The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof Faraday Orumwense, has praised The Nation for creating a platform for campus journalism to flourish. He said CAMPUSLIFE has enabled many students to contribute positively to education development in no small measure.
He made the remarks while receiving the institution’s CAMPUSLIFE reporters – Eddy Uwoghiren, a 300-Level Medicine and Surgery student, and Ezekiel Efeobhokhan, a 400-Level Pharmacy student – in his office.
Eddy said the visit was to congratulate the VC on his appointment and intimate him with campus journalists’ activities in the school.
Commending the VC for sustaining the tempo of development of the former VC, Prof Osayuki Oshodin, the students pledged their commitment to the present administration’s programmes through their reporting.
Responding, the VC applauded the students for their activities, noting that he was thrilled reading the students’ reports about the school in The Nation.
His words: “I am marvelled at how far both of you have done. I am also marveled at how you both combine professional courses like Medicine and Pharmacy with the strenuous task of journalism. You might not see the reward of your engagement in campus journalism today, but with time you will be surprised at how far this practice has taken you. I strongly encourage you to keep it up.”
He added: “With CAMPUSLIFE platform created by The Nation, students have been able to channel their energy for productive ventures, which will definitely benefit them in the future. The Nation deserves commendation for this opportunity. I want the media firm to keep the platform going.”
Highlight of the visit included presentation of past publication of the school events in The Nation to the VC and a photo session.
No fewer than 12 candidates have applied for the post of the Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti which becomes vacant in four months time.
Incumbent Vice Chancellor, Prof. Patrick Oladipo Aina, is expected to vacate office on December 2 when he would have completed a five-year non-renewable term.
Aina, a professor of Soil Physics, is credited with massive infrastructural development, execution of reforms which has repositioned the university and better welfare for staff and students, among others.
He was a senior academic at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile- Ife before he became EKSU Vice Chancellor.
EKSU Registrar, Emmanuel Ogunyemi, confirmed to The Nation yesterday that 12 candidates were interested in the office of the Vice Chancellor, but he declined to give their names.
Ogunyemi, who is also the Secretary to the Senate and the Governing Council, disclosed that filing of applications has since closed while candidates will be interviewed in October.
Inside sources told our correspondent that out of the 12 candidates who beat the deadline for submission, six are senior academics in the university while the rest six are from other universities around the country.
The Nation gathered that candidates have been lobbying powerful individuals, including politicians, council members and other people that matter in pushing their case.
Expected to play key roles in the emergence of a new VC are the Visitor, Governor Ayo Fayose and Chairman of the Governing Council who is also the immediate past Minister of State (Works), Prince Dayo Adeyeye.
In the race for the EKSU VC job are former Vice Chancellor of the defunct University of Science and Technology, Ifaki (USTI), Prof. Oye Bandele; Prof. Joel Adegun, former EKSU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development) and Prof. Gbenga Aribisala; former EKSU Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic).
Other EKSU senior academics gunning for the plum job are Prof. Samuel Ashaolu, former Dean of Faculty of Science; Prof. Adeolu Ibijola of Mathematical Sciences Department and Prof. Joshua Kayode.
The identity of the six applicants from other universities could not be ascertained at press time, but a strong lobby was being intensified to ensure that one of the ‘insiders’ got the job.
A source said: “The candidates are expected to face the interview panel in October and it will involve the Governing Council, the Senate and members of the congregation.
“The papers of the applicants are being scrutinised while for the outsiders, visits are being paid to the universities where they had worked in the past.
“The search party is already on the field and this is one of the measures to ensure that the process is credible and transparent.”
NASARAWA State University, Keffi (NSUK) Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mohammad Mainoma, has praised the commitment and peaceful disposition of Benue State students studying in the varsity, urging them to continue to toe the path of academic excellence.
The VC made the statement when members of National Union of Benue State Students (NUBESS) paid him a courtesy visit in his office. They presented an award to the VC.
Mainoma, represented by his Special Assistant, Mr Yahaya Sabo, said the students earned his respect for their good comportment, promising his support for their activities.
The students presented the VC Most-Friendly Vice Chancellor of the Year by NUBESS members for his friendly disposition toward the students.
Earlier, the outgoing president of the union, Inalegwu Itodo, informed the VC representative that the students were committed to ensuring that vices were eradicated on the campus.
His successor, Daniel Okwa, eulogised Mainoma for what he called the VC’s transformational leadership.
