thisday0520

More documents

Recommendations

Info

34 THISDAY • WEDNESDAY MAY 20, 2015 EDUCATION ‘Edwin Clark Varsity will Impact Community, Produce Well Equipped Youths’ Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Delta State, the 60th private university in Nigeria, which was recently issued an operating licence by the National Universities Commission (NUC), will soon open its doors to students. Some of its top management staff, including the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Timothy Olagbemiro, told Funmi Ogundare that the institution is poised to add value to its community and make the youths better equipped for global challenges The Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Delta State was founded by one of Nigeria’s elder statesman and politician, Chief Edwin Clark, who served as Commissioner for Education under the Brig. Samuel Ogbemudia administration in the old Bendel State. He was also one of the first architect of the University of Benin, when it began as Mid West Institute of Technology (MIT) then. At the initial stage of the formation of the MIT and its conversion to University of Benin, Clark combined his duties as commissioner for education and pro-chancellor of the newly created university. Years later, he served as pro-chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna. His interest in university education is not therefore new. This no doubt motivated him to set up the institution as a legacy to humanity. The institution, located in his hometown, Kiagbodo, along with Hezekiah University, Abia State, were issued operation licenses by the NUC on May 7, 2015. Plans are underway for it to commence academic programmes in two faculties, containing 10 departments and 15 undergraduate programmes in the first year. The faculties approved for Edwin Clark University are; Faculty of Science, Humanities, Social and Management Sciences, Faculty of Law, Engineering, Agriculture, Medicine, Environmental Sciences, Arts as well a Postgraduate School. According to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Timothy Olagbemiro,“the NUC team had visited here twice; they came in December 2013 for the first time and in February, 2014, they came here for the final visit to see our facilities. They had some checklist to ensure our compliance with the NUC set standard. “I got involved as vice-chancellor designate in the entire process as a member of the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) headed by Professor Sam Igun, a former Vice-Chancellor of Delta State Univerity; Ambassador Clark, retired; two eminent professors from the University of Benin, and other distinguished academics from Ekpoma, Otueke, a retired professor and librarian, registrar and deputy registrar designate. Chief Clark himself served in the PIC as Founder. We got our structures, facilities as well as our academic brief along with our master plan ready way before their final visit, just before the election. “We worked assiduously along with the founder’s son, Chief Ebikeme Clark, the Foundation Secretary, Miss Dorothy Charles-Koko both of who were instrumental to ensuring that the structures were in place and well funded. We had several sleepless nights, just to ensure we met a targeted date. Olagbemiro described Clark as a hard working man, who never gives up. “He wants results, and will put all in him to getting it. He was constantly in communication with us in the field, and occasionally joined us in Kiagbodo. He led the PIC extremely well, and this accounted for its success.” On the institution’s set objectives, Olagbemiro who served successfully for 10 years as Vice- Chancellor of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, said although Edwin Clark University is not located in a cosmopolitan city, Kiagbodo is ideal for true learning and for the development of young minds who would make the state and country proud. He expressed hope that students yearning for quality education would appreciate the thoughts of the founder, as well A section of Edwin Clark University Science laboratory as the foundation in locating the institution in Kiagbodo. “We note here the impact of pollution, land degradation, ecological disruption common to this zone, it is planned that Edwin Clark will mount vital courses in environmental studies, oil and gas, as well as on land reclamation. Such courses will be run with our link institution, Coventry University, UK. We believe these will be useful to this community, the quality of life of the community, as well as value added to nation building. Generally, the university is set to explore the minds of the youths and add value to the community that had been for long neglected.” Asked if the institution has put in place the required human capital to run effectively, he said, “university business is capital intensive, you must have people who are credible and know what they are doing, as well as people who are forthright and honest in what they are doing. We were able to locate some professors that will serve as deans, and heads of departments, from several