The Nation Newspaper

Tag: UNILAG

  • UNILAG hostel hosts week

    Students of King Jaja hall of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, kicked off their week on Monday with the theme: “Efficacy, Edifice and Ethics.”

    Jaja Hall Chairman, Tosin Ibrahim, said at a press briefing that the need to return the hostel to its good-old days propelled the event.

    The week, which ends tomorrow with Jumat Prayers, table tennis, general feeding of hall residents, Mr Jaja competition, also featured other activities such health talk, debate/quiz, career talk, football, cooking competition among others.

    Ibrahim urged alumni of the school who stayed in Jaja Hall to come to the university’s aid by contributing to its development.

    “The hall week is to initiate meaningful development in various ramifications through endowments because the university cannot do it alone. We are using this medium to call on alumni of UNILAG who once stayed in King Jaja Hall to always pay regular visits to the hall of residence,” he said.

    Ibrahim added that the activities will not only help to fish out new talents but also help to develop existing ones.

  • Eghagha heads English department at Unilag

    The management of University of Lagos has announced the appointment of Prof. Hope Eghagha as Head of the Department of English. The appointment takes effect from 1st August, 2016. Eghagha, a poet, playwright and essayist recently served as the Commissioner for Higher Education in Delta State.

    He hails from Mereje in Okpe Local Government Area and was born at Burutu on September 4, 1959, both in Delta State. He had his early education at Zik Grammar School, Sapele (1972-1976) and Baptist High School, Port Harcourt, Rivers State (19761978).

    He obtained BA (Hops) with a 2nd Class Upper Division in Theatre Arts from the University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State in 1982. He further had his MA and Ph. D in English from the University of Lagos, Lagos in 1984 and 1994 respectively.

  • UNILAG students’ leaders fight ‘illegal’ suspension

    UNILAG students’ leaders fight ‘illegal’ suspension

    Suspended University of Lagos (UNILAG) Students Union Government (SUG) leaders have gone to enforce their rights. They are claming that the institution’s action is illegal. But, UNILAG disagreed, saying it acted within the law because the students’ protest led to the institution’s closure last April. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

    THE battle line seems drawn between the University of Lagos (UNILAG)  and the suspended students union leaders.

    The union leaders were suspended for their alleged roles in a protest in April.

    The panel set up by the institution  indicted some leaders of the Students Union Government (SUG). Last Thursday, management  suspended the President, Muhammed Olaniyan; Speaker, Adeyanju Adeonipkun; General Secretary, Emmanuel Afolabi; Public Relations Officer, Jumai Fagbui; Chief Whip, Akinnubi Pedro; Sport Secretary, Anita Kaizer, and Financial Secretary, Oluwatobi Ojo.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the school took the action after the Special Senate Disciplinary Panel accused the union leaders of masterminding the protests that disrupted academics activities.

    While Mohammed and the Financial Secretary were slammed with four-semester suspension, others got two. The university management has since proscribed the union and shut the SUG secretariat.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the management’s decision came on the heels of a court case instituted by the affected students against the institution to stop their punishment. The union leaders described their suspension as “illegal”, saying the action was taken after they approached the court.

    Mohammed said: “Some of the reasons they put forward to justify our suspension included the protests we held, during which the school gate was locked. All these are flimsy reasons. We approached the court before the management took this decision but the school has flagrantly disrespect the court. We will go back to the court.”

    The suspension will stop Jummai, a graduating Law student, from proceeding to the Nigerian Law School, which opens in a few weeks.

    But the institution management defended its action, saying none of the students was punished unjustly for leading the protests, which rocked the campus.

    In a statement, the UNILAG Senate said the students were investigated for “specific acts of social misconduct”.

    The statement reads: “They (union leaders) were individually investigated for instances of wrongdoing in breach of the Social Misconduct and Penalties Regulations of the University of Lagos.”

    “The specific acts of social misconduct during the protests for which they were punished include: locking the university gates, locking members of staff inside the Students’ Affairs Office, harassing lecturers and disrupting lectures and examination.

    “Others are assaulting and damaging the vehicle of a visitor and a student, invading the premises of UNILAG Ventures and carting away products of the company, soliciting for funds externally under false pretense in the name of the university.

    “The students were also culpable of other activities capable of damaging the reputation of the university and impinging on the integrity of the university.

