I have been directed to inform you that plans by Vice Chancellors to commence academic activities in April 2012, should temporarily be put on hold.
The final decisions are expected to be made by the Honourable Minister of Education, after her visiting your campuses, to ascertain your level of preparedness.
Please be informed that the physical inspection of all University sites has already been commenced with her visit to the Federal University, Lafia, on Teusday, 24 April, 2012.
The Vice Chancellors shall please be informed on the visit time of the HME.
Kindly accept the continued esteemed assurances of the Executive Secretary.
UNQUOTE
The Honorable Minister of Education Prof. Rukkayat Rufai and the Minister of State Mr. Nyesom Wike have have been making the rounds of visitations, splitting the NNFUs among the two of them. For example, as evident from the note quoted above, Minister Rufai quietly visited Federal University, Lafia (which had proposed to commence activities at the end of April) on Tuesday April 24, while Minister of State Wike (understandably with much press in tow) visited the Federal University, Otuoke (which proposed start at the end of May at the last review meeting) on Wednesday, May 2 as widely reported in the newspapers. ALL the various campuses have now been visited, with Federal University Ekiti being visited last on Friday May 4 by Minister Rufai and NUC Secretary Okojie.
It is NOT accurate (as reported by Vanguard and Leadership below) that Minister Wike DEFERRED the take-off of FU Otuoke till September, 2012. Rather, what he stated on camera, and what I as VC also joined him in stating on camera - and as widely shown on AIT on May 2 - was that if it took till September 2012 to ensure that ALL arrangements that would lead to an orderly and safe environment for ALL students and staff to live and learn in, so be it; no university should be rushed.
What I as VC and the management of the Federal University, Otuoke - and indeed all my colleagues at the NNFU - are working towards, therefore, is the commencement of academic activities at the EARLIEST POSSIBLE TIME from now, but no later than September 2012, after full consultation with the NUC and MOE. Realising that the different universities have different take-off challenges - some (like Otuoke) are starting from greenfields and other environmental challenges while others are inheriting tertiary institution structures in more arid climate - eventually those start dates will possibly be different. Students, their parents and the world at large will however be adequately informed of our start dates by and by.
With respect to the redemption of almost 20% of its pledges - and to the tune of N1 billion - the host Otuoke Community has been remarkably successful, notwithstanding the fact that it would like to be even more successful. In fact, an experienced fund raiser notes the following:
QUOTE
In my experience, it is customary to receive approximately 10% of the funds when you secure the pledge, with about 30% of the fund being collected by the end of the active solicitation period (assuming 18-months of active solicitation with a five-year pledge payment period). Redeeming the remaining balance of 70% of the pledge depends upon a successful Continuation Phase or Pledge Redemption Phase.
UNQUOTE
Over the coming months and years, the University will work with the Community to further increase the success of this Redemption phase, and to continue to raise its own funds from both public and private sources. Our Office of Institutional Advancement will coordinate this effort.
Best wishes all. Your interest in the Federal University Otuoke, Home of the Crocodiles, in Bayelsa State, the Gloryland State of the Nation, is much appreciated.
Prof. Mobolaji E. Aluko
Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Otuoke
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/fg-defers-take-off-of-bayelsa-varsity-till-sept/
VANGUARD
FG defers take-off of Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, till September
Education Thursday, May 3, 2012
By Favour Nnabugwu
The Federal Government has deferred the take-off of Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State till September for lack of sufficient funds to provide the needed environment for students of the institution.
Minister of State for Education, Barr. Nyesom Wike who was on inspection of Federal Ministry of Education's projects in Bayelsa said that the university could not take off till September when the institution would have mounted sufficient pressure on its contractors to put more efforts in grading the university for take off of its pioneer students five months from now.
Wike though expressed government's appreciation of the efforts and commitment of Bayelsians for raising funds N1billion for the institution though a total of N5.5billion was pledged by the indegenes but only N1billion has so far been realised from the community.
According to him, "I am very happy for what the community has been able to do so far. This is the first time a community would be so committed to a federal government institution in their domain.
"If we can have the names of those who have made pledges but have not redeemed their pledges of N4.5 billion, we can appeal to them to redeem those pledges because it will help quicken the take off of the university."
The minister said that the university currently has two faculties- Humanity and Social Science and 12 programmes for now adding that with the structures already on ground, the institution needs to be fenced round for security of the students and also carry out landscaping of the environment.
"I am happy with the buildings on ground so far but I'm worried about the fencing and landscaping that are not in place yet. There is still enormous work to be done hence we cannot approve the university for take-off immediately. We will give them some time to prepare the institution for take-off."
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/23577/2012/05/03/federal_varsity_otuoke_take_september.html
LEADERSHIP
Federal Varsity Otuoke To Take Off In September
The federal government has yesterday deferred the take of Federal University in Otuoke, Bayelsa State till September this year for lack of sufficient funds to provide the needed environment for students of the institution.
Minister of state for education, Barr Nyesom Wike who was on inspection of Federal Ministry of Education's projects in Bayelsa, said the university could not take off till September when the institution would have mounted sufficient pressure on its contractors to put more efforts in grading the varsity for takeoff of its pioneer students five months from now.
Wike though expressed government's appreciation of the efforts and commitment of Bayelsians for raising the sum of N1billion for the institution and even though a total of N5.5billion was pledged by the indigenes, only N1billion has so far been realised from the community
The minister said the university currently has two faculties- humanity and social science and 12 programmes for now, adding that with the structures already on ground, the institution needs to be fenced round for the security of the students and also carry out landscaping of the environment.
Explaining the fund raising fiesta of the community to the education minister, HRH, Chief Lot Ogiasa, the 10th Obanema of Otuoke stated that the community was elated that a federal university was brought to their community.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
No comments:
Post a Comment