Category: Education

The Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced a two-year ban on candidates found guilty of examinations malpractice for Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) taken in 2020 and 2021.

The NEC has also said schools that aided and abetted examination malpractices be derecognized; while officials should be reported to their employers and blacklisted.

The NEC announced the decisions following its 72nd bi-yearly meeting held from Thursday to Saturday last week at the WAEC Testing and Training Centre (WTTC), Ogba, Lagos.  During the meeting the committee considered the reports on Irregularity, Special and Clemency Cases arising from the conduct of WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2020 (Second Series) and WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2021 (First Series) earlier considered at the 71st Meeting of the Committee as well as the reports on the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2021.

A communique issued at the meeting and made available to The Nation, noted: “In the course of considering the various reported cases of malpractice, the Committee, after diligent deliberations, approved appropriate sanctions in all established cases of malpractice, as prescribed by the Rules and Regulations governing the conduct of the Council’s examinations. It authorized that the entire results of candidates proven to have been involved in malpractice cases which attract the penalty of Cancellation of Entire Results (CER) be cancelled, while subject results of Candidates proven to have been involved in malpractice cases which attract the penalty of Cancellation of Subject Results (CSR), be similarly cancelled.

“Furthermore, some candidates will also suffer other sanctions such as being barred from sitting for the Council’s examinations for two years. Some schools will be derecognized for a specified number of years or have their recognition completely withdrawn. Some Supervisors that were found wanting in the discharge of their examination duties will be formally reported to their employers and blacklisted while some Invigilators will also be reported to the appropriate authorities for disciplinary action.

“The resolutions of the Committee will be implemented without delay and the affected candidates and schools duly informed by the Council. However, the results of candidates who were exonerated by the Committee will be released without further delay.”

 

Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has asked the Federal Government to pay its members the arrears of the minimum wage before month end.

The union lamented the pains its members are passing through as a result of the implementation of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) in the universities and called on the government to unbundle the mode of payment by decentralising payment to staff unions according to staff status.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of SSANU’s 41st National Executive Council meeting held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife last Thursday and Friday.

The communique, signed by the union’s President, Mohammed Ibrahim, explained that SSANU NEC deliberated on some critical issues affecting labour unions, tertiary institutions and the state of the nation in general.

It accused the Federal Government of deception and relentless breach of the agreement.

The communique reads: “NEC in-session seriously frowns on the endless insincerity and double-dealings of the Federal Government over agreements and memoranda of understanding seamlessly signed with labour unions.

“NEC recalls the several assurances of the government to pay the agreed arrears of the new National Minimum Wage. Unfortunately, this promise is yet to be met after countless months; the last promise being the end of October 2021.

“Government is enjoined to see to it that they keep to the promise of payment of the arrears of the New National Minimum Wage, which has already lost its value as at today.

“The union is aware that the government has requested the relevant offices of government to submit their data on or before the 28th of January 2022; we urge the government to ensure that they pay the overdue arrears of the National Minimum Wage on or before the end of February, 2022.”

On the payment of Earned Allowances to Universities and Inter-University Centres, the NEC said its shoddy implementation has continued to cause untold chaos in universities and is yet to be implemented properly despite promises by the government to resolve all the issues.

SSANU decried what it described as “the ugly state of roads nationwide”, saying it was shameful that the country with its vast wealth cannot boast of good roads nationwide.

 

A pupil of Brainfield College, Salolo, Lagos, Jubril Dokun, has won the Third  InterswitchSPAK National Science Competition.

The 16-year-old was awarded the grand prize of N7.5 million in scholarship by integrated payments company, Interswitch, organisers of the competition.

Runners up in the competition, Ayanlade Jesuferanmi of Obafemi Awolowo University International School, Ile-Ife, and Omoniyi Qudus of Scholars Universal Secondary School, Ota – clinched the second and third prizes, receiving N4 million and N1 million in scholarships, among other prizes.

After a 13-week run on both terrestrial and domestic television stations, Interswitch revealed the best science student in the country during the last episode, which aired on February 5, 2021.

Over 18,000 pupils from various secondary schools in Nigeria competed for the N12.5 million scholarships and other perks attached to the top three positions in the competition.

