The Nation Newspaper

Tag: UI

  • Parents reject bed space fee hike at UI

    Parents at a stakeholders’ meeting held yesterday to discuss the new fee regime introduced by the University of Ibadan (UI), rejected the N30,000 hostel fee proposal.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that  the management called the  meeting over what it called “slight increment’’  for halls of residence and Alexander Hall  for  students of  the College of  Medicine.

    The Senate recommended a hike in hostel fee from N14, 000 to N30,000 for  students on the  main campus and N40,000 for those in College of Medicine, effective from 2017/2018 session.

    The institution said it spent about N100 million every year to provide accommodation, noting that this was no longer sustainable.

    The parents said while they did not object to increment due to economic realities, the proposal by the institution was unacceptable.

    Mr. Fashina Olusegun, a parent, said while upgrading facilities, as being canvassed by the institution, was good, the new fee regime was high.

    Messrs. Robert Obiora, Ayo Akinyemi and Michael Odunrounmbi agreed that while tertiary education was being underfunded, the university management must ensure that its fees were affordable.

    Students, in a peaceful protest at the hall, asked the management to reconsider its recommendations.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, had said the institution “is at a point where it is difficult to continue to subsidise the running of the halls of residence and carry out some academic functions.’’

    “This cannot be feasible without a slight adjustment in accommodation charges and in some fees payable by students in some faculties,’’ he said.

    Olayinka said only increase in  accommodation fee affected students, who desired to stay in halls of residence, adding: “Residency in the halls is optional.’’

    He said only 8, 222 bed spaces were available for the over 27,000 students, adding that the university was not fully residential.

    “The hostel is for first and final year students,” the VC said.

    Prof. Omoniyi Adewoye, a former vice chancellor and chairman of the forum, said university education could not be free if there was to be a turnaround in the education sector.

    He urged parents to analyse the situation, to appreciate justification for the increment.

  • UI to meet parents, guardians, students on fee increase, says VC

    •Varsity subsidises accommodation with N100m’

    The management of University of Ibadan (UI) said yesterday that it was concluding arrangement to facilitate Senate/Parents Management Consultative Forum with workers, students, parents and guardians.

    It said this was to discuss the rationale behind the slight adjustment in accommodation fees.

    The meeting, slated for tomorrow, is to among others, douse tension over the decision.

    The Senate had recommended increment in hostel fee from N14, 000 to N30,000 for main campus and N40,000 for College of Medicine with effect from 2017/2018 academic session.

    Noting the stifled funding from the Federal Government to cater for utilities, the management said it spent about N100 million yearly to augment what was collected in running the hostels, adding that this was no longer sustainable.

    The Nation learnt that while students at present paid N14,000 per bed space, the partial economic rate per bed space, according to a 2012 survey conducted by the institution, was put at N59,650 per session.

    Vice Chancellor Prof. Idowu Olayinka had said the institution was at a crossroads because managing the hostel based on the old rate was not sustainable, adding that only 30 per cent of the students were accommodated on campus, as the opportunity for hostel accommodation was optional.

    The Senate also approved increment in fees for laboratory and studio arts (N5,000); maintenance fees; fees for professional health training (non-clinical (N75,000) and clinical N100,000); pharmacy practice experience levy (N5,000); science laboratory levy (N7,500); Faculty of Agriculture (N5,000 to N7,500); renewable natural resources upward review of the practical year levy (N15,000 to N17,500) for those in practical year; while other students are to pay the old levy.

    Other items which attract upward review include access fee for undergraduates (from N2,000 to N2,500) for improved Internet access on campus.

    However, fees payable by students in the Faculties of Social Sciences, Law, Sciences and Technology have not been adjusted.

    Prof. Olayinka said: “The university is at a point where it is difficult to continue to subside the running of halls of residence and carry out academic functions without a slight adjustment in accommodation charges and in some fees payable by students in some faculties.

    “We urge the public to note that it is only the increase in accommodation fees that cuts across students who desire to stay in the halls of residence. Residency in the hall is optional and only about 30 per cent of our students can find accommodation in the halls of residence.

    “It is also important to note that the Federal Government, years ago, had stopped providing funds for the running of the halls. As a result, the university spends about N100 million over what is collected as accommodation fees for the running of the halls.

    “The university is no longer in a capacity to continue to provide this subvention. It has been very objective in adjusting other fees. For instance, fees were only adjusted for students in the Faculties of Arts, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources and Pharmacy. Even in these faculties, the fees are limited to categories of students requiring academic service for which an increase has been approved.

