Category: Campus Life

By George Idowu

 

To further enhance agricultural research in Niger State, government has granted the Faculty of Agriculture, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, a parcel of land for agricultural research and other related farm activities.

A team from Niger State Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Forestry, in synergy with Land and Survey, visited the site along Lapai-Minna Road in order to carve out the approved site for the university.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abu Adamu Kasim, who received the team in his office, thanked the government for their kind gesture. He also promised that the site would be used for the purpose it was meant for.

Adamu stressed that the university is fully interested in agricultural development of the state, stating that it has gone into several partnership that would bring development to the state in terms of agriculture.

He further cited instances of Jedna village agricultural extension service, the organic agriculture and host of others, where the university’s agricultural impact have been extended to.

He assured that the institution is ready to partner with numbers of government agencies for the promotion of agriculture in the state.

On his part, the Director of Forestry, Malam Yusuf Abdullahi, who was represented by his deputy, Sherife Musa, stated that the 150-hectare of land, was earlier gazetted by the state government as reservation forestry.

He said with the new development, the ministry has applied for the degazetting of the land.

By AbdulRasheed Hammad

 

Two students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Uchenna Emelife, and Mikail Rodiyah, have established Book O’Clock UDUS, a book club.

The club, first of its kind in UDUS history, has since been unveiled with students already expressing interest to join.

Uchenna Emelife, and Mikail Rodiyah said the initiative is to reignite and encourage the culture of reading and literacy among students of the institution.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Emelife who is a 300-Level student of Literature in English, explained that he and his co-founder Omotoyosi, have been passionate about reading and sharing books with each other since their first year in school.  However Emelife said the absence of a platform for book lovers in UDUS campus, motivated them, to begin the initiative.

He said:  “We knew that there were many students like us out there who hungered for the companionship book clubs provide. With Book O’clock UDUS however, they will find such companionship which will automatically promote the art of reading and literacy.”

He said the club aims to entrench reading culture among UDUS students, while also giving readers an opportunity to express their love for books.

He encouraged students to join the club which he described as a giant step for whoever is desirous of becoming an avid reader.

His words: “The first step to being an avid reader is to read; and that’s what we do at Book O’Clock UDUS. Students should identify with us so they learn the art of reading; after all, readers are leaders.”

“Members of Book O’clock UDUS enjoy a lot of privileges. Firstly, they will be provided books on a weekly basis. Secondly, through our book discussions, they learn how to critically assess books and form expert opinions about them. Thirdly, we are looking at hosting book readings of authors in future, so members can get to meet the authors of the books we provide and lots more.”

By Glory Thomas and Abiola Ogundele

 

Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa (OGITECH), has introduced online lecture for the second semester of 2019/2020 academic session.

President of the Students’ Union(SU) Comrade Ogunleye Eniola, noted that  school management has put in place  all the necessary things needed for the secured virtual classes which started on Tuesday last week.

“Therefore, all OGITITIES (OGITECH students) are enjoined to henceforth check their emails regularly for details on how to access their virtual classes,” Eniola said.

He also advised the students to take the classes with seriousness most especially those in their final year.

In a related development, the Management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), has approved the online teaching for students through the e-learning portal of the institution’s website.

In a statement by the public relations officer of the institution, Samuel Ojo, online lectures for all students woul begin today.

Read Also: Online school: Rivers debunks allegation of sale of materials

 

The Deputy Rector (Academics), Sunday Lawson, who spoke on behalf of the Rector, Mr Adebola Gani Ogundahunsi, during an orientation programme organised for deans, heads of departments and supervisors of part-time programmes, said the idea of e-learning becomes so pertinent in a bid to cultivate the online learning culture and keep students and lecturers engaged due to the shutdown of schools occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that e-learning is now an academic culture that could be employed for learning without violating the social distance policy introduced as part of the measures to contain the rapid spread of corona virus. He added that participants are enjoined to cooperate with the management of the institution to make it viable.