He said: “We appreciate how the Vice-Chancellor has transformed our school within eight months of his leadership. He has shown that he is a performer and transformer.”
Members of the union, who visited the VC, included president-elect of National Association of Idoma Students (NAIS), Joseph Agada, outgoing NAIS president, Christian Okwori and Chairman, Beyond Boundaries Legacy Leadership Initiative, Daniel Omaga.
Members of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) in Zone B have conferred the leadership award on the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Prof Benjamin Ozumba.
The VC became the fifth person to receive the award. Others recipients include the late Prof Chinua Achebe, Prof Wole Soyinka, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) and Prof Peter Ejiofor.
Presenting the award at the VC’s conference room, the Coordinator of NANS in the zone, Comrade Okorie Ikechukwu, said Ozumba was given the award, because of his contributions to the growth of education in the country.
He said: “We can, without any equivocation, bear testimony to the fact that Prof Ozumba has always supported any cause that uplifts education and anything that accelerates the pace of socio-economic transformation in Nigeria.”
The NANS leader described the VC as a man “who is dedicated to the pursuit of truth and fair play with the ability and patience to reconcile competing interests”.
He said NANS had confidence in Ozumba and his ability to make sacrifices for the interest of students, saying the VC had demonstrated the trait through the reduction of fees. Okorie called for youth involvement in governance to enable them expend their energy in nation building.
Responding, Ozumba hailed the students’ body for the award, saying he was happy his contributions to education were being recognised by students, who he described as members of his primary constituency.
He said his interest in the students’ welfare dated back to his undergraduate years at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where he was an activist.
He said: “While serving as a Dean and the Provost of College of Medicine, I continued to fight for and protected the interest of my students.”
He said his administration was making effort to improve municipal services in all the campuses of the university. According to him, the administration has provided internet services for students’ use and ensured steady flow of water in the hostels. He said plan was being made to provide independent power source for the school.
Ozumba expressed confidence in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the new leader would bring succor to the education.
As the Lagos State University (LASU) begins its 2014/2015 first semester examination today, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) has warned that any attempt to “smuggle” Vice-Chancellor Prof John Obafunwa into the university may truncate peace in the institution.
This development is coming against the backdrop of a conference organised by the Faculty of Arts, which Obafunwa is expected to chair.
Speaking to The Nation after a congress yesterday, SSANU Chairman Saheed Oseni said the congress decided that Obafunwa must not come to the campus, until outstanding issues are settled.
But LASU Registrar Akinwunmi Lewis said the union members should stop the “nonsense”.
Govenor Akinwunmi Ambode, last month, invited the workers’ union and management to the Governor’s Office, Alausa, where he pleaded that Obafunwa should be allowed to complete his term, which expires on October 31.
But the workers reportedly told Ambode that they would hold a congress and send its decision to the governor.
Oseni said against Ambode’s directive, Obafunwa had been sponsoring hate campaigns on workers in the media, leaving them (workers) with no choice but to also re-launch a media war.
Lewis said the workers were taking their freedom for granted.
He said: “We are in a democracy and all this nonsense must stop. Some people think they have absolute right. They do not know that where their rights end is where some others begin.
“This is a university and academic culture is sacrosanct. But what is happening here (LASU) is simply an abuse of that academic culture.
“Government has told them (workers) they have no right as regards who comes or leaves campus because we are all employees. If they have any issue, the government said they should put it in black and white but they don’t want to do that.
“Ask them (workers) in whose interest are they fighting? The 2014/2015 academic session would have ended by September last year, if the previous academic calendar had been followed. Now students will write the 2014/2015 first semester exam tomorrow (today). The university and our students have lost four months already. “
Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Isaac Folorunso Adewole, has bagged a United Kingdom (UK) award for outstanding contributions to medical screening and preventative medicine.
Adewole was honoured at the University of Sunderland convocation under the Faculty of Applied Sciences for his impactful scientific contributions to Obstetrics and Gynaecology which have improved the lives of countless women in Nigeria.
The other recipient is Sue Sharpe (Officer of the British Empire) who also got Honorary Doctor of Science.
Adewole was awarded a Doctorate of Science in recognition of his outstanding academic career and his commitment to the promotion of medical screening and preventative medicine in Nigeria.
The university also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Sunderland focused on “progression arrangements for students within courses from undergraduate to postgraduate courses; transnational education and dual award degrees; collaborative and cooperative supervision of postgraduate research students and development and implementation of research and external engagement projects, particularly to support the development of academic staff”
Adewole is the Principal Investigator of the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, Co-Principal Investigator of the Medical Education Partnership, a former Chairman of the National Task Team on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, and Principal Investigator for ‘Operation Stop Cervical Cancer’ in Nigeria.
