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Tag: UNILORIN

  • We increased tuition fee by 35% not 100% – UNILORIN

    We increased tuition fee by 35% not 100% – UNILORIN

    The Management of the University of Ilorin on Tuesday disclosed that it had hiked its school fees by 35 per cent.

    Mr Kunle Akogun, the spokesman of the university, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the initial increment was by 48.4 per cent as against the general conception of 100 per cent.

    According to Akogun, the increment is in university and faculty charges.

    He explained that the items that made up the charges were simply fundamentals and basic.

    ”As a result of reduction in the Federal Government reimbursement for the university running cost on recurrent expenditure and the consideration on the financial realities on ground, it’s imperative that the university management made adjustment in the charges,” he said.

    The university’s spokesman explained further that economic realities were considered and that the institution was spending a lot of money on necessities.

    He explained that the new fees would be a little above N21,000 while other charges such as faculty and departmental charges would depend according to individual faculties in the university.

    Reacting, the university’s Students Union (SU) Chairman, Mr Animashaun Emmanuel, told NAN that the union had met with the university management, adding that the union’s proposal earlier, was just 15 per cent increase.

    He explained that the union had not reached agreement yet on the 35 per cent increment by the university management since the union’s agitation was 15 per cent.

    “We will meet with other presidents from the various faculties to deliberate on the issue, then will reach agreement on the new 35 per cent increment,” he said.

  • Unilorin: ‘We do not charge tuition’ – Management

    Unilorin: ‘We do not charge tuition’ – Management

    The University of Ilorin on Sunday said it does not charge tuition fees in line with the policy of the Federal Government.

    According to a statement signed by Mr Kunle Akogun, Unilorin Director of Corporate Affairs, misinformation is currently trending on the social media over slight adjustments in the university’s charges starting from the 2018/2019 academic session.

    “We wish to put record straight and assure our ever responsible students of the management’s good intentions.

    “The University of Ilorin, in line with federal government policy, does not charge tuition fees.

    “What we have here is university and faculty charges,” he said.

    Akogun stated that the items that make up the charges are simply fundamental and basic.

    “For instance, examinations remain sacrosanct, same for provision of state-of-the-art health and library facilities, in addition to stable electricity and uninterrupted water supply.

    “The implication is that what is obtainable about 12 years ago can no longer sustain the university in this century.

    “It should be pointed out that even with the slight adjustment in charges, Unilorin is still among the lowest charging federal universities in the country,’’ he said.

    He said this can be confirmed by comparing statistics of what is payable in other universities.

    The director noted that this does not foreclose negotiation between the management and student leaders for reasonable concession.

    “Even if only one naira is added, there will be reaction.

    “The question is how justifiable is the reaction in the face of current realities in providing qualitative university education with needed facilities that guarantee such.

    “The management, ever so responsive, has set in motion a high level negotiation with stakeholders for possible reduction,” he said.

    Akogun also stated that as part of the strategy, a meeting had been scheduled for Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, between the leadership of the Students’ Union, Faculty Presidents and officials of the Students’ Affairs to find a middle course solution to the matter.

     

  • Outrage as UNILORIN increases tuition fee by ‘over 100%’

    Outrage as UNILORIN increases tuition fee by ‘over 100%’

    Indications emerged on Saturday that the management of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has effected an increment in the varsity’s tuition fee by over 100 per cent.

    The increment was confirmed by the students union president, Seyi Animasaun in a telephone interview on Saturday.

    “What we have woken up to is rather unexpected, shocking and challenging. This cannot stand. I have called emergency meeting with all SU executives and all Faculty presidents and we shall release a comprehensive report after,” he said.

    When asked of the amount added to the tuition, he told our correspondent it “varies across different faculties”.

    However another student said over 100 per cent increment “depends on the amount each faculty has been paying before now”.

    According to a screenshot from one of the students, the tuition for the department of Mass Communication for instance was increased from N10,700 to N23,300.

    The increment will take effect from 2018/2019 academic session.

    Confirming the increment, the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Kunle Akogun, said the increment is ‘marginal’.

    “It is not an increment. Do you have the fees of other Federal Universities? Even with the increment, we are far ‘better’ than other universities.

    “The increment is just marginal with the current economy reality and we are still below other universities,” he said.

