The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Prof Rahamon Bello

  • UNILAG MSSN gets leaders after 3-year ban

    After three years of lull, a new set of executives of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch has been inaugurated.

    The group’s activities were suspended in the university November 2015, following a directive by authorities that the Amir (President) Abdur Rasheed Adeoye-led administration should handover to the then Dean of Students Affairs, Prof Tunde Babawale.

    The executives were dissolved under the former Vice Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, following allegations of misappropriation of funds and that the association was being controlled externally.

    However, a panel set up by the university and headed by Dr Luqmon Adams, found the allegations untrue.

    The MSSN leaders were inaugurated alongside the executives of all the faculties muslim students associations of the main campus at the inauguration, which held at the Islamic Center Hall of University Central Mosque.

    Chairman, UNILAG Muslim Community (UMC), Prof Lai Olurode, urged the new executives to prioritise partnership, excellence, respect for authorities and the university rules.

    Olurode noted that it was expedient for MSSN executives to synergise with the leadership of the Muslim community in order to deliver a viable administration and sustainable development in the university.

    He said:“MSSN has gone through a long walk of inactivity. The circumstances that led to the incident are unfortunate. We urge you all not to return MSSN to that state again.”

    Noting that the leadership of the university has changed, Olurode said the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has displayed a warm regard for the Muslim community, which he (Olurode) said students need to realise.

    “There are rules of university that need to be respected. Show preference to the laws. There is no society that can develop and thrive without laws,” Olurode warned.

    He urged the Muslim students to work hard to excel in their respective fields and never compromise knowledge and discipline.

    “The industry is highly competitive and you have to develop yourselves. Development is realisable within the context of partnership.  We all have to leverage networking and partnership, with that the best of you will come out.

    “Don’t spring surprises on UMC rather spring surprises in the positive way and not in the negative way.

    “Be at the centre of learning. Don’t encourage people to be lawless and antagonistic,”he said.

    While giving a goodwill remark, the Dean of Students Affairs Prof Adeola Adeleke, urged the executives to comply with the university rules and avoid power tussle.

    MSSN staff adviser, Dr Khalid Adekoya administered the oath of office on the executives.

    In his inaugural address, the Amir, MSSN UNILAG, Yusuf Olorungbe, expressed appreciation to the office of the DSA for facilitating the inauguration.

    He assured that the society under his leadership would explore all avenues at ensuring diligence and respect for the university authorities.

     

  • ‘Ex-UNILAG VC, man of peace’

    The greatest achievement of Prof Rahamon Bello during his tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) was peace.

    This was the submission of Prof Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba, who delivered a Valedictory Lecture in Bello’s honour on Tuesday at the Afe Babalola Auditorium of the university.

    Ozumber, who is Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), described Bello as a man of peace whose discernment in managing conflicts was exemplary.

    “In the last five years, the University of Lagos was always in the news about all manner  of issues, especially concerning relations between the unions and the administrations. In practically all the easily recalled cases, they were eventually resolved amicably.  Relationship with students is never easy. A skilled Vice Chancellor like Bello was would have to manage through it all, and today, UNILAG is experiencing a tolerable level of harmony between students and the administrations.

    “We are truly envious of Prof Rahamon Bello for successfully completing a generally peaceful five-year tenure.”

    Ozumba  in his lecture titled “Transformative Leadership in an evolving democracy” noted that Bello’s tenure recorded excellent emotional and practical commitment  with his staff in terms of promotions, employment in the teaching and non teaching cadres, saying such “ administration with human face  seems to be the credo of Bello administration”.

    He added that the improvement in the webometric ranking of the University during Bello’s tenure was a testimony  of the competence of the academic, administrative and other staff of the university.

    Bello’s successor, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said that his predecessor paid his dues and deserved to be celebrated.

  • UNILAG gets 104 profs in five years

    The outgoing Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof Rahamon Bello has said 104 of the 292 professors produced by the institution since the inception in 1962 was during his tenure.

