The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) has promoted 42 senior academics to the rank of professors and 23 others to associate professors.
UNIPORT’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Sam Kpenu, said in a statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, that the new professors passed through stringent selection criteria set up by the university.
“The promotions followed approval by the Minister of Education on Dec. 8.
“The academics were promoted following the recommendations of the Central A & PC Academic meeting of UNIPORT held on Nov. 23.
“The university hereby announces the promotion of 42 staff nominated as Professors of their various disciplines and 23 others as Associate Professors (Readers),” he said.
A breakdown of the promotion showed the professors’ category has 10 new professors from the Faculty of Education; Faculty of Science got 10, Faculty of Humanities, eight, College of Health Sciences, eight; Faculty of Agriculture, three; Faculty of Engineering, one; Faculty of Social Science, one, and Faculty of Management Sciences, one new professor.
In the Associate Professor (Readers’) category, Faculty of Education produced seven new readers; Faculty of Humanities, five, and Faculty of Science three.
Others are Faculty of Engineering, two; Faculty of Science, two; College of Health Sciences, two; Faculty of Agriculture, one and Faculty of Computing one.
The Director, Centre for Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (CSAED) of Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, (FEDPA) in Oyo State, Oluwaseun Owojori has been elected as a Fellow and apportioned as a Member of the Governing Council for Nigeria Institute of Social Media Analysts (NISMA).
His new feat was borne out of his contributions towards the progress and development of the nation through Social Media ecosystem.
Owojori is a lecturer with the Department of Business Administration and Management of School of Management Science in Federal Polytechnic Ayede, Oyo State.
He is a specialist in Entrepreneurship and Nano, Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Management (NMSMEM) with special emphasis on Innovation and Digitalization, Globalisation, Education, Sustainability, Youth and Women Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Governance, Business Succession, and Family Businesses.
He has experience working with organisations in diverse industries and has worked both in the private and the public sector from Civil service, Insurance, Community and Commercial Banking, Consulting, Academics and Public Service.
He has been involved in these areas as a Business executive, Senior Special Assistant, Consultant, Advisor, as well as an Academic researcher and Teacher. His ability to connect three different vocationa: academic, business and government around Entrepreneurship and NMSMEs, makes him a real distinguished talent as a connector, catalyst, and coach.
He is liberal, multicultural and multi-tasking, and savvy having lived and worked in several cities across Nigeria and been to three continents.
Atoloyemaja, as he is fondly called, belongs to extensive networks of entrepreneurs, academics, politicians and consultants in Nigeria and Africa. Until recently, he was a Research Analyst with Osun State Investment Promotion Agency (OSIPA).
Owojori thanked Management, Staff and Students of Federal Polytechnic Ayede (FEDPA) for their love and affection, saying their gesture towards his new feat is greatly appreciated.
He said: “I dedicate this elevation and appointment to the father figure, my mentor, my boss and the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Ayede Oyo State. Your giving me the opportunity to maximize my potential is yielding results.”
“On behalf of my family, I say many thanks to Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul-Hameed, for all you have done for me, and every member of Federal Polytechnic Ayede Oyo State.”
“Thanks to the Registrar, Bursar, Librarian, Chairman of the Committee of Deans, Dean, School of Science and Technology, Dean of Environmental Technology, and Dean of Engineering Technology.”
“Thanks to Mr Tijani Saheed Abíodun, and all members of Business Administration and Management are well appreciated. Every member of the defunct FEDPA Corporate Communication Committee is appreciated as well for reactivating my interest in Media Communications and here are the results of the efforts”.
“At a time when I was retiring from active participation of more than 10 years in the Social Media Ecosystem, the Call for Higher Service came calling in two folds. The Institute’s roles and responsibilities are on one hand, and the National Skills Qualifications Framework of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) is on the other hand.”
“Social Media Communications is one of the 60 Trade Skills approved and validated by NBTE with appropriate National Occupational Standard (NOS). Others are Electrical Installation, Plumbing, Paint-Making, GSM Repairs, Hospitality and Catering, Creative Production, etc.”
“FEDPA shall begin Skill Acquisitions on some of these Trade Skills not too long from now and the preparation is almost concluded. My roles and responsibilities in this regard are obvious. Please be informed that Social Media Communications is one of the Trade Skills approved by the FEDPA Management. Hence, the relevance of my elation and appointment.”
