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Tag: NUC

  • NUC approves 18 courses at FUOYE

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has given a nod to the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) to run 18 new programmes.

    The approval was contained in a letter dated November 14, 2016 and addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Prof Kayode Shoremekun.

    It follows a visit by the regulation body to assess the preparedness of the university to run the programmes.

    The approved programmes, which the letter, signed by Dr G. D. Kumo, Director, Academic Standards, directed should be run in full-time mode only, include: Public Administration, Business Administration, Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, Business Education, Educational Management, Library and Information Science, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Mass Communication and Accounting.

    Others are: Banking and Finance, Education/Agricultural Science, Education/Biology, Education/Chemistry, Education/Mathematics, Education/English, Criminology and Security Studies, Political Science, and History and International Studies.

    The programmes will start running with effect from the 2016/2017 academic session.

    Shoremekun, who expressed joy at the approval of the programmes, added that the university is making plans to establish a faculty of pharmacy.

    “The Faculty of Pharmacy Committee which I inaugurated in April has turned in its report.  The Committee was chaired by a renowned Professor of Pharmacy, Adebayo Lamikanra. This means that very soon after approvals by the University Senate and NUC, the University will have a Faculty of Pharmacy,” he said.

  • ‘NUC directive will kill ingenuity in varsities’

    ‘NUC directive will kill ingenuity in varsities’

    Charles K. Ayo is the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State. In this interview with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, the professor of Computer & Information Science, says NUC may hamper creativity in universities as certain diploma programmes run by some universities were borne out of ingenuity, and their scrapping may cause demoralisation.

    Do you support NUC’s decision to scrap diploma programmes in universities?

    Whether or not they are branded as certificate or diploma, any programme within the university system that is not run at degree level will tend to be branded diploma or certificate; but placing a blanket ban on all will kill ingenuity.

    I also want to admit that if the university system and polytechnics are running same courses, there are bound to be conflict. So rather than outright ban, there should be a demarcation. Courses that are run at diploma level in polytechnics should be left within the polytechnics. However certain courses could be drawn out of ingenuity in service delivery. There are a number of novel courses that will benefit both teachers, students and professionals. I mean courses that are not being run in Nigeria before but evolved as a result of the dynamic nature of events

    Could you give us instances?

    For instance, while I was in office as VC of Covenant University, I was already working on a diploma programme in Electronic Health and Trado Medicine, which is not run anywhere but rather it is a course intended to bring about a level of awareness for medical doctors and other professionals in medical field, with respect to delivering medical services to remote centres.

    These courses are not taught at degree level but rather it is just a novelty that one is bringing into the system. If you look at the state of our health and going by the statistics presented, when you have 0.28 physician per thousand of population, it won’t take us anywhere. But if as an institution we have e-health portal on the web and on that we have provision to collaborate with medical doctors all over the world, then there should be a little knowledge on how medical doctors can participate in it, that is the way I believe we can improve the quality of health services in Nigeria.

    Not only that we are even looking at online education.  We need some progrmmes that will further enable the populace benefit maximally particularly our professors who may not be aware on how to perfectly run a programme with what they have. But nothing stops university system from short courses

    Do you think NUC’s decision was to improve universities’ ranking globally?

    I do not believe so! There are parameters for that. Teaching is one, staff-student ratio is another. We also have number of international students, foreign faculty, research citation and others as parameters that determine ranking. Like you rightly mentioned, running diploma programmes in universities might just be a way of jerking up internally generated revenue ofsuch university, but not affecting ranking.

    So, what could have influenced the directive by NUC?

    The diploma being awarded in polytechnics are categorised into two-OND and HND and looking at the job schedule, there are appropriate placements for the two. But in universities, where do you place them? (holders of diploma). This is rather causing some sort of confusion, and to think some universities will run a diploma programme and from there to advanced diploma form, is unacceptable.  We have seen individuals who went this route to shortchange the system by going further to have post graduate diploma, Master in Science and even PhD.

    I sincerely believe we should streamline the award of diploma and advanced diploma certificate. These are not certification that one will get and be looking for job or admission in universities but rather it will enhance job performance of professionals.

  • NUC praises admission screening at FUNAAB

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has commended the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), for successfully carrying out the 2016/2017 Pre-Admission Screening Exercise for prospective students of the university.

    Senior Information and Monitoring Officer of NUC, Mr. Mohammed Tanko, who represented NUC at the occasion, lauded members of staff of FUNAAB and other government functionaries that actively participated in the 2016/2017 Pre-Admission Screening Exercise for a job well done in terms of logistics, welfare, thoroughness and adherence to laid down procedures.

    Tanko said his task was to monitor the screening exercise, to ensure that the university does not breach the directive of the Federal Government through the Minister of Education.

    “So far, so good, the process has been smooth. I observed that the security arrangements were properly made. The traffic and strategy that were deployed by both the internal and external security personnel, the Department of State Services (DSS) officers, which I saw on ground and men of other sister-agencies, who participated in the screening, were very much commendable. The strategy of the decentralised screening centre (as adopted by FUNAAB) was commendable, as students were well taken care of while transportation was also commendable.”

