Council Stops transfer of UniAbuja Medical Students

 The Governing Council of the University of Abuja has stopped the planned transfer of the institution’s medical students to other higher institutions.

The council also set up a three-member Ad-hoc Committee to probe the accreditation crisis in the university and recommend appropriate sanctions for those that might be indicted.

 The committee has Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe as chairman while Hajia Aisha Babangida and Prof. Ediga Agbo are members.

 Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Agbo, who spoke on the behalf of the Council Chairman, Dr. Sam Ogbemudia, said the decision to stop the transfer was reached at the council’s 27th extra ordinary meeting in Abuja.

 Agbo said the Ogbemudia-led council had contacted eight other universities with medical schools in search of space for the students but the move was not successful.

 He said, “Right now, medical colleges are already carrying a little above their carrying capacity.

 If the students should be transferred to other schools, there will need to apply to the NUC, which means the fate that befell them at their original institution will still befall them to where ever they get transfered to.”

 The National Universities Commission had last year withdrawn the accreditation for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and all Engineering courses in the university.

 The institution, however through the approval of the NUC secured transfer for its engineering students to other universities.

 The medical students, whose department is awaiting the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria’s verification, last week disrupted the first semester examination of the Distance Learning Students of the university.

 The protesters, who claimed that they had spent at least eight years in the school, also demanded N10m compensation fee each.

Read more »

Keep on Protesting - Lawyer Advises University Abuja Students

A lawyer, Malachy Ugwumadu has advised students of UniAbuja to continue protesting the non-accreditation of their courses after spending at least 8 years studying, adding that “the students are wielding their legitimate right.”

 Mr Ugwumadu, while discussing the issues surrounding the University of Abuja on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, said that the whole brouhaha reeked of ‘corruption.’

 Students in three different faculties, Vet medicine, engineering and medicine recently took to the streets to protest the non-accreditation of their courses, blocking the street and disrupting ongoing school examinations.

 Speaking to Channels Television, the Vice Chancellor of the university, James Adelabu said that the issue of accreditation of medical programme is almost complete.

 Corruption However, Mr Ugwumadu voiced his suspicions of corrupt practices at the management level. “I think that at the heart of this crisis is the question of corruption,” he said.

 He described the issue as fortunate. “It is one problem-too many. They have a recurrent student uprising.”

 He also said the university has  failed to relocate to the permanent site where larger facilities, infrastructure and basic necessities that will effectively qualify the faculty will be available.

 These are criteria the National Universities Commission (NUC) looks out for in accrediting an institution.

 Compensation The protesting students of the institution have demanded monetary compensation of N10 million each as well as transfer to other universities, in order to progress in their academic pursuit.

 Mr Ugwumadu agreed that money cannot compensate the number of years wasted but said that financial gratification might not essentially be the motive.

 He said a transfer to another university “would also be a serious breach of the contract”. The students should intensify their agitation.

 The students should reach out more effectively, the students should get much more organised. He admonished them to be idealistic but added that they shouldn’t throw caution to the wind. “You can effectively secure what you are entitled to.”

 He called on the commissioner of police to advise the students on how best to get the attention of the presidency.

Read more »

Uni Abuja students cancel exam to protest

 Medical students of the University of Abuja have halthed its activities to protest the school's failure to secure accreditation to their programme.

 However, the protesters were confronted by security clampdown. Due to the protest, the authorities were forced to cancel the exams.

 Students are expected to write tomorrow's (tuesday) exam paper while that of Monday will be rescheduled.

 It is uncertain how the examination procedures will be carried out while the anger is mounting, targeted at the school's management.

 Some students, whose exams were affected, have spoken about joining the protest in solidarity.

Read more »