The Nation Newspaper

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  • Lagos Ministry trains music teachers

    The Lagos State Ministry of Education has organised a three-day workshop for 50 music teachers in the state public schools. The initiative is to ensure enough preparation for 2012/2013 school academic session

    At the flag off of the workshop held at the ministry’s Department of Curricular Services, Akoka, its Director of Co-Curricular Services, Mrs Omobola Babs-Akinyeye, urged the participants to restore pupils’ interest in classical music, since music is a science and a culture for the ear and culture moves with time

    To this end, she charged music teachers to differentiate between classical music which is good for children and other genre of music, which are dangerous to their upbringing.

    Mrs Babs-Akinyeye who represented the honorable Commissioner for Education Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye, stressed that music is an integral part of the society, which cannot be eradicated.

    She said the government appreciates teachers’ input in the delivery of standard and qualitative education in the state. Prof Anthony Mereni of the University of Lagos, Akoka also added that about 80 per cent of music in Nigeria today are merely noise-making, containing no message that can uplift the society.

    His words: “Teachers need to work hard to encourage pupils to appreciate the music learnt in classrooms, as it can really show, educate and enlighten them on good music which is conceptualised towards their development and not the ones that mislead, and give wrong impression about the society.”

  • No contact with abductors of Osun Speaker’s wife

    The abductors of Alhaja Muibat Salaam, wife of Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam, are yet to contact the family.

    Alhaja Salaam was on Tuesday kidnapped by gunmen on her way home from her shop in Ejigbo, her husband’s hometown.

    The Assembly condemned the kidnap, describing it as “barbaric, criminal and strange”.

    In a statement by the speaker’s media aide, Mr. Goke Butika, the House said the abduction was designed to “adulterate the atmosphere of peace in the state.”

    It described Alhaja Salaam as “a responsible mother and wife, who does not believe in living on her husband alone, but working hard to support her family”.

    The Assembly said it was “unfortunate for some gun-wielding men to waylay a helpless woman” and urged security operatives to get to the root of the matter.

    It said: “Osun State is known for peace and tranquility. The crime rate is very low and kidnapping is strange. So, the abduction of the wife of the speaker, who keeps an open door policy, is worth investigating.”

    The speaker said he would not comment until the issue is resolved.

    The state chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) said Alhaja Salaam’s kidnap is an “ominous development, which signals the gradual spread of criminality and anarchy across the country”.

    In a statement by its Publicity Director Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, ACN said: “This is a matter of serious concern because the Federal Government has lost total control of security in the country. The situation is getting worse and this calls for serious thought about the creation of state police to help the Federal Government cope with the rapidly deteriorating security situation.

    “We urge the political class to take a second look at the issue of security. No doubt, the Federal Government is losing the war against criminals and if we allow total anarchy to set in, the country would be the worst for it and its corporate existence would be endangered.”

    ACN urged the police to find the speaker’s wife and advised the kidnappers to release her unconditionally.

     

  • FUNAAB seeks partnership with donors

    The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Olusola Oyewole, has called on individuals, corporate bodies and non-governmental organisations to partner with the university to enhance training and create employment for her products.

    Oyewole added that such partnership would also go a long way in “poverty reduction” among members of the society.

    The Vice -Chancellor, who spoke last Monday during the opening ceremony of the 16th Triennial Symposium of the International Society for Tropical Root Crops at the institution’s Auditorium cited Community Based Farming Scheme for Students (COBFAS) as an area where such partnership is needed.

    “We are ready to partner with industries, donors, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and other interested parties to expand these initiatives to more viable commercial ventures,” he said.

    Oyewole said COBFAS which was established in 2010 by the institution helps students to match theories with practical in modern commercial agricultural methods.

    Under the scheme, students are assigned to work with the existing farmers in targeted communities for six months as part of their training process before graduation.

    He added that another scheme, Graduate Farming Scheme (GRADFES), was also established to provide land farm inputs and credit access to graduates of the university to enable them take up farming as business venture.

