Education

Gov. Dickson seeks to make Niger Delta varsity self-sustaining

2016-12-01T00:20:00.001-08:00

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State on Wednesday pledged to inject funds to the infrastructural and manpower development of the state-owned Niger Delta University and make it financially autonomous.
Dickson made the pledge in Yenagoa during the submission of the interim report on NDU by the Chairman of the committee set up to review its operations, Prof. Stephen Odiowei.
He noted that NDU had the potential for self sustainability, adding that the challenge of the government was how to raise funds to close the gap of neglect the institution suffered in the past by investing to raise its capacity.
Dickson also pledged to support the committee to ensure that it formulated a development plan for the university.
He promised to study the interim report with a view to taking the most appropriate decisions that would impact positively on the institution.
Restating the government’s stand on subvention for tertiary institutions, Dickson noted that it was a sustainable means to reduce cost of running and encourage infrastructural development.

Dickson said: “The government’s position on the issue of subvention is well known and we will encourage it because it is sustainable during this period of economic recession, it fast-tracks infrastructure development.
“The government does not consider it sustainable to be paying salaries of lecturers and other staff, as the NDU has the potential for self sustainability through internally generated revenue to meet its demands.”
Presenting the report, Odiowei said NDU had 12 faculties, 63 departments and 91 programmes, adding that 18 departments had interim accreditation, 27 unaccredited programmes and nine without accreditation.
Summarizing the findings and observations, he said that inadequate funding and power supply, poor service delivery and delay in salary payment were some of the factors militating against the development of the institution.
The committee recommended the provision of a 1,000-KVA generating set to serve both the new and old campuses, financial support to the school’s farm and prompt and regular payment of salaries.
It also recommended the engagement of professors and senior lecturers as factors that could enhance the smooth running of the university.

Over 50% registered companies evade education tax – TETFund

2016-11-25T00:07:00.003-08:00

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has alleged that over 50 per cent of the registered companies in the country are evading the two per cent education tax.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa, who made this known yesterday in Abuja when the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Services visited the agency, listed the dwindling collection of the two per cent education tax as one of the challenges of the fund.
According to Baffa, the falling price of crude oil and the inability to access the portal of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to know what is paid in real time for easy reconciliation are the other problems being faced by the fund.
The TETFund boss said it had so far allocated N156.3 billion to its special intervention projects in the nation’s public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Baffa said the fund expended the billions of naira to boost physical infrastructure in the tertiary institutions through annual direct disbursement and the high impact projects.

He said: “For the universities, we have allocated about N74 billion and we have disbursed about N57.7 billion and there is a balance of N16 billion; for the polytechnics, N40 billion was allocated, N31 billion disbursed and about N8.6 billion balance.
“For the colleges of education N41.5 billion was allocated, N32.8 billion disbursed and about N8.6 billion outstanding. In total, we have allocated N156.3 billion,” he said.
The Senate Committee chairman, Senator Barau Jibril, who condemned the lukewarm attitude of most tertiary institutions in accessing TETFund grants, called for a policy that would stipulate sanctions for such schools.
“I think we need to have a definite term, that if any institution fails to access the fund because of lukewarm attitude there will be sanctions,” he said.

JAMB introduces flexible cut-off marks for admission seekers

2016-11-15T02:11:00.001-08:00

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced flexible cut-off marks to expand admissions to tertiary institutions of learning in the country.
Registrar of the Board, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, stated this on Monday at the second technical committee meeting on “2016 Admissions to Tertiary Institutions” held at the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri.
According to the Registrar, the meeting was principally aimed at finding solution to the army of admission seekers who were admitted in the first batch.
“The purpose of today’s meeting is essentially to consider admissions of our teeming applicants who were not considered during the first exercise. Your Excellency, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, kindly recall that at the two (2) previous meetings in Kano and Abuja, I stated that the Board would cooperate with the various institutions in carrying out the mandates of their respective Senates and Academic Boards on admission matters. Therefore, the Board would not impose candidates on them but, as a referee, would
ensure that no applicant is unjustifiably denied the opportunity of access to tertiary institutions in Nigeria,” said Oloyede in his opening remarks.
Oloyede noted that the Board will continue to get involve in admission matters in a way that reflects national concern in a season of change, devoid of corruption. This, he stated has already received the blessings of the Education Minister and other education stakeholders across the length and breadth of the country.
“In this respect, we should be seen in a conspicuous and proven manner that we have the interest of the nation in mind in carrying out our statutory functions. I am pleased to note that we adhered to all the decisionsreached at the 2016-Policy Meeting chaired by our effective and efficient Honorable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu,” he said adding that as “expected of any responsible institution under a national dispensation that is uncompromisingly averse to corruption and lack of transparency, no review of any policy will be selective, sectional or an under the table-deal.”
On the controversial minimum cut-off mark for admission into tertiary institution, Oloyede said time had come to review same; noting that uniformity across board should not be encouraged, arguing that since the various institutions award different categories of certificates; same cut-off mark is untenable.
His words: “Let me in this connection, address the issue of the minimum national cut-off mark which is normally decided at the Policy Meetings. By way of information, the Policy Meeting is one that comprises the Honourable Minister of Education as the Chairman, the Heads of Regulatory Bodies in the Education Sector such as NUC, NBTE, NABTEB, NCCE, the Heads of Tertiary Institutions, the Board and other Stakeholders. It was at this meeting that a decision of 180 as the 2016 National cut-off mark was reached. However, many Institutions, though part of the decision, have expressed concern on their inability to effect this cut-off mark as they are finding it difficult to fill a reasonable percentage of their quota if the rule is strictly applied ….”
For the ex-Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, the inability of some institutions to fill their admission quota due to the strict implementation of the 180 minimum cut-off mark is a disservice to the nation’s quest for expansion of education as a tool of change and development.
“As a Board, we have studied the trend of admissions and have come up with a finding that hardly do the institutions collectively fill their quota annually. Indeed, in some cases, up to 50% of approved quota is wasted particularly by upright institutions which do not circumspect the rule. Unfortunately, a large number of institutions flagrantly disregarded the cut-off and many other policies. Yet they found a way to eventually regularize the illegal admissions through corrupt process,” the JAMB boss further added.
Apparently to send a warning to his staff, Oloyede stated that even before he assumed duties at the Board, his predecessor had sanctioned those found to have been complicit in shady admission practices.
“Shortly before my assumption of office, twelve officials of JAMB who had conspired with officials of some institutions to abuse the regularization process were dismissed from service,” adding that JAMB “has insisted on total recovery of millions of Naira involved in the deal.”
JAMB, he said has collated the requests from the various Senates and Academic Boards and have made our pleas known to appropriate authorities. The former VC also expressed joy in the fact that though the initiative is only a few months old, change is already being felt.
“Just this morning we received a green light on flexible cut-off mark only for institutions which have exhausted the list of candidates with180 and above, subject, of course to a minimum acceptable to JAMB and meeting of other pre requisites.
In addition we have re opened the portal for change of institutions and courses so that institutions and candidates can legitimately without any need for regularization, effect change of course at the point of entry rather than National Youth Service Corps, NYSC- inspired regularization with attendant abuse. I have given a personal and official assurance to NYSC that all abuse/loopholes have been blocked,” he stressed.
On the need to be service-driven, the JAMB boss noted that a lot still need to be done, saying a lot has evolved over the years; more still need to be done.
He said, “Service delivery is aimed at improving the value of services rendered. As a Board, we are reviewing the process of some of our service delivery platforms to the public aimed at enhancing our services to the public in line with international best practices that will eliminate some of the difficulties our clients go through in accessing our services.
The Board has therefore created on-line platforms for such services as purchase of application documents, change of course/institution, correction of data, etc., adding that “the platform provides for all the services candidates may require from the Board without increasing the service charge. It is no longer required of any applicant to travel to Bwari for any of the services. They are on line. Help desks on line, have also been opened. The beauty of it is that Heads of Institutions are directly involved in these processes because of the need to ensure transparency, accountability and completely eradicate abuses that were prevalent in the old order.”
In the years ahead, Oloyede said Nigerians would be proud of JAMB in their service to the country even as he prayed for the cooperation and understanding of all and sundry in the task of making the Board better than he met it.

