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Tag: Vice Chancellor

  • We have yet to get a substantive Vice-Chancellor – UNN, cautions against falsehood

    We have yet to get a substantive Vice-Chancellor – UNN, cautions against falsehood

    The Management of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), says the institution has not appointed a substantive vice chancellor as insinuated in the social media.

    The refutation is contained in a press release issued in Nsukka on Friday signed by Mr Inya Agha Egwu, the Acting Public Relations Officer (PRO) of UNN.

    According to the statement, our attention has been drawn to a misleading report currently circulating on social media that claimed that a particular individual has been appointed as the substantive Vice-Chancellor of the university.

    “We wish to state categorically that no such appointment has been made as the selection process for a substantive Vice-Chancellor for the university is still ongoing, and no candidate has been announced or confirmed”.

    The statement urged the general public to disregard these unfounded reports as they were the product of “mischief-makers and purveyors of falsehood who seek to mislead and incite unsuspecting members of the public with baseless speculations.

    “The University remains committed to a transparent and merit-based selection process of its substantive VC.

    “The Selection Committee, chaired by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Kayode Ojo, is diligently carrying out its mandate and will announce the most qualified candidate upon conclusion of the process.

    “We urge all stakeholders to remain calm and allow the process to run its full course without undue distraction,” the statement said

  • UNIBEN appoints new Vice-Chancellor

    UNIBEN appoints new Vice-Chancellor

    The University of Benin, UNIBEN has appointed a professor of Constitutional Law and Governance, Edoba Omoregie as the new Vice-Chancellor of the university.

    Prof. Shaibu Umaru, Chairman of the Governing Council of the university announced the appointment on Friday in Benin.

    Umaru said Omoregie emerged the 11th vice-chancellor of the university out of the 27 that applied for the coveted seat.

    NAN reports that the new vice-chancellor, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), would take over from the incumbent, Prof. Lillian Salami whose tenure ends on Dec 1.

    Born on April 5, 1969, Prof. Omoregie is a native of Benin and attended the University of Benin for his first, second and third degrees l

    He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992 and conferred with the prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2021.

  • UniUyo Vice Chancellor: We need a new generation of Pan Africanists+Photos

    UniUyo Vice Chancellor: We need a new generation of Pan Africanists+Photos

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof Nyaudo Ndaeyo says Africa needs a new generation of Pan Africanists to deal with the many challenges besetting the continent and create a future United States of Africa that would be among the prosperous nations of the world. Declaring open a three-day conference at the university organized by the Pan African Dialogue Institute (TPADI) in collaboration with the university on dialogue and pan Africanism over the weekend, Prof Ndaeyo paid tributes to the founding fathers of Pan Africanism such as Nigeria’s Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe; former emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie; former President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and younger leaders like former President Barack Obama, for their contributions, but noted that Africa’s present socioeconomic situations are far more difficult to navigate than the past. The theme of the conference is Pan Africanism: Dialoguing the Past, Present and Future.

    The VC was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Aniekan Offiong, a professor of mechanical engineering. The third day of the conference is dedicated to the celebrations of the International Africa Day which holds in several African countries on May 25 every year. This year would mark the first time that Africa Day is celebrated in Nigeria since it was set aside by the founding fathers of African Union in 1963 as a day to honour the and celebrate the continent.

    The institute is a civil society think tank for the study, practice and propagation of Pan-Africanism. The VC, who is a professor of farm systems, asked the participants at the conference to recommend how best to address the numerous conflicts in Africa.

    He said that the University of Uyo is pleased to collaborate with the institute and has provided a large parcel of land for the proposed building of the institute’s international headquarters. Pan-Africanism, according to the African Union, is an ideology and movement that encourages the solidarity of Africans worldwide. It is based on the belief that unity is vital to economic, social and political progress and aims to unify and uplift people of African descent. The VC thanked the institute for organizing the conference and welcomed the participants and visiting dignitaries. ‘’Nigeria is a peaceful country, contrary to what you might have read in the media sometimes, and here in Akwa Ibom State, we are particularly known for our hospitality. Feel free to enjoy the warmth and friendliness of our people’’, he concluded.

