Category: Campus Life

Our Reporter

 

No fewer than 20 students of the faculties of Pure and Applied Science and the Social and Management Science bagged First Class degrees at the Southwestern University, Okun-Owa, Ogun State, during its maiden convocation of the university penultimate week.

They are among the 345 students who began their academic journey at the institution in 2016.

The institution also conferred n honorary degree on the Owa of  Okun-Owa, Oba Gabriel Abiodun; member, board of trustees, Chief Patrick Sholola, and Evangelist Olubukola Okunnowo.

Founder and Chancellor of the university, Babatunde Odufuwa, extolled the students for the successful completion of their academic session.

He said, “I congratulate you, the graduands today for your great height.  I wish you the very best. Your journey has just started. Southwestern university has built the necessary foundation needed for you to succeed. You have been empowered with qualitative education to achieve the best. We congratulate you as you go into the wonderful world of times.”

The Chancellor urged the government to fund the educational sector better and support private sector providers of education.

“The government must at once give incentives to the operators of private tertiary institutions and their students. Government should realise that these institutions are helping government to train its citizens. The government pays the bill for students in public institution in the country as such must encourage students in private institutions to augment cost of their training.”

In his remark, the acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Nojimu Amusa advised graduands to pursue excellence and be worthy ambassadors in the nation.

Read Also: 124 bags first class as OAU graduates 7,209

 

“As you are graduating, you are taking another journey to actualising your dream of achieving your life’s goals to think critically and responsibly. Be leaders in your field. Your degree is not just to earn a living but to be tool to contribute in changing the society for the better.

“With your current standard, let me urge you to pursue excellence in whatever you do. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity no matter how comfortable it is, try to pursue excellence because excellence will set you apart from the crowd. Never give up always,” Amusa said.

Giving the breakdown of the graduating students, Amusa said of the 345 students 189 attained second class upper; 108 students bagged second class lower; and 27 had third class.

Prof Amusa appreciated the parents and guardians and urged them to continue to invest in educating their wards.

In her convocation lecture, the Dean of Faculty of Applied Science, Adeleke University, Osun State, Prof. Bukola Oyawoye, prasied private universities for their role in the country’s educational development.

Oyawoye however urged the government to abolish restrictions and regulation that hampers the growth of private university education in the country.

 

By Sampson Unamka

 

McPherson University has graduated its fourth set of students. The set consisted of  92 students, 15 First Class Honours (16.3%), 38 Second Class Upper Division, while 31 graduated with Second Class Lower Division . Others fall into the Third Class category.

Vice Chancellor, McPherson university Prof. Adeniyi Agunbiade, while delivering his charge to the students referred to the graduating set as ‘Elite Class of 2019 Champions.’

“Our highly celebrated graduands of today have chosen for themselves to be called the Elite Class of 2019 Champions.

This special set of our graduating students received this name because throughout their stay on campus, they distinguished themselves in an elitist manner.

They demonstrated strong moral courage and boldness in making choices. They saw themselves as giants where others cringed in fear of not being able to make it.

Today, the world around you is celebrating you because you have conquered! As Elites, you must know where you are going. Elite teams maintain high standards of Integrity; you must own your actions and eliminate excuses from your vocabulary, always choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, challenge the status quo thinking and processes and try new things even if it makes people uncomfortable.

Remember this, as you go into the world of works, you cannot be considered a person of Integrity and collect a full pay cheque while doing only part of your job well”, he said.

Annoucing the best graduating student and Valedictorian, he said “I am happy to report that OSASONA Sunmisola Ibukun, matriculation number 150301014 of the Department of Accounting and Finance (Accounting Programme), emerged the overall best graduating student with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.91 (the highest in the last four sessions); while ADEBAGBO Wonderful Barnabas, matriculation number 150201001 of the Department of Biological Sciences (Biochemistry) emerged the second best with a CGPA of 4.88.

NEWO Oluwamurewa Ayomidotun, matriculation number 150101008, of the Department of History and International Studies emerged the third best with a CGPA of 4.84. Analysis of the results presented above indicates that the best four students in this elites class of 2019 consist of all girls.

The high percentage of students with excellent and exceptional performance recorded again by this graduating Elites Class is yet not unconnected with a culture of rewarding academic excellence instituted by McPherson University as described in my reports the last three years.

Read Also: YABATECH graduates 8,411

We pledge, once again, believing that God will help us to continue to celebrate academic excellence in order to continue to bring out the best in these young ones thrust into our hands.

 

In continuation of our practice of challenging the status quo and bringing about a spirit of healthy rivalry, the Valedictorian of the Elites Class has emerged, again, as a result of stiff competition among the best six students academically.

Their speeches were evaluated anonymously by a carefully selected panel of judges consisting of experts in linguistics chosen from within McPherson University and I am glad to report that Miss KOYE-OLOWE Mofejesu Deborah of the Department of Physical and Computer Sciences (Computer Science) emerged as the Valedictorian of her class.

