The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Why I dumped Medicine for Music, by UNIZIK student

    Alvin Chinedu Okpogba is a final year student of Music at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, the Anambra State capital. In this interview with EMMA ELEKWA, the Imo State-born singer reveals what informed his decision to abandon Medicine and Surgery for Music.

    Can you share your early life with us?

    I’m a native of Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State, but I grew up in Anambra State, precisely Otolo Nnewi. I attended two primary schools, St. Joseph Nursery/Primary School, Dala-Imo Otolo Nnewi and The Good Shepherd Nursery/Primary School, Nnewi, respectively.

    I later proceeded to a seminary school, which is St. Paul’s Seminary, Ukpor, Anambra State. I withdrew from the school for a Pre-Science programme in Mbaukwu, Awka South Local Government Area of the state where I was admitted to study Medicine. After my first year, I switched over to the Department Music of the school.

    Why did you leave the seminary?

    Every seminarian makes music. In fact, that’s one thing I learnt there. I felt there’s more to what I’m doing there. I actually learnt music in the seminary, but I realised there’s more to my talent. I want to explore more of music and I should devote more concentration to it. The seminary helped to fine-tune the talent. Music has actually been the driving force in all my changes.

    Initially, I didn’t know how to tell my parents about my plans to leave the seminary because I felt they would oppose it with the argument that it was the seminary that brought me this far. But I eventually did.

    At what point did this passion for music come up?

    I must say I was a very good dancer. I had to travel to Lagos, Abuja and Port-Harcourt to perform. It was really glaring to all that I was talented both in singing and dancing. But the dancing aspect had to give way for singing and writing when I had a surgery in my JS3.

    I think music is hereditary in my family. Presently, all my siblings are into music. Both parents have nice voices and can sing. As kids with Catholic background, my parents would take us to early morning Mass. We were more like a morning mass choir.

    I remember those days, I would be singing on top of my voice in the church. It was fun. I see myself living out that part of my father, which he didn’t really pay much attention to.

    Securing admission to read Medicine couldn’t have been a child’s play.

    Yes! When I left the seminary, it was like a different journey altogether. I saw academic environment as an entirely different world. I was determined to succeed, so I had to face my studies squarely, giving it every seriousness it deserved. I had two options – either to get admission directly or pass the Pre-science programme.

    I fear failure so much because I know its impact in my life anytime it occurred to me. Having left seminary, I realised all eyes were on me.

    But one could have expected you to continue with the same spirit?

    Honestly, I had to focus on what I wanted. Yes, initially, I had wanted to bear the title, ‘Doc’, for the fun of it, but later I felt I could still go on with the music and later follow it up with a Ph.D.

    What informed your decision to drop Medicine?

    When I enrolled into the Pre-science programme, music became more of serious distraction to me, even though I enjoyed it. Lecture would be going on, but music would be singing on my head. Some of my best songs were written during lecture hours. That was not really ideal, but that was making much sense to me.

    At a point, I became scared that if I continued that way, I might not graduate, especially considering the nature of the course. Besides, I felt that if I continued and eventually graduate in Medicine, I’ll still come back to study music. I felt sacrificing my passion for between five to years was not worth it. So, I decided to follow my heart fully.

    What I wanted to do was music, though I came from a lineage of teachers. My Mum is a retired principal while my Dad is a lecturer. So, the choice of Medicine could have made more sense to them.

    It was just the fear of their reactions that made me delay in informing them of my decision as at the point I did. I believed that when the time came and I opened up, they had to understand me.

    Definitely, your parents couldn’t have accepted the switch over just like that?

    It was actually my Dad that felt somehow. Then, he was my class teacher and you know what that meant. He was teaching Chemistry, and I had to face him everyday. I had to summon the courage one day and walked to his office to tell him my mind. That was after the day’s lecture. He had to tell some of his friends to convince me. But then I had already made up my mind.

    Is it that your parents didn’t see the inate talent in you or they just wanted you to be a medical doctor?

    Naturally, a father would want his son to toe his line; but I don’t see my dad wanting to do that. At a point, I felt I was just trying to please someone. But I later felt I should live my life. There’s no point continuing in a course only to come make a u-turn later.

    Did your friends and classmates mock your decision?

    Yeah. I could remember while I was studying Medicine, my classmates would advise me to follow my passion because to them, being with them was a mere waste of time since my heart was elsewhere. But since music was something I had neither dreamt of nor wanted to study as a course, I didn’t give it a second thought.

    Even at the seminary, I had wanted to be a priest, not a musician. I was even underrating the profession.  But when the conviction became strong, I saw myself embracing it as the best thing that could happen to me and I’ve never regretted that decision. The fact remains that the power of passion is so real and fascinating that it’s always difficult to resist. If you do, you may likely lose it eventually.

    Since you left Medicine for Music, how has the experience been?

    Since I followed my passion, I’ve known inner peace. I’m someone who wants to be happy before paying attention to whether the whole world is happy with me. It’s not really being selfish, but one needs to be contented with what one has, and what one can offer to the society.

