The Nation Newspaper

Tag: University of Uyo

  • ‘Cultists’ raid Uyo varsity neighbourhood

    THE vicinity of University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, was thrown into panic as suspected cultists raided shops in the area. Residents of Udoette and other streets near the institution ran for safety as the assailants closed in on Monday night.

    The Nation exclusively reported last week that some streets close to the university and the Uyo City Polytechnic were under siege by hoodlums suspected to be cultists.

    Our correspondent who carried out a thorough investigation on the situation mentioned Udoette and Ikot Ekang streets as well as Itu Road as the black spots in Uniuyo and Uyo City Polytechnic areas.

    The report further stated that some residents of the affected areas in Uyo, the state capital, had vacated their rented apartments while landlords were selling their houses for fear of being killed.

    In a fresh attack which occurred Monday night between 8 and 9pm, our correspondent gathered that shop owners and passers-by were attacked and robbed by the assailants.

    The Nation learnt that the gangsters started their operations from Udoette and proceeded to Itu Road collecting money, mobile  phones, drinks and other valuable items from their victims.

    A source who pleaded anonymity disclosed that Udoette is a secret cults and armed robbers zone, adding that the hoodlums normally trooped out from Udoette Lane with dangerous weapons such as axes, guns and knives.

    He stated further that from 6pm the areas are very dangerous for the residents, passers-by and shop operators.

    The source said, ”Udoette is a very dangerous area because of these cultists who are bent on robbing, raping and making life unbearable for us.

    Read Also: Gunmen raid UniUyo female hostel

    “Government should send in security men to these areas and especially Ebong Essien Street.”

    Also speaking, a businessman disclosed that the perpetrators usually hide at Essien Inyang Street after concluding their their operations.

    He expressed dismay that businesses in the affected have been adversely affected due to the high cases of insecurity.

    “We are now leaving here  in morbid fear and discomfort whereas it is not supposed to be so. As I speak we don’t have peace and we can’t move freely at night.

    “We want the government to come to our aid by sending security men to this area to protect us.

    “Cultists are not stronger than the government, so they should take immediate action concerning  the menace because  nothing  has been done positively to curb the situation,” he said.

    Efforts to reach the state police public relations officer, Odiko MacDon proved abortive as he did not respond to phone calls and text message sent to him.

  • Uniuyo student drowns in hotel swimming pool in Akwa Ibom

    A 100 level political science/public administration student of the University of Uyo, Kingsley Etim has drowned in a hotel swimming pool.
    The incident occurred at about 9pm on Saturday at De Vegas Paradise hotel during a pool party.
    An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said  the deceased was found when one of his colleagues spotted someone in the pool when others have left the water for other recreations .
    “When my friends and I  were about leaving the venue of the party to catch up with time before they locked our hostel, we heard someone had drowned in the pool. I was shocked because there was no sign of such and everyone had left the pool a long time before then”.
    “No one noticed he was  drowned . Maybe because it was already dark and there was loud music. When he was brought out, people tried to revive him but it was all in vain” she said.

    Read Also: Cultists kill one, injure many in UNIUYO

    Our correspondent gathered that the deceased was later rushed to the University of Uyo Health Centre, where he was confirmed dead.
    In a telephone interview, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Akwa Ibom Supol Odiko Mcdon confirmed the incident describing  it as unfortunate.
    He said the police has commenced preliminary investigation into the matter to unravel more facts concerning the incident as the police has not foreclosed any foul play.
    Mcdon said the corpse has been deposited  in an undisclosed  mortuary as investigations continues to establish more facts.

  • UNIUYO inducts 28 medical doctors

    The University of Uyo on Thursday administered physician’s oath on 28 medical doctors, who recently completed their training in the institution’s college of health sciences.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Enefiok Essien, said that the ceremony (Sponsio Academica) marked 13th of its kind, having inducted 53 doctors in 2018.

    Essien, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Inyang Udofot, urged the young doctors to be guided by the ethics of the profession.

    He tasked them to uphold secrets of their patients and maintain the patient-doctor confidentiality.

    He equally expressed concern over the challenges posed by the social media to many ethical ideals in the field of medicine.

    He said, “The advent of social media today poses a great challenge to many ethical ideals in medicine.

    “The secrets of patients and their autonomy risk being violated by just a chat or tweet.

    “Hence, you are therefore reminded that the patient-doctor confidentiality is sacrosanct and must never be breached.

    “On the part of the university, we shall continually strive to provide appropriate infrastructure and environment conducive for training to the best of our ability.

