IBNET

University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan says it has lost over N300 million in terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UCH Chief Medical Director, Professor Jesse Otegbayo disclosed this at a press conference to mark the hospital’s 63rd anniversary said the hospital had to practically shut down and reduced the number of staff on duty even as the number of patients coming dropped because of the fear of contracting the infections. Professor Otegbayo said, “not only were we not generating income, but we are also spending money to buy disinfectant, PPEs, facemasks and all other things that were required, so it was a double loss to the hospital.” On COVID-19, he stated that a weekly report on the infection at the hospital has not shown that there is a second wave although there is a threat of it. According to him, the incidence of COVID-19 has not been going down continuously as before and is suggestive of a threat of a second wave. He added, “this is a nu

  The Council and the Selection committee of the University of Ibadan will on Wednesday hold a special council meeting on the appointment of new Vice Chancellor. This was contained in a confidential memo sent to all members of the Council. They were told to reconvene for a meeting in Ibadan on November 25, 2020. During the two-day meeting, the Council will be hearing outcome of the petition committee and other matters causing delays in the appointment of new VC. The current Vice Chancellor, Prof Idowu Olayinka’s tenure expires next week, November 30. If all went well, a new Vice-Chancellor might emerged after the meeting, this blog gathered. The Federal Government had warned the Council and other members to desist from manipulation or face the consequences. The warning was received on November 17, during the 72nd Founder’s Day of the University. The Council members invited to the meeting include Pro-Chancellor, J. M. Wakek; Vice-Chancellor Olayinka F. A. S.; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Aca

  The National Universities Commission has transferred ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology  LAUTECH Ogbomoso to the Oyo State Government while the Osun state Government is to take over the College of Health Sciences in Osogbo. The resolution followed the lingering ownership of LAUTECH over the years. The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission Professor Abubakar Rasheed stated this at a media briefing in Abuja. Professor Rasheed said both Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and Adegboyega Oyetola signed a memorandum of Agreement to the development. The NUC boss expressed optimism that the new arrangement would restore peace to LAUTECH.

The Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo on Friday solicited a special intervention fund to address the hospital’s ageing infrastructure, for effective healthcare delivery.  Otegbayo made this request at a news briefing to mark the hospital’s 63rd anniversary in Ibadan on Friday. According to the CMD, ageing infrastructure poses a huge challenge to its ability to meet the healthcare needs of its teeming patients.  He said that the ageing infrastructure includes buildings, underground electrical cables, electrification, water system of the South Campus and plumbing systems. “There is the need to equip the hospital with modern and advanced equipment that will enable us to accomplish our mandate to the good people of Nigeria. “This will also stem the trend of outward medical tourism. “Our Internally Generated Revenue can certainly not take care of all these. “Philanthropic gestures from the public are also desirable and welcome,” the chief medical dire

  The New Zealand Police have introduced the use of hijab as part of its official uniform. The force said the move is part of its  value for diversity  and to encourage more Muslim women to join. According to an Instagram post, Zeena Ali, a constable, will be New Zealand Police’s first member to wear a specially designed hijab as part of her uniform. The post quoted Ali as saying that “it feels great to be able to go out and show the New Zealand Police uniform hijab because I was able to take part in the design process”. “It was when I was just training to get into police, that the Christchurch terror attack happened and if I was a fuIly-fledged constable then I would have gone down to support the victims and their families,” she said. “Having a police-branded hijab means women, who may not have previously considered policing can do so now. It’s great how the Police incorporated my religion and culture. “I am thrilled the Police went out of their way to make sure the hijab l have on me

The festering crisis surrounding the appointment of the next Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan seems to have reached its climax as impeccable sources have confirmed to this blog that an acting VC “might be appointed to oversee the affairs of the institution.”   This blog recalls that the controversy took a vital turn when workers, mostly members of the Senior and Non-Academic Staff, protested the alleged plan by the incumbent, Prof. Idowu Olayinka to install his deputy, Professor Kayode Adebowale, as his successor. The protest led to the postponement of the announcement of the next Vice-Chancellor after a shortlist of six candidates had earlier been made. This blog  had reported that the congregation election and the election of two members of the joint selection committee was followed by multiple allegations of fraud and lack of transparency. An impeccable source who explained to this blog  that the institution is on the verge of getting an interim leadership revealed that t

The Nigerian Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has described the suit challenging the Arabic inscription on the Nigerian currency (naira) as acrobatic religiousity. MURIC made the assertion on Monday, 16 th  November, 2020 while responding to a suit filed by a Lagos-based lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo. MURIC’s statement was issued by its director and founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola.     Omirhobo argued that the Arabic inscription on naira notes portray Nigeria as an Islamic state contrary to the country’s constitutional status of a secular state. The lawyer also filed a similar suit against the Nigerian Army seeking the removal of Arabic inscriptions from its logo. The cases are being heard before Justice Mohammed Liman at the Lagos High Court. (https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/11/10/cbn-opposes-suit-to-remove-arabic-inscriptions-from-banknotes/)       But according to MURIC, “Omirhobo’s approach is not only naïve, it is pedestrian and kinderg