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  • Protest rocks UNN

    Protest rocks UNN

    Graduate students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) demonstrated for two days, following a hike in their tuition fees. OLADELE OGE (Mass Communication) reports.

    The increase in the tuition fees of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) post-graduate students by 100 per cent last week led to a two-day demonstration.

    The protest started on Wednesday. The protesters, comprising students in Master’s, Post-graduate and Doctoral programmes, held procession to condemn the hike. They described the increment as arbitrary, urging the university to reverse it.

    The procession moved from the post-graduate Hall of Residence to the university stadium; then to the School of Postgraduate Studies before arriving at the office of the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba, who was said to be meeting with the accreditation team of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    The students carried placards with inscriptions, such as “No to fee increment”, “Restore the dignity of PG students”, “Fee increment for what?” and “Bring back our old school fees”, among others.

    Under the new fee regime, returning students, who initially paid N69,000, will pay between N135,000 and N145,000.

    The protesters could not see the VC, but the Dean of Post-graduate Studies, Prof Augustine Ubachukwu, who addressed them, promised that the VC would meet with them at another place to avoid embarrassing the management before the NUC team.

    After all entreaties to the protesters were rebuffed, Prof Ubachukwu warned that the management would not hesitate to deal with anybody that embarrasses the institution. He said the new fees were commensuratae with what is obtainable in other institutions, asking the students to accept the increment.

    The protesters’ spokesman, Mr Paul Haaga, said the increment was outrageous. “We are not against any increment, but it should be reasonable. It is irresponsible to increase the fees within nine months from N69, 000 to N145,000 for Sciences; N135, 000 for Arts and N32,000, hostel accommodation, including N2,000 maintenance and N25,000  acceptance fee. Where do they expect us to get that kind of money? We will continue this protest until the university reduces it. I do not think it is a crime for one to further his education in UNN,” he said.

    Prof Ubachukwu said the government did not provide subvention for postgraduate studies because the students were expected to pay for their education.

    He said: “Sometimes, I use my personal money to run the post-graduate school. I have been talking with some of your leaders on this issue for some time now and we compared notes with other universities before the increment.”

    In the early hours of the following day, the protesters assembled in front of Post-graduate Hostel from where they moved to the VC’s office in protest. The demonstration was coincided with departure of the visiting NUC team. But the university’s security officers moved in and appealed to the students to go back to their hostels, promising that the management would look into the matter.

    On Friday, Prof Ozumba met with the aggrieved students in the Post-graduate Hall and explained what led the increment. The VC said the initial fee was not sustainable to provide quality service and knowledge to the students.

    But some of the students objected the management’s reason, saying there was no need to compare the university with other institutions.

    Mr Uche Uwachukwu, a Master’s student, said: “A standard university should be able to provide necessary facilities and infrastructure to aid learning. Unfortunately, the facilities are not there. Is it our money that authorities are expecting to fix what has been damaged for years? They should tamper with school fees but look for other source to generate money.”

     

  • Body hails UNN on agriculture

    The monitoring and evaluation office of the West African Agriculture Productivity Programme (WAAP) has scored the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) high in Agriculture. Hassan Isah, an official from WAAPP head office in Abuja, rated the institution high shortly after he inspected WAAP-sponsored fish ponds and cassava stems multiplication centres in Obimo, Imelike-ulo, Okpuje, and THE UNN.

    Isah said the institution had increased its output and performance compared to what was recorded last August when the WAAP officials inspected the facilities last. He said 60 per cent of the investment in the UNN’s Faculty of Agriculture had been put into use.

    He said: “There is an improvement in the agricultural project, going by what I saw in Imilike-Ulo fish pond and the ones in Obimo, Okupuje and UNN fingerling and cassava stem multiplication centers. At least 60 per cent of N20 million given to UNN by WAAPP has been put to use. Though there still room for improvement so as to achieve overall aim of the project.”