    He charged the University to keep to its admission quota. “We expect to have quality graduate output that would compete in private and public sectors within and outside the country. So, I advise that you adhere to NUC guidelines in the areas of admission quota, rules and regulations that would come from the government through the Federal Ministry of Education,” he said.

    FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, who is also the President, Association of African Universities, said the screening was very important to ensure that only responsible and qualified students, who would add value to the quality of the educational system, were admitted.

    Speaking on the resumption date for returning the students, the Vice-Chancellor said university Senate would announce a date once it studied the report of the committee set up to investigate the recent students’ unrest.

  • NUC praises admission screening at FUNAAB

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has commended the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), for successfully carrying out the 2016/2017 Pre-Admission Screening Exercise for prospective students of the university.

    Senior Information and Monitoring Officer of NUC, Mr. Mohammed Tanko, who represented NUC at the occasion, lauded members of staff of FUNAAB and other government functionaries that actively participated in the 2016/2017 Pre-Admission Screening Exercise for a job well done in terms of logistics, welfare, thoroughness and adherence to laid down procedures.

    Tanko said his task was to monitor the screening exercise, to ensure that the university does not breach the directive of the Federal Government through the Minister of Education.

    “So far, so good, the process has been smooth. I observed that the security arrangements were properly made. The traffic and strategy that were deployed by both the internal and external security personnel, the Department of State Services (DSS) officers, which I saw on ground and men of other sister-agencies, who participated in the screening, were very much commendable. The strategy of the decentralised screening centre (as adopted by FUNAAB) was commendable, as students were well taken care of while transportation was also commendable.”

    He charged the University to keep to its admission quota. “We expect to have quality graduate output that would compete in private and public sectors within and outside the country. So, I advise that you adhere to NUC guidelines in the areas of admission quota, rules and regulations that would come from the government through the Federal Ministry of Education,” he said.

    FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, who is also the President, Association of African Universities, said the screening was very important to ensure that only responsible and qualified students, who would add value to the quality of the educational system, were admitted.

    Speaking on the resumption date for returning the students, the Vice-Chancellor said university Senate would announce a date once it studied the report of the committee set up to investigate the recent students’ unrest.

  • CRUTECH aims to top NUC ranking

    The Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) is strategising to top the next ranking of the National Universities Commission (NUC), president of its alumni association, Mr Eyam Abeng, has said.

    Speaking during the launch of a N400 million fund for the association’s proposed alumni centre in Calabar, Eyam said the body is consulting with stakeholders in the education sector in and outside Nigeria to make the dream a reality.

    He said the project is one of many steps being taken to improve the standard of learning in the institution.

    He noted that the state-of-the-art centre will comprise a 500-seater auditorium, Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre for 50 computers, and a guest house, among others.

    “The establishment of the alumni centre represents a vital part of the national executive council’s commitment to providing a platform for members and our future alumni.

    “I believe this alumni center will assist our alma mater to become one of the very best universities in Nigeria in terms of research, technology transfer and ‘technopreneurship,” he said.

    Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Anthony Owan-Enoh, lauded the alumni for their vision, saying he would do his best to support them.

    He said it was worthy of emulation that the old students continue to make efforts to improve their alma mater.

    Chairman of the occasion, Odey Ochicha, a former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stressed the need to revive the education system for advancement.

    He advised policy makers to pay more attention to the education of the youth.

  • Okojie bows out of NUC as Mafiana takes over

    Okojie bows out of NUC as Mafiana takes over

    Prof. Julius Okojie, yesterday, completed his tenure as executive secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC) after serving two terms of five years.

    Okojie handed over to Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, deputy executive secretary 1, who would operate in an acting capacity.

    Okojie was appointed on August 3, 2006.

    In a farewell remark, he said he was able to achieve much because of team work.

    He said the university system was better at present than he met it.

    “I came for the restoration of the glory of the university system.

    “NUC, as a regulatory body, has come of age and will continue to improve”, he said.

    He said he was going back to University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, to teach.

    In his response, Mafiana said he was delighted to serve as the acting executive secretary, adding that he had been working with NUC since 2003 but formally joined the commission in 2007.

    Mafiana said he was director, Executive Secretary’s Office, director, Quality Assurance, Deputy Executive Secretary 1 and Deputy Executive Secretary 11.

    He hailed Okojie for his meritorious service to the nation.

    “On behalf of my colleagues, we pledge to continue to regulate the universities with courage and carry stakeholders along.

    “Not much will change; I count on you to give me as much support as you gave Okojie”, he said.

    Deputy Executive Secretary 11, Ibrahim Daniya, described Okojie as a courageous and visionary leader.

    He said the staff of the commission would miss his benevolence and wisdom.

    Mrs Constance Goddy-Nnadi, Director, Office of the Executive Secretary, NUC, said Okojie came to the commission with an objective to improve the Nigerian university system.

    She said Okojie worked with passion and energy as he left an indelible mark in the university system.

    Highlight of the event was the launch of the third-quarterly magazine of African Centres of Excellence by Okojie.

