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

NUC Sports Club Elect New Officials

Domingo Tunbosun
Chairman

The National Universities Commission sport club on Wednesday, 9 September, 2015, conducted an election for its executives. The election which was conducted in a free and fair manner produced the following officials; Domingo Tunbosun as Chairman, Attahiru Bature as Vice Chairman, Harry Ogugua as Secretary General, Godson Ohaekelem as Asst. Sec Gen, Anyanwu Iheoma as Publicity Secretary, Mansur Umar as Financial Secretary, Victoria Ikani as Treasurer and Obianuju Nnabuenyi as Director of socials.

Attahiru Bature
Vice Chairman

While appreciating the members of staff for their votes,  Mr Domingo promised to bring the desired change NUC staff craved as regards sporting activities, he promised that both his team would be transparent and accountable for funds made available to them adding that they would introduce inter departmental games that would help foster unity among staff and also sign a bilateral agreement with other commissions around in order for the Commission to competite with them.

Harry Ogugua
Sec Gen

The chairman also solicited for the support of the management of the commission in order to take NUC Sport club to a greater height and also stated that his team would initiate a quarterly jogging for members of staff, adding that they were open for suggestions and ideas from staff to aid the sport club grow.

Godson U. Ohaekelem
Asst Sec Gen

The Vice President Mr Attahiru Bature charged members of staff to come out in mass and form a stronger supporters club which would help move its activities forward, asking them to also turn up for sporting activities which was for their own good as it would help build them both physically and mentally, and as well be ready to represent the commission in Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA).

Anyanwu Iheoma O.
Pub Sec

Mansur Umar Bunza
Fin Sec

Obianuju Nnabuenyi Dos
Welfare

Victoria U. Ikani
Treasurer