Education
Don Identifies Gaps In NAFDAC’s Regulatory Regime
A university don, Pro
fessor Victor Kiri of the University of Limerick, Ireland, has identified gaps in the regulatory regime for the distribution of drugs by the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Professor Kiri, who made the identification, midweek, as part of series of lectures marking the 2015 “Founders’ Day” of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), suggested the development of a protocol involving active surveillance to minimize the distribution of fake drugs in Nigeria.
In his lecture, titled “The Potential Value of Multi-Disciplinary Research into the problem of fake drugs in Nigeria: A Realistic Path Way,” Professor Kiri stressed the need to apply statistical analysis to contain fake drugs distribution in Nigeria.
“There is no mechanism from NAFDAC on how to control the movement of drugs in Nigeria and in the circulation of fake drugs. It is impossible to recall fake drugs from the counter in the Nigeria market”, he said.
The Professor of Epidemiology therefore suggested a multi-disciplinary approach to solve the problem.
While acknowledging the gap between the volume of research generated, and poor data analysis, the Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT Professor Joseph Ajienka in his speech called on scholars to form inter-disciplinary research teams that should include statisticians and scholars with diverse background,s rather than publishing exclusively for purposes of seeking promotion.
In another lecture “titled The Importance of Bio-Gas Industry in Nigeria,” presented by a Professor of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, John Villadsen of the Technical University, Denmark, stressed the importance of bio-resources in solving health-related challenges.
Professor Villadsen predicted that Biotechnology will be key factor of developments in the 21st century. He noted that there was a huge profit in the conversion of gas to protein for the production of animal feed.
According to him, the emergentb bio-industry hinged on conversion of raw materials from agriculture into industrial chemical, pharmaceuticals, feeds for animals and new crop variety.
While expressing optimism over what he called “greet opportunities” in Nigeria, Professor Villadsen noted that, the emergent biotechnology industry would yield benefits to the country (Nigeria) just as it has done in Denmark and other European countries.
Presenting the third lecture, titled “Thinking, Research and Communication in Development of Science and Indigenous Technology”, Director of the Science Institute in UNIPORT, Professor Onyewuchi Akaranta, noted the significant of effective communication.
“Effective communication is crucial to bridging the gap between the production of new knowledge and application of that knowledge to either practice or policy”, he said.
He therefore advised indigenous scientists to recognise the need to communicate the significant of their knowledge to soecity.
He noted that the missing link between research and development in the university was the absence of academic research in the market.
“We have not been able to take the indigenous technology of our people to a level that would be acceptable on a worldwide scale. We need to patent, publish and come out with products that would be beneficial to society”, he said.
Sogbeba Dokubo
L-R Registrar, RIVCAS, Dame Georginia O. Benwoke, Bursar, I.D. Gogo, and Ag Head, Library, Mrs. Ebiremen P. Lulu-Pokubo during the 24th matriculation ceremony of the institution in Port Harcourt recently.
Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken.
The Covenant University (CU) has, for the second time, been rated as the best university in Nigeria.
According to Times Higher Education‘s 2024 rating, Covenant Unirersity, as a growing, dynamic vision-driven university, founded on a Christian mission ethos and committed to pioneering excellence at the cutting edge of learning, is among the top 1,000 universities in the world.
The 2024 ranking includes 1,906 universities across 108 countries and regions. The Ranking Website indicates that the grading was compiled based on their new World University Ranking (WUR) 3.0 methodology which includes 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.
Analysis of the latest ranking on Thursday showed that the university based in Ota, Ogun State, is following on the ranking by the University of Ibadan (UI) as the second-best in the country, with the Federal University of Technology, Akure clinching the third position.
Currently ranked 801st university in the world, CU first gained prominence in 2018 after it emerged as the best university in Nigeria and the sixth-best university overall.
The ranking webpage explained that the site is trusted worldwide by students, teachers, governments, and industry experts, adding that the 2024 league table reveals how the global higher education landscape is shifting.
It stated thus; “This year’s ranking analysed more than 134 million citations across 16.5 million research publications and included survey responses from 68,402 scholars globally. Overall, we collected 411,789 data points from more than 2,673 institutions that submitted data”.
Meanwhile, also captured on the list of universities with the top rating in Nigeria are the University of Ilorin, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Afe Babalola University, and the University of Benin.
Others include the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Lagos State University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University, and the University of Port Harcourt.
Available statistics showed that of the 15 top universities in the country, nine are located in the South West region, two in the South-South region, two in the South East region, one in the North Central zone, and one in the North West zone. Interestingly, the North-East zone was conspicuously missing from the list.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) have raised an alarm over fake sites for the ongoing printing of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Notification Slip which contains vital information such as the date, venue, and time of candidates’ examinations.
In a joint briefing by the NPF and JAMB recently in Abuja, candidates are enjoined to patronise only the approved sites by the JAMB, so as not be defrauded.
The Force Spokesman, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who signed a press release on behalf of the two Government agencies said: “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) hereby bring to the attention of the public the ongoing printing of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Notification Slip which contains vital information such as the date, venue, and time of candidates’ examinations.
“Unfortunately, the emergence of several fake websites created by unscrupulous individuals with the intention of misleading candidates has been observed necessitating this joint press briefing.
“These fake sites are designed to deceive innocent candidates into providing personal details such as registration numbers, email addresses, and phone numbers. These details are then exploited for malicious purposes.
“Both JAMB and the Nigeria Police Force condemn these fraudulent activities and hereby reiterate the readiness to safeguard the interests of candidates and maintain the integrity of the examination process.
“We urge parents, guardians, and all stakeholders to ensure that candidates print their UTME Notification Slips only from the Board’s approved website: www.jamb.gov.ng. Candidates can print their slips from the comfort of their homes or visit any of the over 700 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.
“It is important to note that we are familiar with the tactics employed by these fraudsters, especially during the annual assessment and admission exercises. We are actively sensitizing candidates and the public about these deceptive practices.
“Any candidate who visits these fake sites will definitely have unreliable information and thereby miss out in the forthcoming exams.’’
“Candidates are advised to print their UTME Notification Slips before Friday, 19th April, 2024, to access vital information about their examinations. Any website other than www.jamb.gov.ng offering UTME slip printing services is fake and designed to defraud candidates. Candidates should also beware of sites offering ‘live’ questions and answers, as they are false and deceptive, and accessing such materials is prohibited.
“The 2024 UTME is scheduled to commence on Friday, 19th April, and end on Monday, 29th April, 2024. We call on parents, guardians, and the general public to join hands in fostering a culture of integrity and compliance with established guidelines. Together, we can nurture a generation of upright and law-abiding leaders by discouraging fraudulent practices and desperation.
“Furthermore, JAMB is partnering with the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) to address online scam-related issues seamlessly. We assure candidates and the public of our firm dedication to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process.
“In addition, the Inspector General of Police has ordered the NPF-NCCC to go after scammers and fraudsters who engage in cyber related crimes and create phishing sites/portals, and cause them to face the full wrath of the law”.
The authorities of the Rivers State University (RSU),Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt says it will commence the First semester examinations.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Registrar of the university, Mrs. I. B. S. Harry and made available to Dean’s and Heads of Departments, adding that the the examinations were earlier shifted to begin today from its initial date of last Monday to enable students who were yet to complete their registration and pay the necessary approved fees and give all students equal opportunity to participate in the examinations.
The statement reads “This is to inform all staff and students of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, that the First Semester Examination for the 2023/2024 academic session earlier scheduled to commence on Monday, 8th April, 2024, has been shifted to Monday, 15th April, 2024.”
“The change in date of the Examination is to enable students who are yet to pay stipulated fees/ charges and complete their course registration for the First Semester, to do so.”
All students in this category are advised to utilise the period to make necessary fee payments as well as course registration.”
By: Akujobi Amadi
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