The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Four bag first class at DELSU

    Four bag first class at DELSU

    Four students bagged First Class during the Eighth Convication of the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka. PHILIP OKORODUDU (Graduating student of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering) and ESE OKODUWA (300-Level Home Economics Education) report.

    No fewer than 10,215 graduates of the Delta State University (DELSU) in Abraka were conferred with degrees and diplomas at the institution’s eighth Convocation penultimate Saturday. The ceremony was held at the Convocation Arena of the university’s Site III.

    It was for the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 set of graduates. About 8,049 got first degree certificates; 597, Diplomas and 1,569, post-graduate degrees.

    Four of the graduates had First Class, 1,372, Second Class (Upper Division), 4,819, Second Class (Lower Division), 1,684, Third Class and 170, pass.

    In attendance were the Visitor, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, and the Pro-chancellor and chairman of the Governing Council, Mr. Tony Elumelu, among other top dignitaries.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Eric Arubayi, said the ceremony was an opportunity for the Visitor and stakeholders an opportunity to meet the graduands. The event, he added, ended the students’ struggle to get a degree. He urged the graduands to take stock of their achievements, saying they must reflect on the challenges they faced before they got their degrees.

    Prof Arubayi expressed gratitude to the state government, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and other organisations for their support, especially in providing infrastructure.

    The VC praised staff and students for joining him to make the campus conducive for learning.

    Uduaghan urged the graduands not to give up hope on the future of the country, noting that the objective of Delta Beyond Oil, his pet project, is to open up the state’s economy and provide jobs for indigenes.

    Highlight of the event was the presentation of gifts to the best graduating students – Efe Igbagbon of Mechanical and Metellurgical Engineering, who had a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.64 and Joy Onyemaechi  of Economics department, who made a CGPA of 4.67.

    Joy advised her colleagues to be ready for the challenges of life outside the ivory tower.

    Efe gave all the glory to God, saying: “When I was admitted, so many people told me that getting a First Class in this university was like trying to make a Carmel pass through the eyes of a needle. But, I set forth to do my best and I am glad that today, my best was good enough.”

  • Muslim students condemn media clampdown

    Media961, a media monitoring unit of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State branch, has condemned clampdown on the media by the Federal Government.

    In a statement, the group’s Coordinator, AbdurRasheed Abubakar, said President Goodluck Jonathan has the constitutional power to stop the military from confiscating newspapers.

    “For days, we read reports of the clampdown on some selected newspapers by soldiers and the damages this has resulted into. We have also read, through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupe, that President Jonathan was not part of the plot.  Hence, we call on the president to, as a matter of urgency, call the military to order and allow the media to carry out their constitutional duties,” the statement read.

    The group said it was undemocratic for the army to raid newspapers; adding that the action violated the Freedom of Information as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.  It added: “This is not a military regime. Nigeria is a democratic country, where all matters should follow judicial process. That’s what we expect from the military in a situation like this. It’s a condemnable act and it’s high time we stopped seeing the media as enemies.”

    Abubakar noted that the media played important role in the development, urging the president not to see the media as enemy of democracy.

  • The final act

    The final act

    Final year students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have marked their impending graduation. WALE BAKARE (400-Level Zoology) writes.

    The ongoing examination did not dampen their mood. Final year students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) chose a week to hold several rallies to bid others farewell.

    On the first day, the outgoing students were clad in old dresses to mark the Old School Day. Some wore secondary school uniforms, others donned village headmasters’ attire and also shaved their hair to look like bald-headed men. They marched round the campus, singing and dancing.

    The second day of the week was the Colour-riot Day. Students were dressed in a mishmash of colourful attires, ranging from the abnormal to the crazy. They held a rally in corporate dresses on the third day.

    On the fourth day, the students wore native attire peculiar to their culture.

    On the same day, a career talk was organised for the graduating students of the Department of Zoology. The Head of the Department, Prof Taiwo Ande, spoke to participants on life after school.

