The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Law students elect leaders

    Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have elected new officers of the Students’ Union Government. This followed long week of campaigns at various faculties, reading rooms and classes.

    The election, which was held on Friday penultimate week, was preceded by a presidential debate and the manifesto night.

    Voting began at 9.a.m on and ended at 5pm the same day. The Moot Court, which was the venue of the voting, was a beehive of activities as students queued up to exercise their franchise.

    The election recorded a low turn-out of voters was low, a development which made many aspirants to arrange for vehicles to convey students who reside off campus.

    The counting of votes began immediately with the votes of the aspirants for the legislative house.

    Shouts of joy rented the air as soon as the results were announced. Okiji Bola emerged as President and Oluchi Emmanuella, Vice-President. Others included Adebayo Oluwaseun, Principal Liaison Officer; Oyekanmi Bolaji, Sports Director; Falade Dimeji, Social Director; Ayobami Olarinde, Assistant General Secretary; Ebenezer Adeojo, General Secretary; Jesutowo Adeniji, Public Relations Officer

    A party hosted by MC Headies was held in the wee hours of the morning to celebrate the victories.

  • Caleb University shut over students’ unrest

    Caleb University shut over students’ unrest

    Students of Caleb University, Imota Lagos went on rampage yesterday destroying school properties.

    The school was consequently shut down to stem the violence which allegedly began when a school official tried to stop a Muslim student from praying in the school – the institution is a Christian school.

    No fewer than four cars and many other school properties were vandalised in the mayhem.

    Caleb’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayo Olukoju announced today the temporary shutdown of the school which he said will re-open on June 2nd.

    Prof. Olukoju said: “We have rules and regulations in the school and all the students agreed to abide by them. These rules are in the student handout. Before now, we have been applying appropriate sanctions against students who default in any of these rules.

    “We wanted to enforce one of such sanctions on Wednesday before this crisis escalated.”

    He however debunked the insinuations that the violence was related to religion. “Please, the crisis has nothing to do with religion. It has nothing to do with being a Christian or a Muslim,” he assured.

  • We must unite against terror

    We must unite against terror

    I agree that no group of human being can create a society that is totally free of crime, but we can have the grace to build a society where crime can be reduced to its barest minimum.

    Today, we have beautifully designed for ourselves a crime-ridden society. Hence, we are troubled on every side, perplexed and in despair over the ruthless activities of a group of extremists. First, the nation witnessed 30-month civil war in which thousands of people were killed for no just cause. Then we experienced militancy in the Niger Delta region because of oil. Thousands got killed in the unrest. Now, Boko Haram has crept in and people are in fear in very part of the country.

    Just last month, many Nigerians were killed in their numbers by these rampaging Boko Haram insurgents in Nyanya Park, a few kilometres from the capital city. Despite the measure by the government to stop in these agents of death, the terrorists had their way and caused bloodshed. There is no security, one may say.

    But those who are supposed to secure us were at the scene in a long motorcade, with battalion of security agents to ascertain the degree of wreckages. “We shall smoke them out of their holes,” the president and his officials boasted. Then, they disappeared from the bloody scene to visit hospitals, where survivors were gasping for breath.

    After the bloodshed and the show of love to the victims, everybody went to sleep while the enemies stayed awake.

    After Nyanya bombing, Boko Haram criminals invaded the dormitory of Government Day Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State and abducted over 230 school girls. Their teenage victims were taken into the thick Sambisa forest. A few managed to escape while a good number are being held by the criminals. God should have mercy on us. We can all imagine the psychological torture these kids are being subjected by their abductors.

    Crimes come with little restraint, without anyone taking responsibility. For the fourth week now, these teens are in the bush with their abductors. In saner climes, where leaders are committed to the welfare and security of their citizens, heads would have rolled as a way of telling the citizens that certain officials of government have failed to do what they are required to do. In Nigeria, it is a sin to call for president’s resignation despite his failure to secure the land.

