Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, has honoured  businesswoman and philanthropist Folorunso Alakija with a  Honorary Doctorate Degree, Doctor of Science (D.Sc) in Business Administration. Alakija was conferred with the degree at the 4th convocation of the university  in Abeokuta  in recognition of her outstanding achievements and contributions to business, entrepreneurship, public service, among others.

Vice Chancellor Prof.  Chinedum Peace Babalola,  was joined by the Founder/Chairman, Board of Trustees of Chrisland University, Dr Winifred Awosika and Prof. Ayodeji  Olukoju Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council to present the award.

Babalola said the honoree’s accomplishments were worthy of recognition.

Read Also: Folorunsho Alakija’s wondrous taste

“Your lifetime accomplishments as a dynamic businesswoman, engendering culture, and improved quality of life in society are worthy of recognition. We are particularly proud of your accomplishments as the Founder of the Rose of Sharon Foundation – an organisation that focuses on easing the plights of the world’s most vulnerable people, including widows and orphans and many other remarkable contributions to the nation,” she said.

Alakija thanked  management for counting her worthy of honour. She said she was delighted that the university had gained recognition and acceptability in the country and on the African continent. She praised the visioner of the university for  positively bringing to life the dream of impacting the education sector from kindergarten to tertiary level.

“I would like to recognise the accomplishments of this great institution, and the level of excellence that has been attained within such a short time, to the extent that men and women of academic excellence and economic independence are now being churned out from the university on a yearly basis.

“I sincerely thank the board of trustees, the governing council and staff of the school for this honorary degree. I will always try my best in which ever way I can to give my support to the development of the university,” she said.

The International Organisation for Peace Building and Social Justice (PSJ) will hold its maiden youth ambassadors summit from November 24th– 26th in Jos, Plateau State.

The theme of the summit is “Peace building and social justice – A pathway to national unity, integration, development and social economic prosperity.”

The summit, according to the Executive Director of PSJ, Ishaya Inuwa, will reflect on the factors behind the perennial social unrest and insecurity in Nigeria.

It will also mobilise the participants by creating awareness on the need for becoming ambassadors for peace building and social justice in Nigeria.

“ Young people have the potential to be positive actors in peace-building in societies recovering from conflict and advocates for social justice. Youths can be heroes or perpetrators as well as victims, saviours in the midst of crisis,” Inuwa stated.

Speakers at the summit include Businessman and Community Developer, Alex Ladan who will deliver a
paper on Perspectives on Peace Building and Social Justice, Advocacy Manager, TearFund Nigeria, Ben Osawe, Overview of Insecurity from Global Perspective and Director of Centre for the Study of Religion, Church and Society, Professor Yusufu Turaki, Historical Roots of Social Injustice in Nigeria.

Others are Legal Practitioner, Ibrahim Buba on Legal Maters on Peace Building and Social Justice, Media Consultant, Alice Jumoke Lara-Fashakin , The Role of Media in Promoting Peace and Social Justice and Mr Samson Bugama, Managing Director and Chief Executive
Officer of Agrikeys Services Limited, Impact of Social Justice on the Economy.

PSJ is a Non- Governmental
Organization (NGO) which exist to promote peace building and social justice in Nigeria. It is established
to conscientiously change the deep-rooted narratives that obliterates the peaceful co-existence of
communities through evidence-based research and information.
It is set out to facilitate the process of collaboration across civil societies, the public and private sectors;
the government and research bodies to foster inclusion, equity, and social justice for the deprived and
marginalised.

Students who just got admitted into various higher institutions of learning, in many scenarios, after leaving the comfort of their respective homes, families and friends, find it a little difficult to blend into the new environment where they meet new friends and new families in  lecturers and colleagues.

At this instance, in most cases, you find out that students and their lecturers don’t usually maintain supposed cordial relationship wherein the latter is conventionally expected to play numerous fatherly roles such as giving the students moral and intellectual piece  advice, guiding and counselling them on many issues affecting their lives.

Unfortunately, most lecturers do not consider the above-mentioned instances as anything but  are rather businesslike every time they meet or have contact with their teeming students.

Therefore, it is  imperative for lecturers to guide their students to achieve their primary purpose in tertiary institutions, even though student population of most higher institutions  annually skyrocket, but that doesn’t mean lecturers should allow the students do whatever they want.

This will add up to the moral uprightness that may have been instilled into  students at their various homes. Indirectly or even directly, this will reduce innumerable social vices we are  experiencing in the country.