institutions. These would assist in our initial take-off at this stage. Indeed, we have been working with these people in the last one year. We have already advertised to source for staff where we don’t have enough.” The vice-chancellor reiterated that the goal of any institution is to be best in all areas of endeavors such as teaching, research or community service, adding, “Rome was not built in a day. Slow and steady wins the race; I experienced it work. I had this experience at Bowen before; we have got to build up our capacity and manpower to ensure that it works here too.” On his view about the quality of graduates in some Nigerian institutions who many employers have said to be unable to defend their certificates, and what could be responsible for the academic laxity in Nigerian universities, Olagbemiro said, “If you bring students in and give them poor curricular, by the time they graduate they bring about poor output. “It’s like in-flow, it must be good enough so that your outflow can be good. That is the key which our institutions must imbibe and enforce. We want to ensure that staff members that are employed into the system are brilliant, smart, innovative, good mentors, good researchers and good teachers. They must be people who take interest in their students and make impact in the lives of students academically, socially and spiritually. He stressed that “if you bring in garbage as teachers, you will surely produce garbage graduates who are poor in every aspects of their vocation. They will not be able to read or write. The kind of staff you bring in and the curricular you have are very essential. “The NUC operates a Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS) system to perform very well and steady above the minimal standard, we have to get staff who are good in their approach on how to teach and what to teach. We want to ensure that we have a good curricular and stalk quality way above the BMAS of NUC. At Edwin Clark, we will look for good staff and pay them well so that they can compete favorably. If you pay them poor salary, they will give you poor standard. It’s garbage-in, garbage-out.” Olagbemiro’s reaction to the proliferation of universities and its attendant problems was: “The number of available spaces for the teeming populace seeking admission into Nigerian universities is far too small compared to those seeking admission.” While appealing to the NUC to enable the university commence its Law Faculty, as it has all facilities in place such as three lecture rooms with capacity for 80 students each; Law Faculty Library; Law Faculty e-Library; Moot Court; Law Auditorium to sit 250 students; deans and lecturers’ offices adequate in number; extensive law books with various online references and indexing, he expressed hope that the institution would get students that are capable of making it proud within and outside the country in the next 10 years. The Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Social and Management Sciences, Prof. Patrick Osiegbu, said most of the facilities for take-off are ready, adding that the institution has developed academic programme showing the course structure, description and requirement from NUC and other professional associations. He expressed hope that the university would boost intellectual population from other states. “We have plans to run pre-degree programmes to encourage those who are not able to get the number of required credits to be admitted into year one.” The don stressed the need for parents and other stakeholders to be committed to the development of education, adding that the private sector could participate by giving grants to universities and sponsoring professorial chairs to improve academic standards. “The private sector should not seclude itself from intellectual development, it is not the best for the nation.” The institution’s Librarian, Dr. Stephen Osiobe, who has practised for over 30 years, expressed concern that “the reason we are not producing good graduates is because the foundation from the primary school is weak. The reading culture is something one must grow up with so that he/she can have value for the printed word. We are living in a society where visuals have become dominant. The multi-media dominance in modern society has made youths not to spend much time to read.” He said the institution has a digital library to enable staff and students access reading materials, books and journals of publishers and other academic proprietary bodies that have database.” Explaining the process that led to the issuance of the license, the Registrar, Chief Rosalyn Egborge said, “I was at JAMB office in Abuja to register the new university to request the board to place application for the selection of candidates. The registrar of JAMB acted promptly and instructed the relevant directors to attend to the institution’s request. “We were quite ready as at last year, but the NUC wanted us to show all the facilities. The work of the registrar is very challenging as one has to drive all the processes that make the university what it is.”