    There are no explosive detecting devices to track and detect bomb-laden vehicles on our highways. Technology has helped many countries to reduce occurrence of this kind of crime. In advanced countries, there are devices installed on the highways that trigger alarm as soon as an explosive is detected. The devices send signals to the nearby control station and security agencies with the vehicle’s details. Despite being blessed with resources, we cannot install those devices on our road.

    The citizens are left in the cold, while the leaders secure themselves with our police. I strongly believe that we can overcome this challenge if Christians and Muslims faithfully pray for God’s help. Let all of us pray and cry to our God that He may send a helper or a comforter to heal our land from this bloodshed.

    The services of a soothsayer are not required to tell us that recent happenings are being orchestrated to divide the country. By our act, we must not play into the enemies’ hands. Even though our leaders have not shown seriousness in tackling these crimes, we must play our role properly to secure our nation, because if the Boko Haram crimes snowball into a full crisis, everyone would be affected.

    We must guide our utterances against one another and come up with information that can help our security agencies to prevent crimes in the society. We must act to save our nation from precipice.

    Emmanuel, 500-Level Electronics and Computer Technology, UNICAL

  • Graduate dies on first day in Law School

    Collins Nwoha, a visually-impaired law graduate, finished from the Imo State University (IMSU) as one of the best students. He died on the day he resumed his Bar programme at the Enugu Campus of the Nigerian Law School, reports EKENE AHANEKU (300-Level Optometry).

    The registration at the Augustine Nnamani Campus of the Nigerian Law School (NLS) in Enugu State was not that rigorous, but Collins Nwoha, a visually-impaired graduate, posted to the campus, could not complete his registration before he died. It was the late Collins’ first day on the campus.

    What could have caused his death? That was the question law students of the Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, could not answer last week when the news of his death spread.

    A pall of gloom descended on the institution’s Faculty of Law. Students wailed; some lecturers broke down in tears, wondering why a brilliant student should die in his prime. The late Collins studied Law at the university.

    Being among the best students in his class, the late Collins was part of the first set of graduates mobilised for the Bar programme.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the deceased enthusiastically left his house in Owerri for Enugu at 6am penultimate Monday for the Bar programme. He showed no sign of illness. On arrival at the Law School at 9am, he started his registration like others, with the help of his sister, Joy, and classmate, who always volunteered to carry the late Collins in his car.

    Two hours into the registration, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the late Collins complained of headache and fever. His classmate asked if he should take him back home to see his family doctor. The late Collins politely told his classmate to allow him complete his registration before leaving.

    At 3pm, Collins visited the Law School clinic, where he was unable to see a doctor. After waiting for several minutes, the deceased reportedly told his sister and classmate that he was strong enough to complete his registration and planned to travel back to Owerri the next day.

    He completed his registration at 5:55pm and was allocated a temporary bed space in Snake Island Hall. As the late Collins’ classmate was leaving the hostel, his condition  was said to have worsened, making his sister, Joy, to scream for help.

    The deceased was rushed to the clinic, where a doctor laboured to stabilise him to no avail. Collins died in the clinic.

    His classmates said the late Collins’ visual impairment could not deter him from achieving excellence.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that his brilliance made his colleagues to select him as their representative in the Students’ Union Government (SUG).

    “The late Collins never saw his disability as a problem rather he was encouraged to do more than what people with two eyes cannot do,” a student said

    Austin Chibueze, who saw the late Collins moments before his death, said: “I am still in shock. We travelled to Enugu together in the same vehicle. We went in for our registration together. I saw him going to his room in the evening but the next news I heard was that Collins is dead.”

    Nwachukwu Ceevero, president of IMSU chapter of Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN), described Collins’ death as a tragedy, saying he would be remembered for his exceptional brilliance. “The death of Collins Nwoha reminds us of the fleeting nature of human existence. It is a tragedy because he had laudable dreams even as a visually-impaired student. But those dreams could not materialise. He will always be remembered for his exceptional brilliance,” he said.

    Prince Ndiokwere, the union’s Chief Judge when the late Collins was a member, said: “I have no words to express my grief because Collins’ death is a great shock to me, especially when I consider his achievement,  despite his disability. He was full of dreams but we cannot question God.”

