Category: Campus Life

Students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) are desperate for accommodation outside campus, following the reduction in number of students in hostels by school authorities to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Thus, they are at the mercy of landlords who have increased house rents as a result of the construction of the Ekosodin Road, reports IFUNANYA OSAKWE (UNIBEN)

These are trying times for students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) who have accommodation problem.

Before now, 12 students are allowed in one room in the school hostels, but the authorities have given an instruction that not more than seven students are to stay in a room. This is to maintain social distancing and prevent the spread of COVID-19 which continues to ravage the world.

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) National Coordinator, Dr. Sani Aliyu, had in a virtual meeting of education stakeholders, given a directive that the premises of each tertiary institution should be decontaminated and efforts geared towards the maintenance of hygiene.

“Education is an important aspect of our lives and so cannot be allowed to go into extinction. This is why we have brought these COVID-19 preventive measures that will help contain the further spread of the virus and keep our students safe.

“University authorities should therefore ensure social and physical distancing in classes, hotels and meeting places are strictly adhered to,” he said.

Thus, this directive has forced most students to seek accommodation outside the school, especially in Ekosodin, which is very close to the campus.

Although UNIBEN has over 17 hostel blocks, estimated to house over 30,000 students yearly,  it is still reeling from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, hence, providing adequate accommodation for its students has been problematic.

However, following resumption, students have been unsettled in their quest to secure comfortable accommodation. Since the institution resumed on January 30, many students have engaged in fruitless search for accommodation.

Unfortunately, the outrageous increase in rents by landlords who have taken advantage of the shortage of accommodation at Ekosodin has compounded their woes.

Findings by CAMPUSLIFE also revealed that the newly-constructed Ekosodin Road and sub -streets played a major role in the exorbitant rents demanded by landlords in the community.

A self-contained hostel which is a room, kitchen and bathroom that was rented out for N70,000 now goes for N200,000, depending on the area, N130,000 difference; while a single room, public toilet and bathroom that was N30,000 is now over N70,000.

Against this backdrop, some students have decried the lack of adequate hostel space and high cost at off-campus hostels in Ekosodin community and Osasogie, among others.

Some students who could not afford the high rents have resorted to squatting with colleagues and friends, albeit temporarily.

According to some of them staying at Ekosodin, the landlords and caretakers of the hostels have taken advantage of their desperation to increase their rents unreasonably.

Lucille Akpoveta, a student of the Department of Optometry, lamented the terrible situation she had been facing since she resumed.

She noted that she had shared her belongings to different classmates to keep for her while she slept at various places.

For her, school is no longer interesting because she doesn’t know where next she will sleep.

“The day I resumed I went to the school hostel but there was no space for me to stay because the hostel spaces have already been allocated to students who came earlier.

“This was not the case before but as a result of the COVID-19 protocols, the school had to reduce the number of students in the hostel.

“I was so hopeless that day because I had no place to go. Luckily for me a student staying at Ekosodin saw my situation and offered to help me.

“But most of my belongings remained in the school security house till the next day because the girl’s room is not spacious enough to accommodate them.

“At present, I stay with a classmate today and another classmate the next day. However, I have been making efforts to raise at least N60,000 to rent a single room. This money would have been enough to rent a self-contained apartment last year but it is quite unfortunate that it is not possible now.

“You know when they started constructing the Ekosodin Road last year, we thought it would make life easier for students staying in the community but this has not been the case. Instead, life has become harder for us. Food sellers have also increased the prices of their goods; transport fare has also been hiked.

“We are, therefore, calling on well meaning members of the community and school authorities to intervene in this appalling situation,” she said.

Noah Osamor, a 300-Level student of the Department of Philosophy, said increase in hostel rents in Ekosodin was uncalled for and unjustified.

Osamor insisted that the development in Ekosodin should have made life easier and not harder for students.

“The extortion by these landlords and caretakers is getting out of hand. I live in Lagos and one of the rules to increasing house rents there is renovation of the house by the owner, but here in Ekosodin, no renovation was done and yet the rents were increased.

“The extortion is becoming too much and if nothing is done about it, the situation will become too hard for the students who cannot afford such high rents,” he said.

Michelle Simpa, a student of the Department of Business Administration, described the increase in house rents in Ekosodin community and environ as an act of selfishness on the side of house owners.

“Hostel rents are being increased everyday and we are getting tired of such selfish and inconsiderate behaviour of the landlords and caretakers.

“Most students are still stranded because they are not able to afford the rent for the hostels. How can one study under such circumstances? It is almost impossible to assimilate what has been taught in school if one is not comfortable and focussed. And that is one of the problems students without a roof over their heads are facing.

“I am using this medium to call on well-meaning stakeholders and school authorities to intervene in this situation and find a solution to the problem,” she said.

Another student of the Department of Philosophy who did not want to be named, however, said the increase in rents was due to the heavy presence of ‘Yahoo boys’ in the community.

“Since the Ekosodin Road was tarred, some ‘Yahoo Boys’ who are alleged to be students started living in the community. Hence, most landlords had to increase their rents, because the ‘Yahoo Boys’ are ready to pay any amount for an accommodation so long as it meets what they desire.

“This, however, is wrong because not everyone is into Yahoo and so we do not have the means of paying such exorbitant rents. Imagine a student paying N200,000 for a self-contained room.

“This is what most working class families pay for a two-bedroom apartment. Ekosodin off-campus has always been a conducive environment for students who want to stay outside the school, but the recent increase in not only house rents but also in food items and provisions has forced students to have a rethink.

“It will, therefore, be a great idea if the Students Union Government (SUG) intervened in this situation. Also, the school should look into ways to help bring relief to the students by reaching out to house owners in Ekosodin to find lasting solutions to the problem students are facing,” he said.

The landlord of Jericho Hostel, who gave his name as Paul Osas, said increase in hostel rents in the community was as a result of the just-constructed Ekosodin link road which made the community easily accessible.

“Ekosodin is not as it used to be and it is becoming more developed. So, there is no way the hostel rent will remain the same. A lot of people, even working class citizens, are already moving into Ekosodin because the road is accessible now,” he said.

Another landlord who preferred anonymity said increase in hostel rents was as a result of high demand by students.

He further attributed it to the newly- constructed Ekosodin link road.

Nonetheless, some officials of the university who craved anonymity noted that the institution was working tirelessly to ease the accommodation burden of its students. According to them, very little will be done for now as the university continues to grapple with many challenges arising from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof. Kolawole Salako, has advised students to shun violence while demanding for better  welfare.

The VC gave this advice while addressing some students who wanted commercial buses’ operators to reduce their fares.

The President, FUNAAB Students Union (FUNAABSU), Michael Oloyede, led students to protest  the 100 per cent hike in fares of buses and taxis to and fro the campus and other neighbouring communities.

At a meeting attended by private transport operators and student- leaders, Salako noted that transport operators and students were partners in progress, adding that they needed one another for academic and economic progress. He, however, called for a peaceful resolution of the matter to enable the full take-off of academic activities on campus.

A cab driver, Mr. Gbolahan Ekundayo,said the increase in fares was necessitated by hike in prices of fuel and students’ absence from the university. He, however, confirmed that the issue had been resolved and a new price regime was in place.

On his part,  a bus driver, Mr. Iseoluwa Owolabi, said the fare increase was borne out of the need to break-even by the operators. He said they would manage the prices negotiated by the student-leaders because they see the students as their own children.

A 400-Level student in the Department of Mathematics, College of Physical Sciences (COLPHYS),  Dorcas Ijeh, called for better understanding by bus drivers. She described the new prices as  reasonable, considerate and fair to both parties. She added that the Coronavirus pandemic had affected prices of goods and services globally.

A 500-Level student in the Department of Water Resources and Agrometereology, College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM), Akeem Salaudeen, who said the new prices were welcome, noted that looking for a balance of N10 for a N40 trip and N30 for a N70 trip may hinder smooth implementation of the agreement.

He, however, called for the participation of more private transport operators on campus and the deployment of FUNAAB Bureau of Transportation (FUNAABOT) buses as part of measures to ease the transportation challenges.

