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Tag: University of Nigeria

  • ‘Tractorisation project will move Nigeria out of food insecurity’

    ‘Tractorisation project will move Nigeria out of food insecurity’

    The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) says it is embarking on a tractorisation project, which is aimed at moving Nigeria out of the stranglehold of food insecurity.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, said this when he featured at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja on Thursday.

    He said that the university, in collaboration with some foreign and Nigerian universities, the private sector, governments and other relevant stakeholders, would begin the project with the production of 500 tractors.

    Ozumba said that the project would be executed via four platforms, adding that these included the Tractor Assembly/Manufacturing Production (TAMP) and Tractor Value Chain Support Service (TVCSS) schemes.

    He said that the other two platforms were the Tractor Vocational and Entrepreneurship Programme (TCEP) and the Tractor Outreach/Extension Workshop Support Centres (TOEWSC) schemes.

    “We need tractorisation.

    “So, the vision is to move Nigeria out of this stranglehold of food insecurity to food security so that we can export and make money for our God-given territory,’’ he said.

    The vice-chancellor, who noted that Nigeria was a commodity-based economy, said that the university was embarking on the project so as to facilitate the transition of the country from a commodity-based economy to a knowledge-based economy.

    He said that the tractorisation project was introduced, as part of efforts to commercialise the institution to enable it to be self-financing, while generating revenue for the Federal Government.

    According to him, “With the tractorisation, we will be able to achieve the goals of the Minister of Agriculture and the Federal Republic of Nigeria to generate more than 15 billion dollars annually to pay our external debts and run the country.

    “Every other country that has made it now is able to feed itself. The big question is can Nigeria feed itself with peasant farming? The big answer is ‘No’.

    “We still struggle to produce palm oil and groundnut oil, which we used to be greatest exporters, and so on.’’

    Ozumba said that most of the citizens still engaged in peasant farming, adding that the farmers also relied on crude farm implements to produce food which was not enough to feed the nation.

    “If you read the dailies often, you will see that the Minister of Agriculture has been repeatedly saying that if we are not able to generate 15 billion U.S. dollars through exports, Nigeria will be in trouble by the year 2020.

    “The question then is how do we do that? Currently, most farmers in Nigeria engage in peasant farming.

    “Peasant farming is where farmers just go to their farms to produce enough cocoyam, enough cassava, enough Ugwu (vegetable) and so on, just to feed their families.

    “It cannot get Nigeria anywhere and we will just go about importing rice when we can produce better quality rice in the country.

    “But can we produce rice with our bare hands as we do now? The answer is a big ‘No’; so we need tractorisation to boost mechanised farming.

    “The only way this can happen is to use our land resources maximally and see how many hectares we can put under cultivation.

    “But you cannot cultivate hectares of land without the use of tractors, hence the rationale behind our tractorisation project.

    “Honestly, you cannot engage in large-scale farming without the use of tractors,’’ he added.

  • UNN final year student ‘commits’ suicide

    UNN final year student ‘commits’ suicide

    A final year Agricultural Economics student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) was found dead in his off-campus hostel on Sunday.

    The late Tobechukwu Okeke allegedly committed suicide over financial challenges. No suicide note was found in his room, but his mates told The Nation that the late Tobechukwu had lately expressed frustration over financial challenges.

    His department was quiet Monday, following the news. His mates were seen standing in groups, discussing the incident in hush tones. There was no lecture held for the final year students, because of the incident.

    Elizabeth Agwu, the deceased’s classmates, described him “easy-going and hardworking student”.

    She said: “He was popular in the department, because people saw him as a nice guy. He made people laugh and he was one of the best players in the department’s and faculty’s football teams.”

    The Nation learnt that late Tobechukwu was absent for lecture for two weeks, a development that left his colleagues wondering what could be happening, because he was said to have been attending lectures regularly.

    Elizabeth said: “Last week, Tobechukwu called one of our classmates to beg them for money. We don’t know the reason he committed suicide, because he was doing very well in his studies.”

    The Nation gathered that the body was evacuated from the room by a group of men and taken away in a Sienna saloon car at 7:30pm on Sunday.

    When contacted, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Okwun Omeaku, asked our reporter to send text message to him. But, he did not reply to The Nation’s text message at press time

     

  • The Other Side of SUG

    The Other Side of SUG

    Last weekend, about twenty students’ union leaders under the aegis of Council of South-East SUG Presidents were at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State to confer the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba with “2016 South-East VC of the Year Award,” as way of fostering good management in Nigerian higher institutions. JAMES OJO, CHERECHUKWU OKOYE (300-Level Mass communication) and Temitope Adigun (200-Level Mass communication) report.

