Category: Campus Life

For many admission seekers in the southern part of the country, Jos, the Plateau State capital, is a no-go area due to ethno-religious crises. But some who are now schooling in the Tin City are beginning to think otherwise. Peace, they say, is gradually returning to the city. JOHNPAUL NNAMDI (Television Journalism, Nigerian Television Authority Television College, Jos) reports.

JOS was a popular and peaceful city which attracted people from different parts of the country. Foreigners too preferred the city because of its serenity. Now that peace is gone, making way for religious and ethnic strife. Jos that never knew the difference between a Muslim and a Christian and an indigene and a settler is now divided along those lines.

For admission seekers outside Plateau State, their perception of Jos is not palatable. Often times, the state boils over minor issues.

These crises have given the state a bad image. The impression of a first-time visitor is that of fear because of the incessant violence.

With the killings sometimes in broad daylight and at times, the wee hours of the night, many outside Jos feel the town is a no-go area. Those in the city and the boundary towns live in constant fear because nobody knows what will happen next.

One of such persons is Donald Ukpa, a Diploma student at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Television College (TV College), Jos. Donald’s quest for adventure brought him to Jos for education. He was discouraged from accepting the admission but after a few months in the Tin City, Donald changed his view about Plateau State.

“When I was offered admission into TV College, many of my friends and some family members discouraged me from coming here (Jos). Their reason was that Jos and some parts of Plateau State are war zones. I was given several accounts of conflicts, which left many people dead. But my love for adventure prompted me to accept the admission because I have never witnessed or seen bloody conflict in my life. So, I told myself I wanted to see the war with my eyes,” Donald said.

He said those outside the state have a wrong impression about things, adding that they are afraid of what does not exist.

“With what I have seen since I came to Jos, three months ago, I feel most people who are always labelling Jos as a hot spot have never been here. I used to think so too, but I think the notion is inappropriate. In fact, I will complete my studies here instead of going elsewhere to continue as I earlier planned.”

After the killing of some National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Jos in a 2007 religious clash, parents have been hesitant to send their children to school in Jos. The crises which started in 1994 have taken devastating turns. Students have become the target of the warring factions, thus making Jos unconducive for learning. The frequent disturbances also created a barrier between Christians and Muslims.

To Rufai Umar, 300-Level Linguistics, University of Jos (UNIJOS), the manner of conflict resolution whereby Muslims live only in their dominated territory and Christians dwell among themselves only encourages rivalry and discrimination. Though there has been relative peace in Jos, in recent times, Rufai believes that the segregation of the so-called settlers and the natives sends negative signals to people living outside the state.

Lekan Olawale, 100-Level Geology, UNIJOS, shares his view. He said living apart had done more harm than good, especially to students of the university, whose hostels are in a Muslim-dominated area. According to him, most Christian students always avoid certain streets and roads.

Hear him: “Christian students don’t like plying Bauchi road and Farin Gada, which are Muslim-dominated area, when going to school. They prefer to come through Agwan Rukuba, Christian-dominated environment, even when the fare is three times higher than what they will pay if they go through other routes. The same is also applicable to Muslim students, who have abandoned Christian areas.”

However, there is a truce of sorts. This is evident in the co-mingling of Muslims and Christians at the Terminus, one of the big markets and commercial areas in Jos.

In the heat of the crises, Blessing Adah, 200-Level Television Journalism, TV College, said she had thought the state would be deserted.

“I had to confirm from several people before I could believe that I was in Jos because before I came here, I had been fed with many unpalatable stories. So ,I concluded that I was coming to a state where people would be easy to count. Despite the crises, huge crowds still go to Terminus Market for business.”

Tijani Adams, Business Administration student of the Plateau State Polytechnic, argues that the presence of men of the Special Task Force (STF) has ensured peace in the state. Tijani described the STF’s roadblock opposite the polytechnic as “a deterrent for students from causing trouble.”

In its quest to restore peace, the state government and other stakeholders have been meeting with religious, traditional and community leaders. The Adviser to the Plateau State Governor on Peace Building, Mr Timothy Parlong, a lawyer, told CAMPUSLIFE that the government was working round the clock to restore peace by setting up committees that will work with locals to achieve that objective.

