Category: Campus Life

Since the first semester examination began at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), over 137 students have been barred by the authorities from writing the exams.

The students were said to have defaulted terms of school fee payment. But before they can be allowed to write the papers, management said the students must tender evidence of payment of the school fees.

The university’s action followed the alarm raised by the finance department of the institution when it estimated the number of students, who had not paid their school fees. This made management to insist that students must complete the payment of fees before they could be allowed to write the exams.

Before the exam started, management released the list of students that owed school fees to their various departments. Some of the students, who had money, immediately paid the fees. Their names were removed from the list. But others, who did not have money to pay, hoped the management would be lenient and allow them to write the exam. They were, however, sent out of the exam halls by the university’s staff.

Affected students at Faculty of Physical Sciences challenged the institution’s taskforce, saying it had no right to drive them out of the exam hall. But final year students among them pleaded with the management to allow them to pay after the exam.

Students of the faculties of Social Sciences and Education were dazed when debtors were being sent out of the exam hall. The deans and staff of the both faculties were in support of the management’s action. Students of the two faculties also owed departmental and faculty dues, payment of which was a condition to make them sit for the exam.

In Faculty of Arts, the story was not different. But students, who did not attend 75 per cent of lectures, were disallowed from entering examination venues. A staff in the faculty office, who did want his name to be mentioned, said management had changed the rule for retaking carry-over courses, saying authorities wanted carry-over students to attend lectures of the carry-over courses.

Meanwhile, hope may have dimmed for students, who have extra years following the new regulation which states that no result should be computed after two years when the extra-year students is supposed to have graduated.

The National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) has elected new leaders to occupy its vacant executive positions. The election, which was held recently, produced Olaleye Kolawole of the Obafemi Awolowo Univeristy (OAU), Ile-Ife, as president.

In his acceptance speech, Olaleye, a 400-Level student of International Relations, thanked members of the association for electing him as their leader. He promised to carry all members along in the discharge of his duty. He said he would ensure government plays its role in the progress of the association.

Olaleye praised Governor Ibikunle Amosun for the transformation work going on in the Gateway state, praying for God’s guidance and wisdom to steer the affairs of the state to the promised land.

The president affirmed that the era when union leaders use the association as conduit pipe to amass wealth had gone.

Roseline Oluchukwu Ejindu grew up with her father, following her mother’s death when she was a toddler. She didn’t allow the loss to affect her. She graduated with a First Class in Electronics Engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). INYA AGHA and OLANREWAJU AJALA write.

THE was unassuming as she strode to the rostrum amidst thunderous applause from more than 18,000 graduating students at the Margaret Ekpo Convocation Arena of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State.

Miss Roseline Oluchukwu Ejindu is the overall best graduating student in the 2011/2012 session. She graduated with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.77 on a scale of five points.

Presenting a valedictory speech on behalf of others, the Electronics Engineering graduate thanked the Prof Barth Okolo-led management for providing an enabling environment and facilities that aided the successful completion of their programmes.

Roseline attributed her success to the hard work and moral discipline, which she said her family inculcated in her “I learned by associating with Christian organisations in the university.”

She said: “While not denying the place of hard work in this achievement and privilege I enjoy today, I must admit that my background and experience in life contributed immensely to my success. I come from a home where I have always been encouraged to work hard for academic excellence.”

She said, as an electronics engineer, she believes the economic development of Nigeria depends and would be driven by technology. She noted that Nigeria is endowed with mineral and human resources, which should help the country in its journey to prosperity.

“The path to Nigeria’s vision of becoming one of the top advanced countries could only be accomplished through uncommon technological innovations. It is possible, very possible for Nigeria to be the number one advanced nation in the world. I believe that e-development is the answer,” she insisted.

Roseline, who hails from Anambra State, dedicated her achievement to her father, whom she said provided everything she needed as a student, following the death of her mother when she was a toddler.

The valedictorian was given multiple scholarships from the government and corporate organisations including Exxon Mobil, MTN Foundation, Etisalat Nigeria and Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

A day before the convocation, the university organised an award night for the best graduating students. Roseline carted away awards, which included UNN’s Overall Best Graduating Student, Faculty of Engineering Best Graduating Student, Department of Electronic Engineering Best Graduating Student, Indira Gandhi Memorial Prize to the best graduating student of the session and Best Graduating Female Student.

