The Nation Newspaper

Tag: VC

  • Get successful mentors, VC advises freshers

    Get successful mentors, VC advises freshers

    The Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, has advised freshers to shun vices that can cut their dreams short and hamper their academic pursuits.

    The institution, he said, has zero tolerance for misconduct and act that can bring its reputation to disrepute.

    Prof Ajibefun gave the advice at the orientation organised for the new students at the institution’s multipurpose hall.

    He congratulated them on their admission but told them to work hard to achieve excellence. Describing the school as the best state-owned university, the VC said the institution had trained graduates to compete anywhere in the world.

    He said the orientation was to integrate the students into the system, stressing that excellence could be achieved by any student who desired to work hard for good grades. The VC encouraged them to use their time for their studies.

    Prof Ajibefun also admonished them to get successful people in their various fields for mentoring. He urged the freshers to set good goals and pursue their education with passion.

    The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Olujide Ajidahun, told the students to be serious with their academics. He advised them to complete their registration on time.

    President of the Students’ Union, Olukayode Ogunade, urged the freshers to put their trust in God as they started their journey in the university.

     

     

  • ESUT needs more funding to grow, says VC

    ESUT needs more funding to grow, says VC

    It was in the presence of 11,458 graduands combined from the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 academic sessions that the Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, praised Prof Cyprian Onyeji for contributing to the development of Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) in the last five years.

    However, the vice-chancellor said the university would achieve even more with greater financial investment.

    Governor Chime, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Rev Ralph Nwonye, at the university’s 16th Convocation, had praised Onyeji and the governing council for academic excellence, physical infrastructural development and maintenance, improved funding and staff and students’ welfare in the period under review.

    He described ESUT as an embodiment of what a higher educational institution is all about, which tallies with the government’s policy to deliver quality education to its citizens.

    Onyeji attributed his success to the ability to motivate the workers to run with his six-point agenda.

    He also praised Governor Chime and other government agencies, such as TETFund, PTDF, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), and NCC for their support over the years.

    “Your exemplary leadership set us on the way to success and we have been able to efficiently and effectively utilise the available resources to progressively nurture some of the best  graduates in Nigeria today,” he said.

    However, Onyeji said the university needs more funding to get “there.”

    “ESUT, infrastructure wise, is a work-in-progress. What we have done is to reverse the declining tide and put it on the irreversible part of growth.  In other words, the base has been thoroughly solidified. It now requires another round of massive funding to kick-start those projects not yet embarked upon, as contained in the University Master Plan,” he said.

    With the kind of funding not likely to come from government alone, the Vice-Chancellor appealed to the private sector, alumni, friends of the university, and Enugu State citizens to support  the university financially so it can achieve its goals.

    Also underscoring the need for more funding for the university, the Chancellor of ESUT, Ambassador Hassan Adamu, Wakili of Adamawa, explained that no university, the world over, survives only on government subvention.

    “It has always been a joint effort between the governments, private organisations and internally generated revenue (IGR) of the university,” he said.

    The Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Chilo Offiah, added:  “The university system requires funding as it grows in size and that it is very obvious that the government effort will never be sufficient both now and in the future. Therefore, independent sources of funding should remain critical to our survival and the survival of the Nation.”

    Among the 11,458 graduands, 10,920 had first degrees; 109, Postgraduate Diploma; 414, Masters, and 15, Ph.D.

    Four prominent Nigerians were conferred with honorary doctorates in Public Administration and Business Administration.They are: Sir David Ogbodo, Nicholas Okoye, Ambassador Ademu Aliyu, and Mrs Ukamaka Okoye, the first woman to be honoured by the varsity.

    Dignitaries at the event included: former Minister  of  Power Prof  Bath Nnaji; his Minister of Petroleum and Education counterpart, Prof Jubril Aminu; Prof Giwa and vice chancellors from over 20 universities.

  • VC woos parents

    The JABU Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Fajana, has urged parents to be more responsible for the moral growth of their wards.

    Fajana, who spoke at a Parents Forum organised by the university, said by so doing they would be supportive partners of the university in its quest to help the students grow into responsible individuals.

    The VC also used the medium to update the parents of the university’s achievements, which include: commencement of the law programme, collaboration with College of Social Sciences, Poland for a joint degree programme, and the successful hosting of second JABU annual quiz competition.

     

  • UI VC worried about explosion of medical schools

    UI VC worried about explosion of medical schools

    Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Isaac Adewole has expressed concern over the proliferation of medical schools in the country.

    The professor of obstetrics and gynecology made this observation in a keynote address delivered at the induction of 64 medical doctors freshly produced by the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) College of Health Sciences on Monday.

    In his address titled: “Beyond the Coveted MBBS; Contemporary Problems and Prospects of Postgraduate Medical Education in Nigeria,” Adewole said he feared quality of medical care would be compromised.

