NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

NUC upgrades universities medical-related programmes

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By Funmilayo Adeyemi
The National Universities Commission (NUC) says it has upgraded some medical-related programmes in Nigerian universities from Bachelor’s degree to doctoral status.

This is disclosed in a statement signed by the commission’s Acting Director of Public Affairs, Mrs Franca Chukwuonwo, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

Chukwuonwo said the decision was driven by the need to incorporate more clinical and practical sessions, improve foundational course coverage, enhance clinical skills, and address all specialty areas comprehensively.

She noted that the upgrade aligned with global best practices for training professionals in these fields.

“This quest to upgrade the status of some medical-related programmes from Bachelor’s Degree to Doctorate was borne out of the desire to incorporate more clinical/ practical sessions.

“It is to provide sufficient coverage of foundation courses, improve on clinical skills and cover all specialty areas.

“The trend seeks to also align with global best practices applicable in the training of professionals in these medical related programmes.

“Furthermore, the certificates obtained from the Nigerian University System (NUS) can be at par with those obtained in similar programmes from other climes” she said.

She added that it would also ensure the requisite harmonisation, mutuality and global competitiveness of Nigerian graduates in terms of certificates evaluation, employability and further studies in the relevant disciplines.

She listed the programmes upgraded as: Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D), Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT), and Doctor of Optometry.

She added that the duration of the programmes was increased from five to six years to accommodate the additional courses and clinical incorporated into the curriculum.

“The general public and all stakeholders are hereby informed that the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (DMLS) programme does not exist in the NUC’s BMAS or CCMAS.

“And thus has not been captured as upgraded programmes. Consequently, DMLS programme is not approved in any university in the country,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

TEXEM organises programme on innovation for organisations 

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By Hafsah Tilde

Abuja, Jan. 13, 2025(NAN) In today’s volatile world, where change is constant and uncertainty abounds, innovation and agility are indispensable for organisational survival.

Caroline Lucas, Director Special Projects, TEXEM Insights disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

She said TEXEM programme, Resilience in a Volatile World: Inspiring Transformation Successfully, was uniquely designed to help leaders integrate innovation into their leadership toolkit, enabling them to navigate complexity and foster organisational agility.

Lucas said the three-week programme, scheduled from Feb. 8 to 22, would be an immersive blend of virtual and live learning.

The programme provides leaders with an actionable roadmap to design resilient organisations capable of adapting to change while maintaining a competitive edge.

It begins with self-paced learning activities, where participants engage with videos, case studies, and reflection exercises on TEXEM’s interactive learning platform.

Points earned through these activities are displayed on a leaderboard, encouraging friendly competition and deeper engagement.

Weekly live sessions complement these activities, offering participants the opportunity to collaborate with globally recognised faculty, such as Ambassador Charles Crawford, Bradley Jones, and Dr. TB McClelland Jr.

Innovation takes centre stage in this programme. Leaders are challenged to rethink traditional business models and explore new ways of solving complex problems.

The live sessions provide actionable strategies for integrating innovation into daily leadership practices.

For instance, Ambassador Crawford’s expertise in communication helps leaders articulate a clear vision for change, fostering alignment and engagement across their teams.

His insights into influencing stakeholders empower participants to garner support for innovative initiatives, even in environments where resistance to change may be high.

Bradley Jones adds strategic depth to the programme by introducing decision-making frameworks that emphasise adaptability.

Participants learn how to assess risks and opportunities, enabling them to make informed decisions in uncertain contexts.

For example, Jones highlights how scenario planning can help organisations anticipate market shifts and adjust their strategies accordingly.

By equipping participants with these tools, the programme ensures leaders can navigate volatility with confidence.

Dr TB McClelland Jr. focuses on the cultural dimensions of innovation.

His sessions explore how leaders can create environments that encourage experimentation and risk-taking.

Participants examine real-world examples of organisations that have successfully embedded innovation into their cultures, identifying lessons that can be applied to their own contexts.

For instance, McClelland emphasises the importance of psychological safety in fostering creativity, showing leaders how to build trust and encourage diverse perspectives.

A hallmark of the TEXEM programme is its emphasis on actionable learning.

Participants engage in scenario-based exercises that simulate real-world challenges, such as managing high operational costs or navigating regulatory uncertainty.

These exercises encourage participants to apply the principles of innovation and agility to design effective solutions.

For instance, leaders might be tasked with developing a strategy to reduce costs without compromising product quality, using tools introduced during the programme.

The focus on agility is particularly timely in today’s fast-paced business environment.

Leaders are encouraged to adopt iterative approaches to strategy development, enabling them to respond swiftly to changing conditions.

By learning to pivot effectively, participants gain the confidence to make bold decisions that drive growth and resilience.

Stakeholder engagement is another critical theme of the programme.

Leaders gain tools to build coalitions and inspire their teams, ensuring that innovative strategies are supported at all levels of the organisation.

Ambassador Crawford’s sessions provide practical frameworks for influencing stakeholders, helping participants align diverse interests around a shared vision.

By the end of the programme, participants leave with a comprehensive understanding of how to embed innovation and agility into their leadership practices.

They gain actionable tools to drive change, optimise operations, and achieve sustainable growth.

More importantly, they develop the confidence to lead their organisations through uncertainty, ensuring long-term success.

