The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • A missionary journey

    A missionary journey

    For three days last week, medical students from tertiary institutions in the southern part of the country gathered in Edo State to address the challenges of missionary work by health practitioners.

    The event, organised by the Christian Medical and Dental Association Students (CMDAS) in collaboration with the Institute of Medical Mission (IMM), a foundational training for students in health-related disciplines in higher institutions in Nigeria, was held at the Nosakhare Model Education Centre (NOMEC) in Benin City, Edo State. Participants were from institutions, including Ambrose Alli University Teaching Hospital (AAUTH), University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) and Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH).

    Others were Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LTH), Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

    In his opening speech, titled My mission call: Going or sending? Deji Adekunle, said doctors embarked on the exercise because some nations had abandoned God for vanities.

    Dr Gbenga Oluwasemire from Family Medicine Department, UITH, spoke on Spiritual discipline. He urged participants to observe their quiet time and cultivate Bible studies. The event also featured sessions on vocation and calling, mentorship, history of medical missions in Nigeria, among others.

    Dr Goddy Iyalohme, a clinical pharmacologist at AAUTH, shared his experience in rural hospitals. He tasked the participants on integrity, urging them to develop relevant skills and avoid the use of hard drugs.

    Delegates went to Uniario community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. A community leader, Mr Monday Edegbe, commended the students for the visit. He spoke on the history, prevailing health conditions in the community.

    Edegbe advised the students to be hardworking and God-fearing in order to bring transformation to the health sector. At the Primary Health Centre, Evboneka, the medical personnel on duty, Mrs M. Igiogbe, highlighted some of the challenges facing the centre, such as water scarcity, lack of electricity and inadequate manpower.

    Villagers, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, urged participants to relay their findings to government agencies for immediate attention. During a session marking the close of the event, Dr Olawole Olanode, who spoke on Running a private missionary hospital, advised the participants to pursue training with vigour financial and statistical records.

    Isioma Nwokolo, a delegate from DELSUTH described the event as enriching. “Through this programme, I met missionaries that have gone to the field. Now, I know that it is rewarding to combine medicine with missions. The returns are fulfilling,” she said.

  • Mass Comm Dept gets exco

    The Association of Mass communication Students (AMCOS),Wolex Polytechnic chapter, has inaugurated its new leaders.

    Oluwatosin Dopemu is the president. Others include Ayomidipupo Dawodu,vice president; Oluwatoyin Odumosu,General secretary; Grace Okorie, Director of Socials; Esther Asuquo, Director of Sports; Abioudun Morounfolu, Public Relations Officer and Oluwagbamila Oyagbohun as Studio Manager.

    The Head of Department, Bamidele Olufemi, urged students to remain steadfast in their academic pursuit and hardworking. He advised the new leaders to serve the students and avoid selfish ambitions.

    In her acceptance remark, Oluwatosin promised to build on the success of the outgoing administration and urged members to support his tenure.

  • We are for peace, says union

    The Students Union Government (SUG) of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (Offa Poly) has debunked the allegation that the union was sponsored by political parties to disrupt council elections in the state.

    The Public Relations Officer of the union, Johnson Eleko, said the allegation was false.

    He said: “We want to clarify the wrong impression of some politicians that we have been paid to cause crisis in the coming council elections. On no circumstances will Offa Poly students be used as political thugs to disrupt the forthcoming Offa local government elections. What we want is the restoration of properties that were destroyed during the last crisis in the institution. The state government has refused to listen to our plea since the incidence occurred.”

    President of the union, Hameed Omuiyadun, said the union will continue to peaceful.

    He added: “We are law-abiding citizens of the state. We shall never engage in activities that would destroy the peace of the state, especially the coming elections. We have no intention to create chaos.”

  • Students slam govt over strike

    Students of Nasarawa State University (NSU) in Keffi have expressed concern over the government’s unwillingness to honour the 2009 agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    A 300-Level student of Political Science, Moses Ndung, blamed the Federal Government for the ongoing ASUU strike.

    He said: “I think it is morally wrong for the government to have reneged on its promise. No amount of investment in education is too much. The government should play their part of the bargain so that Nigerian students can return to their classrooms. “

    For Faruk Tanko, 100-Level English, the Federal Government seems to be inconsiderate of the plight of students. She said: “I am a fresher in this institution and it’s been a catalogue of crisis for us here since January. Earlier in the year, there was a protest, which led to the temporary closure of the university. Later, ASUU downed their tools and we were sent home. Now, it is another tale of industrial action. This is unbecoming of a so-called transformational administration. it is a bad precedent for us as new students. Education is a right that the government owes all of us as citizens and I wonder why they are paying lip services to it. We are tired of continue staying at home, they should meet ASUU demands to guarantee our resumption.”