It is also obvious that students  are more independent compared to when they were in secondary school. This often gives them the air of freedom which makes them engage in nefarious activities ever-present in most higher institutions such as cultism, gangsterism, prostitution etc.

Lecturers are implored to see to these and back up their series of lectures with ‘morally-themed’ admonitions. This will ultimately rekindle the relationship between them and their students.

Inevitably, other societal challenges such as terrorism (Boko Haram and ISWAP), cyber theft (Yahoo Yahoo), kidnapping, robbery, banditry and occult initiation etc would thoroughly be addressed.

Likewise, it is also of  importance for lecturers to have a mutual understanding with their students in matters relating to their academics. They should behave and act like true academics  especially when they are reeling out their various lectures and subsequent educational engagements.

They should teach passionately well as this will invariably enhance and encourage those serious among  students. Unavoidably, this will make  lecturers and  students relate cordially. In turn, if a lecturer fails to treat his students accordingly, they will never appreciate him.

Students too should always hold their lecturers in high esteem and honour them as and when due because they (the lecturers) are playing the role of parents to them.

Even, universities or other higher institutions of learning are awarding their students with two concentric, interwoven things – character and learning, even when a student graduates with a first-class degree or  distinction and unfortunately possesses  despising attitudes towards people, such person would be considered unworthy.

There are other numerous factors that can cement the relationship between lecturers and students in higher institutions of learning.

• Adeyemo is a Mass Communication student at University of Maiduguri.

The Vice Chancellor of the First Technical University, Ibadan, Professor Adesola Ajayi, alongside other top officials, has introduced freshers to the academic, vocational and entrepreneurial culture of the institution.

At the orientation for the 2022/23 set of students, held on the campus last week, the Vice Chancellor welcomed the freshers and gave them a picture of the life-changing experience ahead of them.

According to him, the First Technical University is a wonderful institution ready to offer them the best in their various disciplines. All they required, he said, was commitment to their studies and a hunger for innovation and excellence.

Professor Ajayi said: “In the spirit of building the brain and training hands, you will be provided with the best academic education in your various courses, while you will get entrepreneurship and vocational training. At the end of your programme, you will be awarded three certificates, each of which is good enough to give you a solid future. These are your BSc. in your course of study, a Diploma Certificate in Entrepreneurship, and another Diploma Certificate in French. This, of course, means that a lot is expected of you because you will not get these certificates on a silver platter. We will not dash you any of the certificates. You must assiduously work for it.

“You need not be scared, however; because this university has everything that will guide and support you to attain the best. Our lecturers are highly qualified, competent and experienced. The university has a very rich library with all the physical and digital materials required. We have a digitised system that will give you a novel and unique e-learning experience. Well, you will soon discover that instead of the chalkboards and white boards with which you were taught in the foundation schools – and as still obtains in many other higher institutions – Tech-U has provided smartboards that are computerised and will guarantee you a great teaching-learning experience.”

The Vice Chancellor further told the students about Tech-U’s network of partnerships with some foreign universities and corporate organisations. These include the Texas Technical University in the United States of America; the Morgan State University, US; the Atlanta College, also in the United States of America; as well as the  Girne American University, Cyprus. The partnerships will provide the opportunity for students to have parts of their programmes in these foreign institutions once necessary criteria are met.

 He encouraged them to cultivate only positive relationships and desist from bad company as the school has no tolerance for indiscipline. The VC urged them not to misuse the freedom they have.

“Think creatively and imbibe the idea of innovation,” Ajayi added.

• Council chair inaugurates Senate

The Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Otto-Ijanikin, has got approval from  the  National Universities Commission (NUC) for 66 new academic programmes as it prepares to admit its first set of undergraduates.

This was made known by Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bidemi Lafiaji-Okuneye,  at the first meeting and inauguration of  senate since it transmuted to a university. The inauguration was done  by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Alhaji Sekinat Yusuf on  campus in Otto-Ijanikin.

The Senate of LASUED is made up of the acting VC, as chairman, Registrar as Secretary, acting deputy VC, 29 heads of department, seven deans, six directors and nine visiting professors.

The Ag. VC said  a  verification exercise was carried out by experts from the NUC to the proposed 67 academic programmes from September 19 to 30, 2022.

“The superintendent body [NUC] had approved the establishment of the full-time mode of the undergraduate programmes to be run by the university with effect from the 2022/2022 academic session,”   she said.

She said only Civic Education was not  approved.

She noted  that over 7,000 students applied to the institution for admission but  the NUC had not given the university  its required carrying- capacity.

