Sacked workers petition Buhari over YABATECH rector

Some sacked employees of the Yaba College of Technology, led by Mr. Olu Ibirogba, a former bursar, have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to make public the outcome of the investigations into the allegations levelled against their Rector, Dr. Kudirat Ladipo.

Making the outcome of the probe public, they said, would prevent further “perpetration of injustice” in the nation’s oldest ivory tower.

The workers made this known in a petition dated July 6, 2016, but obtained by our correspondent on Monday.

According to them, many months after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and a ministerial probe committee looked into the allegations of fraud against the rector, the public have yet to know about the outcome of the report.

Ibirogba and co, in a petition to Buhari, dated June 10, 2015, and entitled “Large scale stealing and victimisation by YABATECH authorities: Appeal for intervention so that we are not silenced”, accused the rector of engaging in corrupt practices, among other things.

For instance, they claimed that the Governing Council of the school approved N5m monthly security vote for the rector, an allegation the latter had denied.

But following a series of allegations of financial and administrative abuses preferred against some vice-chancellors and rectors, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had last December instituted probe panels to visit such schools, including YABATECH.

Others are the Federal University, Dustin-Ma, Katsina State; Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State; University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State and the University of Abuja.

On the list also are the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State; Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State; Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State and the University of Calabar, Cross River State.

The panels submitted their reports in January.

Senate to transfer teachers’ salaries from recurrent to current expenditure

PHOTO: deltaanalyst.wordpress

The Senate may propose movement of teachers’ salaries from recurrent to current expenditure, with a view to ending non-payment of emoluments.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, in Ilorin, yesterday, said the current system where salaries of primary school teachers are paid by Local Government Areas (LGAs) is detrimental to educational growth.

Saraki, who was accompanied by the Chairman Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Yahaya Kaura, and his counterpart on Ethics and Privileges, Bala Ibn Na’allah, bemoaned the present trend of funding education in Nigeria where focus is placed on infrastructural growth at the tertiary level, to the exclusion of primary education.

The Senate President made the disclosure during assessment of readiness of the proposed Ansaru Islam University, Ogidi Oloje, Ilorin, Kwara State, for approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Police petitioned over death of Uniport final year student

A petition has been forwarded to House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions over alleged extra judicial killing of Peter Chibuzor Ofurum, a final year student of Accounting, University of Port Harcourt by members of the Nigeria Police Force during a peaceful protest.

The petition which was signed by Barrister Amobi Nwulu, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Abuja, explained that students of Uniport were on peaceful demonstration on 11th April, 2016 against increase in school fees and ‘no fees, no examination policy’, when the incident happened.

It explained that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ndokwa Lale invited the Police, having phoned the Acting Commissioner of Police, Rivers State then, Mr. Mobolaji Adesanya, who later directed an assistant Commissioner of Police with instruction that no life should be wasted.

“The Police arrived the scene and were friendly with students, but after the Vice Chancellor sent for him and discussed, they came out shortly and became hostile to students”, it added.

The petition further indicated that the VC of Uniport became an accomplice, noting that it was on his orders that Police began shooting of students, and thereafter, late Peter Chibuzor Ofurum was shot from the back twice, which led to his death instantly.

The petitioner urged the Committee’s intervention, stressing that earlier petition forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Education had not been responded to, even as the Police authorities were unwilling to unravel circumstances that led to the death of the victim.

AAUA alumni opens Ibadan branch

The Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) Alumni Association has opened its Ibadan, Oyo State branch. The ceremony, attended by 40 members was held at Tantalizers Eatery in the Students’ Union Building of the University of Ibadan (UI).

The National President, Mr Patrick Oluyide, said the branch’s establishment was in line with the association’s constitution, which allows creation of chapters in towns and cities across the globe without compromising the conditions for  formation, including a minimum of 20 members.

Presenting the charter of the association to the branch, Oluyide urged the executive members to steer the group’s affairs in line with the constitution.

Oluyide said he was encouraged by the zeal of members and the manner they coordinated themselves. He advised them not to rest on their oars in raising the association’s membership in Ibadan.

Daughter of late president of Nigerian prostitutes graduates as overall best in Mathematics, Chemistry

Sabina Green ( not real name), daughter of the late Jessica Oluchi Elvis, former President of National Association of Nigerian Prostitutes, NANP has graduated from secondary school.

The 16-year-old girl who passed out from a popular private school in Ikotun area of Lagos, last Friday was crowned the overall best in Mathematics and Chemistry.

Following the death of her mother last year, life has never remained the same for the young girl who now occupies her mother’s bungalow in Lagos with her aunt – Clara. Elvis died October 25 in Edo State after suffering from heart-related disease.

In a brief chat with DAILY POST during her graduation ceremony, the 16-year-old shared with our reporter what she missed most about her late mum.

She recalled with nostalgia how her mum died in a Benin hospital due to doctor’s lackadaisical attitude.

Speaking on her next plan after secondary school, Gree said, “I will put in for JAMB next year. I want to study Bio-Chemistry in the university, but not in Nigeria.”

She warned the media to desist from calling her late mum prostitute, adding that her late mum never involved in bed-to-wealth business.

EFCC arrests FUTA, AAU students for alleged N16m internet scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan Zonal Office has arrested five suspected undergraduate scammers for about N16million Internet fraud.

They are four from the Federal University of Technology Akure, (FUTA) and another from  Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba ,  (AAUA).

A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said the suspects were arrested   at  an Off- Campus residence  located at Anuoluwapo Close, Stateline Hotel Road, off FUTA South Gate, Akure, Ondo.

The statement said: “ The fraudsters who are between 20 and 23 years of age include: Adeleke Paul (21),  Adebiyi Tayo Abudu (22) , Akinsanmi Olusola Adeniyi (21), Ogundile Ademola James (23) and Okali Ugochukwu (21).

“The commission got wind of their activities through series of intelligence.  Paul and his co-travelers, who go about with the name Tsunnami Gang and Young Pablo Money allegedly swindled unsuspecting foreigners and others to the tune of N16million recently.

“The suspected fraudsters engaged in fraudulent activities of obtaining money by false pretences through scam mails.

“Paul is a penultimate final year’s student of Building Technology while James and Olusola are both 400 level students of Agricultural Resources and Mathematics respectively.

“Okali is a 200 level student of Urban and Regional Planning, while Adebiyi Tayo is a 300 level Student of Mathematics of the Adekunle Ajasin University. Akungba, Ondo State.

“At the point of arrest, EFCC operatives recovered a 2006, black Toyota highlander with registration number(Lagos)  LND 112 EG,  2010 light- green Toyota Camry (Muscle) registration number (Lagos) AAA 850 EF, laptops, three Apple iphone6 and three Blackberry phones from them.

“Some implicating documents were also found and downloaded from their laptops.

They are to be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed.”

Group blast Kogi state government over students comment

The Kogi Renaissance Group, KRS, has slammed the state governor, Yahayah Bello for threatening to treat students in the state as kidnappers and criminals.

Bello and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), recently locked horns over the former’s threat to proscribe the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Kogi State University chapter.

Lecturers in the school had embarked on strike three months ago to protest against the non-payment of their salaries, a situation which led to the governor threatening to cancel the staff union of the university.

Reacting to the governor’s threat, KRS Executive Secretary, Usman Okai Austin described the governor’s comment against students as a ‘joke taken too far.’

He therefore called on relevant authorities to closely check governor before he completely ruin the Confluence State.

Uniport promises to deliver unforgetable WAUG Games

University of Port Harcourt has began preparations to host the West African University Games (WAUG),  billed for November 22 to December 4, 2016 in Port Harcourt.

The institution’s vice chancellor, Professor Lale Ndowa has assured that Uniport will deliver a memorable WAUG Games with meticulous planning and painstaking execution of the event.

He called on government, corporate sponsors and philanthropists to support the university in this quest.
Lale said the institution places high premium on sports which is why it has invested heavily in facilities and equipment.

Uniport hosted the 1988 and 2004 editions of the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA).

Working SUG: Union opens campus bakery

The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), Kwara State has opened a bakery to shore up the union’s income. The bakery was inaugurated by the representative of  wife of Kwara State Governor, Mr. B.O. Abioye, who is the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

At the event were the Acting Rector, Dr Kuburat Olaosebikan, Registrar, Alhaji A.O. Raji, Dean of Entrepreneurship Development, Mr Bimbola Arowomole, and deans of faculties.