    “Let us give two examples. For instance, only 400 level students in the Faculties of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources are to pay additional N2,500. These are students in their practical year. Other students in the faculties are not to pay these fees. In the Faculty of Arts also, only 200 and 300 level students in six departments are to pay the studio maintenance fees. Students in departments without studios are exempted from these fees.”

     

  • Protest: UI shuts College of Medicine indefinitely

    •As Downpour destroy buildings 

    Following protests by students of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, management of the institution yesterday shut the Alexander Brown Hall of the College.

    The management said the move was imperative in view of the security threat the students’ action may pose. Students of the college had during the week staged a protest following the upward review and introduction of the professional training fees to N100, 000.

    A statement by the UI registrar, Olujimi Olukoya, said the decision to close the hall was reached after a meeting of the board of the College of Medicine. The closure was with immediate effect until further notice with a promise to review the situation in two weeks.

    The students were also directed to vacate the hall immediately.

    “In view of the security threat that the students’ action may pose, the board, therefore, recommended an immediate closure of the Alexander Brown Hall until further notice with a review of the situation in two weeks,” he said.

    Following a heavy downpour that lasted for about four hours across Oyo State late Friday night, no fewer than seven buildings were recorded destroyed at the University of Ibadan. The affected properties included the Students’ Union (SU) Building, two halls of residence, Chemistry Laboratory of International School, University of Ibadan, and some others within the premises of the institution were seriously damaged. Other affected buildings were Tedder Hall, Bello Hall and some departments in the Faculty of Agriculture.

    The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) of the institution, Professor Emilolorun Aiyelari, who addressed journalists, disclosed that an electricity transformer at the Student’s Union Building was also damaged during the rain. “We have recorded a lot of damages, unquantified for now; when we are through we will be able to know how much it will cost. We have three major roofs removed. One in Tedder Hall, two buildings in the department.

     

  • UI to admit 5,000 PG applicants

    The management of the University of Ibadan (UI) at the weekend said it offered about 5,000 candidates admission out of 15,000 who applied for various postgraduate degree programmes in the institution.

    The management said its PG School had been designated a Centre of Excellence for postgraduate studies.

    It said more candidates preferred to pursued their graduate degrees at UI.

    UI’s Dean of Postgraduate School, Prof Jonathan Babalola, spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, after presiding over the university’s 73rd interdisciplinary research discourse, titled: Synthetic Biology: From Biology to Engineering, delivered by Prof James Sturgis of the Aix-Marseille University in France.

    Babalola said the PG School had continued to ensure quality control of its applicants by setting aptitude test (Use of English), which he said majority of the applicants failed.

    According to him, many are looking up to UI to crown their undergraduate degrees.

    The dean said the institution would continue to maintain standards and quality so that the best applicants gain admission to the premier university.

    Sturgis advised universities and government at all levels in Nigeria to invest in Synthetic Biology to improve crops, livestock and health of the citizenry.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof Idowu Olayinka, who was the chairman at the lecture, promised that UI would partner Aix-Marseille University to develop Synthetic Biology.

  • UI produces first Ph.D in Energy and Environment Studies

    UI produces first Ph.D in Energy and Environment Studies

    The University of Ibadan (UI) Centre for Petroleum, Energy, Economics and Law (CPEEL) yesterday produced its first Doctor of Philosophy graduate in Energy and Environment Studies, Dr Yunus Akintude.

    Akintude, who is a former Commissioner for Works and Transport in Oyo State, successfully defended his Ph.Dý thesis yesterday.

    The director of the centre, Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, described the feat as a dream fulfilled, pointing out that Akintunde was the first to specialize in Energy and Environment at the doctoral level.

    He said CPEEL is a centre of excellence in energy training and research.

    Adenikinju added: “We train students in master and Ph.D. In the last few years, we have had privilege of producing eight Ph.Ds but this is the first time we will have somebody who specialises in energy and environment. We are good; we are achieving the desired results. It is good to know that the new doctor did his master’s degree here and has also acquired professional experience in the field of energy. So, it’s a real progress that is made.”

    The director said the centre was gaining recognition consistently for producing quality graduates and conducting quality researches that are quite relevant to addressing Nigeria’s energy issues.

    He said: “And the beauty of our centre is that it is a multi-disciplinary centre: we bring together engineers, scientists and social scientists. So, whatever comes from this department has multi-disciplinary perspectives which, in our view, will enable our graduates to make impacts in fresh and broader perspectives, looking at energy issues and solving energy problems in the country.”

    Akintunde, who is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 electioný, attributed his success to God, his lecturers and the commitment he brought to his studies.

    One of Akintunde’s major campaign promises is to reduce epileptic power supply by half in his first year in office.

