The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Summer camp exposes 60 students to astronomy, space tech

    The battle against insurgency, fraud, environmental degradation, as well as agricultural enhancement, could be fought through astronomy and space technology.  The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) recently trained 60 undergraduate and postgraduate students to use this technology at a summer school in Abuja, reports OLADELE OGE from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

     

    Over 60 undergraduate and postgraduate students of West African  universities learnt about Astronomy and Space Technology during the international West African  Summer School for Young Astronomers (WAISSYA), held at the Obasanjo Space Centre, Abuja recently.

    The Summer School, the fourth edition, tagged: “Empowering young Africans in becoming scientific leaders”,  was sponsored by the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) Centre for Basic Space Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), University of Toronto, Dunlap Institutes for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Development for Astronomy for Africa (DARA) International Astronomical Union, Las Cumbre Observator, Open Astronomy Schools, The Royal Society, AAPT Physics Education and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics.

    Thirteen instructors exposed the students to various aspects of astronomy and space technology during class and practical sessions.

    They included: Dr. Jielai Zhang (who co-taught an interactive lesson on cosmology; co-led the Instructor Workshop Week; co-led the group teaching project; and facilitated the inquiry activity); Dr. Bernard Duah Asabere (co-taught an interactive lesson on galaxies, and facilitated the inquiry activity); Dr. Daniel Okoh (co-taught an interactive lesson on stars, and facilitated the inquiry activity); Dr. Bop Cheikh (co-taught an interactive lesson on stars; co-led the group teaching project, and facilitated the inquiry activity); and Dr. Finbarr Odoh, who taught cultural astronomy, held an interactive lesson on cosmology, co-led the group teaching project, and facilitated the inquiry activity.

    Others were: Dr. Duy Nguyen, who facilitated the inquiry activity; Dr. James Chibueze, who taught an interactive lesson on radio astronomy and co-led the post-graduate stream; Dr. Patrice Okouma, who co-led the post-graduate Stream; Margaret Ikape, who co-taught an interactive lesson on cosmology, led the Women in Science lunch, and facilitated the inquiry activity; Sarah Abotsi-Masters, who co-taught an interactive lesson on exoplanets, an interactive lesson on science communication, and facilitated the inquiry activity; Esaenwi Sudum, who co-taught an interactive lesson on exoplanets, and facilitated the inquiry activity.

    Kevin Govender, Director, Office of Astronomy for Development in Cape Town led discussions about Vision for the Future of astronomy in Africa.

    Declaring the Summer School open, NASRDA Acting Director- General, Mr Jonathan Angulu, represented by Dr Olufemi Agboola, Director Space Applications, said that the agency through the Office of the Astronomical Union, Office of West African Astronomy for Development (WAROAD), International, had succeeded in training brilliant students for the development of the country.

    Angulu added that the agency was working hard to build a strong synergy between the international community, including its partners in the country.

    He noted that development in space technology could help address societal problems – like fraud.

    He said: “Quite numbers of research being carried out by our activity centres have been recommended to various government agencies across the country to tackle fraud and others social vices in their organisations.”

    Angulu encourage the students to utilise the knowledge gained during Summer School training and make it part of their academic progress.

    He promised that the agency would not relent in its efforts in bring out the best in Space Technology for the country’s progress.

    On his part, the Director Centre for Basic Space Science, UNN, Dr Bonaventure Okere thanked the management for the success of the programme.

    Okere recalled how the Summer School started during a conference in Canada, in 2012.

    The first School held at NASRDA headquarters Abuja, in 2013; Nsukka hosted 2015, while the School went to Ghana in 2017.

    Read Also: Jaiz sponsors vocational training in primary schools

     

    The founders were Dr. Bonaventure Okere, Director, CBSS UNN; Dr. Jielai Zhang, University of Australia, Dr. James Chibueze and Dr. Linda Strubbe, University of British Columbia, UBC.

    Okere listed the objectives of the Summer School as: “To set a professional standard in actualising the visions in technology innovation; to prepare youngsters of Nigeria as leading voices in astronomy research and development in the African continent.”

    He however implored the students not limit the experience they gathered at the training to themselves alone, urging them to share through group discussions in their universities to create enduring careers in many ways for themselves.

    On the challenges facing astronomy research and development in the country, Okere noted that the centre needs special fund to position Nigeria as first among equals on the world astronomy map.

    Dr. Aliyu Shaba of NASRDA observed that having a better funding and administrative expertise would create a better arena to employ several engineers and other graduate scientists.