This is the third time in four years that a female graduand is emerging as the Valedictorian of her class”, said Adeniyi.

General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church and Visitor, Mc Pherson university, Reverend Felix Meduoye while giving his remark to the graduants congratulated them, he said “Finally, to you our Champions, I say big congratulations on this your well-deserved achievement.

You have done well, having laboured and toiled in the past few years as students of this great Institution, you have now been found worthy to be awarded a degree of this University.

Let me remind you that your passage through McPherson University was not only for academic pursuit, it was also a spiritual experience which we want you to hold dear to your heart.

The world you are going into is a very challenging one and I charge you in the name of the Lord to go in and possess the land for you are well able to overcome it. You have all it takes to succeed in life, for the Lord God is with you”, he said.

By Munirat Saliman

 

About 138 new doctors and dentists were inducted by the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL) at a colourful ceremony on Monday.

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Register, Dr. T.A.B Saunsi, led the graduates in the oath taking during the induction for the 2018 session held at the New Great Hall of the college.

Some students were recognised for their outstanding performances – the most outstanding of whom was  Aladenika Temitope, who won the $1,000 Schubbs Prize and six others out of eight awards.

He was also the overall best in the Faculty of Dental Sciences, best graduating student in Dentistry, best student in Restorative Dentistry, best graduating student in BDS, best final year student in Preventive Dentistry, best final year student in Child Dental Health and the best student in Faculty of Dental Sciences.

Others were Amira Omolola Ibukunoluwa (who won three awards as the best student in Obstetrics and Gynaecology); Adeniran Oluwademilade Gbemisola (best student in Surgery; best graduating student in Psychiatry and best MBBS student in Orthopaedic Surgery); Okuniyi Monsuru (winner, best all-round performance in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences; and best student in Faculty of Clinical Sciences), among others.

Read Also: Practise in your fatherland, VC tells doctors

 

Speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Prof. Chris Bode urged the graduates to remember the college in all decisions they take and come back to make Nigeria great if they leave the shores of the country.

He also announced that more than 50 per cent of the graduands will do their house job in LUTH.

“More than 50 per cent than of you will serve the house job in LUTH.  We have already selected you and you are starting next week,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, congratulated the graduands, saying: “We can beat our chest at the University of Lagos  because our products are excellent.”

He added: “A lot of people come to this country with bad intention, we have problems but you are going to be part of the people that will solve that problem and that is our charge to you, because so much has been invested in you”, she said.

By Oluwatobi Odeyinka

 

Students of the University of Ibadan (UI) last Saturday elected new executives into the Students’ Union (SU) using electronic voting method.

This is the first election after the university’s Senate suspended SU activities indefinitely on May 30, 2017 following a protest by students over delay in the issuance of digitised identity cards.

The Senate lifted the ban on August 30, 2019 and called for election.

A committee of all faculty presidents was empowered to conduct the election.  The committee declared that the election would be in form of electronic voting, as against the ballot voting that used to be.

Read Also: It’s time for electronic voting, says Osoba

 

The election which was supposed to hold between 8am and 4pm was extended till 9pm due to breakdown in the voting site for about two hours.

The post of the President was contested by Akeju Oluwasegun from the Faculty of Law and Olofinlade Ebenezer from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Akeju was declared winner after pulling 2,753 votes while Olofinlade got 2,138.

By Sam Ibok and Fanny John

 

No fewer than 100 secondary school pupils in Eastern Obolo, in Akwa Ibom State, have been exposed to leadership training, career counseling and human relations skills, thanks to a leadership and career summit organised by the National Association of Eastern Obolo Students, (NAEOS) University of Uyo (UNIUYO) chapter.

The summit with theme: “The Future of Obolo Students” held at the Obolo hall complex. It was attended by pupils from Heroes International Academy, Okoromboho; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Amadaka; and Community Secondary School, Iko Town among others.

Addressing the participants, one of the resource persons, Joseph Oromene, advised them to be determined as it is one of the keys that drives academic success.

“If you are not determined to study, you will not come out successful in school”, he said.

Oromene cited his younger brother, Williamson, as an example of a determined person. He said Williamson always spoke about being a lawyer during his secondary school days and is one today through determination and hard work.

Another resource person, Dr. Ebenezer Oke, counseled students both in secondary and tertiary to make judicious use of the platform they have to touch others remarkably and also shun vices, so their dreams are not aborted.

To succeed, Ebenezer said they must write their dream, set goals and back same with action.

“An enterprising mind goes after what he believes in and does not wait until it comes to him,” he said.

The programme coordinator and Chairman planning committee, David Enoch, a final year Engineering student, said the initiative was borne out of the need to nurture future leaders who would have the leadership skills to influence others positively in their schools.

