Education

Parents Protest Network Failure As 2020 UTME Begins

Published

3 years ago

March 14, 2020

The 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) commenced nationwide on Saturday with mixed reactions from candidates and their parents.

Over 1.9m candidates are sitting for the examination in over 600 computer based test centres (CBT) across the country.

NATION reporter who monitored the examination in some centres, observed that some candidates who wrote the examination had different experiences.

For example, at the Ade-Ola International School CBT Centre, Kubwa, our it was observed that parents protested at the school gates because of the failure of the virtual private network (VPN).

Some candidates scheduled to write the examination at 7am could not write until after 1pm because of network challenge.

The parents, who were agitated over the challenge, struggled at the gate to seek explanation from the school authorities.

When Nation visited the centre at about noon, some JAMB officials had arrived and were reportedly working on the systems.

One of the parents, who drove to the centre as early as 6am, told our newsmen that the candidates were famished and exhausted, having sat in the hall for hours without doing anything.

A parent, identified only as Mr. Okodili, said: “I drove with my son from the Lokogoma area and we got to the place 6.30am. Nothing has started yet as of this 2pm. Parents are protesting and we have called in for JAMB officials to come and intervene.”

A candidate, Blessing (surname withheld) said some of the candidates were being hurried and could not use their two hours for the examination.

Parents kept on protesting at the gates as of 2pm when Nation correspondent left, as new candidates continued to arrive at the centre.

“We have been kept here for hours. The systems have not been working. We fear for these candidates because some of them are tired already, mentally disturbed and famished. The board should look into the inadequacies,” a parent who gave his name as Alli, said.

At the Global Distance Learning CBT centre, Central Area, and the Maitama Model School centre also monitored by our reporter, the UTME exercise went well and there were no network issues.

Also at the Sascon International School, Maitama Abuja CBT centre, the examination went on smoothly with no network issues.

The examination started as scheduled by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

Those who were given 7am schedule started lining up for biometric capturing before the time.

There was no incident when Nation visited the centre.
JAMB officials took their time to ensure that all candidates were accommodated for the examination

(NATION)

(PHOTO: File)

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Education

Edo State University Uzairue To Commence Pharmacy Programme, Others – VC

Published

8 hours ago

March 27, 2023

Editor

The Vice Chancellor, Edo State University Uzairue, Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, has said that the university is planning to open up to new programmes such as Pharmacy and post graduate programmes in other areas to compliment existing programmes in the university.

The Vice Chancellor who disclosed this at the 7th founder’s day ceremony of the university commended the state government for their continuous support for the university and for creating enabling environment for the university to strive.

Speaking on the lecture, he said: “Over the years, we have had the opportunity to invite Nigerians who occupied high positions in the society to speak to the university community on the achievements and on how they have contributed their quota to the development of Nigeria and humanity”, adding that over the years the lectures have taken us through the paradox inherent in the administration of diverse socio-political disposition in Nigeria and how the country can made a better place”.

Prof. Aluyor said that the lectures over the years have gradually shaped the founder’s day ceremony where both students and parents where issues on how Nigeria can be harness into a country of our collective dreams are delivered.

According to him, “Edo State University Uzairue since inception has been committed to the pursuant of world class goals in teaching, learning and research which is why we are proud of our products.

“Some of our graduates have competed and secured funding for post graduate in foreign universities and national scholarship awards.”

He further stated that lecturers and researchers of the institution are listed among the first 500 researchers in Nigeria while the Nursing and Medical laboratory students recorded 100% success in their Council’s exams.

He further reiterated that the university has become the first choice of university among the commity of state Universities in Nigeria.

“We want to assure the university community that the university will continue to maintain the highest standard of delivery quality education to the students” he emphasized.

The VC also affirmed that it is possible to get quality of education you get overseas here in Nigeria.

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Education

UNIBEN Wins Africa Outstanding Varsity Award

Published

2 days ago

March 25, 2023

Editor

The University of Benin has won the Africa Outstanding University Award of the Year for 2023 in Rwanda.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Lilian Salami, was also honoured as Africa Pillar of Education for her impact in education development on the continent.

According to a statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire on Saturday in Benin, the awards were presented at the 1st Africa Education Summit, held at the University of Rwanda in Kigali.

Ehanire said besides her leadership role in the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Federal Universities, Prof. Salami was also the Vice President of the Association of African Universities with headquarters in Ghana.

This position, the Public Relations Officer said, the vice-chancellor had utilised to project and promote the achievements of many African universities, including the University of Benin.

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Education

BREAKING: Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Fires Over 90 Staff

Published

2 weeks ago

March 14, 2023

Editor

Information reaching INFO DAILY says the management of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has sacked over ninety (90) staff (mostly senior staff).

INFO DAILY gathered that out of the 90 staff sacked, 20 are academic staff while the other 70 staff are non academic.

No substantive reason was given in one of the disengagement letters sighted by INFO DAILY.

One of the sack letters sighted reads: “In repositioning the University, the Management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma writes to convey to you the decision of the Special Intervention Team ( S.I.T) of your disengagement from the services of the University with effect from March 10, 2023.

“You will be paid all your entitlements in line with the provision of the Ambrose Alli
University, Ekpoma Staff Regulations and Scheme of Service.

“By a copy of this letter, the Bursary Department is directed to process your entitlements,
subject to your clearance of any indebtedness to the University.

“You are kindly advised to submit all University property(ies) in your possession to your
Head of Department on the receipt of this letter.

“The Management of the University sincerely thank you for your past services and wish
you success in your future endeavour.”

When contacted, one of the affected staff (name withheld) said: “…it is true that I was given a letter of disengagement in the disguise of repositioning the University.

“The truth is, it is because of the last protest embarked on by ASUU, NASU and SSANU saying I was part of it. This is a true example of a Government under the leadership of a tyrant.

“The Government of Edo State under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki who refused to pay us for months is coming now to sack us for protesting for our rights. If it is not for the protest, what is our offense?” The victim asked.

Recall that the 11-man Edo State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Marcus Onobun in 2021 approved Governor Godwin Obaseki’s request to set up Special Intervention Team, but was resisted by the University’s branch of ASUU, NASU and SSANU, saying, the S.I.T. was aimed at sacking “the hardworking staff of the University.”

In one of one of its meeting in 2022, Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), faulted Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on the administration of the state-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma without Governing Council, describing the government’s idea as alien to university administration globally.