    He said: “The proliferation of medical schools with no strict regulation remains ‘a keg of gunpowder’ that needs urgent attention. I am concerned that some of these schools are also making frantic effort to throw their graduates into labour market.

    “The implication is that the quality of service and an increasing proportion of malpractice might be too much to contend with. It is an emergency that needs urgent surgical and medical operation in theatre of the policy makers and other stakeholders.”

    He also said trainee, trainer, government and other stakeholders needed to take postgraduate medical education seriously.  He added that there is no end to medical education.

    Adewole, who said training institutions should be reorganised, added that most of them had turned into “glorified tertiary health centres”.

    He said: “We need to have a comprehensive regulation at the national level that will transcend individual professional associations and disciplines for a qualitative output.

    “Training colleges should continue their engagement with National Universities Commission and look for ways to incorporate real academic training into the professional fellowship programme. We cannot deny the fact that the current pressure might lead to a future demand from the incoming generation to have academic exposure before being engaged in the universities.”

    Meanwhile, Provost of the UNILORIN College of Health Sciences, Prof ‘Wahab Johnson, said the institution had churned out 4,062 medical doctors in its 38 years of existence, adding that the doctors had been well trained.

    “Our robust MBBS programme has continued to turn out on yearly basis, well trained medical doctors who have continued to contribute quantitatively and qualitatively to the health-care needs of our beloved nation,” he said.

    Earlier, Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, said the new graduates are capable of improving healthcare delivery system in the country and the world.

    Ambali, who charged the medical graduates to be professional always, said: “a professional is someone who can do his best work when he doesn’t feel like it. This is very true of doctors whose work can be anytime anyway and the work has to be done well.”

    He also urged the new doctors to be humane and caring.

  • Students welcome VC

    The Students Representative Council (SRC) of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has paid a  visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Prof Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, on his appointment.

    Receiving members of the council, the Vice-Chancellor charged them to uphold the good virtues of academic excellence and uprightness that have been the trade mark of every alumnus of ABU.

    He said he was overwhelmed by the visit, assuring that he was ready to give moral and needed support to the activities of the students that would promote the image of ABU in general.

    Maiturare pledged that his doors would remain open for useful suggestions that would help his administration achieve huge success at IBB University.

     

     

     

  • At convocation, Amaechi, VC bid RSUST goodbye

    At convocation, Amaechi, VC bid RSUST goodbye

    The 27th Convocation of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt was unique in many ways.

    It was a valedictory for the institution’s visitor, Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Barineme Fakae; the Governing Council headed by Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte (rtd), as well as the graduating students of the university.

    The governor will leave office on May 29 while the VC and members of the Governing council will complete their tenures in June.

    As is typical of valedictory sessions, most speakers on the convocation recalled how they ran the race that culminated to the parting of ways, paying tributes where necessary.

    Amaechi recalled the rot he met in RSUST in 2007, when he became governor, which prompted him to confront a man he respected, the former Pro-Chancellor, Prof Godwin Tasie, on the road within the university and told him, “You are hereby sacked.”

    The governor said that Fakae, who was the Rector of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, then reluctantly accepted the appointment to be the VC of the university.

    But today, he is happy and proud that he took that radical decision to appoint Fakae as VC because he had lived up to the expectation of the marching order he gave him to “rescue the university”.

    Amaechi revealed that though he was an indigent student, what radicalised him was that the University of Port Harcourt which he attended provided him with enough books and qualitative professors.

    He recalled that then the students would protest against injustice in the society and lack of amenities in the university.

    “At the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), we were out demonstrating against government.  Nobody will steal $10.8 billion and go free.  Nobody will steal $20 billion and go free.  Nigerian students will be found outside,” he said.

    He added: “Today, Nigerian students have convoys like governors, driving and telling you, ‘this is my PA (Personal Assistant); this is my SA (Special Assistant)”.

    The governor told the graduating students that if they appreciated the way the school had been turned around in these eight years, then on March 28, they should go out and vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.

    Fakae praised Amaechi for his  support to the university.

    He listed several records of “firsts” that the RSUST had achieved – the first state-owned university on the webometric ranking table for four years.

    The VC said that the university’s transformation encompassed the environment, academic content, academic programme and professional accreditations, aggressive use of ICT in learning and digitalisation of records as well as students and staff welfare.

    He added that it had also won national and international recognition.

    These, the VC pointed out, means that “the project of RSUST which came by your mandate is a mission accomplished, particularly now that the university has a direction.”

    He urged the workers not to allow the university “to fall back into ruins of academic corruption, strikes, cultism and environmental degradation.”

  • I have improved learning environment for students, says VC

    The Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), Prof Hilary Odo Edeoga, has reiterated its mission to improve learning conditions of students. Edeoga said his love for them, and  passion to ensuring conducive academic environment and accommodation compelled him to apply for the top job.