“We targeted secondary schools because we believe they have one idea or the other that is why NAEOS is ready to help them develop their skills,” he said.

Read Also: Banire, Tinubu, Others for JCI Leadership Colloquium

 

The event also featured drama, paper presentations,  quiz and debate competitions.

One of the participants, Florence Adasi of Community Secondary School, Iko Town told CAMPUS LIFE that the seminar had inspired her to be focused.

“I learned to believe in myself, and that nobody can tell me I cannot make it in life.  I also learned that key to success is believing in oneself and being hardworking and determined,” she said.

Other dignitaries at the event were the Deputy House Leader of Eastern Obolo 6th Legislative Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Education, Owen Dedimus; NAEOS Worldwide SU President, Comr. Clarke Joel, Akwa Poly SU president Mr. Moses Etem. Uniuyo SU President, Clarkson, Aqua Josephine Ntene; Nsanawaji Ukafia, a barrister; student activist, Ebenezer Oke; Princess Nkoyo Marcus and Mr. Barth Ojoko, a lecturer.

High point of the event was the presentation of certificates to participants.

FREASH students of the First Technical University, Ibadan, (Tech-U) resumed Monday for the 2019/2020 academic session.

The leadership of the university noted in a statement that newly admitted students, who came into residence on Sunday, would participate in an orientation that would last till December 20.

Read Also: Tech U Ibadan renamed First Technical varsity

 

Returning students are expected back on campus January 5, 2020.

According to the statement by Media Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, Mr. Wole Adejumo, registration for courses would begin December 18, 2019 while lectures would start in earnest on Monday January 6, 2020.

By Omotayo Omitola

 

The Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija Epe, flagged off activities to mark its 25th anniversary on Monday with a press conference.

The school came into existence during the tenure of Sir Michael Otedola as the Governor of Lagos State on December 1, 1994 as a proactive response to the provision of the National Policy on Education and also the realisation of the vision of the universal basic education.

The Provost, Associate Professor Nosiru Olajide Onibon, said at the briefing that the college was established to serve humanity in a specialized and basic setting of the education sector.

He also said that MOCPED was the first specialised college of primary education in the country to award the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) as a means of basic qualification for teaching in Nigeria.

Onibon said the institution had achieved a lot since  inception, including building a JAMB approved ICT centre; offering programmes accredited by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), a presentation of a two first class students in affiliation with the Ekiti State University EKSU) and the University of Ibadan) among others.

Read Also: I want to leave a world-class varsity, says EKSU VC

 

In future, Onibon said the administration plans to expand, though with caution.

“The cost of making education accessible and inclusive begins with the process of offering professional diploma in education (PDE), opening of a various outreach centers and a complete computerization of its registry,” he said.

Regarding challenges, the Provost said the college was soliciting a public-private partnership to enable it pay debt arrears inherited from past administrations; produce a proper college master plan and get adequate and regular funding.

Activities to celebrate the anniversary include a seminar and talent hunt on Thursday.

The grand finale of the anniversary would be Thursday December 19,2019 featuring a luncheon and awards.

By Sam Ibok

 

Members of the Students’ Union (SU) of the Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) have been inaugurated.

The executives, led by Benjamin Ibok, were sworn in last week in a ceremony held at TETFund hall of the university main campus in Ikot-Akpaden, Mkpat Enin.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Eno Ibanga, who came in company of other principal officers of the university, assured the union leaders of his administration’s support.

He praised the outgoing executive members for their resilience in promoting students’ welfare. He also advised the new union leaders to emulate their predecessors.

Read Also: Student Union meant to train leaders not thugs – UNILAG VC

 

The oath of office was administered by the Head of Legal Unit, Ime Udofa, who was assisted by Ememobong Ikpatt.

After his inauguration, Ibok promised to prioritise the welfare of students and lead a peaceful tenure.

Other members of the Students’ Union executive inaugurated were: Veronica Ukpong (Vice President); Ufanabasi Ekanem (Secretary General); Akwaowo Paulinus(Assistant Secretary General); Dorathy Edeke (Treasure); Anietienteabasi Udo (Director of Sports); Aniefre Akpan (Director of Information); Mkpoikanke James (Director of Socials); Uwana Udofot (Director of Welfare); and Kingsley Ekanem (Director of Transport).

Members of the parliament of the union were also inaugurated.

Some principal and senior officers witnessed the inauguration.  Among them were the Registrar, Mr. John Udo; bursar, Mr. Aniefiok Williams; Dean, Students’ Affairs, Dr. Monday Dickson; Librarian, Prof. Eno Ottong; and the DVC (Academic) Prof. Umoren Umoren.

Goodwill messages were presented by the President, Students Union, University of Uyo, Comrade Emmanuel Akpan, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B Coordinator (South South/South East Commander, Comrade Etieyene Friday Ofongekpe and former NAAKISS President/Board member, Akwa Ibom State Government, Comrade Cyril Umoren.