Court Grants Ex-OAU VC, Bursar Bail

The Judge presiding over the case of a former acting Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University OAU, Ile-Ife, Professor Anthony Elujoba, has granted the ex VC bail

The Justice David Oladimeji granted Elujoba bail on self-recognition and Mrs Ronke Akeredolu, the institution bursar was granted N50 million bail with two sureties.

The Judge on Tuesday reversed his order to remand the defendant at the Ilesha Prison following several hours of protest by the students and staff of the university.


Professor Elujoba and the bursar of the institution, Mrs Ronke Akeredolu were remanded in the EFCC custody, where they have been since last Wednesday.

Justice Oladimeji also ordered the ruling on the bail application earlier scheduled to hold next week Wednesday, July, 19, be brought forward to Friday, July 15th when their bail application is expected to be argued by their counsels .

Workers and students the University had protested on hearing that Prof. Anthony Elujoba, was ordered to be remanded in prison custody.

UI Releases 2nd/Supplementary List

Following the approval of the 2nd choice and supplementary list of successful candidates for 2013/2014 UTME and Direct Entry admission, the underlisted candidates have been offered PROVISIONAL ADMISSION in their Most Preferred or Supplementary Courses as indicated below.

Successful candidates are expected to pay N20, 000.00 ACCEPTANCE FEE into the U.I. Admission Processing Fee Account:

First Bank of Nigeria Plc, U.I branch, Ibadan (Acct. No – 2018156959)

University of Ibadan Micro-Finance Bank (Acct. No – 1050000027)

Payment of the N20, 000.00 ACCEPTANCE FEE by candidates is an indication of acceptance of the offer of provisional admission into the department / course indicated against their names.

Candidates are advised to accept the offer of provisional admission not later than Wednesday 19 February 2014, after which the offer may be deemed as forfeited.

2013/2014 2ND CHOICE AND SUPPLEMENTARY ADMISSION CLEARANCE EXERCISE

The Admissions clearance exercise for the 2nd choice and supplementary candidates will commence from Monday 10 February, 2014 to Friday 21 February, 2014. The clearance exercise will take place between 8.00 am and 2.00 pm daily at the venues listed below:

Faculties of Arts,Science,Technology and Law: Gamaliel Onosode Garden, Opposite Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Faculties of Education, The Social Sciences, Pharmacy and College of Medicine: Arts Theatre, Department of Theatre Arts.

Faculties of Agriculture & Forestry and Veterinary Medicine: Dean’s Boardroom, White House, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Candidates are also requested to bring the underlisted documents for the clearance exercise:

1. Biodata and Acceptance fee forms to be filled and downloaded from the University of Ibadan Admissions webpage

2. Institutions copy of the Admission letter (To be printed from jamb website)

3. Original and 4 photocopies of the UTME result slip(UTME candidates)

4. Jamb Direct entry print-out (Direct entry candidates)

5. Original and 4 photocopies of your credentials - SSCE/GCE/CAMBRIDGE O/LEVEL and/or A/LEVEL

6. Ten (10) recent passport size photographs

7. Original and 4 photocopies of Birth Certificate or Sworn Declaration of Age

8. Two letters of reference from two reputable persons - on Letter Headed Papers

9. Original and 4 photocopies of bank teller for payment of N20,000.00 Acceptance Fee

10. A file with tag

Candidates are advised to go online to download and fill the following forms at http://admissions.ui.edu.ng/biodata

a. Medical form

b. Undertaking form

c. Jamb formB001 and B003

Note: Candidates are strongly advised not to transact any business with any other person/persons, corporate or any other site other than the University of Ibadan Website.

For further enquiry contact the Undergraduate Admission Office on any of the helplines: 08129732268, 08115976795 or send electronic mail to ugadmissions@mail.ui.edu.ng

• Faculty of Agriculture & Forestry
• Faculty of Arts
• College of Medicine
• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Pharmacy
• Faculty of Science
• Faculty of THE Social Sciences
• Faculty of Technology
• Faculty of veterinary Medicine

Photos: Flavour visits his secondary school dressed in their uniform

On Monday January 3rd, current high life king, Flavour visited his Alma Mater, College of the Immaculate Conception, CIC, Enugu were he passed out from 14 years ago.

