The Nation Newspaper

Tag: certificate

  • Elections: Court adjourns anti-Buhari suits to April 22

    Elections: Court adjourns anti-Buhari suits to April 22

    • Refuses to join new parties
    Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja has adjourned further proceedings in all suits relating to the challenge of the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Mohammadu Buhari’s alleged certificate irregularities to April 22 and 23.
    There are four of such cases before the judge.
    He said it was impossible for the court to conclude the case before the elections and that there was no need for the court to be in haste to determine the case, because it could always do so after the elections.
    He further said his decision to adjourn to April was because of the approaching Easter Vacation of the court.
    Justice Ademola said this shortly after delivering a ruling in the suit by Chukwuweike Okafor and another against Buhari and two others (one of the four cases).
    The judge, in the ruling, dismissed the applications by a Lagos-based lawyer, Ebun-olu Adegboruwa and Chukwuma Ochu to be made parties in the case. The judge said they are not necessary parties in the case.
    While rounding off the ruling, Justice Ademola suo motu (without any prompting by parties) adjourned further proceedings to April 22 and 23.
    Details later …

  • Buhari: What’s certificate got to do with it?

    SIR: The question raised on the educational qualification of General Muhammadu Buhari in the coming election is a typical political antic aimed at scoring cheap political goal. Unthinkable and frivolous were some opinions raised; most were out rightly ridiculous. Those who want to make an issue out of General Buhari’s certificate should be knowledgeable enough to understand that this kite has fractured wings and cannot/will not fly.

    How on earth do the peddlers of the no-certificate-saga think that after ruling the nation as a military head of state and having contested presidential elections three times, General Muhammadu Buhari does not have West African School Certificate or its equivalent and the INEC forgot to disqualify him on those occasions and at the moment to contest? Are the harbingers of this question not Nigerians? These people must be new to Nigerian politics and current affairs.

    Experience they say is the best teacher; therefore, it is important for APC, Buhari and the handlers of his entire campaign to be meticulous, on guard and beware of leaving anything to chances. It should be well understood that Nigerian politics is still at its crude stage where any means fair and foul could be employed by candidates to smear and edge out opponents.

    Meanwhile, the eligibility of persons vying for the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution is absolutely clear as it relates to certificates.Section 131 (d) states inter-alia: a person shall be qualified for election to the office of the president if- “he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”

    Section 318(1) titled Interpretation, Citation and Commencement threw more light on what School Certificate or its equivalent means among many other things. It could be a Secondary School Certificate, Grade II Certificate, the City and Guilds or Primary Six School Leaving Certificate. The constitution did not envisage that an aspirant to the office of the President should have a university degree, Higher National Diploma or Doctoral Degree.

    The constitution further describes what School Certificate or its equivalent means as “Service in the public or private sector in the federation in any capacity acceptable to the independent National Electoral Commission for a minimum of 10 years, and attendance at course and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to the INEC for periods totaling up to a minimum of one year. Others are the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English language to the satisfaction of the INEC any other qualification acceptable by the INEC.

    From the foregoing, it is evident that to become a president, “School Certificate” is the most needful criteria. Most importantly, it is at the discretion of INEC not individuals or political parties to determine who is qualified to run for the office of the president in accordance with the above constitutional stipulations.

    When will our politics migrate from triviality to issue based discussions? The issue of certificates of those contesting for various positions is the least Nigerians wants to hear for now.  Political parties are enjoined to showcase implementable programmes and plans they have to uplift and improve the lives of the average Nigerians.

     

    • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze,

    Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna

  • Certificate society

    SIR: Oh Nigeria! Can someone spare me the explanation? Yes, the general elections are here. Politicking at the peak and politicians jostling for the juicy package. Intense is the mode of the game and only the hard-hearted can survive the heat.  The PHD syndrome is not given any chance to rest. Every aspirant digging deep, searching for opponents’ past records, missive and flaws for a stronghold to campaign. All these define the political terrain of Nigeria.

    Even as Nigerians are wooed by candidates of the different political parties, one major topic remains: Buhari, Where is your certificate? The opposition are making no mistake in blowing to the heavens the absence of certificate for the presidential standard bearer of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari.