    “No student will be unjustly punished at the University of Lagos, where we are raising leaders in deed and in truth.”

    Rejecting the management’s decision, the union’s General Secretary, Emmanuel, described their suspension as “hasty conclusion”, saying the school did not have “strong evidence” to link them with the social misconduct allegation.

    In a letter of appeal to the Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, Prof. Jerry Gana, Emmanuel chided the management for their rustication, noting that students should not be denied their rights to protest against decision they deem threatening to their welfare.

    In the letter, Emmanuel wrote: “The management of our dear university has made it obvious to us that they do not believe in the law of the land. They don’t see protest as a right; they have decided to rusticate students’ leaders, including me, who led students in protest on 6th, 7th and 8th of April, 2016. They suspended us for between two and four semesters

    “They have told us that they do not care about our welfare on campus. They have allowed ego to overshadow logical reasoning; their actions have exposed their weaknesses. The senate of our university has committed an error by their decision to rusticate me and other union leaders when the matter is pending in the court of law

    “Their action can be interpreted to be a contempt of court. Some of us saw this coming, because we know how they operate.”

    The letter continued: “It must be stated that the right to protest is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. This means that every Nigerian has the right to protest any decision. If there is any other law or rule that is contrary to this Constitution in this same country, then such law is null and void, because the Constitution is the highest law of the land.

    “It is also important to let you know that we officially demanded for a proof of evidence of those allegations from this Senate Disciplinary Panel in accordance with the Principle of Fair Hearing as enshrined in the Constitution of Nigeria. The panel failed to provide proofs; I only appeared before the panel to give them the benefit of doubt. How did the panel come about its decision when there is no proof?

    “If this panel’s recommendation and senate’s decision is being done by virtue of my being an Executive member of the union, then it is an error on their part because I cannot be singled out for an action committed by the entire students of the university. If they insist that I committed these offences, then they should provide pictorial evidence to prove that I locked the school gates.”

    It appears the battle line has been drawn between the suspended students’ leaders and the school management. Emmanuel said the embattled students’ leaders would  fight their suspension. He said they  planned to report the UNILAG management to the Minister of Education and National Assembly.

    “The Federal Government will soon receive petitions against the UNILAG management on the matter. The petitions will be supported by every necessary document. We will explore every means to fight this injustice,” he said.

     

     

     

  • Unilag and the suspended 17

    The witch cried yesterday and the child died today — who does not know the witch killed the child?

    That may not be scientific, or even logical.  But it is deep-rooted in a people’s universe of beliefs, that often times borders on raw faith.

    Well, the University of Lagos (Unilag), after a students protest against dirty hostel environment, alleged racketeering on the enforced sale of Unilag bottled water on campus, and allied complaints, just announced the suspension of 17 union leaders, who allegedly led the demonstration. The sentences range from two semesters (one year) to four semesters (two years).

    Among the suspended, according to a report in The Nation, are Muhammed Olaniyan (President, University of Lagos Students’ Union), Adeniyan Adenipekun (Speaker, Unilag Student’s Representatives Council), Emmanuel Afolabi (General Secretary), Ojo Oluwatobi (Financial Secretary), Akinnubi Damilola Pedro (Chief Whip) and Jumai Fabuyi (Public Relations Officer).

    The suspension of union activities and student leaders would appear to have castrated the entire formal student leadership. You don’t kill a snake without neatly chopping off its head, do you?

    But is this wisdom or paranoia?  That question is key: for suspending university students’ union activities, because the union mobilised its members to protest, was the panic button the military czars used to press with relish. It is rather ridiculous that in democratic Nigeria, the Unilag authorities are resorting to same old ham-fisted — and often hare-brained — tactics.

    But how does the witch aphorism come into all this?  Well, Toyin Adebule, Unilag’s deputy information officer, just explained that the suspension had nothing to do with the protests, per se, but with “specific acts of misconducts.”

    Well, the university can tell that to the marines!

    True, student unionism has degenerated over the years, with not a few so-called union leaders at sea with the high ideals of the pioneers. But it is debatable if the venality of the present did not result from the harsh responses of the past, which seem not to have reformed nothing but deformed everything!

    Besides, it’s a moot point if suspension, even if legal, are answers to periodic tensions, over broken down facilities, not entirely the fault of the students.

