The Nation Newspaper

Category: Education

  • Mathematics Professor’s research offers new hope for safer bridges worldwide

    Mathematics Professor’s research offers new hope for safer bridges worldwide

    A mathematician, Dr. Soh Edwin Mukiawa, based in Saudi Arabia, is actively engaged in advancing the field of pure and applied mathematics through both research and teaching, using theory to address real world challenges.

    Dr. Mukiawa was awarded a government scholarship to pursue his doctorate at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia, where he earned his PhD in Mathematics in 2016. He previously completed his MSc in Pure and Applied Mathematics in 2011 at the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Abuja, Nigeria, and his academic path began with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Buea in Cameroon.

    His research focuses on connecting advanced mathematical theory with practical applications, with particular expertise in partial differential equations and the modeling of suspension bridges. Through this work, he explores the dynamic behavior of bridge systems, investigating how decks and suspension cables respond to external forces. Drawing inspiration from the infamous Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse of 1940, his models shed light on how unanticipated oscillations, earthquakes, and wind forces can compromise structural integrity.

    Since joining the University of Hafr Al Batin in 2017, where he now serves as an Associate Professor, Dr. Mukiawa has made significant contributions to research, teaching, and mentorship. Prior to his role in Saudi Arabia, he was a Tutor at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Cameroon, where he supported postgraduate STEM students and contributed to scientific capacity building across Africa.

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    In recognition of his contributions at University of Hafr Al Batin, he was promoted to Associate Professor in 2022. That same year, he received a research grant for his project titled “Mathematical Analysis of Suspension Bridges.” The project produced high impact publications in international journals and advanced understanding of structural systems, including beam and plate models, with direct implications for safer and more resilient infrastructure.

    Beyond suspension bridges, Dr. Mukiawa’s research engages with advanced mathematical frameworks such as Timoshenko beam theory, laminated plate theory, and the Rao Nakra model. His work is widely cited within the global mathematics community and has attracted multiple research grants, reflecting his reputation as a leading scholar in applied mathematics.

    Dr. Mukiawa continues to influence both the academic and professional worlds, bridging theory and practice, and mentoring the next generation of mathematicians. His career demonstrates how mathematics, far from being abstract, provides crucial insights that safeguard infrastructure and shape the future of engineering.

  • Tackling campus vices from the root

    Tackling campus vices from the root

    Some of the pressing issues on the minds of parents and employers are the quality or standard of education, knowledge, skills and values being given to tertiary education products. It’s believed that the standard can’t be improved upon without taming endemic vices on campuses. Assistant Editor Bola Olajuwon reports on a recent initiative designed to counsel potential applicants on the implication of embracing such vices in higher institutions.

    Aside the quality of education, knowledge, skills and values being inculcated into undergraduates, several vices militating against the realisation of the desired education goals in tertiary institutions are of great concern to parents and administrators. Some of these vices are cultism, drug abuse, examination malpractice, obscene dressing, sexual promiscuity/harassment and advanced fee fraud. Employers have complained about the decline in quality of higher education graduates in the country, especially in oral and written English and technical proficiency.

    Psychologists agreed that preventing or curbing students’ vices in tertiary institutions can be done through appropriate upbringing, counselling and sanctions. This will, in turn, improve the quality of education of graduates, according to the authorities of Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos and Etiquette Poise and Protocol Resource (EPRA), a private consulting firm, which gathered about 600 secondary schools’ pupils and teachers from private schools in Lagos last week.

    Welcoming the pupils to the programme, entitled, “The Campus Flaws”, the university’s Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Clement Kolawole, said the event was a unique opportunity to enhance the pupils’ preparedness for higher education by instilling essential values and insights for informed decision-making.

    “Our collaborative objective is to equip you with the necessary skills and character to excel in the pursuit of your academic and career aspirations.”

    He cautioned them against unruly behaviours such as cultism, examination malpractice, fighting and hooliganism in and outside campuses.

