National Association of Niger State Students (NANISS), has been alleged of misappropriations in the last three administrations.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the Students’ Representative Assembly (SRA) of NANISS, through the Clark of the union, Senator Salihu Mohammed Chado of Fati Lami Abubakar Institute for Legal and Administrative Studies (FLAILAS), received a petition against its National President Sallah Muhammad Abdullahi, an undergraduate of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBUL).

The said petition, signed by Nafisat Tukur, and Muhammed Isah Idris, both Vice President and Assistant General Secretary respectively, among other executive members of NANISS,  challenged Sallah’s integrity and lack of openness in fund management.

“The petition, as quoted by Senate President, Al-Mustapha Suleiman of Federal University, Gusau, alleged Sallah of ‘misappropriation of fund as well as hijacking the power of other executive offices’.

The SRA is asking Sallah to account for N750,000 monthly allowance from the state government, as well as scholarship scheme for Niger State students in tertiary institutions.

The petitioners had indicated that Sallah has so far collected the said allocation three times without being able to account for it.

Abdullahi has since been suspended by SRC for six weeks pending the time the allegations are proven otherwise.

Defending his action however, Sallah said SRC has no power to challenge him because it is already suspended by NANISS owing to polarisation.

Al-Mustapha said the suspension came as a result of ‘vote of no confidence’ passed on the President by the two-third members of the executive arm of NANISS.

“We didn’t act outside the provision of the constitution. We acted in line with the provisions of section 9(1)(F) and section 9(4)(E) of NANISS national constitution which stated thus: ‘The students’ Representative Assembly (SRA) has the power to moderate the activities of the executive government of the association,” said Al-Mustapha.

Similarly, SRA has the power to serve as an avenue to receive petition or query on any member of the association,” he added.

However, he said for the benefit of the doubt, a disciplinary committee has been constituted to investigate the matter and report back their findings.

Al-Mustapha said in the interim, NANISS National Vice President Comrade Nafisat Ibrahim Tukura also of IBBUL would act as the National President of the union during the suspension of her boss.

Read Also: ‘ASUU-IBBUL may continue the strike after two weeks’

 

Interestingly, Sallah who has since been directed to submit all the association’s property in his custody to Nafisat, denied the allegations against him.

He stated this while responding to a phone call by these campus reporters.

Sallah also made available a letter signed by him in which he had earlier suspended SRC due to factionalisation.

The letter was titled: ‘Suspension of all SRA leadership factions to avert impending unrest’.

The letter read thus: “I write to bring to your notice, the decision of the leadership of National Association of Niger State Students (NANISS) on the above caption.

“Two factions of Students Representative Assembly (SRA) leadership emerged since SRA elections. All efforts to allow the factions reconcile were not successful; hence NANISS’ intervention. Similarly, the two splinter groups had, at different capacities, written to NANIS threatening breakdown of law and order in the event of ant group holding sitting in the name of SRA.

“The national headquarters, in its wisdom, took this bold step to prevent a recurrence of crises where members sustained injuries of different degree.

“A committee has been set up to include two former National Presidents, comrades Aliyu Ibrahim Evuti and Abubakar Mohammed Gambo, among other distinguished members.

“By this letter, sittings by any faction whatsoever is suspended and will be declared an attempt to breach public order. The security institutions should therefore take note”.

By Abdulrasheed Hammad

 

For the first time in over 20 years, students of the University of Ilorin UNILORIN) are feeling the pains of strikes by their lecturers – Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Until the strike declared by ASUU, they have never been a part of ASUU strike since the university management proscribed the union about 20 years ago.

About two decades ago, UNILORIN sacked 49 members of ASUU for joining a strike declared by the union. The management went further to proscribe the union, a development that polarised the body. While ASUU left the university to pursue its case on behalf of its sacked colleagues, a splinter union in the guise of ASUU-UNILORIN, continued to superintend the affairs of the union. The face-off dragged on until last year when UNILORIN re-joined ASUU.

