UNN VC’s Wife Entertains Nsukka Prison Inmates

In keeping with her tradition of extending kindness to the less privileged members of the society, the wife of the Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Barrister (Mrs) Nwanneka Okolo, in company of some members of the University Women Association (UWA), recently entertained inmates of Nsukka prison with choice food and drinks.

Addressing some of the prisoners, Mrs Okolo, urged them to be hopeful of a better future, stating that regardless of their present seclusion, there was always hope for every living being.

 Further, she advised them to see themselves as essential part of the society, noting that those outside the prison were not necessarily better than them but enjoyed freedom out of sheer providence.

Mrs Okolo encouraged them to ask God to forgive them whatever wrong they committed in the past and also to forgive those they felt had offended them.
Reacting to a plea for assistance from one of the inmates undergoing a sewing rehabilitation programme, the Vice-Chancellor’s wife promised to donate a sewing machine to boost the efficiency of the prison’s tailoring workshop.

Responding to the gesture, the Deputy Controller in charge of Nsukka prison, Mr Simon Okorie, thanked Mrs Okolo for her benevolence to the inmates. He remarked that her donation was unique because she offered different choice food to the prisoners.

While lamenting acute shortage of water in the prison, the controller also bemoaned the attitude of the society towards convicts who have served out their terms.

He explained that, some members of the society rebuff ex-convicts; a development he said made it difficult for them to be easily reintegrated into the society.

In a vote of thanks, one of the inmates, Ugwu Kingsley Uchechukwu, thanked the Vice-Chancellor’s wife for her kindness, saying they were encouraged to know that individuals like Mrs. Okolo had noticed their plight and had taken practical steps to cushion them.

Uchechukwu, who interspersed his speech with Bible quotations, said that although some of them might have committed one crime or the other in the past, many of them had learnt their lessons and had turned a new leaf.

He implored Mrs. Okolo and other good spirited individuals of the society to come to their aid, stating that many of them were languishing in awaiting trials with no hope of getting justice.

Inya, Agha E. and Oma Ekwueme    
        

Gov. Obi rewards UNN best graduating student

Her gait was unassuming as she strode to the rostrum amidst thunderous cheers from more than 18,000 graduating students that gathered at the Margret Ekpo Convocation Arena of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, during the 42nd convocation ceremony of the Institution. Miss Oluchukwu Roseline Ejindu has just been announced as the overall best graduating student in the 2011/2012 session of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). Miss Ejindu graduated with a cumulative grade point of 4.77 in a scale of 5 points.

Presenting a valedictory address on behalf of other graduands, the Electronic Engineering graduate thanked the university management, under Prof Bartho Okolo, for providing a congenial environment and facilities that enabled them succeed in their studies and prayed God to grant Prof Okolo more grace to accomplish greater feats.

She attributed her success to the virtue of hard work which her family inculcated in her, and moral discipline she learnt by associating with Christian organisations in the university.

“Ladies and gentlemen, while not denying the place of hard work in this achievement and privilege I enjoy today, I must admit that my background and experience in life contributed immensely. I came from a home where I have always been encouraged to work hard and rewarded for all academic excellence,” she said.

Miss Ejindu said as an electronic engineer, she believed that the economic development of Nigeria would be driven by technology. “May I conclude by saying that Nigeria is a nation endowed with great mineral and human resources. The path to its vision of becoming one of the top advanced countries in the –vision 20-20-20 could only be accomplished through greater technological innovations. It is possible, very possible for Nigeria to be number one advanced nation in the world. E-Development is the answer”, she insisted.

Further, the Anambra State indigene, dedicated her achievement to her parent, particularly her father, whom she said provided everything she needed as a student, following the demise of her mother at her tender age.

Miss Ejindu, who enjoyed multiple scholarships from organisations, including; Exxon Mobil, MTN foundation, Etisalat and Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), said that she would like to further her education to enable her make meaningful contribution to the growth of the society.

