Category: Campus Life

For two days, the University of Calabar (UNICAL) campus was agog. The students had fun as Etisalat Nigeria held an empowerment seminar and a Cliqfest raffle draw. EMMANUEL SHEBBS (Political Science) and STANLEY UCHEGBU (500-Level Accounting) report that a final year student went home with a new car.

Then telecommunication giant Etisalat Nigeria unveiled its plan to hold an empowerment seminar and Cliqfest promo at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Frank Umoh did not know what fate had in store for him.

Like every student, Frank prepared to participate in the seminar and bought a ticket to take part in the sweepstake. When the raffle draw was held, Frank won a new Hyundai car.

In his excitement, the 400-Level Curriculum and Teaching student almost disrupted the programme held at Malabo Square, as he walked up to the stage to receive his prize.

On the first day, Etisalat brought 10 public speakers to inspire the students on entrepreneurship and ways to achieve their dreams. The seminar was held in the university’s expansive International Conference Centre. An author and president of Fifth Gear Plus Consulting, Mr Niyi Adesanya, led the speakers to the event. Bash, a Lagos-based comedian, compered the programme.

In his address, the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Eyong Eyong, praised Etisalat for delivering a responsible generation by preparing students for the future. He told the students to apply values they would acquire during the seminar to improve their academic performance and lives, stressing that such values could also be explored a for self-employment after leaving school.

Speaking on New thinking, new possibilities, Adesanya said one out of 10 graduates got a job after graduation. He said of the 400,000 members that pass out yearly from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), only 40,000 get employed; the rest roam the streets for white-collar jobs.

He said jobs were not being created by larger organisations, adding that the jobs available are created by small businesses. Unemployment could be significantly higher given the youth population vis-a-vis available jobs.

On ways to tackle unemployment, Adesanya said youths could tap into the emerging business in the agro-allied industry, technology, services and creative sector, which cut across comedy, fashion, acting and music.

He advised the participants to always attend entrepreneurship seminars and buy motivational and inspirational books that could improve their knowledge in business and self-employment.

Others spoke on skill management, marketing communication, financial management and interpersonal skills.

On the second day, the Malabo Square was draped in Etisalat colours as students trooped in to participate in the Cliqfest raffle draw.

Earlier, there was a novelty football match between four teams of students that jostled for the Etisalat Golden Cup. The teams played for 10 minutes and each player was presented with a new phone, vacuum flask and medal.

Students won Blackberry smart phones and branded T-shirts when the raffle wheel was turned twice. During the draw for the grand prize, there was tension in the hall. Hearts beat at a faster rate amid deafening silence.

After shuffling the tickets severally, the Director of Socials of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Josiah Eghrudje, was called to randomly pick the winning ticket.

Frank, who sat on the back row, was the lucky winner. In disbelief, the final year student of the Faculty of Education, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, asked his friend sitting next to him to reconfirm if it was his name that was announced as the winner. When the name was called again, Frank jumped up and ran to the podium.

The long paper-dummy car key was presented to the winner by Prof Eyong, who was assisted by Etisalat officials.

Thanking Etisalat for making him a car owner, Frank, who said he was reluctant to buy the raffle draw ticket, advised his fellow students, who participated in the sweepstake, to hold on to God and be prayerful. One day, he said, they would receive their own blessing.

Elvis Daniels, Head of Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, thanked the management and students for making the programme a success. He said it was the second time the firm would be visiting the campus, adding that Etisalat had hosted the programme in 17 tertiary institutions including polytechnics to foster economic development.

He advised the students not to forget their primary aim on campus, urging them to see Etisalat as a partner in their academic pursuit.

After the raffle draw, a popular Nigerian hip-hop artiste, Terry G, came on stage.

