The Nation Newspaper

Tag: College

  • Rainbow College valedictorian wrote speech in JSS1

    Ihe 2013 valedictory/graduation of Rainbow College was exciting in many regards for the 90 graduands of the school’s day and boarding arms.

    Prayers, praises, presentation of academic and social prizes, hand over of the staff of office to new prefects, and farewell songs by the graduands spiced up the event held in the school hall of the beautiful college located on a large expanse of land in Maba Village, Ogun State, off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    However, the valedictorians had the day. The stories behind their journey to fame land were as interesting, and for one of them, unusual.

    For Dumebi Okwuosa, the valedictorian for the boarding arm of the college located in Maba, the road to the top was not easy. At the graduation, he picked up the Chemistry, Physics and English Language prizes. However, it did not used to be so. While introducing him, the principal, who presented an informal citation of the graduand, said Dumebi used to be one of the poorest pupils in the class.

    However, he transformed into a high achiever by a dint of hard work.

    When he had the floor Dumebi thanked many people: his teachers for grooming him; his parents for their investment, and the proprietor of the school, Mrs Oludolapo Odunlami, for daring to dream.

    “I am highly elated and thankful that I am the valedictorian after such hard work and competition. When we came to secondary school, some of us wept publicly; some privately; I was one of them. Six years after, we are glad we came and can be the Class of 2013 of Rainbow College. Like the person who woke up and said God bless the person who invented sleep; I say God bless my parents for funding my education.

    “I also say God bless the proprietor for having in her mind the vision of this school. I took a cue from her when I wrote my speech in JSS1,” he said to a rapturous applause from the audience.

    The valedictorian for Rainbow College (Day), which is located in Alaka, Lagos, was Moyo Akingbola a girl described as an all-rounder, who is both beautiful and brilliant. With the competition for the best graduand very steep indeed, Moyo said she was pleasantly delighted to be best.

    “I was very shocked and happy to learn that I was the valedictorian,” she said of her achievement. To the graduands she advised: “Don’t let the six years here be the best of your lives,” urging them to strive for excellence afterwards.

    In his speech, outgoing Head Boy, Michael Davies, praised the teachers for their sacrifice.

    “As from today, no one will consider us as under educated. We thank you for making us better people; we thank you for your patience; we will never forget you,” he said.

    In an interview, Mrs Odunlami advocated parents to partner with the school to mould well-adjusted children. She also urged the graduands to be focused, and determined.

     

  • Postgraduate College to hold conference

    The National Postgraduate Medical College will hold its eighth Annual Scientific Conference and All-Fellows’ Congress next week.

    The conference is scheduled between August 13 and 17. It will be hosted by the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

    According to a statement signed by the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Prof Olusegun Ojo, this year’s conference, with the theme: The impact of Postgraduate medical education on the quality of healthcare delivery in Nigeria, will deliberate on the state of the nation’s health care delivery in the light of the standards of clinical practice worldwide.

    The statement said the conference would attract specialists from every part of the country to address “contemporary matters of common interest” in all fields of medicine, adding that this has become necessary in view of the need to find innovative and sustainable ways of improving the standards of clinical practice in the country.

    “The National College expects to use this conference to further draw attention to contemporary medical challenges confronting our nation, and proffer solutions to them. We also intend to examine the various challenges facing postgraduate medical education in Nigeria, and chart a new course that will ensure that we are leveraging on our various capacities and resources, using all technologies at our disposal, to achieve a better future for our profession and the populace at large,” the statement said.

    Prof Ojo stressed that the conference will also discuss other issues such as health insurance, non-communicable diseases and child health care, as well as deliberate on the need to encourage specialisation among Nigerian doctors.

     

  • Ebonyi college demotes 15 dons for certificate forgery

    Fifteen lecturers of the Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo, have been demoted over alleged certificate forgery.

    They claimed to have acquired Ph.D degrees from reputable institutions outside the country. However, a committee set up to investigate their claims, found them to be false.

    In a statement, the Public Relations Officer of the College, Mr. Nkwuda Bethrand Otukobelu, noted that the affected lecturers would not be allowed to go for any promotion course until after three years.

    He said: “A lot of processes were followed in verification and evaluation of the certificates of the lecturers involved. Six of the lecturers who had their Ph.Ds from the institutions should stop parading themselves as Ph.D holders and stop adding the title ‘Dr.’ to their names.

    “That as regards to their present positions, nine of them have been demoted to lecturer III; two to assistant lecturers and the remaining two to non-academic staff for not possessing relevant qualifications to be in the academic cadre.

    “That six of them, who enjoyed financial benefits with the controversial certificates are to refund such benefits which accrued to them in excess of their present new position.

    “Findings by the Committee and letters from the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the Federal Ministry of Education show that the institutions were neither approved nor recognised by the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

    At a press conference in Abakaliki, the Special Adviser to Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State on Higher Education, Prof Mike Ituma, said the discovery shocked the government.

    He said the actions of the affected lecturers were a reflection of the level of decay ravaging the sector.

    He said the state supports the college for its action on the matter, describing it as a step in the right direction.

     

  • College promises cash, scholarships on cultural awareness

    To show its determination to promote cultural awareness and national unity, the management of National College Gbagada Lagos, has promised to give cash prizes and scholarships to students who can speak fluently at least three Nigerian languages. The beneficiaries of the proposed cash prizes must be in the junior classes in the school and must be consistently demonstrating respect for indigenous languages and culture. The students to be selected for cash prizes must also be patriotic and detribalised, well behaved and academically sound.

    The proprietor of the school Alfred Aina an Engineer, made this known in an address he presented at the maiden cultural day organised by the school.

    Speaking, Aina said culture can be used to promote national unity and development if properly harnessed. Aina condemned inadequate use of our indigenous languages, believing Nigeria can adopt one of them as her lingua franca.

    Aina also advocated what he described as “cultural bonding” which he defines as forging unity by propagating our culture and tradition in such a way that mutual trust and understanding is encouraged. To achieve this, he suggested that there should be home stay exchanges between children from different cultural backgrounds. This, he believes, will lead to unity of purpose.

    The maiden Cultural Day featured music and drama presentations renedered in varying ethnic nationalities. There was also a quiz competition on Nigerian culture and tradition.

    END

     

  • Philanthropist donates generator, cash to college

    Philanthropist donates generator, cash to college

    A Lagos-based Information Technology (IT) expert, Mr John Nwosu, has donated N500,000 and a generator to the Catholic Chaplaincy and College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Nnewi campus in Anambra State.

    The philanthropist, who is an indigene of Nnewi, joined the students at the morning mass last Sunday inside the chaplaincy.

    Nwosu, said he was happy to join the students, who he referred to as “new breeds and leaders of tomorrow”. He enjoined the m to strive for excellence and avoid shortcuts, stressing that there was no shortcut to success.

    Charging them to be good ambassadors of the university, the IT expert warned medical students not to become willing tools in the hands of “wicked politicians,” especially as the Anambra State bovernorship election drew close.

    “I am impressed by your conduct. It proves to me that all hope is not lost in our country. It clearly demonstrates that with people like you, our hope to transform our country through our state and our universities has started in earnest,” he said.

    Nwosu donated the generating set to the chaplaincy when he was informed that services were conducted with the personal generator of the priest in charge.

    Making the N500,000 donation to the college, Nwosu promised to bring influential Nnewi indigenes to join hands in lifting the facilities of the college.

    Noting that public institutions now carry out projects through public-private partnership,he said individuals must show willingness to assist government-owned institutions to achieve excellence.

    The priest in charge of the chaplaincy, Reverend Father Jude Chukwuneke, harped on the need for people to show love among themselves.

     

  • College appeals for take-off grant, 15 years after

    College appeals for take-off grant, 15 years after

    •Fed Govt spends N12b on micro labs

    As the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze in Anambra State graduated 2,855 students, its Provost, Prof Josephat Ogbuagu, has appealed to the Education Minister, Prof Ruqayyat Ahmed Rufa’i to facilitate the release of its take-off grant.

    Ogbuagu, who said the non-release of the grant is affecting the expansion of the 15-year old college, also urged the Federal Government to upgrade the institution to a university.

    “It may be pertinent to inform the Minister that the college was not provided with any take off grant and this hinders the provision of the necessary infrastructure needed for a conducive learning environment. The college is passionately appealing for a special grant to quicken the rate of development in the college.

    “I also use this forum to make an explicit request for you to upgrade the college to a university of education. It is quite gratifying to inform you that we have the men, the materials and the land mass to take off as a university,” he said

    In her speech at the convocation, which was the 15th for Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) students who graduated between 2006 and 2012, Prof Rufa’i said the Federal Government has approved the construction of macro teaching computer laboratories in 59 colleges of education across the country at the cost of about N12 billion.

    The minister, who inaugurated the college’s e-library and inspected other projects, said government is focusing attention on Technical and Vocational Education as well as teacher training to improve skilled manpower to operate, maintain and sustain the nation’s economic activities for rapid socio-economic development.

    “The aspiration of the Federal Government is to see better funded, equipped, motivated staff and students in our institutions. The Ministry has taken a bold step to confront the challenges of the education system headlong. Two major focal areas of the plan are Teacher Education and Development, Technical and Vocational Education and Training,” she said.

    She, however, regretted that despite of government’s effort to improve the sector, there is still a dearth of technical and vocational teachers in the nation’s educational institutions.

    She said: “Vocational and Technical Education in Nigeria has a sad experience under the colonialists as it merely fed the economy and political ego of the western world and ironically starved us of our technological needs for development.

    “It is, however, sad to note that whilst many technical teachers are produced from our various institutions yearly, there is still dearth of this caliber of teachers in our classrooms nationwide.

    “It has been painfully noted that many qualified teachers upon graduation opt to remain unemployed rather than practice their profession. With this development, government policy of popularising science and technical studies in schools has suffered set back.”

    Earlier, the Provost of the college, Prof Joseph Ogbuagu, charged the 2,855 graduands to be good ambassadors.

    Ogbuagu, who resumed office in February 2010, pledged to continue to re-engineer, re-position, restructure and transform the college, noting that many challenges still confront the institution including access roads, ecological, water, and electricity problems. He appealed to the Federal Government and spirited individuals to assist the college.

    In a remark, the state Governor, Mr Peter Obi, represented by his deputy, Mr Emeka Sibeudu, pledged the commitment of the state government towards the growth of the college.

    “Granted that it is a Federal Government institution, we assure you of total commitment of Anambra government in ensuring relative stability and welfare support to the college,” Obi said.

    Some of those who graced the occasion were former governor of Anambra, Dame Virgy Etiaba and member representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency, Mr Ben Nwankwo, among others.

  • College indicts 15 workers for admission fraud

    Fifteen members of staff of Niger State College of Education (COE), Minna have been indicted for disciplinary measures for their involvement in admission racketeering.

    Eight of them are to be dismissed while four are to have their appointments terminated and three are to be suspended.

    The affected workers were indicted by an investigating committee set up by Prof Farouk Haruna, the Provost of the college, following allegation of admission scam in the institution.

    Out of the 14 indicted workers, five are academic staff and nine non-academic staff. Also indicted were five members of the public and a student of the college.

    Haruna disclosed while submitting the reports of the committee to the Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr Mohammed Bashir Nuhu.

    According to the Provost, the eight workers recommended for dismissal include: Mohammed Shabako, Danlami Abubakar, Garba Ibrahim Gballu, Iman Mohammed Sanusi, Usman Musa Jibrin, Suleiman Ahmed Umar, S. Yabagi and Umar Ndaman.

    Those recommended for outright sack are Mallam Zakariya Ibrahim, Abubakar Ndabini, Umar Salihu and Aliyu Ibrahim, while Mohammed Bello Waziri, Hassan Ibrahim Mohammed and Yusuf Ibrahim are to go on suspension.

    Prof Haruna however said that Musa Farouk Mohammed, a worker, was exonerated of any involvement in the fraud by the committee.

    He also said the five non-workers of the college found involved in the scam were banned from entering the college and have been handed over to the police for prosecution.

    Haruna further disclosed that 1000 students were found with fake admission letters out of the 7,894 students including PRE -NCE and 100-Level screened.

    Receiving the report, Dr Nuhu described it as quite revealing, assuring that the government with its zero tolerance policy for corruption and indecency will implement the report to the letter.

    “Those found guilty will be made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to others,” Dr Nuhu had said.

     

  • College indicts 15 workers for admission fraud

    Fifteen members of staff of Niger State College of Education (COE), Minna have been indicted for disciplinary measures for their involvement in admission racketeering.

    Eight of them are to be dismissed while four are to have their appointments terminated and three are to be suspended.

    The affected workers were indicted by an investigating committee set up by Prof Farouk Haruna, the Provost of the college, following allegation of admission scam in the institution.

    Out of the 14 indicted workers, five are academic staff and nine non-academic staff. Also indicted were five members of the public and a student of the college.

    Haruna disclosed while submitting the reports of the committee to the Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr Mohammed Bashir Nuhu.

    According to the Provost, the eight workers recommended for dismissal include: Mohammed Shabako, Danlami Abubakar, Garba Ibrahim Gballu, Iman Mohammed Sanusi, Usman Musa Jibrin, Suleiman Ahmed Umar, S. Yabagi and Umar Ndaman.

    Those recommended for outright sack are Mallam Zakariya Ibrahim, Abubakar Ndabini, Umar Salihu and Aliyu Ibrahim, while Mohammed Bello Waziri, Hassan Ibrahim Mohammed and Yusuf Ibrahim are to go on suspension.

    Prof Haruna however said that Musa Farouk Mohammed, a worker, was exonerated of any involvement in the fraud by the committee.

    He also said the five non-workers of the college found involved in the scam were banned from entering the college and have been handed over to the police for prosecution.

    Haruna further disclosed that 1000 students were found with fake admission letters out of the 7,894 students including PRE -NCE and 100-Level screened.

    Receiving the report, Dr Nuhu described it as quite revealing, assuring that the government with its zero tolerance policy for corruption and indecency will implement the report to the letter.

    “Those found guilty will be made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to others,” Dr Nuhu had said.

     

  • College begins degree programme

    The Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo State has commenced programmes for degree certificate. Parents, guardians and students trooped to the ceremony organised by the management of the college to mark the feat.

    According to the college’s Director of Degree and Diploma Programmes, Dr J.A. Durojaiye, the degree programme, which is affiliated to the University of Ibadan (UI) is to begin with courses such as Education and Christian Religious Studies, Education and Islamic Studies, Educational Management, Guidance and Counselling, Human Kinetics, Primary Education Studies, Education and Mathematics Education, French Education and English Language and Special Education.

    The Provost, Dr Emmanuel Adeniyi, tasked pioneer students on excellence. He said the college was poised to handle the affiliation status with a greater sense of responsibility, adding that the college would sustain the standard for which its affiliate partner was known.

    He told the degree students to shun cultism, examination malpractice and vices that could terminate their academic programmes.

    The UI’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof Olayinka Idowu, congratulated the college for the achievement, assuring the management and students that the UI’s standard would be employed to teach the programmes. He said graduates would also get certificates bearing the premier university’s emblem.

    The ceremony was ended with drama, songs and cultural dance performances by students of Theatre Arts and Music.

    Also at the inauguration programme were principal officers of the college including Mr D.Y. Akinyemi, Deputy Provost, Mrs V.O. Atoyebi, Registrar, Mr A.A. Akinlabi, Bursar and Mr O.A. Adebimpe, Librarian.

  • Commissioner praises college for Cultural Day

    The Rivers State Commissioner for culture and Tourism, Dr. Imegwu Nnabuihe Nabbs, has praised the staff and management of Holly Rosary College Port Harcourt for showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria.

    Dr Imegwu stated this during the Holy Rosary annual Cultural Day celebration held recently in Port Harcourt. Giving his remark as the guest of honour, the Commissioner said Nigeria has a rich culture and it is left in the hands of parents and teachers to educate students who are the future leaders on the importance of culture.

    He noted that a school like Holy Rosary Collage where almost all the ethnic groups in Nigeria were represented will always add colour and entertain its guests through the display of different cultures among students The commissioner, however, thanked the management and staff of the collage for initiating such a laudable idea that could bring unity and make future leaders understand the culture of others.

    Responding, the school head teacher Mrs Veronica Efika, spoke on the essence of the event.

    She said: “The college decided to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the ethnic groups in Nigeria as it is presented in the community. It is an annual event that brings our children close to their origin.

    “Food, clothing and shelter are three of our most important needs but all of us do not eat the same kinds of food; we do not wear the same kinds of cloths nor do we live in the same kinds of houses in our different cultural setting. But by this event, the children will understand themselves better and live as one.”

     

    The high point of the occasion was match pass, cultural songs, dance, cooking competition and drama among others.