    I could remember someone entering my room while I was in the Pre-science school, and saw me composing songs. He said something very provoking, ‘What nonsense are you doing? Others are here studying and you are busy writing songs?’ I simply looked at him, smiled and continued with what I was doing.

    The truth is that life without music and sound is boring. Music is power; it can trigger a revolution that can bring an end to a bad government. It’s a force that can permeate and break barriers.

    As someone from the academic world, my music is expected to be distinct, including my dress code. My music plus my dress code are a complete package on its own. I have to bring in what I studied in school. I like corporate music and I intend to bring in originality to my music because I’m a champion of originality. Maybe that’s why I don’t have too many works.

    Where do you expect to be in five years’ time?

    Every good hardwork will always pay. It only takes time to materialise. I believe that in five years’ time, I will have been more of a celebrity.

    How many songs do you have to your credit and do you have any sponsor?

    I have about 15 songs. I’ve done works on Christmas and New-Year periods. I have done works on mother and father’s Day. Right now, I’m working on that of children. You discover that these are songs for special days, but there are hardly songs for them.

    Talking about sponsorship, it’s actually a challenge because it’s always difficult to convince people to buy into your project for sponsorship. I’m looking at exploring African opera with drama, including Igbo songs that are going into extinction.

  • DELSU inducts medical doctors

    DELTA State University (DELSU) College of Health Sciences in Abraka, has inducted 39 graduates of Medicine and Surgery in a ceremony attended by high profile individuals and medical practitioners.

    The induction, which held in the school’s 750-capacity hall, saw the graduates take the Hippocratic Oath.

    The oath taking was anchored by the Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr T.A.B. Sanusi, who took the inductees through the code and conducts of the medical profession.

    DELSU Vice Chancellor Prof Victor Peretomode, who was represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Administration) Prof. S.O Asagba advised the inductees to discharge their duties in accordance with the ethics of the profession. He assured parents and guests that the inductees have been given the best form of training.

    Similarly, the Provost, College of Health Sciences, Prof Lawrence Omo-Aghoja, admonished them to be of good conduct. He also thanked their parents for supporting them through the training. Omo-Aghoja said the latest teaching aids in the College of Medical Sciences and the Delta State University Teaching Hospital have continued to put the university’s medical graduates among the best both within and outside the country.

    Dr Odokudu  God-dowell emerged the best graduating student. In his valedictory speech, God-dowell thanked Delta State government for providing an enabling environment for their training. He also thanked their teachers and parents for their relentless support all through the medical school. He promised that the inductees would always abide by the tenets of the profession.

  • Final year student attempts suicide over poor result

    A final year student of Ekiti State University (EKSU) identified as Akindeko Oluwafemi, popularly known as Comrade Zamane, has attempted suicide over poor academic result.

    While a version said Akindeko took Sniper, a dangerous chemical substance, others believed he simply cut himself with a sharp object and is currently battling for life at EKSU Teaching Hospital, where he was rushed to.

    Akindeko, a final year student of the Department of Accounting, CAMPUSLIFE gathered,  had anxiously awaited his results. Shockingly, however, he couldn’t absorb the fact that he passed all his subjects except BUS 418, which would automatically make him to have an extra year.

    Prior to attempting suicide, Akindeko made series of posts on his Whatsapp. While some of the posts seemed enigmatic, others simply expressed his displeasure and loss of hope about life and education. “Everything about today is just worse. Result Amazon. God help me this month no dy smile satin sup gan,”Akindeko wrote on his Whattsup.

    He continued: “Why today cum be like this. God help me throughout this month. From 1st of June everything hasn’t been good.

    “All I want to do now is commit a crime and be sentenced to life imprisonment. So, keep off so you won’t fall a victim”

    “Life and education is something I don’t want again. I guess going off is the best for now. I’m dropping this in case you call me and I’m not picking or u message I’m not replying. Ire Ooooo!  God be with the living”

    “I regret ever coming to this world and I regret ever choosing to be educated. I swear. Eksu you are cursed.”

    Akindeko’s course mate and friend, who pleaded anonymity, told CAMPUSLIFE how consistent failure or low grade recoded by students in BUS 418, became Akindeko’s nemesis.

    Nonetheless, another friend to Akindeko, who introduced himself as Mayowa and who has been keeping Akindeko’s company while in the hospital, confirmed that his friend is now stable and in a good condition.

    EKSU management’s reaction

    Management of EKSU has confirmed the development. Nevertheless, it blamed the victim for choosing suicide as an option instead of enrolling at the school summer class for extra year student to hasten up their graduation.

    “Yes, the boy just finished and he just got his BUS 418, one of the second semester examination results. You know when you fail second semester result, that is going to be an extra year,” said EKSU Public Relations Officer Mr Deji Aleshinloye.

    “And that’s not a big deal The university has an arrangement for what we call a summer class, which the registration is ongoing and will start in another one week. During that summer class, final year students will be allowed to retake the courses they failed.

