JAMB releases 2012 UTME results

Prof. Ojerinde

The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board has released the results of the 2012 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, with only three candidates scoring above 300.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the results of 27,266 candidates across eight states were withheld for various reasons.

This was stated by JAMB Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, at a news conference in Abuja.

A total of 1,503,931 candidates were registered for the 2012 UTME, which held across the country on March 24, making it the one with the highest number of registered candidates since the existence of JAMB.

Contrary to earlier fears that the Boko Haram sect would disrupt the exam in some Northern states, Ojerinde, said the State Security Service and other security agencies had been engaged to deal with any security threat.

The exam proceeded on the set date without any security problem.

At the news conference, Ojerinde, the JAMB Registrar, listed Abia, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa and Rivers as the affected states, due to malpractice such as extortion of money by some examination officials.

“In 2012 UTME, we had some disturbing news of extortion of money from innocent candidates by greedy proprietors and supervisors all these persons will be brought to book,” he said, adding that the outcome of investigation would determine if more results would be released..

Ojerinde said 72, 243 scored 250 and above while 336,330 scored below 170.

He said 374,920 candidates scored between 170 and above, 601,151 candidates scored between 200 and 249 while 901 scored between 270 and 299.

“In 2010, 96,451 results were recorded invalid, while in 2011, the figure reduced drastically to 28,069, due to sensitisation on 2011 UTME.

“For the 2012 UTME, the number was drastically reduced to 5,161; the board will continue to work to ensure that the incidence of incomplete and invalid results is totally wiped out,” he stated.

Ojerinde said that Imo had the highest number of applicants with 123,865 candidates; Delta came second with 88,876 candidates while Anambra placed third with 84,204 candidates.

Conversely, FCT recorded the lowest number with 3,380 candidates, Sokoto placed next with 5, 664 candidates while 5,713 candidates sat from Zamfara.

He said the University of Lagos recorded the highest applicants with 83,865 candidates; Nnamdi Azikiwe University came second with 82,148 candidates while University of Benin came third with 80,048 candidates.

He said arrangement had been made for candidates to check their results online using JAMB web site, www.myjambonline.com, and using the scratch card used earlier for registration.

culled from The Nation

Crisis looms in uniben • Unions threaten to go on strike if pro-chancellor is reappointed

There appears to be daggers drawn among the unions, management and Governing Council of the University of Benin (UNIBEN). While the unions are kicking against the rumoured reappointment of its immediate past Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Governing Council Sir Gabriel Toby over sundry allegations, the council chair is also suspecting the Vice-Chancellor as the architect behind the development. This is vis-a-vis Toby's rumoured support for the former Bursar Dr. May Nwoye's reappointment bid, writes OSAGIE OTABOR from Benin.

All is not well at the University of Benin, despite the seeming peaceful atmosphere of the institution. Beside President Goodluck Jonathan’s views on the report of the Visitation Panel, which looked into the affairs of the university between 2004 and 2010, there is a raging battle over who becomes the bursar and the protest against the re-appointment of former Chairman of the Governing Council, Sir Gabriel Toby.

Sources at the university said a new Governing Council would soon be constituted and that there were indications that Sir Toby would be reappointed as the chairman.

The sources also said the current developments are tied to who emerges the next Bursar. The position of the Bursar was advertised in December, last year, following the expiration of the tenure of Dr May Nwoye on January 30, this year.

Meanwhile, an Acting Bursar has been appointed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin , but the Governing Council is responsible for the screening and appointment of a Bursar in line with the rules and regulations of universities.

However, the new panel, which was given a ten-point terms of reference, carried out its functions, despite the protests. The report of the panel and the subsequent views of President Jonathan were of praises and indictments, deepening the crisis between supporters of the former Bursar and those of the VC.

Areas in the report that further intensified the rift are on federal character and ethnicity, appointments and promotions and posting of cash books, among others.

Though rumours are rife that Sir Toby might be in firm support of Dr Nwoye's re-appointment, the former has denied it, describing it as the handiwork of some mischief makers.

It was also rumoured that the incumbent Vice-Chancellor is determined to ensure that Dr Nwoye is not reappointed, a claim the VC also denied.