    “The university has so far complied with requirement of the council in terms of infrastructure, equipment and manpower.

    “We believe that with this in place, our request for increase in student quota will be granted.’’

    He charged the inductees to be good ambassadors of the institution and advised them to remain in Nigeria to practise their profession instead of seeking for greener pastures abroad.

    Read Also: Campus journalists fault suspension of UI’s Law student

    He said that the institution had complied with the requirement of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in the area of training, manpower and infrastructure.

    Earlier, the provost of the college of health sciences, Dr Augustine Umoh, described the medical practice as “tortuous” and encouraged them to be compassionate to their patients.

    He said, “Compassion to your patients is not negotiable. Show compassion to the sick and you have done a huge part of the care.

    “Remember too that what goes around comes around and that you also could be a beneficiary of such compassion as we are all but humans.

    “Many physicians forget about themselves as they toil to save humanity but it is important to note that it is only a healthy doctor that can provide patient care.”

    Dr Ekpenyong Edet, who responded on behalf of the doctors promised to uphold the ethics of the medical profession.

    “The future of the world rests on us, let us give our very best,’’ he said.

  • Prof. Fola Lasisi emerges academy of engineering 10th president

    Prof. Fola Lasisi of the University of Washington, Seattle, U.S., on Thursday emerged the 10th President of the Nigeria Academy of Engineering (NAE).

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Lasisi took over from Prof. Oluseun Maduka, who served from January 2016.

    Lasisi, a civil engineer, emerged the president at the academy’s 2018 Lecture and Investiture, in Lagos.

    The lecture had the theme: ”Current Development in Nigeria’s Water Resources Sector”.

    Lasisi was the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom, and chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian universities (1996 – 1997).

    He was a Senior Consultant, ENPLAN Group and Director, Pilot Finance Ltd.

    He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers(FNIAE), and Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM).

    NAN reports that NAE was incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee in September 1997, for the purpose of promoting excellence in technological and engineering training and practice to ensure technological growth and economic development of Nigeria.

    in his investiture speech, Lasisi said that he would continue with programmes put in place by his predecessor.

    “We will take off with a retreat by the new council to plan how to expand for more effectiveness.

    “The immediate past president put up a programme for the development of a technology village, through a committee I chaired, and for continuity, this will take off in my term.

    “There will be cooperation with all stakeholders in engineering, such as the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Association of Consulting Engineers of Nigeria(ACEN),” he said.

    He said that without technology and engineering the country would not move forward.

    Lasisi called for cooperation with international and national academies to focus on three challenges which he listed as energy, infrastructure and food security.

    According to him, quality engineering education is at the centre of these.

    He said that a strategic plan would be used to determine short, medium and long term programmes of the academy.

    Lasisi congratulated NAE fellows inducted at the event, and encouraged them to serve the academy selflessly.

    “It it true selfless service that the academy can make a difference.

    “The academy is ready to continue the pursuit of the great dreams of our founding fathers,” he said.

  • Collapsed church building: Akwa Ibom spends N300m on victims

    Collapsed church building: Akwa Ibom spends N300m on victims

    The Akwa Ibom government says it has spent a total of N300 million as medical bills for victims of the Reigners Bible Church building collapse that occurred December 2016.

    The state Health Commissioner, Dr Dominic Ukpong, disclosed this on Thursday in Uyo while presenting cheques to the proprietors of the various hospitals that assisted in the treatment of the victims.

    The church building collapsed during the bishopric consecration service of the founder of the church, Apostle Akan Weeks, with Gov. Udom Emmanuel in attendance.

    Ukpong said that a total of 168 victims were evacuated from the scene of the unfortunate incident out of which 30 worshipers had been confirmed death at the last count.

    “On Dec. 10, 2016, a tragedy befell this state, a clergyman was about to be ordained as a bishop, unfortunately the roof of the church caved in.

    “The state governor, who was in attendance, escaped unhurt while 18 persons were crushed to death on the spot.

    “Many injured people were moved to hospitals, majority of the injured were moved by kindhearted Nigerians; we had mobilised only four ambulances, we want to say thank you all Nigerians.

    “I want to give credit to all Nigerians, I express my gratitude to you all on behalf the state governor, for standing with us at that moment of grief,” Ukpong said.

    Ukpong said that a total of 14 hospitals were involved in the treatment and care of the victims, most of which were private hospitals.

    The commissioner said that the state governor was impressed with the different hospitals that heeded his plea to treat the victims without any payment.

