Category: Campus Life

A former CAMPUSLIFE correspondent from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Dayo Ibitoye, has won Nigerian Blog Awards. He was adjudged the best blogger in the Science and Technology category.

Ms Linda Ikeji, a media entrepreneur, received the Best Blogger of the Year award. Her famous blog, Linda Ikeji Blog, was adjudged best in Entertainment category. Other winners included Jobberman, who won in the Business and Purpose-driven categories.

Dayo, a graduate of Chemical Engineering, started his blog nine months ago but gained wide audience and readership within a short period. His blog was also shortlisted in the Business category, which went to Jobberman.

Recipient of 2011 CAMPUSLIFE’s Personality Profile prize, Dayo expressed gratitude to God, saying: “I am glad to have won the award.” He said: “I am happier to be living the dreams of Aunty Ngozi Agbo, the late CAMPUSLIFE Editor. This is because her very last article stoked my interest to be an outstanding blogger, and I thank God it is a reality today.”

About the role and impact of blogging in the new media, he explained that vast opportunities abound in the new media for the youths “to drive transformation agenda and bring about progress.”

Dayo, who is also a Youth Advocate, added that the new media had provided informative, interactive and intellectual platform for national debate. He urged the youths to develop themselves on the new media and social networks. “We should not just sit in dark basement and expect the society to change. We have all it takes in our hands to make the change happen,” Dayo said.

Students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) want authorities of the institution to check the spate of accidents on the campus. The students made the call following the auto crash last Monday beside the university dam.

CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the campus had witnessed series of accidents, which occurred weekly due to reckless driving on the part of the university shuttle drivers.

Last Monday’s accident made students to go on a rally to the school security department, urging the management of the university to set up a committee that will be saddled with the responsibility of checking the drivers. The students urged the management to sensitise the drivers in order to ensure students’ safety.

The car with Kwara State registration number XB412-FUF, somersaulted several times before it crashed beside the dam. No death was recorded but students travelling in the vehicle sustained serious injuries. The car was conveying three students from the town to the school.

One of the passengers, who is in 200-Level History and International Studies, said: “The driver suddenly told us that the brake of the car could not be applied and asked us to prepare for any eventuality as a result. That was the last thing I could remember.”

Students urged the authorities to ensure their safety.

Students have been described as critical to achieving the transformation agenda of the Federal Government. To remind them of their role towards in realising the policy, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) visited the University of Calabar (UNICAL) to interact with students on: Nigeria tertiary institutions of learning yesterday, today and tomorrow: Implication for national transformation.

The programme, which was held in the university’s International Conference Centre, was attended by representatives of the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, and the Minister of Education, Prof Ruquayyatu Rufai.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof James Epoke, led the body of principal officers to the event. Also in attendance were the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, Senior Economic Adviser, Africa Economic Policy Development Initiative, Open Society Foundation, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, NOA Director General, Mike Omeri, the paramount ruler of Bakassi and chairman of the state’s Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness Etim Okon Edet, Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) and Project Director of Democratic Governance for Development, Dr Mourtada Deme.

Others were Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, Hon. Larry Odey, Senate committee chairman on Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Sen. Ahmed Barata and his House of Representatives counterpart, Hon. Buba Jibrin.

Prof Epoke welcomed students to the programme, which he described as “part of learning”. He praised the NOA for choosing UNICAL as the take-off point of the programme, adding that doing the right thing to transform Nigeria as a slogan began with an individual.He advised the students to show patriotism and always ask what they could do for the country rather than what the country could do for them. He reiterated his commitment to combat immoral act on the campus, urging the students to shun vices that could expose the institution and the country to danger.

Omeri praised the students and staff for the turnout at the programme. He told the participants to be dedicated to the society into which Nigeria is transforming.

In her lecture, Dr Ezekwesili said Nigeria’s higher institution system had demonstrated its belief in research, which would help the economy to grow faster. She said since universities had the conviction that research and innovation were key drivers for economic growth, government must invest in the areas and engage the students.

