Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour sacked by President Omar al-Bashir
Al-Bashir sacks Sudan’s foreign minister
Sack
Khartoum, April 19, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan has issued a presidential decree relieving Foreign Minister, Ibrahim Ghandour, of his position, state news agency SUNA reported on Thursday.
The news agency did not provide any further details or say who would be appointed in his place.
Ghandour had on Wednesday asked parliament to step in and help Sudanese diplomats, who had not been paid their salaries in seven months or given funds to rent Sudanese diplomatic mission headquarters abroad.
“The funds requested by the foreign ministry amount to less than $30 million,’’ he said.
That was the first public comment by a Sudanese government official on the central bank’s inability to provide foreign currency to cover state affairs.
Sudan has been largely cut off from international financing in the past decades by U.S. sanctions, which were lifted in October.
Since then, officials have been trying to attract investors to help prop up its economy, which has been struggling since the south seceded in 2011.
The seceding cost Sudan three-quarters of its oil output, the main source of foreign currency and government income.
The central bank has, for years, avoided publicly releasing information surrounding its foreign currency holdings. (Reuters/NAN)
Re-election
By Abdulfatah Babatunde
Lagos, April 16, 2018 (NAN) The Muslim Congress (TMC), a faith-based organisation, says President Muhammadu Buhari, as a Nigerian citizen, has the right to re-contest for a second term in office.
The Chairman of the TMC’s Committee on Social Mobility, the Economy & Politics, Dr Luqman AbdurRaheem, stated this on the side-line of the presentation of the 10th quarterly “State of the Nation Address” by the committee in Lagos.
AbdurRaheem said “as a citizen, the president has the right to vote and to be voted for’’.
He said: “We are not a political association or organisation, but we respect the rule of law and the constitution and we also register within that particular framework.
“President Muhammadu Buhari is a citizen of Nigeria; he has right to agitate, he has right to contest.
“So, any other individual or interest group also have the right to declare their intention.’’
“But did we sign agreement with him? It was just an information.
“When you are in political contestation, you don’t have some decisions; you don’t have right over some decision, it’s a party issue.
“The party said you should come again, so that you can take us to the promise land. So there is nothing wrong in what he has done.
“Those who are criticising him, join party and announce your own, then let us go to the political platform and see who will win.
“So, it’s just an intention, which he (Buhari) has right to.
“In the law of men and the law of God, he has right.
“However, we want the political associations to give Nigerians credible, knowledgeable people who are going to deliver the goods.
“It may be him, or other persons, that is the position of our organisation.
“We are neither PDP nor APC, but we feel everybody has the right to announce, to agitate. It is left for me to use my PVC to vote for the person I like.’’
He also commended the Federal Government for taking practical steps towards improving the economy and the rising foreign reserves.
“The Federal Government needs to be commended for the rising foreign reserve, which is expected to hit the 50 billion dollar mark by the end of the year.
`This is despite the fact that the price of crude oil has fallen from an average of 70 dollars per barrel to 68 dollars in March this year.
“The reserve, as at the beginning of January 2018 was 39.3 billion dollars before rising to 42.8 billion dollars in February and reaching a new high of 46 billion dollars in March.’’
On the mopping up of illegal arms, criminality and the 2019 elections, he urged the Police to redouble its efforts in ensuring that the recovery of illegal succeeded.
“This is because of the inherent danger in allowing armed groups, gangs and criminals walk freely in the society.
“A case in point is the deadly bank robbery in Offa in Kwara with the attendant loss of at least 17 lives.
“When criminals have arms and ammunitions with nothing to do, they will simply make use of the weapons for criminal activities.
“Though the Police needs commendation for the recovery of large cache of arms in Imo, Rivers and other states, a lot still needs to be done considering that there is likely to be more bloodshed as the 2019 Elections gets nearer,’’ he said. (NAN)
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Lagos, April 15, 2018 (NAN) A don, Dr Luqman AbdurRaheem, has said that the creation of artificial streams can help address the perennial clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country.
AbdurRaheem, an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility at the American University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa State, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
He said the artificial stream could be created by channelling water from the south to the northern parts of the country to enable herdsmen tend to their cattle.
Cue in audio 1
“The only thing they (herdsmen) require is to take water to these lands.
“If we can pipe petrol to the North, why can’t we pipe water there to create an artificial stream?
“When you have the artificial stream, this desert will be turned to grazing land and colonies and ranches can be set up.
“With the land I saw in Jigawa, Gombe, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina and other locations, we (Nigeria) can feed the whole of Africa and Europe with cattle, cheese and milk.
“But everybody is busy concentrating on oil from Niger Delta.’’
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The lecturer also said all states in Nigeria had their different potentials that if properly tapped, would take the country out of economic doldrums.
Cue-in audio 2
“Every nation should go back to base and look at its resources.
“North can feed us with cow, milk and cheese and we will make money more than oil; go and do your research.
“The money from cow, cheese and milk is more than oil, but because we are lazy, you smile to Abuja; you get billions of Naira; you smile back to your state and spend it.
“Another month, you come back; so people are not being productive.
“Let us save the Fulani man; give him land, give him water, give him a ranch, give him colony; he is going to make money.’’ (NAN)
Prof. Fola Tayo (standing), Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos
Cancer
By Adebola Adegoke
Lagos, April 12, 2018 (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has appointed a Nigerian, Prof. Fola Tayo, to serve on its Cancer Medicine Advisory Group for the availability and affordability of cancer medicines.
Tayo, who is the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, is among the 14 eminent people appointed across the globe to serve on the group.
Mr Elvis Otobo, the Head, Media and Public Relations Officer, Caleb University, said in a statement that the advisory group was made up of core professionals.
Otobo said that Tayo was the only person selected from West Africa.
He added that other members were from Australia, Canada, South Africa, Egypt, South Korea, Malaysia, Suriname, Malawi, Thailand, UK, Austria, Jordan and India.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fola has also been appointed to serve as the Protem Chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Private Universities in Nigeria.
Until his appointment, he has been a very active member of the committee and made many useful contributions to the growth and development of the body in particular, and Nigeria Universities in general.
WHO’s Advisory Group is set up to define the problems relating to availability and accessibility of cancer medicines and seek expert’s advice on the scope of the report, analytical feasibility and case studies.
It is also to seek expert advice on the benefits and consequences of various pricing approaches for cancer medicines, options for improving availability and affordability of cancer medicines.
The group will brainstorm on three key projects for three days when they meet in Switzerland according to an Agenda Review released by the WHO.
These include project inception, problem definition and scope of reports; Pricing and impacts of pricing approaches and Options to improve availability, affordability and transparency of cancer medicines.
The group will be meeting in Geneva, Switzerland for its deliberations. (NAN)
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Olagoke Olatoye
Winner of the National Mathematics competition, Rishe Gnanasekaran, (2nd right), his mother, his teacher (3rd right) and officials of the NTIC during the presentation of the best prize of the 15th National Mathematics Competition to Gnanasekaran in Lagos (NAN Photo)
Charity
By Rukayat Adeyemi
Lagos, April 9, 2018 (NAN) Mrs Geethanehali Gnanasekaran says her 12-year-old son, Rishe, does not need the scholarship offered him by the Nigeria Tulip International Colleges (NTIC).
Gnanasekaran spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the presentation of the prizes and awards to winners of the 15th National Mathematics Competition in Lagos.
Rishe, a student of Indian Languages School, had won the National Mathematics Competition in the South-West and bagged scholarship from NTIC, the organiser.
He was offered 100 per cent scholarship covering tuition and accommodation at the secondary level in NTIC, amongst other prizes.
Rishe, apart from the scholarship, also got a cash prize of N300, 000, while his teacher got N150, 000 and his school got a photocopy machine.
The mother said: “No need for the scholarship, he will remain in his school. Some other persons can use it.
“He has planned what he will use the money for, he is going to do some charity works and some other things.”
She said that she was proud of her son’s glory at the competition because he had always excelled in his academics and competitions.
The elated mother said that her son prepared well for the competition, adding she also played motherly role by supporting his effort.
Rishe, who also spoke with NAN, pledged to use his cash prize for charity works.
“I am not accepting the NTIC scholarship because I have been promoted in my school to JSS 1 after passing the Basic Six examination last Wednesday and I will continue there.
“I will give some of the money to my family members and friends and use the rest to buy toys and books,” he said.
The Indian boy said that he was satisfied with the teaching technique of his school, promising to continue his secondary education there.
Rishe said he was shocked to have emerged winner due to large numbers of pupils that participated in the competition and the various stages before the finals.
“I was so surprised, I didn’t expect it and that was why I was crying when I was called.
“While preparing for the competition, I kept studying one hour every day and also checked notes and some formulae on the internet,’’ the elated Rishe said.
NAN reports that Mr Ercan Yilmaz, the Principal of NTIC, at the event, said that college had been organising the competition for the past 15 years.
Yilmaz said that the competition was aimed at developing greater capacity and promoting effective teaching and learning of mathematics at the primary level.
“The Annual National Mathematics Competition (ANMC) has been ongoing for the past 15 years for all states in the country.
“We, here in Lagos, are in charge of nine states comprising Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Delta and Edo States.’’