    To many, students’ unionism in Nigeria signalled a chaotic body, often threatening the peace and stability in higher institutions. But, last week Friday, the Council of South-East SUG Presidents’ took an exception.

    They aptly proved that they are also a major stakeholder in promoting good management, peace and stability required for the growth of higher institutions in Nigeria.

    About twenty of them had gathered at the VC’s conference room to honour him as the 2016 South-East Vice-Chancellor of the year award. He was also awarded SUG, South-East Patron.

    The award was an initiative of the Council of Presidents’, south-east zone to appreciate Vice-Chancellor’s who had made meaningful contributions to their various institutions.

    Presenting the award to the VC, the Council’s Chairman, Comrade Chidi Ilogebe said, Prof. Ozumba was voted for the award due to his impacts within and outside UNN since he assumed office.

    Chidi, who is also the SUG President, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC) said, in Ozumba’s two years in office, he has achieved remarkable feats in promoting peace in the country, infrastructure, research and ICT developments in the institution as well as supporting the development of the student body, hence the need for the award.

    He said the election for the award took place at the council’s meeting held in February, which saw twenty-five out of the thirty-five union voted unanimously for the VC.

    He said the Council nominated different VCs’ different higher institutions but Prof. Ozumba has the highest votes.

    He added that the criteria used for the award include: external and internal impacts of the various VC’s in their respective institutions as well as their duration in office.

    His words: “We all know that SUG is meant to champion the welfare of students’ in our various tertiary institutions and also to fight any administration that is against the interest of the students.

    “But this time around, the council has decided to award any administration have done very well within and outside their schools.”

    Receiving the award, the Ozumba said he was amazed by the students’ council decision. He described the award the “most treasured in his career,” adding that it would inspire him to do more. He expressed gratitude for their gestures and assured them of his commitment to enhance the development of student unionism in the institution and in the entire south-east zone.

    The VC also reiterated his administration’s commitment to reposition UNN in Nigerian Universities’ rankings, adding that he would also enhance research development and foster entrepreneurial skills among students of the institution to enable them become globally employed.

    Afterwards, the VC and members of the council deliberated on how to develop students’ unionism in their respective institutions. Most of union leaders who spoke CAMPUSLIFE gathered enjoined the body in the zone and other zones in the country to always sue for peace using diplomatic approaches. They argued that the use of violence is capable of destabilising the country’s educational system.

    Speaking on this, the host SUG President, Comrade Peter Orji in an interview with CAMPUSLIFE, said “I don’t think there is any administration will have interest in victimising its students. It is high time our union leaders do away with violence and avoid their usual confrontational approach to matters.”

    Peter, who described the event as a success however enjoined students’ leaders to “apply wisdom in handling issues.”

    “I feel honoured gracing this event. This is the first time such is happening and I am happy it happened during my tenure as the host SUG President. I think this award will motivate other Vice-Chancellors’ in the south-east and the country to perform better.” He said
    The SUG presidents in attendance are, Com. Ilogebe Chidi, President SUG UNEC (chairman of the Council of SUG south-south-east); Com. Orji Peter Ekene, President SUG UNN; Com. Obi Uche Jude; Com. Onuzulike Victory Chukwubike, President SUG Imo State Polytechnic (IMOPOLY); Edeoga Patricia, President Federal College of Education Chaamutu; Ignatius Amaechi Okoro, President School of Health Ogi River State; Nwanna Chukwu, President SUG Imo State University (IMSU); Amanoh Chinoso Fredrick, President SUG Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT); Princess Chukwuemeka, President SUG Abia State University (ABSU), Nwafor Joshua, President SUG Ebonyi State University (EBSU); Ezeme Jude Thaddeus, President SUG Peace Land College of Education; Offor Chinonso .C., President Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU); Victor C. Ezenagu, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B PRO amongst others.

  • Gas flaring: NLNG generates $90b revenue

     

    The Nigerian NLG Limited on Tuesday disclosed that it has generated some $90 billion from gas flare since 1999 when it was commenced operation.

     

    Its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Babs Omotowa, disclosed this at the commissioning of a $4 million technology laboratory project at the University of Ibadan on Tuesday.

     

    The project was jointly undertaken by the company and the premier university on equal contribution of $2 million each.

