Category: Campus Life

• Babcock holds career fair

A professor of African History and History of Religious Education,Abiodun Adesegun, has called for an overhaul of public education in Africa through the use of Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) educational enterprise model.

Adesegun made the call while delivering the 42nd inaugural lecture of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State.

In his paper entitled: “Seventh-Day Adventist higher educational enterprise in Africa: cleaning the augean stable in public education”, the don  said the components of SDA education model were time-tested and true, capable of offering the needed succour to an almost comatose public education.

According to him, the model possesses  ingredients from which administrators of schools across Africa could borrow to revitalise education system.

“It is time to clean the augean stable by adopting and adapting approaches that could make positive impact on the state of things across the continent,” he said.

 Adesegun said the SDA model, which is based on the Bible, is a distinctive and unique approach to reality, truth and value.

He also suggested that it was  imperative to look at what faith based institutions are doing with a view to adapting their style.

The don said the model emphasises the teachings of the Bible and the inculcation of spiritual and ethical values in all of her educational institutions.

He noted that students irrespective of their discipline were required to register and take a course on Life and Teaching of Christ to get them acquainted with God.

He said faculty, staff and students were expected to model Christ’s decorum in behaviour, conversation, and a dress code that is strictly implemented, and  erring students stand to be penalised.

Adesegun said the model also involves promoting a healthier lifestyle  to be fit to serve God and fellow humans.

According to him, SDA school administrators are mandated by policy to create job opening for students who are willing to work to earn their way through school.

This, according to him, is done so that when occupied in their spare time, they would have little or no time for vices such as cultism that tend to lead them in the wrong direction.

He said a lack of adequate funding by government and an equal lack of accountability and corporate governance has led some of the infrastructure in public schools to become decrepit, out modelled  and not in touch with current realities.

Meanwhile, Babcock University has held its yearly Career Fair for graduating students.

The event was an opportunity for   students to interact with top employers in the country and gain insight into the job market. It provided a platform for students to showcase their skills and connect with potential employers.

Babcock’s Director of Communication and Marketing, Dr Joshua Suleiman said the career fair was one of the top  events  of the university.

He said the university was excited to have special students ready to showcase their skills to the world.

He urged the students to take the career fair very serious and give a positive impact to their environment.

“No doubt, with you, this country is on a platform to greatness and this fair will enrich you with greatness,” he added.

Several foreign institutions and Nigerian companies, such as Nestle, Computer and Industrial (C and I), University of New York, Solomon World International, among others,were in attendance.

One of the keynote speakers, Miss Ayobami Omonike urged the students to make themselves special.

Omonike, an alumnna of the university,who  shared her personal experiences with the students,  urged them to see obstacles as a way to make themselves special.

“Just get ready to overcome obstacles that will come your way and understand that there are things outside your control,” she said.

She congratulated them on their forthcoming graduation ceremony, saying it’s just the beginning of  their success.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, has inaugurated the law faculty building of the Veritas University at its permanent site in Bwari, Abuja.

Named the Justice Chike Idigbe Faculty of Law, it is under the auspices of Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors, the law firm founded in 1947 by the late Justice Chukwunweike Idigbe.

The firm and the Idigbe family spearheaded the fundraiser and got donors to contribute towards the building construction.

The CJN was assisted in the unveiling by the Senior Partner of the firm and the late jurist’s son, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN).

The programme was preceded by a mass at the university chapel celebrated by John Cardinal Onaiyekan.

The building was blessed by the Chairman of Council/Pro-Chancellor, Bishop Mathew Kukah,.

President, Nigerian Bar association (NBA), Mr Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), also witnessed the event.

The post-inauguration was chaired by Ambassador S. T. Dogonyaro (rtd).

The day ended with a cocktail party at the firm’s Abuja office.

The inauguration was part of events to mark the centenary of the late Justice Idigbe.

“I am grateful to our numerous benefactors who made the realisation of the building possible,” Idigbe said.

The university, founded by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, got a provisional license in May 2007 and commenced admission in October 2008 for the 2008/2009 academic year at its take-off campus in Obehie Town, Abia State.

Justice Ariwoola praised Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors and the donors for the gesture and their contribution to education, saying it was not an easy feat to accomplish.

He believes the building is a befitting way to immortalise the late Justice Idigbe, who he said was one of the finest jurists the Supreme Court ever had.

Praising the firm, Justice Ariwoola describes as “most gratifying and heart-warming” the positive and direct interventions from private individuals and law firms in the development of law as a field of study.

