The 1987 Old Student of The Polytechnic Staff School Alumni Association, Ibadan on Friday commissioned perimeter fence constructed for the school.
The 1987 class also initiated N3m endowment fund for pupils in the school for access to quality education.
Speaking at the commissioning of perimeter fencing, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the 1987 set, Dr. Ayodeji Alake, said the project become necessary following security alarm, saying the project was executed within six months.
He said the projects would return the value and glory of the school because parents would want to enrolled their wards when the school is attractive and save for their children without any fear.
According to him: “Valuable things inside the school will also secure, most parents prefer paronising private school than public ones, I urged them to believe in what we have, this is one of our global agenda to restore back the glory of the school.”
“This school has produce great people who are doing fine in their respective fields, we are proud to give back and contribute our own quota to our alma mater.”
The Parent Teachers Association (PTA) chairman, of the school, Mr. Bayonle Ogungemi and the Head Mistress Mrs Christianah Ojo lauded efforts of the set toward security of pupils.
They however reiterated the need for other Old Students to support the school because the school is currently facing numerous challenges, adding that government alone can not carry burden of education in school across the state.
The e Rector of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Prof. Kazeem Adebiyi described the project as a challenge to every Old student, saying funding schools is never the responsibility of government alone anywhere in the world.
The Vice-Chancellor, Benson Idahosa University (BIU) Benin, Edo State, Prof. Sam Guobadia, in his address at the institution’s matriculation, assured parents that the students would be better than they came into the institution. He explained that it was established in obedience to the divine mandate of God. Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief reports.
The Benson Idahosa University (BIU) in Benin, Edo State, which has, as its motto: “Academic Excellence with Godliness,” was established by the renowned preacher, the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa. The private Christian university was established in obedience to the divine mandate to the founder to kick off a university in 1978.
How it was founded
At the university’s 22nd matriculation, which held recently first at its Heritage Campus at 8:30 a.m. for Stream A, and at the Legacy Campus at 11 a.m. for Stream B, with many excited parents and guardians in attendance, it was an opportunity to put together how the institution was founded.
Prior to the passing on of the founding Chancellor on March 12, 1998, at the dedication of the multi-purpose BIU’s faith auditorium, he had said: “When in 1978, God told me that I was going to build a university for the glory of His Majesty, I knew that only God could accomplish such a feat in black Africa through a man.”
Then, the establishment and running of tertiary institutions in Nigeria was the exclusive preserve of the federal and state governments.
In obedience to the divine mandate, the cleric established the Word of Faith Group of Schools, which became a model for other schools.
Archbishop Idahosa said: “On August 5, 1992, the Lord God woke me up at 4 a.m., sat me up in bed and said, ‘I told you that I would take you round the world and that I have done, and I am still doing; I told you that I would build through you, a Bible School for all nations, and I have done so; I told you that I would open up for you avenues to preach my word on television, and I have done so; I told you that I would open an hospital for mercy and evangelism, and I have done so. Now, I am telling you to build a university, and I will surely see it come to pass. The people to help carry out this vision have been called and are already in the ministry.”
But, there was a challenge, as the preacher did not know how to begin and he did not have the money, while Decree No. 33 was in force, and precluded private persons and organisations from establishing and running tertiary institutions in Nigeria. However, he went to God to ask for the identities of the people that would assist him to execute the capital-intensive project, and the Lord gave to him the names of three individuals, who were already in the ministry: Rev. (Prof.) (then Dr.) John A. Okhuoya, Rev. (Prof.) (also then Dr.) Vincent Iyawe and Rev. (then Deacon) Michael Okagbare, who proceeded to put together the pioneering committee.
Despite Decree No. 33, the Archbishop still sent an application in 1992, through the secretary of the pioneering committee, Deacon Michael Okagbare, to the National Universities Commission (NUC), asking for permission to establish and run a private university in Benin.
On September 12, 1992, Archbishop Idahosa and the university’s pioneering committee invited a group of political, social and Christian luminaries, including the then Edo Governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and his Executive Council members, to the foundation laying of Christian Faith University Institute of Continuous Learning, to award diplomas.
In 1997, the Christian Faith University Institute of Continuous Learning was affiliated to Edo State Government-owned Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma in Edo Central Senatorial District, to award degrees.
The Military Government eventually amended Decree No. 33, and established a Special Committee on Private Universities (SCOPU) at the NUC in Abuja.
The archbishop mandated the university’s pioneering committee to present another application to the SCOPU at NUC for the establishment and running of the Christian Faith University, with the application accepted by SCOPU as the first, for consideration and approval as a private university.
The Christian Faith University Institute of Continuous Learning is now BIU. But, with the demise of Archbishop Idahosa on March 12, 1998, his wife, the then Rev. Margaret Benson-Idahosa, took over the reins of Church of God Mission International, first as the Presiding Bishop, and later as Archbishop. With that, she continued to provide leadership and drive toward the actualisation of the proposed university.
In February 2002, the Federal Government, through NUC, granted a licence to BIU to operate as a university, thus bringing to fruition the mandate of God to Archbishop Idahosa. The pioneer Vice-Chancellor was Prof. Eghosa Osagie and Mr. E. M. Obadan was the first Registrar.
BIU took off from its Heritage Campus at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ugbor, Benin, while it later expanded to a befitting Legacy Campus, on an expanse of land on Sapele Road in the Edo State capital.
The private university has Archbishop Margaret Benson-Idahosa as its chancellor. Her son, Dr. Faith Emmanuel Benson-Idahosa, is the president of BIU.
The varsity’s vice-chancellor assures students
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sam Guobadia, in his address at the matriculation, assured that the students would be better than they came into the higher institution.
He said: “I am excited to welcome you to our great university, where we enforce academic excellence with godliness, by instilling in every student, the university’s core values. BIU is not as big as the other premier universities in Nigeria. We are, however, very ambitious and growing in leaps and bounds, with the introduction of viable and National Universities Commission’s (NUC’s)-accredited programmes. We pride ourselves as an institution that does the little things excellently well.
“The university, at the moment, has all its programmes fully accredited by the NUC, including our postgraduate school programmes. We award higher degrees up to Ph.D. in most disciplines. I assure you parents/guardians that your children/wards are in the right place to excel.
“BIU will continue to focus on its core purpose, which is to change Nigeria. This we hope to achieve by instilling the vision and mission of this great institution in our dear students. The vision is to raise academics, professionals, and entrepreneurs, who will be effective disciples for Christ, by excelling in their professional fields, while the mission is to raise leaders, who are complete in spirit, mind and body.”
Guobadia also disclosed that at the matriculation, 1,387 students, the highest enrolment ever recorded in any admission cycle in the history of the university, were inducted into the university’s eight faculties of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Social and Management Sciences, Arts and Education, Science, Law, Engineering, Basic Medical and Health Sciences, and the College of Medical Sciences.
He admonished the matriculating students to key into the vision and mission of BIU, and to make the most of the opportunity afforded them by their parents/guardians, thereby attending classes, shunning deviant behaviours and other vices, while focusing on the reasons for being at the great citadel of learning.
The vice-chancellor declared that BIU had zero-tolerance for misconduct, and would not hesitate to sanction errant students. He urged the matriculants to be modest and decent in their dressing, approach to issues, and adhere to the students’ handbook.
He assured the students of adequate security on both campuses, but pleaded with them not to hesitate to report suspicious activities to the Dean of Students’ Affairs, security officers, or other staff of BIU, for immediate response, given the general state of insecurity in the country.
Guobadia also prayed that the Almighty God would watch over the university’s students, prosper them and make them a source of pride to their families, the country and humanity at large.