    Bello who bows out as the 11th vice chancellor of the institution on November 11, 2017, also said 25 per cent of the over 200,000 graduates produced by the school passed through the institution five years he was in charge, while 21 per cent of the Inaugural lectures were delivered in his time – underscoring his administration’s focus on strengthening academic culture.

    Speaking during his valedictory press conference at the Senate Chambers yesterday, Bello said: “As at today, a total of 292 professors have been produced in the university of Lagos since inception.  104 of these were appointed in the last five years accounting for 35.6 per cent of the total in the whole of the 55 years of the university.  Also as at today, there have been 354 Inaugural Lectures delivered in the 55 years of this university and 75 or 21.2 per cent were delivered during the five years of this administration.

    “Some of these decisions of Senate has enabled the university to graduate a total of 50,785 students in the last five years accounting for about 25 per cent of the total number of graduates produced by the university. Not just that about half of these are postgraduate students making us slowly becoming a postgraduate institution.  We now produce averagely 100 highly qualitative PhDs annually.”

    These, in addition to strengthening quality assurance, expanding infrastructure, facilitating international collaborations, introduction of online result processing, e-admission, electronic document management system and other IT reforms were some of the achievements Bello highlighted at the conference.

    “The institution has signed over 40 Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with sister institutions all over the world…these agreements afford our staff and students exchange and collaborative research opportunities,” he said.

    Speaking on challenges he faced while in office and his biggest regret, Bello mentioned the failure of the institution to sustain the Students Union despite efforts to do so as well as the inability to build structures for the Faculty of Law, Postgraduate School and the Distance Learning Institute.

    “The buildings planned for the School of PostGraduate Studies, Distance Learning Institute and Faculty of Law were not done.  If we had financial autonomy we could have done it on PPP arrangement.  Already the DLI has almost N1 billion for the building; the PG school has close to N400/N500 million; while Faculty of Law has between N100-N300 million.  The road also planned to connect the Commercial Avenue to Jaja Hall could not be done because of constraints of funds and bureaucracy,” he said.

    Regarding the Students Union not being sustained as planned, Bello said: “My greatest challenge was the student crisis.  Prof Amund who was Dean of Students Affairs is here to tell us all we did so that when the Students Union emerged again, there would be no problem.  But the problem is we did not realise that are professional students from polytechnics, colleges of education and even universities in Nigeria who move from one institution to another looking for where they can control. It took us that event in 2016 to realise this but it is more like a caucus, if the students of the University of Lagos are the ones that take over there leadership  and handle it the way the need it will not go that way.  We are trying to take care of that.  It was the failure of the Student Union to stand after we re-emerged it that was a challenge,” he said.

    Speaking on his administaration’s relationship with workers’ unions on campus, Bello said forming a Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the major unions (ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAAT)

    Bello charged his successor, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, who was the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research), to make the university’s interest priority always and learn to carry others along.

    “When you run a university like this, ensure you carry everyone along.  You must put the university as the main object, not yourself,” he said.

    He also urged Ogundipe to finish up on projects he did not complete.

     

  • Senator Tinubu Seeks true federalism

    Senator Tinubu Seeks true federalism

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu representing Lagos Central Senatorial District has called for an amendment of the constitution to make Nigeria a true federal state.

    She said while the nation’s laws and constitution expressly declare that Nigeria is a federal state, the practical application of most of the laws effectively makes Nigeria more or less a unitary state.

    Speaking on the theme: “Governance and National Development: Issues and Implications” at the University of Lagos 12th Annual Research Conference and Fair on Tuesday in Lagos, Senator Tinubu defended the current clamour for true federalism in some quarters.

    She said the different ethnic tribes were independent and relatively politically-sophisticated before the advent of the colonialists.

    She lamented that the incursion of the military into politics in 1966 upended the near-perfect fiscal arrangements agreed to by the founding fathers at independence in 1960 and that subsequent constitutions have tended to perpetuate this anomaly.