However, the UNIBEN chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) last week threatened industrial action should Sir Toby be reappointed for a second term. Other unions have also joined the fray echoing the same position.

At a briefing last week, ASUU-Uniben chairman Dr Anthony Monye-Emina said, ideally, a Pro-Chancellor of a university should be an individual of proven integrity who also facilitates more funding.

Monye-Emina alleged that Sir Toby was a major contractor to the university who "turned the University of Benin into a business centre to enrich himself."

He said: "Sir Toby succeeded with all these because he insisted and made himself the chairman of the university's Tenders Board as well as procurement board against all extant rules while living on the university's lean resources with supplies of food, fruits and water to him in Port Harcourt."

Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) Comrade John Osaretin Alile said Sir Toby disregarded the unions during his first tenure.

According to him: "The man is a politician and a businessman. He has nothing to do with the university community. His method of operation is different from what obtains in other universities. The smooth administration we have should not be disrupted.

"We will lock the university against him. Let them look for another job for him and not in Uniben. He is not fit to head any university."

Alile denied speculations that their agitation was sponsored by the management, saying they were not concerned about who became Bursar.

On his part, the Chairman of Non Academic Staff Union, Comrade Joe Idonige, said Sir Toby saw himself as a tin-god. He said members celebrated when the Governing Council which Sir Toby headed was dissolved.

His words: "His coming will bring unrest to the university. NASU and other sister unions have written a joint statement which we will present to the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Minister of Education."

Oshodin debunked allegations of sponsoring unions’protest against the re-appointment of Sir Gabriel Toby.

Oshodin, who spoke through the Public Relations Officer, Harris Osarenren, a lawyer, said he had a good working relationship with Sir Toby.

His words: "The working relationship between the VC and Council Chairman was cordial. There was no way the VC could sponsor the unions against Sir Toby. Is it possible for the VC to work hand-in-hand with the unions? They are only threatening?"

On the Bursar's reappointment, the VC said: "The Bursar's tenure ended in January and when a tenure ends, we advertise as directed by the Minister of Education. Let the Bursar go and reapply. I don't have anything against her. There is a panel responsible for the appointment. Rumour mongers should go and read what the law says."

Dr Nwoye fingered the VC as being responsible for her ordeal.

She said: "In my work in the Bursary of the University of Benin over the last 27 years, I have spent a considerable time in the Budget Department as well as the Expenditure Control Department. My duty as Bursar is to ensure that the Budget of the University as approved by Council must be respected and that all expenditures must follow the financial regulations approved by Council.

"In doing my job, as effectively as possible, I believe that I am protecting the Vice-Chancellor and Council for which I should be commended. It is, therefore, disappointing that those who should appreciate my efforts are maligning my reputation so that they can have the opportunity of appointing a puppet Bursar whom they can control. I will not say much at this stage because, as I said before, the university has due process of channelling grievances; there is a governing body which is the Council."

However, in an interview, Sir Toby denied the allegations, saying he has no company doing any contract in the university.

He said: "It is unfortunate that such kind of frivolous allegations are being made. There is procurement act of awarding contract and everything starts and ends with the Vice- Chancellor and his team.Most of the contracts we did were Education Trust Fund (ETF) contracts; and there is a procedure because ETF representative is on the Tenders Board, the Federal Ministry of Education officials are also there and after that it goes to the Council."

 "I don't even understand how I can turn a university into a business centre.  What kind of business would I be doing now that I have not done in 30 or 40 years in top management position?  In 1972, when I was appointed the general manager of Rivers State Marketing Board, I was 33 years old and earning the highest salary in public service, earning more than a permanent secretary,"Sir Toby said.

He said the university had to bring in a company to wade into what he described as irreconcilable figures of the students' population between the Registry and the Bursary units.

"When we came into the university, we asked for the number of students the Bursary gave us a different figure and the Registry another. Bursary said, well, 'those who paid are what we get' which meant they didn't know the figure they were having and even the VC confirmed it at the time he took over. So, we invited a company, Sinforest, because it has history of performing. They made their proposals before the Council members who okayed them." he said.

