The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • ‘ABU students return N2.5m to owner

    Two students of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Ahmed Usman and Ahmed Suleiman, have returned a missing  N2.5million to the owner, Mallam Muhammad Kudu Ibrahim.

    Ibrahim, a Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Art and Science, Federal College of Education, Kotangora, Niger State, misplaced the cash on Wednesday last week, CAMPUSLIFE learnt.

    The Federal College of Education, Kotongora, is affiliated to ABU.

    Suleiman, a 300-Level student of Social Studies Education, told CAMPUSLIFE how the money was found in an open bag.

    He said: “It was on Tuesday (last week). The Students’ Union president and I were driving out of the school when we saw a leather bag and, on getting close, we realised that there was money in it.

    “At first, we were scared seeing such amount of money in an open place. Besides, the leather bag was not zipped. I parked the car and we alighted from it. We looked around and nobody noticed us. Then, we picked the money, put it in the car and moved straight to the school’s security office. We gave the security man our phone numbers and told him to contact us should anybody complain of losing his or her valuables.”

    Suleiman explained that though they dropped their contacts at the security unit, they decided not to disclose the contents in  the bag.

    “Yesterday, in the morning, I heard an announcement on the FM (radio station) that the owner of the money was looking for it. I immediately informed my friend who asked me what we could do, and I told him that he should wait until I get to the school.

    “On getting to the school, there was a call for us to report at the security. We went there. We were asked what we saw. Meanwhile, the person who lost the money was with the security man awaiting our arrival,” Suleiman further explained..

    Usman recalled how they both imagined what could be going on in the mind of the owner when they saw that the amount in the bag was huge.

    “I was happy deep inside me because we never entertained any fraudulent thoughts.  Naturally, different devilish thoughts jostled in our minds but thank God we were able to overpower such thoughts and kept the money until we saw the owner,” he said.

    Kudu Ibrahim, who owns the cash said he had already lost hope of seeing it again. He praised Suleiman and Usman for their rare display of virtue.

    He said: “It’s true I lost some amount of money by the roadside yesterday. I later went there to check if the money was there but, unfortunately, I couldn’t find it. The actual amount is N2.5 million, and the money belongs to an association which I chair. It’s a thrift and loan scheme.

    “I complained to the security officials of the school and I was told to wait because those who found the money left their contacts, should anybody come for missing items. I was given back the money intact. I was even asked to check through but I knew it was complete because it was packed in N500,000 each in the bag.”

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    Nonetheless, Ibrahim promised to compensate the two students with an undisclosed amount.

    The Investigative Officer of the school, Mr Olusikun Samuel, also confirmed the missing cash had been found.

    “I’m very familiar with the case. It was reported to us on Tuesday at 3:30pm. I handled the matter before we knew those persons that actually found the money which was N2.5million. I confirmed it,” he said.

    In a telephone conversation with CAMPUSLIFE, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the school, Mr Andrew Pius Ibrahim, commended the students for returning such a huge amount. He added that the school management was aware of the matter.

    “It’s a virtue that it’s only peculiar to few people. Not all persons can see such amount of money and return it. We really commend them and call on others to emulate them. It’s something the school is so proud of,” Andrew said.

     

  • Rape in AAUA: Don’t compromise, students, ASUU tell police

    STUDENTS of the Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko, (AAUA), Ondo State, are urging the police to carry out a thorough investigation as regards one of their own who was raped by a soldier.

    The victim, a 300-Level student of the Religious and African Studies Department, was molested on Wednesday, last week by one of the soldiers in the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigeria Army at a checkpoint on Ikare Akoko-Akungba-Akoko road.

    Though the soldier involved in the act have been dismissed by the Nigerian Army and handed over to the police, the students are insisting that the police must resume from where the military stopped in order to give Nigerian students, especially the victim, some relief.

    Akingbondere Tunde, a 200-Level Law undergraduate of AAUA, said the rape issue called for some questioning.

    He said: “The questions remain: ‘Is this obvious threat to life and human dignity not an aberration of the constitution? Are soldiers trained with our common wealth to constitute threat by championing a war against human dignity? How do we plan to get over a system that already gathered enemies as friends?

    “I stand to call this an insult on the integrity of Nigerian Army and a mockery of their roles and duties.”

    Akingbondere insisted that the Federal Government must compensate the victim and complement its gesture with a public apology to the entire students whose rights he believed, had been abused.

    Similarly,  Eyinkofe Anthony Ola, a 300 Level Educational Management undergraduate, described the act as ‘callous’, noting that such behaviour was against the constitutional duty of the Nigerian Army who are supposed to, among other things, protect the territorial integrity of the nation.