    Meanwhile, the Ogun State government has expressed willing to collaborate with FUNAAB to ensure that research work of the institution are turned into business ideas for job creations and industrial development.

    The Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, who represented Governor Ibikunle Amosun at the occasion, said the state has already working in that direction through its ministry of Agriculture.

  • NAFDAC seals off pharmacy over fake drugs

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed off Anyiwest Pharmacy at 1, Meiran Road, Ojokoro, a Lagos suburb. The manager was arrested for stocking and dispensing contraband and expired drugs.

    In a statement yesterday, its public relations officer, Anslem Okonkwor said NAFDAC took the action following a petition by some people against the pharmacy. He said upon investigation, it was discovered that the pharmacy stocked Analgin and Tagaprox injections, which have been banned, and Ferotone and Flu capsules, which have expired.

    According to the Director of Enforcement, Mr. Garba MacDonald, the Agency’s officials acted to prevent the pharmacy from further endangering people’s lives through its unwholesome activities. He said there was no premises registration certificate at the pharmacy as stipulated by law, casting a doubt on its current registration status with the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN).

    MacDonald said the pharmacy did not only violate NAFDAC’s regulations but also engaged in professional misconduct. The outfit, he said, would remain shut and the products in stock subjected to further screening.

  • Bakassi: Govt set to protest rights’ violation

    Despite the final ceding of Bakassi Penisula to Cameroon, the Federal Government has been advised to seek redress on the alleged violation of the rights of Nigerians living in the area.

    A London-based law firm, TOALAW Group, which was consulted by the Federal Government on the issue, gave the advice.

    It urged the government to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the United Nations (UN) for justice on the abuse of the rights of Nigerians in the Penisula.

    The firm said the Federal Government could join issues with Cameroon in ICJ and the UN on human rights abuses based on Article 36(2) of the ICJ.

    The legal advice reads: “We understand that there are concerns about the violation by Cameroon of the rights of some of the persons resident in the Bakassi Penisula.

    “We also understand that consideration is being given to the possibility of Nigeria bringing proceedings against Cameroon with respect to such violations of human rights.

    “Both Nigeria and Cameroon have made declarations recognising the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ under Article 36 (2) of the ICJ Statute.

    “The combination of these declarations entitles Nigeria to bring cases against Cameroon before the ICJ (just as Cameroon brought the original ICJ proceedings against Nigeria.)

    “Cameroon has made a general declaration accepting the jurisdiction of the ICJ, which is to say Cameroon has not excluded any matter from the scope of its acceptance of the ICJ’s compulsory jurisdiction.

    “Nigeria has made some reservations on the matter, with respect to which Nigeria accepts the ICJ’s compulsory jurisdiction.

    “The compulsory jurisdiction works on the basis of reciprocity. This means that though Cameroon has not excluded any matter from ICJ’s jurisdiction, Cameroon can invoke, as against Nigeria, any reservations that Nigeria has made in its declaration under Art. 36(2).

    “A preliminary review of the Nigerian reservation suggests that none of them is likely to exclude the jurisdiction of the ICJ with respect to human rights matters.

    “However, it is worth noting that Nigeria’s declaration excluded matters within Nigeria’s domestic jurisdiction. It may be argued on the principle of reciprocity that matters within Cameroon’s domestic jurisdiction are also excluded.

    “Furthermore, it may be argued that the matters at issue are within Cameroon’s domestic jurisdiction. Some intricate issues of law and ICJ practice at play here would require more detailed attention. However, at first glance, it appears that ICJ’s jurisdiction is not excluded.”

    The legal advice made references to treaties which Nigeria could invoke to call Cameroon to order on the violation of the rights of Nigerians in Bakassi.

    It said: “Both Nigeria and Cameroon are parties to a number of multilateral human rights treaties. The most important are the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) 1966, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights 1981 (AFCHPR), the Convention against Torture (CAT) 1984.

    “In addition, Cameroon made some human rights commitments under the Green Tree Agreement between it and Nigeria. These treaties set out a number of rights and the documents sent to us suggest violation of some of the rights included in those treaties, including the right to life, the right to be free from torture and cruel and degrading treatment.

    “The ICJustice has recently dealt with a number of inter-state cases in which it has pronounced on the violation of human rights treaties by the respondent state. These cases include: Question relating to the Obligation to Prosecute or Extradite (Belgium v. Senegal, 2012); Ahmadou Sadio Diallo (Republic of Guinea v. Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2010); Armed Activities on the Territory of Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Uganda, 2005).

    “In these cases, the court has found violations of a number of human rights treaties, including the ICCPR, the AFCHPR and the CAT.

    “Admissibility of any Human Rights Claim – Issues of Standing: In addition to satisfying itself that it has jurisdiction to consider the case, the ICJ would also consider whether any particular claim is admissible. Questions may arise as to the standing of Nigeria to bring a claim of violations by Cameroon of the rights of persons who are in the territory that is presently considered to be Cameroonian territory (the Bakassi penisula). There are a number of grounds on which it can confidently be argued that Nigeria does have standing to bring this case.

    “First of all, the persons whose rights have been violated remain Nigerian nationals though presently resident in Cameroon. It should be noted that under the Green Tree Agreement, Cameroon has committed not to require these persons to change their nationality. Under international law, a state is entitled to bring a claim against another state on behalf of its nationals.

    “This procedure of diplomatic protection, with respect to human rights, was recently invoked by the ICJ in Ahmadou Sadio Diallo (Republic of Guinea v. Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2010).

    “Secondly, the Green Tree Agreement represents a bilateral commitment between both states and it is recognised that in cases of breaches by one side of a bilateral treaty, the other side has standing to bring a claim (Art. 42(a), International Law Commission Articles on State Responsibility 2001).

    “Thirdly, some human rights treaties contain what are known as obligations erga omnes partes (obligations owed to all parties), such that every party to the treaty is entitled to invoke a breach by another party. “Where this is the case, a breach by one treaty party can lead to an ICJ case brought by any other treaty party, even if the breach was not to a national of the latter. It was on this basis that Belgium brought a recent case against Senegal with respect to violation of the Torture Convention: Questions relating to the Obligation to Prosecute or Extradite (Belgium v. Senegal, 2012)

    “In summary, our preliminary view is that Nigeria would be able to utilise declarations made by both Cameroon and Nigeria.”

  • Redeemers Varsity gets first overall best male student

    David Busayo Adeloye will go down in the history of the Redeemers’ University (RUN), Mowe, Ogun State, as the first male to finish with the overall best cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in the insitution.

    There were loud cheers as the 20-year-old made his way to the podium to receive his scroll, awards and handshakes from the principal officers and dignitaries last Saturday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Youth Centre.

    Underscoring the significance of the feat, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Debo Adeyewa praised Adeloye for redeeming the image of the male students.

    “Ladies have the largest share of first class graduate. Female occupies the upper class division of the students,” he said, as he urged the male students to compete with the females.

    Adeloye, a student of Transport and Tourism Studies, graduated with CGPA of 4.87 and carted away six out of 26 awards. he said the only reason behind his success was commitment.

    His achievement stood him apart among the 489 graduands at the event.

    Speaking on the feat, he said: “I give the glory to God. I came to this institution as a young Jambite not expecting something like this but I was committed to God’s work on campus. I used to be an average student in my secondary school days though coming this way was not easy but I thank God for His grace and favour.”

    Adeloye commended his parent for their support.

    His father, Pastor Michael Adeloye who recalled that he was a first class graduate in his university days, said despite the cost of education, his son has encouraged him to invest the more.

    His words: “As a father I feel so great, happy and honoured. When a child is doing well whatever the cost you put, you will not know it though at the begining of his programme I was not expecting this but I’m grateful to God for this.”