    Yes, he has spoken. Hear him: “ I assumed all along, all my records were in the custody of the Military Secretary of the Nigerian Army, a position I have been privileged to occupy myself, much to my surprise, we are now told that although, a record of the result is available, there are no copies of the certificate in my personal file.

    “This is why I formerly requested my old school—the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina, which is now known as Government College, Katsina, to make available the school copy of the result of the Cambridge West African School Certificate. This will be made available to the press the moment this is available.

    “However, let me say for the record that I attended Provincial Secondary School, Katsina. I graduated in 1961, with many prominent Nigerians, including Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, former Chief of Staff in the Supreme Headquarters; and Justice Umar Abdullahi, former President of the Court of Appeal. We sat for the University of Cambridge WASCE examination together in 1961, the year we graduated.

    “My examination number was 8200002 and I passed the examination in the Second Division, and although the ruling party may want to wish this away, the issue in this campaign may not be my certificate which I obtained 52 years ago.”

    Well said. He has put rest to this certificate brouhaha?  But for me, campaigns should ascend the era of petty situations. It ought to transcend certificate or no certificate, phone number or not and other kindergarten reasoning pattern.

    The country has had fair share of leaders. In our president lies a man with immense educational status attaining a Ph.D from a reputable institution. Yet, many promises are far from being fulfilled.  One begins to wonder the role of certificates in leadership.

    To me, I hope this issue is resolved quickly. I want to hear candidates debate issues. This kind of politicking endears me to the United States of America elections every four years. These persons argue on issues, tackle themselves intelligently and proffer their perceived super model solution  to several issues.

    If this is not done, we might yet have another four years of sentimental leaders grace the corridor of power.

     

    • Amakoh Kelechi,

    Kelechi.amakoh@gmail.com

  • Re: Forbes Certificate of Infamy

    Re: Forbes Certificate of Infamy

    Mr. Steve Osuji’s column, Expresso, is usually an interesting read on account of the depth of insight he brings to issues.However, on Friday, 3 October, 2014, he chose to deviate from his incisive style and delved into the banal realm of “pull him/her down (Phd)” criticism that many columnists have come to be known for. His tirade against Forbes for choosing the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, for its “Best of Africa Leadership Award” was a crass display of lack of discernment.

    Osuji’s position in the article titled: “Forbes’ Certificate of Infamy”, was that the American publishing firm goofed in giving an award to the Minister of Petroleum Resources when it is “common knowledge that Diezani has grossly under-performed as a minister, having superintended over a chaotic oil sector riddled with malfeasance in the last three years”. His tirade would have been better ignored but for its potential of being taken by a gullible Nigerian public as the truth.

    The respected columnist argued that the oil and gas industry under the stewardship of Mrs. Alison-Madueke has witnessed “no new facilities, inability to fix old ones, IOCs divesting with urgency, unprecedented high sea oil theft and a regime of sleaze and phantom subsidy that has left Nigeria economy prostrate”. For him, the extensive gas infrastructure projects aimed at transforming the nation into a global gas hub so as to harness the benefit of the huge gas reserves which have been globally acknowledged to far exceed the nation’s crude oil reserves do not count for new projects. The Oredo Gas Processing Facility that was commissioned last year does not qualify for a new project in the estimation of the columnist. Neither do the numerous deep offshore projects coming on stream or even the new discoveries such as the Aje Oil and Gas Field and the oil find in the Anambra River Basin!

    For the respected columnist, the massive rehabilitation of the nation’s inland depots and the products pipelines to facilitate easy distribution of products do not count as old facilities being fixed under the watch of Mrs. Alison-Madueke as Minister of Petroleum Resources. It does not matter to him that most of the Depots such as Aba, Benin, Jos, Gombe, and others that were rendered moribund for years because of the scourge of pipeline sabotage have been brought back on stream. Neither does the revamping of the LPG facilities attached to some of the depots count for old facilities fixed under the watch of Mrs. Alison-Madueke as Minister of Petroleum!

