The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Olabisi Onabanjo University

  • OOU graduate emerges face of CandyCity USA

    Saedat Ilesanmi, a graduate of microbiology from Olabisi Onabanjo University has been announced as the winner of Face of CandyCity USA.

    The elated queen expresses Joy as she was crowned stating that it feels amazing to be announced the winner having tried a couple of pageant but emerging runner up.

    “i feel amazing being named Face of Candycity USA out of thousands of other participants” she said.

    “I have participated in several pageants and been a runner-up lots of other times.

    Once you’ve been runner-up a few times you start thinking, “OK it’s time for me to win!” And yet it can still take a long time to happen, because each pageant is a learning experience.

    “There were so many contestants with vast experience and that made me totally relaxed and my attitude was more of let’s just have fun.

    “I loved every moment of it and I’d do it again if I had the chance”

    The beauty queen however spoke on her pet project adding that she would focus on empowering women by promoting the importance of education.

    “I’m very passionate about uplifting others so I will create platforms that will focus on Integrating and empowering women by promoting the importance of education.

    Read Also: 11-year-old Kareem draws Macron on the spot

    “My platform will empower the millenial females with a progressive drive but have been deprived due to socio-economic constraints.

    “My cause is to reintegrate these girls ( lost girls,dropouts, less fortunate females)into the society by providing them with useful, practical and professional trainings in terms of business and self development.

    “In futherance to my quest in pushing these sisters towards their goals, I would be working together with a selected group of SME’s and business schools for capacity building. I also have plans to work HIH with corporate schools of communications for etiquette trainings, self discipline and personal development.

    “It will be a centre for restoring value for female dignity and It will cater to rehabilitating trulls ,drug addicts and the likes” she added.

  • Budget 2018: Quick release of funds will ensure optimum performance

    Financial experts on Thursday advised the Federal Government to avoid bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensure quick release of funds for optimal performance of the 2018 budget.

    The experts gave the advice in separate interviews with the News men in Lagos, while reacting to the 2018 budget signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.

    Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella of the Department of Economics, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun, said the government should embark on damage control by ensuring quick release of budgetary allocations.

    He said the availability of funds would go a long way in achieving some credible performance of the budget by the first quarter of 2019.

    The economist said the economy would continue on an upward trend if there was no external macroeconomic shock.

    He said the government should ensure that domestic prices were not significantly affected by spending on political activities.

    “The budget of N9.12 trillion might look quite unrealistic, but we have to look at the current revenue in terms of current price of oil as against when the budget was presented.

    “What were the exchange rate then and now, and the inflationary rate going down? The economy actually requires reflation to get us out of the depression fast.

    “So, there is the need for higher budget than what was presented and if the value of oil does not go down drastically, and the oil output increases, the economy can meet up without external borrowing,” Tella said.

    Read Also: Buhari signs Budget 2018 despite N578b injection

    He, however, tasked the executive and the legislature to address budget delays, noting that it was not good for the economy.

    “Given that the budget was signed in the sixth month, eight months after presentation, it is apparent that the legislature needs to show more commitment to developing the economy,” he said.

    Tella said the Nigerian economy was public-driven, not private-driven like developed capitalist economies, and that the legislature must recognise this in dealing with budget consideration and approval.

    Also speaking, Mr Ambrose Omordion, the Chief Operating Officer, InvestData Ltd., said the President’s speech signaled lack of unity and different goals between the executive and the legislature.

    Omordion said the development, if not checked, would make budget implementation difficult.

    According to him, the budget would be realistic if only the government could do the needful by reducing its borrowing and use the surplus above the oil price benchmark to finance projects.

    He said the government should channel the funds to projects that will have direct impact on the economy and the people.

    He also called for change in style, in the disbursement of funds for projects, and that the funds should be disbursed on time, for effective implementation.

    On budget delays, Omordion said the development had affected monitoring of project execution, thereby creating economic uncertainties.

    “Budget delay in Nigeria is as old as the government; and it has contributed to the slow development and economic growth of Nigeria,” Omordion said.

    The news men reports that President Buhari, on June 20, signed the appropriation bill of N9.12 trillion into law, after seven months of delay.

    The President, however, raised concern over the National Assembly’s injection of strange projects and sundry irregularities into the 2018 budget.