Tension in FUNAAB as SSANU protest sack of 23 colleagues

2016-11-14T04:11:00.002-08:00

Tension enveloped the crisis–ridden Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday morning as hundreds of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) from universities in Western Zone blocked the access roads to FUNAAB in protest over the sack of 23 of their colleagues by the institution’s management.
Scores of students, visitors, lecturers and other members of the university community caught unaware by the blockade of the FUNAAB Alabata road, had a hectic time moving to or fro the university.
The protesting SSANU used born fire, vehicles and human shield to obstruct traffic flow to draw attention to what they called injustice and victimisation of members by FUNAAB management while motorists rode on greenland to beat the obstructions.
Many of the workers simply abandoned their vehicles on the road and trekked, and others managed to board the commercial motor – cycles called Okada in threes to access FUNAAB once reputed as about the most peaceful university in Nigeria before it caved in to an intractable internal crisis in the last three months.

Armed policemen, Operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Traffic Wardens drafted to the area in eight Hilux Pick Up vans as well as men from the FUNAAB’s security unit laboured to ensure that the protest did not morph into violence.
Comr. Alfred Jimoh, National Vice – President Western zone, who addressed the gathering, called for an “immediate and unconditional recall” of their sacked colleagues.
Jimoh said the sin of his colleagues at FUNAAB is because they are just asking for probity, accountability and transparency in the handling of the finances of the institution.
The SSANU National Vice – President Western zone, berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly divulging the identities of SSANU members to the Vice – Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Oyewole, who were whistle – blowers to them( EFCC).
He also called for an investigation into the affairs of FUNAAB in the last four years, adding that ” if the Federal government is indeed sincere in its Anti – corruption war, the searchlight should be beamed at FUNAAB.”
He urged Nigerians of good conscience to condemn in strong terms, the evil actions at FUNAAB allegedly being perpetrated by the management.
It would be recalled that the management of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, had last Thursday sacked 23 of the non – teaching staff of the university.
The decision to sack the affected workers was reached at a meeting chaired by the Chairman of the Council, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, who was reportedly interrogated recently by the EFCC.
It was learnt that those sacked include Lasun Somoye, Abdusalaam Sobbor and E.A. Bankole.
The trio were said to have written a petition against the management of the institution to the anti graft agency which it relied upon to interrogate the Vice – Chancellor and others recently.
Others relieved of their jobs include three medical doctors – Dr Ajayi A.O., Dr Olaniran I.O. and Dr O.O. Salami, two health workers – Mr Oyero, a laboratory scientist and Miss K.O. Adeyemi, a medical record officer.
According to the letter dated November 10, 2016 and signed by the School registrar, M.O. Ayoola, the school said the decision followed a re-organisation in the University system.
“Due to re-organisation in the University system, the Governing Council has directed that your services are no longer required. Your appointment as… is therefore, terminated with immediate effect.
“Please hand over all University property in your possession to the Head of your Department/Unit immediately, while your Staff Identification Card should be submitted at the Establishment and Human Resources Directorate of the Registry. Please note that you will be paid one month’s salary in lieu of notice,” the letter reads in part.

Exam malpractices: WAEC approves total cancellation of results

2016-11-14T02:46:00.000-08:00

The Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC), of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has approved appropriate sanctions in all established cases of malpractice, as prescribed in the Rules and Regulations governing the conduct of the Council’s examinations.
This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 62nd meeting of NEC WAEC held in Lagos.
After diligent deliberations, It approved that the entire results of candidates involved in proven cases, which attract Cancellation of Entire Results (CER) be cancelled, while subject results of those involved in proven cases which attract Cancellation of Subject Results (CSR), be similarly cancelled.
The Committee said further that some candidates would also suffer other sanctions such as barring them from sitting for the Council’s examinations for a certain number of years while some schools will be derecognised, while their Principals reported to the Ministry of Education for disciplinary action while erring Supervisors
will be blacklisted.
According to the communique, The decisions of the Committee will be implemented without delay and the affected candidates and schools will be duly informed by the Council.
In addition, the Committee because of the high incidence of schools writing on the chalkboard for their students to copy during the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2016 decided that if a school is warned for aiding and abetting cheating three times within a period of five years, it would be de-recognised.

Authorities hoard furniture in Sokoto school where students sit on bare floor

2016-11-14T02:25:00.002-08:00

The Sokoto State Committee on the Implementation of State of Emergency in Education, has discovered 200 sets of furniture locked up at a school where students sit on bare floor for lessons.
A statement issued by Imam Imam, spokesman to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, said the discovery was made during an assessment visit to Hafsat Ahmadu Bello Memorial Secondary School, Sokoto.
Pupils sit on floor as school locks chairs away
It said: “Only a few classes in the school have enough seats to accommodate them. For long, they have to put up with taking lectures while seated on bare floor.
“Most use prayer mats to protect their white tops from the floor’s dust, while others come to classes with
extra wrappers to spread on the floor.
“While they have to put up with the most uncomfortable situation to take lectures daily, a few blocks away, 200 sets of classroom furniture were locked away, unattended to, and left to rot.”
It said that the suffering of the students came to an end last week when the committee went to assess the facilities and make recommendations to remedy identified problems.
The statement added that the team leader, Dr. Shadi Sabeh, immediately ordered that the furniture be arranged in the classrooms, and admonished the school management to always prioritise the need of the students.

