The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Behold the whizz kids

    Behold the whizz kids

    Five years ago, the quintet were admitted into the faculties of Education and Engineering of OAU. Since they are from different backgrounds, Oluwasayo Oladeji, Kingsley Adio, Damilola Akapo, Onaopemipo Aikomo and Fredrick Atoyebi never knew fate would bring them together years later.

    Last Monday, the undergraduates made history in their quest to break into the Information and Telecommunication Technology (ICT) world. They launched a mobile application that simplifies dissemination of news to users.

    The computer programme, BooshParrot, is a mobile application with a web client that fetches news feeds from websites and blogs within and outside Nigeria, and presents them to the user in one single view. The application provides subscribers the opportunity to read different stories from different websites at the same time and also simultaneously follow their friends’ comments and feeds on other websites.

    The application, which is designed to work on Nokia S40, Android and Blackberry smartphones, has an array of features, including personalisation that allows users to create profiles and set profile pictures.

    It also has a social network section where users can search and follow other users’ comments and activities. It allows synchronisation of users’ profiles with the mobile device applications.

    Oluwasayo, 500-Level Computer Science and Engineering, is the team leader. Kingsley, also a final year student of Computer Science and Engineering, is in charge of the Java ME application (Nokia S40 series) and the Blackberry versions of the application.

    Damilola, 500-Level Computer Science and Engineering, works on the development of the native Android version of the application Onaopemipo, also a final year student of the department, is responsible for the web client and graphical designs of the application used by the team.

    Fredrick, who is the project manager and also a final year student with Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), is responsible for co-ordinating the team and making sure the application meets required standard.

    On why they embarked on the project, Fredrick told CAMPUSLIFE: “Getting the day’s headlines and breaking news from numerous blogs, online newspapers and news websites in Nigeria and beyond has been a challenge for the busy person until now. Going through bookmarked websites, one at a time is time consuming, strenuous and sometimes costly.

    “Hence, we saw the need for a platform where headlines and snippets from popular and trusted sources are aggregated and collated and delivered in real time to the user. We sincerely hope the application will make it easier for users to read articles as they are written. For us, it is not just an achievement; it is our way of contributing to the digital demands in Nigeria,” he said.

  • ‘I discovered my talent at five’

    ‘I discovered my talent at five’

    How would you describe your kind of music?

    My music is a blend of contemporary and traditional gospel.

    When did you discover that you can sing?

    I actually started singing when I was five. I could not remember vividly but my mom would tell me I would grab a comb to use as microphone and start to sing; people would listen. So, it means my music made little sense at that age. I just knew I loved to sing and at that young age I was passionate about it.

    You are nicknamed Nuefy, how did you come about that name?

    Nuefy is my stage name. It is an acronym from my name which is Emmanuel Ifeanyi. I took the “nue” from Emmanuel and “fy” from Ifeanyi.

    You have performed with some known gospel artistes, how would you describe the experience?

    By God’s grace, I have performed alongside international gospel artistes, such as Don Moen, Kurt Karr, William Murphy, Sammie Okposo and Sinach, among others. I recently did a duet with Frank Edwards. It has truly been an awesome experience for me to meet such accomplished artistes.

    Who would you say is your greatest inspiration?

    There is no other person except God. He is my greatest inspiration. I get my inspiration from Him daily through attendance of fellowship and devoting time to Him. I am not ashamed to ascribe my achievements to God.

    One of your songs, Gon-gon, is being played on radio nationwide, what inspired the song?

    Gon-gon has given me more fame than any of my singles. I would say God gave me the inspiration to do that track. I was looking for a track that people could dance to and then the song came. Gon-gon, I would say, is universal. My producer, GospelOnDeBeatz, did a good job because the song has become a hit.

    Do you think the Nigerian music industry is competing favourably with its counterparts across the world in gospel music?

    I honestly believe Nigerian musicians are some of the best in the world. There is hope for gospel music in this country. Even though the present situation is so devastating but I know God is raising good, honest and sincere talented musicians who will rise up to the task. The face of gospel music will change soon and junks will give way.

    You are also a model, how do you combine singing and modelling?

    Modelling has always been part of my life. The truth is that when something is part of you, you don’t need to struggle to do it. Just like I am in love with music, I also like modelling because it is a passion. I prioritise my activities to combine the two talents.

