Education

ASUU confirms extension of strike by 12 weeks

Published

2 years ago

May 9, 2022

VCs seek urgent resolution

President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, say the union has extended the strike by 12 weeks.

The extension by another 12 weeks will make it 20 weeks students will stay at home since ASUU declared the current strike.

Osodeke told NAN in a telephone interview on Monday in Abuja, that it extended its roll-over strike for another 12 weeks to enable the Federal Government address issues in concrete terms.

He said that the extension was due to the Federal Government’s failure to implement the agreement entered with the union.

The union had embarked on a nationwide warning strike from February 14 to press home its members’ demands.

The first warning strike started on February 14 for four weeks and the second strike commenced on March 15 for another four weeks, while the third one is announced on May 9 for another 12 weeks.

The lecturers’ demands include funding of the revitalisation of public universities, earned academic allowances, University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) and promotion arrears.

Others are the renegotiation of 2009 ASUU-FG agreement and the inconsistency in Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System.

The union during its last National Executive Council (NEC) meeting noted that it was disappointed that government had not treated the matters with utmost urgency they deserved and as expected of a reasonable, responsive, and well-meaning administration.

“NEC viewed government’s response so far as a continuation of the unconscionable, mindless and nonchalant attitude of the Nigerian ruling elite toward the proven path of the national development which is education.

Meanwhile, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities has called on the Federal Government and ASUU leadership to resolve the lingering issues to end the ongoing strike.

The Chairman of the committee, Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

He said it was crucial for both parties to come to an agreement to end the strike as soon as possible.

He urged them to honour agreements entered into for academic activities to commence in the affected universities.

“We have already given a press release arising from the meeting of the general assembly of the committee.

“We said that ASUU and the Federal Government should amicably resolve all lingering issues,” he said.

Edoumiekumo, who is the Vice-Chancellor of Niger Delta University, expressed optimism that the issues would be resolved soon.

Education

22 Zamfara varsity students, staff members released after six months in captivity

Published

16 hours ago

April 16, 2024

Trends Admin

22 Zamfara varsity students, staff members released after six months in captivity

Twenty-two abducted students and staff members of the Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, have finally been released after six months in captivity.

The victims, comprising 15 students and seven workers of the university, were abducted from the university in September 2023.

They were received on Monday April 15 in Abuja by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The captives were released in three batches, with the last batch returning home on Sunday April 14.

Ribadu said the rescue operation was coordinated by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre.

He urged them not to allow their experience to break them, but should rather make them stronger.

He said, “On behalf of the President, I thank all those involved in the successful rescue of the victims without losing anyone of them or paying any ransom.

“This is yet again a success story in our efforts to free all those being unlawfully held in captivity.

“We have so far released over a thousand of such victims without noise and with complete respect to their privacy and safety.

“This occasion marks a final juncture in a series of rescues we have undertaken in the last few months, to free victims of recent cases of mass abductions.

“Going forward, we are strengthening law enforcement and security measures to prevent these abductions, and strengthen physical security across vulnerable communities.”

National Coordinator, NCTC, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, recalled that those rescued were abducted from the school on September 22, 2023, at about 0230hrs.

He said the bandits armed with various weapons attacked three off-campus students’ hostels at Sabon Gida in Gusau and kidnapped a number of female students alongside some male artisans.

Others, he said, were a private security guard and a protocol officer of the university.

He added that the bandits ransacked the hostels, and carted away foodstuffs, mobile phones, laptops, ATM cards, cash and other valuables.

According to him, the abductees were subsequently herded on motorcycles and foot to a location through a town in the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara.

Laka said, “Search and rescue was conducted by a combined team of law enforcement agencies and the abductees were subsequently released in three batches, after 207 days in captivity.

“The first batch was rescued on March 15 while the second batch was rescued on April 12 and the last batch was rescued on April 14.

“All the abductees were profiled at the NCTC while the ONSA Medical Team examined them and administered minor treatments on the bruises sustained by 3 of the abductees.”

Education

Oromoni’s death natural but avoidable, coroner rules

Published

1 day ago

April 15, 2024

Trends Admin

Oromoni’s death natural but avoidable, coroner rules

Sylvester Oromoni died of a natural cause and not due to any action by his school, Down College, or accused five students of the college.

This is the verdict of a coroner, Mikhail Kadiri, who presided over the matter on Monday during a seven-hour magistrate court sitting in Ogba, Lagos.

The judgement coming after a two-year inquiry, affirmed that the 12-year-old died of sepsis emanating from an infection of the lungs and kidney due to an ankle injury.

The coroner however said his death was an avoidable case of parents and medical team’s negligence.