As a pioneer tech company in Nigeria, Interswitch remains committed to exploring the advantages of technology, as it maintains its drive of creating a prosperous Nigeria and by extension, Africa. To advance this goal, Interswitch is encouraging more African students to take up STEM courses, as this has proven to be one of the drivers of thriving economies around the world.

In his opening remarks, the Managing Director, Payment Processing & Switching (Interswitch Purepay), Akeem Lawal, reiterated the need for more African students to participate in STEM fields. He described STEM as important in helping Africans solve unique problems on the continent.

He said: “As our contribution to closing this gap, we introduced InterswitchSPAK in 2018 because we realized the critical role of STEM education to our country, and the continent, and its importance to the future of Africa. “Our objectives are clear – to prioritise STEM in the education of the Nigerian child; fan the flames of interest in STEM education, where it already exists; and to promote and reward excellence in this field of study.”

InterswitchSPAK, a collaborative effort of Interswitch and JustMedia Productions, is a CSR initiative that is held in Nigeria and Kenya annually. It has produced other winners such as Akachukwu Anumudu of Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Lagos and Oyindamola Aje of Jesuit Memorial College, Rivers in 2018 and 2019.

 

 

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday received the certificates for the two newly established universities from the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof Abubakar Rasheed.

The NUC issued letters of recognition to the Lagos State Government for the establishment of the two new specialised universities as approved by the Lagos State Assembly.

Sanwo-Olu had signed bills converting Lagos State Polytechnic to the University of Technology and Adeniran Ogunsanya to the University of Education.

The Governor said the upgrade becomes necessary to meet the growing demands of the State.

READ ALSO: Why l approved tertiary drainage squad, says Sanwo-Olu

He said: “Lagos has the largest economy in the whole of Africa. But unfortunately Lagos today has only one state university that was given to us about 39 years ago. So, we are happy to come to NUC today to pick two brand new university approvals for the people of Lagos State.”

He noted that his administration had invested extensively in the existing institutions that have been upgraded with one of them having over 60 Ph.D. lecturers while their infrastructures are being developed aggressively.

“We believe that the approval to have Lagos State Polytechnic turned to University of Science and Technology, will bring about innovations in engineering, science, inventions, and things that would bring development to our country and state,” he said.

The executive secretary of NUC dismissed claims of the proliferation of universities in Nigeria, insisting that Nigeria with over 200 million citizens requires more universities to cater for the tertiary education needs.

He noted that Nigeria currently has an enrolment of two million students in the existing 200 universities, saying this was quite low when compared to the number of candidates who seek admissions into universities annually.

Nigeria’s first personalized learning platform, Gradely, announced a partnership with Educational Institution, Ehizua Hub, to create ‘Top Graders Remedial School’ in Ajah, Lagos.

The purpose of this is to promote high-quality personalized learning across the developing regions of Lagos for as low as N500/day.

CEO and Co-Founder of Gradely, Boye Oshinaga says “The goal of planting the remedial schools is to give every child in developing areas like Ajah, adequate access to personalized learning resources and support, for as little cost as possible.”

The Remedial School is a room occupied with 20 internet-enabled computers where children can easily access the Gradely app every day at just N500. The Gradely app is an online learning platform built to create personalized learning paths for children with academic difficulties and recommend assessments, video lessons and online tutoring to improve their grades.

The Remedial School is specifically for children who have learning difficulties that need to be remedied as they prepare for entrance exams such as SSCE, Post UTME, and Common Entrance. It is equally for children that attend low-cost private schools, or are homeschooled due to financial struggles and therefore don’t have proper access to quality education.

READ ALSO: Gradely to offer free digital education training to 5,000 teachers

In the past, the regular solution for this would be to enroll the child in a group or private lessons, but with a school specially built to customize learning and solve for learning difficulties, the children can be exposed to a more modern and personalized form of education, with digital resources and continuous on-demand support from the best tutors for as little as N500/day.

The Co-founder & Growth Lead at Gradely, Seyi Adelaju, says ‘While EdTech solutions are a powerful means to learn, limited access to digital devices and the internet is a barrier for most learners – especially the ones that need it the most. The Top Graders Remedial School solves this in a way that is both sustainable and scalable.’

