Education

Avoid negativity, strive for self-reliance – Makinde Tells Corps Members

By Web News 306

By Dayo Adu

Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has admonished corps members not to join the bandwagon of negativity but to strive to be self-reliant and create wealth.

Governor Makinde stated this at the swearing-in ceremony of 2024 Batch A Stream 1 corps members held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp Iseyin.

The governor, who noted that the youths were sophisticated, energetic and learned, appealed to them to be open-minded and embrace the skill acquisition to solve the nation’s challenges.

Represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Miss Wosilat Adegoke, the governor counselled the corps members not to be carried away by the viral ‘No Gree For Anybody’ slogan but to embrace the training and grooming at the orientation camp.

Earlier in an address of welcome, Oyo State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr. Odoba Abel Oche appealed to the state government on infrastructural development of the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp to enhance effective training of corps members posted to the state.

One thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven corps members, comprising eight hundred and fifty-two males and eight hundred and eight-five females posted to Oyo State swore to the NYSC Oath of Allegiance led by the representative of the Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Olagunju.

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Education

MAPOLY Management Assures on Uninterrupted Academic Activities

By Web News 407

By Oluwatoyin Adegoke

The Management of the Ogun State-owned Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, Abeokuta has renewed its commitment to ensuring uninterrupted academic activities in the institution.

The Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Adeoye Odedeji stated this when the president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Comrade Pedro Obi visited his office in Abeokuta. 

Dr Odedeji said the present administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun has put in place the needed machinery for the rescue and revitalization of MAPOLY after the two-year stagnation caused by the policy of his predecessor. 

He maintained that the move has helped to resuscitate the culture of academic excellence the polytechnic is known for, which has produced notable leaders like the former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and the current Accountant-General of the Federation, AGF, Dr Oluwatoyin Shakirat Madein among others.

Dr Odedeji gave the assurance that the list of the polytechnic’s students expected to be mobilised for the next batch of the National Youths Service Corps NYSC, service would be released soon, adding that the institution was running Information Communication Technology, ICT, programmes to provide both staff and students with the required digital training in partnership with CISCO and Huawei Technology.

Earlier, the president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Comrade Pedro Obi explained that the visit was to appreciate the efforts of the management of the institution in ensuring stability of academic activities on the campus.

Comrade Obi explained that on his assumption of office as leader of NANS in December 2023, he had embarked on a familiarisation tour to campuses across the country to meet with the stakeholders to fashion out ways to minimise crisis between management and students’ movement on campuses. 

The forum also had in attendance, the Deputy Rector, Dr Yetunde Lanre-Iyana, the polytechnic’s Registrar, Mrs Olubunmi Elewodalu, the Bursar, Mr Fatai Yekini, Director of Students Affairs, Dr Amos Kolawole and other principal officers.

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Education

Gboyega Isiaka Launches School Support Programme

By Web News 745

By Oluwatoyin Adegoke

House of Representatives member representing Yewa North/Imeko Afon Federal Constituency, Prince Gboyega Isiaka has initiated a series of education support interventions to complement the state government’s efforts in providing quality and affordable education to constituents.

The initiative, involving both short and long-term interventions, targeting a 15-year development plan for the federal constituency was formulated based on the outcome of deliberations with key stakeholders, including the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, school principals and other administrators.

According to a statement by the Media Aide to the federal lawmaker, Mr Femi Peters, plans by Prince Isiaka to prioritize education in the area includes the Public School Teaching Support Programme involving the engagement of 40 additional Parents and Teachers Association, PTA, teachers to teach English Language and Mathematics in secondary schools across the constituency, commencing with the third term school calendar in April 2024.

Other areas of focus identified in the statement were school infrastructure and enhancement schemes, especially the implementation of programmes and projects already included in the National Budget and ensuring funding and other direct support to students, such as assisting potential candidates to obtain JAMB forms. 

The statement also listed plans to offer Technical Education and Vocational Training, with the lawmaker championing a bill at the House of Representatives to establish a Technical and Skills Acquisition Center within the constituency while sponsoring eligible constituents to seek relevant vocational training in different parts of the country and promoting moral values and mentoring to the students. 

The statement which enjoined people to embrace the plan, also explained that the gesture was aimed at enhancing quality education in the constituency for the wellbeing of the people.

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Education

Protest Rocks FUTA over Insecurity

By Web News 597

Students of the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, Ondo State, on Friday, protested what they described as incessant robbery attacks against them off the campus of the institution.

