Category: Campus Life

From Emma Elekwa

 

A FORMER Corps member, Adejo Alexander Johnson, has advised prospective corps members not to be in a hurry to seek redeployment from states they are posted to for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

He regretted that some to-be corps members had missed their divine opportunities by redeploying from states they weare posted to because of wrong perception about the people.

Adejo, a native of Benue State, who served in Anambra State under 2019 Batch ‘B’ Stream II, said he sought redeployment because he erroneously thought the people were selfish and tribalistic.

The Mass Communication graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, however, said his service year turned out to be life transforming.

He said:“I was posted to Anambra State but had intention to relocate. I heard a whole lot about Igbo people, and how they segregate and prefer theirs to yours.

“The most threatening thing I heard about them is that they eat humans. My mom told me about her relation that was killed. I had a senior colleague in school, who they said was ‘killed’ during his service year in Enugu.

“When I got to camp, the first thing I did was to make my intention to redeploy known to the Coordinator. But he said he saw the potential in me that I will do well in the state. I was really not convinced.

“But in the course of the orientation, I had opportunities to do so many things. I was the camp MC and handled so many social activities as well as repairs of camp gadgets.

“After that, it was a whole different perception. The hospitality I received in and outside camp was amazing.

“I called my mom and told her I am no longer going to relocate.  I must confess my experience here was really mind blowing. I enjoyed the people and their culture.”

Adejo, who served as a teacher at the Kenneth Dike Memorial Secondary School, Awka, said he would not be returning home after the service, having secured a job with a media organisation in the state.

“Trust me; I’m not even leaving the state soon. I have two plans. At the moment, I am running an internship with a media outfit in the capital city.

In the course of the pandemic, I decided to build up my journalism skills. I spoke with the director of the company. I am working there as a reporter.

“I am also making plans to run a Master’s programme at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK). So, these will definitely keep me in Anambra in the next one to two years before God tells me the next plan,” he said.

 

The quick action of the Lagos State University (LASU) Students’ Union went a long way to save a student of the university, Esther Kuti, from losing her limbs in an accident early this month. SAMPSON UNAMKA reports on their effort.

 

Students’ Union (SU) leaders are usually in the news for ALUTA issues.  They are more likely to be seen agitating for one thing or the other that may result to protests which, sometimes, turn violent leading to destruction of property, school closures, arrests, injuries or death.

However SU also do good deeds and this story is about a good deed by the Students’ Union of the Lagos State University (LASU).

Thanks to the quick action of the LASU Students’ Union (LASUSU) Executive, Esther Ibukunoluwa Kuti, a student of the university, can think of walking again.

The 300-Level English Education student will be forever grateful to the SU leaders for coming through for her after she got hit by a vehicle: it raised funds for her surgery in three days.

The unfortunate incident happened on July 6. When Esther left her home to her sister’s place in Oyingbo in the heart of Lagos Mainland Local Government, little did she know it would not be a normal journey.

Her recollection of the incident is hazy.  When CampusLife asked about it, she said: “I don’t want to recall it.  Anytime I try to, I get a headache so I do not want to think about it.”

However, she recalled enough to say that she stopped over around Abiola Gardens in Alausa, Ikeja, to drop some items for someone then got hit by a Lexus Jeep while trying to cross the express road to continue her journey.

She could not remember how she was rescued but learnt she was taken from the accident scene to the Accident and Emergency Trauma Centre at Toll Gate before being referred to the GeneraI Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island.

The accident affected Esther’s legs.  She had serious injuries on her left leg, but it was not as bad as her right leg which needed to be operated upon.

With a pensioner father taking care of her and her siblings, the N500,000 needed for the surgery was not readily available. Esther said her roommate’s cry for help on her behalf brought the situation to light and caught the attention of LASUSU leaders.

“I didn’t  know how the news spread; I just saw calls coming in. My roommate posted the pictures first,” she said.

Speaking on LASUSU’s role, its Public Relations Officer, Zeenab Adams, said it took the union three days to raise over N300,000 for Esther’s surgery once they learnt of her predicament.

She said they took their fundraising campaign to various social media platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter and Instagram and got responses from members of the university community as well as outsiders.

The 300-Level Law student said: “On July 7, it came to my notice that Esther Kuti was involved in a car accident.

So, immediately I was aware, I placed a call to her to ask her some questions which she answered; and she told me they needed N300,000 for the leg surgery.

