Students with less than 0.5CGPA in a session should be expelled – Pres. Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has instructed Vice Chancellors of the nation’s universities to expel students with less than 0.5 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) at the end of every session.

Buhari, represented by Anthony Onwuka, Minister of State for Education, made this known while speaking at the 31st convocation of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT)

“We must stop to continue housing adventurers, who have no business remaining in the universities beyond the time specified for their studies in the universities.”He said the university should not be crowded with unserious students loitering around but those who are serious about learning.

“In that wise, it is being proposed that at the end of this academic year, any student with less than 0.5 CGPA should cease to be a student of the university and should be shown the way out.

“The universities must continue to have people who are serious in what they have come to do.

The government also assured Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of its commitment to the 2009 agreement.“If you have less than 0.5 in your CGPA, you are out. You are out for good so that the space will be left for those who have come to do serious business.”

Ogun State government signs bill to upgrade MAPOLY to university

Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state has signed into law a bill to upgrade Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta (MAPOLY) to a university status, thus bringing the number of universities in the state to 11.

The addition would bring to three the number of universities owned by the state. Already it owned Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye and Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu Ode.

The institution was formally established in 1980 as Ogun state Polytechnic during the military administration of Harris Eghagha.The state is a host to eight others out of which seven are privately owned. They are, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Bells University of Technology, Ota, Covenant University, Ota, Crawford University, Igbesa, Crescent University, Abeokuta, McPherson University, Abeokuta and Mountain Top University.

Governor Amosun also signed into law the bill to re-establish the Ogun State Polytechnic in Ipokia Local government area of the State.Amosun who gave his assent to the two bills at the state executive council meeting said the two institutions would be run on different campuses.

Besides, he added that government would engage necessary think tanks and qualified academics to provide the technical guide for the successful take-off of the institutions so as to compete favourably with others.

The Governor commended the efforts of the state House of Assembly for the timely and successful passage of the bills and assured that all necessary documents has been put in place and sent to the appropriate quarters.

In a chat with reporters after passing the bills, the speaker, Ishola Adekunbi, said the Assembly acted promptly considering the prospect and opportunities the institutions would attract to the state.

He added that the decision would also create employment opportunities for the people in addition to providing easy access to tertiary education in Ipokia and its environs.

Why they are after me, by UNILORIN VC

Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

UNIVERSITY of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Vice Chancellor Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali said yesterday that the recent criticisms of his administration over some allegations were aimed at ushering him out of the seat with ignominy.
Ambali’s tenure as the Vice Chancellor of Unilorin expires between July and August this year.
Speaking with reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, the professor of veterinary medicine, accused a faction of the institution’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of being the brain behind his ordeal.
“So, I won’t be surprised as I have been told that it is the tradition of some people, whenever the tenure of a vice chancellor is coming to an end, they embark on smear campaigns against him.
“The campaigns are aimed at ushering me out with ignominy instead of saying thank you for the service rendered. They would say ‘who told you to do all this?’ That to me is not the best way,” he said.
Ambali added that the bashings were calculated attempts to smear the reputation the university had achieved over the years.
He said: “To me, the rising tempo of attacks on my administration is a wrong approach to succeed in life. If you want the seat of the vice chancellor, there are laid down procedures by government. You don’t destroy somebody in order to occupy his place. You can as well be a fellow good passenger in the bus, so that the bus can get to its destination safely and peaceful and all of you can disembark and go home. But by destroying the same vehicle you want to use to get to your own destination as well, nobody will get there.
“And now the latest option is to put our reputation at stake by defaming the famous University of Ilorin and demystifying all the reputation we have garnered over the years. All the allegations that are going round are calculated at undermining all the 17 years of uninterrupted academic calendar the university has earned. That has also undermined all the good and hardworking staff of the university.
“That to me is very unfortunate. In any democratic setting, there should be room to allow some idiosyncrasies; allow people to be slightly different and do something different from the majority of the people, so that we can appreciate the skills and talents God has given everybody.
“If you could recollect, that same week, we had great challenges at the same time. We had the fire incident at our plantation, the CBT crisis and the write-ups all geared towards putting one into confusion to see whether he would not break. I inherited a peaceful university and by the grace of God, I will leave the university better than I inherited it.
“We are on course. We have tremendous growth in the university.”
On the last year’s expulsion of UNILORIN by the national ASUU, the vice chancellor said: “They told every university in Nigeria not to associate with us. That in all academic and social matters, all other universities in Nigeria should boycott us; that we thought was not a wise decision because in matters pertaining to education, we should be liberal and allowed everybody to interact at whatever levels and exchange academic materials.
“UNILORIN over the last 17 years has been doing things slightly different from the rest of other universities in the country.”
Though the national Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expelled us from its fold, we have used that time to look inward and focus attention to our tripartite mandate of teaching, research and community service.”

Artistes turn up for Cobhams’ album launch

IT was a day of glory for music producer, Cobhams Asuquo on Sunday March 12, 2017, at the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, as he launched his highly-anticipated debut album at an exclusive high-profile command performance.

Tagged ‘For You’, the album release was witnessed by corporate executives, artistes, Christian community leaders and captains of industry.

The duo of Fome Peters and Edaniels, both talented artistes, set the tone for the evening in separate live performances. Their brief performances provided the tempo for what was to come.