    Using drama, others to re-orientate

    The Faculty Lead and Executive Coordinator of EPRA, Mrs. Keji Olutunji-Oladimeji, kick-started the programme, exposing the invited students to things that could add meaningful values to their lives now and in future while also cautioning them against unruly behaviours.The event featured career talk, drama, games and facility tour, among others.

    A drama troupe and drummers were on hand to entertain the pupils and other guests.

    The drama dwelled on inculcating into the pupils why they must not join bad groups on campuses and the likely negative outcomes of such unwholesome associations. The troupe showed how students were lured into cult groups and the tell-tales of those in such cults and how they end up being rusticated from schools.

    A promising actor and a member of Funke Akindele’s wave-making “The Tribe Called Judah” movie, Tobi Makinde, who was invited for the programme, also spoke with the kids in their language. According to him, he would not have realised his ambition without embracing key points preached by the promoters of the programme.

    The presence of an actor of the compelling movie, which masterfully delves into the intricacies of a quintessential Nigerian low-to-middle-income family grappling with economic and social challenges, narrated skillfully with humour, emotion, and suspense, also added impetus to the gathering.

    Olutunji-Oladimeji said the employment of drama and youth-friendly methodologies to convey messages of change was to ensure that the children’s “morale ground is on point” before entering tertiary institutions.

    She said: “SS3 students are leaving secondary school. We know they’re going to various universities. We just want to prepare them for the journey ahead. Trinity School is one of the schools we work with. And we needed the university environment for this programme. So, we spoke to Trinity University and it looks like something good for them. We took the children to prepare their minds. We only operate with about 11 schools around. We worked with over 200 schools, but Trinity could only accommodate 600 students. If not, we would have made it 2,000 students.”

    Schools that sent pupils included Fountain Heights Surulere, Harfard College, Ogudu, Ojota; Vicsum Private School Omole Phase 2, Cifman College Yaba, Jexoban Secondary School Alapere, P-stem College Magboro, Wellspring College Omole 2, Christ the King College Gbagada, Seylec  City School Ebutte Metta, Lagos and  Christ Divine Favour School, Yaba.

    On how vices militate against quality education and good characters

    On how vices militate against quality education and good characters, the faculty lead said: “By the time they (secondary school graduates) encounter a little freedom, they can easily be influenced. We let them know what they would likely face in the university through our programme. We prepare them to say no to peer pressure without any intimation. Peer pressure is the only thing that takes them away from the training they got from home, even from school and family. Everyone wants to belong. We have it in our code of conduct where we tell them to remember the child of who they are. We just wanted to equip them. That’s why we back our messages with drama.

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    “We believe that this generation is carried away by what they see. We make them to see through characters. It will stay in their heads. This will go a long way for them. It will help them in the university. We are just hoping that all these will work together for their good and become better in the university. We really believe in their generation.”

    On pupils who could not attend the event

    She said: “We have plans to see how we can take this message to the social media, so that we can reach out to more schools and pupils. We are hoping that most of them will see it. We hope they can get it online.  It’s free. They can follow our pages. We will just ensure that these children should look inward, use their discussion, intuition, look at what’s good and always weigh their options. One of the things that we taught them was about how powerful choices are.”

    Counselling in choices human make

    On  the use of counselling in the choices pupils make, Chairman of Etiquette Poise and Protocol Resource (EPRA), Olutunji Oladimeji, submitted: “Way back, secondary schools had guidance counsellors, who pupils could reach. And, yes, they played critical roles because my thinking is that people who sit in office counselling will be talking to people from their experiences. Yes, it does work well.

    “Most of the children that are graduating from secondary have their parents doing things for them. Even getting into university, it looks like they are not completely winged from their parents. If they don’t get into good schools or get people to speak to them, it won’t be long before they get missed with the wrong ones. Those conversations are very important.

