The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Departments mark week

    Departments mark week

    Students of the Department of Psychology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), have held their annual week.  The opening day was the back-to-school programme, where students wore different attires to participate in the match – past and dance parade round their faculty.

    It was fun as the crowd gathered to watch their colleagues display different skills.  The programme tagged, The past is key to the present, was eventful as students exhibited the characters of early students who were trained by the whites during the colonial era.

    A student told CAMPUSLIFE: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, they say. After stressful academic weeks, students, one should socialise and relieve the body of stress in order to prepare better for exams.  We have been having great fun.’’

    The students of Department of Public Administration and Local Government also held their departmental week.   The first day of the programme started with rag day, where students were decked in different attires.  The following day was the cultural day, where students displayed the best of Igbo culture and tradition.

    A student, Mathias Onyemechi Igwe, 300-Level Public Administration, said: “It is a welcome development because it will help the younger generations to appreciate the culture of Igbos and makes it stronger.”

  • The fear of failure

    Many believe that the fear of failure is why students study in classrooms at night. Does this hold true for students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN)? TOYIN ALI (200-Level Law) writes.

    After hours of lectures and class work, many students are usually tired and return to their hostels to relax. While relaxing, some doze off without revising what they learnt in class earlier in the day.

    Others, after eating, return to the classroom to read and revise classwork. Yet, some others play all night.

    For students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), the fear of failure is the beginning of wisdom. Whether at night  or  during the day, it is not unusual to see students reading in classrooms. Some move to the most silent spot in the school library, while others prefer corners of classrooms and open spaces.

    Determined to get a good grade, Taiwo Olatunbosun, a 200-Level Law student keeps vigils in lecture theatres. For him, a vibrant legal practitioner must be well read and be abreast of important cases. Taiwo planned his schedule when the semester started and keeps faith with it till.

    “I believe reading all the time is the best way to achieve academic success. This is why I planned my schedule ahead of school timetable,” he said.

    Students who believe that academic excellence is not without sacrifices flock to the classroom to burn the proverbial midnight oil. At UNILORIN, academic activities begin at night. Lecture rooms are jam-packed with students attending tutorials.

    From the University Park, students move in large number to the academic blocks for night reading. To them, it is the best way to prepare for examinations.

    However, it is not all students reading overnight that are there for the business. Some are there to cause distraction; others it is to merry.

    The academic engagement of Abdulmumeen Abdullah, a 500-Level Engineering student, is  triangular in pattern. “I go for lectures and come back to my hostel, and then return to night class, this is the best way to keep up with my dream,” he said.

    Abdulazeem Ologuntere, a first year student, said: “I have been given orientatation before I gained admission that night class is key to academic success. Even on my first day on the campus, I was in night class to read even though we had never been thought anything then. I want to make it a habit, so that I won’t have cause to read for another entrance exam.”

    The Students’ Union Building is not also left out; students sit at comfort spots to read. The edifice has a well-furnished basement and common room with good seats. The spot also serves as a night joint for fun seekers on campus.

     

  • KWASU organises career exhibition

    The Counselling and Career Services Centre (CCSC) of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has organised a programme tagged Career Fair Exhibition for students and fresh graduates of the institution.

    The programme in its maiden edition provided an avenue for the graduating students to display their talents and exhibit what they have for the labour market.

    Speaking at the event, Mrs Olabisi Adedigba, the Coordinator of the centre, noted that the objective of the fair was to bring together KWASU students, different organisations and employers to meet the yearnings of the university to produce graduates who would not be job seekers but employers of labour.

    Adedigba explained that collaboration with the organisations was necessary because they were in the best position to lead the students’ right, adding that they would be able to point out what the market needed and what the students were expected to bring to the labour world to attract potential employers.

    “As graduating students of this great institution going into the world of work, it is important to intimate them with the information they need to be relevant graduates in the market. This fair will give them a unique insight into that which they need, to be relevant in the market especially in the 21st century,’’ she said.

    Dr Yomi Akindele-Oscar, an Associate Professor of Health and Counselling Psychology at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, in his paper titled: Habits of Highly Effective Job Seekers in a Down Market,  advised the students on the appropriate precautions and habits expected of a job seeker.