The protesters, who were singing various solidarity songs, barricaded the busy Akure -Ilesa Road, causing gridlock on the expressway.

The students said they staged a protest to call the attention of the management of the institution, the government, and the security agencies to act to save them from the activities of the bandits.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Odunlami, said men of the command had been deployed in the area to ensure the protest was not hijacked by hoodlums.

Details later.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Education

Commissioner for Health Visits Rescued Pupils, Teachers at EKSUTH

By Web News 331

By Amos Ogunrinde

Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani says the five rescued pupils and four teachers of Apostolic Faith Group of Schools, Emure Ekiti currently undergoing medical attention at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, EKSUTH Ado Ekiti are all in stable medical condition.

Dr Filani who made this known to Journalists at the premises of the hospital shortly after he visited the victims, noted that they would soon be discharged after the outcome of the clinical psychotherapy result they went through.

He pointed out that the result would determine the next phase of their treatment.

Dr Filani was joined on the visit by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Kayode Olabanji and top officials of the medical facility.

Also speaking,  the EKSUTH Chief Medical  Director CMD, Prof Kayode Olabanji maintained that the pupils and their teachers had received all necessary medical attention because the specialists expected to attend to them were available.

Five pupils and four teachers of Apostolic Faith of Schools Emure-Ekiti were abducted by some gunmen along Emure-Iporo Ekiti road on Monday January 29, 2024.

However, the pupils and their teachers regained their freedom last Sunday, February 4 and they were brought to EKSUTH for medical attention at the directive of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

The Governor had also visited the victims at EKSUTH where he directed the medical personnel to give them quality health care.

The school bus driver, Mr Taye Rasaki was however killed by their kidnappers.

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Education

Osun Executive Council Approves Recruitment of Teachers

By Web News 577

By Funmi Ojo

The Osun State Executive Council has approved the immediate recruitment of five thousand teachers and two hundred and fifty education officers to fill vacancies in the state teaching service.

The Council also approved a contract for the rehabilitation of Ora Igbomina water works at over 1.3 billion naira.

The Council noted that the approval for the recruitment of teachers follows the conclusion of the need assessment which the Governor ordered last year.

The Council directed that the Ministry of Education should fast-track the process of recruitment to strengthen the education system.

On the Ora Igbomina water works, the Council directed that the mobilization of the contractor should be handled immediately given the worsening exchange rate.

Governor Adeleke had earlier charged members of the council to be innovative and think out of the box to deliver on their ministerial mandate.

“To achieve a lot, let us think out of the box. Let us be innovative. We should not be giving excuses. We have a job to do and we must deliver, no matter the condition”, the Governor charged the cabinet members.

Also, the Executive approved the appointment of Prince Peter Oluwole Akinyooye as the new Olufon of Ifon in the Orolu local Government area of Osun State.

In the same vein, also at the meeting, approval was given to the appointment of Prince Najeem Abefe as Onisara of Inisa 1 in Ejigbo South Local Council Development Area.

Meanwhile, in line with the Chieftaincy Declaration in consonance with the Chiefs law, Cap 25, laws of Osun State 2022, appointments of Chieftaincy Declaration Oluwata of Iwata as well the  Authority, to henceforth be a beaded crown Oba has been granted by the Osun State Executive Council to the Oluwata of Iwata in Ejigbo South Local Council Development Area.

While congratulating all the newly approved Obas, the Osun State government wishes them the best in their present and future endeavours as custodians of customs and traditions in their respective domains.

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Education

Osun Govt. Pledges to Reposition Education Standard

By Web News 312

By Funmi Adekoya-Ojo

The Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke says non-governmental groups are critical partners in the development of schools, announcing the creation of a partnership board between government and Alumni Associations at all levels of education in the state as part of repositioning education and standards.

Governor Adeleke stated this when he received a delegation of the Ilesa Grammar School Old Students Association in his office at Abere, Osun State.

He said the board which would be launched by the middle of next month would complement his administration’s effort towards the rehabilitation of schools in Osun state.

Governor Adeleke explained that the board will exist at local and state levels with a focus on harnessing developmental support from governmental and non-governmental sources for the development of our schools.

Commending the Ilesa Grammar School Old Students Association for their sustained contributions to their alma mata, the Governor emphasized the importance of partnering with non-governmental Organisations to develop the education sector as the government has limited funding capacity.

“It is on this note that I want to use this opportunity to announce the creation of a standing Government-Alumni Partnership Board at all levels of our education system.

