The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • UNILAG students thrilled at concert

    UNILAG students thrilled at concert

    Students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) gathered at the Main Auditorium of the institution last week for a musical concert organised by The Breath of Life Ministry, with the theme: UNILAG music explosion mega praise summit.

    The host, Pastor Samson Jedafe, in his message, urged the students to give valuable attention to their academics, saying that education was vital to a successful life.

    The cleric prayed for the students and urged them to make God their first priority in their pursuits, adding that God was the only one that can make a man great.

    The church choir, Ruach Levites, ministered in various gospel songs to the admiration of the students.

    The concert featured up-coming musicians and comedians on campus.

  • ‘We’ll not be stooges’

    When he declared his intention to run for president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Lagos State University (LASU), Nurudeen Yusuf, a 300-Level student of Islamic and Common Law and CAMPUSLIFE reporter, was not given a chance. Last week, he shamed pundits when he emerged the  students’ leader through electronic voting. WALE BAKARE (400-Level Zoology, University of Ilorin) spoke with him.

    You have just been elected the union president, what stimulated your aspiration?

    The Students’ Union Government (SUG) in the Lagos State University used to be the most vibrant union in West Africa. It was seen as a beacon of hope, but in recent times, the union has not been living up to expectation. It is at a crossroads. Today, thousands of students are frustrated. Successive union leaders have failed to provide an enabling environment for us to bring out the best in us. We have been misrepresented and vilified. My aspiration was borne out of my desire to restore the glory of the union; this was why we tagged our campaign “restoration”.

    What are your programmes?

    We have come to bridge the gap between the union and the students. The welfare of students is the essence of the union, we will defend the students against all forms of victimisation. We will partner with the management, staff unions and the government to make their stay memorable on the campus. We will not leave out the educational goals of students; we plan to make LASU an intellectual hub, which will enable the gown to meet the expectations of the town. Empowerment programmes will be planned and implemented to make school a haven of ideas.

    Do you agree with the view that partnership with management renders students’ union ineffective?

    I disagree with such assertion. The students’ union is part and parcel of any higher institution. The organisational framework of universities gives students’ union a role to play towards the progress of the school. The question of rendering the union ineffective lies in the hands of the union leaders. Today, we lag behind in almost all areas of campus life. It is not because we are not endowed, but for the fact that we lack leaders with vision and courage. Any students’ leader that allows himself to be ordered around by the management is a stooge and a coward.

    How do you intend to engage the management?

    The constitution of our union identifies the management as partner. We will partner with the authorities to ensure that the welfare our students is adequately catered for. In doing these, we will be versed in the intricacies of agitation and apply right tactics in addressing the issues. We will avoid emotional outbursts and irresponsible protests. Our causes will be well-defined and we will pursue strategies aiming to articulate our thoughts. We will consult, dialogue, re-dialogue and confront if need be.

    What is your definition of leadership?

    A leader is a dealer in hope. Also, I believe in utilitarianism, the political philosophy of Jeremy Bentham. I strictly believe in the principles of bearer of trust and we will avoid the pitfalls of fame, hunger to praise, fear of loss; we will project the truth. The central theme of my leadership will introduce pragmatic approach to politics and campus life. This is not to say that I know exactly how to do it alone. We will carry students along in our activities.

    What is your word for students?

    Change will not come if we wait for some other persons or time. We are the change that we seek. I believe we have opportunity to retrace our steps, to re-orientate ourselves in shared values, which will lead to restoring the glory of our union. I believe it is possible to build an indivisible union devoid of ethnic consideration or religious leaning. We want to leave a legacy of a union that inspires excellence in students.

  • Poly matriculates freshers

    Poly matriculates freshers

    The Rufus Giwa Polytechnic ((RUGIPO)) in Owo, Ondo State, has matriculated no fewer than 3,000 freshers admitted for the 2013/2014 academic session.

    They included students in the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes.

