Category: Campus Life

From Caleb Ijioma

A student of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic (AAP), Ogun State Fanika Olatunde, has been appointed the Ogun State Director of Media and Publicity by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southwest (Zone D).

This is coming 37 days after Fanika lost his ambition to become the Students Union president of AAP.

A copy of the appointment letter signed by NANS Zone D coordinator Kappo Samuel, was made available to CAMPUS LIFE

The letter reads: “The coordinator, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southwest (ZONE D) in a bid to further deepen effectiveness of service delivery has resolved to make appointments into certain offices.

“We humbly write to inform you of your appointment as Director of Media and Publicity (Ogun State) National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Southwest (ZONE D)”

“We are hopeful of your best contribution to the success of the team’s quest for new possibilities.

Fanika describe the appointment as another opportunity to achieve his desires.

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“The appointment is well appreciated. My motivation to have vied in the capacity of SU president of my school in the first place was to see student unionism live up to its definition as a body that influences policies of decision makers at various level. This is to ensure that the rights and privileges of students are duly attended to.

“Since I couldn’t get that, I see this as another opportunity to still achieve my desire even at a higher level. I also see this as an opportunity to give our fledgling polytechnic meaningful representation externally,” he told CAMPUSLIFE.

When asked if the appointment was a consolation for his loss at the SU election, he said:  “Honestly, that is what it is. But I’m not taking it as that. It is another platform to still achieve my desires”

Speaking on how he intend to use his appointment for the benefit of Ogun State Students, he said: “Serving the interest of my school is core to my acceptance of the position. I shall also be ensuring a timely and effective flow of information so that all stakeholders are carried along with respect to the activities of the current administration.”

“That way, only one legitimate student union authority is recognised and faction system will be completely eradicated in our zone. I shall be working on a model of information gathering and dissemination that will make NANS Zone D a force in student unionism.”

“I believe the phenomenon of factionalisation in students unionism is one of the major scourge to our progress and effectiveness.

“Above all, I shall seek every medium to make prominent the virtue of genuine and selfless service to humanity.

From Owooso Samuel

Five thousand and sixty-four new students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko (AAUA) have taken the oath of management  for the 2019/2020 session, at the Obasanjo Multipurpose hall.

Delivering his speech, the Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Olugbenga Ige, said the university received over 16,139 admission seekers, adding that of this number, only 5,064 succeded in securing admission into the university.

He said the university was recently rated one of the best among state universities in the country, and on the continent.

Read Also: AAUA SU election holds Saturday

‘’As part of our commitment to the growth and development of the university, we will continue to focus on the pursuit of excellence in research, knowledge and service to humanity,’’ he said.

Furthermore, he advised  the students to focus on their primary purpose of coming to the university, which, according to him, is to acquire knowledge and skills that will position them for a better tomorrow.

‘’The university will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour that may contravene the laid down rules and regulations. Incidents of cultism, rape, examination misconduct indecent dressing and the likes will not be tolerated,’’ he said.

Agbo Agbo

After fixing my car recently, my technician asked me a question that I never expected from him. “Sir, how much will it cost me to send my son to a university abroad?” As a result of that simple question I had to stay an extra thirty minutes hearing him out on why he wants his son to attend a foreign varsity and not a local one.

“I was told that graduates from Nigerian universities remain jobless for years while their counterparts from foreign universities, upon their return home, get jobs easily” was the singular reason he wants to send his son abroad.

He said his son just wrote his SSCE and he has been saving to ensure he “travels out, even if it’s to Ghana, Togo or Benin Republic.” My attempt to convince him that there are still credible varsities in Nigeria fell on deaf ears. I had no choice but to take out time – in lay man’s language – to explain the process he would pass through for his son to study abroad.

As I drove back to the office I started reflecting and asking myself – over and over again – when and how we lost our education sector, especially the university system.

I went to the university at a time when tuition was free, throughout my five years stay – one year added due to the first ASUU strike – I paid less than N10, 000 to complete my tertiary education! I only took care of my personal needs and books. Like many in my generation, we owe the Nigerian tax payers a huge debt of gratitude for making it possible.