     

    Omotowa also revealed that the company has been a major contributor to Nigeria’s revenue base having paid $33 billion in dividend, taxes and other charges to the government since it commenced operation in 1999.

    Omotowa further stressed that the company is the biggest tax payer in Nigeria and sub-Sahara Africa having paid a sum of $3 billion in company income tax and Education Tax in 2014 and 2015.

     

    On the project, the Nigeria LNG boss explained that the University of Ibadan’s excellence rating in academic and research in Africa informed its decision to cite the $4 million technology laboratory in the institution.

     

    Reeling out its support for science and literature over the years with science trailing behind the latter, Omotowa said the company “reviewed the science prize and took a decision in 2013 to nest further down the chain so as to improve the chances for science research so that more winners can emerge in future with research tha will impact the lives of Nigerians.”

     

    The new decision, he explained, led to the idea of the tech laboratory in the highest rated universities in the six geo-political zones of the country.

     

    He said: “In selecting the universities, excellence was again the key determinant. As a core value, it permeates every work process in Nigeria LNG; we ensured that the selection process was not an exception. The six universities were selected purely based on the top ranked university in each region from the independent rankings by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the World Universities Ranking.

     

    “For the Northwest cluster, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria was selected. Others are University of Port Harcourt, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Ilorin, University of Maiduguri and the University of Ibadan.”

     

    Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Abel Olayinka, commended the company for the project, stressing that it would help the institution realize her ambition of becoming the training and research hub in Africa.

     

    The Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, while commending the Nigeria LNG, called for increased investment in brew of the huge revenue and profits it posts yearly.

     

    The project was commissioned by Oyo State Governor, Abuola Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Otunba Moses Alake-Adeyemo.

     

  • Ooni named UNN chancellor

    Ooni named UNN chancellor

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi has emerged as the youngest chancellor in Nigeria with the appointment of the monarch as the chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka by President Mohammadu Buhari.

    In a statement issued by Yera Moses Olafare, the director of media, Ooni’s palace, copies of which were obtained by newsmen in Ibadan Thursday, President Mohammadu Buhari was commended for recognising Ooni’s efforts to promote unity among Nigerians.

    The statement said ” Ile Oodua is thankful to the people’s President Mohammadu Buhari of the
    Federal Republic of Nigeria for the appointment of Ooni, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, as the chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN” , saying the development would further enable the monarch to build more bridges of friendship especially across the Niger.

    The statement further noted that Oba Ogunwusi was ready to bring to bear, his influence and connections to promote unity and harmonious working relationships in the university.

    The palace also admonished Nigerians to promote only issues that can foster unity to ensure speedy development rather than playing up their differences.

    The statements reads: “It is incontrovertible today that Ooni Ogunwusi is a bridge builder and being the youngest chancellor appointed for the only university bearing “Nigeria” is worth the celebration.

    “His appointment as chancellor, University Of Nigeria, Nsuka is considered as a positive sign that can further enhance peaceful coexistence of our dear nation as it was clearly stated in the letter of appointment written
    and signed by Honorable Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu on behalf of Mr President that Kabiyesi’ appointment is based on his wealth of experience and his capacity to manage men and resources which he has demonstrated in the administration of his Kingdom in the last three months.”

  • ‘We are committed to quality education’

    Management of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has expressed its commitment to reposition the institution for academic excellence. At the ninth edition of its lectures series held at the Faculty of Medical Sciences Hall last week, Provost of the College of Medicine, Prof Basden Onwubere said the university had initiated series of projects to upgrade the college.

    He said the college has concluded arrangements to launch a N6 billion education fund raising programme scheduled to hold from today till Sunday.

    Prof Onwubere said despite the impressive performance of their graduates globally and rapid infrastructural development in the college, management was in dire need of more funds.

    He said: “Within the past four years, we have moved from less than 20 professors to nearly 60 in the College of Medicine, with many at the final stages of assessment. However, we are not yet where we should be, and there is still room for improvement in our academic work and research activities.”

    He decried the challenges faced by the college, which include medical library, students’ hostels, transportation and modern facilities necessary for conducive learning. Prof Onwubere commended the Vice Chancellor, Prof Barth Okolo for starting the construction of the ultra-modern college building complex, adding that Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA, Ben Nwosu formed African Research League with nine other UNN alumni to provide funds for students to conduct research under the strict supervision of members of staff.

    Chief Medical Director of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, ‘UNTH’, Dr Chris Amah said in two years, the hospital had witnessed massive transformation in infrastructure, establishment of new patients’ wards and improved services, adding that the open heart surgery, which was suspended for more than 10 years has been restored with record of five successful surgeries.

    He said the oxygen plant that had ceased to function for several years is operational, noting that building complexes for the schools would soon be completed.

    A former Chief Medical Director of UNTH, Prof John Oli stressed the need for the inclusion of local languages in the medical curriculum, saying this is necessary to enable medical doctors communicate effectively with illiterate patients.

    The chairman of the Professor Chukwuedu Nwokolo Annual Lecture Series and Award of Prizes for Academic Excellence, Prof Chuba Ijoma, said every year, there are cash prizes of N50,000 and N25,000 for best academic staff and students.

    In a lecture entitled: “Future trends of medical education in Nigeria,” Prof Okey Mbonu, said the future of medical education in Nigeria depended on the willingness of stakeholders to modify the curricula with a view to producing medical graduates with the additional competencies required for modern medical practice, adding that doctors were now required to acquire rare abilities that would meet the current needs of the society.

    “We need medical graduates with excellent clinical, research, computer and entrepreneurial skills, who would possess a problem-solving and a life-long learning attitude required in community centers,” he said.

    Prof Mbonu called for the establishment of departments of education in medical colleges in the country to drive progress in medical education, adding that community based training should be enhanced to complement traditional hospital practice.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that in 2006, the college administration under the leadership of Prof Banjamin Chukwuma Ozumba, instituted the Prof Chukwuedu Nwokolo Annual Lecture Series and Award of Prizes for Academic Excellence to stimulate research and scholarship.

     

  • 77th inaugural lecture at UNN

    The President of Nigerian Mathematical Society (NMS), Prof Micah Osilike, has urged government at all lev1els to provide adequate facilities that will tackle poor academic performance in public schools across the country particularly, at the primary level. He said the move would make education in rural environment attractive.

    Osilike made this plea last Thursday at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) while delivering an inaugural lecture titled: Fixed-point Theory and applications: Contributions from behind closed doors. The ceremony, which was held in Princess Alexandra Hall, marked the 77th inaugural lecture in the university.

    Welcoming lecturers to the event, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof Polycarp Chigbu, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bartho Okolo, said the university’s inaugural lecture was always seen as “academic festival” which prompted education stakeholders to always send delegates to the university to deliberate on ways to improve education in the country.

    Osilike pointed out that the inability of parents to support the effort of teachers remained the reason behind the failure of students in mathematics in secondary level, saying many parents believed the buck stopped at the government’s table.

    He said it had become necessary for parents to carry out their duties on their wards, while urging the government to remove politics from education to achieve best result in education.

    Acknowledging the role of computer in understanding mathematics, the inaugural lecturer explained there was nothing secret about the development, charging students to utilise every means they had to propagate knowledge.

    He recommended group debate among the pupils from primary to secondary level if scope of mathematics must be fully grasped and appreciated. He said the method would help the country to meet its demand in education sector.

    He advised that undergraduates must be exposed to regular workshop and training as part of their general studies to promote practical experience that will strengthen their understanding of the subject in solving problems.

    Osilike thanked members of the university’s Governing Council for approval of the lecture as well their support. He urged the university lecturers to co-operate with one another to achieve the administration’s objectives.

    The lecture was well attended by lecturers and students within and outside the country.

  • Why home economics is imperative, by don

    Aprofessor of Home Economics, Elizabeth Anyakoha, of faculty of education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has stressed the need for government to industrialise home economics to promote indigenous skill, with a view to create employment for graduates.

    Prof Anyakoha said this while delivering the 76th inaugural lecture entitled: Advancing a framework for showcasing family concerns: Challenging the challenges. The lecture was held in the university’s Princess Alexandra Hall.

    Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bartho Okolo, who was represented by his deputy on Academics, Prof Polycarp Chigbu, pointed out that a lot of research works had been carried out through modern technology. He noted that excellent research work was difficult to achieve, advising researchers to add touches of intellectuals to their works.

    Prof Anyakoha said growth in different areas of the nation’s economy posed challenges to the development of home economics, which she said was aiming to revive occupational health education.

    She, however, revealed that the department’s activities had been promoted internationally, which made many of its research works to be used for book publication overseas without royalty.

    The lecturer regretted that the basic quota for admission had stagnat the expansion of the department to produce manpower for national research work and labour market.

    She was confident that if home economics was given proper attention by the government, it could be used to combat insecurity by engaging the youths in productive ventures.

