University of Maiduguri produces 78 First Class graduates

The University of Maiduguri on Monday said it produced 78 First Class graduates for the 2015/ 2016 and 2016/2017 academic sessions.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr Ibrahim Njodi, made the disclosure at a pre-convocation press conference in Maiduguri.

Njodi said that a total of 17, 895 graduates would be conferred with various degrees and certificates during its 23rd combined convocation ceremony scheduled for Saturday, April 28.

He explained that 3, 527 students were graduands of the Post Graduate School programmes comprising of 56 Ph.D graduates; 570 Masters Degree graduates and 2, 901 Post Graduate Diploma graduands .

Njodi added that the statistics of the undergraduates showed that 8, 643 graduands would be awarded degrees, 7, 278 of the number were from the regular programmes, 573 from affiliated colleges and 714 were Distance Learning programmes.

He disclosed that 5, 725 graduates would received diploma certificates, adding that 106 and 102 graduates would receive awards for the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 academic sessions, respectively.

The Vice Chancellor disclosed that three lecturers would also be conferred with the title of “Emeritus Professor”, for their outstanding performance and contributions to the development of the university.

“We remain committed and resilient to excel in our academic pursuit inspite of the challenges posed by the insurgency.

“The University continued with its services and achieved significant feat in the past nine years,” he said.

Njodi disclosed that the university with support of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFUND ), United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ), corporate organisations and philanthropists executed viable projects in the school.

He explained that the projects were designed to provide an enabling teaching and learning environment, as well as research, to enhance academic excellence.

He listed the projects to include Senate Complex Building, Mega House, Veterinary Centre and Instructional Technology Centre.

Njodi added that the projects were completed and billed for inauguration as part of activities lined up for the convocation ceremony.

According to him, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ); Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and a philanthropist,  Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi, pledged to execute various projects in the University.

Njodi lauded the Borno State Government, stakeholders, security agencies and members of the public for their support to the University.

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Soyinka delivers Elizade varsity lecture

One hundred and five students of Elizade University, Ilara-mokin in Ondo State will receive their first degrees at the second convocation ceremony of the institution slated for Friday.

As part of the activities, Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka will on Thursday deliver the convocation lecture titled: “Tending the tree of commencement”.

Addressing reporters in Ilara-mokin, the Chairman, Ceremonies/Honours Committee, Omololu Adegbenro, said of 105 graduating studnets, 16 are in first class, 50 in second class (upper) and 39 in second class (lower).

Adegbenro, the registrar,  recalled that the institution, which began operation on January 6, 2013 with 31 students, now has 1,121 students.

He said the university  started with 12 programmes, but now has 31 programmes spreading across five faculties.

The registrar said the 25 programmes matured for National University Commission’s (NUC’s) accreditation were given full status.

He said over N25 billion had been invested in the university by its founder, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, who, according to him, had contributed over N200 bilion as yearly taxation to the government’s coffers since inception.

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OAU panel submits report on alleged sexual harassment

A probe panel set up by Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, to look into the allegation of sexual harassment against a female student by a senior lecturer, Prof. Richard Akindele, yesterday submitted its interim report.

Its content was unknown last night.

Akindele, a professor in the Department of Accounting, Faculty of Administration, was alleged to have demanded five rounds of sex from the student before she could pass his course.

OAU spokesman Abiodun Olarewaju, in a phone chat, said the panel was given free hand to do its job.

He said the student, whom he identified as Eniola, refused to appear before the panel to substantiate her case.

The Nation learnt that she refused to write a complaint or report to the institution to buttress the purported leaked audio conversation between her and the lecturer, despite reactions from the public.

It was gathered that the don had resumed lecturing.

The lecturer, said to be a pastor, was reportedly seen in MBA 645 (Human Resource Management) class between 10am and 11am last Saturday.

A student, who preferred anonymity, said the lecturer was initially nervous, but summoned up courage as the lecture progressed.

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UI to meet parents, guardians, students on fee increase, says VC

•Varsity subsidises accommodation with N100m’

The management of University of Ibadan (UI) said yesterday that it was concluding arrangement to facilitate Senate/Parents Management Consultative Forum with workers, students, parents and guardians.

