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Tag: University

  • UNIPORT expels 22 students

    UNIPORT expels 22 students

    The Senate of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) on Friday announced the expulsion of 22 students of the university for various offences including assaulting a female lecturer.

    A statement signed by the Registrar of the university, Mrs Dorcas Otto in Port Harcourt, said that the offences also included being members of different cult groups and undermining security on the campus.

    According to the statement, the decision to expel the students was taken at the 426th Senate Meeting of the university held on Wednesday.

    It further disclosed that eight of the students were expelled for being part of different cult groups, two students expelled for assaulting a female lecturer and disrupting a congress meeting of the department.

    “Twelve other students expelled were former presidents of faculty associations,” the statement said.

    According to it, the senate of the university also announced that the institution has closed for the Christmas/New Year Break and will resume on Jan. 3.

  • JAMB yet to start sale of 2017 UTME form- Registrar

    JAMB yet to start sale of 2017 UTME form- Registrar

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has urged the public to disregard the speculations that it had commenced the sales of its application documents for 2017 UTME by some group of persons.

    The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, debunked the speculations in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

    According to the statement, the Registrar of the examination body, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has expressed disappointment with the development and calls on innocent Nigerians not to fall prey.

    “The public is hereby notified that JAMB has not commenced the sales of its application documents as advertised by some unknown and desperate persons.

    “They are to disregard any website or individuals claiming to be in possession of these documents and offering same for sales.

    “We are putting finishing touches to innovation and changes to ease the challenges associated with the procedure of application for the 2017 all Computer-Based Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    “We are looking forward to announcing the commencement of the sales of these documents very soon,’’ the statement quoted the registrar as saying.

    The statement advised the public to feel free to contact the board for clarification on its activities through its website or contact numbers whenever they were in doubt.

    It noted that Oleyede had announced his willingness to open the board’s door to the public to make valuable contributions and also report any act against the board’s pedigree by either the staff or the board’s development partners.

    “We must all be interested in what happens in JAMB, as it is too important to be ignored.

    “Help us to watch over where our eyes cannot get to, hear where our ears fail and be our police where our presence is insufficient,’’ the statement said.

    It added that the Registrar had restated the board’s determination to ensure that nobody was spared in sustaining and advancing the credibility of the board.

    Meanwhile, the board has hailed the judgment of the National Industrial Court sustaining the sack of one of its former staff, one Cletus Uloko in 2015.

    According to the statement, Uloko’s services were terminated following acts of misconduct contrary to civil service rule.

    It said Uloko was sacked because he was wrongfully in procession of over 120 e-slip of candidates without authorisation and justification.

    The statement explained that upon the development, Uloko was queried and on responding, his explanation was not satisfactory to the board.

    It further said that the board then constituted a disciplinary committee which recommended that Uloko ran foul and breached all the extant civil service laws and therefore sacked him.

    According to the statement, based on the termination of the appointment Uloko approached the National Industrialist Court to seek for redress, compensation and reinstatement.

    The statement explained that in a notification of termination of suit made available by the JAMB legal team to the board said: “We, by this letter, hereby notify the board that final judgment had been delivered on the matter on Sept. 27’’.

    It said the letter further said that the court dismissed the claimant’s suit.