Heavy pollution shuts schools in Iran’s capital

2016-11-14T01:50:00.004-08:00

Exhaust fumes from millions of cars and motorcycles that ply Tehran's roads account for 80 percent of its pollution, which increases in winter as emissions fail to rise above cold air.Atta Kenare/AFP

Tehran officials shut schools on Monday as the first of the winter’s heavy pollution hit the Iranian capital.
A blanket of choking brown-white smog descended on the city on Sunday, blocking out the view of the mountains that line its northern edge and leading many of its 14 million residents to retreat indoors or don face masks in the street.
The level of the deadliest PM2.5 particles hit 156 on Monday — more than three times the level considered safe by the World Health Organisation.
“Kindergartens and primary schools are closed on Monday in Tehran and most of the cities of the province,” the Ministry of Education announced, according to official agency Irna.
Officials extended traffic restrictions that alternate cars with odd and even licence plates in two central parts of the city, and deployed ambulances to wait in the busiest and dirtiest areas.
Tehran mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf rode the metro to work on Sunday in a bid to encourage people
to use public transport.
Despite having around 100 stations, Ghalibaf says the metro is not sufficiently funded by the central government, and Tehran has some of the world’s worst traffic congestion.
Pollution has become a political football in recent years, with conservatives and reformists blaming each other for the problem.
Hardliners regularly accuse the reformist vice-president Massoumeh Ebtekar, who heads the environmental protection organisation, of not doing enough.
The ultra-conservative daily Vatane Emrooz said Monday that 70 percent of deaths in Tehran were linked to pollution.
The pollution has been building for six consecutive days and is expected to continue until Wednesday when forecasters hope winds will move the stagnant air, an official told state television.
Residents were advised to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary, with warnings that pollution is particularly dangerous for the elderly, pregnant, children and those with existing respiratory and heart conditions.
Sand and cement factories around Tehran were also shuttered.
Every year, Tehran suffers some of the worst pollution in the world when cold weather traps the vast levels of exhaust from the city’s 10 million ageing cars and motorbikes.
Two permanent zones of traffic restrictions introduced in 1979 and 2005 have failed to rectify the sprawling city’s poor air quality.
Local carmakers have shown little interest in introducing cleaner engines, while foreign firms have been kept out by international sanctions.
In 2014, almost 400 people were hospitalised with heart and respiratory problems caused by heavy pollution in Tehran, with nearly 1,500 others requiring treatment.
The health ministry estimated that pollution contributed to the premature deaths of 4,500 people in Tehran in 2012 and about 80,000 across the country.

Court adjourns El-Rufai’s case against ex-lecturer to Nov. 25

2016-11-08T23:51:00.001-08:00

Justice Bilkisu Mohammed of Kaduna High Court has adjourned the case of inciting public statement against Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai by a former lecturer of Kaduna State University, KASU, Dr. John Danfulani, to November 25 for hearing.
Ruling on the matter yesterday, the Judge asked the prosecution to produce all its witnesses on the next adjourned date in order to commence hearing on the matter which has been filed since August 29th.
Earlier, State Counsel, Abdullahi Isiaka had prayed for an adjournment in order to serve witness summons on his two witnesses. He said that since the last adjourned date, the summons have not been signed because the trial judge was attending a seminar.
Barrister Mark Jacob, leading four other lawyers for the defence, had argued that the first witness is a nominal complainant and so he does not need to be served a summon before appearing in court.
He, however, conceded for the matter to be adjourned to today, a motion that the prosecuting counsel opposed because the date was not convenient for him. After due consultations, Justice Mohammed adjourned the case to November 25 for hearing.

It will be recalled that Danfulani was charged to court on a two-count charge of seeking to excite hatred and contempt against the people of the north by referring to them as ‘’APC simpletons of Northern Nigeria’’ on his facebook wall.
According to the charge, Danfulani had referred to APC as ‘’a religious party, adding that ‘’northern leaders under the party are demi-gods and crusaders of their way of life.’’

FUTA graduates lament non-mobilisation for NYSC

2016-11-08T06:10:00.000-08:00

Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, who are supposed to be in the next batch of the National Youths Service Corps programme, on Monday, lamented that the school did not mobilise them for the service year.
The students said the development was due to the ongoing crisis between some labour unions and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola.
It was gathered that the crisis has affected both academic and non-academic activities in the school leading to the inability of workers to prepare the results of the final year students.
Three organised labour unions in the institution, which included the Non-Academic Staff Union, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities and National Association of Academic Technologists, have been protesting the release of the VC by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Daramola was reportedly invited by the commission following some allegations of financial mismanagement against him but was released on this same day. The workers however frowned on
his release and vowed that he would not return to the office.
One of the students, who identified himself as Ayo, said they (students) were the ones suffering from the crisis. He called on the authorities of the school to resolve the crisis so that normal activities could begin.
In his reaction to the development, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, confirmed that that the crisis between the labour and the VC of the institution had disrupted normal activities of the school.
Adebanjo stated, “Definitely it has affected service delivery to different stakeholders of the university. Resumption date for new and returning students has also been postponed as a result of the impasse which has also affected municipal services.”
He, however explained that concerted efforts and engagements were going on to ensure that the situation returned to normal.
“This is a difficult phase and it will pass,” the FUTA spokesman said.

Senate suspends amendment of JAMB Act

2016-10-27T03:27:00.001-07:00

Despite its earlier proposal to amend the Act establishing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Senate has suspended the idea to allow for adequate consultation with experts.
A statement issued in Abuja yesterday by JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said the Chairman, Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Aliyu Wamakko, represented by Senator Ajayi Boroffice, made the announcement at an oversight visit to its Headquarters.
The suspension was to avoid impeding on the progress being made by JAMB in the conduct of examinations in Nigeria.
He said: “Your JAMB result is only valid for one year and we thought it would be better for it to be valid for at least three years. That would reduce the burden on the parents, students and even the institution that is conducting the test. I think it is good for all of us and would not be rejected
by the public.
“We don’t make laws for an individual or for the Senate. But we make laws for the country in the interest of all of us. A bill must not necessarily be at the convenience of a particular organiasation. Since we don’t want to make a law that would impede the progress of any institution, we are bound to listen to what the stakeholders are saying.”
According to Wamakko: “JAMB has made so much progress over the years and should continue to improve on its performance because the lives of millions of Nigerians depend on it.”
In his reaction, the Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said he was happy the Senate listened to its appeal.He implored members of the House of Representatives and the Executive to tow the line of the Senate by suspending the amended Act.