     

  • NUC approves new Bayelsa’s varsity in Dickson’s village

    NUC approves new Bayelsa’s varsity in Dickson’s village

    The National University Commission (NUC) has approved the University of Africa (UA), Toru-Orua, the community of the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, as the 43rd state university in the country.

    Its approval was reportedly followed the formal presentation of the relevant gazette law, academic brief, physical master plan and the report of the advisory assessment visit by the commission.

    The UA, Toru-Orua, is said to be an initiative of the Bayelsa State Government expected to run as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project.

    The state government is required to only provide the enabling environment, while the financing would reportedly come from the private sector.

    The NUC was said to have given its nod for the university in a letter dated July 28, 2016.

    According to a statement signed by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, congratulated the state government.

    He noted that, the establishment of the university took effect from the 28th of July, having complied with the basic requirements adding that the AU is also the 143rd in the Nigerian university system.

    In the statement, Iworiso-Markson, said Dickson led a delegation of top government officials to the office of the commission in Abuja and were received by executive secretary, who briefed the governor on the latest development and the approval of the university.

    The statement disclosed that, Okojie handed over the letter of approval to Dickson during the visit, and commended him for the initiative.

    In his remarks, Dickson thanked Okojie for the warm reception accorded him and his team, explaining that, the AU, Toru-Orua was conceived as a public private partnership.

    He said it was designed as a first rate institution of learning that would also attract some of the best teachers from Africa and the world.

    He said the university would be funded by its partners and the government would only provide the enabling environment for its establishment.

    Dickson said, there was need for more fee-paying private universities to be established adding that it was the only way to make funding of tertiary institutions viable and sustainable.

    He said: “I am here leading this small delegation to present to you these laws passed by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, establishing a new university that we want to bring about working with the private sector. It will be run on a PPP basis.

    “It is a University unlike the existing one, it will not be directly funded by the state. Our belief is that moving forward for a university to be sustainable, we must create room for private sector participation and involvement.

    “The University of Africa, Toru-Orua, is the first of its kind in this country, that is established by government with private sector involvement and it will be strictly a fee paying tertiary institution that will attract students from across the continent and the globe. It will be the model as we encourage more private universities in this country.”

  • NUC approves new varsity for Bayelsa

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the establishment of the University of Africa for Bayelsa, the 43rd state university in the country.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, disclosed this in a statement issued in Yenagoa on Saturday.

    The statement said the NUC handed over the letter of approval to Governor Seriake Dickson when he visited the commission in Abuja.

    The governor expressed gratitude to the NUC Executive Secretary for the warm reception accorded him and his team.

    “The approval of the university followed the formal presentation of relevant gazette law, academic brief, physical master-plan as well as the satisfactory report of the advisory resource assessment visit by the commission,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Bayelsa State government as saying in the statement.

    Dickson said the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, was conceived as a public private partnership venture and designed as a first rate institution of learning to attract some of the best teachers from Africa and the world.

    He said the university would be funded by private partners, while the government would only provide the enabling environment for its establishment.

     

  • Okojie bows out as NUC boss

    Prof. Julius Okojie on Friday bowed out as the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), after 10 years in office.

    He handed over to the Deputy Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Chinedu Mafiana.

    Prof. Okojie, at the handing over ceremony at the NUC headquarters in Abuja, advised Mafiana to be courageous in carrying out his duties as the Acting Executive Secretary.

    “I will not miss my position at the NUC, but I will miss my staff,” Okojie indirectly referred to the position’s sensitive role  in the tertiary education system.

    He advised the staff to submit themselves to mentorship and training, as those are the only paths to success.

    With two more years left in his civil service career,Prof. Okojie is expected to return to an academic role at a university.

     

  • NUC shuts ‘illegal’ varsity in Delta

    NUC shuts ‘illegal’ varsity in Delta

    The Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) yesterday sealed off the premises of World Mission University, Abraka, Delta State, declaring its activities illegal and without approval from the regulatory body.

    The institution, located on a  storey building on old Sapele Road in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area, had 84 students in various disciplines, such as Nursing and Health Care, Information Technology, Building and Electrical Technology, Mass Communication and Computer Science. The school also ran diploma programmes in vocational studies.

    The university’s National Coordinator, Pastor Hannah Lucky, said the institution started operations in Benin, Edo State in awarded diploma certificates to 5,000 graduates.

    The coordinator said campuses affiliated to the university were in Oghara.

    She said Nursing and Healthcare had 42 students; Information Technology, 12; Building and Electrical Technology, six; Media Department, four and Computer Science and Vocational Studies, 34 students.

    Mrs Lucky said the school’s proprietor was planning to get approval from the NUC.

    According to her, the institution will award degrees to its first batch of deserving students in August.

    She  said lecturers were qualified volunteers, adding that the school created training centres for vocational courses.

    But NUC’s Head of Closure Team, Moses Awe, who led a four-man team, regretted that there was a rise in illegal universities, despite government’s efforts at expanding access to tertiary education.

    He said: “It has become a notorious menace in Nigeria, despite the efforts of the Federal and state governments at expanding access to the university education. You are aware that as of today in Nigeria, we have over 140 universities with the proprietorship of federal and state universities. You are also aware of the National Open University (NOUN), which is also an extension of expanded access.