Category: Campus Life

Outgoing Vice Chancellor University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has said ‘institutional’ loyalty was the driving force of the institution’s management team which he heads. He said they were not given to personal gains, effective service delivery.

He spoke during  the valedictory programme in his honour on Wednesday on campus in Akoka.

His tenure ends on Saturday, November 12,2022. He would be succeeded by Prof. Folasade Ogunsola who was named new VC last month.

“In  all our deeds, we put institutional loyalty first. We did not think of personal gain in all our affairs.

Members of my team didn’t see the assignment as a job, they saw it as a calling,” he said.

He noted that during the crisis that engulfed the institution that resulted in his removal by the Wale Babalakin-led governing council, he was resolute and was at peace with himself.

Ogundipe praised all those who stood by him during that difficult period, particularly Ogunsola,who he described as a sister.

The outgoing VC was able to attract a research grant of N19 billion within four years to the university.  “For us to have attracted  research grant of N19 billion  within four years is commendable,no university in Nigeria achieved that,” he said.

He lauded the Senate of the institution describing it as the best in the world.

His words:”The university runs with a system,if you disrupt such, it will fight. Senate of UNILAG proved to be the best in the world. Somebody disrupted the UNILAG system and it fought.”

Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Rahman Bello, who was Ogundipe’s predecessor, said the school was built on sound principles. He hailed Ogundipe for improving the institution despite the crisis that threatened his position. He said he was proud of him.

He urged leaders to learn from UNILAG saying,five years was adequate to fix things.

 “With Ogundipe’s  success, I myself have succeeded. I am am honoree today too.

His five years seemed like 10 to me because of interesting events that too place. We should learn from what  has happened here.UNILAG is a well established institution that cannot be robbed. When everything looked shaky, I was confident things would be normal. The school is based on  sound principles. God is with this school. I am proud of Toyin Ogundipe. He has been able to move UNILAG to the next stage. He was able to wade through COVID 19, brought us to era of e-learning. Infrastructure has been modernised and improved. Nigeria should learn  from us,five years is enough to reposition things. We should extend our experience here to the nation’s for it to move forward,” he said.

Chairman Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNILAG branch, Dr Dele Ashiru paid tribute to the outgoing VC. He described him as a dogged fighter, supportive and union-friendly VC.

“It is a honour to be part of the success story  of UNILAG. Prof.Ogundipe is a rugged and dogged fighter. He presided over the university in  one of the most turbulent times in the country.

“He  is a union;friendly VC. While some  divide  and rule,our union has enjoyed a harmonious relationship with the university under the leadership of Ogundipe. He has been of tremendous support to all labour unions on  campus.

“He gave us palliatives during the 2020 strike and pandemic,the only university in Nigeria to do that,” he said. Ashiru, however charged the incoming Ogunsola to be fair in her appointments and bring back students union on campus.

Dignitaries at the event included, former Secretary General of National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Mr. Ayo Opadokun, pioneer head of department of Chemical Engineering, UNILAG,  Prof. Ayo Ogunye,veteran journalist and scholar, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, Founder Trinity House Church, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo,  university officials, well wishers and students.

They all paid glowing tributes to Ogundipe for proving his mettle in the university.

Students at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, want the new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, to prioritise their welfare and make studying a worthwhile experience. PRECIOUS AKINTULUBO (OOU) reports.

The management of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, (OOU), Ago Iwoye appointed Prof. Ayodeji Olayinka  Agboola who was the former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) as the new Vice Chancellor (VC).

Agboola’s appointment was approved by the Governing Council of OOU. He  succeeds  Prof. Ganiyu Olatunde.

Agboola is the 11th Vice Chancellor of the institution, his tenure which commenced last month, would last for  five years.

However, students of the institution want the new VC to address poor  transportation, infrastructure, students’ harrassment, among others.

Busola Oluwole, a 300-Level student of Biochemistry wants the new VC to  bring new developments to the institution.

” School computers need to be worked upon; he can invest in repairing them or getting new ones,” she said.

Solomon Damilola, a 400-Level student of Linguistics, said: “There is nothing he can do again for the current semester because the examination time table came out before resumption.

“We  hope that next  semester, he will provide students with enough time to prepare for exams.

