By Mudathir Hayatullahi Folorunsho

A week after the students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) were thrown into mourning, following the death of a female student, Motunrayo Zainab Abdulrauf, the death of a lecturer, Dr. Muhammad Awwal Musa, sent them back into mourning last Thursday.

Until her death, Zainab was a 200-Level student of Computer Science and Mathematics and assistant course representative of her class.

Musa was a lecturer in the Department of Human Anatomy, College of Health Sciences, and member of Anatomical Society of Nigeria (ASN).

Abdullahi Adam, a 300-Level Computer Science student, who is Zainab’s brother, said she had just recovered from malaria fever before giving up the ghost around 4am on August 5, in their parents’ home in Abuja.

“The news was very shocking to me as Zainab was with our parents in Abuja. She had malaria but had recovered from that. It was yesterday that my dad called me that she was complaining of body pain. I felt very sad when I heard about her demise around 4am and I’m still feeling the sadness because I will miss her a lot,” he said.

Friends remember Zainab’s kindness

Zainab’s friends find it difficult to get over her loss because of her gentility and kindness.

Adam described the deceased as a religious and loving person.  He said she also helped him a lot.

“If sometimes I felt hungry while in school, she was the only lady I could tell to cook for me as a senior brother. She was always ready to carry out any vocation I assigned her when we were together. There are many unforgettable memories which I cannot explain as a brother and sister,” he said.

Ayodele Ilias, a 200-Level student of Mathematics also described the late Zainab as kind and generous.

“Zainab was my school friend. She was kind, generous, friendly and nice to people around her. We used to sit together in the lecture hall while in school. I felt so bad when I heard the bad news,” Ilias said.

Abdulrasheed Abdulquadri Eleru, a 300-Level student of Adult Education, shared how Zainab stood by him in a difficult situation.

“She did one thing for me that I can’t forget in my life. Last year, when I was in UG2, we were reading in the same class at the Faculty of Law. I lost my examination card some minutes to the exam.  Wallahi Tallahi, she tried her best to help me find my lost examination card. I pray that Al-Jannat will be her final abode,” Abdulrasheed said.

Students will not forget their role model teacher

Musa will be remembered by his students for his love and support and exemplary living.

Yusuf Usman, 200 level student of College of Health Science, described Musa  as a role model. “Dr. Muhammad was a role model, a well-respected and respectful individual and religious person. He was so humble during his life time.

“Among the unforgettable memories I had with Dr. Musa was that, once in class, he told us that he would prefer students call him ‘Malam Musa’ to ‘Doctor Musa’.  Some days later, a colleague and I met him at the faculty’s entrance, the first word my colleague uttered was ‘Malam Musa’, and to my surprise, he answered and greeted us,” he said.

Imrana Buhari,  a 300-Level student of Human Medicine, remembers Musa’s classes.

He said: “I was shocked when I heard about his demise, and was thinking of the day I too will answer the call.  I met him, not less than a year ago and I loved his company with his students. The hours we spent in class, receiving his lectures were more of advice, guidance and counselling. “The late Dr. Muhammad Musa was a very humble and kind hearted man. I can never forget the day we met at UDUTH mosque, we both greeted each other and I can’t even tell who greeted who first, between him and I. To my surprise, he extended a hand shake towards me and we both shook hands.”

Another student of the College of Health Science, Issa Mustapha Tosin, also described the late Musa as his humble friend and lecturer who never wore the dresses of pride while on earth but always made himself available to this colleagues.

“Dr Muhammad Awwal Musa was my humble friend and lecturer. Even though he preferred being called ‘Mallam Musa’, he was a kind, dedicated and compassionate man who was always ready to make himself available to support any of his colleagues, friends and students.”

Mustapha mourned the demise of his lecturer, commiserated his family, colleagues and friends, and also prayed for him to meet his Lord.

“I felt devastated to receive the sad news of the demise of my friend. With his loving and kind attitude, he won the hearts of many of us. I commiserate with his family, friends, colleagues, Department of Human Anatomy, CHS, Sokoto, the Anatomical Society of Nigeria(ASN), and the entire UDUMSA over this great irreparable loss. May Allah grant us the fortitude to bear this loss.

