The Federal University, Lokoja, has no plan to increase school fees, says it’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi.

The VC told journalists during a chat in his office at the permanent site of the university. He was reacting to an online publication that the school management had increased school fees, and people were about to protest.

He allayed the fear already created in the minds of parents and guardians, saying that the story had no iota of truth on the increase of school fees.

According to him, the school only increases the acceptance fee.

“Kindly disregard any information suggesting an increase in the school fees. School fees remain unchanged, please,” said Akinwunmi.

He explained that the institution’s new intakes would pay N55,000, including other charges, while returning students pay 47,000.

He described the acceptance fee increased from N10,000 to N20,000 as optional, stating that those who could not afford it could try another institution.

Akinwunmi added funding had become a major impediment to the university system’s development and appealed to the government to increase budgetary allocations to tertiary institutions, particularly new ones.

He regretted that most federal universities found it difficult to operate after IPPIS’ introduction. He stated that the system took away all the responsibilities of the university system and rendered the management ineffective.

He added that most of the structures and facilities at the institution’s permanent site had been vandalised because of continued stay at the Adankolo campus of the institution. Akinwunmi called for an urgent response to salvage the facilities from vandals.

A chief lecturer in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Philip Fagbohun, says the only viable solution to cities’ challenges is through adequate provision of basic needs.

Fagbohun stated this while delivering the 12th inaugural lecture of the college titled ‘City of Uncertainty: A Traumatised Living Environment’.

He noted that housing was essential to the good life and a key requirement for an efficient and satisfying labour force.

Fagbohun stated, “Effective transport system is the basis for determining how cities work and also plays an important role in socio-economic development. Streetlight facilitates free movement of people at night, prevent crime, help in security surveillance and promote social integration, while access to safe water is a universal need.”

The lecturer also mentioned that cities came into being due to urbanisation and is very important in human development, adding that an apparent lack of basic facilities is the root of cities challenges.

“The level of availability of the facilities has not afforded the urban residents the opportunity to maximise public goods consumption.

Consequently, human activities have contributed inadequately to sustainable urban development. These have further increased poverty level and polarised urban geographical space,” said Fagbohun.

He affirmed that the giant cities and their agglomerations should be properly defined and carefully planned, where all modes of transport would be utilised.

He, however, stressed the need to adopt the concept of a compact city, which will bring many activities together in a small geographical area.

“Self-build housing method which has become the major approach in resolving homeownership should be well coordinated. Since the building of cities and infrastructure is more complex, technological education should be encouraged,” Fagbohun added. “More hands should be attracted from the formal sector into housing provision. Change in the use of land and building should be properly regulated and managed to avoid the elimination of residential land use from the city centres and reduce urban sprawl.”

He called for a review of the national housing policy to “make it mandatory for large-scale employers to provide some staff accommodations around their premises.”

He added, “There is a need to exploit the opportunity provided by the technology in the facilities provision, particularly power supply in the area of solar energy. More funds should be made available for the provision of public infrastructure because they are critical sector.”

The college’s rector, Obafemi Omokungbe, noted that Fagbohun had successfully presented a contemporary work to demonstrate his research activities in Urban and Regional Planning over the years.

Anambra government recently took time off to honour its indigenes; individuals who support the course of education in the state through the infrastructural development of schools, scholarships, and foundations to ensure that students achieve their dreams.

The milestone event, held at the Hollywood Event Centre, Awka, tagged ‘A Day with Anambra State Education Builders’. In commemoration of Anambra’s 30th anniversary, a total of 57 indigenes were honoured. The individuals received plaques and certificates for their support and contributions to the sector.

In her address titled ‘What is leadership if you cannot influence’, the Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, commended the awardees for their support and contributions to education over the years.

“Today provides the opportunity to sing their songs, to celebrate them, to say a big thank you for their numerous contributions to education in the state. A lot of you have supported the state government by providing extra teachers for our schools, building classrooms, toilet facilities, equipping libraries, training teachers, giving extra-mural lessons, equipping science laboratories, etc.,” said Omenugha.

Omenugha, the first professor of Gender and Communications in Nigeria, revealed that a handbook titled, ‘A Guide to Public-Private Collaboration Initiatives/ Interventions in Schools’ had been prepared to provide a pathway for individuals and organisations intervening “in our schools.”

Paul B Construction Company managing director, Paul Enidom appealed to stakeholders to support Anambra’s education system. He emphasised a partnership model where the government and private sector can continuously interact on education funding, particularly in hard-to-reach communities. A data bank that will link all schools in Anambra should also be put in place.

“The data bank is imperative so that anybody that wants to key in can have a clear idea of what to do. The organisation will also constitute a board, have an education trust fund, and they can harmonise the activities of old boys and girls of schools.”

Governor Willie Obiano explained that the occasion was an opportunity “to thank our great Anambra men and women who have keyed into the vision of providing quality and value-based education in the state.” He described education as very imperative to the development of the state, saying that as one of its enablers, his administration recognises that none of the pillars can stand without a solid education.

“This explains the huge investments we have made in education over the years. We approach education from three-pronged areas; infrastructure, teachers’ welfare and students’ welfare,” added Obiano.

He said infrastructure has made many Anambra schools wear new looks by remodelling science laboratories in over 60 secondary schools and revamping technical colleges. The governor further noted that the schools could be found in all the 179 communities of the state and easily recognisable with their red roofs, popularly called ‘the red roof revolution’.

“The technical colleges have been revamped as over 26 trade subjects have been accredited by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), with the workshops having state of the art equipment,” stated the governor. “One of our greatest legacies is the model hostels we are building in the 12 technical colleges with 750 students’ capacity, which ultimate aim is to provide the technical college students with befitting boarding facilities that will make them both attractive and competitive.”

He added, “The hostels will also provide the opportunities for people to travel and live in any of the technical colleges that have their choice trade subjects.”

According to the governor, students’ welfare, including conducive environments for learning, is paramount. He pointed out that Anambra has made education “inclusive.”

“Our policy has made us reach students who even live beyond the end of the road. We have given prime attention to the special and the physically challenged students in our special education centres, giving them free tuition,” Obiano explained. “The same free tuition has been extended to technical colleges from NTC one to three. We have remodelled our special education centres giving the special students a liveable environment and increasing their subventions.”