Wednesday 30 August 2017

LASU, UNILORIN, Covenant are the choiced universities of Nigerian



The University of Ilorin Kwara State in Central Nigeria, has emerged the 2017 university of first choice among student-applicants as the foremost citadel of learning in the Country, followed by seventeen (17) others from 148 officially recognised Universities in Nigeria drawn from the Federal, State and Private institutions, the Economic Confidential can authoritatively report.


In a new report obtained and carefully computed and analysed by the Economic Intelligence magazine from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on the preferred first university of choice in 2017, the University of Ilorin has the highest applications with 104,038 student-applicants. The figure represents almost about 10 percent of the 1,212,818 total applicants seeking admissions into the 40 Federal Universities in Nigeria. The Unilorin also led last year with 103,238 student-applicants.

Using the JAMB’s report of most preferred universities in the country, the Economic Confidential gathered that applicants seeking for admission into universities considered academic stability, popularity, affordability, available facilities and quality of lecturers as part of their check-list before making choices in their applications. Of the Forty (40) federal Universities in the country, UNILORIN is number one followed by Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria in Kaduna North-West Nigeria with student-applicants of 89,688.

University of Benin, Edo State in South-South Nigeria is third in the ranking with 85,486 applicants; University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu in South-East is the fourth with 79,073 applicants, University of Lagos (UNILAG) in South-west Nigeria is the fifth with 78,899 while Bayero University Kano (BUK) in the North-West Nigeria comes sixth with 68,241 students applicants.

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UNIPORT: Identity of suspect who killed niece for ritual confirmed

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The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) on Wednesday identified a 200-level student (names withheld), of the Department of Physics, as the suspect who dismembered his 8-year old niece, for ritual purposes. 

The university confirmed the identity, via a statement issued on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, by Dr Williams Wodi, UNIPORT’s spokesman.

The suspect was accused of abducting, raping, killing and dismembering the body of his 8-year-old niece, Chikamso Nmezuwuba, on Aug. 19 for ritual purposes. 

The suspect was arrested by members of a vigilance group in the Eliozu area in Port Harcourt, while he was on the way to dispose the body of Chikamso, after using other parts of her body for ritual. 

The suspect was handed over to the Rivers Police Command but escaped while in police detention. Wodi said the management of the university was worried with the development particularly the disappearance of the suspect from detention. 

“Any university administration and indeed all Nigerians should be very concerned about having students in any of our universities who turn out to be suspected ritual murderers. 

“The university is working tirelessly with law enforcement to fish out and bring to speedy justice such dubiously motivated characters who masquerade as student.


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Resident doctors of UCH set to go on indefinite strike from 4th of September


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Dr Olusegun Olaopa, the President, Association of Resident Doctors, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan chapter, on Wednesday said resident doctors in the hospital would commence an indefinite strike on Sept. 4. 


Olaopa, in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan, said that the decision was in line with directive from the National Executive Council of the National Association of Resident Doctors, (NARD).

He said that members of the association in UCH had been mobilised to commence the industrial action until the Federal Government accede to the demands of the national body. 

Olaopa said that the national body of the association had in a statement directed all members to begin indefinite strike as from Sept.4. 

“The association has resolved to proceed on indefinite industrial action from Monday, September, 4, 2017, until all these issues are permanently resolved. “So, in compliance with this directive, all resident doctors in UCH will join their counterparts in Nigeria to embark on an indefinite strike,” he said. 

Olaopa said that the strike notice was signed by Dr John Onyebueze and Dr Aneke Emmanuel, the National President and Secretary, National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) respectively.








ASUU: Osinbajo takes over negotiations

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THE Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has taken over the headship of the Federal Government negotiation team with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige who disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after the Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council, FEC, also blamed the private sector of being responsible for the delay in announcing the Chairman of the Minimum Wage Review Committee. 


Ngige said that the Federal Government was ready and will announce Chairman of the Committee when all the names of representatives of the private sector is received.

More details coming up shortly.

Wednesday 23 August 2017

ASUU: Branches hold crucial meeting today concerning the ongoing strike action

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The various university branches of ASUU will today hold special congresses across the country over the ongoing strike.
The lecturers will consider the latest offer(s) by the federal government aimed at resolving the imbroglio.
The agenda of the meeting is to discuss whether or not to accept the federal government’s offer.
A top member of ASUU, who requested anonymity, confirmed this development, adding that all the branches are expected to submit their respective reports to the national body who will take a final decision.
The branch leaders have also been asked not to talk to journalists on the strike.
The branches, it was further learnt have been given three options by the national body to choose from at their deliberations: continue with the strike action, suspend the action or, ‘positively review the federal government proposal.’
ASUU went on strike on August 13 over issues of poor funding, welfare of its members and the failure of the federal government to honour aspects of past agreements it had with its members.
The union is expected to meet with the government again this week to
discuss further on the strike.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had expressed hope that the strike would be suspended this week.

WAEC Registra emphasizes the importance of Mathematics


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The Registrar, West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Dr Iyi Uwadiae says the knowledge of Mathematics remained indispensable for further studies and national development.


Uwadiae said this in his keynote address at the 54th Annual Conference of the Mathematical Association of Nigeria (MAN)

“Mathematics provides a powerful and universal language that is appropriate when communicating Mathematics ideas, reasoning and findings both orally and in writing, especially in this 21st century. “The progress of a nation is measured in terms of its ability to meet the needs of its citizens. 

“Every nation therefore makes concerted efforts to meet these needs in the most effective and efficient manner.

The theme of the conference is: Mathematics as Key to Sustainable Change in Growth and Development. According to him, the essence of Mathematics education at both the basic and Senior Secondary school levels includes raising individuals that will comprehend, analyse, synthesise, evaluate and make generalisations in order to solve Mathematical problems among other skills. 

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NAN

Catholic Bishops describethe ongoimg ASUU strike as an unnecessary burden



Catholic bishop on Tuesday rose from a two-day conference where they declared the on-going strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as a burden and unnecessary. The bishops said the lecturers’ strike was incessant and had become a bigger burden to parents and their children.‎

“ASUU’s seasons for  strikes have undermined the credibility and value of education and seriously lowered the integrity of the academia,” they said.‎

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The Bishops from the Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day conference at St. Micheal’s Catholic Cathedral, Minna.


The Bishops have also called on the government to device new strategies reinforce anti- corruption fight as the current approach is not yielding desired results. 

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NAN


Tuesday 8 August 2017

WAEC: Certificates issued 28yrs ago have been canceled due to examination malpractice

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The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has cancelled 151 certificates already issued to candidates that sat for both school and private examinations who were later found to have engaged in examination malpractices.
Also, the council has taken possession of 29 certificates (both school and private candidates exam) returned by acclaimed ‘born again’ Christians who sought for restitution.
The National Examinations Committee (NEC) of WAEC took the decision in Lagos, recently during  its 62nd meeting held to cancel and collect back certificates of the candidates found wanting several years after the examinations were conducted and certificates issued.
Among the cancelled certificates, include two issued 28 years ago (1989) and 27 years ago (1990) by WAEC while the ones issued in 2012 and 2013 are the current certificates.
A breakdown of the cancelled certificates showed that the highest number 14, was issued in 2001 and 2002, 13 each in 1999 and 2000.
The statistics further revealed that WAEC cancelled 12 certificates in 2003, ten in 2006, eight in 1988, seven each in 2004, 2007 and 2010, five each in 1993, 1995, 2009, 2012 and 2013. Others are four in 1994 and 2008, three each in 1996 and 2011, two each in 1997 and 2005 as well as one each in 1989, 1990 and 1992.
Of the 151 certificates cancelled by the council, four were was for candidates who sat for May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and 147 for Nov/ Dec WASSCE confirming NEC reports that examination cheat is rampant during the private candidate examination.
Among the 29 certificates returned by born again Christians to WAEC offices nationwide, one was issued 33 years ago (1984) and another 32 years ago (1985).
Breakdown showed that four certificates each were returned by born again Christians who their own confessed cheating during the school and private examination in 2011 and 2013.
Others include three in 2000, 2004, 2008, two each in 1992 and 2003 while one each were returned by born again Christians in 1984, 1985, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2012.
In a related development, WAEC has threatened to henceforth de-recognise any school found aiding and abetting cheating during the conduct of May/June WASSCE. The decision to sanction schools found wanting during the conducting of the May/ June WASSCE was taken by NEC at its 62nd meeting in Lagos.
The communiqué issued at the end of the NEC meeting and signed by WAEC Head, Public Affairs, Mr. Demianus Ojijeoju, said the committee took the decision based on the high incidence of schools writing on the chalkboards for their students to copy during the 2016 WASSCE.

SHUT DOWN: Workers demand salary!

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The staff of Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, on Tuesday shut all academic and non-academic activities in the varsity in demand of their  100 percent salaries from the management.
The protesters who converged on the campus’s roundabout matched through various routes, clutching placards and leaves, and sang songs which depicted their situation.
The members of staff marched on the university’s administrative block, which houses the office of the Vice chancellor, Prof Francis Eze, and demanded to see the Vice chancellor.
The protest, which was organised under the auspices of Joint Action Committee, had in attendance members of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Non Academic Staff Union and National Association of Academic Technologists.
Addressing FUTO Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of administration, Prof Isreal Ndukwe, the spokesperson who is the JAC chairman, Ibeji Nwokeoma, said that the recent slash in their salaries was unacceptable to them.
He said, “We reject in its entirety the 40 percent slash in our salaries. Since the development, we have now become laughing stock among our contemporaries. Our children have dropped out of schools. We no longer afford three square meals. We have come to say enough is enough.”
Nwokeoma threatened that JAC members would down their tools if the school did not desist from slashing their salaries and pay them their outstanding arrears, including promotion benefits.
JAC chairman said, “FUTO is a brand name. We don’t want to derail. We want the balance of the promotion arrears, equally. Implement the pending promotion not later than September this year. We want peace because there is no alternative to peace.”
Responding, the DVC Incharge of administration who stood in for the VC said “You gave us assurance that this was going to be a peaceful excercise and you have fulfilled you own bargain. We believe that FUTO staff love the truth and they will like to hear the truth truth.
“Even at the last general Assembly we discussed the issue . The staff have very very good. The economy at the fedral level is very bad. FUTO management is not happy that you are getting 80 percent of your salary. We are praying to God that He will touch the hearts of the Federal government to release our your money. It is not our making “.
The members who who declared public holiday in the school were led to the protest by the chairmen of NNAT, Franklin Matthews and that of NASU, Moses Alemoh


Female student holds man "hostage" on campus for refusing to pay for sex

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A dramatic scene played out at the town campus of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday afternoon when a female student of the school held a man ‘hostage’ for refusing to pay her after he allegedly had sex with her.
The incident, which took place in front of the main gate of the university, was captured in a six-minute video posted on the Facebook page belonging to Inside Uniuyo.
The video shows a middle-aged man on the driver’s seat of a brown-colour Honda Civic car, rejecting entreaties from passers-by, apparently students, who were persuading him to “settle” a female student who had spent a night with him.
“Settle”, a euphemism in Nigeria, means to pay a bribe or give money for an illicit act.
“I gave her N2,000 she refused to collect,” the embattled man is heard screaming at those who were begging him to “settle” the student.
“I didn’t do anything with her. I had asthma yesterday night,” the man said in an angry tone.
The identity of the man and that of the student were unknown.
The female student, who appeared unperturbed, was busy eating boiled groundnuts from a cellophane bag on her laps.
he wore a turtle-neck milky top on blue jeans trousers.
The man said he picked the student in front of the school gate the previous day and took her out for a night. But he insisted that both of them didn’t have sex because he had an asthma attack.
“It’s a lie, this man slept with me last night,” she said to the crowd which surrounded the car.
The man yelled at her to get down from his car. “I have given you money, what do you want again?”
The girl retorted, “You never see something!”
The man yelled again at her to call the police or go to the court if she really felt he owed her.
The student, from the video, demanded that the man pay her N20,000.
By now, more people are seen trying to talk to the man to add some extra money to the N2,000 he was offering the student. The people could be heard telling the man to save himself the embarrassment.
“Settle what with her? Am I a criminal? Did I steal anything from her?
“Why should I give her that kind of money? Did I buy anything from her?”
One of the persons trying to intervene asked him, “Did she jump into your car or you took her from somewhere?”