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Tag: Rufus Giwa polytechnic

  • Two injured as fire razes girls hostel in Ondo poly

    Two injured as fire razes girls hostel in Ondo poly

    A devastating fire outbreak on Saturday razed the girls’ hostel at the Ondo State-owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), the Nation learnt. 

    The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the day, broke out while some female students were engaged in sanitation exercises on campus.

    The inferno also affected parts of the hall warden’s office and the secretary’s section.

    Scores of female students were said to have been displaced by the inferno while two of the students, who were trying to evacuate the properties from the fire, sustained degrees of injury. 

    Although the exact cause of the fire is yet to be officially confirmed, students on the campus said it was triggered by a power surge.

    One of the students, Omowumi Akinlade, described the incident as tragic. 

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    She said virtually all the students’ personal belongings were lost to the incident..

    “No life was lost but many properties, including hostel equipment and our study materials, worth millions of naira, were destroyed. 

    “The fire started from one of the shops close to Block F of the female hostel. We heard that the shop owner left some electrical appliances plugged in. When power was restored, it sparked and caused the fire.

    “I was outside washing my clothes when I heard people shouting ‘fire!’ By the time we rushed down, the flames had already spread beyond control. Nobody could risk going inside,” Akinlade recounted.

    It took the combined efforts of the polytechnic’s Department of Works and Maintenance staff with firefighters, to put out the flames.

    As of the time of filing this report, the school authorities was yet to issue an official statement. 

    Efforts to reach the institution’s spokesman were unsuccessful.

  • Ondo pensioners beg Akeredolu on security challenge

    Retired workers of the Rufus GIwa Polytechnic, Owo are disturbed over the abduction of workers of the institution by the gunmen.

    They called on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to find a lasting solution to the menace, which they said have hindered the peace of the state.

    A statement by the Secretary of the group, Tunde Ayegbusi and Public Relations Officer (PRO) Phillip Oyegoke noted that barely a week after a polytechnic staff was kidnapped and later found dead, another RUGIPO senior lecturer was seized by the culprits.

    They described the situation as worrisome, noting that the development was however coincidental and not targeted only at the institution.

    The statement reads” The situation at RUGIPO was not targeted at the institution alone but a national problem, it is left for Ondo state to tackle the problem headlong.

    “We members of this association are solidly behind the management of the institution, we have jointly worked assiduously to bring the institution to these enviable heights, we do not want bad elements to destroy it.

    Read Also: Three suspected robbers held in Ondo

    “As retired workers, our lives depend on the gratuity and pensions we receive from the institution from time to time, many of our children and relations are beneficiaries of the citadel of learning.

    The senior citizens pointed out that the well-being of the management, staff and students in the institutions was of paramount importance to them.

    They condoled with the polytechnic community on the death of late Akinyemi Taiwo and felicitated with the family of Mr and Mrs Olopete who were released from Kidnappers’ den.

  • Panel reports: Ondo Poly’s ASUP seek release of White Paper

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, at the weekend called for immediate release of the White Paper on various panels’ reports on the state-owned institution.

    The union decried the prolonged delay in the release of the documents, calling for their immediate implementation.

    In a 16-point communique issued after its emergency meeting in Owo and signed by its Chairman, R. O. Ijawoye, and General Secretary, Arikawe Ade, ASUP also condemned the non-payment of 10-month salary arrears owed the polytechnic workers.

    ASUP described the development as insensitivity, adding that the situation had led to the deaths of many workers in the polytechnic due to their inability to foot their medical bills as a result of financial incapacitation.

    The communique reads: “We are also much disturbed by non-payment of 16-month migration arrears owed staff of the institution which depicts extreme callousness, we are now calling for its immediate payment.”

    The union kicked against what it called inadequate release of only N100 million by the state government for accreditation of over 40 academic programmes, adding: “We will not condone the use of fund for no other thing except accreditation/reaccreditation of courses.”

    It said academic workers would be held responsible for failure of the exercise.

    ASUP also regretted the poor state of infrastructure on the campus and called for appropriate processing and utilisation of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) meant for staff development.

    On the recent student unrest in the institution, ASUP charged the management to compensate those whose properties were destroyed having collected reparation fees from all students.

    The union also called for immediate payment of all outstanding deductions meant for the Cooperative Societies in the School, which it noted was currently about N500 million.

  • Students kick as Ondo poly increases fees

    •Council: we’ve not increased fee

    Two weeks after the reopening of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), the Ondo State Government has introduced new fees in addition to a N12,000 reparation fee. This came weeks after Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) students protested against fee hike in Akure, the state capital. To the poly students, the new fee regime is insensitive. ENIOLA OLURANKINSE (Mass Communication) reports.