Gradely seeks to engage more children by planting more Remedial Schools with access to internet-enabled devices and personalized learning resources in other developing areas such as Mushin, Oshodi, and others. The Chairman of the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Honourable Abdullahi Sesan Olowa, has also promised to re-route over 500 students for this cause.

Ehizua is a social enterprise providing equal access to affordable and quality education by bridging the financial and digital divides in Africa. The company seeks to ensure equal access to information and knowledge by empowering individuals through skill-based training and creating access to jobs in Australia, Asia, Africa, and other continents across the world. They also facilitate college admissions, scholarships, and deliver online programs for empowerment.

A leading African Economist and Management scholar Professor Austin Nosike has been appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) of Copperstone University (CU) in Zambia.

According to an official statement by the University Registrar, Ms Jane Matindo, the Governing Council approved the appointment of Professor Austin Nosike as substantive Deputy Vice Chancellor-Academics & Research of the institution.

The varsity said: “Professor Nosike brings to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor duties and responsibilities, a proven track record of academic pedigree, administrative expertise, professional experience and community services having previously held academic leadership and governance roles as Director, Registrar, Dean, and Head of Department in addition to serving as Chairman and/or Member of over 30 Committees in various universities across the globe”.

By the appointment, Professor Nosike is Principal Officer of the university in charge of academic leadership, resource mobilization, innovation and research administration.

Prof Nosike will also to serve as tenured full Professor of Economics & Management in the University’s School of Business.

Nosike said: “I wish to express profound appreciation to the Governing Council for this great opportnity given to me to be of service.

“It is indeed an honour and privilege to join Copperstone University, a leading African University whose vision and values revolve around service, nation building and leadership for development.

“I’m pleased to be part of CU community at a critical period in which there is so much capacity to strengthen and create new partnerships and strong linkages to expand access and enhance participation for the next generation of students, alumni, and for sustainability throughout the globe.

“I am looking forward to engaging with students, colleagues and alumni as we shape the new face of the institution.”

Born in Emii-Owerri, the erudite and seasoned Professor has three decades of experience in higher education and human capacity building.

Professor Nosike began his career as a Journalist, human rights activist and public relations professional.

He has held several teaching, research and consulting positions at Kaduna Polytechnic; Nigerian Defense Academy; Technological and Economic Development Mission-(TEDEM); Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri; The African Management Institute, African Union Commission, Addis Ababa-Ethiopia and a number of other international agencies, governments and civil societies including serving as President, Development Africa Consortium, a leading international consulting and research institution founded in 1996.

Professor Nosike has taught, researched, supervised, and examined Bachelors, Masters and PhD students in the áreas of Business, Economics and Public Policy at University of Technology and Arts of Byumba (UTAB); University of Lay Adventists of Kigali(UNILAK); University of Kigali (UoK); Kayiwa International University(KINTU); Kigali Independent University(ULK); Metropolitan International University (MIU); Ballsbridge University; Granada Management Institute (Universidad de Granada), Granada-Spain; Afro-Euro Centre for Development Studies and Mediterranean Centre for Social and Educational Research (Sapienza University), Rome-Italy amongst others. He has been a Visiting Scholar of Globalization and Development at Universidad de Basque Country, Gipuzkoa-Spain;

He is recipient of First Prize Essay Award, 1992 International Essay Competition for Nigerian University Students (Forum for the Advancement of Nigeria, Philadelphia-USA).

He has received other awards, honours, recognition and prizes including the West Coast University Research Award; Central European University Fellowship Award; Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Travel Research Grant Award; International Institute of Human Rights Fellowship Award; Imo State Government Scholarship Award (Imo State Scholarship Board);International Youth of the Year Award(Africa), International Biographical Centre, Cambridge-England; Marquis Who’s Who in the World; International Who’s Who of Professionals, North Carolina-USA;20th Century Award for Achievement in Education; Dictionary of International Biography and Special Commendation from the Chairman of Editorial Board, Imo Newspapers Ltd (The Statesman).