“Then, the way the Information and Communication Technology (ICT)centre is always choked during exam, the issue of no slippers and bus scarcity need to be addressed.

“He should also approve yearly convocations and not merge two sessions together.”

 Shoaga Awaw, a 300-Level student of History, expects the new VC to address shortage of buses on campus.

On how the new VC can assist students to  improve academically,  he said: “The new VC should make sure that students aren’t harassed unnecessarily during  examinations  and there should be more lecture theatres for students.

“Also he should provide  public address system,  enough fans or air conditioning units  in lecture theatres because students suffer from fatigue due to heat or unfavourable conditions that we are being put through during lectures.”

Chukwunyere Wisdom, a 300-Level student of Fisheries Production, wants  the new helmsman to  make right decisions where they need to be made.

“Some students need a change of  mentality. Also there should be provision of more facilities and instruments for practicals,” he said.

Martins Babatunde, a  200-Level student of Social Studies (Education), advised the new VC to maintain the students current mode of dressing as it promotes the institution’s legacy.

Meanwhile, he urged him to increase bursary fee of students who are  indigenes.

“The new VC should also maintain the current lecture hours, school calendar and curriculum,” he said.

A 200-Level student of Economics, Taiwo Ogunlana urged the new VC to deal with the issue of transportation because it is tough for  students to transport themselves to the main campus.

He also expects him to improve  online  classes which are always affected by poor network.

“Improvement in technology and infrastructure will also be appreciated,” he added.

Shobowale Damilola, a 300-Level student of Mass Communication  urged  Agboola  to maintain the standard already set in the institution, adding that harrasment of students by officials at the school’s gate should be addressed.

Speaking on pressure caused by the upcoming examination, she said: “The VC can also assist by extending the examination date because most students didn’t receive any lectures before the strike. Now, they have been given a month to prepare for the work of a whole semester.”

Oluwafemi Emmanuel Idowu, a 200-Level student of Social Studies Education expects the new VC to bring new BRT buses to ease transportation problem. 

“The new VC should make provision of more lecture theatres for students and students pews. He should also ensure the surrounding of the school is cleared and given a facelift,”he said.

For Olayinka Oluwanifemi, a 400-Level student of Linguistics, the school hostel needs electricity especially during  weekends. She also urged the new VC to make provisions for transportation at  weekends for students living in school hostels.

“What I can say here is that the VC has a lot to do. He should keep maintaining cleanliness and  address indecent dressing. Meanwhile, he should also address inadequacy of  lecture theatres, poor network for online classes, lack of buses and more,” she said.

 Hamzat Oreoluwa, a  200-Level student of Accounting, said: “The VC needs to address the issue of fresher students change of course.

“Also, most classrooms need more fans and microphones. These are  major issues. He should also address  bus scarcity on campus.”

Omolabake Salako, a 400-Level student of Nursing at one of the institution’s  mini campuses, Sagamu Campus,  urged the new VC to construct an effective ICT Centre and Student Affairs  Building at Sagamu Campus, as well as other annex campuses, where students can easily resolve their problems without visiting the main campus.

She advised the new VC to ensure that the lecturers take their lectures regularly and effectively. She also said he should ensure that  examination timetables were  not overwhelming and courses  properly organised to ease the flow of examinations.

“He should ensure the reduction of the number of students in a single room at the hostels, there should be free WiFi in school premises since students are still mandated to pay a technological fee of N5000 and he should also make avenue for interactions between annex campuses to combat isolation and promote interdisciplinary networking and collaboration,” she said.

Odunayo Omodolapo Adubi, a 400-Level student of Health Education,   urged Agboola  to address inequality at the gate where private cars aren’t stopped while public cars get stopped. She also wants him to ensure free access to internet in the school, build more  lecture theatres and  relaxation centres at each faculty and provide more facilities at the sport centre.

“Results issues should be treated with urgency as some students have problems with results which takes time to be addressed, while some people don’t even get theirs addressed and they have to rewrite the course(s),” she said.

Michael Oluwagbenga, a 200-Level student of Economics Education,  urged the new VC to allow students to put on any foot wear that suits them because not all of them are comfortable with shoes and sandals.

“He should put an end to the nose mask and shoe trouble,then he should  grant students access to the school’s  WiFi networks,” he said.

