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Tag: UNILAG

  • UNILAG empowers pupils with coding skills

    SECONDARY female pupils of Lagos International School, have been empowered with Information Technology skills.

    They presented their projects on web design and android applications at the graduation ceremony of the Young Coders Application Development(YCAD) programme, held in the school.

    The programme, which graduated 50 pupils, was opened for girls between 11 and 16. It started three months ago and was done on Saturdays.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe said the programme was aimed at developing the girl-child in technology, noting that from next year, the YCAD programme would become the university’s Community Social Responsibility to neighbouring communities.

    He said: “From next year, we will use the programme as our CSR to communities around us like Iwaya, Makoko and Bariga. We will bring in girls between the ages of   11-16 and train them.”

    Explaining that the university will monitor the development of the training, he advised parents to avail their children the opportunity to benefit from the programmme.

    The programme cCoordinator, Dr Chika Yinka-Banjo, said the idea was birthed by Ogundipe to mitigate gender inequality by empowering the girls right from the grassroots.

    To sustain what they have learnt, she said a whatsapp group where they could interface in learning would be created.

    One of the beneficiaries, Adekile Aderunshola was happy that she could now design a web.  To her, it was a fun-filled experience.

  • Robotics voyage at UNILAG

    The University of Lagos has held its maiden Robotics competition. The event attracted participants from various departments of the institution. KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE and EBUNOLUWA ADENIJI were there.

    It was the first of its kind. For that ocassion, participants only came from the institution. The maiden Robotics Competition organised by the Computer Science Departments of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) was an opener of sorts. It was held at Jelili Omotola Hall.

    The competition’s coordinator, Dr Chika Yinka-Banjo, said it generated wide interest, adding that the university got more than the entrants it wanted.

    “For this competition, we wanted 10 teams, 21 applied. It was massive.You can see that the passion is so much. We had to screen; we had to review their design, checked before we could select the participants. A lot wanted to participate but because of funding we could not take them all – because UNILAG had to get sponsors to buy these equipment for them, to buy the equipment they coupled. We eventually got a sponsor that financed the cash prizes,” she said.

    The teams drawn from  engineering, computer science, physics and economics departments to take on the Maze challenge – which required them to move their car robots – which they built from scratch – through a maze set at the venue, within five minutes.  The maze was coded in green, red, black and blue in some areas to serve as direction for the autonomous cars to follow.

    Wherever there was black, it meant there was no way; wherever there was red, the cars were to stop; yellow, they were to turn around and find another way; and wherever they saw blue, it meant the robot had made it to the end of the maze.

    A panel of four assessors, Prof Ayo Oyediran, Dr Fashina Ebun, Prof Abiodun Musa-Aibinu and Dr Sunday Adetona, judged the contestants.They assessed how well the robots followed the colour codes. Some colour sensor did not work well, so they turned round on one spot and could not make much progress.  However, eight teams completed the maze, though in extra time. One of them, Autodroid even got their robot to the maze in four minutes and 59 seconds. But it was not enough to get them the star prize. Their prodding  cost them some marks and landed them in third place with 69 points. They won N30,000.  In second place was Team Joda, which got 71 points and was rewarded with N50,000. Team Overrides won with 72 points and received N150,000.

    In addition to their prize money, the teams got N10,000.

    The programme also featured a display of humanoids (robots with human form) playing football. Some students hacked the humanoids and to reprogramme them to be autonomous and move on their own.

    Team Overrides, which comprised Timilehin Tayo (Electrical/Electronics Engineering), Tayo Ogunbiyi (Computer Engineering), Dare Adewunmi (Elect/Elect), and Emeka Okafor (Mechanical Engineering), all 400-Level students, were overjoyed.

    Timilehin, who spoke on their behalf, said they felt happy that their effort was not in vain.

    “We put a lot of effort into it and a lot of practical and sleepless nights.  We did not work separately; we worked together as a team to make permanent our robot design. It took us one month and some weeks before we could complete the tasks and do it perfectly. This competition is very worthwhile. We need more contributions in this country to promote technology and computer science.

    “In this competition we have learnt so much – optimisation, team work and how to design. If there is chance for us to perform in the next edition, we will be glad because we have more experience now. I think we should be able to perform better if we have opportunity to perform in next edition,” he said.

    Yinka-Banjo, who has a doctorate in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics from the UNILAG, said the aim of the contest was achieved because it generated interest in a field that is taking the world by storm. She said it was necessary to make the knowledge of robotics and artificial intelligence popular so that Nigerians could learn to use it to solve problems.

