Ag. Vice Chancellor,
MESSAGE TO OUR DEAR ABUAD PARENTS/GUARDIANS/SPONSORS & STUDENTS
Introduction:
We are all too familiar with the deep concern and frustration the continued closure of educational institutions in the country since Monday, March 23, 2020 has visited on all stakeholders in nation’s Education sub-sector, including students, Faculty, parents, guardians and proprietors. This ill-wind has been further compounded by the continued ban on interstate movement and the decisions by the various states government directives on controlled activities in their respective jurisdictions.
The combined concern and frustration have become the more worrisome by virtue of the June, 1, 2020 Presidential Task Force (PTF), on Covid-19 pronouncement to the effect that “all schools remain closed for now”.
Speaking through the Minister of State for Education, Hon. Ckukwuemeka Nwajiuba, the Federal Government insisted that the continued closure of schools throughout the country was not a punitive step, but a directive, through the PTF, which was based on the increase number of confirmed cases of Covid-19.
Update from ABUAD:
This update is in line with the June 1, 2020 PTF directive and the pronouncement by Ekiti State Governor, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, on the strategic steps to be taken to migrate to the “new normal situation”. For now, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti is eagerly awaiting further directives from the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) on the re-opening of universities in the country.
ABUAD during the closure:
As a visionary institution, we have not been idle during the closure of schools. We have therefore put in place on-line academic activities to ensure continued interaction with our students to fully engage them via interactive Virtual Teaching/Learning, Assessment and Project supervision.
For students in the Colleges of Engineering and Sciences whose projects depend on verifiable laboratory experiments, the institution has put in place arrangements for a successful completion of such projects.
On-line Examination:
In tandem with our culture of pro-activeness, we are ready to conduct on-line Examination. At the same time, we have put in place strategies for effective re-opening to receive our students back on campus. We want to use this opportunity to appreciate the cooperation of our parents, guardians, and stakeholders in these trying periods. The future of our students depends on the close-knit cooperation of all of us. Towards this, ABUAD is fortunate to have an all-encompassing campus that facilitates the control of people and activities within the institution and the inflow of people from outside the University.
Involvement in Strategic Partnership for the Reopening of Universities in Nigeria:
ABUAD is actively involved in the Strategic National Planning for the reopening of universities in Nigeria. Currently I am a member of a Sub-committee of the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Registrars of Private Universities (CVCRPU) working on the formulation of the strategic plan to enable universities re-open as soon as the Federal Government directs.
I am using this opportunity to call on all our parents, guardians and students to jointly work towards the reopening of the University. We shall ensure that all the hygiene and health measures, in compliance with W.H.O standard, already put in place by the University, are judiciously used to the advantage of all, especially as many of our students are journeying from far places.
We are particularly grateful to our parents and guardians for assuring the safety and well-being of our students during the lockdown period. While appreciating that we cannot afford to limit the safety of the students to the home and the University alone, we must go a step further to take appropriate measures during their trips to make certain that our students observe the standard hygiene and health precautions and arrive in the University in good health.
ABUAD stands committed to ensuring the highest standard of moral and academic education for our students and their well-being that is currently challenged by the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, workable measures are put in place for them to successfully conclude the 2019/2020 Academic session.
Conclusion:
Our University cannot afford to, and will not toy with the time-tested dictum that says: the greatest wealth of any country lies in its well educated and disciplined young generation that constitutes the future.
On behalf of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti we are looking forward to receiving our students back on campus in no distant time.
Prof. E. Smaranda Olarinde FCArb, FCAI.
Ag. Vice Chancellor,
Afe Babalola University, Ado- Ekiti, Nigeria.