The Nation Newspaper

Tag: programmes

  • OGITECH floats new programmes

    Barely one week after the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) okayed the standard of accounting of Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH) Igbesa , Ogun State, the school again presented four programmes for accreditation to its regulatory body- National Board for Technical education, (NBTE).

    The new courses are: National Diploma in Mass Communications, Banking and Finance; Higher National Diploma in Chemistry/ Bio-Chemistry and Environmental Biology

    NBTE’s team also visited for accreditation. The purpose of the board’s visit was to inspect OGITECH’s facilities, infrastructure and the personnel and its preparedness to begin the new programmes.

    Rector of the institute, Dr Olufunke Olanike Akinkurolere, said the four new programmes, if accredited, would increased the totality of programmes run by the school to 23.

    Akinkurolere, an engineer, praised NBTE for unalloyed support to the school, saying that OGITECH would reciprocate the gesture by aspiring to becoming a reference point in driving technology among polytechnics.

    Akinkurolere said two OGITECH undergraduates enjoyed a full sponsorship by the school to participate in the Children- in- Science and Technology contest held in University of Iringa, Tanzania.

    She assured that the Institute will continue to use the advantage of the Guangdong Free Trade zone to add practical knowledge to her students by way of working relationship.

    She promised to rectify all grey areas, appreciating the efforts of the team in ensuring that standard is maintained for all academic in polytechnics.

    Mrs. Sarah Salamatu Gami, a Deputy Director NBTE, who spoke on behalf of the team, praised cooperation of workers for their conduct and hospitality. She said though the team is satisfied with the with respect to staffing, lecture rooms and books, nevertheless it would still submit its report with recommendation to the council whose report would be communicated to the institution soonest.

    The NBTE team was led by Thomas Adekunle, NBTE Director of Programess, Kaduna. Other members include: Mrs Serah Salamatu Gami , Mr. Amin Ado,  Prof Mudi Sulaiman, Mr. Charles Agbuke. Others were: Messrs. Y.D. Yakubu, Alex Onukogu, Chidi Ezenwa, and Philps Inuola, Mrs Stella Adetola, Mrs. Fatima Kabiru, and Mrs. Aslem okay.

  • Council promises people-oriented programmes

    Council promises people-oriented programmes

    Mindful of the need to further enhance both social and health needs of residents of his council area, Chairman, Oriade Local Council Development Area, Hon. Ibrahim Babatunde Sanusi has said the focus of his administration this fiscal year is to ensure that policies and programmes that would touch the lives of the people in more rewarding ways are evolved.

    He also promised that his administration will complete all ongoing projects both at the riverside and upland areas of the council before the end of the year.

    Hon. Sanusi made the promises after he and Leader of the council’s Legislative arm, Hon. Akeem Agbelega signed the 2014 budget proposal of N2,290,000,000 into law at the council’s secretariat.

    He said his administration remains committed to improving the well-being of the people, adding that the council will embark on more people-oriented projects this fiscal year. “Any part of the council that never benefited from our development drives would get one development project or the other,” he said.

    Expressing his happiness over the successful signing into law the budget proposal, Hon. Sanusi thanked members of the legislative arm for their speedy and critical approach to the budget proposal by the executive arm, saying it was an indication of their individual and collective commitment to the progress of the council.

    He said, the budget estimate comprises capital expenditure of 55 per cent and recurrent expenditure of 45 per cent, noting that his administration is committed to completing all ongoing infrastructural projects before the end of this tenure.

    On implementation of the budget estimate, the council chief noted that the council recorded about 95 per cent success in implementing last year’s budget, even as he promised that his administration intends to surpass that record this fiscal year.

    He said that as the level of government that is closest to the people, the local government system strives towards improving the well-being of the people. The local government, he said, takes care of the needs of the people at the grassroots by providing the much-needed necessities of life, emphasising that “all efforts made by the council are geared towards improving the lot of the people.”

    “We have to provide good and motorable roads, healthcare centres, water, rural electricity, schools and well equipped libraries and welfare for the senior and retired citizens.

    “Our commitment to the health of the people, especially those of women and children, is such that the council has decided to site primary healthcare centres in each of the wards in the council. We are determined to achieve this because the tenure of this administration is about coming to an end. We have established such in six out of the seven wards in the council. Before we leave office, the seventh one will be established. This administration will ensure that by May, all the primary health centres must be functional,” he said.

    Commenting on the budget estimate, the Leader of the Legislative arm of the council, Hon. Agbelega thanked the executive arm for proposing a non-cumbersome budget as, he said, the executive had in mind the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

    “As their representatives, our duty is to give them the best which has been captured in every aspect of the budget presented to the legislative arm by the executive for scrutiny. I, therefore, advise that the budget estimate should be judiciously implemented so that at the end of our tenure, we will be proud to say we have all done our best for our communities,” he said.

