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Tag: Ambrose Alli University

  • Edo University, Iyamho not for the poor – VC

    Edo University, Iyamho not for the poor – VC

    The Management of the state-owned Edo University, Iyamho,(EUI) says the institution was established to essentially cater for academically-endowed students and the wealthy in the society.

    The Vice Chancellor(VC) of the institution, Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Monday, in Iyamho-Uzairue, in the Estako-West local government area of Edo.

    He said: “the idea behind the establishment of Edo University by the founding fathers is neither to replace nor compete with the existing Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

    “But rather, to complement it in terms of providing world-class education with the best of infrastructure to academically-gifted students and the rich, who can afford the fees.

    “People have questioned why former Gov. Adams Oshiomhole did not upgrade AAU, than establishing a new university altogether.

    “Apart from its being capital-intensive to either renovate or bring in the needed infrastructure, the idea was to provide a different brand of education to the people.

    “We are offering world-class infrastructure and state-of-the art facilities at EUI; that is why our fees are high.
    According to him, the fees range from between N400, 000 and N450, 000 a session.

    “And that depends from which perspective you are looking at it.

    “If it is from the perspective of a private university, our fees are very low indeed, because there is no private university that charges anything lower than what we offer.

    “And only one or two public universities charge the same fees as us and that also depends on the quality of infrastructure and programmes on offer.

    “The idea of the founding fathers is for anyone to have an ambiance of everything he desires abroad in any university environment here,’’ Aluyor said.

    According to him, the university authority has also assembled first class academic and non-academic staff to complement the infrastructure and facilities, to ensure that the students are well groomed in character and in learning.

    The VC added that management had introduced an entrepreneurship programme for its students to prepare them to “become employers of labour rather than those seeking for labour.

    “We have, therefore, set up facilities for entrepreneurship training for all our students, irrespective of their course of study, to make them to become independent on graduation.

    “We are proposing a grant of between N5 million and N10 million for any graduating student with the best entrepreneurship proposal.

    “The University Council is still trying to fine-tune the modalities,’’ he said.

    Aluyor disclosed that management abhors indiscipline among staff and students, hence the withdrawal of some pioneer undergraduates and erring staff.

    “I am proud to mention that we have a dress code among our students, while all our lectures are multi-media assisted.

    “We may not be proud of this information that in our first year, we had less than 80 students admitted. But I can tell you that we had cause to expel four of them.

    “We may be young; but it does not mean we will accept every Dick and Harry as students.

    “I think what we did was showing capacity to instill discipline.

    “We have also had cause to sanction three members of staff. We are not happy to have sent them into the unemployment market.

    “But we are saying that if you can not measure up with the standard we have set down, you certainly can’t be part of the vision of the founding fathers of this university,’’ he said.

    The VC disclosed that at its inception in 2016, the National Universities Commission (NUC) only approved two faculties, namely the Arts and Social Sciences and the Sciences, respectively, to offer courses such as English, Mass Communication, Biochemistry, Mathematics, Microbiology and Computer science.

    He said that the NUC later approved for the university, three additional faculties namely Law, College of Medicine and Engineering, but added that “we will only admit students into the Law department this new session.’’

    Edo University, Iyamho, is a state government-owned tertiary institution founded in 2016. It is located in Iyamho, a town in Etsako-West local government area of Edo State.

    On March 23, 2016, the university was approved by the NUC as Nigeria’s 41st state university. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes.

    On March 27, 2014, the Edo State House of Assembly passed a bill for the establishment of a University of Science and Technology at Uzairue.

    The University was, however, changed to Edo University and its location to Iyamho.

  • ASUU demands transfer of Edo CP

     

     

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma chapter, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to immediately transfer the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu.

    It said Edo State deserves a patriotic, resourceful and efficient policeman to lead the Nigerian Police Force in the state.

    ASUU also called on the IG to commence investigation of Gwandu and his activities in the state.

    The current face off between the Police Commissioner and authorities of AAU is coming after the dean, Faculty of Law, Professor Sunday Edeko, accused the police of illegal detention after brutalizing him with cutlasses and hammer.

    Gwandu who described Prof. Edeko’s allegation as tissues of lies announced the arrest of a Professor in the university for illegal possession of firearms.

    Chairman of the ASUU, AAU chapter, Dr. Monday Igbafen who spoke at a press briefing at Ekpoma yesterday accused the police Commissioner of blackmailing the university instead of investigating activities of his anti-cultism unit.

    Dr. Igbafen said investigation showed that one Dr. Oboh in the Department of Public Administration was arrested in February and later released without the police making a formal report to the university management.

    Igbafen wondered why the CP would use the arrest of a lecturer arrested in February to blackmail the university over an issue that happened in March.

    He challenged the CP to show the world the site where 14 dead bodies were recovered in Ekpoma.

    His words, “As a union, our members used to take Police briefing as a serious business. But from this Gwandu macabre dance, we know better and have resolved to take any briefing by the police with a pinch of salt.

