The Nation Newspaper

Tag: College

  • Amosun renovates college founded by Awolowo

    The Ogun State commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Chief Samuel Duro Aiyedogbon, says the ongoing rehabilitation of the Social Development Institute (SDI) in Shasha Iperu Remo after decades of neglect, demonstrates, government’s commitment to improving quality of education service deliver in the state.

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun has committed N50 million to renovate facilities at the institute, which was established by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1956 to provide training for social and community workers, community leaders and people in governance.

    Aiyedogbon, in a statement signed by the head of media in the Ministry, Mr. Ayokunle Ewuoso, decried the neglect suffered by the 58-year old school by previous administrations which led to the degeneration of its facilities and teaching standards.

    “The situation of the institute was bad and becoming very worrisome when the governor visited. He was completely displeased with what he saw and as a man, who is determined to revolutionize the education sector, directed that N50million be released for the immediate renovation of the school. It is on record that no serving governor of the state has ever visited it since its establishment in 1956 which has led to the total neglect of the institution,” he said.

    The commissioner said the renovation would be completed by the end of this month and is also hopeful that the school would begin to attract foreign students in the neighboring African countries as was the case in Awolowo’s lifetime.

  • College gets N100m hostel

    Thirty-five years after its establishment, the Niger State College of Education, Minna is to have its first male hall of residence.

    To this effect state government has approved the sum of N100 million for the construction of the 200 bedspace hostel at the College premises.

    The institution has only one block of female hostel which accommodates 200 students.

    The Provost of the College, Prof Abdulrasheed Haruna disclosed this in Minna during the orientation and matriculation of 4,500 students of the college.

    He said the College has entered into partnership with a developer for construction of hostel accommodation for the students.

    Haruna cautioned the freshers that their matriculation was not just a ceremony for photographs and merry making but a serious business and stressed the college’s zero tolerance to academic laziness, examination malpractices, truancy, indiscipline and cultism.

    He assured the students that the institution will continue to vigorously pursue its mandate to impart knowledge and build their characters.

    He told the students that the College was able to admit 4500 students for the academic year due to massive infrastructural transformation going on in the institution.

  • College COEASU gives condition to reverse strike

    The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, (COEASU), Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nusgbe (NOCEN), Anambra State, has said it will not call off its one month-old strike unless members demands are met by the Provost.

    The union’s decision followed a closed-door general meeting at Ugo Hotel, Nusgbe in Anambra East local government area of the State.

    The Anambra State College of Education joined the national body’s strike on February 3, this year, an action which did not go down well with the Acting Provost, Dr. Clara O. Obiagwu.

    The development led to Dr Obiagwu’s alleged suspension of COEASU Chairman Comrade Vincent C. Asalu.

    Obiagwu also queried the union’s secretary Comrade U.A.C. Ugharumba for reminding members that COEASU has joined the strike with the union parent body though, it did not start with COEASU national on December 18, last year.

    The Acting Provost then went ahead to direct that the January salary of the chairman and secretary be stopped against pleas by the national and zonal officers of the union and the college academic board.

    In a communiqué by both Asalu and U.A.C. Ugharumba shortly after its meeting, COEASU vowed not to call off the strike unless Obiagwu reverses her actions in writing.

    COEASU described Obiagwu’s actions as an infringement of the fundamental right of members as provided for in Nigeria constitution (1999 as amended) and the provision of the Trade Union Act.

    The union insists that Obiagwu pays in full the January salary of the union leaders and lifts the purported ban on COEASU in NOCEN. It also demanded that all outstanding check- off dues deducted from members’ salary should be remitted to the union’s account, adding that the management must, henceforth, commit itself to constant payment of the monthly check-off, and stop forthwith members’ victimisation.

    The union, however, expressed dissatisfaction that a reader in NOCEN receive less salary than his counterpart in other colleges of Education, calling for immediate ratification.

     

  • College expels three students for ‘rape’, ‘manhandling’

    College expels three students for ‘rape’, ‘manhandling’

    The College of Advanced and Professional Studies, Makurdi Benue State, has expelled three students for allegedly raping a fellow student, (name withheld), manhandling a Divisional Police Officer and intimidating some students, a development which has led to the temporary closure of the institution to forestall further chaos.

    The Sole Administrator of the college, Dr. Tyotom Keghku, said trouble started last Friday during the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) exam, when two students intimidated and harassed their counterparts in the 100 Level.

    He said some IJMB Two students, who came to fetch water, asked those in IJMB One to give room to ‘your senior’ to fetch first, an order the latter resisted. This resulted into a scuffle. In the melee, Kegku said an IJMB Two student was hit on the head with a stick and was rushed to the hospital for medical attention.