On the eve of the convocation ceremony, the University had organised an award night to reward its best graduating students, Miss Ejindu earned the following awards; University award to the overall best graduating student of the session, best graduating student award of the Faculty of Engineering, best graduating student award of the Department of Electronic Engineering, Indira Gandhi Memorial prize to the best graduating student of the session, and best graduating female students award.

Others included; Hon. F.A Mbulu-Amadi Prize in Resource Development to the best graduating student of the session, UNN Community Bank Prize, to the Best Graduating Student and Ifenyinwa Ezechukwu Memorial prize to the best graduating student in Electronic Engineering.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi said he was thrilled and happy that Miss Ejindu was from Anambra state.  In the spirit of rewarding excellence, he announced that Anambra State Government will support and train Miss Ejindu to any level in any part of the world.

Governor Obi made the promise at UNN when he attended the Nigerian Literature award ceremony which was won by an alumna of the University, Chika Unigwe.

It is also on record that the 2010/2011 best graduating student of the University was also a female, a development that made the University orator, Dr (Mrs) Edith Nwosu, who anchored the convocation ceremony, to make a wakeup call to male students urging them to pick the challenge for excellence posed by their female counterparts.
 
However, the moving spirit behind the excellent performance of female students of the University may not be far-fetched, as the history of the University is replete with outstanding alumnae who have distinguished themselves in their different professions.

The success story of the likes of;  Dr  Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, Dora Akunyili, Chika Unigwe, Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo, just to mention but a few, continue to provide a source of inspiration to female students of the University who believe that they will one day become like their fore bearers.

Inya, Agha E. and Olanrewaju Ajala  

Jonathan Gives thumbs-up to UNN on Infrastructure Upgrade

The Governing Council and management of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN) has been applauded by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on their effort in advancing scholarship and promoting infrastructure development in the University.

  
Speaking during the 42nd convocation ceremony of the University of Nigeria, recently, the President noted with delight the infrastructure facelift in the University, and remarked that such feat would not have been possible without prudent   use of available resources by the current University administration led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bartho Okolo.

“Let me also congratulate the Governing Council and management of the University for its notable achievements within the context of enhanced government support to the educational sector since the beginning of this administration. The ongoing infrastructural development in the University are quite commendable. They could not have been achieved without prudent management of resources.

“With the success UNN has achieved, I need not overemphasize the need for other institutions of higher learning to emulate this good model, for accelerating the planning and development of their institutions. As one of Nigeria’s oldest Universities, UNN should continue to lead the way towards better standards of teaching, administration and research”, he said

The president, who was represented by the Secretary, National University Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, commended the rise of Nigeria universities in global ranking; he urged them to continue in their effort, stating that more needed to be done in the areas of research and technology innovations.

 Further, President Jonathan maintained that education was pivotal to the economic and social development of the country, he added that the strength and potentials of Nigerian population can only be taped when the people are educated.

 
He therefore reiterated the commitment of his administration to prioritizing education and ensuring that more Nigerians have access to quality education at all levels.
While congratulating over 19,000 graduating students of the University, the president also congratulated four distinguished Nigerians who were conferred with honorary Doctorate Degrees of the University. He expressed hope that the degrees would strengthen the recipients’ relationship with the University and enhance their contribution to national development.

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Bartho Okolo, reported that 1,730 graduands were conferred with higher degrees and post graduate diplomas, while 18,150 graduands were awarded first degrees and diploma certificates at the 42nd Convocation ceremony of the University.

Prof Okolo also announced that the University had taken advantage of its viable collaborations with over 40 reputable institutions across the world to train its young academics overseas at little or no cost.

On the state of infrastructure at the University, Prof Okolo said that some new projects which were stated two years ago had been completed, including 83- bedroom International Scholars Village, Presidential Guest Houses, Shell Centre for Environmental Management and Control (CEMAC), among others.

He added that the Department of Economics, Personnel Services Department, Students’ Multi-activity complex and Public Relations building were at their last stages of completion.
The Vice-Chancellor also said that the University was utilising her ubiquitous internet infrastructure to interface with teaching and learning. According to him, Hitachi Interactive Smart Boards and Projectors are being installed in classrooms and laboratories, while the University had signed a contract with Blackboard Company to develop an e-learning platform and online programmes of the University.