    He warned that the career-life journey of an applicant is filled with challenges, adding that only graduates who are adaptive to change can survive and win the race of employment.

    In her address titled: Vital Strategies to Maximise your Career Success Dr Mary Ogechi Esere, a lecturer at the Department of Counselling Education, University of Ilorin, stressed that self-discovery was the key to a successful career.

    While identifying the importance of the possession of team spirit in any chosen career, she said: “No matter how hard you work or how many brilliant ideas you may have, if you can’t connect with the people who work around you, your professional life will suffer’’.

    She advised against pessimism, poor-self-confidence and low self-esteem, saying they were anti-career.

    For, Kwara State University, all activities were geared towards building the individual and a great nation while developing everyone to become elements of change.

    In his presentation, titled: Building an enduring entrepreneurship drive before and after graduation, Dr Muritala Awodun, Dean, School of Business and Governance, said career life was full of obstacles. He explained that failure was not falling to the ground but the inability to rise after one has fallen.

    In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, said the event was to ascertain the activities of the university as a university for community development.

  • To God be the glory

    To God be the glory

    After a successful tenure, members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) have held a thanksgiving. IKECHUKWU OFILI (300-Level Public Administration) and FRANK EJEAGBASI (400-Level Medical Physiology) report.

    After a successful  tenure, outgoing members of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) Students’ Union Government (SUG) were at St Paul Catholic Church  last Sunday for a thanksgiving.

    They danced and rejoiced to the music of the choir. The union members were led by their president Bassey Ekaani  and Publicity Team leader Augustine Akah.

    It was also an opportunity to appreciate God for the feat of the publicity team in Ghana, where members came second in a debate. Augustine led a team of debaters to the Islamic University College in East region of Ghana.

    There were seven preliminary stages in the contest. The UNICAL team got to the quarter final with 16 points. More than 205 debaters from 15 higher institutions in seven countries participated in the debate with the topic: Taxation in Africa is a theft.

    The teams that reached the final were Kwame Nkrumah University, UNICAL, University of Ghana in Legon and Imo State University (IMSU).

    The Kwame Nkrumah University came first with 15 points; UNICAL was second with 12 points. The UICAL also won Best Performing Institution and its team leader, Augustine, emerged the Best Adjudicator and third Best Speaker.

    In his homily at the thanksgiving, the Assistant Parish Priest, Reverend Father Francis Offiong, urged the students to always promote the school’s image and be its worthy ambassadors.

    He advised them to put God first in anything they do.

    Another clergy, Reverend Father Emmanuel Duke, said for one to attain the kingdom of God, one must be prepared to dispose all worldly possessions.

    Duke noted that there was nothing wrong in acquiring material wealth, saying it was God’s blessing on earth but “we should make sure we have the kingdom of heaven as well and ensure our quest for materialism does not come between us and the kingdom ”.

    The thanksgiving procession was led by Augustine, and Editor of the SUG Information Bureau Stanley Uchegbu.

    Speaking on his achievements, Augustine said he introduced and published The Voice of Malabor, the SUG magazine that would be sustained by the incoming executive. The magazine, according to him, is adjudged the best students’ newspaper since in the history of the institution.

    “During my tenure, I organised an interactive meeting with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) officials and the students during the last strike to avail students of information about the true position of lecturers,” he said.

    “We started with very little resources but our tenacity was the only capital we have to keep the magazine afloat,” Stanley, Editor of the magazine said.

    “It got to a point it appeared production was affecting my studies because I devoted my time, running from one office to another to ensure my team interviewed all the principal officers including the Vice-Chancellor, Prof James Epoke.

    “But today, we are in church to thank God for making our dream a reality, despite turbulence and production hitches that came along the line; we were able to surmount all odds and achieve success. God deserved to be praised for this,” he added.

    Stanley praised everyone who supported the vision of the magazine, especially the university principal officers, who, he said, granted his team an audience despite their busy engagements. He hailed students for their support towards the success of the magazine.

    Joseph Ochang, a member of the editorial team, described the magazine as informative, especially for the freshers who have just been absorbed into the system.

    “If any fresh student thoroughly glances through the magazine, he would be informed about the activities of the university,” he said.