    You can be said to be popular in the Abuja music circle, how do you manage this stardom?

    Did you say popular? Well, I think I am still on my way to stardom. I cannot say I am there yet. One of my mentors would say: “Never allow people clap for you too soon.”

    What is your advice for the youth?

    Stay focused and be consistent with your passion. Be determined and fast to make your dream come true. Above all, be faithful and diligent in all you do. Don’t forget to always put God first in everything.

  • UNIJOS holds 56th inaugural lecture

    UNIJOS holds 56th inaugural lecture

    A professor of Pharmaceutics and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), Musa Ibrahim, has called for vigilance by manufacturers to monitor fake drugs and unwanted reactions from their products.

    He made the call during the 56th inaugural lecture, which he delivered.

    The lecture was titled: Self thinking medicines: Automating pharmacotherapy for eliminating unwanted effects.

    He urged governments to sponsor pharmaceutical scientists to the developed nations to acquire the needed skills to combat the spread of adulterated drugs in the country.

    He added that natural and synthetic polymeric materials had been used frequently in the development of advanced drug and that Nigeria was blessed with abundant sources of natural polymers, many of which were being used to prepare edible soups such as okra and ogbono; carbohydrates from food stuffs like the tubers and grains; cellulose from many fibrous materials and their waste like sugar cane, groundnut and rice husks and proteins from animal skin and bones, among others.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Hayward Mafuyai, congratulated his deputy for the successful presentation and urged other lecturers, who were yet to deliver their lecture to do so and contribute to knowledge.

  • ASUU honours retired members

    ASUU honours retired members

    The University of Calabar (UNICAL) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has honoured retired members. The event took place at the International Conference Centre of the university.

    In his opening address, Vice-Chancellor Prof James Epoke praised the leadership of the association for the initiative.

    The ASUU chairman, Dr James Okpliya, said the event was aimed at recognising former members who served the union.

    In a lecture titled The struggle continues, Dr Ndubuisi Osuagwu described the honorees as worthy ambassadors of the union, who left unforgettable marks in the struggle. He enjoined members to build on the legacies their retired colleagues left through ideologically-based struggles.

    Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Prof Bene Madunagu expressed appreciation to the organisers and pledged the retirees’ allegiance to the union.

    The event also witnessed the presentation of cheques to the awardees.

     

  • Voyage of discovery

    Voyage of discovery

    By 7am last Wednesday, the buses were on stand-by. In no time, some students had gathered at the main gate of the Ikorodu Campus of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) with their luggage. Where were they going? They were heading for tourist sites in Oyo State on excursion.

    They are origins of the state studying in LASPOTECH and AOCOED.

    The Pace Setter state, which has a rich culture, is endowed with many tourist sites such as natural geographical phenomenon; historical and archaeological centres; battle grounds and old settlements.

    It is a routine in the federation of Oyo State Student Union (FOSSU) to embark on such a trip every year. Last year, the students went on a similar trip to the state. From Ikorodu, they went to the Isolo Campus to pick their waiting colleagues. They were led by Niyilola Akanji and Alalade Idris presidents of the union in LASPOTECH and AOCOED respectively.

    The journey was enlivened by members of the Kegites Club, who were part of the trip. From Lagos to Ibadan, the students sang gyration songs.

    When they got to Ibadan, their first port of call was the 200-year-old palace of Baale of Irefin.

    The palace, which was built with mud and has 185 rooms, is one of the enduring legacies in the ancient town. The first Baale of Irefin, the late Ogundeyi Ogunlade Irefin, was a warrior, who detested robbery. According to legend, the late Ogunlade rid Ibadan of bandits. He was said to have migrated from Owu, a village close to Iwo in Osun State.

    Mr Abdulfatai Ogundeji Irefin, one of the late Ogunlade’s grandchildren, conducted the students round the palace. They were shown kobi (entrance) and igbejo (court yard) .

    They visited Bower Tower, also in Ibadan, the same day. The tower, which is 997 feet and 303 metres high, was erected in honour of the late Captain R.L. Bower, the colonial officer who administered Ibadan metropolis.

    The monument was erected in December 1936 at Oke-Are to appreciate the late Bower’s effort in curbing kidnapping, human sacrifice and inter-communal strife. The late Bower’s administration was also said to be instrumental to the provision of fundamental freedom and education.

