Education
Inaugural Lecture now a Prerequisite for Appointments, VC Tells Professors
Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, the Vice- Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, says there will be no appointment for any professor who does not have inaugural lecture to his or her credit in the institution.
He gave the warning during the university’s eighth inaugural lecture with the topic: “If you wish to go FAR, go FAIRY: Reconnoitering an Emerging Computing Paradigm” presented by Prof.
Francisca Oladipo at the University Adankolo campus, Lokoja.He noted that as a culture for the growth and advancement of university education, professors must not shy away from delivering their inaugural lectures.
“Henceforth, appointment into positions in the institution will depend on presentation of inaugural lectures by professors of our esteemed university.
“Inaugural lecture is sacrosanct to university education and we must make sure that all professors in our university deliver their inaugural lectures unfailingly, giving its significance.
“You should know from today that it’s no more business as usual but that elective and appointed positions in this university are based on presentation of inaugural lectures.
“This, I believe, will encourage and motivate our professors to prepare and deliver their lectures without further delay.
“It’s disheartening that many professors in the university have yet to present their inaugural lectures in spite of the fact that it’s one of the prominent university culture.
“All the same, I will not relent in my effort to ensure that there is total compliance in order to uphold the university’s culture for our educational growth and development,” he said.
Akinwumi noted that many universities in Nigeria are gradually losing the flare of the university culture and thereby dropping in educational standard.
He, however, described the 8th inaugural lecture as one of the best in the history of the institution even though the topic was a difficult area of studies yet simplified for the understanding of the audience.
He commended Prof. Oladipo for a well researched job and charged other professors in the institution, who had yet to present their inaugural lectures, to do so without further delay.
Oladipo, a computer scientist who is the current vice-chancellor of Thomas Adewumi University, Oko in Kwara state, charged researchers in the country to develop passion and tenacity before embarking on research work in order to achieve the desired goals.
She also admonished African researchers to always ensure that data collected during research work were findable, accessable, interoperable, reusable and made available for prospective researchers.
According to her, FAIR Data management principle is one of the core areas of research and data collections and analysis, which could lead to a world of limitless possibilities.
“Data collected can be used in many ways to positively impact on human life through creation of personalised services by recommendations, drive strategies, assess impacts, ensure safety among others.
“It’s in this light that I am urging the lecturers of the university to be focused and prioritised their students to make them good ambassador of the institution after graduation,” she said.(NAN)
Education
NECO Reschedules 2024 Common Entrance Exam into Unity Colleges
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has re-scheduled the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination into Federal Unity Colleges and the entrance examination into Federal Government Academy, Suleja.
This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday by Azeez Sani, acting Director, Information and Digital Communication of the council.
Sani stated that the common entrance examination earlier scheduled for April 20, 2024, would now hold on June 1, 2024.
He also said that the entrance examination for Gifted and Talented Children into Federal Government Academy, Suleja, earlier scheduled to hold on May 4,
2024 would now hold on May 25, 2024.
He added that the rescheduling of the two examinations was due to low enrollment of candidates.
He enjoined candidates, parents, guardians, schools and relevant stakeholders to take note of the new dates.
Sani said that registration of candidates would continue till the new dates of the examinations. (NAN)
Education
Six Nigerian Universities to Benefit from EU’s €27m Funding
By Eddy Ochigbo
No fewer than six Nigerian Universities have been selected to benefit from the 15 Intra-Africa Mobility Scheme Projects funded by the European Union (EU) with €27 million under the flagship Youth Mobility for Africa.
Permanent Secretary, of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs.
Didi Walson-Jack, who signed the agreement at the Global Gateway High-Level Event on Education in Brussels, said Nigeria would also benefit from the regional Team Europe Initiative on Opportunity-driven Skills, Vocational Education and Training in AfricaUnder the initiative, the European Union would spend €27 million, allocating €1.
8 million to each of the Projects in the education and healthcare sectors in Africa.These Projects, which are to be facilitated by various Universities, aim to enhance learning mobility opportunities for Students, Trainees, and Staff across the Continent, focusing on developing high-level green and digital skills.
The participating Universities include the University of Lagos, the University of Port-Harcourt, Ebonyi State University, the Federal University of Technology, and the University of Nigeria.
Education
UTME: Police, JAMB Warn Candidates Against Patronising Fake Websitess
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the police have warned candidates preparing for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) against patronising fake websites.
The two bodies gave the warning at a joint news conference in Abuja on Saturday.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said there were several fake websites created by unscrupulous individuals with the intention of misleading candidates.
He urged candidates to be wary of their tactics, saying the fake web sites were designed to deceive innocent candidates into providing personal details such as registration numbers, email addresses, and phone numbers.
“Both JAMB and the Nigeria Police Force condemn these fraudulent activities and hereby reiterate the readiness to safeguard the interests of candidates and maintain the integrity of the examination process.
“We urge parents, guardians, and all stakeholders to ensure that candidates print their UTME Notification Slips only from the Board’s approved website: www.jamb.gov.ng.
“Candidates can print their slips from the comfort of their homes or visit any of the over 700 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide,” he said.
Adejobi explained that the force was familiar with the tactics employed by fraudsters, especially during the annual assessment and admission exercises.
He, therefore, said that both organisations was actively sensitising candidates and the public about these deceptive practices.
“Any candidate who visits these fake sites will definitely have unreliable information and thereby miss out in the forthcoming exams.
“Candidates are advised to print their UTME Notification Slips before Friday, 19th April, 2024, to access vital information about their examinations.
“Any website other than www.jamb.gov.ng offering UTME slip printing services is fake and designed to defraud candidates,” he said.
He also called on candidates to beware of web sites offering ‘live’ questions and answers, as they were false and deceptive, saying that accessing such materials was prohibited.
He further said the board was partnering with the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) to address online scam-related issues seamlessly.
He assured candidates and the public of the force firm dedication to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process.
He also stressed that the Inspector General of Police had ordered the NPF-NCCC to go after scammers and fraudsters who engage in cyber related crimes and create phishing sites/portals.
On his part, the JAMB spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, pledged the Board’s commitment to continue in playing its role
He, therefore, urged candidates to ignore any unsolicited messages noting that they were from elements who aim at defrauding candidates.
The 2024 UTME is scheduled to commence on Friday, April 19, and end on April 29. (NAN)