Parlong said: “There are frame works already on ground; we have taken advantage of them and are still coming up with other plans we feel suitable to our situation. On our own, we create avenues for Christian and Muslim youth to meet especially during festive periods. This has been going on for a while and we will continue to do so for the sake of peace.”

Maren Malo, 400-Level Sociology, says the peace being enjoyed in the state now is enough to sing hosanna for. He said:“The government must engage the concerned stakeholders on fundamental issue and also engage the media to re-orient the public.”

She is just 22, but Ngozi Emmanuel has a big dream for the youth. The CAMPUSLIFE reporter and Mass Communication graduate of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, conceived SLAM, a leadership initiative, two years ago. Ngozi, who is serving in Kwara State, holds the dream dear to her heart. CHARLES OKONKWO interviewed her after the second edition of SLAM Youth Heroes’ Awards.

What makes Ngozi Emmanuel tick?

Well, Ngozi Emmanuel is just like every other woman out there. I am hardworking and I combine my primary assignment as a Corps member in Kwara State with editing SLAM magazine. Since you asked what makes me tick, I guess I am a girl who lives in ‘passion land’ unlike others.

What is SLAM about?

SLAM is an acronym for Smart Leaders Are Made. It was the irresponsibility of most youth that drove me to this vision. I dreamed of a new situation where youth can be made of sterner stuff and embrace responsibilities, learn and be able to possess good virtues to lead. Basically, what SLAM is all about is building the leader of the present. We are into magazine publication which is not just another magazine on the stand. We also have several other projects that we run, such as symposium, Spelling Bee contest and Youth Heroes’ Awards. At SLAM, we believe in dynamism and there are a other projects we have plans to execute.

Could you shed more light on the Youth Heroes’ Awards?

The project was initiated in 2011 and, since then, with the partnership of the DBC Associates, we have been able to encourage youth in the Southeast towards positive values. In last year’s edition, which was the maiden ceremony of the award, five youth were celebrated and today, the youngsters are doing very well. Last December, six youth across the Southeastern states won. This project is at the heart of SLAM programmes for the youth because we believe that by giving the youths the necessary encouragement they need, we may achieve greater things in the country.

How do you combine national Youth Service with the SLAM project?

It is challenging but the grace of God and the understanding of men have kept me going.

What should we expect from SLAM this year?

We hope for more partnerships so that we can execute more lofty projects. However, the fifth edition of the magazine will be out soon but the Spelling Bee contest will be the most interesting project of the year. Also, we look forward to the third edition of the heroes’ Awards and several collaborations. We know every part of the world is in dire need of leadership and that is what we are providing.

Who is your role model?

I have got a lot of role models but my mentors are dear to me. Mr Iykes Afoenyi and Prof Kate Omenugha are my mentors. The late Mrs Ngozi Agbo, ex-CAMPUSLIFE Editor, played a very good role in the realisation of this project until her painful demise. She mentored me as well.

What motivates you?

The dream is to breed responsible youth, who know what to do at a particular time and how to do it best.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

Well, I can sum that question up like this: I see myself becoming the Ngozi Emmanuel of Africa.

What message do you have for the people out there?

First, I will like to say a big thank you to the CAMPUSLIFE family and The Nation because this platform made me the person I am today. Also to my colleagues and my parents, their prayers and support will continue to make me strong and dream of new things.

In 1948, three years after the end of the Second World War, a massive programme of aid from the United States to 16 western and southern European countries aimed at helping economic renewal and strengthening democracy after years of a devastating war commenced. Officially known as the European Recovery Programme (ERP), the plan is more commonly known as the Marshall Plan, after US Secretary of State George C. Marshall who announced it.

The War severely damaged the economies of Europe, leaving many in a parlous state: cities and factories had been bombed, transport links had been severed and agricultural production disrupted. In 1946 Britain, a former world power was close to bankruptcy and had to renege on international agreements, while in France and Italy there was inflation, unrest and fear of starvation.

The USA, in its bid to secure European markets, opted for a system of aid and loans, at first to all nations affected by the war, but some rejected the offer because of ideological concerns. By 1952 over $13 billion worth of aid was given. To assist in coordinating the Programme, the European nations created the Committee of European Economic Cooperation which helped form a four year recovery programme. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom and West Germany were the benefiting Nations.

