Pope Francis washes feet of Nigerian prisoners in the spirit of Good Friday

Its the season of Easter celebration once again and to celebrate the Easter Friday, Pope Francis took out time to wash the feet of Nigerian prisoners.

Pope Francis washed the prisoners’ feet at a Rome jail on Thursday, March 29 including two Muslims, an Orthodox Christian and a Buddhist, once again choosing to celebrate Holy Thursday among Italy’s incarcerated.

According to reports, it is the fourth time in the pope’s five year papacy that he has celebrated the Holy Mass in an Italian jail.

In his speech, Pope Francis said: “Everyone always has the opportunity to change life and one cannot judge."

"For me, visiting the sick, going into prison, making the prisoner feel that he can have hope of rehabilitation, that is the preaching of the Church,” said Francis in a recent book of interviews.

During the Mass, the Pope washed the feet of 12 prisoners, as he has done on three former occasions.

This year, the inmates included eight Catholics, two Muslims, one Orthodox Christian, and one Buddhist. They came from different countries, including the Philippines, Nigeria, Colombia, Sierra Leone, Morocco, Moldova, and Italy.

Catholic bishop taken into custody in China

An underground Chinese bishop at the center of a controversial deal between Beijing and the Vatican was taken into custody Monday, according to people who witnessed his detention.

China-_Guo_Xiji  (AsiaNews)

It was not clear why the bishop, Guo Xijin, was detained, but a Rome-based news agency said it was because he refused to celebrate the upcoming Easter Mass with a government-approved bishop.

Guo, 59, of the Mindong diocese in central-eastern China, had been asked by Rome to step aside in favor of a Communist Party-approved bishop in the region. This was meant to be a key plank in Rome’s efforts to heal a decadeslong rift in the Roman Catholic Church in China, which is divided between underground worshippers, priests and bishops loyal to Rome and Beijing-approved churches that some worshippers consider to be illegitimate.

The split has hampered the church’s growth, causing membership to decline in recent years even while other religions in China grow.

Under the deal, the Vatican would make two key concessions. It would ask underground bishops — Guo and one other — to step aside and serve under government-appointed bishops. The Vatican would also approve seven government bishops that it had previously declared to be illegitimate.

In exchange, the Vatican would have influence over the future appointment of bishops — possibly a veto, although the details are not yet clear.

The idea was that this would make all bishops and priests legitimate and unite the church.

But Pope Francis has come under fierce criticism by critics who say he is naïve in believing that the Communist Party would grant the church influence over Chinese government religious policy. An array of theologians, political commentators and clergy have said that the deal is a sellout of the underground church.

Guo’s detention is bound to fuel these criticisms. In an interview with The New York Times last month, he said he would step aside if the Vatican asked him to do so. But he cautioned that the government might essentially want to sever ties between Chinese Catholics and Rome.

This interpretation is supported by the recent reorganization of government agencies. Under the plan, the State Administration of Religious Affairs would be made subservient to the Communist Party’s United Front Work Department, making religious work subject to party directives on religion.

The move came two years after a government inspection team criticized the State Administration of Religious Affairs, saying it was not enforcing party directives forcefully enough.

In recent years, the party has signaled that its main concern is foreign involvement in religious issues. This culminated in new regulations that took effect on Feb. 1 calling on all religions in China to “Sinicize” — to become Chinese: In other words, to come under closer government control.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

Shocking Easter: 7 Catholic devotees nailed to the cross, WHY church leaders still frown

Seven Filipino Roman Catholic devotees, including a woman, have been nailed to wooden crosses as a mark of honour for Jesus Christ.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the demonstration was watched by thousands of spectators but frowned upon by church leaders.

Three devotees wearing crowns of twigs were nailed to crosses by villagers dressed as Roman centurions on a dusty hill in San Pedro Cutud village, and four others were nailed to crosses in nearby farming villages in San Fernando city north of Manila, tourism officer Ching Pangilinan said.

The spectacle reflects a unique brand of Catholicism that merges church traditions with folk superstitions.

Many of the mostly impoverished penitents undergo the ritual to atone for sins, pray for the sick or for a better life, or give thanks for what they believe were God-given miracles.

The Lenten rituals are frowned upon by church leaders in the Philippines, Asia’s largest Roman Catholic nation, especially if the events are used to boost tourism and business.