    Eyinkofe’s stance was corroborated by Akin-Ademola Emmanuel, a 200-Level student of Mass Communication.

    He said: “It is so bad that the executors of the law are now the breakers. I am challenging the government to bring the suspects to justice.”

    Obagunwa Oluwasegun Daniel, a 300 Level Student of Guidance and Counselling, pitched his tent with the trio.

    “Any form of intercourse in which any of the parties does not subscribe to is simply a rape. I will, therefore, suggest that the culprit face the music,” Obagunwa submitted.

    However, Akinyemi Ayomide Samuel, a 300-Level student of Mathematical Science, had a different opinion. According to her, the victim might have lured her molester.

    “She might have worn a skimpy cloth that aroused the military men sexually because she is not the only female in the car. I will urge ladies to stop exposing their body to public and to the military men. Rape is a bad thing and the perpetrator should be punished for the wrongdoings,” he added.

    Oyedokun Ayodele, a final year Mass Communication undergraduate, noted that it is quite unbecoming of security officers whose roles are to protect lives and properties to be involved in such act.

    “I don’t even know that men of the Nigerian Army can try such because it’s not something anyone can hardly think about them. However, the management (of AAUA) should follow up on the matter after the government have given their word concerning the prosecution of the solders. The Students’ Union should also play the role of being a pressure group and monitor the process of serving justice to the soldier involved in the rape allegation.” he added

    Olorunsaanumi Olowookere, a 300-Level student of the Department of Mass Communication, said: “The case is still under investigation and I like the way the management has responded to it.

    “I want SU to stage a walk against rape and carry all students along just to let the entire nation know what is happening here in AAUA,” he added.

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of AAUA, described the rape allegation as barbaric and wicked.

    A statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Sola Fayose, stated that the alleged act is “against anything called humaneness, decency, and civility.”

    The union, which acknowledged that the police and military authorities, had begun investigations into the matter, urged the two security agencies to fast-track the processes of investigation and prosecution of the suspects with a view to bringing them to book.

     

     

  • Why emotional intelligence matters

    If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far.” – Daniel Goleman

    A friend narrated a story of his experience when he was abroad recently which triggered an intense conversation that forms the topic of my intervention today. He boarded a train and was in the same coach with a man and his children. Some of the children were visibly unruly disturbing the peace of other passengers. There were grumblings but no one accosted the man. A middle aged man eventually stood up, went to the seat next to the father of the children and held his hand, a gesture the father acknowledged with a grateful shake of the head. The man took the action without knowing if the father was dealing with issues.

    A young man, who felt that action was appeasing the father for wrong behaviour, eventually stood up and politely asked him to call his children to order. He simply looked at the young man and said: “They just lost their mother!” The entire coach was quiet and people started reaching out to console the man. Apparently, being young, the children didn’t know how to process the painful fact that they would never see their mother again. The gentleman that sat and held the hand of that distressed father is emotionally intelligent.

    A couple of years before my late father passed away, he came very late to the funeral of a prominent son of our village covered with blood stains. I was shocked when I saw him thinking something terrible had happened to him. But from his facial expression, he looked perfectly alright. It turned out he got to an accident scene and had to alight from the vehicle he was in with other passengers to assist the victims and help evacuate the wounded to the hospital. He even stayed with the dead until they were evacuated to the morgue. Incidentally, the wounded and the dead were also on their way to the same funeral.

    From that time until his death, I looked at my father with a special kind of respect and admiration that words cannot qualify. That he and the other passengers stopped to assist speaks volumes of their characters; others would have moved on, or probably call the concerned authorities to take it from there. But there is always something when we physically help those in need or the vulnerable in our societies. These two stories are examples of being emotionally intelligent.

    Prior to 1990, the term Emotional Intelligence (EI) belongs practically in uncharted territory. What we were familiar with was Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Scholars believe that to be truly successful in life goes far beyond being intelligent. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage personal emotions, as well as recognising, influencing and assisting others manage theirs. The term was first coined in 1990 by researchers John Mayer and Peter Salovey, but was later popularised by psychologist Daniel Goleman.

    Goleman highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence, especially in leadership this way: “The most effective leaders are all alike in one crucial way: They all have a high degree of what has come to be known as emotional intelligence. It’s not that IQ and technical skills are irrelevant. They do matter, but…they are the entry-level requirements for executive positions.”