When I started out writing this series about NANS two weeks ago, my major concern was the dwindling platform of responsible student unionism on our campuses. As I conclude today, it never occurred to me that the NANS I’m writing about has been hijacked, first by cultists and later by politicians in the march toward 2015. It was in the process of trying to sift the ‘wheat from the chaff’ and write a balanced informed commentary that this fact stared me straight in the face. I got series of calls and SMS from former officials of NANS who have already graduated and undergraduates from various campuses across the country on this issue; this goes to show the importance the students attach to their umbrella national body.

I also got calls and correspondence from Prince Miaphen and Yinka Gbadebo, both of whom are on familiarization tours of campuses; Miaphen called from ATBU, Bauchi and Gbadebo from the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State. But one issue that still bothers me is that Miaphen and Gbadebo are standing their grounds on the presidency of NANS and are crisscrossing campuses to sell their respective agenda. In essence, we have a divided NANS. This break, as I deduced is based on principles and policies. While I was able to get a clear-cut direction and policy thrust from Miaphen, I was unable to get any from Gbadebo save he is the authentic candidate that won NANS presidency at Uyo last year. This, in my opinion, is not the best approach for someone that intends to lead an association of student intellectuals.

What actually transpired in Uyo is quite contentious as each group gives different versions. But one thing is clear, all the candidates met with the SSS before the convention. Did the SSS conducted its own investigations into the allegations made and if they did, were they satisfied with their investigations or were there other powers pulling the strings from behind? Whichever way we look at it whatever is unraveling now could portend well for Nigerian students’ if they are able to rise to the occasion, take the bull by the horn and actually cause the type of nation they envision to come to being, and they can do this peacefully.

In a bid to try and see if I could bring the contenders toward a common ground, I asked them what their agenda or plans for Nigerian students were. Gbadebo promised to send me some materials, but as at the time of writing this concluding series I never got the materials. But Miaphen sent me his inaugural press conference during his inauguration where he laid out his plans. He said NANS has lost touch with its “grassroots” because it has become an Abuja affair doing the biddings of the political elites. “It is said that a river that loses its course is bound to dry up with time, and the only way to rejuvenate such a river is to re-direct it to its original course”.

He also added that the detachment of NANS from campuses created a leeway for campus cultism and other social vices to thrive eroding the gains made when the association was fully on ground on campuses. He also added that he wants students and authorities to focus on the deteriorating state of infrastructures on campuses and the fact that no Nigerian university is mentioned in the first 500 list in global university ranking. “If our universities cannot measure up to the universities of other countries –even some impoverished African countries – then how do we expect our graduates to miraculously measure up to the graduates of other countries”? He also addressed national issues like terrorism and flooding in the nation last year.

Right from my secondary school days I’d often admired the undergraduates that were bold enough to confront the military authorities of that era despite threats, rustications and outright expulsions from the university, I knew of some whose future ended with their expulsion from the university for daring to stand up to the military authority. What these student heroes did in the past remained in my consciousness right through my own time in the university and I erroneously assumed that this is what is obtained today. This is the fundamental reason I’m concerned about NANS. But unfortunately, the fight for the jugular of responsible unionism is now between politicians and cultists and not responsible undergraduates. To the politicians because of the mass appeal of students, and to the cultists because of the power it commands.

I believe some readers might be wondering why politicians would want to dabble into student affairs. The answer is simple; the association holds a special place for politicians because with the advent of mobile technology the brazen acts of barefaced rigging would gradually wane and as we move closer to higher voters’ literacy and the manipulation of technology, students would have a critical role to play and definitely come in handy.

Let’s rewind to 2011 to clarify the point I’m trying to make here. President Goodluck Jonathan spin doctors did an excellent job positioning their candidate in the 2011 election. They positioned him as Nigeria’s first “facebook president” and in the process millions of the country’s disillusioned youths campaigned and actually voted for him. They made the other contenders “old” and out of tune with “current realities.” But it is doubtful if they can pull this string and put the wool in the eyes of the youths in 2015 as it will be a different Jonathan from the one who contested in 2011 as his popularity rating has dropped to an all-time low. It will be a man who squandered the exceptional goodwill of 2011 – the sort of goodwill that led to the publication of a Facebook-inspired book titled, ‘My Friends & I’. The 2011 goodwill was unprecedented in Nigerian politics. So what is happening in NANS today, according to some students, is the subtle struggle for relevance.

