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Gambari Tasks Tertiary Institutions, Host Communities on Peaceful Coexistence

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Fromc Lokoja


Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff to former President Muhammadu Buhari has challenged tertiary institutions worldwide to embrace mutual and peaceful coexistence with host communities for accelerated development.
Prof. Ibrahim Gambari made the call  at the 4th Distinguished Public Lecture of the Federal University, Lokoja.


He spoke on the topic titled “The Relevance of University Education in Innovation for the Advancement of Town and Gown Symbiosis”.

He described Lokoja as a critical launching pad for what the future holds for the country, reason why the Federal University Lokoja must through research and her contributions to knowledge seek way of ensuring her relevance.

He said universities like that of Lokoja has witnessed an expansion in terms of size, and an overall improvement of other services and quality of life, reason why the need for a symbiotic relationship between the town and the gown.

“A university with a student population in the tens of thousands is suddenly unable to function due to the physical absence of students. People whose sole occupation evolved around the presence of these students were suddenly caught off guard, from the shoe shiner/cobbler to commuter buses/ porters in the hostels who relied on daily tips. All the way to Landlords who rented off-campus housing to students were suddenly caught in a very difficult position.
“These developments do not happen without a firmly established basis for cooperation and collaboration between the Town & Gown components” stressing the relevance of a University Education relative to innovation.

According to Prof. Gambari, “The Gown must be cognizant of not isolating themselves and ensure they descend from their ivory tower and engage with the town, build inroads into the community, and embrace them with open arms and finding a way to embed them into the campus. The town on the other, should also understand the enormous responsibilities that comes with playing host, to a very diverse group of people young and old, who may not fully understand the nuances of their cultures, societal norms and traditions and learn to accommodate by being warm, friendly and hospitable.”
Prof. Gambari described the relationship between Town and Gown in academic circles as an “arranged marriage” in which partners have no choice, but to be together, secondly, divorce is not a realistic option for the town-gown partners. Infact, Town & Gown relationships are the true embodiment of the phrase “till death do us part.”
Prof. Gambari advocated, “environment and Community Development that continues to support the development of ideas by students and staff towards innovation in supporting host communities and the entire state, describing it as an example of Town and Gown collaboration he witnessed.
The guest speaker noted that the ability to maximize the potential of the Town and Gown relationship, completely resides in partners commitment to align their priorities and have a harmonious working relationship.
While observing that the campus and the town should have mutual concerns about shared facilities, utilities, cultural centers, social centers, safety and health, population management, economic development and land use, the demand for these services he added is constantly evolving, pointing out that there is never an ending need to manage them in the present as well as plan for them in the future.
Prof. Gambari also observed that neither the school nor the town can have the economic means to take on the complete burden of satisfying these needs.

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Life Doesn’t End in your Communities, NYSC D-G Tells Corps Members

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The Director-General of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Brig.-Gen. Yusha’u Ahmad, has advised corps members to stop thinking of relocating back to their communities, emphasising that life does not end there.

Report says that Ahmad spoke when he visited the NYSC temporary orientation camp on Friday in Kaduna.

Addressing corps members of the 2024 batch ‘C stream ‘I’ currently on the mandatory three-week orientation course, he urged the corps members to find home anywhere they were posted to, emphasising the importance of adapting to new environments.

Ahmad emphasised that the corps members must find a sense of belonging wherever they were posted, stating that such mindset was crucial for a successful service year.

According to him, embracing new experiences and being open to change can lead to personal growth and development.

He urged the corps members to focus on making a positive impact in their host communities.

The director-general encouraged them to be proactive and seek opportunities to contribute to the development of their host communities.

He urged them to respect the cultures and traditions of their host communities, advising, ”remain peaceful and resilient as you add value to the community you are posted to.

”I am sure many of you will choose to remain here after your service. You should also take security seriously.

“Your security is our concern, but no one can secure you more than yourself.”

Ahmad underscored the importance of skills acquisition and entrepreneurial development of the scheme.

He urged the corps members to take advantage of the programme to become not just self-reliant, but job and wealth creators after their service year.

“Skills acquisition is designed to make you independent, self-reliant and productive.

”The Federal government is out to ensure that youths are supported and empowered so they can stand on their own.

“Thousands of your predecessors who maximised the opportunity are now independent,”Ahmad said.

The director-general however warned the corps members on unauthorised and night travels, indecent dressing, among other acts that may project the scheme in bad light.
(NAN)

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Protect TETFUND from Abrogation Under Proposed Tax Bill–ASUU urges NASS

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the National Assembly (NASS) to protect the Tertiary Education Trust (TETFUND) from being abrogated under the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024.

Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of ASUU, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Osodeke said that the proposed bill was worrisome and also posed potential danger to the Tertiary Education Trust (TETFUND).

“ASUU has observed with keen interest the ongoing debate on the review of the tax system in the country under a proposed bill tagged, Nigeria Tax Bill, 2024.

“This is currently before the National Assembly. Arising from the tax bill is the proposed abrogation of the education tax.

“ASUU is alarmed by this dangerous and unpatriotic aspect of the proposed new tax regime,” he said.

According to Osodeke, the bill proposed that education tax, called development levy, used to bankroll TETFund’s programmes should be ceded to the newly established Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

“TETFund will also receive 66.7 per cent in 2027, 2028 and 2029 years of assessment but zero per cent in 2030 year of assessment and thereafter,”he said.

He said that the far-reaching consequence of the new tax system is that from 2030, all funds generated from the development levy would be passed to NELFUND.

He said that ASUU found the development not only worrisome but also inimical to the national development objective due to the potential danger to the survival of TETFund.

Osodeke said that TETFund has been viewed as the backbone for infrastructural development, postgraduate training and research capacity building in Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions in the
last 15 years.

He said that ASUU had resolved not to stand by and watch the denigration or obliteration of TETfund which represents a positive testament to its constructive engagements with Nigerian governments since 1992.

“It is our considered view that abrogating the TETFund Act 2011, by design or default, will be a great disservice not just to education but to Nigeria as a nation.

“As a result, ASUU is urging members of the National Assembly to do all within their capacity to protect TETFund from being abrogated under the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, ”he said.(NAN)

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Gunmen Kill 1 at Benin Nightclub

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The police in Edo have confirmed the killing of a guest at the popular Raptor Club and Lounge, Stadium Road, Benin.

The victim was shot dead by gunmen in the early hours of Friday, while his female passenger sustained gunshot injuries.

SP Moses Yamu, Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Edo, said that investigations into the incident were ongoing.

According to him, the police received a distress call at 3 a.

m. that there were gunshots at Raptop Club.

He said the operatives of the command on reaching the scene went after the hoodlums, who escaped and abandoned a pump action gun and two expended empty shells.

Yamu explained that efforts were ongoing to arrest the perpetrators.

NReport says that the incident, which occurred at about 2 a.m., has left the management and patrons of the nightclub in shock.

A source told newsmen that the deceased, whose identity has not been disclosed, was shot inside his white Lexus Jeep vehicle, while the female passenger was hit by stray bullets on her lap.

The incident left the club with some damages, including shattered show glasses and a destroyed glass door.

Policemen were seen at the scene of the incident, as the deceased’s vehicle was towed away. (NAN)

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