    A final year student of Economics Education, Haliru Yusha’u, said: “ASUU has been patient enough. The 26 per cent budgetary allocation to education as directed by UNESCO is a sin qua non if we must make progress in education. I am appealing to the Federal Government to have a rethink and meet the demands of the striking lecturers.”

     

  • Dept gets HOD

    The Department of Educational Management of the University of Ibadan (UI) has appointed Dr Femi Akinwunmi as its head.

    At his valedictory, the former head of department, Dr Benedict Emunemu, described Dr Akinwunmi as a good and seasoned administrator.

    Dr Akinwunmi assured staff and students that he would work hard to make the department a centre of excellence in teaching and research. He called for cooperation among staff and students to achieve a successful administration.

    President, Educational Management Students’ Association (EMSA), John Ajayi, told CAMPUSLIFE that the appointment of Dr Akinwunmi was a blessing to the department. He urged students to support the new administration.

    Dr Akinwunmi is an academic whose research centres on educational administration. He had his first degree and Masters in Education and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Personnel Administration from the department.

  • For the love of country

    Moral depravity in Nigeria has been said to be alarming. The youths, unluckily, are victims. But there can be change if individuals take steps to confront the problem.

    This was the submission last week at the inauguration of Riverside Neighbourhood Network (RNN), a non-governmental organisation.

    RNN is a faith-based not-for-profit interest group which seeks to develop young people for the task of nation building and promote healthy values in the society.

    In his message to the youths at the event titled: The effect of moral sentiment on today’s youths, Pastor John Abayomi, a guest, said it was shocking that despite the exposure, knowledge and finesse of the present generation, the youths are deficient of sound moral virtues. He urged them to shun unruly behaviours and embrace hard work, honesty and mutual love.

    He said: ‘’God is calling every Nigerian youth through this platform to rally round and redeem themselves from the moral degeneration in our society today.’’

    One of the resource persons, Opeoluwa Oshinsanya, said he was excited with the vision of the network. He said: “In today’s Nigeria, we need this kind of fresh air, the needed leadership. We need a new atmosphere in this country where young men and women will be empowered to effect the change we need. I am happy that these young people are rising to the occasion.”

    In an interview with our correspondent, initiator of the project, John Adeyemi, said he was inspired to start the project as a result of his unpalatable experiences as a youth.

    ‘’I was moved to start this project because I have seen poverty in its ugly garb. I grew up in Orile, an impoverished suburb in Lagos. I observed we have a lot of talented youths there who simply waste away because of lack of proper education and guidance. Here, life is a jungle where virtues can be easily jettisoned for survival.So,Riverside Neigbourhood Network comes in handy to engage these people productively,” he said.

    A participant, Yomi Idowu, told CAMPUSLIFE that he was endeared to be part of the group due to the leadership qualities of the convener.

     

  • College elects leaders

    The Television Production Students Association ( TEPSA) and Television Journalism Students Association ( TEJOSA) have elected their leaders. The election was held at main auditorium of the institution’s auditorium.

    Staff Adviser of Television Production students Mr Umar Angibi advised the students embrace good ethics in their relationships.

    Solomon Rango emerged President. Others include Ayobami Adeyemi, Vice-president; James Boman Kazah, Secretary General; Lawrence Dana, Assitant Secretary General; James Kofa, Public Relations Officer 1; Hassan Abdullahi, Public Relations Officer 2, Jerry Chijioke Mbuko, Auditor General; Bala Anna, Treasurer; Yunusa Umar, Financial Secretary; Ekene Madu, Director of Socials; Dare Ojo, Assitant Director of Socials; Pius Emmanuel, Director of Sports; and Panmun Ephraim, Assitant Director of Sports.

    For Television Journalism students, Gabriel Lombin was elected President. Others are Chidibere Ogochuchukwu, Vice-president; Samuel Mark, Secretary General; Akase Laadi, Assitant Secretary General; Joy Eneyamire, Director of Socials; Stephanie Lando, Financial Secretary; Winnie Joseph, Director of Sports; George Victor, Assitant Director of Sport; Mercy Noro, Public Relations Officer 1; Zakiyah Usman Public Relations Officer 2, Noah Moses Tizhe, Auditor-General and Rukaya Folashade.

    A 100-Level student of Television Journalism, Amina Sani, described the election as challenging.

  • Eradicating terrorism in Nigeria

    The casualties are not only those who are dead, they are well out of it. They are not those who are wounded; though they await their burial by installment. They are not those who have lost family members or property.

