The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Kogi varsity gets accreditation for programmes

    Kogi varsity gets accreditation for programmes

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has accredited 48  programmes for Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU) Anyigba, Kogi State.

    This represents 100 per cent accreditation.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Marietu Tenuche, made this known at the institution’s sixth convocation press briefing which  held on campus  in Anyigba.

    Tenuche said with the recent ranking of universities in Nigeria by NUC, PAAU emerged as  the 25th out of the 170 public and private universities in the country that have full accreditation for all courses.

    Speaking on the university  curbing cultism, she said the institution was collaborating with the vigilance groups  to address the situation.

    The VC said the institution continues to perform excellently at the Nigerian Law School, noting that  in the last three years, the  school’s Law faculty had produced three first-class graduates.

    She attributed that to  the quality of teaching, research and learning.

     

  • Regulating social media use

    Regulating social media use

    MANY communities and people  are able to connect through  social media.

    The world is a global village as  people  can communicate and maintain good relationship with family and friends.

    Mostly importantly, the impact of social media cannot be overemphasised. Some people can attribute their success to it.  While some got scholarships, awards, some got engaged and married to their partners via social media.

    However, it is  unfortunate that this same social media which has impacted positively on  people,  has also destroyed lives,taking into cognisance, frightening occurrences  in Ogun, Lagos and some other places in the country.

    This is so disheartening seeing how some teenagers beheaded a young lady in Abeokuta all for the sake of looking for quick money  and fortune.

    The deceased was allegedly misled and deceived by her boyfriend Soliu Majekodunmi who had her beheaded for money ritual.

    It is sad to say the least,that  they got all the ingredients to make the ritual from one of the social media platforms they use.       They also  planned and carried out the ritual based on what they got on the social media.

    Nevertheless, social media has also led a lot of teenagers to the right path and guided some teenagers towards been a successful persons in life.

    All social media platforms  should be properly regulated,there should be age limit for its use.  This would reduce the rate of misuse and abuse.

    It is high time all parents and guardians gave  their wards adequate moral training. A word is enough for the wise.

     

    • Adeyemo writes from Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri, Borno State.
  • I’ll prioritise students’ welfare, says rector

    I’ll prioritise students’ welfare, says rector

    The newly-confirmed Rector of the Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic (KENPOLY), Bori, Rivers State, Dr Ledum Suanu Gwarah has said students’ welfare would be the priority of his administration.

    The Rector said this when the Students’ Union Government (SUG) paid him a  visit recently.

    The polytechnic has not had a substantive Rector since the former Rector, Dr Onengiyeofori Georgewill left office.

    Gwarah had been in acting capacity until the confirmation of his appointment.

    The Rector urged the SUG to cooperate with the management to achieve their set goals,adding that the union should not be influenced by anybody.

    He also charged the  students to bag excellent grades with hardwork and dedication so they could fit into the modern world.

    The Rector also admonished  the SUG to live up to expectations as  watchdog on the activities of management and lecturers and report irregular conducts to the appropriate authorities.

    The SUG President, Konwi Destiny attributed the confirmation of the Rector’s appointment to his steadfastness and efficiency in acting capacity.

    A high point of the visit was the presentation of portrait to the Rector by the SUG President alongside other SUG executives.

    The SUG was received by the Rector alongside the Chairman Committee on Students Affair, Dr Adam  Zukbee and the Public Relations Officer of the School, Mr Innocent Ogbonda-Nwanwu.

     

  • 14 smart ways to prepare, pass exams

    14 smart ways to prepare, pass exams

    Writing and passing exams can be very challenging, especially for terrifying courses. But nothing is impossible to do for well-determined students.

    From experience and statistics, there are several cases of students failing due to seriousness. But here is a no-nonsense guide on how to pass exams with flying colours which every student is expected to make proper references to:

     

    1. Choose a learning environment

    Your environment tells more about how much you can understand what you read. Where you carry out your studies influences your ability to write well in exams and make good grades.

    Never read in a noisy and busy environment where you will be distracted by activities in your environment as you are reading.

    1. Fight fear with all your strength

    Fear is a spirit of distraction and failure of students especially during examination period. Fear alone can cause a lot of problems during an examination. You need to make good use of the ability to overcome the fear of writing exams no matter how hard the paper is.

     

    Many fail exams not because they never read but because they allowed the fear and threat of exam intimidate them and they end up failing the exam despite all there effort put together for the exam

    1. Avoid cramming for exams

    Never cram. This is a term used to express a situation where students engage in cramming only to pass exams. Cramming is a bad reading habit that can defend student by forgetting a single line your read in your book.

    Students who cram a lot tends to forget all they have crammed after the examination period and most of the times even before the examination as little stress or distraction can make then loss what the brain holds because they didn’t study to remember. They were cramming only to write their examinations.

     

    Students who want to pass exams with good grade are advised to study hard and shun any form of cramming as this has never helped any successful student.

