The Nation Newspaper

Tag: University of Lagos

  • Mass Comm students urged to leverage on media career potentials

    Mass Comm students urged to leverage on media career potentials

    Managing Editor, Online of  The Nation Newspaper, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin has urged the newly-admitted Mass Communication undergraduates of the University of Lagos, to leverage on the potentials in media career in the new media age.

    Otunfodunrin made the call  while speaking at the  2017 orientation week organized by Mass Communication Students Association (MCSA), UNILAG chapter.

    The former editor of Sunday Nation, who noted that the media terrain is fast-changing, advised the students to research and understand the global practices of Mass Communication.

    He however urged the students to start building their experience quotient by experimenting with their skills in writing and reporting as the media professionals they aspire to become in the not too distant future.

    “You really have the time to experiment and the time to start is now.  Don’t wait until you graduate before you start searching for jobs. The industry is a place where everybody is struggling to survive,” he said.

    “If you want be a broadcaster, set up a YouTube channel. If you want to be a Journalist set up a blog now and start putting your contents there. You need to start preparing now to be fit for the task ahead by going out of your way to learn.”

    He implored the students to adapt to the changing nature of the field of Mass Communication which continuously requires the use of the new media.

    “You need the required knowledge. You need to be industry-compliant in view of the fierce competition involved in getting mass communication jobs,” he said.

    Acting Head of the department, Dr. Oloruntola Sunday advised the students not to limit themselves to what they are taught in class alone.

    While speaking on time management, Mr. Samuel Ejiwunmi, a graduate assistant lecturer in the department urged the students to begin to identify opportunities around them and maximize them as soon as possible.

  • UNILAG debunks issuing dress code

    UNILAG debunks issuing dress code

    The Deputy Registrar, Information, University of Lagos, Prof. Toyin Adebule, on Thursday debunked the rumour of dress code issued to the students of the institution. According to him, the management of the University of Lagos has distanced itself from the purported dress code speculation.

    In a memo said to have emanated from the university on Tuesday, it was alleged that the university had issued a new dress code for students and that indecent dressing did not ‘reflect the seriousness, dignity and character-moulding nature of academic enterprise’.

    The memo said further “students should maintain a clean and well-cared for appearance in all settings on campus. Wearing of tight, strapless and revealing clothes, or clothes whose lengths are above the knees are inappropriate.’’

    But Adebule said, “The University of Lagos wishes to inform the general public that it has not approved or implemented any new dress code for its students. The general public is hereby advised to discountenance any campaign in the print, electronic or social media claiming that the University of Lagos has introduced a new dress code for its students. All such claims are false and do not emanate from the university.”

    He added, “However, it is pertinent to state that the university encourages students to dress decently and our watchword is, ‘Dress as you want to be addressed’.”

     

  • UNILAG produces two 5.0 CGPA students

    UNILAG produces two 5.0 CGPA students

    … Matriculates 8,000

    Two graduating students of the University of Lagos have also recorded 5.00 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) in 2015/2016 academic session, just like Ayodele Dada recorded the same feat in the previous year.

    Prof. Rahamon Bello, the Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of the institution, who gave the hint during the 2016/2017 matriculation on Friday, named the two students as Miss Taiwo Bankole and Miss Ajoke Omotuyi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the V-C had, during the 2014/2015 convocation,  had described 5.00 CGPA as ‘a perfect score’.

    According to Bello, both students are from the Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science and the Department of Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, respectively.

    “Both students, females, had also posted a `perfect score’ of 5.00 CGPA, thus matching the record set by Dada in 2014/2015 academic session,’’ he said.

    The V-C stressed that such feats were achievable by a dint of hard work and not a myth.

    “All it requires is to be focused, disciplined and consistent,’’ Bello said.

    Giving a breakdown of the number of the matriculating students, the V-C said that 7,882 students, representing 18.69 percent, met the admissions criteria after a thorough screening.

    He explained that 38,140 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) applicants and 4,310 direct entries, totalling 42, 440 applicants, began the selection process.

    He said that out of the figure, 25,883 candidates scored 200 and above at the UTME.

    Accordingly, 19,732 presented themselves for screening.

    “Those offered provisional admissions were 6,506 in the UTME category and 2,238 in the direct entry category, totalling 8,744.

    “Today, after a thorough screening exercise, there are 7,882 of you, representing 18.69 percent of the total number of applicants (UTME and Direct), who have fully scaled the registration procedure.

    “You will from this day, become bonafide students of the University of Lagos,’’ Bello said.

    He told the matriculating students that gaining admission into the 54-year-old institution was not only noble but also glorious.

    The V-C added that completing the matriculation process was not the end of their journey to obtain tertiary education.