  • SSANU set to shut down FUNNAB over sack of 23 members

    SSANU set to shut down FUNNAB over sack of 23 members

    The National leadership of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) is set for a show down with the management of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, over the sack of 23 of its members.
    The union claimed its members were sacked for exposing alleged corrupt practices by the Vice Chancellor and management of the institution.
    In a communique at the end of its National Executive Council meeting, SSANU said contrary to insinuations from the management of the institution that the union members were disengaged for various act of insubordination, stealing among others, the staff were sacked for reporting corrupt practices in the institution to the EFCC and ICPC.
    The union also wants the federal government to institute a special visitation panel to investigate the activities of the Vice Chancellor and the leadership of other institutions accused of corrupt practices.
    The Governing Council of the university had last Thursday approved the sack of 23 SSANU members, including the entire branch executive of the association, its National Public Relations Officer, the Bursar, three medical doctors and two medical workers.
    The management of the institution claimed that the staff were sacked for “stealing of University property, insubordination and willful disobedience to lawful instructions” , absconding from assigned duty posts, engaging in sabotage and other forms of gross misconduct prejudicial to good governance and peace of the University.
    The union threatened to take legal action to protect the rights of its members and asked the EFCC to immediately conclude its investigation into the petition against the Vice Chancellor and management of the institution.
    The communique signed by the association’s National President, Comrade Samson Chijioke Ugwoke and the National PRO, Comrade A.O. Salaam, read in part: “SSANU NEC in session received the disgusting and shocking news of the recent developments at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, where twenty-three (23) members of the Union, including the entire branch executive of SSANU had their appointments terminated for union activities and for reporting crime to the appropriate organs of government.
    “NEC noted that members of the Union, in spite of the anti-corruption crusade of the Federal Government, reported serious cases of abuse of power and corruption to the federal government through the presidency, the federal ministry of education, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission.
    “NEC further noted that following invitation of the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor by the EFCC, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, began a reign of terror and clampdown on the petitioner’s and the union, culminating in the termination of their appointments without following due process as stipulated by law despite the fact that the matter is pending in court.
    “NEC in session was surprised that rather than being commended for playing roles in the national interest, their appointments were terminated as a cover-up and in retaliation for exposing the rot, corruption and fraud inherent within the system.”
    The union also “condemns the exposure, hazards and tension which members of the union have been exposed to since the investigation started.
    “NEC requests the EFCC to speedily conclude its investigations and further demands that the Federal Government urgently intervenes by setting up Special Visitation/Investigation Panels into the affairs of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, University of Abuja, Federal University of Technology, Akure, and other universities where allegations of corruption have been levelled against the Vice-Chancellors.
    “NEC resolved that it would do everything legally possible to ensure the reinstatement of the sacked workers and urges the Federal Government to act swiftly in the interest of overall peace in the university system.”
    Three SSANU members had recently petitioned the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olusola Oyewole to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over allegations bordering on corruption and abuse of office leading to the detention of the Vice-Chancellor by the anti graft agency.
    “The National leadership of SSANU had encouraged three of the members to petition the Vice-Chancellor and the Pro-Chancellor to the EFCC, the ICPC, the Presidency and the Federal Ministry of Education over alleged corruption and abuse of office.”

  • Why we sacked 23 University staff- FUNAAB

    The management of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, has explained why it sacked 23 of the university non – teaching staff, majorly of whom are members of the institution’s chapter of the Senior Staff Association Nigeria Universities (SSANU), last Thursday.

    It said apart from the fact that the decision was taken to reposition the university and restore peace within its campus, the “disengaged” staff “erred” and were shown the way out following various offences allegedly committed them.

    In a statement made available to The Nation at the weekend by the Head, Directorate of Public Relations, Emi’ Alawode, the management listed the offences to include “stealing of University property, insubordination and wilful disobedience to lawful instructions.”

    The university management also claimed the affected staff absconded from assigned duty posts, engaged in sabotage and other forms of gross misconduct prejudicial to good governance and peace of the University.

    The statement reads in full: “the Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), at its 90th Statutory Meeting, held on Thursday, November 10, 2016, considered reports on the University.

    “As part of necessary reforms aimed at repositioning the University, the Governing Council approved Management’s decisions earlier taken to restore normal academic activities and peace to the University and commended the efforts of the Management and staff, to sustain the integrity of the University.

    “Council also disengaged some erring staff from the services of the University for various offences, which includes stealing of University property, insubordination, wilful disobedience to lawful instructions, absconding from assigned duty posts, sabotage and other forms of gross misconduct, prejudicial to good governance and peace of the University.

    “This is in line with the resolve of the Governing Council to fulfil its statutory roles of ensuring the stability of the University.

    “Council further approved the appointment of Mrs. Oluremi Oyewunmi as Acting University Bursar, after the expiration of the tenure of Mr. Moses O. Ilesanmi and noted that the process for the appointment of a substantive University Bursar has began.