It said this was to discuss the rationale behind the slight adjustment in accommodation fees.

The meeting, slated for tomorrow, is to among others, douse tension over the decision.

The Senate had recommended increment in hostel fee from N14, 000 to N30,000 for main campus and N40,000 for College of Medicine with effect from 2017/2018 academic session.

Noting the stifled funding from the Federal Government to cater for utilities, the management said it spent about N100 million yearly to augment what was collected in running the hostels, adding that this was no longer sustainable.

The Nation learnt that while students at present paid N14,000 per bed space, the partial economic rate per bed space, according to a 2012 survey conducted by the institution, was put at N59,650 per session.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Idowu Olayinka had said the institution was at a crossroads because managing the hostel based on the old rate was not sustainable, adding that only 30 per cent of the students were accommodated on campus, as the opportunity for hostel accommodation was optional.

The Senate also approved increment in fees for laboratory and studio arts (N5,000); maintenance fees; fees for professional health training (non-clinical (N75,000) and clinical N100,000); pharmacy practice experience levy (N5,000); science laboratory levy (N7,500); Faculty of Agriculture (N5,000 to N7,500); renewable natural resources upward review of the practical year levy (N15,000 to N17,500) for those in practical year; while other students are to pay the old levy.

Other items which attract upward review include access fee for undergraduates (from N2,000 to N2,500) for improved Internet access on campus.

However, fees payable by students in the Faculties of Social Sciences, Law, Sciences and Technology have not been adjusted.

Prof. Olayinka said: “The university is at a point where it is difficult to continue to subside the running of halls of residence and carry out academic functions without a slight adjustment in accommodation charges and in some fees payable by students in some faculties.

“We urge the public to note that it is only the increase in accommodation fees that cuts across students who desire to stay in the halls of residence. Residency in the hall is optional and only about 30 per cent of our students can find accommodation in the halls of residence.

“It is also important to note that the Federal Government, years ago, had stopped providing funds for the running of the halls. As a result, the university spends about N100 million over what is collected as accommodation fees for the running of the halls.

“The university is no longer in a capacity to continue to provide this subvention. It has been very objective in adjusting other fees. For instance, fees were only adjusted for students in the Faculties of Arts, Agriculture, Renewable Natural Resources and Pharmacy. Even in these faculties, the fees are limited to categories of students requiring academic service for which an increase has been approved.

“Let us give two examples. For instance, only 400 level students in the Faculties of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources are to pay additional N2,500. These are students in their practical year. Other students in the faculties are not to pay these fees. In the Faculty of Arts also, only 200 and 300 level students in six departments are to pay the studio maintenance fees. Students in departments without studios are exempted from these fees.”

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Covenant Varsity to represent Nigeria at global competition

Covenant University is to represent Nigeria at the global CFA Institute Research competition this year.

The university came first in Nigeria’s stage of the global CFA Institute Research competition in Lagos on Saturday to emerge as Nigeria’s representative at the competition  coming up in Dublin, Ireland, on April 4 and April 5.

It beat University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University, which emerged second and third place winners.

Eight universities in Nigeria took part in the competition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CFA competition in Nigeria was sponsored by Zenith International Bank in partnership with CFA Society in Nigeria.

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is the world most prestigious investment research competition among university students globally.

It is aimed at promoting best practices in equity research among the next generation of analysts.

The competition promotes ethics and best practices in investment research through hands-on mento-ring and presentation.

Speaking at the final stage of the competition, Chairman of Zenith Bank, Mr. Jim Ovia, said the bank had always anchored its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards empowerment, development, building skills, talent and capabilities among the youths.

He said the bank aligned with CFA Research Challenge’s overall objective of providing a platform for university students to put into practice their theoretical knowledge.

“It is a way of encouraging the professionals to inculcate the spirit of professionalism and ethics right from very early stage.”

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Protesting poly students arraigned

Fourteen students, comprising 13 males and one female students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic at Owo in Ondo State, have been arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in the town.

The police arrested them a few days ago during a violent demonstration in the town.

The students were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court II, sitting at Owo GRA on a three-count charge of conspiracy, felony to wit stealing and malicious damage.

