The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Making a point with Option A4

    Making a point with Option A4

    THE Open Ballot System (OBS), better known as Option A4, was first used during the 1993 presidential election. It is an open and transparent process of voting.

    At a glance, it is easy to determine the winner of an election because everything is virtually done in the open. But, following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election, Option A4 was jettisoned. Since then, the electorate have been clamouring for its return to ensure sanity in the electoral process, but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not heeded such calls.

    While the electoral agency is still dragging its feet, students of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko (OKO POLY) in Anambra State have led the way in embracing Option A4. They conducted their union elections with OBS last week.

    The atmosphere was tense on the campus last year when the polytechnic announced the plan to conduct Students’ Union Government (SUG) election. Students showed interest in who will be their leader. Whoever emerges president, they said, must be the people’s choice.

    Becuase of the tense atmosphere, the management postponed the exercise. When the election date was fixed, the Students’ Electoral Commission (SEC), comprising students, opted for Option A4.

    A day before the exercise, students gathered in the auditorium to listen to the manifesto of each candidate. They questioned the competence and ideology of the candidates during the event.

    The electoral commission chairman, Francis Ekwem, HND II Public Administration, listed the criteria for candidates. They included the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of Upper Credit for presidential candidates. This criterion pruned the number of presidential contestants to six. Other positions were also keenly contested.

    The Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Donald Onukaogu, led other members of the association to monitor the poll – in line with NANS Constitution.

    As early as 8am, students flocked to the campus for the election. The main field, the venue of the exercise, was peaceful, with the school’s security personnel monitoring the exercise.

    The candidates stood on wooden desks. The ballot boxes were placed before each of them. Students defied the scorching sun and queued up behind their candidates to vote.

    When voting ended, counting began immediately in the presence of the students. The candidates and their agents also witnessed the process, which students described as open. Martins Umeokonkwo emerged the president-elect, with 436 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Sylvester Nwachukwu, who polled 233 votes.

    Others elected were Chinyere Agu, Vice President; Maryjane Okonkwo, General Secretary; Ikechukwu Onu, Provost; and Chinedu Agwunike, Director of Social, among others.

    Antonia Anochilionye, a student of Mass Communication, described the exercise as the best she had witnessed since her admission into the institution. According to her, the management did “a wonderful job in sensitising students and providing adequate security to ensure that they voted for candidates of their choice without fear.”

    Announcing the results, Francis thanked the students for the turnout and maturity displayed throughout the process. He praised the management for its support, which he said contributed to the success of the exercise.

    “I commend the management for giving us the opportunity and free hand to organise a process for which students have commended us. I thank the Rector, Prof Godwin Onu, for providing the logistics for the successful conduct of the election,” he said.

    Addressing the students after the election, Donald described it as free and fair, urging students to sustain the peace on the campus. He said if students could adopt Option A4 in electing their leaders without controversy, the country could learn from the process to ensure Nigerians’ votes count.

    He praised the maturity of the students and security personnel.

    The Director of Students’ Affair, Mrs Esther Odigwe, said the large turnout followed the massive sensitisation embarked upon by her office to ensure students exercised their franchise without fear. She praised Onu and the body of principal officers for creating a peaceful atmosphere, which led to the success of the election.

    The Deputy Rector, Dr Don Muo, said the management was happy with the peaceful conduct of the election. He said the conduct of the candidates and their supporters during the manifesto night and election was commendable, saying it attested to the level of maturity of students in the polytechnic.

    Emmanuel Ogbodo, who lost in the election, described the exercise as peaceful, free and fair, saying he was impressed with the maturity the students and the organisers.

    Another student of Science Laboratory Technology Department, Chinenye Anichebe, praised the management for allowing students to choose their leaders without interference.

  • Students honour Rector, dean

    Students honour Rector, dean

    The Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) was agog last weekend. The Students’ Union Government (SUG) collaborated with Truism, a student-body, to organise a leadership empowerment and award to recognise the efforts of individuals that contributed to the development of the school.

