The Nation Newspaper

Tag: varsity

  • Lagos partners Caleb varsity on scholarship

    The Lagos State Government is partnering Caleb University, Imota to offer scholarships to candidates of the state who wish to pursue undergraduate degree programmes in the institution.

    Acting Registrar of the university, Mrs. Folake Okor, noted in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Scholarship Board, Mr Sesan Awobadejo, that there are three full scholarships and 50 half-tuition on offer for eligible candidates who apply.

    The statement noted that the scholarships would be awarded into programmes in any of the universities three colleges, namely: Environmental Sciences and Management, Pure and Applied sciences, and College of Social and Management Sciences.

    To apply for the scholarship, Mrs Okor said interested applicants who scored 180 and above in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), are required to obtain application forms from the board’s office in Iyana Ipaja or Caleb Schools, Magodo after paying N2, 000 application fee to a designated bank account.

     

  • Varsity promotes 290 workers

    Members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), University of Ilorin Chapter, have praised the Vice-Chancellor, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali for the recent promotion of 290 members of the union in one fell swoop.

    The junior workers, who had earlier held a special general meeting, burst into praise songs as the VC, accompanied by some principal officers, entered the university’s main auditorium where they had gathered.

    Of the 290 beneficiaries, 96 moved up from CONTISS 05 to CONTISS 06, while 35 were also promoted from CONTISS 04 to CONTISS 05.

    Also, a total of 126 workers were promoted from CONTISS 03 to CONTISS 04 while 31 moved from CONTISS 02 to CONTISS 03 and two moved from CONTISS 01 to CONTISS 02.

    Speaking on behalf of the staff, the NASU Chairman, Mr. J. J. Bello, said most junior staff members had nearly lost hope until God sent Ambali to lift their sorrow and put smiles on their faces.

    “You have changed everything for the better; “We cannot but appreciate you. You are God-sent and we are happy that you always solve our problems before we even table them before you,” Be;;o told the VC.

    In the same vein, the state NASU Chairman, Mr. A. A. Bukoye, who was also present on the occasion, thanked Prof Ambali for promoting the members of staff who, according to him, “do the odd jobs.”

    In his response, Prof Ambali prayed God to enable him to continue to do more for the benefit of all members of the university community.

  • Varsity gets Statistics dept

    Varsity gets Statistics dept

    The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), has begun moves to establish a Department of Statistics in the School of Sciences.

    The Vice-Chancellor Prof Adebiyi Daramola, who addressed a team from the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja, which conducted a verification on the splitting of Department of Mathematical Sciences into the Departments of Mathematics and Statistics, described the FUTA’s departments as matured in terms of manpower and infrastructure.

    Daramola, who spoke through his Deputy (Academics), Prof Adedayo Fasakin, explained that the Department of Mathematical Sciences, had earlier given birth to the Department of Computer Sciences, which has in turn produced successful graduates.

    A professor of Mathematics from the University of Benin S. C. Omosigho, and a member of the two-man team, explained that the team was to verify facilities in the Department of Mathematical Sciences and the preparedness of FUTA to establish the new department.

  • Varsity hosts dialogue on media and communication

    Varsity hosts dialogue on media and communication

    Arrangements are in top gear for the upcoming to second UNN “Dialogue on media and communication” scheduled for June 13-15 at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

    The event, being organised by the Department of Mass Communication and Information and Public Relations Unit of the University will focus on “Research Methods” as the theme, while papers on Public Relations practice will also be presented.

    The facilitators expected for the event are renowned scholars in the field of Communication and Public Relations from different parts of the world, led by the keynote speaker; Prof. Robert White from the Institute of Peace Studies and International Research, Hekima College, Nairobi, Kenya.

    Other speakers will include; Prof Charles Okigbo, Department of Mass Communication, North Dakota State University, United States; Prof Chris Ogbonndah, University of Northern Iowa, USA, Prof. Kate Omenugha, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Mr Chido Nwakanma, Managing Director of Blueflower, and Mr Ifeanyi Mbanefo, Communication Relations Manager, NLNG, Bonny.

    Speaking on the essence of the event, the Head of Department of Mass Comm., UNN Dr Nnanyelugo Okoro, event that the programme is primarily aimed at equipping postgraduate students in the field of communication and other disciplines with the latest research methods to make their postgraduate studies easier.