Gombe State to establish five new tertiary institutions

2016-10-27T02:58:00.001-07:00

Gombe State government is to establish five tertiary institutions, in an effort to increase access to tertiary education in the state.
The gesture is also aimed at providing science and technical education to youths of the state, as well as, producing agricultural extension workers, who would contribute their quota to boosting agriculture in the state.
Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, stated this while speaking during the inauguration of five committees for the establishment of the institutions in on Tuesday.
Dankwambo recalled that at the inception of his administration, a high-powered committee on education was appointed to produce a blueprint that would facilitate development of education in the state.
“It is therefore gratifying to note that we have implemented recommendations of the committee, which resulted in the improvement of basic education, remodeling and expansion of secondary schools among others,” he said.

He added that when established, the new institutions would train the teeming youths in the state and make them become functional citizens.While commending the appointees, Dankwambo said their selection was based on their track records in various fields of endeavour, urging them to bring their experience to bear in the discharge of their duties.
The five new tertiary institutions to be established are: Gombe State University of Science and Technology, Gombe State College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Gombe State College of Accounting and Management Studies, Gombe State Institute of Journalism, and Gombe State Institute of Sports.
Those appointed into the various committees comprising academics and professionals include professors Abdullahi Mahadi, Yahaya Shehu, Garba Bello Bala, Abubakar Muazu and Nebath Tanglang, as chairmen of respective committees.
Shehu on behalf of the others, thanked the government for finding them worthy of the assignment, promising to give their best.
The committees have two weeks within which to submit their reports. Their terms of reference include determining the desirability or otherwise of establishing the various institutions, propose possible locations, as well as, define philosophy and design concepts for the institutions.

Senate asks FG to include pan-Africanism in schools’ curriculum

2016-10-27T02:34:00.001-07:00

The Senate on Tuesday passed a resolution urging the Federal Government to include pan-Africanism in secondary schools curriculum.
It also advised that history and civic education should feature prominently nation’s secondary schools to further inculcate the spirit of pan Africanism in youths.
Furthermore, it urged the African Union (AU) to set aside a day for the celebration of former Nigerian president, Dr. Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe, and other pan-Africanists.
The lawmakers at a resumed session, noted that the struggle for African unity, as championed by the founding fathers of the continent was fast being forgotten by Nigerian youths.
The resolution followed a motion on floor of the Upper Chamber, by Senator Shehu Sani, who
drew the attention of his colleagues to what he called rapid evaporation of the spirit of pan-Africanism from the minds of the youths.
Sani who represents Kaduna Central, said the inclusion of pan-Africanism in schools will “ensure that we do not voluntarily surrender the dream of the founding fathers of Africa.
According to him, “Nigeria as the giant of Africa, which has helped many countries to attain self rule, needs to include the spirit of pan-Africanism in her children to be nurtured in a manner that we can continue to be proud of.
Though senators were opposed to study of pan-Africanism as a separate course in schools in Nigeria, the Senate in a resolution asked the Federal Government to include history and civic education in the schoolsí curriculum.
The lawmakers also voted for the setting aside of a day in Nigeria, and other African countries for the celebration of the founding fathers of the continent.Sani told his colleagues that the dreams of these founding fathers may disappear if our children are not inspired by pan-Africanism.

ASUU warns of looming crisis in Adekunle Ajasin varsity

2016-10-27T01:54:00.002-07:00

Shortly after it suspended a three-month industrial action, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), has warned of an imminent strike action over alleged illegal appointment of some principal officers.
ASUU, in a statement made available to journalists in Akure recently and endorsed by the chairman, Dr. Sola Fayose, accused the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, of reckless abuse of office, giving him a one-week ultimatum to reverse the action.
Fresh from the recent strike over non payment of outstanding salaries and deductions, the union accused Igbekele of “brazen violation of rules and regulations,” which it said was capable of precipitating another round of instability in the institution, based on appointment of acting deans of faculties, and heads of department, while the last strike action was on.
Fayose disclosed that at the point of suspending the strike, ASUU called the attention of the vice chancellor to the infraction through a resolution of congress, which also demanded that the
process be reversed within seven working days, starting from the day the resolution was taken.
However, the union lamented that the vice chancellor disregarded the resolution, by summoning the Senate of the university to forge ahead, notwithstanding the good reasons that are needed to protect the university.
According to Fayose, “Apparently, the revulsion Prof. Ajibefun has for rules and regulations is deep-seated and almost unhealable, as he has also continued to employ academic staff that are over 70 years in total disregard to the 2009 ASUU/FGN Agreement, and Ondo State Government White Paper and official gazette.”
The union urged Nigerians, particularly Ondo State indigenes, to prevail on the vice chancellor to allow good reasons to subsist, as members of the union are ready to resume effective teaching immediately, not minding that three months of their salary and eight months of deductions are still outstanding.
“It should be made abundantly clear that AAUA should not be run based on the whims and caprices of an individual, or an ambitious clique, but on established rules and regulations. The union is committed to performing its function and responsibility of a better AAUA, and will not succumb to any blackmail or pressure in the discharge of this onerous assignment,” he said.