The suspects are: Lukman Arowolo, 21; Iyanuoluwa Gift, 21; Olayinka Oyewole, 21; Aladejebi Temitope, 35; Oluwadare Gbenga, 26; Japhet Samuel, 21; Ayeni Samuel, 24; Lawrence Monday, 24; Titus Felix, 22; Emmanuel Segun, 23; Ayeni Temitope, 21; Ayeni Trust, 23; Olayinka Olalekan, 17 and Ayomide Opeyemi, 21.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant Edu Owolabi, told the court that the offences contradict and are punishable under sections 516, 390(9) and 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

All the accused pleaded not guilty and their lawyer applied for their bail.

But Owolabi opposed their bail application.

The Magistrate Mr Sunday Adedapo said he would deliver his ruling on the bail application on February 5.

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Scientists: Puberty age now begins from 10-24

A group of scientists is suggesting a reset for the puberty age or the age of adolescence from 9-14 for girls and 12-16 for boys to 10-24 for all the genders.

The scientists made the suggestion after studying adolescent health for many years.

Writing in the Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal, doctors from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Melbourne, Australia suggested broader adolescent years due to biological and societal changes in youths.

According to the research, earlier puberty has accelerated the onset of adolescence in nearly all populations.

For example, in industrialised countries such as Britain, the average age for a girl’s first menstruation has dropped by four years in the past 150 years, according to a BBC news report.

At the other end of the spectrum, reaching the age of 19, in effect, does not mark the end of one’s adolescent years.

“Although many adult legal privileges start at age 18 years, the adoption of adult roles and responsibilities generally occurs later,” said the Lancet opinion piece.

The authors said delayed completion of education, marriage, and parenthood all contribute to shifting popular perception of when adulthood begins.

Also underpinning the theory are biological reasons: Brain continues to change and mature until a person reaches their mid-20s or even later, according to the article.

Thus, the research calls for an expanded and more inclusive definition of adolescence, which, according to the authors, is essential for developmentally appropriate framing of laws, social policies, and service systems.

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Lecturers stage one-day sit-in protest

Lecturers at the Federal University Lokoja (FUL), Kogi State, on Tuesday, staged a one-day sit-in strike, to protest alleged non-promotion of staff, among other grievances.

The placard-carrying lecturers massed in front of the Vice Chancellor’s office chanting slogans.

Some of the placards read, “Our Mumu Don Do”, “Lead or leave”, “Sunset in Tetfund”, “Bad Regime the Road to Precipice, Misery and Depression”.

The demonstration which began around 8am, jolted the students who had arrived the premises earlier, in the hope that lectures will continue uninterrupted despite the ongoing strike by the members of the local chapter of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), including the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU).

Addressing pressmen on some the issues, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, FUL (ASUU-FUL), Dr Anselm Oyem, said the protest will end by 4pm, adding that the response of the university administration will determine their next step of action.

He said that the union had in the past tabled its grievances before the authorities, but are yet to be addressed on steps being taken to redress them.

Addressing newsmen during the sit-in, Dr Oyem said that they will no longer remain silent over the lack of response of the management team to their grievances.

“Our rights and privileges are being tampered with. Since 2016, no promotion to professorship despite there are many qualified for it. Also, lecturers with masters degree are yet to be upgraded to their deserving position. Same goes for other ranks.

“TETFUND monies are being withheld by the management thereby causing difficulties for lecturers who are to benefit from its scholarship to access it.

“Since NASU commenced strike, we clean ad sweep our offices by ourselves, just because we don’t want the school calendar to be truncated.

“Our departmental running cost are not release. For a while now the management had sit on our impress”.

Addressing the protesting lecturers on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Deputy Vice, Prof. Makanjuola Oshagbemi, said that the issues tabled were being looked into.

He said those within the ambit of the management will be addressed, and the second part of the demand that they tabled, “which are not entire ours to handle, we will help in getting resolved.

Item said that the school management had turned deaf ears to their demands and refused to respond to their numerous letters stating  their demands.

The students were seen standing around the school premises in groups, while some formed into tutorial classes.