Seyi Lasisi, a 300-Level  English Language and Education student, said: “Students whose classes end between  4 and 5pm are always stampeding themselves when they get to the school park; some will have to walk to the school gate before they could see a bus to board home.

“Also school environment isn’t conducive for both rain and hot weather. There are no shades that students could stay under to lessen the effect of the sun, likewise to  avoid being drenched when it rains.Thus, Agboola should look into all that.

 “He should also initiate  student-friendly policies and activities. Quite a number of students are still unable to pay their fees, the VC should endeavour to not close the school portal, but give them time.

“He should also cancel  the N5000 compulsory technology fee students are meant to pay after paying their pocket-draining school fees.”

Outgoing students at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Anambra State, also known as Anambra State University, are anxious of what to expect in life after school. Some fear that job hunting might be tough since they don’t have requisite experience; others believe starting a business is essential with the overbloated labour market. CHlBUIKE NWACHUKWU (UNN) reports.

Excitement swept through Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Anambra State as the graduating students marked the end of their first degree.

Like a woman delivered of a baby, the students seemed to have forgotten the hardship they passed through as undergraduates.

At the Igbariam campus of the institution, the outgoing students were dressed in white shirts that had bold prints of either their names or nicknames  and signatures of fellow students and other people in the university community rejoicing with them.

They hugged one another and took pictures with friends and classmates. Their junior colleagues watched in excitement as they chatted and giggled.

The celebration termed “Sign out” or “Log out” in some other tertiary institutions is the norm.  Final year students look forward to it with plans on what to wear and how to celebrate within and outside the school premises.

“After this, my girls (friends) and I will go to a nice place to celebrate our victory,” said an excited female student.

“We went through a lot in hands of lecturers, he added.Like this outgoing student, others also had several reasons to celebrate. Most of them pointed out that having experienced financial difficulty as a result of the deteriorating economy, the occasion was fitting for jubilation because they finally scaled through.

A male graduate who simply identified himself as  Jay said: “Life as an undergraduate was not easy, especially for people from poor homes like me.

“At some point, I thought of dropping out because of insufficient funds I usually received from home, but I decided to do menial jobs to support myself instead.

“Imagine the stress I had to deal with combining studies with hustle.”

 Mixed feelings

Despite the celebrations, the fresh school leavers were worried about life after school. The joy of graduation could not dispel the fear of what lies ahead.  Among many concerns, they expressed fear of the labour market that demands job experience from fresh graduates.

This fear  came from the mode of operation of most employers in Nigeria, who demand that job seekers must have some level of work experience gained through years of practice. This leaves no room for greenhorns to learn the ropes of the job and grow in it.

As a result of such demand, there is an increase in the number of unemployed and underemployed youths in the country. Out of the millions of graduates  produced every year, only few are gainfully employed.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) 33.3 per cent or 23.2 million Nigerians out of over 70 million working age population are unemployed.

Amaka Uzoh, a graduating student of Mass Communication, explained that the “sign out” celebration was not just a time to be happy about leaving school, but also a moment to think about the future.

According to her, school is a shield from the “nation’s harsh labour market.”

She said: “To be honest, I’m not ready for what lies ahead for me. In no distant time, I will start searching for jobs in places where employers would demand five years work experience from a fresh graduate.”

Furthermore, she said as her graduation approached, she thought deeply about the future and what it held and each time she did, she wished she had more time to stay in school.

Ogo Ifesinachi, a  graduating Sociology student after reliving her experiences as an undergraduate, said  she did not bargain for what she would face as a job seeker.

“The situation bothers me because I won’t get a job easily after spending four years in school,” she said.

A male graduating student of Economics, who pleaded anonymity, seemed to have prepared his mind for the battle fresh job seekers face. He said he would not focus all his attention and energy on getting a job that may never come when there are things to do for money.

“In this country? I won’t make that same mistake that has ruined many.

“I love the vibe that comes with white collar jobs, but the plan is to join my dad in Onitsha main market while I search for a good paying job,” he added, saying that if he made it in business before the job comes, he would forget white collar jobs and focus on trade.

Similarly, Kelly Nwankwo of Economics Department said she would start a business, and “about searching for a job, I will leave that in hands of my dad and uncles that care to help.”

For Chidinma Gift of Philosophy Department, the issue degrades and dishonours the years spent in school to get degrees. She suggested that “education should be scrapped” since certificates were not valued in the labour market.