    On the second day, the students arrived in Oyo Town and visited the Old Oyo National Park on Isokun-Iseyin Road.

    On entering the park, the students came face to face with two huge ostriches. Mr Lukman Durosimi, a worker in the park, conducted the students round the museum, showing them various historical items.

    He recounted the stories behind the objects. The tourists saw a tortoise called papa, which has spent 99 years in the park.

    In Ogbomoso, the students went to pay homage to Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi Ajagungbade III, the Soun of Ogbomoso. They were welcomed into the palace by Alagba – a tortoise said to have spent 350 years in the palace. The tortoise is the oldest member in the palace.

    At Igbeti, the headquarters of Olorunsogo Local Government Area of Oyo State, the students saw the beauty of nature. Igbeti is an ancient settlement located by the hill of the woodland forest. It is about 84 kilometres northwest of Ogbomoso and surrounded by hills, the tallest of which is Iyamopo Hill.

    During their trip to Igbeti, the students visited Agbele rock formation, which depicts a picture of a woman carrying a load of dried sliced yams and a baby on her back. The rock’s historical significance is rooted in the tradition of Igbeti people.

    The students also visited Ogunjokoro, a mysterious iron, before they returned to their base in Igbeti town.

    During their visit to Iyamopo Hill, Chief D.O. Ogunbiyi, told them that Sango Olufiran Ajala Iji was the first person to settle on the hill before the Alaafin of the old Oyo Empire in the 13th century took over the hill. The major occupation of the natives is hunting.

    Chief Ogunbiyi told the students how the people came by the name, Igbeti.

    He said: “One of Iji’s children, who had no male child to inherit the throne after the death of their progenitor, was instructed by Ifa (oracle) not to hunt again because he had killed many lovers of Iyamopo (mother who knows problems of people),who assisted them to settle in the area. So, if people asked him why he did not have dried meat, he would tell them: Mo ti pagbeti (I have stopped hunting)’. So people started calling him Baba Pagbeti.”

    The students climbed the Iyamopo Hill to see some historical places like Iyamopo well, the palace of Iyamopo, which is a cave under the hill. It is spacious and can contain 50 people. The students also saw a mysterious tree, which has an entry and exit.

    Afeez Gazali, one of the tourists, told CAMPUSLIFE: “Everything I have learnt in the course of this trip is not what a student can learn in the classroom. One should always visit historical sites to appreciate the culture and our roots better.”

    Oluwadamilola Ayoade, another student, described the excursion as “very educative”, saying she learned new things about her roots as an Oyo State indigene.

    FOSSU presidents praised their colleagues for their peaceful conduct during the trip, advising them to be serious with their studies.

     

  • Students groan as institute ends exams

    Students groan as institute ends exams

    Students of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, have finished their first semester examination.

    During the exercise, the management changed the sitting arrangement by making the students to sit individually on a seat. This was against the normal practice, which had two students sitting on a bench.

    Students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, expressed mixed feelings about the examination. While some were satisfied with the conduct, others lamented the strictness of the invigilators.

    A student in ND II Welding and Fabrication Department, said: “This examination is the toughest I have ever written in this school. I wrote it with adequate attention as if I was just admitted into the school. After my first paper, I knew I was totally on my own, and so I had to do my best.”

    Another student in Petroleum Engineering Department, Peter Chiwenke, said the examination for him was “cram, pour, refresh the brain and start cramming again for the next course”.

    A student, who spoke under anonymity, said: “I could not write very well as the examination conditions were not favourable.”

     

  • Plateau varsity holds maiden union election

    Plateau varsity holds maiden union election

    THE first Students’ Union Government (SUG) election has been held at the Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos.

    The university suspended operations in 2007 due to academic problems and returned in 2010.

    Since its return, students affairs had been administered by a caretaker committee. When the management’s plan was unveiled for the election, the students were happy.

    The management inaugurated Plateau University Students’ Electoral Commission, headed by Mr Tony Ngwen, the Students’ Affairs Officer.

    Three days to the election, the commission held a manifesto night, where aspirants intimated their colleagues with their programmes. The manifesto day, which started at 12pm, was held outside the students’ centre last Friday.

