Category: Campus Life

The nation was terrified. The women were dazed; and for the girl-child, confusion remained the word. How could a lawmaker elected by people propose that a girl of 13 should be in her “husband” house?

Initially, I decided not to write anything on the issue, but I realised that some battles are better fought by wielding spears and arrows of words. I don’t want to sit on the fence. I want to be counted among the people that lend voice to condemn the propose legislation. Therefore, this is an open letter to all concerned.

To our dear lawmakers, The people have always known that you go to work so that you can retire with fat bank accounts and not for our interest as you may claim. And so, for a long time, we have mocked your antics and let you get away with your useless displays of wealth, but this time, beware! We will not tolerate your excesses again.

We pardon the possession of your souls by an unknown force. We agree that it was the work of the devil that the opinion was mention for consideration in the National Assembly, but you all must be careful in passing the bill because we will reward you with more punishment.

To pro-infant marriage supporters: If I were to ask after your sisters and female relatives, I would be beating a dead horse dead. Perhaps you don’t know your action could sentence the girl-child with probably the best common entrance result to life imprisonment with no chance of a parole. Clap for yourselves. If you have lost your morality in the haystack of religion, why don’t you come over here and be properly re-orientated.

I think the best decision each of you could make at this point is take 10 or more of your children and marry them to one another’s children. I am sure life would be simpler for you. No need to ruin other people’s lives because you’ve got a perverted sense of enjoyment.

To our parents: I wish to say the development should not be a bother to you as I trust you to do what is right. But we know now that everyone has a different definition of right. The lawmakers want to have their say, but you should have yours too. If you think that giving out nation-builders to nation-destroyers will bring peace or provide the money you so desperately seek, you must be mistaken.

To our pro-infant marriage supporters among the youths: Your reaction to the issue was the most shocking to me. You think promotion of this bill would be the best thing to happen since Kito sandals and sliced bread. Well I hate to burst your bubble but we intend to keep our sisters from you and your fathers, we will hide them if need be. Now, while that may seem amusing (I imagine you are rolling on the floor in laughter now), but don’t push us! You cannot imagine the damage that can be done by an elephant tied since infant on the day it realises it can break the chain. Therefore, the fear of a scorned girl-child should be the beginning of wisdom for you.

To all who think silence is best: Remember evil doesn’t simply flourish, it does so when no one speaks up for what is right. Straddling the fence may seem like a genius idea now, but sooner or later you’ll be forced to choose. We all know how brutal force can be.

To the strength of the nation, the proud feminists! I commend your outcry to this balderdash. Now the people of Nigeria know we can no longer be kicked around. The strength of a woman does not lie in the power she’s given. It lies in her knowledge that she’s a woman; no need to tell her all that comes with it. We are naturally created to deal with pain and as such, no other pain outside the one given to us by our creator can be inflicted on us. Our strength lies in our number. While it seems like impossibility now, remember Rosa Parks and stand firm or should I say sit firm.

To our mothers, the first ladies and women in power, especially lawmakers: I want to believe you were absent from work or deep in slumber when the bill was debated in the National Assembly. In any case, you’re forgiven. But now, you need to get back to work and make sure the proposed bill is kicked out along with its promoter(s) before you lay a shaky foundation for those who will come after your children.

To the little girls with a future no bill can dim: Your innocence is the very reason you’re being punished. Some people have lost their innocence and are so upset at being unable to regain it, that they have decided to compromise yours. Stand as strong as you know how to. Your self-will is one thing that cannot be taken away from you. We will not stop fighting until we are sure you can come out of hiding.

To our little mothers: Yours is a path we can’t change, but be assured that your daughters’ future is one that will be radically different from your past. Keep them close and let them know the horridness you have gone through so that they can stand resolved and resolute not to go through the same path. Give them the encouragement they need to be well-formed and informed adults, so that they can be a balm in your time of pain.

To the young unmarried girls that think “this is it”: We can only hope that you see what is really right before it is too late because there’s nothing we can do after that. A word is enough, but let us hope you are wise.

To our lawyers, activists and those who will not sleep until a girl-child is free: Thank you for your unwavering support and activities to stop this atrocious bill. We are standing by you and standing strong till the end. Thank you for saying no to modern day slavery.

To all those fuming with rage and unhappiness: I am sorry, not for saying what I said. I am sorry that my speaking the truth has closed up your air ways and now you’re seething. Be reminded that as at the time I wrote this, a bill to revoke my freedom and have an opinion had not been passed. I am exercising my rights as a Nigerian. I have not infringed on any of your rights. Don’t try to infringe on mine and that includes my right to have sound education and be married whenever I like.

 

Jennifer, 200-Level Medical Rehabilitation, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife

 

Public interest is what men would choose if they saw clearly, thought rationally, acted disinterestedly and benevolently” Walter Lippman, 1955.

