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Ondo State Governor Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, Gombe State Governor Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa , and Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Toyin  Ogundipe, among other distinguished Nigerians,  are to receive awards at the 2021 Afrikanwatch lecture.

The lecture ,  entitled  2023: The kind of leaders Nigeria need, our collective responsibility, holds August 21.

According to the Editor-in-Chief of  Afrikanwatch, Mark  Orgu, the lecture will be delivered by Solomon Akinboye, a professor of Political Science and International Relations at UNILAG.

The event will be chaired by  Ogundipe.

Orgu noted that distinguished Nigerians who had made indelible mark in their fields would be given African Gold Merit Award.

Others to receive awards are Dr. Tunji Abayomi, constitutional lawyer and human rights activist; Dr. Obadian Mailafia, former deputy governor of CBN; Oba Owolabi Adeyemi Adeniyi, Oba of Igbobi-Sabe, Lagos; Dr. Henry Adimula, principal/chief executive, Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Warri, Delta State; Dr. Reuben Abati, former special adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan; Dr. Kabir Adamu, security expert; Comrade Anderson Ezeibe, ASUP national president; Dr. Lilian Chibor, rector,  Institute of Transport and Management Technology, Lagos; and Mr. Femi Omokungbe, rector, Yaba College of Technology, among others.

Beyond the Classroom, a non- governmental organisation, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has engaged 6,000 children in Nigeria on COVID-19 safety protocols.

The community engagement was part of the Mastercard Foundation’s COVID-19 public awareness campaign, aimed at delivering accurate, timely, and life-saving information on COVID-19 across African countries and communities.

The initiative was rolled out in 11 public and private schools in Lagos and Nassarawa states. Each child received a free COVID-19 safety pack, containing a  book, “There is a new virus in town”, written by Raquel Daniel, founder of Beyond the Classroom.

Daniel explained that pupils were educated on the need to wash their hands regularly with soap or use alcohol-based hand sanitisers.

She also stressed the need for them to always wear nose masks in the correct way while in public and to maintain a social distance of at least one metre.

She admonished the pupils to motivate their parents and guardians to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Nigeria Country Head at the Mastercard Foundation, Chidinma Lawanson, said the community engagement was  the second phase of the awareness campaign aimed at educating children between the ages of seven and 14 on preventive measures.

She explained that 3,000 children were initially engaged in the first phase of the project last year.

By Kolade Adeyemi, Jos.

Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has described the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Seddi Sebastian Maimako, as a scholar of repute and resourceful administrator whose tenure ushered in a great era of academic and infrastructural achievements in the institution.

Lalong, who was among guests that joined the former Vice Chancellor for the Thanksgiving Mass at the St. Mary Catholic Church, Lu’ukwo, Bakin Chiyawa, Plateau State, said Prof. Maimako left a legacy of excellence, hardwork, inclusivity, and progressive leadership in the institution.

He said the institution achieved so much in research, teaching and infrastructural development, among others.

Lalong said the testimony of staff, students, regulatory bodies and many who had contact with the institution during his stewardship testified to his professionalism.

The governor said this had brought pride to the government and people of Plateau State and demonstrated the capacity of the citizens of the state to  discharge their duties diligently.

He wished the erstwhile VC more years of higher service to the nation and humanity.

Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Rev. Matthew Ishaya Audu, said God gave people assignments as a way of testing their diligence and productivity. He praised Maimako for returning to thank God for his tenure.

Maimako  thanked  God for lifting him up from a humble background and entrusting him with a huge responsibility such as the leadership of one of the prominent federal universities in the country.

He also thanked the management, staff and students of the institution for supporting and challenging him to give his best in the last five years.

Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Gray Ejikeme described the era of Maimako as very productive and inspiring, with visible academic and physical development.

By Bassey Anthony, Uyo

Topfaith University has intensified efforts to collaborate with University of Uyo (UNIUYO) to ensure it develops rapidly.

This was made  known when top officers of the institution visited UNIUYO.

Leader of the delegation and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dr. Emmanuel Abraham, said they were at UNIUYO to seek useful partnership with the leadership of the institution for the realisation of academic programmes.

