The National Universities Commission (NUC) has fully accredited 43 academic programmes at the Federal University Kashere (FUK) in Gombe State.

The commission granted the approval for all the programmes presented by the institution for the  October/November, 2023 accreditation exercise.

This is contained in a statement by its spokesman, Mrs Janet Ezekiel in Gombe on Friday.

Ezekiel said the approval is contained in letterct with reference number NUC/ES/412/VOL.

“The document captioned: Result of the October/November 2023 Accreditation of Academic Programmes in Nigerian Universities indicated that in line with the provision of section 10 (1) of the Education (National Minimum Standard and Establishment of Institutions) Act CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“The commission has organized the accreditation of academic programmes at Federal University Kashere in October/November, and accredit all the 43 academic programmes that were presented in either Accredited, Full or Interim Accreditation Status,” she said.

Ezekiel said the exercise covered undergraduate and postgraduate programmes including those presented for initial accreditation and re-accreditation.

She said that four postgraduate programmes earned accreditation status, 32 undergraduate programmes got full Accreditation, while 7 other undergraduate programmes had interim accreditation.

“It is important to note that by implication any postgraduate programme with accredited status and undergraduate programme with full accreditation will remain valid for five years after which it will be presented for re-accreditation whereas, those with interim accreditation status will last for two years before re-accreditation,” she said.

According to Ezekiel, 98 academic programmes being run by the university got full accreditation including 49 postgraduate and 42 undergraduate, while seven undergraduate programmes got interim accreditation status.

The statement quoted Pate as expressing joy over the successful outcome, describing it as “a collective achievement”.

While reiterating commitment to consolidate on the achievement, Pate sought for the support of the staff to transform the university into a “real citadel of learning”. (NAN)

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

The  Kano State Government says  it has employed 5,000 teachers into the state civil service to revitalise the education sector.

Gov. Abba Yusuf stated this while declaring a state of emergency on  education on Saturday in Kano.

He emphasised the need for quality  personnel to manage public schools in the state.

Yusuf said the initiative is  aimed at providing the required manpower for  public schools in the state to provide quality education.

The governor  said that the era of pupils receiving lectures under harsh conditions was  over.

He  pledged to ensure a total rehabilitation and provision of furniture for public schools in the state.

“The declaration of a state of emergency in education is a bold step towards addressing the challenges facing the sector.

“The government’s commitment to providing basic learning materials and infrastructure will go a long way in improving the quality of education in the state,” he said.

Yusuf said the  move was  to ensure that every child in the state  had access to a conducive learning environment.

He used the opportunity to highlight the crisis facing the state’s education sector, painting a stark picture of a system in dire need of reform.

“Over 4.7 million pupils are forced to sit on bare floors to learn, while 400 schools have only one teacher for all classes and subjects,” he said.

Yusuf   alleged that the immediate past administration closed down schools while  those vandalised were converted to commercial premises.

“Teachers struggle with outdated and insufficient  basic learnung equipment, while clean water and sanitation are lacking in many schools,” he said.

The governor accused the past administration of profiting from school lands over investing in education, leaving a legacy of neglect.

He promised to tackle the multi-faceted problems facing public  education in the state head on.

These, he said, include  the  shortage of qualified teachers, inadequate training programmes and socio-economic challenges faced by students.

“It’s time for  investment in public education and a commitment to providing quality learning environment for all,” Yusuf said.( NAN)