Education
UI to Adopt Online Teaching for the Rest of Second Semester Due to COVID-19 –Registrar
The management of the University of Ibadan (UI), on Monday, proposed moving teaching and learning, for the rest of the second semester, online due to rising COVID-19 cases and deaths in the country.
The university’s Registrar, Mrs Olubunmi Faluyi, disclosed this in a statement made available in Ibadan by Mr Tunji Oladejo, Director of Public Communications, in the office of the Vice Chancellor.
“It is clear that going fully online or adopting a blended approach to teaching is one of the steps to take to ensure the safety of all staff and students, given the increasing rate of infections being experienced in Nigeria and on our campus.
“Management commends all departments engaging in virtual/blended teaching since the commencement of the 2020/2021 Session.
“All departments are urged to immediately take advantage of existing arrangements and commence virtual/blending teaching.
“The Directorate of Information Technology and Media Services (ITeMS) and the ERTC are on the ground, available to provide technical support,” the registrar said.
Faluyi said the university had earlier requested faculties to identify courses to be taught online and those to be taught physically, for the rest of the second semester.
“The Emergency Remote Teaching Committee (ERTC), in its proposal to the Committee of Provosts and Deans (CoPD), at a meeting, held on the 11th August, 2021, had noted and recommended thus:
“As more cases of COVID-19 are being announced nationwide. These call for caution and proactive actions, which should take into consideration, in the main, the review of the mode of teaching and learning in the second semester and, as a consequence, provide a safe way to undertake pedagogical activities on Nigerian university campuses.
“With the daily rising cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 and with several cases within the main campus and the College of Medicine/UCH campuses, the ERTC considered a proposal of blended teaching for the second-semester in the university.
“The blended learning model should be officially decided in terms, either of availability of sections of the student population for online or physical encounters or the categorization of courses as online or physical.
”This neutralizes the choice of location or keeps all students, in principle, in physical presence within and/or around the campus,” she said.
Faluyi said the proposed platforms and tools to be used, according to the ERTC, include: LMS, Zoom, YouTube Gsuite accounts, Telegram fora, Solution clinics, which should be maintained for use by students and staff in all cases.
“Google meet, which is practically free, should, in addition, be encouraged for lectures, since all academics have access to Gmail accounts.
“Firm decisions and systematicity should be applied on the preference for the operations of blended learning to ensure effectiveness,” she said.
She noted that the management had decried the poor compliance with COVID-19 protocols by the entire university community and emphasised the need to ensure strict compliance through the university’s COVID-19 Committee.
“If the situation worsens on campus, full online engagement should be mounted for all courses as was done in the first semester, exempting only departments and units with special needs, on the condition that evident strict compliance with the protocols will be observed.
“Bigger Zoom rooms for courses, with more than 1,800 students, should be purchased and added to the existing pool”, Faluyi added.
The registrar enjoined everyone to take personal responsibility for his/her safety by obeying all COVID-19 safety protocols.
“If we do this, there will be no cause for panic on our campus,” she said.
Faluyi also disclosed that arrangements were ongoing to make vaccines available for all staff and students, as soon as possible, the details of which would be provided as more progress is made, she said. (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.