The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Caleb University

  • Caleb University celebrates excellence at 2023 staff awards night

    Caleb University celebrates excellence at 2023 staff awards night

    Caleb University’s annual Christmas Carol & Staff Excellence Awards Night culminated in a celebration of academic brilliance and festive cheer on Wednesday evening. Held in the university’s chapel, the event brought together faculty, students, and alumni to honor outstanding contributions across several award categories. The spotlight shone brightest on Dr. Oluwasegun Emmanuel Olaoye, who secured the Department of Industrial Chemistry & Biochemistry’s Research Excellence Award before clinching the ceremony’s top honor: Overall Best Faculty Member of 2023.

    Dr. Olaoye, a 38-year-old chemistry scholar, joined Caleb University in 2022 following the completion of his PhD from the University of Botswana. In his acceptance speech, Olaoye credited his students for their instrumental role in his research: “Undergraduate hands built the rigs, checked gas seals, and calibrated the GC. This award proves scientific excellence can thrive in Nigeria when nurtured.” The accolade included a ₦500,000 research grant to further his work. 

    While the media buzzed with Olaoye’s remarkable double victory, the awards committee also shone a spotlight on outstanding achievements across various colleges. Dr. Princewill Okoroafor of the College of Law was celebrated with the Best Lecturer award in Teaching, while Professor Adesola Ajayi of the College of Post Graduate Studies received the Best Lecturer award in Research. Professor Oluwole Alegbe of the College of Environmental & Management Sciences was honored with the Best Lecturer award in Administration.

    Read Also: Caleb University honours Alake with Doctorate

    The recognition extended to other distinguished educators, including Dr. Ayorinde Oduyoye of the College of Arts, who was awarded the Best Lecturer in Character and Mentorship. Additionally, Mrs. Fatimah Akinwale from the Department of Computer Science was presented with the Early Career Faculty Award, highlighting her exceptional contributions in her field.

    In brief remarks, Caleb University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nosa Owens-Ibie challenged award recipients to do more as Caleb University strives to be the best university in Nigeria and beyond. He added that 2024 will see a ₦50 million budget line for shared NMR and GC-MS facilities, “fuel for the next generation of award winners,” he promised.

    This year’s awards featured Christmas carols and Christmas songs renditions from students across various departments, and the ceremony was attended by over 2000 attendees.

  • ARCON accredits Architecture programmes of Caleb University

    The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria ( ARCON ) has given full accreditation to both first and second degrees Architecture programmes of Caleb University.

    The Public Relations Officer of the university, Elvis Otobo, said in a statement that the letter conveying the approval was signed by the Registrar of ARCON, Umar Murnai ( FNIA ).

    Otobo said that the accreditation was contained in a letter dated March 5 and addressed to the management of the university by the council.

    According to Otobo, the council, in the letter, re-accredited the B.Sc. Degree in Architecture and fully accredited the Master’s Degree programme of the institution.

    An excerpt from the ARCON’s letter of re-accreditation reads: “We refer to all correspondences relating to the professional accreditation to the Department of Architecture, Caleb University, Imota, held from Nov. 14, 2017.

    “We hereby inform you that in line with Section 9 of the Architects Registration, Act CAP A19 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 200/404, the Council of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria ( ARCON ) at the meeting of Nov. 24, 2017, considered the report of the visitation.

    “In considering the report, the council took cognisance of the fact that the department has good staff/students’ ratio of (1:9).

    “It has a staff quality/students’ coefficient rating of (1:2) in line with the minimum acceptable standard of SSR (1:12) and SSQC (1:4) respectively, and the substantial improvement in physical infrastructure, facilities and equipment.

    “We, therefore, re-accredited the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree programmes in Architecture of the Department of Architecture, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State’’.

    Otobo said that the National Universities Commission ( NUC ) had earlier given full accreditation to the architecture programmes in the university.

    “The department has received some high-profile visitors, who rated the facilities as one of the very best in Africa.

    “Femi Majekodunmi, the Chairman, FMA Architects and past President of Nigerian Institute of Architects and past President of African Union of Architects, said that the Department of Architecture in Caleb University has one of the best facilities in Africa,’’ the PRO said.

    NAN

  • UNESCO urges youths to restore Pan-Africa through ICT

    UNESCO urges youths to restore Pan-Africa through ICT

    The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation ( UNESCO ) has advised African youths to tap into the power of the Information and Communication Technology ( ICT ) for the development of  the continent.

