Education
UniLag Elects Ogunsola, First Female Acting Vice Chancellor
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos (Unilag) Chapter, has described the election of an acting vice-chancellor of the university by its senate as a major step by the Federal Government to restore peace to the troubled institution.
The Chairman of the chapter, Dr Dele Ashiru, reacted to the election of Prof.
Folashade Ogunsola as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university.Ogunsola was elected on Monday by the Unilag Senate.
The Federal Government had on Friday, directed the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the university, Dr Wale Babalakin, and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, to recuse themselves from official duties pending the outcome of a special visitation panel to the university.
The Federal Government also directed that the senate of the university should convene to nominate an acting vice-chancellor from among its members for confirmation by the Governing Council.
The governing council had, on Aug. 12, removed Ogundipe as the Vice-Chancellor over alleged misconduct.
“I want to say we are very satisfied with the conduct of today’s election which has brought forth Prof. Folasade Ogunsola as the Acting Vice Chancellor; she was prior to today’s election, the
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development Services).
“The election followed due process. Senate met and nomination taken. Senate has spoken loud and clear on its choice on who to lead them.
“This whole process is a right step in the right direction. We want to thank President Buhari for the intervention.
“We, therefore, call on the university community to join hands with the newly-elected Acting Vice Chancellor to move the university forward.
“I will also like to state that with this election, calm has returned to the campus,’’ the unionist said.
According to him, members of the university community are awaiting the inauguration of the visitation panel l believe that all parties concerned will have a day with justice.
Earlier, a mild drama occurred as the senate members were shut out of the venue of the election based on a memo by the Registrar of the university, Mr Oladejo Azeez.
The memo pasted at the venue of the election read in part: “Re-Notice to Senate Meetings
“The above matter refers: Please note that the message contained below has been sent to senate.
“This is to inform senate members that no meeting of senate has been summoned.
“Members should await proper notice of meeting after the Federal Government has clarified some issues germane to the meeting.
“It follows that you are not to make use of any of your facilities available for any meeting until otherwise advised.’’
NAN reports that it took the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Education to get the venue opened for the election.
Ashiru decried the development.
“It is very sad and unfortunate. The locking of the auditorium is a manifestation of the crudity
and recklessness that characterised the council’s leadership.
“No principal officer of a university should have the temerity to trample upon the senate of the university as we witnessed earlier,’’ Ashiru said.
NAN reports that Ogunsola polled a total of 135 votes to defeat Prof. Ben Oghojafor, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), who polled 31 votes.
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)