VP Osinbajo Reiterates Government's Commitment to Tertiary Education

The Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Profes- Tsor Yemi Osinbajo, GCON, has reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to the sustenance of tertiary education in the country. He gave the assurance on Monday, 28 November, 2015, at the 3rd Annual Conference of the Association of West Africa Universities (AWAU), held at the Nigerian Turkish Nile University (NTNU), Abuja. The Vice President, who was represented by the Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, revealed that the Federal Government, under the l e a d e rs h i p o f P r e si d e n t Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, was committed to the expansion of access to quality tertiary education, through the establishment of new programmes, development of physical infrastructure, recruitment and training of teaching and nonteaching staff as well as the implementation of the recommendation of the Needs Assessment Committee on Nigerian universities. He said that the Federal Government had already started releasing funds to some benefiting institutions. Delivering the keynote address titled, “Turbulence in University Education in West Africa: Quality, Mentorship and Access,” former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, called on African universities to develop curricula and engage in research that would address the current challenge of insecurity and foster peaceful coexistence in the African continent, in particular and the world in general. The former President, who was represented by the former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Peter Okebukola, said that as research centres, universities were expected to respond to societal challenges. Chief Obasanjo, who lamented that world peace, especially in Africa, was being threatened by the activities of violent extremists and terrorism, called on universities across the continent to rise up to the occasion. He observed that physical development could only thrive under a conducive atmosphere and further called on universities to take the lead in addressing the menace. In the words of the former President, “Peace in Africa and the world is getting increasingly compromised through violent extremism to which our universities should rise stoutly to defend and find solutions. The West African sub-region is not spared the scourge of Boko Haram. We need our universities to come up with creative solutions, if possible a curriculum and research methodologies that will foster a culture of peace and human security in Africa and World.” The Executive Secretary, NUC, Professor Julius A. Okojie, was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary I, Professor Chiedu Mafiana. Also at the event, was the NUC Director, Quality Assurance, Dr. Noel Saliu.

Unlock Agricultural Potentials in your Domain - President Buhari Challenges OAU

The President, Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has challenged the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, to unlock the nation's vast agricultural potentials by resuscitating the production of Cocoa and the variety of Soya Beans called the “Ife Brown” through more potent research in Agriculture. He stressed that doing so would not only provide the springboard for the nation's industrialisation, but bring back the contributions of the cash crop, Cocoa, that once supported the economy of the old Western Region, to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), in the wake of the dwindling fortunes of the oil sector. Speaking, on Saturday, 12 Decemst ber, 2015, at the 41 Convocation of the University, the Visitor, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, said that the fate of Cocoa had happened to most other cash crops cultivated in Nigeria which, if revitalised as accomplished in rice production, would add to the resultant value chain. He also recalled that the “Yam Pounder” was researched and developed in OAU and reiterated the need to make Agriculture the backbone of the nation's economy. President Buhari noted the giant strides of OAU, hosting the first and best Faculty of Pharmacy in Nigeria and the tremendous progress in research into the management of Sickle Cell Anaemia as well as producing great Pharmacists like Prince Julius Adeluyi, a former Minister of Health. He raised concern on what had happened to some research results from the Institution, noting, however, that although the Bone Marrow Transplant procedure was providing promising results for the cure of the disease, other Nigerian universities have not emulated the Ife example. He added that as soon as the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programme was finally approved, it would support the clinical management of prescribed medications. The President disclosed that the Ife Model for the training of medical doctors was now being revisited in the Nigerian University System (NUS) because the products of the University had excelled in many developed countries, with over 2,000 renowned physicians of various specialisations, some of whom had received mention by the US Congress, practicing in North America. He, particularly, commended the exploits of one of its product, Dr. Oluyemi Badero, a distinguished Nigerian Cardiologist in the USA and encouraged the country's experts in the diaspora to utilise the opportunities provided by the NUC’s Linkages with Experts and Academics in the Diaspora Scheme (LEADS), to assist the tertiary institutions on short term visits. The Visitor informed the Convocation that, while his Administration would continue to improve access, equity and quality in the NUS, he would place emphasis on infrastructure and teacher development, curriculum reform, relevance, funding and planning, in order to bring about the expected change in the nation's socio-economic, political, cultural and technological endeavours. He added that the Federal Government would also invest heavily in Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and skills development to meet the nation's middle level manpower needs and eventually promote national growth. The President noted that TVET would impart the necessary skills and competencies required by artisans, technicians and technologists as well as ensure that they were enterprising and self-reliant. The President also gave the assurance that Government would provide the necessary support for the 10 Centres of Excellence in the country one of which is being hosted by OAU; the Centre of Excellence in Software Engineering, to guarantee their sustainability. He implored the Institution to be at the vanguard of the nation's economic diversification through the establishment of Industrial Parks. He observed that the University could be the Silicon Valley of Nigeria with the harnessing of its Nigerian Museum of National History as well as other sites and facilities in and around Osun to promote research and tourism. He advised all universities to leverage on the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), an IT Platform that was domiciled in the NUC, being the only one that was in operation in West Africa, saying that it would encourage the development of West and Central African Regional Education Network (WACREN) for the sub-region.

President Buhari Reiterates Govt's Commitment to Job Creation

His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, President, Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria

The President, Commander in Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has reiterated his administration's commitment to making job creation a priority agenda for the teeming youths of the country. He stated this in his Keynote Address, with the theme, “Entrepreneurship for Development”, on Saturday, 12 December, 2015, at the Second Convocation Ceremony of the Kaduna State University (KASU), Kaduna, where he was the Special Guest of Honour. President Buhari stressed that his administration would support all efforts aimed at creating more jobs by the re-orientation of Nigerian youths on Entrepreneurship which, he said, was a potent tool for the attainment of the Federal Government's objectives of improved security and poverty reduction. In his words, “This administration will ensure that youths in the country are gainfully employed and youth restiveness curtailed. One of the focal points of this administration is job creation. Job creation will help in the achievement of other objectives of the Government such as poverty reduction and security,which are some of the challenges this administration is confronted with. Insecurity cannot be divorced from unemployment and poverty because an idle mind, they say, is the devil's workshop.” The President observed that with declining revenue due to the fall in the price of crude oil, it was necessary to seek for alternative sources of revenue by diversifying the economy. According to him, “One of the ways we can achieve this is through the reorientation of our youths towards an entrepreneurial mindset. We must, therefore, promote and enhance the teaching and learning of entrepreneurial skills in all schools and tertiary institutions, thereby exposing our youths to the basics and rudiments of starting and sustaining their own businesses”. To enable the youths contribute meaningfully to the nation's economy, President Buhari promised that his administration would sustain and improve the on-going programmes by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Bank of Industry (BoI), the Bank of Agriculture and other Federal agencies, to grant them start-up loans at concessionary rates. He also called on the private sector to support Government's efforts to boost youth entrepreneurship and the development of micro, small and medium scale enterprises in the country, adding that it was in a bid to address youth unemployment, that the Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission (NUC), made it mandatory for all universities to teach entrepreneurship skills, so that graduates could become jobcreators rather than job-seekers. In his address, the Visitor and Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufa'i, while eulogising the successes of the Institution so far recorded in the area of Entrepreneurship, gave the assurance that the State Government would continue to support all the stateowned tertiary institutions by increasing their annual grants and employing additional staff. Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Barnabas Quirix, disclosed that out of the 4,000 graduands, 38 bagged First Class in various disciplines, adding that the Ceremony was a combined Convocation from 2012 to 2015 sessions. He charged the graduands to be focused in their future endeavours and to be good ambassadors of the Institution, adding that KASU had continued to strive for excellence in all its activities. The highlight of the Convocation was the conferment of honourary doctorate degrees on President Buhari, Mall. El-Rufai and Alh. Aliko Dangote.

NANS condemns senate threat on social media

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, condemn in totality the unusual rapid readings and debate in which the bill to jail social media users got from the Nigerian senate of the 8th National Assembly within a week, where we have pending volatile issues turning the nation down that needs their urgent attentions as stakeholder.

