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Tag: Kwara State University

  • Kwara varsity to graduate 71 first class

    Kwara varsity to graduate 71 first class

    Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete will on Saturday this week produce 71 First Class out of 6,374 first degree students during its 12th convocation ceremonies.

    Speaking with reporters on Tuesday to unveil programmes for the 12th convocation ceremony, the KWASU Vice Chancellor, Prof Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, said that 1,828 bagged Second Class Upper Division, 3,501 had Second Class Lower Division, and 974 got Third Class in the 2023/2024.

    The vice chancellor also said that a total of 6,891 graduated with postgraduate degrees for 2023/2024 academic session, adding that 49 bagged PhD and 468 had Masters degrees.

    The management of the state- owned institution also said that it planned to tackle transportation challenge among its students by building more hostel facilities inside the university campus, adding that the transportation challenge had remained because students live outside the campus.

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    “We have recently completed a l04-bedspace hostel and the Chairman of KWASU’s Governing Council,

    Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, will commission the building. KWASU has also partnered with investors to realise the Students’ Smart city hostel project, which will deliver 25,000 bed spaces in the first phase. Currently, work is on-going to deliver at first, 8,700 bed spaces within the next few months.

    “As a university desirous of producing total graduates, one of our goals is to secure more accommodation facilities on-campus for our students. This is one way we can ensure our students have access to all round university culture. The inadequate on-campus hostel facility was another of the challenges listed last year, but we have explored private partnership to solve this. We hope more private organisations will partner with us to drive the research and infrastructure components of this great institution,” he said.

    Prof. Luqman said that the university has been in the news for its strides in the electric vehicle conversion and, lately, the hybrid CNG conversion.

    The VC also lauded the Kwara State Government for committing funds to complete the Osi and Ilesha-Baruba campuses of the university, saying that the campuses have lecture halls, classrooms, laboratories and offices among other amenities that will ensure that the campuses are fully functional.

    He said that the institution would not condone indiscipline and internet frauds among its students, saying that any student found in such untoward behaviour had always been shown the way out of the institution.

  • Reopen KWASU now, stakeholders urge Ahmed

    Students under the umbrella of the Kwara state students and Youth Stakeholders yesterday impress it on the state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to reopen the Kwara state University (KWASU) shut by the management of the institution.

    Authorities of the state-owned university had last week announced the closure of the institution. The closure of KWASU was as a result of protest by students of the school over Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s appointment of acting Vice Chancellor Prof Kenneth Adeyemi for the institution.

    Tenure of the current Vice Chancellor of the school, Prof Abdulrasheed Na’Allah expires July this year.

    Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, Chairman of the group Sa’eed Yusuf described the closure of the institution by management as a flagrant disregard to constituted authority. He said: “We call on Governor Ahmed to reopen the university with immediate effect, if indeed the purported ‘closure has any force of the law; immediately suspend Prof Sakah Mahmud for grossin-subordination to Governor Ahmed, despite being aware of the appointment of acting vice chancellor; powerfully call Prof Na’Allah to order and ask him to stay clear of the VC’s office based on the appointment of an acting VC and having been granted a terminal leave; reiterate the appointment of Prof Adeyemi as the acting VC to work with the council of the university to complete the work of engaging another VC for the university; direct the council to source only for the best candidate that can drive the growth and development in the university.”

    He urged the governor to “direct the council based on equity, fairness and justice, recommend people only from the South and Northern parts of the state to produce the next vice chancellor of the school.”

  • KSU VC calls for stiffer penalties for plagiarism

    Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, the Vice Chancellor, Kwara State University, Malete, has called for stiffer penalties for plagiarism to encourage writers in the country.

    Na’Allah, who told newsmen on Thursday in Ilorin that plagiarism, which had become a plague affecting publications, stressed the need to tackle it from the grassroots.

    He said though, the university system had always been proactive in addressing the problem, dealing with it on the surface could not nip it in the bud.

    “Plagiarism is a serious offence and those involved in it should be prosecuted.

    “In the university system, we take away promotion or dismiss such people from the university system.

