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Tag: UI

  • University of Ibadan shut over students’ protest

    University of Ibadan shut over students’ protest

    Authorities of the University of Ibadan (UI) have closed down the school, following students’ protest.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, said the closure was as a result of protest by students and to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    Undergraduates were ordered to vacate campus latest by 6pm yesterday.

    The institution had fixed the first semester examination for June, but it will now begin on July 17.

    The vice chancellor said postgraduate students can continue with their lectures.

    The protesters blocked the Mokola-UI-Ojoo Highway, causing a gridlock.

    This followed students’ resolutions at a congress last weekend that the management be given two days to constitute a students’ welfare board and set up a fact-finding committee to look into the issue of hot-plates in halls of residence.

    The students said there would be no examinations if the university failed to issue them ID cards, which were paid for last session and this session at the rate of N650 and N1,300.

    The university management said in a statement that efforts are on to ensure identity cards are produced and distributed, starting from the middle of next month.

    It issued a circular, informing deans of faculties that students’ registration forms and other valid university instruments would be considered as sufficient for admission into examination halls in the coming examination.

     

     

  • UI shut over students protest

    UI shut over students protest

    Authorities at the University of Ibadan have closed down the school following students protest.

    In a broadcast today, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Idowu Olayinka stated that the closure followed protest by students and forestall breakdown of peace on campus.

    All undergraduates have been ordered to vacate the campus latest by 6pm today.

    The Institution had earlier fixed first Semester examination for June but the examination will now commence on July 17th.

    The Vice Chancellor however said that postgraduate students can continue with their lectures.

    Students had Monday block major highway on Mokola-UI-Ojoo causing gridlock‎.

    This was sequel to the resolutions of the students congress reached on Saturday where in it was agreed that the management be given two days ultimatum to constitute Students Welfare Board and set up fact finding committee to look into the issue of Hot-plates in halls of residences.

    The students also resolved that there will not be any examinations if the university fails to issue it ID cards which were paid for last session and this session at the rate of 650 and 1,300 respectively.

    They also vowed to disrupt Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s press conference which was earlier scheduled to hold inside the institution forcing the program to another venue.

    In a special release the university management informed students that efforts are currently being made to ensure that identity cards are produced and distributed starting from the middle of June.

    The Management has also issued a circular informing Deans of Faculties that students’ registration forms and any other valid University instrument be considered as sufficient for admittance into examination halls in the forthcoming first semester examinations.

    The University Management stated that it was not unmindful of the hardship that the delay in the issuance of identity cards has caused our students, but we appeal for their understanding.

    The University Management will also, very soon, convene a meeting of the Students’ Welfare Board which is a statutory committee of Senate, to discuss other students’ welfare issues, so that a lasting solution can be proffered.

     

  • ASUU strike paralyses UI

    The University of Ibadan (UI) was calm yesterday, following the one-week warning strike  by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    ASUU members shunned classrooms and other academic activities.

    The university teachers are protesting shortfall and fractional payment of salaries, illegal pension deductions, non-payment of postgraduate supervision allowance, non-payment of promotion arrears, refusal of the university to conduct a credible and transparent staff audit, failure to make regularly available the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) profile of the university, among others.

    The strike monitoring committee, led by the Chairman, Dr Deji Omole, which moved round the faculties, described the strike as successful.

    The university’s spokesman, Tunji Oladejo, was not available for comments.

  • Strike paralyses activities in UI

    Strike paralyses activities in UI

    Academic and administrative activities were yesterday paralysed at the University of Ibadan (UI) as entrance gates and administrative offices were locked by the non-academic staff unions of the university.
    The unions began a strike last week, saying they were not persuaded by the explanation of the university regarding illegal deductions of pension funds after the original deductions had been made from Abuja.
    The unions are also asking for unpaid promotion arrears, shortfall in salary payment, welfare of staff school staff among other sundry issues.
    It was gathered that lectures were disrupted and comutters were forced to trek due to erection of barriers on the roads.
    It was reported that Dr Umar Mustapha, the governing council chairman, had met with stakeholders and set up a staff audit committee.
    Mustapha was reported to have appealed to the unions to suspend the strike but the unions are asking the administration and the Bursar(Michael Alatise) to refund all illegally deducted pension from their salaries.

  • UI VC: underfunding’ll cripple varsities

    University of Ibadan Vice Chancellor Prof Idowu Olayinka has decried the massive underfunding of the university by the Federal Government.

    The VC asked the National Assembly to allocate special funding to the university to sustain its growing global ranking and not plunge it into unnecessary industrial crisis.

    He noted that with such massive underfunding, the university is becoming very difficult to run.

    Olayinka spoke at the fourth National Public Service Lecture organised by the Alumni Association.

    Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof Emilolorun Aiyelari, the VC said the university had not received anything this year, lamenting that it has to accommodate about 8000 students.

    Olayinka said workers had not got full salaries in the last one year, noting that unpaid salaries could influence commitment to work.

    The VC said the university spent close to N40million on electricity.

    “This is the problem we have. Our tasks are teaching, research and community service and not pursuing internally generated revenue.”

  • Group empowers UI, Poly Ibadan students

    Group empowers UI, Poly Ibadan students

    Inspired by the need to equip youths to be self-employed and innovative, The Better Nigeria Initiative (BNI), a youth-focused organisation at the University of Ibadan, organised a five-day Youth Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Livelihood Project (YES-LIP).

    The graduation of 40 students of the UI and The Polytechnic, Ibadan, who participated in the training, held  at the Kunle Adepeju Student Union Building of UI.

    Aside skills acquisition in areas, such as baking, bag and shoe making, photography, graphics design and sewing, participants learnt about entrepreneurship from seasoned professionals from the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Ibadan Business School.

    Addressing the participants, the BNI Executive Coordinator, Mr John Oluwadero, advised the participants to further improve on the skills they acquired and charged them be solutions to the needs of their immediate society.

    “The YES-LIP Project is specially designed to empower young people with entrepreneurial skills and competence that will enhance their sustainable livelihood”, he said.

    Mr Pacqueen Irabor, the Manager, BoI, Ibadan, who spoke on funding start ups, challenged the beneficiaries to pursue their passion relentlessly till they add value to themselves and the nation.

    The event also featured the induction of new members and the investiture of Miss. Gbemi Adebowale as the President of the UI Chapter of BNI.

    Mr. Tomiwa Adeyemo, BNI outgoing president, advised the new members and executive to be committed to the objectives of the organisation as service to humanity is the best work of life.

    Other guests at the event included the former President, UI Students’ Union, Tokunbo Salako, Femi Babatunde, and Mr Yemi Adekunle, a pharmacist.

     

  • As UI becomes private energy producer

    Two exciting historical milestones unfurled recently at the nation’s premier university -University of Ibadan (UI), which deserve and require the attention of all stakeholders in higher education in this country and beyond so as to support the momentum of development.

    First, UI which is the first as well as the flagship of post-graduate studies in the county was ranked as the 600th best university in the world by a global higher education ranking organization called The Times Higher Education (THE). Given the fact that UI is the first and only Nigerian university in the first 1,000 best universities globally, the good news is not only cheerily received, but heartily propitious.

    The ranking organization had considered Ibadan’s level of teaching, research, citation of scholarly publications, industry income and international outlook among other parameters.

    This 2016/2017 Times Higher Education ranking has finally put to rest the erroneous notion in certain quarters that “no Nigerian university is good enough to be among the best 1,000 universities in the world”. Ibadan has finally broken the jinx. UI has breasted the tape by joining the elite club of global players in tertiary education. UI is certainly astir.  The first and the best university in the most populous black nation in the world is clearly cresting the storm, having been producing world -class graduates, who are making waves all over  the world in the last 65 years. UI will be 68 years old this month – November. Indeed, this latest global recognition calls for celebration for it takes standard to stand out.

    It is indisputable that UI which parades the highest number of professors in this country has all it takes to be among the best 100 universities in the world, but for some national albatrosses including poor infrastructures and what some people call “Nigerian factors”. But with continuous self-reinvention, hard work, dedication and the desire not only to remain a local champion, but a global player with application of best practices, there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

    However, still gloating over this positive rating, I think the current Vice Chancellor, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka deserves commendation for dexterously consolidating on the achievements of his predecessors. Being a scientific scholar with a solid background in Geology, Prof. Olayinka has cleverly deployed resources towards the information and communication technologies, thus, favourably projecting UI for global glare. This is certainly one of his major achievements so far. He must therefore maintain it.  Efforts should be geared towards networking with thousands of passionate alumni such as a former Lagos State chapter chairman of UI Alumni Association, Sola Oyetayo who is ready to go extra mile for the betterment of UI.

    The second interesting historical milepost unfolding in the university is as trailblazing as it is revolutionary: UI is becoming the first university in private electricity production in Nigeria. The university recently performed the ground-breaking ceremony, which attracted dignitaries from far and near, preparatory to 10 megawatts solar plant. In other words, UI can now be classified as an Independent Power Producer, (IPP) thereby, singularly generating 50-60 percent of her daily electricity power requirement when the project becomes fully functional. According to the chairman, UI Power Improvement Programme, Prof. Adeboye Olatunbosun, the project will become operational before the end of this year.

    This plant, when completed has numerous and multiplier effect of electricity availability, not only for UI but also for neighbouring communities and Ibadan as a whole. It will be business for UI as it will be selling electricity to Ibadan Electricity Board. The cost of running generators will reduce. The project will enrich the quality of research, development and capacity-building programmes in renewable energy and energy efficiency. More importantly, students’ unrest over power outage and unavailability will be a thing of the past; consequently, there will be peace on campus.

    But before UI begins to reap the juicy fruits of this plant, there is still some distance to destination. Prof. Olatunbosun explained that though, the German-supported Project “promises bounteous dividends, UI still has to obtain license from Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as a private power producer. Besides, federal government still needs to make money available for the final stage of the solar plant”. However, with the recent launching of Energizing Education Programme Initiative (EEPI) of the federal government, which is a collaborative effort of Education and Power, Works and Housing Ministries to ensure self- sufficiency in power supply to all 40 federal universities in the county, it is almost certain that this  UI pioneering effort will succeed.

    Electricity is a vital component in the production of world-class graduates. Indeed, without electric power, teaching, learning and research will simply amount to a charade, resulting in the output of poor-quality certificate holders.

    In view of the prospects of this project and its anticipated succour, intending beneficiaries must be grateful to the German government for the support it is providing. The original idea of this 10 MW solar plant was conceived at an interactive session between the immediate UI past VC, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole who is now health minister and the then German Ambassador to Nigeria, Frau Janetzke Dorothy Wenzel. Prof. Adewole in his characteristic candour had told the former ambassador that electricity was a major problem confronting the university.

    The then VC consequently solicited the technical support of German government.

    Close to three years, negotiations involving UI, federal government of Nigeria and the German government were sustained before eventually culminating into the recent take off of the project. Prof. Adewole deserves credit for his superlative human relations skills with which he was able to convince the former German Ambassador, while similar commendations should be accorded Prof. Olayinka for sustaining the dream.

    The German government has been so benevolent to UI over the years. According to Prof. Olayinka, “we thank the German government for supporting our Bachelor of Arts in German programme in our Department of European Studies. A lecturer of German is always on our staff fully funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (GAES). German government also supported the establishment of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CEPACS) in UI. You gave generous funding support to many postgraduate students from Nigeria and other countries to come to Ibadan to pursue their Master degree in Humanitarian and Refugee Studies. At the last count, no fewer than 48 members of our academic staff, including my humble self, have benefitted from the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Research fellowship. We look forward to your continued support and assistance”, the VC told the gathering including the current German Ambassador, Bernard Schlaheck.