With the decision of the senate to have allow for reading and referring to committee of ethics and privilege, a bill which infringe on the right and freedom of information of Nigerian masses, it has exposed the underbelly of the Nigerian senate to an unpardonable ridicule that they are not representing their people but themselves, because how would our senators who reside mostly in FCT source for information and gather opinions to provide solution on national issues from all nooks and crannies of the country if not through social media facts and fallacy.

It is also noteworthy to state that NANS considers the Nigeria senate threat on social media users as a fraudulent attempt to subvert Nigeria’s democracy and freedom of expressions in any form. They wish to deny the masses of access to information which is a prerequisite for transparency and accountability of governments, security awareness and as safeguarding citizens against mismanagement, crimes and corruption.

Social media, a fastest means of interaction, remains the last hope of the less privilege in communicating their ideas, needs and grievances to most of our leaders that are not accessible. Also, Nigerian students concern as the bedrock of this nation’s development and highest rated user of social media, emanated from the fact that most of our distinguished senators cannot rid their camps of social media propaganda as it’s the source of their political popularity, yet they feel so eager to suggest two (2) years jail term or N4m fine for social media users who passes information which they as law makers may term as false.

The nation is battling with security challenges and many more, where lays the hope and aspiration of the masses when our Senators are yet to pass a bill stipulating increase in years of jail term of corrupt people who siphoned the nations fund with a corresponding increase in the amount of money embezzled.

We know that the law is like cobweb, too strong to catch the weak but too weak to catch the strong, therefore NANS uses this medium to appeal to all distinguish senators of Federal Republic of Nigeria to please place our collective national interest above their self-interest in making decisions to govern this country. It is on this note, that we are emphatically stating that any attempt by the Senate to pass the bill on jailing social media users, then they should be prepared to face the wrath of the Nigerian students through maximum protest to the National Assembly.

Signed: Comrade Ogunkuade Oluwatosin
NANS Vice President External
FOR: National Association of Nigerian Students’

I’ll improve standard of education in Nigeria —Minister

Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, has pledged to improve the standard of primary, secondary, polytechnic and teacher education in the country.

Prof-Anthony-Onwuka

The minister who spoke at a reception held for him in Imo State, noted that education was critical to achieving the change promised by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Anwukah in a statement by his media aide, Chinonso Nwangwu, weekend, said that as the Minister of State for Education, his schedule of duties include primary, secondary, polytechnic and teacher education in the country.

He promised to make this aspect of Nigerian education responsive and focus-driven in line with the challenges of the 21st century, even as he called on all stakeholders in the educational sector to take advantage of the opportunity for change provided by the president and support his change mantra.

The minister thanked the government and people of Imo State for rallying round him during the ministerial screening at the Senate.

The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Mr. Eze Madumere, who represented Governor Rochas Okorocha,said that the minister was instrumental to the success of the free education from primary to tertiary level enjoyed in Imo State by indigenes and non-indigenes.

He appealed to the minister to replicate same at the Federal Government level.

UNN students cry out over 'mandatory' N70,000 laptop fee

Recently, the university administration in it's bid to industrialize the school with information technology introduced a mandatory policy, where all students must own a laptop and pay N70,000 as laptop fee. But many students are unhappy that such levies have been imposed on them.

Students said that this new policy is making education so difficult for the poor, as with this policy, many students would now be paying close to N200,000 in a federal university per session.

The students are calling the new Education Minister to call the vice chancellor to order..that laptop ownership should be a choice and not mandatory

Technology

Japan's first commercial jet in 50 years made its maiden flight today, in a breakthrough for the country's long-held ambition to establish an aircraft industry that can compete with some of the major players in global aviation.

General News

UPDATES:

• President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected names of nominees for ministerial appointments submitted by the leader of the APC, Asiwaju Tinubu.
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• The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Adewale Martins, has condemned the recent twin suicide bombing attacks in Kuje and Nyanya areas of the FCT.‎

• Senate Unveils President Muhammadu Buhari’s Ministerial List Today http://t.co/zcLlyBywdz

• Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, Names Usman Durkwa As Deputy Governor http://t.co/cB5kJzpk7U‎

• Boko Haram Sect Loyal To ISIS Claim Responsibility For Kuje And Nyanya Bomb Blasts http://t.co/D44UNTtabT
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• Identities Of Four Others Arrested Alongside Dieziani Alison In The UK Revealed: http://grt.me/43Q7s
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• UK Court Orders Seizure Of £27,000 Cash Found On Dieziani Alison: http://grt.me/7jQcD‎

• Aliko Dangote Says President Muhammadu Buhari’s Anti-Corruption War Is Good For Business. Listed Amongst World's Most Influential: http://t.co/q58PBiJ0dj

• Mild Drama At Gwarinpa As ABUJA Police Forcefully Apprehend 2 Girls On Hijab Suspected To Be Suicide Bombers http://t.co/yuBtKzxpgE‎

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Invitation to Participate/Exhibit at the 4 Nigeria Bio-Summit

The National Universities Commission is in receipt of a call circular from the Federal Ministry of Education, inviting th institutions and stakeholders to participate and showcase research findings in the 4 Exhibition of the Nigeria BioSummit, October, 2015 holding as follows: Date: 29 - 31 October, 2015 Venue: Banquet Hall, Government House, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State For further enquiry please contact the National Coordinator ,NigeriaBio, Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase 1, Annex 3, th 5 floor, Three Arm Zone, Abuja. Nigerian@bio.gov.ng, website: www.bio.gov.ngTel: 0902914923

ES tasks Education Experts to Address Nigeria's Needs

The Executive Secretary, NUC Professor Julius A. Okojie

 The Executive Secretary, National Univertsities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, has tasked education experts to creatively appraise what innovations and inputs could be added to sub-disciplines in the Faculty of Education in order to develop programmes that would address the nation's needs. Presenting a keynote paper titled, Consolidating Education Programmes in Nigerian Universities for National Development at the 5 Faculty of Education Conference of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) with the theme, Knowledge Integration for National Integration, recently, Professor Okojie said that each programme and a group of programmes in the discipline could certainly achieve a lot together. He canvassed for the special consideration of some innovative academic programmes with a view to discovering their potentials in contributing to the national development agenda. He classified these programmes into two major categories namely- Integrated Subject Group and Specialist Education Area. The Executive Secretary, who was represented by NUC Visiting Professor Akaneren Essien, identified the Integrated Subject Group to include Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Science Education, Entrepreneurial Education, Education Technology and Language Arts Education; while the Specialist Education Area comprised, Early Childhood Education, Basic Education, Higher Education, Special Needs Education, Education Administration and Guidance and Counselling). The NUC Scribe observed that the contribution of higher education to national development was enormous, with the sub-sector producing large number of skills and competencies that are essential to meeting the country's needs. He, however, noted that one major challenge was how to cope with the overwhelming number of unemployed graduates of the tertiary institutions, which informed the call to embrace entrepreneurship for job- creation. Professor Okojie charged universities to sustain their roles as knowledge incubation centres and called on senior academics to properly mentor their younger colleagues in the system. He said that the vast array of intellectual resources at their disposal were necessary tools for the advancement of the academic community. In the paper, the Executive Secretary advocated for the adoption of what he called 'Knowledge Integration Modalities', describing it as the tool needed, with careful planning, to advance the academic platform. He submitted that, with the staff strength, facilities and resources at their disposal, it was time for the various education departments and individuals to map out workable strategies for knowledge integration for national development, using the measurable inputs from the academic programmes mounted in the departments. Professor Okojie also stressed the need for the faculty to properly train and equip the students to be useful and competent on graduation. To this end, he advised that every step should be taken to properly equip the laboratories, studios, workshops and lecture rooms. He further said that each university should establish a Quality Assurance Unit to track the performance of Departments in meeting the minimum requirements for teaching and learning specified in the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS). The Executive Secretary reminded the universities that the essence of the programme accreditation exercise conducted by the Commission was to regulate the standards required to run each of the programmes approved by the NUC. He added that the quality of programmes of UNICAL, both at