    Students must act more responsibly, just as university managements must be more dutiful in their responsibilities toward students. But rushing to suspend some students over a protest, for which the university authorities were not entirely blameless, doesn’t show much creativity or maturity, in dealing with youths — or even, for that matter, much sense of justice!

    Unilag can certainly do better in managing students, even the extremely hot-headed. Besides, suspension, for the last protest, would appear extremely harsh — and dismantling the Students’ Union, an over-kill.

    Youths would make mistakes. But you don’t correct them by slaughtering them in a fit of anger!

    That is what Unilag has done; and that is why the Unilag authorities should revisit — and reverse — these actions.

  • UNILAG medical college alumni return

    UNILAG medical college alumni return

    THE College of Medicine 71-76 graduating set will return to the College of Medicine (CMUL) of the University of Lagos, Idi Araba, on Friday, 40 years after leaving the college for a reunion.

    The doctors, who are members of the set, will assemble at the Alumni Centre of CMUL Idi Araba, according to Dr. Margaret Mobolaji-Lawal, the spokesperson of the group.

    They will then be conducted on a guided tour of the college by the college’s Alumni Relations Officer, after which they will be received by its Provost.

    They are expected to make cash donation to the college. The visit will be rounded off with a luncheon at the CMUL/LUTH Private Dining Room.

    The climax of the 40 year celebration will be on Saturday with a gala luncheon at the Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos from 1- 7pm.

    The set members from all over the country are expected at the occasion.

    Some of the important guests expected include the Provost of College of Medicine and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos.

    Members of the organising committee include Dr. Kunle Hassan, Medical Director, Eye Care Foundation, Prof. Tolu Odukoya, Former CMD LUTH, Dr Mobolaji-Lawal, Dr. Bimbo Sowande, Country Director AIDS Free Nigeria, Dr Mrs. Funmi Ajosa and Dr. Lanre Glover, a  former Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

     

     

     

     

     

  • UNILAG: why we suspended union leaders

    UNILAG: why we suspended union leaders

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has said none of the 17 students’ union leaders suspended for their role in a protest on April 7 over power/water shortages on campus, was punished for participating in the protest. They were punished for “specific acts of misconduct,” it said.

    Last week, the students, many of who were leaders of the Students’ Union, were rusticated for two or four semesters.

    In a statement, Deputy Registrar, Information and Protocol, Mr Toyin Adebule, said each student that faced the panel set up by the senate to investigate the protest, were only punished for infractions they committed.

    The statement reads: “We wish to point out that no student was punished on the ground of solely engaging in the protest. The students were duly investigated for specific acts of social misconduct, which they carried out. They were individually investigated for instances of wrongdoing in breach of the Social Misconduct and Penalties Regulations of the University of Lagos.

    “Specific acts of misconduct during the protest for which they were punished include: Locking the university gates, locking staff inside the Student Affairs Office, harassing lecturers and disrupting lectures and/or examination, assaulting and damaging the vehicle of a visitor and a student, invading the premises of UNILAG Ventures and carting away products of the company, soliciting funds externally under false pretence in the name of the university.

    “The students were also found culpable of other activities capable of damaging the reputation of the university and impunging on the integrity of the university.

    “We wish to correct the view that the student leadership were punished across board for the protest.”

    Some of those suspended are Muhammed Olaniyan (President), Adeyanju Adenipekun (Speaker, Students’ Representatives Council), Emmanuel Afolabi (General Secretary),  Ojo Oluwatobi (Financial Secretary), Akinnubi Damilola Pedro (ýChief Whip) and Jumai Fabuyi ý(Public Relations Officer).

    Olaniyan, a 400-level student of Accounting, and Ojo both got four semesters while others got two semesters.

  • UNILAG to screen candidates despite list withdrawal by JAMB, says official

    UNILAG to screen candidates despite list withdrawal by JAMB, says official

    The University of Lagos, yesterday, said it will screen prospective candidates for admission into the 2016/2017 academic session as scheduled.

    Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr Toyin Adebule, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Adebule spoke against the backdrop of withdrawal of admission lists by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), earlier sent to universities.

    JAMB, in the statement, signed by Head of Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said the withdrawal was to ensure that the senate of each university performs its statutory functions.