On behalf of the teeming and highly esteemed students of Nigeria’s public universities, I hereby passionately appeal both the Federal Government under the leadership of Dr Goodluck Jonathan, himself an academic, and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to, in the spirit of patriotism and for the purpose rescuing our precious but promising educational sector, reach a compromise that will bring an end to the indefinite strike embarked upon by lecturers since July 1.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the strike has disrupted and crippled academic activities in our schools. And universities, which are the citadel of learning and upholders of the society’s ideals, should not be allowed to suffer this unfortunate ordeal.

It is often said that no nation can rise above the level of its education system, doing this would logically mean that the future of the nation is in jeopardy. This is not what this administration should allow to happen because education is one of the areas claimed to receive the most urgent attention by the Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda.

ASUU too should consider the future of Nigeria’s education sector in which they have so much invested both intellectual and material resources. They should make do with what the government has released so far and channel their other demands in a way that will not affect the educational values we claim to have left.

We therefore entreat both parties to kindly consider the nation and students first before any other consideration in a bid to insulate the education sector from this unending impasse. We look forward to a speedy and amicable resolution of the thorny issues so that the students can go back to our various campuses for the smooth continuation of our educational pursuits.

This is what we want from the government and ASUU. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and God save Nigeria’s educational system.

 

Abubakar, Speaker of Students’ Union, ABU Zaria

 

For three days, some youths from various parts of Africa gathered at the Kabarak University in Nakuru County of Kenya to discuss the continent’s age-long problems. Why is Africa poor? Why is it underveloped? These and others were what they sought answers to at the international conference of Students and Young Professionals African Liberty Academy (SYPALA). WALE AJETUNMOBI was there.

Kabarak is a sleepy community in the Nakuru County of the Republic of Kenya. Serene, sedate and somnolent, it is an ideal environment for studies and academics. It hosts the Kabarak University, which youths from various parts of Africa converged on last week, spreading the gospel of liberty, entrepreneurship and prosperity.

As the youths in their numbers moved to the university’s campus, through Kiamuyu Road, residents, who stood in from their homes, watching, screamed karibu (Swahili for welcome).

The youths arrived with what they called message of “good news” for the international conference of Students and Young Professionals African Liberty Academy (SYPALA). Many of them are members of the African Liberty Students Organisation (ALSO) whose aim is to chart a new course for peace, liberty and prosperity in Africa.

The theme of the conference, sponsored by Atlas Economic Research Foundation (ATLAS), Washington DC, was Building today for a prosperous Africa.

The expansive Bethel Auditorium of the university, which was draped in ALSO banners and emblem, suited the mood of the occasion. Speakers from different countries charged the participants to take the “good news” message to rural communities in Africa.

Tom Palmer, Executive Vice President for International Programmes at Atlas, led the pack of speakers. There were also the Dean, Kabarak University School of Business, Prof Allen Katwalo, founder of Business Strategy and Service Marketing Consult, Ghana, Dr Kofi Bentil, Cape Town representative in Mayoral Committee for Economic and Environment Planning, Garreth Bloor and Adedayo Thomas, Director of Outreach, Africanliberty.org.

Others were Japheth Omojuwa, Editor, Africanliberty.org, Rejoice Ngwenya, a Zimbabwean Liberal Democrat, Deman Yusuf, a lecturer at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania, Olumayowa Okediran, a board member of Students For Liberty (SFL) and Brian Stout, a Master’s student in Netherland.

Palmer, who spoke on World financial crisis: How this is not the fault of capitalism, said the aim of the conference was not to feed the participants with dogmas of monotonous ideology but to nudge the youths to ask “hard questions” about the underdevelopment on the continent.

He said the forum was an opportunity for young Africans to open their minds to the challenge of creating institutions that make laws work, urging them to challenge claims and ideologies of political leaders on political economy to know the idea that could work to emancipate the people out of poverty.

With advancement of technology and advent of social media, Palmer believed the present African youths had a chance, which the previous generation did not have, to champion the cause of change in the continent and create better future for themselves and the coming generation.

“African youths must be able to think for themselves and not be told what they should think or what slogan they would have to copy. And one element of that is to embrace the element of indigenous African traditions of no-border for trade. What is African about stationing a machine gun at the border drawn by the British and French?” Palmer explained.

He said Africa has the worst trade barriers in the world, saying countries must pull down the border obstruction against trade to achieve economic prosperity.

He added: “Why is it easier for people in Nigeria to buy goods from Americans or British than people from Ghana, which is almost next door or Benin Republic? The reality is that if a Nigerian tries to buy goods from Ghana, he will meet security agencies with machine guns and have to pay certain amount of money without which the goods and service cannot move.

“It means that it is easier for an African to trade with somebody in faraway Oklahoma or Texas than someone in the country’s next door. This does not make any sense and that is a clear case of African governments strangling their own people.”

Palmer said his objective was not to figure out slogans that the youths would not be able to understand but to motivate them to ask hard question and look for evidence on the cause of the problem the continent and critically look for solutions.

Speaking on What history has taught us about development, prosperity and how to get it, Bentil, a Ghanaian, urged the participants to “switch on” their brain to question principles and ideologies that had retarded growth and limit freedom of people to prosper.