“Running these Trade Skills will help us in fulfilling our mandate of producing enterprising and innovative graduates; contribute to our Internal Generated Revenue (IGR); and perform our Corporate Social Responsibility. I urge my seniors, contemporaries and juniors to join hands together to make this happen.”
The Chief of Army Staff LT. General Taoreed Lagbaja has renovated, commissioned, and handed over 11 blocks of two classrooms, and 10 units of toilets to the Jigawa state government.
The Nigerian Army also donated dozens of three-seater tables, school uniforms, teaching and learning materials to Limawa communities in Dutse local government area to the JIgawa state.
Speaking while handing over the facilities to the JIgawa state governor, Malam Umar Namadi, the chief of army staff LT General Taoreed Lagbaja said: “The projects are parts of the military policy for Carnatic support in national peace and development.”
Lagbaja, who was represented by the chief of Civil Military Affairs, Major General NC Ogbor, disclosed that the projects executed included water facilities and school uniforms for the pupils.
He explained that the project is under the community Special Intervention Project to allow senior military officers to reciprocate back to their immediate community with such a project to promote better relationships between the military and the general public.
He assured the Jigawa state government and the people of the state that, the Nigerian Army will continue to work hand in hand with sister security agencies and the general public in protecting the territorial integrity of the country, peace and stability.
In his speech the chief executor of the project, Major General Abdulkadir Muhammad said, the project comprised the renovation of 11 blocks of 24, classrooms, 10 toilet units, Water facilities and staff offices.
According to him, “Under the chief of army staff community intervention, all the students of the school will be given one set of school’s uniform and set of exercise book”.
Receiving the projects the Jigawa state governor Malam Umar Namadi has commended the chief of Army Staff for such intervention that will complement the effort of the state government in providing an enabling environment for teaching and learning in the state.
Governor Namadi also commended the executor of the project Major General Abdulkadir Muhammad for executing the project and described him as a proud son, who has concerns for the future of the young generation.
The governor also assured the chief of army staff and the executor of the project that the government in collaboration with the community will utilise and protect the project to achieve the desired goal of providing access to quality education to our children.
In his remarks, the Emir of Dutse His Highness Muhammad Hameem Nuhu Sanusi extended the appreciation of the Limawa community, and Dutse emirate to the chief of army staff, also promised to promote Friendship Operations, with military and other security agencies for maintaining peace and stability in Jigawa state and Nigeria.
Onuorah John Chidozie, a Performance and Growth Performance argues on the imperative of lifecycle management for customer retention in today’s Nigerian market place
Customer retention has become one of the most critical aspects of running a successful business, particularly in sectors where competition is fierce, like fintech, Web3, fashion, food tech, and even emerging fields such as laundry tech. It’s far more cost-effective to keep an existing customer than to acquire a new one. According to studies by Optimove, the cost of acquiring a new customer can be five times higher than the cost of retaining one. This alone is enough reason for tech entrepreneurs and developers in Nigeria to start paying closer attention to lifecycle management. But the truth is, customer retention is not just about saving money—it’s about creating long-term value for both the customer and the business.
The concept of lifecycle management, especially as it applies to customer retention, is straightforward in theory but requires thoughtful execution to get it right. It’s about managing a customer’s experience with your brand from the moment they first interact with it to the point where they become loyal, repeat customers. The tricky part is understanding each stage of the lifecycle and optimizing how you interact with customers at every step.
There are countries that have excelled at lifecycle management for customer retention. South Korea’s food delivery services. Companies like Coupang Eats and Baemin have seen success because they carefully manage customer lifecycles from discovery to loyalty. They focus on personalizing customer experiences based on usage patterns, offering loyalty rewards, and continuously improving their services. Customers are 60% more likely to reorder from the same service due to the personalized attention they received after their first order. For Nigerian businesses, adopting such a customer-centric approach could yield significant results, especially in fast-growing sectors like food tech or fintech, where competition is constantly increasing.
The customer lifecycle starts with awareness. This is when the potential customer first hears about your product or service, and the initial marketing efforts play a crucial role. If you’re launching a new fintech app in Nigeria, you’d focus on campaigns that speak directly to a targeted audience, maybe through digital ads or influencer partnerships. The point here is to spark interest. But interest alone isn’t enough; you need to move quickly to the next phase.