L-R: The Guest Lecturer, Professor Daniel Denga; Vice-Chancellor of UNICAL, Professor James Ekpoke; Professor Essien and Dean of Faculty of Education, Professor Florence Banku Obi

the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, could be affected if urgent steps were not taken to remedy the identified deficiencies to put the programmes on a sound footing. He therefore called on the University Management to allocate adequate funds and to provide facilities for the Faculty of Education as well as to ensure the greater participation of the staff and students in future accreditation exercises. Earlier, in his remarks, the ViceChancellor, Professor James Epoke congratulated the Dean for the efforts at repositioning the Faculty and for creating opportunities for academics to brainstorm on a carefully selected theme that had national and global interest. He also commended the faculty for pioneering the intellectual culture , of monthly seminars, workshops and conferences, which was reflective of an academic environment. He tasked the faculty to continue to mentor young academics and applauded it for the production of a faculty journal and the efforts at its indexing by the African Journal Online. Welcoming guests, the Dean, Professor Florence Banku Obi stated that the faculty was poised to reposition, in line with the University's Vision Statement as well as the faculty's Vision of preparing globally competitive teachers. She recalled that with the reawakening of the faculty when she became the Dean, in 2012, through monthly seminars and workshops, that many of its academic staff were now better prepared for academic challenges than before. She advised the younger academics to take advantage of the conference to develop papers that, when peer reviewed, could be published in the Faculty Journal - Education for Today that would soon become visible at the Google scholar's platform for wider readership. The Lead Paper “Knowledge Integration as a Catalyst for National Development,” was presented by an education expert of the University, Professor D.I. Denga. At the end, the Conference recommended among other things that: There should be a degree programme in Knowledge Integration and that the National Universities Commission ( N U C) should encourage universities to mount this programme; Institutions of Higher Learning must recognise that knowledge integration will help the country to key into knowledge economy which drives global ·economy today; and Entrepreneurship education should be integrated into the curricular of all levels of education with emphasis on basic and secondary education.

NgREN Reiterates Commitment to WACREN

The Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie with the Deputy Executive Secretary I, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, at the opening of the Workshop on Network Monitoring and Measurement, held at the NUC, Abuja

The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, (NUC) and Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, has expressed the commitment of NgREN to partner with the West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN) to maximise the benefits of the second phase of the Africa Connect Project. Professor Okojie stated this at the opening ceremony of the Workshop on Network Monitoring and Measurement, held at the Commission. Professor Okojie observed that the commissioning of the first operational REN in West and Central Africa in July, 2014, for the purpose of collaborative research and learning between educational institutions within and outside the country was yielding result. He stated that the objectives of NgREN was to, among other things, provide more and cheaper bandwidth for member institutions; provide an efficient network infrastructure to the Research and Education Community and establish a framework that enabled resource sharing and facilitated innovation and development; provide network services and application such as identity federation, e-content hosting, network security, bandwidth management, IP telephony and video conferencing. The NUC Scribe said that the Commission, being a quality assurance Agency, was responsible for the development of university education in Nigeria, recognising the need to ensure that Nigerian universities became centres of academic excellence of world class standards, where the potential of ICT was harnessed to serve as a catalyst for effective teaching, learning and research. “ It believes in quality manpower development, aimed at the promotion of innovations in education towards ensuring the production of graduates and research developments that would be globally competitive”, he said. The Executive Secretary noted that in recognising the critical role that research and education played in the development of the citizenry and the nation at large, the NUC, in conjunction with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVC), supported by the world Bank-assisted Science and Technology Education, PostBasic (Step-B) Project, commisth sioned NgREN on 8 July, 2014, as the first operational Research and Education Network in West and Central Africa, with the aim of facilitating inter-institutional communication and aiding collaborative research and learning between educational institutions, within and outside the county, while providing a platform for new technologies to be tested and implemented. Professor Okojie noted that at its establishment, the NgREN was charged with the objectives of providing more and cheaper bandwidth for member institutions, ensuring an efficient network infrastructure to the research and education community, and establishing a framework that enabled resource sharing and innovation of facilities and development, to provide network services and application such as identity federation, e-content, hosting, network security, bandwidth management , IP telephony, video conferencing, among others, to the research community. He added that, the first phase of the network had connected all the 27 founding federal universities, the NUC and CVC Secretariat to a high speed 10 Gigabit core and thus having access to share internet resources, content, capacity development initiatives and collaboration. The Executive Secretary stated that the NUC was working with the Federal Government of Nigeria to expand the network from the existing 29 nodes to the remaining universities and other Higher Education and Research Institutions in Nigeria. In addition, the NUC was also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to implement the Inter-Campus Connectivity (UnICC) project. He said that all these facilities, put in place, were intended to address the challenges of infrastructure, and joint research within the community that had militated against its

Participants undergoing training on the use of the NgREN facilities at the Workshop

ability to  benefit from the many global efforts such as Euro-Africa joint programmes, the Horizon 2020 and Africa Connect Projects. Currently, only the Ubuntu Net Alliance (in the Eastern and Southern Africa) was benefiting from these projects, although with the support of NgREN, the West and Central African Research and Education Network could be part

Fourteen-Step Process for the Establishment of Private Universities in Nigeria

The National Universities Commission (NUC), wishes toannounce to the general public, especially prospectivepromoters of private universities, the fourteen-step procedurefor establishing private universities in Nigeria.

1. Application in writing stating the intent for the establishment of the university
2. Interview of prospective proprietors
3. Collection of application forms
4. Submission of application forms and relevant documents
5. Intensive review/analysis of documents by experts in relevant NUC departments
6. Revision of documents by proprietors, based on report of SCOPU
7. Interactive meeting of SCOPU with the proposed university
8. First site assessment visit
9. Finalisation of document
10. Second (final) site assessment visit
11. Security screening of proprietors and Board of Trustees
12. Approval by NUC Management
13. Approval by NUC Board
14. Approval by FEC

News Update

NEWS UPDATES:
‎
• The Jonathan Government has revealed that Ex-President Jonathan spent only N333million in 3years for Independence Celebrations, not N64billion.
‎
• The NNPC Retail Limited has filed a legal action before a Federal High Court in ABUJA against two oil firms over trademark infringement.
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• Over 97% of Capital Market Operators (CMOs) have complied with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recapitalization deadline.
‎
• Jubril Baba-Ali has emerged the overall winner of the 2015 Independence Golf Tournament which held at the IBB Golf Course in ABUJA, this month.
‎
•  NLC said security agencies should not limit their investigation to Boko Haram only, as Niger-Delta militants threaten to resume attacks.
‎
• At least 10 people were killed in multiple explosions that rocked Maiduguri, Borno State, residents has said.

• United States To Donate $2.3billion To Nigeria For Poverty Alleviation http://t.co/DoN2ilWEmG
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• FCTA Says It Will Foot The Medical Bills For All ABUJA Bomb Blasts Victims http://t.co/u5wi5HVYYT
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• That special #METROBAKERY cake, unique design, sumptuous taste and amazingly affordable. Order now Pin:5339B2FE 08023457703‎

• The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Wants President Muhammadu Buhari To Expose Boko Haram Sponsors http://t.co/HgQ5bLKkxx"‎
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• Liverpool FC Manager, Brendan Rodgers, Sacked With Immediate Effect http://t.co/oZOm7UDuTI‎

• Baze University, ABUJA, Graduates 212 Students http://t.co/Sj3ojkRUtW
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• Unique Inventions That Gave ABUJA Int’l Trade Fair A Definition http://t.co/IM3m5577i4

News Update

NEWS:
‎
• The Jigawa State Police Commissioner, Usman Tilli, has been accused of pocketing allowances meant for fighting Boko Haram terrorists.
‎
• The University of ABUJA has expressed its willingness to partner with any potential investor in the establishment of indigenous fermentation industry.