Presenting the award, Vice-Chancellor, University of Sunderland Prof Shirley Atkinson said Adewole’s significant contributions within his field were capable of inspiring graduates of her institution as they begin their own careers.
Reacting to the award, Adewole said he would continue to beam his searchlight of research on all threats to human existence adding that the award was in recognition of education and teamwork in taming a global scourge.
According to him, any war against terror must be fought through collective efforts to nip it in the bud including assemblage of sound team of experts capable of unmasking the masquerade with a view to reducing the fear, pain and terror certain diseases have inflicted on mankind.
“An African proverb says ‘until you unmask it, a masquerade remains a terror’. A war against terror – of any kind – is best achieved through collective efforts. Our modest contributions from our corner of the globe have helped in restoring hope to millions of people without hope. It has become a lamp among the armament that unmasked the monster HIV and we shall continue to beam the light of research on all threats to human existence. This award is recognition of the power of education and teamwork in addressing a global scourge.”
In 2013, Adewole was also presented with the Distinguished Service Award for Excellence in Research in recognition of his contribution to improving the health of Nigerian women.
Many Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates prefer the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). They believe that the university gives its students the best. But, students must be disciplined to complete their programmes at the institution, reports ADEKUNLE JIMOH Ilorin
Many candidates prefer the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) to other universities because of one thing: ‘its uninterrupted academic calendar’.
The 40-year old university sits comfortably on top of the list of “The Statistics of Choice of Institutions” generated from the enrolment records of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
It has topped the list for two years running. In the 2015/2016 UTME, which was fully computer-based, 107,491 of the 1.4 million candidates that took the examination chose UNILORIN as their most preferred institution to attend. For the 2014/2015 UTME, the university had 105,000 seeking to be admitted into the university. Second placed University of Benin for both years, recorded about 30,000 less candidates (71, 497 this year, and 76,000 last year).
Records show that the university has steadily grown. In 2011, it was the 8th most preferred university, which improved to fifth in 2012; second and second in 2013.
However, while the university is increasingly popular with new applicants, its authorities have not hesitated in wielding the big stick against deviant and erring students.
Strict adherence to rules and regulation is required of students. And many who have fallen foul of the rules have been shown the way out.
The rules guiding student activities as contained in the students’ handbook states that: “A student shall not engage in any form of activity, alone or with any other person or group, which interferes with, restricts, hinders or adversely affects the objectives of the university; not engage in any form of activity whether alone or with any other person or group which interferes with, restricts, hinders or adversely affects the rights of any person duly authorized and lawfully present on university premises to express any view of any subject peacefully or which prevents any person duly authorized from entering, passing through, or leaving the university premises for such purposes and not engage in any form of activity which interferes with, restricts, hinders, disrupts, or adversely affects teaching, research, study of any kind etc.”
Others are: “Every student (male or female) must dress decently, every student must avoid any dress that may expose sensitive and vital areas of the body; conduct himself/herself in such a way that his/her priority is to live a wholesome life devoid of anti-social activities especially cultism; not engage in any dishonest, false or other misleading representation or activity which affects academic assessments or examination and to obey all examination regulations, among others.”
Sanctions for violation of these rules attract fines, restitution, reprimand and warning, suspension/rustication and expulsion.
In April 13 students faced the UNILORIN Students Disciplinary Committee (SDC); seven of them were found to have run afoul of the university rules and were expelled. Two were rusticated for a semester each while four were exonerated.
In the last four sessions the university has disciplined no fewer than 50 students. In the last session alone the university expelled 11 students and rusticated three per semester each based on the offences of association with external cult groups and examination malpractices.
•Prof Ambali
During the matriculation of the 2014/2015 academic session, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali warned the new students to make choices carefully as their choices could determine their future in the university.
“Although everyone with native wisdom and good conscience knows what is right and wrong, many people still find themselves on the wrong lane,” he said.
More recently, speaking on the expulsion of some students, Ambali said that it was not an easy decision asking students to leave the institution. But it is one that is taken to protect its integrity, after serious consideration.
“Management usually feels very sad when it has to resort to asking people to leave, but all the same, the University was established to build students that are found worthy in character and learning. Despite their academic excellence if we feel that character-wise they have refused to be molded, we are left with no choice than to tell them to leave.
