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Tag: University of Lagos

  • Nigeria’s political landscape still volatile, unstable – UNILAG VC

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe (FAS) on Thursday lamented the volatile and unstable landscape of the country, going by the recent general elections.

    He made this observation during the 2019 colloquium of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), which took place at the Management House, Victoria Island Lagos.

    For Ogundipe, who served as the returning officer of Osun State for the 2019 presidential election, elections ought to represent the will of the people, devoid of violence.

    The Vice Chancellor, speaking on the theme “Democracy and Electoral Process: the Nigerian Experience” said this is so because of the intolerance Nigerians exhibit during the exercise.

    According to him, “Despite the gains in electoral process and democratic experience, Nigerian political landscape is still volatile and unstable. This is because of the violence, intolerance and killing still witnessed during our elections.

    “It is even more worrying with the incidences of ballot-box snatching, voters intimidation, insecurity as well as manipulation on the basis of religion and ethnicity. These have led to a significant number of tribunal cases after the rejection of election results by the opposition at state or federal.”

    Read Also: Extreme poverty in Nigeria worrisome, says Osinbajo

    Defining democracy as a system that recognizes representation and individual rights, Professor Ogundipe affirmed the elimination of electoral manipulations and violence, for it to grow.

    “The conduct of free and fair elections in Nigeria is instrumental to the growth and sustainability of Nigeria, which will lead to rule of law, freedom of the press, accountability and transparency – where agencies like EFCC & ICPC could be more impactful. Citizens would be able to hold government responsible for the campaign promises made.” he said

    The Vice Chancellor recommended some ways to strengthen the democratic and electoral process in Nigeria to include strengthening the electoral framework, technology adaptation for transparency and effectiveness, increased engagement with stakeholders and professional training of electoral and security officers in the country, ahead of each electoral exercise.

    Earlier on, the President, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Professor Olukunle Iyanda had wondered why there was always tension before, during and after the exercise in the country, and whether it was needed.

    “As we all know, election period in Nigeria, before, during, and after the elections, is characterized by tension, corrupt activities, and violence. These are caused by inter- and intra- party rivalry and activities. Must this necessary be so? Can elections be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, without disrupting the peace of the ordinary citizen whose interest may not go beyond discharging his civil responsibility of voting for a candidate of his choice? Can elections be conducted in such a way that both the winner and the loser would accept results as an expression of the will of the people? These are the challenges facing our country in the conduct of elections.

    Professor Ogundipe was inducted into the hall of fame of the Nigerian Institute of Management at the end of the colloquium.

     

  • Don to govt: stop politicising law enforcement

    THE Federal Government has been urged to stop politicising law enforcement, especially in its anti-corruption fight.

    A Senior Lecturer/Sub-Dean, Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, University of Lagos, Dr. Simeon Igbinedion, gave the advice during the 20th Anniversary and General Assembly meeting of West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, Nigeria (WANEP) in Lagos.

    Speaking on ‘The role of law in the face of conflict and violence in Nigeria’, Igbinedion said violations of law remain a daily affair to many Nigerians, especially by security agents and those who wield political power.

    “Many perpetrators of violent communal conflicts engage in them because they know that the respect and protection of rights are not really a serious business in Nigeria. It is impossible for ordinary citizens to respect the rights of their fellow citizens where the government violates them or when the government places no much premium on their rights,” he said.

    Igbinedion cited the EFCC as one whose body language is geared towards party lines.”If you belong to the opposition, EFCC is most likely to run after you and deal with you but at the same time those in government and are corrupt and petitions have been written against them, nothing is done against them because they have connections,” Igbinedion said.

    According to him, the rule of law has been politicised and EFCC is no longer acting as a professional body; rather, it watches the mood of the government before they act.

    “The government should stop taking laws into its hands and individuals will follow suit,” he said.

    Read also: APGA: Buhari’s policies will stabilise economy

    He therefore called for the enforcement and implementation of the rule of law, which is key to the promoting peace and security, especially after the elections to reduce crisis.

    Speaking on the essence of the 20th General Assembly tagged: Building peace in Nigeria: challenges and prospects, WANEP National Network Co-ordinator, Bridget Osakwe said the assembly is necessary to speak on the issues of sustaining peace because it have noticed that in Nigeria election brings violence even in other African countries and they are looking at sustaining this by collaboration to consolidate peace.

    According to Osakwe, women can be agent of peace because they have the ability to retain stability from home to the community and the society at large.

    “Women no doubt have a lot to contribute to peace and security,’’ he said.

