RSITIE VE S C NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES COMMISSION NI O U M L M A I S N S O I I O T N A N T H C E OU VI GHT AND SER MONDAY A PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY www.nuc.edu.ng th 0795-3089 13 July, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 15 Nigerian Varsities Working On Covid 19 Vaccine he federal government has “I spoke to the Executive Secretary Orgnisation (WHO) has stressed disclosed that researchers in of the Tertiary Education Trust on coordinated race. It is not a Tthe country’s universities Fund (TETFUND), Prof. competitive race.” are working on vaccine and cure for Suleiman Bogoro, and he told me COVID-19. It has also commenced they were already talking to all the The Executive Secretary of the local production of ventilators as universities to coordinate research N a t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t i e s part of efforts to ensure COVID-19 patients who require the intensive care equipment get them. Speaking on a Arise Television last week, the Minister of State for Education, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, revealed that a five billion Naira fund had been created for research and that coordinated activities had commenced among researchers in the country on finding vaccines that could help in the prevention of the coronavirus disease. He said, “Nigerian Universities are working very hard to finding a solution, and this is being done in a coordinated manner; some are Hon. Chukwemeka Nwajiuba Hon Minister of State for Education doing researches at the molecular level, others are looking at the effort against COVID-19. The Commission (NUC), Prof. vaccine levels, and so on.” coordination is important Abubakar A. Rasheed is also because the World Health coordinating the efforts of in this edition Abuja Muslim New ABU VC Community Visits NUC Centre Presents Documents For Private Varsity Pg. 4 Pg. 2 EDITORIAL BOARD: Ibrahim Usman Yakasai (Chairman), Haruna Lawal Ajo (Editor), Tabitha S. Bunshak, Akinola Akinlabi Ogbonnaya Okoronkwo, Francis Azu, Felix Udey, Akan Joseph, Samuel Aja-Nwachukwu, Sadiq Abubakar Enquiries: [email protected] 13th July, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 15 everybody so that we know who is and secondary students through for locally produced ventilators doing what. They need to know the use of radios, televisions, and as this would help curb the who is researching on the the internet, adding that this scarcity of the medical molecular level, vaccine level, and would ensure they are also equipment in the country. the rest. The universities are learning while staying at home. providing some sort of guidance to One other thing we have done is the researchers, he said. In the same vein, the Director to commence clinical trial for General of the National Institute drugs for possible vaccine and He also mentioned that the Federal for Pharmaceutical Research and cure against COVID-19 presently Ministry of Education was also Development, (NIPRD), Dr. Obi ravaging the world, the global working towards providing Adigwe, told newsmen that his health and policy strategist said. electronic learning for primary parastatal had commenced testing Abuja Muslim Community Centre Presents Documents For Private Varsity he Chairman, Planning and Area of the Federal Capital Receiving the documents, the TI m p l e m e n t a t i o n Territory. Executive Secretary advised the Committee of the proposed delegation to prioritise and Monument University, Professor The documents submitted u n d e r t a k e a p h a s e d ES, NUC Prof. Abubakar Rasheed recieving some Completed Application Form from the Chairman, UPLC, Prof, Isma’il Tsiga while Prof. Isma’il Junaid watch Ismail Tsiga last week led other i n c l u d e t h e c o m p l e t e d development since not all members of the team to submit Application Forms, Physical structures proposed in the planning documents for the Master Plan, Academic Brief masterplan would be required establishment of a private and University Law. and desirable at the take-off university to be located at Bwari stage of the university. MONDAY BULLETIN | A Publication Of The Office Of The Executive Secretary Page 02 13th July, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 15 He did also informed the team doing so because the gestation to be mindful of community that NUC had minimum period for a university was very services by building such requirements of facilities that long, adding that a university structures that would benefit would not be compromised. must be seen more as a social students and serve the public service and not for profit. as well, especially their In this regard, he advised them to immediate host community. ensure that take off facilities like In his remarks, NUC Director, laboratories, lectures Theatres