Olaosebikan, said the project was laudable, praising the union leadership for building an “impressive bakery”.

She said: “Let me commend the rare initiative of the Students’ Union executive for being visionary, pragmatic and forward-looking as reflected in their approach to various issues relating to the welfare of their colleagues. We must applaud the efforts of these young men and women for giving purposeful meaning to students’ unionism.

Olaosebikan called on alumni association and corporate organisations to complement the management’s efforts in improving the standard of education and research. She said the management would continue to support students’ innovation and idea.

Abioye described the project as “a great achievement” by the SUG, saying it would drive students’ entrepreneurship skills. He advised the students’ leaders to use the facility to book business skills of their colleagues.

The SUG President, Yusuf Imram, said: “We noticed entrepreneurship has become a necessity in this period when white-collar jobs are scarce. We embarked on the project with an intention to equip and prepare our fellow students for life after school. This is the first phase of our legacy entrepreneurship project. We also intend to establish water firm.”

The bakery has started producing breads since the beginning of the current semester, with massive patronage by students because of the affordability.

Students with disability decry descrimination

Students living with disabilities at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) have discussed their challenges, calling on management to initiate programmes to end discrimination against them, reports SARAT ALABIDUN (400-Level Applied Chemistry).

They were in the middle of their meeting in a classroom when the CAMPUSLIFE reporter walked in. Immediately, their  attention shifted to the ‘intruder’, who sat at a corner watching the proceeding.

It was the second meeting of  physically-challenged students at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS). The students, under the aegis of the National Association of Physically-Challenged Students (NAPCS), gathered to discuss their challenges.

The NAPCS President, Abdullateef Adetiba, a 400-Level Sociology student, said: “A good constitution is a necessity for the association to be fully recognised on the campus.”

Abdullateef, who was elected the previous week, urged members to come up with ideas on a new constitution. He said the document must reflect the aims and aspirations of the association and its members, adding that the constitution must be written to cater for the physically-challenged who would be offered admission in the new session.

He added: “Our major concern is to join the forces to tackle discrimination against the physically-challenged students. We are human beings too. We need to have a fixed projects and programmes for the members. This must be done through our annual due to ensure that we don’t go about asking people for money.”

Physically-challenged students, Abdullateef believes, have not been treated fairly by the university authorities. He hoped to change their situation, despite the short period of his tenure.

AAUA students seek peace betwee between management and ASUU

Worried by the lingering industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), students of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State have appealed to the management and their lecturers to return to the negotiation table.

The institution chapter of ASUU, through its chairman, Dr Sola Fayose, declared an indefinite strike two weeks ago over the management’s inability to pay lecturers’ outstanding salaries.

Some students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, said the strike is taking negative toll on their pursuits, urging the management to accede to their lecturers’ demand for them to return to the school.

A final year student, Marcus Amudipe, lamented the development, saying students should not be the made to bear the brunt of the action.

He said: “When two elephants fight, the grass suffers. My advice to both parties is for them to dialogue and find a common ground for the sake of students.”

Mary Fagbiye, a 300-Level student, expressed displeasure over the strike, urging the lecturers to reconsider the management’s offer.

Noting that the strike has distorted the school calendar, Mary appealed to the parties to settle their differences and end the strike.

Armed bandits attack corpers’ lodge in Rivers State [PHOTOS]

A group of unknown hoodlums have caused mayhem at the Corps members’ lodge in Bori, Khana Local Government Area, LGA, of Rivers state, leaving scores badly wounded.

The incident happened at about 4am on July 10. About 15 armed robbers invaded the lodge and attacked those who were present including – the President, Buako Community Development Service, CDS group, Duru Humphrey, one Aroh ifeanyi, Ebenezer Benson and Onyekachi Christian.

The robbers used machete to inflict injuries on the corps members and dispossessed them of their valuables including money and gadgets before fleeing the area.

The victims are currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

Meanwhile, a source privy to the incident told reporters that there is more to the attack than mere robbery.

According to him, there was a robbery incident in the same lodge in January where a villager was apprehended and arrested. The villager was, however, released some days after. Indications are that the unnamed thief who threatened to get back to the corps members for ‘catching him in the act,’ staged this new attack.

He is believed to have mobilized people, alleged to be his gang, who did not only steal but inflicted severe injuries on the victims.

The source made it clear that the matter was reported at the Bori Police Division but as at press time, nothing has been said or done about it.

Ogun teacher caught sexually abusing pupil

Photo credit: Igbala community, nairawall.com

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a private school teacher, Matthew Sodeke, for alleged child abuse in Igbala community in the  Sango Ota area of the state.

Our correspondent learnt that Sodeke, an English Language teacher, was caught sucking the private parts of a male pupil.

The teacher was reportedly caught by a parent who had come to pick his child in the school.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the teacher allegedly sexually assaulted the 16-year-old boy, identified only as Ajala, in one of the offices of the school after closing hours.

On Tuesday, July 12, around 4pm, Sodeke was said to have called the pupil upstairs into one of the offices.

It was learnt that Sodeke allegedly instructed the boy to remove his trousers, after which the teacher allegedly began to suck the boy’s private parts.

A yet-to-be-identified parent, who reportedly came to check her child in the school, was said to have caught the duo and raised the alarm.

The matter was thereafter reported at the Sango Police Division, and Sodeke was arrested.

A parent, identified only as Shokoya, who claimed to be a witness, said the teacher was beaten up by a mob before he was taken to the police station.

Shokoya added that the pupil confessed that his private parts had been sucked by the teacher on several occasions.

OAU names Elujoba as acting VC

In compliance with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate of the the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has recommended Prof Anthony Adebolu Elujoba for appointment as the acting Vice Chancellor of the University.

A release by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that after an extensive deliberation by the Senate, presided over by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof Omolayo Ajayi, Elujoba was elected by massive votes of the over 200 senate members in attendance.

The new Ag Vice Chancellor, is an accomplished academic who had served in various capacity over the years as the Head of Department of Pharmacognosis, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy; Chairman, Committee of Deans and Chairman, Ceremonials Committee of the University among others.  He is also a n alumnus of the university.

The statement said the news of the recommendation of Elujoba was greeted with wide jubilation by the workers.

Stepmother, two teachers to die by hanging over death of toddler

An Edo High Court on Monday sentenced three people to death by hanging over the murder of a three-year-old girl.

The convicts, Betty Stephen, the stepmother, and the two teachers- Johnson Ogbeide and Nancy Aiwuyor, committed the offence on February 24, 2009, at Erhiborhibo village, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo.

The judge, Justice Geraldine Imadegbelo, in her judgment said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

She said the prosecution proved that the stepmother gave the three-year-old girl to Ogbeide, who in turn handed over the baby to his colleague, Aiwuyor, to be sold for ritual purposes.

Reviewing the evidence placed before her, the judge said the child was left in the custody of her stepmother by her parents who went to farm on the day the child was killed.

“When the victim’s parents returned, they could not find the child, only for the stepmother to confess that she stole the child to the two other convicts,” she said.

The judge also said that the prosecution established that the victim was sold for N1.5 million, her nine fingers cut off, her hair shaved as directed for the ritual.

According to judge, “seven years after the victim disappeared in the hands of the convicts without being found, the court was safe to hold that the child was dead.

“The acts of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd accused persons which caused the death of the deceased were unlawful,” Mrs. Imadegbelo said.

The court also sentenced the convicts to 14-year jail term each for the offence of child stealing.

(NAN)

Covenant university appoints new VC

The Board of Regents, Covenant University’s apex governing body has approved the appointment of Professor Aderemi Aaron-Anthony Atayero, as the fourth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University.

Secretary of the Board of Regents, Pastor Chioma Okwuanyi, on behalf of the Chairman of the Board and Chancellor of Covenant University, Dr. David Oyedepo, made the announcement on Friday July 15, 2016 at a special meeting of Principal Officers, Deans, Directors and Heads of Departments.

Professor Atayero replaces Professor Charles Ayo, whose tenure elapsed last month.

Speaking on how the Board of Regents arrived on its choice of Professor Atayero, Pastor Okwuanyi said the Board, at a recent meeting to consider a number of eminent professors from Covenant University, decided to limit the choice to the products of the university in order to allow for continuity; somebody who has been in the system who knows where Professor Ayo stopped, and start building from that foundation.