Once you have a customer’s attention, the next step is engagement. This is where they start interacting with your product. Let’s say you’re running a Web3 platform; maybe they’ve signed up for your newsletter or attended a webinar. At this stage, communication is key. You need to make sure that the customer’s journey is smooth and that their initial experiences with your brand are positive. This is where some startups drop the ball. They put too much focus on acquisition and not enough on making sure the early interactions are frictionless. If the onboarding process for your app is too complicated or if the product is too hard to understand, customers are likely to abandon it and move on to the next available option.
Nigeria’s mobile penetration is incredibly high, with over 76 million people using smartphones, and this presents both an opportunity and a challenge. While it’s easier to reach potential customers, it’s also easy for them to switch to competitors if the user experience isn’t intuitive. A fintech app with a complicated registration process might lose customers before they even start using it. Developers and marketers need to focus on making this stage as seamless as possible by offering clear instructions, helpful tutorials, and even customer support when needed.
After engagement, the customer moves to the conversion stage. This is the moment where they go from just being interested to actually becoming a paying customer. The focus here should be on removing barriers to purchase. A laundry tech company operating in Lagos might offer first-time customer discounts to encourage trial. The goal is to get the customer to commit. But again, the process should be simple. Offering too many pricing tiers or complicated subscription models can turn off potential customers. Think about what food delivery services like Jumia Food have done—clear pricing and simple steps to order, all in one app. Simplicity here drives the conversion rate up.
Once a customer has made a purchase, the focus shifts to the retention phase. This is where many businesses fail. They think that once a customer has paid for something, the job is done. But customer retention is far more complex. It’s about nurturing the relationship to keep the customer engaged and loyal to the brand. Brands that fail to follow up with their customers after the first sale often see lower repeat purchase rates. Contrast that with fashion retailers in the UK, where some studies show that brands using personalized emails and exclusive offers saw a 35% increase in repeat customers in 2021.
For Nigerian entrepreneurs and developers, this could mean offering loyalty rewards, exclusive discounts, or early access to new products or features. But it also means consistently delivering on your product or service promises. It’s not enough to bring in customers if your product doesn’t continue to meet their expectations. Fintech platforms must ensure that their app continues to offer value through regular updates and improved functionality, making customers feel like they are getting more than they paid for.
The final stage of the customer lifecycle is loyalty and advocacy. This is when customers become not just repeat buyers but advocates for your brand. They tell their friends, share your product on social media, and become part of your community. It’s the most valuable stage of the lifecycle because loyal customers are far more likely to spend more and stay longer as repeat customers spend 67% more than new customers. And for Nigerian businesses, especially in industries like food tech or Web3, loyal customers are the ones who help build long-term sustainability.
One way to build loyalty is by continuing to provide value through consistent communication. A food tech company might send out personalized recipe recommendations based on the customer’s previous orders. Or a fintech company could offer financial tips based on user spending habits. Regular, relevant communication keeps customers engaged and reminds them why they chose your product in the first place.
Businesses in Nigeria, especially in tech-driven sectors, are operating in a highly competitive environment. Customers have plenty of options, and the challenge is not just to acquire them but to retain them. Lifecycle management is the process that ensures a business doesn’t lose sight of the customer after the first interaction. It helps marketers and developers create more meaningful connections with their customers, which leads to long-term growth and success. The strategies employed by companies in countries like South Korea and the UK offer valuable lessons in how lifecycle management can boost retention. By focusing on each stage of the lifecycle, from awareness to loyalty, Nigerian businesses can build stronger customer relationships and drive repeat business, ensuring they stay ahead of the competition.
In recent times, students, who are living in off-campus communities in Yelwa and Gubi, Bauchi State, have found themselves at the centre of a growing storm – an escalating insecurity that on Monday sparked outrage and protests by the students, DAVID ADENUGA reports
The palpable fear that accompanied the surge in cases of attacks on students has not only disrupted academic activities at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, but has also taken a toll on the mental and emotional well-being of the students. In the students’ communities, incidents of theft, assaults and other criminal activities have become more frequent, leaving students on edge and parents worried about the safety of their loved ones.