Dressed in white tuxedo with black collar outlines, Cobhams was ushered on stage by compere, IK Osakioduwa amidst loud ovation. He was led to the stage by his beautiful wife, Ojuola Asuquo who stepped aside once Cobhams was seated by his piano. From that moment, it was about the music.

With lyrics displaying on the giant LED screen, Cobhams complemented with his full band and background vocalists. He opened with the first song on his album, Make Our Hearts and continued flawlessly with other tracks.

A highpoint of the concert was the ceremonial unveiling of the album which was performed by Atedo Peterside, chairman of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc and Cadbury Nigeria Plc and his wife Mrs. Dudu Peterside.

Among those who graced the launch were Sammie Okposo, Falz, Waje, Omawumi, Toke Makinwa, Seyi Shay, Yemi Alade, Timi Dakolo, TY Mix, Paul Okoye, Kamal Ajiboye, Gloria, Elvina Ibru and Nosa. Other eminent personalities at the occasion include Atedo Peterside, the chief launcher, Dr. Tony Rapu, Adesuwa Onyenokwe and former First Lady of Cross River state, Mrs. Onari Duke.

After the unveiling of the album, the artiste will commence an album tour on Sunday, March 28 at the Pistis Centre, Lekki.

Tekno drops Rara video

Triple MG artiste, Tekno Mile has dropped the video to his chat topping afro beat inspired song Rara.
The Bauchi born singer dropped the video online on Friday March 17 after much sharing the behind the scene pictures on his instagram page.
Rara which describes the hardship Nigerians are facing due to bad leadership captures some slums in Lagos from the third mainland bridge and how people are struggling to survive.
The visuals also features some Afro Beat dancers .
On October 5, 2013, he signed a music contract with Made Men Music Group under which he released singles like “Dance” and “Anything” which won him a nomination in the “Best New act of the Year” category at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards. On June 18, 2015, Tekno Miles released a song titled “Duro” which was positively received. A remix which featured Phyno and Flavour N’abania was released on November 16, 2015, “Duro” was produced by DJ Coublon. It topped several charts in Nigeria and on the international scene, On November 20, 2015, Tekno released a single titled “Wash”. The song was produced by DJ Coublon with the video directed by AJE Films.

Robert Gordon University offers £1.5m scholarship to Nigerian students

Robert Gordon University (RGU), Scotland, says it is offering 1.5 million pounds scholarships to Nigerian students to study in Aberdeen in the North East of Scotland.

The university made the announcement in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by its Senior Communication Officer, Ms Anna Duthie, on Thursday in Abuja.

Duthie said the scholarship was part of RGU’s commitment to attract top students from across the world to Scotland in order to provide diverse university community and multicultural learning environment.

She added that the scholarships were in different categories ranging from 500 to 15,000 pounds.

According to her, the scholarships have variety of forms such as offering of discount on courses, funding of first year of study and covering of full cost of degrees.

“Talented students from around the globe have the opportunity to benefit from a number of scholarships being offered by RGU across a wide range of subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate level courses,’’ she said.

Duthie quoted Prof. David Ashall, Dean of Students’ Recruitment, RGU as saying, “Promoting international diversity is hugely important to the university community.

“We are proud to offer highly valuable scholarship opportunities to students from around the globe.

“Our scholarship opportunities exist to attract the most talented and hard working professionals from around the world to RGU and help to ease the financial implications of studying overseas.

“Scotland welcomes thousands of international students from more than 130 countries each year, we want to build on this by attracting more students to study at RGU.
“Promoting what is at the very core of the RGU ethos – inclusion and multiculturalism”.

Duthie disclosed that RGU also participates in a number of national scholarships such as the British Council India, ‘GREAT’ Scholarship programme, in addition to its own scholarship offerings and industry funded bursaries.

She said that the scholarship would provide 10,000 pounds funding to international students seeking to study Architecture, Computer Science, Engineering, Pharmacy and Life sciences subjects.

According to her, RGU is an associate of Scotland’s Saltire Scholarship Scheme.

“The scholarship sees the university and the Scottish Government jointly fund of 4,000 pounds study bursaries for citizens and permanent residents of China, Canada, Hong Kong, India and Pakistan.

“More information about RGU wide range of scholarship offering and application can be accessed through its website, www.rgu.ac.uk/scholarships,’’ she said.

Speaker urges students to shun cultism, illicit drugs

Mr. John Gaul-Lebo, Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, has cautioned students against cultism, taking of illicit drugs and other forms of crimes capable of truncating their future.

Gaul-Lebo gave the advice on Friday during a lecture at the Cross River State College of Education in Awi, Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture, with the theme, “Inspiring the Youths Through Knowledge, Enterprise, Creativity and Innovation; the Cross River Model’’, was part of activities lined up to celebrate his 45th birthday.

The speaker told the students that involving in cultism and the use of illicit drugs were capable of jeopardising their future, hence the need for them to avoid such acts and take their studies seriously.

He urged the students to develop creative and business ideas that would get them engaged in micro businesses after graduation, rather and depending solely on white-collar jobs.

“As we all know, government jobs are fast disappearing; I am here to inspire and motivate you to rise above board and think of what you can do for yourselves after school.

“The future of this country belongs to all of you here. If you are determined to succeed in life, you must do away with cultism, taking of illicit drugs and other forms of social vices.

