The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yabatech

  • Osinbajo, Udoma, others for Yabatech 70th anniversary

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udoma and former Deputy Governor Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Dr Tunde Lemo are some of the prominent Nigerians expected at a national workshop to mark the 70th anniversary of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

    The workshop with the theme business financing in a growing economy holds on Tuesday, November 17 at National Theatre Iganmu.

    Udoma will deliver the keynote address while Osinbajo will attend as the special guest of honour.

    President Yabatech Alumni Association, Dr Oluwafemi Martins, told reporters Lemo will serve as chairman of the three slated sub-themes.

    Some of the discussants, according to him, include Dr Bongo Adi, Faculty member, Lagos Business School; Kayode Pitan, MD Bank of Industry; Hon Kehinde Odeneye and Osiniyi Osibemekun, MD/CEO Jackal Ventures.

    He said papers from the discussions would form part of a think-tank to advance the economic direction of the nation.

     

  • YABATECH students lament bedbug infestation

    Students of The Yaba College of Education (YABATECH) said they have been battling with bedbugs since January.

    A fresher, name withheld, said when he first got to the hostel he was told by the older students that the mattresses were infested with bedbugs and had to disinfect his mattress when he was given.

    As if that was not bad enough, he said the bedbugs are now found in the classrooms.

    “You can even see the bugs moving from one place to another to the extent of finding bedbugs in the lecture room,” he said.

    Another fresher, Emmanuel, said that students sometimes empty cans of insecticide on their mattresses before lying on them which is not healthy and mosquito nets are of no use.

    He added saying that the school management was aware and is doing nothing about it.

    A female ex-student said that there was a time the hostels were fumigated but there was no difference and students began falling ill.

    She also said that while she was still in the school, students make use of sniper and kerosene on the bed then put it out for sun to heat it before they can make use of the mattress.

    “The last fumigation before I graduated was in January and I don’t think it has been done again.

  • YABATECH ASUP rejects professors for rector

    YABATECH ASUP rejects professors for rector

    The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has said it would not accept the selection of candidates who are professors for appointment as rector of the institution.

    The union made its stand known at a press conference last Wednesday held at the Yusuf Grillo Auditorium.

    Zonal Coordinator, ASUP Zone C Southwest, Mr. Olawale Omobarun accused the institution’s Governing Council of including professors on the list of candidates shortlisted for the position which will become vacant next month when Dr Kudirat Ladipo’s second tenure of four years expires.

    Omobarun said the union already had an agreement with the Federal Government that polytechnics will be headed by qualified chief lecturers and not professors, so their careers would not be truncated by outsiders.

    He said ASUP would use all legal means will definitely stand against professors assuming the post of the rector in polytechnic (YABATECH).

    The coordinator said the criteria for the position was drafted from the condition of service of the polytechnic in July 2017 – with qualities, qualification and method of application stating that applicants must be chief lectures from polytechnics with five years experience.

    He complained that the entire process was shrouded in secrecy such that members of the polytechnic community did not know the list of those shortlisted for the interview and only found out late that their members who were qualified were not short listed.

    “Of what use is the advert if the governing council can ignore it and shortlist professors?  This is what concerns our union and why the national body directed the zonal coordinator to address the press on this subject matter and clearly state our position”.

    ASUP Chairman, YABATECH, Comrade Adeyemi  Aromalaran accused the governing council of going outside the criteria dictated in their advertorial, because no place gives a professor the chance to apply, which is a violation of the condition they set themselves.

    “Are they saying that out of the entire polytechnics in Nigeria we cannot have a credible chief lecturer, any policy that retards our career in the polytechnic, we are saying no to it. Why should I invest my life in a particular career that cannot take me to the peak of that career?”.

    “We have been informed that the sitting rector has vested interest in all of these misgivings by appreciating her supervisor for a PhD programme at the expense of the lives of others. We are telling the Federal Government that if this process continues and a professor is named as the rector of YABATECH, the union will do everything within legal means to stop it.

    “Any Nigerian is qualified but meeting the requirement of the qualification is a subject of the short listing which will have to be done based on the criteria they have spelt out”.

  • YABATECH gets exam ethics marshals

    TO curtail examination fraud, the Exam Ethics Marshals International has extended its tentacles to the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH).

    Exam Ethics Marshal is a Non-Governmental Organisation advocacy group dedicated to promoting and ensuring best practices in education.

    The event, which held at the school’s campus, saw EEM inducting 30 lecturers and 40 students.

    Speaking at the event, the Founding Chairman of the organisation, Ike Onyechere, said  the inductees are charged to uphold zero tolerance to examination malpractices in the school.

    “The induction is in line with our new strategy to take it down to institutions to train and inaugurate the marshals with a view to institutionalising the campaign so that it will not just rest in the hands of one person, but be collective to sustain good exam practices. It is also in line to get institutions to become friends and partner of the organisation,” Onyechere said.

    He explained that EEM has been a success story since inception in 1996. Though the campaign has not completely stopped the misconduct; but has, to a large extent, reduced its index in Nigeria, Onyechere added.

    “When we started the national exam malpractice index was about 23 to 27. That is, in every examination conducted you must catch at least 23 people of exam malpractice.

    “But today, the national exam malpractice index is 11. We have been able to sensitise the people about malpractice. Everyone has agreed that examination malpractice is one of the greatest challenges facing the education sector and also the challenge the anti corruption war is facing,” he said.

    The Deputy Rector of the insitution, Omobayo Raheem, noted that the war against exam fraud needed to be further intensified.

    “Examination malpractice has been a cankerworm that has been troubling the nation over the years and it has become so endemic and worrisome just like corruption, that if it is not killed, it is likely to kill us.”

    It has become so common that those who are just entering school whether at the primary, secondary or tertiary level, do not see anything new about it. They even see it as something they should engage in. This is what we want to stamp out in Nigeria.

    “Something drastic has to be done. Students bring in tips some even bring notes, textbooks to exam hall. They write tips on any part of their bodies. All those areas of the female body that are meant to be hidden are now used to perpetrate unethical conducts. Even the scarfs they tie on their head, do not trust that scarf. You need to search thoroughly, you could be surprised at the contents,” Raheem said.

    He bemoaned scenarios where lectures collude with their students to commit some misconducts. He advised stakeholders to shun exam malpractice to produce qualitative and problem-solving graduates.

  • YABATECH gets exam ethics marshals

    In its bid to curtail examination fraud, the Exam Ethics Marshals International, has extended its tentacles to the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH).

    Exam Ethics Marshal is a Non Governmental Organisation advocacy group dedicated to promoting and ensuring best practices in education.

    The event, which held at the school’s campus, saw EEM inducting 30 lecturers and 40 students.

    Speaking at the event, the Founding Chairman of the organisation, Ike Onyechere, said  the inductees are charged to uphold zero tolerance to examination malpractices in the school.

    “The induction is in line with our new strategy to take it down to institutions to train and inaugurate the marshals with a view to institutionalising the campaign so that it will not just rest in the hands of one person, but be collective to sustain good exam practices. It is also in line to get institutions to become friends and partner of the organisation,” Onyechere said.

    He explained that EEM has been a success story since inception in 1996. Though the campaign has not completely stopped the misconduct; but has, to a large extent, reduced its index in Nigeria, Onyechere added

    “When we started the national exam malpractice index was about 23 to 27. That is, in every examination conducted you must catch at least 23 people of exam malpractice.

    “But today, the national exam malpractice index is 11. We have been able to sensitise the people about malpractice. Everyone has agreed that examination malpractice is one of the greatest challenges facing the education sector and also the challenge the anti corruption war is facing” he said.

    The Deputy Rector of the school, Omobayo Raheem, noted that the war against exam fraud needs to be further intensified.

    “Examination malpractice has been a cankerworm that has been troubling the nation over the years and it has become so endemic and worrisome just like corruption, that if it is not killed, it is likely to kill us”

    It has become so common that those who are just entering school whether at the primary, secondary or tertiary level, do not see anything new about it. They even see it as something they should engage in. This is what we want to stamp out in Nigeria.

    “Something drastic has to be done. Students bring in tips some even bring notes, textbooks to exam hall. They write tips on any part of their bodies. All those areas of the female body that are meant to be hidden are now used to perpetrate unethical conducts. Even the scarfs they tie on their head, do not trust that scarf. You need to search thoroughly, you could be surprised at the contents,” Raheem said.

    He bemoaned scenarios where lectures collude with their students in all sort of ways to execute misconducts. He advised stakeholders to shun exam malpractice in order to produce qualitative and problem-solving graduates.

  • Akiolu: upgrade Yabatech to a varsity now

    Akiolu: upgrade Yabatech to a varsity now

    Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos has appealed to the Federal Government to speed up the conversion of Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) to a university.

    Oba Akiolu made the appeal when the institution’s governing council, led by its Chairman, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), visited him. He said institutions of Yabatech pedigree, and which had produced graduates who have made significant contributions to national development elsewhere are encouraged to do more.

    “Those who picked Fagbemi as chairman know that whatever he lays his hands on prospers. He will be working with a productive rector, who is also a strong woman,” the monarch said.

    Earlier, Fagbemi expressed the council’s determination to turn the college around. He said: “We are here to restore the lost glory of Yabatech and arrest the falling standards of education in Nigerian through our efforts at the College.