    Five candidates contested for president. Except the General Secretary, Welfare Secretary and Public Relations Officers (PRO), other offices had two to four contenders, a development which made the poll to be keenly contested.

    Last Tuesday, the election was held beside the school clinic. The turnout was massive as students defied the rain to to elect their leaders. As the process was going on, supporters of some candidates violated the electoral regulation by canvassing for votes as voters moved in to exercise their franchise.

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Daniel Dubi, described the process as transparent. He praised the students for conducting themselves peacefully during the process.

    He said: “What I am seeing shows that the students are well-organised and in the right manner, the election is going on in a very peaceful and transparent manner. Whoever wins should be congratulated by the opponents.”

    Students enthusiastically waited after casting their votes but the results were not released until 9:45pm. Declaring the results, Ngwen announced Maren Ishaku, 300-Level Sociology, as the winner of the presidential post, defeating the first runner up, Mitchell Ngukop, 300-Level Political Science, and three others.

    Others elected included Daniel Nankin, Vice President, David Nabasu, General Secretary, Dayol Kirnan, Assistant General Secretary; John Na’anyil, Financial Secretary, Junior Akaso, Director of Socials, Raymond Longdiem, Director of Sport, David Mimiap, Welfare Secretary, and Nehemiah Damar, PRO. The only female candidate, Tongshakap Akila, emerged as Treasurer of the union.

    Maren, who made history having been elected as the first SUG president of the university, said his administration would address the welfare of students and take the institution to a greater height.

    He said: “All that we need to do is to work out all modalities to see how we can build a strong relationship between students and the management. Our aim is to attract donor agencies as well as corporate firms to develop the school.”

    The union leaders will take over from the caretaker committee constituted in 2011 during the administration of former Vice-Chancellor Prof Nenfort Gomwalk.

  • UI students beg for break

    UI students beg for break

    Students of the University of Ibadan (UI) have asked the management to extend their first semester examination by two weeks.

    Our correspondent gathered that some students were yet to settle for lectures after five weeks of resumption, a situation allegedly caused by the no-cooking policy in the Halls of Residence, which made many students to seek accommodation off-campus.

    During a congress held last week, President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) Babatunde Badmus was asked by students to present their cases before the management. Students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said the two weeks break would enable them prepare adequately for their exams.

    Our correspondent gathered that the union and management had agreed to a week’s break at a meeting of the two parties recently.

     

  • NIPR gets students chapter

    The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Plateau State chapter, has inaugurated a students’ section of the institute at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

    At the induction held in Law auditorium, chairman of the chapter said the idea was to enable students have a better understanding of what the profession entails in the global environment.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Hayward Mafuyai, praised NIPR for preparing the students for the challenges ahead.

    The guest speaker, Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo, a member of NIPR Governing Council, spoke on Stepping Into the world of PR: The benefits and responsibilities. He outlined various attributes of a public relations practitioner to include integrity, reputation, creativity and law-abiding.

    He said public relations practitioners have the responsibility of portraying the image of an individual, organisation and government in good light and to maintain positive client relationship, develop media contacts, write and issue press releases periodically, plan appearances and events as well as ensure that the organisation added value to the lives of the citizens they serve.

    NIPR national president Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, said UNIJOS students were the first to benefit from such a gesture. He added that public relation is about truth and courage.

    The event also featured the presentation of certificates of membership to the new members.

  • FUTO holds 23rd inaugural lecture

    The Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) has held its 23rd inaugural lecture with the topic: Chemical pathway: Small changes that made a difference.

    The lecture was delivered by a professor of Chemistry, Prof Goody Onuoha.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chigozie Asiabaka, said the lecture was in line with the current developments in chemical technology and how it affected living organisms and the environment.

    The lecture was centred on the relevance of chemicals to industrial, residential, commercial, agricultural and other outfits.

    In conclusion, Prof Onuoha said government should provide support to ensure that basic sciences were adequately taught in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. He called on corporate bodies to finance scientific research and turn them into ventures that would create employment and alleviate poverty.

    Vincent Chimezie, who attended the programme, said: “I have learnt a lot and now appreciate the importance of chemicals in our life and how research and development can unearth beneficial chemical compounds to support our ever- growing needs.”

    For Victor Uchenna, a student, the lecture was inspiring and a platform to better appreciate the role of chemistry to humanity.