    Before the commencement of the Summer School, the instructors had visited the University of Abuja, where Prof Ekundayo Oyegoke Ajala received the team on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of University, Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Allah.

    The vice-chancellor, who addressed the team at 100 Level Physics Theatre of the University, highlighted the impact of space research on the advancement of a nation’s technology.  Given maximum priority, he said Nigeria would win the war against insurgency, environmental hazard, agricultural revolution, among others, saying: “Space Research and Innovation as fundamental part of technology cannot be underestimated in any part of the world.’’

    Ekundayo was impressed by the turnout at the event, saying that with the number in attendance, he believed that the university system had realised that only research could address the problems plaguing the country like a magic wand.

     

     

  • MAPOLY students embark on sensitisation

    From Fasilat Oluwuyi

     

    Students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, have embarked on a road walk tagged:  MAPOLY is back with a bang.

    The programme, aimed at creating awareness about the institution, started from the school premises and moved round the major areas in Abeokuta, with participants distributing flyers to residents.

    Students Union (SU) President Samson Omoniyi told CAMPUSLIFE that the campaign was to rebrand as well as correct certain misconceptions about the insitution.

    Omoniyi said there was the need to educate the public that the planned relocation of the institution from Ojere to Ipokia under the immediate past administration was no longer feasible.

    He said: “We need to clear certain impressions some people have that MAPOLY has been moved to another location. We need to reassure such people that aside the fact that that is no longer possible, MAPOLY is really back and better.

    Read Also: MAPOLY Radio set to go on air

    “We need to also let people know that MAPOLY maintains a good image. Some parents have misconceptions about MAPOLY, but as students, we will not allow any rumour to affect our fate.

    “We need to rebrand the image of MAPOLY so as to further stimulate interest for potential admission-seekers for 2019/2020 admission process.

    The SU Public Relations Officer, Johson Idowu, described the walk as the contribution of SU to the development of the institution. He lauded the Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who stopped the relocation.

    “I am proud to say it anywhere that I’m a product of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. This is because of the calibre of faculty staff and the status of the institution among its contemporaries.

    ‘’On our part, we believe our own way of contributing to the development of this institution is to sensitise the public to acknowledge that we are back to full academic activities,” he said.

  • Assassination, protest in UNIBEN

    From Ifunanya Osakwe

     

    Authorities of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) have banned social events on the campus. This is coming in the wake of the assassination of a final year student of the Department of Nursing, popularly known as Alfilsonado, by suspected cultists within the school premises.

    Pandemonium broke out at the Ugbowo Campus of the university about 5:00pm last Friday, sending students and lecturers scampering for safety. Eyewitnesses told CAMPUSLIFE that the deceased, who was heading for a carnival organised for students in Social Sciences, was shot on the neck at close range from behind by some students.

    Further findings by CAMPUSLIFE revealed that the assailant had driven into the school campus in a tinted glass vehicle and hid at the car park where they ambushed the deceased before eliminating him.

    Though the victim’s first name was Moses, friends and admirers knew him by his nickname.

    Until his death, he was a teacher of the English Language at two tutorial centres within UNIBEN premises.

    Rumours making the rounds indicated that the victim might have been shot dead by a rival cult group that have been terrorising the institution for some time.

    “Initially, the young man was rushed to the University Health Centre, he was quickly referred to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) because of his severe state. It was at the hospital that Alfilonade was declared dead,” an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity told CAMPUSLIFE.

    Read also: Fuoye crisis: SU seeks justice for slain, injured colleagues

    He continued: “The victim, who apparently appeared gentle looking was shot at the back of his neck as he was heading for the jeans-party carnival organised for Social Science students. The incidence itself happened close to where the Faculty of Arts students where having their welcome party.

    “While the university security officers were able to bring the stampede caused by the incidence under control, the assailants cashed in on the commotion to escape.”

    Other students who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, however, condemned the incidence, calling on the school authorities to beef up security to ward off future occurence.

    “We are aware that, for some years, the incidence of cultism has not been heard in the school. How and why this would occur is what we do not know,” said another student.

    “Beyond that, however, I think it is time a police post was built on campus to help checkmate the incidence of cultism.

    “To me what has just happened is a terrible incidence and we hope such would not happen again,” he added.

    The spokesperson of the university, Michael Osasuyi, confirmed that the deceased was shot dead by a rival cult group.

