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Tag: Idowu Olayinka

  • UI VC urges support for PG students

    Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof  Idowu Olayinka, has called on universities to provide favourable environment for postgraduate students to carry out their research.

    Delivering the keynote address at the 57th Meeting of the Committee of Deans of Postgraduate Schools (CDPGS) in  universities at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Olayinka said universities should also monitor the welfare of postgraduate students to enable them complete their programmes on time.

    Speaking on the theme: “Repositioning the narratives of PG education for national development”, Olayinka said:  “The university will only permit doctoral research programmes to be offered where it is confident that students can be trained and supported within an environment that is supportive of research.

    “In terms of availability of supervisors with relevant experience and recent publications in students’project areas; facilities for research should at least meet those needed for research of national and international standards.”

    To monitor their postgraduate students to ensure they are doing well academically and prevent them from overstaying their study, Olayinka said: “The university requires that supervisory committees should monitor the progress of students on doctoral programmes through annual reports to the postgraduate school.

    “The university should generate a database of its academic staff who are on their PhD programmes and their progress, with a view to coming up with policies that would ensure timely completion of such programmes”.

    He also said students’ personal problems should be looked into by the university, proffering solution to them.

    “The university should develop and provide holistic health care services that do not focus only on physical health and fitness, but also on mental health in the work place. Generating a database of staff who have been on their PhD programmes for more than four years, the challenges and barriers encountered by these staff should be identified and addressed.”

    UNILAG VC, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe said the management of the school was committed to the ideals of postgraduate education since its inception and placed high premium on the quality of graduate students as they are ambassadors of the school.

    On his part, the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, UNILAG, Prof Solomon Akinboye said UNILAG PG School had taken steps to solve the lack of quality manpower needed in universities, especially new ones and help fund PG students.

    “We took the decision to increase the number of our graduates because we recognize UNILAG’s status as a big and highly rated University when compared with other universities, especially the new ones,” he said.

  • UI matriculates 6,000 students

    The University of Ibadan on Wednesday held a joint matriculation ceremony for more than  6,000 students of the regular and distance learning modes of study.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, at the occasion charged the matriculants to jealously guard and maintain the reputation of the institution.

    According to him, the students should see their admission as a rare privilege to study in the nation’s premier university.

    “A total of 46,836 UTME candidates applied to UI for the current admission exercise with the highest score at 357 by a candidate who applied for Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

    “Out of all these, 22,447 candidates scored above 200 marks and above at the UI Post UTME screening and they were the ones considered for admission.

    “This represents 7.8 per cent of the total number of candidates who initially chose Ibadan as their preferred institution.

    “In other words, only one out of 13 candidates eventually got an admission slot here.

    “A total of 6,156 candidates, comprising of UTME, Direct Entry and those admitted through Distance Learning mode, were admitted into the university,” he said.

    Read Also: Sokoto varsity matriculates 2,074 students

    Olayinka noted that those denied admission were those who had poor performance, wrong subject combination or submitted doubtful results.

    He charged the students not to allow external interference to disrupt the academic calender.

    “Management has been drawn to an issue that has been trending on social media over the past 10 days or so.

    “It has been attributed to certain organisation that calls itself National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Joint Campus Committee, Oyo State, calling for the immediate reinstatement of Ojo Aderemi among other demands,” he said.

    Olayinka said the university has adequate internal mechanism for resolving its differences.

    “I hasten to add that the various security agents have been duly informed of the antics of NANS, Oyo State,” he said.

  • UI has 1,834 personnel shortage, says VC

    The University of Ibadan presently suffers about 1, 834 shortage of staff and which is making the few available staff overworked.

    The disclosure was made by the Institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Idowu Olayinka, on Thursday in an address at the third stakeholders’ forum themed, “The State of the University”, which held at the multipurpose Hall, UI Alumni Association Centre on the campus of the institution.

    The meeting was chaired by a legal luminary, Dr. Akin Onigbinde.

    Olayinka said instead of 4,570 personnel, the university has on its employment a total of 2,736 staff which he said is not good enough for the institution.

    He puts the staff strength at 1,490 academic staff, 456 senior technologists/ technical staff, 286 senior administrative staff, 196 senior secretarial staff, 155 junior technical staff, and 153 junior administrative staff.

    According to the VC, there is a shortage of 374 academic staff, a shortage of 397 in the senior technologist cadre, a shortage of 931 in the junior technical staff cadre, and a shortage of 132 in the junior administrative staff category.

    He noted that the current understaffing situation abated because of the difficulties being experienced in hiring new staff and placing them on the payroll with a number of staffs retiring, resigning and some others died.

    However, he assured that the Federal Government has been contacted in Abuja on the shortfall so that the institution would employ more staff.