  • Varsities’ programmes are archaic, says Ibrahim

    Varsities’ programmes are archaic, says Ibrahim

    A business mogul, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim, last Thursday donated a new Post-Graduate Complex to his alma mater Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU) Ile Ife. In this interview with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, Dr Ibrahim, who studied Law and graduated in 1990 frowns at some programmes run by universities which he described as ‘antique,’ adding that it’s about time our universities conferred graduates with two degrees on graduation.

     

    You have just donated a new Post -Graduate complex to your almamater. What are your expectations from this new structure?

    I expect the university to produce credible certificates. What we have now is that the certificate carried by graduates cannot solve their problem. Nobody is running a four-year programme for one degree today. It is now antique. What they are doing in Oxford, Yale and other universities is that, for instance, if you are doing a degree in Mass Communication, you do with LLB Law. In Yale and in Harvard (universities) for instance, you bag let’s say a BS.C in Mass Communication and LLB Law. If you chose to practise journalism, the law you also studied alongside it will give you ideas about what libel is all about , so you can avoid it in the course of your journalism practice. And if you again decide to dump journalism, you can go back to Law practice. If you take compulsory courses in Mass Communication as optional for law, you have satisfied the examiner in Mass Communication; and if you again take compulsory courses in Law as optional for Mass Communication, you have satisfied your examiner in Law. So, you are qualified for the two degrees. This means the day you are graduating the vice-chancellor gives you two certificates.

    University of Yale, for instance, has gone a step further. What it does is that when you are doing LLB in Law, you will be doing your PhD simultaneously in Philosophy within four years. So, the day you are graduating, you get your LLB Law and PhD in Philosophy. So, from the second day you can become a lecturer. In Harvard (University) the day you get your PhD, you become associate professor the next day and two years after, you are a full-fledged professor.

    Do you think this is possible in Nigeria with our myriad of academic challenges?

    Yes!”Why can’t we do same thing in Nigeria? Why should we wait until four years doing GNS 201; or GNS 304? (general laughter). If we are not careful, the universities can also be a problem rather than the solution. Today, people are bringing out certificates (from universities) that cannot solve any problem. People only believe Law, Medicine and Accounting are courses where you can make money. But I didn’t study petroleum or media yet I have interest in those enterprises today. Whatever you study is to give you the education for leadership in future. So, what I expect is that the students produced from this college should be able to use the certificates to solve human problems.

    There is a leap in the number of universities in Nigeria today, especially private universities, many of which are faith-based. Ironically we still have leadership problems, how can our universities begin to address this?

    Many of the courses universities are running today are not relevant to the needs of the society. What we have today are leadership and economic challenges. They (universities) don’t run courses on leadership, so how do you solve leadership problem. Unfortunately, there are no universities that run leadership programmes. This is a challenge for the NUC (National Universities Commission) in terms of restructuring the courses to meet the challenges of today. Some of us were here many years go, but nobody ever told us anything about leadership until we finished our programmes. The only time we heard of leadership is when the vice chancellor is delivering his convocation address and says: ‘be good ambassadors’ but by what means? In the home the mother and father are training their children but where did they get the training from? We have AIDS virus in leadership.

    It is observed that some of the first-generation universities are placing emphasis on post-graduate programmes. What do you think is responsible for this?

    We need the first generation universities to place emphasis on post- graduate studies because of manpower. What they are doing are a short term strategy to build manpower at the post graduate level and retain them to teach undergraduate students. If you look at private universities some of them graduate students at the age of 18, and they are not mature enough. There is academic qualification in respect of intellectual capacity of the brain. There is also the moral and cultural concern, and you can’t just send a 17-year old boy with a BS.C on the street looking for job. What can he do?

    If you insist then that there is no personnel in the universities, why do people like you with intellectual capacity not stay back, but ventured into entrepreneurship?

    The reason is: we don’t have enough entrepreneurs! the government wants people to build businesses so they can employ graduates but the reality today is that how many employers of labour do we have in Nigeria to employ 116 million people? So, more people should be encouraged to go into entrepreneurship. In entrepreneurship, there is no democracy. You don’t need election or primaries; you can make yourself the MD of your company the very day you start. But the point is that we need academic knowledge base to work within the framework of our situation in order to succeed.