Since the 1990s, Professor Nosike has organised over 100 international conferences, seminars and workshops across the globe. He has participated, co-ordinated and served on over 30 research programs.

The Bishop of Arch Province of Lagos Most Rev Dr Humphrey Olumakaiye has dedicated the building of the Nubian American Advance College at Chevron Drive Lekki, Lagos.

Named Barak House, the dedication is preparatory to the take-off of the revolutionary system of education.

The dedication attracted several dignitaries, including Chairman Board of Trustees and Chief Promoter of the College, Dr. Azhinoto Ikpah and other board members.

They include Ven. Kiri Wakama and his wife; Prof. Adetunji Amusa; Mrs. Mobola Fashola; Prof. Oyekhare; Dr. Femi Osiyale; Mrs Oge and Mrs. Sarah Osedo (Nubian Foundation Lawyer and others).

Olumakaiye appreciated God for the vision to establish the college and prayed for a successful take off of the Nubian American Advanced College in resounding health, good staff and students that will take the institution to a greater height.

He prayed that in the shortest time possible, the name Nubian American College will be a household name in Nigeria and the worldwide.

After, the dedication and cutting of the tape to declare the building open, he sanctified the ground floor lecture room.

The chairman of the Board and Chief promoter of the college, Dr Ikpah said: “Education is the key to unleashing the potential of the youths of today” and the Nubian American Advanced College is determined to rise up to the challenge and give the best education to the students the way it is done in America where they have the holistic education system, empowering students with leadership, economic and social skills, where there is a defined relationship between education, industry and the society.”

The Nubian American Advanced College is initially modelled after the American 2-year community college where students can transfer their semester credit hours to any of our partner Universities in the US or Nigeria.

It also offers Associate Degree, Certification and Certificates for students that wish to work after 2 years of vocational training.

The College offers professional, pre-professional and will commence with: Arts & Sciences, Agriculture, Technical & Vocational Studies, Engineering, Health Sciences and Nursing, Engineering Technology and ICT and Pre-professional courses in Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, Density etc.

“Part of the uniqueness of this college is that it offers work/study and cooperative programs for those that need the extra funds to afford their education and internship programs with companies and Industries to provide students with hands on education and familiarity of the quality of students with the private sector to facilitate jobs at graduation.

“The motto: is no student is left behind. If a student cannot afford the tuition he or she can enrol in the work study program.

NAAC also has an endowment fund to support scholarships, research, infrastructure and award-winning instructors,” Ikpah added.

Guests were taken on a tour of the three-floor building to showcase what the Nubian institution has in place for the community.

Some of the facilities include: a first class fully equipped lecture rooms that can conveniently accommodate about 100 students at a go for physical and online lectures; a comfortable student’s lounge for relaxation after their lectures and an assignment corner for them to do their assignments before closing for the day; a library that will take care of the physical and online library use of the students including provision of laptops; tastefully furnished offices for staff as well as lecturer’s cubicle to enable them prepare well ahead of lectures; standard laboratories that can conveniently accommodate not less than 50 students in each Laboratory and others.

It was an atmosphere of warmth and camaraderie when old students of Ijebu Ode Grammar School; 72 set (JOGS 72 Club), celebrated their golden jubilee. The celebrations took place at the school.

The well-attended event was an avenue for the old students to reunite and reminisce on their time in the school. Some teachers who taught them were also present.

Members of the 72 set, who had died, were also remembered in a solemn show of sympathy.

JOGS 72 Club President, Mr. Bolaji Onabolu said: “We have broken the Yoruba myth which says, ‘20 children cannot play for 20 years’. We have made it to 50 years, to the glory of God.”

Onabolu noted that the social media had contributed to their togetherness, helping them to keep in touch.

“An old school set or club, stands to provide a social platform of engagement, networking and interaction among set members, and many thanks to the emergence of social media and its associated Apps and other effective means of enhanced communications which has made the world to indeed become a global village, we at JOGS 72 club, have maximised the use of social media to better communicate and keep in touch with ourselves,” he said.

The President said the 72 set had produced many illustrious citizens for the country, with four  Professors, and Ph.D holders, a  Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) many practising senior lawyers, a retired Navy Commodore, seasoned professionals in Engineering, Information Technology, Surveying, Architecture, Education, Medical Sciences, Journalism, etc.

