7 July 2009
Lagos — The management of the University of Benin, Edo State, has been urged to carryout the directives of the National Universities Commission (NUC) which mandated it to reduce its intake of students.
Chairman of the visitation panel to the university, Prof. Peter Okebukola, who made this call while submitting the panel's report to the Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu in Abuja, observed that one of the critical academic challenges the institution was facing was its cumbersome enrolment, which was over 60,000, half of whom were part-time students. He urged the senate of the university to work towards a drastic reduction of its intake into them, targeting no more than 25 percent of regular students.
"We noted that most of the directives of the visitor on the previous Visitation Panel report have not been carried out. We urge that council and management should take urgent steps to implement these directives" he said.
Okebukola also said issues bothering on alteration of scores for students by staff was of common occurrence in some of the departments and that there had been cases of allegations of exchange of money for scores, which seem to be the main incentive. Among other issues, the Chairman added that cases of plagiarism, a serious academic staff offence, involving senior academic staff, were not adequately handled and that quite a number of staff were bitter as a result of delayed promotions, temporary appointment, differential treatment over disciplinary matters; unions and staff do not take the pains to verify the authenticity of some matters, going to the press, security agencies or writing petitions.
The Professor also observed that the institution's defunct College of Petroleum and Gas was not properly wound up hence there were issues that may lead to litigations in the future.
In his remark, the Minister assured the panel that government would study the report and implement it without delay. "Looking at the volume of the report, there is no doubt that justice has been done and its findings would help government to drive the sector forward", he said
In another development, the Minister of Education has admonished the Nigerian contingents to the 2009 International Olympiads in Mathematics and the Sciences in various countries of Europe .
Egwu who gave this advice recently at the sent-forth ceremony organised for them in Abuja, said they should be good ambassadors of Nigerian both in character and in intelligent, adding that they could compete and do very well above the other countries who would be participating.
Director General of the Mathematic Centre, Prof. Sam Ale, said the centre had ensured that the country was listed among the leading participants in the Olympiad.
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