“I feel so bad about this. We are told to go to school and acquire a certificate, which will enable us get good jobs, but that doesn’t happen in this country,” she said.

Gift noted that it was exhausting and discouraging to see graduates struggle to get jobs while less-educated people have it easy because they have practical knowledge. She said certificates should be proof that graduates were prepared for jobs and not experience.

“Graduates should be given opportunities because without it, we can’t have the experiences they demand. We have the knowledge already and with that (knowledge) comes the practical,” she said.

Kosisochukwu Chidi, a political scientist said  the issue exists because employers of labour believe that only old and experienced people are needed for a possible smooth flow of work, “forgetting that they need young blood in the system.”

“If they feel they (fresh graduates) can’t really offer much, they can put them through trainings,” he said.

Graduating students of other schools

The fear of going into the labour market without job experience is not peculiar to the graduates from COOU. It is a thing of worry to both graduating students and undergraduates across Nigeria. It has become a national phenomenon.

Adobi Nkwoemeka, a Mass Communication graduating student of  the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State,  said  the issue makes the  labour market tough and scary to fresh graduates.

“The truth is that I don’t like thinking about it because it gives me some kind of phobia.

“Imagine searching for a job that falls within your field of study only to discover you need three years job experience before you can even be considered for interview.”

Chinelo Sophia of Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State said it hurts to see graduates go out in search of jobs and meet “five to 10 years experience” as one of the requirements.

“How are we going to get the experience if they don’t employ us?” she asked.

For Chikodili Okpalaji  of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, the labour market is not easy for  fresh school leavers because highly experienced applicants are prioritised even when green horns have better results.

“Any firm that takes you (fresh graduate) would pay peanuts because you lack experience,” she said.

 Experiences from the labour market

The labour market is replete with job seekers. Their frustrations are usually triggered by demands of employers which include job experience, degree type, age limit, etc.

Parents of the unemployed also share in the frustration because their investments in educating their children yield no profit.

What job seekers face is the reason people  believe that going to school is a waste of time and resources. It popularided the “school is scam” slogan.

Gift said it breaks her heart to see graduates learning trade and doing menial jobs to earn a living. She explained that the unfriendly labour market pushes them into demeaning sources of livelihood and crime like the trending internet fraud also known as “yahoo-yahoo”.

“I shed a tear when a bike man I had a chat with told me he had a first in Economics. This is a country where first class graduates become bike men. They have failed us totally,” she said.

She explained that first class graduates should not even carry file from office to office, but should be given automatic employment.

Grace Raul, who graduated in 2019, said she wanted to work in a media house, but her lack of job experience made it difficult. She had two choices; either to apply with a certain level of job experience, or work without pay for sometime.

“I couldn’t work as an unpaid intern, so  I changed my career path. I needed money and I couldn’t wait,” she said.

Augustin Ezeh, a civil engineer, said though he had  not searched for employment  since graduation because of his profession, he has experienced delays in proposal acceptance.

He said: “Some clients or firms looked out for more job experience than my age, or  facial appreciation  could support.”

 Expert reacts

Dr Ifeoma Mba, Head, Economics Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), said  it makes no sense to demand job experience from fresh graduates. Except they (employers) ask for some sort of working experience, but not specifically in the job role applied for.

She, however, said not all employers refuse fresh graduates. There are some that do not make such demands, but are willing to employ them  to cut down cost of manpower.

“Those that demand job experience do so mostly to avoid the rigorous process of training them on the job which costs them time and resources,” she said.

Mba noted that the world was no longer what it used to be so, the trend will not go away.

“The best thing for undergraduates to do is to equip themselves with necessary skills and corporate world experience through internships and other forms of trainings.”

She explained that employers sometimes want to see what a fresh graduate was able to do as a student. So, students should be encouraged to acquire knowledge outside the school curriculum to increase their chances of finding jobs.

“I tell my students not to be the usual student, but to stretch their necks and try to see beyond the class rooms. When you go home, try and get yourselves involved in productive processes,” she said.

She argued that although there were departments that had industrial trainings as courses, there was need for schools to intervene in the situation. This can be done by building internship and programmes that will help students gain practical knowledge.

“Our department do not have internship programme, but we try to expose our students to software packages and analytical tools that will help them fit into many job roles, especially in the financial sector.

“As the world and everything in it changes, curriculum review is necessary to keep up.

Nigeria, unlike Finland and other countries leading in the global education sector does not have such curriculum that promotes skill development, and self discovery and development which are needed in the labour market. In Nigeria the focus is usually on certificates so, people care more about passing examinations than retaining knowledge.

In Finland, skills anticipation is the bedrock of the curriculum. The country is intentional about meeting the needs of the labour market, hence, skill anticipation activities are linked to policymaking.

According to The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) report,  to match the skills supply and demand in Finland, there is an input and feedback system between the government at all levels and other stakeholders including employers, trade unions, and labour market intermediaries as well as education institutions and their staff and students.

 

Internally displaced persons (IDPs)  are  people who have obliged to flee or leave their homes  to avoid the effect of armed conflicts, situations of generalised violence, natural  or human made disasters and who have not crossed an international recognised border.

IDPs camps are overcrowded and have   limited  facilities, hence,  diseases spread easily.

Lack of  knowledge on  proper hygiene, poor use of latrines could lead to contamination of their food and water. This poor hygiene and lack of proper sanitation, coupled with the large number of people living in the camp increases exposure to infections. There is high risk of  diarrhoea, cholera  and other diseases.

Meanwhile, IDPs are also at risk regarding what they eat.

For instance, eating vegetables grown with waste  water,  ice made from contaminated water, raw or undercooked seafood caught in water polluted with sewage.

Read Also: 60 percent internally displaced children vulnerable to COVID-19 – UNICEF

Checks revealed that  not less than 25 persons including 20 surrendered Boko Haram fighters died due to cholera outbreak in Hajj camp, four died in Bama camp and also three died in Muna Garage IDPs camp, all in Borno State. Also, nearly 1,000 cases  have been reported so far.

In a nutshell, cholera can be prevented through washing of hands with soap and water frequently, especially after using the toilet and before handling food, if soap and water are not available, alcohol based sanitisers should be used.

Oral intravenous hydration is the primary treatment for cholera and also antibiotics is recommended in severe cases for  patients that continue to pass a large volume of stool.

To curb this deadly disease in IDPs camp and our environment in general , there is need for the government and other non-governmental organisations to provide well-equipped treatment centres in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. They should provide rehydration points and rapid testing  kits in our Primary Health Care Centres.

In addition there is need for the government to make provision for more toilet facilities , drainage and efficient waste management for all the camps and  come up with sensitisation  programmes which would help  IDPs  to improve their hygiene and protect their lives.

 

• Adeyemo is a Mass Communication student at University of Maiduguri

It is imperative for schools to prioritise the safety of their students and create policies towards strengthening security, the Principal of Atlantic Hall School,Epe, Dr Terry Howard, has said.

According to him, there are security concerns all over the world, hence,  school boards have to look at policies and measures to keep students safe.

He said security issues in  schools create doubts in the heart of parents and they could  decide to take their wards elsewhere.

“Schools have to do everything to keep  students happy and healthy so that they can keep on operating.

The teachers need to know what they need to do to keep their students safe.

And our school is not different in that. We have our policies and procedures on security. Our school campus is safe as possible. We have not had any security  issues that I am aware of,” he said.

The widely-travelled administrator noted that he was determined   to improve the overall quality of education in the school, not only in  academics but also in  extra-curriculum activities.

Howard, who was recently appointed, wants to make academic programmes attractive for students and impact them socially.

He noted that the school has zero tolerance for bullying, adding that its anti-bullying  campaign and sensitisation is effective.

He said: “The school’s board has  zero tolerance for bullying. Any kid that is found bullying, we don’t keep up with that. We try to give such  the needed help  to stop. But if they are not able to stop it, they are no match for our school.

“One unique thing about the school is opportunity for counseling. If the children have something bothering them,  they have the counseling staff that can attend to them. In addition to the counseling, we do anti-bullying campaigns. The anti- bullying week is coming soon when we come back from the half term break. Students will be involved.”

The new helmsman, who wants to deploy his wealth of experience to take the school to greater heights, said students are taught sound moral values and made to grow spiritually.

He said the school’s robust vocational training would enable  students have  practical experience to build their skill sets and  make them marketable.He said students are well supervised.