    In his welcome address, the institute’s president, Dr. Effiong Udo, had told the participants at the 1,000-capacity lecture threatre that the the conference and the Africa Day celebrations ‘’encapsulate the institute’s commitment to reviving the best values of pan Africanism – the ideals of unity and collaboration, self-determination, freedom and dignity of the African people worldwide, as well as the celebration of African cultural heritage’’.

    The conference opened on Thursday morning with a golf tournament among the visiting dignitaries at the Ibom golf course and a gala night in the evening at the university. Among the dignitaries at the conference were Mrs. Fatoumatou Tambajang, former Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia who will present a keynote address on the Africa Day and Prof. Mutombo Nkulu-N’sengha, an African-American university professor who presented the lead paper at the conference. Prof. Mutombo is the Vice President of the institute. The Deputy Vice chancellor (Academics) of University of Uyo; the Registrar and the Acting Chief Librarian and many professors and academics from UniUyo, other Nigeiran universities and across Africa also attended.

  • German vice chancellor cancels COP28 visit due to budget crisis

    German vice chancellor cancels COP28 visit due to budget crisis

    German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck on Monday cancelled a trip to the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai due to the budget crisis at home.

    The move follows a landmark court decision earlier this month that blew a huge hole in the government’s spending plans.

    Habeck’s presence in Berlin is necessary in order to make further progress in the talks on the 2024 budget, a spokeswoman for the Economy Ministry announced.

    The cancellation was done in consultation with and at the request of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, she added.

    Habeck, who is also economy and climate minister, was due to participate in the COP28 climate conference in Dubai on Tuesday.

    A recent decision by Germany’s Constitutional Court struck down plans to reallocate 60 billion Euros (65 billion dollars) borrowed during the Coronavirus pandemic for climate projects instead.

    The fallout from the decision, which almost certainly impacts other special funds as well, has created a major budget crisis for Scholz’s three-party coalition government.

    Negotiations on the budget is currently taking place primarily in a three-way round with Scholz, Habeck and Finance Minister Christian Lindner.

    The coalition must reach an agreement within the next few days if it wants to adopt the budget for 2024 before the end of the year.

    A political agreement in principle must be reached by the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday so that there is still enough time for the parliamentary process.

    Habeck, had earlier told Germany’s ARD television station on Sunday evening that he sees progress in the negotiations.

    “I am very optimistic that we are well on the way to reaching an agreement,’’ he said.

    When asked if this meant that he wasn’t sure that the coalition would reach an agreement, Habeck said: “I can’t speak for everyone. But I repeat that I believe we are making good progress.’’

    “It is a process that is arduous, one can see that, but it is making progress,’’ Habeck added.

  • Court arraigns Ex-VC of ABU, Bursar over alleged N1bn scam

    Court arraigns Ex-VC of ABU, Bursar over alleged N1bn scam

    Prof Ibrahim Garba, and Ibrahim Usman, former Vice Chancellor and Bursar respectively of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria were arraigned before Justice R.M Aikawa of the Federal High Court sitting Kaduna, Kaduna State on Wednesday.

    They were arraigned on nine charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of over N1 billion by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the commission said in a statement.

    They were alleged to have diverted the monies from different accounts of the institution meant for the renovation of the popular Kongo Conference Hotel, Zaria.

    One of the counts read, “That you, Prof. Ibrahim Garba and Ibrahim Shehu Usman, sometimes in December, 2013, whilst the Vice Chancellor and Bursar of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria respectively, in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to use the aggregate sum of N998, 000,000.00(Nine Hundred and Ninety Eight Million Naira), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: Criminal Breach of Trust and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

    They pleaded ‘not guilty’ when the charges were read to them.

    Based on their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Jamil Musa urged the court to remand the defendants at the Kaduna Correctional Centre and fix a date for the commencement of trial.

    The defence counsel, M.S Aatu (SAN) for the 1st defendant and Bello.I.Jahun for the 2nd defendant, however, urged the court to admit their clients to bail.