    Over the years, EI has evolved into a must-have skill. A recent research by EI provider TalentSmart shows that emotional intelligence is the strongest predictor of performance. As a result, employment consultants took notice. In a workplace survey by CareerBuilder, 71 percent of employers said they value EI over IQ, reporting that employees with high emotional intelligence are more likely to stay calm under pressure, resolve conflict effectively, and respond to co-workers with empathy.

    While I was busy writing this piece, I stumbled on a BBC documentary, “Secrets of Singapore” which explored the history of this small but remarkable country. Like Nigeria, Singapore is a melting pot of several ethnicities. One of those interviewed, whose great grandfather emigrated from India, narrated how the country had its fair share of ethnic, religious, economic and identity crises which it eventually surmounted with time. Though the documentary did not delve into politics and governance, the impact of one of its leaders, Lee Kwan Yew came straight to my mind. I had read how he transformed Singapore from a third to a first world which was captured in his book of the same title. The book clearly showed that Yew was an emotionally intelligent leader.

    It is therefore not surprising that corporate organisations tapped into the importance of EI in growing organisations because they discovered that intellect alone cannot get the job done. The good thing about EI is that it cuts across board; in essence, it applies to rich and poor, the leader and the led etc. Many of us believe great leaders are born, specifically, we attach certain characteristics to our version of what we believe is successful.

    So, what are the key traits most of us believe a leader should possess? Passion, vision, fearlessness, infallibility – might top the list of what is deemed as positive characteristics to define a leader. Great leaders are aware of their own leadership style. For them, having awareness of how their style influences their citizens (team) makes these already great leaders, exceptional. Truly great leaders identify, understand and not only manage their own emotions, but are able to do that with others in a very empowering way. This is what EI is all about.

    As I look around in my daily interactions, listen to the news and read newspapers, I’ve discovered that we as a people have deviated from the deep empathy that used to define our nation. I’d like to now identify some of the traits I believe a leader should imbibe in order to lead effectively. Leadership here cuts across board – politics, schools, public/private institutions, the home etc. Top on my list is compassion. Leaders who possess EI are compassionate, they strive to understand and feel what the people feel. They bring this compassion to bear in policy formulation.

    The EI leader, in my opinion, must also be an effective Communicator. He must share his vision or strategy often with those around him, so everyone is on the same page. This is because motivation comes from effective communication. This extends to being able to listen without judgment, keeping emotions under control and to ask questions when necessary to seek to understand.

    Self-awareness is also another crucial trait. Clarity on strengths and weaknesses is important for any leader to recognise. With self-awareness a leader can focus on the strengths he or she possesses by incorporating individuals who perform well in areas where the leader lacks astuteness. Having awareness includes understanding others and promoting their strengths. If a leader lacks awareness, this may encourage subordinates to take actions that are antithetical to the overall vision.

    An EI conscious leader should also be authentic. Lao Tzu once said: “Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power. If you realise that you have enough, you are truly rich.” In essence, knowing oneself and acting from that truth draws people to the leader. Being real, making decisions that are in alignment with how a leader truly operates rarely requires second-guessing. Such leaders must understand their own values and be consistent in applying them. As part of that, the leader needs to possess the courage to hold true to them, without losing sight of reality.

    I must equally add respect. Respect is not just about others; the EI leader practices self-respect. How leaders treat themselves matters, because it is reflected back in the people they manage. Leaders who respects themselves and others do not speak disrespectfully at any time, even when mistakes happen. The way to get the best out of people is not through demeaning behaviour, but by respect, whether the person is a friend or foe.

     

  • Mass Comm. Dept gets first woman HoD

    It was jubilation on Monday, last week, when Dr Edith Ugochi Ohaja, was announced the first woman Head of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

    Dr. Ohaja succeeded Dr. Peter N. Nwokolo whose appointment elapsed on July 31.

    The department has not had a female HoD since its inception in 1961.

    Students, colleagues and alumni of the department are happy that Dr. Ohaja, who is the oldest serving member of staff in the department, got the appointment which took effect a week ago.

    Dr. Ohaja started work in the university on March 1, 1989. She holds a B.Sc in Sociology, as well as M.A and PhD in Mass Communication.

    She has written several books, including: Features writing simplified and Magazine article writing. This is in addition to scholarly articles in local and international journals.

    Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE in her office, Dr. Ohaja thanked the UNN management for the privilege to serve. She listed her priorities to include the remodelling of the Mass Communication programme into a Faculty, comprising seven departments as recommended by the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the construction of a befitting edifice for the proposed faculty.

    Other areas of attention, according to her, are: harmonious relationship among colleagues and students, in addition to compliance with global best practice.

    She called on the alumni of the department, who had promised to undertake the construction of the faculty, to fast-track the project.