NAN also reports that Gnanasekaran scored 98.919 out of 100 per cent to emerge winner while the second position went to Praise Olawale, male of Bibo Oluwa Academy, Ilesa in Osun, scoring 98.854.
The third position winner is Esemitodje Rukevwe, male from the Mind Builders School, Lagos, scoring of 98.167.
The first runner-up got N200, 000, his teacher got N100,000 and a desktop for the school.
The second runner-up got N100, 000, N75, 000 for the teachers and a printer for the school.
The competition was organised by the NTIC, in conjunction with the National Mathematics Centre, Abuja.
The competition was meant for primary five and six pupils of schools across the federation.
A total of 39,000 pupils across the region participated in the competition, out of which the best 12 pupils, their teachers and schools were awarded prizes.
NAN reports that the fourth to tenth position also attracted various cash awards. (NAN)
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Olagoke Olatoye
Some final year SSS3 students writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) (File Photo)
WASSCE
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, March 26, 2018 (NAN) The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says it has registered 1.5 million students to write its 2018 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE).
The Council’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr Damianus Ojijeogu, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
He said the council had concluded arrangements for the conduct of the examination for school candidates, popularly refers to as May/June WASSCE.
“We have concluded all arrangements and deployed logistics in every part of the country for the conduct of a hitch-free examination.
“We have also taken cognisance of the upsurge of insecurity in some parts of the country.
“We are working in collaboration with the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure safe and conducive environments for the conduct of the examination.
“On our part, we will deploy professional examiners and supervisors that will protect the integrity of the examination,’’ he told NAN.
According to him, the examinations will begin with the regular subjects on March 28. (NAN)
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Peter Dada
Admission
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, March 26, 2018 (NAN) The Bethesda Home for the Blind, Mushin, Lagos, has pleaded with tertiary institutions to encourage people with disabilities by increasing their admission quota annually.
The Proprietress of the home, Mrs Chioma Ohakwe, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
According to Ohakwe, such special consideration would further showcase the country’s effort in its drive for inclusiveness for persons with disability at all levels of education.
She said there was a need for a constant upward review of the number of placements for challenged candidates every new academic year, especially the universities.
“First, I commend the leadership of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on its efforts at ensuring that this category of persons is taken care of before, during and after its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
“I also commend the management of the University of Lagos for consistently assisting physically challenged persons, especially blind candidates, in the areas of placement and welfare.
“Before now, they used to give us just about six placements for our candidates that meet their admission criteria,’’ she told NAN.
She, however, commended University of Lagos for admitting nine out of the institution’s 23 candidates that sat for the examination and met the criteria.
“The remaining 14 were admitted in other tertiary schools across the country.
“I am expecting that this year’s placement would be better in terms of the number for as many of these candidates that meet criteria,’’ she added. (NAN)
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(Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Mufutau Ojo)
Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos.
Students
By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos, March 18, 2018 (NAN) The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has commended students of the institution for conducting themselves well while the national strike by the non-teaching staff lasted.
Ogundipe gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
Recall that the non-teaching labour unions of universities nationwide had on Dec. 4, 2017 embarked on a comprehensive and indefinite strike.
The unions comprise the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAATs).
The unions, under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), were protesting the non-implementation of an agreement they entered into with the Federal Government in 2009.
They were also protesting the sharing formula of the N23 billion released by the government as part of earned allowance of workers of federal universities across the country, among other issues.
NAN reports that the chairman of the JAC and National President of SSANU, Mr Samson Ugwoke, had on March 14, announced the immediate suspension of the strike.
Ugwoke said that after due deliberations with critical stakeholders, the unions decided to suspend the strike with the hope that government would not renege on its own side of the bargain.
Ogundipe told NAN on Sunday that it was good to see things coming back to normal on campus.
“We cannot deny the fact that the strike affected the smooth running of the system.
“It was not easy doing without their services, but above all, I commend the students for the way they handled the situation, while it lasted.
“These students refused to yield to pressure to involve in any form of protest or disruption of peace and stability on campus as a result of the offshoot of the strike in several regards.
“They showed great understanding and cooperated with the management through the harsh period,’’ he said.
The vice-chancellor said it was good to have the non-teaching staff back to work as it was not easy doing without their services.
According to him, management is happy that things will start moving the way they should be.
He said that he was looking forward to seeing a system that would run smoothly with peace and stability.
“We had to meet with leaders of the unions as soon as the strike was called off and dialogue on the way forward, especially regarding the extension of the examination period.
“Before now, we had pleaded, dialogued and tried to find solutions to some of the challenges occasioned by the strike.
“This is to ensure that we find a way of moving the university forward collectively.’’
He also lauded the federal government and other critical stakeholders for intervening on the issue, adding that dialogue is always key in solving issues. (NAN)
A Computer Based Testing (CBT) centre for the ongoing UTME in Lagos
Examination
By Kadiri Abdulrahman
Lagos, March 18, 2018 (NAN) Some candidates who wrote the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) had expressed mixed feelings as the examination ended in some centres.
Some of the candidates in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos expressed hope of getting placement in prestigious tertiary institutions.
However, some others expressed fear that the admission process could be compromised.
Ismail Tajudeen, a candidate at the Connection Computer Institute, in Ojo Town near Lagos commended the process.
“The examination was in order and the organisers did a good job.
“I did not witness any incident of cheating or rowdiness and I am hopeful of positive results,’’ he said.
Michael Ogu, another candidate from the same centre said,“The examination centre here is very conducive, the computers are great and with the way I prepared for the examination, I’m sure to succeed.’’ .
Joan David, a candidate at the Career Building Academy, Ijanikin, expressed fear at the transparency of the process.
“I am a bit scared about the examination because; last year, I was confident that I would do well, but when the results came out, I did not score enough points to secure admission,’’ she said.
At the Lagooz Secondary School Centre in Agege, Mr Hakeem Balogun, a parent commended the peaceful conduct of the examination.
“I am impressed at the organisation here.
“I have confidence in JAMB and I am sure that my daughter will do very well in the examination.
“She passed last year but she was not of age,’’ Balogun said.
Another parent at the centre, Mrs Biola Omoba, told NAN that she could boldly say that “JAMB is improving every day’’.
“The atmosphere here is peaceful, no incidents of malpractices or hooliganism; I am impressed,’’ she said.
Mr Moshood Momoh, a supervisor,p with JAMB corroborated the parents’ views, saying that the examinations had been peaceful so far.
“Generally, the examination has been peaceful and we have not experienced any ugly incidents.
“We have three sessions per day, and each session accommodates 250 candidates.
“So far, the turn-out has been impressive, absentees is less than one per cent,’’ Momoh said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the examination which started on March 9 across the country, with an estimated 1.6 million registered candidates, ends on Monday, March 19. (NAN)
ARCHITECTS’ REGISTRATION COUNCIL OF NIGERIA (ARCON) ACCREDITATION TEAM LED BY PROF. CHUKWUALI (2ND RIGHT), DIMUNA (3RD LEFT), MR. C.O. ORJI (2ND LEFT), DR. O. A. DARE-ABEL (ACTING HOD) 3RD RIGHT, MR MUYIWA IGE AND MR KUNLE AYO-VAUGHAN RESPECTIVELY AT THE MODERN ARCHITECTURAL BUILDING OF CALEB UNIVERSITY, IMOTA, LAGOS (Caleb Varsity photo)
Accreditation
By Abdulfatah Babatunde
Lagos, March 12, 2018 (NAN) The Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has given full accreditation to both first and second degrees Architecture programmes of Caleb University.
The Public Relations Officer of the university, Elvis Otobo, said in a statement that the letter conveying the approval was signed by the Registrar of ARCON, Umar Murnai (FNIA).
Otobo said that the accreditation was contained in a letter dated March 5 and addressed to the management of the university by the council.
According to Otobo, the council, in the letter, re-accredited the B.Sc. Degree in Architecture and fully accredited the Master’s Degree programme of the institution.
An excerpt from the ARCON’s letter of re-accreditation reads: “We refer to all correspondences relating to the professional accreditation to the Department of Architecture, Caleb University, Imota, held from Nov. 14, 2017.
“We hereby inform you that in line with Section 9 of the Architects Registration, Act CAP A19 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 200/404, the Council of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) at the meeting of Nov. 24, 2017, considered the report of the visitation.
“In considering the report, the council took cognisance of the fact that the department has good staff/students’ ratio of (1:9).
“It has a staff quality/students’ coefficient rating of (1:2) in line with the minimum acceptable standard of SSR (1:12) and SSQC (1:4) respectively, and the substantial improvement in physical infrastructure, facilities and equipment.
“We, therefore, re-accredited the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree programmes in Architecture of the Department of Architecture, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State’’.
Otobo said that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had earlier given full accreditation to the architecture programmes in the university.
“The department has received some high-profile visitors, who rated the facilities as one of the very best in Africa.
“Femi Majekodunmi, the Chairman, FMA Architects and past President of Nigerian Institute of Architects and past President of African Union of Architects, said that the Department of Architecture in Caleb University has one of the best facilities in Africa,’’ the PRO said. (NAN)
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Edited by Abdulfatah Babatunde/Olagoke Olatoye
Dr Luqman AbdurRaheem
