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Student Denied Coronavirus Test, Dies Weeks Before Graduation

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A 25-year-old college student in Michigan died from the coronavirus just weeks before he was set to graduate — and after being refused a test several times, according to reports.

Bassey Offiong, a Nigerian and senior majoring in chemical engineering at Western Michigan University in the United States had no known prior health issues before succumbing to COVID-19 on Saturday, WXYZ reports.

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School and county officials confirmed the Detroit native’s death Sunday, days after the university reported its first of three confirmed coronavirus cases.

READ ALSO: Explore Herbal Medicine To Cure Coronavirus, Ooni Urges Nigerians

Offiong was rejected for coronavirus testing several times while living off-campus in the Kalamazoo area despite symptoms including shortness of breath, fatigue and fever, his sister told the Detroit News.

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“I told him to ask them to test him,” Asari Offiong told the newspaper. “He said they refused to test him.”

Offiong’s sister declined to identify the locations where her brother said he was denied coronavirus testing, but said one medical staffer thought he had bronchitis. He died after spending a week on a ventilator at a hospital in Royal Oak, his sister said.

“I know God has him in his presence,” Asari Offiong told the newspaper. “He loved God.”

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READ ALSO: Popular ‘Love Rock ‘N’ Roll’ Songwriter Dies Of Coronavirus

Offiong had “enormous potential,” according to a statement released by the university’s president. “On behalf of the entire Bronco community, I want to extend my deepest condolences to his entire family, including his sister Asari, who has been generous in communicating with us regularly,” WMU President Edward Montgomery said.

Health officials also confirmed Offiong’s death, but noted he was not a resident of Kalamazoo County, the Detroit Free Press reports. “However, this virus has no borders when it comes to who it affects and how it is spread,” a health officer at the Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department told the newspaper.

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We urge everyone to help us fight community spread by following the governor’s executive order. Stay home and, if you must go out for essential items, stay safe by taking preventative measures.”

It’s unclear whether Offiong was one of the three WMU students who tested positive Friday for coronavirus. The university has been holding online classes only since being closed for in-class instruction due to the growing pandemic, the Free Press reports.

READ ALSO: Bishop Oyedepo, Enenche’s Unholy Example by Tunde Odesola

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A message seeking comment from a university spokesperson was not immediately returned Monday.

(Detroit News/Vanguard)

(PHOTO: vanguardngr.com)

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Education

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

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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.

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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.

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

READ ALSO: Edo Varsity Uzairue Elevates 15 To Professorship

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.

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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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UNIBEN Wins Africa Outstanding Varsity Award

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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.

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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.

READ ALSO: UNIBEN Ranked 6th In Global Rating For Universities

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.

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

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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.

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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.

READ ALSO: AAU, Ekpoma Crisis: Alumni Rejects Special Intervention Power Law

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“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.

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“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.

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READ ALSO: Management Of AAU, Ekpoma Proposed Salaries Slash, ASUU Kicks

“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.”

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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.

 

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