Nigeria Has Only 100,000 Lecturers For 2.1 million Students– NUC

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January 11, 2022

The National Universities Commission has said universities should be isolated from the Federal Government’s circular on new employment due to the shortage of lecturers.

The NUC disclosed in its latest bulletin which was made available to News correspondent in Abuja that only 100,000 academic staff members were attending to 2.1 million students in Nigerian universities.

The Deputy Executive Secretary, Administration, NUC, Chris Maiyaki, who was quoted in the bulletin, explained that the commission was supervising over 200 universities consisting of 48 belonging to the Federal Government; 54 states and 99 private institutions.

He said, “The entire system has about 2.1 million students and staff strength of about 170,000 non-teaching and 100,000 academic staff.

“Some of the problems facing the system include increased running cost, meagre budgetary allocations, issue of power shortages and shortages of manpower.

“There is a need for universities to be isolated from the Federal Government’s circular on embargo on new employment because of the peculiarity and distinctive nature of the universities in order for them to keep up the pace in attaining comparable standards with their counterparts globally.

“We also have incessant interference in the NUC’s functions by some professional bodies and associations, which have continued to issue needless instructions to universities.

Maiyaki recounted that 2020 was an unusual year for everyone due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which ravaged the whole world, noting that Nigerian universities were forced to start embracing the use of technology in knowledge delivery.

He explained that the advent of coronavirus had enabled Nigerian universities to begin to explore the dual mode of teaching with more institutions developing and expanding their digital hub to commence extensive use of the online platform.

“Within the period, the NUC had been conducting some activities, which included major curriculum review, assessment of universities on their E-Learning requirements, strengthening of quality assurance mechanism as well as fortifying modern methods of data processing and retrieval,” Maiyaki added.

South Korea Communication: Apple To Allow Alternative App Payment System

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Angel Gimalo

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January 11, 2022

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Apple has decided to bend rather than break.

The tech giant will now offer alternative payment systems on its app store in South Korea.

This is to comply with a new local law restricting app store operators from forcing developers to use their own in-app payment systems.

If a customer bought an app from apple’s app store, the firm takes a service charge of up to 30 percent, leaving developers with only 70 percent of the purchase price.

This was a great cash cow for apple, with industry watchers estimating that the firm earned up to 25.7 billion U.S. dollars globally with the service charge last year.

South Korea Economy: Imports Outpace Exports In 1st 10 Days Of January

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Angel Gimalo

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January 11, 2022

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South Korea, Exports And Imports Are Up From A Year Ago, But Imports By Far More.

According To The Korea Customs Service, Exports In The First Ten Days Of January Amounted To Nearly 14 Billion U.S. Dollars.

That’s An Increase Of About 24-And-A-Half Percent From The Same Period A Year Earlier.

The Biggest Growth Was In Shipments Of Petroleum Goods, Automobiles And Precision Instruments.

Imports, Though, Were Up 57% To Nearly 19 Billion Dollars With The Biggest Increases Seen In Gas, Petroleum Goods, And Crude Oil, Which Have All Become More Expensive.

That Resulted In A Trade Deficit For The Period Of About 5 Billion Dollars, Compared To A Deficit A Year Earlier Of About 800 Million.

Nigeria To Conduct Digital Census May 2022

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Angel Gimalo

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January 11, 2022

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Chairman Of The National Population Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwarra, Has Disclosed That The Commission Will Conduct The Maiden Digital Population Census In May 2022.

Speaking When He Paid A Courtesy Visit To The Governor Of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai, He Said The Commission Is Ready To Conduct The Digital Population Census In The Country.

He Also Stressed The Commission’s Capacity To Tackle Insecurity In All The States Of The Federation During The Census.

He Observed That The Aim Of His Visit Was To Create Awareness Of The Forthcoming Census And Solicit The Support Of The Government And The People Of Kaduna State For The Success Of Its Activities.

