CLOSE TO $15B, MORE THAN HALF OF NIGERIA'S CURRENT FOREIGN RESERVES, WAS LOST TO FRAUDULENT SECURITY EQUIPMENT SPENDING - VP OSINBAJO

Nigeria lost about $15B to fraudulent and corrupt practices in the security equipment spending during the last administration, Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has disclosed, even as he spoke of hope that the implementation of the 2016 budget would commence soon.

"By the grace of God in the next few days we will begin the implementation of one of the most ambitious budgets in our history. Ambitious not just in its size but more in its broad range of fiscal and other socio-economic policies," according to the Vice President.

The Vice President spoke today at the book presentation of the Ibadan-based elite group, House of Lords, which just published an indepth analysis by different experts titled "Nigeria: The Challenges of Growth and Development, " at the University of Ibadan.

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN HOSTS CHINA UNIVERSITY, DISCUSSES JOINT RESEARCH, EXCHANGES

The Department of Communication and Language Arts of the University of Ibadan played host to four Chinese scholars from the Communication University of China (CUC) on 2 July, 2015.

The Chinese team was led by Professor Zhang Yanqiu, Director, Africa Communication Research Centre Communication University of China (CUC). Others in the team were Prof Chai Jianping, Dr. Long Xiaonong and Dr Luo Xue.

The team was received by the Ag Head of Department, Dr Ayo Ojebode, and went into a meeting attended by the teaching staff of the Department, including Emerita Professor Abiola Odejide. Also in attendance were a few doctoral students and an undergraduate student.

Prof Yanqiu said, “The purpose of this visit is to seek partnership with Ibadan whose fame and reputation is known all over the world”.

UI APPOINTS PROF. OLAYINKA AS NEW VICE CHANCELLOR

Prof. Olayinka and Governing Council chairman

Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka has been appointed as the new of the first University in Nigeria, University of Ibadan according to the information that was made available through the University web portal - http://ui.edu.ng
The statement signed by the Director of Public Communication of the institution, Olatunji Oladejo, confirmed that the appointment of Prof. Olayinka takes effect from  01 December, 2015.

The statement Reads:

JAMB Official Cut-Off Marks For Nigerian Universities

Following the conclusion of the the JAMB exams, the board has released the official cut off marks for Nigerian universities.

See the list below.

Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (AAU) 180

Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) 200

Abia State University Uturu (ABSU) 180

Afe Babaa University (ABUAD) No official cut-off mark. 

UI Expels 78 Students

The Authorities of the University of Ibadan have expelled 78 students for their failure to obtain the minimum academic requirements for the 2012/2013 session.

The institution’s registrar, Olujimi Olukoya said in Ibadan yesterday that the Senate of the university had approved the expulsion of the affected students.

The expelled students were at various levels ranging from 100 to 400 levels and came from 13 faculties in the institution.

No plans to name University of Ibadan after Dora Akunyili – Abati

The Presidency on Sunday denied reports that the Federal Government was planning to name the University of Ibadan after the late .
The presidential media aide, Reuben Abati, in a message on his Twitter handle, said there was never an official statement that President Goodluck Jonathan was considering naming the university after the deceased.

He also urged members of the public to ignore the news which he described as false.
“Nobody ever said Mr. President is considering naming University of Ibadan after Late Professor Dora Akunyili. Please ignore fake news,” he said.

Mrs. Akunyili, a professor of pharmacy and former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, died on Saturday in an Indian hospital.

BREAKING: Former CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamodo Sanusi is the New Emir of Kano

Former CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamodo Sanusi is the New Emir of Kano.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has emerged as the new Emir of Kano after the throne became vacant on Friday following the monarch’s death.

The Secretary to the Kano State Government, Rabiu Zakariya, announced the name of the new Emir on Sunday. 

ASUU accuses Nigerian Govt. of violating new agreement

ASUU said the government has failed to release funds as agreed.

The Nigerian Government has breached a section of an agreement it signed last year to end a five-month old strike by university lecturers on December 17, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has alleged.

The union said the government has failed to release the N20 billion it pledged, amongst other commitments, to universities at the beginning of each quarter of the year.

Speaking to journalists at the University of Ibadan, Friday evening, ASUU National Treasurer, Ademola Aremu, said part of the agreement reached with Federal Government was that the government would pay releasing N20 billion at the start of each quarter to cater for areas of needs identified in the needs assessment carried on universities.

“This is February and the government is yet to release the money for the quarter,” Mr. Aremu said.

Mr. Aremu, who spoke on behalf of ASUU president, Nasir Fagge, said the union had to start raising the alarm now to avoid the embarrassment the last strike caused the nation and its education system.

Last year’s strike by the union paralysed academic activities in all public universities in the country for nearly six months, over ASUU’s insistence that Federal Government fulfill an agreement reached the union in 2009.

Describing the strike as needless but inevitable, Mr. Aremu recalled that if the government had been sincere, academic activities not be disrupted as is often the case when lecturers go on strike.

“All the strike ASUU had embarked upon in this country were basically because the Federal Government has failed to honour agreements freely entered to with us. It is also sad that before we begin each of those strike, we would give the government enough warnings and grace to make them retrace their steps. But they always fail,” Mr Aremu said.

“We don’t know why the government is always unwilling to implement the documents signed by their representatives. However, we will continue to fight for the system because if the system collapse we will collapse with it.”

Earlier, the ASUU chairman at the University of Ibadan, Olusegun Ajiboye, said it was unfortunate that successive governments in Nigeria don’t learn from history as they always wait till major standoff with their members before doing the needful.

He expressed appreciation to the Nigerian media for standing by ASUU during the struggle, adding that the support was not really for the members, but for a better Nigeria.

According to Mr. Ajiboye, the strike would not have recorded the level of success it did if the press did not stand by the lecturer.

He, however, said the struggles was not over yet, saying journalists must see it as duty to monitor proper disbursement of monies promised to be injected into the university system.

“You must ensure that every money is used for the purpose it is meant for.You must also challenge us to justify the fruit of the fight. When we are going astray, please do not keep quiet. That is your mandate as the fourth estate of the realm,” he said.

The ASUU boss also charged journalists to take deeper interest in the crisis rocking the Ibadan-based Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN, where he said the management was treating the staff in unfair manner.

Bayo Okunade, a professor of political science, who represented the UI Vice Chancellor, Isaac Adewole, said if the press had not communicated the demands of ASUU to Nigerians effectively, it would not get the public appeal it got, and may not have been a success.