    Justice Aikawa granted bail to the defendants in the sum of five million naira each with one surety each in like sum who must not be below Grade Level 15 in the civil service.

    The defendants must also deposit their international passports with the registry of the court. They are to further report to EFCC on the first Monday of every month until the court directs otherwise.

    The case was adjourned till June 20-21, 2023 for hearing.

  • Igbinedion University: Dream of one man transformed into global treasure -IUO VC, Prof Ezemonye+Photos

    Igbinedion University: Dream of one man transformed into global treasure -IUO VC, Prof Ezemonye+Photos

    ..says at IUO we produce complete graduates for the future

    … underemployment is alien to us

    Vice Chancellor of the Igbinedion University Okada, IUO, Professor Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye has said the university was the creation of one man, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Gabriel Igbinedion which has transformed into a global treasure.

    Ezemonye, a two-time Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Benin is a Professor of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Forensics in a chat with seasoned journalists across Nigeria after an entrepreneurship exhibition/a facility tour of different rare departments, laid it bare that “in 23 years IUO blazed the trail becoming an international hub for the academia.

    “The credit goes to one man who pioneered it in Nigeria by going into a social contract where many entrepreneurs refused to venture into in 1999 via the establishment of a private university.

    “That man is the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion who held the bull by the horns and this singular action today has transformed into a global treasure where people tap into on a daily basis.

    On why IUO places so much premium on entrepreneurial skills, Ezemonye said:

    “First of all I had my worries with the proclamations from industries, when they tell us that the graduates are not fit for purpose in the industries and you see, it worries me so much and I began to wonder what is responsible for that.

    With a few group of intellectuals, we found out that, not that our students are not properly groomed but that there is disconnect between the demand of the industry and the products, the output.

    “It is not an affront to anybody, it is not even at a disadvantage to the university, it is just that there is no merger. You see, the Nigerian educational system and the industry portfolios were working in silos.

    “The industry does not want to merge with the university and the university as an ivory tower does not have the time for the industry but all that have changed now.

    “So that is why we felt that we must make students that are future ready and that is the mantra I brought into this university, the future readiness. How can a student be future ready?

    “A student that is future ready is free from three things; one, unemployment, two, under-employment and three, unemployability and for you to avert those three syndromes you must be entrepreneurially groomed.

    “So here in this university, the first thing we do is to inspire and stimulate entrepreneurial thinking amongst our students, that is number one.

    “The second thing we do, is to provide the knowledge base and knowledge exchange for the transaction of entrepreneurial thinking amongst students.

    “And the third one is the one you witnessed today, which is the actual exhibition of the products of the inspiration, the stimulation of entrepreneurial thinking among our students.

    “Let me tell you what we have done here in Igbinedion University. You see, I have been working in the last 10years on industry-academia integration and so in Igbinedion University, what we have done is to imbibe the principle of co-development of programmes with the industry, co-design the programme with the industry, we co-deliver the programme with the industry, co-supervise the programme with the industry and co-graduate the programme with the industry. And the success stories have been recorded.

    “If an industry, in my university, all post graduates programmes are supervised by an academic and an industry supervisor, here in this university, so but it is logical.

    “If an industry expert and an academia designs a programme together, delivers teachers, the programme together, supervise the programme together, in some cases co-fund the programme together and graduate the students together, there is no moral basis to say that that graduate is not fit for the industry, that is number one.

    “Let me also tell you what we have done in this university and you need to take this away. This university has a board of industry-academia interface headed currently by the DG of NOTA (National Office for Technology Association) and we have industry partners and academia in that board and they meet quarterly and what do they do, they review curriculum and industry demands.

    “Today we have a project with Cortis PLC, we are co-designing dedicated programmes for RENA in our engineering department and they are providing opportunities for students and staff both for sabbatical and internship.

    “So that is the partnership that we have established in this university that our mainstream academia-industry interface as a way of life in our university programme.

    “So to answer your question, if you get the industry together to participate with you, tear down the silo walls and remove the toga of ivory towerism then we won’t have this problem.