On his part, the Director of ICT, Mr. Olusegun Adeoni, showcased the mechanism and functionality of the e-learning portal to participants, noting that it would afford lecturers and students to carry out academic activities without stress.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has said its members are being marginalised by the authorities in the distribution of relief materials amid the COVID-19 pandemic. NANS said the government neither consulted it, nor put in place necessary arrangements before announcing the lockdown of tertiary institutions nationwide. This stance is being supported by some of the students at home as well as those trapped at their various institutions while the lockdown prevails. ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD (UDUS), IFUNANYA OSAKWE (UNIBEN), OLADELE OGE (UNN), FASILAT OLUWUYI (MAPOLY); GLORY THOMAS OGITECH) report.

•Students seek relief packages from government
•We won’t protest because of palliatives – NANS

Students, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), are not happy. Their grouse: the government did not consult them before the lockdown it imposed in the wake of COVID-19; nor did it consider them for palliatives. They claimed that the government’s directive shutting down schools nationwide also caught many of them off guard.

Some students, according to NANS, are trapped in their schools owing to lack of cash, poor preparation or both. Worse still, some students stayed back on campus because their parents’ abodes are very far from schools. More worrisome is the case of those students who  fend for themselves, who the lockdown has put at a greater risk of survival?

The Federal Government has been distributing truckloads of rice to statesto ease the hardships experienced by vulnerable people but none was given to students trapped in schools.

Some students have accused NANS of not making enough efforts on their behalf. However, the apex students’ body it would not hit the streets in protest for relief materials for its members..

 

No protest over relief materials – NANS

Despite the grievances, NANS National President Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan said the students’ body would not hit the streets in protest over relief materials. He stressed that NANS only agitates over issues that affect its members’ future directly.

He identified such issues as budgetary allocation, affordable tuition and hostel facilities, improved infrastructure on campuses, scholarships and bursaries, among others.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE on phone, the students’ leader said he had been at the forefront of advocating relief materials for members during the lockdown, to no avail.

He said: “In fact, my experience has taught me that our leaders only need students during campaign and elections. When it comes to our welfare, they are not forthcoming.

“On our part, we have done everything possible as regards getting relief materials for our members during lockdown, but our plea fell on deaf ears. There was a time I even forced my way into the office of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 but I was directed to be bundled out of their office.

“The only option now left on the table is to protest. However, for now, I won’t consider that option because it might boomerang.

“You know the way our politicians behave; they will say students are protesting on the streets simply because of food and not our future again; and that does not speak well of the integrity of NANS.”

Akpan continued: “Being NANS President has actually opened my eyes to how nationwide protests executed by students leaders in the past were successful.

“I realised that there were always some pro-democracy activists who were close to the powers that be. These people are faceless, yet so powerful with connections in government. They will give you their backing so that in the event things go wrong, they are the ones that will inform the authority that they endorsed your protests.

“Unfortunately, many of these so- called activists now wine and dine with people in government. That makes things a bit risky. So, if I call for a protest and we don’t have the backing of these people, police could shoot indiscriminately and in the process kill or maim some of my members. Parents of the slain students and even some of my members would then ask me to explain who authorised me to carry out such protest. “

 

Students share experiences amid lockdown

Aishat Usman, a student of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), was frustrated when last month Federal Government directed tertiary institutions in the country to shut down for a month.

“I was in school when it happened,” Usman recounted. “My parents live in Sokoto. How do I just hop on a bus to risk a journey of about two days,” said the final year student of Biochemistry.

“I had to stay back at the hostel. Fortunately, we were about starting our first semester examination so that afforded me time to study ahead. A week after the lockdown, I was stranded and my parents had to send me some money. As days went by, things became more difficult for me at the hostel. My parents were also going through hard times feeding my siblings. It  became the survival of the fittest.”

While the lockdown prevailed, Orisaseti said she, and a few other students in her shoes, hoped for some palliatives either from the Ekiti State Government. Although relief materials came, but they were for the aged and the vulnerable, she added.

Similarly, Alex Adedamola, an HND2 student of Mass Communication at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), said it was sad that Nigerian students were sidelined in the distribution of palliatives at this hard time.