The announcement was greeted with a thunderous applause from the audience including Professor Ayo, who described the day as symbolic in the annals of history of the university. It would have been disheartening, he said, if the university had to look elsewhere to pick his successor.

He acknowledged the contributions of all present, while expressing satisfaction that he has bequeathed a university where faculty, staff and students can walk with their heads held high across the continent of Africa.

LASU suspends 25 students over exam malpractice

LASU gate

Management of the Lagos State University, Ojo, have suspended 25 students for their role in examination misconduct.

Nine of the students were from the Department of Business Administration while five were from the Department of Sociology, three of the students were from the Department of Political Science while four were from the Public Administration department.

The university disclosed in a circular  by its Head, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, Mr. Martin Adekoya.

Adekoya said the students, who had been directed to appear before the Examination Misconduct Panel, risked expulsion if they failed to report.

The institution’s spokesman, who added that the Senate of the university had already ratified the suspension, noted that the concerned students would not be allowed to participate in any activities on campus until the suspension was lifted.

Meanwhile, LASU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lanre Fagbohun, has inaugurated a five-man committee to investigate the alleged mismanagement of the properties of the Student Union Government of the university.

LUTH nurses clarify reasons for on-going strike

There seem to be no end soon for a truce between the striking nurses at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and the management of the institution.

At a meeting on Tuesday called by the State chapter of the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) with the striking nurses, the State NANNM Chairman, Comrade Olurotimi Awojide said he has been reliably informed that the LUTH management may not be able to hold any meeting with the executives of Lagos NANNM because the Chief Medical Director (CMD) Prof Chris Bode and some of the hospital’s top management officials have travelled.

Comrade Awojide said the hospital should watch it because some other members of the association are watching with keen interest what is unfolding at LUTH, hence the Psychiatry Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta has commenced on a strike for similar demands.

He explained that LUTH management should understand the nitty gritty of Civil Service Commission, especially as it relates with engagement/employment and promotion.

Comrade Awojide said it is an embarrassment for a 54 year old tertiary institution not to have regular supply of water and light. “These are very important to any hospital environment. And you know the importance of water in prevention of spread of infections, as witnessed during the Ebola outbreak. It is highly important for the safety of patient and staff, especially nurses. Nurses use their personal money to purchase consumables such as gloves, syringes o attend to patients, either because they are not enough or totally unavailable. That is how bad the whole system is, here at LUTH. Allowances for nurses are not paid, for instance, teaching allowance and uniform allowance. The annoying part is that professionals that are not captured or entitled when the circular was being presented are being paid, thereby robbing legitimate professionals like nurses from being paid, for example administrative officer collecting teaching allowance. We are not asking the management to stop that, but to give us our legitimate due.”

On the issue of promotion of nurses without First degree, as maintained by the hospital, Comrade Awojide explained, “Nurses that are at Assistant Chief Nursing officer post awaiting promotion to the position of Chief Nursing officer are already on CONHESS 12, and LUTH management is still ‘promoting’ them to CONHESS 12, By saying CONHESS 13 is for Assistant Director. That is wrong. We gave the Management the necessary papers/document to support what is right and for simpler understanding, to no avail. Chief Nursing Officer is on CONHESS 13, the Directorate cadre starts from CONHESS 14 and above. So promotion starts from CONHESS 12 to 13 as Chief Nursing officer. That is what obtains among other federal health hospitals, so why should LUTH be any different? We brought copies of promotion letters from other hospitals to convince the LUTH management to no avail.

Stephen Keshi for burial July 29

Stephen Keshi

A new date for the funeral rites of the late former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has been fixed for July 29, 2016.

The burial will hold at his country-home of Illah town in Delta State.

The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah, revealed that the ceremonies will hold between July 28 and July 31, 2016.

Burial activities for the former Super Eagles supremo include a requiem mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 30 Airport Road, Benin City, a novelty match by All Stars and Tributes, and a service of songs/vigil mass at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Illah, Delta State.

The burial ceremonies will be concluded on Sunday, July 31, 2016, with a thanksgiving mass at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Illah, by 10:00am.

Before his death, Keshi coached the national teams of Togo and Mali, qualifying the former to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

In his last job with Nigeria, he won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and reached the Round of 16 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Keshi is survived by four children and his mother.

Sustain good relationship between FG, ASUP – Minister tells Union

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has called on Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic ASUP, to sustain good harmonious relationship between it and the Federal Government for the overall development of the educational section.

Malam Adamu made the call during the 2016 ASUP official capacity development workshop held in Kaduna, Tuesday, saying the industrial harmony was paramount to the development of any society.

The Minister represented by the Deputy Director Polytechnic, Federal Ministry of Education, Alhaji Ibrahim Uba, said the union are partners in progress, adding that they should continue with their partnership with the government on itS current change agenda as it affect education sector in general.

He stressed that the government was committed to transforming the entire education sector.

He commended the union leadership for organizing the capacity building workshop which he said was timely and well conceived.

Hausa teenagers storm Lagos school, steal N1.5m

Hoodlums invaded the Lagooz Schools on Omotoye Estate, in the Orile Agege area of Lagos State over the weekend and wrecked havoc.

It was alleged that Hausa teenagers, numbering about 100, stormed the school with machetes and other weapons, carting away over N1.5m and other valuable property belonging to the school.

Punch reports that the suspects were said to have attacked the school’s principal and a teacher, identified as Uncle John, during a free-for-all, which lasted for about two hours.

However, the timely intervention of policemen from the Elere divison, operatives of the Special Anti-robbery Squad and some members of the Oodua People’s Congress, prevented the teenagers from causing further havoc in the school.

A resident said trouble started when the school finished its valedictory service party on Saturday, but the teenagers refused to leave the school premises.

He said, “They were actually relatives of some of the school-leavers. The valedictory service party ended around 5pm, but they refused to leave. A teacher, Uncle John, tried to force them out. One of them abused the teacher and ran away.

“The teacher, who was embarrassed by the abuse, held one of the Hausa teenagers. There was a struggle between them. As the teacher hit the man, he also fought back and held the teacher by the neck, almost strangulating him.

“The principal, who wanted to settle the fight, was held by the tie by one of the intruders and beaten up. The principal’s brother, who wanted to rescue him, was given a fist blow in the eye.”

Three of them were later apprehended by the school; however, those apprehended mobilised more gang members into the school through the telephone.

Pan-Atlantic varsity to commence remedial courses

The Pan-Atlantic University at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos is to commence remedial courses next academic session to assist students with faulty education foundation.

The Dean of the School of Media and Communication of the institution, Dr Ikechukwu Obiaya, made the announcement when he visited the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos at the weekend.

He said the commencement of remedial courses was part of efforts to make students to improve themselves, especially in their writing skills.

Jamb speaks on lists sent to universities

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says the recent lists forwarded to various tertiary institutions was for candidates that qualified for screening based on institutions’ capacity.

The board’s Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, made the clarification on Sunday Lagos in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to the statement, they are in no way the admission lists.

It added that if, however, the number of candidates on such lists was not sufficient for existing vacancies, the institutions could source from the omnibus printout earlier sent to them by the board.

“The public and all tertiary institutions should note that admission will only be approved by the board after appropriate screening of the candidates by the institutions.

“The list which is made up of candidates who met the national cut-off point within the set criteria is then forwarded to the institutions,’’ it said.

The statement noted that the intention of the board was to ensure that available spaces were adequately utilised. (NAN)

FG scraps common entrance interview test into Federal government colleges

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, has announced the cancellation of the interview test for National Common Entrance Examination, NCCE, into Federal Government colleges.

This came as former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, yesterday, stressed the urgent need to overhaul the education system in the country to avoid total collapse of the sector.

A statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education yesterday in Abuja, said the cancellation of the test for NCCE would take effect from the 2017/2018 academic year.

The statement signed by the Deputy Director, Press, Bem Goong, said the minister could not establish the rationale for a second test for NCCE organised by the National Examination Council, NECO.

“The second test is an unnecessary additional financial burden on parents/guardians.”