THISDAY • WEDNESDAY MAY 20, 2015 35 EDUCATION Lagos Students Develop Ideas to Solve Social Problems Uchechukwu Nnaike Students of Government College, Ketu, Epe, who represented Education District 3 in the Spirit of Lagos School Challenge have emerged the overall winner of the competition, which encourages students to develop ideas to solve some of the social problems they face in their communities. The competition was keenly contested by secondary schools from the six education districts in the state. Their presentation centered on the need for people to imbibe the maintenance culture as a habit to protect private and public infrastructure around them. They developed the ‘Save Our Treasure’ (SOT) and ‘Do it Yourself’ (DIY) slogans to drive the maintenance culture among students. The team from Community Senior Grammar School, Gberigbe, representing District 2, came second with its project tagged ‘Wipe out Dirt and Litters from CSGS Community’; while Ifesowapo Aboru Senior Secondary School, Alimosho, representing District 1 came third with the project tagged ‘Converting Waste to Wealth’ through a device for heating up waste products such as plastics and cellophane to produce crude oil. Other schools that participated were Ajara Senior and Junior Secondary, Badagry; Agidingbi Senior Secondary School, Ikeja, among others. Speaking at the grand finale, the Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire, called on secondary school students in the state to fully embrace the initiative, which she said is in line with the state government’s efforts to ensure the overall development of various communities in the state. She said it would reawaken in the students the spirit of patriotism, which is the hallmark of development in any community. “The Spirit of Lagos’ School Challenge is a noble idea as it seeks to stimulate in the secondary schools students across the state the desire to proffer solutions to the social problems facing their communities. It is indeed a laudable step towards inculcating the right attitude to leadership in the younger generation.” Adefulire added that no society that neglects its leaders of tomorrow can be said to be heading towards a greater future, saying that the current administration in the state has invested so much in the future of youths in the state in terms of infrastructure and educational support. While commending teachers for assisting the students in developing their proposals, the deputy governor said, “the Lagos State government is working assiduously to empower the teachers so that in return, they can bequeath the right knowledge and morals in the students.” She also enjoined the students to see themselves as ambassadors of the state and charged them to imbibe the true Spirit of Lagos, which she described as “the love that binds us together”, by obeying all laid down rules and regulations in their schools, homes and the larger society. In her remarks, the General Counsel to the Governor, Mrs. Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya, thanked the participating schools for their continuous efforts in lifting the ‘Spirit of Lagos’ higher by striving to complement the state government’s efforts towards making the state a place for all. The Project Director, Olaniyi Omotoso, congratulated the schools for their excellent performance and described them all as winners for proposing projects that would help in the development of their schools. LBS Opens Applications for Young Talent Programme The Lagos Business School has kicked off applications for this year’s Young Talent Programme (YTP), aimed at honing the research skills and career prospects of brilliant Nigerian youths. Scheduled for July 31, the 2015 edition of the one-day programme, like last year’s, will offer successful candidates research scholarship opportunities and build a pipeline of future LBS faculty and administrative staff. The application process will terminate on July 4, 2015. According to the Faculty Lead on the programme, Dr. Uchenna Uzo, “as with the maiden edition of the YTP, this year’s programme will bring talented youths to LBS where they will receive first-hand information from experts on the modalities for starting an LBS career in academics or administration.” Uzo said there would be resource persons from the school’s administrative unit, while successful past participants would be available to share their work life experiences at LBS. The YTP is open to second year undergraduates and above, including MSc holders and corps members (not older than 30 years) with a first class or second class upper honours degree. A total of 45 candidates participated in the programme last year, six of whom have already been selected for faculty training at the school’s Management Scholarship Academy (MSA) and one as a doctoral candidate. Meanwhile, two successful participants from the maiden edition of the YTP admitted that working with LBS has not only met but surpassed their expectations. Jude Adigwe, currently a research assistant, recommended the programme to prospective candidates who wish to commence their career in an environment where professionalism and ethics are the watchwords. “I think new intake will derive immense benefits participating in the programme, which will give them the opportunity to see professionalism and ethics at work. The previous edition of the YTP brought me into the system and I am convinced it has lived up to its billing.” For Christian Reuben, another participant who currently works as a researcher at LBS, “the YTP is a very useful tool for young people looking to network with likeminded people, move forward in their various endeavours and know a bit about how LBS can help them realise their aspirations.” National Spelling Bee Winner Set for US Trip Deafening cheers and applause recently enveloped the NECA Hall, Ikeja, Lagos, as Onyinyechi Ohuabunwa of Cherry Field College, Jikwoyi, Abuja was declared winner of the 2015 National Spelling Bee Competition, defeating 44 other finalists to clinch the star prize of a Virgin Atlantic return ticket to the 88th Scripps Spelling Bee Competition in the US, as well as a N200,000 cash gift from Beta Malt along with other goodies from the company and Indomie Noodles. Miss Iyioluwa Ebojin of Ladela Schools, Wuse II, Abuja and Anita Igboka of Gudmerc High School, Abuja who emerged the second runners-up were also excited that they could go that far as they were also rewarded for their efforts. Ohuabunwa, 13, expressed delight at emerging the winner, saying “honestly, I never thought I would win. I am in shock. I thank God, my parents, my school, my teachers and the organisers. I am most grateful. I still can’t believe I won.” It was a challenge getting the 15 finalists from each of the participating states, FCT Abuja. EDUCATION SUPPORT L-R; Editor, School Tips and More Magazine, Mrs. Flourish Ayowale Ezekiel; Managing Director, Edumark Consult, Mrs. Yinka Ogunde; and Representative of Chips, Bit and Bytes, Mr. Ogunfatimi Oluwaseun , during a press conference at Edumark 7th Total School Seminar and Exhibition (TOSS held ...recently sunday adi gun Chevron Donates First Hybrid Library to Ondo School James Sowole in Akure In pursuance of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Chevron Nigeria Limited has donated an electronic library to Ilaje High School, located at Igbokodan, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. The library, built within three months in the 35-year-old school, is the first ever in any government-owned secondary school in the state. The project specifically built by Texaco Nigeria Outshelf, a Chevron Company operators of OML 132 and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), was equipped with 21 computer sets, 25KVA generator, books, journals, modern conveniences, a bore hole and other facilities. At the commissioning of the project, witnessed by senior officials of the company, top officers from the state ministry of education, Chevron said it’s commitment to ensuring improved standard of education in the country is unwavering. The Director Deepwater and Productive Sharing Contracts (PSC), Jeffry Ewing, said the company believes education is the key to national and societal development, as it unlocks the potential of the people especially youths, and galvanises them for positive development. Ewing was represented by an old student of the school who is currently the Manager Communications, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Adesola Adebawo. Adebawo was part of the 1985 set of the school, which was the second set. The director said the company is committed to education development as one of the thematic areas in its social performance programmes. Ewing pointed out that the company’s support for education in the country includes scholarship schemes for secondary school and university students every year; development of new schools and teachers’ residence; provision and equipping of educational facilities and upgrading of laboratories and research centres. He said the donation of the hybrid library “is another indication of our determined efforts to support the schools in books resources and technology, as well as improve the education sector in Nigeria.” He advised the students and teachers of the benefiting school to put the facility into good use and ensure proper maintenance so that the investment would not become a waste. Also speaking, the Group General Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Jonathan Okehs, said the organisation is happy to collaborate with Texaco and other stakeholders to sponsor projects that would lead to qualitative education. Okehs, who was representes by a Supervisor, Community Relations, Mrs. Helen Nkwo, said “we know that education is not only an instrument of social change but an investment in national development. “The library is borne out of a deliberate efforts by the NNPC and Texaco Nigeria Outer Shelf Limited to intervene in human capital development- a critical sector of the company. “We believe the effort will augment the Federal Government’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) programme and help provide the needed manpower for the development of the country. The Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Jide Adejuyigbe, said the commissioning of the hybrid library was unique being the first of its kind in public schools in the state Adejuyigbe regretted that one of the major challenges confronting education is inadequate modern library facilities which has negatively affected the performance of students. He urged development partners, philanthropists, corporate Organisations, religious bodies, old students and other wellmeaning individuals in the society to emulate Chevron in developing the education sector. Speaking through the Director of Planning and Research, Jide Ogundolire, the commissioner advised the students to use the facility to expand their body of knowledge. The Managing Director of Abey Coast Nigeria Limited, Abiye Adeyemi, said the project was completed within three months with zero per cent mobilisation to the company by Chevron. Adeyemi said the modern facilities which is the first of its kind would motivate the students in preparing for external examinations.
Page 1 and 2: CBN Retains Interest Rate at 13%, H
Page 3 and 4: THISDAY WEDNESDAY MAY 20, 2015 3
Page 7 and 8: 8 THISDAY • WEDNESDAY, MAY , Buh
Page 11 and 12: WEDNESDAY MAY 20, 2015 • THISDAY
Page 13 and 14: THISDAY WEDNESDAY MAY 20, 2015 13 W
Page 15 and 16: THISDAY • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2 01
Page 17 and 18: THISDAY • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015
Page 21 and 22: 21 FEATURES Students listen during
Page 31 and 32: 31 THISDAY • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2
Page 33: THISDAY • WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015
Page 37 and 38: THISDAY • WEDNESDAY MAY 20, 2015
Page 39 and 40: WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015 • THISDAY
Page 51 and 52: THISDAY•WEDNESDAY MAY 20, 2015 WE
Page 53 and 54: B WEDNESDAY MAY20, 2015 THISDAY TEN
Page 55 and 56: D WEDNESDAY MAY20, 2015 THISDAY SHO
Page 57 and 58: F INTERNATIONAL WEDNESDAY MAY 20, 2
Page 61 and 62: Transition a nsGlory THISDAY WEDNES

thisday0520

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?