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Tag: UNIBEN

  • UNIBEN VC, others visit his family

    UNIBEN VC, others visit his family

    The University of Benin (UNIBEN) was yesterday mourning one of its frontline lecturers and a former president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Festus Iyayi.

    Many offices were not opened for business.

    At the home of the late Prof Iyayi, sympathisers were seen discussing in groups.

    UNIBEN Vice Chancellor Prof. Osayuki Oshodin,led the top management of the institution on a condolence visit to the widow.

    Also, there were close family and friends.

    Prof. Iyayi’s widow, Grace, was surrounded by friends and relatives as she wept silently.

    She was quiet all through and wiped her face occasionally.

    Prof. Oshodin was in a pensive mood. He could not say anything and looked into space.

    UNIBEN’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Obehi Okojie, who spoke on behalf of the VC, described Iyayi’s death as a shock and a great loss to the university.

    He said: “We know what Prof. Iyayi stood for. He was a dear friend to all of us. God don’t allow accident to happen, but it has happened. God will see you through. The university is behind you. We pray God to strengthen you and help you to entrench what he stood for.”

    Omole, the third son of the late Iyayi, said the family did not anticipate receiving visitors on a condolence visit so soon.

    He said the family was amazed at the concern shown by the public on the death of his father.

    Omole said: “We know he was an ASUU war lord and he was going for what he believed in. We are sure he will be in a better place. We never expected it to be so soon.”

    A childhood friend of the late Iyayi and Dean of the Postgraduate School Prof. Bob Osazee described Iyayi as the best in human capital development.

    He said: “He was committed to activism and has deep concern for human welfare. When he was detained, he stuck to his gun and never waivered. He believed in the welfare of his colleagues.”

    Prof. Famous Izedonmi, who said he was taught by the late Iyayi in 1980, described him as a rare gem and hater of oppression.

    “Prof. Iyayi lived and died for ASUU. He goes beyond UNIBEN. We should immortalise his name in UNIBEN. We will do something to immortalise him,” Izedonmi said.

    It was learnt that efforts were being made to bring the body of the late Iyayi to Benin yesterday.

  • ASUU chief Iyayi dies in Kogi governor’s convoy accident

    ASUU chief Iyayi dies in Kogi governor’s convoy accident

    •Falana to push for trial

    Festus Iyayi, a University of Benin (UNIBEN) professor, writer and rights activist, is dead. The unionist died yesterday in an accident involving the convoy of Kogi State Governor Idris Wada. He was 66.

    The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) between 1986 and 1988 was in a three-vehicle lecturers’ party travelling to Abuja enroute Kano.

    The accident occurred at about 11am at Banda village on the Lokoja-Abuja Road.

    The lecturers were heading for Kano for today’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of ASUU where a vote on whether to end the on-going university teachers’ strike or not is to be taken.

    Wada was travelling in the opposite direction. He was returning from Abuja after an engagement in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    This is Wada convoy’s second fatal crash in one year.

    On December 28, last year, his convoy crashed on its way to Lokoja from Ayingba, Kogi State.

    Wada’s Aide-de-Camp (ADC) died on the spot. The governor’s leg was broken. Other officials suffered varying degrees of injuries.

    ASUU’s National Welfare Secretary and Head of UNIBEN’s Foreign Language department, Dr. Ngozi Iloh is injured. She was unconsciou. UNIBEN ASUU Chair Dr. Tony Moye-Emina and the bus driver were also injured.

    Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Kogi State Sector Command Mr. Olakunle Motajo said preliminary investigation revealed that there was wrongful overtaken by the governor’s convoy. He said investigation had started.

    Iyayi’s body, according to Motajo, had been deposited at the Kogi State Specialist Hospital’s morgue. The injured are also receiving treatment in the hospital.

    ASUU President Nasir Fagge describe Iyayi’s death tragic.

    A member of ASUU, Dr. Sunday Abada, in the ill-fated ASUU delegation, recalled how the accident occurred.

    Speaking to our correspondent on the telephone yesterday, he said:

    “About 15 union members from various institutions, moving in a three-vehicle convoy, were on their way to Kano to participate in the NEC meeting scheduled to hold in Bayero University, Kano (BUK) today.