    The third point Osuji raised against the Minister is the spate of divestments by IOCs. As a public commentator, one would expect Osuji to understand the issues involved in the divestments before making it look as they are an act of protest against the Minister. Long before Mrs. Alison-Madueke was appointed Minister of Petroleum Resources, many of the IOCs had been having problems with communities around their areas of operation, especially in their onshore acreages. The divestments being carried out are basically in their onshore fields. None of the oil majors has left the country. All of them are still investing heavily in offshore field development. Meanwhile, Nigerian indigenous oil companies are benefitting from the divestment as it gives them the opportunity to invest in the upstream sub-sector of the industry and enhance local participation in keeping with the Federal Government local content policy. So the divestment by IOCs is not a bad thing as Mr. Osuji tried to imply.

    Other reasons why the Minister did not deserve the award by Forbes, according to Mr. Osuji, are the massive crude oil theft and sleaze surrounding the subsidy regime.Any fair minded analyst would know that oil theft is a security issue and that the Minister of Petroleum Resources is not in charge of any of the nation’s securityagencies. In fact, to her credit, she has convened a stakeholders’ meeting where all the service chiefs met to brainstorm on how to stop the trend of oil theft. The Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan-led panel on anti-oil theft is an outcome of her intervention.

    On the issue of sleaze in the petrol subsidy regime, it must be stated that none of the panels instituted to investigate the scam indicted the Minister of any wrong-doing in the whole saga. In fact, those found culpable are already being prosecuted by the EFCC. It is curious why the columnist insists on tagging the Minister with a crime she did not commit and expect a credible and respected organization like Forbes to deny her an award because of a crime she did not commit.

    If Mr. Osuji believes that the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Petroleum Resources who have so far been honoured with the award by Forbes do not deserve it, it may simply be a question of the prophet not being without honour except in his own home.

    ·•Okumo is of  Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC

  • Certificate of incorporation is prima facie evidence

    Certificate of incorporation is prima facie evidence

    The Respondent in this appeal as the Plaintiff commenced an action at the Federal High Court, sitting at Enugu against the Appellants as Defendants by means of an originating summons for the determination of two questions: (1) Whether having regard to the specific provisions and clauses of the All Assets Debenture between the Plaintiff and the 1st Defendant dated 17 February 2006 the 1st Plaintiff is not entitled to appoint a Receiver/Manager (as it has already appointed and registered same with the Corporate Affairs Commission) over the affairs and endeavours of the 1st Defendant upon its failure or refusal to liquidate its huge outstanding indebtedness to the plaintiff as covenanted in the All Assets Debenture, and (2) Whether the Peter Nwabunike Eze having been appointed Receiver and Manager of the 1st Defendant by the Plaintiff, the 2nd Defendant has the right to further act as Managing Director of the 1st Defendant and to deal with its assets the subject of the All Assets Debenture. Predicated upon the likelihood in the positivity and negativity of answers to both questions, the Respondent sought some reliefs from the Court. The Defendants at the Federal High Court in opposing the originating summons, filed a motion on notice and affidavit wherein they sought for the dismissal of the “suit for being incompetent” on the ground that the Respondent “lacks locus standi” to institute the action as presently constituted.

    At the trial court the learned counsel for the parties agreed and sought that both the originating summons and the Appellants’ motion on notice be consolidated and heard/argued together. At the end of it all, A. Abdu-Kafarati, J. in his reserved judgment found and held that: (1) The Respondent had a good cause of action which entitled it to commence the instant suit, (2) That in the given circumstances of this case; Exhibits “DB7”, “DB8”, “DB9”, “DB14” and “DB15” attached to the affidavit in support of the originating summons were not required to be certified, and (3) That going by the facts of the case and documents placed by the parties before the lower court; the appointment of Mr. Peter Nrvabunike Eze as the Receiver/Manager of the 1st appellant, “was made in accordance with the law and is therefore proper”. The Appellants were dissatisfied with the said decision of the learned trial judge and appealed to the Court of Appeal vide a notice of appeal.

