Wednesday, January 26, 2011
11"',-----•• ---------.... 21-Year Old is UNILAG's Best Graduate EDITOR: BUKOLA OuTUNJI
anuary 20th, 2011, the second day of 2009/2010 convocation ceremony at the University of Lagos (UNlLAG) was
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indeed a memorable one for Mr. Babatunde Olusegun A1awode and 118 others from the Faculties of Arts, Business dministration, Distance Learning Institute, College of Medicine, Engineering, Law, among others, who obtained Fl1"St Class degrees in various fields. The 21-year-old emerged the best graduating student in the faculty of Engineering and overall best graduating student of the institution with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93. A1awode, who received a cheque of Nl00 ,000, presented by the institution's alumni association, could not conceal his excitement and feeling of fulfillment when he was called up for a handshake with the Vice-Chancellor and other dignitaries. According to him, he resolved to make good grades when he had a CGPA of 4.56 after his fl1"St year at the university. With that goal, he said he had to read between the lines and outside the materials he was given. "In my fl1"St year at the end of the first semester in school, I was shocked by my grade, because I felt since I had a very good WAEC result, university education should just be a piece of cake, that you will just come and read, and know what is going to come out in the examination. I did not know that the system would be different such that you have to read between the lines and outside the material you were given. It really affected my result." He noted that things were a bit difficult for him during the fl1"St year because coming from a polygamous background; be had five other siblings in. the university. The situation later improved when he was awanled a scholarship the following year. While expressing happiness for being among the graduands, he advised the younger students not to give up on themselves, but to seek knowledge. A1awode was one of the about 8, 209 gradaunds, who were conferred with degrees, diplomas and certificates at the colourful ceremony, attended by personalities from all walks of life, including the visitor, President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa'i. Aside from the awards of first degrees, undergraduate diplomas, masters and doctorate degrees, the university also conferred its honorary degree (honoris causa) on former Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN). In his remarl<s, Jonathan called on tertiary institutions in the country to play pivotal roles of espousing practical intellectual solutions, advancing appropriate social and infrastructural models, He said there was need for institutions to put more effort into research activities, which would proffer appropriate solutions to the various challenges confronting the country. "As you all know, universities all over the world have the sacred responsibility of seeking new knowledge, the application of which would aid societal well being", he said. On her part, Rufa'i pointed out that the Federal Government spousored a total of·3. 089 lecturers for the postgraduate proframme through the intervention of Education Trust Fund (ETF) and out of this number, I f.J76 lecturers were now studying overseas. While thanking the university for its stable academic calendaJ:, and commitment to ensuring that it is ranked among the best universities glohally, sbe said, "let me assure you that the tempo will increase." The Vice; Chancellor, Prof. Adetokunbo Sofoluwe, who spoke on the theme, 'Sustaining UNlLAG as a University of Fl1"St Choice: A Joint Social and Academic Responsibility for All' . congratulated the graduands, saying, ''today is symbolic to you all because you are going to be awanled your certificates after the successful completion of your studies." He also congratulated prize winners for achieving distinctions and advised them to serve as shining models of exemplary behaviour and Jedication, adding lnat a time would come wben the institution would not graduate students in the pass category, since it strives for academic distinction. Pro-Chancellor and Chainnan of Council of the institution, '. r. Gamaliel Onosode said there was need for the council to show more' interest its academic activities and maintain standanls. He appealed to universities senate to work harder so that
·D.an Faeulty 0/ Engin••ring, Prof. Mushou Ajihod. Salau pes.llling a p/aqu. to the ""st grmIruJling stud.nI, Mr. BabaJud. Olus.gun Alawod., during UNlLAG's 200912010 conVocation ceremony... ree.ntly
By Funmi Ogundare Nigerian institutions could begin to feature prominently in the global university ranking. Onosode commended the university unions, saying, ''we depend on your cooperation and understanding of the purpose of the institution so that we can reach where we ought to reach
as an academic institution." Responding, Ajibola expressed gratitude to the institution for the honour saying, "I am indebted to the university. Many products of the institution recognised the support that I received throughout the life time of then Preident of the International Court of Justice, Mr. Teslim Elias, who was also a one time Dean of Faculty of Law." He also thanked those who contributed towards his success.
IITA Develops Promiscuous Soyabean
T
he International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, lbadan, has, for the first time, developed better soybean varieties that can enhance the productivity of the crop and offer African farmers better opportunities. Two African nations -Malawi and Nigeria - have released the three improved soybean varieties, codenamed TGxI 740-2F, TGxl987-IOF, and TGxI987-62F. TGxI740-2F was developed by IITA in collaboration with the Department of Agriculturai Research Services (OARS) in Malawi. Varieties TGx1987IOF and TGx1987-62F were developed by llTA in collaborntion with Nigeria's National Cereal Research Institute (NCRI). Their on-station and on-farm testing was funded by the Tropical Legumes IT project. The Malawi Agricultural Technology Clearing Committee (ATCC)
on 18 January 20 II officially approved the release of TGxl740-2F while the Nigeria Varietal Release Committee released TGx1987-IOF and TGxI987-62F on December 2 last year. IITA According to Soybean Breeder based. in Malawi, Hailu Tefera, the varieties outperformed the standanl and local checks grown in the two· countries, offering high grain yield in multiple locations· under onstation and on-farm trials. "In Nigeria, medium. matuting varieties TGx1987IOF and TGd987-62F ~ proved highly resistant to rust, bacterial blight, and Cerr:ospora leaf spot", says Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, IITA Pathologist. The varieties are preferred by many farmers because they smother weeds and reduce the cost of weeding. Farmers that participated in the on-farm trials of the vari-
eties last year said they preferred them especially for their golden color at maturity. In Malawi, TGxI740-2F gave the highest mean grain yield of 2464 kglha. It exceeded the grain variety Nasoko and the widely grown promiscuous variety Magoye, which were used as checks by 10 per cent and 32 per cent during the two-year multilocation on-station trials. The variety performed equally well during on-farm participatory variety selection trials in four districts of central Malawi. In the 2009/10 season, it outyielded all the new types of soybean varieties under testing by giving 2248 kglha. It also surpassed Nasoko and Magoye by 15 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively. "Farmers had many reasons for falling in love with this varietymatures early, has ..more pods per plant up to the top of the plant, performs well under.poor and erratic
rainfall, and has better lodging resistance," says Tefera. "It is a big milestone for IITA as this is the first time that an UTA-developed promiscuous soybean variety - one that is able to nodulate effectively with diverse indigenous Rhizobia in the soil- is released in Malawi ," he adds. High in nutritive value, soybean is fast gaining appeal in Africa as it. offet1!. ~ .:. cheap source of protem. The .crop is also emerging as an important feed, food, as well as raw material for producing . high-quality protein products. For smallholder farmers it is an important cash crop and also improves soil fertility because of its ability to fix high amounts of atmospheric nitrogen. The development of these varieties serves as a boost to African nations as, together with partners; they strive to reduce hunger and poverty.
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