    On steps WANEP is taking to address post-election conflict, she said: “WANEP whose work is to organise programmes at the grassroots to sustain peace in communities, is now set to calm down on people with grievances, that there will be another elections and we will still be here.

    On his part, the WANEP outgoing Chair, Barinem Vulasi, said the group was on the right track as it continues to empower citizens for the future, inculcating skills that are essential to building relationships and building peace.

    “As a result of our varied peace building activities carried we have improved our funding opportunities and attracted new projects, we have negotiated and improved our strategic partnerships”, said Vulasi.

    He enjoined the government to be proactive on security as well as create social investment programmes that will alleviate the suffering of the masses who take to violence as a reactive measure.

  • UNILAG names Librarian

    The Governing Council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has appointed Dr. (Mrs.) Yetunde Abosede Zaid as the new University Librarian.

    Her appointment took effect from Thursday, March 14, 2019 – the day the Council took the decision.

    Dr Zaid served as Head, Cataloguing Section (2008 – 2010), Research and Bibliographic Department (2010 – 2011) and was the Head, Reader’s Services Department from 2012 until her appointment.

    She is a Certified Librarian of Nigeria (CLN), and member of the Nigerian Library Association (NLA), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, and several other professional bodies.

    She is happily married and blessed with children.

  • Alleged rape: Change of counsel stalls trial of four UNILAG students

    A change of counsel yesterday stalled the trial of four students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and another undergraduate from the Babcock University, Ilisan, Ogun State.

    The suspects were alleged to have gang-raped a female UNILAG student.

    The students, Moboluwaji Omowole, 19; Chuka Chukwu, 19; Peace Nwankama, 19; James Aguedo, 20 and Osemeka Josephine, 20, were alleged by the prosecution to be involved in the serial gang-rape of a female UNILAG student.

    They are facing a three-count charge before Justice Abiola Soladoye at an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court.

    During resumed proceedings yesterday, a former Solicitor-General of Lagos State and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), announced appearance for Aguedo, the fourth defendant.

    As a result, the cross-examination of the complainant could not proceed as scheduled, following Pedro’s request for an adjournment.

    Pedro told the court that he was fresh in the matter and that he thought the day was slated for hearing of application for the bail of his client.

    He requested for time to study the proof of evidence in the case in order to properly cross-examine the witness and for justice to be done in the matter.

    “In order not to frustrate the trial, I apply that my cross-examination should be adjourned and the other counsel should proceed with their cross-examination,” Pedro said.

    Justice Soladoye granted his request and adjourned the case till May 2 for continuation of trial.

    The defence counsel to the students had through applications asked the court to grant them bail, having been remanded in Kirikiri Prisons for 21 days.

    The defence counsel noted that the students had no prior criminal record and had attended proceedings since their arraignment at a Magistrates’ Court in March 2017.

    Counsel to Chukwu, the second defendant, Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu (SAN), argued that the defendant does not constitute a flight risk and that he is a student, whose academic pursuits have been disrupted by the matter.

    She said Chukwu’s parents work in Chevron, adding that they will ensure he is present in court at all time.

    “He has never failed to appear in court or whenever his appearance is needed,” Akeredolu said.

    Pedro told the court that at the time the alleged offence was committed, Aguedo was a minor and that if bail was denied him, he would suffer hardship and his academic career would be ruined.

    He said the applicant is a student of Babcock University.

    “We have a letter before the court to show that he is a student of the school. The charge against him is a misdemeanour, not a felony.

    ”He is suffering from a back ailment that requires expert medical attention. We have documents from the National Orthopaedic Hospital as proof. He has never abused the privilege of administrative bail given to him.”

    Mr. Rasak Abudu, counsel to Omowole, said the first defendant’s father had suffered an illness caused by his son’s criminal trial.

    “The first defendant (Omowole) is a second year student of UNILAG. He will not jump bail and has never defaulted coming to court. He has always been present with his parents.”

    Mr. O. C. Aibangbee, the defence counsel to Nwankama, the third defendant, asked the court to grant her bail in liberal terms.

    “My Lord’s granting the application will make the applicant, a third year student of Economics at UNILAG, attend her studies even though there is a pending charge,” he said.

    Mr. N. J. Edechime, counsel to Osemeka, argued that the fifth defendant is the only child of her mother and that she is not capable of interfering with evidence and witnesses in the matter.

    He said the defendant would not jump bail, considering that she is a third year student of Economics in UNILAG.

