Varsity expels 23 students The authorities of UNIPORT have announced the expulsion of 23 students for various misconducts.

She noted that the affected students were found to have been engaged in various misconducts including cultism, assault on lecturers and open threat to law and order in the university.

A part of the statement read:

“Eight of the expelled students were discovered to be members of cult groups; two assaulted a female lecturer and disrupted a congress meeting; while twelve others were former presidents of faculty associations.”

In the same vein, the varsity's Senate also fingered a body known as Faculty Presidents Forum for allegedly hijacking the functions of the elected Students’ Union Executive as well as threatening the peace on campus.

The closure of the University of Port Harcourt for the Christmas and New Year holidays with effect from Thursday, December 22, was also announced in the statement
D-Otto also said that the decisions were agreed upon at the 426th Senate meeting of the university, which took place on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 and was chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ndowa Lalle.

Read More

A silent danger is in the Niger Delta, and this woman wants to end it

The oil is not only killing the land, it is killing the body.
 

Ogochukwu Okoye, a physician and lecturer at Delta State University Teaching Hospital, is working hard to save the Niger Delta people from devastating effects of oil pollution.

The Niger Delta region has had it's environment devastated by the effects of oil pollution. This leads to chronic diseases that affect various parts of the body, most especially the kidney.

Ogochukwu Okoye saw a need, and so she took an online Masters in Public Health from the University of Manchester. Her dissertation was as you'd expect;  It is about the risk of chronic kidney disease in young Nigerians exposed to crude oil.

Speaking about it, she said:

"I registered for this course to improve myself in areas of medicine that are key for a wholesome practice. The team at Manchester exposed me to a highly effective manner of teaching, thus made learning worthwhile."

"The skills and knowledge that I have acquired are already impacting on my professional and personal development. I am definitely a better teacher, doctor and researcher as a result!"

As regards the future, she now plans to apply for a grant to enable her to carry out more research on the issue with the long term goal of influencing government policy and eventually creating a better life for the young people of the region.

We're optimistic about her dreams because for starters, at least 25 Nobel laureates have at some point studied or researched at the University of Manchester.

We hope that the academic staff that churned out that much quality can convert to good in the long run.

Read More

Mixed reactions trail 2016 November/December result

Some respondents commended the improved performance of the students in the result released by the WAEC.

Stakeholders in the education sector received the news of the release of the 2016 November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with mixed reactions.

Some respondents commended the improved performance of the students in the result released by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Lagos on Friday compared to the 2014 and 2015 editions.

Other stakeholders, however, harp on the need for a significant improvement that would impact on the quality of education generally in the country.

ADVERTISING

inRead invented by Teads

Mr Olu Adenipekun, Head of the National Office of WAEC, who announced the release of the release of the results, said that there was an improvement compared to candidates’ performance in the same examination in the 2014 and 2015 diets.

Similarly, Mrs Elizabeth Obande, a secondary school teacher, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, praised the performance of the students.

Obande stated that the performance showed an improvement and congratulated students who passed with credits in five subjects including English and Mathematics.

According to her, the seven per cent that engaged in malpractice is insignificant compared to the positive result recorded.

“The percentage of students whose results were seized due to examination malpractice is insignificant compared to those who passed.

“Comparing this year’s result to that of 2014 and 2015 as announced by WAEC, 2016 result was better and that indicates that there is progress in the education sector.

“I want to encourage teachers not to relent in their efforts because the result shows the knowledge they have imparted in the students.

“The students also should ensure they work hard by reading, their books and avoid being distracted by the social media; with this the country can record better results in the future.’’

She said that the recent quality assurance training carried out in schools emphasised on the importance of quality students and not just teachers.

She noted that the performance was evidence of such training.

Meanwhile, Mr Samuel Ogbe, a parent, noted that though the performance was better than the two previous years, there was the need for improvement.

He said that the government should invest more in the education sector to enable the country to attain up to 80 per cent excellent results in external examinations.

Ogbe suggested that students’ workload should be reduced and that obtaining credit in Mathematics and English should not be compulsory criteria for admission into university.

According to him, students should focus on their area of specialisation instead of writing subjects not relevant to their courses.

He cited the example of art students writing Mathematics and Science students writing English in external examinations.

For Mr James Ogwu, a post-graduate student, the result was not encouraging.

He said that only 39 per cent passing with credit in Mathematics and English was not good for a country like Nigeria.

He, however, noted that the performance was not unexpected since most people who wrote the examination had been out of school for a while.

According to him, being out of school can affect their performance as the Internet and social media have made students deviate from the tradition of reading their books.

“Most of them can spend hours on the phone browsing Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and even playing games on the Net and spend little hours on their books even when they have exams ahead of them.

“The drive for technology has overtaken the need to read by students and it is not healthy for the education system.

“Government and stakeholders in the sector should find a way to marry technology and education for a better Nigeria,” Ogbe said.

Read More

Agony of LAUTECH students

The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has been shut for  months, leaving the students stranded. Many of them are complaining about the rent they paid before the school was shut. They wonder whether their landlords will ask for another rent when the school reopens. DANIEL OLADELE reports.
When two elephants fight, they say, the grass suffers. This aptly describes the fate of students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, who have been idling away at home.
The institution, jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states, has been shut for the past six months over the owners’ inability to fund the school. Since the school cannot get regular subvention, it was run with Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR), which was not enough to meet its needs.
Workers are being owed months of salaries and arrears. This led to a disagreement between management and the workers’ unions, which have held series of protests over non-payment of salaries. Last June, the workers’ unions, comprising the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) declared indefinite action and demanded the remittance of the 23-month subvention owed the institution by the owners and the payment of their salaries.
According to the unions, Oyo State owes eight months subventions; Osun, 15 months. The non-residential institution is now a ghost town, with some of its notable structures overgrown by weeds.
The situation has got students worried. They said their future is at stake. They have reached out to the Ooni of Ife, the Olubadan of Ibadan, the Alaafin of Oyo and other traditional rulers for help.
Few weeks ago, the students took to the streets to protest the continued closure of the school and the rumour of fee increment. It was alleged that Oyo State Governor Isiaka Ajimobi suggested fee increment at a town-hall meeting held last month in Ibadan, the capital.
It was said that the owners proposed 65 per cent increment for indigenes of Osun and Oyo, and 75 per cent for non-indigenes. This, they said, would raise the fee to about N350,000.
Ajimobi was quoted to have said: “LAUTECH will continue to maintain joint ownership with Osun State in accordance with the Supreme Court judgement. We have sent people to look critically into the situation of the school. We await their response. We also want the school management to look inwards how to generate income to cater for the overheads.
“They should take a cue from schools, such as Babcock University, which is not being funded by the government and yet, runs smoothly. The government can now look into supporting the school in some little ways. The management, lecturers and students should agree on a way forward to solve the problem.”
Since LAUTECH is not a residential school, the students live off-campus. The rent many of them paid at the beginning of the last session has lapsed, even though they spent only a few months in school. The final year students have vowed they would not pay another rent, because they only have weeks left before their final examination. This may lead to confrontation between them and their landlords when the school resumes.
Olanrewaju Ajayi, a final year Urban and Regional Planning student, wondered why he should pay another rent when he only has two weeks left. He said his rent was due in August when the school was expected to end the session.

He said: “The strike is causing a lot of issues for students, especially the graduating classes. Apart from making us feel uncertain about other programmes we have after graduation, the rents paid in our off-campus hostels have been wasted. Does anyone expect students who have not been in school in the past six months to pay for the period they were not around?”
Another final year student, Titus Oluwatomi, said the best way to resolve the issue is for the landlords to declare the period rent-free. “After my final exam, the next thing that preoccupied my mind was the National Youth Service. I never expected I would still be in school by now. Paying another rent was not in my plan before the school went on strike in June. Since we did not use what we paid for, let the landlords overlook the rent. I can’t pay a dime.”
A 300-Level student, who simply gave her name as Adeife, lamented the strike, saying: “This strike has not helped anyone. I only wake up and do nothing all day in  the last six months. There is nowhere to engage in temporary work, because of the economic situation in the country. One is in fact not productive. I can’t even remember anything I was taught. I see my mates in other schools moving to the next level and I am stuck at a level for more than a year.”
Sholagbade Adeyemo, a 200-Level student, said it would be bad if the landlords did not show concern on the effect of the strike on students. He said: “It would not be good if landlords say it is not their business if the school is on strike or not. They should know that the occupancy of their houses is dependent on whether the school is in session or not. I don’t expect any landlord to threaten students with ejection if they didn’t pay for the period they were not in school. Students also need to reach out to the landlords and discuss this issue.”
Tomilola Oladele, an Applied Mathematics student, said she paid her rent the week the school was shut by the workers. She said: “I have lost six-month rent because of this strike. If I had known, I would have delayed the payment and used the money for another thing.
“Believe it, my landlord would be happy now. Some others are yet to get their rent. Many of them would not overlook it because of the current situation in the country. So, when students resume, many landlords would smile to the bank knowing that they have rents to collect.”
Since there is no hope in sight on when the school will resume, the students fear that many of them may not be able to pay for the period they were away. But, a caretaker of a female hostel, who simply gave his name as Mr. Martins, said rent is like electricity bill, which a customer must pay whether or not there is light. “I can only speak for the hostel I manage. The rent will not be overlooked,” he said.
Meanwhile, aggrieved students last Wednesday distrupted a congress held by ASUU members.

Read More

WAEC To Conduct GCE Twice A Year With Effect From 2017

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has disclosed that the conduct of its examination for private candidates would be twice in a year with effect from 2017.

This was made known by the council Registrar, Dr Iyi Uwadiae, who interacted with newsmen at the Registrar’s Staff Appraisal Committee meeting held on Wednesday in Accra, Ghana.

He added that the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates known as the November/December diet for private candidates will now be conducted in January/February and August/September.

He said the measure is to ensure that many private candidates, who desire the certificate for various purposes, will have the opportunity of writing the examination and acquire the certificate.

He also added that they have concluded arrangements to commence next year. He noted that this development will not affect that of May/June, that remains once a year for all schools candidates.

He concluded by saying this is part of its mandate to render qualitative service to all member nations, the council is looking forward to a more rewarding 2017.

Read More

SO SAD!!! How This Pretty AAU Graduate Was Murdered By Her BF In Lagos Hotel

What truly transpired between a 27-year-old Computer Science graduate of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Okonikhere Joy, and her boyfriend on the night of Sunday, December 4, 2016 causing the former’s death may never be known.

But this much is clear: That night, there was a scuffle between them at aHOTEL IN Orile area of Lagos. By morning, Joy’s corpse was discovered by workers at the hotel, prompting them to alert the police. But the unidentified boyfriend was in the wind.

Saturday Punch learnt that when the workers at the hotel made the discovery, they recalled noticing that there was a scuffle inside theHOTEL ROOM where Joy and her boyfriend lodged the night before. When the case was reported to the police, a manhunt was instantly launched for the suspect.

Two suspects have been arrested by the police. One of them is the purported boyfriend, who has not been identified by the police.

A police source told Punch that a CCTV showed the suspect leaving the hotel.

One of Joy’s friends, May Ebute, said, “I just spoke with her brother and he confirmed the news. The murderer is presently cooling off in a police cell. I wish l could find the words to express the anger l am feeling right now,” she said.

The suspect told the police that he indeed had a fight with the deceased, Saturday Punch learnt.

He explained during interrogation that he grabbed the neck of his girlfriend during the disagreement and that he did not mean to kill her.

“I just put my hands on her neck to scare her, but she stopped breathing,” he was quoted as saying.

Joy, an Edo State indigene, was said to have graduated in 2014 and came to Lagos to look for a job.

When Saturday Punch spoke with the father of the deceased on the phone , Mr. Friday Okonikhere, there was no doubt that he was still grief-stricken.

He said, “I have never heard of the boy before. I think they must have met in Lagos. The police said they had acquired a CCTV footage that showed the perpetrator of the crime. But they have not shown it to me.

“She told me she was working in Lagos. Joy came to Lagos in search of a job. Her mother died four years ago. My daughter’s life is like a total waste now. At the moment when her life would have started becoming a glory, she was wasted.

“I feel very bitter and angry. I am looking at myself as a failure right now because I don’t know what I could have done to prevent my first daughter from being killed in such a way. I have been told there is going to be an autopsy soon. Once the autopsy is done, hopefully they would release the body to us.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Dolapo Badmos, said investigation was still ongoing in the case but confirmed that two suspects are currently in police custody.

Punch

Read More

Two corpers decamped for having sex during lecture

Two corpers have been decamped from the Ogun State NYSC Orientation camp after they were caught having sex.

Skills Acquisition classes were happening on Wednesday the 7th of December at the Ogun State NYSC Orientation Camp.

Some corpers were being trained on how to enhance their writing and public speaking skills. Other were learning how to make beads. Others, make-up learning. There were the phone repairers, and a bunch of other skills acquisition classes.

At the back of the venue for these classes, away from the crowd, to people were displaying a very ancient, but timeless and unique skillset; they were having sex.

play

We imagine they probably decided to start their own skills acquisition class, considering many of those classes must have been very boring for them.

Unfortunately for them, the camp authorities didn't think it was a great idea.

When a soldier caught them, pants down, sharing and interchanging skills, he marched them straight to the commandant's office, and without even letting them speak, or explain themselves, they were decamped with immediate effect.

Decamping means that they have to re-apply for NYSC so they get to join the next batch in 2017.

All other camp activities remained normal, like soldiers telling female corpers they can help them with good posting if they have sex with them.

The entire decamping process was done under the radar, with no statement from the camp authorities regarding the matter.

Read More

Protesting students dispersed with use of teargas

Students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology who took to the streets to protest the strike action by the staff of the institution have gotten more than they bargained for.

A video shared on social media shows the students being dispersed by the Nigerian police who were recorded shooting teargas into the midst of the students.

The protest was quickly quelled as the person recording the video lament over the fact that all the students get is violence when they make their demands known to the government.

This is hardly the first time the police has taken such approach with protesters all over the nation and it is quickly becoming the norm

Read More

Na wa oo. See Wetin Happen to Ghanian Fresh Graduate- After Four Years Of University Education, Modesta Amoah Dies Four Days To Her Graduation

After four years of her university education, Modesta Amoah, a service personnel and former student of University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has suddenly passed four days to her graduation, GhCampus can confirm.

Modesta Amoah successfully completed her undergraduate programme and was preparing to graduate with her colleagues on Friday, 25th November, 2016, passed Monday morning [21st November, 2016] after a short illness, according to one of her colleagues.

She was supposed to graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Geography from the faculty of Social Science at UEW.

We extend our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues. May her soul rest in perfect peace.

Read More

100% Shell University Undergraduate Scholarships For Nigerian Students

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited is offering scholarships to Second year Nigerian students in all Nigerian universities.

This scholarship program will be awarded to successful students for full duration of their courses.

The Scholarship is in two categories;

i) The National Merit Award (NM): Is open to all Nigerians.

ii) The Areas of Operation Merit Award (OM): Is for Nigerians who are indigenes of Shell operational areas in Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers


Eligibility

- Applicants must be Nigerian students.

- Applicants must be a second year student enrolled in an accredited course at a NUC approved Nigerian university.

- Applicants must have a minimum of seven O/Levels credits, including Mathematics and English.

- Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 at the time of application.

Application Process

- All applicants should have their personal valid email accounts (for consistent communication).

- Applicants who meet the above entry qualifications should apply online at www.shellnigeria.com and provide the required personal and educational details, and load scanned copies of the following:

i) A recent passport-sized photograph of the applicant (i.e. jpeg format, not more than 200 kilobytes).

ii) University or JAMB (UTME or D/E) Admission Letter;
Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) Scores.

iii) ‘O’ Level Result(s); and ‘A’ Level /OND /NCE Result(s) as applicable.

iv) Letter of Identification from State (showing Local Government) of Origin.

- Applicants for the Operational Area Awards must upload Scanned copies of letters of identification, (which must be duly stamped and signed) by:

i) The Paramount Ruler of the Community; and

ii) The Chairman of the Community Development or Executive Council (CDC or CEC). The letters should be addressed to The Manager, Social Investment, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Prodeco 5, Room 10, Shell Industrial Area, Rumubiakani, Port Harcourt.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for this scholarship program is on 2nd December 2016.