Responding, Governor Nasir El -Rufai Said Kaduna Needed An Update Of The Census In The State To Ensure That Plans Are Done In Line With The Number Of Citizens.

Kaduna Government Directs Public Schools to Migrate to Four-Day Working Week

By

Precious Obazee

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January 11, 2022

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The Kaduna State Government has directed all public schools in the state to migrate to the four-day working week, as schools reopen on January 10 for the second term of the 2021/2022 academic session.

The Commissioner for Education, Halima Lawal, gave the directive in Kaduna in a notice for school resumption for second term of the 2021/2022 academic session.

Recall that the Kaduna State Government had on December 1, 2021, begun transition to a four-day working week.

A statement by Muyiwa Adekeye, media adviser to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, had explained that the new measure would eventually affect the organised private sector in the state.

According to the statement, the measure is designed to help boost productivity, improve work-life balance and enable workers to have more time for their families, for rest and for agriculture.

Lawal explained that in view of the new development, the 2021/2022 academic calendar would be adjusted to ensure coverage of the curriculum for the academic session.

She said all parents, guardians, and the public should note that the state government has approved January 10 as the resumption date for the 2nd term of the 2021/2022 academic session.

The commissioner also urged the school administrators and proprietors to adhere to the Safe School Learning Initiatives as directed by the Federal Ministry of Education.

She advised members of the school security committee to ensure proper monitoring of security apparatus and prompt reporting of any security threats in their schools through the following numbers: 09034000060 or 08170189999.

Once Upon A Time – Jan. 11 – 1949 – Snowfall 1st Recorded In Los Angeles

By

Angel Gimalo

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January 11, 2022

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1599 Jacob van Neck’s fleet leaves Bantam, Java in modern-day Indonesia with 1 million pounds of pepper and cloves and a further half a ship full of nutmeg, mace and cinnamon

1838 First public demonstration of telegraph messages sent using dots and dashes at Speedwell Ironworks in Morristown, New Jersey by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail

1879 Anglo-Zulu War begins as British Lt-General Chelmsford invades Zululand in South Africa

1922 Insulin first used on humans to treat diabetes, on Canadian Leonard Thompson, aged 14

1964 First government report by US Surgeon General Luther Terry warning that smoking may be hazardous

HISTORICAL EVENTS TODAY

TODAY IN FILM & TV

1927 Louis B. Mayer head of film studio MGM announces creation of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

TODAY IN MUSIC

1980 Debut of first The Pretenders album “Pretenders”

TODAY IN SPORT

1960 LaMar Clark sets pro boxing record of 44 consecutive knockouts

DO YOU KNOW THIS FACT ABOUT TODAY? DID YOU KNOW?

1569 1st recorded lottery in England is drawn in St Paul’s Cathedral

WOULD YOU BELIEVE THIS FACT ABOUT TODAY? WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?

1949 Snowfall 1st recorded in Los Angeles

RUN Gets More Support To Enhance Academic Excellence

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 11, 2022

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The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has assured the management of the Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, of continued support for the institution to attain global leadership in education.

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who is also the Visitor to the university, spoke through the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Pastor Ezekiel Odeyemi at the commissioning of Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences building complex built by him and his wife, Pastor Folu, for the university.

The clergy noted that the donation would enhance academic excellence for which the university is known, adding that the institution would not be competing locally, but would compete with world leading universities.

He said, “The church will continue to support Redeemer’s University for it to further grow and attain global leadership”.

Redeemer’s University has already registered its name on the international map.

Ondo: Adeyemi College Now A University Of Education

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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January 11, 2022

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A member of the House of Representative from Ondo State, Abiola Makinde has said the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo has been upgraded to a university status following the presidential approval.

Makinde announced on social media that the President Muhammadu Buhari had assented to the bill that upgraded the institution to a university, after the bill had been passed into law by the House of Representatives .

Speaking on the development, Makinde, the representative of Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, who presented the bill before the House said the development was a monumental achievement which had changed the narrative surrounding the status of the ACE.