    On what to expect from the programme

    Oladimeji said: “Most of the time, you forget what people tell you. I also a pastor. When you ask them how was service today?  They would tell you fantastic. Just ask one or two questions on what the pastor spoke about, it would take them long time to reply. But, I discovered there were times when we use visuals to pass message to our congregation. You ask them what was talked about, they never forget. Our thinking is that this drama will go a long way to make a lasting impression in the minds of these children as they go into higher institution.”

    Making pupils to sign Code of Conduct

    The pupils were presented and made to sign a Code of Conduct to be of good behaviour on campuses.

    The Code of Conduct reads: “I will think before I take any action. I will say no to drugs.

    “I will stay away from bad friends and negative influence.

    “I will not attend a party that has no theme.

    “I will stay away from cultism.

    “I will respect other people’s privacy.

    “I will respect everyone, so I can get the respect I also deserve.

    “I will not let my emotions run wide (I know I am human but I will look before every leap).

    “I will express my disapproval to peer influence without shame or intimidation. I will stand tall with my integrity intact.

    “I will be content with what I have. I will not forget the quality values and etiquette learnt from my secondary school.

    “I will respect my lecturers and everyone. I will comply with my university code of conduct

    I will be deliberate about outstanding grades.

    “I will uphold my family name and always remember the child of whom I am, so I can make my parents proud.

    “So, help me God.”

    On how Trinity University can make a difference

    The university’s vice-chancellor said the university was established to make a difference from other universities. 

    “Everything we do is usually divinely-ordained. The emergency of the university is a function of a group of people that came together to pray and find out what they can do to change the course of education instead of lamenting, blaming the leadership and the government.

    “Some 30 years ago, they decided to come together and intervene. They first started a foundation system, which grew and flourished. Then, they scaled it up to secondary school that is called Trinity College at Offa currently. After the success they achieved, they scaled it up to Trinity University, which was approved by the Federal Government in 2019. So, in 2019, this university took off with about 19 students and now we have about 1,200 in 16 academic programmes fully accredited by the NUC and fully accredited by professional bodies they are associated with. For example, our accountancy programme is fully accredited by ICAN. Our nursing is fully accredited by the Nursing and Midwife Council of Nigeria. Our Medical Laboratory Science is waiting for the last stage of accreditation by the MLSC board.

    “So, the new programmes we are planning to introduce next September Health Information Management, we have had our resource verification; it has been approved. We also run a programme called Biotechnology. The NUC has come for its resource verification. So, we are standing conspicuously at an advantaged position to run these programmes.

    “However, we cannot possibly project ourselves. So, we were lucky when EPRA showed up to say we could help you market your programme, showcase what you stand for, help you draw a group of 600 young Nigerians who are aspiring to go into the university system.”

    The Professor of Language Education added that the university has capable academic and non-academic workforce in a conducive and cult-free environment and it inspires creativity, innovation, ingenuity and robust curriculum producing total graduates with impeccable character and leadership skills through flexible payments.

    Decrying the exclusion of private universities from TETFUND intervention, he described it as discriminatory.

    Education, he said, is a social service and graduates from private schools are expected to contribute just like their peers from public schools to the country’s development, urging the Federal Government to amend the TETFUND Act to incorporate private tertiary institutions into the scheme.

  • Ondo records 240,000 out-of-school children

    Ondo records 240,000 out-of-school children

    Ondo State has recorded 240,000 out-of-school children, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (ODSUBEB) Chief Victor Olabimtan, stated this at a news conference in Akure.

    Olabimtan, who described the out-of-school children as a national problem, called for collaboration by the stakeholders in tackling the menace.

    “The truth is that, it has become a serious socio-economic issue because it has become a breeding ground for social and political miscreants.

    “Empirical statistics have repudiated the initial beliefs that out-of -school is only prevalent in the northern part of the country.

    “Studies have shown it is a growing menace in this part of the world without leaving out our state.

    “This menace is growing every day and needs the efforts of all stakeholders, especially the press, through reportage and continuous advocacy harping on the advantages of a literate society,” Olabimtan stated.