    “Gwandu’ story is not only spurious and unfounded but a calculated attempt to bring our university to public odium. It is a clever attempt to cover up a lingering case of unwarranted arrest and unjustifiable brutalizations Prof. Edeko.”

  • Edo CP’s claim on lecturer’s arrest false, embarrassing – Varsity

    Management of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma has demanded an apology from the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, over claims that arms and ammunition were recovered from some lecturers in the university.

    The institution threatened to institute legal action against the police commissioner if the apology was not tendered.

    A statement signed by Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Edward Aihevba, debunked all the claims made by Gwandu as “totally false and embarrassing.”

    The statement said the institution has not recorded any cult-related activities since the inception of the administration of Prof. Ignatius Onimawo.

    It said there was no report from the Police Force or any individual or groups about any incident of cultism or cult-related activities.

    The institution said, “The Police Commissioner and his team could not have arrested any staff of the university, or found 14 students dead and not make a report, formal or informal, to the authorities of Ambrose Alli University.

    “The police commissioner, by his pronouncement has opened the way for damaging and libelous display of falsehood in the social media.

    “We want to assure the general public that there is and there has been peace within and around the university environment.  There is no cult activity and no death of any student in the university.

    “Currently, the first semester examinations are going on in a peaceful manner and students are going about their academic duties peacefully.”

     

  • AAU shuts down over students’ protest

    AAU shuts down over students’ protest

    Authorities of the Edo State owed university, the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma has shut down the institution following violent protest by students of the institution.

    The students were protesting alleged 200 percent increase in the tuition fees of the institution.

    A press statement  signed by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Edward Aihevbe, said the decision to close the institution indefinitely was reached after the University’ Senate reviewed the students’ protest.

    Edward said the university’s Senate viewed the protest was uncalled for and unnecessary as the students barricaded the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi highway.

    He denied social media report that two students were shot by security agents.

    He said the students were given until 4pm to vacate the institution.

    His words: “No student was shot. They barricaded the highway and soldiers escorting an an Army vehicle that was passing the road had to shoot into the air to scare the students away.”

    A truck said to be carrying rice was reportedly set ablaze after the goods were looted by the protesters.

    The truck was said to be in traffic congestion along the highway few meters from the school gate when the looting occurred.

    Edward however said what caused the fire was yet to be ascertain and no confirmation on the goods being carried by the truck.

    Some students of the institution were said to have been injured during the stampede that ensued after the soldiers shot into the air to break the barricade on the highway.

  • ASUU faults OAU council dissolution

    ASUU faults OAU council dissolution

    A visitation committee set up by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has faulted the dissolution of the Governing Council of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
    The committee said President Muhammadu Buhari erred when he dissolved the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo Univeristy and approved the suspension of an already concluded process for the appointment of a new vice-chancellor.
    The actions, it insisted, contravened the ASUU-FGN agreement.
    The committee, which submitted its report to the NEC at a meeting in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma last weekend, noted that “the Governing Council followed the process of selection of Vice Chancellor to its conclusion.”
    It recommended condemnation of the action of Buhari, who is the Visitor to the institution, stating that it violated the Universities Autonomy Act (UAA), which was a product of the agreement reached between the ASUU and the FGN.  
    The committee headed by the national vice president of ASUU, Prof. V. E. Osodeke, had eight members, including two zonal coordinators and three immediate past zonal coordinators.
    The committee was set up in the wake of the crisis that rocked the university following the appointment of a new VC.
    The Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and some members of ASUU (OAU Branch) had expressed strong displeasure against the process that produced Prof. Ayobami Salami as the 11th VC of the institution.
    They alleged the Prof. Tale Omole’s administration and the Governing Council skewed the process in favour of Salami who was subsequently appointed.
    The union bodies took the matter to the High Court at Osogbo, Osun State and embarked on a strike which led to the closure of the university for weeks.
    A faction within the OAU branch of ASUU headed by Prof. Peter Akinola sided with the two non-academic unions.
    It wrote a petition to the national body, claiming certain wrongdoings against the branch executives.
    But a High Court at Osogbo penultimate Monday struck out the case filed by NASU and SSANU challenging the appointment of Salami as VC.
    In his verdict, Justice M. A. Onyetenu stated that the court did not have jurisdiction to entertain the case.
    He asked the appellants to take the case to the Industrial Court at Ibadan Oyo State.
    Buhari, on July 1, in an advertorial published in a national daily announced the dissolution of the Governing Council of the University.
    He also ordered that the process for the appointment of a new VC to replace Prof. Omole be suspended “pending the outcome of the subsisting court case”.
    This was after the appointment process had been concluded with Salami announced as the new VC.
    In August, following the instruction of the Visitor, the Senate of the University met and appointed Prof. Anthony Elujoba as VC in acting capacity.
  • FG now serious with Lassa Fever – ex-VC

    FG now serious with Lassa Fever – ex-VC

    A former Vice Chancellor of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and Professor of Microbiology, Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor, has said that the Federal Government of Nigeria now appeared serious and willing to listen and provide necessary support at controlling the scrounge of Lassa fever.