    He urged the students to be focused on their future.

    Ande said: “You have to be serious in everything you are doing, especially as you are leaving the school. Don’t run away from people that challenge you.  Your National Service period would open your eyes to different forms of life, but you need to be solution providers because everyone has a talent to do something unique. Sometime you may fail but you must be determined to go higher.”

    Two lecturers in the department, Dr Moshood Mustapha and Dr Oduola Adeboye also advised the students to prepare for life after graduation because of  the challenges ahead.

    Dr Mustapha said: “The first thing you face after graduation is the reality of life. The society will be expecting much from you; your parents will change towards you because they believe you have become adults. But you all must be self-determined.

    “After the National Youth Service, some of you would be searching for non-available white-collar jobs. The wise among you would engage in entrepreneurship to employ themselves. Your degree cannot place you at a disadvantage; what gives disadvantage is self-discouragement and fear. During job interviews, employers would test many things about you; so, it is necessary to be prepared and have right qualifications.”

    On the last day of the week, the students held a “Signing Out Day” event, where they signed on white clothes to announce their graduation. Zoology students used the occasion to plead to Boko Haram to bring back the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

    Some of them spoke about what they would miss after their graduation.

    Sodiq Aroyaya, a Zoology student, said: “The final year is my best moment on campus because I have opportunity to have more open relationship with people I did not know before. The relationship with those people has affected my academic and social life positively.”

    Ahmeed Dare, an Art Education student, said he would miss his hilarious classmates, urging his colleagues to be problem-solvers because Nigeria needs their expertise to develop.

  • Ilorin culture on display

    Ilorin culture on display

    It was a feast of culture when members of the Ilorin Emirate Students’ Union in the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) inaugurated a new Emir (leader) during a send-off party for their outgoing executive. HALIMA AKANBI (200-Level Law) and IBRAHIM JATTO (Graduating student of Zoology) report.

    It was the installation of a new ‘emir’, but the culture of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, was on display at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto (UDUS). The university community had a taste of Ilorin culture when Ilorin Emirate students held a send-off for their graduating colleagues and inaugurated of the new Emir (president).

    The ‘emir’, Sheriffdeen Omotayo, walked from his hostel to the PTF Hall – the venue of the event – clad in a blue ceremonial attire with a white-turban. He waved to people shouting “Shehu”, which is how the Emir of Ilorin is greeted.

    Sheriffdeen was received by a crowd of students, who had been seated for two hours before the programme started. As he moved into the hall, the ‘emir’ was greeted with resounding shouts of “Shehu”.

    After the ‘emir’ sat on the throne, Kengbe troupe, which is a cultural group of the union, dazzled the crowd with the traditional dance step of Ilorin people. The 15-member group was led by the Magajiya of the association, Risikat Ibrahim, a 400-Level student of Business Administration.

    Kengbe is a calabash that generated sound of different pitches, which is used to welcome guests to occasions.

    The event started with the Ulama’u (good people) conference, where members of the union imitated notable Islamic clerics in Ilorin. While acting sermons on the topic: Shariah and marriage, the students mimicked the style of clerics, such as the late Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory, Sheikh Kamaldeen Al-Addaby and Sheikh Buhari Ibn Musa, among others.

    There was also a short drama on the need to always remember one’s origin. Members presented a fact-file on Ilorin history and the achievements of illustrious sons and daughters of the ancient city. Participants learnt that Ilorin produced the first lawyer in the North, the first professor of Veterinary Medicine in West Africa, and that it is also the first community to have electricity in the North.

    The highpoint was the installation. Sheriffdeen, a 300-Level student of Islamic Education Studies, succeeds Abdulhameed Abdullahi, a graduating student of Political Science.

    The ‘emir’ is the Magaji of the association. He was turbaned amid fun and fanfare. After the swearing in, hundreds of students led the Emir back to his hostel, beating the Bandir – Islamic talking drum.

    Students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, described Ilorin culture as a “progressive civilisation” that has endured for ages.

    Hanifat Yusuf, a 400-Level student, said: “The event showed the unique heritage of Ilorin people in an interesting style. It combined entertainment with values that are dear to Ilorin people. We were brought back home with the display of culture.”

    Abdulmajeed Isiak, a 300-Level member, said he was proud of his origin with the manner students from other states trooped out to watch the event. “The event gave me a sense of pride as an Ilorin indigene, given the massive attendance by students from other states. It was educative and entertaining,” he said.

    Hammed Hammed, a 200-Level student of Business Administration, said: “The send-off was unique in its own way; everyone enjoyed the programme from the beginning to the end. I hope to see more of this kind of organisational spirit next time.”

    Abdulhameed thanked members for their support and co-operation, which he said was the reason behind the success recorded during his tenure. He urged members to support the new leadership to achieve the association’s objective.

    The association also unveiled a magazine Garin Alimi to inform people about events happening in Ilorin.

  • The power of dreams

    The power of dreams

    There is more to life than living in the shackles of unrealised dreams. “Every great dream begins with a dreamer,” said Thomas Jefferson.

    There is no doubt that the immortal words of the third president of the United States still reverberate till today.

    It is one thing to have a dream; but the will to pursue the dream and breathe the air of reality to it is a challenge to the dreamer. So many young people have great dreams but they lack the ability to pursue them. They come across as weak dreamers, who cannot pursue their dreams with vigour. Too many people have too many dreams, but a few among them end up living their dreams within the exact magnitude they had envisaged.

    The world of young men and women is practically not void of great dreamers and their sweet dreams. Every Tom, Dick and Harry has a picture of the future. This is normal because every beautiful thing we see in the world today had people that dreamed about them and brought them to life.

    In fact, in this century, hardly can one find a youth who has no projection of the future. It is, therefore, imperative to ensure that one’s dreams are properly guided and worked upon to achieve the foreseen expectation.

    In Africa, young people tend to dream big and actualise very little. Perhaps, many are forced to have clueless dreams as a result of the poverty and poor living standard. This is antithetical to what is obtainable in the western world, where youths are given the opportunity to showcase what they’ve got. They actualise greater things which are beyond the confines of their dreams.

    Every young person has a dream he or she is pursuing, even as he or she grows up with uncertainties. In the long run, we tend to understand that out of these people with innumerable aspirations, only a handful of them are able to make good their dreams.

    Some have erroneously concluded that life is all about luck. Others, however, asserted that it is a matter of fate. Yet, some also believe that it is about who you know. They vehemently believe in what they call “connection”. In all these beliefs, no doubt, they may be some elements of truth in them. But the undisputable fact remains that they are not totally correct.

    The most common and acceptable definitions of luck is that, it is a meeting point between preparation and opportunity. This simply means that, there must be a level of preparation for something we consider to be “luck” to occur. If luck had always happened without a criterion or a reason for its attainment, then it would have been clear and acceptable that it, thus, exists in the perspective we look at it.

    But it doesn’t work that way. Every occurrence attributed to luck has hidden rational reasons that caused its manifestation. To every act of luck, there is a reason behind it and that reason is what I call preparation. And when such preparation is available, opportunity becomes inevitable.

    It is unavoidably pertinent to note, at this juncture, that preparation or hard work is a fertile soil upon which dreams come true.  Preparation has to precede every opportunity for luck, success or greatness to happen. So many young people dream without preparing themselves to face the possible challenges that accompany dreams to life. Some heap blames on God for their misfortunes. You cannot blame everything on God when you have every reason to succeed in life.

    In the world of success, there is an act that demands from us to act and a law that demands from us to be lawful. Seeing greatness as an undistributed gift of fate, as some do, is totally wrong. God has created everybody with traits and potentials to make waves in at least a given area of life. Nobody was created to become a liability to others. Everybody is created as an invaluable asset to his generation. It is also unacceptable that humans are created as a tabula rasa, as Socrates fallaciously posited. Everybody is created with something unique that tends to make him or her useful to himself and to others. It is left for us as individuals to improve and develop ourselves in sequence of our natural endowments.

