The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Leave Nigeria alone

    I often marvel at the attitudes of some Nigerians to issues of national importance. Many people do not yet feel that this country belongs to them and whatever affects her affects them also. They erroneously believe they can go on with their lives independent of whatever becomes of the country. They,therefore, think that the issues that fill newspapers and the television are the business of the politicians and those in government. When they make comments on national issues using social media, most Nigerians are irrational, reckless and portray a disturbing degree of ignorance concerning very basic issues.

    One issue that seems to haunt this nation from its very formation is the question of unity. Typical Nigerian behaviour is to look for somewhere to put the blame. It is the fault of the British. It is the fault of the first post-independence government. It is the fault of the military. It is the fault of the elite. It is the fault of the constitution. For the past fifty years, all we have succeeded in doing as a people is to argue over whose fault it is that Nigeria today is not what she ought to be.

    Pretending to address the nagging issues of mistrust, ethnicity and dangerous competition for political power among the various components of the nation, many people often talk about breaking up Nigeria: let the North and the South each go its way.

    Probably because we do not realise the full weight of such development or because it benefits some of its loudest proponents, we talk about breaking up Nigeria as lightly as if it were nothing important. Each time an election year draws closer, one hears this agitation often. Some politicians have found it a veritable tool constantly harassing the rest of us with the threat of disintegration and making their way to power. They say if they don’t win the election or if somebody from their side of the country does not win, they cannot guarantee the continued existence of Nigeria as a single entity. More recently, the disintegration card has been dangled more dangerously and quite arrogantly at the on-going National Conference.

    Some delegates – obviously spoilt by the fat allowance paid by the Federal Government and desperate to appear to the people at home as doing something – threaten the unity of the country almost every time an important decision is to be made. If the conference does not accept their view on the matter, they threaten to walk out.

    Even under the best circumstances, there will still be people across Nigeria who will express absolute dissatisfaction over the unity of the country and call for a break-up. This is to be expected in every country. Even in the United States of America, some people in some states still talk about leaving the union. However, when this agitation is done at such a high level, it is something to worry about.

    Recently, a medical consultant in my school asked me, “What is the meaning of the ‘Education for one Nigeria’ that you have inscribed on your laboratory coat?” I answered, “I believe the greatest goal of education in Nigeria is to preserve national unity.” The time has come in this country when we must stand up – everyone of us – and make it clear that we would not sit down and watch some people constantly harass this country left and right with the threat of disintegration.

    A few questions will drive home the reasons Nigeria has little alternative than to continue as one nation. When people talk about breaking up the country, what will they break her up into? Often they say, let the North break from the South, or the Christians from the Moslems. Then I ask, “Where is the boundary between Moslems and Christians in this country?” Again, you cannot break up a country peacefully and you are never certain of the outcome – how many pieces for instance will result from the break up?

    I want to submit – and I do on behalf of myself and the citizens who will be my children – that these people talking about breaking up Nigeria should leave her alone. We are a people who do not have the ability to agree on anything. We do not want to spend the next 50 years arguing, holding conferences, sponsoring insurgencies and killing innocent people over the formula for breaking up, or over where the boundary between the Republic of Northern Nigeria and the resulting Republics of Biafra or Oduduwa should lie. People who have lost ideas on how this beautiful land can go on together in the future should quietly retire from the national scene and pave way for some of us who can see the great future of peace and prosperity beckoning our dear nation. Just leave Nigeria alone.

     

    Msonter, 300-Level Medicine, BSU

  • Varsity hosts diabetes summit

    The government of Osun State has reiterated its commitment to quality health care delivery for residents. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Temitope Ilori, gave the re-assurance at the 2014 Strategies for Improving Diabetes Care in Nigeria (SIDCAIN) Summit with the theme: “Joint action against gestational diabetes mellitus”.

    The event was held at the auditorium of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) in Osogbo.

    Ilori said diabetes affected mostly women and children, leading to an increased mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa.

    She said the government had taken measures to address the problem by partnering with stakeholders in the health sector and embarking on a number of programmes to alleviate the problem of diabetes in the state.

    Ilori said government was ready to collaborate with health care practitioners to improve the living conditions of the citizens.

