Category: Campus Life

The election of leaders of Nigerian Association of Science Students (NASS) at the Imo State University held last Thursday.

It took place at the Aso Rock Arena, opposite the Faculty of science.

The Dean, Faculty of Science, Prof I.R. Keke, and other principal officers were present.

The election could not hold last year as scheduled due to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. Voting started immediately after the accreditation of voters by electoral officials. Association dues and school identity cards were used for the for voting.

Obinna Asoluka, a student of Computer Science Department, emerged President and Chinwendu Ezeohingbo, Vice-President.

Others were Alexander lhejinwa, Secretary-General; Chike Onyenankeya, Director of Resources; Damian Ifeonu, Assistant Secretary General, Charles Odoemenam, Director of Sports, Linda Obiora, Director of Finance; Mike Egbighi, Director of Socials; Daniel Ndubuleuzor, Director of Project; Nwahiri Daniel, Director of Welfare; Chinenye Umunakwe, Treasurer; Chiemena Agwulone, Public Relations Officer and Ikechukwu Eze, Editor-in-Chief.

Prof I.R Keke praised the organisers, saying” “So far, the students have conducted themselves in an orderly manner.”

Donald Duru, former Director of Socials of the association, said: “This is the freest and fairest election ever held by this association. The previous elections were marred by a lot of irregularities and electoral malpractices.”

One of the candidates, Thompson Nwagwu, 200-Level Chemistry, said most of his supporters were disenfranchised due to the rigour of the accreditation. He accused the electoral body of allegedly demanding bribe from him.

In a telephone chat with Asoluka, he said: “My victory is for NASS and I am committed to transforming the association for good.”

The death of Dr Olusegun Okeowo, the great comrade and the voice of Aluta (apologies Kayode Segun), evoked an unprecedented outpouring of grief and sadness among students across the nation and beyond.

The late students’ leader of Ali-must-go fame was blunt and spoke truth to power, without minding who got hurt. He laid the foundation for a vibrant union of Nigerian students and led them to victory during his reign as president of the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS).

The privilege students’ leaders enjoy today was made possible by the late Okeowo and his comrades with whom he led the struggles to improve education, economy, health care, security, leadership and students’ welfare.

Okeowo’s entire life was shaped by service to humanity. The courageous comrade fought against intimidation, oppression, harassment and unlawful killing of students by those he described as “reactionary forces of brutal, primitive and barbaric zombies disguised in police uniform”. Without guns and musketeers, Okeowo-led NUNS emerged victorious in the battle with killer police.

The most memorable struggle he led as the president of NUNS in 1977/1978 was the Ali-must-go protest, codenamed AMG. The historic struggle led to the democratisation of education during the junta of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo in 1978. During the struggle, many of his colleagues were butchered at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

But the struggle restored the right of youths on education, which was seen not to be a privilege unlike what it used to be before the AMG. So, it was Victoria Ascerta for all student- leaders, who lost their lives in the struggle.

The contribution of NUNS towards development of the country cannot be quantified. After school, Okeowo particularly contributed to the growth of our nation through reasonable advice, constructive criticism and proactive action. He was always ready to support populist programmes of the government and ever-ready to campaign against anti-people policies.

He never fought the government alone, he also criticised his successors, who turned themselves to government’s puppets. On many occasions, he wrote direct letters to presidents of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to make his views known about certain inconsistencies. Articulate and direct, the letter spoke his mind as veteran of students’ struggle.

One can, therefore, situate the outpouring of honour and grief by students and political leaders when the news of Okeowo’s death broke.

The history of students’ unionism in our nation would be incomplete without the mention of the late Okeowo. He was the greatest students’ leader that did his best to protect the interest of students during his time, even to the detriment of his personal safety and interest.

For 43 days, he was illegally held in Ikoyi prison and got rusticated for 18 months because of his belief in educational rights and welfare of students. He fought for the restoration of scholarship for Kwara State students and kicked against the University of Ibadan’s obnoxious rules and regulation. He also led protest to recall five students unlawfully rusticated from the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

With democracy becoming fashionable in Africa, the late Okeowo and his comrades joined hands with civil society groups to rid the l country of military rule.

He strengthened partnership with international students’ organisation such as West African Students’ Union, All African Students’ Union, National Union of Ghanaian Students and led African students to participate in the 12th congress of International Union of Students (IUS) in Bulgaria.