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Osinbajo to speak at Harvard

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will today deliver a keynote lecture at the Harvard University, Boston, United States.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said: “It would be the highest honour for us were you to accept our invitation as we deeply admire the immense progress that Nigeria has made during your tenure not only as the country’s Vice President, but also as Chairman of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council. By all accounts, this Council has spearheaded crucial initiatives and we very much hope that you will speak to those, as well as to Nigeria’s rise in world economic rankings and the vast range of business initiatives that are ongoing in your country.”

The university  described the lecture as a historic moment as it would be the first time that an Africa-focused course will be offered at Harvard Business School.

“During the lecture, Prof. Osinbajo would highlight the progress made by the Buhari administration in improving the country’s economy and investment climate.

“In the latest World Bank Doing Business index, Nigeria climbed up 24 places and was placed on the list of 10 most reformed economies globally.

“Alongside the President, the VP has been a strong advocate in the future of a greater Africa, and has proffered solutions on how to make the continent work better for its people and the rest of the world.

“In a keynote address at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London recently, the Vice President emphasised the continent’s depth of talent and innovation across Agriculture, ICT, Hospitality, Fashion, Energy, Manufacturing, Entertainment, and many other fields.”

The Vice President is expected back in Abuja tomorrow.

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Zhou Youguang: Why Google honours him today

Zhou Youguang is known as 'the father of Pinyin', the Chinese phonetic language [Wikimedia Commons]
Described as "the father of Pinyin", or Chinese phonetic language, and hailed as the man who simplified Chinese, Zhou Youguang would have been 112 this Saturday.In his honour, Google is changing its logo in 12 countries to a doodle, or illustration, of him and his contribution to Chinese language.
This is his story:         Love for China 
"Bring light to the world". Born in Changzhou in 1906, Zhou Youguang showed interest in linguistics at the early age of 12; he graduated from high-school with honours.
Named Zhou Yaoping, he adopted the pen name "Yougang" because he wanted to "bring light" to the world. 
Hard road to university. In 1923, Zhou enrolled the university of St. John's University, Shanghai. He was not able to attend because of financial woes, but friends and relatives raised the admission fee and helped him pay for tuition. 
He graduated in 1927, majored in economics and took supplementary coursework in linguistics.
Sino-Japanese war. In 1933, he married Zhang Yunhe. He moved to Japan to continue his studies, but returned in 1937, at the start of the Sino-Japanese war. 
After the Japanese were defeated in 1945 at the end of World War Two, Zhou worked in Sin Hua bank where he was stationed overseas, first in New York City and then in London. 
"Modern, resurgent China". In 1949, he returned after the establishment of Communist China, excited to take part in a resurgent country. "We all thought that China had a very good opportunity to develop; we didn't expect the later turmoil. History misled us," Zhou told the Guardian. 
Back in China, he taught economics at Fudan University in Shanghai. However, his path did not lead him to remain as an economist. 
History misled us
ZHOU YOUGUANG

Romanization of the language Reforming the Chinese language. In 1955, the government placed Zhou at the head of a committee to reform the Chinese language.He was called by Zhou Enlai, a person he met in his bank job who was now the second leader in China. "Linguistics was just a hobby". Zhou initially declined, saying that linguistics was only his hobby, but he was not allowed to refuse the offer. He moved to Beijing, where he began a three-year effort, and developed the invention of Pinyin.A pronunciation guide. Pinyin was made the official romanization in 1958. It is only a pronunciation guide, and not a substitute writing system. "Mao disliked greatly the economists". His job protected him from Mao's policies. "Mao disliked greatly the economists - especially economic professors from America," Zhou said in an in interview. "By that time, I had shifted to the line of language and writing ... If I had remained in Shanghai teaching economics, I think I certainly could have been imprisoned for 20 years."Chinese labour camp. But in 1969. accused of being a reactionary academic, he was sent to work in a labour camp where he worked in the rice fields. He spent more than two years there. Once he was released, he went back home and continued writing about language. Encyclopedia Zhou. In the 1980s, he helped oversee the translation into Chinese of the Encyclopedia Britannica, earning him the nickname of "Encyclopedia Zhou". Critical of the government. Zhou was the author of more than 40 books, many of which were banned for being critical of the government. Around 10 of them were published after he turned 100.He started a blog on Sina and continued blogging until he was 105 years old.Regarding the government, the linguist told AFP: "In all honesty I haven’t got anything good to say about Mao Zedong." Chinese people becoming rich isn't important, human progress is ultimately progress towards democracy.ZHOU YOUGUANG

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Nigerian varsities can rank as best with stable calendar – UNILAG VC

Nigerian universities can rank best in Africa, if we can have a stable academic calendar, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos ( UNILAG ), has said.

