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Tag: Oluwatoyin Ogundipe

  • Nigeria’s political landscape still volatile, unstable – UNILAG VC

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe (FAS) on Thursday lamented the volatile and unstable landscape of the country, going by the recent general elections.

    He made this observation during the 2019 colloquium of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), which took place at the Management House, Victoria Island Lagos.

    For Ogundipe, who served as the returning officer of Osun State for the 2019 presidential election, elections ought to represent the will of the people, devoid of violence.

    The Vice Chancellor, speaking on the theme “Democracy and Electoral Process: the Nigerian Experience” said this is so because of the intolerance Nigerians exhibit during the exercise.

    According to him, “Despite the gains in electoral process and democratic experience, Nigerian political landscape is still volatile and unstable. This is because of the violence, intolerance and killing still witnessed during our elections.

    “It is even more worrying with the incidences of ballot-box snatching, voters intimidation, insecurity as well as manipulation on the basis of religion and ethnicity. These have led to a significant number of tribunal cases after the rejection of election results by the opposition at state or federal.”

    Read Also: Extreme poverty in Nigeria worrisome, says Osinbajo

    Defining democracy as a system that recognizes representation and individual rights, Professor Ogundipe affirmed the elimination of electoral manipulations and violence, for it to grow.

    “The conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria is instrumental to the growth and sustainability of Nigeria, which will lead to rule of law, freedom of the press, accountability and transparency – where agencies like EFCC & ICPC could be more impactful. Citizens would be able to hold government responsible for the campaign promises made.” he said

    The Vice Chancellor recommended some ways to strengthen the democratic and electoral process in Nigeria to include strengthening the electoral framework, technology adaptation for transparency and effectiveness, increased engagement with stakeholders and professional training of electoral and security officers in the country, ahead of each electoral exercise.

    Earlier on, the President, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Professor Olukunle Iyanda had wondered why there was always tension before, during and after the exercise in the country, and whether it was needed.

    “As we all know, election period in Nigeria, before, during, and after the elections, is characterized by tension, corrupt activities, and violence. These are caused by inter- and intra- party rivalry and activities. Must this necessary be so? Can elections be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, without disrupting the peace of the ordinary citizen whose interest may not go beyond discharging his civil responsibility of voting for a candidate of his choice? Can elections be conducted in such a way that both the winner and the loser would accept results as an expression of the will of the people? These are the challenges facing our country in the conduct of elections.

    Professor Ogundipe was inducted into the hall of fame of the Nigerian Institute of Management at the end of the colloquium.

     

  • Job seekers lack presentation, leadership, team building skills – group

    Kaiser Group, a construction outfit, has identified lack of soft skills among young graduates as largely been responsible for their unemployment ability.

    Mr Igbuan Okaisabor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, made the attribution on Wednesday at  a weeklong soft skills training for some final year students of the University of Lagos.

    The students were drawn from construction-related departments  such as electrical, civil and mechanical engineering; building technology, quantity survey and geo formatics.

    According to him, soft skills, which are usually not acquired by students during their stay in tertiary schools, are what employers of labour watch out for.

    He listed the soft skills to include communication, presentation, leadership and team building skills as well as self confidence and interpersonal relationship abilities.

    “The degrees one acquires, be it in the first class or second class upper division, usually do not play up prominently.

    “The industries have discovered that there are missing links between what the universities or tertiary institutions produce and what employers need.

    “We are in a country with an estimated population of about 200 million people and high unemployment rate.

    “Of this figure, the youth make up a larger percentage and they cannot create jobs,” he said.

    He said that many employers of labour could not find the right people to employ.

    “So, we felt the need to do something in that direction as part of our corporate social responsibility,” he said.

     

    He said that although success of a construction business would require  technical knowledge, soft skills were important.

    “Here, we are talking about communication, presentation, leadership and team building skills, as these are what will ensure maximum output in the world of works.

    “When job seekers lack such skills, it becomes difficult for them to integrate and deliver properly on their duties,” he added.

    According to him, it is worrisome that most young graduates seeking employment can hardly write letters or communicate seamlessly.

    He said that some foreigners took over many jobs that should be done by Nigerians because of lack of such skills and not technical incompetence.

    “We as a construction company are in a business that tries to fix economic benefits, while making social impacts; so, we believe in improving the lives of people around us.

    “The emphasis here, too, is the need for industries to be more responsive to the needs of their immediate communities by partnering with the academia in order to empower the youth especially by assisting them to improve on their chosen endeavours.

    “There is no doubt that government has not invested enough in the education of the people.