    Abada, a senior lecturer of Political Science at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), said: “We were on our way to Kano State for our NEC meeting holding tomorrow (today) when a vehicle in the convoy of Governor Idris Wada on full speed left its lane and collided with the vehicle conveying our members along the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway. Prof Iyayi died on the spot.

    “It was later, at 4pm, the govenror led a group of reporters to the Specialist Hospital where the remains of Iyayi are deposited. We had to chase him away because we discovered that he was trying to politicise the incident. But I can confirm to you that only Iyayi died in the accident; the other victims are receiving treatment at the Specialist Hospital.”

    Abada said today’s NEC meeting could be put off because “ASUU is very interested in the welfare of its members”. He said the recklessness of drivers attached to Wada’s convoy could prolong the strike, noting that the lecturers stuck to all road safety measures as they drove on the highway.

    Injured Monye-Emina, who spoke to our reporter in a soft voice, said the governor’s convoy was on full speed. “The governor’s vehicle left its lane and rammed into our union vehicle. The impact made our bus to somersault several times. It was by the grace of God that I survived but we lost Prof Iyayi and I learnt Dr Iloh is critically injured,” he said.

    The Kogi State Government, in a statement on the incident said the governor’s convoy was “on a speed of 80 kilometers per hour when a bus collided with the escort van”. “Sadly, in the storm, it was discovered that a renowned academic and respected human rights advocate, Prof. Festus Iyayi, who was in the other vehicle, died in the accident. There were other victims with varying degrees of injuries from both sides.

    “The victims were immediately evacuated to the State Specialist Hospital in Lokoja on the governor’s directive. The injured are responding to treatment.

    “The Governor has ordered full scale investigation into the matter and paid a visit to the injured. Capt. Wada sympathised with the victims and their families. He wished the deceased a peaceful repose of his soul.”

    Lagos Lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) said last night that he would push for the prosecution of the driver who drove the governor’s convoy’s vehicle.

    But, he stressed that the Nigerian state killed Iyayi. “The trip would not have been necessary, if the President did not wait till now to resolve the ASUU matter. If the train had been working, may be they would have gone by train,” Falan said.

  • Varsity teachers divided over strike

    Varsity teachers divided over strike

    Varsity teachers met yesterday on the campuses to discuss President Goodluck Jonathan’s offer to end their more than four months strike.

    According to the operating guidelines of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the local chapters are expected to vote on whether they agreed with the proposal and that the strike should end or whether they disapproved and the strike should continue.

    Decisions reached on the various campuses are to be taken to tomorrow’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which will take a decision after aggregating the opinions.

    Opinions were divided yesterday, although many ASUU chapters failed to disclose their decisions.

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State University (LASU), University of Calabar (UNICAL), Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Federal University of Technology Minna and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso chapters voted that the strike should end. Some of them, however, gave conditions.

    The University of Jos (UNIJOS), the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and the Nasarawa State University chapters voted that the strike should continue.

    UNIJOS chapter chairman Dr. David Jankam said members did not see any substance in the dialogue with the Federal Government to warrant calling off the strike.

    He said: “We have just rounded off our meeting. As a matter of fact, our members voted overwhelmingly for the continuation of the strike.

    “I can also confirm to you that five of the eight universities that make up the Bauchi Zone of ASUU have also voted for continuation of the strike, and the general saying is that the government has not shown any commitment so far.

    “We started the meeting by briefing our members on issues resolved with the Federal Government in the last meeting with the president of ASUU.

    “But in responding to the briefing, our members observed that the main issues that led to the strike were not discussed at the Aso Rock meeting.

    “As such, my members said President Jonathan is taking them for a ride by trying to divert attention from the core subjects of the strike.”

    Jankam went on: “I will now convey the resolve of our branch to our national president at the NEC meeting tomorrow.”

    Shedding light on how the meeting will decide the mater, he said: “If the majority of the chapters vote for its end, it will be called off, but if majority of chapters vote for continuation, so be it.”

    The congress of the Union at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna was divided, with majority of the members supporting the suspension of the action. Others would want it suspended with some conditions met by the government.

    The minority demanded that in calling off the action, the leadership of the union should insist that no member is victimised for his roles in the strike. They also insisted that government should indicate in the final agreement that the 2009 agreement was due for negotiation and the payment of the balance of their academic earned allowances.

