Education

SAAF Awards 200,000 Naira Grant to Tertiary Institution Students

By Web News 338

Senator Abiola Ajimobi Foundation,  SAAF, has instituted an annual education grant of 200,000 naira for tertiary institution students who are of Oyo State origin.

The indication emerged at the  4th Annual Memorial Fidau Prayer in honour of Former Oyo State Governor, the late Senator Abiola Ajimobi, held at his residence in Ibadan.

Presenting the grant to the twenty five set of beneficiaries, wife of  former governor, Chief Florence Ajimobi explained that the late Ajimobi valued education, and the family decided  to institute the grant as one of the ways to continue to preserve the memory and legacies of their departed Patriarch.

“In his lifetime, my husband, Senator Ajimobi stood for worthy causes. He stood for peace, progress and development, among other notable things . These traits manifested in everything he did in his personal and as well as his official life, even when he served the people of Oyo State, as Governor for an unprecedented two-term (eight years) tenure.

He focused on the ideals of good governance as well as urban renewal,  he was highly interested in, and worked for a peaceful society, he was keen on quality education.

Consequently, and in order to continue that legacy of promotion of quality education,  which is one of the goals of the Foundation, we have, this year, instituted an Annual Education Grant  for students of Oyo State origin in tertiary institutions in the country. 

This grant is given without discrimination to gender or political affiliation, the only conditions are; you must be an indigene of Oyo State, you must be brilliant and be of high moral standard.

I want to gladly inform you that 25 successful awardees, after a keenly competed exercise, from various institutions of higher learning are here with us today to receive the grant.Mrs. Ajimobi concluded.

Earlier, famous Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Muhydeen Ajani-Bello has cautioned politicians to resist the urge to occupy political offices if their mission was not of national interest”.

Sheikh Ajani-Bello said any politician, who intended to vie for a political office for personal interest, should drop such ambition in the interest of the country.

He admonished politicians and Nigerians in general to strive towards leaving indelible marks on whatever position they occupied so that their works would outlive them just like that of Senator Ajimobi.

The Islamic Cleric described the Former Oyo State Governor as a rare leader, who during his lifetime, served God and humanity.

In separate interviews, Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Senator Sharafadeen Alli and his counterpart from Oyo Central Senatorial District, Senator Yunus Akintunde, as well as, 2023 APC Governorship candidate in the state, Senator Teslim Folarin, attested to the exemplary leadership qualities of the late Abiola Ajimobi, describing him as the builder of modern Oyo State.

Highlights of the event were special prayers for the Ajimobi family.

Education

OSHA Calls for Sustenance of Standards in Tertiary Institutions

By Web News 267

By Mojisola Oladele

In furtherance of its oversight functions, the Osun State House of Assembly Committee on Education has called on state-owned tertiary institutions to redouble their efforts in sustaining standards. 

The Speaker of the House, Prince Adewale Egbedun, who was represented by the Chairman House Committee on Education, Alhaji Sikiru Bajepade made the call, when he led other members for an oversight visit to the University of Ilesa and College of Health Technology, Ilesa.

In an interview after the assessment of both institutions,  Alhaji Bajepade expressed satisfaction that the state of the Institution was highly inspiring and lauded the Management of institutions for attaining necessary development in the last Eleven months it was established, despite the paucity of funds.

Alhaji Bajepade noted that the College of Health Technology now mobilizes Students for National Youth Service Corp, NYSC, a welcome development.

In separate contributions, the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Engr. Abiola Awoyeye, member representing, Obokun State Constituency, Prince Adeyemi Adewunmi and member representing, Egbedore State Constituency, Mr. Rotimi Ogunrinade described the Vice Chancellor of University of Ilesa as a round peg in a round hole, considering the physical structures and equipments put in place within the short time the institution started operating as a citadel of learning..

The Lawmakers stressed the need for the management of the University of Ilesa to draw a good layout that would be reckoned with even after Ten years.