Other awards she received included Honourable F.A Mbulu-Amadi Prize in Resource Development to the Best Graduating Student of the session, UNN Community Bank Prize to the Best Graduating Student and Ifenyinwa Ezechukwu Memorial Prize to the Best Graduating Student in Electronic Engineering.

Roseline said she would like to further her education to enable her make meaningful contribution to the country’s growth.

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who was at the ceremony, said he was thrilled that an indigene emerged valedictorian of the university. The governor, who said his administration believed in rewarding excellence, said the state would sponsor Roseline to further her education in any university of her choice in any part of the world.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that a woman also won the Best Graduating Student award in the 2010/2011 set. Dr Edith Nwosu, who anchored the ceremony, called on male students to pick up the challenge for excellence posed by their female counterparts.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the university’s history is replete with excellent performance by female students. Female alumni of the institution, who graduated on top of their classes include the Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Education Minister, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, former Director-General of National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Dora Akunyili, a poet, Chika Unigwe and Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo.

Members of the Anambra State chapter of the Nigeria Christian Corpers’ Fellowship (NCCF) have honoured former Corps members, who served the fellowship and their host communities diligently.AYODEJI ADESINA (one of the honorees) writes.

They came from the 21 local government areas of Anambra State to honour their colleagues, who complete the National Youth Service two weeks ago. It was a weekend full of fun and glamour as the Corps members under the banner of Nigeria Christian Corpers’ Fellowship (NCCF) gathered to send off the Batch “A” set.

The annual conference of the fellowship also took place that day. The Corps members arrived from their zones in different vehicles and converged on St. James Anglican Church, Umumya for registration.

Beaming with smiles, the Corps members were excited on sighting their colleagues. With heavy traffic in the otherwise sleepy community of Umumya in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, locals trooped out to catch a glimpse of what was going on. It was a three-day programme.

The event offered the Corps members a platform to appreciate God for a successful service year and to chart a new course for their lives through divine guidance. The participants shared their experiences for others to learn.

It was an emotional moment as Corps members bade their departing colleagues farewell. To continue their friendship after service, having been together for 11 months, the Corps members exchanged contact addresses and phone numbers.

The fellowship appreciated some of the departing members who distinguished themselves in selfless service to their host communities and the state. Fifty youths were honoured with the fellowship’s certificate of merit and plaque. In Awka South alone, 21 of the Corps members were honoured by the fellowship. Other honorees were spread across the rest of the local governments.

CAMPUSLIFE correspondent, Ayodeji Adesina was among those honoured. The Mass Communication graduate from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) was the Publicity Secretary of the fellowship during the service year.

Pastors Dotun Adebayo and Kolawole Ojo, who were the guest speakers invited from Lagos and Plateau states , took turns to admonish the fellowship members on the need to put their trust in God as they moved to the next phase of their lives.

Ojo, ex-president of the fellowship, who spoke on the theme: Of His fullness, charged the participants to always put God first in everything they do.

Adebayo counselled the Corps members not to rely on connections but on God. He stressed that faith and trust in man would always end up in disappointment, adding that it was only God that could make everything possible for the youth if they could put their trust in Him.

Adebayo, a senior pastor at Great Light Ministry (GLM) in Lagos, conducted the power night session and the marriage seminar.

The president of the fellowship, Olatunji Ojuola, praised his colleagues for attending the programme in large number urging them to allow God to lead them aright in their future endeavours.

An awardees, Ayodeji Folorunsho, who was the coordinator of the fellowship in Awka North, expressed appreciation to the leadership of the NCCF for considering the need to recognise coordinators and their assistants in all zones. He said the gesture would rededicate members to the service of God.

Another awardee, Christiana Ojecho, an indigene of Kano State, thanked the fellowship’s leadership for recognising her efforts. She added that she would miss members she had met in the last one year.

No fewer than 500 students of the Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, gathered in the institution’s 1,000-capacity lecture theatre for orientation seminar on teaching practice programme, which they were to undergo.

The seminar was to intimate students on what the six-week exercise entailed. The programme is usually held by the faculty for students, who want to go into a teaching profession.

In his address, the Dean of the faculty, Prof P.O. Jegede, said the exercise was to remind the students everything they were taught over the years and gave tips for classroom training and management.

Mrs A.O. Adeniyi, Principal of OAU International School, charged the students to be teachers of excellent characters, saying the teaching profession was based on nobility and discipline. She stressed the need for the students to make the best out of a bad situation, saying it was the only way they could excel in the profession.