    He said: “If I become governor of Oyo State, I promise to solve 50 per cent of epileptic power supply within one year. Governance is just about knowledge to do things aright, not by empty promises. The problem of electricity is not about distribution, which makes legislators distribute transformers; it is more about power generation. If some towns, locations or organisations in Oyo State, such as the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, the University of Ibadan (UI), government secretariat, the Polytechnic, among others, can generate power, then others can as well enjoy power supply from the national grid, which is the main source. This is a matter of idea and concepts.

    “Thankfully, this is my strength as a doctoral scholar in Energy and Environment.”

     

     

  • UI to mentor new varsity for five years

    A new private university, the Precious Cornerstone University (PCU), has been approved to start operation in September in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The new institution, being promoted by the Sword of the Spirit Ministries headed by Bishop Wale Oke, received the nod of the National Universities Commission (NUC) to take off with 12 courses and two faculties.

    They are the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences and Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences.

    Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Gen. Oladayo Popoola (rtd), told reporters at a press conference that the University of Ibadan would mentor PCU for the first five years to help it achieve its goal.

    Popoola, a former Military Administrator of the old Oyo State, said the final approval to start off was given last December 6

    The BoT therefore appointed Dr Bayo Adegoke as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the university at the inaugural meeting.

    Popoola said the institution would be adequately funded to enable it rank among the very best universities in the world.

    The PCU promoter, Bishop Wale Oke, revealed that the journey started 11 years ago. He stressed that the PCU was out to produce world-class graduates that will be leaders in the various sectors of the economy.

    According to him, only world-class scholars and administrators would be recruited as staff in order to accomplish the vision of the institution. Oke added that entrepreneurship would be integrated into the curriculum of the various courses, stressing that the university would partner with many local and international universities and organisations to open up opportunities and enrich the experience of students.

    “We won’t compromise quality in academic, moral and spiritual requirements because we want to promote all-round development of the students.” The cleric said.

    Oke added that there would be scholarships for students as the institution grows while insisting that candidates seeking admission to the school will need minimum of six credits in only one sitting to be qualified for admission.

    The Pro-Chancellor, Dr Adegoke, said the PCU would not do the usual things because “we want to produce original thinkers. We want to be a game changer. Hence, we can’t do things the usual way.”

    Other members of the BoT include the immediate past Prelate of the Methodist Church, His Eminence Sunday Ola Makinde, Rev. Mrs Tokunbo Oke, Dr Bayo Adegoke, Dcn. Philemon Adeniran and Mr Banji Oshunkunle.

     

  • UI, OOU celebrate Falola at 65

    UI, OOU celebrate Falola at 65

    A two-day conference organised by the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ibadan (UI) in honour of Prof Oloruntoyin Omoniyi Falola will start on January 29.

    Falola, who teaches History at the University of Texas at Austin in the United States of America (U.S.A), turned 65 on January 1.

    A statement by the Dean of the faculty, Prof Ademola Sylva, said the theme of the conference is: African Knowledge and Alternative and Alternative Futures.

    According to him, key note addresses will be delivered by Prof Gloria Emeagwali of Central Connecticut State University in the U.S.A and Prof Chris Ogbogbo, President of the Historical Society of Nigeria.

    The conference, which will be declared open by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, will also feature the presentation of Falola’s new publication, titled: The Toyin Falola Reader.

    The climax of the birthday celebration is the conferment of an honorary doctorate degree on Falola by the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) on January 31.

    OOU Vice Chancellor Prof Ganiyu Olatunde said the honour is in recognition of Falola’s contribution to scholarship.

    “The university is very proud of Falola’s outstanding achievements, which have endeared him to the academic world,” Olatunde said.

     

  • UI needs N70b for academic growth

    UI needs N70b for academic growth

    VICE Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI) Prof Abel Olayinka has said the institution plans to raise N70 billion to improve the premier university’s academic excellence.

    The fund raising is coming on the heels of the university’s 70th anniversary this year.

    Towards the celebration, UI management yesterday inaugurated a high-level committee to plan, coordinate and execute activities to mark the milestone.

    UI, established in 1948, will be 70 next November.

    Inaugurating the committee, Prof Olayinka noted that “though 70 years in the life of the university was relatively young when compared with some other universities across the world, some which are as old as 700 years, UI must joyfully mark this milestone, considering its contributions to national development”.

    According to Olayinka, this is the university which has produced high-calibre human resources for Nigeria and the world.

    He said: “Indeed, we can confidently say our products are our pride as people believe that once this product is from Ibadan, it must be the best.”

    Olayinka said UI would be shopping for N70 billion for its capital projects.

    The vice chancellor expressed optimism that the dream is achievable, if all UI products are properly harnessed.