    “I can tell you for free now that before now I used to advocate that unemployability was the main cause, was worse than unemployment, yes. You know you graduate and they tell you that you are not fit for purpose.

    “You know the worse one now, the worse syndrome that is now operating in the valley of death is underemployment, when a graduate now earns N20,000 N30,000, that one is dehumanizing.

    So one singular way in averting them is through entrepreneurship, employ yourself.

  • English language, a challenge to most Nigerian graduates – VC

    English language, a challenge to most Nigerian graduates – VC

    The Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI), Enugu, Prof. Christian Anieke, has said that speaking and writing English is a major challenge to many Nigerian graduates.

    Anieke spoke when officials of the National Universities Commission (NUC) visited the university on Friday.

    NUC officials were in the institution to assess its postgraduate programmes.

    Anieke said the GOUNI had identified the use of English as the major weakness of many graduates from other institutions, stressing that some first class graduates found it difficult to write or speak correct English.

    The VC noted that the face of every university was its postgraduate school and as such showed the research strength of the university as some postgraduates reflect the quality of research of the institution.

    “This is why we introduced a course we called “Communication in English“ and the students inability to use English language correctly could be due to their background.

    “In the PG School, we ensure that when you write your thesis, it will be strong enough to be published in a journal and if not publishable, then you have not written a good thesis,” Anieke said.

    He explained that the university was doing a lot of things to ensure that graduates of the institution’s PG School were strong, stressing that the policy was now yielding fruit in the school.

    “You may not have a lot of students here because a lot of Nigerian students want it easy, but quality is very important to me,” he said.

    He made it clear that NUC visit was not a witch-hunt but “a peer review that makes a university more transparent and effective“.

    “NUC is championing national integration by sending those in charge of academics of the universities to institutions outside their regions.

    “I see this as very important for the growth of our universities“, the vice chancellor stated.

    Anieke, however, urged the officials to see the assignment as a sacrifice for the development of Nigeria adding that the GOUNI had never done anything without involving NUC.

    Responding, Prof. Kabiru Dandago, who spoke on behalf of the team, gave the assurance that there would be nothing like witch-hunt during the team’s visit to universities.

    Dandago said they would maintain a high level of objectivity in the discharge of their duties.

  • UNILAG appoints Prof Folasade Ogunsola 13th vice chancellor

    UNILAG appoints Prof Folasade Ogunsola 13th vice chancellor

    The Governing Council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has appointed Prof. Folasade Ogunsola as the 13th Vice Chancellor of the institution.

    This is contained in a statement by Mrs Adejoke Alaga, Principal Assistant Registrar, Communication Unit of the university and issued to newsmen on Friday night in Lagos.

    She said that the appointment is for a five-year tenure with effect from Saturday, Nov. 12, to Thursday, Nov. 11, 2027.

    Ogunsola will succeed Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, whose five years tenure comes to an end on Friday Nov. 11. He was appointed vice chancellor in 2017.

    According to Alaga, the appointment was made at the end of the special council meeting held in the university.

    Ogunsola  is a professor of Medical Microbiology and a Consultant Clinical Microbiologist and Infection Control for the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

    She was among the seven shortlisted candidates that vied for the position.

    Othere that were shortlisted include Prof. Timothy Nubi, Prof. Abayomi Akinyeyi, Mathew Ilori and Adeyinka Adekunle among others.

    Born in 1958, Mrs Ogunsola holds a PhD in Medical Microbiology, an MSc in Medical Microbiology with Distinction, and a Diploma in Biomedical Techniques, from the University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, among others.

    She is a fellow of the Royal College of pathologists and the  West African College of Physicians.

    Ogunsola is also a fellow, National Postgraduate Medical College in Pathology, Nigerian Academy of Science band Foundation fellow of both the Nigerian Academy of Medicine and the Academy of Medicine Specialties.

    She had served as the institution’s acting vice chancellor, as well as a former deputy Vice chancellor, (Development Services).

    Ogunsola had also served as a pioneer and only female Provost of the institution’s College of Medicine.

