NECO Releases 2014 June/July Examination Results

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced that 52.29 percent of the candidates that sat for June/July 2014 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) passed at credit level in five subjects, including English Language and mathematics.
The Registrar and Chief Executive officer of the Council, Professor Promise Okpala, who announced the result in Minna, said 74.30 percent of the candidates made five credits and above generally.

He said that 978,886 candidates of the 989,622 that registered sat for the examination, which was conducted in 76 subjects.
Of 989,622 candidates that wrote the examination, 72.58 percent scored credit level and above in English Language, while 69.49 percent made similar grades in mathematics.

In sciences, 72.86 percent of candidates that sat for Chemistry had credits, while 69.38 percent of physics candidates had credit levels and in biology 67.83 percent of the candidates made credit grades.

Okpala said that beyond the cost of running the examination, insecurity in many parts of the country grossly affected the logistic operations of the council during the school based examination.

The registrar also said that efforts of the council at reducing examination malpractices paid off as only 0.44 percent of those who sat for the examination were involved in malpractices.

OAU Introduces Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB)

JUPEB Background

JUPEB is a National Examination body saddled with the responsibility of conducting examinations for students, who have undergone approved subject combinations and are seeking Direct Entry admissions into Nigerian and partnering foreign tertiary institutions.

Eligibility 

To be eligible to take examinations leading to the award of JUPEB's Direct Entry Certificates, the candidate must have been exposed to an intensive scheme of academic work relevant to his/her proposed university course.

• Each candidate must register, sit for Examinations and satisfy the Board in three subjects and a General Studies course relevant to the proposed course in any of the universities.
• Each subject is to be broken into four courses to be taken, two per semester, by the candidate. The results in all the courses are to be merged at the end of the second semester to obtain the candidate's grade in that particular subject.
• Each candidate is expected to take twelve (12) courses, six per semester, and a General Studies course.
• The general Studies for courses in each University Faculty will be based on relevant General courses suggested for that Faculty by each university.
• The students upon completion of the programme will be issued certificates based on their level of perfoemance which bear Letter Grades of A, B, C, D, E or F in each of the three subjects and General Studies Paper.

For admission into each university, each candidate, in addition to passing the prescribed JUPEB examinations for issuing the Direct Entry Certificates, must satisfy all other conditions as prescribed by his/her university of choice.  

Programme Description

The programme is an intensive coaching curriculum aims at ensuring adequate exposure to fundamentals of concepts and preparation of eligible students for University direct entry admission and a good head-start for University work. The courses of study which are those of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) subjects include English Language which is compulsory for all students, Government, Literature in English, Christian Religious Studies, Mathematics, Economics, Geography, Government and History. Students are required to choose three subjects in addition to English. The certificate obtained by graduates of the programme will be tenable in several universities in Nigeria and in some foreign universities.

Admission is based strictly on merit and entry requirements and in proportion to the admission quota of the University for the various Faculties.

Students are admitted into the JUPEB Programme under the following broad options and subject combinations:

Options/Fields	Subject Combinations
Arts	Government/Literature in English/Christian Religious Studies (GLCRS)
	History/ Literature/ Christian Religious Studies (HLCRS)
	Economics/ Government/Literature in English (EGL)
Social Sciences	Economics/Government/Mathematics (EGM)
	Mathematics/Geography/Economics (MGE)

Programme Objectives

• To source superior students for the University’s degree programmes and stem the high rate of dropouts from the University.
• To ensure adequate preparation of eligible secondary school graduates for University work.
• To enhance analytical and independent learning abilities and promote the intellectual development as well as oral and written skills of students.

Programme Duration

The duration of the Programme of courses for the Board's Examination is a minimum of one academic session of two semesters.

Mode of Study

Face to face at the Obafemi Awolowo University purposely built Distance Learning Study Centre at Moro, Ife North Local Government Area, Osun State.

Entry Qualifications

Applicants for admission into JUPEB Programme must possess minimum of 5 Credits at maximum of two sittings in at least 5 subjects (inclusive of English Language) relevant to the candidates desired course of study in the University. Eligible candidates are selected for admission through an entrance examination.

