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Tag: University of Lagos (UNILAG)

  • Ambode hails Ogundipe’s appointment as Unilag VC

    Ambode hails Ogundipe’s appointment as Unilag VC

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday congratulated Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe on his appointment as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos ( Unilag ).

    “Being a product of the university himself, I am proud to say that his appointment is thoroughly deserved; Prof. Ogundipe does not need any introduction in the academic world.

    “He has distinguished himself in the service of the prestigious University of Lagos over the years and his leadership skills are not in doubt,” Ambode said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna.

    The university’s Governing Council at the end of its meeting on Oct. 27, approved the appointment of Ogundipe as the 12th Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

    Ambode, an alumnus of the university, noted that Ogundipe had over the years proved his competence in the academia.

    He said it was based on his professionalism and integrity that his administration appointed him as the Chairman of the Lagos State Research and Innovation Council in June this year.

    “He has risen through the ranks to the pinnacle of his career,” the governor added.

    Ambode, while acknowledging the strides of the outgoing, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahmon Bello, expressed confidence that Ogundipe would bring his wealth of experience to bear in building on the enviable legacies of the university in the next five years.

    “I am totally confident that Unilag is destined for greater heights; I want to, on behalf of the people of Lagos State, congratulate him and wish him the very best throughout his tenure.”

    NAN

  • UNILAG: Emeritus professor urges incoming VC to build on Bello’s achievements

    UNILAG: Emeritus professor urges incoming VC to build on Bello’s achievements

    Emeritus Professor, Nimi Briggs, the Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Lokoja, on Monday appealed that whoever succeeds Prof. Rahamon Bello as Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Lagos ( UNILAG ) should build on his achievements.

    Briggs spoke at the Public Presentation of the Book, “Walking the Vision,’’ in honour of Bello, whose tenure ends in November.

    “Bello’s successor must be silent on his mistakes and that of the past VCs, concentrate on how to build on the good work they have started and let posterity judge.

    “Bello has done excellently well; he is human and cannot solve all the problems of UNILAG,’’ the Emeritus professor, who was the book reviewer, said.

    He described Bello as a remarkable man deserving of a national honor, s and said the book is a reliable account written by those who worked closely with the VC.

    Prof. Jerry Gana, a former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the institution, also lauded the contributions of Bello to the development of the university.

    Gana, represented by Dr Isuwa Dogo, CEO, Kishima Nigeria Limited, said Bello had piloted the institution toward achieving the vision of the founding fathers of the institution.

    Also, Dr Bolanle Babalankin, the current Pro-Chancellor of the institution, said the book was written for inspiration and guidance in University governance and for life well spent.

    In his response, Prof. Bello, thanked God and dedicated the book to all the Council members who worked with him.

    According to him, the council members gave the enabling environment for him to work and achieve what was recorded in the book.

    Prof. Bello resumed office as UNILAG VC in November 2012.

    NAN

  • UN sues for increased peace, diplomacy in Nigeria

    UN sues for increased peace, diplomacy in Nigeria

    The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, has called for a surge in diplomacy for peace and for a new emphasis on preventing conflicts in Nigeria and the world in general.

    Guterres made the call in a statement made available by the National Information Officer of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Nigeria, Oluseyi Soremekun.

    The Secretary General was quoted as saying this in a message to the Lagos Model United Nations (LMUN) 2017 organised by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in collaboration with UNIC Lagos.

    Guterres’ message was delivered by UNIC Lagos Knowledge Management Assistant, Ms Bolanle Olumekor.

    The LMUN with the theme, “Innovation, Development, and Diversity for Global Sustainability” was attended by 200 delegates from 14 Universities in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

    “We are also working to improve living conditions everywhere through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    “All parents want a better life for their children.  All religions value peace.  All communities thrive when they value diversity.

    “Today people around the world are inter-connected.  Conflict, environmental destruction, poverty and injustice affect everyone.  We have to work in common cause for our common humanity,” Guterres said.

