President Buhari Sacks Prof. Dibu, Appoints Prof. Ishaq Oloyede As New JAMB Boss

eport just reaching us has it that President Buhari has sacked the Registrar of Joint Admission And Matriculation Board, Professor Dibu Ojerinde and 16 other Chief Executives in parastatals and agencies under the Ministry of Education.

Consequently, Prof Ishaq Oloyede has been appointed the new JAMB Boss.

In a statement, the Ministry of Education disclosed that the appointments are with immediate effect.

Below are the other affected parastatals/agencies and the newly appointed Chief Executives;

1.National Universities Commission (NUC) – Prof Abubakar Adamu Rasheed

2.Nigerian Institute for education Planning and Administration -Pro, Mrs. Lilian Salami

3.Universal Basic Education – Dr. Hameed Bobboyi

4.National library of Nigeria – Prof Lanre Aina

5.National Examinations Council – Prof Charles Uwakwe

6.National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal education – Prof Abba Aladu

7.Nomadic education Commission – Prof Bashir Usman

8.National Business and technical Examinations Board – Prof Isioma Isiugo-Abanihe

9.Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria – Prof Sunday Josiah Ajiboye

10.Computer Registration Council of Nigeria – Afolabi aderinto

11.National Commission for Colleges of Education – Prof Bappah Aliyu

12.Tertiary Education Trust Fund – Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa

13.National Teachers Institute – Prof Garba Dahuwa Azare

14.Libarian Registration Council of Nigeria – Prof Michael Afolabi

15.National Mathematical Centre – Prof Steven Ejugwu Onah

16.National Institute of Nigerian Languages – Prof Chinyere Ohiri-Aniche

"If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember this whole thing was started by a mouse."
Walt Disney, Animator, Film Producer

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."
-- William Arthur Ward, Scholar

Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system. We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own - indeed to embrace the whole of creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder. Recognizing that sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible is an idea whose time has come.”

Wangari Maathai (1940-2011);
Founder of the Green Belt Movement; first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize

IT OFFICER AND INEC DDC MACHINES

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega has confirmed that five persons, including INEC staff, have been arrested in connection with the illegal possession of three Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines in a hotel room in Ibadan, the Oyo State, and promised that they would not go scot-free.

Jega who fielded questions from members of civil society groups in Abuja, yesterday, explained that one of the suspects was a top staff of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department of the commission.

Also, the commission has scheduled a meeting with the leaders of the 63 registered political parties for today to explain the planned voting procedure for the elections and display to them the specimen ballot papers and ballot boxes.

Speaking on the Oyo DDC machine saga, the INEC chairman said the commission was committed to prosecuting the offenders. In view of this, Jega announced that the IT staff had been replaced to restore confidence in the process.

“We have sent somebody to take over ICT in Ibadan and we have certified the voter register which makes the attempted manipulation difficult,” he explained, pointing out that this was because the present commission had made it clear from the beginning that it was no longer business as usual.

Describing the development as unfortunate, Jega said the ICT personnel acted without the consent of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Ayo Adakeja as the ICT official was said to have taken permission to go out.

By this ugly incident, the INEC chairman argued that it was clear that there were still a few bad eggs within the system whose conduct was bound to smear the image of the commission.

Said he: “What has happened in Ibadan is very unfortunate. The head of the ICT Unit in Ibadan was caught in a hotel room with four other people who are not INEC officials with six DDC machines.

“Obviously, they have been arrested; investigation is going on in trying to determine whether he was acting alone or whether he had partners who are his collaborators within INEC or outside.

“So, I think as I speak with you now the picture is not complete but the good thing is that you were trying to do something wrong and you were caught.

“We are doing our best now to investigate and determine the extent to which damage has been done with our data in Ibadan. I think that is all I can say for now. But obviously, we are committed to prosecuting any person who has committed any offence.”

Meanwhile, the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stated that none if its members have been arrested in relation to the alleged doctoring of the voters’ register in the state.

In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Strategy, Mr. Morohunkola Thomas, the party denied the reports alleging that some officials of the INEC in conjunction with some members of the PDP were caught doctoring the voters’ register in 27 out of the 33 local government areas in the state.

“And this is a very grievous offence we have taken decisions we have already sent somebody to take over as the head of ICT in Ibadan so that all these investigations can be done and the work also as we prepare for elections can continue.

“It is very unfortunate, I have said it before that there is no over emphasizing the fact that where ever you have thousands of people in an organization, there are bound to be those who are reckless, who are fraudulent and who in spite of whatever else you do they are still criminally minded and determined to perpetrate crimes.

“And the challenge for every organization is to have the capacity to apprehend such offenders in order to penalize them in accordance with the law. It’s a very unfortunate thing that has happened. What it has done is to further motivate us to further be very serious about the security and integrity of our data.”

Jega stated further that “I have started reading very uncomplimentary remarks about the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the papers. I want to say categorically, that from the information available to me as of now the officer acted without authority of the REC.

“In fact, he left people in the office who were still working over night producing the voter register to say he was going home around 8pm and left and evidently he left and went to the hotel to perpetrate whatever crime he was caught perpetrating.

“It is important that we await the outcome of investigations before casting aspersions on everybody.”

On the preparations of INEC, he disclosed that apart from the commission’s 530 Hilux Vans for the conduct of the elections, it will soon take delivery of another 100 vehicles and 60 Speed boats. Besides these, Jega noted that the Nigerian Air Force was willing to assist in the areas they can to make success of the elections.

Apple pettion over ITunes Store

More than 100,000 people have signed an online petition calling for Apple to remove an app from the iTunes store that was created by an anti-gay Christian organization.

Exodus International, which according to its website has ministries that "provide support for individuals who want to recover from homosexuality," released the app on February 15.

The app has a 4+ approval rating from the Apple app store, and the organization is quick to point out that this rating is reserved for those apps that "contain no objectionable material."

Gay rights activists obviously disagree.

"No objectionable content? We beg to differ," reads the Change.org petition that was started by non-profit LBGT advocacy organization Truth Wins Out. "Exodus' message is hateful and bigoted. They claim to offer 'freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ' and use scare tactics, misinformation, stereotypes and distortions of LGBT life to recruit clients."

The app is like a portable version of Exodus International's website. It has a calendar of events, news, links to Exodus's social media sites and videos. Those items, like corresponding features of its website, reflect its anti-gay message -- in particular its belief that someone can be counseled away from homosexuality.

In a blog post, the organization writes that it intends to broaden its reach with the app.

Despite the petition calling for the app's removal, which suggests Exodus International is dangerously broadening its reach toward youth, and a storm of negative complaints posted on the app's download page, Apple has not taken the Exodus International App [iTunes link] down.

Apple responded differently to a similar situation last year. According to Pink News, the company shut down an anti-gay app created by a Christian group after a mere 7,000 people signed a change.org petition calling for its removal.

At the time, Apple said in a statement that they had removed the app because it violated its developer guidelines by "being offensive to large groups of people."