Education
Over 1.57m Candidates Write WASSCE In 19,000 Centers
Over 1.57 million candidates are sitting for the 2021 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations WASSCE in 19,000 centers across the country.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Arc. adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Sonny Echono disclosed this while monitoring the conduct of the WASSCE in Federal Government Girls College, Bwari and Government Girls Secondary School, Dutse, both in the Federal Capital Territory,(FCT) Abuja.
Echono who expressed satisfaction over the conduct of the examination, revealed that apart from the disruptions witnessed in the South-east, where some candidates were stopped by some hoodlums from writing the exam, the conduct of the 2021 WASSCE remains peaceful.
“We are very pleased that all around the country, exams are going on peacefully. We have a total of over 19,000 exams centres across the country over 1.57miillion candidates registered for their exams and beside the disruptions we had on Sept 13th in the southeast where some of our candidates were stopped from doing the exams, it is a peaceful and stressful examination,” he said.
Echono however assured that candidates who missed the exam in the South East due to the disruptions, will be given another opportunity to write the examination.
He added that the ministry did not encounter challenges in preparing students for the examinations aside from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Echino further said that although some schools were closed in states due to the COVID-19 pandemic, alternative arrangements were made especially for exit classes to take the examination.
While speaking on the issue of examination malpractice, the permanent secretary stated that cases of examination malpractices would be collated at the end of the examination adding that the culprits will be brought to book.
He said that the ministry was collaborating with relevant examination bodies and Non-Government Organisations to fish out candidates involved in examination malpractices.
“This is because we have a lot of miscreants who are perpetrating and deceiving people. We are going to undertake a general overhaul for all those offering so-called services to candidates.
“We didn’t see much of malpractices in internal examinations like this because these are students who are already in school,” he said.
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Education
Varsity Don Proffers Solutions to Building Prosperous Nigeria
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
A Professor of Public Administration at the Federal University, Lokoja, Otinche Sunday, has called for collective responsibility of Nigerians in building prosperous nation that would meet with international standard.
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Professor Otinche Sunday who made the call while delivering the 42nd Inaugural Lecture Series of the University at its Felele Campus in Lokoja on Wednesday, declared that “Building Nigeria of our own is a collective task before every citizen in respect of what they should do to achieve the goal”
In his Presentation titled ‘The Looking Glass-self Perspective of How Never to Build A Nation in The New World Order: Reflections on Nation Building Experiments in Nigeria, Professor Otinche Sunday noted that the rising level of insecurity in Nigeria, Africa and the World shows that we are gradually losing our humanity.
According to him, “The higher the rate of insecurity, the higher the risks humanity is exposed to. I am of the opinion that Nigerians should not only rely on the strength in our diversity but reflect on the weaknesses in our diversity and incrementally remedy it to prevent disintegration.
“The allegory of unknown gunmen are signs that Nigerians are gradually losing the collective vision and commitment to promote national unity due to our declining sense of national consciousness and citizenship values.
“We should begin to think of building a Nigerian state where the legitimacy of ethnic power can no longer be relied on to confer state power on any individual or group but civil power exercised by the citizens.
“Equitable distribution of political appointments creates balance of power in the power hierarchy of a nation. The reactions by individuals and groups against government’s rationalization of political appointments reveals its importance to nation building.
“Religion and place of origin in Nigeria should be delisted from all policy instruments and platforms that requires identity recognition in order to promote the unity in diversity captured in the national anthem thus “though tribes and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand”
“The role of the elites in nation building cannot be sufficiently reduced to simple intellectual review and analysis. The elites play immeasurable role in promoting ethnic tolerance, national integration and unity, conflict escalation and its resolution and national development.
“The secular belief in brotherhood and unity of Nigeria must be upheld. Great nations fall due to incremental neglect of efforts to resolve its national crisis.