Sylvester Oromoni Junior who was a student of Dowen College in Lekki, Lagos, died on November 30, 2021.

The coroner cleared the five students of the college accused in the case, ruling that they played no part in the death of Sylvester and should not have been involved in the matter.

He also advised parents not to take their children’s health with levity.

The magistrate also called for better cooperation between the police and medical team and that the police must exercise caution before making arrests in the future.

Education

2024 UTME: What students need to do before, during JAMB exam

Published

3 days ago

April 13, 2024

Trends Admin

2024 UTME: What students need to do before, during JAMB exam

The 2024 Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB)/Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) exam will hold between April 19th and 29th, 2024.

As a student planning to sit for JAMB/UTME exam, you should be done with the registration by now which was extended to April 11.

In this article, there are practical steps to follow before and during the UTME exam which will help you excel.

1. Know the cut-off mark

You should be aware of the required JAMB cut-off mark and choose the desired score for your respective course and school. To achieve a high score in JAMB, it is pertinent to determine the average JAMB cut-off mark needed for your desired course and institution.

This score can be determined from the normal JAMB cut-off mark for JAMB (140), which will qualify you for post-UTME and merit admission. It is essential to research and write down this average score to determine the minimum mark you should work towards.

Knowing this would help you to put your mind into the exam by setting clear goals for yourself that you want to meet the cut-off mark for JAMB or surpass it.

For example, if you want to study mass communication, and target 320 in JAMB, you can accomplish that by setting your mind on scoring 80 in English, 80 in Litertaure-in-English, 90 in Government, and 70 in CRK/IRK depending on your subject.

2. Have a study plan and reading timetable

Another practical guide to help you excel as a student sitting for UTME is to improve your learning by creating a study plan and reading timetable for yourself.

3. Go through JAMB past questions

It is essential that you go through JAMB past questions to help you familiarise yourself with the patterns in order to study efficiently. Since objective questions can be determined from the provided alternatives, they are simpler to prepare for.

As a student writing UTME, you must understand the typical formats in which they pose questions. This might assist in determining where to concentrate more, for instance, if JAMB has assigned more questions in courses like physics or chemistry that involve calculation than theory.

Geometry, trigonometry, statistics, matrices, and differentiation are among the topics covered most frequently in mathematics, according to computer analysis of previous problems. Lexicography and structural questions are more prevalent in English language classes, whereas organic compound questions consistently rank well in chemistry classes.

You must know all these patterns by going through JAMB past questions for at least the last 15 editions.

4. Study according to the JAMB syllabus

It is expedient to know that studying according to the JAMB syllabus is one the best practical steps to help you excel in writing UTME. Every exam has a specific topic, and the examiners anticipate that candidates will be familiar with relevant material.

Examiners ask forty questions on each topic, except for sixty in the English Language. Use exam-focused texts and previous question research methods under the JAMB syllabus to maximise your study time.

5. Solve at least 10 years of JAMB past questions

To succeed in the JAMB exam, you must study the syllabus several times, modify your study schedule according to the period you have left, and be dedicated to excellent studying.

Since JAMB has been administering exams since the 1970s, its question bank ought to have run out by now. Having known this, you will succeed in the exam by reviewing and solving at least 10 years past questions as you prepare.

In achieving this, use reliable sample questions, read textbooks and past questions, and make sure you understand the questions’ solutions if you want to succeed. You must concentrate on understanding the answers to the questions and consult textbooks for any questions you are unsure of.

6. Practice at least one timed JAMB CBT Software test daily for two weeks before the exam

A timed test lets you practice your accuracy and speed and is comparable to the actual JAMB exam. To get ready, choose a previous year and complete four topics’ worth of JAMB prior questions. Try to finish in the two hours that JAMB allocates for the exam. It would be an advantage for you if you select years that you have not experienced.

7. Be mentally fit for the exam

The most important thing you have to be sure of is being mentally ready for the JAMB exam.

You should shrug off all stress and doubts, and wear confidence as you prepare for the UTME exam.

See yourself as confident, well-prepared, and successful as you play out the exam scenario in your head. This can be accomplished by finding a peaceful area, closing your eyes, and acting out the entire exam day, from arriving at the exam center to gathering your materials, writing the exam, and departing.

Breathe deeply and slowly while listening to it in your head until you feel at ease. This is an optional step, but the only reason to do it is to prepare your mind to take the exam with composure when it comes around. This aids in confidence-building and stress management as tests get closer.

Finally, make sure you have all the writing materials for your JAMB UTME ready. If possible, do not use them for preparations, but make sure you have tested them to ascertain they are in good shape. Also, it will be advisable if you have spare materials to make everything double.