Education
Don Tasks Librarians On Practical Skills
Deputy Provost, University College Hospital, lbadan, Prof. Ademola Ajuwon has called for strict curriculum implementation and practical-based education as panacea to unemployment among Nigerian graduates.
Ajuwon gave the recommendation at the Annual Conference/Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Oyo State Chapter, held at the University of Ibadan.
The provost, in a paper entitled, “ Equitable Quality Education and Life-long Learning Opportunities for Sustainable Development in Nigeria – The Role of Libraries,’’ decried the large number unemployable graduates in the country.
He blamed the situation on the lack of practical based education in most tertiary institutions and called for the adoption of this in the new curriculum.
Ajuwon also tasked librarians to acquire necessary practical skills for relevance and employability in the labour market.
According to him, many employers consider graduates from our tertiary institutions as unemployable because they lack the prerequisite practical skills for the job.
The don said that teaching of library and archival studies should be practical by allowing those in the profession to teach the course and through regular training of library staff.
The event featured the election of the new executives to steer its ship of the association for the next two years and Dr Olatunji Olaojo emerged the new chairman after the keenly contested election.
Also elected are Mr Adekoya Osunkoya (Vice Chairman), Mr Olugbenga Adeyi (General Secretary) and Mrs Oluyemisi Olubayo( Assistant General Secretary).
Others are Mrs Olanike Olaniyi (Treasurer), Mrs Tolu Adepoju (Financial Secretary) and Mr Francis Alayande (Public Relations Officer).
In his acceptance speech, Olaojo, the Librarian, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora, thanked members for their support, noting that leadership was about service.
He promised to do everything within his capacity to uplift the association, and charged members to contribute their quota towards the advancement of the association.
Olaojo, a doctor of library studies, promised that his administration would sustain current programmes, adding that new initiatives would be introduced to break new grounds.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.