Rising cases
The latest incident is that of a 500-level Geology student at the university, Joseph Agabaidu, who was fatally stabbed during an attempted phone theft last Saturday. Agabaidu, a final year Geology student based in Otukpo Local Council, but an indigene of Ankpa Local Government Area of Benue State, was fatally stabbed around 7p.m. on Saturday as assailants attempted to forcefully take his phone.
The deceased was the eldest of four children of his family, who all attend the ATBU. It was learnt that despite efforts to get him medical help, he succumbed to his injuries the following morning.
Irked by the death of their colleague, ATBU students on Monday staged a peaceful protest. However, there was tension at the Yelwa campus of the university, as protesting students were tear-gassed by the policemen stationed with armoured tanks opposite the school’s gate. The situation escalated, as students closed the gate and disrupted activities.
Following the development, the management of the university shut down the institution. A statement obtained by The Nation and signed by the Deputy Registrar (Academic), Fatima Inuwa Abdullahi, said the management approved the closure for an initial period of one week with effect from December 4 to 10.
The statement said the action was taken to prevent a breakdown of law and order, claiming that the protest was hijacked by hoodlums.
The tragic event echoed a similar incident last December when another Benue State student lost his life in a phone-related struggle.
In another incident that occurred in July 2023, Aminu Baba, a 500-level Quantity Survey student of the ATBU escaped death by a whisker after suspected armed robbers inflicted a deep machete cut on his hand when he tried to escape after they forced their way into his apartment. The incident occurred at about 2 a.m. in the off-campus lodge situated in the Sabon Kaura area of Bauchi metropolis.
It was gathered that the robbers, who were about 20 in number, carted away several items, including two laptops and six phones while three other rooms were attacked.
Students at the mercy of suspected kidnappers
An undergraduate of the Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa University, ATBU, simply identified as Samaila, regained freedom after spending an unspecified days in a kidnappers’ den around last month. It was gathered that the 200-Level Civil Engineering student was kidnapped two weeks ago around Turum in the outskirts of the Bauchi metropolis, near the Gubi campus of the university, coincidentally the same day he returned to school.
It was also gathered that the kidnappers initially demanded N10 million ransom for his release, but after negotiations, the amount was reduced to N3 million. Samaila’s release was announced on the ATBU student group, ‘Voice of Balewites’, on the Facebook.
However, ATBU’s Director of Information, Zailani Bappa, in a text message sent when contacted, said he did not know about the incident.
Also when contacted, the State Police Command, through the spokesperson, SP Ahmed Wakili, said the matter was not reported.
Similarly, a 200-level student of Political Science, Hassana Ahmad Ardo, of the Bauchi State University, regained her freedom from suspected kidnappers after she was reported missing while travelling between the Bauchi Yuli Campus and Federal Low Cost Housing area.
Her disappearance prompted deep concern among her fellow students, friends and family members. In response, a widespread campaign was initiated, which led to her rescue on November 27, two days after she was abducted.
Details remained sketchy on how she was rescued.
However, a 200-Level student of the Department of Chemistry at the university, Moses Isah, remains missing 15 months after his disappearance. His elder brother, Isah Samson, who spoke with The Nation, said all efforts to locate his brother’s whereabouts proved abortive.
According to him, he filed a report at the Police Station over his missing brother but due to financial constraints, he could not “follow up after the police started requesting for money”.
Until his disappearance, Isah was last seen at his lodge in Yelwa Tudu.
We can’t interfere with security issues outside the school campus, says ATBU
The management of the ATBU has stated that insecurity issues outside the school campus are not within its jurisdiction. The management said only the police could handle such cases.
Bappah stated this while addressing reporters at the University Guest House, Bauchi on Monday.
He explained that “for the sake of clarity, the said student who was murdered, though a student of the university, was staying outside the campus, and the university has limited knowledge of students outside the campuses.”
He added: “The university tries as much as possible to maintain law and order within the varsity campus. We have no right in the security situation of any society outside the jurisdiction of the university. Everyone has his or her limit.”
He added that the institution’s management gave the directive to shut down the two campuses in Yelwa and Gubi to prevent a breakdown of law and order, claiming that the protest was hijacked by hoodlums.
Bappah declared: “The school has been closed down immediately from today, Monday, December 4, 2023. The closure is for one week initially to see how the students will behave well.”
He assured them that the management would continue to take adequate care of the welfare of the students, urging them to cooperate with the management in that regard.