• The Senate President Bukola Saraki has said that the ministerial list envelope will remain sealed and will be opened before the plenary on Tuesday.‎
‎
• Over 250+ Golfers Compete At The Independence Day Golf Competition 2015 http://t.co/z7vkhNxior
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• The Story Of Queen Of Aso 2015 Beauty Pageant http://t.co/pJ2MK7XPJF‎
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• Suicide Bombers Carry Out Multiple Attacks In Maiduguri, Borno State: http://grt.me/oWyoa
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• Flights Disrupted After Electricity Firm Disconnects ABUJA Airport: http://grt.me/GFNN3
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• The New Set Of Terrorists In ABUJA And How They Destroy The City. Read About Them: http://t.co/nOX8lL49B3‎
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• “FCT Residents Deserve To Have A Representative In Buhari’s Administration”: http://grt.me/gQsvJ

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EU Delegation Seeks Collaboration with NUC

The Executive Secretary, NUC, Professor Julius A. Okojie explaining a point as the Deputy Head of European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Richard Young, when his  team visited the Commission

A team, led by the Deputy Head of the European Union (EU), Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mr. Richard Young, on Wednesday, 23 September, 2015, visited the National Universities Commission (NUC) to seek collaboration between Nigerian Higher Education Institutions and their European counterparts on two major issues bordering on Erasmus Course Programmes and recognition of qualifications earned in universities within the regions. Receiving the delegation, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, expressed delight about the resolve of the team to take th time out of the 7 Quality Assurance Conference holding in Nigeria, to solicit for exchange of ideas on the two issues. He briefed them on the functions and roles of NUC, the history of the Nigerian University System (NUS), especially since the commencement of regional universities; from the initial small number to the present structure of 141, comprising 40 each for Federal and State Governments as well as 61 private universities. Professor Okojie said that with the increase in the number of universities, NUC's role of ensuring the orderly development of the NUS had continued to be challenging. He stated that private universities in the country had peculiar governance structure as they ran their affairs through their Boards of Trustees (BoT), which in turn appoint the Governing Councils while the Council appoint the Vice

NUC Management with the delegation, during the courtesy visit

Chancellors and other Principal Officers. He emphasised that the Commission had been working since the last three decades to maintain balance between granting access, guaranteeing quality and stabilising the system. Professor Okojie stated that the exchange programme was a welcome development, adding that some Nigerian students really needed to go abroad to study, particularly for courses that the universities lacked the required resources and manpower to train students such as Aeronautic Engineering. He told the team that the NUS would also benefit immensely from the Erasmus Course Programme as only about 40 percent of the teaching personnel had PhDs. It would therefore complement the present capacity building of the staff undertaken by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). The Commission, he said, had continued to work hard, over the years to maintain a balance between granting access, guaranteeing quality and stabilizing the system. On the recognition of qualifications, Professor Okojie said that there must be common minimum entry requirements that would be stipulated for nationals of a country studying, either in their home universities or abroad. He stressed that what was required in the West African sub-region was to strengthen the national accreditation bodies and establish integrity in the process, through robust accreditation of programmes and institutions at their individual levels before going into regional affiliations. He affirmed that Nigerian universities ran a two semester system and were doing well, in terms of the quality of graduates and institutions and certainly served as a model for the sub-region. He stated that one of the challenges inherent in the NUS was that of the grading system which the NUC was currently reviewing in collaboration with the universities, with the hope of scrapping the pass degree and adopting a uniform grading that would represent common measuring indices for all graduates in the country. Responding to other issues, the Executive Secretary noted that the exchange of staff and students was a welcome idea but that it would only take place where the Commission had confidence in the universities in question. He also faulted the idea of the EU delegation meeting with the officials of theForeign Affairs Ministry alone, saying that it should have consulted with the NUC right from the outset since the matter was about university education. In his speech, Mr. Young said that the issue of recognition of qualifications was one that needed cooperation between the EU Council and the NUC, as it would offer them mutually-benefitting rewards. While calling for its exploration, he noted that migration was a challenging issue which EU universities had been working with Immigration authorities in Nigeria to tackle. This, according to him, had been categorised into legal and regular migration, irregular migration and international defections, for Nigerians that had been looking for the recognition of their qualifications either for academic or professional purposes. On quality assurance in EU universities, the team leader said that the European Union Council was responsible for doing so and had a register that listed all recognised institutions within the region. He added that the Council had produced Guidelines for Harmonisation of Quality Assurance/ Accreditation of Programmes in European Universities, which specified the regulatory framework that guided inter-university qualifications across the EU countries and the processes for the monitoring of the individual regulatory agencies within member countries. The Deputy Head disclosed that the EU Council hoped to support the initiative of establishing a common quality assurance framework within the West-African sub-region taking cognisance of issues like programmes and institutional accreditations, quality of staff and students and the learning environment. “The Council had also built a strong knowledge institution that was currently involved in offering facilitation, networking, contract and legal services, which would help build a strong regional institution within ECOWAS and the African Union, at large”, he said. O n t h e E r a s m u s Course Programme, Mr. Young explained further that it was designed for education, training, youth and sport for the period 2014-2020, adding that it offered a wide range of opportunities for higher education students, doctoral candidates, staff and institutions from around the world. He stated that the partnership was also aimed at harnessing the potentials and development between European universities and their Nigerian counterparts. He pointed out that one of the benefits of the partnership was that it offered Nigerian students aspiring to study in Europe the opportunity of enjoying a financing initiative and acquiring a “Joint Master's Degree” and would also enable the students apply for a “Short-term” programme with a valid certification. He also mentioned the existence of a European Credit Transfer Fund (ECTF) system that offered new guides to those applying to study in EU countries. Responding, the Executive Secretary said that the delegation was in the right place since the Commission also served as a link between Nigerian universities and their counterparts around the world. The Commission would therefore intimate the Committee of Vice Chancellors (CVC) on the collaboration. At the end of the interaction, the Executive Secretary nominated the Directors of Protocol and Special Duties as well as Research and Innovation, Mr. Chris Maiyaki and Dr. Suleiman Ramon Yusuf, to serve as NUC Desk Officers to further explore the benefits of the collaboration. Other members of the delegation were the Higher Education Expert, European University Association, Elizabeth Coluddi; Director, European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, Maria Kelo; Head of Division, German Academic Exchange Service, Stefan Bienefeld and the International Policy Officer, European Union Commission, Deirdre Lennan. Also at the meeting were some members of the NUC Management.

Professor Okojie with some members of NUC Management and the EU delegation

IBM Offers Varsities Innovative ICT Software

A delegation from the International Business Machines (IBM), West Africa Ltd, led by the Company's Engineer and Chief Scientist, Dr. Uyi Stewart, on Tuesday, 22 September, 2015, visited the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, with an offer to introduce an innovative software technology that would use the three core Nigerian languages for teaching and learning in the education sector, especially the universities. In his speech, Dr. Stewart said that the company initiated the meeting to explore an opportunity whereby the technology could be used to support Nigerian universities, stressing that IBM wished to Strengthen its engagement in Nigeria, having already established its presence in some other African countries. He told the Executive Secretary that IBM was one of the oldest and well respected ICT companies in the world, with a rich history of innovations spanning over 104 years and spreading across 170 countries. The Team Leader disclosed that the proposal, as envisaged, would give the user a personalised education, particularly in the universities and would also bring education to the doorsteps of ordinary Nigerians. He further stated that the IBM team was more interested in deploying the technology to reposition some core Nigerian languages that were gradually dying and would pick a few universities from different geographical regions for the pilot project. To encourage the universities, Dr. Stewart said that his company was planning a competition, where the ones that could digitise the three core Nigerian languages and build an acoustic module for these languages would win some fantastic prizes. He emphasised that the whole idea was to make learning easy, available and accessible to the grassroots people, adding that the programme, which was billed to kick off in 2016, would impact lives. Responding, Professor Okojie said that the Commission was always willing and ready to partner with any organisation or group that would add value to the development of the NUS. He told the delegation that education in Nigeria required a platform where learning would be made easy for students since some students learn fast, while others are not so fast.On the proposal, the NUC Scribe noted that Nigerian universities needed an improved learningsystem, whereby students could utilise the social media, internet and other electronic media devices to learn even at play. He added that teachers at the basic education level and some lecturers needed to be exposed to several trainings that would help them improve on the usage of the envisaged software applications so as to be in a better position to impart knowledge to the students. The Executive Secretary noted that it would be necessary to include some other features such as a Mass Literacy Programme in the project, so that the rural people targeted by the company could be reached and carried along. With the current trend in technology, he said, both the educated and uneducated made use of electronic devices such as the telephone. The software in the local languages would, therefore, help the other target users learn with ease. In the delegation was the Company's Government Relations Executive, Ms. Judy Melifonwu.