     

  • Getting the right partner during NYSC

    National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was created by former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd) on May 22, 1973 to, among other functions, foster inter-tribal marriages.

    It was also a part of efforts to boost national integration, which will bring the unity that the country earnestly desires.

    Nature has it that neither man nor woman, irrespective of their education background, wealth, intelligence or beauty, is considered complete or balanced without a spouse. Perhaps, this may have been the reason behind the call by the new Director-General of NYSC, Brigadier-General Shuaibu Ibrahim, to corps members to embrace intimate interaction with one another and allow natural love lead them into inter-tribal marriages.

    The DG re-echoed his inter-tribal marriage ‘evangelism’ during his visit to 2019 Batch “B” Stream One corps members at NYSC Orientation Camp in Sagamu, Ogun State, where he explained that NYSC was established as a tool to foster national unity, hence, it  would continue to encourage inter-tribal marriages among corps members.

    Upon his assumption to office, the new state coordinator of NYSC in Kogi State, Mr Lasaki Taofic Olayiwola, also re-echoed the DG’s position by calling for inter-tribal marriages among corps members. He explained that he wished to see them intermarry during and after their service year in order to enhance national integration and unity.

    However, obsessionfor ‘already-made husband-wives has been a barrier to fostering inter-tribal marriage among corps members in Nigeria. In other words, the desire for a partner with higher degrees, higher income and apt body shape are some of the enemies working against inter-tribal marriages among corps members in Nigeria.

    A friend and a fellow corps member asked: ‘David, how can I increase my chances of finding a right partner during my service year? And when I meet him, how do I know that he’s the one?’

    I thought of it and told her that truly, everyone has his/her love life; everyone has a dream of getting a perfect partner. However, this seems not to be easy in real life, let alone during NYSC but the bitter truth is that you should have enough courage to trust and love especially during your NYSC, not minding the tribe where the partner comes from.

    Another  corps member felt most women corps members could not differentiate between their needs and wants, pointing out that until ladies realise this, they would continue running into difficulty in getting a right partner.

    The corps member believes that the service year is the most significant stage in a young graduate’s life, stressing that it’s only during this phase a lady can know a resourceful husband and vice versa. He pointed out that it’s only a person known as a beggar that one could easily predict his or her future. Is she the type that always asks you to take her out for lunch or dinner? What type of life does she live? What type of friends does she keep? How does the male corps member spend his alawee (allowances)? These are some of the questions one must examine before jumping into a courtship with a fellow corps member because you actually need a partner that will fuel your dreams and engage your God-given potential.

    Inquiry has also shown that most women corps members do not want to engage in relationship with their fellow corps members  because of the fear they will be dumped at the end of the service year.

    A corps member told me that aside fear, parents are also one of the factors working against inter-tribal marriages, owing to their level of education, religious inclinations, cultural background, and social class, among others. In other words, some parents will never allow their children to date or get married to any tribe already in their blacklist. They will simply tell you that ‘It’s a no go area’.

    Nobody can predict the future. As a corps member, you just have to engage a suitable fellow corps member in a relationship not minding his or her tribe, give all your trust in the relationship and do your best to see if the relationship will work out. Give him/her every last drop of love you have. I think one of the most important things in a relationship is caring for each other through good times and bad times.

    Observation has shown that the reasons why most male corps members run away from their female counterparts include high demand for money, pretence and their kind of company.

    Some female corps members who grew up with one complex or deficiencies do try to cover up via dressing during their NYSC. Others who are so shy or easily intimidated may try to pretend in order to be accorded more respect. However, this may only complicate issues the more or worse still scare away a possible suitor.

    Excessive make-up has eaten deep into the sense of some female corps members. They forget that too much of everything is bad. I think you can meet your soulmate if you actually minimise your make-up and what you put on as a dress because the way you dress speaks volume of who you are and what you are going to become.

    Tattoo on your body can’t allow you to get a right partner during your NYSC year. This form of design on the body either temporary or permanently is synonymous with indecent dressing. It may be hard for a responsible male or female corps member to accept you with those marks.

    It has also become a fad  for female corps members to wear odd accessories like big ear-rings, dog chain, heavy crucifix among others and this can best be describe as immoral to certain extent.

    Religious houses are not exceptional places for you to get a right partner during your NYSC. You have to know what you are looking for and what to avoid. If you have had a few relationships in the past, you can start by looking at why those relationships failed and whether you tend to fall for the same type of person in future.

