“I will be firm, fair, and transparent in the discharge of my duties. UNN must not lag behind in the current technological revolution, characterised by the rivalry between OpenAI and DeepSeek,” he assured.
The authorities of the Polytechnic Ibadan have suspended the Students Union activities indefinitely over an alleged protest by students in the early hours of Monday.
The Registrar of the polytechnic, Mrs Modupe Fawale, the disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Also, the first-semester examination expected to commence on Monday, January 9, has been postponed indefinitely.
Students had earlier blocked all access roads to the State Government Secretariat, while the school gate remained under lock and key, being guarded by the operatives of the Amotekun Security Outfit.
They are protesting the increment in refusal fees for hostel accommodation from N5,000 to N15,000 and the use of a consultant to run the affairs of the school.
According to Fawale, the management described the protest as ill-motivated and politically inclined.
”The Students Union body has no formal complaint before the management concerning the examination slated to commence on Monday, Jan. 9. And therefore, their protest to the state secretariat is questionable.
”The management further noted that the students’ Union breached the rule of decency by locking all the gates that lead to the institution and thereby causing unwarranted hardship to their colleagues,” Fawale said.
According to her, the management is concerned over the hardship the protest extended to the members of staff of the institution, their host communities, neighbouring the university of Ibadan, and the public at large, especially those who have engaged with the institution.
“It is on record that The Polytechnic, Ibadan students pay one of the lowest tuition fees among their contemporaries in the Southwest.
“Payment of tuition has been made flexible and convenient, as students pay 60 percent of the tuition fee during the first semester and pay the remaining 40 percent during the second semester.
“The institution has not increased tuition in the last couple of years. Protesting on a day that they should be sober and commence their examination which is a major academic activity leading to the award of their diploma is ill-advised and politically motivated.
“It is therefore of no reasonable value to the students and indeed to the development of education,” she said.
The management is reviewing the situation and will issue a statement on when the suspended examination will commence.
“We appeal to students to return to class and prepare for their examinations. We also appeal to parents and guardians to call their wards to order,” Fawale said.
Chicago University clarifies US visa revocation policy for international students
However, the University of Chicago has provided clarification to help ease these concerns for students on F-1 or J-1 visas.
Revocation means your visa is no longer valid and cannot be used to re-enter the U.S.
UNN appoints Prof Olayiwola Usman as first Yoruba DVC (Academics)
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has appointed Professor Kamoru Olayiwola Usman, a Yoruba Muslim from Oyo State, as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), marking the first time in the institution’s history that a person of Yoruba descent has held the position.
The appointment, made by the Acting Vice-Chancellor (Ag. VC), Professor Oguejiofo T. Ujam, is part of ongoing reforms aimed at fostering inclusive governance and restoring the university’s academic excellence.
In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, the university reaffirmed its commitment to merit-based leadership and national unity.
Professor Ujam stated: “The appointment of Professor Usman reflects our resolve to prioritise competence over sectional considerations. It is imperative that we sustain this culture of inclusivity and meritocracy to move the university forward.”
In addition to Professor Usman’s appointment, the Acting VC also named Dr Mansur Adebowale Saddiq as Acting Director of the Medical Centre, further demonstrating his commitment to promoting excellence over sectional interests.
Both appointments have been widely welcomed by scholars and students from diverse backgrounds, recognising them as steps towards strengthening national unity within the institution.
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Professor Usman, who succeeds Professor Urama, holds a PhD in Mathematics Education and previously served as Provost of the Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo State, from 2015 to 2023.
A distinguished academic, he is a fellow of the Mathematical Association of Nigeria and a member of several professional bodies, including the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies and the Nigerian Educational Research Association. His initial tenure as DVC (Academics) will last for two years, with the possibility of renewal.
Meanwhile, the statement also highlighted that during a recent University Senate meeting, Professor Ujam emphasised the collective responsibility of repositioning UNN as a centre for ethical and innovative learning.
“A collective effort is required to place the institution on a steady path towards ethical and innovative learning. UNN must regain its pride of place as Nigeria’s premier university. We must rid the system of narrow-minded sectionalism and divisive tendencies that have eroded the enabling environment for research, comparative studies, and the adaptive application of new knowledge,” the statement read.
FG to pay corps members backlog of delayed N77,000 allowance
The Federal Government has promised to pay the backlog of the new ₦77,000 monthly allowance to members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The corps members’ allowance was increased from ₦33,000 to ₦77, 000 in September 2024.
However, the new rate has yet to be implemented.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, on Monday said serving corps members and those in the scheme when the increment was announced in September 2024 would receive a backdated payment.
He gave the assurance when he was featured on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
He said, “You saw the new DG saying that you will get it, and they’re asking him a question ‘What about those that are going out now, are they going to receive it [backlog]?’ He said ‘We have your details’,” the minister said.
“The backlog, we will work on it and make sure it is paid. It may not be immediate but it will happen.”
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