News
Address Long Standing Issues and Enjoy Uninterrupted University Activities”- Prof. Yakubu Ochefu implores Government
Address Long Standing Issues and Enjoy Uninterrupted University Activities”- Prof. Yakubu Ochefu implores Government
By: Michael Mike
A prominent academician and outgoing Secretary General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Professor Yakubu Ochefu has called Nigerian government to urgently address the longstanding issues facing the country’s university system and to clarify its vision for higher education in the country.
Ochefu, known for his expertise in educational policy and reform, emphasised the importance of tackling the challenges that have plagued the sector for years.
One of the key issues the respected academician said needs urgent attention is the ongoing dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the government. He lamented that the rift, which has led to numerous strikes and disruptions in academic activities, has had a detrimental impact on the quality of education in Nigeria.
Ochefu stressed that developing specialized capacity should be the next phase in the Nigeria education philosophy. He said: “We are now in a phase whereby we have built capacity, in some cases excess capacity. So we have a case of what to do with the massification of university education in Nigeria, where we currently have about 2.6 million students enrolled in Nigerian universities, 1.7-1.8 million people take exams to enter Nigerian universities every year, and we are still using the thought process of the 80s to manage the whole situation; it doesn’t add up. So we need to go back and rethink.”
The don illustrated past and present events in the system. He said the lecturer who taught him in a class of 30 students. The students he taught who sat in a class of 150 students as well as their own students, who are his grand students, will be teaching a class of 300 students using the same methodology, which is ineffective.
“So part of what ASSU is saying is that we still used the same thought process, the funding, mechanism for education in the 80s. The last agreement was signed in the 1990s, nearly 30 years ago, so you cannot have that kind of thought process operating today and are still not willing to change it for something that will be a win-win for the federal government.
“So the government should be clear about what they want to do with universities. Now we have 63 federal universities, and state universities are slightly higher than this number, so they must rethink the entire philosophy of what they want to do with universities, and that is the only way they will be able to meet with the challenges raised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions in the university system.”
However, the don stressed the need for both parties to engage in constructive dialogue and find lasting solutions to the underlying issues.
Address Long Standing Issues and Enjoy Uninterrupted University Activities”- Prof. Yakubu Ochefu implores Government
Foreign national found dead in Lagos hotel room, investigation ongoing
By: Zagazola Makama
The Police in Lagos has launched an investigation into the sudden and unnatural death of an 80-year-old Colombian national, Quesada Vanegas Ricardo Alfonso, whose lifeless body was discovered at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Festac Town.
According to a Police Sources, a distress call was received on May 1, alerting authorities to the discovery of the deceased at around 3:45 p.m. in his hotel room (No. C85) on the 8th floor of the hotel. The police team, including homicide detectives, was dispatched to the scene to examine the situation.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim had been staying at the hotel for more than four months before his death. No signs of violence or foul play were found on his body.
“The corpse was evacuated and transported to Mainland General Hospital morgue in Yaba, where it has been preserved for autopsy. The coroner’s inquest and other necessary procedures have been initiated, with the investigation ongoing.
“Furthermore, some hotel management staff were briefly taken into custody for failing to maintain proper records of their guests. They have since been released as part of the investigation.
“The police assured that thorough investigation will continue to determine the cause of death,”said the sources.
Foreign national found dead in Lagos hotel room, investigation ongoing
Man kills replacement herder in Niger over job loss
By Zagazola Makama
The Niger State Police Command has arrested a man for allegedly killing his replacement over a dispute linked to job loss in Malale village, Borgu Local Government Area.
According to a Police Sources, the incident occurred on April 30 at about 12:30 p.m. and was reported to the Malale Police Outstation by the village head, Mallam Musa Abubakar, and one Usman Iliyasu of Tungan-Sule.
Usman Iliyasu told police that he had employed Usman Mohammed as a cattle herder two years ago but sacked him in February 2025 after accusing him of stealing money while he was away on pilgrimage to Mecca.
Subsequently, Iliyasu hired one Ibrahim Salisu, 40, of the same address to replace him.
“The sacked herder, Usman Mohammed, reportedly attacked Ibrahim Salisu with a cutlass, inflicting fatal injuries and accusing him of taking over his job. The victim died on the spot,” said the police sources.
He said Police officers from the New-Bussa Division visited the scene, photographed the corpse, and evacuated it to the General Hospital, New-Bussa, for autopsy.
The suspect was immediately arrested, and an investigation is currently ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident.
Man kills replacement herder in Niger over job loss
Bandits kill 11 in Sokoto, joint security forces launch manhunt
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have killed 11 persons in coordinated attacks across three communities in Gwadabawa and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas of Sokoto State, sources confirmed on Saturday that the attacks occurred on May 2 at about 7:30 p.m.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the assailants, in large numbers, stormed Satiru Village and killed five people. They then proceeded to Kunkurus Village, where they killed one person, and later attacked Shadawa community in Sabon Birni LGA, where they shot five more victims dead.
In response to the attacks, troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Sokoto Community Guards jointly responded to the attacks in the affected areas.
On their arrival, the terrorists had already fled.
The troops are currently trailing the terrorists
Bandits kill 11 in Sokoto, joint security forces launch manhunt
Foreign national found dead in Lagos hotel room, investigation ongoing
Bandits kill 11 in Sokoto, joint security forces launch manhunt
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