The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Promoting unity on the pitch

    Promoting unity on the pitch

    Students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto (UDUS) trooped to the university stadium last week to watch the final game between Anambra and Kaduna states in the soccer contest of all indigenous associations organised by the Students’ Union Government (SUG). IBRAHIM JATTO (400-Level Zoology) and HALIMAH AKANBI (200-Level Law) report.

    The soccer contest started 10 months ago, but it could not be concluded because of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. When the strike was called off, there was no time to return to the field to conclude the competition. Examinations beckoned.

    Last Saturday, students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto (UDUS), in their thousands, flocked to the campus stadium to watch the grand finale of the football competition hosted by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) for all indigenous associations.

    The competition, the 15th in the series, was part of the measures to promote unity among the various ethnic groups in the university. The final match was between Anambra and Kaduna states’ students. While the latter was playing the final match for the first time, it was the sixth time for the former.

    By 2pm, the stadium was filled. Students from the competing associations expressed optimism on the victory of their colleagues.

    Katherine Audu, a 300-Level student, who hails from Kaduna State, said: “I am here to support my colleagues for them to be victorious because this is the first time Kaduna State will be playing in the final. So, I have to be here.”

    Shehu Balarabe, a 400-Level student, said: “I can’t wait for the game to start, this is our own version of the World Cup and we are enjoying the moment.”

    Precious Nwani, a 200-Level student from Anambra State, said: “This match is memorable; I am most delighted and I hope my state will win the cup.”

    The match kicked off at 4pm, with players from both teams displaying their soccer skills on the pitch. The first half ended goalless. A few minutes into the second half, the Anambra team striker, Anthony Shuaibu, scored a goal, which was contested by the Kaduna team.

    Kaduna fans, who believed the goal was scored from the offside, ran onto the field and accused the referee of bias. Students’ Union officials and security personnel calmed the angry students. The match ended 1-0, with Anambra students taking over the field in celebration.

    The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Magawatta, represented by his deputy, praised the students for the spirit of sportsmanship displayed throughout the game. He said he believed the competition would make the students to shun tribalism and promote peace on the campus.

    Hailing the union for organising the tournament, Dr Magawatta urged it double its efforts to foster unity among students.

    Some of the players were honoured after the match. Aliyu Ladan, captain of Kaduna State team, was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the tournament; Anthony Shuaibu of Anambra team won a Golden Boot for being the player with the highest number of goals. He scored eight goals.

    The highpoint of the event was the presentation of the trophy to the winners.

    Students expressed satisfaction with the organisation of the event. Jubril Wada, a 400-Level student, said: “In my opinion, this is the best football tournament in this university so far; everything went as planned, despite months of ASUU strike that delayed the final match. It was a good tournament.”

    Morenikeji Dauda, a 200-Level History student, said the final match was fun, adding: “The football match will linger for a very long time in the memory of students that watched it.”

  • From grass to grace

    From grass to grace

    He is from a humble background, Alexander Ezenagu overcame poverty to become a First Class Law graduate. He experienced a positive turnaround in life, following his encounter with New Era Foundation, a non-governmental organisation founded by the former First Lady of Lagos, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Alexander gave a testimony last weekend in London, writes WALE AJETUNMOBI.

    He held the audience spellbound as he gave testimony of the trajectory of his life. It was at a special gala dinner organised by the Association of Nigerian Academic UK (ANAUK) in honour of Senator Oluremi Tinubu at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel, in West London, last weekend.

    The narrator, Alexander Ezenagu, is a Master’s student of Law at the prestigious University of Cambridge.

    For him, it was not an easy journey to the top. He lived with 13 siblings and his parents in a one-room Boys’ Quarter in a backwater neighbourhood in Oshodi, a Lagos suburb. It was challenging for his parents feeding and keeping him and his siblings in school.

