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Tuesday, 1 August 2017

Google CEO Visits Nigeria, Launches Offline YouTube To Help Nigerians Save On Data

Google CEO Visits Nigeria, Launches Offline YouTube To Help Nigerians Save On Data

Google boss Sundar Pichai joined members of his executive team on his first visit to Nigeria as the company launched YouTube offline for Nigeria to help users save on data costs.

“What a great honour to have had our CEO @sundarpichai join us for #GoogleforNigeria today,” it tweeted via its verified handle @googleafrica.

Pichai who announced a series of products for the country, including YouTube Go, a platform where users with slow Internet can preview and save videos, also announced plans to train 10 million Africans.

This means that YouTube users in the country can now download any video in a range of different resolutions so that they can watch it later without an Internet connection.

Although, the cost of data is expensive and at times the Internet is very slow, Nigeria, with about 93 million mobile Internet users, making it the highest in Africa, is the second country after India to have the YouTube Go capability.

The move is certain to increase YouTube’s growing Nigeria base, which the platform is keen to court; it held the first YouTube sub-Saharan Africa awards last year and prominent Nigerian bloggers have been featured in advertising campaigns around the country.

According to Google, owners of YouTube since 2006, the number of hours of video content being uploaded in Africa has doubled for the past two years, while viewing time on mobile phones is grown 120% year over year.

According to Caesar Sengupta, Vice President of product management, Google will also launch a partnership in September with Japanese mobile manufacturer Freetel to provide 13,000 Naira (about $40) Android phones for the country.

Another feature that was launched for Nigeria was the Lagos Street View.

Imagery of 10,000 kilometres of Lagos roads, including Eko Bridge, Carter Bridge and the National Museum, are now available on Street View.

The tech giant is also set to launch Google Impact Challenge in Africa in 2018 as innovators from non-profits will be able to share ideas on how they can impact their communities and beyond.

“We ask non-profits from around Africa to nominate the best ideas and we allow local people to vote for what they think is the best idea. Nongovernmental organizations nominate themselves and people get to vote and choose where the funding goes to,” announced Pichai.

Google set up the challenge and visits regions across the world asking locals to share innovation that could help their communities and beyond. The winners will get a grant of $5 million to develop the concept.

Google grants arm will also train 100,000 African software gurus focusing mainly on Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.

Google CEO Visits Nigeria, Launches Offline YouTube To Help Nigerians Save On Data

Google CEO Visits Nigeria, Launches Offline YouTube To Help Nigerians Save On Data

Google boss Sundar Pichai joined members of his executive team on his first visit to Nigeria as the company launched YouTube offline for Nigeria to help users save on data costs.

“What a great honour to have had our CEO @sundarpichai join us for #GoogleforNigeria today,” it tweeted via its verified handle @googleafrica.

Pichai who announced a series of products for the country, including YouTube Go, a platform where users with slow Internet can preview and save videos, also announced plans to train 10 million Africans.

This means that YouTube users in the country can now download any video in a range of different resolutions so that they can watch it later without an Internet connection.

Although, the cost of data is expensive and at times the Internet is very slow, Nigeria, with about 93 million mobile Internet users, making it the highest in Africa, is the second country after India to have the YouTube Go capability.

The move is certain to increase YouTube’s growing Nigeria base, which the platform is keen to court; it held the first YouTube sub-Saharan Africa awards last year and prominent Nigerian bloggers have been featured in advertising campaigns around the country.

According to Google, owners of YouTube since 2006, the number of hours of video content being uploaded in Africa has doubled for the past two years, while viewing time on mobile phones is grown 120% year over year.

According to Caesar Sengupta, Vice President of product management, Google will also launch a partnership in September with Japanese mobile manufacturer Freetel to provide 13,000 Naira (about $40) Android phones for the country.

Another feature that was launched for Nigeria was the Lagos Street View.

Imagery of 10,000 kilometres of Lagos roads, including Eko Bridge, Carter Bridge and the National Museum, are now available on Street View.

