News

By Ibrahiym A. El-Caleel

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has scored Ahmadu Bello University Distance Learning Center as the best in Nigeria.

NUC conducted a Quality Assurance Assessment Visit to Nigerian university distance learning centres. Eight among the centres were rated “Very Viable” with a percentage score of at least 80%, as follows:

Ahmadu Bello University Distance Learning Center- 94.9%

University of Lagos Distance Learning Institute- 93.1%

University of Ibadan Distance Learning Center- 93.0%

Joseph Ayo Babalola University Center for Distance Learning- 92.7%

Lagos State University Open and Distance Learning and Research Institute- 89%

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Open and Distance Learning Center- 88.7%

University of Nigeria Nsukka Center for Distance and e-Learning- 85%

Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola Center for Distance Learning- 83.5%

University of Maiduguri and Obafemi Awolowo University were both rated “Viable”, scoring 78.1% and 75.3%, respectively.

University of Abuja Center for Distance Learning and Continuing Education was rated “Not Viable”, with a score of 50.3%.

There are only 12 approved distance learning centres across the country, as obtained by The Daily Reality from the NUC website. The 12th accredited program is the Federal University of Technology Minna Center for Open Distance and e-Learning.

Nigerian universities established distance learning centres to obtain degrees from NUC-approved universities without a physical presence on campus. Due to flexibility, the programmes are gaining more acceptability over the years by students who might be inconvenient to be in physical contact with the schools.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

At least 30 persons have been killed by unidentified gunmen in Madamai attack in Kaura Local Government Area, Kaduna State. The incident was confirmed by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan.

According to Aruwan, “some houses were set ablaze by the attackers at one end of the village. The troops put out the fire at three of the burning houses, and rescued six locals from the infernos”

He further states that “Governor El-Rufai has stated that the Kaduna State Government will bear the full cost of injured victims’ treatment”

By Muhammad Sabiu

Ten of the students abducted at a Kaduna Christian school have been released, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said.

Rev. Joseph John Hayab, a top CAN official, announced the release to journalists.

He was quoted as saying, “Ten more students of Baptist High School were released this afternoon. We have 11 now with bandits.

“We are thanking all Nigerians for their prayers and support.

“We are trusting God that the rest will be released very soon. All have been reunited with their parents.”

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed secessionist organisation agitating for the breakaway of Nigeria’s southeast, has declared that the 1st of October would be a sit-at-home day.

The group has also ordered all Nigerian flags in the region to be removed.

The proscribed organisation, in a statement by its spokesman on Saturday, Emma Powerful, stressed that it had commenced its “no Nigerian flag in Southeast” campaign.

“IPOB has declared 1st of October 2021 total shutdown in Biafra land as a sign of our rejection of the evil construct called Nigeria and there shall be no movement in Biafra land on this day.

“Also, IPOB has declared from today 25th September 2021 that all Nigerian flag mounted anywhere in Biafra land must be brought down, Banks exceptional, IPOB leadership will communicate to Banks directly and give them reason they must peacefully bring down Nigeria flag in their banking premises before we do it ourselves in our own way.

“Every body must strictly adhere to this directives from IPOB leadership, we want to let the world know you that Biafraland is not Nigeria and shall not be. Don’t say I don’t know, a word is enough for the wise,” the statement reads.

Recall that IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is currently awaiting trial on charges relating to treason, illegal possession of firearms.

He was in recent months reportedly arrested in Kenya and later repatriated to Nigeria after spending years in the United Kingdom as what could be described as an “asylum seeker.”

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has appealed to the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) members to call off their ongoing strike, advising them to embrace dialogue.

Recall that the doctors have been on strike for months in an effort to air their grievances over poor funding.

Speaking on Friday in Sokoto at the 20th Conference of the National Pediatric Surgeons of Nigeria (APSON) opening ceremony, the Sultan made the plea, urging the“doctors also to respect the court order to resume work in the interest of the nation.”

The industrial action should be the “last option in resolving industrial conflict, especially for medical workers whose responsibility has to do with saving lives of citizens,” Alhaji Abubakar said.

By Hussaina Ahmed Sufyan

The video that went viral on the internet during the early hours of Thursday left the Nigerian Army in disarray and Nigerians in shock. The video showed a female Nigerian Youth Service Corp Member (NYSC) identified as Ezeiruaku Ifeyinws Fidelia being molested by an officer named Lt. Chika Viola Anele.

An unidentified onlooker recorded the dehumanising act and shared it online. In it, we see the officer pouring on the Corps member an unknown substance.

It is said that there was an argument between the duo which led to the officer punishing the Corps member. The incident happened in 13 Brigade Calabar, Cross River State.

The Nigerian Army, however, released a statement condemning the act.

In a statement, the Director of Public Relations under the Nigerian Army, Cross River State, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu condemned the act and tagged it “unprofessional”. While being apologetic, he also stated that Lt. Anele had been sanctioned.

“The Nigerian Army, therefore, condemns in strong terms this act of gross misconduct. Undoubtedly, the officer’s actions have caused the NA embarrassment and is highly regrettable. This unfortunate act of indiscipline does not in any way represent the Nigerian Army and will not be confined in its entirety.”

“The NA wishes to tender an apology to the victim, her family members, friends, National Youth Service Corps and to Nigerians in general for the unwholesome treatment melted out to the corps member”.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Police in Kaduna State have apprehended three suspects who were alleged to have abducted 136 of Bethel Baptist School, Kaduna.

The suspects were identified as Adamu Bello, Isiaku Lawal and Muazu Abubakar.

The trio told journalists in Abuja on Thursday, that 25 of them perpetrated the kidnap, and that their desperate need for money made them carry out the act.

“Twenty-five of us carried out the operation. We kidnapped 136 students and I got N100,000 share from the money (ransom),” one of the suspects was quoted as saying.

However, there is still no detailed information on how they carried out the kidnap and how they were eventually arrested.

The police paraded them in Abuja at the headquarters of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has commissioned the newly constructed Kasuwan Magani Modern Market in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Speaking at the commissioning, Governor Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufa’i said the Kaduna State Government partnered with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to deliver the project. He further stated that the Kaduna State Government’s post-conflict assessment after the October 2018 crisis in Kasuwan Magani included a resolve to address the question of markets.

In his remarks, Prof. Osinbajo commended the administration of Governor El-Rufa’i and reiterated that the Federal Government will keep supporting and encouraging investment-centric efforts by providing a stable business environment, providing infrastructure, and ensuring security.