Contrary to Federal Government’s policy, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, has announced its readiness to conduct “computer-based aptitude tests” in place of post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for the 2017/2018 academic session.
Besides, the university is charging each candidate N5, 000, in addition to N1, 000 bank commission, bringing the total cost to N6, 000 against the maximum N2, 500 allowed by the government’s order for the screening.
In an official bulletin dated June 13, the institution directed candidates to visit its admission portal to “generate a virtual pin with N5, 000’’.
Candidates were directed to make the payment at Ecobank, Unity Bank, Zenith Bank, UBA or Fidelity Bank.
According to it, the payment is for centre-screening and covers honoraria for centre-facilitation, logistics for producing screening materials and security.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, in a statement on June 28, 2016, warned tertiary institutions against charging candidates for post-UTME screening.
The warning followed reports that some institutions had ignored the earlier abolition of post-UTME test and devised other means to screen students with certain fees imposed on them.
“Any screening which tertiary institutions choose to conduct should only be for the purpose of verification of certificates of the candidates, JAMB scores, and any other physical examination to ensure that such candidates are not cultists.
“After this, the candidates are qualified for matriculation. Such screening should be at no cost to the parents or students and should be done upon resumption in order to avoid unnecessary travels in search of admission,” Adamu said.
The Registrar of DELSU, Mr Daniel Urhibo, confirmed the authenticity of the school’s bulletin and defended the N5, 000 screening charge per candidate.
“It is aptitude test. We are not setting another kind of examination for them the way JAMB sets for them, and it is going to be computer-based,’’ Urhibo said.
Asked to differentiate the “computer-based aptitude test’’ from the post-UTME test abolished by the government, he told NAN that the Federal Government did not scrap post-UTME test.
“It is the same agency of the government that said `you can select your students.’
“Twenty-six thousand candidates applied to DELSU; how do you select, may be 5,000 or 6,000? There must be some kind of uniform test to assess them.
“Last year, we asked them to submit their secondary school results and we graded them. Do you know that people claiming to have `A’s in their results could not write their names?
“Some of them had forged results. We went to the internet and discovered that somebody who claimed to have scored 300 in UTME had just 120.
“So, if you use that type you won’t get the best; that is why there is some kind of a little aptitude test for them,’’ he said.
Urhibo explained that the N5, 000 charge was needed to conduct the exercise as the university was not in good financial position to bear the cost.
“We need materials to do this test; we will pay the people who are going to administer the test and those who will mark it.
“We need money to service our computers and to develop the software for the test. So, from where do you expect us to get the money to do these?’’
The minister of education or spokesman of the ministry could not be reached for reaction to this in spite of several attempts in more than two weeks.
However, a top official of the ministry, who craved anonymity, said what the university was trying to do was illegal. The National Universities Commission (NUC), tasked with enforcement of the abolition of the post-UTME test and screening charges, was also not forthcoming on the matter.
Its Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, neither answered several calls to his mobile telephone nor replied NAN enquiry sent to him via SMS and Whatsapp.
The commission’s spokesman, Mr Ibrahim Yakasai, also did not respond when contacted through the three channels.
The Vice Chancellor, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Prof. Victor Peretomode, on Saturday, said 24 students of the institution bagged first class degree at its 10th Convocation ceremony.
The vice chancellor said this in his address at the convocation arena in Abraka.
He said a total of 5,811 students graduated with first degree in the 2014/2015 academic session.
In addition to the 24 that graduated with first class, 1,123 bagged second class upper, while 3,222 obtained second class lower division, among others in the various first degree programmes, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports
The vice chancellor commended the state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa “for his continued support to the institution.
He said that the university had obtained 93 per cent accreditation for its programmes, but called for improved funding to enable it meets its infrastructural needs.
No fewer than 1,300 teachers were inducted last Thursday at the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka by Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
It was the maiden registration and third induction for graduates of Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and Bachelor’s degree in Education. The ceremony held at the 1,000-capacity lecture theatre.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Victor Peretomode, represented by his deputy for Administration, Prof Rose Aziza, congratulated the inductees, praising the TRCN officials for giving licence to the graduates.
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof Mark Wokocha, urged the graduates to always abide by the rules governing the teaching profession in their practice as professional teachers.
Wokocha said the council’s mandate was to promote excellence in education through registration, certification and licensing of teachers.
He disclosed that the TRNC was founded at the University of Ibadan (UI), saying the council had been striving to sustain and promote quality teaching and learning process.
He appealed to the inductees to be faithful, loyal and exhibit true allegiance to the teaching profession in discharging their duties. He also advised them to be honest and give their best in accordance with the provision of the TRCN Act CAP T3 of 2004.