    The event was held at the poly’s Sports Complex.

    The Rector, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, urged the freshers to pay attention to their studies and abide by the school’s rules.

    “In this institution today, we have responsible students who prefer to channel their grievances appropriately instead of taking the laws into their hands. As new students, you are expected to key into this laudable resolve and abstain from acts which are capable of tarnishing the good image the school,” the Rector stated.

    Prof Ajibefun commended the Ondo State Government for prompt release of fund, saying it had helped in expanding the infrastructural base of the institution in the last three years.  He noted that his administration was committed to the welfare of staff and students and the promotion of sound academic culture through strict adherence to professional ethics and rigorous research.

    Students who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, Oyeleye Opeyemi, Mass Communication and Lawrence Sandra, Public Administration, expressed joy for being admitted into the polytechnic. They promised to be of good behaviour throughout their stays in the institution.

  • Dental students pray

    Members of the Benin University Dental Students Association (BUDSA) held a prayer session last week at the old dental clinic building of the College of Medical Sciences.

    The association President, Samuel Ajagba, said the event was organised to thank God for sustaining members during the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. He encouraged them to start preparing for their examinations.

    The session,  which started at 5pm, featured intercessory prayers for the School of Dentistry, University of Benin,  ASUU and other academic bodies in the country.

    Students expressed joy that the face-off between the Federal Government and ASUU had been resolved. They urged both parties to play their part in the signed agreement, in order to avert future industrial actions.

    Meanwhile, lectures have been suspended in most faculties to allow students prepare for the examination which started on January 27. Some students told our correspondents that the pressure to finish the semester early was high, noting that it could affect their results.

  • Mystery Hatman terrorises students

    Mystery Hatman terrorises students

    Students of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) in Ado-Ekiti are uncomfortable with the presence of a mysterious hoodlum, known as Hatman, who is terrorising the Satellite Phase II area of the institution’s host community, where many off-campus students reside. OLATUNJI AWE (300-Level Political Science) reports.

    Who is the Hatman invading students hostels at the Ekiti State University (EKSU) at night? Students can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed for the fear of Hatman.

    For days, the masked hoodlum, who students claim adorns a black hat and clothes, and is armed with a shotgun, has been terrorising off-campus hostels in Satellite Phase II area.

    Those, who claimed to have seen him, said he is six feet tall, huge and with a deep voice. They said he speaks English fluently. He is said to invade hostels, with locally-made shotgun and machetes.

    Last Sunday, the hoodlum invaded El Shaddai Hall at 4am, trying to rob the occupants. But a drama ensued between him and the Hall Chairman, Adeleke Adaramola, who is a 400-Level student of Economics.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the thief ordered Adeleke’s roommate, simply identified as Babajide, to gather all the gadgets in the room and hand over to him. But Babajide pretended to be sleeping as the masked hoodlum pointed a gun at him through the window.

    It was gathered that Adeleke, who slept close to the window, got up quietly to dispossess the hatman of his gun. In the ensuing struggle, the gun-powder exploded and injured Adeleke. The hatman took to his heels.

    Recounting the incident, Adeleke, who sustained an injury on the last finger of his right hand, said: “I was sleeping close to the window, which is opaque to anyone viewing from the outside. I heard my roommate Babajide being ordered by the hatman to deliver all the gadgets and money in the room to him. But he pretended as if he was fast asleep. Then, Babajide saw his weapons. While the thief was shouting, I quietly got up from the bed and held the gun. As we struggled, my roommate was looking around for a club we could use against him. This was when the gun exploded and hurt my last finger.”

    Adeleke sounded the hostel’s alarm to alert other occupants, who ran after the hatman. But they could not trace him. The gunpowder explosion alerted the university cadets, who joined the students to search for the assailant.

