VOL 10 ISSUE 20

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

JULY 13 - JULY 20, 2017

BU UNVEILS 18% FEE INCREASE

A gainst the prevail-

ing economic situa-

tion, the University ad-

ministration has un-

veiled an 18% increase

in fees. This is coming

a h e a d o f t h e

2017/2018 academic

session.

President/Vice Chancel-

lor, Professor Ademola S.

Tayo made this known at

a brief congregation of

staff and faculty where

he said the increase be-

came imperative to ac-

commodate inflationary

trend and to cushion its

adverse effect on the

institution.

“This administration is

sensitive to the plight of par-

ents within the current eco-

nomic situation, but is left

with little choice to increase

fees rather than lower the

standards of our services.”

Prof Tayo stated that the

institution came to this con-

clusion after due consulta-

tions with major stakehold-

ers including members of

Our Mission

Building leadership

through Christian edu-cation; transforming lives, impacting society

for positive change.

Our Vision

• A first-class Seventh

-day Adventist insti-tution, building serv-ant leaders for a better world.

Our Core Values

• Excellence

• Integrity

• Accountability

• Servant Leadership,

• Team Spirit

• Autonomy & Re-

sponsibility • Adventist Heritage

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

WE ARE ON THE WEB

Follow us on:

www.babcock.edu.ng/

“Challenges

are

what make life

Interesting and

Overcoming

them is what

makes life

meaningful.”

- Joshua Marine

THE NEWS AT YOUR FINGER TIPS

WEEKLY DIGEST

Prof. Ademola S. Tayo and officers addressing the congregation.

the governing council,

Parents Consultative

Forum and students.

The University Bursar,

E l d e r F o l o r u n s h o

Akande said although

the increase cut across

all programmes, there

would be minimal ad-

justments on Medicine

and Surgery.

Continued on page 2

Winning team with winning smiles. ENACTUS BU team female presenters at the national

competition held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

WEEKLY DIGEST Page 2

WEEKLY DIGEST

A Babcock University Newsletter

Editor–in-Chief

Joshua Suleiman

Editor

Josephine Akarue

Deputy Editor

Godwin Ugbaka

Photo Editor

Gbenga Olajobi

Babcock University

President

Ademola S. Tayo

Senior Vice President

(Academics)

Iheanyichukwu Okoro

Senior Vice President

(Management Services)

Sunday Owolabi

Vice Presidents

Financial Administration

Folorunso Akande

Student Development

Joseph Olanrewaju

HOTLINES

Ambulance -080 360 097 40

BUSA President—

081 529 058 48

Chaplain - 080 340 322 58

Counsellor-080 230 627 87

BUTH Clinic -080 360 097 40

Facilities -070 640 699 96

Fire Service-0803 606 44 44

Food Services

080 340 333 72

SOP 080 338 478 69

BU Pastor 080 582 981 97

B U U N V E I L S 1 8 % F E E

I N C R E A S E

Continued from page 1

The Senior Vice President for Management

Services, Prof. Sunday Owolabi also lent his

voice on the decision. He stated that other

options were considered before arriving at the

final level.

“Beyond the rising inflation which

has affected food prices, the Uni-

versity also has other costs espe-

cially in the Science laboratories

and reagents to contend with,” he

said. “We’re obliged to take cer-

tain decisions because some of

the cost parameters are not within

our control.”

Prof. Ademola S. Tayo

A cross section of the congregation at the Vice Chancellor’s briefing.

BABCOCK SIGNS MoU WITH E-TECH

The President/Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ademola

S. Tayo unfolded the University’s plan to fast

track the construction of the Open Distance

Learning Centre following the signing of a

Memorandum of Understanding with E-Tech

Complete Solutions Ltd.

The MoU will strengthen

bilateral relations be-

tween both parties and

enhance the employabil-

ity skills of the nation’s

teaming population

through university edu-

cation.

Currently, a large num-

ber of youths are unable

to gain admission due to

the limited spaces in the

Universities.

WEEKLY DIGEST Page 3

P rofessor Emeritus of Law, Profes-

sor Isaac Agbede has called for a

legislation limiting the functions of tech-

nology in the adjudication of cases in

the country.

Professor Agbede made the call at the

1st international conference on Law and

Digital Technology at Babcock.

His call came amidst growing concerns

on the possibility of robots taking over

legal briefs to the detriment of younger

generation Lawyers.

Professor Agbede, who is Provost of the

University’s School of Law & Security

Studies, expressed concern that robots

were now competing with man in the

functions exclusively reserved for man

by God.