Earlier in separate remarks,the Vice Chancellor, University of Ilesa, Professor Taiwo Asaolu and the Provost, College of Health Technology, Doctor Lateef Raheem who appreciated the State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke for his support for the institutions explained that more funding would go along way in achieving more strides.

They appealed for more access roads within the Institutions.

At the University of Ilesa, the team were conducted around the Faculty of Nursing Science, Modern Integrated Teaching and Research Farm, Central Library, Central Laboratories, Hostel and other existing Buildings which were given a facelift.

Also at the Osun State College of Health Technology, Ilesa, the Lawmakers were conducted around the departments and Lecture rooms.

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Education

Lawmakers Want to Reposition Osun Tertiary Institutions 

By Web News 472

By Mojisola Oladele

Osun State House of Assembly has reiterated its support for improving the standard of state-owned tertiary institutions and their internally Generated Revenue, IGR, capacity.

The Chairman House Committee on Education, Alhaji Sikiru Bajepade stated this when he led other members of the Education Committee on an oversight visit to Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke and Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.

At the institutions, the Rectors conducted the team round the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, projects and the Tetfund Assisted projects.

Alhaji Bajepade, who expressed satisfaction with the state of the Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke and Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, urged the management of the schools to give room for improvement in terms of increasing IGR and quality of graduates from the institutions.

He lauded the State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke for his usual intervention for the state-owned tertiary institutions to ensure standard practice in line with international best practices.

 “Our assessment of both Esa-Oke and Iree, we are impressed with the efforts of the Management of both schools for upholding the required standard”

He commended the management and staff of Osun State College of Technology Esa Oke for prioritizing innovation targeted at driving development and attracting global attention to the state.

While emphasizing the essence of oversight function, the Chairman, the House Committee on Education, said the exercise was part of the legislative duty of the state House of Assembly, aimed at monitoring and ascertaining the state of completed and ongoing projects in state-owned tertiary institutions.

Corroborating Alhaji Bajepade, the Vice Chairman of the committee, Engr. Abiola Awoyeye and a member Prince Adeyemi Adewumi noted that the oversight function is one of the components which propels development geared towards asserting the principles of checks and balances.

Earlier his remark, the Rector, Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke, Doctor Samson Adegoke explained that the intervention of Governor Adeleke had paved the way for various innovations which are beneficial to the school.

“We have made lots of innovation, and if investors partner with us we can go places. For instance, we have a generator that can be controlled remotely anywhere you are in the world, you just text a message to switch it on and off “

Doctor Adegoke stressed that the students of the institution were able to innovate an automated door and coded remote security doors.

Also during an oversight of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, The Rector, Mr. Kehinde Alabi lauded the legislators for the visit and assured them that efforts would be intensified to improve the internally generated revenue, IGR, of the Institution.

Mr. Alabi added that plans were ongoing to partner with some universities which would allow the institution to run Conversion Courses, to upgrade its standard. 

Other Legislators on the tour, included the Deputy Chairman, the House Committee on Education, Engr. Abiola Awoyeye, Prince Adeyemi Adewumi and Mr. Rotimi Ogunrinade.

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Education

Reps Caution Tertiary Institutions on Tuition Increase

By Web News 434

Following the growing concerns that tertiary institutions might increase tuition fees on the heels of the recently passed Students Loan Act, the House of Representatives has warned against such a move.

It also resolved to convene a legislative summit on student loans and access to higher education with all stakeholders in the education sector.

This resolution followed the consideration of a motion moved at plenary by Terseer Ugbor, the member representing the Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency of Benue State.

Presenting the motion, Ugbor said the aim of the act was to enable students to borrow to fund their education, away from the traditional parental provision.

He said: “The use of students loans and educational credit schemes in most countries of the world is often justified on the grounds that it guarantees greater access to higher education for the less privileged citizens

“It is further predicated on the notion that education is an investment in human capital, which in turn promote individual development, economic growth and national productivity.