Students, parents: what we are looking forward to
At the ceremony, one of the matriculating students, Miss Oghosa Imasuen of the Department of Mass Communication, said she felt good, and that as the first born of the family, she would make her parents proud, and for her two siblings (male and female) to see her as their role model.
Oghosa’s father, Mr. Omorogbe Imasuen, who was glad over his daughter’s admission and matriculation, assured his family that she and her siblings would get the best education. Imasuen urged Oghosa to continue to be focused and obedient.
The mother of Oghosa, Mrs. Amen Imasuen, wished her first child success. She admonished her to graduate with high Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) to make the family proud.
Another excited matriculating student, Jedidiah Akporiaye, who is the Course Representative for Business Administration at BIU, and the first child of his family, assured that by God’s grace, he would be outstanding and remain focused, without allowing peer-group influence.
Anwal-Rul-Islam College Agege Old Students set of 1965-68 recently inaugurated the school’s Biology Laboratory, which was newly refurbished and re-equipped by the set.
The laboratory comprises biological models, white board, teacher’s room, 40 lab chairs and tables, revolving taps, first aid box, fire extinguisher, fans and specimen, among others.
At the inauguration, Major-Gen Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd) represented by Mr. Tunde Kasali, said the initiative was prompted by the need to improve the learning process and practical skills of the students.
“Members of our set are proud today to give back to our alma- mater, a token of our efforts by hanging over the biology laboratory refurbished and re-equipped to a modern standard to the school.”
He, however, called on other sets to introduce e-learning, build student hostels, create skills and refurbish the remaining laboratories and facilities to further promote the image of the school.
The school’s Principal, Mr. Waheed Soyebo, lauded the old students’ efforts in giving back to the school.
“I want to commend the efforts and selfless service of our president and the old students at insisting and inculcating the spirit of giving back into the students and taking the school to the zenith.
“I want to, therefore, assure you of our unalloyed commitment at ensuring judicious use of the laboratory such that it will give our students’ edge above their contemporary,” he said.
It was all joy for two workers of Mind Builders School as they were rewarded with a plot of land each at Mind Builders Estate at Mowe, Ogun State.
The workers – Mr. Igbekele Michael and Ms. Tawa Banjo – are pioneer staff of Mind Builders High School and are still in its employment. They were rewarded for their diligence, loyalty and commitment to the objectives of the school.
The presentation was done by the Chairman of the school, Mr. Bosun Falore, at the 25th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of the organisation in the school hall recently.
The school started as a Nursery & Primary School with the 18 pupils and seven teachers in 1998 at Omole Phase 1.
The secondary school arm located at Jobi Fele Way, Ikeja CBD was added in July 2008.
In 2013, another annex, which is a purpose-built school located on a 8,500 sq. metres land area at Omole Phase 2, was bought over. Since then, the schools have grown in terms of population, having made their contributions in several unique ways to national development.
The preacher at the service, Venerable Israel Owoyele of Lagos West Anglican Diocese, enumerated the reasons for thanksgiving.
“Every day should be a thanksgiving day for any child of God,” he said.
Quoting from the Book of Psalm, the venerable urged the school management to let God guide them in providing total education for the children under their care.
“You need to be grateful to God for being counted among the standing school in the state because several schools have either shut down or no longer relevant in the education industry,” he said.
The two workers were full of gratitude to the Board and Trustees of Mind Builders Education Trust for the gifts for the purpose of building their owner occupier house at the Mind Builders Estate.
Other dignitaries were the Education Director, Mrs. Bolajoko Falore; Mr. Wole Ogunleye; Dr. Ibukun Oluderu; Mr. Nornah Awoh; High school PTF Chairman, Mrs. Sonola Soyinka; Vice Chairman, High School PTF, Primary PTF Chairperson Mrs. ‘Keji Oladimeji; Principal, MBHS, Mrs. Funmi Olatunbode and Vice Principal, Mr. Taofeek Sunmonu.
Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) has declared that it is working to improve its visibility globally as well as consolidate on the upward ranking of its academic programmes in 2020/2021.