One of the contenders told me that a particular candidate is fronting for “powerful forces in Abuja”. He threw a poser to me: “Where does all the money to move around campuses come from, who foots the bill? So we will stand our ground and fight those with anti-people policies who do not want anything good for Nigeria. We will go about this peacefully and through enlightenment. That is our goal and responsibility”. He told me.

Those of us that have the opportunity to interact and interface with youths’ regularly know too well that they are disillusioned and will always ask if this is the way things will remain. This disillusionment has driven most of them to start to become politically conscious, thanks to the internet which has really made the world a global village. They can now see youths in other countries fighting for their rights and questioning authoritarian regimes and demanding accountability. It will be downright foolhardy for anyone to think that things like that can never happen in Nigeria. If you interact with youths – like I do regularly – you’d know that it is just a matter of time.

Late Chief MKO Abiola’s success in 1993 was largely because he was able to capture the youth’s imagination with his “Hope 93” campaigns but he was also able to keep them in rewarding engagements during his campaigns. He didn’t share money like politicians usually do but he employed young people and many were just happy to work for him. Some of us did. For any politician to think he can ride roughshod over the youths this time around, he should have a rethink.

In the past, student unionism in Nigeria was known to be a force to be reckoned with. Between the 1970s-90s students, through their unions, were known to stand firm in criticizing the injustices of our leaders thereby effecting major changes. There were instances when the authorities clashed with students when diplomatic precautions failed to work; the 1978 ABU students riots quickly comes to mind. During the uprising many students’ lives were lost while agitating for the ouster of the then education minister, Colonel Ahmadu Ali; yes the same Ahmadu Ali that was the chairman of PDP. The “Ali Must Go” demonstrations, like many in those days, were a landmarks achievement by student unionism in Nigeria: it dawned on our leaders that students knew their rights and can fight oppression no matter the intimidation.

A graduating student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) surprised police officers at Modakeke Divisional Police Station when he donated materials to mark his birthday. DAYO OJERINDE (NYSC Keffi) writes.

It was an unusual day at the Modakeke Police Station in Osun State last Monday. The policemen on duty were stunned when some students arrived at the station with gifts. One of the students, Olusola Amusan, who recently graduated from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), was marking his birthday.

Olusola donated food items, bales of clothes, cartons of drinks and accessories to appreciate the police. He also presented a certificate of performance, which he personally signed, to the police.

The birthday boy, who tagged the visit as Police Appreciation, said he used the gesture to laud policemen for the peace in Modakeke town.

“We would be hypocrites if we all pretend not to see the efforts being made by the police to secure our lives and property. I admit there are bad eggs in the Police Force just like we have in other public institutions and private organisations alike. I believe the scourge of corruption does not have to do with black uniform alone; it is a general problem. There are still many good policemen, who carry out their duty with honesty, patriotism and diligence,” Olusola said.

Stunned by the gesture, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Yusuf Lateef, Modakeke Divisional Police Officer, was emotional. He praised the students for appreciating the police’s efforts to make the country safe. He said Olusola’s appreciation was rare given the public condemnation and criticism of the police. He said his station would do more to ensure law and order in the town.

Olusola also donated materials to the Osun State School for the Handicapped in Modakeke.

He started his birthday celebration with mountain climbing. Joined by his friends, Olusola climbed the historic 200 metre prayer mountain on Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) campus. After offering prayers at the top of the summit, the mountaineers descended; they were treated to sumptuous refreshment.

Olusola and his friends also visited Modakeke High School and Foresight Group of Schools in Modakeke. They taught SSS 3 pupils on some subjects before giving them careers talks. He donate writing materials to the pupils.