    He said the board has begun the process of awarding the 2023 Action-Plans valued at N2.95 billion for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation of schools across the state.

    According to him, the action-plans also covers fencing of schools, construction of boreholes, supplies of pupils furniture, teachers’ chairs and tables and sporting equipment.

    He also said the board had provided over 900 schools with the digital devices for attendance management of pupils in classrooms.

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    Olabimtan, however, identified vandalisation of schools and damaging of government property as one of the major challenges confronting the board.

    “One of the most serious challenges we are battling with in our schools is the unpatriotic activities of vandals who are of the habit of destroying and vandalising school properties especially doors, windows and ceilings put in place with tax players funds.

    “Another major challenge facing our schools is the issue of land encroachment by some communities and land speculators.

    “With the support of relevant agencies of government, we are tackling them through peaceful and official engagements, and we appeal to our people to always protect government properties,” he said.

    He reiterated the commitment of the board at improving infrastructure and making teaching and learning more attractive.

  • Taraba begins students’, teachers’ identification system

    Taraba begins students’, teachers’ identification system

    The Taraba State government has kicked off the Taraba Education Student Identification System (TESIS), where pupils and teachers would be digitally captured for planning and allocation of resources within the education sector.

    Commissioner for Education Dr. Augustina Godwin, said since the declaration of a state of emergency in the state, students’ enrolment had increased, hence the need for biometric capturing.

    She said: “The digital enrolment of our pupils is to enable the government to ascertain a near accurate data that would be used in planning and allocation of resources within the education sector.

    “Similarly, our teachers would be captured to ascertain the ratio of teachers to students to determine if there is need to employ more teachers.”

    Godwin also added that other benefits of the programme include e-learning that would allow pupils to learn online and teachers to compare notes with their counterparts across the state.

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    According to her, the programme also introduces Taraba First Call, where students and indeed the teachers can call and have their voices heard on pertinent issues and emergencies.

    The commissioner said: “In fact, when the programme is successfully implemented, Taraba would be among the only three states to fully comply with e-education initiatives.”

    Four schools across the state were captured in the first phase of the project. They are Nyamusala Primary/Secondary School; Hammaruwa Secondary School, Gassol; Ebenezer Primary School, Wukari and Government Secondary School, Gembu.

    Governor Agbu Kefas stated that the programme was aimed at ensuring that every child in Taraba had quality education.

    He added that the programme will provide an inclusive education by removing barriers and empowering teachers.

  • RECTEM to graduate 396 students

    RECTEM to graduate 396 students

    No fewer than 396 students of the Redeemer’s College of Technology and Management (RECTEM), Mowe, Ogun State, will be awarded National Diploma at the 3rd and 4th combined convocation ceremony on February 13.

    Its rector, Dr. Stella Mofunanya, disclosed that the 396 graduates will be drawn from four schools, namely School of Management, School of Science & Technology and School of Engineering.

    She stated that the college has successfully implemented five academic sessions from inception in 2018 to 2023, adding that the current 2023/2024 academic session is the sixth.

    She noted that the convocation will also award certificates in vocational training to deserving individuals in skills such as Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Cakes and Pastries, Art Works, Web Design, Computer Software Development, Carpentry, Welding Technology, Electrical Installation and Auto Servicing.

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    “The college, though still in its infancy, has taken some giant strides towards the pursuance of her mandate as captured in the mission statements, which are to:

    •develop a centre of academic excellence for training students to acquire qualifications higher than secondary school level;

    •be the leading higher educational institution in Nigeria, providing first-rate academic, professional and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education; and

    •provide candidates with skills and knowledge for work in any institution, as well as the nation’s small and medium enterprises,” she said.

