ABSU Holds Covenant Service

Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, recently, held its 4th yearly covenant service at the Uche Ogah Family Auditorium in its main campus at Uturu to pray for the divine restoration of the country, the school and its staff as well as the Nigerian students.

 With ‘Divine Restoration,’ as theme the event had in attendance, the Vice Chancellor of the school, Professor Chibuzor Ogbuagu and his wife Professor Lady Stella Ogbuagu.

   In his address, the chairman, ABSU Covenant Service, Professor E. A. Udensi (DVC Administration), reminded the staff and students of the school of their responsibility, saying they should always do the right thing to make the school a conducive place for all. 

   The guest speaker, Reverend Chikwendu Igwe, preaching on the topic, ‘Divine Restoration’ said restoration lies entirely on God, stressing on the need for everyone to have God in his/her life. He also advised the students to take their studies serious and to examine the choices they make.

   The St. Augustine Catholic Centre Choir and The All Saints Choir, both in the university, spiced up the service with their praise songs.

Govt Plans To Make First Degree Minimum Teachers’ Qualification 

The Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has disclosed that the Federal Government is planning to make first degree the minimum teaching qualification in Nigerian schools.

  He made the disclosure in Abuja, while receiving the Finish Ambassador, Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, to the country.

  The minister, who noted that from 1980 the minimum teaching qualification to teach in school is National Certificate in Education (NCE), added that upping teacher’s qualification to first degree would help improve quality teaching.

   He stated that currently there are graduates teaching in primary schools across the country.

Adelekan Emerges FCA New Provost

Dr. Babajide Adelekan is now the new provost of the Federal College of Agriculture (FCA), Moor Plantation, Ibadan. 

   Dr. Adelekan, whose appointment takes effect from January 1, 2015, has a five-year tenure to head the school.   

  Born in Ilora, Afijio local council, Oyo State, Adelekan attended Government College, Ibadan (GCI). He graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1984 and postgraduate diploma in Management Studies (DMS). He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

  He joined the services of Federal College of Agriculture on May 21, 1991 as tutor II and rose through the ranks to the post of chief lecturer on October 1, 2012.

  Adelekan is a Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM) and Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (FNIAE) as well as a member of other academic associations within and outside the country. He has authored several books and papers, which are widely published even on the Internet. 

Fayose Reverses EKSU Late Registration Fees

Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, has ordered the immediate reversal of the late registration fees charged by Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti. 

  Students of the school, last week, protested against the increase in the late registration fees charged by the school, following the closure of its online portal. The students were made to pay N5,000 additional to the earlier N5,000 charged for the same offence, thereby bringing the total amount charged for late payment to N10,000.

  Upset by this amount, the students marched to the government house in the state capital to express their grievances.

  According to some of the students, they also drew the attention of the governor to the epileptic power supply in both the university campus and their hostels in Iworoko-Ekiti and also called for the removal of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Patrick Oladipo Aina.

  Addressing the students, Governor Fayose announced the immediate reversal of the late registration fee.

   “We must have a start and closing date for registration. The university must be run outside of politics. If you remove the vice chancellor, you are sending the university backwards. The government must not interfere with the running of the school. The vice chancellor is tenure-bound and we must allow the system to run its course,” he said.

  On the issue of power outage, Fayose said, “the state government is not in charge of electricity, but advised the student to discuss with their landlords on the payment of their electricity bills, because the electricity company said people don’t pay their bills.”

FUTO Purchase 301 Computers For JAMB Exam

The leadership of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) has approved to buy 301 HP Desktop computers to enable it conduct the Computer Based Test (CBT) Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Examinations (JAMB).

  The vice-chancellor of the school gave the approval following the recent selection of the school by JAMB as one of the centres for CBT UTME examinations.

   The 2015 CBT UTME examination, if not shifted would start on March 4, 2015.

MOCPED Releases Certificates 

The school authority of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Epe, has released all outstanding certificates of graduates of the college.

  According to a circular signed by the National PRO of MOCPED Alumni Association, Mr. Kamorudeen Nosirudeen, the released certificates are for part-time graduands of the 2000-2008 sessions and full-time graduands of 2007/2008 to 2012/2013 academic sessions.

  To collect the certificates, concerned graduates are to make the necessary payments to the school and alumni association, complete the certificate form and submit to the academic office for processing.

Graduates can then collected their certificates from the registrar Office once processing is completed.