RSITIE VE S C NI O U M NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES COMMISSION 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 www.nuc.edu.ng A PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY th ISSN 0795-3089 18 July, 2016 Vol. 11 No. 28 FG Urges Nigerians to Remain Hopeful L-R: Hon. Minister of Science and Tech, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onoh; Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie and Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Aminu Suleiman Fagge Nigerians should have hope. gave these words of assurance at July, 2016. Things will improve. The the 4th Convocation Lecture of the The Honourable Minister recalled “hard times will not last Nigerian Turkish Nile University that “when we took over, it was forever. The APC will deliver. (NTNU), Abuja, titled, 'The Effect like Nigeria had a very big and President Muhammadu Buhari of the Emergence of All deep sore. Whatever you do to it, it will deliver.” The Honourable Progressives Congress (APC) on is painful. If your cloth touches it, Minister of Science and the Promotion of World Peace', it is painful. If you want to treat Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu which he delivered on Friday, 15 and dress it, it is also painful. We in this edition... We Nurture, Enjoy Page. Walden University Seeks Page. Prof. Maimako is New Page. Good Press Relations No. 8 NUC’s Partnership No. 11 VC, UniJos No. 13 on Online Degrees EDITORIAL BOARD: Ibrahim Usman Yakasai (Chairman), Bukola Olatunji (Editor), Dr. Obinna C. Okwelume, Okoronkwo Ogbonnaya, Musa Bukhari, Minasigha BlueJack (Secretary), Leke Alayande (Production Secretary), Sadiq Abubakar (Cameraman) Enquiries: [email protected] 18th July, 2016 Vol. 11 No. 28 from the hardship at home, try to cross the Mediterranean Sea in both good and bad weather, only to die as over crowded boats capsize. “It is important for peace and prosperity of the world that their death should not be in vain.” The above, he said, explained why an idea was conceived, nurtured and implemented to give hope to opposition political parties, particularly in the developing world, where two strong political parties had not evolved in the Profs. Okojie and Onyebuchi Chukwu, former Minister of Health polity. In countries where the Nigerians should have hope. Things will improve. The promote creativity and innovation “hard times will not last which will help us produce new forever. The APC will deliver. products and services that will President Muhammadu Buhari provide a continuous stream of will deliver.” The Honourable revenue to help build more roads, Minister of Science and bridges, railways, dams and look Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu after the needs of our security and gave these words of assurance at intelligency community”, the the 4th Convocation Lecture of Minister said. the Nigerian Turkish Nile Dwelling extensively on political University (NTNU), Abuja, titled, conflicts across Africa and beyond, 'The Effect of the Emergence of Dr. Onu said it was clear that the All Progressives Congress (APC) struggle for power was the root on the Promotion of World Peace', cause of many of the conflicts and which he delivered on Friday, 15 Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu the attendant human suffering. He Convocation Lecturer July, 2016. expressed sadness that many young The Honourable Minister recalled Africans, who in the bid to escape g o v e r n i n g p a r t y i s that “when we took over, it was overwhelmingly dominant and like Nigeria had a very big and opposition parties are many, weak, deep sore. Whatever you do to it, it and fragmented, he urged the is painful. If your cloth touches it, opposition parties never to lose it is painful. If you want to treat hope and to learn from and and dress it, it is also painful. We embrace the idea of the APC. cannot because it is painful then According to him, APC is the first refuse to treat and dress it with the successful merger of major hope that one day, the sore will opposition parties, not only in heal and the injury will go. Let us Nigeria, but also in Africa. “The continue to be hopeful for the APC was born out of a huge future of Nigeria is bright.” sacrifice. All the leaders of the three political parties (ANPP, According to him, the slump in oil ACN and CPC) that gave up their p r i c e h a d e x p o s e d t h e identities at the ward, local vulnerability of Nigeria as a mono government, senatorial district, product economy. There is, state, zonal and national levels, therefore, the “need to invest in Prof. Julius Okojie gave up their offices.” Science and Technology so as to Executive Secretary, NUC While noting that Nigeria and MONDAY BULLETIN A Publication of The Office of The Page 2 Executive Secretary 18th July, 2016 Vol. 11 No. 28 National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius A. Okojie OON, observed that the APC was indeed a success story of a merger without war. He thanked the Honorable Minister for the brilliant lecture, adding that the Nigerian University System (NUS) stood to derive immense benefits from the contributions of brilliant scholars like the Convocation lecturer, who, though are contributing to the development of the country in other spheres, had been taken away Prof.Hussein Sert Dr. Macjohn Nwaobiala from the NUS by 'internal brain Vice-Chancellor, Turkish Nile University Former Perm. Sec., Federal ministry drain'. of Education Professor Okojie stressed that, that, in years to come, their stories whereas there is always room for would be similar to those of private Turkey are great nations that have i m p r o v e m e n t , N i g e r i a n institutions in Europe and the a lot in common, the Honourable Universities and their graduates are United States of America that have Minister thanked Turkish citizens not bad. What with the excellent become the top universities in the for their immense contributions to and outstanding performance of world. the development of Nigeria, not their products in higher education T h e E x e c u t i v e S e c r e t a r y only through their investment in and different endeavours of life expressed confidence that NUC's education, but also in healthcare a c r o s s t h e w o r l d . Quality Assurance template would delivery, with the potentials to While also assuring the guests that stand the test of time and tasked all commence open heart surgery. He the future of private university universities in the country to key commended NTNU for achieving education in the country is bright, into them. On ways to engender so much within a short time and he urged private universities to development, Professor Okojie expressed confidence that it would utilize their advantages, which recommended that the Sustainable achieve far more in the years to include stable academic calendars Development Goals should be part come. (occasioned by the lack of militant of National Policy formulation for staff unions) and provision of the overall development of the In his remarks at the end of the accommodation for most of their country. He also underlined the lecture, Chairman of the occasion students, to take their institutions to impact of the boarding system in and Executive Secretary of the greater heights. He expressed hope Some serving and past Vice-Chancellors MONDAY BULLETIN A Publication of The Office of The Page 3 Executive Secretary 18th July, 2016 Vol. 11 No. 28 Graduands u n i v e r s i t i e s t o p r o v i d e secondary schools and hostel of boarding system in public accommodation for all their accommodation in universities on schools as well as a policy that students. the overall quality of their would make it mandatory for all Earlier in his welcome address, the graduates, and called for a return private secondary schools and Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Huseyin Sert paid particular tribute to the Executive Secretary, “who has consistently ensured improved standard of university education in Nigeria, has worked tirelessly to ensure that private universities also have a place in bringing quality tertiary education to Nigerian students.” He added that Professor Okojie would be missed dearly as he rounds off his tenure as Executive Secretary of NUC. Professor Sert expressed delight Profs. Ish’aq Oloyede and Jibrila D. Amin, Mr. Kemanci, left and another guest that NTNU had come of age and made impressive strides since its Dignitaries at the event MONDAY BULLETIN A Publication of The Office of The Page 4 Executive Secretary 11th July, 2016 Vol. 11 No. 28 Obey Govt’s Directive, Connect to NgREN – Prof. Okojie Tells Varsities sector, to work concertedly in order to increase the level of awareness of the Network in and around university communities. Professor Okojie suggested that, as a way of sensitising universities on the benefits and capabilities of the NgREN, the Network should invite the Executive Secretaries of prospective partner agencies as well as the Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian universities to visit the Network Management Centre (NMC) in order to understand what the project was about and eventually subscribe to enjoy such benefits. He said that institutions Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Julius A. Okojie that were eligible to obtain funds he Executive Secretary, deliberated a range of issues, from the Tertiary Education Trust National Universities including recent efforts at Fund (TETFund), could draw Commission (NUC) and resuscitating the REN.