    Mr Yao Ydo, the Regional Director of UNESCO, gave the advice in an interview on Friday in Lagos.

    He spoke on the sidelines of the maiden edition of the Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria ( ACSPN ), Eminent Persons Strategy lecture series.

    The event held at Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, was themed: “The 21st Century Youths and the Future of Communication in Africa”.

    Ydo said embracing Pan-Africanism was necessary because most African countries, except for Nigeria, were unable to make a head way because they “are too small and weak’’.

    He said while the older generation, through the UN might have failed the continent, the present youths must come together and build a united Africa.

    “Build a United Nations by thinking Pan-African and less like Nigerians; build a genuine integrated Africa that the adults failed to do.

    “Think of becoming friends with other Africans outside your jurisdiction, using the social media and ICT.

    “Build a United Africa nationality and citizenship because the future of African nations depends on your togetherness,’’ the UNESCO chief said.

    He expressed regret that the era when people travelled within African countries without travel visas had been phased out.

    According to him, the free movement hitherto enjoyed during that period was an avenue to strengthen Pan-African.

    “Notwithstanding with the emergence of ICT and social media now, we can reawaken the relationship online, even without travelling and we can build a united continent.’’

    He said Africans would overcome their challenges “if we embrace togetherness and revive Pan-African.’’

    NAN

  • ‘Heeding God’s call helped my daughter’

    ‘Heeding God’s call helped my daughter’

    Pastor Wole Nejo is an example of how God stands in the gap once a man heeds His call.

    Nejo relinquished his job as an insurer and went into full ministry at God’s command – but not without a contract with his Creator.

    It was no surprise then that he kept on rolling on the ground repeatedly shouting, “Praise God!’ while the excited audience responded with “Hallelujah!” as his first daughter, Omotola Elizabeth, harvested nine awards at the seventh convocation of the Caleb University in Imota, Lagos State, last week Friday.

    “I have a date with God to serve Him for the rest of my life while He takes care of my responsibility.” Nejo told The Nation as a bunch of well wishers swarmed his family.

    “When you hear God’s instruction, everything God says must come to pass. My second daughter is a final year student at the University of Lagos, while my third daughter is also studying Biochemistry here (Caleb) and they are all doing well. The last one just finished secondary school and is about to enter university. God gave me four wonderful daughters and I am very proud of them.”

    Elizabeth”s story is a miracle; not only because she emerged the best graduating student of Caleb University with a cumulative grade point average of 4.85 in Mass Communication; but because her struggling parents did not have to worry about funding her education in a private university.

    Elizabeth had not yet been admitted  into Caleb when a kind-hearted Nigerian brought smiles to her parents’ promising to bankroll her education in any institution of her choice in Nigeria.

    Shortly after completing her 200-Level, another philanthropist visited Caleb and demanded from the management of the university a God-fearing and brilliant student for a scholarship. Miraculously, the school again presented Elizabeth as the only individual that met that criterion.

    “That scholarship helped me a lot as I’d then not gotten my laptop and my parents at that time were going through some financial challenges,” Elizabeth said while recalling some of the most challenging period of her study.

    She continued: “More worrisome for me was that most of our activities in the department (of Mass Communications) are computer-based. Time was running out and I’d got to do my assignment and project, so coming at that time, the scholarship was a big relief to me.”

    And having remembered where she was coming from and the goals ahead of her, Elizabeth chose to identify with few friends that could inspire her to greatness.

    “When I was coming to Caleb University, I made up my mind not to open my heart to relationships. I knew I would have commitment and I do not want to combine too many things at a time.

    “I have male friends who have been spiritually and academically supportive. I tried to choose my friends purposefully. Most of them are high flyers, while others are committed, responsible and spiritually deep. They all made good impact on me.

    “If there is one thing I don’t want to miss, that my lecture. I also ensure I ask questions. I care less about when people jeer at me that I ask too many questions.

    Whenever I go back to the hostel, I ensure I reviewed my notes, read through and keep studying at least twice a week. I also do not take my examination for granted.”

    Elizabeth’s mother Mrs Kehinde Adeyinka Nejo, admitted the onerous task of raising four female children. Nonetheless, she said their service to God alone appeared to have helped her overcome the task.

    “God has been on my side because it is not easy to groom females.

    I’m a deaconess who works in the children department of our church. All I know is that my husband has a calling and as the wife, I must give him the full support.”