UNILAG GETS NEW DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR (ACADEMIC & RESEARCH)

Professor Babajide Alo of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, has been appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & Research) of the University of Lagos. His appointment took effect from Friday, March 2, 2012.

His appointment is in accordance with the provision of the University of Lagos Act (1967) as specifically amended in Section 4 and 5 in the University (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 1993. It is sequel to his nomination and election at the University Senate Meeting held on Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

Professor Babajide Alo was born on October 6, 1951. He attended St. Michael’s Primary School, Kaduna (1956-1963) and Ibadan Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Oniyere, Ibadan (1964-1968) where he obtained his West African School Certificate. He was at the Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo (1969-1970) for his Higher School Certificate (HSC). He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry (Second Class Upper) from the University of Ibadan in 1974 and a doctorate degree in Chemistry from the same University in 1979.

He started his lectureship career in 1975 at the University of Ibadan as a Graduate Assistant in Chemistry (teaching Preliminary Inorganic Chemistry and Tutorials, Part 2 Organic Chemistry Tutorial) and Demonstrator in Chemistry, University of Ibadan (1978-1979). He joined the services of the University of Lagos as Lecturer Grade II in 1979 and steadily rose through the ranks to Lecturer Grade I (1981-1984); Senior Lecturer (1984-1989); Associate Professor (1989-1993) and Professor of Chemistry (1993).

Professor Alo who is a member of the University Senate (1996-till Date) has served the University of Lagos in various capacities. He was elected to the Senate of the University (1984-1990); Acting Dean (February to July, 1991) and Dean(1999-2003), School of Postgraduate Studies; Chairman, University Committee on the Adoption of Collegiate System (1991); Managing Director, UNILAG CONSULT (the Consultancy Services of the University of Lagos) 1994-1995; Chairman, UNILAG Endowment Board (1998-1990); Head, Department of Chemistry (2006-2010); Chairman, UNILAG Consult Management Board (2008 to date) among others.

He was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and Visiting Professor to Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. His University teaching and research experience include; Training in Chemistry of Bioactive Fungal Metabolites, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, England (with Professor Jake Macmillan, 1977); WHO Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Ibadan, (working on the Synthesis of Long-Acting contraceptive Steroids with Professor E.K. Adesogan, April 1979-September, 1979); Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (working with Professor.V. Snieckus) and CIDA/NSERC Research Fellow at the Guelph-Waterloo Centre for Graduate Work-in-Chemistry.

The accomplished scholar is a recipient of several academic distinctions and awards, including, Western State of Nigeria, 2 years Higher School Certificate Scholarship Award, (1960); Annual Chemistry Essay Prize, University of Ibadan (1971); Canada International Development Agency/NSERC Research Associateship Award; Royal Society of Chemistry Research Award; RSC Perkin Division Academic Staff Award, among others.

He is a Fellow of four key Professional Societies in Chemistry and Environmental Matters in Nigeria: the Nigerian Academy of Science (FAS); Chemical Society of Nigeria (FCSN); Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (FIPAN); Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (FICCON) and Member, Royal Society of Chemistry, UK, England, to mention a few.

Professor Alo’s special recognitions include: Keynote Speaker at 32nd South African Chemical Institute Convention (First Black African to address any SACI Convention in the 64 years of its existence (1994); Listed in several “Who’s Who in Nigeria”; elected African Scholar and Distinguished Speaker of the Year, University of South Africa, (UNISA), Pretoria, South Africa (2010); Co-Chair of UNEP’s OETLWG on ICCM (2008); Co-Chair, UNEP’s Project on chemicals in products and member of the International Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution (GESAMP).

Professor Alo has to his credit over 60 publications in books, monographs and articles in learned journals and over 50 Conference papers and proceedings. His area of specialization is Heterocyclic Compounds as well as Organic Toxicants in the Environment and Environmental Assessment. He is widely travelled across the continents on academic pursuits.

He is happily married and blessed with children.