“I further direct the Ministry of Education to work out the modalities for the creation and operations of the Board within the next month. The board is to be publicly unveiled by mid-March.

“We must capitalize on the rich antecedents of our alumni associations to develop our education system. The Partnership Board, when in place, will focus on project development, learning equipment, training support, and welfare issues for the school community.

Governor Adeleke urged the Alumni of Ilesha Grammar School to take the message to other alumni associations across the state.

Earlier, the National Vice Chairman, Ilesa Grammar School Old Students Association, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, congratulated Governor Adeleke for the successes he has recorded in the areas of infrastructure, economy, and human development.

Dr Bolorunduro said the purpose of the visit of the body was to inform the Governor of efforts to reset Ilesa Grammar School to produce luminaries as it was in the past, highlighting interventions by various sets of alumni of the school in the last three years to reconstruct and renew buildings that had been run down due to abandonment and previous relocation of students away from the school.

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Education

OSCOTECH: Osun Gov. Debunks Approval of New Satellite Campus

By Web News 572

By Funmi Ojo

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has debunked the rumour and insinuations that his administration has approved a new satellite campus of the state College of Technology, OSCOTECH, Esa Oke at Ibokun.

In a statement by the Spokesperson to the State Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the report of a new satellite campus at Ibokun was described as untrue.

The statement urged the public to disregard the report as the handiwork of mischief makers and failed attempt to disrupt the peace of the growing academic community

“At no point in time has the Governor approved such a plan. I am directed to confirm to the good people of Esa Oke that no such approval was given by Mr Governor. The status quo ante remains”.

The Governor called on the youth and elders of Esa-Oke to maintain peace and avoid incitement to violence.

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Education

UI Alumni Launches Book in Memory of Tinuade Sangotade

By Web News 425

By Lillian Ibomor

A book titled “Understanding Medical School” in honour of the late unionist Tinuade Sangotade has been launched in Ibadan by the 2000 set of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association.

The chief launcher and visioner of the book Dr Micheal Koku said the book which is over one hundred pages was meant to celebrate the life of a great female unionist, who died in a road accident before their set graduated

Dr Micheal Koku noted that the launch of the book was also done alongside the birth of a foundation called “Tinuade Academy” where all proceeds from the book would be channelled into.

 According to him, “Tinuade, who happened to be the vice president then with my encouragement was not just a regular student, as her impact in the department would forever be remembered”.

President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria, MWAN Oyo State Chapter Dr Omowunmi Femi-Akinlosotu said the association collaborated with Dr Micheal Koku to bring the Leadership Academy to birth in honour of the late Tinuade Sangolade who was also in her set back then.

The book reviewer, who is a research Anthropologist in the Department of African Studies University of Ibadan Dr Oludare Oshiwoye said the book was a compendium of counsel for medical students on how to navigate and scale through all processes in the school.

According to him, nine students including the coordinator of the group Dr Micheal Koku all came together to write about how they were able to excel in school.

Father of the late unionist, Mr John Sangolade, who came alongside members of his family, said the launch of the book Understanding Medical School in honour of her daughter had erased all his sorrow in the past years.

According to Mr Sangolade, Tinade died alongside her three other siblings and her mother in a car accident twenty-two years ago along Ife Road.

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Education

Commissioner for Education Pledges Better Days for MAPOLY

By Web News 575

By Olusegun Folarin

The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu has assured the staff of the state – owned Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, Abeokuta of the present administration’s commitment to addressing their needs.

Professor Arigbabu who gave the assurance at a valedictory programme in honour of a former Rector of the Polytechnic, Architect Tokunbo Fowode said the relevant authorities were working towards resolving the institution’s problems. 

Speaking about the retired Rector, the Commissioner described Architect Fowode as a stalwart academic whose dedication and commitment remained indelible.

” I want to appreciate the members of staff of MAPOLY for their dedication, though it’s work in progress and I want to assure you that by God’s grace, we will solve all these problems’

“I also appreciate the student Union, they have also been very understanding and supporting, the meeting we held, I appeal to them to give peace a chance, let us look for situation whereby we can make MAPOLY at least uninterrupted session and we are enjoying the peace today”

Similarly, the incumbent Rector of MAPOLY, Dr Adeoye Odedeji acknowledged that the contributions made by Architect Fowode as a lecturer and subsequently a Rector of the Polytechnic had brought glory to the school. 

