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Pro-Chancellors Committee Plan Seminar On Varsity Funding

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13 years ago

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The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Universities yesterday announced plans to organise a major international seminar to enhance funding and running of the university system in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Committee, Dr Wale Babalakin, disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Abuja.

It was at the end of a meeting of the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) of the 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and university unions.

He expressed optimism that the seminar would go a long way in upgrading the efficiency and good corporate ethics of university administrators.

“The committee of pro-chancellors which I have chaired for the last three years is organising a major international seminar on the funding of university education and the running of the system.

“After this, we will see that there is a more determined effort to ensure that universities are run properly and as first class institutions,” he said.

Babalakin urged the university administrators to consider their appointment as a call to service in a sector critical to national development and not as a political appointment.

He advised the university administrators to comply strictly with the Acts of Parliament establishing universities to encourage genuine sponsorship of educational progrmmes in the institutions.

“University administration is not a political appointment and should not be at all. It should be seen as a call for national service.

“Once you do that, you will find more people who are genuinely interested in furthering education in helm of affairs.

“The system should stop classifying university pro-chancellors as political appointees,” he stressed.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije, commended the effort of the IMC which comprises Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Committee of Vice Chancellors.

Chukwumerije said that the effort of the Babalakin-led IMC was instrumental to the stability being enjoyed in the Nigerian university in recent times.

“The IMC has done very well and has really helped to bring peace and stability to the system. We are committed to resolving these issues without confrontation.

“The most thorny for IMC now is the issue of earned academic allowances and this is the main issue that we are going to give priority now,” he said.

The Secretary General, Committee of Vice Chancellors, Prof. Michael Faborode also hailed the contribution of the IMC to the ongoing efforts to resolve the ASUU/FG disagreement.

“I think IMC has been very useful and very instrumental in the current stability that we are witnessing in the university system.

“One outstanding issue that we are tackling today is the issue of earned allowances because we do not want the universities to be restive again.

“This stability that we’ve had for some time, we want to preserve it so that we can begin to make progress on the welfare of our tertiary education,” he said.

The National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Nasir Fagge, however, expressed worry that IMC submission on earned academic allowances was yet to reach the National Assembly.

He promised that ASUU would sustain discussion with the National Assembly toward ensuring that funds were made available to take care of the earned academic allowances.

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198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

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7 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.
Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.
He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper,  7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.
He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin.  This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.
“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education.   We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”
Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic,  “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.
The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.
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Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council  trains tra 1,000 teachers

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7 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.
This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies
The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.
He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.
Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.
“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.
“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.
On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.
Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.
He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.
 Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo
Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.
He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.
He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.
According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.
Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.
She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa
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RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

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7 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.

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