The reenactments of the crucifixion, however, have persisted and become a tourist attraction in the largely unknown villages in Pampanga province, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the capital.

While the crucifixions have become a tradition for villagers, they still leave many foreign tourists bewildered.

“It’s terrible,” said Luke Henkel from Florida. “You wanna stop it.”

Mayor Edwin Santiago of San Fernando, where San Pedro Cutud lies, said more than 400 police officers were deployed and first-aid stations set up to look after the huge crowds.

“We provide assistance because we can’t stop the influx of tourists,” Pangilinan said, adding, “We don’t promote it as a festival but it’s rather a show of respect to a local tradition.”

Villagers used the crowd-drawing events to peddle food, water, fans, umbrellas and souvenirs and rent out parking slots and toilets

A leading cellphone company provided tents for shade with its name embossed on them.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas said it’s best for Catholics to mark Lent with prayers and acts of love and charity.

“Instead of spilling your blood on the streets, why not walk into a Red Cross office and donate blood? Choose to share life. Share your blood,” Villegas said in remarks posted on a Catholic church website.

Job Opportunity: Innoson To Recruit 3000 Persons For New Factory In Nnewi

Breaking News
The Board of Directors of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co Ltd, today approves the employment of over 3000 new employees for its new factory extension in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The first batch of new intake will see the employment of 1007 workers in April 2018.
Based on the above, the following positions are needed for immediate employment.
Welding Engineers- (SSCE, OND, HND, BSc)
Automotive Painters- (SSCE, OND, HND, BSc)
Plasterers- (SSCE, OND, HND, BSc)
Auto Electricians- (SSCE, OND, HND, BSc)
Mechanical Engineers- (SSCE, OND, HND, BSc)
Administration Officers-(HND, BSc)
Account Officers- (HND, BSc)
Public Relation Officers- (HND, BSc)
Marketing Executives (OND, HND, BSc)
Quality Control Officers- (HND, BSc)
Interested applicants should send their curriculum vitae to
recruit@innosonvehicles.com on or before Friday April 6th 2018.
Share Widely.

Cornel Osigwe
Head Corporate Communications
Innoson Group

Get To Know The Top Contender For 2019 Presidential Election

The National Assembly may still be in conflict with the Executive over the sequence of the 2019 elections but there is no denying the anticipation towards who the Commander-in-chief will be by the evening of May 29. It increases as the date draws near, but so is our understanding of the standing of those who have been mentioned in the race for the position.

Here we look through the most visible of the aspirants.

Atiku Abubakar

We are all waiting for Atiku to say something, aren’t we?

His move from the APC to the PDP last November is still the biggest political event as far as the 2019 elections are concerned. Yet, the former Vice President whose presidential aspiration is as old as Nigeria’s democracy has not officially declared his intentions. He maintains a public presence on all current issues from unemployment statistics and herdsmen clashes, to the Super Eagles and Black Panther. All of these are possibly the on-stage displays while he works out the difficulty of convincing the PDP to hand him the party’s ticket, a scenario that will be the litmus test for the party’s claims of internal democracy and greater transparency in nominations.

Kingsley Moghalu

Captioning his campaign slogan as “to build a nation” gives the idea that Mr Moghalu has his sights on a holistic and rigorous programme of development if elected president. He is a former CBN governor and professor of political economy whose professional and managerial credentials will be hard to beat by any other candidate in the 2019 race. He may even be the most intellectually qualified person to ever run for the Nigerian presidency.

But can he be elected? He is not exactly a popular man by numbers alone, and winning from a platform outside of the two main platforms of the PDP or APC will be a daunting challenge to overcome even for an expert in risk management. His consultations and early tours have involved some weighty things. He has visited Benue, laying a wreath on the tombs of the 73 killed by herdsmen in January. He has touched on issues like gender parity and has promised a return to the federalism of the 60s. If he gets a strong party, he will be hard to ignore.

Sule Lamido

Mr Lamido has followed a quiet yet visible campaign plan, meeting state governors of mostly PDP states but also reaching to the PDP’s secretariats in APC-controlled states. In a meeting with the Lagos PDP leadership this week, Lamido, a founding member of PDP and two-term governor of Jigawa state, stressed that his desire for the presidency was “not out of desperation for power but for genuine service to the people of Nigeria” according to PREMIUM TIMES.

