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AAU, JAMB, NUC Launch Plan To Promote Academic Excellence In Varsities, Others

Published

2 years ago

August 5, 2023

Stakeholders in the education sector including the West Africa Office of the Association of African Universities, AAU, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB and the National Universities Commission, NUC, have launched a Framework of Action for Accelerating Academic Excellence,FAAAE, in the Nigerian higher education system.

This was unveiled at a seminar jointly hosted by the AAU West Africa Office and JAMB and attended by Vice-Chancellors, VICBHE Module 7 participants and other stakeholders in higher education in Nigeria.

The AAU Ambassador for Higher Education for West Africa and former NUC Executive Secretary, Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, who convened the one-day seminar, underscored the importance of accelerating academic excellence to national and regional development.

Okebukola who is also the President of the Global University Network (GUNi-Africa), called for sustainable funding of higher education while also urging prudent and judicious utilisation of resources available by higher education authorities.

The seminar which was held virtually, was addressed by Professor Olusola Oyewole, the Secretary-General of AAU who was applauded for the giant strides AAU has made in the last two years.

Also at the forum was Professor Saeed Bakri Osman, the President of AAU; Christorpher Maiyaki, Acting Executive Secretary of NUC; and Professor Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary-General, Committee of Vice-Chancellors.

In his keynote address, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the Registrar of JAMB identified numerous barriers to academic excellence and proposed wide-ranging and sustainable strategies for building bridges across the barriers to advance academic excellence.

In his address to the press after the seminar, the convener- Professor Peter Okebukola, noted that the event was a follow-up to the Conference of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors, and Presidents of African Universities (COREVIP) which was held in Windhoek, Namibia from 4-7 July 2023.

In the preamble to the Framework of Action which was adopted by the 256 participants who attended the seminar, participants applauded the impressive contributions of the immediate-past Executive Secretary NUC, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed in the revitalisation of university education in Nigeria, now being actively pursued by his successor in office Christopher J. Maiyaki.

The stakeholders further applauded the giant strides in promoting access to quality higher education in Nigeria by Professor Is-haq Oloyede through the sterling activities of JAMB.

They noted the steady march towards academic excellence as demonstrated by improvements in the ranking of Nigerian universities in recent global ranking schemes

They further noted that several challenges persist in the quest to achieve excellence in higher education including funding especially the management of available funds.

The stakeholders affirmed that with improved resourcing of the system and significant improvement in the welfare of higher education staff, the pace towards academic excellence would be accelerated.

They emphasised that government should not abdicate its responsibility to properly fund higher education in Nigeria.

They were determined to make the Nigerian university system a model in Africa that will showcase excellence in teaching and research as well as relevance in solving the myriad socio-economic challenges facing the country.

Key elements of the Framework for Action include: “with improved resourcing of physical facilities and staff welfare, step up the drive to academic excellence especially through research and production of quality graduates to ensure the attainment of national development goals and the SDGs;

“Request all VCs to study the report of COREVIP 2023 and implement recommendations into actionable programmes in their universities;

“Effective and judicious use should be made of the resources that are currently available in the system;

“A scheme for getting all staff and students to have needed technology especially laptops for online delivery of the CCMAS should be instituted without delay;

“Implement recommendations from COREVIP 2023 that are aimed at improving academic excellence in higher education in Nigeria; and (6) capacity development of staff and partnerships should be bridges we should construct to deliver excellence.

Headline

Russia, China Afraid Of US Under My Administration — Trump

Published

14 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

United States President, Donald Trump, has said Russia and China fear the United States because of the strength of his administration, arguing that American global influence is driven primarily by its military power and leadership.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday stated that rival powers would not take NATO seriously without the United States, claiming the alliance lacks deterrent force in the absence of American involvement.

He expressed doubts about whether NATO members would come to the aid of the US in a real crisis, despite Washington’s continued commitment to the alliance.

The president credited his leadership with rebuilding the US military during his first term and sustaining its strength, describing this as the key reason adversaries show respect and caution toward the country.

He maintained that America’s military dominance has played a central role in preserving global stability and saving lives.

Trump also argued that his administration forced NATO members to increase defence spending, saying many allies had previously failed to meet financial commitments while relying heavily on the US.

He added that his actions helped prevent further escalation in Eastern Europe and contributed to the resolution of multiple conflicts.

According to Trump, the United States remains the only nation that commands genuine fear and respect from both Russia and China, a position he attributed to his administration’s approach to defence, diplomacy, and global leadership.

“He wrote partly, “The only Nation that China and Russia fear and respect is the DJT REBUILT U.S.A. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! President DJT.”

Headline

Trump To Withdraw US From 66 UN, International Organisations

Published

14 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

United States President, Donald Trump, has announced plans to withdraw the US from 66 United Nations and international organisations, including key global bodies focused on climate change, peace and democracy.

The decision was disclosed in a presidential memorandum released by the White House on Wednesday evening, following a review of which “organizations, conventions, and treaties are contrary to the interests of the United States.”

According to Trump, the move will see the US end its participation in the affected organisations and cut all related funding.

A list shared by the White House showed that 35 of the organisations are non-UN bodies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Although listed as a non-UN body by the White House, the IPCC is a United Nations organisation that brings together leading scientists to assess climate change evidence and provide periodic reports to guide political leaders.

The memorandum also announced the US withdrawal from 31 UN entities, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Democracy Fund, and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which focuses on maternal and child health.

Several of the targeted UN bodies are involved in protecting vulnerable groups during armed conflicts, including the UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.

Reacting to the announcement, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a note to correspondents on Wednesday evening that the organisation expected to issue a response by Thursday morning.

Despite repeatedly stating his desire to limit US involvement in UN forums, Trump has continued to exert influence on international decision-making.

In October last year, he threatened to impose sanctions on diplomats who formally adopted a levy on polluting shipping fuels that had already been agreed to at an earlier meeting, a move that stalled the deal for 12 months.

The Trump administration also sanctioned UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese after she released a report detailing the role of international and US companies in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

During his first term in 2017, Trump similarly threatened to cut aid to countries that supported a draft UN resolution condemning the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the US wields significant influence at the United Nations, including veto power, which it has repeatedly used to block efforts to end Israel’s war on Gaza before later mediating a ceasefire.

(Aljazeera)

Headline

UK Supported US Mission To Seize Russian-flagged Oil Tanker – Defense Ministry

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

The British Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday that it provided support to the United States in its operation to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic.

US seized the tanker, which was being shadowed by a Russian submarine on Wednesday, after pursuing it for more than two weeks across the Atlantic as part of Washington’s efforts to block Venezuelan oil exports.

According to Britain, its armed forces gave pre-planned operational support, including basing following a US request for assistance.

The UK also said a military vessel provided support for the US forces pursuing the tanker, and the Royal Air Force provided surveillance support from the air.

Defence Secretary John Healey stated that the operation targeted a vessel with a nefarious history linked to Russian and Iranian sanctions evasion networks.

“This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting,” he said in a statement.

According to him, the US was Britain’s closest defence and security partner.

“The depth of our defence relationship with the US is an essential part of our security, and today’s seamlessly executed operation shows just how well this works in practice,” he added.

The British government said that the Bella-1 tanker, now renamed Marinera, is sanctioned by the US under its counter-Iran sanctions,

The MoD statement said the support was provided in full compliance with international law.