    Speaking after a tour of the college facilities, Dr. Mofunanya said the teaching aid machines and devices were procured through the benevolent nature of the proprietor of the college, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, to ensure that the institution meets the requirements to function adequately as a technologically-based centre of excellence as laid down by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

  • Kidnapping: VC urges govt to turn forests into farms

    Kidnapping: VC urges govt to turn forests into farms

    • FUOYE unveils electric vehicle, mechatronics doors

    Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Fasina has advised both Federal and state governments to turn forests to farmlands to end kidnappings.

    Fasina gave the advice at a news conference to herald the Eighth convocation of the university scheduled for February 10 in Oye -Ekiti

    He said turning the bushes serving as hideout for kidnappers and other evil doers into farm plantations would not only end the menace, but also provide job opportunities and create wealth for the nation.

    The vice chancellor cited his management team’s green revolution initiative, which has led to the cultivation of many hectares of land for agriculture.

    Fasina said the effort had not only increased the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the university, but also provided casual jobs for some of its teeming students.

    “I want to urge both the Federal and state governments to make good use of our forest and convert it to farmlands.

    “We have hectares of land in the forest that can be turned to plantations of maize, yam, potatoes, among other food crops to create jobs for our youths,” he said.

     On the forthcoming convocation, the VC said 6,563 students would be awarded degree certificates with 114 making first class.

    Fasina added that 2,762 would be awarded second class upper degrees, 2,793 with second class lower while 688 had third class.

    The VC also said 36 postgraduate students would be awarded doctorate degrees just as 163 would receive masters’ degree during the  ceremony.

    Highlighting some of his administration’s achievements, Fasina said that the institution’s bursary had been computerised for effective and efficient service and to eliminate fraud in financial transactions.

    He added that the welfare of students and staff had been prioritised, hence the procurement of buses to ease transportation and establishment of a career advancement centre for graduating students to get jobs.

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    Other achievements he listed, included, the construction of blocks of over 30 classrooms from internally generated revenue to create an enabling environment for teaching and learning.

    According to him, the institution established centres in nine towns in Ekiti State, where it holds part time programmes, sandwich programmes and the FUOYE business and staff schools among others.

    Speaking further, Fasina said the university is affiliated with about 15 international institutions.

    “We have professors of practice tradition in place. We are bringing professionals and practitioners in specific fields into the academic environment so they can use their experience to assist our students.

    “We have started branding our university and we have really progressed from five faculties to 14 faculties.

    “Our administration has created 30 functional and impactful directorates in managing the university effectively and we have 74 departments.

    “Our students’ population has grown rapidly to over 40,000 regular students alone as we have been ranked the fourth most subscribed university in Nigeria by jamb,’’ he said.

    Fasina said FUOYE was best out of nine varsities set up by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “Our professor of practice initiative has led to the appointment of two giant law practitioners in Nigeria, Chief Wole Olanipekun and Olaolu Alli who are currently teaching our law students free of charge.

    “In one year, we have had 10 inaugural lectures and as far as promotion is concerned, hundreds of the staff members have been promoted, most among which are to professorial cadre.

    “I have been using my contacts and relationships to bring great things to the university.

    “One of my most cherished achievements is establishing a College of Medicine in FUOYE and we have admitted the first set of students in Medicine for the 2023/2024 academic session,’’ he said.

    This is as FUOYE has recorded a breakthrough in science and technology with the production of an electric vehicle, bicycle and mechatronic doors.

    The vehicle was tested by Fasina, within the campus, to the admiration and cheering of the university’s students and staff.

    The mechatronic doors were also test-run and they worked well.

    The electric vehicle, which was produced by lecturers and students of the university’s Faculty of Engineering, has features such as high speed, durability and absence of noise and emissions.

    Speaking with Journalists after test-running the vehicle, Fasina praised the students and lecturers for the feat which, he said, would put the university on the global map.

    The vice-chancellor said that the university would support the faculty to improve in the production, for economic benefits.

    Fasina said that the university would support ideas and innovations that would tackle challenges facing Nigeria.