    The monitoring officer said that the objective of WAAP was to develop technologies and best aquaculture practice to be adopted in West African countries to increase productivity and ensure food security.

    In his remark, Prof Simon Ugwu, the coordinator of the project in UNN and former Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, said fingerlings in UNN multiplication centre would hit 250,000 by the end of the month, expressing appreciation to the body collaborating with the institution.

    He said: “We have 15 hectares of cassava stems in cassava multiplication farm and by the end of November, the fingerlings in our multiplication ponds will hit 250,000. It is from this multiplication centre we distribute improved fingerlings and cassava stems to the communities that need them.

    In an interview, Mr Clement Attah, Chairman, of Okpuje Fish Pond Cooperative Society expressed appreciation to the body for providing the farmers with funds and empowering them.

  • ‘Our culture hasn’t helped Nigeria’

    Joseph Agbakoba doubles as a professor of philosophy at the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka and National President, Nigerian Philosophical Association (NPA). When Assistant Editor DADA ALADELOKUN met him, he spoke about the fundamental problems of Nigeria, 100 years after amalgamation, and other issues. 

    A fool at 40, it is often said, is a fool forever. At 100, Nigeria as an entity is yet to crawl. What has been wrong with the parent, guardian or the post-natal circumstances of this “child?”

    Unknotting this riddle, according to Agbakoba, was the thrust of an international jaw-jaw recently spear-headed by his association. It was held at the University of Lagos.

    Seething with an amalgam of rage and palpable concern, the varsity don told this reporter: “As stakeholders, we can’t but be worried to the marrow. Our nation has remained plagued by issues of culture, value systems, political structure and ideology. There is also the issue of the justification of the economic model we are running – capitalism – and our traditional culture. We also have issues surrounding revenue allocation. Nigeria was borne out of the 1914 amalgamation because of the budget surplus in the South and the deficit in the North. And since then, the South has been paying the bills of the country in terms of the extra money needed to balance the budget and pay for infrastructural development. The outstanding foreign exchange earners in this regard have been first, palm oil, then, cocoa and now, crude oil. This is not to say that the North has had no money at all; we must not forget the tin in the Jos area and the groundnuts pyramids, but they were not enough to gain budgetary surpluses. The conference looked at all these issues and examined them from various philosophical standpoints.”

    “So an academic group like the NPA could be concerned about the nation’s stunted growth …” The reporter cut in. His emphatic response unveiled the raison-d’être of the birth in the 1970/80s, of the association and its relevance in nation building.

    “This association was born to bring Nigerian philosophers together to discuss philosophy and explore its relevance to our lives as a people and as a country. Philosophy as an academic discipline is largely misunderstood by the public. Most people in this country see it as an abstract academic discipline that has no place in today’s world, whereas it is the foundation of all learning in the past as well as the present; virtually all branches of knowledge have their roots in philosophy. Since its birth, its different leaderships have worked to move it forward and the tradition continues. Members of the association in Nigeria meet biennially to discuss philosophical issues in the search for new knowledge, to address the interests of the association and deliberate on the state of affairs of the association vis-à-vis the study of philosophy and the society generally.

    “Usually, our meetings go along with a national academic conference. This time, it was international. Some of our colleagues from outside of Nigeria attended. We had participants from universities in Ghana, Cameroun, Ethiopia and South Africa. The theme of the conference was: “Nigeria: 100 years After Amalgamation: Philosophical Issues and Perspectives.” The conference was motivated by the need to look at Nigeria after 100 years of our amalgamation by Lord Lugard in 1914. We can all agree that in Nigeria today, there are fundamental issues of justice for the minority and majority groups,” Agbakoba explained.

    Another poser for him: “It is said that in the last 30 years, by available records, no scientist in Nigeria has patent right to any innovation that is really commercially viable. Is it because Nigerian scientists are not qualified?” His response: “What do you think accounts for this poor situation? We have found ourselves in this situation because our scientists do not largely appreciate the philosophical underpinnings of their work. When a man or woman gets a PhD, he or she is an expert in a given branch of knowledge or area of specialisation and he/she ought to be imbued with the philosophical underpinnings of the field and philosophy generally. And by this I mean the metaphysical, epistemological, logical and axiological underpinnings as well as the concomitant habits of mind, dispositions and actions that make it possible for one to generate new knowledge and technology in a given area.

    “To be a scientist or philosopher is to be a seeker after truth and knowledge. And one needs the appropriate values and attitude to life to succeed. Such includes among other things, a detachment from crass materialism that is the order of the day today; otherwise, one may sacrifice truth and knowledge on the altar of self aggrandizement and other passions. Further, one cannot for instance be crassly materialistic, seeking immoral and illegal gains and advantages and at the same time spewing novel scientific and technological theories and innovations. This is because one’s life negates order and truth which are crucial to the generation of new scientific and technological ideas in and about the real world.”

    Maintaining that to be a scientist is to have a profession, he explained that it is also a vocation, but insisted that only those who take it as a vocation often make the breakthrough.  “In Nigeria, it is mostly a profession which is supposed to pay the certificate holder. The idea that it is a vocation for which the certificate holder should make sacrifices in order to gain and propagate truth and knowledge is not appreciated readily. And for this, the values of our society are largely culpable. Our society is very vulgarly showy and grossly materialistic.

    “Sadly, we don’t have the values that drive science here. So, when people talk about funding and infrastructure as the bane of innovation and research in Nigeria, I don’t fully agree; the values are not there too. Some scientists have been known to embezzle the funds meant for the equipment of their laboratories and spend such money on some luxury items. So, scientists in countries like India with similar experiences of poverty have performed generally better. You can link the development going on in such countries to the outcome of the work of their scientists and other researchers,” he said.

    Then his admonition: “No tangible innovation can ever come out of a very hedonistic and materialistic culture like ours. It is for this reason that a scientist who wants a high post in government or even in a university could run to a native doctor for assistance, thereby showing that he/she is not convinced about and committed to the fundamental rationality that governs the universe, which is one of the metaphysical assumptions of his/her profession. We do not have a culture that promotes science here. This has to change as quickly as possible!”

  • UNN trains farmers, others on climate adaptation

    The Africa Climate Chance Adaptation Initiative (ACCAI) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has held training for community leaders and farmers in the host community on how they can adapt to climate change and mitigate its effect in farming.

    The body also trained Nsukka Local Government legislators on how to bring about policies and laws to check activities causing bad climate.

    Speaking at the training held at Nsukka Township Stadium, ACCAI training co-ordinator, Prof Benjamin Ogwo, said the training was aimed at sharing research information with farmers on the impact of climate change on plant and livestock productions. He said there was need for government officials to enact laws and policies that will mitigate the impact of bad climate on the community.

    Ogwo said Nsukka was chosen as take-off community for the initiative to gauge the responses of farmers and lawmakers to the adaptation and mitigation programmes, stressing that the training would be held in other parts of the country in its second phase.

    Dr Anselem Eneja, a facilitator, who lectured the farmers on the management of adaption gender perspective, expressed satisfaction on the response of the farmers on the topic.

    “The response is tremendous. I did not envisage that the farmers would respond the way they did, particularly the women among them,” he said.

    Some farmers whose views were sought after the training applauded the exercise, saying that they had better understanding of the causes of some changes they noticed in the output of their crops and animals.

    Mrs Grace Onyishi, one of them, said: “I have learnt a lot today, I now know how climate change can affect my crops and animals. Before this seminar, I was aware that climate changes, but I did not link the poor agricultural yield to it. Now, I know the best time to plant my crops is dependent on weather conditions and how best to adapt to climate changes.”

  • Anambra,UNN to partner on agric

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano has expressed his administration’s willingness to partner with faculties of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) to drive the agricultural programme of the state.

    The governor made the comment when he received the UNN Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, and other principal officers, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Lodge, Awka.

    Dr Obiano said his administration would need the support of researchers in the university to generate improved rice seeds, cassava stems and other crops needed to fulfil the dream of his administration in making the state sufficient in food production.

    He also stated that the state would need the support of the Department of Film and Theatre Arts to revive Anambra culture and make the state a destination for tourism.

    He said: “We understand that nothing can be achieved without securing the state from armed robbery and kidnapping. The criminals are currently on the run; I am still pursuing them. Right now, people can walk around freely without harassment of security sirens.”

    Ozumba praised the governor on his determination to take the state to a greater height, citing the security summit organised by the government and deployment of drones for surveillance and agricultural mapping. The governor’s quick response to threat of Ebola virus in the state, he said, should be hailed.

    The VC informed the governor of the 54th Founder’s Day Lecture that will be organised by the university in October. The event, he said, will host the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu as speaker and requested Obiano’s consent as Chairman.

    On the entourage of the VC were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof Polycap Chigbu, his counterparts on Administration and Enugu Campus, Prof Edwin Igbokwe and Prof. Ifeoma Enemo, Registrar, Mr Anthony Okonta, Bursar, Mrs Chinenye Eze-Obi and her deputy, Dr Mercy Odukwe.

     

  • NANS greets UNN VC

    Students in higher institutions have been urged to shun tribal sentiments in their relationship with fellow students.

    The charge was given by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, (UNN), Prof Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba, while receiving members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southeast (Zone B) in his office last week.

    Prof Ozumba advised the students to be selfless in the discharge of their responsibilities and maintain good academic records.

    President of the Students’ Union Government of the institution, Christian Agu said the union had bridged the communication gap between students and management.

    Presenting a paper titled: “Moral behaviour and selfless service”, NANS Zone B President Ikechukwu Okorie advised members of the students’ union to unite for the progress of the institution.

    The Public Relations Officer, Mr Mike Asogwa, expressed gratitude to the VC for the cordial relationship with everyone.

    Agu expressed optimism that the visit would help the students’ body to understand the challenges faced by students.

     

  • UNN graduates 40 Vet doctors

    Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) has inducted 40 fresh graduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, warning them to shun unethical practices.

    The council’s Registrar, Dr Marcus Avon, issued the warning during the 35th oath-taking ceremony of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, saying the licence issued to the graduates was for one year and subject to renewal by the council.

    “The probation licence given to you to practise will expire in 2015. If any of you is found wanting within this one year, his or her licence will not be renewed. You are expected to obey the ethics of the profession as well as respect your senior colleagues in the profession,” he said.

    He congratulated the parents of the graduates for investing in the education of their children, saying education was vital to development.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, said he was optimistic that the graduates have been found worthy in character and learning by the university.

    “I have no doubt that this university, having found you worthy in character and learning by conferring this degree on you, expect you to be good ambassador to the university. The oath you have taken today requires you to use your scientific knowledge and skills acquired for the benefit of the society. The university appreciates the contributions of VCN in training of our veterinary students,” he stated.

    Prof Vincent Shoyinka, Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, urged the new doctors to adhere to the ethics of the profession at all times

    “I congratulate you all in your status as members of VCN, the faculty is grateful to VCN especially on the full accreditation of the faculty. I urge you to obey ethics of the profession so as to give the society the best as well as earn integrity for yourself,” he said.

     

  • UNN’s Faculty of Agric needs N1b

    The Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) needs about N1billion to replace broken down equipment in the six departments which make up the faculty.

    Its Dean Prof. Simeon Ugwu made this known  in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nsukka, Enugu state.

    He said the dilapidated state of laboratory and field equipment being used to teach students constituted a serious challenge for the faculty.

    “I believe in practicals. It is good to also demonstrate the practical aspects when you teach your students.

    “That is why the faculty recently organised a homecoming for the alumni of the faculty, so as to interact with them and to see ways the ways they can assist the faculty.

    “The faculty needs about N1billion to replace broken down equipment in the six departments which make up the faculty, as well as bring the faculty to standard.

    “With adequate funding, we will rebuild and replace our poultry, hatchery and feed mills and farm equipment which have worn out, because some of them have been there since 1980.

    “With enough funds, we will also be able to meet other needs of the faculty,’’ he said.

    Ugwu explained that arrangements had been concluded for the faculty to produce six million fingerlings and 10,000 egg-laying birds before the end of the year.

    According to him, the faculty now has 10 hectares of land planted with quality cassava which, when harvested, will boost the revenue base of the faculty.

  • Encomiums as Okolo bows out as UNN VC

    Encomiums as Okolo bows out as UNN VC

    After five years at the helm, Prof Batholomew Okolo has stepped down as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

    Prof Okolo was praised for his developmental stride during a farewell event held in his honour tagged: A celebration of five years of monumental achievements and visionary leadership.

    Students and members of staff extolled the virtues of the outgoing VC.

    Ndubisi  Iwekwuba, a 300-Level Science Education student,  said Prof Okolo did well, especially in changing the face of the campus.

    He said: “I wish him well and pray that God will lead him wherever he goes. I also pray that God should give his successor wisdom to surpass his achievement.”

    Jude Nwankwo, a lecturer in the Department of Music, said: “Prof Okolo focused on infrastructural development, academic transformation, and visionary leadership. That, for us, is highly commendable.”

    Prof Okolo was appointed as the 13th Vice-Chancellor of the university on May 29, 2009, following the expiration  of the tenure of Prof Chinedu Nebo, the Minister of Power.

    Prof Vincent Okore, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, said the outgoing VC made efforts to improve infrastructure of the university in the last five years.

    “In the history of this university, no Vice-Chancellor has performed credibly as Okolo did. I am saying this with a sense of sincerity,”he said.

    Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof Isaac  Asuzu, described Okolo as a visionary leader.

    “The Vice-Chancellor is my mentor and a determined leader. He is passionate about this university. During his administration, the admission quota system was abolished and admission was given by merit. During his administration, first-class graduates  were given automatic employment in the university,” he stated.

    IResponding, Prof Okolo, said: “Five years ago, we set out the vision of building this university strategically. May God bless you all for this achievement and sacrifices we have made together for the past five years.”

    The grand finale of the celebration was attended  by dignitaries including sixteen  traditional rulers; the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Dioceses, Most Rev Godfrey Onah, represented by Monsignor Thaddeo Onoyima, officials of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and students of the university.

  • Ozumba is new UNN VC

    Ozumba is new UNN VC

    A new vice chancellor has been appointed for the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

    He is Professor Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba, a gynecologist. He succeeds Prof. Barth Okolo whose tenure came to an end this month.

    Ozumba, former provost of the UNN medical school, defeated more than 40 other contestants, to emerge victorious.

    The erudite scholar, who had contested in 2009 for the post of vice chancellor, following the expiration of the tenure of Prof. Chinedu Nebo, now minister of power, attended Government College, Umuahia, before proceeding to the University of Lagos, UNILAG, where he studied medicine.

    After joining the services of the university, Ozumba rose rapidly and was elevated to the academic status of professor after seven years of teaching.

    Besides publishing more than 300 books, Prof. Ozumba, had training in different foreign universities, and belongs to several local and international professional bodies.

    After serving as dean of the faculty of medical sciences, Prof. Ozumba, was subsequently appointed provost of the UNN College of Medicine in 2004 to 2008 and would be remembered for instituting the Prof. Chukwuedu Nwokolo annual lecture series for academic excellence, as well as founding the University of Nigeria College of Medicine Alumni Association, UNNCOMA.