The Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah had claimed that the university is number one in Nigeria.
The VC made the claim on November 21, 2023, during the ‘official unveiling of the UniAbuja publishing complex’ at the Faculty of Agriculture Lecture Theatre, University of Abuja Main Campus.
Prof. Na’Allah said: “If our president [Bola Ahmed Tinubu] is the number one citizen in Nigeria, the University of Abuja is the number one university in Nigeria. We are number one. Nobody can compete with us. You cannot be in Ibadan or Nsukka, or ABU, or Dutsin-Ma, and compete with UniAbuja. It is impossible.”
The microphone of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) can be seen on the lectern, suggesting that the event, which was also live-streamed on the university’s Facebook page, was covered by reporters.
The video has been liked and shared by over 200 people.
Established in 1988, UniAbuja is the only federal university in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria.
It began academics with three colleges namely: College of Arts and Education; College of Law, Management and Social Sciences; and College of Science and Agriculture.
ROUNDCHECK Findings
ROUNDCHECK notes that the universities the Vice Chancellor referred to in his address were; the University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA) respectively.
The tertiary institutions were established in 1848, 1955, 1962, and 2011 respectively. UI was the pioneer university in Nigeria.
Research shows that global organisations conduct ranking of universities worldwide using different metrics. Some of the longest-established and most influential global rankings are those produced by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), Times Higher Education (THE) and Shanghai Ranking Consultancy, publisher of the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
The 20th edition of the QS World University Rankings features 1,500 institutions across 104 locations and is the only ranking of its kind to emphasise employability and sustainability, the global rating organisation said on its website.
“This year, we’ve implemented our largest-ever methodological enhancement, introducing three new metrics: Sustainability, Employment Outcomes and International Research Network.”
The Times Higher Education, on the other hand, noted on its website that it “creates university rankings to assess university performance on the global stage and to provide a resource for readers to understand the different missions and successes of higher education institutions.”
“Our rankings cover the three main missions of university activity: research, teaching and impact.”
What Rankings Show
The table below shows the top seven universities in Nigeria, according to the Times’ 2023/2024 ranking of tertiary institutions in the country.
Top Seven Universities in Nigeria
|
Nigeria Rank 2024 |
World University Rank 2024 |
World University Rank 2023 |
University |
|
=1 |
801–1000 |
601–800 |
Covenant University |
|
=1 |
801–1000 |
401–500 |
University of Ibadan |
|
=3 |
1001–1200 |
1001-1200 |
Federal University of Technology, Akure |
|
=3 |
1001-1200 |
401-500 |
University of Lagos |
|
=5 |
1201-1500 |
1001-1200 |
Bayero University |
|
=5 |
1201-1500 |
1001–1500 |
University of Ilorin |
|
=5 |
1201-1500 |
1201-1500 |
University of Nigeria, Nsukka |
Source: Times Higher Education
Other universities on the list are; Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti; University of Benin, Benin City; Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta , Abeokuta; Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso; Lagos State University, Ojo; Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka; Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife and University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt.
QS Stars 2023 ranking shows only four Nigerian institutions on its list. They are; Covenant University (1051-1100); the University of Lagos (1401+); University of Ibadan(1401+), and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (651-680) — rankings based on QS sustainability and by subject, respectively.
Also, Shanghai Ranking Consultancy recognised the following Nigerian universities on its website; UI, University of Lagos; University of Ilorin; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; UNN, ABU, and Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Verdict
Findings show that the University of Abuja is NOT the number 1 university in Nigeria, by global and national rankings. Hence, the VC’s claim is unfounded and misleading.
]]>Claim
A graphic post circulating on social media platforms, especially Whatsapp statuses, had a claim that the Federal Government will pay the tuition fee of students in Federal University, Oye (FUOYE) due to the hike in fuel price.
The post reads:” BREAKING NEWS: FG TO PAY FUOYE STUDENTS FEES- As a result of rise in fuel, FG orders payment of students school fees”
ROUNDCHECK received the claim on Friday, June 2, 2023, through a WhatsApp group consisting of students. The claim has since been going viral on Whatsapp statuses.
Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) is a federal university located in Ekiti state south west Nigeria and was established In 2011 and was accredited by the National University Commission
We gathered that FUOYE school fees have been reported to be less than N100,000 for some faculties (Social Sciences, Education, etc) and slightly above N100,000 for others (Science, etc); and it provides other facilities for its students.
The Nigerian government introduced an oil subsidy to cushion the effect of rising global oil prices in the 1970s. The Olusegun Obasanjo military regime formalised the subsidy in 1977 when it promulgated the Price Control Act which regulated the prices of items including fuel.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) released a report in October 2022 that revealed that the agency recorded zero revenue from oil export due to the subsidy payment.
Chief Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu GCFR (born 29 March 1952) is a Nigerian politician who is the 16th and current president of Nigeria. He was the governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007; and senator for Lagos West in the Third Republic.
On 29 May 2023, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was inaugurated as the Nigerian president.
In his inauguration speech, Tinubu said, “Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care, and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.”
His speech birthed several headlines amongst which is the popular ‘subsidy is gone’ statement.
Did the FG promise to pay FUOYE students’ tuition fees? We checked.
ROUNDCHECK Findings
We used different keywords on Google to check if there are mainstream media platforms with the report. There were no reports linking the FG to the payment of FUOYE students’ tuition fees.
The viral graphic post did not specify where or when the federal government made the comment, nor was there any text report attached to it.
A thorough keyword search via Google found no link between FUOYE and petrol price hike.
Further findings show that the breaking news banner was created with an online tool – www.sweary.com.
The tool has a template that allows users to generate all kinds of news headlines and captions of their choice.
The website invites users to: “Discover and try out our full range of almost useful tools and stupid generators and have some laughs.”
We also conducted a thorough search on the websites of FUOYE, NNPC, and all related federal government ministries and agencies; no information or press statement was released relating to FUOYE students and petrol price hike.
Ordinary observation also revealed that the graphic post was made to amuse and those spreading it are mostly doing that to jest about the current fuel subsidy removal
Verdict
Based on our findings, we, therefore, rate the claim INCORRECT.
This report was written by the author under the ROUNDCHECK’s Volunteers Network, cohort III project.
A Twitter post by 9japoly Tv claims that the management of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Ogun state, has approved September 14th for the resumption of students and academic activities.
OGUN POLYTECHNIC RELEASED 2020/21 ACADEMIC CALENDAR, ANNOUNCED SEPTEMBER 21 FOR RESUMPTION OF ACADEMIC ACTIVITIESThe management of Abraham Adesanya polytechnic Ijebu Igbo, Ogun state, has approved September 14th for the resumption of students and academic activities. pic.twitter.com/0LoaeKeXYq
— NAIJA POLY TV (@9JaPolyTv) September 9, 2020
ROUNDCHECK FINDINGS
We contacted the Director of Students Affairs, Mr Otuewu and he disclosed that the Management is yet to disclose a resumption date for students and students will be informed through the right channel if any date for resumption have been fixed
CONCLUSION
This claim is Fake. The management of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic is yet to release an official date for resumption
Caleb Ijioma
CLAIM
A post being circulated by campusinfo.com.ng has it that Lagos State University (Lasu) will commence examination on the 28 of September.
ROUNDCHECK FINDINGS
We had to put a call through to the university. The Lasu coordinator of Information, Mr Ademola told Roundcheck that the claim is false and doesn’t emanate from the University.
“It is from a blog not from the University. The university is yet to resume not to talk of starting examination. The university Senate have not taken any decision on when students will start exam, the Governor just pronounced that higher institution students are to resume on the 14th of September”
“They need to resume first and after resumption, they’ll take some lectures and the university Senate will now adjust the academic calendar and now decide on when they’ll start examination”
“The vice Chancellor cannot just pronounce that students will start examination. The story is a fake and does not emanate from us.” He said
Lagos State Reopening of Schools
On August 29th, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu directed all Tertiary institution to reopen on the 14th of September.
According to This Day, He also announced a tentative date of September 21 for the resumption of Primary and Secondary schools in the state. Read here
Conclusion
The news is fake. No date have been fixed for Lasu examinations. The Lasu Coordinator of Information have informed Roundcheck that a Press Release will be written to debunk the news officially.
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