     

  • The 2014 varsities ranking

    In 2013, Twitter posted a job ad for computer science graduates at its proposed “global centre of excellence” in Vancouver, Canada. In the ad, it had unusually specific requirements for bachelor’s degree-holders. Their bachelor’s had to come from one of the world’s top 100 universities as defined by the Times Higher Education (THE), Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), 4ICU or a similar ranking. This, goes to show how powerful university rankings have become.

    As far back as 1983, the U.S. News and World Report had begun rating U.S. institutions. Since then, dozens more ranking systems have sprung up, mainly global rankings like those by THE, QS, and the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy. These three were launched a decade ago and remain the most established and well known worldwide. They have broadened their offerings over the years while new agencies have entered the field, providing everything from regional rankings to discipline-specific ratings and reputational league tables

    However, criticism has dogged all of them to a greater or lesser extent because of the data and methodologies they employ. A central criticism is that rankings measure largely research output and reputation and don’t take into account differing institutional missions.

    Another drawback is that rankings systems cover just a small fraction of the world’s institutions, between one and three percent of universities, according to a report by the Brussels-based European University Association. The humanities, fine arts and social sciences are under-represented in the rankings because most of this research is published in books rather than the journals used as bibliometric indicators. Also excluded in some are journals published in languages other than English, because of their lower citation counts, according to the report.

    But arguments like these haven’t dampened the popularity of rankings and, many observers agree, their influence over institutional behaviour and public policy is growing which was why twitter job included that section in its job ad.

    To say that the education sector in Nigeria has been challenged for years now is to state the obvious. There are issues of funding, infrastructural decay, paucity of qualified lecturers, ratio of lecturers to students, cultism, unpredictable academic calendar etc. Maintaining high standards in the midst of these challenges is even more problematic when combined with frequent strikes by various unions in the public university system.

    However, some varsities – despite these challenges – are making modest inroads and are being recognized for their efforts. In the 2014 University Web Ranking conducted by International Colleges and Universities (4ICU) released last Tuesday, University of Ilorin (Unilorin) was adjudged the best university in Nigeria, the 20th best university in Africa and 1842nd in the world.

    The 4ICU is an international higher education search engine and directory that constantly reviews accredited universities and colleges across the world. For the latest exercise, it ranked about 11,307 colleges and universities by web popularity in over 200 countries.

    The ranking, according to 4ICU, is based upon “an algorithm including three unbiased and independent web metrics extracted from three different search engines: Google Page Rank, Yahoo Inbound Links and Alexa Traffic Rank.”

    It said web metrics data are collected on the same day to minimize temporal fluctuations and maximize comparability. A pre-computational filter is adopted to detect outliers in the raw data. The total number of external inbound links (or backlinks) pointing to each university website is also cleaned from duplicate domains based on a statistical sample; unique inbound links (i.e. links coming from different domains) are in fact a much more significant and powerful measure of website link popularity. Finally further investigation and a review of Alexa Traffic Rank data are carried out for universities adopting a subdomain as their official institutional home page.

    The latest ranking is a significant leap for the Unilorin which has moved from its last year’s fifth position in Nigeria and 56th in Africa to first and 20th positions respectively. With the new ranking, the institution’s status as the nation’s number one university has been given an international confirmation. This, to me is modest progress.

    Statistics released recently by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) after the last Universities Matriculations Examination (UME) seem to tally with this as it showed that the university was the most subscribed university by admission seekers in the country for the 2014/2015 academic session. The University of Benin, Benin City, came second.

    Since 2011, Unilorin has maintained a steady rise among most preferred institutions by admission seekers in the country. In 2011, it ranked eighth; it ranked fifth in 2012; second in 2013 and first this year.

    The University of Lagos came second in Nigeria and 21st in Africa while the third position goes to Obafemi Awolowo University, which also comes 26th in Africa. Also on the ranking table are: the University of Ibadan came fourth in Nigeria and 38th in Africa; the Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, fifth in Nigeria and 59th in Africa;

    Criticism aside, we need more of such rankings to keep our institutions on their toes despite the daunting challenges the Nigerian situation often throws up. We are in the knowledge era and as citadels of learning, our ivory towers should take the lead.

     

    Re: From Liberia with love

     

    Your article “From Liberia with love” in The Nation’s edition of Thursday July 31, 2014 is an interesting piece, particularly the place where you stated inter alia: “in the midst of all this it appears our intelligentsias have gone to sleep, gone are the days when our ivory towers used to be a beehive of heightened intellectual activities. Gone are the days when economists, sociologists, historians and political scientists gather to take inter disciplinary approaches to solving complex national problems that government often find very useful.”

    Do I need to state that that signposts the level of frustration in the Nigerian society up to our citadel of learning. But I may ask: which intelligentsias are you talking about? This question becomes imperative when we recall that university teachers (ASUU) only resumed classes a few months back, while their polytechnic counterpart (ASUP) resumed a few weeks back. Did these prolonged strikes send a message?

    I dare say it is all signs of frustration cutting across all strata of the citizenry; and how much thinking would striking teachers engage in in order to arrest a bad situation? You did mention economists, sociologist, etc. Which of them would you ascribe that deep thinking to? The economist whose daily living revolves around government patronage, or the historian that deliberately twists facts in order not to offend his political godfathers and other associates?

    Let’s also turn to the almighty politician. Is it the politician in the ruling party or the opposition? The politician in the ruling party has surrendered his thinking cap to the party leadership thus he cannot think anymore. The opposition, on its part, is not taken seriously by both the government and the citizens’. His actions are always taken with a pinch of salt no matter how constructive they are. The government, on its part, is self-centered as only its ideas and proposals are deemed “correct.” no matter how distraught the citizenry may feel about such ideas and proposals.

    This quagmire is compounded by the poverty prevalent in the society which has made the average citizen dumb and out of tune with current reality and, indeed, subdued. The truth is that the average Nigerian is subdued; it doesn’t matter the level he finds himself- educated or not, employed or not, graduate or under-graduate etc. In conclusion, I’ll say without fear if contradiction that Nigeria needs a revolution.

    That again is another kernel. Where does this revolution start from? Is it from the north, south, east or west? That is the dilemma we find ourselves in.

     

    • Charlie Nwachukwu, Warri (08077820966)

  • Faculty welcomes freshers

    Members of the Broadcast Students Association (BSA), Public Relations and Advertising Students Association (PRADSA) and Journalism Students Association (JSA) at the Lagos State University, (LASU) have organised an orientation tagged Studying to be outstanding for new members.

    The event which took place at the faculty building in Ojuelegba, urged the students to be of good conduct as ambassadors of the institution.

    One of the guest lecturers, Olunifesi Suraj, urged the students to embrace leadership roles, saying it would take them to greater heights. He added that student-lecturer relationship was crucial to their academic success.

    President, Communication Students Association, Olamilekan Hassan, urged the students to put more energy to their studies, saying they should utilise the knowledge they would acquire to meet the challenges of life.

    A fresher, Okumoh Mary, expressed her Joy of finally studying the course of her dreams, adding that she was eager to make great success out of the programme.

  • Enter Igwe of Malabo Kingdom

    Enter Igwe of Malabo Kingdom

    The Federation of Igbo Students (FIS) at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has picked Henry Chinedu Umeokonkwo as its Igwe (the king), ending the four-year battle for the stool, reports EMMANUEL AHANONU (Political Science).

    After a long battle, the Federation of Igbo Students (FIS) at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has resolved its differences, with the selection of Henry Chinedu Umeokonkwo as its Igwe (king).

    The stool was established in 1994 to serve as a symbol of unity for Igbo students. The former Igwe, Gabriel Ejikeme, then a Public Administration student, spent five years on the throne. When he graduated, he could not hand over because of the crisis rocking the association. Ejikeme and his chiefs were accused of dictatorship and maladministration.

    Ejikeme served as the Eze mmuo (chief priest) before he was selected by 24 of the 34 kingmakers to lead the association.

    The crisis deepened in 2011 when some members challenged Ejikeme’s right to hold the Ofala. They said he lacked the authority to organise the event because he had graduated. According to tradition, an Igwe whose tenure has ended does not have the right to hold the festival.

