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Tag: University of Ibadan

  • ASUU decries N66 million capital projects allocation to UI

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday decried a paltry sum of N66 million allocation for capital projects in University of Ibadan with a student population of about 30,000 .

    The union wondered that the same senators that appropriated a paltry sum of N66 million for capital projects in UI is paid N13.5 million as running cost per month.

    ASUU stated that this can only happen where the ruling class lacks vision like Nigeria.

    It noted that the nonchalant attitude of the Buhari-led government to education appears to be the worse in the history of Nigeria with about 7percent allocation to Education.

    The chairman, ASUU University of Ibadan, Dr Deji Omole who stated this on Monday in an interview with newsmen noted that the failure to vote enough money to public varsity education is already causing gradual crisis of confrontation between University administration and students in some parts of the country.

    “It will be difficult to have a citizen that will love the country in the future if the current trend of abandoning the poor while taking care of the rich.

    Read Also: ASUU: Fed Govt neglecting varsity education

    While each senators is paid N13.5million as running cost per month the same Senate appropriated a paltry sum of N66million for capital projects for University of Ibadan with students population of about 30,000 . This can only happen where the ruling class lack vision like Nigeria. This same government refuses to drop a kobo for the revitalization of public universities. Now many children of the masses are denied access because universities cannot admit beyond what the dilapidated infrastructure can take. Yet their parents cannot afford private university. the federal government is owing about N800billion revitalization funds to public varsities as contained in the agreements with ASUU”

    Omole who noted that the Union will oppose any plan to force children of masses out of school by imposing on them the dues that are the duties of federal government, said the ruling APC has performed poorly in Education.

    According to the ASUU boss, the United States of America that all elites run to fund her public varsities because the USA is interested in bridging the gap between the rich and the poor knows the negative implication of having a growing pool of illiterates as we have in Nigeria.

    Omole however noted that the Buhari government has paid lip service to public education but prefers to pacify militants and terrorists.

    ASUU chairman noted that while the masses are groaning in hardship the political class have increased in sizes and store enough money taken from the collective patrimony in preparation for 2019 general elections.

  • Help stabilize our democracy, don appeals to Nigeria media

    As preparations for the 2019 general elections gather stem, a professor of journalism, communication and media studies, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Oyo State, Muyiwa Popoola,  charged the Nigerian media owners and practitioners to help foster and deepen the country’s democratic and political experience through their reportage.

    He said the media has a huge role to play if the nation’s democracy must continue uninterruptedly and if more progress must be made.

    The don gave the charge in his inaugural lecture entitled: “Media, Politics and Conflict in Nigeria: The Fourth or the ruinous Estate of the Realm”, delivered on the campus of the institution.

    The lecture held under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dapo Asaju.

    The inaugural lecturer, noted that his research efforts into the media reportage of political conflicts from the first, second, third to the present fourth republic in Nigeria showed that the Nigerian press, as the fourth estate of the realm, is presumably ruinous of Nigeria as a realm, in reporting personality-induced political conflicts and the violence that accompanied them, saying there is recklessness in the political reportorial process when partisan political considerations are given priority over the social responsibility roles of the press.

    Good media, often described as the fourth estate of the realm, according to the lecturer, is expectedly a socially responsible and development-oriented media that adopt the conflict sensitive reporting approach to reportage of political conflicts.

    Popoola said, “A good fourth estate of the realm is expectedly a socially responsible and development-oriented media that adopt the Conflict Sensitive Reporting approach to reportage of political conflicts.

    “In their gatekeeping and agenda-setting role in political conflicts, Nigeria media should assume the status of a good fourth estate of the realm that is driven by professionalism and ethical standards. There are political machinations already in respect of the 2019 general elections.”

    Popoola, who graduated with first-class honours and distinction in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and University of Lagos respectively for his first and second degrees, bagged his doctorate degree from the University of Ibadan.