The chairperson of the Teaching Practice Committee, Dr Yinka Ajibade, warned the students against misconduct, which has marred the exercise over the years. She noted that strict measures had been put in place to curb excesses of the trainees.

In his lecture titled Ensuring effective teaching in the 21st century classroom, the Principal of Deeper Life High School, Osogbo, Mr Peter Osiki, explained that technology was at the centre of classroom learning and interaction, which the 21st century educators must be acquainted to.

He said: “As much as we live in a world highly influenced by electronic gadgets, so also the students must be exposed to the media through learning because it encourages interactivity, connectivity and networking.”

Rasheedah Owolabi, a 200-Level student, described the workshop as necessary to make the exercise smooth for the trainees. Anthony Olusola, 300-Level English Education, praised the faculty management for the seminar, which he said was important to groom future teachers for teaching profession.

The faculty’s Vice President, Munirah Alabi, advised her colleagues to see the training beyond academic pursuit, adding that it was a platform to impart knowledge.”

While their mates were celebrating Valentine’s Day, some students in Imo State went to the National Blood Transfusion Service (NTBS) to donate blood. JOHNPAUL NNAMDI writes.

For many youths, every February 14 – St Valetine’s Day – is a day to visit eateries, amusement parks, restaurants and related joints to have fun. But some students chose to mark the day in a different way. They opted to donate blood at the National Blood Transfusion Service (NTBS), Owerri, Imo State to save lives.

The donors were mostly undergraduates of higher institutions in Imo State. When CAMPUSLIFE asked why they volunteered to donate blood, some of them said it was to show love and serve humanity.

Chibueze Nwokike, a student of Imo State University (IMSU), was prompted to donate blood to show love to the sick. He told CAMPUSLIFE that he loved to engage in humanitarian activities. In order not to be selfish and “serve humanity”, Chibueze said, he considered donating blood on the last Valentine’s Day.

Many students donate blood regularly but Martha Arigbonu, who is studying History and International Studies at Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE), Owerri, said it was her first time of doing so. She said she donated blood in order to take a different path in the way she had been celebrating Valentine’s Day.

“I am a regular donor and I was supposed to donate blood in January, but I purposely delayed it for today,” said Bismark Ojimma, Medical Laboratory Science, IMSU.

Tony Akalonu, a student of Psychology, IMSU, recalled the event that prompted him to become a blood donor. He said: “I have once witnessed an illness, which required blood donation to keep the patient alive. Some people at the hospital volunteered to donate blood for the patient. After some weeks, I heard the patient survived because of the blood that was made available by the donors. Since then, I chose to start donating blood to people, who are in need of it.”

Tony said donating blood on Valentine’s Day was not a special moment for him. “I see blood donation as a necessary exercise. I do not attach any importance to it because it happens on Valentine’s Day,” he said.

Valentine Tochukwu, a student of Polymer and Textile Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) donates blood every February 14. He said the day means a lot to him for the reason that it was his birthday.

“It is a normal thing for me to donate blood on Valentine’s Day. I use it to thank God for all He has been doing in my life,” he quipped. Valentine stated that even though his friends were visiting him with gifts, this would not stop him from donating blood on the day.

Every donor who visited NTBS to donate blood left with a feeling of satisfaction. But this could not be said of Joy Nnebugo, 400-Level Computer Science, IMSU. From her countenance, one could tell that she was embittered. When our correspondent approached her, she explained that the Donor Care Manager confirmed that she didn’t have enough blood to donate. “I am not happy at all; I feel that the reason why I came here is not fulfilled,” she said.

The highlight of the event was the cutting of the Valentine cake by some of the donors. The donors were advised not to engage in strenuous activities for that day. They were also cautioned against taking alcoholic drinks and standing for so long. They were told to drink a lot of water and beverages.

The Donor Care Manager, Mrs Gladys Aguocha, praised the donors, saying their gesture was uncommon. She said the body would improve on its awareness and enlighten people to always donate, adding that regular blood donation would benefit the donor in the end.

She said: “Donating blood regularly stabilises the body system. It also reduces the tendency of dizziness; you will know your rhesus status and blood group. After each donation, the donor’s body has a way of reproducing fresh blood which in turn makes him look much younger.”

She noted that the donors did not ask for financial reward for the exercise, adding that the blood would be made available to people in dire need of it.