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Candidates, Parents protest against JAMB, demand cancellation of 2016 UTME over manipulation

Published

8 years ago

March 16, 2016

Sahara Weekly

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Hundreds of admission seekers to the nation’s tertiary institutions and their parents on Tuesday stormed the Lagos State Governor’s Office in Alausa, Ikeja, and the state Assembly complex to protest against alleged manipulation of the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The protesters demanded the cancellation of the exams and the removal of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde.

The protesters, who faulted the conduct of the examination, described the exercise as a “big sham.”

The examination, conducted by JAMB, they alleged, was fraught with irregularities.

The examination, which started on February 27, will end on March 19.

While some of the candidates alleged that the board deliberately lowered their scores, some claimed that it arbitrarily awarded marks to many candidates.

The protesters, led by a group under the aegis of Concerned Parents and Education Stakeholders, displayed placards with inscriptions such as, ‘All we are saying give us our mark’, ‘Dibu must go; the only stumbling block in education progress’, ‘The Joint Admission and Manipulation Board, give us our real results’, and ‘The professor of test and management has outlived his usefulness’, among others.

The protesters, who occupied the gate of the Lagos State House of Assembly complex for many hours, said JAMB and its registrar had “lost focus on how to conduct a successful Computer-Based Test in the 21st century.

A candidate, Maryam Animashaun, who expressed disappointment with the conduct of the examination, claimed that she received three different results from JAMB.

Animashaun, who sat for the examination at the College of Education, Oro, Kwara State, said, “I am confused. I do not know what to do now. The first alert I received on the telephone from the board with regard to the examination showed that I scored 218. The second alert read 186, while the third one read 286.

“The surprising thing now is that I cannot print any of the results. On the website, the board claimed that I did not sit for the examination. Meanwhile, I sat for English, Government, Economics and Literature-in-English.”

Another candidate, Kalasuwe Adeola, who claimed she scored 220, said she obtained the same score in 2015.

She said, “I am sure JAMB did not mark this year’s UTME. If it did, why did they issue me the same result I obtained last year? In my printed result for this year, it was written 2015/2016 instead of 2016/2017. I sat for this year’s examination at the Bachel Model College, Lagos, on March 9. Unlike other candidates, I did not have any issue with my system during the examination.”

The National President of the Association of Tutorial Schools in Nigeria, Mr. Shodunke Olutodotun, lamented that over 10,000 candidates missed the UTME, while others had their marks deducted due to irregularities by JAMB.

“This year’s UTME will soon be concluded. We have a man called Prof. Dibu Ojerinde. This man has outlived his usefulness in JAMB. He seems to be more powerful than the country’s president.

“The protesters are the victims; their destinies are being finished by Dibu. Most of the protesters that had their exam in Delta State had the exam in a shrine. A lot of them got results before they sat for the exam.

“We are appealing to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, to send signal to Abuja to stop UTME. If they don’t do that, we will go to Abuja.

“How will someone sit for Physics, Chemistry, Biology and the next thing he sees are Economics, Commerce and Government?”

Describing the exam as a fraud, a parent, Mr. Bunmi Elujula, urged the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to look into the complaints of the candidates urgently.

Apart from awarding arbitrary scores to candidates, Elujula said many candidates had problems with their systems.

He said, “Many candidates were allocated between 40 and 60 additional marks. What are the criteria for this arbitrariness? The strange thing is that JAMB started the CBT two years ago, why is this year’s exam a big flop? I have not seen candidates and parents complain this way about the exam in the past. I plead with the authorities to look into their grievances.”

But JAMB described the organisers of the protest as “blackmailers”.

In a statement by its Head of Public Relations, Dr Fabian Benajmin, the board said some proprietors, whose examination centres did not receive accreditation for the test, were behind the protest.

The statement read in part, “The board had approved centres provided by these individuals to be used for the 2016 exercise. Unfortunately, it could not approve those centres lacking in all the indices needed for a successful CBT.

“These same proprietors turned around to organise candidates to protest against our activities. We are not perfect as an organisation, but we are working hard to ensure that Nigerian education is better than it is. We have taken the risk to do the unthinkable so as to change the paradigm.

“We will continue to call on Nigerians to give us the benefits of doubt and with their collective support; we will give them one of the best CBT globally. It is no news that the worst CBT is far better than the best Paper and Pencil Test. At least, the era of candidates pouring acid on JAMB officials, bolting with question papers into the bush and all unthinkable embarrassing acts are gone.”

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Business

NNPC cautions motorists, others against panic buying

Published

3 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Sahara Weekly

NNPC cautions motorists, others against panic buying

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited has warned motorists and the public against panic buying of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly referred to as petrol.

In a statement signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd., Olufemi Soneye, on Tuesday, he said the corporation emphasised that the supply and distribution of petrol across the nation have witnessed significant improvements.

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According to Soneye, NNPC officials have conducted thorough monitoring of filling stations in various states, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where the queues have notably decreased.

He reassured the public that this positive trend will continue to expand to other states in the coming days.

The statement reads, “The Company wishes to state that at the moment, it has over 1.5 billion litres stock of PMS, which is equivalent to over 30 days sufficiency.

The NNPC Ltd. is also collaborating with relevant downstream agencies, such as the Nigeran Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), labour unions in the sector and security operatives, to address hoarding and other unwholesome practices.”

The move, according to Soneye, underscores NNPC’s commitment to ensuring a steady supply of petrol across the country and mitigating any potential disruptions in the fuel distribution chain.

Earlier, NNPCL said it has addressed concerns that surround the current scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit.

It added that the scarcity in certain regions of the country stems from logistical challenges, which have since been resolved.