In a paper entitled “Sustainable Leadership in the Tertiary Institutions and the future of Nigerian Development” the Pioneer Vice Chancellor, Tai Solarin University of Education, Professor Kayode Oyesiku said investment in critical infrastructure would facilitate economic progress and enhance the living standard of the people. 

Professor Oyesiku emphasized that ensuring increased funding and resource allocation to enhance infrastructure and educational quality remained the fundamental building block for sustainable and prosperous future for Nigeria. 

He highlighted some of the exemplary legacies of Architect Fowode in the institution to include the establishment of the Academic Planning  Directorate as well the Introduction of 2-year Part-time programme to replace the old 3-year system.

In a remark, the Deputy Rector and Chairman Planning Committee for the Valedictory programme, Dr Yetunde Lanre-Iyanda said the former rector was a visionary leader who dedicated his time for the advancement of education and the betterment of the academic community.

Friends, families and professional colleagues of the retired Rector also took turns to eulogize his immense contributions, describing him as an icon, a father, administrator and philanthropist par excellence.

Education

Develop More Solution-Based Research, FG Tells Varsities

By Web News 362

By Olusegun Folarin

The Federal Government has renewed the call on the academic community to dwell more on developing solution-based research tailored towards assisting the government to address the challenges confronting the nation.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu made the call on behalf of President Bola Tinubu at the 31st Convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, FUNAAB.

Delivering the President’s message, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu promised the present administration’s commitment to policies and programmes aimed at repositioning university education for enhanced service delivery.

Describing the education sector as a catalyst in the process of ensuring the government’s renewed hope agenda, Dr Sununu assured the critical stakeholders of continuous engagements and dialogues to rule out disruptions in the academic calendar. 

He emphasized that the graduating students would be offered sustainable assistance that would enable them to contribute to national growth and development. 

In another message to the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari also advocated more dynamic efforts by universities to foster the needed research-oriented environment that would produce actionable solutions.

Senator Kyari who was represented by Mrs Toyin Alade encouraged the graduating students to play active roles in reshaping Nigeria’s economic destiny.

In a remark, the Former Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, who was awarded a Doctor of Science Honorary Degree during the event, appealed to the federal government to empower the nation’s Universities to be able to withstand global competitions. 

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Olusola Kehinde had restated the commitment of FUNAAB to ensuring judicious use of the available resources to enhance its relevance. 

Best graduating student of the Institution with the CGPA of 4.85, from the Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Management, Miss Olatedun Janet while addressing the gathering applauded the contributions of her parents and urged other graduands to remain resilient in their pursuits.

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Education

Makinde Promises Improvement on Education

By Web News 597

By Iyabo Adebisi

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the improvement of the education sector in the state.

He expressed the readiness of the state to provide necessary support in the areas of education infrastructure and the recruitment of more teachers in order to improve the quality of education.

Governor Makinde made this known while receiving a Sweden delegation led by the Ambassador of Sweden to Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and ECOWAS, Her Excellency Ms Annika Hahn-England, at his Ikolaba residence in Ibadan.

While welcoming the team, the governor said that his administration has recruited about six thousand active teachers and that more will still be recruited to improve the quality of education.

He added that education should not be centralised, as local and state governments should be able to contribute their quotas to the education system.

He said: “I believe that education should not be centralised, because we have certain parts of the country that are far ahead in terms of their infrastructure.

“I believe that as a country, we need to do certain things so that we can free up states and even local government areas to handle most of their things. So, we are happy to look at the solutions that you want to present.

“Actually, as an administration, when I was coming in, we put together a roadmap for accelerated development of Oyo State and focused on four major pillars – Health, education, security, and expansion of our economy through agribusiness and development of our infrastructure.

“And my first budget was to ensure that we met the UNESCO recommended standard on budgetary allocation to the education sector. Since then, we have tried to improve on that.

“When I came in, we recruited about six thousand teachers and, this year, we are recruiting more.

“Also, it will interest you to know that those six thousand teachers have now become the most active and the ones that are now carrying the burden of our education system. This is because we insisted that rather than follow the old ways of recruitment, we did them on merit.”

Earlier, the Ambassador of Sweden to Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and ECOWAS,  Ms Hahn-England, said the Swedish Government is interested in partnering and complementing the efforts of Governor Makinde in developing the state’s education sector.

She added that the interest also extends to other focused sectors of valuable economic investments, noting that Sweden is also ready to learn from Oyo State on ways to better improve the economy.