    “It is the first step of a journey that will determine your future.

    “It, therefore, requires you all to be determined, diligent, focus and resilient.

    “You must show the zeal to acquire academic excellence for which this university is reputed.

    “Shun cultism, indecent and immoral behaviours and other vices that can mar or abruptly end your sojourn here; as all forms of misconduct and misbehaviours will not be condoned,’’ Bello warned.

    He urged the students to work hard to distinguish themselves in their academics as the university had a motivational package for scholars.

    NAN reports that the high point of the event was a breakfast meeting between the management of the university and the students.

    The university registrar, thereafter, administered the matriculation oath on the students on faculty basis.

    The students had early in the week, taken on a familiarisation tour of the university as part of the orientation.

  • EIA should be included in UNILAG’s infrastructure development – Don

    EIA should be included in UNILAG’s infrastructure development – Don

    The Head, Department of Marine Sciences, University of Lagos, Prof. Clement Edokpayi, has advocated the inclusion of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of infrastructure development in the institution.

    Edokpayi, a professor of Marine Ecology and Environmental Pollution Management, gave this advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

    According to him, EIA is necessary for a sustainable development as well as to preserve the university’s unique environment.

    “The ever rising students’ population and the increase in students servicing centres has consequently been the driver for more infrastructural development need for the university.

    “This, in turn, has put more pressure on the wetlands within the university which are being reclaimed for badly needed infrastructure.

    “I am not against these infrastructural developments. They are necessary.

    “But my appeal is that EIA must be a major part of these developmental projects such that we can have a sustainable development and preserve our unique environment,’’ he said.

    According to him, the location of the University of Lagos is unique with the swamps, creeks, creeklets and Lagoons.

    He said that the university was a centre of excellence and indeed the first choice of prospective students as well as the pride of the Nigeria.

    Edokpayi said that the department needed a sea going fully loaded research vessel befitting of the university of the first choice.

    According to him, the vessel will enable the department to explore the deep sea and engage in collaborative contemporary research of marine pharmaceuticals.

    “The department needs sea going research boat with all the full complement of sampling and exploratory tools such as ROV on board to do this,’’ he said.

    He said that the department had one motorised boat which was bought in 2004.

    The marine ecologist said the boat could only move in the rivers, lagoons and the coastal waters of Lagos as the boat’s engines were now old and weak.

  • UTME 2017: JAMB meets with CBT centre owners

    UTME 2017: JAMB meets with CBT centre owners

    Arrangements have been concluded to have an interaction between the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and owners of Computer Based Test (CBT) centres in the country ahead of the 2017 UTME.

    This statement was made by the board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the disclosure in a statement made available to journalists on Monday in Lagos.

    According to the statement, the meeting which comes up on Tuesday at the University of Lagos is to fine tune all areas of challenges geared towards conducting a hitch-free examination in 2017.

    It said that the meeting would determine the number of centres to be used for 2017 all CBT Unified Tertiary Matriculation Board (UTME) exercise.

    “These are centres that must have a minimum of 250 and above terminals (computers).

    “We will not hesitate to disqualify any centre that falls short of the requirements,’’ the statement said.

    “We will equally not compromise on the selection of these centres as they will fully be responsible for our registration and examinations and other related responsibilities that they will be saddled with from time to time as we introduce new measures.’’

    It added that the board decided to come face to face with owners of these centre to ensure it got first-hand information on the challenges they were faced with in the course of the examinations.

    “As partners in progress, we need to sit down on a round table and tell each other the truth so as to get to the root of all the hiccups.

    “We should all feel concerned even if it was just one centre that had challenges or hitches during the conduct of the last examination.

    “Nigerians expect a lot from us and we must strive not to fail them.

    “We are looking at strengthening what was done holistically to improve on the previous exercises,’’ the statement quoted the board’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede as saying.

    It added that the board was committed to giving Nigerians globally accepted standard in the conduct of the examinations.

    The statement said that the board would commence the sale of application forms soon and urged prospective candidates not to patronise any self-acclaimed agent as the board had not and would not appoint any.

    It urged candidates to always visit the board’s website for information.

    The statement noted that in a few months, the board had been working tirelessly on processes that were connected to the conduct of the examination.

    It added that the board had taken stock of all the challenges that were recorded during the 2016 exercise, especially CBT centre related issues.

    It said the board had resolved to give every Nigerian child desirous of tertiary education a level playing ground to compete for the available space in these tertiary institutions.

    “We are mindful of the fact that any child that writes in a dysfunctional centre is at disadvantage.

    “All candidates must have same conditions, atmosphere and working facilities,’’ the statement said.