Survival tips for private universities during recession

2016-10-27T01:33:00.000-07:00

Since the law establishing private university was enacted in 2004-2005, educational investors and educational administrators in Nigeria have taken up the challenges to help the nation with their contributions to improve the quality of higher education by investing in the establishments of private universities and private polytechnics, and running them with or without profit motives.
It would have been a different story if private universities had come during the success years of “oil boom.” The present situation in the country has affected the management of private universities adversely. I mean the national economic situation. Let me borrow Prof. T.M. Yesufu’s (1996) summation of the Nigerian economic situation.
“Nigeria is suffering from the death throes of socio-economic ebola caused by a cross breed of the viruses of political myopia, moral bankruptcy and cultural decadence.”
This quotation is from Yesufu’s (1996) “The Nigerian Economy: Growth without Development.” Yesufu’s statement made in 1996 is even more relevant in today’s assessment of Nigeria’s
situation, especially in an economy overly reliant on government to provide everything.
The culture of expectations on government funding support may have affected the fortunes of private universities since their expectations and requests for government financial assistance have not been met. By current statistics of Nigerian universities, private universities have taken the first position with 61 or more institutions, federal universities take second position with 41 institutions and the states have 40 universities, bringing the total of Nigerian universities to 142, excluding newly approved universities.
From the above statistics, private universities form about 43% of Nigerian universities as at the moment. This figure will definitely rise when more private universities established and approved by the government are listed.
This, therefore, implies that private universities are rescuing the government from the burden of providing adequate university education for the nation. This implication needs to be addressed by the Federal Government to ensure the provision of “free university education” to Nigerians who are aspiring for qualitative university education.
In his view on this constitutional provision, Wilson, D. (2010), argues thus: “This wish has remained largely unrealisable because there is a gulf between this wish and implementation, a difficulty which has arisen, a lack of cooperation.”
Since the governments have failed to cooperate with private university authorities, the dream for free university education cannot become a reality for many years to come.
What remains to be done is for the authorities and proprietors of private universities to find the answers to the current financial crises that are prevalent in their institutions. As at this time, nearly all the private universities are going through harsh economic experience occasioned by lack of sufficient funding.
Many private universities like their public university counterparts are owing salary arrears to their workers (academic and non-academic staff). Many projects hitherto planned for their institutions’ development have been put in abeyance; while management of some of the universities have put embargo on staff employment, temporarily. Some of them have pruned down staff numerical strength to be able to pay salaries conveniently. The same scenario is also present in many public universities throughout the country.
What is the answer to this economic predicament in a depressed national economy? Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State seems to have found a practical approach to ease out its prevailing financial problems, hence the university has adopted the “minimalist approach” to infrastructural project execution as well as investing in other small-scale fund-raising commercial activities. This sort of diversification has been solving a great deal of its financial problems, while the university management is gazing at better days ahead.
The university which has been rated by an Israeli international institute to possess great capacity for profitable commercial agriculture has gone many steps further to develop its potentials in large scale farming. Before its rating, JABU has made great strides in entrepreneurial agriculture by having bumper harvests in plantain, poultry farms, fishery, bakery and in cattle ranching.
The Galilee International Management Institute of Israel and its President, Dr. Joseph Shovel were impressed with JABU’s achievements in commercial agriculture to the extent that they have almost concluded arrangements for a partnership in large commercial agriculture with JABU. Before this initiative is completely realised early next year, JABU has become a force to reckon with in cassava farming. In March last year, the university was honoured by the famous Cassava Millionaires Club Initiative Nigeria (CMCIN), for being the most agricultural friendly university in the country.
In the middle of last year and in the previous year (2014), JABU distributed several cuttings of high yield cassava stems to scores of farmers from Ekiti, Ondo and Osun states. The cassava stems were distributed freely to the farmers.
This hospitality displayed by the management of JABU demonstrates the institution’s Town and Gown relationship. It is also a clear display of the hidden green wealth being nurtured by the institution. Being the first entrepreneurship university in Nigeria turning out fresh graduates into instant employers, JABU places much emphasis on entrepreneurial studies. Hence the JABU approach to economic recession is a welcome method in the war against poverty and unemployment.
The role played by the university’s council members in cooperating with management to use their managerial capabilities to turn things around positively is a factor in JABU’s success. The use of committee system to advise in management’s planning and in the execution of new academic programmes and the initiatives in profitable commercial projects is additional factor which makes it possible for the university to have the capability avoiding tidal waves of harsh economy and swimming cautiously for survival in the troubled waters of economic recession, which have swept some private universities to isolated islands where regular payment of workers’ salaries is now a difficult task.
The approach adopted by JABU in investing in medium scale commercial agriculture and diversifying into other profitable and money spinning ventures is a right step taken to forestall the economic threats posed by the current national economic recession.
All universities, public and private and the polytechnics could borrow the JABU economic approach in order to escape from the economic ills of the country’s present situation, and swim ashore in safety.
The management in JABU and the university council members appear to have carried out a diligent search for the elusive clues to take their institution far away from the era of recession and economic frustration which the country is currently battling with.
In their indisputable optimism, the efforts of faith-based private universities with the partial financial support of their corporate founders as well as those of other private universities established by individual Nigerian patriots shall not be in vain. One can say with Nigerian characteristic optimism that better days are ahead for well administered private universities in Nigeria.
– Duyile is former HOD, Mass Communications Department at Joseph Ayo Babalola University.

Education must top govts’ priority list – Oshiomhole

2016-10-27T01:27:00.001-07:00

Governor Adams Oshiomhole says education must top the priority list of governments at all levels, if the country must make any headway. Speaking at the 20th convocation of the school, where seven finished in First Class Division for the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 sessions, Oshiomhole urged management of universities to, on their parts, ensure that schools are not shut saying shutting down schools affect Nigerian students’ abilities to compete with their foreign counterparts that enjoy uninterrupted academic calendars.
“There are many universities that are on strike, and ASUU has cleverly reversed the conventional adage, or even law, which says, ‘no work, no pay’. Now, ASUU members find themselves saying to now say, ‘no pay, no work’.
“As we speak, I am sure there are a number of universities that are not working because the states have not paid them, and also I am aware of reported cases of some state governments saying straight away to the universities that they are not going to be able to pay more than a fraction of the subvention that they have been paying on account of the current economic challenges. For
me, I am clear that if the Nigerian state defaults in every aspect of its obligation to the people, the Nigerian state, federal and state governments, must never default in its obligation to ensuring that teaching and learning never stop.
“The truth is, Nigeria must reorder its priorities. We must never allow our educational institutions to close down. Closing down by one minute will cost us more than one year of our GDP because every time we stop learning, as Obama would say, ‘when we go so low, they continue to go so high’. And yet, we are expected to compete on the level playing field.
“So, the next government must consolidate on what I am already doing and continue to do even more, including keeping promises that I made in good faith, but which I may not have been able to deliver timely, but those promises must be delivered, and these will be in my hand-over note.
“The future that I see, the growth and development of universities will not be based on the generosity of a state governor, because nobody knows when we are going to get out of where we are in.
“The challenges are mounting. The government needs to provide a variety of public services at a time of declining revenue. In the short run, there will be no quick fixes. So, the university must be creative.”
He said the university would grow not courtesy of miracles, but on the basis of determined efforts by management, staff and students to do things differently.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ignatius Onimawo, paid glowing tribute to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, for his invaluable contributions to the development of the university.
He said, “The massive interventions of the state government under the leadership of the Governor Oshiomhole, are eloquently manifested in the number of projects that were built from government’s intervention funds/grants. Undeniably, the governor has boldly etched his name in gold in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.”
He appealed to the governor-elect, Godwin Obaseki, to continue in that light so that the heights attained would be surpassed.
According to Oninawo, 8,692 diploma, and first-degree students graduated for the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 academic sessions, while 492 postgraduates were conferred with their awards for the two academic sessions.