    The event attracted dignitaries including the proprietor of Caleb Group of Schools, Dr Ola Adebogun, ex-official of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade David Oladele, former Vice-President, National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Comrade Seun Akintola, a senior lecturer at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Olakayode Oyediran, Dean, Students Affairs, YABATECH, Mr O.T. Raheem and Mr Deji Bademosi, a journalist.

    A guest speaker, Ayoola Lawal, admonished students to identify their priorities and see the need to build themselves to be useful to the country. Also, Mr G. Sobamowo, a lecturer in UNILAG, urged the students to search for information for transformation. He stressed that students must set standard for themselves to excel in life.

    Prof Oyediran, in his lecture, attributed the failure of governance to the lack of trust and selfishness on the part of politicians. He said: “Unless we return to God in all honesty, and trust Him, we may not witness the true leadership we all crave for.” He further urged the students to take charge of their destinies and believe in the Nigerian dream.

    Bademosi advocated for political reforms and encouraged the students to join political parties if they wanted change. He stressed that from 1960 till date, Nigerian leaders’ programmes had not gone beyond provision of water, electricity and road. To effect change, Bademosi said, the youth must unite to vote out bad leaders.

    Five distinguished guests were awarded at the end of the event. Those honoured included Dr Adebogun, Dr Margret Ladipo, YABATECH Rector, Mr Dave Ohiorhenuan, Director of Continuing Education, YABATECH, and Raheem.

    Raheem dedicated the award to Nigerian students, saying without them there would be no higher institutions

  • Church bids members farewell

    Church bids members farewell

    Church of Christ on the University of Calabar (UNICAL) campus as held its send off ceremony for its members, who are graduating from the institution. The event, which was held in CES Auditorium, was attended by personalities such as Evangelist I.E. Morah, Evangelist Udeme King, Dr Sunday Effiom, Mr Akan Esu and Mr Roland Ekanem, Mr Michael Alfred among others.

    Alfred said the day marked a great day in the lives of the graduating students after rigorous work and training in the university. He also stated that any education that did not acknowledge existence of God was retrogressive. He thanked the outgoing students for making out time to serve God, through their selfless service to the church.

    He advised the students to hold on to the virtues which they learned through their stay on campus and in the church.

    The minister in charge, Evangelist King, said the graduation ceremony supposed to have been held last year, but postponed because of the short school’s academic calendar. He presented the graduating students to the congregation.

    They included among others Isaac Mensah, Medical Laboratory Science, Promise Akpan, Applied Geophysics, Eneobong Essien, Educational Planning and Administration, Emem Obong Eyo, Nursing, Mercy Etim, Physiology, Ikenna Olumba, Human Anatomy, Otu Eko, Medical Laboratory Science, Grace Samuel, Banking and Finance, Kingsley Bassey, Theatre and Media Studies, Aniema Edet, Marine Science and Nsisong Ekpo, Physics.

    The occasion featured drama presentation by the church’s drama and music groups. Gospel group, Campus Harmony and Shalom Singers, also thrilled the congregation with songs. The graduating students were officially inducted as the alumni of the church fellowship.

  • ‘I’m satisfied being a village teacher’

    Can you tell us about your background?

    I am the first in a family of three children. I attended Origbo Anglican Grammar School after which I proceeded to Osun State College of Education, Ilesa. My father is the proprietor of a school.

    What led you into teaching?

    I must confess that I don’t like teaching. This is because my childhood dream is to be a judge. But, when I finished secondary school, I could not secure admission the same year into the university to study Law. The following year, my parents encouraged me to take up a career in education. I consented because I wanted to take up my father’s school as the first child of the family.

    How do you feel teaching in a village?

    I never thought that, one day, I will be in the village teaching. But, when I started, the interest started growing and I can say that I love teaching in villages because it has afforded me the opportunity to bring little children up and to inspire confidence in them that they can also make it in life like their counterparts in the cities.