    Power supply to the university community is from both the national grid (through the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company IBEDC 132/33kV feeders) and from the University owned generators. The university has 49 backup generators which range from 27KVA-2000 KVA.  A substantial proportion of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is committed to settling electricity bills and the purchase of diesel for generators. But with the coming of this planned 10MW solar plant, the narrative will certainly be altered.

     

    • Saanu is of the Directorate of Public Communication, University of Ibadan.
  • UI, students dismiss bomb threat

    UI, students dismiss bomb threat

    The University of Ibadan (UI) has tightened security following a threat by a terrorist group to bomb the institution before the nation’s 56th Independence anniversary. Some students share their thoughts on the matter with MERCY ADEDIGBA (100-Level Communication and Language Arts Education).

    At a time when the University of Ibadan (UI) is basking in the euphoria of its new feat of ranking 601 among top 1,000 universities globally, and the only Nigerian university on the list, a message from a terrorist group, Al-wilayat al-Islamiyya Gharb Afriqiyya, threatening to bomb the university before October 1, is not creating panic on campus.

    But news of the latest ranking published by Times Higher Education (THE) on its website made the university community ecstatic.

    The message from the terrorist group was mailed to some members of staff. Part of it reads: “Most of you are going to die before Independence Day. You will not spend the Independence Day in peace, you and your students.

    “Even your little searches at the gate won’t do anything. By the time we are through with you, your government will be sorry.

    “You people are an embarrassment to Nigeria and are the people that brought in western education to Nigeria. You doomed this nation and in turn you are all going to be doomed.”

    Reacting to the message, the  Director of Public Communication, Mr Olatunji Oladejo, urged members of the community not to panic, describing it as a mere rumour.

    In a statement signed by Oladosu Olaleye Lystra of the Public Relations unit, the university said it had made efforts to secure the campus.

    “The bomb threat message was sent to cause unnecessary panic.  The Police and the Social Security have deployed intelligence officers to provide optimum security in the institution in order to forestall any tragedy or disaster, and the police and Social Security officials  are on top of the matter. “

    However, there has been mixed reaction to the threat.  Some students said they were not aware of the threat. Olukotun Tosin, a 300-Level student of Agronomy, believes the university is not doing enough to avert a bomb threat.

    “Whatever would be would be.  If the institution would be bombed it cannot be prevented.  Despite the threat, the institution did not bring any of the armed forces to help; just the institution’s security has been searching vehicles and people at the gate. Even Muslim women were searched. Let’s just hope it is not true,” he said.

    Many of those aware have however called the group’s bluff, describing the message as a rumour.

    Dike Glory, a 300-Level student of Agronomy, thinks it is a bluff.

    “It is impossible. How can they bomb UI? It cannot happen. Never!” she said vehemently.

    Adeniran Kehinde , a 200-Level student of  Biochemistry, said: “Let me tell you, whether I go home or I stay in school, if it is my time to die, I would die. The bomb could detonate at the gate. But I heard it is a rumour”.

    Ajewole Olajumoke, a 200-Level student of Educational Management, said: “It is a lie joo; nothing can happen to me even if the whole of UI is bombed, I am safe”.

    Wisdom Ighodalo , a 100-Level student of English, said it wasn’t the first time the rumour would surface.

    “The Lord is my shepherd; nothing can happen to me. But I don’t think it is true.  The same thing happened about three years ago,” he said.

    Omole Brandie, a 400-Level student of Sociology, said students might be behind the threat.

    “I don’t think it is true . It might be a prank played by a student,” he said.

    The leadership of the Students’ Union of the institution also urged students not to panic, describing the message as a prank.

     

  • UI, students dismiss bomb threat

    UI, students dismiss bomb threat

    The University of Ibadan (UI) has tightened security following a threat by a terrorist group to bomb the institution before the nation’s 56th Independence anniversary. Some students share their thoughts on the matter with MERCY ADEDIGB

    At a time when the University of Ibadan (UI) is basking in the euphoria of its new feat of ranking 601 among top 1,000 universities globally, and the only Nigerian university on the list, a message from a terrorist group, Al-wilayat al-Islamiyya Gharb Afriqiyya, threatening to bomb the university before October 1, is not creating panic on campus.

