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Tag: Covenant University

  • Covenant University to run distance E-learning programme

    Covenant University to run distance E-learning programme

    Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, has got licence  to operate an e-learning platform, known as the ‘Covenant Centre for Open and Distance e-learning (CCODeL).’

    The operating licence was granted to the university recently by the National Universities Commission (NUC), as it is scheduled to begin with Computer Science programme.

    Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abiodun Adebayo, expressed regrets that four out of every five admission seekers into tertiary institutions do not often get admission into the university.

    According to him,  the university’s newly accredited distance e-learning platform would help address  admission deficit in Nigeria  and foster educational development in Africa.

    He said the platform would enable learners enroll and learn at their own pace without the barrier of distance or the rigour associated with classroom settings.

    Read Also; Petrol importation drops by 3.29% in 2023

    Adebayo said this open and distance e-learning platform had marked a significant milestone in expanding access to quality education beyond the traditional classroom setting as it underscores the  school’s commitment to innovation, excellence and inclusivity in higher education.  “We have only been able to admit one out of every five persons into our computer science programme at Covenant University, and this is because of the post-COVID pandemic that has led to the high demand for ICT-related education and certifications. For us, we welcome this and it implies that every applicant who meets our admission requirements, but was not admitted, can still key into our open and distance e-learning programme,” he said.

    While stressing that the institution had secured licence for only the Computer Science programme for the open and distance e-learning education, the vice chancellor said more programmes would be opened in the second year.

    The VC  thanked  the Board of Regents of the university led  by the Chancellor and Chair, Dr David O. Oyedepo, for the huge investments in setting up this platform and spearheading a new revolution in education.

  • We have no fake professors here, say UNN, Covenant University, UNILORIN

    We have no fake professors here, say UNN, Covenant University, UNILORIN

    The management of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State, those of Covenant University at Ota in Ogun State and the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in Kwara State have debunked reports that the National Universities Commission (NUC) allegedly exposed fake professors in their institutions.

    In a statement by its acting Public Relations Officer (PRO) Okwun Omeaku, the UNN described the report, which was circulating on social media, as defamatory.

    “We firmly declare that no fake professors exist within the University of Nigeria’s faculty body.

    “The rigorous processes for academic staff promotion to professorship status at our university preclude any possibility of fraudulent representation.

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    “Only individuals who have demonstrated outstanding expertise in their respective fields and met all relevant regulations can attain the prestigious title of professors in the University of Nigeria,” the statement said.

    The UNN urged the public to disregard what it called the “insidious publication fabricated by malicious instigators”.

    Also, Covenant University denied having four fake professors among those purportedly discovered by the NUC.

    A statement yesterday in Ota by the university’s Head of Communication Unit, Ms. ChiChi Ononiwu, said the university did not have the names listed by the NUC on its payroll.

    Also, UNILORIN dismissed the claims that 11 fake professors were uncovered in the institution.

    A statement yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, by its spokesperson Kunle Akogun, reads: “We don’t have fake professors and they do not exist in our university.

    “The National Universities Commission had categorically dismissed the information as fallacious fabrication of mischief makers.

    “The commission has dissociated itself from the list that first surfaced in December 2019.

    “We deem it expedient to categorically disassociate our institution from the story of the 11 fake professors listed against our university.”

  • Covenant University beats UI, UNILAG, others to emerge best in Nigeria

    Covenant University beats UI, UNILAG, others to emerge best in Nigeria

    The Times Higher Education has released the 2024 World universities rankings across 108 countries and regions.

    In Nigeria, 15 universities appeared on the list with Covenant University taking the number one spot.

    University of Ibadan comes second while Federal University of Technology, Akure and University of Lagos takes third and fourth positions respectively.

    Globally, the University of Oxford tops the ranking for the eighth year in a row but others in the top five have seen shifts in their ranks. Stanford University moves up to second place, pushing Harvard University down to fourth.

    Read Also: 216 students bag 1st Class degrees at Covenant University

    This year’s ranking analysed more than 134 million citations across 16.5 million research publications and included survey responses from 68,402 scholars globally. Overall, we collected 411,789 data points from more than 2,673 institutions that submitted data, The Times Higher Education stated. 