    He urged the delegates to follow the UN social media accounts and stay fully engaged in their communities.

    “Together, let us create a more compassionate, inclusive and peaceful world,” he said.

    Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama in a message noted that the LMUN was “essential in preparing our minds on the need to achieve global peace and prosperity through your simulation of global actions by modelling the UN through your Committees.”

    The Minister explained that simulation in communication skills, diplomacy, public speaking, resolution writing, international law and politics as well as trade relations would assist in understanding the overall objectives of the UN.

    He said that it would also assist in understanding its rules of procedure and its modus operandi, adding that the future of Nigeria and the world rested in the ability of the delegates to succeed in reinventing the wheel positively.

    He said that this was also “to actively challenge old traditions and models that do not necessarily translate into this era, to explore the ways they can marshal the amount of time spent with technology for good”.

    The Dean, Faculty of Law of UNILAG, Prof Ayodele Atsenuwa, thanked the UNIC and other partners for ensuring the success of the event.

    Atsenuwa emphasised the commitment of the student-organisers for their drive.

    The Secretary General of the LMUN, Mr Aliu Gabriel, in his message, urged delegates during committee sessions to foster innovative ideas towards addressing some of the prevailing issues around the world.

  • UNILAG generates N5m from waste recycling

    UNILAG generates N5m from waste recycling

    Mrs Sade Nubi, Senior Environmental Engineer, University of Lagos (UNILAG), said the institution through its recycling initiative realised about N5 million from waste generated by the university community.

    Nubi disclosed that this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Cape Coast, Ghana at the ongoing Africa Cleanup conference.

    She said that the university generates about 32.2 tons of wastes monthly from its 97,000 population including visitors.

    “We try to make sure that the school environment is clean, we make sure that we sensitise people to know that an we can create wealth from waste.

    “For UNILAG, despite the initial challenges of funding and negative attitude towards the initiative, we still moved ahead beyond the challenge to push forward and achieve our goal.

    “We have been able to recycle as much as 23 tons of waste every month. We have recycling companies as partners who come to buy our waste.

    “We have been able to create income for the institution as well as employment,” she said.

    Nubi advised other institutions in the country to key into the recycling project and add value to their community.

    “For other universities it is important for us not to just dump our waste at dump site or landfill, let’s put value to it by getting people to sort it and recycle.

    “We also carry out research work. We can now categorise our waste which includes more of plastic bottles.

    “We have been able to raise between N4 and N5 million for the institution since the inception of the initiative and employ about 50 workers at the sorting centre in the institution.’’

    Nubi said UNILAG was ready to collaborate with other institutions on the recycling project, so as to generate funds, create employment and add value to the education sector.

    NAN reports that the institution’s string and recycling centre was established in 2015.

  • UNILAG invents new method of diagnosing malaria

    UNILAG invents new method of diagnosing malaria

    University of Lagos (UNILAG) said it invented a new method of diagnosing malaria, following intensive research by its Department of Medical Micro Biology and Parasitology.

    Prof. Wellington Oyibo, the Director, Research and Innovation of the institution, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

    Oyibo, a lecturer in the department, said the university’s research on malaria testing without the use of blood was validated in 2016.

    He said that by this feat, the institution was fast becoming a clinical trial site for diagnosis in the country.

    According to him, the institution has provided a platform and an enabling environment for researchers that have been providing solutions to life challenges.

    The Professor of Medical Parasitology noted that having worked in the malaria space, he discovered that malaria was a major health challenge in the country.

    He added that “one of the major challenges in managing the menace has to do with case management, as there are assumptions that all fevers are malaria.

    “This leads to excessive diagnosis and over treatment.”

    He recalled that the policy that malaria test should be done before treatment was approved since 2010, noting however, that “in spite of this policy, people are still not doing tests.

    “So, one way by which we can encourage diagnosis is by introducing tests that will
    not require blood from patients.