“As students, I urge you all to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and a career of creativity that would lead you to greatness.

“I encourage all of you to approach the Central Bank of Nigeria Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Calabar to learn a business skill that would make you self reliant’’, he said.

Mr. Hilary Bisong, member representing Boki II State Constituency in the Assembly, also encouraged the students to be good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria.

The Provost of the school, Mr. Patrick Abia, urged the students to be dedicated to their studies in order to contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of the country.

Abia appealed to the state government to assist the school with adequate funds, with a view to expanding infrastructure development in the school.

Mr. Jerry Oban, member, Student Union Government, who spoke on behalf of the students, appealed to the state government to include students of the college in its scholarship and bursary programmes.

UNIPORT graduates 18,378 students, 78 bag first class degrees

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Ndowa Lale, said on Friday that 78 of its 18, 378 graduating students finished in the First Class Division.

Lale, who disclosed this at the 31th convocation news briefing in Port Harcourt, said the conferment of degrees, higher degrees, diploma, certificates and prizes would hold at the university from March 24 to March 25.

He said that 14,715 students would be awarded with first degree certificates while 1,109 would receive Post-Graduate Diploma certificates.

According to him, 2,223 candidates will receive Masters Degree and 331 students will be conferred with Doctorate degree.

The Vice-Chancellor said that the 14,715 graduating students from 10 Faculties were drawn from 2014 to 2016 academic sessions.

The faculties include Faculty of Science, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Management Sciences and Faculty of Social Sciences.

Others are School of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Engineering, and College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Lale said the convocation would kick-off with a lecture by Prof. Jonas Redwood-Sawyer, Vice-Chancellor of University of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the Board of the West African Examinations Council on March 23.

The lecture is titled: “The Mandate of Higher Educational Institutions and Global Expectations.”

He said that UNIPORT would continue to produce quality graduates that would compete favorably with their counterparts locally and internationally.

The Vice-Chancellor said that since he took office as Vice-Chancellor that several programmes had been introduced with focus to making UNIPORT a world class university in academics, research and development, and in infrastructure.

According to him, the university was faced with dwindling statutory allocations compounded by the Treasure Single Account (TSA) which had made running of the university a daunting task.

“In spite this challenge, we have completed rehabilitation of 15 hostel accommodations; nine lecture halls and classrooms in collaboration with the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS).

“Work is currently at various stages of completion on the 32-staff housing unit at the university park, among other project which are ongoing.

“Also, efforts are being made to move from collegiate system to faculty system of education for efficient coordination of academic and administrative activities and to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks,” he said.

Lale said the university was mainly focused on research and development aimed to ensure that research results do not serve purpose of academic promotion alone.

He said that under a new security arrangement, kidnapping of staffers and visitors had reduced in the university and host communities.

How To Survive In A Nigerian Campus In This Recession

I have spent all of my previous semesters as a student of Obafemi Awolowo University living on campus, and witnessing both the awesomeness and horrors of students living in the famous halls of residence. Life's pretty harsh around here, I've seen people go an entire day on an empty stomach, whilst still chasing multiple lectures in multiple locations, and after it all, they return to their rooms to soak Gari in the murky "Omole water" (named after the erstwhile Vice-Chancellor), and paltry peanuts and sugar. Pile all that on top of the misery of the current economic recession and growing inflation, resources dry up fast, and students end up drained, emaciated, in poor psychological state, overall in very bad shape. It's a hard life. But you should learn to afford yourself as much comfort as possible.

1- MANAGE YOUR RESOURCES

All fingers are not equal. This saying is too popular to be forgotten, and yet many students have no value for it other than to recall it sometimes when they it helps them little. There's always a lot you want, but there's only a portion of it that you NEED. You need to use a scale of preference in every situation. Your friends and neighbours may be wearing cool shirts and nice shoes to every class, looking fresh and expensive. But that's what you see, what you cannot immediately notice is the difference between what resources they have and what you have, and even what they themselves are going through beneath those cool faces.
So you have #3000, what are your needs? First, write down everything you wish you had at the moment, now pick out the ones that you cannot do without. You're running low on foodstuffs, and it may be a while till you get any more money. But you also want this really cool shoes, so ask yourself which one you cannot live without.
Also, do you know that those snacks and meals at canteens are sapping more of your resources than you can imagine? If you buy one "Gala" sausage roll for #50 and the plastic bottled 7up for #100, you've spent #150, and of that five hundred naira in your hand you have #350 left. It still feels like a lot, till you buy #100 recharge card, Sugar and peanuts for #50, and then you have #200 left. You photocopy someone's notebook for #40, bought banana chips for #50 amidst lectures, and a sachet of pure water for #10. And now you have #100 left, in just half a day.
What could you have done, you could have bought vegetable for #100, cow skin (Ponmo) for #120, and #20 locust beans. Then you could have used the little palm oil left to cook it with some powdered pepper, and you have something to eat with for 3 days! You eat "Eba" or Rice with it, you'll be fine, with about #260 left. You'll eat before going to class and you won't need the junk food!
Manage your resources well.

2- DON'T SUFFER IN SILENCE

When you're low on cash, or you're down on foodstuffs, don't hesitate to tell someone about it. Your Parents, your relatives, your friends... If you're not frivolous with your spending don't be shy to ask when you're in need. Don't just surmise that the economy is bad, look for those who can help you, and tell them about it. Suffering in silence is the worst thing that can happen to a student, just tell someone about it, someone who can help you.

3 - DON'T OVERDO ANYTHING

Don't overspend, over-buy, overtly stress yourself, or trouble yourself with needless burdens. Don't buy 3 things of which you need one. You probably do not need another pair of jeans. And you probably do not need an extra pair of shoes, and you probably shouldn't get it.
Don't go out of your own way to buy a girl/guy anything! Your girlfriend or your boyfriend is not your wife/husband! And that girl who's your crush is not going to fall in love with you because you bought her #1000 recharge card, in fact, she may be using your attraction to her as an advantage. Be wise.

5 Things That Will Happen In 2017 JAMB That Have Never Happened Before

The Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) has made some major changes in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) for 2017.
We updated some information on the examination earlier. More adjustments have however been made, and these are some of the things that will happen this year, that have never happened before:

1. Fourth Choice
JAMB has also introduced a fourth choice of school option for candidates but would only be able to select only one government school while filling out their forms online.

2. No choosing of public university
The following was also announced: The new registration platform will now be first choice, second choice, third choice and fourth choice and not most preferred, preferred etc as it was.
Candidates’ first choice can be a College, University, Innovative Enterprises Institutions or Polytechnic/Monotechnic. However, if a candidate makes a Public University his first choice, he will not have any public University to choose for 2nd, 3rd and 4th choice.
He will have on the remaining three choices, a College, a Polytechnic, Private University and IEI’S. However, candidates for the 2017 UTME can now select NCE (College) or ND (Polytechnic/ Monotechnic) as their 1st choice up to 3rd choice and the 4th IEI.
They can select the IEI (Innovative Enterprise Institution, ND) as their 1st choice up to the 4th choice, but can only pick a public university once.

3. JAMB form sold late
The organizers of the major examinations in the country, including JAMB met to avoid a clash in schedules and in order to have a harmonized timetable.
An agreement was reached at the national headquarters of the Board in Abuja on Tuesday, January 24, after a meeting with National Examination Council (NECO), West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Business and Technical Examination (NABTEB) to harmonize the timetable.
This is one reason the registration is yet to begin.

4. Mock UTME
While speaking the body also announced that plans were in place for a mock UTME and this might explain the delay in beginning the sales of the examination forms. So if you are preparing, start your preparations now, so you can do well in both the mock and the real deal.

5. No scratch card
Speaking on the issue of scratch card, the registrar explained that one reason for the delay was due to issues the board had with sale of scratch cards.
He said that whereas candidates used to buy scratch cards to access the forms online previously, they planned to cancel that since it had been abused thoroughly.
According to Daily Trust, he said: “What we want to do is for students to pay directly to government coffers and we are working out the process of doing so to avoid the type of abuse that it has been subjected to.
“So, we want to sell directly and to make sure that candidates pay into TSA account. We have cases of students saying their scratch cards got burnt, others saying their scratch cards were swallowed by snakes or lost in an accident.”

100 Slangs You Should Know When You Are In LAGOS.

1. Akube- second hand
2. Amana- aircondition
3. Amebo- a gossip
4. Ashana- hooker
5.Baff- clothe
6. Bajinatu- gun
7. Bolo- fool
8. Bone- to ignore; to let go
9. Buga- to brag, to walk with swag
10. Chairman - a respected someone
11. Chikala- fine girl
12. Choko,kpoli- Marijuana, cannabis
13. Chop up- continue, proceed
14. Chow- eat
15. Clap, kpai, murd- die.
16. Code- to hide, to be secretive
17. Crib, domot- house
18. Chyke - toast a girl ; convince
19. Demo- pretend
20. Denge- to brag
21. Drop voice - threaten
22. Ego- money
23. Ejanla - Big personality
24. Ele - lady
25. Eshin- strong car, strong person
26. Flex - enjoy
27. Free me- leave me alone
28. Gbe si mi leti- give me information
29. Gbege- problem
30. Gbera - hurry up
31. Gbo rie- watch out
32. Gock- to miss out
33. Gombe- trouble
34. Gragra- boast
35.Grej- food
36.Hammer - to hit hard/ rich
37. Iko - sense
38. Jand- Uk
39. JJC- new arrival
40. Jamisi- give me information
41. Kabukabu- unlicensed taxi
42. Karishika - prostitute
43. Kasala/ kwanta- trouble
44. Kele - babe
45. Kishi- money
46. Kilon sele- what's happening
47. Kolo/ kolomental - crazy
48. Ko soro- no discussion
49. Koshi - go away
50. Kpef- drunk
51. Lepa - slim person
52. Maga - philanderer
53. Misyarn - to mis jive
54. Mugu/ mumu - fool
55.No shaking - no worries
56. O kpeke- beautiful girl
57. Omo - lady
58. Ode - fool
59. Olobe - fool
60. Omo wobe - prostitute
61. Orobo - fat
62. Oshara- new
63. Open eye- street wise
64. Oya - someone that is too forward h/ kangaroo
65. Panda - fake
66. Paraga - local gin
67. Parole - fun
68. Razz - unrefined, uncultured
69. Runz- illegitimate business
70. Shayo- drunk
71. Scope - to fool someone
72. Shisha- pipe smoking
73. Shasha- new
74. Shepe- local gin
75. Show- be available in person
76. Sisi - older lady
77. Sort- pay
78. Tear eye- street wise
79. Tear rubber - new
80. Ti be- let I go / forget it
81. Tinini - call/ ring
82. Tokunbo - second hand
83. Toosh- to be clean
84. Totorin - enjoy
85. Vamooz- runaway
86. Wayo- fraud/ dupe
87. Which level? - what's happening
88. Wosewobi - street girl
89. Woz- slap
90. Yapa- plenty
91. Yawa- big trouble
92. Ajebo - born with a silver spoon
93. Akata - foreign lady
94. ITK - knows to much
95. Oversabi- knows too much
96. Ghetto - under developed area.
97. Gbenu si- drink
98. Ebina - hungering
99. Akuse- wretched
100. Elenu- someone who brags while speaking

5 Reasons Nigerian Children Are Not Speaking Their Native Language

In the past children spoke Nigeria’s indigenous languages namely Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa fluently and unashamedly. However, today, the complete opposite is the case. Kids can barely communication in Efik or Idoma without adding a bit of English. The consequences of this are that many of these languages are facing extinction while some of them have gone extinct.
A research that is cited by those concerned to lend credence to the import of indigenous languages is that of former Minister of education, Prof. Babs Fafunwa. The late Prof made a case for the native language as the medium of education for the first 12 years of the child’s life.
Through an organized native language education program, they discovered children taught in the Yoruba language performed better. Regardless, it has not changed the fortunes of these languages because kids have refused to communicate. In line with this, Kikiotolu.com shares reasons children are not speaking their native language.

1. PARENTS DON’T SPEAK THE LANGUAGES TO THEM
Parents don’t speak their mother tongue to their children anymore. In fact, some of these parents when they go for attending events one of the best hotels in Lagos , they order their children not to speak the language. How can such a child learn the language? Parents should speak more to their kids in their mother tongue.

2. IT IS TAGGED VERNACULAR
In some schools today, Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo among other languages are banned because they are considered vernacular. A child who speaks his or her mother tongue would be penalized. So from the formative years of these children, they already have the perception that speaking their mother tongue is bad.

3. THEY ARE UNCIVILIZED
Many people believe that you are uncivilized or local if you speak your mother tongue. So, in other to join the bandwagon and be accepted, they dish Ibibio for English. This is all in the name of being civilized. Children have also been caught in this web

4. IT IS NOT COMPULSORY IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
While English is compulsory in secondary schools today, the indigenous languages are not even though a child must study one of these languages. Children will think the languages are a joke. Hence, they won’t bother to learn or speak it.

5. TECHNOLOGY
The engagement or interaction of children with technology is entirely in English. Their smartphone, video games, laptop and other tech gadgets are in English. So since many of them spend so much time with these gadgets, they don’t have anything to do with the languages. This is a challenge to Nigerian developers to design tech gadgets in the indigenous languages.

Dancer wins Etisalat BreakFree competition

A professional dancer, Raymond Oluwafemi, last Friday emerged winner of the Etisalat BreakFree Competition, a 24-hour nonstop dance contest.

With improvised flash-mob, music, and dance, the energy of the nigerian youth was put on display at Hardrock Café, venue of the competition.

Shedding light on the essence of the show, Layi Onafowokan, Head of Youth Marketing for Etisalat Nigeria, said that it is to drive home the message that subscribers to the Etisalat Easy Cliq package have the freedom to choose.

“We want to do something different; we want to do something that has never been done before. We cannot keep doing the same thing and expect a different result. We said we needed to break through. We need to do something different. It has never been done before in Nigeria, to have a nonstop 24 hours party with people constantly dancing,” he said.
Thanking the network provider for the opportunity, Oluwafemi, said that the victory means everything to him.
“I believed in it. I have a mindset that when I go for something, I take it. It is not by force. It is by grace. So I give all thanks to God. I also appreciate Etisalat for the gift. I had to win it because that was the only thing that can crown the stress I passed through,” he said.

Oluwafemi, who is also a music producer and a singer with about five years of dancing experience, together with his crew, Stars On Earth Dance Crew, had represented Nigeria at the last edition of the Hip-Hop International dance Competition held in Las Vegas.

As winner, he went home with a brand new Hyundai car while two runners-up also got phones and a year’s supply of recharge.

Sokoto State University matriculates 1,367 students

The Sokoto State University, Sokoto, on Monday, matriculated the 1,367 students it admitted for the 2016/2017 academic session.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Nuhu Yaqub, said at the 4th matriculation ceremony of the university that the new students were admitted out of over 13,000 candidates.

He said “this shows that this university is gaining ground in becoming an institution where both parents and students want to come to pursue their educational career.

“As a matter of fact, our second choice candidates were more than 12,000. This is an indication of the tremendous confidence they have in us.”

Yaqub commended the state government “for efforts to provide adequate funds and facilities to the university.”

The vice chancellor also commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), among others, “for the massive support to the institution.”

He warned students against flouting the rules and regulations of the university and urged them to be honest, hardworking and dedicated to their studies.

He also cautioned the students against acts capable of breaching the peaceful nature the university was known for.

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, the Visitor to the university, admonished the students to prepare mentally and physically for their academic sojourn in the institution.

He said “you cannot attain victory without resolution and determination, as such; you should become more determined for success.

“Sokoto State Government would continue to make the campus safe and secure for effective teaching and learning.