Lamido is probably the most authoritative voice in the PDP today and must stand a serious chance in the race if all cards are laid bare.

Fela Durotoye

He is arguably the most known motivational speaker and life coach in the country, but Mr Durotoye seemed uncertain whether to join the fray or not. Fela, as he is easily called, ardently supported and spoke effusively for the Buhari campaign in 2015, a point which has been raised by critics who question his decision to run for the position while the man he supported has not even finished a term. Other critics are doubtful of his capacity having not held any elective office. The Alliance for a New Nigeria (ANN) will be his platform and it is safe to say that hardly gives the impression that he will be one of the stronger candidates, given the role parties still play in elections.

Fela is undaunted and believes money will not play as big a role in the coming polls as in previous cycles, but his chances are only as strong as he says they are. Perhaps he will write a book after on how young Nigerians can learn from and improve on his first trial?

Peter Ayodele Fayose

Governor Fayose of Ekiti was the first person to formally declare his ambitions for the 2019 presidency, at least among the more popular persons on this list. His second and final tenure is set to terminate this year and has often boasted that it was his destiny to become President of Nigeria. He has not spoken a lot about this ambition in recent times, focusing more on the issue of making sure herdsmen do not wreck havoc in his state under his watch. It has certainly boosted his popularity and estimation among some Nigerians who have faulted the Buhari government’s kid-gloves approach to the crisis.

If he will run, Fayose will have to contend with Lamido and Atiku who appear to have the geographic characteristics believed to be top of the PDP’s consideration for challenging the APC next year. So that if we don’t hear much from the Ekiti man about the manifestation of his “destiny” within the coming weeks, we can assume it has been postponed to a later date.

Adamu Garba II

Not many persons had heard of Adamu Garba II by the beginning of 2017. By the end of the year, a number of interviews in major newspapers and a twitter presence (boosted by influencers) has accelerated the ICT professional and entrepreneur into the conversation. Mr Garba has leveraged on the clamor for young people to be given the opportunity to lead Nigeria in the digital age, but it has not necessarily been about being handed the job on the basis of youth. Garba appears ready, with policy recommendations, to convince Nigerians that he possesses the wide knowledge of the issues.

Omoyele Sowore

Sahara Reporters is a name that divides opinion, and its publisher, ‘Yele Sowore, is one of the most controversial figures in the country. He is unapologetic, non-traditional and will not follow a stipulated procedure if an alternative provides results without being illegal. That’s has Sowore has been all his life and he makes no apologies for proposing to inject a similar vibrancy into administering the Nigerian state towards prosperity.

His GoFundMe campaign for next year has been suspended and revived, but the real challenge will be returning from his New York base to actually test his popularity on the streets. And how far can $2 million (N732 million) really go in a presidential campaign?

Remi Sonaiya

After declaring her interest this month, Prof Sonaiya is likely to retain the presidential nomination of KOWA party and will hope to improve on her 2015 performance. Ms Sonaiya decries the exclusion of women from the development drive in Nigeria and does not believe the process should be left to men; actually, her intervention is premised on the lack of substantial results from the men-dominated policy sector.

Prof Sonaiya professes love of country as a motivation, but “Love Does Not Win Elections” as Ayisha Osori’s book says. What will KOWA as party do differently in 2015 besides relying on the impression that a party with a phone as its logo should give the idea of modernity and vision?

Ibrahim Dankwambo

Dankwambo tweets often about glaring inefficiencies in the Buhari administration with the insightful charisma that made him an efficient Accountant-General of the Federation and a successful governor of Gombe state. He will leave the Gombe government house next May and many have weighed in on the need for him to move up to the Abuja State House, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka the most notable.

It has not elicited a declaration or a public body language that suggests he is actively considering it. But Mr Dankwambo is a quiet man who will not be oblivious of the multi-ethnic goodwill towards him.

Muhammadu Buhari

There is no other APC person on this list of contenders because no other has (yet) made any significant move as to suggest a challenge of President Buhari’s continuity next year. The president has not declared his intention to seek re-election, actively playing down reports on the subject. But it would be quite a surprise if he does not; in fact, it seems highly unlikely considering his rally to his party at their last caucus meeting where he called for preparations towards 2019.

