The 14th Governing Council of the University of Jos has approved the appointment of Professor Tanko Ishaya, who is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) as the new Vice-Chancellor for the University.
This follows the Council’s consideration of the recommendation of the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board at the Council’s Special Meeting held on Friday 12th November, 2021. His appointment will take effect from 1st December, 2021. The appointment is for a single term of five years.
A statement by the Institution’s Deputy Registrar, Information and Publications, Abdullahi Abdullahi confirmed Tanko’s appointment in a statement on Friday.
The statement said, “The newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya is a Professor of Computer Science with a Mathematics background and specialism and experience in Data Engineering, Computer Security and Forensics. He obtained his B.Sc. in Mathematics Education (2nd Class Upper Division) in 1992 at University of Jos and began work as a lecturer in Mathematics at the College of Agriculture, Zuru, Kebbi State.
“Professor Tanko proceeded to the University of Manchester, United Kingdom to pursue an M.Sc. programme in Computation which he successfully completed in 1997. He later enrolled for his PhD in Computing Studies which he successfully completed in 2001. Professor Tanko was promoted to the rank of Professor of Computer Science in 2012.
“He joined the University of Hull in October 2000 as a Lecturer and was Head of the Centre for Internet Computing at the University before returning to Nigeria in 2008 as a visiting Professor to the University of Jos whilst on his Sabbatical. Professor Tanko was the founding Director of the University’s Directorate for Information and Communication Technology from where he returned back to the University of Hull in January 2009 after his Sabbatical.
“Professor Tanko came back to Unijos in 2012 on special request by the University to serve as the Director, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and doubled as the pioneer Head of Computer Science Department at the University. He has served in over 60 University Committees at the University of Hull and the University Jos. A member of several professional bodies and associations, including being a Fellow of both the British Computer Society (BCS) and Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), Professor Tanko is a seasoned, multi-skilled IT professional equipped with over Twenty-Five (25) years experience.
“Professor Tanko’s research interests are diverse and wide-ranging from providing technology support in a variety of areas to more technical aspects of security and trustworthy computing, digital and computer forensics computing. He has over 40 journals, book chapters, conference and research report publications and has successfully executed a number of national and internationally funded projects. He has successfully attracted external research and development grants, graduated Five PhD students and more than 40 M.Sc. Students in Computing/Computer Science in the UK and Nigeria. Professor Tanko has also successfully supervised the B.Sc Projects of over 60 Final Year Students of Computing/Computer Science in the UK and over 40 Final Year Students in Nigeria.
“Aged Fifty-Seven (57), Professor Ishaya who hails from Zuru, Kebbi State, is happily married to Sharon Ishaya and they are blessed with three children.
He takes over from Professor Gray Goziem Ejikeme whose term as Acting Vice-Chancellor expires on 30th November 2021”.
Schools in New Delhi will be closed for a week and construction sites for four days, the Indian capital’s chief minister said on Saturday, as the city tries to protect people in a worsening air pollution crisis.
Arvind Kejriwal said talks on a potential complete lockdown in the capital were also underway, but any decision would only be taken after consultation with the central government.
Earlier in the day, the chief justice of India asked the central government to come up with an emergency plan to tackle the dangerous smog, calling the situation “very serious”.
Air quality in Delhi, often ranked the world’s most polluted capital, has declined due to crop stubble burning, emissions from transport, coal-fired plants outside the city and other industry, as well as open garbage burning and dust.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in and around city has worsened to 470-499 on a scale of 500, according to federal pollution control board data on Saturday. That level of pollution means the air will affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases.
“For a week from Monday onwards, schools will be physically closed but will continue virtually so that children don’t have to breathe polluted air … construction activities not to be allowed,” Kejriwal said.
He added all government offices would shift to work from home, while private offices would be advised to do the same for a week to reduce the number of polluting vehicles on the road.
“We have been forced to wear masks at home also, the situation is very serious,” said chief justice of India N. V. Ramana, the top legal officer in the Supreme Court.
The court was hearing a plea filed by a student over the worsening air quality.
Ramana said the government should consider a two-day lockdown to protect citizens and inform the court on Monday about emergency steps to improve air quality.
SpaceX expanded its constellation of low Earth orbit satellites on Saturday with the launch of 53 Starlink satellites from Florida.
A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 7:19 a.m. EST and deployed the satellites about 16 minutes after launch.
The rocket’s reusable first stage, which has been used for multiple launches, including the first crewed test flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, successfully returned and landed on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship in the Atlantic Ocean.
Starlink is a satellite-based global internet system that SpaceX has been building for years to bring internet access to underserved areas of the world.
Earlier this week, SpaceX launched four astronauts to the International Space Station, including the 600th person to reach space in 60 years.
Valtteri Bottas took a straightforward victory in Formula 1’s second Sprint at Monza, his first win since last year’s Russian Grand Prix, but his engine penalties mean Max Verstappen will start the Italian GP from pole.
And in an extra bonus for Verstappen and Red Bull, championship rival Lewis Hamilton will be down in fourth on the grid on Sunday having tumbled down the order with a poor start to the Sprint – meaning Red Bull comes out of Saturday in the strongest position despite Mercedes having been the Monza pacesetter all weekend so far.
Hamilton immediately lost ground from second on the grid behind Bottas and was down in sixth by the exit of the first chicane.
He regained one position via Pierre Gasly ploughing off and into the wall at the Curva Grande because he had clipped Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren and broken his AlphaTauri’s front wing, which then folded under the car.
That crash caused a safety car period, and means last year’s shock Monza winner starts the 2021 Italian GP at the back.
The rest of the race was largely uneventful, with Bottas edging away from Verstappen to win by just over two seconds.
Daniel Ricciardo had his strongest race performance for McLaren to beat team-mate Lando Norris to third place, as both fended off race-long pressure from Hamilton despite their soft tyres having been expected to fade by the end, which means Ricciardo gets a front row start for Sunday.
The Ferraris of an unwell Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz – his car successfully repaired after his practice crash – took sixth and seventh ahead of the impressive Antonio Giovinazzi’s Alfa Romeo.
Sergio Perez had to work hard for ninth in the second Red Bull having lost ground on lap one. He needed two attempts to pass Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin having cut the first chicane in his initial move.
Fernando Alonso couldn’t repeat his Silverstone Sprint heroics but did progress to 11th from 13th on the grid.
George Russell was another to lose ground on lap one, and finished behind Williams team-mate Nicholas Latifi in 15th.
Yuki Tsunoda had to pit for repairs after clashing with Robert Kubica at the second chicane on the first lap, then recovered to 16th, while Kubica was spun into the gravel but later overtook Mick Schumacher to earn 18th.
Novak Djokovic says he feels fresher going into next week’s ATP Finals than in previous years as he chases an elusive record-equalling sixth title.
Serbia’s Djokovic, 34, is seeking his first victory in the event since 2015.
After missing out on a rare calendar Grand Slam Djokovic took time off before returning to win last week’s Paris Masters.
“I needed that break to rejuvenate and get ready for a strong finish to the season,” said the world number one.
Djokovic has enjoyed another stellar season, winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles to move level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 Grand Slam triumphs.
Victory at the US Open would have seen him move clear of his two great rivals for the first time, and also become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four majors in the same year.
“I haven’t played so much as previous years in terms of the amount of tournaments, but I did have a lot of exhausting events that I played, particularly in the Grand Slams,” said Djokovic.
“When I say exhausting, I don’t just mean physically but mentally and emotionally.
“It was unlike any other year that I’ve had so far because of the pressure of achievement and the potential of history making.
“It took a lot out of me.”
Djokovic has enjoyed five victories at the ATP Finals – first in 2008, then dominating between 2012 and 2015 – and another will see him equal Federer’s record six titles.
The event, which starts on Sunday, will take place in new surroundings after moving to Italian city Turin following a 12-year spell at London’s O2 Arena.