    Buhari said the legislators, “made cuts amounting to N347 billion in the allocations to 4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration, and introduced 6,403 projects of their own, amounting to N578 billion.”

    NAN

     

  • UniJos ASUU seeks solution to herdsmen/farmers clashes

    Worried by the persistent clashes between farmers and herdsmen, the University of Jos ( UniJos ) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ), on Monday held a symposium where stakeholders proffered possible solutions to the menace.

    In his speech at the occasion, Dr. Chris Piwuna, the chairman of the association, challenged Nigerians to put heads together toward tackling the scourge.

    He said that a state of anarchy was gradually setting in, and warned that Nigeria’s nationhood was under threat.

    Piwuna urged stakeholders, especially farmers, herdsmen, security agencies and the government to be sincere in their approach to the issue, saying that the incessant violence could snowball into unmanageable dimensions if not tackled.

    He regretted the massive human and material losses over time, and called for sacrifices from all sides toward lasting peace.

    The ASUU chairman attributed the violence to a struggle for Nigeria’s limited arable land, and advised government to seek out ways to settle cattle breeders so as to minimise open grazing that had often led to clashes over destruction of crops.

    In his paper, Prof. Omotoye Onorode of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, said that modern cattle rearing system had become “increasingly inevitable” to avert constant clashes between farmers and herders in Nigeria’s rural communities.

    Onorode, in his paper titled: “Herdsmen/Farmers Clashes Today: Ecology, Class and Categorical Politics in Contemporary Nigeria”, said that modern cattle breeding system would take cognizance of equity in land allocation for the two groups.

    “The society is in deep crisis; the old system of symbiotic living is dead and the new system cannot be formed because of the social and political interest not giving room to new ideas.

    “There is inequality in securing land which is the main requirement for these groups. The quest for wealth has subdued the need to chart ways for a peace charter between the herdsmen and farmers,” he said.

    The university don alleged that monies proposed for grazing reserves and ecological funds had been misused by successive governments, while the 1978 land law meant to facilitate easy access to land had only benefited capitalist land owners.

    Noting that prejudices of fear and ignorance had bred distrust among the groups, he said that the problems could be reconciled through more interventions toward ensuring a better life for the rural population.

    In his remarks, Mr Ephraim Sheyin, Zonal Manager, Jos zone of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that suggestions toward ending the violence had often failed because those concerned were not involved in their planning and execution.

    “Government has made many suggestions. Some have suggested ranching, grazing reserves and cattle colonies.

    “These suggestions have often hit the wall because of mutual fear and suspicion caused by lack of, or poor consultation. All stakeholders must be involved in the search for peace so as to reach agreements accepted by all parties,” he said.

    He regretted that most policies were always formulated by elites who had no farm or cattle, and urged government to relate closely with rural farmers and herders since they were the ultimate determinants of the success or failure of such policies.

    Sheyin said that the clashes were purely a direct economic struggle over a limited resource – land.

    “Our land resources are shrinking while human and cattle population is increasing. In 1950, our population was 33 million, but we are currently close to 200 million.

    “The fight is about who should get the limited arable land. Any other thing is secondary,” he said.

    In his remarks, Mr Abdullahi Ardo, Secretary of Miyetti Allah cattle Breeders Associati, Plateau State Chapter, decried the absence of infrastructure in their communities, saying that the situation was breeding frustration among the rural areas.

    He also alleged that the clashes were being fueled by the media who usually draw conclusions about attacks without proper investigation.

    Mr Aboi Madaki, President, Plateau Initiative for the Development and Advancement of the Natives ( PIDAN ), blamed the clashes on land confiscation.

    Madaki cautioned herdsmen against accommodating in their midst, foreign militias usually accused of carrying out the attacks.

    The symposium, which was chaired by Prof. Lami Lombin, former Director General, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, was attended by four former Vice Chancellors of the university.

    NAN

  • Ifu Ennada, BBNaija , says she is a victim of rape

    Iheme Faith Uloma, aka Ifu Ennada, evicted contestant in the ongoing reality TV show, BBNaija “Double Wahala,’’ says she was raped and infected with a Sexual Transmitted Disease ( STD ).

    Ifu Ennada, who is also an actress, content producer, TV host and fitness entrepreneur took to her instagram handle, @ifuennada on Tuesday to make the revelation citing an unnamed personality in the entertainment industry as the rapist.