    According to him, social activities have been suspended in the campus; while security measures have been put in place to ensure that there is no reprisal attack.

    Meanwhile, students of the Ugbowo campus of the university embarked on a protest at the weekend, over what they described as the inability of the university authority to make water and electricity available in the institution.

    The students, who blocked the Lagos-Benin Highway, also carried placards calling on the management to heed their demands.

    Some of the students, who spoke to CAMPUS, lamented that they had been going through challenges owing to the dearth of the the facilities.

    One of the protesters, who gave his name as Henry, said: “A situation where you live on the campus and yet you cannot access water or electricity is unacceptable.

    “We have suffered enough and it is time we made our feelings felt. That is why we have decided to embark on this protest. There is no water in the school, just as electricity is not there. The generating set is hardly powered.

    “We want the school authorities to address our plight and bring our suffering to an end,” the student said.

     

  • Bringing theories to town (3)

    Agbo Agbo

    08116759750

    •aagboa@gmail.com

     

    One key sector where applying the wrong theory or theories has had far-reaching repercussion is education. In 1986, the Babangida led administration began the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). After an open public debate that was truncated midway, the administration came to the conclusion that there was “no alternative” to SAP. It was a bitter pill our economy needed to swallow in other to get well.

    After a decade of implementation, the World Bank, one of the initiators of the programme described it as “a wrenching change in economic policy.” When it was initiated, it was expected to be short-lived. Its adverse impact, if any, was “expected to be a temporary one.” Over time, however, it became clear that adjustment was going to take longer than anticipated. In a nutshell, the theory undergirding it include: rule of the market; cutting public expenditure for social services; removal of subsidies; staff rationalisation in government ministries, parastatals and agencies and other “conditionalities.”

    The downsizing also affected tertiary education. The justification for this was their claim that so much money was already expended on university education at the expense of the primary education. Decades later, they turned around that the wrong theory was implemented and not focusing on varsities – which are supposed to be the bulwark of creativity and innovation – was a mistake that pulled Nigeria and Africa back. We are still feeling the impact of this to date.

    It is instructive that the rhetoric of efficiency and improvement under which SAP was promoted hides the reality of educational retrenchment. The real motive was to phase out radical academic staff and students. In a nutshell it could be argued that SAP negatively affected tertiary education in Nigeria because it led to a drastic reduction in quality manpower. Their anchor was that Africans needed only vocational education.

    Unhappy with its theory and the generation of African intellectuals produced by the universities, the WB launched the Africa Capacity Building Initiative (ACBI) in 1991. This was to train African policy analyst and development managers. The initiative was however criticised by some African scholars who already believed that WB has never meant well for the future of African education.

    Their criticisms were based on an implicit belief that Africa lacked the cognitive skill to handle her affairs and needs to be guided and sustained by the WB. This recommendation is justified with the claim that no serious socioeconomic knowledge is being produced in Africa, or can be produced without the sustained intervention, direction and guidance provided by the foreign agencies. The authors of ACBI confirmed their impression of Africans intellectual deficiency when they wrote that Africa is blessed with a greater number of foreign “technical assistants” – from senior policy analysts, managers and business executive to technician and teachers – than any other region of the world.

    The purpose of ACBI was “to build, over the long term, a critical mass of professional policy analysts and economic managers who will be able to better manage the development process, and to ensure the more effective utilisation of already trained African analysts and managers.” Actually, in itself this project does not violate academic freedom, but the intended method of its implementation does.

    Besides disseminating the message of “Capacity Building” the ACBI tends to monopolise the distribution of fund going to African university system from all sources and to block the fund from any sources or institution that does not subscribed to the WB plan for African development. The fact of channeling every fund that comes to the African universities through the WB does not permit academic freedom. Also, not to allow institutional autonomy from state control of knowledge production and dissemination is a violation of academic freedom. Surely a state that premised its funding of a research program on the acceptability of certain state-sponsored conclusions, and forbids any supplementary funding from other sources would be considered a violator of academic freedom. The WB intention in creating ACBI did exactly that.

    The inability of the SAP to maintain internal balance had a two-pronged effect on educational spending. First, the insignificant attempt to reduce federal government deficit had a negative impact on public expenditure on education. Through this, the SAP became one of the major contributors to the crisis in our education sector. As a result, financing education reached a crisis point. The government was not to be able to make adequate provisions for capital development in the various educational institutions. Classroom accommodation, student’s hostels, staff quarters (where they exist at all) do not seem to be adequate.

