Showing posts with label Babcock University News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Babcock University News. Show all posts
See beautiful photos of Linda Ikeji at the Access Bank Polo Tournament in the UK
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How Kate Middleton Subtly Honored Her and Prince William's Upcoming Wedding Anniversary
When it comes to fashion, Kate Middleton often prefers something borrowed. That is, from her own jewelry box.
For Easter services at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle last weekend, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a light blue Alexander McQueen coat and gray, Jane Taylor fascinator, an outfit she had previously donned while on tour in Australia in 2014. But look a little closer and you may notice another familiar piece on the 37-year-old royal.
Paying homage to her upcoming wedding anniversary—she and husband Prince William will celebrate eight years on April 29—the mom of three donned the Robinson Pelham diamond earrings she first wore on their big day back in 2011.
The pear-shaped earrings were a gift from her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and inspired by the family's coat of arms. The design features three acorns—which represent Kate, her sister Pippa Middleton and brother James Middleton—and stylized oak leaves, a nod to the trees that surrounded her childhood home.
Though she's often one to shop in her own closet, the Brit has rarely stepped out wearing these specific earrings. Outside of her vows, Kate has only ever donned the design in 2016 at the Order of the Garter service.
Eight years and three children later, the Duke and Duchess are still going strong. "It is fantastic having a lovely little family and I am so thrilled," Prince William previously raved to the BBC. "Catherine has been doing an amazing job as a mother and I'm very proud of her."
Happy (early) anniversary to the Duke and Duchess!
ASUU strike: Lecturers give fresh conditions
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said the only condition to suspend the ongoing nationwide strike is for the Federal Government to pay, at least, N50 billion Revitalisation Fund; out of one tranche of N220 billion.
ASUU national Chairman, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi spoke to newsmen in Ibadan, Oyo State on Sunday, ahead of the union’s scheduled meeting with the federal government on Monday.
ASUU said that the federal government must also present concrete evidence of implementation of the promised N20 billion Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and how the balance of N85 billion would be paid; with timelines.
He pointed out that the union and government since the strike started, “have had seven meetings. We have been having promises. We have demanded that some of their promises, which we took back to our members, some items on their list, have been rejected.
“And, there have been demands for the review. We want them to pay, immediately, N50 billion as a sign of commitment this quarter and, for the next three quarters, the government can pay N50 billion each quarter.
“So, our members have rejected the N20 billion they proposed that will be spread over two quarters in 2019. Our members have insisted on the release of at least N50 billion.
“In relation to EAA, which they have an outstanding N105 billion, our members are saying even if you (government) are releasing N20 billion, let it be stated clearly that it is only for ASUU members and the balance which you promised to pay in four instalments, attach timelines to the balance and figures.
“In 2017, this government promised to mainstream the EAA into the budget so that we won’t be coming to talk about arrears. If government had put that into the 2018 budget, we would not be talking about arrears now.
“Our members are saying government should take steps, mainstream it into the 2019 budget and that is note late because they (National Assembly) are still working on the budget.”
He added, “We have gone beyond these promises. In fact, the first meeting we had, we were told that before the end of the week, the matter would be resolved. But, that was government speaking. After that first meeting, we have had some other six meetings, yet, we are still relating to promises.
“We don’t really take government’s promises seriously again because we have heard promises upon promises.
“What our members told us when we were starting this meeting, was, ‘come back with concrete evidence of implementation.’
“And, we have told them (government) in clear terms. By the way, let me also tell you that today, we are meeting again, and we are still hoping that concrete evidence on implementation will be put on the table.
“So, that is what our members have been talking about. The National Executive Council of ASUU is our principal, and, each time we engage government, we keep reminding them that our members said or our NEC said ‘don’t come back to us unless you have concrete evidence of implementation.’ So, on that, we stand.”
NANS decries incessant strike at Federal Poly Bida
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has expressed concern over incessant cases of internal strikes at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida.
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has expressed concern over incessant cases of internal strikes at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida.
The association noted that the current crisis between the rector and some faction of the Academic Staff Union of the institution on the reappointment of Dr Abubakar Dzukogi has led to serious setback of academic activities in the institution.
A press statement issued by Comrade Abubakar Mohammed, Senate President, NANS said, “Our attention have been drawn to the current crisis rocking the Federal Polytechnic Bida between the Rector and Some Faction of the Academic Staff Union of the Institution on the reappointment of the Rector in person of Dr Abubakar Dzukogi.”
NANS observed, “That ASUP-Federal Polytechnic Bida constant internal strikes have been born out of greed and personal interests, not the interest of their members nor that of the students thereby setting the academic activities backwards and slow.