    The chairman was accompanied by the council members, Dr. Victor Igbum, Mr Jude Eluma, Isah Auwalu, Lady Doris Okoroh, Tumba Nuwa, Biodun Omoleye, Dr. Margaret Kudirat Ladipo (Rector) and Ms. Biekoroma Amakapabo.

  • Yabatech gets anti-graft unit

    The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has inaugurated the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) branch of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit.

    Speaking on the occasion the institution’s Rector, Dr Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, promised that management would continue to keep its records open for all to see.

    Mrs Ladipo said: “Yabatech runs an open system and we have been able to transform the college into a contemporary institution because of the transparency in all facets of our operations. I must confess that there have been distractions here and there especially from self-acclaimed whistle-blowers and their cohorts but the truth is that adversarial criticisms have made us stronger. We are more determined than ever to add value to the institution in line with the dreams of its forefathers.”

    She said it was noteworthy the inauguration came as the college is preparing for its 70th anniversary, stating: “The initial plan was to have the inauguration last December but it has always been one thing or another. Honestly, it has been rough such that if God had not been on our side, naysayers would have capsized the ship of the college.”

    She charged the committee headed by the Dean, School of Liberal Studies, Mr. Fred Fatuase, to deliver on its assignment.

    Inaugurating the committee, the ICPC Lagos Zonal Commissioner, Mr. S. P. Binga said nothing less than international best practices and standards were expected from Yabatech. “I must add that you should not rest on your oars in ensuring that you do your level best in meeting the yearnings and demands of the ever critical patrons of the services you provide,” he said.

    Represented by Mr. Japhet Udeani, the commissioner hailed the rector and her management for reconstituting the unit in compliance with the government’s directive.

    The unit, he said, would complement ICPC in fighting corruption.

    Noting that Yabatech ACTU was one of the pioneer units following the establishment of ACTU in 2001, he said it would continue to manage the preventive functions of the commission as specified in sections (a) – (f) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, except in offenders’ trial.

    The members, he said, were chosen because of their integrity and must strive to be accountable, transparent, fair, and just in serving Yabatech and the country.”

    The members are S.K.B Wahab, a lawyer, Dr. Adewoye Olabode, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Fagbamila, Mrs Christy Kayode, Mr. Adumati Muyiwa, and Mr. Joseph Ejiofor.

  • YABATECH joins ASUP warning strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) Chapter, on Monday downed tools following the directive of the union’s National president, Usman Dutse to embark on a week-long warning strike.

    A statement signed by Duste, and read by Mr Adeyemi Davidson, ASUP Chairman, YABATECH chapter, noted: “The year 2013/2014 marked a turning point in our strategy of engagement with the government as a trade union. An industrial strike action which cumulatively lasted for 11 months was marked departure from what our union was known for. Yet the government gave us no choice but to fight for the soul of the sector through the trenches as our mature disposition over the years was clearly seen as a sign of weakness.

    “Comrades, more than two years after this long drawn struggle, we are being dragged again into the battle front as the gains of the previous struggles are being eroded by the inactions of government. Since 2016, our union has, through resolutions of organs of our union and several correspondents, drawn the attention of government to our demands.”

    The union is agitating for the implementation of the NEEDS Assessment report which as at July 2014 revealed that public polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria need minimum of six hundred and fifty-two billion, five hundred and ninety one million, four hundred and seventy eight thousand, six hundred and fourteen naira (N652,591,478,614) to renovate infrastructure, which till date, according to the union, the government has not implemented.

    The statement also expressed the issue of delay in the review of the Federal Polytechnics Act.

    It reads in part: “The Ministry is yet to demonstrate any interest in this matter as the harmonization meeting to be convened by the ministry is yet to be done. The Amendment Bill, currently at the committee stage in the Senate is due to the effort of a private member.

    “Non-Commencement of Renegotiation of the ASUP/government agreement of 2010: the government is yet to demonstrate interest in this direction. This is willful violation of the signed agreement.”

    The union is also agitating for the removal of the age long entry level dichotomy against the HND holders, sustained poor funding of public polytechnics, withdrawal of allowances in federal polytechnics since 2016, sustained shortfall in personnel allocation, as well as the non-funding of promotion exercise.

    Dutse lamented that state-owned polytechnics suffered a worse fate than their Federal counterparts.

    “Our colleagues in the state are worse off as they operate without grants. Members are owed salaries in arrears ranging from two to eight months with Edo, Bayelsa, and Abia States at an inglorious lead; victimization of union officials, non-release of union check-off dues and interference in the union activities despite assurances from the NBTE/Rectors/unions meetings of 24th August and 6th  September 2016 on peaceful resolution of these issues,” he said.

    Adeyemi said the government has shown no sign of seriousness to execute the demands of the union despite efforts made, therefore the need for the strike.

    He sympathized with the students and urged them to understand the need of the strike and pay solidarity to it.

  • Fire: Lawmaker consoles YABATECH students

    The Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Education, Comrade Aminu Sulaiman has commiserated with students who got injured and lost properties in the fire that engulfed the Bakassi Girls’ Hostel of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) on November 23, 2016.

    Sulaiman also absolved the Management of the institution of wrong doing in managing the incident, praising it for its “sensitivity to the need to protect lives and property at all times.”

    Sulaiman, who visited the college to investigate the incident, said he did not find evidence that supported claims of negligent by the Dr Margaret Kudirat Ladipo-led institution.

    He said: “It is good we sacrificed time to come. The impression given by petition writers was a far cry from what we met on ground.

    “There were insinuations of negligence on the part of the college. Some even claimed students were still in the hospital.  In another document, there was a claim that the fire resulted from the fact that the Management let out 80 per cent of the space. It is satisfying we embarked on this trip because, we were able to see things for ourselves and where the truth lies.

    “I am personally satisfied that we visited today. We are not disappointed because we have not found anything to indicate ineptitude on the part of the Management. This is an incident that could happen anywhere.”

    The chairman interacted with students around the hostel, and expressed the sympathy of the entire House, and that of his committee to them promising that the “struggle continues, as victory is sure.”

    The students appreciated the concerns demonstrated by the Committee’s visit.

    Dr Ladipo explained that fire gutted the hostel following a surge after power was restored on the fateful day.

    She said, about 600 students were housed on the two-floor hostel, and that the students were evacuated moments after the outbreak.

    A total of 21 students, she said, were rushed to the College Medical Centre, of which 13 were later referred to the Military Hospital, Yaba, “which opened their facility to our students and gave us the required support. All the students have since been discharged.”

    She also expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Emergence Relief Agency for the support received by the college during the emergency as well as the Federal Fire Service and the University of Lagos.

    Dr. Ladipo said the insurance company had been notified and the compensation was being considered under the fire and special perils policy.

     

  • EFCC takes anti-corruption campaign to YABATECH

    EFCC takes anti-corruption campaign to YABATECH

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken its anti-corruption crusade to the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) to sensitise students on the need to join the campaign

    Some EFCC officials led some members of civil society groups and some lawyers to sensitise students on the crusade at a seminar organised by the Centre for Global Peace Initiatives (CGPI).

    At event, with the theme: Corruption, poverty and violence: Understanding the nexus, were the United Action for Change (UAC) convener, Dr Muiz Banire (SAN), Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) Executive Director, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) Chairman, Mr Debo Adeniran and The Muslim Congress (TMC) leader Dr Luqman Abdur-Raheem.

    EFCC’s Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu, in his speech titled: Corruption and the dwindling economic space, told students to embark on “aggressive public awareness” against corruption.

    He said: “The fight against corruption is one that requires the support of every well-meaning citizen irrespective of status. The Federal Government and the commission cannot do it alone. We want students to embrace this effort and join hands with us to rid the country of corruption. We commend CGPI and we are willing to partner with the body on programmes that would help tame corruption.”

    Magu, who was represented by the EFCC’s legal officer, Mr Ben Ikani, said there was need for government and citizens to forge a common front in tackling the scourge of corruption, saying the current economic recession was a result of years of mismanagement of the nation’s economy.

    The EFCC boss said the present dispensation had made progress in bringing back transparency and accountability to governance, noting that the business environment was reacting positively to the business ethics being promoted by government. He urged students’ groups to embark on public awareness against corruption.

    Admitting the role of international institutions in the fight against corruption, Magu said both Transparency International (TI) and the World Bank provided assistance to the agency in terms of designing of anti-corruption policies.

    Adeniran noted that students needed to expose themselves to environment that would expand their knowledge beyond the academic environment.

    He said: “Excuses are expression of personal inadequacies. This is the trend that results in multiplying poverty in the society. Students have to be creative, while parents too must also equip their children with good values.”

    Banire, who chaired the occasion, proposed a new legal framework in tackling corruption. The framework, according to him, will be aided by the Freedom of Information Law (FOI).

    He said “We need legislations that will give the people access to any information about the government’s activities. There are still some states that  are yet to domesticate the FOI Law. The Federal Government needs to ensure states domesticate this law.”

    On how to overcome the menace of corruption, Banire called for stringent punishments for corrupt officials, adding that the society should desist from glorifying corrupt acts.

    CGPI Executive Director, Comrade Ayinde Yekinni, said the body was ready to partner with students’ groups across campuses to end corruption and reposition the country for development.