“We will also remain committed to the welfare of students and staff and will meet all the requirements for the forthcoming accreditation by the NUC.

“I am also happy that the university is reflecting federal character although it is wholly owned by Sokoto State Government.”

The Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Sahabi Gada, commended the state government for ensuring massive infrastructure development in the institution.

Highlight of the ceremony was the inauguration of some projects executed by TETFUND, NUC, NCC and the state government.

They included 750-seater and 500-seater lecture theatres, laboratories, ICT equipment and landscaping.

KWASU: 1st Nigerian university to offer aeronautical engineering programme

The Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, in Moro Local Government Area of the state, has become the first university to run Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering degree programme in the country.

This is sequel to the approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The NUC approval is contained in a statement by the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, in Ilorin on Monday.

The Vice-Chancellor claimed that the university had formally submitted an invitation to NUC for accreditation, and assured that the university was fully ready for the exercise.

Na’allah congratulated all the students and staff of the institution`s College of Engineering and Technology, particularly the Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.

He attributed the accreditation of the course to the hard work and patience of the students and staff of the university.

KWASU’s college of engineering and technology currently offers courses in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, food, agricultural and biological engineering and material science and engineering.

Dr Muyideen Akorede, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed, said the government would continue to promote sound scholarship for citizens.

He said the current administration has completed the construction of an N800 million engineering complex for the university to boost learning and teaching in the citadel of learning.

Kwara State University is the 77th university to be registered by the NUC.

Bida Poly gets NBTE’s accreditation for 15 courses

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)  has accredited 15 courses, offered at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida in Niger.

The Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Abubakar Dzukogi, made the disclosure on Tuesday in an interview in Bida.

He said the accredited courses include Building Technology, Quantity Surveying and Survey Geo-Informatics.

Others are Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering Technology and Soil and Water Engineering.

Also approved are Public Administration, Chemical Engineering Technology and Science Laboratory Technology.

The rector said that the accredited courses would be due for re-accreditation in September, 2021.

Ex-Rep to buy 1,000 UTME forms for youths

Former House of Representatives member and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Bimbo Daramola, is to buy 1,000 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms for Ekiti indigenes.

The move, according to the APC chieftain, is to relaunch Ekiti to an enviable height in the education ladder and to restore the old glory of the state in education.

At a press conference tagged: Teaching how to fish, Daramola said the initiative would help students from poor homes get admission into higher institutions this year. He pointed out that youths needed to acquire education to be relevant in the 21st Century economy. He said the initiative would open vistas of opportunities for Ekiti youths.

Daramola said he regretted the dashing of hopes of many young people in the state by poverty, saying that many had resorted to peasant farming and commercial motorcycle riding as means of livelihood.

He said the initiative would be carefully executed across the 133 towns in the state to promote scholarship and hard work.

He said: “Ekiti people benefitted, in no small measures, from the free education policy initiated by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1955. Those who had resigned to consistent farming embraced the policy and many later became great academics.

“But, at the time Ekiti people were believed to be the best in education. This glory is gradually fading away. I believe no effort should be spared to reignite the flame for education among our youths. Ekiti cannot afford to lay back in education because that was the only flourishing industry we are known for.

“It is glaring the present government in Ekiti has degraded and debased education by promoting tokenism and poverty-compliant scheme called stomach infrastructure. Little wonder, many of our graduates and young school leavers no prefer Okada riding to seeking admission for higher learning.

“But time has come to rescue our youths. Ekiti is rich in human resources and this spirit must not be allowed to diminish.”

UNILORIN, ASUU: Uneding rift

Two lecturers of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have accused the institution of victimising them because of their relationship with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). But, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, says they are being punished for alleged misconduct, reports ADEKUNLE JIMOH and Kofoworola Belo-Osagie.

There seems to be no end to the disaffection between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) management.

Since the sack of 49 lecturers of the university for heeding the union’s call for a nationwide strike in 2001, there has been no love lost between the university and ASUU. The union’s national leadership and a faction of its local chapter, have not been seeing eye to eye with the institution.

Two lecturers, Dr. Kayode Afolayan of the Department of English, and Dr. Solomon Oyelekan of the Department of Science Education, who are chairman and secretary of the faction loyal to the national ASUU body, have been suspended.

While the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, said their suspension was due to cases of indiscipline, insubordination and dereliction of duty, the duo claimed that they were victimised because of their petitions accusing him of fraud. The petitions were sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

At a press conference last week, Ambali denied claims that the lecturers were suspended because of their petitions against him.

He accused them of trying to destabilise the peace on campus by inciting students against management.  He also claimed they had queries to answer before they were suspended.

The VC said: “The suspension of the two academic staff purporting to be factional leaders of UNILORIN ASUU is the normal university’s regulation. If somebody is trying to cause disaffection within the university system, he has to face the music. One of the persons had two queries before his suspension. Their suspension had nothing to do with the last move they made.

“The crux of the matter is centered on insubordination by the staff concerned. Because the university has its own code of conduct for all its staff including all principal officers and the vice chancellor.

“The suspended staff had even tried to use students to distabilise the university system, but God so kind because of the nature of the students and the staff that we have sanity has been prevailing.”

Ambali claimed that the lecturers started spreading false rumours because they failed to gain control of the university’s chapter of the union after the UNILORIN 49 were recalled following a court victory in 2009.

