The quest of University of Lagos, Akoka to remain ahead of other universities nationwide has continued to yield positive result as the university added another feather to its cap.

Although, the university finished fourth in team event at the 7th National Mathematics Competition for University Students (NAMCUS), it emerged overall winner of the mathematics category.

The competition, which took place between April 19 and 25, 2015, at the National Mathematical Centre, Abuja saw a total of 100 students representing 25 universities with UNILAG winning one gold medal, one silver and two bronze medals.

The laurel-winning final-year students of mathematics were Kareem Kazeem, who emerged first in individual category; Kehinde Mosope, won silver while the duo of Oruje Yusuf and Seidu Abiola came home with bronze medals. They were tested in Algebra, Complex Analysis, Real Analysis, Functional Analysis and Differential Equations.

The Head of Mathematics Department of the university, Prof. Samuel Ajala alongside leaders of the delegation, Dr. Osilagun and Dr. Akinfenwa all congratulated the students on the feat and advised them not to rest on their oars but keep blazing the trail in their desires to put the university on the world map for laudable performances.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Rahamon Bello and his two deputies:Prof. Babajide Alo (Academic and Research) and Prof. Duro Oni(Management Services)and some other principal officers of the university witnessed the award ceremony.

The appointment of a new Vice- Chancellor for Kogi State University, Ayingba has thrown the university community into tension.

National Mirror gathered that the tenure of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hassan Isah who was reappointed for second term in 2011 would be expired this October and shopping for his successor had commenced with newspaper’s advertisement announcing the vacancy for the post.

The state-owned university which in the recent times faced crisis of unpaid allowances that led to its closure for almost three months due to workers’ strike may soon be in the news again as the succession process is said to be brewing another internal crisis if not immediately nib in the bud.

Sources told National Mirror that the issues of marginalisation, tribal sentiments and mistrust in the Kogi State politics are already playing decisive role in who becomes the next VC of the 15- year- old university.

It was gathered that several conditions had been put in place so as to weed out many candidates vying for the position to favour a particular ethnic section of the state. It was also gathered that another condition is the scheming out of candidates above 65 years old from the race despite the fact that 70 years is a retirement age for lecturers in professorial cadre in Nigerian universities.

Those who are not satisfied with the development argued that since the university belongs to all segments of the state it should be playing a unifying role by giving every interested candidate for the seat and other major offices equal opportunity in the selection process rather than reserving a particular position for the dominant ethnic group.

They therefore used this medium to call on the visitor to the university and governor of the state, Capt. Wada Idris (retd) to use his good offices in ensuring that due process is followed in the appointment of the next VC and other principal officers of the university

Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Prof. Rahamon Bello was last Thursday, conferred with award and certificate of credence as National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Outstanding Vice-Chancellor of the Year. The ceremony took place at the university.

Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. Tunde Babawale, during his opening remark congratulated NANS for the uncommon transformation witnessed on such a special day and for deeming it fit to honour the vice-chancellor by their own will which serves as a tonic and catalyst for him to keep on with the good work.

The Vice President of NANS, Tosin Ogunkuade, said the largest student movement in Africa that constitutes all universities, polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of technology in Nigeria thought it wise to reward the VC for his leadership acumen towards resuscitation of students’ union activities in the university.

It will be recalled that the institution’s Student Union proscribed in 2005 was resuscitated early this year.

While responding, Prof. Bello thanked NANS executives under the leadership of Mr. Tijani Usman, for bestowing such an adored honour on him but also stated that the bigger appreciation should go to immediate Past Dean, Student Affairs Division, Prof. Olukayode Amund, who initiated the process and his team as well as students who made the process worked out. Prof. Bello assured NANS that the management would always see to the welfare of students.

“Today, June 22 2015, the first semester examinations for year one students in my department came to a successful end, with all the anxieties and hypertensions accompanying it. It was the most difficult examination that I have ever conducted since assuming appointment as a lecturer in this university over thirty years ago”. These were the comments of a colleague during a discussion at the end of the first phase of the first semester examination which involved the year one students. Why so much upheaval about an examination which was supposed to be part of the routine job definition of the university teacher? But in all honesty, nothing is routine or normal in the Nigerian university system anymore!

In the face of dwindling fortunes of public universities in Nigeria, a damning report by the NEEDS assessment committee set up by the federal government to evaluate the state of the nation’s public universities, and a crippling strike by the academic staff union of Nigerian universities (ASUU), the government of the day had proceeded to increase the admission quota into universities against all expectations. This act which was believed to be politically motivated and unpopular with the university administrators and workers alike was enforced under the threat of sanctions-on-default by the then supervising minister of education barrister Nyesom Wike. The National Universities Commission just looked on!

That was about a year ago. Since then the conditions in the university system has worsened. Power supply seems to have vanished and water taps have run dry in the laboratories. The inventory of basic laboratory equipment and consumables has since dwindled to unimaginable levels. Lecture halls now overflow with students, and lecture hours have been extended, albeit unofficially to Saturdays in the absence of venues during the normal working days of the week. Many students do not come to classes because they cannot cope with the jostle for seats.

Laboratory classes have also suffered greatly under the highly elevated students’ population. Some foundation classes in biology, physics and chemistry have mushroomed from just about a thousand candidates to over three thousand, and servicing departments are groaning under the heavy responsibility placed on their shoulders. Multiple streams of laboratory class are run by often exhausted and disgruntled laboratory staff in a single day. Many practical classes do not hold because of inability to squeeze them into the available space and time. The emphasis shifts to attendance rather than learning.

