The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Envoy lauds BSN Nigeria

    The Ambassador of The Royal Kingdom of Netherlands, Mr. John Groffen has praised the management of Business School of Netherlands (BSN), Nigeria for its role in strengthening the relatioship between the two countries.

    He gave the commendation when he paid a working visit to BSN Abuja as part of on-going efforts to strengthen ties between his country and Nigeria.

    The Ambassador, who was in the company of his Senior Policy Advisor on Economic and Political Affairs in Nigeria, Ms Fidelia Onoghaife, was received by the management and staff of BSN Nigeria led by the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Lere Baale.

    Speaking on behalf of the BSN team, Baale expressed appreciation to the Ambassador for the visit, and also for his untiring effort in seeking more ways to strengthen the diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the Netherlands.

    He noted that the presence of BSN Nigeria has helped many Nigerians experience the quality of Dutch education and the Action Learning Model, which originated from the Netherlands and BSN.

    Groffen, expressed delight in seeing more Nigerians identify and experience the Netherlands through the BSN, while pledging continued support of the embassy for the activities of the school as it strategically provides a platform for more relationships between Nigeria and the Netherlands.

    The Ambassador promised to keep facilitating more interactions and interface between the Dutch related-community in Nigeria and the Royal Kingdom including the ease accessibility of the BSN community to the Netherlands.

     

  • Achievers varsity graduates two sets

    Achievers varsity graduates two sets

    Achievers University Owo, Ondo State has graduated 611 students. They are made up of a combined set from the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 academic sessions at its second convocation.

    Of the lot, 20 finished with first class honours. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adebayo Odebiyi, said the students performed well.

    His words: “Today, we are graduating two sets of students-2011/2012 and 2012/2013 sets and the results have been encouraging. For the 2011/2012 session, 76 students, graduating from the Department of Accounting, Business Administration and Economics and of this number, five are in the first Class, 18 in second class upper division and 10 in third class’s honour.

    “In the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, 42 graduated from the departments of Medical Laboratory Science, Biochemistry, Computer and Information Systems, Microbiology and Industrial Chemistry with one student in first class, 12 in second class upper division, 21 in second class lower and eight in third class.

    “For the 2012/2013 session, 393 students are graduating from the college of Social and Management Sciences with 12 in first class, 199 in second class upper division, 155 in second class lower division and 27 in third class. In the college of Natural and Applied Sciences, 100 students and graduating with two in first class, 49 in second class upper division, 38 in second class lower division and 11 in third class.”

    Odebiyi noted that the 2011/2012 set has already completed their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, while those in the 2012/2013 are presently under going the national programme.

    The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Dr. Bode Ayorinde, urged the Federal Government to see private universities as partners in progress.

    He however noted that apart from the license, there are no incentives private institutions enjoy from the government and sought a change.

    “The Tertiary Education Trust Fund is operating under a law that does not recognise private universities. On behalf of all private universities, we want to plead with the Federal and State Governments to see the Private University Project as a necessary panacea to higher education challenges in the country.

    “Some of us started in temporary premises leveraging on the support of local communities to take off. Achievers University is a good example of “starting small” “growing big”. When we were to start, we learnt that Harvard University, one of the best private universities in the world, started from a five-bedroom duplex and, over time, it has developed to its present stage in history.

    “If that is true, massive infrastructure should not be a yardstick for measuring seriousness in the pursuit of a private university project. At no time in history have massive buildings impacted knowledge on students; rather it is the human asset in the university that is described as the faculty of knowledge that impacts on the students”.

    At the ceremony, Chairman, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Tunde Ayeni, Managing Director/CEO Ecobank Plc, Mr. Jibril Aku, President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Mr. Segun Aina and Aare Alaasa Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oloye Lekan Alabi were conferred with honourary degrees.

     

  • Varsity fetes past INHURD directors

    The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Olusola Oyewole, has commended the immense contributions of the past and present leadership of the Institute of Human Resource Development (INHURD), for the enormous success recorded by the institute.

    Speaking at a party held in honour of the past directors and staff members of the institute, Oyewole noted that the development of INHURD was as a result of the vision, hard work and dedication of its founding fathers and members of staff.

