Education
TETFund Approves N5bn Special Intervention for UNILAG
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has approved the sum of N5 billion special intervention to the University of Lagos (UNILAG), to be captured in the 2021 budget.
TETFund has also increased the National Research Fund to N8.5 billion in 2021 from N7.
5 billion.Chairman, TETFund Board of Trustees, Alhaji Kashim Imam, stated this on Thursday in Abuja, at a two-day capacity building workshop for heads of beneficiary institutions and staff of TETFund.
Imam said that the intervention granted to UNILAG was on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari, to meet its critical needs, adding that same was also carried out in University of Abuja in 2020.
He stressed the importance of research as a pre-requisite for national development, adding that no nation can develop without research.
The chairman however explained that research was a delicate balance for TETFund, as it was invisible, saying that as a politician, development was counted in terms of physical infrastructures such as roads, bridges, among others.
He further noted that the fund had to strike a balance between funding physical infrastructures and funding research.
On academic development programme of the fund, he said the list of scholars sponsored by TETFund for PhDs and Masters was incredible, warning that if the country funds infrastructure without research and scholarships, the institutions would only be half fulfilled.
“Six state universities and six polytechnics will be added to the centres of excellence next year, and 70 per cent of the funds will be for research funding.
“TETFund will add another 12 centres of excellence next year and allocate N1 billion to each for research operations in our universities,’’he said.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro said the centres of excellence project were first designed as zonal tertiary education project.
“It was designed to promote specialisation among participating universities within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Agriculture and Health areas, among others,’’he said.
Bogoro said the project was however geared toward addressing identified national development challenges, as well as strengthening the capacities of beneficiary universities to deliver high quality training and applied research.
“Within the 5-year gestation period of the TCOE Project, we await success stories and manifest achievements that will stretch the limits of our expectations.
“The future of this initiative and the possibility of the R&D flame developing into a raging inferno that transforms the research landscape in Nigeria rests squarely on your shoulders,’’he said.
He added that the workshop was aimed at equipping participants with the information, knowledge and skills in administering the TETFund centres of excellence.
Bogoro reassured the centres of the unwavering support of the Fund to achieve the laudable objectives of the centres.
He urged them to ensure that the guidelines for the management of the centres were strictly adhered to in order to engender the successes that would follow locally and internationally.
Bogoro said that by 2021, polytechnics would benefit in equal proportion with universities as well as colleges of education.
He therefore called on universities to demonstrate academic leadership in grant writing and avoid complacency.
Earlier, the Director of R&D and TETFund centres of excellence, Salihu Bakare, said the fund’s international profile had risen significantly as other countries like Ghana and Tanzania have come to understudy it.
Bakare said Nigerian universities must cease to be local universities, but attract foreign students and be ready to compete favourably with any university in the world.
He said that due to targeted interventions by the fund, the universities were now better ranked and more academics have PhDs.
Bakare stressed the need for collaboration, noting that for the first time in the history of TETFund, provision has been made for collaboration in the 2021 budget. (NAN)
Education
Bells Varsity Honours 91 Students with First Class at 16th Convocation
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)
Education
Prioritise Teachers’ Welfare, NUT President Urges Governors
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)Education
Over 40 Students Bag First Class at FUL
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.