The set had also given back to the school many times.

He said: “We have also given back several times to our alma mater in many ways. We equipped the library during our 25th anniversary, sponsored the Aionian School games via donation, built a toilet to mark 40 years of our graduation from school, among many others.”

While inaugurating current projects donated by the set, Ogun State Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu lauded them for contributing to the school’s development.

To commemorate its milestone, JOGS 72 Club donated a solar, renovated the toilet facility it earlier built, classroom furniture and also contributed to the ongoing ICT centre project.

Arigbabu, himself, an old student of the school recalled past moments in the school.

“JOGS 72 set were my seniors. I remember Friday afternoons in the hall. The prefects would move up and down to check students. One of them would say, ‘if you are dirty, come out.’ Those neater than me would come out; I would have no choice than to join them,” he said.

Earlier in a mentoring session for pupils on January 14, Prof. Dele Sogbesan of the Department of English Education, Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun,Ogun State, admonished the pupils to place premium on high moral standards and be self-confident.

In his lecture entitled: “Building a secure future in a changing world”, he charged them to develop a growth mindset to achieve success.

Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Gbenga Olugbake while recalling when he enrolled in the school, said: “I was lucky to be admitted to this school of great history. I was 11 years-old then. My father was an alumnus of the school. Bode George, the late Gbolabo Ogunsanwo were my seniors in this school. The school changed my life. I am a lawyer today and I made a lot of friends here.”

Chairman Planning Committee, Dr Sunday Olu-Daniels, restated the association’s commitment to developing  the school. He also warned  pupils against internet fraud and the get-rich-quick syndrome.

Highlight of the event was when six outstanding  and 10  indigent pupils were given cash awards.

Speaking on behalf of the pupils, Laboratory Prefect, Afeez Odulaja thanked the alumni and Ogun Commissioner Arigbabu for always giving back to the school and for encouraging them.

Awards were also given to teachers of the 72 set and members of the set.

 

The Benue State University, Makurdi has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ashi Polytechnic to run degree programmes.

While signing the document at the university’s senate building, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tor-Joe Iorapuu, appreciated the efforts of the proprietor in ensuring that the understanding which started since the time of late Chief Dr. Terkura Suswam came to a reality.

The VC also urged the new proprietor, Mr. Tiza Suswam never to compromise the understanding, stressing that the university would continue to provide support to the polytechnic.

Responding, Suswam thanked the VC and the university management for the honour done him, promising never to let them down.

 

The memorandum of understanding was cross-signed by the management of BSU and Ashi Polytechnic.

The event was attended by the VC, DVC Administration, DVC Academics, Registrar, Academic officer, Bursar, Deans of Faculties and many others.

Also in attendance were the Rector of the Polytechnic, Ajula Matthew, an engineer, and the Registrar, Mr. Iorlaha Amos.

 

Scholars of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have appealed to the government at all levels to make Yoruba a compulsory subject in public schools to ensure that Yoruba children learn, understand and appreciate their dialect.

An Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages at the university, Dr. Layo Ogunlola, and another lecturer in the Department, Mrs. Olabimpe Adeyemi, made the appeal Tuesday last week during a current affairs programme on UNILORIN 89.3 FM.

Dr. Ogunlola, who said graduates of Yoruba studies are not inferior to those of other courses, said that students who studied Yoruba in any higher institution can practise as droadcasters, interpreters, and at courts of law. They added that they could also be engaged as lecturers, and in financial institutions, among others.

While clarifying the insinuation that those who study Yoruba are being trained as herbalists, the renowned scholar said those saying such are ignorant of the strength of the course. He explained that there are about 13 universities in the United States of America where Yoruba is being studied.

On her part, Mrs. Adeyemi, who is a wife to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, lamented that schools in Nigeria, especially the private ones now regard the beautiful Yoruba language as vernacular.

While appealing to parents to allow their children to speak the language at home, Mrs. Adeyemi explained that children who understand their dialect would find it easy to understand other languages better and do well in their studies.

Ogunlola added that parents should not discourage their wards from studying Yoruba in the  higher institutions.