    Earlier, the hatman had visited Great God Hall, where he robbed all the female occupants in the hostel of their properties. A victim, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “It happened around 3am on Sunday. My roommate was in the toilet while I was asleep on the bed and my cousin on the floor. We started to hear funny sound on the window net. Before we knew what was happening, hatman had drawn up the window blind and pointed a gun at us. He ordered that we should bring everything in the room or he would waste our lives. We had no option than to start giving up everything we had. He made away with N20,000, two Tecno Phantom phones and one laptop.”

    Another victim, Oluwatosin Ojo, a 400-Level Microbiology student, who lives in Great God Hall, said: “Hatman broke my window with a heavy stone around 3:30am. My brother suddenly screamed after the impact. He thought my younger brother was my boyfriend who came to pass the night in my house. He told us to stay together in one place and asked me to bring all the money and the gadget I have in the house. I gave him N5,000 I had with me and our mobile phones.”

    In the last three days, several students have fallen victims to the hatman, prompting students to cry out to the management and the government to unravel the figure behind the mask. A 300-Level English student, who simply gave her name as Jumoke, said she had a conversation with the masked hoodlum, who spoke “good English”.

    Some occupants of Great Mind Hall, who were not around, met their rooms plundered when they returned from night reading.

    The hatman took away N30,000 belonging to Tomilola Sijuade, a 300-Level Accounting student, who resides in Jum Kay Hostel.

    “This is not the first time this is happening. Each time students return from their houses, some robbers would invade the hostels to collect everything we bring back to school,” Daniel Asugbo, a resident of the Satellite Phase II area, said.

    Adejumoke Adebanjo, a 300-Level Medicine student, who resides at Jum Kay Hostel, narrated her encounter with Hatman.

    “I was sleeping when I perceived smoke from the window area; it almost got me choked. Then a voice came from behind the window, asking me to get up. It was then it dawned on me that a robber was around. He ordered that I bring out all the money I had in the house and my laptop. I brought out N7,000 but he threatened to shoot me if I did not co-operate. After I gave him the money, he asked for my laptop and I told him I had lent a friend, who wanted to use it for project work. While all this was happening, he held a big torch light which he flashed on my eyes for me not to see him.”

    The commander of the university’s Cadet Corps, Segun Adekunle, a 500-Level student, said the outfit was doing its best to arrest the masked hoodlum. “We understand there are security challenges and we are doing our best to stop the attacks. But we need patrol vehicles and security gadgets to adequately secure the environment. We are also students and we have only volunteered to save our fellow students.”

    When contacted, the institution’s Deputy Registrar (Information), Mr Olubunmi Ajibade, said the management would react to the development in “due time”, because, according to him, the incident happened outside the campus.

  • ‘Politics not a man’s show’

    ‘Politics not a man’s show’

    Simiat Arikawe is a student-activist par excellence. She is the first  woman Students’ Union Government (SUG) Speaker of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH). During her tenure, she convened the maiden Lagos State Tertiary Speakers’ Forum (LSTSF), which hosted politicians, including House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji. TOLULOPE OGUNLEYE (Computer Science, Lagos State Polytechnic) profiles  Simiat, who has just returned from the United States where she attended a leadership training.

    Call her iron lady, you may be right. Call her a gentle reformer and progressive student-activist, you may not be wrong. Simiat Arikawe, the immediate past speaker of the Students’ Union Government of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), brought these attributes to bear during her reign as the head of students’ union legislature in the college.

    She recently led a group of youths to Virginia in the United States on leadership training sponsored by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji. Following her return, she took the gospel of responsive leadership to youths. The training, she said, gave her “more drive and energy” to pursue a value-driven platform to empower youths to invest their energy in promoting good governance through participation in governance.

    The leadership training, she said, enhanced her leadership trait and gave her basic knowledge of political dynamics and how to build capacity for good governance.

    She urged other political office holders to imitate Ikuforiji’s gesture in giving back to the society, saying “building human is building the nation.”

