Nigeria Universities Updates

FOLLOWING the visit of the NationalUniversity Commission (NUC), to Kogi State over the location of the federal university in the state, a permanent site for the new University of Technology has finally been approved by the Commission.

The location of the federal university at Lokoja by the state governor had generated crisis, which left seven people dead in Kabba during the protest against the site approved by Governor Ibrahim Idris.

The new site, according to the Director-General on Media to the state governor, Mr Richard Elesho, is Felele, a suburb of Lokoja, which was ratified by the Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Julius Okojie.

According to Elesho, Professor Okojie, who led a team of experts from the Federal Ministry of Education to Kogi State on a fact-finding mission and assessment tour of possible sites and facilities for the new institution, was led by Governor Ibrahim Idris and some members of his cabinet.

Governor Idris explained the rationale for siting the university in the capital city, disclosing that Felele has about 5,000 hectares of land, which could accommodate the university. He also stated that in the spirit of fairness, justice and the need for equitable distribution of federal presence, Lokoja is the most suitable for the university.

Governor Idris argued that the eastern part of the state already has a federal polytechnic in Idah, a state universty in Anyigba and a state college of education in Ankpa, while the Central flank could boast of a Federal College of Education in Okene and a campus of the State Polytechnic in Osara.

“The West has the State College of Education Technical, Kabba, and a campus of the state polytechnic. This arrangement leaves only the West without a federal institution.

“Since Lokoja is centrally located, and being the first capital of colonial Nigeria, it is only fair to site the university in Lokoja and West Senatorial District,” he said.

Popularity: 29% [?]

THE Joint Admission and Matriculation Board(JAMB)has lifted the ban on admission of fresh students into Abia State University (ABSU) for this year’s academic section. Abia State Commissioner for Education Chief Paul Mba revealed this to reporters in Umuahia at the weekend.

Mba explained that management of universities from the Southeast and Southsouth met with JAMB and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to iron out grey areas.

Mba said the meeting enabled the universities to press home their demand for improved emoluments.

His words: “We want to advise parents whose children chose Abia State university as their first choice to go to the university for their admissions for the coming year.They should reapply at no extra cost”.

Mba said the present academic year will end in February.

The Abia State Commissioner for Education said funding of universities and infrastructural development of schools were discussed at the meeting.

His words: “Abia state government was giving the state university the sum of N100 million monthly. It has been increased to N164 million.

“This means that the students will be expected to pay more in their school fees. But the school authority will announce the new fees at their own time”.

He assured that governor Theodore Orji would continue to accord the education sector utmost priority.

The commissioner explained that the state government is rebuilding all the dilapidated schools through intervention funds from UBE and ETF.

He explained PTA has been reintroduced in schools, to help in the provision of infrastructure.

Mba said the Abia State Oil Producing Develop-ment Commission (ASOPADEC) had been directed to start rebuilding dilapidated schools in the state.

He revealed that the state government has abolished administrative and developmental fees in schools.

Popularity: 7% [?]

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has described the creation of 12 new universities by the Federal Government as “the politicisation of the university education system.”

Addressing reporters yesterday after its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the Federal University of Technology in Owerri (FUTO), the Imo State capital, ASUU National President Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie said though the new schools may have met some political exigencies, it would have been better to upgrade the 28 existing federal universities.

Awuzie said: “The level of dilapidation of infrastructure at these schools demands a huge infusion of funds to bring them to acceptable international standards.

“If the funding of existing universities is not substantially improved and sustained, the creation of new ones will further worsen the condition of the university system.”

Awuzie said existing universities lack about 30,000 staff, stressing that the N1.6 billion take off grant for each of the new varsities would solve many problems of the old schools.

On the implementation of the FG/ASUU Salary Agreement in state universities, which caused a protracted strike in the Southeast, he said only Cross River was yet to implement the agreement and urged the state to implement it.

ASUU thanked the Federal Ministry of Education, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and National Universities Commission (NUC) for their roles towards the implementation the agreement.

Popularity: 3% [?]

The admission requirement for entry into the National Diploma (ND) programme of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, has changed to tally with that of the university.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the polytechnic, Mr Adeyemi Adejolu, the step was part of a resolution of the Academic Board of the institution at its last meeting.

The board reviewed ‘O’ Level requirements for candidates seeking admission in line with directive of polytechnics’ regulatory agency – the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) from four to five credits in relevant subjects including English and Mathematics.

The change is aimed at removing the much talked-about disparity between university and polytechnic graduates.

The statement which said the new policy takes off next academic session added that under the new policy, any student wishing to secure admission into the polytechnic must have obtained at least five credits in relevant subjects at not more than two sittings.

Before, credit level passes in English and Mathematics was not compulsory in some departments.

The statement added that screening examination might also be introduced for the admission exercise into the Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes of the institution with effect from the 2011/2012 admission process.

“These stringent measures are part of the designs aimed at ensuring that only quality candidates are henceforth offered admission into the various programmes of the polytechnic”, the statementadded.

Popularity: 3% [?]