Borno LG introduces free feeding system, uniforms in schools

2016-10-23T05:21:00.002-07:00

The Caretaker Chairman of Gubio Local Government Area of Borno state, Hon. Zanna Modu Gubio, in his ‘Social Welfare Programme’ has introduced free feeding of pupils in all the primary schools so as to encourage number of enrolments into western education.
The Chairman also distributed free school uniforms and teaching materials to the 21 schools now fully in operation following liberation of the communities by troops.
Gubio was among the 20 council areas in the state that witnessed series of Boko Haram attacks with destruction of lives and property worth billions of naira during the hit of insurgency, before it was liberated.
Speaking to Journalists during inspection of schools and commissioning of the newly reconstructed Council Secretariat worth N85 million, the Chairman said, apart from providing befitting teaching environment for students and conducive office Secretariat to staff, new general
hospital, Clinics, Mosque, classroom blocks were executed by his administration, in addition to connecting Gubio to national grid.
He said, the emergence of Boko Haram crisis was necessitated by, illiteracy, extreme poverty and the inability of the past governments to provide social amenities for its people, especially those at the grassroots level, and however said, with the support Gubio receives from Governor Kashim Shettima’s effort in reconstructing, rebuilding and resettling of destroyed communities, he is determined to ensure that his Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who have since returned home and settled continue their normal lives.
“I want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari, our Governor Kashim Shettima and the Nigerian Army under the Chief of Army Staff, Lieut Gen. Tukur Buratai for degrading insurgents and liberation of our communities.
“This development had made it possible to provide dividends of democracy to our traumatized people. We have started feeding our pupils with food in schools; we are giving them rice, beans and other condiments five days in a week. As government, we will continue to judiciously utilize our scarce resources for the betterment of our people.
“Since the restoration of peace in Gubio by the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Y.P. Auta, we have embarked on massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of our destroyed communities through the concerted effort of Governor Kashim Shettima. We have drilled more boreholes in addition to the existing ones across the 10 wards of this council.
“We have also provided furniture, chairs, free uniforms to our students in our renovated schools, and we are going to reward best performing student (s) by sponsoring their education up to the tertiary level even abroad,” the Chairman stated.
Responding, the Executive Chairman of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Shettima Kullima and the District Head, Abba Rufai commended Hon. Modu Gubio for his foresight in revamping the education sector and other people oriented projects being executed within a shortage time, and therefore called on other 26 Local Government Chairmen in the state to emulate the gesture by putting smiles on the face of students, parents and the IDPs who have since returned to their ancestral homes start their normal lives.

Investigation on missing UNIOSUN students continues – CP

2016-10-23T04:14:00.000-07:00

The Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, has said the police has not closed investigation into the case of two final-year students of the Osun State University who have been missing since September 4.
Adeoye, who succeeded Mr. Femi Oyeleye as the CP of the Osun State Police Command, said this during a briefing with journalists in Osogbo on Friday.

He said the police were still working to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of the duo of Samuel Eke and Robert Akinduro of the Computer Science Department of UNIOSUN.
The missing students were about to defend their final-year projects when they reportedly disappeared.
He said, “The fact that the case is in the court does mean that we have closed investigation of the case. A missing person is regarded to be alive until after seven years. So, we believe that they are still alive and we are working on how to find them.”
The CP called on those with useful information, which could lead to the whereabouts of the two students, to make such available to the police.

NYSC: Corp members to get free accommodation in Jigawa

2016-10-22T04:13:00.002-07:00

The Jigawa State government has promised to construct lodges for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in each of the 27 local government areas of the State in 2017.
Head of the State Civil Service (HoS), Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa, made the disclosure on Thursday after meeting with the executives of the state chapter of the Muslim Corps members Association of Nigeria (MCAN) in Dutse, the Jigawa capital.
Inuwa disclosed that the lodges would be 10 bedrooms each to be situated in the headquarters of the councils.

The HoS explained that the government decided to build the lodges considering the accommodation challenge faced by NYSC members serving in Jigawa.
He said government had directed the 27 LGAs to make budgetary provision for the project in their 2017 budget.
Speaking, Head of the association, Malam Muktar Yakubu, appealed to the state government to assist them with a bus for easy mobilisation and discharge of their duties.
Meanwhile, the first batch of three hundred and ten youth entrepreneurs have benefited from loans under the CBN-NYSC-Heritage Bank Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme, YEDP.
The funds were disbursed to the beneficiaries, comprising serving and ex-corps members, at a ceremony held at the CBN Headquarters, Abuja.

FG to flag-off school feeding programme in Benue

2016-10-21T14:06:00.001-07:00

The Federal government has flagged off its social welfare programme on the Home Grown School Feeding Initiative in Benue State with a three-day workshop for participating schools and food vendors.
Addressing participants and stakeholders on Thursday, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom said there is a need to come up with practical models of implementing the programme successfully in the state and around the country.
Governor Ortom who pledged his commitment to the programme added that the state government will explore the opportunities of expanding its agricultural potentials and utilize most of its perishable produces through the programme.
He added that as Nigeria’s Food Basket, farm produce like yam and many others can be found in large quantities in the state, making it a pivotal partner of the Federal government Home Grown
School Feeding programme.
With the high expectation from the social empowerment of the project, the governor also pledged to ensure the state derives full benefits from the programme.
The team leader from the Office of The Vice President, Abimbola Adesunmi, said the three-day stakeholders workshop holding in Makurdi, the state capital, is aimed at putting the programme component in proper perspective.
Mrs Adesunmi, said she was also on ground at the first day of the workshop to advise the state government and proffer ways of creating a synergy between the state government and stakeholders in the programme.
Missed Target
The Federal Government missed the September target for the commencement of the school feeding initiative which was one the major initiatives promised under the Social Welfare Programmes of the administration.
In July 2016, Mrs. Adesanmi, who is also the National Manager of the programme, said by September, about 5.5 million pupils across the country will be fed daily by the Federal Government under the initiative.
In September, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun revealed that only N70 billion had been released out of the N500 billion budgeted for the SWP to the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on social interventions, Maryam Uwais.
The House of Representatives subsequently summoned Mrs. Uwais to explain why none of the programmes under the SWP are yet to begin.

