Education
Certificate Forgery: University of Ibadan Clears Obaseki
Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo opened his defence on Tuesday, at the Federal High Court Abuja, calling two witnesses one of whom was the Deputy Registrar, Legal, University of Ibadan, Mr Abayomi Ajayi.
Ajayi told the court that the fact that some parts of Obaseki’s original degree certificate were missing in the photocopy he attached to his INEC form EC9 and 001 did not amount to forgery.
The witness, who was led in evidence by Mr Ken Mozia (SAN), Obaseki’s counsel, explained that Obaseki’s photocopy was incomplete due to the process of photocopying.
The witness also told the court that the university was not dealing with this allegation for the first time as the Minister of State for Education had once brought the issue before the institution.
He maintained that from the records of the university, Obaseki was admitted as student in 1976 through direct entry and that he graduated in the year 1979, during the tenure of Prof. Tekena Tamino as Vice Chancellor and S.J Okufu as Registrar.“I will not regard the photocopy of the original certificate as forged but incomplete photocopying because the certificate of the University of Ibadan is larger than the paper upon which the photocopy was made,” Ajayi submitted.
He then went ahead to tender photocopies of various sizes of papers and their outcome when the original was not reduced.
Other documents he tendered to prove that Obaseki was a product of the university included relevant pages of the congregation for admission to degrees, award of diplomas and certificates and 31st Foundation Day Ceremony in September 1979, Obaseki’s application amongst others.
The authorities of university of Ibadan had in June last year, before a Federal High Court in Benin, cleared Obaseki of similar forgery allegations.
The institution said that Obaseki graduated from there and was accordingly awarded the degree certificate of Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Classical Studies in 1979.
Earlier, the first defense witness, Mr Charity Aguobawekhina, Chairman of the Edo State Law Reform Commission, tendered the original of Obaseki’s certificates, including the disputed BA Arts Degree in Classical Studies.
The witness who claimed to be a close associate of Obaseki, informed the court that he made the said incomplete photocopy that Obaseki attached to his nomination form that he submitted to INEC.
He added that part of the photocopy attached to form EC9 were cut off because of the largeness of the original certificate.Other documents were the University of Ibadan degree certificate obtained in 1979 and another Masters Degree certificate from Pace University obtained by Obaseki as his educational qualification.All the certificates, which were original copies were admitted as exhibits by the trial judge.
Under cross examination, the witness insisted that the photocopy of the degree certificate, which had the signature of the university’s chief registrar, the date of issuance of the certificate and the name of the vice chancellor did not make the photocopy of the certificate a forged document.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) and one of its chieftains, Mr Williams Edobor, dragged Obaseki to court for allegedly forging his university certificate he submitted to INEC to aid his qualification for the Sept. 19, 2020 governorship election in Edo.
The plaintiffs wanted the court to disqualify Obaseki, who won the election, in the event that he was found to have forged his university degree obtained from the university of Ibadan in 1979. (NAN)
Education
NBTE Begins Accreditation of New Courses in Federal Polytechnic Wannue
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has commenced accreditation exrceise for six new courses at the Federal Polytechnic, Wannue, Tarka Local Government Area of Benue.
Mr Ogah Ngbede, NBTE’s Director of Polytechnics Programmes, disclosed this on Thursday during the ongoing exrceise in the institution.
According to Ngbede, all the courses would be inspected before making a pronouncement.
He said that the exercise would last for two days, after which its decision would be made known.
He added that the institution secured full accreditation for two out of the five courses it presented to NBTE in 2023.
“We are here to look at the claims made by the institution because they have requested to commence some new programmes.
”We are here to ensure that the right thing is done and ensure that this polytechnic is not regarded or treated as a second grade institution,”he said.
The director, who decried poor funding of polytechnic education in Nigeria, called on goverment at all levels to ensure adequate funds were allocated to the education sector.
“The major problem affecting polytechnic education in this country is finance.
”Let me use this opportunity to call on the government at all levels to inject more funds into the polytechnic system.
“Technical education is a low hanging fruit from which this country can use to escape poverty; technical education all over the world has become a major currency with which nations are using to escape poverty.
“When we pay adequate attention to our polytechnics, students that graduate from these institutions can hit the ground running because they have the necessary tools to be job providers and not job seekers”, he said
Earlier, the Rector of the institution, Dr Tyover Ashinya, listed the courses presented for accreditation to include, Business Management, Public Administration, Agricultural Technology, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computer Science
He said that the institution has the adequate manpower and infrastructures to effectively run the six new courses.
”We are willing to improve on all necessary areas that need improvement to enable these new courses secure full accreditation,”the Rector said.
Reports says that the institution was established by the Federal Government in December 2020. (NAN)
Education
FG Set to Revolutionise Educational Infrastructure with N98.2 bn – Edun
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Federal Government has announced the ground-breaking ceremony for the building of a 1,600-capacity student hostel in Akwa Ibom State.
This project is part of a N98.2 billion nationwide initiative to enhance educational infrastructure.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun who disclosed this said the Federal Government, in partnership with states and the private sector, will construct 24 housing facilities across 24 institutions, each with 1,600 bed spaces.
According to a statement by Mohammed Manga, Director of Information & Public Relations, the initiative is aimed at addressing a significant student accommodation deficit, enhancing student performance and well-being.
It is also a testament to the sophistication and depth of our local capital marketsRepresented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Special Duties Mr Okokon Ekanem Udo, the Minister added that
“this initiative invests in our youth and educational infrastructure, ensuring that tomorrow’s leaders have the resources and environment they need to thrive.
“It also demonstrates the private sector’s willingness and capacity to partner with government to deliver critical infrastructure projects across all geopolitical zones, to reduce the housing deficit*, Wale Edun said.
Education
FG in Land-Swap Deal to boost Literacy Education in Kano
By Eddy Ochigbo, Abuja
In a renewed move to enhance sustainable growth in education, the federal government has concluded plans to embark on 13 new infrastructure projects at the National Mass Literacy and Adult Education Commission (NMEC), Kano Centre, through Public/Private Partnership (PPP).
Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, disclosed this on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ engagement and sensitisation meeting in Abuja to kick start the proposed land-swap deal for the development of critical infrastructure in Kano.
According to him, the public private partnership project would mark a turning point in literacy education of adults across the country, regretting that it was unfortunate that Nigeria still had a significant number of adults who are either illiterate or have limited literacy skills.
This major challenge, he said hinders the nation’s overall development and progress.“This is another milestone and progress in the ministry, and we will be having it with private public partnership, and this is also part of President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda.Government cannot do it alone and everyone of us needs this as stakeholders to bring development and move the country forward. We have a regulation guiding us which we will use to ensure that the plots that have laid fallow over the years are put to best use in our time,” he said.
While stressing the need to regulate teaching in the country, specifically to guide teaching and teaching practice, Sununu revealed that the 13 new infrastructure projects – semi-detached two and three bedroom bungalows, state-of- the-art classrooms, clinic, library, hostels, a lecture theatre and recreational facilities, among others – would change the fortunes of the National Mass Literacy and Adult Commission, Kano centre, which has been lying fallow in the last 39 years.
“The projects would not only enhance learning at the centre, but would also provide a conducive environment for entrepreneurship in the centre. The Kano Centre of the National Mass Literacy Centre plays a crucial role in addressing this challenge by providing literacy education to adults across the country.
However, to effectively fulfil its mandate and reach more people, it is essential to have the necessary infrastructure and resources in place. This is where the proposed development of 13 critical infrastructures through land swap Public-Private Partnership comes into play. Through this innovative approach, we will be able to leverage the expertise, resources and capabilities of the private sector to create modern and functional learning facilities for the Centre,” Sununu enthused.
On his part, the Executive Secretary, NMEC, Prof. Simon Akpama, expressed confidence that through collective efforts and sustained collaboration between the public and private sector the growth of education would make a significant impact on the lives of a cross section of Nigerians. He said the initiative would also empower youths and adults to contribute their quota to national development.
Meanwhile, DAILY ASSET gathered that MASLAHA Homes and Development Limited, a leading Kano-based Real Estate company, which proposed the land-swap deal, has the capacity to design, finance and build the 13 new critical education infrastructure and assets for the Kano Centre of National Mass Literacy within the scheduled timeframe.