    As soon as Dr. Fatai Jimoh briefed the congress of the outcome of the meeting between President Jonathan and the union, the house was divided, with the majority of the members pushing for suspension.

    The few dissenting voices argued that the union should not fall prey to the government’s ploy. They cautioned that the union cannot take the government for its word, maintaining that if the union had to embark on a strike after series of correspondences and strike in 2011 that led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2012 were not honoured.

    But majority of the university teachers said the plight of the students and their parents should be considered.

    After an exhaustive debate, the congress directed its chairman to convey to the National Executive Council meeting holding tomorrow at the Bayero University in Kano that the union could consider suspending the action, but insisted that the three conditions be met.

    Chapter chairman Dr. Fatai Jimoh, who initially refused to divulge the outcome of the congress, later said: “I have the mandate to take the decision of the congress to NEC. But, if you insist to know, majority of our members called for the suspension of the strike but with the government fulfilling three conditions.

    “Don’t ask me the conditions, because we don’t want it yet in the public domain. All I can tell you is that the strike is still on, until the NEC of the union decides otherwise.”

    The chapter chairman also refused to assess the impact of the action. He said: “As long as NEC has not suspended the action, it will be premature to assess the success or otherwise of the action. When the strike is called off, I’ll give my candid assessment.”

    At Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, ASUU chair Comrade Yahaya Badeggi said: “The congress at IBBU Lapai resolved that the strike continues until when the National Executive Council of the union decides otherwise. We know they are still negotiating. We shall abide by the decision of NEC.”

    On the gains of the action, Badeggi said: “I make bold to say that the action has produced some positive results. From the N100 billion released, our university got N450 million. This would not have been so but for the strike. I believe that at the end of the day, the university system will be better for it.”

    The following are the decisions at the various ASUU chapters on the strike.

    •University of Benin (UNIBEN). Members unanimously voted for the strike to continue because the Federal Government’s offer omitted some vital segments of the 2009 agreement;

    •University of Lagos (UNILAG) teachers want suspension of strike, but will await further directive from the national body after meeting tomorrow in Kano;

    •University of Calabar (UNICAL) lecturers voted for the suspension of the strike;

    Nasarawa State University, Keffi. ASUU chair Dr. Theophilus Lagi, said: “I can assure you that all members present at the congress today wanted the strike to continue because the documents from the government failed to address the grey areas in contention. We believe there is nothing practicable in the government’s offer, even with the N200 billion it promised to release. Before we can suspend the strike, all unpaid salaries of our colleagues must be paid and there must be solid assurance from the government that no member will be victimised after the strike is eventually suspended;

    •Ahmadu Bello University (ABU). When the issue was put to vote, the majority of members wanted an end to the strike, with the agreement that the government must sign a binding document on how it will release the N1.2 trillion it promised to release. They promised to abide by the decision of the NEC in Kano;

    •Delta State University (DELSU) members want suspension of the strike.

    •Ekiti State University (EKSU) lecturers would not disclose the outcome of the congress until after the NEC meeting tomorrow;

    •Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH). The ASUU local chairman said he would not disclose the outcome of the congress but a lecturer who attended the congress said members were okay with the offer of the government and wanted the strike to end;

    •Lagos State University (LASU) chapter supports the strike suspension.

    A source who is from ASUU-LASU executive, but pleaded not to be mentioned, said the chapter only gave certain conditions under which the strike should be suspended.

  • Oshiomhole offers physically challenged student scholarship

    Oshiomhole offers physically challenged student scholarship

    Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has offered to bear the financial cost of undergraduate studies of Miss Queen Onwunaje, a physically

    challenged student of theUniversity of Benin (UNIBEN). Oshiomhole made the promise when Miss Onwunaje paid him a thank-you visit at the Government House in Benin-City recently.

    Queen was accompanied on the visit to the governor by her mother and sister, Mrs Helen Onwunaje and Miss Chizoba, as well as Mrs Dorothy Igbinovia, who was Queen’s principal at Idia College, Benin-City, where she had her post-primary education between 2004 and 2010.

    However, Oshiomhole commended the courage of the girl in seeking to obtain the highest levels of education possible instead of surrendering to the dictates of her natural, physical challenges.