Education

Govt. Plans to Recruit About 2,000 Teachers in Ogun

By Web News 1082

By Toyin Adegoke

Plans are underway by the Ogun state government to employ about 2,000 teachers to boost the learners-teacher ratio across schools with special emphasis on rural areas. 

The state Commissioner for Education, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu made this known while receiving a member of the House of Representatives representing Yewa North/Imeko Afon Federal Constituency, Prince Gboyega Isiaka who visited him, in commemoration of International Day of Education.

“This Ogun teachers’ employment for 2, 000 teachers,we specifically put it on advert,tha this employment is for rural areas,if you don’t want to go to rural areas, don’t bother to apply”

Professor Arigbabu said the government would not relent in providing a conducive environment for all-round learning in schools across the state. 

Earlier, the member of the Federal lawmaker, Prince Gboyega Isiaka had identified an inadequate number of teachers in many schools in his constituency as a major factor affecting students’ performance. 

Prince Isiaka appealed to the state government to recruit and post more teachers to the areas needed to improve the situation and reduce the workload on the available teachers.

He restated his readiness to complement the efforts of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration towards enhancing the state’s growth. 

“The basic demand was that first, we thank the Governor for the good things he had done in the area of education, we have a peculiar problem due to our location, and we demanded that it should be looked into differently, particularly in the area of teachers”

Prince Isiaka who explained that the visit was aimed at deliberating on the state of education in the Constituency with a view to proffering solutions to the identified challenges was accompanied by notable leaders in the area, including the Commissioner for Sports Development, Mr Wasiu Isiaka, Mr Razaq Oduntan, Mr Olusola Oke, Mr Job Akintan, Mr. Caleb Adegbite, and Mr. Tunde Aninkan.

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Education

OYHA Confirms Appointments of Education Trust Fund, SUBEB Chairmen

By Web News 455

By Mosope Kehinde

The Oyo State House of Assembly has approved the appointment of former Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Mr AbdulRahman AbdulRaheem as the Chairman, Oyo State Education Trust Fund.

This is just as the House also confirmed the nomination of Dr. Nureni Adeniran as the Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB

The confirmation of the duo followed the presentation of the reports of the House Committee on Education and that of Education, Tertiary Institutions, Science and Technology.

Report of the House Committee on Education, Tertiary Institutions, Science and Technology, read by the Committee Chairman, Mr. Oluwafemi Adebayo Oluwafowokanmi found Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRaheem worthy of the appointment and hereby recommended him for confirmation by the House.

Likewise, the second report read by the House Committee Chairman on Education, Mr Johnson Ogundele described Dr. Nureni Adeniran as a seasoned administrator who performed excellently well during his tenure as the immediate past Chairman of SUBEB.

Education

Adeleke, Oyetola Throw Barbs over Out-of-School Children

By Web News 366

By Folake Oye

Osun State Government has attributed the large number of out-of-school children in the state to the neglect of the education sector by the previous administration.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Kolapo Alimi in Osogbo.

The former governor, Alhaji Oyetola, had on Saturday alleged that the high number of out-of-school-children was due to the sacking of teachers recruited by his administration

Mr Alimi observed that Oyetola’s allegation was an insult to the people of the state, stressing that education in the state suffered neglect under the last administration.

IMr Alimi maintained that if the former Governor was interested in addressing the rot in the education sector, he wouldn’t have waited till he lost the election before rushing through the recruitment of teachers against due process 

IHe maintained that poor learning conditions, dilapidated school infrastructures, parental economic crisis and overwhelming dislocations within the school environment were the real reasons for the high number of out of school children inherited from Oyetola government.

The commissioner said the state government organized an education summit which proffered far reaching recommendations covering all sub-sectors of the state education system in its bid to clear the mess of past government.

Mr Alimi said the state government was planning to recruit 6,000 teachers into the public primary and secondary schools in the state before the end of June 2024.

He said the recruitment is part of the Adeleke administration’s three-pronged approach to redressing the deficit in the education sector in Osun State.

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Education

Premium on Varsity Certification Fuelling Illegal Institutions, Says NUC

By Web News 307

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has blamed the proliferation of illegal degree awarding institutions on parents whom he said had placed a premium on university certification.

The Acting Executive Secretary, Mr Chris Maiyaki, said this on Sunday in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He told NAN that unaccredited degree awarding institutions and satellite campuses remained banned in the country.

He advised parents to thoroughly scrutinise institutions before sending their wards there to acquire certificates.