    “Here is a country with almost 200 million people and the annual budget in education is usually less than what a country of 20 million propke has set aside for its education sector.

    “Having said this, it is not also enough to just throw money into a problem; there must be a structure to providing a solution; otherwise, the money will go down the drain,” he said.

    Prof. Mike Adebamowo, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos, said that the initiative was one of the visions of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, for the university, in terms of entrepreneurship skills and bridging the gap between the academia and the industry.

    According to him, the vice chancellor had the vision of making the institution’s graduates more relevant and globally competitive.

    “I want to say that this initiative by Kaiser Group is a step in the right direction, and we are very excited about it.

    “This soft skills training is very essential, and we are glad that it is coming at this time, and we appreciate them for this laudable programme.

    “They were with us last year to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, which has to do with the group collaborating with us in research as well as providing scholarship for indigent students in the construction space.

    “It is also good to understand what soft skills are and be able to develop the aptitude, character and all other such skills needed in the market such as time management, punctuality, integrity, interpersonal relationship and being a team player.

    “Without these skills, one becomes a wreck and irrelevant, regardless of one’s academic achievements as one will not be able to connect with the society and the industry,” the dean said

  • UNILAG generates 2.5 tons of plastic waste daily, says official

    The University of Lagos ( UNILAG ) has appealed to Lagos residents to reduce the use of plastic to protect the environment from further degradation.

    The institution made the appeal at a walk for the environment to commemorate the 2018 World Environment Day ( WED ) on Tuesday in Lagos.

    The theme for this year’s celebration is “Beat Plastic Pollution’’, aims at encouraging global action against the use of plastic.
    Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, told the News men that the walk was to create awareness among students and members of staff of the institution to protect the environment.

    “Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental concerns facing us today and this has constituted a global problem,’’ he said.

    Ogundipe said that residents should be cautious about the use of plastics considering the topography of the state.

    “We are flagging off the occasion with a walk and we want to involve everyone because we all have roles to play in taking care of the environment,’’ he said.

    Mrs Sade Nubi, a Senior Environmental Engineer with the Department of Works and Physical Planning, said that the event involved a walk for the environment and a presentation on beating plastic pollution on campus.

    The presentation by Nubi revealed that UNILAG generates an average of 2.5 tons of plastic waste per day and a huge volume of 840 tons per year.

    Nubi said that the university had made progress in her recycling effort by being able to recycle an average of 10.4 tons of plastic per month.

    She noted the need to cut down on the volume of plastic generation on campus through the use of reuse plastic.

    Read Also: UNILAG to investigate sexual allegation against lecturer

    Nubi urged the staff and students to pledge to keep to the habit of refusing single use plastic in line with international global practice and this year’s world environment day: “Beat Plastic Pollution’’.

    “The earth’s potential is being threatened by poor disposal of plastic waste into the environment affecting the air, water and land.

    “Currently, the world generates an average of one million single use plastic per minute.

    “These mainly find their ways into the water bodies disintegrating to micro-plastic which are consumed by aquatic animals and ultimately kills them or are transferred into the food chain,’’ Nubi said.

    She added that some health issues like cancer and food poison have been traced to issues of micro-plastic consumed from fishes and sea foods.

    She urged everybody to think globally and act locally to ensure we beat plastic pollution through adherence to reuse plastic and creating alternative to single use plastic.

    NAN

  • Three tie as best at UNILAG

    12,393 to graduate next week

     

    Two hundred and forty-five (245) first class holders are among the 12,393 students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, that would graduate next week.

    Announcing this year’s convocation programme at a press briefing held at the Senate Chambers of the university on Wednesday, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said the best three (Jude Mathew – Biochemistry; Abass Roy-Layinde – Petroleum Engineering, and Emmanuel Babawale – Early Child Education) had the same Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.97.

    He also said four of the First Class graduates were among the pioneer 14 produced by the institution’s Chinese Language programme.

    Out of the total graduates, Ogundipe said 6,816, (53.9 per cent), were undergraduates while 5,822, (46.1 per cent), were postgraduate students.

    Among the first degree holders, the Vice-Chancellor said 1,892 made Second Class (upper division); 2,959 Second Class (lower division); 1,227 made Third Class; 93 had Pass; while 400 were graduating with unclassified degrees or diplomas.”

    In the postgraduate category, the university would graduate 123 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) holders, 5,190 Masters’ degree holders and 509 Post Graduate Diploma students.

    The convocation programme would feature a lecture on “Inclusion: A Path to a New Nation” to be delivered by the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday to be chaired by Professor of Biology, Anya Oko Anya. Same day will also be the investiture of the Vice-Chancellor will as the 12th in the university following his appointment last November.