For more information visit the Official Website

Read More

Suspected kidnappers, stripped beaten in Calabar

Two men and a woman got a taste of jungle justice over kidnapping allegations.

Three persons have been given the jungle treatment over allegations of attempted kidnap.

According to an Instagram User, Ifere Paul, the suspected kidnappers allegedly came to Calabar from Delta state and Enugu states to abduct their unsuspecting victims.

The suspects, two men and a woman, were apprehended by an angry mob who descended on them and beat them to stupor, stripping them naked and leaving them bloodied.

The car being used by the suspects also felt the heat, as it was destroyed beyond recognition.

The suspects were subsequently handed over to the police.

Read More

Kenyan man who slept with another man's wife has manhood grow out of knee (Photo)

A Kenyan man has been crying and begging for mercy after an angry husband made his manhood grow out of his penis for committing adultery.

A Kenyan man who thought he could only get sexual pleasures from another man's wife got what he did not envisage when his manhood has refused to stop growing and has now dropped to his knee.

Tuko reports that the young man who has been having adulterous relationships with a married woman has been begging the husband for forgiveness as well as returning his penis to its normal position but the husband has been doing what is called 'askor' in these parts by refusing to give him a listening ear.

The angry husband is said to be from the Luo ethnic group in the South-Western Kenya, a group said to be very famous in the use of magical powers to fight their enemies, especially anyone who messes up with their wives.

Many believe that the Luo the man placed a curse on his wife after finding out she was cheating on him with other men and the unfortunate lover boy is now suffering as he could not keep away from another man's wife

Read More

Polytechnic suspends academic activities following fire outbreak

 The management of Yabatech has announced the suspension of academic activities after the fire outbreak.

Academic activities at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has been suspended until further notice by the institution's management following the fire incident at Bakassi Hotel.

The authorities have subsequently announced that all lectures and examination have been put on hold, Daily Post reports.

A statement by Dr Charles Oni, YABATECH spokesman, said, “By this notice, all examinations and lectures, especially scheduled for today (Wednesday) have been put on hold while the College attends to the exigency.
“The Management regrets the misguided and outright falsehood on the social media and calls to certain radio stations that there was no water on campus to quell the fire.
“The truth is that firemen needed an excavator to attend to the fire, which the College provided promptly.
“Meanwhile, the Rector, Dr Margaret Ladipo, has called on the College community to remain calm as the Management finds ways to soothe the pains inflicted by the accident.”
Earlier reports revealed that the fire broke out early on Wednesday, November 23.

Daily Post reports that the fire was eventually put out by men from the Fire Service.

Read More

Varsity tuition to be increased by 20%

A proposal for a 20% increase in student tuition has been passed for approval.

A proposed 20% increase in the tuition fees for students of the Nasarawa state University has been announced by the Vice-chancellor, Keffi, Prof. Mohammed Mainoma.

The VC made the disclosure on Wednesday, November 23, during a visit from members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nasarawa State Council, Punch reports.

Mainoma, however, stated that the proposal made by the management was still subject to approval by the varsity's governing council and the State Government.

According to Mainoma, the increment became necessary due to the shortcomings in the subventions from the state government and the ever dwindling sources of funding.

He explained that the monthly allocation from the state government stood at N129m, while the institution’s salary wage bill is N229m, which leaves the management the burden of raising N100m monthly from other sources to augment what is given.

Maitama says that upon the approval of the proposal, the tuition increment would only affect the new intakes for the 2016/2017 academic session.

Punch reports that the VC also announced the school resumption set for January 2, 2017, instead of the prior stated date of November 27.

He explained that the postponement of the resumption date was to allow the senate of the university to meet and approve the results from the last examination.

Mainoma went on to assure parents as well as students that the management was putting in its best efforts to provide hostel accommodation for students considering the exorbitant cost charged for rent by landlords off campus.

Read More

Ambode wants to train 1 million students in computer programming

The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode has launched the CodeLagos programme that will train 1 million programmers by 2019.

According to 2014 stats, there are 18.5 million programmers in the world. The Lagos State Governor wants to add another 1 million by 2019.