    The BBNaija contestant said that she has already documented her ordeal in her latest short story film titled, `Tears of A Broken Virgin.’

    According to her, during her stay in the BBNaija House when emotions were raised during a `Truth or Dare game,’ she affirmed that she had not rally had sex.

    The fashion designer and graduate of Computer Science from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun added that people interpreted that she was claiming to be a Virgin.

    “The truth is in 2016, I was raped by someone in the entertainment industry, before then I was a Virgin.
    “This person also infected me with an STI.

    Read Also: ‘Lifu’ evicted from BBNaija “Double Wahala”

    “ I was also threatened by this person and was very scared of social media’s bashing with the usual questions of “what was she wearing!’’ “why did she go to his house ?’’

    “So in all my sadness and depression, I decided to tell the world what had happened to me using film as a medium.

    “I was inspired to write and produce my film `Tears of A Broken Virgin’. I got a lot of help from social media.

    “People volunteered to work for me free of charge even my director – Benny Atagame Alli.

    “Though some parts of my film are fiction, the bulk of it was inspired by my story. The lead character’s name is Ada which is a short form of my name Adanne- popularly pronounced as Ennada.

    “Because of my sad experience I battled depression, developed trust issues and found it hard to connect with people especially men.

    “I wanted to tell my story and also pass a strong message to rape victims and rapists…I hope I was able to do that with my film.

    “I intend to expand this into a feature length film. I hope everyone out there is inspired to stand up against rape,’’ Ifu wrote.

    As pairs in the BBNaija house, Ifu and Leo won the `Roc Da Mat’ Challenge which earned them VVIP trip to One Africa Festival in London later in the year.

    In addition, they were awarded five million naira ( N2.5 million each ) and one year supply of Pepsi.

    They were the fourth pair to be evicted in the 2018 BBNaija reality TV show.

    Their eviction came after Ahneeka and Angel were evicted, and two weeks after Bitto and Princess and Vandora and Dee-one were evicted.

    Ifu described her 43 days stay in the BBNaija house as `eventful.’

    NAN

  • NSE loses N370bn on Tuesday

    NSE loses N370bn on Tuesday

    The Nigerian Stock Exchange ( NSE ) on Tuesday sustained seven-day falling streak with the market capitalisation shedding N370 billion in one day.

    The market capitalisation lost N370 billion or 2.41 per cent to close at N14.967 trillion against N15.337 trillion achieved on Monday.

    Similarly, the All-Share Index which opened at 42,737.89 lost 1,029.74 points or 2.41 per cent to close at 41,708.15 following huge losses by some highly capitalised stocks.

    Some financial experts in an interview with our reporter attributed the persistent loss to decline in global stock markets, especially in the U.S. and Europe, contributed to the bearish trend in the market.

    Dr Uche Uwaleke, the Head of Banking and Finance Department, Nasarawa State University Keffi, said investors reactions to the global stock market trend led to sell pressure on the exchange.

    Uwaleke said drop in crude oil price following increased supply and profit taking by investors in respect of over-priced stocks, particularly those of tier 11 banks contributed to the development.

    He said relative uptick in returns from money market securities led to movement of funds from capital market to the money market securities.

    Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, Professor of Economics, Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye, Ogun said the bearish trend was expected because the stock market usually reacted to economic conditions.

    “This is New Year and the budget is yet to be passed, so money is not yet being released and people need to buy lots of things.

    “Fortunately, the market was bullish recently such that the values of shares went up making it possible for profit taking,” he said.

    Tella said the bearish trend would bring new opportunities for new investors as well as old ones who would want to adjust their financial portfolio.

    He said that these investors would go the market shortly to take advantage of the lower prices of shares.

    “We will start seeing bullish activities in the market again.

    “It is the nature of the market to facilitate between bullish and bearish swings as dictated by market forces,” he said.

    An analysis of the price movement showed that Nestle recorded the highest loss depreciating by N40 to close at N1, 320 per share.

    Dangote Cement trailed with a loss of N13.30 to close at N258.70, while Nigerian Breweries dipped N5.20 to close at N127.80 per share.

    Guinness was down by N5 to close at N105, while International Breweries depreciated by N2.50 to close at N57.50 per share.

    On the other hand, Lafarge Afeica led the gainers’ table growing by N1 to close at N51 per share.