It quoted Mr. Adamu as saying.
“The era of multiple examinations attracting prohibitive fees cannot be accommodated by the Buhari administration, especially against the backdrop of government’s determination to increase access to education as a platform for breaking the cycle of poverty,” the statement read.

It said Adamu had directed NECO to strengthen its examination processes with a view to achieving quality and credible examination for admission into unity schools at the first test.

The statement said the minister argued that multiple examinations did not necessarily translate to the admission of quality pupils in secondary schools.

Mr. Adamu maintained that the 2016/2017 academic year remained the effective date for the ban on Post-UTME, advising vice-chancellors to adhere strictly to the policy in the overriding public interest.

Meanwhile, former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, yesterday, stressed the urgent need to overhaul the education system in the country to avoid total collapse of the sector. Ezekwesili, who stated this in Abuja, at the 2016 Nigerian Education Innovation Summit organised by Education Partnership Centre, EPC, said education left in the hands of policy makers was problematic.

Alvan Ikoku FCE shut down over students’ protest

The management of Alvan Ikoku Federal Collage of Education, Owerri, has announced the indefinite closure of the institution following a protest by the students on Monday.

The provost of the institution, Dr Blessing Ijeoma, confirmed the closure.

She said that the management issued the directive after the students destroyed the institution’s administrative block and about nine government vehicles.

“We have approved an indefinite closure of AICE following today’s students’ protest and we have directed that every student should vacate the school premises,” she said.

Students of AIFCE staged a violent protest against the management of the institution over the hike in both tuition and acceptance fees.

The students said that management decided to increase the acceptance fee from N10,000 to N30,000 without consultation.

They also alleged that the management raised the school fees from N30,000 to N70,000.

The students said the essence of the protest was to draw the attention of management to their plight.

However, the provost said the students’ claims were baseless and added that hoodlums seized the opportunity to cart away valuables, such as computers, from the ICT centre.

NAN

ASUU draws battle line with FG over scrap of Post-UTME

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday lambasted the Federal Government for scrapping the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

National President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, told newsmen in Abuja, that the cancellation “portends serious danger for the quality of education in this country”.

“The argument of federal government on the policy is unacceptable and potentially harmful to the future of Nigerian’s education system. We call on government to rescind its decision and convene a genuine stakeholders’ meeting on the issue before making any policy statement”, he added.

Ogunyemi insisted that the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, did not enjoy the sole prerogative to endorse the examination conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board.

He said, “Such statement coming from the Minister was unfortunate because JAMB should not be saddled with the responsibility of solely conducting entrance examinations into the nation’s tertiary institutions.

“We call the attention of the Honourable Minister of Education to the fact that Post-UTME is a child of necessity and rationality and a decision that Nigerian Universities had to take when the credibility and integrity of JAMB examinations and
results became questionable.

“When universities were admitting solely on the basis of JAMB scores, unimaginable discrepancies were observed in the JAMB scores of candidates and their performance in the first year in the University.

“Consider a candidate who got a JAMB score of 290 out of a maximum of 400, yet had to withdraw from the University at the end of the first year on account of very poor performance. It is important to note that this happened not in isolated cases. Virtually all universities reported such cases.

“The University of Ibadan conducted a study on the correlation between JAMB scores and performance at the University, and reported a negative correlation between the two. The results were published in the Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences. The introduction of Post -UTME was based on sound empirical evidence.”

ASUU said there had been considerable improvement in the quality of students admitted into the universities since the introduction of Post -UTME.

The ASUU leader added that: “The Post-UTME has its problems which we believe can be addressed. To curtail exploitation of parents and candidates, government can improve funding to universities and other tertiary institutions”.

Irate youths destroy Catholic Church property, attack worshippers

A group of Muslim youths on Friday attacked St. Philip’s Catholic Parish, Baki Iku, close to Zuma Rock in Niger State.

According to eyewitnesses, some Catholics had gone to the church to pray when they were attacked by the Muslims who claimed that Friday was their day of prayer and that the church only had right to worship on Sundays.

The youths were said to have destroyed the church’s property, including doors and the windows.

Some soldiers managed to get there later, but not before harm had been done to the building. Worshippers ran away in different directions to avoid being killed. Rev. Fr. Luka Sylvester Gopep, the Vicar-General of the Diocese, confirmed the incident.

Gopep said: “Sometime around 2pm, some Muslim youths in their hundreds left their mosque after their Friday Jumat prayer and rushed to the church premises, climbed the wall and destroyed everything in the church: the windows, the altar, musical instruments, the chapel. “The security man in the church premises was beaten to pulp.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/irate-youths-destroy-catholic-church-property-attack-worshippers/

Students seek OAU’s re-opening

SOME students  of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, have called on the Federal Government to resolve the crisis over the appointment of  a new Vice-Chancellor (VC) for the institution. They also called for the re-opening of the school.

The students berated Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) for what they called “selfish agenda”, saying appointment of a new VC should not an affair that should result in the disruption of academic activities. They said the activities of the unions were responsible for the indefinite closure of the school.

In a statement signed on the students’ behalf by Quadri Bello, the students enjoined the government  to ensure the school is re-opened while solution is being proffered to the crisis.

The statement reads: “We are tired of staying at home because some unions cannot resolve their differences with the management amicably. Being at home for more than 80 days is no fun. Our demand is that President Muhammadu Buhari should do all within the law to ensure that we are back to school in the shortest possible time.

“We understand that the OAU Act says the he cannot appoint an Acting VC; that is the duty of the Governing Council. But, we believe the president can reconstitute a new Governing Council that will work with the new VC while the aggrieved parties wait for the verdict of the Osogbo High Court.”

It would be recalled that the management shut down the university indefinitely last month due to a protests by NASU and SSANU, which claimed that the process that produced the Prof Ayobami Salami as VC did not follow the law. The government, on June 30, dissolved the Governing Council of the university. There has been no further action taken since then.

The students said: “We call on eminent citizens of this country to appeal to the striking unions to go into dialogue with the management to solve their grievances. Their unpaid allowances can be discussed at a meeting. Their case is already in court; they should exercise patience as law-abiding workers in awaiting the court decision on their matter. They can challenge the process of the appointment of the VC without disrupting academic activities. All we want is the reopening of our school and we plead with eminent Nigerians to help achieve this.”

PTI students mourn colleague

A student of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State, Enakeme Ohwojero, has died, throwing the school into mourning. The graduating student of Electrical Department fell into a coma and died of diabetes, six weeks to her graduation. GBENGA OJO reports.

•Student dies of diabetes weeks to graduation

Every final year student who participated in the Students’ Week of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State, was upbeat. For the graduating students, it was the last social event they would hold with others as they  had only six weeks to their graduation.

Like other final year students, Enakeme Ohwojero was excited. She looked forward excitedly to her last day on the campus. Alas, the Higher National Diploma (HND) II Electrical Department student would not see the day; she died of hyperglycaemia penultimate Saturday.

Hyperglycaemia is a condition where there is excess glucose in the patient’s blood stream, a condition associated with diabetes mellitus.

Enakeme, 35, died four days after she went into a coma, following a crisis. Her colleagues were shocked by her death. They went round the hostels to inform all final year students of the tragic news. Some bowed their heads for  minutes in grief, battling to cope with the development.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the late Enakeme left the campus for Abuja after the Students’ Week to visit her fiancé, Peter Okeke, also a student in the Electrical Department. Peter, it was learnt, deferred his studies to enable him keep his job at the Abuja office of Nestle Nigeria.

Three days before she left for Abuja, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the late Enakeme complained of body weakness. She embarked on the journey but slumped on arrival in Abuja. She slumped hours after being stabilised in an hospital, prompting her fiancé to call her family in Warri.

Peter took the late Enakeme back to her family members for attention. The late Enakeme’s close friend and room mate, Queen Longman, who had been trying to reach her on phone, learnt of her health crisis through her  elder sister. Queen, it was learnt, informed the school management, which sent a medical team to Bryant Hospital where she was on admission. She Enakeme died before the school team got to the hospital.

A source told CAMPUSLIFE that the family appreciated Peter’s effort and described him as a good man for bringing their daughter back home.

Queen could not be consoled when she learnt of her friend’s death. She fought back tears, recalling her last moments with the late Enakeme.

She said: “Enakeme never told me she was bidding final goodbye when she left for Abuja a few days ago. I became worried when I could not get her on phone and WhatsApp. I never thought something tragic would happen when I called Enakeme’s phone. It rang for days without response until her elder sister picked and told me she was unconscious at Bryant Hospital in Warri.

“When I got the news, I informed other roommates and the school. We all left to see her at the hospital, but we were told she died a few hours before we got there. This is my saddest moment, because Enakeme didn’t show any sign that she was leaving. I hope somebody can tell me this is not true.”

The atmosphere was gloomy on campus, last Monday. Final year students, clad in black attires, held a procession to mourn their  colleague, who they fondly called Keme.

Addressing them, the Vice Principal, Mrs Emily Ahragba, described Enakeme’s death as “a loss to PTI and Nigeria”, regretting that the deceased did not fulfil her purpose.

She said: “The news of Enakeme’s death came to us with sadness. We wish we got the information about her sickness earlier; we would have tried our best to save her life.”

Mrs Ahragba urged the final year students to take heart and prayed that the school would not record such incident again.

A hospital source told CAMPUSLIFE that the late student was brought penultimate Thursday by “a young man and a lady”, after which different tests were run on her.

“It is unfortunate that we lost her on Saturday to hyperglycemia that has eaten deep into her,” the source said, advising students to always go for regular checkup.

Enakeme’s colleagues described her as “nice, friendly, jovial and intelligent”.

Last Friday, her remains were interred at the family compound in Okpara Inland in Ethiope East Local Government Area.

At the funeral, a drama ensued when one of her classmates announced that she was not dead. The student, described as a born again, claimed that he could wake her up. He aimed to open the brown coffin bearing the late Enakeme’s remains but was prevented by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders.

As the student was being taken away, he was screaming: “I can wake up Keme; she’s not dead…don’t let us lose faith…”

President of Winners Campus Fellowship Daniel Unigwe, who conducted a short service at the funeral, advised students to give their lives to Christ, saying: “Tomorrow may be too late just the way death took away our dear Sister Keme unexpectedly”.

In his tribute, president of the PTI chapter of National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSTU) Israel Osiobe said: “Keme was full of life and energy the last time I saw her. She was looking radiant. Little did I know that it was my last encounter with her.”

One of the late Enakeme’s hostel mates, Joy Ehigiamusoe, a HND 1 Science Laboratory Technology student, said: “She was the most friendly and down-to-earth student I have ever met. She brought smiles to the faces of everyone she came across. The very last day I saw her, she was excited and full of life. I never knew she would never come back to cheer us up again in my room.”

The Ovie (King) of Urhobo Students Union (NUUS), Dominic Onovughe, recalled his last encounter with her. He said: “I saw Keme on June 13 and asked of the Urhobo souvenirs which I told her to share among members. I told her I would deliver the souvenirs at her hostel but I never knew we will not meet again. She was a fine NUUS member and she was loved by everybody. We will miss her.”

Before her death, the late Enakeme was the Oniemo (mother of all) of NUUS and Assistant Sisters’ Coordinator, Winners Campus Fellowship.

Kogi varsity students protest three months’ closure

The students of the Kogi State University, Anyigba yesterday brought commercial activities in the state Capital, Lokoja to a standstill as they embarked on a peaceful protest over the three month-old strike by lecturers of the school.

Members of the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had embarked on the strike over alleged unresolved salary issues with the state government.

The students in their numbers occupied the popular Ganaja Junction as early as 8.30am, paralysing business activities in parts of Lokoja.

They demanded for immediate resolution of the impasse between ASUU and the state government and ASUU, saying that their concern remains the immediate reopening of the university.

They lamented that they have over stayed at home, saying that those who are expected to graduate will miss the annual NYSC programmes.

In apparent dissatisfaction with the leadership of the student union body interventions, the students said they will not shift the ground, chanting anti-establishment songs, just as they demanded the immediate resolution of the logjam.

“We want immediate resolution to the lingering crisis. We have over stayed at home. When it started, we thought it would be addressed immediately. Now we have spent three months at home while all other institutions in neighbouring states are graduating”, they stated.

Efforts by the National President of the National Association of Nigeria Students whose name was not immediately made available to journalists was turned down by the students, as they alleged that the union leaders may been settled by the government.

Similarly the angry mobs also manhandled the President of SUG who was trying to address the crowd, stating that his in actions has caused the students “three months at home”.

Also, efforts by the State Commissioner of Police (CP) Yakubu Usman, the Director of State Security Service (SSS) and state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to pacify the students were rebuffed, as they insisted that they will only dialogue Governor Yahaya Bello.

However, they later soft peddered, as they listened to the SSS boss, but insisted that the university must be reopened before they will agree to go back to Anyingba.

Travelers passing through the state capital were worse off for it, as those caught up in the protest were stranded, as the angry students barricaded roads leading the Eastern part of the stat and the South East and South South parts of the country.

Efforts to speak with government officials at the scene proved abortive as they refused to talk, just as the students refused to dialogue with them.

It would recalled that the institution’s chapter of ASUU have been at loggerheads with the state government over unpaid salary and eventually embarked on the strike.

The state government said it has paid  four months salary arrears to the striking workers but ASUU insisted that the it offset all before it can return to work.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Mohammed Awwal at a press conference however appealed to the striking lecturers to return to the classrooms.

He appealed with them to return to the classrooms for the sake of the students.

“The ASUU strike affects not just the psyche of the students, but also causes further stress to the parents and ultimately tarnishes the reputation of our great state. ASUU is reminded that they were the first to be paid even when government could access only 40 percent of the bailout funds requested”, he stated.

Compensation row as students remember colleagues

Over one year after the death of eight students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, in a road  crash, a row has broken out over the collection of compensation on their behalf. The Students’ Union Government (SUG) was said to have collected the compensation from the firm which owns the truck that killed the eight on the Benin-Sagamu Expressway. FESTUS OGUN reports.

Did the Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State get compensation on behalf of their colleagues who died in an accident on the Benin-Shagamu Expressway, last year?

This is the puzzle students want unravelled amid claims that the union collected compensation from the company which owns the truck that crushed the victims..

The accident happened on June 26 last year. The students were travelling back home after their examination when the truck with number-plate BDG 779 XXE, skidded off its lane and crushed the bus in which the victims were travelling.

The victims were: Eunice Odubanjo Oluwadamilola, 200-Level Political Science, Mariam Ogunnoiki, 100-Level History, Elizabeth Aribiola, 100-Level Biochemistry, Suliat Adams, 100-Level Accounting, Latifat Pampam,  100-Level Chemical Science, Christianah Asade,  200-Level Law, and Olatunji Dairo, graduating Physics student. Four other bodies could not be identified.

Ibukun Akinbo, a 300-Level Chemical Science student, was the lone survivor. She was rushed to Babcock University Teaching Hospital in Ilishan Remo. CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the survivor has since been flown out of the country.

The compensation controversy was ignited last week during a remembrance service for the victims. The atmosphere on the campus was sobre, with students suspending all social activities and putting on black to remember the victims.

Many used the victims’ pictures as display picture on social media. The ongoing SUG electioneering was suspended on the day as a mark of respect for the deceased. The school was calm .

The Director of Media and Publicity of the union, Damilola Adelesi, described the deceased as “fallen heroes”, saying their death was a “huge loss” to the institution.

President of Department of Chemical Science, Temitope Alofe, confirmed Ibukun is not in the country.

As the sobre mood pervaded the campus, rumour milled round that the former union leaders led by Adenola Adegbesan got and misappropriated compensation allegedly paid by the company (name withheld) that owns the killer truck.

Dismissing the allegation in a telephone interview with CAMPUSLIFE, Adegbesan said no compensation was paid by the company. His words: “There is no iota of truth in the allegation that we collected compensation on behalf of the victims. The then students’ leaders, Director of Students Affairs (DSA) and some delegates selected by the school management met with the victims’ families and it was unanimously agreed that no compensation would be collected from the company. As such, no compensation was collected by anybody.”

Twelve months after the incident, there has not been conclusive report on the cause of the accident, which claims the students’ lives. This development did not go down well with the victim’s colleagues, who urged the police, government and the school management to investigate the matter and met out commensurate punishment to anyone found guilty.

This, they said, would show that their colleagues did not die in vain

China opens research centre at UNIZIK

Chinese Language Council International (HANBAN) and Xiamen University have donated Chinese Cultural Research Centre to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State.