    However, instead of holding the historic event on the campus as tradition prescribes, Ejikeme took it to Airport Field, an off-campus location. After the festival, he convened a council of elders’ (chiefs) meeting to choose a new Igwe. The meeting ended in a deadlock.

    One of the contenders accused Ejikeme of monetising the stool.

    After a series of failed handover attempts, as none of the contenders met the Igwe’s criteria, Ejikeme left office.

    Despite his exit, the group remained polarised. All efforts to instal a new Igwe and restore peace in FIS failed because of what some students described as traditional restriction, which allows only the outgoing Igwe to crown the new Igwe and his chiefs.

    To salvage the situation, some of the chiefs, who served under Ejikeme were contacted to prevail on him to perform his traditional duty. He agreed and few days later, the process of choosing a new Igwe started.

    As expected, Ejikeme played a major role, breaking the kolanuts and pouring libation to ordain incoming chiefs. Two old chiefs screened the contenders for the stool and tested their knowledge of Igbo culture and tradition.

    The incoming chiefs were allowed to choose their chieftaincy names but some names attracted special condition. For instance, anyone who chose Ogbuefi (one who kills cow) must either kill a cow or buy parts of a cow for the old chiefs.

    The Igwe’s selection was full of drama. It took hours before the old and incoming chiefs gave Ejikeme the nod to crown his successor. Before Ejikeme performed that duty, he was made to swear an oath that his reign would not exceed a year.

    At a ceremony held at Abang Arang in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, Henry Chinedu Umeokonkwo, a 300-Level Public Administration student, who took the title of Ogbuefi Na Uko Efi was crowned the 13th Igwe of Malabo Kingdom. He chose the name: Mmiri Mara Ugo 1ofMalabo(rain that falls on eagle).

    The chiefs, who scaled the tough screening, were also conferred titles with their wives.

    There was a celebration on the night of the coronation; some chiefs came with their wives to rejoice with the Igwe. Members of the association were served Igbo delicacies, such as Ugba (African salad), palm wine, pepper soup, roasted yam, gin and kolanut.

    The Igwe’s first Ofala festival was held simultaneously with this year’s Igbo Cultural Day, which took place at Malabo Square.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof James Epoke, represented by his deputy on Academic, Prof Austin Obiekezie; Dean of Students’ Affairs Prof Eyong Eyong, represented by Mr Emmanuel Emore; Director of General Studies, Dr Chike Ekeopara; pioneer FIS president Azubuike Iloakasi, and second Igwe of Malabo Kingdom, Charles Njoku, were in attendance.

    The VC praised the Igbo students for holding onto their culture. He charged them to be steadfast in their academic pursuit, saying: “While you are passing through the school, you should also allow the school to pass through you, and that cannot be possible if you are such a student who goes from your hostel to class from class back to hostel. You must dedicate time to read your books.”

    In his speech, Igwe Henry listed the criteria for the award of chieftaincy titles. He said: “To be conferred with a chieftaincy in Malabo Kingdom, you must have moral and academic excellence. You must be one who commands respect on campus.”

    He urged his chiefs and members to promote excellence and Igbo culture.

    There was a cultural contest in which students from the Southeast participated; each state showcased its peculiar attire and food. Anambra State emerged the best. The event also featured wrestling as done in traditional Igbo society; news broadcast in Igbo, cultural dance by students and drama.

    The association unveiled its almanac and honoured some of its members, including the president, Ekene Odumegwu.

  • Landmark varsity’s first convocation

    Landmark varsity’s first convocation

    Management of Landmark University in Omu-Aran, Kwara State has held its maiden convocation ceremony with the theme: The release of pathfinders.

    The occasion was graced by dignitaries across the country, including representatives of Kwara State Governor Abdulafatah Ahmed, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, Minister of Education; Dr Akinwumi  Adesina, Minister of Agriculture; Ambassador Uriel Palti, Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Prof Julius Okojie, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC); Chancellor, Dr David Oyedepo and his  wife Pastor Faith Oyedepo, Vice-Chancellors of various universities across the country and traditional rulers.

    The university produced 39 students with First Class Honours, 186 Second Class  Upper Division, 152 Second Class Lower Division and nine Third Class Honours, among others.

    Dr Oyedepo urged the graduating students to guard against abuse of time, energy and waste  of  resources. “There are no classmates in life, but rather there are only classmates in school”, he added.

    The keynote speaker, Akinwumi, praised the university for their effort towards agricultural revolution, saying the university was the first privat university of agriculture in Nigeria.

    The best graduating student, Hermans Roselyn from Accounting department with CGPA of 4.90, said: “Despite the strict rules and regulations of the university, I worked tirelessly to attain this enviable height”. She advised her fellow graduands to be of good behaviour anywhere they found themselves.

  • Play soccer, make friends

    Play soccer, make friends

    Occupants of the Alvan Ikoku Hall of Residence at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have held their annual soccer fiesta for promotion of friendship. KINGSLEY AMATANWEZE (500-Level Metallurgical and Materials Engineering) reports.

    The quadrangle of the Alvan Ikoku Hall of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), came alive last week. It was turned to a pitch for a soccer fiesta organised by the hall’s occupants. The event was full of intrigue, suspense, drama, and disappointment as the students challenged themselves in the contest tagged: “2014 Alvan Inter-Series”.

    The 14-day tournament is usually held before the end of the second semester to foster friendship among students in the hostel. Eight teams participated in the event. They were grouped as Series A and B. The hall has eight sections, with each forming a team.

    The final match was between the 200 Series A and 200 Series B teams. Students trooped out of their rooms to watch their colleagues slug it out on the field. Some stayed on the corridors of their rooms.

    The event kicked off on a dramatic note, with the hall warden, Prof Tagboo Ugwu, chosen as the referee; two students acted as commentators. Music blared from both ends of the field as a disc jockey kept the spectators dancing with hip-hop tunes.

    After 25 minutes of the first half, Chima Ohanyerem, a 500-Level Metallurgical and Materials Engineering student and Team B player, scored the opening goal. The opponents equalised when Nickson Oscar, 400-Level Political Science student and Team A striker, netted the ball in the second half.

    A few minutes later, the Team B took the lead again after Chigbo Onu, a 500-Level Geology student, shot the ball beyond the goal line. Almost immediately, Team B scored another goal, ending the match at 3-1.

    During the trophy presentation, Chigbo was named the highest goal scorer of the tournament, having scored five goals in the tournament. Chima got the Most Valuable Player award, making it the second time he won the prize. Another Student, Jude Agbedo, 500-Level Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, was awarded the Best Coach, while Ifeanyi Eze, 300-Level Computer Science got the Best Defender.

    The highpoint was the presentation of the trophy to Team B.

    In a chat with CAMPUISLIFE, Chigbo described the match as difficult, admitting that the opposing team was the toughest side. He said: “I believed in my team and we all worked like a team.”

    When asked how he managed to score five goals given the small post on the pitch, Chigbo said: “It is a matter of knowing when to strike and then knowing the time the keeper is not watching.”

    Chima said he was elated over lifting the trophy for the first time and for being adjudged the Best Player the second time. “I am very happy because this is my last appearance at the tournament as I am graduating from the university. Thank God the trophy came our way. I think I have written my name in the history book of the hall. I am so happy to have being a part of this team, we really worked hard and I think we deserved it,” he said.

    The hall governor, Chibueze Uzoma, 400-Level Pure and Industrial Chemistry student, said the soccer fiesta was the best. He said: “I can say with all sincerity that this year’s Inter Series is the best that has ever happened in the hall.” He, however, hailed occupants of the hall for behaving decorously and making the event a success.

    The event was graced by dignitaries, including the Secretary of the University of Nigeria Electoral Committee (UNECO), Mr I. A. Amuzie, and Students’ Union leaders, who were led by the president, Christain Agu, and the Speaker of the parliament, Precious Nwacha. There were also hall governors of male and female hostels.

  • Curbing tobacco consumption in our society

    It is with great pleasure and concern for humanity that I write to bring to the knowledge of the entire populace the ugly trend  tobacco consumption has taken in recent times.

    Since  human existence, institutions have come up with diverseways to address critical issues , which are not only challenging to man, but also deprive of comfort and national endowments. There is, therefore, a pertinent need to look critically into the social, moral, economic, and medical effects of tobacco consumption in Nigeria.

    Tobacco is a green, leafy plant that is grown in warm climates. After it is picked, it is dried, ground up, and used in different ways. It can be smoked as cigarette, or cigar. It can be chewed (called smokeless tobacco or chewing tobacco) or sniffed through the nose (called snuff).

    Nicotine is one of the four thousand (4,000) chemicals in cigarette and its smoke. It is the chemical that makes tobacco addictive or habit-forming. Among these toxic chemical are over 50 others that are carcinogens (cancer causing agents).

    Prevalence of tobacco consumption is reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), which focuses on smoking (not smokeless chewing Tobacco) due to reported data limitations. Smoking has, therefore, been studied more extensively than any other form of consumption. In the developing world, tobacco consumption was rising by 3.4% as at 2002. The WHO, in 2004, projected 58.8 million deaths to occur globally, from which 5.4 million are tobacco-attributed and 4.9 million as of 2007. Presently, tobacco kills nearly 6 million people each year with approximately 70% of the deaths occurring in developing countries.

    The health effects of smoking are the circumstances, mechanisms, and factors of tobacco consumption in human health. Tobacco is the single greatest cause of preventable death globally.  Tobacco use leads most commonly to diseases affecting the heart, liver and lungs, with smoking being a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It also causes peripheral vascular disease and hypertension smoking tobacco has also been found to diminish taste and smell ability.

    Taking a look at its reproductive hazards on users, tobacco use is associated with miscarriages among pregnant women who smoke, and contributes to a number of other threats to the health of the foetus, such as premature births and low birth weight and increases by 1.4 to 3 times the chance for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). From the paternal perspective, incident of impotence is approximately 85 percent higher in male smokers compared to non-smoker, and is a key factor causing erectile dysfunction.

    Furthermore, tobacco consumption has the potential of causing severe and chronic emotional disorders. A clinical nuero-physiological analysis has shown how nicotine which makes tobacco a drug into the bloodstream, and stimulates nervous system, making one feel one has more energy. This physical mirage can really kill more than the nicotine toxicity, as the affected user often perceives life-threatening strenuous tasks as simple. The disgruntled victim is eventually left emotionally unstable and traumatised.

    In addition, there is a high rate of destitution arising from tobacco consumption, especially in developing and underdeveloped countries. Lastly, the picture or scenario created by the addiction of tobacco is pathetic – this emanates from the regression in the economic stratum of an addicted tobacco user, mostly found in low income earners. This of course, can induce the affected individuals, especially the youths into social menace like robbery and thefts.

    For the avoidance of doubt, the issue of addiction has been from Stone Age. I surmise the nearest future of political governance with credibility and proficiency in eradicating the improper and unhealthy use of tobacco in Nigeria. Addressing this indecorous trend or act, starts from checkmating the commercial travesties, imposed by the big large-scale manufacturers of tobacco. Some strategic measures to curbs this problem may bring about an economic downturn – a downside signal in tobacco marketing, or advertisement, but the incontrovertible truth remains that tobacco merchandising has more demerits than merits.

    Moreover, heavy tariffs and taxes should be imposed on the manufacturers and the sellers, as this will definitely affect the price tag system at the consumer level, thereby discouraging many users. Health education institutions should be adequately equipped with facilities to aid enlightenment campaign both in the public within institutions of learning – making the entire populace, and the users understand the health implications.

    Rehabilitation exercise will also help to a great extent to manage the colossal challenges faced by individuals who are addicted. In fact, nearly 35 million people make a serious attempt to quit each year. Unfortunately those who try to quit on their own relapse, often within a week. Also, clinical psychological assistance can help an addicted individual gradually cut down tobacco intake to minimal, and to zero level, without having any withdrawal syndrome. Public smoking, when banned, will tremendously help reduce the risk of diseases due to exposure or inhalation of secondhand smoke by non-smokers..

    Moreover, it is pertinent to establish a Nigerian Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Community Development Service (CDS) group on Anti-Tobacco, where youth corps members will be trained to educate the masses on the dangers inherent in Tobacco use. This CDS group, when established, we hope will give rise to the establishment of Anti-Tobacco clubs in senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions that harbour the target audience.