By Gbolagade Sunday and Elizabeth Fadeyi

 

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Ibadan district has honoured The Polytechnic Ibadan and its Rector, Prof. Kazeem Adebiyi.

In  a statement  by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Soladoye Adewole, it was recognised by ICAN for its contributions in the last 50 years to the technological development of the country as well as its efforts on commerce and industry.

The Rector was also given an award for his positive contributions to the institution since he assumed office.

The ICAN President Dame Onome Joy Adewuyi praised the institution for its commitment in   training accountants in the country.

She said the donation of a building to the institution by ICAN was part of efforts to inspire it to greater heights in the training of experts to man key positions in financial institutions in Nigeria and  the world.

The  Chairman of ICAN Ibadan , Mr Abiodun Adedeji, noted that the products of the school form a reasonable percentage of the membership of ICAN, while the institution itself has a very strong relationship with the institute.

The Deputy Rector, Mrs  Abiodun Olubamiwa, assured the ICAN President that the polytechnic would  continue to maintain  standards  in character and learning. She also appreciated ICAN for being a pillar of support to the institution in the training of young minds.

By Fortune Amaechi

 

The Students’ Union President of Abia State University(ABSU), Comr. John Nwakama has appealed to the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU)  in the institution to suspend its industrial action.

He  said :  “ We are not ignorant of the fact that lecturers are still owed salaries for months, but we humbly appeal that you consider us  as we don’t want to miss a whole year out of school because the impact is much. Students have   extra year, delay in seniority for Law students and delay in procession for students to attend NYSC, just to mention but a few.”

The union leader also explained   that the Governor had  reassured them  that he would  pay  their  arrears upon resumption.

Nwakama added that he believes if school resumes, the  internally  generated revenue  of the institution would  increase and  be channeled to payment of salaries.

He also thanked the state Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for scrapping the pandemic prevention fee the institution mandated students to pay and for giving every student indigene of Abia State N30,000 each.

“The SUG  and the entire students leaders of Abia State University express their profound appreciation to   Governor Ikpeazu for his timely and fatherly intervention for scrapping the pandemic fees and authorizing the payment of thirty thousand naira (N30,000) pocket money each to Abia students in our prestigious university,” he said.

Complaints have been widespread in some tertiary institutions about substandard healthcare system which has led to avoidable deaths. Nonetheless, students believe instituting a health insurance scheme in schools will contribute a great deal in ensuring qualitative health service delivery, report ELIZABETH FADEYI and TUNDE ADEBAYO (IBADAN POLY).

 

Young and brilliant Akinola Bisola Kolawole had dreamt of a glorious future after securing admission to study Public Administration at The Polytechnic, Ibadan. Little did he know that fate had other plans for him when he got to his final year. He died after suffering Sepsis and Hepatitis B. He needed N1.2 million to stay alive. Fortunately, N800,000 was gathered to commence his treatment following his transfer from a private hospital to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. Sadly, he was allegedly rejected at the UCH because of non availability of bed space which led to his death.

Just recently, Yussuf Maleek, a Computer Engineering student at the Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa, died after he  was knocked down by a motorcycle in front of the school while crossing the road.

His death led to a peaceful protest as students barred people from entering the school. They carried placards bearing messages like: “Enough is Enough”, “What is our Obligatory fee used for?”, and “Students’ lives matter”, among others.

During the protest, the students lamented the lack of facilities at the school clinic despite paying the “Obligatory fee.” They said Maleek would not have died if the school clinic was well-equipped. They told the government to upgrade the health facilities.

A protesting student had  said: “Despite the fees we pay, including the Obligatory fee, there is no standard medical facility in the school. Rushing a dying young man from Igbesa to Ota, with the bad road, is enough to kill an ill person not to talk of an accident victim.”

However, students have said it is necessary to transform institutions’ sick bays from consulting centres to centres with the required manpower and infrastructure for qualitative health service delivery.

They stressed that a health insurance programme would protect students from financial challenges as a result of huge medical bills and also guarantee better funding for tertiary institutions’ health centres to improve their services.

Christopher Moses, a 300-Level Law student of the University of Ibadan, stressed the importance of embracing health insurance scheme in tertiary institutions, noting that students would be assured of quality healthcare incase of any unforeseen occurrence.

He said: “With the bad healthcare system we have in Nigeria and of course in most institutions, the best and lasting solution they can ever find is just to embrace the health insurance scheme, at least, students will be assured of good healthcare should anything happen.”

In the same vein, Olawale Morakinyo, a 200- Level Chemistry student of University of Lagos, said students would be able to have access to a qualitative healthcare service rather than losing their lives to quacks and inexperienced healthcare workers in institutions  who even lack the basic things needed.

Juliet Deborah, an ND 1  Business Administration student of Iree Polytechnic, Osun State, said institutions should implement the scheme so that healthcare centres  can improve greatly, adding that service delivery would change and fewer deaths would be recorded.

Balogun  Mary, an HND 1  student of Kwara State Polytechnic, said with the health insurance scheme, there won’t be lack of medical personnel or other materials that would be needed to treat patients in healthcare centres in schools. She also noted that this would improve the quality of the healthcare system in Nigeria.

For Olagoke Oyindamola, an  ND 2 student of   Gateway Polytechnic, Ogun State,  the health insurance policy would go a long way in boosting the capacity of institutions.

She said: “Whenever a student is diagnosed with any ailment and the school health centre lacks  the capacity of taking such patients, the health insurance scheme would cater for them.”

Hassan Omoyele, a 300-Level student of Forestry at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said: “If there can be healthcare insurance scheme, there won’t be the need for any one running around during emergency situations. Students would  be rest assured.”

On her part, Omotosho Sofiat, a 300-Level student of Ekiti State University, said: ” I think for the healthcare system to be much more improved in institutions and  for students to get better healthcare, the need for a health insurance scheme cannot be overemphasised.”

Babatunde Temidayo, Chemistry student at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye believes it is necessary to have programmes that can improve the healthcare systems in tertiary institutions.

He said: “They say experience is  best at showing things. Sometime in the past, at school, I unfortunately developed malaria symptoms. After experiencing repeated symptoms for a week, I decided to check into the school health centre based on the advice of a friend.

“On getting to school, I was tested and asked some questions about how I was feeling to which I gave adequate answers. I was praying silently that If I would receive injection, it should be given by a nurse. Unknown to me, they didn’t understand how to treat malaria. I was given excess drugs. I was told to go and eat then use them. I complied with the instructions and, after a week, the case grew worse that I couldn’t eat again. I had to go home for proper treatment.”

Another student, Zainab Ahmad, a Mass Communication student of Ado Bayero University, said: “It is important for tertiary institutions to have health insurance schemes for students. It is a necessity for the students to have access to good healthcare at a subsidised rate.

‘’Some students are from poor families  and having a health insurance scheme will give them access to healthcare at an affordable rate with little to no cost.”

Also Rebecca Amos, a student of University of Uyo, said:” It will help the institution to appear smart in the eyes of the public. It will also help the students; they already have faculty and departmental bills, courses and term papers to deal with. To now start thinking about your health is another burden. It is important to invest in one’s health.This shows preparedness for unexpected situations.”

Wasiu Oyeniran, an HND 2 student of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, said: ” Most Nigerian  tertiary institutions lack standard healthcare centres, thus, it has led to untimely loss of lives of students. However, having health insurance policy for students is like bringing a lasting solution to the problem of which I believe every institution shouldn’t fail to have.”

Phillip Faith, an ND 1 student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, said embracing the idea would bring about effective and efficient health care system in each institution, noting that it would lead to better and quality service delivery.

Aro Damilola, a 400-Level student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, said: “Nigerian university healthcare system leaves much to be desired. Most lack basic facilities. Hence, it will be so difficult for them to offer quality healthcare service to students. But with the health insurance scheme, it will even serve as a life saver to them also. They will be able to deliver adequate care to any sick student conveniently. It will aid their service ”

Oluwakunle Faith, a 100-Level student of Ekiti State University, while decrying the healthcare system of the country generally, said: “The country’s healthcare system as a whole is bad. So how then can  tertiary institutions’ healthcare system be okay? However, for students to receive adequate and complete healthcare service with the full amenities, they should subscribe to the health insurance scheme.”