    Be that as it may, it’s essential to state that in the process of getting a right partner from another tribe during NYSC, ‘don’t Rush’ so that you don’t have to end up regretting. In other words, find out who he/she is before jumping into anything permanent. I pray that sooner, you will meet that right man that will make you have a very happy life.

     

  • ‘Learning others’ languages ’ll promote national unity’

    Nigerians have been urged to learn other languages to promote unity and national development.

    A Chief Lecturer at the School of Languages, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education Oto/Ijanikin, Mr Eze Cyprian Chidozie, gave the advice during the second inaugural lecture of the insitution.

    Eze, who spoke on the title: Igbo and Yoruba relationship: A linguistic overview, said: “We are classified as English but none of us speak the English like the native speakers. The worst calamity that befalls us is that many do not understand any Nigerian language, including their mother-tongue. Many do not even know the meaning of their native names.

    “For better understanding of one another, similar studies should be done in other Nigerian languages and culture. We may end up discovering that our similarities are more than our differences. Minor differences in language and culture should be a source of our unity and not disunity. Let us remember that language determines educability, and that the limit of our language means the limit to the world.”

    Eze, who is of the Department of Igbo Language, noted that there seems to be certain linguistic similarities between Igbo and Yoruba languages, despite that the history of migration claimed the former emigrated from Israel, while the latter journeyed from Mecca and Medina, the present day Saudi Arabia, before both were being colonised by the Europeans.

    Despite that claim, Eze argued that it’s possible that the two tribes might have shared the same ancestral origin, and interacted  long before the Europeans came.

    Backing his claim, Eze said instances show that certain lexical words share some resemblance.

    For example, ‘Ofeke’ in Igbo and ‘Ofege’ in Yoruba means fake; ‘ato’ in Igbo and ‘eta’ in Yoruba is three; ‘aru’ in Igbo and ‘arufin’ in Yoruba means law breaker; ‘ayo’ in Igbo and ‘ayo’ in Yoruba means joy; while ‘onu’ in Igbo and ‘enu’ in Yoruba means mouth.

    Other examples include: ‘ododo’ (Igbo) and ‘ododo’ (Yoruba) means flower; ‘nmiri’ (Igbo) and ‘omi’ (Yoruba)-water; ‘ebe’ (Igbo) ‘ibi’ (Yoruba)-here; ‘bia’ (Igbo), ‘wa’ (Yoruba)-come; ‘ru’ (gbo) and ‘ru’ (Yoruba)-pollute; among others.

    According to him, language usage in both Igbo and Yoruba communities is informed by age, status or sex variables. For instance, a native Igbo speaker will say: ‘Gbaghaara m’, (forgive me) before introducing a proverb in the midst of elders, the same manner the Yoruba speaker would say: ‘E fori ji mi to ba se bi owe’ (forgive me if it sounds like a proverb).

    Similarly, both Yoruba and Igbo have prefix and suffix to verbs while addressing an elder.The two languages also follow the consonant-vowel (CV), vowel-consonant-vowel (VCV), consonant-vowel-consonant-vowel (CVCV), as well as vowel-consonant-vowel-consonant-vowel (VCVCV) pattern.

    For instance: say means ‘si’ in Igbo   and ‘so’ in Yoruba for (CV); mouth means ‘onu’ in Igbo and ‘enu’ in Yoruba (VCV); what means ‘gini’ in Igbo and ‘kini’ in Yoruba (for CVCV); and cane translates to ‘utari’ in Igbo and ‘atori’ in Yoruba (CVCVC), among others.

    “Considering from the above, some of the similar words in Igbo and Yoruba did not emanate from borrowed culture. Even if we accept these words or some of these words were borrowed, it shows that we have lived together for a long time before the coming of the Europeans. The question is:  are we from the same ancestral origin? Examining the cultural similarities, it is either we have same source or lived together for a long time,” he said.

     

  • Nigerian student unveils Beginners’ Handbook for campus Journalists

    A final year student journalist of the Obafemi Awolowo University,  Ile Ife, Adejumo Kabir has unveiled a book on best practices of campus journalism.

    The book, titled “Campus Journalism Beginners Handbook” according to its author Mr Adejumo Kabir, is a guide that will help student journalists report their campuses better and prepare them for journalism after school.

    In the foreword of the book, the Executive Publisher of Premium Times, Dapo Olorunyomi, noted the author had done the broad practice of journalism in Nigeria a great service by putting together and publishing what, to his mind, is the first practice guide on the hitherto “hidden” genre of campus journalism.

    Another top Media Career Specialist, Lekan Otufodunrin also wrote that the opportunities available for campus journalists of this generation are much and there is a need to ensure that those engaged in the art maximise their potentials.

