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Tag: National Universities Commission (NUC)

  • IMT, Enugu to begin award of degree in 2019 academic year

    The Institute of Management and Technology ( IMT ), Enugu says it will begin award of degrees in affiliation with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka ( UNN ) from 2018/2019 academic session.

    The Rector of IMT, Prof. Augustine Nweze made the disclosure in Enugu on Friday at the 36th Matriculation of the institution.

    Nweze said that the award of degrees in some disciplines was sequel to an agreement with the UNN.

    He explained that the senate and council of UNN had given approval for the affiliation, while the institution awaited final visitation of the National Universities Commission ( NUC ) in July, for final approval.

    “It is the desire of our Visitor and Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to give IMT a University status in the shortest possible time.

    “To give life to that dream, we have, on our own, gone into affiliation with one of Nigeria’s foremost universities, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to award degrees in many disciplines.

    “I sincerely hope that the new students will be some of the earliest beneficiaries of this partnership when it fully materializes by the beginning of next academic year,” he added.

    The Rector said that IMT established in 1973 and modeled after the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston Massachusetts, USA, had nine academic schools and 40 academic departments presently.

    He said that the matriculation marks the end of secondary school education of the new students and beginning of their tertiary education, a major watershed in their development as young adults.

    “This predisposes you to academic and moral training as well as skill acquisition that will eventually make you worthy in character and learning,” he said.

    He advised the fresh students to shun cultism, examination malpractices and other vices adding that the institute was deeply committed to scholarship.

    “Management is working assiduously to improve lecture halls, laboratories and studios to make them fit for learning.

    “We are immensely thankful to the Governor of State, Chief Ugwuanyi for giving us the opportunity to serve our people in our different capacities in IMT” he said.

    In a message to the event, the governor pledged to do everything possible to ensure upgrade of IMT to a degree awarding institution.

    Ugwuanyi said that the plan had been long overdue as the school had churned out professionals and prominent citizens in the country.

    He commended the management, staff and students for their efforts in taking the school to greater height.

    3103 National and Higher National Diploma students took part in the matriculation.

    NAN

  • NUC approves Zamfara State University as 47th state university

    The National Universities Commission ( NUC ) on Monday approved Zamfara State University as the  47th state university and 162 among universities in the country.

    Prof. Abubakarheed, the Executive Secretary, NUC while giving a letter of approval to the government of Zamfara state in Abuja, called for more dedication toward promoting education development in the state and country.

    Abubakar also urged the government of Zamfara to take full advantage of the establishment of the university and contribute its quota to advance the course of education.

    He commended the governor for setting aside N3billion for specific use in staff development, establishment fund and laboratory equipment.

    According to him, this commitment is a good model that should be emulated by whoever wants to establish a university.

    “I write on behalf of NUC that with effect from Monday, March 12, the Zamfara State University is approved as the 47th state university and also 162 universities in Nigeria.

    “Zamfara is the last state to establish a university. But the establishment is apt when you will have to key into the reform programme the NUC is having now and will be of benefit to you.

    “The NUC is looking at how we can be more effective in our regulation of all universities in Nigeria.”

    Rasheed said investment in higher education, educational growth and knowledge was becoming more important than the natural resources.

    He, however, urged the state to increase its activities that would enable the university achieve its goals as it commenced operations later in the year.

    He said JAMB, TETFund and NYSC had been notified of the establishment of the university.

    The Zamfara state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari said the event was historic as it would mark the beginning of effort to make Zamfara great, especially in the education.

    Yari said the establishment of the university would afford the opportunity to provide education for the teaming youths of the state and as well provide increased development in education.

    He said the courses to be offered would cut across social and natural sciences to quickly address the manpower need of the country.

    He said the government had set aside N3billion as take-off grant for the university.

    “Out of this N3billion, N1billion will be for staff training, N1billion for establishment fund and the other N1billion for laboratory equipment.

    “We believe that university education should not be exclusive but be made accessible irrespective of individual social background.’’