    “If she is not granted bail, she will lose academic years. Her mother is always in court, as the applicant is her only child,” Edechime said.

    The prosecution team led by Mrs. Fehinti Ogbemudia and Mrs. Arinola Momoh-Ayokanbi urged the court to deny the students bail and grant accelerated hearing in the case due to the prevalence of the offence and the weight of the punishment.

    Justice Soladoye adjourned the case till April 29 for ruling on Omowole, Chukwu, Nwankama and Osemeka’s bail application and March 25 for the continuation of hearing of Aguedo’s bail application.

     

  • APC retains two Lagos assembly seats in Kosofe LG

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC) winners of the two house of assembly constituencies in Kosofe area of Lagos State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the results were declared at the INEC Collation Centre in Anglican Primary School, Ogudu.

    The Returning Officer for Kosofe Constituency 1, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, from the University of Lagos, said that Ganiyu Okanlawon emerged winner with 12, 834 votes, defeating his closest rival, Moyosore Ogunlewe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 7,684 votes.

    “I, Ayodeji Olukoju, a Distinguished Professor of the University of Lagos, hereby certify that I was the Returning Officer for the Kosofe 1 Constituency House of Assembly election held on March 9, 2019.

    Read Also: APC floors Saraki in his LG

    “I declare that the election was contested. I, therefore, declare that Ganiyu Okanlawon of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest votes, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” he said.

    Also, Mr Olatunde Braimon was declared the winner of Constituency 11, with 29,385 votes to beat his closest rival, Mr Oluote Karma of the PDP who scored 7,156 votes.

    The Returning Officer, Dr Oluwakemi Adekile of the University of Lagos, announced the Kosofe Constituency 2 result.

    Adekile said, “That Olatunde Braimon of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”

    NAN

     

  • Don seeksUNHC R’s aid to curb insurgency

    A professor of History at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Abayomi Akinyeye has called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to adopt an emergency measure to curb insurgency, especially in poor countries.

    Akinyeye is seeking an expansion of the mandate of some United Nation’s (UN’s) agencies and the establishment of new ones to address fallouts of crises and wars, as well as introduce a global insurgency tax to be paid by multi-nationals to further shore up UN finances against insurgency.

    Akinyeye delivered a paper at the opening of plenary of the first Covenant International Model United Nations Conference (CIMUN 2019) at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

    The theme of the paper was: “The United Nations and insurgency in global perspective: The need for a reorientation”.

    He also suggested sanctions against both insurgents and governments, which hamper UN’s responses to insurgency, saying that a close monitor on the delivery of good governance to guide against inequality will reduce insurgency globally

    Akinyeye expressed fears on the rising insurgency globally, attributing the phenomenon to quest by certain individuals for equity and social justice, in addition to ideologies on how certain things should be executed.

    Covenant University Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aaron Atayero, described the United Nations’ model as globally accepted innovative way of reproducing and bringing the UN to youths in particular and everyday people in general

    “Our belief in this genius of innovation is the very reason we at Covenant have embraced the traditions and become part of the trajectories of UN model society. Our history at Model United Nations Conference is a long one. At our very first outing in 2007, we beat over 50 participating institutions at the Nigerian Model United Nations’ Conference (NigMUNS) to emerge as the Best Institution and won several individual awards,” noted Atayero, who was represented by Head of Department of Political Science and International Relations, Prof Folarin Sheriff.

    Atayero added that the theme of the conference: “Restructuring the future through Innovative Ideas”, was instructive and could not have come at a better time and venue, adding that CU was founded on the principle of treading where others fear to.

  • UNILAG trains students on entrepreneurship development

    Fifteen students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) presented their business ideas at the second phase of a Business Pitch Competition organised by the Institution tagged “Impact Week”.

    Held at the Entrepreneurship and Skills Centre of the school,  their ideas which covered areas such as health, urban agriculture, energy, education, environment, commerce and finance, tourism and technology  were assessed by representatives of various industries that would eventually invest into them.

    In the first phase of the competition held last November 19-22, 156 students presented 24 business designs from which 15 teams qualified for the second presentation.

    The programme sponsored by Lufthansa which brought in 26 design experts to train both members of staff and students in the course of the week is in line with the UNILAG’s effort to make its students job creators after graduation.

    Happy with the students innovative and creative ability , the Deputy Vice  Chancellor,Development Services Prof Folashade Ogunsola said  there was need for a paradigm shift in knowledge acquisition in universities.