“What I have tried to do is to hold-up a mirror so that you can see your own reflection. If you do not like what you see, breaking the mirror will not change anything, neither will cutting my arms off; killing me will change even less. The truth of man cannot be dissolved in his blood”
He shunned the futility of revenge or using one’s privileged position to silence critical voices, especially voices that reflects the looking glass self-perspective of how never to build a nation called Nigeria, in the new world order shaped by the forces of globalization.
In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye disclosed that since assumption of office the institution has recorded three successful inaugural lectures in close succession
“This is a clear demonstration of my administration’s spirit of sustaining the culture we met and are committed to strengthening the standards in: discipline of time, depth of content and clarity of contribution.
Professor Ibileye discribed the title of the lecture: The Looking Glass-Self Perspective of How Never to Build a Nation in the New World Order: Reflections on Nation Building Experiments in Nigeria, as a very striking in academic research.
“We look forward to your reflection; clearly framed, sharply delivered and well within the time allotted”
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Education
FUL VC Calls For Adequate Funding Of Nigerian Public Universities
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye has called for adequate funding of the Nigerian Public Universities to enable them meet with international standard required for academic excellence and provision of basic infrastructure.
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The Vice-Chancellor who made the call while interacting with the members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Kogi State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists in his office, stressed the need for the media to play its role in letting government know that universities needs more attention to function well in providing quality education.
Professor Ibileye noted that for Universities to achieve the needed academic excellence, basic infrastructure as well as conducive teaching and learning environment, requires allocation of more funds from government.
He however, commended the impact of the Territory Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) in project execution across Nigerian Public Universities and solicited for its continued support.
He expressed his administration’s readiness to continue to collaborate with the Media in giving the desired publicity to FUL stressing that “The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Kogi NUJ has been one of our greatest partner in this direction
“I know the power of the Media in promoting the image of the University, you have been doing it and I implore you to sustain the tempo.
“It is in realization of this goal that on assumption of office as VC, necessitated my decision to establish the Directorate of Strategic Communication and Corporate Documentation to further strengthen the publicity machinery of the University” Professor Ibileye disclosed.
He praised the Correspondents’ Chapel for its solidarity and publicity support that had boosted the image of FUL to the wider world.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Kogi NUJ, Segun Salami promised to sustain the partnership between the union and FUL to boost the institution’s programmes.
“We will live up to expectation in exhibiting high level of journalism profession for the success of your administration throughout your tenure in the University” Salami assured the Vice-Chancellor.
Ends.
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Education
Varsity Don Calls for Restoration of Nigeria’s Forest landscapes
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
A Professor of Geography at the Prince Abubakar Audu University, (PAAU), Anyigba, Adesola Ogidiolu has called on government at all levels to embark on immediate restoration of Nigeria’s Forest landscapes and their sustainable management
Professor Ogidiolu who made the call while delivering the 18th Inaugural Lecture Series of the University held at its Auditorium yesterday, said that the call has become necessary in view of their economic value to humanity.
The Varsity Don in his Lecture titled “Geographers In The Forest: Issues, Concerns, And Tasks” noted that restoration of those forest landscapes that had been lost or degraded is highly desirable. This, Professor Ogidiolu said may involve more reafforestation and regeneration using more ecologically adaptive and fast-growing species.
Professor Ogidiolu who expressed joy that he is privileged to deliver the first Inaugural Lecture under the incumbent Vice Chancellor, Professor Salisu Usman, since assumption of office three months ago, stressed the need to combating deforestation to achieve Zero-NetDeforestation and Forest degradation.
Other recommendations made by the Varsity Don include; “keeping more forest landscape in view of the several importance of forest resources and the diverse forest ecosystem services, there is the need to expand forest to even marginal lands. This can be through a deliberate effort by the three tiers of
government and private sector organizations.
“Managing more forests sustainably through adopting a number of conservative measures and best silvicultural practices such as, good harvesting techniques, delayed harvesting, etc. This will also involve safeguards against misuses and misapplications.