    What can you say about being a teacher at a young age of 21?

    Well, I believe everybody is a teacher and age is not a factor here. But, then, I must say it is a challenge for me and I also believe it is my destiny. When you find yourself excelling in what you naturally don’t like to do, it means you have found your destiny.

    What are the challenges of being a teacher in a village like this?

    When I started, people looked down on me but, after a period, they came to respect me. I remember when I did my Teaching Practice in 2009. Then, I was 17. The students in the secondary school where I did the practice would not even greet me because they felt I was too young to be their teacher. But, as time went by, they saw the knowledge of God in me and nobody told them to accord me some respect.

    What inspires you?

    My strongest motivation is the passion I have for these children and also for my father’s vision, which I believe must not die.

    What does the structure of your father’s school look like?

    We have kindergarten, nursery and primary classes. We have a few teachers due to the fact that many of them do not want to stay longer because they are not able to adapt to the rural life. I am the sole administrator of the school and I also teach the secondary school pupils.

    Since the inception of the school in 1995, has there been any student who has excelled?

    Yes. I am an example (smiles). We have ex-students who are now doing fine in their higher institutions. One of such person is Sukurat Suleiman, who finished in 2002 and is now a university student.

    Do you have any problem with the villagers?

    If there is anything, it is ignorance. Most of the people living here don’t allow their children to further their education after primary school. They always complain that nobody will look after their cocoa farm. This has hindered the development I envision for the college.

    Where do you see yourself in the future?

    I see myself becoming a judge. This has been my dream. I also want to lecture so that my impact can spread to more people in the village and beyond.

  • Is all well with the house of NANS?(2)

    I ended last week’s piece with the petition to President Goodluck Jonathan by Adelu James who contested the post of president of NANS with eleven other contenders. James raised some pertinent issues in the melodrama currently plaguing the association. After reading last week’s piece, Prince Miaphen, one of the contenders who identified himself as the authentic student representative and president of NANS sent me two documents, a statement recounting what transpired at Uyo last year and text of the maiden press conference he granted after being sworn in as president of NANS in Jos on January 13. I will return to the issue of Miaphen and the allegation of attempted assassination leveled against him by Yinka Gbadebo later.

    But in the interim, was Gbadebo eligible to contest the election in the first place? I pose this question because Adelu James, a 500 level Law student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife claimed he is “the sole ticket of the institution to contest at Uyo convention. But it is a big surprise to me and a slap to all Nigerian students that, Mr. Yinka Gbadebo who is not a student of Obafemi Awolowo University could be allowed by the convention planning committee, the convention chairman and the State Security Service to contest the election with the studentship of Obafemi Awolowo University”. If this was the case then the next question that will arise is who was the authentic representative from OAU?

    In order to answer this question we have to rewind a few years back and put things in perspective. Gbadebo was alleged – by all the presidential candidates – to have physically assaulted the former Vice-Chancellor of University of Ado Ekiti now Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Prof. Akin Oyebode now at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, an offence which led to his rustication from the university. With his result still hanging in Ekiti State University, he allegedly enrolled for a Diploma programme in OAU which apparently led to his eligibility to contest the election.

    Yinka Gbadebo, however, debunked insinuations that he applied for an OAU diploma in order to be eligible to contest NANS presidency. According to him, he “came to OAU to obtain more knowledge after waiting so long for UNAD to release my result all to no avail based on political reasons that are interwoven with my active participation in students’ unionism.”

    He stressed that “rumour peddlers” are ignorant of the content of NANS constitution, adding that the constitution states clearly that to be eligible for presidential election, a candidate must be studying a course of not less than two years duration in any institution of higher learning. “Most of them have never seen NANS constitution and charter of demands in their life and they want to aspire.”