Shittu Mariam, an  ND 2 Marketing student of Iree Polytechnic, said if health centres in schools cannot do what is expected of them, then they are needless. She decried situations where students lose their lives as a result of lack of medical personnel. She urged schools to prioritise their healthcare system and institute insurance  policies to help students get cheap healthcare.

Our Reporter 

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta through its Community-Based Farming Scheme (COBFAS), has begun the sale of yams.

Director of the scheme Prof Sunday Adigbo  noted that the university was lucky to have a fruitful harvest this year despite various challenges, stressing that the support from staff members contributed to the success of the harvest.

“We planted November last year and it did well. Though we were faced with challenges like labour and stagnation of rain, we were still able to come out with bountiful harvest. There was cessation of rain from July till around the second week of September. We were lucky, unlike other crops that failed,” he said.

Prof Adigbo noted that the financial support from the university was instrumental to the overall success of the harvest. He lauded members of staff of COBFAS for the team work and cooperation, noting that COBFAS has about 1.2 hectares of yam plantation.

The Principal Agricultural Officer of COBFAS, Mr Augustine Kuforiji, noted that the ongoing yam sales was part of efforts by the centre to ensure food sufficiency following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

He stated that despite the great challenge posed by the pandemic andclimate change, the centre was able to put in the necessary work to make sure there was enough food to satisfy the immediate needs of the people and the FUNAAB community at large.

Read Also: Ex-student donates plantation to FUNAAB

“The input this year is  commensurate with the output even though we cannot give full assessment yet because we are still harvesting. Meanwhile, we should have had more and bigger products than this, but due to the climate change and the short fall of rain in the second quarter to the beginning of third quarter, we were a little bit challenged but the sizes we have seen so far are quite good and people have been patronising us,” he stated.

Speaking on people’s perception about the prices of the yam, Mr. Kuforiji noted that before sales started, they had done their market survey and the prices at which the yams are being sold presently were good enough, adding that though some members of the university  were

of the opinion that they should be given out for free. He, however, said that due to the prevailing economic situation, they have had a reasonable patronage by buyers, stressing that many people appreciated

the efforts of COBFAS at bringing quality yam for them.

Mrs. Olubukola Ogunremila, Principal Accountant Officer of COBFAS, stated that the pricing was commendable, adding that people had been coming to patronise them.

 

Mrs. Sokari Pedro, who patronized COBFAS praised  the university for the initiative and stated that she got to know about the yam sale through an online agricultural platform.

By Tunde Adebayo

 

Long before now,  Nigeria has been identified with misconduct, corruption, nepotism, fraud, immodesty, violence  and all sorts of misdeeds.

Even citizens are so judgmental that they only associate negative  things with the country. Our level of patronage to anything originally  created from here is abysmal at best. We crave foreign things instead.

Truthfully, Nigeria has not done much for its inhabitants to be indebted. And most of the fault goes to the small circle of leaders who ran it to the ground over the 60 years of independence. However, they cannot take the blame completely as we the citizens are also culpable.

After all, we placed them there, we complain at their inactivity, but take no action to correct this. There is strength in numbers , but we all cower behind our Television sets, saying words we cannot  speak out in the public. Arm chair critics we have become.And if anyone does? He becomes public enemy number one.

Our  lack of   patriotism  also accounts   for our slow  progress over the years.

Being up front, the Nigerians do not believe in the country, and thoughts of it becoming developed aren’t entertained. The notion in itself is laughable to some who would just say, Nigeria is a sinking ship, escape while you can. This is disappointing, as those who are supposed to be advocate of the nation are the ones trying to pull it down.

An average Nigerian is not accountable for his/her misgivings, and yet we expect the government to be transparent. We are quick to forget that every nuclear family is a unit of government. We barely pay tax actively. Nowadays, the government has found a way around tax evasion by deducting it directly from wages, bank transactions and purchases. Most people are ignorant about this fact, because if they do, they would device a cunning way to bypass this.

We have this viewpoint that life is every man for himself. We care less about the wellbeing of our neighbours; we always want to come out on top. While you can’t fault one for being ambitious, but is the means justifiable? Nigeria is failing because we don’t work collectively.

We have  got a ladder to climb, one that would take us to a city of promise, a perfect oasis,but instead of climbing with heads high, we focus on the identity of those climbing behind or before us, nurturing thoughts on how to trip their ladder.

Yet, we blame everyone but ourselves. We blame other tribes, public agencies, foreign countries and the government for all our woes. But have we really looked into the mirror?

Let’s go five centuries back, slavery was at its inception, but one thing we have chosen to ignore is that we didn’t deal with intra-continental slavery before the get-go of Trans-Saharan/Trans-Atlantic slavery. This slavery often come from petty squabble turn skirmish that leads to an invasion of villages, where all prisoners of war are turned to slaves who cultivate lands for their masters till they perish and that does not  even end their misery as their offsprings continue this cycle.

What’s more hypocritical is that most of the slaves captured by the Europeans were in fact sold to them by our then monarchs, merchants and elders.

Fast forward to 2020, a good percentage of the Nigerian populace thinks it is good for our boys to engage in cyber fraud. There is no justification for swindling people of their entire fortune because of the crimes committed by their ancestors. Those with the worthy motive to do so are the African-Americans who have had to endure torture, murder, suffering, genocide, violence, racism and all sorts of disparaging acts. Certainly not us, not we Nigerians that  were regarded as the lucky ones, who either escaped slavery or were guilty of selling our brothers to the Europeans.

Somewhere right now the  grandson of a slave merchant is sitting before his computer trying to dupe oblivious Asians for sins purportedly committed by their ancestors who were Europeans.

And this has led to low foreign investment vital for a developing nation. We have  pushed away investors and tourists .

Nigeria is now a country where you can be termed a fool only for being your brother’s keeper. We have the default mindset to swindle anyone that is unsuspecting all in the name of being termed smart.

A nation where the masses do not believe you can make an honest and legitimate living. Its either you are fetish or cunning.

This is not to say our leaders are saintly.But  they have failed to  imbibe  the spirit of patriotism into the citizens. Most of the electorate seeking office are not  doing it for a better tomorrow.They are self-serving .

The governmental bodies lack hope or belief in the country. And when this is lost, how well do you expect them to fight for the ascension of this nation. To them, this country is a failed state. And as far as they are concerned, Nigeria is a sinking ship and they are only salvaging the good stuff. If the ones supposed to handle affairs of the country are without will, how well would the masses fare?

They have made it all seem like rocket science, complicated things to the boot. Obviously, Nigeria’s problem has eaten deep into its marrow and it cannot be resolved overnight. Not even in a decade. However, the nationals deserve the right to see that the country is worth fighting for. Because it can only be built together.

It has to be reciprocal. You cannot ask me for a favour, then tighten your hands. All and sundry must work assiduously  to allow citizens look at the fluttering green-white-green with pride and not disgust. Nigerians need to recite the national anthem with the strong sense of belonging and a call to action and not reproach. A Nigerian should be reluctant to leave his/her country for any reason at all, not jump on the next flight in escape.

A Nigeria that would be free for all, where everyone lives in harmony and without fear of corruption and violence. Patriotism is the seed of a thriving nation. Let us all  be patriotic!

 

• Adebayo is a HND 2 Mechanical Engineering student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan

By Abdulrasheed Hammad

 

Nafiu Abdulsalam, a graduate of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, has won 13  awards at the just-concluded induction of 2019 UDUS medical graduates.

The event was held at Ginginya Coral Hotel, Sokoto, last week.

He won  the award for the best student in Anatomy,  Dr Anas Sabir’s best in Anatomy, the best student in Medical Microbiology.

Other  awards include  the best student in Pathology, the best student in Pharmacology, the best student in Basic Clinical Sciences, the best student in Medicine, Dr Anas Sabir’s best in Medicine, best in Clinical Sciences, Prof K.A Iseh’s best in Clinical Sciences.

Abdulsalam, who  also emerged the  overall best graduating doctor, won  Dr Anas Sabir’s award for the best graduating doctor, and the Nigerian Medical Association award for the best graduating doctor.

While on campus, he was a one-time Assistant Secretary, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Medical Student Association (UDUMSA), Director Standing Committee on Medical Education and Health, and also a member of numerous committees till his final year.

He took part  in numerous competitions including (UDUMSA) quiz competition, and the maiden NMA regional quiz competition, among others.