    It is hard to grope for a touch that some may not know is not there. But that touch is possible only if we try our best to eradicate terrorism. The effects of terrorism in the contemporary world cannot be underestimated.

    Every country, whether developed or not, suffers from one form of terrorism or the other. The difference being that the effects are varied. As recent studies shows, terror acts are easily mitigated in the technologically advanced nations and tend to be potent in the poor countries.

    Terrorism, in its denotative meaning, is the act of causing fear. In a political sense, it is the violence or threat of violence carried out for political reason. In the old ages, terror was associated with visitations from powerful gods, who had control over life and death in an utmost indiscriminate manner. But as mankind became more sophisticated, some individuals perpetuate the act of terrorism through the manipulation of events and expectations.

    In contemporary society, terrorism could occur in the form of bombing of aircrafts, parks or government offices by terrorists. These heartless individuals do not consider if the victims of their cruel action are innocent or not. A typical example of terrorist attacks is the bombing of the World Trade Centre in New York on September 11, 2001. Boko Haram activities in the northern part of Nigeria are no less a terror act against defenseless people.

    According to Samuel Zumue, “the contemporary Nigerian society is engulfed by terrible acts of terrorism, which occurs in the form of kidnapping by the terrorists of the Niger Delta, or in the form of bombings which is the common practice of the Boko Haram of the North.”

    This act of terrorism has made living a hell of an experience as a consequence of the proclamation of emergency rule in Bornu, Yobe and Adamawa states causing untold hardship on the citizens, who are suffering all kinds of restriction in their places of birth. Even food items are not allowed to be transported to the villages.

    In the past, terror has been the basis of tyranny. Over time, political leaders have adopted terror as a weapon to acquire political power. In Nazi Germany, the humanity experienced a crude use of terror, which led to the death of millions of people in the Second World War. Ditto for the Soviet during the reign of Joseph Stalin.

    Terrorism, in a few cases, is also influenced by religious and ethnic variables, coupled with official corruption and neglect of the masses. The most pervasive amongst these prerequisites are official corruption and state neglect of the people.

    It is crucial that we ask ourselves what needs to be done to eradicate this pervading malaise, which is at the verge of devouring the world. What strategies are to be adopted in order to combat this arch enemy that has turned our society into rubble? Our answer to these questions is found in the slogan: “it begins with you.”

    We must learn the need to respect the view of one another as regards our various views. For, it is only when we are able to tolerate the attitudes of one another that we would be taking our first step to eradicating this societal problem.

    Another strategy that has proved to be effective is the identification of various sources of funding of these terror groups to asphyxiate them. It has been said that some countries support international terrorism through a network of charitable and humanitarian organisations, criminal enterprises, illicit and unregulated banking systems and the personal incomes from individual militant. If these are checked in Nigeria as well, the spate of wanton killing and senseless kidnapping would be reduced if not stopped.

     

    Temitope, 200-Level English, UNILAG

  • Hostel gets mini market

    Respite came the way of students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) last week when management opened the much-awaited Malabo Market in the hostel.

    The project was initiated three years ago.

    Business operators on the campus have relocated to the new market site.

    Students who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE expressed mixed feeling over the development.

    Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, a 300 level student of Medical Laboratory Science who pleaded anonymity said the distance from his hostel to the market was too far. He said: “The development is a disadvantage to me considering the distance.”

    The SUG Director of Welfare, Ekpo Etete, said the project was aimed at making life easy for students on campus.

  • NANS gives Fed Govt seven-day ultimatum on ASUU strike

    Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has given the Federal Government seven days to end the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

    The students gave the ultimatum at a press conference held at International Press Centre in Ogba, Lagos.

    NANS Chairman, Lagos chapter, Yakub Eleto, said: “The consequences of the ASUU’s industrial action have been dire for Nigerian students. We know that there would be no development in the face of instability in the education sector. Government must save our education system from collapse.”

    The group said the federal Government should not toy with the future of students, saying their plight must be put into consideration.

    Yakubu warned that the association would mobilise students against the President Goodluick Jonathan-led administration should it fail to end the strike and restore the glory of Nigeria’s education system in seven day.

    The students’ body also called fo a state of emergency in the sector.

    The association urged managements of higher institutions to reinstate proscribed students’ union.

    The statement reads: “We demand reduction of tuition fees in Ekiti State University (EKSU) and Lagos State University (LASU). The increment is not sustainable in an economy being distorted by the policies of International Monetary Fund (IMF) which is not interested in the development of Third World countries. If the strike is not called off in the next seven days, we shall embark on massive nationwide protests.”