The centre was opened last week by the Cultural Attache of the Chinese Embassy in Abuja, Mr. Xiang Dong.

Dong hailed UNIZIK management for keeping faith with the agreement, saying the centre would strengthen the Nigeria-China relationship. He said the Confucius Institute established at the university after signing the MoU has improved understanding of Chinese language among young people.

Disclosing that China’s investment in Nigeria would continue to grow, Dong said all the area of bilateral relation with Nigeria would be fulfilled, saying the centre would facilitate development in the country.

The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Joseph Ahaneku, said the MoU was signed to promote research on China and scholarly exchanges between Nigeria and China. This, he said, includes teaching of Chinese language and culture in the university and conducting Chinese Language Proficiency Tests.

The VC stressed that implementation of the MoU had been smooth, noting that Chinese language and culture were being taught at diploma and degree levels.

Ahaneku said many students of the school are presently studying different disciplines in various Chinese universities through scholarships by Chinese government. He added that there had been staff exchange between the university and Xiamen University.

According to Ahaneku, arrangements are in top gear to deploy staff to teach Igbo language and culture in Xiamen University to reciprocate the gesture. He said UNIZIK was honoured to be first school to host Chinese Cultural Research Centre in Nigeria.

He promised that the university would develop the centre to a good standard, urging the Chinese government to see the centre as an avenue of strengthening its relationship with Nigeria by employing its graduates in its companies.

The Director of the Centre, Prof Caroline Umeobi, assured the Chinese government that the personnel working in the institute would live up to expectation.

Highpoints was the presentation of the key to the centre to the representative of Chinese government. A tree was jointly planted by Prof Ahaneku and Dong, which signified the strengthening of the relationship between China and Nigeria.

Muslim students seek support for project

The Lagos State Area Unit of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has appealed to corporate organisations to assist the government in raising and equipping the youths with necessary skills in oder for the country to attain steady development.

The MSSN Amir (leader), Saheed Ashafa, made the appeal when he led members of the society in a visit to BUA International Limited in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Saheed said private firm needed to assist government in empowering the youths. One of the ways to do this, he said, is to support the actualisation of the Human Capital Development Centre (HCDC) project of the Muslim students’ group.

The HCDC facility, which is located at Noforija in Epe, is used in training Muslim youths during school holidays.

Ashafa said: “We appeal to corporate organisations and individuals to support the sustenance of our HCDC project. We believe that when the project is sustained, it will help to build youths in key areas that will enhance national development.”

While presenting a short documentary of the HCDC project, chairman of the project committee, Kaamil Kalejaiye, said the project would help the youths to discharge good leadership role in the society.

He said: “The HCDC is being developed to provide multidisciplinary leadership training for the youths as a mark of continuous contribution to national and community development in areas of academic excellence, spiritualism, intellectualism and morality. The entire cost for the project is N1.2 billion.”

The centre, when completed, will enable the MSSN train more than 30,000 youths on various skills in a year, said Kaamil.

He added: “The facilities currently available on the site are inadequate to host both male and female programmes. We strongly desire to give a facelift to the existing facilitates to a degree that will support the hosting of the female programmes in the current year.”

Speaking on behalf of the BUA Group of companies, the company’s General Manager (Cement Expansion in Africa), Mr Suleiman Ali, praised MSSN for its youth development projects. He said the company would support the development of the youth and contribute its quota after discussing the proposal with the company’s management.

Ashafa presented the MSSN’s list of upcoming programmes to the company. They included Young Managers Quiz contest, Quran Memorization contest and youth camps, among others. He also presented the proposal for the support of HCDC project to Ali.

Other members of the MSSN delegation included Vice Amir, Ishaq AbdulAzeez,  Financial Secretary, AbdulKabir Kuye, Public Relations Officer, Idris Qasim, Administrative Secretary, Abduljelil Adeosun, former Editor, Saheed Adigun, and Shakrullah AbdulFatah, Head of Logistics and Transport.

Students display products at poly’s exhibition

The Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (MAPCED) has held its 3rd Entrepreneurship Development Exhibition tagged: MAPCED Open Market Day. The event, held at Matriculation Ground, started at noon last Wednesday.

Students besieged the venue to showcase their wares and products. Among the items exhibited included lapel pins, lanyards, shopping bags, electric sockets, air fresheners, liquid soaps, key holders, hair creams and petroleum jelly among others. All the products were manufactured by students.

The event was graced by MAPCED Director, Mr David Aninkan, who emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship and vocational training in technical education. He said the polytechnic had ensured students did not only acquire skills alone, but also ensured spirit of entrepreneurship was incorporated in students to enable them become job creators.

He said: “The problem of unemployment is taking its toll on our youths and graduates, who are seeking employments by the day. It is a known fact that through appropriate skills and sufficient entrepreneurial practice, this problem can be solved. There should be linkage between knowledge and development in our education. This is the best way the public and private sectors will be prospered.”

The Rector, Prof Oludele Itiola, hailed students for their entrepreneurial strides, urging them to develop good business spirit to be successful in the vocation they chose for themselves.

The rector added that the current trend of joblessness in the country should make the youths not to relent on academic certificates, but to acquire skills to create jobs.

Itiola said: “It is important that you don’t see this as something you have to do to pass your courses, but as an avenue to gather experiences that might be useful after graduation.”

At the end of the event, students engaged in trade by barter, exchanging their products for another. Participants at the programme were entertained by a live band as they buy and sell wares.

Oyo State Teachers Continue Strike Despite Government Orders

Striking public school teachers in Oyo State defied the State government's orders to resume work on Monday.

For the past month, teachers and students alike have been on strike in protest of the Oyo State government's plans to introduce a "public-private partnership" in its schools. The strike action was called by the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on June 6 following student protests against the privatization scheme.

Schools across the State were subsequently shut down due to the violent nature of some of the protests.

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi had on Saturday directed teachers to return to their posts on Monday. However, Oyo State NLC leader Waheed Olojede encouraged teachers to defy this order, saying that they should not resume work until the State gives in to the teachers' demands.

According to Punch Newspaper, some students reported to their classes in schools in Ibadan, the State capital, but there were no teachers present.

It was gathered that some parents are prohibiting their children from returning to school until the dispute between teachers and the State government is resolved. Teachers and students were spotted in some schools in Odo-Ana, Apata, Owode, and Molete, but most left before 11:30 AM, according to one report.

In response to the strike, the Oyo State government has formed a fourteen-person committee consisting of seven representatives each from the government and the NLC towards reaching an agreement that would end the strike.

First set of student graduate at Kelani’s film school

It was an epoch-making event as the first set of students enrolled at Mainframe Film and Media Institute (MFMI), Abeokuta, Ogun State, graduated last Friday.

In a keynote address delivered by Femi Odugbemi, a filmmaker and CEO of DVWorx Studios & Zuri24 Media Lagos, at the event, he urged the graduates to apply passion to their works.

“Filmmaking is serious business,” said Odugbemi.

“It is a socially conscious re-interpretation of reality. It is birthed in a context, it is relatable to its environment, it bears the distinct sounds and sights of its origination.

Films are cultural artifacts which reflect the cultures, and, in turn, affect them. So your work as filmmakers must be culturally relevant or it loses its point.

“If you got nothing else from your time at this institute, I pray and hope this important point stays with you regardless of whether you choose to be a director, a cameraman or a scriptwriter going forward.

Odugbemi who is also the co-founder/director of I-Rep Documentary Forum Film Festival urged the students to embrace technology as they go about their various endeavours.

“Africa today is largely a consumer of technology and is yet to join the league of countries that are primary producers,” he said.

Suspect nabbed while robbing female students at gunpoint in NasarawaBy Danielle Ogbeche on

vigilante group in Nasarawa has apprehended a suspected robber identified as Paul John during an operation. John was nabbed on Monday in Lake Garden town in Keffi Local Government Area, LGA of the state while allegedly robbing female students who reside in the area. Paul was accompanied by one Gambo.

The duo reportedly held their victims to ransom at gunpoint but luck ran out on them after a neighbour heard the screams of the students and alerted the security operatives, who swooped in immediately.

Paul was apprehended while Gambo reportedly fled. The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in the state, ASP Ismaila Numan, who paraded the suspect before newsmen in the state on Tuesday, said he will be charged to court on completion of investigation.