The CodeLagos Programme, according to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Obafela Bank-Olemoh has one mission:

“Our goal for ‘CodeLagos’ programme is to teach one million students in Lagos State the basic knowledge involved in computer coding system by 2019. This programme will be available to our students from primary to tertiary education level.”

How do they intend to pull this off?

Different programming languages will be incorporated into the programmes curriculum, with special classes for extra-talented students.

That's not the best part. The Lagos State Government is hiring Nigerian facilitators to get this job done. By January 2017, CodeLagos is going to create 1,200 jobs, including facilitators for the program. You can apply here (or share this with someone you think should apply)

Who is Lagos State Government working with on this?

The State Government is partnering with IT companies and important stakeholders like SystemSpecs, Google, SAP, and Praeklt.

When does this program kick off?

April 2017. Centres will be be kicked off in 500 schools, from primary to tertiary level, private and public.

Read More

LASU lecturers join warning strike

Lecturers of the Lagos State University (LASU) on Wednesday complied with the one-week nationwide warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Dr Isaac Oyewunmi‎, Chairman, ASUU, LASU Chapter, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that academic activities in the university had been paralysed.

Oyewunmi said that LASU lecturers’ compliance to the strike directive was total.

He said that the chapter held a congress on Tuesday to discuss the strike, and that a notice was sent to its members and the university management on the commencement of the strike.

“There is no report of any infraction within the chapter; all members have complied as directed by the national body,’’ the chairman said.

Miss Stella Nwachukwu, a student of the university’s Department of Microbiology, told NAN that the strike was unfortunate, saying that it would affect students.

Nwachukwu urged the Federal Government to meet with the ASUU leaders and honour the agreement it had with the union in 2009 to stop the strike.

NAN reports that ASUU had declared the warning strike ‎on Tuesday to press home its demand for implementation of an agreement it reached with the Federal Government in 2009

Read More

UI ASUU suspends ongoing examinations

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan chapter, says it will ensure total compliance with the directives by its national body to proceed on one- week warning strike.
The union announced this on Tuesday at a congress held at the Faculty of Arts, presided over by its chairman, Dr Deji Omole,
The union also resolved that the ongoing examinations at the Faculty of Education stand suspended till after the strike.
The congress was attended by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Idowu Olayinka and some Deans of Faculties.
Omole said that letters of the strike have been sent to the Vice-Chancellor, Deans, Head of Departments and Director of Institutes to stop all academic meetings, lectures, examinations and ‎all board meetings.
He said that it was in the spirit of accommodating Nigerians and letting them judge between the union and the government that the union decided to proceed on one-week warning strike‎.
In a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellor, ASUU UI stated that “We write to inform you that the strike will be total and comprehensive.
“No teaching, no examination and no attendance at statutory meetings of any kind.
“In line with the national directive of the union, our members will henceforth withdraw their services till the end of the warning strike,” the letter stated.

Read More

Jamb To Reduce 180 Cut-Off Mark, Introduce New Flexible One (See Details)

The 180 cut-off mark for admission to tertiary institutions may be reduced by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Speaking during the 2nd technical committee meeting for 2016 admissions to tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the registrar and chief executive of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said it became imperative to reduce the cut-off mark due to the inability of some of the institutions to implement the cut-off mark.
He said the decision of 180 as the 2016 national cut-off mark was reached in a meeting of the board of higher institutions and other stakeholders, The Nation reports.
Oloyede explained that many institutions which were part of the decision have expressed concern on their inability to effect the cut-off mark.
“A large number of institutions, particularly the budding ones, have applied for a waiver to enable them admit candidates who in some instances scored below 180 marks. For some, this may sound unreasonable with the largely false impression that a large percentage of those who score above 180 and are qualified for admission cannot find any placement in our institutions.
“I think this cry needs attention, otherwise, some of these institutions whether public or privately-owned may soon begin to wobble or even close shops. This will be counter-productive and even defeat the government olicy of expansion of access to higher education and manpower development,” he said.
The JAMB registrar said the board has collated the requests from the various Senates and Academic Boards and have directed the pleas to appropriate authorities.
He said: “Just this morning we received a green light on flexible cut-off mark only for institutions which have exhausted the list of candidates with 180 and above, subject of course to a minimum acceptable to JAMB and meeting of other pre-requisite.”
Oloyede noted that the board would not impose candidates on any institution and no applicant will be unjustifiably denied the opportunity of access to tertiary institutions.
Recall that three weeks ago, JAMB had said that it may cancel the use of general cut-off marks for candidates of the Universities Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The spokesperson of JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said there was an urgent need to reconsider the current cut-off point of 180 for admission in order to strengthen access to education, particularly for the less-privileged.