    It is now official. The Ondo State Government has increased fees for Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) students, ending weeks of speculation about the issue.

    Apart from the acceptance fee of N30,000 and N10,000 levy for verification of results and admission letter, fresh National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND)students  are now to pay between N98,500 and N108,500.

    Before the hike, they paid between N45,000 and N63,000. Despite the government’s denial, the new fee invoice on the school website showed that the fees had been jercked up. The screenshot of the online payment invoice obtained from students, who paid the new fees, showed the increment.

    The development came weeks after parents and students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) protested against the fee hike in the school.

    During the inauguration of the governing councils for the four tertiaty institutions owned by the state, Governor Rotimi Akeredolum challenged the members to come up with payable tuition fees.

    The institutions are AAUA, University of Medical Sciences in Ondo City, Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa and the RUGIPO.

    Akeredolu said his administration would increase the fees, because of the prevailing economic realities. The governor shifted the burden of increasing the fees to the council members and assured them of government support.

    Debunking the increment plan, the RUGIPO council  said consultations were ongoing with stakeholders to arrive at a realistic fee.

    The council chairman, Mr Banji Alabi, in a statement, said: “We are yet to increase school fees for any academic level or students as at this moment. I guess some people are talking out of ignorance because we don’t have fresh students yet. What we have are mere prospective students and until they pay our acceptance fees, register as students and matriculate, they are not our students.”

    Alabi said the council was aware of the economic challenges, but added that it was imperative to develop the school to a 21st Century standard.

    He urged parents and students to cross check facts relating to resumption and academic activities with the school, instead of relying on speculation.

    An HND 1 student of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, said he paid N108,500, showing the online payment invoice to burttren his claim.

    The online invoice showed that fresh ND students of the Faculty of Applied Science will pay N98,500 and their HND counterparts, N108,500. At the Faculty of Business Studies, ND 1 students will pay N93,500 and their  HND counterparts, N101,000.

    For the Faculty of Engineering, fresh ND1 students will pay N98,500,  HND, N108,500. Their colleagues at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication Studies will pay N98,500 for ND and N108,500, HND programmes.

    Students’ Union Government (SUG) has rejected the hike saying it would consult with the management to get the fees reverted.

    The union president, Temitayo Ayejuyo, confirmed the increment, but promised that everything would be done to bring it down. He said no returning students would pay the  fees.

    Temitayo said the union and management had reached an agreement to protect ND 1 and HND 1 students for not paying the new fees, as well as the N12,000 reparation fee. The affected students, he  said, would not be disturbed during the second semester examination, which is expected to start on May 14.

    Efforts to reach the school authorities proved abortive. Our reporter was denied access to speak to the management team at the administrative building. Some members of the management team, including the information officers, refused to pick their calls.

    The institution introduced the fees two weeks after it announced a N12,000 reparation fee  as a condition for re-opening the school, which was shut after a protest by students over the “no school fees, no examination” policy.

    Some students described the hike as inhuman and unacceptable.

    They took to their social media pages to reject the increment. Oluwole Akinsola said the increment was true. He wrote: “I actually generated payment for National Diploma for Business Administration programme. When I logged on to the school website, I was informed that there was increment in school fees. Then it brought N103,000 for non-indigene like me.”

    Deborah Olofinte, a fresh HND student, said: “Let me continue playing at home, because my parents can’t afford to pay the new fee. Why would the school increase the fee to N108,500? The fee is more than double of what students paid the previous session. This is too much for HND programme. Even people studying for Bachelor degree in some universities are not paying as much as this.

    “Considering the increment, it is understandable and undeniable that the population of freshers will reduce, because many parents cannot afford to pay such high fees at a period the country is facing economic hardship.”

  • Ondo poly re-opens as council announces N12,000 damages

    •Students: ‘we’ll abide by rules’

    About three months after it was shut, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) in Ondo State will re-open on Monday to complete the 2016/2017 session. But, each student must pay N12,000 damages as a condition for returning to school.

    The school announced its resumption, following the adoption of the recommendations of  a panel set up by the government to probe January 22 violence that led to the school’s closure. The panel slammed N168 million damages on students for destroying school property during the violence.

    The resumption came days after the Students’ Union Government (SUG) issued a seven-day ultimatum.

    A statement by the Governing Council Chairman, Mr Banji Alabi, said the resumption was authorised after due consultations with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

    The statement reads: “All fresh students (ND 1 and HND 1) are to resume on Monday April 30, 2018, while returning students are to resume on May 14, 2018.”