The Dean of Faculty of Education, Prof E.P. Oghuvbu, reminded the inductees of the task ahead of them, advising them to sustain the dignity of the profession.
Some of the inductees, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, expressed joy at becoming professional teachers. They said their certificates could make them practise anywhere within the country.
Barely six months after the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka expelled some students for misconduct and examination malpractices, no fewer than 109 others have sanctioned for related offences.
Some were rusticated for two to six semesters, some expelled and the results of some were withdrawn.
This is contained in a joint report by the two groups of mobile examination malpractice disciplinary committees set up for regular and part-time programmes for the 2014/2015 academic session.
According to the report, some of the students were caught with materials prohibited in examination halls, forgery of school fees receipt, fake identity cards and sheets of papers containing answers, which are known as microchips.
While some of the students were rusticated for impersonation, others, who were caught for malpractice during their final degree examinations, had their results withdrawn. Freshers caught for malpractice were expelled.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Victor Peretomode, said he administration frowned at the actions that could compromise the standard of the school, saying the management introduced stringent disciplinary measures to ensure that only students who can defend their results are graduated from the school.
Some students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, hailed the development, noting that it would improve the reading culture of students as they are now aware of the punishment for engaging in malpractice.
Thirteen graduates of the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka bagged a First Class during the institution’s Ninth convocation held last weekend. The valedictorians were among 9,648 graduating students conferred with first degrees and diplomas at the ceremony held at Convocation Arena in Site III of the institution.
The ceremony also witnessed conferment of post-graduate degrees and honorary degrees to the deserving people.
The Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, led the pack of dignitaries, including his deputy, Prof Amos Utuama (SAN), and traditional rulers in the state.
The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Victor Peretomode, said the ceremony was to celebrate the efforts and time invested by the graduands during their days in school, urging the graduates to see the convocation as another beginning in their lives. He urged them to dream big and reflect on their aims in life.
Governor Uduaghan urged the graduands not to give up hope on the future of the country, noting that the objective of Delta Beyond Oil was to open up the state’s economy and provide jobs for indigenes that are qualified.
The convocation ceremony was also an opportunity for the governor to commission projects in the school. One of the projects is the newly-built Faculty of Education complex.
Highlight if the ceremony included presentation of automatic employment to the overall best graduating student, Miss Anthonia Michael of the Department of Botany. She was also given scholarship up to doctoral level.
In her speech, Anthonia expressed gratitude to God for making her feat possible and promised to always strive for excellence.
The Delta State University, Abraka, last Saturday held its ninth convocation and award ceremony for regular and weekend graduates during the 2013/2014 academic year. The event was a unique in many aspects, particularly as it marked the end of the usual long and endless wait by graduands for collection of their certificates after completing their studies.
The Institute’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Victor Peretomode, disclosed that for the first time, it was possible for those who graduated to get their certificate on the same day without hassles. He used the occasion to highlight some of the other milestones achieved by DELSU since its inception and under his leadership.
The Vice Chancellor, who addressed newsmen at the main campus of the university, elaborated on, not just the ceremony, but the activities of the university, its achievements, setbacks and its plan towards achieving excellence through the use of technologies.
•The Senate building
“We are constantly reviewing standards to enable us be at par with international standard. We have a vision of using multiple technologies in teaching, learning and innovation”, he said, adding that plans were afoot to ensure that lectures delivered at the main campus in Abraka are received simultaneously by students in Oleh and Asaba campuses.
He spoke of plans to provide wireless internet facilities at the staff quarters and hostels as part of effort to make information easily assessable for staff and students alike. “It will also reduce the risk associated with lecturers driving from one campus to the other to deliver lectures,” he added.
The VC, who was accompanied by deputy vice chancellors in charge of Administration and Academics, Prof Mrs R.O Aziza and A.E Anigala respectively; Ejiroghene Udjor and Mrs R B Oki, Registrar and Librarian as well as the Rectors of the Oleh and Asaba campuses among others, said the most important “‘First’ achieved by the present management of DELSU was an upgrade that ensured that all 9,607 students who passed out at the Saturday’s convocation got their certificates immediately.”
He said, “Using technology, for the first time we are doing something very innovative. Graduands would pick up their certificates at convocation. Certificate will be given to all those who are receiving awards while others can pick theirs immediately after the ceremony.
“Most of our students after NYSC will be engaged in their own jobs and be employers of labour. The university has come a long way and is achieving the purpose for its establishment,” he enthused, adding, “With effect from next year, if a final student fails a course he will just come and write that course, not the present practice of asking them to take up to 15 course units; we feel that is not necessary.
“We are also looking at the possibility of changing a situation where students who fail a second semester course are asked to wait for a year. In the alternative, they can take a similar course being offered in the next semester so they can complete their courses and go for the NYSC without the unnecessary delays.”