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Business

Integrated System and Devices Limited Achieves IMS Certification

Published

1 day ago

May 6, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Integrated System and Devices Limited Achieves IMS Certification

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Integrated System and Devices Limited (ISDL), a major provider of electronic security solutions, is delighted to announce the successful attainment of ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certifications following a rigorous audit process conducted by Bureau Veritas Certification Holdings SAS-UK Branch.

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In 2021, ISDL bagged the Quality management systems ISO 9001:2015, and now in 2024, with unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction, the occupational Health and Safety system ISO 45001:2018 and the Environmental management system ISO 14001:2015 have been consolidated to form an Integrated Management System.

These certifications, covering ISDL’s headquarters and branches, signify the company’s unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards of quality management across all facets of its operations. According to Engr. Oluseun Mabogunje, the Managing Director of ISDL, the scope of the certifications encompasses the design, procurement, supply, installation, integration, maintenance, and after-sales support of various electronic security and Extra Low Voltage (ELV) equipment.

Engr. Mabogunje expressed his elation at receiving the IMS certifications, emphasizing ISDL’s dedication to delivering exceptional quality and service to its clientele. He emphasized that this achievement underscores the company’s ongoing pursuit of continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 are internationally recognized standards for Quality, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental management systems, emphasizing a process-based approach to meeting customer requirements and enhancing satisfaction, protecting the environment and also providing safe and healthy working conditions to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses among our employees, contractors and visitors. ISDL’s certification demonstrates its ability to consistently provide products and services that not only meet regulatory requirements but also exceed customer expectations.

Engr. Mabogunje extended profound gratitude to the workforce for their contribution to this achievement, attributing it to their team spirit and unwavering dedication to hard work, resilience and excellence. He urged the staff to continue offering top-notch services to their clients.

About Integrated System and Devices Limited (ISDL):
Integrated System & Devices Limited (ISDL), incorporated in 1988, is a leading provider of Electronic Low Voltage(ELV) and Security systems, that provides a total turnkey service for the design, supply, installation and continued effectiveness of security systems for medium and high-risk locations. ISDL has over 30 years’ history in the delivery of professional electronic security services in integration, maintenance and after sales support of various electronic security and related equipment. ISDL has her head Office in Lagos, and two branch offices in Abuja and Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

For more information about ISDL, please visit www.isdlnig.com

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Business

ZENITH BANK SHOWS CONTINUED MARKET LEADERSHIP WITH 189% GROWTH IN Q1 EARNINGS

Published

1 day ago

May 6, 2024

Sahara Weekly

ZENITH BANK SHOWS CONTINUED MARKET LEADERSHIP WITH 189% GROWTH IN Q1 EARNINGS

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Zenith Bank Plc has announced its unaudited results for the first quarter ended 31st March 2024, with an impressive triple-digit growth of 189% in Gross Earnings, from ₦270 billion reported in Q1 2023 to ₦781 billion in Q1 2024. This is despite the challenging operating environment and tightening monetary policy stance.

From the unaudited statement of account submitted to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Friday, 3rd May 2024, this impressive growth in the topline also enhanced the bottom line, as profit before tax (PBT) rose to ₦320 billion in Q1 2024, representing an increase of 270% from the ₦87 billion reported in Q1 2023. Profit after tax (PAT) equally grew significantly by 291% from the ₦66 billion reported in Q1 2023 to ₦258 billion in the current period.

Interest and non-interest income contributed significantly to the growth in gross earnings. Interest income grew by 155% from the ₦192 billion reported in the quarter ended March 2023 to ₦489 billion in the period to 31 March 2024. The growth in interest income is due to the repricing of risk assets, owing to the increase in the central bank’s Monetary Policy Rate (MPR), which currently stands at 24.75%. The growth in net interest income is primarily due to the increase in fees and commissions as well as trading grains.

The Group reported an impairment charge of ₦56 billion for Q1 2024, up from ₦8 billion recorded in Q1 2023. This is attributable to significant growth in risk assets, primarily driven by the revaluation of its USD loans, which necessitated additional impairment on the bank’s foreign currency-denominated loans.

The cost of funds grew by 48% from 2.7% in Q1 2023 to 4% in Q1 2024 due to the high-interest rate environment, while interest expense increased by 157% from ₦71 billion reported in Q1 2023 to ₦182 billion in the period to March 2024. Notwithstanding the year-on-year (YoY) increase in interest expense, net interest margin (NIM) grew by 20% from 6.9% in the 3 months ended March 2023 to 8.3% in the current period ending 31 March 2024. Return on Average Equity (ROAE) and Return on Average Assets (ROAA) increased year-on-year (YoY) by 114% and 119%, respectively, due to improved profitability.

Gross loans, which are largely funded by customer deposits, grew by 30% from ₦7.1 trillion in December 2023 to ₦9.2 trillion in March 2024. Customer deposits also grew by 11% from ₦15.2 trillion in December 2023 to ₦16.8 trillion in March 2024, underpinning continued customer confidence in the Zenith brand. Total assets increased by 19% to ₦24 trillion within the same period.

The Group has consistently maintained all prudential ratios well above the minimum regulatory requirement. At the end of Q1 2024, Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) and Liquidity Ratio stood at 20% and 67%, respectively, demonstrating the Group’s ability to maintain a strong and liquid balance sheet.

The Group is making progress on the planned capital raise to support future growth and is very optimistic about meeting the new minimum capital requirements in line with the CBN’s recapitalisation directive. As the Group accelerates migration to its new technology architecture and also transitions into a holding company, it remains poised to maximise value for all stakeholders.

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