He also visited the physically-challenged homes in the town annd donated gifts.

The week-long birthday celebrations ended with the launch of his book, Are you branded or stranded? The book launch, which was held at Cameron Hotel, Ile-Ife, was attended by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters, Mr Ehile Manasseh. The governor advised Olusola to continue to be a change agent.

The caretaker chairman of Ife East Local Government Area of Osun State, Hon. Wale Amusan, challenged other youths to emulate Olusola by finding solution to the country’s problems.

History was made when the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Jos (UNIJOS), graduated 47 pharmacists. Five of the inductees graduated with First Class honours. ESTHER MARK (Mass Communication) reports.

THE ceremony had been on for a while. Every other thing had been done with, remaining the highlight of the event. The Master of ceremony’s voice stirred many back to life. He said:“This is the moment we all have been waiting for…please, give it up for the people of the moment, the newest pharmacists, who have proven themselves worthy of their calling and have distinguished themselves amongst their peers. Please, can we all rise for the First Class graduands…”

Before the compere could finish talking, the hall rose in excitement as five graduating students of Pharmacy of the University of Jos (UNIJOS), who made First Class, stepped out for their awards.

Their names were called out amidst chants from the crowd. One after the other, the valedictorians marched forward to receive their prizes. Some of them shed tears of joy; others beamed with smile.

Jude Ogunsakin, Jamilat Yakub, Lilian Nnamonu, Francis Agwom and Kenneth Onuh stood tall among their peers as they stepped forward to be honoured.

The multipurpose auditorium of the university, the venue of the 32nd Induction and Oath-taking was filled to the brim. Students, staff and family members of the inductees filled the expansive hall to witness the epochal event.

It was the first time the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences would produce multiple First Class graduates in pharmacy. Forty-seven graduates were inducted.

Jude, the best graduating student, graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.78 to beat other valedictorians. For Lilian, it was a perfect match of beauty and brain. Two years ago, Lilian was crowned the beauty queen of Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS).

The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Hayward Mafuyai, said the First Class graduates would be retained as Graduate Assistant lecturers if they wished. Charging them to live above expectations, the VC said: “To whom much is given, much is expected”. He said that the university was committed to producing qualitative graduates, who would not only excel in their fields but also contribute to national development wherever they may find themselves.

Conducting the swearing in, the Acting Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Gloria Abumere, congratulated the graduands and called on them to stick to the ethics of the profession. Maintaining that UNIJOS is among the best schools for pharmaceutical training, Abumere urged the graduands to strive for excellence in their future endeavours.

The previous day, the graduands had been engaged by PCN officials, who drilled them on the dos and don’ts of the profession. The interaction was conducted during the dinner and awards night held for the graduands.

In a show of appreciation to the faculty, the graduating students donated five high-power projectors to promote e-learning. The projectors, valued at about N400,000, would be mounted permanently in the lecture halls.

In an interview with CAMPUSLIFE, Jude said his “sheer determination” and “hard work” crowned his efforts to make First Class.

“I thank God that my five years of sleepless nights and rigorous reading has paid off. Even after graduation, I find myself waking up at night to read, as if I was still in school. This is just a clear manifestation of God’s power backed with hard work,” he said.

Also, the Faculty of Education held its first induction for its graduating students. Officials of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) graced the ceremony, during which over 400 graduates took the oath as teachers.

Prof Mafuyai, represented by his deputy on Administration, Prof Benjamin Ugwa, said the event was aimed at highlighting the uniqueness of the teaching profession.

The Registrar of TRCN, Prof Mark Nwokocha, while administering the oath, urged the inductees to stick to professionalism.

Tributes have been pouring in for the late Prof Chinua Achebe. He died last Friday in the United States (US). He was 82. Students are also mourning the literary legend. They spoke to DAVID OSU (400-Level Urban and Regional Planning, Federal University of Technology, Minna).

