The Council of Legal Education has accredited Caleb University’s Law programme.

Alongside the accreditation, the CLE has approved an increase in the programme’s admission quota from 50 to 110 students, effective immediately for the 2024/2025 academic session.

The decision followed an evaluation process conducted by the CLE’s Accreditation Panel during a visit to the university’s College of Law at Magodo, Lagos on October 10 and 11, 2024.

The outcome was conveyed in a letter signed by the Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration, Ms. A. O. Osho.

The Information, Media, and Publication Specialist at Caleb University, Olawale Adekoya, disclosed this in a statement sent to PUNCH Online on Friday.

He described the accreditation as a testament to the institution’s commitment to delivering quality legal education.

The statement read, “The increased admission quota reflects the CLE’s confidence in Caleb University’s dedication to providing high-quality legal education.

“This development signifies a positive step forward for aspiring law students, offering them expanded opportunities to pursue their legal ambitions within a reputable academic environment. Caleb University’s strong faculty, modern facilities, and conducive learning environment position it as a preferred choice for comprehensive legal education.”

Expressing his delight, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Nosa Owens-Ibie, described the development as “momentous.”

He stated, “This is a thing of great joy to us, considering that we have in place young legal geniuses, eminent scholars, and Senior Advocates of Nigeria who are actively contributing, along with the leading lights in the Lagos State Judiciary, to the rapid growth of our Law program. Our aim is to make it the first choice in legal education nationally.”

A senior faculty member at the College of Law, Dr. Fatima Ogunlana, also expressed excitement about the development, saying, “The accreditation and quota increase validate the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff. It is an acknowledgment of the high standards we uphold in training future legal professionals.”

The CLE commended Caleb University’s consistent investments in compliance with admission requirements and quality improvements.

“In view of the consistent investments in improving Caleb University’s compliance with admission quota over the years, the Council has approved the University’s Law quota from 50 to 110,” the Council stated.

This achievement highlights the institution’s dedication to fostering a robust platform for learners and offering aspiring legal professionals opportunities to achieve their ambitions of becoming global legal luminaries and scholars.

A prospective law student, Tobi Adewale, shared his enthusiasm about the news, stating, “This is great for students like me who dream of studying at Caleb University. The accreditation and increased quota mean more opportunities to learn from some of the best in the field.”

Caleb University’s Law programme joins other fully accredited programs, including Nursing, Mass Communication, Architecture, Computer Science, International Relations, Cybersecurity, Accounting, Business Administration, Criminology and Security Studies, Software Engineering, and Economics.

These programmes are recognised by the National Universities Commission and professional regulatory agencies for their high standards and excellence.

The Kogi government has declared that the presentation of parents’ tax clearance certificates will now be a mandatory condition for admission into tertiary institutions in the state.

Sule Enehe, the chairman of the Kogi Board of Internal Revenue Services, addressed journalists on the policy in Lokoja on Wednesday.

Enehe said it was introduced two years ago at the Prince Abubakar Audu University in Ayingba and Federal University Lokoja to shore up the revenue profile of the state.

NAN reports that the policy has generated some controversy, with CSOs and activists threatening to challenge it in court.

Enehe, while defending the policy, said it had good intentions.

“The decision of the Kogi government to compel students to present parents’ TCC at the point of registration is in accordance with the law,” he said.

“Section 24(f) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states that every citizen should declare his or her income and endeavour to pay tax to the government.

“By the provisions of section 96 on Personnel income tax, anyone that fails to pay tax shall be face prosecution.”

The revenue service chairman expressed surprise that the public only got to know about the policy this year.

He said the service had issued a memo to the secretary of the state government two years earlier.

“It is for the good of the people and crucial to the progress of the state. What people don’t know is the huge financial burden on the state government which runs three universities, aside from other tertiary institutions,” he added.

Christ Mitots School in Ikorodu Lagos has suspended the teacher filmed assaulting a toddler in a numeracy class.

Earlier, a video surfaced on social media showing a primary school teacher violently smacking a toddler for failing in a numeracy lesson.

The female teacher, who tutors at Christ Mitots School in the Ikorodu suburb of Lagos, was subsequently arrested after public outrage.

In a statement responding to the matter, the school authority expressed its concerns over the viral footage.

The management described the teacher’s action as “unacceptable and contrary to the values and principles of our school”.
It said the teacher has been suspended indefinitely until an investigation is finalised.

“We are aware of a deeply troubling incident involving one of our teachers and a student, which has been circulating on social media,” the school’s statement reads in part.

“The video shows a teacher engaging in the physical discipline of a student in a manner that is completely unacceptable and contrary to the values and principles of our school.

“As an institution deeply committed to fostering a culture of respect, care, and dignity, we are horrified by this incident and wish to make unequivocally clear that such actions will not be tolerated.

“In response, the teacher involved has been suspended indefinitely while a thorough investigation is conducted.

“This immediate and decisive action reflects our zero-tolerance policy toward misconduct and our obligation to safeguard the safety and well-being of every child under our care.

“We extend our sincerest apologies to the student and their family. We have reached out to them personally to express our regret, after cur support, and ensure that their needs are fully addressed during this time.

“In light of this incident, we are taking firm steps to ensure that such behaviour is never repeated. As such, we will be organizing mandatory training sessions for teachers to reinforce child protection protocols, emphasize positive disciplinary practices, and cultivate greater sensitivity in interactions with students.

“Additionally, we have introduced a confidential whistle-blowing system to encourage the prompt reporting of inappropriate behaviour.

“We ask for the public’s patience and understanding as we work to address this matter responsibly and comprehensively.”