INTERACTIVE SESSION 2011/2012 EXAMINATION VENUES

VENUE                                 NUMBER ALLOCATED      APPLICATION RANGE
Education Student
Fac. of science                      All education students             All numbers
                                              Biology                                 350
                                              Chemistry
FSC HALL Ground flooor    Mathematics
                                             Physics                                   30
                                             and all Diploma in library
                                             And Mass Communication



Accounting, Business
Administration,Economics
Public Admin Students


DLI HALL                             500                                         8483-8983
DLI New Buildings
DLI New Building 1:
Ground Floor: Room 1           100                                         8984-9084
                      Room 2            100                                         9085-9185
                      Room 3            100                                         9186-9285

First Floor:  Room 1                250                                        9286-9536
                   Room 2                250                                        9537-9787


Second Floor: Room 1            250                                          9788-10038
                      Room 2            250                                           10039-10289

DLI New Building 11:
Ground Floor: Room 1           100                                            10290-10390
                    Room 2              100                                            10391-10491
                    Room 3              100                                            10492-10592

First Floor:  Hall                      360                                            10593-10953
Second Floor: Room 1            360                                            10954-11314




Multipurpose Hall: A                800                                             11315-12115
                             B                500                                             12116-12616
                             c                 400                                             12617-13016


Fac. Of Science:
Theatre                 009              120                                             13017-13137
Theatre                 026               220                                            13138-13358
Room                 E303               120                                            13359-13479
Room                 E304               120                                            13480-13600


FSS HALL:
Ground Floor                             250                                            13601-13850
First Floor                                  250                                            13851-14101


Fac. of Environment Sci.
HALL                                        600                                             14102-14702

Creative Arts Theartre                240                                              14703-14942
creative theartre
classrooms 1&2                         180                                               14943-15123

Education Auditorium                  250                                              15124-15374
Diploma Hall Education               250                                              15375-15625


Faculty of Business Admin
New Building
Room 11                                    100                                                15626-15726
Room 12                                    100                                                15727-15827
Room 13                                    100                                                15828-15928
Room 14                                    100                                                15929-16028



Applicants are requested to come with the following to the Examination venues:

(a)Two(2) recent passport photographs same as the one used in the application form Application Acknowledgement card.
(b)HB Pencils
(c)Erasers
(d)Non-scientific calculators
(e)Application Acknowledgement Card.

Distance Learning to increase enrolment by 350,000

Culled from The Nation

Some 100 lecturers from seven universities are learning to prepare study materials and assess their students differently.

They are also learning to deploy the open and distance learning (ODL) technology to enable more students to assess university education.

Dr Kerry Murphy and other academics have flown in from the Open University, United Kingdom for the  two-week workshop for the lecturers, who are from the University of Lagos, National Open University of Nigeria, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Federal University of Technology, Yola, University of Maiduguri and the University of Abuja.

The effort to expand the carrying capacity of universities through the ODL mode is being spearheaded by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in collaboration with the British Council.

Mr Julius Momoh, whose firm, Schul Portals, is providing web portal services for the ODL platform, said once the infrastructure and expertise are on ground, the universities would be able to admit at least 50,000 more students each.

"The ODL is to arrest the problem of assess.  It has been estimated that 1.5 million youths will take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the universities cannot accommodate more than 350,000.  NUC wants to increase the number of dual mode universities - that offer both conventional education and distance learning education.  The goal of the project is to increase capacity of universities to take at least 350,000 more students. 

"Every university that passes the test after the workshop will be accredited by the NUC and international assessors so they can go ahead to increase enrolment capacity to 50,000 students."

Speaking on the content of the workshop, Dr Murphy, who is Director of Research at the Open University, UK, said the ODL platform requires harnessing technology and the internet to deliver quality tuition. 

To this end, Murphy, who managed the Lagos centre of the workshop comprising lecturers from UNILAG and NOUN, said the academics were being taught how to write teaching materials for students who learn through technology.

He explained that the peculiarities of ODL requires that the materials be interesting and test the students'ability to think. He added that the reduction in the ages of students assessing university education through the ODL platform means that lecturers also have to appeal to the interest of younger readers to attract their attention.

"The teaching material has to be designed in a way to interact with the students.  We are trying to get the students to think.  The materials should be conversational, engaging and interesting.  It is not about rote learning but should make the students think," he said.

Director of the Distance Learning Institute, UNILAG, Prof Funke Lawal said the expertise from the foreign dons would help Nigerian academics to improve their technical and writing skills.  

‘I lost at the SUG; I won at the national level’

Culled from The Nation

Adekola Ajayi is a 400-Level student of Computer Science at the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Niger State. He represented the institution at the national competition for computer science students where he came third. He shares his experience with OLATUNBOSUN YINKA (200-Level Chemistry).

You represented IBBU at the last Computer Science Students’ competition and came third. What was it like getting to that stage?

No doubt, I felt and still feel great and quite honoured. It is a privilege for me to be a winner in the competition and I want to give all glory to God Almighty for making that possible.

Do you see this as a sort of compensation, coming after you lost your bid to become the assistant secretary-general of the Students’ Union?

You can say that again. I call it a blessing in disguise because this is just God’s way of paying me back for my hardwork. God saw that I was ready to serve the people then but I was denied that opportunity. But I am truly grateful that the same institution turned round to honour me for my feat at the competition.

We understand you arrived late for  the competition. How did it feel seeing opponents who having come early seemed more prepared than you?

I felt very inadequate. I was so afraid I wouldn’t measure up. This was not helped by the fact that we were supposed to be three representing IBBU, Lapai at the competition, but somehow and for reasons I cannot explain, I was the only one there. It was a classic case that would make our students say O’boy, fear catch me O.  Seeing other students from many universities, especially those ones who claim to be more prestigious than IBBU, was a bit unsettling. I just thank God at how everything turned out eventually. So now I can say: I went, I saw, and, most importantly, I conquered. All glory be to God.

Would you describe yourself now as a success?

Oh yes I would say that. This is because one’s success depends on the outcome of the positive things one is able to achieve after one has set goals for oneself. I set this goal for myself and achieved it; thus I am a success.

You are in final year now. As an outgoing student, what is your advice to fellow IBBULITES?

I urge everyone to be hardworking and diligent in all they do. With these, the sky would be their limit.

Ex-VC advocates adequate power supply in schools

Culled from The Nation
The education system will be better if adequate power is provided in schools former Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof Akinola Salau, stated this in a paper entitled: Towards sustainable energy provision in Nigeria, which he delivered at the yearly party/lecture of Oluyole Club, Lagos at Kankanfo Inn, Ibadan.

    Salau identified inadequate supply of electricity as one of the major problems affecting the quality education.

He said: "This country is blessed with energy. We have gas, coal petrol, but we have the problem of sustainability. Human existence depends on electricity. If you are in the education system without the electricity, it will reflect on the result. People in sciences will not be able to perform experiments; people at home will not do assignment very well; more importantly, many of us dwell in rural areas without adequate power supply and if I am the teacher in such an area, it will be difficult."

 President of the club, Prof Bashir Akande described inadequate power as a major setback for education. 

"We are aware that the lack of solution to our energy needs has been the major drawback to our development in this country; sustainable energy being the basis of industrial economic power and many other indices of progressive societies," he said. 

Oluyole Club, Lagos comprises Ibadan indigenes in Lagos. The group empowers students to achieve their goals.

At the event, the group rewarded brilliant undergraduates with N50, 000 each. Some of the beneficiaries  spoke with The Nation.

Olatunji Sameul, a student of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, OAU, said the bursary would enhance his education.

He said: "I'm very happy to be a partaker of this kind gesture stretched to us by the club. This will help students in the higher institution to aim higher academically. There are numbers of youths in the country who desire to be educated but without help this will help some of us to further."

Another beneficiary, Oladeji Idris, a Pharmacy student at OAU, said the bursary will help to reduce the financial burden on his parents.

"My parents are going through stress to get me educated. This in a way lessens their burden," he said.

Asimiyu Opeyemi also from the institution said the programme is a hope to the indigent students.

"Looking at the members of the club, they have all made it in their careers and I believe they know that the only way to help the youth is by investing in the education system. May God continue to bless them," he said.

On why only OAU students benefited from the award, the club’s Secretary, Mr Niyi Fatokun, said they were the only ones who applied.

"I wrote several letters to government universities in the country, asking them to submit the names of Ibadan indigenes who have high grades, but I never received any reply apart from OAU.  Here we are rewarding only those who participated. If next year, it is the only university that participates, we will not hesitate to do the same," he said.