    He noted that he was particularly moved by the determination of the young lady not just to acquire a university degree but also to be a lawyer in future so that, as she said, “to be in a good position to help others, including the challenged or impaired persons.”

    The governor, who could not betray his elation during the brief ceremony, said he was happy that the medical treatment in UK has enhanced the ability of the girl to pursue her education despite being born physically challenged. “I’m happy that the medical trip to the UK last year has been of good use to you,” Oshiomhole said, adding, “I’m particularly excited that you are a true comrade and a determined fighter who has refused to be held down by your unfavorable natural circumstance. I want to assure you that I will do all within my powers to assist you through the university, even after I would have left here as governor.”

    Oshiomhole had, in 2012, given Queen a lifeline by sponsoring her for artificial limbs in the United Kingdom (UK) with a donation of N3.5 million to enable her obtain artificial limbs implant, which total cost then was about N5.5 million.

    She returned to Nigeria in December, 2013 and subsequently gained admission to study a course in the faculty of education of UNIBEN though she had applied to study law.

    Nonetheless, she told the governor that she was still intent on studying law, saying she was already working hard at securing admission to satisfy her ambition whether in UNIBEN or in another university.

    Also speaking,Queen’s former teacher and principal, who our reporter learnt personally gave the challenged student a wheelchair some years ago, joined the

    Onwunaje family in expressing profuse appreciation to Oshiomhole for his saintly gesture towards the girl by promising to help her through her educational pursuit.

    Queen Onwunaje was born without a hand and a leg.

    The highpoint of the courtesy visit to Oshiomhole was the presentation of a special commendation card to him by Miss Onwunaje, who also personally read the words of the appreciation souvenir.

     

  • UNIBEN turns ghost town

    The strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which started on July 1, has left several schools in the shadow of themselves. It is not only academic activities that are paralysed, commercial activities have been affected by the industrial action, which is approaching its fifth month.

    During a visit by our correspondent to the University of Benin (UNIBEN) last weekend, it was discovered that lecturers’ offices were covered by dust. A few of them seen on campus were attending to personal chores. The Faculty of Arts, which was always bubbling with activities, turned a ghost of itself with a a few cars parked in its lot. Bubbling spots such as classrooms, school library, main gate, basement, Hall 1 and 2 were deserted.

    Drivers of campus shuttle and cabs wore forlorn faces, as some of them called for passengers. It was bad moment for them; their buses and cars were empty because there was no passenger.

    Commerce on the campus also suffered. Traders closed their businesses because their customers (students) were not around. There is a grave-yard silence at the ever-busy June12 Square that hosts several business centres.

    Our correspondent saw some of the traders playing table tennis on the extended area of their shops, perhaps to console themselves.

    A student, Sunny Ibeh, said that if the government failed to return students back to campus, they may be forced to keep themselves busy with crimes. He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to employ workable strategies to end the strike.

    Traders, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, registered their dissatisfaction on the strike. Jude Otigbu, who owns a computer business centre, said it had been difficult for him to work since the strike started. He begged the government and ASUU to dialogue and allow students return to school, saying this would make his business to take its normal shape again.

    A bus driver, who did not mention his name, said all had not been well with them since the strike started. He said: “We are tired of this strike; it is affecting us badly. The government and ASUU should seek way to end their differences so that things will begin to move as usual.”

  • JAMB lauds UNIBEN for beating admission deadline

    JAMB lauds UNIBEN for beating admission deadline

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has praised the University of Benin (UNIBEN) for completing its admission for the 2013/2014 academic session ahead of the October deadline.

    A statment by the board’s Public Relations Officer, Fabian Benjamin, noted that the university submitted its list of admitted students during the first Technical Committee meeting on 2013/2014 Admissions to most Preferred (Degree Awarding) institutions held at University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State recently.

    The statement reads: “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) wishes to congratulate University of Benin on the successful completion of 2013/2014 Admission Exercise.

    “University of Benin completed its admissions at the First Technical Committee meeting on 2013/2014 Admissions to most Preferred (Degree Awarding) institutions held at University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom, State.

    “The meeting had 109 degree awarding institutions in attendance and 76 out of these made submission and out of this, University of Benin was the first to make conclusive submission to the Board.

