Education

Trust in exam bodies’ data handling — WAEC

Published

10 months ago

July 16, 2023

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has urged critical stakeholders and the public in general to have trust in examination bodies in the country.

The Head of National Office (HNO) Mr Patrick Areghan, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

He urged them to trust in the ability of the processes of WAEC and other examination bodies, in handling data.

Areghan was speaking against the backdrop of the drama that unfolded between the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and one of the candidates that sat for its 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Miss Mmesoma Ejikeme.

Recall that Ejikeme had done a video that went viral, stating that she posted the highest score in the examination with a total of 362, as against the 249 issued to her by JAMB.

The board, through its Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr Fabian Benjamin, however, dismissed the claim as false.

Benjamin maintained that Ejikeme’s claim of 362 was manipulated and fake, sdding that the board’s system was neither tampered with nor compromised.

Areghan said there was the need for Nigerians to believe in the abilities of the examination bodies in the country.

He said that theirs was to serve the Nigerian child in the best way possible, to enhance a brighter future.

The WAEC boss described the act carried out by Ejikeme as unfortunate, noting that it was part of the rot in the system.

“It is very sad and I really don’t know what must have led her to the act. It is more painful because it is becoming a general trend.

“I feel the major reason for this could be to gain undue advantage and unfortunately, it ended the way it did.

“I just want to call on Nigerians to show support and trust on our ability to handle, process and share data and other tasks, as it concerns conducting public examinations in the country.

“It is not fair to outrightly jump into conclusions or run down examination bodies, without first seeking clarifications on why, or how certain things could have occurred.

“I am happy with the way JAMB handled and put the whole thing to rest. It stood its ground firmly, on what it knows was the truth.

“It has been able to prove that it is an examination body to be reckoned with, as it was acting based on the data in its possession concerning the candidate in question, which was later acknowledged to be correct by even the candidate.

“It answered all the questions raised concerning the matter, with very clear evidence.

“The lesson learnt here is for us as Nigerians not to rely on speculations and gossips, nor swallow hook, line and sinker, all we hear and see on social media,” Areghan stated.

He called on Nigerians, especially stakeholders, to always approach the various test bodies in the country to seek clarifications on any issue bordering on their respective examinations, first hand.

The WAEC boss said this should be done to avoid being misled or misinformed.
According to him, that way, the candidates or any stakeholder, is sure of the authenticity of any data or record issued to them.

He noted that WAEC, for instance, has accurate record of all candidates that register and write its examinations each year, irrespective of where they sit for it.

“If you are looking for the performance of any candidate, feel free to visit us and we will oblige you.

“Same goes for JAMB and NECO, which are all handlers of our public examinations,” he said.

The council boss urged students to take their studies seriously and avoid looking for the easiest way out out issues.

He said they should imbibe the spirit of hard work, that would guarantee a better and brighter future, not just for themselves or family, but the country at large.

Education

Kwara Govt warns against illegal charges for Common Entrance exam

Published

2 days ago

May 14, 2024

NewsDirect

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.

Education

UNILORIN appoints 40 new Professors

Published

2 days ago

May 14, 2024

NewsDirect

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.

Education

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

Published

3 days ago

May 14, 2024

NewsDirect

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.