Strong African Institutions Would Guarantee Quality in Higher Education- Prof. Okojie

Acting Permanent Secretary,
Federal Ministry of Education(FME)
Hajia Hindatu Umar Abdullahi

The Executive Secretary, NUC
Professor Julius A. Okojie

The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, has expressed optimism that, with strong national institutions across Africa, Quality Assurance in the continent's higher education system would be better achieved. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 7th Edition of the International Conference on Quality Assurance in Africa (ICQAHEA), held from 22 - 25 September, 2015, at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Professor Okojie noted that although the two major global challenges facing higher education, were access and quality, there were also other challenges such as the quality of teachers and students, absence of a common language of communication within the African continent, issues of inter-university credit transfer and brain drain, which hampered quality assurance in the system. The Executive Secretary observed that the dwindling quality of teachers in recent times had affected the quality and performance of students, since it was

L-R: Michael Arrion, Julius Okojie, Juma Shabani, Yohannes Woldemtensae and Olin Oedekoven at the 7th ICQAHEA Conference, held in Abuja

difficult for a teacher to give what he or she did not have. He advocated continued training and retraining of teachers for optimum productivity. While advising Quality Assurance regulatory Agencies in the continent to provide adequate guidance and advice to students on their choice of institution, he advocated the strengthening of the already existing regulatory agencies in Africa for effective operations, since the countries faced common challenges of inadequate resources, capacity building, among others. Professor Okojie charged participants to maximise the opportunity provided by the Conference to address the quality assurance issues affecting the continent. With the successful completion of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Executive Secretary called on African universities to key into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the overall development of the African higher education system. He maintained that education held the key to the continent's development and that with effective regional cooperation, the continent would record giant strides in the global community. Declaring the Conference open, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Hajia Hindatu Umar Abdullahi, commended the Organisers of the Conference for the choice of th Nigeria to host the 7 ICQAHEA. She reiterated the importance of quality assurance to higher education and expressed the hope that more collaboration and networking would ensue from the Conference. She pledged the Federal Government's commitment towards ensuring a quality higher education system that would engender rapid socio-economic development of the African continent. Hajia Abdullahi stated that the Federal Government had, through the various education regulatory agencies in the country, such as the NUC, for Universities; the National Board for Technical E d u c a t i o n ( N B T E ) , f o r Polytechnics and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), provided instruments to regulate and ensure standards in the higher education

The President, African Quality Assurance Network (AfriQAN) and Deputy Executive Secretary I, Professor Chiedu Mafiana

system. She explained that for universities, the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) had prescribed the requirements for all programmes run in the universities, adding that the NUC had been carrying out regular monitoring of the universities to ensure compliance with the set standards. The President, Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi)- Africa, Professor Peter Okebukola, explained that the Conference was meant to review the growth and recent development in Quality Assurance in higher education in Africa, with a view to charting a new course for the continent. He stated that the event would not only afford participants the opportunity of sharing important information and experience, but also look at the key thrusts for improving the quality of higher education in Africa, including elements of the AU-EU Joint Strategy, notably the tuning methodology. Professor Okebukola stated that the Conference would, among other things, evaluate the activities and achievements of AfriQAN and GUNiAfrica with a view to making projections into the future. In his remarks, the President of African Quality Assurance Network (AfriQAN) and Deputy Executive Secretary I, NUC, Professor Chiedu Mafiana, observed that although the Network was young, it held a prospect for sustainable development of African higher education. He enjoined other African countries that were yet to register with the Network to key in for effective collaboration. He looked forward to a fruitful AfriQAN General Assembly that was to hold in the course of the Conference. The European Ambassador to Nigeria, Michel Arrion, charged participants to redouble their efforts at ensuring that African universities were globally competitive. According to him, African universities and other higher education institutions had a central role to play in promoting growth, improving lives and reducing poverty in the continent. He recalled that the Africa-EU Roadmap, which was developed at the Brussel Summit, was meant to use education as a tool for driving socio-economic development in member states. Michel Arrion reiterated the European Union's support to African higher education system through international collaboration and mobility. To ensure good quality higher education system, he said, Europe and Africa needed to collaborate better at all levels, “to ensure that we have better quality, we need to cooperate better at all levels to help universities and higher education institutions develop better courses, enable students and staff to share experience across continents and ensure that we recognise each other's qualifications. We in Europe are ready to work with Africa in all these areas.”

News Bliss

UPDATES: Borno Pilgrims Chair, Female Journalist, Bilkisu Yusuf, Many Nigerians, Among 717 Killed in Mina. Mob pelts Saraki, others with stones at Eid prayer. Flood renders residents homeless in Delta. IPMAN hails FG over petroleum products. Edo police arrest 46 suspected cultists. Lagos gov urges use of life jackets. Tragedy in Mecca • 717 die in Hajj stampede. I slept on bare floor for four days – Olu Falae. Oshiomhole is a liar, says Sylva. HID’s 94-year-old sibling weeps over her death. Kellogg’s Eyes Nigerian Market Despite Slowing Economy. DSS Invasion: Akpabio Dismisses Pictures of Arms, Hard Currency Allegedly Recovered in A’Ibom Govt House. Tinubu: FG Can’t Overlook Saraki’s False Asset Declaration Trial. Osinbajo, Ekweremadu Commend Nigeria, ECOWAS for Restoration of Civil Rule in Burkina Faso. Fitch: Nigerian Banks’ Foreign Currency Liquidity Still Tight. Iranian Man Fed up with Living in Manchester Begs to be Deported. EU leaders pledge over $1bn to tackle refugee crisis. Falae rescued through aerial, ground operations – Police. Unpaid Salaries: Low-key Eid Celebrations in Nasarawa. Nigerian Military Dismantles Boko Haram Fuel Depot, Recaptures Banki Town. NSCDC destroys 10 illegal refineries, 42 tankers – Commandant. Hoodlums raid Rivers communities, kill 13. Ekiti pensioners lament exclusion from bailout. 4,000 policemen deployed against B’Haram in North-East – IG. 3000 Houses, Farmlands Submerge As Flood Displaces Scores In Benue. Bank Manager; Dispatch Driver Arrested Over Foiled Bank Robbery In Delta.

APPLICATION FOR 2016 MAB YOUNG SCIENTISTS AWARDS

The National Universities Commission is in receipt of a call circular from the Secretary-General, Nigerian UNESCO, requesting for nominations for the 2016 Young Scientists Award. One of the objectives of the award is to encourage young scientists in particular those from developing countries to use MAB research, project sites and biosphere reserves in their research. All nominations are to be submitted for endorsement to the Chairman, MAB National Committee, Professor B.A. Ola-Adams via the following: E-mail : olaadamsb@yahoo.com and copy mamaidoh@yahoo.com for st processing and onward transmission to the MAB Secretariat, Paris before UNESCO deadline of 31 October, 2015

DANGOTE FOUNDATION ENDOWS 17 PROFESSORIAL CHAIRS IN KANO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY(KUST), WUDIL P.M.B 3244, KANO www.kustwudil.edu.ng. EXTERNAL ADVERTISEMENT FOR POSITIONS OF PROFESSORS AND READERS

Following intervention of the Chancellor of the Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON, President Dangote Group, to sponsor 17 Professorial Chairs in the University, applications from within and outside the country are invited from suitably qualified candidates for positions of Readers and Professors in the following areas of specialisations:-
1. Mathematics
2. Computer Science
3. Statistics
4. Civil Engineering
5. Electrical Engineering
6. Mechanical Engineering
7. Architecture
8. Geology
9. Urban and Regional Planning
10. Biology
11. Chemistry
12. Physics
13. Microbiology
14. Biochemistry
15. Educational Psychology
16. Educational Planning and Administration
17. Philosophy of Education

 1. QUALIFICATIONS, REQUIREMENTS AND EXPERIENCE:

 PROFESSORS (CONUASS 7)

