The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • For a better future

    For a better future

    Twenty persons, comprising graduates and students, were trained in oil exploration technology skills by Oilfield Services (Ofserv) Nigeria Limited. The training was sponsored by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) – in line with the Nigeria Local Content Act of 2010. WALE AJETUNMOBI was at their graduation.

    The was not only the female participant among the trainees at an oil and gas skill acquisition programme sponsored by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), she also made history as the first female Nigerian to be certified as Rope Access Absailer.

    Miss Anwulika Okwuosa distinguished herself in the world-class training organised in line with the Nigerian Content Development Act of 2010 by SNEPCO in collaboration with Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

    The trainees, 20 graduates and undergraduates, were taught to build human capacity development for the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

    Tagged Offshore Skill Acquisition Programme, the offshore support skills exercise conducted by Oilfield Services (Ofserv) Nigeria Limited contracted by SNEPCO to fulfil its training obligation with regards to the Bonga Northwest Sub-sea Hardware and Contros Project.

    The four-week training kicked off last month with an induction for the shortlisted trainees drawn from different regions of the country.

    The local content legislation compells foreign oil giants operating in Nigeria to set aside a training budget that will be utilised to train Nigerians in skills that are applicable to offshore and onshore oil and gas operation. The key role of NCDMB is to ensure maximum utilisation of local resources in major oil and gas projects executed in the country.

    Some of the skills, which the trainees acquired in the exercise, included Abseiling (Rope Access Technique Level 1), Rigging, Scaffolding, Painting and Blasting, and Small Hand Tools Usage.

    After the induction, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as the coveralls, helmet, safety boot, hand gloves and personal fall arrest systems were distributed among the participants. The trainees were divided into teams A and B, comprising 10 members each.

    In the first week, Team A started its training with rope access practical training; Team B began with lecture on the theory of coating, corrosion control and pressure blasting equipment pump maintenance.

    In the second week, the two teams switched place. Team B learned the rope access training; Team A was taught the theory of coating, corrosion control and pressure blasting equipment pump maintenance.

    After 12 days of intensive training, the trainees were assessed by Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA), a professional authority in rope access training. The assessment was attended by representatives from NCDMB, SNEPCO and Ofserv.

    The assessment lasted for three days with eight trainees successfully passed the test in the first two days. Three participants later passed re-assessment exercise, which made the number of successful trainees to be 11.

    After the assessment, the two teams were trained for five days on rigging, scaffolding and small tools, and practical painting and high pressure blasting. The trainees were certified in the skills. The 11 successful rope access technicians will be certified by IRATA and their certificates will be mailed to them in a future date.

    On whether SNEPCO would employ the trainees, Vice President (Operations), Ofserv, Mr Dimeji Bassir, said his company was liaising with the exploration giant to engage some of the best among the trainees. He said the skills acquired by the trainees would make Nigeria provide manpower in the diverse areas, which are dominated by foreigners.

    Rope access describes the technical system of movement from one location to another by the means of moving along ropes. The rope access system allows a technician to gain access to otherwise inaccessible locations as a safer and more efficient solution. Modern rope access system is a double rope system. It is a system developed specifically to target the needs for high angled operations in the vertical environment.

    Ofserv is an integrated energy company set up to maximise opportunities across the energy-value sectors. Some of the trainees, who spoke to our correspondent, said thanked SNEPCO for giving them the opportunity to be expert in oil exploration technology. They promised to improve on the skills they learned in the programme.

  • Rawlings: how Africa can conquer corruption

    Rawlings: how Africa can conquer corruption

    The second edition of  the Zik Lecture Series has been held at the Faculty of Social Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State. The quarterly lecture, which was held in honour of the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, focused on corruption and terrorism. NGOZI EMMANUEL writes.

    HE was the cynosure of all eyes. Staff and students defied the scorching sun to welcome former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings to the campus.

    Rawlings, who is now an African Union (AU) envoy to Somalia, was there as the guest speaker at the second edition of Zik Lecture Series held at the Faculty of Social Sciences. He was received by a crowd of students, who waited at the entrance of the main auditorium, the venue of the programme.

    By 8am, guests had started filing into the expansive auditorium. Their pensive looks showed their readiness to tackle the theme of the lecture: Eradicating corruption in Africa.

