Category: Campus Life

A 200-Level student of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Television College (TV COLLEGE), Miss Uren Makut, who was recently crowned Miss Bokkos by Future Rising Youths, has launched her pet project, which is targeted at deworming children in Bokkos Local Government Area.

The event, which held in the premises of the council, was aimed at improving the health of children. Uren said: “Right from the time when I visited this place, I noticed a high rate of malnutrition among the children. Coupled with this is the fact that the water they drink is unsafe which exposes them to worms and make the children vulnerable to different kinds of diseases.”

The initiative, which was supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), saw a turnout of over a 100 children, who were dewormed with Albendozol deworming tablets.

Present at the occasion was the Plateau State Commissioner for Urban Development, Chief John Mankilik, Saf Lazarus Agai as well as the council chairman, Hon Zakka Akos, among others.

Jerry Mangai, one of kids, thanked the beauty queen, whom he called Aunty and prayed for her.

Uren said she was planning a new project that would help children and youth of the area to be self-employed through a skill acquisition programme and computer training for students who have finished secondary school.

Children of the Infant Jesus Orphanage, Calabar beamed with smiles as Isaac Mensah, a student of University of Calabar (UNICAL) and CAMPUSLIFE reporter, donated cartons of Indomie and other food materials to mark his birthday.

Isaac, who was accompanied to the orphanage by his friends, was received by one of the official, who simply identified herself as Sister Cordelia. She said the orphanage is owned by Calabar Catholic Church Archdiocese.

The celebrant, who is also an editor with Light Newsletter, a campus magazine in UNICAL, expressed appreciation to God for sparing his life to witness the day. The Medical Laboratory Science student said instead of wasting money by organising a flamboyant birthday party, he said he decided to identify with the motherless kids because of his love for children.

Isaac, who is also a member of Rotaract Club of UNICAL, advised the children to be of good conduct, urging them to take their studies seriously and rely on God in all things.

The highpoint of the occasion was the song rendition by the children, who were numbering about 20. The kid used the music to invite guests and well-wishers to cut the birthday cake after which refreshment was served.

Gift items comprising toiletries, detergents and assorted food stuffs were donated to the orphanage. Receiving the items, Revd Sister Epiphania, another orphanage official, thanked the celebrant for the gesture.

Students’ associations need to display progressive ideas in order to ensure socio-economic and political development of the country. These were the words of Jumoke Akindele, a lawyer and an Ondo State legislator, at a lecture for freshers and public lecture of the National Union of Ikale Students (NUIKAS), held at the Cooperative Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.

Titled: A progressive students’ association as an imperative for societal transformation: Our roles to play, Akindele described a progressive as a person that cared about the aspirations of the common man. “Being progressive is not about what you say but what you do,” she said.

She traced the history and achievements of students’ union bodies in Nigeria, saying the good old days were gone. According to her, the West African Students Union (WASU) was established in 1923 to play a pivotal role in the struggle against colonial rule.

“The role of students in the signing of the Anglo-Defence pact in 1963, the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) riot of 1989 and the ‘Ali must go’ riot of 1978 cannot be forgotten in the history of the nation,” she stated.

Speaking on the state of students’ unionism in the country, she observed that members of students’ union now attached importance to material things, an act which she said would make them to be used as instruments in the hand of politicians. She added that the powers that be had succeeded in infiltrating the ranks of students’ union for selfish reasons.

The lawmaker, who graduated from OAU in 1987, said the weakening of the union made vices such as cultism, examination malpractices and robbery to entrench on campuses.

Proffering solution to these problems, Akindele enjoined students to participate more in the electioneering process and hold their representatives responsible for their actions and policies.

Earlier, the president of the NUIKAS, Oyeniyi Iwakun, noted that it was the maiden public lecture in the association. Congratulating freshers for their admission, he advised the students to participate more in the activities of the union in order to make it bigger.

The Chairman of the occasion, Dr Mike Adenuga, challenged the indigenous students of Ikale to stand up to the task of re-invigorating the community and learn to contribute to the progress of the nation.

The event also featured induction of new patrons of the union, who included Akindele and Mrs Ebunola Gabriel, who was the union’s Social Director in 1997.

Members of Baptist Student Fellowship (BSF), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, chapter, trooped out to Sport Complex of the university to witness the handing over ceremony of the fellowship. OPEOLUWA SONUGA (400-Level Law) reports.

Soldier go, Soldier come, barrack stays; executive go, executive come but the fellowship stays,” Victoria Akanmu, 400-Level Fine Arts, said as she climbed down the stairs of the Covered Pavillon of the Sport Complex, to face the gathering as the outgoing Sisters’ Coordinator of the Baptist Student Fellowship, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, chapter.

The event was the fellowship’s handing over and induction. It started with praise and worship led by the outgoing choir co-ordinator, Aanuoluwapo Ojo , 400-Level English Language, after which hymns were sang.

Adebayo Alade, 400-Level Material Science Engineering and the outgoing Vice-President, who was re-appointed into the incoming executive, gave the welcome address.

He recognised past members of the fellowship, who graced the occasion. Some are Brother Seun Toyinbo, Vice-President 2008/2009 session, Ayodeji Okeya, Vice-President 2010/2011 session, Folarin Olaniran, Academic Secretary 2010/2011 session, among others. Also, presidents of other campus fellowships were also at the event.

The guest minister, Reverend Olalekan Fatiloro, who delivered a sermon entitled: Grace for the race, implored the incoming executive members to recognise the grace of God upon them, urging them to invest in it and grow in it. He warned them not to receive the grace in vain or set it aside, and charged the outgoing executive to hold on to the understanding of God they had acquired while in service.

He described the incoming and outgoing executive officers, as “Elishas” and “Elijahs” and called for prayers for them.

The highpoint was when the outgoing president, Pastor Eyitayo Oyekola, 400-Level Economics, handed over a big black Bible to the incoming president, Oluwasegun Fadeyi, 400-Level Medicine. Eyitayo said: “Brother Segun, this fellowship did not fail in my hands and it shall not fail in your hands too. I am handing over to you a living church and not a dead one. Don’t reserve anything for God in this service. Give him all you have, and he will give you all he has for you.”

The speech was greeted by resounding applause from the congregation. The ovation became louder as Eyitayo stepped down from the podium alongside the outgoing members of the executive.

Oluwasegun then declared before the congregation: “God! I handover back to you this fellowship, I commit this living church to your care in the name of Jesus.”

There was a paramilitary-like passing-out-parade by some arms of the fellowship known as Royal Ambassadors (RA) and Lydia Auxiliary. The platoons were commanded by Muyiwa Aderinto, 400-Level Fine Arts and Ezekiel Ogunniyi, 300-Level Management and Accounting.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Seun Fabeku, 300-Level Law, said: “I thank God for the successful transition. The last administration was a blessing as we enjoyed God’s favour in every area of our lives. Also we have a testimony of no member’s death throughout the tenure. By the word of God and the signs of his hands, I am convinced that next tenure holds a great manifestation of glory.”

Oluwasegun, who was beaming with smile, said: “I thank God for how far, fair and favoured he led the last administration to this point. I must confess that God has been faithful to us all and I am sure, God is not prepared to stop His faithfulness in our tenure.”

Other members inducted included Sisters’ Co-ordinator, Oluwabusola Kolade, 400-Level Crop Production and Protection, Bible Study Secretary, Oluwatosin Oyeniran, 300-Level Mechanical Engineering, Prayer Secretary, Ayuba Ojelade, 300-Level Architecture, and Assistant General Secretary, Sunday Alagbe, 400-Level Animal Sciences, among others.