The federal government plans to upgrade the colleges of forestry in Ibadan and Jos to degree-awarding institutions.

Lawal Balarabe, the minister of environment, spoke at the Federal College of Forestry in Ibadan, Oyo state on Thursday.

He was at the college for an event marking the institution’s 85th anniversary.

Balarabe said the college has produced experts who have played significant roles in policy-making over the last eight decades.

Represented by the conservator-general of National Park Services Ibrahim Goni, the minister said the government is committed to environmental protection and sustainable development.

He said the federal government looks to invest in programmes that support forestry education and research initiatives.

“This is why plans are ongoing to upgrade the Federal College of Forestry Ibadan and Jos into degree-awarding institutes,” he said.

“Together, we can develop policies that promote sustainable practices while ensuring and securing the livelihood of communities which depend on forestry.”

In his remarks, Bayo Lawal, the deputy governor of Oyo, pledged support to all federal establishments in the state.

Zacharia Yaduma, the DG of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), said the college was established in 1939 to train middle-level manpower.

Yaduma said the college had in over eight decades trained more than 10,000 students in forestry and agriculture-related courses.

“This manpower is for the forestry and agriculture sub-sector of the economy. Now, some of them are occupying high-ranking positions in international organisations,” he said.

Femi Otedola has donated N3.7 billion towards the construction of phase 2 of the engineering faculty building at Augustine University in Epe Lagos.

The entrepreneur, who is the chancellor of the catholic university, said the project is set to be completed within 12 months.

Otedola spoke at the 6th convocation ceremony of Augustine University on Tuesday.

The convocation was attended by prominent dignitaries, including Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, religious leaders, and university officials.

In his address, Otedola honoured the academic and character development of the university’s graduating class.

He emphasised the institution’s commitment to excellence.

Otedola highlighted Augustine University’s vision to foster both intellectual and moral growth as encapsulated in its motto.

He noted the importance of producing graduates who combine technical proficiency with ethical leadership, urging the new graduates to carry these values into the world.

Otedola thanked the university’s leadership, faculty, and staff for their role in shaping the graduates.

He expressed his desire to see Augustine University emerge as a centre of excellence for engineering studies.

The chancellor’s donation of N3.7 billion follows the completion of phase 1 of the engineering faculty building also funded by him.

The new phase 2 project, he said, is expected to further enhance the university’s capacity to train future engineers.

Students at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) medical college are protesting an imminent hike in their hostel fees.

On Tuesday, the student affairs unit at UNILAG issued a memo announcing an upward review in the hostel fees for its medical college and pharmacy faculty in Idi-Araba, Lagos.

TheCable understands that students were also instructed to vacate the halls on Wednesday morning.

The raise, campus sources confirm, is to affect all 300-level to 600-level students and take effect in the 2024/2025 session.

The management said all MBBS/BDS students desiring a bed space in the hostel are now required to pay N100,000 for one year.

It said all B.Sc (non-medical) students seeking a bed space are required to pay N80,000.00 for two semesters.

The management said students who have paid the old rate of N65,000 should pay the difference of either N15,000 or N35,000 as applicable to balance up and obtain a single receipt from its cash office.

The hike, which has reportedly been halted, caused students to march to the administrative building of the campus in protest.

As of this report, the UNILAG public relations person is yet to respond to enquiries on the matter.