He said: “The effort of Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors, which carries the fascinating emblem of my Lord, Justice Idigbe, in endowing a Faculty of Law to be christened: Justice Idigbe Faculty of Law in Veritas University, Abuja is worth commending and emulating as well.

“This is ostensibly due to the fact that most of our heroes, benefactors and great minds are only remembered and celebrated while they are still alive.

“Today (May 3), as it were, the seed quietly but painstakingly sown by my Lord, Justice Idigbe some decades ago, has now grown into a giant oak tree that graciously spread its tentacles to areas never imagined by him and even those that shared in his dream then.

“This should serve as a lesson for all of us alive today, that whatever we do, there will always be a reward: either good or bad.

“I wish to, once again, thank and fervently appreciate this kind gesture of Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors. It is a giant stride not too easy to accomplish.

“Today, the great name and eloquent voice that had once rented the airwaves in the various courtrooms in Nigeria, is being immortalised; and we are all happy to see it happen in our life time.

“With this astounding feat, you have profoundly demonstrated your passion for the development of legal education in Nigeria and equally hoisted the banner of true nationalists.”

Justice Ariwoola paid tribute to the late Justice Idigbe, saying he contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria’s Judiciary and jurisprudence.

The CJN said: “I feel greatly honoured to be given the privileged task of commissioning the Justice Chike Idigbe Faculty of Law in Veritas University, Abuja.

“This occasion will remain evergreen not only in the annals of this great citadel of learning but equally that of the Nigerian Judiciary as it has brought inestimable honour to one of the greatest legal icons in our clime, whose centenary birthday is being celebrated this year.

“My lord Justice Chike Idigbe gave his best in the several years of service to his fatherland and the generality of mankind.

“He was such a dedicated and passionate judicial officer that never toyed with any task assigned to him. The zeal and commitment that dwelt in him to always achieve higher heights and attain greater mileages were simply indescribable.

“His rise to the Supreme Court bench was more of hard work and total submission to the dictates of his calling than any other considerations.

“He was very meticulous in his dealings with everyone around him; so much so that he would never leave out even the most infinitesimal issue discussed in the course of his interactions with whoever was before him while recounting his encounters. His sense of humour and conviviality was simply infectious.

“His excellent performance at the Bench had ignited a spark of admiration in many legal practitioners and judicial officers at all levels of courts in Nigeria.

“His landmark judicial pronouncements will forever have a foothold on logic and emotions.

“He had, in no small way, displayed high proficiency in the seamless dispensation of justice, which evidently reclined on his mastery of law and impressive scholarship.

“His judgments were not only fact-based but very analytical and incisive, as his knowledge of law was firmly rooted in both civil and criminal matters.

“That, of course, is the synoptic description of my lord, Hon. Justice Chike Idigbe in the court of law.

“His knowledge of law is fascinating; just as his long and extensive experience in public administration and enviable capacity for methodical consideration of issues and sound judgment have been of immeasurable value to the court.”

Developing practical skills will not only enable students compete globally with their peers, but also position them for the 21st century job space where they can solve problems. These imperatives formed the bedrock of a seminar organised by the Student Academic Consultancy (SAC) of the Mass Communication Department of the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State. OSAKWE IFUNANYA (UNIBEN) reports.

Experts agree that practical skills are the building blocks of lives.Without them, people would be lost.

  Whatever the skill, it allowed you to solve a problem.

Nevertheless, theory without application is ineffective.

It is against this backdrop that the President,  Student Academic Consultancy(SAC),  University of Benin (SAC), Mr. Cosmos Osadolor, held a seminar to enable that students gain practical knowledge that would help them shine at the global level.

The programme, which held at the Ekehuan Campus, was attended by over 100 students.

The speakers included the Managing Director, Edo State Skills Development Agency, Mrs. Violet Obokoro;  Chief Executive Officer, WEBBITT Technologies, Mr. Ajayi Adebayo; CIO, Genius Hub Global Initiative, Mrs. Isimeme Whyte; Media Manager,Edo State Skills Development Agency, Miss Valentina Umeri and CEO DISKS and TDC Pioneer, Kehinde Santos.

Whyte, a former student of the UNIBEN,   told the students that one could be a student and an entrepreneur.

According to her, entrepreneurship is on the rise in Nigeria. “Data shows that despite how  COVID-19  affected the economy, Nigeria had 5.4 million new entrepreneurs in  2019 and increased to 46.4 million in 2020, a jump of 13.17 per cent.