    “The aim is to spread the gospel of robotics in Nigeria.  We want them to see, touch and build, so they will be able to understand and check whether they have the passion to go in that line. Just like in the scriptures that say if you don’t preach how will they know?  If you don’t show them, how will they see? In those days of computer, it was only the whites that could touch them.  But now, everyone, even my small son that is four years old, has.  It is ubiquitous now; it is everywhere. That is where we are going; so we are starting from scratch, step by step,” she said.

    Yinka-Banjo said robotics can be used to solve many problems in the country.

    “We can use it to solve any problem you have.  You know that robots do operations on human beings. We have not gotten there, but the West has got there.  Robots can go into the underground mine and save miners; they can go into harsh environments like underwater to do some inspections; some surveillance. Now they can watch our pipelines to check when vandals in the Niger Delta are going to vandalise it.  Now these are the things we can use robots for, because those areas are very hazardous to human lives.  But there are other things they can do – you can use them for repetitive work,” she said.

    One of the participants, Ferdinand Akpan, a 400-Level student of Physics (Electronics), said participating in the competition taught him team work, apart from exposing him to the technicalities of building robots.

    “I have learnt so much. One of them, team work, because the competition time was short and we had to brainstorm to do this. Generally, the world is into AI. In school and outside, we are being encouraged to learn about robotics, automobile intelligence.This is good because countries like Dubai that started recently in AI has really grown. If we can build ourselves, we will also make progress,” he said.

    Team Code Angels, an all-girl team, was part of a group of students that volunteered to support the organisers of the contest. The team built its  robot, but did not participate in the contest.

    Chiamaka Onuora, a member of the Team Code Angels, said being a part of the contest had demystified robotics for her.

    “My interest in robotics has increased.  I am bit more confident going into robotics and I can do some little projects on my own,” said the 400-Level Computer Science student.

    Some pupils of the International School, University of Lagos (ISL) were at the event.  One of them, John Nwaigbo, said he learnt a lot just by watching the competition and asking questions from the participants.

    “Our teacher told us about this competition and I was interested.  Since I came here I have learnt a lot of things.  I talked to the competitiors and they showed us a lot of components and how to use them. They explained to us various ways the robots respond to colour.

    “I feel that if Nigeria can invest in this area a lot of things can happen in this nation.There are various areas human input is not possible, so if robots can do it, it will be good,” he said.

    One of the assessors, Dr Adetona of the Department of Electrical Engineering, said the competition was an avenue for the students to practise all they learnt in class.

    “The value of this competition is to show that our students can turn things around; and they can put what they have learnt together and work excellently well. They don’t do only theory, they put it into practice. I think by giving prize to the winners, it will entice other students and make them to participate in the next edition because they know that if they participate they are going home with something,” he said.

    Next year, Yinka-Banjo said UNILAG would involve other tertiary institutions in the contest. She also said there were plans to share the gospel of robotics at the grassroots – with secondary school pupils, whom she described as enthusiastic learners.

  • FESTSCHRIFT: UNILAG honours Oyebode at 71

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) will today turn to a mecca of sorts as jurists and scholars storm the famous citadel of learning to honour renowned professor of international law and jurisprudence, Prof. Akin Oyebode. The learned scholar turns 71 same day.

    Organised by the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, the event is tagged, “A FESTSCHRIFT in honour of Professor Akin Oyebode.” A festschrift is a volume of scholarly articles contributed by many authors to honour a senior colleague or renowned scholar, usually on the occasion of the honoree’s birthday.

    Scheduled to hold at 11am at the Jelili Omotola Hall C, UNILAG Multipurpose Hall, Akoka, the event will also witness the public presentation of the book, “Criss-crossing law and jurisprudence.”

    Born on December 9, 1947 to the Oyebode family of Ikole-Ekiti, Ekiti State, the renowned scholar is famous for his uncommon erudition and unblemished integrity. His scholarship, prizes and fellowship include JFK Essay Competition School Level Winner in 1966, Soviet Institute of World Economy and International Relations Scholarship in 1967, Harvard University Tuition Fellowship in 1974, Ford Foundation/International Legal Center Fellowship in 1974 and York University Graduate Assistantship 1981. He has offered untainted  service to both the university and the nation in many capacities.

     

     

     

  • Reps mediate in UNILAG, Iwaya land dispute

    The House of Representatives has intervened in the lingering land dispute between the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Iwaya-Abete community.

    The Chairman House Committee on Legislative  Compliance, Abiodun Olasupo at a meeting with the parties, said it was to ensure peace and compliance with the agreement in the 1962 gazette of the acquired land.

    UNILAG was represented by its Vice Chancellor,  Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe and the Iwaya-Abete community was represented by the Delfino Anthonio Da-Meranda family.

