Following the celebration of his first 100 days in office, students of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti(FUOYE) have lauded the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, for the infrastructural development and swift transformation on campus, reports FEMI ESAN(FUOYE).

 

During his inauguration on February 11, this year, the  Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, promised to reposition the institution and take it to enviable heights.

Thus, he didn’t rest on his oars. He matched his words with action. The VC, who recently clocked 100 days in office, hit the ground running, despite challenges of the early days in the saddle.

Early last month, the  National Universities Commission (NUC)  described  FUOYE as the fastest growing young university in Nigeria.

The NUC team, led by Prof. Saint Gbilekaa, said this while on an accreditation visit to the institution.

Gbilekaa noted that there had been an impressive improvement in infrastructure development in the university.

The NUC accreditation team were at FUOYE to assess three of the programmes being offered its students – Theatre and Media Arts, Sociology and Demography and Social Statistics.

 

Infrastructural devt on campus

The management of  FUOYE has taken a bold step by establishing a printing press and bakery, to boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as well as provide an avenue for students to engage in work/study scheme.

Fasina he was committed to generating revenue for the university and ensuring students got practical training from the bakery and printing press.

He added that the new development was borne out of his passion to rebrand the university to meet international standards.

“All we are trying to do is to make our university one of the best in the world. We’ve embarked on the establishment of a university bakery and printing press, purposely to generate revenue for this university. I have  told all FUOYE contractors to engage our students in all these ventures, especially indigent students who find it difficult to pay their tuition fees. Also, the two industries will serve as viable training grounds for students to acquire practical knowledge and know-how,” he said.

In an  interview with CAMPUSLIFE, the contractor who handled  the printing press and bakery, Dr. Mike Abiodun, hailed the management for bringing up such initiative at a time like this.

Describing the projects as capital-intensive, Abiodun noted that the ventures would yield excellently if properly managed.

He  described the VC as a calculated risk taker and staunch goal-getter, who always believed in getting results rather than chasing shadows.

“The printing press and bakery are capital-intensive projects. The university management has done so well by investing greatly into these ventures. As for the printing press, all the machines have been procured and installed. More importantly, I believe this whole effort will in turn, become a lasting revenue base for the university if effectively tapped and managed,” he said.

Foundation laid for SU building

To commemorate his 100 days in office, the foundation for the Students’ Union Building was laid. With this, students said he had left an indelible mark that time would never erase from the memory of the university community.

 

Early days at the helm tough, says VC

Despite his achievements within a very short time, Prof. Fasina noted that the road had been rough.

To commemorate his 100 days at the helm, last Friday, he delivered a speech during a programme on campus. It was entitled: “God will continue to win: My stewardship 100 days after.”

He said regardless of the the tough beginning, his vision to restore peace and stability to the university, through aggressive reconciliation processes, rapid transformation of infrastructural foundations of the university, promotion of staff and students’ welfare, expansion of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base, and administrative reforms, among others, remain valid and unaltered.

“I must confess that the process of take-off has been herculean. A handover note that would have provided a useful roadmap for a smooth and effective take-off was not provided by the departing administration. Useful pieces of information that would have assisted us were withheld from us, the officers in charge. It is so bad that there were important information regarding the finances of the university that just got to my notice recently. It took the intervention of external regulatory actors at the highest level of governance to unravel them.

“However, in the midst of these shenanigans, we thank God Almighty for raising up for us, men and women of clear vision and integrity, with deep passion, conviction and trust in our leadership.

“In my inaugural speech, “Building the FUOYE of our dream,” I made solemn declaration to govern FUOYE with the fear of God and a commitment to take the university to the next level. My commitment and zeal to actualise these remain as strong as ever,” Fasina assured.

He  noted that all what his administration had achieved were driven by his mission and vision of advancement, which revolves around ensuring peace and stability of the university, improved staff and students welfare, establishment of new programmes, directorates and units, establishment of ventures for improved IGR, accreditation exercises, proper university governance and administration, ICT development, improved university security, among others.

FUOYESU hails administration,wants more devt

The  Federal University Oye-Ekiti Students’ Union (FUOYESU) President, Comrade Alabi Johnson Sunday, lauded the VC for his continuous support to the union, adding that his quick response to students’ complaints was encouraging.

He said: “I am glad to say that just a little over three months in office, with the support of our loving VC, the university WiFi has been resuscitated. It is worthy to  mention the efforts made towards the provision of streetlights on campus, swift process and upload of students’ results, purchase of new union vehicle to aid mobility, provision of road signs and speed breakers to curb road accidents, approval of a tentative secretariat for the union, and procurement of mechanised machines to aid Agriculture students’ practical activities.”

Speaking further, the union president reminded the VC of the union’s expectations from his administration, even before the expiration of the FUOYESU executives’ tenure.

“Mr. Vice Chancellor sir, it’s our desire that you see to the completion of our Students’ Union building, help employ our students at the university ventures, expand the university entrepreneurship skills programme base, implement 20 per cent reduction in hostel fee, timely transcript process, and ensure autonomy of our students’ associations”, he noted.

“We are committed to students’ welfare,  making FUOYE better.”

The VC had promised to work with Students’ Union executives towards the realisation of his vision and agenda of a better FUOYE.

“I’ve made up my mind that during my tenure as the Vice Chancellor, I want to make sure you have a befitting Students’ Union Building. I  will  contribute something tangible to the development and completion of the building. My prayer is that in the next few months,  we should be able to complete this project,” he  noted.

He added that the university was partnering some cooperative ventures interested in running transportation systems as a business with the university, to put an end to the the problems of transportation in the institution.

He added:” We have  started working earnestly on the provision of sound system. Every class should have a good sound system and even projector to enable online lectures. I will also support and donate for the VC’s Cup. I’ve told all contractors in our institution to engage most especially indigent students to create an avenue for work and study scheme. We’re also rebranding our entrepreneurship scheme as a unit, ensuring quick result and transcript processing, give money to faculties and departments to reduce their reliance on students’ association dues.

“I have no interest in making life difficult for students. That’s why I have never thought of increasing any fee. We’re not here to loot any money. Rather, we will find more opportunities to get money for the running of the university. That is why we’re introducing some top-up, part-time, affiliate, and sandwich programmes.”

 

Students laud VC

Students have praised Fasina for the rapid development within a short time in office.

A 400-Level student of the Department of Mass Communication, Adejumo Olalekan Samson, said the VC’s short time in office had successfully reflected on the motto of the institution “Innovation and Character for National Transformation”.

“Our VC has not done anything outside the ambit of his jurisdiction. Rather, he has added colour to the existing legacies and brought mouth-watering innovations to better the lot of staff and students. For his brilliant ideas, I hail our ever-dynamic Vice Chancellor,”  he noted.

On his part, Victor Amole of the Department of Demography and Social Statistics, 300- Level, described the VC as a loving and listening father, adding that he’s a perfect example and a good definition of leadership.

He noted that Fasina’s achievements were outstanding and remarkable.

Irewolede Ibunkun of the Department of Economics, 400-Level, said: “Our VC is doing very well. My expectations remain very high.”

Similarly, Adedugba Miracle, a 400-Level student, said: “The VC is working very hard. We  have witnessed rapid changes since he assumed office. His efforts towards making the school a better place in terms of infrastructure, social amenities, stability and maintenance are worthy of note.”

By Opeyemi Sanusi

 

The Acting Director, Directorate of Information Communication Technology ICT, Lagos State University (LASU), Dr. Toyin Enikuomehin, has enjoined students of the institution to take advantage of the free security monitoring application- LASU MONITOR APP- to further guarantee their safety in and out of campus.

In an interview with CAMPUSLIFE, he  noted  that the application was  free to download, install and use, and readily available on the Google Playstore.

He said: “The  benefits of the app include Friend Walk which will allow a friend to track the user’s movement and location realtime. It also has other rich features including Emergnecy Alert icon that can alert the security department or the health centre in case of emergency. Students in distress can also contact the Guidance and Counselling unit from the  app.”

The app, which was launched in 2019 by Department of Computer Science in LASU, has been upgraded to meet the needs of students of  the institution and other interested persons.

Enikuomehin noted that with the  situation at hand, the app was a must for  students. He said it would also allow parents to monitor their wards whenever the need arises.

 

By Hamzat Ibrahim Abaga

 

Just as human beings have  a right to life, they equally have the right to freedom of expression and information, right to liberty and struggle to attain happiness.

This ideology is glorified in the Declaration of Independence of the United States. However, it is  essential to  recognise and celebrate a group of professionals- the press- who have in a lot of ways made these rights to freedom accessible to all and sundry at all times. Not only when it is World Press Freedom Day.

It is quite important we support the press,  agitate for its  absolute freedom, evaluate its challenges and achievements  and also defend it  from attacks.

Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution states that the press, radio, television, newspaper and other forms of mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in the constitution.Therefore, the  importance of the press in any democratic society is no longer debatable.

But, to what extent has the  constitution supported press freedom in Nigeria?

When the freedom of the press is tempered with, the first to be affected are the masses, as the press always represents the good interest of the common man.

When the government of the day fails to safeguard the interest of the press,  the society suffers the most.

The relationship between  the press and the government, especially when it is mutual, helps any society to attain its communal objectives.

Read Also:IBBU UCJ celebrates World Press Day

The media wields an enormous influence on society’s way of thinking, reasoning and actions geared towards accelerating development.

However, the press should always make community reporting a thing of priority, as in many cases rural areas are being left uncovered which leads to their underdevelopment.

The need for community journalism is something to be considered, as journalists only engage in reportage that focuses on cities at the expense of smaller neighborhoods, suburbs or small towns.

Health, educational, political, government activities and illiteracy programmes or information, as well as, poverty and disease can also be managed through rural community journalism.

There is a great  need to enhance community journalism.

Lack of power supply, potable drinking water and  other problems troubling rural  communities can be solved if adequate attention is given to rural dwellers.

But we must not also forget that members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm needs to be assured of the safety of their lives and that of their loved ones.

Life insurance and other welfare  packages should be given to journalists, just as their allowances must be paid to them regularly to encourage them to give their best to the profession. It is time we began to celebrate our journalists. They have contributed greatly to nation building and democratic growth.

They should not be seen by heartless ‘politicians’ and some powerful individuals, as targets for brutalisation, victimisation and elimination.

 

• Abaga is a 400-Level Mass Communication student of IBB University, Lapai, Niger State.

By Oladele Oge

 

The Director,  Institute of African Studies,  University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) , Prof. Florence Orabueze, has underscored the need for students to embrace traditional ways of life. This, she said, would ensure  discipline and eradicate bad habits among current and future generation  of youths.

She noted that it was  important to observe African traditional feasts and festivals  as a  method of retaining the country’s cultural  heritage.

Orabueze made this known at the Princess Alexandra Hall, UNN, during an international symposium organised by an academic group — Research and Development Initiative — in collaboration with  the Department of Music, History, English and Institute of African Studies, UNN, to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of  Bob Marley’s demise.

It was tagged: “Bob Marley, Black Civilisation and Pan Africanism.”

She  noted that many challenges plaguing the country could be blamed on the little attention given culture and tradition.

Performing her late father’s music, Oge Kimono, daughter of the late music icon Oseloke Augustine Onwubuya, popularly known as Ras Kimono, lauded the VC, Prof. Charles Igwe, for the attention being paid to arts and culture in the institution,noting that it  would help to achieve much needed unity among citizens as well in the academia.

She urged  the students to be prudent in their ways of relating with one another. She noted that being prudent was a  major factor towards being successful.

Dr. Uche Nwaezuoke, a lecturer in the Department of History,  said the symposium had over thhe years grown by providing relevant information in tackling societal problems.

He urged musicians  to engage in meaningful music that can change the mindset of the youths  for good instead of causing division in the country.

The event  was well attended by   dignitaries from the state and across the country.

By Glory Thomas

 

It is observed that peer group has influence on students. This is seen from the role played by the peer group in the life and learning of students; it is believed that students feel more comfortable and relaxed among fellow students.

However, a student who is brilliant and surrounded by dull friends would possibly lose interest in learning.

Peer group influence is more pronounced in higher institutions than secondary and primary schools, probably because children go away from home and stay in hostels  where parental supervision is extremely limited. The influence of peer group on the child is great, both in and out of the school, because there is the tendency for members to be comfortable with the group norms and values; and sometimes peer group influence may lead to social vices on campus.

It is sometimes annoying seeing some youths studying certain courses because of peer influence, neglecting their own career and future.

Moreover, what most of our students do not understand is that, the attractiveness of the group, the nature of conformity demanded by the group and the morals of the group determine whether a group is  likely to have positive or negative impact on the members. For instance, some  students take their tuition fees from their parents and used same  in purchasing clothes and shoes  as a result of peer influence. However,  there is no doubt that students who do not manage their peer group activities make lower grades in school than those who are not influenced negatively.

Peer group influence also lead students to form cliques with nicknames and join clubs on campus. Every peer group has characteristics that are to be   considered before an entrant could be accepted or rejected. Some of these characteristics that are likely to make a child to be accepted to a group are status, friendship, sociability, among others.