The university said the ranking based on its accreditation programmes, placed OOU higher in professional courses such as Medicine, Law, Accounting, Banking and Finance, Economics, Engineering among others, than other universities in similar courses/programmes.
The Vice-Chancellor of OOU, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, who stated this at a media event to begin the 40th anniversary of the institution, said the Webometric Committee has already been set up to improve OOU visibility.
The state-owned university was founded in 1982 but opened its gate in 1983 for the 522 pioneer students spread across four faculties. Today, it has grown to receive 22,000 applications from candidates yearly with about 7,000 admission quota per session.
Agboola said the Webometric rankings of OOU as of 2022 placed it at 3,297 position(world ranking), 70 (continental), 18(country/Nigeria ranking) while also scoring 4797 on impact, 1839 on openness and 4292 on excellence scales.
The vice chancellor also gave insight into what the institution is doing to stem the tide of students drop -out due to their inability to pay tuition fees at the point of admission.
He said from 2016/2017 and 2020/2021 academic sessions, a cumulative of over 11,000, who were given admission did not return becuase they could not pay the tuition fees.
He said the leadership of the school has introduced work studies that would enable students to work, get paid at the end of the month and attend classes too.
“When we noticed the rate at which students were dropping out; we did the SWOT analysis of what happened to them. We came to realise that the major problem was funding. So, we instituted immediate funding, but, of course, it cannot take care of all of them.
“So, going forward, we have agreed that we are going to be doing work studies where funding will be given to just 500 students, since we cannot take care of everybody.
“With work studies, we are sure that the majority of them will be accommodated and that will also solve the problem.”
Reflecting on the journey so far while speaking on the theme “Lighting the Path of Academic Excellence: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” he said university had produced 265,000 graduates in the last 36 years, expressing the confidence that in the years ahead, they would consolidate on its various gains of the past.
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and other local partners, has commenced the conduct of a National Employability Benchmarking Programme in the universities.
Executive Secretary of TETFund Mr. Sonny Echono, who said this at the programme in Abuja, added that the move was part of efforts to improve employability.
Echono said the move would also help steer higher education institutions towards better alignment with market needs.
According to him, they will also measure how tertiary institutions are establishing a baseline for employability and potentially supporting the development of a strategic approach to sector intervention.
“IFC Vitae is a global first-of-a-kind, survey-based diagnostic instrument, which assesses, processes, structures and supports employability outcomes for higher education institutions.
“The programme provides system and institutional-level insights that helps identify key intervention areas that will enhance the employability ecosystem and improve graduate employability outcomes,” he said.
The executive secretary said one of the key roles of TETFund was to develop an enabling system for young graduates to be part of the active labour market soon after graduation.
“This diagnostic led by the IFC is the first phase of designing an intervention to improve graduate employability outcomes.
“The programme will help improve where higher education institutions in the country are presently in relation to global best practices, ” he said.
He said the first stage of the programme was to develop a snapshot of current employability practices.
He said: “The focus was to collect, validate and analyse the data of participating universities in Nigeria.
“This stage was coordinated by Cognity Advisory, a local development consultancy working on behalf of TETFund with IFC global employability experts.
According to him, IFC Vitae has been deployed in different countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbeans, to hundreds of higher education institutions.
“To help them in developing a pathway for improving graduate outcomes and implementing institutional goals for graduate employability,” he said
Echono decried that Nigeria being a developing country was beset with the challenge of unemployment, particularly youth unemployment which was at its highest level.
“The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has put Nigeria’s unemployment at 33.3 per cent, youth unemployment 42.5 per cent and youth under-employment 21 per cent.
“Besides, the 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index recently released by the Bureau reveals that 133 million people in Nigeria are poor, living below the poverty line.
“This implies that 63 per cent of persons living within Nigeria are multi-dimensionally poor,” he said.