    The convocation for both undergraduates and postgraduates would follow between Wednesday and Friday during which the university will confer Emeritus Professorship on Prof Mabel Ogunlesi, a former deputy vice-chancellor; while Professors Herbert Coker, Ayodeji Olukoju, Taiwo Osipitan and Onatolu Odukoya will be awarded distinguished professorship awards.

    Prof Ogundipe said the university would continue to pursue excellence, and focus on research that would benefit the nation.

    “We have initiated some partnerships and collaborations with institutions and organisations that will help us to achieve our dream of providing a world-class learning and research environment that will produce great scholars and researchers, with national impact.  We shall escalate research activities that focus on solving real-life challenges,” he said.

  • God, not me, is the VC of UNILAG, says Ogundipe

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos ( UNILAG ), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has said that God and not him, was in charge of the administration of the activities of the university.

    The VC made the statement on Sunday while delivering a sermon at the Redeem Christian Fellowship, University of Lagos Chapter at the Tolulope Odugbemi Hall of the University.

    University of Lagos ( UNILAG ), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe

    Ogundipe, whose sermon centered on “You shall not be wasted” said God had been the one charting the course of UNILAG since he took over as the Vice Chancellor of the school.

    The Professor of Botany said he was only an instrument for God – and all he has been doing since he took over as the VC of the school has never been his own initiative but directives from God.

    Ogundipe, however, advised the students that for them not to have a wasted life they must always acknowledge God in all they do.

    “Wasted life could either be physical or psychological or in relation to a wasted time. But in proper perspective, when you don’t know God, you are living a wasted life.”

    “There are some people that there education is wasted. Whether you are a professor or a VC, if you don’t know God, your education is wasted.”

    The VC, who prophesied that the students’ lives shall not be wasted, charged the students to do away with company of friends that are living wasted lives.

    University of Lagos ( UNILAG ), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe2

    Ogundipe succeeded Prof. Rahmon Bello to become the 12th Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos in November 2017. Until his appointment as the 12th Vice Chancellor of the University, Ogundipe was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research) of the university.

  • UNILAG VC appeals to protesting unions to embrace peace

    UNILAG VC appeals to protesting unions to embrace peace

    The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos ( UNILAG ), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, on Friday pleaded with striking workers in the institution to embrace peace, as appropriate authorities were addressing their agitation.

    The workers, under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the institution, had embarked on a peaceful protest on campus, demanding the release of two of their members that were arrested by the Police on Feb. 15.

    Addressing the protesting workers, Ogundipe said he did not have a hand in the arrest.

    He described as unfortunate, instances where some persons were already indicting him as being solely responsible for the arrest.

    “Since the beginning of this strike, I have not had course to stop you from prosecuting your struggle.

    “It is your right to demand what rightfully is yours.

    “But at the same time, let us not destroy the structure, because this strike will come and go.

    “If we destroy the structure at this time of the strike, then when we come out of it, there will be no structure to fall back on.

    “The strike is a national one and not a local one, so it also behoves on us to think globally and act locally.

    “This will be for the benefit of all,’’ the VC said.

    In their response, the union leadership assured the vice-chancellor of their support for his administration.

    They said the struggle had nothing to do with him or his management team.

    Mr Sulaiman Lawal, Chairman of the National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAATs ), called for a better working relationship between members and management.

    He described as unfortunate, the various incidents that had been happening on the campus while the strike was on.

    “We are not happy about recent happenings on campus.

    “We need to tell ourselves the truth; many things have been unfolding and we are not happy with that,’’ Lawal said.

    Mr Kehinde Ajibade, Chairman of the Non-Academic Staff Union ( NASU ) of the institution, urged the Police to stop intimidating its members, as they were always carrying out their protest peacefully.

    According to Ajibade, members, though striking, are also mindful of the need to maintain law and order.

    “We are part of the system and we do not think we will want to do anything that will collapse it totally.

    “On the arrest of the members, we strongly believe that our vice-chancellor is not behind it.

    “When we contacted some key members of our unions, they all affirmed that the vice-chancellor is innocent about the arrest.”

    According to him, there is the need for peaceful coexistence in an effort to take the university to its desired height.

    He emphasised the need for constant dialogue between members and management, for a healthier working relationship.

    The unions, on Dec. 4, 2017, embarked on an indefinite strike.

    They are protesting non-implementation of the agreement they entered into with the Federal Government in 2009.

    The unions are also protesting the sharing formula of the N23 billion released by the Federal Government as part of the earned allowance for workers of Federal universities.

