Category: Campus Life

By Adegunle Olugbamila

 

Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Oto/Ijanikin, has reinstated its commitment to appreciating  colleagues who have retired from the system after a meritorious service.

This gesture would make these ‘patriarchs and matriarchs’ realise the institution still have them at heart despite that they have thrown in the trowel.

Provost of AOCOED Dr Omolara Aina Ladele, made this assurance during a maiden send forth party for this year’s retirees at the institution’s premises.

The retirees, nine in numbers are: Mr Raji Lasis Lawal, Mr Olajide James Ajibade; Dr Odigie Justina Isibhakhomen; Dr Lanre Joseph Aiyejuyo; Dr Christopher Sunday Daodu; Mr Balami Banjoko Alli; Dr Olaseni Samuel Ajogbasile; Mr Bakare Kolawole Muheeb and Dr John Abiola Adewopyin.

“As a college, we have had workers that have retired; but this is the first time we are coming together to appreciate and honour them,” Ladele began.

“We felt this is better late than never. We want to tell them that we value the time they have spent

“We have some of them that spent 35 years and above. Some of them personally worked with me. I could remember that at the heat of duty, some of them sacrificed their time and work late into the night, denying themselves luxuries and some other things.

Our happiness is that now that they are retired, they can now enjoy their families.”

She said the honour done the retirees speaks volumes of their immense contributions while in the system, challenging others workers to leave good legacies so that fellow workers wound not speak ill of them after they have retired.

Thankfully Ladele recounted how the college got the nod of the Lagos State Pension Commission to pay staff retirement benefits for their colleagues who retired since 2015, following a raise in AOCOED monthly subvention by the immediate past administration. She said the institution has remained committed to fulfilling this role, adding that the new retirees’ benefits would not also pose any hurdle.

Matron of the College Health Centre Fasinro Bisi, gave some health tips to the retirees.

She admonished them to henceforth use a substantial part of their time to rest. Fasinro advised them to spend their monthly retirement benefits wisely, avoid excess partying, engage in modest body exercises and ensure good diet, particularly consumption of vegetables.

A former national president of College of education Academic Staff Union Comrade Sam Akindele, noted that one of the roles of unionists is praising management when it does well, and rebuking them anytime they err.

According to him, management deserves applause for appreciating their now retired colleagues.

Read Also: LASU, AOCOED, others eulogise registrar

 

“I have worked with some of these people for nearly 40 years; so it will be difficult for me to start talking about them one after the other.

“These people have truly paid their due in the system. I congratulate you all and wish the best even in retirement,” said Akindele who later joined the management team to present gift to some of the retirees.

The highpoint of the event was the cutting of the cake, presentation of gift to retirees by management as well as the usual ‘Item 7’ and dance session.

Expressing appreciation on behalf of others, Dr Odigie, said the college ethics would continue to linger in her memory.

“I love the college ethics,” said Odigie.

“We have this feeling of oneness and the desire to work as a team.

“I am from Ishan in Edo State. I joined this college in March 1984, but I’ve never felt like an outsider because my colleagues never treated me as so. I am a very strict person; yet the system, allows me to work in different departments.

Even after I had my Ph.D, many thought I was going to leave the system; but I chose to stay back because of the love and cooperation I enjoyed.”

 

By Victoria Ekpo and Mcdouggi Ekperikpe

 

Akwa Ibom University (AKSU), Faculty of Social Sciences, welcomed new students during the Students’ Week.

The orientation, held in the faculty hall, was attended by members of the staff of the faculty, led by the Dean, Prof. Godwin Umoette.

In his address, Umoette congratulated the new students for scaling through strict admission hurdles. He urged them to be studious and desist from acts capable of jeopardising their academic pursuits.

Umoette harped on excellence in learning and character, saying anyone found wanting in either the aforementioned is not deserving of the institution’s certificate.

Educating new students on the activities in the Department of Mass Communication, Prof Mboho… advised them to participate in the department’s academic exercises, adding that punctuality to lectures and practical classes form part of requirements that qualified students to write examination. He emphasised 75 per cent attendance of lectures.

Read Also: CAMPUSLIFE reporter leads AAUA Mass Comm body

 

Dr. Ekpo of the Department of Economics, advised new students to work closely with lecturers, saying anyone who failed to do so had started planning to fail.

He advised them to read other relevant literature on their courses as no single textbook could claim knowledge in all fields.