    “The students have the creative minds. All they need is the environment and the training to allow them to express themselves and when we challenged them,  they rose up to the challenge.  This tells me that we have a lot of work to do but not a difficult  problem in the sense that if we change our training style,  we will have great students.

    “The ability to do and how you think creatively is something that has to be taught which boils down to how do you train? How do you teach? Our universities are very lecture heavy. If we facilitate learning from the angle of problem solving students will read even wider than you imagine because there is so much information out there that no lecturer can give you. Everything and we are seeing is what we have been doing in the last three years,” she said.

    With greater industry partnerships the DVC said universities would deliver better trained students.

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    “The Universities are not as bad as people think and I hope that this will give us an avenue for people to understand that a lot of things can be done in Nigeria. So nobody should give up on the Nigerian universities,” she said.

    Earlier, the Vice Chancellor  Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe said the entrepreneurship and skill development would unlock potentials so that students would become self employed when they graduate.

    The Acting Director of the Entrepreneurship and Skill Centre,  Prof Sunday Adebisi  noted that during the teacher-training which commenced before the Impact week, eight designs were conceived by the teachers which were tested and recorded huge success in Arena Market.

    He said the 24 business designs submitted by the students were viable and assured that the centre would support them with all the technicalities expected before they graduate.

    He added that the University has also budgeted  a N5m seed fund to support viable business ideas of the students.

  • UNILAG faults ASUU on Babalakin

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has faulted claims by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) about the Pro-Chancellor, Dr Wale Babalakin going beyond his powers.

    A statement signed by the university’s Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council, Mr Oladejo Azeez, noted that Babalakin was right in the actions he took in some specific instances that ASUU called him out on.

    One of them was the reinstatement of the Director of Sports, Dr Cecilia Arinze, who had been recommended for dismissal by the Senate of the university.

    The statement reads: “With reference to the reinstatement of the Director of Sports, please be informed that a member of staff of the institution forwarded a petition to the University Governing Council. This petition, like others of its kind, was reviewed and debated upon by members of the Council. It was discovered after careful deliberations that the University Senate had cleared the Director of Sports, Dr.Cecilia Arinze of nine  out of 11 allegations levelled against her.

    “Council also discovered that the 10th allegation against Dr. Arinze was frivolous and that the only one  remaining allegation was insufficient to dismiss a staff of the University who had put in 30 years of service. Based on the foregoing, council decided to clear the Director of Sports of the allegations levelled against her.”

    The statement also noted that Babalakin would not be the first Pro-Chancellor and chairman of Council to set up meetings with the Senate and other members of staff, noting that the late Deacon Gamaliel Onosode and Chief Afe Babalola both did so while they served in the same position.

    “A former Pro Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, held a meeting of such nature with members of the Senate when he was appointed Pro Chancellor of the Institution. The Minutes of Senate Meeting of that day serves as evidence that the allegation is untrue. Another former Pro Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Late Deacon Gamaliel Offoritsenere Onosode, also held a meeting with Senate members in the University Senate Chamber.

    “In conclusion, we want to place it on record that the Governing Council of the University of Lagos led by Dr Olawale Bolanle Babalakin, SAN, has consistently upheld laws and traditions of the University,” the statement reads.

  • Tosyn Bucknor, Inspiration FM presenter dies

    Oluwatosin ‘Tosyn’ Bucknor, an on-air-personality with Inspiration FM, has died.

    She died at the age of 37.

    Tosyn, as she was popularly known, was found dead by husband, Aurelien Boyer, a French national, when he arrived home from work on Monday night.

    “A graduate of Law from the University of Lagos, Tosyn was born with sickle cell anaemia which prompted her to start ‘These Genes Project’ to help people with the condition,”.

    In November 2015, Tosyn and Aurélien Boyer had their traditional wedding, surrounded by family and friends in Lagos, followed by a white wedding in France.

    Tosyn previously hosted the morning show at Top Radio FM.

    She started her on-air-personality duties with Tee-A at Eko FM. She was also an intern at Cool FM where she hosted the Fun Hour Show on Saturdays.

    Tosyn joined Top Radio after her youth service in 2009 as the only female handling a morning show.

    In her lifetime, Tosyn Bucknor was nominated for several awards, including Future Awards, ELOY Awards, and Best of Nollywood.

    Read Also: Inspiration FM plans Summer Jam Concert

    Following news of her death, fans and colleagues alike have taken to social media to express their shock.

    @Poojamedia wrote, “Goodnight Tosyn Bucknor! You changed the energy level on Radio & made so many people fall in love with the profession. Your energy was infectious. Areeaaaaaaaaa mama. RIP. Pooja Cares!”