Ibrahim Ismail Saka, a 200-Law student, expressed his sadness on how ASUU strike has thwarted UNILORIN’s 20 years of uninterrupted academic calendar.

“I felt so bad and unhappy because the re-joining of ASUU strike by this institution really affected our on-going examination.  It would surely affect the prestige of this great university, and the number of applicants that UNILORIN used to have every year.

Saka’s course mate Yaqoob Olasunkanmi was also devastated.

“I am not happy at all,” Olasunkanmi said.

“It was shocking and came unexpected. I am not happy about the change in the academic standard of our prestigious university, its so devastating.”

Sheu Sa’ad Onikolobo, a final year student of Biology Education, described the strike as ‘pathetic and disgusting’.

“ASUU strike to me is so pathetic, barbaric and disgusting, Onikolobo began. This strike broke the academic stability of our ‘Better by Far’ institution.

“To cut the long story short, I am not happy that this strike has already started destabilising the academic stability of our university which will inevitably bring down our global ranking.”

Read Also: ASUU volunteers to fight Coronavirus

 

A final year Biology Education undergraduate, Ishola Habeebullah, told CAMPUSLIFE that the strike would surely favour their lecturers but have a more negative effect on the students and university.

Said Habeebullah: “Actually UNILORIN joining ASUU might really favour the staff. But it will have many negative effects on the school and students. It will definitely alter the academy stability and reputation of the school. This will ultimately result in reduction in number of applicants because they won’t be sure when they will graduate.”

Equally, Musa Yusuf, a 100-Level student of Primary Education, lent his voice.

“The strike really surprised me!

“When I firstly heard UNILORIN was included in the strike, I felt disappointed because I never expected such from this institution. Our academic calendar is one of our pride which we have jealously protected for 20 years. It is disgusting that this pride came to an end unexpectedly,” he said.

Sulyman Abdulmalik, urged his colleagues not to fret yet, saying the management of UNILORIN might still find a way to ensure the unfettered academic of the university remains sacrosanct.

A 400L student from department of Material and Metallurgical Engineering told CAMPUSLIFE that he wasn’t  surprised about this situation and academic activities are still stable since it hasn’t affected the academic calendar of the institution.

“I still feel normal (about the strike) because I understand this is Nigeria, and anything can happen. Despite the strike, UNILORIN academic stability still remains as long as it is not compromised. However, I’m appealing to drive their agitations unfeasibly with the government.

 

From Olaogun Abiodun

 

A United States of American-based philantropic organisation- Five Points Youth Foundation (FPYF), has set up a 12-member committee to further promote the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria.

The committee will also be saddled with encouraging and promoting effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships in accordance with the 10 principles of the United Nations Global Compact such as addressing human right, labour, environment and anti-corruption, through its local network.

According to the President of FPYF Andrew Williams Jr, the committee would work with Mr Shola Agboola who was last month appointed FPYF goodwill ambassador in Nigeria, Nigerians in the Diaspora, as well as African communities worldwide, all in a bid to ensure the aforementioned task is successful.

Five Points Youth Foundation is dedicated to enhancing global partnerships for sustainable development as stipulated by the United Nations to build safe and sustainable communities and cities for all.

Read Also: COVID-19: What President Buhari has done, and is doing – by Presidency

 

Until his recent appointment, Agboola is the incumbent President of Nigerian Association for Young Adults of Canada Inc. (NAYA), an ethno-cultural\non-profit organisation registered and incorporated with the Government of Canada. It is the largest Nigerian association in Canada and the first to have national affiliations and membership across all regions and provinces of Canada.

Agboola who is serving his second term as NAYA President, would give updates on the activities of the committee to Williams Jr,. who is also Chairperson of its Ad Hoc International Advisory Board of Goodwill Ambassadors (AHIABGA).