 A candidate must have a minimum of Sixty (60) points from publication and must be a PhD holder from a recognized Institution. He must have done supervision of Postgraduate students and have at least a minimum of thirteen (13) years cognate teaching experience at the University level. In addition, he must have: - Disseminated knowledge through professional and academic activities. - Provided Academic leadership and the ability to attract and inspire others. - Demonstrated Administrative ability and DANGOTE FOUNDATION ENDOWS 17 PROFESSORIAL CHAIRS IN KANO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY(KUST), WUDIL P.M.B 3244, KANO P.M.B. 3244, Kano www.kustwudil.edu.ng. EXTERNAL ADVERTISEMENT FOR POSITIONS OF PROFESSORS AND READERS administrative experience. - Impeccable integrity. - Favorable External Assessment. - Evidence of supervision of Post graduate students. - Must show verifiable evidence of community service

READERS (CONUASS 6)

 A candidate must be a PhD holder from a recognized Institution. In addition, he must have a minimum of Forty (40) points from publication, eight (8) years cognate teaching experience at the University level and may be subjected to external assessment if not already a Reader. In addition he must have: - Disseminated knowledge through professional and academic activities. - Administrative ability and administrative experience. - General academic leadership and the ability to guide others. - Impeccable integrity and favourable External Assessment. - Must show verifiable evidence of community service. METHOD OFAPPLICATION Candidates should submit 12 copies each of applications, Curriculum Vitae, Credentials and other supporting documents that can assist the University in the Comprehensive assessment of their Publications, Exposure, Experience and capabilities. Applications should be addressed to: The Registrar, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Applications not received within four (4) weeks of this publication will not be considered. Professors and Readers all over the world are encouraged to apply. Applications for contract and leave of absence may be considered. Applicants should request their three Referees to forward CONFIDENTIALREPORTS on them. Only applications of shortlisted candidates will be acknowledged, please.

Signed:
Alhaji Usman Yakubu, FIPMA REGISTRAR

7th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND WORKSHOPS ON QUALITY ASSURANCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN AFRICA

The National Universities Commission (NUC) invites all stakeholders of Quality Assurance in Higher Education to the 7th International Conference and Workshops on Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Africa. The Conference with the theme Strengthening Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Africa to Meet Regional and Global Challenges is being organised by the Global University Network for Innovation GUNIAfrica in Partnership with African Quality Assurance Network (AfriQAN) and the Association of African Universities (AAU). Expected Participants: The conference will be of interest to all stakeholders of Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Africa as well as Policy Makers and Practitioners in Quality Assurance from other Regions of the World. Participation is open but not limited to: ??Ministers in charge of Education/Higher Education/ Science and Technology/ICTs and Labour ?Permanent Secretaries/Directors-General of Education and Senior Officials ?Heads and Management Teams of National and Regional Quality Assurance Agencies ?Vice-Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts of Higher Education institutions ?Officers and Members of AfriQAN ?Officers in charge of Higher Education at the African Union Commission ?Quality Assurance Practitioners ?Experts in ICT, Teaching and Research in Higher Education ?Civil Society ?Staff Unions of Universities ?Students and Students' Associations ?Professional Associations ?Employers or Employers' Associations ?Development Partners including the ADEA and the European Union ?Stakeholders in Education in Africa Stakeholders in Higher Education from other Regions of the World The Conference will consolidate the results achieved to date in Accreditation and Quality Enhancement and propose relevant solutions to sustainably address the Challenges of Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Africa.

Date: 21-25 September, 2015. Time: 9.00 am Daily Venue: Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja, Nigeria. Registration Fee: N50,000.00

Signed
Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON
Executive Secretary National Universities Commission

Legislative Institute Presents Draft ODL Accreditation Regulations to NUC

Dr. Ladi Hamalai Presenting copies of the Draft Regulation for Accreditation of On-line, Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Programmes

A delegation from the National Institute of Legislative St u d i e s (NILS), led by the DirectorGeneral, Dr. Ladi Hamalai, on Wednesday, 16 September, 2015, presented copies of the Draft Regulation for the Accreditation of Online, Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Programmes to the National Universities Commission. While presenting the documents to the Executive Secretary, Professor Julius A. Okojie, Dr. Hamalai said the Institute had prepared the set of Regulations as part of its statutory duties to provide legislative drafting and legislative support services to legislators and legislative support staff, among others. She explained that legislative drafting involved the translation of policy into prescribed legislative format, whether primary legislation or subordinate, adding that the NILS would always comply with the standards of the Commission in the discharge of its duties, especially those related to university education, if assisted by NUC. She disclosed that the Institute was in the process of commencing an online Diploma in Legislative Studies, among other programmes. The Director-General requested the Commission to kindly do all within its powers to help the Institute achieve its set goals, adding that NILS had signed various Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with many relevant stakeholders in the education sector, locally and internationally, in order to enhance its standards. She listed some of the stakeholders to include the Centre for Computer-Assisted Legal Education, United Kingdom and National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), among others. Responding, Professor Okojie commended the Institute for deeming in fit to approach the NUC, as the sole regulator of the Nigerian University System (NUS), even when some universities, especially the private ones, commenced programmes without recourse to the Commission. He expressed concern that some institutions not only abused academic titles, but also run illegal diploma programmes. He advised the NILS to adhere to the rules and regulations guiding its functions and charged its management to always interface with the Commission for clarifications on university-related issues and policies, such as accreditation, resource verifications as well as

Prof. Okojie and Dr. Hamalai with some Management staff of the Commission and Members of the NILS delegation

approval for the commencement of new programmes, among others. Professor Okojie said that the NUC Management would look into the draft document presented with a view to assisting the Institute to achieve its mandate. He further promised that the Commission would respond to all the issues raised in the document appropriately. He also urged the Institute to maintain the existing harmonious Other members of NILS's delegation were the Legal Adviser and Postgraduate Coordinator, Professor O. D. Amucheazi; Director, Research and Training, Dr. Adeyemi Fajengbesi; Communications Adviser, Mr. Nwajei Kanayo C and a Research Fellow, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, among others.. working relations with the Commission in the interest of both organisations. Members of the NUC Management in attendance included, the Deputy Executive Secretary 1, Professor Chiedu Felix Mafiana, Directors of Academic Standards and Quality Assurance, Dr. Gidado Bello Kumo and Dr. Noel Biodun Saliu, respectively.Other members of NILS's delegation were the Legal Adviser and Postgraduate Coordinator, Professor O. D. Amucheazi; Director, Research and Training, Dr. Adeyemi Fajengbesi; Communications Adviser, Mr. Nwajei Kanayo C and a Research Fellow, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, among others..

Prof. Jega, True Ambassador of the NUS

Professor Attahiru Jega presenting a souvenir to Prof. Julius A. Okojie, during the courtesy visit

Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru M. Jega, OFR, has been described as a true ambassador of the Nigerian University System (NUS), having successfully completed his tenure as INEC Chairman and returning to his beat at Bayero University, Kano (BUK). The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius A. Okojie, OON, who stated this on Tuesday, 15 September, 2015, when the former INEC Chairman visited NUC, said Jega's official conduct as a dutiful, conscientious and consistent public servant had not only brought pride and honour to the NUS, but also made Nigeria proud in the comity of nations. Okojie commended Jega for not only deploying his knowledge and experience from the NUS in the conduct of the general elections, but for also engaging Vice Chancellors as returning officers in the exercise. He observed that the involvement of Vice-Chancellors and Youth Corp Members in the elections was a confirmation that the NUS was a critical stakeholder in the quest for the nation's development. Responding, Professor Jega commended the Executive Secretary for piloting the affairs of the University System well. His visit was to officially notify NUC of his appointment as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the Plateau State University, Bokos and to solicit the Commission's support for the return of normal academic activities to the Institution. He thanked the entire NUS for its support during his tenure as INEC Chairman and reiterated his commitment to the NUS as his primary constituency, promising that he would always contribute his quota to its development. The Executive Secretary expressed satisfaction with his appointment, saying, Bokos was lucky to have the former Vice Chancellor of BUK. With his wealth of experience, he said, he would, no doubt, add significant value to the university. Professor Okojie recalled that Professor Jega's father, former Head of Service and Secretary to the old Sokoto State Government, Alhaji Muhammadu Jega, equally contributed his quota to the development of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta as ProChancellor and Chairman of Council, when he (Professor Okojie) was appointed Acting Vice Chancellor in 1995, an appointment that was confirmed a year later. While reminding Professor Jega that he would be called upon from time to time for assignments in the NUS, wished him well in his new assignment. Professor Jega later presented a copy of his Book 'Election Management In Nigeria. The Evolution of the Nigerian Electoral Process 2010-2015' to Professor Okojie. It turned out to be a meeting of former Vice Chancellors as the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Ish'aq Oloyede joined the duo of Okojie and Jega to discuss ways of moving the NUS forward. Professor Oloyede also requested for a beffiting accommodation for the Association of West African Universities (AWAU).

