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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013
CAMPUS LIFE SCHOLARSHIPS
FUNAAB FILE
Ojerinde praises varsity THE Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Dibu Ojerinde, has praised the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) for the assistance it extended to the board during the conduct of the first Dual-Based Test and Computer Based Test held of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinaiton (UTME) in April and May. "It is on record that our modest effort is the first of its kind in a large-scale public examination in Nigeria and we are happy that your partnership with us forms the bedrock on which the success achieved was built," he wrote. Commenting on the letter, the Deputy VC (Academic) Prof Toyin Arowolo, said the establishment of the 500-seater ICT laboratory was a good initiative. The 500seater Computer laboratory was described as a as a challenge to other universities to build their eexamination centres, for effective conduct of the Computer-Based Tests (CBT).
Quality of work okayed THE quality of work, team spirit, honesty and transparency exhibited by the FUNAAB has been praised by the Project Director of a foundation – Cassava: Adding Value to Africa (C:AVA), Prof Andrew Westby of the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), United Kingdom. Westby gave the commendation at a meeting with the ViceChancellor, Prof Olusola Oyewole, when he visited for the proposal writing phase of the Cassava project the foundation is running with the university. Westby said the collaboration and support enjoyed from the university translated into the many successes recorded by C:AVA in the areas of developing Cassava SME, as well as positively affecting the lives of many African families. He said: "Sincerely speaking, you have our full support and I hope that as we have done in the last few years, we can use the collaboration that we have on C:AVA as a building block, to build other things as well." Responding, Oyewole praised the Nigerian team for turning C:AVA into a national project. Earlier, the C:AVA project manager in Africa, Dr Kolawole Adebayo, said as part of the criteria for the C:AVA Project Phase II, FUNAAB was selected to provide institutional leadership after a due diligence exercise was conducted by the foundation and the university was found worthy to be the grantee.
APPROACHING DEADLINES SCHOLARSHIPS AND RELATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR NIGERIANS. 2013/2014 NNPC/ESSO National Post-graduate Scholarship Awards In continuation of efforts to provide opportunities for developing careers in the petroleum industry, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL) is offering Scholarships to outstanding Nigerian graduates wishing to pursue Post-graduate studies in the under listed disciplines:
1. Geosciences 2. Engineering (Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Electronics, Civil/Structural, Marine and Sub Sea) Eligibility: 1. Must be a graduate from a Nigerian University 2. Must possess a Bachelor's degree with a minimum of second class upper division in any of the listed Engineering and Geosciences disciplines. 3. Must have provisional ad-
mission into an accredited Nigerian University for Postgraduate studies (M.Sc or M.Eng) in the 2013/ 2014 academic session. The NNPC/Esso scholarship award supports payment of tuition, books, accommodation and living expenses for the selected course of study and for a maximum duration of two (2) years. METHOD OF APPLICATION If you are qualified and interested, please read carefully through the "How it works" section then proceed to apply via the "Apply Now"
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Applications not received by Thursday, 22nd of August 2013 will not be accepted. Names of the short-listed candidates for the qualifying test will be published in national dailies. Shortlisted candidates will also be contacted with details of the screening test via SMS text and email.
Resolve ASUU strike now, Apostolic Faith pleads
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HE District Superintendent West and Central Africa Headquarters, Apostolic Faith Church, Evangelist Emmanuel Bayo Adeniran, has called on the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to reach a compromise so that the union can call off its nearly two-month-old strike. Rev Adeniran, who noted that strikes, especially within the nation's education sector, has become a recurring decimal, warned government on the negative example it is setting for the younger generation. Adeniran handed out the warning at the weekend during the Apostolic
By Adegunle Olugbamila
Faith 2013 concert, held at the church’s national headquarters in Igbesa, Ogun State. Adeniran said there is no way the society can continue to enjoy relative peace when youths who supposedly should be in school studying, are idle. Adeniran said: "The fact is that when this (strike) happens, there is a great challenge to the nation on what example we set for the younger ones. Two, when all the students are out of schools, we have an army of idle hands that can become potential workshops for the devil. And then that increases crimes in our society.
"The best way to solve this problem is for stakeholders to engage on collective bargaining that will respect all concerned parties, and bring peace and harmony into our institutions. “I am pleading with the government, ASUU and other stakeholders. Peaceful environment is not only good for our education system, it's also good for our nation. And the more we move together to ensure we have in an environment that promotes peace, the better for us as a nation. I know that government and ASUU will play responsible roles and soon peace will come into our educational system,” he said. On June 1, ASUU proceeded on an
•Rev. Adeniran
indefinite strike over the Federal Government’s failure to fulfill some components of the 2009 agreement it signed with the union.
Senator seeks improved funding for FCT Schools From Bukola Amusan, Abuja
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• From left: Principal, Government Technical College Ikorodu Lagos, Mrs Elizabeth Babalola; Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), Mr Olawunmi Gasper, Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye; Director-General, Nigerian Employers Consultative Association(NECA) Mr Segun Oshinowo, NECA Director, Technical Support Development programme, Mrs Helen Jemerigbe; and Director Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Ayo Alabi at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ITF-NECA and the Lagos State Ministry of Education at the secretariat Alausa, Ikeja …on Tuesday. PHOTO: ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA
Edo varsity gets N500m for facilities
OVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has approved N500 million for the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma to upgrade its facilities. Speaking at the inauguration of the eight-member Governing Council of the university chaired by Prof Greg Akenzua, Oshiomhole said the money would be paid in instalments, between this month and October. He said the Governing Council would decide how best to put the money to use, noting that he expects value for every kobo spent. Oshiomhole said: "There are a lot of challenges in Ambrose Alli University which is why I appreciate your acceptance of this appoint-
section at the sidebar of this website and submit as instructed. Shortlisted candidates should be prepared to take a screening test to be held on September 7, 2013; strict compliance with our guidelines is advisable. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
From, Osemwengie Ben Ogbemudia, Benin
ment. There are issues of funding, management, transparency, and accurate record keeping. I am aware that the Vice-Chancellor has been dealing with these, but some of them are beyond his competence. “For institutions to drive change which has become a permanent feature in the lives of nations and institutions, you have to find the courage to take decisions that may be painful to some but beneficial to the institution. "There are current issues that AAU has to address. One of them is the lopsided appointment. There are so many non-academic staff, non-research staff; and yet you do not have enough academic staff. Even if we
have all the money we need, we are obliged to use these resources judiciously,” he said. Oshiomhole stressed the importance of accountability to the new council. “Regardless of what we have to say, we all can do better in respect of the funding of universities; not only about funding but management. I pray that God will use us to make a difference and increase the funding, but not just increasing the funding alone, but being sure that every additional kobo we spend, we get a value for it. “As a demonstration of my renewed confidence on your leadership of AAU, we will begin from this month, over the next few months, believing you know best to utilise it," he said.
The governor expressed total confidence in the new council, describing it as a group comprising "seasoned academics, administrators, people who have demonstrated passion for quality education." Responding, Prof Akenzua, on behalf of others, pledged the council's determination to reposition the university and justify the confidence reposed in them by the governor. "You have identified finance as the bane of the university system, I want to assure that whatever funds made available will be spent judiciously,” Akenzua said. Other members of the Council are: Prof Thomas Audu, Prof Tom Imobighe, Dr Andrew Isegwe, Dr Andrew Okwilagbe, Dame Esohe Jacobs, Prince Tony Omoaghe and Dr Godswill Ogboghodo.
HAIRMAN, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi, has called for improved funding of education in the FCT, a sector which he described as critical. The lawmaker made these remarks during the committee's oversight visit to the FCT College of Education, Zuba. Adeyemi, who also revealed that the enabling law for the college has now been passed by the National Assembly, praised the Secretary for Education for improving the college academic standard. The committee equally visited the permanent site of the college where ongoing projects were inspected. They include the School of Technical and Vocational Education, library complex and the School of Education. While pledging more funds in the 2014 budget to enable the completion of the projects, Adeyemi sought ideal building designs for future structures which according to him, will reveal its status as a tertiary institution located in the FCT. He argued that future structures in the Abuja should be of worldclass standard to reflect the status of FCT as the capital of Nigeria. Speaking earlier while receiving the committee, the Provost of the institution, Prof Tijanni Ismail, noted that the college had all its courses accredited by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), adding that management also enjoys a cordial relationship with the students, and unions. With the successful passage of the enabling law, Prof Ismail hopes the college will henceforth carry out its statutory responsibilities.