Mustapha added: “I pray that May Almighty Allah forgives his sins and grants him the highest place in Aljannah Firdaus.”

By Hamzat Ibrahim Abaga

Some student-leaders at various tertiary institutions in Niger State have said the continuous closure of schools, as a result of COVID-19, will affect their academic pursuits.

President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), College of Health Sciences in Minna, the state capital, Maryam Pai, noted that staying at home has been difficult with the academic calendar affected.

“I am not finding it easy staying at home, especially when I think of the semester I am  yet to cover. Our school academic calendar has been affected.”

As for the SUG President of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), Idris Baba Elomi, staying at home has negatively affected him and his academic performance.

Read Also: CONUA ready to return to work

He said: “This is because all efforts to read through my lecture notes proved abortive.”

Muhammad Abacha, the SUG President, School of Health Technology, Minna, described the outbreak of the pandemic and lockdown as unfortunate.

He said the novel coronavirus brought along many challenges.

He said: “I should have graduated but the pandemic has prevented me from finishing.”

According to him, staying at home to prevent the spread of the virus is a welcome idea.

“But as a student, I feel bad that our schools are closed till further notice,” Abacha said.

Yahaya Abubakar, the SUG President of College of Education (CoE), Minna, appealed to the government to reopen schools, saying the closure has done more harm than good to the education sector.

By Tunde Adebayo

It is no longer news that coronavirus has continued to ravage the world. Even a child born in January, knows that there is a virus which has brought about ‘the new normal.’ That being said, the world always moves on. Humanity is notorious for the ease with which it adapts to tough situations. And this pandemic would be no different.

What is troubling, however, is the attitude that would follow when this plague ceases to exist. Various governments had earlier locked down their respective countries. But in the recent weeks they have begun easing the lockdown. This is because they cannot bear the economic consequences of being idle for the better part of the year.

Among the various sectors affected is the education. In fact, schools were shut the week figures of affected persons rose astronomically. And since March 23, schools have remained closed. Five months down the line, resumption does not even seem to be on the horizon.

Now the students are eager to return regardless of the precarious state the pandemic has plunged the nation into. One could hardly blame them. No one foresaw such, and there was no preparation whatsoever for a warlike experience. Sadly, some still doubt the existence of the virus. They believe that the virus is a hoax orchestrated by world leaders in cahoots with WHO to swindle the poor masses of their hard earned cash. The media has termed such believers ‘covidiots’.

The Ministry of Education does not want to be too hasty in reopening  schools despite the pressure and lamentations of students. It is puzzling that students feared the virus more when it was just 10 cases than when it’s a whopping 20,000.

In the case of an early reopening, it is likely there could be a mass exodus of carriers from their respective states. This would then put the most vulnerable (aged lecturers) in danger.

But where guidelines are strictly followed, new practices such as heavy reliance on online platforms for academic interactive sessions,social distancing and the likes would  become our ways of life.

Furthermore, social gatherings would be banned and so campus associations would not function well.

This virus could even make school management be lethargic towards their duties as they would feel the world is in hibernation and no one would scrutinise what is done or how it’s been done so far they keep to the preventive measures.

One thing most students fail to understand is that when COVID-19 stops existing, it would take some time before normality returns.

The nations of the world are going to be hard hit by global recession and austerity would set in. How many parents can actually afford to pay school fees after three months lockdown where they could barely feed?

Palliatives aren’t something to be hoping for, as it’s mostly every man for himself. One would wonder why the students are so eager to return despite knowing that things would be different from the norm.

We look forward to when the Presidential Task Force (PTF) deems it safe for schools to begin classes. However we plead that the process that follows be monitored closely as the campus could easily be a hotbed of virus transmission.

• Adebayo is an Electrical Engineering student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan

It is no news that our power supply is abysmal. This has been a recurring problem that has defied solution since independence. However, some engineering students across tertiary institutions have suggested sustainable alternatives, reports TUNDE ADEBAYO (IBADANPOLY)

Power supply has become to youths what oxygen is to humans. Basically, it is part of our life. Students are conversant with technology, and the soul of this technology is power. Every day, we use different electrically-powered devices, facilities, equipment and machines on the campuses. Students live in a society that is strongly dependent on constant power supply.

Moreover, some facilities and equipment needed for academic trainings are electrically powered. Without power, technicians often complain that practicals cannot hold. This thoroughly affects students’ academics.

For instance, a mechatronic or electronic engineering student would need adequate power supply to work on some practical or project works, or probably the serious-minded ones want to sharpen their practical knowledge of things learnt or videos watched on YouTube relating to their course of study but are often discouraged to do this because of irregular power supply. This reduces the quality education and advancement in knowledge one is entitled to.

Some students often complain of having power supply for as low as one hour per day. Most students possess one or more electronic devices (Smartphones, PCs, Televisions and Bluetooth devices) which they use for different purposes, some to study privately, others for e-learning. Basically, they are used for communication, and some students research for their assignments or project on their phones.

Students lament inadequate power supply

A HND2 student of Electrical Engineering at The Polytechnic, Ibadan (TPI), Taiwo Esther said: “Personally, I believe stable power supply is one way the burden on students can be reduced. Most students depend on power supply to prepare meals, charge phones, torches and laptops, especially when working on assignment with deadlines and projects. When power supply is not stable, the effect on students is increased cost of living in form of paying to charge phones, fill gas or stove used to cook instead of electric cooker. Some students even go hungry till whenever there’s power supply.”

Zainab Ahmad, a 400-Level Mass Communication student in Ado Bayero University, Kano explained that students needed stable power supply because of technological advancements. Most study materials are now in electronic form which would be inaccessible without power. Physical libraries are not only expensive but outdated. E-libraries on the other hand are easier to use and filled with mostly updated books. So, lack of power hinders this.

Sunday Adeniyi, a 200-level student of Electrical Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), complained that inadequate electricity remains the bane of learning in the country. “I can’t practise what was taught in class if I have to depend on rechargeable lamps. I still believe the use of rechargeable lamps is a limiting factor on the study rate of average Nigerian students; once the lamp is dead, so is the will to study,” he said.

Temidayo Babajide, a 300-level student of Chemistry in Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), said without constant power supply, it is difficult to get water and do other things that require electricity.

They have suggested a sustainable alternative source of power supply. Abokede Segun, a 300-level Electrical Engineering student of FUTA, said: “By using geothermal energy conservation, we convert natural gas from decomposed waste to run the turbine blade which in turn generates electricity for us to use.”

He  further explained: “We have a lot  of parcels of land in the West, what we need is conversion companies willing to build their power system underground or better still run pipes with pump machine to extract the natural gas (methane).

He continued: “The sun in the North is very useful. I don’t see reason why we cannot have roofs made of solar panels or maybe walls with solar panels inbuilt. It’s not so difficult for the Ministry of Power to sponsor institutions to build something in those areas to enjoy sufficient amount of electricity from their innovation. Just recently, I saw a tree of solar panels. This kind of innovation is very possible, it’s not until we build ship-size solar panels before we can acquire the amount of energy we need.

“Then the South is windy, thanks to the riverine areas and all. I don’t know if the wind rate is much but at least we might be able to build a propeller and an amplifier attached with the propeller so that in case of small wind speed, there will be ways to improve the performance of the wind turbine.”

Corroborating, Crown Polytechnic ND2 Mechanical Engineering student, Adedeji Victor, said: “We have to be flexible as we have numerous sources. In the North, for example, the sun is readily available so they can invest in solar. Wind energy is also possible, but it might be more expensive to acquire its facilities and it’s cumbersome to maintain. In the South, with the rivers available, schools can build dams. Even two schools can share that burden, like in Lagos, UNILAG, LASU and LASPOTECH can engage in a joint venture to build a dam that would provide for them. It’ll be cost effective and very efficient.