     

    1. Avoid school distractions

    All works and no play make Jack a dull boy…. but should Jack play away his time? No. must commonly distraction to students is school parties. Being organised for both freezer and existing students in the college.

     

     

    1. Don’t be late to exams

    If always late to school, don’t even try it during examinations. During exams, coming to school late will output a very awful result as the student will be in a rush and might be given late penalties while others are busy writing their examination.

    The above situations can disorganise a student and make him/her perform low during the examination and probably submit same time with others.

    1. Develop a passion for your course

    Developing passion for all courses offering is very important note to pass an exam irrespective of how unprofessional the lecturer taking the course is never hate the course or develop a mindset of not attending the course class.

    Many students complain they got admission into the course they don’t like but they have to accept the admission because they are tired of staying at home.

    Such type of students will find it difficult to write and pass such courses excellently simply because they don’t have a passion for the course they are studying.

    Developing a passion for your course is a sure way to writing exams with high grades.

     

     

    1. What do you want to achieve this semester?

    Setting a goal on what to achieve during a semester is another perfect way to do effectively in an exam and pass.

    This particular tip has helped many students determine what they want and working towards it to achieve success.

    1. Prepare a reading schedule for your studies

    Making a reading timetable is an effective way to make better performance during exams, this is a practical approach to reading what you intend to read at the right time.

    Reading timetable will make sure you cover all the courses you’re supposed to read and get ready for your examination.

    It is true that after setting your reading timetable, there could be other challenges like feeling sleepy while reading, but mastering your reading timetable will help you overcome it.

    1. Make reading a habit

    Some students are fond of reading only when the exam is close, there will always go short of time reading all the courses they will have to write, especially for students studying in schools with tight exam timetable.

     

    You will write exams with flying colours when you make reading a habit. You can achieve this through constant reading.

    1. Sleep is necessary

    As a student it good to read but at the same time after reading your brain need to rest as to digest what you have read previously.

    According to research it is good to always have up to 8 hours of sleep every day, this does not matter whether you want to read throughout the night or not, you can sleep during the day and read at night. Or read in the daytime and then get yourself full hours of sleep at night.

    1. Join a reading team

    As a student always have it in mind that only you cannot know it all. You need others to make yourself a successful personality.

    1. Test yourself before exams

    Cultivate the habit of testing yourself to know the level of your understanding concerning that courses you have being reading so far.

    After reading, before you go for the exams, you can ask friends in your reading group to ask you certain questions within and outside all you studied and see how well you can answer those questions.

     

    Apart from answering questions from friends, you can also organise your own personal quiz and see how well you can attend to them you just have to be honest with yourself here.

    If there’s anything you forget, you can always make references to your reading materials and conduct several revisions before the exam starts.

    1. Ask others in the higher class

    Seek the help of your gurus-those who know then you. Those who are in higher class that have pass through your class for proper clarification.

    You can always meet others who are in a higher class, ask them how they managed to write and pass certain university courses, follow their strategies to see how best it works for you.

    They were once at your stage, now they have passed it, the possibility that things will work out for you same as it did for them is high.

    1. Get past note and study past questions

    Most of the exams you are yet to write have been written by some other persons, some time ago.

    Reading past questions will help you know the scheme or strategies adopted in setting a particular school exam and the approaches you can apply to make high grades.

     

     

  • Between certificate and knowledge application

    Between certificate and knowledge application

    Education both formal or informal is a necessary condition  to run  a successful   life.

    Formal education refers to the structured education system that runs from primary (in some countries from nursery) school to universities with the aim of imparting knowledge that would further enhance students’ skills.

    But over the years, many have linked the concept of formal education as synonymous with success. It is indeed notable that to strive in certain aspects or areas of life, one needs knowledge which might be formal. It is also clear that being literate gives one an opportunity and an upper hand over others but this is not to say that these principles apply to all spheres of life and human endeavours.

    Research and experience have taught us that to succeed in life, certain laws are to be followed and certain traits are to be possessed which do not necessarily include being formally educated.

    All over the world, we have seen numerous personalities who were not formally educated,but  made name for themselves.

    Example of such individuals include: The Wright Brothers, they invented a flying machine and flew the first air craft but they never concluded secondary school education.  They were expelled.

    Michael Dell, founder of Dell Inc, dropped out of college at the age of 19 but built a multi-national tech company.

    The main purpose for formal education is to make us aware of our environments, economy and universe at large therefore being skilled in other areas gives one an avenue for multiple source of finance and makes one independent.

    With recent happenings around the world, one ought not to rely solely on education but to develop a skill and be perfect. This is because in the real world, it is not all about certificate but ‘SABIFICATE’ (meaning what you can do).

    Therefore, to succeed in life, one should acquire skills that would be beneficial to oneself and the society at large.

