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Tag: VC

  • ASUU urges Mimiko to prevail on VC

    ASUU urges Mimiko to prevail on VC

    •Students protest attack on lecturers

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday urged Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko to prevail on the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUAA), Prof. Femi Mimiko, to restore order in the university.

    It condemned the attack on its national delegation by security operatives of the institution, in which two people were injured.

    Those injured are AAUA ASUU Chairman Dr. Busuyi Mekusi and former Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker Oluwasegun-Ota Bolarinwa, who lectures at the institution.

    Narrating their ordeal to reporters in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Chairman of the University of Ibadan (UI) chapter, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, who was part of the delegation, said: “Apart from initially denying ASUU’s vehicles entry into the campus, vehicles of UI and the Benue State University, which entered the campus, had their tyres deflated.

    “The security outfit called Sheriff brought out cutlasses and other weapons and attacked union leaders. Mekusi and Bolarinwa were injured. The delegation was led by ASUU Vice-President Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi and Drs. Ighalo, Ayan Adeleke, Ajiboye and Ikoni from the Benue State University.”

    Explaining the purpose of the visit, Ajiboye said the delegation was on a fact finding mission to appraise the last strike.

    He said the delegation was shocked by “what the VC has turned the university into”, adding: “Akungba is now a den of lions. The VC hires and fires at will. Meetings cannot be held freely on campus. We met at the ASUU Cooperative building. It is a sorry case.”

    Ajiboye said it was against the principle of ASUU for a university not to have a governing council.

    ASUU urged the governor to call the VC to order and constitute a governing council without delay.

    Also yesterday, AAUA students protested the attack on the ASUU delegates, describing it as ridiculous.

    The institution’s spokesman, Victor Akinpelumi, did not pick his calls.

    The VC and Mekusi could not be reached for comments.

  • How we spent our N2b budget, by VC

    The Solomon Lar University (formerly called Plateau State University), Bokkos, used most of its N2billion subvention for last year from the Plateau State Government to upgrade its infrastructure ahead of accreditation of its programmes.

    Its Vice Chancellor, Prof Doknan Danjuma Sheni, said the money went various building projects that dot the campus.

    “The fund was spent basically on infrastructural development of the new university in preparation for accreditation of our courses by the national university commission (NUC),” Sheni said while inspecting project at the university campus in Bokkos.

    The projects include perimeter fencing of the university, multipurpose auditorium as well as the administrative block.

    Sheni urged the contractors at the various sites to speed up work as the timely completion of the projects was expected to boost the accreditation of programmes later this year. He said any delay in completion of the projects will adversely affect the academic activities of the school.

    “Apart from the state government projects being carried out with the 2013 budget, there are other project going on simultaneously in the school and sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). Such projects are lecture halls and offices for the faculty of Management Sciences, the entrepreneurial center etc,” he said.

    The VC applauded the state government for allocating over N4 billion to the university in the 2014 budget proposal, saying whatever kobo allocated to the university will be spent judiciously to enable the school realise set objectives.

    He said: “The state government of Governor Jonah Jang is determined to nurse this young university to maturity through the provision of necessary funds for the running of the school.”

    He called on staff and students to reciprocate the gesture through absolute dedication to work and academic activities.

     

  • VC counsels Pre-degree students

    The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Olusola Oyewole, has advised pre-degree students of the university to be focused so they can scale through the programme.

    Oyewole gave this advice during the 2013/2014 orientation programmes for Pre-Degree and Cambridge ‘A’ level students of the university’s Institute for Human Resources Development (INHURD).

    The Vice Chancellor called on the students to be conscious of why they enrolled for the programmes, have a clear vision and get prepared to face future challenges.

    Speaking on Entry Qualifications and Admission into FUNAAB, the Chairperson of the University’s Admissions Committee and Director, Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre, Prof Carolyn Afolami, took the students through the admission guidelines and admonished them to work hard because securing admission into the university was highly competitive. She advised them to make wise choices of their preferred universities, while filling the University Tertiary Matriculation Examination for

    In the lecture, Recreations, Securities and Community Interactions, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Muyiwa Adejobi, charged the students not to engage in cultism and other anti-social behaviours. He also advised them to avoid areas he tagged as ‘black spots’ in town, dress well and desist from what could bring them into police net.

    Other speakers at the occasion include the Dean, College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development, Prof Bolanle Akeredolu-Ale, who spoke on Examination and its Expectations; Deputy Director, INHURD, Mrs. Olubukola Agboola (Code of Conduct in INHURD), and the Deputy Director, Health Services, Dr Abiodun Amusan (Healthy Living and Health Facilities).

     

     

  • VC to freshers: make your parents proud

    VC to freshers: make your parents proud

    All roads led to Seriki-Sotayo near Abeokuta in Ogun State when the McPherson University held its second matriculation. AYODEJI ADESINA reports.

    The quiet Seriki-Sotayo community in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State came alive last Tuesday when the McPherson University, held its the second matriculation. Parents, guardians and residents thronged the campus to celebrate with the freshers.

    By 10am, the students and their parents were already seated in the university’s multipurpose hall, waiting for the arrival of the principal officers.

    A few minutes later, the procession of members of the university administration, adorned in blue academic gown, moved into the hall.

    The freshers, who were led to the hall by the Students’ Affairs Officer, Mr Olufemi Adebowale, filed out in a procession according to their faculties. They could not hide their joy when the event started.

    The Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Adeniyi Agunbiade, led the procession of principal officers, which included the Acting Dean of the College of Social and Management Sciences Dr Anthony Okubanjo, Dean of College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Prof Olusegun Atanda and Dean of College of Humanities Prof Olusola Ojo.

    Others are the university Librarian, Mr Tunji Abayomi; Bursar Mr Adeyemi Onilado and Registrar Mrs Adebola Abegunde.

    In his address, Prof Agunbiade reminded the students that the path to academic excellence was through quality decision, diligence, doggedness and devotion to God, urging them to maintain excellence in line with the vision of the institution’s founding fathers.

    “The university expects you to bring the best – intellectually and morally – out of yourself, and it expects you to place those excellent potentialities in the service of Nigeria and the entire world to the glory of God. You must be aware that the degree you earn here is for excellence in character and learning,” the VC said.

    Agunbiade warned the students, saying the university has zero tolerance for malpractice. He said the Senate would sanction erring students. He also urged the students to obey the university rules, they should shun vices that could tarnish the good image of the institution.

    Prof Agunbiade took the audience into the history of matriculation, saying: “The ceremony of matriculation can be traced back to the beginnings of universities many centuries ago during what is commonly referred to as the Middle Age in Europe. During the ceremony, students swore an oath of allegiance and with the acceptance of the oath, the students’ admission into university was regarded to be completed.”

    Mrs Abegunde said the university would not compromise excellence and adherence to best practices. She said: “McPherson University is not your conventional institution where everything goes. We don’t compromise on standard because our vision and values must continue to be held in high esteem.”

    She said the institution had competent staff that would mentor the students to be ambassadors on their fields and to be excellent in research, character and learning.

    The students promised to adhere to the school rule, pledging to observe all academic and administrative regulations, which may help to promote the good image of the university.

    Prof Agunbiade said the occasion marked a turning point in the lives of the students, urging them to justify the opportunity by working hard to make their parents proud.

     

     

  • Ex-OAU VC seeks reforms for higher education

    Former Vice Chancellor (VC), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof Michael Faborode, has recommended three major changes for tackling the problems in the tertiary education sector.

    He advocates a higher education, National Innovation Ecosystem and National Economic Linkages reforms.

    Faborode, who spoke on “Higher Education and the Nigerian 20-2020 dream” while delivering the Fifth Convocation Lecture of Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State suggested a higher education summit under the higher education system reforms where the government, managers of higher institutions, unions and students bodies would partner to resolve issues in the system.

    He called for transparency in the management of tertiary institutions and made case for a separate ministry to manage them.

    “Governance in the higher education sector should also be democratised to make higher education institutions more accountable, transparent, efficient and inclusive. There is also the need to establish a separate ministry to cater for higher education to give the needed attention to the challenges facing the sector,” he said.

    Faborode, who is the Secretary-General, Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, (AVCNU), urged private universities to regularise tenures of their chief executives. He said a VC should have adequate tenure to achieve the vision of his institution.

    “The particular case of some private universities where VCs are changed too often is detrimental to the steady growth of the institution,” he said.

    Speaking on funding, he said the government must invest in the future of the country by providing adequate resources to enable universities achieve their goals, with the help of the private sector, which he said, could sponsor research chairs. He also seeks the re-organisation of funding avenues to be more effective.

    He said: “To realise the goal of Nigeria’s technological advancement in the mound of the Asian Tigers, we advocate the setting up of an education, research, innovation and development council to coordinate the synergy between knowledge, innovation and development in all the sectors of the economy, with multi-sector/inter-ministerial funding.

    “And to manage a research and development fund, all existing funding agencies such as the Raw Materials Research and Development Fund, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Petroleum and Technology Development Fund, and others should be coordinated and mandated to contribute a percentage of their earnings for the exclusive funding of research in our tertiary institutions.”

    Explaining the National Innovation Ecosystem Reform, he said it is the dynamic system of interconnected institutions, persons and policies that are necessary to propel technological and economic development.

    For the National Economic Linkages System Reform to work, Faborode said institutions would have to relate better with communities to stimulate development.

    “This will require a major adjustment in the way the Nigeria universities functions. They will need to transform from the conventional sources of graduates into engines of community development. They will need to become developmental in approach; working directly within communities, including industrial formations and complexes, in which they are located,” he said.

     

  • Africans’ identity rooted in culture, says VC

    Africans’ identity rooted in culture, says VC

    The Department of Theatre Arts of the Kwara State University (KSU) has held an induction and orientation for its new students.

    The ceremony featured a play titled: The greedy wife, written by Biola Fasoranti, a 200-Level student, and Struggling to die, a dance libretto by Felix Akinsipe. The freshers had their first experience in art performance during the ceremony.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, reiterated the need to preserve and promote African oral traditions, stressing that the identity of Africans was rooted in their robust culture. He said African identity should not be compromised.

    He said: “The university, having realised this urgent need, decided to establish a School of Visual and Performing Arts to train students in the discipline. The university had recruited a highly experienced scholar in the Diaspora to teach students in Theatre Arts. We have Prof Awam Amkpa from the New York University as the Dean of the Arts Faculty and we have provided state-of-the-art equipment for the school to excel.”

    The sub-Dean, Dr Femi Abiodun, said induction was conceived in 1970s to initiate students to the discipline. “It is a general phenomenon that induction is not only performed in the School of Visual and Performing Arts or Theatre Arts only, but also in medicine, law and other disciplines,” he said.

    Uthman Owolabi, a 400-Level student, entertained the audience with Kudeti, a play written and directed by him.

    Olayinka Aina, one of the inductees, said: “I am happy to be inducted today. When I told my friends that I am studying Performing Arts, some of them mocked me but seeing me on stage today, they were surprised with my budding talent in arts.”

    Tayo Animashaun, another fresher, said her parents initially did not want her to take the course, but after counselling, she was allowed to study Theatre Arts “I am going to give in my best to convince my parents that I can excel in this discipline,” she said.

     

  • FUTA VC seeks role for varsities’ alumni

    Alumni of universities should be encouraged to play key roles and contribute to the development of their alma mater, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Vice Chancellor Prof Adebiyi Daramola has said.

    Daramola, who spoke when the newly-elected leadership of the FUTA Alumni Association visited him, said no serious establishment could make it alone without carrying along all stakeholders.

    He said old students are stakeholders who should play significant roles in the development of their former schools.

    Daramola, however, called on staff to maintain good relationship with their students because it brings mutual respect and benefits.

    He said, “We have changed the old orientation towards students. We emphasise and ensure that students are treated like younger colleagues because students of today are potential professors and leaders of tomorrow. The fact of the matter is that within years, they will surpass what we have attained as professors. Therefore, we do not maltreat them. We build good sustainable interpersonal relationship.”

    He advised the alumni leaders to spurn initiatives that would attract more old students and work to the benefit of the association.

    “Be objective in your operations. Avoid sentiments and politicking. Expand your operation to attract more members. FUTA products are spread all over the world; engage them and we promise you our utmost support and encouragement. We are happy and proud about the feedback we get from employers of labour about our products. Please do not taint FUTA’s reputation, rather build on it locally and globally and keep the flag flying,” he said.

    In his response, the new President of the association, Mr. Akin Aina, thanked the Vice-Chancellor and his management team for supporting the association over the years, promising to join in making FUTA the best brand.

    Aina said: “We share in your vision in making FUTA the best and taking it to the market place. We are ready to partner with FUTA to take the institution to the market locally and globally. Our members are spread all over the world and we are going to aggressively mobilise our members to make FUTA the best. This regime will try to transform the association. All we need is your continuous support.”

    Aina also told the VC that the Alumni Centre would be completed soon. He added that his team is also planning to support the institution financially.

    The Director, Advancement Centre, Dr. Peter Aborisade, presented the new officers to the Vice-Chancellor.

     

  • Why malaria must be stopped, by VC, others

    Why malaria must be stopped, by VC, others

    A2013 Batch “A” member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Agu Reuben, has organised a healthcare seminar as part of his Community Development Services (CDS) at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

    He said he was motivated to embark on the project because malaria still accounted for 60 per cent of outpatient visits to health facilities and killing young children and women during child birth.

    The ailment, he noted, prevented many children from being present in school, thereby leading to poor academic performance.

    He thanked members of the community for turning out en masse for the seminar.

    Highlights of the programme included free malaria screening and donation of free drugs and medical materials to some participants.

    The Vice-Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof James Epoke, who was represented by Prof James Utsalo, thanked the Corps member for organising the event, saying it would impact positively on people in the community.

    He said the institution would always support programmes by Corps members serving in the area.

    The NYSC Cross River State Coordinator, Nkereke Ibangha, said malaria was a major problem which must be stopped.

    The event was attended by President of UNICAL Women Association, Lady Gladys Epoke, who was represented by the Headmistress of the University Staff School, Mrs Florence Eleng and other principal officers of the institution.

     

  • EKSU VC Aina praises Fayemi

    EKSU VC Aina praises Fayemi

    The Vice-Chancellor, Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, Prof Patrick Oladipo Aina, has reassured stakeholders that the institution will continue to strive to rank among the best universities.

    He spoke while reviewing his administration’s activities in the last two years.

    Aina said the institution has recorded tremendous accomplishments, which were made possible through the support of the workers and the commitment of the Visitor to the university, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who he said provided adequate funds.

    The VC said Fayemi was the first governor to give a capital grant of N300 million to the varsity, beside increasing its monthly subvention.

    He added that the government supported the varsity’s autonomy, which he led to a congenial working environment and completion of the Medical Library, medical students’ hostel, and the Biochemistry and Pharmacology buildings.

    Aina further said for the first time, the university recorded full accreditation of all courses presented to the National Universities Commission (NUC) while it was rated 19th on the webometric ranking of Nigerian universities and 198th in Africa.

    The VC described as unprecedented, the recent achievement of the students of EKSU Faculty of Law, who were the best performing students at the last year’s Final Bar Part Two examination of the Nigerian Law School.

    The EKSU candidates recorded 95.1 per cent pass, which was the best among graduates of 35 universities who took the examination.

    He said a five-year strategic plan was under way to build a vibrant academic culture, which includes collaborating with renowned institutions around the world.

    “The university has also repackaged its linkage programmes with top universities, including Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil; University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa; Texas Southern University Houston, Texas, United States, University Wollongong, Australia and University of Nottingham, United Kingdom,” he said.

    The VC said his administration has also invested in international training for members of staff.

    He described the co-operation of his principal officers as unique and commended the workers for their loyalty.

    He also said that new programmes have been introduced to enhance EKSU’s global competitiveness. These include Theatre and Media Arts, Architecture, Peace and Conflict Studies, Gender and Development and Forensic Science in collaboration with Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, India.

    On physical infrastructure, the university will soon take delivery of structures for the School of Postgraduate Studies, Entrepreneurship Centre, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Faculty of Education.

    “A public private arrangement has been concluded with private investors for the construction of Campus Students hostels and Staff residential buildings,” the Vice-Chancellor added.

     

  • Education key to nation building, says UNILAG VC

    As President Goodluck Jonathan seeks to achieve his Transformation Agenda, Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Rahamon Bello, has urged the Federal Government to put the education system in shape as it is crucial to its success.

    Bello spoke while delivering his welcome address at the opening ceremony of Zoological Society of Nigeria (ZSN) tagged “Lagos 2013”.

    The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Dean, School of Post graduate Studies, Prof Obinna Chukwu said the theme of the conference, “Zoology and the Nigerian Transformation Agenda” is apt especially coming at a time when the country’s education sector is in crisis.

    He noted that with over 70 per cent of its citizens living below the poverty line of $1.5 per day, Nigeria is ranked as 156th out of 187 countries in the world according to the Human Development Index of UNDP, 2011.

    If the President Goodluck Jonathan administration is to reverse this through its transformation agenda, Bello said that education is the key to achieving and sustaining it.

    He said: “No country or nation can claim to be transformed until its citizens are mentally and morally transformed. Education is the most powerful weapon which can change the world. It was the engine behind great civilisation in Greece and Rome the industrial revolution of the 18th century and the cradle of the western scholarship.

    “Education preserves the ultimate values and culture of any society. It is to the nation what mind is to the body. It’s the most significant tool and asset in nation building and development. It’s the best legacy any nation can give to its citizens. The nation, who fails to develop its citizenry will multiply its problems.”

    Bello lamented that science and specifically biological sciences, has experienced set back in the recent decades in the Nigerian education landscape. He said zoology, which is one of the basic prerequisite for most disciplines in the biological sciences, is gradually becoming “endangered.”

    “Our students do not want to study zoology while those who study it only use it as a stepping stone into other fields such as medicine, pharmacy, microbiology, geology among others. Many students keep wondering why they need to study zoology since they can easily learn about animals in the “zoo”.

    In his keynote address, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, assured the zoologists that their generous inputs to President Jonathan’s agenda will be valued with utmost respect and humility.

    Adesina, who was represented by the Ag. Director General of National Agricultural seeds council (FMA & RD), Mr. Anthony Olatokun, said the multidimensional benefits of well-developed agricultural sector in a nation’s economy include; employment generation, food security, provision of raw materials for the manufacturing industries and generation of foreign exchange earnings among others.

    He said that it is heart-warming to note that the conference is coming at a most auspicious time when Nigeria is strongly repositioning and diversifying her economy to explore the potentials of non-oil productive sector of the economy.

    In his speech, the President of Zoological Society of Nigeria (ZSN), Prof Sonnie Oniye, commended all the participants for attending the conference despite the challenges in the country. He also commended University of Lagos and Dr. Grace Adeoye led Local Organizing Committee for working very hard to make the conference a reality.