    “The Nigerian universities have always been at the forefront of dealing with plagiarism, as we now have software that can help to detect plagiarised works.

    “So, the universities are very proactive and have always been, but there should be stiffer penalties for plagiarism,’’ the vice-chancellor said.

    He reiterated that plagiarism should be dealt with from the roots, because dealing with it on the surface would not let the problem go away.

    Na’Allah also said that why culprits plagiarised should be investigated, adding that looking at the underlining factor would help in finding solutions that could address it.

    The professor of English, Comparative Poetics and Performance, added that more needed to be done to protect copyrights.

    “We need to do more in terms of copyright; the government has to be at the forefront, even as all of us, including scholars and writers, should be involved.

    “We really have to protect the copyright not only for written works, but digital and film works,’’ Na’Allah said.

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    He noted that poor reading culture in Nigeria had to be eschewed to enhance growth and development in the country.

    “We must change the poor reading culture, because if we do not read, we will be left behind forever.

    “We have to evolve ways that we can write and read, not just reading.

    “Perhaps, if our politicians, business gurus are writing; if people, who have managed our economy and government write on how they did what they did, maybe it will help the nation’s reading culture.

    “Also, if people begin to write in ways that the books affect the ordinary people, they will want to read.

    “So, we have to change because this is the time that our problems have to be resolved, we cannot continue like this because improved reading culture will help,’’ the vice-president said.

  • Lecturer calls on govt to establish more Technical schools

    A lecturer at the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Mr Ibrahim Oseni has tasked both  Federal and State Governments to establish more technical schools to equip school leavers with skills to earn a living.

    The lecturer of Mechanical Engineering department made the call on Monday in Ilorin in an interview with our reporters.

    He said technical schools will allow graduates to be self-employed instead of roaming the streets seeking for a white collar jobs, thus tackling the problem of unemployment.

    “Time has come for government to invest more on technical schools through proper funding and monitoring; get them equipment needed to train students.

    “Technical school will expose students to new things, art work, craft, weaving, painting, tailoring, and plumbing that will make them self-dependent after school.

    “A standard technical school will breed creativity, discover talents and also reduce the rate of unemployment in our society.

    “There are lots of technical colleges in Europe and that is why the unemployment rate is low in those countries; it’s not everybody that can study Medicine, Engineering, and Biology in school.

    “It is time we emulate Western world where they prioritise technical schools in their educational system. Everybody cannot become a Medical Doctor or Pharmacist,” he said.

    NAN

     

  • Ahmed scales up education in Kwara

    Ahmed scales up education in Kwara

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s administration is set to scale up education in the state.

    Late last year the state launched the International Vocational and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC) in Ajase-Ipo. It also started building two other campuses of Kwara State University (KWASU) in Ilesha-Baruba and Osi, Baruten and Ekiti local government areas of the state.

    The governor laid the foundation of the IVTEC in September 2012 in line with his commitment to youth empowerment and human capital development.

    The establishment of Malete main campus and other KWASU campuses is aimed at positioning the institution to produce highly skilled graduates that will become top players in the competitive global economy of the 21st century.

    All these capital projects in spite of the lean resources of the state government are being executed through the state Infrastructure Development Fund (IFK) established in 2016.

    The governor said, “When I inaugurated the Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund (IFK) in 2016, I made a commitment to initiate and complete new and ongoing infrastructure projects.

    “Our government has since made good on that commitment with the commencement of new projects such as the Geri Alimi Diamond Underpass and a new campus for the Kwara State University at Ilesha Baruba.

    “As we flag off construction of Kwara State University, Ekiti Campus, this project provides an eloquent testimony to the fact that IFK has strengthened our government’s capacity to meet its obligations despite the current economic challenges.

    Also, this event validates our commitment to the three-campus model for KWASU, as enshrined in its blueprint, following the ongoing work at the Ilesha Baruba site of the university.

    “It similarly underlines our determination to expand access to quality higher education while providing cutting edge skills and research for industry.

    “In keeping with current local realities and global trends, the three campuses of KWASU are designed to eventually run on a sustainable platform without subvention from the state government.