LIKE many others in the society, students are also mourning the late Prof Chinua Achebe. His death, they said, has created a vacumn. They described his death as an arrow through the heart of the literary community.

One of them, Steven Adebola, a sophomore student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said: “I was shocked when I received a broadcast message on my Blackberry that Prof Chinua Achebe is dead.”

Rasaq Malik, 300-Level English, University of Ibadan (UI), described the late Achebe as a rare gem whose death would be felt in the education system. “We have lost a great writer, who contributed in no small measure to the development of Nigerian and world literature. The nation’s education is worst hit by the death of Achebe because many literature students still have a lot to draw from the bank of his knowledge. But then, I don’t believe he is dead, rather his works have made him to continue to live.”

Immanuel Galadima, 400-Level Urban and Regional Planning, Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA), said Nigeria has lost its literary conscience. “We should ask ourselves how much we valued the late Achebe when he was alive. Despite his grouse with successive governments, the late Achebe never ceased to be a Nigerian; a patriotic one at that. I hope his legacy inspires a new crop of Nigerian writers, who will tell Africa’s story to the world as it is.”

His works signposted a watershed in the history of African literature.

Uche Anichebe, 500-Level Law student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), said: “Prof Achebe left an indelible mark in our literature. By his death, a sharp spear has pierced through the heart of African literature. But we should be consoled by the fact that he left behind immortal works that many generations will read. He will never be forgotten.”

Williams Onogu, 500-Level Physics, FUT MINNA, said the writer gave Nigeria and its citizens the hope to dream of a better future.

“Although, I never met him physically, but through his works, some of which I have read, I felt like I had physical contact with Achebe,” Daniel Tsado, a 500-Level Chemistry student, said.

He added: “I came across the late Achebe’s Things Fall Apart when I was in SSS 2. As I read through the book, I was captivated by his prowess and the accuracy with which he narrated the whole story. His creativity and ability to stitch events together made his stories electrifying. I read a few of his poems too, and these encouraged me to pen a few of mine.”

Chisom Madu said literature has lost one of its finest grandmasters.

Opeoluwa Sonuga, 400-Level Law, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, said: “The demise of Chinua Achebe once again reminds us of the painful reality that derivativa potestas non potest esse major primitiva (the power which is derived cannot be greater than that from which it is derived). This implies that the resourcefulness of our lives does not stop it against the commands of the source of life itself, which is God.”

Born in Ogidi, Anambra State on November 16, 1930, the late Achebe, who was regarded as the father of modern African literature, came to the limelight in 1958 with his first novel, Things Fall Apart. The work depicts the dehumanising condition and division created among Africans by British colonialists.

A recipient of over 40 honorary degrees and several international awards, the late Achebe’s subsequent novels, No Longer at Ease (1960), Arrow of God (1964), A Man of the People (1966), Anthills of the Savannah (1987), described the struggles of individuals to survive in Africa under Western imperialism.

The late Achebe also published books of essays, short stories and poems, which include Beware, Soul Brother (1971), Christmas in Biafra (1973), Girls at War (1972), How the Leopard Got His Claws (1972), Morning Yet on Creation Day (1975), Hopes and Impediments (1988) and Home and Exile (2000).

Last October, the late Achebe released his last book, There was a Country, which stirred controversy following his assertion that the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo masterminded the policy of starvation of the Igbo during the 1967-1970 civil war.

The late Achebe used his last work to emphasise the role of modern African writers. “What I can say is that it was clear to many of us that an indigenous African literary renaissance was overdue. A major objective was to challenge stereotype, myths and the image of ourselves and our continent, and to recast them through stories – prose, poetry, essays and books for our children. That was my overall goal,” he wrote in There was a Country.

Twice he turned down offers of national awards from the government on the grounds that such honours are often bestowed on thieves and corrupt politicians.

Until his death last Friday, Achebe was a professor at David and Marianna Fisher University and scholar of African Studies at the Brown University, both in United States.