    “Council enjoined all staff to be dedicated to duty, as necessary steps are being taken to attend to issues of welfare, such as promotions, staff training and development while reiterating its resolve not to entertain any form of indiscipline in the University.”

    But reacting, the National Executive Council of SANNU called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene quickly and over – rule the Management of FUNAAB over the sack of its members.

    In a letter to the President dated 11th November, 2016 and signed by its President, Samson Ugwoke, the Association faulted the actions of the University management.

    SSANU leadership said the sack reeks of a gross violation of the fundamental Human Right of its members to Freedom of Expression and Association as enshrined in section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “Mr President Sir, the Union kindly requests your immediate intervention to reverse the sack and allow the investigation by the EFCC to continue. This we believe will encourage patriotic Nigerians to key in and actively participate in Mr President’s fight against corruption,” he stated.

  • Don’t let Niger Delta University die

    SIR: The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Niger Delta University branch has refused to call off its four months strike that has crippled university life, in spite of efforts by the state government to meet the demands that made them embark on the strike in the first place. After series of negotiation meetings with the Bayelsa State governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson in Yenagoa, ASUU is still insistent on continuing with its industrial action, saying they won’t return to classroom except government pays all arrears of salaries being owed their members in NDU.

    Needless to say that most of the striking lecturers do not appreciate the fact that the state government in spite of receiving less than N2 billion in some months still make effort to pay salaries of its civil service work force that gulps the sum of N4 billion monthly.

    Though the union has made its position on these matters unequivocally clear, but to compel a government to give only one university N500 million out of N2 billion or sometimes N1.5 billion that comes into the state monthly is unfair and unrealistic.

    Unfortunately, these striking lecturers who are Bayelsans and owe their state a duty to service are yet to explain to Bayelsans what they do with the N1.5 billion the university generates from levies and charges annually.

    To them, the duty of the state government is to receive money from the federation account and spend it without recourse to the fact that it is also the responsibility of government to help manage state resources when they are scarce. As far as they are concerned, government is deliberately putting lecturers and students under undue hardship.

    They have also failed to realise that they are a small section of the population and not even bothered about the colossal, negative and multiplier effect of their demands on the overall well-being of Bayelsans that are also working in other sectors of the civil service.

    Suffice to say that the government know that lecturers should be paid, and that their working environment should be conducive for teaching but the ASUU should also consider the fact that the state is currently going through economic recession.

    If this governor that ASUU describes as a governor that treats their complaints with levity could pay them full salaries from 2012 to 2015 without being compelled or reminded, the striking lecturers should also have confidence that this same governor would pay them their full salary when the economy improves.

    With dwindling monthly allocation, the current government struggle with ASUU, once more, calls for sacrifice on the part of lecturers, students and parents to ensure that the state achieves its aim of improving the welfare of all Bayelsans and not to encourage pressure on the government to serve the personal interest of a selected group of individuals.

     

    • Ebiowei Okiemo,

    tupacp1@yahoo.com

  • ••• Pledges to uplift the university

    The national president of the Alumni Association of the University of Jos, Idris Yakubu, has expressed commitment and determination of the association to uplift the institution from its present status.

    Mr Yakubu disclosed this in his opening remarks during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association yesterday in Jos.

    According to the president of the association, “The Alumni is the backbone of institutions all over the world, the national executive under my leadership will make sure we uplift the status of the university before the end of our tenure.

    He said, “The essence of the retreat and NEC meeting in Jos is to come up with an agenda for the new exco and these agenda will be geared towards taking the university to higher level in terms of infrastructural development, research etc.

    The alumni of the university are doing well all over the world, we shall bring them back together to support the activities of the university, to enable it remain as great as ever.

    One of the guest lecturers at the retreat, Mr Yakubu Gomos, who is the executive director of Advancement Office in the university, said, “The alumni remained the most valuable assets of the university and the university has high hope on them to support the university.”

    Mr. Gomos said, “The alumni mean many things to the university, apart from being our ambassadors, they serve as role models to our students and they also generate invaluable marketing among social and professional network.

    The retreat witnessed an assembly of scholars as guest speakers, including Prof Victor Fugga, Dean Arts, Federal University Lafia.

    The association commenced their support with a donation of 10 sets of computer and printers to the university.

  • OAU External members Governing Council letter to President

    OAU External members Governing Council letter to President

     

    8th July, 2016

    HIS EXCELLENCY,
    PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI
    PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA,
    COMMANDER IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES,
    VISITOR TO OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE
    OSUN STATE.

    Through:
    The Honourable Minister of Education
    office of the Honourable Minister
    Phase III, Federal Secretariat
    Shehu Shagari Way
    Abuja.

    Through:
    The Executive Secretary
    National Universities Commission
    Maitama
    Abuja.

    Your Excellency Sir,

    IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY

    I write on behalf of the “External members” of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State consisting of the following:

    Professor Rowland Ndoma-Egba Chairman
    Arc Omoyele Daniel Member
    Chief Moses Otazi Member
    Hon. Tijjani Goni M. Guzamala Member
    Barrister S. I. Ameh, SAN Member
    Ms Ann Ebun Haruna Rep of Fed Min of Education

    Mr President, the most important reason for this write-up is, to express our profound gratitude to the government for giving us the privileged opportunity to serve our great country as Council members of one of the top four first generation universities in this country. We feel privileged and greatly favoured when we consider that to select 5 members to join a Council from a population of over 170 million could not have been an easy task. Once more, our profound gratitude.
    Your Excellency, running a university in a manner to achieve set objectives has never been easy anywhere in the world. This is understandably more so in our environment plagued with various challenges including poor financial resources, trades union matters, poor, decayed or decaying infrastructure, inadequate power and water supply, social maladies like cultism, tribalism and unemployment. In spite of all these challenges, the External members of Council working in close harmony with Internal members and Administration have been able since inauguration in February, 2013 to score tangible, verifiable achievements. The opportunities to achieve more have been identified and Council has been working assiduously to achieve them. The achievements of our Council will come as a separate report at the appropriate time. We were however, astonished when we heard over mass media including advertorial in print media that our Council, together with that of the University of Port Harcourt have been dissolved with immediate effect on July, 1, 2016.
    We are not in a position to say why University of Port Harcourt Council was dissolved.

    We are also, unfortunately, unable to say why our Council – Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) was also dissolved since the advertorial did not say so. We feel obliged however, that it is in the interest of our integrity given the high confidence reposed in us by government to adduce the possible reasons for this action and perhaps present our side of the story. Your Excellency, it is an act of wisdom to appreciated that they are two sides to a story. We are left with no other option than this since we were not queried or given the opportunity to defend ourselves before the punishment was meted out. Perhaps as free citizens saddled with such high social responsibility, we deserved more. The second part of this communication is an attempt to explain our own side of events. Our objective is not to challenge government action but to leave a written permanent record of events that probably led to the dissolution of OAU Council.

    The immediate cause of the dissolution of the OAU Governing Council (OAUGC) must be the appointment of the 11th Vice-Chancellor(VC) of OAU. The term of the incumbent was to end on 23, June, 2016.

    DUE PROCESS FOR APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHANCELLOR:
    Your Excellency, the appointment of VCs in any Federal University ought not to be “rocket science” because the Federal Ministry of Education(FME) has produced in conjunction with the National Universities Commission(NUC) a complete, detailed directory on how it should be done! Called “APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHANCELLORS, RECTORS AND PROVOSTS”……..”WE CAN”.

    Using this FME guide, Council set out a due process that will ensure that a VC elect emerges by April,12, 2016. That will allow the VC elect to understudy the incumbent VC for a period of approximately 2 months before taking over. This is again aimed at a seamless and effective transition with good governance. Based on this philosophy, the following time-table evolved:
    1.Dec15-17, 2015: Advertisement of vacancy with clearly spelt out criteria/template for the candidate that befits the status, age and international standing of OAU. This will ensure a transparent, verifiable, just and fair process. * While the template recommended 2 national dailies, we advertised in6 national dailies.

    2.Jan 28, 2016: Special Council meeting to select Chairman of “The search Team” who must be an external member of Council. *Chief Moses Otazi was unanimously elected. Other members of the team as provided by the FME guide: two members of Senate who are not members of Council, one of whom must be a Professor; two members of Congregation who are not members of the Council, one of whom shall be a Professor

    3.Jan 28,2016. Closure of Application for post of VC

    4.Feb 1, 2016. Search team commences activities

    5.March, 7 2016. Search team concludes its activities. * Over 10 universities visited and over 90 Professors head-hunted. No external applicant in spite of search!

    6.March, 8, 2016. Council to consider and short-list applications already submitted by interested candidates. Advert used as template for the short-listing process. Before opening the boxes containing applications, Council debated the criteria and decided on the weighting of each of the criteria.*Curriculum vitae and submission of referees were used for the short listing. Before the scoring began, the cut-off point for short-listing was also agreed upon! * At the end of the short-listing exercise, 6 candidates were short-listed – IN ALPHABETAICAL ORDER AND WITHOUT SCORES IN THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE SELECTION BOARD!

    7. March, 18, 2016. Invitation to short-listed candidates to attend Interaction/Interview with Joint Council and Senate Selection Board.

    8.April, 6, 2016: Selection of Joint Council and Senate Selection Board according to FME guide:
    Pro-Chancellor (Chairman)
    Two members of Council who are not members of Senate (Members)
    Two member of the Senate who are Professors but not members of Search Team (Members)
    National Character Commission (Observers)
    Rep of FME (Observer)

    9.April 7-8, 2016: Formal Interaction between candidates and the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board. *On 7th April, 2016, while waiting to commence the interaction/interview, two unions SSANU and NASU who had been on strike for some “allowances and palliatives” from the outgoing administration, turned their vengeance towards the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board. It would seem at this point, that all efforts were being harnessed to frustrate the Selection Board. It would seem that the strike action was hijacked and further sponsored by some vested interests who did not want the due process to continue. It would also seem that the delay tactics were aimed at enabling SSANU and NASU to get a COURT INJUNCTION to stop the process. On persuasion by administration, we called a meeting of Council at the International Conference Centre to consider the aborted Interaction process at 11.30pm. It is amazing that the SSANU and NASU strikers became severely violent and restive. When I called out to the incumbent VC to call the Police, he said the Police Commissioner REFUSED TO ANSWER! It even became more serious when I asked him to call the SSS and the VC said THE SSS FEARED THAT THE WORKERS COULD BE ARMED AND SO WILL NOT COME!!!! At this point (12.30am), I had to call Ooni of Ife, His Royal Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11

    Your Excellency, that the External members are alive to tell this story owes everything to the concern and bravery of the Ooni of Ife. THAT THE SECURITY SERVICES ABANDONED US TO THE WHIMS AND CAPRICES OF AN IRATE, WILD AND VIOLENT WORKERS CANNOT BE ACCEPTABLE. The Council then took the decision on advice to hold future meetings of the Selection board in Abuja. The Administration informed Council that there is a purported injunction and that same was purportedly served on the University restraining Council from continuing with the exercise. To this, I am glad to report that the University has not been served with any injunction until date.

    10.May 31, 2016. Emergency Meeting of Council in Abuja:

    Following the severe violence by SSANU and NASU who ordinarily have no role in the selection of a VC, compounded by the failure of the Security services to protect us, we held our Council meeting in Abuja. This had 3 purposes:

    1.The state of the legal process
    2.The need of the Selection Board to hold the interaction
    3.The need to prevent a vacuum in Ife following the expiration of the term of the incumbent VC on 23/6/16.

    At the end of the Council meeting, the evaluation of the situation showed the following:
    1. After 2 months, there is no documentation to show that there is any court injunction preventing Council from carrying on its legitimate functions.

    2. The Department of Tertiary Education had written dated 18/5/16 with ref FME/HE/CU/3A/T/128; wrote and advised the Council to continue.

    3.The Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) who is member of Council was of the opinion that legally we had no legal encumbrance restraining Council from its normal activities although the matter could be classified as “Les Pendens”!

    Based on above considerations, Council directed the Joint Selection Board to go on and conduct the interaction with short-listed candidates.

    11. June,6, 2016:
    INTERACTION/INTERVIEW BY JOINT SELECTION BOARD

    Following adequate evidence that all short-listed candidates were duly informed, the interaction was held at the Committee of Vice-Chancellors(CVC) building at 10 am. Three (3) short-listed candidates showed up for the interaction and were duly accredited. Two candidates withdrew from the interview; one for personal health reasons and the other candidate withdrew in protest for the change of interview venue from Ife. The interview followed the template of the FME/NUC guide. The Federal Character Commission and the FME representative were in attendance as observers.

    Modus Operandi: This followed the guideline strictly in a transparent verifiable and fair manner. Each candidate had an IT exercise (same for all) for 5minutes, then made an oral presentation for a minimum of 30 minutes to sell his vision, mission and objectives. Scoring was individual. Candidates then had a final 10-20 minutes interaction. Final scores was by fining the mean of all scores.

    12.June, 6, 2016
    EMERGENCY MEETING OF COUNCIL TO RECEIVE RESULT OF JOINT COUNCIL AND SENATE SELECTION BOARD
    Following conclusion of the interview/interaction of the Joint Council Senate Selection Board, the result of the exercise was presented to the full Council. Council accepted the report which was then adopted for discussion The full Council after consideration of the report, approved that Professor Ayobami Taofeek Salami as the 11th Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University having performed best at the interaction/interview.

    At this Juncture, it is pertinent to draw your attention to the obvious fact that Prof. Ayobami Taofeek Salami after his selection, confirmation by Council, clearance by the Federal Character Commission and subsequent appointment has taken over as the 11th Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University and has been serving in that capacity without any impediments whatsoever since the 24th day of June, 2016.

    13. MATTERS ARISING:
    A. EVENTS OF 7/4/16:
    While performing our legitimate functions as the Governing Council of OAU, we were held hostage by violent NASU and SSANU members. These are people whose “industrial actions are really feared because of their violence which include a prominent use of juju”…Prof Roger Makanjuola (former VC, OAU. Is somebody saying that having faced this ordeal as hostages, and having been abandoned by the Security services, we deserve to be dissolved as a reward? Our witness is His Royal Majesty, the Ooni of Ife who deserves a special national honours for saving our lives.

    B.COURT MATTERS:
    Up to this point of writing, the Council has not sighted a Court order of any form not to talk of an injunction. The Council is therefore not in contempt of any court process. Even if the Council is in contempt, does the court need any external agency to hold its brief?

    CUNIVERSITY AUTONOMY:
    As a Council, we have never been able to understand the real meaning of “University Autonomy”. We find it hard to understand how running the affairs of the University within its Statutes and laws calls for sanctions. Even so, does the Council not deserve a right of fair hearing? How do others learn to perform better?

    D.SSANU, NASU & POST OF VC
    It is unbelievable that strike action by NASU and SSANU is being used to determine who becomes VC. In pidgin English they ask “wetin concern fowl with who chop kola?” It would seem that these are paid mercenaries! What remains frightening to this moment is why the Security services have tolerated the continued disobedience of the law with impunity. They have occupied the Administrative building since April. Although the police asked that we evacuate students, and the University was promptly closed, the Police are still to take action!

    It is however to our chagrin, that until this moment neither SSANU, NASU nor any other union whatsoever within the University, has written a petition to the Council or the joint Committee expressing their grievances with the process of the selection of the 11th Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

    E.CONCLUSION:
    In an article titled “Stigmatizing President Buhari”, Prof Olusola Adeyeye puts it aptly: “The toxicity of half-truths rarely emanates from the profligacy of falsehood but rather from the subtle distortion of truth! Blatant falsehood is intuitively obvious and as such easy to reject. By contrast, when truth is softly bent, it takes great discernment to perceive its toxicity”!

    The Governing Council of OAU stands by its honour and integrity and is willing to appear before anybody to defend itself! In the interest of our country we will act the same way without consideration for whose horse is gored. If this is aimed at securing power through the backdoor for any person, it is most unfortunate at this time of the CHANGE!!!!

    Please see the following annexures
    (a)The Letter of Clearance by the Federal Character Commission

    (b)Letter from Director Tertiary Education had written dated 18/5/16 with ref FME/HE/CU/3A/T/128

    I thank you for your patience, your Excellency

    Prof. Rowland Ndoma-Egba

    CC.
    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation
    OSGF
    Three Arm Zone
    Abuja.

  • University admission: Implications of new JAMB point-based system

    University admission: Implications of new JAMB point-based system

    With the new guidelines introduced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the admission process for entry into tertiary institutions in Nigeria has changed.  The implication of the point-based system means:

    1. Candidates can no longer go directly to the institutions they applied to seeking admission; they have to get a provisional admission letter from JAMB first.
    2. Admission letter would be issued by JAMB based on points assigned to the O Level and UTME results
    3. For O Level, one sitting attracts 10 points, while two sittings, is assigned two points
    4. The better the O Level results, the more the points (e.g. ;  A=6 marks, B=4 marks, C=3 marks)
    5. For UTME scores, candidates can get between 20 and 60 points (180-200=20-23 points; 200-250=24-33 points, 251-300=34-43 points, 300-400=44-60 points)
    6. Pont-based system for Direct Entry candidates still being developed
    7. Yes, candidates will still be screened by universities, polytechnics and colleges of education after getting a provisional admission letter from JAMB
    8. Yes, candidates will pay for the screening
    9. Cut-off marks to be stipulated by institutions for courses would be point-based

     

  • Education Varsity ready for take-off in Edo

    All is now set for the take-off of the Tayo Akpata University of Education, Ekiadolor, Edo State as Governor Adams Oshiomhole has emphasized the need to upgrade the quality of teachers in order to improve the quality of learning in schools.

    Speaking during the presentation of a report by Prof Dennis Agbonlahor Committee set up by the state government to evaluate the state-owned institutions of higher learning, Governor Oshiomhole said  the upgrading Ekiadolor to a university is to ensure that NCE teachers are not in the state’s secondary schools.

    “Because the quality of teachers is important, my view is that to teach in our secondary schools: junior and senior secondary schools, we must have Bachelor of Education (B.ED) so that the students will be in very good hands.”

    According to Oshiomhole, “the mass failure in exam is not by accident. If pupils have not learnt, it might as well be because the teachers have not taught. So, that is the whole idea. We must scale down on our NCE requirements.”

    “The real quality objective is that we want to phase out NCE because no matter what anybody says, the quality of our teachers is extremely important. Look at the level of performance in WAEC, NECO, JAMB and all that you have to go through with universities now setting up another exam because when you look at the failure rate, somebody is probably trying to play with standard, to pass people who ordinarily didn’t pass, so universities now do their own in-house examination.”

     

  • Ned Nwoko plans first Sports University

    Ned Nwoko plans first Sports University

    Socialite and lawyer, Prince Ned Nwoko, is no doubt a man of high taste. His palatial home dubbed Mount Lilly in Idumuje- Ugboko, Delta State has become a Mecca of sort for big names in the entertainment industry as they visit the place to shoot movies.

    Mount Lilly could boast an Olympic size swimming pool, and facilities for billiard, table tennis, lawn tennis, and football pitch, among others.

    The sprawling palatial mansion also had other asides such as a mini zoological garden, fish ponds breeding over fifty thousand fish and poultry with as many fowls.

    The former member of the House of Representatives has decided to add a golf course to further enhance the patronage of the community by Nigerians and non Nigerians alike. And as if that is not enough, sources said he is planning to make it a full-fledged sports university.

    Already, land has been acquired for the university while plans are being made to take off from four different temporary campuses pending the time its own structures would be ready.