    Mrs Mosunmola Adeloye also did not expect her son to make the best result in his set.

    “He is a cool headed boy and respectful. I have never expected this from him though he started very well. Since he began, his results have always been wonderful. I thank God he made it to the end,” she said.

    Visitor to the university, Pastor Enoch Adeboye who spoke on the occasion, urged parents to bring up their children in a godly manner. Reacting to the pressure by some parents whose wards were rusticated for bad behaviour, the General Overseer of the RCCG, owners of the institution, said the church will not interfere in the administration of the university, as such their decision stands.

    His words: “This institution is not established to reform characters of those that are not ready for the will of God. I feel bad as a pastor and father to see students being rusticated yet the church will not interfere in the running of the institution. The vice-chancellor and board decide what happens.”

    He therefore urged parents to warn their children against evil vices.

    “Parents tell your children that this institution does not stand for nonsense, we are not a reformatory institution but to build leaders,” he said.

    In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adeyewa said the university has a promising future.

    “We have array of world class professionals to deliver and build a world class institution. I believe that our past has been so colourful, our future shall be exceedingly great. We have continued to attract and build human-capital base that would transform our university to one of the best tertiary institutions in the world,” he said.

    The Pro-Chancellor and chairman of Council, Prof. F.O. Aboaba who commended parents, pastors and partners of the institution likewise encouraged them to do more.

    “I must commend the efforts of parents for ensuring that your wards acquire quality education; yet I want appeal to you to rally round us for the development of our permanent site at Ede,” he urged.

  • Relief committee to tour flood areas

    President Goodluck Jonathan will begin a tour of flood-ravaged communities today after the inauguration of the National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation.

    He is also billed to visit the various relief camps created for victims across the country.

    The President raised the committee as part of Federal Government’s intervention to bring succour and relief to flood victims.

    In a statement, the President’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, said the inauguration would hold at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after which his boss is expected to begin the tour of affected states.

  • Fed Govt urges tertiary institutions to ensure students’ safety

    Fed Govt urges tertiary institutions to ensure students’ safety

    The Federal Government has told heads of tertiary institutions in the country to ensure the safety of students under them.

    Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayattu Rafa’i, handed down the order in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital during the inauguration of the new Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) zonal office.

    She used the occasion to condemn the killing of students in Mubi and four in University of Port Harcourt, describing them as unjustifiable under any guise.

    Prof Rufa’i said: “I would like to remind vice chancellors, rectors and provosts that the safety of lives and properties under your headship should remain a major priority as we all know that without these souls and properties, there would be no basis for your appoinment in the first instance, therefore while we expect the law enforcement agencies to continue to carry out their statutory and constitutional responsibilities of protection of lives and properties, it should remain incumbent on the heads of the institutions to know that they have equal stake as law enforcement agents.

    “The protection of lives and properties of your students, even when they live off campus should be of utmost concern, especially when it is not absolutely their choice to live off campus, but because we cannot afford to accommodate all of them on campus.”

    At the event, JAMB Registrar, Prof ‘Dibu Ojerinde, said the board would begin computer-based testing (CBT) for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) next year.

    He said: “The board shall be introducing CBT in our matriculation examination starting on a transitional scale in 2013 accommodating between 150,000 and 250,000 candidates in the first experiment next year and hopefully converting CBT for all candidates in 2015.

    “We have identified testing centres for the 2013 transitional experiment all over the federation, including Kwara State, but these are inadequate for the envisaged full blown exercise in 2015. This is the way of the future and Nigeria cannot be left behind in ensuring that global best practices are achieved.”

    Ojerinde added that the board would soon start the construction of similar prototype buildings in Abia, Taraba, Benue, Kebbi and Kano states.

    “We shall also commence the building of a model computer-based testing centre in Bwari which shall benchmark the building of similar centres all over the federation,” he added.