    In the long run, the SAP did not transform the Nigeria economy or stimulate industrialisation as was widely speculated. Numerous economic problems remained intractable. For instance; there was apparent lack of commitment to adjustment and national development by the government. During the course of implementation, many distortions surfaced while others defied solutions. Of particular significance were the problems of continuing depreciation of the Naira, high and volatile interest rates, slow growth and near paralysis of the real sector, sky-rocketing inflation, unsustainable fiscal deficit profile, heavy external debt overhang, increasing unemployment, emergence of social movements and militia groups among others.

    It was not only the education sector that felt the impact of subsidy removal; the agricultural sector did as well. Government banned importation of rice, maize, wheat and vegetable oil to boost local production. But in a strange twist, it also phased out food subsidy which reduced productivity and profitability of farmers. This led to loss of farm holdings.

    This also applied in the real sector. By the late 1970s, Nigeria had over 15000 public enterprises which generated over 65 per cent employment. As a policy measure, SAP adoption meant the “rationalisation” of these Public enterprises through privatisation. Between 1988 and 1999 for instance, over 55 public enterprises were privatised. This scenario led to massive sack of workers. The adoption of the SAP in Nigeria thus worsened unemployment in the country. Through the staff rationalisation of government ministries, parastatals and agencies, many civil servants lost their jobs. The accompanying retrenchment caused social dislocations with little or no alternative means of livelihood to the majority. The fallout was the nationwide massive anti-SAP riots of 1989 which forced the government to give the SAP a “human face.”

    More lamentably, local manufacturing companies which were averagely doing very well in business prior to the deregulation and subsequent devaluation of the currency also had to drastically reduce its workforce thereby heightening the unemployment crisis. For instance, statistics showed that the workforce of United Africa Company (UAC), then one of Nigeria’s biggest conglomerates compressed from 23,850 workers in 1985 to 9,000 workers in 1988. As a corollary to the economic turmoil orchestrated by the SAP, there was reduction in capacity utilisation which remained abysmally low between 30 and 37  per cent and income per capita collapsed from $778 to $108 in 1989.

    This unsavory scenario also led to a drastic fall in standard of living, galloping inflation and underdevelopment in the country. In addition, the SAP led to proliferation of ethnic militia movements in Nigeria which emerged as a result of the atavistic nature of the state and its determination to see the policy through. Some of these social movement groups became rallying points for dis-empowered and marginalised citizens to aggregate their power to challenge the state.

    This further reduced the capacity of the state to deal with the challenges of development and welfare. The consequences were mounting unemployment problem, inflation, and widespread poverty which eroded the cultural, economic and political glues that sought to integrate the different elements of the nation. It also deepened the process of uneven development along ethnic and regional lines, leading to tension and feeling of exclusion at all levels of governance. The social polarisation that accompanied the process undermined the viability of the middle class that would have provided a stabilising force for the state. It led to the flowering of ethnic and religious extremism because the loss of social security represented by the state constituted religious and ethnic solidarity to alternative sites of organising social life.

    All these happen when wrong theories are implemented.

  • Sex-for-grades: Why we must speak up

    By Adedimeji Quayyim Abdul-Hafeez 

    The BBC investigative report titled: ‘Sex for grades: Undercover in West African universities” recently hit our television screens, bringing to light some of the realities in our tertiary institutions. The sexual exploitation of students by lecturers couldn’t have come to light at a better time.

    Truth be told, the pillage for sex in exchange for marks and grades by lecturers is not a new thing on Nigerian campuses. ‘Cold Rooms’, which may have been a relatively new term to Nigerians, had existed in all sorts of places on campuses – from staff offices, staff hotels, staff clubs, pavilions, student hostels – and other places where students are sexually devoured far from the gaze of the public. Exploitation also comes in different forms – it may be the lecturer exploiting the students or students exploiting the lecturer.

    On the other hand, it may even be both parties exploiting each other by bartering sex for marks, as well as pleasure for good grades. Men and women across all strata of the society have encountered one form of sexual exploitation or the other when they are trapped in circumstances in which they desperately need help.

    Sex abuse transcends our campuses – the hydra-headed monster lurks in corporate bodies, institutions, government parastatals, among others. It all comes in various guises and garments to get under the skirt.