Despite the double bombshell open letters from former president Olusegun Obasanjo and former Head of State Ibrahim Babangida asking him to retire to Daura, the overwhelmingly safe bet is that Buhari will be seeking the nomination of a political party for the fifth time in five election cycles, this time not as a challenger but as the man to beat.

University Of Ibadan unveils new professors

The authorities of the University of Ibadan, UI, today announced the names of the institution’s members of staff newly promoted to the professorial cadre.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka today gave the names as: Professors O.O Oyewo, Communication and Language Arts: O. A Fakolujo, Electrical and Electronics Engineering: T. A Ewemoje, Agricultural and Environmental Engineering: O. A. Oni, Agricultural Economics: V.O. Oladokun, Industrial and Production Engineering: P.O. Olapegba, Psychology: Catherine O. Chowen, Psychology: Ikeoluwapo O. Ajayi, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics: and O.A Adaramoye, Biochemistry.

Other names announced for the Reader level are: O. Osunade, Computer Science: R.A Animashaun, Guidance and Counselling: and D.O Fakeye, Teacher Education.

Please share your thoughts in the comment box below

China Bans Christians From All Church Activities (See Why)

Authorities across several counties China’s central Henan province issued a warning on March 8, forbidding any Christian gatherings in the area and placing Christians under house arrest. Additionally, officials continue to tear down couplet door decorations that use Christian language.

According to an anonymous source in Shangqiu, Henan, Christians there have been placed under house arrest without charge, with police officers watching their residence and requiring them to report where they are going every time they wish to leave the house.

“I heard that many churches in Sheqi County also received a notice that believers cannot gather anymore,” a Christian in Nanyang, Henan said. “Christians are afraid of gathering and they don’t have anywhere to gather either. Times have changed. It feels like the Cultural Revolution.”

The Cultural Revolution refers to the period between 1966 and 1976, when Mao Zedong attempted to destroy all influences besides Communism in China, and was a period of great economic and societal hardship, especially for citizens who practiced religion. Atheism began to be enforced as the official religious belief of the Communist Party.

A Christian named Wang spoke with a reporter on March 9, explaining that the day previous, a notice had gone out to all churches in the cities of Zhumadian and Zhoukou, as well as Gushi County, announcing that all religious activities in the area are cancelled until further notice. Though the warning stipulates that any who refuse to comply will be punished, the nature of that punishment is unclear.

In Tanghe County, authorities forcibly disbanded house church meetings and ordered all participants to register with a government operated Three-Self Church instead. Christians were warned that any who continued to meet would be fined 30,000 yuan (U.S. $4,700).

During the celebration of Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, which can last several weeks in China, authorities inspected Christian households and removed any decorations which referenced religion. Couplets, which are banners with paired poetic phrases hung on both sides of the door to a house, are very common decorations for the Spring Festival. However, officials tore down all couplets which used the term “Emmanuel” and replaced them with couplets wishing for “good fortune and wealth” instead.

ChinaAid reports on instances of religious persecution, such as the outbreak of events across Henan province, in order to expose abuses by the Chinese government and promote human rights and rule of law in China.

NUC Approved New Grade System For Universities

The National Universities Commission, NUC is no longer using a scale of 5, the new system is based on a scale of 4. First Class is 3.5 – 4. Second Class is 3 – 3.49. Second class lower is 2.0 – 2.99.

According to NUC Chairman,Professor Shehu Galadanchi released to all Nigerian Universities

The Newly Approved Grading System For University
Under the new Four (4)-Point Grading Scale, grades to be used for students who have satisfactorily completed the course of study are as follows:

Letter Grade: Marks Grade Point
A (70 and above) 4
B (60-69%) 3
C (50-59%) 2
D (45-49%) 1
E (40-44%) 0

CGPA Ranges under the new Four (4)- Point Grading Scale for Classification of Degrees:
3.5- 4.00 – First Class Honours
3.0-3.49 – Second Class Honours (Upper Division)
2.0-2.99 – Second Class Honours (Lower Division)
1.0-1.99 – Third Class Honours
No student whose CGPA is less than 1.0 shall be awarded a degree.