But you know after the N300,000, they will need more funds so I called out for N500,000 fundraiser to assist her. To raise the money, we made a lot of graphics and made use of all our social media platforms.

“I started sending messages to people I know in the capacity to assist her, including some of the members of LASU management team; and they assisted.

Some donated N500, some N1,000 and now we are happy the money was complete.  She has done the surgery and she is back hale and hearty. She said the leg is fine now but she can’t walk yet.”

Adams said she did not know Kuti before her accident but that the SU Exco acted because she was a student of the university and would do so for other students.

“Kuti and I do not have any relationship. If students reach out to us to assist them in this regard we will do that.  Right now, we have a mother to one of our students; she has kidney disease. We are trying to source money for her also,” she said.

LASUSU President Abdulbasit Ashade said the backing of the Students’ Union helped Esther get the funds she needed on time.

He said: “When I got the information from the PRO that one of our students had an accident and she was in a critical condition.

I immediately organised a virtual meeting with my executive members where we all deliberated on the way forward to assist Esther.

As we all know, the student union government is saddled with the responsibility to protect and promote the interest of students both on an off campus, so it is our duty to stand up whenever one of our students is in need of any assistance we can render.

“So, the issue of Esther is not the first we will be treating. We have had lots of issues like that because we believe an injury to one is an injury to all.

And secondly we know that if Esther on her own should solicit for funds from people they will barely give her the needed attention, but using the name and image of the Students Union, everyone will definitely want to reckon with the union or anything that has to do with student unionism.”

When she had to go in for the surgery, Esther said she had no fears about the outcome. She credited that to the massive support of family and friends.

“Actually, I was rest assured. I had a lot of people giving me confidence, most especially my boyfriend, roomie and few others.

I wanted so badly to live for them despite the pains. After the surgery, I was very much relieved of my pains, I could lift up my leg unlike before the surgery,” she said.

Now that the surgery is behind her, Esther is looking forward to getting back to shape.  She, however, needs to give herself time to heal.

“I can move my leg, but I cannot walk yet.  The doctors said I should not stress it,” she said.

Asked what would have happened if LASU SU had not come to her rescue, she said “Ahh! May be I could have survived by God’s grace alone”

Praising LASUSU for coming to Esther’s aid,  the Coordinator, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations, LASU, Mr. Ademola Adekoya, said they deserved commendation.

“The initiative is by the students.  It is their way of contributing to the society; rendering help to their own.  It is laudable.  If they can do this at this level, they will do even more  when they get to the bigger society,” he said.

By Oluwatobi Odeyinka

 

Democracy and federalism have proven to be among the best approaches to governance.

One can imagine the excitement with which the old generation of pre-independent Nigeria would have embraced the democratic white dove that was handed over by Britain and how they would have been enchanted by its pureness.

Democracy was perceived as an unblemished system. Our leaders announced that our democracy and federal system would be modelled after the United States of America, a nation that many covet for its near perfection in political administration.

The poor man thought democracy was the potent and effective pill for the pains inflicted by many decades of terrible governance from the military, but Nigerians were soon disillusioned because the green and white fabric of our federalism soon got ruffled up and it is almost tearing apart.

It started with the ethnic and religious killings. Although our anthem binds us “in love and unity” but the machineries of government condone disunity and sow seeds of hatred rather than love.

The ethnic and religious bigotry soon led to a bloody coup – our cherished democracy was gone. Gone, so corruption could be institutionalised; gone, so minority groups would have no voice against domination and marginalisation, and if they found a voice, their Saro-Wiwa would be silenced forever.

Our democracy was gone, so injustice and tyranny could be legalised through draconian decrees – but our democracy was not gone forever.

On June 8, 1998, there was a coup from heaven which took the life of the dreaded General Sani Abacha. It was a voice from heaven saying to the military, “let my people go” – of course not to Canaan but to the promised land called ‘democracy’.

We rejoiced for we thought we would be able to breathe again, but the excitement was short lived. The democratic sheep that should lead us to the promise land, had befriended the autocratic dogs and they had learnt to eat faeces.

The Agbada was the symbol of democracy and all that it cost the the former oppressors was a new identity in the dressing room.

They became the new champions of democracy. The institutions that should entrench the core values of democracy was battered in the ring of politicking and the strong men paraded in the corridors of power, with clubs of oppression and tyranny concealed in their agbada.