He said there should be a ‘modulator’

to technological functions to ensure the

survival of human civilization.

He noted that as proliferation of IT tools

enhanced the efficiency of legal re-

search, Law firms would in turn be

forced to reassess their entire organiza-

tional structure.

Prof Agbede admitted that though

online transactions and activi-

ties posed tricky issues of im-

plementation and law enforce-

ment, legal practice continued

as if technology had never

been invented.

“The law industries and prac-

tices have not changed much

in decades in spite of new

tools developed in the legal

industries,” he said.

In spite of his reservations, he

said some IT products such as

virtual assistants, were de-

signed to help in-house legal de-

partment manage their work

more efficiently. It does this by

identifying on a digital dashboard

the units where problems have

occurred, the risk profile of any

case, who is working on it and

how long it takes, among others.

Professor Bankole Sodipo said if

technology were allowed to solve

all the problems of litigants, the

role of practicing Lawyers would

be eroded.

He said in spite of the usefulness

of technology, the human ele-

ment was still important.

ADVOCACY FOR LEGISLATIVE REGULATION ON IT USE IN ADJUCATION

Conference participants at the opening session.

Prof. Ademola Tayo (middle) with host, Prof. Agbede and other facilitators.

L-r : Aurelia Schultz, Counsel Copyright & Intellectual Copyright office, US,

Prof. Bankole Sodipe (BU) and Prof. Gbenga Odutan of Kent University.

WEEKLY DIGEST Page 4

ment the African experience and

global perspective.

Speaking at the programme held at

Babcock, he attributed the alarming

statistics of the increase in neuro-

degenerative diseases such as

stroke, Alzheimer’s, bipolar disorder

and Parkinson’s disease to stress

induced by the African culture of

rearing many children in a de-

pressed economy and diet.

According to him, stroke not only

posed serious concerns to health

practitioners but also becoming en-

demic like malaria.

NEUROSURGEONS WARN ON ALARMING INCREASE IN BRAIN DISEASES

A former Consultant of the

International Society of Neu-

rosurgeon, Professor Polycarp

Nwoha has attributed the rising

increase in brain diseases in Nige-

ria to wholesome adaptation of

Western lifestyles.

Professor Nwoha raised the alarm

at a pre-conference workshop of

the just ended 6th biennial Inter-

national Neuroscience conference

of the Institute of Neuroscience

and Biomedical Research (INBR),

themed, “Environmental Challeng-

es of brain and mental develop-

He said these stress-related dis-

eases were avoidable if parents

learned to do the much they could

within available resources through

maintaining a clean environment

and consumption of nutritious

foods among others.

He noted that indiscriminate

dumping of rubbish emitted a lot

of toxins that gradually affect our

system and wellbeing.

“GSM masts are everywhere. Part

of our problem is that many peo-

ple are oblivious of their adverse

effects on our health.”

“We may also not see the effect of

the things we eat on us but they

are always there,” he said.

Prof. Polycarp Nwoha makes a case for cleaner environment and improved diet

as he addresses participants at the conference. Right: Prof. Stephen Fapohunda

Participants at the workshop

A midst global concerns of climate change,

the President and Council Chair of the

Institute of Neuroscience and Biomedical Re-

search (INBR) Nigeria, Professor Iheanyichukwu

Okoro has attributed the national increase in

brain diseases to the depletion the ozone layer

and high fat diet.

He said these as well as substance abuse and

radiation from mobile phones were responsible

for the rising cases of brain diseases among

youths.

He warned against the handling of mobile

phones close to the heart, brain, groin and ova-

ries as long exposure to these body parts even

minimal levels could result in mutation and

brain diseases.

Prof. Okoro also frowned against excessive ad-

diction to western lifestyles while advocating a

diet of food rich in antioxidants which help to

detoxify the system.

“Vegetables, nuts, cashew nuts or multi-

vitamins like Omega 3 can be of immense

help,” he said.

Besides professional knowledge, Prof Okoro

said the hosting of the conference afforded him

WEEKLY DIGEST Page 5

OKORO EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER DEPLETING OZONE LAYER

the opportunity to defray some logistic costs as President

as well as showcase the University’s scenic environment.

Prof. Iheanyichukwu Okoro addressing participants at the workshop on global warming and climate change. Bottom pic-

tures show a cross section of conference participants and facilitators.

WEEKLY DIGEST Page 6

PHOTO-SEEN-THESIS

Celebrating each step of the competition

with confidence was part of the icing on

the cake. The real deal was qualifying for

the finals.

ENACTUS Babcock team members sa-

vour moments just before the finals

which brought them to the top four team

presenters of the day.