    The Appellants distilled three issues for determination in this appeal and the Respondent also distilled three issues for the determination of the appeal. The Court having perused the record of appeal, grounds of appeal and the issues distilled therefrom by the learned counsel for the parties, stated that the issues identified by the learned counsel for the respondent, succinctly captured the essence of the complaints or challenges mounted by the Appellants against the decision of the trial court. The issues formulated by the Respondent were accordingly adopted by the Court for determination of the appeal. The issues were couched in the following terms:-

    Was the trial court right when it held that the Respondent had locus standi to institute the action and seek the reliefs sought in the originating summons?

    Was the lower court right when it refused to expunge Exhibits DB7, DB9, DB13, DB14 and DB15?.

    Is the Respondent a legal person which can sue and be sued?

    Arguing issue 1, learned counsel for the Appellants fired the first shot with the question thus: “why did the Diamond Bank Plc. commenced this action and in its own name rather than the receiver/manager who had already been appointed as such for more than one and half months?” He referred to Section 391 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 and faulted the finding by the learned trial judge in this regard, to the effect that this is not an action by the receiver seeking direction but by the Plaintiff Bank seeking confirmation whether it has right under the All Assets Debenture to appoint a Receiver upon the 1st Defendant’s failing to fulfill its obligation. He made the point, that in order to determine jurisdiction of the court over a matter, the totality of the claim and the reliefs have to be examined. He cited and placed reliance on Adeyemi vs. Opeyori (1976) 10 S.C. 31; (1976) LPELR-171(SC), Tukur vs. Govt. of Gongola State (No. 2) (1989) 4 NWLR (Pt.117) 517/549; (1988) LPELR-22(SC), Mandara vs. Att.-Gen. of the Federation (1984) 1 SCNLR 311/312; (1984) LPELR-8048(SC). It was then contended that the reliefs relate to or are connected with the performance of the functions of a receiver as none of the reliefs sought by the Respondent at the trial court, deals with the point whether the Plaintiff/Respondent has a right to appoint a receiver. The learned Appellants’ counsel argued that it is the receiver/manager who is vested with the locus standi to commence the action. It was his submission in essence that since the Respondent instituted the instant action by means of originating summons in its name and without stating on the face of the originating summons, that it was being instituted in a representative capacity and or on behalf of the receiver/manager, that the action was not proper and competent as the respondent lacked the requisite locus standi to commence the suit in its name.

    In response to the submissions made above, learned counsel for the Respondent on his part, submitted that the reliefs sought from the trial court relate to the questions submitted for determination by the Court and arise from the contract between the parties that is the All Assets Debenture made between the parties. That the declarations sought by the Respondent are merely consequential thereto. It was also contended, that a close look at the reliefs sought shows that they are such that protect the interest of the Respondent under the debenture deed. The mere fact that such reliefs relate to the rights of the Receiver/Manager are irrelevant. According to the learned counsel, the reliefs sought in this suit are directed at empowering the receiver/manager to take necessary steps to protect the interest of his principal. Learned Respondent’s counsel, cited the case of Intercontractors Nig. Ltd vs. U.A.C. of Nig. Ltd. (1988) 2 NWLR (Pt. 76) 303/307; (1988) LPELR-1521(SC)  on the point that once a Receiver is appointed, he becomes the alter ego of the company. It was then argued, that it would amount to the Receiver suing himself if he brings an action against the company which by virtue of his appointment, he has become the alter ego.

    The main question or complaint is whether or not the Respondent hadlocus standito institute the instant action. Put differently, whether the Respondent is the proper party to request for adjudication in this case. In determining the appeal, the Court stated the trite law that once a Receiver/Manager is appointed, he becomes the alter ego of the company. The Court further stated that the law is also well established that where a creditor enforces his security by appointing a Receiver/Manager, the assets belonging to the debtor company now come under the Receiver/Manager. See Inter-contractors (Nig.) Ltd. vs. National Provident Fund Management Board (1988) 2 NWLR (Pt.76) 280; (1988) LPELR-1520(SC). The Court held that asking, insisting or suggesting that it is compelling on the Receiver/Manager to sue in such a circumstance/situation as in the instant case, is tantamount to requesting the Receiver/Manager to sue himself. Issue No. 1 was thus resolved in favour of the Respondent.

    On issue 3, the Appellants counsel urged the Court to either dismiss or strike out the suit and set aside the judgment of the trial court; among other reasons, for failure of the Respondent to prove its legal personality. On the part of the learned counsel for the Respondent, it was opined that the Appellants, overlooks the fact that the they had always treated the Respondent as a legal entity and cannot now wake up to deny the fact that the Respondent is duly registered as a limited liability company. It was thus his submission, that it is too late in the day for the Appellants to now wake up from slumber to argue that the Respondent to whom they acknowledged that they are indebted to the tune of N300,000,000.00 is not a legal person. According to the learned counsel for the Respondent, the Appellants are estopped from denying the legal personality of the Respondent.

    On this issue, the Court stated the position of the law to the effect that where it has been duly pleaded and issues joined by the parties on the legal personality of an incorporated body, that the legally admissible evidence by which the incorporation of such a company can be ascertained and or established is the production of the certificate of incorporation. The Court stated that Section 36(6) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 provides that the certificate of incorporation shall beprima facieevidence of compliance with requirements of registration and due registration of a company under the Act.

    On the whole, all the issues in the appeal were resolved against the Appellants. The Court held that the appeal lacks merit and it was dismissed. The said decision of the learned trial judge was accordingly affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

     

     Edited by LawPavilion

    LawPavilion Citation: (2014)            LPELR-23560(CA)

     

  • Guidelines on tax exemption for Ngos

    Guidelines on tax exemption for Ngos

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO) is an association of persons registered under Section 590 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 1990. Upon registration of the association, the body corporate may contract in the same form and manner as an individual in accordance with Section 605 of CAMA 1990. It is to be noted that by virtue of the provisions of Section 23 of the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) any organisation registered under any law within the federation or any part thereof as a co-operative society shall also be treated as an NGO.

    NGOs include organisations, institutions and companies engaged in ecclesiastical, charitable, benevolent or educational activities of a public character. Many countries, including Nigeria have recognised the significant role being played by these organisations in building a strong, caring and well-functioning society as well as in contributing to its welfare and economic growth. In recognition of this, government grants tax incentives to such organisations in form of exemption of their profits (other than those derived from trade or business carried out by them) from income tax and zero rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) for their humanitarian services.

    The role of the tax authority is to ensure that these tax incentives or benefits are appropriately enjoyed and not abused and that the obligations associated with the tax benefits are complied with by the NGOs. Therefore, these guidelines are to check possible abuse and ensure standardization.

    Legal basis

    Section 23(1) of the CITA Cap C21.LFN 2004 states that the profit of any statutory, charitable, ecclesiastical, educational or other similar associations are exempted from CIT obligations provided such profits are not derived from any trade or business carried on by such an organisation or association.

    Where an NGO engages in any trade or business, the profit derived there from will be subjected to income tax as provided for in the Act. Also, where the NGO invests its assets in any institution, the income derived from such investment shall be subjected to tax. It should be noted that Capital Gains Tax (CGT) shall arise where assets are disposed of by the NGOs at a gain.

    Case Laws

    A relevant  case is that of Arbico Ltd Vs FBIR, (1996) 2 All NLR 303. The plaintiff in the dispute, Arbico, had acquired a plot of land, erected a building and sold the property at a profit. The company was subsequently assessed for tax on the proceeds of the sale of the property. The company objected to the assessment on the basis that the transaction was a one-off and did not constitute “trade”. The case was, ultimately, settled in the Supreme Court.

    In the ruling, the court laid down two important precedents:

    • Firstly, that the word ‘trade’ should be interpreted in its widest sense in accordance with its common everyday meaning;

    • Secondly, that an isolated one-off transaction can still constitute a ‘trade’.

    Tax reliefs available to NGOs

    In addition to the income tax exemption granted to NGOs as noted above, Section 25(3) of CITA provides that any company making donations to such an organisation listed under the fifth Schedule to CITA shall enjoy tax deductible donation not exceeding 10 per cent of the total profits of that company for that year as ascertained before any deduction of such donations is made and must not be of capital nature.