Read Also: Foundation awards scholarship to 100 FCT students

Howard hailed students for being receptive and staff for their support and being  amenable to change. He said he had not experienced any untoward thing despite the alleged negative perception about the country.

The Principal stressed the need for a hybrid mode of learning, adding that online learning opportunities in the school enable students to learn wherever they may be.

He said with modern teaching equipment and we’ll trained staff,  students perform well and stand out among their peers.

On other school activities,he said: “We have  got great extra-curricular programmes. Students are allowed to take ownership of their own extra-curricular activities and interest.

Options include various clubs and activities that expand their knowledge base in many ways outside the classroom.  Sporting options are plentiful to build their athletic skills.”

We also have a number of international trips that our students are involved in each year. This gives them opportunity to go different places around the world.”

Howard also stated that teachers are given support to  learn new approaches to improve their teaching skills.

“We incorporated technologies in the school. We have smart boards in the classrooms to enable teachers access the internet to do innovative things they could not do in the days before technology,” he said.

On other opportunities for students,he said: “The school provides the IGCSE programme for students to take courses and external exams related to that.  It has also introduced the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) which is a Canadian-based programme students can tap into for additional advanced learning opportunities.

 

Parents who are considering having their wards go to university in Canada can register for the OSSD programme, when students are ready to leave secondary school for university, they are already registered as official students within the Canadian system which makes their entry into Canada much easier.”

 

Howard said the school inspires independence, self-reliance, and higher-level thinking skills to  prepare students for future success.

Bursars Association of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology (BURSCON) has decried inadequate funding for Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology across Nigeria, saying this has affected their operations.

They noted that quest for more revenue in tertiary institutions cannot be overemphasised, urging government to give necessary attention to needs of these institutions for them to give quality education to their students.

Speaking in Ibadan at the 46th Quarterly Meeting of the association at CIBN hall of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, BURSCON National President, Dr Salisu Ladan, who was represented by his Financial Secretary, Kassim Shika said tertiary institutions are facing various challenges ranging from high cost of operations, staff claims, students request and infrastructural deficit among others.

He however urged his members to sit and reviewed their operations, saying they should find another source of generating money outside students registration fees and government interventions because this is the only way towards sustainance of tertiary institutions.

“There are some strategies bursars can deploy to reduce the financial problem of their institutions to the barest minimum which includes proper utilisation of the little revenue you have, reduction in cost of operations and improvement of IGR.”

The Governing Council Chairman of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof. Kunle Akinyemi, said challenges facing Polytechnics and Colleges of Education are enoumous, lamenting effect of poor state of economy on institutions particularly during the Covid 19 era.

He however said the meeting would assist participants to rub minds together and synergise to strengthen their institutions financial policy.

The Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof Kazeem Adebiyi urged participants to shared experience, saying that the meeting should of benefit to the association and their various institutions.

“Funding is the bedrock of any institution, but they need to assist their institutions to sustained their financial obligations because resources are scared.”

The Chairman, Ibadan District Society of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr Ayuba Kadri urged participants to always be transparent, upright and showed integrity in their dealings because all eyes are on them due to the positions they held in their various institutions.

“Always make sure you train yourself and people under you so that you can discharge your duties as expected in line with current ICT dispensation.”

Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU),  Ojo, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has urged the Federal Government to show commitment to implementing the new salary package for teachers.

She said this was the best way to make teachers agents of transformation.

On the commemoration of World Teachers’ Day two years ago, President Muhammadu had announced a special  salary scale for basic and secondary school teachers, among others.

But it has not been implemented.

Olatunji-Bello was the keynote speaker at the World Teachers’ Day programme organised by Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) Otto-Ijanikin, Lagos.

It had as theme: “The transformation of education begins with teachers.”

She said: “Countries that value teachers reap the rewards of teachers. At the primary and secondary school level, teachers’ salary has remained the same for years despite government’s announcement to commence payment of the new salary structure.

“I urge the Federal Government to make payment of the salary a priority. Nothing is more important than the education of young people.”

She said many teachers found themselves in the profession by accident and not because of their  passion, hence, it was imperative to improve them.

“Many are in this teaching profession because they have no other option, so we must continue to find ways to upskill them and make alternative provisions for those who refuse to change with the times.