The singer, who was dressed in the school's uniform, went there to inspire and motivate the students. He also gave out full music instrumental set and some scholarship. Will bring full details and pics later

CHECK Out Top 100 Universities In Africa

The rankings of Africa’s top higher education institutions has been provided by the 4 International Colleges & Universities (4icu).

4icu is an international higher education search engine and directory reviewing accredited Universities and Colleges in the world. 4icu.org includes 11,160 Colleges and Universities, ranked by web popularity, in 200 countries.
The list shows that South African universities comes top, although South Africa ranks very low in the quality of education in the world.
Meanwhile the first Nigeria University on the list is at number 10.
See full list below
1 University of South Africa, South Africa
2 University of Cape Town, South Africa
3 Universiteit Stellenbosch, South Africa
4 University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
5 University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
6 University of Pretoria, South Africa
7 Cairo University, Egypt
8 University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
9 University of the Western Cape, South Africa
10 Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

11 Makerere University, Uganda
12 University of Botswana, Botswana
13 Mansoura University, Egypt
14 Rhodes University, South Africa
15 Alexandria University, Egypt
16 The American University in Cairo, Egypt
17 Zagazig University, Egypt
18 University of Johannesburg, South Africa
19 Assiut University, Egypt
20 University of Nairobi, Kenya
21 Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Senegal
22 University of Zambia, Zambia
23 North-West University, South Africa
24 University of Lagos, Nigeria
25 Tanta University, Egypt
26 University of Ghana, Ghana
27 Université de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
28 Université Mohammed V – Agdal, Morocco
29 Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa
30 Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa
31 Université d’Antananarivo, Madagascar
32 Ain Shams University, Egypt
33 University of Ibadan, Nigeria
34 Kenyatta University, Kenya
35 University of Namibia, Namibia
36 Universiteit van die Vrystaat, South Africa
37 University of Nigeria, Nigeria
38 The German University in Cairo, Egypt
39 University of Limpopo, South Africa
40 Université de la Reunion, Reunion
41 University of Khartoum, Sudan
42 Benha University, Egypt
43 Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique
44 Helwan University, Egypt
45 École Nationale d’Architecture, Morocco
46 University of Fort Hare, South Africa
47 Université Nationale du Rwanda, Rwanda
48 Al Akhawayn University, Morocco
49 Université Catholique de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, Benin
50 Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa
51 Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
52 Minia University, Egypt
53 Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
54 Fayoum University, Egypt
55 Moi University, Kenya
56 University of Ilorin, Nigeria
57 October 6 University, Egypt
58 South Valley University, Egypt
59 Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
60 Université Mouloud Maameri de Tizi Ouzou, Algeria
61 Université Mohammed V – Souissi, Morocco
62 Al-Azhar University, Egypt
63 Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana
64 Misurata University, Libya
65 Minoufiya University, Egypt
66 Université d’Oran, Algeria
67 Université Hassan II Mohammedia – Casablanca, Morocco
68 Polytechnic of Namibia, Namibia
69 Université d’Alger, Algeria
70 University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
71 University of Cape Coast, Ghana
72 The British University in Egypt, Egypt
73 Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
74 University of Zululand, South Africa
75 University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria
76 University of Malawi, Malawi
77 Université Cadi Ayyad, Morocco
78 Université Mentouri de Constantine, Algeria
79 Suez Canal University, Egypt
80 Université de Yaoundé I, Cameroon
81 Egerton University, Kenya
82 University of Swaziland, Swaziland
83 Kafr el-Sheikh University, Egypt
84 Université Ibn Tofail, Morocco
85 Université de la Manouba, Tunisia
86 Université Hassan II – Casablanca, Morocco
87 Covenant University, Nigeria
88 University of Benin, Nigeria
89 École Nationale Supérieure en Informatique, Algeria
90 Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediène, Algeria
91 Durban University of Technology, South Africa
92 Strathmore University, Kenya
93 Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
94 Université Ibnou Zohr, Morocco
95 Universidade de Cabo Verde, Cape Verde
96 Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan
97 University of Mauritius, Mauritius
98 Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania
99 Gulu University, Uganda
100 Vaal University of Technology, South Africa

What do you think of this list?

