The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • #BringBackOurGirls campaign hits AAUA

    Students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) have joined the nationwide campaign to make the government double its efforts in rescuing the abducted schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents.

    The students held a rally on the campus, carrying placards to support the campaign.

    Presidents of the faculty of Education, Social and Management Sciences, Smith Ikumapayi and Gbenga Olawale, led the protest.

    One of the protesters, Alex Akinnibosun, a 400-Level student of Economics, said: “It is a proper thing for us to do to show the world that AAUA is also concerned about the abduction of the girls.”

    Oladimeji Ayodele, a 400-Level  History and International Relations student, said: “We are simply lending our voices to the global rescue efforts to free the abducted girls.”

  • Final year students hold luncheon

    Final year students hold luncheon

    Final year students of the department of Mass Communication at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) have held a valedictory luncheon as part of activities to celebrate their Final Year Week.

    Edith Madu, who chaired the organising committee, said  the event was put together to engender knowledge transfer and sharing of experience between the students and lecturers.

    She described the event as the first of its kind in the history of the department.

    In his address entitled: “Life after graduation”, a journalist and senior research fellow in the department, Alhaji Liad Tella, advised the students to reflect on their life journey and make good decisions on what to do after graduation.

    He urged them to sharpen their skills and put into practice all they have been taught in class, noting that it was their acquired skills that could make them to scale the hurdles of the labour market.

    “You are going into a difficult world; a world of competition where there are thousands of graduates, but limited job opportunities. Your acquired skills are very vital to succeed,” he stated.

    A lecturer in the department, Dr Saudat AbdulBaaqi, spoke to the students on character formation. She encouraged them to build a positive character, noting that this would form what people think of them.

    “The way you do your things tells a lot about you. In all situations, be truthful because it will determine the trust and confidence people will repose in you,” she said.

    The Head of Department, Mr Mahmud AbdulRaheem, advised them to be prayerful, honest and diligent with whatever they do. “You are our ambassadors and you are graduating into a world that is unknown to you. May God continue to be your guide,” he added.

    The Course Adviser, Mr Patrick Udende, told the students to equip themselves with relevant information that would aid their self-development.

    The highpoint of the event was the presentation of gift to the department by the finalists. The gift was received by the former Head of Department, Dr Azeez Lukman, who commended the students for putting up the programme.

  • Don’t be party to malpractice, freshers told

    Management of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) has held orientation for freshers. The event was held at the Main Auditorium of the Gidan Kwano campus and was graced by principal officers of the university.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Musbau Akanji, congratulated the freshers, urging them not to be party in examination malpractice, indecent dressing and other vices. He advised off-campus residents to live peacefully with the host community and respect the community values.

    Of the 10,000 candidates that applied to the institution, only 3,400 students were admitted.

    Esther Eloim admitted into Department of Chemistry, said: “I am overwhelmed with joy for finally being admitted after a few years of seeking admission. I thank God for the opportunity to study here and I hope to make an excellent result at the end of my stay here.”

    Chidera Uneakuji, 100-Level Biochemistry, said: “It is always a feeling to be admitted into university of this calibre. For me, it is a dream come true and I am grateful to God for the privilege.”

     

  • NANS leaders sworn in

    Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Zone B have inaugurates newly-elected executive.

    The ceremony had students and stakeholders from within and outside the zone in attendance.

    The chairman of the inaugural committee, E. E. Zadock, attributed the success of the election to God and the cooperation among  members.

    He said: “It was God who made everything possible today. That things are moving as planned is not by our own making, members did a whole lot to ensure things went the way they did.”

    He praised the Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Prof Bonniface Egboka, for giving the association support.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Prof Chigozie Asiabaka, who was represented by the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof M.T. Offor, advised the new executive to be focused and diligent in service delivery, which, according to him, would go a long way in moving the association to a greater height. The VC urged the students to embrace culture of service.

    Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, who was represented by Senior Special Assistant on Youths and Students Matters, Chinedu Obidigwe, urged the students’ leaders to work for students and promote unity.

    He affirmed the governor’s readiness to attend to various challenges confronting youths and students in the state.

    Members of executive sworn in included Ikechukwu Okorie, co-ordinator, Richard Ekutu, Deputy co-ordinator and Chuks Okafor, Secretary General.