The outgoing president of the faculty association, Victor Johnson, and his successor Blessing Essien, stressed the need for the improvement of relationship between lecturers and students. They urged the students to always show respect towards lecturers. They advised them never to allow extra-curricular activities derail their purpose in the university.

 

Our Reporter

 

Alumni of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) in conjunction with the Students’ Union (SU) and the National Association of Niger State Students (NANISS) of the school has organised a sendoff for the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Nasiru Maiturare.

The event took place at the IBB Guest House Minna, Niger State.

Addressing students and guests, IBBUL alumni President, Comrade Umar Saba Baba, said the event was to appreciate Maiturare’s sterling contributions as IBBUL’s helmsman.

Umar described Maiturare’s achievements as ‘inspiring and mind-blowing’, saying he made the university one of the best in terms of learning and teaching.

Read Also: UNILAG sociology alumni give back

 

Chairman on the occasion and Provost, Niger State College of Education, Minna, Prof. Mohammed Yakubu Auna, lauded the alumni for celebrating Maiturare’s exit.

Auna urged the alumni to strive harder to attain more success. He equally implored Maiturare to continue in his good work and maintain his humility.

President of the Students Union Comrade Idris Baba  Alhaji (Elomi) and his counterpart from National Association of Niger State Students (NANISS) Comrade Sallah Mohammed Abdullahi, appreciated Maiturare for his support to the union while in the saddle.

 

By Sam Ibok

 

No fewer than 32 new medical doctors have taken the physician oath at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) College of Medical Sciences.

The ceremony,  which was  the  51st held at the UNICAL International Conference Centre, with eminent personalities, parents and guardians in attendance.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Zana Akpagu, praised parents for providing the required resources and support that sustained the graduands throughout their stay in the university.

Akpagu congratulated the new medical doctors for conquering the difficult moments, which he said they faced before graduation. He advised them to see hard work as a virtue, adding that the sky would be their starting point if they could stick to the guidelines of the profession.

Provost of the college, Prof Victor Ansa, congratulated them on their successful completion of the programme, saying it has been a long journey filled with anxiety and fears.

Read Also: Ekiti State University graduates first set of medical doctors

 

“You have all successfully completed the first phase of training as medical doctors,” he said, admonishing them not to betray the confidence reposed in them by involving themselves in unethical practices that would portray the institution in bad light.

Ansa described the new doctors as the harvest of the college, which they are sending to the society. He urged them to work hard to maintain the standard of their alma mater and to always be good ambassadors.

Administering the oath on the physicians, the Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr. Tajudeen Sanusi, noted that the oath-taking ritual placed a moral burden on the graduates to live above board.

Speaking on behalf of the graduands, Dr. Udofia Godswill, who is also the class representative, praised the school management for providing a conducive learning environment. He also acknowledged the support and care of their parents, lecturers and workers in the department.

 

 

A physically-challenged student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Ibrahim Oladeji Tijani, has described himself as a ‘gift from God’. Oladeji, who is a second year English Literature student speaks with SODIQ MOJIBOLA on World’s International Day of Disabled Persons.

 

How did you become physically challenged?

I would have loved to tell you but it is one lengthy and emotionally draining experience I will not be able to share with you now. However, let me say I was given birth to like this and that’s more of the reason I see myself not as a disabled person but a gift from God.

Who is a disabled person to you?

In 2017, I wrote an article on the question you just asked-’Who is a disabled?’

When I was younger, I did ask myself if I was in anyway different from others; but the answer often eluded me. However, all I felt within me was that I could do almost or even all what others who are not physically challenged could do. I could roll a tyre.

I participate in various sporting activities such as football, high jump, long jump and even fight my mates when they intended to cheat me. Then I told myself: “I am not disabled’.

I remember a trip I embarked on from Oshodi to Iyana Ipaja. Inside the bus, I saw almost 50 beggars. About 40 of them were physically fit while 10 others had one physical challenge or the other.

Even when I was younger, people did want to give me money. They cared less about my dressing and even the fact that, sometimes, I looked better than their children and I never asked or begged for money. I realised collecting arms belonged to the disabled.

I heard many stories of women that got rid of their children, just because they were born disabled. But my mum never did that because she believed I could be greater than what she even hoped for.

I had sleepless nights over this for sometime; wondering who a disabled is. I realised that a state of hopelessness could make one disabled, and not when one suffers physical deformity.