Twenty to forty students are allocated to a single microscope in the biology classes. Only one student is allowed to view the object, that is, if power permits, while the others record what he claims to have seen. And then the student is not allowed to even adjust the microscope for fear he may “spoil” it! I have once witnessed a zoology practical class with the instructor dissecting some specimens with about 200 students standing nonchalantly by! But at the end of the day, the students answer “present”, submit wonderful reports and are awarded excellent grades; but they have learnt nothing, practically. This is an important consequence of the avoidable explosion in the population of students in Nigerian universities.

Then the examinations arrive! The examiners have to find space for over 250 regular year one students and often unknown number of repeaters popularly known as “carryovers”, up from less than 150 in the previous years. Meanwhile, the available spaces can only accommodate about 160 candidates, that is, if you can find seats! Two options are often available; source for additional venues and seats, or allow the students to seat shoulder to shoulder and accept the uncontrollable examination malpractice that would follow. Unfortunately, many examiners settle for the second option, and turn blind eyes to the high incidence of examination malpractice that follows.

The first option is often much more traumatic for students and examiners alike. In the scramble for additional examination venues, there are often clashes, between students, between examination officers, between personalities, principalities and powers from different departments and sometimes tempers rise to near boiling point. At the end of the day, a decent outcome may be achieved, though at great cost to both students and staff; exhausted and exasperated!

What happens when these students progress to higher levels, with smaller classrooms that can scarcely sit a hundred students even when packed like sardines? How are they expected to attend lectures and learn in the process? Four or five years on, they would be in the final year classes and be expected to carry out laboratory based research projects. With no knowledge gained from previous practical classes, no space, and no equipment or reagents in the laboratories, how will they perform this feat?

The political gimmicks cannot continue; the system is collapsing! Admission quota for the 2015/2015 session must be based strictly on the carrying capacity of the respective institutions, while we think of ways to clean the mess on ground. If as it were, the National Universities Commission has lost the will to function, then we must look beyond it!

The Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has promised to consolidate on the legacies of his predecessor, especially in the area of bringing education to the door steps of the people of the state.

The governor who stated this while playing host to a delegation from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in his office last week, said Enugu State would leverage on the uniqueness and mandate of the university for the benefit of the state.

He described education as one of the cardinal objectives of his administration and a key focus of his electioneering campaign, adding that the visit by NOUN delegation would provide the opportunity to fulfill one of his numerous electioneering promises.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe, who led the delegation, thanked the governor for believing in the mandate of the institution.

He said NOUN had come to make education easy for all through its easy access and simple learning techniques, adding that its flexibility and affordability made it the university of first choice for those hitherto denied admission into conventional universities.

Prof. Tenebe, in a press release by the university’s spokesman, Dr. Ronke Ogunmakin, said NOUN had strong clientele in the military, para military, the National Assembly as well as prisons where it has produced graduates.

He said the school had also produced graduates in other areas of human endeavour who can compete with their colleagues in other conventional universities. Prof. Tenebe however solicited the support of the state government in spreading the gospel of Open and Distance Learning offered by the university.

. Says FG approved decision

When the management of the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC),Yaba, Lagos, last week, ordered the final year boarding students, currently writing their NECO examinations to vacate their hostel and be coming from home to write their remaining papers, some parents condemned the decision, saying it was not only illtimed but also improper.

The school sent the students packing on Tuesday for allegedly refusing to comply with the rules and regulations of the college. But parents who opposed the decision argued that the management should have identified and punished only the erring students and not include the innocent ones.

They argued further that considering the Lagos chaotic and stressful traffic situation, the students’ performance in the exam may be affected, somehow, apart from additional expenses the development would equally cause them. But the school principal and director, Rev. Chris Ugorji while confirming the development, told National Mirror that the decision was taken in good faith and in the best interest of the students.

He explained that he had nothing to gain personally as a principal and as a father for taking the step if not for the fact that the students had suddenly become uncontrollable just because they have a few weeks more to leave the school. “They did whatever they like. One would be surprised seeing somebody who is writing terminal exams playing around.

They didn’t read anymore. And when we tried to caution them, they would tell us that they were no more our students but NECO candidates. Some even boasted that they were sure of passing their WAEC or NABTEB exams which they had written earlier and that NECO exam was not all that important to them again.

“They didn’t want to follow the rules and regulations anymore. They left their hostels at will. They went to dining hall at their own pace. And to make matters worse, they defecated indiscriminately in their hostels and damaged the ceiling and chairs and many other school property. They also discoloured the wall with substance suspected to be folshoes polish here and there.

“They were just behaving as if they had nothing again to do with the school. The males among them were even asking us to release their girls to them. All these are indications that they just wanted to go home and we could no longer tolerate such behaviour, more so, as it is beginning to have negative impact on the junior students. If something worse than these happen, the same parents who accused us now would be the first to blame us and that is the home truth.

So, we love them and care for them. It is just that they don’t want to be under the control of the authority again,” the principal further explained. He however noted that even at that, the situation did not just get to this intolerable level, as the school authority had held an emergency meeting with the parents of all the SS3 students 10 days earlier where they were fully briefed about their children’s strange behaviour. The meeting, according to the principal, also had the SS3 students, the HODs, subject and form teachers in attendance.

“And there was a resolution at the forum that every parent should talk to their children and encourage them to be of good conduct not only in school but outside the school as well. There was also a resolution to sanction any of them that erred.