    He said: “Given its prestigious position in higher education in Nigeria, some people have the belief that every educated Nigerian is either a direct or indirect product of UI. This is because if you did not attend UI, you must have been taught somewhere by someone who attended UI, or who was taught by someone who trained in UI. Therefore, UI belongs to all Nigerians.

    “In the last 70 years of our academic excellence, our achievements are numerous and impactful as it can be seen in the quality of our products in every sphere of life.

    “Therefore, we feel it will not be a bad idea if we come together on this occasion to celebrate, reflect on the journey so far and plan for the future. We intend to bring back our old alumni for flashback and reminiscence, celebrate our icons and inspire the current students towards nothing but the best.”

    Olayinka urged the alumni to get ready for the epoch celebration, saying every alumnus should think about what to give back to the university.

    Officials at the meeting include Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof Ambrose Emilorun Aiyelari; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof Adeyinka Aderinto; Registrar Mr. Olumiji Olukoya; University Librarian Dr. Mrs. Helen Komolafe Opadeji and Provost, College of Medicine, Prof Oluwabunmi Olapade Olaopa.

     

     

     

  • UI to admit only 3,783 of 56,000 candidates

    UI to admit only 3,783 of 56,000 candidates

    Of 56,172 candidates seeking admission into the University of Ibadan (UI) through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE), the authorities have recommended 3,783 for admission to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the 2017/2018 academic session.

    UI’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof Adeyinka Aderinto, addressed reporters yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on the institution’s admission for this session.

    Aderinto said the admission for the 2017/2018 would end this month while the screening of those given admission letters will begin soon.

    The deputy vice chancellor, who noted that 26,769 candidates, who scored 200 and above, sat for its post-UTME, added that of the figure, only 9,268 scored 50 per cent and above.

    He said 3,783 admission seekers, who were finally recommended to JAMB for admission, met the approved admission criteria.

    Aderinto said since the premier institution was committed to meeting the mobilisation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the institution had begun second semester examinations.

    He said: “The University of Ibadan is committed to mobilising students for 2017/2018 National Youth Service and to end the session (2016/2017), we have begun the examinations and the students have started writing.

    “We have also recommended about 3,783 candidates to JAMB for admission and we are concluding the admission process by January ending. The University of Ibadan is committed to upholding its standards in admission. This is what makes us who we are in offering qualitative education to our students, to be the best in Nigeria and have the capacity to compete globally.”

  • UI alumni target N100m for alma mater

    The University of Ibadan Alumna Association (UIAA) yesterday said it is targeting N100 million for the university in the next few months.

    The body, which spoke at the inauguration of a special trust fund to generate fund for the institution, said it hoped to raise the money through at least a 100,000 of its members who will pay N1,000 annually for the cause.

    The committee, called the University of Ibadan Alumna Association Trust Fund, was inaugurated at the Senate Chamber of the institution in the presence of the Vice Chancellor Prof. Idowu Olayinka, senior management workers, UIAA National Executive members and other stakeholders.

    UIAA National President Dr. Femi Emina said the national executives came up with the idea of a trust fund to generate more fund and do more for the institution than the association is currently doing.

    He noted that alumni associations all over the world support their universities, while the trust fund would be different.

    Emina said although the UIAA was starting the initiative late, it was not too late because it still remained a sure way of supporting the university to grow.

    The UIAA chief said the alumni association had been donating a minimum of N500,000 to the institution annually, adding that the amount was too small to support the nation’s premier institution in the face of mounting needs.

    According to him, he is always at pains whenever the vice chancellor complained about how paucity of funds affected the level of progress the institution could have made.

    Emina said the UIAA has almost completed a Postgraduate Hall of residence complex to be donated to the institution to mark its 70th anniversary.

    The 11-member committee is chaired by a former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology in Akure (FUTA), Prof. Adebisi Balogun, while Mr Thomas Dabiri is its Executive Secretary.

    Others are: Prof. Emenike Obi, Dan Ugbenu, Elder Sola Adeyemi, Mrs. Folasade Ogunnaike, Prof. Gbemisola Oke, Ambassador Nkem Nwadibia-Anyawu, Prof. Ayo Oluleye and Prof. Yankari Muhammed.

    Prof. Olayinka lauded the leadership of the UIAA, particularly its National President, for what he called its renewed vigour to support the university.

    He noted that the management under his watch had always been concerned on achieving the vision of the institution’s founding fathers but have over the years been hampered by paucity of funds.

    Prof. Balogun hailed the UIAA executive for setting up the committee and finding the members worthy to serve it.

    He promised not to betray the confidence reposed in the members.