    “Under the new test formula, medicine retailers will be able to carry out diagnosis before dispensing drugs.

    “If we keep selling drugs for a disease that does not exist, it will amount to waste of resources and patients will be suffering.’’

    The lecturer said that the research was conducted in collaboration with a group of researchers in Baltimore, U.S., adding that the outcome was to diagnose malaria using urine.

    He explained that “the first urine malaria test’’ has been validated.

    According to him, the urine malaria test is the first clinical and global trial to be done in the world.

    He said the test had been registered by both the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control (NAFDAC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA).

    He noted that the development was remarkable and groundbreaking, considering the fact that one could carry out malaria test without taking blood.

    He appealed to the Federal Government to create easy access for people to test for malaria through the new approach.

    This, he said, is possible by establishing testing centres in various parts of the country.

    “This achievement shows that UNILAG is becoming a clinical trial site for diagnosis.

    “In the past, trial test are conducted in India and Bangladesh or somewhere in Asia for Nigerians.

    “But now, we are conducting tests for Nigerian patients and we are providing data and that is quite remarkable.’’

    Oyibo further said that the new research breakthrough would improve malaria diagnosis and treatment.

  • VC blames incessant building collapse on education sector

    VC blames incessant building collapse on education sector

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (Unilag), Prof. Rahamon Bello, has blamed increasing spate of building collapse in the country on the education sector.

    Bello made the observation on Tuesday at the 2017 Annual Lecture/Awards and Induction ceremony of the Lagos Branch of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE).

    The event held in Unilag, Akoka, Yaba.

    The vice chancellor was represented by the university’s Director of Works and Physical Planning, Dr Adelere Adeniran.

    He called for increased funding of vocational training schools to develop middle level manpower which, he said, was lacking in the construction industry.

    He said that quackery was in the increase because Shylock businessmen have taken over the role of vocational institutions and are churning out half-baked artisans.

    Bello noted that artisans without requisite skills were not allowed to practise in developed countries, regretting that the reverse had been the case in Nigeria where they paraded themselves as engineers.

    He also said that inadequate government attention on the development of vocational schools had made some students with insufficient intelligence to acquire university education at all cost.

    “The implication is that those who would have made good craftsmen parade themselves as engineers,’’ he said.

    Bello urged resuscitation of vocational training to provide skilled middle-level manpower needed for the engineering profession to have a complete chain of professionals.

    In his lecture, the Acting General-Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mr Oladotun Lasoju, urged Lagos residents to partner with the state government to fish out quacks and report illegal activities causing building collapse.

    He urged engineers to monitor their projects from design to completion to ensure that developers would not cut corners to compromise quality.

    Lasoju said that regulatory agencies in the state were working in synergy to ensure adequate regulation and law enforcement to stop building collapse and ensure proper planning of the environment.

    “The Lagos State Government is leaving no stone unturned toward ensuring that an end is put to this problem.

    “That is why, as individuals and groups, we need to partner with the government,” he said.

    The Chairman, Lagos Branch, Nigerian Institute of Building, Mrs Adenike Said, urged building professionals to collaborate to end building collapse.

    Said called on the NSE to carry artisans along in seminars and trainings in order to enlighten them on professional standards to stem building collapse.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Bello, Adeniran and Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos received the Lagos NSE Awards for Excellence for contributions to the growth of engineering.

  • NUGA: UNIPORT dominate athletics

    NUGA: UNIPORT dominate athletics

    The University of PortHarcourt has so far established its dominance in athletics at the ongoing Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) Games at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM), by grabbing medals across athletic events.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that athletics are being staged at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.

    The institution won its first medal in the women’s 200m through Idamadu Oghenefejiro, who finished the race in 23.75 secs beating another UNIPORT contender, Etim Alphosus who returned 24.08secs to settle for silver.

    Moyosore Badejo of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) won the bronze with 24.92 secs.