    “This means they must run on a model that guarantees efficiency by offering courses that are market relevant and are in demand by the growing number of applicants within and outside the country.

    ”We are building on the legacy of the previous administration, which established the university, and bringing the KWASU multi-campus model to reality, among others, our administration has demonstrated, in concrete terms, the value and importance of continuity in governance.

    “Only a government of continuity like ours could have believed in and up-scaled the vision of the university’s founders.

    Indeed, the quality of infrastructure and programs at the institution, KWASU is at the vanguard of the state government’s resolve to make education functional and economy based.

    In this regard, the Kwara state government designed the curriculum at IVTEC in partnership with the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) to guarantee that the education received at the center meets the mid-level manpower needs of today’s employers.

    “Similarly, the KWASU campus in Ilesha Baruba is strategically located in the agrarian belt of the state to provide students with the opportunity of hands-on experience and boost the region.

    “In addition, the KWASU School for Business and Governance, Ilorin is poised to provide middle level professionals with access to quality post graduate education that will enhance their leadership and professional skills.

    “On its part, the KWASU Ekiti campus will groom scientists and thinkers that will proffer practical solutions to the various problems that plague the country.”

    Governor Ahmed solicited for closer links between tertiary education and the country’s economic and technological aspirations to ensure that education is more relevant to our national objectives.

    On IVTEC, he said his administration needs a sum of N13 billion in the next five years, to expand the college.

    He added that the state had invested approximately N3.2 billion on campus construction, furniture, fittings, partnerships, basic training equipment and tools here at IVTEC.

    “We therefore seek the partnerships from local, national and internal bodies so that we can upscale IVTEC to the level envisaged as its establishment,”

    Governor Ahmed said that the vision to establish the College was to equip youths with skills for self-reliance, tackle unemployment, and ease access to vocational training of international standard for students from a variety of skills and educational backgrounds.

  • KWASU don for Literature Prize

    Professor Tanure Ojaide, Head of Mass Communication Department, Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, is one of the three finalists for the 2017 edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literature.

    Ojaide’s entry, Songs of myself: Quartet, was shortlisted for the Nigeria LNG-sponsored $100,000 Literature Prize, alongside A Good Mourning written by Ogaga Ifowodo, and The Heresiad by Ikeogu Oke.

    This followed an initial shortlist of 11 released in July by the Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo-led Advisory Board.

    A statement by the General Manager, External Relations, Nigeria LNG Limited, stated that The Nigeria Prize for Literature rotates yearly amongst four literary genres: prose fiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature.

    The 2017 Prize is for poetry and comes with a cash award prize of $100,000, the statement added.

    It revealed that a total of 184 entries for the prize were received this year, while next year’s prize will be for drama.

    The statement quoted Professor Emeritus Banjo to have declared that the eventual winner of the competition would be announced at a World Press Conference in October, 2017.

    Ojaide’s Songs of myself: Quartet, published by Kraft Books Ltd, explores paradoxes in contemporary times presented in discursive lyricism. It reflects the journey to the deepest vicissitudes of the adventurer himself.

    Ojaide, who won the 2016 Nigerian National Order of Merit in Humanities, is a Fellow in Writing of the University of Iowa. He has won several awards, including the Commonwealth Poetry Prize for the Africa Region, the All-Africa Okigbo Prize for Poetry, the BBC Arts and Africa Poetry Award and the Association of Nigerian Authors Poetry Award.

    In a congratulatory message, the Vice-Chancellor, Kwara State University, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, said KWASU is greatly honoured by Ojaide’s excellent feat.

  • KWASU fetes don now envoy to Japan

    Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, celebrated one of its own, Prof Mohammed Gana Yisa, who was recently appointed the Nigerian Ambassador to Japan last Tuesday.

    The event, held at the university’s mini-convocation arena, attracted dignitaries from all walks of life, including Ambassador-designate to Malaysia, Alhaji Nurudeen Mohammed.