Strike Continues –ASUU

Despite every measure already employed to get public university lecturers to return to work, ASUU still maintains its standpoint of not returning to the classroom.
According to reports gathered, the President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Fagge said its members are not calling off the strike because the Federal Government has remained adamant towards their request.
The Federal Government had given ASUU an ultimatum of today, Monday to resume work or else face losing their jobs. And the reason for the shift which was earlier fixed on December 4, was to enable the members attend their late leader's burial held on Saturday.
According to myschool Mike, Fagge was if the members of the union would go back to work today and if they had confirmed the N200bn the Federal Government claimed to have deposited in a special account at the Central Bank of Nigeria, he simply replied, “No to both questions.”
ASUU had in the bulletin insisted that the government threat to sack its members would not break the union’s resolve to pursue its action to a logical conclusion.
A source privy to the meeting, said, “No Jupiter will force us to go and teach until all the agreements are documented. The Federal Government is not sincere. If indeed the authorities have agreed, why will they be afraid to document what has been agreed upon?
“Let the vice-chancellors, who can teach, go and do so. But our members are determined not to sign any attendance register tomorrow (today). The threat does not bother us, as truth will always supercede deception, lies and any form of intimidation.”
The ASUU National Treasurer, Dr. Ademola Aremu, who also said, “Our position has not changed because we are still on strike. When we met President Goodluck Jonathan, we had a number of agreements but when the Presidency communicated to us, we noticed some gaps. We have written to the government on our observations but up till now, it has not responded.
“The only response from government representatives was the accusation against us that we are making new demands. This was after the letter we wrote to the government was exposed to the whole world.
“ASUU is not asking for anything new; what we are saying is that government should perfect the documentation binding the agreement we had with it. We know the agreement we had with the government and we will stand by it.”
He added, “The government did not play any role in the burial of Iyayi, who died in the struggle. The Federal Government would have been more responsive instead of threatening our members with sacking. The military used this system and it did not work. Why will it work in a democratic environment? I don’t think any right thinking government will use threat to achieve peace.”
On government’s claim that it was ready to pay salaries owed the striking teachers who returned to work, Aremu said the decision was a part of the ploy not to make things work in the education sector.
  “This government does not want things to work at all. We wrote to the government that we noticed some gaps but instead of writing us back to clear issues, it began to use threat as a weapon. I don’t think anyone who is worth the certificate he is using as a lecturer will panic because of four months’ salaries. You only treat casual workers in such way and not people with intellectual endowment. ASUU members are not casual workers so the position of Okojie will not shake us.”
The Chairman of the University of Abuja chapter, Dr. Clement Chup, also described the threat as “an empty one.”
He said, “We are still waiting for the government to respond to our letter; until that is done, the strike continues.
“When the December 4 deadline was given, I said ‘I dey laugh because I knew it would not work.’ Now that they have extended it, ‘I still dey laugh’ because it will still not work. Because you (Federal Government) are not ready to honour an agreement and you will begin to threaten people with sacking; it doesn’t work that way.”
His Nasarawa State University, Keffi, counterpart, Dr. Theophilus Lagi, said, “It is only the National Executive Council of the ASUU that could take the decision to suspend the strike.”
He said lecturers in the school would stay away from the classrooms since the NEC of ASUU had yet to suspend the strike.
source

Truck Rams Into Classroom, Kills 7 School Children

A truck driver yesterday in Abia state, lost control and rammed into a classroom killing 7 school children with 15 others wounded.

The truck was said to be on its way to Ovom waterside to evacuate sand when it lost control and rammed into the fence of Glorious International Academy located on 42 Opobo road, before killing the pupils who were having their morning devotion.

The sad part was that, they had already finished their exams, but came to school that morning for their end of year party. Blood stains littered the floor while plates, spoons and food meant for the party were seen scattered all over. Some parents and relations who lost their children and wards were seen weeping uncontrollably while others were making inquiries regarding the whereabouts of their children and wards.

Nollywood Actress 'Dayo Amusa' Launches School In Ibadan

The nollywood actress recently launched a school in Ibadan, Oyo State. The school was launched on the 1st of December and would start academic activities fully in 2014. Congrats Dayo!!!

