Connect with us

Education

ABUAD Awards N476.8m Scholarships to its Best Students in 7 Years, says Founder Afe Babalola

Published

on

Share

Chief Afe Babalola, (SAN), Legal luminary and founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, said on Friday that he had spent N476.8m as financial rewards to outstanding students of the university.

Mr Tunde Olofintila, Head, Corporate Affairs of the university, who disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, added that Babalola made the statement while addressing a special session of the university’s Senate.

The rewards, according to the ABUAD founder and visitor, represented the total amount that he spent so far on scholarships for students who excelled in their various courses in the last seven years.

Babalola further disclosed that as from next session, he would start awarding scholarships to two students in each of the university’s five undergraduate colleges.

He stated that the two students would include the poorest and best students, amongst the freshmen, making a total of ten students to start with, explaining that the scholarship package would include, free tuition and $5,000.

“This is in addition to the annual prizes, which we instituted as far back as 2013. Under that scheme, we have been giving out annual prizes in various categories.

“The categories include any student who scored 4.5 GPA, 4.8 GPA and 5.0 GPA, each goes home with N100,000, N250,000 and N500,000 respectively.

On the salary increase, also announced at the session, Babalola said, “the University is interested in staff welfare, as hence why we analysed and collated salaries of teachers at all levels in private, state and federal universities.

“We have thus decided to increase ours by five per cent, over and above the highest”.

He also listed other staff benefits to include: pension scheme, reliable insurance scheme, payment for Journal articles, study leave with pay, as well as annual teaching methodology workshops.

Afe Babalola thanked the staff, especially the Senate, for sacrificing their holidays, to make up for the COVID-19 pandemic losses, which, he said, enabled students to stay in school.

“With all of these, I hope and pray that the 2020/2021 Academic Session will end by mid-July and we will commence the 2021/2022 Academic Session by late August, this year.

“In essence, we will be the first university in Nigeria to cover the lost grounds post COVID-19”, he said.

He congratulated all outgoing Provosts of the institution whose tenure just ended, saying that their positions were not a permanent one, but only for a period of term, while urging their replacements to appreciate that they would also serve for a specified term.

He called on them to be innovative and original in their ideas by surpassing their predecessors’ records in areas of students’ punctuality, enforcement of dress code, class attendance, maintaining the attendance register and a clean environment.

“The new Provosts and their teachers should also ensure that the issue of sex and money, now common in some public universities, does not creep into ABUAD”, Babalola said.

He regretted that although the NUC was established about 60years ago, the same curriculum that it introduced since then remained what most of the universities in the country were still running till today.

“But, we have a different story to tell. Ours is the only University in Nigeria which has introduced five new programmes that have been approved and adopted by NUC.

“The programmes are, Mechatronics, Intelligence and Security Studies, Social Justice, Human Biology and Dietetics, Tourism and Event Management,” he said.

Babalola added: “In the first 10 years, ABUAD has overshot its expectations in all the Colleges, winning many National and International awards, accolades and recognitions.

“Because we cannot afford to rest on our oars, where do we want to be in the next 10 years? In the next 10 years, our plan is to be among the first 100 universities in the world,” Babalola said. (NAN

Education

FG to Develop Data on all Schools to Address Challenges in Education

Published

on

Share

The Federal Government says it will sign a partnership contract with an ICT firm to generate data on all schools in Nigeria in order to tackle challenges in the sector.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman disclosed this in Abuja on Monday at a two-day capacity building workshop for Desk Officers in the ministry, its Departments and Agencies.

Reports says the capacity building workshop focuses on the implementation, collation, harmonisation and reportage of ministerial deliverables.

“It is our plan that by end of this year or early next year, we will be signing a partnership contract with a firm that will be working with our IT people to generate data on all schools in Nigeria.

“This is because we need to know our teachers, and every single student, we need data to know the trend of learning, our school infrastructure.

“This exercise will enhance decision making and policy formulation as the data collected and collated will aid evidence based planning, measure implementation and progress and identify areas where improvement is required,’’  he said.

