12112020 - #EndSARS PROMOTERS' ACCOUNTS: M-Belt, Ohanaeze, Afenifere, others blast Akeredolu

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42 — Vanguard, , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020 UI: When selecting new VC pits academic against non-academic staff By Adesina Wahab & Deola Badru WHO becomes the next Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, UI, has pitted academic against nonacademic staff in the premier university, with each side poised for war over the selection process. The faceoff started when nonacademic staff, that is members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU and those of the Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, disrupted the process of selecting a new Vice Chancellor for the institution, as they accused the outgoing VC, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, of trying to impose a candidate of his choice on the institution. Specifically, the workers, who shut all gates leading to the university when members of the Governing Council were about to conclude their screening process and thereby disrupted the exercise, alleged that Olayinka is planinng to impose one of his deputies, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, on the institution. Adebowale is one of the six shortlisted candidates that were billed to meet the members of the Governing Council, so as to prune down the list of contenders to three, but the protest by the workers aborted the exercise. The SSANU Chairman, Mr. Wale Akinremi, who spoke on behalf of the workers, alleged that the outgoing VC had shown that he would try to impose his preferred candidate on the institution's workforce. Public property He said: "University of Ibadan is a public property we must protect, no matter how big you are. Those that are on the Council through election within, majority of them got there through manipulated and fraudulent electoral process. The whole of the workforce will never work with Prof. Adebowale. Let their agents tell them, the media should tell the Federal Government of Nigeria, they must cancel the process, we must restart. Prof Olayinka must handover to an Acting VC who is unbiased, who will be free, who will not manipulate the electoral process." Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Nde Joshua Waklek, said the Council would discharge its duties without fear or favour, adding that because of the development, the selection process had been put on hold. He added that the Council had no preferred candidate among the aspirants. He urged the unions to go about making their demands in legal and constitutional way. Describing the action of the nonacademic staff as unnecessary, the Senate of the university said their action did not represent the wishes and aspirations of the university. The Senate at a meeting attended by 188 members held inside the International Conference Centre, also lambasted the workers for their action. Prof. Oluyemisi Bsmigbose (SAN), who presented the resolutions of the Senate, said the actions of the workers was an embarrassment to the Council, adding that unions had no role to play in the appointment of Vice Chancellor. She declared that the Senate affirmed the process of the appointment of the Vice- Chancellor thus far, adding that it was in line with the extant laws. The Senate added that the process should continue and be concluded forthwith without any delay. Not only this, the Senate recommended normal university disciplinary procedures for the erring staff with immediate effect. Some members of the Senate were appointed to visit the Minister of Education with a copy of the resolution taken at the meeting. in their reply, the non-academic staff said members of the Senate that met were not the true reflection of the Senate of the institution. In a speech titled: "A Response to the So-called Senate Meeting Resolution of 4th November, 2020," the JAC Chairman, Mr. Wale Akinremi, who described the Senate meeting as a drama, said: "The meeting was a political meeting of Olayinka Peoples Party. Our Senate can never be a meddlesome interloper, petty and infantile." He described as empty, the threat by the Senate to discipline members of the unions found wanting in any way. He said: "You don’t stop someone that is free from a macabre dance in the market place. Their threat By Elizabeth Osayande WITH the economies around the world recovering from the effects of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, an expert has said there will be a shift to a learner-centered system that will marry continuous learning with technology at all levels in ways never seen before. This is because the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore fault lines, particularly within the education space requiring educators, learners and parents alike to be aware of the realities that existed across the spectrum before the pandemic. Angela Nganga, Education Lead, Middle East & Africa Emerging Markets at Microsoft who revealed this at a recent event said: "Educators and institutions need to realise that the onesize-fits-all approach to education that existed for hundreds of years has to go through an ‘unprecedented shift’ from a culture of teaching to a culture of learning. The reality of it is that educators were and have also been placed into unfamiliar territory where more societal and technological factors to eas- is empty and shallow. It cannot fly or go anywhere. So, why do we have to dissipate energy on that?" "They do not have a right to sit on our matter in the first place. Senate is meant for purely academic matters. That was why we stated and answered them in parables that we do not belong to their class. We are non-teaching members of staff but they all know that we are well-read. Some of us attended better institutions than the majority of them. On the claim that the unions didn’t have a say in the selection of the VC, he said: “Is that not contrary to logic? You have a say as Nigerians? All Nigerians have a say in anything public. We do not say we will directly appoint a Vice- Chancellor, we didn’t say that either copiously or inadvertently. But we have the right to call the attention of the management to our observations. "What we made was an observation but because they have •The Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, LASU, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, SAN (left) and the Chairman, Board of Trustees, TETfund, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, during the visit of TETfund board members and directors to LASU. Technology will aid learner-centred education — Expert ing learners into the new normal needed to be explored – a first for many. "Governments, institutions and individuals began to band together, navigating the ‘unsettled zone’ where issues and questions involve getting access to the right technology, communication management and equity i.e. access to devices and connectivity – through to the ‘learning zone’, where issues include enabling continuous learning, provid- AN educationist, and principal of Lekki British School, Mr. Ben Greyling, has advocated for the adoption of total education concept in high school curriculum in the country. Mr. Greyling, who was speaking to newsmen in Lagos, stated that total education concept entails that high school curriculum should embrace both academic tutorials and skills acquisition side by side to prepare school leavers adequately and make them all-round complete products for the challenging world. issues with democratic tenets, they think that they can force things on everybody because they are used to bullying everybody and we will not fall for that." He also denied the accusations that the union members pelted members of the Council during the protest, noting that: "Let the Council member that was pelted come out to say it to our face." The six remaining contenders for the position are Prof. Femi Mimiko of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State. Others are Adebowale, a former DVC, Abideen Aderinto, Olusegun Ademowo, Olatunde Farombi and Babatunde Salako, all of whom are from the University of Ibadan. The list of aspirants would have been prunned down by the Waklekled panel which also had Sir Ben Okoronkwo, Dr (Ms) Uchena Uba who is representing the Federal Ministry of Education, Prof. Ezekiel Ayoola and Prof. Peter Olapegba. ing support to students who lack independent skills as well and providing support to parents of students as well. The global response we have seen within the spheres of education at all levels has demonstrated how technology can help transform how we teach and learn. This powerful shift to a learner-centered system will be amplified by technology and driven by education that is steeped in purpose and meaning." Northern Youth Parliament confers award on Ewenla NORTHERN Youth Parlia ment has conferred an award on the Chief Executive Officer of Ultimate Health Management Services, Chief Lekan Ewenla. The Speaker of the Northern Youth Parliament, Aminu Maiturare, said the award, ‘The Epitome of Hope of Northern Youth,” was conferred on Ewenla because of his love for the masses, the education of young ones and the unity of the country. He advised other elite to “take the unity of Nigeria to be sacrosanct irrespective of religion, ethics or regional differences. “I advise the youth to be tolerant of each other and embrace peace as the country needs us. We constitute 70 per cent of the population of the country. We can even change the fate of the country. We can decide who can rule this country. But first we have to tolarate each other at any cost.” On his part, Ewenla advised youths to stand for the truth and shun any form of violence. He said the youth should continue to develop themselves and resist being used to foment trouble. We are preparing all round students — Principal, British Oasis Academy By Mary Obaebor THE Principal, British Oasis Academy, Abuja, Mr. James A. Olawale, has said the school's focus to prepare its students academically, morally and in arts and other extra curricular activities is to make the students citizens of the world who will be well-equipped for the challenges of the future. Olawale, who spoke on what the school has to offer, noted that education is more than sitting in a clasroom and being taught a particular subject. “The oasis is the water point in the