“Everybody is right to pursue university education but how you go about it is the crux of the matter.

“The challenge of access, the huge gap between supply and demand makes parents desperate about getting university education for their children  and this makes them vulnerable to greedy and fraudulent persons with commercial undertone,” he said.

Maiyaki explained that a committee was however set up to stamp out illegal institutions across the country.

“When we were challenged by this menace of our satellite campuses, NUC in 2000 undertook resource assessment of all outreach centres and we came up with the state of affairs of satellite campuses.

“We wrote to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and FEC was so gracious and there was a total ban on satellite campuses at that time.

“We took a step further at NUC and shut down these centres. So satellite campuses remain banned and outlawed.

“We establish a committee on the closure of illegal universities and we mandated it to identify, locate and prosecute those perpetrating illegalities and we also do this in a multi- stakeholders collaboration involving security agencies,” he said.

He also said a committee was reconstituted in 2021 to identify and prosecute operators of illegal institutions noting that effort  recorded a huge success.

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Education

Committee Reverses Suspension of OSSCE’s Provost

By Web News 345

By Funmi Adekoya-Ojo

The Investigative Committee set up to look into the leadership crisis rocking the Ila Orangun College of Education has reversed the suspension of the college’s Provost, Professor Jimoh Afolabi and ordered status quo ante pending the outcome of the investigation.

At its meeting chaired by the Committee Chairman who is also the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, both the Governing Council and the College management were directed to revert to the state of affairs before the crisis.

The committee also instructed the Provost and the Governing Council Chairman, Peter Babalola to avoid further escalation of the matter through media or litigation.

Alhaji Akinleye reminded the principal officers of the college’s enabling law,  the public service financial regulations and the oath of office they took upon their appointments.

“We also don’t want the crisis to paralyze the school. Any protracted leadership crisis can disrupt academic activities and even the peace of the Ila Orangun community.

The Committee Chairman noted that it will ensure the protection of public funds as it has made recommendations to prevent any future re-occurrence of such confrontation.

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Education

Osun Speaker Buys Jamb Forms For 1,500 Students

By Web News 405

By Mojisola Oladele

As part of efforts to assist indigent Students in his constituency, Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Prince Adewale Egbedun is set to give out free Jamb forms to about 1500 students from his constituency who are willing to participate in the 2024, Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). 

Prince Egbedun who disclosed this in Oyan, Odo-Otin Local Government during an event, said the outstanding candidates in the examination will also be rewarded.

The speaker noted that this would further encourage the students to put in their best in the examination and future academic pursuits.

While explaining that he attached great importance to education as it is the only way we can empower the promising young ones, Prince Egbedun assured that the empowerment would cut across all groups; the elderly, women, youths, artisans and students in the various communities making up the constituency.

He also used the occasion to present a car gift to one of the People Democratic Party, PDP leaders in his constituency, Alfa Raimi Adeleke.

Prince Egbedun commended Alfa Raimi for his leadership and uncompromising roles in the party and stressed that the car gift was to support his activities in the local government and beyond.

“This education support programme is to assist parents and students in the constituency. I understand that many brilliant students have dropped out or are on the brink of dropping out of school because of initial financial challenges.”

“Such students need encouragement and I assure them that the best student in the exam will receive support for his or her University Education.”

“The forms will be distributed to wards, a hundred each for the fifteen wards. I have instructed my team to also arrange for a Preparatory Tutorial Class for them in the Local Government,” he submitted. 

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Education

JONAPWD Implores PLWDs to Take Advantage of Free UTME

By Web News 314

By Fasilat Bello

The National President, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities In Nigeria, JONAPWD, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu-Usman has called on parents to mobilise their children with disabilities for free JAMB registration declared by the board.

Alhaji Aliyu-Usman who commended the JAMB initiative said the offer would serve as support in the academic pursuits of persons with disabilities in their quest for higher education.

He enjoined prospective candidates who are with disabilities to take advantage of the free registration so as not to be left behind.

“I want to call on persons with disabilities in Nigeria, especially those who had finished secondary school and have good results to quickly go and register so that we the persons with disabilities will enjoy equal right of education with our colleagues of persons with no disabilities”.

“I call on our members to participate fully.”

Alhaji Aliyu -Usman however solicited for more inclusion of persons with disabilities in decision making in the country and support for children with disabilities.

He urged the JAMB to provide disability-friendly examination materials to enhance the smooth conduct of the UTME for prospective disabled students.