    Ukpong said that the church collapse incident happened at the time the state was financially hard up.

    “Thank you for being patient with the state government, standing with the state government at that critical time.

    “The oath of medical practice requires that we make sacrifice, I thank you for the extra sacrifice you made at the time this state faced one of its greatest challenges,” Ukpong said.

    Responding on behalf of the hospitals that received the cheques, the Medical Director of Uwakmfon Clinic, Uyo, Dr Emmanuel Effiong, thanked the state government for paying the bills.

    Effiong said that the proprietors of the private hospitals were willing to cooperate with the government and save lives in the state.

    “We thank the Health Commissioner for keeping faith with the private hospitals by the bills incurred during the church collapse incident,” Effiong said.

    In his remark, the proprietor of Resurrection Clinic, Uyo, Dr Memfin Ekpo, a professor of Pathology, noted that the number of medical specialists in the state was too small.

    Ekpo, who is the former provost, College of Health Science, University of Uyo, thanked the state government for paying the medical bills for the victims of the church collapse.

    NAN

  • 29 bag 1st Class at August 2017 law exams – DG

    29 bag 1st Class at August 2017 law exams – DG

    The Nigerian Law School on Tuesday said 29 out of the 4,294 candidates called to the Nigerian Bar bagged First Class after the August 2017 bar examinations.

    The Director-General of the school, Mr Olanrewaju Onadeku (SAN) disclosed this at the Call-to-Bar ceremony in Abuja.

    Onadeku said the students were those successful at the August 2017 Bar final examinations and others from previous examinations as conducted by the school under the supervision of the Council of Legal Education.

    He said the 29 students were produced by the University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Uyo, Obafemi Awolowo University, Babcock University, University of Ibadan and Osun State University.

    According to him, others are from University of Ilorin, Lagos State University, Ambrose Alli University, Afe Babalola University, Adekunle Ajasin University and Igbinedion University.

    “I particularly commend the 29 students; theirs is the highest number ever attained.

    “They have worked hard to merit their grades after a very thorough assessment and have done the Nigerian Law school and their families proud.”

    Onadeku disclosed that 72 per cent success was achieved after the August examination as 211 obtained the second class upper grade, 1,046 made second class lower division and 3, 000 got the pass grade.

    He said that there had been a sustained level of focus and diligence among the students whom he noted had demonstrated a commendable sense of maturity and drive,  adding that some were involved in various forms of examination malpractices.

    The Director-General, while congratulating the newly called to lawyers, also urged them to make the best of the legal profession.

    “Since it is your freewill to belong to the noble profession of law, you must ensure strict adherence to its norms and ethics.

    “As you are aware, globalisation has impacted on the legal profession with the challenge of bench marking on minimum international best practices.

    “You must ensure you exceed the minimum in all that you do. ”

    Onadeku also noted that the successful students had completed the vocational training at the school as prescribed by the Legal Education Act.

    According to him, they have also met all other conditions set by the Council, while also exhibiting good manners and decorum during their training.

    “They have also been groomed in the best ethics and ethos of our noble profession.

    Read also: Law school gets luxury hostel

    “The screening committee of your distinguished body has carefully perused the records of each of the aspirants and have found them worthy to be presented for Call to the Nigerian Bar.

    “I attest that they are fit and proper persons for Call and admissions to the Nigerian Bar,” he said.

    In his address, the Chairman of the Body of Benchers and also Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, charged the candidates to practice the profession with diligence and sense of responsibility.

    He charged them to promote the course of justice and rule of law, adding that their level of proficiency was of immense significance to the efficiency of the justice system of the country.

    “I urge you to acquaint yourselves with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and all other relevant laws as far as administering justice is concerned.

    “You must not handle a matter without adequate preparation, neither should you handle a matter, which you know or ought to know that you not competent enough to handle.

    “It is advisable to consult your seniors or colleagues in areas you know you are not well groomed, ” he said.

    Onnoghen said that the Body of Benchers, whose role also includes disciplinary committee, would not hesitate to bring to order any erring practitioner whose conduct might negate the standards of the profession.

     The Nigerian Law School has to date graduated 117, 385 lawyers including all the judges of the superior courts of the country and almost all the legal practitioners.

    The event was attended by past and present Body of Benchers, Attorney-General of the Federation, past Directors-General of the school.

    Others are members of the National Assembly, some ministers, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the Judiciary sector.