    Goods purchased for use in humanitarian donor funded projects are zero rated under the VAT Act Cap V1 LFN 2004 as amended.

    Registration with FIRS by NGOs

    All NGOs are expected to register with the nearest tax office of FIRS with the following documents:

    • A copy of registration certificate issued by Corporate Affairs Commission.

    • Certified copy of memorandum or constitution, rules and regulations governing the NGO,

    • List and profiles of the trustees/board members nominated; one of the trustees/board member must be a serving government official from relevant government agency responsible for the activity of the NGO;

    • Copy of the Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) of each of the Trustees and

    Filing of returns by NGOs

    In line with section 55 of CITA, it is mandatory for all NGOs to file a tax return every year and such return shall contain:

    • The audited accounts, tax and capital allowances computations and a true and correct statement in writing containing the amounts of its profits from each and every source computed in accordance with the provisions of CITA;

    • Such particulars as may by such form or return be required for the purpose of the Act and any rules made with respect to such profits, allowances, reliefs, deductions or otherwise as may be material by virtue of the CITA; and

    • A declaration to be signed by a director or secretary of the organization that the information contained in the return is true and correct.

    Responsibilities of the tax office

    • Clarification of tax status: An NGO seeking clarification on its tax exemption status shall direct such enquiries to the tax office  where it was registered and the NGO desk in the relevant office shall process the enquiry and respond to it.

    • Application for TCC: An NGO shall direct its application for  TCC to the tax office where it was registered and file its tax returns. The relevant office shall process the application and issue the  TCC if the NGO is found qualified and if unqualified be given reasons in writing within two weeks of the application.

    • Monitoring : The relevant tax office shall monitor the activities of NGOs within its jurisdiction regularly to ensure compliance with the provisions of the tax laws.

     

    Other statutory obligations of NGOs

    In addition to its obligation to file tax returns at  the appropriate tax office, NGOs are statutorily required to:

    • Maintain accurate record of employees;

    • Maintain proper books of accounts

    • ‘Deduct Pay-As-You-Earn  from employees’ salary and remit same to the appropriate tax authority;

    • Pay VAT on goods and services consumed except those purchased exclusively for its humanitarian projects or activities;

    • Pay tax as and when due on non-exempt activities.

    Failure to comply with the above requirements will attract appropriate the penalty prescribed by law.

    It is to be emphasised that the fact that an NGO is exempted from payment of income tax does not remove the obligation to file returns regularly. It is also to be emphasised that profits derived from business or trading are liable to tax. All NGOs should abide with the tax  regulations to continue to enjoy the tax incentives granted by the government in furtherance of their charitable activities.

     

  • Between certificate and knowledge

    I watched Mr. Suli Breaks as he mesmerized me with his articulated and carefully composed poem. The title, though very straight to the point, left me really speculative. ‘‘I won’t let my exam results decide my fate” were the chilling wordings contained in the body of his poem as he painted a picture of life as a student in a university right in the heart of London. As I watched, I noticed how grim he felt as he pointed out excruciating facts that push students into believing that their results were their only hope for a successful life, in a world where money rules over almost everything. He also enjoined students all over the world to stand firm and say with boldness, “I won’t let my exam results decide my fate”.

    I said those words. I repeated them vehemently as he made them sound so strong in my head. But I don’t know if I really meant them. I don’t know if I meant them because it’s very hard to believe that in a country like Nigeria where certificates are worshipped far more than the actual knowledge, I could boldly say, “I won’t let my result decide my fate”.

    The Nigerian situation is far beyond the belief of those words. In this country, majority of students are faced with rather no other option than to believe that going to school and coming out with the best of grades can provide them the only master key to a successful life. This is so because of the bizarre emphasis that is being placed on certificates.

    This rather outrageous prominence, which is laid on certificates, out rightly make students  go out of their way to get the results, either by hook or crook! Students no longer read to know. A greater number of Nigerian students read, or rather cram, to pass exams alone and acquire certificates they certainly cannot defend. Little wonder we have graduates who find it difficult to fill Nigerian Youth Service Corps (NYSC) forms.