    Read Also: Sex for grade: FIDA urges more victims to speak out

    Well, the saddening thing is that voices are stifled in silence to enclose the woes this menace encloses in its garbs. No one is willing to talk about it. We all bow and cower to intimidations, threats, fears and reprisals. Most stories on abuse fade into clouds of hearsays, masking the plights of victims. Students cower under fear and threats of failure, suspension, and expulsion from these lecturers. These had hindered justice for tthe victims, while the abusers struts the street with impunity.

    As students, we all have rights against sexual exploitation. No individual has the right to stifle our voices in the expression of the infringements to our fundamental rights. Section 39(1) of the 1999 Constitution enshrines the right of our free will to hold opinions and express them in public. It provides that: ‘every person shall be entitled to freedom to hold opinions and impart ideas and information without interference.’ These criminals should be brought to book and this is the only way to achieve this.

    Victims of various forms of abuses ought to be protected from the machinations of these evil lecturers. All of us needn’t’ be whistle-blowers or witnesses in courts before we get protection from government. Victimised students should be protected and anonymity should be ensured when these stories are told. Due investigations should be carried out and lecturers responsible for such misconduct arrested and if found guilty, flushed out of the system.

    Also, the identities of these lecturers should be made public to serve as a deterrent to others. Only then would the student be confident to tell their stories of exploitation from these wolves and predators in deceptive garbs.

    Students should rise in unison in this present crusade. Let’s tell the whole world how our rights are being violated. Let’s tell the public how we are intimidated to subjection by these ‘predators’ evil whims. We all owe the society justice. We all have the duty to bring these men to book. Let’s cleanse the society of this filth.

    • Abdul-Hafeez is a Campus Journalist and a student of law. quayyimadedimeji@gmail.com.

     

  • I want to leave a world-class varsity, says EKSU VC

    Prof Edward Olorunsola Olanipekun emerged the eighth Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU). in this interview with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, the professor of Industrial Chemistry, speaks on his plans for the 37-year-old institution, among others.

     

    What were your greatest headache upon assumption of duties?

    Our greatest challenge is that the university is largely non-residential. This is not a good thing for any 21st century institution that aims to be a world class. Aside, there is no staff quarters on the campus. Even the Vice Chancellor’s Lodge is non-existent. However, we shall soon have a befitting VC Lodge.

    Two, we have genuine investors desirous of partnering with us. So, we will be signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with some of them. Interestingly, there is an investor willing to provide accommodation for at least 5,000 students on campus. He has assured us that the project would be ready in a year. I have the proposal and the drawing. As soon as I go through it, we shall invite them for a meeting.

    You seem concerned with lodges for principal officers and students’ hostels?

    As scholars, living on campus has many advantages. I have a study room in my personal house. However, once it comes to real research, you cannot compare such study room with the amount of research you will carry out in an academic environment. For instance, I am a professor of Chemistry.  There are certain experiments one might need to carry out for 14 hours non-stop. That’s the essence of undertaking such experiment in an academic environment.

    As regards accommodation, it’s a pity that once it is about 4pm, this university becomes virtually empty. I am believing in God that within a year, we are going to change the face of this institution.

    Considering EKSU’s over 24,000 student population, don’t you think a hostel accommodating 5000 students is like a drop in the ocean?

    Do not forget that this is the starting point.

    If we can have at least 5000 students on campus, this will automatically change the face of EKSU. Not up to 200 students and no staff member lives on campus. Another investor came here to provide hostel accommodation for about 200 students, but I disagreed that we will not accommodate investor providing hostel accommodation for no fewer than 2000. Our plan is that new and final year students should stay on campus. Thereafter, we can extend to other levels as facilities increase.

    We also saw generators littering corridors of some offices. That shows there is a challenge of power, right?

    Your observation is in order! However, let me say some investors have also shown interest to erect power plant for us. We have two of them and we hope to enter into an MoU with them within the next few weeks.

    Interestingly, their investment will not cost the university a dime. They will be providing the services just like a DisCo and we will just be paying. One of the investors told me it would take just three months’ gestational period to have 24-hour power supply on the campus. Once everything is fine-tuned, they immediately mobilise equipment to site.

    A university runs on committee system. Much as I would have loved certain things executed at my speed, respect must be accorded due process; so this might delay some of the projects.

    Is it true that your administration inherited huge outstanding bills.

    It is correct! However, let me thank our Visitor (Ekiti State) Governor (Kayode) Fayemi. Without him, our College of Medicine would have, perhaps, become history by now. That college (of Medicine) took off years back but was abolished at a point. The same situation would have repeated itself but for the governor’s kind intervention. Thankfully, EKSU has produced its first set of medical doctors and all thanks to him.