    You also canvassed increased funding with physical infrastructure for our universities

    If you don’t have physical infrastructure, how do you lecture? Now, you have to bring the students into the post-graduate college to do masters and PhD. Three years for PhD minimum, and one year for masters. For instance in OAU here, there is no post-graduate college. This is the first time we are trying to put one in place after 50 years. What about other universities especially the individual-owned who wants to look at profit, building structures and all that?. So I believe let us put in the physical infrastructure first, then we can now begin to lay the foundation; like equipping the infrastructure with e-library, physical books, giving scholarships to PhD students, providing chairs and tables and all that.

     

    The OAU will no doubt appreciate this gesture coming after 50 years of its existence

    For me, it’s a normal thing and not something extraordinary! And I believe everybody is contributing. I have colleagues who finished together here in 1990 and now they are at the Faculty of Law teaching. If they had decided to come to my world, we would be like colleagues in entrepreneurship but they opted to stay back marking scripts, teaching young ones, and turning out graduates. That is their own contribution. And if you multiply this in monetary value, I’m sure it is more than this new building. So, we out there had to come back and support them as a means of collaboration to create a more meaningful world.

  • Youth programmes key to sports development, says Siasia

    Youth programmes key to sports development, says Siasia

    Samson Siasia, a former Super Eagles Head Coach, on Tuesday blamed the poor growth in the country’s sports development on lack of viable programmes to promote youth sports.

    Siasia told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that any investment in youth-related programmes would boost sports development in the country.

    The former coach stressed that schools sports should be made more relevant, in order to harness budding grassroots talents in the country.

    “In the past, pupils gained exposure in sports through routine field practises; then, there were Games Masters, but today, most pupils only view the fields on television screens. Taking youth development as most vital in sports management will definitely boost its promotion. We should learn to improve our performance in sports, like in the past that we used to beat some other nations by about five to seven goals,” Siasia said.

    He added that funds expended in youth sports development should not be regarded as a waste, but should be seen as money well spent.

    Siasia, who was a member of the Super Eagles squad that won the 1994 edition of the AFCON in Tunisia, however, commended some state governors for the good they were doing in youth sports development.

     

  • NUC warns against unapproved programmes

    NUC warns against unapproved programmes

    •Salem varsity graduates 95

     

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    He commended the institution for the achievement recorded so far.

     

  • NUC accredits varsity’s programmes

    NUC accredits varsity’s programmes

    Over 90 per cent of academic programmes run by the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Niger State, has been accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ibrahim Kolo, has said.

    Announcing the outcome of the 2012 accreditation at the 43rd regular Senate meeting of the institution, Prof Kolo said of the 19 programmes presented, 17 got full accreditation status. The Department of Business Administration got interim accreditation and would be revisited in two years.

    He added that except for the Department of Public Administration that was denied accreditation, other departments met the standards of the NUC.

    Prof Kolo said efforts were being made to represent the Public Administration Department for accreditation, adding that the newly-established programmes would be presented in 2014.

    He urged the staff of the affected departments not to rest on their oars. He expressed displeasure over the lackadaisical attitudes of some academic staff to duty, advising them to live up to the standards expected of lecturers by participating fully in the academic work of the university.

    In another development, the university has held a one-day orientation for freshers to align them with the rules and regulations of the school.

    Speaking at the event, Prof Kolo charged the students to conduct themselves in an upright manner and shun acts that could breach the peace of the university.

    He also advised them to be hard working and committed to their academic activities so that the investment of their parents would be justified. He added that the policy of rewarding good behaviour and hard work was still in place.

    Speaking earlier, the chairman of the occasion, the Director, Entrepreneurship and Counselling Centre, Prof Frank Carew, warned students not to indulge themselves in anything that would not add value to their academic pursuit. He urged them to make good use of the conducive learning environment provided by the university to achieve their dreams.

    Highlight of the event included lectures by the Dean, Student Affairs, Dr John Jiya and Director of Academic Planning, Dr Muhammad Mustapha.

  • Society seeks support for programmes

    THE General Secretary of the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), Dr Fred Odutola, has asked Christians to assist the organisation in its programmes and projects.

    He spoke at the Fifth Founders’ day of BSN at the Nigeria Institute of International affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos.

    He said to translate a Bible costs N30million and about 12 years, adding that because of the enormous cost, it is difficult for the organisation to embark on more projects.

    He said out of about 350 Nigerian languages, the organisation has only been able to translate the Bible into 20 languages, with the New Testament in 60 languages.

    Also, he is canvassing help for the provision of Braille Bibles to enable the blind have assess to them. He said whereas a Bible could be bought for about N400, a complete Braille Bible costs N77,000. At the moment, he said BSN is planning to make Braille Bibles worth N9million available in selected schools for the blind in the country, with the School for the Blind, Oshodi, Lagos as one of the beneficiaries, adding that if the plan is successful, outgoing pupils of these schools would be able to leave with some o these bibles.