“All those allegations are aimed at causing disaffection which they had tried to do in the last two years. If you could recollect they had wanted to take UNILORIN along at their levels, when we opened our doors for them to come in. Unfortunately things didn’t go the way they wanted it. Because of that they started blowing false whistles. It is not every referee that blows whistle that is talking sense. So we have to be very careful,” he said.

However, when contacted on Tuesday, the ASUU leaders told The Nation that they were not guilty of insubordination.

Afolayan said the duo had taken their protest against the suspension to the university’s governing council as well as the national ASUU leadership.

“As chairman of ASUU in UNILORIN, we have informed council about the development. Our union at the national level will follow up on this soon,” he said.

Afolayan added that the allegations of insubordination and dereliction of duty against them were not stated in the queries they were given.  He noted that the reason behind their suspension had to do with their ASUU roles.


“They are saying we have been suspended for insubordination, not attending classes, trying to cause disaffection on campus etc. But we know that there is nothing that disconnects the suspension from our activities as legal representatives of ASUU in UNILORIN and our protests against the breaches, entrenched culture of impunity, graft and corruption in the University of Ilorin,” he said.

Afolayan added that part of the reason for the suspension was related to the duo questioning the alleged unjustified promotion of the Vice Chancellor’s wife, also a lecture in the university.

He said: “I am sure you are aware that before now we had written petitions to the EFCC, ICPC, CCB and the visitor of the University of Ilorin protesting the monumental fraud, corruption, impunity, nepotism and other grievous breaches going on in the University of Ilorin.

“However, on the 6th of February, 2017, we wrote a letter to the University council, of which the vice- chancellor was copied, protesting a classic case of fraud, indecency and nepotism involving the vice chancellor and his wife, Dr. Mrs Taiwo Toyin Ambali.

“What happened was that the VC brought his wife in 2015 and gave her a temporary appointment and placed her on lecturer 1 step 7. Then about a year after, in 2016, she was promoted to a senior lecturer. By the regulation of UNILORIN, promotion is not countenanced until after three years. Now what the VC did was to set up a special panel after all those who qualified in her faculty, the faculty of education had been, taken. And as a union we wrote asking council to reverse this anomaly.

“The same day, the 6th, after we had submitted the letter, the VC through the Registrar gave us a query, of a 48 hour ultimatum, alleging that myself, the Chairperson of ASUU, Unilorin, and the Secretary of the Union in the branch, Dr. Solomon Oyelekan circulated a leaflet on ’30th January or thereabout’ and that the intention was to disrupt the peace of the school among others.

“The following day, 7th February, we replied asking for the title of the leaflet and a copy of the leaflet as these were neither stated nor attached to the letters of query.  To our surprise, we were suspended even before the end of the ultimatum!”

However, reacting to the claim that his wife was unqualified, Ambali said her promotion was approved by the appropriate committee.

“My wife commenced her career at the University of Maiduguri as a Lecturer II officer in 2006 and was promoted to Lecturer I in 2009. She later transferred her service to the University of llorin and was recently promoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer by the Appointment and Promotion Committee (AP&C).  This act was sequel to the approval of both the Department and Faculty management teams,” he said.

Reacting to the lecturers’ suspension, the National ASUU President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, accused the university of having something to hide and suppressing inquiries into anomalies in its operations.

Ogunyemi told The Nation on phone on Tuesday that the university’s operation ought to be probed by the Federal Government.

He said: “UNILORIN is noted for acts of impunity; so what they have done does not come as a surprise.

“The VC came out on national TV to say the lecturers in question were acting in a way to disrupt the peace on campus. If somebody is saying someone is promoting bad blood there is more to it.  What are the people saying and what actions have been taken to probe what they are saying?

“We have reason to believe that UNILORIN has a lot to hide.  They don’t want to encourage openness, probity and transparency.

“These two men are the chairman and secretary of ASUU in the university recognised by the national body.  They have raised questions about the lack of transparency and because the university does not want to respond, they chose to send them away from campus.  They are not the only one with questions – they were just the bold ones – but others are being suppressed.

“Government needs to go into the university and look into the operations of that university critically.  For many years, the university has been encouraging the operation of an illegal union that calls itself ASUU but not recognised by us.  The university has been collecting money in the name of ASUU and giving it to another group not recognised by the union,” he said.

FUT MINNA shut as student’s death sparks riot

The Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) in Niger State has been shut, following a riot sparked by the death of a 300-Level Chemistry Education student, Emmanuel Olalekan, who slumped while playing football. The protesters burnt down the Health Centre and destroyed other properties. MAHMUD ABDULSALAM reports.

THE game was going on fine until a player slumped. The player’s collapse ended the game as his colleagues rushed him to the clinic. And there, trouble started. The clinic declined to treat the unconscious Emmanuel Olalekan, who was a 300-level Chemistry Education student of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) in Niger State, insisting on his “proper identification” first.

Emmanuel died and his colleagues went on the rampage, destroying properties. It was a black Wednesday for FUT MINNA.

The late Emmanuel usually joined his colleagues to play football after lectures. But the routine exercise turned fatal when he collapsed, following a “rough tackle”.

The incident happened at 5:30pm last Wednesday at the Bosso Campus football pitch, where students usually converged for sports.