     

  • Unilorin to increase foreign students by 5% – Official

    The University of Ilorin, Centre for International Education (CIE), is planning to increase the number of its international students from 300 to at least 1, 500 or 5 per cent.

    The Director of the Centre for International Education (CIE), University of Ilorin, Prof. Olabisi Olasehinde-Williams, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen on Wednesday in Ilorin on Wednesday.

    She said that the number of foreign students at present is 300 from the 30, 000 total population of students in the institution.

    Williams said that the Centre also intends to strengthen the quality of relationship the University has with other institutions with which it has Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).

    The director noted that in strengthening relationships with other universities, the centre has begun revitalizing the activities of the desk officers within the confines of the MoUs.

    She added that the centre also seeks to strengthen collaborations with agencies that can give grants for research and technological development in order to strengthen external resources.

    The don explained that the centre was also planning to increase the number of staff and students on exchange programmes.

    Olaseinde-Williams said, “currently, we don’t have more than three students going on exchange programmes per annum.

    “We are looking at the possibility of increasing it to 10 annually, as well as placing students on internships and fellowship both locally and internationally.”

    The director explained that the centre would work closely with the Student Affairs Unit to ensure that the accommodation issue for international students is addressed, as well as improve CIE activities on the web, especially in the area of online application for foreign students.

    “The procedure for admission of foreign students is cumbersome.

    “We want to see a situation where we have facilities on the web that will help facilitate online application for foreign students so that they won’t have to come here to apply.

    “We are also looking at having a section of the portal created for international students, so that we can have adequate record of them,” she said.

    Recalling how CIE was established in 2009, the director said that CIE was borne out of the need to have a centre that will be a link between the University and other institutions in the world.

    The director said that the centre has students from 17 different countries in the world.

    NAN

  • Herdsmen invade, destroy UNILORIN multi-million naira research farms

    Sequel to the invasion and subsequent destruction of a multi-million naira research farm belonging to the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) by cattle belonging to unidentified herdsmen, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sulyman Abdulkareem on Monday held a security meeting with the leaders of 11 Fulani settlements located on the institution’s land.

    The meeting was also attended by representatives of law enforcement agencies comprising the Nigerian Police Force, the Department of State Security Services and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    During the meeting, the vice-chancellor warned that the management of the university would no longer tolerate illegal grazing on its land.

    Abdulkareem also ordered squatters who had started building permanent structures on the university’s land without approval from the management to vacate the university land in the interest of peace.

    He said, “We have a multi-million naira programme that is currently at stake now because they (herders) have gone to the extent of uprooting tubers of cassava for their cattle to feed on. We cannot conduct any research or training on the farm again because each time we get to a point where their cattle can feed on it… they go back there and destroy it.”

    The VC said the purpose of the meeting was to decide on a specific deadline for the herdsmen and other illegal settlers to vacate the property.

    Recalling that the university, under his immediate predecessor, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, in 2017 granted a three-month extension window to the settlers on request, he said the herders violated the agreement and failed to comply with it.

    Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Usman Adamu, told the UNIILORIN authorities that the herdsmen destroying the university farm land were not living in the community.

    He claimed that the Fulani had been living peacefully in the environment and had even helped in checking crimes, such as kidnappings, robberies, which hitherto occurred on the university campus.

    Adamu asked for time to come up with an appropriate response on the matter by February 22, 2018.

  • Unilorin to contribute 10,000 genome to boost human cells, research

    Unilorin to contribute 10,000 genome to boost human cells, research

    University of Ilorin’s Institute of Molecular Science and Biotechnology (UIMSB), will be contributing 10,000 genomes to the 100 million genome project in the next five years.

    Dr Kolawole Matthew, the Ag. Director of the institute, made the disclosure in Ilorin on Tuesday while declaring open the annual workshop on Biomedical Innovation and Research Commercialization.

    A genome is all the genetic information of an organism. For example, the human genome is analogous to the instructions stored in a cookbook. Just as a cookbook gives the instructions needed to make a range of meals including a holiday feast or a summer picnic.

    The programme was organised by the institute in conjunction with the Laboratory and the Product Centre of the University.

    According to him, the action makes the university to become the first institution in the whole of Sub-Sahara Africa to attain the feat.

    The researcher described genome as `a genetic information of an organism’.

    He said that the human genome contained all the instructions needed to make the full range of human cell types including muscle cells or neurons.

    According to him, the development of new technologies has made genome sequencing dramatically cheaper and easier, and the number of complete genome sequences is growing rapidly.

    Kolawole said: “Before the death of the famous Steve Jobs, the Co-founder of Apple, he donated $100,000 USD to sequence the genome of the cancer that killed him.

    “About 13 years ago, the United States Government spent about $3 billion USD and produced in returns one trillion US dollars in economic impact to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through the human genome project”.

    The director, however, lamented that African research institutes, and Nigeria in particular, had not keyed into these advancements.

    He said that the institute was determined as part of its major goals to contribute 10,000 genomes to the 100 million genome project in the next five years, thereby becoming the first institute in the whole Sub-Saharan Africa to attain the feat”.

    According to him, this might sound not achievable knowing full well that sequencing a single genome cost about $1,000, and sequencing 10,000 genomes would cost $10 million.

    Mathew disclosed that the institute was making frantic collaborative efforts with international bodies and notable organisations like Inqaba Biotech West Africa (Africa Genomic Company) towards making the quest possible.

    Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Sulyman Abdulkareem said that it would explore new frontiers in the area of molecular biology with a view to producing world class researchers within the next few years.

    He observed that recent advances in medicine, agriculture and biomedical engineering were strongly linked to molecular science and biotechnology.

    Abdulkareem reiterated that the University was devoting resources to research in those fields to increase the outputs that would provide immediate solutions to the problems of food insufficiency, environmental degradation and health care challenges.

     

  • Alleged N2bn fraud: Release report of finding on UNILORIN – ASUU tells EFCC

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release its findings on the alleged N2billion fraud petition on the University of Ilorin, submitted to it over a year ago.

    The Union also called for the recall of all sacked and victimised members at the Kogi State University, Lagos State University and University of Ilorin.

    While calling on President Buhari to check the growing impunity at the Unilorin, the ASUU said it will continue to expose corruption in universities despite victimisation of its members.

    The Ibadan Zone of ASUU in a release signed by its Coordinator, Dr Ade Adejumo titled “impunity and disregard for the Rule of Law: the Cases of the University of Ilorin, Kogi State University and Lagos State University”, ASUU accused the anti-corruption agencies including ICPC, CCB and EFCC of failing to bring the administrations of Professors Ishaq Oloyede and Abdulganiyu Ambali as Vice Chancellors of University of Ilorin to justice despite “substantial evidence which nailed them on corruption issues.”

    According to ASUU in the statement, the failure of the anti-corruption agencies to make public their investigations on the petition has made a mockery of the whistle blowing policy of the Buhari administration and allowed impunity to thrive while the whistle blowers, Drs Kayode Afolayan and Solomon Oyelekan were sacked for daring to expose corruption at UniIlorin.

    While the Union appealed to the Visitor to the University of Ilorin to prevail on the council to recall sacked officials of the union, it called for a “special probe panel of men and women of integrity to look into the books of past administrations in Unilorin.”

    Dr Adejumo also noted that it is worrisome that the Lagos State University went ahead to sack its members (Drs Isaac Akinloye and Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu) alleged of altering students’ results and demanding money from students without “proven evidence beyond reasonable doubt”, and as such asked Governor Akinwumi Ambode to intervene in the matter urgently.

    “In a country where universities are short of qualified academic staff, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state terminated the appointment of 120 members of our union and got unqualified persons to impart the knowledge they do not possess. ASUU believes in the rule of law and will continue to expose the dangers of the criminality that is presently going on in these universities despite victimisation of our members. we call on the visitors in these universities to stop the impunity and recall the sacked lecturers”

  • Hijab: I’m fighting for freedom of those coming behind me – UNILORIN law graduate

    Sequel to a brawl that occurred at the Nigerian Law School earlier in the week over the admittance of a graduate of the institute to the venue of the call to the bar ceremony for appearing in hijab (headscarf), the affected graduate, Firdaus Amasa, has said her insistence not to put off the hijab was a deliberate attempt to set those coming her free.

    Amasa, a graduate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) was specifically refused entry into the hall for insisting to wear the wig on top of her hijab – a headscarf.

    The case has attracted significant attention on social media, with Nigerians divided on her decision and that of the authorities of the law school.

