Education
JAMB partners AWAU to advance African tertiary institutions

By Veronica Dariya
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has promised work with the Association of West Africa Universities (AWAU) to promote and advance tertiary institutions across Africa.
The Registrar of the board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede made the promise, at a meeting with the newly- elected executive members of AWAU at the board’s headquarters on Thursday, in Bwari, Abuja.
Oloyede said that the coming together of universities in Africa was beyond geographic partitioning of the sub-regions in the continent rather, a commitment to promoting trans-national researches.
He said that JAMB would utilise platforms such as AWAU for the advancement of tertiary education in Nigeria and Africa at large.
“When we have this kind of opportunity of African countries coming together under whichever platform to jointly promote the interest of Africa, it is also promoting what JAMB was established for.
“That is, to attract candidates who possess the qualifications established as prerequisite for admission into institutions, irrespective of where they come from.
“This is why JAMB mandate goes beyond the geographical expression called Nigeria.”
The Registrar said that it was one of the reasons the board encouraged students from all over the world to be part of the Nigerian tertiary institution system by establishing foreign examination centres.
“We have examination centres across the world where we conduct examination which include Ghana, the Gambia, UK, Saudi Arabia, Cameroon and others.
“All these are to give, not only Nigerians who reside in those countries but also non-Nigerians desirous of giving education an opportunity.
“It is better to look inwards than outwards, this is why as a board, we are promoting the inter-connectivity of African countries.”
Oloyede assured them that JAMB would continue to play a leading role in the affairs of all educational institutions, particularly in Africa.
He also urged education stakeholders to work together to promote both the educational and cultural resources of these countries in the course of the exchange programmes.
Oloyede said:” Let Nigerians prefer to go to Ghana instead of outside Africa to study.
“Let the people in the Gambia, South Africa, prefer to come to Nigeria than to go elsewhere outside Africa because of the relevance of what we are doing.”
The Chairman of AWAU, Prof. Johnson Boampong, who is also the Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, commended JAMB for its impact on tertiary education in West Africa.
According to Boampong, the association is at the board’s headquarters to interact with the leadership of the board on the focus for its members for the next three years.
He said that plans and strategies that would move the association and the continent forward would be deliberated upon as he assured that they would be beneficial to members when implemented.
He advised Africans, who choose the path of studying outside the continent to be part of the development of their countries by looking forward to study in other African countries rather than outside Africa.
He said: “We have infrastructure in place but not 100 percent.
“However, what we have is enough, and we need to use them judiciously.
“If we appreciate what we have and work together, we can educate our members more. That doesn’t mean we can not go outside the continent because we need the exposure, which will help us learn new things.
“We can then bring it home and develop on it.”
Boampong said that African institutions must work together to liberate the continent from economic dependence on non-African countries.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the executive members of the association on the visit included Prof. Chris Nhlapo, Vice Chancellor, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa.
Others are Prof. Adenike Oladeji, Vice-Chancellor, University of Akure, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, Vice- Chancellor, University of Ilorin, among others.
NAN reports that AWAU was inaugurated for the purpose of initiating collaboration among universities in West Africa.
The association aims to enhance higher education in the sub-region as it is the case in other Africa sub-regions and enhance the improvement of infrastructure across the sub-region to improve manpower development. (NAN) (www nannews.ng)
Education
Don urges teachers to learn, deploy AI tools in teaching

