9 at the CU premises.

    “It’s (MoU) a rare privilege given to us. Papa (Oyedepo) has been like a father to us, and has always encouraged us. We are happy about the collaboration. When a young university like ours has the privilege of standing on the shoulder of a world- class university like Covenant University,  it gives us a wider window to see further into academic horizons, while opening us up to wider opportunities beyond Africa.

    “Above all, it will open a new chapter in the history of both universities particularly, ILEPS in her quest to attaining excellence. That makes our journey to the top a lot easier,” he said.

    He said the university has been going through some trying times, contending with some elements, who want to throw spanners in the university’s good works.

    “Yes! There are challenges, but they are meant to make one become champions. We have lots of sycophants who are not sensitive to real issues.  Some parents are not patient enough and are getting swayed by hearsay. There are some bad eggs who want to reap where they did not sow.

    “Littoral University is not a warehouse where you just come and dump your child.  We are building future leaders here. The Republic of Benin education system has its modus operandi, which we must follow. We are appealing to parents and students to exercise patience because we are on course,” Prof. Ayeni said.

    ILEPS, he said, is speeding up plans at the permanent site located in Banigbe Idi-Iroko, so that the university can move there soonest.

  • The dearth of historical consciousness in Nigeria (I)

    “The nation suffers with no sense of history. Its values remain superficial and ephemeral unless imbued with a deep sense of continuity and a perception of success and achievement that transcends acquisition of temporary power or transient wealth. Such a nation cannot achieve a sense of purpose or direction or stability, and without them the future is bleak.” – Prof Jacob Adeniyi Ajayi, Emeritus Professor of History

    In May 1999, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo came on his “second missionary journey” as leader of this potentially yet prostrate nation, he was confronted by challenges from key parts of the country. In the east, there was a visible resurgence of the Biafra cause championed by Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). In the West and North, The O’odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) were pushing for an Oduduwa and Arewa republics respectively. There were also agitations for “self-determination” and “resource control” in other parts of the country.

    In his wisdom, one of the most distinguished scholars of our time who celebrated his 85th birthday recently, Emeritus Professor of History, Jacob F. Ade Ajayi approached Obasanjo and pointed out that Nigerians suffer from lack of historical consciousness which was why the event of that time seemed “strange.” He advised the president to think seriously about reintroducing the teaching of History to primary and secondary schools’ in the country so as to always put things in proper perspective. Obasanjo quickly issued a presidential directive to that effect. But sadly that directive has not been acted upon to date.

    The reason, according to Prof Akinjide Osuntokun; another distinguished emeritus professor of history is not farfetched. He said Ade Ajayi did everything in his power to return the learning of History to schools, unfortunately without success. It is not for lack of trying but perhaps because Nigeria is now dogged with the primitive acquisition of resources by members of the governing elite and their surrogates to the denigration of the larger good of society. He concludes that even where executive orders are given by presidents to return the teaching and learning of History to secondary schools, this has been more honoured in the breach than in the observance.

    Yet, few can doubt there is a need to insist on preserving the collective memory of the nation, it is a people’s right and a worthy commitment. I want to – in the next couple of weeks – critically look at where we have missed it as a nation by neglecting the study of history. It will shock some of us that there are still Nigerians who believe there are just four of five ethnic groups in the country! It may even shock some Idoma, Tiv, Igala, Berom, Bachama, Taroh or other ethnic groups in the middle belt that they are collectively referred to as “Hausa” by those in the south. This is where we are as a nation, and it is really not surprising that ethnic jingoists are exploiting this lacuna for their selfish interests.

    We must thus encourage an objective pursuit of historical truth by looking back once in a while, especially when confronted with challenges. The present security challenge is a case in point. We should be bold to research how we lived in pre-colonial times, for instance. Was there a link between the groups the British eventually brought together to form Nigeria? How were they relating with each other? Do they have things in common? Etc.