Prof Okolo acknowledged the benevolence of government, corporate organisations, alumni and good spirited individuals to the University, but said, like Oliver Twist, the University “needs some more”.

Inya Agha E.




         

Former Minister of Education, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili has blamed the rot in the education sector on imprudent management of Nigerian resources by successive governments in the country, who cared little or nothing about the decrepit state of public institutions.

Delivering the 42nd convocation lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, recently, Dr Ezekwesili said that the cost of mismanagement of resources in the country was more pronounced in the education sector which is currently fraught with failures and limitations compared to what it used to be in her undergraduate days.

She recalled that as the Minister of Education, she had discovered that since 1960, improved standard of education had contributed more than 50 percent of the rise in the standard of living of industrial countries, while less than half of the development was derived from the savings and investment of its citizens.

  “That knowledge inspired and fuelled my zeal to bring education to the front burners of our national development at that time. The result of the diagnostics that we produced on the state of our education system and sector was so heart wrenching that I was filled with angst at how low we had sunk educationally.

“Deciding to channel the angst positively, we  built a strong team that articulated some three hundred and sixty eight ‘root and branch’ reforms measures across the six levels and aspects of education-early childhood, basic, secondary, special needs and adult /informal education”, she said.

 The former minister added that the reforms would have salvaged the education sector but for the response of resistance by some of key political elites.

Dr Ezekwesili, who spoke on the topic “The wealth and Poverty of a Nation: Who shall Restore the Dignity of Nigeria”, also stated that the oil wealth of Nigeria had been mismanaged by the business and political elite who have turned Nigeria to a rentier state.

She warned that the country was sowing the seed of its implosion if it made no effort to advance to a productive economy.

 According to her, the dignity of Nigeria will be restored if youth embrace an entrepreneurial mindset that prides in problem solving.  She therefore urged them to take advantage offered by globalisation to save Nigeria from its circle of disastrous and destructive choices instituted by the older generation.

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Bartho Okolo thanked the guest lecturer, for accepting to present the 42nd convocation lecture, and remarked that the University was proud of her as its distinguished alumna.

Prof Okolo said that the lecture was apt at a time the University management was making investments that would drive revenue generation for the Institution.

 “I am personally delighted by the fact that this lecture is taken place at a time when management is also laying foundation for the sustainable development of our university. This can be seen from the recent investments which the University has made in developing the university liaison offices and Guest Houses in Abuja and Lagos, as well as the construction of the Presidential guest houses in Nsukka campus of the University for revenue generation”,  he said.

Further, the Vice-Chancellor said that the University of Nigeria, as the oldest University in the country, had always been relied upon by government and society to set the pace for best practices in scholarship. That mandate, according to him, had been upheld by the present and successive administrations of the university.

He added that his administration had committed huge resources into the development of infrastructure in order to secure the future of the university, as well as to keep pace with growth in students’ enrolment figure.

Prof Okolo therefore called on good spirited individuals, government agencies, corporate organisations, alumni and friends of the university to partner with the University in further development of infrastructure.

In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Elder Kalu U. Kalu noted that he had seen remarkable changes in the University in the areas of Infrastructure upgrade, environmental facelift and scholarship renaissance.

He praised the Vice-Chancellor for his undaunted commitment to development in the university and prayed that the strides of Prof Okolo would  be sustained by his successors. 

     
Inya, Agha E.
        
           
 

  Newsletter December 2012 Edition

  Newsletter December 2012 Edition

Minister Donates Bus, Tractor to UNN

In fulfillment of the pledge made to the University, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has donated a new Toyota Coaster Bus and a Tractor to the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, made the pledge when he attended a Conference organized by the Department of Soil Science of the University in March, 2012.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who was represented by the Director, South East Regional Officer, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Uche Nwafor, said that the donation was in line with the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) in the Ministry.

“It’s part of the Ministry’s intervention strategy to encourage our youths, particularly those involved in the study of agriculture to be truly committed to their studies as  the vehicle will assist to convey them to their land laboratory (farms) for experimentation and other assignments’’, he said.