    He urged the Nigerian press to perform its traditional function of surveillance of the environment by reporting early warning signals when it’s obvious that political conflict is brewing.

    “Conflict resolution should be the paramount things on the minds of editors, reporters, correspondents and columnists on the political beat. This will ultimately lead to peacebuilding. Conflict inciting advertorials and commercial messages should be avoided, as publishing such because of economic reasons, militates against peace and mediation, which should be paramount in fostering development.

    “In reporting political conflict, the Nigerian press must maintain a balance between adherence to professional ethics and standard on the one hand, and economic pressure and ownership influence on the other hand.

    “Ultimately, the consciousness that the Nigerian press is expected to be socially responsible and development-oriented at all times must override political economic driven interest while reporting political conflicts”, Popoola stated.

    He also made a case for journalists to undergo training and attend workshops on how to report political conflict issues responsibly by embracing the canons of conflict sensitive reporting, adding that the curricular of all universities, polytechnics, and other institutions that offer journalism and mass communication should include “Conflict Reporting and Conflict-Sensitive Journalism” , as a course to furnish students with the required corporate social responsibility skills.

  • Students kick as UI hikes fees

    The University of Ibadan (UI) is no longer at ease after its management announced an increase in accommodation fees and faculty levies. Medical students have kicked against the new fee regime ahead of the school’s resumption next Monday. However, the management in response ordered the ejection of the protesters from their hostels. MERCY ADEDIGBA and YUSUF AKINPELU report.

    •Medical students ejected from hostel after protest

    What started as a “mischievous speculation” in the social media has become a reality the University of Ibadan (UI) students must deal with. Its management has increased accommodation fee and faculty levies as the school prepares to resume for session next week.

    The reality dawned on the students last Thursday when the school management announced the fee increment, bringing the school into a tempest of protest as the students rose in demonstration against the new fee regime.

    From N14,000,  Halls of Residence for undergraduates rose to N30,000, a 114 per cent increase. Also, medical students, who stay in Alexandra Brown Hall of the University Teaching Hospital (UCH) will now pay N40,000 as against N14,000 they paid last session.

    Some faculties and departments also had their levies jacked up. The school’s Medical College is worst hit.

    Students of the faculties of Clinical Sciences, Dentistry, Basic Medical Sciences and Public Health will pay between N75,000 and N100,000 as the newly-introduced Health Professional Pre-Clinical and Clinical Training Levies, depending on their level.

    This development has met with criticism from the students. Last week, medical students staged a peaceful protest to reject the new fees. In response, the management ejected them from their hostels last Sunday.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that there could be more protests when majority of the students resume next week.

    But, the school does not want the development to delay resumption. The management, last Thursday, invited students’ leaders and chairmen of Halls of Residence, faculties and departments to a meeting at the Senate Chambers. The meeting was attended by top management members of the staff, Deans of Faculties, Dean of Student Affairs (DSA), Provost and Deputy Provost, College of Medicine and hall wardens.

    According to the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Idowu Olayinka, the meeting is necessary to ensure that the session takes off without protests.

    As soon as the meeting began, the VC addressed the rationale behind the new fee regime. He said new accommodation fees were introduced because of the high cost of maintenance of the Halls of Residence, which the management had been subsidising.

    According to him, the management can no longer subsidise hostel accommodation because there is no support from the government for hostels maintenance.

    The VC said the school had spent huge resources to renovate the hostels and make them conducive, noting that increasing the accommodation fee was in order to maintain the facilities.

    Olayinka, however, maintained that taking up accommodation in the school halls was optional. He said the school halls were only reserved for freshers and final year students.

    He said: “We have admitted 3,960 students, who will resume in the coming session. And we have just 8,300 bed spaces in the school halls, in which 7,000 are reserved for the undergraduates. All students cannot be accommodated and I don’t think we have to worry about bed spaces, because they are only reserved for fresh and graduating students.”