    The host and the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof Austin Nnonyelu, described the lecture as timely given the spread of corruption in public and private life. According to him, the lecture, which was instituted by Senator Ben Obi, is to promote the philosophy of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, one of the founding fathers of Nigeria.

    The lecture is held quarterly to examine Africa’s development and democratic challenges and to tackle the continent’s problems. Nnonyelu said the theme of the lecture was “prudently selected” as corruption was one of the hurdles against Africa’s development.

    Rawlings defined corruption as a deviation from the moral or spiritual norm, stressing that the vice stemmed from deliberate refusal to operate based on set rules, regulations and laws. With a wicked intention, he added, corrupt officials circumvent the punitive actions that come with such deliberate deviation from the norm.

    He said it was the willingness to tolerate the intolerable that motivated persons or institutions with influence to perpetrate corruption. He pointed out that corruption by those in government directly affected the rule of law and debased the moral right of political leadership to serve as a respected regulator of the affairs of the state.

    He urged Africans not to overlook the scourge of corruption, saying the continent would witness real development if its leaders expressed genuine desire to combat the vice.

    Speaking on Terrorism and democracy, Prof Okwudiba Nnoli, a political scientist, noted that disloyalty to democratic principles gave vent to the violent agitation by groups of extremists across the country.

    Prof Humphery Assisi Assobie, a political scientist, also delivered a lecture. Other guests also spoke, urging African governments to fight corruption. Dignitaries at event included the governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, Senator Obi, Senator Chris Ngige and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Boniface Egboka, among others.

    In his address, Prof Egboka said the theme of the lecture was relevant and addressed the political life of the African countries. He said leaders’ attention should be on the attainment of the millennium development goals and how to free the continent from the shackles of poverty, ignorance and disease.

    Gov. Obi said: “Corruption in Africa is endemic and should be fought vehemently by every patriotic African.”

  • Don harps on role of religions

    Don harps on role of religions

    A professor of Religious Studies at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (UK), Prof Afe Adogame, has enlightened students of the Faculty of Arts, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), on the roles of religion in the society.

    Speaking at the second edition of the faculty lecture with the theme: Doing things on Earth for heaven’s sake: The public and civic role of religions in Nigeria, Adogame noted that apart from religious devotion, churches and mosques also have social, economic and political responsibility.

    He said the public should look at the religious organisations from a more objective perspective to discover their duty to the society. “We need to look at our religious organisations from a much more objective perspective and find out their social, economic and political tasks. We need to understand the fact that, aside being religious organisations, the churches and mosques also contribute to the conomy through the creation of jobs for their adherents,” he said.

    He argued that religious institutions must not be seen as incorruptible bodies, noting that since human beings were part of them, they are also bound to be affected by societal vices. He said: “These religious organisations are part of the society and just as politicians can be corrupt, church and mosques leaders can also be corrupt as they are all human beings.”

    The senior fellow at Harvard University opined that majority of Christendom had embraced Pentecostalism, which made worshippers to worship emotionally with music and dance. Highlighting migration as a prime factor in the global spread of Christianity, the expert said immigrants often take their religion or aspects of it as hand luggage but migrants may not have the mission for religious expansion.

    In his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Femi Mimiko, who was represented by his deputy, Prof Rotimi Ajayi, praised the faculty and the guest lecturer for the lecture, which he described as thought-provoking and stimulating.

    The Dean of the faculty, Dr B.M. Akinnawonu, said the idea of a public lecture was to fulfill the academic programme of the faculty. The highpoint of the lecture was the presentation of awards and souvenirs to the guest lecturer.

  • Billionaire thieves and the Judiciary

    In Nigeria, all things are possible. This is a country of big things. If you want to do anything, just do it the big way. If you do it in a petty way, you would have fixed a date with agony. All one needs to do is to “grow a liver” and just do it with a bang. Men and women will talk and bicker but beyond that, nothing happens. Nigerians in authority know their size – monumental corruption and big scandals. The business of sleaze is transacted in billions.

    The nation was held spellbound, a few weeks ago, when an Abuja High Court convicted a self-confessed police pension fund thief and former director in the Police Pension Office, Mr John Yakubu Yusufu. The convict was sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of fine.

    Yusufu stole big. He is an example of Nigerian billionaire thief. He siphoned 37 billion naira from the pension coffer. The ill-gotten wealth was withdrawn from the retired police officers’ funds, which he and his co-travellers were entrusted to administer.