An elated Abdulsalam disclosed that hard work and persistent reading at night made him achieve the feat.

“Well, I knew it would make me and my family happy so I decided to work hard for it. And I knew I had the capabilities to do it, I had friends who advised and motivated me, “ he said.

He noted that he had challenges in  juggling academics with extra-curricular activities.

Abdulsalam, however, advised  undergraduates who wanted to emulate him to be focused and dedicated, noting that understanding oneself was crucial in making exploits.

“If you are going to mimic someone, do it in your way. Don’t force yourself to be someone else,“ he advised.

By Sam Ibok and Mcdouggie Ekperikpe

 

Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) has admitted 197 into its 67 post-graduate programmes, The event took place at TETFUND Pavillion  at the  main campus.

Declaring the event open, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Nse  Essien,  described the ceremony  as  a landmark event in the history of the institution, noting that it had joined universities positioned to create knowledge through high quality research.

“This ceremony is a landmark event in the history of the university. It  has joined the league of universities which have been positioned to create new knowledge boundaries by embarking on high quality basic and applied research, “ he said.

He thanked the state government  for  constructing a 2.83km road network to open up the permanent site of the main campus which leads to the post-graduate students’ hostel and the School of Post-graduate Studies Administrative Block.

Prof Essien also thanked the immediate past VC, Prof Eno  Ibanga, for establishing the School of Postgraduate Studies and Board of School of Post-graduate Studies.

He lauded  the former Chairman of the University Governing Council, Mr Asuquo Udofia, for constructing and donating a postgraduate students’ hostel facility to the varsity.

He urged other multinational organisations , philanthropists and public spirited individuals to assist the institution  by constructing a  postgraduate students’ hostel at the Obio Akpa campus.

The VC congratulated the matriculating students on their success in gaining admission into the postgraduate programmes of the school and wished them well in all their endeavours.

 

 

Over the years, many Nigerians have lost their lives as a result of poor healthcare system and service delivery. However, the death of Yussuf Maleek, a Computer Engineering student of Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa, has raised concerns among students who seek an improvement in healthcare facilities in the institution, reports KAYODE ALHASSAN  (OGITECH).

 

The young and promising Yussuf Maleek had dreamt of a glorious future after securing admission to study Computer Engineering at the Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa. Little did he know that fate had other plans for him. He lost his life to the cold hands of death last week. He was knocked down by a motorcycle in front of the school while crossing the road.

The death of Maleek led to a peaceful protest as students barred people from entering the school. They carried placards bearing messages likw: “Enough is Enough”, “What is our Obligatory fee used for?”, and “Students’ lives matter”, among others.

During the protest, the students lamented the lack of facilities in the school clinic despite paying the “Obligatory fee.” They said Maleek would not have died if the school clinic was well-equipped.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that  when the accident occurred, the deceased was taken to a private hospital outside the school before it was decided that to take him to the state hospital in Ota. He died on the way to the state hospital.

The SUG President, Comrade Eniola Ogunleye, affirmed that no school activities would hold until the demands of the students were met.The demands to the state government include compensation to the family of the deceased, stoppage of the Obligatory fee, and upgrading the health centre, among others.

An unidentified protesting student said: “Despite the fees we pay, including the  Obligatory fee, there is no standard medical facility in the school clinic. Rushing a dying young man from Igbesa to Ota, with the bad road, is enough to kill an ill person not to talk of an accident victim.

Another student who pleaded anonymity said:  “We pay Obligatory fees yearly, where is the money we have been paying, why is there a terrible health care centre in the school?”

Comrade Mbam Job Ndubuisi, the president of  the Science Laboratory Technology Department, said the students didn’t know what the Obligatory fee is used for.

“Till now we don’t  know what the obligatory fee  is used for. In fact,  in  my HND1 I paid school fees N50,265 while obligatory was N35,000. In HND2 I paid  N49,765 as school fee, while Obligatory was N26,400,” he said.

Adebola Adedeji, a student of Microbiology, urged the leadership of the school to establish a  standard medical facility.

For  Aboluwarin Emmanuel, a student in  the Department of Mass Communication, the school’s healthcare system is nothing to write home about.

