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IMT establishes Student Support Unit to curb sexual violence

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The Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, has established a Student Support Unit (SSU) to curb sexual violence and abuse.

The Chairman, SSU, Mrs Patience Ugwuegede, made this known in Enugu on Friday at an event to sensitise students on the dangers of sexual violence.

The programme is supported by Community Art Project Fund.

Ugwuegede said that the students are expected to report any act of sexual violence, including abuse and harassment by lecturers.

According to her, the identity of the student reporting the lecturer will be protected.

She said that the IMT management would ensure that any case reported to the unit would be handled judiciously and also assist the victim get back to his or her studies.

She said that the sensitisation would enlighten participants more about sexual violence and abuse which is on the increase in the society.

“The motive for organising this event is to sensitise the students on the dangers of sexual abuse and violence.

“Also to know what to do when one is a victim, that will help to change the people’s perception on speaking out,” she said.

A keynote speaker, Mrs Iruka Nwokedi, said that sexual violence, especially rape, remains complicated in Nigeria, considering the fact that a victim needs witnesses to prove the case.

Nwokedi, however, pointed out that the issue had changed in Enugu state with the signing of the Violence Against Person’s Prohibition Act.

She said that the Act had made prosecuting a rape case easier and equally expanded what is constituted as rape.

“When you are raped, there is a trauma you are going through, and if you do not speak out, you will live with that trauma all your life.

“I always say to them, try and speak out. My problem is with the parents because they will tell you that we have settled, we do not want stigmatisation and I want my daughter to get married.

“I keep asking, many girls are not raped but these girls are not married? So, rape is not what is stopping your daughters from getting married.

“It is good for the victims of sexual violence to reach out to therapist, in order to get over the experience,” she said.

Also, the Representative, African Wild Movement for Girl-child, Mr Okechukwu Alakwe, blamed the African culture and perception for the ever-increasing gender-based violence in the continent.

Alakwe urged traditional rulers, community and religious leaders to intensify awareness to stop the menace affecting mainly the women.

One of the participating students, Miss Somto Onoh, urged victims of sexual violence to summon the courage to report to law enforcement agencies.

Onoh said that sexual violence cases would continue unabated if the victims remain quiet.

(NAN)

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Education

Oyedepo advises universities to invest more on research

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Oyedepo advises universities to invest more on research

The Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota in Ogun State, Dr Bishop David Oyedepo, has advised universities in Nigeria to invest more in research to proffer solutions to numerous challenges confronting the country.

Oyedepo gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ota, Ogun.

He said that universities should be solution centres, with life-applicable solution outputs that would solve problems in Nigeria and other nations of Africa.

The chancellor said that it was time for universities to arise and begin to wage intellectual wars against social vices with all zeal and zest.

Oyedepo said that the country needs to begin to see the dividends of university education.

“No institution loses value until it stops solving problems.

“Also, the relevance of any university is in the problem it solves,” he said.

Oyedepo said that the ability of universities to make huge investment in research would help to solve the country’s challenges and proffer solutions to myriads of global problems.

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Education

Peter Obi Fulfills Pledge, Donates Bus, N5m to Kogi Nursing College

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Peter Obi Fulfills Pledge, Donates Bus, N5m to Kogi Nursing College

Peter Obi Fulfills Pledge, Donates Bus, N5m to Kogi Nursing College

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, returned to Grimard College of Nursing Sciences in Anyigba, Kogi State, on Tuesday to fulfill a promise made during a previous visit.

Obi had earlier donated ₦10 million to the college to support learning and pledged to assist further in meeting their urgent needs for accreditation.

During his visit three months ago, the Proprietor and Rector informed him that the school’s immediate need was a 32-seater coaster bus for students’ clinical experience trips.

After discussions with Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Adaji, Obi was told that a fairly used bus costing between ₦20 million and ₦30 million would be sufficient, as the price of a new bus had risen above ₦100 million.

True to his word, Obi returned to the college to present a fairly used bus within the specified range, aiding the students’ clinical assignments.

He also donated an additional ₦5 million to cover the cost of the bus’s registration, insurance, and other expenses for a year.

Obi expressed his gratitude to the institution’s leadership for their warm reception and commended their efforts in advancing education and healthcare.

He reassured them of his continued support, emphasizing his commitment to building a better Nigeria.

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Education

ASUU threatens indefinite strike, says FG fails to honour agreement

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ASUU threatens indefinite strike, says FG fails to honour agreement

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on indefinite strike over failure of the Federal Government to honour the 2009 aggrement reached with it.

Prof. Timothy Namo, the Bauchi Zonal Coordinator of the union said this during a news conference on Friday in Jos.

Namo said that the union after its National Executive Council (NEC) held between Aug. 17 and Aug. 18, issued a 21-day ultimatum.

“As we speak, government has not honoured any of the agreements or address our concerns.

“At the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum, we again issued another 14-day ultimatum that commenced from Sept. 23.

“So, we want Nigerians to blame the federal government if ASUU decide to down tools and shut down public universities,” he said.

Namo highlighted the lingering issues to include, non conclusion of the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement, non release of the three-and-half month salaries of academic staff, unpaid salaries of all academic staff on adjunct appointment and outstanding third-party deductions.

Other lingering issues he said were, poor funding for the revitalisation of public universities, none payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) as captured in the 2023 budget, proliferation of universities, non implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities, among others.

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