Who’s playing who in Turin
Green Group
Red Group
Novak Djokovic (Srb) [1]
Daniil Medvedev (Rus) [2]
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Gre) [4]
Alexander Zverev (Ger) [3]
Andrey Rublev (Rus) [5]
Matteo Berrettini (Ita) [6]
Casper Ruud (Nor) [8]
Hubert Hurkacz (Pol) [7]
On why he has not managed to win the event since 2015, Djokovic said: “It could be just the amount of energy you spend during the season – you don’t have enough left in the tank for the final push.
“Playing at the highest level against the top eight players in the world every single match is really high intensity and high demand that you have to be at your best.
“It requires a lot of energy to try for this tournament.”
There will be two Britons playing in the doubles event after Joe Salisbury and Jamie Murray qualified with their respective partners Rajeev Ram and Bruno Soares.
After 432 grand prix starts, 115 race wins and nine world titles, Valentino Rossi – the most successful motorbike racer of his generation – is bringing down the curtain on his glittering MotoGP career.
In August, the 42-year-old announced this season would be his last, meaning Sunday’s finale in Valencia will mark his farewell.
In 26 years, Rossi has become a global phenomenon, transcending the sport itself and, with it, amassing cult-like status with fans around the world.
As MotoGP commentator Nick Harris observes, he is “someone who has changed the sport and brought it to places it had never been to before – without a doubt there has never been anyone like Valentino Rossi in 73 years of grand prix racing”.
To many, Rossi is truly one of the motorsport greats, up there with Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Giacomo Agostini, Mike Hailwood and Mick Doohan.
But why? Let names such as Max Biaggi, Fabio Quartararo and Lewis Hamilton fill you in.
World titles to world domination
First, just look at the stats.
Rossi’s incredible record shows he is still the only rider in history to win World Championships in 125cc, 250cc, 500cc and MotoGP.
His first title in the premier class came in 2001 at the age of 22, the first of five successive championships – on the Honda and then with Yamaha. His final two championships came in 2008 and 2009.
No MotoGP round would be complete without Rossi’s “Yellow Army” who have followed him for more than 20 years
He is the only rider to have started 400 or more races in the sport’s history, and has 89 victories in the premier class – no-one in the history of grand prix racing has ever come close to that.
One man who knows what it’s like to work with Rossi is his former mechanic, Alex Briggs. He was with Rossi from 2000, when he made his debut in the 500cc class, until 2020.
“It is like you are comparing people with computers, it is like he has a bigger hard drive and bigger memory than the rest of the guys,” Briggs told BBC Sport.
“He was very good at understanding a race – if he was in third or fourth he knew in his mind that he could win, but then he got so good that it was too easy for him for a while. He would drop back like a kitten plays with a mouse – he would play with some of the other guys.
“I think he could have probably ridden a wooden motorcycle around the track for a few years and still would have won.”
Rossi was known for his wild podium antics and he started young – one of the earliest was dressing up as Robin Hood after a win at Donington Park in 1997
A global phenomenon – movie stars to chain gangs
On and off the track Rossi has always been larger than life. He became famous worldwide for his unique celebrations – from wearing a Robin Hood outfit on the podium, to pretending he was in charge of a chain gang and even running to a portable toilet on a slow-down lap.
Rossi recreating his most famous celebration when he visited a portable toilet after a race
“He was different to anything we had ever seen before,” Harris told BBC Sport. “He was cheeky, charismatic, fun-loving and understood exactly what he had to do and it just took off.
“I have been involved in F1 with the likes of Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna and the rollercoaster Rossi produced was even bigger than them – it was extraordinary.”
The ‘cult of Rossi’ is worldwide – in Tokyo you will find shops dedicated to the Italian, in the Caribbean you will see Rossi merchandise sold on the beach. In China you will see his race number, 46, in car back windows – and even in a small village in Cheshire you will find Rossi flags flying high in back gardens.
“When he found out there was a Rossi fan club in Hawaii, he flew some people over and had a paddling pool in the paddock garage with palm trees,” said Harris. “The whole crew, his leathers and the bike had palm trees on them in Hawaiian colours. That’s the effect he had.”
His hometown of Tavullia has become a place of pilgrimage for many fans – more than 20,000 visit each year, from Europe, Asia and South America.
Even Oscar winner Brad Pitt got starstruck when he met his idol
Even Hollywood A-listers can’t resist his charms. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Daniel Day-Lewis are huge fans, as is seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton.
“One of the biggest highlights of my career was the day we spent together riding and swapping vehicles. It was so cool to do it with somebody I had watched and admired for such a long time,” Hamilton told BBC Sport.
“Vale has an incredibly long career, and he was always pushing and never giving up. He has shown he is a great team player, humble with his approach and always smiling and positive.
“I think there is a lot to take away from the great leader that he is. It’s beautiful to see he has achieved everything he wanted.”
Rossi’s rivals – the greatest battles of a generation
Rossi has made it on to the podium 235 times since making his debut in 1996. His final podium came in 2020, a third place in Jerez.
The 2000s were no doubt the Rossi glory years but this past decade has seen the rise of other superstars – most notably Spaniard Marc Marquez, winner of six titles between 2013 and 2019.
Only the best of the best can say that they have gone head-to-head with Rossi and for those who have, it has sparked some of the biggest rivalries in the sport’s history.
Six-time world champion Max Biaggi was ‘The Doctor’s’ first true rival. Both Italian, both passionate, both wanted to win.
“We had a lot of championships together and we were rivals. We were the same nationality and that makes the rivalry very true,” Biaggi told BBC Sport.
“On track with him you never knew how it could go – he was good from the start, not so many weak points but it was always nice to race against riders who have that talent.
“He can adapt very easily and do more than one style. He was very strong on brakes but also in the wet he was fast. He was not the cleanest of riders because his style wasn’t the cleanest – still he was able to have great results over the past 20 years.”
The Biaggi and Rossi era was epic especially when the title was on the line
They clashed in 2001 at the opening round in Suzuka, while in Catalunya the same year they had an altercation on the steps leading up to the podium. But for Biaggi, his greatest battle against his countryman came at Phillip Island in Australia in 2001 – a Rossi win that handed him his first premier class title.
“I remember in Australia where he won by 00.1s. Wow – there was almost nothing [between us] and the race was fantastic. I didn’t expect to be overtaken on the last lap and I was able to get second by a small margin,” he said.
“Those kind of races created a lot of adrenaline and a positive feeling, even on a bad day it was great – we were fighting on the track in front of thousands of people and they were there to see a great battle.”
Harris said: “He was brave and fearless – one of the greatest races ever was in 2008 in Laguna Seca where he beat [Australian two-time MotoGP champion] Casey Stoner and took him at the corkscrew. No-one who was there could ever forget that move. He was prepared to take enormous risks.”
Stoner ended up crashing and Rossi won the race and eventually the title.
Rossi kissing the track at the Corkscrew after his win in Laguna Seca – fans can buy sand from that section of track from his gift shop in his hometown
In 2009, it was the turn of Rossi’s Yamaha team-mate, Jorge Lorenzo. The stage was the Catalunya GP, and the championship was on the line – it all came down to the last corner, where Rossi made his move and took the win by less than a tenth of a second.
His biggest rival over recent years has been Honda’s Marquez. Things came to a head at the 2015 Malaysian GP, where Rossi was penalised for appearing to kick Marquez off his bike.
But with Rossi’s longevity and his epic battles on tarmac, he has inspired the next generation of motorbiking superstars, none more so than 2021 MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo.
“Valentino was and is my idol,” said the Frenchman. “When I was six I saw one of his races and he was overtaking on the last corner in Jerez in 2005, and that was the moment I wanted to be there, fighting with MotoGP riders.
“He is amazing because normally people stop racing at 35 or 36 and I thought I would never have the chance to ride with Vale – but he was still riding when I signed my MotoGP contract and I said at least I had the chance to ride with him.”
Argentina are set to qualify for next year’s World Cup after a 1-0 win over Uruguay.
Angel Di Maria’s strike secured victory, leaving La Albiceleste second in South American qualifying after 12 games.
They face leaders Brazil who qualified by beating Colombia, on Tuesday.
Uruguay sit in sixth – level on points with Chile who occupy the final automatic qualification spot – having lost three successive games.