    Others are Chibuzor Pedro, Public Relations Officer, Mercy Ogar, Financial Secretary, Rodny Okwusi, Assistant Financial Secretary, Anietie Inyang, Director of Special Duties, Aliyu Enadamen, Director of External Affairs, Victor Ezenagu, Director of Action and Mobilisation and Paul Eze, Director of Sport.

  • Godfatherism: The Achilles heel of growth

    Godfatherism: The Achilles heel of growth

    The effects of godfatherism on our struggle to progress as a nation cannot be over-emphasised. Godfatherism has done serious damage to our country’s political structure and its fragile unity. Godfathers are people who expend money and material resources to influence the victory of those vying for election. After electoral victory, they become an albatross on the public officer’s (godson) neck and dictate what should be done and what should not – whether good or bad.

    Even in terms of resource allocation and good governance, they want to call the shot and want their opinion to override that of the person elected by the people. The excesses of the godfathers usually place cog in the wheel of governance because they believe their opinions must always prevail.

    Undoubtedly, this practice has hindered the progress of this country. The fact that their personal interests usually surpass the interest of the masses often resulted in crisis, which overheats the polity. These individuals have positioned themselves as movers and shakers of the society, thereby playing with human and material resources that are supposed to be harnessed for the benefit of the generality of the society.

    Since 1999, when Nigeria returned to democracy, reader would agree with me that godfatherism syndrome has become part and parcel of our political dynamics; it has found its way into the system and metamorphosed to a norm in every arm of the government.

    Jobs are not readily made available to job seekers based on merit; godfathers have the exclusive right to provide personnel for public jobs. Even to secure an admission into the public schools, a candidate must have a strong backing even if it has the highest scores in Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    This situation has become a common phenomenon in public offices where promotions are based on connections.

    This trend is fast becoming part of our national life, yet nobody, not even the leadership of the country has shown concern to arrest the development. Individuals in pubic office have continued to misuse resources that are meant for the development of our society. They plunder the public till to satisfy the whim and caprice of their godfathers.

    How can democracy grow with this anti-progress phenomenon? Godfathers have been granted freedom to act on behalf of public officers, to the extent that they impose on anyone their wishes with the backing of authority. Nobody dares question their action, not even the public officer elected by the people.

    Is it that we have no sense of reasoning? Our silence on issues like this has resulted to the retrogression being witnessed in our politics. A few individuals cannot continue to play the music that we don’t like and force us to dance to the tune.

    Another effect of godfatherism is political crisis as being witnessed in Rivers State and other areas where disagreement between godfathers and godsons has resulted in tension. This is responsible for disunity among the various ethnic and religious groups in Nigeria.

    Each time a fight breaks out between godfathers and their sons, people suffer and process of governance slows down. All these result in political instability, which has negative implications on the nation’s democratic development, because it often put the country on social, political and economic stagnancy. Godfatherism has taken a ludicrous dimension in the polity. National development is the first victim. It breeds bad governance and diversion of public funds for personal use.

    Public office holders have become stooge in one way or the other to their godfathers because, as the saying goes, he who plays the viper dictates the tune.

    Development will continue to be a mirage until citizens realise and take action against this menace. Nigeria will remain a backward society until our leaders separate themselves from the apron of godfatherism. These people have for long time denied us the dividends of democracy. Until we are able to do away with this ailment, Nigeria will not achieve political development it craves.

     

    Usman, 300-Level Mass Comm., IBBU Lapai

  • Newest pharmacists in town

    Newest pharmacists in town

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has inducted graduating students of Pharmacy at its College of Medical Sciences in Idi-Araba. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA reports.

    The College of Medical Sciences of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in Idi-Araba came alive last Thursday. Guests and well-wishers thronged the college to witness the induction and oath-taking of the graduating students of the Faculty of Pharmacy.

    Clad in blue academic gowns, the graduands were the cynosure of all eyes as they filed into the Old Great Hall of the college, beaming with smiles.

    Prior to the exercise, Managing Director of Cipla Evans Nigeria Limited and the guest lecturer, Mr Wale Oyenuga, advised them to “strive not to be a man of success” but “a man of value.”