Army donates teaching, learning materials to IDPs schools

2016-10-21T12:37:00.003-07:00

The Nigerian Army on Friday donated teaching and learning materials worth several millions of naira to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Schools in Yola.
Presenting the items to the camp’s management, Maj.-Gen. Leo Irabor, Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, said that the gesture was to create quick impact to uplift the plight of the IDPs.
Irabor explained that the gesture was from the Nigerian Army quick impact project, soldiers of the education corps, and other officers deployed to teach in the various IDPs schools in the camps across the north east region.
“The Nigerian Army introduced a humanitarian dimension to the IDP camps to uplift their plight.
“And as part of the quick impact, Army deployed officers and soldiers of the education corps to teach in various IDPs camps in the North East region,’’ he said.
Irabor, who was represented by Brig.-Gen. B. Akinroluyo, said that the tragedy of insecurity is a
global concern and Nigeria shares part of it.
He said that the activities of terrorists and insurgents and threats posed by the duo were among the maladies affecting the Nigerian state.
The commander explained that the army had been in the forefront of all the challenges with all its might and resources to contain the terrorists and bring back normal life to affected citizens.
Speaking earlier, Alhaji Sa’ad Bello, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Camps Coordinator in charge of Adamawa and Taraba said the gesture came at the right time.
Bello thanked the army for the humanitarian assistance adding that their gallant efforts in maintaining peace and stability in the area in general, and the IDPs camps in particular, cannot be over emphasised.
Mr. Mahmud Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, said that the state government’s top priority was provision of education to all.
Abubakar said that the state government would continue to partner with well-meaning organisation in transforming the education sector in the state.

Utomi, Momodu task nation on intellectual leadership, youth policy

2016-10-17T00:43:00.002-07:00

Former Presidential candidates of the African Democratic Party (ADP), Prof. Pat Utomi, and Publisher, Ovation Magazine, Mr. Dele Momodu, who ran on the platform of National Conscience Party (NCP) in 2011, have tasked the country on the need to build intellectual leadership with mental capacity and exposure.
Besides, they argued that such prerequisites were needed to lead the country out of its present woes and to formulate youth-oriented policies.
Speaking at the launch of a book ‘Our Entrepreneurship Mandate’ written by Ola Grace at the weekend, Momodu said the country was into the mess it found itself currently because most of the leaders it has produced lack the intellectual capacity to run a nation and have refused to seek advice on how to get things done.
On the other hand, Utomi said what the country needs today is leaders that can shape values
because value shapes human progress.
According to Momodu, “I was stunned by what people say when I decided to run for the highest office in 2011. Many Nigerians asked who was Dele Momodu does he think Nigeria is Ovation? Then I asked myself what was wrong in being a journalist and aspiring to run for the presidency?
“Why are people questioning the competence of a journalist, but that’s our country because we belittle ourselves. I remember that most Africa founding fathers like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Oginga Oginga, Jomo Kenyata from Kenya who wrote Not Yet Uhuru among others have their background in writing or journalism.
“What we’ve lost in this generation is the fact that most of the leaders we have, actually lack the intellectual capacity to run a nation; when you lack something, it is expected you make up for it by surrounding yourself with people who have what you don’t know, unfortunately, politics is not as stable as that, primordial sentiments are attached to everything we do in this country.”
The Ovation magazine publisher added that no government anywhere in the world can provide jobs for everybody and wondered why people complain of government not giving jobs to the people.
According to him, “Part of what our leaders lacks is their inability to create an environment to teach entrepreneurship in schools; without entrepreneur, there is no way America would attain the status of the greatest country on earth; America is the only place where a 19-year-old man is already flying a private jet either from singing, design or developing an application.”
On corruption, the former presidential candidate said, “Reason corruption had refused to die is because our system encourages it. Corruption is not about whether you are breaking down doors; there are system that discourages corruption and one of them is the credit system, you cannot see any developed nation where people cannot get draft, scholarship or loan.
Utomi observed that leaders shape values and value shape human progress, stressing: “What a leader does is to shape the value of the society. Our country is in a position to either become a time bomb for arm-robbers to take over everywhere or we decide to create entrepreneur in the youths to give us demography. Those who are controlling population do not have enough young people to produce for the old, so we have to take advantage of numbers of the young population we have in the country. How can a country that wants to make progress don’t even have a youth policy,” he asked.

Teachers should not bear pains of recession — NUT boss

2016-10-11T06:09:00.002-07:00

Chairman, National Union of Teachers, NUT, Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area, Comrade A J Daggar Tolar, has called on state governors not to use the current recession as an excuse not to pay teachers’ salaries.
Comrade Tolar said this at an event organised by the chapter to commemorate 2016 World
Teachers Day tagged: “Valuing teachers- improving their status.” He lamented that 29 out of 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, were yet to pay the salaries of teachers.
He said: “This recession is felt more on workers, especially on teachers, who are owed salaries from six months to a year.”
While urging the government to invest more in public education, the union chairman said recession should be a time to alleviate the burdens of workers through investments.

I’ve forgiven my kidnappers – UNICAL’s Esuambuk

2016-10-11T03:19:00.001-07:00

President of University of Calabar Staff Cooperative Society, Elder Esuambuk, has said he had forgiven those who masterminded his kidnapping.
He made the declaration during the just concluded cooperative society`s elections which ushered him into office as president.
He recounted his ordeal in the hands of kidnappers who held him hostage at the climax of the election campaign for the position of the society’s president.
The cooperative society`s helmsman said that his kidnappers alerted him that they were instructed by certain individuals to take him hostage until the elections were concluded before he could be released to join his loved ones.
Esuambuk said: “The kidnappers told me that they were sponsored to ensure that I don’t take part in the elections, that theynwere only asked to keep me after the election and they took my phones
away from me.”
When asked to explain what the policy thrust of his administration was, he said that plans were underway to come up with programmes that would enhance the welfare of his members.
Esuambuk maintained that he was aware of the fact that a lot was being expected from them, adding that his administration was working very hard to overcome the challenge of tackling the backlog of loans.
The cooperative society’s president stated that it was in their quest to boost the revenue base of the company that management of the company decided to diversify their funds into various areas to enable them make profit for increased dividend for members.
According to him, plans were underway to erect a state-of-theart hostel on the company landed property in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of the state to provide housing accommodation to students of a private university which is about to take off in the area.
Another project which Esuambuk said his administration shall embark upon was the sinking of borehole on the company`s landed property in Akpabuyo Local Government Area in Cross River State, stressing that water from the borehole would be sold to host community residents involved in the execution of building projects to boost income of the company.
The cooperative society’s president maintained that the company`s fleet of vehicles which currently operated with LarfageHolcim (former Unicem cement company) under the sub-vendor arrangement shall be strengthened to return to its hitherto status of direct vendor arrangement with the cement company.
“Our company’s fleet of buses used to operate with Unicem under the direct vendor arrangement until something happened along the line and we were relegated to the status of a sub-vendor making it difficult for profit from that sector to be attracted into the company`s coffers,” Esuambuk lamented.