desert. We need to be able to provide education services in this location and fertilize the lives of the young ones by way of preparing them for the future in a very expansive way. The school is a specially built up boarding system providing a world class education to students from year 7 to 12 with a high level of pastoral support as well as academic excellence in a safe environment conducive for learning. "With the school’s passion of discovering and nurturing the hidden potential in every student in our care, learning goes beyond lessons. We offer a vast array of exciting activities and opportunities to help our students develop and become inquisitive. Our students are also encouraged to develop in a much broader sense through technology, ICT, music, arts, sports and other cocurricular activities. Above all, they are helped to imbibe good moral character, acquire social confidence and responsibility," he stressed. Educationist advocates total education concept in schools According to him, the essence of adopting the total education concept in our schools curriculum will create various options for our high school products in their further pursuits and engagements while integrating themselves in to the academic and economy ladder of the country. The LBS principal drew example from the British curriculum standard of the Lekki British school in Nigeria, which he explains, makes the provision of total education it’s core value in moulding their students to fit in to various aspects of human endeavour after graduation, and also guaranteeing a tradition of delivering excellent academic results year after year. Mr. Greyling, who commended the 100 per cent A-C grades recorded in this year IGCSEs by the final year students of the Lekki British School, even in this challenging year of COVID-19 pandemic, attributed their success to quality training by their well-grounded tutors, and the unique training techniques being adopted by the school under their total education concept approach.
Vanguard, , THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020 — 43 We followed due process before starting renovation works in our secretariat — LASU ASUU By Adesina Wahab THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Lagos State University, LASU, chapter has said it followed due process before starting renovation works in its secretariat, dismmising claims by some former union leaders that the current exco has no right to the facility. In a statement by the Chairman, Dr Ibrahim Bakare and the Secretary, Dr Sylvester Idowu, the union said a.dismissed member of staff had no right to meddle in the affairs of the union. It added that there was no forcible take over of the facility, as the current exco was duly elected and put in place by the congress of the union. "There are no factions in ASUU-LASU Branch. The Ibrahim Bakare-led exco of ASUU-LASU is the one known in LASU. It was inaugurated on the 24th January, 2020 after a keenly contested election under the auspices of the Prof Ishaq Akintola-led Caretaker Committee. "The signatory to the letter The Cable referred to ceased to be a staff of the university since September, 2019. Aside the fact that the tenure of the erstwhile exco lapsed in 2018, the five members of the exco dismissed in 2017 and 2019 were accused of the allegations that ranged from illegal alteration of students' exams scores to extortion of money from students and stealing of confidential documents. Their offences had nothing to do with union matters. "It was at the meeting of ASUU-LASU Congress of July, 2020 that the decision to renovate the union secretariat was taken, pending the take-off of a new one at the permanent site. Thus, the exco sought the approval of the V.C. Approval was given. We wrote the Security Unit of the university to seek its presence at the secretariat to take inventory of items there. The Security Unit requested the presence of the Legal Unit, the Works Dept; and the Multimedia Centre at the secretariat before we could commence renovation. "On Thursday, 5th November, 2020, representatives of all the university organs and that of the DPO, Ojo converged on the secretariat to formally serve a sevenday notice to officials in the Oke-Odo Senior High School wins Lagos Debate Competition By Elizabeth Osayande OKE-ODO Senior High School, Alimosho has emerged the best school and champions in the grand finale of Year 2020 Lagos State Schools Debate (Season X) with 75 points beating Lagos State Senior Model College, Kankon, Badagry with 73 points and Babs-Fafunwa Millennium Secondary School, Ojodu with 71 points for the second and third positions respectively. In the Junior category, Alimosho Junior Grammar School, Alimosho; Lagos State Model Junior College, Kankon and Lagos State Junior Model College, Igbokuta came first, second and third respectively. The Star Prize of the Primary Schools category went to Olisa Primary School, Mushin while the second and third prizes were won by African Church Primary School, Alimosho and Saint Agnes Primary School, Kosofe respectively. Speaking at the Virtual Grand Finale, Honourable Commissioner for Education, secretariat. The applcation letter for approval from exco and that of approval from the V.C's office were given the secretarial clerk and also pasted on the secretariat. At the expiration of the sevenday notice, the renovation would commence. "From the foregoing, ASUU- LASU Exco is rightfully carrying out the directive of congress in the collective interest of members and image-enhancement of our union when the renovation is completed. Even, in the event that the erstwhile exco wins its case against the university in the court of law, the fact remains that it joyfully returns to take over a befitting secretariat. So, why the attack on ASUU-LASU exco and the blackmail of the Vice Chancellor? "Our position as ASUU- LASU exco is that it is an abberration, an absurdity and very unacceptable for a dismissed staff to interfere in the affairs of the institution/ organisation from where he was dismissed until the court of competent jurisdiction rules otherwise, or else, his actions are prejudicial. This is the peak of impunity," the union said. •L-R: Miss Salam Hamdalat and Miss Anifowose Mary of Alimosho Junior Grammar School, Alimosho; winners (Junior School Category); Master Babalola David and Miss Alli Rokibat of Olisa Primary Schoo, Mushin; winners (Primary School category); Miss Enabulele Adebukola and Master Iyiola Abdul Rasaq of Oke Odo Senior High School, Alimosho; winners (Senior School category) during the awards presentation ceremony for the Year 2020 Lagos State School Debate Competition (Season X). Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, opined that the competition, "an initiative of the state government which is aimed at producing socially stable and self-reliant students that can easily integrate into the larger society is no doubt serving its purpose." Adefisayo enthused that the debate competition over the years had enabled students think critically, analyzing topical issues that concern them and their environment, adding that "this gives them an opportunity to express themselves and proffer solutions to situations affecting the nation and beyond." The commissioner further stressed that apart from cognitive skills taught in the classroom, the competition was an avenue for the children to explore public speaking which could boost their confidence, making them more assertive and most importantly, the debate enables them to read more and make research about various topics and trending issues. Earlier in her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Abosede Adelaja, while commending the teachers, said that irrespective of schools closure because of the Coronavirus pandemic, they devised means of grooming the students virtually for the competition, engaging them on how to make their salient points and convince the audience.“Learning should not just be only academic but creating an enabling environment where the child can display his/her skills and abilities is very germane,” she added. She therefore appreciated the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo- Olu for always giving children the needed support in terms of provision of qualitative education so that they could achieve their dreams of becoming whatever they want to become in life. vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES 018773962, Ohanaeze, Afenifere, NBA M-Belt, others blast Akeredolu Continues from Page 41 the President General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, the apex Igbo group said there was no need to freeze the accounts as their protest was legitimate. The statement read: “Protest is a legitimate weapon of complaint in a democracy. The right to protest any perceived negative action of government or organisation is upheld in the Constitution of the country. Mr. President admitted and confirmed that during the #EndSARS protest. In fact, President Buhari himself led many protests against former President Jonathan. “The #EndSARS protest was peaceful and legitimate until some hoodlums were sent in to disrupt it and make it violent. So, freezing the accounts of the alleged leaders of the protest is high-handed, ill-advised and unnecessarily vindictive. “Moreover, it has the capacity of triggering off another wave of protest, the end of which nobody can fathom. The frozen accounts should be released immediately to allow sleeping dogs lie. Some people are sponsoring Boko Haram, have they frozen their accounts? “The protesters were peaceful until some SUVs were seen in viral videos dropping hoodlums that started causing chaos. Have they fished out the people? Let this government be sincere to itself.” FG’s approach wrong – Concerned Professionals Also, Concerned Professionals in a joint statement by Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN; Dr. Isuwa Dogo; Femi Falana, SAN; Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; Olutola Mobolurin; and Prof. Pat Utomi, said the #EndSARS campaign would have made the government adopt a more realistic approach to solving the problems confronting this country which led the youths to go on peaceful protests but the reverse is the case. ‘’It is unfortunate that rather than developing trust in the youths that their complaints would be convincingly addressed as promised when the protests were on, the government has embarked on victimization and witchhunting of sponsors of the protests by seizing their passports, arresting and detaining them sometimes with spurious charges and freezing the accounts of the said sponsors. ‘’Sad, the government that is not trusted by the people, which led to the elongation of the protests, is behaving in a way that further undermines the people’s trust in government. There is clearly a betrayal of trust and breach of good faith in the negotiation with the #EndSARS youths. It is the promise to look into the complaints of the youths that made many people counsel an end to the protests. The recent approach of the government is a reinforcement of the lack of trust the youths have about the government from the onset. ‘’It is regrettable that some magistrates and judges are being used to deny citizens their fundamental rights of hearing and sanctioning illegality by denying bail for ordinarily bailable allegations and freezing orders of the Central Bank of Nigeria by way of ex parte application to freeze the accounts of the leaders of the protesters for six whole months! It is certain that the CBN lacks the locus to trigger such process in the context of these events in the first instance. The courts are being manipulated by those who feel threatened by the awakening of the youths. We expect the judiciary to appreciate the issues involved in the cases before them and be part of the social re-engineering of the Country, by treating cases in the pragmatic manner. We have seen all this before and we know where it will take us. A dictatorship is obviously being slowly but obdurately unwrapped. "We condemn the victimization efforts being visited on the EndSARS protesters in totality, urge maturity on the part of the government and stop the adoption of undemocratic and inhuman method in dealing with the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests. Protest is a constitutional and democratic right which cannot earn the kind of victimisation going on. "We, therefore, urge the government to implement the five-for-five accepted demands of the youths and engage them genuinely. No amount of intimidation or harassment will work as it will only exacerbate tensions in an otherwise fragile polity. "Fundamental human rights are universally cherished rights. The country, especially in its current economic strait should avoid becoming a pariah state as its youths are forced into exile as in the NADECO days. The news of the appearance of one of the activists of #EndSARS in Canada is ominous. Our youths must not be made exiles just for speaking up neither must they come to harm in the country. We cannot turn our youths into zombies. They are assets to us and they are the future we dream of and the hope of those who seek the lost glory we sought in our youth but dashed by the poor governance choices we made in the last 30 years. We must give them a voice and a chance to recapture what we lost,’’ they added. No comments — Lai Mohammed Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, yesterday declined to comment on the alleged freezing of accounts belonging to some perceived actors in the peaceful #EndSARS protests by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, saying he has been constrained to comment on the matter. Alhaji Mohammed said he was not competent to comment on the matter because the case against the perceived leaders pending in court. When asked whether the federal government was responsible for the measures taken against the #EndSARS protesters because of their roles in the protest during the media briefing at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the Minister said he could not talk on the issues because of the various panels of inquiry set up by state governments. He said: “I’m a bit constrained about addressing this issue because I know that various states have set up panels of inquiry to look into the entire #EndSARS protests with very defined terms of reference. “So, any attempt from me now to second guess or try to defend or proffer answers to any questions would be improper." Igbo group disowns Okeke over lawsuit Similarly, the Conference of Igbo Youth Professional Worldwide has dissociated itself from the action of Mr Kenechukwu Okeke over his lawsuit against the Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Sam Adeyemi and 49 alleged promoters of the #EndSARS protests. The group with wide network across the world also disowned the acclaimed activist, saying he was not known in their fold or in the South-East geopolitical region. This was as it dissociated President Buhari from the action of Mr Okeke,alleging that he was being sponsored by those it described as “fifth columnists” to paint the president and his administration black in the eyes of the world.” To this end, the Igbo group, in a statement, yesterday, by its President General, Barr. Maduabuchi Nwodo,appealed to Nigerians to disregard the antics of Mr Okeke and his alleged sponsors.
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12112020 - #EndSARS PROMOTERS' ACCOUNTS: M-Belt, Ohanaeze, Afenifere, others blast Akeredolu

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