On Monday, the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board announced that registration for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination 2024 would be free for disabled individuals who wish to register.


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Education

FUTA Shut Down over Students’ Protest

By Web News 349

Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State on Monday kicked against the decision of the school’s management to increase their school fees.

The protesters, who occupied the main gate of the institution, thereby preventing entry and exit, insisted that management must return to status quo ante.

Speaking with journalists, the President of FUTA Students Union, Olayemi Oluwasoromidayo, pleaded with the management of the school to maintain the previous years’ school fees.

Oluwasoromidayo said: “The student body has met with the management many times but it refused to yield to our demands so we decided to stage the protest.”

He pointed out that the management had increased the school fees to over N200,000  for freshers, while old students who were paying N35,000 would now pay N130,000.

He said they would continue to stage the protest until their demands were met.

However, the management of FUTA has shut down the institution indefinitely and ordered the indefinite postponement of resumption of students for the 2023/2024 academic session. 

A statement signed by the institution’s Director, Corporate Communication, Adegbenro Adebanjo, directed all students currently on campus and in hostels within the university to vacate them within 24 hours.

Besides, the management directed that registration of returning students via the university portal and payment of fees by all returning students for the new academic session via the portal scheduled to begin on Monday, January 15, 2024 is put on hold.

“It is important to state that the university did not open the portal for registration for returning students for the new session contrary to what was being bandied in the public domain.

“On the proposed new fees and charges, they are mainly for students related services which are sourced from the economy. And the costs of such goods and services provided by the university for the students will certainly be impacted by costs of goods and services in the economy.

“To ensure smooth running of the university, certain consumables and payments for municipal services such as electricity, water, hostel maintenance and cleaning and sundry other services are necessary and the costs of providing the services have shot up and the new charges are in response to this,” the statement said.

Adebanjo added that other costs that were adjusted as a result of the economic reality included medical examination for all new students, biometric ID cards and Tertiary Institutions Students Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) administered by NHIS for students and final year book .

“It is important to say that tuition is free and no money is being charged as tuition fee. The management reiterates that tuition remains free for all students and that it has inbuilt mechanism within the system to look into and build consensus on matters affecting students including charges and fees. And that mechanism is working on this matter and consensus will be achieved,” he said.

This Day / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Education

Corps Member Found Dead in Ogun

By Web News 372

By Oluwatoyin Adegoke

The corpse of a serving corps member, Emmanuel Medaiyese has been discovered in his apartment in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The Corps member was assumed to have been dead for some days in his apartment at Sogbesan street, Oluwo area of the city before the discovery of his corpse.

Report says that his mother, concerned that she was unable to reach him on his mobile phone, had reportedly contacted one of his friends, Olumide, who eventually asked neighbours of the deceased to access the apartment where Emmanuel’s lifeless body was discovered.

Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola said the corps member was found without any visible sign of violence.

She explained that the police team that visited the scene observed that there were no indications that any crime was committed, adding that the Corpse had been deposited at the State hospital for Autopsy and further investigation would be carried by the command.

Education

2024 UTME: JAMB Okays Free Registration for PLWDs

By Web News 346

The Joint Admission and Matriculations Board, JAMB, says Persons Living With Disabilities, PLWDs, who wish to sit for the 2024/2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination can register at no cost.

The JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, made this known while rolling out the registration process for interested candidates across the country.

While announcing that registration for the 2024 matriculation examination will commence on Monday, 15th January 2024, Oloyede said JAMB will issue free application documents to all categories of Persons Living With Disability as a form of support.

“To support the PLWD, JAMB will issue free application documents to all categories of Persons Living with Disabilities in the advertisement for the 2024 UTME/DE,” he said.

Oloyede noted that measures have been put in place to ensure a smooth exercise for all candidates and audio books will be provided for all blind candidates.

The registrar said the development was a digital adaptation of the traditional reading book, noting that it will come in popular audio formats such as MP3, WMV, and WMA which will be compatible with all devices that can stream audio records.

He said the suggestion for the provision of audiobooks was made at the first National Conference on Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education in Nigeria.

Apart from the blind candidates, other groups to benefit from the free registration according to the examination body are people with Down syndrome, Autism, Dyslexia disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

 “The following categories of candidates will now be listed under the disability group: Down syndrome, Autism, Dyslexia disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),” he said.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Education

Synergy Essential in Tackling Unemployment – Adeleke

By Web News 238

By Funmi Ojo

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has called on tertiary institutions within the state to collaborate with one another and the state government to improve the quality of education and reduce the unemployment rate.