    “The Board was particularly impressed and pleased with the university for this display of patriotism, commitment and its compliance to the Minister of Education directive to complete 2013/2014 on a record time.”

    The JAMB Registrar, Prof Dibu Ojerinde noted that by submitting on time, UNIBEN complied with the desires of the board expressed at an interactive forum with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities held at the auditorium of National Universities Commission (NUC) prior to the Uyo meeting.

    Ojerinde had complained about admission irregularities, late submission and non-compliance with agreed time-table on admissions, urging the vice-chancellors to make changes.

    The Registrar also praised the Federal University, Lokoja in Kogi State for concluding its admission on time and enjoined others to keep the October deadline.

     

  • We need a new amnesty

    Law and grace are essential aspects of society. Law prescribes sanctions to ensure social order. But grace advocates pardon, compassion and unmerited favour. Through grace, we exhibit the divine nature replicated in man. So, amnesty is the law of grace. But what is the essence of a pardon without penitence?

    Now, wisdom demands we put cause and effect in perspective. You don’t take mounds of sedatives to cure an HIV infection. More so, the salvation of a part does not translate into the redemption of a whole. So, amnesty is like throwing flesh to a group of starving lions and expecting the rest to look on while one of them devours the whole food. What about other disgruntled elements who could be potential terrorists? What programme has been put in place to engage the jobless youth languishing in the brooks of Ughelli or the miserable lad wasting away in the turbulent regions of Borno? So, we need amnesty for various classes of Nigerians.

    We need amnesty for victims of terrorist attacks. I am yet to see any touching narrative about the family in Kogi State who lost their breadwinner in a church bombing or the young man in Bauchi who has be turned into a wretched orphan by Boko Haram. What about the innocent girl who lost members of her family in one fell swoop in Mandala bombing? You could see despair from the rivulets of tears dripping from her eyes. There must be re-integration plans to assimilate this sort of persons into the larger society. They should not be left to gnash their teeth alone. Society should assure their survival and security.

    We need amnesty for bright kids whose educational pursuit is hampered by the claws of poverty. We need to revisit our scholarship schemes and put our brilliant kids back to school. Nigeria is endowed with smart kids who can give the likes of Larry Page or Mark Zuckerberg a run for the money. Check out the Young Inventors programme on NTA network and you will appreciate the ingenuity of Nigerian youth in providing real-time solutions to problems. But many of them are victims of a society that has no regard for the poor. Rather, they are left to blush unseen and waste away their sweetness in the desert air, as poet Thomas Gray noted.

    We need amnesty to save our helpless undergraduates. Many of them still live in the 70s since lecturers still pride in an outdated curriculum. They lack employability skills and attitudes to thrive in what Peter Drucker called the Knowledge Society. We need massive reforms in our tertiary education. We need a 21st Century education that is relevant, enduring and problem-solving. That is why John F. Kennedy asserted that ‘’our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education.’’ Let’s save them.

    We need amnesty for morally vulnerable Nigerians. We can create social security nets especially for the elderly and the handicapped. Many of these folks served the nation in their prime. Some of them fought wars and defended Nigeria’s territorial integrity. Others were the denizens of the once-efficient Nigerian Civil Service. We have to cultivate a genuine culture of reward for excellence, service and sacrifice. That’s how to restore patriotism in a people.

    We need amnesty to revive the reading culture in the country. A society can only lead as it reads. Today, the average Nigerian lacks the patience to read a scanty page in a newspaper. We are what a writer called a generation in a hurry. We have no appreciation for history. We have no understanding of our civilization. We need organisations that would include literary initiatives in their corporate social responsibility to stir our creative energies. We are tired of spending 90 days watching nudity and sexual provocations in the name of reality shows. These sort shows do not build society. Rather, it destroys civilisation.

    We need amnesty to revive various sectors of our economy. This could come in form of a stimulus package that is clear and well-thought out. Power generation, for instance, is still very poor. If South Africa with a population of about 49 million people can boast of 45, 000 megawatts, then it is appalling that a nation of over 160 million people cannot generate 5,000 megawatts. So, what is the hope for small businesses? How does a next-door barber or welder cope? We need amnesty to save these segments from collapse.