In addition, members of the committee would assist Agboola to identify, aggregate, screen, recommend and assist in registering qualified local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), including qualified churches and charities organisation whose philosophies tally with the United Nations Global Compact Network, the world’s largest corporate social responsibility organisation, founded by then-Secretary General of the United Nations, the late Kofi Annan in 2000 alongside the Millennium Development Goals 2015 which is now referred to as the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

 

Agbo Agbo

 

I spent a considerable amount of time last week monitoring COVID-19 spread globally with special emphasis on Nigeria. While on Twitter, a user asked if the National Orientation Agency (NOA) still exist – which I decide to use as the title of this article.

This simple question opened a floodgate of deriding comments. Over 95% of those who responded to his question said the agency had been scrapped.

They made their assertion against their understanding that if the agency was in existence it wouldn’t be “missing in action” when it is most needed – to wage the strategic sensitisation war against COVID-19.

For the record, the agency still exists. Its existence however raises serious perception issues for the agency: If people question your existence then you’re irrelevant.

Following the massive devastation of the World War II period, there was the urgent need for development. The founding of the United Nations (UN) was expected to fast track this by stimulating relations among sovereign states, especially the North Atlantic nations and the developing nations, including the new states emerging out of a colonial past.

During the cold war period the superpowers – the United States and the former Soviet Union – tried to expand their spheres of influence to the developing countries.

The USA defined development and social change as the replica of its own political-economic system which opened the way for the emergence of transnational corporations.

At the same time, the developing countries – Nigeria inclusive – saw the ‘welfare state’ model of the North Atlantic nations as the ultimate goal of development.

The field of communication was not left out as there was a paradigm shift leading to different theories, one of which is the evolution of communication for development (C4D) which mirrored broader shifts in theories and models of economic and social development.

The basic assumption is that there are no countries or communities that function completely autonomously and that are completely self-sufficient, nor are there any nations whose development is exclusively determined by external factors. Every society is dependent in one way or another, both in form and in degree.

Consequently, communication initiatives adopted a diffusion approach, which uses communication to carry out a transfer of information. This includes large-scale media campaigns, social marketing, dissemination of printed materials, ‘education-entertainment’ and other forms of one-way transmission of information from the sender to the receiver.

With time, proponents of diffusion theory recognised the limitations of mass media – the way it was being run – in promoting sustained behavioural change. In line with new thinking, it incorporated interpersonal communication: face-to-face communication that can either be one-on-one or in small groups.

The objectives are to share information, respond to questions, and motivate specific behavioural practices. The belief is that while mass media allows for the learning of new ideas, interpersonal networks encourage the shift from knowledge to practice.

Communication for development is thus viewed as a way to amplify voice, facilitate meaningful participation, and foster social change. To this end, diffusion and participatory approaches have been increasingly integrated or adopted in parallel in C4D initiatives.

Such combinations allow for agencies to reach broad audiences through large scale campaigns, while promoting local community development, empowerment and ownership through participation.

While the west had known this for long, we only started imbibing them during the military era with the establishment of National Orientation Agency (NOA), a parastatal in the federal Ministry of Information and Culture.

If an opinion poll is conducted today, I believe most Nigerians – like those on Twitter – would say the agency does not exist.

The agency need to be injected with hardcore professionals with vast knowledge of integrated marketing communication – who know what strategic communication is all about – to  assist

So, why am I advocating a paradigm shift? I will explain with my next article, but first let me elaborate the objectives of the NOA which will form the basis of my submission.

As Nigerians living in Nigeria, we would be able to discern whether the agency has succeeded in the objectives that would be listed.

Read Also: FG disburses N5000 to over 1million indigents

 

The NOA was established by Decree 100 of 23rd August, 1993. The Decree merged three significant organs of government, namely: The Public Enlightenment (PE), War Against Indiscipline (WAI), and National Orientation Movement (NOM) divisions of the then Federal Ministry of Information and Culture with the Directorate for Social Mobilisation, Self-Reliance and Economic Recovery (MAMSER).

The rationale for the merger was to harmonise and consolidate efforts and resources of the government in the fields of public enlightenment, social mobilisation and value re-orientation.