“After several years of unsuccessful attempts by successive administrations to introduce students loans, scholarships and other educational credit schemes, the 9th National Assembly passed the Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) Bill, 2023, which was recently signed into law by the president to provide the legal and institutional framework for implementation of a Students Loan Scheme in the country.

“While the objectives and intendment of the Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2023 are patriotic and would impact positive access to higher education in Nigeria, especially among underprivileged citizens, there are several critical omissions and identifiable bottlenecks that would stultify or frustrate the successful implementation of the Act if immediate further legislative action is not taken to ensure its efficient implementation.

“The intendment of the Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2023 is highly commendable and its enactment has been well received by a large segment of the general public, particularly Nigerian youths, the identified and observable lapses have the potential to frustrate its smooth implementation for the overall benefit of Nigerian students.

“There’s urgent need to convene a legislative summit with all key stakeholders to develop a strategy to ensure the smooth implementation of the Act for the benefit of the indigent Nigerian students.”

The motion when put to voice vote, received the support of the majority of lawmakers.

Vanguard/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Education

Prof. Utomi Inspires Innovations In Tertiary Institutions

By Web News 863

The nation can alleviate poverty and be prosperous with social harmony when institutions that strengthen a culture of innovation are put in place

The Chief Executive Officer , Centre for Value in Leadership , Professor Patrick Utomi made the remark while delivering FUTA’s 32nd Convocation and 40th Anniversary lecture in Akure.

Professor Utomi who harped on building virile institutions to address apparent challenges in the nation, hinted that Universities such as FUTA should be part of government to drive development in order for such institutions to meet up with the visions of their founding fathers.

He opined that the University needed to inculcate the Nehemiah character traits to rebuild the falling walls of Nigeria particularly with students being the transforming agents.

Earlier, FUTA Vice Chancellor, Professor Joseph Fuwape hinted that FUTA was no doubt living its innovative trademark noting that the institution had won several laurels in terms of innovation , citing over eight hundred million naira grant won by the institution researchers recently.

Dignitaries who attended the event included , Secretary of Afenifere , Chief Seinde Arogbofa, FUTA Pro – Chancellor, Dr Godknows Igali among others.

Sola Oguntoye

Health

Ogun Government Takes COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign To Tertiary Institutions

By Web News 858

Ogun State government has taken the Mass Vaccination campaign to tertiary institutions in the state in a bid to achieve the forty percent target before the end of the year.

 Flaging off the covid 19 vaccination at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, Ojere, Abeokuta Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro and Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago iwoye, the commissioner for health, Dr Tomi Coker described the students as important stakeholders in the success of the campaign.

Dr Coker who explained that the mass vaccination campaign became necessary to prevent the fourth wave of the pandemic, said the emergence of the virus had affected the general wellbeing of the world population.

Also, the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, noted that the present administration was concerned about the wellbeing of students, especially as the pandemic had made a huge impact on their education.

Dr Ogunsola noted that the vaccine would be incorporated into the existing health system in tertiary institutions across the State to avoid uninterrupted teaching and learning during the exercise.

In a remark, representative of the World Health Organisation, WHO, Dr. Gloria Archibong maintained that the vaccination was one of the proven measures of individual protection from the virus and interrupting its spread.

In their separate remarks, the Presidents, Students Union Government of the institutions promised to collaborate with the present administration in its fight to curb the spread of the virus.

Olusegun Folarin

Education

Lagos To Re-Open Tertiary Institutions Sept.14

By Web News 703

The Lagos State Government has directed all state-owned tertiary institutions to resume on September 14.

Governor Babajide sanwo-Olu stated these in his COVID-19 briefing Today.

According to him, tertiary institutions will re-open from September 14 while primary and secondary schools are tentatively billed for re-opening from September 21.

Sanwo-Olu said The decision is not cast on stone and is subject to review ongoing modelling and procedure that comes out from the Ministry of Health.