    According to him, a 350 beds hospital is under construction, which will take off as a university teaching hospital.

    Yari, however, said that the committee on the establishment of the university, which had been working for over eight months, had recommended a conventional type of university.

    He promised to make welfare of staff as paramount, adding that the state would avoid owing salaries.

    Yari also presented the physical master plan of the university and laws that would govern operations of the university to the Executive Secretary of NUC.

    NAN

  • ARCON accredits Architecture programmes of Caleb University

    The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria ( ARCON ) has given full accreditation to both first and second degrees Architecture programmes of Caleb University.

    The Public Relations Officer of the university, Elvis Otobo, said in a statement that the letter conveying the approval was signed by the Registrar of ARCON, Umar Murnai ( FNIA ).

    Otobo said that the accreditation was contained in a letter dated March 5 and addressed to the management of the university by the council.

    According to Otobo, the council, in the letter, re-accredited the B.Sc. Degree in Architecture and fully accredited the Master’s Degree programme of the institution.

    An excerpt from the ARCON’s letter of re-accreditation reads: “We refer to all correspondences relating to the professional accreditation to the Department of Architecture, Caleb University, Imota, held from Nov. 14, 2017.

    “We hereby inform you that in line with Section 9 of the Architects Registration, Act CAP A19 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 200/404, the Council of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria ( ARCON ) at the meeting of Nov. 24, 2017, considered the report of the visitation.

    “In considering the report, the council took cognisance of the fact that the department has good staff/students’ ratio of (1:9).

    “It has a staff quality/students’ coefficient rating of (1:2) in line with the minimum acceptable standard of SSR (1:12) and SSQC (1:4) respectively, and the substantial improvement in physical infrastructure, facilities and equipment.

    “We, therefore, re-accredited the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree programmes in Architecture of the Department of Architecture, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State’’.

    Otobo said that the National Universities Commission ( NUC ) had earlier given full accreditation to the architecture programmes in the university.

    “The department has received some high-profile visitors, who rated the facilities as one of the very best in Africa.

    “Femi Majekodunmi, the Chairman, FMA Architects and past President of Nigerian Institute of Architects and past President of African Union of Architects, said that the Department of Architecture in Caleb University has one of the best facilities in Africa,’’ the PRO said.

    NAN

  • 16 universities seeking partnership with SASSAKAWA on Agriculture

    16 universities seeking partnership with SASSAKAWA on Agriculture

    Prof. Sani Miko, Country Director, SASSAKAWA Global 2000, says no fewer than 16 universities are seeking partnership with the organisation to boost agriculture productivity in Nigeria.

    The country director made the disclosure while addressing participants at the ongoing two-day Stakeholders National Annual Review and Planning Workshop on the SASSAKAWA Global 2000 programme on Thursday in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    Miko said already, the organisation was working with Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Bayero University Kano, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto and University of Ilorin among others.

    The country director appreciated Federal University Dutsinma, saying that it was the latest university to join the train.

    He said the partnership when formalised, would aid the propagation of technology dissemination to enhance production and ensure food security.

    Miko recalled that in 2001 the organisation found it difficult at the beginning to establish the programme at ABU, due to hurdles set by the National Universities’ Commission ( NUC ).

    Miko, however, expressed appreciation that the NUC had now accepted them, assuring that more universities were willing to join.

    “The NUC has accepted the programme and make it a nationally accredited funding programme and many universities are coming to show interest.

    “I think already, we have 16 universities that have written to us willing to join, I must appreciate Federal University Dutsinma, it is the latest university to join us.

    “And up till now that I am talking to you they have not receive a single dollar, all what they have done was done with their own resources,” he said.

    The country director said work was in progress to develop strategic plan that will be unveiled very soon.

    “We need inputs from you on how to develop our work plan, because SG2000 is not working in isolation. Whatever we do, we try to restrain our intervention into the national plan.