    This is not new; it happens every day in Nigeria. No shaking. Alas, what appeared to be a grim picture of our national in the grand conspiracy to rob and assault the sensibilities of the Nigerian people is the miscarriage of justice perpetrated by Justice Abubakar Talba.

    Yusufu was sentenced two years in prison or a fine of N750,000. Now, let us do the calculation: N37 billion minus N750,000 gives us N36.250 billion. It means that Yusufu could pay the fine and the convict would still be a billionaire all his life. This is a dividend of stealing big!

    Every day, the Nigerian population decries the manner in which corruption is encouraged and nourished by disturbing judgments coming from the courts. It is only in Nigeria that a court can grant a permanent injunction, preventing public officers from standing trial over financial misappropriation.

    The judgment of Justice Talba has further buttressed the fact that judiciary is a cauldron of corruption itself. The verdict will surely encourage massive stealing and diversion of public funds. Instead of stealing in millions, a serving public officer can steal billions and go scot free.

    Dare the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian public. Go to court. Tell the judge you actually stole the money. No qualms! Of course, you will be asked to return some of it. The judge – if he is the Talba kind – would simply appreciate you for not wasting time and being honest to the court.

    Your lawyer could even argue that if you are simply fined and released, it will encourage other thieves to come over and return part of what they have stolen! Is this not a confirmation that Nigeria is an animal farm where some thieves – sorry animals – are more equal than the others?

    Now, we are not talking of funds that were idle somewhere – even though that would not in any way justify the theft. We are talking about pension funds. Police pension funds! Men and women in the force spent their lives facing danger so the rest of us could live in safety. In their old age, they get robbed of their life savings through the satanic and insatiable greed of the likes of Yusufu. Why should I encourage my little brother, who wants to be policeman, to join force?

    We are all witnesses to the needless stress our senior citizens are subjected to whenever they are called to receive their pensions. Some have had to travel from their villages to far places to participate in screening exercises that may last many weeks, even though many of them are too old for that kind of exercise. We have seen many who have died in the course getting their pension money. That is how they get rewarded for serving Nigeria!

    One thing, however, is certain: the people of Nigeria are not amused with this and similar stories. Big thieves like Yusufu may never face justice in the courts. They own the courts! But we remember Dele

    Giwa’s words that: “Evil done by man to man shall never go unpunished. If not now, then later, and if not by man, then by God, for the triumph of evil over good is but temporary.”

    A revolution is imminent in this country, and it is being hastened and precipitated by the actions of big thieves and the judges that set them free in the full glare of the suffering masses.

  • Remembering the late Tunde Salawu

    Eleven years ago, the Lagos State University (LASU) witnessed stormed the rained on Tunde was the president of presidents whose exceptional valour outlived his small figure. He was strikingly outstanding and everything in Tunde demonstrated a genuine leader with no trace of egoism and unwarranted affiliation to clandestine settings.

    At a time when the trait of cultism was at its peak such that its consequences were far beyond being controlled by security agencies, Tunde courageously mastermind and led an onslaught against cultists and cultism on campus. He was a major threat to all criminals on campus and he succeeded in changing LASU, which was known as butcher ground, to a secure environment.

    Tunde was a symbolic image that brought peace to LASU and the major sacrifice Tunde made was to give up his life for a course he was committed and dedicated to.

    Tunde discovered greatness in death and little wonder he left consoling words for his fellow comrades before he gave up the ghost. Tunde informed them that they should fight cultism to a standstill notwithstanding the consequences. Tunde is fondly remembered as a comrade and in other areas we share common aspirations. May Almighty God grant you Al-Jannah Firdaus.

    This moment is equally used to remember the late Comrade Anjorin Lukmon (Barrywhyte), a student of the Political Science, LASU, and chairman, Action and Mobilization, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Lagos axis. He died as a victim of cultist attack on innocent students. May their souls continue to rest in peace.

  • For a better future

    For a better future

    She was not only the female participant among the trainees at an oil and gas skill acquisition programme sponsored by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), she also made history as the first female Nigerian to be certified as Rope Access Absailer.