Could you please explain?

It’s easier to become a failure when one is disabled. A failed state of mind is a disability and that is what I see as being disabled.

As far as I’m concerned, a physically-challenged person must stay strong and care less about your posture or what is missing in you. That automatically makes you more than a complete being.”

What is your biggest challenge?

My challenge is doubt!

Self doubt is a weakness that can strike anyone at anytime. Nonetheless, I never allow it to get the better of me because, somehow, God gives me courage to face whatever I am going through at any point in time.

What has been your greatest motivations in life?

One of my mentors, Mr. Fashomi Bamidele, is a veteran but now a retired journalist. He once commented on my article: ‘Who is disabled?’ He said:  ‘You are down right? Barriers of life are really of the mind.

It is worse to be diabled in the mind. Those in such situations won’t be able to crush barriers and lift themselves up over life’s hurdles.’ This comment really motivated and encouraged me.

What is the most valuable gift you ever received for your kind of person?

I won an honorary award at a competition, Nasfat (NASGA) Game 2016. As a primary school student of As-siddiq international school, I won the special student of the year (session) 2005/2006. Besides, I was given a free ticket to participate in a rap battle, mash up contest in 2017. I came third in that contest. Apart from this, I don’t take gifts given to me out of pity.

Read Also: Nasarawa govt declares free education for physically challenged

 

How do you feel when people see you as a disabled?

I feel humiliated and embarrassed. At that moment, I try to prove them wrong, make them see that I am able and can do things I feel like doing.

Have you ever been mocked or embarrassed because of your condition?

Countless times, and mostly by kids. But I always feel they’re ignorant and sometimes curious. The intelligent ones amongst them won’t make jest of me, but ask questions out of curiosity, like: “Where’s your leg?’.

And when I was younger, I was stubborn, so when I fought and beat somebody, they would retaliate by making jest of me. But to me, it was nothing to worry or feel sad about so I would just laugh it off.

How do you feel when you people in your shoes begging for alms?

Initially, I used to see them as lazy people who looked down on themselves and refused to be better.

But now, I first try to blame where they come from in terms of background. Sometimes it’s not their fault. It’s what they are trained to do and they aren’t given much of a chance to show what they can offer. So, we don’t expect a disabled to work as a bricklayer.

However, I also feel they can learn shoe making and stop depending on people who may not be so strong financially. So most times, I think they just don’t want to change.

Do you work or have any vocational skill?

Well there was a time hustled to sell television antenna from 12pm till 7pm to earn sometimes just N500  daily. I recall I once met a guy who approached me when he saw me selling antenna in traffic and told me he would like to join. He said he couldn’t be begging for alms while I was working. I only did that job for about six months or thereabout in 2015.

What would you like to say to people, especially the physically challenged?

First, we must understand that being disabled is not actually what people see, it’s what you think of yourself. When you think you can’t, you’re disabled. If you are physically challenged, but mentally strong, you have everything.  Disability isn’t physical, it’s mental.

Agbo Agbo

 

In 1979, China took a radical step to stem its rapidly growing population. It introduced the one-child per family policy. According to the Chinese government, 400 million births were prevented through the policy.

In between – 1979 and 2013 – China also lifted over 500 million people out of poverty. Prior to the relaxation of the policy in November 2013, it had created another problem: gender imbalance.

There are now more men than women due to preferences for the male child. Chinese men are now marrying foreign wives. This would’ve been culturally inconceivable years back.

Earlier last year -2018 – the National Population Commission (NPC) released Nigeria’s current population estimate which was put at 198 million people. It said urban population growing at an average annual growth rate of about 6.5 per cent. The former Chairman, Mr. Eze Duruiheoma stated that: “Nigeria remains the most populous in Africa, the seventh globally with an estimated population of over 198 million.

The recent World Population Prospects report predicts that by 2050, Nigeria will become the third most populated country in the world.”

He added that over the last 50 years, the Nigeria’s urban population has grown at an average annual growth rate of more than 6.5 per cent without commensurate increase in social amenities and infrastructure. It grew substantially from 17.3 per cent in 1967 to 49.4 per cent of the country’s total population in 2017.

In addition, the 2014 World Urbanisation Prospects report, predicts that by 2050, most Nigerians – 70 per cent – will be residing in cities.