Mamman added that data would help to advise the state governments on the right policy to make that would affect the schools positively.

He charged heads of MDAs, desk officers and other participants to tailor their programmes, activities and projects towards the realisation of the deliverables.

“The uppermost focus of the Ministry in general is in the areas of ensuring generation of credible, timely and reliable education data at all levels; and promotion of skills development.

“It is also in the enhancement of skill development across the entire education landscape for innovative and employability education; teachers training and development; and reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

“I believe if we get it right in education, everything else will fall in place.

“The doctors who man our hospitals, the nurses who delivers the vaccines, the engineering in charge of our construction works, everybody is the bye-product of our activities,’’ he said.

The minister commended the government of Kaduna state and the security organisations for helping in the release of the 287 abducted school children in the state.

The Senior Education Officer, Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) , Ian Attfield, pledged to support government in actualising the deliverables and as well support in addressing learning crisis through continuing education financing.

It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu in his Renewed Hope Agenda for the education sector signed a 23 Ministerial Deliverables and the 13 Pillars of the Education Sector Roadmap 2024-2027.

The deliverables are: strengthening research and innovation in education sector, reviewing the status of technical and vocational education board, strengthening the education management information system, among others .(NAN)

Continue Reading

Education

Sen. Buba Pays UTME Fees for 350 Science Students in His Constituency

Published

on

JAMB
Share

Sen. Shehu Buba, representing Bauchi South at the Senate, has paid 2023/2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) fees for no fewer than 350 Science students in his constituency.

Mr Mohammed Dahiru, the Senator’s Programmes Supervisor, said in Bauchi on Monday, that in addition, all the beneficiaries will also be sponsored by the Senator in any university of their choice within the country.

Dahiru added that the Senator urged the beneficiaries to be more serious and read well in order to pass their exams.

Some students who are the beneficiaries of the gesture commended Sen. Buba for paying their fees.

They told newsmen in Bauchi, that the gesture had relieved their parents of the burden to pay for their UTME fees as they kept struggling to put food on their tables.

Jabir Khalid, one of the beneficiaries admitted that his parents couldn’t pay his examination fees because they had no money.

He extended his gratitude to the senator, adding that Buba also organised UTME lessons for them so that they could pass the examinations.  

“Sen. Buba came to my rescue and paid for me and many other students. And I shall be writing my exam on April 19,” he said.

Similarly, another beneficiary, Khadija Hassan, who was elated by the gesture, said her parents tried and paid for the first UTME she wrote but couldn’t raise money for this second one.

“I want to call on the senator to continue with his good deeds,” she said.

Also, Abubakar Ibrahim, commended  the senator for paying for their UTME fees in this difficult time when things are hard especially for the poor masses.

 “Some politicians don’t care about people’s education, not minding if you can afford to go to school or not.

“However, Senator Buba has shown us that he cares about our education to the extent of paying our UTME fees and I am among the lucky beneficiaries.”

“I also wrote the JAMB mock examination which I passed. The main examination will be held on the April 19,” he said. (NAN)

Continue Reading

Education

Education is Dying in Nigeria, People no Longer Read Books – Arogbofa

Published

on

Share

Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, a leader of the Yoruba Sociocultural Groups, Afenifere, says education is dying in the country because people no longer read to improve their knowledge.

Arogbofa said this on Saturday in Akure on the occasion of his 85th birthday and public presentation of his new book, “The Psychology of Growing Old: A Personal Experience for both Old and Young”.

The Afenifere stalwart, while addressing the people present at the event, noted that education would die without books.

Arogbofa observed that the book publishing industry was also dying, mentioning some of the renowned publishing companies that had gone into extinction.

“Education is dying.

I know we have modern technology like this and that, but we can’t begin all this without writing; without producing the books, and we are not producing. Where do we go?

“This is a challenge for us in education. And of course, without books, we can’t move ahead.

“I’m aware that some will write in their bedroom or publish in the kitchen, and nobody, no editor will know what they have written, and they will go in front of their house to start selling the books.

