The Nation Newspaper

Tag: UI

  • UI students hold debate on economy

    The third yearly Jaw Wars kicked off at the University of Ibadan (UI) on Wednesday last week with students of various halls of residence challenging  proving their supremacy on the  economy.

    The Literary and Debating Society provided the platform, and the Theme for the debate, which will last until November was: “Nigeria: Africa’s heartbeat in coma.”

    The halls were represented by two students each.

    Chief Judge, Dr Demola Lewis, gave the rules of the game and the acceptable way of comportment during a debate or speaking competition.  He urged the students to snap their fingers rather than howl and clap in favour of their speakers – because noisemaking tends to hinder the flow of thought and words of the speakers; and because judges may assess speakers poorly if they do not hear them.

    Chants of stand up, speak up or shut up rent the air as the event was formally opened.

    There were a total of five rounds in the first stage of the event. The first round topic was “Should special courts be set up for corruption cases?”  And the debate was between the male hall of residence, Tedder Hall which spoke in favour of the topic and the female hall of residence, Obafemi Awolowo Hall, which spoke against the topic.

    The second round was between the Independence Hall and Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, both male halls of residence. “The abolition of religion; a just cause?” was the topic and Indy Hall spoke in favour, while Zik Hall spoke against it.

    Sultan Bello Hall was up against Alexander Brown Hall for both male and female students of College of Medicine battled in the next round. Sultan Bello Hall spoke against the topic: “Nigerian prison system; a reformation of criminal”.

    Queen Elizabeth II Hall spoke in favour of the topic: “Euthanasia: Justifiable or not” as it competed against Kenneth Mellamby Hall.

    The final round was between female hall of residence, Queen Idia, and the male hall of residence, Kuti, which debated on “Strike: A panacea to the problems of the nation’s educational sector?” Kuti hall spoke in favour of the topic.

    After five rounds of listening to mind blowing, educating and informative speeches the judges, Dr Lewis, Odebowale, and Mr Tunde Ogundare were saddled with the responsibility to choose the best speakers. After much deliberation, Queen Elizabeth II hall won the first stage of the competition with 84 per cent, Mellamby hall came second with 81.2 per cent; and Sultan Bello, third with 81 per cent.

    But the event was not all about debates alone.

    An entrepreneur, Miss Bukunmi Adeaga, related the topic to entrepreneurship.

    She urged the students to invest in themselves and be disciplined.

    “As an entrepreneur it is not about who is going to let you but about who is going to stop you. Your certificate is not a means of grading yourself. (You are rated) by what you known and can do and by yours skills. All this is possible by investing in yourself daily and continuously,” she said.

    Opaleye Akintunde recited a poem entitled: “The dark Nigeria”, which focused on the need to have faith and hope in Nigeria. It also speaks on the need to imbibe African values and shun corruption.

    The Jaw wars theme song was presented by Michael Olaoye.  It focused on the need to use words to speak and do positive things.

    In his speech, the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof Abdulrasak Alada, expressed the joy of being among the students in an educative and fun filled event.

    The President of the Literary and Debating Society, Catherine Tomosori, also spoke on the past and future of Jaw Wars in the university and the nation.

    The event was rounded up with  Olaoye singing the Jaw Wars theme song.

    The finale of the competition takes place on the November 3, 2016 at the large lecture theatre of the faculty of Social Sciences, with a debate among the different faculties in the university to determine the winners.

    Tedder Hall and the Faculty of Social Sciences won the 2015 edition of the competition.

    Important figures in the university and students union, including the President, Ojo Oluwanifemi, attend the event.

  • UI wins Unilever Ideatrophy contest again

    The University of Ibadan has again clinched the Unilever Ideatrophy competition.

    The trio of Okunade Gbenga, Similoluwa Odetola and Omobola Akionla of Team Adobe humbled teams from five other universities – Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB, Team Innovatus); Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD, Team Golden); Federal University of Technology Owerri and University of Benin (FUTO/UNIBEN Team Mugambo); Caleb University Lagos (Team Coocliq) – and another UI team, Team Dynamic – at the grand finale held at 10 Degrees Event Centre in Oregun, Lagos last Friday.

    FUNAAB’s Team Innovatus and Caleb’s Team CooCliq emerged first and second runners-up.

    By winning, the Adobe Team returned honour to UI, which won the maiden edition of the contest five years ago.

    For their victory, the UI contingent will represent Nigeria at the Africa round in South Africa, and if successful, progress to the Unilever Global Future Leaders’ League competition next year in the United Kingdom.