    Olayinka said, “We currently have 1,490 academic staff, 456 senior technologists/ technical staff, 286 senior administrative staff, 196 senior secretarial staff, 155 junior technical staff, and 153 junior administrative staff.

    Read Also: Call Oshiomhole to order, NANS tells Buhari

    “With a total student population of 30,105 in terms of the head count of full time students and a total full time equivalent of 32,228 and using the NUC (National University Commission) norm, there is a shortage of 374 academic staff, a shortage of 397 in the senior technologist cadre, a shortage of 931 in the junior technical staff cadre, and a shortage of 132 in the junior administrative staff category.

    “The foregoing suggests that our staff are overworked, even while at the same time they are overworked, we cannot thank them enough for their patience and forbearance. We are making representation to the relevant authorities in Abuja so that we would be able to engage new staff, especially at the lower levels.”

    “The university is currently understaffed as a result of difficulty being experienced in hiring new staff, and placing them on the payroll. A number of our colleagues are retiring, some have resigned, while unfortunately some died. On the other hand, the university has been expanding with the introduction of new academic programmes and departments.”

    The VC also used the opportunity of the meeting to announce to the stakeholders that the 2018/2019 academic session would commence on Saturday June 15, 2019, adding that the new students should resume on the same day as orientation programme would start two days later.

    He also said returning students would resume on Saturday June 22, while lectures for the new session would begin on June 24.

    While speaking ahead of November convocation of the institution, Olayinka disclosed that about 207 students would graduate with first-class honours during the ceremony “even though many of them would have gone for their one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) before the convocation ceremony.”

    In a brief remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Akin Onigbinde, enjoined UI to constantly continue to think out innovative ways of reinventing itself, and transforming itself for relevance and development, been a premier institution in the country.

  • UI to adopt alternative funding, to reduce dependency on govt

    Upgrades PG school to College

    As the nation’s premier university, the University of Ibadan begins the official programme to celebrate the 70th anniversary; the management on Saturday said arrangements have been concluded to adopting a culture of two-pronged revenue generation drive.

    The management said the strategy was to reduce the institutions dependency on government funding and also achieve prudent management of available resources.

    Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof Idowu Olayinka made the disclosure while addressing an International Press Conference to herald the activities lined up for the celebration.

    The activities which officially begins on October 5th with a lecture would run through to November 17, 2018.

    Prof Olayinka who noted that the 70-year-old would need as much as N30billion annually to achieve its goal of attaining world class standard however said, the institution is already restrategising to open up diverse streams of income to complement what it gets from the Federal Government.

    He also stated that the institution’s council has approved the conversion of its Post Graduate School to Post Graduate College, saying, “with this development, the college will now be headed by a provost who will be assisted by two deputy provosts and two registrars.”

    Olayinka said, “We are exploring ways that UI can make itself less dependent on government funding. We are adopting a two-pronged approach involving a resource mobilization plan and prudent management of the available resources.

    Read Also: Colleges of education shutdown as COEASU joins NLC strike

    “Elements of these include a regular income from commercial and increasing the endowment fund, research grants and the strategic funds that UI has available to use as it deems fit, to direct our course through these troubles and difficult times and beyond.

    “In particular, we are partnering with industry, government and other stakeholders; strengthen our Consultancy services, encourage grantsmanship, mobilize funds from willing individuals and organisations including alumni, friends and the general public, consolidate the business established by the University such as UI Microfinance bank, UI ventures, UI water, Animal Production Venture, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Sawmilling which also provide training in entrepreneurship for  students.

    “The UI publishing House, UI endowment fund and the UI bookshop will be re-organised to operate optimally with definite targets. We encourage departments to engage in business sprinted consultancies and support collaboration with industry.

    “Following approval by the Council of the University, a holding company Platinum UI Commercial Enterprises limited is being registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission under which umbrella all the commercial-oriented outfits in the university will operate.

    “For us to be a world class university, we need to invest heavily in physical and infrastructural facilities, to address the acute shortage of office spaces for staff, classrooms and laboratories.

    “Presently the institution’s subvention is about N13b, which is a far cry from what is needed to maintain the institution. Out of this N13b, salaries are paid, electricity bills which run to millions of naira is paid, water and healthcare are provided among other things.

    “If the premier university is properly funded, within a shortest possible time, it would be among the top five in Africa and top 100 in the world.”

     

  • 2019 Polls: Abdulsalami warns against Nigeria’s disintegration

    Former Head of state,  Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, on Friday said he will forever be an enemy of anyone that tried to hinder the democratic development of Nigeria or plunge Nigeria into crisis.

    Abdualsaslami said this at the Maiden Edition of General Abdulsalami Abubakar Foundation Peace Lecture, organised by the staff and students of the Abdulsalami Abubakar Post Graduate Students’ Hall of the University of Ibadan. The lecture was titled; “Collaborative Peace Building in Nigeria,”

    He cautioned politicians against disrupting the 2019 general elections, saying “we have no other place to run to should the country be engulfed by fire”.

    According to the former head of state, Nigeria cannot be that great nation we all want,  except we all agree to collectively work together and collaborate on peace.

    “Peace is not absence of disagreement. Every society must have disagreements. This is because we are not born alike, even twins do not operate in a like manner,” hence there is nothing wrong with people having disagreements.

    “What is expected is that when we have disagreements we would find peaceful solutions to the issues, ” he said.

    He said there can be no sustainable development where people find it difficult to deal with the problems around them peacefully.

    Read Also: NSCDC deploys over 10,000 operatives for Osun guber poll

    “It is therefore, my honest opinion that we are going nowhere until we have a national consensus to work for peace.

    “What our politicians should focus upon at a time like this is to be working with professionals on how to make a difference in 2019.”

    The former head of state stressed the need for Nigerians to focus more on addressing the escalating development crisis in the land.

    “No matter how good those managing INEC are, if things are not well managed as they are, it might be difficult for us to have credible elections in 2019,” he said.

    He advised the students to reject being used in the forthcoming elections and not be allowed to be dragged into electoral malfeasance and violence.

    He also appealed to politicians to be more conciliatory in their relationship and public utterances.

    “INEC must be an unbiased umpire. The security agencies in the country must be fair to all, people must be free to vote their leaders”.

    The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Idowu Olayinka, praised the former head of state, adding “it is very rare for a military head of state to say he has to grant the wishes  of the people for a democratic government.

    “This is the kind of things we need in Nigeria for our leaders to forge peace in the country,” he haid.

    The University presented a peace award to Gen. Abdulsalami, while a cafeteria was built in his honour.

    Some Dignitaries at the event included former minister of Petroleum, Tam David West, the GOC, 2 Division, Fidelis Azinta,  former Executive Secretary, TETFund Prof.  Suleiman Bogoro and the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

     

  • UI releases date for Post-UTME screening

    The management of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan on Wednesday said it has picked September 14 and 15 for its 2018/2019 post-UTME screening exercise.

    The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Idowu Olayinka made this disclosure via a statement issued on Wednesday, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan.

    Olayinka in the statement said, “This is to inform all prospective candidates for the 2018/19 admission exercise who have successfully uploaded their biodata/credentials that the post UTME screening will come up on Friday, 14 and Saturday, 15 September 2018. Please note that only candidates who scored 200 and above are eligible for the exercise.

    Read Also: UNILAG begins post-UTME screening

    “Furthermore, with effect from 2017/18 session, the institutional cut off mark of 200 is applicable to all the institutions affiliated to the University of Ibadan.

    “Contrary to insinuations in some quarters that the cut-off mark for our affiliated institutions is 180, the University wishes to reiterate that, as approved by the Senate of the University of Ibadan, 200 is the cut-off mark for both the main campus and the affiliated institutions.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the newly introduced Central Admission Processing System CAPS) by JAMB makes it practically impossible for candidates below the institutional cut- off mark to be offered admission.

    “Candidates who scored 200 and above at the UTME and who wish to change to any of our affiliated institutions are welcome to do so. A list of these institutions is available on our website (ui.edu.ng)”.

  • Varsity don raises alert on mass exodus of Nigerian doctors

    The Vice Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Professor Dapo Folorunsho Asaju has alerted of an impending calamity in the Nigeria health sector following exodus of Nigeria-trained doctors into the United Kingdom.

    He noted that his recent visit to the United Kingdom indicated that ninety percent of those writing examinations to practice medicine in the United Kingdom are doctors from Nigeria.

    Professor Asaju who raised the alarm while presenting the 74th Interdisciplinary discourse of the University of Ibadan, Postgraduate school entitled “Religious undercurrents in the evolution of education in Global context” stated that it is sad that the federal government of Nigeria seemed unperturbed by the massive brain drain which will make many Nigerians die in the absence of qualified medical doctors.

    The professor of Christian theology who noted that while religion has been deployed by the elites as a divisive tool in Nigeria, education without religion moral teachings is responsible for increasing social vices and terrorism.

    He noted that is sad that institutions are producing graduates only in paper qualification and not on sound morals which will impact the society.

    He noted that while universities are happy producing first class holders, the production of first class brain without character will amount to the production of ‘clever devils’.

    He said “People have been crying of brain drain and it appears that Nigeria is not even mindful of the implications of what is happening. My son-in-law who went to write examination to be able to practice medicine in the UK and engineer told me that of all those who came for this examination, 90 percent were doctors from Nigeria. This is crisis.

    Read Also: Residents Doctors raise concern over persistent Lassa threat

    When you have put in your very best , you train so many people, you have invested in them only for them to get their certificates  and we abandon the sick people who are dying in this country to treat those who are already well. It is a calamity. Woe unto a nation whose best would desert her shores to go abroad for the sake of pound sterling or dollar to live life of affluence abandoning people who are so much in need of their expertise, those who invested everything to make them who they are. There is another crisis of morals. We have first class brain who are empty in terms of morals. If our universities continue to produce first class student’s brains without character, they would have succeeded in producing a bunch of clever devils. That is why we have very brilliant people but they have no character. They carry first class degrees from universities but put them in places of work they don’t have the minute of discipline of punctuality, probity, accountability, or have integrity. It is now very difficult to find good workers in Nigeria.”

    In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka said Nigeria must determine the place of religion in its educational system given the confusion and controversies surrounding the role religion play in our communal life.

    The UI chief executive  said “it is true that Nigeria educational policy makers in their wisdom, believe that students can learn everything they need to learn without learning anything about religion. Nevertheless, this has continually fueled the culture wars that now divide many of our communities and undermine educational mission of our schools”.

  • Parents reject accommodation fee hike at UI

    Majority of  parents at a stakeholders meeting held on Tuesday to discuss the new fee  regime introduced by the University of Ibadan ( UI ) rejected the  N30,000 hostel accommodation proposal.

    According to our correspondent  the management had called the  meeting over what it called “slight increment”  for halls of residence and the Alexander hall  for  students of  the College of Medicine.

    The institution’s Senate  had recommended a hike in hostel accommodation fee from N14, 000 to N30,000 for  students on the  main campus and N40,000 for those in the College of Medicine effective from the 2017/2018 session.

    The premier institution said that it currently spends about N100million every year in providing hostel accommodation, arguing that this  was no longer sustainable

    Majority of the parents in their separate remarks, however,  said while  they were not objecting to increment due to the current economic realities, the proposal by the institution was unacceptable.

    Mr Fashina Olusegun, a parent,  said  while upgrading facilities as being canvassed by the institution  was  good , the new fee regime was high.

    Also speaking,  Merssers  Robert Obiora, Ayo Akinyemi and Michael Odunrounmbi, agreed that while tertiary education was being underfunded,  the university management must ensure that its fees were affordable.

    Some students in a peaceful protest at the hall also asked the management to reconsider its recommendations.

    The Vice Chancellor of the university,  Prof. Idowu Olayinka,  had earlier stated that the institution  “is at a point where it is difficult to continue to subsidise  the running of the halls of residence and carry out some other academic functions.’’

    “This cannot be feasible without a slight adjustment in accommodation charges and in some fees  items payable by students in some faculties,’’ he said.

    He said only the increase in  accommodation fee  affected all students who desire to stay in the halls of  residence, adding that  “residency in the halls of residence is optional.’’

    Olayinka  said only 8, 222 bed spaces were available for the over 27,000 students,  adding that the university is not fully residential. .

    “The hostel accommodation is for the first and final year students,” he said.

    Prof. Omoniyi Adewoye, a former Vice Chancellor of the university and Chairman of the forum,  said university education  could not  be free if there was to be a turnaround in the education sector. 

    He, however, urged the parents to critically analyse the situation with a view to appreciating the  justification for the increment.

    NAN

  • Man jailed 12 months for attempting to steal a motorcycle

    Man jailed 12 months for attempting to steal a motorcycle

    An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday sentenced 30-year-old Dare Ogunlade to 12  months imprisonment for attempting to steal a Bajaj motorcycle belonging to an officer of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    Ogunlade of no fixed address is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and attempted stealing.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Olakunle Shonibare, told the court that the convict committed the offence in Feb. 16, 2017 at about 7.30p.m. at Adigbe area in Abeokuta.

    He said the convict attempted to steal the motorcycle with registration No AKM 064 QA valued at N250, 000 wned by Mr Jamiu Bello of the NSCDC.

    Shonibare said the offence contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Vol. 1 Laws of Ogun, 2006.

    Ogunlade pleaded guilty to the charges and the Magistrate, Mr Idowu Olayinka, sentenced him to twelve months imprisonment with an option to pay N50, 000 fine.

  • UI: Students protest against lack of water, light

    UI: Students protest against lack of water, light

    Activities have been grounded at the University of Ibadan due to the strike embarked on by the three non-academic staff unions of the institution.

    They are Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technicians (NAAT).

    The unions began indefinite strike on March 10 to protest against shortfalls in payment of salaries and illegal deduction in pension since December 2016.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the three gates leading into the university were locked.

    Some of the students who reside on the campus told NAN that staying was becoming unbearable due to their inability to access water and electricity.

    They called on the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, to find a way to resolve issues with the striking workers.

    Director of Communication of the university, Olatunji Oladejo, said he was in a management meeting hence could not react immediately.

    NAN reports that the university has no fewer than 8,000 students in the halls of residence.