He continued, “At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, an organic waste plant was launched several months back. Apparently, it can generate 100KW of power. Also, the University of Ibadan also boasts of a solar plant that costs billions of naira. It was inaugurated in 2016, and said to have a life span of a century. Another 7.1 megawatts solar hybrid power plant has been built at the Ado Bayero University, Kano. At the Obafemi Awolowo University, a gas-powered turbine is being constructed with a power capacity of 8.0 megawatts.”

On her part, Blessing Efemena, an HND 3 Electronics Engineering student of Auchi Polytechnic, noted that  solar panels could be installed on rooftops of school buildings to give power when needed, coupled with a standby generator. Solar panels can be used for a wide variety of applications, including remote power systems for cabins, telecommunications equipment, remote sensing, and of course for the production of electricity for residential and commercial purposes.

Halimah Johnson of the University of Jos, a 100-level student of Electrical Engineering, wants the government to pursue more targeted steps to grow alternative power sources such as renewables and to increase overall electricity supply.

She said: “An example is the obvious solar system. I heard the World Bank gave us a huge sum to resolve our power problems. Such fund is enough to fund construction of solar panels. In schools, for example, you can just put enough panels on roofs. There are two forms of solar energy source. One requires accumulator to store energy, the other provides directly. The latter would be cheaper and also go a long way by relieving the national grid. Then an agreement would be made with power distribution companies to supply light only at nights, considering the solar will only power during the day.”

In agreement with the above, Samuel Utiwoma, a 400-level Electrical Engineering student of Ado Bayero University, Kano suggested: “My school uses a hybrid-solar source. Most schools can adopt that as they only have to invest. Solar power is the most viable and on a long run cheaper than the rest of all sources. Schools could have electrical students work on solar panels/inverters as final year projects. That means they will not have to pay external Chinese technicians for service readily available. This will also educate students on solar installation.”

Akinpelu Ahmed, a final year Mechanical Engineering student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan (TPI), noted that the usage of waste energy is a recent development which, if adopted, would help in solving electricity problems in the country. Dorcas Samson, a 300-level Electrical Engineering student of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, said the privatisation of the power sector was supposed to yield positive results, however, hydroelectric and even gas could prove a remedy for the power sector.

She added, “If all major educational institutions construct their own power source and are removed from the national grid, there would be a slight improvement in power supply to residential communities and this can force industrial and commercial sectors to provide theirs too.”

By Olayinka Abdurrazzaq

The rule of law and democracy has become the major features of any civilised society, without which anarchy and tyrant may delve in which can call for unrest and distruption of a nation.

In Nigeria, the problem of law is lesser than that of convention. It has gotten to the extent that law is no more in active where the convention is acting. The illustration is the exact of what is happening in Nigeria and it is really affecting the practice of democracy.

Convetion and Law are two different things. Convention should be passive where the law is active. But it is pathetic that the reverse is the case in the country of ours. The fear of not violating a non-enforceable convention has made us dust the face of law which its enforcement is beyond a doubt.

This system has become rampant in Nigeria. If the grundnorm (Constitution) is not saved from the punishment of convention, what will be that of NBA Constitution? The one that receives its validity from the grund norm.

Read Also: How Akpata broke SANs’ hold on NBA leadership

Though there is no provision in the NBA Constitution which provides that an NBA’s president must a SAN, yet the convention and custom that NBA’s president must be a SAN has made us forget the settled provision of constitution that provides for universal suffrage for almost 30 years.

The victory of Akpata is not only a victory but a memorable history. His victory can be likened to that of President Buhari, who defeated a party rulling for 16 years of unprecedented. NBA has been rulling for thirty years by SANs. Change has now come to reset the long time history and set new goals for the young lawyers.

This result represents a sudden change in the order, as Akpata is  the first non-SAN to lead the Nigerian Bar Association in years. Jubilations and rejoice from members of the NBA indicate that there has been a long-standing hunger for a paradigm shift. And now it appears many of the association’s members have a good reason to be excited.

Congratulations, dear boss. I wish you an outstanding success in this assidous task you are about to head. May God lead you through to have a breakthrough administration. Once again, congratulations Olumide Akpata. Esq, the new elected President of the NBA.

• Olayinka Abdurrazzaq is a 300 level law student, University of Ilorin/ Writer.

By Abdulmajid Bala Kangiwa

 

Throughout the period of closure of schools due to the Coronavirus pandemic, there was an upsurge in demand by Nigerian students, especially undergraduates for schools to reopen. Numerous comments by students accused the government of stalling their future and not showing enough interest in the education sector.
While the Federal Government remained adamant on its position not to reopen schools, the Academic Staff Union of Universities—ASUU didn’t seem to oppose the decision or be on the side of the students, as it urged the government not to reopen schools until 2021, threatening further not to resume even if the government reopened schools this year.
This made me ponder and ask a pertinent question “why are university students in such a hurry,” considering the that help is not forthcoming from any angle. Neither the Federal Government nor ASUU which should be responsible for the resumption seem to be interested in it; consolidating this is the fact that the students have not proffered reasons the schools should be reopened amidst the so-called coronavirus surge.
Apparently, a number of them only want to resume because they are extremely bored at home and are tired of doing nothing. They seem so eager and angry not to even think if it is really safe to resume while spreading some unjustified reasons that since markets and places of worship have been allowed to reopen, final year students of secondary schools allowed to resume to prepare and seat for their WAEC examinations and elections allowed to hold in Edo and Ondo States, then schools reopen ing was long overdue.
Personally, I find the above comparison so illogical, considering the damage it would do to the state and the entire people of Nigeria if those sectors were not allowed to function amidst the pandemic. Just imagine yourself if markets have been closed throughout the period of the lockdown, how many people would have died of hunger; how much millions businesses and government would lose. You could understand by applying the scenario to yourself; what would have happened to you? What would you and your family have been eating for over five months that would not have finished along the line? And what would you have done if your food finished while markets remained closed.
The final year secondary school pupils on the other hand are bound to lose a whole academic year if denied resumption to prepare and participate in this year’s WAEC examination. They would lose the opportunity to apply for admission to any of the West African universities as WAEC is one of the most vital requirements of seeking admission into the university. They would therefore remain ineligible to get admission into any university regardless of how excellent they pass their JAMB examinations.
Unlike the university students, all the people eligible to vote in governorship elections of both Edo and Ondo states are the indigenes of those states, it therefore poses less danger than universities where students from almost all the states would resume and mingle together which would hieghten the risk and exposure to the virus as some students will be coming from highly affected states.
Many students keep ‘pushing’ the issue that they want to graduate in time, I think what university students should clamour for restructuring of the system not early resumption amidst covid 19 pandemic.
Lastly, for those who are bored of staying at home, I advise them to use this opportunity to add more value to their lives by learning one skill or trade and reading more books that would impact their lives. A comedian once said “Education is the key to success but not in Nigeria.”

 

A 300-Level student of the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Miss Famuyiwa Olushola, has won the maiden edition of the International Bar Association (IBA) Vlogging Competition.

According to the UNILORIN Bulletin, Olushola’s award letter, written by Anna Toth, the Divisions Administrative Assistant at IBA headquarters in London, United Kingdom, informed her of being selected as the winner of the IBA Vlogging Competition in the law student category.

The publication said: “The IBA introduced the first ever vlogging competition for young lawyers and law students, looking for their input, thoughts and opinions on COVID-19 and the law.

“It received many impressive videos from all over the world which were all assessed based on topic, quality and professionalism.”

The award letter, dated July 28, 2020, outlined the details of the award to include two years’ free student membership of the IBA, waived registration for either the Law Student Conference or a Young Lawyer Training Day, taking place in 2021.

Others include round trip economy airfare to attend the selected event and accommodation at conference hotel for the selected event.

Reacting to the feat Famuyiwa described it as a great impetus for her to work harder towards making a great career in the legal profession after her graduation and call to bar.