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Tag: NUC

  • NUC boss: Our varsities among the best

    Nigerian universities and their products are already among the best and do not need ranking to prove themselves, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okogie, has declared.

    He lamented that though people have given Nigerian universities a bad name to kill them, products of the institutions always distinguish themselves abroad whenever they are given opportunities.

    Okogie spoke at the weekend during the inaugural meeting of the reconstituted Board of Trustees and the Governing Council of Bingham University, Abuja.

    He said: “They say that Nigerian universities are not ranked high amongst the first 2,000 ranking profile in the world and I ask, there are about 6,600 universities in the United States and only 3,000 of them are accredited.

    “So even if you work that hard, with all the facilities, it doesn’t mean that you will be amongst the 2,000. So my concern has always been how relevant is your university and the programme they run to the environment and the system it supervises.”

    Okogie emphasised that graduates who cannot read or write were never students but individuals who simply buy results from and end up making it look like the Nigerian university system is poor.

    According to him: “Universities should bring development to the environment which they live. If you look at the developed countries, universities are the towns themselves, but here towns depend on the university for economic growth.

    “In developed worlds, facilities in most universities are donated by people for universities to grow but here people want the universities to sustain them.”

  • VP meets UI VC, others over ASUU strike

    To resolve the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Vice President Namadi Sambo yesterday held a closed door meeting with stakeholders in the education sector.

    The meeting, which was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, had in attendance stakeholders, led by the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike.

    Others included the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie; and Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Adewole.

    But none of them spoke to reporters at the end of the brief meeting

    The Vice President’s office did not issue any statement.

  • Ahmadu Ali urges ASUU to end strike

    Ahmadu Ali urges ASUU to end strike

    •PDP ex-chair heads NUC board •Minister: Govt can’t fully fund tertiary education

    A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Senator Ahmadu Ali, yesterday in Abuja begged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to return to the classroom “in the name of God”.

    The university system, he said, is the most critical variable in the development of the country’s education.

    Ali, a former Federal Commissioner for Education during the military government of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, spoke at the inauguration of the governing boards and councils of Federal Ministry of Education’s corporations/institutions and the Committee on NEEDS Assessment for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

    The politician is the chairman of the Governing Council of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    He decried the challenges facing the sector.

    Ali said: “I beg ASUU, in the name of God, to return to the classroom. This is coming at a time when our educational system is facing major challenges. We consider our appointment as very important. The importance is heightened by the fact that the university system, which the NUC is supervising, is the most critical variable in the development of our national education.

    “The quality of our education depends largely on maintaining a good quality in the university. We promise to do our best to contribute to a more robust system.”

    The Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, who inaugurated the governing boards/councils, urged the members to ensure that the industrial actions experienced in the institutions are resolved.

    He said: “It is clear that the sustenance of the ongoing processes may continue to be problematic since the Federal Government lacks the capacity to fully and solely meet the funding needs of tertiary education. Consequently, effective fund mobilisation, through diverse sources and greater prudence and efficient utilisation of available funds, must be of utmost concern to you.

    “You have no excuses to give since you already have the institutional freedom and flexibility to respond to the challenges of limited public funding through proactive initiatives on endowments, sourcing research grants, the provision of consultancy services, as well as courting the involvement of the private sector in the development of the institutions.”

    The Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Education Aminu Suleiman said the National Assembly was trying to resolve the ASUU crisis.

    He urged the boards and councils to put the interest of the country above personal interests.

    The lawmaker advised the members to aim at excellence, adding that giving excuses would lead to failure.

    Suleiman noted that the corporations had suffered because they did not have boards and councils.

    Osun State Deputy Governor Mrs. Grace Laoye-Tomori hailed the government for appointing those capable of running the governing boards and councils.

    She urged the members to work hard and avoid distractions from various quarters.

  • ASUU strike will end soon – NUC chief

    ASUU strike will end soon – NUC chief

    The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, on Wednesday said he is confident that the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will soon be called off.

    Okojie, who spoke in Abuja at a media parley with journalists, said the commission was doing everything within its powers to ensure a speedy resolution of the issues raised by ASUU so that students could return school.

    “We are part of the system and we understand the issues, we are meeting with members of the union all the time and the issues are being tackled.

    “So, we are optimistic the strike will soon be called off and our children can go back to school in the shortest possible time.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that he also reacted to the call by ASUU for NUC to be scrapped, saying “the call is not in good faith as the commission has not gone to sleep over its duties.”

    Also speaking on the recurrent disagreements between the commission and some professional bodies over accreditation and running of certain courses by some universities, Okojie acknowledged that there were issues that needed to be resolved between both parties.

    “There is no country in the world where regulatory bodies and professional bodies go to regulate at the same time.

    “So, it is true we are having problems with professional bodies in carrying out our mandate, but the issues too will soon be resolved and we can move on.

    The executive secretary, who said the commission had closed many faculties not fit to run courses in certain universities, admitted that; “it is not easy to be a regulator.”

    According to him, the commission was “silently regulating the system’’ having to also pay professional fees and encourage professors to do accreditation.

     

  • NUC seeks alternative ways to varsity education

    NUC seeks alternative ways to varsity education

    The Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, has said the commission is fashioning out alternative ways of ensuring access to university education in Nigeria.

    Okojie made the statement in Abuja on Tuesday when he declared open a three-day workshop on e-learning and Education Resource.

    He said NUC was worried by the increasing number of students, who failed to gain admission to universities because of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)’s inability to meet the increasing demand.

    “This workshop is, therefore, aimed at bringing together stakeholders in the sector to discuss e-learning.

    “New technology has continued to change ways of doing things and there is the need to open ways that those intending to acquire university education can do so without having to go through JAMB,” he said.

    Okojie further shed light on the project, saying through e-learning, students could study and acquire degrees “at their convenience.”

    He said using Open and Distance Learning, the programmes would be designed according to the approved Academic Minimum Standards.

    Okojie also said materials for the courses had been designed for use by students without having to obtain any licences and without fear of violating copyright laws.

    He said the introduction of e-learning was to ensure that Nigeria would be on the same page with other ICT advanced countries.

    Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on what the NUC was doing to ensure quality of PhD graduates, Okojie said the commission had continued to enforce the Benchmark Academic Minimum Standard.

    He also said the commission also ensured the accreditation of courses offered in the postgraduate schools.

     

  • NUC team unimpressed

    A six-man inspection team from the National Universities Commission (NUC), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Federal Ministry of Education has expressed dismay at the slow pace of work on projects at the FUWUKARI.

    The team which visited the university recently to evaluate the progress of five on-going projects, were unimpressed that the job was still at the excavation stage despite that the contractors were mobilised and given 30 weeks to deliver.

    The five projects include two faculty buildings handled by Sageto construction Nig. Ltd; ICT building by G-Tech Construction Nig. Ltd; and the library by Santro Nig. Ltd.

    Mr Samuel Akani, the team leader, said that the contractors did not show any level of preparedness and commitment as their work could not justify the 15 per cent mobilization released to them by the Federal government.

    He said the essence of preliminary funding is to enable the contractors create access roads, sink boreholes and build site offices none, of which had been done.

    The contractors have however promised to redouble their effort so as to deliver within the stipulated time.

  • NUC decries destruction at UniUyo

    The Chairman, Inter-ministerial Committee on Campus Safety from the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Adebisi Balogun, yesterday decried the destruction in the University of Uyo (UniUyo), Akwa Ibom State, following a protest last Wednesday.

    The NUC said the protest that claimed the life of a 200 Level Geology student was beyond the increase of transport fare from N100 to N200.

    Speaking with reporters after the assessment, Balogun said there was more to the incident than meets the eyes.

    His words: “Let me say this, this university had existed since 1991 we have never experienced this type of carnage that has been unleashed on it and therefore, a lot of things must have gone wrong.

    “We don’t want to preempt any investigation but definitely we cannot say because of N100 a whole campus is burnt down.

    “No, there is more to it than meets the eye, until the investigation is concluded.

    “There is nothing that should warrant the burning of a university.

    “I thought in Nigeria, we have outgrown the burning of property and the killing of students. Student unions should imbibe the culture of dialogue.

    “If there is nothing behind this dastardly act, something has to be done because one cannot understand why because of N100 they have to destroy everything in the school.”

    He said investigation is still on to reveal the perpetrators.

    The university management, Balogun said, has also set up its own panel.

    “I have gone through the minutes of the meeting where the President of the Students Union, the director of transport and three members of the students’ body agreed for a private transporter to come to the university.

    “One now wonders what went wrong between the point of agreement and the point the demonstration was carried out,” Balogun said.

    The Vice Chancellor , Prof. Comfort Ekpo, said all necessary arrangements have been concluded between the students and the management on the fare and those to operate the buses.

    On the academic records destroyed, she said the records would be retrieved from faculties that sent them to her office.

    The VC debunked the insulations that the management didnot dialogue with the students.

    Mrs. Ekpo said: “I am sure you are familiar with student protest in this country. Since the students were not many initially. They were about 15 or 20 students. We talked with them. They went back. So we thought they had accepted what we proposed to them.

    “Suddenly they went back to bring people who were having lectures.”

  • UniAbuja: No time frame for School of Medicine accreditation — Okojie

    UniAbuja: No time frame for School of Medicine accreditation — Okojie

    The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, says there is no time frame for the accreditation of courses for the University of Abuja School of Medicine.

    Okojie made this known at the opening of a three-day National Stakeholder’s meeting on the Nigerian Research and Education Network in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He said although the students had been clamouring and protesting for the accreditation of the courses, the NUC must ensure that it followed due process to ensure a credible accreditation.

    The executive secretary reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensure that graduates were well equipped and could compete with their counterparts anywhere in the world.

    Okojie had in the wake of the protest by the university’s medical students blamed the university’s former Vice Chancellors, Prof. Nuhu Yaqub, for initiating engineering and medical programmes without approval.

    The university had been embroiled in crisis following the suspension of Engineering, Veterinary, Agriculture and Medical students in April 2012 by the Federal Ministry of Education over non-accreditation.

    Meanwhile, Okojie says the latest development followed NUC’s inspection visit which discovered that the university has failed to equip its community clinic, a basic requirement for medical examination.

    He said that as a result, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, refused to allow the medical students to sit for their final examination.

    Most of the students, NAN learnt, had spent between seven to eight years without moving to the next level and unable to write the MBBS professional examination.

    Engineering students of the university protested in November 2012, over the issue.

    In its efforts to resolve the crisis, the university’s management, in collaboration with the NUC had earlier this year announced the transfer of engineering students to five other universities in the country.

  • NUC warns against unapproved programmes

    NUC warns against unapproved programmes

    •Salem varsity graduates 95

     

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has urged universities to adhere strictly to the terms and conditions of their licences and approved guidelines.

    The Executive Secretary, Prof Julius Okogie, gave the warning through his representative, Prof. Bisi Balogun, at the convocation of Salem University, Lokoja, Kogi State.

    He urged the universities to desist from running unapproved programmes as the agency would not hesitate to sanction any institution found wanting.

    Ninety-five students graduated at the convocation, who the founder of the university and General overseer of the Foundation Faith Church, Archbishop Sam Amaga, said have been well-prepared to face global challenges.

    Unlike products of federal-owned tertiary institutions which Amaga claimed, are not justifying the billions invested by the federal government, the Salem graduates were groomed to be employers. The clergic said despite that the government spends billions of naira on federal institutions, 80 per cent of graduates of these institutions are half-baked.

    On the contrary, he said Salem University not only imparts academic knowledge on the students, it also empowers them by promoting their natural abilities, enhancing their practical skills, through creative learning and cutting edge research aimed at offering solutions to human need.

    “The university is graduating 95 students in various disciplines, who will not carry their certificates begging for jobs, but instead becomes employers. As I am talking with you, one of our students has already got a multi-million naira IT contract with an international firm,” he said.

    Earlier, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Joseph Adeola Fuwape, said the graduating students constituted proud fulfilment of the vision of Salem University to produce graduates who are worthy in learning and character for outstanding leadership and global impact.

    He said the students graduated from the Colleges of Information and Communication Technology, Natural And Applied Science as well as Peace and Social Science.

    Three of the graduands made first class; 49, second class upper; 39, second class lower; three, third class; while one graduated with pass.

    Fuwape identified the problem of funding and low enrolment relative to its carrying capacity as the challenges confronting the institution, calling on the state governor, Idris wada to extend a hand of fellowship to the institution.

    He urged the graduating students to uphold the virtue of the institution as they are going to the outside world.

    Also speaking, Governor Idris Wada said his administration places much importance on education, assuring the institution of his support.

    He commended the institution for the achievement recorded so far.

     

  • NUC/ICPC seals private varsity in Edo

    NUC/ICPC seals private varsity in Edo

    The Metropolitan Institute of Technology, Benin City was yesterday sealed up by a joint task force of the National University Commission (NUC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).

    The school located along Adesuwa Street off Sapele Road was alleged to be awarding National Diploma and Bacheloe of Science degree without approval.
     A warrant of arrest issued by a Federal High Court was presented to the school management before the task force team swung into action.
    Head of the NUC/ICPC team, Mamudu Abdula ordered the arrest of the Director of Studies of the institution, Barrister Patricia Okoh and four other senior staff members of the institution.
     Computer gadgets and students’ files along with other items were taken away.
    Barrister Okoh in an interview said the institution secured approval from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) of it to offer National Diploma certificate and that the degree courses were operated in conjunction with the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.
    She however said they were yet to receive a response from the NUC for it to offer degree-awarding programmes in conjuction with the Ambrose Alli University.
    “We have approval letters from the NBTE and Ambrose Alli University. We also notify NUC that we run a private university in affiliation with Ambrose Alli University,” she said.
    She said that the institution offers diploma courses in Computer Science, Business Studies and Fashion and Designing while it offers degree courses in Public Administration, Accounting and Business Administration.