“Mitigating climate change proactively by complying with various treaties and conventions e.g. the Kyotol protocol, Montreal convention on reduction of carbon emission-and the use of environmental friendly energy alternatives.
“Ensuring community participation through the formation of Forest Protection Communities (FPCs) and volunteers. This will proactively prevent destruction of forest through illegal cutting and engender the spirit of co-ownership of the natural resource.
“Unlocking forest potentials through the development of more environmentally friendly utilization of forest resources.
“Practice of social forestry, where forest plantations are established in non—forest area for the benefit of the society.
“Forest monitoring and evaluation especially to predict possible forest hazards such as climate hazards e.g. storms, floods etc for proactive management plan and policies. Frequent and periodic monitoring of the susceptibility of forest to pests and diseases have produced wonderful results in Brazil and training and retraining of forest workers.
“Bioprospecting, otherwise known as biodiversity prospecting is highly recommended. This involved the exploration of wild plants and animals for commercially valuable genetic and biochemical resources.
“Sustained research on forest dynamic to further understand the complexities of forest ecosystem and the emerging frontiers in the science and management of forest.
“Politically, the solution to some of the concerns of geographers about forest ecosystem will involve government making deliberate efforts to remove administrative and operational bottlenecks to good forest management and provide inter sectoral collaboration in forest management and conservation. Government should promote good forest governance, eliminate poverty among the poor forest ” communities and create alternative livelihoods.
“It is clear that geographers are among the frontliners in forest science and studies. Geographers are, infact, in the leading position in the study, analysis and management of natural resources including forest.
“Therefore, for sustainable and pragmatic management of natural resources especially forest, it is recommended that geographers and hence geography as a discipline be given greater recognition and attention by educational policy makers through making geography a core and mandatory subject in our early educational levels of training particularly primary, junior and senior secondary schools in Nigeria.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of PAAU, Professor Salisu Ogbo Usman gave an assurance that his administration is committed to ensuring that inaugural lectures become a central pillar of our academic identity.
The VC commended Professor Ogidiolu for his scholarly presentation describing him as a living legend for this historic role particularly, his willingness to set the pace.
He also praised the Chairman and members of the Inaugural Lecture Committee for their diligence, professionalism, and commitment to excellence.
He said that the topic of today’s lecture, “Geographers in the Forest: Issues, Concerns and Tasks,” is both timely and profound.
“It speaks directly to the intersection of environmental sustainability, resource management, and human survival. In an era marked by climate change, deforestation, and ecological imbalance, the role of geographers becomes indispensable.
“This lecture challenges us to rethink how we engage with our natural environment and highlights the urgent need for interdisciplinary solutions to global and local environmental problems.
“In recognition of the importance of inaugural lectures and to encourage wider participation among our Professors, this administration has approved an increase in the stipend for inaugural lecturers from ₦250,000 to ₦500,000.
“This is not merely a financial gesture; it is a demonstration of our commitment to rewarding scholarship, encouraging academic excellence, and motivating more Professors to share their research with the wider community.
“Furthermore, we are determined to introduce innovative approaches in the delivery of inaugural lectures, aligning our practices with global best standards.
“We envision a system that enhances visibility, encourages wider participation, and elevates the overall prestige of these lectures. Our goal is to make inaugural lectures not just academic obligations, but celebrated intellectual events that reflect the nobility of scholarship.
“To sustain this momentum, I urge the Inaugural Lecture Committee to commence the immediate receipts of submissions from eligible Professors. This will enable us to extend our timetable beyond 2027 and cover up to the end of 2028.
“Let us remain open to flexibility and innovation – even if it means hosting lectures twice monthly – to ensure that our University remains vibrant, productive, and intellectually competitive.
“I assure the entire University community of our unwavering commitment to academic excellence, institutional growth, and global relevance.
“Together, we shall build a University where ideas flourish, scholarship thrives, and excellence is the standard.
Let us continue to work collectively to elevate Prince Abubakar Audu University to greater heights.
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