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THE NATION THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

EDUCATION

Don laments erosion of varsity culture

HE Deputy Vice Chancellor [DVC] of the University of Port Harcourt [UNIPORT], Prof Bene Willie Abbey, has lamented the erosion of the university culture through unethical behaviours of administrators in the system. She said environmental factors and lack of commitment on the part of university administrators, workers and students have militated against the return of the culture, which was once prestigious and envious, and the reason universities were called ivory towers. Delivering a lecture titled, "University Culture: Meaning, Scope and Imperatives" at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Prof Abbey said the university culture of research through cooperation with

From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

industries was gone. This erosion, she said, has become a serious concern for university managements, especially as the declaration made in Keffi, Nasarawa State, to restore the agelong best practices of university culture, was yet to be done. She said unethical behaviours in universities were undermining the very foundation of higher education in the country, adding that unethical behaviour has to do with what is morally wrong, "Or when an individual or organisation gains an advantage at the expense of the larger society". She listed some of the unethical behaviours to include cultism which she attributed to long years of military rule and its attendant

brutalization of the universities, and the situation where students who are less brilliant are admitted leaving out the brilliant ones. Prof Abbey frowned at the situation whereby lecturers have refused to complete their course outline and instead depend on selling hand outs, sorting which is the situation where students offer lecturers either their bodies or money for marks. She said: "When a lecturer takes money or sleeps with his female student for marks, such a lecturer has lowered his esteem before such student and it will also be difficult for such student to have the moral to come back and offer any helping hand to the institute as alumnus of the university". Prof Abbey said that the only way forward for the restoration of

UNILORIN FILE

Seminar on religion

•Prof Abbey

the valued university culture is to advocate for a strong commitment on the part of university administrators, staff and students, to uphold institutional core values for a sustainable university culture.

Fed Govt to hire more Ph.D holders

ORRIED by the serious unemployment in the country, the Federal Government has announced plans to employ more Ph.D holders to address the shortfalls in the Nigerian University System (NUS). Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof. Julius Okojie disclosed this in Abuja while presenting provisional licences to nine new private universities approved by the Federal Executive Council, (FEC). He said:"I was amazed when some Ph.D holders came to my office, saying they had no jobs; so if you know any Ph.D holder let them come to us". The new universities are: Augustine University, Ilara, Lagos State; Chrisland University, Owode, Ogun State; Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State; Hallmark University,Ijebu-Itele,Ogun State; Kings University, Ode-Omu, Osun State; Michael & Cecilia Ibru University, Owhrode, Delta State; Mountain Top University, Makogi-

From Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja

Oba,Ogun State; Ritman University, Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State; and Summit University, Offa, Kwara State. They bring the number of universities to 138 - 40 owned by the Federal Government; 39 by various state governments; and 59 by the private sector. Okojie cautioned the universities to adhere strictly to the guidelines and procedures set out by the regulatory body, stressing that owning and running a successful university goes beyond providing an excellent academic brief. Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau, who presented the licenses, said the need to open up more admission spaces for the swelling population of candidates seeking university education informed the establishment of additional universities. "Prior to this approval, Nigeria had 129 universities, serving a

•Mallam Shekarau

•Prof Okojie

population of over 170 million people, in comparison to countries like Brazil and Mexico which have 1,648 and 1,250 universities to service populations of 203 million and 120million respectively. The gross inadequacy of this figure in relation to population size becomes glaring," he said. Also speaking, the Minister of

State for Education, Prof Viola Onwuliri, criticised Nigerians who send their wards abroad to acquire university education, saying they were contributing to negative image of Nigeria. She said many Nigerians who studied in the country up to their Ph.D have proved themselves at local and international fora.

Use computers to learn, Auchi Poly Rector urges students

HE Rector of the Auchi Polytechnic, Dr. Phillipa Idogho, has advised newly-admitted students to adopt the correct use of computers for learning. Speaking to the over 12,000 new students gathered at the school's sport complex for the 32nd matriculation last Saturday, Dr Idogho said education is now going the way of electronic learning, therefore, students should be prepared, adding that the polytechnic has four electronic learning centers. She said: "As much as we have encouraged staff to be computer literate, it is also necessary that students begin to imbibe the correct use of computers for learning. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Nigeria Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) project has developed instructional materials in seven disciplines that can be downloaded. "These materials are available in building technology, computer science, quantity surveying, civil engineering technology, science laboratory technology and mechanical engineering technology. Please visit their websites at www.unesconigeriatve." Dr Idogho congratulated the freshers on their admission and enjoined them to be conversant with the rules and regulations operating in the school. She, however, frowned at students that present fake credentials. "It is forbidden in this institution, the polytechnic has verification mechanisms for ensuring that students with fake credentials are detected. Know that when caught, the

By Sampson Unamka

sanction is expulsion for presentation of fake credentials and rustication for examination malpractices," she said. She assured the students that the management is determined to make the learning environment conducive for them so they can optimize their time for learning. "I urge you all to take full advantage of this priviledge of admission

by working studiously to attain your goals and ambition in this institution. On our part, we will do all we need to make you men and women of character "she advised. Also at the event, the Student Union Government (SUG) led by the President, Comrade Sanni Kafeel, presented an educational award of excellence to the rector. "This award is being presented in appreciation for the laudable achievements you have made in

the infrastructural, academic and human development of our great institution. Auchi Polytechnic under your leadership has reached tremendous goals. "On behalf of the executive members of the SUG and the entire Nigerian students of Auchi Polytechnic, I present this award for your contribution not only to Polytechnic but the development of education in Africa," said Kafeel.

•From left: Mr. Thomas Jacob, Akure Area Manager, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Registrar, Elizade University Ilara-Mokin, Mr Omololu Adegbenro, and the Dean, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Prof. Adetunji Oyelana, during the 2015 SIWES Orientation at the university.

THE Director, Institute for French Research in Africa (IFRA), Dr. Xavier Moyet, will present a doctoral seminar on religion and peace in Nigeria next Monday at UNILORIN. The seminar, which holds at the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies (CPSS), will be chaired by the Acting. Director, Dr. Mahfouz Adedimeji. Highlights of the seminar will include the inauguration of IFRA research fellows and professional interactions with European Union (EU) election observers who are coming with Moyet to the university.

Law Faculty hosts lecture THE 8th edition of the Annual M.M. Akanbi Public Lecture of the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) holds today at the auditorium. The lecture titled: "Of Women Law and Gender Justice: The Rhetoric, the Realities and the African Perspectives", is to be delivered by Prof Ademola Popoola, a former Dean, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. A book, titled "Hallmark of Justice - Commentaries on Selected Judgments of Hon. Justice M.M.A. Akanbi", will also be presented on the occasion. The UNILORIN Vice-Chancellor, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali, will be the Chief Host while the Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Abdulfattah Ahmed, is the Special Guest of Honour.

Don to present two books TWO books, written by Prof Samuel Babatunde Agaja of the Department of Surgery, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, will be presented on Saturday, March 21, 2015 to commemorate the 65th birthday of his wife, Dr A. M. Agaja. The books, "More than Conquerors" - an autobiography - and "Twenty Years of Service to Humanity", will be presented at the Spot Rendezvous Events Centre, Tanke, Ilorin.

Fed Govt pledges more funds THE Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, has praised the management of UNILORIN for the judicious use of funds provided by the Tertiary Education Tax Fund (TETFund) to improve its facilities. Suleiman, who made the observation at a special interview programme on UNILORIN 89.3 FM, also assured the university that the Federal Government would commit more resources through TETFund to help the university expand its facilities even more. The Minister, who was on an unscheduled visit to the university to inspect some projects, said: ''You have done so much at the University of Ilorin by committing the resources allocated to you judiciously. “I assure you that we shall do more; we shall give you more resources in the next coming calendar 2015. We, the executive and the National Assembly, shall commit more resources to the University of Ilorin,” he stated. Among the projects inspected are the Researchers' Village, the Central Research Laboratory and the Entrepreneurship Centre.