  • Coaching institution, varsity partner to expand education landscape

    Coaching institution, varsity partner to expand education landscape

    A coaching organisation, Olusola Lanre Coaching Academy (OLCA), has entered into partnership with Myles Leadership University (MLU), to proffer solutions to some critical issues affecting the continent.

    The deal is aimed at bringing forth opportunities to award university diplomas, degrees, and masters in coaching across the MLU campuses globally.

       At the signing of documents on the partnership in Lagos, Dr. Lanre Olusola, Chief Catalyst at OLCA Coaching Limited, said coaching had been positioned globally as a game-changer.

    Olusola said the partnership would have significant impact in Africa, with content-based on human behavioural sciences and coaching.

    “The future is given to critical reasoning and problem solving and the intervention that delivers that is coaching and it is a great honour to partner Myles Leadership University to begin research, create curriculum and content for our leaders.

    “Traditional coaching can no longer solve our problems in Africa.

    “We, therefore, need integrating practice, that is combination of coaching, psychology, psychodynamic, neuroscience and energy psychology.

    “The very first benefit will be Afrocentric research that speaks to our critical issues and proffers solutions to our problems, especially using coaching, neuroscience, psychodynamic and behavioural change psychology,” he said.

    Olusola said that in the long run, there will be Africa-based standardised research.

    “Over the years, when we want to quote research report, we say American or European, but soon, we will be saying Africa,” he said.

    Dr. Matthew Mario, Director of Programme, MLU, said the institution was excited about the impact that the partnership would make in Africa.

    He noted that the partnership would go a long way in providing an enabling environment for collaborative research.

    He said it would measure growth and, progress in five years’ time.

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    According to him, it entails setting a milestone, putting together solutions that generation unborn will benefit from, being the idea behind this partnership.

    “What we are doing today will change the narrative for Africa in the future.

    “There will be opportunity for coaches from here to come to take classes under the ‘exchange of faculty, and we will have collaborative research.

    “Africa can only be redeemed by Africans, only Africans can proffer solutions to African problems because we understand our problems than others,” he said.

    OLCA is dedicated to unlocking the full potential of individuals, organisations and nations across Africa, with a mission to inspire and guide aspiring leaders.

    The academy has certified over 500 coaches, physiologists, implementing innovative coaching programmes and workplace solutions to foster personal, professional and organisational growth.

  • AGF, Education minister lament prevalence of gender-based violence in schools

    AGF, Education minister lament prevalence of gender-based violence in schools

    • Introduce mechanism for swift prosecution

    Attorney-General of the Federation AGF and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi and his counterpart in the Education Ministry, Prof. Tahir Mamman have expressed discomfort over the prevalence of cases of gender-based violence in nation’s schools.

    Fagbemi and Mamman, who blamed the development partly on the absence of strict and swift prosecution, said there urgent need for astakeholders to collaborate on ways to address the challenge.

    Both ministers spoke in Abuja at the launch of Standard Operating Procedure for the Prosecution of Perpetrators of School- Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) cases in Nigeria, produced by both ministries, with funding from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

    Fagbemi said the launch of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) represents a significant milestone in addressing SRGBV effectively.

    He added: “By providing clear guidelines and protocols for the prosecution of perpetrators, we aim to streamline the legal process, enhance coordination among relevant stakeholders, and ultimately deliver justice for victims.

    “The SOP is to ensure a proper response to this menace particularly accountability of perpetrators through successful prosecutions with a multi-sectorial response to guide Schools in handling cases.

    “The issue of SRGBV is one that strikes at the very core of our collective humanity.

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    “Victims of SRGBV are often left without any form of justice against their abusers as violence of this nature is still largely shrouded in a culture of silence and victim blaming.”

    Mamman noted that SRGBV in all forms constitute a major concern in school attendance and retention, particularly at the lower level of schools in the country.

    The Education Minister was optimistic that the SOP will go a long way in stopping occurrences and provide strict and swift way to prosecute offenders.

