Education
UNICAL dean accused of harassing female law students breaks silence

Cyril Ndifon, the dean of the faculty of Law at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), has denied claims that he sexually harassed female students of the faculty.
On Monday, some female students, led by Benedict Otu, the president of the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN), staged a protest, demanding the sack of Ndifon over alleged sexual harassment.
The protesting students — clad in their white shirts and black skirts — were chanting “Ndifon, go! go”!
The students carried placards with disturbing inscriptions.
Some of the inscriptions read: “Professor Ndifon let the girls with big breasts breathe stop suffocating us”, “Enough of law school list manipulation”, and “Professor Ndifon must go for our sanity”.
But in a chat with CrossRiverWatch, the dean debunked the allegations, describing them as “baseless”.
Ndifon, a professor, also argued that the protest was orchestrated by some members of the faculty who “had vowed to ensure that my image is dragged to the mud”.
“Since I defeated some persons in an election that was keenly contested, to emerge as Dean of the faculty, it hasn’t been easy. I had skipped several booby traps. These allegations are baselessly masterminded by my detractor, who had vowed to ensure that my image is dragged to the mud just because I won the faculty elections twice.
“If you look at the placards you will discover that the placards have one person’s handwriting. Again how come the protesters know that we were holding a meeting with the Vice Chancellor if it is not the handiwork of an insider.
“We were supposed to hold a meeting with the Vice Chancellor to enable us iron out important issues troubling us in the faculty, while the meeting was ongoing, we were told that some students were outside with placards, protesting against me, demanding that I should be unseated.
“From what am told, LAWSAN President, Benedict Otu, cajoled some students that they were to go for a meeting with the Vice Chancellor at her office, only to dish out placards bearing false representations about the Dean, and asked his colleagues to chant slogans that berated my personality.
“This won’t work. Colleagues of mine who are bent on tarnishing my reputation just to destroy me. The question is where are the victims of sexual harassment. Can someone harass girls without the ladies coming out to raise the alarm that they were sexually harassed?
“For Christ sake, I don’t teach Year 2 B or Year one students, so I don’t know why they have chosen to drag my name to the mud. This was why I said earlier that the allegations were lies, cooked from the pit of hell, just to destroy a reputation that I had spent decades building.”
There have been concerns regarding the surge in sexual assault allegations in Nigerian institutions in the past years, with lecturers accused of demanding sex from female students in exchange for good grades.
Education
AAU graduate attempts suicide over withheld results

A graduate of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Edo State, identified as Precious Ogbeide, has attempted suicide over the alleged university’s refusal to issue him and several other students their results after they graduated from school in 2018.
It was learned that Ogbeide, whose parents claimed he had been battling depression due to his inability to be issued his results after spending five years in the school, started to stab himself with pieces of a bottle he had broken.
Some aggrieved students of the school had lamented the inability to receive their degree results after spending five years undergoing the programme, claiming that the situation had demoralised them.
According to them, they are facing a bleak future as a result of the development.
It was learned from the aggrieved students that the tertiary institution had been promising them that the backlog of results would be cleared and students who were yet to be mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps scheme would be settled.
However, a source, who was privy to Monday’s incident, told newsmen that Ogbeide became frustrated and decided to end his life over the matter.
The source, who craved anonymity, said, “I received a call at about 3:30 pm on Monday that Ogbeinde had been rushed to the hospital. I was told he had been showing signs of depression and that they had tried to help in every possible way they could.
“The mother told me that he just stood up all of a sudden with a bottle and smashed it on the floor. They told me it was a slip. But he started to pierce his neck and body with the pieces of the broken bottle.
“It was the efforts of his relative present at the time of the incident that overpowered him before he was rushed to the hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.
“He said he was tired of everything. He said he had not been able to face his parents and family members after going to school for five years without any result to show for it.
“He could not get a job because they kept asking him to provide his certificate. He said any time he met those who could help him get a job, they would tell him to wait for his result. He was just fed up with the whole thing and became frustrated that his future was on hold.”
Meanwhile, the school, through the Head of Corporate Communications and Protocol, Mike Aladenika, had told newsmen that the students affected by certificate and result issues might have had issues with some courses during their time in school.
“If you had graduated and done all you were asked to do while you were a student, you would not have problems with your results.
“Some of the students who did not take cognizance of the deficiencies they had with their courses are the ones facing these challenges,” Aladenika stated.
Education
Covenant, UI, FUTA emerge top universities in Nigeria

Covenant University, University of Ibadan and the Federal University of Technology, Akure have secured top ranking in Nigeria according to Times Higher Education’s 2024 rating.
Analysis of the latest ranking showed that Covenant University is among the top 1,000 universities in the world.
Though ranked first in Nigeria, Covenant University is placed within the global 801-1000 range.
Covenant University, a private-owned institution, stands at the top spot in Nigeria, while the University of Ibadan followed in second and FUTA emerged third.
The University of Lagos and the University of Bayero emerged fourth and fifth in Nigeria, respectively.
The Ranking Web said the World University ranking includes 1,904 universities across 108 countries and regions.
“The Times Higher World University ranking includes 1,904 universities across 108 countries and regions.
“The table is based on our new WUR 3.0 methodology, which is carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across five areas; teaching, research environment, research quality, industry and international outlook.”
Others universities that achieve the top ranking is Nigeria include the University of Ilorin, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Afe Babalola University, University of Benin, Federal Univ of Agric, Abeokuta, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Lagos State University, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Port Harcourt.
Among the 15 top universities, nine are located in the South West, two in the South East, two in the South South, one in the North West and one in the North Central.
Education
Harry, Meghan donates school supplies to Nigerian female students

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, his wife, have donated school supplies and menstrual products to female students in Nigeria.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Foundation announced the donation in partnership with the GEANCO Foundation.
The foundation said it will support the well-being of 2,500 girls by providing them with menstrual health education.
“As students around the world returned to school this month, The Archewell Foundation supported girls’ education and health by sending school supplies and menstrual products to young scholars in Nigeria with The GEANCO Foundation,” the statement reads.
“GEANCO provides critical health care and education services in Nigeria. Its David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship provides full tuition, medical care, and social and emotional support to young female victims of terrorism and gender inequality in Nigeria.
“Afam Onyema, CEO of GEANCO, joined the Archewell staff to help fill backpacks with supplies and menstrual products.
“AWF’s support will also provide menstrual health education for 2,500 girls in the region GEANCO serves, supporting the health and well-being of girls pursuing their education.”
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