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Tag: varsity

  • Caleb Varsity, gets VC

    A Professor of Political Science and Public Communication, Ayandiji Daniel Aina, has been appointed the third Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Lagos.

    Before his career as an academic, Aina was for 10 years at the (old) Daily Times of Nigeria Plc where he rose to the post of Assistant Director (1989-1999) according to a statement by the Registrar of the University, Mrs. Folake Okor.

    Prior to his appointment Aina was the Provost, College of Management and Social Sciences, Babcock University.

    Aina takes over from Prof Ayodeji Olukoju, a professor of History from the University of Lagos.

    Aina, who is not new to university administration, has served as the President/Vice-Chancellor of Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State (2011-2013).

    He was the pioneer Head of Department of Political Science (1999-2003), Dean, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences (2003-2006) and Chief of Staff to the Vice-Chancellor (2006-2008) at Babcock University.

  • Uncertainty greets Ogun varsity’s resumption plan

    Uncertainty greets Ogun varsity’s resumption plan

    With the suspension of its teachers’ strike, the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) at Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State is set to resume. But students are sceptical about the planned resumption. Will the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) prove them wrong? WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

    Members of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU)  chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have suspended their industrial action for which the institution was shut for four weeks.

    Last Friday, the ASUU leadership called on its members to return to work but it was silent on the terms of agreement with the Ogun State government. Not all the students are enthusiastic about the planned resumption.

    Some believe the issues that led to the strike were not “properly resolved” by ASUU and government. The truce, they said, may be temporal, adding that, it may not be long before the school is closed down again.

    But, ASUU chairman Dr Deji Agboola said the strike was suspended after the union met with Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his team.

    The lecturers declared an indefinite action last month over alleged non-payment of their 15-month salary and allowances by the government.

    Before the strike, they held a rally on the campus tagged: “Prevent avoidable crisis in OOU”. They accused Amosun of neglecting and not funding the school. The union also claimed that the governor abandoned the institution’s capital projects.

    The lecturers said it was wrong to fund the school through Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR),  accusing the government of taking education as a commercial venture instead of social enterprise.

    Students are not sure that they will resume soon.

    Ade Benjamin, a Physics student, expressed doubt over the suspension of the strike. He said: “From the outset, I have supported the lecturers because they were not fighting for their pockets but for the development of the school. I am still dumbfounded by ASUU’s decision to call off the strike, because nothing has changed. Is it that the governor suddenly acceded to their demands?

    “I feel that the union was cajoled into submission by the government. I will be sceptical about the news except ASUU clears the doubt of many students, who never knew how the agreement was reached. They must consider the fate of students being affected by the state of facilities in the school.”

    A Biochemistry student, who gave his name as Oladipo, said: “From the look of things, another strike may be in the offing in the nearest future, because of the manner the matter was resolved.”

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that management has directed returning students to pay their fees on or before January 31. The students said the deadline was “too close”, given the prevailing harsh economic condition. Since the government stopped installmental method of payment, the students said it would be hard for them to pay the fees before the deadline.

    Kehinde Olokonla, a Political Science student, said majority of students supported the lecturers’ action, because of what they called government’s neglect of the school. “This means that school fees are used to run the university, which ought not to be, because OOU is a public university. ASUU should have taken a lengthy time to negotiate. We have a government that probably sees no reason in the lecturers’ demand. I believe ASUU was forced to resume,” he said.

    Dotun Adebusoye, a 200-Level Mass Communication student, said: “ASUU reiterated its commitment to engaging the government in constructive dialogue to resolve the matter. Today, the strike is over, the union and the government must have reached a solid agreement. It is the joy of every student that academic activities are back. Agreement is an agreement, whichever way it turns out. I believe ASUU has found joy in the agreement it reached with the government, which made it to call off the strike.”

    The Students’ Union Government (SUG) Public Relations Officer, Damilola Adelesi, said the union stood with ASUU and supported its decision to end the industrial action.

    He said: “We supported the action for its substance. ASUU duly notified the Students’ Union before the strike. We believe the struggle was for the benefit of all students. If the demands of ASUU are met, the university would be able to provide adequate facilities and academic materials for students’ use. The Students’ Union will always support decisions that will bring peace and growth to the university. But, we believe the suspension of the ASUU action is in the best interest of the university and students.”

    Agboola has allayed the students’ fear about a possible strike in the future.

    Speaking with our correspondent on telephone on Monday, Agboola denied that the union was cajoled into submission. He said the ASUU involved its national leadership in the negotiation with the government, pointing out that both parties met for eight hours before reaching an agreement.

    He said: “We met with Governor Amosun on December 31. The ASUU team was led by Dr Dipo Fashina from the national secretariat. After the meeting with the governor, he directed the Secretary to the State Government to chair another round of meeting, which was attended by Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Vice-Chancellor, members of Governing Council and Pro-chancellor.

    “After the meeting, we went back to meet the governor to clarify some grey areas. At the end of the day, both parties signed an agreement. The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology signed on behalf of the government; Dr Fashina signed on behalf of the union. Then, we presented the agreement to the congress last week. The ASUU National Executive Council recommended that the strike be suspended based on agreement reached with the government.”

    Agboola said there is no time frame for the implementation of the agreement, urging the students to not doubt the union’s decision. ASUU, he said, would not sign an impracticable agreement that may lead to another crisis.

    The government, Agboola said, agreed to pay the teachers’ outstanding allowances, but added that the strike was not called off because of the money.

  • Ondo medical varsity admits 189

    The University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, yesterday began academic activities for the 2015/2016 session with 189 pioneer students.

    A statement by the University’s Director of Communication and Public Relations, Prince Ademola Babalola, said the students were offered admissions in Medicine, Dentistry,  Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry.

    The statement reads: “The pioneer students arrived on campus yesterday.  The management has promised to make the institution the hub of medical education in West Africa. It is the first strictly medical university and the best must be produced.

    “We are beginning academics at 100 levels across the five programmes as well as 200 Level in Medicine and Dentistry.

    “In accordance with the provisions of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria,  accommodation has been provided for all the 200 Level students as well as 100 Level students on first come first served basis. The screening and registration will begin today.”

  • Benue varsity must look into this

    SIR: Due to the unemployment situation in the country, the federal government thought it wise to introduce entrepreneurship as a course so that students would be taught or rather, trained on how to be self-reliant after graduating from university. I understand that the federal government also provided funds to kick-start the programme.

    However, the authorities of the university hid this fact from students Of Benue State University, Makurdi hence they imposed a fee of N2000 per student as registration fee before being allowed to study the course. Since the introduction of this entrepreneurship course, students at the university have been paying for the course while other tertiary institutions like Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Kogi State University, Ayingba, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and so on, have not been paying for it.

    If there is any other institution in the country that is collecting money from students in the name of entrepreneurship study, such an institution is not being fair to the country. The authorities of such universities stand accused of lack of extortion.

    While the authorities at the Benue State University are quick to warn the students not to cheat in their examinations, collecting money for a programme that supposed to be free is nothing but cheating.

    I call on the Benue State University Vice Chancellor, Professor Kembe to, as a matter of urgency and necessity, put a halt to the policy of paying for the entrepreneurship programme.

    • Awunah Pius Terwase,

    Mpape, Abuja.

  • Varsity inducts 118 doctors

    To ensure it makes a huge contribution to the realisation of Nigeria’s Millennium Development Goal in the health sector by 2020, the Faculty of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) inducted 118 young medical doctors into the health sector.

    Inducting the medical graduates before a capacity audience on the campus, the Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr. Abdulmumini Ibrahim, urged them to practice within the limit of their competence and shun indulging in sharp practices in order to make quick money.

    Ibrahim warned the doctors not to be in a hurry to establish clinics or hospitals and never to tout or canvass for patients or be involved in fee splitting. He also added that those bad conducts are usually common temptations which young Nigerian doctors are faced with.

    He said: “As you take the physicians’ oath today and issued with your licences to practise, I implore you all to imbibe the culture of best practices and conducts throughout your practice to safeguard the lives of patients and maintain the integrity of our noble profession.”

    The Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University, Prof. Uche Nwagha told the large crowd that the young medical doctors of the 2015 class, had been equipped with one of the finest degrees in medicine available anywhere in the world as the faculty had the obligation to educate them in the various convoluted and sophisticated ways of modern medical training.

    Nwagha, who expressed deep regret on the sudden death of one their students recently, said throughout their period of study, lecturers in the faculty had worked untiringly to mentor a sense of mastery so that medicine might feel, in your hands, comprehensible, familiar and responsive.

    He continued: “Our teachers have transferred to you their appetite for medicine and research, and in the progression, they have persistently transformed the horizons in which you shall cruise into your life. They have armed you copiously with medical armaments and charging you to go into the world and begin to heal.”

    While praying for the young graduates to become world-class healers and great leaders in their chosen field, the Dean stated that, as they watched them from afar, they should never forget them but should remember to come back and sow a seed in the faculty of their Alma mater.

    Also speaking, the chairman of the occasion and traditional ruler of Amaofuo, in Imo State, Prof. Peter Ebigbo, expressed satisfaction with the rapid progress of the college of medicine since its inception, pointing out that the performance of the doctors produced by the medical school had given great joy to the founding fathers of the University of Nigeria.

    He also praised the ingenuity and personal commitment of the Provost, Prof. Ernest Onwuasigwe to move the college forward.

    The guest lecturer, Dr. Ejike Orji had called for better funding of the health sector and advised sick medical doctors to always seek the services of their colleagues for treatment.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, had revealed that three new institutes had been established within his one-year of administration while 230 research groups had been set up as part of aggressive measures to boost learning in the institution.

    Prof. Ozumba expressed joy that since his appointment as the Vice-Chancellor last year, UNN’s ranking had improved massively and was now only standing behind the University of Ibadan (UI), even as he vowed to move the school to number one within the shortest possible time.

    He also promised to complete the seven-storey building complex of the UNN medical school within his tenure, stressing that new staff had been injected into key areas to enhance learning.

    The Vice-Chancellor praised the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Nwagha for his managerial ingenuity and leadership style; describing him as a pride of the College of Medicine of the University of Nigeria.

    The Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. Ernest Onwasigwe, former Dean Faculty of Dentistry, UNN, Dr. Linda Oge Okoye, Dr. Tunde Omotowo and doyen of Paediatric Medicine, Prof. Gilbert Adimora, were among personalities who attended the event.

     

  • Varsity celebrates 10th anniversary with 4 first class

    Workers and students of the University of Mkar, Mkar Gboko, Benue State, celebrated her 10th anniversary with four first class graduates.

    University of Mkar, which open in June 2005, is owned by the Universal Reformed Christian Church (URCC), which means Nongu u Kristu U I Ser U shar Tar (NKST) in Tiv.

    Several activities were lined up to celebrate the anniversary which climaxed with a combined convocation of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth sets of 688 graduands.

    Of this number, four students came out with first class honours; 121 with Second Class upper; 400 bagged Second class lower; 158 with third class and five with pass degree.

    The celebration featured inauguration of projects and a novelty match between workers and students of the university.

    A convocation lecture titled: “Building a world class university: Imperatives, realities and strategies” was delivered by the Secretary-General of the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities/Committee of Vice Chancellors (AVCNU/CVC) Prof Michael Faborode.

    A posthumous honorary doctorate in Management was awarded to the first civilian governor of Benue State, Apollos Aper Aku, which was received by his daughter, Mrs Nguher Kwange, a chief magistrate in FCT Abuja.

    In his convocation speech, vice chancellor of the university, Prof Hemen Agba, said the institution hopes to train change agents for the society, a task which education solely will not be able to produce in an individual.

    “The focus of our university is anchored on character training, and quality education, which firmly puts God at the centre of learning,” he said.

    Agba underscored the need to combine quality education, sound morals and godliness to make the society better.

    Chancellor of the university, Prof Jerry Gana, praised its proprietors for producing graduates who can compete favourably with their counterparts anywhere in the world.

    He promised to build a 500-capacity hostel to ease accommodation problem in the school.

    Board of Trustee (BOT) President, Senator Andyar Gemade, who launched the varsity’s endowment fund, praised the management for maintaining academic excellence since inception in 2005.

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Targema Tarkuma, said government would partner with the university in education, health and infrastructural development.

  • Varsity where there are no backseats

    No one sits at the back of the class at Minerva University, says Ms Robin Golberg, Chief Experience Officer of the institution based in San Francisco, United States.

    Yet, classes do not hold in the four walls of a room, but on an activ e- learning forum online that allows the faculty to observe the responses of all students, task them and get individual inputs on issues discussed.

    When it is time for a class, students log onto the forum wherever they are on campus, plug in their earphones and join the discussions with their faculties and classmates.

    “We teach in small groups.  No class is larger than 19.  It keeps students active and engaged.  We’ve created a platform where students can really be actively engaged in a very interactive classroom format,” said Goldberg during an interaction with journalists in Lagos.

    Apart from class sessions, students are expected to learn in different cities of the world (Berlin, Germany; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hong Kong, China; Mumbai, India; London, England, before graduation where part of their course work would be to solve problems peculiar to those cities.

    “When they get to each city, they study the problems, for instance, homelessness, and then find solutions to it,” she said.

    Golberg later told a group of A-list school owners at a dinner held at Eko Hotel that Minerva is the product of research on how education can meet the needs of 21st century societal and work challenges.

    Distinguished faculties, who have taught at ivy-league schools now take the 32 students, including four Nigerians, presently enrolled in the school, and are working towards producing graduates, who can think critically, creatively, and communicate effectively.

    “The world is getting much more complex; problems are getting more difficult and unpredictable.  Minerva is a four-year accredited programme designed to teach students’ skills needed to deliver solutions in the 21st century,” she said.

    Goldberg said though the university seeks to increase enrolment, the selection process is rigorous and considers only those who can demonstrate that they can thrive with the intense academic/intellectual requirements at Minerva.  As a result, out of the 11,000 candidates who applied from 160 countries to the university this year, only 220 were accepted of whom 111 will resume classes.

    Ms Goldberg also noted that financial incapacity would not stop those who are accepted from attending the school if they cannot afford the $28,050 fees (tuition and all other expenses), as the university sources funds on their behalf.

    “We have need-based scholarship and make work/study available to cover the full cost of tuition and other expenses.  There is also low-interest student loans with payment plan designed to alleviate their financial burden,” she said.

  • American varsity counts blessings at anniversary

    American varsity counts blessings at anniversary

    The American University of Nigeria (AUN) celebrates the tenth anniversary of its Founder’s Day, pointing out its achievements, reports ADEKUNLE YUSUF

    Children from various schools, parents and teachers, students and other invited guests defied the negative news emanating from the state and gathered in the Lamido Aliyu Musdafa Commencement Hall, American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa State. It was AUN 10th Annual Founder’s Day and Special Award Ceremony.

    Speaking at the well-attended ceremony, which featured outstanding staff awards, community service award and other honours for outstanding students, AUN President Dr. Margie Ensign declared that the university has weathered many storms in its bid to touch lives of students and the people in the host community. Since October 2004, when the first brick was laid at AUN, the pursuit of quality education in Nigeria and Africa has been growing at a steady pace, she said.

    With the bringing of the best in Africa and the United States together in one location, Dr Ensign added that students from 36 countries in the continent now enjoy a new experience of critical thinking through liberal studies that respect African culture, which is a departure from the colonial system.

    Also, while thanking all those who have contributed in one way or another to the success recorded by the university, AUN founder and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar acknowledged that the journey has been bumpy with numerous challenges. He, however, added that he is relieved that AUN has braved another challenging year.

    “The insurgency in the North-east, which has had devastating effects on thousands of people, tested our resolve – but it also confirmed that we the AUN community can respond to mistrust and cruelty with care and love. Looking ahead, there are still plenty of clouds, but they pale in comparison to the silver lining on the horizon.

    “I ask you to support not just AUN, but education reform. We must persuade federal, state, and local authorities to provide universal, free, and valuable basic education; we must convince lawmakers, teachers, and unions to encourage competition among schools; and we must encourage government and the private sector to give public universities the leeway, and the ways and means to catch up with their international peers.”

    The AUN seized the opportunity to flaunt its record as an eco-friendly university, having constructed an environmentally-friendly office accommodation that is replete with all appurtenances. The special edifice, which now serves as the administrative building, was named after AUN chair of board of trustees Akin Kekere-Ekun. It was commissioned by Abubakar, and witnessed by Kekere-Ekun, AUN BoT member Peter Okocha, and Governor Muhammad Umar Jibrilla of Adamawa State.

    Dr Ensign said the building “answers the urgent need for AUN to consolidate its administration on main campus, in a modern facility, with low operating costs, and with the budget constraints of academic institutions.”

    It will hold over 120 working stations of different types, a 100-person training facility, an open-air formation area, changing rooms with showers, toilets and resting areas for staff.

    Elaborating on the unique features of the building, Alex Cobo, executive director, Projects and Facilities Management at AUN, explained that the steel roof of the building was manufactured on site by local craftsmen, adding that the building also enjoys 52 solar skylights that bring in sunlight so efficiently that no electric lighting is required during the day, besides ample ventilation and insulation to reduce air conditioner needs by 30 per cent. Its open office design saves space, eliminates partitions, promotes collaborative work and accountability, improves operational efficiency, just as its landscaping consumes less water because it is designed to capture rainwater and return it to the groundwater reservoir.

    “This project was developed and supervised by the AUN project team. No outside general contractor was required. This project has relied on the most part on local labor, local vendors and local craftsmen. They have worked day and night; weekends. Together we have all learned how to make a sustainable building. The acoustic panels required to control noise were made by groups of empowered local women who use tailoring scraps. Toilet partitions are made of container cutouts. Our two decorative water fountains at the entrance have been manufactured of container scraps. This building has a special skin. Its skin is made of laterite, prepared the old way, mixed with grass and natural resins, molded by local hands, preserving ancient traditions. It will never need paint. It will never fade. It will breathe.

    “This project uses clay bricks made in AUN, made of local materials, cured in the sun, following local traditions while opening long-term opportunity to local laborers. To enhance our environment, we have brought six baobab trees, the trees of life, which carry many spirits inside, and will protect our colleagues who will work here. 100 per cent of the water it uses is recovered and treated biologically for re-use in irrigation.”

  • Varsity where there are no backseats

    No one sits at the back of the class at Minerva University, says Ms Robin Golberg, Chief Experience Officer, of the institution based in San Francisco, United States.

    Yet classes do not hold in the four walls of a room but on an active learning forum online that allows the faculty to observe the responses of all students, task them and get individual inputs on issues discussed.

    When it is time for a class, students log onto the forum wherever they are on campus, plug in their earphones and join the discussions with their faculties and classmates.

    “We teach in small groups.  No class is larger than 19.  It keeps students active and engaged.  We’ve created a platform where students can really be actively engaged in a very interactive classroom format,” said Goldberg during an interaction with journalists in Lagos.

    Apart from class sessions, students are expected to learn in different cities of the world (Berlin, Germany; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hong Kong, China; Mumbai, India; London, England, UK) before graduation where part of their course work would be to solve problems peculiar to those cities.

    “When they get to each city, they study the problems, for instance, homelessness, and then find solutions to it,” she said.

    Golberg later told a group of A-list school owners at a dinner held at Eko Hotel that Minerva is the product of research on how education can meet the needs of 21st century societal and work challenges.

    Distinguished faculties who have taught at ivy-league schools now take the 32 students, including four Nigerians, presently enrolled in the school, and are working towards producing graduates who can think critically, creatively, and communicate effectively.

    “The world is getting much more complex; problems are getting more difficult and unpredictable.  Minerva is a four-year accredited programme designed to teach students’ skills needed to deliver solutions in the 21st century,” she said.

    Goldberg said though the university seeks to increase enrolment, the selection process is rigorous and considers only those who can demonstrate that they can thrive with the intense academic/intellectual requirements at Minerva.  As a result, out of the 11,000 candidates who applied from 160 countries to the university this year, only 220 were accepted of whom 111 will resume classes.

    Ms Goldberg also noted that financial incapacity would not stop those who are accepted from attending the school if they cannot afford the $28,050 fees (tuition and all other expenses), as the university sources funds on their behalf.

    “We have need-based scholarship and make work/study available to cover the full cost of tuition and other expenses.  There is also low-interest student loans with payment plan designed to alleviate their financial burden,” she said.

     

  • Varsity confers awards on Opara, others

    Rescue Mission Theological University will on December 5 confer Honorary Doctorate Degree (PhD Honoraris) on distinguished Nigerians who have contributed greatly to philanthropy and champion social changes in Accra, Ghana.

    The Executive Secretary of Nigeria Christian Pilgrimage Commission (NCPC), Kennedy Opara; Imo Speaker, Acho Ihim; Hon Emeka Lloyd (Owerri North federal Constituency) amd CEO Ceecon Oil and Gas, Chima Anyanso, will be recipients of the award at the convocation ceremony.

    Others include: CEO Waterstone Nig Limited, Harvey Igboanugo; General Overseer Hallowed Chapel International, Apostle Jude Odim; High Chief Victor Nwankwo and Chief Andrew Chukwu Eze-Igbo Ga West Constituency Ghana.

    The African Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Greg Stevens, said the awardees will help to support philanthropic activities of the institution in the continent, especially the RMTU Scholarship Fund with which it assists students from poor homes.

    The Chancellor, Professor Bob James, is expected to confer the awards on the recipients.

    Names of the awardees will be enshrined in the university’s Hall of Glory as one of those championing societal development in Africa.