    Simiat, who initiated Lagos State Tertiary Speakers’ Forum (LSTSF), said she believes student unionism could be used to drive good governance, noting that engaging the youths to execute violent causes could be reduced if they are mentored and given a role to play in the society.

    Listing her achievements as students’ union speaker, Simiat said she recommended the use of legislative gown and wig by 65 members of the legislative arm of the union.

    On what influenced her interest in campus politics, Simiat, a graduating student of Accounting, said she was motivated to offer selfless service to his colleagues. Initially, she did not want to get involve in campus politics because she felt her chance to be elected was slim. But students in her department pressured her to represent them. Banking on popular support, Simiat took up the gauntlet and ran for a seat in the legislature.

    She led members to the Ogun State House of Assembly to observe plenary session, an outing that opened the eyes of first-time members to the business of lawmaking. Their encounter with Rt. Hon. Suraj Adekunbi, the Speaker, was an unforgettable experience for members. Simiat also led her colleagues to the Lagos State House of Assembly and National Assembly to observe legislative procedure. The students met with Speaker Tambuwal and discussed various issues.

    She also organised the maiden parliamentary summit, which brought all leaders of the legislative arm of the Students’ Union Governments in the Southwest to converge on YABATECH to discuss leadership challenges.

    How does she feel leading people? Simiat replied: “It is challenging when you lead people of different characters because you just have to be calm and be a good listener. As a leader, you have to render yourself as a servant and imbibe the habit of team work.”

    Simiat’s vision is for the youths to assume leadership position in the country.

    “My goal is to see the youths taking charge of the country’s leadership. We have the potential to take Nigeria to the next level but many youths have sold their rights to politicians, who gave them arms in return. We want to change this notion. In my own capacity, I want to engage them in a way they will see themselves as partners in leadership and development.”

    What is her advice for women, Simiat said: “Ladies must participate in politics and stop seeing it as a man’s show.”

  • A clash of interests

    A clash of interests

    The first sitting of the legislative arm of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) to debate the union’s budget a year after inauguration has ended in chaos. The sitting was cancelled, following accusations and counter-accusations by members, report IBRAHIM JATTO (400-Level Zoology), HALIMAH AKANBI (200-Level Law) and IBRAHIM MUBARAK (500-Level Agricultural Science).

    They exchanged banters as they walked into the chamber to debate their union’s budget. A few minutes later, the meeting of the Students’ Representative Assembly (SRA), the legislative arm of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto (UDUS), became rowdy as members disagreed on key items in the budget sent by the executive.

    But for the quick intervention of the Deputy Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Suleiman Kura, the disagreement would have degenerated to a fracas as members traded wards.

    It was supposed to be a sitting where the students would approve the 2012/2013 union’s budget. But the session turned raucous when members of the executive accused their legislature counterparts of tampering with key items in the document.

    President of the union Usman Maizare said it was illegal for the SRA members to cancel some capital projects in the budget and replace them with what the legislature wanted, accusing the SRA members of using their power unconstitutionally.

    He said: “The problem started when the SRA members tampered with the budget which the executive sent to them and removed most of the important projects we intend to carry out. They replaced the items with other projects of their choice in the amended budget and returned it to us. This is not done anywhere. They are going beyond their limitation.”

    The Speaker of the SRA, Mustapha Umar, said the executive lacked an understanding of “amendment”, denying that the legislature replaced items in the budget.

    Reacting to the cancellation of the sitting by the Dean, Mustapha said: “As peace-loving students, we are bound to respect any decision which will maintain peace on the campus, especially when it is being taken by the authority. Also, we regret the disruption of the sitting and we hope students would forgive us because everything that happened was to serve the interest of the students, who entrusted us with this responsibility.”

    Dr Kura arrived at the scene at 9:30pm and announced the cancellation of the sitting. In his brief speech, he said: “I am going to disappoint you all. It is sad that you students’ leaders do not know your responsibility as enshrined in your union constitution. Until you know the limitation of your powers, the sitting is hereby cancelled.”

    The announcement did not go down well with students, who roared continuously. The presence of the security personnel prevented students from exchanging blows.

    Students, who witnessed the incident, expressed displeasure over the development. Umar Kaura, a 300-Level student, said: “This is anarchy. It is quite unfortunate that we are witnessing this development. The Deputy Dean is wrong to cancel the sitting because there is a constitution in place. We can’t accept this interference from the school.”

    Another student Bello Kirfi, it is wrong for the authorities to stop students’ union proceedings. It is a students’ affair, he said.

    Criticising the conduct of the union leaders, Abu Tafida, a final year student in the Faculty of Social Sciences, said: “We have lost confidence in our representatives; they are not being sincere. Thirteen months after they were elected, they are yet to have ratified budget not to talk of implementing any project. It is better the union is dissolved.”

    In a telephone interview with the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Magawatta, he said he was not aware of the cancellation, noting that he had not been briefed by his deputy.

    The SRA later reconvened for a meeting at the chamber at night and issued a statement on the resolution of the meeting. Members said they would stand by the amended budget and would not allow pressure from the executives to sabotage their effort.

     

     

  • Want to look younger? Donate blood

    Students of Optometry in Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, visited the National Blood Transfusion Service (NABTS) to donate blood toward saving lives. EKENE AHANEKU (200-Level Optometry) reports.

    DURING their anatomy class, they were told pathetic stories of the emergency wards and how blood could save a life.After the lecture, about 70 students of Optometry in Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, went to the National Blood Transfusion Service (NABTS).

    They also visited orphanages to donate materials to the less privileged.

    An Anatomy lecturer, Dr A.N. Obialor, who told the gripping stories, led the volunteers to the NABTS. On getting to the centre, which shares premises with the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, the students were taken on a tour of the facilities to learn the benefits of blood donation. They were surprised to learn that donating blood regularly can make the donor to look younger.

    Exicted by the revelation, some of them stepped forward to donate. In 120 days, they were told, red blood cells die to regenerate new ones in the body. The students learnt that blood donation reduces skin wrinkles.

    Before the donation, forms were shared among the students to ascertain their fitness.

    Their body weight, Haemoglobin (Hb) level, HIV status, blood pressure and pulse rate were checked before the donation. Some of them whose weights were less than 50kg were barred. Also, students whose Haemoglobin (Hb) level was below 11g/dl and who had high blood pressure and low pulse rate were disqualified.

    After the donation, many students shared their experience. Success Onyema, 200-Level Optometry, said: “My Haemoglobin level was discovered to be 17.4g/dl, which means I have more than enough blood to donate. During the session, I noticed that the blood was not flowing, at first. The needle was later adjusted to pump out the blood. I felt the pain but it was my determination to save a life that made made to proceed with the exercise.”

    Chidera Odionyenma, another student, said: “The experience was something I cannot explain. First, I thought it will be painful but when it got to my turn, I noticed it was just a normal thing to do. I will tell my friends to try to donate blood because it is an exercise that is rewarding to save life”.

    “I felt like I gave life to someone that needed it most,” Nosiri Amauche said.

    Emmanuella Ogazi, who donates frequently, said: “I enjoy free medical attention whenever I need it; all I need to do is to present my red card, which indicates that I am a frequent donor. Today, I am happy it would be the fourth time I would be donating blood. My aim is to save life.”

    According to the students, the exercise was fun not because they donated a vital fluid in their body, but because they donated to save lives of people they would not meet.

     

     

  • UNILORIN fetes student-writers

    UNILORIN fetes student-writers

    The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has celebrated members of the Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ), who have been making the institution proud through their writing.

    The event was attended by the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof AbdulGaniu Ambali; Prof Bayo Lawal, Deputy VC (Academics); Prof Y.M. Fakunle; Mr Emmanuel Obafemi, Registrar and Mr Kunle Akogun, Deputy Director, Directorate of Corporate Affairs.