    Finally, education be it formal or informal, is important to life, but our ability to be perfect in anyone we choose is what   paves way for us. Therefore, no form of education is superior to the other.

    • Jiya is a 300-Level Mass Communication student at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai (IBBUL)
  • We’ ve secured accreditation for all courses, says FUOYE VC

    We’ ve secured accreditation for all courses, says FUOYE VC

    The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Fasina, has said the institution had secured accreditation for all 48 courses being offered in the school. He said this had improved patronage and increased confidence.

    He spoke last week on campus in Oye-Ekiti.

    “We have secured full accreditation for our 48 courses. This has increased admission patronage and  boosted out confidence,” he said.

    The VC  noted that  through hard work,  promotion and brilliant scouting, the university now has 74 Professors and 51 Associate Professors  contributing to learny  and enhancing the institution’s global ranking.

    “Some of these professors were promoted when I got there as a Vice-Chancellor and I have asked my lecturers to be hardworking because my vision is to promote 100 lecturers to professorial level before the expiration of my tenure,he said.

    Fasina lamented  the alleged harassment of developers and those handling  Federal Government’s projects in the university by landowners.

    He said it  had affected the completion of some of government’s projects and discouraged investors, who had shown interest in erecting  structures that could improve the  school’s facilities.

    The VC charged  the host community leaders to warn those chasing  contractors and developers as a result of land ownership.

    “Let me appeal to land owners to stop harassing contractors working with the Federal Government on this campus. Though the matter was being handled by the police, this should not continue because it is affecting development here on campus.

    “Another menace was these local vigilante groups called Egbon Adugbo, who are fond of harassing my students by extorting money from them. This must stop. We are not going to take it lightly with them. We have told the Council of Chiefs and the matter is being looked into,” he said.

     

  • Of ‘Breakfast’ troubles and surviving emotional grief

    Of ‘Breakfast’ troubles and surviving emotional grief

    Lately, “breakfast” has been the term used to connote the termination of friendship or a romantic relationship between two love-bounded individuals. People called it different names such as breakdown, break-up or heartbreak, but now the most rampant- “breakfast”, humorously, in respect to how it’s been served, just like a meal.

    Though, the beginning of a relationship is always fun, full of gist, play, and happiness, it always even feels as if one has won a lottery. Affected couples even labelled themselves with different romantic names which makes well-wishers giggle- “love is sweet”. But it’s saddening that at the end, breakfast is employed to break the heart someone had sometimes called sweetheart and to segregate the soul one had previously tagged a soulmate. During this period, the degree of sadness in the mind that has once been filled with joy will be immeasurable.

    Those that have never experienced the dilemma of breakfast will say that love is everything but those that have tasted the torment of the discourse own the saying that ‘love nah scam’, because of how it painted their psyche with sorrow and left their senses in utter sadness. Resultedly, many people attempted suicide after a breakfast, some unruly committed suicide, some went so insane because their romantic playmate jilted them. Those who didn’t do this have been lately seen lamenting bitterly that they won’t venture into any relationship again in their lives. Undeniably, breakfast has altered a lot in the lives of many, but the question is what causes it? Who is to be blamed for it? And lastly, what are its remedies?

    She clarified that a lady can wake up in the morning and just decide that she is no longer interested in the relationship without any credible excuse, the reason is that she has seen another person that’s far or even maybe slightly beyond her boyfriend in financial status, which is called “better offer”. She added that there is no lady that does not like money, only it’s distinct in degree to one another. To a lady comes money first, before anything else. Contrarily, some men are not caring enough, some not at all, while a girlfriend needs to be studied in order to detect her likes and dislikes, there exist men who really don’t care about all that. In solving that, a girl in a relationship should know that it’s love first and not money on the other way round. Likewise, men in affairs should prioritise showing great care as and when due to their respective lovers.

    Everyone discerns the obvious detrimental effect of breakfast, but there’s nothing with advantages that will not have disadvantages, and vice-versa. I can comprehend an advantage of a breakfast when Nurudeen Akewushola , a friend tweeted: “Breakfast may be the source of your breakthrough. It has a way of restoring the factory settings of your brain and enables you to sit back and reflect on why you need to be selfishly serious about your life.” You wouldn’t agree with this writer more if you explore your experiences after you devour a breakfast. This way, one would recognise how one has evolved in wisdom because it will intensify the level of thinking and offer ways to move on in life even without the presence of anyone else. This will also broaden the mind and permit one to realise oneself and one’s innate talent that was needed to be utilised for life’s success.

    Another part that is liable to trigger breakfast is lies, if everyone can annul the conduct of lying in a relationship, it will keep the connection longer even than imagined. Mates in relationships should also seek the means to understand and tolerate themselves, if this is done, it simply can take one to see no defects in a partner. Habits of trust and respect should be employed within each other, with this, no devil will have a chance in the God-built alliance. A good liaison with a good plan for the future is what  needed.