    In his address titled: “Effective care for persons with gestational diabetes mellitus: why, what, how?” Dr Ade Kolawole  of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital said the purpose of the summit was to fashion out strategies for managing gestational diabetes.

    He explained that gestational diabetes was the carbohydrate interference of variable severity first recognised during pregnancy, adding hat diabetes was a disease prevalent in city life.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof A.B. Okesina, urged participants to cultivate healthy habits in relation to the food they eat and exercise regularly.

  • Students hail minister on ASUP strike

    Students in polytechnics across the country have commended the efforts of the new Minister of Education, Alhaji Ibrahim Shakarau, for ending the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) strike. They urged the Minister to work with the federal government to avert further industrial action and safeguard the education sector from collapse.

    When our correspondent visited the Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, last week, students were set to resume lectures on Monday July 28.

    Speaker of the legislative arm of the institution’s Students’ Union Government (SUG), Joshua Akinjayeju, said academic activities would not commence fully until management put all structures in place.

    “We urge management to avoid interference with the traditional calendar of the school so that students will not have room to demand for extension of examination which had often resulted in protests.  We also advice that lecturers should be monitored so that we will not employ brigandage approach in lectures and administration of continuous assessments,” he stated.

    The Director of Public Relations, Mr Charles Oni, said management had approved new academic calendar, adding that registration which started July 17 would end 25th. He stated that the Quality Control Unit of the college had been mandated to monitor academic activities, adding that lecturers would not be allowed to administer tests during the free lecture period.

  • Union leaders take oath

    STUDENTS’ leaders of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have been sworn in. The event, which took place at the university auditorium, was attended by principal officers of the institution.

    The Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof O.A. Omotesho, hailed the outgoing executive for its commitment to the students’ welfare.

    He said: “The outgoing executive members are one of the finest in the history of the university. The in-coming leaders should borrow a leaf from their outgoing one. They are unique because this is the first time we have four ladies in the union’s executive.”

    The outgoing president, Abiodun Lawal, said: “Most people might find it difficult giving account of their stewardship at the expiration of their tenure. I thank all my colleagues in the executive for their support and loyalty. I also wish you the best in your future endeavours.”

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, said: “The outgoing union members were in office before I assumed office, but I see them as people I can truly call my own. However, if second term was permited in the union’s constitution, I personally would have advocated a second term for them.”

    Afterwards, the executive members took the oath, which was administered by Mr A. Akanbi.

    The Deputy VC, Prof Isah Fakunle, charged he union leaders to be servant leaders.

    “One thing you should know is that the university belongs to you and that you are the most important component of the university. Therefore, you must be hardworking, diligent and to always strive to be better,” he said.

  • As the dust settles

    As the dust generated by the almost ten months old strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) settles, it is quite appropriate to once again look at the fundamental issues of polytechnic education in the country. By its duration, the strike is one of the longest in Nigerian history. It need to be stressed though that the suspension of the strike – which is for three months – followed the request of the new Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, for time to look into the contentious issues that had stalled all efforts to bring the action to an end.

    Anyone who truly long to see our country make progress will welcome the suspension of this strike that had kept polytechnic students away from their studies for a whole session. The losses from the strike are indeed unquantifiable. Shekarau should be commended for promptly moving to break the impasse between ASUP and the Federal Government (FG). A few days after the suspension of the strike action, Senate President, David Mark pointed out that the demands of the lectures were not selfish which goes to show that the issues at stake are clear.

    My humble advice to the new minister is to ensure that all the issues that made it impossible to suspend the strike earlier should be addressed promptly, and with all sincerity, to ensure a permanent end to the strike after the three months suspension. I hope the three months grace period to allow for further negotiation should not be frittered away politicking, but rather to confront the fundamentals head on.

    It is quite disheartening that strikes have become a permanent feature of our education sector. Recall that a similarly protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was called off only in December last year after university students had been sent home for about six months. The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) also began a strike on December 31, last year, following a 60-day ultimatum issued to the FG on September 16, 2013. The union has also suspended its strike for three months to iron things out with the government.

    Though it is well known, but it is worth reemphasise that these frequent disruptions of the academic calendars of tertiary institutions in the country are inimical to delivery of quality education in the country. It is necessary that all stakeholders – within the education sector and lovers of Nigeria – arrive at a common ground and ensure that all the issues that informed the strikes in polytechnics and colleges of education are tackled and rested at the same time.