See more pictures below

ASUU Strike: OAU Students Doubt FG, Desert Campus

Students of Obafemi  Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, in Osun State, on Monday failed to resume for academic activities despite the Federal Government directive for immediate reopening of all federal universities in the country.
None of the students were seen on campus for possible commencement of academic activities as directed by government.
Mr Abiodun Olarenwaju, the Public Relations Officer of the institution,  confirmed that not a single student was on campus ''for any reason whatsoever''.
He said that the few lecturers on campus were around ''for reasons other than academic activities.
‘’Sincerely, none of our students show up on campus as of today, but some of the lecturers are around, although they are not coming for any academic activity, they always come around for other reasons.
‘’You know our lecturers have not totally deserted the campus like that, many of them still come around to do one or two things in their offices, but no teaching and learning activities.’’

Photos: Oluwaseyi Tinubu, Son Of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Called To Bar

Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu's son, Oluwaseyi Tinubu has been called to bar. Oluwaseyi Tinubu is seen in the picture above with his father, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the Call To The Nigerian Bar Ceremony, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. A dinner party was also held for him at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on the 29th of November, 2013 with most APC Governors in attendance. More photos below

 Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN; Barrister Oluwaseyi Tinubu; APC Leader, General Muhammadu Buhari; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal

                                    Oluwaseyi Tinubu With APC Governors and Officials

UNN, ESUT announce resumption date Dec. 2

Nsukka – The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), said their academic activities would resume on Monday, Dec. 2.

They made the announcement in separate statements issued in Nsukka and Enugu on Saturday.

The Registrar of the UNN, Mr Anthony Okonta, in the statement, stressed that “normal academic activities would resume immediately.’’

The statement directed students who had outstanding examinations for the 2012/2013 session to report to their respective faculties and departments in Nsukka and Enugu campuses.

The ESUT Registrar, Mr Chris Igbokwe, also advised students and academic and non- academic staff to report to the institution on Dec. 2.

According to the statement, students are advised to return to their campuses at Agbani and Enugu campuses as the second semester examination would commence on Monday, Dec. 9.

The Federal Government had on Thursday, directed all federal universities to resume work on or before Dec. 4.

The statement, issued by the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr Nyesom Wike, directed the striking members of ASUU, to resume work on or before Dec 4 or consider themselves sacked. (NAN)

ASUU Strike: If Military Failed, FG Will Fail - Falana

The Federal Government has directed the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, to deploy policemen to all federal universities in the country  in its bid to ensure  resumption of academic activities in universities on or before December 4.
Reacting to the latest development, Mr Femi Falana [SAN], said  President Goodluck Jonathan should call Wike  to order in the interest of the education system.
He said if Wike had familiarised himself with FG/ASUU face-off in the past two decades, even under the defunct military junta, he would have discovered that ASUU members had never been cowed to submission.
He said: “In 1992, the Ibrahim Babangida junta fired all lecturers and threatened to eject them from their official quarters. When the lecturers defied the junta a decree was promulgated which made strike by teachers a treasonable felony. ASUU also ignored the obnoxious decree  and called off the bluff of the military dictators. But at the end of the day it became clear to the regime that universities could not be run like military barracks. Hence the junta swallowed its pride, withdrew its empty threats and decided to honour the agreement which it had rejected.’’
It was learnt this development was disclosed  at  an emergency meeting   the Federal Government held  with  all vice-chancellors of federal universities at the National Universities Commission building in Abuja on Friday.
 The Acting Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof Julius Okojie, were also at the meeting.
Though Friday’s meeting was held behind closed doors, a source at the meeting who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak with the press, said that the Federal Government  directed the IG  to draft policemen to federal universities to prevent members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities from disturbing some of their members that might want to resume work in line with government’s directive.
The meeting, further learnt, also  discussed other  modalities for calling off the bluff of ASUU whose members  have been on strike for over five months.
The Friday meeting began at 9am and lasted for two hours. Part of the meeting’s deliberation.
It also centred on how to recruit new lecturers to fill the space of ASUU members who might refuse to obey government’s  directive.
 Also, the vice-chancellors were directed to call students back to campus on Sunday in preparation  for academic activities which should start on Monday.
Wike, had on Thursday  ordered  lecturers to resume duties on or before December 4 or face being sacked summarily by the Federal Government.
Okojie had been mandated to  start the process of recruiting new lecturers by placing vacancy adverts in international journals and media.
Also, the vice-chancellors were directed  to open registers in their institutions where ASUU members that resume work would sign so that those who failed to resume could be sacked.
Our correspondent further learnt that the Federal Government was planning to adopt the Ghanaian method where lecturers were asked to re-apply for their jobs after two years of strike.
“Not all lecturers are members of ASUU. Most professors don’t belong to the union,  people think every lecturer in public university is a member of ASUU, which is not true. Government means business this time around and it is going to call  off the bluff of ASUU,’’ the source explained.
Nigerian universities are currently in need of at least 30,000 lecturers because of acute shortage of lecturers in the university system.
There are also indications that the Federal Government and university lecturers may be heading for a clash as the  December 4 deadline given by the Federal Government for the lecturers to return to work is also the date set aside by ASUU to bury a former President of the union, Prof. Festus Iyayi.
Iyayi died in a ghastly auto accident along the Abuja-Lokoja Road when the vehicle in which he was travelling had a collision with the convoy of Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State on November 12, 2013.
The former ASUU chairman was on his way to Kano to attend a crucial meeting of the union which was called to deliberate on the Federal Government’s offer to the lecturers.
The Federal Government had claimed it decided to go tough on ASUU because the union made fresh demands  in its letter to the government as  a condition for calling  off the lingering strike action.
ASUU had demanded payment of the four-month salary arrears of its members from July when the strike commenced and the release  of N200bn that President Goodluck Jonathan promised to inject into the university system within the next two weeks.
The union also said the agreement reached between it and the Federal Government should be signed by the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation, while the money should be lodged with the Central Bank.