Furthermore, he called on the academic institutions in the country to strive to make effective contributions to the development of the nation by being alive to their responsibilities both in teaching, learning and research. He said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was poised to assisting the development of agricultural activities in Universities to the best of its capability.

Speaking at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Bartho Okolo, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Malachy Okwueze, recalled that during the opening ceremony of the 36th Annual Conference of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria (SSSN) held at the University from 12th-16th March, 2012, the university appealed to the Hon. Minister to assist the Faculty of Agriculture by providing two very important items (tractor and a bus) in other to support the fourth year students.

He emphasized that the appeal had become a reality and thanked the Minister for redeeming his pledge. He also assured the Minister that the Faculty of Agriculture would not misuse the facilities but would utilize them effectively in other to achieve its purpose.

The Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Simeon O. C Ugwu, noted that the bus would be used to convey the 4th Year students to agricultural establishments for practical tours, while the tractor would help facilitate the acquisition of skills in mechanized agriculture.

Highlighting some of the facilities in the Faculty, the Dean said that the Faculty can boast of a well-structured Animal Farm Units for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry and grass cutter, as well as Departments and Units that could handle extension services, food processing and post-harvest problems.
He insisted that the Faculty had all the requirements to advance the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government, and was disposed to welcome any opportunity to partner with the Ministry.

Prof. Ugwu commended the Minister for fulfilling his promise and also appealed to him to assist the Faculty as the “farm year students” were in dire need of Aquaculture/Fish production farm, Cassava processing unit and a Bakery, noting that if provided, it would give the students the required training.

He also lauded the sterling contributions of the former Head, Department of Soil Science, Prof. C. Asadu who won the bid to host the Soil Science Society of Nigeria in 2012 and also helped to facilitate the redemption of the pledge by the Minister. He urged other colleagues to emulate Prof. Asadu’s patriotic spirit. 
Highpoint of the occasion was the handing over of the keys of the Toyota Coaster Bus and a Tractor by the Hon. Minister to the Vice-Chancellor who received them on behalf of the Faculty of Agriculture.

Olanrewaju Ajala

ExxonMobil Donates Equipment to UNN Department of Geology

  
As part of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) /Esso Exploration Petroleum Nigerian Limited (EEPNL) university partnership programme, designed to boost the quality of Nigerian graduates in the field of oil exploration, ExxonMobil recently donated a Logitech thin sectioning machine and nine Petro graphic microscopes and their accessories to the Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Acknowledging the recipt of the equipment, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Bartho Okolo, thanked ExxonMobil for the gesture and said that the machines will enhance the efficiency of the Department in training world class geologists.

“With this equipment, students will have tools to work with and they will be able to compete with their peers across the world. I am happy the way things are happening here, this is the way the young ones should grow. The equipment will make them better than us”, he said.

Prof Okolo explained that Universities across the world do not buy equipment for their departments but that the onus lied with faculty staff to attract needed equipment to their departments through research grants and proposals. He therefore commended the staff of the Department of Geology for attracting the equipment to the University and described their effort as a step in the right direction.

The Vice-Chancellor said that his administration was working round the clock to provide globally acceptable ambience necessary for academic activities to thrive in the University.  He said that over 300 classrooms in both Nsukka and Enugu campuses of the University were currently being fitted with modern chairs and smart boards to prepare the ground for lectures to he delivered with PowerPoint.

Prof. Okolo promised that his administration would ensure that a congenial environment will be made available to house the equipment and make them accessible to staff and students for the promotion of scholarship in the Institution.

Head, Department of Geology, Prof (Mrs) Obianuju Umeji  explained that the essence of the  University’s partnership with ExxonMobil  was to  upgrade research  equipment, enhance  students’ field trips and produce useable geological   maps that would be published by Geology Survey.

To achieve the objective, she said that ExxonMobil had donated the sum of N 4, 025 000 to support students’ logistics during their field trip, analysis and map production, and another N 1,365000 to support staff that would guide the students during the field exercise.

According to her, ExxonMobil did not only donate the money and equipment but had also put mechanisms in place to monitor the exercise and ensure that students were guided to achieve the desired result.

Part of the mechanisms according to her included a competition that would involve universities in the partnership programme to determine the institution that would produce the best usable map. She however said that only students in their 4th year were qualified for the exercise.

Prof Umeji added that ExxonMobil had also undertaken to sponsor the training of one of the technical staff of the Department in Scotland on the installation and operation of the new pieces of equipment.

She said that the programme had impacted positively on the quality of graduates produced by the Department as they were better equipped and more positioned to hold their feet in the labour market, adding that with support, the Department was now poised to produce a usable map that would replace the obsolete one that had been in use since the 1960’s.

Oma Ekwueme and Inya, Agha E.    

VC Commissions additional Laboratory Equipment

In keeping with his promise to position the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, as a research hub in Nigeria and Africa, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bartho Okolo has for the second time in four months, commissioned pieces of laboratory equipment meant to enhance research efficiency in the Institution. The benefiting faculties this time were the College of Medicine and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University.

The college of Medicine received 100 pieces of Binocular Microscopes meant for the Department of Anatomy, while the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine got general purpose Incubator Genlabs, PH meters, classic media Extendable, controller and circulator Grant, Spectrophotometer, Furnace ashing Nabertherm ,Microfuge MSE and Rotor Haematocrit tubes. 

  
Handing over the equipment to the faculties, Prof. Okolo noted that it was not normal for universities administration to purchase research equipment for their departments and faculties but said that it was the responsibility of faculties and departments to attract the needed equipment by writing research proposals and applying for grants.

He however said that his administration had to provide the equipment in order to jump start research activities in the university after it suffered set back as a result of past crisis and dilapidated infrastructure. He urged the young faculties to take advantage of the new equipment to boost their research capabilities and also attract fame and fortune to the University.

The Vice-Chancellor said that his administration had spent over 450 million Naira to fit classrooms with modern study chairs, adding that over 300 classrooms in the campuses of the university would benefit from the on-going installation of Hitachi Smart boards to enhance teaching and learning.

Further, Prof. Okolo said that the dream of providing a befitting ambience for the college of Medicine would be realized as 500 Million Naira had been earmarked for the project which would kick off in the next two months. He added that equipment had been ordered to uplift the cardiovascular unit to a centre of excellence.

Prof. Okolo therefore restated the determination of his administration to create a world class ambience that would promote research and encourage knowledge creation which would be beneficial to the University and the international  community.

In a vote of thanks, the Associate Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Prof C.O Nwosu, recalled that the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine had, few months ago, taken delivery of some laboratory equipment, including 18 units of Microscope and 3 PH metres. He said he was happy that another new pieces of equipment had arrived the Faculty within the shortest possible interval. 

Prof Nwosu said that young faculties had been fully trained on the use of the equipment and assured that arrangements were in top gear to provide a befitting laboratory to house and make the equipment accessible to researchers.

While thanking the University management for providing the equipment, Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. B. J. Onwubere, also noted that the affairs of the University were moving smoothly under the leadership of Prof Okolo, he pledged to join hands with the Vice-Chancellor to take the University to greater height.

Other Faculty members who expressed gratitude to the University management at the occasion included; Prof Silva Anika, Prof Basil Ezeanolue and Dr. J.O. Ezeugwuoye.

  Inya, Agha E.              

1. The University of Nigeria and UNESCO Headquaters, Paris have pleasure in announcing UNESCO- Scientific m-learning training workshop which will take place from 25 to 29 March 2013 at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.


2. This Workshop, aims to guide the academic community in developing countries into the potentialities of the newest mobile educational possibilities and the creation of scientific contents for mobile devices.

3. It also aims to give a balanced mix of technical detail, general overview, societal impact and a sense of the possible with "Scientific Mobile Learning". The programme was prepared by UNESCO Science Sector in collaboration with the ICTP-Science Dissemination Unit (SDU) in Trieste, Italy and it is based on the first training activity held in Trieste in 2012 by UNESCO-SDU which now is being carried out around the world.