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    Kehinde Ayantunji, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists in Osun, said the book is an intelligent investment and a huge consolation about the predicament of the Nigeria youths particularly the educated ones in tertiary institutions.

    Kabir is a freelance journalist for Premium Times with dozens of investigative journalism awards to his name at the national and international level. He was named finalist at the 2018 Africa Check Awards (Student category) in South Africa.

    Early this year, he launched the Campus Press Hub; an initiative offering training and consultancy services on best practices of campus journalism to students across Nigerian institutions.

    This book is the second handbook guide for campus journalists after a book titled: “The Road Before the Fourth Estate” co-authored by Kunle Adebajo and Kanyinsola Olorunnisola, who are now both graduates of University of Ibadan.

  • Revisiting the Next Generation report IV

    As we conclude our discussion on the 2010 “Next Generation” report chaired by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; a sub chapter: “On a knife edge” captures the dilemma the country would be facing if appropriate steps were not taken to critically look into the issues Nigerian youth identified and raised.

    It warned that strong economic performance cannot be taken for granted. “Should Nigeria slip back onto the economic trajectory it experienced during the ‘lost decade’ of the 1990s, the average Nigerian will actually be economically worse off by 2030. Unemployment will remain dangerously high and young people, in particular, will be left idle and prone to unrest. The risk of crisis will quickly rise, possibly to critical levels. If Nigeria fails to collect its demographic dividend, the seriousness of the country’s predicament should not be underestimated. Its prospects will be bleak, and could be catastrophic.”

    To further drive home the point, the report cited a research by Population Action International which explores why countries experiencing a demographic transition are at an increased risk of conflict. It posed the question: Why are youth bulges so often volatile? The short answer is: too many young men with not enough to do. Young men commit three-quarters of the world’s crimes. They are also at the heart of any war, whether as part of a regular army or an insurgent force.

    Competition for scarce resources also intensifies the pressures that lead to violent conflict. The research identifies four demographic factors that fuel civil conflict: A high proportion of young people in the population; rapid rates of urbanization; competition for scarce cropland; competition for scarce freshwater. Each of these factors has the potential to increase the risk of conflict by between 150-200%, while a high death rate among adults also appears likely to increase a country’s vulnerability.

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    If we look at the four outcomes of the research dispassionately we can identify with them.  Major cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Kano etc. are already bursting in the seams. It is estimated that close to 25 million people reside in Lagos. Also, at the heart of the herders/farmers clashes remains the quest for farming and grazing land.

    One fundamental aspect of the report I identify with is its frankness in outlining routes to be taken to achieve the best results. It pointed out, for instance, that: “Our research demonstrates clearly that Nigeria is balanced on a knife edge between demographic dividend and disaster. The opportunity is an enticing one. Nigeria’s vision is to be one of the world’s top 20 economies by 2020, and to demonstrate sustained regional and global leadership. The Task Force’s work shows that this objective is indeed within reach, but only if the country fully exploits its now-or-never demographic opportunity. Inaction puts Nigeria at risk of becoming over-burdened and facing further decades of economic stagnation.”

    Again, the report did not shy away from the fact that the opportunity and risks toward achieving these goals have quite different characteristics. To this end, “The path to growth is long and will require many decades of farsighted and effective stewardship. Social unrest will strangle the economy, while conflict could destroy a generation of progress in little more than the blink of an eye. These are not long term concerns. The demographic window is beginning to open now. Nigeria must act urgently to prepare itself for its new demographic challenges.”

    Sadly, this hasn’t materialised. So, is Nigeria ready for the future? Can she claim her dividend? The bedrock toward achieving this remains the tripod of quality education, healthcare and the creation of jobs. These accomplishments, the report stated in clear terms, require sound economic policies and consistent investment in human capital. “Unfortunately, Nigeria lags behind benchmarks established by a set of reasonable comparison countries, both within and outside of sub-Saharan Africa. Without significant and rapid improvements in its priorities and policies, Nigeria is highly unlikely to collect its demographic dividend in full.”

    Nigeria, it continues, now needs to create a reinforcing cycle of improved living standards, better health and education, and stronger and more effective governance. Increased national confidence – and the unity that this brings – will play a vital role in Nigeria’s future. Policy will need to be balanced between short and long term action. Over the next decade, Nigeria must develop a framework that can strengthen its business competitiveness over the entire period of its demographic dividend. Nigeria must also implement remedial measures to increase opportunities for the current generation of young people. Nigeria is a vastly diverse country, with a pressing need to build a cohesive and well-integrated society. For this reason, attention must be directed to the country’s many poor and marginalised groups, ensuring that they can have an increased stake in the country’s future.