    Early this year, Nigeria celebrated – with pomp and pageantry – its centenary; but to the surprise of many, the organisers of the jamboree which gulped hundreds of millions of naira, did a shoddy job of the centenary compelling some groups and individual to come up with their own ideas of what a centenary celebration of this magnitude ought to have looked like.

    The Guardian newspaper of March 5, 2014 had two covers of the same newspaper for one day. Why did the newspaper go to this length? After the fiasco that was the celebration, the editorial team hurriedly put together another cover of 12 pages after the edition of that day had gone to bed titled “The house that Lugard built, 100 years after.”

    In the Editor’s notebook, the cerebral editor, Martins Oloja wrote: “The so-called grand finale of the year-long centenary celebration, which culminated in last Friday’s award/dinner night in Abuja, was a grandiloquent celebration of mediocrity! As a Nigerian, one had expected to see in the grand finale some historical documents and documentaries on Nigeria in the last 100 years. Was it material poverty or poverty of the mind and ideas that deprived the Centenary Committee from doing and publishing something grand, something historic and historical, something remarkable about Nigeria for the young and old, local and foreign observers to see?”

    A few days after that collector’s edition, the Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN) held a Colloquium in Abuja to mark Nigeria’s 100 years of existence. With the theme, “The House That Lugard Built: Perspective on Nigeria’s Centenary – The Gains, the Challenges and the Agenda for the Future;” the forum, according to the distinguished scholars, was aimed at “setting the record straight” on amalgamation.

    At the forum were the country’s renowned historians including Emeritus Professor Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa, Professor of History, University of Ibadan, Professor Obaro Ikime, Professor Monday Y. Mangvwat, Professor Siyan Oyeweso, Professor Ibrahim L. Bashir and Dr. C. N Ogbogbo. Also in attendance was the former Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

    At the colloquium, President, HSN, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, frowned at the relegation of the society in issues relating to the history of Nigeria including the planning of the centenary celebrations.  Even with its marginalisation, the Society said it has come together to give what it described as the academic perspective of the amalgamation for the benefit of Nigerians, especially those who see the unification as a fluke.

    Hear him: “This is the first academic society in Nigeria but we have realised that in recent times, the society was not contacted in anything that has to do with the history of Nigeria such as the Centenary celebration committee. But we think that such was a mistake and we decided on our own to give the academic side of the amalgamation… I read a poem titled, God Punish Lugard, and I felt this is the best time to set the record straight. That is the import of this conference, to see how we have fared in the last 100 years, the gains, the pains and the agenda for the future.”

    Giving an in-depth personal perspective of the amalgamation, Prof Akinwumi said it is a blessing. He said that aside from increasing the size and population, it has also brought recognition to the country at regional, continental and global scenes.

    ”Personally, I see the amalgamation as a blessing, without it, this great nation would not be recognised globally the way it is now. It has given us big population and large land area and that is the reason everywhere in the continent today, Nigeria is being mentioned. We know there are challenges here and there, but we will overcome the challenges.

    “Many things have been said about amalgamation, some said it was a mistake of 1914, others said Nigeria is a mere geographical expression. Others believe that there was no need for amalgamation and that Lord Lugard made a mistake by uniting us.

    ”These are the issues we want to set straight. Recently, there was an issue that came up, that there was a clause in the proclamation that after 100 years, any group that is interested to secede should do so, but we are saying that there is nothing like that in the proclamation. These are some of the records we want to set straight.”

    I take time to quote him because of the import of what he and his colleagues said. As distinguished historians, these gentlemen have analysed documents within and outside the country to have arrived at their informed conclusion.

    The typical American and British child in elementary school already knows a lot about his country, is it therefore little wonder that he grows up to be patriotic? History is compulsory up the age of 14 in state schools, some have gone ahead to make it compulsory until 18 years for students. I am convinced that it would be difficult for Nigerians – especially the youths – to envision the future without adequate knowledge of the past.