    Zenith International Bank followed with a gain of 60k to close at N30, while Berger Paint gained 45k to close at N9.45 per share.

    Access Bank increased by 45k to close at N12, while Dangote Sugar Refinery advanced by 30k to close at N21 per share.

    The banking sub-sector was the toast of investors with Diamond Bank emerging the most traded, trading 67.69 million shares worth N181.14 million.

    FCMB Group followed with an account of 49.22 million shares valued at N126.18 million, while Fidelity Bank sold 42.78 million shares worth N129.55 million.

    United Bank for Africa traded 39.16 million shares valued at N437.59 million, while FBN Holdings exchanged 32.59 million shares worth N358.64 million.

    In all, the volume of shares traded closed lower with an exchange of 470.52 million shares valued at N3.68 billion transacted in 6,309 deals.

    This was against the 517.44 million shares worth N5.19 billion traded in 5,852 deals on Monday.

    NAN

  • Amosun to young graduates: Aspire to be governors

    Amosun to young graduates: Aspire to be governors

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Wednesday urged the Nigerian youth to aspire for elective offices as the world awaits their manifestation but said being a governor of a state comes with great responsibility.

    Amosun said the youth should avail themselves of the current thinking in Nigeria that ‘It – is – not – too young – to – run,’ seek leadership position and fulfil their destiny in life.

    The Governor spoke at the 27th Convocation ceremony of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago – Iwoye, where the quartet of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Chairman of First Bank PLC, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, foremost

    Nigerian banker, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, and Toyin Falola, a historian and Professor of African studies, University of Texas, Houston, USA, were each awarded the institution’s Doctor of letters (honoris causa).

    Amosun, however, advised that the youth should also be prepared to pay in order to enjoy qualitative education at the tertiary level.

    He noted that undergraduate education is highly subsidized in Ogun by the state government, adding that the best won’t come out the university system if people insisting it must be made free for students.

    “Education can’t be free otherwise there will not be qualitative education. But to cushion the effects of the various payments which you think are too high we are at the same time subsidising this university and other tertiary institutions spread across the state.

    “If you are insisting or yearning for a free education, then the quality of graduates that the university and other tertiary institutions in the state will be churning out will be on a “garbage in, garbage out” scale, a situation we don’t cherish.

    “You will need to programme yourselves. You are to think out of the box. Be ingenious while we will create enabling environment for businesses to thrive. You are to see your graduation today as a turning point in your life. Also, be ready to give back to the school, your family members, the society and humanity.

    “You have not only been a pride to yourself and your parents but you have carved a niche for yourself and the centre of excellence you have graduated. The world is waiting for your manifestation and so, let the world see you that you are an eagle.

    “Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) has raised the bar of excellence and we will do all humanly possible to improve from the 23rd position ranking,” Amosun said.

    He lauded the overall best graduating student, Mr. Semiu Olalekan Taiwo, of the department of Economics who has obtained first class and won the institution’s and Vice Chancellor’s awards respectively.

    In his address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Ganiyu Olatunde, said  a total of 4,386 graduands were awarded first degrees and Diploma in the academic 2016/2017 session with 18 graduands making first class list, 605 in second class upper division while 1,938 made second class lower.

    Similarly, Prof Olatunde stated that 654 received their higher degrees and postgraduate diplomas which comprises 105 postgraduate diplomas, 474 Master’s degrees, 1 MPhil and 74 PhD degrees.

  • ASUU frowns at mandatory sale of handouts by lecturers

    ASUU frowns at mandatory sale of handouts by lecturers

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities in Nigeria (ASUU) has expressed displeasure at the mandatory sale of handouts by some lecturers in tertiary institutions.

    Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, President of the union, expressed this view in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    “It is not wise for lecturers in our tertiary institutions to compel students to be buying handouts, though it is not a widespread practice; we have few people that are misbehaving.

    “But the system has a way of handling them, so anywhere they see them they always put them on check.

    “It is not permitted in the system and there is a structure for tracking and dealing with that so ASUU as a union don’t condone it and we discourage it anywhere and everywhere we go,’’ he said.

    However, a cross section of Nigerian students had decried the rate at which some lecturers extort money from them in the name of selling of handouts.

    Speaking in separate interviews with NAN, students lamented that they were being forced to buy handout and that failure to do so could result in failing the courses.

    Mr Osita Chukwu, a student in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Abuja, alleged that the lecturers usually assigned some students to sell the reading materials to them.

    Chukwu alleged that the handouts were sold between N1, 500 and N2, 000, saying that the students were also made to submit their registration numbers for identification of defaulters.

    “The most annoying thing is that you may have three lecturers handling a course and each of them will print a handout for students to buy.

    “And they will make it compulsory, so that you have no option than to subscribe to it, because if you decide to photocopy it, you may stand the risk of failing the course.’’

    Miss Joy David, a student in the Faculty of Business Administration, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, decried the manner some lecturers compel students to buy handouts that sometimes lack depth.

    Contributing, Miss Janet Obiora, a student of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, said the sale of handouts by some lecturers had promoted mediocrity among students as many of them no longer go to the school library to do research.

    She opined that the mandatory sales of handouts also encouraged laziness among students who often want to concentrate on the handouts from their lecturers.

    Similarly, Mr Yinusa Bello of the University of Abuja said that compulsory sale of handouts by lecturers would increase examination malpractice among students, who may be tempted to take such handouts into examination halls.

    Bello, therefore, appealed to ASUU to take the necessary measures that would discourage the habit of  the lecturers in indulging in the sale of handouts compulsorily for students.

    According to him, not many students have the purchasing power to the bidding of the lecturers, who insist that the purchase of their handouts is the surest way to passing certain courses.

    “Some of these handouts are less than 30 pages which if students were allowed to photocopy will cost them lesser than the original price,’’ he said.

  • We’ll make OOU better before 2019 – Amosun

    We’ll make OOU better before 2019 – Amosun

    Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, on Thursday pledged to greatly improve the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago – Iwoye, before leaving office in May 29, 2019.

    Amosun said the administration would seek to accomplish the plan by building on the foundation already laid by the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Saburi Adejimi Adesanya, who did not only ensured a stable academic calendar, but also brought about massive infrastructural development in OOU during his five years tenure.

    The governor made the pledge at a send – forth ceremony organised in honour of Prof. Adesanya by the Ebumawe of Ago – Iwoye, Oba Adesina Adenugba, and the town’s Oba – in – Council Committee.

    Amosun, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa, reiterated the government’s commitment to enhancing the quality of education in the state.

    He said: “We are not resting on our oars concerning the Olabisi Onabanjo University. We are going to robustly build on the foundation laid by the outgoing vice chancellor; you will see a much more improved OOU before our handover.

    “The achievements of the vice chancellor were well cited and documented at the recently concluded Ogun State Education Summit and we have confidence in the acting vice chancellor and the Council and we pray that his successor will do better. Everyone agreed that he has done so well in OOU.”

    He lauded the Ebumawe and his people for according the vice chancellor the honour of a send forth ceremony, saying it is a ” good thing and worthy of emulation.”

     

  • Don faults Economic Recovery and Growth Plan

    Prof. Omotoye Olorode, of the Department of Plant Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University has faulted the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    Olorode, who spoke at the 2017 Pre-May Day Lecture on Saturday in Abuja, described the plan as subversive to chapter II of the 1999 Nigerian constitution.

    The chapter stipulates “Derivative Principles of State Policy, meaning that the state shall provide for the welfare of the citizens by providing education, employment, and health among others.

    The heme of the lecture was; “Labour Relations in Economic Recession: An Appraisal” jointly organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

    He said that ERGP which was recently inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari was an extension of the assault formally imposed on the nation under military dictatorship in the mid-1980s.

    “It is the same policies that have been imposed on the country by neoliberal forces that were replicated in the document which was inaugurated with fanfare by the President.

    “The document cannot drive the nation’s economic recovery plan.

    “I want to say that from President Shehu Shagari’s austerity measures of the early 1980s to SAP, to vision 2010, 2020 and 20-2020 to today’s 2017 ERGP, the commitment of the ruling class has been to neoliberalise-private sector led economy characterised below and enforced overtime by the same personnel,’’ ‘he said.

    Olorode said the ERGP document was articulated with the understanding that the role of government in the 21st century must evolve from that.

    “Nothing in the 2016 Strategic Implementation Plan to which the ERGP referred is new.

    “Consequently, we must reiterate a segment of NLC policy document to show that the class interests of the succession of Nigeria’s ruling class regimes is antagonistic to that of the working people.

