The Academic Board of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO) Training School, Abuja Study Centre, chaired by the Institute’s Executive Secretary/CEO, Associate Professor Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, on Friday, 20th, October 2017, approved the 2nd Semester of 2015/2016 and 1st Semester 2016/2017 Academic Sessions.
The approval was given by the Executive Secretary after the results of the Advanced Diploma in Cultural Administration (ADCA) and the Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Administration (PGDCA) programmes were presented by the Coordinator, Dr. Regina Onuoha and deliberated upon by the Board.
The Executive Secretary stressed further that Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura, the Coordinator of the Postgraduate Programme of the Department of Theatre & Cultural Studies, Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), was unavoidably absent for the Examination Board meeting, due to other pressing engagements, but that he will be properly briefed.
He enjoined the academic staff to be very meticulous in their marking and encourage students to be more serious, considering the fact that with effect from the next academic session, the pass mark for Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Administration (PGDCA) will be 50% and 45% for Advanced Diploma in Cultural Administration (ADCA) and Diploma Programmes, in line with the National Universities Commission (NUC) recommendations.
He advised the resource persons to take advantage of the affiliation with Nasarawa State University to further their education in the Masters and Doctorate degree programmes as they have the opportunity of being considered as visiting lecturers at Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK).
In her contribution, Mrs. Jane Anigala raised the issue of providing conducive environment for the students and staff of the Institute for learning; and Dr. Mrs. Regina Onuoha, while appreciating the Executive Secretary in all his efforts in repositioning the Institute, pleaded for improved welfare package like teaching allowances for the resource persons in the Institute to enable them work effectively; an idea that was strongy supported by the Messrs. Law Ikey Ezeh and Alex Omijie.
Responding, the NICO Boss said that his constraint in providing conducive environment and approving the staff allowances centres on inadequate funding of the Institute by the government as this has also hindered the on-going work in the permanent site at Kuje Area Council.
He therefore advised the resource persons to engage themselves in attending conferences and presenting paper, as well as belonging to professional bodies, as they stand to benefit more than expected, adding that the issue of improved welfare package for staff is a food for thought that will be included in the handing over note to the next Executive Secretary.
He concluded by appreciating God for sparing the lives of the members of staff that were involved in a ghastly motor accident on their way back to Abuja from the wedding of one of the staff of the Institute at Owerri, Imo State.
Other officers present at the Academic Board meeting were the Director, Admin and Human Resources, Mallam Ibrahim Hussein; Head, Finance and Accounts, Mr. Ogbe Herbert, Head, Cultural Affairs Unit, Mr. Segun Adegbaju; and all Academic Staff of NTS, Abuja Study Centre.
Sandra O. Kingsley-Omogiade & Theodorah Okpanachi
NTS, Abuja Study Centre