    “The dialogue is aimed at building a strong research resource base for Mass Communication in particular and the academia in general. It will help strengthen research ideas, enhance research consciousness and excellence in the University of Nigeria and other sister universities,” he said.

    Dr Okoro said the workshop was not limited to students of communication but was open to other sister departments from any part of the country. He advised intended participants to indicate interest by completing an online registration form using the link www.unn.edu.ng/cms/information-and-public-relations-unit-unn. According to him, certificate of participation would be issued to participants at the end of the workshop.

    Dr Okoro further expressed his appreciation to distinguished alumni of the department and other good spirited individuals who are making effort to ensure that the Dialogue becomes a success.

     

  • VC suspended over varsity’s closure

    VC suspended over varsity’s closure

    The Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) has been reopened three months after a protest that led to the death of two students. The reopening came with a shocker – the suspension for six months of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Shamsudeen Amali, and other principal officers. KAMALUDDEEN ABUBAKAR (200-Level Geography) reports.

     

    CAN a Vice-Chancellor (VC) be suspended? Yes, he can and we don’t have to look far to see where that has happened. It happened at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) which reopened last week after a three-month closure.

    The closure followed the February 25 violence in which two students died.

    Amali and others were suspended by the Visitor and Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Almakura. Their suspension was part of the recommendations of a panel set up to probe what led to the closure of the school.

    Prof Aminu Salihu Mukail has been appointed the Acting Vice-Chancellor. He is a former VC of the Kaduna State University.

    Students were asked to pay N1,000 reparation fee before last Friday, failure which defaulters would pay N5,000.

    The university was billed to re-open last month after the committee submitted its report. Its Registrar, Talhatu Mamman, in a statement, directed students to resume on April 28, but the government issued a statement, suspending activities on the campus indefinitely.

    Penultimate Sunday, Mamman issued another statement, urging the students to resume. The following Monday, students and staff returned for academic activities. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that lectures started immediately after resumption.

    Our correspondent saw freshers moving round the premises to sign their clearance forms, which would authorise them to pay their school fees. According to the academic calendar obtained by CAMPUSLIFE, the first semester is expected to end in August.

    Our correspondent visited the Faculty of Natural and Applied Science where lectures were held. In one of the lecture halls, a lecturer, Dr. Mahmud Abubakar, was teaching 300-Level Geography students.

    Students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, were excited over the resumption but bemoaned the non-provision of alternative source of water supply for the campus and its off-campus hostels.

    The students blocked Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga highway to protest the shortage of water on the campus and its host community. Soldiers from Shittu Alao Barracks moved to the scene to disperse the protesters but in the ensuing melee, two students – Emmanuel Buba, 300-Level Physics and Aminu Usman, 400-Level Geography – were hit by bullets. Their killers are yet to be identified, though the army denied that its troops were responsible for the students’ death.

    After the incident, members of the Joint Committee on Education, Water Resource and Security from the Nasarawa State House of Assembly visited the institution in company of the Special Adviser on Youth and Students’ Affair to President Goodluck Jonathan, Comrade Jude Imagwe.

    Imagwe presented a N20 million cheque on behalf of the president to help solve the problem of water in and around the campus. But months after, the water crisis persists.

    Mary Chukwu, 200-Level Geography, urged the leadership of the institution and government to wake up to their responsibilities. “I am happy we are back in school. I am also happy for some repairs and maintenance work being carried out on some buildings in the school. But honestly, the issue that led to the bloody protest is far from being solved. Up till now, there is no water supply within the campus. The new VC must to focus on this problem and solve it once and for all.”

    Zaharadeen Yakubu, 400-Level Psychology, enjoined his colleague to put behind them the memory of the bloody riot, urging them to take their studies seriously. He said: “It is sad that we lost two of our students in the course of the February 25 protest. I lost a course mate to the cold hand of death during the break. But life goes on. We need to face our academic work squarely.”

    A 300-Level student, who did not want his name in print, called on the new VC not to toe the path of his predecessor, urging the governor to speed up the construction work on the road that leads to the university.

    He said: “Frankly speaking, there is only a little improvement in the school. The water problem has not been resolved despite the Federal Government’s cash donation to sink boreholes. No single borehole has been inaugurated. The construction, which started long ago, is yet to be completed. I welcome the new VC but I want to bring to his notice that, aside the water shortage, students also face challenges such as low staff strength, inadequate lecture rooms and accommodation problem.”