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Professor Kehinde Victoria Fatokun, a Professor of Science Education, has called on teachers to adapt to changes, learn and deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in the teaching profession.
Prof. Fatokun made the call at the 18th Inaugural Lecture series of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) as part of her advocacy for resourceful teaching and productive learning.
The Inaugural Lecture had the topic: “Transforming Chemistry Instructional Practices: Navigating through Resolving Learning Intricacies and Integration of Innovative Pedagogy.”
She said that the world was evolving as methods and procedures continue to change with innovations and technological breakthroughs adding that the teaching profession should also adopt new technologies including the Artificial intelligence tools.
The Professor of Science Education called for the development of intensive research and knowledge transfer culture, permeating all teaching and learning activities.
She said that the development of appropriate skills in students should be paramount and learning should be made appealing to them, in order to produce competent graduates.
Prof. Fatokun stressed that Educational research findings on current pedagogical issues should not be ‘kept in the shelf’ but be made available to the ‘implementer’ in an applicable manner for solving most of the instructional challenges they often encounter.
The former HoD, Department of Science Education, Anchor University, Lagos, tasked Curriculum developers and Authors to strive at tackling issues of “difficult concepts” during curriculum reviews with the application of novel approaches.
She suggested that emphasis should be placed on simplifying instruction to demystify misconceptions while there should be flexibility in adapting the curriculum content to the global trend.
“Published books should be clear, simple to understand and all ambiguity that create additional learning concerns should be removed”, she urged.
She however urged the FUL Management team to organize workshops for all teaching staff with the aim of familiarizing them with innovations in teaching especially the use of modern techniques and learning technologies for their pedagogical skill development.
She charged the Quality assurance directorate to ensure proper monitoring of academics through specific metrics to ensure quality teaching.
Prof. Fatokun charged students to be intentional about learning, not just cramming and passing examinations adding that conscious effort should be made henceforth to ensure understanding and retention to aid the application of the knowledge gained.
Speaking earlier, the
Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi noted that the Inaugural Lecture series of the University had become “a beacon of intellectual discourse and academic excellence, showcasing the groundbreaking research and innovative thinking of our academic Staff.”
He described the Lecture topic, “Transforming Chemistry Instructional Practices: Navigating through Resolving Learning Intricacies and Integration of Innovative Pedagogy,” as both timely and apt.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that in navigating the complexities of modern education, the need to evolve teaching methodologies that would better address the diverse learning needs of students had never been more pressing.
“In the rapidly changing landscape of higher education, the integration of innovative pedagogy is crucial for preparing our students to meet the demands of the future”, he said.
The Vice-Chancellor who declared the Lecturer as “Discharged and Acquitted” after the delivery, described the 18th Inaugural Lecture as much a celebration of Prof. Fatokun’s achievements as it is “a testament to her collective contributions.” (Ends)
Education
Inculcate critical thinking, Inspire, guide your Students – Poland Ambassador tasks teachers

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Ambassador of Poland to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Ambassador Joanna Tarnawska has called on teachers to encourage critical thinking, inspire and guide their students or listeners to become innovative problem solvers.
Tarnawska made the call as a Guest Lecturer at the 6th Distinguished Public Lecture of Federal University Lokoja titled: “How to Effectively Pass Knowledge and Inspire Students in the Contemporary World.”
The Guest Lecturer said gone are the days when teachers were seen as encyclopedia and repository of knowledge. saying, “A teacher is not an encyclopedia anymore, a teacher is a book mark, a beacon who points to the relevant paragraph.”
Tarnawska stressed that teachers must be well grounded and knowledgeable in their respective disciplines, and urged them to guide, teach on how best to gather information and get the gist.
She said, “Know your subject matter and be ready to deepen your knowledge continuously, Know your audience, adapt your language and content to the listeners.
The Envoy said that with the influx and abundance of information with the world turned a global village, it is important to know the authentic from the fake and safekeep facts, especially now that everything can be checked online.
“Encourage questions, building an atmosphere of trust will be helpful to achieve this. Modern lessons should not only be teacher centered, Keep a balance and make time for student centered lessons.
“Never ask the question, “Do you understand?”, instead, ask questions to check your students understanding, always give practical examples,
be engaging and make sure your listeners are following you”, she said.
Speaking earlier in his address, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, commended Ambassador Joanna Tarnawska for the promptness with which she accepted to deliver the Distinguished Public Lecture.
Prof. Akinwumi noted that the topic of the lecture, “How to Effectively Pass Knowledge and Inspire Students in the Contemporary World” is not just timely but imperative.
He said, “In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, societal transformations, and global interconnectedness, the role of education transcends mere dissemination of facts.
“It therefore behoves upon us to instill in our students a hunger for knowledge, a love for learning, and a sense of purpose that extends beyond classroom boundaries.”
The Professor of History said as Vice-Chancellor of the esteemed institution, he was keenly aware of the profound impact that effective teaching and inspirational mentorship can have on the lives of our students.
Akinwumi urged all stakeholders to reflect on how we can collectively shape the future of Education, and recommit to the noble pursuit of empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators.
He enjoined all to embrace the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and lifelong learning as we listen to the lecture together. (Ends)
Education
22 NTIC students to participate in 3-day NMC’s Olympaid Camp

The National Mathematical Centre (NMC) has selected 22 students of the Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC) to participate in a 3-day Olympiad Camp.
The Olympiad competition covers subjects such as Mathematics, Science, Arts, Music, Literature, History, Culture, Information Communication Technology among others.
The Managing Director NTIC, Feyzullah Bilgin, in a statement on Tuesday said, “In a remarkable display of academic prowess, 22 students from Nigerian Tulip International Colleges in Nigeria have been handpicked by the prestigious National Mathematical Centre (NMC) to participate in a rigorous 3-day Olympiad Camp.
“The selection of these bright minds not only highlights their exceptional mathematical abilities but also underscores the dedication and commitment they have shown towards their education.”
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