    Aside harvesting nine awards at the event, with a promise of an immediate employment as a graduate assistant in Caleb, plus another prospect of immediate employment in any firm of her choice nationwide, courtesy of a third generation bank, the future indeed sparkles for the 22 year-old Elizabeth. Nonetheless, her mind seems to be on a different plan.

    “FCMB said I would not be denied right to employment wherever I tender my CV; but my plan now is to strike the iron while it is hot. I want to continue with my studies, do my masters in Mass Communications and probably a diploma in International Law and Justice because I also a preference for Law.”

    Earlier, the Vice Chancellor Prof Daniel Ayandiji, said 365 first degree graduands comprising 14, first class, took a bow from the institution. He said Mr. Quadri Hammed who had a CGPA of 4.91 in Masters in Architecture led others at the post graduate category.

    Ayandiji said National Universities Commission has just approved additional 13 new programmes, noting that come next month, the institution would be the first to commence a degree programme in Taxation next month.

     

  • Use your talents to develop Nigeria, Okebukola urges graduating students

    Use your talents to develop Nigeria, Okebukola urges graduating students

    Prof. Peter Okebukola, former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, (NUC)  has urged graduating students of the Caleb University, Imota, Lagos to deploy their God-given talents and quality training to develop Nigeria.

    Okebukola, who is the Chairman, Board of Trustee of the institution, made the appeal at the institution`s seventh convocation on Friday in Lagos.

    He told the graduates to allow their entrepreneurial spirit come alive and stick to the noble ideas and core values of the institution.

    He listed such core values to include Godliness, innovation, service, integrity, teamwork, excellence and creativity.

    “To my ‘Emerald Graduating Class’, the entire country looks forward to you to be God-Solution Persons (GSP’s).

    “You must be ready to deploy your God-given talents and the quality training, you have received at Caleb, to action beginning from your time at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme,’’ Okebukola said.

    Brig.-Gen. Mobolaji Johnson, (rtd) who is the University`s Chancellor, urged all the alumni to be worthy ambassadors of the university.

    Johnson commended the Council, Senate, and Management of the institution for maintaining high academic and moral standard.

    Prof. Fola Tayo, the University Pro-Chancellor, advised the graduating students to be an unusual and strange person, “who is out to make a change’’.

    “Be an odd person that cannot be fitted into the Nigerian corrupt and inhuman cage.

    “Be a man or a woman, who can ask questions and will never compromise the standard of established laws, regulations and procedure.

    “Remember, you are answerable to God, not man and in the choice between obeying man or God, you are enjoined to be on God’s side,’’ Tayo said.

    Also, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Daniel Aina, remarked that the seventh set of graduates produced by the university, “comprise of the most brilliant minds, who will positively affect the future of Nigeria and Africa’’.

    “That they are the seventh set itself is a study in excellence and perfection, and for us, that is a journey and it begins with these privileged individuals,’’ he said.

    The VC said the institution produced 405 graduates this year as against 355 graduates in 2016.

    He said 361 out of the 405 graduates received the Bachelor degree honours while 44 post-graduate students received the Master’s degrees.

    “In the breakdown of the 409 graduating students, 14 persons made First Class honours, 142 are in Second Class Upper, 162 are in Second Class Lower divisions while 47 finished with Third Class division.

    “Others in the class of higher degrees were 12 for Master Business Administration and 32 MSc Architecture’’, he said.

    Aina named the best graduating student as Miss Elizabeth Nejo from the Department of Mass Communication.

    Nejo made a Commutative Grade Point Aggregate (CGPA) of 4.85.

    According to the VC, Mr Qadri Ahmed of the Department of Architecture is the best post-graduate graduating students with a CGPA of 4.91.

    He announced that the certificate and transcript of the new graduates were ready, signed and would be issued to them, once they have been cleared by the university. (NAN)

  • ‘Caleb University subscribes to 120 cut-off-mark of JAMB’

    ‘Caleb University subscribes to 120 cut-off-mark of JAMB’

    Caleb University in Imota, Lagos State, says its cut-off mark for admission in the 2017/2018 academic session will be 120 as stipulated by Joint Admission Matriculation Board ( JAMB ).

    Its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Daniel Aina on Friday in Lagos said that the cut-off mark was aimed at “liberalising admission” into tertiary institutions and give access to the best candidates.

    “The 120 cut-off mark was a joint decision of all Nigeria universities vice chancellors, not the JAMB alone.

    “Since universities are still at liberty to conduct Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination ( UTME ) to access their candidates and select the best, we are sure to still have the best students in the system to admit,’’ he said.