    Pointing out some of the activities carried out by the school to make the hostels habitable, the DSA, Prof Abdulrasak Alada, said all rooms in the undergraduate halls had been fumigated, except Mellanby Hall, post-graduate halls and ABH, which are currently undergoing fumigation to rid them of bed bugs.

    Also, the Bursar, Mr Michael Alatise, urged the students to accept the increment in good faith, saying: “Nothing can be free again in any Nigerian tertiary institutions.”

    The bursar said the school spent about N45 million monthly on electricity supply to the hostels whenever the school is in session, adding that about N20 million is paid in electricity bill during holiday. He also gave an analysis of the money spent on water supply to the Halls of Residence, sanitation and cleaning.

    He said: “The university is not making any profit from the accommodation fee. The money goes to individual hall’s accounts managed by the wardens. We plead with students to cooperate and partner the management to run the school smoothly.”

    Provost of the College of Medicine Prof Olubunmi Olapade-Olaopa explained why the increment was inevitable. He said the management would have introduced the increment three years ago when a committee, comprising management staff and students,  compared the fees of some selected Federal institutions.

    The committee, he said, came back with a proposal to increase the accommodation fee to N46,000. He said the school could not go ahead because students’ representatives failed to sign the recommendation.

    Prof Olapade-Olaopa said: “Without increasing the fees, there is no way the school could adequately provide materials and facilities needed for medical training. There is a need to renovate our departments in the College of Medicine so as not to lose accreditation. Apart from upgrading the facilities, all medical courses are assessed regularly by the professional bodies. There is a need for more teachers in the college. The little increment on the fee is not even enough to run the college; the school still has to support.”

    But, the management’s explanation did not convince the students, who described the increment as an “insensitive decision”.

    Olanrewaju Olanshile, a 400-Level Animal Science student and chairman, Kenneth Mellanby Hall, stood up to inform the management that the students rejected the increment.

    Gbenga Ojo, chairman of Azikiwe Hall, caused uproar at the meeting when he said: “It (the fees) is too much on students to bear.”

    Omotayo Alagbe,  a 400-Level Statistics student, said: “While we are yet to understand their reason for increasing levies and accommodation fee, the management must know that majority of students cannot afford to pay these exorbitant fees. Maybe they can have a rethink and revert to the old fees. This might lead to some students dropping out of school.”

    “I think the decision was made in bad faith without considering the students. What the provost of the medical college said is condemnable. He spoke like he did not pass through College of Medicine. How much did he pay when he was a student?” said a medical student, who pleaded anonymity.

    Linda Okuowulu, a 300-Level Medicine and Surgery, said the school’s plan was to take the fees to N380,000. “If we pay N100,000 as school fees and N85,000 for clinical levies and N40,000 for accommodation, the fees would keep increasing until medical training in UI becomes expensive and out of the reach of the children of the poor,” she said.

    Elijah Ibikunle, a 300-Level Agricultural Economics student, described the fees as “outrageous and insensitive”.  “I feel the management is highly insensitive to have introduced the outrageous fees, especially at the time the country is experiencing economic hardship. Increment in school fees won’t even change anything in the school, rather it would make public schools unaffordable for the poor. This is why we must reject the increment,”he said.

    A 400-Level Veterinary Medicine student, Olarinde Olokuntoye, said the decision of the Senate to approve the fee increment was unreasonable. He said it was unjustifiable for the school to increase fees when there had been no change in the facilities.

    “With the current harsh economy, I can confidently say that the management wants to keep us out school for no reason. Many of us are struggling to survive, yet the management wants our parents to pay the new fees through their nose. I will not cease to imagine that they are just killing our passion to get education and become useful to this country,” he said.

    A 300-Level English student, Wisdom Ighodalo, said the new fees are unrealistic. He said the development would lead to increase in squatting because many students would not pay the new accommodation fee.