But the situation only grew worse and became a norm among them,” he stressed. Interestingly, Ugorji, who is also a cleric, noted that all the major stakeholders of the school including the Federal Ministry of Education were carried along on the issue with the hope that the students would change. Attesting to the Principal’s claim are both the boarding house masters, Mr. Venture Ezeonye and Mrs. Augusta Eke for boys’ and girls’ hostel respectively.

They reaffirmed that the students had become lawless indeed. “Even when they were supposed to be sleeping, they would be playing games and making phone calls for several hours despite the fact that the use of personal phone is outlawed in the college,” Ezeonye added.

Another major stakeholder, the Chairman of Parent-Teacher Association of the college, Mrs. Oby Igwilo while confirming several appeal made to the students, expressed surprised that the situation turned worse. “I expected them to have changed for better at least for the sake of the emergency meeting we held together on 6th of June.

So, it is depressing that there was no improvement and they worsened the situation by destroying the school property. That attitude is totally unacceptable,” she stated. Igwilo, who disclosed that she was out of Lagos on that Tuesday said she received several phone calls from her colleagues complaining that the school had driven out their children without allowing them to write their exams.

“I quickly called those I could easily reach on phone to help me find out what was happening before I called the principal and later came around to see things by myself,” she explained.

Using this medium to caution parents to always clarify issues before jumping into conclusion, Igwilo also appealed to them not to leave the training of their children in the hands of their teachers and schools.

According to her, parents have their own roles to play in bringing up a child to excel in academic and in manners including attending PTA meetings and monitoring of their activities.

“But many parents leave all these responsibilities for the schools and teachers, which is not good enough if we truly love and care for these children,” she concluded.

Sharing the same view, the deputy director, Inspectorate division, Federal Ministry of Education, Lagos Office, Mrs. Rita Attah confirmed to National Mirror that the ministry was aware and in full support of the happenings in the college, including the withdrawal of the outgoing students from their hostels.

She said the students’ behaviours, from all indications, have shown that the management had no option than to ask them to vacate their hostels since they had chosen to live independent life.

“That they went to the extent of destroying government property made the matter worse. Unity colleges nationwide are set up with a mandate to produce well-rounded students. The students who will be very sound academically and in character. We set the pace for the states’-owned model schools to follow and we cannot allow any student to draw us backward. So, the management took a wise decision,” she said.

The National President of the alumni association of the 67-year-old college, Chief Adebayo Adeeko also shared this view, saying the high standard the college is known for over the years must not be depreciated.

He told National Mirror that he was not happy to hear that the outgoing students were behaving in such unruly manner just because they would soon finish their studies, noting that such attitude was totally strange during his days in the college. National Mirror’s investigations however confirmed the unruly behaviour of the SS3 students from some of the students themselves.

A male science student who did not want his name in print told National Mirror that their belief was that since they had almost completed their studies, there was no need to be subjected to a regimented lifestyle again.

“And those of us who destroyed chairs and chalk board as well as drawing some funny objects on the wall saw all those things as fun,” he noted. He however disclosed that he was not part of the ‘game’ as his parents, just like a few others, had withdrawn him from the hostel when the exam was approaching, to enable him concentrate fully on his studies.

“So, I have been going from home to write my exams whenever I have papers and that started from early April with WAEC exams and I like it that way,” he concluded.

Teachers in public secondary schools in Ogun State have been urged to sharpen their skills so as to sustain good academic record of students in the state.

The Commissioner 1 of the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Otunba Timothy Adebowale gave the charge while monitoring activities of teachers in some of the schools in the state, recently.

Discovering some teachers forming the habit of teaching without lesson notes, the commissioner explained that lesson notes not only served as guideline, it also a way of ensuring that teaching is based on syllabus.

The Press Officer of the commission, Mr. Tolulope Ogunjimi in a release, said Adebowale also encouraged the teachers to ensure they always sign their lesson notes from their principals or heads of department before going to classes.

According to him, the era of teaching without lesson notes is over and no teacher will be allowed again to teach without a well-prepared and dully signed lesson note.

”Preparing lesson notes will not only help the teachers equipping themselves well for class but will also help the students to assimilate and perform well in their studies and examinations,” he stressed.”So the era of indiscipline is no more in the state.”

For students, Ogunjimi urged them to make judicious use of the instructional materials distributed to them by the state government, saying that was the only way to justify the essence of the investment.

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Principal of Adenrele High School (Senior) Ifo, Mr. Ebenezer Ogundele assured that the teachers under his supervision would teach in accordance with guidelines and remain committed to achieving excellence at work.

The Whitesands School, Lekki, Lagos is strongly supporting its students who have flair for creative arts by showing them the right way to exhibit their talents to live their dreams in the profession.

With this development, the schools last Thursday launched its first ever publication put together by some of its students, in both the junior and senior arms who are between 12 and 16 years old.

Named “The Sail,” an 88-page anthology of creative work is a compilation of poetry, drama, prose fiction, essays, and visual arts.

The principal of the school, Dr. David Lorenzo, told journalists at the launch that the school found the various works by students both in content and form irresistible hence reason for putting them together as a book for now and future references.

He noted that the students were only asked to submit entries of their various creative works for rating by independent panel of judges, who included the winners of the 2012 and 2013 Nigerian Prize for Literature, Dr. Chika Unigwe and Mr. Tade Ipadeola, respectively. While the former judged the fiction prose category, the latter, who is also the book reviewer judged the poetry works.

“The top three entries considered to be outstanding by the judges in each category are what we put together to become ‘The Sail’ we are launching today,” the principal stressed. “This idea will create healthy rivalry among our students and boost their creative writing skills that they can grow with to earn reasonable income in future.”

A copy of the book however was given free to every student and teacher of the school as well as guest at the launch.

The principal added that the school had resolved to make the publication a yearly event but could not say for now if the school would be producing them in market quantity.

Some of the co-writers spoke to National Mirror shortly after the occasion, expressing their joy for being part of history. They said the efforts and the respective prizes won would spur them to take creative works more seriously.

They include Elton Odoemenam who won Prose Fiction prize with his short story titled: “Beserk”; Tamilore Ogunbanjo with his work titled: “The Mask” won Poetry prize while essay prize went to Chukwuka Omene for “Bullying and Its Many Dimensions.”

Other star prize winners are Chukwudubem Okoli for his painting “Independence,” which was also used as the cover of the book and his counterpart, Fikayomi Olagbemi from junior class for the same category.

In his remark, the editor of the book who is also the English Language teacher of the school, Mr. Kola Olatubosun said keeping the work in a book form is a way of keeping it in public record.

The National Association of Akure Students (NASS) last Saturday presented an award of excellence to the Special Assistant to the State Governor on Appointments, Miss Taiwo Afilaka.

The award according to the student’s body is for her continuous support to the association.

The award was presented during a brief reception at the Governor’s Office in Akure.

Describing the honoree as ‘the mummy of the association,’ NASS President, Oluyi Akintade said the award was a ‘little way of showing recognition for her effort towards development and growth of youths.

Speaking at the event, NAOSS National Senate President, Israel Fagbemigun noted that the outstanding performance of the governor’s assistant in the area of youth development had won the heart of Ondo students, hence the award.

In her response, Afilaka thanked the students and advised them to embrace dialogue and consultation in driving home their demands.

“I have always known you to be responsible students, therefore you should at all times allow diplomacy rather than violence in telling the government what you want,” she counseled.

The maiden leadership summit of the Nigerian Medical Students Association (NiMSA) ended last Saturday at the Igbinedion University Okada, (IUO), Edo state with an advice for participants to be more political inclined and see beyond medicine.

The four-day event, tagged: “Leading for now and the future” was chaired by Rev. Olu Martins.

Dr. Philip Ugbodagha who spoke on “Medicine and Politics: Mentoring Medical Students for Leadership” stressed the need for the students to develop their leadership skills while in school in order to function effectively when they graduate.

The lecturer, while observing that medical students should henceforth begin to add politics with their studies said the few medical personnel in politics is grossly affecting the advancement of the profession.

He observed that the growing need for medical personnel was one reason medical students must take up leadership role with seriousness.

Observing that most professions have members in the political corridors and pursuing their collective course, Ugbodaga said sadly, many medical students are too conscious of the workload they have to cover that they fail to develop their political and leadership skills while in school.

“If we have enough doctors in the National Assembly perhaps they may have push for laws that will better the health of Nigerians. Most of the pending health-related bills might have also been passed into law and medical students will even benefit especially in the area of their exchange programmes,” he said.

President, Medical Women Association of Nigeria(MWAN), Edo State chapter, Dr. Amina Okhakhu, while speaking on “Medical career and life outside medicine: Finding a balance” told the students to always strike a balance with whatever activities they have embarked on alongside their studies.

Earlier, National Vice-President, Internal Affairs, NiMSA Stephanie Oni- Ogunbor, in her opening speech, said the aim of the workshop was to teach medical students effective and practical leadership skills.

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, has called for attitudinal change among student leaders in the nation’s ivory towers if they are to impact their generation positively.

Professor Oyewole made the call while declaring open a 2-day seminar for FUNAAB student leaders with the theme, “Attitude for Development Leadership.”

The vice-chancellor charged the students to always be peaceful and show maturity in the course of any demand from the authorities.

While challenging Nigerian students to emulate their counterparts in Europe, Prof. Oyewole charged participants at the seminar to lead by example while strengthening and promoting development and collaboration with the management in making the university a world-class institution. He however pledged management support towards the building of the proposed FUNAAB Students’ Union Centre.

Dean, Student Affairs, Prof. Yemi Akegbejo- Samsons in his own contribution, disclosed that the workshop was organised to enlarge and expand the knowledge horizon of the student leaders for the task ahead of them.

The President of the Students’ Union, Peter Olajumoke, thanked the vice-chancellor for his magnanimity and kindness for relating with them freely like his own biological children in terms of welfare.

He also appreciated the efforts of the Dean of Student Affairs in ensuring that the training programme eventually took place.

The emergence of the educational trust fund (ETF) which later metamorphosed into the tertiary education trust fund (TETFund) was a child of circumstance. Towards the late eighties, the imminent collapse of the educational system appeared inevitable; the educational infrastructure was crumbling and dilapidated pieces of equipment littered the higher institutions. The President Ibrahim Babangida administration was jolted into action to constitute the Grey Longe Commission to review the status of higher education in Nigeria in December 1990. Among others, the Longe’s Commission recommended the funding of higher education through a special tax on all companies operating within the territory of Nigeria. This is the genesis of the Educational Trust Fund which later metamorphosed into the Tertiary Education Trust Fund. The Educational Tax Act which was promulgated in 1993 imposed a 2% tax on profits accruing to all companies in Nigeria.

The resultant accumulated funds which later came to be known as the Educational Trust Fund was meant to restore the lost glory of the Nigerian education system.

The ETF was however overburdened by an over-bloated mandate which among others include the disbursement of the funds to Federal, State and Local Government educational institutions including primary, secondary and tertiary institutions for the provision of infrastructure, research equipment, staff development, library development, conference attendance and execution of the 9-year compulsory basic education programme among others. As a result it made no significant impact on the decaying educational system. An important manifestation of the deterioration was the increase in the twin vices of examination malpractice and cultism, further blighting the already tarnished Nigerian educational system. The realization of the problems of the ETF mandate resulted in the streamlining of its coverage and the transmutation into the tertiary education trust fund in 2011.