    He praised his predecessors for their role in the growth of the institute which was conceived by the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof ‘Nimbe Adedipe. Those who came after, Prof Julius Okojie, Prof Israel Adu, Prof Ishola Adamson, and Prof Olaiya Balogun built on the vision and expanded it until the centre metamorphosed into an Institute and re-located to its permanent site

    The Vice-Chancellor said that very soon, there would be computerized identity card for members of staff and students, which would last for one year.

    Speaking of future plans, the Director of INHURD, Prof Francis Sowemimo said the Institute would soon start international programmes such as TOEFL and SAT in addition to the IJMB A-Level it currently runs.

    Sowemimo, however, appealed to the Vice-Chancellor to assist in building more lecture theatres repair the main road leading to the Institute.

    Past Directors, honoured at the appreciation party are: Prof Segun Lagoke, pioneer director (2002 – 2006), Prof Babatunde Oguntona (2006 – 2007), Dr Taofiq Salisu (2007 – 2011) and Prof Babatunde Kehinde (2011- 2013).

     

     

  • Discover your talents, students told

    Students have been urged to be their own role models and discover their potentials to drive entrepreneurship and reduce unemployment in the country. Speaking at the orientation ceremony for freshers at Fountain University, Osogbo, on the topic “Between certification and education: bridging the gap,” a motivational speaker, Yinka Anjous, charged students to aspire to be self-reliant.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bashir Ademola Raji said the university placed a high premium on functional education and character development.

    The university Chief Imam, Alhaji Abdul-razeez Oladimeji prayed for divine direction for the students.

  • Feast of culture at college’s jubilee

    Feast of culture at college’s jubilee

    Ofo (the deity) led the procession, carrying a black pot through which he communicated with the populace. The chief priest followed the deity, making incantations with a cow horn wrapped with a red ribbon.

    The Igwe (king), his chiefs and some denizens, clad in flamboyant red and white robes, trailed them on the way to the shrine to seek the gods’ face for the festival.

    This was the setting when the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education in Owerri, the Imo State capital, held a cultural fiesta to mark its 50th anniversary.

    Students shone in different cultural attires to mark the day. Their dressing depicted tradition, life, arts and customs of all ethnic groups in the country.

    It all started with a procession round the campus by staff and students in their traditional attires, bearing object peculiar to their ethnic group. The Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Tiv, Efik and Idoma, among others were represented.

    After the tour, they gathered at the Handball Court, the venue of the programme, to dance.

    The ceremony was declared open by the Deputy Provost, Sir B.C Maduka, who praised the students for the display of the “rich cultural heritage of the people of this great nation”. After the speech, the stage was set for cultural troupes’ performance. About 16 different cultural groups entertained the audience.

    Some of the groups that performed are Nzezurume, Kegite Club, Tiv Students Association, Idoma Cultural Group, the Ezemmuo of Nzezurume and Yoruba Students Association.

    Anambra State students stole the show when they brought their masqueraders and dancers to the stage. The masqueraders showcased the rich culture of Anambra people in particular and the Igbo.

    Yoruba students surprised the audience with their Egungun (masquerader) and Babalawo (the priest). A student in the Yoruba troupe moved closer to the Egungun and placed his ears beside the spirit’s mouth. He urged the audience to be silent, claiming he wanted to hear from the ancestors. This attracted applause.

    The performance was followed by the display of the “Ezemmuo” – the oracle of the gods of Nzezurume of Alvan Community. The troupe made incantations in Igbo language, depicting how the oracles acted as medium of communication between the people and the gods. The chief priest interpreted the oracle’s message, which prescribed the use of herbs and leaves as medication by the people.

    Chairman of the Governing Council Hon. Ajibola Oyinlola danced with Yoruba students in excitement. He commended the students for their “perfect” display of their cultures. He told them to use culture to promote unity in the country.

    Theatre Art students displayed their dancing skills. They started with the Ohafia war dance, a symbol of Ohafia people in Abia State. They also performed the Atilogwu dance of Anambra people and the Egedege of Imo people.

    They staged a drama on how Dibia afa (native doctors) treated people with bone fracture, using Igba okwukwu (a traditional medicine). In the drama, a female dancer feigned injury and the native doctor (a male student) used traditional orthopaedic medication to reset her bones. After the medication, the dancer performed excellently.

    Nwaiwu Somtochukwu, a 200-Level student, said: “It is good to attend this kind of event. I have learnt new things about the culture of my people and I was able to find explanation to some traditions being practised in Igboland today.”

    Iwuchukwu Anurika, another student, said: “I have just discovered that culture is dynamic. I followed every activity of this cultural day and it was really fun-filled. I thought incantation is only used in Nollywood movies, but today I have witnessed it live. This is interesting.”

    At the event were Imo state University students and primary school pupils, among others.

  • Their fear of the unknown

    Their fear of the unknown

    For students nationwide, the suspension of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike last week may be the best news of the year.

    With the strike over, they know that it is time for academics once again immediately after Christmas and the New Year break.

    Many of them them were preparing for examination when their teachers went on strike last July. When universities reopen next January, the exams are expected to come up.

    At the Delta State University (DELSU), there has been an uneasy calm over the management’s decision that students should return to school last December 4.

    Few students obeyed the directive, but with the suspension of ASUU strike, their misgiving about resumption has disappeared.

    Mark Chibogu, 500-Level Mechanical and Production Engineering student of DELSU, who said the strike delayed his graduation, urged the government not to renege on its promises to the lecturers. “We cannot afford another strike,” said Mark.

    The suspension of the strike was a good development, according to Zebulun Orogun, 400-Level student of Geology at DELSU. He said he believed the lecturer’ action was necessary if universities must become centres of excellence. “If the 2009 agreement is implemented to the letters, I believe students will have something to fall back on in modern academic requirements,” he said.

    “I am not happy neither am I sad that ASUU strike has been suspended,” Musa Sale, a 300-Level student of Physics at the Bayero University, Kano (BUK) quipped. He added: “I have submitted every delay I have been having in school to the will of Allah.”

    Daniel Adayi, 200-Level Accounting, University of Jos (UNIJOS), described strike as “an automatic carryover”. He wondered why a responsible government would allow university lecturers to be away from school for almost six months, stating that the development may not augur well for the nation’s education system.

    A student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, who simply gave her name as Chichi, said the suspension of the strike close to Christmas was not good. Reason: her institution was about to start second semester examination when the ASUU declared indefinite action. “Now I will have to eat Christmas meat with caution because I have to keep my books close to me,” she offered.

    “I was idle throughout the strike period and even lost the desire to study because it seemed the government did not attach any importance to education anymore,” Juliet Igbedi, a 300-Level student of Pharmacy at DELSU said.

    However, strike offered Samuel Egwo, 400-Level Social Studies Education, time to discover his talent outside academics. But it is not so for him in school because his properties he left behind in his hostel were carted away by burglars.

    Apart from academics, students are returning to campus to face accommodation challenges. Due to the months of strike, many students staying off-campus may have to deal with high rent from landlords and their agents.

    Some students of Kogi State University living off-campus were ejected two months ago by their landlords on the claims that the students abandoned the rooms.

    Andrew Ishaku, a 400-Level Chemistry, said: “My rent has expired since October. And I don’t think I will be a good child to ask my parents to pay exorbitant rent my landlord is asking. I will have to go squat with my friends in the school hostel since I have just a semester left.”

     

  • Poly students seek national dialogue, delegate slot

    Poly students seek national dialogue, delegate slot

    The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has held its 38th Senate meeting at the Katsina State Polytechnic. It was attended by the Students’ Union presidents and others from different polytechnics nationwide.

    The session was led by the association’s Senate President, Lukman Salahudeen. He launded the Federal Government’s effort to restore peace in the North, saying security posts should be created on campuses, especially the three states where a state of emergency had been declared. He said this would forestall security breaches and curtail the activities of Boko Haram in the region.

    Salahudeen said members of the National Conference should include polytechnic students, saying their representation would help in the deliberations of the group.