    The six teams in the final were tasked to produce creative marketing ideas for Close-up Toothpaste, one of Unilever’s flagship brands. Team Adobe, for instance, was tasked to develop a marketing strategy with the tag: “Make the move”.

    The boot camp for the competition opened in Lagos on Tuesday, August 23, during which contestants were assigned mentors – seasoned business professionals – to guide them in the development and delivery of their presentations.  They also met and interacted with Unilever top executives, and enjoyed fun activities like talent shows, aerobics and games.

    Expressing their excitement, Okunade who led the UI team said: “The Ideatrophy competition has been a life changing experience. We have learnt so much about developing viable strategies for brand positioning and growth. Winning the competition is the crowning glory.”

    Unilever Managing Director Yaw Nsarkoh, and the Chairman on the occasion, Dr. Christopher Kolade, advised the youth to rise beyond their situations to meet global standards.

    Nsarkoh said Unilever was committed to creating a bright future for Nigerians, and touching lives each day through its brands and their social missions.

    Kolade, a former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, admonished young Nigerians to take charge of their destinies via creative ideas. He also praised Unilever for grooming talents and providing opportunities for the youth to showcase their abilities.

    Unilever Nigeria’s Human Resources Director Eniola Onimole said the aim of the competition was to develop personal, leadership and entrepreneurial business competencies, among the competitors and showcase innovative and viable business ideas.

    “The Ideatrophy competition gives us the opportunity to develop young Nigerians right from the university. By connecting with undergraduates through this programme, we are able to attract and invest in young talents who could eventually become some of the world’s future leaders,” she said.

    She said the panel reviewed participants’ activities at group and individual levels – explaining why two groups emerged from UI, while another two institutions were lumped into a single group.

  • Three unions suspend strike in UI

    Three unions suspend strike in UI

    Three non-teaching staff unions at the University of Ibadan – Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Non-Academic Staff Unions (NASU) – have suspended their two weeks’ strike.

    The unions embarked on a warning strike from Friday 29, July to Friday August 12, in protest against shortfall in salary payment and the ownership of Staff School.

    The suspension of the strike yesterday resurrected administrative activities at the university as students resumed for the second semester of the 2015/2016 session.

    The university’s acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, while speaking with reporters thanked the intervention of parties, individuals, bodies and groups on the successful negotiations that saw to the end of the strike.

    He assured workers and students he would always explore lawful means to better their welfare.

    He promised that the issue of staff school is being resolved through a committee comprising stakeholders.

    He added that no worker of the school would be sacked.

    Olayinka said: “For purpose of clarity, the two contentious issues at stake by the staff unions are/were the shortfall in payment of salaries and ownership of the Staff School.

    “The Management of the University of Ibadan once again reiterates its understanding of the harsh realities of the sharply increasing costs of living and the mounting financial pressures on members of the university community as well as the challenge of under-payment of salaries which have further compounded the situation.

    “The university management continues to look inwards at ways of resolving the financial challenges arising from the shortfall of the revenue allotted the university, which in itself was due largely to the quantum drop in the price of crude oil on the world market.”

    He acknowledged the personal intervention of the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Umar Musa Mustapha, who had series of reconciliatory meetings with management and leadership of the three staff union.

    Olayinka said his administration would continue to improve on the modest achievements of staff promotion as and when due

  • Unions protest ‘payment shortfalls’ at UI

    Unions protest ‘payment shortfalls’ at UI

    Academic and administrative activities were yesterday disrupted at the University of Ibadan (UI) as the non-academic staff unions continued their warning strike to demand full payment of salaries and arrears from January to date.

    The workers said they have been collecting incomplete salaries since January due to shortfall in allocations from the Federal Government to the institution.

    The unions ordered their members to go home last Friday after holding a joint congress at the university entrance gate, forcing people to trek to their destinations.

    However, in a post on the social media, the university’s Bursar, Michael Alatise, said the university has now received payment of shortfalls covering January to April.

    He added that Vice Chancellor Prof. Idowu Olayinka, had directed that the money be paid.

    “I am pleased to inform the university community that we have received fund to pay salary shortfalls for January to April 2016. The fund came on Saturday July 30, 2016. The VC has directed prompt payment of these shortfalls,” Alatise said.

    But the workers still put major offices in the university under lock and keys. Postgraduate lectures held under special arrangements as the people to open lecture halls resumed at their union congress conducted at the main entrance of the institution.

    As early as 7am on Monday, the Joint Action Congress of Senior Staff of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) stormed the gate for a joint congress and locked the gate.