 

More and more pains…

Adedamola called on NANS to keep engaging governments on the need to have its members as beneficiaries of relief materials.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE Temiloluwa George, a 100-Level student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), said: “I, as a student, haven’t benefitted from Federal Government’s palliative. We observed that a greater portion of the relief materials is being reserved for party members once they get to the local government. Why can’t they share food or money to us the same way they share electricity bills?”

Adekunle Adedamola, a final year student of Information Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), blamed the government for not having an adequate database for students.

However, Afesomu Abigail Pentho, a 200-Level Education and Social Studies student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, also said she was yet to receive any palliative from the Federal Government since the lockdown.

“I haven’t received anything from the government. Probably, they are making use of the money for some other things and maybe that’s why we students have not yet benefitted,” she said.

“I have benefited nothing, absolutely nothing, from the Federal Government palliatives amid the lockdown and the situation of things worsens everyday,” said the President of Association of Mass Communication Students at the Ogun State Institute of Technology Igbesa (OGITECH) Comrade Michael Olalekan Soaga.

A second year undergraduate of Political Science of the Usmanu DanFodio University Sokoto (UDUS),  Adejoh Nebiu Muhammad, pleaded that the government should include students among beneficiaries of the palliatives programme.

He said: “I personally haven’t benefitted from the Federal Government palliatives and I will be very happy if government can put us in their programme. The reason being that some of the students fend for themselves while in school; and due to this lockdown, there is no way for them to survive.

“It would really go a long way (in assisting students). If government can use us as INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) ad hoc staff during election period, and our politicians also use us as a machinery for campaign, then this is the right time to compensate us.”

“Of course, the palliatives will mitigate the hardship of staying at home during this lockdown. It will also help in maintaining law and order because the youth are naturally aggressive once they begin to experience challenges like hunger,” he said.

Abdullahi Aliyu, a 100-Level student of Pharmaceutical Science and Mazeed Mukhtar Oyeleye, a 200-Level student of Economics Education at UDUS, argued that the government lending a helping hand to students would make them have a sense of belonging.

A 200-Level student of Political Science University of Benin (UNIBEN), Wisdom Okolie, said his family benefited from the Federal Government’s palliative though he did not benefit as a student.

“I live in Lagos State and as we all know, Coronavirus is really serious here,” Okolie began.

“For example, my mother is a petty trader and it is not easy to make sales now. I am thankful to the government for this initiative. I will also like to thank (Lagos) State government for efforts being made to contain this virus,” he said.

Another student of Sociology in University of Benin (UNIBEN) Chiamaka Chukwuma, said though she has not yet benefited as a student, yet the fact that some families have already benefitted is a pointer that government might consider them in the scheme of things. Nonetheless, Chukwuma whose family lives in Ondo, urged her colleagues nationwide to stay safe by adhering to all safety tips against Coronavirus.

In his opinion, Odo Precious Ozioma, a 400-Level student of Home Economics and Hospitality Management, University of Nigeria Nssuka (UNN), believes government hardly knows if Nigerian students exist, let alone attend to their needs.

He said: “I feel frustrated thinking when all this will end. Besides, I don’t think if the Federal Government knows that I am existing. I feed myself, pay my rent, and yet government doesn’t seem to care about that. Even never set my eyes on any of those people given relief materials. I only heard or read about them either on radio or on social media.

“Locking us inside our houses won’t solve any problem. Even the foodstuff that we bought before the lockdown have been exhausted.”

By Stanley Uchegbu

A  blogger and graduating student of Political Science, Abia State University, Uturu, Odoemena Chinonso, has launched Teens Can Blog.

Teens Can Blog is an initiative that guides the technological development of teenagers by mentoring and exposing them to high-tech activities, ranging from coding, developing AI’s, creating original writing and visual contents, developing websites and social media exploitations, among others, so they can be equipped to access global activities and become great leaders of their generation.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that over 256 teenagers attended the online training on content writing, blogging and encouraging them to become good prolific writers with original contents.