In terms of demographics, the youth make up a huge chunk of our population and are the ones fueling the urbanisation trends. Next are internally displaced persons (IDPs) in cities; this group poses critical challenges to securing sustainability in Nigerian urban centres, including efforts to make them smart and responsive to the human influx.

“The Displacement Tracking Matrix Round XXI of January 2018 identified an estimated 1.7 million IDPs in over 321,580 households across six states of North-east Nigeria with 40 per cent residing in camp-like settings in urban areas plus 1.4 million returnees.

The number of IDPs represented a 4.5 per cent increase compared to the 1,702,680 identified in Round XX (Dec. 2017),” Mr. Duruiheoma added.

He also rightly pointed out that Nigerian cities host wide spread poverty, under-employment and unemployment at an average of 18.4 per cent.

Add this to the insecurity in the country – which is fueling the upsurge in IDPs – and inadequate and inequitable healthcare services and access to education and you will come to the inevitable conclusion that we are in trouble.

It has often been said that “Nigeria’s population is a strength.” But if we look at it critically, is it really a strength? As far as I’m concerned, our population can only be beneficial if it is well-educated with requisite skills and healthy.

Equally too, the economy must have the capacity to provide employment and sustainability of households’ income to buy the goods and services produced by several businesses. If we want to be fair on ourselves, we know this is not the case now.

Today, Nigerians spend billions of naira on education and medical tourism. The reason for this is because our education and health sectors have virtually collapsed.

Yet, these are two key sectors vital to the development of any nation. Bill Gates – and lately, the World Bank – have both emphasised the urgent need for the revitalisation of our health facilities and investment in human capital. With over 10 million out-of-school children, and millions others with substandard education, Nigeria is in a bind. But we carry on as if all is well.

So, how do we begin to fix this? The government must undertake aggressive sensitisation on population control. The Chinese model has shown there will be gender distortion if a forced policy is induced.

People need to be educated in simple and clear terms why they have to limit the number of children they should have. Already, critical infrastructures such as the ports, railways, roads, schools, hospitals are stretched to braking point. This is further worsened by the fact that we are not a nation that plans.

Our infrastructural deficit is humongous. To start to address this, the government must make the nation secure to attract foreign direct investment.

Efforts should also be made to revive moribund industries by providing them bail out funds where necessary. Aggressive MSME policies must also be pursued through very soft loans.

Any plan must also include what is to be done with the millions of out-of-school children and how to correct the substandard education received by millions of Nigerians.

Of course, you cannot take a step without carrying the people along. In essence, a lot of work will go in the area of massive awareness creation. Government will need to convince people -with appropriate data – on the need for population control.

People need to know that uncontrolled population growth will ultimately put pressure on critical infrastructures like hospitals and schools. The problem of waste management is also there as being experienced in major cities across the country.

During a recent road trip, we passed a convoy of youth wielding various tools – cutlasses, hoes, spears, bows and arrows and what have you.

I counted over twenty truck loads. I was visibly shocked about the huge number wondering where they are headed.  Throughout the journey I kept reflecting what would happen if these youth are unleashed on a community. This is the other side of our uncontrolled population growth.

The population issue is a ticking time bomb, especially for a country that hardly plans. Beyond investing in infrastructure, how do we intend to provide employment which is the other side of the coin? Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, who built billion-dollar technology companies in two very different areas, see more seismic problems ahead.

At his Harvard University commencement speech, Zuckerberg said: “Our generation will have to deal with tens of millions of jobs replaced by automation like self-driving cars and trucks. When our parents graduated, purpose reliably came from your job, your church, your community.

But today, technology and automation are eliminating many jobs. Membership in communities is declining. Many people feel disconnected and depressed, and are trying to fill a void.”

For us, that “void” has manifested in the increasing cases of kidnapping for ransom, banditry, armed robbery, cultist activities, ritual killing, excessive gambling and a plethora of societal problems.

Read Also: How high population under develops Nigeria

 

Gates, on the other hand, said: “I just want to say one word to you. That word would likely be robots.” What was his point? Robots are already taking jobs meant for humans.

We should all be concerned because population explosion may be considered positive hindrance in the way of economic development of a country because of the pressures it put on infrastructure and other facilities.

In a ‘capital poor’ and technologically backward country like Nigeria, growth of population reduces output by lowering the per capita availability of capital.

Due to higher birth rate and low expectation, the percentage of dependents is understandably very high. A large part of the population is in the non-productive group which simply consumes and does not produce much.

The rapid growth of population thus diminishes the availability of capital per head which reduces the productivity of the labour force. Income is reduced because it caters for the consumers thereby curtailing the capacity to save which, in turn, adversely affects capital formation.

A rapidly growing population also increases the requirements of demographic investment which at the same time reduces the capacity of the people to save.

Beyond corruption, our investment requirements are going beyond our investing capacity. I visited a teaching hospital recently and I was silently weeping. I couldn’t believe what I saw; this use to be a centre of excellence in the past but now looks like a “mere consulting clinic,” (apologies to Lt. Gen. Joshua Dogonyaro (retd).

Visit a normal maternity clinic in any of our general hospitals and you’d be amazed by the number of expectant mothers you’ll see – doctors and facilities are often stretched beyond breaking point. The time to act is now.

Students’ Union elections at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta in Ogun State, held weekend was halted halfway by the management due to ‘security reasons’. Thereafter, the two major contenders for the office of union president and their supporters have been hurling insults at one another, while claiming to be victorious in the elections. OLASUNKANMI AKINLOTAN, who witnessed the elections, reports.

 

There have been accusations and counter accusations in the wake of the Students’ Union election of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta in Ogun State.

The two major contenders for the office of the president – Omobolanle Owodunni aka Owodunni and Hameed Dolapo known as Dolly P, are pointing fingers at each other over the election which was put on hold by the management.

Our CAMPUSLIFE correspondent gathered that the election started peacefully at the  Department of Computer Science last week Friday. However, midway into the election, the management ordered its stoppage, citing security reports. The development has, nonetheless, angered voters, many of whom felt that since they came out in their large numbers, the stoppage of the election was unjustified.

Interestingly, many students are still at sea over the management’s action. While a section of the students believed the election was postponed, others felt it was cancelled.

Nonetheless, the management had cleared the air on the rumour, saying the election was suspended and further action would be communicated in due course.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), which also oversaw the exercise, insisted the election was hitch-free, and urged the management to announce the result within 48 hours.

However, a reliable source within the management told CAMPUSLIFE that police reports on the election prompted the management to wield the big stick.

“We were left with no other option than to suspend the election. The police and other security agents that we brought in to maintain peace at the election feared that with the state of things, they might be unable to guarantee security again.

“For us, peace and life are more important because it is when we are alive that we can contest an election,” the source said.

Our CAMPUSLIFE correspondent, who monitored the exercise, noted that, at some point, the election turned rowdy when a section of the students loyal to the outgoing President, Samson Omoniyi, believed to be rooting for Owodunni, became disgruntled, alleging that they weren’t allowed in to vote.

The other camps were also seen making similar complaints as both parties engaged in a war of words.

Earlier, Owodunni’s loyalists alleged of plans by the opposition to rig the election.

Meanwhile, Dolapo’s loyalists also denied the allegation outright, saying their rival knew victory wouldn’t swing her way; hence, the protest, ostensibly to have the election thwarted.

Students queued in large numbers to vote for the candidate of their choice. However, some students of the School of Business Management Studies, (SBMS) and others from the Department of Business Administration, claimed they were equally disenfranchised.

Faruq Kushoro, who is one of Hameed’s supporters, said his candidate won the election with a landslide.

He said: “The just concluded MAPOLY Students Union election was a very clear victory for Dolapo Hameed. Our agents who were monitoring the election in the computer room saw everything.

“Even before the election, Dolapo is very popular in all other departments except SLT (Science Laboratory Technology).

“At the election ground, all our supporters from the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology were disenfranchised. They were all shut out and denied voting on the election ground by some unscrupulous elements

Another Hameed’s supporter, Ibrahim Adeniran, echoed Kushoro’s view.

“Imagine the crowd shouting: ‘Dolly P’ even when Owodunni’s loyalists lifted her up. I believe the will of God has come to stay. My advice to the management is to announce the result,” Adeniran added.

One of Owodunni’s supporters, Abimbola Olaoluwa, admitted there was rigging, going by the stampede during the exercise.

“There was rigging at the election going by the level of commotion at the election ground. But, in all, Dolly is winning.”

Although Hameed who is one of the contenders lamented that some of his supporters were disenfranchised, he nonetheless charged the management and the electoral committee to announce the results in the interest of peace.