    It is imperative we strive to be the connector rather than the connected. Think big, take the lead and let others follow. Don’t always look for whom to connect you; but always look forward for means to get yourself connected and to connect others as well.

    It is no abomination if you be the one to offer the help you are looking for. Nobody will connect you when you don’t have what it takes to be connected. Strive for excellence by working hard to excel. Dreaming alone might endanger your dreams to die with you. Start dreaming with others, I mean with like minds that have the potentials of refining your dreams. This does not mean we should place our reliance on them without reservation.

    Sunny, 200-Level History, UNIBEN

  • War against our collective freedom

    When we trace the history of terrorism in Africa, we may recall that it all began when the Al-Qaeda in Maghreb (AQIM) started its activities in Sudan under the directive of the late Osama Bin Laden.

    While Bin Laden held sway, the militants under his tutelage were reported to have masterminded many terrorist attacks in the war-torn country.

    The activities of the terrorists were extended to countries in the Middle East, such as Yemen, which had the criminals bombing parks and hostels. They also planned an assassination against the embattled former Egyptian leader, Hosni Mubarak. With these unabated terrorist activities, it appears Africa is now the safest haven for terrorists to operate.

    In 2004, there was a report of the presence of terrorist group in Nigeria, but the Federal Government dismissed the reports and failed take urgent steps to suppress terror tendencies in the country. In the same year, the former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mike Okiro, raised an alarm over impending Al-Qaeda attack on Nigeria. Okiro reportedly made the statement at a conference for senior police officers in Obudu, Cross River State.

    This, perhaps, led to the creation of the anti-terrorist squad, which borne out of the mission to safeguard our environment against terrorist attacks, even when the nation had not witnessed one. But the squad was ill-equipped to contain threats and terrorist action against the country. Today, we have full-blown insurgency in northern part of the country, claiming lives in high magnitude.

    Assuming the ex-police boss’ opinion was taken seriously and drastic steps were taken to nip terrorist attack in the bud, we would not have been so much troubled the way we are presently. If the spate of bombing and killings of the people is allowed to continue, the end result may be too disastrous for the nation.

    As the situation calls for great concern, many are still wondering how we got to this stage. How did Boko Haram become our home-grown terror? What is the level of its link with Al-Qaeda? Many Nigerians had thought Al-Qaeda could not have establish its presence in Nigeria but the terror group started its bloody campaign with the heinous Boxing Day bombing in Madalla, near Abuja, leaving scores dead.

    It is instructive to note that the activities of Boko Haram sect increase after the controversial killing of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009. The insurgents have good supply of sophisticated arms from AQIM and other sponsors. The terrorists are cashing in on bad leadership, poverty and greed of a few to disrupt peace in the country. Now, this is threatening national unity.

    In 2010, when the sect declared their association with Al-Qaeda, Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud, the then commander of AQIM, hinted that the group would provide Boko Haram with weapons to defend Muslims in Nigeria. What other evidence do we need to know that we are in dire straits?

    In 2011, a Thisday ex-columnist, Simeon Kolawole, wrote a piece titled: The Metamorphosis of Boko Haram in which the writer reminded us the genesis of the sect. Kolawole wrote that the sect started its activities by preaching a form of Islam that was not in consonant with teachings of the religion and described their fellow Muslims who didn’t share their belief as infidel.

    The Boko Haram sect members were banished from mosques and they had no option than to set up a small country, where their bloody activism started. They preached about bad government and immorality in high places. Western education to them became a sin, while their other objective was to Islamise Nigeria.

    Many of the fighters have been arrested in some covert operation of the State Security Service, but the sect members seem determined to pursue their skewed belief.