The seemingly perfect system of democracy fails to work in Nigeria. It is only in democratic Nigeria that we debate which is better between democracy and military rule (the difference is hard to spot).

It is in Nigeria, that citizens pray for a “benevolent dictator” because democracy has been a colossal failure in  Nigeria and the reason? We focus on having good men rather than good institutions.

I was walking to the bank one sunny afternoon. The last N7, 000 in my account had suffered a dispense error and I was approaching the bank with the fury of Rottweiler.

As I crossed the road, just opposite the bank, I saw a vehicle approaching me from the wrong side of the one-way road and I saw an official of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) pointing to him and shouting “can’t you see you are passing one way?”

The fear of death subdued my anger and I fled for my dear life. The erring driver was driving a Hilux 4X4 with the name of a federal ministry written on it.

He stopped and looked at the officer shouting at him. I could read his mind saying, “What effrontery!”

He fired back at the TRACE officer, “come and arrest me and those that employed you would not be able to save you…”

The officer who was only trying to maintain order sensed that this man was a senior officer in the federal ministry, at least, his confidence showed that. He quickly retreated and returned to his post.

This is the story of Nigeria, a democratically lawless country.The Nigeria where strong men dominate over the weak and vulnerable; the Nigeria where institutions can be manipulated and tinkered against justice and fairness.

The TRACE officer knew that his institution would not rescue him from this overbearing, insensitive, uncultured, and reckless ministry man, if the latter decides to “deal with him”.

Let me not mention how the bank frustrated me on my N7, 000. Everything is designed to frustrate a poor man in democratic Nigeria.

If Nigeria must work as a democracy; a democracy where people’s rights would not be trampled upon with impunity, we may need to take our gaze away from the strong men and look the other way to inspect our institutions.

The suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, may be corrupt but clearly his travails are inflicted by some powerful men in the Presidency.

Magu is not being investigated, he is being disgraced, and stripped of his faded and ungenuine garb of integrity, which he wore as an anticorruption crooner, so that even if he eventually comes out innocent, he may not be fit to return to his position.

Nuhu Ribadu suffered the same fate; Ibrahim Lamorde was not spared;

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Walter Onoghen got the same tablet.

Is it not high time we fortified our institutions? For if the institution be weak, what can the ‘righteous’ do?

 

From Abiodun Adesanya

 

Students of Anambra descent in the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, under the aegis of the Association of Anambra State Students in Nigeria and Diaspora, in collaboration with the National Association of Anambra Law Students, UNEC Chapter, are calling for entries for an essay competition in memory of one of their members, Wendy Ebenezer Linda.

Its President, Chukwuka Igwe, said the competition was to immortalise Linda, an active member of the association.

“Wendy Linda was, until her death in a fatal accident around Mayfair, Ile-Ife last year, an active member of our association, AASSNID.

We want to use this competition to remember her for her good deeds. Interestingly, we have decided to make this an annual event,” he said.

Igwe said the competition was in line with the mission and vision of the association which seeks to enhance the intellectual and academic prowess of her members.

He also said the competition was not limited to members of the association, but that other students could apply.

“The competition is of two categories: a topic for AASS        NID members and another for non-members.

For our members, their topic is ‘Grassroots Politics and the Ignorance of the People to Government: Are the People of Anambra Politically Conscious?” while for other Nigerian students is “The Impact of Socio-Cultural Value on Igbo Society”. We are already receiving submissions. The deadline has been extended to July 23rd, 2020.”

According to him, the top three are entitled to a free course to foster their personal skills under the aegis of Learnaholics Academy, Africa. Among other sponsors are Youth Assembly of Nigeria (Anambra State), Speaker of the Youth Assembly of Nigeria (Anambra State), Rt. Hon. Amb. Dr. I.C.C Nwobi JP, Engr. Jonathan Udemba, the CEO, Onochie Global Resources. Top three from each category would receive cash prizes and award of merit.

He appreciates Ezeilo Chidubem and Victoria Mbanasor for working tirelessly towards competition, calling on other AASSNID to emulate such service.

“Entrants are to note that their essay must not exceed 1000 words, 12 font size, Times New Roman, and should be submitted to thememorialessay.gmail.com,” he said.

In his response, the President, National Association of Anambra Law Students, UNEC Chapter, Rotr Godwin Ibeabuchi, through text message, added “the winners will be announced on the AASSNID Instagram account @aassnid_oau”.