Professor Julius A. Okojie (1st from Right) displaying copies of the book, Election Management in Nigeria; The Evolution of Nigeria Electorial Process 2010-2015 written by Prof. Jega, assisted by the former Vice Chancellor, Unilorin, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede

News Bliss

UPDATES: Spillage: Bayelsa sends protest letter to Agip. Police arrest 50 MASSOB members. Oyo’ll pay salary arrears this week – Ajimobi. C’River commissioner nominees to take aptitude test. FG to pay ex-militants soon. SERAP to W’Bank: Disclose how Abacha loot was spent. Saraki loses bid to stop trial, faces tribunal today. B’Haram killed 54 in Maiduguri mosque attacks – Police. Gunmen demand N100m ransom to release Olu Falae. Russia deploys 28 combat planes in Syria – US. Only peace can guarantee development – Obasanjo. Army promotes 5,000 soldiers fighting B’Haram. BPL: Costa, Gabriel face FA charges. Falae must return in one piece, Fani-Kayode warns FG. Eid el Kabir: FG Declares Thursday, Friday as Public Holidays. Defiant Trailer Drivers Cripple Lagos, Flout Restrictions. Okonjo-Iweala Bags Two Key Global Positions. Soludo, Fayemi visit Aso Villa. Flood destroys 2,000 houses, displaces 30,000 in Kaduna. Access Bank Targets Dubai Operations. Bristow Chopper Lost Push Rod Connection Before Crash – AIB. Ambode nominates 23 commissioners, 14 advisers. Nigerian assumes headship of Afreximbank. Ekiti to conduct council polls Dec 19.

New BUK VC, Professor Yahuza Bello Visits NUC

The Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano T(BUK), has approved the appointment of Professor Muhammad Yahuza Bello as the new ViceChancellor of the University. He succeeds Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed whose five years tenure, as the Vice-Chancellor, has elapsed. The new Vice-Chancellor, who is a Professor of Mathematics from the Institution, was born on 22 January, 1959. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Education/Mathematics from BUK in 1981, an MSc in Mathematics in 1984 from the same University and thereafter bagged a Ph.D in Mathematics from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA; in 1988. He joined the services of BUK as a Graduate Assistant in 1982 after completing his one-year mandatory NYSC at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin. He rose through the ranks to become Professor in the same University in 2001. Professor Bello has contributed to scholarly research in the area of modern techniques in Mathematics and Computer Sciences, which he taught at various levels of degrees in BUK and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA. His research findings are of strategic importance to policy makers, educational planners and administrators, the academia, researchers and numerous other strategic stakeholders. The new Vice-Chancellor is a member of many professional bodies/associations, including the Nigerian Mathematical Society, Mathematics Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Mathematical Physics as well as Africa Mathematics Forum (an Internet-based group), among others. Professor Bello has held several administrative positions in BUK, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics (2010-2014); Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic (1999 -2003); Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies(2009- 2010); Director, Centre for Information Technology (2003-2007); Dean, Fa c u lt y o f Sc i e n c e ( 1 9 9 5 - 1999);and was also Elected Member, University Senate(1998- 1999); among others. He has also held several committees positions in the University, including being Chairman, Academic Staff Development Committee (1999-2003); Chairman, Senate Committee on Examinations Regulations( 2007 to date); Chairman, MacArthur Grants Implementation Committee, MAGIC (2000-2005); as well as Chairman, Investigative Committee on Misconduct in the School of General Studies, SGS(1997); among others. Professor Bello has served as member of various Boards and Committees including: Member, Governing Board of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (2000-2004) and (2012-2015); Member, Science and Technology Thematic Area, National Technical Group on Nigeria Vision 20:2020; Member, Technical Committee for the Establishment of Northwest U n i v e rsi t y, K a n o ,( 2 0 1 1 - 2012);Member, Implementation Committee of the same Institution (2012-2013); Member, 1 and nd 2 Visitation Panel to Kano State University of Science and Technology, Wudil (2006 and 2013); respectively. He is also a serving Member and Rapporteur-General, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund), 2009 to date and Chairman/Member various NUC Accreditation Panels, 1999 to date, among others. The Vice-Chancellor has supervised and graduated five Ph.D Mathematics candidates, 32 MSc Mathematics and MSc Computer Science and is currently supervising one Ph.D candidate in Mathematics. He has been serving as External Examiner for Undergraduate and/ or Postgraduate coursework in many Universities, including Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Jos, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Federal University, Kashere, Gombe as well as Umaru Musa Yar'adua University, Katsina, among others. Professor Bello has over 20 publications to his credit published, in renowned and reputable journals locally and internationally. He is a recipient of many scholarships and honours, including Best Graduating Student, GSS Gaya (1977); Federal Scholarship for exceptional performance in undergraduate studies, BUK (1979 and 1980); Aminu Dantata Prize for Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Education, BUK (1981) and Graduate School Dean's List for obtaining 'A' in all courses, University of Arkansas, USA ( 1985-1988). The new Vice-Chancellor is happily married and blessed with seven children.

Nigeria, 4th Largest Client of UK Universities - David Woolf

Executive Secretary, NUC Professor Julius A. Okojie, with the 1st Secretary, Science, Innovation and Climate Change
British High Commission, Abuja, Mr. David Woolf.  

Nigeria is the 4 largest client of UK universities N st in the world, says the 1 Secretary, Science, Innovation and Climate Change, British High Commission, Abuja, Mr. David Woolf. He disclosed this on Monday Wednesday, 16 September, 2015, during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius A. Okojie, to explore further areas of collaboration between UK universities and the Commission. Mr. David Woolf said that the visit was necessitated by the recent press conference by the Commission on online programmes, adding that the UK Government was willing to partner with the Commission to ensure that its online programmes were duly recognised by NUC and to market its Open and Distance learning mode to Nigerians as a veritable means of providing university education to other countries of the world without necessarily travelling to the UK. He stated that the efforts would enable the two countries to establish useful links, especially in Science Education, through the transfer and application of UK Science and research in the Nigeria University System (NUS). He stated that the UK Government was concerned about the quality of programmes run in both the online and regular universities. Responding, the Executive Secretary stated that although the Commission recognised the National Open University of Nigeria as a duly accredited institution in the country, he observed that the UK had some online, open and distance learning centres in countries other than the UK, which quality may not be guaranteed. He said that there was the need for both countries’ regulatory agencies to collaborate for effective mutual regulations. Professor Okojie stressed that the NUC was skeptical about allowing Nigerians to patronise online education because it had been abused in the past by prospective university proprietors who had been denied approval to establish private universities. With a good bilateral monitoring mechanism in place, he said the Commission could consider recognising online programmes at the Postgraduate level, for a start, provided that adequate information would be given with regards to semester system, student exchange system, course credits and learning outcomes, among others. For first degrees, the Executive Secretary observed that this was better obtained from a recognised brick-and-mortar university, in order to ensure a proper interface between student and lecturer. He, however, noted that the Nigerian government, through the NUC,had introduced a split programme, where a student could spend a semester in the home university and another in the partner institution. The Executive Secretary said that the NUC was concerned about three major issues: quality of content, physical site/location of the institution and mutual recognition of degrees. He re-echoed the NUC's willingness to partner with reputable institutions in providing online educations, on condition that requirements for establishing same were met. He further stressed the need for open dialogue on getting regulatory agencies to partner with the NUC as well as joint effort on granting programme approvals.