Consequent upon this, some of us are doing our best to impart the knowledge we acquired to the next generation that did not pass through the rigorous research regime we did.

I therefore try my best – within my professional capability – to take fresh graduates and train them in the art of communication, reporting, writing and morals. I’m glad today that it has not been in vain.

As a result of our collapsed system – our loss- some countries have stepped in to cash in on this and make it their gain. Even the most casual observer cannot fail to notice that Nigeria is now one huge “untapped” market for agents and marketers of foreign varsities.

I have attended lots of “education fairs” and in most instances one is inundated with all sorts of offerings and incentives, some realistic while others are simply outlandish. They include endless scholarship opportunities, work-study offers and fragmented fee payment schedules, opportunities for jobs, permanent residency if one so desires and a host of other “juicy” offers.

I’ve had course in the past to engage some agents, marketers or representatives of some of these institutions and it is amazing how a number of them turn out to be charlatans looking for unsuspecting parents and students to fleece. Because most parents – like my technician – want their wards to study abroad, critical question are unfortunately not asked. There are hidden charges which only pops up once the student is settled in.

I quite agree that we are in the knowledge era and knowledge has become an international commodity of sort, but I also hold the view that this ever-expanding international education market has benefitted immensely from Nigeria’s deeply troubled tertiary education sector. The evidences are manifold and there for all to see.

Like most things Nigerian, the quest for foreign education is in categories. At the top echelon are children of politicians, business moguls and the elites who prefer studying in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and some European Union countries.

In some of these countries, the fee is structured in ways where foreign students pay twice what citizens pay. The extra fees foreigners pay are used to subsidise the fees of at least two of the host country’s citizens.

Within this group, we also have politicians and businessmen who have the wherewithal to send their children to the best universities in the west no matter the cost. Others, because of corruption charges and the fact that they – or their children – cannot enter the west, make do with east European or Middle East countries. In these countries, questions are not asked as you can simply walk in with your money, no matter how dirty it is.

The next category is the upper middle class who send their children to universities which are not in the league of the Harvard’s of this world, but are equally credible nonetheless. Those in the lower middle class and those aspiring to enter that class make do with varsities in Ghana, Togo, and Republic of Benin.

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We still have those – like my technician – who don’t mind their children attending a foreign “portakabin university” established by some “smart” Nigerians in these countries. It will astound most Nigerians that our citizens form 80 percent of student and lecturer population in some of these institutions. Note that in all these institutions, fees are usually paid in dollars, or in some instances, in pound sterling or Euro.

Mr. Brian Wilson, Programmes Director at British Council revealed at one of the education exhibition that 18,000 Nigerians were currently pursuing various undergraduate and post-graduate courses in Britain. Without doubt, I believe the figure will have risen since he made this revelation some years back.

This may be mere figures until we do the math then we will realise how dare our situation is. Remember also that we are talking here about just one country out of a host of others that Nigerians go in search of education. Let’s take £30,000 as the average amount spent by a Nigerian studying in the UK. The figure in Naira at an exchange rate of N447 would be N13.4million. If we multiply £30,000 by 18,000, it boils down to £540,000,000. Convert £540,000,000 to naira and you’ll get over N241 billion.

To me, the irony of the whole situation is this: Nigerians lampoon their country as a place where nothing works and a country without a future. But it is from this same country that the funds to sponsor students abroad come from. I know quite a couple of Nigerians who fund their home mortgages abroad from the money they earn in Nigeria, some even have families doing nothing abroad who are catered for with money earned from the home front. Can you imagine what would happen if these fund is injected into our local economy? However, this is issue for another day.

How did we get here? Brian Wilson echoed the minds of millions of Nigerians, when he advised the Federal Government to do more toward improving the standard of education in Nigeria. With more than 200 Universities offering less than 300,000 slots in a country where over one million candidates seek placements every year, many anxious parents with enough funds have been persuaded to seek alternative placements for their wards in foreign Universities. Some, after many years’ attempt to gain admission to a local university proved futile choose this option while others migrated because they could not scale the UME, and post UME hurdle.

However, where a particular parent sends his or her wards to depends on a combination of factors. While Universities in the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) are considered relatively safer for Nigerian students, the required fees are beyond the reach of many. Many American universities charge foreign students about $40,000 (N12.2million) annually.