    She also served as member of the governing council for three terms.

    This made her rank as the only one with such number of years in the governing council among all the other contestants.

    She is said to have received various awards from both local and international bodies, has 142 publications in reputable academic journals and co-authored four books.

    Ogunsola has supervised or co-supervised eight doctoral students and 61 masters degree students.

  • FG orders Vice Chancellors to reopen schools

    FG orders Vice Chancellors to reopen schools

    The Federal Government has ordered Vice-Chancellors in universities to re-open schools and to allow students resume lectures.

    This is contained in a letter signed by the Director, Finance and Accounts of National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed in Abuja on Monday.

    The letter which was addressed to all vice-chancellors; Pro-Chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities, called on them to re-open the universities.

    “Ensure that ASUU members immediately resume/commence lectures; restore the daily activities and routines of the various University campuses”, the letter reads.

    Recall that ASUU had embarked on strike since February 14 to press home the demand for improved funding for universities, a review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues.

    Several meetings between ASUU and the Federal Government have ended in deadlock due to non- agreement in the demands

    The federal government went to court to challenge the strike but the union insisted it would not resume but however appeal the court’s ruling.

    Newsmen reports that on Sept. 21, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja ordered ASUU to suspend its seven-month-old strike.

    The judge, Polycarp Hamman, gave the order  in a ruling on the federal government’s application for an interlocutory injunction against the ongoing ASUU strike.

    The federal government’s counsel, James Igwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had filed the application seeking the court’s order restraining ASUU from continuing with the strike pending the determination of the suit initiated through a referral by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.

    Hamman, in granting the order on Wednesday, dismissed ASUU’s objection to the application.

    The union’s lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, had urged the court to dismiss the federal government’s application, and instead, grant an accelerated hearing of the main suit.

    Hamman agreed with the government that irreparable damage was being done to the lives of students rendered idle by the ongoing strike.

    He said not granting the injunction would only cause additional damage to the ambitions of young Nigerians.

    He cited examples of the National Youth Service Corps and employment in Nigeria’s armed forces where age is a requirement for participation and employment.

    He also said the Trade Dispute Act prohibits parties from engaging in an industrial action when disputes have been referred to the industrial court, the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) or when a conciliator has been appointed.

    Falana, ASUU’s lawyer, had argued that the affidavit filed by Ikechukwu Wamba, a legal officer at the Ministry of Labour and Employment in support of the application should not be admitted as the deponent was neither a member of the university community nor part of any meetings held with the union.

    But the judge Hamman disagreed, saying Wamba as a legal officer and a member of management at the labour ministry had access to the official documents of the negotiations as well as offering legal advice to the minister.

    The judge also disagreed with Falana’s submission that the government has not made necessary moves to curtail the strike since it commenced in February.

    He said pieces of evidence from meetings with the government which began days after the strike until 1 September proved negotiations had been ongoing.

    However, addressing reporters after proceedings, ASUU’s counsel, Edorjeh Edo, said the union has options and will study them for further actions.

    “There are quite a number of actions open to the union. We will study with the legal team and then we will adopt the most appropriate action,” he said.

    ASUU accused the federal government of reneging on a 2009 agreement on matters such as increased funding of universities and increasing lecturers’ salaries.

  • Committee of Vice-Chancellors gets new chairman

    Committee of Vice-Chancellors gets new chairman

    The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities (CVCNU) has elected the Vice-Chancellor of University of Benin, Prof. Lilian Salami as its chairman.

    This is contained in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, in Abuja on Thursday.

    Ochefu said that the new chairman was unanimously elected at its virtual/physical meeting held at its secretariat in Abuja.

    He said that the Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Sagir Abbas was also elected as the Alternate Chairman.

    Ochefu said that the secretariat wishes the two members of the Executive Board of the Committee success as they take over the mantle of leadership.

    Recall that until the election of Salami, she was the Alternate Chairman to Prof.

    Sulyman Abdulkareem, who will be completing his tenure as the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin on Oct. 15

    With the election, she becomes the second female Vice-Chancellor to head the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities.