THE Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, has warned staff members against collecting illegal charges and fees from new students.

Obi gave the warning in a statement by the Registrar, Mr. Gabriel Egbe.

He urged members of staff to guide new students appropriately rather than extorting them.

“The attention of the university’s management has been drawn to reports alleging that members of staff are extorting money from new students.

“Management has cautioned against this unwholesome and unethical practice. It is wrong and condemnable,” he said.

He added that the university  leadership would sanction with any member of staff found soliciting or collecting illegal charges from new students.

“Management shall closely monitor the activities of staff, and erring staff shall be adequately sanctioned,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Prof. Olugbenga Ige, has urged newly-sworn in executives of the Students Uunion to be steadfast and committed in their various tasks.

He spoke at their inauguration at Olusegun Obasanjo Multipurpose Hall on campus.

“You are expected to present the challenges confronting them to the relevant authorities for action, therefore, the assignments before you require seriousness, steadfastness and commitment,” he said.

He urged them to utilise the opportunity to learn financial management, adding  many who have gone to become national leaders and giants in the political and community leadership landscapes started as student leaders.

“Fate has entrusted unto you an opportunity to learn practical leadership skills and to learn human and financial management. I e xhort you to utilise this opportunity to make your mark and leave indelible footprints for posterity,” he added.

He advised them to prioritise negotiation and dialogue and imbibe the culture of peace rather resorting to violence.

His words:”Let me remind you that violence through aluta or any other guise is no longer fashionable in the contemporary world of union activities. I, therefore, advise you to always toe the path of peace, dialogue and negotiation in addressing issues.

“From my experience as a former student and academic unionist, it is not unlikely that you will experience pressure from your fellow students, and as leaders, you must be dynamic in handling situations under such circumstances.”

However, he reiterated the commitment of the management in giving a listening ear to the union at all times.

The newly-inaugurated president, Ogunsanmi Kolade Olumide, noted that his administration would partner the management enhance students’ welfare.

“It is essential to note that we are not coming on board to be anti-management but to unequivocally represent the interest of the students and to represent every form of justice,” he said.

He vowed to  fulfil  his campaign promise of  partnering  with telecommunications companies in bringing  free internet access to the institution.

To know is ingrained in the nature of man but he is reluctant to seek. As long as man exists, he must be anxious to know about himself, his health, his environment, the climate, the ecosystem, his economy, his religion, the government, the animals and every other thing around him, hence, premium should be placed on the effective use of library.

In the spirit of learning, no generation has had as much opportunities as the contemporary societies. In a way of science, we had knowledge at our fingertips – the smart phones and the e-Libraries.

Ray Bradbury said: “This is the era of an internet, everyone can visit a library without leaving home. It is just a matter of opening a library website, and you cannot only borrow an eBook but also ask the librarian an online question.” How much more of libraries built around us?

All the resources you need in life to positively influence yourself are in the library. This is because a library is a storeroom of knowledge. A reservoir purposely there to serve you, to answer questions, to provide solutions to problems, to cure your disease of ignorance and to guide you through the path of greatness.

Library houses the resources that will nourish your mental horizon and develop your faculty of understanding. All you need to do is to go and summon them, the resources are consciously established for you to consult, to read for your intellectual development.

George Martin said: “A man needs books as a sword needs whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.”  Through library resources one can discover true measure of potentiality.

The first time I went to the library, I requested three books:  ‘The gods are not to blame’, ‘Letter to my son’ and ’Without a silver spoon’. The librarian assisted me in getting them. It was a great experience. I was inspired to read more.

However, when I gained admission into Niger State Polytechnic to study Library and Information Management Technology, I felt fulfilled. In a way, library has helped me to be a better student. It influenced my adaptability to the wisdom of philosophers.

It has the ability and capacity to influence, inform, refresh, encourage, empower, transform and make one think out of the box. The wonder of the library is this: Whether white or black, young or old, rich or poor, it gives everyone equal opportunity for self-development.

Yes, library gives you the latitude to converse with great minds, eat with great kings of history, dine with warriors and legends and sleep with the wisdom and thoughts of great thinkers. It is a place where science and innovation are birthed.  It is a place where history of myths and legends are related. It is a place where intellectual relationship is created between you and renowned scholars of history like Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Karl Max, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka et al.

In the words of Plato: “A library is a delivering room for the birth of ideas and a place where history comes to life”. Henri Frederick Amiel puts it like this: “Everything you need for better future and success has already been written.  All you have to do is to go to the library. As someone asked: “Where are you heading with your life? Each direction is good if there is a library along the way.”

A library is a warehouse of history. It makes you discover documented facts on Trans – Atlantic slave trade, colonisation and heroes of Pan Africanist struggles.

Ahmed Deedat said: “Physically you are what you eat, mentally and psychologically you are what you read”. A library provides you with the sword and shield to combat the most deadly disease in life. For instance, ignorance is a disease worse than coronavirus or cancer.

As a student remember to visit the library and read books about how life has treated others who later turned great achievers.  History celebrated them today because they were inspired by the resources in the library. Same thing can happen to you. The resources in the library can change your life. Do not underestimate the power of a library.

• Gimba is a Mass Communication student of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL).

Provost, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Oto-Ijanikin, Prof. Bidemi Bilikisu Lafiaji-Okuneye, has reiterated the institution’s commitment to tackling cultism and other vices on campus.

She urged students as well as staff members to eschew cultism or related activities or risk being sanctioned.

Lafiaji-Okuneye made this known at a press conference organised by the college.

She said erring students would be duly prosecuted.”The management of AOCOED is trying its best to attain zero tolerance for any social cultism and with the newly adopted proactive security approach, cultism and other vices among students have been curtailed.

“I wish to reiterate, as always, that cultism is a criminal case and the government is doing all it can to curb this menace,” she said.

She added that with the increasing growth and rapid development of the college, the management worked relentlessly to ensure uninterrupted academic calendar since the administration came on board.

“It is important to note that the academic calendar of the college has been uninterrupted since this administration came on board in January 2020.”Despite COVID-19 pandemic, we adopted the method of online learning for our students and staff which made our academic session not to be so adversely affected.

“When it comes to the academic growth and development of the college, some of our students have been globally competitive; and interestingly, this also includes the academic and non-academic staff.

“The huge achievements of this administration underscore the ingenuity and rare purposeful leadership through the financial support from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,” she said.

She said the institution would continue to adopt global best practices in the teaching profession and ensure the college ranked among the best.

“We are determined more than ever to transform the college to a teachers’ institute that we all desire,” Lafiaji-Okuneye said.

She lamented the alarming rate of substance abuse among youths and students, noting that there may be the need for additional psychiatric facilities.

Following complaints from students of the Abia State University (ABSU) and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), the state government has started the reconstruction of the Umudike-Ikot-Ekpene Road. This is a relief for students, workers, traders and those who ply the road, reports FORTUNE AMAECHI (ABSU).

When Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu gave the nod for the reconstruction of the   Ikot-Ekpene – Umudike Road, Umuahia North, Abia State,  students of the Abia State University and the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, traders, commercial bus drivers and workers heaved a sigh of relief.

The governor announced the rehabilitation in a statement by Information Commissioner Chief John Okiyi Kalu.

The statement said Ikpeazu had directed the State Building Commissioner, Elder Bob Ogu, to assess the level of  work that needed to be done on the road.

Kalu added that an indigenous construction company was contacted to start work on the road last week after receiving assessment report.

The statement reads in part: “Governor Okezie Ikpeazu invited the State Commissioner of Works, Elder Bob Ogu, to a meeting in his office and directed him to mobilise a contractor to immediately carry out remedial repairs to the failed parts of Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road after receiving reports about the terrible state of the federal highway that leads to the prestigious Michael Okpara Agricultural University, Umudike (MOUAU), and the difficulties experienced by travellers using the highway that also links our state with some states neighbours.”

CAMPUS LIFE had earlier reported that incessant rain had worsened the condition of the road with students and other road users lamenting the sorry state of the road.

Sadly, a final year student of the Fishery and Aquatic Resources Management Department of MOUAU, was crushed to death by a truck on October 3 before repairs began on the road.

The late student, Chidinma Ogbonna, was said to have been hit by a truck on the deplorable road. This led to a peaceful protest by students who called for the fixing of the road.

Part-time students of MOUAU who commenced their exams recently said  they were delighted because they longer had to  spend  hours on a particular spot due to traffic caused by the bad road.

The regular students of MOUAU and ABSU are not left out.

Students, workers, traders, others hail governor

For Ayo Gbenga, Food Science and Technology student of ABSU, Ikpeazu has demonstrated his love and humane nature to students.

“I want to thank our  governor for coming to our rescue. Once again, he has shown us that he has our interest at heart. The governor, by this, has saved us from some accidents and losses of different kinds. Kudos to him,” he said.

Joy Christopher, a trader at Ahiaeke Market, who uses the  road regularly, said: “May God bless the governor for what he has done. I get really scared at times when I have to use the bad road because I know of some of my fellow traders whom their goods have been wasted in the dirty water, though it never happened to me. The governor has done well for us but he should try and ensure the job is done efficiently.”

A non-academic staff member of MOUAU, who pleaded anonymity, described the development as heart-warming.

She recounted her bitter experience on the road, adding that some of her colleagues who owned cars encountered problems using the road.

A lecturer of Food Science and Technology, ABSU, who craved  anonymity, thanked  the governor and his team for listening to the people. The lecturer explained that his car had broken down on the road and it took him hours to get a towing van.

Michael Francis, a student of MOUAU, said: “This is no small project from the governor. I want to thank the governor of this amazing state who has thought of us with compassion.  He knows it is important  to repair the bad road. Honestly, then the rate of traffic jam on our road was alarming, so much so that one had to come out very early in  to get to his destination on time.”

Another student of ABSU, Rachael Anyanwu, wants the governor to do a follow-up on the road to prevent shoddy execution of the project.

“I can  recall how vehicles broke down and other terrible things happened to people on the bad road. God bless our governor for taking action regarding the road. I want to plead with our good governor to please make sure that those in charge execute the project very well. They should be well monitored,” she said.

Richard Charles, a Veterinary Medicine student of  MOUAU, said: “By this huge act, the governor has salvaged the situation. I say thank you to the governor. I would also want to plead with the governor that those in charge of the repairs of the road should not leave it halfway.”

Victor Nwizu, a Law student of ABSU, who praised the governor, recalled how he fell into a flooded pothole on the road.

“I remember vividly how I fell into the flooded pothole. How about traders who lost goods worth large amounts of money on the road? I say a big thank you to the governor for commencing the repair of the road, he has saved us a lot of troubles.”

Victor Chibuike, an Agriculture Economics and Extension student of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), said: “I came to visit my cousin and I travelled on the terrible road. I’m glad the story has changed for good in that the governor of the state has started work on the road. Another good thing is that, not only is he working on this Umudike Road, he is working on other roads around.”

Grace Iheme, a Soil Science student of MOUAU, said: “If I start to recount all that the bad road then caused me, we would not finish today. I mean one could be at a particular spot for hours and, after everything, you would still have to walk to school.

“So, I want to use this opportunity to thank our governor for his good deeds.”

Okoroafor David, a tricyclist, said his tricycle had broken down many times on the road. He, however, thanked the governor for remembering the people.

“Riding on that road, I had to risk my tricycle breaking down. There were times when, in a day, my tricycle would break down due to the condition of the road. Now,  I can ride freely along without panic and  fear. I want to say thank you to our governor and may God bless him.”

David Henry, a Mechanical Engineering student of MOUAU, said: “I deeply appreciate this kind gesture of the governor towards us, especially students. I know what many of us had encountered on the road. Some of us fell into the water, some missed classes and exams, but this governor who cares has come to our aid.”

Patra Onyeji, a Food Science student of ABSU, said life would be easier for students and everyone plying the road with the repairs.

Her words: “On the road, especially during the rainy season, buses fully loaded with goods and other things break down right in the middle of big potholes, then you see people coming down from the buses, having to dip their legs into the mud, but now that the road has started undergoing repairs, life will be made much easier.”

Okezie Emmanuel, a student of MOUAU said: “I want to plead with the governor that those in charge of this reconstruction project should be adequately supervised to ensure they carried out their duties well. I thank the governor for swinging into action on time because it was getting to a point where the road would have been unmotorable.”

THESE are not the best of times for authorities of the Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH) and students of the institution. The students are agitating for a reduction in tuition, improvement in security network, non-interference in union elections and better facilities.

How it all began, by SU President

Comrade Ayinde Saheed, the Students Union (SU) president, said the union and other departmental presidents met and wrote a letter to the management to postpone the examinations for two weeks, but there was no response whatsoever.

But they were shocked that examinations were fixed for Monday, September 20. Hence, they didn’t allow the examinations take place by staging a protest, while the Rector ordered that the school be closed till further notice.

He said: “On Thursday, 14th September, management declared to the students that the HND 2 and ND 2 examinations would commence on 28th September. So the departmental presidents all sat down with the union executives on Wednesday, 15th September, and we agreed to write a letter to the management to give us two weeks extension. Thus, we would use the two weeks for revision, election and mop up test for the students that were not allowed to do test based on tuition fee.

“So, we wrote a letter to the management but they didn’t respond. However, the school fixed exams for Monday, 20th September.
“It was Saturday or Sunday that some of the students began to see the examinations timetable and management did not call for meeting to gives us any notice. We stopped the exams with a peaceful protest on Monday. Then we expected management to call us for meeting, but the Rector Dr. Olufunke Olanike Akinkurole, on Monday evening, shut the school indefinitely. We only asked for two weeks extension before commencing examinations, but now it is an indefinite break.”

Protest intensifies despite closure

The SU President noted that the union invited other external associations to join in the protest following the indefinite closure.

He said: “On Tuesday, 21st September, the protest continued. We invited the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), to wade in. On Thursday, 24th of September, 2021, we had a meeting with the management, NANS and NAOSS members inclusive and we reached an agreement.

“Unfortunately, since that time, everything was silent, the Rector didn’t act. However, on Saturday, 2nd October, the management released a memo that examinations would start on Monday, 4th October, with HND 1 and ND1. That was a complete departure from what we both agreed on and this aggravated the matter completely. And it was clearly written in the memo that only HND 1 and ND 1 students should be in school.

“Again, we stopped the exams from starting that Monday. We are agitating for better welfare of students, with security at the heart of our agitation. We want the school to beef up security on campus, among other demands.

Wanted: Reduction in tuition

Saheed continued: “We plead with the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, to come to our aid. We need the break down of our payments. We need reduction in our fees. Our fees are too expensive. At the end of the day, you try to calculate what you’ve spent in school, it is equivalent to how much they are paying in state universities.”

A student who pleaded anonymity said: “The present ND 1 are paying, N70,765 apart from acceptance fees, GNS fees, faculty fees and departmental fees, HND 1 are paying, N81,500, apart from GNS fees, faculty fees and departmental fees, HND 2, N70,765, ND 2, N67,675.”

Security should be beefed up

Abdulwakeel Sodiq, a student and OGITECH Assembly Speaker, said: “Students are not safe on campus (we need new security personnel), the school security officials have been compromised. Strange people come into the school freely through the gate to manhandle students and collect their valuables. Our students are not safe in and outside of the campus. We have a begged the management to organise a meeting with the Landlord Association in the environment to trash out the issue of insecurity, but the management has not done anything about it.”

Eleshin Adam, the president of National Association of Business Adminstration Students (NABAMS), also complained of insecurity on campus.

”There is insecurity on campus. The lives of the students are at risk. During our departmental week, we had jersey day and some of our students contacted indigenes from outside the campus to come and beat our students on campus and the Civil Defence personnel at the school gate were there yet, the indigenes entered and physically assaulted our students. Students and lecturers are not safe. We really need serious change,” he said.

Lamentations from students, intervention needed

Oladipo Sulaimon Bolarinde, the president of National Association of Computer Engineering Students, said: “The Rector wants us to have our convocation by November 15th, and she said she wants to mobilise us with the last set to go for National Youth Service Corps programme. A week is not enough for the students to write examinations. It will be difficult to write two five-unit courses the same day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. How will students cope? The first semester results were released within eight hours to the next examinations before the protest. How do you want us to cope inside the exam hall? Even if I had read and I saw my results within that hour, I won’t know what to write in the exam hall.

“The students saw their results and there was mass failure and yet, you expect them to write the second semester exams that same day, please, where is it done? I have two courses that are not registered and that is automatic carry over and the same applies to all students in my department.

“We are not fighting for this present set and we are not in primary school. Normally, a semester should be 16 weeks, but we have wasted three weeks just for basic demands.

“Above all, we want the intervention of external unions. We want things to change for the better. We only have three lecturers in Computer Engineering Department as a whole.

”Imagine an ND Computer Engineering graduate that doesn’t know Microsoft Word. Then why are we coming to OGITECH and the motto is: ‘The pride of the nation’, and the road is bad, security zero, students’ academics zero. The school needs restructuring.”

Dada Muhammad Thaoban, the acting Ppresident of Science and Laboratory Technology, wants all issues addressed.
He said: “We only want change. I am a Science Laboratory Technology student and I cannot perform a practical on my own. I cannot produce ordinary paracetamol not to talk of aspirin and we are using this medium to ask the government to come to our rescue.”

Another student who preferred to be anonymous said: “We need a proper time table for our exams (we can’t write 25 unit courses within four days) and we want to do our Students Union election. Our school clinic is nothing to write home about, the school clinic cannot successfully treat malaria, no testing equipment, it’s just like a first aid point.

“We don’t have a standard library in the school. There was a directive that the library should be expanded but management has not done anything in that regard.”

Management speaks…

The Dean of Students Affairs, Mr. Yemi Odutola, in a chat with CAMPUSLIFE, noted that the leadership of the institution was working to resolve the issues. However, he could not tell when things would go back to normal.

“Authorities are handling the matter. They are working to resolve and address all issues raised by students. However, I cannot tell how soon because I am not privy to any decision to be made,” he said.

As a Nigerian student who has completed secondary education and desires to study abroad, understanding the basic requirements is important. Whether you are looking to pursue a graduate or postgraduate course, adequate preparation may enhance your ability to adapt quickly and meet academic goals.

Preparing and sitting for exams, applying to schools, planning to attend a visa interview, and getting an international passport all go into a successful study abroad plan. Read on to get detailed information about this.

https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-teal-button-up-shirt-using-a-cellphone-5393758/

International scholarships

If learning is scholarship-based, limit the search for schools to those with scholarship options for foreign students. Your ability to secure a study scholarship in places like the USA depends on the GRE or SAT scores.

Some of the best international scholarships to consider include the Clarendon Fund Scholarships at the University of Oxford and Reach Oxford Scholarships for Developing Country Students. Some schools give students 100% scholarships based on the students’ performance in entrance exams and the scholarship availability.

Other schools give master’s students graduate assistant opportunities, so this could help you to meet some regular expenses. Doing enough research and applying for the scholarships early could increase the chances of an award. Have the list of the schools ready before submitting the registration form for SAT because free registration is limited to only four schools. Any extra registration will attract a fee of $ 11 for university schools for graduate studies.

For graduate courses, you will fill a maximum of four schools for GRE and five schools for GMAT. To apply to additional schools, you will be required to do a score reporting at $28 per institution for GMAT and $25 for GRE.

Do a school search

A school counsellor or the internet will be the best places to start searching for a school. Consider the institution’s location and whether you have relatives in the preferred countries. Search more about the tuition fees of the universities abroad and see whether it is affordable. For American universities, the tuition fees range between $16,000 and $64,000 per session, so see how much you can afford.

Additionally, the cost of accommodation and food in the US differs from one state to another. While in college, you want to minimize costs and save some money to pay for other services such as essay writing services. Studying for high scores immediately after joining college is difficult so it is good to ask for professional help. As a student in the US or Canada, you can access online writing services to have your assignments written. When faced with assignments difficulties, I always “do my assignments for me“ request on AssignmentBro. I create more time to study and get a good grade on any assignment. Instead of struggling with a difficult essay, take advantage of online writing services available for any student and have quality work done.

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Do the exams

Find out the exams you should sit for and prepare for them early. The West African Senior School Certificate Exam (WASSCE) results for a study in Canada on the United States will not be enough. You will be required to sit for GMAT or GRE and then TOEFL before being admitted to any university.

For a Master’s degree in management or a Master’s degree in Business Administration, you must sit for TOEFL and GRE. The TOEFL alternative is IELTS but some schools don’t accept it, so find out if the schools you want to apply to accept it.

Research your prospective schools’ websites for policies concerning international applications. Consult the schools’ admissions office to get clarifications about the TOEFL exam and its relevance to your university application. Some institutions have set a minimum score in TOEFL, which you must attain to secure an admission.

Apply to institutions

After choosing the institutions, apply to them, one at a time, preferably online and as per the set guidelines. Many schools charge an application fee of between $20 and $ 150, so ensure that you have the funds ready.

Every school also sets its admission requirements but some requirements are common to all. The basic requirements for admission include TOEFL score, WAEC result, and University or high school transcripts. Others include recommendation letter, GRE/GMAT or SAT score, other necessary certificates, and the bank statements for the last six months. Ensure that you have all the documents before applying to the institutions.

Many Nigerian students often go study abroad as lawyers, doctors, engineers, and teachers, but the universities have a large workload in different subjects. This makes it hard for them to concentrate on the basics and that is why they seek online services for their assignments. When in such a situation, the writers do my assignment, so I don’t have to worry about the load and the deadlines. The experienced writers offer the best services on all kinds of academic work with a high satisfaction rate.

Pay the SEVIS and the visa fees

After receiving a 1-20 form and the admission letter from the institution, you need to pay the SEVIS fee and begin preparing for the visa interview. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a database for information monitoring regarding international students, exchange visitors, and scholars.

All foreign nationals who choose to study in the United States must pay the SEVIS fee followed by the visa fees. The fee, which was established by the United States Department of home security, is administered by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). In Nigeria, the fee is NGN 26,400 and is payable to any Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) branch. After paying the fees, fill in the DS-16 form online and create a password and a user ID.

Conclusion

Studying in foreign countries as a Nigerian national requires an understanding of the whole preparation process until you get to your desired destination. Considering study scholarship, conducting a school search, doing exams, applying to institutions, and paying the necessary fees is what you need to study abroad. Start the university application process early, see how best to adapt to the new learning environment, and seek help where necessary.

Some students who lost their belongings to a fire at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) are crying for help as they remain displaced one month after, writes Mudathir Hayatullahi Folorunsho.

Before Thursday, July 24,  this year, the eight occupants of room 40, Block B of Bakassi Hall of Residence at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, lived happily.

Unfortunately, around 10 am on the fateful day, while the students were out, a fire engulfed the room, rendering all its occupants homeless and destroying almost all their belongings.

According to the victims, the faulty electric sockets that caused the outbreak had been reported to the right authorities but were not attended to until the fire.

Since then, the students have been stranded as the little help rendered by various groups was insufficient to return them to normalcy.

Shittu Toyyib, a 200-Level student of Agriculture, said he was left with almost nothing.

“I am among the most affected victims.  I lost almost all my property to the fire. My bags containing all my clothes burnt beyond recognition and my credentials are nowhere to be found, including the school documents.

Adeniji Adeoluwa, a 200-Level student of Statistics, lost two laptops, his clothes and credentials to the fire.

“I am totally stranded. I lost my two laptops to the fire [as well as] all my clothes. I don’t even have clothes to wear again,” Adeoluwa cried.

Students’ Union, others provide support

Students’ Union Caretaker Committee Chairman Muhammad Shamsudeen Umar said the union had liaised with the school management to provide some needed materials for the affected students.

“Having heard about their plight, we liaised with the school management and we have provided them with sleeping beds and buckets.

“We also pleaded with the school management to help us find something to do for those that lost their credentials, especially this exam time. Trying to retrieve those things would frustrate them as they also need to read for exams,” he said.

The immediate past President (Ameer) of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), UDUS, Mallam Fahad Tijjani, said the group contributed relief for the affected students.

Read Also: High gas cost ‘killing’ for students

“In our little contribution towards relieving them of their burden, we have provided some foodstuff for them and we still look up to some other things to be delivered to them very soon,” the Ameer said.

Harsh life after the fire

After the fire, occupants of the room were told to resettle in other rooms but said they did not feel welcomed so chose an unconventional place to dwell – a kitchen.

“They took us to the other rooms but those occupants denied us the privilege, so we all decided to clean the kitchen and we packed in all the beds given to eight of us by the Students’ Union. That is where we now manage,” Adeoluwa said.

Although the student leaders and the school management have attempted to help these victims, their situation has not improved. The students, in tears, pleaded for the school’s intervention in retrieving their burnt credentials.

“We now live in the kitchen where there is no light, fan, or socket. We charge in the other rooms, at our own risk. The Students Union gave us two buckets. One is leaking and of no use.

“I plead with the school management to kindly remember us, consider and financially help us during this trying time, and we shall be grateful for their immense support,” he sobbed.

Abdullahi Selim, a 100-Level student of Education and Economics, also pleaded with the university management to help out.

He said: “We no longer live comfortably. The room we are in is nothing compared to a room, no light, no fan. We struggle before we are able to charge our phones.

“We anticipate any kind of help from the management, mostly [concerning] our credentials, clothes, laptops that got burnt, and others.”

Varsity pledges help with documents

The Dean of Students’ Affairs of the university, Prof. Aminu Muhammad Mode, told CAMPUSLIFE that when the plights of the students who cried out for the school management’s help reached him, he had taken steps to address some of their problems.

Mode said: “I felt so sorry for the boys when I and the Vice-Chancellor got to the scene. It was not pleasant at all.

“However, after allocating another room to them and distributing beds for them to sleep on, we have spoken with the fire service centre to help us provide a letter that would indicate their names and the credentials burnt, and this would serve as strong backup for them to retrieve their lost documents.

“We all know that while dealing with cases of fire like this, it is something that requires processes before it is successfully done. So they should just be patient as we assure them that their backup letter from the fire service would be surely provided.”

Mode also confirmed that the cause of the fire in the room had been dealt with and the electricity in the hostel fully restored.

“You will see that they had light in the hostel on the following day, to avoid another case of such in the future, we have traced the cause of the problem to its root and we have restored everything to its normal place,” he said.

The recent increment in the price of cooking gas is making life unbearable, especially for students running businesses at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), reports PETER EMMANUEL OJO.

At a local gas station in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), the facial expression of a student entrepreneur, Kemisola, changed after she heard the new price per kilogramme of cooking gas. The last time she was in school, the price of gas per kilogramme was N450. Now it is N550.

According to the International Energy Agency, the demand for natural gas could rise by more than half by 2040. Natural gas is the cleanest-burning hydrocarbon.

The continuous hike in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) also called cooking gas has caused so much havoc for students on campuses, especially those that are entrepreneurs.

At AAUA, where students resumed for another session last week, it was noticed that the price of goods and commodities – including cooking gas – had increased beyond what it used to be before for the students, most especially for freshers.

Students lament incessant hike

A student, Onaja Simon, frowned at the consistent increase in the price of cooking gas. He said: “The increase in cooking gas from N450 in May to N500 or N550 as of June to this moment is alarming. Some local gas stations refill  at N600 per kg and they know students will refill because they don’t have any alternative.”

Another student said: “The price never reduces, rather it get increases every day.’’

While another student said: “The sad issue about this gas of a thing is that it doesn’t last long like before.”

Dapo Oluwaferanmi said: “I do not know the benefit of these people, most especially their illegal exploitation of money from students.” She further explained that if she could go and refill from Ikere, the nearest community to Akungba, she would.

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One of the freshers, Tofunmi said: “I wonder why they will be selling gas at N600 per kg, but when  I heard of the new price, I had to  inform my roommate that this place was not Lagos and she later gave me  a go-ahead because we had no option.”

Ifedayo frowned at how the Akungba community makes life easy for students.

“Akungba is a country on its own because every commodity here is always expensive even up to natural gas in which some refill N550 and some N600 per kg.”

Sad stories from student entrepreneurs

Student entrepreneur, C-jay fries, lamented that the price of gas has affected him negatively that all of  a sudden from N300  to N500 per kg.

“Normally, I fill 4kg for N1,400, but now 4kg is N2000.  I run a small company, spending such an amount on gas is not easy for an entrepreneur.

“The worst of all, they [gas] don’t last, I complained at a time, the man agreed, saying it’s a general problem, so they are aware of it.”

Another student entrepreneur, Foodie hub, lamented that he could not transfer the burden to consumers.

“There is no other thing other than one cannot change the price. I would want to have many orders, so I can do the job at once to save gas,” he said.

In the same vein, another student entrepreneur whose trade name is Voice Cuisine said she has had to reduce her production.

“The increase in gas has affected my production greatly.  For instance, profit reduces because before the increase in gas price, when I make one rubber of flour, I get about N1,000 or N1,500 profit.  But since the price of the gas increased, the profit has reduced; and you know our people don’t want to understand. While some will be like it is what they buy that they will sell, but the point is that most people complain a lot.

“Let us use chin-chin as an example, before when you get two N50 chin-chin with a cold mineral you will be satisfied either for breakfast or lunch but now even if you get N200 chin-chin, it won’t get anywhere because it is not much.”

With the incessant increase in the price of cooking gas, life will be uneasy for the students and food vendors in the university community.