    “We want to know the successes recorded last year as well as the challenges you face and the way forward, so that all of you can look at it, criticize where necessary and recommend whether to drop or add some of the new ideas.

    “By the end of this workshop, we expect to leave this hall with agreed work plan, so that when we come to implement everybody feels the ownership.

    “Actually the draft work plan didn’t come from SG 2000, we did our own community assessment looking at the challenges of the farmers,” he said.

    He said the organisation prioritises the challenges and then decide certain intervention to address such challenges.

    NAN

  • OSUSTECH matriculates 1,000 fresh students

    OSUSTECH matriculates 1,000 fresh students

    The Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), Okitipupa, is to matriculate 1,000 newly admitted students on March 8.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Sunday Ogunduyile, told our reporter on Thursday in Okitipupa that the matriculation would hold at the university’s permanent site.

    The university is the third of such state-owned institution established by the Gov. Olusegun Agagu, who hailed from the area.

    The state boasts of Adekunle Ajasin University at Akungba Akoko and the University of Medical Sciences in Ondo.

    He said the institution which hitherto operated only the Faculty of Sciences now has two newly accredited faculties – Engineering and Agriculture.

    “We are fully set for the matriculation of over 1,000 students who passed and are still undergoing the screening exercise and have completed their admission process into the institution.

    “We were running just the Faculty of Sciences now we have two more faculties – Engineering and Agriculture – recently accredited by the National Universities Commission ( NUC ),”  he said.

    NAN

  • My government is working to reduce unemployment- Buhari

    My government is working to reduce unemployment- Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari, Saturday assured Nigerians that his government was working hard to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country.

    Buhari, who was represented by Deputy Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Chinedu Mafiano,  spoke at the 22nd convocation ceremony of the university of Abuja on Saturday.

    The General Superintendent, Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi was awarded an Honourable doctorate degree along with the late Ahmadu Bello University’s historian, Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman and Alhj. Dikko Aliyu, for their contributions to nation building.

    Kumuyi ( Doctor of Science) Usman (Doctor of Letters) and Aliyu (Doctor of management) joined 7,148 graduands to receive their degrees at the university’s main campus. Felix Jimoh emerged best overall graduating student.

    A breakdown of the figures showed that 16 students bagged first class, 507 second class upper division, 3,143 second class lower division, 3,160 third class and 180 students had pass degrees.

    President Buhari said: “My government is working hard to reduce the unemployment rates through several programmes and initiatives including the N-power, agriculture, small and medium scale businesses (SMEs), all of which are supported by government guaranteed loan scheme. I encourage you all to key into any of them for national growth and development.

    “Government will devote attention to technical and vocational educational training to impact the necessary skills to our youths in a bid to provide the requisite, competent and reliant personnel that can sustain the nation’s economic activities for the required socio-economic transformation.”

    He charged Nigerian universities to continue to partner governments at all levels in order to build a thriving economy.

    “The Nigerian university system must continue to be partners in progress with governments at all levels. My administration recognizes that interdependency and professionals are the drivers of a thriving economy.

    “If we must keep up with this global trend, education must be given its right place. My government is determined to continue to improve access to quality in our educational system.

    “Consequently, infrastructure, teachers development, curriculum relevance, funding and planning will continue to receive a boost with the resolve that they will facilitate the desired change in sociology-economic, political, and technological sectors,” Buhari added.

    Pastor Kumuyi, in his address, said the awardees would continue to contribute their quota to the development of the university.

    He charged the graduating students to use the knowledge they have acquired to help transform the country into a global economic power.

    He said: “Nigeria has many opportunities despite the challenges we face as a nation today. You must be determined to use the knowledge that you have gained at this university to help transform our nation into the global economic powerhouse that it is destined to be.

    “All hands should be joined together to provide lacking structures and indispensable facilities required for academic excellence. We must focus on our vision and have faith. With our belief, ambition, determination and the fear of God, we can make university of Abuja better,” Kumuyi, said.

    Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Michael Adikwu, noted that there had been much improvement in the activities of the university as seen in staff training and development of infrastructures.

    He urged the graduands to rise up to the socio-economic challenges that the country currently faces by being creative.

    He appealed to Buhari for more funds, noting that the institution still lacked adequate funding to complete crucial projects .

    Prof. Adikwu said: “At this convocation, the university will be graduating a total of 7, 148 made up of 16 first class graduands in the first degree category, 507 second class upper division, 3,143 second class lower division, 3, 160 will pass out with third class while 180 of the graduands have pass degrees.

    “A total of 242 higher degree graduands, made up of 91 Postgraduate Diploma holders, 78 Masters Degrees and 73 with Doctorate Degrees. We congratulate them.”

  • PLASU set for NUC accreditation of 15 additional programmes – VC

    PLASU set for NUC accreditation of 15 additional programmes – VC

    Prof. Doknan Sheni, the Vice Chancellor, Plateau State University ( PLASU ), Bokkos, on Monday, said the university was set for accreditation of its additional 15 programmes by National Universities Commission ( NUC ).

    The vice chancellor made the disclosure at a news conference at the university’s Senate Chambers.

    He said “all is now set for yet another round of accreditation of 15 additional programmes by NUC come May this year.

    “A total of 17 programmes were accredited by the commission two years ago; we are now prepared for NUC with additional 15 programmes.”

    Sheni, whose tenure would expire by February ending, expressed gratitude to God for achievements during his two tenures, which he said stabilised the university system.

    He identified some of the achievements to include accreditation of 17 programmes 12 years after the establishment of the institution and successful holding of its first convocation last year.

    He added that “we have been able to complete the Library Complex, build road networks, did landscaping, fencing, established several laboratories including that of languages, Internet/web site, power from NESCO and built more students hostels.

    “People, especially parents and students, have developed interest in PLASU such that we are now admitting about 1, 500 students at a time.”

    The vice chancellor noted that the success story of the university would not be complete without appreciating TETfund and the Plateau Government, which he said did not fail the management.

    He, however, listed some of the institution’s challenges to include the lack of water, staff accommodation, street lights, pension scheme for staff and inadequate funding.

    He solicited support from well meaning citizens of the state and corporate organisations to transform the university to world class in no distant time.

    NAN

  • LAUTECH ranked as Nigeria’s best state varsity

    LAUTECH ranked as Nigeria’s best state varsity

    In spite of repeated workers strike that held down academic and other activities at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso in the last one year, the institution has been ranked as the best state university in Nigeria.

    A statement by the institution’s Head of Public Affairs, Mr Lekan Fadeji, said the latest ranking by Webometric, which puts the Institution as 14th overall in the country and 3680 in the World, goes to confirm that despite the debilitating effect of the industrial crisis, LAUTECH’s leadership position among its peers remains unchallenged.

    Reacting to the news, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, reiterated the commitment of management to ensuring that the Institution’s present financial position is not allowed to affect its determination to train eggheads to man the various technological spaces of the future.

    He added that the Governing Council, led by Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, has assured that whatever the university needs to stay on top would be encouraged.

    LAUTECH had in the past been named the number one state university in Nigeria by various ranking organizations, including the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    Webometrics ranking of world universities, also known as Ranking Web of Universities, is a ranking system for the world’s universities based on a composite indicator that takes into account both the volume of the web contents (number of web pages and files) and the visibility and their impacts.

  • Why we turned out 1,027 graduates with pass degrees – OOU ‘s VC

    Why we turned out 1,027 graduates with pass degrees – OOU ‘s VC

    … As 15 make First Class list, 74 PhDs, others

    Olabisi Onabanjo University ( OOU ), Ago – Iwoye, said it has turned out 1,027 graduands with pass degrees despite directive by the National Universities Commission ( NUC ) which  abolished the award of a Pass Degree in Nigerian Universities.

    The NUC directive took effect from the 2013/ 2014 academic session.