    • Abdulkareem is an Education Biology student at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS).
  • Female students are change agents, says don

    Female students are change agents, says don

    Director, Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) Commercial farm, Dr Edna Akpan has described female students as agents of change.Thus, she urged them  to  form formidable and healthy alliances and  inculcate the spirit of unity,  perseverance and determination  to contribute to national cohesion and development.

    She spoke last Thursday at a symposium with the theme: “Nation building: Integrating female students as agents of national cohesion, peace & progress”.

    It held on the Obio Akpa campus in Akwa Ibom State.

    She said:”Female students are change agents and as such should  form formidable and healthy alliances, inculcate the spirit of oneness, perseverance, determination which are virtues that will bring national cohesion as well bring about nation buildiñg and development.

    Gender Lead of the Students’ Union,  Blessing Essien, who organised the symposium,said it was aimed at giving  participants  opportunity to contribute to national development.

    “This is to give opportunity to participants to  deliberate and fashion out ways of harnessing and articulating the unique capacity of female students towards the collective task of promoting nation building and development in an atmosphere of peace and cohesion.

    “It  is a task that must be accomplished if there is a desire to build our nation along the paths of progress, justice and equity,” she said.

    She stressed the need to mobilise women to take leadership roles.

    High point of the event was the unveiling of the SupportUsToLead campaign by Director, Sexual & Gender Based Violence in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs.  Emem Ette with  Essien.

    Ette stated that the campaign is aimed at  mobilising, engaging and enhancing  the participation of the female gender especially students in the political and decision making process.

    ” It is  a non-partisan and independent movement borne out of the desire to champion and promote the efficient participation of the female gender in governance processes at the national, state and local levels while observing that it is important women and men enjoy equal opportunities and representation in formal and informal structures, to deepen democracy and accelerate our journey to nation-building,” she said.

    Guests and participants lauded the organiser for  putting together the  event, adding  that they looked  forward to putting to practice what they  learnt from the symposium.

     

  • Mixed reactions trail ASUU strike

    Mixed reactions trail ASUU strike

    The age-long battle between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) rages on. The union declared a month’s warning strike on Monday to protest government’s refusal to accede to its numerous demands. Nevertheless, students and other stakeholders want an end to industrial action in the universities.CALEB IJIOMA (AAP), FORTUNE AMAECHI (ABSU), IFUNANYA OSAKWE (UNIBEN) and GLORY THOMAS (OGITECH) report.

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has become synonymous with strike owing to the Federal Government’s failure to honour agreements reached. This continues to affect  students. Many spend more years than expected in different tertiary institutions . It is mind boggling   why government and ASUU, are yet to settle their rift, knowing full well that Nigerian students are the ones to bear the brunt of their unending battles.

     

    A timeline of ASUU strike

    Since the return of democracy in 1999, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has embarked on various industrial actions. Findings  revealed that the just-announced four  weeks warning strike will make it the 16th time the union has embarked on industrial action.

    In 1999, the union embarked on an industrial action that lasted for five months few months after the Obasanjo-Atiku administration was sworn in.

    Two years later, ASUU declared another strike over the reinstatement of 49 lecturers sacked at the University of Ilorin. The strike was called off after three months.

    Having had an agreement with the Federal Government during the 2001 strike, the union was forced to embark on another industrial action on Sunday, December 29, 2002, which lasted for two weeks.

    In 2003, Nigerian university undergraduates had to stay at home again for six months as ASUU embarked on another industrial action due to the non-implementation of previous agreements, which covered poor university funding and disparity in salary and retirement age.

    ASUU resumed an industrial action in 2005  which ran for two weeks. In April 2006, academic activities were grounded in all public universities across the country when ASUU declared a three-day warning strike which eventually lasted for one week. The 2006 industrial action was followed by another on March 26, 2007, which lasted  three months.

    ASUU went on another strike for one week in 2008. Their demands included an improved salary scheme and reinstatement of 49 lecturers who were dismissed at the University of Ilorin. In 2009, lecturers in public universities across the country embarked on an industrial action that lasted for four months. The strike which started in June was called off in October.

    Another industrial action by ASUU commenced on 22 July 2010 and was called off in January 2011.

    In December 2011, ASUU went on another industrial action following the failure of the Federal Government to fund universities in the country and implement the 70-year retirement age limit for ASUU members. The strike lasted for 59 days and was called off in 2012.

    Again in 2013,  the government’s failure to review the retirement age for professors from 65 to 70; approve funding to revitalise the university system; increase the budgetary allocations to the education sector by 26% among other demands led to another industrial action. The strike commenced on July 1, 2013, and was called off on Tuesday, December 17, 2013. It lasted for five months, 15 days.

    Again after four years, ASUU embarked on another industrial action on  August 17,  2017. It was called off in September. In 2018, the union declared an indefinite nationwide strike on Sunday, November 4, 2018, after their National Executive Council meeting held at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State.