From Habeebullahi Abduwasiu

 

The Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko has planned a three-month online programme for students and members of staff to enhance their skills.

This was made known in a memo posted on Connect with AAUA VC official Facebook page by Yinka Fadayomi, the university webmaster.

The statement was signed by the Registrar, Mr. Opeoluwa Akinfemiwa.

The university said it had acquired 5,000 licences from Coursera, a leading online training company based in the United States of America.

“This is to inform all members of staff and students of the university that the university administration has put in place a three – month e-learning programme to enhance their skills during this period of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) lockdown.

‘’To this end, the university has acquired 5,000 licences from Coursera, a leading online training company based in the United States of America (USA) for free access to over 4,000 courses in 400 specialisations,” the memo read.

The university management, however, said only students and members of the staff with official email address would be allowed to register for the training.

“The administrative settings have been configured to allow only staff and students with the official email address to register.

Interested staff and students are expected to register at www.coursera.org with their official email address and automatically have access to all the courses on offer at no cost,” it said.

A 500-Level student of the Department of Computer Engineering, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Mr. Okunlola Emmanuel Olarewaju, has invented an automated hand-washing machine that can assist in the fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Speaking about his invention, the indigene of Ilora in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, said the machine was designed to dispense water and liquid soap to encourage the personal hygiene needed to combat the disease.

Olarewaju said he was motivated to fabricate the machine because he felt he had the skill to produce something better than those he had seen and used.

“When I saw other machines produced elsewhere which require the operator to use his leg on a pedal before either water or liquid soap could come out, I remembered and was encouraged by the exultations of our lecturers who often advised us to always deploy our knowledge to bringing out innovations for mankind”.

He added that though his primary field of studies is Computer Engineering, his exposure to other aspects of engineering through   the courses he took from other departments, particularly Fluid Mechanics, which deals with “embedded systems and robotics”, propelled him to attempt the project.

On the cost of producing a unit of the machine, Olarewaju said it would cost N180,000, if produced on a large scale.

The final year student thanked his department, and one of his friends at the Department of Computer Engineering, Abdulkadir Folarin, for his fraternal encouragement.

A lecturer at the Department of Chemical Engineering, UNILORIN, Dr. Olawale Ajala, said Olarewaju was worthy of  celebrated.

He added that efforts were being made to secure patent for the innovation to protect the copyright of the inventor.

 

The desperation to get into tertiary institutions in Nigeria is being exploited by fraudsters to the detriment of candidates. Abdulrasheed Hammad (300-Level, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto) reports on their modus operandi through fake JAMB score upgrade.

It is common for miscreants to defraud candidates who sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) yearly. They deceive them by pretending to either work for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the examining body, or know someone who works there, or introduce themselves openly as experts who can hack JAMB websites and upgrade their score.

After going undercover and pretending to be a candidate, who failed the recent and previous exams, this reporter discovered how they swindle candidates, especially those who have taken the examination repeatedly, by giving them false hopes of upgrading their UTME score.

Some swindlers have created pages and groups on Facebook and other social media platforms for this purpose— deceiving candidates who could not score the benchmark to be considered for admission or for their desired course – for a fee.

 

Victims share their stories

One of the victims who pleaded anonymity narrated how he was duped in 2016 by one scammer who promised to upgrade his UTME score.  After the mass failure recorded that year, some candidates had 40 marks added to their scores.  However, it was not so for the victim.

He thought the next solution for him was to find a way to claim his 40 marks that were added to the score of others, not knowing the person he called was a scammer who had nothing to do with JAMB.

“It was in 2016 that the incident happened and I scored 168, I thought they will also add 40marks to my score the way they added to some candidates’ results. But, unfortunately, nothing was added. I saw a number on Facebook and decided to call him for an upgrade.  He said I should pay N6,000 for the upgrade but he later accepted N2,000. After the money was transferred, he blocked my account immediately.”

Sulyman Adam Opeyemi narrated how he ignorantly introduced his friend, Shafihi Muhammad, to one man he met on WhatsApp who claimed to be an expert at upgrading UTME results.

Shafihi scored 140 in the 2019 UTME – which was too low for admission into most universities. Sulyman was in a WhatsApp group for WAEC and NECO Expo when he saw a post from someone about the upgrade. That was when he introduced Shafihi to the JAMB upgrader.

“I innocently introduced my friend to a scammer.  The guy told him that he would do it.  We even used my bank account to send the money to his account which was N1,500. But he said we should wait for two days, but after two days, nothing changed in my friend’s portal till now and the number of this person is not going again,” he said.

Another victim, Agbaike Favour, who also wrote the examination last year, said she was threatened to pay N20,000 for an upgrade, which she rejected.

She said she called the man for him to re-upload her WASSCE result on JAMB portal.  Then he told her to do the UTME upgrade.  When she told him not to bother about her first request anymore, he began to threaten her.

“He told me that I should send N20,000 into his bank account or else he would make me not to gain admission. Unfortunately, I had sent my details to him which included my WAEC result, JAMB registration number and PIN before I realised he wanted to dupe me.” she lamented.

 

This reporter’s experience with scammers

Pretending to be a candidate, this reporter introduced himself as Abdulrasaq Adebanjo to the first fraudster, informing him he had written the examination without gaining admission after many years.  He sought for an upgrade of his UTME score from 132 to 220.

The scammer asked the reporter to send his registration number and profile code and make payment to GTB 0150311182 account after which he would start work on the JAMB score.

When asked how he could be trusted after being paid, he replied: “I would have said I would do it for you before payment, but the thing is, I will need to buy a scratch card and internet charges, and that is the money I am collecting now. I  have not even added my own money to it. A scratch card is N5,000 while Internet charges are N1,000. When we are done, you will pay N3,000 for the upgrade.

“And the other assurance is that, when I am done with the upgrade and you do not pay my money, I will reduce the score back,” he threatened.

The scammer, who introduced himself as Mr. Jude working in JAMB office, Abuja, also said he had more than 450 candidates’ details he was working on for upgrade.

However, he called incessantly for his fee until the reporter blocked his number.

Another scammer, who called himself Emma Amechi, told this reporter his fees varied based on how many marks was needed for the upgrade. His account number with FirstBank Plc was 3101491515.

“We can add additional 65 or 100 marks for you.  Additional 65 marks will cost you N10,000 while additional 100 marks will cost you N15,000.  If you make the payment today, your score will be upgraded in 24 hours, by this time of tomorrow, you will see your results,” he assured.

A third scammer provided a corporate front for his activities. After sending him the wrong registration number and profile code, the scammer sent this message on WhatsApp: “Thank you for contacting Barrister Festus James! Please let us know how we can help you. You are welcome to JAMB UPGRADE INTERNATIONAL”.

James promised to upgrade the reporter’s score from 132 to 230 for N10,000 within five minutes of working on the wrong details.

“That will be N10K to upgrade to 230 the highest score. I will upgrade it for you as I am talking to you and you will be checking it in the next five minutes. Once I am done with it and you confirm it you will balance me up upon seeing your JAMB score,” he said.

When this reporter appealed for a reduction, James said: “I thought you are ready now because I am already programming your result here.”

However, when he sent his account details, the name was different – Abdulrazak Abdullahi, 2282065551, Zenith Bank, instead of Festus James.

 

What the law says

Under the Criminal Code Act, which is applicable in the southern part of the country, forgery is a felony. The Act provides, in Chapter 44, two to three years jail term, with an option of fine, as punishment for forgery. The Penal Code Act which is applicable in the northern part also has similar provisions with a maximum of 14 years), where the guilt of the alleged offender is proven.

On the offence of forgery, the Criminal Code Act reads: “Any person, who forges any document, writing, or seal, is guilty of an offence which, unless otherwise stated, is a felony, and he is liable, if no other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for three years.”

 

Police react

Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Federal Headquarters, Abuja, CSP Adeniran Aremu, said if Police got any such, the perpetrators would surely face the wrath of the law.

“If there is any report of such, we will definitely follow it up and when they are arrested, we will take it up. So many of them have been arrested; most of them have been prosecuted so that it can serve as deterrence to others who have the same intention,” he said.

 

Parents, experts react

A parent of one of the victims who pleaded anonymity said it was pressure from his son and wife that pushed him to pay N2,000 to scammers in 2016.

He said he knew they were scammers but did it to let his family know.

Another parent, Isiaq Rafiu, whose child scored 173 in this year’s UTME, said he could not pay for JAMB upgrade because he did not believe in scams.

“I cannot be a party to JAMB upgrade because everything is a scam,” he emphasised.

Abdulganeey Ayodeji Salahu, a professor of Guidance and Counselling, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto said the implication of results forgery in the society was that it would corrupt its members – young and old — if not resolved. He faulted the candidates’ desperation to enter the university by all means.

“It is those who are desperate to get admission that gives scammers the opportunity to dupe them. If you don’t have what you need to enter into the university, why can’t you just take another option instead of paying somebody to help you upgrade your JAMB score?

“It is better to change to another institution and if you are not interested you can re-write JAMB another year,” he said.

Though Olowookere Sikiru, a graduate of Guidance and Counselling from the University of Ibadan, noted that Prof Ishaq Oloyede had brought sanity to JAMB as registrar, he, however, said digital skill sensitisation, counselling, good parenting, and governance were necessary to nip examination malpractices in the bud.

“Digital skill sensitisation is to ensure that the candidates are sensitised and to educate students on cyber security and safety from an early age. Information is power; having the knowledge to distinguish between fact and fiction is a more potent power.

“Guidance and Counselling is not considered as a vital discipline in the Nigerian education sector. But students will understand failure through their counselors because their counselor will not allow them to indulge in such acts. Schools should encourage the counselor in organising a career talk, give room for counseling relationships,” he said.

He added that good parental advice was crucial as some parents prompt their children to indulge in bad acts, while urging the government to punish perpetrators to deter others.

Speaking on scammers’claims to access JAMB website to upgrade scores, Abdulgafar Taoheed, an expert in white Hat Hackers said it had become difficult to hack the website in the last two years Oloyede has been in charge.  He said a lot has been spent on the website making it difficult for hackers to access the account.

He said if he hacks the JAMB portal successfully, he could upgrade the candidates’ results but the act would create a security alert.

“If a person attempts to hack the JAMBwebsite, they will try to follow you and you will think the whole world is following you due to the fact that the security in JAMB website is more than the CBN Security.

“If I hack their portal and I put the upgraded result. I am going to hack their system to change it directly. I can enter the JAMB website and upgrade the JAMB result. I will enter their website to change the result from the source.

“If it is successful, no problem but if they catch someone there would be a problem.Even though, it is against the rule of white Hat Hackers to do such thing as against the Black Hat Hacking,” he said.

On his part, a specialist in tutoring UTME candidates, Enoch Olisa, said there was nothing like JAMB upgrade.  He advised them to prepare well for the examination instead.

JAMB spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said JAMB upgrade was not possible.  He warned candidates to stop patronising scammers.

He said the scam should be clear to them through the kind of money the scammers request for.

“If upgrading of JAMB is possible, the result will be so useless that anybody can upgrade their score easily. JAMB upgrade is not possible.

“As the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of JAMB, my brother wrote UTME last year and he did not get what was required and he has written this year again.  If it was possible I can talk to someone to upgrade it for me.

“Candidates should not patronise these swindlers.  As I am telling you, we are arresting them, but we wondered why we should be running after them when the candidates are still patronising them.  JAMB upgrade is not possible at all,” he said.

The Acting Head, Department of Biological Sciences, Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Dr. Emmanuel  Odjadjare, has said teaching and learning using online platforms will be a plus for Nigeria’s education system if it complements conventional learning methods.

He, however, said  that online learning could not replace face-to-face approach.

“A number of institutions have started deploying digital technology even prior to COVID-19 with the installation of smart classrooms. The COVID-19 pandemic fast-tracked the process. That said, it is important to point out that teaching and learning using online platforms can only complement the traditional method that requires physical interaction between teachers and learners in classrooms. The classroom could be made smarter by using technology; but online teaching platforms cannot at this time replace the more effective traditional approach,” he said.

The Associate Professor said the pandemic had fast tracked the growth of e-learning in the education system.

He said the skills, processes and experiences gained at this time would be of immense value to improving the quality of teaching, learning and research when things normalise.

On whether it is advisable for schools to resume, he said Nigerian schools and indeed the economy should reopen as long as the measures put in place by the NCDC are strictly adhered to.

“All the government needs to do in reopening schools is to ensure strict compliance to the guidelines put in place by the NCDC. Schools that comply and continue to comply with the NCDC guidelines could be allowed to reopen and remain open. Those who do not meet the requirements of the NCDC guideline should remain closed until they do the needful.”

He added that the solution to curbing the spread of the virus does not necessarily lie in lockdown, but what is done while the lockdown is in place. He said Lockdown should be considered as a temporary stop-gap to allow government and other stakeholders put appropriate measures in place to arrest the pandemic. Once such measures are in place, the polity including schools should open without delay.