By Esan Femi Williams, IBBUL

The Federal University  Oye-Ekiti Students’ Union (FUOYESU) has told  the newly-inaugurated Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Abayomi Fasina, to prioritise students’ welfare and build on the legacies of his predecessor Prof. Kayode  Soremekun.

The union spoke  through its president, Alabi Johnson Sunday at the inauguration of the new VC. Fasina was inaugurated last week on  the campus  in Oye-Ekiti.

The SU President, Alabi Johnson Sunday, urged the VC to attract investors to facilitate development in the institution.

He said: “This is an unforgettable phase in the history of FUOYE, as we’re experiencing a transition in leadership both at the institution’s apex level and the SUG.

“It is our desire that your administration focus more on the numerous needs of our students ranging  power supply within the campus to the provision of security lights. Priority should also  be placed on erection of more conducive lecture halls, engaging and retaining outstanding students to motivate others.

“We’re very optimistic that your tenure as VC will be a peaceful and successful one,” he said.

Fasina in his speech, entitled  “Building the FUOYE of Our Dreams,” promised to launch a process of dialogue and reconciliation with all aggrieved parties.

He also pledged his commitment towards putting in place measures to enhance the institution’s  Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), vowing  to reposition FUOYE.

“We need everybody on board to build the FUOYE of our dream. We will try and create wealth for the university through what I call Risk to Wealth Initiatives (RWI),” he said.

Dignitaries at the event included  Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, whio represented the Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; and Commissioner for Culture, Arts and Tourism, Prof. Ojo Bakare.

A  consultant (Nigeria) for AdamStart Global,  Matthew Ibiyemi, has said journalism is key to making a difference and enhancing social change.

“When change is in the air, journalists can help push things along. Journalism is only one part of a bigger picture but when the circumstances are right, journalism does make a difference,” he said.

Ibiyemi, who is also the Corporate Communications Manager/Head of Infotech Desk, Nigerian NewsDirect, urged reporters to double their efforts towards effective change.

“Dear  colleagues in the media industry, particularly reporters, I commend your tenacity and doggedness but let’s intensify our efforts. We have an effective tool in our hands to cause a paradigm shift,” he said.

Ibiyemi, who began writing at age nine, is a change maker with passion to utilise media as a tool for societal growth and development.

On the importance of media to bringing about change, he said: “Throughout history, we have seen how journalists/members of the press have been able to stoke global outrage and implement a change even though sometimes the campaigns succeeded, sometimes they failed.

“I stumbled on E. D. Morel’s article that stirred up public outrage against King Leopold’s horrific rule in the Congo while taking an online course last month and I discovered how the article by E. D. Morel impelled the British government to investigate the situation although King Leopold fought back with a public relations campaign of his own.

“Leopold didn’t cede control of the Congo until 1908, and even then it was only for financial reasons. All those years of bad press and public anger were not enough to make him stop what he was doing. In the end, it came down to money.

“During the Bengal Famine of 1943, the photos and editorials printed by the Statesman newspaper in Calcutta shamed the government into sending food aid and allowing other journalists to report on the situation.

“The coverage saved lives, but it came too late for the millions who died. Late is better than never, of course.

“In the Soviet Union, an estimated six million people died of starvation in the early-1930s under Stalin. The outside world had no idea because reporters weren’t allowed to write about it.

“The same happened in China. An estimated 30 million people perished during a famine in the late-1950s/early-60s. But again, no one outside the country knew because China banned news coverage.”

On his inspiration, Ibiyemi said God and his father, Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi. “I used to follow my dad everywhere as a kid to learn from him. I followed him to events, meetings, conferences as long as it was possible.”

As part of his efforts towards advocacy, he hopes to help kickstart a medical intervention/outreach this year for Sickle Cell carriers to educate the masses on how to manage and care for them.

Ibiyemi has received many awards, including Most recognised Brand on Campus (Male category: NewsDirect); 25 under 25 awards nominee for Media & Communications category; and AVA  Editor of the Year.

By Fasilat Oluwuyi, MAPOLY

A graduate of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Miss Adetutu Seriki, has been awarded the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) presidential honorary prize for service to humanity during her service year.

Seriki alongside 110 former corps  members got scholarships and automatic employment into the federal civil service.

The Computer Science graduate, who served in Ibadan, Oyo State, was honoured for her community projects which included the construction of a  well at her place of primary assignment, Ibadan Municipal Government Primary School, Alakia Oje Elewa, Ibadan, mending of collapsed part of the school fence, clothing and giving school sandals to 30 indigent pupils, fixing of a  new gate  and donation of food items and toiletries to Jesus Children Orphanage Home.

Presenting the award to the Acting Rector, Dr Adeoye Odedeji,  she  said  she  was privileged to be an awardee.

The former student noted that she only contributed her quota to the development of the community where she served without expecting any reward.

“It is a great privilege to be among the awardees and it is an honour to my family. Though I didn’t expect anything from anyone, I was just trying to contribute my own quota to help my country.  We don’t need to complain about everything, we also have  to add value to the nation.

“I sponsored the construction of a  well inside the school to allow everyone have access to it. I also repaired the collapsed school fence and fixed the school gate for security reasons.

“When I finished the project, I bought school sandals for  indigent pupils  because many of them attended school barefooted. I also provided uniforms for others,” she said.

Seriki urged youths to stop complaining and contribute their own quota to the development of the nation at large.

“Youths should stop complaining. Nigeria is ours; be a good youth anywhere you find yourself. Everything is not about money,” she said.

Odedeji  praised the former student  for being a good ambassador of  the  polytechnic. He urged students to emulate her.

“This is a tonic that has brought great relief to our souls. It’s a well deserved honour. You have demonstrated that you’re kind. The ability to read and write doesn’t make you unique and identified, there are other aspects  which are moral and behavioural.

“Education will not be relevant if it doesn’t add value to  people. You have represented MAPOLY excellently and you’re a role model. You have fulfilled our mandate of producing  useful students.

“Others should emulate you. Though  salary was  not paid for six months, our effort is not in vain after all,” he said.

By Adeshina Ayomikun Precious

A young lady was on her way home from work, quite late in the  night;  she was raped and then killed.

Again, it happened to another girl  who  was home bound from a party on  Saturday night.

Sadly, rape persists in our country despite measures put in place to curb it. It is, however, baffling, that some critics have accused  young girls of indecent dressing,which they say, perhaps, is a justification for rape.

The blame game in our society when young girls are sexually molested is quite painful. We live in a society where anytime anything goes wrong, we ask the wrong questions about the situation.

Critics prefer to blame victims because of their mode of dressing. They accuse girls of wearing mini skirts, revealing dresses and all sorts. Is that a justification for sexual abuse?

They believe when girls dress in  revealing apparels, they are asking for it. Meanwhile, women from India, who wear saris and women from the North putting on hijabs and are  raped. A rapist might have other reasons to rape, but dressing should  never be an excuse for rape.

Carol Costello, a 55-year-old American television anchor, once said on her show: “A rapist is a violent criminal who craves complete power over his victim. He gets sexual urge and sometimes he doesn’t. It has little or nothing to do with what a woman looks like and everything to do with violent, criminal tendencies.”

According to research, one in four rapes take place in the victim’s house; two in 10 rape cases take place at the home of a friend, neighbour  or relatives. And almost two third of all rape offences are committed by someone the victim already knows, so don’t think a short skirt provoked these men to rape.

Many  victims of rape were beautiful,others plain. Some were young,others elderly; some were attacked while wearing jeans and a t-shirt, others while wearing jogging clothes or heavy clothes. Some were children.

So, when we say the ladies who dressed indecently asked for it,what do we say about a girl of four years who was raped by  a relative because he said she was naked, does she have busts or hips to reveal?

How about the elderly woman in her early 80s, was she also asking for it, where she was peacefully sleeping in her room?

The myth that indecent dressing is a consent to rape is plain wrong.  Dressing is not an important factor,the only factor that influences whether a female will get raped or not is the decision or intention of the man contemplating it. Ladies have the right to put on whatever  pleases them  without the fear of being raped,though indecent dressing is not  ideal.

