Education
Buhari approves N1bn take-off grant for aviation university — first in Nigeria
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a take-off grant of N1 billion to establish Nigeria’s first aviation and aerospace university, to be located in Abuja.
In 2017, the federal government had said an aviation university would be established to “manufacture” aircraft components and eventually “produce” aircraft.
Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, made this known when he led the management team of the aviation ministry on a visit to Rasheed Abubakar, the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), on Friday.
He said the institution named “The African University of Aerospace and Aviation” would be dedicated to research and development in civil aviation and aerospace technology.
The minister explained that the decision to establish the specialised university was informed by the need to fill some identified gaps in the growth and development of the aviation sector.
“We are deficient in research and development in civil aviation and aerospace technology, and that has caused a lot of underdevelopment of the sector and made us to be backward,” Sirika said.
‘’An example is the development of drones or unmanned vehicles that are now taking over the space delivering cargo, delivering mails, delivering things and very soon delivering human beings.
“This is a new frontier in civil aviation that needs to be developed. We started with Brazil in the area of civil aviation, today Brazil is producing aircraft, and we aren’t producing a pin.
“So, I think we should be able to have this university that is dedicated to aerospace and aviation, in addition, also the production of high-level manpower.”
On his part, Abubakar said the NUC would expedite action on the concept document submitted by Sirika for the establishment of the university.
He said the commission would engage some professors to perfect the concept note for immediate approval.
Abubakar assured that the aviation university would be in place by the end of July.
“I can assure you that by the end of the month (July), we are going to have a brand new university, the first of its kind in Abuja, the first African University dedicated to aviation and aerospace study in the country,” he said.
“This aviation, under your guidance, will be the first to show the way that we can support the establishment of a specialised university that won’t only serve us but serve the African region and the international community.”
Education
Poly graduates protest proposed exclusion from NYSC
Poly graduates protest proposed exclusion from NYSC
HND graduates with part-time National Diploma backgrounds staged a protest on Monday at the Lagos NYSC secretariat, decrying a proposed policy barring them from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
The demonstrators, holding placards with messages such as “Say No to Discrimination in NYSC” and “Equal Rights for All,” called for an immediate reversal of the policy as Batch C Stream II registration commenced.
Majaro Temitope, an HND graduate from Yaba College of Technology, described the policy as discriminatory, noting it unfairly penalises those who switched from part-time National Diploma (ND) programmes to full-time HND studies.
“Many of us struggled through our ND on part-time, only to face exclusion now. We hope our peaceful protest sparks a dialogue,” Temitope said. He urged the NYSC Director-General and the Minister of Education to intervene.
READ ALSO:
- Bode George rejects Old Students move to take over King’s College
- Russia claims capture of Ukrainian frontline town
- Obi alleges threat to life over comments on Tinubu
The protesters claimed to have written to relevant authorities, including the NYSC and JAMB, without receiving a response.
Adebola Osunfunrewa, from the Education Rights Campaign, criticised the proposed exclusion, calling it a setback for Nigeria’s educational system.
“How can over 3,000 graduates eager to serve be denied in a country facing teacher shortages?” he queried.
Responding to the protest, the Lagos NYSC Coordinator, Christiana Salwang, represented by Assistant Director Ehimuenma Itohan, assured the graduates their concerns had been forwarded to the NYSC Director-General.
“The director general is reviewing the matter and is committed to addressing your grievances within policy guidelines,” Itohan stated, urging protesters to remain calm.
The outcome of the deliberations remains awaited as the mobilisation process continues.
Poly graduates protest proposed exclusion from NYSC
Education
Bode George rejects Old Students move to take over King’s College
Bode George rejects Old Students move to take over King’s College
FORMER Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bode George, yesterday, faulted the decision of some alumni of King’s College in Lagos State to take over the school’s administration.
Last week, some notable elders from Lagos State visited President Bola Tinubu to discuss their intention to take over the school.
Bode George, however, countered the move, saying the elders failed to use the opportunity to draw the President’s attention to the plights of Nigerians.
According to him, the elders also failed to draw the President’s attention to the worsening socio-economic conditions in Lagos State.
His words: “The visiting elders from Lagos also missed the golden opportunity to demonstrate to the president the urgent need for the rehabilitation of the teeming youth population in the state, who are unemployed and economically stranded in their hundreds of thousands. They should have advocated for programmes aimed at lifting these individuals out of poverty through skills acquisition, to curtail the nefarious activities associated with social vices that have become prevalent across the state.
READ ALSO:
- Russia claims capture of Ukrainian frontline town
- Obi alleges threat to life over comments on Tinubu
- Sacked CBN workers head to court, demand N30bn compensation
“Additionally, issues concerning the rehabilitation of roads in the outskirts of Lagos, such as the Lagos-Abeokuta Express Road and Mile 2-Badagry Road, should have been a matter of urgent concern for the elders. To say the truth, the general state of infrastructure in Lagos is appalling, with an attendant lack of social amenities like public toilets.
“Instead of discussing these urgent state and national issues, I was told some of these elders, who are old students of the prestigious King’s College in Lagos, told the President they wanted to take over the school. They even made the President an Honorary member of their Old Students’ Association, somebody who did not attend the school.
“Nigerians know the story and history behind King’s College, a Federal Government school.” How do these elders even think the government will hand over the school to them to run as a private enterprise? How do they intend to run the school?
What is the blueprint? What are their education plans? Will old students of Queen’s College also ask for a similar favour from the president? What of old students of AIONIAN Schools? Will they make the same request? Is this distraction what we need now?
“What I believe they should do is to ask the Federal Ministry of Education and the management of the school where they can intervene to continue to project the image of the school and help the students.
Education
UNILORIN introduces courier service for collection of certificates
UNILORIN introduces courier service for collection of certificates
The University of Ilorin, UNILORIN, in Kwara, says it has introduced a system where unclaimed certificates could be collected through courier service.
Mansur Alfanla, the Registrar of the university, who spoke with newsmen on Monday in Ilorin, described the move as upgrading to international best practices.
According to him, this move will allow prospective collectors to receive their certificates through courier delivery.
“This is a departure from the university’s previous policy of not allowing third-party collection.
READ ALSO:
- Russia ‘guilty’ over downed Azerbaijan plane – Azeri president
- Troops kill notorious Zamfara terrorist, Sani Rusu
- Fire razes Sokoto SSG house, daughter, 3 grandchildren die
“To collect their certificates, interested individuals are required to submit the original statement of result, court affidavit, indemnity form and valid international passport (for applicants in the diaspora).
“For those who prefer physical collection, it has been arranged for collection to take place at the university from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m, every Monday to Friday.
“This development is expected to bring convenience to graduates and alumni of the university, especially those residing outside the country,” he said.
The registrar, in a memo dated December 18, advised all graduates of the university to collect their certificates before January 17, 2025.
The memo stated that graduates who failed to collect their certificates before the deadline, would pay a fine of ₦3,000 per week before collection of the certificate.
UNILORIN introduces courier service for collection of certificates
NAN
-
metro1 day agoUpdated: Nigerians worry over Wike’s look after poisoning alarm
-
Education1 day agoUNILORIN introduces courier service for collection of certificates
-
metro3 days agoYou saved Nigeria’s democracy by defeating third term agenda, Tinubu tells Nnamani
-
Education1 day agoWAEC announces resit exams for candidates from Jan/Feb 2025
-
Business2 days ago8 financial mistakes to avoid in 2025
-
metro1 day agoDistribution of CNG buses tears NANS leaders apart
-
metro2 days agoNDLEA arrests 61-year-old female Lagos socialite, drug kingpin
-
metro2 days agoProtest in Ondo community over plans to impose monarch