Ogun State Government has scrapped the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, while it has merged the four Information and Communication Technology polytechnics in the state.

The state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. John Odubela, at a press conference in Abeokuta on Wednesday announced the scrapping of TASUED and merger of the ICT-based polytechnics in the state.

Odubela said TASUED had been converted to an institute with immediate effect and now affiliated to the Faculty of Education of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye.

The commissioner directed TASUED authorities to stop further admission of students, especially for the 2012/2013 academic session.

He added that the university campus would be immediately relocated to Omu-Ijebu, which is the current site of another state-owned institution, Tai Solarin College of Education, while TASCE would be moved to Ijagun.

He explained that the state government had decided to merge the four ICT polytechnics and create a new institution from them to be called Ogun State Institute of Technology.

The ICT polytechnics, which were established in 2006 include Kesington Adebutu ICT Polytechnic, Saapade; Abraham Adesanya ICT Polytechnic, Ijebu-Igbo; D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori; and Ayodeji Otegbola ICT Polytechnic, Igbesa.

The commissioner stated that Igebsa would serve as the main campus of the new Ogun State Institute of Technology while Saapade, Ijebu-Igbo and Itori would operate as satellite campuses.

He said the Egbado Teachers’ Training College, Ilaro, has been renamed Ayodeji Otegbola Teachers’ Training College “in order to still keep that name – Ayo Otegbola”

Odubela explained that the government decisions were taken following the recommendation of the Special Committee set up by Governor Ibikunle Amosun to review the reports of visitation panels to the various institutions.

The special committee, according to him, was headed by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Segun Adesegun.

In a swift reaction, TASUED students protested against the “demotion” of their institution and demanded immediate reversal of the policy by government in the interest of peace.

Chanting various anti-government slogans, the students, who stormed the secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Abeokuta, alleged that the scrapping of their school was in bad faith.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the protesters, the Students Union President, Abdullahi Oyekanmi, debunked claims that most of the courses offered in TASUED were not education-related.

He contended that if the institution had been found wanting in terms of quality, manpower and infrastructural development, the National Universities Commission would have revoked its accreditation.

He said, “If they are really committed to education – education is the bedrock of any development – then they rebuild and revamp the collapsed infrastructure. Giving excuses of unavailability of fund is not an excuse. We know our governor, probably some people have been advising him; he should not listen to their advice. This decision should therefore be reversed.”

South Africa launches Mandela bank notes

PRETORIA (AFP) – South Africa launched a new line of bank notes Saturday bearing the image of its first democratically elected president Nelson Mandela on the 22nd anniversary of his release from prison.

The announcement pays tribute to the legacy of a Nobel Peace Prize-winner known as one of the world’s greatest statesmen.

But it will likely be met with some derision when markets re-open Monday after officials’ billing of the secretive unveiling as an “announcement of national importance” sent the rand and stock markets on a downward spike Friday.

“It is my honour and pleasure to announce that new South African bank notes will bear the image of president Mandela, the first president of a free, democratic South Africa,” President Jacob Zuma told a press conference in Pretoria.

The notes bear the 93-year-old former president’s image circa 1990, the year he was freed from prison in a moment that came to symbolise the fall of apartheid and the rise of a new, democratic South Africa.

They replace a design featuring the “big five” safari animals — Cape buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino — introduced in 1992, two years before Mandela was elected the country’s first black president.

All five notes — 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 rand ($1.29 – $25.80, 0.98 – 19.60 euros) — will now bear Mandela’s face on the front. Officials would not say what design would be on the back.

Zuma praised the former president’s legacy, calling him “Madiba,” the clan name by which he is affectionately known.

“It needed a president like Madiba to lead a bruised nation like ours on a journey of forgiveness and reconciliation, and he acquitted himself exceptionally well, as he has always done in every aspect of his life.”

Mandela, whose public appearances have grown rare as he has become increasingly frail, was not present at the unveiling.

He also missed the funeral Saturday of his last surviving sibling, Makhulu Nothusile Bhulehluthi (born Nokuthamba Mandela), who died January 28.

Central bank governor Gill Marcus said Mandela had seen the notes and was “delighted”.

That sentiment will not likely be shared by investors who sold off rand and equity in a frenzy of speculation Friday after the president’s office announced a secretive press conference of “national importance” to be addressed by Zuma, Marcus and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

The rand fell 2.2 percent Friday afternoon to 7.75 to the dollar, and stocks ended down 1.1 percent.

“I’m not sure why you would assume — that the rumours and the assumptions were such that there would be a terrible announcement today. It just shows you how little we look forward to good news,” Marcus said Saturday.

“I regret that there was confusion, but I’m not sure that it was driven by us.”

She said the new design had cost 2.5 million rand.

Marcus said it is standard international practice for countries to upgrade their bank notes’ security and design every six to eight years, and that South Africa had last enhanced security measures on its notes in 2005.