    I recall an incident where a youth corps member, who is supposedly meant to be a graduate, was asked to fill in her sex in a form, and then she asked if they meant the number of times she has ever been with a man. This is absolutely ludicrous!

    Students of nowadays don’t read”, that is always the rant in the air when ever situations like this are being brought up amongst our fathers. Besides, the fault is not totally on the side of Nigerian students. In as much as I am not trying to encourage the apathetic and laissez-faire lifestyle of some of our students, I want to also put it to our fathers that the problem is partly as a result of the Nigerian situation. Some male students go as far as bribing lecturers while some other ladies offer themselves cheaply just to get the grades. What would the grades be used for if we are made to understand that they won’t actually take us anywhere if we don’t totally grasp what we are studying in school?

    I can vividly recount the agony of one of my friends in school when his ‘almighty’ Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) fell a bit short of 3.50. It was precisely 3.48. As a matter of fact, he was so scared of his future. He related his fears, qualms and doubts to me amidst shivers. This was due the fact that he understood the Nigerian situation, the status quo that accentuates the importance of our certificates over our knowledge. That is really pathetic!

    I wonder when this would change. When a Nigerian student, who understood the pros and cons of what he or she has read in a tertiary institution, would not be judged by his or her certificate. When adverts for job interviews will say, “we need a mechanical engineer that knows nitty-gritty of what mechanical engineering entails”, and not “vacancy for a mechanical engineer with either a first class or a second class honours (upper division)”. Are we actually meant to apply our certificate while working or the knowledge we have acquired? I keep pondering on this question every time.

    I know that one day, this whole perception would change. But I know the change is not so near. Maybe Mr. Suli Breaks should visit Nigeria one of these days. Maybe he should come around and spend some time in any tertiary institution in this country so that he would particularly get to understand the real Nigerian situation. This would certainly help him to redefine his poem with the perception that his theory cannot actually work here in Nigeria. Not now yet, maybe latter.

     

    Uchechukwu, 300-Level Industrial Technology, FUT MINNA

  • 1960/001:UNN’s first student, 93, shows off his certificate

    1960/001:UNN’s first student, 93, shows off his certificate

    It was an exciting moment for members of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) community when the pioneer students of the institution were honoured in a programme marking the golden jubilee of its first graduation. The first student to be registered pulled a surprise when he displayed his certificate bearing his matriculation number. INYA AGHA reports.

    •Excitement as pioneer students return to varsity

    Fifty years after they were awarded their first degree certificates, the pioneer graduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have returned to the school.

    As they were being welcomed, one of them, Chief C. N. Eneasato, 93, surprised all. He came with his certificate with the matriculation number 1960/001 to show the guests that he was the first student to be registered in the university.

    The management under the leadership of Prof Bartho Okolo had organised a golden jubilee anniversary to honour the 1963 graduates whose outstanding performance in the year’s civil service examination earned the university respect and put an end to derisive criticisms that trailed its establishment as a full-fledged university in 1960.

    It was reported that the first graduates of the university took the first 10 positions in the examination, ahead of their counterparts from the then University College, Ibadan, which was established in 1948.

    According to the Vice-Chancellor, some people moved against the establishment of UNN at the time of its founding, but the performance of its graduates silenced the critics.

    Okolo said: “This distinguished generation of Lions and Lionesses excelled beyond anyone’s imagination. It was reported that their excellent performance at the civil service examination was the beginning of the reputation of excellence, which we all enjoy at the UNN today. Their achievements opened doors for subsequent graduates of this university. Some of these heroes may have fallen, but an event of this nature serves to express our respect, admiration and gratitude for being worthy pioneer students and graduates of this legacy institution. We salute and congratulate them for the legacy of excellence which they bequeathed to us.”

    The Pro-Chancellor, Dr Emeka Enejere, said honouring the pioneer graduates was necessary to bring back the past glory of the university for people to have a better understanding of its present state, and make projection into its future.

    He chronicled the history of the UNN from when the idea was conceived to when the institution was finally established in October 7, 1960. He saluted the faith of the pioneer graduates in the university at a time when, he said, people called to question the validity of a degree awarded by the institution.