Sri Lankan Man Dies Attempting To Set World Record For Longest Time Being Buried Alive

Things that make you go...huh?

A Sri Lankan man has died while trying to set a record for the longest time spent buried alive. Police said Janaka Basnayake, 24, buried himself over the weekend with the help of family and friends in a trench sealed with wood and soil in the town of Kantale, about 137 miles (220 kilometers) north of Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. A local newspaper reported that the trench was 10 feet (3 meters) deep.
Basnayake was buried at around 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Police said that when he was brought to the surface at 4 p.m., he was unconscious and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Get this, there's no world record for the longest time buried alive. So the attempt, which ended his life, was for nothing...sad. Continue reading...

Dr. D.G. Costa of the Kantale hospital said a post-mortem could not determine the cause of death and further medical investigations are being conducted.
Basnayake’s mother, L.D. Leelawathi, said her son had enjoyed performing unusual acts since his childhood — a liking that grew after watching movies, the Lankadeepa newspaper reported.
It quoted her as saying that her son had been buried alive on two previous occasions — for two and a half hours and six hours respectively.
It was unclear whether there is an official world record for the longest time buried alive.

Source

Keshi goes to school

CAF 'B' LICENSE COACHING COURSE

SUPER EAGLES’ Head Coach Steven Keshi will be among the 80 Nigerian Coaches to attend the CAF 'B' License Coaching Course holding between March 11-24 2012.

Revealing this exclusively to NationSport, the Big Boss said:  "Since the license is part of training and grading the coaches in Nigeria, I think it would be a singular privilege for me to be part of it. It would also give me the opportunity to rub minds with other experienced coaches to know the trends in game. It would be rare privilege."

He confirmed to NationSport that he would arrive Abuja at the weekend, to fully join in the program.

Speaking in Abuja, Ikpeme said the programme, which comes five months after the much-publicised CAF 'C' License course, will involve 80 Nigerian coaches.

"We are happy to announce that the Confederation of African Football has given us the go-ahead to hold the CAF B License Course, which our coaches have been so eagerly awaiting. We are already putting finishing touches to our preparation to have the programme and all those who passed the CAF C License programme are duly qualified.

"Also, we have reached out to all those who will be serving as instructors for the programme, and I can tell you that everything is on course," stated Ikpeme.

A total of 60 coaches will be taking part in the two-week course for the CAF B License programme, while 20 coaches will partake in the one-week CAF B Equivalent for senior trainers.

Nigeria's FIFA Technical Advisor, Adegboye Onigbinde and former NFF Technical Director, Dr Kashimawo Laloko are among the instructors for the course.

NOTICE OF INVITATION TO INTERACTIVE SESSION

All applicant for admission into DLI programme for 2011/2012 academic session are hereby invited to an interactive session, scheduled as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 13th March 2012
Time: 8:00 am
VENUE ARE DISPLAY AT END OF THIS INFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.) Venue's are allocated according to the application form number and will be displayed at the University gates from Sunday 11th March 2012.

2.) Please note that All Education Science students irrespective of the application number will be in the same venue and this will be displayed on the banner at the university gate

3.) Applicants are requested to come with the following to the Examination venues: a. Two (2) Recent Passport Photographs same as the one used in the application form Application Acknowledgement Card.

(b) HB Pencils
(c) Erasers
(d) Non-scientific calculators

4.) Applicants should not come to the venues with their GSM Handsets or any other communication/electronic device.

5.) Any applicants who fails to attend this interaction session will not be considered for the admission into the Distance Learning Institiute for the 2011/2012 session.

6.) All applicants should be at the exam venue on or before 8:00am.lateness t o the exam venue will not be tolerated. Please note as appropriate

P Square featuring Akon “Chop My Money” Video breaks Youtube record

Popular Nigerian singing duo P Square have reached a Youtube milestone as their “Chop my Money” music video which features American music star Akon has become the most viewed Nigerian video, beating all other Nigerian Music video and Movies on Youtube.

The music video also features P Square’s label mate ‘May D’

“Chop my Money” was uploaded on youtube just six days ago (23 February, 2012).