  • OOU graduates over 4000, clears backlog

    A total of 40, 130 graduands were conferred with degrees and higher degrees across faculties and departments at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye on Monday and Tuesday.

    With this feat, it appears OOU is set to relaunch itself into global reckoning, while putting the past behind it for good.

    The breakdown is as follows: 4, 014 (diploma); 34,200 (first degree); 1,856 (masters); as well as 51 PhDs. Interestingly, the occasion was a combined graduation of five different sets.

    OOU held its last convocation in 2006, and the nearly three decades- old institution has since been enmeshed in crisis ranging from poor infrastructure, frictions between management ad staff leading to industrial strikes, managerial ineptitude, among others, a development which retarded the university with backlog of student who were unable to graduate.

    However, with the graduation , the Ag. Vice Chancellor Prof Saburi Adejimi Adesanya, assured that the university is set to wriggle out of its predicaments, while efforts are in full gear to restore some of its lost glory. He also assured that graduates would henceforth receive their transcripts within one year of graduation in line with universities best practices globally.

    He said: “The university by this combined convocation, has succeeded in clearing all the backlog of students’ results and certificates outstanding since 2006. Since our university would be 30 years old by January 2013, we also plan to hold another convocation in Januray 2013 and thus will finally clear all backlog of students results­ and certificates till 2012. By this process, we would have removed the major impediments and problems that have spoilt the image of our university over the years. Our graduates once again, would have access to their certificates for employment prospecting immediately after graduation.

    `”This is a situation that has opened doors of hope for our graduands and brighter future for our university. Let nobody say it is not good here again, let nobody say nothing ever happened in Olabisi Onabanjo University again. By this act today, we have easily demonstrated our capacity to achieve a lot. If the conditions are right. The sun is on the rise again.”

    He praised the Council which he said within its short period of its inauguration has acheived some landamarks including, changing the university’s financial regulation, reducing corruption, and overseeing a successful Students’ Union election.

    He said the university management has also restructured its academic programmes vis-a-vis upgrading its curriculum, adding that as part of the restructuring, the previous Council pruned down existing departments from 75 to 56 across board. Adesanya said the management has also introduced a new Postgraduate programme in Management, Engineering Sciences, as well as Medical and Paramedical.

    He assured that the management would continue to improve its crop of dedicated staff and students many whom he added have, and still winning laurels for the university both locally and internationally.

    According to Adesanya, 19 projects have now been fully completed, while 15 are currently ongoing.

    In his brief address, the Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun who was represented by the state Commissioner for Education, Scinec and Technology Mr Segun Odubela, said plans have reached advance stage by the government to sign an MOU with some private partners towards building new hostels for the university.

    Odubela on behalf of the governor, also donated two brand new Ashok Leyland buses for the SU government of the school.

    “As i’m talking to you, we are about moving new equipment worth over N100 million to the (OOU) College of Medicine. You know the governor does not joke with education issues. The reforms have started in earnest, and we shall not sleep on our oars,” Odubela said.

  • PDP is not economically literate, says Oyo ACN

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State yesterday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo and the Southwest is not economically literate.

    ACN was reacting to the PDP’s criticism of the N50 billion Bond and the African Development Bank (ADB) loan being undertaken by the state government.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, ACN said the criticisms showed that “those running the PDP lack knowledge of economics, especially the concept of borrowing from the capital market”.

    It said: “All over the world, there is an understanding that governments can hardly be run without borrowing. What you intend to do with the borrowed money is far more instructive than the fact of the borrowing.

    “The PDP’s criticism smacks of mischief, because one of the Oyo State PDP chieftains, who signed the release attacking the ACN-led government, purportedly schooled in London. He ought to have educated his party that even the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) national debt, that is the total amount of money the British Government owes the private sector and other purchasers of UK gilts, is £2311.6 billion.

    “ Instead of constituting itself into a megaphone of anti-development, the PDP should concentrate on ensuring that the money is spent on the projects it is meant for.”