    She added that computer knowledge of students and staff couple with provision of steady power supply participated by the government to carry out research work would to support the initiative of the department to produce needed manpower for country’s development.

    The lecture was well attended by scholars within outside the state including the staff and students of the university.

     

  • Overhauling transcript processing

    Overhauling transcript processing

    The problems of processing transcripts should belong to an old era. It should not be part of 21st century administration of tertiary institutions that desire to be respected the world over.

    With our institutions fighting for relevance on the international scene, there necessarily needs to be an overhaul of how they are run. Their managers need to start adopting best practices from the universities that are topping the world rankings.

    One area that needs complete overhaul is the way transcripts are processed. Our graduates have suffered unnecessary hardship trying to obtain their transcripts for further studies or employment after completing their programmes. Like Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo noted in a lecture he delivered at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abuja (FUNAAB), many have missed admission opportunities because of the lousy procedure involved.

    To obtain transcripts, the practice should be that the institution in need of it applies to the institution that produced the graduate. However, because most of our institutions have not evolved effective ways of managing these processes, that system does not work for many.

    Foreign and even local institutions instruct Nigerian graduates seeking admission to obtain the transcripts and mail to them. Such candidates have to travel to their alma-mater, most times having to obtain permission from their employers for several days Leave to attend to the matter. When they get to the institutions, they are made to follow a procedure that would require them to move from their departments to the exams and records unit, to the registry, and other places. Along the line, they have to grease several palms to facilitate the search, movement, transfer of the files containing their academic records to the appropriate officers for computing. Then when ready, a sealed document is meant to be mailed to the address of the institution that needs them. Today, many collect the transcript by hand, and of course, they open the envelope to see the document.

    If that is all that they need to do to get their transcripts, it would have been bearable. But it is not. Most times, there is a long waiting list for those applying for transcripts, so, those that follow the laid down procedure may as well wait indefinitely for their applications to be processed. The ‘smart’ ones find their way. They get the document out faster by influencing people they know to intervene or parting with some money. They are forced to deal with very unpleasant workers along the line who think processing the document is a favour they do for the graduates and not the jobs they are paid to do. This way of thinking is very wrong. Workers in our institutions should be made to do their jobs and not frustrate students. Some of them have become tin gods in their offices, threatening students with all manner of actions, or ignoring them completely as if they are irrelevant.

    Chukwuemeka Chukwudi is one person who can relate to the frustrations that result when the document is not issued on time. As a matter of fact, the 2003 graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) is yet to get his transcript since applying in 2010. He has been told his file is missing. Period! All efforts he has made for three years have proved abortive.

    If it were in other countries, whoever was responsible for misplacing his file would have been probed and disciplined. If he is not sacked, he would face disciplinary action. But it is not so in Nigeria.

    How can a student spend four years studying at an institution only to be told his entire academic records are missing and nothing can be done about it? Our students do not deserve to be treated so shabbily. It is time management of our tertiary institutions stipulate code of conduct for their workers and provide avenues for students to seek redress.

  • Sciences: UNN records over 50% increase in female students

    University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) has recorded more than 50 per cent increase in the number of female students studying sciences since 2009, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo, said.

    Okolo made the statement in an interview with the Western Europe correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Paris when  two Nigerian female scientists received the  2013 UNESCO-L’Oreal awards.

    “Science is the centre of development in the world. As a university, we have taken it  as a key priority  to train 60 per cent in science courses while 40 per cent in other fields.

    ” In the past five years,  the level of literacy in science has gone up very  high, more  girls are now interested in various science related courses.

    “On a scale of 100,  I will say more than 50 per cent of girls have been admitted to study sciences since 2009, ”  he said.

    He  said that the university would continue to create the enabling environment to encourage students in sciences.

    The vice-chancellor said  the award  to the women “will motivate others in the field of science”.

    The UNESCO-L’Oreal  awardees were recognised  each  in the ” Laureates and fellows” honours categories.

    Prof. Francisca Okeke , the first female Head of Department at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, bagged the 2013 Laureate award for her significant contributions to the scientific study on climate change.

    She was the only recipient in that category from Africa and the Arab nations, and the third Nigerian laureate since the UNESCO- L’Oreal  partnership was established in 1998.

    Four others also got awards in the Laureate category with each representing Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Asia Pacific regions.

    Dr Eucharia Nwaichi, an environmental biochemist  from the University of Port Harcourt  joined 15 other young scientists in the ” International Fellows” honours  category. (NAN)