    He assured the citizens of his ministry’s support for the application of the SOP by engaging in sensitisation.

    “People should know that there is a process, a speedy mechanism for speedy is available,” he said, adding that the ministry plans to distribute the SOP to all schools.

    This measure, he added, will enable people to be aware that there a measure in place to deal with perpetrators of “these unholy and despicable practices”.

  • Why Nigerian products are rejected abroad, by don

    Why Nigerian products are rejected abroad, by don

    The wrong use of pesticides and preservatives by farmers necessitated by poor education and regulation are some of the reasons the nation’s agricultural products are rejected abroad, a don has said.

     The don, Prof. Lami Nnamonu of Agro-Chemistry Department, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, at the workshop on the use of chemical substances for vulnerable women and youths organised by the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON) and the National Assembly.

     In a statement, the institute quoted Nnamonu as saying that the nation’s agric produce is above Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

     She explained: “Whenever our produce gets there. They test them for these pesticides and they discover high levels of pesticides residues. The WHO has set Maximum Residue Limit (MRL), you discover that these pesticides residue in our food are higher than the MRL, and they just send them back.

     “We produce a lot of yam in Benue State and there was a franchise to export our yam to Europe and Americas but at the point of checking, they discovered that our yam has pesticide residues at levels higher than the MRL.

     “The government knows this. They should wake up to their responsibilities and that no one “cares about the common good and they do not worry about what is happening in the country.

     “Ghana exports all these things. They are able to comply. International market is structured with laid down rules and if one does not comply, they do not buy your goods.”

     She advised the government and its agencies to address the matter urgently.

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     “We have these policies written clearly, ranging from environmental laws, pollution laws, but our problem is implementation and monitoring. We do not implement them. My worries are huge. And they are also denying the country of huge foreign exchange.

     “Let them monitor the compliance of farmers because these farmers are largely uneducated. All they want is improved yields and they do not care about what the people eat, but just to get a bumper harvest. If the regulatory bodies are there, they will make sure that the right thing is done,” she said.

    ICCON Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Wilford Jwalshik, who was represented by Gonap James, called for more information on chemical safety and security, and that there is a serious concern about the handling, storage and transportation of chemicals by the people.

    A participant, Chief Nwuche Michael, said: “This lecture has enlightened us that some of those chemicals we use are dangerous to our health and as I am going back, I will talk to my family to be aware of ‘don’ts and dos’ concerning usage of chemicals.”

  • Alumni donate two blocks of hostel to Ekiti Polytechnic

    Alumni donate two blocks of hostel to Ekiti Polytechnic

    The Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti Alumni Association has donated two blocks of ultra-modern students’ hostel to its alma mater.

    The hostel is named after the pioneer National President of the alumni association and former Rector of the institution, Dr. Hephzibah Oladebeye, and a deceased member, Mrs. Rita Aboloma.

    At the handing over of the hostel to the institution’s management, the association’s National President, Dr. Oyedokun Abiodun, said the gesture was aimed at creating more conducive learning environment for the students.

    Abiodun added that the facilities would help in addressing accommodation challenge the students of the institution are facing.

    The National President bemoaned the accommodation problem in the public tertiary institutions, saying the situation is taking a toll on various aspects of the lives of the students.

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    He lamented that lack of hostel, which he described as a general problem in most public tertiary institutions, impacts on the academic pursuits of students.

    Abiodun said work was in progress on the alumni association’s  32-room hostel project named after a  former chairman of the polytechnic Governing Council and former Kano State Governor, Dr. Umar Ganduje.

    He described the project billed to accommodate 192 students as part of the association’s contribution to solving accommodation problem on the campus.

    He called on members of the alumni association for assistance towards the building of hostels to support the school in solving accommodation problem.

    The rector, Dr. Temitope Alake, lauded the alumni for the gestures, saying the hostel would soon be available for the students after the perimeter fencing and portal arrangement had been done.