    A trader on the campus, who deals in second-hand ladies’ shoes and bags, said business was gradually coming up after the resumption. “Nna, market don dey move o. No be like before when we no dey see any customer from morning go reach evening.”

  • Varsity disclaims fake admissions

    Authorities of Crescent University, Abeokuta have drawn the attention of the public to a fraudulent website www.topix.com advertising fake Crescent University supplementary admissions to defraud unsuspecting admission seekers.

    In a statement through its Public Relations Officer, Idris Katib, members of the public were advised not to pay any money into private accounts of any admissions ‘agent’ as being requested.

    It urged that all enquiries about the institution’s 2013/2014 admissions should be channeled through the website -www.crescent-university.edu.ng or admissions office of the institution’s registry.

    Katib also advised the prospective candidates of Crescent University, Abeokuta who scored the UTME national minimum to visit the institution’s campus at Km 5, Ayetoto Road with a N5,000 bank draft of any bank paid in the name of the university.

     

  • Students’ riot: Fodiyo Varsity shut down indefinitely

    Barely a week to an examination, authorities of the Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, yesterday closed the institution indefinitely following students’ violent demonstration on Monday night over outages.

    The authorities have, however, raised a committee to investigate the remote cause of the riot.

    Since its establishment in 1975, the university has been adjudged the most peaceful until Monday night when a group of students stormed the staff quarters to vent their grievances.

    The university wore a forlorn look hours after the students were ordered to vacate the campus.

    Several students in were seen yesterday carrying their luggage to the town. Their exodus caused a temporary traffic gridlock at the Dandima Roundabout few kilometres from the university campus.

     

  • Paul varsity beefs up security on campus

    Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, Right Reverend Alexander Ibezim, has assured parents and guardians whose wards attend Paul University, Awka of adequate security.

    Speaking during the third session of ninth synod of the Awka Diocese at St Mary’s Church Ukpo, Ibezim said the suspects that waylaid abused two female students and robbed them as well as the diocese of millions of naira have been arrested.

    It will be recalled about six gunmen invaded the university, abducting and raping two 100-Level female students at gun point.

    Following the atrocity, their colleagues staged a protest, shuting the three gates into the university for hours so no one could either go out or come in. It was Ibezim who eventually pacified the protesters.

    Earlier, some armed robbers had broken into Ibezim’s office and made away with over N6 million without trace.

    Similarly last year, some robbers invaded the institution thrice, making away with valuables belonging to the students. Then, the students also protested, calling for change of management of the institution. Ibezim said the diocese has completely renovated nine primary schools within Awka Diocese with the assistance of Governor Peter Obi.

    He said a new 14-seater bus was acquired for the diocesan education board, while renovation is ongoing in five secondary schools.

  • Jonah Jang gives Plateau varsity N2b

    • School matriculates 430 freshers 

    The Plateau State government has given the Plateau State University, N2billion, for infrastructural development.

    Its Vice-Chancellor, Prof Doknan Danjuma Sheni said at the matriculation of students for the 2012/2013 academic session at the school campus in Bokkos that funds would be used to construct projects in all faculties.

    “I am glad to reveal to you that the governor of Plateau State Da Jonah Jang has graciously approved over N2 billion for the development of the university. The governor said the approved sum is for the commencement of massive infrastructural development of the school which will commence almost immediately.

    “The sum will be deployed immediately for the construction of the university main gate, fence, administrative block, and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Works has already commenced with the construction of Faculty of Management Sciences, lecture hall and Entrepreneurship Centre,” he said.

    Sheni admonished matriculating students to shun cultism and face their studies with seriousness.

    “Today’s event could be likened to an initiation ceremony for our new undergraduates and will mark their formal acceptance into the university. I therefore wish to formally welcome you all into the university community.

    “The university under my management is in agreement with the state government to provide the most conducive atmosphere for our students to have smooth memorable studies.

    “We have a duty to tailor your mind to only those things that are aimed at fostering the attainments of your academic and social goals,” he said.

  • Akwa Ibom varsity to get N6.8b hostels

    The Akwa Ibom State Government has approved N6.8 billion for the construction of four 650 bed space hostel blocks for the State University.

    The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Aniekan Umanah, said the hostels would be built on the Ikot Akpaden and Obio Akpa campuses .

    Umanah said Governor Godswill Akpabio has approved the development of a permanent site for the State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, AK-RUWATSAN.

    The site, which is to be located at the industrial layout, will be built at a cost of N199.8million.