    We are about to have our accreditation next (this) week, and the governor has also assisted us financially. As someone from the academia, he understands the modus operandi of the university system. It is on record that during his (Fayemi) first term in office, he gave this university millions of naira which were used to complement funds from intervening agencies. Unfortunately, not a single penny has come to the university since he left.

    Let me tell you that the governor has also approved almost N1 billion as capital vote for this university; and it will be released any moment from now.  We actually inherited a number of unsettled bills, but since the governor came on board, he’s been releasing our subvention as at when due.

    Amid government gesture, are there ways the varsity’s leadership has been reciprocating?

    We have been cutting our coat according to available resources. We are trying to be prudent as well as block all forms of financial haemorrhage in the system. We have introduced what I can described as ‘austerity measures’. I want to thank the workers across board for showing a great deal of understanding, especially on some tough measures we have introduced in order to conserve resources.

    Did you have a blueprint before assuming the mantle of leadership?

    I have not yet put my vision in white and black and I hope to do that before the year runs out. Nonetheless, my vision is to propel EKSU as a 21st century institution that is globally competitive. The institution shall be dedicated to cutting-edge research and training of entrepreneurial-minded graduates. I want a university that would be less-dependent on subvention; to make EKSU one of the foremost universities in the continent with international recognition.

    As an insider, what are the gaps you noticed in terms of indiscipline among staff and students?

    Let me first acknowledge that no system all over the world is perfect. Nevertheless, I want to say that our staff and students are people anybody can be proud of anytime. The university is still owing them and they could have used that opportunity to frustrate this interview. They have shown us understanding and given me a great deal of support since I assumed office. Above all, they are committed to realising the dreams and vision of this new administration.

    But that will not take away the fact that indiscipline still exists?

    I agree with you. There have pockets of issues here and there, but they know I’m not a pretender. Any moment from now, we shall erect a billboard at the entrance of EKSU to warn everybody not to run foul of the rules. Second, we are going to install a centrally-controlled complaint box where students and workers can drop their complaints.

    This administration will not tolerate any staff or students found to have contravened the law of the university. We will not be afraid to implement the decision taken by any disciplinary committee in respect of infractions, however high or low such person is.

    We have often heard allegations of sexual harassment and other misconducts in EKSU. Can your administration handle them?

    There was a video on social media about one of our lecturers in alleged sexual misconduct. You know the outcome of that matter. That tells you and others the direction this administration is heading. But let me tell you that my challenge is that some of the (victimised) students are scared to speak up.

    But students will remain voiceless because we all know that, in most universities in Nigeria, the system doesn’t protect them.

    That might be right anyways; but there is another case of sexual harassment we have just set up a committee to look into. We are awaiting the report of that committee.  Nonetheless, what we often realise is that majority of students are afraid. Based on my antecedents, I won’t tolerate indiscipline. I have said it at various fora that whoever violates any of the rules will face the music.

    Last week, an NGO visited me, supposedly to partner with EKSU on gender-based violence (GBV). I took its proposal to management which gave its approval. We hope the initiative would champion the cause of GBV in EKSU. This administration shall give maximum support to that NGO because we are optimistic it will give voice to some of those victims who have hitherto been suffering in silence.

    Another person is being alleged to be gay in one of the faculties. Certainly, that person is going to be queried after which we will also set up an investigation panel. Incidentally, that same person is from my faculty, but I’m not going to allow that be a hindrance to doing what is right. This administration shall protect students and staff.

    There is this lecturer who orally threatened that a particular student would die an untimely death. We got wind of it and I invited the lecturer into my office. I then asked him: ‘Sir, you claimed to be a Christian, why did you threaten one of you students with death?’ And, of course, the lecturer started apologising. Why? Because he knew I may direct that the matter be taken up immediately if his (lecturer) excuses were not genuine.

    We are about establishing students welfare committee (SWC) which has never existed before here.  It is exclusive of Students Union; and with the committee, management can attend to the needs and yearnings of our students.

    Most managers of universities claim to operate an all-inclusive system, which usually is a smokescreen. What is your take on this?

    This administration shall open its doors to all. Besides, we will accommodate people who can criticise us constructively, so we can appraise ourselves for improved performance.

    A few months ago, students of Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) protested poor electricity supply to off-campus students of Oye and Ikole campuses.  Don’t you anticipate such here since most of your off-campus students suffer same fate?

    Much as we sympathise with our students over the development, there is no way the university would dip its hand into its coffers to address the challenge of light in locations beyond the campus environment

    However, what we have done so far was to invite the owners of the private hostels. We have been able to tell them what we want from them; and we shall continue to appeal to them. However, this is just for a while. Within the next two years, the university premises shall have modern hostels.

    How is EKSU consolidating on its various linkages?

    At the moment, we do not have active linkage with institutions. We used to have; but for some reasons, we found ourselves in this state. So we would reactivate the linkages and establish new ones.

    What legacies do you hope to leave when you are exiting in five years?

    By the grace of God, by the time I would be exiting, I would have built a university that is cosmopolitan in nature.

    I want a university that enjoys patronage from government and international organisations. I want to leave behind a university where the principal officers will stay in university premises. I want a university with an international conference centre. I wish to leave behind a university filled with students from other parts of the world. I want to leave behind a university that would rely less on government subvention. By then, we would have been able to consolidate on most of those linkages to further attract more funding to EKSU.

     

     

     

  • FUOYE crisis: business owners lament losses

    From Bolu Abiodun

    Business owners in Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State are awaiting the resumption of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) students who they have described as the ‘backbone of most businesses in the town’.

    CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the absence of students has dealt a heavy blow on business operators in and around the campus, who make little or nothing daily.

    Academic activities in the university have remained at a standstill in the wake of a crisis between students and the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, which resulted in the death of two students.

    The students had last month staged a peaceful protest against poor electricity supply at the Oye and Ikole campuses. The protest went out of control when security personnel attached to Mrs. Fayemi  allegedly shot at the students.

    A sales representative at a local pharmacy, who simply identified herself as Mrs. Oluwaseun, said: “Sleeping and waking up without doing anything has become regular for me everyday. If students were around, I know what I would have made. There’s no money.”

    She used the Yoruba slang: enu gbe, to further underscore her state of being cash strapped.“I’d like them to resume immediately, they make the streets fun,” she adds.

    Another resident, Mrs. Ramot Akomolafe, who sells food stuff, said the shutdown had made the environment dull. She added that  she makes half of what she used to make when students were in town.

    Asked what the consequences could be, if the shutdown lingers, she said basically for her and others, their business might collapse, adding: ‘’Some people have even locked up their businesses.”

    Debby Ola, a fashion designer, said the impact had been negative. “Sales have reduced drastically,” he said.

    A barber, who introduced himself as Kingsley, says he believes in divine intervention.

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    Like others, Kingsley admits sales had dwindled. Nonetheless, he is not affected because God is helping him. “Some of my colleagues say students make business move but not me,” he asid.

    A colleague of Kingsley, Anthony, who runs a barber shop in Oye, however, has a different tale.

    “We hardly eat three times a day. We used to make 10 times what we make now,” Anthony said.

    He continued: “Bike riders (commercial motorcyclists) who visit here have drastically reduced because those through whom they make bigger sales are not around.’’

    Folabi Olatunde, who operates a POS stand, shares same story. “We hardly have anyone to patronise us. Many businesses are close to collapsing if the shutdown continues. It is seriously affecting us a lot.”

    Samuel, who runs a business and call centres, said he drew about 70 per cent of his clientele from FUOYE students but now “business is totally down’’. He therefore pleaded that the university leadership should resolve outstanding issues so that students could return to school.

     

     

  • Open letter to the Minister of Works

    From Alabi Ahmed Abiodun

     

    I am a 400 level student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) on along Alabata Road, few meters from Obantoko, a highly-populated town that has been subjected to severe hardship due to its dilapidated road.

    Although there are three Federal Government agencies and two institutions in this community, the state of the road is terrible.

    Obantoko Road is the state headquarters of the Nigeria Police as well as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. From the T-Junction to the left is the Ogun-Osun River Basin. At the end of the road sits FUNAAB. To the right of the T-junction is the Federal College of Education (FCE), Osiele, which road leads to Oyo State.

    Despite the huge opportunities on this road, it has been abandoned for years by successive administrations.

    The leadership of FUNAAB has spent huge sums to rehabilitate the portion leading to the institution’s main campus. However, the more it is rehabilitated, the more it turns out more terrible.

    It is obvious the road needs reconstruction and not partial rehabilitation. Nonetheless, my university neither has the constitutional power nor the financial muscle to rebuild this road from scratch.