OAU Student Tests Negative For Ebola Virus -Management

 

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife,has said that the female student of the institution who was suspected to have the Ebola virus and moved to Lagos State has tested negative to the virus.

The Public Relations Officer of the OAU, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, said this in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday.

He said, ” The preliminary result of the girl is out and she tested negative. Another test will be done tomorrow. The university will issue a statement on this later today.”

The female student of the university who hails from Port Harcourt, Rivers State was said to have had contact with Dr. Iyke Enemuo who died of the Ebola virus after treating an ECOWAS diplomat in a hotel room.

The OAU student was said to have been put under surveillance in Port Harcourt for 21 days before she was certified okay having tested negative to the virus.

However, on her return to the OAU to resume her studies, she took ill again on Monday and she walked to the university’s health centre where she was admitted.

He confession to have had contact with the late doctor and the symptoms similar to the EVD triggered rumour that she had the virus and the whole university community was thrown into panic.

Some students told our correspondent that the lady was bleeding and showing signs of the Ebola virus.

But the result of the second test now would calm students of the university who had been thrown into panic since she fell sick and was moved to Lagos.


Source: Punch

Why You Must Finish With At Least A 2.1

This piece is for those undergraduates that will like to seek for jobs after school but do not have solid connection. A 1st class or 2.1 will help you AVOID or ALLEVIATE  the Labour Market frustration. Nevertheless, the ones that have influential parents, uncles and aunts can also take a cue from it because it is easier to help someone with a good result.

I am a recent graduate from a Nigerian Federal University. I finished with a strong 2.1 but I wish I made a 1st class. I would have made that First class if I were very hard working. I know many people are like me, they would have had better grades if they were more serious. What I'm saying in essence is that most of us are powerful beyond measures but we do not realize how powerful we could be.

Finishing with a 2.1 is just about having 3.5 out of total 5.0 CGPA. One can achieve this by mixing Bs with Cs in your courses. I had many friends that didn't have solid academic background, weren't very quick at learning but struggled to finish with 3.5, 3.6 after a lot of hard work. Not to talk of many of you that are sharp, it's just that you are too lazy. I was also a lazy brat but that's bygone because I've learnt my lessons.

As a result of the very high rate of unemployment in Nigeria, employers use all possible strategies to pre screen as many as possible applicants and the most popular is the class of degree.

9 out of every 10 Graduate Trainee adverts ask for a minimum of 2.1. The other thing they use in pre screening is age and many also require to have a minimum of 5 credits including maths and english @ one sitting for O'level.


Now let's analyze it: By the time KPMG, Ernst & Young, PWC, Akintola Deloitte, Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Total, Schlumberger, Diamond Bank, GTB, Zenith, First Bank, Nigerian Stock Exchange, P&G, Unilever, Honey well, Nestle, Cadbury, Guiness, Nigerian Breweries, Consolidated Breweries, PZ Cussons, etc all advertise graduate trainee positions and they all ask for a minimum of 2.1. How do you think someone that finished with a 2.2 will feel?

I'm currently observing NYSC and I've been applying for jobs. Many of my fellow corps members always ask me to share latest job openings with them but many of them have not been able to apply for any because they finished with below 2.1. I hope we all have an idea how frustrating this could be, for you not to have the privilege to prove yourself even when you might be better and more employable than some of us that finished with 2.1 and 1st class. 

As I'm writing this piece, I have two friends that just got job offers from a reputable multinational company in Nigeria. Guess what? They are both still serving and will resume immediately after NYSC in October. You know what? One of them finished with a 1st class and the other with a strong 2.1.

I know some of you will ask about me, I'm also at the last stage of interview and I have reached some recruitment stages in other good companies. All I need is Almighty God's favour and your prayers can also help land a job offer in some days time *lol*.

Many of us have been misled. We've been made to believe that even if you finish with good grades, you still won't get a good job in Nigeria if you don't have connection. For those that will listen, I can confidently tell you that we still have Firms that act with INTEGRITY in Nigeria,  Organizations that will hire you based on your abilities, Companies that will not compromise standards, Employers that will give you an offer without knowing even a gate man.  Many Multinationals in Nigeria fall in that category. At least, I know of Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG) and Procter & Gamble(P&G). We have many others but those are the two I've had comprehensive experience with.

Finishing with a 2.1 is very easy only if one can put in the required effort and above all pray to God. For the atheists, just keep working hard, working smart and always have a destination. I know you will believe in God someday*lmao*

In Conclusion, one of the commonest things in life is seeing talented people that are unsuccessful. Many of us are gifted but we are just too lazy to make the best use of our potential. If Talent sleeps, Hard work will outshine Talent.



Source: Nairaland

OAU Ebola Suspect Evacuated To Lagos

A female student of Obafemi Awolowo University, who is suspected to be a secondary contact of the Ebola Virus Disease in Port-Harcourt, presented sick at the University Health Centre.


After a clinical assessment by the Ebola Surveillance Preparedness and Response Committee of the University, the authorities thereafter contacted the State Ministry of Health, the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The suspected female secondary Ebola contact has since been evacuated to the appropriate facility in Lagos for further investigations to confirm her status.

In the meantime, the National Team and the WHO Team on Ebola Control have promptly decontaminated the University Health Centre despite the fact that the case is yet to be confirmed.

The University Authorities wish to emphasize the fact that the case is not a confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease and therefore request all members of the University Community to remain calm as the situation is fully under control

OAU 8: Students' Union Demands Re-instatement Of Suspended Students

FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE UNION

Hasta La Victoria Siempre-Until Victory, Always!

‘’As long as injustice and gross inequality persist in our world, none of us can truly rest’’….Mandela
This is no time for any grandiloquent rhetoric neither any boisterous philosophical expostulation. Rather this is the moment for realistic practitionary appraisal of our situation. There is a need than ever to articulate a coherent analysis/response to the myriad of issues confronting our members and seeking to crode the basis of our existence as students and the historical custodians of popular struggles of the Nigerian people in the fight against the diabolical attempts to take education beyond the reach of the poor through hiked charges and advocating for the rights of our students to qualitative accessible education and a conducive learning environment. 

As students’ leaders with clear sense of direction, we owe any administration of this university a commendation when it is responsive to the yearnings of our students, a blunt condemnation when it is deviating from the aspirations of our members and an unpharasical critism when it is become elitist or/and unduly inflicting pains via its repressive policies on our students as captured in the words of Frantz fanon is that “the future would have no pity for those men who possessing the exceptional privilege of being able to speak the words of truth to their oppressors, but have taken refuge in an attitude of passivity of mute indifference and some times ,of cold complicity’’.

HIKED FEES BY THE UNIVERSITY

The recent astronomical hike in fees implemented by our university management is already placing on OAU students untold hardship. Admission in our institution have begun to fall, postgraduate programmes have stated to dwindle, many students may have to withdraw from the institution. These issues are very grave and they are sitting on the keg of gunpowder. We have repeatedly stated our belief that qualitative mass education at all levels which is the sine-qua-non for national development is the responsibility of government. It will not be new that the students’ union had started a long term agitation on the introduction of devilish fees which do not only negate the tuition free policy of the government but also far from the affordability of indigent students. we had expected that the approach of the students’ union to the fee issue, the university management would have review the fees within the context of reasonability and human face. Instead the management of our institution ‘decreed’ the closure of our institution in response to the genuine yearnings of the ever peaceful Great IFE students. however, due to the demand of Great Ife students, the varsity has been opened and academic activities started but we must reiterate here our utmost dissatisfaction with the ‘peanut’ deducted from the astronomical hiked fees and we dare to say that IFE students will continue to agitate for a downward reasonable review of the astronomical charges.

For the avoidance of doubt! This current union leadership has always been advocate of dialogue and diplomacy. As part of our commitment to peaceful resolution on the hiked fees to guide against disruption of this academic calendar, upon resumption, we have written to the Governing Council, national assembly, ministry of education, academic staff unions of university and we have also been lobbying with different stakeholders and professors within the university community for the fees to be reasonably reduced.

Greatest IFE! The struggle continues and we have only retreated to facilitate a fight to finish as captured in the words of Sembene Ousmane ‘’a revolutionary is not he who fight to finish but he who facilitates a fight to finish’’.

VICTIMISATION AND RE-INSTATEMENT

It is most unfortunate that our university management which is supposed to be a constructive instrument to building a life in students has turned out to be a victimizing tool to repress students whom only demanded justice. The undaunted commitment of generation of Great IFE students to defending the core values and fundamental ideals of our union have been met with vicious attack from successive university managements. We dare say that the culture of victimization and repression which has become a characteristic of this administration and its predecessor before it is counter-productive and antithetical to the culture of intellectualism which the university is meant to promote. We should reiterate here that suspension, summary rustication and closure of the varsity have never and can never be the answer because they are merely superficial and escapist approaches to the glaring problem of our relationship. Without doubt, all victimized leaders and students are being hacked by the university management in a desperate bid to gag our union. Currently, all Executives of the Students Union are under probationary rustication for their involvement in the struggle against hike in fee and 8 other students are on indefinite suspension (

1.) IBIROGBA SAMUEL
2.) PELE OBASA
3.) ADEMUWAGUN JOHNSON
4.) SANYAOLU OLUWAJUWON
5.) OLUWOLE OLUBANJI
6.) BENJAMIN OLUSIJI
7.) ADABALE OLAMIDE
8.) ABIODUN ABIMBOLA

 ) for their principled defense of the collective interest of students and demand for justice. We re-affirm our believe that this courageous students are not criminals; they are conscientious students activists who are being unjustly victimized for defending the position of our union. Permit us to state at this junction that we are strongly of the opinion that indeed it is the university management that has violated all norms of justice and fairness by unjustly disqualifying them during the students’ union electioneering process.

Desire to maintain peace on campus is one we cherish, but it must be exercised within the context of justice and fairness and that is why our approach to reinstatement has started with lobbying and other diplomatic means as we have written to the Governing Council, ASUU and our various intermediaries to ensure immediate reinstatement and withdrawal of charges against students union leaders and activists. This approach we believe will be productive but should this method fail, IFE students might be left with no other option than to mobilize themselves in demanding for justice. We must defend and guarantee solidarity insurance for those who fought for us and those who get into problems while performing creditably the functions of leadership so that subsequent generation of union leaders will not be afraid to defend students right and the values of our union. 

Conclusively, Greatest IFE! This current union leadership will continue to agitate and demand for justice in the emancipation of the students no matter the activities of OAU Association of Sycophants and Hypocrites(OAUASH) whose political insanity has reached its crescendo as consequence of absolute disregard for truth and hypertensive lust for hypocrisy just to bring down this progressive administration with frivolous propagandas. Our policy should suppose that of sectional sentiments and primitive loyalism. It should tower above hatching treacheries, fomenting intrigues, compounding domestic malice, nursing insinuations and making against colleagues for mere motive. OAU students should see the urgent need for their coming together to bury their hatchets in the monstrous heads of their common oppressors and persecutors. This is because dogs must not trouble dogs where there are wolves.

OUR DEMAND

It is important that we outline our demand at this juncture:

1.) Downward review of the astronomical charges
2.) Reinstatement of all suspended students
3.) Normalization of the students’ union leaders studentship
4.) Inclusion of students in major decision making organ of the university

La lucha sigue…..

Signed:

Shittu I.Olatayo(S.I UNIT)
Secretary-General
OAU S/Union

OAU Records First Case Of Ebola Disease?

Fear gripped students and staffs of Obafemi Awolowo University today as the news of a yet-to-be confirmed case of Ebola infection filtered through the University community. An Undergraduate female student was ushered to the University Health Centre by her room mates yesterday as she was said to be manifesting some peculiar symptoms of the deadly disease.

The rumour got intensified today as health workers of the World Health Organization(WHO) and other Bodies were sighted in the Health Centre dressed in the Ebola protective way 'fumigating' the environments. That would be the second time it will be fumigated today.

As at the time of filing this report, it is not yet clear if the suspected Ebola victim was still in the University Health Centre because another report has it that she has been moved to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, some minutes drive away from the University campus.

The University Management is yet to make any official declaration on the case. If the report is true, this will be the first Ebola case reported in The State of Osun.


More details later...