During the years of the plan, receiving nations experienced an economic growth of between 15% – 25%. Industry was quickly renewed and agricultural production sometimes exceeded pre-war levels. Britain’s war time Prime Minister, Winston Churchill described the plan “the most unselfish act by any great power in history”.

So what is the correlation here, you may ask, and what is my interest in the plan? My interest is simple, since the Marshall Plan was able to create a prosperous Europe in record time; I believe the time is rife that we have a similar plan in place to address the rot in our tertiary institutions. Tertiary education anywhere in the world is the bedrock of economic, social and political development. It was not a coincidence that the three presidential debates in the run off to last year’s US elections were held on university campuses, they are citadels of deep research and learning which has been known to put nations on the track toward prosperity.

In 2009, apprehensive that the US is losing its leadership position in technological innovation, President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called for 90 percent of U.S. students to graduate from high school and complete at least one year of post-secondary education or training by 2020, this is their national goal in the face of the fact that less than 20% of their students enroll in science and technology courses while countries like South Korea, Japan, India and others have more than 70% enrolment in such courses, it is therefore not surprising that these nations are at the forefront of technological advancement with India making tremendous impact in tackling poverty through this.

Obama felt the need to encourage Americans – which he elaborated during his campaigns – to study such courses to help protect their national interest, universities should therefore be seen as part of a country’s national interest. If our leaders don’t know that they should now.

My wish plan on moving our varsities forward should include the government – which should provide the will and direction -, policymakers, educators, business leaders, community representatives, parents and students; I am talking about serious dialogues that will produce positive and visible results backed with the political will to achieve whatever recommendations come out of it. The role of the business community, I must emphasise here, is fundamental.

I believe we all know that our industrial base has virtually collapsed because most industries have left our shores for neighbouring countries like Ghana. So now that we do not have an industrial base how in the world do we expect to provide employment for our teeming youths that graduate every year, especially against the call for a radical reduction in recurrent expenditure? It is instructive to note that most of the Okada riders in Lagos were textile company workers who had to go into the business when the sector collapsed, if you doubt this try and take a survey of not less than ten of them.

Universities, the world over have become instruments of national competitions as well as instruments of peace. They are the locus of the scientific discoveries that move economies forward; we are already left far behind because ours is no longer competitive to even attract lecturers on sabbatical from other universities across the world to keep us attuned to rapid global changes.

Serious universities today have become self-consciously global seeking students from around the world who represent an entire spectrum of cultures and values to prepare them for global careers. But here at home we appear to have lost it altogether as our universities are no longer competitive thereby paving the way for about U.S. $500 million, or about N78.5 billion leaving our shores – and by implication our economy – annually in search of quality education according to the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.

Why are our universities not competitive? In answering this question, I’d like to make reference to the Prof Mahmood Yakubu panel set up by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Though the panel did not say anything we are not already familiar with, the fact remains that we are in a dire strait. For instance, the report says, in part, that university library resources are mostly outdated and manual; and that no library in the public university system is fully automated. Other findings include the fact that less than 10 percent of the universities “have video conferencing facility, while less than 20 percent use interactive boards”. The report also noted that “more than 50 percent don’t use public address systems in the lecture rooms/ theatre; internet services are non-existent, or epileptic and slow.”

While I don’t have issues with the library aspect, I find it difficult to comprehend the aspect that talked about interactive boards and video conferencing facility in a system that lacked basic facilities like access to electricity. This is where I feel the panel missed the point, or perhaps they are talking about medium to long term planning while the interest of the nation now is on immediate term.

A common thread that runs through serious countries bent on change is the way they address issues of national importance, and one of these issue is education. Tertiary educational institutions in Nigeria are confronted with several challenges. It is a combination of poor or limited funding, increasing cost, decreasing quality, and inflexibility in course selection. We all know that an educated citizenry is crucial to the social, political, economic and cultural vitality of our communities and the country as a whole. Outdated academic equipment’s and obsolete organisational structures are among the issues we face today. Perhaps the most formidable task confronting tertiary education in Nigeria is to articulate the triple relationship between the mission of the university and the specific needs of university’s political, social, economic, and cultural environment, and the characteristics of a rapidly changing world.