    Speaking during the 2015 Commonwealth Day Celebration at the university auditorium, Edeoga said the ceremony had afforded students from other schools to come and appreciate the little his administration had done in the institute.

    “The improvement of the education landscape of the country will ensure that the youths who are leaders of tomorrow have a good stand,” Edeoga said.

    He praised President Dr Goodluck Jonathan for upholding university autonomy which forbids government’s interference in the selection of a vice-chancellor. “If it was when people must know the President, I would not have been a VC”, Edeoga noted.

    He told the students to think of the country first before themselves which is the basis of the founding fathers of the Commonwealth anchored on unity of countries.

    He said: “Commonwealth is about unity of the people of this country which is why we should think first about our country, then ourselves, because without a country we would not have a home.”

    The VC said with the creation of more federal universities in the country, “more youths will gain admission into universities and this will also open up more job opportunities after graduation.”

    He said Mr President should be commended for opening up Almajiri schools in the northern part of the country, stressing that the schools have taught the average Hausa man that there is no dignity in begging.

    In her goodwill message, Queen Elizabeth of England who is the head Commonwealth said since the commencement of the union, there have been benefits.

    Represented by the wife of the VC, Georgina Edeoga, she said the amount of benefits that have accrued for the countries which are members of the union have been enormous, as they have protected themselves.

    She said the protection the Commonwealth members enjoy see them through dangers that could have arisen from failure to talk or to see other person’s point of view which could have always been handled in a proper way.

     

  • VC gets excellence award

    A non-governmental  Organisation Youth Ambassadors of Nigeria (YAN),has confered the Vice-Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, an award of excellence.

    The group’s National President, Adewale Adeleye, led other members to present the award to the VC in his office.

    Adewale congratulated Prof Ajibefun on his appointment as VC, noting that it was a testimony to his achievements at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo (RUGIPO), where he was Rector.

    He said the honour was in recognition of Ajibefun’s achievement as a Fulbright scholar and an administrator.

    He said: “Your focus on the development of youths, and the giant strides recorded by your administration as Rector of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic are commendable.”

    He described the VC as a diligent and honest man, who has a great penchant for service, adding that the award was to appreciate his academic feat.

    Ajibefun thanked the group for the honour, saying it would encourage him to continue to do his best in service to humanity.

    The VC said: “Since 1993, when I was an Assistant Lecturer, I have been investing my time and resources in the youth, because they are the leaders of today and tomorrow.”

    While assuring the group of his support, Ajibefun implored the youths to direct their energies to good venture and affect their generation positively.

  • VC promises alumni land

    VC promises alumni land

    The Vice-Chancellor of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) in Lapai, Niger State, Prof Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, has promised to acquire an appropriate location that would serve as secretariat for the university’s Alumni Association.

    He made this known when members of the association, led by its President, Mallam Umar Saba Baba, visited him.

    The VC however urged the association to make do with the Alumni Office for now. He said when they have large meetings they could liaise with the Liaison Office at the university Guesthouse for proper accommodation.

    He appraised the Alumni’s strategic plan and urged them to work assiduously in seeing to its implementation, stressing that a lot would be done to make them very relevant to the system.

  • VC welcomes freshers to FUOYE

    VC welcomes freshers to FUOYE

    The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof Isaac Asuzu, has assured the 893 students admitted for the 2014/2015 academic session that they would not regret choosing the university.

    The students were admitted into the faculties of Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science.

    He said despite its young age, the institution has all it takes for any serious student to excel.

    “Everything has been put in place to make learning easy for you in FUOYE. You must make use of all the resources to your utmost advantage. Avail yourself of the opportunities available to make your period of study here a pleasant one. Listen, participate and ask questions where and when need be in order to get prepared and functional for university education in FUOYE”, he charged them.

    Recounting some of the strides of the university, Asuzu said FUOYE is the only one among the universities established in 2011 by the Federal Government that has started running engineering programmes and is placed 17th among all Nigerians universities in the 2014 Webometrics ranking.

    He also said a student is currently studying at Hamdong University, South Korea on an exchange programme, while three others were recently awarded scholarships by the Federal government and Chevron.

    Asuzu admonished the students to make personal commitments to their studies and parents/guardians and strive to imbibe the motto of FUOYE which is “Innovation and character for national transformation”.

    Also speaking, the special guest of honour, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Olusola Kolapo Eleka, praised the university’s strides.

    “The way the university grows is amazing as it has outgrown all its contemporaries,” he said.

    Kolapo pledged the readiness of the present administration in the state to assist FUOYE in any areas of need.

    Also present at the occasion was the representative of Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Ahmed Zakariya.

    The university matriculated its first set of students on February 14, 2012. They are to graduate this year.