Education
Nursing student of Havarde College of Science, commits suicide over school’s failed accreditation
A 300-level student of a private tertiary institution in Ogun State, Havarde College of Science, Business and Management Studies, simply identified as Ajoke, has reportedly taken her life after the school allegedly failed to meet up with the accreditation requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
It was gathered that the deceased student had on Monday evening, consumed insecticide and slumped on her way to her boyfriend’s house.
It was learnt that the institution’s failure to secure accreditation of the NMCN for its nursing courses frustrated the 300-level student of Basic Medical Science to take her life.
It was earlier reported how the institution operates as an academic institution with no clear specification of where it belongs among the categories of higher schools in Nigeria.
The report titled; ‘Inside Ogun private polytechnic running unaccredited law, nursing, pharmacy programmes’, exposed how the private polytechnic was admitting students to study Law, Nursing, Pharmacy and other professional courses.
In the report, students of the college expressed concern over how they could not distinguish whether they were in a polytechnic, a university, or both combined.
The students lamented that the college, which claims to have its accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education, was also admitting students to study Law and other courses that are never run by polytechnics.
Following the situation, it was gathered that many of the students were left in a state of anxiety and confusion about the status of many of the courses offered at the institution.
A source hinted on Tuesday that the student committed suicide after finding out that the school could not be accredited for nursing despite spending over three years studying the course.
The source explained, “For more than four months, she had been depressed because the course she was studying was not accredited.
“She used to think and complain because she claimed her parent used all the money they had to send her to the school.
“Things now got worse when she discovered she was pregnant and she could not even have a certificate for the course she had done for four years.
“I learnt she called her mum yesterday and told her that would be the last time to speak with her.
According to the student, Ajoke went to a pharmacy where she said she wanted to buy insecticide, and they asked her what she wanted to use it for. She said Ajoke claimed she wanted to kill mosquitoes in her room, noting that the pharmacist asked her to write that down before selling it to her.
“Unfortunately, she went inside and drank it,” she said.
An official at the state Ministry of Health who did not mention her name for security reasons confirmed to newsmen that preliminary findings revealed that the deceased was depressed even before the pregnancy.
“Some of the students confided in us that Ajoke had been depressed for more than four months because of the situation of the nursing department in the school.
“From our findings, she had been exhibiting symptoms of depression ever since her colleague saw the truth and left there for the Ogun State College of Nursing Sciences. She had been complaining about the money wasted on that school. But when she complained to the management, she was assured that the nursing department would be accredited soon within a short time. So, the pregnancy triggered everything that happened,” she stated.
Meanwhile, an enforcement team of the Ogun State Ministry of Health and members of the State Nursing and Midwifery Committee, on Tuesday, sealed the nursing department of the institution for operating without accreditation from the NMCN.
The government in a statement by the ministry press officer, Goke Gbadamosi, said the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Kayode Oladehinde, during the enforcement, disclosed that the private institution had been offering a degree programme in nursing sciences for approximately six years without accreditation from the regulatory body.
Oladehinde, represented by the acting Director of Nursing Services, Mrs Serifat Aminu, described a degree in nursing obtained from Harvarde College and similar institutions without NMCN accreditation as worthless, stating that graduates would be unable to obtain a valid license to practice in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
Reacting, the provost of the institution, Dr Ismail Oyetunji, said the activities surrounding the death of the student happened outside the school’s premises.
The provost added that the deceased’s parents came to the school last week to pack her belongings after discovering she was pregnant.
He said, “A 300-level nursing student who was reported to me this morning by our Dean of Students Affairs to have committed suicide. She was got pregnant by her boyfriend. Her parents got to know and came last week to pack her belongings from the school.
“She came back to Abeokuta and thereafter decided to commit suicide. She was rushed to the Hope Hospital by her boyfriend in the Adigbe area of Abeokuta where she eventually died.
“Everything happened outside the college premises. However, the management of the college sympathises with the parents and relatives of the deceased. We sincerely pray that God will give them the fortitude to bear.
When asked if the suicide was connected to the non-accreditation of the nursing programme offered in the institution, the provost insisted that the student committed suicide because of the pregnancy.
When contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, said the command was not aware of the incident.
Education
Governor Abba Yusuf donates N2m to islamic school
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has donated N2 million to Mu’assasatu Balarabe Bello Hamza Islamic School, located on Sokoto Road in the state capital.
The donation was announced during the Qur’anic graduation ceremony of 13 students held on Sunday at the school premises.
Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, the governor highlighted the significance of learning the Holy Qur’an and applying its teachings in daily life.
He congratulated the graduating students, their parents, and teachers on the milestone and encouraged them to expand their knowledge beyond religious studies.
A press statement issued by the Director of Public Enlightenment at Kano Government House, Usman Gwadabe, revealed that certificates were presented to the 13 graduates during the event.
Speaking at the occasion, the Head Teacher, Mallam Jamilu Yusha’u, stated, “The school was named after the late Balarabe Bello Hamza, who established the school for special extra lessons for children during the holidays.”
However, he prayed to the Almighty Allah to forgive him and reward him for the good work he did for the benefit of humanity.
In his remarks, the Director-General of Protocol, Kano Government House, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, who delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of the parents and the school authorities appreciated Yusuf’s good gesture for the “donations and for his administration’s readiness toward improving the educational sector in the state.”
Education
UNIOSUN mandates new students to apply for student loan
The Vice-Chancellor, Osun State University, Professor Clement Adebooye, has mandated the institution’s fresh students to apply for Federal Government student loan anchored by the National Education Loan Fund, NELFUND.
This is as he disclosed that the university could only admit 11,000 students out of the 30,000 that applied for the 2024 academic session.
Speaking at the 18th Matriculation ceremony held at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium at the main campus in Osogbo on Friday, he assured the newly admitted students of the timely completion of their courses of study.
He disclosed that the FG loan scheme would make learning easy for the new students due to the ongoing economic crisis in the country; hence, new students must apply for the loan.
His words, “I must also seize this opportunity to announce to you the opportunity for student loans provided by the Federal Government through NELFUND. As this is an intervention to cushion the effect of economic hardship on students, the management of this institution has decided that every new student must apply and access it to further make student life easy for you”.
He charged the newly admitted students to work tirelessly to achieve academic progression, saying they are among the few lucky ones to gain admission.
“It will interest you all to note that well over 30,000 candidates applied for admission into the university this year. Of this lot, we are only able to admit 11,000 (approximately one-third) into the various academic programmes across colleges and campuses. Though this means you are among the very lucky few admitted, it also shows you have all it takes to be undergraduates in any Nigerian university.
“But then, you all have to note for your all-time guidance that it is not everyone that starts any race that usually completes the race. The race in this context is competence building and knowledge acquisition, which come with regular lectures, assignments, tests, examinations, and character moulding all through your residency here.
“In this esteemed institution, we uphold the values of integrity, discipline, and moral uprightness. Social vices such as examination malpractice, cultism, indecent dressing, drug abuse, sexual harassment, and truancy are strongly condemned,” he added.
Education
Outrage as students reject renaming of UniAbuja after Yakubu Gowon
Students of the University of Abuja have vehemently opposed the Federal Government’s decision to rename their institution after former military leader Yakubu Gowon.
The announcement, approved by the Federal Executive Council on Monday, December 16, has sparked widespread protests.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, disclosed the council’s resolution following its final 2024 meeting at Aso Rock Villa. However, students and alumni immediately reacted with anger.
On Thursday, December 19, students rallied at the university’s main gate, holding placards with messages such as “The voice of men is the voice of God,” “We stand for UniAbuja,” and “Solve hunger problems, not renaming UniAbuja.”
Comrade Nkem Silas, President of the Students Union Government (SUG), urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the decision.
“Renaming the university can have psychological effects on students. We will formally express our concerns to the Federal Ministry of Education through the Vice Chancellor,” Silas said.
Prof Jeremiah Vambe, an alumnus and lecturer in the Department of Public Administration, also criticised the move.
“Renaming the university involves economic, legal, and psychological costs. The law establishing the University of Abuja must be amended to accommodate this change,” Vambe explained.
Comrade Adamu Abdulbasit, President of the Abuja Indigenous Students Association (AISA), proposed an alternative.
“Instead of renaming UniAbuja, the Federal Government should complete the abandoned University of Science & Technology in Abaji and name it after Ladi Kwali University, Abuja,” Abdulbasit suggested.
The protests highlight the growing discontent among students and stakeholders, who see the renaming as threatening the university’s identity and legacy.
Calls for a reversal are gaining momentum as the controversy unfolds.
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