Connect with us

Education

Varsity don urges FG to put permanent end to strike in tertiary institutions

Published

on

By Jeleel Olawale

A lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Dr. Adebayo Obadiora has  called on stakeholders in the education sector to put an end to incessant industrial action in the university system which is affecting the education sector.

Obadiora who is a lecturer at the Department of Arts and Social Education said there is a need to put an end to strike action always embarked upon by university teachers to ameliorate the challenges facing university education.

He made this known in an interview with Nigerian NewsDirect.

According to him, “Government should attach importance to the education sector and increase budgetary allocation to it. The allocation is too small considering United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO’s recommendation to education.

“The ASUU strike is going to have residual effects on the students and society. Society should prepare for the residual effects in the nearest future. We should try to do something so that it will not affect society too much. Whatever we know to arrest the situation, we should do it.

“Inadequate fund in tertiary institutions is one of the major issues ASUU is fighting for. Its strikes is to improve university education in Nigeria. When these institutions were established, they were not to house the large population we have now.

“There is also the problem of instructional materials to aid the teaching and learning process which is a serious problem. I am afraid of the products we are producing now to compete with their colleagues abroad, especially public universities. We don’t have materials to teach them especially science courses. So, no material to teach them,” he said.

Obadiora noted that there is a shortage of staff both academic and non-academic, the work overload would not allow quality delivery of instruction, saying that the understaffing is affecting lecturers’ productivity.

He said, “The welfare of staff is not being taken seriously. The salary has not been increased even though it was last increased in 2010 and the rate of inflation is alarming.

“They don’t pay the salary of promoted lecturers even the arrears and regular promotion. Our colleagues are not encouraged and there is congestion in classrooms and the hostels. Students are learning under unconducive environment. I pity the students, they are struggling to acquire certificates. The system made them exposed to dangers like cultism, prostitution, and things that endanger their life.”

He said the ranking of Nigerian universities has dropped drastically.

He said, “No Nigerian universities is in one of the 100 in the world ranking. The situation has made it dropped. The education sector in 2022 is stagnant. It doesn’t move forward, but is a bit backward because of industrial action. Although private universities are working by graduating students but cannot be as large as public universities. That is why I said it is a mixed blessing, some moved forward, some stagnant but the majority is stagnant.”

The university lecturer described the year 2022 tertiary education in Nigeria as a mixed blessing.

He stressed that many tertiary institutions were established to allow more applications to secure admission into the institutions, saying it gives employment opportunity to unemployed youths and aids economic development of the host community.

“The NUC is trying to maintain and improve the quality of university education. It improves the quality of tertiary education. The effect of COVID-19 has also improved teaching and learning in tertiary institutions, online teaching and learning.

“There is need for government to make funds available. We know what we can do to revitalise tertiary education. Don’t let us politicise it. Let all stakeholders play their roles. You will see lecturers working adequately well and remove the embargo on employment and employ more lecturers.

“There should be the provision of laboratory equipment and priotise welfare of staff. There is need to provide scholarships for students. Many students don’t want to go to school again, they want quick money. Students should shun violence and illicit acts,” Obadiora declared.

He called on government to provide security for students and staff so that teaching and learning can be done in a conducive atmosphere

Education

Kwara Govt warns against illegal charges for Common Entrance exam

Published

on

The Kwara State Government has warned principals of Junior Secondary Schools and head teachers of primary schools across the state against illegal charges for the state placement examination (Common Entrance).

Any violator will face the full wrath of the law, the state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, warned on Tuesday in her office in Ilorin.

She emphasized that the common entrance is free and government will not tolerate anyone or group of people extorting money, under any guise, from the pupils because the examination is fully sponsored by the state government.

Hajia Modibbo Kawu urged the principals and head teachers to desist from all acts that could dent the image of the state government.

She also cautioned them against aiding and abetting examination malpractices, stating that the present administration has zero tolerance for examination malpractices.

The commissioner implored the parents and guardians of the pupils to report any principal or head teacher with suspicious acts to her office directly, reiterating that her office is open to everyone.

Continue Reading

Education

UNILORIN appoints 40 new Professors

Published

on

By Saka Laaro, Ilorin

The University of Ilorin has announced the promotion of 40 of its senior academics to the rank of Professor.

The elevation, which was approved by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, was sequel to the recommendations of the University Appointment and Promotion Committee.

A statement from the Office of the Registrar said that the 40 distinguished scholars were found to have excelled in the realms of teaching, research and community service and subsequently promoted to the highest rank obtainable in the academia.

The breakdown of the beneficiaries of the promotion exercise shows that 11 of the new Professors are produced by the Faculty of Agriculture and they are Prof. Sidiqat A. Aderinoye-Abdulwahab, Prof. L. L. Adefalu,Prof. F. O. Takim and Prof. A. A. Badmos.

Others are Prof. Foluke E. Sola-Ojo, Prof. W. A. Jimoh, Prof. M. I. Abubakar, Prof. T. H. Aliyu, Prof. R. O. Uddin II, Prof. T. O. Amusa and Prof. Mutiat A. Balogun.
From the Faculty of Arts are Prof. K. M. U. Gbodofu, Prof. Y. A. Abdullahi, Prof. Abosede R. O. Babatunde, Prof. Bolanle E. Arokoyo, and Prof. P. U. Nwosu while the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences produced Prof. A. S. Alabi, who teaches at the Department of Anatomy.
Two Lecturers from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences were also elevated to the rank of Professor and they are Prof. T. O. Olanrewaju and Prof. O. A. M. Adesiyun.

The Faculty of Communication & Information Science also produced two new Professors through Prof. Tinuke O. Oladele and Prof. Saudat S. Abdulbaqi while those promoted from the Faculty of Education are Prof. O. O. Okoji, Prof. Folakemi O. Adeniyi-Egbeola and Prof. Florence O. Daramola

From the Faculty of Engineering and Technology are Prof. A. T. Ajiboye, Prof. A. Y. Abdulrahman, Prof. M. O. Sumonu, Prof. Rasheedat M. Mahamood and Prof. T. K. Ajiboye.

The Faculty of Law produced one new Professor in the person of Prof. A. C. Onuora-Oguno.
The Faculty of Life Sciences produced four new professors. They are Prof. M. O. Nafiu, Prof. Faoziyat A. Sulaiman, Prof. Risikat Nike Ahmed, and Prof. I. O. Sule.

Those promoted from the Faculty of Management Sciences are Prof. M. A. Ajayi and Prof. Rihanat I. Abdulkadir as the Faculty of Physical Sciences also produced two new professors through Prof. Haleemat I. Adegoke and Prof. O. A. Abidoye.

The promotion of Prof. Monisola A. Tunde of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management was also confirmed while the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine also produced one of the new Professors in the person of Prof. Z. Jaji from the Department of Veterinary Anatomy.

Continue Reading

Education

Student Union election turns deadly: One student flees for life, parents killed in tragic attack 

Published

on

In the quiet town of Ekiadolor, the College of Education became a battleground as student politics turned deadly. Odunuga Gbenga, a promising student, found himself thrust into the chaos of campus conflict.

It all began innocently enough when Gbenga was nominated as a contestant for the Student Union presidency. Little did he know that this simple act would plunge him into a nightmare.

During the election, tensions ran high as rival factions clashed violently. What was supposed to be a democratic process spiraled into chaos, with reports of killings, rapes, and riots echoing across the school grounds.

In fear for his life, Gbenga fled the campus, seeking refuge in the familiar embrace of his parents’ home in Edo State. But safety eluded him as darkness fell on that fateful night.

Under the cover of midnight, a group of assailants descended upon Gbenga’s home, shattering the peace of the night. In a desperate bid for survival, Gbenga fought bravely, but the odds were against him.

Tragically, Gbenga’s valiant efforts were in vain. Though he managed to escape, his beloved parents were not as fortunate. The attackers, driven by unknown motives, mercilessly took the lives of Mr. Samuel Odunuga and Mrs. Taiwo Odunuga, leaving a family shattered and a community reeling in shock.

Since that harrowing night in 2023, the search for Gbenga has consumed the hearts and minds of his grieving family. Their plea echoes through the pages of this newspaper, a desperate cry for justice and closure in the face of unspeakable tragedy.

Continue Reading

Trending