Ogundipe spoke on Thursday in Lagos against the backdrop of incessant strikes by labour unions in the nation’s university system.

According to him, there is need for everyone, especially the key stakeholders in the education sector to look inward to ensure that crisis which gives rise to strikes are managed effectively.

“I make bold to say that universities, especially the first generation institutions in the country, can be ranked best in Africa if we can have a stable academic calendar.

“There is need for everyone to look inward and manage the crisis in the system effectively so that our university system can be ranked among the best in the world,’’ Ogundipe said.

He said that there was need for Nigerian Government too to take the running of universities and other related issues seriously.

“If you want to run a university, you should go all out and do it in line with the best practices.

“We are talking about the global ranking of universities, and here we are still grappling with the issues of strike.’’

The UNILAG VC noted that such development do not speak well about the country as “lots of people around the world are reading and taking note of it’’.

He explained that most of the facilities that would guarantee conducive teaching and learning environment were being handled by non-academic (support) staff that were on strike.

Ogundipe added that with the strike, their academic staff counterparts and others were now forced to adjust to the situation.

“The strike has affected the operations of the university indirectly,’’ he said.

According to him, issues of power and water supply, the use of laboratory and others have taken their toll on the operations of the university.

“I am sure that the academic staff will be up to their assignments.

“This group of staff is not on strike; the classrooms are open, lectures are going on since the inception of NASU strike.

“Even, as we resumed on December 27, lectures have started in most faculties in Unilag.

“The non-teaching staff has their grievances; the strike is a national strike and not a local one.

“To this effect, there is little the university authorities can do,’’ the vice-chancellor said.

The unions, under the aegis of JAC, had on September 11 declared an indefinite strike across all the federal universities over the non-implementation of an agreement they entered into in 2009 with the Federal Government

The strike was suspended while dialogue continues between the parties, only to embark on another strike on Dec. 5.

Mr Solomon Ugwoke, the National President of JAC, who also doubled as the president of SSANU, one of the striking unions, had stated that there was no going back on the strike.

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Lecturers to join Osun indefinite strike

Lecturers in Osun State-owned tertiary institutions have said they will join the indefinite strike labour unions began on Wednesday.

Public workers are protesting payment of modulated salaries.

The lecturers at the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; Osun State College of Technology at Esa-Oke and the colleges of education at Ilesa and Ila-Orangun, said they were joining the strike to demand full salaries.

In a statement yesterday by its Chairman, Mr. Olusegun Lana, and Secretary, Sikiru Folorunso, the lecturers, under the aegis of the Council of Academic Staff Unions of Osun Stat-owned Tertiary Institutions, said the strike would start on January 15.

The lecturers noted that besides “half-salaries, which we have been receiving in the past 27 months,” they were protesting outrageous tax, unfulfilled agreement on staffing, selective reinstatement of sacked workers and contributory pensions.

They claimed that they gave Governor Rauf Aregbesola a 21-day ultimatum on November 7, adding that over a month after the expiration of the ultimatum, he had not addressed the issues.

The lecturers also said they had written letters and called for dialogue to which they claimed the governor had not responded.

The statement said: “This is to inform all members of our great unions that consequent upon the concurrent resolutions of the respective congresses of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) across the four state-owned tertiary institutions, we have issued a notice of indefinite strike with effect from January 15, 2018.

“Government has not shown any seriousness towards addressing our painful plight as we have been subjected to untold hardship, frustrations and unprecedented levels of demoralisation by the harsh effects of unaddressed festering issues, including but not limited to perpetual half-salaries (now up to 27 months), which our unions were never in agreement to; unfulfilled collective agreements on staffing and proper composition of governing councils; selective justice in the reinstatement of disengaged members of staff.”

Also, the Osun State chapter of the Community Development Council (O’CDC,) has implored striking civil servants to be patient with the government.