The tech giant is also set to launch Google Impact Challenge in Africa in 2018 as innovators from non-profits will be able to share ideas on how they can impact their communities and beyond.

“We ask non-profits from around Africa to nominate the best ideas and we allow local people to vote for what they think is the best idea. Nongovernmental organizations nominate themselves and people get to vote and choose where the funding goes to,” announced Pichai.

Google set up the challenge and visits regions across the world asking locals to share innovation that could help their communities and beyond. The winners will get a grant of $5 million to develop the concept.

Google grants arm will also train 100,000 African software gurus focusing mainly on Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.

Here Are The Top 15 Cheapest Universities In Nigeria & Their School Fees

Here Are The Top 15 Cheapest Universities In Nigeria & Their School Fees

Here are the top 15 cheapest universities in Nigeria

1. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is a federal government research university located in Zaria, Kaduna State. ABU was founded on October 4, 1962, as the University of Northern Nigeria.

The university operates two campuses: Samaru (main) and Kongo in Zaria. There is also pre-degree School located in Funtua few kilometres away from main campus owned by the university.

The Samaru campus houses the administrative offices, faculties of; sciences, social-sciences, arts and languages, education, environmental design, engineering, medical sciences. agricultural sciences and research facilities. The Kongo campus hosts the faculties of Law and Administration.

The Faculty of Administration consists of Accounting, Business Administration, Local Government and Development Studies and Public Administration Departments. Additionally, the university is responsible for a variety of other institutions and programs at other locations.

School Fees Range: ₦ 27,000

2. University of Ibadan (UI)

The University of Ibadan (UI) is the oldest and one of the most prestigious Nigerian universities, and is located five miles (8 kilometres) from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria.

Besides the College of Medicine, there are now eleven other faculties: Arts , Science, Agriculture and Forestry, Social Sciences, Education, Veterinary Medicine, Technology, Law, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Dentistry. The University has residential and sports facilities for staff and students on campus, as well as separate botanical and zoological gardens.

School Fees Range: ₦ 30,000

3. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB)

The Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Ogun State, or FUNAAB, (FUNAAB) was established on 1 January 1988 by the Federal Government when four universities of technology, earlier merged in 1984, were demerged. This led to the creation of the first two universities of agriculture in Abeokuta and Makurdi.

The university is one of the three universities of agriculture in Nigeria, the other being in Makurdi (Benue State) and Umudike (Abia State). The university started at its mini-campus in Isale-Igbein in the heart of Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.

In December 1997 it moverd to its permanent site on a 10,000-hectare campus which is located next to the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority on the Abeokuta-Ibadan road in the North Eastern end of the city, 15 km from Abeokuta City Centre.

School Fees Range: ₦ 32,000

4. Bayero University, Kano (BUK)

Bayero University Kano (BUK) is a university situated in Kano, Kano State, Nigeria. It was founded in 1977, when it was renamed from Bayero University College and upgraded from university college to university.

It has Faculties of Agriculture, Arts and Islamic Studies, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science, Earth and Environmental Studies, Pharmacy, Social, Management Science and the recent Faculty of Computer Science & Information Technology.

Research Centers include: Center for Dryland Agriculture, Center for Biotechnology Research, Center for Renewable Energy and Center for the Study of Nigerian Languages among others.

School Fees Range: ₦ 33,000

5. University of Calabar (UNICAL)

The University of Calabar – also known as UNICAL – is a university situated in Calabar, Cross River State, southeastern Nigeria. It is one of Nigeria’s second generation federal universities.

The University of Calabar was a campus of the University of Nigeria until 1975. The architecture was designed by John Elliott. It was established by decree to fulfill this traditional mandate, its motto “Knowledge for Service”.

The male students are known as Malabites, while the female students are Malabresses. The male hostel is called Malabo. This was a result of challenges faced by the students at a time which coincided with the suffering experienced in Malabo by Nigerian deportees from Equatorial Guinea (whose capital is Malabo) at the time.