ASUP, Mapoly Chapter Calls Off Strike

As a result of the resumption to work of the members of the Institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics in Nigeria (ASUP), Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta has called off its strike.
The strike was suspended on Friday, November 29, 2013, after the Union’s congress made a review of activities since the strike started.
All Full-Time and Part-Time, National Diploma and Higher National Diploma students are advised to resume immediately, as the 2nd semester 2012/2013 examination will commence immediately.
Students are to visit the Polytechnic’s website, www.mapoly.edu.ng or the Polytechnic’s Twitter handle @ MAPOLYinfo for more details

Undergraduate to die by hanging for robbery

A Makurdi High Court on Tuesday sentenced, Jacob Atongo, a 100-level sociology student of Benue State University, to death by hanging for armed robbery.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Adam Onum held that he was satisfied with the confession of the accused to the charges and therefore found him guilty.

Onum sentenced the accused to death by hanging, insisting that the sentence prescribed under the law for the offence must be followed.

Atongo had allegedly conspired with two others to rob one Stephen Akuma of his Toyota Camry, and had also robbed  others at gun point on June 26, 2012.

He also allegedly attacked Judges’ Quarters, Makurdi on July 3, 2012 and robbed no fewer than 15 people.

The offences contravened the Robbery and Firearms Laws.

The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges and testified for himself along with one witness called by his counsel.

Prosecution called seven witnesses and tendered  exhibits, which included two statements made by the convict to the police.

But counsel to the accused, Mr. E.Z. Agbakor, told the court that the accused did not make the statement tendered in court voluntarily, insisting his client was tortured and forced to confess to the offences.

Unijos VC urges ASUU to suspend strike

Jos – Prof. Hayward Mafuyai, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, on Tuesday appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its strike in the interest of the nation.

Mafuyai, said this, while exchanging views with newsmen in Jos.

He said that the university lecturers should consider the plight of their students by calling off their long-drawn-out strike.

“The fact of the matter is that the Federal Government has done well by agreeing to set aside billions of naira yearly for the rehabilitation and development of the nation’s universities.

“The ASUU officials and members should at least look at what the government has offered and call off the strike,” he said.

Mafuyai said that the government had agreed to be releasing N30 billion yearly for the rehabilitation and the maintenance of the nations universities.

He added that the government had also inaugurated the Needs’ Assessment Committee of the Nigerian Universities, with the view to solving the problems facing the universities.

“President Goodluck Jonathan has a listening ear; that is why the government has been negotiating, with a view to resolving the impasse between it and the union,” he said.

Mafuyai appealed to ASUU to reconsider its “hard stance’’.

He said that the ASUU members, after receiving what was offered to them, could still continue negotiations with the government.

The vice chancellor, however, said that he had a cordial relationship with the local branch of ASUU in his university.

He said that the university authorities were ready to provide a favourable working environment for the lecturers to operate without any fear of harassment. (NAN)

'ICT Education as Catalyst for National Development'

The legendary Professor of Science, Computer and Environmental Education and President, Global University Network for Innovation GUNI-Africa, Professor Peter Okebukola has described Information and Communications Technology (ICT) education as a catalyst for national development.
Speaking at the maiden ICT Conference and Exhibition at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka themed: ‘ICT: Re-engineering a Road Map for Societal Development’, Okebukola said, ICT education is an important lever for accelerating development in all sectors of the economy and it is the human element rather than the machine in ICT that holds the key to development.
He said, "Emphasis therefore needs to be laid on how we can prepare human resources to better deliver the ICT enterprise. ICT gadgets in the hands of the ignorant is like gold before swine."
According to him, though there is a noticeable improvement at all levels of the education system in the use of ICT in schools, it is worth realising that the road ahead is far especially for the public school system.
In his welcome address, the provost of the institution, Dr. Sijibomi Olusanya represented by the Dr. Mrs. Olajumoke Mekilua said, this is the age knowledge explosion, globalisation and technology and with ICT, we can leap forth to higher level of social, economic and political development.
"The Nigerian government has made the development of ICT one of its strategic priorities in order to implement the new world order, growth and transformation agenda. The ICT policy, the incentives and the rise of government expenditure in ICT infrastructure and service are the reflection of the government's commitment to use ICT as a tool for rapid economic growth."
In his speech, Chair, Local Organising Committee of the conference/exhibition  Mr. Sunday Oke said: "This type of gathering usually provides an ideal platform for the exchange of ideas on issues of general and national interest with a view to proffering or initiating practical solution for the benefit of our society in general."
Oke said the wide gap between the ICT sector and the Academic sector makes graduates of tertiary institutions in the country to engage themselves in professional examination of various kinds and it would be difficult to find a better time for addressing this issue than now, given the current national crusade by the government towards creating awareness on the relevance of information technology to education and economic growth.
Head of ICT Department of the school, Mr. Ishola Lawal said the conference/exhibition is to bridge the gap between the ICT industry and the students.
"We are actually trying to address the issue of the gap between the ICT industry and the educational sector. We notice that at the end of the day when we have students from the educational sector, they don't really fit in into the ICT world. Most of them have to go through a lot of professional exams before they can fit in, so this an avenue for the industry and the students to interact so as to bridge the gap."
However, Professor Okebukola recommended that the Federal Ministry of Education should work with the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology to develop a special training scheme for technical personnel for implementing the ICT in Education policy.
"The institute for Science Laboratory Technology is well positioned to implement the scheme. To sustain the scheme, special incentives should be provided to such technicians or technologists if they are not to be lured to greener pasture in the private sector."Source: daily times