“Our teachers must, therefore, be trained with the use of technology not only to teach the learners, but to teach the learners to use technology.

“In LASU, during the COVID-19 lockdown, we continued to teach using technology, even though people were scared of it at the initial stage, but they gradually embraced it, ‘’she said.

The VC said  also called for the implementation of policies on free education to reduce the number of out-of-school children.

Acting Vice Chancellor of  LASUED Prof. Bidemi Lafiaji-Okuneye, said that this year’s celebration had been designed to address a set of  challenges prevalent in the globe.

Lafiaji-Okuneye said  for national transformation, the society must be prosperous in knowledge, which was often sought and acquired through teachers.

“The task of teachers in transforming the society is to  effect attitudinal change in learners.

“Ironically, Nigerian educational system and teachers who play a cardinal role in the transformation of the society are beset with a plethora of bottle-necks.Teachers are not provided with quality training programmes. They are despised and not accorded desired recognition.

“The challenges facing teachers must be properly looked into because if at all there is any hope for transforming our country, the key lies in the hands of teachers,” she said.

Babcock University, Ilisan Remo has received  approval of the National University Commission (NUC) for  seven new undergraduate courses beginning from the 2022/2023 session.

The courses are Architecture, Estate Management, Engineering, Electrical & Electronics, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Computer Engineering.

The new programmes are to be offered in School of Environmental Studies and School of Engineering.

The university also got approval for  Postgraduate Diploma, Master’s and PhD degree programmes in Social Work.

The institution has consistently ensured seamless academic activities and a conducive learning environment since it began operations in 1999.It currently has two colleges, 11 schools, a Teaching Hospital, and Heart and Cardiovascular Centre.

Chairman of the Association of Children’s Authors and  Illustrators of Nigeria, Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, has said the annual Akada Children’s Book Festival (ACBF) has improved reading culture among pupils and students.

She said it has also increased access to books and helped to create better awareness on age-appropriate books.

Aboderin-Talabi spoke at a press briefing to announce activities for this year’s book festival scheduled for Saturday, October 29,2022 at Lekki, Lagos.

“We do get feedbacks, it has improved the reading culture and better awareness on age appropriate books. So many now  people write  for children.It has also helped to increase access to books,” she said.

According to the acclaimed publisher and children’s book author, Aboderin -Talabi, ACBF targets children aged 13 and below; parents, teachers and guardians, as well as those who create child-appropriate content. The one-day festival is poised to attract 3,000 attendees with various fun activities.

With the theme: ‘Together Again’, the 2022 festival will feature relevant activities such as book readings, workshops for writers and illustrators, author showcases, interactive and engaging workshops for children, soft skills master classes for teachers and parents and much more.

She said the winner of   writing competition for children under 16 would go home with N100,000 while second and third would be given books and free lunch.

Mariam Alonge, whose book, ‘Vultures to the rescue’ would be showcased at the festival, said: “Vultures are cleaning agents, without them our community will be contaminated because they eat up carcasses before they decompose. Vultures are going extinct and we need to protect them.”

Tony Olaniji, whose book, ‘Kiyesi- A collection of African  stories for children’, would also be showcased said a suicide note found with a  little girl made him write that parents should pay attention to children emotion.

From time immemorial, there has been so much emphasis on the classic professions by parents, guardians, teachers and even career counselors who attempt to shape young school leavers along the path of studying either law or medicine. To them, these professions guarantee quality of life, which includes financial security and job satisfaction, forgetting the fact that ideas rule the world.

From  Galileo Galilei to Michael Faraday, Albert Einstein to Thomas Edison, humans have evolved from one generation to another with the aid of life-changing science-driven inventions such as penicillin, telephone, light bulb, internal combustion engine and contraceptives, among others.

“Remarkably, the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) in Ondo City, Ondo State, southwest Nigeria is purposely drawing the attention of the nation to the fact that we need more scientists now and in the future. UNIMED is, indeed, leading the charge in this direction through its newly launched and forward-looking scholarship scheme to support science education.

Though this is not unexpected from an institution that is not just the first specialised medical and health sciences university in Nigeria but the best of its kind, according to the National Universities Commission (NUC) that ranked it as third best among all specialised universities (Technology, technical, agriculture, medical and health sciences universities), 19th overall best and 4th best state university in Nigeria in 2021.

Fittingly, UNIMED is a torchbearer for several other medical and health sciences universities, both private and public, and the leadership of the institution embraces its role in this respect with a deep sense of responsibility. According to the Vice-Chancellor of UNIMED, Professor Adesegun Fatusi, “the greatest advances in health and medical sciences are not along the lines of what we call the professionals, rather the sciences that are behind the professional fields”.

He cited COVID-19 as a case study of how these scientists were able to help reduce the global burden of the pandemic drastically. Not to take anything away from doctors and nurses who worked tirelessly across the globe to manage the infectious disease but without those medical devices such as ventilators and its accessories, glucose meters, flush syringes even face masks and respirators and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and the game changer – the vaccines – we wouldn’t have conquered the scourge.“

“Come to think of it, without the COVID-19 vaccines, we would probably still be glued to the big TV news networks by now waiting for those depressing figures of millions of people who are dying everyday around the world as a result of coronavirus. On average, vaccine development takes about 10-15 years to accomplish but the game changer COVID-19 vaccines took just about one year to develop.

These were the efforts of the scientists and we risk having a shortage of them in the future, if we do not encourage more young people to embrace this field and the fallout of that is better imagined. Clearly, this is what the UNIMED management wants us to understand.  As Fatusi emphasises, one major lesson from the COVID-19 for Nigeria is the need to considerably strengthen and step up our efforts in scientific developments, if e would not continue to be at the mercy of other countries for vaccines and drugs in case of future pandemics.“

“To this end, the university has launched a scholarship programme codenamed “NextGenS” to support the education and nurturing of the next generation of innovation-minded young scientists. The institution has decided to offer a generous percentage discount on tuition for some science courses for prospective local and international students.“ “Here is what you need to know to take advantage of this groundbreaking initiative that is set to redefine the medical and health sciences landscape in Nigeria and across the world.

“The university has reduced its school fees to hundred thousand naira (?100,000) for every student who gains admission into UNIMED within the next three academic sessions – 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25 – to study Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, selected biological courses (such as Animal & Environmental Biology, Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Environmental Management and Toxicology, and Food Science.

The scholarship also covers core public health-related fields of Community Health Sciences, Environmental Health Sciences, and Nutrition and Dietetics. This scholarship means a forty five percent discount on these courses, regardless of the number of students that will eventually enroll for them and I must confess, this is unprecedented. All students who gain admission into the university to study the above courses will be eligible for the tuition discount till they graduate but on the condition that their grades do not fall below second class lower.

“It is highly stimulating that graduates with first class or second class upper from UNIMED and any other any recognised university will also receive a fifty  percent discount to study masters in medical physics, environmental physics, medicinal chemistry, analytical and environmental chemistry, molecular biology, health statistics and mathematical biology.

“Need I say more? This is absolutely the greatest time to be alive and what I would tell my 15year-old self is to position himself and be among the next generation of scientists (NextGenS) by acquiring skills needed to solve problems, make sense of information, gather and evaluate evidence to make decisions that have some ubiquitous effect. If you are having issues grasping the whole idea, think of it as a way of encouraging STEM education in Nigeria and contributing to the body of knowledge and innovation globally.“

“To my young friend, picture yourself as the next generation of molecular biologist who is leading research efforts to understand and address a range of health issues like Professor Roseangela Ifeyinwa Nwuba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of UNIMED, who is a specialist in cellular and molecular parasitology or be inspired by the works of the Akure-born world renowned computer scientist, Philip Emeagwali, who broke the world record for inventing the fastest computer.

You can also be like Omowunmi Sadik, an associate professor of Chemistry at State University of New York at Binghamton who was awarded four U.S. patents for developing microelectrode biosensors for drug and bomb detection“ “Dear youngster, you can choose to be a medical physicist who will be responsible for developing, designing and evaluating diagnostic equipment, CT scanners, X-rays, MRI scanners, single photo emission CT and everything that has to do with medical imaging or a biotechnologist who will be in charge of gene editing and 3-D bioprinting, among others.

These science fields are interrelated and highly rewarding either you want to contribute to the amazing world of science by working in a corporation or an academic institution. Whichever you choose, UNIMED will be there to make you a star of the next generation of scientists– the “NextGenS” club.