According to Youtube stats ‘Chop my money’ has been receiving an average of 4,600 views per hour.

In less than a week after its release, the video has been viewed 630,060 times as at the time of publishing this article which has never happened to any Nigerian music or movie video before.

Music fans have predicted that the video will get one million views in one week.

Congratulations to P Square on this feat

Man sues Google over urination photo

Alma Whitten. Google's privacy chief.

A Frenchman took Google to court Thursday over a photo published online by its Street View application showing him urinating in his front yard which he believes has made him the laughing stock of his village in rural northwest France.

The man, who is aged around 50 and lives in a village of some 3,000 people in the Maine-et-Loire region, is demanding the removal of the photo, in which locals have recognized him despite his face being blurred out.

He also wants 10,000 euros ($13,300) in damages.

“Everyone has the right to a degree of secrecy,” his lawyer, Jean-Noel Bouillard, told Reuters. “In this particular case, it’s more amusing than serious. But if he’d been caught kissing a woman other than his wife, he would have had the same issue.”

Google Inc.’s Street View, covering some 30 countries and available in France since 2008, enables users of Google Maps to also view photos of streets taken by its camera cars, which have cameras hoisted on frames on their roofs.

The man thought he was hidden from view by his closed gate as he relieved himself in November 2010. But Google’s lens caught him from above his gate as it passed by. Bouillard did not explain why the man chose to urinate outside.

Google’s lawyer in the case, named by local daily Ouest France as Christophe Bigot, was not immediately reachable, but the newspaper said he was pleading that the case should be declared null and void.

The court, in the nearby city of Angers, is due to give its verdict on March 15.

FG restricts NYSC posting to four sectors

The Federal Government has released a new NYSC posting policy for the National Youth Service scheme, narrowing areas where corps members can be deployed to only four sectors namely:

   - Rural health
   - Primary and Secondary education
   - Rural infrastructure development
   - Agricultural development.

 This new posting policy was made known by the Ministry of Information in a statement issued yesterday.

It is said to be a bid to restore national integration and youth empowerment as the core objectives of the NYSC Scheme.

          “The new policy is set to discourage highly placed government officials and influential members of the society from seeking for concessionary posting for prospective corps members specifically to metropolitan cities like Abuja, Lagos and others, contrary to the spirit of the NYSC Scheme,” the statement said, quoting a circular to top government functionaries in the three arms, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Extra- Ministerial Departments and Statutory Agencies and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

It also re-emphasised the categories of those eligible for concessionary postings as Married women, Corps members with peculiar health related issues; and Corps member with physical disabilities only

Lagos disburses N10m car loan to teachers

LAGOS— As part of measures to improve teachers’ welfare in Lagos State, the state government has released 10 million to Teachers’ Establishments and Pensions, TEPO, for teachers’ car refurbishment loan in all the six education districts in the state.

Permanent Secretary of TEPO, Mrs. Mojirola Bola-Sadipe, who disclosed this, said the gesture would go a long way in boosting the morale of teachers, which in turn, would enhance the performance of students.

The Permanent Secretary reiterated government’s commitment to teachers’ capacity building in state secondary schools, stressing that the agency had proposed training for about 11,000 teachers for 2012 as against 8,000 in 2011.

She noted that about 21 French teachers were sponsored toLome, Togo in 2011 for French language proficiency while 200 others would in 2012 be trained in Applied Linguistics at the Teachers’ Resource Centre, Owutu, Ikorodu.

According to her, the essence of training and retraining of teachers was to improve service delivery so that the students could perform better in SSSCE and NECO examinations.

The Permanent Secretary lamented the dismal performance of students in the last SSSCE results in Lagos State, saying the performance did not justify government’s investment on teachers’ development.

She said all hands must be on deck for improved performance and noted that a new Curriculum from Federal Government was out, urging teachers in the state secondary schools to ensure that their subject contents covered the new curriculum.

She noted that the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) was aware of the challenges facing the education sector in the State and advised teachers to put in their best so that the Sector could attain its peak, adding that the State government has plans to recruit more qualified and professional teachers in year 2012 as there are a lot of vacancies to be filled.

Culled from Vanguard