He said, “I broke the news of the presidential assent on the bill I presented at the National Assembly to upgrade Adeyemi College of Education to a federal university on my social media.

“During my campaign in 2019 to become a member House of Representatives, I assured my constituents that if I was given the opportunity to serve as a member of the Green Chamber that I will pursue tirelessly the prospect of Adeyemi College of Education becoming a Federal University of Education.”

Niger State Governor Flags Off HPV Screening

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Olasunbo Okoromi

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January 11, 2022

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Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has flagged off the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) screening and Cervical Cancer prevention services in Minna the state capital.

The exercise was flagged off on Monday at the Jummai Babangida Maternal and Neo-natal Hospital Minna .

The center according to Mary Noel Barje The CPS to the Governor, will benefit over five thousand women across nine local government areas in the state as a pilot scheme is designed to reduce the prevalence rate of Cancer which is a global menace in the state.

The Governor who also reiterated his administration’s continuous support to the State University, in the area of research in cancer and other life-threatening diseases., maintained that providing good health care facilities and services in the state will continue to be a priority to his administration hence the budget estimates for health sector in 2022 was significantly captured.

“I have been briefed by my Commissioner for Health on the situation of the State on the prevalence level of Cancer. I am glad to inform you that we have already set in motion apparatus to remedy the situation as well as meeting the target set by the World Health Organisation (WHO)” he said.

Governor Sani Bello further assured that his government will continue to work towards improving some of the negative health indices in the state even as he maintained that Health Care Delivery has witnessed significant changes in his administration.

The Governor commended the Commissioner for health, staff of the Ministries and all development partners particularly CHAI, WHO, RAiSE FOUNDATION and PPFN for their efforts and contributions to better the health sector in the state.

The wife of the Niger State Governor, Dr Amina Abubakar Bello who also disclosed that cervical cancer is the 4th leading cause of death among women affecting about 1.4 million women and the most common cancer with women living with HIV, explained that about 80 per cent of cancer occur in the low-and-middle-income countries including Nigeria, adding that at the global stage, the World Health Organization (WHO) is working towards the elimination of cervical cancer to achieve less than four new cases per 100, 000 women.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Muhammad Makusidi noted that the project is in collaboration with the WHO, CHAI and RAiSE foundation pointing out that 15 state trainers and 100 healthcare workers from primary, secondary as well as tertiary healthcare facilities across the state have been trained on Cervical Cancer Prevention Services,

He said 10 healthcare facilities across the state will be used adding that consumables worth millions of naira have been procured to ensure smooth takeoff.

The 9 local government areas to commence the services are Chanchaga, Paikoro, Bosso, Gbako, Borgu, Suleja, Kontagora, Lapai and Mokwa Local government areas of the state.

Man Gets Genetically-Modified Pig Heart In World-First Transplant

By

Koko Lawrence

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January 11, 2022

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A US man has become the first person in the world to get a heart transplant from a genetically-modified pig.

David Bennett, 57, is doing well three days after the experimental seven-hour procedure in Baltimore, doctors say.

The transplant was considered the last hope of saving Bennett’s life, though it is not yet clear what his long-term chances of survival are.

“It was either die or do this transplant,” Bennett explained a day before the surgery.

“I know it’s a shot in the dark, but it’s my last choice,” he said.

Doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center were granted a special dispensation by the US medical regulator to carry out the procedure, on the basis that Bennett – who has terminal heart disease – would otherwise have died.

He had been deemed ineligible for a human transplant, a decision that is often taken by doctors when the patient is in very poor health.

The pig used in the transplant had been genetically modified to knock out several genes that would have led to the organ being rejected by Bennett’s body.

For the medical team who carried out the transplant, it marks the culmination of years of research and could change lives around the world.

Surgeon Bartley Griffith said the surgery would bring the world “one step closer to solving the organ shortage crisis”. Currently 17 people die every day in the US waiting for a transplant, with more than 100,000 reportedly on the waiting list.