Speculation abounds ahead of Nobel Literature Prize

2016-10-11T02:54:00.000-07:00

Literary circles are abuzz with speculation ahead of Thursday’s Nobel Literature Prize announcement, with award watchers suggesting this year’s honours could go to a controversial writer such as Syrian-born poet Adonis.
The Academy is known for its cloak-and-dagger methods to prevent any leaks about its choice, resorting to codenames for authors and fake book covers when reading in public.
The list of nominees is never revealed and the jury’s deliberations are kept secret for half a century.
The suspense will come to an end on Thursday at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT) when the winner is announced, ending an unusually long wait: it comes a week later than usual “for calendar reasons”, the Academy said in late September.
“That leaves a little more time to speculate” about the 2016 laureate, joked Swedish Academy member Per Wastberg, interviewed by AFP.
While perfectly in line with Academy statutes according to Wastberg, some Nobel watchers have interpreted the late date as a sign of discord over this year’s choice.
“If you ask me, it’s absolutely not a ‘calendar’ issue,” said Bjorn Wiman, cultural pages editor at
Sweden’s main daily Dagens Nyheter.
“This is a sign there’s a disagreement in the process to select a winner.”
Mattias Berg, cultural reporter at Swedish Radio, suggested the Academy’s 18 members may have argued over a “politically controversial laureate, such as Adonis,” whose most recent publication is a polemic tract on political Islam.
“The prize would in such cases be seen as taking a stance,” Wiman said.
If the Academy is indeed looking for a laureate who divides opinion, it may also have set its sights on Indian-born British author Salman Rushdie.
In March, the Academy denounced the Iranian fatwa on the author of “The Satanic Verses”, after a 27-year silence it attributed to its neutrality and independence.
Literary critic Madelaine Levy at daily Svenska Dagbladet said only one thing was certain: we know that we know nothing about the Academy’s choice.
“Year after year, the writers chosen are incredibly different,” she noted.
Some of the same names have been making the rounds for several years, including Ngugi wa Thiong’o of Kenya, Don DeLillo and Joyce Carol Oates of the US and Haruki Murakami of Japan.
– Secret short list –
Wiman meanwhile has his Nobel trifecta for this year:
“I think it will be (Norwegian playwright Jon) Fosse, I’m hoping for (Israeli writer David) Grossman and I would jump for joy for (the novelist using the psudonymn Elena) Ferrante.”
Amid all the speculation, the Academy is remaining tight-lipped.
“Some people want to know what’s in the Christmas parcel and some people want to be surprised. We want to surprise you,” says Swedish Academy director Odd Zschiedrich.
Every year, the venerable tradition remains the same: in February, the Academy makes a list of all of the nominations submitted, before reducing it to a secret short list of five names in May.
Throughout the summer, Academy members study their works, before reaching a decision in October.
Last year, the Academy surprised everyone “by not surprising us”, Wiman said.
Belarussian writer Svetlana Alexievich, who won for her documentary-style narratives based on witness testimonies, was the favourite in both literary circles and on betting sites.
This year, most observers say they are expecting a return to fiction.
But Murakami, the big favourite among bettors and the public, is not considered a serious contender.
Too superficial, is the unanimous verdict among the Stockholm literati.
– An American laureate ? –
“There’s room for a category of authors who haven’t yet won,” as was the case with the short story genre and Alice Munro, and Alexievich and her documentary style, according to Swedish Radio’s Berg.
Despite that, and even though novelists are those most frequently honoured with a Nobel, he said he would love to see Joyce Carol Oates win.
And, note many, more women ought to win the award: since 1901, only 14 women have won, compared to 98 men.
Others suggest it’s time for an American laureate, the last one dating back to 1993 when Toni Morrison was honoured.
“It’s been a long time since an American author won the prize,” Levy said, adding: “The great American novel is under-represented.”
But the Academy insists it does not consider gender or geography when selecting a laureate.
“They’re only interested in whether it’s a skilled writer,” Zschiedrich says.

Illegal polytechnic uncovered in Ekiti

2016-10-11T01:12:00.000-07:00

The Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday arraigned in a Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti an illegal polytechnic operator.
The alleged illegal operator, Johnson Babatola, was arraigned before Justice Taiwo Taiwo on a seven-count charge bordering on Advance Fee Fraud and operation of illegal Polytechnic.
Babatola, a former Principal Manager of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Ado-Ekiti branch, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The EFCC said that the suspect was arrested following a petition from the National Board for Technical Education in Kaduna, alleging that he was operating an illegal Polytechnic named Teedek Polytechnic at Ilogbo, Ekiti State.
The board said that the accused had allegedly extorted gullible students, who were not aware of the status of the institution.

The petitioner further alleged that some of the students of the Polytechnic had earlier reported the institution to the board and they had published the school as an illegal institution in some National Dailies.
It said that the accused failed to stop the fraudulent act and as such continued to fleece innocent students through the Polytechnic.
The petitioner said that Babatola had sometime between August, 2013 and March 2015 intended to defraud Adakeja Thomas Olusola at Ilogbo Ekiti within the jurisdiction of the court.
The accused had intended obtaining the sum of N118,000 from Adakeja, having falsely represented that the money was tuition fees.
The EFCC said that the accused had told the victim that money was for the award of National Diploma Certificate by Teedek Polytechnic.
The offence contravened section 1 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.
His counsel, Clatus Nachata, applied for his bail, which the prosecuting counsel, Sanusi Galadanchi, opposed.
The Judge after listening to the argument of both counsel, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.
Taiwo said that one of the sureties must be the traditional ruler of Ilogbo-Ekiti and the second surety must be one of those sureties during the administrative bail earlier granted him by the EFCC.
He said that both sureties shall depose to an affidavit of means and all the documents verified by the EFCC during his administrative bail shall be deposited with the registrar of the court.
The accused person shall deposit his international passport with the court and be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
Taiwo adjourned the case till October 18, October 24 and October 27 for hearing.