The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Don’t associate with cultism, freshers told

    Don’t associate with cultism, freshers told

    The secret of the success of Ekiti State University (EKSU) lies on the strong desire to always keep up high academic standards and moral probity, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Patrick Aina, has said.

    He made the statement during the matriculation ceremony held for freshers admitted into the institution through an affiliate programme with Adeniran Ogunsaya College of Education, Otto-Ijanikin, Lagos State, last Saturday. According to the VC, the freshers must maintain such high academic standards and moral probity.

    Prof Aina, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof Olugbenga Aribisala, warned that under no circumstance should any student be involved in examination malpractice, cultism, drug abuse and vices that could jeopardise their academic pursuit in the university.

    The Provost of the College, Bashorun Wasiu Olalekan, echoed the Vice-Chancellor’s warning in his address. He said students must behave well on campus according to the matriculation oath they had taken.

    He, however, called on governments to increase funding for tertiary institutions to promote excellence.

    At another ceremony held in Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Noforija, Epe, Prof Aina, who was represented by Prof Olugbenga Aribisala, urged the students to maintain the culture and tradition of EKSU, stressing that any violation of the matriculation oath would be met with serious sanctions.

  • Ten bag First Class as varsity graduates 5,503

    Ten bag First Class as varsity graduates 5,503

    Ten students have bagged First class degrees at the fourth convocation of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).

    No fewer than 5,503 students participated in the convocation held for the 2010 and 2011 sets. Four persons were conferred with honorary degrees.

    The convocation took off with a lecture delivered in Yoruba by the renowned author, Prof Akinwunmi Ishola. The lecture was held in the expansive multipurpose hall.

    In his address, the institution’s Visitor, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State described beneficiaries of the honorary degrees as worthy citizens of the country.

    He promised the First Class graduates immediate employment in the civil service.

    On the achievements of his administration, Mimiko said: “As a government, we have taken the challenge of reviewing our educational policies and instituting programmes with a view to rescuing our society from its comatose state. We also address unemployment, extreme poverty, crime and insecurity challenges.”

    He praised the school’s management for constantly reviewing its curriculum and establishing academic centres to produce self-reliant graduates that would meet the needs of the society. He urged the school to ensure that sustainable structures were put in place to fasten the realisation of a 21st century university.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Femi Mimiko, said the ceremony was an opportunity to appraise how far the university has kept faith with its mission and vision.

    “The scheme has also helped us to stay focused, improve on our operations and delivery capacity in all respects and enable us to attract positive attention in the Nigerian educational landscape. The convocation is aimed at delivering sustainable progress even within the context of very difficult global environmental situation,” he added.

    He said his administration would deepen the integrity of academic programmes, sharpen the effectiveness of internal operations and expand the parameters of the students support services and infrastructural landscape.He said: “We seek to hone the capacity of our staff, deepen our engagement with society and broaden the reach and breadth of our commitment to internationalisation with a view to making our university more relevant and competitive. All these we did in the context of a well-calibrated institutional reform programme, which focused on attainment of global best practices in higher education administration.”

    The highpoint of the ceremony was the conferment of degrees on the graduands and the presentation of cash prizes ranging from N10,000 to N100,000 to the best among the students.

    Retired Bishop of Akure Bolanle Gbonigi was honoured with the university’s Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) for being a fearless crusader of justice, public accountability and social development.

    Other beneficiaries are Prof Toyin Falola, Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) for his generosity to the institution, and Maj-Gen Olufemi Olutoye (rtd), Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) for his commitment to the upliftment of Nigerian communities.

    Before the ceremony, Mimiko commissioned six projects and pledged more support for the institution. The projects are the University Staff School, a guest house, gymnasium, the Vice-Chancellor’s lodge, a 500-capacity lecture theatre, a 300-capacity twin lecture theatre, U-block comprising five classrooms among others.

    The governor said: “The interesting thing about your projects here is that they are delivered on schedule and the quality of work done is very impressive. For us as government, the investment we are making in this university is based on our fundamental belief that human capital is the most important variable in all endeavours.”

    With a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.69, Mr Adu Oluwatayo, emerged the overall best graduating student. He graduated from Education Management in 2009. Also, Modupe Ogunleye emerged the best graduating student in 2010 with a CGPA of 4.62.

  • World Bank supports education with $450 m

    The World Bank will support Youth Empowerment, Social Support Operation (YESSO) and education in Nigeria with $450 million, the Country Director, Ms Marie-Francoise Marie-Nelly, has said. She said the amount would bring the aid of the bank to Nigeria to the tune of $1.452 billion.

    She said: “We already have $1.2 billion in aid to Nigeria. We have $750 million in health, $275 million in education and $200 million in social protection. In health, we have eradication programmes for diseases such as polio, malaria and HIV/AIDs and we are trying out new project on health in Ondo, Adamawa, and Nassarawa states on result based financing for health services.”

    She added: “In education, we have two projects in Lagos where we are strengthening secondary schools and improving the quality of education. The third category is the social protection where we look at the social infrastructure in communities.”

    Also, Mrs Ritva Reinikka, Director, Human Development Group of Africa Region of World Bank, said many projects needed to be done in Nigeria in terms of human development. She said the bank needed to support the government to maintain growth and equitable distribution of resources to achieve progress in areas such as child mortality, maternal death and education.

    Reinika called on the education stakeholders, ministers and commissioners to fashion out ways to handle the issues.

     

  • Club donates digital clocks to institute

    Club donates digital clocks to institute

    After years of changing batteries and manually adjusting the analog clock tower in the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), the Junior Chamber International (JCI) has acquired two digital clocks for the clock tower, which is located at the centre of the institute.

    The clocks were inaugurated during a ceremony attended by the Director of Engineering, who represented the Principal of the institute, Dr. K.I Idehen, Chief Librarian, Dr Evelyn Dudu, the Students’ Affairs Officer, Elizabeth Udisi, and a senior lecturer of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering department, Mr Abdulhamid Musa. Members of the club were also in attendance.

    Idehen praised the efforts of the students, urging them to continue to render service to humanity. He also encouraged the club’s members to sustain their excellent leadership skills and selfless service throughout their life time, saying such gesture was what the nation needed to move forwards.

    The club’s Director of Projects, Blessing Abebe, said that members were committed to make the institution grow faster. He thanked the management and students for supporting the initiative of the club.

  • Embrace dialogue, VC tells union leaders

    Embrace dialogue, VC tells union leaders

    The Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Prof Oluwafemi Mimiko, has urged leaders of the institution’s Students’ Union Government (SUG) to always embrace dialogue and not violence in demanding for students’ welfare from the management.

    The VC gave the charge after the union leaders were sworn in at a ceremony held in the school’s Multipurpose Hall. The VC said problems confronting students’ unionism in any institution could only be solved on a negotiation table if union leaders cooperated with management.

    He noted that the election which ushered in the new leaders was a demonstration of the commitment of his administration towards the leadership training and development of youths. He praised students for ensuring peace during the election.

    The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Oluyemisi Adebowale, charged the union executive to see their election as a call to duty and not an opportunity to harass and molest students. “Be aware of the challenges ahead and maintain the integrity of the university. Also help us maintain strict adherence and compliance to the rules and regulation of the university, especially in the students’ use of identity card and dress code,” she said.

    Responding, president of the union, Julius Adeniyi assured the management of the union’s readiness for collaboration to ensure smooth running of the school’s academic calendar. “The union is ready to collaborate with the management to ensure there is no hindrance in the running of the academic calendar,’ he said.

    Julius sought the cooperation of the students towards achieving the union’s goals, urging them to stand for the vision of his administration.

    Other members of the union include Oluwaseun Emaye, Vice President, Samuel Oyegoke, General Secretary, Olajide Akinnibosun, Assistant General Secretary, Oladeji Bamishile, Welfare Director, Tolulope Betiku, Sport Director, Femi Nejo, Social Director, Olanrewaju Aiyelero, Treasurer and Ofunime Aiyegunle, Public Relations Officer.

  • ‘My close shave with death’

    ‘My close shave with death’

    HE was on his way to Sokoto State for the National Youth Service. He was in an upbeat mood with his colleagues who were also heading for the Seat of the Caliphate for the same purpose. They were all looking forward to a fulfilling service year. Oluwaloseyi Babaeko graduated from the Local Government Studies Department of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State last year

    He was happy when he was mobilised for youth Service, having spent about six years for a four-year programme, a delay caused by strikes.

    The story changed when Oluwaloseyi was Sokoto-bound.

    The vehicle he was travelling in was attacked by Fulani herdsmen. The two rear tyres of the bus suddenly burst while on motion; the vehicle skidded off the road and landed in a pit on the Kebbi highway.

    As he crawled out of the mangled bus, Oluwaloseyi discovered that he had a fractured leg and a dislocated hip. Others in the bus, including youths also going to Sokoto for service, sustained injuries.

    Recounting his experience, Oluwaloseyi said: “The accident occurred on July 3, last year. I left Lagos the previous day for Sokoto State where I was posted for service. We were attacked by some Fulani herdsman in Kebbi at 4am. The attack was unexpected. The driver had lost control of the vehicle and the two tyres burst. The bus swerved into the bush. I had a fracture on my limb and a dislocation on my hip.”

    Writhing in pain for two hours, Oluwaloseyi, who described the accident as “a close shave with death”, said it was by divine intervention that the injured passengers were rescued by policemen, who came to the scene.

    He said:“When the police came to the scene two hours later, we were taken to a hospital in Kebbi State for first aid treatment after which National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) officials transferred us to Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital, Sokoto State.”

    The accident did not stop the Fulani heardsmen from robbing the injured passengers. The robbers dispossessed the accident victims of their valuables, including money.

    “One of the Fulani men held a local gun while the others were armed with machetes and daggers. They were about six in number. One of them was speaking smattering English and others spoke Hausa. They ordered us to bring out our personal effects, despite that we were in pains. They didn’t show pity for us. They took our money and left,” Oluwaloseyi said.

    Oluwaloseyi was redeployed to Lagos State the next day on health grounds but he could not go immediately because of his fractured limb. He needed an operation to correct the bone dislocation. After three weeks of delay, Oluwaloseyi left a federal hospital in Gwagwalada, Abuja for surgery at Camek Orthopaedic Hospital, Gwarimpa to bond the fractured bone. He was in the hospital for close to six months after the surgery.

    His tribulation did not end there. Eight months after, Oluwaloseyi is still contending with a broken limb. He cannot walk without crutches, although his dislocated hip joint has been fixed.

    “Fixing my hip joint dislocation was a difficult task. I had to resort to unorthodox means. I was already making plans for a hip transplant in India before somebody told us we could do it at Favour’s Clinic, Makurdi,” he said. Oluwaloseyi was supported by his brother, Mr Steve Babaeko, a businessman, Mr Godwin Oriaku and his wife, Joy Oriaku, who are his in-laws.

    Last December, he left the clinic to resume his youth service at Onigbongbo Local Government Area of Lagos State. The Corps member said he had written the directorate of NYSC to refund the money he spent on treatment and for his unpaid seven months allowance.

    On the lesson learnt from his ordeal, Oluwaloseyi said: “I have since discovered that Nigeria is not a country that is worth dying for. If it were to be in a sane society, the head of NYSC would have visited us in the hospital. All the treatment I underwent, I paid for. No help came from the NYSC, yet I had the accident when I was going for orientation to serve my country. This is sad.”

    Oluwaloseyi, enjoined prospective Corps members not to be discouraged by his ordeal. “Whatever is bound to happen will happen. I will not say that anybody posted to the North should not go. I have forgiven the Fulani men because they are ignorant. The Hausa people are not bad because I got my admission to study in OAU through a Hausa man,” he said.

    Oluwaloseyi said he would be returning to hospital for another surgery on his leg in July after he would have completed his service.

  • Catching fun while teaching

    Catching fun while teaching

    It was celebrations all the way at the Faculty of Education of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State last week as 300-Level and 400-Level students rounded off their six-week teaching practice. The students returned to a warm reception by their junior colleagues.

    The exercise, which started in February, was part of the requirements for students to get the Bachelor’s degree in education. Perceived as a platform for breeding future teachers, Education students must participate in teaching practice twice before completing their programme.

    The teaching practice started with an orientation seminar before the participants were sent to some secondary schools in Osun State. At the orientation, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof P.O. Jegede and members of the Teaching Practice Committee dwelt on the ethics of teaching. After the programme, the students were posted to secondary schools in Osogbo, Ilesa, Ipetumodu, Origbo and Modakeke, among others.