    Aina said the Post-UTME could not be cancelled in universities as “JAMB score is not enough to test the capability of a student’’.

    He said that admission into Caleb University was not only about JAMB scores as there were other criteria the university employed to access candidates before recommending them for admission.

    According to him, candidates who choose Caleb University and scored 120 and above would still be interviewed among other processes of selection.

    “That a candidate scores 300 or more is not a license to be admitted in Caleb.

    “You can score that much and still be denied admission if you have no moral value, while a candidate who scored between 120 and 200 marks may be admitted if he or she has excellent moral value and positive character.

    “We do not just want to admit an academic giant, but a moral dwarf, so we ensure that a candidate is certified both academically and morally,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • 15 get First Class at Caleb varsity

    Miss Elizabeth Omotola Mejo of the Department ofMass Communication will lead 13 first class graduates at the Caleb University’s seventh convocation tomorrow (October 13).

    Meja emerged the institution’s 2017 best graduating student with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.85.

    The 14 first class graduands are among the 365 first degree holders that will take a bow at the institution’s main campus in Imota Ikorodu, Lagos.

    Mr. Quadri Hammed, who had a CGPA of 4.91 in Masters in Architecture, led in the post graduate category.

    Giving the details during the pre-convocation briefing held at the university campus on Tuesday, the Vice Chancellor Prof Daniel Ayandiji, said 142 graduated with Second class upper division, 162 had second class lower division and 47, third class.

    In total, 44 students will graduate from the post graduate school making a total of 407 graduands.

    Ayandiji said the graduates called the “Emerald Class of 2017” were those that have been deemed fit to have satisfied the moral and academic qualifications necessary.

    “It is a great job turning out these graduates as it is harvest time and we are particularly happy that it is now that the school is going through a lot of positive developments.

    “Thirteen new programmes have been approved by the National Universities commission (NUC) to be taken here and we are the first to start a degree course in Taxation which will take off on November 1, with the department headed by a past president of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CITN), Prof Teju Somirin”.

    He said the institution chose to be proactive in shaping the education sector of the country by getting new courses that are relevant in the society.

    The vice chancellor also said the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the wife of the former governor of Lagos State, Mrs Abimbola  Fashola, will be inducted into the Caleb University Roll of honour.

  • Former CITA boss to head Caleb University taxation unit

    Former CITA boss to head Caleb University taxation unit

    Prof. Teju Somorin, the immediate past President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria ( CITA ), has been appointed the Head of Department of Taxation at Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State.

    Prof. Ayandiji Aina, Vice-Chancellor of the university, disclosed this at the university’s convocation media briefing on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Aina said that Somorin would resume office on Nov. 1 to kick-start the newly approved course of Bachelor of Science in Taxation by the National University Commission (NUC) for the 2017/2018 session.

    He said 13 courses of Caleb University were accredited by the NUC in the 2016/2017 academic year and this included B.SC Taxation, Business Administration, Environmental Management Toxicology, among others.

    According to him, the university recruited Somorin as the foundation head of the department to breed it in line with international standards.

    “As a matter of fact, we are the only university in this region of Africa offering taxation as a course and we intend to hit the ground with unbeatable record,’’ he said.

    Aina said all is set to also commence courses in Environmental Management and Toxicology in the new session in a bid to train manpower that would save Lagos State and Nigeria from environmental decadence.

    He said the B.SC in Peace and Conflict Resolution that would be offered by the university had also been tailored to address law and order in the face of the present security threat confronting the country.

    The VC, however, said 405 graduates as against 355 graduates in 2016 would be convocated at the 7th convocation scheduled to hold on Oct. 13.

    He said 361 out of the 405 of the graduates would receive the Bachelor degrees and 44 post-graduates students would receive the Masters degrees.

    “In the breakdown of the 409 graduands, 14 persons made First Class honours, 142 Second Class upper honours Division, 162 Second Class lower honours and 47 with Third Class.

    “Others in the class of higher degrees were 12 for Master Business Administration and 32 MSc Architecture,’’ he said.

    The VC named Miss Elizabeth Nejo of the Department of Mass Communication as the best graduating student with a Commutative Grade Point Aggregate (CGPA) of 4.85.

    He added that Mr Qadri Ahmed of Department of Architecture was the best post-graduate student with a CGPA of 4.91.

    Aina further disclosed that the certificate and transcript of the graduands were ready, signed and would be issued to the recipients at the convocation ground once they have been cleared by the university.