    How can this be achieved? “Nigeria is fortunate to have many resources available to advance its economic improvement. Its oil is expected to last for around another 30 years, a period in which global demand and prices will increase significantly. Other industries offer greater potential for sustained growth and improved equality within Nigeria. The communications industry in Nigeria is growing quickly, and manufacturing of cars and textiles can be expanded with the willing manpower standing by. Mining of resources other than oil in Nigeria is underdeveloped, but has the potential to contribute to a boom in this economy. Diversifying away from oil and creating jobs in these infant industries – communications, manufacturing and mineral resources – will create wealth and better equality for the baby boom generation.”

    By investing the wealth generated from oil in the future, Nigeria can kick start the much-needed diversification of its economy and prepare itself for a period when it will no longer be able to rely on oil. Policymakers need to combine a forthright analysis of how prepared Nigeria is to collect its dividend, with a bold vision of what steps it can take to maximise its opportunities.

    Nothing poses more threat to Nigeria’s unity than unemployment. When the report was released in 2010, it said roughly three in ten Nigerians are currently unemployed, with unemployment and underemployment a particular problem for younger people. This figure, according to some conservative estimates, now hovers between seven and eight out of ten Nigerians. A highly educated Nigerian is not significantly more likely to find work than one with no education at all. Many are also forced to accept jobs that do not use their qualifications to the full. Brain drain has resulted in massive numbers of Nigerians leaving the country to seek employment abroad.

    The need for jobs will continue to become more pressing with every passing year, as growing numbers of youth enter the workforce. Increased educational requirements will also mean growing demand for skilled opportunities. The report calculates “that Nigeria will need to create 15 million new jobs over the next ten years (2010-2020) just to keep employment at current levels. If Nigeria aims to halve unemployment, it will need to create 24 million new jobs, expanding the labour market by almost 50%. If unemployment is to be brought to 7% by 2030, the labour market needs to nearly double in size, creating almost 50 million jobs.

    A young Nigerian who contributed to the Task Force consultation said: “Once the youth realise the urgency of the situation with regards to their futures, I think a mass movement will ensue. Then and only then can change be effected in Nigeria.”

    For those who have their ears to the ground, there are already signs that the pressure for change is building, very soon networks of young people may emerge to campaign for reform. Many will be making use of the new opportunities that online technologies bring.

    I will close with a quote from the report: “The energy of the next generation gives Nigeria’s leaders a choice. If they view young people’s enthusiasm as an asset, they will find an important ally in the struggle to take their country forward. If they regard it as something to fear, they will find themselves in a struggle against a generation that is increasingly determined to make its voices heard.”

  • Behold…Geniuses at work

    Some students of the Covenant University (CU) in Ota, Ogun State, have converted waste polythene materials to interlocking solid blocks which can be used to rehabilitate roads in their host community. Their innovation won the first prize at the just-concluded ENACTUS National Entrepreneurship Competition. The feat earned the team a ticket to represent Nigeria at the ENACTUS global challenge holding in California, United States, next month. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

    THE bad roads in Ota, the host community of the Covenant University (CU) in Ogun State, spurred some students to look for a solution to the problem.

    The students, who are members of ENACTUS team in the school, introduced what they called Pet City project. Under it, they converted plastics and polythene waste indiscriminately dumped in the environment to durable building materials that can be used to fill potholes in Ota township.

    The students went round the town to collect plastic wastes. The accumulated materials were taken to the foundry of the school’s Mechanical Engineering Department, where the students converted the residual amalgam to masses of interlocking solid materials.

    Read Also: 215 students bag 1st class honours at Covenant University

    After the first try in March, the improvised materials were assessed to be durable and sustainable; the production was also evaluated to be eco-friendly and cost-efficient.

    This led to the deployment of the interlocking materials to fill the potholes on some roads in the school. The job earned the students praises from the management, which said the innovation eased the difficulty in passing through the rehabilitated spots.

    The innovation won the first prize at the just-concluded National Championship Challenge of the ENACTUS Nigeria held at the Civic Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos. A team of assessors declared the Pet City Initiative as an ‘Outstanding Entrepreneurial Action”.

    The event was co-sponsored by African Capital Alliance Foundation, Act Foundation, Sahara Group, KPMG, SC Johnson, Seplat Petroleum Development Company, Axa Mansard Insurance Plc, Coca-Cola and Nestle.