    @Busayo_cole tweeted, “”Aaaaaaaaaarea, guguru morning.This was one woman who made me fall in love with morning talkshows. Ace Journalist and an ardent Manchester United fan.

    “RIP Tosyn Bucknor. You’ll be remembered forever. Thank you for the pleasant memories you left behind.”

    @Vjadams said, “Ahhhh I’m heartbroken.. RIP TosynBuknor”

    @Bahdosky tweeted, “To think I still saw Tosyn Bucknor last month. This is not a palatable news for me. May God Almighty grand all her loved ones fortitude to bear this great loss. RIP to an angel.”

    Until her death, the OAP who also doubled as a Vlogger, was an employee of Inspiration FM where she hosted her own morning talk show.

    Tosyn’s father, late Segun Bucknor, who was a popular musician and journalist, died in 2017.

    NAN

     

  • UNILAG unveils Nigeria-China Institute

    Nigerian and Chinese professionals have applauded the establishment of the Nigeria-China Institute of Development Studies at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

    The new institute which would cater to the research, cultural integration and commerce needs of Nigerian and Chinese business professionals was unveiled Tuesday at the Senate Chambers of the university.

    The UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof Toyin Ogundipe, said the Institute was necessitated by the economic relationship between the two countries and the need to foster cooperation, and technological and cultural integration.

    He said: “Nigeria is one of those friends that China has developed trading and technological relationship with.  Through these, other areas have surreptitiously opened up.  It is the design of the institute being inaugurated today to identify and piece together the fragments of Nigeria-China relationship especially in commercial, technical and intellectual activities.  Apart from commerce and trade, there is need to properly harness the immense potential of Nigeria-China relationship in other areas like: general policies and diplomacy, arts, craft, culture and tourism, oil and gas, metallurgy, molecular biology and agriculture, manufacturing, Information and Computer Technology, medicine, marine studies, the environment, transportation and aviation, etc.”

    Ogundipe said henceforth the institute would become the hub of research on Nigeria-China studies into ways both countries could enjoy a symbiotic relationship.

    He said there was need for more Nigerians to learn the Chinese language and culture.

    President of the Chinese Investors Association for Development and Promotion, Mr Ronnie Liu Changan, thanked UNILAG for the institute which he said would go a long way to help Chinese investors know what businesses to invest in Nigeria and how to run them.  Speaking in broken English, Changan said he depended on the academics to show them the way to live happily in Nigeria.

    “I have been in Nigeria for 18 years; I have a lot of experience.  The university has the right people to tell us where to go; you will teach us how to use things that we think are of no use.  In China, we have many universities with institutes of African Studies. From my own experience living in Nigeria, we need to encourage more Nigerians to learn about China.  I also want to learn more about Nigeria.  We need Nigerians to teach us how to operate.  If you go to a place you must understand the terrain clearly to be able to operate.  We need professors to make sure we grow up together – not just to make money, but we want to stay here,” he said.

    Corroborating him, the Managing Director, Ogun-Guangdong State Free Trade Zone, Mr Wilson Wu, said many potential Chinese investors were confused about investing in Nigeria, expressing confidence that the institute would address such confusion.

    “I am suggesting in future we can do studies so Chinese investors know what resources are available.  A lot of people come to me and say, ‘I have a lot of money but I don’t know what to invest in’.  I will use all the resources I can contribute to support the development of this institute,” he said.

    Managing Director, Sapele Power Plc, Mrs Heida Bono, and the MD, Citizens Electronic, Dr Chidi Okpalagu, both of who do business with the Chinese, said they were excited about the institute.

    “This institute is an idea whose time has come.  WE have been doing business with the Chinese in the area of electronics and food packaging.  We don’t want to continue importation.  We like the institutie to look at what the Chinese are doing in farms in terms of preservation and teach us how to do it in Nigeria,” he said.

    Former Nigerian Ambassador to China (2003-2007), Oluwole Coker, who serves on the board of the new institute, praised UNILAG for taking up the challenge.

    Prior to the inauguration of the institute, UNILAG had been running the Conficius Institute, a cultural and Language centre for teaching Mandarin, for over a decade.  The university also runs a degree programme in Chinese Studies.

    Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, ProYongying Wang, said the new Nigeria-China Institute would do what the Confucius Institute had been doing – acting as a bridge between people of the two countries – on a deeper level.

    Present at the event were Chinese CEOs of Miniso, Lifemate, CCECC, StarTimes, among others.