    He said: “The porters should get ready to fight squatters because students, who cannot afford the new accommodation fee will squat with their colleagues. People may have to share bed spaces. Quite a lot of people may likely not stay in the hostel. After all, VC said hostel is optional, which means that lecturers should not complain when students come late for lectures. The management should be ready for a fight with students if there is no sign of renovations or whatever the excuse for the hike is not then seen. Nobody wants to pay for services not rendered.”

    It would be recalled that the VC, in his Easter message to students, posted on his Facebook timeline, wrote: “The university is at a point where it is difficult to continue to subsidise the running cost of the Halls of Residence and carry out some academic functions without a slight adjustment in accommodation charges and in some fee items payable by students in some faculties.

    “In adjusting the fees, members of the public are to note that it is only the increase in accommodation fees that cuts across students, who desire to stay in the Halls of Residence. It should also be noted that residency in the Halls of Residence is optional and indeed, only about 30 per cent of our students can find accommodation in the Halls of Residence.”

  • UI: Medical students protest N100, 000 new professional training levy

    A peaceful protest was staged on Thursday by the medical students of the University of Ibadan against the introduction of N100,000 health professional training levy.

    The protesting students drawn from the College of Medicine made their displeasures known at the Alexander Brown Hall (ABH), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, displaying placards with different inscriptions.

    Some of the inscriptions read: “Health Professional Training Levy is scam”, “No to N100,000”, “We cannot afford it”,  “Save Ibadan Medicine”, and “Free Education is my right.”

    The protesting students also locked the gate to the hall of residence and prevented entry and exit into the ABH until around 4pm.

    One of the protesters who spoke under the condition of anonymity said: “We are protesting because of the increment on top of our N23,000 school fees. Initially, the management told us that they would add professional training levy to our school fees, and it will be for all professional courses in the university such as medicine, pharmacy, engineering and so on.

    “But the medical students in the College of Medicine are the only ones that have been mandated to pay the fees. It is not good. Why will brilliant students will be treated poorly like that?”

    Another protester also stated: “The College of Medicine said it takes about N600, 000 to train a medical student. And gradually the university wants to increase the fees we are paying gradually through the college to N600, 000.

    “In this ABH, our accommodation fee has also been increased from N14, 000 to N40, 000. Only one tap is working in this hall. We go as far as UCH first gate to fetch water, yet we are not complaining. But the N100, 000 health professional training levy is too much. Many of us cannot afford it.

    “I am in this College of Medicine because I am brilliant. I do menial jobs to complement the stipend my parents are giving me in order to maintain my studentship in the college. Many of my colleagues are orphans.

    “If the levy is not reversed, many of us will drop out of school.  Not only that, Medicine will become a course that will be studied only by children of the rich. I know my financial capabilities, which is why I opted for federal university. If I have rich parents, I would have gone to a private university.”

    Efforts to get comments from the Provost, College of Medicine, did not yield positive result as he was said to have gone for a programme on the campus of UI at the time of visit to the office.

    Sources however hinted that Prof Adebowale Afuwape, who was introduced as Dean of Students, College of Medicine, was said to have addressed the students at the ABH with a promise that he would take their message to the management of the college.

    The protesting students, it was learnt however, did not allow him into the premises of the ABH, as he addressed them from across the gate that was firmly locked.

     

  • Respect your husbands more, counselling experts urge women

    Scholars, researchers and expert in the field of Guidance and Counselling have identified the place of respect as a key factor that can uphold the family structure.

    Speaking under the aegis of Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON), the experts agreed that if women would agree and see themselves as partners rather than as competitor with men in the home, many issues that threaten the family existence would not arise.

    The experts made their remarks in their separate speeches at 2018 Annual Conference of Oyo State Chapter of CASSON, themed “Contemporary Issues in Couples, Marriage and Family Counselling”, which held at the Emmanuel Alayande Teacher’s house, Samonda, Ibadan.

    Speaking on the topic, the National President of CASSON, Prof. Elizabeth Egbochukwu while giving a background to many issues confronting the families across the country, noted that her professional experience in the areas of family counselling has shown that if only women will respect and know that God has made men the head and that they are partners with them, there will not be many issues and problems in many homes.