Hoodlums Storm Osun School, Injure Principal, Students

There was pandemonium at Baptist High School, Ejigbo in Osun State on Monday as hoodlums invaded the school attacking students, teachers and injuring the principal of the school for allegedly stopping some Muslim pupils from wearing hijab.
Our correspondent gathered that some hoodlums stormed the school while the students were already seated in their classrooms.
They were said to have headed straight for the Principal’s Office and asked the principal, Mr. Layi Oguntola, to apologise for sending the hijab-wearing students away from school but he the principal allegedly refused the order.
A source in the school said the principal was beaten to a pulp by the invaders.
It was gathered that the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyesosin, offered his palace as a refuge for the teachers and students while he also ensured the rescue of the principal from the fierce-looking youths.
The principal, according to a teacher in the school, was rushed to the Baptist Medical Centre, where he was said to be receiving treatment.
Some Muslims and Christian groups had locked in battle over the new  education policy introduced by Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
The Christian Association of Nigeria in the state had opposed the policy, saying it was introduced to wipe away the heritage bequeathed unto them by the early missionaries.
The Osun Baptist Congress staged a protest against the new education policy in the state, saying they would not allow hijab-wearing students to be merged with the students of the Baptist College, Iwo.
But the Joint Muslims Action Forum, which is an umbrella body for all Islamic groups in the state, issued a statement on Sunday condemning the protest by the Osun Baptist Congress.
The statement was issued by JOMAF Coordinator, Alhaji Kola Uzamat; and Secretary, Mr. Qaasim Odedeji.
The group described the prevention of hijab-wearing students from Christian schools as an act of religious intolerance, which the Islamic group said would not be allowed in the state.
They accused Christians of attempting to sabotage Aregbesola’s policy, which they said was introduced to address the decay in the education sector in the state.
Aregbesola is a Muslim.
Also, the Catholic Media Practitioners in the state has threatened to drag the state government to court in order to stop the schools merger.
The CAMP, in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Richard Adesida, said that the new policy, especially transforming single-sex schools to co-educational was unacceptable to Catholics and it would be resisted by every legal means.
The JOMAF statement read: “This is a blatant display of religious intolerance and lack of accommodation which cannot stand the test of time in a multi-religious society. This is an appropriate time and medium to debunk the age-long erroneous ownership claims on those schools that were acquired by missionaries from various host communities.
“The Baptist High Schools in Iwo, Ede and Iree as well as the Methodist High School, Otan Ayegbaju; Gbongan\Odeomu Anglican Grammar School and St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School, Ilobu, were all founded by their various Muslim-dominated communities but were fraudulently hijacked in the course of registration and search for teachers.
“We wish to draw the attention of the Baptist convention and other missionaries to the fact that the loss or obliteration of their heritage could not be rightly located in the education transformation policy of the present administration in Osun State.
“The issue of ownership of schools had been settled way back in the mid-seventies when the then Federal Government acquired all missionary schools, both Muslim and Christian-owned and compensated them for same.”
The Catholic group condemned the turning of single-sex school into mixed ones, saying they would not allow the merging of Catholic schools in the state with some other schools as a result of the “obnoxious educational policy of the state government.”
“We are particularly sad that schools like St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo; and St. John Grammar School, Ile – Ife which were boys’ school now joined together with female schools,” the statement read.

Unijos wins $8m dollars World Bank grant for research

UNIJOS -The University of Jos has received an eight million dollar grant from the World Bank to establish of an African Centre of Excellence to research on the production of drugs from plants (phytomedicine).

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Hayward Mafuyai, made the fact known in Jos on Friday when he briefed newsmen on the research activities of the institution.

He said that the award was given based on the university’s entry in the call by the bank for research initiatives from African universities.

“We competed with about 52 universities in Africa and we were lucky to win the grant.

“The grant was given to the university to conduct researches to produce modern drugs from plants in Africa

“The grant will be used to conduct researches on different leaves, roots and plants so as to extract their medicinal contents for the use of human beings.

“The team of researchers from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science will carry out the research

“The money will be released to the researchers in phases so as to complete the work without hitches, “ he said

The vice-chancellor also said that the university emerged as the best in the category of universities in the country during the second Education Innovation Exhibition announced in Abuja on Wednesday, Nov. 13.

He said that “the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Science and Technology organised the exhibition.

“The team of researchers from the university has produced some drugs for the use of Nigerians.

“Our researchers have produced anti-hypertension, anti-diabetes, anti-malaria drugs and anti snake venom.

“We have sent the newly developed drugs to some overseas universities for further verification on their potency,“ he said

Mafuyai said that the institution had also signed a Memorandum (MoU) of Understanding with the university of Cape- Coast in Ghana to train its staff.

“The MOU is signed for initial three year duration for the purpose of omithology: to develop and carry out conservation based training,“ he said.

The vice-chancellor appealed to philanthropists to come to the aid of the university so that it could become the best in the country. (NAN)

Students Indiscipline: Ondo PTA to Partner NSCDC

The Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) in Ondo State says its working out plans to partner the state command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to start arresting students in school uniform found roaming the streets during school hours.

