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Tag: Abubakar Rasheed

  • NUC grants provisional licences to four private universities

    Four new private universities were on Tuesday in Abuja granted provisional approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence academic programmes.

    The Federal Executive Council approved the establishment of the four private universities in January.

    Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, presented the provisional licences to the universities in Abuja.

    The universities are: Greenfield University, Kaduna State; Dominion University Ibadan; Trinity University Laloko, Ogun State and Westland University, Iwo, Osun State.

    He said issue of access to university education in the country continued to pose serious challenges, noting that it requires continuous effort to address.

    The minister, who was represented by Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said the emergence of private universities had provided an environment for heavy competition that stimulates improvement in quality service delivery.

    Adamu said the approval was a clear manifestation of the continued mutual partnership between the government and private sector to ensure the provision of quality education in the country.

    The minister explained that private universities in the country had contributed immensely to the opening up of access to education over the past 20 years.

    He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the provisional licence for the four universities to operate is intended to create room for mentoring and qualitative growth within the first three years of their operations.

    “During the probation period, the four universities will be attached to older generation universities for academic and administrative mentoring.

    “It should also be noted that substantive licence will only be issued to the universities if they are adjudged of being worthy of it after the three years of probation.”

    NUC’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, said the four universities had been under its scrutiny since 2006.

    Read Also: Nigerian varsities not ranked in 14 years – NUC

    Rasheed said that there was need to increase the number of universities, taking into consideration the country’s increasing population.

    He added that with the country’s population, only about two million students can access university education.

    The NUC Boss said: “Only less than 6 per cent students’ enrolment is in private universities.

    “We hope the NUC work closely with you to ensure we introduce courses that are more attractive to prospective students and more appropriate to our current move to reposition the education system in Nigeria.

    “All over the world, private initiatives are welcome.  Proper education cannot be handled by government alone.

    “The NUC is not ready to sacrifice quality on the altar of access; we must ensure adherence to quality; we do not want to encourage you to run the university with impunity.”

    Rasheed added that the commission was currently processing about 270 applications.

    Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dominion University, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, appreciated the commission for the approval and pledged to keep to the mandate establishing the universities.

    With the approval, Nigeria has 173 universities, out of which 79 of them are private.

     

  • Varsities losing character, assuming ethnic colourations – NUC

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) on Thursday said some universities were losing their universal character by assuming tribal and ethnic colourations.

    The commission said it was unfortunate that some universities had turned choice of vice-chancellorship into an ethnic, religious and tribal battle.

    Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, stated these when the Governor of Bayelsa state visited the headquarters of the commission in Abuja.

    The governor was at the commission to present documents to the ES and also to seek approval for the establishment of Bayelsa Medical University, Yenegoa.

    The NUC boss said universities would continue to have problems unless they agree to play by the rules.

    He said: “The universities commission is very pleased with the actions and activities of the governor of Bayelsa state.

    “Governor Dickson, as I said truly, is showing the light, is showing the way of how to build a university.

    “What the governor is doing is what we have been calling for and it is one of the cardinal points of our reform. We have to reinvent our universities. We have to accept that the university – the most important word there is the universe.

    “What is unfortunate for us in this country today is that many of our universities are losing that universal character and this is very unfortunate.

    Read Also: Nigerian varsities not ranked in 14 years – NUC

    “They are assuming some tribal, regional, ethnic or religious colourations and it is dangerous.

    “We often complain here in NUC when we see communities fighting over who should be the Vice-Chancellors whether it comes from our local government or not or a federal university fighting that somebody must be from the state where the university is sited or must be from the local government where the university is sited and all these are unknown to university governance and university administration in other parts of the world.

    “Unless and until we agree to play the game according to the rules we shall continue to be bedeviled by some of these problems.”

    Rasheed commended the governor for his feats in education.

    Dickson said funding education in the state had been the most important part of his government since he took office.

    He said the state came up with a model to address the rot in education when he assumed office by establishing 15 model boarding schools.

  • NUC sets up committee to make varsity education accessible

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) says it has constituted a committee to make university education accessible to the teeming population, who are seeking tertiary education in Nigeria.

    Executive Secretary NUC, Prof.  Abubakar Rasheed, said this at a stakeholders’ seminar organised by the University of Bradford and Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), in Abuja.
    Rasheed, represented by Mr Chris Maiyaki, a Director in his office, said the commission was worried over the country’s growing population and the high demand for tertiary education.

    He said that Nigeria’s 143 universities could only accommodate 500, 000 students which is 6.7 per cent of admission seekers.

    “Nigeria is projected to be the third largest population by the year 2050. The concern of NUC is how to educate this number of population when the time comes,” he said.

    “The NUC just commissioned a committee headed by Prof. Peter Okebukola to bring out a blueprint that will help the country to survive the population.