    Here is a list of best Nigerian universities 2024

    1 Covenant University

    2 University of Ibadan

    3 Federal Univ of Tech, Akure

    4 University of Lagos

    5 Bayero University

    6 University of Ilorin

    7 University of Nigeria, Nsukka

    8 Afe Babalola University

    9 University of Benin

    10 Federal Univ of Agric, Abk

    11 Ladoke Akintola Uni of Tech

    12 Lagos State University

    13 Nnamdi Azikiwe University

    14 Obafemi Awolowo University

    15 University of Port Harcourt

  • CU’s best gets perfect score at 14th convocation

    Covenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State made history at the weekend when it  produced the Best Graduate Student with a perfect score.

    Miss Ajia Motunrayo Victoria from the Department of Petroleum Engineering emerged CU outstanding graduate with a cumulative grade point average of 5.0.

    This is the first time the university would be attaining such feat, the closest being the 2016 convocation where Deji-Folutile then 21, from the Department of Architecture, had 4.97 CGPA.

    Amid photo shots, Ajia mounted the podium to  deliver the valedictorian address amid congratulatory shouts from fellow graduates and parents.

    Substantiating Ajia’s  feats, Chancellor of CU, Dr David Oyedepo, said one of the secrets of excellence of the  17-year-old institution, is her determination to depart from the age-long myths to life-changing innovation.

    Speaking on the theme: ‘What makes CU unique‘, Oyedepo said the university was conceptualised to have a shift in thinking, values and action, as well as a result-oriented mindset towards addressing challenges peculiar to the black continent.

    Oyedepo said some of the institution’s custom-built programmes, such as the Total Man Concept (TMC), Entrepreneurial Development Studies (EDS), Leadership Development studies (LDS), and Towards Total Graduate (TTG), all emanated from CU’s core values meant to equip graduates with the weapon to be futuristic and entrepreneurial-driven.

    Read Also: UNILORIN don fabricates pencil making machine

    “As we say here at Covenant, ‘until one is transformed, he cannot transform his environment, society or nation’. This is why we focus on equipping the persons of our students, so they can continue to generate impact in their various vocations in life and that without prejudice to the pursuit of academic excellence.”

    Oyedepo attributed the meteoric rise of the university to committed funding. He lamented that the government is not looking at the future generations by upping funding for public institutions nationwide.

    “Our worst enemies today is corruption!” Oyedepo lamented.

    ‘This cuts across both private and public lives. So much is being wasted by our governments on things that I can describe as frivolous.

    “I keep saying that our governments should increase funding for public institutions. Who says our universities cannot measure up to other world-class universities elsewhere? African has got what it takes in terms of intellectual endowment. All we need do is complement this with infrastructure and conducive atmosphere. Unfortunately, we don’t have governments that are looking into the next generation.”

    National Universities Commission (NUC) Executive Secretary, Prof Abubakar Rasheed, who praised CU mandate for its ground-breaking efforts assured that the Commission would provide support for the 173 universities nationwide.

    Rasheed praised CU for translating its commitment to the development of tertiary education in Nigeria into action.

    In his keynote address, former Director of Business Environment, USAID Trade Hub, Accra, Ghana, Dr Monisoye Afolabi, noted that African continent, which is projected to have more population than China and Indiai In the not-too-distant future, must consolidate on her burgeoning population especially through investment in education.

  • FIIRO, firm to produce brake pad, other vehicle parts

    The Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) in conjunction with Mulifeong Motors Limited (MML) has sealed a deal to start commercial production of vehicle brake pad and other motor parts and accessories.

    This followed the memorandum of understanding signed by the two parties in Lagos recently.

    Justifying the need for the business deal, the Acting Director General/CEO, FIIRO, DR. Chima Igwe, disclosed that the Institute working with other research and development bodies has produced brake pad technologies, battery manufacturing technologies, spare parts and vehicular component manufacturing, adding that spark plug refurbishing, lead refinery and ceramic component for transmitting electrical cables were also achieved.

    According to FIIRO boss, “The Institute has adopted strategic collaboration with relevant institutions in both the public and private sectors to ensure effective delivery on its mandate. This is in line with the current international best practices to promote effective public-private partnership with a view to reducing production cost, synergising to achieve best results through shared facilities and human resources as well as promoting projects and programmes of mutual benefits.

    “In recent years the Institute has collaborated with a number of private companies and institutions locally and internationally which include May & Baker Nigeria Plc., NASCO Foods, Honeywell Group, Covenant University, Landmark University, Afe Babalola University, Lagos Polytechnic, Lancaster University UK, and most recently GIZ/Bosch, a German company to mention a few.”

    Responding, the Chairman/Managing Director, MML, Princess Mulikat Sanni, stated that her mission for Nigeria was to manufacture made in Nigeria car and not just assembling cars like Nissan, Toyota and some other.

    She said, “We need to put our own plans to action. We need to put the right policies in place and we must enforce it, otherwise it will be a mirage. What happened to our Steel rolling mills? We must put it into function to sustain the auto industry.

    “We used to have over seven vehicle assembling plants and all those things fizzled out overnight. Nigeria is so blessed that we can manufacture complete vehicles from the scratch to finishing without importing anything. With this MOU, we will have no business importing brake pad anymore. With what you have in FIIRO, we will move this nation forward,” she assured, even as she pointed out that the collaboration with FIIRO was to add value to what FIIRO has, stressing that it would impact positively on the nation at large.

  • N180m fraud rocks Covenant University

    A senior lecturer in the IT Department of Covenant University, Otta Ogun State is cooling off in the custody of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) after he confessed to have fraudulently diverted not less than N180 million to his private coffers.

    The diversion, it was learnt, took years during which nobody suspected the high-profile guru.

    By the time the university woke up to his antics, he had succeeded in siphoning a whopping N180 million!

    Before the bubble burst, not a few people were said to have wondered how the loved and trusted official was managing to get the funds with which he maintained a lifestyle the Chancellor of the university and Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, would call “riotous living.”

    He was said to have bought some flashy cars which he kept in a mansion he bought with stolen funds in highbrow Lekki part of Lagos, even though he had a house in the school where he lived with his wife.

    Every Friday, he would cruise with his wife to the posh house in Lekki to enjoy the weekend. But what really gave him away was the habit of flying back to his duty post in Otta in a chopper that landed at the premises of The Bells University, which is only a stone’s throw from Covenant University.

    Read also: Oyedepo berates African leaders, says they lack courage, character

    Tongues began to wag from onlookers who started to wonder who the big boy could be. Word about his lifestyle soon got to the authorities of Covenant University who decided to put him under surveillance and realised that he had stolen the university’s money amounting to more than N180 million.

    The funds were mainly school fees paid by students. The fees were paid into the accounts of the university in designated banks but the disingenuous inventor found a means of diverting the money into his private account.

    The discovery alarmed the authorities of the school. Oyedepo, sources said, was flabbergasted.

    The IT guru was promptly reported to the police, who arrested him. Covenant University authorities expected the police to fast track his prosecution but that was not forthcoming. Words got to the university that the suspected fraudster was greasing the palms of the police.

    Again alarmed by the development, the authorities sidelined the police and handed the suspect to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Upon interrogation, the suspect admitted stealing the said sum and even agreed to refund N56 million in cash immediately. Sentry will keep you posted on further developments.

  • Former CU VC, Prof Obayan, for burial Monday

    Burial plans for former Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota Ogun State, Prof Aizeanta Obayan, have been announced.

    According to information made available to The Nation on Tuesday, a service of songs would hold at the Canaanland Idi-Iroko road in Ota on Monday between 2 and 4pm while interment would follow immediately.

    Celebration of life service holds the following day at the same venue by 10am.

    The late Professor of Guidance and Counselling was also a former Vice chancellor of Landmark University Omu-Aran Kwara State.

    Both institutions are owned by Winners Chapel pastored by Bishop David Oyedepo.

    She died of an unknown illness on Tuesday last week.  She was 59.

    News of her shocking death filtered through the two universities where she once held sway, throwing everyone into grief.

    Until she breathed her last, the late Obayan was the Director of CU’s Africa Leadership Development Centre (ALDC).

    Described as a very active, humble and amiable personality by friends and colleagues, Obadan had not been active as she used to be since last October shortly after ALDC held its annual Covenant-International Conference on African Development Issues (C-ICADI), the fourth in the series.

    Since then, there have been speculations bordering on her whereabouts, especially her non- appearance in major events by CU until her shocking demise last week.

    Barely a year ago, Obayan won a case at the Supreme Court against the University of Ilorin, her former employer.

    The case had dragged for 19 years.

    Obayan was employed as a lecturer in UNILORIN Department of Guidance and Counselling.

    In 1999, management of the university terminated her appointment for failing to report for work after the expiration of the additional one-year leave of absence.

    Obayan challenged her sack in court and eventually won at the Supreme Court February last year.

    Barely two years ago, the deceased also lost her husband Mr. Adetokunbo Obayan in August 2017.

    Before he died, Adetokunbo was the CEO of Adetokunbo Obayan and Associates, a management consultant firm.

  • Graduates of private varsities are pacesetters

    In contemporary times, privately-owned universities, especially the popular ones, carry more prestige in their names than most public-owned schools. This is as a result of their stable academic calendar, student-lecturer relationship, committed teaching staff, conducive learning environment and the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) to impart knowledge on students.

    Also, the reccurring lecturers’ strikes that have crippled government-owned schools and poor standard in public universities are major contributors to this prestige that private universities have today.

    Little wonder why, in spite of the high fees, parents still send their children to private universities because they want quality and uninterrupted education for them.

    Presently, some private universities, such as the Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Covenant University (CU), Afe Babablola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) and Babcock University (BABCOCK), are among the leading ivory towers, dishing out quality education to students, thereby churning out world-class graduates.

    BIU, for instance, has produced scholars that are performing exceedingly well in their respective fields of endeavours. The institution happens to be one of the many private universities that are leading the change by producing world-class graduates. The university aspires to be model for academic excellence, professional development and entrepreneurship promoter; its graduates are trained to be effective as disciples for Christ by excelling in their professional fields.

    No doubt, the institution can boast of the fact that it has produced graduates that are competing globally. Some of them are employees, who are living their dreams in corporate environment, while some are full time entrepreneurs, who have decided to give their passion a voice while creating a niche for themselves in the market.

    This is made possible because, in private universities, every student is exposed to training by some of the world most renowned leadership experts and knowledgeable people with great achievements. By this, they are inspired and their perspective broadened on spiritual growth, leadership, wealth creation, politics, entertainment and many more.

    A popular aphorism says: “The quality of education determines the development of any nation.” How can a nation develop when the public-owned institutions have performed below expectations in teaching and broadening students’ perspectives on leadership, wealth creation, and self-development?

    Universities should play frontal roles in shaping people’s self-development and nation building.

    It is also noteworthy that while the graduates of private universities have high employment turnover, universities, such as Covenant University, also take a broader step by equipping their students with entrepreneurial skills that make them self-reliant. Covenant University is, unarguably, one of the world-class universities that prepare students for all-round success post-graduation.

    Benson Idahosa University believes in the power of entrepreneurship to drive national economic growth and prosperity through innovation. That is why the school, from the outset, equips its students with skills that open their eyes to free enterprise.

    During the 2017 convocation ceremony, the BIU president affirmed that graduates of the institution were doing well professionally and academically after leaving the school.

    His words: “We have graduates that have done so well that they are now at the tops of their various fields, thus making the vision of our university a reality. They are showing up in fields like Nollywood, where Blossom Chukwujekwu carries the title of renowned actor. In the ICT sector, John Obidi carries the title of social media expert.”

    A BIU alumnus, Alex Osagie, usually described graduates of the school as galaxy of stars shining forth for the entire world to see. Recently, four of the BIU alumni, Mrs Osayuki Aiyanyo, Mrs. Osarunwese Irabor, Ms. Imoedemhe Tessy and Ms. Ivie Akhere were appointed into the Edo State Judiciary as judges.

    Every student is given equal opportunity to gain invaluable practical experience through special programmes organised by the Life Success Centre Department of the university.

    Adekunle Ajasin University is part of the public-owned school training students to stand shoulder to shoulder with graduates from any university around the world. Students gain practical field exposure through entrepreneurship attachments and internships with top-notch companies in their fields of interest to get them equipped for life after school.

    In private universities, students, irrespective of course of study, receive hands-on training in entrepreneurship, administration, management, personal branding, proposal development, resume writing and communication, negotiation, and project management. This is one of the reasons why graduates of private schools are having an edge over their peers, who finished from the public-owned school.

  • Stanbic IBTC, CYCDI advise youths on SDGs

    Stanbic IBTC Bank, in collaboration with the Creative Youth Community Development Initiative (CYCDI), and Covenant University, Ota, have engaged the youth on better understanding of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their role in their attainment.

    The partners, in commemoration of the 2018 Global People’s Summit, organised a session at Covenant University recently, at which financial literacy was a major takeout. The Global People’s Summit is organised by the Humanity Lab Foundation in partnership with the United Nations Office of Partnerships. It provides a platform for people and organisations around the world, especially the youth, to participate via a digital platform in the conversation to make change happen in society. It fosters collaborations, shares best practices, promotes innovation, builds community, celebrates success, influences global agendas, and finds new ways to translate vision into action.

    Originator of the Global People’s Summit, Hazami Barmada, stated: “We amplify messages of people around the world and conversations and connect dots in the virtual space to enable making the world a better place a reality. Far too often the conversations around social impact happen in exclusive spaces, so people that have the privilege and the luxury to have access to passports and ability to travel have the ability to influence conversations. The change-the-world conversation should not be bound or limited to exclusivity.”

    In his welcome address, Vice Chancellor, Covenant University, Professor Aaron Atayero, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Akan Williams, expressed the institution’s delight to partner with reputable organisations to foster youth development, which aligns with the university’s core goal of raising a new cadre of leadership in Nigeria. He said the institution is committed to making the youth to develop self-belief, which will enable them become change agents and play a pivotal role in changing the narrative about Nigeria.

    Stanbic IBTC Bank, the official partner to CYCDI InnoCreativa Youth Hub, made a presentation on Funding Creativity and Innovation to achieve SDGs. Head, Personal Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Nkolika Okoli, said Goal 3 of the SDGs and thrust of this year’s summit, Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, is in line with the Stanbic IBTC Group’s status as an end-to-end financial services solutions provider. In this role, the group caters for the needs of its clients at every stage of life through bespoke products and services. The bank’s product, the Stanbic BluEdge Youth Account, for instance, is targeted at helping students and the youth to have a healthy start in life by cultivating a savings culture very early in life.

    She emphasised that having a desired future entails being financially literate, which is essential to taking informed decisions and actions, adding that the Group is ready and willing to provide support and forge partnerships towards the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

  • SMEDAN to train 52 inmates on entrepreneurial skills

    The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria ( SMEDAN ) is set to equip 52 inmates with entrepreneurial skills toward improving their lives and the nation’s socio-economic state.

    Mr Yinka Fisher, Lagos State Coordinator of SMEDAN, made the disclosure in an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Fisher said that the empowerment programme for the inmates would assist them to reintegrate successfully into society after prison, become self-reliant and live a productive life.

    He said the programme would be done in collaboration with the Nigerian Prison Service, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria ( PFN ) and Covenant University.

    According to him, the training will hold from May to December at the Kirikiri and Ikoyi Prisons for both male and female inmates.

    “The essence of the programme is to equip the inmates with relevant skills so that they would not be vagabonds in the system again but establish their own businesses and engage in useful socio-economic ventures, thereby contributing their own quota to our national development.

    “The programme has been on since 2009. Overtime, we have been able to train 576 inmates of which 230 have been released and 146 among the released inmates have been able to start their own businesses.

    “They are now employers of labour and helping to solve the problem of unemployment in the country,’’ he said.

    Fisher said that SMEDAN would train inmates in tailoring, shoemaking, tie and dye and other vocations, teach them how to turn the vocations to enterprise and instil in them financial literacy.

    “We are going to teach them in eight different modules; how to run efficient and profitable business, writing of business plans, how to network, access to finance, meeting with regulatory authority, investment opportunities and avoiding pitfalls in business.

    “There is business venture in the prison where they can practise what they have been taught and after their release, they can implement them properly,’’ Fisher said.

    According to him, while SMEDAN focuses on the vocational skills acquisition; Covenant University will handle the psychology aspect through therapy and counselling, while Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria will focus on spiritual uplifting.

    “Through the exposure at the training, prison inmates would be returning to the society not as social misfits but reformed and well equipped personalities with skills that would enable them settle down to a productive lifestyle,’’ he said.

    NAN