Studying abroad undoubtedly has its merits, including opportunity to attend top-class universities in different cultural settings and, of course, brighter international career opportunities, but what about our home front? Unfortunately, much of the resources at our varsities disposal end up as recurrent expenditure – payment of salaries and spending on non-capital projects. The precarious situation is ever bogged down by poor funding as well as ill-conceived, inconsistent and outright failure of government policies. Research is almost nonexistent.

So what happens after we milk the cow (Nigeria) dry?

Abdulrasheed Hammad, UDUS

Law students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) are asking the management to walk its talk by making the N3000 refund to them.

The Dean, Students’ Affairs, Prof  Aminu Mode, had erlier promised a refund, provided the students are right in their agitation.

“The laboratory fee has been programmed by the school MIS and removing them would be difficult,” he said.

Fatimat Abdulkadir Yarima, a 200-Level student, said the additional fund put more pressure on students who were struggling to get their school fees despite the deadline by the school management.

“The inclusion of the laboratory fees as part of our school fees is actually not fair. They (management) know that law students are not using any laboratory. It’s a great inconvenience especially to those that have to hustle for our school fees.”

 “Three thousand naira is a huge amount money for the students. If this laboratory fees is given back to us, it would be a huge relief because we will be glad that our complaints did not fall on deaf ears.”

Sanni Abdullah, a 500-Level student of Law, urged the authority to stick to their promise.

 “Laboratory fee was mistakenly added to our tuition fees and the school management    through the Dean Students’ Affairs said the amount would be refunded upon submission of evidence of payment in the Directorate of Students’ Affairs.”.

“I will be highly delighted because such gesture will give us an impression about how responsive and responsible our management is.

 “I believe that the money would be refunded considering the clarification and assurance given by the authority.” he added.

Abdulkareem Suleiman also showed his dissatisfaction on the inclusion because it doesn’t have any thing to do with the laboratory fees and felt optimistic that the management would refund the money has promised.

“It is mocking to have imposed the payment of laboratory fees on not even law students alone but also all Art/Humanity students on campus.

“It is my expectation as a law student that the money so paid would be refunded as we do not benefit from the said laboratory. I must confess that I don’t even know where the laboratory is situated. 

Suleiman Maleek, who is in his first year was surprised when he saw laboratory fees as part of the school fee component.

 “When I firstly saw the laboratory fees included in our fees, I was so surprised because laboratory is not relevant to law courses not to talk of paying 3,000 for this laboratory without having any in the faculty.

“I will be so glad if they can refund it because I am really in need of money. Although it’s under probability of they are going to refund it,” he said.

President of the Law Student Society (LSS) Comrade Abubakar Muhammad Tsamiya, insisted the law must be exempted from paying the laboratory fees.

A graduate of Biochemistry from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Miss Success Olaleye, was among the eight 2019 Batch ‘A’ National Youths Service Corps members that were honoured for their outstanding performances during their service year in Anambra State. In this interview with EMMA ELEKWA, the dimunitive 25-year-old Oyo State indigene enumerated the projects she embarked on in the state under the NYSC community service development (CSD) programme.

What stood you out for the award?

I won the Chairman’s honours award for carrying out various projects in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State where I served as a teacher in one of the secondary schools. I taught three classes.

Among the projects I carried out under the Community Development Service (CDS) programme of the NYSC include sensitising students on drug abuse, menstrual and hygiene management, sexual purity, sensitising the locals on lassa fever, importance of water, stress management, as well as distribution of free sanitary pads to students.

What motivated you towards those projects?

Before I was mobilised for the national service, I’d always loved social development and being impactful to the people around me. As an undergraduate, I visited schools to speak to youngsters. I’m passionate about this set of people getting it right in terms of career and morals.

Even before I came to camp, I knew of a platform in NYSC called CDS from my friends that have passed through the scheme. But I didn’t get approval on time when I indicated interest. Besides, funding was a huge challenge. That affected the number of projects I carried out. I had planned to give out more free sanitary pads, and provide free skills acquisition for the youths. All the same, I was able to maximise the little funds at my disposal. 