Speaking at an event in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, Governor Adeleke pledged that his administration will serve as a facilitator to ensure the success of the collaboration between Polytechnics, Universities and Colleges of Education within the state.

The Governor who called on universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in Osun State to explore innovative win-win relationships between the state and the schools, pointed out that his government is open to partnership and collaboration on various aspects of the state economy. 

He noted that such a relationship would strengthen efforts to get the graduating students out of the streets.

“We call for ideas and plans on how to build on existing solutions to address the aspirations of our young ones. Research work must get to the public for application. This proposed partnership is a sincere offer to create a club of societal developers for Osun State.”

“My admonition to you flows from the reality of the present-day economy. The national economic crisis has worsened unemployment figures even as many states are finding it hard to pay the salaries of existing workers. In many states, the public sector is over-bloated. Where vacancies exist, the capacity of the state to pay is suspect.

“The above scenario left the nation with only one option- to support job seekers to become job creators and employers of labour. To that end, the government must provide an enabling environment for small and medium businesses to thrive. The state must serve as the facilitator rather than a regulator”, the Governor noted.

Governor Adeleke also said that his administration is implementing several sectoral reforms which include harmonization of payable taxes thereby eliminating double taxation as well as policies that would make Osun residents employers of labour instead of job seekers.

“We are also implementing several sectoral reforms to open up the state economy, expand its base and enhance its capacity to engage the Nigerian youth. We are doing all these to make it easy for Osun residents to become employers of labour rather than job seekers”, he added.

The Governor congratulated the graduating students advising them to commence a plan to be self-employed as the job market is getting tight and complicated daily.

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Education

Oyebanji Appoints Olowolafe as EKSU Chancellor

By Web News 408

By Kazeem Ayodeji

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has appointed a renowned businessman and philanthropist, Dr Tunji Olowolafe, as the new Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti. 

The appointment, which is effective immediately, was announced in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode, on Friday.

According to the statement, the Governor exercised his power as the Visitor to the University to appoint Dr Olowolafe, who is a native of Are-Ekiti and a graduate of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Ilorin. 

Dr Olowolafe is the CEO and Managing Director of Deux Project Limited, a civil engineering, construction, consultancy, and maintenance company, which he co-founded in 1988. 

He is also the Founder of Generic Product Limited, and the Chairman and Managing Director of Deux Investment Limited.

The statement described Dr Olowolafe as a man of integrity, vision, and excellence, who has contributed immensely to the development of Ekiti State and Nigeria at large. 

The Governor expressed his confidence that Dr Olowolafe would bring his wealth of experience, expertise, and goodwill to bear on the administration and growth of EKSU, which is one of the leading state-owned universities in Nigeria. 

The governor also congratulated Dr Olowolafe on his appointment and wished him a successful tenure.

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Education

Alumni Distributes Materials to Wesley College Practising School

By Web News 495

By Lilian Ibomor

Old Pupils Association of Wesley College Practicing School, Elekuro, Ibadan has distributed over seven hundred school uniforms, socks and sandals to the school.

Our correspondent reports that the distribution was conducted by the Head of Service, HOS, in Oyo State, Mrs Olubunmi Oni on the school’s premises.

Mrs Oni, who is also an alumnus of the school, noted that the gesture is also a way of reminding old students and pupils of their responsibilities in society.

She, however, called on parents to always take good care of their children with whatever resources they have.

“We are also saying that our parents should do what is good for their kids because if they ask them to pay ten thousand for Aso Ebi, they will do that joyfully. They should also joyfully provide what is necessary for their kids and their wards”.

Vice chairman of the Association, Dr Sola Adediran who represented the chairman, explained that the gesture was borne out of the need to complement the efforts of Governor Seyi Makinde who had constructed additional classrooms in the school and had been committed to the staff welfare.

“There is no doubt in the fact that primary school is a foundation structure upon which all other educational/career attainment stands”.

Dr Adediran appealed to the state government to continue to do more to change the face of the school.

Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on educational intervention, Mr Tiamiyu Abiodun who was also in attendance commended the efforts of the alumni association and called on others to emulate the kind gesture.

The headmaster of Wesley College Practising School 4, Mr Akindeji Akinyemi said pupils learn faster when exposed to practicals, saying they would also emulate such gestures in the future.

Some of the pupils could not hide their joy as they received the new school items.

Representatives of the local government in the area and the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board were also at the event.

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