Public Affairs, Mal. Ibrahim In his response, Chairman of and an Administrative Building Usman Yakasai, advised the t h e P l a n n i n g a n d were established as well as the planning committee to always Implementation Committee composition of the university put the interest of students first (PIC), Professor Isma’ila A. Governing Council and Board in respect of building structures Tsiga noted with appreciation of Trustees. and choice of courses so as to be all the advice given and Profs. Tsiga and Rasheed (2nd and 3rd right) displaying documents of the Proposed University. L-R: Isiaka A. Abdulkadir, Mrs. Constance Goddy-Nnadi, Mal. Ibrahim Usman Yakasai, Prof. Junaid and Mal. Aminu Abba (Far right) able to train them to be good promised that they would serve He also urged the planning citizens in both character and as a guide in their final committee to start construction learning. preparations, especially on the works by strictly complying with issue of construction of the approved master plan, before He also urged them to always physical master plan. inviting the NUC for a visit as it solicit expert advice before would determine the take-off or embarking on construction. He added that “we have otherwise of the university. acquired 100 Hectares of land S i m i l a r l y , D i r e c t o r in the Bwari area of FCT that He equally advised them to be Entrepreneurship and Skills would serve as take off and wary of collecting bank loans Development, Mrs Constance permanent site of the explaining that they would regret Goddy-Nnadi charged the team University.” MONDAY BULLETIN | A Publication Of The Office Of The Executive Secretary Page 03 13th July, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 15 According to him, the team had university. university was taken in 2012, equally identified some areas of and thereafter, University collaborations with the public In his remarks, a member of the Planning Committee (UPC) especially the host community. Planning Committee, Prof. was formed to handle the Isma’ila Junaidu said the centre n e c e s s a r y m o d a l i t i e s , Some of these areas include proposed the institution including how to meet the hostels, computer/business “considering its experience in NUC requirement. centres and entrepreneurship the provision of educational centre which had been identified services to the generel public, The MCC earlier founded the as a viable and profitable ventures particularly in the FCT, and first Islamic-bases secondary in the university-community cognisant of its obligation to school Fou’ad Lababidi relations. meet the current demand for Islamic Academy, in the FCT higher education with strong in 1995 which has more than He pledged that the planning moral perspectives in Nigeria.” 1000 learners enrolled into its committee would abide by all five schools and other learning NUC regulations in running the The decision to set up the programmes. New ABU VC Visits NUC he new Vice-Chancellor According to him, these issues He informed the ES of his TAhmadu Bello University include insecurity on the earlier consultation with (ABU), Zaria, Professor Kabiru Campus, Direct Teaching and relevant stakeholders on how to Bala, last week paid a courtesy call Laboratory Costs (DTLC) and move the university forward on to the Executive Secretary, increased funding for the assumption of office, adding N a t i o n a l U n i v e r s i t i e s Commission (NUC) Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, mni, MFR, FNAL, in his office. Thanking the Executive Secretary for receiving him, Professor Bala described Professor Rasheed as his mentor and said that his mission to the Commission was not only to present the ABU’s team but also to consult with the NUC management on issues bordering on the university Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Abubakar A. Rasheed and VC, ABU, Prof. Kabiru Bala establishment of new centres. that his goal was to take the administration. university to its pride of place MONDAY BULLETIN | A Publication Of The Office Of The Executive Secretary Page 04 13th July, 2020 Vol. 15 No. 15 in the comity of universities in the (IGP), he said, had promised to He revealed that the university world. send more police personnel to i n t e n d e d t o c r e a t e a strengthen security network Department of Oncology that The Vice Chancellor explained a r o u n d t h e u n i v e r s i t y would become the first in the that with regards to insecurity on environment. northern part of the country. the campus, the management had adopted a style that took the On the issue of DTLC, the Vice Responding, the Executive interest of the university and its Chancellor lamented that the Secretary commended the Vice community paramount in order university had not received Chancellor described him as a to enthrone peace and stability.