The initiative, according to Chinonso, would, on the long run, serve as an avenue to assist the Federal Government in curbing the menace of fake news and plagiarism in Nigeria.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE after the training exercise, a participant and a secondary school student of Florin High School, Ejigbo Nicholas Josemaria, Lagos, stressed that the next generation would be led by young people who are within ages 10-20 years.

He said: ‘’We are in the era where purveyors of fake news  keep peddling false information thereby instigating fear, anxiety and tension for just no reason. We need to educate the society on how sensitive information dissemination could be and how it can spread like wide fire using what we have learnt so far.

On their outreach and scope, Josemaria said Teens Can Blog identified some potential, but with less education in rural communities. They include: teens department in churches, high schools and colleges and even remote as villages. Their mission, he explained, is to build a community of tech-savvy teenagers, and assist them in accessing global opportunities, and empower them to be able to rule their generation and create a legacy they will all be proud of.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, the brainchild behind the initiatives Odoemena Chinonso, said: “The future of the teens is very bright and therefore paramount. We shouldn’t joke with them; rather we should invest in them.

“Blogging is a profession for young and intelligent people that should be practised with sophisticated digital tools in order to ensure creativity. New functions, trends and paradigms would continue to emerge for the benefit of these young people who may later nurse interest in becoming media practitioners, scholars and writers. This is why we need to catch them young and prepare them for a brighter future.”

Chinonso said the future of the media would be driven more by digital technology that will be more beneficial to practitioners, academics and journalists.

“Our mission is to ensure that Teens Can Blog becomes a national and international initiative that will be recognised globally in building young people in original content writing and creativity. I’m hoping that the initiative could birth further lofty ideas that would stem up from the basics and foundations of our drive,” he stated.

Agbo Agbo

The late Prof Ibrahim Ayagi, who passed on at the age of 80 last week in Kano, was a prominent face during the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) debates of the mid-1980s. An economist, banker, administrator and educator, he was rightly described by President Muhammadu Buhari as “an accomplished economist, banker and administrator who made outstanding contributions to the development of education in northern Nigeria, promotion of entrepreneurship and small businesses.”

I never met the late prof in person, but I had the opportunity of “meeting” him during the robust and intellectual debates on the SAP. He joined other scholars – especially those on the left – to advice the government of former President Ibrahim Babangida to reject the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan because of its harsh conditionalities. As a result of his consistent opposition to the loan he was fired as Managing Director of the then Continental Merchant Bank.

Born in 1940, Prof Ibrahim Ayagi attended Karaye primary School Kano from 1950 – 51; Dandago primary school Kano, 1952-52; Gwarzo Senior Primary school Kano from 1953 -56; Wudil Teachers College Kano, 1958-60; Katsina Teachers college, 1962-63; Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, 1963 -70. He proceeded to University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the USA from 1970 – 74.

The late Prof Ayagi maintained a regular newspaper column educating Nigerians on the evils of the Bretton Woods Institutions – World Bank and IMF – and the damage they were doing to developing countries. I still have dozens of those articles – alongside many others – tucked in a file at my family home. Despite the criticisms, the Babangida administration succumbed to international pressure, took the loan and imposed structural adjustments on Nigeria.

When the fourth republic began in 1999, former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Prof Ayagi Chairman of the National Economic Intelligence Committee (NEIC). His appointment did not go unnoticed in the west. In a screaming headline on Tuesday 9 November 1999, Reuters wrote “IMF Critic Heads Team of Economic Monitors!” “…Ayagi is well known locally as a critic of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and he opposed attempts by former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida to accept an IMF loan…”This did not deter the Obasanjo regime the opportunity of tapping into his vast knowledge of how the Nigerian economy should operate.

Ayagi’s NEIC worked diligently and silently behind the scenes to get Nigeria out of its crippling foreign debt crisis when the country took a bold step by making a $12b down-payment on its $32b debt. This move led to the cancellation of the balance payment and debt cancellation. When the time came for whom to take the credit for this feat, Ayagi did not disappoint. He and his colleagues at the NEIC stood in the shadows and allowed Obasanjo and the Okonji-Iweala to take the credit when the deal sailed through. It was quite unfortunate that rather than ride on that pedestal to grow the economy foreign borrowings started again by successive governments.