Calls for action
Irked by the deteriorating security situation, students are demanding urgent and effective measures to address the root causes of the problem. They made an urgent call for action by the school and security agents to prioritise their safety and take decisive measures to curb the rising tide of criminal activities.
The students also staged a protest at the Bauchi Government House last month, calling for increased police presence, improved illumination in poorly lit areas and a comprehensive security strategy to ensure the safety of students both on and off campus.
An ATBU student at the protest, who spoke under anonymity, said: “Students have been complaining bitterly about this incessant robbery attacks, especially in Gubi and the Sabon Kaura axis of both campuses.
“This is getting out of hand, even though the school has implemented measures to curb these barbaric attacks. I still feel students should be very vigilant, protect themselves at all cost and must be careful how they move at night. At this point, students are the most vulnerable, but a little security consciousness here and there can help salvage the situation.
“I suggest each lodge gets a whistle. This is a crime stoppage mechanism that has been used over time to scare away thieves. Once you sense that they are around your vicinity, you raise an alarm by blowing these whistles. It will help the vigilante group or other students to be alert.
“Lastly, if they get into your room or block you on the road, do not try to fight back. Your life is very precious; give them whatever it is they ask for.”
Reacting to the latest incident, another ATBU student identified as Sulaiman Yahuza Giade, in a letter addressed to the State Governor, Bala Mohammed, called for urgent intervention in ensuring the establishment of a dedicated Police Division in Sabon Kaura.
He stated that the step is critical in safeguarding the lives of the students and residents and preventing further tragic incidents.
Similarly, another letter written by an alumnus of the ATBU, Suleiman Musa Umar Fada, on his Facebook page, stated that the current state of insecurity is affecting every aspect of their lives and hindering students’ ability to learn. Musa lamented that schools are being forced to shut down, while tourism is declining and families are living in constant fear.
We will arrest killers of ATBU final year students, says Commissioner of Police
Bauchi State Commissioner of Police Auwal Mohammed yesterday vowed to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for Agbaidu’s tragic death.
The police commissioner gave the assurance when the leadership of the National Association of Bauchi State students (NUBAS) and the Student Union Government of ATBU visited him in his office yesterday.
He assured the student leaders that efforts were underway to bring the culprits to justice.
Giving details of how the student was murdered, he said Agbaidu was stabbed to death while trying to retrieve his girlfriend’s snatched handbag from suspected armed robber
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, Ahmed Wakil.
The statement reads : “Commissioner of Police Bauchi State Command, CP Auwal Mohammed, received in the audience the leadership of two student bodies (NUBAS and SUG ) in his office at the State Command Headquarters.
“Their visits were prompted by the recent incident, which occurred on December 2, 2023, where some unknown persons, numbers not ascertained, snatched a handbag containing a mobile phone belonging to a lady, one Philomena Ahobee (28), a student of Abubakar Tatari Polytechnic, Bauchi.
“As a result of which her boyfriend, Agbaidu Joseph (28) of Anguwan Ngas, who is a student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, tried to help her to retrieve the handbag containing the phone. The assailant(s) stabbed him on the left side of his chest with a sharp knife.
“The victim was rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi for treatment but he was certified dead while on admission by a medical doctor.”
Adedipo disclosed this on Tuesday in Osogbo during the defence of his ministry’s proposed budget for 2024 before the Joint Committee on Finance and Appropriation of the Osun House of Assembly.
He said Osun State now has the highest number of out of school students in the South-West because many parents find it difficult to send their wards/children to school.
He made the statement while highlighting the numerous challenges the education sector was facing in Osun.
The commissioner blamed the policies of a previous administrations in the state for the woes that affected the education sector.
According to him, mega schools constructed by a previous administration led to several schools being subsumed into one.
He said this forced some students to drop out of school because of unavailable funds and logistics to get to locations of the new schools.
The commissioner also identified serious shortage of qualified teachers as another major challenge in the sector, stressing the need to employ more teachers.
Mr. Saheed Fatunmise, Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Osun Assembly, who chaired the Joint Committees on budget and defence, advised the commissioner to conduct the teachers’ recruitment exercise based on merit.
Fatunmise said he has confidence in the ability and capacity of the commissioner and therefore employed him to deploy his expertise to turn around the state education sector, so Osun can regain its lost glory.