    Students suffered more after ASUU embarked on another strike in March 2020 over the non-payment of salaries of ASUU members who failed to enrol into the Federal Government’s  IPPIS, a payroll software mandated for all public officials, and  some unfulfilled agreements between ASUU and successive administrations. This strike lasted for 10 months, the longest in the history of the  union’s  strike. It was eventually called off on December 23, 2020, when the Memorandum of Action (MoA) was signed with the Federal Government.

     

    ASUU 2022 strike

    After serious deliberations by the National Executive Council, NEC, of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on Monday,  in a statement by its President, Prof. Micheal Osodeke, declared a one-month warning strike following the failure of the Federal Government to implement the famous February 7, 2019 Memorandum of Action (MoA), which contained important highlights of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement and aggregated the cardinal arguments of the 2012 and 2013 MoUs and the 2017 MoA. It also blamed the government for failing to implement the December 2020 MoA which concluded the longest strike in the history of our nation.

     

    NANS spits fire

    President National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS), Sunday Asefon, has described the union’s  industrial action as reckless and irresponsible, noting that ASUU failed to consider the implications it would have on students and tertiary institutions’ academic calendar.

    “We are appalled by the impunity, recklessness, and irresponsibility the managers of this negotiation from both sides of the table have managed the fragile situation allowing it to degenerate to the level of industrial action. We are therefore, compelled to believe that negotiators from both sides acted so irresponsibly because of their apathy of the interest and welfare of the major stakeholder of the sector(students) during the negotiations.

    “We are equally disappointed at the government for not doing everything possible to avert this embarrassment. We are also disappointed with the ASUU for reaching this conclusion irrespective of the implications to the students, academic calendar, research they claim to love, national security, and sanity,” he said.

    Asefon, therefore, called for  a nationwide protest by different student groups. He urged students to support the call for a protest, stressing that the association’s decision would stand  until the strike is called off.

    He said in a statement: “Government and ASUU by this action sent a direct message to Nigerian students to also take positions comfortable for our side of the table irrespective of the implications. Let me say equivocally that we will respond in clear language, the language the oppressors understand.

    “ I  passionately appeal to all students leaders, NANS structures, and organs across the nation to mobilise to our national non-elective congress on  February 17 where far-reaching decisions shall be taken on our collective response to this blatant lack of patriotism, human feelings, and feelings for the collective future of education in Nigeria.

    “ Our decisions shall be decisive, collective, and irreversible until the strike is called off. We shall fight this impunity and recklessness without any consideration other than an immediate end to this strike.”

    The association advised that the students body be included in the ASUU-FG negotiation process.

    “ We, therefore, inform the Minister of Labour to expect us in our numbers, and ASUU should be ready to return to the table to end this avoidable, reckless and repugnant strike. Let me assure the Minister of Labour that our protest in his office today is introductory and child play in what is yet to come. We are resolute more than before to ensure we hold the government, especially the Ministry of Labour responsible for these incessant strike actions.

    “ Further negotiations, should as a matter of urgency, have students representatives as part of the parties to allow balance in decisions that are capable of impairing the lives of students and derailing their progress. The contentions and issues are triangular and must be treated so, going forward.’ Asefon added.

     

    Students react

    Students who spoke to CAMPUS LIFE expressed their grievances over the union’s incessant strikes and how they hasve affected their studies.

    Amanda Odiete, a 500-Level Pharmacy student at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), said that her interest in education was  dwindling due to the ASUU strike.

    “ My interest in school is diminishing because of the ASUU strike. I don’t think this strike will solve any problem, especially as the money keeps increasing. I don’t like this idea of a strike. If I come back from this strike, do you think I’ll still have an interest in school? No. I’ve been in school since 2015 and was hoping that I’d graduate in 2021 and this is 2022; there’s not even a possibility that I’d graduate this year. I still have one more year to go, meaning that I’d spend two extra years in school as against my initial plan to spend six years. I just want to graduate, I’ve lost interest in my academics,” she said.

    Abdulrasheed Akere at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS),  said  he was  afraid ASUU might not call off the one-month warning strike.

    “ I feel so bad about it, it’s a way of delaying and wasting our time as undergraduates. We have been kept in suspense since last week, now to come and declare a one-month warning strike, there’s no assurance that they will resume after that speculated time. What pains me the most is that after we (UDUS) vacated,  I didn’t go home for  holiday just because I thought we will resume end of this month according to our school academic calendar, but ASUU has disrupted the plan,” he said.

    Rahman Jimoh of FUOYE said ASUU strike was not a new thing and students should see it as an opportunity to broaden their horizons, seize opportunities to learn new things. She advised that students should learn new skills instead of focusing solely on education and white-collar jobs.