“However, entrepreneurship is not a bed of roses. As a student, you have to be determined to face several challenges in the entrepreneur world.”

She said for students to be successful entrepreneurs, they should know the steps required to achieve it.

“Students must know how to achieve entrepreneurial success. Such steps are: identifying a problem or a gap in the market, keeping an eye on the market trends, having a profitable business plan, attending industry events and connecting with other professionals in the entrepreneurial field, analysing the competition and creating new ideas,” she added.

While encouraging students not to depend  on sourcing white collar jobs, she observed that skill acquisition was one of the fastest means of rising in the corporate world.

“That is why students should acquire as many skills as possible. I must, therefore, commend the organisers and planners of the seminar as it is apt and timely, considering the global challenges faced by youths,” she added.

Santos advised students to research, read, attend seminars, pay for classes, volunteer, and join associations.

According to him, people who play it safe, end up being ordinary instead of being extraordinary, he added.

“The biggest mistake you will be making  is playing it small.You are at that stage of your life where you can make mistakes and still get away with it with little or no bruises. So, take that risk, apply for that position, go for that office, start that business, build that brand. Just take a  bold step,” he said.

He also advised the students to empower others and partner like minds to pioneer awesome projects.

Adebayo told them that as students studying about the media world, content creation  should be their second nature.

“You need to start building a particular product, get proper understanding of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), and a website.

“Problem-solving is a dream people do not know how to actualise and, as a student, you can make money from solving marketing problems.You can become a digital marketer, social media manager and you will make millions from it,” he said.

Obiokoro advised the students to have a good mindset.

“Having a good mindset will take you far in your career. It will put you above all challenges that you might encounter as a student trying to make it in any field you chose to go into. So, keep this in mind: if you must succeed know that it starts from your mindset,” she said.

For Umeri, internship will stand them in good stead; hence, they should seek experience through internship.

“You cannot learn something without  experiencing it. You, as students, have greater opportunity of learning easily. So, have it in mind that to acquire skills, you go must through internship.

“Also, before you do that, have a clear goal about what you want to do and why. Know who you are first and you will know what you can achieve. Do not take skills acquisition for granted.You can learn some skills online; so take advantage of the opportunities to expand your knowledge.

“So many skills are online these days and not all are paid skills. Some are scholarship or even free skills or course learning. You students should acquire business skills, communication skills and general skills,” she said.

Students react

Several students who attended the programme applauded the SAC for bringing such an opportunity to their doorstep.

Idemudia Erica, a student of Mass Communication Department, learnt a lot.

“One of the things I learnt is that one can succeed even without pulling down others. For example, if you see anyone doing the same thing with you and you see them doing it better, instead of backstabbing, get closer to that person and ask questions to see what you are not doing right.

“Another thing is that consistency and persistence are great keys to success in business and never look down on your business no matter how little. Then, also ensure that your business is registered.

“I also learnt that appearance matters a lot. Show your business dressing very well because how you dress will determine how those you are going to meet will take you seriously,” she said.

Rita Mope of the English and Literature Department said she learnt that having the right mentors was essential to growth.

“Also, having the right mentors is essential to my growth in my preferred career or business. As I will be well-guided and tutored towards doing the right things that will take me to the climax of my job,” she said.

Felicia Udeji, also a  Mass Communication student, said  she got the opportunity to know that as a student she must be open to new opportunities, and develop networking and collaboration skills.

“This is because I do not have all it all. I need others to form a team. One of the things I learned is that learning is hard work. It requires commitment, and discipline, not to mention funds,” she said.

Another student, who craved anonymity, said: “It was an awesome experience. The one that got me in the aspect of growing my career is when the third speaker said getting an excellent grade is not all, but having the right mindset and so we should ask ourselves “Why” we choose such career path because when we know our why, we have started living and we can face challenges head on without being swayed.’’

A 200-Level student of Mass Communication Department, Emmanuella said, learnt how to manage time, among others.

“Above all, it was a very awesome experience that I would love to have again. I now have more understanding about digital marketing, how to create my own content and how to discover myself,” she said.

A 400-Level student, Ogechi Charles said: “The event  opened my eyes to appreciate the importance of having a positive mindset.The ones that would push me towards creating, developing, networking, and achieving my set goals.

“The right mind set that would push me to be consistent in my desired goal and would not make me give up on my dreams, even when life bring it on. I also learnt on developing the right skill sets the ones that complement with my dreams and purpose.The purpose of getting courses online (paid and unpaid ones). For instance, As a voice artiste, I can take courses on Coursera platforms or any other platforms. I can also take courses from Hubspots on how to market my brands online. I can up skill myself on video/editing skills as they complement with my chosen career.