“With manpower and facilities, we can carry more students,” she said.

Lafiaji-Okuneye said the meeting of the Senate for the first time was necessary in view of the accreditation.

She said: “I have  no doubt that with the pedigree of the members of this Senate; our vision of taking the lead in the teacher education industry within the shortest time possible is just a matter of time.”

She noted that workshops and seminars  were organised for principal officers and other key stakeholders, adding that the appropriate placement of staff had been carried out.

Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Alhaja Sekinat Yusuf, described the inauguration of the Senate  as important in the history of the university.

She noted that the ceremony was a testament to the  institution’s mission to promote academic and moral  excellence.

“Today, we are laying the ground work of a structure that will stand the test of time and it is gratifying to note that you are partakers,’’ she said.

The Pro-Chancellor praised Governor Babajide  Sanwo-Olu for his dedication to quality tertiary education in the state.

She told   senate members  to be committed to their duties including, setting academic regulations for students conduct and discipline, admissions, examinations, teaching and research quality that would have impact on the university.

“The admission  of students are pending because the senate is yet to set the rules and regulations.   With the inauguration of senate, one expects senate to expedite actions,” she added.

Yusuf urged the senate to cooperate with the governing council to take  the  university to enviable heights.

The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, has said the university’s calendar would cover lost grounds after  the suspension of the eight months strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

His words:”Our calendar is loaded with two streams running concurrently. We aspire to cover lost grounds without sacrificing academic excellence. This is in response to the realities on the ground due to the eight months lost to the ASUU strike.”

Fasina spoke during the matriculation of 7,433 students in the school.

He said FUOYE would admit students for Medicine and Surgery in the next academic session.

“FUOYE is living up to the responsibility of fulfilling its mandate. Little wonder that in the last JAMB, FUOYE ranked as the sixth most subscribed university in Nigeria.

“We are matriculating 7,433 new students across 11 faculties. During the last matriculation ceremony, we celebrated the official take–off of three new faculties: Pharmacy, Basic Medical Sciences, and Environmental Management and Design.

“The new faculties are up and doing, and by this time next year, our Medicine students will be part of this ceremony,” he said.

The VC advised  students against being   redundant, urging them to actualise their  potentials and become national and international assets.

He said: “Our  university is on the right path in fulfilling its duties. The university is now ranked as the sixth most subscribed university out of 216 universities in Nigeria.

“Over 53,000 candidates are applying to FUOYE on a yearly basis. We assure you that solid academic foundational training is at the heart of this university.

“Our target is to consolidate on this momentum and never rest on our oars until FUOYE is ranked as one of the leading universities across the world.

“As we embark on this pursuit for knowledge, not for it’s sake, but for the advancement of the human race. l urge you all to seek this veritable platform to actualise your potentials and become national and international assets. I urge you to cooperate with us and give no room for redundancy.”

Pioneer Vice Chancellor of Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, Prof. Friday Okonofua, has said  curriculum overhaul in tertiary education would boost and increase  research in maternal health.

He was the guest lecturer at  the 4th Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele Annual Lecture in Obstetrics and Gyneacology last week at the College of Medicine University of Lagos, Idi-Araba.

The lecture entitled:  ‘Fostering research and innovation in Obstetrics and Gyneacology and women’s health’ was organised by the Office of the Advancement and Board of Trustees of Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele Annual lecture in Obstetrics and Gyneacology in collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gyneacology, College of Medicine, UNILAG.

The don stressed the need for universities to put more resources to research in maternal healthcare. He deplored the scarcity of research output in reputable international journals.

He, however, praised stakeholders for their efforts in  ensuring the availability and accessibility of funds for researchers to engage in solution-based researches.

Okonofua also said capacity building was crucial  to ensuring  that maternal issues get enough research attention.

Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Development Services), Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa who represented outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, emphasised the belief of the university in research as the mainstay of  the academia.

Provost of the College of Medicine, Prof. David Oke,said the  lecture would serve as a veritable platform for medical advancement in the country.

The Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. Adetokunbo  Fabanwo,  who was Chairman of the Lecture, thanked UNILAG  for supporting the legacy of the donor.

The first female grant award winner who benefitted from the 2019 Endowment for Research, Dr Babah Ochuwa expressed her gratitude for the privilege of the research grant. She stated that her publication was cited in several international journals and that the discoveries as a result of the research would serve as a template for further research.

The late Dame Frederica Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele initially launched 4 endowments as professorial chairs which subsequently became annual lectures in the University of Lagos, the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Osun State University.