He said: “It is an opportunity for us to solicit for and establish a mentor-mentee relationship with the great University of Uyo in furtherance of the expected future growth and expansion of Topfaith University programmes as prescribed by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Abraham noted that the university promoted through the Thomas Abraham Foundation aims to promote  academic excellence through cutting-edge research and teaching. He also pledged the commitment of the management team to ensure the school becomes a world class institution in  future.

He canvassed  for expert advice and support of  UNIUYO in staff recruitment, development and general quality assurance services.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of UNIUYO, Prof. Nyaudo Ndaeyo  expressed delight at the establishment of the institution and the readiness of the UNIUYO management to collaborate with the budding tertiary institution to achieve it’s goals in the years to come.

He also pledged to assist the newly licensed university in the development of her academic programmes and faculties.

By Sampson Unamka

To mark its fifth anniversary, Citytop School, Akowonjo, Egbeda, Lagos, has given palliatives to 50 families in the area. This is just as it launches its game application on Google Play store today (Thursday).

Speaking at the ceremony on Monday, on  the school premises, Chief Learning Officer of the school, Daniel Taiwo, said the gesture was borne out of the need to reach out to people with the economy in a bad shape.

“We felt that the economy is a bit harsh so we decided to give food items to people in our community. We are five years old. The first year we had free medical outreach just like what we have today, the second year we fumigated about seven streets, another year we equipped a private school in the area, the fourth year, we trained 35 students on coding which is part of our subjects, and today, we are going to launch our student game on Google Play Store as part of activities to mark our fifth anniversary,” he said.

Chairman of the day, Chief Creative Officer X3M Ideas and President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Steve Babaeko, lauded the school management for the gesture, noting that it was important to give back to the community.

One of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Mustapha Yusuf, thanked the school management. His words: “This is a very nice school and we appreciate their cooperation with the community, and they continue to give  good education to our children.”

He, however, advised other schools to emulate the gesture and cooperate more with communities where they operate.

By Damola Kola-Dare

No fewer than 10 pupils across Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Benue states, were rewarded with various prizes for their outstanding performance in  the maiden edition of  TeensThink national essay competition.

The winners were announced at the grand finale of the competition, held in Lagos, on Monday, by a team of  independent jurors.

Oche Ochefu of Methodist Boys High School, Victoria Island, Lagos, the overall winner of the competition, went home with+ a laptop, a trophy and N150,000, while Sunday Boluwatife and James Esther Nnena of Lishabi Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ogun State and Ilesha Grammar School, Osun State, first and second runners-up, got a laptop, trophy, N100,000 and N70,000 respectively.

They were also given educational games and books, among others.

Seven others were awarded cash prizes as they claimed the fourth to 10th positions.

Speaking at the event, founder of the TeensThink initiative, Kehinde Olesin, described the winners as worthy ambassadors of their families, schools and states.  According to her, the initiative is aimed at  preparing outstanding teens for remarkable success in learning and character.

“We are creating a global community of teens, who can personally and collaboratively spark up personal and social change locally and internationally. We are committed to empowering teenagers to reach their full potential, equipping them with relevant life-skills for success as they approach adulthood. We are also enhancing career and college preparation for these young leaders, through interactive and hands-on educational sessions,”she said.

Chairman of the occasion, former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lagos State, Steve Ayorinde lauded the winners for their impressive performance. He  described  them as future leaders who  have the potential to excel in whatever field of endeavour they find themselves.

“The winners have distinguished themselves for excellence through the level of their performance and we are very proud of them and the prospects that they hold for the advancement of the nation,” he said.

Ayorinde added that the initiative  would help improve the overall quality of education in the country and urged  schools  to make the most of the platform.

Chief Juror of the competition and Convener Supportive Discipline for Dignity group, Mr. Akin Benjamin, expressed his satisfaction at the quality of entries and performance from the winners.

“I am impressed with the quality of entries we received, it was an intense screening process as we  reviewed over 150 entries, from across states in Nigeria, Rivers, Taraba, Benue, Ogun and Osun.