    “Why do you have to go and take Sniper? Life itself is not a straightforward thing. Who said you are not going to fail again? Do you know how many people have failed in this world? Do you know how many times Abraham Lincoln (former American president) contested and lost?”

    “Thank God we didn’t lose him he is fine now and stabilised in the hospital. But it’s not that the university was harsh or anti-student. He is in the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital and he is getting better now,”Aleshinloye added.

  • LASU celebrates World Bicycle Day

    Lagos State University (LASU) last week joined the world to celebrate the World Bicycle Day.

    It was an exciting spectacle as students, workers, visitors and guests, displayed their dexterity with the two-wheel instrument, ignoring the heavy rain that repeatedly pounded the campus premises and its environs.

    About 150 bicycles were made available for students’ and other interested riders free of charge

    The event was facilitated by the Asian African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (AACCI) in collaboration with the United Nations Organisation, Wealthroot Global Ventures, Watechnology Nigeria Limited (OUR BIKE), Office of the Deputy High Commissioner of India in Nigeria and Lagos State University Students Union (LASUSU), among other participants.

    The event started very early as scheduled and cyclists rode up to 8.5 kilometres within the school premises. Riders were escorted by members of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Security Agency in their vehicles and bicycles.

    Mr. Ahmed Adekunle Anrinle, who co-ordinated the event on behalf of the Asian African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (AACCI), and the Office of the Deputy High Commissioner of India in Nigeria, described the exercise as ‘very successful’ in view of the collaborations, which he said engendered a large turnout.

    Talking about the collaboration, Anrinle, who is a member, Advisory Board of AACCI said:  “We partnered a company called AWA Technology, a company that deals in bicycles. Today all those bicycles are opened for students. We also partnered Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Security Agency, a security outfit that uses bicycles. They also brought their bicycles to participate.”

    “The Information Centre of the United States and the Management of LASU were all here to collaborate with us,” Arinle added.

    Anrinle, a LASU alumnus and the Chief Executive Officer of Rinllandded Nigeria Limited, said the AACCI is considering compensating the participating students with its membership.

    “The height of the event is that we want to give membership opportunity of AACCI to the students, who participated at the event. This would encourage and give them a sense of belonging,” Anrinle explained.

    LASU Registrar, Mr Olayinka Amuni, who spoke on behalf of the university, assured that the annual event has come to stay in the institution. According to him, the university promised not only to sustain the exercises, but to make subsequent editions bigger and more colourful.

    “In LASU, it (World Bicycle Day) has come to stay. In fact, we are going to promote it to be a lecture free-day. It is our plan that on that day the students will know that they are coming to ride bicycles,” Amuni said

    He added: “It is also to teach the students about nature. One of the merits of bicycle is that it benefits the environment. It is also economical because it is the cheapest form of transportation.”

    Also at the event was a representative of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Security Agency, Mr Leke Adeleke.

    “When you go on bicycle, you are exercising. In terms of the economy it is friendly and in terms of the environment it is also friendly. You don’t run on fuel. Some people are so lazy to exercise, but when they bike, unconsciously they are exercising and shedding excess weight. At the end, they are happier,” Adeleke said.

    Some students who did well in the race were rewarded for their feats  Adigun Mojeed, a 400-level Education Management student came first and was presented with N30,000.00 cash.  Dani Shakiru a 200-Level Mass Communication undergraduate and his counterparts Osunkoya Emmanuel, a  200-Level student from the School of Transport, who both emerged first and second runners up, were given N20, 000 and N10,000 respectively.

    The trio, who expressed their appreciation to the management and organisers, said they were very happy and lucky to be part of this year’s event.

  • Mindset

    One course I loved so much while in the university was comparative economic development. To date, I’m still intrigued whenever I undertake research into why some nations develop and others have perpetually remained basket cases. Why, for instance, would nations that share common borders be poles apart in development like the United States and Mexico? Why do African countries remain at the bottom rung of the development chart?

    I have read countless books on development and followed most of the theories of underdevelopment propounded in earlier years, but the thorny issue of why Nigeria, and most African countries, have remained underdeveloped despite the enormous natural resources in these countries has remained a “mystery.” For a while now, I have shifted my focus from most of the theories propounded to look at the simple – yet not so simple – matter of the mind. Should we hold our mindset responsible for the way we are or our culture?

    As I change focus toward our mindset – which I feel is very critical if we are to make positive headway – I realise that people tend to think of ability and intelligence in one of two ways.  Those with a fixed mindset generally believe that ability and intelligence are relatively fixed at birth and little can be done to change them. Those with a growth mindset however believe that the brain is malleable throughout one’s lifetime, thus ability, intelligence, and work capacity can significantly grow.

    There is this all-pervading mindset that we cannot get an     ything done until we get “outside” help. The ‘Asian Tiger’ economies in the 1990s looked inwards changed their mindset by challenging the status quo and were able to place their economies on the pedestal of growth. I am gradually beginning to assume that our major problem is a fixed mindset.

