FG To Make Hostel Accommodation In Universities Compulsory

The Federal Government has said that it was taking serious consideration at reintroducing compulsory hostel accommodation at universities, stressing that the system in the past contributed to a better and quality students.

The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, who disclosed this while representing President Muhammadu Buhari at the 21st convocation ceremony of University of Uyo (UNIUYO) at the weekend, said this has become expedient, as it would address the dwindling quality of graduates being produced from these tertiary institutions.

Also, the NUC boss explained that government was also taking seriously the issue of reducing the lecturer/student ratio and reinventing the universities to become centres of inventions.

He, therefore, challenged lecturers in the country’s institutions of higher learning to do more in the area of researches that would be of great benefit to Nigerians, adding that a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree would soon become the least qualification for all academic members of staff of the country’s universities.

He tasked managements of universities on accountability and prudence in the applications of funds, urging them to endeavour to build synergies with state governments, public and private institutions and organisations to address some of their challenges.

According to Prof. Okojie, universities in the country did not fare well in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but assured that shortcomings of the country’s tertiary institutions would be carried over to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


Addressing the Visitor and graduands of the university, the Vice Chancellor of UNIUYO, Prof. Comfort Ekpo, expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the university during her tenure, noting that the university has become the 10th most preferred university in the country with more than 40,000 applicants selecting it in the 2015 UME examinations while it was given an admission quota of 6,659 during the period.

The university, she also stated, is currently ranked as the 55th best in Africa in 2015 with 98 per cent of its programmes having full accreditation.

“All these progress was made possible because we have maintained a high academic standard. Ninety-eight per cent of our academic programmes have been accredited by the National Universities Commission, including Pharmacy, which always had problems in the past having full accreditation status while we are working on getting accreditation for Efik/Ibibio.

“The university had had full accreditation for seven years with seven programmes presented for accreditation recently found worthy to be accredited. We have also played host to international conferences and lectures attracting resource persons from across the globe.

“Eighty per cent of our academic members of staff have at least Masters degrees while we have also strengthened our student support programme with 41 indigent but brilliant students benefitting from the programme since 2013”, she said.

She commended the university Senate and the two management teams during her tenure for the complementary role they played, saying that she would be leaving the institution better than she met it.

Three eminent Nigerians, including Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang; an industrialist, Mrs. Folurunsho Alakija and a music maestro, Chief Uko Akpan Umana, bagged honorary doctorate degree in Law, Humanities and Music respectively.

The occasion also witnessed the installation of Alhaji Abubakar Maje, the Emir of Hadejia and chairman, Jigawa State Council of Chiefs, as the university’s Fourth Chancellor.

Source: The Guardian

US Consulate Enlightens OAU Students On YALI Application

The United States Consulate representatives in an orientation programme organized for students of Obafemi Awolowo University has enlightened the students on the need for them to apply for the 2015 Mandela Washington Fellowship under the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).

In a report gathered by Lukmon Fasasi, the US consular team which comprised of Frank Sellin, Acting Public Affairs Officer; Ibrahim Aliyu, Cultural Affairs and Temitayo Famutimi, Information Specialist stormed Ife yesterday morning for the campus enlightenment which held at First Bank lecture theater and began at about 10:30am.

Frank Sellin, while addressing the students on the need for them to apply for the YALI fellowship program said "The YALI is directed to young Africans, the US citizens can not apply and November 11 is the deadline for all applications". He urged the female students particularly to take advantage of the opportunity and apply for the YALI fellowship because they are special people. He further stated that applicants are expected to be within the age limit of 25 - 35, though young leaders below 25 would also be considered. According to Sellin, applications from persons with disabilities are allowed.

Speaking at the programme was Ibrahim Aliyu. He stated that YALI fellowship has shortlisted and taken applicants from Nigerian over time, but it is unfortunate that they are not from OAU. "Though we have African leaders from OAU working with us at our consulate and they are doing very well but it is saddened not to have received YALI fellowship students from here. Last year 4 successful applicants were received from Nigeria and this year we are looking for 100 successful applicants and I wish 40% would be coming from OAU". He said

Present at the programme are the University Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju; the Dean of the Student Affairs, Dr. Lateefat Durosimi and the Vice Dean of the Division of Student Affairs, Dr. Afolabi. Others are the representation of the Students' Union led by the President, Omotayo Akande and students from various faculties.