    “ I don’t like that universities have to strike every now and then. I understand it’s our reality here in Nigeria and strike is something all students in Federal and state universities have to experience at least twice if not yearly in their university days. Hence strike is not a new thing and students should see it as an opportunity to broaden their horizons, seize opportunities to learn new things. There are so many soft skills and so many free platforms to learn from. Students should not wait until they graduate, it is hard out there.

    “ I have long seen strikes as an opportunity for me to brush on skills I’d need after school. The country is hard and any wise person knows better than to put all their eggs in one basket especially if that basket is education or a white-collar job,” she said.

    Another UNIBEN student, Ochobge Peace, described the ASUU strike as an obstacle to the progress of the students in the tertiary institutions.

    According to her, the situation needs to be addressed and a lasting solution agreed upon by ASUU and government.

    “ASUU leaders are  not helping matters. In fact , all ASUU chairmen do not  understand the importance of diplomacy.

    “A diplomatic leader would understand that government changes and even agreement can be reached amicably when both parties are willing to compromise.

    “This is why previous dialogue between ASUU and the government keeps on failing. ASUU especially are not ready to rethink their agreement and that is not good,” she said.

    A 300-Level student at Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA), Samuel Agbelusi, said the ASUU strike had both good and bad effects, but most importantly, sacrifices should be made to have quality education in the country.

    “ At this point, it is a good development since  the Federal Government has refused to agree to their demands and the election period is here and the government will be ready to do anything to win the hearts of the masses so ASUU is  trying to take advantage of that.

    “ If we look at it on the other side, it will make students spend extra years  despite the effect of COVID-19 and in a school like Adekunle Ajasin University, the effect of the protest that occurred last year.

    “Quality education is what we’ve been agitating for and we have to do what it takes even if it’s for us to make some sacrifices to make sure the younger ones benefit . It is a month strike and hopefully, the government will call them to a round table and discuss,” he said.

    Abigail Afesomu, a 300-Level student at  Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, said: “I’m not happy about the ASUU strike at all, studying a course of 4 years for six/seven years is bad and unacceptable. My advice is that  President Muhammadu Buhari  should  intervene, settle the union and let everything move smoothly.”

    Favour Samuel, a student at  University of Uyo(UNIUYO), said: ” Government does not care about us. After all, their children are abroad and are not affected by this development.

    “Since I was born, ASUU has been going on strike and it is gradually becoming a norm. Please, I beg the Federal Government to have mercy on  students and consider them in whatever actions they take. We also plead that the strike be called off.”

     

    Incessant strike  legal

    A Lagos-based Human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, has said ASUU’s incessant industrial action was backed by the law. He emphasised that ASUU had all moral and legal rights to embark on industrial actions following the failure of the government to honour  agreements reached.

     

    “ Labour unions have the right to embark on strike in the protection of their rights and interests. ASUU can as well embark on strike so long as the government continues to act infidel to agreements. No law can stop a labour union from crying when it is being mercilessly beaten by the irresponsibility of authorities,” he said.

  • AAUA: Tackling incessant accidents

    AAUA: Tackling incessant accidents

    Incessant accidents involving articulated vehicles around Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State have raised concerns among many students.The recent accident claimed the life of a graduate.However, the state government and school authorities are urged to put effective measures in place to forestall a recurrence. CALEB IJIOMA (AAP), FRIDAY OMOSOLA and PETER EMMANUEL (AAUA) report.

    The death of an alumnus of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, (AAUA), Ondo State, Michael Akinniyi on Thursday, February 3,2022 on Akungba-Akoko road,sparked outrage among students who protested in the school and online.

    CAMPUS LIFE gathered that three accidents occurred, with the third claiming the life of Akinniyi, a Business Administration graduate of the institution, who was also a phone repairer.

    The accidents were caused by heavy-duty trucks plying that route.

     

    Timeline of accidents between 2020 and 2022 in Akungba

    Accidents in this community are gradually becoming the norm. Although there is no specific number of deaths, Campus Life has observed that more than 20 people have died in different accidents from 2020 to 2022.

    On September 6, 2020, a trailer coming from the Adefarati area lost control and fell along Crisolo/Heaven’s Palace and Premiere Pierre axis. It collided with buses, cars, and motorcycles leaving many dead. A month after, on October 31, 2020, another accident struck the community killing residents and leaving many injured.

    Just when the community was healing, another accident occurred on January 23, 2021 close to the AAUA main gate. This accident resulted in the deaths of scores of students, including the former students union president, Adesomoju Oluwatobi Samuel. It was equally gathered that three siblings lost their lives in this ugly occurrence. This accident led to the closure of the university on  January 23, 2021, by the management.

    Also, on April 25, 2021, three months after, about two people were confirmed dead in an accident that evening in the community. It was reported that a bus conveying passengers collided with a motorcycle. Another accident that claimed one person also occurred in front of Holy Trinity Church, Akungba, on November 14, 2021.

    The accidents continued in 2022 when another case was recorded on  January 25. Also, on February 3, this year,  three different accident cases were recorded within 24hrs. In one of these cases, a graduate of AAUA, Akinniyi Micheal, lost his life.