WEEKLY DIGEST Page 7

PHOTO-SEEN-THESIS

For facilitators and partici-

pants, all is well that ends

well.

Top left and bottom right:

Prof. Emeritus Isaac Agebde

and Dr. Paul Ananaba (SAN)

as they present certificate of

participation to Aurelia

Schultz and Dr. Gbenga Odu-

tan at the end of the confer-

ence.

WEEKLY DIGEST Page 8

BU ENACTUS TEAM COMES TOP FOUR @ 2017 COMPETITITON

Team members show off their

plaque at the end of the compe-

tition. With them are faculty advi-

sor, Jerry Kwarbai and BU Alum-

na, and one-time ENACTUS BU

group President ,Ngozi Ukweni

(extreme left).

C ombination of strength and innovation

earned the student empowerment group,

ENACTUS top four position at the 2017 nation-

al competition.

This year’s annual event held at the Civic Cen-

tre in Victoria Island, Lagos, brought together

top teams from 25 tertiary institutions across

Nigeria; providing a platform for social network-

ing and cross fertilization of ideas.

The programme aims at encouraging youths to

seek innovative and sustainable development

solutions to community challenges.

With this victory, ENACTUS Babcock is closer to

actualizing their dream of reducing Malaria-

related mortality rate by 80% using an eco-

friendly insecticide, NACTICIDE.

Nacticide, produced from locally sourced

plants, is a result of a scientific needs assess-

ment conducted in the Ilishan host community.

“I’m glad we made it to the finals,” said a team

member, Ganiyu Shittu, a student of Anatomy.

“It’s the first time in recent years and I see this

getting us closer to our goal of making it to the

global contest.”

The team presented a multi-strategic approach

to roll back malaria: a community-wide proper waste dis-

posal awareness campaign, drainage clearing and Ilishan

mosquito netting project.

These were in partnership with the Ikenne Local Govern-

ment Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) team in Ogun State,

StopGo, a US-based INGO and ENACTUS South Western

Adventist University, Tennessee, USA.

Over the years, the ENACTUS team has added value to

the Babcock drive for excellence. It represented the Uni-

versity at the 2016 NUC Science Research Fair in Anam-

bra State and in 2015, it emerged second at the Sahara

Light Up Nigeria Challenge with its water-powered genera-

tor.

WEEKLY DIGEST Page 9

“Life is 100%

what happens to us

and 90% how we react

to it.”

- Dennis Kimbro

REFLECTION

After almost two years of waiting, cus-

tomers of the Guaranty Trust Bank

can now heave a sigh of relief as the

bank reopens its branch on campus.

With the new development, custom-

ers can save on time and resources in

carrying out their bank transactions.

According to the bank’s management,

the financial institution is ready to

rebuild customer traffic and confi-

dence ahead of the new academic

session.

Similarly, it has also raised its stakes

in wooing potential customers be-

sides strengthening existing ties with

the BU administration.

WEMA BANK COMMENCES

RENOVATION

In keeping with maintaining a

high end baking profile on cam-

pus, the WEMA bank has

commenced renovation

work.

By implication, customers of

the Bank will have to con-

tend with E-banking for

awhile as the bank races to

complete an overhaul of its

premises. Last week, it

moved to a temporary loca-

tion just opposite its present

site where it hopes to attend

to customers.

COMING EVENTS

MARK YOUR

CALENDAR

.

JULY 30 – AUG 4

BUIMUN CONFERENCE

The University will host

the 1st BU International

United Nations Confer-

ence. Delegates repre-

senting different coun-

tries are expected from

other tertiary institu-

tions across the conti-

nent.

The theme for the con-

ference is, Sustainable

Development Goals: A

Universal Push to trans-

forming the World.

Delegate registration

deadline, June 30

Venue: BBS Auditorium

JULY 31 - AUG 5

VACATION BIBLE

SCHOOL

The time is here again

for the children’s Vaca-

tion Bible School with

the theme, Galatic

Quest.

Registration fees is

N2500.

Venue: BUHS Time:

8:0am - 12:00pm.

AUG 7 - 11

ANATOMY SOCIETY OF

NIGERIA CONFERENCE

& AGM

In collaboration with the

Anatomy Society of Ni-

geria, the University will

host the 14th scientific

conference and Annual

General Meeting.

Theme: Anatomy Act:

What Next?

Venue: Babcock Guest

House

Check the University

website for more de-

tails.

A BABCOCK UNIVERSITY PUBLICATION

BRIEFLY

GT BANK REOPENS BABCOCK

BRANCH