    Members of the association appealed t the managements of polytechnics and monotechnics to increase their accommodation capacity by building more hostels. It decried the increment in tuition fees by some institutions.

    The association condemned the ongoing strike by members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), saying it has frustrated the government’s effort to end the protracted strike. It urged both parties to resume negotiations and end the industrial action.

    The group commended the proposed Students Welfare Insurance Scheme (SWIS) by Students Enterprise Nigeria, Agric Combo and Security Verified Identity Card, noting that it would improve students’ welfare and security. It urged the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to give its consent to the implementation of the scheme.

    During the meeting, members of the Constitution Review committee were appointed. They included Mustapha 2013Tijani, Nwagu Liberty, Sakis Mohammed, Usman Abdulmalik, Taiwo Babalola and Hamzarhman Ukaza.

    The members visited the palace of the Emir of Daura at the end of the conference.

  • At last, the strike ends

    At last, the strike ends

    Students must have heaved a sigh of relief last week, following the announcement by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to end its six-month strike. Last week’s Wednesday, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by both the Federal Government and representatives of ASUU to end the industrial action.

    I can imagine the first few words that must have been blurted by bewildered students while reading through the news. Indeed, the signing of the MoU on December 11 was the most important thning after the 13-hour intervention by the President.

    Before the memorandum was agreed on, however, students had expected President Goodluck Jonathan to review the 2009 agreements and come up with workable recommendations that would make ASUU to return to work. But that was not to happen. Not wanting to be fooled the second time, ASUU members needed to close loop-holes and reach water-tight agreement with the government this time around. That was thoughtful of them as intellectuals they are. For the lecturers, the mantra was: “Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice shame on me.”

    Finally, the strike is over. Students can now go back to school. Lecturers can now roll-up their sleeves to work and give us the quality education they have been clamouring. Abandoned projects can now go into completion. The botched semester can continue without disruption again.

    But how I wished the strike never happened. If wishes were horses, beggars will ride. This was not to be at all. In 52 weeks that make up year 2013, students spent 25 weeks out of school. Their youthful intellects that supposed to be rightly channeled into a positive end were made to think of others things not in tandem with academics.

    Most students engaged in unproductive ventures. This would not have been if the government was faithful to the agreement it reached with the lecturers in 2009. We were told that it is not the government of the day that entered into an agreement with the ASUU, but in Political Science, we are told that government is continuum. Therefore, all actions taken by the previous governments, whether in good or bad faith – are binding on the government of the day.

    Now, another MoU has been signed. Another agreement reached. It is time for government to indeed redeem its battered image. As it stands, the government of the day has lost the trust of the people. Its credibility has been smeared as an institution that reneges on agreements such as agreements with ASUU, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and other unions.

    When trust becomes difficult to command, then something must be wrong. When nobody is unable to trust the government, then there is a sign of trouble in such polity. Nigerian government lacks credibility and trust. Pray, why would everybody not want to trust the occupant of the country’s highest office? Why will proofs be required before further action? Even after a 13-hour meeting? Haba! That shows the lack of trust.

    If government decides to play its part rightly, I believe ASUU and university managements would not hesitate to do same. As a group of intellectuals, the lecturers would be willing to implement the agreements to the letters. The money released would, indeed, go where it is supposed to go; the money would not alight at unofficial bus stops.

    I believe the implementation of the recommendations of the MoU just signed by the government and ASUU will signify Nigerian universities’ launch into the limelight – a launch into global recognition. Our universities will start to compete with leading universities across the globe.

    Students will no longer strain ears in lecture rooms. No longer will 300 students be packed in a lecture theatre for 100 students. We will no longer have excuses to be absent at practical classes because of dearth of instruments. Graduates produced from our ivory towers can now stand should-to-shoulder with their peers across the world.

    Nigeria as the giant of Africa needs not to have a dwindling education system. The sector does not need to be left in the hands of charlatans. According to Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Our immediate world is Nigeria. Therefore, the need to seriously pay attention to education is imminent for a better society.

    •Kelechi, 200-Level Mass Communication, UNILAG

     

  • Can we now go back to school?

    Can we now go back to school?