Formation of peer group may occur when frustration sets in as a result of family rejection, depression, adult and societal norms.

Peer groups may impact a student’s academic performance either positively or negatively. The negative aspect which could be dangerous to students results in immoralities, absenteeism from lectures, stealing,   disobedience, laziness, disregarding school rules and regulations etc.

On the other hand, the influence could lead to good and strong academic performance. For instance, the students could be influenced socially, mentally, intellectually, psychologically and all these boost academic performance such as; forming group reading, going to the library, anxious to join others in answering questions in the lecture room, and making friends with brilliant and mature students.

Furthermore, positive influence provides a student with a considerable degree of emotional security, which helps in the intellectual development. It also enhances academic performance.

To avoid negative peer influence, the home plays a crucial role. Unless the foundation laid by home is sound and solid, the school has nothing to build upon and the student may later become a problem not only to his parents but also the community. Therefore, the home that a child comes from determines his/ her way of life. However, students are expected to think and rethink before being influenced negatively or positively.

By Temitope Adejuwon

 

The President of the Nigerian Society of Mathematics (NSM), Prof. Bashir Alli, has said no nation can develop without paying attention to the development of Mathematics which, according to him, is the bedrock of science and technology.

He spoke at the  39th Annual General Conference of the association held at the Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, recently.

Prof. Alli called on stakeholders concerned with education to  give special attention to the subject. He noted that the society was  ready to collaborate with private sector.

Read Also: IBBU UCJ celebrates World Press Day

 

He urged the Federal Government to involve mathematicians in decision making to have viable and fail-safe solutions to national problems.

Alli also urged the government to improve the remuneration of Mathematics teachers at all levels.

He also advised the government to make the study of Mathematics attractive to the younger generation through various incentives.

He called for the creation of Mathematics laboratory in schools to make it easy and attractive to study.

Participants appealed to policy-makers, governments, private sector, operators of higher institutions and research centres to increase research funding for the subject.

By Fatima Usman

 

In commemorating the World Press Day, members of Union of Campus Journalists, IBB University,Lapai, (IBBUL) Niger State,  organised a rally  last week to celebrate the country’s  living  and fallen journalism heroes. They also created  more awareness on press freedom.

The rally, which was taken to strategic locations on campus,  was led by Vice President (Administration)  Hamzat Ibrahim Abaga, who represented the President, Zainab Abdullahim and the Vice President, Editorial, Mohammed Yakubu.

During their visit to the campus radio, Click 89.9 FM,  the station’s Programme Head, Mr. Ubong Mpkesit, praised  the young journalists for taking their future into their hands.

“The best profession to practise  is  journalism. When I die and I am  told to come back, the profession I will love to practise is journalism,” Ubong said.

Read Also: Celebrating National Press Day

 

Commenting  on this year’s theme:” Information as a public good,”  he stressed the importance of information to ensuring security in society.

He, however, urged the young  journalists to keep fighting for the freedom of the press.

The union called for synergy between the school’s security unit and campus journalists, adding that that will bridge the information gap between the management and the students with  regard to security.

While addressing the members of the union at the Faculty of Languages and Communication Studies,  Director of Quality Assurance of IBBUL, Prof. Olusegun Ebenezer Ogungbe, urged the union to work tirelessly and make its impact felt in the institution.

“Let’s feel your presence on  campus as vibrant and upcoming journalists who’ll uplift the nation to greater heights,” he said.

By Paschal Ozovehe Aroke

It is not far from truth entrusted on the struggles of taking the country to the promise-land with the quality highlights on the political articles of Idegu Ojonugwa Shadrach published three and two months ago by The Nation Newspaper. It is crafted that, only if the youths can organise a long and uncompromised peaceful protest against the odds of the nebulous political leaders, the nation is at respect and hope of establishing favourable atmosphere.

The mannerfully hold of the natural resources of the nation at the advantage of the riches or the politicians is as a result of poor or no concern of the youths to implement policies and principles to safeguard the wants of the mere and patriotic citizens.

It is admonished in his articles to put measures that could harness the low stand of the political leaders to entrust a so-called formal immunity that encourages untouchable hands and the erase of separation of power and check and balances in their respective governance.

On that note, youths are to embrace political knowledge and skills to standardize the lukewarm in the national politics, rather, to be proud graduates of different fields without seeing how to solve the issues suppressing their destiny.

The high maintenance of cooperation and the readiness to embark on productive risking are the major efforts to strengthen the weakness in the nation politics. It is a sure idea that the political freedom can only be gained through that.

We are in a nation surrounded by political elites, yet, the political failures of the nation are on high acceleration. Prevailing highlights by different activists especially, Idegu Ojonugwa Shadrach to pressure down the bone of the matter must be attended to so as to garner relatively-appropriate channel to partially or completely make political regulations in the nation.

Predominantly, the sacrificial services of the youths and the medium-doing citizens or working class citizens count most in bringing comfortable environment. Having properly scheduled to manifest the politically-oriented-tabled issues, citizen, if not nearer to personal freedom, are on the way to establish their safety in the various societies.

There is no way the national politicians who have taken huge pleasure in moving from one country to another to invest and stay would have feelings to meet the mercy of the citizens. This is a core reason to depreciate ethnical uniformity but to endorse ourselves for national uniformity for collective favoritism. It is therefore, our duty bound to stretch availability of comfort over one another by our skeptical establishment of efforts and risks in subsiding the iron hand of the ill-hearted politicians as accorded by Idegu Ojonugwa Shadrach.

If we are to measure the struggles and threats in indulging processes of liberating our safety and political freedom, we can see plenty surrounding factors to discredit the move and can we continue to be oppressed for a fulltime or to suffer for it to attract part-time sufferings? The conceptual discourse and contextual analysis of the question is best known to us following facts that, we encountered the hatred, discrimination and oppression of all kinds.

It is an acquainted fact that plenty political ideologies have been applied to appropriate Nigeria political institution and governance, plenty are under processes and plenty are featured to be used. Day-to-day polishing of ideologies to meet the current version of the demands matter most in our nation politics. Our political and human right activists have always shown keen interest to doing well about that.

We do give critical appraisals to that to urge the service more. I also encourage the youths to marry such humanitarian service. Some matter arises that ideologies earmarked for closure of strange negative issue would receive weak review. But, in as much as we try to engage in the submitted guidelines to politically triumph; we must consider Shadrachcracy as a form and system of governance.

The political system called “Shadrachcracy” makes equal representation of all kinds of humans in the society participate in governmental position to easily underscore representation of thoughts and wills from each category found in a society. This makes the government a mouthpiece of all. In that regards, if the Shadrachcracy, a political system of Shadrachology can be embraced now and in future in the political territories of the nation, easy access between the proletarians and bourgeoisies would be established and this makes collective experiences, skills and knowledge work together to garner the good of the nation. Political stability shall therefore stay on limelight in the nation.

A nation is far from receiving full package for it development and growth if the service to uphold that is allocated to a particular group. It is therefore a collective activity of the citizens to regulate political structures and participations to enhance representative focus.

On this, Idegu Ojonugwa Shadrach has always urge the national scholars and activists to work together in bringing safety of the nation whereas, youths must be attached to the above groups to have appropriate channel of transformation and revolution, and the both, to work with the proletarians to see how to finance their knowledge and strength. In the other hand, the physically-challenged and the less-privileged are to establish Ojonugwaology as their weapon of survival in the societies.

The continuous urge to get more securities and satisfactions can never allow our politicians have good minds towards the mere citizens. It is on this note; I would urge all of us to embark on this service if we must live to have share of environmental joy and happiness in almost all ramifications. The notion of better tomorrow cannot stand without political stability. Therefore, Aruwaology must stand in order to have peaceful, loving and forgiving characters within one another to have defined cooperation and organization of protests to demand and gain our fulltime freedom. Yes, we have a national song like “FREEDOM” but we can’t enjoy the freedom if we are not playing and resting in the garden of democracy.

We must be loyal to one another to disloyal the ill-hearted politicians, we can never continue to worship them to have our personal freedom established, we can never look unto them as we do to our Creator, we can never receive equal salary to our labour as long as we fold hands to completely work for them, we can never celebrate our precious beings if we continue to celebrate them, our children can never know peace and comfort of life if we continue to abide by their full doctrinal channel, it is better we die today so that our children know the cause of our death than to die tomorrow to create regret and doubt in the minds of our children, we can be stubborn in dealing with things that could embrace political stability whereas our children could be simple in handling the political stability, these and many more are the political admonition of Idegu Ojonugwa Shadrach. Indeed, in all indications, this is what Nigerians should quickly marry to if our desire to walk along the peaceful and beautiful streets of the nation must be gained.

Conclusively, all matters of politics or related must be treated with levity to erase complex natures of governance and all the cool-minding constitutions must be handled with justice to create democracy we have ever thought of gaining.