L-R:  Mr. Felix Olaniyan; Mr. Ayo Bankole, Engr. Kayode Odedina Prof. Julius A. Okojie, Mr. David

Woolf, Mr Chris Maiyaki and Mr Sunday Essien 

President Buhari Applauds Military's Resolve to End Insurgency

The President,
 Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, at the
26th Combined Convocation and Passing
Out Parade of the Nigerian Defence Academy,
Kaduna

The President and Commander-in-Chief of the T-Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has applauded the renewed resolve of the Nigerian Military to speedily tackle insurgency that had ravaged the North-East region, ahead of the three-month time-frame. While noting that insurgency remained a threat to the peace and stability of the nation, the president, however, warned that military personnel should resist the temptation of behaving like bullies in the course of carrying out their constitutional duties of safeguarding the territorial integrity of the country, noting that the fight against terrorism could only be won with a credible and effective military. Speaking on Saturday, 12 September, 2015, during the 26 Combined Convocation and Passing-out Parade of 399 Officer Cadets of the  62 Regular Course, Short Service Course 43 (Army) and the Postgraduate Students of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Reviewing Officer of the Parade, stressed that his administration would not compromise on the rule of law and that the Armed Forces must be focused and not deviate from the laws of armed conflicts by ensuring that human rights were not abused. He reiterated that his Government was committed to due process, merit and total observance of the rule of law which he referred to as the central pillars of a prosperous and democratic society. The President expressed regret that insurgency had caused the nation needless loss of human and

President Buhari in a hand shake with some senior officers at the convocation

material resources. He tasked the graduating cadets to play their roles as junior officers in tackling the prevailing security challenges and to realize that they needed the guidance and supervision of their superiors to discharge their duties with diligence. He noted that the Armed Forces had a reputation for valor, resilience and loyal service and, therefore, urged the military top brass to know that on their shoulders laid the mechanism to drive the junior officers. He said it was gratifying that all the three Services recently took steps to emphasize strict adherence to rules in the areas of recruitment, promotions, procurement, project executions as well as better civil-military relations. Mr. President lauded the NDA Management for recognizing that the Institution had a professional military education-background and advised that they should devote their energies to ensure that all its academic endeavours related essentially and served the professional needs of the military, especially those that sought solutions to the current insurgency and terrorism pervading the society. He said that he was aware that ongoing efforts to review all academic courses of study towards ensuring the professional education capacity of the military would soon be completed and affirmed that the NDA must carve out a niche for itself as a military research University because of its uniqueness, instead of competing with civil universities. To this end , P r e s i d e n t Muhammadu Buhari urged the NDA to refocus its entire training system to make it more sensitive and responsive to its mission of developing men and women who, in addition to conventional military training, were also able to fight the intellectual battle for self-confidence and self-assertion. By so doing, he said, the Academy would not only be pursuing excellence in teaching, for which the military University was known, but would also be fulfilling Nigeria's overarching development goals by using academic means and research to meet the needs of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the society at large. He, particularly, recognised and commended the new Commandant for supporting and carrying on the Centres of Excellence projects, established by his predecessor and assured him that the Federal Government would continue to work towards the facilitation of NDA's permanent site. The President congratulated the two eminent Nigerians, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule and Lt. Gen. (rtd) Ipoola Alani Akinrinade on the conferment of Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Letters and Management Science (Honoris Causa)respectivelyon them, describing the honour as well deserving for having distinguished themselves in their vocations. He also extended the same felicitations to the graduands for gallantly enduring the tough physical, mental and intellectual rigours of the training in the Academy, which some of the colleagues that began with them could not endure. President Buhari urged the instructors to remain steadfast in their uncommon task of producing world-class officers who would continue to bring laurels to the Academy and the country at large. He also charged them to do more to inculcate discipline and professionalism

The colour party of the 62nd Regular Course Cadets and the Short Service Course 43 (Army)
on the parade at the ceremony

 as critical parts of the cadets' military training's and to ensure that they remained loyal and ready to defend the territorial integrity of the nation, at all times. He also tasked the NDAto be at the forefront of promoting his Government's fight against corruption and abuse of office, remarking that recent events that led to the investigation of the weapon's purchase within the military, were a product of the decay in every facet of the nation's life. The President further said that the Federal Government, under his leadership, would not renege on the promises made to Nigerians during his electioneering campaigns. He stated that he had the conviction that Nigeria would be better with the collective resolve of the citizens, particularly the labour force, to unite and align with him, to fight the evils of corruption and impunity of the recent past. He reiterated that the Federal Government would assist the NDA, as a premier military University, to achieve its lofty objectives of producing officers with broad-based training in both military and academic subjects. In his welcome Address, the NDA Commandant, Major-General Mohammed Tasiu Ibrahim, thanked President Muhammadu personnel that had done well to bring honour and laurels to the nation, both in peacekeeping and other national and international assignments. Major-General Ibrahim disclosed that a total of 185 Cadets were graduating in the Regular Course, comprising 71 Officers of the Nigerian Army, 53 in the Nigerian Navy and 61 in the Nigerian Air Force, with two from Togo. He added that in the SSC 43 (Army) Cadets, 214 passed out; postgraduate diploma graduated 260, while masters produced a combined with postgraduate diploma also producing 260 graduands. The postgraduate Professional Masters had 710 while 21bagged Ph.D degrees. The Academy was upgraded to a Buhari for honouring the Academy with his presence. He also thanked other distinguished personalities from all walks of life, including the honorary award recipients. He told the gathering that the NDA was in moments of celebration as the Institution just had its Golden Jubilee last year, saying that the NDA had recorded so many milestones in the past years that would be difficult to recount. The Commandant recalled that the NDA was conceived, as part of a grand design to secure the territory of Nigeria, by way of giving a robust training to military officers, both in academic and military warfare. He, particularly, noted that over the past 30 years, the Academy had been producing highly mobile and effectively deployable Cadets and SSC personnel that had done well to bring honour and laurels to the nation, both in peacekeeping and other national and international assignments. Major-General Ibrahim disclosed that a total of 185 Cadets were graduating in the Regular Course, comprising 71 Officers of the Nigerian Army, 53 in the Nigerian Navy and 61 in the Nigerian Air Force, with two from Togo. He added that in the SSC 43 (Army) Cadets, 214 passed out; postgraduate diploma graduated 260, while masters produced a combined with postgraduate diploma also producing 260 graduands. The postgraduate Professional Masters had 710 while 21bagged Ph.D degrees. The Academy was upgraded to a

The Postgraduate graduands taking the oath
at the ceremony.

degree awarding institution in 1985 and prior to that year, Regular that Nigeria was better than what it was now. He decried the current lack of unity in the country and the brazen corrupt practices of today's crop of Nigerian leaders, saying that the founding fathers like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello, were men interested in what they would do for the nation and not what the nation would do for them. He described the Nigerian scene as reminiscent of Chinua Achebe's novel, Things Fall Apart, bemoaning that things had really fallen apart in a country where he grew up to see the citizens united and living together as one. He blamed the situation today on failed leadership and prayed that Nigeria would see, in President Muhammadu Buhari, one who could rescue the nation from its poor state, with his track record of discipline, integrity and zero tolerance for corruption. Alhaji Miatama Sule charged the President to live up to his past records and ensure that he pursued his vision with fairness, justice and equity, noting that with people like him,it was possible for Nigeria to be great again, politically and economically. At the graduation ceremony, Cadet Officer Kehinde T Alao, of the Nigerian Air Force, with NDANo. 8625, emerged the overall best, both in the Regular Cadet Course and as the graduating students in Academic performance. Present at the event were the Governor of Kaduna State, Mal. Nasir El-Rufai; the Deputy Governor, Arc. Barnabas Bala; Permanent Secretary of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Isma'ila; top Military Chiefs; Acting Permanent Secretary of Education, Hajia Hindatu Abdullahi; some Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of Nigerian universities; traditional rulers; parents; friends and well-wishers of the graduands.

President Buhari Honoring the best graduating cadet, Kehinde T. Alao

L-R: The Deputy Commandant, NDA, Air Vice Marshal ABC Nweze;
Kaduna State Governor, Mal. Nasir Ahmed El- Rufa'i;
President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari; Commandant NDA,
Maj-General Mohammed Tasiu Ibrahim; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Alhaji Aliyu Isma'ila
And one of the honorary award recipients, Gen(rtd) Ipoola Alani Akinrinade at the ceremony

The Ph.D graduands at the ceremony