Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, weekend revealed that the institution was set to domestic the revised National Gender Policy to promote gender equality in the institution.

Prof. Obi  made the revelation when the United Nations Women paid her a courtesy call.

The Federal Government approved the Revised National Gender Policy in March 2022.

The policy represents a set of minimum standards expected of the Nigerian government to meet its mandate for gender equality, good governance, accountability, and being socially responsive to the needs of its vulnerable group.

The VC explained to UN women that the draft policy was before the senate of the university for deliberation and approval before the commencement of the strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

She expressed hope that as soon the strike was suspended, the senate will approve the policy for domestication in the institution.

She told the UN Women that the university was keen on having a robust gender programme, hence the creation of a directorate on Gender Development in the institution.

“University education doesn’t end with the certificate alone, but the ability to mound the character of the students and equipping them with certain qualities that can stand them out.

“As a university, we are set to domesticate the revised National Gender Policy to help us strengthen our directorate of gender development.

“The draft policy is currently before the senate of the institution and I am sure that once ASUU suspend its strike, we will approve and domesticate the policy.

“For us as a university, we know what we want for our students. We should be able to mould our students in character, mentally and psychologically.

“We have also come up with a disability policy to see that everyone is carried alone. Most disabled people have the ability and capacity to contribute their quota to our nation’s development,” she said.

Speaking  further , thebVC said that the management of UNICAL was so conscious about protecting students of the institution, especially the female ones.

Prof. Obi informed the UN Women that she was ready to partner with them, adding that when the students have the knowledge and advocacy, it would help to shape their conduct and behaviour.

Earlier,  Program Specialist, UN Women, Tosin Akibu, said that the Spotlight Initiative in Nigeria was launched in 2019 with a view to eliminate violence against women and girls.

Akibu said that part of their mandate was to strengthen the respond on how to prevent issues of gender based violence against women and girls.

She assured the VC that they would do everything to ensure that the programme of enlightening and creating awareness on the dangers of gender based violence in UNICAL is achieved.

Also speaking, Mr Adeyemi Asaba, Program Manager, Women At Risk International, said that their objective was to reduce the drastic rate of sexual harassment and rape across higher institutions of learning in Nigeria.

He commended the VC for her inclusiveness for persons living with disabilities in the institution and also for creating a directorate for gender

Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, weekend revealed that the institution was set to domestic the revised National Gender Policy to promote gender equality in the institution.

Prof. Obi  made the revelation when the United Nations Women paid her a courtesy call.

The Federal Government approved the Revised National Gender Policy in March 2022.

The policy represents a set of minimum standards expected of the Nigerian government to meet its mandate for gender equality, good governance, accountability, and being socially responsive to the needs of its vulnerable group.

The VC explained to UN women that the draft policy was before the senate of the university for deliberation and approval before the commencement of the strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

She expressed hope that as soon the strike was suspended, the senate will approve the policy for domestication in the institution.

She told the UN Women that the university was keen on having a robust gender programme, hence the creation of a directorate on Gender Development in the institution.

“University education doesn’t end with the certificate alone, but the ability to mound the character of the students and equipping them with certain qualities that can stand them out.

“As a university, we are set to domesticate the revised National Gender Policy to help us strengthen our directorate of gender development.

“The draft policy is currently before the senate of the institution and I am sure that once ASUU suspend its strike, we will approve and domesticate the policy.

“For us as a university, we know what we want for our students. We should be able to mould our students in character, mentally and psychologically.

“We have also come up with a disability policy to see that everyone is carried alone. Most disabled people have the ability and capacity to contribute their quota to our nation’s development,” she said.

Speaking  further , thebVC said that the management of UNICAL was so conscious about protecting students of the institution, especially the female ones.

Prof. Obi informed the UN Women that she was ready to partner with them, adding that when the students have the knowledge and advocacy, it would help to shape their conduct and behaviour.

Earlier,  Program Specialist, UN Women, Tosin Akibu, said that the Spotlight Initiative in Nigeria was launched in 2019 with a view to eliminate violence against women and girls.

Akibu said that part of their mandate was to strengthen the respond on how to prevent issues of gender based violence against women and girls.

She assured the VC that they would do everything to ensure that the programme of enlightening and creating awareness on the dangers of gender based violence in UNICAL is achieved.

Also speaking, Mr Adeyemi Asaba, Program Manager, Women At Risk International, said that their objective was to reduce the drastic rate of sexual harassment and rape across higher institutions of learning in Nigeria.

He commended the VC for her inclusiveness for persons living with disabilities in the institution and also for creating a directorate for gender

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Audu Amba, has been dismissed by the Kaduna government for refusing to sit for the competency test.

He was among the 2,357 teachers sacked by the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) on Sunday, for failing the recently conducted test.

KADSUBEB spokesperson, Hauwa Mohammed, in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna, said the Board conducted a competency test for over 30,000 teachers in Dec. 2021.

Amba was listed among the 2,192 school teachers to be tested.

She said that some 165 of the 27,662 teachers that sat for the competency test were also sacked for poor performances.

It was the second time that the Kaduna government sacked teachers for incompetence.

In 2018, it sacked 21,780 teachers who failed a competency test, and replaced them with 25,000 others recruited through vigorous processes.

In December 2021, the Board also sacked 233 teachers over alleged possession of fake certificates.

“Following the state government’s resolution for continued assessment of teachers to ensure better delivery of learning outcomes for pupils, KADSUBEB conducted another competency test for the teachers in December 2021.

“The services of teachers who scored below 40 per cent are no longer required and their appointments have been terminated from the Public Service for their poor performances.

“Teachers who scored 75 per cent and above were recognised as those who passed the test and qualified for attending courses in leadership and school management,” she said.

According to her, qualified teachers will be included in Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programmes to enhance their capacities to deliver quality teaching to pupils.

Mohammed said teachers who scored between 40 and 74 per cent did not meet up with the minimum pass mark, adding that they would be given second chance to improve their capacities.

The Board, she said has initiated viable training programmes for teachers under its statutory TPD with support from the state government and development partners.

“The training programmes will be conducted during end of term vacation and in their respective schools, to minimise disruptions of teaching and learning.

“They are also encouraged to complement the government’s efforts and seek personal development for their own good.

“The board is assuring teachers and the public that it remains committed to ensuring their continuous professional development and the improvement of the learning outcomes of pupils and students,” she said.

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Audu Amba, has been dismissed by the Kaduna government for refusing to sit for the competency test.

He was among the 2,357 teachers sacked by the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB) on Sunday, for failing the recently conducted test.

KADSUBEB spokesperson, Hauwa Mohammed, in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna, said the Board conducted a competency test for over 30,000 teachers in Dec. 2021.

Amba was listed among the 2,192 school teachers to be tested.

She said that some 165 of the 27,662 teachers that sat for the competency test were also sacked for poor performances.

It was the second time that the Kaduna government sacked teachers for incompetence.

In 2018, it sacked 21,780 teachers who failed a competency test, and replaced them with 25,000 others recruited through vigorous processes.

In December 2021, the Board also sacked 233 teachers over alleged possession of fake certificates.

“Following the state government’s resolution for continued assessment of teachers to ensure better delivery of learning outcomes for pupils, KADSUBEB conducted another competency test for the teachers in December 2021.

“The services of teachers who scored below 40 per cent are no longer required and their appointments have been terminated from the Public Service for their poor performances.

“Teachers who scored 75 per cent and above were recognised as those who passed the test and qualified for attending courses in leadership and school management,” she said.

According to her, qualified teachers will be included in Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programmes to enhance their capacities to deliver quality teaching to pupils.

Mohammed said teachers who scored between 40 and 74 per cent did not meet up with the minimum pass mark, adding that they would be given second chance to improve their capacities.

The Board, she said has initiated viable training programmes for teachers under its statutory TPD with support from the state government and development partners.

“The training programmes will be conducted during end of term vacation and in their respective schools, to minimise disruptions of teaching and learning.

“They are also encouraged to complement the government’s efforts and seek personal development for their own good.

“The board is assuring teachers and the public that it remains committed to ensuring their continuous professional development and the improvement of the learning outcomes of pupils and students,” she said.

Bulgarian Ambassador to Nigeria, Yanko Yardonov, says Bulgarian universities are offering admission to Nigerian students whose academic pursuits in Ukraine were cut short by Russia’s invasion.

Yardonov also said that some Nigerian citizens had been offered jobs by Bulgarian universities.

The Bulgarian ambassador disclosed this in an interview with the journalists in Abuja.

Prior to the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, approximately 4,300 Nigerian students were studying in the eastern European country.

The number was the fifth-largest (5.4%) of the 80,000 international students in Ukraine, according to data from Ukraine’s ministry of education and science.

The students have said before that they found Ukrainian education’s appeal mostly in its affordability, a better standard of life, and the safe environment it provided.

Although the envoy did not say how many Nigerian students have been offered admission, he said the decision was to help create an atmosphere conducive for the scholars to study without interruptions and to solidify the bilateral cooperation agreement in place between Nigeria and Bulgaria.

He acknowledged the good relationship that Nigeria and Bulgaria have enjoyed over the years, saying that available statistics indicated that a significant number of Nigerians had been allowed to travel to Bulgaria and reside in the country either on a short-term basis or for the long term.