Our society is faced with  how victims should avoid being raped.This  prevents men from taking responsibility for their actions. The fact still remains that whether a person takes steps to protect themselves or not,they don’t deserve to be sexually molested.

There is  no justification for rape, be it indecent  dressing or not. Hence, it  should not be taken lightly.

• Adeshina is a 100-Level English Education student of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

By Ayokunnu Sanusi, AAUA

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) wants  Dangote Group to  compensate families of slain students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, following a meeting with the organisation last week.

Six students and nine others were killed on January 23, 2021, when a truck belonging to Dangote Group rammed into a shopping complex opposite the university gate.

The National President of NANS,  Sunday Asefon, had vowed to seek justice for the victims, insisting that their death would not be in vain.

In a statement entitled: “Our Colleagues Must Get Justice”, Asefon  said NANS had reached an agreement with Dangote Group to compensate families of the deceased students.

He noted that it was imperative for the company to compensate the  families of the deceased students.

The NANS President said aside financial compensation, Dangote Group was mandated to give employment to qualified members of each of the bereaved families.

“We made it clear that where there are no qualified family members for employment, Dangote should award scholarships up to the university level to a member of the family.

“We requested that Dangote through tax arrangements with Federal Government fix the Isua-Akungba Akoko road where the accident happened.

“That as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibilities, a project should be executed for AAUA or Akungba metropolis and should be named after the victims of January 23, 2021, truck crash to immortalise  all, including our fallen students,” he said.

He said a committee was set up to ensure that  agreements reached at the meeting were executed within the stipulated time.

“NANS under my leadership will do everything possible to ensure improved welfare and adequate protection of the interest of students,” he added.

At the meeting were  NANS  Senate President, Comrade Chuks Okafor; Vice President National Affairs, ComradeYasiz Tanko, Comr. Samuel Kappo, NANS Zone D Coordinator as well as the  Chairman NANS JCC in Ondo  State, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde.

By Abdulganiyu Akanbi, UDUS

The 400-Level students of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) have produced hand sanitisers to ensure regular precautionary measures are taken within and outside the campus.

This followed the directive of the  management  that  students should resume with hand sanitisers for personal  safety.

“Each student is advised to come along with enough hand sanitisers that will permit him to sanitise his/her hands as regularly as possible,” the management said in a statement.

Class Representative of the department, Muttaka Umar, said it was necessary for them to render their own contribution to the university to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

“After resumption, we thought it was very important to give our own contribution to the students. We produced these hand sanitisers  to prevent the  spread of the coronavirus,”  he said.

He confirmed the quality and the efficacy of the hand sanitisers, saying the procedures for production was in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

“In the course of production, we used the standard and recommended hand sanitiser formula of World Health Organisation (WHO) to form aqueous hand sanitisers,” he noted.

Dean of Students’Affairs, UDUS, Prof. Aminu Mode, lauded them for being innovative.

He said: “This  is really commendable. We (the management) really appreciate whatever contribution anyone brings whether students or not.”

Olympus Adebanjo, an education expert, while praising the students , said  any type of education  not translating into providing solutions is a waste. He urged  students to be more creative and innovative by translating their skills into something beneficial.

“This is why I always  appreciate the few students that defy the odds by arming themselves with knowledge and skills  absent in our education. Even if there are known formulas for local hand sanitisers here and there, it is important to encourage the drive to engage in productive entrepreneurship at an early stage,” he said.

However, UDUS students have applauded  the initiative, stressing  that it was  worthy of emulation.

AbdulQodir Abdulazeez, a 200-Level student of Sociology  said it would motivate others in the institution to contribute to its  development.

“First, I have to praise  the efforts of Pharmaceutical Sciences students for their efforts. This innovation serves as a motivation for the entire students of UDUS to bring new development to our prestigious university,” he said.

He, therefore, advised the school  to support the  students and urged them  to continue to promote  the school with innovative ideas.”

“It is advisable for  management to support these students at all costs and ensure that this hand sanitiser is purchased at a cheaper rate by students, academic and non-academic staff   to enhance  further production. Also, I urge the students to continue to  contribute  to the  development of our institution,” he added.