    The meeting, which was in response to the petition from the Delfino family to the House Committee on Public Petition, was to review the  land coordinates and address issues on compensation.

    “We are here to ensure compliance with the resolution of the House arising from the boundary dispute between the University  of Lagos  and it’s adjoining communities.  The resolution of the House  says that the University  should not exceed  the limit of the line as stated in the 1962 gazette  that was given after the acquisition of the land. Therefore, our job here is to look at the existing lines, the coordinates as contained in the gazette and ensure that what is on ground is the same. We will rely on the outcomes of the surveyors from the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing that came with us.  This is a matter of law. The University  is a creation of the law and the law acquired some lands for it. Let us bring conclusion to this matter so that everybody can move on,” Olasupo explained.

    On the issue of compensation, he explained that the House of Representatives would play its part to ensure adequate compensation is made to the affected families.

    He said he was aware that some families had not been paid compensation.

    Olasupo assured that the Federal Ministry of Works,  Power and Housing  would value  the acquired property and take the necessary action, assuring that the House would ensure that adequate compensation was captured in the budget.

    Responding, Ogundipe noted that the University had met with the affected families and also paid compensation in 2013. “I don’t see any problem with this. We have been relating well.  If there is need to pay these families, it is very simple,” he added.

    A member of the  family, Stephen Jagun, said the family was in support of the committee to end the land tussle.

  • UNILAG opens Nigeria-China Institute

    Nigerian and Chinese professionals have applauded the establishment of the Nigeria-China Institute of Development Studies at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

    The new institute, which will cater to research, cultural integration and commerce needs of Nigerian and Chinese business professionals, was unveiled on Tuesday at the Senate Chambers of the university.

    UNILAG Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Toyin Ogundipe, said the Institute was necessitated by the economic relationship between the two countries and the need to foster cooperation, technological and cultural integration.

    He said: “Nigeria is one of those friends that China has developed trading and technological relationship with.  Through these, other areas have surreptitiously opened up.  It is the design of the institute being inaugurated today to identify and piece together the fragments of Nigeria-China relationship, especially in commercial, technical and intellectual activities.  Apart from commerce and trade, there is need to properly harness the immense potential of Nigeria-China relationship in other areas like: general policies and diplomacy, arts, craft, culture and tourism, oil and gas, metallurgy, molecular biology and agriculture, manufacturing, Information and Communication Technology, medicine, marine studies, the environment, transportation and aviation, etc.”

    Ogundipe said henceforth, the institute will be the hub of research on Nigeria-China studies into ways both countries can enjoy a symbiotic relationship. He said there was need for more Nigerians to learn the Chinese language and culture.

    President of the Chinese Investors Association for Development and Promotion, Mr Ronnie Liu Changan, thanked UNILAG for the institute, which he said, would go a long way to help Chinese investors know what businesses in which to invest in Nigeria and how to run them.  Speaking in pidgin English, Changan said he depended on the academics to show them the way to live happily in Nigeria.

    “I have been in Nigeria for 18 years; I have a lot of experience.  The university has the right people to tell us where to go; you will teach us how to use things that we think are of no use.  In China, we have many universities with institutes of African Studies. From my own experience living in Nigeria, we need to encourage more Nigerians to learn about China.  I also want to learn more about Nigeria.  We need Nigerians to teach us how to operate.  If you go to a place you must understand the terrain clearly to be able to operate.  We need professors to make sure we grow up together – not just to make money, but we want to stay here,” he said.

    Corroborating him, Managing Director, Ogun-Guangdong State Free Trade Zone, Mr Wilson Wu, said many potential Chinese investors were confused about investing in Nigeria, expressing confidence that the institute would address such confusion.

    “I am suggesting in future we can do studies so Chinese investors know what resources are available.  A lot of people come to me and say, ‘I have a lot of money, but I don’t know what to invest in’.  I will use all the resources I can contribute to support the development of this institute,” he said.

    Managing Director, Sapele Power Plc, Mrs Heida Bono and Citizens Electronic counterpart, Dr Chidi Okpalagu, both of who do business with the Chinese, said they were excited about the institute.

    “This institute is an idea whose time has come.  We have been doing business with the Chinese in the area of electronics and food packaging.  We don’t want to continue with importation.  We like the institutie to look at what the Chinese are doing on farms in terms of preservation and teach us how to do it in Nigeria,” he said.

    Former Nigerian Ambassador to China (2003-2007), Oluwole Coker, who serves on the board of the new institute, praised UNILAG for taking up the challenge.

    Prior to the inauguration of the institute, UNILAG had been running the Conficius Institute, a cultural and language centre for teaching Mandarin, for over a decade.  The university also runs a degree programme in Chinese Studies.

    Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, ProYongying Wang, said the new Nigeria-China Institute would do what the Confucius Institute had been doing – acting as a bridge between people of the two countries – on a deeper level.

    Present at the event were Chinese CEOs of Miniso, Lifemate, CCECC, StarTimes, among others.

  • ASUU strike effective in Lagos

    The Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos (UNILAG) chapter, Dr Dele Ashiru, has confirmed that lecturers of the university would comply with the national strike announced by the union on Monday.

    The ASUU chapter at the Lagos State University (LASU) is also on strike.

    Dr Ashiru said the UNILAG chapter had joined the strike even though as at the time The Nation spoke with him, the university was on holiday and he was yet to brief members about the ASUU NEC meeting he attended where the decision to start the strike was taken in Akure.

    Speaking at the UNILAG ASUU Secretariat on Monday, Ashiru said: “The University of Lagos chapter has joined the strike that we suspended in November 2017. The strike is comprehensive, total and indefinite. I have just returned from the NEC in Akure; I have scheduled an ExCO meeting for 1pm where we will deliberate on the issues raised at the NEC. After that we will call a congress on Tuesday.”

    Ashiru justified the strike, saying the Union had given the Federal Government enough time to fulfil the 2009 Agreement between both parties, which was due for re-negotiation in 2013. He said out of the N1.3 trillion the government ought to have provided for the revitalization of infrastructure in public universities, only N200 billion had been paid. He said the money was meant to improve facilities in public universities, lamenting that the government did not prioritise education. He also said the government was owing ASUU members earned academic allowances.

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    “Our union entered an agreement since 2009. Only specific part of the agreement was implemented. In 2012, there was a Memorandum of Agreement; in 2013, there was another Memorandum of Agreement. The government promised to inject N1.3 trillion into the university system. It has not been done. The Jonathan government paid N200 billion. Only recently, when the govenremnt realized we were mobilizing for strike that they lied that they released N20 billion to ASUU, which was not true. From 2013 to date, our members have not been paid earned academic allowances,” Ashiru said.

    The Lagos State University (LASU) chapter of the union also announced it had joined the nationwide strike.

    “ASUU-LASU is fully on strike. Once the national ASUU declares a strike, we have no option but to join. It is not a matter of choice,” said Dr Tony Dansu, Secretary, ASUU-LASU, on phone.

  • ‘Regulating social media will amount to tyranny’

    CEO of Amen Estate Babatunde Gbadamosi has said that the regulation of the media will amount to muzzling freedom of expression.

    He stated this at the Ngozi Agbo lecture organised by the Press Club of the University of Lagos on October 11, 2018.

    Gbadamosi said there is no need to regulate the information exchanged on the online platform since the opinions expressed in meeting places like the vendor stands, eateries and others cannot be regulated.

    “Even if we go ahead to regulate the information exchanged on the online platform , are we still going to regulate the information and opinions exchanged and expressed at the vendor stand, eateries and other places?”

    He also urged the government to leave the regulation of the online platform and meet the infrastructural needs of the technological sector which he said will increase employment.

    Read Also: Be wary of information on social media – DVC UNILAG

    “Leave the regulation of the social media and provide strong networks and other necessary infrastructure to meet the unending employment needs, provision of shelter and meet the basic needs of man”

    He added that journalists have failed in delivering top notch investigative reports by not investigating the past of politicians which are most times ugly.

    On the problem with the country, he said “the issue with Nigeria is that Nigerians are too superficial, they like things that are shining.“

  • Be wary of information on social media – DVC UNILAG

    The Deputy Vice Chancellor of University Of Lagos, Professor Folashade Ogunshola has advised people to be wary of the information they see on social media.

    She gave the advice at the 6th Ngozi Agbo Media Lecture and Summit held on Thursday October 11 2018.

    Ogunshola who was one of the special guests at the summit in her speech noted that while social media is a powerful tool used to share information, it can also be used  to mar and defame someone.

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    ”There is a major responsibility on the media, so they don’t get caught on emotion, rather write stories based on evidence and fact’.

    ”Journalists should strive and get balanced news and evidence based information,” she said.

    Ogunshola further stated that If journalists don’t start working on investigative report, the social media will be used for oppression.

    “Since there is no regulation of the social media many bloggers tend to use it for disseminating fake news which most times many people tends to believe without even checking for facts.”

    She also advised journalists to extend their reach outside Nigeria and increase their global footprints.

  • 5,000 students attend job fair at Unilag

    NO  fewer than 5,000 students from eight tertiary institutions in Lagos State gathered at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Multipurpose Hall last Saturday to be screened for six-month internships in various private organisations.

    The fair is one of the major highlights of the ReadySetWork (RSW) – a 13-week initiative of the state government to expose students of tertiary institutions in Lagos to work-readiness and entrepreneurial skills.

    The students dressed in their best corporate attires brought along their application letters and CVs as they were given a card that gave them access to be interviewed by at least three organisations.

    To ensure the students passed through the interview done by 300 firms, they were told to approach organisations different from the ones they had applied to.

    While some of the students saw the internship fair as an opportunity to showcase what they have, others were downcast by their performances.

    Sulaimon Amusa of Lagos State University (LASU) said he was happy to have an experience of the job market.

    “When I came in, seeing students like me who had come for same purpose and at the end of the day not all of us would be chosen, gave me the feel of the labour force – knowing that you just have to put in your best. The interview opened my eyes to what the job market needs and it has also encouraged me prepare myself well.”

    Bukola Okeyode of Lagos State Polytechnic, said: “It was okay. It offered me the opportunity to sell myself to a company.”

    Adebanjo Adeola of LASU said: “It was an experience. I enjoyed it. With the questions asked, it helped me to know my strength and weakness and that has informed me to do more next time.”

    Also, Habeeb Musa of LASU said: “The facilitators have done well in adding to our knowledge. So, I was able to utilise all that I have learnt. I did alot of researches just in preparation  for this and it really helped me during the interview.”

    A participant, who gave her name as Oyin, was displeased with her performance in the interview.

    “We were asked to meet other companies too to be interviewed rather than queue for hours to be interviewed by the companies we applied for.  So, I approached other companies for the interview. Of the three interviews I did, two were nothing to write home about.  I didn’t even know what to say. I was just clueless. I don’t even know what the company is all about” she said.

    Agatha Oguche said: “I can’t say I did well in the interview. But participating in it is a plus for me.  Even if I don’t get the Internship placement, the training I have gotten so far from the programme can take me far.”

    One of the interviewers, Jamal Roberts, founder Dextatek Limited, noted that computer skills were lacking in the youth.

    “So far, I realised that students lack the exposure to computer skills.  What they can do is just using Microsoft.  At this age, Microsoft is not a criterion anymore. It is what you should already know. employers want to see how vast you can explore the internet.”

    The Vice Chancellor, UNILAG, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, praised the initiative.  He added that it was proof of effective governance of the people.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Education, Mr Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said the fair was aimed at exposing the students to recruitment. He advised them to put in their best to be selected in the end.

     

  • ASUU rejects Fed Govt’s N20b

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is not impressed by N20 billion released by the Federal Government to fund the university system on Monday.

    Its members say the money should have been released last October and by now the union and the government ought to be renegotiating the FGN-ASUU 2009 agreement.

    The Lagos Zone of the Union on Tuesday described the release of the funds as blackmail.

    At a press briefing at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Tuesday, Zonal Coordinator, Prof Olusiji Sowande, also called on the government to disband the Dr Wale Babalakin-led renegotiation committee with a less ‘fixated’ leader.

    Sowande said the money was part of the N1.3 trillion both parties agreed should be invested in upgrading facilities in public universities within six years.  He however expressed disappointment that the amount disbursed was not up to N220 billion since 2013.

    “Let me make it clear that government has never released any money to our union. The manner in which the announcement was made was intended to blackmail ASUU.

    “Government releases are usually made to the benefiting universities. The purported release of N20 billion is coming after one year as against one month agreed in the MoA of 2017. Our expectation is that by now, government should have offset more than N220 billion to the Nigerian public Universities as contained in the 2013 MoU for upgrade of facilities and infrastructural development,” he said.

    Sowande also expressed disappointment that the government led the union on after suspending its strike last September with the impression that it would renegotiate the agreement immediately.

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    He said: “Over a long period of 14 months that we participated in the renegotiation, there has been no meaningful progress made, and this was principally due to the disposition of the leader of the government team, Dr. Wale Babalakin. His autocratic habit of imposing his views on the renegotiation committee was a serious clog in the wheel of progress of the renegotiation process.

    “With this attitude, which is against the principle of collective bargaining, it was impossible to build on the gains of previous agreements, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and MoA with Nigerian government, in order to arrive at a mutually agreed path of repositioning the Nigerian university system for global reckoning and competitiveness.”

    Sowande warned that the Union’s patience was wearing thin and called on well-meaning Nigerians to urge the government to fulfill its promises or else the union would down tools.

    “Our union should not be held responsible for any avoidable disruption of academic and other activities in the Nigerian public universities if government fails to honour its words,” he said.