    NAN reports that UNILAG, last month, announced that it would screen candidates, who chose the institution as first choice with a cut-off point of 200 and above, on Wednesday and Thursday.

    “We want to inform the public that our screening for candidates to be admitted for the 2016/17 academic session, will still hold as scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday.

    “It is true that JAMB had sent a list to us, which it had considered as those who met our cut-off point.

    “It is this same list that it had withdrawn to allow the universities carry out their admission process as required by the law setting up their senates.

    “There are statutory functions meant for university senates, among which admissions is a part.

    “It is only after selecting the candidates for admission that the senate refers the list to JAMB for confirmation in line with the admission criteria of merit, catchment and educationally-disadvantaged states.

    “And so, it is only proper for JAMB to have taken this step, realising that it had taken over the job of the universities’ senates,’’ he told NAN.

    Adebule, however, added that the withdrawal did not interfere with UNILAG’s proposed plan to screen candidates.

    He reiterated that candidates would be screened based on authenticity of their results and their course combination.

     

  • UNILAG announces pre-admission screening

    UNILAG announces pre-admission screening

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has announced that online registration for the Screening Exercise for Admission into all courses/ programmes for the 2016/2017 academic session will begin on August 3 and close on August  24.

    A statement issued by the university noted that candidates, who chose the institution as their first choice, scored 200 in the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and have the relevant O’Level results at one sitting can register for the screening.

    However, candidates less than 16 years old have been told not to register.

    The statement reads: “Candidates who made University of Lagos their first choice in the 2016 UTME and scored 200 and above are eligible for the screening. In addition, candidates must possess five credit passes at one sitting in relevant O/level subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

    “Candidates, who will not be 16 years of age by October 31, are not eligible and need not apply.”

    “Candidates who are awaiting results are also eligible to apply for the screening. Such candidates will be allowed to upload their results when they are released only if they applied within the specified period. Candidates are advised to check the University website for the specified period.”

  • UNILAG don, Automedics boss for auto journalists training

    A senior lecturer at University of Lagos (UNILAG) Dr Oscar Odiboh and Automedics Managing Director Mr Kunle Sonaike will join other stakeholders in the automobile sector to speak at the annual capacity building workshop and training for the Nigeria Auto Journalists.

    The two-day training programme scheduled for July 29-30 will hold at NERO Hotel, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Sangotedo, Ajah, Lekki, Lagos.

    Sonaike will speak on Mechatronics and Automotive Parts.

    Odiboh, an auto expert will speak on importance of research in automotive journalism; while a Digital Marketing expert, Priestly Adaigbe will deliver lecture on the digitalisation.

    It would be recalled that the Chairman of Nigeria Auto Manufacturers Association (NAMA), who is also the Managing Director of VON Automobiles Limited, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran, recently hailed NAJA for organising the annual event.

    Aromolaran said: “Lots are happening now at various auto assemblies and manufacturing plants in the country. I know you (automobile journalists) have toured some of the plants. But if you would spare time to pay follow-up visits to the nation’s assembly and manufacturing plants, you would be able to see our latest products and so report them to Nigerians.

    “This will go a long way at encouraging local consumption of our locally made automobiles and at the long run, accelerate the Nigerian Industrial Development Plan (NIDP).”

  • UNILAG denies post-UTME screening rumours

    UNILAG denies post-UTME screening rumours

    Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Rahamon Bello, has debunked rumours that the institution has begun screening for admission.

    He told reporters that the university was awaiting guidelines from the Federal Ministry of Education before starting the admission process.

    “We are yet to really conclude on admission process because govt asked us to wait for a guideline. Definitely there will be screening but we’re waiting for the guideline,” he said.

    The university’s admission office has also put out a disclaimer in the institution’s internal bulletin, Information Flash, warning prospective students and their parents to ignore information about cut-off marks from sources other than the university website.

    The statement reads: “The University of Lagos is yet to commence the 2016/2017 admission exercise and consequently has not released any cut-off marks or post-UTME advertisement.

    “All prospective 2016/2017 UTME and Direct Entry candidates that chose University of Lagos as their first choice should regularly visit the website (www.unilag.edu.ng) and click on admissions.unilag.edu.ng for information.”

    There had been rumours on the social media that UNILAG had fixed UTME cut-off points and started the screening process.