    No fewer than 900 students and academic leaders from 35 tertiary institutions participated in the three-round national competition; Eighteen teams presented projects in the first round. The students’ teams implemented community-based projects targeted at addressing real developmental, social and economic problems.

    The objective of the projects was to equip young people with viable entrepreneurial skills to help them transform lives and solve the developmental challenges facing communities around them.

    Fourteen teams were screened out, leaving CU and three other teams moving to the final round to compete for the first prize.

    Other teams in the final were students of  Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Kaduna State; Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (FUAM), Benue State; and Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

    The teams presented their innovative projects before a panel of judges comprising corporate executives in multinational firms, business development managers, entrepreneurs and industry professionals.

    To replicate the innovation in their school’s host community, the CU students told the judges’ panel that they improvised a machine to scale up production of the interlocking materials in large quantity.

    During the presentation of the project, the team said: “After we discovered that the interlocking stones were good and durable, we decided to employ people and seek partnerships to scale up our project. We are currently talking with the Centre for Economic Policy and Development Research for partnership to produce 85,000 units of interlocking bricks to repair Ota-Idiroko road.

    “We are also into business discussion with Pertinence Company, which requested for a supply of interlocking bricks for the conclusion of its real estate project in Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos. We should be able to meet the demand because our collection capacity has been improved. We can potentially gather three metric tons of plastics, weekly, while empowering women for the collection and sorting of plastic.”

    CU team’s second project tagged: Toles  is aimed at recycling used and scrap tyres into eco-friendly and durable footwear while engaging financially-disadvantaged persons in the production.

    The team’s project focused on tackling food insecurity that followed the lead poisoning in Zamfara State. The students set up a mobile farming model using aquaponics system to help victims of lead poisoning and banditry improve their livelihoods through agriculture.

    BUK’s project tagged: Zazoo is an innovative solar-powered smart tricycle, which depends on renewable source of energy to power itself. It was specifically designed to aid mobility and create decent job for persons living with disability.

    The FUAM team designed a social enterprise programme christened:  Prison Entrepreneurship and Reform Programme (PERP) to equip prison inmates with life-long academic and agriculture skills for their complete re-integration into the society after their release.

    Having assessed the teams’ projects, in relation to the impacts made and investment potential, the judges declared the CU team the winner of the contest and it was presented a N400,000 cheque to support its projects. The ABU team was the first runner-up; the BUK team came third.

    With this feat, the CU students will be representing Nigeria at the Global Entrepreneurship Contest coming up next month in California, United States (U.S.). The team will be competing for $50,000 prize alongside students from 40 other countries.

    The event also featured a leadership and innovation summit sponsored by Act Foundation with the theme: Multi-stakeholder collaborations: A tool for achieving sustainable large-scale social impact. Panelists at the summit included Chief Executive Officer of Sahara Group Mr Tonye Cole; Osayi Alile, Dekunbi Wuraola, and Abosede George-Ogan.

    The ENACTUS Country Director, Mr Michael Ajayi, said: “Beyond the competition, ENACTUS provides the unique opportunity for capacity development for the students in the areas of leadership and entrepreneurship, while we encourage selflessness and promote volunteerism.”

    There was also a keynote address by council member of Africa Capital Alliance Group, Mrs. Yeah Osa-Oboh, who spoke on: “Leapfrogging human capital development”.

    She also charged students on critical thinking, noting that success of any projects depends on communication, critical reasoning, creativity, conviction and character.

    ENACTUS is an international non-profit organisation that brings together students, academic and business leaders who are committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.

  • Emir of Lapai visits IBBUL

    Emir of Lapai HRH Umaru BahagoI has praised the management of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai IBBUL), Niger State, for embarking on capital projects that have direct impact on the institution and students’ lives. He is also happy that the location of the institution in Lapai, has improved the social and economic lives of the community.

    Emir Bahagol, who visited IBBUL on an inspection tour of its facilities, also  lauded the style of its vice chancellor, Prof Muhammad Nasiru Maiturare, for making IBBUL one of the renowned citadels of learning globally

    Responding, Prof Maiturare expressed appreciation for the visit. Maiturare thanked the visitor for the rosy relationship between IBBUL and its host community.

    He led the royal father and his entourage on an inspection tour of some completed and ongoing projects.

    Some of the projects inspected included: ongoing e-learning centre, 300-seat capacity twin lecture theatre, x-ray unit of the university clinic, medical college’s Centre for Applied Sciences, Technology Research (CASTER), as well as a perimeter fencing of the permanent site of the university and ongoing 80-capacity students hostel.

    The emir charged the contractors handling the projects to double their efforts in order to meet with the completion schedules.