The Nation Newspaper

Tag: VC

  • VC to build on predecessor’s work

    Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin Prof. Sulyman Abdukareem has promised to build on achievements of his predecessor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali.

    Abdulkareem resumed office on October 16.

    Ambali upgraded the faculties from 12 to 15, among others achievements.

    University spokesman Kunle Akogun told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that 69 projects were inaugurated during Ambali’s tenure.

    He described as rumour, reports that there was a cold war between them, saying the report was an imagination of those who do not mean well for the university.

    The spokesman noted that the incumbent VC praised his predecessor during the 33rd convocation.

    NAN reports that while Ambali was absent on the first day, he was present the second day.

    It was gathered that the alleged friction was because the ex-VC was locked out of the convocation venue on October 20, few days to end of his tenure.

    Sources said Ambali, who was with his friends and relatives, was denied access to the campus through the main gate.

    He reportedly detoured and followed a route linking the school from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, only for the gate to be shut when security guards saw  him.

    Ambali was said to have tried reaching Abdulkareem, who reportedly promised that the gate will be opened.

    “After over 45 minutes of Prof Ambali’s stay at the locked gate, his followers became agitated and wanted to cause crisis.

    ‘’He pleaded with them and urged them to follow him to his private residence,” the source said.

    A worker, who corroborated this story, said less than 72 hours after Abdulkareem took over, he replaced 28 workers with his people.

    According to him, the workers were supposed to be allowed to understudy them before any transfer.

    It was gathered that the dean and sub-dean of Student Affairs were also moved for their alleged loyalty to Ambali.

    Efforts to get Ambali’s and Abdulkareem’s reaction were unsuccessful.

  • UNIMED can cure cancer, says VC

    Authorities of pioneer University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) at Ondo town in Ondo State yesterday said the institution has the potential to cure several ailments, including cancer.

    The specialised university said it was also doing everything “differently” to correct various defects in the Health sector.

    Its vice chancellor, Prof Friday Okonofua, spoke at an interactive session with reporters in Ondo town.

    He said the two-year institution, which was established by the immediate past administration of Dr Olusegun Mimiko, had made “phenomenon” achievements through highly educated professionals who were providing outstanding medical trainings.

    According to him, the university is running five programmes in Medicine (Surgery), Dentistry, Physiotherapy and others.

    The vice chancellor said the first set of UNIMED students will graduate in October 2019 to provide services to the nation.

    Okonofua said: “We are proud of the legacy left behind by Mimiko’s administration and inherited by the incumbent Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s government. We are providing a frontline medical training as the institution was founded on principle of honesty and accountability.”

    The vice chancellor said local medicine curricular would be developed in the university, adding that all drugs made from herbs were scientifically treated.

    He said UNIMED would research into herbal drugs to extract active ingredients to treat various ailments.

    Okonofua regretted that herbs were going into extinction because of no proper protection and nurturing.

    The vice chancellor added that the institution had mapped out series of lectures targeted at the community as a pathway to tackle various diseases.

    On foreign medical tourism, the medical expert said most diseases could be managed through the Primary Health Care (PHC) delivery system, but regretted the mind-sets of many affluent Nigerians due to superiority complex.

    He highlighted activities for the second founder’s day lecture, scheduled for December 7.

     

     

     

     

  • Lawmakers should not be jobless before contesting, says VC

    Lawmakers should not be jobless before contesting, says VC

    • Al-Hikmah varsity produces 16 first- class graduates

    Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State, at the weekend produced 16 first-class graduates.

    Nine hundred and sixteen students graduated from the faith-based university at the 7th convocation .

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Taofeek Ibrahim, said: “They include 827 undergraduates and 89 postgraduates. At the undergraduate level, we have 16 first-class, 208 second-class upper, 434 second-class lower, 143 third class and 26 pass.

    “This year’s results show improvement in academic performance.”

    He said National Assembly members should be people from the business and public sector.

    Ibrahim added that persons occupying the two hallowed chambers should not be former jobless people wanting to make money from the government.

    He attributed Nigeria’s underdevelopment to corruption, saying: “Nothing is more responsible for our mismanagement and

    maladministration than corruption.”

    The VC said: “Governments should be more responsible, transparent and accountable to the citizens.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo, Economic and Financial Crime Commission’s (EFCC’s)

    boss Ibrahim Magu, Custom’s Chief Executive Officer Hameed Ali and a few others should not be the only anti-corruption vanguards in this country.

    “The exorbitant running of the government should not continue at the peril of the nationals. There is massive poverty, the country

    is underdeveloped, people are suffering.”

    He urged academics not to limit their research to academic prowess in scientific and literary writings.

    His words: “We in the university need to move out of research and publications for mere evidence of our prowess in scientific and

    literary writings, to research with ability to inform about useful and practical policies, life-impacting technological

    innovations and development and ability to identify and solve problems confronting the community.

    “Researches of tertiary institutions in the developed world drive the economies of industrialised nations.”

     

  • FUT Minna gets VC

    The Governing Council of Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna has approved the appointment of Prof. Abdullahi Bala as the seventh substantive vice chancellor.

    He will take over from Prof. Musbau Akanji, whose tenure will end in December.

    Sixteen people applied for the position.

    Bala scaled through the interview and was recommended as the substantive vice chancellor.

    Bala, who was born on March 27, 1967, hails from Suleja Local Government of Niger State.

  • Landmark varsity gets VC, Registrar

    The Board of Regents of Landmark University, Omu Aran, Kwara State, has appointed Prof.  Adeniyi Olayanju as the third vice chancellor.

    Olayanju’s appointment was contained in a statement by the institution’s Corporate Affairs Unit and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Omu-Aran yesterday.

    NAN reports the board has as Chairman, Dr. David Oyedepo, who is also the chancellor.

    According to the statement signed by Mr. Temidayo Eseyin, the board’s secretary, Olayanju’s appointment took effect from August 1.

    The statement said the appointment of the vice chancellor followed the recall of Prof. Aize Obayan, the former vice chancellor, by the Living Faith Foundation, proprietor of the institution.

    It said the choice of Olayanju was a result of a credible process that certified his competence with proof, in line with the agrarian mandate of the university.

    The institution also announced the appointment of Dr. Azubuike Ezenwoke as its registrar, succeeding Mr. John Izebere.

    Olayanju was until his appointment, the dean of Students’ Affairs, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.

    The statement said Olayanju is a member of many institutions and societies, such as Nigerian Institute of Agricultural Engineers and Nigerian Society of Engineers.

    The vice chancellor is also a member of Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology and Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.

    Ezenwoke has a PhD in Computer Science.

    He was the dean of Students’ Affairs, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, and has been adjudged the youngest university registrar in Africa.

    Olayanju reiterated his commitment to the institution’s agrarian revolution initiative aimed at fighting hunger and unemployment.

    According to him, the university is occupying a significant position on the global education road map, with food security a global concern.

  • VC: LAUTECH to end strike soon

    The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, has assured stakeholders the strike by workers will end soon.

    He said the governing council would find a lasting solution to challenges facing the institution.

    Addressing reporters at the College of Health Sciences in Osogbo, Osun State capital, Prof. Afolabi said: “We had our inaugural meeting at the main campus in Ogbomoso on August 9, 2017, and designed a 90-day action plan, which has started in earnest.

    “We are determined to bring LAUTECH to Canaan.

    “We have set timelines that are achievable for the activities of council in handling the challenges and tasked ourselves to resuscitate the university and redirect its resources to fulfil the vision of its founding fathers.

    “From various interactions of council with diverse stakeholders, we realised we all are on same page, working towards the same goal.

    “We all realised the council should spare no effort to get the university back on track and reopen for students to continue their studies and move on in their academic pursuit.

    “The Strategic Intervention Team, on its own, has advised the new council to interact more closely with workers through their union to gain their confidence and boost their morale, which was observed to be at low ebb owing to the non-payment of their salaries for some 10 months.”

    The vice chancellor said the council was neither sleeping nor insensitive to incessant strikes by workers.

    He said: “Since we were inaugurated, we have called all stakeholders and with the way we are now, we are closer to the answer than when we started.

    “We may not give a categorical date but we can assure you that you can start counting days and not weeks. Let everybody be hopeful.

    “As regards the pattern of funding of the institution, the take of this council is that the funding model must change radically. We don’t expect the university to be going cap-in-hand to the owner-states every month, if they will fund the school.

    “We expect that whatsoever would be provided should be within the basket that enables planning with the resources so that we could also be creative and add value, not just be a body that is just absorbing money.”

  • VC: Nigeria is not developing

    The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) in Delta State, Prof. Akii Ibhadode, has blamed lack of innovative research in universities and emphasis on paper qualification as the cause of underdevelopment in the country.

    Prof. Ibhadode noted that poor innovative research in universities was occasioned by poor funding.

    Ibhadode said the emphasis on paper qualification account for graduates without practical skills.

    He spoke at the third Annual Conference on Microfinance and Enterprise organised by LAPO Institute in Benin with the theme: ”Entrepreneurship, Financial and Economic Development”.

    Prof. Ibhadode said Nigeria has so many scientists, engineers, technologists but the impact of their education is not felt in terms of solutions to its problems.

    The FUPRE VC noted that the impact of researches in over 200 universities and research institutes are not felt.

    He added that poverty in Nigeria is self-inflicted due to poor leadership following consistent failures of successive governments.

    His words: “The research don’t seem to address the real problems of society. Even when they do, few are patented and get commercialised. The major reason for this is that most Nigerian researches are done to earn promotion.

    “We pursue knowledge for the gains it gives. We do not care for skills the certification is to give but the paper certificate. This is why cheating in examination is so rampant.

    “Why will universities not lack funds as they don’t engage in relevant research to provide solutions to practical societal problems.” he said.

    The Chairman, Governing Council, LAPO Institute, Mr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe said Nigerians lack the opportunity to play in entrepreneurship  and economic development.

    He stated that LAPO trained over 36,000 Nigerians in basic entrepreneurship techniques, basic business management, development services,  information and communication technology skills

  • VC urges women to aim for higher goals

    The Vice Chancellor, Land Mark University, Omu –Aran, Kwara State, Prof. Aize Obayan, has advised women to aim high, persevere and shatter every ceiling stopping them from reaching their goals.

    Mrs. Obayan spoke at the 2017 Women in Management and Leadership (WIMLEAD) conference organised by the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) in Abuja.

    The conference had “Powering for Excellence: Inspiring, Positive, Determined” as its theme.

    She said it was time for women to showcase their potentials for the benefit of their families, womanhood and the nation at large.

    In his opening address, President and Chairman in Council, NIM, Munzali Jibrin, said the conference had in the past 16years became an important platform for women leaders in both the private and public sectors of the nation’s economy to come together, brainstorm on and proffer solutions to issues that directly affected them at the workplace and in the economy.

     Prof. Jibrin said the institute fully understood most of the challenges faced by women in their efforts to excel in their careers while also being at their best in the home front.

    He said: “The idea for this conference was, therefore, mooted and integrated into our yearly human capital development calendar in order to help our women members and non-members alike be the best of who they desire to be.

     “This year’s conference seeks to address important factors relevant to women’s advancement and sustainable success in their careers and businesses; and strengthen their emotional intelligence to engage, lead and motivate others as well as manage the demands of advancement into the concept of whole life.

    “Women the world over have continued to prove their mettle having acquitted themselves creditably in all walks of life. Over the years, women have not just been calling the shots in some of the most powerful boardrooms across the world but have equally been at the helm of political leadership in some of the most powerful countries of the world.

    “Today’s business world and the workplace represents a rat race for survival amidst the varying contending interests, which often make it difficult for leadership excellence to flourish.

     “Because of the ever-competitive nature of doing business today, most companies are beginning to realize that to stay at the top of their game in the industry, they need players who have what it takes to lead the company to business success and more.”

  • UI VC to students: don’t disrupt academic activities

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Idowu Olayinka, yesterday urged students planning to disrupt examinations to shelve the idea.

    In a statement in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, welcoming students back to campus, the vice chancellor described as unfortunate the postponement of examinations due to the students’ protest of May 29.

    He urged the students to work with the university’s management to ensure there is no further disruption of academic calendar.

    Prof Olayinka noted that any further closure of the school would have far-reaching effects on students’ service year and Law school enrolment.

    The vice chancellor said the university had made arrangements to make reading for examinations more stress-free through mobile generators to strategic lecture theatres for overnight readings.

    He said: “As I noted in my statement before the May 29 protest, this session has been unduly extended and any further extension will not in any way be in the interest of the students and the university community. The revised academic calendar, occasioned by the five-week break, implies that the current session is expected to end on January 29, 2018. This already has far-reaching implications for our final year students who should normally proceed to the Law School or the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme during the last quarter of 2017.

  • VC advises students on tolerance, religious harmony

    The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Benjamin Ozumba has urged students to be tolerant and refrain from divisive religious conducts.

    He said students’good conducts and message of unity could help in overcoming ethno-religious problem plaguing the country.

    Ozumba spoke at a party organised by the UNN chapter of the Muslim Students’ Association of Nigeria (MSSN) to mark its Week.

    The VC praised members of the association for their commitment to religious harmony on the campus, urging them to fight teachings that could lead to disagreement with other faiths.

    He said efforts were being made by his administration to eradicate religious discrimination and ethnicity in the university to promote peace.

    Ozumba said the institution would continue to engage both Christian and Islamic groups to make the campus peaceful, pledging the school’s support for the completion of the UNN Central Mosque before end of his administration.

    Speaking on the theme: General misconceptions about Islam: Redirecting the public perceptions for a symbiotic relationship, Alhaji Abu Sufiyan Ridwanullan Sulaiman, the guest lecturer from Osun State, dismissed the notion that Islam is violent, noting that the religion should not be judged by immoral conducts of a few Muslims.

    Abu Sufiyan said Islam promotes peaceful coexistence among Muslims and adherents of other faiths, adding that the religion detests forced conversion and baseless killing of innocents.

    On marriage, he said Islam permit a capable man to marry two or more wives but that he must be fair to all of them. He said men that are not capable of taking care of two women should not marry two wives.

    Chief Imam of Nsukka Central Mosque, Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Idoko, harped on tolerance, noting that religious leaders must speak up against religious discrimination and injustice. This, he said, would promote harmony.

    Highpoint was the presentation of an award to Imam Idoko for his commitment to religious harmony in the state.

    Other activities marking the MSSN Week included members’visit to the Nigerian Prisons Service in Nsukka, and orphanage. The students also held sanitation and prayer for the nation.