The Nation Newspaper

Tag: University of Abuja (UNIABUJA)

  • Strike: UniAbuja chapter of SSANU seeks NASS intervention

    Strike: UniAbuja chapter of SSANU seeks NASS intervention

    The University of Abuja ( UniAbuja ), chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU ), has called on the National Assembly ( NASS ) to intervene in the ongoing industrial dispute between it and the Federal Government.

    Members of Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising Non-academic Staff Union of Universities ( NASU ), SSANU and National Association of Academic Technologists ( NAAT ) have been on strike over Federal Government’s failure to pay their earned allowances.

    The strike commenced on Dec. 4, 2017.

    A statement by SSANU’s National President and Chairman JAC, Mr Samson Ugwoke, on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the leader of UniAbuja chapter of SSANU, Malam Hassan Shallangwa, had presented a letter requesting the intervention of lawmakers.

    He said that the letter was presented to Mr Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of House of Representatives, through his Special Assistant Media and Publicity, Mr Turaki Hassan.

    “The Federal Government, through its relevant Ministers, have refused to dialogue with the unions and are pretending that all is well in our campuses, but we believe that it is only the National Assembly that can call them to order in the interest of Nigerian Education

    ‘’The strike we embarked upon since Dec. 4, 2017 has been crippling almost all activities on our campuses, yet the government remained passive about it, ’’the statement quoted Shallangwa as saying.

    Ugwoke expressed JAC’s dismay that the N23 billion paid by the Federal Government was cornered to pay the Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ) “for their Earned Academic Allowances.”

    He said that the three non-teaching staff unions were left with N4.6 billion (11 per cent), as earned allowances.

    NAN

  • 12 UniAbuja medical students fail final exam after 12 years

    12 UniAbuja medical students fail final exam after 12 years

    Twelve of the 30 pioneer medical students of the University of Abuja ( UNIABUJA ), who enrolled in 2005, failed their final examinations, an official has said.

    Mr Waziri Garba, Deputy Registrar UNIABUJA in charge of Information and Publications, made this known in an interview in Abuja on Monday.

    He said that results of the students’ final professional examinations, released on Nov. 24, showed that five of the 18 successful medical students passed with distinction in surgery.

    Garba said that the 18 successful students would be inducted on Dec. 2.

    According to him, the induction is significant since the students were the first set.

    “The induction ceremony, which will hold at the main campus of the university, will feature a lecture by a renowned member of the medical profession, Prof. Adetokumbo Ademola.

    “Ademola is a Professor of Public Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology,’’ he said.

    Garba said that the pioneer Provost of the University’s College of Health Sciences, Prof. Jam Otubu, would be honoured at the event.

    NAN reports that the pioneer medical students could not graduate all the while due to non-accreditation the university’s medicine and surgery course, by the National Universities Commission.

    The course has, however, secured full accreditation.

    The then Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, in April 2012, announced suspension of medicine, agriculture, veterinary  medicine and engineering courses in the university, after a panel set up to assess needs of universities visited the institution.

    The students had sometimes staged peaceful protests against their continued stay in school, demanding to be transferred to other universities.

    NAN

  • UniAbuja SUG gets new excos

    UniAbuja SUG gets new excos

    The Students Union Government ( SUG ), University of Abuja ( UniAbuja ) chapter, on Friday inaugurated its newly elected executives.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Michael Adikwu, while inaugurating the executives, congratulated them, saying that the management would look forward to a better working relationship with them.

    Represented by Dr Ishaya Dagwa, Director Academic Planning, Adikwu called on the executives to be mindful of the image of the institution and focus on things that would promote it.

    He also urged them to ensure peaceful atmosphere in and around the institution, wishing them a smooth transition.

    Earlier, the Dean of Student Affairs, Peter Adakayi, who was represented by his deputy, Jude Nduka, called on the executives to collaborate with them and help identify non students in the institution.

    Adakayi implored the executives to study the students hand book and follow the rulers and avoid issues that would be detrimental to the students and institution.

    According to him, it is always not good to use confrontation when demanding for something.

    Meanwhile, the newly elected SUG president of the institution, Mr Bashir Obasanjo, called for supports and collaboration from all students to enable them move the union forward.

    NAN

  • NOA, UNIABUJA to start certificate course

    NOA, UNIABUJA to start certificate course

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) have perfected plans to commence a certificate course in Moral Ethics and National Values to orientate Nigerian youth.

    Dr Garba Abari, the Director-General of NOA disclosed this when he paid a working visit to the University of Abuja on Thursday.

    He also reviewed the work of the joint committee of both organisations on arrangements for the take-off of the programme.

    Abari observed that most of Nigeria’s problems had to do with poor values and little understanding of the nation’s history and antecedents.

    He however expressed optimism that the certificate course being proposed would address the challenge of failing national values among the youth.

    Abari said that NOA would not only redeem its obligations in the partnership but would also work jointly with the university and other authorities to ensure a positive shift in values among the youth.

    Prof. Michael Adikwu, UNIABUJA Vice Chancellor said that Nigerian students must come to terms with present day national realities, adding that it differed from what obtained previously.

    He stressed the need to de-emphasise unrealistic expectations from government by the youths, adding that they must begin to look inward to harness their trainings and abilities for national development.

    Adikwu stressed the urgency of the Moral Ethics and National Values programme in the light of the need for prompt national rebirth.

    He said that the citadel of learning had a responsibility to contribute robustly toward positioning the youths for nation building.