Education
JUST IN: NUC Approves New Varsity For Ebonyi
JUST IN: NUC Approves New Varsity For Ebonyi
The National Universities Commission has approved the establishment of Ebonyi State University of ICT, Science and Technology, Oferekpe.
Presenting a letter of recognition of the new university to Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, on Thursday, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, said the institution is now recognised as the 66th state university in Nigeria and the 278th in the Nigerian University System.
He said a copy of the recognition letter would be forwarded to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, the National Youth Service Corps and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
The NUC boss, however, revealed that the university will only commence academic activities after the necessary resource verification.
“We want to say on the part of the Commission, that we are ready and willing to support this young university. However, we need to indicate that giving a recognition letter is not equated with starting or commencement of academic activities. We will still have to undertake what is called resource verification.
“The Commission will visit when the university is ready, it will invite the Commission to go and look at the state of affairs, to look at the infrastructure, to look at the classrooms, look at the library, look at the staffing.
“After that, the Commission will give the go-ahead for the commencement of academic activities. It is pertinent to note that this university becomes the 66th state university,” he said.
“The reason for the establishment of this university is to ramp up the access to quality and affordable tertiary education, particularly for the State indigenes and grant everyone the opportunity to tertiary education in order to address the needed technological manpower requirements of the State in particular and the Nation in general, especially now that the World is fast-changing because of the tech-driven phenomenon,” he said.
Nwifuru added, “The need for adequate funding for sustainability of institutions of this magnitude is never lost on us as a government. And I want to assure you that Ebonyi State, under my leadership will ensure that adequate budgetary provisions, in both capital and recurrent expenditures, are made available on a sustainable basis, in order to guarantee the academic growth, relevance and quality assurance of this nascent institution.
“On the gradual take-off of this university, I want to further inform the Executive Secretary that the State Government has already injected critical mass of funds towards the construction of some strategic buildings on the university campus at Oferekpe, Agbaja, Izzi LGA. As of today, the following structures, like the Senate Building, the Staff Quarters, the Students’ Hostels, the Faculty Buildings, the University Library, etc are at various stages of completion.”
Ebonyi
On the critical manpower needed to drive the developmental strides of this university, the governor said, ” I am happy to inform the Executive Secretary that the Principal off this have since been appointed by my government. And just last Saturday, I had the honour and privilege to flag off the Ebained State scholarship program, where about 1000 students are already being trained for Master’s and Doctorate degrees in both local and foreign universities.
“It is intended that on graduation, these trained officers shall be injected into the various tertiary institutions in Ebonyi State in order to contribute in building the needed human capital development in the State.”
FG Approves 40% Salary Increase For Lecturers, Introduces ₦140,000 Professorial Allowance
FG approves 40% salary increase for lecturers, introduces ₦140,000 professorial allowance. The Federal Government has approved a 40 per cent salary increase for lecturers and introduced a new professorial cadre allowance, giving professors a monthly top-up of over ₦140,000.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the measures on Wednesday, following the signing of a new agreement with ASUU that ends a 16-year stalemate over the 2009 FGN–ASUU pact.
Universities
He said the deal includes nine clearly structured Earned Academic Allowances and assured that funding has been secured for full implementation across federal tertiary institutions.
Government Warns Churches Against Noise Pollution During School Hours In Anambra
Government warns churches against noise pollution during school hours in Anambra. The government ordered the church to reschedule its weekday activities to commence from 4:00 p.m., after school hours.
The Anambra government has expressed concern over the alleged noise pollution from church activities during school hours in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre.
The education commissioner, Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, stated this while speaking on a petition written to the ministry by a private school in the city.
The school alleged that noise from a nearby church’s activities during school hours was disrupting its academic activities.
Ms Chuma-Udeh described the development as worrisome.
The petition, signed by the school’s proprietress, Ngozi Udeh, was filed against Divine Dominion Prophetic Ministry, located directly opposite the school premises.
According to Ms Udeh, the church, built in 2024, has recently intensified its activities, generating excessive noise, particularly on Tuesdays, when services reportedly run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
She further alleged that the noise was consistently distracting students and teachers, thereby disrupting teaching and learning during school hours, despite several appeals to the church leadership.
Addressing both parties in her office in Awka on Tuesday, the commissioner said the Governor Charles Soludo-led administration would not condone any act that infringes on students’ constitutional right to learn in a peaceful and conducive environment.
She noted that noise pollution was an offence under the Nigerian law and was punishable once established.
She therefore advised religious institutions to ensure that noise generated on their premises was properly contained, especially when schools are located within hearing distance.
Ms Chuma-Udeh also urged the church leadership to explore peaceful ways of coexisting with the school, in alignment with the true values of Christianity, and given that the school had existed in the area before the church was built.
Anambra Governor Soludo
The commissioner ordered the church to reschedule its weekday activities to commence from 4:00 p.m., after school hours. She warned that failure to comply with the directive would compel the ministry to involve the Ministry of Environment, with the attendant legal consequences.
The commissioner said that while churches might hold activities from morning to evening on Saturdays and Sundays, external examinations, such as WAEC, NECO and JAMB, must take precedence, even on Saturdays.
Responding, the assistant pastor of the church, Emmanuel Ukpabi, promised that the church would work harmoniously with the school to ensure mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
Governor Otti Inaugurates Committee To Implement Safe School Policies
Governor Otti inaugurates committee to implement safe school policies. The Abia government has inaugurated a State Safe School Steering Committee to safeguard educational institutions.
The Abia government has inaugurated a State Safe School Steering Committee to safeguard educational institutions.
The information commissioner, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday during a media briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia.
Mr Kanu said the development formed part of the Abia government’s strategic efforts to safeguard lives and property in Abia, especially amid recent security concerns across the country regarding school safety.
He said, “This is in response to the growing need to safeguard educational institutions in the state, following emerging security concerns around the country.
During the inauguration, it was highlighted that the committee will serve as a multi-sectoral strategic platform to coordinate state-level implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration.
“The safe schools declaration includes developing and monitoring safety and protection protocols for schools across the state.”
Alex Otti
Mr Kanu also said that the government had announced the resumption of schools statewide for the second term of the 2025/2026 academic session.
He said that education officers covering the basic and secondary levels would monitor compliance to ensure that all public schools reopened as scheduled.
Mr Kanu said that work was in progress on smart school projects being executed by the state government, recording major milestones in infrastructure, equipment, and teacher training for smart schools.
He added that two smart schools may be inaugurated in February, following substantial completion.
-
Crime8 months agoKogi Assembly Considers Law To Regulate Rent, Establish Control Board: Tenancy Law
-
News10 months agoAtiku Reveals Why He Failed To Pick Wike As Running Mate In 2023
-
Crime11 months agoFederal High Court Jails 2 For Vandalizing Transformer, Telecom Mast In Kogi
-
Akwa Ibom12 months agoThe Apostolic Church Gets New Territorial Chairman, Exco
-
News11 months agoThe Apostolic Church Gets New National President, Executive
-
Akwa Ibom12 months agoUmo Eno Commences Payment Of 80,000 Naira Minimum Wage With Arrears
-
News11 months agoSenator Natasha Returns To Senate With Husband Amid Seat Dispute
-
Economy8 months agoKiyosaki: Is Tinubu’s Government Afraid Of Ibrahim Traore?