School Fees Range: ₦ 35,000

6. University of Abuja, Gwagwalada (UNIABUJA)

The University of Abuja in the Nigerian capital Abuja was established on January 1, 1988 (under Decree No. 110 of 1992 as amended) as a dual-mode university with the mandate to run conventional and distance learning programmes.

The Law Faculty being the pride of the University of Abuja, is known for having one of the most Organised Student Representative Councils (LAWSAN) in the Country.

The university has its mini campus in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria and a permanent site covering about 11,824 hectares located along the Kaduna – Lokoja – Abuja Road. The Permanent site is home to the Faculties of Arts, Science, Management Science Veterinary medicine, Agriculture and Engineering with the College of medicine and contains the university senate and other administrative building. The mini campus is still the temporary location to the Faculties of education social science, and law.

School Fees Range: ₦ 36,000

7. Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto (UDUSOK)

Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUSOK, formerly University of Sokoto) is one of the initial twelve federal universities in Nigeria founded in 1975. It is in the ancient city of Sokoto. The school is named after Usman Dan Fodio, the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate.

The main campus houses the administrative offices, sciences, social sciences, agriculture, arts and languages, education and research facilities. The city campus hosts the college of health sciences and school of veterinary medicine. A third site host the modern university teaching hospital.

There is a fourth site built during the last administration Bafarawa of Sokoto State under the leadership of Alh. Attahiru Bafarawa. This site houses the School of Matriculation Studies where students opting for the Remedial Studies are admitted and taught before enrollment in the university (provided they have passed the exams).

School Fees Range: ₦ 37,000

8. National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN)

The National Open University of Nigeria is a Federal Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institution, the first of its kind in the West African sub-region. It is Nigeria’s largest tertiary institution in terms of student numbers and is popularly referred to as ‘NOUN’.

NOUN offers over 50 programmes and 750 courses but does not provide lectures to students in normal classrooms except some certain study centres, primarily due to constraints known to the University alone and the challenges usually faced by a developing tertiary institution.

The study centre in Lagos for instance provides lectures to all its Law undergraduates and supplies necessary course materials to all students after the payment of tuition fees. All courses offered have been accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

School Fees Range: ₦ 41,000

9. Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina (FUDMA)

Federal University Dutsin-Ma built by the administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was founded in February 2011 and is located in Katsina state.

The school has eight faculties which include: Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Faculty of Management Sciences, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and School of General and Preliminary Studies.

School Fees Range: ₦ 43,000

10. University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT)

The University of Port-Harcourt is a university in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt. It was established in 1975 as University College, Port Harcourt, and was given university status in 1977.

UNIPORT has ten faculties which include Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Management Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Applied Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Faculty of Agriculture.

School Fees Range: ₦ 45,000

11. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU)

The Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, originally the Federal University of Agriculture, is a federal university in Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria established as a specialized University by a Federal Government of Nigeria Decree No 48 of November 1992.

The institution is located in the Agricultural Training and Research city of Umudike, about 10 kilometers from Umuahia (capital of Abia State). The major link road to the University is the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Federal Road, a direct route to the State capitals of Abia Akwa-Ibom and Cross River States.

The first set of students were admitted into the institution during the 1993/94 academic year with a student population of 82. The nickname “Umudykes” or “U’dykers” refers to students, alumni, and sports teams of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture.

School Fees Range: ₦ 46,000

12. University of Benin (UNIBEN)

The Great University of Benin – also known as UNIBEN – is one of Nigeria’s first generation federal universities. The University of Benin was founded in 1970. It started as an Institute of Technology and was accorded the status of a full-fledged University by National Universities Commission (NUC) on 1 July 1971.

Following NUC’s directives, the university experimented with the Collegiate System in 1991/92 and 1992/93. However, in the light of new developments, the university reverted to the Faculty System in January 1994. Presently, the university essentially operates the Faculty System except for the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Basic Medical Sciences, and Institute of Child Health, which reverted to the Collegiate System in August 1999, with a Provost as its administrative head.

The faculties include Agriculture, Arts, Education, Engineering, Law, Life Sciences, Management Sciences, Pharmacy, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, Environmental Science and Center For Entrepreneurship Study.

School Fees Range: ₦ 47,000

13. Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO)

Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) is a Federal Government established post-secondary educational institution located in Owerri, Nigeria.

FUTO specializes in technological education. The University is a designated Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and has a core competence in the development of vaccines and drugs.

FUTO has nine schools which include School of Agriculture and Agriculture Technology, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, School of Entrepreneurship and Management Technology, School of Environmental Technology, School of Life Sciences, School of Physical Sciences, School of Information and Communication Technology, School of Technology Education and School of Post Graduate Studies.

School Fees Range: ₦ 48,000

14. Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA)

The Federal University of Technology Akure (informally known as FUTA) was founded in 1981 under a drive by the government of Nigeria to create universities that specialised in producing graduates with practical as well as theoretical knowledge of technologies. It is located in Akure.

Federal University of Technology Akure has been ranked the 8th best university and 1st University Of Technology in Nigeria by webometrics as at 2015.

FUTA has seven schools which include School of Science, School of Earth and Mineral Sciences, School of Environmental Technology, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, School of Agricultural and Agricultural Technology, School of Management Technology and School of Postgraduate Studies.

School Fees Range: ₦ 49,000

15. Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA)

Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA) is a Federal Government established post-secondary educational institution located in Minna, Nigeria.

FUTMINNA specializes in technological education. The University is a designated Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and has a core competence in the development of vaccines and drugs.

FUTMINNA was founded in 1983, and the first Vice-Chancellor was Professor J.O. Ndagi who served from 1983 to 1990. In the beginning, the University took over the facilities of the former Government Teachers’ College Bosso, for use on a permanent basis.

This site now serves as the Bosso Campus of the University. The main campus gidan kwano which is sited on a 10,650 hectares of land is located along the Minna – Kataeregi – Bida Road.

School Fees Range: ₦ 50,000

JAMB Finally Speaks On Universities’ Cut-Off Marks, Admission Criteria

JAMB Finally Speaks On Universities’ Cut-Off Marks, Admission Criteria

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has in a statement on Sunday spoken about the new Universities’ cut-off marks, admission criteria for the 2017/2018 admission.

In a statement signed by the commission’s Head of Public Relations, Mr Fabian Benjamin, in Abuja on Sunday,  JAMB revealed that the Board had held consultations with universities across the country to enable candidates meet the requirements and secure admission without the assistance of anybody.

He also explained that JAMB will ensure fairness irrespective of tribe, religion, and that it was determined to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

He, however, made it clear that cut-off marks will be decided at a policy meeting.

“Do not allow yourselves to be defrauded by internet fraudsters, the policy meeting would commence the 2017 admission with all mode, process and acceptable conditions for admission.

“The Prof. Oloyede led management is working to ensure transparent, acceptable and fair admission process.

“We have designed software known as Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), where human interference will be completely removed, to promote credibility.

“The admission criteria would be keyed into the software and it will select candidates blindly according to the institutions requirement without any primordial consideration,” Benjamin stated.

It would be recalled that the board had in May said it is yet to release cut-off marks for placements into tertiary institutions for 2017 academic year, contrary to some media reports.

According to the commission, the policy committee meeting responsible for the determination of cut-o marks had not met, they thus, advised candidates in their best interest to jettison cut-off marks for the various courses that are currently being paraded.

Meanwhile,  JAMB has also said  it will not condone multiple registration for Direct Entry and Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME. It has  described the act of multiple registration as a serious offence in the process of obtaining the Board’s application forms presently on sale.

The board said the warning has become imperative for people to know and understand that violation of such rule would attract sanctions.

“Candidates are to note that our advertisement for 2017 UTME clearly states the penalty for any candidate caught buying two forms.

“Members of the public are requested to note that any candidate who indulges in double registration will be caught by our software and disqualified.

“The Board is not interested in the candidates’ money as is being insinuated by certain group who suggested to the Board that such registration will enhance the revenue base of the Board.

“No, we are more interested in the credibility of the examination and not the money, if money is our concern we will not be returning over five billion naira to the Federal Government coffers,’’ the board said.