“We have also awarded contracts for the procurement of vehicles and our deans would soon be riding in brand new Toyota Hiluxes and we have procured vehicles for principal officers of the institute. We have also awarded contract for the procurement of waste crunch and disposal vehicles. Also, we awarded contract for physiotherapy lab (fitness lab) and an indoor sports hall. We have procured X-ray machines and we are expecting additional three.”
And to improve relationship between the university community and its Abraka host, the VC disclosed that the institute, working with one of its contractors, resurfaced the main road leading from the Eku-Agbor expressway to its Campus (Site) II. He said a similarly work was ongoing in another part of the town, including the realignment and dualisation of the windy internal road network of its Main Campus (III).
He said the institute was also looking inward to tackle manpower challenges in critical areas by absorbing some of the brightest students in key areas like medicine, pharmacy, accounting and engineering, adding that one of the beneficiaries was Mr Lawrence Uche, who was given automatic employment after his graduation.
“As in the case of Mr Lawrence Uche, we will repeat that but we will have to look into areas of need. We have to be very careful because we don’t want inbreeding, especially for students who have lived here all their lives, who had their basic, primary and secondary education in Abraka and other campuses.
Despites the strides recorded by the institute, Prof Peretomode noted that several challenges were militating against management achieving its set objectives. He particularly lamented the challenges of electricity power, cultism and examination malpractices and incessant abduction of lecturers and other staff of the institute.
Specifically, he noted that the institute spends up to N12million naira monthly on diesel used to generate electricity for its activities. As a result, he said it was not possible to achieve 24-hour electricity supply until the university community is connected to a dedicated electricity supply line from the national grid.
Meanwhile, events leading to the ninth Convocation Ceremony commenced on April 24 with a Jummat service and an interdenominational Christian service held at the Our Saviour Chapel on 26 April. There were also drama presentation by the Department of Theatre Arts and art exhibition by the Department of Fine and Applied Arts.
The Convocation lecture, titled “Catalytic Metamorphosis of Nigerian university education”, was delivered by a visiting professor to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof Samuel Oyebandele. The VC described the lecture as very enlightening and beneficial to the staff and students.
The State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan also inaugurated projects executed by Prof Peretomode and his successor, Professor Eric Arubayi. They included the Senate Council Chamber, Postgraduate Student hall and firefighting trucks. The projects were financed through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund and internally generated revenue.
The VC explained that the firefighting trucks were procured to stem recent fire incidents, which ravaged property worth several millions of naira. He further disclosed that the gesture was being replicated in the Asaba and Oleh campuses of DELSU.
The Governor, in his address at the event joined the call against proposed scrapping of weekend programmes by the NUC, saying, “The NUC (Nigeria University Commission) should first evaluate the advantages of weekend programmes before scrapping it. I stand here to lend my voice to those calling on NUC not to scrap weekend programmes not because of financial benefits to the universities but, because there is a lot of people out there who will not have the opportunity of having education without weekend programme.”
Meanwhile, giving a breakdown of 9,607 graduands at the ninth convocation ceremony, Prof Peretomode said, “Of the 8,148 first degree students, 13 made First Class and they are three from the Faculty of Arts, while four each came from the faculties of Science and Management Science and two from Basic Science.
“Eight hundred and fifty-nine students made Second Class Upper (2-1) while 4,199 made Second Class Lower (2-2). There were 2,824 while 184 are leaving with Pass.
“There are also 248 unclassified degrees, those from Medicine and Surgery etc. their results are not classified even though there are some that would have made distinction because of their result,” Prof Peretomode added.
Similarly, he disclosed that there were 560 Masters’ Degrees and 206 Postgraduate Diplomas as well as 848 diploma certificates of which 151 came out from the Faculty of law, where 37 graduated with credit, 99 merit and 15 passes.
Of the 37 students that graduated from the Engineering Faculty three had distinctions while there are 20 and 14 with Credit and Merit passes respectively.
No fewer than 59 graduates of pharmacy at the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka, on Friday, were inducted into the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN). They took the oath administered by the Registrar to the council, Mr N.A. Muhammed, represented by Dr. Anthony Idoko.
The ceremony was held in the 1,000-capacity auditorium in Site III of the institution. It was attended by dignitaries, including Commissioner for Higher Education, Mr. Charles Emetulu, Mr Paul Enebeli, former PCN chairman and a member of the board of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), who was the guest speaker.
The graduates beamed with smiles in their blue academic gowns as they moved into the auditorium with their family members.
While welcoming guests, the Dean of the faculty, Prof. A.O. Onyekweli said the faculty had become a model given its achievements in its short years of establishment. He attributed the success to good leadership by the management and the state government.
In his lecture titled: Changing role of the pharmacist: Thinking outside the box, Enebeli advised the graduands to think about how they can improve on the knowledge they acquired in school and divest it to make lives of the people better and positively affect the rating of the profession.
In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Victor Peretomode, thanked the government for its consistent support to elevate the school in knowledge and facilities.
The VC offered an automatic employment to the best graduating student, Uche Nwankwo, who got his appointment letter at the event to the admiration of guests and his colleagues.
In excitement, Uche thanked the VC for the gesture, promising to strive for excellence. He thanked his colleagues for making him become a better person and appreciated the management for solving some of the challenges they faced before graduation.
Students of the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka were recently in jubilation when the school’s football team beat Warri Wolves in a friendly match by 1-0.
The match was one of the friendlies the Warri Wolves played in preparation for the new season of Globacom Premier League. Hundreds of students trooped to the Sport Centre of the institution to watch the match.
The Warri Wolves were expected to dominate the match, given their array of star players but the varsity team proved to be a difficult side, matching their opponents in skills and tactics.
In the first 25 minutes, Anthony Obiorah, a 200-Level Industrial Chemistry student, scored a goal to put the varsity team on the lead. The spectators almost invaded the pitch after the goal in joy.
Efforts by the Warri Wolves to equalise were rendered useless by the varsity team, who held sway throughout the 80-minute event.
At the end of the encounter, the DELSU team Coach, Tosan Blankson, said he was proud of his boys, saying: “The objective of this match is to groom our players to be professional footballers.”
The Warri Wolves team Coach, Goddan Ogbe, said the match was a challenge for his side, adding that the club would go back to the drawing board to make corrections on the lapses noticed during the match.
From the Sport Centre, students matched to other parts of the campus to celebrate the feat. The goal scorer, Anthony, was carried on the shoulder amid the excitement. He said his side won because of the spirit of cooperation embeded in the team.
Students of the Delta State University (DELSU) have indulged in a wild celebration, with their senior colleagues “baptising” them to welcome them to the school.
The freshers were called out by their senior for the rite. When most of the freshers refused to come out, students carrying bowls of dirty water moved into hostels to conduct the rite.
Some of them, who locked their doors, were “bapatised” through the windows.
A pre-degree student in Anatomy department, Sandra Oghenemaro, disapproved the behaviour, saying: “I don’t think it is appropriate to splash anyone with dirty water and paint. I will not allow anyone to do this to me during my matriculation.”
A resident of Abraka, who simply gave his name as Maro, said he witnessed a scene where some female students were tarred with paint and dirty water. He condemned the action, describing it as nonsense.
A new student in Botany Department, Nicole Akpomeyoma, said she had no choice than to allow her senior colleagues to participate in the ‘which’
Earlier, at the institution matriculation, which held at the 1000-capacity Site 3 Hall, the institution’s Vice Chancellor Prof Victor Peretomonde advised the students to make the pursuit of knowledge a priority.
He said the university had grown to be a model citadel for research and learning, urging the freshers not to breach the oath of matriculation they swore to.
The Registrar, Mr Ejiro Udjo, said a total of 4,361 were admitted out of 25,000 applicants that applied to the university. He told the students to see themselves as privileged 0 advising them not to indulge in act that could make the university to expel them.
Some of the students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, could not hide their joy for being undergraduates.
Mary Hayble, 100-Level Anatomy, described the ceremony as memorable, having applied to the school twice before her admission.
Jessica Oseafian in Biochemistry promised to abide by the rules and regulation governing the institution.
Management of the Delta State University, Warri has dismissed three lecturers, including a dead one, for alleged professional misconduct.
The deceased, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugo-Raphael, a lecturer in the Theatre Arts Department, was allegedly caught in a girls’ hostel when he attempted to rape a student June 3, 2003.
It was gathered that he has been in a legal battle to uphold his name before he passed on last October.
It was learned that the late Ugo-Raphael appointment, alongside two others, were recommended for termination at the 90th regular meeting of the school’s Governing Council held February 2.
Sources close to the family said that despite an official letter to the institution, announcing the death of the lecturer, the school’s disciplinary committee went ahead to hear the case without defense from the deceased.
Other lecturers dismissed by the institution are Dr. P. Akpoturi of the Department of Petroleum Engineering. He was dismissed for gross misconduct arising from the conduct of the 2013/2014 post UTME examination, and Dr. R.K Moruku, a senior lecturer in the Department of Business Administration and Marketing, for abuse of office and professional misconduct.
Efforts to get an official response from the institution on the development were unsuccessful as its Public Relations Officer, Edward Agbure, did not pick calls or respond to text message.
