As strike embarked upon by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) enters its third month, wives of Vice-Chancellors across Nigerian universities are set to travel to Istanbul, Turkey, for a five-day leadership course.
The strike which began as a one-month warning strike on February 14, 2022, was extended and has entered its third month.
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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, and sighted by our correspondent, was signed by the Committee’s Secretary-General, Yakubu Ochefu.
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Ochefu noted that each of the VC wives would pay a sum of N1.5m as 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’.
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It partly reads;
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, have 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 state.
Read Also: UNIBEN Students Hit The Streets In Protest Against ASUU Strike (Photos/Videos)
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 billed as one of the speakers.
Recall that ASUU had on February 14 embarked on industrial action.
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.
Other unions such as Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have also declared strike, shutting down the university system completely.
The unions said the strike action was to compel the government to implement various agreements reached with them, but both parties failed to reach a truce after several negotiations.
Reacting, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to organise protest to call for the end to the strike.
Ignoring outcry from students and parents, Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba; as well as Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; of the ruling All Progressives Congress have picked up the party’s N100m presidential nomination and expression of interest forms each.