    “For a country as diverse and large as Nigeria, only the practice of true and fiscal federalism can engender equitable development of the constituent units and make effective governance easy,” she said.

    The Senator recommended that the power over some of the items listed in the Concurrent Legislative List in Part II of the Second Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) like prisons, antiquities and monuments, archives and public records, university and technology as well as some of the items in the Exclusive List should be exclusively vested in the states of the federation.

    According to her, this will bring development closer to the people and ensure that policies formulated for the execution of these functions are those that are informed by the local conditions of the people.

    Tinubu charged governments at all levels to endeavour to work in the interest of the people, saying all government’s policies must ultimately be judged by whether they deliver on the promise of the government to the people under the ‘Social Contract’.

    In attendance at the conference were the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Bello, the Registrar of the university, Dr. (Mrs) Taiwo Folashade Ipaye, and Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, among others.

  • UNILAG produces two 5.0 CGPA students

    UNILAG produces two 5.0 CGPA students

    … Matriculates 8,000

    Two graduating students of the University of Lagos have also recorded 5.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) in 2015/2016 academic session, just like Ayodele Dada recorded the same feat in the previous year.

    Prof. Rahamon Bello, the Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of the institution, who gave the hint during the 2016/2017 matriculation on Friday, named the two students as Miss Taiwo Bankole and Miss Ajoke Omotuyi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the V-C had, during the 2014/2015 convocation,  had described 5.00 CGPA as ‘a perfect score’.

    According to Bello, both students are from the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science and the Department of Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, respectively.

    “Both students, females, had also posted a `perfect score’ of 5.00 CGPA, thus matching the record set by Dada in 2014/2015 academic session,’’ he said.

    The V-C stressed that such feats were achievable by a dint of hard work and not a myth.

    “All it requires is to be focused, disciplined and consistent,’’ Bello said.

    Giving a breakdown of the number of the matriculating students, the V-C said that 7,882 students, representing 18.69 percent, met the admissions criteria after a thorough screening.

    He explained that 38,140 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) applicants and 4,310 direct entries, totalling 42, 440 applicants, began the selection process.

    He said that out of the figure, 25,883 candidates scored 200 and above at the UTME.

    Accordingly, 19,732 presented themselves for screening.

    “Those offered provisional admissions were 6,506 in the UTME category and 2,238 in the direct entry category, totalling 8,744.

    “Today, after a thorough screening exercise, there are 7,882 of you, representing 18.69 percent of the total number of applicants (UTME and Direct), who have fully scaled the registration procedure.

    “You will from this day, become bonafide students of the University of Lagos,’’ Bello said.

    He told the matriculating students that gaining admission into the 54-year-old institution was not only noble but also glorious.

    The V-C added that completing the matriculation process was not the end of their journey to obtain tertiary education.

    “It is the first step of a journey that will determine your future.

    “It, therefore, requires you all to be determined, diligent, focus and resilient.

    “You must show the zeal to acquire academic excellence for which this university is reputed.

    “Shun cultism, indecent and immoral behaviours and other vices that can mar or abruptly end your sojourn here; as all forms of misconduct and misbehaviours will not be condoned,’’ Bello warned.

    He urged the students to work hard to distinguish themselves in their academics as the university had a motivational package for scholars.

    NAN reports that the high point of the event was a breakfast meeting between the management of the university and the students.

    The university registrar, thereafter, administered the matriculation oath on the students on faculty basis.

    The students had early in the week, taken on a familiarisation tour of the university as part of the orientation.

  • Gunmen attack UNILAG student

    Gunmen attack UNILAG student

    A student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), identified as Bayo from the department of Economics Education, is in critical condition in the hospital after being shot by unknown gunmen on Wednesday night.

    A source told our reporters that the attack is speculated to have been carried out by cultists.

    The source said: “The boy was shot around the neck although the bullet was meant for his head.”

    The source noted that he is a resident of the Biobaku Hall of residence and may have been a cultist himself.

    Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Rahamon Bello, said the university was investigating the incident.

    “I heard about it and we suspect it was cultism-related. We are fighting it. The security unit and the police are investigating. The boy survived. He was rushed to LUTH (Lagos University Teaching Hospital). The cultists went for his head, luckily the bullet only scrapped his head,” he said.

  • UNILAG denies post-UTME screening rumours

    UNILAG denies post-UTME screening rumours

    Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Rahamon Bello, has debunked rumours that the institution has begun screening for admission.

    He told reporters at the office that the university was awaiting guidelines from the Federal Ministry of Education before starting the admission process.

    “We are yet to really conclude on admission process cos govt asked us to wait for a guideline. Definitely there will be screening but we’re waiting for the guideline,” he said.

    The university’s admission office has also put out a disclaimer in the institution’s internal bulletin, Information Flash, warning prospective students and their parents to ignore information about cut-off marks from sources other than the university website.

    The statement reads: “The University of Lagos is yet to commence the 2016/2017 admission exercise and consequently has not released any cut-off marks or post-UTME advertisement.

    “All prospective 2016/2017 UTME and Direct Entry candidates that chose University of Lagos as their first choice should regularly visit the website (www.unilag.edu.ng) and click on admissions.unilag.edu.ng for information.”

    There had been rumours on the social media that UNILAG had fixed UTME cut-off points and started the screening process.

     

  • UNILAG produces first graduate with 5.0 CGPA

    UNILAG produces first graduate with 5.0 CGPA

    Daniel Dada Ayodele, will be the star to watch out for during the 2014/2015 Convocation of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) next week.

    He made a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.00, which the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Rahamon Bello described as a perfect score record during a pre-convocation briefing Wednesday.

    Bello said the Psychology student  is one of the 178 First Class students ‎that would graduate during the three-day convocation programme. ‎

    This year, a record has been set. A graduating student in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Mr Ayodele Daniel Dada is graduating with a CGPA of 5.00.

    “A perfect score. This means he scored As in all courses he took in the programme. I congratulate the graduate with a First Class‎.”

    The first time in the history‎ in what seems to be the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria’s education system, the University of Lagos, UNILAG, Akoka, will this year graduate a student who has been graded  ‘excellent’ in all the courses taken while on campus.

    The student, Ayodele Daniel Dada finished from the Department of Psychology.

    This was disclosed Wednesday morning by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, during a pre-convocation media briefing held at the university’s Senate Chamber.

    According to the VC, the university was glad to break another academic ground, saying the candidate showed exceptional academic prowess.

    He said a total of 10,907 students will be graduating including 5,472 undergraduates and 5,435 postgraduates, adding that a total of 177 others will be bagging First Class degree‎ certificates along with Dada.

    The convocation programmes, which has formally kicked off with the media briefing will also feature a convocation lecture to be delivered by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu on Monday, February 28.

  • VC hosts South African varsity

    A team from the University of Cape Town, South Africa have visited the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to discuss areas of mutual interest.

    The University of Cape Town delegation led by the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Max Price was received by the UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics & Research), Prof Babajide Alo; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Prof Duro Oni; Registrar, Mr Oluwarotimi Shodimu; Bursar, Mr Lateef Odekunle; Librarian, Dr Olukemi Fadehan, and Dean, Faculty of Law, Prof Imran Oluwole Smith, among others.

    Welcoming the delegation, Prof Bello, highlighted the history, academic programmes and staff strength of UNILAG. He expressed the institution’s readiness to collaborate with the University of Cape Town in International Law, Joint Research Venture, Staff/Student Exchange Programmes, Science and Communication.

    In his response, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town thanked the UNILAG Management for the warm reception. He expressed his willingness to ensure the establishment of linkages between the two tertiary institutions.