    After months of negotiating and dialoguing, the curtain was drawn on the face-off between the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The statement signaling the end of six-month strike by the ASUU came last week after a marathon National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union in the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) in Niger State.

    Many students foresaw the end to the ASUU’s industrial action, when the conditions tabled down by the union were reportedly met by the government – an evidence of payment of lecturers earned allowances, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) duly signed by reputable individuals.

    With a great sense of optimism, I had high hopes that without further delay, the strike should be called off. Admittedly, I must say I heaved a sigh of relief when the government and lecturers’ representatives signed the MoU to end the strike, although it took a number of days before the declaration was made. Interestingly, the anticipated solution to the crisis that has rocked the boat of Nigerian varsities for about six months has arrived, even though it came later than expected. But it is good to arrived late than never. Strike hurts, no matter the duration. Since 1999 till date, academic activities in Nigerian universities have been repeatedly shut down because of lecturers’ demand. Always, students bear the brunt.but then, the lecturers went on strike to improve the quality and values of our education.

    I recall being told stories about the “good old days” of the Nigerian education system. Tales of how students were sent to universities on government scholarships, how these same students could afford to travel abroad for vacations due to the loans they received from the government and how students could go for vacation jobs even as undergraduates.

    In the good old days, the education system maintained a high level of standards and devoid of all known unwholesome practices we see today. The question I have always asked is: “Where did we get it all wrong? What happened to the dreams of our founding fathers that prioritised investment in education during their administrations? Is it that the leaders of our new republic do not believe that any society desirous of positive change of any kind, needs to channel a great deal of time, energy and resources towards the education of its children and youth, usually acclaimed as the driving force for this change?

    If formal education is seen worldwide as the best way to bridge the developmental gap between the Third World countries and the developed world, Nigerian government should then wake up to the challenge of educating their citizens to become drivers of a prosperous economy.

    Nigeria need not have a dwindling education sector, considering the foundation laid by the founding fathers of the First Republic.

    Now, the strike is over. Can students now go back to the ivory towers and conclude their respective semesters without any form of disruption? Can we now go back to school, without the fear of future strikes? Shall we now have an upgrade in the standards of our laboratories and libraries? These are begging questions. But again, there would never be an end to this questioning spree as far as our government is only good at making promises and agreements which at the end of the day would not be fulfilled. Perhaps, the union would not have resorted to industrial actions if the government had fulfilled its part of the bargain.

    Some universities have released their reviewed academic calendars which will have students back to school in the New Year. I fervently pray that in years to come, students will not suffer the same fate as that of the just concluded 25-week old ASUU strike.

    •Tolulope, 400-Level Urban and Regional Planning, FUT MINNA

     

  • UNILAG holds anti-AIDS rally

    UNILAG holds anti-AIDS rally

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has joined the rest of the world to mark the 2013 World AIDS Day.

    The university management in collaboration with Anti–Aids Club under the UNILAG Counselling unit and the Medical Centre held an awareness rally to sensitise the public on prevention of HIV/AIDS and encouraging the public to embrace abstinence and stop discrimination of infected persons.

    The rally, which started from the Senate Building, was attended by the principal officers, including the Vice Chancellor, Prof Rahmon Bello, Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA) Prof Kayode Amund, the Counsellor, Mrs Aderonke Asiwaju, Director of UNILAG Medical Centre Dr R. Apampa.

    Prof Bello stressed the need for everyone to be involved in disseminating information on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and showing care to those living with the scourge. He praised the organisers for the campaign.

    Dr Ampampa said abstinence from sex remains the best preventive measure against HIV/AIDS, urging young people to abstain from active sexual life.

    The President of Anti – Aids Club, UNILAG, Eric Obi Uzuoma, a 400-Level Philosophy student, urged fellow students to follow the preventive principle, which he described as abstinence, being faithful to one’s partner and the use of condoms. He called on participants to join the global fight against the epidemic.

    The rally ended at the Multipurpose Hall of the institution where participants converged for a brief lecture and refreshment.

    “The theme of this year’s celebration is Getting to zero and it is hoped that everyone will stand towards getting HIV/AIDS to zero,” one of the organisers told CAMPUSLIFE.