Victory for Argentina will be enough provided Uruguay, Colombia or Chile fail to win.
The hosts squandered chances throughout, having fallen behind to Di Maria’s curling effort after he was fed by Juventus’ Paulo Dybala on seven minutes.
Lionel Messi made a 15-minute cameo despite not being fully fit, running the risk of upsetting Paris St-Germain, for whom he is yet to score a league goal.
Peru were also victorious, beating second from bottom side Bolivia 3-0 in Lima.
The Federal Government has announced that it would commence work on the abandoned Ladi Kwali Training Centre, Suleja, in the first week of December.
Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, Minister of Mines and Steel Development (MMSD), disclosed this at the signing of the MoU and Ground breaking ceremony of the centre, on Thursday, in Suleja, Niger.
Adegbite, represented by Mr Patrick Ojenka, Director, Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Department of the ministry, said that the project would be awarded to contractors for a period of eight months, from commencement.
The $150 million World Bank-assisted Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (MinDiver) Project aimed at enhancing the mining sector under the MMSD, would finance the project.
In reviving the centre, Adegbite said the ministry would be aligning the Nigerian mining industry with the Federal Government’s diversification policy and the African Mining Vision (AMV) for a successful project.
He said the first alignment would be by linking the mining industry and the Nigerian economy, through incorporating lower value industrial minerals at both commercial and small scale levels.
The second alignment of the project with the AMV lies in upgrading the artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) that mine and produce the minerals used in the pottery and ceramics industry, he said.
According to him, the third alignment would be to support the role of women in pottery and ceramics making, adding that reviving the centre would similarly provide an entry point for enhancing downstream pottery and ceramics industries in Nigeria, based on increased local beneficiation and value addition of the minerals.
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday left Paris for Durban, South Africa, to honour a special invitation by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Buhari joins other African leaders at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2021 on Monday.
The event, from November 15 to 21, is being convened by African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM) in collaboration with African Union Commission (AUC) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat.
A statement by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina said the parley aims at boosting trade and investment on the continent.
The fair will push for an enabling environment for businesses to thrive; identify and proffer solutions to challenges militating against trade; generate market information needed to connect buyers and sellers across Africa.
Adesina announced that global businesses including non-African international brands are expected to key into opportunities generated by the fair.
The Nigerian leader will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo.
Others are Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ahmed Abubakar, and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Segun Awolowo.
President Buhari is expected back on Tuesday, November 16.
Eagles just stay ahead of Cape Verde who they meet next Tuesday in Lagos in a must-not-lose encounter.
The 15th meeting between Liberia and Nigeria took place in Morocco and was a topsy-turvy affair with no particular side able to assume control over long periods in the game but the Super Eagles took all three points and a step towards the next round with two goals scored from the penalty spot.
The first in the first half by Victor Osimhen and the second very late in the second half from substitute Ahmed Musa.
Coach Gernot Rohr recalled both Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi into his starting 11 after the duo missed the matches against C.A.R in October. The much-heralded return of Odion Ighalo did not result in inclusion in the matchday squad.
The Nigerians started better but the Liberians showed they are made of stern stuff by rebuffing their attacks and mounting some of their own.
The Eagles had better control of the game in the first minutes of the second half and had a scoring opportunity a minute after the interval but Moses Simon’s free-kick was tame and straight at the goalkeeper.
A mistake from William Troost-Ekong-Ekong in the 72nd minute almost afforded Liberia the chance of an equaliser but the Liberian attacker did not control the ball well and it ran harmlessly to Okoye.
Osimhen thought he had won a second penalty in the 81st minute when his left leg was clipped but the referee waved play on. The Napoli forward was undaunted and duly won a second spot-kick in the 92nd minute after he was wrestled to the floor by the Liberian goalkeeper. Musa, who had come on for Iheanacho in the 86th minute steppe forward and converted.
The Eagles have 12 points and sit top of Group C, ahead of their next opponents, Cape Verde, who came from a goal down to beat C.A.R 2-1 and take their points tally to 10 and a shout of making it to the last round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers scheduled for March 2022.
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