    Mr Akogun said: “I am pleased to present these students, who have projected the positive image of the university through their writing in national dallies, essay competitions and their active participation in local and international conferences.”

    The student-writers included Bakare Wale, 400-Level Zoology, a student journalist and Google Student Ambassador; Muhammed Abdullahi, 500-Level Law, celebrated essay writer and CEO of Naija Writers Coach (NWC); Idris Alao, 300-Level Law, president of Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ), UNILORIN Chapter and Ibrahim Jimoh, 500-Level Electrical and Electronic Engineering, essay winner and author.

    “Unilorin is a good training ground to be a great person. Before you gained admission into this university, you were not like this. But with time you were able to discover yourselves. I congratulate you on making UNILORIN proud in your various endeavours. I urge you to continue,” Prof Ambali said.

    He added: “We want to see more of your types. UNILORIN is producing role models that others would emulate. That is why we are always ahead of other tertiary institutions in the country.

     

  • A Senator with large heart

    A Senator with large heart

    · Indigent students get  scholarship

    More than 24 undergradiates and 42 secondary school pupils from Enugwu-Ukwu Community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State have benefited from the scholarship of former Senator I.G. Abana. MMADUKA ODOGWU (UNIZIK) reports.

    More than 60 indigent students from Enugwu-Ukwu Community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State benefited from the scholarship scheme of former Senator I.G. Abana in a ceremony witnessed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Peter Afuba, Deputy Governor-elect Dr Nkem Okeke and residents of the community.

    The scholarship was awarded to 25 undergraduates and 42 secondary school pupils. Each undergraduate got N75,000.

    Governor Peter Obi, who was represented by Afuba, described Abana as a grassroots politician, who could do anything that is beneficial to his people, stressing that his gesture was worthy of emulation.

    Abana also renovated a dilapidated classroom in Uru-Ekwo Primary School and donated modern education materials to the school.

    With the gesture, the immediate past President-General of the community, Mr. Jude Ekwunife, said Abana had left indelible marks in the residents heart, saying the scholarship would put smiles on faces of the indigent.

    He said: “We need not to enumerate what Senator Abana has done for the people of Enugwu-Ukwu community. Today, over 60 students in the community received scholarship from him through his foundation. He also provides free healthcare to people irrespective of where they come from. This is an act of kindness. Abana has made an unimaginable impact on the life the community.”

    Abana said his passion for education motivated the gesture, adding it was through education that the best human could be felt.

    He said: “There is no known better way to develop human beings other than giving them qualitative education. Looking at the society, there are brilliant students who cannot afford to acquire university education. The responsibility is on us to assist such students and their parents. I so much believe in education because it breeds development.”

    Abana said his foundation had awarded scholarships to the students in the last four years, adding that traders and small scale business operators have also benefited from the foundation’s finance scheme.

    Chinedu Okoyeatu, a student of African and Asian Studies at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, who benefitted from the scheme, said: “I am grateful to Senator Abana and his foundation. I feel overjoyed to benefit from this kind gesture. The scholarship will go a long way to boost my academic performance.”

    A parent, who gave her name as Mrs Okoye, said the former Senator had relieved her of “heavy load”: “I don’t have to struggle to get my son’s school fee. I thank God for this unexpected New Year’s gift.”

    She added: “I am grateful to God for this because the cost of education in Nigeria is on the increase. It is not just the school fees that you pay for. Other expenses, such as feeding and hostel fee are a big task for low-income earners like me. Senator Abana has just taken a heavy load off my shoulder. I am grateful to him for the surprise.”

    Another parent praised the ex-lawmaker for the renovated classroom, saying pupils of the school would have a reason again to stay at home during the rainy season.

    During the event, which lasted for two days, more than 100 residents received free medical treatment from 34 medical personnel for various ailments.