The MDAs that appeared for budget defence included: Ministry of Education, Osun Mass Education Agency, Osun Central Education District Office, Ila Orangun, Osun East Education District Office, Ile-Ife.
Others were Osun West Education District Office, Ikire; Osun State Senior Secondary Education Board, Osun State Library Board, Osun State Examinations Board, Board for Technical and Vocational Education, and Osun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
Also at the budget presentation and defence were the state Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Ministry of Innovation, Science, Technology and Digital Economy
He takes over from the pioneer VC, Prof. J. K. Oloke, who completed his five-year tenure last month.
The university is owned by the Sword of the Spirit Ministries under the leadership of Bishop Wale Oke, who is the current president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).
During his unveiling at the institution’s temporary campus on Old Ife Road, Ibadan, Adejumo promised to build on the culture of academic excellence and spiritual regeneration of students and staff during his tenure.
He said: “With profound gratitude to God and a deep sense of responsibility, I stand before you today as your new vice-chancellor. It is an honour to become a part of this esteemed community for academic excellence, character development and the pursuit of knowledge.
“I am highly committed to building upon the foundation laid by the Chancellor, BOT, Governing Council and my outgoing VC – my predecessor and his management team.
“Our university, anchored in faith and scholarship, holds the promise of moulding individuals, not only academically but also spiritually. I am committed to fostering an environment that encourages the integration of knowledge and faith, nurturing minds and souls alike. Together, we will foster an environment that encourages learning, critical thinking and holistic development.”
Earlier, the Chancellor, Bishop Oke, expressed the resolve of the university’s Council and Management to continue to prioritize academic excellence and spiritual soundness for the good of Nigeria and its teeming youths.
The cleric explained that Adejumo, a leading researcher, a spirit-filled child of God and an erudite scholar of international repute with one decade of experience as a professor, has more than 65 publications in local and international journals and books to his credit.
He expressed optimism that the new VC would lead the institution to greater heights, taking a cue from his predecessor, Prof. J. K. Oloke.
The Management of Achievers University, Owo in Ondo State, has said its priority programme in the nearest future would be agriculture.
It said it would work to expand collaboration and partnership to achieve success in its commitment to development of agriculture with emphasis on food security.
Similarly, the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) Ikeji-Arakeji said plans were on for it to secure 10,000 hectares of land for agricultural purposes to boost food security in the country.
It said acquiring the land would enable it secure foreign intervention and expand facilities in the institution
Vice Chancellor of Achievers University, Prof. Omolola Irinoye, who spoke at a pre-convocation news briefing ahead of the 13th convocation ceremony of the institution, said 37 students out of 552 graduands bagged the First Class degree.
Prof. Irinoye said 259 graduated with Second Class honours, 195 made Second Class lower and 27 got Third Class.
Irinoye listed prominent individuals to be conferred with honorary degrees to include Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Dr. Faruk Abubakar, former Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mrs. Olajumoke Anifowose and Executive Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Ife Oyedele.
According to her, “As we continue to expand our infrastructure, our priority programme in the nearest future is agriculture. As we commit to development of agriculture with emphasis on food security, we would work to expand collaboration and partnership to achieve success.”
Vice Chancellor of JABU, Prof. Olasebikan Fakolujo, who spoke at another news briefing ahead of the institution’s 14th convocation ceremony, said the institution has secured 85 acres for its Department of Agriculture to boost farming activities.
He said the institution planned to secure 10,000 hectares for commercial farming as well as expansion of facilities in the institution.
Prof. Olasebikan said 23 out of 467 graduating students made the First Class degree. He said 205 made Second Class Upper, 172 made Second Class Lower, 65 got the Third Class honours and two graduated with a Pass.
Speaking on the refusal by the Federal Government to allow private university access Tertiary Education Fund (TETFUND), Prof. Olasebikan said the condition was too difficult to fulfill.
“We introduced payment of palliatives to all staff since September 2023. We will continue the payment until the economy improves. There is no time bound for the palliatives.
“We have fulfilled our mandate in the last 17 years. It is a story in progress. I am the fourth substantive VC. Our graduates are making waves and doing very well. If we have not been producing quality graduates, it will show.”
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned recent increase in tuition fees by some tertiary institutions, especially public universities and vowed to ensure that such increments are reversed.