    It was the first alumni lecture to be held at such ceremony. Speaking on the theme: Successful Pharmacy Practice: Priming the new graduate, Oyenuga said the challenge before the graduands was how to unlock their potential for greatness on the professional terrain.

    He said: “You must navigate to the top with the right attitude and your psychological well-being coupled with being focused.This will ensure a good pharmacy practice and success.”

    The lecturer urged the graduating students not to measure their success with material wealth, noting that such elevates mediocrity and promotes corruption. He said what should drive their choice to unlock their potential greatness must be genuine interest and passion.

    Oyenuga said the graduands’ career choice was a journey of many years with various decisions to be taken at different stages.

    He added: “It is not a one-step action; many choices will be open to you as you progress. You must dream and aspire with passion. You must also seek a career path and counselling from role models and mentors.

    Pharmacy, he said, deals with the study of the function of drugs’ interaction with human body and pathogens to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases.

    “You already have what it takes to succeed in this career because as a graduating pharmacist, you are brilliant individuals, trained to deliver accurately under pressure with high capacity to learn new things based on repository of medical information,” he said.

    The lecturer urged the graduands not to be swayed by wrong definition of success, adding: “There are different branches of pharmacy in which you can take up career, such as hospital practice; distribution and marketing; quality assurance and production; public health; regulatory affairs; research and development (R &D); community practice; pharmacy ambassador teaching and research,” he said.

    He continued: “Choosing career is not a one-step action. Don’t fill your career with abandoned projects.  Make purposeful changes to compliment your experience and be focused on your targets. Engage in skill and knowledge gap analysis regularly. Fill knowledge gaps and be ahead of your contemporaries. Luck is when an opportunity comes and you are prepared for it.”

    Using a personal experience, Oyenuga urged the graduates to take a cue from his professional life. He said he chose sales and marketing aspect of pharmacy without regrets.

    Propelled by self-motivation Oyenuga said hardwork and self-discipline are his godfather. “I persevere for 16 years in the circle of conspiracy and finally, all material things were eventually taken care of. I have exceeded my initial goals and aspirations and fulfilled my career as a Pharmacist. You too can repeat this,” he said.

    The Registrar, Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN), Mrs Gloria Abumere, who administered the oaths said she was proud of their feat.

    The Faculty Dean, Prof Olukemi Odukoya, was all smiles as she spoke of the good conducts of the students and how they were ready to explore the profession to benefit humanity.

    She said: “This class of  2013 is distinguished by being the faculty’s 29th anniversary class since inception and the 10th as an independent faculty in the university. I will encourage the students that they should not  be discouraged in all their activities. Their characters, resilience and determination will make them to withstand any challenge.”

    A total of 141 students graduated, with eight having distinctions. They are Kofoworola Onagbola; Nkem Ogundipe; Chinonso Osuala; Olubusayo Olusetire; Jeniffer Onwumere; Rita Ezem; Olabimpe Adeleke and Obianuju Oragwu.

  • The pacesetters

    When I heard the clarion call to serve my fatherland, I galloped to my alma mater, the Obafemi Awolowo University, to check the posting. It was Oyo State. I marvelled at the choice of the ancient state but I never knew there was much to be learnt than to be seen.

    The odyssey started from the ancient town of Iseyin where the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Camp is located, and it terminated at Ibadan.

    Serving in the City of Brown Roofs, as Ibadan is fondly called, was a memorable one. Apart from the training I underwent as a Development Knowledge Facilitator, preaching the gospel of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) across the length and breadth of the seven hills surrounding the ancient city of the Yoruba warlords, I had a vivid experience of the glitz, glam and gloss associated with the indigenous people.

    More importantly was the impressive ironic phrase of the state’s slogan that often strikes my imagination. The Pacesetter State, be that as it may, seemed paradoxical from the onset when I set my feet in the state capital. But for the urban renewal programme of the Senator Abiola Ajimobi-led administration, the slogan might remain, till date, a figment of the creator’s imagination.

    But still, J.P. Clark’s poetic admission of Ibadan as a city “running splash of rust and gold” is another mishmash of that ironic slogan vis-à-vis the former rust-like look of the state and the present urban renewal programme plaited in gold. Thanks to a governor’s bid to set a pace.