    “I attended a public school, where the school fee per term was a little under 60 pence, depending on the exchange rate. Sadly, my parents could not afford to send me and my siblings to school. Four of my siblings dropped out of secondary school in rapid succession. To keep myself in school and buy books to read, I had to hawk petty goods, wash cars and clothes, carry goods for people and run many errands,” Alexander, whose father is a cobbler, said.

    Despite the challenges, he trudged on with a determination to succeed. The turning point came for Alexander when he was in final year in high school. He was adjudged the best pupil and was selected to represent the school in the regional qualifiers of the Spelling Bee Competition organised by New Era Foundation, a pet project of the former Lagos State First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

    Alexander won. This made him to represent Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area at the state challenge, where he contested against 56 others.

    “I came third in that contest but prizes were extended to the first and second runners-up by Mrs Tinubu. That motherly gesture is the reason I am standing before you all today,” he said.

    In 2005, Alexander was admitted into the University of Ibadan (UI) to study Law. He graduated with a First Class honours in 2010. Feeling proud of Alexander’s academic achievement, Senator Tinubu led a high-profile delegation to the campus to share in Alexander’s joy.

    The senator footed Alexander’s Law School bill. “I never had the dream of going to the Law School because of tuition fee, which was at the time about £1,500. It didn’t come cheap. But my Law School bill was offset completely by Senator Tinubu and maintenance was covered by a scholarship scheme established by former chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area, Hon. Afeez Ipesa-Balogun,” he said.

    Alexander graduated with a First Class at the Lagos Law School and was called to the Nigerian Bar. Through scholarship, he was admitted into the University of Cambridge for a Master’s degree. In June, Alexander told the audience, the Master’s of Law degree certificate will be presented to him by the president of the University of Cambridge.

    This was greeted with applause by the audience, among whom were scholars, businessmen, professionals, politicians and students.

    Alexander described Senator Tinubu as a “detribalised Nigerian and a rare gift to humanity.”

    He said: “I chose this narrative path to put things in perspective and help everyone here to understand the beautiful heart Senator Oluremi Tinubu possesses. She is Yoruba, I am not. I was not born with a silver spoon and quite honestly, we probably do not share a lot of things in common. Despite this, I and several other people, through the New Era Foundation, have benefited from her act of selflessness, with a keen interest in upholding merit, despite all seeming dividing lines.”

    Alexander promised to spread the legacy of the former First Lady, hinting that he is partnering with some of his colleagues in the United Kingdom (UK) to establish an organisation called “The Excellence Movement”, to spread the gospel of excellence in Nigerian universities. The primary areas of focus of the organisation include research, writing, reading, scholarship and mentoring.

    He asked rhetorically: “What could possibly go wrong if we all decided to train a child today? What could possibly go wrong if we decided to donate books to that library today? What could possibly go wrong if we decided to take out time to mentor the younger ones?”

    Alexander said beyond giving out palliative handouts to the poor, privileged people could help to take humanity out of poverty and educational backwardness if they could float simulations of the New Era Foundation projects in all communities.

    He said: “I promise to live your legacy; to expand the good works you have started and to give hope to people of all backgrounds, just as you gave me.”

  • Students agonise over banks’ closure

    Students agonise over banks’ closure

    Four months after some banks in the polytechnic town of Offa, Kwara State, were shut for fear of robbers, they are yet to re-open. The development is causing hardship for the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) students, who have been travelling outside the campus to transact business. AFEEZ ADEYEMO (NDII Mass Communication) reports.

    IT is almost four months since the disruption of banking services in Offa, Kwara State. Some banks, which residents described as “standard”, were shut, following incessant robbery attacks.

    Last December, no fewer than five people, including policemen, were killed by a 30-man gang during an attack on the three “standard” banks in the town. The robbers stormed the banks with sophisticated weapons, including rocket launchers and AK-47 rifles. They carted away an undisclosed amount of money. The robbers also attacked the Offa Divisional Police Station and reportedly freed some suspects.