    Those posted to remote villages saw their postings as punishment. The lucky ones thanked providence for being posted to schools within Ile-Ife environs. Ten participants each were sent to government-owned schools in the state.

    The students elected a leader to serve as an intermediary between them and the schools to which they were posted.

    Three weeks into the exercise, things took a dramatic turn when the management asked students to vacate their halls of residence on break.

    Most of those affected by development, were Education students in remote villages. The students were demoralised, with many saying the authorities did not care about their wellbeing.

    Despite that, the trainees waited to finish the teaching practice. Supervisors from various departments in the Education Faculty were dispatched to schools where students were doing the exercise.

    Some trainees had bitter experiences with their supervisors, who penalised them for not embracing the dress code of the teaching profession. Others were sanctioned for conduct against the ethics of the profession.

    During the last week of the exercise, the trainees held debate and quiz contests for pupils. Also, they played novelty football matches to mark their departure from their schools.

    A trainee, Damilola Tunji-Ajayi, 300-Level Social Studies Education, said: “Although, it is the first time I participated in teaching practice, it was all fun throughout. Seeing pupils everyday for six weeks and getting to stand before them to teach them were fun. I look forward to the next teaching practice.”

  • Fellowship welcomes freshmen

    Fellowship welcomes freshmen

    The Nigerian Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS), Saint Paul Parish of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), has officially welcomed freshmen into its fold. The event, which took place at NFCS secretariat, featured drama, quiz and song rendition.

    Speaking, Prof Maurice Ebong told the freshers to manage their time effectively and to always place God first in all their activities, saying education without God remained invalid.

    The president of Catholic Men Organisation (CMO), Chief Christopher Umoh, urged the students to be committed Catholicism.

    The NFCS president, Bro Mekwuye Kanayo, advised the new entrants to be good ambassadors of the church.

    After the programme, the students were taken on tour of the university and some places in the state. Akpan Emmanuel Benedict, 100-Level Animal Science, said he was very excited with the manner the freshers were welcomed by the fellowship.

  • Five dismissed for forgery

    In its bid to ensure academic discipline, the Governing Council of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has formally announced the dismissal of five academic staff and the demotion of 10 others.

    A statement issued by the Secretary to Council and Registrar of the institution, Dr Julia Omang, stated that four of the dismissed staff were involved in plagiarism, while one was a case of financial misappropriation.

    The demoted staff allegedly published their works in fake journals and proceeded to submit same to get promotion.

    The staff dismissed for plagiarism are Dr Azubuike Iloeje and Dr Maurice Bisong of the department of English and Literary Studies, Mr Oden Ubi, department of Marketing and Dr Paulinus Noah, department of Linguistics and Communication Studies. Dr Damian Agom was sacked for salary overpayment, which enriched him to the tune of N7,268,044.95 over a period of 11 months.

    The 10 academic staff demoted included Dr Asuquo Akabom, Dr Sunday Effiong and Dr C. O. Udoka, all of Accounting department, Prof Molinta Enendu, department of Theatre and Media Studies and Dr E.S. Akpan of Banking and Finance, Dr A.I. Afangideh and Dr Francis Okpiliya of the Department of Geography and Environment Science and Dr K.B.C Ashipu of the Department of English and Literary Studies.

    Besides their demotion, they are to refund all monies earned from their unmerited promotion and are barred from promotion for the next six years.

     

  • ‘Be diligent and honest’

    ‘Be diligent and honest’

    No fewer than 5,176 students admitted into the degree programmes of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka took the oath of matriculation in a ceremony held at the Faculty of Social Science (FSS) auditorium. Also, 2,482 were admitted for Diploma and sandwich programmes.

    The oath was administered by the Registrar, Mr Udjo Ejiro.

    In his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Eric Arubayi, congratulated the freshers for successfully scaling through the screening hurdle. He told the students that they were lucky to be admitted out 49, 000 applicants that applied to the institution.

    He therefore enjoined the freshers to be diligent and honest in their academic pursuit, urging them to obey the rules and regulations of the school and desist from vices inimical to the peace on campus.

    Gloria Ogona, a fresh student of Medical Biochemistry, said: “Having been admitted into the university of my dream, I will try my best to graduate with good result.”

    The ceremony took place simultaneously in the three campuses of the university.