    Irked by the development, the IJMB Two students reportedly mobilised their colleagues and disrupted the queue. Sensing danger, Kegku said the management invited the police to restore law and order, adding that on sighting the police, some angry students threw stones some of which hit the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

    He said the students also locked up the college officials in their offices, leading to delay of the IJMB exam slated for the morning of that day.

    He explained that some students, who were involved in the alleged rape of a female student during the crisis and other acts contrary to the college rules were expelled while others warned.

    Property damaged, investigation revealed, include physics and chemistry laboratories, Block A hostel, security block and the school bus.

    Meanwhile, the management has closed the college with the approval of the Commissioner of Education, Dr. Elizabeth Ugoh.

    A statement by the Acting Registrar, Mr. Jijingi Agber, and made available to our correspondent, said the decision was to avoid a further break down of law and order.

    It directed students to vacate the campus immediately, while those writing exam should only come on the scheduled days and time.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State Police Command,DSP Daniel Ezeala, who confirmed the incident, added that no casualty was recorded.

    He said police have been deployed to restore peace and order on campus.

     

  • King’s College ready for A Levels

    King’s College Principal, Otunba Dele Olapeju, has called on the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, to give the school a nod to recommence the Higher School Certificate (HSC) programme.

    Olapeju, who spoke at the inauguration of seven projects at the college’s Victoria Island annex on Wednesday, last week said the approval would enable children from low and middle-income homes to undergo the A Level programme, which is a preserve of the rich.

    Two of the projects inaugurated – a twin-lecture theatre and the assembly hall – were rehabilitated by Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria (TUCN).

    The principal said with the state-of-the-art theatres, which can sit 200 students each, as well as quality laboratories, the school can comfortably admit up to 200 A Level students, like it used to do in the days when the premises hosted the Federal School of Arts and Science.

    Olapeju said: “With the commissioning of the two projects donated by our partners, King’s College can commence the HSC programme. The world-class lecture theatres were used to run the A-Level programme in those days. We are appealing to the Federal Ministry of Education to permit us to run A-Levels.

    “The children of the elite are the ones having access to A-Level in this country. All the elite private schools around us here are running it. The cost of the A-Level is high but with all the facilities on ground, it would be cost effective for the Federal Government.”

    However, responding in an interview, the Permanent Secretary, FME, Dr MacJohn Nwobiala, said the college still needs to boost its facilities before it can run A Levels.

    “I think King’s College can be given the opportunity in future when the level of infrastructure and management capacity can cope with the demands of higher school education. I have no doubt that other federal schools also merit to be given that opportunity to run the higher school certificate. We must ensure quality service delivery,” he said.

    While praising the company’s intervention, the supervising Minister of Education, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, who was represented by Nwobiala, however, urged the firm to go further and adopt the Kings College as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) interventions.

    “It will not be out of place to use this medium to appeal to Total Upstream to adopt King’s College as its school for continued assistance since both King’s College and Total Upstream represent twin brand of excellence in Nigeria’s academic and business circle,” he said.

    In his speech, Deputy Managing Director Deep Water District, TUCN, Mr Charles Ngoka, said the oil company decided to intervene having used the college’s facilities for various purposes. He added that the firm was satisfied with the quality of the projects, which he said were implemented within the planned budget.

    To ensure the facilities are well maintained and optimally utilised, Deputy General Manager in charge of Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) and Public Affairs, Dr Nkoyo Attah, said Total will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the college.

    “At full capacity, the twin lecture theatre will accommodate 400 students while the assembly hall’s capacity is 500 persons. An additional provision to the twin lecture theatre renovation is the provision of a 30 KVA generator at the total cost of over N150 million. TUCN and its partners are, indeed, happy to be associated with King’s College,” said Ngoka, who was represented by Mr Joseph Ajilore, Deputy General Manager, Administration.

    “We will agree on the things that we expect that the school will use the facilities for. We tell them what we have put in place and they will tell us how they will maximise it. As the principal said, it will not only be for the benefit of the school, but also of its immediate community.”

    The five other projects inaugurated at the event included: one senior staff quarters (funded by the Federal Government), a bakery, dining hall extension, junior staff quarters, and a classroom block for JSS1 pupils.

     

  • Alvan Ikoku College @ 50: A perspective

    Alvan Ikoku College @ 50: A perspective

    THE Alvan lkoku Federal College of Education in Owerri, the Imo State capital, is a foremost institution in the country. It was established in 1963 as an advanced teachers’ training college by the Eastern Nigerian government. It took off in the Old Shell camp, purchased by the government with an initial intake of 150 students.

    The college was established through the technical support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and in consonant with Ashby Report on higher education in Nigeria, which led to its establishment. It was charged with the responsibility of producing teachers of quality grade.

    The college was closed along with other educational institutions in Eastern Nigeria during the ruinous civil war, which ravaged the country between 1967 and 1970, and was re-opened with the assistance of the British government at the end of the war.

    The institution became a college of education through the Edict Number II of May 31, 1973, promulgated by the then administrator of East-Central State, Ukpabi Asika.

    The College was named “Alvan Ikoku College of Education” in honour of the first educationist and founder of the first indigenous African-owned secondary school in Eastern Nigeria – Aggey Memorial Grammar School in Arochukwu. For many years, Ikoku was the president of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).

    Ikoku’s giant strides in the education sector made him famous and respected in the Eastern Region and beyond. The college has continued to grow from strength to strength and indeed has recorded numerous achievements in all areas.

    From 150 students at inception, the population of students grew up to 450 in 1973 and 2,900 in 1980. By 2010, the student population had risen to about 11,000 and about 500 academic and non-academic staff.

    In 1976, the college opened a campus in Umuahia, Abia State, for Agricultural Science. This was followed up by the establishment of another campus in Orlu in 1981.

    However, these two campuses were closed in 1987 when the college reverted to a one-campus institution. The first principal of the college was Mr. A.J Brooks, a UNESCO official.

    In 1970, Mr. J.O Wachukwu, who was Brook’s colleague, became the principal. In later years, Wachukwu was recalled to the Ministry of Education and Mr. J. O. Munonye became the new principal of the college. With its new status as a College of Education in 1973, the Head of the institution became known as Provost.

    In January 1974, Prof B. O. Ukeje was appointed the first Provost of the college. The upgrading of institution to college of education was a milestone in the annals of education colleges in the country.

    Indeed, the college has contributed immensely to the production of quality, professional and proficient teachers. It has also producedprominent men and women in the society.

    In 1984, the college was affiliated with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) for the production of graduate teachers, leading to the award of a Bachelor’s degree in various disciplines combined with education.

    In 2007, the college was taken over by the Federal Government and became the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri.

    Under the Federal Ministry of Education and governed by a council appointed by the Ministry, Dr. H. C. Amadi, became the Acting Provost from 2007 before the appointment of the first female Provost of the college, Dr Blessing Ijeoma, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biology of the college.

    Under the Federal Government’s watch, the college has witnessed massive infrastructural development as well as enhanced incentive package and allowances for the staff. The achievement of Dr Ijeoma has turned around the fortunes of the school.

    The college started celebration of its golden jubilee anniversary last July, organising series of events to mark the milestone. This celebration has featured pageantry for Mr. and Mrs. Golden Jubilee, jubilee essay contest, drama, poetry competition, gala night, exhibitions of arts and culture from the Fine and Applied Art department, football and lecture among others.

    The anniversary was outstanding. It showed that the college is one of the institutions in Nigeria to be reckoned with in terms of quality teaching and academic research. I, therefore, enjoined all students to uphold the supremacy of the school in good conduct and scholarship.

     

    •Chidiebere, 300-Level English and Literary Studies, IMSU

     

  • College student wins FME debate

    College student wins FME debate

    The Federal Government has been commended for organising theAnnual Youth Debate Competition, through the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), for students of tertiary institutions in the country.

    The Provost, Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo, Prof. Adeyemi Idowu, gave the commendation at the competition, hosted by his institution.

    A student of the college won the competition, which had participants from seven tertiary institutions in the South.

    Idowu described the debate as heart-warming and novel, noting that it would help promote healthy rivalry and friendship among the participating institutions, and enhance oratory skills and the intellectual development of participants.

    He thanked the FME for choosing the institution to host the competition, reiterating its readiness to continue to partner with relevant government agencies on matters relating to education.

    Earlier, the representative of ministry, Mr. Amudipe Gabriel, an Assistant Director, Student Affairs and Youth Department, FME, said the competition was organised to give students in tertiary institutions a platform to air their views on national issues and proffer solutions.

    At the end of the debate which was titled: Skills acquisition and self-employment: A panacea for youth employment, a student of the college, Ibironke Oluwasegun, beat those from six tertiary institutions to emerge winner. He scored four points more than his closest rival, Osifor Favour of the University of Benin, who got 34 points.

    Other contestants are Jegede Christianah (Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State), who came third with 33 points; Adekugbe Olajumoke, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba- Akoko, 4th with 32 points; and Okoli Chidi, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, fifth position with 28 points.

    The participants also include Ojo Fehintola, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, sixth position and Adebisi Akin, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, seventh position with 27 and 11 points.

    The event held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium was attended by important personalities, including principal officers of the college among whom were the Deputy Provost, Dr. Olufemi Olajuyigbe and Registrar, Mr. Felix Eniola Aderinboye.

     

  • Ebonyi College teachers embark on warning strike

    The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COESU), Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo chapter has embarked on seven days’ warning strike to press home its demand for the state government to revert the new tax regime imposed on members.

    This followed numerous ultimatums by the union and the Joint Action Committee Trade Unions (JACTU) of the institution calling on the government to reduce the taxes.

    Rising from its Congress which held at the college’s auditorium, the union alleged that last September, the college administration imposed a new tax regime of between 500 and 800 per cent increment on the workers based on a directive from the state government despite protests from organised labour in the state.

    In a resolution signed by its Chairman, Comrade Esheya Greg, the union described the new system as obnoxious and outrageous. It said the strike is also in solidarity with the indefinite strike called by the national leadership of the union nationwide.

    They wondered why the new tax regime will be imposed on them when they are not enjoying other financial benefits such as pensions and gratuity at the moment. They also maintained that no higher institution in the country has implemented such tax regime and wondered why theirs should be any different.

    “In the absence of pension, gratuity and other benefits those in the state civil service and our counterparts in other colleges of education enjoy, our only succour which is the enhanced salary package, should not be taken away through heavy taxation,” they said.

    They also wondered why the tax regime should come into place just few months after the state government started implementing the new salary structure.

    They said: “The state government just approved and started implementing the 100 percent new salary structure for the college staff in November 2012, something the college should have been enjoying since 2010.

    “For the government to start implementation of this harsh tax system few months after the implementation of the new salaries amount to giving with one hand and taking with the other.”

    They urged the management of the college and the government to end the taxes and address other necessary issues for the betterment of workers and smooth running of the college.

    These include: “Conditions of service for the staff college; Governing Council for the college; Pension and gratuity scheme for the staff since they are not casual staff; Entrenchment of the 65 years retirement age in the law establishing the institution and implement the same for all staff; Clear the two years outstanding leave allowance for staff and; Pay the arrears of the new salary structures to the workers of the college.

    “These issues we are asking for have all been implemented in the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) and yet the government has not thought of implementing the harsh tax regime on the staff of the university. If the university staff that enjoy favourable working conditions do not pay tax, why should staff who have been denied so much be the ones to pay such obnoxious tax?” the union queried.

     

  • Commissioner lauds college

    The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Solomon Olaniyonu has praised the Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora for its giant strides in youth empowerment.

    He gave the commendation during a visit to the institute. He said he was impressed with the college’s ability to re-engineer, add knowledge and train students to be self employed, thereby creating jobs for the youth.

    The commissioner assured the management of the government’s readiness to partner with institution to train and provide jobs for the youth through agriculture. Olaniyonu noted that for any organisation to have a multiplier effect on his investment, the human resources must be idealistic.

    He commended the governing council, management and staff of the college for their commitment and dedication to the goals which made the college to be third best among 37 others in Nigeria.

    The commissioner explained that he would use his good office to mitigate some of the challenges facing the tertiary institutions in the state, he therefore confidence that with God on his side he will not fail.

    Reacting, the Ag Provost of the College, Prof Gbemiga Adewale congratulated Olaniyonu on his appointment, while expressing his confidence in his ability to will use his wealth of experience in moving the education sector forward.

     

  • College churns out graduates

    College churns out graduates

    The Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, (AIFCE) has held its 25th convocation. Highlights of the ceremony included beauty pageants, quiz and essay writing competitions, arts and music exhibitions, a road walk, novelty match, alumni lecture, gala night and inauguration of completed projects.

    Some personalities, who contributed to the college’s development, were honoured at the event. They included Prof Ernest Emenyonu, Dr. Dan Onwukwe, Pa Irondu, among others.

    The ceremony was attended by the Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, Minister of Education, Dr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, who was represented by his Permanent Secretary, Dr MarkJohn Nwobiala. Others included the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof U.S.F. Nnabue and his Youth and Sports counterpart, Kenneth Emelu.

    During the event, the Minister inaugurated some of the new projects at the college. They included the ultra modern New Science Block, ultra modern 1000-capacity lecture hall for the department of Physical and Health Education, 1000-capacity lecture hall for School of General Studies and a classroom block for the staff school.

    Okorocha commended the efforts of management of the college, promising to assistance to the promotion of learning in the college.