Thus the mandate of TETFund was restricted to the tertiary institutions only, with areas of intervention limited to the provision of essential teaching and learning infrastructure, provision of instructional material and equipment, assisting research and publication and academic training and development. The intervention has however not been able to restore the public university system to its previous glory.

The problems are many. The law establishing TETFund requires that the board of trustees disburse the funds to all public tertiary institutions on the basis of equality of states.

Furthermore, the government was not able to prioritize the intervention process and hence unable to maximise outcome. Available funds are often diverted or lost to corrupt practices. The disbursement of funds to all institutions failed to address the decay in the educational system in a holistic manner. In the first instance, the available funds were spread so thin that it did not achieve any meaningful change in the status of the recipient institutions. We believe that improving infrastructure and research equipment status in an institution that has a fair complement of academic staff would permit rapid training of competent academic staff for less endowed institutions.

The NEEDS assessment report revealed yawning gaps in the academic staff situation of Nigerian universities with the greatest shortfalls recorded in the sciences.

Of a total of 50,000 academic staff required as at the time of the report, only 28,000 were available, and less than 14,000 of these are actually qualified!

With the rapid increase in the university population the total academic staff need would be approaching 80,000 as at today! This situation is further aggravated by the illadvised increase in the admission quota in virtually all Nigerian universities in an environment of near static academic staff strength. The current achievements of the ETF/TETFunds in training only about 4000 in both local and foreign institutions as at 2011 cannot fill the yawning gap in the academic staff needs of the Nigerian university system. It will be more pragmatic to stabilize and consolidate the university system than attempt to increase the carrying capacity at the same time.

In order to ameliorate this situation, the NEEDS Assessment Report recommended the establishment of six National laboratories fully equipped with state-of-theart facilities for cutting-edge scientific research to facilitate the training of academic staff locally. We would recommend rather the establishment of not six but 12 model universities, that is, two in each geopolitical region which would facilitate rapid training of qualified academic staff locally. These model universities would be derived from the most suitable state or federal government institutions in each geopolitical region, through massive infrastructural development and supply of equipment for teaching and research. This we believe will provide a continuous stream of needed manpower to man the surrounding institutions at a much cheaper rate, and improve their academic staff situation in the shortest possible time.

In this interview with RICHARD NDOMA, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), University of Calabar and one time Commissioner for Education in Cross River State, Professor Zana Akpagu speaks about his ambition to become the next vice-chancellor of the university and other sundry issues. Excerpts:

Could you please tell us why you are vying for the position of the Vice-Chancellor of this university?

That is simple. I am propelled by the passion of being an alumnus of the university to run for the office. I had my first and second degrees here and I have also worked for many years in the institution. So, I know the university very well as a student and as a teaching staff.

I have good grasp of the problems of the institution having spent my lifetime teaching in the university. I am also propelled by the passion to move my Alma Mata to the next level.

I want to transform the University of Calabar to one of the best universities in the world and perhaps transform it to a worldclass ICT-based institution.

I think I have acquired enough work experience. In addition to that, I have a very wide political exposure having served as Commissioner for Education under Duke`s administration and as a Special Adviser on Special Duties under Imoke`s administration. It is these experiences that I want to bring to bear in the office. I was once a Dean of Students’ Affairs under Ivara Esu. I had also been a member of the governing council of this same university. I had been Dean of Faculty of Arts and now I am the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of administration.

We want to make the university one of the most sought after university in Nigeria. That is our aim and our mission. Right now, we are ranked 37th in the country and that is a very poor rating.

What we want to do is to make sure we increase the standard of our university by instilling academic excellence so that we can be ranked among the best in the country.

In the face of other strong contenders for the position, how do you see your chances?

First and foremost, I have an edge over all other contenders because none of them have been Deputy Vice-Chancellor. I have better knowledge and idea of how to run a university more so that I have been acting in the absence of my boss. So I have the best experience to run University of Calabar. I am the product of the school as well as a member of staff for many years. That is one of the edges I have over them. In any case, that is a scoring point for me. Some of the contenders have been out of the system for more than eight years. So you cannot claim to be knowledgeable about the needs and concerns of the system you are not part of.

They will need to be re-integrated into the system while I am in it already.

But there is a rumour that the position has been zoned to favour candidate from the Northern Senatorial District of the state where you are from, what exactly is the situation?

That is an unwritten zoning agreement. It is a moral issue and those who are canvassing for the position to be zoned to the north are saying that in the 40 years of establishment of this university, nobody from the north has ever occupied the post of the VC. The South has so far produced four vicechancellors, namely: Professors Charles Effiong, Solomon Unoh, Ivara Esu and Bassey Asuquo while the Central Senatorial district produced two- Professors Kevin Etta and the incumbent, Epoke. The North has produced none! We are just saying that for equity and fairness, the north should be given a sense of belonging now around. We are part of this state just like we asked in the political arena and the politicians understood and conceded to the north.

At least for the first time, let a governor of this state come from the north, and it came to pass. It is in the same vein that we are also pleading in the interest of equity and justice that the north be allowed to have a shot at that office for the first time.