    “The role you all played in the University of Nigeria cannot be forgotten; we cannot thank you enough for bearing the name, the Lions and Lionesses, with dignity and candour. Your alma mater is proud of you, and your names shall eternally be written in the book of records of the university,” he said.

    The best graduating student of the 1963 class, Prof Johnson Asiegbu, recounted how his set was derided and criticised for being students of UNN, saying many of the critics called the institution Zik’s secondary school. But their determination to succeed, despite infrastructural challenges, he said, made them resilient and focused.

    He said: “UNN gave us an assignment when we came here in 1960. An assignment to restore the dignity of man; we came with enthusiasm from start to finish. But within the university, we had challenges of infrastructure and people ridiculed us and our university. If that challenge had affected us, it would have been a different history. But we never lost faith because we knew we had a duty to do for ourselves and to the country.

    “Even the Federal Civil Service examination that was organised in 1963 was meant to prove that UNN graduates were not worthy of their certificates.

    But the table turned on the critics as we put up a sterling performance by occupying all the top positions in the test. I am happy that the university has sustained that tradition of excellence over the years.”

    Prof Solomon Omoregie, one of the pioneer graduates, said the spirit of hard work, which they learnt during their undergraduate days, was the bedrock of their successes in their postgraduate studies abroad.

    Prof Omoregie recalled how his classmates had to line up waiting for their turn to study a particular textbook recommended by their teachers. “If you had the opportunity to read that book for 30 minutes, you would not see it again for the whole session, that was how we started,” he said.

    The octogenarian, who has a flair for poetry, donated copies of his last book to Nnamdi Azikiwe Library to appreciate his alma mater for giving his life a good shape.

    The peak of the event was the presentation of pencil portraits of old and young images of the honorees by the Pro-chancellor and Vice-Chancellor.

    The UNN registered over 200 students in October 1960 and graduated 150 of them in 1963.

     

  • Edo teacher surprises certificate panel

    It was “confession time” yesterday at the ongoing verification of the papers of 1,300Edo State primary school teachers, found to have falsified their ages in addition to other discrepancies in their credentials.

    The teachers appeared before the screening committee, headed by the Permanent Secretary, State Post-Primary Education Board, Hajia Nana Audu.

    They were anxious as they waited to be called in.

    Those who were yet to be called rushed to their colleague, who had appeared before the committee, to know the drill.

    One came out and said: “I told the committee the truth about my age. Anything can happen from here.”

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole said at a Town Hall meeting that an audit on primary school teachers showed that some of them completed their primary education before they were born. Some got their certificates two years ago in the schools where they have been teaching for 15 years.

    A teacher at Asologun Primary School, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Mrs. Augusta Odemwinge, stunned the panel when she could not read a sworn affidavit she tendered as part of her credentials.

    Oshiomhole, who visited the State Staff Training Centre venue of the exercise unannounced, was appalled.

    He said: “If you can’t read, what do you teach the pupils? What do you write on the board?”

    Chairman of the State Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Patrick Ikosimi, who was also at the screening, said the woman’s failure was “an embarrassment”.

    He said: “We are committed to partnering with the government to reposition education. What this teacher has just displayed is a show of shame. It shows the decadence in the education sector.

    “As the NUT chairman, I have written to the governor that we are in support of what he is doing. He should involve the NUT so that together we can find the culprits.”

  • WAEC releases 2012 SSCE certificates

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released certificates for its Senior School Certificate Examination written in May/June for SS3 pupils, and November/December, for private candidates last year.

    In a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mr Yusuf Ari, candidates who sat for the examinations up to last year were directed to collect their certificates from their former schools and WAEC Offices nationwide.

    The statement also directed private candidates who wrote in previous years to collect their certificates by December 31 or risk paying extra to secure it afterwards.

    “The Council also wishes to advise candidates who sat for previous diets of the November/December General Certificate of Education, Ordinary/Advance Levels (GCE O/A Levels), Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) (Private), WASSCE (Private), who have not collected their certificates to do so at WAEC zonal, branch or satellite offices, not later than December 31, 2013.

    “Candidates who fail to collect their certificates after that date may be charged an extra fee for the custody of the certificates,” the statement said.