The main objectives of the Agency are: to ensure that government programmes and policies are better understood by the general public; mobilise favourable public opinion for such programmes and policies; encourage informal education through public enlightenment activities and publications.

Others include establishing feedback channels to government on all aspects of Nigerian national life; establish appropriate national framework for educating, orientating and indoctrinating Nigerians towards attitudes, values and culture which project individual’s national pride and positive national image for Nigeria; awaken the consciousness of Nigerians to their responsibilities to the promotion of national unity, citizens commitment to their human rights to build a free, just and progressive society; develop among Nigerians of all ages and sex, social and cultural values and awareness which will inculcate the spirit of patriotism, nationalism, self-discipline and self-reliance.

The final set of objectives include encouraging the people to actively and freely participate in discussions and decisions on matters affecting their general welfare; promote new sets of attitudes and culture for the attainment of the goals and objectives of a united Nigeria State; ensure and uphold leadership by example; foster respect for constituted authority; and instill in the citizens a sense of loyalty to the fatherland.

I doubt if there’s anyone out there who would disagree that these are not a fantastic set of objectives. The question to ask is why have they not been achieved? Why didn’t we make progress and why were Nigerians not better informed about the workings of government?

The United Nations (UN) realises the critical importance of capacity this which is why it employs the services of key and knowledgeable professionals to manage its interaction with people of diverse cultures and nationalities.

Managing information is fundamental toward progress because it a delicate balance between progress and anarchy; It is not “job for the boys.” One of the major reasons for the Rwanda genocide was the poor management of information.

It is amazing that when the world is moving forward, we are either static or moving backward. I see this happening daily in the way the activities of this government are being communicated; noble objectives but poor communication, all because of dearth of capacity and strategy.

While the world has imbibed “development communication” – the sharing of knowledge aimed at reaching a consensus for action that takes into account the interests, needs and capacities of all concerned – we are still stuck in the past thinking that once something appears in the newspapers, radio or television it ends there. It does not without tracking mechanisms!

This form of communication is a social process and should not be left in the hands of unqualified civil servants to handle because communication media are important tools in achieving progress. Beyond this, a well trained professional knows the importance of interpersonal communication which is the hallmark of development communication.

Since it thrives on feedbacks, it is anchored on examining the relevance of message content, conducting more comparative research, policy research, institutional analysis of development agency coordination and the workings of government.

This is often followed by the need to research and develop indigenous models of communication and development through participatory research. In essence, getting the people involved.

 

Millions of students in tertiary institutions are back home,  following the government’s directive that all schools should shut down for a month, in the  light of the coronavirus outbreak. To compound issues, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began an indefinite strike last Monday. These have left students with no choice than to either sleep or add values to their lives while the twin situations play out. However, some students have lined up activities  that will make them  to be productively  engaged  during the period.  EFOSA TAIWO, FASILAT OLUWUYI (Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta), and Naomi Agha, Delta State  Polytechnic, OZORO report

 

How should the legions of students in tertiary institutions nationwide who are back home in the wake of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak be productively engaged?

Covid-19, which has been a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is ravaging the world, shutting down economies and disrupting social life. The last couple of weeks have seen Nigeria wear a different look – from anxiety, foreboding, disquiet to apprehension.

As at Tuesday, the number of Nigerians testing positive stood at 135, with fears that it might shoot up in the coming days.

Against this backdrop, the Federal Government, last week, ordered schools nationwide to shut down for at least a month as part of measures to contain the spread of the virus.

The scenario was further compounded when the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which had earlier embarked upon a two-week strike over disagreements with the government, began an indefinite strike on Monday last week.

Given the scenario, students share their views on how they intend to handle the stay-at-home order.

Adedolapo Oladipo, an HND 1 Mass Communication student of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), intends to study and grow her baking business.

“During this one month break off academic activities, I’ll be home studying. I’m also a baker, and I’ll be plying my trade in order to grow my business. Ever since I’ve resumed, I  haven’t had time to bake and this has made my business to dwindle,“ she told CAMPUSLIFE.