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders. Nearly 1 in 3 Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60 percent of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35. President Obama launched YALI in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders brings 500 dynamic young African leaders, ages 25-35, from across the continent to the United States for 6 weeks of leadership training and mentoring at twenty U.S. universities and colleges in three areas: business and entrepreneurship, civic engagement and public administration.

Click here to apply.

Medical Students Now To Spend 7 Years In Nigerian Universities

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has developed new Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards for training of doctors in universities with medical programme now extended to seven years duration. Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Julius Okojie, presented the reviewed curriculum to the stakeholders at a three-day capacity development programme for staff of medical schools in Nigerian universities.

He said the new benchmark minimum academic standard was competency-based and would substantially address most of the challenges faced the institutions in the training of doctors in the country. Okojie noted that those that people trust their lives must be adequately trained and competent to discharge their responsibilities efficiently.


He said the workshop was to enable the stakeholders brainstorm as well as fine- tune the draft document. The curriculum review was necessitated by the fact that the frontier of knowledge in all academic disciplines had been advancing with new information generated as a result of research. Other compelling reasons included the need to update the standard and relevance of university education in the country as well as to integrate entrepreneurial studies as essential new platforms that would guarantee all graduates from Nigerian universities the knowledge of appropriate skills, competences and dispositions that would make them globally competitive and capable of contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

Okojie said: "We must built some good quality hospitals and make facilities available for the students who are coming out with competences and skills to work. No doctor would want to work without equipment. "We are trying to look at it from holistic view. Good learning and teaching environment; good medical centres and the management of resources itself," he said.

Source: Tribune

OAU Predegree Entrance Examination Begins Today

The Centre for Distance Learning (CDL), Obafemi Awolowo University starting from today will commence the conduct of the entrance examination for applicants seeking admission into the school's predegree programme.


November 3-5, 2015 has been scheduled for the entrance examinations that is expected to accommodate tens of thousands applicants. The examination will only hold in CDL's campus in Moro this year and the result of the examination will be available online to candidates one week after the examination.

Students Commend ACJ OAU On CES 2015

By Ojelabi Jesujoba

Following the recently concluded Campus Editors’ Summit (CES 2015) organized by the Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ), Obafemi Awolowo University, a number of students who participated in the summit have continued to pour encomium on the organizers for the innovation.

In a series of interviews organized by our correspondent immediately after the 2-day summit, we were able to gather some of these comments.

Akinokowo Suleiman, a student of Computer Science at the University Of Ilorin, described his experience at the Summit as awesome. In his description of ACJ OAU, he claimed; “…ACJ OAU has been fantastic, they should keep it up.” When giving his opinion on the rather controversial theme of the summit; ‘Journalism and Politics: Two parallel lines, he stated’, he was of the opinion that both work hand in hand.

Contrary to the views of some participants, the President of the Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ) of the University of Ibadan, Kareem Tawakalit, holds a contrasting opinion as she in her own words opined that Journalism and Politics are immiscible. “I don’t think it’s mixable, at least not sincerely. I don’t think you can mix both of them and do both of them sincerely”. She also appreciated the organizers for their warm reception as her views of great hospitality of OAU students was upheld.

Abdul-Ganiyu Shehu, the Vice President (Editorial) of the Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ilorin, also described the program as interesting and educating. He stated that the program, beyond its enlightening effect, also provided the campus journalists from various schools an opportunity to meet with their colleagues from other schools. Commenting on the theme of the Summit, he said; “From what I have gotten so far, I think if you want to be a journalist, be a journalist and if you want to be a politician, be a politician. There is no way both of them can meet together. You cannot be a good journalist and be a good politician”.


Adedapo Treasure, a member of the Reflector Team also commented on the theme of the summit. In his words; “Personally, as at now, I think it is best for us as nation builders to ensure the immiscibility of politics and journalism because if a journalist is a practicing and active politician, then I think that the question of objectivity is under pressure”. He further commended the ACJ OAU on the organization of the summit and stated; “My word to ACJ is that we as an association must continue to foster unity in this profession and to this administration of ACJ, this is the beginning of great things!”

Still on the summit, the President of the Obafemi Awolowo University Students’ Union, Omotayo Akande, also had something to say. In his words, he described the summit as another form of symposium in the sense that the programme has not only helped to sensitize the campus journalists but it has also exposed the attendees to some basic ethics of journalism. He however expressed his disappointment to the fact most campus politicians were not present for the summit as he believed the summit helped to understand the connection between journalism and politics.

Ayomide Adegebo in his own submission commended ACJ OAU for coming up with the programme which is a good thing as it brought campus journalists together. On the topic of the summit, Ayomide feels the common ground that politics and journalism have is of a better world envisaged from both ends. He was however quick to point out that he does not buy into the idea where journalists who are supposed to be watchdog to the politicians also meddle into politics.

Some of the members of the Organizing Committee for the CES 2015 who spoke with our correspondents were glad that the event was a big success but however complained of financial difficulty as it was hard to get sponsorship for the programme. Olanrewaju Oyedeji, the Chairman, Guild of Editors, ACJ OAU; Lukmon Fasasi, a popular student blogger and Adebayo Benjamin, the President of ACJ OAU in common submissions appreciated God for the Success of the summit. They also expressed delight concerning the massive turnout of journalists from other tertiary institutions.

BVN: Drama Ensues In OAU Banks Over Account Suspension

By David Adetula

Customers caused a sort drama yesterday at some banks visited by our correspondents in Obafemi Awolowo University over their supposed account suspension on Bank Verification Number (BVN) issues.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had earlier directed the freezing of all accounts that has its BVN not done. Bank customers with this directive will not be able to transact using their account if suspended.

At First Bank Plc and Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) branches in OAU, they were exceptionally crowded with customers who have issues with their accounts. Many customers including staff and students of the institution expressed frustration with the development and blamed the CBN for not properly educating the public on the need for them to link their BVN to all their accounts.


“I was not told I will need to link the BVN to all my bank accounts. I already did it for my account not until I got to know I need to link one to all my accounts. This is very bad!” A customer quipped.

The bank officials who obviously had a busy day containing the unusual huge inflow of customers persuaded the customers not to be infuriated by the development as the BVN registration has been on for a while. Some customers who had to squeeze out time out of their busy schedule could not remain patient as they expressed their anger at intervals to the bank officials.

Just this morning, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has however announced an extension of the deadline for the BVN registration for those that are yet to do so.

OAU Dean Urges FG To Review Privatization Programme

The Dean of the Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Taiwo Asaolu, has told the Federal Government to re-examine its privatization programme for the process to achieve set goals.

Asaolu, a professor of Management and Accounting gave the advice while delivering an inaugural lecture on Tuesday, last week themed; "Privatization in Nigeria: Regulation, Deregulation, Corruption and the Way Forward".

The don said that the implementation of privatization in Nigeria had encountered difficulties, due to a lack of due process and policy inconsistency.

He said that assets of some privatized enterprises were deliberately under-valued and that the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) did not play the role set by the council and the extent laws.

"For instance, the privatization of the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria built at the cost of 3.3 billion dollars but was transferred to Rusal, a Russian company at the cost of 250 million dollars.

"Only 130 million dollars of the said 250 million dollars has been paid leaving a balance of 120 million dollars.


"The BPE failed to exercise their oversight role on the privatization process while the anti-corruption agencies blatantly refused to prosecute violators of the law,’’ Asaolu said.

The professor cited Ajaokuta Steel Company, Volkswagen of Nigeria, Daily Times of Nigeria, Delta Steel Company of Nigeria as some of the companies sold at less than their value.

Asaolu said that for any national privatization exercise to be credible and honest it must be backed by appropriate technical valuation methodologies in order not to be regarded as dubious and questionable.

The don said that one of the advantages of privatization was that it created job opportunities for the citizenry of the country but if not well manage it could lead to high rate of unemployment.

"Government has a role to play in providing strong and competent regulation, check corruption and non-accountability of the BPE.

"There have been allegations that portrayed the BPE as being wasteful and deficient in transparency and accountability.

"In 2007, for instance, it allegedly spent a whopping N56.1bilion out of N117.22billion it realized from a sale of public enterprises that year.

"The BPE compromised on due process in the sale of public enterprises.

"This clearly shows that something has gone wrong with the privatization policy of the Federal Government which must be urgently reviewed,’’ Asaolu said.

Credit: Pulse.ng