IBNET

By Ibrahim Agunbiade   The processes for the appointment of the next Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan has been postponed till further notice.  This is just as the outgoing VC, Prof. Idowu Olayinka whose tenure ends on November 30th, 2020, is expected to proceed on leave any moment from now. This blog  gathered from an impeccable source in the institution that the postponement of the processes was due to the inability of the chairman of the governing council to travel. Even though a letter written to all aspirants to this effect did not explain the reason behind the postponement of the processes, the source revealed that the meeting was postponed because the chairman had reportedly been hospitalized. An internal memo signed by the registrar and secretary to the council, Mrs. Olubunmi Faluyi, gives credence to some of these findings as she announced that the interactive session/interview of the aspirants had been postponed. The interactive session/interview had earlier been sc

By Ibrahim Agunbiade   The Nigerian Institute Of Medical Research (NIMR) has announced the development of a  Rapid Test Kit For COVID-19. The Director-General of the Agency, Professor Babatunde Lawal Salako made the announcement at the launching of the kit, called NIMR SARS-CoV-2 Isothermal Molecular Assay (SIMA). According to the DG, SIMA is a fast and sensitive point-of-care test for SARS-COV-2 infection using molecular technique and was borne out of the global sample testing challenges experienced by scientists and physicians. SIMA was developed by NIMR Scientist Dr. Chika Onwuamah. Speaking on the importance of the test kit in the fight against the global pandemic, Salako said, “While no effective vaccine has been developed to date, case detection remains the surest way of controlling the pandemic. “Molecular laboratories remain limited in number, and people living in remote areas are at a disadvantage when it comes to getting tested. “Testing centres are also limited and mostly av

By Ibrahim Agunbiade The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research develops Rapid Test Kit for COVID-19 virus detection.  It is known as the SARS CoV-2 Isothermal Molecular Assay (SIMA).

Published on Thursday, 17th 2020. By Ibrahim Agunbiade This undated handout photo obtained September 16, 2020 shows animal fossils eroding out of the surface of the Alathar ancient lake deposit. – The humans may have hunted the big mammals but they did not stay long, using the watering hole as a waypoint on a longer journey. (Photo by Badar ZAHRANI / Badar ZAHRANI / AFP)   Around 120,000 years ago in what is now northern Saudi Arabia, a small band of homo sapiens stopped to drink and forage at a shallow lake that was also frequented by camels, buffalo, and elephants bigger than any species seen today. The people may have hunted the large mammals but they did not stay long, using the watering hole as a waypoint on a longer journey. This detailed scene was reconstructed by researchers in a new study published in Science Advances on Thursday, following the discovery of ancient human and animal footprints in the Nefud Desert that shed new light on the routes our ancient ancestors took as t

By Ibrahim Agunbiade   The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Idowu Olayinka, has assured candidates that have applied for the position of vice-chancellor of the university that the selection process will be transparent, free and fair. The current vice-chancellor said that the credentials of the applicants would speak for them before the selection committee and nothing else. Olayinka’s tenure will expire in November and the university has placed advertisement seeking applications from qualified persons interested to fill the position to apply. According to Olayinka, 12 candidates have applied, including those from outside of the University of Ibadan. He said ethnicity religion or state of origin would not determine who would become the next vice-chancellor of the 72-year-old premier university. He said, “Twelve candidates applied for the position and six candidates that were searched will join them making the number 18. The extant guidelines make provision that candidates cou

By Admin Oyo state government has announced 50% as the cut off mark for all subjects for the just concluded Computer Based Test for applicants of the Post Primary School Teaching Service Commission recruitment, AIBNET  reports. Thia was announced in a release made available to AIBNET  on Wednesday, and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Olabisi Oderinde, in Ibadan, the state capital. The statement also added that interview for applicants who scored 50 and above will commence on the 21st of September, 2020. It reads: “As part of the TESCOM Management mission to support the vision of the Oyo State Government Engineer Seyi Makinde to restore the lost glory of Education and to move the State Education to a world class. “The Commission lead by Pastor Akinade Alamu therefore maintain objectivity, transparency, credibility and stand on MERIT to appoint whoever that will take up the Teaching job of the state.   “Therefore, the CUT OFF mark of the just concluded Computer Based Test result f

  Published   September 15, 2020   |   By Ibrahim Agunbiade   A Nigerian Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has called on the governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, to respect the rule of law. According to the rights group, the governor has set up a committee to review the decision of the appeal court on the installation of the Alawo of Awo, Oba Azeez Sulaiman Aladejuyigbe.     MURIC described the governor’s attempt to review the decision of the court as unlawful, illegal, illegitimate, unconstitutional, extra-judicial, undemocratic and a rape on the rule of law. The group’s position was made known in a press statement issued on Tuesday, 15 th  September, 2020 by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.     “We are calling on Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State to dissolve the committee set up by him to review the decision of the appeal court on the Alawo of Awo stool. It is alien to the law for a state governor to subject the pronouncement of a com

By Ibrahim Agunbiade Health workers at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Monday, joined the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Joint Health Staff Union (JOHESU). According to the Nigerian Tribune, many essential places in the hospital, including pharmacy, outpatient clinics, medical records sections and the two of the main gates into the hospital were locked. The JOHESU Chairman, UCH branch, Adeolu Alli, said the strike became imperative after a long period of three years of patience with the Federal Government and the government taking their patience for granted. He said: “We are on strike at the moment and our members have gone home. The level of compliance is almost 98 per cent. The government must meet our demands. “On September 30, 2017, there was an agreement with the Federal Government on some of these issues most especially the adjustment of our salary structure. Three months later, that was April and May 2018, we had to go on strike again. It was as this April

  Published   September 14, 2020   |   By   Ibrahim Agunbiade The Nigerian Muslim rights group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has condemned the guerilla-style killing of Muslims and Fulanis in Zangon Kataf. The killings occurred on 8 th  and 9 th  September, 2020 thereby violating the peace pact of 22 nd  August, 2020.     MURIC condemned the killings in a press statement issued on Monday, 14 th  September, 2020 by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.     The statement reads:   “Christian youths of Zangon Kataf have violated the 22 nd  August, 2020 peace pact initiated by the Agwa Atyap, Sir Dominic Gambo Yahaya between the Atyap and Hausa/Fulani. The breach occurred on Tuesday 8 th  September, 2020 when they launched guerrilla-like attacks on Muslims and Fulanis.     “The attacks resulted in the killing of  three unarmed and defenseless Fulani  near  Gora Gan . Those killed were  Abdullahi Hassan ,  Yusuf Hassan  S ogiji  and  Abubakar Hassan . Two other Fulani men,  Musa Hassan a

The federal government has issued directives targeted at phasing out the sale and consumption of alcohol in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), disclosed this in a statement. Adeyeye said uncontrolled access and availability of high concentration alcohol in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles contribute to substance and alcohol abuse in Nigeria. She added that NAFDAC and the ministry of health have engaged major shareholders and have reached certain agreements. She said the food agency will no longer register new products in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles with contents above 30 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). “These concerns relate to negative effects of irresponsible alcohol consumption on public health and on the safety and security of the public, alcohol being a toxic and psychoactive substance with dependence producing properti

 T he Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka has revealed that he is not supporting any of the candidates jostling to succeed him. Olayinka, whose tenure ends in November, stated while reacting to rumours that he has an ‘anointed’ candidate to take over the helm of affairs of the institution during an interview with Guardian. “How would I support a candidate? Like I told you, 12 people have applied. If I support a candidate or I don’t support a candidate, it won’t amount to anything, ” he said . S peaking further, he explained that neither religion not tribalism play any role in the election of the next Vice-Chancellor. Explaining this, he said: ‘The advert has been out since May and it has since closed. Just last week, very early in the morning, I put a phone call to one of our very senior professors who has since retired. He was Dean of Post-graduate School from 1994 to 1998 if I remember correctly. I asked that in 1992 when he was a candidate for Deans

    The Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU) has  asked its members to withdraw their services and embark on a nationwide strike starting from midnight on Sunday, September 13, 2020. This decision was reached after the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union held a meeting on Saturday. The Union in a statement on Sunday said it gave the Federal Government one week to address all lingering issues and nothing concrete had been achieved. The health workers are asking the Federal Government to address the failures and decaying infrastructure in the health sector and pay the shortfall in COVID-19 hazard allowances for their members. The Union is also seeking the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, implementation of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria consent judgment and other court judgments, and pay all outstanding salary arrears. Read Full Statement Below: JOINT HEALTH SECTOR UNIONS & ASSEMBLY OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS Ayuba Wabba House, Plot 803, Cad