… wants curriculum geared towards religious tolerance

Renowned educationist, Prof. Peter Okebukola, last week, took a critical look at the pervasive problem of insurgency in the African region, especially in the education sector where extremist individual and groups now seem to have a free reign of terror against the people, especially students, and warned that all Africa governments as well as proprietors of schools must act decisively and take security matters very seriously to reverse the ugly trend.

Delivering the 10th convocation lecture of Covenant University titled, “Higher Education and Africa’s Future: Doing What is Right” last week, the former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, NUC, said safety in schools which he described as “a small animal in the education sector with a loud roar,” has become a global concern that must be tackled.

He explained that no country is exempted, noting that narratives of practices and actions which harm members of the schooling community including students, teachers and administrators have rented the airwaves over the last ten years. And these, he declared, should be accorded more attention.

For a start, he says “the obnoxious and warped ideologies” of Jihadist groups which abhor schooling, especially of girls and women must be addressed fully as this cannot be demolished by a few trite statements of condemnation.

Not only that, Okebukola, who is also the Chairman of Council, Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State counselled that measures for safety in schools must be adopted and these should include physical screening of perimeter of schools against intruders with installed CCTV coverage, while all areas within and immediately outside the school should be designed with safety in mind. Also, according to the scholar, access into schools should be controlled and visitors should be well monitored while safety problems should be reported quickly and appropriately addressed by schools authorities.

According to him, a planned approach is needed not just to prevent physical and psychological danger to both staff and students but to build a culture of safety consciousness linked to the university curriculum where teaching young people can develop their capability to assess and manage risks associated with schooling.

“While schools should make sure staff, students and visitors are safe, they also need to make sure that as citizens of tomorrow, students are helped to become risk aware without becoming unnecessarily risk averse,” he stressed.

In the case of Nigeria, the education expert said the Boko Haram insurgency can be halted in its tracks through several interventions especially by toning up the basic education curriculum to which all 6 to 15 years olds are exposed “because Boko Haram is about ideology and indoctrination.”

“The Nigerian Educational research and Development Council which is charged with curriculum development and renewal should embed topics in all subjects in the basic education curriculum that can steer the young hearts and minds of Nigerian children and youth away from religious violence and jihadist tendencies.”

He said the message of religious tolerance should hit the children from all sides in every subject they learn and every day in school. “Even the school anthem should contain a line or two which promotes temperate living.”

The lecturer also said that teachers should be trained in efficient and effective ways of delivering the curriculum. Another angle of attack through education according to him is to invest in child-friendly schools and resuscitation of the school feeding programme.

“Schools should compete in demonstrating that they are amenable to Boko Haram incursion and stepping up of the delivery of entrepreneurial education at all levels of the educational system so that products of basic and higher education are better tooled to work because Boko Haram feasts on idle hands.”

Narrowing it to the university, Okebukola said there is need to rework the General Studies curriculum to ensure inculcation of socio-politico-ethno-religious tolerance. “We should gear teacher education curriculum in a way that all faculties of education should prepare a new breed of teachers who are able to foster ethno-religious harmony in schools.

“Also six universities, one in each of the geopolitical zones, should be kitted for research and development in weapons and surveillance systems, strengthening the delivering of peace and conflict studies in the universities.”

The lecturer also added that the Associa

A 1 0 0 – l e v e l student of Electrical\ Electronic En g i n e e ring, Federal University of Technology, Akure ( F U T A ) , Mr. Saviour Okusenogu will be representing Africa at the “Microsoft Youthspark Challenge for change contest” coming up this August in Nicaragua. The competition is organised by Microsoft Corporation to encourage young people to create and work on ideas that change the society for better using technology.

Okusenogu got the ticket for the global event out of over 2,000 contestants from Africa based on his emergence as one of the 10 winners of the initial stage of the competition at the regional level held earlier. And for the achievement, he was rewarded with US$2,500 cash, a Surface Pro 3 Computing System, a window phone, a flight ticket to Nicaragua. He is also named as Microsoft Youthspark Advocate.

The university’s spokesman, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo in a press release said Okusenogu’s project which won him the honour is titled: “Become Inspired in Science and Engineering Technology (BISET).”

He noted that the work encouraged many more youths including those in secondary schools to embrace science and technology as a career.

In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor of FUTA, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, delighted with the achievement of Okusenogu said Okusenogu’s achievement was further reaffirming quality the university is known for in knowledge and character

“Bishop to newly elected (newly-elected) legislators: Slash your outrageous allowances” This is an example of compound adjectives.

“Reps (Reps’) speaker: South East coalition lobbies Buhari”

NATIONAL Mirror of April 27 comes up with copious grammatical crises: “We’ll restore peace in (to) APGA— Ufomba”

Next is its Views Page: “Parents have thus out of greed or fear of discharging their responsibilities to the (their) children, (needless comma) give (given) them out….”

“Both the federal and states (sic) government (federal and state governments) must take steps to ensure that….”

“There is thus the need to separate politicking from electioneering campaign.” (Editorial) ‘Electioneering’ encompasses ‘campaign.’

“…and the ousted leadership of the school’s parents/ teachers’ association.” Education Today: parent-teacher association

“St. Saviour’s school commissions (inaugurates) N200m classrooms”

“Forex reserves drops (drop) 0.17% to three month (threemonth) low”

Because of its grouping role, the hyphen forms adjectives. Otherwise, some lexical combinations will become awkward and ambiguous.