     

    Addressing  incessant accidents

    Due to the frequent road accidents that have claimed many lives by heavy trucks, ex-students union executives together with community leaders erected a barricade on the 24th of January, 2021, a day after scores of students and residents were killed by a Dangote truck. Students equally held several protests on Twitter, a micro-blogging platform, using the hashtag #SaveAAUA #SaveAkungba. Campus Life gathered that the first physical protest was on January 24, 2021.

    This reporter gathered that after the January 23 accident, AAUA management closed the school main gate of the institution to avert further accidents.

    In January 2022, students continued to call the government’s attention to the Akungba-Ikare road that has become a death trap. After the February 3 incident, students took to Twitter to protest the failure of the Ondo State Governmentt to look into the frequent accidents in Akungba caused by heavy trucks.

    The second protest was on February 4, 2022. Students and their leaders took to the streets to protest the incessant road accidents. They blocked the Akungba-Ikare road that links neighbouring towns such as Owo and Akure by the South and Lokoja, Abuja, Niger, Kaduna, Kano by the North.

     

    How state actors leveraged recurring accidents to make money

    A  few days after the barricade was mounted on January 24, 2021, to prevent trucks from plying the Akungba-Ikare road, security operatives leveraged it to extort motorists. The barricade was removed and turned to an extortion junction by police and indigenes further allowing trailers to ply the road.

    In a video clip shot on  October 16, 2021, and obtained by Campus Life, a policeman was seen standing in front of a bus preventing the driver from moving because he failed to oblige the officer when he requested a token. This is one of many recorded on that junction.

    Also, a source claimed that the former students union president, Obagunwa Oluwasegun, in the company of some students, were threatened by some chiefs after they visited the king of Akungba on need to  remove remove the barricade.

    This reporter monitored a Twitter space hosted by Oluyemi Fashipe known as Yemi Fash. It was alleged that a community leader and a politician were behind the barricade where illegal taxes from trailer drivers to allow them to ply the road.

     

    Students react

    Students of AAUA, who spoke to Campus Life expressed their grievances and the way they felt  about the incessant accidents that have claimed the lives of their colleagues

    Fathai Rukayat, a  Mass Communication student, said the community has the major faults in these accidents. She blamed the community for converting the barricade earlier erected to a toll junction.

    “In my opinion, this situation is getting out of hand. I can’t blame the student or the government. I blame the community. The community sees it as an opportunity for them to feast. I look back to 2020 on a Saturday when a rice truck hit them so hard. I guess they didn’t count many deaths and they didn’t count many injuries. If they did, they would understand how it feels to lose someone. Barricades became their toll gate and they feast on our hurt.

    “The community has the largest blame in this. Be it spiritual or physical. They are to be held responsible for the incessant accident as they have turned deaf ears to the implementation of policies made by the government. Little can the student union do. It’s understandable that students will face more problems if things get out of hand. For them to go far, they need the support of the government and especially the community.” she said

    Aminat Salako, a Computer Science student, said she was scared of resuming school because of these accidents

    “First, I’m getting scared to even resume school because of these accidents. I watched a video recently where there was a hold-up filled with trailers from Akungba into Ikare. I don’t know if there’s another route for them to pass but another route should be made available cause stipulating time for them won’t work. Since the Kabiyesi (king) closed it then and they still defied him.

    “Even if time is stipulated, lives can still be lost. There might just be a reduction. Some people live in buildings at the sides of these express roads. Those blind drivers might still rush into those buildings and kill people while they are sleeping. The solution is for trailers not to appear on that road again. I don’t care if it’s a federal road, if the road can’t be dualised, then no trailer should pass”

    A recent graduate of Mass Communication, Adesola Ikulajolu, bemoaned the lack of efforts of the school management in putting the government on its toes. He, however, called for the dualisation of the road

    “Right from the initial time when accidents have been happening in Akungba-Akoko, we thought it was a thing that will be minimal. But we were wrong, it got worse. Major protests in Akungba-Akoko have been caused by accidents killing people. More trailers plying the road and more lives are being endangered.

    “ It is sad because what we wanted was a lasting solution to trailer movement. The government should have heeded the call of students to find a solution before it got worse. The school management should have also put the government on its toes. If the road cannot be dualised or leveled, an alternative should be provided. The lives we lost can’t be regained. It is so painful.” he said.

    Ogunmola Grace of Sociology Department said: “Our main aim is that we do not want trailers to ply this road again. We are here to study and not to meet an untimely death, saying “enough is enough.”

    Tunde Akinyemi noted that incessant accidents had shattered the hope of a promising young Nigerian who wanted quality education and made  his parents proud.

    He further stated that the university community is in a mournful mood now, adding that all eyes are on to look out to a favourable response from the state and Federal Government.