    Until his appointment, Yisa was the Deputy Provost (Administration), College of Engineering and Technology and Head, Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

    The don, who was accompanied by his wife and well wishers, thanked the university for the recognition and pledged his continued support.

    He promised to woo investors to Nigeria and facilitate collaboration between some universities and their Japanese counterparts, especially in research and staff exchange.

    “This year, the Japanese Government will give postgraduate scholarship to more than 12 Nigerians and I am happy to say that one of our staff in Agriculture also attended the interview. So, there are opportunities in the educational sector,” he said.

    The Ambassador spoke of plans to use agriculture to diversify Nigeria’s export to Japan.

    “The trade relation with Japan is in favour of Nigeria. Our export to Japan is worth $5 billion, but our import from Japan is just $711 million.

    “One will be happy to see that we have a positive outlook, but we should not be happy because all that is mainly oil and today countries are running away from oil. So, the need for diversification is also very, very important. And one strong area that I will seriously be working on is agriculture – not because I am an Agric Engineer – but because one of the few alternatives that this country has is agriculture and Japan needs raw materials from Nigeria,” he said.

    KWASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, described Yisa as an exceptional human being.

    Na’Allah also expressed confidence that the new Ambassador will do Nigeria proud in his new assignment.  He urged him not to forget the university, while promising the institution’s support.

    “I just want you to know that every day you are there, please think of KWASU and whenever you come back to Nigeria, think of KWASU. Anywhere you are, you are a KWASU man to the core.

    “I want to tell you that we are with you all the way. We will support you. We are going to go into partnership with the Japanese University, and with you, we will make a difference for Nigeria,” he said.

    Highlight of the ceremony was presentation of the University Plaques to the two new ambassadors by the Vice-Chancellor.

    The Chairman, Organising Committee, Prof Kazeem Gbolagade; the College of Engineering and Technology, the Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering; and the Student Representative Assembly also presented gifts to the celebrant.

     

  • Gov. Ahmed flags off N1.5bn varsity project

    Gov. Ahmed flags off N1.5bn varsity project

    Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara on Wednesday  flagged-off  the construction of the  N1.5 billion College of Social Science and Environmental Studies  building at Osi, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.

    The governor  said in Osi that the  project was in keeping with the multi-campus model of Kwara State University, Malete.

    He said the project was also informed by the need to explore opportunities in the education sector as a catalyst for sustainable socio-economic development, especially at the grassroots.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Osi campus project was expected to be completed within 52 weeks.

    NAN also reports that the project in Osi  marked  the third phase of the multi- campus project initiated by the government.

    The government had earlier flagged-off the Post Graduate Studies Centre of the School of Business and Governance of the university in Ilorin as well as  the Ilesha-Baruba campus in Baruten Local Government Area.

    Ahmed said the projects were an eloquent testimony that the Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF) introduced by his administration had strengthened the capacity of government in meeting its obligations.

    “This project, no doubt, will go a long way to improve the standard and quality of education as regards research and human capital development within the targeted communities.

    “It will, as well, impact positively on the socio-economic development and well-being of the people of the communities,” he said.

    Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’allah, the Vice-Chancellor of  Kwara State University,  said the institution would continue to be in  the forefront of exploring new ideas and cutting-edge research findings to impact on humanity.

    He said the global concern on climate change, air and water quality, clean environment and natural resources management were major concerns of  the global community.

    Na’allah said the Osi campus of the university, when completed, would host a world-class College of Environmental Sciences, with departments such as Environmental Management and Toxicology.

    Others are Plant Environment, Biology, Urban and Regional Planning, Geographic Information Science, Survey and Informatics and Fine Arts.

    Dr Amina Ahmed, the state Commissioner for Tertiary Education,  Science and Technology, listed the project segments for execution to include school administrative block, lecture hall and theatre, students’ hostels and staff quarters.

    The Olosi of Osi, Oba Solihu Adasofegbe, and Joseph Ajayi, the council Chairman, in their remarks, urged the people to take advantage of the location of the project to improve their education and socio-economic wellbeing.

    Mr Tunji Folaranmi, the Director of Project, Unicontinental International Ltd., the firm handling the project, promised to complete the project as scheduled.

