Education
JOSTUM Promotes 120 Lecturers To Professorial Cadre, Unbundle More Directorates, Departments.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Vice Chancellor, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi(JOSTUM ), Benue State, Prof. Isaac Itodo, on Tuesday announced that, the university has promoted 120 members of academic staff to the professorial cadre between 2019 to 2024.
Prof. Itodo who disclosed this when he received members of correspondents’ chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ Benue State Council, on courtesy call in his office, explained that he met a deficit backlog of 130 academic staff who were due for promotion into professorial cadre since 2019 to 2024.
He stated after the rigour assessments by the university academic assessors,
over 120 readers scaled through and were offered letters of promotion as full professors.
He also assured that the institution has make it deliberate that all those from the directorate cadres who were due for promotion as director, were promoted, stressing that staff no longer loss promotion.
He maintained that some academic programmes have been unbundled to accommodate more and effective teaching and learning, while they secured full restoration of the university College of Management Sciences that were withdrawn about five years ago by NUC.
According to him, out of 11 colleges, 6 are Agro related. 60 percent is Agriculture related, 70 percent resources spent on the 6 colleges with others been supportive.
He Jamb requested and gave the university a total of 5,840 for Engineering but they could not even get 2000 because their courses are no longer attractive.
” Students who come to do 5 years do not graduate in 8 years. There are several neighbouring universities competing for students so, prospective students go for courses that they think can make a difference in their lives. Because of the high level of unemployment, nobody just want to read anything.
“We have unbundled Engineering. We will get computer Engineering , electrical engineering, telecommunication engineering , automotive engineering, Mechatronic, water resources, environmental engineering, hence the life of the university depends on the unbundling.
Prof. Itodo said the institution had received over 6 billion naira as Special Intervention from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND for 2023 which is being judiciously put into use.
“The institution was receiving the intervention for the first time since it establishment more than 44 years ago. The funds is been applied judiciously to the building of an international conference center in the university.
“The center when completed, will be a hub for holding conferences by different groups, pointing out that It will go a long way to shore up their Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.
“We are going to build an Ultra modern drawing studio for engineers, technologists, physics and food science. This is coming as high impact intervention for 4 billion naira.
“We are also, going to build a Plant Health laboratory for 2 billion naira which is a special Intervention of TETFUND undertaken by Israeli. The Annual intervention for 2024 is expected and we will apply to the award to project for 2024. We know that TETFUND does not delay”, he said.
“We inherited a non academic directory which was only 3. This was over burdening. Hence, we decided to unbundle and create 4 additional directory amongst them; Academic affairs directory, exams and record and directory of Senate affairs”h said.
He however said the institution was notorious for not releasing results of students on time, maintaining that presently, only three (3) departments have not released results even as he disclosed that 8000 students have already been mobilized for NYSC.
“There are several neighbouring universities competing for students so, prospective students go for courses that they think can make a difference in their lives. Because of the high level of unemployment, nobody just want to read anything.
“This University started in 82 years. If for 44 years with 3000 staff strength. You cannot compare that to some of the new universities that have 5,000. We are thinking of expanding to fill those programmes that have been unbundled.
“We have committed most of our IGR to fix student hostels and make them conducive. Hitherto students did not want to stay in the hostels.
“We have had security issues. Our female hostel was recently under attack. Nobody was harmed but handsets were collected from the students. Some armed men blocked the road at SRS junction and 4 persons were kidnapped including a one hundred level microbiology students
“A week after that, we learnt that some people came around the same place and macheted some of the villagers and the villagers got angry on the ground that the government has neglected them.
“They blocked the road leading to the university and we can’t go out and come into the university. It was a big problem for us but with the intervention of soldiers, police and the traditional rulers the youths were able to open the road.
“A Joint Army/DSS patrol on a daily basis has commenced in the school. . We need to up our game. We have a standing squad and bought 5 motorbikes and Hilux vehicle to facilitate patrol and response on time. We are equipping our security men. There is a central control unit with drones and walking talkies”, the VC said
Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun, on Saturday awarded 91 students of the institution First Class (Honours) at its 16th Convocation Ceremonies.
The convocation ceremonies are for the 2023/2024 academic session.
Ojediran said that a total of 969 students graduated in the academic session.
He said that they comprised the 91 students who made First Class grade, 505 who secured Second Class (Upper Division), 313 with Second Class (Lower Division) and 60 graduating with Third Class.
The vice-chancellor said that 220 students were graduating in the post-graduate category.
Mr Sally Farouk from the university’s Department of Architecture emerged the overall best student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.
94, according to Ojediran.He said that the institution set out to proffer best solutions from collective knowledge, shared experiences and resources, recognising that education was a lifelong activity.
The vice-chancellor lauded the staff of the university for cooperation and dedication to giving the students quality education.
“You have joined hands with the management of the institution to work on this fertile ground,” he said.
The Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Bart Nnaji, said that university was the first private university of technology in Nigeria, noting that it was established in 2005.
Nnaji said that the institution had made remarkable achievements in teaching and research as part of its vision to contribute to the growth and development of Nigeria.
“Let me also congratulate the graduating students who have distinguished themselves through their hard work and discipline and are being rewarded today.” he said.
In his remarks, the Chancellor of the institution, Dr Ibrahim Dankwambo, commended former President Olusegun Obasanjo for contributions to education development in the country.
Dankwambo also congratulated a former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, and the Executive Director of Sahara Group, Mr Temitope Shonubi, for honorary doctoral degree given them by the university.
Report says that Okebukola and Shonubi were conferred with the degree for their outstanding pedigrees and services to humanity. (NAN)
President of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Audu Amba, on Tuesday, called on state governors to prioritise the welfare of teachers to enhance quality education at the grassroots.Amba made the call at the Adamawa NUT Delegates’ Conference, with the theme: “Education Challenge in an Economy of Uncertainty: Effect of Teachers,” in Yola.
While appreciating Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri for the immediate implementation of N70,000 minimum wage, he called on other governor, who had yet to implement it in their states to do so. The NUT president advised members to be productive and strive to undergo training and retraining to further enhance their efficiency and effectiveness.He called on delegates to elect leaders who would lead well and be bold enough to protect the interests of teachers.Amba also appealed to the governor to implement the minimum wage for primary school teachers and local government workers.In his address, Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Adamawa chapter, Emmanuel Fashe, decried what he called over-taxation of the civil servants in the state, following the implementation of the new minimum wage.Fashe commended the state government for the recent employment of qualified teachers, calling for employment of more, especially primary school teachers.He urged the delegates to conduct themselves in an orderly manner and vote wisely.The governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Education Reform, Prof. Sofema Geoffrey, reiterated his administration’s commitment to the development of education in the state.According to him, NUT has a lot to showcase in term of support to government to ensuring quality education in the state.Fintri urged the delegates to conduct a peaceful conference.He assured that other issues at the forum, especially the ones on over-taxation, would be put into consideration. (NAN)
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
No fewer than 41 Students out of the total number of 1,863 bagged first class degree at the 8th convocation ceremony of the Federal University, Lokoja
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, disclosed this in his speech at the 8th convocation ceremony held at the Felele main Campus of the institution in Lokoja at the weekend.
He said that 461 students were conferred with Second Class Upper and 974 got Second Class Lower while 384 students bagged Third Class and 3 students were awarded Pass Degree.
Professor Olayemi Akinwumi also announced that a total of 117 students were awarded Diploma and 216 with postgraduate degrees: Ph.
D, Master’s and PGD.He said that within his short period in office, the university had embarked on a landmark Collaboration with Rural Electrification Agency to provide reliable power generation via renewal energy solutions such as installation of campus-wide street lighting and establishment of renewable energy training centres.
The Vice Chancellor also announced that Federal University, Lokoja under his administration established the first-ever Zoo and Conservatory in Kogi state to serve not only as a significant hub for research and education but also provide a unique platform for community engagement and environmental conservation.
“It is worth noting that prior to my assumption of office in 2021, only two inaugural lectures were held at our university but now I am proud to share that we have successfully conducted a total of twenty-two inaugural lectures since then.
“In our commitment to fostering engagement with critical societal issues, we have prioritised public lectures as the cornerstone of our mission at FUL. Since our last convocation, we have successfully organized six impactful public lectures that have addressed a variety of important topics” Professor Olayemi Akinwumi further disclosed.
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