    Beyond that, this brings into limelight the concept of a pacesetter, as it often cuts across my mind whenever I come in contact with the slogan. In his poem, Collins Njemjika sees a pacesetter as a “Confirmed last man standing/ The epitome of acceptable manner”. In the eighth and ninth line, the poet postulated: “Even in the dark/ One sees him as light.

    To further elucidate the poet’s assertion, I see a pacesetter as a leader who sets an interminable legacy in any field and whose example others may follow. Definitely, he or she has carved a niche for him/herself.

    Talking about African literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka has set the pace for young aspiring writers. In 1986, he became the first African writer and the first black writer to win the Nobel Prize for literature. His literary foray and scholarship inspires a new generation of writers who seek to tap from his wealth of experience.

    In doing Justice to this discourse, however, no other man could have set a better pace in the struggle against White domination of Africa, other than Nelson Mandela. He was a worldwide symbol of antiapartheid struggle. As captured in Athol Frugard’s masterpiece, Sizwe Bansi is Dead, the condition of black South Africans was so dehumanizing such that movement and employment opportunities was restrained to those without an identity card.

    At the end, Nelson Mandela won the battle and he was elected the First Black President in South Africa. He set the pace and paid the price of eternal freedom for South African posterity.

    Maria Montessori was an Italian educator and psychiatric physician whose method in teaching young children became a plus to pedagogy. Her love for children, no matter the latter’s physical status, was immeasurable. To a large extent, her teaching method of child initiative and self-reliance triggered my love affair for teaching. Montessori influenced Europe and the United States of America with her method. Today, we have Montessori schools scattered across the country.

    Student journalism across universities was restricted to the corridors of the ivory towers they emerge from, although the urge to be heard was burning within undergraduates who crave to tread the media path. Then, CAMPUSLIFE came on board as a platform for Nigerian undergraduates to spew forth the burning urge. The stage was set for young writers to write on campus issues on a national medium. This unique concept, which has been cloned by other national dailies, was birthed by Late Ngozi Agbo. She is, undoubtedly, even in death, a pacesetter. Aunty Ngozi, the Nigerian Maria Montessori, bred undergraduates not only to be passionate about the pen trade but to be outstanding entrepreneurs. That sums up the concluding lines of Collins Njemjika’s poem. “At your back flocks walk your step/ The pacesetter.”

    However, life could be likened to a stage. When you are through acting your role, you take a bow and leave the stage. That thing you will be remembered for is your acting skills either good or bad.

    On this note, therefore, let me end this piece with the words of an American actress, Mae West. “You only have once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

     

    Taiwo just finished National Youth Service, NYSC IBADAN

  • ‘LASU crisis sponsored by fifth columnists’

    ‘LASU crisis sponsored by fifth columnists’

    … Eight students arraigned for breach of peace

    Lagos State Government has said the crises rocking the Lagos State University are being fueled by fifth columnists bent on derailing government’s plans to reposition the school.

    The enraged students of LASU had on Tuesday paralysed traffic on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway as they vehemently protested the hike in tuition fees.

    The students demanded that the government should reduce the school fees from N390, 000 to N48, 500 or face their wrath.

    Addressing journalists on the situation on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba and  his counterpart in the Ministry of  Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, said certain individual were hiding under the crises to cause  trouble in the state.

    They explained that the government had before now reached an agreement with stakeholders on the way out of the lingering crisis, wondering why the crises had continued to escalate despite assurances from the government.

    According to Ibirogba, the state government has put in place measures to ensure that no student of the institution is left behind for inability to pay the fees, saying the government had given so many of the students scholarships , bursary and increased research budget in the university.

    Meanwhile, eight students of the institution were on Wednesday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court for breach of public peace.

    The students made up of five males and three females were alleged to have conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace.

    The male students are – Bolarinwa Olamide (23); Oludare Samuel Olayinka (18); Fatukasi Timilehin (19); Akani Segun (27) and Babatunde Bolarinwa (24).

    While the female students are – Ajayi Taiwo (24); Olatimihan Taiwo (20) and Oni Victoria (18).

    They   were arraigned before Magistrate Eniola Fabamwo.

    The police alleged that the students on Tuesday hijacked LAGBUS No: P004 with the registration No SMK 719 XK, property of Lagos State Government.

    The offence, the police said was contrary to and punishable under Section 166 (D) of the Criminal Laws No 11 Vol. 44 Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

    The students however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The magistrates granted each of them bail in the sum of N10, 000 with sureties in like sum.

  • Keeping faith with tradition

    Keeping faith with tradition

    Occupants of Awolowo Hall at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, have celebrated the traditional Ewa Day and Aro Night. KEMI BUSARI (Political Science) reports.

    The event began at 2pm with shouts of Ewa ti jina ooo (the beans is ready) by a student. No sooner did he finished than students came out with assorted of containers, such as bathroom buckets, bowls, pails, pots, cups, milk tins and nylons.

    They lined up to be served.

    Those unaware of what was going on joined the queue without any container. Asked what they wanted to use to take the meal, one answered in Pidgin English: “Brother, na for my hand I go take am o.”

    As they were served, they moved to a corner to savour the meal. It was a sight to behold as students sang various Aro (hilarious) songs.

    That was the scene at the Ewa Day and Aro (hilarity) Night held at the Awolowo Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

    Preparation for the day was slow because of the absence of the Hall Executive Council (HEC), which usually coordinated the event.

    Occupants of the hall came out and picked the beans. A bag of beans was used for the celebration. A set of students brought firewood, local stoves and aluminum pots to cook the food. They poured the beans in a pot of water and placed it on fire. Some students stayed around, entertaining the cooks with songs.

    Female students were not left out. Some of them were spotted, sitting at a corner preparing the drink to be taken during the Aro Night. One of them, Aderonke Adeyemi, a student of Computer Science, said they came to assist the boys and catch fun.

    The Aro Night started at 10 o’clock after Awolowo Hall occupants visited the female halls, singing and dancing.

    The venue of the programme – Awo Café – was filled up by students, dressed in funny attires.

    The event started with a formal introduction by the masters of ceremony, who gave an insight into what to expect.

    “We are here tonight to uphold the tradition of Aro Night as we use to do every year. We enjoin every weere (mad men) and were’birin (mad women) present here tonight to relax and be courteous throughout the programme,” one of the comperes, who was dressed in tattered Agbada, said in Yoruba.

    Being called a mad man is enough to cause friction, but the reverse was the case at Awo Café; every student that attended the Night event was a mad man.

    The Night featured hilarious displays from the Awo ‘choir’ and ‘mad legends’, such as Ogidiolu and Woli Agba.

    In the comic display, Adewale Adesina, the Director of Socials-elect, said: “I wonder why the management decided to site the zoological garden far from the Halls of Residence. If I am elected as the Director of Socials and Culture, I will ensure all the animals in the zoo are relocated to the hostels. I will also ensure that no student pays fees next session.”

    The speech was greeted with laughter and applause from the ‘mad men’.

    The Night also featured music and dance performances.

    Adedayo Adeleye, one of the organisers, said putting the programme together was tedious because students did not contribute money.

    “We spent up to N30,000 in getting things together. We requested each room to pay N200 but when we moved around for the money, some gave us N10 and N5. But we kept on with the motivation that the tradition must not die,” he said.

    Daniel Arohunfara, a 400-Level Educational Administration and Planning student, described the Ewa Day as a culture, which no one could tell when it began.

    He said: “The consumption of the beans is not the most important thing but the enjoyment we derive in doing this together.”

  • Corps member renovates toilet

    A corps member serving in Bakassi in Cross River State, Johnpaul Nnamdi, has renovated the toilet of Community Secondary School in Esighi Bakassi.

    The youth also donated toilet facilities to the school.

    Johnpaul  said the renovation was necessary because the toilet was in a deplorable condition.

    He said the pupils and staff of the school deserved a good environment to promote learning, noting that as part of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) initiative of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), he would ensure a clean environment in the school to achieve the MDGs and impact positively on his host community.

    In promoting the MDGs, Johnpaul has held hand washing campaign across various schools in Bakassi and trained volunteers to achieve the objective. He also donated clothes, bags and sporting kits to schools in the community.

    When the toilet was unveiled, the school principal and teachers praised the corps member for the effort.

    Johnpaul said: “I carried out several projects in fulfilment of my duty as a MDGs volunteer and I believe it will lead to sustainable development in my host community and beyond.”

    He added that he actualised the projects with the help of the community residents, political and traditional leaders.