“I also learnt on the importance of gaining experiences as it is what contributes to my chances of getting my dream jobs or makes me an expert in my dream business. I can gain experience through internships and volunteering in any organisation that align with my chosen profession. Also, gaining experiences exposes me to having great opportunities and networking people of great minds.

“The last, but not the least, I learnt  how to develop the right attitude towards achieving my dreams…the act of being discipline, consistent, responsible and developing the tenacity in achieving my dreams despite any odds that come along,” she said.

Nwannemelu Chineye Jullian also  applauded the organisers   for bringing up an inspiring initiative.

“I learnt a lot and got lots of ideas on entrepreneurship which I will eventually implement in  my project to become an entrepreneur . I am so glad I came for the programme because I would have missed an important information,” she said.

For Tracy Folorunsho, also  a Mass Communication Student, the programme was an inspiration.

“I usually attend a lot of programmes just like this one and I always end up picking a lot of things from it and I was quite inspired in this particular programme. Each speaker had something quite important to say and each speaker spoke to a good number of students interest.

“Like one of the speakers said you really just need one word to be inspired to make a change in your personal life.

I learnt a lot and it  helped me plan out my goals more effectively,” she said.

Also in attendance, a student of Theatre Art, Justice Osaretin said  he learnt the importance of acquiring skills through experience.

“I can gain experience through internships and this can expose me to having great networking even while still in school.

For Sharon Odinakachi, a 300-Level Mass Communication student, the speakers expanded her mind on Mass Communication.

“They made me understand that Mass Communication is not just newspaper and radio and television, it is  more than that.

“They made mention of digital marketing, using the internet to create a personal brand, and how people who did not study mass communication are succeeding in the media field. I also learnt that it is normal to be afraid, it just being human. All you have to do  brush it off,” she said.

A 300-Level student,Augustine Aondofa  said

 the event  made him to realise that his Curriculum Vitae  does not guarantee him 100 per cent chance of  securing jobs after graduation.

 “From what I learnt, if my CV is nice, my personality should be of that standard as well. I also learnt that it is normal to make mistakes in life but I should not live in the past, no matter the wrong move, I can rise and make another decision.  Also for one to be a better person, one needs to learn by reading books, researching and learning from experience. Moreover, one needs mentorship to grow in knowledge,” he said.

By Adebola Fatoyinbo

Autism is a spectrum disorder that involves social and communicative deficiency most especially in children. It also involves repetitive behaviours as well as deficiency in social interaction and fundamental social schemes.

They are isolated and always alone due to the disorder. They can be termed as introverts while some go to the extreme of not wanting to maintain meaningful or socially acceptable communicative skills and interaction with their friends and family.

There are five major types of autism:  Autistic disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, Pervasive developmental disorder, Rett syndrome and Childhood disintegrative disorder.

Some diseases like attention deficit hyper activity disorder or hyper kinetic disorder (ADHD), cerebral pulse due to abnormal brain development often before birth or during child birth, some organic illnesses and many more with autism-like symptoms and are called differential diagnosis.

Also, just like every other socially acceptable normal person is predisposed to having various sort of illnesses ranging from physical trauma to neuro pathological illnesses, autistic patients can also be predisposed to illnesses.

However, because of their lack of  standardised communicative skills and ways by which they can portray their needs, it might be difficult to understand an autistic child’s point of view especially when they are going through a certain  illness which means the illness might have been severe  before they can be understood.

There are various symptoms that enable one detect autism in a child. Some of which are; lack of social interaction and communication which might enable lack of response to names, resistance to cuddling or holding hands, poor eye contact, lack of facial expressions, loss of ability to pronounce earlier learnt words as well as making robot-like speeches, abnormal tone and rhythm, lack of comprehension of simple words to mention a few.

Talking about risk factors for autism, scientifically, if a family has one autistic child, there is about 18 per cent possiblity of having another child with autism. Research also shows that the risk is doubled when there are two autistic children in a family. Girls born to a family that has a child with autism spectrum disorder have about nearly triple the risk of having the disorder themselves.

If a mother is above 40 before childbirth, she’s likely to have an autistic child, while if the father is above 50, the child is predisposed to autism.

Also, if there is an inter-pregnancy interval of less than 24 months, this means that if the next conception is less than 24 months of the previous pregnancy, the child is likely to be autistic.