Many in Kano – and perhaps the country – may remember a widely reported news story when armed robbers invaded the residence of Ayagi. According to the report, he refused to budge as the robbers literally tortured him to near-death and asking for money and valuables. Ayagi – the report stated – repeatedly said in Hausa “Ba zan ba ku ba! Ba zan ba ku ba!”  (“I will not give you! I will not give you!”). Ironically, the incident took place a stone throw from a police station. Some of attackers were later arrested by the police and charged to court while the late Ayagi spent some time in hospital. He was discharged with a pronounced limp.

Events of post-SAP Nigeria clearly vindicated the late Ayagi and his colleagues who opposed the loan. I will single out just one of these that deal specifically with the education sector for lack of space. Ayagi and his colleagues vividly pointed out that one of the conditionalities of the IMF loan which focuses on the removal of agricultural and educational subsidies would impede the growth of the economy because of the critical role education and agriculture plays. They were proven right a few years ago when the World Bank revealed that its policy on African education was a failure as it stunted the production of the critical human capital necessary for economic development.

In an event in September 2018, the co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates agreed when he singled out Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as countries that need “to invest more in human development as this is the only sure means to curb the rising poverty level in both counties.”

According to him, there is the urgent need to channel more investment towards education, health and family planning as a means of human development as this is the only way in which poverty can be alleviated. Speaking on the Goalkeepers data report released some days to the event, Gates said Africa is a young continent so there is a need to invest in young people. The report was the second edition published by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to discuss several aspects of work done across the globe. The first Goalkeepers data report was published in 2017. The report tracks progress on 18 key Sustainable Development Goals indicators and analyse promising approaches to achieving the goals.

Citing the report, Gates said by 2050, more than 40 per cent of the extremely poor people in the world will live in Nigeria and the DRC. Currently, Nigeria has the highest number of extremely poor people as it took over from India which held the unenviable position. A Brooking Institution report in June, 2018 said the number of Nigerians in extreme poverty increases by six people every minute. Although the Nigerian economy came out of recession that year, many Nigerians slipped into extreme poverty.

The introduction of SAP, and the subsequent implementation of the IMF/World Bank conditionality attached to it, came with negative consequences that affected many sectors of the economy such as agriculture and industry. In fact, SAP came at a time when Nigeria was beset by a charged political atmosphere fueled by the biting economic hardship that hit most families. Cognizant of the situation, the government still went ahead to implement the IMF conditionality that led to unpleasant consequences such as retrenchment, wage cuts and withdrawal of subsidies etc. The result was galloping inflation, currency devaluation, unemployment and other adverse economic consequences.

The implementation further created problems for the economy as it worsened the socio-political woes it was supposed to address. These problems include; low capacity utilisation in manufacturing sector due to insufficient foreign exchange to purchase raw materials and spare parts, exorbitant rate of foreign currency to Naira which led to increase in cost of imports, thereby increasing the funding requirements of the industries which the government was incapable of shouldering due to its already burgeoning external debt burden.

Organised labour also vigorously opposed the loan by mounting public enlightenment campaigns against its adoption. Labour educated Nigerians on the adverse implications of such measures on their well-being and those of the next generation. Just like with the intellectuals, subsequent events vindicated them as well.

As Ayagi predicted in several of his articles, the introduction of SAP did not transform the economy of Nigeria or stimulate industrialisation as widely touted. Numerous economic problems remained intractable. For instance; there was apparent lack of commitment to adjustment and national development by the economic actors who had command over resources. During the course of implementation, many distortions surfaced while others defied solutions. Of particular significance were the problems of continuing depreciation of the Naira in the foreign exchange market, high and volatile interest rates, slow growth and near paralysis of the real sector, sky-rocketing inflation, unsustainable fiscal deficit profile, heavy external debt overhang, increasing unemployment, social discontent and the emergence of social movements leading to the proliferation of militia groups among others.