    The people staying on this road have multiplied manifold unlike some years ago.

    Read Also: University system and need for reform

    Daily, the commuters are facing severe hardship. The people I sympathise with most are the civil servants working with those federal agencies. They have been living with endless lamentation.

    Pianfullly, due to the terrible condition of the road, several accidents had occurred resulting to needless loss of lives.

    In fact, students of FUNAAB are the greatest victims. During emergencies, there would be lockdown, leading to delays of students who are being rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) at Idi Aba for urgent medical attention.

    There’s also a quarry around this community; and the trucks and trailers with loads also ply the road.

    So, aside reconstruction, the road needs expansion and extension to address the human and vehicular movements around Alabata and Obantoko axis.

    Dear Minister, I am begging you in the name of Almighty Allah to come to our aid because the past few years have been hellish.

    God bless the Federal Republic of  Nigeria.

  • Obi decries poor investment in education

    From Christianah Awogbemi

     

    Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has  blamed public office holders for their poor leadership, which has led to underdevelopment and high rate of unemployment in the country.

    He said political leaders failed to take a cue from organised systems abroad.

    Obi, who was the keynote speaker at the maiden convocation of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, told the seven pioneer graduates of the institution, that his (Obi’s) generation and those before them had failed.

    According to the former governor, the surge in unemployment coupled with the failure in the country’s economy had become so huge that the youth should gird their loins and toe the path of entrepreneurship.

    Obi spoke on the theme: ‘’Creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship: A critical intersection for economic development in Africa.’’

    The former governor recalled that the country had a lot of economic prospects in the 70s, 80s and and up to 2000. He noted that due to greed, corruption and poor investment in education, the leadership frittered away what could have put the country on a rock when placed side by side countries within its status.

    He said: “As at 1980, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of China was $340 billion while their per capita was $10. Same year, Nigeria’s per capita was almost $820. In terms of savings, Nigeria’s reserves at the time were about $5.5 billion while China was $5 billion. Today, China has savings of about $3 trillion , while Nigeria has $500 billion. We must remember that China is a country with which we both started at the same time. That simply explains the enormity of the problems on our hand.’’

    Obi noted that in Nigeria the fate of professors, teachers, doctors and other intellectuals are determined by politicians who not only earn more than them for doing next to nothing, but often deny these egg heads their entitlements.

    Read Also: How Tinubu stole show at ABUA convocation

    He wondered how Nigeria could attain greatness as being repeatedly mouthed by its leaders in the face of dwindling budgetary allocation to education.

    Obi, therefore, challenged the youth to embrace entrepreneurship, saying as against industrial economy, knowledge economy is what would rule the world in the future. He advised them against jetting out of the country, but rather be ready to contribute their knowledge to Nigeria’s greatness.

    He urged the young graduates to learn from global entrepreneurs, such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos, who started small but with zeal and determination, attained greatness, despite that the challenges.

    Obi continued: “Things are changing fast. Smaller countries are rising to the occasion and challenging the status quo. On our part, we are not going to do much; that is why you must take on that mantle of leadership and change the narratives. For years, you have been hearing rhetorics that things would change for the better. I’m afraid things are not going to change as much as we all expected. All you will continue to hear are rhetoric but no action.”

    Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the institution Prof Chinedum Peace Babalola, described the graduands as ‘stars’, saying it was not about the number but their worth.

    He said the graduates were not only certificated, but imbued with various entrepreneurship skills that would make them flex muscles with their counterparts globally.

    Similarly, Miss Onemu Laureta, a graduate of Psychology, emerged the Overall Best Graduating Student with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of five.

     

  • UNIBEN bans social activities over cult killing

    By Osagie Otabor, Benin

    Management of the University of Benin has placed a ban on all social activities on campus following Friday’s killing of a 200-level student simply identified as Aficionado.

    Aficionado was shot dead at about 6pm during the jean carnival organised for final-year students of the Faculty of Arts at the Twin-Lecture Theatre.

    Spokesman for the university, Mr. Micheal Osasuyi, who spoke on measures taken to avert reprisal attacks, said security agents have been placed on red alert.

    Read Also: Buhari hailed for appointing female VC for UNIBEN

    Osasuyi said ban was also placed on all social activities.

    The killing of Aficionado was said to have caused panic as students scampered for safety when they heard gunshots.

    His body was later found lying on the ground.

    Sources said many students have fled their hostels while heavy security presence was noticed around the campus.