    From this it is not surprising that it has been conflicts on all fronts. In February during a visit to Jos another drama played out. After the Uyo convention, Gbadebo and his executives took it upon themselves to go on fence mending tours of university campuses across the country, that tour brought them to Jos on February 7th where he alleged that an assassination attempt was made on his life. Let’s hear him out: “In our bid to defend the mandate that Nigerian students gave to us at the polls, we decided to embark on a tour of our campuses to familiarise ourselves with the problems facing our students. This tour brought us to Jos on Wednesday, 6th February 2013. Scared of the imminent truth that his fraudulent activities would be revealed to the people of Plateau State who he had earlier hoodwinked into believing his self-acclaimed presidency of NANS, Prince Miaphen sent a group of assassins after me and my entourage on Thursday 7th February 2013”.

    He alleged that the assassins who came armed with guns and machetes ended up kidnapping one of his colleagues, Dimeji Azeez of the University of Ibadan and “totally vandalized and destroyed the two weeks old official bus of the national secretariat of NANS. Azeez was later released after we apprehended the younger brother to Prince Miaphen who led the assault team”.

    He thus declared Prince Miaphen “persona non grata on campuses of all Nigerian institutions of higher learning. That any campus that welcomes the said Prince Miaphen will be indefinitely suspended from NANS and all NANS related activities, including the right to vote or to contest for any national office. That the Plateau State Government under the able leadership of Da Jonah Jang in collaboration with Nigeria Police Force and State Security Service should as a matter of urgency arrest and prosecute Mr. Prince Miaphen alongside his cohorts within 7days. That the Plateau State Government in other to forestall the breakdown of law and order, should with immediate effect provide the leadership of NANS with a NEW BUS AS A COMPESATION, based on the fact that Mr. Prince Miaphen is an indigene of Plateau State from Shendam Local Government Area”.

    Miaphen denied the entire allegation, according to him he was on tour of higher institution campuses in Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe and Bornu States when Gbadebo, who had information on what he was doing paid a visit to Jos. “The question I would like Gbadebo to answer is why did he not go to the campuses of University of Jos, Plateau State University or Plateau Polytechnic? He did not go there because he is an unpopular candidate that believes in grandstanding and hobnobbing with politicians. NANS headquarter is not in Abuja or the various state government houses but on University campuses.”

    Miaphen, who said he has the backing of the other contestants and Nigerian students said his intention is “to relocate the NANS Secretariat from the streets and salubrious confines of Abuja, where it has been domiciled for the better part of the last decade, back to the campuses, where it was originally designed to function. It is pertinent to state that NANS is a force with a dominant constructive component. Its impact, primarily, should be to benefit the students and managements of its respective host institutions, and by extension the entire educational system of Nigeria. This is the only way that the organisation shall muster the zest to contribute to the overall development of the country by deepening democracy, advocating for good governance, a just and egalitarian society for all, among other salient issues contained in the NANS Charter of Demands.

    What I can deduce from what Miaphen and his cohorts are trying to achieve is their determination to go back to the era of NANS of old where Universities at the time are strategic resources for the production of ideas and manpower for societal growth. Students were at the center of this as agents of change as leaders of tomorrow with strong stake in the future of the community. But today in the realm of students all you hear is cultism, fraud, exam malpractices, yahoo yahoo, prostitution etc.

    Aside NANS national leadership intellectual decline, the various structures of the union- state joint committee and students’ unions have either sold out to politicians or lack the requisite intellectual wherewithal to lead successful and genuine struggles of students. While I blame the student leaders, I must also blame the school authorities and the state in destroying the legacy of genuine students’ unionism either by buying over of student leaders or by use of naked force like police and victimisation to deal with genuine student activists.

    Dear reader, does it surprise you the way things have turned out with our “future leaders” and their association? It should not because we are all seeing ourselves in the mirror, in essence, what is unfolding is a stack reminder of our pathetic society today where our students emulate leaders who continue to regenerate itself in brazen corruption, and lack of concern for its citizens, where politics does not go beyond greed and lucre. Student leaders who are supposed to be groomed for everything noble are already in the same track with our “leaders”.