Oriku Esther, HND1 Mass Communication of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), said she would channel her attention to her hairdressing business.

Her words: “I will just concentrate on my salon. I will use this time to improve myself more and gather more customers.”

However, it is a different matter for Adeniji Nathaniel, a 100-Level Electrical and Electronics Engineering student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). Nathaniel said the break would afford him the opportunity to prepare adequately ahead for the remainder of the semester which he predicts would be ‘hellish’ as the lecturers would swarm them with activities.

“We are just finishing the first half of the semester and it hasn’t been easy. So the one month break would be a chance to address part of my academics that I have issues with and prepare for the hell that the break will bring with it. Once we resume, lecturers approach toward teaching us will be intense due to the time-frame they will need to cover up before exams,” he said.

Interestingly, Omolade Ayantola, a final year Biochemistry from the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and another student who identified himself as Sulaimon from MAPOLY, are ready to take on the digital platforms during the break.

Omolade said: “I will like to focus on being financially free by giving myself to online service marketing.

“I  have already created a whatsapp group to teach some students photography via internship and mentorship. I also added some professionals to teach them on some topics.

“I’ll also try and improve on my leadership skills, and read ahead of class because, once we resume, it might be exam right away. Most importantly, I’ll try and educate children, friends, neighbours and families on what Covid-19 is, giving them the information that I read from WHO website,”  added Sulaimon.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Idayat Amoo, an ND I student of Mass Communication at YABATECH, said she would conduct a research, complete all assignments given to them in school, and be a part in the online class that is being organised by her department.

“For the holiday period, an online lecture is being organised by my department to educate us more on our courses for the rest of the semester. I also intend to conduct a research on assignments and projects given by our lecturers as they would help me more in my field of study,” Amoo said.

Like Amooo, Temiloluwa Akubor, another 100-Level student of Philosophy of OOU, said she would be using the one month break to think more creatively and conduct researches.

Similarly, a 100-Level student of Theatre Arts at the University of Benin, Osato Sunday, said she intended to combine studies and business.

Muhammad Auwal, a second year Mass Communication undergraduate of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, is hoping to improve himself as a writer for CAMPUSLIFE.

Auwal expressed fear that the one month break might be extended owing to ASUU strike and the unresolved IPPIS.

“Even when there is no ASUU strike, it will be hard for our lessons to go online, not to talk of now that the strike prevails.

“As a student journalist, I will have time to write more for newspapers, I can also work from home.

Auwal continued: “We may stay longer at home, even if coronavirus break ends, ASUU issue should also be resolved. I’ll pray more and repent. This coronavirus is a test from God based on the sins man has committed.”

However, a student entrepreneur, Shopein Deborah, an HND2 student of Mass Communication of MAPOLY, plans to be more engaged with her studies and bead works.

Miss Obuwe Edith, who studies Office and Technology Management, at the Delta State Polytechnic Ozoro, described the holiday as timely.

Read Also: ASUU volunteers to fight Coronavirus

 

She said:  “We were supposed to start our exams on Monday, but we have been asked to go home because of the coronavirus pandemic. That means exam commences anytime we resume. Though many students have gone home, but I decided to stay back in Delta State because I think this is a safer place to stay as there is no case of coronavirus here.

“I’m going to use this holiday period as an opportunity to study hard and prepare for my examination. This is because during this period, there will be little or no distraction as most students have travelled, so the environment will be very conducive to read.

Munachi Eze, a 300-Level Economics undergraduate of Abia State University (ABSU), also corroborated Obuwe.

“We were just about to write our exams before the break, but it was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I will use this opportunity to read and prepare for my exams. In addition, I will also learn extra skills, either make-up or something else within this one month period,” she said.

Obuwe’s schoolmate Ruth Okoro is also staying back in school because Rivers State where she hailed from has halted interstate movements.

