Education

We’ll not allow FG to introduce tuition fees in varsities — OAU ASUU Chairman

Published

2 years ago

August 8, 2022

NewsDirect

Jeleel Olawale

The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife branch, Dr. Adeola Egbedokun, has declared that the union would always stand against Federal Government or university authority to charge tuition fee in Nigerian universities.

Egbedokun made this known in a phone conversation with Nigerian NewsDirect in Ile Ife on the extension of ongoing ASUU strike.

He said, introducing tuition fee is an attempt to send many children of the poor out of the universities in the country, saying that government does not have moral right to charge fee because present political office holders are product of free education.

The ASUU Chairman noted that if they paid tuition fee during their time, will they be where they are today? Some Vice- Chancellors are suggesting to Federal Government to introduce tuition fee in Nigerian universities, can their salary of 416,000 per month measure it when they leave office as Vice-Chancellors, Egbedokun asked.

According to him, “The children of the poor masses whose parents are incapable of paying little charges universities are charging today, not to talk of paying tuition fee. Some lecturers are presently soliciting for fund for those students whose parents could not pay the current charges being charged by university especially OAU but these students are brilliant.”

“The minimum wage being paid by governments could not take the working class to anywhere. If we are actually paying tuition fee, how many parents could afford it?

They should stop parading statistics of comparing foreign universities to Nigerian universities in terms of charging tuition fee. There is no good environment to do so because no good economy to support charging fee. Government should provide basic amenities, robust economy before they could start charging fee.

What the governments are trying to do is to destroy university education just like they do to primary and secondary school education.”

Speaking on propaganda against the ASUU by Federal Government, Egbedokun said, ASUU did not ask for money from Federal Government but pay rise on salary which is the legitimate right of university workers in a sane land.

“We are entitled to increment in salary and our salary is meagre campare to salaries of political functionaries in the country. Imagine a senior lecturer is receiving about 250,000 as monthly salary since 2009 and no pay rise since then. This is our right, we demand for good welfare condition and revitalisation of university education before it collapse.

ASUU is asking Federal Government to fund tertiary education rather, they are misinforming the public on ASUU demands. The government is so insensitive to the plight of Nigerians. We are asking for fund to be made available for the revitalisation of university education.

This fund is not going into ASUU’s account but the university account for the revitalisation of university education. The Minister of labour, Dr Christ Ngige and Festus Keyamo are misleading the public on the demands of ASUU but they are uneducated on the demands of ASUU.”

Egbedokun stressed that negotiation has been completed and document submitted to the Minister of education, Mallam Adamu Adamu which we think should have been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for further directive either to review or reject.

He added that the Federal Government will communicate Nimi Brigg’s committee and ASUU to meet and call for a meeting to resolve. If they want to end the strike today, they can do it. But their priority is not education.

“Education is not the priority of the government but politics which is recking havoc on the nation. Political office holders are dealers and lack capacity to govern us.”

Education

Kwara Govt warns against illegal charges for Common Entrance exam

Published

4 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

4 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

4 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.