    In addition to the payment of N12,000 reparation fee, the council said returning student must submit an apology letter in which each students must pledge to be of good conduct after resumption.

    The council said the letter must be signed by a prominent member of society, including elected members of House of Assembly, civil servants not below the rank of a Permanent Secretary, Chairmen of Local Government Areas or a legal practitioner.

    While reaffirming his commitment to reposition the polytechnic for improve service delivery, Alabi sought for stakeholders’ co-operation in the ongoing consultations and tasks ahead.

    He said: “As we work to ensure the commencement of what we hope would be a seamless academic calendar, we request from stakeholders to keep faith in our ability, show patience and commitment to the project.

    “In changing the fortune of the school, it requires concessions, sacrifice and tolerance towards changes that may occur as we cannot successfully rebuild for the future without first acknowledging that change comes with pain.”

    Alabi stressed that the council was ready to support legitimate means to engage with any member of the polytechnic community and utilise every contribution.

    He said members of the school community would enjoy freedom of association and peaceful gathering. “It is important to do so within the limits of Nigerian laws,” he said.

    He maintained that the council would adopt legal means to prevent future breakdown of law and order in the school.

    He said: “We are passionate about changing Rufus Giwa Polytechnic and make it a leading research institute committed to improving the human condition through advanced knowledge of science and technology. We demand every stakeholder’s enthusiastic support.”

    Reacting, SUG Public Relations Officer, Ayodele Oluwatobi, described the development as “good news”, saying students were elated to be called back to school. He said students were ready to abide by the condition laid down by the school.

  • Rufus Giwa Poly lecturers suspend two-month strike

    Rufus Giwa Poly lecturers suspend two-month strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, (ASUP), Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo Chapter has suspended its 8 weeks old strike.

    The Union took the decision at the Adekunle Ajasin Auditorium of the institution after an emergency Congress summoned by the executives of the Union after its members had last weekend received one month salary out of its 10 months unpaid remuneration.

    The Polytechnic Management has ordered the resumption of academic activities with immediate effect.

    ASUP called off the strike after due consideration, negotiation and further cementing their demands and the agreement with the management of the institution.

    However,  a reliable source close to the Union who preferred anonymity said the Union may again embark on industrial action if its demands are not met after six weeks of this resumption.

    It was gathered that this is the 3rd time the Union has embarked upon an industrial action in the 2016/2017 Academic Session.

    RUGIPO ASUP had on the 31st of August, 2017 declared total and indefinite strike which was reported to border on the excruciating, debilitating and precarious situation of the welfare of the Academic Staff of the institution as well as the collapsing state of moribund infrastructures in the institution.

    According to ASUP in the Press Release made available after the Congress,” this actions is due to palpably lackadaisical and inept attitude of the management and the insensitivity of the government towards the collective goals and aspirations of this great institution in Ondo State”.

    Campus life gathered that the Union is also agitating for the Payments of  16 months CONPOCASS arrears owed by the management of the Institution effective from July 2009; Payments of 9 months unpaid staff salaries for the months of June  2016 to January 2017 as well as July and August 2017; Payments of 2015 and 2016 promotion arrears.

    Other agitations include compliance with the court order in respect of ASUP members that suffered political persecution from the former administration through non-payment of their outstanding salaries of reinstated academic staff.

    Accreditation of all programmes being offered by the Polytechnic which has due for accreditation and is under the threat of being reaccredited due apparently to deliberate starvation of funds.

    Decaying infrastructures, abandonment of ongoing projects, inadequate lecture rooms, acute shortage of accommodation and non-availability of seats; alienation, meaninglessness, hopelessness and estrangement among the comity of state institutions in Ondo State in the area of monthly subventions and other financial benefits.

  • Students donate bus to department

    To enhance service delivery at the Department of Mass Communication of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO) in Ondo State, members of the National Association of Mass Communication Students (NAMACOS) have donated an 18-seater bus to the department.

    President of the association Kehinde Ogunkorede, who led other executive members to deliver the bus, said the bus was to support the department’s drive for improved service delivery. He said the bus was bought from students’ annual due.

    The Mass Communication Department is the first in the school to have a staff bus.

    The Rector, Mr. I.B. Ologunagba, led other members of the management to the event where the bus was presented. He hailed the students for the gesture, saying the bus would help reduce transport stress among the department’s employees.

    He said: “I am delighted this is happening in our time. This goes to show that students are partners in our drive to improve the welfare of the school members. We are proud of the legacy being left behind by Mass Communication students.”

    Ologunagba charged other students’ associations to emulate the gesture, advising them to complement management’s effort in making the institution better.

    The Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication Studies, Dr O.S. Ajumuda, promised that the management would maintain the cordial relationship between the school and various students’ bodies, saying the gesture was part friendly rapports with students.

    While unveiling the Toyota bus, the Head of Mass Communication Department (HOD), Mrs Iyadunni Adedowole, said the bus cost the students N3 million, saying the association’s intervention would ease the department’s transport challenges.

    She advised students to channel their energy and resources to activities that could promote peace and development.

    Former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication Studies, Mr. Foluso Alabi, described the gesture as “a welcome development”, stressing that the country would be better if young people contributed their quota to progress of their immediate environment.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the students started contributing money to buy the bus four years ago, immediately after Adedowole emerged the HOD.

     

  • NSCDC nabs five over fraud, cultism in Ondo

    The Ondo Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it had arrested four suspected fraudsters and a cultist terrorising the people of state.

    Adeyinka Fasiu, NSCDC Commandant in Ondo, said in a statement that the fraudsters were arrested after successfully duping a student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

    “The fraudsters cornered the student to their hideout where they collected his N58, 000 school fees, Techno phone and wallet containing school ID card and voter’s card,” he said.

    The statement, signed by the command’s spokesman, Kayode Balogun, said that the NSCDC also arrested a middle age woman for duping a 17-year-old girl.

    “After hypnotising the girl, the suspects told her to bring her parent’s money and threatened that if she tells anybody she would run mad.

    “The teenager, out of fear, stole her parents’ N90, 000 and gave it to the suspect,’’ the statement said.

    Also, a student was arrested for cultism after attacking a fellow student with machete during an inter house sports competition.

    “He was caught with machete, axe and arrow suspected to have been used to perpetrate the act,” he added.

    The NSCDC boss said that all the suspects would be charged to court once investigation was completed.

    He appealed to the public to give useful information about the criminal activities to the security agents in order to rid the state of all forms of criminality

  • Rufus Giwa Polytechnic gets new rector

    Rufus Giwa Polytechnic gets new rector

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has confirmed the appointment of Mr Idowu Ologunagba, as the substantive rector of the state-owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Akure by Dr Aderotimi Adelola, the Secretary to State Government, and made available to newsmen.

    Adelola said Ologunagba’s appointment was with immediate effect.

    He urged the new rector to continue with his developmental strides to ensure the institution attained all necessary academic heights.

    Ologunagba, who holds an M. SC in Civil Engineering (Structures) with distinction and B. SC Civil Engineering, until his appointment, was the acting rector of the institution.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olusegun Mimiko’s term as governor, expires on Friday, after eight years in office.

  • ‘How I killed my girlfriend with a stone’

    ‘How I killed my girlfriend with a stone’

    A twenty-two year-old Student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) in Ondo State, Chukwudi  Oweniwe  has been arrested for allegedly killing his girlfriend, Miss Nifemi Adeyeye in a bush at Ilu-Abo in Akure North local government area of Ondo state early this month.

    Chukwudi and Nifemi were both Part-Time (PT) three students of department of Science and Laboratory Technology (SLT).

    The suspect, who lives in Ayede-Ogbese was said to have invited the deceased to her place from their school and subsequently lured her into a bush in Ilu-Abo and killed her.

    He was alleged to have done some devilish activities on her late girlfriend.

    But, when Chukwudi was speaking with reporters at the police command in Akure, the state capital where he was being paraded confessed to the crime but denied using the lady for ritual.

    He narrated how he killed the lady saying “I invited her from Owo to Akure and after introducing her to my parents, I lured her into a bush and strangled her leaving her body in the bush.

    “On the second day, I asked a commercial motorcycle rider to take me to the bush where I left her and observed that she was not dead and I used a stoned to hit her head and she died immediately.

    “My parents became curious when they did not see her and I was arrested by Police in Ayede Ogbese and from there, they transferred me to anti-cultism in Akure”.

    When asked why he killed her girlfriend, Chukwudi said he did not know the spirit that came on him and that it was when he killed her that he realised that he has committed a sin.

    He said they have been dating since February this year and that she has never cheated on him.

    The State Police commissioner, Mrs. Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison said Nifemi’s remains were recovered in the bush by men of the Special Anti-cultism squad.

    She said the police officers are still investigating the matter to unravel the suspect’s action.

    He added that he would be charged to court as soon as the investigation is completed.

    Also, the police paraded other criminals suspects arrested for different offences.