He said there was the need for Nigeria to align its intervention activities and strengthening of her education delivery towards fostering an entrepreneurship culture.
According to him, these were the best ways for unleashing the enormous youth potential, addressing unemployment as well as other societal problems, and growing the economy.
The National Employability Benchmarking Programme is coordinated by TETFund with support from the Federal Ministry of Education, and the National Universities Commission (NUC).
IFC is utilising its Vitae employability tool to provide a diagnostic macro snapshot of how well tertiary institutions in Nigeria are implementing employability best practices.
The Cross River Government has charged its teachers to avail themselves of training opportunities whenever such windows were opened.
Executive Chairman, Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Senator Stephen Odey gave the advice at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), during the induction of new teachers.
Odey delivered the lecture with the theme: “Professional Knowledge: Essential Vitamin to Unlock Quality Education,” at the Fourth induction of professional teachers by the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigerian (TRCN).
He told the over 80 inducted teachers and others, not to rest on their oars, but continue to acquire knowledge to excel in their profession.
He explained that teachers had to keep their profession alive by embarking on training and retaining regularly, to be in concert with new trends.
The SUBEB boss noted that the Governor Ben Ayade administration was fully conscious of the essence of retraining teachers to enhance quality education in the state.
He said this was why the administration built the Teachers Continuous Training Institute (TCTI) in Biase.
He added that the institute was saddled with the training teachers continuously, to improve their quality.
Speaking on the need to rid the education system of quackery, Odey called on TRCN to step up their regulatory role, by finding new ways to effectively and efficiently regulate practice of the teaching profession.
In her address, the Vice-Chancellor, UNICAL, Prof. Florence Banku, expressed delight that the inductees were trained by the Institute of Education of the university.
Banku, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, (Academics), Prof. Angela Oyo-Ita, urged the inductees to hold their profession in high esteem as it was the gateway to other professions.
Similarly, the Registrar, TRCN, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, represented by Dr. Bimbo Okunola, urged the inductees to embrace new technologies to enable them to navigate the digital era as well as enhance teaching and learning.
Earlier in his address, the Director of the Institute of Education, UNICAL, Prof. Paul Itari, said the induction was one of the most important academic rituals that initiated graduates into the profession.
He added that quality education could only be a reality, if teachers were trained.
Vive Africa, a boutique marketing communications agency in Africa focused on Education, has released its inaugural list of ‘Top 25 Nigerians Changing the Face of Education’.
The list comprises a broad spectrum of thought leaders, bridge builders, and change-makers shaping the future of education and inspiring a generation through uncommon dedication and hard work.
Personalities on the list include Adetomi Soyinka, Regional Director, Higher Education Programmes, British Council, Nigeria; Adewale Yusuf, Founder & CEO, AltSchool Africa; Temilade Salami, Chevening Scholar and Founder/Executive Director, EcoChampions; and Dipo Awojide, Strategy Advisor, High Impact Careers.
Vive Africa collaborates with local and international partners to promote individuals and institutions making a remarkable impact in Education on the continent.
Its groundbreaking market sentiment and study motivational report remains a reference point in exploring market trends and gauging prevailing sentiments in the international education sector through the lens of African students.
The top 25 Nigerians changing the face of education include Temilade Salami, Uchenna Onwuamegbu, Folawe Omikunle, Modupe Adefeso-Olateju, Ola Abagun and Faith Emmanuel Benson Idahosa. Others are Ada Nwokeji, Adeola Adefemi Funmi Ilori, and Koko Kalango among others.
The list also includes Dipo Awojide, Rotimi Olawale Ikenna Odinaka Chuks, Maryjacob Okwuosa, Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin, Addy Olubamiji, Rukayat Alabi, Prince Louis Adekola, Adewale Yusuf, Adetomi Soyinka, Ada Kelechi-Ahuche, Gideon Olanrewaju, Francis Ebuara, Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi and Oludayo Sokunbi.
Lagos State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) has in the last four years recruited 7,143 teachers to boost the manpower needed in the state’s public post-primary schools.
Its Permanent Secretary, Olubusola Ajibola Abidakun, who stated this on Tuesday in Lagos, said after the inauguration of TESCOM in February 2019, “our first resolve was to address the acute shortage of teachers in the state’s Post-Primary Schools through the recruitment of academically and professionally qualified teachers into the teaching service.
“Not only the certification, but we sought out other competency frameworks in terms of the generic, technical, and attitudinal soft and hard skills that make the holistic teacher worth the pay.
“To underscore the above, the commission sought and was granted approval for the Quarterly Replacement of Exited Teachers in the six education districts.
“I am happy to report that the commission, through this technical and workforce planning strategy, has recruited 7,143 teachers to boost the manpower need in our public post-primary schools.
“These newly recruited educators were adequately inducted or unboarded to ensure proper immersion into the school system.”
At its inception, the commission said it observed that the much-touted professionalisation of teaching was not reflected in their promotions.
“The Service-wide generic training for promotions were inadequate in determining the professional competency levels of teachers. Consequently, the commission redesigned the Structured Training Programme (STP) for teachers to include professional job-specific training programmes.
“More importantly, the training institute of the commission, the Teaching Service Staff Development Center (TSSDC) is saddled with professional training programmes for the career progression of teachers in the state.”
To date, the commission promoted 18,374 teachers in the state public secondary schools.
During the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak, which resulted in the lockdown of schools in Nigeria and the world at large, the permanent secretary said the commission commenced the Eko Webinar Series, a virtual platform for Post- Primary School Teacher’s enhancement and productivity during and post-COVID era.
She added that the yearly verification for pensioners was redesigned to allow the “senior citizens” get verified from the comfort of their homes, thereby reducing all risks involved with physically presenting selves at the commission.
To date, a total number of 9,874 pensioners on the old Pensions Scheme had been verified.
“On capacity development, the commission had aggressively embarked on both improving the professional and management skills of teachers in the public post-primary schools in the state.
“The yearly training scorecard of the commission revealed the following number of trained teachers: Year 2020- 6,381, Year 2,021- 12,760, Year 2022- 15,699 and 17,000 teachers in 2023,” she said.
A worker with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Dr. Gbenga Owolabi, has given back to his alma mater, the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), by donating a borehole and providing scholarship for 50 students.
Owolabi provided the scholarship through the Renaissance Social Support and Developments (RSSD), an initiative that also takes care of the poor through feeding programme.
Those that benefited from the scholarship comprises 23 indigent students and 27 students with the highest CGPA in the previous academic session
Owolabi, who graduated as one of the best students from the Department of Physics, said his gesture was to ease financial burden of the beneficiaries.
He stated that 500-level students in the “brilliant students” category would get N50,000 each, beneficiaries in the 200-level to 400-level within same category would get N20,000 each while the “indigent students” category would received N20,000 each.
Owolabi stated that future edition of the scholarship scheme would expand beyond the School of Physical Sciences.
According to him, “This will not be the last award. I promise we will look at cutting across the entire institution.
“My passion for academic excellence has engineered support for the less privileged students as well as the best students with the highest CGPA in the preceding academic session, first in the Department of Physics, FUTA and now being extended to the four departments in the School of Physical Sciences (Physics, Chemistry; Mathematical Sciences and Statistics).
“Be in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematical Sciences and Statistics doesn’t mean that you will end up in class. But what matters most is what your target is; once you know what your target is, follow up, struggle, and believe it with God on your side.”
Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Prof Adenike Oladiji, urged others who graduated from the institution to emulate the gesture of Owolabi by giving succour to indigent students.
“I am happy that he is actually giving back, but as a teacher, one of the things that has even given me a different joy is the fact that he graduated as one of the best students in his set. So, we are not only celebrating philanthropy and money; we are also celebrating academic excellence. As a university, that is key to us.”