Please note that ‘but’ and ‘however’ cannot co-function. And this: ‘at’ applies to a definite time; while ‘about’ refers to an approximate time. Therefore, to use both in the same environment is contradictory and confusing. But you can say ‘at or about’…in an informal setting that allows such escapist latitude! Lastly: ‘likes’ take ‘compare with’ and unlike terms ‘compare to.’ An example, talking football: You can compare FC Barcelona striker Lionel Messi with Real Madrid playmaker Christiano Ronaldo, but Messi to Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man. However, at a classical level, some likes are incomparable with one another: Nigerian local league players cannot be compared with, but to, either Messi or Ronaldo!

Still on National Mirror: “…activities of unlicensed designers is (are) shrinking its market in Nigeria.”

“Air-purifying, energy saving (why omit the second hyphen?) AC unveiled as Panasonic stirs competition”

“Police counsel Ogun monarchs on grassroot (grassroots) policing”

“Unlawful possession of firearms: Vigilante boss exonerated” Community Mirror: vigilance boss or vigilantes’ boss

“Ota DPO calls for concerted efforts (effort) in traffic management”

Finally from the Back Page of NATIONAL MIRROR which circulated three blunders: “In this critical area, this government has failed woefully (abysmally)….”

“Another job creating (job-creating) initiative like the….”

“…functional national infrastructure which are still lacking in our oil dependent (oil-dependent) economy.”

“Mama, tens of decades of exemplary contributions to the upliftment (uplift) of common people….” There is no such word known as ‘upliftment’ in the English language lexicon.

THISDAY of April 22 did not practise robust journalism, as it advocates, on nine occasions: “Enjoy round the clock banking!” (Full-page advertisement by GT Bank) At your service adjectivally: round-the-clock banking!

“HICC pledge (pledges) to support FG’s war against corruption.”

“Our daddy, on this auspicious occasion of your birthday anniversary….” ‘Birthday’ and ‘anniversary’ cannot co-function in the same environment.

“I am not an advocate for albinos to marry themselves (one another)….”

“It was a beehive of activities…as the celebrant’s (celebrator’s) parents….” Fairground: a hive of activity (not a beehive of activities)!

“Your fight for the less privilege (less-privileged) and down trodden (downtrodden) has (had) indeed changed lives for the better, (a full stop) you are (were) indeed a rare gem.” (Fullpage advertisement)

National Mirror Views Page of April 20 takes over the baton with this error: “…the interest of the common man in the street.” The man in the street is basically common! Do not aggravate his circumstance by adding ‘common’!

“Glo’s Move to Greener Pastures (Move-to-Greener-Pastures) campaign hits over 50, 000 views (sic)”

“Globacom to storm eight cities with Glo slide and bounce tour” Voice of The Nation: Glo slide-and-bounce tour. Does the telecommunications company have issues with hyphenation?

“Encomium galore as Anambra council boss bags award” City SUN: Encomiums galore

“The Lagos PDP, until recently, was bedevilled by intra-party crisis (an intra-party crisis) that has made….”

“APC presidential shoes fits (how?) Okorocha”

“Obituary announcement” Just obituary!

“Corruption destroying the fabrics (fabric) of Nigeria”

“Eagles (Eagles’) attack worries Keshi”

“Aba IPP to be commissioned (inaugurated/launched…) in August—Prof. Nnaji”

The Guardian of April 18 goofed: “…work at Baro Port (Niger State), Oguta (Imo State) and Jamata (Lokoja, Kogi State) (a comma) according to the government (another comma) has reached an advanced stage.” What is ‘an advanced stage’? How is the reader expected to know the extent of work carried out with this kind of ambiguous phrase (journalese)? This is loose thinking and speculative writing! Let reporters and their editors express their findings in graphical or statistical terms (percentage)—this way, the reader develops a fair idea and perception of the scope of work done. This makes sense in the absence of exactitude!

National Medicine Adviser, World Health Organisation, Abuja, Dr. Ogori Taylor has called for change in pharmacy curriculum to suit the modern day health delivery.

She said this was necessary as the training of pharmacists in Nigeria universities is mainly focus on the delivery of pharmaceutical services to individual patients but the system in dealing with public health has its dynamics which the students must be taught as an undergraduate.

Taylor made the disclosure while delivering the keynote address titled, “the role of pharmacist in the control of disease of public health,” at the annual general meeting and scientific symposium of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists in Lagos, last week.

The ceremony was also to induct and present certificates to new fellows of the college.

The WHO expert explained that undergraduates studying pharmacy are only trained to promote individualization of therapist without paying attention to public health delivery mechanism which over the years has been the bane of pharmacy profession.

She therefore said if this trend is not stopped, the country would continue to produce pharmacists who may not be able to practice in the country but in developed country.

“Our approach to agenda setting should be more strategic that what is currently on ground that is why pharmaceutical curricular in human resources is very important because our current graduates education suit the developed countries than our own health care system which we need to stop before it is too late,” she reiterated.

The president of the college, Mr. Wiltshire Johnson said the symposium was aimed at re-orientating the way health care services are delivered in West Africa with the pharmaceutical sector being the key to paradigm shift.

“We must bring to focus new leadership tasks, indulge in policy and operational activities that are crucial to achieving our objective of greater relevance in achieving our mandate.”

Congratulating the new fellows, he said people of West Africa need them more than ever before and the profession of pharmacy even more.

A total of 161 fellows which cut across clinical, community pharmacy, drug production and quality assurance, public health, social and administrative pharmacy were in-

In a bid in fighting corruption in the various institutions and Nigeria at large, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has inaugurated the Anti- Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) and Students Anti- Corruption Vanguard (SAV) of the Federal College of Education, (Technical) Umunze, Anambra state.

Enlightening, staff and students of the college on duties of ICPC, Mr. Udonsi Arua, Head ICPC Enugu zonal office enjoined ACTU and SAV members to be model of probity, dedicated and painstaking in discharge of their duties.

He informed the participants on the ICPC Act, the previous attempts at combating corruption and expatiated on the role and status of ACTU.

His words, “for us to get the society right, we have to start from the top, to the middle and finally the list, that is the only way to combat corruption in Nigeria.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the Provost of the college, Prof. Josephat Ogbuagu, expressed optimism that the inauguration and sensitisation will bring a positive change in the College and Nigeria at large.

He further commended the ICPC officials for what he described as their untiring efforts in maintaining a corruption free Nigeria.

According to the Provost, ACTU started in the College in 2006 and had since then been functioning effectively. He said the tenure of the first batch of the nominees ended in 2004 and a new committee was constituted hence the inauguration ceremony was conducted to officially put the committee to work.

He reminded the newly inaugurated ACTU members the functions of the unit which he noted as enlightening the entire college community and creates awareness for the populace to stay away from and shun corruption and all its practices.

Responding on behalf of the new ACTU committee, Chairman ACTU, Dr. Chuks Ugwuogo thanked the management and the College community for finding them worthy of serving the College. “We will be fair and truth in discharging of our duties.”

Examination malpractice is a corrupt practice that is directly associated with the process of teaching and learning and associated processes in the educational institutions. Examination malpractice mindset, is the state of the mind or system of thinking that believes that success in an examination can be achieved without knowledge of the subject matter. This mindset has become entrenched in the Nigerian nation because of a number of anomalies in the education system.

These anomalies include unchecked corruption in the wider society, the quality of classroom teachers employed by the school proprietors, lack of enthusiasm of the students, poor learning environment, poor parental and guardian contribution to the normal academic development of their children and wards and greed for illegal remuneration by teachers. Other reasons include corruption on the part of examination administrators, including field officers of the various examination bodies, school proprietors and administrators and non implementation of the various penalties for defaulters.

This mindset has resulted in a state of impunity in examination malpractice with many innocent candidates being forced to participate by unscrupulous school administrators. In the public examinations conducted at the primary and secondary school levels, the process has become so endemic that in some schools; only those who pay the additional malpractice fees are allowed to write the examinations for which they have been legitimately enrolled without molestation.

At the tertiary education level, the reverse is literarily the case; most examinations are usually fairly well conducted. The mad rush to “sort”, the process of giving cash or kind for an undeserved pass grade usually begins after the examinations are written. Whether initiated by the examiner or the candidate, it often does not respect persons. Many a time, both willing and unwilling students and lecturers are targeted in this type of corrupt practice by greedy lecturers and desperate students. Even very senior academic staff members totally unconnected with the course in question are targeted and recruited to use their positions of seniority and influence to “beg” for the award of pass grades to students whose level of understanding is hardly better than those of motor park touts!

The impact of the unmitigated examination malpractice on the socioeconomic life of the nation is a source of great concern and unless this negative mindset is changed, the entire nation will continue to grapple with the negative impacts of this devastating scourge.

Reversing this mindset would require we apply all the armamentaria at our disposal to convince the general populace that examination malpractice is not beneficial. Up till this moment, it has not been possible to convince anyone that examination malpractice indeed is not beneficial in the face of observations to the contrary. Beneficiaries pass through the entire spectrum of educational institutions from the kindergarten to the university; obtain a university degree or similar qualifications, secure appointments with government establishments without being able to read the contents of their age declaration certificate.

Or what message have we conveyed these many years when we parade impersonators popularly known as “mercenaries” on the televisions and thereafter allow him or her to go scot free? What about a privately or publicly owned secondary school with a total capacity of only 300 students in both the junior and senior arms, but enrol over 500 candidates for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination alone? Is it possible that we are totally oblivious of the incongruity of the situation or that we feign ignorance of the existence of such institutions?

Reversing this negative mindset would require that every category of offender in this ignoble examination malpractice theatre be brought to justice rapidly in accordance with existing laws. It may be necessary to appoint a special prosecutor to handle cases of examination malpractice in order to fast tract the process and bring it to completion in the shortest possible time. This will be the initial first step in changing the entrenched mindset of Nigerian.

A second and more fundamental step towards reversing this solidified mindset is boosting the self esteem of the students through improved teaching and learning environment. This would include training and hiring more qualified teachers for the primary and junior secondary schools, and ensuring improved performance of the teachers through regular supervisory activity by officials of the ministry of education. The hiring process should include a written interview which would incorporate components of the curriculum of the grade levels with whom they will be engaged.

Parental engagement could be strengthened through regular Parent and Teachers interactions which should be integrated into the school calendar. Above all, a total abolition of all fees in the primary and secondary school levels, including the public examinations such as the First School Leaving Certificate, the Junior Secondary School Certificate and the Senior School Certificate Examinations would seal all avenues for extortion by the public school administrators. The War Against Corruption would not be won as long as examination malpractice continues to threaten our fatherland!

A student of Yaba College of Technology, Miss Monah Chime was last week crown Miss Palmchat.

The beauty pageantry which was a six month online campaign program was hosted by the fastest growing instant messaging App, Palm chat.

Speaking with the Campus News at the event, Marketing and Business development director, Afmobi Limited, Mr. Mounirboukali, elucidate that Miss Palmchat was initiated for young ladies in order to raise role models that will impact on the society positively.

The campaign enjoyed a lot of publicity on both mainstream and social media as Monah fans follow her with about 1,873,510 votes which enable her to come out in the first round of the competition to beat her counterpart a student of Nigeria Open University, Miss Uzondu Uba.