Addressing reporters yesterday in Osogbo, the capital, the council’s Assistant Secretary, Amosun Ismaila, urged workers to suspend their action and dialogue with the government.

Ismaila, who spoke on behalf of the state Chairman, Alhaji Yisa Abubakar, advised leaders of labour unions and representatives of the state to work together in the interest of the state.

He said: “The Community Development Council of Osun State, which is a community organisation poised to harnessing resources to revamp and develop the state, therefore, appeals to the workers’ unions to be more patient, as they are the engine room of the government, which ensures the continuation of developmental programmes and projects of the state government.

“As a matter of fact, a strike is a legitimate means for workers to press home their demands. It is a real fact that the state government and other stakeholders have been trying to resolve the issue. Workers should be persuaded by the fact that the political office holders in the state are also being paid 50 per cent of their total pay due to the current economic crisis.

“We equally realise the yearnings of our teeming workers in the state on the issue of promotion, which is regarded as a statutory obligation of the government… But we are of the opinion that government knows this and must adequately attend to it as a matter of urgency. We should all resolve to sit at a round table for a thorough discussion…

“We believe Mr. Governor understood the plight of the workers and has given his word that there will be a great improvement the moment we have a good turnaround in our economy at the state and local government levels.

“We must remind our dear workers that the government, as we all know, has genuine commitment to settle all outstanding salary liabilities as soon as the economy improves in the New Year.”

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WAEC Official Slumps, Dies In Hotel Bathroom In Lagos

An official of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Mustapha Ikhina, was Wednesday found dead in a hotel at Agidingbi, Lagos Mainland.
The victim was said to have slumped at the bathroom of Academy Inns Hotel, where he lodged.
The deceased was a 59-year-old man who was in Lagos for his pre-retirement training.
The police were said to have been notified and his body evacuated for autopsy.
Meanwhile, a tricyclist, Chidiebere Okafor was arrested for alleged murder of his colleague, Frank Onah at Ifako.
The incident occurred at Yetunde Brown Street, Gbagada around 2:30pm.
The suspect pushed Onah while they were dragging a piece of paper. Onah was said to have hit his head against a stone and died at the General Hospital where he was rushed to.
Confirming the incidents, the command’s spokesman, Chike Oti, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said investigations were ongoing.
He said no mark of violence was seen on the WAEC employee, adding that there was no one with him in his room.
Oti said: “The man was due for retirement next year and he was in Lagos for pre-retirement training. Apparently he fell and there was no one to assist him. He was found dead inside his room.
“For the second case, the suspect has been arrested and investigation is ongoing. They were arguing and it later turned physical.”

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‘Go Back To School’ – Aisha Buhari Tells Northern Women

Wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha has charged Northern women to go back to school and acquire western education to better their lot in compliance with growing global trends.
She gave the charge during the weekend at the closing ceremony of a 1,000 graduates of skills acquisition programme funded by her pet project, the Future Assured, a non-governmental outfit, at the Multipurpose Indoor Sports Hall in Bauchi.
 Any woman that is not educated will lose a lot of opportunities in the modern world. If you cannot read, many opportunities will pass you by.
“I urge you women to go back to school,
Aisha stated.
Citing herself as an example, Mrs Buhari who was accompanied by wives of Adamawa and Nasarawa states’ governors and top government officials, announced that before marrying President Buhari,
she had her secondary school education and went to the university after marriage, not knowing that she would be the wife of Nigeria’s President one day.
She said N500, 000 billion had been set aside by the federal government to support women and youth and her NGO was working to ensure they are empowered in areas of education, health and skill acquisition.
She appealed to corporate organizations, politicians, community and traditional leaders to support the graduates so that they could stand on their own

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NECO Releases 2017 November/December GCE Results

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released 2017 November/December External Senior School Certificate Examination results.

Prospective candidates are expected to purchase NECO result checking scratch card before proceeding to check their results online,

Cards are available in all NECO offices.

How To Check Result…

1)Go to NECO result checking portal http://www.mynecoexams.com/results/default.aspx

2)Select your examination type i.e. Nov/Dec

3)Select your year of examination i.e. 2017

4)Enter the result checking scratch card PIN number in the required column

5)Enter your examination number

Finally, click on Check My Result button to access your 2017 NECO GCE result.