 

May his soul rest in peace.

Chris Njoku, Owerri

Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) has manufactured sanitisers as part of its  efforts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the management, the sanitiser which has since been delivered to the Imo State government for onward distribution to the public, is 75 per cent alcoholic, 15 per cent above the 60 per cent recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Head of the Department of Chemistry, Prof Cynthia E. Ogukwe who handed over the bags of the sanitisers to the Vice Chancellor of the institution Prof Francis C. Eze, explained that the department developed an in-house test to determine the quantity of ethanol and usage of raw materials in the production.

He said: “The global out-break of COVID-19 demands contributions from scientists and researchers all over the world. FUTO therefore, in the spirit of driving the culture of excellence is not left out. The hand sanitisers are FUTO’s contributions to Imo State government in the fight against the spread of coronavirus in the state”.

Receiving the substances, Prof Eze praised the Department of Chemistry for the sanitiser which he said, would strengthen the job of the committee already set up by the university to sensitise the host communities on methods to prevent the pandemic.

Eze urged the department to produce the substance in commercial qualities in future for public consumption.

Kareem Shamusudeen Babatunde

Many Nigerians had foreseen that this would happen!

Armed robbery attacks have almost become commonplace in the Southwest, especially in Ogun, Lagos and Oyo states.

When about a month ago, the Federal Government ordered a stay-at-home to contain the spread of the Covid-19, many had thought if there was going to be any invasion by hoodlums, only their foodstuff and other consumables would be carted away since the Federal Government did not put all odds in check ahead of the lockdown.

A friend shared a WhatsApp message with a panic tone to me, urging that I pray for the residents of Ogun State in Sango, Sagamu, Ifo, who, according to him, are at the mercy of these marauders.

Similarly, there were reports on the unfortunate incidents associated with these dreadful attacks. Painfully, citizens cannot move out freely for the fear of contracting the deadly Coronavirus; and while staying in their homes, they go to bed with one eye open as their ‘next door neighbours’  can strike at any time.

To be candid, robbery attacks during this period are unfortunate and heart-wrenching. It is sad when citizens strive to comply with the stay-at-home directive of the government, only to now live in fear of being killed or maimed by the men of the underworld. While many battle with hunger amid the insufficient or should I say poorly coordinated government palliatives, they remain uncertain of being protected, adequately, from evil machinations.

It took a while for the security operatives to counter these attacks. The response came from the policy, albeit at a snail pace. Residents of Ogun State, according to reports, were dazzled by the complete insouciance of the armed robbers who are emboldened to perpetrated atrocities, even in  daylight. Even, the Police Force appeared almost helpless at a point by the activities of these hoodlums who seemed to be at ease as they unleashed terror to harmless residents.

In Lagos State, the situation is the same. Residents in some local government areas share sordid experiences. Oyo State too is not an exception. There are robbery attacks in some local governments which reportedly sprouted from cult clashes.

These attacks are not hunger-driven. The hoodlums are delinquents who took advantage of the lockdown to perpetuate criminal activities. In every case however, this shows that the structure piecing the security architecture is on a porous foundation. What has happened to the police patrols? What has become of the security operatives designated to enforce the lockdown? Where are they when these marauders strike leaving in their wake sorrows, tears and blood?

What I think should be in place is the alertness, efficiency and effectiveness of the security operatives to forestall further attacks—be it robbery or not—on the citizens. By carrying out such tasks without politicising them, the police can again, reassure the citizenry of their protection. Anything short of this is tantamount to   tempting residents to take up arms to confront their attackers.

Overall, this can thwart the government’s stay-at-home measure and at large, jeopardise the  security.

The citizens should also assist the security operatives in intelligence gathering. They have a duty to report any suspicious movements in their community.

The truth of the matter is that the security operatives cannot work in isolation. Citizens also have a major stake in ensuring peace in their respective communities; and should be the first to reach out to the police  of any impending attacks.