    Abubakar Shekau, leader of the sect, in one of his videos, demanded the release of its members in prison in exchange for the 276 girls abducted from Chibok in Borno State. The government is, however, not disposed to the idea openly, saying it is impracticable and impossible to give in to the sect’s demand. Opinions are divided on whether the government should negotiate the girls’ release or not. Some have said the girls must be brought back home alive, whichever way government wants to use to secure their release.

    But it appears majority are disposed to negotiation; we may likely agree that government should exchange the girls for Boko Haram fighters in prison, even as the consequences of such undertaking are yet to be known. There is a tendency that after this, Boko Haram may kidnap another set of people and also demand for exchange, maybe, this time, islamisation of Nigeria. Then, the same set of people putting pressures on the government will have their heads bent in shame. We cannot win the fight against terrorism in a day, but we can win the fight by the collective will and effort of all.

    Although, government has failed in the past to deal with the issue, but the frequency of killings in the country has given it a nudge to change tactics and act pro-actively. We must know that terror activities are against our collective existence. Therefore, there is need to join hands with the government’s effort in dislodging the sect out of Nigeria. We must be ready to complement the efforts of our armed forces and international forces to rescue us from the bloody campaign of the terrorist. We have no other country apart from this one.

    Mark, a final year student of Business Education, YABATECH

  • How to save education, by don

    How to save education, by don

    All roads led to Lapai in Niger State when the state-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) held its first convocation. YINKA OLATUNBOSUN (400-Level Chemistry) reports.

    What is the magic formula for universities to do well? It is by the provision of adequate infrastructure and good remuneration for lecturers, says emeritus professor of Language and Education, Thomas Adeyanju.

    Delivering the maiden convocation lecture of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) in Lapai, Niger State, Prof Adeyanju, an education consultant, blamed the decline in the quality of education, from primary to tertiary level, on the insensitivity of government and the importance they attached to education.

    While primary school teachers in the United States and England enjoy a monthly salary of $3,000 (N480,000) and £2,500 (N655,000), the don said their counterparts in Nigeria earn less than N20,000.

    He described the salary package as demoralising, describing it as a factor encouraging exodus of professionals from the country.

    Prof Adeyanju said if Nigerian certificates must be acceptable globally, a minimum of National Certificate of Education (NCE) qualification should be set for teachers at basic level; Second Class (Upper Division) degree for secondary school teachers and PhD for tertiary institutions.

    To salvage education, Prof Adeyanju said Higher School Certificate (HSC) must be re-introduced, adding that the 60:40 admission policy for science and arts must be followed.

    Pro-chancellor and chairman of Governing Council Mallam Suleyman Ndanusa praised the lecturer for “scholarly dissection” of the problems facing education, urging stakeholders to learn from the lecture to restore the glory of education.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Ibrahim Adamu Kolo, applauded the “insightful academic approach” of the guest lecturer, saying the paper contained workable solution to help policymakers in tackling the problem.

    The following day, graduating students filed out in academic gowns, beaming with smiles. They were the first set of graduates of the institution. Eight of the 1,732 graduands got First Class.

    The Visitor, Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, urged the graduating students to be models for measuring the academic and moral quality of the university.

    Aliyu warned students to shun violence and unruly conducts that could undermine the peace of the university’s host community. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to adequately fund the university, praising Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar for aiding the institution’s development.

    While launching the University Endowment Fund, Abdulsalami, who chairs the Board of Trustees, said the institution need about N3 billion to complete its facilities. He urged wealthy indigenes to contribute to the endowment fund.

    Gen. Babangida promised to complete the Senate Building; Mrs Modupe Alakija , an oil magnate, donated N100 million to the fund.

    Prof Kolo said the state government had spent over N19 billion to consolidate projects in the university since inception. He highlighted the management’s efforts to improve infrastructure, stressing that his administration had laboured to provide human resources and facilities needed for the school to compete with other institutions.

    The VC said research and knowledge-driven innovation were being pursued, appealing to stakeholders to have faith in the university.

    He urged the graduands to be good ambassadors of the institution praising staff and students for the development under his watch.

    The Registrar, Mallam Samaila Muhammad, thanked stakeholders and friends of the university for making the occasion a success.

    No fewer than 327 graduated with Second Class (Upper Division), 902, Second Class (Lower Division), 476 with Third Class and 22, Pass.

  • Graduating students celebrates

    Graduating students celebrates

    Graduating students of Sociology at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, have held their final year week. The event featured a seminar, cultural day, back-to-school programme, signing out ceremony and the dinner and award night.

    Some of the students who were honoured at the award included the president of the department, Ayobami Ogundimu, Segun Ifade, Adedunni Adekoya, Tawakalitu Gbadamosi and Toyosi Idowu, among others.

    Ayobami, said: “I give thanks to God who has been there for us all these while. I have no doubt in mind that our years on campus are worth the candle and I can say boldly on behalf of my colleagues that we are thoroughly trained to make contribution to the progess of humanity.”

  • Gowon opens building donated by Shobanjo at UNILAG

    Gowon opens building donated by Shobanjo at UNILAG

    Frontline Businessman Biodun Shobanjo has donated a two-storey building to the Department of Mass Communication of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

    The multi-million naira edifice, which will serve as a Multimedia Centre of Excellence, was commissioned during the institution’s convocation.

    Shobanjo is the chairman of Troyka Holdings, a marketing communication firm.

    The building will ease the department’s burden on shortage of lecture rooms and staff offices.

    Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, commissioned the building.

    Shobanjo said the late UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adetokunbo Sofoluwe, inspired him to donate the project, saying the late VC approached him to build the structure.

    He noted that the bureaucratic bottleneck of the university and inability of management to perform expected roles were reasons for the late completion of the project.

    The Acting Head of the department, Dr Abayomi Daramola, described the donor as resourceful philantropist.

    He said: “This building is a dream come true. We have been waiting for it to be completed for a long time. Our lecturers can now leave their former offices, which are like refugees’ camp. This will provide our lecturers a conducive environment for research and teaching. Our students also will enjoy their classes.”

    The HOD called on the institution’s alumni to rise up to the task of giving back to their alma mater.

    Daramola added: “The government alone cannot do everything. The university is doing a few things through its Internally-Generated Revenue, but a lot can be done by alumni especially those who have reached the pinnacle of their discipline.”

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahman Bello, praised the donor for the gesture, saying the edifice would improve communication training in the institution.

    Victor Olanipekun, a 400-Level student, described the gesture as a special intervention, noting that the building would go a long way in reducing the problem of  insufficient classrooms in the department.

    Other buildings commissioned were the Central Research Laboratory donated by Dr Daniel Olukoya, General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry and the Alumni Jubilee House donated by the University of Lagos Alumni Association in conjunction with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).

  • Students donate to orphanage

    Students donate to orphanage

    To cater for the less privileged in the society, a students’ association, Club Luminous of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State,  has donated food stuff and useful materials, including mattress, a standing fan, clothes, stationaries, rechargeable lanterns and wardrobe totalling N150, 000.

    The donation was made to Covenant Orphanage and Welfare Center, Moro in Ife North Local Government Area of the State.

    The organisers said they were moved by the poor plight of the orphans and the environment in which they lived.

    Making the donation on behalf of the members, the President, Ayoola Oladipupo Christopher, 400-Level International Relations, said the need to help the needy made the club to render the gesture.

    He lamented the neglect of orphans in Nigeria, noting that the less privileged required a certain level of attention.

    “As a philanthropic club, we deemed it fit to help the orphans by giving to them what they need,” he added.

    The Vice-president, Ishola Halimat, said the club was a social and philanthropic one, adding that Club luminous was passionate about making positive impact on the society.

    She said the club had planned to expand to other universities across the country to make meaning impact on lives.

    One of the founding members of the club, Bello Caleb, 400-Level Political Science, said the club has embarked on many charity projects since inception.