    A fixed mindset person sees challenges as a threat to their identity while a growth mindset person sees their intelligence and ability as separate from their identity as a result; they see difficulties as learning opportunities. This means in essence that a fixed mindset shy away from anything that requires them to grow and change, which is untenable in today’s complex environment.

    If I had a single psychological metric to assess the effectiveness of leaders, it would be mindset. While a fixed mindset is associated with the inability to change and adapt over time, a growth mindset can be an indicator of one’s ability to learn and evolve. Some of the challenges we are grappling with today were not there fifteen years earlier. We only read about terrorism in books or by watching cable television, but today, we have been battling it for close to ten years now. The spate of industrial kidnappings and banditry was also alien to us ten years ago, but today they remain an ever present danger.

    The impact of these negative trends is that development has taken the back bench. Enormous resources needed to positively impact the economy and the welfare of citizens are being channeled to deal with the security challenges staring at us daily. Just like the president mentioned some weeks back, kidnapping and banditry has become an industry for some people.

    In her seminal book, “Mindset,” Carol Dweck shows how mindset impacts both how we do things as well as our potential. Dweck differentiates between people who have fixed versus growth mindsets; a distinction, she maintains, that impacts how we navigate life and especially how we deal with achievement and failure.

    As Dweck explains, “Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset. They tend to achieve more than those with a more fixed mindset (those who believe their talents are innate gifts). This is because they worry less about looking smart and they put more energy into learning.”

    Mindsets are also impacted by one’s upbringing. While children’s mindsets are more malleable, anyone can change. As Dweck says, “Your mind is like a muscle. The more you use it, the more it grows.” But how can one exercise their mind?

    First, we need a clear sense of our orientation to both rigidity and growth. Next, we need to understand what triggers us towards growth – when we are comfortable taking risks, trying new things, and accepting new challenges. Conversely, we need to look honestly at what triggers us to revert to a fixed mindset.

    There are a lot of variables that impact the mindset we ultimately embrace. What Dweck makes clear is that people who embrace a growth mindset and do so more often are also more likely to find ways to break out of tired old habits and more likely to tap into flow. Why? Because when you’re in a growth mindset, you’re always looking for solutions. You’re open to change. When you adopt a growth mindset, you’re already open to the idea that there may be more than one way to tackle a problem.

    Even though they did not mention mindset specifically, the 2012 book, “Why Nations Fail,” co-authored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) economist Daron Acemoglu and the Harvard University political scientist James A. Robinson, argues that the key differentiator between countries is “institutions.” Nations thrive when they develop “inclusive” political and economic institutions, and they fail when those institutions become “extractive” and concentrate power and opportunity in the hands of only a few.

    Four years ago, I met Professor Robinson in Lagos where he delivered the 70th commemorative lecture of Wema Bank on “Why Nations Succeed.” In the lecture, Robinson highlighted salient points on why Nigeria is where she is today. From his perspective, he said Nigeria is poor because it has suffered from a long history of “extractive economic and political institutions.” This, according to him, are part of deeply rooted historical processes which reveal the slow development of centralised political entities compared to Eurasia.

    He raised two salient and age old questions: Why is it that some parts of the world are much richer and more successful economically than other parts of the world? What can poor countries do to make themselves richer? To answer these simple, yet difficult questions, he proposed a theory based on differences in economic and political institutions. “Institutions” are defined as the rules (both formal – written laws and the constitution – and informal – like social norms) that structure economic, political and social life and generate different patterns of incentives, rewards, benefits and costs.

    Nigeria is partly where she is today because of the “negative institutional legacies of colonialism.” Colonialism, he stated, also created an arbitrary state system which has led to political conflicts, instability and dictatorship. Colonial authorities also created “gate-keeper states which were only interested in ruling rather than in developing the countries and these have left a path dependent legacy.” The political authoritarianism of the colonial state is therefore a direct source of the authoritarianism that has plagued Nigeria and Africa. Colonialism thus created and shaped identities and cleavages in dysfunctional ways that still plague us to date.

    The “extractive political institutions” that was in place for a better part of our post-independence period took the form of military dictatorship which led to a weak state unable to control violence as is evident with the Boko Haram insurgency and the spate of kidnappings and armed banditry. This weak state is at its best creating monopolies for the politically connected. But as expected, the result has been economic decline.

    So what does he proffer to change the tide? The broader evidence is the need to move towards “inclusive” institutions. “Our framework emphasizes that this is not a technocratic economic problem, this is a political problem. Focus first on developing inclusive political institutions and the economics will sort itself out. All countries which now have inclusive institutions historically had extractive institutions. How did they change them? We emphasize the emergence of a broad coalition which pushes for and underpins inclusive institutions.” This, to me, can only happen when a growth mindset is activated.

  • Students set agenda for Buhari

    Students have set a second term agenda for President Muhammadu Buhari. According to them, he should consolidate on the gains of education reform. ABDULSAMAD MAHMUD (UDUS), ABIODUN JAMIU 200-Level Political Science (UDUS), OKUKU FEMI, 400-L Mass Communication (AAUA), and RODIYAH OMOTOYOSI MIKAIL 200-Level Law (UDUS)report.

    ONE week after he began his second term, students are urging President Muhammadu Buhari to perfect his education reform agenda.

    The twilight of his first term was riddled with industrial crises, chief of which was the faceoff with teachers in tertiary institutions. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU); Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP);  and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COESU) shut down their schools for nearly three months. ASUU resumed its strike last November and suspended the action in January following negotiations with the Federal Government. It was the same thing with the other unions.

    Their grievances stemmed from government’s alleged inability to honour some of its agreements with them border on pervasive underfunding of tertiary Institutions, dearth of adequate manpower, poor infrastructure, welfare package, and payment of teachers earned academic allowances (EAA), among others. The unions’ actions sparked  renegotiations with the government and was followed by another Memorandum of Action (MoA) with timeframe attached.

    Last week, ASUU urged the President to honour the memorandum of action to avoid another strike.

    Students who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE insist government must prioritise education, which is key to empowering the people.

    Ahmed Alhaji, a 200-Level student of English and Linguistic, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai (IBBUL), hopes the President will proffer a lasting solution to the persistent industrial actions by workers in tertiary institutions.

    Alhaji said was time a state of emergency was declared on the sector, adding that a national summit should be convoked to chart a way forward.

    He appealed to the National Assembly to enact a law that will bar public office holders from sending their children for studies overseas while the nation’s education sector rots.

    Habeeb also pitched his tent with Alhaji on a national summit. He is upbeat that initiatives from such undertaking would set the country’s education system on the right path.

    “There is an urgent need for the government to developed and implement new strategies aimed at regaining the lost glory of our education in Nigeria. Equally, much attention should be paid to the issue of the striking lecturers by ensuring their demands are met. Recourse should also be made to the need and necessity of the students at both the secondary and higher institution cadres,”he submitted.

    Khadija Abdulsalam, 300-Level Food Science student at the Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA), is strongly of the opinion that the education sector is yet to witness any transformation since President Buhari assumed power in 2015.

    She bemoaned the deplorable conditions of public schools in the country, worsened by incompetent teachers and persistent strikes. She nevertheless, believes government is being given a second chance to right the wrongs.

    “In this ‘Next Level’, I desire to witness improved funding (of the education sector). I desire to see aggressive construction of critical infrastructure and rehabilitation of dilapidated buildings in our campuses and schools. I desire to see an end to the indiscriminate issuance of operational licence to mushroom private universities by the National Universities Commission (NUC).”

    She continued: “I desire to see necessary measures being put in place to sanitise our tertiary education sub-sector, to stem the tide of churning out half-baked graduates. Above all, this should be the era when our universities will become centres of ground-breaking research, and academic excellence.”

    Olufemi Damilola, 400 Level-student of Public Administration, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba (AAUA), wants the government to increase budgetary provisions for the education sector. Damilola believes a raise would help foster rapid growth in the country.

    “I expect the sector to be given more priority in this ‘next level’ as propunded by Buhar’s administration. You don’t expect a child to grow up when such child is lacking in nutrition. The same is applicable to Nigeria’s educational system.”

    He continued: “Why can’t the (budgetary) allocation to education be jerked up to between 20 and 30 per cent? And yet, we want to compete with other institutions in Africa and even across the globe.”

    “Singapore is a former Third World country like Nigeria, for that matter; but she was able to strengthen her education. Today, the standard of education in that country enjoys global acceptance.”

    Complementing Femi’s expectations, Imole Olusegun Adeola, 500-Level-undegraduate of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Oye, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), believes that a monitoring committee should be constituted to superintend the funds disbursed to universities to ensure effectiveness. This is in addition to aggressive funding of research.

    “Research keeps the world evolving. South Africa for example, makes more commitment into research which is helping the country to develop its technology. Nigeria can do better,” Imole argued.

    Read Also: Buhari calls residents of FCT ‘necessary evil’

    Gobir Habeeb, 300-Law student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), bewailed the utter disregard for education by the government. According to him, the negligence oftentimes warranted the recurring industrial actions embarked upon by lecturers. This, he said, has left the sector in its dilapidated state.

    “To be sincere, the level of education in Nigeria is nothing to write about. It is a menace escalating by the day without any hope of change. Our higher institutions still fall short when placed side by side their counterparts elsewhere. Constant strike by lecturers in universities has also had its adverse effects.

    Olaniyi Mubarak, an ND2 Marketing undergraduate of Kwara State Polytechnic (Kwara Poly), challenges government to financially empower institutions so they can up their IGR. He said government owes it a duty to financially empower institutions and make them autonomous, adding that projects with respect to education, must be handled with fairness and allocated to best hands.

    Mubarak put poor funding as central to decay infrastructures, dearth of research materials in libraries, and inadequate laboratory equipment across tertiary institutions nationwide.

    “To effect changes in the education system, each institution must be empowered to venture into businesses so as to improve their internal-generated revenue. Also, government must ensure the project assigned should be given to the best hands, while effective monitoring should be executed to ensure the said projects are undertaken according to specification.

    Equally, Adenuga Oluwatosin, a final year undergraduate of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) is also taking government’s promises with a pinch of salt.

    “I am not expecting anything other than disappointment (from government),” Adenuga submitted. “In his (Buhari’s) previous tenure, what was the fate of the education sector? Excruciating!” she added.

    Ayobami Okerinde, 400-Level student of the School of Communication, Lagos State University (LASU), believes a review of the education curriculum would help revamp the ailing sector.

    “I do hope the president would keep to his promises on taking Nigeria to the next level. The Nigerian educational system has been bedeviled with lots of crises since the first republic and I think it’s time to put an end to all of them because they have crippled our system.

    “A total revamp of our curriculum is needed. A critical look at our curriculum shows they are outdated and its contents not in par with what obtains in the 21st century. A committee should be created to look into this issue. Certain programmes not in sync with reality need to be scrapped outright and new ones introduced.”

  • Morbid envy

    Weeks ago, I read and followed a rather unfortunate story an Abuja based lady recounted on Twitter. The story aligned with my thoughts and conclusion that it appears there is an “epidemic” ravaging our society today. No, it is not an epidemic in the form of Ebola or Lassa fever, but nonetheless, with a magnitude to consume us all if not nipped in the bud. It is an “epidemic” of morbid hatred targeted at anything perceived “rich,”  “good” or “progressive.”

    The lady in question – through a tweets thread – narrated the sad story of an accident that happened in front of her estate. The accident involved a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and a Peugeot 207 car. In her narration, she was attracted by a very loud noise which was difficult to ignore. Since her house was close to the fence of the estate she decided to find out the cause.  It turned out to be an unbelievable accident in a serene area of Abuja. She, alongside others moved in to give direction for the rescue mission. They were able to seek out a Good Samaritan to evacuate the occupant of the Peugeot car to the hospital.

    Things later became complicated when they attempted to bring out the occupant of the SUV and also evacuate him to the hospital since he was unconscious and bleeding. That was when the drama began. Majority of the rescuers felt he should be left where he was because he was the cause of the accident and is driving a “big car!” They said since he is part of the people “oppressing us” he should remain where he is until people like him come to his rescue. She tried to reason with them that this is a human life that is worth saving irrespective of their conclusion which may be wrong.

    All eyes later turned on her with some questioning who gave her the right to talk where there are men. She had no choice but to quietly slip away before she become the focal point of their morbid envy. Invectives followed her as she gently walked back to her estate. She later concluded – through another source – that they later reasoned and evacuated the injured occupant of the SUV to the hospital.

    This story underscores many I have read or witnessed in recent times. The spate of kidnappings, violent robberies and banditry that appears to be the new normal now cannot be divorced from this morbid envy phenomenon. Yes, we may have “oppressors” in our midst, but we also have hardworking people who worked hard to earn whatever they have today. And most have not even worked with the government or engaged in politics. So, it would be a wrong to paint everyone with the same brush of “oppressor” because they happen drive a “good” car or live in “good” houses.

    To put a firm handle on this, I love Wikipedia definition of envy. Envy, it says, is an emotion that “occurs when a person lacks another’s superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it.” In our country today, many people at time feel envious. In a society where poverty is growing at an astronomical rate it is understandable why envy now appears to be a powerful emotion to vent our anger on anyone perceived to be living the “good life” irrespective of whether the person earned it or not. However, no matter how negative we may perceive it, envy – which is commonplace – is a painful emotion. This notwithstanding, it can also be channeled or used as a stimulus to direct energy into self which can make it to be productive.

    Morbid envy, an extremely painful emotion is mainly found in individuals’ emotional insecurity. Dr. Sam Vaknin, an expert describes envy as “…a compounded emotion. It is brought on by the realisation of some lack, deficiency, or inadequacy in oneself. It is the result of unfavourably comparing oneself to other – to their success, their reputation, their possessions, their luck, and their qualities. It is misery and humiliation and impotent rage and a torturous, slippery path to nowhere. The effort to break the padded walls of this self-visited purgatory often leads to attacks on the perceived source of frustration.”

    A “… slippery path to nowhere…”It can’t be best described! If we are to be honest, it appears this is where we are, or gradually walking blindfolded into. But how did we get to a position where people wish others dead because of the assumption that they brought us to this sorry pass? Will things get better or worse? It all depends on whether the government – that includes us – pauses, take a breather, walk back and start putting things in perspective. There is no better place to gauge this pulse than in the education sector.

    Today, we have tens of millions of out-of-school children and potential “morbid enviers” who would do anything to live the “good life.” But how can they live the “good life” without proper guidance and qualitative education? But the painful irony of our present situation is that those who are supposedly in “school” now are learning absolutely nothing! You do not need to consult an oracle to know how bad the situation is, just check the social media and see for yourself! Hope you get my drift?

    Have you visited a public primary school recently? If you haven’t please do and get the shock of your life! If you are not strong willed you will start planning on how to join the millions doing everything to relocate to wherever. Whenever you decide to visit one you will know we are sitting comfortably on explosive devices more powerful than an earthquake.

    If you’re not able to visit, don’t worry as I paint the scene for you. You will not only meet decrepit schools, terrible and horrible teachers but more pathetic pupils. Chicken pens and pigsties are most times better than some of the things called public schools. Of course, you will wonder what kind of “learning” takes place in such “schools.” Most of the buildings of some of the schools I visited had leaking roofs, cracked walls, broken floors, damaged furniture, and in most cases, none at all. In some, pupils sit on bare floors. The “teachers” are something else as there are often no materials or inspiration for teaching and learning. These “schools” are nothing but mini kiosks where teachers sell everything from snacks to detergents.

    If you think the rot stops at the primary school level you’re dead wrong. Our secondary schools have now deteriorated beyond the level of producing half-baked and ill-prepared young adults to creating smart and intelligent young criminals who, instead of learning to be productive members of society, use their knowledge of the internet to serve as go between for kidnappers. They are the experts that make sure calls to victims’ contacts cannot be traced.  Furthermore, our secondary schools have also become breeding grounds for immoral, sexually perverted and criminally minded young men and women. Again, if you are in doubt, visit a nearby public secondary school. Incidences of organised rape and orgies are rampant. It gets morbid when these are uploaded on the internet and goes viral. They never stop to contemplate that they are doing this to someone else’s’ daughter. It’s really scary.

    I’ve written so much about the state of our tertiary education system on these pages that I need not bother you here. But suffice to say that most of our graduates are only interested in getting a certificate – or “meal ticket” – thus they are not prepared for any form of systematic learning. Why would they when “Yahoo-Yahoo” business can rake in the millions they often dream about. We have a deadly mix when we combine it with Advanced Fee Fraud (419), armed robberies and ritual killing. The other day I wrote about the ones stealing women’s underwear’s in my piece “Underwear palaver.”

    Is it too late to walk back and identify where we stumbled in order to make positive headway?

  • Man arraigned for stealing MAPOLY students’ phones

    A 25-year-old man, Kazeem Jinadu, has appeared before an Abeokuta Magistrate Court sitting  in Isabo for for stealing phones of students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) during examination.

    Jinadu, a resident of Orile-Iganmu, Lagos, is facing a five-count charge of stealing, conspiracy and fraudulent conversion, among others.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The prosecutor Sgt. Adejoke Adebari told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Sunday, March 3 at MAPOLY premises in Ojere, Abeokuta.

    Sgt Adebari said the complainant,  Oluwafunmilola Sopeju, a Higher National Diploma (HND) student of the polytechnic, kept her bag near the door of the hall  during the exam. After writing her paper, she discovered that her bag containing her phones and ATM cards had been stolen.

    She alleged that the defendant, who is not a student of the institution, stole the complainant’s ATM cards, Techno Y2 mobile phone worth N18,000, as well as as another Nokia phone valued at N5,000.

    She also said the defendant stole a Samsung Galaxy tab, and another Techno Y2 belonging to the complainant’s friend one Ayomikun Falegbe.

    She stated that the defendant was not a student of the polytechnic, but usually gangs up with other miscreants who usually come around during exams to steal students’valuables.

    Sgt Adebari said when the complainant rushed to the bank to block her GTBank’s ATM, she discovered that  N60,000 had been withdrawn from her account.

    “A banker’s order was issued and the close circuit of the ATM footage revealed the defendant as the perpetrator. Thereafter, a track was  placed on the complainant’s phone, Sgt Adebari said.

    He was later arrested at Orile- Iganmu, Lagos through the phone number of a friend.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is contrary to and punishable under section 383,390 and 516 of the criminal Code Laws of Ogun State 2006.

    The Magistrate Mrs Sam Obaleye granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties.

    Mrs Obaleye said the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must show evidence of tax payment to the state government.

    The case was adjourned for continuation of trial.

  • NCCE praises AOCOED at inaugural lecture

    The National Council for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has praised the management of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Oto/Ijanikin, Lagos for ‘setting the pace’in international best practice in teacher education.

    The Council, which is the regulatory body for colleges of education, expressed its satisfaction with the 61-year-old institution for setting examples for others to follow.

    NCCE representative, Mr Vitalis Uji, spoke during the inaugural lecture by Mr Anakoro Canice Ihentuge, a Chief Lecturer in the Department of English of AOCOED.

    Ihentuge spoke on the theme: ‘The creative artist in the 21st century”.

    Uji, who is the Director Academic Programme, recalled that no sooner had  the Council directed that any lecturer who attains the ‘Chief Lecturer’ status in colleges must deliver inaugural lecture, that AOCOED complied.

    “I can say without fear of contradiction that NCCE as a supervisory body is happy with the college because it has always played by the rules. For instance, the college has never lagged behind in accreditation and it’s always setting the pace in other quality assurance measures,” Uji said.

    “In 2013, AOCOED invited NCCE to conduct a staff audit in the college. The exercise lasted three weeks and a high quality report was produced, which must have gone a long way in elevating the quality of decision-making by the management. This college was the first in the country to take this measure, and since then other colleges across the country have followed suit,” he added.

    Uji said as it is the tradition in universities, the Commission also feels that teachers who have reached the the height of their profession must deliver their inaugural lecture in compliance with international best practice.

    Delivering the lecture, Ihentunge said unlike the previous generations, the 21-century artist have more challenges to contend with. The scenario, Ihentuge argued, is not helped by a surge in global malaise, such as poverty, food and water shortage, ritual killing, kidnapping, famine, corruption, war and global warming.

    Nevertheless, Ihentunge challenged contemporary artists to be on the move, having a deep understanding of the world he lives before putting pen on paper.

    Ihentunge said: “Indeed, corruption seems the hallmark of modern world governance, especially in Africa.Worse still, the young are overzealously being initiated into this ugly tradition.

    “The artist role as the watch-dog of the society is much more required in lifting the next generations out of the mire of extinction The artist should do more urgent and crazy things to save the generation. And like several other advocates of the arts, our proposal would be: ‘Now is the time to strengthen’ our institutions so that artists can emerge uniquely prepared to engage such important global concerns.”

    According to him, contemporary artists are boxed into a corner in their careers, particularly the one’s bordering on creativity and ingenuity. More worrisome is the fact that some teachers do not seem to appreciate art as a concept that is dynamic, he further explained.

    “Just as the society itself, art changes her garment every now and then. Art emanates from man, from nature, and from the creator Himself. Based on my experience, I boldly attest to the reality that ‘art is being’. Human being changed as their world gets transformed. The same happens to art; it cannot stand aloof beside man. It bears out man’s metamorphosis. Unfortunately, some educators do not realise this. Through ignorance or lack of imaginative ability or even indolence in the application of their natural aptitude, art suffers together with the society in their hands.”

    Earlier, AOCOED Provost, Dr Aina Ladele, assured the audience that the inaugural lecture had come to stay.

  • Campuslife writer, others shine at awards

    No fewer than 28 individuals, including a CAMPUSLIFE reporter Adesola Ikulajolu, have received the ‘Outstanding Personality’ award for their good leadership in the society.

    The awardees were honoured during the yearly awards by Prestige Anchor Leadership and Empowerment and Capacity Building (PALEC) at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.

    PALEC is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) on leadership and capacity building. The event, with theme ‘Maverick’, was the fourth.

    According to Adebayo Nathaniel Adebola, the convener of the event, the slection of the awardees, went through several stages of three weeks’online voting, which is 70 per cent, as well as 30 per cent of profile screening for potential awardees.

    Adebola added that since youths were the ones who transform the world, there was need to preach to them good leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

    “Youths are the transformers. What happens on campus affects the world. This is why preaching leadership while building youths’ entrepreneurial skills and awarding them is necessary,” Adebayo said.

    Ikulajolu Adesola, who won in the Campus Journalist category, said  the award was a feat and an encouragement to do more.

    “Winning this award is an encouragement to do more in journalism,” Ikulajolu said.

    “I don’t know who did the nomination, but that means someone is somewhere watching the things I do. I really appreciate God and everyone who supported me for this award,” Ikulajolu added.

    Another awardee, Olufemi Damilola, who won the Media Personality of the year, also said he never expected to win.

    He said: “I never expected I could win it. I didn’t know the pedigree of other nominees, how strong they are, their past records and achievements. I only knew I was competing and I that someone would win. But with the support of God and everyone who voted and helped in the voting stage, I came atop others.”

    Another awardee, Dr Bolanle Ogungbamila, who lectures at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, expressed his appreciation to those who voted for him.

    “An individual cannot attain a position or record and achievement without deliberate sacrifices from others,”Ogungbamila said.

    He added that the award had taught him “to continue to sacrifice time, energy, and space in order to make human and physical environments better” than he met them.

    Other awardees include, Humanitarian of the Year, Ogunode Sunday Abraham; Women Empowerment Activist of the Year – Prof. Beatrice  Olubukola Ogunba; Most Dedicated Leader of the Year, Dr Christiana Shade Ade-Johnson; Leadership Personality of the Year, Olugbenga Ayo Ojubanire, and Leadership and Capacity Building Platform of the Year – ENACTUS AAUA.

    Other were Best Student Innovative Brand of the Year, Yung Kay Graphics; Student Entrepreneur of the Year (Male), Ibrahim Oluwaseun Ridwan; Student Entrepreneur of the Year (Female), Ilesanmi Ajoke Esther; Youth Capacity Building Blog of the Year, Sando.org.ng, Most Innovative Student of the Year, Jolayemi Oluwatobi Samuel; Student Activist of the Year,  Tosin Agbaje; Most Influential Student Leader of the Year, Epueke Mmaduka Mathew; and Student Leadership Personality of the Year, Ajagunna Daniel Abdulganiyu.