    Due to traffic snarl at the Agbowo end of the university, people were forced to park their vehicles and trek inside the school. But the gate was opened in the after noon.

    The strike impacted on few faculties left with undergraduate examinations.

    Movements within, into and outside the school were hampered.

    The unions said they were forced to take the latest action, owing to the university administration’s failure to yield to the demand of commencing full payment of salaries by July ending and arrears of shortfalls from December 2015 to June 2016.

     

     

     

  • UI affiliated college graduates 72

    Seventy-two graduates of the Archbishop Vinning College of Theology(AVCT) Akure, Ondo State, have been urged to be good ambassadors of the institution.

    The Dean of the college, Dr Ayodeji Fagbemi, gave the admonition at the second award of Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) degrees of the college, which held at its chapel.

    The college, which is affiliated to the University of Ibadan (UI), is owned by the Supra Diocesan Board of Finance of Western Nigeria. The Supra Diocesan Board is made up of Lagos, Ibadan, Kwara, Ondo and old Bendel states, which are provinces of the Anglican Church of Nigeria with 63 dioceses.

    Dr Fagbemi warned graduands to remain committed to their calling and not allow money to derail them. According to him, the college is sending them out as change agents.

    He said: “As you are receiving your Bachelor of Theology degree after rigorous four years of hardwork, you should not allow your new status to get into your head to the point of forgetting your mission here.”

    Fagbemi, who is happy that the current academic year grew in leaps and bounds, noted that the most important focus was emphasis on academic and spiritual training of students.

    He recalled that seminars conducted by the college have continued to showcase relevant subjects necessary for societal growth. He added that Vinning College also benefited from a grant of about N7.6m from a Christian charity body, Barnabas Fund, to purchase additional furniture and undertake the electronic automation of the library.

    “We are looking to further upgrade our academic programmes soon. This has become very important to us as we await the National Universities Commission (NUC) to accredit more of our programmes as UI affiliate,” he added.

    He lamented that the state of the economy has continued to affect the institution, and compelled it to adjust its academic calendar to allow students go home early in the course of the semester. This, Fagbemi explained, would stave off cost of feeding that could probably add to the rise in the cost of training during next academic session.

    Fagbemi announced that the centenary celebrations of the college would come up between January 25 and 29 next year.

    The college Chairman, Board of Governors, Most Revd. Latunji Lasebikan, who is also the Archbishop of Ondo Province,  urged the new graduands to show exemplary leadership in their spiritual assignments.

    The high point was the award of prizes in various courses to outstanding students.

  • UI: Pains, frustrations of a premier university 

    UI: Pains, frustrations of a premier university 

    Shortfall in subventions meant to take care of staff salaries, overhead costs and capital projects are marks of the present day University of Ibadan. Yet, student population is on the rise with its attendant consequences.

    Time has not been particularly favourable to the new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abel Olayinka. Since he took over last December, the institution’s finance has worsened, getting to an all-time low. In response, students and staff have been protesting while the VC and his kitchen cabinet members suffer sleepless nights to keep the institution in bearable shape. For seven weeks now, students of the university have been cooling at home after the authorities closed the institution for academic activities.

    The students had demonstrated against the rustication of a 500-Level student found guilty of inciting students and allegedly leading a protest following breakdown of electricity and water supplies at Independence Hall, mid April. The April 17 protest was the third within seven months over poor supply of water and electricity, particularly to student hostels. But this last protest was one too many as the rampaging students took their protest to town and became totally uncontrollable, even to their leaders.

    The university authorities, which viewed the protest as an act of indiscipline, chose to wield the stick by sending them home indefinitely. But as weeks rolled by, parents, guardians and other stakeholders began to to feel the pain of waking up to see their wards at home every morning idling their active life away. As the discomfort pressed harder, they began to make appeals to the university to reconsider its stand and recall the students.

    Realizing that the same factors that have been causing student unrest still abate, however, Prof. Olayinka, and his lieutenants decided to speak out for the public, parents, government and other stakeholders to have a hint of what the institution is battling with. To determine the strength and weaknesses of facilities and capacity of the university, The Nation undertook and investigation into the factors stirring recurrent protests by students and staff.

    Electricity 

    The entire UI community requires a total of 11 megawatts (ME) of electricity to run efficiently. But as typical in the country, it runs with only six megawatts supplied by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and generators that complement the former. The institution has six 2,000 KVA generators, two of which were recently donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Each consumes about 250 liters of diesel per hour.

    If the six generators are switched on, it is able to generate about 7.6 MW but minimum of one is always left to serve as back-up in case any of them breaks down. These six big generators are in addition to about 40 smaller ones dedicated to specific assignments including pumping water in hostels, powering the central library for 24 hours a day and other facilities in the community. Yet, fueling the entire generators in addition to the IBEDC average monthly bill of N30 million is a huge headache for the university managers.

    Commenting on the situation, the Deputy Director of Works, Eng. Ayodeji Adeniji, said: “If we switch on four generators at a time, we will require 24,000 liters of diesel to run them for 24 hours..”

    However, the institution is already developing an alternative source of power through a solar energy project being supported by a German firm. When fully developed, it is able to generate up to the 12 MW needed by the community. But it is yet to take off.  For now, the institution grapples with minimum of six MW electricity shortage which sometimes makes life difficult for students and staff.

    Water supply

    The university has a tank of 36 million litre capacity but which produces at only at 40 per cent capacity. It was learnt that the tank used to produce up to 70 per cent capacity but has been weakened by various factors. The factors include poor electricity supply, treatment and pumping difficulty, insufficient raw water supply from the the Eleyele and Oba dams, problematic rising mains pipelines and constant break down of equipment being used.

    In addressing some of the challenges, however, the institution revealed that it had awarded contract for supply of HDPE pipes but that foreign exchange difficulties are stifling the process. The university, according to Engr. Ayo Oyedele, has also awarded contract to construct another water plant with huge capacity. Oyedele, who is Assistant Chief Technical Officer in charge of water in the school, further disclosed that the institution has since dug many boreholes in student halls of residence and in other locations to help plug part of the shortfall for residents in the community.

    Besides, Oyewole said the university was thinking of how to harvest and store rain water for toilet use and washing in the hostels, adding that a booster station helps supply to the halls.  Currently, he disclosed that two of the three tankers are dedicated to supplying student hostels whenever there is shortage.

    For funding of water and electricity, which are part of overhead costs, Prof. Olayinka said subventions for them have become grossly low, pointing out that the institution has been relying on internally generated revenue to fill part of the gap.

    Staff salaries

    While briefing parents, staff, students and others at the stakeholders’ forum on Tuesday, Olayinka revealed that subventions for salaries have been stably decreasing since the beginning of 2016. According to him, while the university received monthly average of N752 million in 2011, N863 million in 2012, N899 million in 2013 and N804, N932 million in 2014 and 2015 respectively, it has dropped to average of N782 million since the beginning of the year, leaving a gap of about N100 million monthly.

    For this reason, Olayinka said management holds meetings with labour leaders as soon as subventions arrive to let them understand the need for short payment in staff salaries. Similarly, the VC revealed that while overhead subventions was N237 million in 2011, N260 million in 2012, N250 million in 2013, N155 million in 2014, it was a mere N141 million in 2015. This paltry amount, he said could only take care of cleaning contractors, leaving the university to grapple with electricity, water, maintenance, external supervisor and staff training bills.

    Faced with the staggering data, parents overwhelmingly voted to support the running of the institution with regular contributions per student during the stakeholders’ parley.

    But it is unclear how far the parents can be committed to their pledge as well as how much help Olayinka and his lieutenants can access to keep the flag of the premier university flying. It is also unclear if the Federal Government has plans to shire up subventions to the institutions in the shortest possible time.

    But students have come apologizing, indicating willingness to cope with the situation after learning about the difficulties. Obviously, the institution needs more help from the government, alumni, national and international donors as well as philanthropic organizations as the situation presents government as incapable of fully funding public schools. Yet, a move that appears to be acceptable to stakeholders is increase of fees to raise internal revenues.

  • UI to reopen on June 20

    HE Senate of the University of Ibadan (UI) has approved the reopening of the institution for academic activities.

    Presided over by the vice chancellor, Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka, the Senate agreed to reopen the premier university for academic activities on June 20.

    The university stated that examinations will commence on July 4.

    The institution was shut about six weeks ago over students’ protests.

    The students had expressed their displeasure over the  suspension of a union leader by a disciplinary committee.

    They added that lack of power and water had made learning difficult on campus.

    The Senate, while considering the decision of the Committee of Provost, Deans and Directors, urged the university administration to hold an interactive session with student body before being allowed into residence on the need to abide by the matriculation oath and conduct themselves in responsibly.

  • UI VC tells workers, others not to despair

    UI VC tells workers, others not to despair

    Vice Chancellor (VC) of University of Ibadan Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka has urged workers, students and other stakeholders not to despair in the face of the mounting financial crisis facing the institution.