“Nobody has access to travel in or out of Rivers State for now. So, I am trapped here since I don’t have anywhere to go. I have stocked up my room with foodstuff, provision and other things in order to keep myself indoors. Also, I am planning to learn one of these online businesses so it can keep me busy and also earn me some income while reading for my exam at home,” said the HND 2 student of Business Administration and Management.

Justice Ogbe Godwin, a second year Mechanical Engineering undergraduate of UNILAG, promised to leverage on the break to study more, while perfecting his skill in art.

“I am a talented artist. I do still life drawing and even imaginary pictures. My academics has never given me the chance to focus on my talent or skill, now I have the time and chance to learn more and also generate money for myself by offering my services to people,” he said.

Though not yet a graduate, Aniefion Ekoiso, a final year student of Radiography of UNILAG, intended to offer his service free to government as a means of assisting victims of Covid-19.

“As a medical student, i spend just two out of seven days in the hospital on a regular season. However, considering the times we are in, many medical personnel are needed at the moment. Hence, I am going to be spending more days at the hospital, helping, learning and getting more experience in my field,” Ekioso said.

 

We are going to sleep

While the aforementioned students would be shifting their focus to their businesses, crafts and studies during this break, some students feel the break is an opportunity to take time off and relax.

A 100-Level student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of Lagos (UNILAG) who craved anonymity, said he would use the pressure to relax considering how school activities had taken a toll on him.

“I’ll definitely get rest because school has taken a lot out of me,” he said.

The source has allies in Elizabethe Onalapo a medical student from Olabisi Onabanjo University and Eboda Eyitayo, a 100-Level student of UNILAG. The duo told CAMPUSLIFE the break would afford them to sleep, play games, and eat.

 

Apt period to add value to yourself, Career expert says

A career expert who doubles as a youth advocate, Tolulope Makinde, has advised students to see this period as an opportunity to add values that would make them better students when schools resume.

Said Makinde: “Education is continuous, schooling happens within the walls of schools but education is everywhere.  Even if you stop schooling, you don’t have to stop education.

He continued: “One problem I have come to notice is that many young people are yet to discover themselves; that is the reason many youths after graduation are always confused as to what they want to do with their lives. If you don’t try things out, you don’t learn more.  If you don’t conduct research, you won’t know where you fit in.

“I would like these young ones to know that the market of this 21st century has moved from merely being certificated to ‘what can you’; as in your competency. That is why you see a lot of graduates go back to learn some skills after their graduation because the market is now skill-based.

“So instead of them watching unnecessary videos, involving in unnecessary chatting on the internet, they should use their time to make use of the internet and not make the internet make use of them,” he said.

“So students should rather see this break as an opportunity to learn more skills as many as they can. Yes! They might be at home due to conditions of the break, but still they could leverage on the internet by taking free courses.

“We have many of them on youtube. Many of these courses are free while in some cases, students can do the course free and pay for the certificate later.”

 

Adapt to the situation, it is just temporary, lecturer urges

Meanwhile Dr Ade Adegbami, a lecturer in the Department of Public Administration, OOU, is admonishing the students to see the one-month break as a means of opening opportunities.

Odegbami said students should see this period as a very fertile one to evaluate their academic performances while setting targets for better performances when schools eventually reopen.

According to Adegbami, students should use this period to lift some financial responsibilities off their parents by raising money before resumption.

He said, “It is unfortunate that most of the students nowadays are indolent academically. Many of them are preoccupied with frivolity. They are attached to music, football and other social media activities.

“There are a lot of ways in which students can maximise their holiday period. Any serious student who is aspiring to achieve academic excellence should reflect on the previous semester, assess his or her past performances while setting goals or targets for the coming semester.

“A serious student should inspire to learn new things, new skills, or even go ahead to take a short term online courses in journalism, photography, film making, tailoring, and hair dressing.

“He or she can use the time to improve on his or her writing skills and vocabulary development. It is a time to pick a new hobby, google names of their lecturers and read some of their published works, publish educational videos, youtube and documentaries.

“It is a time to assist your parents to raise money before resumption.”

END