    NAN

  • Two UNIUYO students bag First Class at Law School

    John Inyene and Kuseme Iseh have bagged a First Class at the Nigerian Law School, becoming  first graduates of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) to achieve the feat.

    The two graduates were among the 29 law graduates who finished with a First Class at the 2017 Call-to-Bar ceremony held last Saturday.

    John, who was the Faculty of Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN) president, graduated with highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

    A total number of 5,891 students participated in the Bar Part II examination, with 4,285 graduated successfully.

    A breakdown of the results showed that 211candidates graduated with a Second Class (Upper Division), while 1,046 students made Second Class (Lower Division); 334 had Conditional Pass. A total of 1,272 failed the Bar final examination.

  • UNIUYO shifts screening

    The University of Uyo (UNIUYO) has suspended the screening test for Postgraduate applicants indefinitely.

    A new date will be announced soon.

    According to the Secretary of the Postgraduate School, applicants are advised to check the school website for information on the new date for the exercise.

  • SSANU expels 13 members from UNIUYO

    SSANU expels 13 members from UNIUYO

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) on Sunday announced the expulsion 13 of its members in the University of Uyo chapter for allegedly contravening the association’s constitution.

    The National President, Mr Samson Ugwoke, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the 57th quarterly zonal meeting of SSANU western zone held at the Lagos State University (LASU).

    Ugwoke said the expulsion took effect from May 2.

    According to him, the members were expelled for disrespecting the association’s constitution and for giving the school authorities of the university false information about SSANU.

    According to him, the expelled members gave the university authority false information, which led to the association being denied permission  to hold its election in Uyo.

    He said that the erring members had insisted that the electoral committee should use the 2004 or 2011 constitution instead of the amended 2016 document.

    “The recalcitrant members felt they are more than the association by refusing to respect the constituted authority of SSANU.

    “They refused to obey the supremacy of the constitution and also refused to obey the National Executive Council of the association.

    “You cannot be questioning the constitution of an organisation you claim to belong.

    “They were part of the national delegate conference where the constitution was passed ratified.

    “The conference, which hold once in four years, amended the constitution in 2016 while another one is bill to hold in 2019-20, when you can amend a constitution again,” Ugwoke said.

    Earlier, Mr Saheed Oseni, Chairman of LASU-SSANU told the NEC that 44 members of the association that were sacked by former Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof Joseph Obafunwa, have been reinstated.

    He also highlighted some of the achievements of the association to include payment of the 17 months’ salary arrears and the implementation of five-year single tenure for vice chancellor among others.

    He commended the institution’s management, especially the vice chancellor, Prof. Olarewaju Fagbohun for his benevolence towards the staff welfare.

    NAN reports that SSANU Western zone comprises of universities in the western part of the country.

  • Shun corruption, pro chancellor warns colleagues

    Shun corruption, pro chancellor warns colleagues

    Prof. Kimse Okoko, the Pro Chancellor, University of Uyo, has called on all pro chancellors across the country to shun  corruption in order to sanitise the university system.

    Okoko, who is the Chairman, Committee of Pro Chancellors, made the call  at the 3rd Biennial Conference of  Pro chancellors of Federal Universities on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He also said it was important to lay a good foundation to eliminate corruption in the university system.

    Okoko said pro chancellors,  as the head of their various universities,  must show themselves to be above board on issues of corruption.

    “I think the issue of corruption is very critical and I want to urge pro chancellors to ensure transparency in the system.

    ” Unless we pro-chancellors ensure that we are incorruptible then we cannot lay a good foundation to eliminate corruption in the system.

    ” I  am hoping that my colleagues heed this advice because corruption is now a very upsetting phenomenon in the universities,” he said.

    Okoko also called on the pro chancellors  to tackle sexual harassment now  rampant in  universities as well as  plagiarism.

    ” I  think it is important for pro chancellors to live above board  and  be transparent so that they can pass that to the various vice chancellors.

    “It’s now a shame to see vice chancellors now dragged to prison. It’s not a good image for universities and I think we have to gradually try and ensure that we get rid of corruption in our society.

    ”  I believe that universities are agents of change and you cannot be an agent of change if you yourself is part of the corruption,” he added.

    Also speaking,  the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede,  called for a review of the proliferation of structures in  Nigerian universities.

    Oloyede said  there should be  mainstreaming of all the different universities  committees  to be coordinated by a central body.

    ” I believe that the coordination of all these committees will heal an already sick system because of the cross fertilisation  of ideas that will bring solution to the challenges that the various universities face,” he said.