“The next thing is that we find them in the hands of our students. And that is where education is going,” he said.

Arogbofa appealed to the state government and all stakeholders to see how to revive the reading culture in the country.

Speaking at the event, Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State congratulated Arogbofa on the occasion of his 85th birthday.

Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Segun Omojuwa, saluted Arogbofa’s courage, mental alertness and scholarly exposition which he said were visibly demonstrated in the new book.

The governor said the occasion was not just for the presentation another book by one of the most versatile authors, but for celebrating hard work, focus and resilience of an icon who had served the Yoruba nation and Nigeria.

“It gives me great honour to be present at this auspicious occasion of the public presentation of the latest book of our revered elder statesman, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, OFR.

“Let me first of all congratulate baba on his 85th birthday anniversary. Four scores and five years are no mean feat. It has undoubtedly been by the benevolence of the Almighty.

“This is even more outstanding and commendable when one takes into consideration his age.

“Baba is an exemplary leader and elder, I admire for his forthrightness, honesty, truthfulness and for always standing for a just cause.

“We hope to continually tap from your knowledge and wealth of experience,” he said.

Also speaking on the sideline of the event, former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, said government needed to do more in terms of social security for elderly.

“As part of social security plan, we must take care of our old ones, especially the healthcare, there must be a healthcare security mechanism to take care of our old ones,” he said.

A former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, identified inadequate funding and population challenge as the bane of education in the country.

Shekarau said that the rate of population growth has outgrown the planning and funding of the available facilities.

“I and those before us, the maximum in a class was 30, 40. I remember in the 80s, my government decided to make maximum in a class 50, but today, we have 100,150,” he said.

Shekarau later said all these were not beyond what the government could still address.

Reports says that the book was reviewed by the Ondo State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Kayode Ajulo, SAN.

Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

NEWS47 seconds ago

Good Friday: Catholic Bishop urges Leaders, Nigerians to Emulate Christ’s Sacrifice

Share As Christians celebrate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Good Friday), the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel...

Foreign News9 mins ago

Earthquake Shakes Western Greece

Share A strong earthquake has shaken western Greece on Friday morning, but no casualties reported. The Greek Geodynamic Institute in...

NEWS19 mins ago

Tinubu’s Refusal to Celebrate 72nd Birthday Mark of Good, Great Leadership – Aide

ShareMr Tunde Rahman, a Senior Presidential Aide to President Bola Tinubu, says the President’s refusal to celebrate his 72nd  birthday...

dailyasset-greetings dailyasset-greetings
NEWS28 mins ago

New Banks’ Minimum Capital Requirement will Enable Long-term Loans, Says ex-ANAN President

ShareA financial expert, Dr Samuel Nzekwe, says the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) new minimum capital requirement for Nigerian banks...

NEWS8 hours ago

Board Sanctions 118 Immigration, Civil Defence Officers

ShareThe Board of NSCDC, Fire Service, Correctional, and Immigration Service, has approved the sanction of 118 personnel for various offences....

NEWS9 hours ago

NSCDC Inaugurates Female Strike Force to Secure FCT Schools

Share The FCT Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Olusola Odumosu, has inaugurated the corps Female...

NEWS9 hours ago

Tinubu Appoints Bello as new Chairman of CCB

Share President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr Abdullahi Usman Bello as the new Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau...

NEWS9 hours ago

170 Incidents of Electrical Installation Vandalism Reported in 2 years in S/East – EEDC

Share The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), says at least 170 incidents of electrical installation vandalism were reported within two...

NEWS9 hours ago

Diri Tasks New SSG on Performance

ShareFrom Mike Tayese, YenagoaGovernor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, has charged the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government (SSG),...

NEWS9 hours ago

Ogah tasks CAN chair, Nwokolo to account for N100m given by Nwifuru

ShareFrom Godwin Okeh, AbakalikiThe Factional chairman of the Christian Association of NIgeria CAN, Ebonyi state chapter, Alloy Ogah has urged...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc