The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Niger Delta: US scholarship recipients to spend first year in Nigeria

    The Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, and Kaplan International Colleges, are collaborating with the Consortium of North American Universities to launch a lifeline tagged:’ ‘US University Pathway College in Lagos’.

    The scheme will afford Nigeria students, who wish to study in the United States to run their first academic session in Nigeria, including learning the American intonation and other challenges that usually confront them upon arrival in the US.

    Speaking to reporters, Kuku said the idea was meant to save costs, and get students acclamatised to the American way of teaching before their final take-off.

    “When we first started sending students from the Niger- Delta abroad to study on scholarship; we discovered that we were losing money because the students needed time to get used to the environment, the intonation and many other challenges.

    “The students were dropping points. It was like the first year was a time to struggle. Now, they have the opportunity to hold their first full academic session here in Nigeria. They are taught by Americans, they use the American curriculum too so when they go in for the second year, they are already used to it. We have sent many students to many universities abroad before we met with Kaplan and they sold the idea to us, so we decided it was the best for the children,” he said.

    Represented by his Assistant on Special Duties, Mr Henry Ugbolue, Kuku said the money for the scholarships is derived from the budget in the Office of the Special Adviser. He said recipients of the scholarships, are engaged in a very rigorous competitive test, adding that this year alone, 180 students benefitted from the largesse.

    Kuku said both the ministry and Kaplan share the same vision, hence the collaboration, adding: “I will not hesitate from withdrawing the scholarship of any of you that misbehaves. You must be disciplined, show that you deserve it. Scholarship is not a right but a privilege, so use it well.”

    The Regional Director, Kaplan International, West Africa, Mrs Mary Agbu, explained that Pathway Colleges makes studying abroad a lot easier for students.

    “We make the student’s journey much easier. They do the foundation here and go on to do the remaining three years over there. We discovered that many Nigerian children now write the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Exams at age 16 and they are sent over there at that young age without any means of protection, making it difficult for them to cope. So we decided that if they can be made to do their first one year in Nigeria, they will learn a lot of things that would have been a challenge to them over there,” she said.

    She said an eligible student must have passed their WASSCE at credit level, and will undergo an individual interview to ensure the authenticity of their WASSCE result, and an additional test on calculus.

     

  • Between skill and certificate

    In pre-colonial era and before the introduction of formal school, craftwork was seen as a valuable skill in societies that make up what is today’s Nigeria. There was no discrimination against any gender in learning any trade or vocation those times. Apart from learning a craftwork in tie and dye, basket weaving, traditional hair plaiting and petty trade, a girl-child was also taught how to take care of the home in preparation for marriage.

    For men, they were made to know that the responsibility of fending for the family rests on them as the head of their home. So, they would go to the farm to get food for the family. There are other vocations such as fishing and hunting, which they learned to become independent individuals.

    Civilisation came. Our forebears were introduced to western learning culture, which they referred to as formal education. Once a child is six years old, he gets enrolled into school. This requires the child to wake up very early to prepare for school to which he would have to trek to and fro. After school, he returns home. Girls help out with house chores while boys joined their fathers at work.

    Overall, back then, it was paramount for every child to learn, at least, a skill alongside schooling, which made them independent human being. No wonder children born generation back are stronger, creative and versatile; they were able to blend with any situation they find themselves in life and still be able to earn a living.

    But, the same cannot be said about the present generation. Those vocations which our fore fathers cherished are now seen as barbaric. Today’s a typical youth would rather just go to school than acquire skills such as fashion designing, auto mechanics, or farming. It is either you go to school or learn a “dirty job” to eke out living.

    Granted, education empowers and enlightens. An educated person, of course, has an edge over an illiterate in areas of self-expression, speaking and writing. Even, a learned individual has the advantage of being able to document his ideas; he socialises properly and gets information easily.

    But what is an educated youth expected to fall back on in a country like Nigeria where the available jobs are not equivalent to the number of graduates being churned out into the society yearly? The fact is that just a few numbers of graduates are able to secure lucrative jobs. Some get jobs with ridiculously low salaries to take them through the month; they may not be able to save, not to talk of being able to assist their families.

    Many graduates roam the streets in endless search for white-collar jobs without success. Frustrated, some resort to armed robbery, internet fraud, rituals, hooliganism and kidnapping to ensure they move on with the world.

    Knowing the importance of skill acquisition to solving the unemployment riddle, the policy makers are diverting attention of the youths to vocational education, even if some of them do not want to have academic degrees. But now, learning a trade and going to school simultaneously has been seen as a virtue to be self-reliant after school.

    Even with this new development, some youths still believe that acquiring formal education is better than learning a craftwork. While some others believe otherwise.

    People like Lamido Sanusi, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Prof Wole Soyinka, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Prof Chinua Achebe and Raymond Dokpesi, among others are example of people who believe in certificates. They are all successful.

    But people like Liko Dangote and Tuface Idibia, who dropped out of school and pursued their talent in business and music have also shown that unemployment riddle can be solved if people can explore their talent in any vocation they are endowed with.

    The bottom line: we should strive to get academic certificates even if we want to learn a vocation, and also, we must not fail to learn a vocation no matter how we pursue an academic certificate.

     

    Sam, 400-Level Curriculum and Teaching, UNICAL

  • How to be free, by Adeboye

    Students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, gathered last week at the Miracle Ground of the University’s Sports’ Centre for the Annual UniversityThanksgiving and New Year Revival.

    The programme with the theme “Escape for your life” was organised by the University Christian Mobilisation Committee.

    The Guest Minister, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God explained that to escape means to flee bondage, noting that there was urgent need for the audience to be free from the bondage of sin, poverty, blindness, sorrow and hopelessness.

    “To escape means one has been captured and seeks to look for means to be free without the consent of the captor. It is a dangerous thing to be in bondage, it is a life of hell on earth,” Adeboye said.

    He charged the students to shun evil practices and embrace the righteousness of God, saying it was the proper way to live.

    “I can assure you that your tomorrow will be all right if you are righteous. You will also be bold to go through life challenges,’ he said.

    Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Ayomide Faloye, 100-Level Pharmacy said: “This is not just like every other annual event, but a heart-lifting programmewhere the fullness of God is manifested.”

     

  • ‘No hostel, no lectures’

    ‘No hostel, no lectures’

    Last Thursday, students of the College of Education in Warri, Delta State protested what they call the “unsuitable”  hostels in the 33-year-old institution. PHILIP OKORODUDU (500-Level Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, Delta State University) reports.

    STUDENTS of the Delta State College of Education in Warri took to the streets, last week, protesting what they call unsuitable Halls of Residence in the school since its establishment 33 years ago.

    Many of the students live in shanties, which they named “glass houses”. The makeshift hostels built with planks were burnt by youths of the college’s host community, who claimed that the land on which the shacks stand is in dispute between two communities in Warri.

    The wooden structures are being used, pending when the government would build hostels in the school.

    The government, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, promised that hostels would be ready this month. But at the time of this report, there was no sign that the project has taken off.

    Last Wednesday, those living in “glass houses” were caught unawares when youths, described as members of the family said to own the land, set the hostels ablaze at 7pm. Many of the students were relaxing when their rooms were torched. Properties and valuables, including students’ credentials were burnt. The victims told our correspondent that they were not allowed to pick anything from their rooms.

    Investigation revealed that the Okumagba family leased the land to people, who built the wooden hostels.

    It was learnt that all was well until the death of the Okumagba family head.

    Another family, Edjeba, upon hearing of the death of Okumagba family head, laid claim to the land, saying it is its inheritance which was rented out to the Okumagbas by its forefathers.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Edjebas requested for part of the land, threatening to destroy the structures on it if its request was not granted.

    The government, it was learnt, intervened in the tussle during the college’s convocation last August by reportedly taking the land from both families.

    The government promised to build a befitting hostel on the land, which it said would be ready this month. Many students who had left the wooden hostels because of the threat by the warring families returned.

    According to them, the cost of renting a single-room apartment in the oil-rich city is expensive compared to the N40,000 they paid in the wooden houses.

    When the arsonists visited the disputed land, students, who were unable to take anything from their rooms, ran away for their lives. Some of them were injured in the ensuing melee.

    The following morning, students besieged the campus to protest what they called “neglect” by the government, which failed to build the Halls of Residence it promised the students.

     

    The protesters said the burning of their hostels brought them untold hardship, urging the police to prosecute the arsonists.

    During the peaceful protest, which was attended by the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the students gave the management two weeks ultimatum to provide accommodation for them or close down the college.

    The protesters displayed placards with inscriptions, such as “Enough is enough”, “We are tired of failed promises by government”, “Provost, provide hostels for us”, “No hostel, no lecture” and “The college hostel is long overdue”, among others.

    Following the demonstration, the Acting Provost, Mr. Sylvester Ebisine, summoned an emergency management meeting where it was decided that the school be closed till February 3.

    A 300-Level student, who pleaded for anonymity, said the management had been deceiving students on when it would build suitable hostels. “They have been pretending that they are doing something on our plight. The management is well aware that most of us sleep in hostels made from planks and bamboos,” he said.

    A 200-Level student of Economics and Political Science Education, who simply gave her name as Chidinma, relived the incident: “Words cannot explain the pain I felt when some community youths came to burn down the ‘glass house’; it all happened before my eyes. I saw students running in different direction to escape from the hoodlums. Some of us cried as we watched our personal effects being burnt; we could not move closer because we could be attacked. At that moment, I was so much disappointed in the management and the state government. Before a school is established, there has to be accommodation plan for students and staff. But here, the reverse is the case.”

    Several attempts to speak to the college’s officials were futile. The Students’ Union leaders declined to comment.

    The students are demanding the provision of suitable hostels whenever the school reopens. They also want the government to arrest and prosecute the hoodlums, who burnt their properties.

  • Abandoned to his fate

    Abandoned to his fate

    He was on internship with a brewery when he had an accident. His injuries have yet to heal, provoking fears that his education may be truncated. Emeng Ideba Emeng is a 300-Level Business Education student of the Cross Rivers State University of Technology (CRUTECH). He need help to complete his treatment. KANJAL GODSHIELD (300-Level Mass Communication) reports.

    Emeng Ideba Emeng, a 300-Level student of Business Education at the Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH), dreams of being an accountant. But the dream may be unfulfilled if he does not get help soon.

    IEmeng began his industrial training at a brewery in Ikom Local Government Area of the state last June. During the six-month internship, which was part of the requirement for a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, he was involved in an accident with some members of staff.

    One of them died; two others and Ideba sustained injuries. The accident occured last November on Ikom-Calabar Highway.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Ideba and three others were asked to supply the company’s products to distributors at Four Corners area of the local government. Being a hardworking intern, he jumped into the J5 Toyota bus laden with alcoholic and soft drinks.

    A few minutes after, one of the rear tyres burst while the vehicle was on top speed, spilling its contents on the road. Our correspondent gathered that the driver wanted to dodge a pothole but he lost control of the vehicle. The bus somersaulted several times before it crashed, killing one occupant and wounding Ideba and two others.

    The victims were rushed to a hospital. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the company initially paid the bill but later abandoned the victims. Ideba was injured on his face, right arm and back.

    Ideba could not go for post-accident treatment because his parents could not afford it. When the brewery was approached for help, our correspondent learnt that the management declined. Mr Emeng, Ideba’s father, is a commercial driver in the village; his mother is a petty trader.

    Ideba lay helplessly in bed when CAMPUSLIFE visited the County Specialist Hospital at Four Corners where he is admitted. The wounds on his back and face have rendered him almost immobile because of the excruciating pain. Ideba suffered a fracture on his forehead, which affected one of his eyes. He can only see with one.

    Last month, our reporter wanted to speak with him after he completed the first stage of treatment, but he could not open his mouth because of pains. Last week, he spoke to CAMPUSLIFE.

    With tears running down his cheeks, Ideba said: “I just thank God that I am alive, despite that the accident disfigured me. Though I am in a very terrible condition, by the grace of the Almighty God, I will survive. Doctors have done the first phase of the treatment; I am waiting for the second phase which will involve a surgery on my forehead to put my eye back in shape.”

    On why he chose to go for internship at the brewery, he said: “I have always dreamt of being an accountant. But because I could not secure admission to read Accountancy, I opted for Business Education so that I can read accounting for my second degree. But the end is miserable for me. I don’t know where to start because my parents are not financially buoyant to pay the hospital bill and the surgery which is to commence soon.”

    He appealed to well-meaning individuals, churches, corporate bodies and non-governmental organisations to come to his aid so that his dream would not die. “I still want to go back to school because I want to be a motivation for my generation,” he said.

    Anyone who wants to assist Ideba can reach him through his mobile number 08063246623 or send money to his GTBank account number 0109605419.

     

     

  • ‘What ASUU strike did for us’

    ‘What ASUU strike did for us’

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) protracted strike provided an opportunity for some students to explore new grounds. During the almost six-month strike, they tried their hands on vocations that would prepare them for life after school. OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI (400-Level Language Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) reports.

    Students never thought that the last Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike would last for almost six months. Many of them expected a short action. While some hoped to return to school sooner, the wise among them found solace in skill acquisition that would make them self-reliant after their degree programmes.

    Gabriel Ayodeji got admitted a few months before the ASUU strike. As a first year student of Social Studies, he did not have any background in engineering work. But as the strike progressed, he was employed as his father’s tool manager in the latter’s engineering venture. During the period, Gabriel went on several trips with his father and was paid for his services.

    “My dad has always taught me that there is dignity in labour. Instead of staying idle at home, I took the opportunity of the strike period to learn some skills from my dad’s engineering work. We embarked on several business trips together; and as a student studying the environment and human relations, I had smooth interactions with my dad’s clients and made money too. It might sound funny being my father’s apprentice, but, at least, it is through the vocation he fends for the family and pays my school fee,” Gabriel said.

    “I put up my ego to learn tailoring last September. People thought I wanted to abandon schooling because they wonder how a ‘big girl’ like me and also an undergraduate, would take up such a vocation. I was not ashamed to wash plates, clean floor and fetch water for my master,” Tosin Olatunbosun, 400-Level Language Arts told CAMPUSLIFE.

     

     

  • Medical students visit village

    Medical students visit village

    Students of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) have followed up on their medical mission to Egba Village in Ovia Northeast Local Government Area of Edo State.

    The students, who are members of the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDAS), rendered free medical services to residents of the community two weeks ago.

    The delegation’s spokesperson, Beauty Orisabinone, a 400-level Dentistry student, said the visit was to thank the villagers for their cooperation during the campaign.

    “It is not everybody that would allow student doctors to carry out such delicate surgical operations in their community. The residents were very receptive. If greater percentage of Nigerians are receptive and tolerant towards outsiders the way this people are, this country would be a better place,” she said.

    CAMPUSLIFE met Elijah Clement, who was operated for hydroceletomy. The mother explained that his son, who was always crying before the surgery, has fully recovered.

    “I have started petty trading in order to train him. I want him to become a medical doctor so that he will replicate what these surgeons did for many of us in this village,” she said.

    The residents prayed for the student and wished them well in their academics.

    A 200-Level Medicine student, Harry Ogodo, said: “It is fulfilling to help those who cannot reward you for what you did for them. I feel so happy to see smiles on the faces of these people.”

  • Rotaract inaugurates leaders

    Rotaract inaugurates leaders

    The Rotary International Club, Federal Polytechnic, Oko (OKO POLY), in Anambra State, has inaugurated its new leaders.

    The event, which took place at the school auditorium, was attended by Rotary members across the country, including the Charter President, Rotary Club of Nnewi Central District 9140, Onuegbu Fabian.

    Chairperson of the Installation Committee Justina Umezulike thanked them for making the programme a success, saying: “Today, another journey in the quest for service to humanity is just starting with a clarion call to engage our community in order to change lives. No doubt, you have demonstrated your commitment in saving the human race.”

    The outgoing president, Chinyere Uzuegbu, thanked God for the successful completion of her tenure, saying leadership was not an easy task.

    Uzuegbu called on the new executive to develop team spirit, noting that it would enable them to achieve the objectives of the association.

    In his acceptance speech, the 29th president of the club, Fabian Egwu, thanked God for the honour bestowed on him to lead the club, adding that he would do his best to promote the affairs of members.

    Highlights of the event were presentation of awards to deserving persons and the inauguration of the board of directors of the club.

     

  • Corps member renovates ICT room

    Corps member renovates ICT room

    A 2013 Batch ‘A’ member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Agu Reuben, has renovated the Computer Room of the University of Calabar Staff School (UCSS) for his Community Development Service (CDS). Agu said he was motivated by the need to upgrade the ICT centre to improve the technology needs of the school.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof James Epoke, commended the Corps member for the gesture, saying Corps members posted to the university were hardworking.

    The NYSC Cross River State Coordinator, Nkereke Ibangha, also thanked Agu for the project and the university authorities for supporting the objectives of the scheme.

    The event was attended by Mr Chuka Osuagwu, Head of CDS and Mrs Florence Eleng Headmistress of UCSS.

     

     

  • Fellowship leaders urged on discipline

    Fellowship leaders urged on discipline

    Former members of Communicators for Christ Fellowship (CFC) at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Gbenga Rufai and Ayodeji Adesina, have urged its executive members to live a disciplined and focused life.

    The duo gave the counsel during a two-day retreat and ordination service for the executive held at the Students’ Union Building (SUB).

    Gbenga told the new leaders that the work of God on campus required total commitment and dedication. He added that the year 2014 would be a defining moment for Nigeria, saying: “there is a gathering storm which signified the coming of something that only God could reveal.”

    He said he believed students’ prayers would have immense impact in moving the hand of God and cautioned that indiscipline could truncate their destinies of believers.

    Adesina, who served as the General Secretary of the association during the 2009/10 academic session, urged the students to shun all appearances of evil.

    “Your assignment requires discipline. Your lifestyle and words should challenge many people to want to serve God on campus. Mind your words, dressing and comportment. An undisciplined leader would be ridiculed by men and mocked by the devil,” he stated.

    The out-going President, Pastor Bose Omoruyi, gave account of her stewardship and thanked God and everyone who made his administration a success.

    The new executive is led by  Olutokun Emmanuel, while Bukola Ogungbe is the Vice-President.

    Other are Bukola Bankole, General Secretary; Ayomide Ekerin, Assistant General Secretary; Mary Adegunloye, Prayer Secretary; Olaniyan Oluwakemi, Assistant Prayer Secretary; Tabeson Ivoy, Evangelism Secretary, Sunday Modupe, Assistant Evangelism Secretary;

    Others included Amakoh Kelechi, Bible Study Secretary; Odunjo Comfort, Welfare Secretary; Iduma Christopher, Assistant Welfare Secretary; Makanjuola Olaleye, Technical Director; Awobiyi Toluwani, Assistant Technical Director; Omosule Oluwatosin, Music Director; Egesi Rosemary, Assistant Music Director; Omoniyi Omotoba, Drama Director and  Akinlotan Iyanuoluwa, Treasurer.

    Olutokun assured members that the spiritual growth of the fellowship would be sustained through the devotion to the Word of God, warm fellowship and ceaseless prayers.