  • Nigeria Archery Federation holds National Championship

    Nigeria Archery Federation holds National Championship

    The newly elected EXCO Board members of the Nigeria Archery Federation has concluded plans to hold its maiden workshop and championship at the sports centre of the University of Lagos(Unilag), from 13-15 December, 2016.
    The workshop which would be facilitated by the West African Development Officer for Archery, would take place on Tuesday and Wednesday 13-14, December 2016 inside the indoor Sports hall of the University of Lagos, while the championship proper would take place on Thursday 15 December 2016, at the Football pitch adjacent the indoor sports hall within the same Sports complex.
    Meanwhile, the Executive Board Committee has set up five commissions for the effective running of the organization and development of the sport.
    These include the Marketing and Sponsorship Commission, Technical Commission, Education, Research and Development Commission, Media and Publicity Commission and Women Commission.
    The Marketing and Sponsorship Commission is headed by the president, Mohammed Abdullahi while the Technical Commission has Mr. Tunji Boluji, the Secretary General as chairman. The Public Relations Manager, Mr. Patrick Ibeh is the chairman of the Media and Publicity Commission as the Education, Research and Development Commission has the 2nd Vice- President Mr. Ayo Philips as chairman. The Women Commission is headed by Ms. Florence Ogunkoya.
    The president has charged all the stakeholders to make themselves available for the programme which kick-starts the Federation’s activities

  • Religious activities can help stabilise people with mental conditions — Psychiatrist

    Religious activities can help stabilise people with mental conditions, a Consultant Psychiatrist, Prof. Olatunji Aina, has said.

    Aina said this on Friday in Lagos while addressing participants at the Annual Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Yaba.

    The theme of the conference was: `Religion and Mental Illness`.

    Aina, who lectures at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, said: “The mentally ill most times use religion to cope with their distress.

    “Also, religious activities including prayers, fasting, church and mosque attendance, spirituality, are known to attenuate psychiatric symptoms, discourage suicide and even heal physical illnesses.“

    The consultant said, however, that many fake religious leaders in the past and in recent times used religion in ways that were injurious to people’s mental health and lives generally.

    According to him, such religious leaders tend to pursue material things at the expense of the welfare of members.

    “These fake leaders make frightening prophecies and cause disharmony in the family and so many families have been scattered as a result.

    “Also, some illiterate religious leaders teach false doctrines.

    “For example, (some of them can tell you that) mental illness is as a result of sin.

    “Most of these religious leaders are charlatans and criminals, that is, wolves in sheep clothing.

    “These are some of the disadvantages of religion to mental health in Nigeria,“ Aina said.

    Also speaking, another Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Bolanle Ola, urged psychiatrists to be sensitive to the needs and concerns of patients.

    He also underscored the need for psychiatrists to taking cognisance of patients’ religious beliefs in addressing their plights.

    Ola, a lecturer at the Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, said psychiatrists were trained to use techniques that would help patients achieve optimal performance.

    “If your patient believes in God and if that belief will help him realise his potentials, definitely, we need to assist, because what we practice is patient-centred care.

    “As a psychiatrist, you know that in taking some aspects of the patient’s religion into consideration, you can increase his or her quality of life,“ he said.

    He said it was inappropriate for religious institutions to house sick people.

    According to him, sick people are taken care of at the hospital.

    “Religious institutions may not be the best place for some people with mental health problems because we also realise that mental illness can co-exist with a lot of physical health problems.

    “The religious leaders do not have the training to be able to cope with this and do not know that there is increased the risk of death for the individual,“ Ola added.

    In his remarks, the President, ARD, FNPH, Dr Kenneth Uwajeh, said the theme was chosen based on the fact that experiences were associated with religious practices in Nigeria.

    Uwajeh said: “Also, some people believe that mental illnesses are due to spiritual causes.

    “Yes, there is a relationship, but we want to dispel the opinion that it must be exclusively spiritually inclined.

    “We want to bring information to people, make them know that despite hearing voices or other spiritual experiences, there are treatments that are scientifically proven and therapeutically effective.

  • Ahead of 2020 Olympics: Taekwondo Federation commences preparation



    Due to the inability of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation  to participate at the just concluded Olympic Games, the Federation has commenced preparation for the 2020 Olympic Games.

    Last month the President of the Federation, GM George Ashiru sponsored and hosted the Invitational Taekwondo Championship (ITC) at the University of Lagos. This tournament saw all National Ranked (1 to 6) athletes in all weight categories compete for honours to put them in shape for the next year’s World Championship in June and having the 2020 Olympic Games view.

    Meanwhile, Nigeria’s  Abubabar Adamu Isah has won the 2016 edition of the WTF World Taekwondo President’s Cup held in Portland, USA from 27th – 30th October, 2016. The tournament was tagged G2 and carries 20 points. Prior to this, Isah fought in the finals of the 9th Costa Rica Open, San Jose, 26th – 28th August, 2016. Barely seven (7) months ago, was Abubakar Adamu Isah ranked 380 in the world.

    His resilience, hard work and determination culminated in his winning 3 (three) Internationals in a row (USA International Taekwondo Championships, Costa Rica Opens and the World Taekwondo President’s Cup) and by this result, he is now ranked 62nd in the -58kg by the World Taekwondo Federation.

    In 2013, he first participated internationally at the World Youth Taekwondo Championships and World Youth Championships in Taipei. Thereafter in 2014, the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation sent him to Youth Camp in Korea for training. From there he has steadily climbed in the various National teams. That same year (2014) Adamu won a Gold medal at the Commonwealth Taekwondo Championships, Scotland.
  • FEC approves N3.23 billion contracts for Unilag, UI

    FEC approves N3.23 billion contracts for Unilag, UI

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday approved construction contracts for the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos.

    It ‎approved the construction of a post-graduate ‎hall, International House, for the University of Ibadan, at a cost of N1.302,709,02.34‎ to be completed within 44 weeks.

    The contract approved for the University of Lagos (UNILAG) is for reconstruction of new library‎ at the cost of N1.935,135,87.35 billion.‎

    The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting, said that the UNILAG library, which was built in 1964 has not been expanded nor modernized.

    “So this new library is to augment the old one. Completion period is 64 weeks. Both contract to be handled by a local contractor.” He added
    ‎
    The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh said that the Council approved the renewal of a service provider for technology platform, e-wallet for the delivery of seeds and fertilizers and capturing the database of farmers in every local government in the country.

    He said: “The e-wallet is a programme of the old administration under the current president of ADB. The programme ran very well in 2012 and 2013 but had few hitches as Ministry got involved in trying to select the providers.

    “This led to the figure of debts piling up to the sum of N67 billion.

    “Council today approved the extension by one year of the service provider. They are at the end of the year to transfer all the data to an in-house‎ group that will manage the system because the price is quite high, so that we can keep on monitoring who gets what, at what price and we can also keep an eye on the cost,” he stated.

    According to him, the quotation of the company was N884, 799 million, but negotiated ‎downward to N380, 512 million.

    He added: “They will work with us for one more year, teach our people how to do it, domicile the data of farmers which is 20 million of them and continue to work on how to get agriculture inputs to farmers and keep away those who tend not to deliver but make claims.”

    On his part, the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed disagreed with the claim that the present FEC has become mainly contract awarding body.

    Stressing that the current Council has kept to its promise during the 2015 general election campaigns, he said that only policy-oriented contracts are considered.

  • UNILAG accommodation challenges will end soon – Official

    UNILAG accommodation challenges will end soon – Official

    Dr Karo Ogbinaka, the Deputy Dean I, Students’ Affairs, University of Lagos, on Monday assured students of the institution that their accommodation problems would soon be over.

    Ogbinaka, in an interview with the newsmen in Lagos, spoke against the backdrop of the acute shortage of accommodation facing students of the university.

    He said that the university management was taking necessary steps to ensure the comfort and improvement in the welfare of the students.

    Ogbinaka, also a senior lecturer, Department of Philosophy, said that the renovation and reconstruction works of the halls awarded in 2015 had reached an advanced stage and would be completed soon.

    He said that the El-Kanemi Hall was undergoing a total reconstruction as it was being converted from wooden bungalow structures to concrete ensuite type.

    According to him, the ongoing renovation and reconstruction of projects involving two major halls for male undergraduate students, Shodeinde and El Kanemi Halls, were being carried out by the Federal Government.

    “I want to state that work on the projects has indeed been ongoing, but I cannot state specifically when it will be completed.

    “Most specifically, work at the Shodeinde Hall has reached an advanced stage and we are expecting a speedy completion in order to cushion the effects of accommodation challenge on campus.

    “These two projects are part of the Academic Staff Union of Universities’ struggle of the NEEDS assessment.

    “My appeal is that the Federal Government should put pressure on the contractors handling the projects to speed up efforts to ensure that they are delivered and put to good use on time.

    “The Shodeinde Hall for example is being reconstructed with the state-of-the-art facilities that will comprise separate toilets and bathrooms en-suite,’’ he said.

    NEEDS is a comprehensive recommendation by the NEEDS Assessment Committee inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Education.

    The committee was mandated to assess the state of public universities in the country as part of the agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU.