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Tag: Students

  • Pandemonium in Sokoto as bandits Abduct scores of students, kill monarch

    Pandemonium in Sokoto as bandits Abduct scores of students, kill monarch

    Confusion in Sokoto state as bandits abducted scores of students in Tsangaya, Gidan Bakuso in Gada Local Government area of the North-West state.

    They also killed a monarch and two others in Turba Village, Isa Local Government Area.

    The abduction and killings came about 48 hours after bandits abducted more than 200 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School at Kuriga, Kaduna State.

    The proprietor of the school in Tsangaya, Liman Abubakar, confirmed the abduction.

    He said it occurred around 1am.

    “Some of our students are unaccounted for so far but we are still counting. They invaded our town around 1am, shot one person and abducted a woman.

    “As they were leaving the town, they sighted our students rushing into their rooms and they kidnapped many of them.

    “We have so far counted 15 who are missing and we are still searching for more,” he said.

    Abubakar added that this was not the first time the village was attacked by bandits.

     

  • Sanwo-Olu increases students’ bursary

    Sanwo-Olu increases students’ bursary

    Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has announced an increment in bursary payment to indigenes of the state in tertiary institutions.

    Sanwo-Olu said this at the one-day parley he had with student union leaders and stakeholders.

    The parley, with the theme “Students as Strategic Partners in the Governance Process: Challenges and Prospect for Youth Development”, took place at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja.

    Sanwo-Olu charged the students to be good ambassadors of their schools and focus on being great citizens.

    “As your daddy, I must ensure that you go home happy today; going forward, our Lagos State indigenes bursary has been increased to N60,000.

    “This interface between the student union and stakeholders is necessary; there’s need to share ideas and focus on building a better Nigeria.

    “You all are the future, the future is yours to take, we’re only doing what we can to build the institution that can help shape you.

    ” We’ll do all we can to provide conducive environment for learning by building new additional student accommodation, we will build student arcade in other new institutions and tech hubs like we have in Lagos State University (LASU),” Sanwo-Olu said.

    He said that the state would provide scholarship for physically challenged students of state-owned institutions.

    “Both indigenes and non indigenes will benefit from from this scholarship; also, we have reviewed our scholarship to N250,000.

    “We want to relieve parents in the face of the hard economic situation; with our collaborative effort, we will come out stronger,” the governor said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that bursary was increased from N50,000 to N60,000, while scholarship increased from N200,000 to N250,000.

    The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr Tolani Sule, gave the opening remarks.

    “A stakeholders engagement like this becomes necessary in view of the noble role that our youths have to play in our development agenda.

    “I therefore commend Mr Governor for giving accelerated approval to this programme, knowing fully that our youths hold the key to a greater tomorrow for our dear country.

    “In spite of the present socio-economic challenges in the country, it is gratifying to note that the Lagos State government has continued to sustain the tempo of excellence in our tertiary institutions,” he said.

    Prof Lanre Fagbohun, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of LASU, said communication and constructive engagement are crucial to  effective development.

    “For the management of the universities, there must be effective and sincere communications, the management staff must be involved in policy decisions, and draw curriculum that meet current realities.”

    He said that government should invest in infrastructure, begin to rethink scholarship schemes, support transportation, healthcare, provide internet on campuses and economic empowerment for the students.

    “Focusing on the students today will turn them to the active leaders that the nation desires,” he said.

  • UNILORIN expels 14 students

    UNILORIN expels 14 students

    The Management of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has expelled 14 students of the institution, including 500 Level students, for various examination offences.

    The university’s Spokesperson, Mr Kunle Akogun, disclosed this in a statement in Ilorin on Monday.

    Akogun noted that the students were expelled for various established cases of examination malpractice.

    He said that the management of the institution approved their expulsion following the recommendations of the Students’ Disciplinary Committee at its 219th meeting held between Jan. 10 and 11, 2024.

    According to him, the affected students include 400, 500, 300 level and 100 level students.

    “The affected students were from Faculties/Departments of Agriculture/Aquaculture and Fisheries; Agriculture/Agricultural Extension and Rural Development; Arts/Linguistics and Nigerian Languages.

    “Some were also from the Communication and Information Sciences (CIS)/Library and Information Science, CIS/ Telecommunication Science; Education/Adult and Primary Education Studies.

    “Others were from Department of Engineering and Tech/Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Engineering and Tech/ Materials and Metallurgical Engineering as well as Life Science/Zoology,’’ Varsity spokesperson said.

    He advised students to refrain from practices that were inimical to their academic progress, saying the university would not condone or spare those who indulge themselves in such illicit attitudes.

  • Al-Qalam University confirms abduction of 2 students

    Al-Qalam University confirms abduction of 2 students

    Al-Qalam University, Katsina, has confirmed the abduction of two of its students, who were returning to school from Niger State.

    Its spokesman, Malam Akilu Abubakar, confirmed the incident on Thursday in Katsina.

    “We wish to address recent reports regarding two female students of our school, who were kidnapped on Jan. 15, 2024.

    “The students were on their way to Katsina from Niger State, to resume studies.

    “They were among the passengers traveling in a commercial vehicle at the time of the abduction. Their last contact with their families was when they reached Zaria enroute Katsina.

    “Information regarding the circumstances of their abduction is still scanty as the incident did not happen in the University.

    “The university has contacted the family of the students who have confirmed the sad development,” he said.

    Abubakar quoted the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Nasiru Musa-Yauri, as sympathising with the families of the affected students and promising to stand by them “to navigate through this difficult situation”.

    He further quoted the Vice Chancellor as praying to God to protect the students and make their release very easy.

     

  • Fee hike: FUTA postpones resumption date, orders students to vacate hotels

    Fee hike: FUTA postpones resumption date, orders students to vacate hotels

    The management of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) has ordered the indefinite postponement of resumption of students for the 2023/2024 academic session.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Akure by the institution’s Director of Corporate Communication, Mr Adegbenro Adebanjo.

    Adebanjo said that the management had also directed all students currently on campus and in hostels within the university, to vacate them within 24 hours.

    He said the university’s management directed that registration and payment of fees of all returning students for the academic session via the university portal, scheduled to begin on Monday, be put on hold.

    According to him, the university has not yet opened the portal for returning students for the new session, contrary to what is being bandied in the public domain.

    The institution’s spokesman denied the alleged increment in school fees by the university management, saying that tuition was free.

    “On the proposed new fees and charges, they are mainly for students-related services which are sourced from the economy.

    “And the costs of such goods and services provided by the university for the students will certainly be impacted by costs of goods and services in the economy.

    “To ensure smooth running of the university, certain consumables and payments for municipal services such as electricity, water, hostel maintenance and cleaning and sundry other services are necessary.

    “And the costs of providing the services have shot up and the new charges are in response to this.

    “Other costs that were adjusted as a result of economic reality include medical examination for all new students, biometric identity cards and Tertiary Institutions’ Students Health Insurance Programme, administered by NHIS for students and final year book.

    “The management reiterates that tuition remains free for all students and that it has inbuilt mechanism within the system to look into and build consensus on matters affecting students including charges and fees.

    “And that mechanism is working on this matter and consensus will be achieved,” he said.

    Earlier, students of the institution staged a peaceful protest, alleging that the university’s management had increased the school fees despite economic hardship in the country.

    Addressing the protesting students, the President of FUTA Student Union Government, Mr Oluwasoromidayo Olayemi, pleaded with the management of the school to revert to the old school fees.

    Olayemi said the last increment in tuition fees was not up to one year before the new hike.

    He alleged that the management increased the school fees to over N200,000 for new students, while returning students paying N35,000 would now pay at least N130,000 depending on academic programme.

    He said that the peace protest would continue until the fees were reverted.

  • Osun Govt. orders full investigation over poisoning of school students

    Osun Govt. orders full investigation over poisoning of school students

    The Osun Government has ordered full investigation into an alleged food poisoning of 18 students at St. James Primary School (B) Owoope in Osogbo.

    This is contained in a statement by the state’s  Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Kolapo Alimi, and made availaible to newsmen on Tuesday in Osogbo.

    The statement said Gov. Ademola Adeleke ordered the action and also directed the stoppage of food cooking.

    It stated that the affected cooks in the school and their planning officer for the programme had been summoned to a meeting on Tuesday.

    ” The governor  has directed enforcement of food standard as well as the auditing of O-Meal structure to prevent future occurrence .”

    According to the statement,  the state government has settled all medical bills of affected students after they were discharged from an undisclosed hospital.

    The Chairman of  Local Government Education Authority,  Mr Nathaniel Ojetola, said 18 students were treated and discharged.

    ” The total student population of the school is 200 while only 103 were within the population receiving food from the O-Meal programme .

    ” Also, a government delegation is visiting families of the affected students.”

  • Admission Ban: BAZE University law graduates, students appeal for help

    Admission Ban: BAZE University law graduates, students appeal for help

    Some graduate and undergraduate law students of Baze University, Abuja on Monday urged the management of the institution to urgently resolve the five-year law admission imbroglio as soon as possible.

    Recall that the Council of Legal Education recently imposed a five-year moratorium ban on law admissions at BAZE University Abuja for consistently violating approved quota.

    The Council of Legal Education said that BAZE University had admitted over 750 students into its law faculty since 2017.

    This meant the university exceeded its allotted quota of 50 students per academic session that ordinarily should take 15 years to fill.

    The students told NAN in Abuja that they were worried by the action of the Council of Legal Education and its impact on the future of law programme in the university.

    Vanessa Adeh, who graduated from the law faculty, and waiting for Law School admission, said she had been feeling so frustrated.

    “I graduated in 2022 and have been waiting to attend law school. The school said they are working to resolve the situation but it’s taking longer.

    “I am already having regrets but I hope they will resolve the issues fast.

    “It really saddens my heart that I went to a private university to avoid stories like this, but unfortunately what I hoped not to encounter is now what I am facing,” she said.

    She said that many of her course mates were troubled by the situation and wondered why the school management would allow the issue to escalate to the point of being banned.

    Hadiza Umar, a law student at the university, while expressing worry that the situation may affect her and other students, urged the school management to urgently resolve the issues before it cause more problems.

    Another student, who pleaded anonymity, said her greatest concern was that the university management has not told its side of the story and what it is doing about the issue.

    She urged the school to come forward with information that would calm the nerves of many graduates and students who are worried that the situation may have affected them.

    Usman Aliyu, also a graduate from the school’s law faculty urged the school authorities to put out information on the concrete actions they are taking to remedy the situation.

    A statement released by the Nigerian Law School, said that is investigations showed that BAZE University has a backlog of no fewer than 347 law graduates awaiting Law School admission.

    It also said that BAZE also runs a 3-year law degree for some students of the institution in contradiction to the five-year national benchmark curriculum.

    It said these culminated to the five-year ban on the institution from admitting students in its law faculty.

  • Protest in UNICAL as students block major roads over fees hike

    Protest in UNICAL as students block major roads over fees hike

    Students of the University of Calabar  ( UNICAL) have blocked major roads in the metropolis in protest against the hike of tuition fees by the institution by over 100 per cent.

    The management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) had over the weekend held a meeting when the decision to increase tuition fees was reached.

    According to a statement by the university’s PRO, Effiong Eyo, the upward review of the tuition fees was taken at an emergency meeting of the University Senate on Friday.

    The release stated that the implementation of the upward review takes effect from the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 academic sessions.

    By the new development, freshmen, returning students, and final-year students for the non-science courses are expected to pay N111,000, N91,500, and N114,000, respectively.

    They are also required to pay N36,500, N21,500, and N21,500, respectively, as third-party dues.

    In the same vein, students in the science courses were increased to N155,000, N125,000, and N148,000, respectively, for freshmen, returning students, and final-year students.

    Similarly, they are also to pay N38,500, N21,500, and N21,500, respectively, as third-party dues.

    Students of the institution, on Monday, took to the streets, bearing placards with various inscriptions to protest the matter, asking the management to rescind its decision.

    Some of the inscriptions include “return to the old fees, bring back our old fees, we can’t afford the new fees, UNICAL SUG, wake up,” among others.

    The students who matched around the school premises took their protest to the main gate of the school, causing traffic gridlock along Etta-Agbor and Mary Slessor roads in Calabar Municipality LGA.

    Findings showed that before the increment, tuition fees for an average student, depending on the department, were N64,050 for new comers, N52,050 for the final year, and N49,500 for returning students.

    The management argued that the increment was necessitated by the current economic realities and the need to maintain the academic standard the university is known for.

  • Just in: Abuja boils as NSCDC Officers shoot secondary school students

    Just in: Abuja boils as NSCDC Officers shoot secondary school students

    The Nigeria Police arrested and detained three Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officers for shooting two students from Senior Secondary School, Life Camp, in the Federal Capital Territory’s Jabi and Gwarinpa neighborhoods.

    The two students who were shot by NSCDC operatives are being treated at Gwarinpa Hospital.

    Following the shooting, a group of enraged high school students vandalized three NSCDC police vehicles in protest of the attack on their injured colleagues.

    It was gathered that the incident occurred around 11.20am on Wednesday.

    The NSCDC personnel attached to the FCT Command of the NSCDC were at the school to provide security during an ongoing examination on the premises.

    When contacted, the FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident, while noting that the police had restored peace in the affected area.

    Adeh said, “The incident happened, but our operatives intervened in time to restore law and order, and the environment is now peaceful. Two injured students are currently receiving treatment, and the CP, Haruna Garba has ordered the commencement of an investigation into the incident.”

    Meanwhile, the FCT Command of the NSCDC is yet to comment on the development.

    When contacted for comments, the spokesperson for the FCT NSCDC, Comfort Okomanyi, said she was indisposed, while noting that she would make inquiries from the command and revert.

    “I’m sorry, I’m currently indisposed. However, I’ll reach out to the command for an update on the matter, and I’ll get back to you,” Okomanyi noted.

  • I’m into prostitution to raise fund for my project – final-year student confesses

    I’m into prostitution to raise fund for my project – final-year student confesses

    A suspected commercial S3x worker has confessed that she resorted to prostitution due to lack of money she needed to complete her academic studies.

    The suspect, identified as Esther John from Akwa-Ibom State, was among the 20 suspects arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State by Operatives of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade.

    She said: “I’ve been struggling to complete my studies due to financial constraints. I was looking for money to complete school clearance and project when a friend introduced me to the business.

    “Today is my first day to be here. There is no money for my project.

    The date for the defence has been fixed for next week and they said if I must defend, I must pay all my fees. I don’t have shishi (a dime) and there is no one to run to.

    “Since my HND 1 till now, there has been nobody to pay my fees. The person assisting me before now has died. If there’s anyone who can help me, I won’t come back here again.”