“That the Current ASUP Chairman of the polytechnic, Dr Umar Sanganuwan is interested in the position of the Rectorship and therefore using his office to always condemn the work of the incumbent Rector.
“That the Rector after a recent visit to the polytechnic has done well especially in the area of infrastructural development within the institution.”
NANS noted that the powers to appoint the Rector of a Federal Polytechnic by virtue of the Federal Polytechnic Act lies with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the recommendation of the Polytechnic Council and not a factional Chairman of ASUP.
“We therefore warned, Dr. Saganuwan not to usurp the constitutional power of the President and the Polytechnic Council,” the statement explained.
NANS observed that “Dr Umar Sanhanuwan desist from playing politics with the future of our students by leading some of his co staff to unnecessary strike actions.
“That he (Umar Sanganuwan) join hands with the Rector to build a more developed learning environment for the Nigerian students
“That the Rector, Dr Abubakar Dzukogi has done efficiently well and hence deserves another chance.
“We hope that the Rector finds a more flexible means of settling this personal issues with the aggrieved ASUP members so he can focus on continuing with laudable projects and programmes he has for the polytechnic to move forward.”
NUC speaks on ranking Nigerian universities
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rashid, has urged members of the public to disregard any university ranking purportedly published by the commission.
Abubakar, who gave an address on Saturday at the 3rd Combined Convocation of the Bingham University, Karu in Nasarawa State, described the claims as “simply fake.”
He said the commission had not carried out ranking of Nigerian universities in the past 14 years.
“The purported ranking published in the conventional and social media is false, fake and not from the NUC. It is meant to deceive members of the public and should be disregarded,’’ he said.
He mentioned that the NUC would soon carry out the ranking of the universities.
Abubakar commended the proprietor of the institution, ECWA Church, for landslide achievement in sustaining.
The convocation saw 33 out of the 676 graduates bag a first class.
JAMB 2019: What candidates with issues of biometrics should do
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has registered over 300,000 candidates for its 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in one week.
The Board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
Benjamin speaking on the registration urged candidates with issues of biometrics must to go to Abuja and have it rectified.
The board commenced registration of candidates for the 2019 all Computer Based Test (CBT) on Jan.10 and it would close on Feb. 21.
Benjamin said: “I want to reiterate the fact that only the Registrar of the board has the sole right to attend to such issues.
“Any candidate who may have issues with the capturing of his or her fingerprints at their respective points of registration will need to come down to our office in Abuja.
ASUU Strike: Release N50bn to demonstrate your commitment, lecturers tell federal government
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have asked the Nigerian government to release N50 billion to demonstrate its commitment to the revitalisation of public universities, in line with previous agreements with their union.
The striking lecturers gave this as a condition for calling off its strike which began November 4 last year.
The N50 billion, the union said, will form the first tranche of the N220 billion government agreed for the project this year and add to the N20 billion earlier released for the year.
The President of ASUU, Biodun Ogunyemi, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday night.
He said the union is not asking the government to release the whole N220 billion at once.
ASUU called the current strike to press for improved funding of universities and implementation of previous agreements with the government.
The union is also demanding implementation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreements, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU; 2012 and 2013) and Memorandum of Action (MoA, 2017) and the truncation of the renegotiation of the union’s agreements.
The union asked the government to release funds for the revitalisation of public universities, based on the FGN-ASUU MoU of 2012, 2013 and the MoA of 2017. The teachers are also angry over the failure of the government to release operational licence to the Nigerian University Employees Pension Company (NUPEMCO).
However, a major issue dragging the negotiations forth and back is the revitalisation of the universities. At present, the government is yet to release the N1.1 trillion it agreed to release as part of the funds for the revitalisation project.
The 2013 MoU stipulated that public universities need N1.3 trillion for a modest revitalisation. The fund was to be released in tranches of N200billion in 2013, N220billion 2014, N220billion 2015, 220billion in 2016, N220billion in 2017 and N220billion in 2018.
The previous government of Goodluck Jonathan released N200 billion in 2013 but since then nothing has been released.
At the seventh meeting of government with the leadership of ASUU January 8, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said the dispute with the teachers was on the verge of being resolved. He listed the fresh concessions made by the government to ASUU.
According to Mr Ngige, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Finance presented evidence that N15.4 billion had been released to public universities for payment of salary shortfall.
On earned academic allowances, he said President Muhammadu Buhari approved N20 billion to offset arrears of the 2009 to 2012 verified earnings by university teachers.
