IBNET

The Chief Medical Director of University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Professor Jesse Otegbayo, Wednesday, said the hospital requires about N50 billion intervention fund to reclaim its glory as a leading tertiary health institution. Prof Otegbayo, who stated this during the visit of the House Committee on Health in fulfillment of its oversight duties to the hospital, stressed that the fund would make UCH befitting of being described as a medical tourism hub in the country. The CMD pointed out that gross infrastructural decay occasioned by over-stressed facilities, age and poor economy were the challenges facing the hospital. “You need to look at the expanse of land, the infrastructure, the buildings, the level of personnel and the tools required. I would move for an estimate of about N50 billion for a start for us to be able to bring this hospital back on its feet,” he said. Prof Otegbayo stressed, “We need the special intervention fund because some of the facilities are as old as 63

The Nigerian Islamic human rights body, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has justified the action of Nigerian youths who participated in the #EndSARS protest which began two days ago. But MURIC maintained that protesters should now disperse since the Federal Government has listened to them by disbanding the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) which the youth accused of highhandedness.     However, the Muslim rights advocacy group cautioned hoodlums and politicians against hijacking the protest for their selfish and parochial agenda. This was revealed in a statement circulated to the media by the Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday, 14 th  October, 2020.     The statement reads:   “We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) strongly condemn the reported excesses of men of the Special Armed Robbery Squad (SARS). We frown at the brutal killing of young Nigerians in the hands of the police and consider these as crimes against humanity. The harassment, intimidat

What we are saying is that if the Federal Government would reduce its profligacy and cut waste, there will be enough money to pay teachers in public universities, as well as fund research and upgrade infrastructure in such institutions. Hungry teachers can neither teach well nor carry out research. And poorly-taught students can neither excel nor propel their nation to great heights (APC Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Daily Post, August 21, 2013) The perennial onslaught on public education has been taken to the next level by this administration with the statement by Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba that the bulk of the national budget on education is used to pay the salaries of 10,500 Professors in the public University system. In his interview with the Punch newspapers, Nwajiuba averred that strike by University lecturers is a major factor driving students abroad and to private universities. In this piece, I provide available facts to p

Governor Seyi Makinde has declared his full support for the EndSARS protest in the country. The Governor declared his “one hundred and one” support for the call while addressing protesters at the state secretariat on Tuesday. He however urged the protesters to select leaders who will seat with the government for constructive engagement. He said: “I will have been with you earlier. I had to go to Ogbomosho. I went there to see things myself and also meet the Soun of Ogbomosho and also visit the families of those who lost their lives. “I am with you 101 percent. I want to thank you because you are Nigerian youths and you are not lazy. You are not hoodlums. You did not vandalize anything. “What you have shown is that certain policies of the Nigerian government and the brutality of the Nigerian police must stop. “I want to tell you that it is not only about SARS. There is hunger, unemployment. “As leaders , we have to do more to be productive. Peaceful protests are guaranteed under the law

  Despite the petitions from some aspirants against the selection process employed by the UI management, the Governing Council is set to go ahead with the process without addressing the issues at stake especially petitions and allegations that the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Idowu Olayinka is scheming to ‘install’ his Deputy, Professor Kayode Adebowale as his successor. AIBNETWORK  recalls that the Senior Staff Association of the University and at least two candidates who participated in the Senate election called for a cancellation of the process citing fraud and malpractice as the basis for their call. However, AIBNETWORK  reliably gathered that all aspirants collected a letter of invite on Monday for the screening process by the Council slated for Oct. 26, 27, 28 and 29. Six candidates are expected to be shortlisted by the Council during the screening process. Various individuals in the University who spoke with this blog   feared that going ahead with the process without addressing t

          The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) for his new national teaching policy which came into force last week. The new policy raised the retirement age and service from 60 to 65 and from 35 to 40 respectively; established a special salary scale; provided rural allowance; increased science allowance; promised automatic admission and free tuition for children of teachers in their places of work; automatic recruitment for education graduates, etc.     In its reaction, MURIC thanked the Nigerian president for putting smiles on the faces of teachers in the country. The human rights group described the development as a significant milestone in the history of education in Nigeria. This was revealed in a statement issued by the Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Monday, 12 th  October, 2020.     “Nigerian teachers have never had it so good. PMB has raised their level with the new teaching policy announced last week. Teacher