His words: “The suspension of the union election was orchestrated by some enemies of peace. Although many of my supporters complained to me bitterly that they were not allowed to vote as a member of staff was said to have been sending them back at the point of accreditation however, let me state it categorically that I won the election. As a result, I beg both the management and members of the SUELECO (Students’ Union electoral committee) to please announce the result of the election without any further delay’’.

Similarly, the Ogun State Chairman of NANS, Comrade Bamgbose Tomiwa, said: “The leadership of NANS OGUN JCC hereby use this medium to commend all Mapites (MAPOLY students) for turning out in their large number to partake in the SUG election.

The turn up by students was very encouraging, as this has really proved the participation of our students even in the general elections.

Read Also: MAPOLY students embark on sensitisation

 

“The leadership of NANS having observed the electioneering process at MAPOLY hereby demand that the management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic should allow the electoral chairman make pronouncement of the result of the election between now and the next 48 working hours.

Nigerian students will not stand and watch our students being deprived of their constitutional right to vote and be voted for.”

Meanwhile, Owodunni, in her reaction, alleged pockets of election fraud by her opponent.

“The election was inconclusive,@ Owodunni argued.

“It is true my loyalists agitated and their reason was understandable. Imagine many of them had arrived the election ground before 10 am kick-off time; yet as at about 3pm, most of them had not yet voted.

‘Some went into the computer room to vote only to discover that the system rejected them, saying they had voted earlier. The most painful part was that some of them went in there to vote but discovered that the names of both candidates had changed.

“My name is Omobolanle Owodunni while my opponent is Hameed Dolapo. Even though my name did not change on the system, it appeared very tiny, while the system changed my opponent’s name to Hameed Owodolapo. Don’t forget it is the beginning of my name that bears ‘owo’; so many of my loyalists were confused as to which is which.

“As a rule, students are not allowed to go into the computer room with their mobile sets, otherwise, they would have screenshot it.

“Also my agents were not given access to what was going on in the Control Room. Efforts by my agents to ensure that the number of students that attended the voting exercise corresponded with the number of voters, were also rebuffed.”

Further, Owodunni also accused the chairman of SUELECO of sell out, while equally picking holes in the effectiveness of the school ICT system deployed for the election.

Efforts to speak with the Chairman of the Students Union Electoral Committee,  Victor Ireogbu  proved abortive as calls and text messages sent to his phone was neither picked nor returned.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the development. He said the senior officers at the election ground advised that the election be suspended.

“Yes, due to the intelligent report at our disposal, the most senior of our officers on ground at the election venue had to advise that the election be suspended,”said Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

In the same vein, the school management through its Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Mr Yemi Ajibola, confirmed the suspension of the election and added that the management will communicate her next move soon.

“At a point, the election became tensed and due to intelligent reports, the election has to been suspended by the management of the institution but the next move will be communicated soon”.

By Habeebullahi Abdulwasiu

 

The way people with disabilities are being treated in this part of the world is not encouraging , and this calls for redress.

Both physical and mental disability is distinct from each other. A physical disability is a limitation on a person’s physical functioning, mobility, dexterity or stamina, while mental disability is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning.

In view of the foregoing, it is clear that for a person to be physically disabled does not in any way translate to mental incapacitation. However, it’s pathetic that in this part of the world, people with disabilities are often considered ‘human wastes’ a development that often impairs these kind of people to demonstrate their God-given potentials.

It’s like the biblical came going through the eye of a needle for such people to venture into politics.  Intestinally, such person’s kinsmen might be his first enemy, aiming to shoot down his ambition.

Physically challenged people face disdain on daily basis by people they relate with. In schools, social gathering, religious houses, just name it; the scenario is almost the same.

My curiosity to know more about people these set of people actually opened my eyes to reasons why many die of depression.

I quizzed a woman with an amputated leg, who expressed to me the pains she goes through in relating with other people around.

“I find it difficult to mingle with people I used to mingle with before I was involved in an accident which led to one of my legs being amputated. People don’t even want me in their company at all,” the victim began rather tearfully.

“Sometimes I cry and feel like committing suicide,” she continued, “My husband has since divorced me. Only a few little members of my relatives show me love.”

Mr badmus Olowookere was another victim. Olowooker who was born crippled, lamented the kind of life he has been living since he was born. According to him, friends and family members show him support, albeit in sprinkle.

“My friends class me as a wild animal that cannot live among human beings. I cry a lot. I sometimes wonder if I there is a sin I committed against God that led to my present predicament because the hatred is becoming unbearable.”

In the midst of this, there are yet thousands of disabled who the world once condemned into the trashcan; but are today living their dreams by turning their situations around.

An instance is Sosoliso plane crash survivor, Kechi Okwuchi who in 2015, graduated with a First Class from University of Thomas Houston, Texas. She was inducted into six academic honor societies. Nkech also turned out the outstanding student in the university’s’ Department of Economics and has already been accepted into a graduate school for her MBA. She was also chosen to give the commencement address to the class of 2015 at her school.

Read Also: Physically-challenged seek support

 

Recently, the speaker of House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila appointed another disabled person Mr Abdul Salam Idowu Kamaldeen as special assistant on special needs/equal opportunities.

Kamaldeen was a victim of polio infection and was once a Lagos street beggar before fate smiled on him.

Another typical example is the popular juju musician Yinka Ayefele who suffered spinal cord break in the wake of a ghastly motor accident in 1997. Since then, he has been wheelchair-bound.

With a thriving juju band, three radion stations and other pockets of investment here, Ayefele is a living testimony of resoluteness in the face of adversary.

The above, among many others I believe, should be enough to change our perception towards those that are physically disabled.

They never wiashed to find themselves in that state, but no man can work beyond his fate.

Written by Habeebullahi Abdulwasiu, a 200- Level undergraduate of Mass Communication  Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko.

From Caleb Ijioma

 

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogun State chairman, Comrade Bangbose Tomiwa Peter, has said students of Ogun State must enjoy the dividends of democracy.

He made this statement during an interview with Campus Life.

Peter said he would remain committed to the students, representing, fighting and agitating for their rights.

He said the association had urged that the Ogun State Government to construct the roads that lead to state-owned tertiary institutions, build hostels and provide a conducive learning environment.

“My plan for the students of Ogun State is that at every point in time we will always perform our duty which is to represent, fight and agitate for the right and interest of all Nigerian students in every situation. We have been doing it and we will continue to do it.

“First and foremost my plan is that all students of Ogun State must enjoy the dividends of democracy.  We have put a lot of write-ups making demands on the government concerning the construction of roads that lead to our campuses, building of hostels in all our schools, making sure that the learning environment is conducive for all and sundry. Due to the fact that we just got on-board this year, there is a lot of work-load on us and we have been doing more of agitating and more of fighting for the interest of Nigerian students,” he said.

Speaking on his plans for Ogun State students next year, he said that NANS would organise various programmes.

“By the special grace of God as we are going into the year 2020,  we will organise programmes for Nigerian students programmes to shy away from cultism and drug abuse; to make them see beyond the school certificate. We have lot of things in store for them,” he said.

Since coming on board, Peter said he had intervened in solving students’ issues – like electoral malpractice.

“I could remember vividly during the last election of Ogun State College of Technology Igbesa, a student was disqualified for contesting for the post of speakership.When we got there, we saw no reason why the student was disqualified.

“We give God the glory because the ban of disqualification was lifted and today he is now the speaker of that citadel of learning.  We have a lot of things in stock for them but we can only mention few”

Reacting to the expulsion of Micheal Ifemosu, a 200-Level student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), for posting an open letter to the vice-chancellor of the university on his Facebook page in which he complained about the happenings in the school, Peter said he learnt that Ifemosu had sought legal advice.  However, Peter noted that NANS had set up a committee to look into the issue.

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“Well, the case of Ifemosu is a very complex issue because the Open letter I wrote to the Vice Chancellor contained a lot of issues including transportation and security.

“From my own findings, I was notified that Ifemosu was invited to a panel to defend himself and the outcome of the panel was what led to his expulsion from the institution.

“Well the Leadership of NANS has met with the Vice Chancellor about what transpired and in the course of our enquiry, we were told that he made some allegations against the school which was not true and not justifiable which he also cannot justify.

“When we met with Ifemosu (also I have met with him on two occasions), I told him that from our own side, as NANS, we would like to apologise on his behalf.  He said there is nothing to appeal – that he would only fight for his right.

“They said he was found wanting of some things being listed in the letter of expulsion and currently as we speak, the leadership of NANS with the DCCS has set up a committee to look into the issue so as to come up with a recommendation in our forthcoming Senate meeting.

“Presently, I was intimated that Ifemosu has gone to seek for the help of the legal practitioner and I think he plans to take the school court. I believe the matter is already processed to be taken to the court,” he said.