    He gave the advice yesterday while briefing reporters on the state of affairs of the institution in the last six months.

    According to him, paucity of funds was responsible for poor supply of electricity, water and other essential services as well as the institution’s inability to pay full salary to workers.

    Olayinka, who lamented the sporadic student protests in the last six months over poor supply of water and electricity, revealed that the institution has been battling with N96 million shortfall in monthly subventions, totalling N790 million from December till date.

    Explaining that the situation is a reflection of the financial crisis confronting the government due to fall in oil prices in the international market, the VC said UI’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has been inadequate in plugging the shortfall.

    According to him, the institution received only N140 million for overhead cost for last year, a sum he said could barely defray the cost of cleaning alone.

    He explained that this allocation was supposed to pay for external examiners, staff development, office maintenance, electricity, water and others.

    But he said the authorities were working round the clock to keep the institution running without hitch.

    For example, Olayinka said the efforts informed the decision to organise a forum with parents and other stakeholders to lay bare the challenges with a view to finding a joint solution to sustain teaching and research.

    On planned strike by workers, the VC expressed regret that there was little or nothing he could do to pay full salary.

    But he sought understanding of workers and parents pending improvement in the nation’s economy.

    “We are not happy with the situation of things. It is painful that workers are not getting full salaries. It is painful that power and water supply is poor but we have financial constraints.” Olayinka said.

    On the arrest of students’ leaders, the VC explained that they involved themselves in illegal grouping of students on campus after students had been ordered to vacate the school till further notice.

    He said the need to prevent a breakdown of law and order necessitated their arrest, adding that police are handling the issue.

    At the briefing were the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Gbemisola Oke and Registrar Mr. Olujinmi Olukoya.

  • UI dons proffer solution to Tomato disease

    Agricultural experts at the University of Ibadan yesterday proffered solutions to the outbreak of Tomato disease, Tuta Absoluta, saying importing tomato seeds was not the best option.

    One of them, Dr. Morufat Balogun, who is a geneticist, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that importing seeds to cushion the problem would further drain the nation’s foreign exchange.

    She said the Federal Government should direct plant breeders/entomologists to develop new tomato varieties that could adapt to the Nigerian environment.

    “Tomato is a short duration crop that breeds fast; when an insect smells something in the plant that puts it away, it can’t feed on it.

    “If the gene from such hormones is put in tomato, the pest will not feed on it. That will be a lasting solution.

    “A cushioning solution will be when farmers grow their tomato in an insect screen environment, the insects can’t attack it.

    “Tomato can be produced anytime of the year. So, government should build screen houses for farmers,” Balogun said.

    Another expert, Dr Biodun Claudius-Cole, a Plant Pathologist at the university, said management of the disease should be done using combination of biosecticide method, resistant crops, among others.

    “Farmers need to practice good agricultural methods; they must have good land preparation as that manages soil burn, which is one of the problems of tomato.

    “They should also be encouraged with inputs and facilities that will help them produce tomato all year round.”

    She said the government should ensure that crops like tomatoes coming to Nigeria were quarantined before allowed into the country.

    Claudius-Cole said the government should also put necessary measures to control the disease in affected states to stop it from spreading to other places.

    An entomologist from the same University, Dr. Olajumoke Alabi, said farmers should use insecticide in a systemic way, if they should use it at all.

    “We can use bio-control agents like nematode, augmentation to suppress the pest population, we can also use cultural control, whereby farmers uproot and destroy infected crops.”

  • UI, parents, others to hold forum June 7

    UI, parents, others to hold forum June 7

    The authorities of University of Ibadan has slated a meeting with parents and others for June 7 to seek a joint solution to the perennial problems plaguing the institution.

    The institution was closed last month after students protested for the third time over poor supply of water and electricity among others.

    A statement by the university’s registrar, Mr. Olujimi Olukoya, said the forum was aimed at discussing ways of finding a lasting solution to the crises in the institution.

    The meeting will hold at the Trenchard Hall by 11am.

    Olukoya said the meeting is expected to be an interactive session with the parents and others to resolve the issues surrounding  the closure of the school.

    The statement reads: “Following the recent developments that led to students being advised to vacate the campus, the management, Senate and Council of the University of Ibadan have at various levels been deliberating on ways to address this problem with a view to finding lasting solution and ensuring resumption as soon as possible.

    “Parents and other stakeholders in the UI project are cordially invited to this forum.

    “We specially covet your presence and valuable input at this important meeting.

    “Kindly note that students are yet to be recalled and as such, should still stay away from the campus.”