Deans of Faculties and Heads of Departments are enjoined to ensure compliance and commencement of the new regulations with the intakes of 2017/2018 Session, while the old regulations remain applicable to students admitted before the 2017/2018 Session.

sign:
NUC CHAIRMAN

Fani-Kayode reveals who killed MKO Abiola, Abacha

Nigeria’s former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has claimed that ex-US Ambassador to the country, Thomas Pickering and former President Barack Obama’s National Security Advisor, Susan Rice, were the people who prepared the tea that killed Chief MKO Abiola.

Fani-Kayode, writing on his Twitter page, also accused the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of being behind the death of former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha.

“I watched America’s former Amb. to Nigeria, Thomas Pickering, on @BBCWorld_Tv. He spoke about the poisoning of the Russian exile in the UK and said he believes that Putin was behind it.

“He and Obama’s former Nat. Security Advisor, Susan Rice, who at that time was Bill Clinton’s Ass. Sec. of State for Africa, were the duo that MADE and GAVE Chief MKO Abiola (the winner of Nigeria’s June 12th 1993 pres. election) a cup of tea in 1998 when they went to see him in detention. 20 minutes later, right in front of them, Abiola dropped dead!

“I believe that Pickering and Rice,both of whom work for the CIA, poisoned Abiola just as I believe that the 2 Indian girls that spent the night in the Villa with Gen. Sani Abacha and fed him the poisoned apple that killed him one month earlier to the day were also CIA.

“Can Pickering tell us why he and Susan Rice poisoned our President-elect? Does he still work and kill for the CIA? We will NEVER forget what they did! And we will NEVER forget our hero and leader MKO Abiola who refused to give up his mandate and who was martyred for democracy!”

Abiola slumped and died on July 7, 1998, almost a month after Abacha passed away inside the Aso Presidential Villa.

JAMB 2018/2019 RESULT CHECKER

JAMB 2018 Results are out! To view you result, simply follow the link below, and input your JAMB 2018 registration number. 
Good luck and congratulation to the many that made it!

http://www.jamb.org.ng/eFacility/CheckUTMEResults

University Of Nigeria Nsukka UNN Departmental Cut Off Mark For 2018/2019

There are certain criteria to be observed by students before being admitted to study in any of the courses in any university. One of these which include meeting the required cut of mark for each schools’ as well as the courses itself. It is very easy to obtain admission if one has met the required cut off mark for the admission into a particular course.

Cut off mark is an agreed score set by a particular institution as a basics of admitting students into the department of study. This score is usually accredited to candidates based on their performance in a particular examination. However, students who have scored above the required cut off mark will be given admission and preferentially treated in admission process above those who have met the exacts cut off mark.

UNN Cut off Mark 2018/2019.
Jamb fixed cut off mark for UNN is 180.
You might ask questions like: I had 180 and above but was not still given the admission to study my desired course?
Candidates with higher scores are first considered in admission basics candidates with lower scores though might meet the cut off mark of 180 may likely not be admitted. In fact, it is the higher your scores, the higher the chance of being admitted.

UNN Departmental Cut off Mark 2018
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka does not really have a specific cut off mark for courses. However, candidates who have scored a minimum of 200 in UTME examination is eligible to apply for admission into any of their choice courses.

Due to the high number of students wishing to study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the admission processes is competitive and admissions is given based on the higher the jamb scores, the higher the chances of being admitted.

The Departmental Cut of mark of University of Nigeria, Nsukka are as follows;

UNN Faculty Of Agriculture Cut Off Mark
1. Agric Economics – 227
2. Agric Extension – 201
3. Animal Science – 202
4. Crop Science – 206
5. Soil Science – 205
6. Fst – 227
7. Home Science – 200
8. Nutrition And Dietetics – 247

UNN Faculty Of Arts Cut Off Marks
9. Archaeology & Tourism – 246
10. English And Literary Studies – 271
11. Fine And Applied Arts – 260
12. Foreign Languages – 254
13. History And International Studies – 259
14. Linguistics And Nigerian Languages – 245
15. Mass Communication – 268
16. Music – 255
17. Theatre And Film Studies – 254
18. Combined Arts – 201