Testimonials from the previous delegates underscore TEXEM’s successes:

“I found TEXEM UK to be a very impactful and high powered platform. I’ve learned so much from the faculty here, and I believe that TEXEM UK is redefining the future of executive training and management. In the past few days, we’ve learned so much about resilience, about how to push our teams even in an economic downturn, and how to manage for profitability and improve performance.” – Amina Yuguga, Journalist and Group Head for Documentaries and Features for Media Trust Group

“The programme was incredibly engaging, offering profound insights from exceptional facilitators. It brought together world-class professors, visionary founders, trailblazing innovators, and creative experts with unmatched expertise and rich experiences” – Niyi Toluwalope, Chief Executive Officer of eTranzact Group.

“A key takeaway for me is that fear is our greatest enemy, and conquering it empowers us to achieve anything. I also appreciated the opportunity to network with fellow participants from home that I hadn’t met before. Learning from Cadbury’s resilience and longevity in business was particularly inspiring, as it exemplifies how organizations can thrive despite disruptions. Thank you, TEXEM, for this enriching experience.” – Ann Iyonu, Executive Director, Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.

The TEXEM programme is more than a learning experience; it is a strategic investment in leadership excellence.

By focusing on innovation and agility, participants are equipped to turn challenges into opportunities and achieve transformational results.

For leaders ready to redefine their organisations’ futures, this programme offers the tools and insights to thrive in a volatile world.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

WTO supports UNIZIK to offer master’s programme in international trade

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By Lucy Ogalue

Nigeria is set to inaugurate a Master’s programme in International Trade through the support of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), at  Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka.

The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, confirmed this when the Nigerian Ambassador to the WTO led a delegation to visit her on Monday in Abuja.

Oduwole said the programme would be executed under a four-year endowment of 200,000 Swiss Francs from the WTO to UNIZIK.

She described the award as a significant milestone for the country, as this was the first time Nigeria had secured such an endowment in its 30 years of WTO membership.

“This is a big one for Nigeria. The programme focuses on key areas such as digital trade in Africa, MSMEs, the circular economy, and women’s entrepreneurship.

“It aligns with our priorities at the ministry and will effectively strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to implement WTO and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) policies,” she said.

Oduwole lauded the efforts of Prof. Ngozi Egbuna, the lead researcher, and expressed pride in the initiative, which she described as a perfect fusion of academia and government collaboration to advance trade policy.

“I believe that with the success of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, through your programme, Nigerian universities will be able to attract even more shares from the WTO and similar institutions.

“This is what Nigerian universities need to switch a bit to the academic side,” she said.

Amb. Adamu Abdulhamid, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the WTO, highlighted the competitive nature of the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP).

“This programme is domiciled in the WTO and supports academic institutions globally to strengthen trade policy research and capacity building,” Abdulhamid said.

He explained that 27 Nigerian universities applied for the programme, with Nnamdi Azikiwe University emerging as the winner after rigorous screening.

“This initiative will run for four years, addressing digital trade in its first year, MSMEs in the second, the green economy in the third, and women’s entrepreneurship in the final year,” Abdulhamid said.

He commended the WTO Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for her leadership and consistent support for Nigeria.

The Acting Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, expressed pride in the university’s achievement and pledged full institutional support for the programme.

“This project underscores our capacity for research and development and we are committed to ensuring its success.

“This includes developing a Master’s programme in International Trade, which will strengthen Nigeria’s academic and economic landscape,” Ikechebelu said.

He assured that the university’s curriculum committee would fast-track the establishment of the programme, which is expected to start by the next academic session.

Meanwhile, Egbuna, who is also the head of the Prof. Ngozi Egbuna International Center for Regional Integration and Trade Research (ICRITR) at the university, described the endowment as a call to action.

“This is a great responsibility and an exciting opportunity. We are poised to deliver a hands-on programme which integrates academics, practitioners, and policymakers,” Egbuna said.

She emphasised the center’s role in regional integration and trade capacity building, adding that the initiative would position Nigeria as a hub for trade research and development.

Egbuna said that the center would collaborate with global institutions, including other universities within the WTO Chairs Programme network, to ensure impactful research and policy outcomes.

She said the programme was a significant step toward trade policy formulation, academic development, and economic capacity building for Nigeria. (NAN)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo

CJ launches digitisation of court proceedings in Taraba

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By Martins Abochol

Justice Joel Agya, Chief Judge of Taraba on Wednesday commenced the digitisation of court proceedings.

Agya, during a court sitting at the Court One,  state High Court Jalingo, said that all  courts would eventually be digitised after the pilot programme.

He expressed satisfaction with the application of the new technology, confirming that it had  fasttracted  court proceedings.

Mr Abdullahi Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer, Comprehensive Software Solutions Nigeria Ltd, the firm handling the installation of the e-court, said that the digitisation  was in line with the global best practices.

Ibrahim said that the process has limited challenges as it fasttracted speedy dispensation of sound judgments.

He added that the firm was training staff of the court on technical processes in handling the technology.

” You can see by yourself how fast e-court can enable judges in speedy handling of cases.

“Court proceedings that can take up to six hours today took  one and half  hours,” Ibrahim said.

Mr Micheal Angwe, one of the counsels in the court congratulated the CJ  on the installation of the e-court.

Angwe said that the electronic proceedings would go a long way in the enthronement of speedy dispensation of justice.

NAN reports that the court, which commenced it sitting at 9 am closed at 11 am after hearing eight cases. (NAN)

Edited by Gabriel Yough

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