    The University Vice – Chancellor, Prof. Ganiyu Olatunde, said the awardees were not affected by the policy.

    Ganiyu who made this known at the institution’s Main Campus, Ago – Iwoye, while fielding questions from journalists at a press briefing on the activities lined – up for the 27th Convocation ceremony which began on Wednesday, said whenever NUC initiates a new policy, it does not take immediate effect.

    “When NUC gives directive on change in curriculum or policy, it does not start immediately. It will only start with 100 level students in the year the policy is initiated. 

    “So, our awardees are not affected and that is why we still having pass degrees, by the policy takes its full implementation, there will be no such again,” he said.

    He, however, revealed that 15 graduands mad First Class Degree list, 531 Second Class Uppers, 2,673 Second Class Lower, 1159 Third Class degrees, 74 Doctorate degrees and 105 Master Degree graduands at its 27th Convocation ceremony while one person bagged Master Philosophy (M.Phil).

    The Vice – Chancellor also disclosed that four distinguished Nigerians would be conferred with honorary Doctorate Degrees of the institution for their contributions to the development of Nigeria and humanity.

    The awardees are the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Chairman of First Bank PLC, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, foremost Nigerian banker, entrepreneur, philanthropist and investor,  Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, and one other.

  • Auchi polytechnic students seek Buhari’s intervention over rectorship crisis

    Auchi polytechnic students seek Buhari’s intervention over rectorship crisis

    The Students of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately intervene in solving the rectorship crisis in the institution.

    Their appeal was conveyed at a briefing in Abuja at the weekend by a former President of the Student Union Government of the institution, Samson Okoduwa.

    The students had last year staged a peaceful protest at the Federal Ministry of Education over allegations of high-handedness, mismanagement and corruption against the acting Rector, Mr. Sanusi Jimah.

    The students also urged Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu to make public the outcome of the interview conducted for the position of rector in 2016.

    They alleged that the acting Rector was running the institution as a personal office by giving appointments to his friends and cronies.

    A development a source at the institution confirmed, noting that 95 per cent of appointments made by Mr. Jimah favored people from his Auchi region.

    Okoduwa also alleged that students of the institution were not issued identity card in the 2016/2017 session despite management collecting N1,500 naira from them.

    He also alleged that the acting rector failed to conduct an election into the SUG because he wanted to impose a stooge on the students.

    According to him, Mr. Jimah deliberately fixed the SUG election immediately after the second semester examination when all students would have finished their examinations and technically seize to be students.

    Okoduwa noted that a substantive rector would save the already sinking polytechnic.

    He said: “We are again restating/re emphasizing our demand to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hi Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, intervene in Auchi Polytechnic rectorship issue.

    “The President should direct the Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to as a matter of urgency release the report of the already conducted interview in 2016 at Abuja and appoint a substantive rector for the institution.

    “The delay in the release of the result/report and subsequent appointment of a substantive rector for Auchi Polytechnic is the millennium corruption.

    “The aberration in the appointment of Dr. Sanusi Momodu Jimah as acting Rector by the National Board for Technical Education ( NBTE ) should be withdrawn as the National Universities Commission ( NUC ) has never appointed a Vice Chancellor for any university.

    “This already sinking institution should be salvaged  as it requires an emergency.”

    However, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Mustapha Oshiobugie, said elections into the SUG was deferred because of security reasons.

    He also said the students were issued identity cards to enable them write their second semester examinations.

    Mr. Oshiobugie said: “Election into the executive offices of the students union was deferred because of security reasons.  Departmental and school elections which preceed the union election had been successfully held in five schools.

    “There was violence in the sixth school (School of Engineering).  The reverberations could not be contained before the scheduled sessional examinations which was two weeks away.

    “To the best of my knowledge, students gain admission into examination halls on presentation of their identity cards showing that they are bona fide students of the polytechnic.  The Second Semester examination was conducted using this procedure.  And there was no incidence throughout the examination.”