    Also in the men’s 200m, UNIPORT’s Harry Harrison, returned 21.68 secs to earn a gold, Adegoke Enoch of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), clinched the silver medal in 21.79 secs, while Ogoma Eseroghene also of UNIPORT finished in 22.10 secs for the bronze.

    However, in the men’s 400m hurdles, Ochonogor Chibuzor of UNIBEN won gold medal in 53.9 secs, pushing Jugo Daniel of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) to claim silver in 55.8 secs, while Emoji Stephen of UNILORIN took bronze with 56.4 secs.

    In the women 400m Hurdles, Nathaniel Glory of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu Ode, won gold wth 58.87 secs, while Akpan Uwemdimo of UNIPORTclaimed silver in 63.06 secs.

    Ogochukwu Njoku of Delta State University, DELSU to bronze having returned 67.73 secs.

    Also, the 100m Hurdles women gold was won by Oghenekome Okolosi of DELSU in 16.23, Akpan Uwemdimo of UNIPORT clinched silverin 16.35 and Moyosore Badejo of UNILAG bronze 18.48 secs.

    The men’s 110m hurdles was won by Yusuf Mohammed of ABU who returned 15.26 secs, while Ochnogo Chibuzor of UNIBEN finished in 16.25 secs for silver and Onyianta Chidubem of UNN bronze with 16.25 secs.

    In the Pole Vaults men final, Ababa Edwin of UNIPORT, vaulted 3.85m to win gold, Biamegh Bernard of UAM took the the silver with 3.10m, while  Paul Azubike of BSU clinched the bronze after a 2.80m vault.

    In men’s Javelin, Onyejiaka Uchenna of UNIZIK threw 51.82m for gold, Nwaonicha Precious of UNIPORT 49.40m for silver and Nwoye Ifeanyi also of UNIPORT took the bronze with 46.37m.

    In the women’s category, Aniefuma Judith of UNIPORT, threw of 34.60m to win gold, while her schoolmate, Ugeh Veronica, threw 32.90m for silver and the bronze went to Nyough Ternenge with 26.18m.

    UNIPORT also established its supremacy in the women’s Short Put when Aniefuna Judith, hit a distance of 12.88m, Ugeh Veronica also of the same institution threw 10.41m for silver and Blessing Bede of ATBU won bronze with 8.32m throw.

    In the men’s Discus event, Nwonye Ifeanyi of UNIPORT won gold with 52.70m, Onyejiaka Uchenna of UNIZIK, got silver with 36.18m, while Shadrach Julius of FUD took bronze with 34.44m.

    The Triple Jump women produced Uche Brown of UNIPORT as winner with a jump of 12.18m, her schoolmate Nwaelehia Chingarum jumped 11.93m for silver and Olaosebikan Esther from EKSU claimed the bronze with 10.30m.

    In the high jump for men, Madago Prosper of UNIBEN jumped 1.80m for the gold, Oluwayemi Jerry of UNIPORT, 1.75m for silver and Osehel Meshack of AAU 1.75m for the bronze medal.

  • NUGA: Eight universities seek semi-finals slots as football quarter-finals begin

    NUGA: Eight universities seek semi-finals slots as football quarter-finals begin

    Eight universities are to play for slots in the semi-finals of the ongoing 25th Nigerian Universities Games Association Games (NUGA) Games as the quarter-finals kick off later on Thursday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the universities that reached the knockout stage of the competition at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM) are Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.

    ATBU on Wednesday defeated hard-fighting Lagos State University (LASU) 4-2 on penalties in their last group stage match.

    Other schools are UAM, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Delta State University (DELSU) and University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), LASU, University of Calabar (UNICAL) and North-West University, Kano.

    To reach the stage, UAM defeated UNILORIN 2-1, Kaduna State University (KASU) 2-0 and played goalless draw with FUTA to top their group with 7 points.

    FUTA also advanced to the knockout stage by playing a goalless draw against UAM, thrashed Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUT) 2-1 and drew 1-1 with KASU.

    DELSU playing in the same group with UNILORI and University of Lagos (UNILAG), walked over (UNILAG) and beat RSUT 3-1 to qualify from the group.

    UNILORIN that won no played match at the group stages also qualified because it walked over UNILAG.

    UNICAL qualified by beating Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) 1-0, while ATBU also won one match and drew one to qualify from their group.

    The quarter matches are expected to start on Thursday at the two football pitches at the UAM Sports Complex.

  • UNILAG restates commitment to academic excellence, students’ safety

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Sunday said it would continually put in place measures that would sustain academic excellence and safety of students.

    The institution’s Deputy Registrar, Information, Mr Toyin Adebule, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    He spoke against the backdrop of the 13 students alleged to be students of the institution arrested and detained by the Police for anti-students activities.

    According to him, the institution’s management is committed to ensuring that the environment in and around the university community remains peaceful for teaching, learning and research as well as provide first class students’ welfare.

    “The university’s management has continued to work round the clock to ensure that the institution maintains its place of pride among other universities in the country,’’ he said.

    He added that the management had vowed not to allow those who have no business on campus to come around and constitute any form of breach of peace.

    According to him, for sometimes now, some group of students have been trying hard to come into the campus in order to disrupt academic activities and the peace the institution has been enjoying.

    “We have vowed not to allow that to happen as our security personnel are fully on ground and always ready to stop anyone or group of persons with evil intention.

    “Just on March 31, it was brought to the notice of the university’s management that some students were trying to disrupt academic activities on campus.

    “But on getting to the spot, it was discovered that the supposed students were from the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun.

    “Only one of the 13 arrested students for their involvement was a former student of the University of Lagos and their intention was to distabilise the fast approaching first semester examination scheduled for Monday, April 3.

    “So, let me categorically state here that the students who were arrested and remanded in Kirikiri prisons as ordered by a court in Lagos are not students of the University of Lagos,’’ Adebule said.

    He noted that this was contrary to what was reported by some section of the media.

    “The only one that used to be a student of our university is one of those recently rusticated alongside others for various offences contrary to the rules and regulations of the institution,’’ Adebule said.

    He said that on Oct. 11, 2016, just before the commencement of the second semester examination, the same rusticated student also mobilised about 14 students from the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education to disrupt the examination on campus.

    According to him, they were stopped by security agents around the Atan Cemetery, close to the university, where they were planning to carry out their plans.

    The deputy registrar also said that the same rusticated student had during the institution’s 2016 Convocation in January, forcefully gained entrance into the venue and tried to disrupt proceeding before he was picked up by security operatives.

    Adebule said that the student remained rusticated from the institution pending when he re-applied.

  • Alleged gang rape: Unilag student gets N500, 000 bail

    A 17-year-old undergraduate of the University of Lagos (Unilag), Ugochukwu Daniel, who allegedly gang-raped a 17-year-old girl with others still at large, was on Thursday released on N500,000 bail on the orders of Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

     

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. Ipaye-Nwachukwu, who gave the ruling, also granted the accused two sureties in like sum after he pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy, rape and sexual harassment.

     

    ‎ Ipaye-Nwachukwu said one of the two sureties must be a blood relation of the accused, while the second surety should be a civil servant of not less than Grade Level 14.

     

    She also directed that the sureties should produce evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

     

    ‎She said the case file should be duplicated and a copy sent to the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

     

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osayande, had told the court that the offences were committed sometime in January at High-Rise Quarters, University of Lagos.

     

    ‎She alleged that the accused with others at large conspired and raped a 17-year-old girl (name withheld).

     

    “Daniel sexually harassed the girl with video clips in order to intimidate her.

    “The accused had sexual intercourse with the 17-year-old girl without her consent,’’ she alleged.

     

    The offences contravened sections 137, 260 (2), 264 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 (Revised).

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 137 provides life imprisonment for offenders.

     

    The magistrate adjourned the case until May 18.