    NAN

  • ‘Why Nigerian varsities should adopt Korean system’

    ‘Why Nigerian varsities should adopt Korean system’

    In this interview with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, Vice Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, Prof Daniel Ayandeji Aina, explains why Nigeria should adopt the Korean ‘mind education’ system.

    Why do you recommend the Korean education system for Nigeria?

    You will recall that South Korea emerged from the Korean War without natural resources, but people. They therefore embarked on mind education that we call value-based education here. In Korea, they teach dignity of labour. As a professor of Engineering, you are only recognised by what you are professing and not by merely wearing suit and tie. Your office is more in the laboratory with your overall on rather than wearing suit and teaching your students using smart boards which we often do here. That is why our education in Nigeria is not functional. You only wear suit during meetings; once that meeting is over you are back into the laboratory.

    But as you said, Nigeria also has value-based education system which is almost the same

    The Korean system is deeper and more practicable! And the idea is how what you had learned in class can be turned to practical use so you don’t start looking for jobs upon graduation. This is the more reason why Caleb University is collaborating with the Institute of Mind Education in Korea so as to adapt their methodology to our colleagues here that had value-based education. The Korean Educational International Youth Forum has linkages in about 90 countries that subscribe to it and Caleb University is now happy to be one.

    But what format does this education take?

    Their (Korean) undergraduates are integrated into service education whereby you used what you acquired in class as a form of community service. What we do in our NYSC here is that people are just posted to say Zamfara State, and the person can then arrange with their local NYSC to wander away for months only to return and collect their certificates. But in the United State or South Korea, graduands are allowed to move to anywhere in the world to render service.  That is why those societies are a lot better because they produce selfless individuals who are determined to help societal cause.

    There are series of cases bordering on insecurity in Ikorodu which is your next door neighbor, what security checks have you to ward off intruders?

    It’s pretty sad the insecurity situation in Ikorodu and environs. But generally, let me say in a security situation what you need do is go a step ahead of your potential attacker. Once that psychology is created, that scares potential predators away.

    Second, we have excellent relationship with government, police, and other nongovernmental security agencies. We have a rapid response team here. They had been here before I became VC. We have our own security network. We also have spirituality because we are a faith-based university. The Lord says if the He doesn’t build the house, the watchers labour in vain.

    With their tuition, there have been arguments that private universities have come to supplant public institutions and dim the hope of the poor.

    Some of those in the labour union carry all sorts of rumour that private universities are exorbitant because they felt that government allowing private universities to thrive will have a negative impact on their negotiation with government.

    For instance, our tuition here is N350,000, but when you look at our facilities, you will know it is not the N350,000 that we use in running the university. A cumulative salary of a professor before tax is between N380,000 and N500,000. So, if you have N350,000 tuition here that means a student fee cannot pay a professor in a month.

  • Caleb Varsity in exchange programme with S. Korea on entrepreneurial education

    Caleb Varsity in exchange programme with S. Korea on entrepreneurial education

    Authorities of the Caleb University, Imota in Lagos State, has entered into an educational exchange programme with a South Korean University to improve its entrepreneurship programme for students.

    The university Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Daniel Aina, made the disclosure on Tuesday at a news briefing in Imota, near Ikorodu.

    Aina said that the exchange programme would make students of the institution to become self-reliant on completion of their academic pursuit.

    The vice-chancellor said that the institution had structured its academic activities in such a way that students would be introduced to value-based education under general studies in their first year to produce self-reliant graduates.

    According to him, in the second year, the entrepreneur development is introduced to students, while leadership education will be introduced at the third and fourth year, irrespective of their core courses.

    He said that the academic programmes were structured to prepare the students ahead of their graduation to enable them to contribute their quotas to the national development.

    “Things can be done better if we join hands together with the government and non-governmental organisations to enhance the quality of our education,’’ he said.

    Aina said that the institution management was already discussing with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment to conduct a environmental research on the Olusosun refuse dump site in Ojota.

    He said that this was part of the institution’s contribution to the development of its immediate environment.

    “The stench that usually emits from the dump site can be injurious to the health of residents and other people dwelling in that surrounding.

    “The institution intends to carry out health analysis on the dump site to ascertain its health implication and advise the government on what to do.

    “Since one of the core areas of specialisation of the university is environmental studies, it can do environmental impact, analysis and implication of the dump site on the environment,’’ Aina said.

    He said that the university, while trying to complement the role of government, intended to attend to some special needs of communities in its neighbourhood.