UNN Faculty Of Biological Sciences Cut Off Mark
19. Biochemistry – 248
20. Botany – 200
21. Combined Biological Sciences – 214
22. Microbiology – 243
23. Zoology – 207

Faculty Of Business Administration
24. Accountancy – 257
25. Banking & Finance – 229
26. Marketing – 207
27. Business Management – 233

UNN Faculty Of Dentistry Cut Off Mark
28. Dentistry – 270

Faculty Of Education
29. Adult Education – 201
30. Education Art – 251
31. Education Chemistry – 203
32. Education Social Sciences – 245
33. Agric Education – 205
34. Business Education – 220
35. Guidance & Counselling – 263
36. Health Education – 206
37. Home Economics Education – 229
38. Industrial Technical Education – 236
39. Library And Information Science – 246
40. Science Education – 200

UNN Faculty Of Engineering Cut Off Mark
41. Agric & Bioresources Engineering – 204
42. Civil Engineering – 248
43. Electrical Engineering – 242
44. Electronics – 232
45. Mechanic Engineering – 242

UNN Faculty Of Environmental Studies Cut Off Mark
46. Architecture – 226
47. Estate Management – 201
48. Geoinformatics & Survey – 201
49. Urban And Regional Planning – 210

UNN Faculty Of Health Science & Technology Cut Off Mark
50. Radiography – 266
51. Medical Rehabilitation – 258
52. Nursing – 268

Faculty Of Law
53. Law – 297

UNN Faculty Of Medical Sciences Cut Off Mark
54. Medicine – 295

UNN Faculty Of Pharmaceuticаl Sciences Cut Off Mark
55. Pharmаcy – 284

Faculty Of Physical Sciences
56. Computer Science – 227
57. Geology – 234
58. Mathematics – 200
59. Physics And Astronomy – 200
60. Pure And Industrial Chemistry – 206
61. Statistics – 200
62. Computer/Statistics – 200

UNN Faculty Of Social Sciences Cut Off Mark
63. Economics – 260
64. Geography – 243
65. Philosophy – 259
66. Political Science – 275
67. Psychology – 252
68. Public Administration – 266
69. Religion – 232
70. Social Work – 213
71. Sociology/Anthropology – 260
UNN Faculty Of Veterinary Medicine Cut Off Mark
72. Veterinary Medicine – 227
Please share this information with your friends.

UNN Nature of Admission Screening 2018

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka holds her admission screening exercises within a week or couple of weeks and it usually comes in two phases. Students who applied to study in the school are to proceed for the pre-screening exercise when once it is being announced.
Documents required for the pre-screening exercise are: SSCE result and JAMB registration print out only.

It is often important that a candidate arrive early and locate his/her screening venue early. Candidates will be screen on the JAMB scores and their SSCE result
The second phase of the screening is after the admission lists might have been released. Candidates who have merited the admission will be invited for another screening exercise. Here all documents such as;
Original copies of their educational qualifications (Statements of Results/Certificates).
N/B: Cases of awaiting results will NOT be accepted.
Birth Certification/Age Declaration.
A letter of good conduct from your Village Head or a responsible member of your
community/or civil servant not below Grade Level 10 or equivalent in the private sector.
Certificate of Local Government of origin; and this notification of admission status
slip

UNN Address and Locations

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka is located in the heart of the town of Nsukka, Enuku state Nigeria. The school has mainly four campuses in Uyo.
1. Nsukka (University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN)
2. Enugu (University of Nigeria Enugu campus, UNEC)
3. Ituku-Ozalla (University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH)
4. Aba (University of Nigeria Aba campus, UNAC)

The main campus of the University is located on 871 hectares of hilly savannah in the town of Nsukka about eighty kilometres north of Enugu, and enjoys a very pleasant and healthy climate.

NASU strike: Time for truce

Jerome-Mario Utomi

Communication, in the words of Grunig and Hunt, is the biggest tool mankind has as a potential way of overcoming difficulties. But in most cases, we have it abandoned and embrace traveling the circumference of chaos before coming to access this powerful instrument.

A fitting example of the above is the current protracted industrial action embarked on by the Non-Academic Staff Union of the Nigerian universities (NASU) to press home their demand for ‘Earned Allowance’, an exercise that has lasted for over three months with the group staging a peaceful protest on March 8, 2018 in Abuja.

Mundane and inoffensive as the demand may appear, it has become a worrying development that strikes in our educational institutions have become not just incessant but a regular trademark to the extent that before the dust raised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike will go down, that of the NASU is up.

Also revealing is the fact that this current strike has since morphed from a conventional action to an emblematic one that sermonizes on two cardinal messages; first, that the Federal Government has become a self-declared enemy of education in Nigeria with neglect and underfunding as a formidable tool. NASU on its part has resolved via its rigid posturing to suffer the students they were hired to serve.

The fears as expressed cannot be regarded as unfounded, as the Federal Government has barefacedly disregarded the Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] recently entered with NASU. The Joint Action Committee (JAC), the umbrella body of the non-academic staff unions on the other hand, has been brazenly unable to articulate, and comprehensively communicate their demands before taking to industrial action. Their recent statement bears eloquent testimony to this fact.

The said statement by JAC, among other things, stated that ‘the Earned Allowance, they received from the Federal Government was too meager compared to what ASUU received’, while calling the Federal Government to explain the rationale behind the disparity.

Arguably, a well-chiseled remark, but, it has again necessitated the question as to what exactly is NASU fighting for; merited allowance or a fight propelled by envy that ASUU got the lion share of the earned allowance?

Regrettably, the ultimate result of what the Federal Government and NASU are doing currently is in the womb of time. An occurrence that the result may not be palatable if the trend is allowed to complete its gestation without something dramatic done to have it aborted.

According to what the people are saying, no matter how reasonable the decision of the government or that of NASU may be, they need to urgently get the fears of the masses allayed, as a visit to these universities will show that they share but a common denominator; pain.

While the returning students now wear a forlorn look, the new intakes have frustration/despair painted all over. Their parents are not left out in this mood, as they bemoan the present fate of their children; in their sorrows and hardship.
If you are in doubt of the magnitude of this harsh impact,
then check out a development where academic activities have since resumed without the usual support of the non-teaching staff. New students that ought to be adequately guided are now allowed to wallow in cluelessness even as some schools are conducting examination without the supervisory assistance of the non-academic staff.

Aside the above, Nigerians are saying that the whole arrangement appears discomforting to the fresh students that have paid the hostel fees without any hostel allocated to them.

Again, what becomes the fate of the hostel fees paid since many are writing their first semester examinations without the hostel accommodation they paid for? Is the part of the money paid going to be refunded to them?

However, noble the demands of NASU may be, keen watchers of the situation, feel that their action is likened to the decision of a father refusing to send his son to school simply because his own father failed to train him. What these students are suffering at the hands of NASU is, but a transferred aggression orchestrated by the Federal Government’s inability to meet their demands.

No doubt, this sorry state has understandably raised worry among the students, their parents as well as irked the sensibility of the critical stakeholders; with many wondering what the future holds for our educational sector while others now query why the government cannot take its policies on education seriously?

But against all speculations, the policy inconsistency may not be the only problem standing against tertiary education smooth sail in Nigeria as a further peep into the nation’s educational sector will further reveal that achieving a smooth operation of academic calendar is usually bedeviled by inadequate funding occasioned by our nation’s inability to heed to the United Nations Educational Scientific, and Cultural Organization [UNESCO] budgetary recommendation, which states that any nation desirous of achieving a development must allocate at least 26% of its annual budget to the education sector.

When you juxtapose this recommendation with the nation’s 2018 budgetary allocation on education, which hovers around 7%, it will further provide more insight to situating why our entire educational sector is on its knees.
This problem of poor funding is again compounded by the Federal Government’s obvious reluctant respect for education as the government is known to be a dispenser of goodness by proxy when it concerns education, but gets directly involved in other social cum political activities.

Although, it’s not as if the government is not making any effort to have the problem solved as recent development has shown, the rigid posturing of the (JAC) is further fuelling this crisis while subjecting the innocent students to severe hardship. Therefore, to bring about a truce in the interim, the Federal Government and NASU must dialogue and iron out the grey areas in the trade dispute.

Nigerians will equally appreciate the government looks into the age-long underfunding challenge of our educational sector, which has kept the entire sector in a sordid state. NASU, on their path, should learn to have the interest of these students at heart when considering industrial action and jettison its rigid posturing in negotiation as recently demonstrated.

JeromeMario writes via;jeromeutomi@yahoo.com.

4 States Producing The Highest Number Of Medical Students In Nigeria

With more universities opening across the country in the last decade, the number of students gaining admissions into specialised and competitive degree courses has steadily grown.

But when it comes to Medicine, four states have dominated admission trends for at least five years, consistently trouncing the other 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The states are Imo, Anambra, Delta and Enugu.

Between 2011 and 2015, these states had more students gaining admission to study Medicine than any other state, data from the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) show.

In the five years, the four states — except Anambra — remained in the top five, an analysis of the data by PREMIUM TIMES has shown. Anambra took second position for four years, before dropping to sixth position in 2015.

Only two other states managed to break into the top five briefly. Osun took fifth position twice and fourth position once; while Edo took third position once, and fifth position once.

The data, covering 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, are for students admitted through test-based examinations conducted by JAMB.

JAMB’s admission process is guided by merit, university catchment area and grants advantage to educationally-less developed states.

The JAMB data were verified and validated by the National Bureau of Statistics, the bureau said.

Together, they provide an important glimpse into how the nation’s 36 states and Abuja compete when benchmarked by university admissions into various academic disciplines each year.

PREMIUM TIMES analysis is focused on three of the most competitive courses: Medicine, Engineering and Law.

In follow-up reports, this newspaper will evaluate the trend in Engineering and Law.

For Medicine, while Imo had 1,940 students admitted into various universities in 2011, Anambra followed with 1,536 and Enugu was third with 1,280. Delta came fourth with 1,137 and Abia was fifth with 931 students.

In 2012, the four states again made the top five. Imo emerged first with 1,841 students, Anambra followed with 1,473 and Delta came third, while 1,305, Enugu came fourth with 1,247.

That year, Osun placed fifth with 958 students admitted into Medicine.
Imo continued its leadership of the chart in 2013 with 2,395 students admitted to study Medicine, while Anambra again followed with 1,645 and Delta came third with 1,618. Enugu came fourth with 1,422. Fifth position was snatched by Edo with 1,256 students.

In 2014, Imo had 1,588 students, Anambra followed with 1,511; Delta came third with 1,170, Enugu came fourth with 1,161.
Osun reclaimed the fifth position with 1,146.

In 2015, positions changed significantly, with Delta jumping to first position with 1814 students.

Imo dropped to second with 1,727, while Edo came third with 1,510. Osun was fourth with 1,447 and Enugu, with 1,390, took fifth.

For the first time in five years, Anambra slumped to sixth position.

Hassan Soweto, who coordinates a civil rights group, Education Rights Campaign, said the admission pattern reflects the funding of education in the country.

Mr. Soweto assessed the states doing better as “one-eyed kings in the land of the blind”, saying even they have poor funding for education.

“It means that some states are doing a bit better while some are doing poorly in the midst of crisis because it does not mean the sector is well funded,” he said.
At the lowest rung of the admission table are FCT, Yobe, Zamfara and Jigawa.

FCT had the least in the five years with only 24 students admitted into Medicine in 2011.

It had 20 students in 2012, 46 students in 2013, 38 students in 2014 and 40 students in 2015.

Six other states also had a poor record of students who got admission to study Medicine.

In 2011, Yobe had 64 students, followed by Zamfara with 68 students. Jigawa had 74 while Taraba had 82 students.

Similarly in 2012, Yobe had 36 students that studied Medicine, followed by Bauchi with 48 students, Adamawa with 56 students and Zamfara had 69 students.

In 2013, Zamfara had 117 students who got admitted to study Medicine, followed by Adamawa with 121 students. Yobe had 124 students while Taraba had 128 students.

In 2014, Zamfara had 49 students who got admission to study medicine. Zamfara had 49 students, Kebbi had 78, Nassarawa had 106 and Taraba had108 students.

Also in 2015, Zamfara had 54 students who got admission to study medicine , kebbi had 95 students, sokoto had 105 and Jigawa had 111 students.

Mr. Soweto said the resources provided for states that are educationally disadvantaged in the northern states especially are not used for what they are provided for.

According to him, the pattern reflects the decline in funding in the northern state, decayed facilities in schools in the far north and quality of teachers in schools.