“We have about 30,000 students. When parents send their wards to study it means that their welfare is under our care; which means we have to monitor all of them and if we find one of them as a threat, we often ask that person to go,” he said.
Ambali however explained that the severity of the offences varies, and that the university hardly expels students for dress code offenses as there are other forms of punishment adopted for less serious offences. He also said details of the offenses are not made public.
“The specific offences of the expelled students are always released to their parents or guardians but we try as much as possible not to publicise these in the hope that the punishment meted on them will not affect them in trying to further education elsewhere,” he said.
Speaking on the issue, the Deputy Director of Information (DDI), Kunle Akogun said expulsion is not a vindictive exercise at the university.
“There is nothing untoward about the expulsion of erring students at the University of Ilorin. It is not in any way vindictive, as it is a way of enforcing laid-down rules and regulation.
“As a matter of principle, the University of Ilorin has zero tolerance for all anti-social behaviour like cultism, theft, and examination malpractices in all their ramifications. Other offences, which the University frowns at, include indecent dressing, unkempt hair style, fighting on and off-campus, rudeness to constituted authorities, etc.
“And all students are aware of this because one of the first documents given to each matriculated student on resumption at the University is the Students’ Handbook, which details all the dos and don’ts on the campus. And once a student signs and submits the Matriculation Oath, he has elected to abide by all the rules and regulations of the school.”
Akogun said students who run afoul of the university rules and regulations are properly arraigned before the Students Disciplinary Committee and given fair hearing. If convicted, they can also appeal to the University Council, within 48 days of the committee’s sitting, if they feel unsatisfied with the SDC’s decision.
He described the number of expelled students as minimal and not one that should generate undue concern.
“Probably because of the general awareness of this body of rules among our students and the attendant penalties against default, the frequency of default is minimal. In view of this, the number of expelled students is quite negligible. But even at that, it is a step that the University authority takes with great pains.
Akogun attributed the stability enjoyed in the university to the level of discipline of the students because the institution places equal emphasis on character as learning.
“This is why we enjoy an unparalleled harmony and unprecedented academic stability here. This is why parents will go to any length in making sure that their wards gain admission to the University of Ilorin. And this is why the University has consistently led the table of most subscribed university by admission seekers in the country for the third year running now,” he said.
For students who spoke on the issue with The Nation, the rules are not too difficult to follow.
A post graduate student (names withheld), even noted that the current vice chancellor’s crusade against anti social vices lack steam and bite, adding that is responsible for pockets of examination malpractices in the school.
The source said that his predecessor, Prof Is-haq Oloyede had a firmer grip on the campus.
“This vice chancellor is laying more emphasis on the infrastructural development on campus; that is why magnificent buildings are springing up here and there on the campus. Prof Oloyede was in total control. I am not saying this man is not trying but I want him to put in more effort in tackling students’ vices on campus,” the student said.
However, another student of the department of Educational Technology said the strict rules have engendered discipline and orderly behavior of students on campus.
For another 200-level student Of Library and Information Technology, the institution has the rules to thank for eliminating cultism on campus.
“Indeed, that word cultism is alien to many of the university of Ilorin students as we are not aware of its existence here,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, Ondo State (AAUA) Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, has set a seven-point agenda for the newly-constituted Sports Council of the institution at the inauguration of its council members.
Inaugurating the 15-member council headed by Ajibefun’s deputy (Administration), Prof. Francis Oyebade, members were urged to formulate policies that would help promote sport culture; encourage meaningful participation in internal and external sporting events and provide the guidelines for same; and creatively package and brand robust sport programmes that could help to showcase talents among staff/students.
Other agenda are: to stimulate the patronage of the university’s sport facilities by corporate individuals and organisations; seek support or partnership from corporate organisations for the university sport programmes/events; and advise the university on the procurement, maintenance and use of sport facilities in the most beneficial way; among others.
Ajibefun congratulated members for being part of the council. “I have no doubt in my mind that with your passion and dedicated efforts, the vision will be accomplished in no time,” Ajibefun said.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof Faraday Orumwense, has laid the foundation blocks for the construction of a lecture theatres, laboratory and seminar halls for the faculties of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences and Education.
The structures, according to institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Michael Osasuyi, are needed to boost teaching and learning. Osasuyi said there had been facility challenge in the tree faculties, which made vital lectures and laboratory work to be canceled.
He said: “The foundations for the facilities come at the right time, because we have had complaints from the students on their challenges to get lectures. So, the management reacted promptly. The projects are scheduled to be completed within a short time and we urge students to be patient for pain they may go through.”