    “As you know that on annual basis, we have 7.5 million students aspiring to get admission to the universities, unfortunately the available 143 universities put together can only admit 500,000 students,” he said

    The Executive Secretary said the commission was making efforts to ensure that Nigerian universities catch up with global happenings.

    He commended some Nigerian universities for partnering with UK’s University of Bradford for joint research and teaching.

    Seven Nigerian universities have signified interest to join the World Technology Universities Network (WTUN) led by the UK varsity.

    They are University of Benin, Edo; University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers; University of Calabar, Cross River; Akwa Ibom State University; University of Uyo; Niger Delta University and African University, Bayelsa.

    WTUN is a consortium of universities committed towards the provision of professional and vocational courses with excellent job prospects for graduates in the country.

    University of Bradford’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Brian Cantor said the school was developing links with its Nigerian counterparts to use the instrumentality of science and technology to solve national and global problems.

    “Because we live in an age of technology, worldwide knowledge-based development either in social or economic sphere, universities play a big role. And partnership is the way to do it,” he said.

    He said that the global university network would run students and staff exchanges as well as joint teaching and research programmes.

    The Director General of IPCR, Prof. Oshita OShita, at the meeting stressed on the need for the country to entrench peace education in its institution’s curriculum.

    Oshita said that education was vital to the promotion of peace and mitigation against conflict in the country.

    NAN

     

  • Buhari advises TETFund on interventions to institutions

    Buhari advises TETFund on interventions to institutions

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Tertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFund ) to continue to offer meaningful and purposeful interventions to all public owned tertiary institutions in the country.

    The president said this would help his administration to create a knowledge based economy in the country.

    Buhari, according to a statement from TETFund, spoke at the 2nd and 3rd Combined Convocation of Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State. The institution graduated a total of 837 students while 42 bagged first class degree.

    The president, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Abubakar Rasheed, described the interventions of the agency as the catalyst for achieving the desired knowledge-based economy for Nigeria.

    He said: “I am also happy with the special role of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in the physical and academic development of this young university. It is clear, that since the establishment of the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma. TETFund has remained the single, largest development agent in the institution.

    “I urge the TETFund to continue to offer meaningful and purposeful interventions in Nigeria’s higher education institutions to help in realizing our government’s desire to create a knowledge based economy in Nigeria.”

    He expressed delight over the completion and commissioning of multi-billion naira physical infrastructure projects sponsored by TETFund at the University.

    He explained that the physical projects ranging from Senate Building, Buildings for Faculties of Agriculture and Science, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Complex, Library building, Faculty of Agriculture Laboratories, Students’ Hall of Residence (Hostels) for Male and Female which were commissioned by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Dr. Abdullahi Baffa as part of the convocation ceremony was clear indication of the resolve of his administration to tackle the problem of access to tertiary education in the country.

    Buhari promised that he would continue to fight the challenge of unemployment, particularly graduate unemployment through the creation of a thriving and dynamic labour market that would enable young people achieve their full potentials as self-employed entrepreneurs and employers of labour rather than merely job seekers.

    “I want to challenge all Nigerian Universities to come out of their shell to build constructive linkages and collaborations with the industrial sector of the society. This remains the vibrant way we can enhance the socio-economic and technological transformation of our society.

    “Government on its part will continue to give maximum support to University Education despite dwindling resources available to it. However, all Universities should seriously consider more efficient ways of resource mobilization and also find ways of attracting funding for research from across the world,” he said.

    Dr. Baffa, in his remarks, said the agency would continue to pursue interventions that would meet the desires of the Federal Government under the direction of the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu.

    He explained that provision of infrastructure for conducive teaching and learning activities were aimed at ensuring that the dream of increased access to quality higher education for all Nigerians by the minister became a reality.

    The university since inception have benefitted about N5billion as Special Intervention for Take-Off Grant, Proto-type Hostels, Academic Buildings etc.

    NAN

  • FG issues provisional licences to six new private universities

    FG issues provisional licences to six new private universities

    The Federal Ministry of Education on Tuesday issued provisional licences to the six newly established private universities.

    The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, gave the provisional licences to the institutions in Abuja.

    The institutions are Admiralty University Ibusa in Delta, Spiritan University Neochi, Abia, Precious Cornerstone University in Ibadan, Oyo State, and Pamo University of Medica Sciences, Port Harcourt.

    Others are Atiba University in Oyo, Oyo State and Eko University of Medical and Health Sciences, Ijaniki, Lagos State.

    Adamu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Sonny Echono said the Federal Executive Council approved the take-off of the universities on December 6.

    He said that the approvals were given to the universities to provide quality education in Nigeria.

    He said the approval had increased the number of private universities in the country to 74.

    “The problems of access to quality education in Nigeria has poised serious challenges and therefore required serious efforts to address them.

    “The approval of the universities tends to address the issue of access to university education.

    Read also: FEC approves six private universities

    “Private universities in Nigeria have contributed and will continue to contribute to the development of education in the country.

    “The competition of private universities has contributed to healthy delivery within the system.

    He called on the institutions’ administrators to ensure highest standard of best practices to achieve academic excellence in their programmes.

    Earlier, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission ( NUC ), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, said quality control must be strictly adhered to.

    “ With about two million candidates applying for admission into universities annually, the university system is only able to accommodate about 500,000 students yearly.

    “ And so, there is need to licence more universities to help deal with the challenge of access to education.’’

    Also, Former head of state, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar called on Nigerians to maintain peace in the country to ensure educational development.

    Abubakar also urged universities to maintain and ensure quality education for the betterment of all Nigerians.

    He said with a total of 160 universities in Nigeria out of which 74 are private universities, 46 states and 40 federal universities, there was need to ensure peace to achieve educational development.

    He called for the engagement of the youths educationally, adding that the universities should be adequately equipped for meaningful development.

    NAN

  • NiMet to establish meteorological infrastructure in universities

    NiMet to establish meteorological infrastructure in universities

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency ( NiMet ), says it is set to establish meteorological infrastructure in 34 universities in Nigeria.

    The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Sani Mashi said this in a statement issued by Mr Muntari Ibrahim, the General Manager, Public Relations Unit, NiMet on Thursday in Abuja.

    Mashi said the establishment of meteorological infrastructure was in furtherance of its target to increase the network of meteorological stations and boost its data collection.

    The director-general spoke when he visited the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission ( NUC ), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed.

    Mashi said that NiMet had embarked on an aggressive programme to massively expand the network of meteorological stations in the country to about 1000 by December.

    According to him, one of the strategies the agency will employ to achieve this is to partner with Nigerian universities.

    “Part of the things we said we would do is to see how we can extend our services to the Nigerian universities.

    “NiMet has carried out an independent assessment of the universities and looked at the existing meteorological stations that these universities maintain.

    “One of the things that are missing is the linkage between the universities and the agency.

    “NiMet has the expertise and knows what should be in place, while the universities have the capacity to teach, but may not have the technical competence to know the best equipment for the best results.
    “We feel that what we need to do, we need to come up with a way to help the universities get their infrastructure upgraded,’’ he said.

    Mashi said the partnership with the universities was a win-win situation, explaining that once the meteorological stations were upgraded, they would start generating data.

    “This partnership according to him will expand the agency’s network of stations, because the universities’ infrastructure has been upgraded.’’

    The NUC executive secretary Rasheed, assured NiMet that the commission would fully support the initiative and promised to talk to the Vice Chancellors about it.

    He commended NiMet for the initiative and expressed the hope that universities in the country would be covered by 2018 as well as Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

    NAN

  • FG tasks governing council of 23 federal universities on funding

    The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu has urged the newly inaugurated governing council of 23 federal universities to look inward to broaden the Internally Generated Revenue Base (IGR) of the universities.

    Adamu gave this advice on Tuesday in Abuja at the inauguration of the reconstituted governing board of the universities.

    He also called on the councils to look inward to broaden the Internally Generated Revenue Base (IGR) of the universities with a view to support the universities.

    According to the minister, the governing council should annually review the university budget to monitor its performance and assess the overall impact of its implementation.

    “In view of the current economic situation in the country, I call for the prudent management of the scarce resources while efforts should be intensified to broaden the Internally Generated Revenue Base of each university.

    “You should also ensure the judicious application of revenues so generated,’’ Adamu said.

    The minister also called on the council to be agents of change by seeing to it that every act of corruption was avoided in their various universities.

    “You should join the crusade of the Federal Government in the fight against corruption, by making this fight visible in the universities.

    “As seasoned and successful individuals in the public, private sectors and in your various professions, you will be expected to live above board in the discharge of your duties.

    “ Any corrupt practices by councils including condoling cases of indiscipline by staff, is bound to have a destructive effect on the system and on the products of the system, hence must be avoided,’’ he said.

    He, however, urged universities management to support the governing councils as they implement policies and decisions of the council.

    In his address, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission called on the councils to display a high sense of commitment in the discharge of their duties.

    Rasheed, who emphasized the role of the council in the development of universities, said the commission would continue to support the councils to achieve its desired result.

    “NUC appreciates the critical role of the governing council in the development of Nigerian universities.

    “The NUC will continue to make itself available to ensure that it succeeds in its task and to succeed, every one of you should display a high sense of commitment, teamwork and dedication no matter the challenges,’’ he said.

    Also, Hon. Suleiman Aminu, Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund stressed the need for the councils to synergise with Vice Chancellors of the universities to ensure unity of purpose.

    Aminu promised to work with the legislature to ensure that universities were properly funded, adding that the various leakages in the universities must be blocked.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari sometimes in April constituted the chairmen of governing councils of these universities.

    The selection was made in cognizance with provisions of the respective legislation with respect to composition, competence, credibility, integrity, federal character and geo-political spread.

    Those inaugurated are: Amb. Nimota Akanbi, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Mukhtar Mohammed, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Bayero University, Kano, Sen. J.N. Waku, Federal University of Technology Akure and Prof. Shehu Zuru, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun.

    Others are, Prof.  Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. John Ofem, Federal University, Owerri, Mr Muhammad Zayyanu, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Mr Bukar Zarma, Modibbo Adama Univrersity of Technology, Yola.

    Also to head are, Aziz Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Sani Maikudi, University of Abuja, Dr Aboki Zhawa, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Alkassum Abba, University of Agriculture Makurdi and Isah Ashiru, University of Benin.

    Others are, Sen. Nkechi Nwogu, University of Calabar, Joshua Waklek, University of Ibadan, Dr Jibril Oyekan, University of Ilorin, Tony Momoh, University of Jos, Dr Wale Babalakin, University of Lagos and Prof. Biodun Adesanya, University of Maiduguri.

    Also in the group are, Mike Olorunfemi, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. A.C. Awujo, University of Jos and Hon. Pearl Enajere, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto.

     

  • FG tasks governing council of 23 federal universities on funding

    The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu has urged the newly inaugurated governing council of 23 federal universities to look inward to broaden the Internally Generated Revenue Base (IGR) of the universities.

    Adamu gave this advice on Tuesday in Abuja at the inauguration of the reconstituted governing board of the universities.

    He also called on the councils to look inward to broaden the Internally Generated Revenue Base (IGR) of the universities with a view to support the universities.

    According to the minister, the governing council should annually review the university budget to monitor its performance and assess the overall impact of its implementation.

    “In view of the current economic situation in the country, I call for the prudent management of the scarce resources while efforts should be intensified to broaden the Internally Generated Revenue Base of each university.

    “ You should also ensure the judicious application of revenues so generated,’’ Adamu said.

    The minister also called on the council to be agents of change by seeing to it that every act of corruption was avoided in their various universities.

    “You should join the crusade of the Federal Government in the fight against corruption, by making this fight visible in the universities.

    “As seasoned and successful individuals in the public, private sectors and in your various professions, you will be expected to live above board in the discharge of your duties.

    “Any corrupt practices by councils including condoling cases of indiscipline by staff, is bound to have a destructive effect on the system and on the products of the system, hence must be avoided,’’ he said.

    He, however, urged universities management to support the governing councils as they implement policies and decisions of the council.

    In his address, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission called on the councils to display a high sense of commitment in the discharge of their duties.

    Rasheed, who emphasized the role of the council in the development of universities, said the commission would continue to support the councils to achieve its desired result.

    “NUC appreciates the critical role of the governing council in the development of Nigerian universities.

    “The NUC will continue to make itself available to ensure that it succeeds in its task and to succeed, every one of you should display a high sense of commitment, teamwork and dedication no matter the challenges,’’ he said.

    Also, Hon. Suleiman Aminu, Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund stressed the need for the councils to synergise with Vice Chancellors of the universities to ensure unity of purpose.

    Aminu promised to work with the legislature to ensure that universities were properly funded, adding that the various leakages in the universities must be blocked.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari sometimes in April constituted the chairmen of governing councils of these universities.

    The selection was made in cognizance with provisions of the respective legislation with respect to composition, competence, credibility, integrity, federal character and geo-political spread.

    Those inaugurated are: Amb. Nimota Akanbi, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Mukhtar Mohammed, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Bayero University, Kano, Sen. J.N. Waku, Federal University of Technology Akure and Prof. Shehu Zuru, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun.

    Others are, Prof. Femi Odekunle, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. John Ofem, Federal University, Owerri, Mr Muhammad Zayyanu, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Mr Bukar Zarma, Modibbo Adama Univrersity of Technology, Yola.

    Also to head are, Aziz Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Sani Maikudi, University of Abuja, Dr Aboki Zhawa, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Prof. Alkassum Abba, University of Agriculture Makurdi and Isah Ashiru, University of Benin.

    Others are, Sen. Nkechi Nwogu, University of Calabar, Joshua Waklek, University of Ibadan, Dr Jibril Oyekan, University of Ilorin, Tony Momoh, University of Jos, Dr Wale Babalakin, University of Lagos and Prof. Biodun Adesanya, University of Maiduguri.

    Also in the group are, Mike Olorunfemi, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. A.C. Awujo, University of Jos and Hon. Pearl Enajere, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto.