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Tag: varsities’

  • NUC shuts two illegal varsities

    NUC shuts two illegal varsities

    TWO illegal universities were sealed up by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) in Lagos last week. They are Evangel University of America, Egan, Igando, and Clinton University Study Centre, in Ojokoro, a Lagos suburb.

    Leader of the NUC team, Prof Adebisi Balogun, said the ‘schools’ are unapproved private universities.

    At the time the NUC team and others from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the State Security Service (SSS) got to the colleges last Tuesday, unsuspecting students were seated for the day’s class sessions. The proprietor and a bursar of one of the schools were arrested.

    At the Evangel Christian University of America, a four-bedroom flat on 2, Akinola Street, Olufemi Estate, Egan, Igando, the enforcement team arrested Dr. Philip Nnaji, the school’s Bursar, a midde-aged man.

    Nnaji, however, claimed he did not know the institution was operating illegally. He told the officials that to the best of his knowledge, the institution runs as an affiliate campus of the parent university in Illinois, United States. “The Nigerian campus only awards diploma, degrees and post graduate degrees in Theology,” he said.

    Many of the students were too shocked to speak. A few of them told The Nation that they were told the school was approved by the NUC, giving them the confidence to enrol. Some fell into the trap because they were unable to gain admission into the regular universities.

    At Clinton University Study Centre, Ojokoro, which operated inside a shopping mall, the proprietor, who called himself Uranta, denied operating a degree “awarding mill”.

    He said he was only running a Management Programme under the name “Clindick Management Academy” to prepare students for external examinations.

    Uranta also claimed that he had started seeking approval to establish a university named Clinton University in Afam, Rivers State, which was still in progress.  He even claimed that his last correspondence with the NUC was on June 14.

    “I applied to NUC last year and was invited to their office in Abuja. When I got there, NUC said no. This year, I applied for the proposed Clinton University. We went for the interview and were successful. Then, NUC wrote in June 2014, asking us to come and pick the form to run the university,” Uranta said.

    Uranta’s claim was however countered by Prof Balogun, Chairman, NUC Committee on Closure of Illegal Universities in Nigeria.

    Balogun said it was glaring that Uranta had not he applied to the NUC at all, yet admitted unsuspecting students.

    Balogun said: “The most important thing that is glaring form this exercise is that Mr Uranta has been operating an illegal outfit to desperate Nigerian students. And this must have been ongoing for some time. Although he has tried to convince us that he is making efforts to comply in terms of having filled the application forms, which is just one of the 14  steps required to open a university, that does not give him the right to start admitting students for Masters degree as we have seen with evidence today.

    “His so-called university has not been approved or in the least, the process has not started. And even if started, he cannot begin by awarding Masters degree from the outset.”

    Balogun also said the NUC publishes, in its Monday bulletins, names of these illegal universities. “And this is why the NUC has been sending monitoring teams to inform us of their activities across the country. We also send them warning messages and notes of caution, telling them that, if they want to run a private university, there are procedures that must be followed. But they won’t listen but just go on to establish and start running the ‘illegal mills’,” he said.

    During the raid, the officials confiscated several items such as students’ projects, receipts, computers, list of admitted students, bank tellers and files containing details about the university management before sealing the place a no-entry barrier.

    Balogun said the activities of operators of illegal universities in the country would continue as long as parents continue to send their children to such colleges because of desperation to get them admitted to tertiary institutions at all cost.

    While some of the students expressed hopelessness at the closure of their schools, asking where they would go from that point, Balogun advised parents and the students to do thorough findings on approved universities from the NUC, which is the appropriate authority.

    He said: “Go through the NUC website where we publish the list of all approved universities in Nigeria every week. We also publish the list of illegal universities and ‘degree mills’. There should be no confusion in going to regular universities.  However, should a student or his parents be unsure, they should resort to the Commission for clarification. When you ask for information instead of sending your children to these places to waste your hard-earned money and their precious lives, both of you will not be helped. In the long run, it will not help Nigeria. It will all amount to waste and at the end of the day. The degrees earned from these institutions will not be recognised for jobs or even for their career growth in life.”

  • ‘NUC should monitor faith-based varsities more’

    With their level of organisation and strong hold on their students,  faith-based universities have the potential to enhance nation building, if better monitored by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    This is the view of Dr Fatai Aremu, a teacher at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

    Delivering a paper at the Special Departmental Seminar Series of the Department of Political Science, unilorin with the theme, Political consequences of non-state provision of university education: A focus on faith-based universities, Aremu said though the private universities do well with moral and religious training of students, they are deficient in providing training on political consciousness

    He said: “I think they are in a very good position to help the country because they are well organised, and they have very strong control of their studentship, but I don’t think the Ministry of Education or the NUC has done enough in supervising, monitoring or requesting the faith-based universities to help in inculcating in their students the right political attitude that will be helpful for elections, and for political activism. The faith-based universities are very efficient in training their students religiously to be morally upright but in terms of political consciousness or political attitude, they are doing nothing and it is because the Ministry of Education and the NUC are not demanding of them to do these things.”

    Aremu blamed the trend on the failure of the NUC to consider the peculiarities of the private providers of tertiary education as distinct from state/public universities

    To foster nation building, Dr Aremu also suggested that the curriculum of the citizenship education course be strengthened to emphasise nationally-appreciated values, and ethnic and religious tolerance.

    The Director, Institute of Education, UNILORIN, Prof. A. Abdulkareem, praised Aremu has for reviving the lecture that has been moribund for some time despite busy schedule.

    “We in the Faculty of Education especially Educational Management, we must be partners in progress. If this kind of thing is happening; if we come together, we will be able to cross fertilise ideas,” he said.

    Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Noah Yusuf, praised Aremu for doing justice to the topic of the lecture, which will now hold every month.

     

  • ‘How varsities can spearhead farm revolution’

    The National President, Cashew Association of Nigeria, Tola Faseru   said universities have a huge stake in the success of the farm sector as well as welfare of the common man.

    Driving a sustainable green revolution, he noted would require  high-level human capital, that  will come  functional, relevant and consistent tertiary education institutions.

    According  to him, universities have been neglected for decades and are now all too often non-functional institutions with dilapidated infrastructure, unmotivated staff and poor learning environments and this  is not helping the growth of agriculture.

    To  revamp the food production system, Faseru said the  government must support the university research systems to  produce  new technologies.

  • Varsities should look beyond govt funding, says IBBU VC

    Varsities should look beyond govt funding, says IBBU VC

    The Vice Chancellor of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Lapai, Niger State, Prof Ibrahim Kolo has warned that public universities may not achieve their mandate of academic excellence if they continue to depend on government for funds.

    He advised management of universities to look beyond government subventions by establishing strategic fund raising activities for the development of critical areas of their institutions.

    Kolo spoke at a retreat on strategies for successful fund raising organised by the institution for its council members and senior members of staff last Sunday.

    The Vice Chancellor said world renowned universities in the United States and Europe are not funded by government, but depend on donations from their alumni, public spirited individuals and institutions.

    He suggested that the management of various universities should come up with strategic plans for donors to key into.

    The retreat, which was used to appraise the university’s five-year strategic development plan put in place in 2010, also provided a platform to fashion plans, programmes and projects to attract philanthropists and donors in funding the university.

    Prof Kolo disclosed that the university attained 75 per cent implementation of plan strategic within four years.  He underscored the management’s commitment towards transforming the university to compete with the best in the world.

    “Our appraisal of our strategic plan in the past four years has shown that we attained 75 per cent. The plan has helped us to lay the foundation for a word class citadel of learning at IBBU. We have seen the critical role the raising of funds plays in the development of universities around the world,” he said.

    Kolo praised former military head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, for his contribution as a  member of the board of the university’s Endowment Fund board and assured that funds given to the university would be used transparently and prudently.

    He said the university has made contact with former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida based on his pledge to complete the senate building and the administrative block.

  • ‘Nigeria needs more varsities’

    ‘Nigeria needs more varsities’

    T HE only way to reduce the number of Nigerians going outside the country, particularly Ghana, for further studies is to build more universities, Chuks Ochonodor, the Pro-Chancellor/chairman, Governing Council, Novena University, Ogume in Delta State has said.

    Ochonodor, who spoke with The Nation in Lagos, said yearly, over one million candidates apply for admissions in Nigerian varsities, adding that more than half of this number are not offered admission.

    “Over the years, we have had new universities established, increasing in the number of applicants; but statistically, the existing universities are unable to provide slots for up to 15 per cent of the millions who want to study in Nigeria. Whether that is the case or not, where do we find opportunities? Are we going to say until such opportunities come to us to get admission after years of trials without having slots?

    “We have to look for an alternative. Maybe Nigerians have found Ghanaian universities to be good enough but the issue is first, the available opportunities in Nigeria are limited based onthe number of universities that we have. Don’t also forget that for any university, be it a federal, state or private, we have quota. For standards to be maintained, government sets quotas so that even if universities are willing to admit all the students, they would still be limited by that quota. Will you allow your child to remain at home instead of seeking opportunities abroad?

    He continued: “Now there are also many problems in the education sector. The issue of strike that has lasted for so long either because government has not done what the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) wants going by what it tells us or the government feels it has done more than enough, but ASUU says no we want more. So, we have calendars being truncated every year and so you now see why parents would want their kids to study where academic calendar is not truncated,” he said.

    For Nigerians, who believe private universities are expensive, Ochonodor feels otherwise. He said in Ghana, students pay between $5000 and $6000, but Nigerian universities charge less.

    “There could be a few persons that want to identify with a school that charge as much as N800, 000 and N900, 000. But the truth is that most Nigerian private universities are charging between N200, 000 and N300, 000 and that is not enough to run an institution,” he said.

    The former banker spoke on challenges that private universities face in Nigeria, identifying funding as key.

    “You do know that private universities do not get subventions of any sort from the government. In fact, it is funny. We produce manpower for the nation, but the government feels that it should only give grants to government institutions rather than private institutions. Even when you want to source for support from any foreign country, they will ask you: ‘do you have any government support? You can see what we suffer. If, today, multinational corporations such as shell and Chevron Mobil or Federal Government agencies want to donate, they target government institutions. As far as they are concerned, it’s your private business but when you bring out those graduates, they are willing to employ them.

    “We have to go to borrow money from the capital market. Mind you, you can’t get loans for less than 25 per cent. Okay now, where you are limited by the number of students you can admit. Where you are also facing the problem of recognition and acceptance, how are you going to get enough funding to cope, pay your staff, provide facilities, and solve problems?” he asked.

     

  • Varsities in race against time

    Varsities in race against time

    Life returned to many universities on Monday as they reopened after the protracted Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. They are racing to recover lost ground for the benefit of students.

    Last Monday, life returned to many universities after the over five-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    Their resumption ended the drought in commercial, social and academic activities in many parts of the country.

    Back to life

    While some schools teemed with students, others had yet to resume.

    On Monday and Tuesday, the University of Ibadan (UI) and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), bustled with students who were excited to be back in school.

    Babatunde Badmus, Students’ Union President, UI mirrored the students’ excitement when he said: “As a matter of fact we the students are happy to be back on campus and really appreciate the effort of ASUU on the industrial action which has now given hope to the education sector of my fatherland.”

    He added: “Now that the Federal Government has pumped money into education sector and still has more plans to do such continuously, if those funds are being managed and administered properly, to a large extent, students welfare in terms of water, light, laboratory, hostels and accommodation, educational resources, research tools among others will improve; and that to a large extent will reduce the internal brouhaha between the school authorities and the Students Union which may result in an internal strike.”

    At the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), students were seen hanging around their lecture rooms waiting patiently for the arrival of their lecturers.

    Already, the institution, which pulled out of the strike last November, has begun its second semester.

    A 100-level student of Mass Communication, Bolatito Akintomiwa praised the management for pulling out of the strike before it was ended by the union leaders.

    At the University of Lagos (UNILAG), classes were half-filled but an appreciable number of students were around attending lectures in the various faculties. When The Nation visited the Federal University of Technology, Akure [FUTA], students were seen returning to the campus but lectures had not begun, while at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, lectures had begun – though some students were just arriving.

    Although academic activities had not fully started at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, students were speedily settling down for lectures. Their securing their accommodation was their priority.

    An undergraduate, Miss Mulikat Abdulsalam from Kwara State who arrived on Sunday, said ” I am more concerned about my accommodation to enable me settle down for my lectures. We have stayed too long but Allah knows why and we thank Him for the calling off of the strike by our lecturers.”

    At the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) academic activities have resumed in earnest. Students were seen trickling into the university campus at Agbani. Most of the departments resumed immediately with the abandoned semester examinations.

    At the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, the classrooms were scantily-filled despite the university resuming two weeks ago. The situation was similar at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, while at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) and the Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH), the students were hardly around. This notwithstanding, lecturers attended to students who showed up for lectures.

    Mr Ayo Ayodele, who teaches English at the LASU said he taught despite the low turnout.

    “I taught last week, I taught on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, although the students were not many. A class of about 100 only 20 came and I taught them. Another class of about 150, only about 20 came and I still taught them,” he said.

    Chairman, ASUU DELSU chapter, Dr Emmanuel Mordi said the students’ apathy to resumption may not be unconnected with the yuletide festivities that ended last week.

    “We have indeed resumed. Unfortunately there are no students on campus, but lecturers have since resumed academic activities. We cannot know why students are staying away from classes. It is possible that the festive period is to blame. We went on air and radio to inform them (students) that lecturers are ready to teach. We will do everything possible to make up for lost time,” he said.

    At UNICAL on Monday there were no academic activities at all. Most students seen on campus came to gather information about admission, do registration and other non-academic activities.

    Chairman of ASUU, UNICAL, Dr James Okpiliya, said lecturers could not teach because of the students’ absence.

    “The students do not want to come back. Today we were in school to teach but the students were not there. With or without the students, we have started work. We have cleaned our offices, and the timetable has come out this evening. Department board meetings are going on and everything is set. We have begun in earnest.”

    A student, Elias Asuquo, who attributed the poor turnout to habit, said it should not deter lecturers because a lot needs to be covered.

    “I feel so grateful to be back. I was so eager for school to reopen and I could not stay back one bit. I think the reason most students are not back is because they feel the festive season is still in the air. This is how it has been over the years whenever we are to resume after the New Year. Students just stay back and give themselves an additional one or two weeks before they come back. But we should not wait for them,” he said.

    At CRUTECH despite the poor turnout of students, lectures started. A student of Mass Communication in the institution said they had started revising for examinations.

    “Lecturers have started in some departments, like our class in the Mass Communications department had a class today. However, the turnout was very low. We will soon start exams and most of the classes were revision classes. The examinations officer of the department said the timetable for the exams would soon be out and that students should prepare for it. Meanwhile all pending assignments are to be submitted next week,” she said.

    However, classes did not hold at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the University of Jos (UNIJOS) because of internal crisis, which many of the students have condemned.

    At UNN, classes did not hold because the various workers’ unions – ASUU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities [SSANU] and the Non Academic Staff Union [NASU] are demanding the removal of the vice chancellor, Prof Batho Okolo, for alleged high handedness.

    They are also demanding for the reinstatement of the pro-chancellor, Dr. Emeka Enejere who they alleged was removed unjustly.

    The Chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), UNN, Dr Ifeanyichukwu Abada urged the Federal Government set up a judicial panel of enquiry to look into a lot of alleged atrocities committed in the University by O.

    Abada, who is also the ASUU Chairman, UNN chapter, said the members were not on strike but were protesting the illegality perpetrated in the university.

    As at the time of filing this report, students were yet to resume in both Nsukka and Enugu campuses of the university.

    At UNIJOS, members of the local ASUU have kept out of the classrooms because of the controversial implementation of the university’s share of earned allowances paid by the Federal Government.

    Students of the university resumed on Monday to meet their lecturers’ offices locked with no one to answer their questions. The situation caused tension and they threatened to react.

    The Nation gathered that ASUU has said its members will not participate in any academic activity until they are paid their full earned allowances out of the N1.16 billion paid by the Federal Government.

    In a statement by the chairman, David Jangkam, the union questioned why the university management did not use the initial computation of the earned allowances of 2010-2012 or the verified computation of 2013 in disbursing the money – resulting in some of them receiving three or four times more than others who should have earned more.

    “Instead the University of Jos administration shared the money as it deemed fit without regard to whether members of staff earned same entitlement or not, thus resulting in some members getting far less than what they are entitled to and most members getting nothing at all,” the statement noted.

    However, the university management has urged the lecturers to return to the classroom as the situation is being investigated by the Senate. The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Hayward Mafuyayi and the registrar, Mr Jilly Dandam, said the situation is not enough to suspend resumption of academic activities in the school.

    The registrar said: “Earned allowances were paid to all staff of the University on 4th October, 2013 and 4th December, 2013 respectively. Management has noted the observations of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Jos Chapter, of a few errors in the payment made. This is now being addressed with despatch.

    “The University of Jos has completed payment of the five-months withheld salaries during the ASUU strike to all the academic staff of the university.”

    The VC said, “The school’s academic calendar has already begun to run and students should be in their various classes for lectures.”

    While the misunderstanding between ASUU and school authority rages, students said they are already running out of patience with both parties.

    Most of them were seen discussing in groups, frustration written on their faces.

    The Students Union is threatening a showdown with the lecturers and management. Some who spoke with The Nation said they are waiting for more students to resume to decide what to do.

    A 300-Level student, who does not want to be named, said: “We have run out of patience. After waiting for six months due to ASUU strike, all other universities have commenced serious academic activities, but here we are stranded on resumption. We may be patient for this week but if by the beginning of next week these issues are not resolved by lecturers and management, the whole world will know our reaction.”

    The student agreed that the issue can be settled while lectures are on.

    “We cannot take this anymore; our lecturers are taking us for a ride. The issue of payment can be resolved since the fund is available. This does not warrant boycotting classes. They are deliberately punishing us, and God will punish them,” he said.

     

    Pace of work

     

    Since resuming, lecturers have not taken things easy with the students. Apart from teaching and revisions, they are demanding that assignments be submitted and conducting tests. Many students, despite lamenting the loss of nearly six months, are not happy about the rush.

    The Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria recalled students to school on December 29, 2013 and lectures immediately began. The Nation gathered that even on New Year day, some of the departments had lectures hoping to covering lost ground.

    Second semester examinations earlier scheduled to begin on Monday, has been shifted until next week. Even though the timetable for the examination had not been released as at the time of this report, it was learnt that final year students are supposed to start their examination on Monday, January 13, while others will follow suit.

    Some of the students told The Nation they were not comfortable with rushing through what remains of the calendar.

    One of the students, who pleaded anonymity, said “you can imagine that we had to come here on New Year day for lectures. Some of the lecturers are now rushing us because when it was time for them to come for lectures, they were either not there or refused to. Now, we are paying the price.”

    Students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, are hoping their lecturers will be committed to completing the semester but also fear the pressure.

    “We expect our lecturers to see reasons with us and continue with normal academic activities under less pressure while we hope they will also maintain a more serious approach to their lectures with promptness without taking advantage of the lost period to strike action for granted by deliberately victimising us”, they said to The Nation.

    Some FUTO students who pleaded anonymity, regretted that each time the school are shut down, they suffer the most.

    “We are now hurrying to prepare for our semester examination and the lecturers have been paid their entitlements but nothing is said about the students who have wasted their time as a result of the strike,” they told The Nation.

    There will be no cause to rush students at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU, as its ASUU Chairman, , Onyebinama Uzochukwu said almost all the work for the 2012/2013 session had been completed before the strike.

    “Before the strike started, we had about two weeks to go, so in essence, the bulk of the teaching had been done. Now that we are back, we have adjusted our academic calendar to cover the lost grounds after which they will have their revision week and subsequently have their exams. The only thing is that the academic session will drag into February and in order to have a moral justification of our four months salary, we are still going to clear the backlog of academic activities because there is no way you can carry over academic activities of the last session into the new one.”

  • ‘Varsities need competent workers to survive’

    ‘Varsities need competent workers to survive’

    No fewer than 1,000 administrators from different universities participated in this year’s national conference organised by the Association of Nigerian University Professional Administrators (ANUPA) with the theme: Emerging issues and global best practices in university administration.

    The conference, which lasted for four days, was held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. It afforded administrators the opportunity to chart a new course in university management.

    Chairman of the UI branch, Mr Tijani Musa, said the conference was timely as higher education in the country required competent manpower for effective administration.

    ‘’This year’s edition of the annual conference will provide a platform to set standards and keep pace with global trends. As a matter of fact, the conference is crucial and apt, especially as it aimed at improving our professional skills to be better university administrators,’’ he said.

    The National President of the association, Mr Samuel Nwansat, said the choice of this year’s conference became imperative due to the need to enable administrators to adapt to dynamics of the fast changing learning environment. He added that lack of continuity a major problem of the association, saying that it was disheartening that the association, which began some decades ago, was yet to have its national secretariat and official bus.

    The keynote speaker, Prof Ayo Banjo, in his presentation titled: ‘Global best practices in university administration,’’ said he was impressed with the commitment of members to professionalism.

    The former UI vice-chancellor noted that the pursuit of excellence was the hallmark of any serious academic community.

    ‘’A good university requires a crop of good administrators. Professional administrators in our universities should endeavour to keep themselves abreast of global best practices through rigorous training,’’ he said.

    The Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, was the special guest of honour at the event.

    The Oloyo Cultural Ensemble entertained participants by showcasing rich Ibadan cultural dance. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adewole had offered a dancer and drummer in the dance group scholarships to study at the university.

    The Director of Public Communication, Mr Olatunji Oladejo, described the scholarships as a way of encouraging talented youths.

    Some of the presentations at the conference included: Nature of and strategies for dealing with workplace discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases by Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Human Virology in Abuja, Dr Patrick Dakum; Managing service delivery: linking strategy to operations by Chief Mojisola Ladipo.

    The event was attended by Dr Ade Abolurin, the Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); Ayo Ogunruku, former Registrar, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife; Mr Olujinmi Olukoya, Registrar, University of Ibadan.

  • VCs deliberate on varsities’ success

    VCs deliberate on varsities’ success

    The Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) has urged Federal and state governments to stop appointing Governing Council chairmen on the ground of political relationship.

    They advocate that the position should be given to those who have integrity and working experience at the university level.

    The university administrators made the submissions at the 28th AVCNU yearly conference held at the Federal University Technology, Akure (FUTA) last week.

    They noted that doing so would help Nigerian universities to achieve their targets of being rated among the best in the world.

    At the meeting, which had as theme: The Nigerian university system and the challenges and prospects of globalisation, they also deliberated on many other issues, including the appointment of governing council chairmen, union issues, and funding.

    AVCNU, which comprises Vice-Chancellors of both private and public universities, also seeks more funding of higher institutions, urging the government to also extend financial assistance to private universities.

    They noted that inadequacy of funding by university proprietors is a major cause of declining education quality.

    The Vice-Chancellors warned that proliferation of universities without increased funding will pose challenges to the new public universities.

    The communiqué reads: “Teaching/learning and research take place in resource-poor contexts therefore making it near impossible for Nigerian universities to measure up in an increasingly competitive global knowledge economy. The availability of infrastructure such as energy and telecommunication is a critical need in Nigerian universities.”

    The Vice Chancellors also called for the introduction of students’ loans and scholarships as well as endowments to increase funding sources outside government and private proprietors.

    “Funding from the private sector is inadequate because Nigerians do not know how to give to worthy causes. Philanthropy should be encouraged in order to have more advancement in the university system while differentiating between genuine advancement and ‘Cash and Carry Advancement’ that compromises our integrity.”

    They also underscored the importance of STEM education at all levels of education system to make room for the development of intellectual capability, creativity and innovation and recommended the need “seek innovative and workable solutions to instability in the university occasioned by student and staff union issues.”

    “There is a need to put Unionism in the right perspective to be responsive and responsible to nation building as it used to be,” they said.

    The Vice-Chancellors commiserated with the family of the deceased and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in a communiqué issued after.

    The communiqué issued and signed by the AVCNU Chairman, Prof. M. H. Muhammad reads: “Lastly, the AVCNU received the sad news of the passing on of Prof Festus Iyayi of the University of Benin, and a past President of ASUU in a ghastly motor accident on the Lokoja-Abuja road with shock and devastation. The conference mourned his loss and prayed for his family, ASUU and University of Benin and indeed the entire NUS to be strengthened with fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

     

  • ‘Fed Govt mustn’t reopen varsities without ASUU’

    Lagos lawyer Bamidele Aturu has advised the Federal Government against reopening the universities without reaching an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    He warned that any attempt to reopen the universities without any settlement with ASUU on the issues in dispute could result in student’ unrest in the country.

    Speaking with reporters in Lagos yesterday, the activist said the only solution to the impasse between the two parties is for the government to honour the agreement it had with the striking lecturers.

    “Anything contrary to that will not only compound the problem but lead to protest by the already-frustrated students. Did the government close the universities before? The universities were not closed by them so why talk about re-opening them without ASUU.

    “I believe that it is just a joke intended to put pressure on ASUU to call off the strike. But honestly, I don’t think that is the right thing to do. Because in the first place, the Federal Government didn’t close the universities, ASUU only withdrew their services.

    “If they open the universities without the lecturers, they will only create a basis for students’ unrest.

    “This is because when the students go back to their respective schools and there are no activities, they will only take to the streets in protest and that will not augur well for the Federal Government and the nation.”

     

  • Ex-VC calls for state of emergency in varsities

    The pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Lagos, Prof Olurotimi Tayo, has called for the declaration of state of emergency in the university system.

    He said this would equip and develop the nation’s education sector and rescue it from collapse.

    Prof Tayo said he was making the call because of the current crisis in the university system and the failure of the Federal Government to address the problems in the sector.

    The academic spoke at the inauguration of Makoni Hotels on the Ido-Eruwa Road, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The former vice chancellor decried government’s failure to address the nation’s education needs.

    He said: “We must call a spade a spade. We will recall that Ghana had to shut down its university system for two years to re-tool and re-develop. Now, we are sending our children to Ghana to go and have university education there. Why can’t we do what is necessary so that we can have quality education. If that is what it takes to make sure that we get it right, then we should do it to make sure we get it right once and for all.

    “The basic thing is that education in Nigeria is not being fairly treated. If you are going to have quality development in the nation, you must have quality education. You cannot develop anywhere in the world without sound education.”

    The academic, who was the chairman of the occasion, stressed the importance of adequate investment in education.

    He noted that most other countries developed by investing adequately in education.

    Prof Tayo said: “So, when our governments at every level refuse to give education priority, it means there is no future for our development. What I believe the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is doing is that it wants the government to provide what is necessary to ensure quality education.

    “If you have gone through some months and some years of negotiation and you have agreed on the way forward, why can’t the government have the political will to execute that agreement?

    “We went through the system, we grew up in this system. We are products of the University of Ibadan (UI). Some of us left Ibadan and went to the best universities in the world. With the quality of education we had in Ibadan, we got Phd without Masters and we came to this system to help to develop it. But what do we have now? The government tend to invest on things that are not germane to development, neglecting education.”

    He lashed out at the government for wasting a lot of money on non-essential things.

    The former vice chancellor cited the case of the Education Tax Fund (ETF), saying the government lacked the political will to use the fund on what it was established for.

    Prof Tayo said: “The ETF came on board because at the point that ASUU was negotiating for a change in the system, the government was asking how fund it. ASUU fought for the establishment of the ETF, saying the government should make companies to donate five per cent of their gross profit to education.

    “The military, therefore, made a decree establishing the ETF. Now, ETF’s money is no longer being spent on education; it’s being spent on something else. So, where is the government’s political will to do what is necessary?”

    The Chairman of Makoni Hotels, Olumakinde Oni, said there is need for adequate funding of universities to enable the operators produce quality graduates who would become the bedrock of the nation’s development.