    The attack forced all the banks to close down their operations during the Yuletide. Customers expected the banks to re-open in January. But, at the time of this report, the affected banks were still shut. Customers are groaning because of their continued closure. Only a bank is operating in the whole town.

    Their closure is biting hard on students of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), who returned to school, following the management’s decision to back out of the ongoing nationwide Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) strike. Since their return, life has been unbearable for them because of the stress they go through to get cash.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that only one of the six Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) of banks on campus is dispensing cash. Even then, the bank that operates the ATM is still closed but its officials dutifully it with cash.

    At 6am daily, a crowd of students besiege the ATM to withdraw cash.

    Those who cannot withstand stress travel to neighbouring communities, such as Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Ikirun, Osogbo and Okuku all in Osun State to get cash.

    Students are wondering why they have to go through pains before withdrawing their money. The banks’ closure, they said, was an indictment on the police. They urged the police to ensure security of banks in the city.

    Mariam Eniola, an ND 1 Mass Communication student, urged the police to “return to work and ensure the banks re-open for operations.” She pleaded with the banks’ managements to consider customers’ pain and re-open their outfits.

    Rasheedat Adeleke, an ND II student of Quantity Surveying, said the development was affecting her academic pursuit. “I leave my academics when I am not supposed to and travel around to get money. It is sickening. My experience in the course of getting cash is harrowing. At times, I miss class to queue at the ATM port; and, sometimes, the machine runs out of cash before it gets to my turn. Something needs to be done to bring the banks back. I am fed up,” she lamented.

    According to Adeola Badiora, an ND II Food Technology Science student, the banks’ closure is not good for the socio-economic development of the town. “It affects everybody and business activities,” she said, imploring the banks to re-open in the interest of the town and students.

    Solomon Ayorinde, an HND II Mass Communication student, said students could not quantify the pains they have been going through since the banks were closed. He said: “The pain is too much for us to bear.”

    When our correspondent visited some of the banks, they were being renovated, indicating that they could be re-opened soon.

    One of the banks’ security personnel, who did not want his name in print, told our correspondent that every measure was being taken to start operations. He said the bank’s management was considering reopening as the continued closure could result in lose its customers.

  • CAMPUSLIFE man presents book

    CAMPUSLIFE man presents book

    The public presentation of the novel Once upon a hard time by Chidiebere Enyia has been held at the Theatre Arts Hall of the Imo State University (IMSU) in Owerri.

    Chidiebere, a 300-Level English and Literary Studies student and CAMPUSLIFE reporter, is the Assistant Secretary-General of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Imo State chapter.

    At the ceremony were scholars, including Dr Psalm Chinaka, Mr Leon Osu, Mr Kenneth Enesha and Prof Hillary Okorie.

    The chairman of the occasion, Prof Emeka Obinna, advised students to enhance their potentials through intellectual engagements. He recounted how the young author started his literary adventure from secondary school, urging students to believe in themselves and work hard.

    Okorie, who is from the Agricultural Science Department, praised the author and advised students to emulate the young writer.

    “Chidiebere is a visionary young scholar and a member of the Holy Ghostant Chapel. He had a fertile ground for creativity, considering his family background and religious inclination,” he said.

    Chidiebere thanked his parents, friends and course mates for making the launch possible. Michael Adiba, 300-Level Education English student, described the author as inspiring. Eberechukwu Prisca, 100-Level English and literary Studies student, said: “Chidi is a visionary young writer in the department. He is always teaching us and we are happy to celebrate one of his literary works today.”

    Chidiebere said his journey into literature was borne out of his passion to be an agent of social change in the society.

  • 4,204 take matriculation oath at UDUS

    4,204 take matriculation oath at UDUS

    Management of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto (UDUS) has held matriculation for freshers. The ceremony, which took place at the university’s Convocation Theatre, started at 9:20 am. No fewer than 4,024 students took the matriculation oath.