Newly elected NANS President, Lucky Emonefe, said it was unreasonable for institutions to increase their fees and charges astronomically at a time when Nigerians are going through pains and hardships as a result of difficult economic situation occasioned by fuel subsidy removal.
He spoke at a news conference in Abuja, where four of the presidential candidates in the just concluded national convention of NANS and Council of Zonal Coordinators of NANS across the country backed his emergence as the association’s president.
Emonefe threw his weight behind the protest by students of the University of Calabar against the 100 per cent hike in the institution’s tuition fees.
The NANS President, who warned that the students would no longer tolerate such arbitrariness in the running of education institutions in the country, pointed out that the latest development was contrary to earlier directive by President Bola Tinubu that all public universities should halt any form of increase in charges.
The university had earlier released a new schedule of fees that would take effect in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions, leading to protest by students on Monday to register their dissatisfaction.
They were reported to have barricaded the roads leading to the campus, thus preventing workers from coming in.
Emonefe insisted that the Vice-Chancellor and management of the institutions must adhere to President Bola Tinubu’s directive asking the public universities to halt tuition fees hike or face the consequences.
He warned that the student body would not hesitate to ground academic activities in any institution found to have embarked on arbitrary school fees hike.
He assured Nigerian students that the association would set up a committee to monitor institutions who are increasing fees so as to force them to adhere to the President’s order.
Emonefe, while speaking on his plans for the association, promised to keep the integrity of NANS and ensure to put the interest of students at the forefront.
Meanwhile, four presidential candidates in the just concluded national convention of NANS namely: Edom Smart John, Stephen Edidiong Tobi, Boniface Emesowun, all from University of Calabar and Enomfon Umoisien, University of Uyo, have adopted Emonefe as the authentic President of NANS.
Tobi, who spoke with reporters on behalf of the presidential candidates, said only Emonefe is recognised as the NANS genuine president.
His position was also affirmed by the Council of Zonal Coordinators of NANS across the country.
He said: “We make bold to say this because there is no shame in losing a contest. It does not mean that the rest of us were less qualified or incapable of leading the organization, no.
“It is Just about the choices delegates had to make at this time. So, we take our individual losses in good faith in order to join hands with the winner and build a strong, focused and undivided NANS. In doing so, we win with our Comrade Brother, Lucky Emonefe, the undisputed President of NANS.
“Of course, we read from a section of the media that one of us, Comrade Pedro Chibuzor Obi, is laying claim to the Presidency of NANS. While we carefully refuse to join issues with him as a person, it is however ridiculous and indicative of deliberate media mischief that somebody will sit in a hotel, call the media and declare himself the President of a big organization like NANS, and the media put that out as news to the public.”
They further enjoined Comrade Pedro Obi and his co-agitators to call off whatever agitations they were currently carrying out in the interest of the organisation.
“Maybe, they have reasons to be angry or it could just be about their ego; but whatever it is, it will be better sorted on the table of comradeship,” he said.
Deloris Mundo Limited, through a European Union funded project, ‘Excellence Boost project ‘ has partnered with schools in Nigeria to propagate excellence culture in educational institutions through training and seminar.
This is to help schools understand organisational excellence, sustainability, self-accesment and continuous improvement to provide teachers and school managers with competence of their indivual role, responsibilities and its impact on the school environment.
It partnered with eight countries, which included: Spain, Latvia, Portugal, Slovakia, Nigeria, Burundi, South Africa and Tanzania.
At its recently concluded training held at Victoria Island Lagos, trainers from Nigeria, Latvia and Czech Republic were in attendance, with 25 staff from Mind Builders School and Bizben School in Lagos, representing Nigeria.
Project co-author, Adela Vitkovska told The Nation that “The training is about professional development of teachers to equip them with ideas they could imbibe to transform their schools to fit into development of this century. They learn how to transform their schools.”
Project Manager, Olaolu Odeleye noted that the project is about developing competency and capacity building for teachers, school managers, propietor and head masters in order to effect changes in their schools.
His words: “This training would help develop schools. So they can better deliver knowledge to the students, become better organised educational institutions and teachers as well as bringing excellence into their organisations.
“People feel they don’t need much in an academic institution, but much is needed to be done in order to improve how learning is delivered to the people, how better they can improve themselves through networking with foreign schools, learning from each other, learning from European schools and this is what this platform offers.”