The social media does not do justice to any thing that involves the mental health which is why stigmatisation is the primary problem when it comes to autism. Autism is the same with every other mental illness.

While some stigmatise and neglect autistic children, others associate fake beliefs with autism for example, believing that it is the work of the devil or that it is a spiritually inflicted illness; for some it is infectious.

Doctors are saddled with diagnosing autism in a child. They are equipped with various instruments  that can be used to diagnose autism.

Persistent deficit in social interaction and communication across multiple contexts like social emotional reciprocity from abnormal social approach, failure of normal back and forth conversation, deficit on nonverbal communication behaviour used for social interaction, restricted repetitive pattern of behaviour, insistence on sameness, inflexibility and many more  help doctors diagnose autism.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) can also help in diagnosing autism.   EEG is a test that measures electrical activity in the brain using small, metal discs (electrodes) attached to the scalp but there is  no sufficient evidence to prove that it can be relied upon to diagnose autism.

In treatment of autism, there are pharmacological interventions. This includes the use of a drug called HALOPERIDOL which can decrease the hyperactivity, withdrawal and negativism that is associated with autistic children. Other drugs like RISPERIDONE, ARIPIPRAZOLE can  treat irritability, self injurious behaviour, mood swings in children with autism.

Moreover, autistic children do not like anything that involves change because they are used to a certain pattern of behaviour and if change is introduced to them too quickly, they become disturbed and disoriented.

Parents with autistic children should never stigmatise or neglect them, though it might seems frustrating and difficult.  They should protect them from societal stigmatisation, help them understand the outside world  to grow up fine. If anything, early diagnosis and good treatment would be beneficial.

.Fatoyinbo wrote in from Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH).

By Tunde Adeniyi

Director of Studies at Pampers Private School Yinka Oduwole has said for four decades, the school remained committed to academic excellence, emotional and social confidence in teaching and learning. This, she said, resulted in producing successful alumni and students.

According to her, in the last 40 years, the  school has catered to children from 12 months to 11 years and has been instrumental in preparing them to thrive in a demanding and complex world.

Oduwole said the school established itself as a reputable institution that offers a harmonised curriculum, which is the meshing of the Cambridge and Nigerian curricula to provide international standard of learning.

She said since inception, it has impacted  and alumni are accomplishing giant strides across various sectors like technology, science, art, business and sports.

Oduwole said with two locations in Lagos, the school offers world-class teaching in a vibrant and dynamic international environment.

She said  as a leading educational institution, it celebrated its founder recently  and is proud to be marking its 40th anniversary of providing quality education.

“We remain committed to our core values of excellence, integrity, respect, and accountability as we continue to provide quality education to the future leaders of our nation.

“In the last 40 years, the school has had an impressive impact on the surrounding community. We have received awards in recognition of our exemplary practice, community building Award, Outstanding Professional Development Award, and Outstanding Serving Award from prestigious organisations like The British Council International School Award 2021-24, AISEN, the Mathematics Association of Nigeria (MAN), among others.

“It has increased student enrollment from 10 students to having thousands of children go through our doors; successfully operated a borderless classroom structure during the COVID-19 pandemic; National Champions Mathematics Olympiad (2017/2018), State Champions Mathematics competition (2018/2019), first place in the NHIS Spelling Bee in 2022,” she said.

Oduwole further noted that the school has achieved what it set out to do provide a quality education for young minds that will last them through their lives and the school will be celebrating this milestone with a series of events that include a science exhibition and a grand gala night to recognise the contributions of its stakeholders over the years.

The Asian-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nigeria chapter in partnership with the Lagos State University School of Transport and Logistics, has intensified efforts to celebrate World Bicycle Day on June 3, 2023.

Addressing a press conference on LASU campus in Ojo,Lagos, the President of Asian-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Arinle Adekunle Ahmed,who is the convener, noted that the event tagged:”Royal Edition”, would be used to promote cycling as an effective means of transportation and healthy lifestyle and to celebrate its impact on the environment.

He said in 2018 the United Nations made a declaration that a particular date should be set aside to promote cycling in a bid to address climate change and promote good health. According to him the first edition held in 2019 in LASU,but COVID-19 stalled the second in 2020.

Read Also: LASU commits to making students compete globally

“This event  would be used to raise awareness about the increasing need for sustainable mobility, promote the use of non-polluting means of transport and develop a culture of cycling in Lagos State University and Iba Kingdom,” he said.

He said the LASU community and other guests would participate in a range of cycling activities, including a cycling marathon to be flagged off at the palace of Oniba of Iba Kingdom, Oba Adeshina Sulaimon Raji and terminate in front of the university main auditorium.

Ahmed also announced  awards,cash prizes, medal presentations  and a trip to Netherlands for outstanding participants.

“The necessary education and awareness is ongoing regarding cycling and we are partnering with organisations to donate bicycles to us. The purpose is to establish a cycling club,” he added.

The convener said the event would be attended by representatives of the Dutch Cycling Embassy from Netherlands and others.

Earlier, Dean School of Transport, Prof. Charles Asenime, lauded the initiative,adding that the culture of riding bicycle has evolved. He said cycling was good for the health and urged many to align with it.

By Tosin Odunewu

Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu State has matriculated 4,321 fresh students  for 2020/21 and 2022/23 sessions.

The 67th and 68th matriculations  were combined  because of last year’s prolonged strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Rector, Prof. John Emaimo, explained that the admission was highly competitive, noting that of the 3,417 applicants for 2021/2022 session  through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), only 2,760 were admitted.

The Rector, who was represented by Deputy Rector (Academics), Dr Obiora Eke, said 2,196 applicants applied for admission through the UTME in 2022/23 session with only 1,561 getting admission. Thus, he described the matriculating students as lucky.

In a statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Omololu Ogunmade, the Rector restated the commitment of his administration to make the college a world-class institution with the capacity to raise highly skilled personnel who will make a difference in the society.

“In the past six years since I assumed office, we have worked very hard to reposition this college to serve as a veritable platform for the training of highly skilled personnel with the capacity to compete effectively globally. Not only have we expanded our academic programmes from two to nine within this period, we have equally upgraded a number of our academic programmes from diploma to degree status.

“This is in demonstration of our commitment to provide you with the platform to pursue academic programmes that can position you for relevance in this dynamic 21st century. That is the reason some of you here today have the opportunity to pursue degree programmes in unique disciplines in this institution,” he said.

The Rector said the institution became the first and only institution in West Africa to train dental nurses, adding: “Our first set of dental nurses was admitted into the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) in December 2022.”

Emaimo urged the freshmen to be of good conduct. He said the institution has zero tolerance for social vices, adding that erring students would be sanctioned.

By Precious Awire

The need for awareness becomes necessary for  many citizens to know how everyday decisions in their lives can impact the lives of people around the globe.

In terms of awareness on global issues, it is not out of place to say many Nigerians have chosen to ignore happenings in the world. However,this is not unique to Nigeria and is a challenge faced by many nations around the world.But awareness among Nigerians goes beyond global literacy, but more of self awareness as citizens and individuals of a developing country.

Writer  Stephen Covey said: “In our personal lives, if we do not develop our own self-awareness and become responsible for first creations, we empower other people and circumstances to shape our lives by default.”

He emphasises the need to become responsible for ourselves or we be subject to the will of others.  We claim to be in control of our own will but rather we are being manipulated by several state actors and social Influencers living in the fear of death everyday.

Citizens have left the country due to hardship and systemic failure. State actors do nothing, but come up with new ways to embezzle public funds. Nigerians who  felt the need to abandon the country have made Japa popular.

What a shame this generation of Nigerians have become unlike the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo or Nnamdi Azikiwe where we fought and died for what we believed in.

According to Haile Selassie, “A well-informed public opinion is essential to the growth of political and social awareness. Only he who is informed can comment intelligently on his nation’s development and only by such comments can errors be corrected and progress stimulated.”

An average Nigerian is unaware of the developments in his/her local government. He/she is   ignorant of economic and political changes in the world apart from  sports. We focus more on the entertainment.

Hence, we are being easily manipulated. At this juncture, it  is important to encourage education and media literacy to ensure that citizens are informed about important issues both domestically and internationally. This is imperative to the nation’s growth and development.

What do we want as Nigerians?

What does the government owe us?

What do we owe the government and the world?

These are the questions that need to be asked from citizens.

The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo said: “Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression. There are no ‘Nigerians’ in the same sense as there are ‘English,’ ‘Welsh,’ or ‘French.’ The word ‘Nigerian’ is merely a distinctive appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria and those who do not.”

As Nigerians we should strive to make the country great again by getting abreast of issues and contributing to discourse that can reposition the nation.

•Awire is student at Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State.

Some graduates of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Kwara State, are distraught over their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilisation. They have appealed to the university management and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) to address the issue. VICTORIA AMADI reports.

It is the dream of every student to graduate, go for the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme and secure employment thereafter. But when that does not happen, frustration and depression set in.

Sadly, that is the case of some students who graduated from Kwara State University (KWASU). After completing their programmes in 2019, they have not been able to do their clearance and proceed to service.

Most of them took to the social media to bemoan the situation. They said they were  yet to get admission verification on their portal even after submitting indemnity forms. Some said  either JAMB or the school separately offered admission to them, which ought to be the two concurrently.

Those affected gained admission  through Direct Entry (DE), and  Institute of Distance and E-learning (IDEL).

They said this had been on since 2019, with  over 400 students unable to go for the mandatory one year service.

Environmental Health Sciences, Accounting, English Studies, Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences are some of the departments affected.

They lamented their inability to secure employment after school because of not being in possession of the NYSC certificate. They said they have been at home doing nothing, battling depression, with  parents doubting the authenticity of their results. Unfortunately, their dreams seem to be on hold.

From interaction with them, there is an underlying tone of resentment, mainly on the inability to secure  a job after graduation.

But  after a peaceful protest, which took place on March 29, this year, by some students appealing to the state government and the school, for a swift action on the  regularisation, the management last month, resolved the issue of JAMB regularisation for Medical Laboratory Science graduates as well as the final year students of Faculty of Law.

Read Also: Shuttle card brings relief to KWASU students

The state’s Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr  Alabi Afeez Abolore, assured stakeholders and graduates that they would be mobilised for the remaining NYSC batches this year, while the students of Faculty of Law would be enlisted for the Nigeria Law School.

“Please forgive our excesses during this time too. We understand that all hands are on deck to get us all mobilised as soon as possible,” he said.

‘Our regularisation pains’

A graduate, who simply identified himself as Babatunde, countered the notion that the school had resolved the  regularisation issue. He noted that the school only resolved Medical Laboratory Science (MLC) and Law students’ case, hence leaving other departments unattended to.

“This issue of regularisation has affected many of us for so long. For some of us, it’s been over a year and others, over six months or two years. This issue is not only affecting MLC students alone like the school is trying to paint to the public. It also affects other students across various departments especially environmental health sciences,  accounting, mass communication, public health, political science etc.

“Students that are mostly affected are CEERMS, DE and IDEAL students. In CEERMS, not even one of us has been regularised. I have travelled more than five times from Port Harcourt to Kwara State and recently I had an accident, which almost made me lose a leg, on my way back from Kwara  just because of this regularisation issue.

“We have cried to different people, including the Commissioner for Tertiary Education. We even solicited for the help of various social media influencers, contacted the late Vice Chancellor and the Registrar on several occasions, but  nothing happened. All we get is empty promise.

“We have been writing down our names since 2021 alongside re-submitting indemnity form from JAMB office to school.

“Most of us have graduated for more than a year now and yet to serve. Depression,  confusion and frustration has been the order of the day since we graduated from KWASU. Nobody believed we went to school, not even our parents. First class and second class have been dormant in our file. We are pleading for the attention of important stakeholders to look into this,” he lamented.

Another graduate, Ibrahim, noted that some of them have not finalised  the issue of regularisation, owing to the fact that their names were not  uploaded yet,  while   some were through with regularisation but were not offered admission.

Mimah said: “I did regularisation since last year but I have not been offered  admission on my portal. I can’t count how many times I have submitted my indemnity form and written down my name at contact office, yet nothing was done. They keep telling us lies everytime.”

For Queen, who left school in 2020, she kept receiving countless excuses from JAMB and the school.

She said: “I graduated from school since 2020 and I haven’t been able to go for service, and I thought it was something I could sort out with JAMB, but upon going to JAMB office in Lagos and Ilorin, they kept saying that information about me is not on their portal. They asked me to go back to school and ask them to upload my details, so I could start the regularisation. On getting to school, they kept saying they had uploaded our details, that it is JAMB’s fault that we haven’t gone for service.

“I have spent two years at home doing nothing. My parents are not happy about this.

Who will be happy about a child they struggled to send to school but can’t secure a job, or  go for service?”

Afolabi Akin is frustrated and depressed having lost about eight job opportunities because of the inability to get NYSC certificate

“I have lost over eight job opportunities because of not having NYSC certificate.

“Some of us left school since 2019, but could not go for service because of  regularisation. I am depressed. My parents are already doubting the certificate I brought home, saying it’s fake,” he said.

Another graduate who pleaded anonymity said: “It is not only KWASU graduands that are having this issue. Other schools are also having this issue with JAMB. But their schools have rectified it for them, except KWASU.”

He, however, urged the management to call the affected persons together and have the issue resolved.

“Let KWASU management call all of us affected by this together, and tell us what should be done to rectify this. If it is money issue, we can mobilise ourselves to solve this. Because our B.Sc certificate is useless without NYSC certificate. We can’t further our studies for Master’s without NYSC certificate. On behalf of students affected by this, I’m pleading that this be fixed on time,” he said.

An Accounting graduate who also craved  anonymity, said:

“We can’t count how many times the management has been telling us they went to Abuja to submit names and yet we are still singing the same song.

“Late last year, they told us that they and the Commissioner for Tertiary Institution went into a meeting concerning the issue and the resolution was that they delegated some individuals to visit Abuja with names again. So we don’t know which names they have been submitting since then,” he said.

Over 3,000 students cleared, says Management

Director of University Relations, Dr Saeedat Aliyu in a telephone conversation, said the  management had cleared  about 3700 students.

Aliyu further noted that the allegation by students that only MLS students were attended to was false. She also reiterated that the school is ensuring the remaining students who are affected, are attended to.

Her words: “The regularisation issue on ground  is a case where the management is trying to clear backlog of cases that have not been resolved. Of recent, over 3,000 students have been cleared. And if we are talking about over 3000 students being cleared, that means it’s not only MLS graduates that were cleared. What we have left that have not been cleared, are cases where students did not upload accurate information for JAMB to rectify.

“My university is very much on the issue. Currently, staff are on their way to Abuja to resolve the pending cases. So, any student who has pending issue regarding this regularisation, probably, may have issue of incorrect information uploading.

“Few days ago on our social media handle, you would see a report of  over 3,000 being cleared. Of course, there would be few more here and there that we are trying to clear. But to say that only MLC students have been cleared, that is incorrect.

“Regularisation is not what KWASU would do on its own. If it was under KWASU singular power, we would not have this issue. But we are aligning with major people concerned. JAMB is trying to rectify the backlog of this problem. We have up to 5,000 affected by this and we have cleared over 3,000 to show you that we are working to clear all backlogs.”

JAMB not at fault

A JAMB source, who doesn’t want his name in print, said: “JAMB has nothing to do with this.The pressure should be on the school.”

Dean, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), Prof. Justice Bawole, has said the institution is focused on developing students who aspire to be business leaders.

According to him, being the oldest business school in West Africa, the school has the resources for effective formal and corporate training for students.

He spoke during the institution’s  recruitment fair in Lagos.

Bawole said the school, which offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, operates a flexible teaching regime with 70 per cent online and 30 per cent physical.

He said with an easy and flexible payment schedule where students pay 40 per cent, then spread the rest before the commencement of examination, the school has proved to be  a leading light on the continent.

“We’ve Nigerian students and we source for students across Africa to add value to them and make them compete globally with their peers. We have affiliation with schools on the continent and abroad. We are in partnership with University of Ibadan and University of Lagos,” he said.

International Recruitment Officer of UGBS, Mr. Yaw Dankwa noted that to develop world-class human resources  for national and global development, the school engages in quality teaching, learning and cutting-edge research.

He said the institution organises  foreign tours for students and is a member of reputable international networks of business schools such as the Global Network of Advanced Management.

Consular-General, Ghana Consulate, Mrs. Samanta Gifty Bukari, said it was imperative for students to learn other cultures and deepen their exposure and knowledge. She said the school was poised to develop human resource for the benefit of society.

“The school is in Nigeria to seek students. As a premier institution, it continues to produce the best students in all sectors of economy. It is well-grounded in research.We are here because Nigeria and Ghana have always worked together. We take Nigeria as a big brother, because she is bigger economically and population wise.Some months ago,about 16 universities were here to scout students,” she said.

Bukari urged governments on the continent to be more committed to education, adding that much could be achieved with the training of more teachers, provision of learning aids and infrastructure upgrade.

While advocating the development of youths, she noted that the introduction of free senior school programme in Ghana increased enrollment. Thus, she urged Nigeria to explore that avenue to reduce the number of out-of-school children.

“Facilities should be expanded; we should improve our syllabus and ensure we also key into technical and vocational education. We can achieve a lot with all those,” she added.

Minister Counsellor, Trade and Investment of Ghana, Mr. Nicholas Quansah, stressed the need for human capital development through partnerships.