Chairman of the Association, Pastor Julius Olaribigbe, who disclosed this during a tour to some schools in Akure, said this is necessary to make students sit tight with their studies.
Olaribigbe said any student found, would be taken to his/her school and if noticed that he/she was not out on official assignment, the Association will take appropriate punitive measures against such student.

"I believe partnering with the NSCDC will reduce this ugly trend hooking up in our education system in Ondo State especially in our secondary schools".
He revealed that their had been report on cases of teachers sending students on unwarranted errand, during which they ought to be in their respective class.
"if we discover that such a student is running an errand for a teacher outside the school premises, when he/she should be in the classroom, we will not hesitate to report such teacher to the Ministry of Education."

While decrying the worrisome cases of students in uniform roaming the streets during school hours, the PTA chairman noted that this trend were part of cases identified for students failure in their academics.

Olaribigbe also appealed to the state government to look into bringing back the boarding system, so as “to revive the flagging reading culture and boost academic output of students.”

Unilorin VC bags WASU Leadership Award

In yet another testimony to the excellent leadership style of the University of Ilorin, the West African Students Union (WASU), with headquarters in Tema, Accra, Ghana, has conferred the 2013 West African Leadership Award for Educational Development on the Vice-Chancellor, Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali.
Presenting the Award to the Vice-Chancellor in his office last Tuesday (November 12, 2013), WASU’s Head of Parliament, Mr. Emmanuel Sobio, said that the Award was “in recognition of the achievements of the University Ilorin, which is noted for uninterrupted academic calendar for several years now in a clime of strikes and academic stoppages that marked University system in Nigeria.” 
Mr. Sobio said, “Our choice of Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali for this award is in recognition of the dedication of a true son of Africa to the development of education not only in his native country, Nigeria, but across Africa, particularly the West African sub-region.
“We decided to confer this honour not just to celebrate the achievements and outstanding contributions of Prof. Ambali, but also to encourage him and his team to do more for Nigerian and African education. He should not relent in his efforts at re-defining academic standards across African Universities.
“Our award is a wake -up call on others to realise that they are being watched. Everyone in public office is being critically monitored and their actions and inactions either good or bad are being scrutinised.”
The West African Leadership Award and Lecture Series, has, since the past 13 years, been  organised in Ghana, where the West African Students Union (WASU), its initiator and promoter,  has its headquarters.
  “The goal is to advance the culture of leadership by example and integrity in the minds of men, by rewarding outstanding leaders with visions for their nations and communities as a way of presenting them as role models to younger generations in line with the constitution and charter of WASU and in the spirit of Pan-Africanism of the first Ghanaian President, the late Dr. Kwame Nkruma,” Mr. Sobio said.
According to the WASU Head of Parliament, “nominations were received from several Universities in West Africa and after close scrutiny by an international panel consisting of very eminent personalities across the sub-region, the nomination of Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali stood out.”                                                                                                                                                    In his response, Prof. Ambali disclosed that the University of Ilorin had been collaborating with sister Universities across the globe particularly in Africa
where the University had a memorandum of understanding to promote education exchanges among member institutions. “These exchanges,” according to him, “are aimed at advancing teaching and research development and several staff and students across West Africa are benefitting from them.”
The Vice-Chancellor said, “It is true that though disagreements exist between University workers and their employer, that is the government, over conditions of service, the University of Ilorin had always believed that solution will ultimately require a round-table discussion.
“Strikes disrupt. It is very costly to all parties in the educational sector. Government is not happy while strike lasts. Parents are not happy. Students are idle and, being youthful, divert their energies to unproductive ends.”
The Award presentation was witnessed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Bayo Lawal; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Yisa Fakunle; the Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Obafemi; the Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. A. O. Omotesho; and the Sub-Dean, Student Affairs, Dr. A. Yusuf.
Also at the event were WASU Secretary-General, Mr. Bamidele Oladele Babs; the JCC Chairman,  Kwara State, Mr. Abdulrazak Jeje and another executive council member, Mr. Olalekan Lawal.

DATA RECAPTURE/VERIFICATION EXERCISE FOR ACADEMIC STAFF OF UNILAG

The data recapture/verification exercise for all academic staff of the University of Lagos will hold from Thursday, November 21, 2013 to Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at the Main Auditorium, UNILAG, Akoka.


For The time-table of the exercise click hereunilag