“The winners are deserving of all the recognition and accolades. I am happy to be a part of this process. It is important that we reward and encourage outstanding talents and academic excellence from the teenage stage in order to build a creative, intelligent and productive youth population,” he said.

By Damola Kola-Dare

The Chancellor of Anchor University Lagos (AUL), Dr. William Kumuyi, has urged the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for varsities across the country by intensifying the fight against insecurity. He also canvassed support for private varsities.

“Nigeria 170 universities of which 79 are privately owned, while 43 and 48 are owned by the Federal and State governments, respectively, hence governments need to help the private universities by creating a better environment for development and growth of university education in the country,” he said.

Kumuyi, who is also the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, spoke last Friday at the maiden convocation of the university.

The Chancellor urged the graduates to cultivate the habit of hard work and be entrepreneurial.

He said: “We are sending the first fruits out to go and lift the banner of our core values high for the world to see. I charge you to excel in entrepreneurship and create jobs and bring relief to the society.”

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Afolayan, said the  institution produced 63 pioneer graduands.23 graduated with First Class, 27 had Second Class Upper while 13 students graduated with Second Class Lower.

He noted that  Miss Mary Enakireru, a Microbiology student emerged the overall best graduating student with  a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)  of 3.95 out of 4.00.

Afolayan said the institution was committed to research, hence, it established a Centre for Global Health to contribute to improvement in health through high-quality multi-disciplinary research.

He also said the centre would work with international organisations, stakeholders and researchers to address prevalent health challenges.

Afolayan also said a Laboratory for Space, Atmospheric and Radio waves Propagation has been set up following a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the Indian Centre for Space Physics to address the dearth of research data in the region through the deployment of multiple facilities.

In his goodwill message, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Gboyega Soyombo lauded the varsity for emphasising godly character and spiritual values among students.

By Emmanuel Udodinma

The Gbagada Jasmine Lions Club has donated books, exercise book, snacks and other items to Kiniun-Ifa Nursery and Primary School and Araromi Primary School, both in Gbagada, Lagos State.

The gesture was focused on promoting culture and also educating the pupils on the need to imbibe a reading culture from the tender age.

Speaking at the event held at the schools, president of the club, Lion Ada Okorie, said the donation was part of the efforts of members to contribute to the education of the pupils.  She said education was the best legacy a society could give her young ones.

”We are happy that we have contributed our quota toward development of the schools.  Above all whatever we do, we do it for society to grow,” she said

Also speaking, head teacher of Araromi Primary School, Mrs. Modupe Fafetire, said that she was very happy that the club chose the schools.

She added that it was not the first time the club would donate to her school, promising to put the materials to judicious use.

By Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

A professor of Farming Systems Agronomy, Bernard Kalu, has identified funding as the most critical impediment to universities meaningfully achieving technological advancement for economic and social development.

Kalu, who said this while delivering a valedictory lecture at the Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi, said if funding was improved, Nigerian universities would rank higher.

“When the policy shift and their associated funding patterns are streamlined in tune with the world best practices, the rest of internal university activities will properly realign themselves and restore the universities to their status as citadel of learning, knowledge development and sharing for national growth, and thus upgrade their worldwide ranking position,” he said.

On mentoring, Kalu said universities were supposed to mentor upcoming academics to help place their involvement in research and training into the broader context of what it means as a scientist to be involved in scientist community.

The Don suggested that the university should conduct mandatory induction courses or workshop on universities culture and tradition to ensure discipline in the system.

Kalu faulted the selection of Deans on tribal and religious sentiments saying, it had contributed to the malaise of the universities.

He charged academic members of staff to continue to develop and sustain the atmosphere of cooperation, goodwill and intellectual adventure with high level of commitment, integrity and ethical standard and prayed God to touch Nigerian Government to understand the modus operandi of the university system.

Earlier, Vice Chancellor of the University Prof. Richard Kimbir said the valedictory lecture was the first since the establishment of the institution and thanked Kalu for his contribution to the university’s development and urged others to emulate him.

In a vote of thanks, the Registrar of the university, Mrs Hellen Nyitse praised the Committee on Inaugural and public lecture  led by its Chairman, Professor Rufus Shaato, for doing a wonderful job.