    “Government should do something about this road, probably if a permanent barricade can be erected at the university main gate to prevent the incessant accident.”

     

    AAUASU speaks on new development

    Kolade Ogunsanmi, the Student Union President, told this reporter in a WhatsApp conversation held on Saturday said that a barricade has been erected in front of the university gate and he’ll continue to engage the government so that promises made can be effective.

    “ We protested yesterday which is the right thing to do and erected a barricade in front of the university gate. We do not have a barricade in front of the university gate but at the entrance of the community, but we now have a barricade in front of the university gate which the school security will be in charge, the general public will be in charge because the place is an open area”

    “The government has promised that they’ll deploy security who are going to be in charge of the barricade in front of the university gate and the barricade at the entrance of the community. We will continue to engage the government to make sure it’s effective,“ he said.

     

    AAUA management keeps mum

    CAMPUS LIFE put calls to  Prof. Akanbi, the Dean of Student Affairs, but he failed to respond. Several messages sent to him were also not replied.

     

    State Government, sympathisers want barricade mounted on Akungba road

    Following the February 4 protest by students of the institution after the community recorded three accidents in a day, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, through a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, expressed disappointment over the negligence of some community members and commiserate with the people of Akungba- Akoko.

    A part of the statement reads: “It is disheartening that some people have turned the barricade mounted by the government to prevent these heavy trucks from plying the road, into a money-making venture. If people truly value lives and understand that whatever money you made at the expense of people’s lives is blood money. This particular incident was highly avoidable.

    “On several occasions, I have visited Akungba-Akoko on the heels of incessant accidents. As part of our temporary solution to the situation, a barricade was mounted. It was expected that no heavy-duty vehicle would ply that road again. However, we have received reports that some residents of the town open this barricade for heavy-duty trucks to pass for a token.

    “ Governor Akeredolu expressed concern over the needless death of the residents, especially students whose dreams and aspirations have been cut short in their prime.”

    The governor warned community leaders, youth representatives, and other residents of the town to desist from flouting his directives.

    He further ordered that a barricade be mounted at the troubled portion of the road to prevent heavy-duty trucks from plying that route.

    “ In clear terms, Governor Akeredolu had ordered that a barricade be mounted at the troubled portion of the road to prevent heavy-duty trucks from plying that route. The governor, therefore, warned all community leaders, youth leaders or representatives, and other residents of the town to immediately desist from the unwholesome act of flaunting the governor’s directive by opening this barricade for articulated trucks.

    “ Governor Akeredolu government will henceforth, deploy armed security personnel to man this barricade and deal decisively with anyone found opening this barricade for articulated trucks.”

    Arakunrin Akeredolu assured that construction of the bad portion of the road will commence in “no distance time,”  stressing that the design for the road is ready.

     

    FRSC discloses reasons

    for accidents

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Ondo sector Commander, Mr. Ahmed Hassan, who spoke to CAMPUS LIFE said excessive speed, dangerous overtaking, brake failure were part of the reasons for incessant accidents in the community.

    “ The one of January, last year that killed students, we discovered that excessive speed and going above the speed limit expected to be 50km per hour then was responsible. The United Nations is talking about it. Failure to observe  speed limit, brake failure which leads to loss of control and dangerous overtaking are the causes now that we can see,” he said.

    Speaking on what the commission has done to prevent accidents in the community, he said that the sector has carried out intensive public enlightenment on the effective use of the road and enforcement of speed limits in vehicles.

    “ There is always a patrol team patrolling that area, there is an ambulance there, a presence of a command, a presence of a patrol team, intensive public enlightenment using billboards, both the print and electronic media, those are things we are actually doing, red flag by patrolmen to track down traffic along the areas, aggressive enforcement of installation of speed limiting devices in all vehicles. we are reaching out in teams of public education, a company here installed 33-speed limited control device in his truck, another one is installing his own any moment from now, we are reaching out, to ensure total obedience to the speed limit for vehicles” he said

    He stressed that the dualisation of the road will prevent further accidents and equally advised all motorists to ply the road with good working vehicles.

     

    Open Sunshine Initiative proffers solution

    The Chief Executive Officer of Open Sunshine Initiative, Oluwagbenga Ajongbolo, said the government has not been silent but is complicit in the matter.

    Open Sunshine is a not-for-profit initiative tracking government spending and international aid expenditures in Ondo State.

    Ajongbolo said a sincere approach by the government will reduce road accidents in the Akungba community.

    “A sincere approach by the government. Block off the road against trailers and trucks. This is a hilly town with steep roads. Just like it was done in Oka Akoko, let them do the same for Akungba. Alternative, temporary routes could be picked now till the hills are leveled and Akungba-Ikare road is dualised.

    ‘’The government is not silent, I doubt they were. They’re only complicit in the matter and are hiding behind one finger. I read the statement enforcing the barricade but was shocked to see the same poles removed the next day,” he said