  • Achieving food and national security

    Achieving food and national security

    Before I begin, let me define food and security according to the Oxford Advanced Learners’ Dictionary. Food is any substance that is or can be consumed by living organisms especially by eating, in order to sustain life.

    While security is the condition of not being threatened, especially physically, psychologically, emotionally or financially.

    To scientists, those are layman’s definitions of food and security. Scientifically, there is food security when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preference for an active and healthy life.

    Therefore, promoting food security should be a collective responsibility of every citizen of the world because nobody can do without food. However, to achieve surplus food, the challenges enumerated below must be prioritised and tackled.

    First is water shortage. There is no gainsaying the fact that 60 per cent of the food we eat comes through agricultural activity. Food crops such as cocoa, rice and cereal, which are agricultural products, need water to yield in large quantity. Today, how many farmers in Northern part of Nigeria, where most of the food we eat come from, have access to irrigation? This is one of the major challenges faced farmers and this must be solved to achieve nutritious food.

    Also, for many farmers, it has been a challenge, storing farm produce because of lack of electricity to preserve the food in storage facilities. This problem is a threat to food security. And it is a common problem for farmers in the rural areas, where there is no power supply. Sea food (fishes) and perishables are daily wasted because of lack of power supply. If food security must be feasible, government must provide electricity to the rural areas.

    Insecurity is another factor that tends to make food security a mirage. No farmer will go to farm if his security is not guaranteed. This  is mostly common in the North, where there is no love lost between farmers and Fulani herdsmen. The government must proffer a lasting solution to the farmer-herdsmen faceoff.

    Bad roads, dilapidated infrastructure and rickety vehicles are part of challenges that must be solved if food must be made available all times.

    Poverty is the major challenge against food security. Statistics have shown that majority of Nigerians live on an average of $1 per day, which is equivalent to about N160. With that little amount, food security is impossible.

    Over population, no doubt, affects availability of food negatively. The world population is increasing at an alarming rate, while a fraction of the population is engaged in food production. There is an inverse variation, which will make it difficult to produce enough food for the bourgeoning population. More people should be encouraged to go to farm for food production. Also, family planning should also be done to avoid unnecessary births.

    If all the problems listed above can be addressed, then food security is guaranteed. Places where food security is not feasible, there is bound to be malnutrition. Food security is not all about access to just any type of food; it entails access to food and in its right proportion (balanced diet).

    Starvation and death are the end results of food insecurity. An individual who has no access to food for days can starve to death.

    There is a saying that one should “pay one’s dietician more than the doctor”. The reason for this is not far-fetched. Most of the diseases and ailments human beings suffer are as a result of what we eat. We need dieticians who can instruct us on nutrients that can be derived from food. Through this, we can prevent some diseases. In other words, when there is access to food in its right proportion, malnutrition diseases such as kwashiorkor, goitre, scurvy and such like can be prevented. Good food makes us to be energetic.

    There are things that should be done by the government to boost food security. The government should subsidise or make affordable some good food necessary for body growth. The government should also promulgate Food Security Bill to protect what people consume as food.

    In conclusion, since we now understand the challenges of achieving food security and their consequences, we are now able to understand where the rain is beating us. If the measures are put in place, food security would be achieved.

    Uchechukwu, 200-Level Food Science and Technology, ABSU

  • ‘Boko Haram is a bad ideology’

    ‘Boko Haram is a bad ideology’

    There is no verse in the Quran and Hadith of the Prophet Mohammed that encourages Muslims to kidnap people for any reason, Ustaz Muhammad Jamiu Trimidhi, Imam, Sadaqat and Zakat Foundation, said last Friday at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Community Islamic Complex in Idi-Araba, Lagos.

    The Islamic scholar made the point during the special Jumat Service to open the 24th edition of Islam Propagation Week and Great Procession, organised by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) College of Medicine University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital (CMUL/LUTH) Branch.

    The cleric condemned the abduction of the 276 school girls in Chibok, Borno State, saying the act was against the teaching of Islam and Sunnah (examples) of the Prophet. He described Boko Haram sect as a bad ideology that is out to tarnish the image of Muslims and the religion.