    Prof. Agbonlahor who described the inauguration of the National Committee on the Control of Lassa Fever as a step in the right direction said the menace of Lassa fever was an “annual recurrent budget of death for the poor people in Nigeria.”

    He spoke at the weekend while delivering the distinguished Lecture of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), with the title, “Combating Lassa Fever: a National Health Challenge.”

    Agbonlahor noted that for the past 47 years, Nigeria made noise in the name of creating awareness during Lassa fever outbreaks but goes to sleep at the end of each episode.

    He said government of developed countries showed little or no interest to providing financial contribution to Lassa fever eradication because “they look at the disease as a regional problem which is mainly endemic in West Africa”

    According to him, “Despite the thousands of deaths from the fever, Nigeria is still unprepared to contain the disease, waking up every year an outbreak is reported, running like a decapitated chicken in any direction and forgetting about the disease till another year of another outbreak,” he said.

    “There should be accurate epidemiological data on the distribution, rodent typing and rodents’ Lassa viral carriage according to geopolitical zones and states in Nigeria.”
    “We must therefore use infection control measures, such as complete equipment sterilization in hospitals and medical laboratories.

    “Trapping of rodents in and around homes and occasional fumigation can help reduce rodent populations.”

    Earlier in his opening remarks, Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Faraday Orumwense, said the institution has set up a committee to sensitize the university community on ways to prevent the disease and to ‎collaborate with the government, the NGOs on ways to eradicate Lassa fever.

  • Fire razes two buildings in Edo varsity

    Fire razes two buildings in Edo varsity

    Two buildings in the Edo State owned University, the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma were Thursday night gutted by fire.

    The buildings housed the departments of Civil Engineering and Philosophy.

    Property worth millions of naira including computer sets, televisions, air conditioners, ceiling fans, office cabinets, refrigerators, office chairs and tables were destroyed by fire.

    The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained as at press time but there are speculations that the office of the examination officer of the Civil Engineering, containing students’ results, examination scripts and records were burnt to ashes.

    Sources said some students claimed they saw somebody pouring liquid substance suspected to be fuel on an air conditioner before striking a match, after which he allegedly ran away.

    The source said many of the properties were not burnt as they were looted.

    Spokesperson for the institution, Chris Adamaigbo, was not available for comments due to a strike action called by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) chapter of the university.

  • AAU appoints Bursar

    Authorities of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma in Edo State has appointed  Mr. Lawrence Okekhigbemen Esene as the substantive bursar of the university.

    The appointment, according to a press statement signed by the university spokesman, Chris Adamaigbo, took effect from December 1, 2015.

    Esene before his appointment as the university bursar was the Chief Accountant in charge of the Treasury Services Division of the bursary Department.

    Born on September 23, 1960, Esene assumed duty at the university as an Assistant Executive Officer (Accounts) on February 3, 1988 and rose through the ranks to the position of Chief accountant on October 1, 2010.

    He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, Edo State University, Ekpoma in 1995 and a Master degree in Business Administration (MBA), Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma in 2000.

    He is an associate member, Chattered Institute of Taxation (CITN), Associate member, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) among other professional bodies.

  • Corruption: Ambrose Alli University and JAMB

    SIR: Nigerian students are most vulnerable when it comes to corruption in the Education sector; the most recent case has to do with the  Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State and the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB)

    My name is Peter Augustine, I graduated from AAU last year. Due to the general elections in the country, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) decided to have only two batches of Corps members this year. The first batch was mobilised in May.  The Management of AAU did not mobilise us, the graduates of 2014,  for no reason.

    Now is the time for Batch B to be mobilised and most of the students that graduated from AAU just discovered from JAMB’s website that they were offered admission to a different school entirely and a different course.

    Most of these students have already printed the hard copy of their JAMB admission letters while they were in school. How is it possible for a graduate to have his admission altered after graduation?

    After consultation with the school management, the students were asked to pay a whooping sum of N7,000 to correct the problem. Now, whose fault is it that our admission status was altered on JAMB’s website? And why are we supposed to pay such a huge sum of money to get it corrected?

    Many students for fear of being exempted from the NYSC programme have paid this money to the school.

    The students are crying out for help and saying No to this fraud.  Please help and speak for us; be a voice for the voiceless.

     

    • Peter Augustine,

    Ekpoma, Edo State

  • Fire razes Edo Varsity dept

    A fire early yesterday razed the Microbiology Department of the Edo State Government-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU) at Ekpoma.

    The fire, which reportedly started around midnight on Wednesday, destroyed vital documents and academic records of students.

    Four departments have been razed in the last four years.

    It was learnt that nothing could be recovered from the inferno.

    The students said the school management should be held responsible for the perennial fire.

    Some students, who spoke in confidence, alleged that the fires could be attributed to lecturers, who “deliberately withheld the results of students”.

    They said the lecturers were fond of the attitude because they wanted to force students to part with some money and pay new school fees.

    The students said this was the reason fire was always occurring after examination, especially when results were being collated.