Connect with us

EDUCATION

Academic activities resume at UI after ASUU strike

Published

on

Sigma Club, a students’ club in the University of Ibadan(UI), has awarded a million naira scholarship to ten brilliant and indigent students of the university. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the announcement was made during the club’s scholarship and awards ceremony held at the UI Alumni Centre on Sunday. NAN reports that the club, founded in 1950 is one of the oldest surviving students’ organisation in West Africa The club had in addition to the scholarship, conferred honorary membership as “Sigma Scholar” on the beneficiaries. Mr Valentine Igbonekwu, the Sigma Chief, said that the one million naira would be shared among the 10 beneficiaries at N100,000 per annum until the end of the end of their programme. He said that the scholarship, which covered the beneficiaries’ tuition and accommodation, would be paid to the school directly by the club. Igbonekwu noted that the balance of the amount paid would be given to each beneficiary at the beginning of every session. According to her, the scholarship scheme is an initiative of the socio-philanthropic club aimed at helping to solve the existential problems affecting the educational sector by rewarding and awarding diligent but indigent students. “Its objective is to provide full and relief scholarships to enable them complete their education and actualise their academic goals. “The scholarship scheme was established in 1986 and since then about 87 students have benefitted. Through the receipt of the Sigma Scholarship, beneficiaries become Sigma Scholars. “This noble gesture is in continuation of the club’s noble tradition of philanthropy, which is aimed at improving the lives of people in our immediate environment as well as cause a rapid upliftment of humanity. “Our motive lies in breeding Sigma Scholars who shall make positive impacts and monumental contributions to the development of our society and the world at large,’’ he said. Prof. Gabriel Ogunmola, the Chairman of the event and Chancellor, Lead City University in Ibadan, commended the club for standing out at a time many are thinking the average youth cannot contribute meaningfully to the society. “I am happy that the club has not derailed from the philanthropic cause I had always known it for. “I call on the beneficiaries to remain morally upright, outstanding in their academics and be agents of change, seizing every opportunity to give back to the society,’’ he said. Dr Okon Onyong, the Chairman, Sigma Scholarship Scheme Board of Trustees, congratulated the beneficiaries and promised more commitment to the scheme. Onyong, the Chief Executive Officer, Jevkon Oil and Gas, recounted the unforgettable memories of his being a loyal Sigmite as an undergraduate. Prof. Idowu Olayinka, the UI Vice-Chancellor, commended the prestigious club for taking a bold step towards alleviating the financial conditions of future leaders. Olayinka, who was represented by Dr Demola Lewis, the Deputy Dean of Students, expressed great optimism at the sustained and continued success of the scheme. He also appreciated the blossoming rapport the club had with the school management over the decades. Kikiowo Kingsley, one of the beneficiaries, promised that they would continue to lead the crusade for the change the society needed, while sustaining the tradition of academic excellence. Kingsley, a first-class student of the Faculty of Law, expressed profound gratitude to the club for finding them worthy of the lifetime opportunity. NAN reports that the ten beneficiaries emerged from a list of 38 shortlisted out of the 77 applicants from various departments in the institution after a screening examination was conducted. The event was also attended by the representative of the Old Sigmites’ Association, Dr Femi Oyamakin and members of the all-male undergraduate club.

Students of University of Ibadan (UI) on Monday resumed academic activities after staying three months at home following suspension of national strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Our correspondent who visited UI on Monday reports that a large number of students who had resumed were sighted at their faculties and in lecture rooms.

Some lecturers were also seen taking classes while UI authorities had released a review of the academic calendar for the rest of the 2017/2018 session.

Some of the students, who spoke with our correspondent expressed delight at the suspension of the ASUU strike and resumption of academic work.

Damilola Popoola, a 100 level student of the Department of Adult Education and Ndeheyne Amen of the Department of Theatre Arts, said some lecturers came to class to teach but some students were yet to return to school.

“We have started lectures already; most of my colleagues are yet to be back while some are on their way to school.

“I am glad to be back in school because I was bored staying at home, though I used the period of the strike to learn a vocational skill and also to read my books,” Popoola said.

Amen said that the shifted Presidential and National Assembly elections could be responsible for some students not returning back to school immediately
“Some students are a bit worried about the effect of the postponed elections on the revised academic calendar as some days would be declared as holiday for the exercise to hold,“ she said.

Meanwhile, Mr Olatunji Oladejo, Director of Communication, UI, confirmed that academic activities had resumed in the school.

He said that the school, through Prof. Adeyinka Aderinto, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) had released a statement to that effect and academic work had resumed in earnest.

“The VC, on behalf of Senate, has approved the attached adjustment in the Academic Calendar for the rest of the 2017/2018 session.

“Only dates have been adjusted in the calendar. You would recall that we had 23 days to the commencement of GES examinations and examinations in some Faculties when the strike started,” he said.

The revised academic calendar indicate that three weeks are left for teaching and revision spanning a period from Feb. 18 to March 8 while the GES exams would take place from March 11 to March 15.

Examinations in the faculties are expected to start on March 11 through to April 5 after which students will proceed home for Easter from April 19 to April 22.

The revised academic calendar also indicated that a new session 2018/2019 would commence on June 1 for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

NEWSVERGE, published by The Verge Communications is an online community of international news portal and social advocates dedicated to bringing you commentaries, features, news reports from a Nigerian-African perspective. A unique organization, founded in the spirit of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, comprising of ordinary people with an overriding commitment to seeking the truth and publishing it without fear or favour. The Verge Communications is fully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a corporate organization.

Comments
NIGERIA DECIDES

NIGERIA DECIDES

Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
Shell Digital Plan RESPONSIVE600x750
GTB
JoinOurWhatsAppChannel