    Odutola challenged church members to live above board, saying that the world is looking unto them for direction. He said: “We are the light of the world. Let us live as light of the world. Look at the earnings of those who pay heavy tithes and ask questions, if need be, about their source of their income.”

    He added: “Deemphasise prosperity preaching and emphasise holiness. Be the change you want to be.”

     

  • Association hailed on gender programmes

    Association hailed on gender programmes

    Stakeholders have praised the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) for its determination to encourage female members’ active participation in leadership activities.

    In a statement, it was revealed that the organisation, which was established in 1978 as a professional cum trade union organisation and registered as a labour union in 1979 has over 40,000 organised members.

    It was noted that apart from the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NANNM has the highest number of female members, even as it said that it is estimated that over 80 per cent of the union membership strength rests on the female folk.

    It regretted that with regard to leadership positions at state and national levels, women do not hold up to 20 per cent of the key decision-making positions of the union.

    “Since its establishment, NANNM has recorded only two females as president from 1979 to 1985. From 1986 onwards, participation of women in union activities dwindled due to several reasons, some of which are cultural and traditional stereotypes about what unions really do or stand for.

    “Before 2008, all the union could boast off concerning gender was a gender desk office with no clear budgetary allocation for running of gender activities. It could best be said that except with National Delegates Conference memorandum passed in 2008 calling for priority to be placed on gender issues, nothing significant happened with regards to encouraging more female members to play active roles in NANNM leadership,” the statement said.

    Continuing, the statement stated that things are taking a turn for the better in today’s NANNM, all thanks to the vibrant leadership of past and incumbent presidents Comrade Lawal H. Dutsinma and Comrade Abdulrafiu A. Adeniji respectively.

    “Through Solidarity Centre Support between 2009 and 2012, the union conducted series of gender and leadership trainings for members and eventually developed its gender policy document in 2010.

    “The association’s national gender policy document has proven a highly effective tool which the union has used to deal with some of the challenges hindering female members from involvement in union activities.

    “Since the policy’s adoption by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union in October 2011, its effect is gradually being felt in the union as gender activities have been provided with a budget line in union’s annual budget,” it said.

    The statement also noted that “the union has provided a well-equipped crèche for nursing mothers at the union office in Abuja and also provides mobile crèche facilities for nursing mothers who attend union’s major national meetings or training activities. Most importantly the policy document has equally created an opportunity for the inclusion of a gender clause in NANNM’s Constitution. The inclusion of a gender clause in NANNM Constitution creates an opportunity for more women in leadership.”

    NANNM has recently recorded other achievements on gender programmes. In August, 2012, NANNM made a milestone achievement of conducting its first ever National Gender Conference attended by male members and over 140 female members in Ibadan, Oyo State. This conference gave birth to a National Women’s Committee with five-member steering committee leadership. The committee has the mandate of supporting the women to conduct its first election of female officers sometime in the first quarter of this year.

    In November, 2012, NANNM equally recorded another milestone during the union’s last delegates’ conference held in Bayelsa State. Five females contested against male comrades to fill nine elective positions. Three of the female comrades contested as independent candidates.

    “The elections marked a watershed in the history of the union elections as this was the first time such sizeable number of female members voluntarily contested against male comrades as independent candidates and not zonal candidates in union elections.

    “Before now, choice of zonal candidates somehow discouraged qualified candidates from indicating interest or contesting for particular union positions. Two female candidates eventually made it to NANNM National Administrative Council positions,” it said.

    One of the independent candidates Comrade Ebiuwou Obiyai said: “As an independent candidate, I want to create the awareness to our female comrades that this union belongs to us all and we (women) can encourage effective leadership only if we decide to get involved in the affairs of our beloved NANNM.”

    Comrade Ebiuwou Obiyai eventually won the seat of the National Financial Secretary.

    As at December, 2012, the number of women holding leadership positions at state level in NANNM has increased by 114 women compared to what was obtainable before 2010.

    The progress so far made by this union may not immediately resolve the power imbalance between genders, but it is indeed a progressive step.

  • Rep faults govt programmes

    A member of the House of Representatives, Amere Akintayo (ACN, Osun) has reiterated the determination of the House to present a budget of hope and prosperity next year.

    He said it is unfair to compare Nigeria with other countries on the $80 crude oil benchmark as proposed by the House while other parameters were conveniently ignored by the government.

    According to him, some of the touted empowerment programmes of the government were mere media hype with insignificant impact on Nigerians.

    He said the government should measure the impact of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN) as well as the N200billion agriculture loan to farmers, among several others.

    Akintayo said the House won’t swayed by unrealistic comparison with other economies that have always been known for transparency and accountability.