The ceremony was witnessed by top management team, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academics, Prof Abiodun Falodun and Director of Physical Planning, Ehis Emojie, among others.
In his remark, Prof Orumwense said the project would improve the institution’s academic rating, adding that the projects were being funded by Tertiary Education Funds (TETFund).
He said: “I thank God that this bold initiative is coming at a time that the university is rated as number one in the country. We must continue to demonstrate leadership to other institutions. We appreciate the Governing Council, TETFund and the school Capital Project Committee for their roles in making the provision of these facilities a reality.”
The VC enjoined staff and students to reciprocate the gesture by taking advantage of the facilities to redouble their effort in teaching and research. He urged students to imbibe good maintenance culture, saying it was the only way to protect the facilities from dilapidation.
Victor Okoroafor, a student of Department of Mathematics, hailed the management for the projects, describing them as good development.
The projects will be completed between 18 and 30 weeks.
A week after he was “abducted”, former Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Vice-Chancellor, Prof Albert Ilemobade’s body was discovered yesterday in a store in his Ijapo home in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The store, a small isolated room outside the main building ,is where cables are kept.
It was learnt that the former Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors was “murdered” by his driver, Yemi, and guard Daniel.
Prof Ilemobade retired from FUTA in 1995 after serving two terms as VC.
He was almost 80.
The suspects were arrested in Ogun State while trying to sell the late Ilemobade’s car.
Sources said they confessed during interrogation that the Sport Utility Van (SUV) belonged to their boss and that they “murdered” him.
His decomposing remains have been taken to the morgue.
The late Ilemobade, his driver and guard were last Monday declared missing.
It was initially believed the former VC was abducted, prompting relatives, church members and friends to pray and call for his release.
The Vicar-in-charge, Vinning College of Theology, Akure, Dr. Ayodeji Fagbemi, described the death as shocking, saying many thought he was kidnapped.
He said: “We were together in church on Sunday. It was Father’s Day last Sunday and, as usual, he was very active in our Bible study, making his contribution. During the time of thanksgiving, he danced.
“On Monday morning, we were called that he was missing. It was a very disturbing development for us. We came here straight away. The police and all of us met at the gate.
“Right from the front, the gate was padlocked. There was no way anybody could get in. Mama was inside and we were out there. We could only exchange words. Later, we called someone to cut the padlocks.
“When we entered, we saw his wristwatch just in front of the security post within the compound. We also found that his slippers had been flung to the other side of the road. We noticed that his red car had been taken away.
“We have since been around, church members, friends and everybody to support them, to encourage Mama.”
Fagbemi said he sent a text message to his phone number and his children were doing the same to encourage him.
He said: “It got to a stage that we were all getting agitated, wondering why it was taking time to release him.
“We were still hoping that with our efforts and prayers and efforts of the security operatives that his abductors would be apprehended and that he would be returned to us.
“Everyday, our people have been coming here to pray. Even today, we still prayed for him. But I was called to come and see them here. In fact, mama was resting.
“I was told that he was actually killed. It was a shocking one. I had to go back to the church to disperse the people and tell them the news. While we were thinking that he was taken away, he must have been killed here.”
A source in the family said the late Ilemobade might have been killed because he just bought a new vehicle.
“Papa bought a vehicle recently and since then we have got information that they wanted to steal that vehicle.
“Earlier in the year, he was trailed by some unknown persons who wanted to snatch his vehicle, but he escaped. I think it was that vehicle that they wanted to sell.
“I can’t imagine that our gateman was even the brain behind this. Papa took him as his son.”
The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji and ex-FUTA Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Emmanuel Fasakin, said Nigeria had lost a very great scholar.
Fasakin lamented the manner in which Ilemobade was murdered, stressing that he did not deserve to die a “cruel death”.
He said: “Ilemobade was an international scholar. He was an erudite academic.
“He was two-time FUTA Vice Chancellor and Chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors. He was the main core of FUTA. The achievements were very tremendous during his tenure.
“He was recognised all over the world. We’ve lost a very great scholar. For him to have died this kind of death, it is just too wicked, too cruel and too cheap for a man of his status. It is a terrible sin for whoever perpetrated the act,” Fasakin said.
Commissioner of Police Isaac Eke confirmed the incident.
He said he had been contacted by the Ogun State Police Command, adding that the two suspects had been arrested and that they would be paraded today.