    Some of the Counselling experts that graced the opening ceremony of the conference include, Prof. Ronke Omoteso, who was the lead speaker, Prof. Donald Odeleye of Lead City University, a lawmaker in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Joshua Oyebamiji, the Vice President, Nigerian Baptist Convention, Ogbomosho, Dr. Ola Ayankeye, the Secretary General of CASSON, Dr. Adesoji Awoyemi and a former HOD, Guidance and Counseling, UI, Prof. J. Osiki

    Pointing out that she enjoys the full support of her husband all through her professional career and in playing her roles in the family, the national president emphasized that women must respect their husbands and let them feel respected in every area of family upbringing.

    The Head, Guidance and Counselling Department, University of Ibadan, Dr. Chioma Azuzu in her remarks stressed that all women must recognize that the best of their result are achieved with the support of their husband.

    She noted that one must be matured in all ramifications before going into marriage but that many people failed in that wise before venturing into marriage. She stressed that physical maturity does not translate to emotional maturity and others which are requisite for stable home.

    She also called on men to help women stand in upholding family values and give them the needed support and understanding in the interest of the family which is the bedrock of the society.

    Prof. Odeleye in his remarks traced the genesis of present day crack in many homes to the wave of brain drain that swept across the country when people started seeking greener pastures outside the country at the expense of the home and which he led to the crack and poor upbringing of many present day youths.

    He warned that respect is paramount in the heart of a man and that men desires same more than any other thing from the woman in the home, adding that lack of it has over the years been the bane of the crisis in many families.

    Oyo State Chairman of COSSAN, Prof.  Ayo Hammed in his remarks said the focus of the theme of the three days conference was designed to take a cursory look at some of the challenges that individuals and families are facing, particularly with the way Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and social media are revolutionizing the economic and political platform.

    He said, “Are we prepared for the changes that will be coming our ways? How best are we prepared to respond to online dating; having children without father or mother? career and employment issues in   marriage, domestic   violence issues in marriage as more women are now involved in manslaughter and homicide issues   than   they   were   before   now.

    “Inter religious diversity issues in marriage, a situation where couple meet at a programme where there is equity and equality and no one was allowed to discriminate against one another on the basis of religion. Thus, personality are moulded to take a look at the best in an individual not on the basis of creed, sex, color or nationality.”

    He however, pleaded with the intending and existing couples, married individuals and families to be careful in looking for solution to the challenging issues about their life through non-scientific, non-professional manner, with particular reference to the gamut of requests to unprofessional persons for solution to myriads of problems in the newspapers columns as well as radio and television programmes.

    Read Also: Wives urged to stop unrealistic demands from husbands

  • Fashola, Ajimobi, UI VC make case for renewable energy

    Fashola, Ajimobi, UI VC make case for renewable energy

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Raji Fashola has warned that for renewable energy to develop in the Country and particularly in the country, the government must give similar priority to renewable energy as conventional power plants to maintain a balanced energy ix in the short, medium and long-term.

    Pointing out that renewable energy are the fastest power plants that can be deployed as the technologies required are compatible with what he described as the nations decentralized, stand-alone ideal for local, rural communities, the former governor of Lagos state stressed that efforts, however, must be intensified at improving the transmission grid.

    The Minister spoke while giving a keynote address at the Renewable Energy Conference, organized by the Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law (CPEEL), University of Ibadan with the theme: “Developing Renewable Energy in Africa: The Interplay of Technology, Economics and Law.”

    The 2day CPEEL-ANSOLE annual international conference which attracted experts, scholars, students and participants from different African countries held at the Premier Hotel, Mokola Hill, Ibadan.

    Speaking through the Acting Director, Renewable and Rural Power Access Development, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Faruk Yabo, Fashola noted that “the huge energy deficit and the negative environmental impact of using fossil fuel for energy generation, as well as the falling costs of renewable energy technologies like solar power, are driving the current energy transition towards renewable energy as being witnessed across the world, including here in Africa.”

    He lamented that despite Africans trillions standard cubic feet (SCFs) of natural gas reserves, billions of barrels of crude oil reserves, billions of tonnes of coal and even greater abundance of renewable energy resources, “nearly 1.5 billion people estimated to lack electricity supply the world over, half lived in Africa” with Nigeria alone estimated to have 90 million people living without electricity supply.

    As parts of the implementation of the power sector recovery programme, the Minister said that the “Federal government is implementing off-grid renewable energy solutions such as rural mini-grids, standalone home solutions, IPP for Federal Universities, Teaching Hospitals and large-scale solar PV projects such as the Jigawa solar city.

    He said, “In 2018 we are making efforts to complete and commission the following renewable energy projects: 10 MW Katsina wind farm, 30MW Gurara Hydro Power, 29MW Dadin Kowa Hydropower and 40MW Kashimbila HydroPower, 700MW Zungeru Hydro Power and the 14 Solar IPP are expected to come on stream soon.”

    In a short remark before declaring the conference opening, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi noted that “the good Lord has blessed us with abundant diverse natural resources that are continuously replenished continuously. But we need the policy to encourage investors in developing the technology for Africa and to also embolden financials to allocate huge funds to renewable energy development in Africa.

    “The outlook of us as policymakers, researchers and investors is a strategic partnership that will result to increase in the contribution of renewable energy generation in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, in a way that will make it attractive, accessible and affordable to the general public.”

    Ajimobi who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Gbade Ojo charged all the participants to “enlighten policymakers on the significant opportunities in renewable energy, which includes but not limited to energy efficiency, energy security, reduction in environmental pollution especially air pollution and improve public healthcare and one must not forget economic benefits to the users and the government.”

    Vice Chancellor, UI, Prof. Idowu Olayinka said the conference and the theme is very relevant and important at this critical period, given the current energy challenges adding that the “significance is not just for the town but also for the gown as the University spends very considerable amount of money to ensure stable electricity supply that can support research, training and other activities on campus that will impact the nation and the world positively.

    He appeals to the FG through the minister to revisit the pledge of a support to build a 10MW solar plant in collaboration with Germany about two years ago, noting that the project has not made any significant progress since it was launched.

    “I will like to remind the Hon. Minister that about two years ago, the Federal Government made a pledge of support to build a 10MW Solar Plant in collaboration with the German for the University. While other universities have been included in the scheme, the University of Ibadan is yet to record any progress on the plant.

    “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Hon. Minister and the Rural Electrification Agency to revisit the project given that the successful completion will further aid research and training activities in the University as we all work very hard to make UI the best among the rest”, the VC appealed.

    Earlier, the director, CPEEL, Prof. Adeola Adenikiju in his welcome address said the objectives of organizing the conference, which was the third in the series was, “to bring together senior policymakers, industry experts and academics to discuss current energy issues that are relevant to the 20 countries in the Gulf of Guinea region; to address energy challenges in a multidisciplinary framework as well as to encourage the sharing of experiences among the countries in the sub-region and from other parts of the world in order to learn best practices from each other.

    Read Also: Fashola: Fed Govt will repair its roads in Ekiti

  • Varsity Don charges newly licensed universities on mentoring

    Varsity Don charges newly licensed universities on mentoring

    Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka has warned that newly licensed institutions that failed to take mentoring from older institutions are likely to run a trial and error basis and reinvent the wheel.

    He gave the warning while playing host to the Presiding Bishop, Sword of Spirit Ministries, Bishop Francis Wale Oke who led other top management staff and officials of the newly licensed Precious Cornerstone University (PCU), Ibadan to his office.

    The UI VC while lauding the visitors for heeding the directive of the National University Commission (NUC) to allow the UI mentor the PCU noted that the UI has all that it takes to guide the new institution aright and help it avoid the challenges and obstacles it had summoned in time past.

    He said, “We are fully disposed to being the mentor of the newly established Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan, Nigeria. It is our greatest pleasure to be the mentor of the university because we know the university has a lot of potentials and we are prepared to assist them in every way possible either in the human capacity building, governance or in other capacities.

    “Some institutions have failed to make themselves available for mentoring as directed by the NUC but such institutions would only be running on trial and error basis because UI has the experience of 70 years behind us. We have made mistakes and we have also made a lot of achievements over the years. So, the idea is for us to be able to leverage on the advantages and the achievements that we have recorded over the last 70 years and there is no point reinventing the wheel.

    “For the Precious Cornerstone University, we will let them know the good practices and the bad practices as well because we are not expected to dictate to them as that is not the intention of the National University Commission when they directed that we should be their mentor. It is just to assist them. The directive does not make the newly founded institution a subsidiary to us but I think the PCU has started on a very good note.”

    Earlier in his remarks, Bishop Oke said the institution was very excited when UI was selected as the mentor, which he described as the social responsibility arm of the church pointing out that UI was a trusted and capable hand to help the new institution become world class in line with the vision of the church.

    “We are very glad that the premier university in Nigeria is the one to mentor us. They have the resources, the capacity and the experience that we can offer and tap into and we will tap into it maximally.

    “Our expectation is that UI will give us matured guiding, they will be involved in the governing council meeting and the appointment principal officers and genuine governance of the university. Our vision is to have a world-class university and one of the criteria for that is good governance of the university.

    The church will not get involved in the governance; we will just provide the vision, the direction, and the resources. We will leave the governance in the hands of the qualified and competent professionals who know how to govern a university. That is one of the areas which we will rely on the competence and wealth of experience of UI to ensure that the stability in governance and that PCU is governed according to world class standard to get a world class result”, the cleric said.

    On the entourage of Bishop Oke, who doubles as the promoter of the newly licensed institution was his wife, Dr. Victoria Oke, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Gen. Oladayo Popoola (retired), the institution Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing  Council, Dr. Bayo Adegoke, Chairman, Strategic Implementation Committee, Prof. Timothy Adejumo and other management staff.

     

  • Medical expert challenge govt on funding health sector

    Medical expert challenge govt on funding health sector

    An American based urologic pathologist, Prof. Adeboye Osunkoya has called on the government to as a matter of urgency show more commitment to the health care delivery of the people by increasing the budgetary allocation to the sector.

    Osunkoya, a 1998 graduate of College of Medicine, University of Ibadan is the current Director, Urologic Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA, USA.

    He made the call while delivering an ‘Atunji’ lecture entitled: “Historical Perspectives and Updates on Prostrate Cancer Pathology”, to herald the 70th year anniversary of the Ibadan Medical School, Ibadan.

    The event which had in attendance the first generation of teachers, doctors, medical practitioners and scholars in the field of medical research held at the Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theatre, College of Medicine, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

    The lecture, which held under the chairmanship of Prof. Abosigun Junaid was also graced by the Chief Medical Director, UCH, Prof. Temitope Alonge, Provost, College of Medicine, Prof Olapade Olaopa, President Ibadan Medical School Alumni Association, Dr. Habile Olamotoye, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, UCH, Dr. Victor Akinmoladun, Prof. Akinkugbe and a host of others.

    Read Also: Dangote, Aig-Imoukhuede seek African Union-Private sector collaboration on health

    The guest lecturer who gave a background to the numerous works of medical researchers on prostate cancer maintained that contrary to speculations, the disease is curable provided it was detected early.

    Advocating for early screening for men who are 40years and above, Prof. Osunkoya noted that government can encourage people to embrace the screening by supporting the procurement of machines and facilities to be used for the screening.