Besides, I didn’t have the opportunity to be properly mentored beyond my parents while growing up; even though I’m not wayward or irresponsible. I weep when I see young people that their morals and values are nothing to home about.

What other challenges did you encounter aside funding?

Getting cooperation from the stakeholders and the direct beneficiaries in the communities themselves was a huge challenge. It was difficult convincing them that they needed such services. Again, I was eriously sick for about two months while carrying out the project. On a good day, I’m an achiever. Once I set out to do something, I achieve it. But because of the health challenge, I couldn’t pursue the projects with the required vigour.

Is there anything you think NYSC can do to remedy this situation, particularly funding? 

I think the NYSC can liaise with certain relevant bodies, including ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) so that corps members carrying out certain projects can approach the ministries which are into the projects they are embarking on for assistance. For example, it could have been much easier for me getting assistance from the Ministry of Youths and Health if such synergy existed. 

What do you intend doing after now?

Before coming into NYSC, I had in mind of setting up an NGO that is focused on youth development. I’m trusting God to get that rolling. But aside that, I want to go into entrepreneurship. I’m an event planner and I make cake and cook. I’ll be setting up my business which is registered already. 

Didn’t your stature pose challenge to you?

It’s the way you carry yourself that matters. The way I carry myself makes it difficult for people to see me and deny they didn’t recognise my presence.

I  have an effective communication skills which is the first thing I showcase. When you hear me speak, though funny voice, but I communicate effectively. 

I don’t get threatened by my size. If at all, maybe that was during my junior secondary school day. I know what I carry. I know I’m a gift to the world with potentials inside of me. I’m not bothered with my size. It’s not about the container, but the content.

By Tolani Ajifowowe, TPI

A total of 1,885 new students of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Oto, Ijanikin, took the oath of matriculation.

 Addressing the students at the college premises last Thusday, the Provost, Prof Bilkis Lafiaji-Okuneye, thanked the government for finding her worthy as the ninth Provost of the oldest tertiary institution owned by the state. She also thanked her predecessors and the immediate past Governing Council for leaving behind legacies upon which she could consolidate.

She promised that her administration would be anchored on openness and an all-inclusive government.

 “The fulcrum of our administration shall be effective leadership that is participatory and transparent. With this, the administration shall drive promotion of innovative teaching and learning, encourage research-based development, provide conducive learning and teaching environment and create adequate welfare for the staff, and improve on financial sustainability of the college.

Further, it is our determination to promote result-based management and evidence-based accountability through sustained policy dialogues and more enduring partnerships among stakeholders. This is because strong internal coherence is sine qua non to quality performance of the college and its successful transformation into a globally competitive teacher institution. 

According to her, the matriculation ritual is to familiarise the new students with the dos and donts, as well as highlight the core values that define the institution’s vision.

She urged them to fastract all process of registration, attend classes regularly, stay out of trouble and exhibit a high sense of discipline. 

“I congratulate the matriculating students of today.  It is not a coincidence that you are the first set of the matriculation oath before me as Provost. It is a new beginning of greatness and good things for you all, so keep the matriculation oath you have just taken which is an evidence of your promise to be of good behaviours. 

“I assure that you have come to the right institution. As students of this great college, the development of all your potentials to become the best you can is our desire.  Make the best of this rare opportunity. Attend lectures, tutorials and other academic programmes at the appropriate time.”

By Fasilat Oluwuyi, MAPOLY

Students of School of Engineering, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, has celebrated this year’s World Engineering Day with project exhibition.

They were joined by their contemporaries from four other schools- Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Computer Engineering

A lecturer in the school of Engineering, Dr Rilwan Oluyide, who announced that the event would henceforth be celebrated annually, added that it was meant to showcase wonderful projects made by the students.

He said: “As part of the engineering community, we deem it fit that we should demonstrate some of our wonderful projects that our students are coming up with. We promise that this will be an annual event henceforth.

Some of the projects exhibited include: android control system with calculator, home board, android water control system, face recognition system, water generating plant, kerosene-powered generator, maize shelling machine, home automation, and public address system, amongst others.

Addressing the students at the exhibition, the Acting Rector of the institution, Dr Adeoye Odedeji, urged them to key into the opportunity they have at hand and do away with distractions.

Odedeji charged the students to start new innovations that generations to come will continue to remember them for.

“Hope is not lost. Seize the opportunity. Now is your time to turn things around and key into this opportunities,” Odedeji began.

“Be hardworking. Face your studies. Get good grades out of this place and don’t allow anybody to discourage you.

Odedeji also appealed to the students to pay their school fees on time to enable management provide more befitting facilities.

He advised them to drop the habit of making late payment.

He continued: “I have promised you that facilities will be made available only based on the fact that you pay your school fee on time.

“No one can be successful in life when you can’t deny yourself of some things. Put in something that will be productive to your life.

“I’m expecting all of you to pay your school fees before this week runs out.”

Odedeji also called on workers to join hands with the institution’s Centre for Research Development to ensure innovation increases.

Odedeji implored them to follow trends and look at emerging needs in the society to remain relevant.

“My role is to ensure that all available resources will be looked at to produce technical information and knowledge.

‘’That’s our mission and it will be properly disseminated.

“I want to encourage you to sit down and look at the current needs as well as the emerging needs of the society and ask yourself what equipment I can design.

“How do I satisfy people’s values, their aspiration?

“That is when you’ll become relevant, follow trends, sit down, come out with a concept and design.

“Put heads together and collaborate with the centre for research and development.

“I see this polytechnic becoming world acclaimed. We are waiting patiently for your turn around.”

By  Ibraheem  Abdullateef

The International Women’s Day is a moment to reflect and celebrate the wonderful creature— the women. The occasion similarly signifies a call for drastic change in plights and travails of girl-child and women in the country.

Despite the global efforts and impacts, no country has achieved gender equality. Regardless, this is a special opportunity to deepen the agitations. We must stop paying lip-service. Nigeria must set to work to lead the rest of Africa on women advocacy, rights and empowerment.

According to the United Nations, 7,000 incidents of sexual violence was recorded against women and girls by terrorists in Nigeria between 2009-2017. This is a grim statistics highlighting how girls are fast becoming pawns in the guise of terrorism. This is inhuman and this trend must stop forthwith. The Leah Sharibu and the Chibok girls’ debacle is enough calamity for a lifetime.

The rights of women are still in jeopardy. Wikipedia (2017) puts women in the labour force in Nigeria ratio at 50 per cent. But one in three women are victims of sexual or gender-based violence. Aside from the poor, prevalent cultural mind-set of a notoriously patriarchal society, illiteracy and lack of awareness of rights by women in the local communities does not help matters. 

As fast as we can, we must improve women’s participation in politics. The unorthodox approach of using them for electioneering without trusting them with leadership position is repudiating. Every state governor in Nigeria should emulate Kwara State whose cabinet comprises 52 per cent women representation. The state did this to stop underutilising the potentials of women in nation building.

Nigerian women’s rights to health must be accorded attention. The health problems for the women include breast and cervical cancer, high maternal mortality rate, female genital mutilations, vesico virgina fistula among others. These are health challenges that are life threatening. To keep a nation, one must keep the women healthy. The Nigerian women deserve best medical attention from the government at all levels.

As Nigeria marks the International Women’s Day, the nation should reflect on how to make heroines out of every woman. Any encumbering legal, social and economic system of the country on gender inequality should be dismembered.

The girl-child education should be given a definitive commitment. The punitive culture and mindset of degradation of the womenfolk should be seriously frowned at. The earlier the nation has more female researchers, scientists, doctors, engineers among others the better. The whole world is increasingly aware of women’s right and Nigeria should not be left behind. 

As the theme for this year’s celebration suggested, realising women equality is a generational responsibility. Therefore, the press persons, civil societies and development bodies should support the government at all levels to achieve this global goal. There may be a need for massive awareness on gender-based issues across the country.

We should get something clear: this is a decade of action. Anything short of this mitigates against the purpose of our creation. If the world were an evolution, women are the wheel. Nigerians should quit talking now.

• Ibraheem Abdullateef is a 200-Level student of Mass Communication, Kwara State University, Malete.