Omojuwa, a notable blogger, who spoke on New media tools and liberty in Africa: Perspective, charged the participants to explore the Internet and social media to promote freedom and entrepreneurship in Africa. Noting that 50 per cent of Africa’s population is made of youths, Omojuwa urged the participants to tap into the number disseminate the message of change to the people.

If Africa must develop, Thomas observed, the youths must take the lead by espousing liberty principle and spread the message on campuses. He said government must not interfere in the economic affairs of the people, saying the responsibility of the government remained to create a law that will protect the interest of the market. He explained various ways the participants could use reach out to a large audience of people in the African communities.

Mildred Akoth, a student of Kenya Institute of Management (KIM), Nairobi, described the conference as an eye-opener, saying the theme was catchy words that went in line with struggle of the youths on the continent.

“I didn’t know this kind of forum exists before now. I was just opportune to be part of this and I will spread the message to my friends and Kikuyu people,” she said.

Miriam Nulekenge, a student of Uganda Martyr University, Nkozi, said she was going back to her country with a message of freedom.

The conference also featured a group discussion between participants, who came from countries such as Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Southern Sudan, Ghana and Zimbabwe.

Oluwaseyi Adebanjo, 200-Level Law student of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), is an advocate of girl-child rights. The founder of Send a Girl to School Initiative won the Youth Advocate of the Year Award and represented Nigeria at the Global Changemakers Youth Summit in Britain. She speaks with HABEEB WHYTE (Law) on her activities.

What is the move behind the girl-child advocacy campaign you have embarked on?

Send a Girl to School Initiative is a product of passion, which I have been nursing since my secondary school days. It seeks to champion a course towards improving the lives of girl-child in terms of education and mentorship. I developed the passion after I visited some rural communities in Nigeria and I discovered that the ratio of girl-child in school is 20 to 80 to the male gender. I felt this should not be the case. In the course of my advocacy, I gathered that ignorance and poverty were the main reasons for the disparity. When a problem is identified, it is half solved and I believe part of the solution is a product of my non-governmental organisation.

How challenging is it to advocate for rights?

It is very challenging because such non-governmental organisation (NGO) is not so welcomed in Nigeria. Most people don’t believe in sponsoring or supporting organisation fighting for rights of, women especially. Apart from sponsorship problem, I discover that youths of today are not ready to spend time on advocacy. Most of them believe that it is a waste of time and energy since they would not get paid for the service rendered. So I can say that the biggest challenge is not sponsorship but getting more youths to work with me.

How would you compare advocacy in Nigeria to other countries?

Basically, advocacy in Nigeria is totally different from other countries such as the United Kingdom, though the campaigns are done towards achieving the same result. In the three years I have spent on advocacy, I have learned a lot. There are institutions guiding and sustaining such gender-oriented campaign in developed countries but in Nigeria, a few NGOs die five years except they have strong sponsors. Only a few people are ready for selfless service.

You were awarded for your activities on girl-child initiative. How was it like?

That award was given to me as youth advocate of the year. Twenty-six youths were nominated for the award but God said it was for me. I never believed it when I was declared the winner. It is not like I was the best but it is God’s favour even though I know I have been trying my best in advocating the right of the girl-child. The award opened other opportunities for me and brought more sponsors for my project.

You represented Nigeria in the United Kingdom on girl-child campaign. How was the experience like?

It was good. Two of us were chosen to represent Nigeria in the Global Changemakers Youth Summit. I must say it was an amazing experience for me. It is the peak of my career in advocacy for rights. I met my peers across the world doing the same thing I am doing. We exchanged ideas and share how to improve on our efforts in our respective countries. I showcased my project on the world’s platform, which attracted more people towards my initiative. Now, I have some youths working with me internationally on the project. I never wasted the opportunity and as a Nigerian, I believe we are good at that. We are the best.

Will it be right to describe you as a feminist?

Well, you may be right to say I am a feminist. And as such, I believe in equality; a female child deserves to be treated equally as a male child. A girl-child must have social, economic and political rights just as the other gender has. I belong to the school of thought that says everyone should be treated equally.

The Ondo State chapter of Joint Campus Committee (JCC) of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has held its convention, which culminated into the election of new executive. The event was held at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).

Adewunmi Rufai, a student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) was elected as the chairman, while Olasunkanmi Pelebe, a student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) became the vice chairman. Oluwasanmi Akinboboye, a student of AAUA is the General Secretary.

The election was presided over by the outgoing chairman, Abiodun Owonola and was witnessed by presidents of Students’ Union Governments (SUGs) from the institutions across the state.

Abiodun, who conducted the ceremony on a wheelchair due to the accident that left some members of the body dead a few weeks after their inauguration last year, thanked God for the successful completion of his tenure.

He advised the incoming officers to be accountable to students and be good ambassadors of their various institutions and the state. He also urged the state government and institutions to support the body.

Adewunmi commended the outgoing executive for a “job well done” and promised to promote the interest of students.