  • Kwara International Vocational Centre gets equipment

    The Kwara Government has taken delivery of equipment and training tools purchased for the various workshops at the International Vocational Training and Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC), Ajase-Ipo, in Irepodun Local Government Area.

    Alhaji Musa Yeketi, Kwara Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, while speaking during the inspection of the equipment on Wednesday Ajase-Ipo, said the machines and training tools are for the five departments of the College.

    He listed the Departments to include Automotive, Masonry and Carpentry, Electrical and Electronics, Welding, as well as Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning.

    Yeketi noted that 95 per cent of the equipment have been delivered to the institution and that the remaining ones will be delivered in few days.

    He added that with the arrival of equipment, the Centre is ready to take off.

    The Chairman of IVTEC Board, Prof. Abiodun Adimula, while fielding questions from journalists said he was satisfied with the quality of equipment purchased for the institution.

    He expressed confidence that academic activities will commence at IVTEC in September.

    Adimula stated that in the next few years, the College is expected to produce highly skilled middle-level manpower and commended the State government for its huge investment in the College.

    According to him, the vocational center will help reduce crime rate in the State as the government has provided opportunity for youths to develop themselves and acquire market relevant skills that will make them productive.

    He also disclosed that the College management was working toward creating synergy with tertiary institutions in Kwara such as the University of Ilorin, Kwara State University, Kwara Polytechnic and technical schools within the State

    Adimula said that IVTEC will also be a good training ground for students of tertiary institutions to undergo their SIWES programme and acquire relevant skills.

    He noted that most universities in the country cannot boast of the facilities available at IVTEC.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recall that Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed in March approved the release of N143 million for the procurement of modern vocational equipment for IVTEC in preparation for the commencement of the centre.

     

  • Kwara earmarks N450m for KWASU postgraduate campus project

    Kwara earmarks N450m for KWASU postgraduate campus project

    The Kwara Government has earmarked N450 million for the construction of the postgraduate campus project of the State University, Malete.

    The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Hajiya Aminat Ahmed, made this known at the official groundbreaking of the project in Ilorin on Tuesday.

    Ahmed said the project, which was awarded to Unicontinental Engineering International Company Limited, was expected to be delivered within four months.

    She said that the construction of the campus was a confirmation of the present administration’s commitment toward encouraging scholarship and wider enrolment to those seeking opportunities to educate themselves.

    “Therefore, when this campus is completed, Kwara State University will be without doubt a fulcrum of knowledge, building human competences and fostering determination and competition among people through the instrumentality of modern technology,” she said.

    Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed, in his address, said that the project was borne out of his administration’s flair for human capital development.

    “As you are aware, my administration has always prioritised human capital development, especially functional education, as an indispensable ingredient of sustainable development.

    “This emphasis is based in recognition that the growth of any society is directly influenced by the quality of human capital resources available to it.

    “It is in acknowledgement of this that my administration is committed to developing education at the foundation, secondary and tertiary levels,” he said.

    The governor said that the establishment of the Post Graduate School was to keep to the resolve to produce quality, skilled and entrepreneurially inclined scholars needed to spearhead a new crop of intellectually sound future leaders.

    According to him, the state university, when conceived about eight years ago is designed to be a Multi-Campus University.

    He said: “In keeping with this mandate, we took the bold decision of executing this project through Public Private Partnership by sourcing development partners.

    “The partnership approach is not only expedient under the current financial challenges confronting our state, but it also ensures our partners have a stronger buy-in into the project.

    “The Partnership approach connects with our innovative approach to project funding through the Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund.”

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, said that the official groundbreaking for the campus had demonstrated the state government’s confidence in the university.

    Na’Allah said that the project would further make the institution a centre for academic learning and research.

    He assured the government that it would not regret the exceptional belief and the investment it had on the university.

    Mr. Alex Swan, the Managing Director of the Unicontinental Engineering International Company Limited, said that the company would carry out the project to make the university a world-class standard in term of structure.

    Swan pledged that the project would be done to the specifications and delivered within the time frame.