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JAMB Begins Registration For UTME 2018

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board said it has begun registration for the 2018 unified tertiary matriculation examinations (UTME).
The exam body said the registration would take place in over 700 computer based test (CBT) centres in 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The organization’s Head of Media, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, made the announcement in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
He said the exercise would end in February next year.
The statement reads, “We will also want to state clearly that the board does not post candidates to any examination town other than the one chosen by the candidate at the point of registration.
“Candidates are, however, advised to register on time before the available spaces in their town of choice are exhausted.
“The registration exercise started on Wednesday 6th December, 2017 and as at today so many candidates have text their names using their phone numbers to 55019 and got their profile registered. After which they equally proceeded to the CBT centres for registration.
“The exercise from our tour of centres today clearly showed that this is one of the best registration regime of the board in recent time. It is easy, smooth and hitch free. This system is simple and convenient, candidates are requested to do it themselves to avoid being defrauded by anybody.
“Candidates can purchase the e -pins using their ATM or through Interswitch, Remita and other online platforms at the comfort of their homes.
“The Board offices are available for any challenge encountered by candidate while trying to obtain the e -pin to register for the 2018 exercise.
“Candidates who desire to register for the optional mock are also urged to do so as the platform will be withdrawn by the 30th of December, 2017 and only those who registered and indicated their interest on or before that time will be enlisted to participate.
“The board again reiterated its avowed commitment to conduct a hitch free examination and advance the cause of any Nigerian child desirous of qualitative tertiary education in the country. This is the beginning of the 2018 process.”

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Role Of (islamic) Students Of Knowledge By Ustadh Sulayman Amubieya - Islam for Muslims

All praise belong to Allaah Who raises in degree those who believe among us and (raises further) those who have been given knowledge. May His commendations and peace be upon His noble messenger who was sent with knowledge, guidance, and every good, (may His commendations) also be upon his household and companions; people of knowledge, piety and lofty ranks.

To proceed:

Indeed Allah sent His messengers successively and revealed to them books of truth, guidance and knowledge and He made them bearers of good news as well as warners in order that mankind will have no plea against Allah after the messengers. He also obligated, upon His messengers, delivery of His message to the creations. They fulfilled this trust in the best way and strived tirelessly in its course till they delivered the message of their Lord, they have died but have bequeathed this divine and heavenly knowledge.

From the grace of Allaah and His mercy is that He selected some people for the conveyance of this knowledge; holders of pen and guardians of The Book and Sunnah, they are the ones referred to as students of Islamic knowledge, from the era of the messenger’s companions –commendations and peace of Allah be upon him. Allah named them scholars because they are the students of His messengers therefore they are the most pious people after the messengers, Allah the most Exalted said (interpretation of the meaning):
They are also the best of the Ummah as the messenger of Allaah –commendations and peace of Allaah be upon him- said:

The best of you is the one who learns the Qur’an and teaches it^[2].



They attained the highest ranks, because the first role they played in this life was to ignore the worldly life; thus they acquired its prestige, honour and nobility. AI-Imaam Ash-Shaafi‘ee said:

Wash your hands off the world and its people

And beware of their love, (if you do so) you will achieve from its good


Then, they adorned themselves with praise-worthy character and esteemed attributes, such that they ascended in humility as they ascended in knowledge. Their noble behaviour and attributes resulted in their outstanding erudition, thus, their knowledge benefitted them and they benefitted their society. This is because good character is the trusted guard of knowledge and is like the vessel with water since drinking or receiving water is not impressive except in a beautiful container otherwise the people will flee from knowledge (as they flee from an ugly cup).

Beyond this, they followed knowledge up with practice therefore succeeding greatly and their knowledge became a continuous charity for them.

Their knowledge endowed them with sincerity and Allaah in return made them leaders of the pious.

So their role in the society is the best of roles because they are the commanders of good and the forbidders of atrocities, the approvers on Allaah’s behalf for mankind, the inheritors of the prophets and the conveyors of the message of Allah’s messengers, they treat the ailments of the society with perseverance, patience, forgiveness in times of ability (to revenge), shyness, accommodation, affection, leniency and mercy to all the creations, also fulfilling promises, joining family ties, justice, trustworthiness, virtuousness, and truthful speech, calmness, gallant character, gentleness, asceticism and taking little from the world, and fear of Allah in seclusion and in public.


May Allaah reward the scholars of hadeeth greatly,

and preserve them forever in highest of ranks.

If not their concern for hadith,

negation of different types of falsehoods,

spending of their lifetime in seeking it,

and searching for it with continuous seriousness.

The jurist wouldn’t have been able to differentiate,

the authentic hadith from the weak and bogus.

And he wouldn’t have known what was briefed in the Quran,

and we wouldn’t have known the obligatory from the voluntary.

They indeed spent for it priceless souls,

thus they gained the present and the future.

Therefore, their love is an obligation upon every Muslim,

and non antagonizes them except the ignorant

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FEC Approves Establishment Of Six New Private Universities

The Federal Executive Council has approved the establishment of six new private Universities in Nigeria.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, disclosed this on Wednesday at the end of the FEC meeting which held inside the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The meeting was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as President Muhammadu Buhari paid a two-day working visit to Kano State.
According to Mr Adamu, the approval was part of steps taken to enable the National Universities Commission (NUC) ensure maximum supervision of universities across the country.
“The Ministry of Education presented a memorandum to the Federal Executive Council on the establishment of six new private universities, and it has been approved,” he said.
“The issue of quality assurance, issue of standard, and the issue of accreditation will be looked into very seriously.”
The newly-approved universities include Admiralty University, Ibusa, Delta State; Spiritan University, Nneochi, Abia State; and Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Others are Pamo University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Atiba University, Oyo State; and Eko University of Medical and Health Sciences, Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed, also briefed reporters on steps taken by the Council to resolve long fuel queues across the country.
Mr Mohammed said the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, has been issued a marching order to end the queues before the end of the week.

He also explained that Dr Kachikwu was absent at the press briefing because he was attending another crucial meeting in line with the directive to end the fuel queues.
The minister said that government was never planning to increase the pump price of petrol at any time and would never support any such move.
“The government has no intention at all to increase the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS),” Mr Mohammed said.

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11-year-old girl wins $25,000 science prize for creating a cheap device to test drinking water for poison

Gitanjali Rao, a seventh grader from Colorado, has been awarded the title of "America's top young scientist" for designing a compact device to detect lead in drinking water, which she believes can be faster and cheaper than other current methods.

The 11-year-old's invention was inspired by the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, where cost-cutting measures led to tainted drinking water that contained lead and other toxins. It also won her a $25,000 prize, for which Rao already has plans: "I plan to use most of it in developing my device further so that it can be commercially available soon," she said

Rao who attends the STEM School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, originally submitted the idea to the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, an annual youth science and engineering competition for middle school students in the US, inaugurated in 2008. She was awarded a 3-month mentorship with Kathleen Shafer, a research specialist who develops new plastics technologies: "Gitanjali's concept was at a very early stage at the beginning of our mentorship. She had thought of this idea earlier this year, only a few weeks before the submission deadline," Shafer said.

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NASU, SSANU And NAAT To Begin Strike (Read Details)

The non-academic staff unions of Nigerian universities have resumed their suspended strike. The unions, members of NAAT, NASU, and SSANU, announced the resumption of the strike in a joint statement on Thursday night.
They said the strike will resume on Monday, December 3. The statement was signed by the national presidents of NAAT, Sani Sulaimon; NASU, Chris Ani; and SSANU, Samson Ugwoke.
They workers said they reject the mode of sharing the recent financial allocation to universities.
“We wrote a letter to the federal ministry of education to explain the criteria for the allocation and we gave them seven days notice to do the needful. But the date has elapsed without a response from the federal government,” they said.
Sources reported how the mode of sharing N23 billion sent to universities by the federal government had caused protests in many universities as the non-academic workers accuse their academic counterparts of unfair distribution formula.
The unions suspended their strike and asked their members to resume work on September 25 after signing a memorandum of understanding with the federal government.
They gave the federal government one month to start the implementation of the agreement; but said on Thursday that the government is yet to meet their demands after two months.

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