    Speaking in an interview with Premium Times on Saturday, Amasa said she remained resolute in her convictions to set a precedent for Hijab-wearing Muslims during the ceremony.

    In her words: “My major concern is the approval of Hijab so that every person coming behind me will be able to use it for the call to bar (ceremony).”

    Asked whether she was aware of rules and regulations that guide against the use of Hijab at the ceremony, she said there was none, stressing that it was merely based on conventions.

    “There is nothing like that (laws preventing the use of Hijab). When you ask them too, they tell you it is convention; that that is how it is done and it has to remain like that.”

    Asked what motivated her to take the decision, she explained that she wanted to change the narrative and give Muslim sisters the rights to express their constitutional rights as enshrined in the constitution.

    “I knew that was what was going to happen,” she said of the consequences of her decision. She, however, said she remained resolute in her convictions to speak for the recognition of rights of female Muslim law graduates.

    She explained further that the Law School has not said anything on the case, adding that the support from the Muslim community has been impressive.

    “My demand is that Hijab should be approved,” she affirmed.

    Efforts to get the reaction of the Nigerian Law School, on the issue was however unsuccessful as at the time of this report.

     

  • UNILORIN gets new Vice Chancellor

    UNILORIN gets new Vice Chancellor

    The management of the University of Ilorin has appointed Sulyman Abdulkareem as its new Vice-Chancellor.

    The university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of council, Abdullahi Oyekan, announced the appointment on Monday.

    Mr. Oyekan said the institution reached the decision after a meeting of the council in accordance with the provisions of the Universities Amendment Act.

    According to him, the appointment will take effect from October 16 while the tenure of the outgoing vice chancellor, AbdulGaniyu Ambali, will end on October 15.

    Mr. Abdulkareem, a professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering is the institutions’s 10th Vice-chancellor.

    He was once vice chancellor of the Alhikmah University, Ilorin.

    He was born in 1954 at Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara.

    He schooled at the University of Detroit in 1980 where he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering and also at the University of Louisville, in 1988 where he earned a Ph.D in the same discipline.

    His area of specialization is Heterogeneous Catalysis/Reaction Engineering.

  • VC orders herdsmen to vacate Unilorin land

    Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, the Vice–Chancellor(V-C), University of Ilorin (Unilorin), on Tuesday gave herdsmen encroaching on the institution’s land a seven-day ultimatum to quit.

    The Vice-Chancellor gave the ultimatum at a meeting he held with the representatives of the herdsmen and other stakeholders on the campus.

    He said that their presence there was a violation of the laws governing the university.

    “Your activities are affecting our research works. Plants grown for research works are being destroyed, slowing down the pace of research work.

    “We must ensure we do not hinder and frustrate each other, as we are members of the same society,” Ambali said.

    Ambali said that the meeting was called because the institution believed in dialogue and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

    “People are building permanent structures on our land. When we went round, we counted about 16 structures.

    “We want to use these plots for the purpose for which the university was established, hence, the need for this meeting.”

    The V-C said that the university had reached agreements with some foreign collaborators to develop the land for research purposes.

    Ambali said that the illegal activities of the herdsmen on the campus would affect the over 30,000 students of the university.

    He advised the herdsmen to cooperate with the institution to achieve its mission.

    The vice-chancellor told them that one of the reasons for establishing the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was to cater for the needs of the herdsmen, not to be a source of conflicts in the communities.

    Earlier, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services, Prof. Adedayo Abdulkareem, noted that several university farms were being destroyed by the grazing cattle.

    He said that the unlawful encroachment on the institution’s landed property was worrisome to the university administration.

    Abdulkareem condemned the use of chemicals by the herdsmen for illegal fishing in the institution’s waters.

    The DVC described this as a dangerous development that could lead to water poisoning, as the university relied on the water for treatment and supply to the campus.

    Some of the herdsmen on the occasion thanked Ambali for the matured way he handled the situation.

    They promised to assist in arresting any of their members trespassing on the university’s land.

    They acknowledged the destruction of farms, assuring that they would leave whenever the institution wanted them to leave.

    Alhaji Baba Bello, the Daudu of Fufu, warned the herdsmen against building permanent structures on the university land, and decried the destruction of farms by the nomads.