It is important to note that the late Okeowo’s name has been written in gold in the history of unionism. This perhaps explains why he was honoured with life certificate membership of the UNILAG students’ union.

His life remained exemplary for all students’ leaders in Africa. To immortalise the late unionist, student must display doggedness, courage, honesty, simplicity, transparency, accountability and good judgment in piloting the affairs of the NANS and any students’ association.

Though Okeowo is gone, his philosophy would never be forgotten. His death is, indeed, a great loss to all students. But just as he was always said after speech: “Aluta continua, victoria ascerta…” We will continue to nurture the tree of the struggle until we are sure that our rights to qualify and affordable education is guaranteed in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Fare thee well, a true comrade.

 

Abdulrahaman, 400-Level Mass Communication, ABU Zaria

The Lagos State chapter of Joint Campus Committee (JCC), an arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has said the crisis at the Lagos State University (LASU) is a ploy by politicians and interest groups to score cheap political points.

Yakub Eleto, chairman of the chapter, said in a release that the university was being used by faceless politicians to cause trouble for the state.

He said: “With Governor Babatunde Fashola’s intervention, we have witnessed an increase in the funding of LASU in the last five years, with the appropriation of N9 billion in 2014 Lagos State budget to cater for new and ongoing projects, such as the ultra-modern Senate Building, Main Library Complex, Students’ Union Building and Faculty of Science Complex. The effort at this crucial period is commendable because it shows visionary leadership.”

He added: “The riot that occurred in January this year was due to the gross mismanagement of an avoidable crisis by LASU’s Vice Chancellor. As the apex coordinating students body in Lagos State, we have never encouraged violent protests even in the face of provocations. Again, we do not encourage students to disobey guidelines and regulations of their schools on administrative matters. But the conduct of the LASU management team on this matter was as if they wanted the crisis in the first place.”

Part of their press release read in part: “For emphasis purpose, we have always engaged the government at every given opportunity from the first day we took office. We decided on diplomacy because of the influx of politicians who have called on us severally to indicate their interest to sponsor our protests if we decide on one. These high profile individuals, mostly of opposition political parties, obviously have no good intentions for the progress of students. We commend Governor Fashola for hearkening to our cry. We shall continue to engage the government on this platform and other related issues.”

They called on the Lagos State government to consider a downward review of the new fee regime, saying it was the root cause of the crises.

 

Some students of the Federal Polytechnic in Offa (OFFA POLY), Kwara State returned to the campus last week to meet their hostels under lock and key. Their landlords are demanding rent for the period they were away, but the students refused, saying there was no basis for the demand. AFEEZ ADEYEMO (ND II Mass Communication) writes.

The management of the Federal Polytechnic in Offa (OFFA POLY) pulled out of the strike action embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) and re-opened the campus three weeks ago. The decision of the school to back out of the almost six-month strike was taken by the its Governing Council to complete 2012/2013 session.

Students, obeying the directive, were elated to return to school to face their studies. However, the joy of some of them, who live off-campus, was short-lived because the decision of their landlords, who demanded for one-year rent. They described the landlords’ demand as inconsiderate.

The school has less than two months to complete the session but the landlords seem not to be happy with students going away for so long.

The development has led to disagreement between some students and their landlords. Students insist that they will not pay for the months they will not be in school; they are only interested in paying for as long as the session will last. But the landlords disagreed, refusing to accept two-month rent from them. It’s either one-year rent or nothing, the landlords said.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that some student, who could not afford to pay a year’s rent, had been issued quit notice. Some have packed their personal effects to squat with friends, who could pay the rent.

The affected students urged the Students’ Union Government (SUG) to intervene on the matter, so that their academic pursuits would not be affected by the accommodation challenge.

“As I returned to my lodge, I was welcomed by the quit notice from the caretaker,” Bolanle Ipadeola, ND II Mass Communication, said.

She added: “After pleading without anybody showing concern, I decided to pack my properties and left for my friend’s lodge. It is not convenient for me though, but I think the decision is good for me not to be cheated by the landlord and his caretaker.”

Some students told CAMPUSLIFE that life was becoming unbearable for them since they were issued quit notice by their landlords.

Solomon Ayorinde, HND II Mass Communication, described the landlords’ demand as a “coup against students”. He wondered why the landlords would demand for rent when students were passing through “academic tribulation”.

Why are these landlords and landladies not considerate this period we are in need of help? Solomon, who was asked to pack out of his Abuja Villa Hostel, queried?

Occupants of Sheu Sheu’s Villa, who spoke to our correspondents, said they could not afford to pay “outrageous rent” and insisted not to leave the hostel. They only offered to pay three months rent.

Temitayo Kehinde, an ND II student, said he was shocked to meet his room under lock and key when he returned. “I had to stay with a friend in Afelele area, which is far from the campus. I now have to deal with daily expenses on transport and food. This is frustrating,” Temitayo said.

Ibrahim Seriki, ND II Computer Science, blamed the Federal Government for the development, urging students to dialogue with their landlords to resolve the disagreement.

Cautioning students not to foment trouble that may lead to the closure of the campus, Afeez Oyewumi, HND II Quantity Survey student, advised landlords and their caretakers to consider the students’ future and withdraw their demand.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that some students have not paid their rents for over seven months, a development that made some of the landlords to give them quit notice.

A landlord, who identified himself as Papa Good, defended the landlords’ decision. He accused students of being selfish, noting that landlords were aware of the challenges students face.

“But do we also consider house owners, who depend only on the rent to survive? What would they eat if students go away for months? We know some of the students have been given money to pay their rents but choose not to pay because they would be going on holiday soon. Imagine a student, who claimed not to have money to pay her rent but went to the market to buy expensive clothes and bags. How would you consider such a student?” Papa Good said.

Speaking to our correspondent on telephone, the SUG Welfare Director, Ifedayo Asakpa, said the union was monitoring the development. He assured that investigation would be carried out on the matter but urged students not to use a violent approach to resolve the situation.

For many youths, the National Youth Service has its gains and pains. For me, it is a mixture of both. Arriving Awgu Camp in Enugu State was nothing other than punishment, considering where I was coming from. But I later realised that people don’t judge a place by its atmosphere.

When I got to the camp, activities had resumed. But then, the atmosphere was boring. I wanted my stay to be as lively as it possible. I decided, as a Mass Communication graduate, to join Orientation Broadcasting Service (OBS). It was then I began to enjoy orientation programmes and activities in the camp.

The early morning address by Mr Hilary Nasamu, Enugu State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), reminded me of my secondary school days when moral lectures were given to pupils with a view to solving societal problem. The corps members were asked to imbibe moral values and good character.

When the three-week orientation ended, we left the camp for our primary assignment places. Oh my God, I did not want to leave Awgu. I got posted to a school. But I later changed my posting to a media house to practise what I was taught for four years and the values I learnt from the Nasamu.

I was opportuned to speak at a workshop tagged “Corps members-employers’ workshop” held nationwide. When the seminar got to its peak, some corps members were asked to leave but I was spared because of the role I played in the course of the workshop. I discovered Nasamu to be very strict and open when an employer announced he won’t pay more than N5,000 as allowance to corps members in his private school against the N10,000 set by the scheme.

Nasamu, in anger, controlled the school proprietor and asked why Nigerians were always after cheap labour. He said: “N5,000 for a BSc. holder? If he or she were to be your son or daughter, can you pay N5,000, considering how much you have spent on your child since he started schooling.”

In his response, he reeled out names of corps members, whom he was paying personal allowances because of their commitment to service without being paid in their places of primary assignment. He won the respect of the corps members that witnessed the incident. As he stepped out of the venue, he said: “That is what we face with employers but we won’t be tired of letting them know the value of corps members.”

As days went by, I started counting the remaining days to observe the compulsory national service. I worked tirelessly as a corps member to put in my best to the development of my country. The love for Nigeria became more intense and I decided to serve my fatherland till I bid the world farewell.

In all, I could say that my experience was more of good than bad. Compared to the tales of some of my colleagues, who believed National Youth Service is a waste of time.

But to prevent people from having the feeling that the service is being used to delay graduates in pursuing their dreams after school, I am of the opinion that after the three weeks of camping, corps members should be given a year allowance to set up a trade or business through the skill acquired at the camp. If this could be done, many, if not all, serving youths would make their service to the nation a worthwhile experience.

On this note, I wish to thank NYSC for giving me the opportunity to serve and I recommend the scheme to other upcoming graduates though I believe the scheme needs to be restructured.

 

Tosin has just completed National Youth Service, NYSC Enugu