At the clinic, it was alleged that the medical staff did nothing to resuscitate the late Emmanuel despite his colleagues’ plea.

The student died three hours after he got to the clinic. His colleagues accused the staff of negligence and insensitivity, saying their dithering led to his death. He was pronounced dead at 8:30pm.

Emmanuel’s death provoked violence. Some buildings, including the clinic, were torched and properties vandalised.

Vehicles’ windshields and offices’ louvres were smashed.

Sections of the dining hall, the library and a microfinance bank were vandalised. A car said to belong to the Dean, Students’ Affairs was smashed. Windows and louvres of the Geography Laboratory and female hostels were shattered. The rioters were said to have carted away bread from the bakery.

A student, who simply gave his name as Abiodun, described how Emmanuel died. He said the deceased slumped after a “rough tackle” during the match. “He hit his head on the ground and held his chest as he fell,” Abiodun said.

The eyewitness added that the late Emmanuel was rushed to the clinic in a coma.

“To our surprise, the medical personnel at the clinic refused to attend to him hours after we rushed him to the clinic. They requested for his identity card, which was not with him at that time. We pleaded that he should be resuscitated while some of us went to look for his ID card, nobody answered us. After they verified from their records and discovered he was a student, they made attempt to revive him. But, it was late,” Abiodun said.

Another student, Prince Adeolu, who was on the field when the late Emmanuel slumped, blamed the clinic staff for his death.

He said: “It is unprofessional for medical practitioners to ask an unconscious patient to present his ID card before he could be given medical attention.”

When the protest spread, the school’s security officials moved female students to the Central Mosque and Chapel, which were secured by armed personnel. Some students fled the campus out of fear.

Normalcy returned after a combined team of soldiers and policemen was deployed in the campus. The presence of armed security operatives made it easy for fire fighters from the Niger State Fire Service to move into the campus to put out the clinic fire.

The Niger State Police Command said three suspects were arrested in connection with the violence, but their identities remained unknown at press time. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the arrest, saying: “The police have brought the situation under control and we have three suspected arsonists in custody. Already, the Command has commenced investigation into the arson.”

The following day, management held an emergency meeting to take stock of the destruction. The school said it regretted the incident and shut the campus till March 2. Management said it had set up a panel to probe the student’s death.

A statement signed on behalf of the Registrar by the Acting Academic Secretary, Dr Shakirudeen Yusuf, reads: “The management has approved a two weeks mid-semester break with immediate effect. Consequently, all students are to vacate the two campuses latest by 4pm on Thursday, February 16. Academic activities resume on March 2.”

CAMPUSLIFE could not reach the  Director of Health Services, but a worker in the clinic, who did not want her name in print, denied the students’claims of negligence and insensitivity.

She said: “As professional healthcare givers, there is no way the staff on duty would have violated the sacred ethics and oaths of medical practice. In what ways would it profit them to deny a student proper treatment or medical attention?”

A student, Mukhtar Sani, said the allegation of negligence and insensitivity against the medical personnel was true. He shared his experience at the clinic.

He said: “I went for treatment at the clinic, because I did not have money to leave the school. I had high temperature and was shivering terribly. When I got to the clinic, I explained my situation to nurses on duty. To my surprise, they told me to wait for the doctor who did not come. When I complained, they said I should come back the following day.”

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the  first semester examination was scheduled to start in three weeks, before the protest. The closure of the school was greeted with mixed feelings among students. Some described it as unnecessary; others hailed management’s decision.

Amina Shamsudeen, a final year student, said it was better the school is shut to prevent further breakdown of law and order. She appealed to management to fulfil its promise to re-open the school in two weeks to enable students write their examinations.

The Students’Union Government (SUG) called for calm, urging students to leave the campus as directed by the management. The SUG President, Lateef Hamzat, described the late Emmanuel as a “lovable student” and “skilful footballer”.

Ola Yusuf, the late Emmanuel’s close friend, described him as “a talented young man”, saying he was charming and peace-loving.

Ola said: “Emmanuel was caring and humble. He was also serious-minded and peace-loving. I knew him to be a hardworking student and talented young man who loved football. He was a devoted Christian. I have not overcome the shock since he died.”

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Emmanuel’s body has been taken to his home town in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State for burial.

Police Arrest 15 FUTO Students Over Violent Protest

No fewer than 15 students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), in Imo, were arrested following violent protests in the institution on Friday, last week.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Andrew Enwerem, who confirmed the arrest in Owerri on Monday, said that the students were arrested for vandalism and looting of the university property.

Enwerem said that the students would be charged to court when investigations into the incident had been concluded.

He dismissed claims by the students that the protest turned violent when policemen allegedly fired teargas at them.

He said the police intervened at the instance of the school management when the protest degenerated into violence.

The students embarked on the protest over alleged increase in their school fees.
The university facilities were damaged by the protesting students who also made away with some valuables.

One of them, Chinedu Nwakuche, alleged that the university increased fees for first year students from N48, 000 to N54, 000 per session while second and third year fees increased from N32, 000 to N49,000.

According to him, fees for students of fourth and final years also went up from N28, 000 to 39,000, while acceptance fees has gone up to N45,000 from N25,000.

Nwakuche said that students now paid as much as N1,500 to register a course every semester.

The Public Relations Officer of FUTO, Mr Chike Ezenwa, said the management of the university would comment after determining the extent of the damages.