Wives of Nigerian Vice-Chancellors set to visit Turkey amidst lingering ASUU strike
Amid an ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, wives of Vice-Chancellors of public universities in Nigeria are set to travel to Istanbul, Turkey for a five-day conference.
According to a letter by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, the programme is scheduled to hold from 18 to 23 July 2022, in Istanbul.
The letter which was dated May 5, 2022, was signed by the Committee’s Secretary-General, Yakubu Ochefu, Punch reports.
Ochefu noted that each of the VC wives would pay a sum of N1.5m as a course form to attend the programme.
The letter addressed to vice-chancellors was titled, ‘Invitation to the Istanbul 5-Day Leadership & Management Masterclass, Fellowship Induction for Spouses of Vice-Chancellors, Women in Academics and Higher Education Leadership.’
It partly read, “We understand the vital role spouses play in supporting Vice-Chancellors as they execute their day- to day administration of universities. It is therefore imperative, that capacity-building exercises be put in place for the Women in Academics and spouses of Vice-Chancellors in Nigerian Universities.
“In this regard, the Committee’s Secretariat, in Partnership with Win Institute for Gender Studies, Nigeria in collaboration with her Turkey-based learning partner, Istanbul Egitimler, has put together a 5-day Leadership & Management Masterclass, and Fellowship Induction for spouses of Vice-Chancellors, women academics and higher education leadership in Africa.”
Similarly, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities Spouses is set to hold a two-day conference at the Tayo Aderinokun Memorial Hall at the University of Lagos.
The conference slated for May 9, 2022, has UNILAG VC, Prof O.T. Ogundipe, and his wife as hosts while former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Ibukun Awosika, is penciled as one of the speakers.
ASUU had on February 14 embarked on an industrial action entering its third month.
The union led by Prof Emmanuel Osodeke said it made the decision for the Federal Government and its agencies to meet the lingering demands of the union.
The National Association of Nigerian Students has since threatened fire and brimstone, censuring the Federal Government for abandoning students of public universities with students of various public universities protesting.
Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; as well as Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; both of the ruling All Progressives Congress recently picked up the party’s N100m presidential nomination and expression of interest forms each.