  • Cultism: A scourge of tertiary education

    What is known as cultism in our Nigerian tertiary institution today started at the University College, Ibadan in 1953 when Wole Soyinka, then studying for his Bachelor’s degree in the institution, formed the pirate confraternity with the objective to ending tribalism and elitism.

    The activities of the society were not shrouded in secrecy; most of its members were Law students. The group only belonged to the most brilliant students on campus.

    However, cultism has assumed different meaning in contemporary society. It has turned to a deadly and secret organisation. Its objectives have been defeated from what it was established for. Thousands of lives have been lost and properties worth millions have been destroyed due to the activities of cult groups in our tertiary institutions effective from the 1980s.

    Despite concerted effort by the government and concerned stakeholders to provide Nigerians with qualitative education, a few have chosen to toe the path of destruction through voluntary initiation into different cultist groups, which anti-social vices have eaten deep into the Nigerian educational system.

    It is highly unfortunate that our secondary schools have also become veritable grounds for breeding cultists, making one to wonder if we are civilising the right way. The expulsion of 26 secondary school students for involving in cult activities in 2002 in Cross River State, the beating of a secondary school typist to death in Eket, Akwa Ibom State in 2004 and attack of a school principal by a group of secondary school pupils in Premier Grammar School, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2012 have all confirmed the existence of deadly groups in secondary schools.

    Of course, we don’t need soothsayer to tell us that the pupils will graduate to become hardened criminals when they are admitted into tertiary institutions.

    When some of them, who engage in cult activities, are asked the reason for joining the group, some may say it is for protection, some may say it is for fame, while some can attribute it to an avenue to accrue wealth to gain ladies’ attention.

    During the recently-held matriculation in the Kwara State Polytechnic, two cult members were killed. The ceremony, which ought to be a jamboree, turned out to be bloody. Many students and parents, who lost properties and injured in the mayhem would not forget the day in a hurry. Many parents, who would have been joyous to witness their wards’ admission, would have purchased another UTME forms for their children to rewrite another exam into another institutions.

    How long are we going to continue to be indifferent to this menace in our society? Shall we allow cultism to destroy our education system? Eradication of cultism, if I may suggest, can only be feasible if proper orientation is held to change the mindset of students in our various institutions. Also, proper upbringing of child by parents, public enlightenment by education stakeholders would help in stopping the activities of secret clubs on our campuses.

  • Service in humility

    Life they say, is a stage; one on which actors play out their roles, scene after scene. On March 5, 2013, over 70,000 actors commenced the screenplay of a new scene on their individual lives’ stages. The scene was the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme and the actors were young male and female Nigerian graduates who were call for national service.

    The NYSC was created in 1973 by erstwhile head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, as a girdle for holding together the battered loins of a fatherland just then fresh out of the jaws of ravaging civil war. Though it has faced a number of existential challenges especially in the recent past, the scheme has resolutely grown stronger. And every year, Nigerian graduates enthusiastically answer the call for a year of service starting with a three-week long orientation programme.

    As camp opened in the Ede, Osun State from where this writer penned this piece, complaints abound. The sun was scorching, the queues endless, the kits were inadequate and the food insufficient; the parade was inhuman, the soldiers overbearing and it goes on and on.

    Interestingly however, there were overwhelmingly more joyful faces than crying ones; there was palpable fun in the air. Living the camp life, one witnesses a number of revelations.

    The first is the smooth achievement of an egalitarian society in so short a time. In just three days, sons and daughters of the high and mighty, the lower class as well as the middleclass were integrated into one brotherhood where everybody is one. For a country as socially stratified as Nigeria, the achievement of such equality is commendable.

    The second eye-opening revelation is that soldiers are indeed human. It is needless rehashing the inherent beastly nature often attributed to officers of the Nigerian army. Corps members were, therefore, understandably wary to learn that these officers would be in charge of camp discipline. As time progressed however, their fears were dispelled.

    Soon comments like “soldier dey laugh?” and “this officer funny oo” abound. Even on the parade ground where business was the meanest, Corps members were on the receiving end of acts of camaraderie from those ‘beastly’ soldiers.

    Another revelation is the ease with which Nigerian tribal and religious factions can be integrated if good intention and the right values are brought to bear. As Corps members formed into platoons, all other affiliations were disbanded as the spirit of competition fostered unity among platoon comrades. Away from boundary disputes, religious squabbles, mineral resources and bitter memories, Nigeria truly became one.

    So it was that under the scorching sun of Ede orientation camp, and of all other camps across the nation, Corps members raised their right hands in a collective oath of allegiance to fatherland. All inhibitions and contrasting ideologies melted away as patriotism and hope burned bright. These men and women would, in the following 11 months, render service in humility to Nigeria.

  • ABU sacks 17 staff for various offences

    ABU sacks 17 staff for various offences

    At least 17 workers of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Kaduna State, have been relieved of their appointments by the authorities of the institution.

    The Acting Registrar of the institution, Malam Ahmed Kundila, announced this in a special news bulletin issued in Zaria on Tuesday.

    The bulletin reads: “The Governing Council of ABU at its (Regular) meeting held on January 25 and 26, 2013, considered the report of the senior staff disciplinary committee on some cases of staff discipline referred to it by the management.

    “The nature of the offences ranged from violation of study fellowship, leave of absence term to gross misconduct.”

    According to the bulletin, the council, however, decided to reinstate Malam Salihu Babale of Public Affairs Department, terminated the appointment of six and dismissed 11 others, after careful deliberations.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the termination and dismissal affect various faculties and departments in the university.

  • Five Ekiti University students expelled for rape

    Five Ekiti University students expelled for rape

    The Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti has expelled five students for allegedly raping female students of the Institution.

    The students who were arrested on Thursday  through joint efforts of the Institution’s security men, the Nigeria Police, and youths from Iworoko Ekiti, have been charged to court for proper prosecution.

    According to sources, they were expelled based on the report of the Institution’s  Disciplinary Committee chaired by Professor W. O. Adebayo.

    A statement from the office of the Institution’s Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Relations, Ajibade Olubunmi quoted the Dean of Students
    Affairs, Professor I G. Adanlawo warning parents to monitor their children/wards, especially when they embark on higher studies.

    Adanlawo noted that the pledge by the varsity’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oladipo Aina to rid the institution of bad eggs was not a vain boast, adding that more of such bold moves should be expected whenever deemed fit.

     

  • UNICAL dismisses five lecturers

    … Demotes 10 others

    The Governing Council of the University of Calabar has announced the dismissal of five of its academic staff and the demotion of 10 others.

    A release issued by the Secretary to the Council and Registrar of the Institution, Dr. (Mrs.) Julia Omang and made available to The Nation in Calabar on Friday, disclosed that four of the dismissed academic staff were involved in plagiarism while one was a case of financial fraud.

    The release also added that the 10 academic staff that were demoted chose to publish their works in fake or cloned journals and proceeded to submit same and obtained promotion in the process.

    Those that were dismissed for outright plagiarism are, Dr. Azubuike Iloeje and Dr. Maurice Bisong of the Department of English and Literary Studies, Mr. Oden Ubi of the Department of Marketing and Dr. Paulinus Noah of the Department of Linguistics and Communication Studies.

    According to the release, Dr. Damian Agom was dismissed for salary overpayment, thereby enriching himself to the tone of N7, 268,044. 95 over a period of 11 months.

    The demoted lecturers are – Prof. Udoayang, 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

    Also demoted are – 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.

    Professors Udoayang and Enendu were demoted to the rank of senior lecturer, while Dr. Okpiliya, Dr. Afangideh and Dr. Ashipu have now moved down to position of lecturer 1.

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