Education

Igbinedion Varsity Sets To Follow International Rules In Lab. Management, Others, Says VC

Published

2 years ago

January 27, 2020

Editor

The Vice Chancellor, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye, says Management of the university has put everything in place to make sure its laboratory management system comply with international standard and rules.

Prof. Ezemonye disclosed this on Monday at the university while declaring open one day workshop on ‘Ethics in Research, Animal Use and Management’ organised by the university.

A cross section of participants at the workshop

While acknowledging the roles animals play in experimental activities both in biomedical and veterinary sciences, the VC emphasised the need for proper animal management and breeding in university laboratories that comply and in the purview of international guidelines.

Prof. Cadmus (left standing) doing justice to question asked by by one of the participants while the VC and other at the high table pay rapt attention.

He added, “The intention of this one day workshop is to ensure that laboratory management in this university is upgraded to international standard and that animal breeding in this university is in purview of international guidelines. You will agree with me that in science, biomedical and veterinary sciences, animals have remain a vital role for experimental design and experimental activities.”

The Vice Chancellor, Igbinedion University, Prof. Ezemonye

Speaking on ‘General Ethics in the Use of Animals in Research’, one of the guest speakers, Professor Idowu Cadmus of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, emphasised the need for all organizations and institutions into animals based research; engaged in using animals for training; interested in advancing novel drugs discoveries to have institution ethics committee.

One of the guest speakers, Prof. Aziba delivering his paper on Ethics in Laboratory Techniques and Management

He noted that appropriate housing and management of animals facilities are very important to animal well-being, adding that a good management programme provides for animal well-being and minimises variations that can affect research result.

Prof. Cadmus said, “Appropriate housing and management of animals facilities are very important to animal well-being; just as the quality of research data and teaching or testing programmes for which the animals are to be subjected to in relation to the health and safety of of the personnels.”

Prof. Ebeigbe (left) having a handshake with the VC after he presented him souvenirs from the school management

He added, “Therefore, a good management programme provides for animal well-being and minimises variations that can affect research result.”

Professor Anthony Ebeigbe of the University of Benin, while speaking on the topic: ‘Ethics in Laboratory Services in Teaching and Research in Biomedical Sciences’, noted that Biomedical researchers must conduct and communicate research findings in accordance with the highest scientific, professional and ethical standard.

Prof. Cadmus (left) receiving the school’s souvenirs from the VC for a job well done.

“Biomedical researchers obligations include conduct and communicate research findings in accordance with highest scientific, professional, and ethical standard; acquire appreciate training on the humane use and care of animals for experiments. Keep proper laboratory records of all experiments in notebook or other appropriate media.”

Earlier in his speech on ‘Ethics in Laboratory Techniques and Management’, Prof. Peter Aziba of the same university said purpose of the workshop was to intimate and remind technicians basic ethics in the use of laboratory; safety, materials and equipment, etc.

“The purpose is to focus on our laboratories; to remind users basic ethics in the use of laboratory and safety of personel, materials and equipment. Maintain of standards, regulations and also meeting standard”, he said.

Education

88,000 Sit For NABTEB Exam, Minister Warns Against Certificate Devaluation

Published

2 days ago

June 30, 2022

Editor

No fewer than 88,000 candidates sat for the 2022 examinations of the National Business and Technical Examination Board.

This is as the minister of education, Adamu Adamu warned against the devaluation of certificates issued by NABTEB.

The minister noted this on Thursday during the 2022 monitoring of NABTEB examinations at the Federal Science and Technical College, Orozo, Abuja.

Adamu who was represented by the director of Human Resources in the ministry, David Gende, further explained that those who could not fit into the country’s formal sector would have the opportunity to get involved in the informal sector, which underscored the reason for setting up the examination board.

“I think we need to correct this impression, skills acquisition is what we are promoting in this regard and there is no rule that says everyone must go to the university.

“You know, if we look across the globe, there are people who have achieved greatness without seeing a university.

“So, we should stop demeaning this very certificate so that people can pick up the skills that are required,” he said.

On his observation during the monitoring, the minister expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the students, saying that there was no record of any students involved in malpractices.

Adamu, therefore, said that the ministry would continue to promote the culture of excellence to have great leaders that would sail the country in the near future.

On her part, the head, NABTEB, Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe, said the board had experienced an increase in enrollment of Technical and Vocational Education and Training candidates since 2018.

Isiugo-Abanihe said that the increase was as a result of interest in technical education among the youths, adding that, “The board received 83,000 candidates in 2021 and 88,000 in 2022. It’s been increasing every year. If you check from 2018, it was about 55,000 candidates.

“There has been steady increase in enrollment and I think it is because of the realisation that TVET is the way to go. This is because in the world today, there is need for skills as well as empowerment in skills and self-reliance and it is at the bottom of development.”

The PUNCH reports that NABTEB is a Nigerian examination board responsible for conducting examinations for technical and business innovation colleges in Nigeria.

The board was established under Decree No. 70 (now Act 70) of the 1993 constitution. The Decree (Act) mandated NABTEB with the responsibility to conduct Technical and Business Innovation certificate examinations hitherto being conducted by the West African Examinations Council.

Education

ASUU Strike: Govt Imposes ‘No Work-no-pay’ Policy On Lecturers

Published

3 days ago

June 29, 2022

Editor

Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Yobe State University branch, has tasked it members not to succumb to any kind threat from the state government aimed at creating division and distraction among them.

The charge was contained in a five-point resolution raised following an emergency congress meeting held by union to review the ongoing strike action and other local issues among which is the imposition of ‘No work-No pay’ strategy by government in the state.

Dr. Mohammed Saje Jajere, YSU-ASUU branch chairperson, noted that after extensive deliberations, the congress has unanimously reiterated its position to continue with the national strike, despite the no-work-no-pay strategy without notice

“As the struggle continues, the congress has commended its members for their commitment and steadfastness in the patriotic struggle for the survival of the university system in the country.

“The congress has called on its members not to succumb to any kind threat so that it will not create division and distraction among members”, he said.

To cushion the hardship of the salary stoppage, the Chairperson said a coping strategy is introduced via ASUU-YSU Multipurpose Cooperative Society, hence urged members to contact the EXCO of the Cooperative for more details on how to access various services.

“A people united can never be defeated”, Dr. Jajere stressed.

DAILY POST gathered that, the management of the varsity has announced resumption of academic activities on the 27th of June, 2022 after the Directorate of Academic Planning of the institution released an adjusted academic calendar for 2020/2021 academic session and urged students to take note for compliance.

Reports also indicated that, some academic staff in the university who are at managerial level have commenced lectures on the said date and vowed to continue in the line with the adjusted calendar.

Education

Edo Schools Where Pupils Sit On Floor To Learn Uncovered, Community Demands Govt’s Intervention

Published

4 days ago

June 28, 2022

Editor

The people of Ofunmwegbe community (known as Okada junction) in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State have called on the state government to come to their aide and rebuild the only primary and secondary schools in the community which are in dilapidated state.

They also lamented that several appeals in the past have not been given a positive response, just as they decried situations where pupils sit on bare floors to receive lectures besides insufficient teachers in the schools.

Lamenting the poor state of the schools, chairman of the Community Governance Council (CGC), Comrade Imuentinyan Ighodaro, said the poor state of the schools has led to parents withdrawing their wards from the school.

He said the primary school was founded in 2006 with the community donating the land and paid 10 per cent counterpart fund to build the school and thereafter donated furniture while the secondary was built in 2009 through the same process.

He said: “The school was not fenced and that has made it possible for hoodlums to also go in there and vandalise the place. As we speak, there are no windows and all the roofs have gone bad, no ceilings, no chairs and the children right now sit on the bare floor to learn, and because of that so many parents are also withdrawing their children from the school. The floors are also broken.

“The whole of the school is in very bad shape. We have a block of six classrooms and another block of five classrooms. We have government teachers there.

“As a matter of urgency, we want the government to come to our aid and put the school in order for our children. They should renovate it and fence it to give it security and stop hoodlums from coming in, and if the government is able to do that, the community will provide security. It is the same situation in secondary school.”

But a staff the State Universal Basic Education Board (SBEB) who does want his name in print said that the state government was “adopting a holistic approach to schools rehabilitation and not a one-off thing.”