    As the rump of those of us who still believe in this country battle to save her from the pit she has sunken so deep into, it is not lost on me that these strikes are a symptom of organisational failings in our education sector. They indicate an absence of a coherent policy on tertiary education. Why would we always have the penchant of allowing things get messy before they are resolved?

    I recollect that at a point in the negotiation process between ASUP and the FG, students were even called to sit in at crucial meetings where key policy decision were discussed because some people were bent on gaining cheap political points at the detriment of the sector.

    These flip flops project a failure of administration at the higher education level, which has been forcing thousands of our students to seek education outside the country. It is now the norm to see Nigerians, in large numbers, throng higher institutions in Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic. Thousands also go to Turkey, India, the United Kingdom, America and even Cameroun, just to escape the nightmare that Nigeria’s tertiary education has become. This is how far we have travelled on the road to infamy.

    Let me stress what is often “forgotten” by the authorities. The universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and technical colleges are parts of the whole system and none can truly replace the other. But because of our penchant for “status” and certificates we have inadvertently relegated some to the background as less important. This should not be the case as each has its unique place in national development.

    For the avoidance of doubt, ASUP wants amongst other demands the establishment of a National Polytechnics Commission, akin to the National Universities Commission (NUC); the constitution of Governing Councils for Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education; the release of White Paper on the Visitations to Federal Polytechnics, and the commencement of the renegotiation of the FGN/ASUP Agreement. The union also wants the payment of the workers’ salary arrears on the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS 15), to the tune of N40 billion.

    Running through these issues, one wonders why they are such an uphill task for the government to address. Let’s take the issue of governing councils for instance; if governing councils have been beneficial in universities, why do we need a strike to get the minister to set them up in polytechnics?

    Why also would the government constitute a visitation panel and fail to take decisions on its findings and releasing the white paper? It is quite clear that infrastructures in our polytechnics and colleges of education, just like in the universities are run down which necessitated the NEEDS Assessment Exercise in the first place. But the big question is why are their findings being delayed? There is already an agreement on CONTISS. I gather that the unions are merely aggrieved over the modalities and arrears of payment. Why are these being delayed?

    From what I also gathered by speaking with administrators, there is really no big deal in setting up a national polytechnic commission. I was also meant to understand that senior administrators are capable of handling issues like the tenure of rectors, peculiar and responsibility allowance, CONTISS migration and non-accreditation of programmes. Their concern is that some of these issues have political undertones which often make their implementation “difficult.”

    In a nutshell, most of these grievances can be tied to wrongful and stereotyped perception of polytechnic education, poor funding and relegation of the polytechnics, and technical education to the background.

    This was evident in the initial insensitivity of the government and the mocking silence of Nigerians to the strike, compared to that of ASUU. Our emphasis on paper qualification or certificate consciousness does not even give room for sober reflection on certain issues. That unreasonable emphasis was what informed calls for the transformation of some polytechnics into universities.

    But is it enough to change the name of a polytechnic merely because one desires that it awards degree? I don’t think so. In this regard, there is a counterproductive and completely wrong attitude of Nigerians to polytechnic education. Parents, teachers, students and even the general public itself have constantly relayed attitudinal dispositions that disregard polytechnic education.

    More often than not, polytechnics – as I have written in the past – are seen as the last resort for students who have been frustrated by non-admission into the university after years of frequent attempts at the university matriculation examinations. Parents seem to subscribe to it as the “alternative” tertiary education when all attempts at gaining university admission have failed. “It is better to go to a polytechnic than sit at home,” is the popular saying among parents and students alike.

    I have no iota of doubt in my mind that polytechnic graduates are as useful to the country as much as university graduates; each have unique roles in the society. For the records, the university and the polytechnic have different objectives based on their utility value to society.

    While the university aims to produce the cultured, public-spirited and conscientious intellectual that would transform the immediate environment and contribute to global culture and civilisation, the polytechnic is geared towards the production of the enlightened workforce that would advance the instrument of economic production and infrastructural development, and help the society on the path of industrialisation. Can there be credible development without industrialisation? The answer is quite obvious.

    Finally, are we still dreaming of being among the top 20 developed nations by 2020? The last time I checked, it appears we are.  If we are then, where do we start from? If we are serious we must address this issue of technical education.

  • Graduating students’ day of festivity

    The graduating students of the department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, have held their final year day. It was held after the students finished their final exam last week.

    The event, which witnessed a large turnout of students, featured a lecture titled: “Life after graduation, the challenges ahead” by Dr Mu’awiya Jibirn, a lecturer in the department.

    The class representative, Mubarak Ibrahim, thanked God for making their stay on campus successful.

    The students were filled with joy. One of them, Suleiman Abubakar, said “I have waited for four years to witness today. There is no doubt that today marks a turning point in my life”.

    The students later proceeded on an excursion to the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Zaria. They were led by Prof S.A. Maigandi and Mallam Aliyu Muhammed. The objective of the trip was to expose the students to the practical aspect of artificial insemination. Their counterparts from the Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, KSUST, Aleiro, also took part in the programme.

    During the excursion, the students were exposed to the activities of different sections of the institute, including dairy, small and large ruminants and yoghurt processing.

    Some of the students who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE said the programme was educative.

  • Libertarian conference tomorrow

    Barring last-minute cancellation, the University of Ibadan (UI) will host students from various higher intitutions to participate in the maiden African Students For Liberty (ASFL) conference.

    The event will hold at the Trenchard Hall of the institution.

    ASFL African Programs Manager, Olumayowa Okediran, said the conference was borne out of the need to take Africa out of the duldrums through developmental policies.

    He said: “Africa has been an alms acceptor for too long. The narrative has been that the continent is poor that it cannot by itself break free from the shackles of poverty; it has been about a continent struck with the pestilence of corruption and horrendous economic situations. We are out to change this notion via practical solution.”

    The group is an offshoot of Students For Liberty (SFL), a non-profit organisation aimed at empowering students to become leaders and change agents in their communities.

    Resource persons at the event are pro-liberty speakers, including Co-founder of SFL, Alexander McCobin; Director of Global Peace Foundation, Ms Ida Nganga;  founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dominion Group of Companies,  Calvin Burgess; a social media entrepreneur and popular blogger, Japheth Omojuwa, former law-maker and writer, Dr Wale Okediran; CAMPUSLIFE Editor, Wale Ajetunmobi and Ayo Sogunro, among others.

  • ‘Farewell match’ for fallen student

    He died from unknown ailment during the first semester break, but David Udoetuh, a student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)  would not be forgotten by his colleagues.

    In his remembrance, a “farewell match” was organised by the departments of Geography and Geology

    The deceased was a student of Geography.

    The students gathered at the Franco pitch to pay their last respect to their departed colleague.

    It was a moment of sorrow for some of them, who were clad in black attire.

    The students said David’s  death was shocking, adding that he was full of life two weeks before the school went on break.

    The match ended 1-0 in favour of Geology.

    The goal scorer, Chigbo Onu, said: “I dedicated the goal to David because he meant a lot to us. May God give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

    The remains of the late David were buried at his home state in Akwa Ibom.

  • ‘Hidden fortunes’ in a local mat

    ‘Hidden fortunes’ in a local mat

    Before business managers and professionals, students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) highlighted the “hidden fortunes” in Eni Iran, a locally-woven mat, which is the craftwork of the Ogotun-Ekiti people. They made the presentation last week at the final of the Enactus National Challenge in Lagos. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

    It is just a mat, but through their dexterity, they have turned it into a money spinning venture. Eni Iran, a locally-woven mat, is a dying craftwork of the people of Ogotun-Ekiti, which students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) revived and turned into wealth.

    Before a group of business executives and professionals, the students explained how they used Eni Iran to produce phone pouches, hand bags, flower vases, laptop carriers and portable folders, among others.

    By their feat, the students emerged champions of the Entrepreneurship National Challenge organised by Entrepreneurship Action in Us (Enactus), a non-profit organisation.

    They will represent Nigeria in October at the World Cup Challenge in Beijing, China, where they will present the projects. They will be meeting their peers from over 60 countries including the United States (U.S.), Germany and the United Kingdom.

    The EKSU team beat five other Enactus teams in the final of the yearly entrepreneurship contest held, last week, at the Zinnia Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Their projects enthralled the judges, who are top company managers . The judges evaluated the business values of the EKSU students’ projects and declared them the most lucrative.

    Other institutions that got to the final are the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State; Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State; Niger Delta University (NDU), Bayelsa State; Kaduna State Polytechnic (KADPOLY), and Tai Solarin University (TASUED), Ogun State.

    The event with the theme: See Possibilities, was sponsored by First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Sahara Group and Verve International. The teams came from over 35 higher institutions and brought quality projects.

    After the first and second rounds, the six teams that presented the most beneficial projects moved to the final, which was graced by the U.S Consular-General to Nigeria, Mr Jeffery Hawkins.

    The EKSU team, led by Dolapo Odupele, a 400-Level Banking and Finance student, made a mark with Eni Iran. The students discovered that many jobs could be created if Eni Iran is modernised.

    The team partnered with Ekiti State Enterprise Development Agency (EEDA) to design fashionable items out of the local mat.

    The market created from selling these products led to the increased production of Eni Iran created income for the craftsmen. The projects also restored the pride of the Ogotun people in mat weaving.

    The EKSU team also presented Tech 4 Rice project, which is aimed at increasing productivity of farmers in Igbemo Ekiti through the introduction of cheap Moringa Folia Spray as alternative to highly-priced fertilisers. The students also devised pest control process for the farmers to reduce rodents’ sabotage.

    The team’s last project was on pollution reduction, in which they partnered with Ekiti Waste Management Board (EKWMB) to convert waste nylons into packing materials. This created jobs for youths in the target communities.

    The KADPOLY and ABU teams emerged first and second runners up.

    Over 36 orphans, 66 women living with HIV and 107 jobless individuals were reintegrated into the society through Life Skill Approach of the KADPOLY team, which also trained staff of a distressed orphanage to boost its monthly income for the children’s upkeep.

    The ABU team’s Saving the Planet Project developed a process, where bio-diesel and cheap fuel could be extracted from Jatropha plant seeds to generate energy for use for domestic cooking. The District head of Bomo Community in Zaria donated 1.7 hectare of land for the project.

    The Bomo villagers were trained in how to extract the oil and sell for commercial use. The project generated income for several villagers and created job for Bomo youths.

    The ABU team also empowered widows in Zaria through the production of Moringa Yagi, a cheap seasoning. Months after the training, the widows were able to cater for their daily need by generating N17,000 from the sales of the product.

    Other finalists also presented projects, which included Making Entrepreneurs and Nourah projects (FUTO), Atelewo (my destiny in my hand) and New Gate (TASUED), Live an Impact for Eternity and Wealth on Water (NDU).

    The judges praised the students for their “brilliant entrepreneurial skills”.

    One of them, Ikechukwu Kalu, the group head of FCMB’s Marketing and Communication, said: “The performance of all the teams is fantastic, given that most of them are 100- and 200-Level students. For the FCMB, it is about just sponsoring the contest; we follow up by picking the projects from there and develop it, so that our youths get empowered and their lives get enhanced.”

    The Country Director of Enactus, Mrs Adesuwa Ifedi, said the students saw possibilities where others saw challenges, stressing that entrepreneurship should not be preached as an isolation concept but as one that would transform people’s lives and the society.

    She said: “In Enactus, we believe entrepreneurship has the power to change lives. This is why we are challenging our undergraduates because they cannot learn it in the classroom. The only way they can learn is when we challenge them and compete against one another; find challenges and turn it into possibilities, take effective action and enable progress. That is when they will see the power business has to change lives.”

    Dolapo told reporters that her team was winning for the first time, having got to the final seven times.

    She said: “We took up the challenge to modernise Eni Iran to turn around the lives of the Ogotun people because we found untapped fortunes in the craftwork.”

  • UI expels two students, rusticates five

    UI expels two students, rusticates five

    The authorities of the University of Ibadan have expelled two students and rusticated five for various offences.

    11 others were reprimanded.

    A report issued by the institution’s Registrar, Mr. Olu Olukoya and published in the University Bulletin, said the decision was the outcome of the meeting held by the Central Student Disciplinary Committee (CSDC).

    It said the offences   committed by the students included gross misconduct, pilfering and examination malpractice.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the rusticated students would stay out of the institution for two semesters.