Preparations are in top gear for FUNAAB to become the first testing centre for the American College Test (ACT) in Abeokuta. Disclosing this, during an enlightenment workshop on the benefits of ACT, the Centre Manager, International Centre for Professional Development (ICPD) of the University, Mr. Lawrence Kazeem said that the purpose of the seminar was to enlighten young minds about the place of ACT in processing admission for students abroad. According to him, aside being an ACT centre, ICPD would also assist in connecting schools that are interested in having Pre-ACT test with the Global Integrated Education Volunteers Association (GIEVA); the authorised international representative in Nigeria.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Clement Adeofun, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kolawole Salako; who is also the Chairman, ICPD Board, charged the participants to work hard as nothing good in life comes easy. He reminded the students that the world is dynamic hence, the need for them to think and plan globally, stressing that making FUNAAB an ACT centre was one of the unique ways that the University can achieve internationalisation.
The Vice-Chancellor revealed that aside the proposed plans to have FUNAAB as a testing centre, ICPD remains a testing centre for Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and other certification courses like the Project Management lnstitute (PMI), Cisco Certification (CC), Juniper Training and Certifications, Oracle Certification, and Microsoft Certification, among others. The representative of Global Integrated Education Volunteers Association (GIEVA), Mr. Sunday Taiwo explained that GIEVA is a youth-centered-empowerment and non-governmental organisation that is committed to empowering the youth for constructive engagement and sustainable future through educational, cultural exchange and collaborative partnership for development.
He disclosed that GIEVA offers series of tests, adding that ACT results were accepted by four-year colleges and universities in the US. It is also a fully-computer-based international admission and scholarship test, which allows outstanding students with the intention to study overseas a better chance of gaining admission, he said. Mr. Taiwo further explained that the test contains Mathematics (quantitative), English (verbal) and science segments, which has a total score of 36 points, and an optional essay part that is scored separately. ACT is currently available in January, March, May, June, August, September, and November, he further stated.
He encouraged candidates to strive to attain the minimum scores of 33 marks out of 36 marks, stressing that it would put them at an advantage to obtain scholarships. Mr. Taiwo also recommended Pre-ACT, which would serve as mock examination to prepare, test and know the ability of each candidate before the real test. The workshop was well attended by students from the Baptist Boys College, Saje; Deeper Life High School; Nobel House College; Nawarudeen Grammar School, Obantoko; and FUNIS International School, Alabata; Abeokuta, to mention but a few.