He said: “If  any student goes to the health centre saying he has malaria they give the person paracetamol. It is terrible. Our health centre lacks the needed facilities. Drugs are unavailable, it is sad. Thousands of students  pay Obligatory fee yearly, yet there is no improvement whatsoever at the health care centre.

“Sadly, the death of a student has now prompted those at the helm of affairs in the school to construct a speedbreaker,” he said.

Calling for an improved health care system, Comrade Emmanuel Anyiam, the social director II of OGITECH, said: “The health care facility in OGITECH is sickening. There are structures that ought to be put in place. It is  very sad that the ugly incident  happened  before the thinking of making the right move. It is appalling to hear that the institution doesn’t have a proper first aid kit. If  everything was in place, I don’t think the student would have died.

“Igbesa is growing by the day; this is an eye opener that the community needs a general hospital.”

Another student who pleaded anonymity noted that the healthcare centre was terrible. He said it was painful that after paying the  Obligatory fee every year, the health system of the institution remained shambolic.

“It is quite painful that we pay the Obligatory fee, yet nothing is done with the money. At the health centre, somebody complained of typhoid, they gave him Flagyl, another person complained of headache they asked him to  drink water and relax.

‘’The management has not been proactive enough. It was after the death of Yussuf that they started doing road breakers to stop vehicles from speeding,” she said.

Another student, Baraka Ganiu, said:  “Even if the clinic lacked standard facilities, there  should be a well-stocked  first aid box. If  there was adequate health care provision in the school, it wouldn’t have led to the death of the student. If they cannot provide health care at least first aid should be made available.  Students  should not look at academics alone when choosing schools,  healthcare facilities should also be  considered.”

 

School management reacts

The school management in a statement said: “To state the facts of the sad incident as it happened on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, the management was promptly informed that a commercial motorcycle popularly called Okada had hit Yussuf Maleek while crossing the road in front of the school. He was rushed by those close by to a nearby clinic (not the Institute’s Clinic). Eyewitnesses confirmed that the motorcyclist in question was riding on a one-way lane. He has since been arrested by the Police and transferred to the Area Command, Agbara. The Institute’s Matron on getting the information, got the immediate go-ahead of the Institute’s Management to transfer him from the external Clinic to the State Hospital, Ota.

“Not only did the institute facilitate the immediate transfer, he was accompanied by four members of Staff including a medical staff from the institute’s clinic and two of his friends.Unfortunately, Yussuf Maleek gave up the ghost despite further attempts to save his life at the State Hospital, Ota. The management takes the safety and security of every student seriously and this event is a sad and regrettable one. No one should lose a child let alone this way.We commiserate with the family of Yussuf Maleek, who we have maintained contact with since when this loss occurred.“

By Abdulganiyu, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto

Truly, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) should look for a reasonable strategy to tackle the imbalances in the educational system. Strike as a strategy poses a threat to  students. This strategy is among the leading factors projecting the country negatively before the world as regards  education. Sadly, the education sector is still in shambles.

Always, ASUU claims that the only language the Federal Government understands is strike.  Resorting to strike is slowing the progress of the sector. It affects students  and takes their time.

Strike is not a solution to the problems in our tertiary institutions. It has not brought the desired change. It is better to look for a promising alternative to strike.

Recently, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf, a representative of Kaba/Bunu/Ijumu Local Government Area  of Kogi State at  the National  Assembly,  suggested parliamentary and legislative intervention in the issue of strike. By extension, his opinion was directed to the National Assembly to solve the constant disagreement between ASUU and Federal Government.

Undoubtedly, education in the country continues to suffer. Robust discussions should be held by  both parties. They should understand themselves and find a realistic and everlasting solution. Federal Government must be ready to honour our lecturers and consider them more important than before. Government should fulfil its outstanding promises.

We have to remind the Federal Government to respect teachers  and elevate their status. Hardly will you find a lecturer in our public universities without any external means of income. Compared to other professions, teaching/lecturing has  always been relegated. The impact of  teachers or lecturers cannot be overemphasised.

Federal Government should be reminded that, one of the first sectors that should be given priority  and special treatment is education. Education has been described  as the bedrock of national development. So, government should be fair to striking lecturers and consider students who have been at home for over eight months.

• Abdulganiyu is a 200-Level student of Islamic Studies, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto