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Tag: UNILORIN

  • Legal crossfire at UNILORIN

    Legal crossfire at UNILORIN

    Law students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, beat eight other universities to win the Moot and Mock Trial competition organised by the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). OPEOLUWA SONUGA (400-Level Law, OAU) reports.

     

    The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State has won the Mock and Moot Trial contest held at University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

    The competition was part of the week-long activities marking the Law Week of the Faculty of Law, UNILORIN, in honour of frontline lawyer Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Alli (SAN).

    The programme, which started last Monday, also featured oratory contest. Six universities – Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, and Ilorin study centre of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) – participated in the moot competition, which was the qualifying round for the mock trial held three days later.

    The competition began at 10am last Tuesday in three courts. Each team must appear in two courts throughout the moot stage with a single judge.

    The moot suits were centred on human rights issues within the Republic of Sambawa. The cases were composed of gay rights and quota for women representation in the National Assembly.

    Each of the teams appeared once as applicant and as respondent in the moot trial. Only two counsel were allowed to argue for each team. Written memorials of the teams were marked by judges and the scores were added to the scores given for oral arguments canvassed by counsel.

    At the end of the trial, BUK and OAU emerged with the highest scores, proceeding to the final lap of the competition – the mock trial.

    On Wednesday, the oratory contest was held with three universities joining the fray, making nine contestants. The institutions were Ekiti State University (EKSU), University of Ibadan (UI) and the host, UNILORIN.

    The nine schools fielded two speakers, who vied for the N40,000 prize. The topic for the oratory contest was: The abuse of social media. OAU team won the contest and carted away the cash prize. UNILORIN team came second, winning N30,000, UNIZIK team took the third place prize of N20,000.

    Adebayo Caleb, 400-Level Law, led the OAU team.

    To relieve tension, the participants, on a picnic, went to the UNILORIN zoo.

    The next day was the mock trial, the final lap of the competition. The teams of the two contending universities – BUK and OAU – were in high spirits for the contest. Students and lecturers attended the programme, which started with oath taking by the accused and reading of the charges.

    Afterwards, the prosecution counsel (OAU team) then went ahead to open their case.

    The case was on rape of a female student in Kalakuta University of Science and Technology by her lecturer, a professor in the university. Details about the rape claim were sketchy, but the prosecution counsel were expected to establish the case beyond a doubt.

    The prosecution called three witnesses; the victim, the medical doctor and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO). They were led in examination-in-chief, cross-examination as well as re-examination with two documents accepted and marked as exhibits by the court.

    After the prosecution closed its case, the defence counsel entered a “no case submission”, which means that the prosecutor has not adduced enough evidence to warrant the accused’s trial. After citing several authorities to support their case, the prosecution counsel were given an opportunity to reply.

    Ruling on the “no case submission”, the judge held that the accused had a case to answer. The defence counsel then called the accused, Professor Olorounbi, who denied the allegation. He was also cross-examined before the defence counsel closed their case.

    The opposing counsel were given an opportunity to prepare their final addresses for 10 minutes and argue their cases for another 10 minutes. Aliyu Imam, lead counsel for the defence team, addressed the court alongside his co-counsel: Tobi Adebowale, lead counsel for the prosecution also addressed the court alongside his co-counsel, Adebayo Caleb.

    The OAU team was declared the winner of the mock trial, carting away the N60,000 cash prize. The BUK team came second and UNIZIK, third.

    The Best Critique went to the University of Ibadan (UI), the Best Memorial went to UNIZIK and Best Counsel in moot rounds went to Aliyu Imam of BUK.

     

  • UNILORIN union in crisis

    Fresh crisis has hit the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) following the suspension of key members of the union by members of the parliament.

    Last session, the tenure of the union leaders caved in under the weight of internal crisis, which resulted into suspension of president and some members of the executive council. The union seems to be toeing the same path in the current dispensation.

    During the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) sitting held penultimate Saturday, the union president, Abdulamalik Aremu, Speaker, Taiwo Olubiyi, and Financial Secretary, Ibrahim Adegboyega, were asked to stop performing the function of their office pending the time the house would conclude investigation into fund misapplication scandal in which the trio were involved.

    When the parliament members convened for sitting, Taiwo was asked to step down while his deputy, Isaac Olorunfemi, presided.

    The suspended officials were signatories to the union account.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the union appropriated N2.09 million for the purchase of eight fairly-used tricycles know as Keke NAPEP at the rate of N250,000 each. But the president flouted the directive and opted for the purchase of five brand new tricycles at the rate of N400,000 each.

    Reacting to the development, members of the SRC concluded that executive had deliberately disregarded letters of the appropriation Bill passed by the house and called for the sacking of the signatories to union account.

    Abdulmalik, 400-Level Physics, said the executive council acted in interest of the students, adding that fairly-used tricycles were unbefitting for transportation on the campus. He added that the tricycles were purchased from a known dealer in Lagos and brought to campus to break the monopoly of commercial tricycle operators whose high fares could not afforded by students. The union’s tricycles charge N10 for within-campus destinations compare to N30 being charged by commercial operators.

    To investigate the alleged misapplication, the SRC set up a five-man enquiry committee headed by Joshua Omotoso, a congress member. Other members of the committee are Nicodemus Igho, Enoch Babatunde, Oluwatomiyosi Ayorinde and Sunday Adewale. They were given 10 days to submit their findings.

    The parliament warned the suspended officials not parade or address themselves with their titles pending the outcome of the findings.

    The Vice President, Lola Abiola, has since been sworn as acting president of the union. The Social Director, Kehinde Abiola, 300-Level Human Kinetic, said the parliament was wrong in its decision to suspend the officials.

    A member of the parliament, Mumeen Alawaye, 400-Level Law, said the house acted in the interest of the entire student.

    Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, 500-Level Law and General Secretary, said: “In the history of unionism in the University of Ilorin, the present union has been the best as we have championed different causes with the school management. I don’t understand the reasons why the SRC have to take such a wrong decision.”

  • Don to govt: subsidise wastes collection

    Government at all levels should subsidise wastes collection in Nigeria, a professor of industrial chemistry at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), David S. Ogunniyi, has said.

    He recommended the persuasion of consumers and manufacturers to promote recycled products.

    Prof. Ogunniyi made the recommendation while presenting the 125th UNILORIN Inaugural Lecture. The speech was entitled: My adventure with polymers.

    He also suggested a waste management policy that would involve avoidance of waste and their chemical re-usage.

    He said: “Generally, the public must be educated to dispose litter (especially polymer litters) in a safe and responsible manner.”

    The professor of Industrial Chemistry listed some of the challenges to include high cost of collection; contamination of collected polythene sheets by water, oil or sand and; inferiority of recycled products.

    His words: “The use of biodegradable plastics is being canvassed, but it is not yet a commercial success and the introduction of biodegradable packaging is still considered expensive. If degradable plastics are buried, their degradation may still be a problem because of inadequate air.

    “Also, if biodegradable plastics disintegrate, the resulting particles and dust may further threaten the environment. The disposal of plastics as a refuse or litter is a volume problem rather than weight problem. Also, the relative proportion of plastics in refuse increases on account of their slow degradability.

    “Polymers have the tendency to cause litter since most grades are not biodegradable and they are invariably found in every municipal waste. Furthermore, it takes long period of time for polymers to degrade and even the products of their degradation will still cause litter.”

  • Mass failure: Students appeal to management

    Mass failure: Students appeal to management

    Students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have appealed to the authorities to upgrade the results of two of the general courses that have just been released.

    The courses are General Studies (GNS) 311 and Graduate Self-Employment (GSE) 301. The two courses were done on computer during the first semester examination held four weeks ago.

    The students made the appeal when CAMPUSLIFE sought their views. They lamented that if nothing was done to upgrade the results, many students would have an extra year.

    A 300-Level Zoology student, who did not want his name in print, said: “I am not happy. When I checked my results, it was F in both courses. I appeal to the management to upgrade the results because I do not want an extra year.”

    Another student, who simply gave her name as Blessing, said: “I really wish this was a dream because I still can’t believe I am having carryovers in both GNS and GSE. Having carryovers in both courses is a sure sign of extra year for me. I will be happy if the school can look into this and upgrade our results. The results are so bad.”

    A Law student said: “I prepared very well for these exams and I never expected this kind of results. I had E grade in GSE and F in GNS. These results will surely have a strong effect on my CGPA. All I hope and pray for now is for the authorities to seat and deliberate on how they can help us.”

    Meanwhile, the Students’ Union president, AbdulMalik Aremu, has called on all affected students to print out their grades and submit them at the union office as evidence of mass failure to present before the Vice-Chancellor. He, however, stressed that doing so does not automatically mean that the school would upgrade the results, but he hoped the management would do so.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that over 60 per cent of the students, who took the exams failed. GNS 311 is a two-Unit course, while GSE 301 is a three-Unit course.

     

  • Distance Learning centre takes off

    Distance Learning centre takes off

    The UNILORIN Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL) has commenced academic activities with 13 students on the Post Doctoral Diploma in Education (PDDE) programme.

    Director of the centre, Prof M.O. Yusuf who said the centre began fully last month, assured that the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) programme of the university would be a test case for online learning in the country.

    The professor of Educational Technology added that the students of the pilot programme comprise Ph.D. holders and professors, eleven of who are members of staff of the university.

    Yusuf disclosed that the PDDE programme is fully online with the students accessing their materials online in their virtual classrooms. He added that the students interact with their lecturers via social media and may also test themselves and reach their classmates online.

  • Diagnostic centre coming

    Diagnostic centre coming

    The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) is planning a well-equipped medical diagnostic centre that would end the trend of Nigerians going abroad for medical check-ups and diagnosis.

    This was disclosed during a meeting between the university management and a US-based foundation, PROJECT C.U.R.E. facilitated by another American health solutions company, Delexis Healthcare Solutions whose CEO, Mr TundeAlaofin, is a Nigerian.

    The meeting was attended by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali, all the principal officers, deans and directors.

    Speaking during the meeting, Ambali noted that the completion and commencement of full operations of the university dental centre was a testament that it is possible to have state-of-the-art facilities in the country and avoid wasting money travelling abroad.

    In his remarks, Alaofin explained that the objective of the project is to help health institutions in developing countries to be better equipped with well-trained personnel.

  • UNILORIN ASUU accuses varsity of using security to harass members

    Varsity: ‘It’s not true’

     

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) chapter, has accused the authorities of using security personnel to disrupt its national congress.

    The union decried the use of the police and the university security personnel to harass academics from other public universities and prevent them from entering the campus.

    ASUU, in a resolution after its congress, berated the odious, anti-intellectual and retrogressive conduct of a few UNILORIN academics and the security operatives of the university, who allegedly disrupted the peaceful meeting of the ASUU UNILORIN Congress held in one of the vacant lecture rooms in the Faculty of Law.

    The resolution was signed by Dr. Kola Babarinde, the convener of the NEC Visitation, Dr. Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju, ASUU Chairman, UNILORIN branch, Dr. A.B. Makanjuola and Dr. K.N. Afolayan of the Departments of Behavioural Sciences and English.

    The congress “observes that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees the right of association and assembly and the absence of such in the university is a sign of bondage, which is unacceptable to the union.

    “It condemns all forms of lawlessness and requests NEC to adopt efforts to address the unending violation of court orders by the UNILORIN authorities and some individuals in the university.

    “Congress, however, remains undeterred and resolves to meet frequently towards ensuring that the branch reclaims its revered position in the union and addresses welfare issues.”

    Reacting to the allegation, the Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, said the accusation was baseless and lacking in truth.

    Said he: “There is no iota of truth in the allegation that the university harassed anybody with its security personnel let alone men of the Nigeria Police. What happened on February 27 was a case of a group bent on holding illegal meeting at a venue where postgraduate students were writing their examinations.

    “The group that claimed to be representatives of the ASUU national body had earlier phoned to seek permission to visit the Vice-Chancellor for an undisclosed mission. But the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Felix Oladele, told them that the VC was not around and that they should be patient until he returned.

    “Despite this explanation, ASUU members still came to the university. Their visit coincided with the meeting of a group of academic workers of the university that goes by the name, ‘Concerned Academics’. This raised some curiosity.

    “It should be emphasised that every member of the university community is aware that meetings are held in lecture halls/theatres after formal permissions to use such halls have been sought and given. But these ‘Concerned Academics’ neither sought nor got permission to use any hall for their proposed meeting.

    “Despite this, nobody interrupted their clandestine plan until they got to the proposed venue, the Faculty of Arts Lecture Theatre, where they saw that exams were ongoing. They then moved to the Faculty of Law Theatre but the Dean politely told them that a postgraduate exam was about to take place there.

    “They then met under a tree and resolved to go to Henry George Hotel to hold the meeting. There was no argument whatsoever, let alone harassment or intimidation.

    “It should be emphasised that the University of Ilorin recognises academic freedom, which the institution is doing everything to promote. We are aware that this is the key to industrial harmony, which has yielded dividends to the university these past few years as evidenced in its unrivalled academic excellence and feats in all areas of learning, research and community development.”

  • Nigerian varsities better than Ghana’s, says UNILORIN VC

    Nigerian varsities better than Ghana’s, says UNILORIN VC

    •Cultism has roots in secondary schools

    VICE-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has said Nigerian universities are better equipped than Ghanaian universities.

    This news must be a shock for parents and students who patronise Ghanaian universities based on the belief they are better than those in Nigeria.

    Last month, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Nimi Briggs said Nigerians spend N160 million annually in just two Ghanaian universities. Comparing funding level of universities in the two countries, Prof Ambali said in an interview with reporters in Ilorin that Nigerian universities are better equipped than their Ghanaian counterparts.

    His words: “There is still room for improvement. I won’t say the level of funding of university education in Nigeria is totally satisfactory. If I say so that means all universities are static, but university being the place where the best brains are assembled the idea of what to do is always there; which means the request for funding will always be there.

    “In Ghana, they are not also satisfied with the level of funding. As a matter of fact, the other time I was there the Nigerian students studying there actually confessed to us that when it comes to teaching and learning delivery, the facilities we have in Nigeria are far better than what they have in Ghana. We have better facilities here. The only difference between Nigerian and Ghanaian universities is the stability in the latter’s academic calendar.”

    Speaking on cultism, Ambali said cult activities on campuses emanated from the secondary schools.

    He said many cultists caught confess to have started their cult activities right from secondary school.

    The VC urged parents and teachers to monitor young people better.

    “Universities inherit wards already groomed from homes, primary and post primary schools and even the polytechnics or colleges of education. Most of the students caught belonging to one secret cult or the other confessed to have started their cult activities right from secondary schools. To eradicate cultism on campuses, parents, primary and secondary school teachers, polytechnics and colleges of education teachers should educate their wards to shun cultism before they enter the universities,” he said.

     

  • New dawn at UNILORIN

    Excitement and happiness pervaded the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) when the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, transferred the baton to the incoming helmsman, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali. WALE BAKARE (300-Level Zoology) writes.

    Last Monday, the five-year term of Prof Ishaq Oloyede as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) ended. On the same day, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali was sworn in as the eighth Vice-Chancellor.

    During the handing over, which took place in the auditorium, students, who were joined by eminent personalities across the state, academics and journalists were excited to witness the hitch-free change of guard.

    The emergence of the new VC was greeted with controversies, with some of the contenders claiming that the selection process was not free and fair. This elicited a series of comments in the media and also resulted in a litigation by one of the contestants.

    Against this backdrop, students expressed fear over the development, which they said may affect the steady academic calendar the university has maintained for close to 10 years. But the management allayed the fears of the stakeholders, saying the programmes of the school would not be affected by the litigation.

    In his address at the handing over, Prof Oloyede said he believed the incoming VC would use his academic acumen to consolidate the gains of his administration.

    “He applied the first time but he was not appointed. Prof Ambali was appointed the second time because he was the best among those who contested for the post. I appeal to the university community to give him the necessary support to continue the good work,” Oloyede said.

    Speaking on his tenure, the outgoing VC said: “Since inception, the past Vice-Chancellors have tried their best in making UNILORIN a good citadel of learning. During my tenure, I did my best. The university witnessed a lot development which included projects such as introduction of Computer Base Test (CBT), which has been adopted by 80 per cent of Nigerian universities.”

    “On the academic front, we established Technical and Entrepreneurial Centre (TEC), Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS), National Centre for Hydropower Research and Development (NACHRED), Counselling and Human Development Centre, Centre for International Education, Stem Cell Research Centre, Ilorin Centre for Alternative Technology (ICATECH) , UNILORIN FM, and School for Preliminary Studies, Fufu.”

    “The university successfully hosted the 13th West Africa Universities Game (WAUG), created a portal for staff and students, was ranked among the best in the country. It secured some property in Lagos and Abuja to generate income, created more programmes in addition to constructing a walkway in the zoological garden.”

    After the change of leadership, Prof Ambali waved extended an olive branch to his opponents, urging them to embrace peace and support his administration’s resolve to take the school to another level.

    “I thank Almighty Allah for His mercy. I appreciate my predecessor and I thank everyone present to witness this ceremony. I also implore my opponents in the race to support me to move the university to the next level.”

    After the handing over, staff and students, who were present at the occasion, congratulated the new helmsman. CAMPUSLIFE spoke to some of them.

    Titilope Akogun , 400-Level Law, who is also the Public Relations Officers (PRO) of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), said: “This is a new dawn for UNILORIN and we hope the tenure of the new VC will bring more development to the school. Prof Ambali has a very credible credential and I believe he is up to the task to make the university a model among its peers. I wish him success as he assumes office.”

    Sodiq Aroyaya, 300-Level Zoology, said: “Oloyede’s leadership ability and passion made him to succeed. I will advise Prof Ambali to display such passion to succeed.”

    A student who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “All I believe is that Oloyede has ended his journey as our VC. I will like the new VC to learn from Oloyede’s mistakes.”

     

  • Former Vice Chancellor hails UNILORIN’s impact

    The former Vice Chancellor of Cameroonian University, Prof. Beban Chumbow, hailed the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) initiatives on reform which had made positive impact on other African Universities.

    Chumbow, who gave this commendation in Ilorin during a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria, said that he was ready to export such policies to Cameroon.

    Chumbow, one of the founding fathers of UNILORIN said that in terms of quality assurance, the university had a lot to offer as it had come a long way from what it was during its early years.

    According to Chumbow, the products of the university with well endowed knowledge can contribute to the progress of a country’s economy.

    “Universities should be commensurate in terms of infrastructure and equipment, this we have noticed here and we are willing to export it to our country,” he said.