Author: premier radio premier radio

Best LASU graduating student wrote UTME 7 times

NAN-H-101
Student
By Stellamaris Ashinze
Lagos, March 22, 2017 (NAN) A pregnant woman, Mrs Elizabeth Orefuwa, the Lagos State University (LASU) best graduating students in 2015/2016, says she wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) seven times before gaining admission.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the heavily pregnant student, graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.74 in Accounting Education.

Orefuwa, 29, said during the institution’s 21^st convocation on Wednesday in Lagos that the journey through the institution did not come easy but with determination and motivation, she had success a story to tell.

She said that in the process of seeking for university admission, she started a professional career in accounting.

“The journey through the institution was not easy; it took me seven years of writing the UTME before I finally gained admission in 2012.

“I also applied for direct entry three times at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

“During this period of waiting, I started professional career at the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) in 2007 and became qualified as an Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) in 2010,’’Orefuwa told NAN.

She said that she wanted to study accounting but fate brought her to education, adding that she enjoyed every bit of it and never dreamt of coming out with a first class and becoming the best student.

According to her, self-determination and motivation through her father’s insisting on academic excellence give her an edge.

“My aim is to get my first degree certificate after several years of waiting and to satisfy my dad, who has been insisting on academic certificate before professional certificate.

“He would always say to me then that I have put the cart before the horse.

“However, what kept me going was self-belief, focus and determination bearing in mind that I am not competing with other but with my own capabilities.’’

She said that her marriage at the beginning of her final year and the pregnancy condition did not affect her academic performance.

“I had a CGPA of 4.72 before marriage and I graduated with 4.74 point.

“I got married during my final year in 2015 and my husband was very supportive throughout that period.’’

Although a chartered accountant, Orefuwa said she would love to teach and combine it with practising accounting profession. (NAN)
SKA/AIB/GY
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Grace Yussuf

WAEC plans to release results 60 days after exam

NAN-H-72
WAEC
By Chinyere Nwachuwku
Lagos, March 16, 2017 (NAN) The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it plans to reduce the waiting days for the release of its West African Senior School Certificates Examination (WASSCE) results to 60 days.

The Head of National Office (HNO), WAEC in Nigeria, Mr Olu Adenipekun, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the waiting days will now be 60 days as against 90 days previously.

Adenipekun spoke with NAN on the side-line of the council’s 65^th anniversary celebration which began on Thursday in Lagos.

According to him, the development is one of such steps being taken by the council to meet its mandates of delivering quality service to all stakeholders.

“All hands must be on deck to ensure that the innovation, tagged: `Project 60’, is effective from this year.

“For sometimes now, we normally use about 90 days, from the day of the last paper of the examination to release the result.

“For the past 15 months, when I assumed office as the HNO in Nigeria, we have been working to reduce that `waiting period’ by 50 per cent.

“This is what initially brought about what we had also called `Project 45’ but we want to take it gradually,’’ Adenipekun said.

He told NAN that for the 2017 May/June WASSCE, which is about to start, the intention of the board was to release the result within 60 to 65 days.

“So, this is how we came about ‘Project 60’; and in the coming years, the council will talk about `Project 45’, he said.

He added that council was hoping that in the next two years, it would be able to release results of its examinations within 45 days after the last paper is taken.

On whether the development was tied to the JAMB’s insistence that candidates should make their WASSCE results available as prerequisite for admissions, the HNO said that it was not meant to address any issue.

Adenipekun noted that one of the major objectives for introducing project 60 was to reposition the council and portray it as an organisation that was delivering its mandate.

According to him, WAEC should also be seen as being always ready to review its operations and delivery time.

“This may also come as good news for our current SSS 3 students, who are about to write the 2017 WASSCE.

“Basically there is need for our SSS 3 students to be happy because they are our principal stakeholders.

“I am sure reducing the waiting period will even make them happier,’’ he said. (NAN)
CCN/AIB/AFA
Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Felix Ajide

NAN-H-26

JAMB

By Chinyere Nwachukwu

Lagos, March 12, 2017 (NAN) Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commended the Nigerian media for their role in nation building and transformation of the society.

Oloyede gave the commendation in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Dr Fabian Benjamin, on Sunday in Lagos.

Oloyede said that the media remained a veritable tool in the board’s quest to execute its mandate of ensuring a brighter future for the Nigerian child.

“The JAMB will like to commend the role of the Nigeria media, especially in its quest to sensitise the public on the innovations carried out in the sale of 2017 application document.

“Of great interest is particularly on the recent publicity given by some media outfits over the `no admission for awaiting candidates’,’’ Oloyede said.

JAMB, however, faulted some of the headlines in the publications, noting that curious readers would jump into conclusion by merely reading the headlines of the publications without reading the body of the stories.

“Such headlines led to readers to think that JAMB had excluded candidates with awaiting results from taking the unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, which is not true.

“Such hasty perusal and attitude is not only capable of misleading the public but could cause disaffection, anger, misconception of Federal Government guidelines on admissions.

“It may also demoralise the Nigerian child intending to take JAMB examination.’’

Oloyede said that the Ordinary Level (O/L) had always been a criterion in considering candidates for admission among other requirements.

According to him, one of such requirements included suitability of the candidate’s performance in the screening exercise, carrying capacity of various institutions, catchment areas and subject combination among other entry qualifications.

Oloyede said that the board was a responsible and responsive organisation and would not disfranchise any candidate intending to take the examination.

“Rather than closing assess, we will expand it in as much as quality and equity is not compromised.

“In view of that, the board stated that candidates with ‘awaiting results’ could take the examination, but would have to upload their results to the board’s portal before the commencement of admissions.

“No candidate should take his or her result to any office but upload on our portal.’’

The registrar urged candidates to upload their result on the website of JAMB to enable the board begin their admission process in record time.

He added that the board would not accept any recommendation from any institution based on awaiting result status.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the board had announced that it would begin the sales of its registration documents for the 2017 UTME before the end of March. (NAN)

CCN/AIB/MO

==========Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Morayo Omolade

NAN-H-12
Centres
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, March 9, 2017 (NAN) Mr Sunday Aladegbaye, Lagos State Coordinator of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has said that  all the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) intending candidates will experience a hitch-free examination.

Aladegbaye said this on the sidelines of the Parents’ Forum organised by the Management of the King’s College on Thursday in Lagos.

According to him, there will be no compromise in the accreditation of centres to be used for this year’s UTME.

He said that measures were being taken to avoid technical hitches.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some candidates that sat for the examination in 2016 complained of technical challenges in some of the centres.

Such hitches ranged from malfunctioning of computers to poor power supply.

This resulted to moving affected candidates to other functional centres.

“We have taken time to go round designated centres in the states, in order to ascertain the level of functionality of their computers, the backups and other requirements.

“Where we find missing gap, we dropped such centres immediately and those that meet requirements, we recommend them to management.

“We will continue to insist on accreditation of well-equipped centres; no more, no less.

“This is because, as a parent myself, I will not do anything that will compromise the future of my children,’’ Aladegbaye said.

NAN learnt that the board would begin the sales of its registration documents for the UTME before the end of March.

The coordinator warned candidates not to fall prey to some desperate persons, who had been defrauding innocent Nigerians in the guise of selling registration documents. (NAN)

CCN/AIB/AJA
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(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Adeleye Ajayi)

NAN-H-152

Policy

By Olayinka Olawale

Lagos, March 8, 2017 (NAN) The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has appealed to the Federal Government to remove all discriminatory policies affecting the growth of polytechnics and colleges of education system in the country.

Mr Adeyemi Aromolaran, the Chairman, Yaba College of Technology branch of ASUP, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the policy was retarding development of polytechnic education system.

Aromolaran said that until all the unfriendly policies were abolished, the country would not have an effective polytechnic system that would be acceptable by all.

He said that Nigeria should adopt the British educational system and upgrade all polytechnics and colleges of technology to become universities of technology.

“We need to look at the British example of running educational programmes, because that is where Nigeria copied the polytechnic education system from.

“Britain had abolished polytechnics long time ago.

“All polytechnics have been turned to university of technology in that country.

Aromolaran noted that admission figures into the nation’s polytechnics and colleges of education were going down every year due to unfavourable government policies.

“So long we still continue with the system we are running, discrimination will persist and consequently the decline in the admission into polytechnics will continue to dwindle,’’ he said.

“This is part of what the union has been agitating against’’.

He said that with the dichotomy between the polytechnic diploma and the university degree, no enlightened person would want his or her child to go to the polytechnic.

According to him, most youths are drifting toward acquiring the university education.

“ASUP has not been keeping quiet but government responses have not been favourable.

Aromolaran said the union would continue to protest and resist all attempts to diminish the progress and development of the polytechnic education in the country. (NAN)

OOG/AIB/DUA

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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Dada Ahmed

NAN-H-89

Policy

By Olayinka Olawale

Lagos, March 8, 2017 (NAN) The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has appealed to the Federal Government to upgrade all polytechnics to universities of technology to end discrimination against technological education in the country.

Mr Adeyemi Aromolaran, Yaba College of Technology branch Chairman of ASUP, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

The ASUP chairman said that government’s discriminatory policies against polytechnics were retarding the development of technical education in the country.

“We need to look at the British example of running educational programmes, because that is where Nigeria copied the polytechnic education system from.

“Britain had abolished polytechnics long time ago; all polytechnics have been turned to universities of technology in that country,’’ Aromolaran said.

He noted that admission figures into the nation’s polytechnics and colleges of education were dropping every year due to unfavourable government policies.

“As long as we continue with the system we are running, discrimination will persist and consequently admission into polytechnics will continue to dwindle.

“This is part of what the union has been agitating against,’’ he said.

The ASUP official said that with the dichotomy between the polytechnic diploma and the university degree, no enlightened person would want his or her child to go to the polytechnic.

According to him, most of the youths are drifting toward acquiring the university education.

“ASUP has not been keeping quiet but government response has not been favourable.

“Recently, another level of discrimination came again from JAMB, since we now have one JAMB examination for polytechnics and universities.

“JAMB now request that a candidate who made polytechnic second choice pay additional fee of N2500 or N3000 before being offered admission into the polytechnic.

“This is the latest form of discrimination against polytechnic education.

“Ordinarily, that is sufficient to discourage any young person from going into polytechnic, not to even talk of college of education.

“When we are agitating that government should remove the dichotomy and other discriminatory policies against polytechnics, now JAMB created another discriminatory policy against the polytechnic,’’ Aromolaran said.

The ASUP chairman said that until all the unfriendly policies were abolished, the country would not have an effective polytechnic system that would be acceptable by all.

Aromolaran said the union would continue to protest and resist all attempts to diminish the progress and development of the polytechnic education in the country. (NAN)

OOG/AIB/WOJ

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(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde / Wale Ojetimi)

NAN-H-18
Education
By Amina Ahmed
Misau (Bauchi), March 8, 2017 (NAN) The Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Misau Local Government Chapter in Bauchi State, has advised parents to allow their female children to complete secondary education.

The Chairperson of the association, Hajiya Laraba Garba, gave the advice at an interactive session with officials of the local government on Wednesday in Misau.

Garba said that allowing the girl-child to complete secondary education would enable her become useful and to contribute meaningfully to societal development.

She said that the girl-child should be encouraged to train in science-related subjects to be able to study health-related courses in tertiary institutions.

Garba said the need for female children to contribute their quota to the service to humanity, as care-givers, could not be over-emphasised.

“Fathers should please allow their female children to complete secondary education and also be encouraged to study health-related courses.

“We need more women to work in the health sector, since many of our mothers shy away from presenting their health issues before male health experts,’’ she said.

According to her, the association has been sensitising people on this issue since it was established.

Garba said that the association had been holding series of sensitisation programmes on family health, especially on child spacing for mothers, to ensure that women and their babies remain healthy.

“We are not asking people to stop given birth, but we are saying they should space their births so that both mother and child can be healthy.

“Mothers should complete their doses of anti-tetanus and their children’s routine immunisation,’’ she said.

Also speaking, the North East Zonal Coordinator of the association, Hajiya Fatima Muhammed, highlighted the psycho-social activities the association was rendering to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The Deputy Chairman of the council, Alhaji Yau Zadawa, commended the association for its volunteering service to humanity.

“I am aware that FOMWAN is devoted toward service to humanity, especially in the area of education; their schools are wonderful and performance excellently.

“I implore you to do more to capture more children in the communities into schools,’’ he said.

The Deputy Chief Imam of Misau, Malam Sabo Muhammed, called on all stakeholders to encourage girl-child to achieve her life dreams.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the association has been existing for 31 years, spreading the teaching of Islamic knowledge and other humanitarian services like healthcare and education. (NAN)
AE/AIB/AJA
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(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Adeleye Ajayi)

NAN-H-114
Inmates
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, March 7, 2017 (NAN) Not less than 75 inmates will participate in the November/December 2017 West African Secondary School Certificate Examinations, Mr Ibikunle Idris, Principal, Muharram Education Centre in  Ikoyi Prison, has said.

Idris made the disclosure on Tuesday in Lagos in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the number of inmates expected to sit for the examination this year was higher than the 64 candidates who wrote the examination in 2016

He said that 45 inmates would sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination this year, as against 34 who applied last year.

He expressed satisfaction that the prison reforms was yielding results as several inmates were now indicating interest in education.

Idris said that the authority of the prison was making efforts to ensure that the inmates get qualitative education.

“The inmates are showing more interest in these examinations because the enrolment figure keeps increasing by the day.

“Our statistics show that 64 inmates registered and sat for the 2016 Nov/Dec WASSCE.

“Last year also, we presented 34 inmates for the UTME.

“Some of them, who did well in the UTME, are now among the 18 students currently undertaking various programmes in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in the facility,’’ Idris told NAN.

The principal expressed confidence that inmates, who registered for various external examinations this year, would perform better because of the support of the prison authority.

“We have put many things in place to support the educational needs of the inmates.

“We are more prepared this year than previous years.

“Recently, we took delivery of books from our national headquarters to aid the educational needs of the inmates,’’ the principal said.

Idris listed the textbooks to include Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Physics and others.

“The textbooks in these core subjects will assist our candidates to prepare well for the examinations.

“More volunteer teachers have also shown interest in preparing the inmates ahead of the examinations.

“Even some prison staff, who are graduates, are also assisting in coaching the candidates,’’ he said.

Idris said that several inmates were eager to attend conventional universities on their release from incarceration, especially those with short term sentence and wose ages range between 18 and 24 years.

The principal said that those inmates with longer jail terms and who scored good grades in their UTME were taking advantage of the NOUN facility.

He pleaded with the Federal Government to provide the centre with new computers to replace obsolete ones.

He also appealed to WAEC to facilitate the release of withheld results of some of the inmates who participated in the Nov./Dec. 2016 examination. (NAN)
CCN/AIB/AEA
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Archibong Asuquo

NAN-H-7
Salary
By Yinka Olawale
Lagos, Feb. 16, 2017 (NAN) The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Yaba College of Technology chapter, has accused the management of the institution of short paying staff salary by 25 per cent.

ASUP Chairman in the college, Mr Adeyemi Aromolaran, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday that for not receiving their full salary, the workers would not call off the strike.

The union had on Feb. 10, begun an indefinite strike over non-payment of the balance of January salary by the college management.

Aromolaran said this was not the right time for the management of the institution to deny workers their full salary when the economy was biting hard.

According to him, for about 10 years now, workers’ salary are being paid by both Federal Government and the institution on 75 per cent and 25 per cent ratio, respectively.

“The Federal Government had in January paid 75 per cent of the salary while the school management is expected to pay the balance of 25 per cent.

“The balance, which represents various allowances, is yet to be paid by the management,’’ Aromolaran said.

He said the allowances were supposed to be paid from the Internally Generated Revenue of the college.

Aromolaran said that the payment of the salary on the ratio of 75:25 by government and school management had been on for more than eight years.

According to him, the fractional payment policy has been on since the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He also alleged that for more than 10 years, staff salaries and allowances have not been reviewed.

“This is not the right time to deny workers full payment of their salary. The economy is biting harder on the workers, particularly in Lagos State.

“We will not call off the strike until the management pay us our money, all academic activities will remain suspended,’’ Aromolaran told NAN.

He recalled that the union had similar experience in August 2016, but that after a protest, the Minister of Education intervened by directing that the allowance be paid.

“This time around, we will remain on strike until our full salary is paid. The management is trying to play pranks with the union.’’

He said that if it warrant waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari to return from vacation, the union would not suspend the strike. (NAN)
OOG/AIB/OFN
Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde//Felix Nwadioha

NAN-H-42
Foundation
By Stellamaris Ashinze
Lagos, Feb.15, 2017 (NAN) The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says the world is witnessing the fastest progress ever seen in global health and poverty reduction since 2006.

The foundation made this known in its 2017 “Annual Letter” made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.

“We are witnessing the fastest progress the world has ever seen in global health and poverty reduction,’’ it said in the letter.

The letter was addressed to Warren Buffet, a renowned investor and philanthropist, to celebrate the incredible progress made since 2006 when he donated 30 billion dollars to the foundation.

It said in the letter that the Buffet’s donation was invested in new technologies, solutions and research that could save lives, help families and reduce extreme poverty levels.

“Lives of 122 million children around the world were saved since 1990, while 86 per cent of children worldwide receive basic vaccines.

“For the first time in history, more than 300 million women are using modern contraceptives,’’ the foundation said.

It said that across the African continent, there had been improvement in the mortality rate of children under the age of five, usually caused by pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria.

According to the foundation, mortality rate has reduced by 54 per cent across sub-Saharan Africa.

“In West African sub-region, the foundation co-chair had partnered with donors, governments, private sector and civil societies to help Nigerians live healthy and productive lives,’’ it said.

Making reference to UNICEF data, the foundation said that since 2006, it had seen incredible stories of progress and hope in the country, saying, “there is still room for improvement.

“Nigeria’s prevalence rate of women using contraceptives is below average for sub-Saharan Africa.

“Nigeria has a higher-than-average neonatal mortality rate compared to sub-Saharan Africa as a whole’’.

It said that increased access to information about reproductive health and innovative contraceptive methods mean more women have had the power to make their own family planning decisions.

The foundation said that 27 per cent of women now use contraception in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa has decreased by 28 per cent since 1990,’’ it said. (NAN)
SKA/AIB/GOK
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Olagoke Olatoye