    NAN

  • UNILAG matriculates 9,204 for 2017/2018 academic session

    UNILAG matriculates 9,204 for 2017/2018 academic session

    A total of 9,204 students, who had been screened, were formally admitted into various academic disciplines of the University of Lagos ( UNILAG ) for the 2017/2018 academic session on Friday.

    Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Vice-Chancellor of the institution administered the oath of allegiance to the new students.

    The ceremony was held amidst tight security as armed personnel were seen at strategic places around the venue.

    The tight security might not be unconnected with a threat by the non-teaching staff of labour unions of the institution that are currently on indefinite strike.

    In his brief address, Ogundipe congratulated the students for their success in enrolling into the university.

    He urged them to stay off drugs, robbery and any other vices capable of compromising their stay in the institution and ruining their future career.

    “I want to admonish you all to stay focused; take your academics seriously in order to graduate peacefully as and when due.

    “You must all carry yourselves well; eschew all forms of violence by staying away from bad gangs.

    “Always be of good behaviour so as to prove a worthy ambassador of this great university and a pride to your parents and the society in general,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • UNILAG postpones 2017 convocation

    UNILAG postpones 2017 convocation

    The University of Lagos ( UNILAG ), on Tuesday said it had postponed its convocation ceremony for the 2016/2017 academic session.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe who disclosed this in an interview with our reporter in Lagos said that a suitable date for the ceremony would be announced in due course.

    The university, in a statement earlier issued , had stated that a news conference to announce activities lined up  for the event had been slated for Feb. 14.

    “Yes, after some deliberations with management, the university has decided to postpone the convocation ceremony.

    “This is as a result of the challenges posed by the on-going strike embarked upon by members of the non –academic labour unions of universities.

    “The ceremony was earlier scheduled to hold from Monday, Feb. 19 to Thursday Feb. 22 .

    “The activities of these unions have the potential of snowballing and marring the carefully laid out arrangements already put in place for the ceremony,’’ he said.

    Ogundipe stated that though arrangements for a successful ceremony were already at an advanced stage, the institution would not give room for anything that might cause any form of inconvenience or embarrassments to invited guests.

    “The university remains committed to providing a conducive atmosphere that would foster quality teaching and research as well as produce graduates that can compete with their counterparts globally.

    “Hence, members of the community are enjoined to continue their lawful activities,’’ the vice-chancellor said.

    Members of the unions, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities ( SSANU ), the Non Academic Staff Union ( NASU ) and the National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAATS ), had embarked on strike on Dec. 4, 2017.

    The unions, under the aegis of the Joint Actions Committee (JAC), were protesting among other issues, the non-implementation of agreement they entered into with the Federal government in 2009.

    They were also protesting the sharing formula of the N23 billion released by the Federal government as part of earned allowance of workers of federal universities across the country.

    The National President of the JAC, Mr Samson Ugwoke, had while declaring the strike in December said it would be ‘comprehensive, total and indefinite’.

    NAN

  • Jega advocates reformation in election volunteering ahead of 2019

    Jega advocates reformation in election volunteering ahead of 2019

       Prof. Attahiru Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) says electoral volunteering require reformation to maximise its benefit ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Jega said this at a public lecture organised by the University of Lagos Muslim Community in honour of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Rahamon Bello, on Thursday in Lagos.

    The Reporter reports that the theme of the lecture is: “Prospects and Challenges of involving Volunteers in Nigeria’s Electoral Process”.

    According to him, such reform will reposition the continuous role of members of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) and academics in the election processes.

    He noted that this would open avenues for additional groups of professionals like engineers, doctors, journalists and others to join in volunteering.

    “In doing this slowly and steadily, it will set up measures to move in the direction of recruitment of volunteers, using a database of all those who have done election duty before.

    “Even when they have moved out of the NYSC or universities as students.

    “INEC, as an electoral body, needs to pay more attention to the identification and selection of credible individuals and Chief Security Officers as volunteers and partners for bringing about electoral integrity,’’ Jega said.

    According to him, the case for an increased role of volunteers in the Nigerian electoral process cannot be over-emphasized.

    He said volunteering was desirable, and if appropriately deployed, could add values to the integrity of elections.

    The don observed that since 2015, there has been enthusiasm and passion for volunteerism in the electoral process for both individuals and civil society organisations.

    “In 2011, the Transition Monitoring Group, a network of the CSO and professional groups working on elections, has mobilised and deployed thousands of volunteers for election observation and gathering data for parallel results tabulation.

    “However, it is worrisome that some corrupt politicians are beginning to find creative ways to compromise youth corps members and some students involved in election duties.’’

    Read Also: We must shun ‘do or die’ politics, warns Jega

    He added that these politicians were also increasingly penetrating and compromising seemingly credible CSOs.

    “Similarly, as the use of academic staff as collation and returning officers has become predictable, corrupt politicians are increasingly snooping around university campuses and INEC offices, especially over governorship elections.

    “They are also inducing lecturers with money, in the hope of compromising their role in result collation and tabulation.

    “So far, there is no evidence that they have succeeded, but the tendency is increasing and it is of great concern,’’ he said.

    From the experiences garnered in the 2011 and 2015 general, governorship, bye and rerun elections, Jega said that the current role of volunteers, as necessary and desirable as it was, “leaves much to be desired’’.

    He added that many challenges have arisen and needed to be appropriately addressed, in order to confer greater credibility and integrity to subsequent elections.

    “One key reform measures introduced by INEC beginning with the 2011 general elections and improved upon subsequently, was the removal of civil servants and permanent INEC staff from core election day duties.

    “These were replaced volunteers drawn from the NYSC as presiding officers and assistant presiding officers, students of federal tertiary institutions and university academic staff.

    “But these core members have been threatened, intimidated assaulted, maimed and even killed in the course of their voluntary election duties.

    “These emerging challenges need to be carefully studied and urgently addressed with appropriate measures deployed in order to protect the gains recorded.

    In his remark, the chairman of the Unilag Muslim Community, Prof. Lai Olurode said one of the areas of concern for INEC under Jega was how to deploy Nigeria’s immense and inexhaustible social capital in service of its electoral regime.

    He noted that previous attempts by INEC to track campaign and election expenses had been challenging for reasons of a paucity of information and logistic issues.

    According to him, it is the responsibility of the Muslim community in an academic environment to make the utmost of every social outing to interrogate pertinent public issues that could extend the frontiers of citizenship.

    Responding, the honouree and former VC, Prof. Bello expressed delight at the gesture of the Muslim Community, saying that he was proud being a member of the institution’s Muslim community.

    “As Muslims, we have the obligation of doing all we have to do, according to the Islamic tenets and the will of Allah.

    “We must be vanguards and good ambassadors of Islam at all times,” Bello, whose tenure ad the 11th VC of the university ended on Nov. 11, 2017, said.

    Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, described the occasion as apt, given the current state of the country.

    NAN

  • UNILAG TV to begin operation in February

    UNILAG TV to begin operation in February

    The University of Lagos ( UNILAG ) television station will begin operations in February to facilitate research-oriented education and ease communication within and outside the university community.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, gave the assurance in an interview on Monday in Lagos.

    The Federal Government recently approved licence for the television thereby making it the first campus television station in Nigeria.

    According to Ogundipe, the university is set to change the face of television broadcasting through its Mass Communication Department.

    “We are ready to go on air, as we have all it takes to float a world-class television station.

    “Right now, we have the cameras and other gadgets with a world-class studio.

    “The approval to operate a television station will improve our branding; we are bringing professionals to help in kick-starting the station,’’ Ogundipe said.

    He commended the efforts of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello and Prof. Ralf Akinfeleye of the Mass Communication Department, who pursued the dream.

    Ogundipe said that the university paid N10 million to acquire the television licence.

    Prof. Ralf Akinfeleye, also the Chairman, Centre of Excellence in Multi-Media/Radio Unilag and Television, told our reporter that the television station would be the first of its kind in West Africa.

    He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for granting the licence to the university.

    He also praised former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also granted the institution its radio licence in 2002.

    Akinfeleye, a former Head of Department of the Mass Communication, said that the station would go beyond the Direct Satellite Television (DSTV).

    He added that it would enhance the training of modern-day broadcasters.

    “We are indeed happy to see the realisation of this dream.

    “We bided for a World Bank’s five million dollars grant for equipment along with 19 other universities, and we won it.

    “I am glad to state that we have taken delivery of various equipment such as cameras, teleprompters and other broadcast materials worth that amount.

    “This makes our studio more sophisticated than most television stations in the country,’’ Akinfeleye said.

    The don said that the station would also add value to the training of the students.

    Dr Olubunmi Ajibade, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, said that the station, which would be hosted on the DSTV platform, would also be used to generate income for the institution.

    Ajibade said that Nigeria and Africa as a whole, would witness professionalism at its best in terms of broadcasting, with the operation of the station.

    “We train people for the industry; so we are in the best position to attract the best hands.

    “Fortunately, the World Bank project has already supplied us with world-class equipment for both the radio and television operations,’’ he said.

    NAN