rd ISSN 0795-3089 23 January, 2017 Vol. 12 No. 4 FG Directs Varsities to Submit Quarterly Reports …PMB at NOUN 6th Convocation he President, Commander- in Chief of the Armed TForces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has said that his administration has directed the Honourable Minister of Education, Mal. Adamu Adamu to demand quarterly reports from all federal universities, detailing their major financial and administrative activities, adding that a template for such reports would soon be circulated to the universities by the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), through the National Universities Commission (NUC). Addressing the 6th Convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), held last Saturday at the University Village, Jabi, Abuja, President Buhari, who Muhammadu Buhari was represented by the Executive President, Federal Republic of Nigeria Secretary, NUC, Professor MFR, stated that the task of would require the critical roles of Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, mni, revamping the Nigerian economy academics in areas of research and in this edition Tributes as NUC Sends Prof. Okojie Forth Avoid invitations by EFCC, ICPC -Adamu Adamu warns VCs, Inuagurates NgREN Holds Promise for Future OAU, Uniport Councils Pg. 6 Research – Prof. Rasheed Pg. 8 Pg. 11 23rd January, 2017 Vol. 12 No. 4 administration was to promote the orientation of the teeming youth across the federation on the need to acquire the skills and attitude of entrepreneurship for self-reliance to stem the tide of seeking for white kola jobs. He charged the Universities in the country to embark on aggressive and result- oriented research in collaboration with government agencies and private sector on the development of the entrepreneurial skills of the youth for job and wealth creation. ''More importantly, the Federal Government will not relent in its Prof. Abubaakr Adamu Rasheed efforts to improve on the upgrade of HRH, Igwe Ambassador Lawrence Chikezie, Executive Secretary, NUC, delivering the infrastructural facilities such as Okolie Agbuzu, Chancellor, NOUN, President’s Convocation Address power and roads to drive our innovations that were required to industrialisation process,'' he graduates. Let me use the shift the emphasis from an oil- stressed. opportunity to congratulate NOUN dependent to a technology-driven for the endorsement of its e- economy. He added that his The President noted that NOUN learning programme by the Federal administration recognised tertiary was steadily fulfilling its mandate Government. The e-learning education as a potent instrument of of expanding access to higher programme is one of the avenues change in the government's resolve education at affordable cost to the that the NUC is exploring to for the rebirth of a new nation. teeming population of Nigerian increase access to university The Visitor observed that one of the students. He said that education was education without compromising core objectives of the present the most important instrument of quality. I therefore, assured change in the society and that all parents, students and prospective fundamental Change in the intellectual and social outlook of any society was preceded by and educational revolution. President Buhari added that ''NOUN story had become success story. A consequence of this is the increasing demand for distance learning across the nation. The remarkable achievements recorded at local and international levels should continue to be improved upon. The University should continue to find innovative ways to further to further be improved upon Senator Ameh Ebute its service delivery for the Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu Pro-Chancellor, NOUN, production globally competitive Vice-Chancellor, NOUN Page 2 MONDAY BULLETIN A Publication of The Office of The Executive Secretary 23rd January, 2017 Vol. 12 No. 4 L-R: Profs. Tenebe, Jegede, Adamu, Rasheed HRH, Chikezie, Dr. Adesina, Mal. Yakasai and Sen. Ebute applicants that there is nothing to University was engaging all academic programmes, stressing fear about the degree obtained from r e l e v a n t a u t h o r i t i e s a n d that enjoined the Management and the e-learning programmes of the stakeholders in order to allow NOUN had maintained peace and University.'’ NOUN graduates to participate in harmony the past one year. NYSC and get admission into the He congratulated all graduands for Law School. The Pro-Chancellor of the the successful completion of their University, Senator Ameh Ebute programmes, noting that their He added that the University had CON, acknowledged that the hard-work and investment of time w i t n e s s e d m o r e p h y s i c a l Government had spent huge money and energy had culminated in their developments on its permanent site to build and equip the University's successes and urged them to put while vigorously pursuing its permanent site with necessary their knowledge to use in their future endeavours in order to make Nigeria great. In his address, the Chancellor, NOUN His Royal Highness, Igwe Ambassador Lawrence Chikezie Okoli Agbuzu, OON, recalled that in his address at the 5 t h Convocation, he expressed empathic understanding of the feelings and concerns of NOUN graduates who could not be mobilized for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and of Law graduates, who could not be admitted to the Nigerian Law School, assuring them that the L-R: Former VCs of NOUN; Profs. Olugbemiro Jegede, Vincent Ado Tenebe with a Council member Emiretus Professor Godwin Sogolo Page 3 MONDAY BULLETIN A Publication of The Office of The Executive Secretary 23rd January, 2017 Vol. 12 No. 4 furniture,L-R: equipments Prof. Rasheed; Prof.and Adamu;gadgets Council ap Memberplicat andion NUC of Director the ofB Openench andm aDistancerk re Education,organi sDre. dOlamide to E.e nAdesinasure full to ensure effective performance of Minimum Academic Standard compliance with NUC BMAS duties and responsibilities by the ( B M A S ) s e t f o r v a r i o u s guidelines by streamlining all the University workforce. He enjoined programmes and disciplines by the programmes to reflect approved the Management and staff to NUC as the main structural accreditation status of the maintain the property for posterity, academic framework to ensure programmes both at Undergraduate assuring them that the Council, quality, uniformity, and excellence and Postgraduate levels. He added under his leadership, would not in University education in Nigeria. that ''NOUN proudly reports that a relent in its efforts to improve on He said that Directorate of total of 60 programmes have full their welfare, even in the wake of Academic Planning had been NUC accreditation, which reflects the economic recession ravaging the whole world including Nigeria. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdallah Uba Adamu, in his address, said that the University had, in the last one year, witnessed tremendous system reforms targeted at positioning the University within the frame work of global best practices in the open and distance learning delivery mode and at the same time raise the profile of the institution within the International University Ranking S y s t e m s t o s h o w c a s e t h e intellectual achievements and diversity of NOUN as an institution. Overrall best graduating student, Mr. Jude Peter, receiving his award from the Vice-Chancellor, He disclosed that the next reform of Prof. Adamu NOUN would focus on the Page 4 MONDAY BULLETIN A Publication of The Office of The Executive Secretary 23rd January, 2017 Vol. 12 No. 4 the excellence with which NOUN different disciplines. While The Vice-Chancellor thanked the implements its academic mandate. congratulating them for their Federal Government, the FME and academic successes, the Vice- NUC for their untiring efforts Professor Adamu disclosed that a Chancellor urged the graduands to towards making NOUN enviable e- total of 12,125 students graduated remain good ambassadors of learning best crusader as well as with the various certificates of the NOUN and hold high the shining other stakeholders including the university out of which 31 light of the University. Akwa Ibom and Sokoto State obtained First Class Honours in Governments, among others. Post graduate graduands Cross Section of graduands Page 5 MONDAY BULLETIN A Publication of The Office of The Executive Secretary 23rd January, 2017 Vol. 12 No. 4 Avoid invitations by EFCC, ICPC -Adamu Adamu warns VCs, Inuagurates OAU, Uniport Councils L-R: Executive Secretary, NUC, Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed; Honourable Minister of State for Education; Prof. Anthony Anwukah and Honourable Minister of Education, Mal. Adamu Adamu He cautioned against situation the Councils on Wednesday 18 competitive and attractive, in doing where Council and Management January 2017 at the Federal this you should ensure that the would be emerged in corruption Ministry of Education, Abuja, the universities' Master Plans and allegations saying that “A situation Honoureable Minister of Education Academic Briefs are respected and where Vice Chancellors and their Mallam Adamu Adamu remineded their provisions are strictly adhered Pro Chancellors would become them that Governing Councils was to. regular visitors to EFCC and ICPC the highest policy making body of I urge you to maintain appropriate because of allegations of the university therefore must leave and harmonious relationship with mismanagement, is very unhealthy up to task. the Management , Senate and other to the system”. According to him ““As Governing statutory organs of the universities The Federal Government of Councils ,you are expected to play as well as establish the leadership Nigeria has inaugurated the your roles with skill and efficiency, and accountability responsibilities Governing Councils of the you should be bold, innovative and of your Vice-Chancellors and other University of Port Harcourt and the responsive, you are expected to principal officers. I also urge you to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile provide the governance and the ensure that the universities' Ife with a charge on them to respect type of leadership that will managements follows extant the university laws.