    “Given the continued neglect of education through underfunding and privatisation, the claim of ERGP that the plan recognises the need to leverage Science, Technology and Innovation and build a knowledge based economy is not just only sheer sloganeering, it is a cruel joke.

    “It is this neoliberal programmes that the Nigeria ruling class is still peddling with the ERGP and the entire labour movement at the global levels.

    “There is the need to resist the outlaw capitalist recession in Nigeria and throughout the world.’’

    On corruption, he insisted that the fight against corruption would not make any meaningful impact.

    He said that as long as the Nigerian ruling class remain committed to private accumulation under new-liberal ideology which typically locates countries like Nigeria at the periphery of global capitalism, nothing much would be achieved.

    In his remarks, Mr Ayuba Wabba, NLC President said that various government policies had continued to impoverish the Nigerian people.

    Wabba said that government policies had consistently favoured employers against the workers and the Nigerian people.

    According to him, today is a day of reflection and a day that we must recognise that no employer of labour will be so generous to award us what we are demanding for.

    “We have to get it through struggle and this is what we need to reflect on.

    “No politician seeks office to actually better the lot of the people because they see politics as an investment.

    “We must as watchdog of the society continue to represent the interest of our members and the larger people. No policy will be made that will serve our interest,’’ he said.

    He said that government policies must be made to address the developmental challenges and address issues of inequality that had continued to be on the increase.

    According to him, 2017 May Day calls for rededication for members and leaders to the collective struggle and agitation for what is right in the society.

    Wabba frowned at the statement made by the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar opposing the idea of having uniform salary for workers across the country.

    “If political office holders can earn the same salaries irrespective of the resources available in their states, there was no reason why workers should not earn the same salaries across the country.

    “In any case, we are not even canvassing for the same salary structure.

    “ We are talking of minimum wage and even in the most capitalist societies, you have minimum wage which is to protect the vulnerable and it cuts across both public and private sector.

    “We do not want to leave it to our respective employers to fix what they want. We are saying that we must continue to maintain that minimum whereby no employer should pay below that.’’

    He called on workers not be deterred because “a people determined cannot be defeated.’’

    The TUC President, Mr Bobboi Kaigama said countries all over the world had always rejigged their economy to make workers the priority of the state when the country was going through hard times.

    Kaigama lamented that the reverse had always been the case in Nigeria.

    “As creators of wealth, we are seen as slaves to our slave masters.

    “During this year’s May Day, we intend to show the Nigerian government at all levels our displeasure.

    “In the midst of recession, devaluation of the naira and the high cost of everything, the wage of the Nigerian worker did not change, it remained constant.

    “We will not stop calling on the governors that their states cannot pay workers’ salaries to resign.

    “Because we strongly believe that there is no state in this country that cannot generate revenue internally to pay salaries except the governor is not serious,’’ he said.

    He called on governors who feel they would not be able to pay workers’ salaries through internally generated revenue to honourably resign.

  • SAN canvases for more funding of science education

    The Science Association of Nigeria (SAN) has called for increase funding of science and technology by government at all levels for the technological advancement of the country.

    President of the association Prof Mojo Bakare-Odunola said in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital while briefing reporters on the postponement of SAN’s annual conference scheduled hold between 24th and 28th of this month in Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

    Prof Bakare-Odunola said “the development of any nation depends on how much funding is available for education and research. That is why we have been harping on increase in funding of education. If government can increase funding of science and technology then the development of the country is guaranteed.”

    SAN President opposed the use of indigenous languages in the teaching of science and technology.

    Said she: “I will not subscribe to the teaching of science an education in indigenous languages because if we want to internationalise by not dealing with science and technology at the local level then it is better it is being taught in English rather than indigenous languages.

    “Actually SAN is doing a lot to draw attention to the importance of science and technology education for our secondary school students especially those that the brains to go into it are not discouraged.

    “The problem that discourages people from sciences is because of the compulsory nature of mathematics. And most students are afraid of offering mathematics. But you find maths in science; there is maths in chemistry, physics, and a bit of maths in biology if you go to genetics.

    “Because of that people are scared of going into sciences. Even in the secondary schools the art students after their lecture have the remaining day free but the science students will still be on for practical. This tediousness makes people to be generally scared of the mathematical aspect of science.”