Education
NUC Explains Suspension Of Lab Science In JAMB
The National Univer
sities Commission (NUC) on Friday said that it suspended Medical Laboratory Science courses for the 2015/2016 academic session to enable it take stock of the programme.
The NUC Director of Academic Standards, Dr Gidado Kumo, who gave the explanation in an interview in Abuja said that JAMB removed the course from its website for 2015/2016 session in compliance with an NUC directive.
According to him, the NUC has numerous unresolved problems with the Medical Laboratory Science and the Medical Laboratory Council.
“We decided as a commission whose responsibility it is to oversee all the programmes to stop the programmes and take stock of the activities of the programmes and the council across Nigerian university system.
He described as illegal the directive from the council for the establishment of Medical Laboratory Science faculties stating that Medical Laboratory Science should be a Department within the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences in the Colleges of Health Sciences.
According to him, government may not have the capacity to fund these faculties as proposed because it will amount to duplication and extra cost for government.
“In addition, the council further went ahead to produce a new curriculum and circulated to universities for adoption which was clearly outside the jurisdiction of the council.
“Not forgetting also that in 2008, there were many universities running this programme without the approval of NUC; some of them were run in institutes.
He said that a comprehensive auditing of the programmes were conducted before they were closed down and asked universities to take the students to their main campuses.
Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari presenting items to a beneficiary of Cradle to Career Scholarship scheme organises by SPDC in Port Harcourt.
Photo: Obinna Prince Dele
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.