The PPRO further noted that efforts
were on to apprehend the fleeing suspect and that John was helping the police with investigations.

In his confession, Paul reportedly said, “I graduated since 2012 and I haven’t been able to secure a job, so I took to crime to make a living.”

Nigerian universities fail to make list of world’s top 1,000

The Centre for World University Rankings, CWUR, has released its 2016 ranking of universities across the world, with no Nigerian varsity making the top 1000.

The ranking, released on Monday, placed Harvard University, United States, on top as the best higher institution in the world, followed by Stanford University, also in the U.S, while another school in the U.S, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is the third best in the world.

Two universities in the United Kingdom, University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, are ranked fourth and fifth respectively.

Five other American universities are also ranked within the top 10 – they are Columbia University, sixth position; University of California, Berkley, seventh; University of Chicago, eighth; Princeton University, ninth; and Yale University, 10th.

The U.S has 224 universities among the top 1,000, followed by China, with 90, just as Japan had 74, while the United Kingdom has 65. Others are: Germany, 56; France, 48; Italy, 48; Spain, 41; South Korea, 36; Canada, 32; Australia, 27.

In Africa, only universities in South Africa and Egypt made the list.

South Africa has five, while Egypt has four. For South Africa, the five universities and their rankings, according to the CWUR, are: University of Witwatersrand, 176th; University of Cape Town, 265th; Stellenbosch University, 329th; University of KwaZulu-Natal, 468th; and the University of Pretoria, 697th.

The four from Egypt are Cairo University, 771st; Ain Shams University, 960th; Mansoura University, 985th; and Alexandria University, 995th.

Ekiti crash: EKSU student’s leg amputated

Kamarudeen Ogundele, Ado Ekiti The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has declared a three-day state-wide prayer for the repose of the souls of the six students of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, who died on Monday night in an auto accident.

The accident occurred around 7.30 pm in front of the main gate of the institution when a Lexus car rammed into a commercial mini bus plying the institution.

The governor, who made the declaration during a sympathy visit to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, said that the prayer was also meant to prevent a recurrence of such terrible incidences.

Findings at the hospital by our correspondent on Tuesday revealed that the right leg of one of the two survivors had been amputated. A hospital source said, “The accident badly affected his right leg and he lost so much blood. His leg was amputated to save his life.”

The Ekiti State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Maiwada Ismaila, confirmed that eight persons were involved in the accident, while five died on the spot.

“One later died in the hospital. But the two survivors are still in the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital receiving treatment,” he said.

It was further gathered that five male and one female students died in the accident.

Five of them were in the car while the bus driver had two persons with him including a female, who survived the accident.

Students beg Kogi university lecturers to call off 3-month strike

Students of Kogi State origin in tertiary institutions, have appealed to lecturers in Kogi State University, Ayangba, to call off their three months old strike.

The students, under the aegis of National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS), made the appeal on Tuesday in Lokoja during a press conference.

The President of NAKOSS, Mr Ahamadu Ibrahim, told newsmen that students and parents had been at the receiving end of the lecturers’ action, saying it was time they have a rethink.

“We are tired of staying at home.

“Since Governor Yahaya Bello had already met 80 per cent of their demands, the lecturers should call off the strike to pave a way for the remaining unresolved matters to be thrashed through round table discussion,’’ Ibrahim pleaded

He urged the lecturers to be mindful of the negative implications of the continued closure of the institution, saying that the future of the state and its citizens was at stake.

The NAKOSS President commended Gov. Bello’s administration for its efforts to take education out of the woods and pleaded with stakeholders in the sector to cooperate and support the government.

He chided the national secretariat of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for issuing ultimatum to Kogi government over the strike by the lecturers in KSU.

“Two wrongs will never make a right. NAKOSS dissociates itself from the position of NANS.

“We believe that Governor Yahaya Bello should rather be commended for his efforts at reaching out to the lecturers to prevail on them to suspend the strike,” Ibrahim said.

(NAN)

Father cuts off dead son head for money rituals

Armstrong Bakam

The Bauchi State Police Command says it has arrested a 25-year-old man, Maikudi Mohammed, for being in possession of the head of his child.

In a statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Police Command, Haruna Mohammed, said the suspect was arrested in Misau town in the Misau Local Government Area, following intelligence report that he was in possession of his son’s head.

The statement said the suspect wrapped the son’s head in a cloth.

It added that preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect and his accomplice, one Damina Mohammed, went to a cemetery in Galambi village and unearthed the corpse of the boy.

The police said the head was to be sold to a customer, who fled the community after the suspects were arrested.

The statement said, “On July 7, 2016, at about 3pm, following intelligence report, one Maikudi Mohammed, of Galambi village was arrested with a suspected human head wrapped inside a cloth by police detectives in Misau town.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect conspired with his accomplice, one Damina Mohammed, 26, of the same address, and went to a graveyard in Galambi village. He cut off the corpse’s head with the plan to sell it to their customer, who is now at large.

“The principal suspect confessed that the child was his son who died and was buried, but he later went back to the graveyard at night with his accomplice and exhumed it.”

The police said the case was still under investigation.

Eksu accident tragedy: family members shocked, speechless

Barely 24 hours after the auto accident which claimed the lives of five students of Ekiti State University (EKSU), relations and families of the victims are yet to come to terms with the tragedy.

Many of them who stormed Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) were too grief-stricken to talk to reporters.

They came to identify the bodies of their loved ones at the mortuary while the relations of injured came to be with them at bedside.

Some relations cried profusely on sighting the bodies of the victims they had come to identify.

The accident occurred at about 7.30 pm when the Lexus 320 car crashed into a bus belonging to a nursery and primary school.

The victims who were said to be “yahoo boys” were  said to be coming from a party to celebrate the acquisition of a brand new Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) by a member of the gang.

Governor Ayo Fayose declared a 3-day statewide prayers for the repose of the souls of the departed.

The governor explained while on a sympathy visit to EKSUTH that the prayers was also meant to forestall a recurrence of such terrible incidences.

Auchi Polytechnic Release Admission Form

Please All Applicants should be aware that Auchi Polytechnic is 'NOT' conducting any Postume Examination, their Admission process is by Screening Exercise.

AUCHI POLYTECHNIC 2016/2017 Admission Screening Exercise.

This is to inform all Candidates who Chose Auchi Polytechnic for the 2016/2017 Admissions, that the Admission Screening Exercise will be conducted On-line from Monday 11th-15th Friday 2016.

ELIGIBILITY:

Candidate who chose Auchi polytechnic as their choice of Institution and scored 180 and Above in the 2016 UTME are Eligible to participate in the Admission Screening Exercise.

PROCEDURES FOR ONLINE SCREENING APPLICATION-

The Procedure for the 2016/2017 Admission Screening Application is as follows;

(i) Visit Auchi Polytechnic School Portal at
www.auchipoly.edu.ng to initiate the Application Process.

(ii) At the right hand panel, click on "Apply for Online Screening"

(iii) Complete the Application request form that appears and Click on submit.

(iv) Click on Print Remiter invoice when prompted.

(v) Proceed to the designated bank to pay the Application fee of two thousand five hundred Naira(2500)

(vi) After payment return to the school portal at
www.auchipoly.edu.ng

(vii) Sign in as Applicant with with your JAMB Registration number as Username and Password.

(viii) Upload ur passport and Complete the Application as Required..

You will be prompted to Scan and
Upload ur WAEC/NECO/NABTEB Results, Birth Certificate/
Age declaration, Certificate of Local government of Origin.

(ix) Click submit when you are sure all information provided are correct.

(x) Print the Application form and Acknowledgement Slip for ur Reference.

The Authorised Bank for this Exercise are:

(1) United Bank for Africa UBA.
(2) Fidelity Bank PLC.

IMPORTANT NOTICE.

(1) candidates are advised to ensure that they personally and not by proxy fill in the correct information, the Polytechnic would not be liable for any enormous information contained in the Completed form.

(2) Each applicant is advised to provide correct and functional e-mal address and telephone number when completing the admission form.

(3) Any falso information you provide in the process of this online screening will invalidate your application.

(4) The passport photograph you upload will remain valid throughout your studies in Auchi Polytechnic if Admitted.

Signed: Dr. Mrs M.I Aashikpelokhai (REGISTRAR)

Form closes on Friday 16th July, 2016

Students of Federal School of Occupational Therapy Protest Over Student Death

Sodiq Oyeleke

Students of Federal School of Occupational Therapy, Oshodi, Lagos yesterday protested the death of their colleague, Dayo Adekeye.

According to our source, Adekeye died last Wednesday in Lagos after falling sick at Federal Psychiatric Hospital,  Abeokuta, where he was posted for training.

The training is part of requirement for his studies.

Dayo Adekeye died on Wednesday

It was learnt that plans to organise the protest started when the school management restricted students from holding a procession in honour of the deceased.

The students accused their school management of not being considerate by posting Adekeye to a distant location despite being a sickle cell patient.

They lamented that the school management also refused to postpone the examination that was supposed to hold yesterday.

According to one of the protester who identified himself as Ajaja said who said the school is expecting them to write exams of 16 different  courses within two weeks when they are not computers. Adding that they treat them as slaves and they are paying N100,000.

In a pamphlet distributed by the students during the protest yesterday, they demanded for adjustment in the school’s posting system.

The suggested that the school bus should be used to convey students to their various posting locations since the ones in Lagos have the same route.

For those going to Abeokuta,  they recommended that the bus should convey them down once with their luggage.

The pamphlet read in part, “We are agitating against the loads of stress that our clinical students face during posting; and which primarily is one of the causes of Dayo Adekeye’s death. May his soul rest in perfect peace; zero welfare, disregard and ill-treatment meted out to our clinical students at their different posting sites.”

They also demanded for the provision of internet facility which will promote learning, awareness and development of students; total reformation of our hostels to avoid further congestion as there will be more influx of students come subsequent years.

Among other demands of the protesting students were provision of standard health facility, functional website, and proper lighting system that would illuminate the school premises and make it secure for students to move within the school’s environs.

When contacted, the principal of the school, Mr. Akin Adeoso, said he could comment because he was driving.

However, a lecturer in the school, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said some of the agitation of the students have been granted.

Adding that the school management have postponed the examination already and gave them opportunity to mourn their colleague.

Ekiti university workers on strike over unpaid salaries

Academic and non-academic activities were paralyzed on Monday at the Ekiti State University, (EKSU) Ado-Ekiti, as the workers protested against non-payment of six-month subventions, salary arrears as well as cooperative deductions among others.

The angry staff prevented vehicular
and human movement in and out of the institution as they ensured that all gates to the campus were under lock and key.

Vehicles were parked outside as many of the staff and students roamed about in front of the school gate.

The unions who participated in the protest include the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) National Association of Area Technologists (NAT) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), among others.

According to them, contrary to the government’s view that the institution’s recent investment in some ventures to shore up its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), has made it capable of taking care of paying salary, emoluments, and remuneration, all is not well, as the management has only been able to pay a paltry 20% of the staff’s salary arrears since March this year.

They maintained that the management had failed to live up to its responsibilities due to the failure of the state government to pay subventions since January this year.

Governor Ayodele Fayose had during its convocation last month praised the management of the institution for raising the bar of its IGR to cater for its salaries and allowances, but the protesting workers said the governor might have been misinformed by the school management as they have been receiving 20 percent of their net pay since January this year.

Speaking about the plight of the workers, SSANU chairman, Mr.
Kolapo Olatunde, said: “the last subvention the State Government released the to the university was in December, last year.

Don’t play with fire, admit students through JAMB not post-UTME – FG warns universities

The Federal Ministry of Education on Monday sent a strong-worded statement to Nigerian universities, warning them that only the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) can admit students.

The Director, Press and Public Relations, in the ministry, Mr. Ben Goong, stated that any institution that acted against the directive would have itself to blame.

He denied media reports that the earlier decision to cancel post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was upturned.

The ministry insisted that universities “had no business admitting candidates other than those sent to it by JAMB but could screen candidates to remove those with anti-social traits and suspicious credentials”.

The federal government said while the ban on post-UTME stayed, screening was only for those admitted by JAMB and limited to examination of credentials and physical examination of candidates to ensure that they are not of questionable characters.

“All these should be done upon resumption. No university is allowed to have anything to do with any applicant who is not its student. Screening and registration are only for those who have been admitted by JAMB,” the ministry stressed.

Final year UNILAG undergraduate dies in hostel

Samson Folarin

A 500-level undergraduate of the University of Lagos, Odusami Matthew, has died after slumping at the Biobaku Hostel.

It was learnt that Matthew, a student at the Estate Management Department, was playing football with some of his friends on Friday when he slumped.

He was reportedly rushed to the school’s medical centre where he was confirmed dead on arrival.

Our correspondent was told that the remains of the student had been deposited at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba.

 When our correspondent visited the hostel on Monday, one of the residents confirmed that the incident happened around 4pm.

He said, “He stayed in this hostel. Around 4pm, he decided to play football with some of his friends. He was not tackled neither was he with the ball when he collapsed.

“Nobody understood what went wrong with him. He was rushed to the medical centre, but he died on the way. It’s really a shock to us.”

A colleague of the victim, who spoke to our correspondent at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, said Matthew cried that his head was stiff before he died.

“Actually, he had stopped playing. He took time off to rest and sat on the sideline. Suddenly, he started crying that his head was stiff and he could not feel anything again. He slumped shortly after and died,” the colleague, who did not want to be named, said.

A man, who claimed to be Matthew’s close friend, said he spoke with him on Friday, adding that he never had any premonition that he would die suddenly.

 Speaking on condition of anonymity, the friend said, “He was a nice guy. He was also hard working. He had a strong second class upper grade. I still cannot believe he’s gone. I am grieving and don’t want to say more than that.”

 However, the Deputy Registrar and Head of Information Unit, University of Lagos, Mr. Toyin Adebule, said Matthew was playing football at the university’s sports centre, where he slumped and was rushed to the medical centre.

 He said, “A student was brought from the sports centre to the medical centre. When he got there, he did not have any sign of life. The director of health centre and other workers there tried to resuscitate him to no avail. He was dead.

 “The dean of students’ affairs and other representatives of the school were there. We have reached the family and broken the news to them. Our prayers are with them that God will give them the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Six Ekiti State university students die in car accident

Six students of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, have  died in an auto crash involving a car and a commercial bus on Monday.

The accident happened at about 7.30pm in front of the institution’s main gate.

According to an eyewitness, the six persons died from impact of an head-on collision of the two vehicles.

Another eyewitness told said that the students were in a Lexus saloon car and were coming from Ado Ekiti town to the university when the accident occurred.

The identities of the students could not be confirmed as at press time .

But the Ekiti Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alberto Adeyemi, who confirmed the development, said his men had recorded five deaths.

An eyewitness said the driver of the car, suspected to be under the influence of alcohol with his friends, rammed into the mini bus conveying the students from the campus.

He added that they must have been heavily drunk and drove carelessly and collided with the commercial bus. Six people died on the spot while one of them is on danger list.

As at the time of this report, the Federal Road Safety Corps have taken the corpses to the morgue.

Final year student of Auchi Polytechnic drown to death

Death they say have no pitty, respect and fear no one as it once again showed its ugly face on 7th of July 2016 to take a away a final year student of Auchi Polytechnic.

The victim Okunlola Halimat Yetude, was said to be on her way to a  wedding  through a  river in Ivhianake-Ekperi Village,  Etsako Central, Edo state when the canoe capsized and she was believed to have drown.

However, other four occupants of the boat survived the accident, as the actual cause of the accident could not be confirmed at the time of this report.

Until her death, she was the Class representative of the department of Business Administration ND Final, A one one time member of Auchi Polytes Crib and a Member Rotary Club Of Nigeria, Auchi Polytechnic.

She has been buried according to Islamic rites.

Euro 2016: France to play Portugal in final

France have qualified for the final of the European Championship, after a 2-0 win over world champions, Germany.

The hosts put up great resistance against waves of German attacks, to edge the semi-final clash played at the Stade Velodrome.

Referee Nicola Rizzoli punished Bastian Schweinsteiger for handball as the first half came to a close and Antoine Griezmann blasted his country into the lead.

Didier Deschamps men withstood more pressure in the second half, before Griezmann capitalized on a defensive mix-up to poke in the second.

France will now play Portugal for the trophy on Sunday evening.