    Miss Anwulika Okwuosa distinguished herself in the world-class training organised in line with the Nigerian Content Development Act of 2010 by SNEPCO in collaboration with Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

    The trainees, 20 graduates and undergraduates, were taught to build human capacity development for the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

    Tagged Offshore Skill Acquisition Programme, the offshore support skills exercise conducted by Oilfield Services (Ofserv) Nigeria Limited contracted by SNEPCO to fulfil its training obligation with regards to the Bonga Northwest Sub-sea Hardware and Contros Project.

    The four-week training kicked off last month with an induction for the shortlisted trainees drawn from different regions of the country.

    The local content legislation compells foreign oil giants operating in Nigeria to set aside a training budget that will be utilised to train Nigerians in skills that are applicable to offshore and onshore oil and gas operation. The key role of NCDMB is to ensure maximum utilisation of local resources in major oil and gas projects executed in the country.

    Some of the skills, which the trainees acquired in the exercise, included Abseiling (Rope Access Technique Level 1), Rigging, Scaffolding, Painting and Blasting, and Small Hand Tools Usage.

    After the induction, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as the coveralls, helmet, safety boot, hand gloves and personal fall arrest systems were distributed among the participants. The trainees were divided into teams A and B, comprising 10 members each.

    In the first week, Team A started its training with rope access practical training; Team B began with lecture on the theory of coating, corrosion control and pressure blasting equipment pump maintenance.

    In the second week, the two teams switched place. Team B learned the rope access training; Team A was taught the theory of coating, corrosion control and pressure blasting equipment pump maintenance.

    After 12 days of intensive training, the trainees were assessed by Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA), a professional authority in rope access training. The assessment was attended by representatives from NCDMB, SNEPCO and Ofserv.

    The assessment lasted for three days with eight trainees successfully passed the test in the first two days. Three participants later passed re-assessment exercise, which made the number of successful trainees to be 11.

    After the assessment, the two teams were trained for five days on rigging, scaffolding and small tools, and practical painting and high pressure blasting. The trainees were certified in the skills. The 11 successful rope access technicians will be certified by IRATA and their certificates will be mailed to them in a future date.

    On whether SNEPCO would employ the trainees, Vice President (Operations), Ofserv, Mr Dimeji Bassir, said his company was liaising with the exploration giant to engage some of the best among the trainees. He said the skills acquired by the trainees would make Nigeria provide manpower in the diverse areas, which are dominated by foreigners.

    Rope access describes the technical system of movement from one location to another by the means of moving along ropes. The rope access system allows a technician to gain access to otherwise inaccessible locations as a safer and more efficient solution. Modern rope access system is a double rope system. It is a system developed specifically to target the needs for high angled operations in the vertical environment.

    Ofserv is an integrated energy company set up to maximise opportunities across the energy-value sectors. Some of the trainees, who spoke to our correspondent, said thanked SNEPCO for giving them the opportunity to be expert in oil exploration technology. They promised to improve on the skills they learned in the programme.

  • Students beg to return

    Students beg to return

    Students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede (EDE POLY), Osun State, have appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the institution’s management to re-open the campus. The institution was shut following a protest against epileptic power supply last month by students.

    The students said they were tired of sitting at home, adding that if the campus was not re-opened, their continued stay at home may jeopardise their future.

    A student, who did not want to be named, said the Students’ Union Government (SUG) had pleaded with the management to turn on generator every night for students as examination drew close. But said management refused, a development which resulted into the protest.

    In a swift reaction, an official of the Public Relations office of the institution debunked the claim, saying the allegation was a “blatant lie”. He said the school was not shut down rather, management declared a mid-semester break.

    Contrary to the claim that the Rector is out of the country, the official said: “As I speak with you, the Rector is in his office. We did not close the school but we are on mid-semester break. Any moment from now, the Governing Council will approve the date for resumption.”

  • Dept welcomes freshers

    Dept welcomes freshers

    Students’ Chemical Society of Nigeria (SCSN), Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai chapter, has inducted freshers into the association. The freshmen, who were beaming with smiles, filled the conference room of the department to its capacity.

    The Head of the Chemistry department, Dr U.U. Elele, congratulated the students for their admission into the institution. She urged them to maximise their potentials and focus on their studies. She said: “In the history of this department, there has not been a student that graduated with a First Class result. You must all work hard to break the record.”

    Delivering a lecture entitled Role of chemists in chemical industries, Mallam Mohammed Mohammed, a lecturer in the department, highlighted areas where chemists’ expertise was needed.

    The highpoint of the programme was recitation of a poem by Lateefat Raufu and Fiona Ohai. The poem was the to educate the freshers on how chemistry recreates nature and affects the lives of individuals. A play let was also staged by Chuka Uzochukwu and his friends to enlighten students on how to behave and relate with other students and their lecturers.

    Mr Stephen Agwuncha, an examination officer, who spoke on exam ethics, showed the freshers how they could calculate Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). Mallam Abdullahi Mohammed also tutored the students on the use of library.

  • Rotaract marks anniversary

    Rotaract marks anniversary

    Rotaract Club of Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, has commemorated the 108th birthday of Rotary International in grand style. The event was ended with a fellowship of love by members of the club in the university.

    The fellowship was opened after the president, Maryann Okeke, addressed the gathering. The four-way test of the club was recited by Martin Ekene, a member of the club. The club members were dressed in attires with red colour to signify love they have for humanity.

    Before the exchange of gifts started, two members-Magnus Ekeh and Emmanuel Okpara- gave brief lectures on friendship and love respectively. The lecture was to make members understand why they must love and care for the less privileged.

    The fellowship was made lively with exchange of gifts, which started when the president called all members to submit their names on a piece of paper. The papers were folded and randomly picked by the students.

    Magnus presented a “wonderful gift” to an intending member, Frank Michee, for his tireless effort in carrying out some selfless duties. This is followed by the club queen, Emmanuela Keke, giving gifts to the king and other friends in the club.

    Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Magnus, 300-Level Political Science, said: “It is fun showing love to people who mean a lot to you. Also to people that need your love; this is the good news that Rotaract club preaches and practices. We decided to end the 108th birthday of our noble club in this way.”

  • Rawlings: how Africa can conquer corruption

    Rawlings: how Africa can conquer corruption

    E was the cynosure of all eyes. Staff and students defied the scorching sun to welcome former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings to the campus.

    Rawlings, who is now an African Union (AU) envoy to Somalia, was there as the guest speaker at the second edition of Zik Lecture Series held at the Faculty of Social Sciences. He was received by a crowd of students, who waited at the entrance of the main auditorium, the venue of the programme.

    By 8am, guests had started filing into the expansive auditorium. Their pensive looks showed their readiness to tackle the theme of the lecture: Eradicating corruption in Africa.

    The host and the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof Austin Nnonyelu, described the lecture as timely given the spread of corruption in public and private life. According to him, the lecture, which was instituted by Senator Ben Obi, is to promote the philosophy of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, one of the founding fathers of Nigeria.

    The lecture is held quarterly to examine Africa’s development and democratic challenges and to tackle the continent’s problems. Nnonyelu said the theme of the lecture was “prudently selected” as corruption was one of the hurdles against Africa’s development.

    Rawlings defined corruption as a deviation from the moral or spiritual norm, stressing that the vice stemmed from deliberate refusal to operate based on set rules, regulations and laws. With a wicked intention, he added, corrupt officials circumvent the punitive actions that come with such deliberate deviation from the norm.

    He said it was the willingness to tolerate the intolerable that motivated persons or institutions with influence to perpetrate corruption. He pointed out that corruption by those in government directly affected the rule of law and debased the moral right of political leadership to serve as a respected regulator of the affairs of the state.

    He urged Africans not to overlook the scourge of corruption, saying the continent would witness real development if its leaders expressed genuine desire to combat the vice.

    Speaking on Terrorism and democracy, Prof Okwudiba Nnoli, a political scientist, noted that disloyalty to democratic principles gave vent to the violent agitation by groups of extremists across the country.

    Prof Humphery Assisi Assobie, a political scientist, also delivered a lecture. Other guests also spoke, urging African governments to fight corruption. Dignitaries at event included the governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, Senator Obi, Senator Chris Ngige and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Boniface Egboka, among others.

    In his address, Prof Egboka said the theme of the lecture was relevant and addressed the political life of the African countries. He said leaders’ attention should be on the attainment of the millennium development goals and how to free the continent from the shackles of poverty, ignorance and disease.

    Gov. Obi said: “Corruption in Africa is endemic and should be fought vehemently by every patriotic African.”