    But news of the latest ranking published by Times Higher Education (THE) on its website made the university community ecstatic.

    The message from the terrorist group was mailed to some members of staff. Part of it reads: “Most of you are going to die before Independence Day. You will not spend the Independence Day in peace, you and your students.

    “Even your little searches at the gate won’t do anything. By the time we are through with you, your government will be sorry.

    “You people are an embarrassment to Nigeria and are the people that brought in western education to Nigeria. You doomed this nation and in turn you are all going to be doomed.”

    Reacting to the message, the  Director of Public Communication, Mr Olatunji Oladejo, urged members of the community not to panic, describing it as a mere rumour.

    In a statement signed by Oladosu Olaleye Lystra of the Public Relations unit, the university said it had made efforts to secure the campus.

    “The bomb threat message was sent to cause unnecessary panic.  The Police and the Social Security have deployed intelligence officers to provide optimum security in the institution in order to forestall any tragedy or disaster, and the police and Social Security officials  are on top of the matter. “

    However, there has been mixed reaction to the threat.  Some students said they were not aware of the threat. Olukotun Tosin, a 300-Level student of Agronomy, believes the university is not doing enough to avert a bomb threat.

    “Whatever would be would be.  If the institution would be bombed it cannot be prevented.  Despite the threat, the institution did not bring any of the armed forces to help; just the institution’s security has been searching vehicles and people at the gate. Even Muslim women were searched. Let’s just hope it is not true,” he said.

    Many of those aware have however called the group’s bluff, describing the message as a rumour.

    Dike Glory, a 300-Level student of Agronomy, thinks it is a bluff.

    “It is impossible. How can they bomb UI? It cannot happen. Never!” she said vehemently.

    Adeniran Kehinde , a 200-Level student of  Biochemistry, said: “Let me tell you, whether I go home or I stay in school, if it is my time to die, I would die. The bomb could detonate at the gate. But I heard it is a rumour”.

    Ajewole Olajumoke, a 200-Level student of Educational Management, said: “It is a lie joo; nothing can happen to me even if the whole of UI is bombed, I am safe”.

    Wisdom Ighodalo , a 100-Level student of English, said it wasn’t the first time the rumour would surface.

    “The Lord is my shepherd; nothing can happen to me. But I don’t think it is true.  The same thing happened about three years ago,” he said.

    Omole Brandie, a 400-Level student of Sociology, said students might be behind the threat.

    “I don’t think it is true . It might be a prank played by a student,” he said.

    The leadership of the Students’ Union of the institution also urged students not to panic, describing the message as a prank.

    A (100-Level Communication and Language Arts Education).

  • UI ranked 601 on global top 1000 Universities list

    The University of Ibadan has finally been ranked among 1,000 best universities in the world.

    The latest ranking by the top rated organisation Times Higher Education (THE) showed that University of Ibadan is the only Nigerian university that made it to the top 1,000 globally ranked universities.

    The latest ranking was based on Teaching , Research, Citations of scholarly publications, Industry Income and International outlook.

    In the latest 2016/2017 ranking which featured 980 universities worldwide with the University of Ibadan is ranked 601. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2017/world-ranking#!/page/0/length/25/name/University%20of%20Ibadan/sort_by/rank_label/sort_order/asc/cols/rank_only)

    Despite being the only University which entered the list of top universities in the world, University of Ibadan came behind South African universities with University of Cape Town ranked 148 followed by Stellenbosch University (401), University of KwaZulu Natal (501).

    University from Ghana Legon (601) is the only university from Ghana in the latest ranking and it is ranked ahead of Nigeria’s premier university.

    Only 22 universities across Africa made it to the world class universities with South Africa and Egyptian universities dominating.

    Reacting to the latest ranking, Vice Chancellor University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka said the University is blessed with world class scholars who are dedicated to their calling and must be engaged by Nigeria to solve her problems.