    He lamented that the disease is one of those that could still be around in a long term because it is genetically based. He noted that the government could partner with the UCH College of Medicine to pilot the prostate cancer screening and treatment, even if on a Public Private Partnership arrangement.

    The Chairman of the 70th-anniversary planning committee, Prof. Obafunke Denloye said the foremost institution is worth celebrating because of the landmark achievements it has made in human development and service delivery.

    Denloye who is the Institution’s deputy Provost noted that the events lined up which including allowing secondary school students to get familiar with the field of medicine and even live with medical students for a period of time, would also showcase some of the products of the School since the time it has started.

    She emphasized that the focus of the celebration, however, was to give the institution a kind of rebirth and reminiscence that would make the 70 year old attractive and relevant even in the new age as well as project it for future challenges.

  • Admission: UI recommends 3,783 out of 56,000

    Admission: UI recommends 3,783 out of 56,000

    Out of the total 56,172 candidates seeking to study at the University of Ibadan through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE), authorities of the institution have recommended 3,783 for admissions to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the 2017/2018 academic session.

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academi Vice-Chancellortution, Professor Adeyinka Aderinto gave the hint in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan, on Wednesday.

    According to Professor Aderinto, the admission for the 2017/2018 will end in January 2018 while screening of those already issued letters will soon commence.

    The DVC who noted that a total of 26, 769 candidates who scored 200 and above sat for the Post-UTME of the University added that out of the figure, only 9,268 scored 50 percent and above.

    He said that 3,783 who were finally recommended to JAMB for admission met the approved admission criteria, adding that the premier institution was committed to meeting NYSC mobilisation and as such have begun the second Semester examinations.

    He said: “The University of Ibadan is committed to mobilising students for 2017/2018 National Youth Service and to end the session (2016/2017), we have commenced the examinations and the students have started writing.

    “We have also recommended about 3,783 candidates to JAMB for admission and we are concluding the process by January ending. The University of Ibadan is committed to upholding its standards in admission. This is what makes us who we are in offering qualitative education to our students to be the best in Nigeria and have the capacity to compete globally.”

  • FADAMA trains stakeholders in nutrition sensitive agriculture in Oyo

    FADAMA trains stakeholders in nutrition sensitive agriculture in Oyo

    The FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) Programme has started training the personnel of Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme ( OYSADEP ), FADAMA staff and farmers in nutrition-sensitive agriculture.

    A statement by Mr Tunde Oladunjoyelo, the World Bank Media Consultant on FADAMA, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Mr Nath Olayinka, the State Project Coordinator, said that that the aim of the training was to expose the participants to the best ways of retaining food nutrients during food preparation.

    He said that the training was also aimed at developing good eating habits and boosting the food security of the state.

    He said that a human nutrition specialist was engaged to share knowledge, ideas and skills with the participants, while equipping them with the wherewithal that would enable them to disseminate the information effectively to farm families.

    Read also: FADAMA III: World Bank earmarks $50m in North-East

    Speaking, Mrs Iroko Ibukun-Oluwa, Director of Extension, OYSADEP, urged the participants to practise and disseminate the knowledge they acquired in the training to farmers.

    She said that OYSADEP would put in place a feedback mechanism to ensure that the knowledge was successfully delivered to farmers.

    Also speaking, Dr Thomas Adepoju, Head of Department of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan, said that nutrition was the bedrock of all development.

    “It studies the process in which living organisms take in and make use of food for the production of energy, the functioning of organs and tissues, maintenance of life growth, reproduction and elimination of waste products from the body.’’

    Adepoju, who said that the cycle of malnutrition and poverty could be drastically reduced via behavioural communication strategy, urged the participants to share the knowledge with the farmers and facilitate the transformation of agriculture into agribusiness.

    Alhaja Dauda Ayoade, the Secretary to the FADAMA Community Association, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, commended the FADAMA III (AF) Programme for the nutrition-sensitive training.

    She pledged to convey the knowledge which was acquired in the training to other members of the production clusters and groups.

    NAN