    The Dean of Students, Dr Ibrahim Magawatta, congratulated the freshers for scaling many hurdles to be admitted. “About 9,000 applicants participated in the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) screening, but only 4,024 are being matriculated today,” he stated.

    He said: “Our university is among the few in the country that has recorded minimal social vices in all its campuses. It is free from cultism and the university has zero tolerance for sexual harassment, drug abuse and to exam misconduct.”

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Riskuwa Arabu Shehu, administered the matriculation oath on the students. In his remark, he urged the students to consider themselves lucky for their admission, urging them not to fritter away the opportunity.

    He said: “I need to emphasise that you should be prepared to cross many hurdles, which require hard work, strict adherence to university rules and regulations, high moral standards and respect for constituted authority among others. This oath should help you develop self-discipline, resistance to temptations, indulging in undesirable behaviours and practices such as cultism, drug abuse, and other related offences.”

    Some of the students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said they were excited. Opeyemi Agbarigidoma, admitted into Linguistics Department, said: “Today is my happiest because I had expecting a day I would be admitted into the university. I am enjoying every bit of the ceremony.”

  • ‘Children also suffer from cancer’

    ‘Children also suffer from cancer’

    The headline was an expression printed on the bangles given to us – CAMPUSLIFE reporters – when we went for a community outreach at the cancer ward of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Idi-Araba, last December.

    The outreach was facilitated by Child Survival and Development Organisation of Nigeria (CSDON), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) run by former First Lady of Cross River State, Mrs Onari Duke.

    An official of the NGO, who shared the wrist bands, mentioned those words effortlessly, but their effects on students that participated in the community project were intense. Shivers ran down my spine when the words left her lips. And they kept re-echoing in my mind.

    The thought that children also suffer from the dreaded disease called cancer sent me into an emotional bewilderment. I could imagine the bad gift life presents to the innocent kids. Of course, life is hard; and now, new-born babies are feeling it. But such cruelty on infants cannot be understood.

    When we were told we were visiting “children” with cancer, it did not occur to me that the word encompasses toddlers and new-born babies until I asked the nurse taking care of them about the age group of the patients under the care. I was shocked to hear the response. “Between six months and 40 years,” she replied.

    Again, I wondered how a baby of six months would be struggling with such a stubborn killer-disease. I contemplated on why a disease he doesn’t know how to spell should be tearing him apart, silently but steadily. Oh my God! I was thrown into another round of sympathetic feelings, wishing I could do something to heal the infants of the health menace.

    Yes! We can actually do something to reduce the prevalence of the tumor. When we spoke with the nurses, they confirmed that the cause of infant cancer remained unknown, but they advised that pregnant women should be careful of what they do, where they stay, the air they inhale, the liquid and food they take to avoid the dangers of carcinogenic growth in their unborn babies. They also laid emphasis on the need for expectant mothers to be cautious of the drug they take.

    A visit to the NGO’s office later revealed that adequate care for expectant mothers can mitigate the menace. It was said that proper intake of folic acid by expectant mothers and women still in the stage of child bearing goes a long way in reducing the cause of malignant growth in babies. There are still some arguments for and against the claims on folic acid intake.

    This calls for a well-planned awareness on getting people, who are still in the dark on the prevalence of infant cancer, educated. They must know that children can also suffer cancer. Women should be targeted in the campaign to let them know the dos and don’ts in pregnancy to help mitigate the prevalence of the scourge, if it cannot be totally eradicated.

    The infant cancer campaign should be promoted with vigour such as we do for HIV/AIDS, malaria, polio, breast and cervical cancers. This should be done to drastically reduce the number of children falling prey to the cold grip of this monster-disease.

    Provision should be made for easy and early detection, as it is highly believed that early detection is very vital to its remedy. In the light of this, the test for cancer should be subsidised or made free such as we do for HIV/AIDS, since it is gradually becoming endemic. At the moment, medical equipment that can be used to detect the tumor such as Computed Tomography Scan (CT Scan) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are costly. Hence, the government must help to subsidised these tests for timely detection and possible cure.

    But since prevention is always better than cure and the best remedy in cases such as cancer, public enlightenments must be stepped up. Information dissemination is very crucial to help educate the public on dangerous and safe lifestyles. People should also seek knowledge on safe health habits. There is no gainsaying the fact that cancer doesn’t believe in the myth that: “what one doesn’t know doesn’t kill him”. If the saying holds any iota of truth, then what does a child of six months old know about cancer?

     

    Kingsley, 500-Level Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, UNN

  • Preparing them for the future

    Preparing them for the future

    As part of its social responsibility and commitment to law development, Sterling Partners, a law firm in Lagos, held a mentoring programme for students of the Nigerian Law School (Lagos campus.) UCHE ANICHEBE (Lagos Law School) reports.

    The auditorium of the Nigerian Law School (NLS), Lagos Campus, was filled to capacity when Sterling Chambers, a Lagos law firm, held its annual mentoring programme for Law students.

    Students trooped to the programme to learn new procedures in law practice .

    According to the organisers, the mentoring course is to educate the students with practical legal skills, and also to provide them with the information needed to be successful when they are called to Bar.

    The interactive session was facilitated by professionals, who shared their experiences and challenges with the participants.

    Justice Dabiri Awolabi of the High Court of Lagos State in Ikeja spoke on the Role of the Nigerian Bar Association and proper conduct of the legal practitioner. He described law as a noble profession, stressing that lawyers, as ministers in the temple of justice, must exhibit a noble character and conduct themselves in a manner befitting of the profession.

    Justice Awolabi likened judges to agents of God on earth, saying they must bring the fear of God to bear on their assignments.

    Another speaker, Femi Atilade, Legal Adviser to the International Women’s Society, recounted her experience as a new counsel. She said: “I was a counsel with Strachan Partners, and Aluko and Oyebode. As a new wig, things were so difficult for me. I remember going broke at certain points in time, yet I was determined to work hard and become a professional in my field. After working for a couple of years, I decided to leave litigation and try out something different. That decision came out to be my turning point.”

    The first African president of Commonwealth Lawyers Association and senior partner at Sterling Partners, Mrs Boma Ozobia, urged the students to take their studies seriously. She lamented the poor remuneration of young lawyers, saying: “It was high time legal practitioners in Nigeria stopped earning drivers’ wages. We have got to a point where a standard minimum wage should be set out for legal practitioners and duly implemented by all law offices in Nigeria. This will go a long way in upholding the dignity of the profession and the practitioners.”

    Mrs Ifeyinwa Azubike, an associate partner at Detail Commercial Solicitor and legal columnist, told the participants how she was able to maintain a balance between her career and family. “It is all about time management,” she said, adding: “Also, having a husband who understands you and believes in what you are doing is another virtue. My clients know my schedule and, to that extent, they know when to call and when not to call because by such times, I will be involved in my family affairs.”

    Other speakers included Chijioke Okoli, the founding partner of Ilo and Okoli, and former chairman of the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He shared his experience on litigation, advising the students to shun conducts that could end their career abruptly.

    Hezekiah Ugwueze, the Law students’ leader, thanked the mentors on behalf of his colleagues, praising the Sterling Partners for its efforts in bringing up legal practitioners.

    “We appreciate the time you have spent with us today; we have learnt so much from your experiences, which you shared with us and we feel more convinced about what we want to do and the legal specialty we desire to be engaged in,” he said.

  • Students set agenda for new VC

    Students set agenda for new VC

    Students of the Nasarawa State University in Keffi (NSUK) have welcomed the appointment of Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Akaro Mainoma, with request for water and accommodation. KAMALUDDEEN ABUBAKAR and MAKAMA SANI (200-Level Geography) report.

    The appointment by the Nasarawa State Government of Prof Muhammad Akaro Mainoma as the Acting Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Nasarawa State University in Keffi (NSUK) was greeted with excitement by students. To them, the appointment of the new helmsman is historic because it is the first time an indigene of the state would be administering the school.

    But, before the new helmsman could settle down to work, students gave him various tasks to do: they want on-campus accommodation, water and reinstatement of the Students’ Union Government (SUG).

    Prof Mainoma took the mantle of leadership from the immediate past Acting VC, Prof Aminu Mikailu, who replaced the suspended VC, Prof Shamsudeen Amali, under whom a violent protest shook the school because of water shortage. Three students died in controversial circumstances during the protest and the incident led to the closure of the school for months. It was re-opened last year June.

    Students described appointment of Prof Mainoma, who they called an erudite scholar, as a round peg around a hole. Declaring their unalloyed support for the new leadership, the students said Prof Mainoma’s administration could end the challenges they face in accommodation and access to potable.

    Rabi’u Tijani Omame, who was suspended as the president of SUG in the wake of the violence, said the coming of Prof Mainoma was a step in the right direction.

    “The appointment of such an erudite scholar could not have come at a better time than now. It is a welcome development and we are using this opportunity to declare our unalloyed support to his administration in taking the school and its students to higher grounds,” he said.

    Muhammad Abdulbasid, a 400-Level Microbiology student, praised Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura for redeeming the school from academic relegation.

    He said: “Appointment of Prof Mainoma is capable of putting the institution on the threshold of academic development because students know him as visionary scholar. I expect nothing less than excellent performance from him, especially because he is the first indigene of the state to be VC of the school. His priority should be security and solving challenges facing the students.”

    Some students believe Prof Mainoma may have come to face enormous challenges in repositioning the school because, according to them, the immediate past leadership did little or nothing to address the cause of the violence. Water remains a wanted commodity in the school’s Halls of Residence.

    They said the administration of Prof Muka’il did not fare well to solve the problem. Even, the N20 million released by the Federal Government to sink boreholes could not be accounted for. This has compounded the woes of students, who also battle accommodation challenge.

    Ruth Maga, a 200-Level Geography student, said: “I want to believe Prof Mainoma is sent by God to carry out godly assignment in this trying moment. He has a lot to achieve in the course of his assignment because we are still battling with water problem. Whenever there is no supply from the state Water Board, we are left to our fate.”

    Students also want the new management to make efforts to partner with organisations that fund education to provide on-campus accommodation because of biting rent and insecurity in off-campus residences.

    A former SUG official said: “The former acting VC signed an agreement with a private company under Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement for the construction of hostels on the campus. Work is currently ongoing on that and I want the new leadership to ensure continuity in that direction and even work hard to woo more companies and bosies that fund education to alleviate our accommodation problem.”

    On the proscribed students’ unionism, students urged the new VC to unban their union, saying lack of union was compounding their problems. Musa Barau, a student, said: “We are daily being faced with problems but with no organised body to fight for our cause. The challenge now, more than ever before, underscores the need for us to have a constituted students’ union not to only fight for us but also organise us for a purpose which inspires.”

    Prof Mainoma, in a chat with CAMPUSLIFE when the suspended SUG president, Omame, led its officials to his office, said his administration would focus on social and academic development of students, adding: “Students welfare will be my priority; I am appointed here because of students.”

    He also promised to reinstate the students’ union. “I promise to reinstate the students’ union officials and release their operational vehicle. I want to also call on the student to continue to support the administration of Governor Almakura as he is making efforts to build three blocks of hostel in the school.”

     

  • United by their culture

    United by their culture

    It was a feast of culture and excitement at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) when the Federated Association of Nsukka Students (FANS) marked its cultural day. KINGSLEY AMATANWEZE (Metallurgical and Materials Engineering) reports

    The women came out gorgeously dressed in their native attires. They adorned beautiful bead-necklaces and head gears; some dressed in blouses and wrapper, others tied long wrappers around their necks. For the men, it was a variety of traditional robes, including the popular Isi agu regalia with beads to match, portraying the culture of Nsukka people.

    That was the scene when the Federated Association of Nsukka Students (FANS), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), held its cultural day penultimate week. The event took place at an open space called Freedom Square on campus, and it was attended by students from the seven local government areas that constitute the old Nsukka district, which now falls under the purview of Enugu North Senatorial zone.

    The Enugu North Senatorial zone comprises Udenu, Isi-uzo, Igbo Eze South, Igbo Eze North, Uzo-Uwani, Igbo Etiti and Nsukka local government areas.

    As the students moved in a carnival-like procession to the venue, Ijele (the king of masqueraders) and Adanma (the beauty queen masquerader) entertained the passers-by with traditional dance steps. The cultural troupes of the association trailed the masqueraders, dancing to the tune of traditional talking drum.

    The venue was decorated with some cultural objects, such as like palm wine tappers’ climbing belt, palm wine wooden keg, local mats, beads, palm fronds and other traditional ornaments.

    The event was also an opportunity for the students to showcase their local cuisines. Only local foods, such as Okpa, Ona, Ayaraya and Achicha, were served. Palm wine was also the only brand of wine taken at the event. It was about culture.

    Students from each Local Government Area were called to present their cultural exhibitions, which were mainly masqueraders and traditional music.

    The FANS president, Bartholomew Asogwa, a 300-Level Public Administration and Local Government student, decried the embrace of “alien way of life” in place of Nsukka culture, urging members of the association to revive the traditions of the Nsukka people.

    He said: “Our culture forbids kidnapping, cultism, lack of respect to elders and listening to lewd songs.. But today, our youths embrace these vices because they have abandoned the cultural beliefs bequeathed to us by our ancestors. Ours is a culture that promotes honesty and humility.”

    He stated that the objective of the cultural event was to promote unity and to take members back to their roots. He said it would be tragedy if Nsukka youths grow up to learn that their heritage had been substituted with alien culture.

    He attributed success organisation of the event to efforts of the association’s patrons, including Eze Willy Ezugwu, who is the Enugu’s chairman of Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), who supported the students financially. He reiterated that FANS does not associate with any political party.

    Students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, commended the organisers for rescuing the Nsukka people’s culture from extinction. Jennifer Tim, a 200-Level Biochemistry student, described the event as reminder to sustain Nsukka culture.

    “I learned new thing about my background. If it is not for the cultural event, which serves as a reminder for people like, I would have completely lost bond with my tradition,” she said.

    Another student, Samson Udekwe, 300-Level Combined Political Science and Philosophy, bemoaned the contact of local culture with western way of life, saying it was time students saved the Nsukka heritage from losing its values. He said: “Our culture as Africans and Igbos in particular is losing values after contact with the western culture. So, the essence of this gathering is to revitalise our dying culture.”

    Evaristus Eneje, a 500-Level Civil Engineering student, was elated to witness the event for the first time. He described the cultural day as a “good show”, saying: “The fiesta has made it possible for us to know our brothers, and to relate with one another better. I feel so happy to be a member of the association and organisers of the event must be commended for bringing culture back to our door step.”

    “I am proud from being an indigene of Nsukka,” Augusta Ugwuanyi, a 200-Level Library and Information Science student, said, adding: “One the things that made the event so interesting was making our local foods the official meal at the event.”

    The event also featured decoration of some students with chieftaincy titles. Uchenna Oshomi, a 300-Level Public Administration and Local Government student, was bestowed with honour.

    At the event included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof Malachy Ukwueze and officials of Enugu State government.

  • Bowen crisis: Spotlight on private varsities

    Bowen crisis: Spotlight on private varsities

    On March 19, all hell was let loose at the Bowen University in Iwo, Osun State. The incident will continue to linger in the minds of staff, students, parents and founders of the institution for a long time. According to media report, students went on the rampage, vandalising the school property, which included no fewer than 20 vehicles belonging to the institution.

    The cause of the violence was said to be power outage and water shortage in one of the new male hostels. Findings later revealed that the cause of the protest was more than power supply and water scarcity; it was said to be connected with some management’s decisions that did not go down well with students.

    The decisions included restriction of students’ movement, compulsory locking of the hostels between 8am and 4pm and timetable for eating, among others.

    Reports said students were watching an European Champions League match that fateful day when the electricity went off; the frustration coupled with the bottled-up anger against the school policies was believed to have triggered the protest. By the time the dust settled, stalls within the campus have been looted. This unfortunate incident calls for concern and a review of private institutions managements’ policies.

    It is alarming that in this 21st century, we have institutions that prevent students from making use of gadgets such as computers, mobile phones and I-pads. Many of them issue stringent dress codes to students, restricting their movement and dictating the kind of clothes they must wear. They fix time when the students must read and compel them to go to chapels.

    Students are sent to the tertiary institution not to only acquire knowledge, but to learn self-reliance, human relations and how to be independent. One, therefore, wonders how the students would acquire these ‘skills’ if they are constantly restricted and their daily routine dictated by the authorities.

    Even more disturbing is breaching the right of staff and students to unionise contrary to Section 40 of the Constitution, which states: “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests.”

    The right to unionise in private institutions is being trampled upon, thus making agitation and championing the staff and students’ interest a mirage. Apart from defending the interest of members, these unions, especially the Students’ Union, help to develop and mould future leaders for the nation. It is a ground where students can acquire leadership skills that will benefit them and help them even in their chosen careers, which is one of the goals of these schools in the first instance.

    Many private institutions, in a bid to instil discipline in their students, introduce policies that do not necessarily inculcate the desired values in them. Many students hide their real way of life while in school and revert back to the behaviour when they are on holidays.

    Because they are treated as kids on campus, the students feel imprisoned and restricted from socialising and mixing freely, thus, affecting their human relations when they graduate from the schools. It is high time private varsities’ managements began to allow some level of liberty on their campuses.

    Varsity undergraduates in these institutions should be given the requisite training and exposure that will justify the fees that are paying and make them interact freely and compete favourably with their peers in public varsities.

    Basic amenities that have to be provided in a higher institution are electricity and water. Though, both services have been a challenge for national government to provide, but higher institutions must devote a substantial part of their resources to provide these basic amenities. It is surprising, however, that in a private university where students pay between N500,000 and N700,000, electricity is supplied to Halls of Residence for just six hours daily!

    The protest by the students is a reaction to the suppression of their fundamental human rights. It is a product of bottled-up frustration against the system but the power outage is just a smokescreen.

    There is the likelihood of communication breakdown between the management and students, which could have been averted should there be a students’ union.

    It is also important that these institutions give students some liberty in the process of instilling discipline in them. After all, there is no evidence to show that their graduates are better off in behaviour compare to their peers who went to public schools. The unfortunate incident at Bowen University is a wake-up call to our leaders that the people are gradually finding their voice and are resisting unpopular policies. Gone are the days when people accepted oppressive policies hook, line and sinker.

    The unfortunate and regrettable part of the whole affair is the looting of shops and destruction of vehicles. It is a sour taste, which leaves so much to be desired. It is unfortunate that undergraduates would be lawless and turn a supposedly peaceful protest into violence. This is condemnable and should be discouraged by the parents. Apart from the fact that the students will likely have to be surcharged for the destruction and looting, it has brought about a disruption in the academic calendar which is not too good.

    Certainly, lessons have been learnt, though in the hard way. It is hoped that other private institutions, public universities and the nation would come to the reality that, no matter how long people are suppressed; a day of revolt will surely come. Private institutions need to revisit some of their laws and give their students some level of freedom. The right to unionise should also be revisited in these ivory towers to build future leaders and expose students to leadership experience.

     

    Abiola, 600-Level Veterinary Medicine, FUNAAB