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NOUN ‘ll soon begin mobilizing its graduates for NYSC – VC
First degree graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, will soon start participating in the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC scheme, the university’s vice chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, has assured.
Prof. Peters,who informed that the university was currently engaging the management of NYSC to that effect,said graduates deemed to have qualified to serve, would be mobilized.
Speaking at a preconvocation press conference held in Abuja head of the event on Saturday,the vice chancellor said a formal announcement will be formally made to the public.
He disclosed that 22,175 students will graduate at its 13th Convocation ceremony slated for Saturday,this week.
The Vice Chancellor said 22 of the graduating students hàve First Class, about 1,886 having Second Class Upper, 8,427 students are graduating with Second Class Lower while 3,782 others are leaving the school with Third Class.
According to him,15,768 students were graduating from first degree graduates while 6,407 were graduates from post-graduate studies.
“This year, a total number of graduands that we have is 22,175 students across our various campuses.
He said:“Of this number, 15,768 are for undergraduate degrees while 6,407 are for post-graduate degrees.
“The analysis of the undergraduate will be presented fully in my address at the convocation, but just to paraphrase, all the faculties have representation of undergraduates with the faculty of social sciences having the largest number of graduands
“Out of this undergraduates, we have 22 of them with First Class, about 1,886 Second Class Upper and about 8,427 students with Second Class Lower and about 3,782 with Third Class.
“For the post-graduates, we have post graduate diplomas in various fields like Agriculture, Art, Education, Management Sciences and Social Sciences, totalling 2,362, and 4,039 will be graduating with Master degrees.
“I’m happy to report that we have 6 PhDs graduate which is an indication that the University is gradually moving towards establishing a more robust post-graduate school.”
He added that there will be a convocation lecture on Friday, to be delivered by the Vice Chancellor of Open University of Tanzania, Professor Elifas Bisanda.
Prof. Peters, who also said NOUN has increased its study centers from the initial 17 to 120 centers spread across the country, expressed happiness that the institution has surmounted most of the challenges it faced in the past.
He said the institution would soon commence Law programme after it was suspended based on advice of the Council of Legal Education.
According to him,talks with the Council to that effect had reached advanced stage.
Prof. Peters said the building of the Faculty of Law will begin this year as part of the outcomes from engagement with the Council on Legal Education.
He said two eminent Nigerians, Dr. Innocent Chukuma, a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and founder of Innonson Motors and an activist, Hajiya Hafsat Abdulwaheed ,who is the first female novelist in Northern Nigeria, will be conferred with Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa),during its 13th Convocation ceremony, slated for Saturday, 13th April.
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Shettima becomes 1st VP to lead Nigeria’s delegation to UN Assembly in 25 yrs
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has decided not to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York this year.
The president has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation.
President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the United Kingdom, according to a statement yesterday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings.”
“The high-level General Debate, with the theme ‘Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,’ will run from Tuesday, September 24, through Saturday, September 28, 2024,” the statement added.
Since return to democratic governance in 199, Shettima will be the first Vice President to Nigeria’s delegation to UNGA.
Only Goodluck Jonathan represented Nigeria as Acting president in September 2010 at the 65th UNGA, while late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua was away in Saudi Arabia due to his ill health.
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Plateau Assembly approves N5.8bn for LG election
The Plateau State House of Assembly, on Thursday, approved N5.8bn for the conduct of the local government election in the state slated for October 9, 2024.
The approval by the House followed a communication from Governor Caleb Mutfwang, which was read at plenary by the Assembly Speaker, Gabriel Dewan.
The Speaker stated that the request was necessary as there was no budgetary allocation for the LG elections in the 2024 budget.
A member of the State Assembly, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak for the Assembly, confirmed the development to The PUNCH in Jos on Thursday.
The lawmaker said, “Governor Mutfwang, at Tuesday’s plenary, sought the House’s approval for N5.7bn as the 2024 supplementary, which was increased after upward review by the legislators.”
He continued, “The House leader, Joseph Bukar, presented the bill during our plenary. While soliciting the support of members for speedy passage, he said PLASIEC was running out of time in preparation for the election.”
“In their individual contributions, Hon. Kalamu Dal suggested a downward review of the budget size, while Hon. Daniel Nanbol urged for a critical review and deliberations. Afterwards, members approved a revised sum of N5.8bn, as opposed to the N5.7bn requested.”
The increase, as explained by Bukar, was due to an increase in security allocation for the election, from N2.7m to N4.2m. “So, that is what happened, and that is where we are at the moment regarding the forthcoming LG election,” the lawmaker concluded.
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Enugu, Kwara tighten security ahead of LG polls
Security measures have been intensified in Enugu and Kwara states ahead of their Local Government elections scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.
In Enugu State, the Police Command has pledged to ensure the safety of lives and properties during the elections.
However, the peace accord signing for the elections was marred by the absence of major parties like the Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress, and Labour Party.
Only representatives from the All Progressives Grand Alliance and Accord attended but chose not to sign the accord, citing the lack of participation from the leading parties.
Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, said all wards and flashpoints had been identified, and security personnel would be on high alert to prevent any disruptions.
The Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Chris Ngwu, said the commission was fully prepared for the elections with the support of the state government in procuring necessary materials.
In Kwara State, security agencies have been actively coordinating to ensure a smooth electoral process.
Over 3,000 personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have been deployed across the state.
The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission has completed arrangements for a trouble-free election.
Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, reported that a strategic meeting with heads of various security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, and others, had been held to ensure coordinated efforts for maintaining law and order.
The Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, guaranteed maximum security for the election period.
The NSCDC Commandant, Dr. Umar Mohammed, announced the deployment of 3,000 personnel to various polling units and emphasised their role in preventing violence, ballot snatching, and other disruptions.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, Telumun Tombowua, announced on Thursday that eight political parties will participate in the upcoming LG elections in the state, scheduled for October 5, 2024.
Addressing journalists in Makurdi, Tombowua said the election would be conducted fairly and transparently.
He emphasised that the law establishing the BSIEC does not permit the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation Machines for this election.
Regarding the APC, Tombowua confirmed that the National Working Committee of the party had requested the commission to work with the seven-man caretaker committee appointed to oversee party affairs in the state.
He noted that while 14 parties had initially shown interest, only eight completed the necessary processes and submitted their candidates.
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