Read More

No Going Back On Our Strike- ASUU Says

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says there is no going back on its one-week warning strike scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, the union’s National President, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone on Tuesday in Lagos that the strike would be total.
The union leadership, after its emergency executive committee meeting, declared the warning strike at a news conference on Monday in Abuja.
Ogunyemi said chronic under-funding of the sector through low budgetary allocation, which went from 11 per cent in 2015 to eight per cent in 2016, did not go down well with the union.
He pointed out the failure of government to implement the 2009 agreement and the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as some of the reasons for embarking on the warning strike.
The president said that its members were tired of what they described as “government’s empty promises’’ in setting up its negotiation team for the review of agreement as consistently requested by ASUU since 2012.

“There shall be no teaching, no examination and no attendance of statutory meetings of any kind in any of our branches while the strike lasts.’’

According to him, the union will put machinery in place to ensure that there is total compliance during the strike.
He explained that the essence of the warning strike was to draw attention of concern stakeholders and the general public to the challenges that the unions, universities and other stakeholders in the sector were facing.

“Nobody will say before we exhaust the warning strike some issues cannot be addressed if government want to be sincere with our cause.
“We are doing this because we want Nigerians to come into the matter and ensure that these issues are given adequate attention they deserve.
“Our lecturers are given 40 per cent of their salaries, which is just not encouraging, as this will lead to poor commitment in carrying out their jobs.
“I am sure nobody will like a 40 per cent university education or 40 per cent teaching of various courses including research development and output.
“That is why we have to take the matter before the National Assembly, which we believe, will come into the matter just like the Nigerian parents.’’

Reacting to the impending strike, the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), said that ASUU was right and that it must be supported.
Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, the association’s 2nd Deputy National President, told NAN that it was time the government take the country’s education seriously, especially in the face of the technology age.

“ASUU has done well by giving warning, considering the patience its members have shown in these whole issues.
“At least it is good for them to feel the pulse of Nigerians and other key stakeholders on the matter.
“However, because Nigeria is struggling with recession presently, we, on behalf of Nigerian parents are begging them not to down tool totally.

Read More

Graduating student hacked to death at ABSU

A fresh graduate of the Abia State University (ABSU) in Uturu died during a clash with a security guard at an off-campus last Tuesday. The victim, Maxwell Okpubo, was said to be a dreaded cult member.
Trouble started at 6pm when the late Maxwell visited Pentagon Lodge located closed to the school to see his girlfriend, identified as Dammy. On getting to the hostel, Maxwell met a group of boys discussing in front of the hostel. He allegedly asked one of the boys to help him notify his girlfriend he was around. When the boy refused, Maxwell allegedly slapped him.
we gathered that the security guard, whose name was given as Philips, requested Maxwell to leave the compound. Infuriated by the guard’s statement, it was gathered that the late Maxwell pounced on the gatemen and a fight broke out.
An eyewitness, who declined to give his name, said Maxwell reached for a sharp iron rod and hit Philips, injuring him at the stomach. Philips, it was learnt, ran into his room to pick his dagger and stabbed Maxwell to death. Philips, who is to be receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital, claimed he killed Waxwell in self-defence. It was gathered that the late Maxwell celebrated his 25th birthday last October

Read More

UNILAG Notice To Returning Students On Hostel Allocation

The Student Affairs Division, University of Lagos will begin Balloting for accommodation for final year and returning students on Monday, November 21, 2016.

The balloting exercise will end on Friday, November 25, 2016.

ONLY Registered students are expected to take part

Read More

Babcock University Matriculation 2016/2017 Announced

The management of Bacock University has announced the date for the 2016/2017 matriculation ceremony for newly admitted students.

The schedule of the event is as follows;

Date: 24th November, 2016
Venue: Babcock University Stadium
Time: 10:00am

Read More