    Ustaz Trimidhi said: “The resolve of Boko Haram to sell out the abducted girls in the ‘Will of Allah’ is not appropriate in Islam. It was never reported that any prophet of Islam or their disciples abducted a group of people and sold them out. It is never in the history of Islam. Boko Haram members are not representing Islam; they are representing another ideology entirely different from the teachings of the religion.

    The cleric prayed that the sect’s power should be weakened, so that peace could return to the affected area. Speaking on the MSSN activities, Ustaz Trimidhi praised the executives and members of the Society for portraying good image of Islam on the campus.

    He said: “We thank Allah for making us have this group of youths, calling people towards true path of Allah and showing good morals. This portends good future for Islam.”

    The cleric, in his sermon, spoke on Tawasul (closeness to Allah), it was only through good deeds and piety that human could reach Allah.

    After Asri (late afternoon) prayer, all members of the society trooped out to participate in the procession  organised to sensitise people about Islam.

  • Multiple explosions jolt UNIMAID

    Multiple explosions jolt UNIMAID

    Boko Haram insurgents invaded Marimari and Gremari villages in Borno State last Saturday, creating panic at the nearby University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID). TAIWO ISOLA (300-Level Human Anatomy) reports.

    They struck far from the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), but the echo was heard on the campus. Students ran helter-skelter, following  multiple explosions in Marimari and Gremari villages, both in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

       The council is less than two kilometres from the university. Boko Haram insurgents had come calling again.

    The insurgents invaded the villages, shooting sporadically and throwing explosives. It was some minutes past midnight on Saturday when students were going to read in preparation for their examination.

    The explosions shock the campus.

    Some students, who were sleeping in their hostels, rushed out to know what was amiss. There was a stampede as staff and students ran for their lives, thinking the insurgents were trying to break into the campus. Some students were injured in the ensuing melee.

    Idris Suleiman, a student, who was reading in a classroom when the explosions occurred, said: “The class where I was reading was almost filled by students, who had exams the following day. When the bombs went off, the whole place shook. Everybody ran out because we thought the building was going to collapse on us. When I got to the hostel area, I heard students shouting ‘run for your life’.”

    There was pandemonium in the hostels, but the students were afraid to run out because there was no electricity. “Everywhere was dark and we could hear students screaming for help from the hostels,” Idris added.

    A female student, Anu Bamidele, who was in her hostel when the incident occurred, described it as terrible. “It was a terrible experience for us. If the incident had happened during the day, we would have known which direction to run to. But the darkness compounded our fear; we stayed in there for as long as the shooting lasted because we didn’t know where it was happening.”

    The Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof M.W. Gaya, visited the hostels the following morning to allay the students’ fear. He cautioned them against trying to run away from the campus whenever there is an explosion.

    Michael Jonah, a student, claimed to have heard sounds of Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) near the commercial area of the university as he ran to safety with other students, but said: “We didn’t know whether it was for us or against us; we just ran away.”

    The students remained awake while the explosions and gunshots lasted. Stephen Edet, a final year student of Mechanical Engineering, said: “The explosion woke me up at 12am. My heart skipped. I had not the slightest idea of what was happening but I knew all was not well. Till about 4am, all occupants of my hostel remained awake. It was when the hostel mosques made calls for prayer that we felt comfortable to sleep.”

    A resident of Ado Bayero Hall, who did not want his name in print, said he saw some fear-stricken students jumping down from the storey building, and sustaining injuries in their bid to escape.

    The incident did not stop the ongoing examination as students, who had papers on Saturday morning, rushed to the venues. A Pharmacy student, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, said: “When the explosions and gunshots finally stopped around 4am, I picked up my books and started revising for my exam. I know there was no way the management would have cancelled the exam, despite the explosions that forced many students to abandon their books for four hours.”

    The Borno State Department of the State Security said, in a statement, that the blasts and the shootings had nothing to do with the university.

    The statement read: “There was an attack by insurgents in Marimari and Gremari villages, who attacked the villagers because of recent arrest of some and killing of some Boko Haram members by the villagers. The insurgents came for revenge.”

    The insurgents were reportedly repelled by security operatives during an exchange of gun fire.

    Meanwhile, the management has created military points at the university gates 1 and II and the campus motor park. Security operatives are also on campus to maintain law and order.

  • ‘I would have been useless’

    ‘I would have been useless’

    Not a few students know Abisola Yusuf at the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State. The 400-Level English Language student recently unveiled the second edition of her magazine, Pendulum, at a ceremony attended by many. She tells SIKIRU AKINOLA (400-Level Political Science) what drives her passion to float the magazine.

    What is Pendulum magazine all about?

    The world is taking a new shape and so many new things are happening right now, which are having a negative effect in our lives. But for me, I observe that a lot of values that define our humanity are phasing out. Integrity is becoming a virtue of the past. It is a common sight to see young ladies bleaching their skins and youths disrespecting elders. The society is corrupt and this is what people hear about us daily. But to write different stories about us, I observed we need a new platform to do that. This is what the Pendulum magazine comes to do. It comes to chronicle our positive side. We are agents of positive change, who are out to proffer lasting solution to certain societal problems.

    What drives your passion to start the magazine?

    I derive my passion from the habit of impacting lives and motivate people through my pen. I discovered that when I speak, a lot of people are willing to listen. I started with a radio programme titled Feminine Space on Great 104.5 FM, the campus community radio. But when the station had some technical challenges, I started looking for an avenue to reach out to a larger audience and I decided to do that through the Pendulum.  More so, I am motivated by the spirit to be a positive change agent in the society.

    How did you get finance for the magazine production?

    When I started, I was not even concerned about finance because the productions we did at the initial stage were personally financed from my pocket and with some help from people I met through advocacy. But when the challenges became enormous, I approached my mother, who helped financially. I also got funds through adverts placed by people who appreciate what we do. It has been God all the way.

    Who are your role models?

    Let me say without God, I would have been a useless human being. I got inspiration to do this through God. He teaches and grants me a discerning spirit and gift of wisdom. I must say Gos id my first role model. My other role models are my mother and people I met in the course of my advocacy. I look up to people such as Mr Eyitayo Olu, Prof Niyi Osundare, Mr Ademola Adesola, Senior Special Assistant on Media to Osun Governor, and Dr Kehinde Ayoola of the Department of English in OAU.

    Do you see the magazine grow in the next five years?

    To me, five years is relatively too far. Before then, the Pendulum Media Enterprise would have impacted so many lives by the grace of Almighty God. We would have changed the orientation of so many youths and purify their hearts from vices that are making our society a bad place to live in. In five years, we would also have got our own independent visual or audio media outfit.

  • Let’s promote unity, not war

    Let’s promote unity, not war

    Recent happenings in the country have, again, shown us that all is not well with Nigeria. But what could be the sins of this nation that has the potential to be great and endowed with human and material resources? The nation is battling all kinds of ailment.

    In its 53 years of independence, the country has been held by the jugular by corrupt leaders, who promote nepotism, tribalism and religious disaffection to divide the citizens and feather their own nest. Nigeria needs the help of all of us and God to truly be a nation for human beings and not beasts.

    In the dead of the night, 276 school girls were abducted from the sleep by members of Boko Haram sect at Government Day Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State. The incident happened despite emergency rule in that state. For what purpose were they kidnapped?

    Today, no one is safe in the Northeast. The populace cannot sleep with their two eyes closed even in the day. The dreadful Boko Haram insurgents have made the region ungovernable for the government. The sect has unjustly killed thousands of innocent citizens, thus intensifying tension in the country. What if the family members of the victims rise up today to revenge the death of their loved ones? Wouldn’t that give rise to another civil war?

    Where the hope for Nigeria lies remains million dollar question to answer. Does it mean that the labours of our heroes past are in vain? We kill ourselves for nothing; some even go to the mountain top to pray and fast for their follow humans to die, forgetting the teaching of Jesus, who said: “Love your enemies and pray for them.” For the people here, it is “hate your enemy and destroy them”.

    This is the reality of our society today.  All kinds of evil are being perpetrated in the country despite our claim to high religious values. Nothing seems to work well; corruption is at its peak; politicians use their follow country men for rituals to win elections. Who will save the situation?

    Where are we heading to? Could the path we are following now be a wider road to the gradual disintegration of the country? Ethnic militias are also rising up to demand certain rights or secede from Nigeria. The activities of the likes of Asari Dokubo, Ralph Uwazuruike and their co-travellers are a pointer in this direction. If these ethnic champions and militants are not checked, their activities may upset the arrangement and send the country on the path of disintegration.

    Some people have been saying that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable; this is bad thinking. But it is evident that Nigerians are not united as brothers and sisters, who share the spirit of oneness. Many have said that there is no need killing ourselves, rather we should strive to sustain the freedom our founding fathers bequeathed to us. But are we really doing that? We have been divided by our religion and tribe.

    It is unfortunate that, some of the issues that led to civil war in 1967 are repeating themselves and the government at the centre seems unconcerned. Nigerians must rise up to denounce these evil forces that will set us against one another and cause another civil war. I am sure nobody would like to witness another horror of killing. We must, therefore, begin to sensitise ourselves towards the danger and consequence of not re-uniting to tackle our common challenges and weakness. When we do this, the challenges confronting us may become a thing of the past.

    The former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, said what we are witnessing today is not too far from what happened under his administration, which led to the civil war. We have the responsibility to pray and work with the government to end the cycle of violence, so that unity of the country would not be affected. It is imperative for the government to deal decisively with troublemakers and their agents.

    We must be united as a nation that fought a bloody war against the colonial masters and won. This country can remain as one united entity when we invest efforts to solve its contemporary challenges.

    We must not see war as the solution to our problems. We must detest the warmongers and agents. We should unite against forces that want to take away our freedom. Let us not look at ourselves based on our colour of skin or the language we speak or our faith, we should engage ourselves based on our common humanity and shared agenda to make our country great.

    For now, Nigeria, our country, needs men and women of courage, who can stand the test of time and make sacrifice for its progress.

    Mark, 400-Level Business Education, YABATECH

  • Alligator found in poly hostel

    Alligator found in poly hostel

    There was commotion last Saturday at Sango Campus of The Polytechnic Ibadan when students discovered a baby alligator in Olori Female Hall.

    The hostel is located near Apete River, the north of the campus. An occupant of the hostel, who was washing her clothes, found the reptile, crawling into the building. She alerted other occupants, who were relaxing the in their rooms. Within a moment, the hostel was deserted by the students, who ran in different directions.

    The occupants alerted the hostel porters, who moved to the scene. It was learnt that the porters used a long rod to kill the reptile, which tried to escape into the river.

    While the reptile was being chased, there was a panic among students in nearby hostel, who got a hint that the creature had sneaked into the compound.

    Because of the hostel’s proximity to the river, students said snakes are seen around regularly, but noted that it was the first time a reptile would be found, reinforcing the notion that there may be harmful creatures in the Apete River.

    Some of the students said the alligator may have escaped from the University of Ibadan zoo, which is close to the school. Some other made a joke out of the incident, saying the reptile was spiritually sent to attack one of the hostel’s occupants.

    Some frightened occupants, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said they could not say if the creature was a crocodile or an alligator.

    Aisha Salami, an occupant, said: “We were frightened at the sight of the animal. It was discovered by one of the occupants, who had gone to wash her clothes. Although, we are used to seeing different kinds of animals such as snakes in the rainy season, but finding an alligator is totally strange.”

    Another occupant, who declined to give her name, said: “I initially thought the alligator could have escaped from the zoo, but when I remembered we live close to a river, I was relieved.”

    Porters advised occupants to be vigilant, urging them to notify the authorities whenever they discover strange animals around the hostel.

    The baby alligator was found seven days after a snake was discovered in student’s room and one of the offices in the Mass Communication Department.