As part of the agreement reached between the union and the government before ASUU ended its industrial action in September 2017, the Federal Government had released N22.9 billion for earned allowances of both academic and non-academic staff across 22 Federal universities.
Of the amount, ASUU members got N18.3billion, while non-teaching staff in the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) got N4.6 billion.
The sharing formula, which was condemned by the three non-academic staff unions, led to pockets of protests on various campuses at the time, and eventually led to the unions embarking on a long strike.
Apparently, to avoid the controversy that greeted the sharing of the allowance in 2017, ASUU is insisting that the Federal Government should categorically state the amount earmarked for its members, which it said must not be less than N18.3 billion it received then.
Premium Times reported how the union said it will communicate its decision on the offers made to it by the federal government on January 16.
The union also urged the government to show concrete evidence of commitment to agreements on meeting its demands.
But in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday night, ASUU President, Mr Ogunyemi, said if the government can mainstream the union’s demands especially on earned allowances in the 2019 budget, the union will not need to come back for negotiation in 2020.
“Government promised to mainstream academic allowance in 2017, starting from the 2018 budget but it was not done. If the government is promising it again, what steps have they taken, can we have evidence? Once beaten, twice shy.”
Mr Ogunyemi said the federal government can spread the N220 billion for revitalisation of universities across four quarters.
“In which case, the N50 billion they will release now, if you add to what they released, N20 billion for last year, we would have 150 billion left for the rest of the year and that has been spread over the next three quarters.
“That’s what we’ve been saying as our minimalist position,” he said.
On the shortfall in salaries, he said: “Government promised to release the shortfall in salaries by January 18th, that’s two days away. Let’s wait and confirm that they’ve released it. We told them to also address the case of two or three universities that were omitted,” he said.
Mr Ogunyemi said the union has submitted its suggestions and may be meeting with the government next week. “But we’re waiting for their confirmation,” he said.
Akwa Ibom State Government Scholarship
Many scholarship opportunities are available to Nigerians right here in Nigeria, who may want to study for PhD.
If you prefer to study in Nigeria instated of traveling abroad for your master’s degree program, you will be informed here about a number of scholarship opportunities you can benefit from.
Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Scholarship Scheme
The scholarship was launched in 2012. It is actually an oversea scholarship and it is aimed at supporting entrepreneurs, professionals and indigenous experts, who may want to study for PhD.
The scholarship is open to individuals who may want to study in other areas aside oil and gas areas. The scholarship covers tuition fees and monthly stipend towards living expenses. It is valued at $60,000 to $69,000.
Full bright Foreign Student Program
It involves artists, young professionals, graduate students and anyone interested in PhD program in Nigeria. The scholarship does not only cover PhD; it also covers Master’s degree and even non-degree programs.
The scholarship provides funding for course duration. It provides funding for your health insurance, living stipend, airfare, textbooks and tuition.
NITDA scholarships
The scholarship was established in 2010 by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). It provides funding for both Doctorate and Master’s degree programs. It covers anyone interested in Information technology
Dr. Murtala Mohammed Scholarships
The scholarship provides funding for PhD and masters degree students. It provides funding on various courses. It covers full tuition for each academic year.
Akwa Ibom State Government Scholarship
It was instituted by the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief (Dr) Godswill Akpabio (CON). It is made available to indigenes of Akwa Ibom State and it covers ICT training.
Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarship Program
It offers both local and overseas scholarship programs. It is available annually to Nigerians and it covers both PhD and MSc programs in areas like geosciences, geology, sciences and engineering.
Here Is History Of Nigerian Education System
Nigerians value education a lot. Education in Nigeria did not start when the Europeans came; education had been part and parcel of this country long before those Europeans brought in western form of education to the African West coast.
In those days, children were taught by the adults about the works, survival skills, social activities and culture that prevailed in those days. While the western form of education is being imparted formerly, these other forms of education were taught to the children in informal manner. Be that as it may, they achieved their expected end.
Despite the fact that the western form of education had not come in those days, there were some Nigerian societies that taught their kids about cultures, social responsibilities and other things in formal manner. This is to say Nigeria was an organized entity long before the Europeans came. For example, the children and youth of those days were taught about rite passages and a host of other things in rather formal manners. They might not be able to read and write European letters, but they had grounded knowledge about their cultures and societal practices.When the people from the western world came to Nigerian, they started building their own form of education on the already established cultural and societal backgrounds.
When it all began
It was in the 1840s; that was when the Europeans invaded Nigeria with their own form of education. It all started in those coastal cities of Nigeria, like Calabar and Lagos, along with a host of other coastal cities. Few decades after, many European schools were already established in these coastal cities with Nigerian students on admission in such schools. These students were taught mostly by European teachers, who taught them how to read and write. Mode of teaching in these schools was English language.
It must be noted that Great Britain, Nigeria’s colonial masters, did not contribute anything to education in Nigeria. Rather, it was the missionaries and churches that sowed the seed of western education in Nigeria. Only very few schools were funded by the British colonial masters in those days. However, many Nigerian graduates were allowed to study at universities in Great Britain on scholarships, many of which were given by the British government.
The Poor and Corrupt Education System in Nigerian. By Christian Bassey Aka, Cris B.
For the past few weeks, I have been visiting many schools in Nigeria, especially primary schools. I will implore that you also check out primary schools in your area and see for yourself what I saw, for what I experienced during my visits to those schools is what I cannot possibly share without weeping. The education system in Nigeria is just too poor. Why is the Government not paying much attention to primary schools? I do not know about you, but for me, Primary schools should be paid more attention to because it is the prime for all Learning, and it is the most important of all. Years back, standard six students were able to read, write, calculate and solve simple arithmetic. Nowadays, an SS3 student can barely spell his or her name correctly. If you think I am lying or over exaggerating, try asking 10 secondary school students to spell you their names and you will be surprise by how many will be able to do so correctly. You can also try asking the university student to spell you cucumber or hippopotamus or even spaghetti. I wager that more surprises await you.
Something must be urgently done to parry these threats that our education system is facing. If not, we shall wake up one day in the future and realized that our dear country has become a place owned and controlled by educated illiterates.
After months scrupulously studying and scrutinizing the education system in Nigeria, I have come up with what I call, “The R and D modern education system of Nigeria”. Here is what it is like:
(1). Primary level: In the primary level, pupils don't learn because they are not taught, some are taught, but wrongly taught. I have heard of a teacher telling her students that the percentage of 25 is 500%. Where on earth do we have or did the percentage of 25 become 500%? A lot of primary school teachers are not doing their job anymore; a good number of them do not even know what they claim to be teaching. This has endangered the future of our dear country. Nonetheless, they are trying. At least they will help the pupils pass their final year examinations by showing them how to cheat and pass examinations for the first time. Now you know the fons et origo of examination malpractice in Nigeria.
(2). Secondary level: In the secondary level, most of the teachers do their best to teach only the students that are interested in learning. They care less about the unserious ones. They don't coerce the unserious ones to learn, after-all it is of immense benefits to them since they will make thousands of naira helping them cheat in examinations like, WAEC, NECO, etc. Now you know how sorting to pass examination began in Nigeria.
(3). Tertiary level: In tertiary institutions, the only thing most lecturers care about is money. Money, money, money. Money over everything. If you aren’t talking money, you aren’t funny and as well not serious. Most lecturers nowadays, give students assignments just for the sake of generating revenues. They do not care about what you write. Give them money, write on your examination answer booklet "fuck you my stupid/wonderful lecturers", submit your paper, and watch them give you a B2. They would have given you an A1, but because you insulted them, as punishment, they deducted 20 marks. I know it sounds funny, but it is the truth. As a varsity student, if you have money, you are sure of a second class upper or even a first-class. And if you have no money, a pass should be more than enough to make you dance and praise your God.
The corruption in tertiary institutions can only be compared to that of politics.
Politicians loot the people, empty the treasury and buy private jets, build mansions and hotels abroad while Lecturers assemble students, empty their pockets, and buy private canoes, private Lexus and build semidetached houses everywhere in their villages. The students in the other hand are ready to do anything except reading and studying hard just to graduate with a second class upper.
The Government also is not taking any possible steps to meander these credible threats.
The Nigerian education system is just too poor, poor learning facilities poor learning environments and unqualified teachers.
Now you know why we have doctors who cannot locate a muscle in the human body, engineers who cannot repair their own vehicles, Lawyers who do not even know or take cognizance of their rights not to mention the rights of others, and most importantly, Leaders who cannot lead a country like Nigeria to greatness.
Education is sacrosanct. We should take it very serious. We cannot continue producing graduates with no knowledge of what they studied at the university. We need sound education for our children and future generation. So, I hereby implore that the government rises now and take possible steps to meander these credible threats. The government should provide schools with good and up to date learning facilities and also ensure that the learning environments are conducive enough in order to improve the level of learning. They should employ only eligible teachers and deploy them to schools across the country and set up a board to monitor them and scrutinize every step they take in order to ensure that there is no corruption on the path of the teachers.
The student also should play a vital role in the development of our education system. They should focus more on their studies and forget about irrelevances for when they study hard, they will never have to cheat in examinations or bribe lecturers in order to pass examinations.
The lecturers should focus more on their job and shun corrupt practices. They should not encourage students to cheat and sort in order to obtain good grades in examinations, but coerce them to sit-up and study hard in order to pass examinations.
In order to build a sound education system in Nigeria for us and the future generation, we must all come together, the students, parents, teachers and the government and play a vital role in the development. May God help us as we embark on this mission of creating a better education system in Nigeria.
Thank you for reading this piece. Stay blessed and pray for a better Nigeria.
God bless Nigeria.
Christian Bassey is a Writer, Film Maker, Computer Scientist, Martial Artist and a Human Rights Activist.
Something must be urgently done to parry these threats that our education system is facing. If not, we shall wake up one day in the future and realized that our dear country has become a place owned and controlled by educated illiterates.
After months scrupulously studying and scrutinizing the education system in Nigeria, I have come up with what I call, “The R and D modern education system of Nigeria”. Here is what it is like:
(1). Primary level: In the primary level, pupils don't learn because they are not taught, some are taught, but wrongly taught. I have heard of a teacher telling her students that the percentage of 25 is 500%. Where on earth do we have or did the percentage of 25 become 500%? A lot of primary school teachers are not doing their job anymore; a good number of them do not even know what they claim to be teaching. This has endangered the future of our dear country. Nonetheless, they are trying. At least they will help the pupils pass their final year examinations by showing them how to cheat and pass examinations for the first time. Now you know the fons et origo of examination malpractice in Nigeria.
(2). Secondary level: In the secondary level, most of the teachers do their best to teach only the students that are interested in learning. They care less about the unserious ones. They don't coerce the unserious ones to learn, after-all it is of immense benefits to them since they will make thousands of naira helping them cheat in examinations like, WAEC, NECO, etc. Now you know how sorting to pass examination began in Nigeria.
(3). Tertiary level: In tertiary institutions, the only thing most lecturers care about is money. Money, money, money. Money over everything. If you aren’t talking money, you aren’t funny and as well not serious. Most lecturers nowadays, give students assignments just for the sake of generating revenues. They do not care about what you write. Give them money, write on your examination answer booklet "fuck you my stupid/wonderful lecturers", submit your paper, and watch them give you a B2. They would have given you an A1, but because you insulted them, as punishment, they deducted 20 marks. I know it sounds funny, but it is the truth. As a varsity student, if you have money, you are sure of a second class upper or even a first-class. And if you have no money, a pass should be more than enough to make you dance and praise your God.
The corruption in tertiary institutions can only be compared to that of politics.
Politicians loot the people, empty the treasury and buy private jets, build mansions and hotels abroad while Lecturers assemble students, empty their pockets, and buy private canoes, private Lexus and build semidetached houses everywhere in their villages. The students in the other hand are ready to do anything except reading and studying hard just to graduate with a second class upper.
The Government also is not taking any possible steps to meander these credible threats.
The Nigerian education system is just too poor, poor learning facilities poor learning environments and unqualified teachers.
Now you know why we have doctors who cannot locate a muscle in the human body, engineers who cannot repair their own vehicles, Lawyers who do not even know or take cognizance of their rights not to mention the rights of others, and most importantly, Leaders who cannot lead a country like Nigeria to greatness.
Education is sacrosanct. We should take it very serious. We cannot continue producing graduates with no knowledge of what they studied at the university. We need sound education for our children and future generation. So, I hereby implore that the government rises now and take possible steps to meander these credible threats. The government should provide schools with good and up to date learning facilities and also ensure that the learning environments are conducive enough in order to improve the level of learning. They should employ only eligible teachers and deploy them to schools across the country and set up a board to monitor them and scrutinize every step they take in order to ensure that there is no corruption on the path of the teachers.
The student also should play a vital role in the development of our education system. They should focus more on their studies and forget about irrelevances for when they study hard, they will never have to cheat in examinations or bribe lecturers in order to pass examinations.
The lecturers should focus more on their job and shun corrupt practices. They should not encourage students to cheat and sort in order to obtain good grades in examinations, but coerce them to sit-up and study hard in order to pass examinations.
In order to build a sound education system in Nigeria for us and the future generation, we must all come together, the students, parents, teachers and the government and play a vital role in the development. May God help us as we embark on this mission of creating a better education system in Nigeria.
Thank you for reading this piece. Stay blessed and pray for a better Nigeria.
God bless Nigeria.
Christian Bassey is a Writer, Film Maker, Computer Scientist, Martial Artist and a Human Rights Activist.
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