    The palliatives of amnesty should not be limited to militants and rebels alone. It should be extended to these vulnerable Nigerians. We can shine this light of hope and defeat the forces of darkness. A package like amnesty is enough to work the miracle. Nigeria needs an amnesty that provides answers to our collective existence as a people. It is the amnesty of healing tribal, political and religious wounds. It is the amnesty of reconciliation and social rehabilitation. We need a new amnesty.

     

    Gilbert, 400-Level Foreign Languages, UNIBEN

  • NGOs train youths

    About 105 youths made up of graduates and undergraduates have completed training on employment and enterprise skills organised by Afterschool Graduate Development Centre (AGDC) and TY Danjuma Foundation. The programme, which lasted for three weeks, was held at the Precious Palm Royal Hotel, Benin City, Edo State.

    The Managing Director of the hotel, Jude Nosagie, charged the trainees to imbibe good values, noting that discipline was crucial for anyone who wanted to live a successful life.

    In her address, the Chief Executive Officer of AGDC, Mrs Detoun Ogwo, lamented the high level of unemployment in the country, urging the trainees to see the programme as a platform to distinguish themselves from the crowd. She urged participants to learn to communicate their skills and competencies, saying no employer would underestimate value.

    Participants were also taught practical skills in writing resume, business development, presentation skills, personal branding, self management and problem solving proficiencies among others.

    Speaking at the graduation, Projects Officer of the Centre, Mr Godbless Otubure, admonished the trainees to approach life with a renewed vigour and to constantly strive for excellence in their various careers. He said: “I want you to go out there and showcase what you have learnt. I want you to become the agents for building the local economy.’’

    A 400-Level student of Foreign Languages at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Joyce Chidi, who participated in the training commended the organisers. “I believe the centre has prepared me to take on the world. In three weeks, I learnt what I could not learn in school for four years,’’ she said.

    Meanwhile, the training was followed with a community development exercise in seven local government areas in Benin. During the exercise, career development sessions were held and learning materials were also distributed to secondary schools in the state.

    Principal of Edo Boys College, Mrs Emokpai-Ogbebor Mariana, lauded the gesture when one of the teams visited her school on Friday.

     

  • DPP’s report on slain UNIBEN student ready next week

    Legal advice of the Department of Public Prosecution on the killing of a final-year student of the University of Benin, Ibrahim Momodu, would be ready next week.

    The late Momodu was allegedly shot by the former Divisional Police Officer of Ogida Division, Mrs. Carol Afegbai and buried at the 3rd cemetery.

    His body was exhumed, following a court order and a post-mortem examination was conducted on him.

    The police, who earlier claimed that Ibrahim was killed in self defence, said it has ordered detention of Mrs. Afegbai’s orderlies and sent the case file to the DPP.

    Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General Henry Idahagbon yesterday said the DPP’s report would be available between July 1 and 6.

    Idahagbon said the DPP has been overhauled to ensure that legal opinions are ready within 30 days.

    He said the over 300 cases awaiting legal opinion for over six years have been cleared.

    “That UNIBEN student case was brought on June 7. On or before July 7 the legal opinion will be ready.

    “Because we discovered that we lacked the human capacity to handle the cases, the governor approved the appointment of private lawyers to handle the cases on our behalf.

    “It was after clearing the Augean stable that we established a rule that no legal opinion should stay more than 30 days. Since my appointment, we have ensured that.”

  • Why we sacked 13 dons, by UNIBEN

    The University of Benin (UNIBEN) yesterday gave an insight into why it sacked some senior members of staff. It said they were sacked for admission racketeering, changing of students’ grade and collection of money from students for several services.

    Those affected included a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, two doctors from the Department of Mathematics, three lecturers from the Department of Production Engineering and History and International Studies, a lecturer from the Optometry Department and four lecturers from the Department of Microbiology.

    A university source said one of them forged signatures of principal officials to secure employment for some persons.

    A statement by the institution’s spokesman, Harris Osarenren, said the officials were dismissed for misconduct.

    He said the workers were sacked after the Governing Council approved their dismissal, following recommendations of a disciplinary committee.

    Non-academic staff affected included those in the security unit, a clerical officer and a worker in the office of the vice chancellor.