Prof Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan of the department of Public Law, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, during his lecture on The imperative of industrial harmony and academic excellence in a productive educational system said the challenges facing the Nigerian educational sector were numerous. He enumerated the challenges to include incessant industrial action, brain drain, poor funding, cultism, corrupt practices and abuse of trust.

According to him, “the imperative of industrial harmony and academic excellence cannot be over- emphasised in a developing country like Nigeria for a productive educational system and sustainable human development.”

He stressed that Nigeria, despite its endowment with human and natural resources, still had a low GDP per capita and average life expectancy of 51.9 years. He said poverty was widespread with about 70 per cent of the citizens still living below the poverty line.

Prof Ladan concluded that academic excellence could not be achieved without improving on the funding of education, adding that promoting visionary and disciplined leadership in the educational system remained the key to rid the education sector of corrupt practices and indiscipline.

Other speakers included Femi Odekunle, a professor of Criminology, who spoke on Dimensions and implication of moral decadence in Nigerian tertiary institutions of learning and Comrade Jude Imagwe, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students’ Matters.

Imagwe took the students on the challenges of value re-orientation in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The programme featured a drama presentation and cultural dances by the university troupe. Students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, said the programme was educative.

Muslim medical students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, have held a health mission to mark the end of the year. AWWAL MIJINYAWA (400-Level Law) reports.

Last week, the largest Hall of Residence in Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria was almost turned to a health centre. As early as 8am, Muslim medical students arrived at the hostel with many therapeutic instruments. Promptly, they raised makeshift tents and arranged plastic chairs and tables to aid their cause.

Clad in white coats with stethoscopes around their necks, the “doctors” grinned to their “patients” (students) as they arrived for the medical exercise. They were out to practise what they had been taught in the classroom.

Welcome to the end of the year Health Exhibition of Islamic Medical Students Association (ISMA), ABU chapter. A slew of students thronged the hall for free medical test. The student-doctors administered free treatment on the spot.

Male students were attended to by male doctors, while girls were checked by female members of the association. They also conducted free HIV test and counselling, Hepatitis B and C test, genotype test, blood pressure check and blood group for the students.

The president of the association, Mallam Jamilu Abdullahi, told CAMPUSLIFE: “We are happy doing this because we are giving to the society what our lecturers taught us. We are doing this with our money to put smiles on the faces of our fellow students. At times, our lecturers also assist us with resources whenever we embark on this kind of mission.”

For students, who did not know their genotype and blood group, the exercise was divinely arranged. Despite the large crowd and long queues, participants waited patiently to know their HIV status. Some results were given at the venue while others were asked to be called for in two weeks.

Sarah Francis, Biology Education student, whose blood group was confirmed to be B+ said: “At last, I know my blood group. I have been looking forward to doing this test but I could not do it because it is costly. I thank God for bringing these students to do free test for us. I don’t have to pay money to know my blood group again.”

Another student, Sabo Anas, 400-Level Physics, said: “The exercise was largely successful. I have had my genotype test but I was asked to come back for the result in two weeks. They are really doing a great work. May God reward them.”

A member of the association told our correspondent that some of the challenges faced during the exercise included the impatience of some students, who did not allow the student-doctors to take their blood for test.

“The problem we faced with some students is that they did not allow us to finish the test. Some of them are afraid to have their body pricked with syringe,” a member of the association said, urging the students to maintain their health and carry out instructions given to them during the medical exercise.

Also, to mark the end of the year health mission, the association organised a quiz contest tagged “Professor Kalaye quiz competition” for secondary school pupils. The event was held in the multi-purpose Hall of ABU Teaching Hospital.

Participants were from secondary schools in Zaria. They were tested in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and current affairs. Pupils of the Federal Government Girls College, Zaria won the contest.

The reason why most parents dread government-owned institutions is majorly because of the hydra-headed monster known as cultism. They are ignorant that this menace is found on every Nigerian campus. I know that most readers might disagree with this view; some will say they are in most schools, but not all.

They might be right; they might be wrong but let us trace the origin of the menace. Cultism is referred to religious practices that emphasise ritual devotion to a god or gods or the effigy of a dead person or object. References continue today to the cult of the Virgin Mary or the cult of a particular saint. They allude to special worship of that person.

However, cultism assumed different meaning when it began to be applied to unconventional religious movements or groups. Today, cultists could give a thousand and one reasons for the establishment of their confraternities. Some would say it is for protection purposes. Other said it is for fame or defence against perceived threat; it may also be to accrue wealth and win the heart of ladies.

Each time I hear the word cultism, it brings to mind the 1999 incident on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). Of course, students died in the attack; some were sustained machete injury. We lost a vibrant Students’ Union leader, George Iwilade alias Afrika.

Another fresh scenario of these men of the underworld was violence that greeted the death of a suspected cultist in Ekiti State University (EKSU). One big question we need to ask ourselves is: “Has any good thing come out as a reward of membership of a cult group?” Of course, nothing good can ever come out of it. Like a plague, cultism eats and destroys till the person is no more.

If the so-called occult groups are formed to their members, why the incessant rivalry between them? It has been said before now that politicians seek the service of these people to execute their opponents. Little wonder government pays little or no attention to the destructive activities of the men of the underworld. Why would I need to be protected or “feel among” when I know that my sole aim of going to get a degree in a higher institution is to contribute my quota positively to the society? Cultism has destroyed lives more than it has saved, if any anyway.

It has cost several nations the lives of promising and potential leaders who would have made meaningful contributions towards the progress of their nations. The scariest thing about cultism is that cultists could threaten innocent students to announce their superiority. Unfortunately, there seems to be no end to this menace called cultism. How long are we going to harbour this menace in our institutions?

Shall we allow cultism to destroy our education simply because some misguided youths want to use the avenue to get at some people? It is high time we stopped the act if we still want to refer to our higher institutions as ivory towers. Demise of cultism will surely give Nigerian institutions a facelift.

Wilberforce, 300-Level Language Arts, OAU

Joseph Stiglitz, one of the world’s best-known economists and former chief economist at the World Bank said this in a chapter of his book “Making Globalization Work”: “And there is a striking difference between the riches that arise from hard work and creativity and those that come from grabbing hold in one way or another of a nation’s natural resources. The latter is particularly enervating for national cohesion… It is not surprising that discontent seethes beneath the surfaces of these countries.”

Those familiar with the affairs of natural resources endowed nations like Nigeria, Venezuela, Angola, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and others know that Stiglitz hit the nail on the head. In Nigeria, all our state officials do is to fly to Abuja and collect their cheques from the federation account thereby killing all forms of creativity in the process.

I concluded my write-up last week with the gloomy, but true picture painted of tertiary education in Nigeria and the question posed by Hannah Ojo of OAU where the answer was obvious, things will not change unless the policy changes. But are things about to change? It does not appear so as we have continued on the same old route and weather beaten track that has thus far led us nowhere. I arrive at this conclusion because the 2013 budget points to the fact that the woes in the education sector will get worse.

With just N426.53bn allocated to the education sector in 2013, the sector will continue to be in a dire strait as about 80 per cent of the budget may be spent on wages. This figure represents just 8.7 per cent of the N4.9trn of the proposed 2013 budget which is too small to solve the huge challenges facing the sub-sector. Presently, the Federal Ministry of Education has 22 agencies apart from hundreds of civil servants in the ministry. Also, the Federal Government has 37 universities, 21 polytechnics, 21 colleges of education, 48 monotechnics/specialised institutions and 19 technical colleges. It also takes care of 104 unity schools across the country.

All of these have bloated workforce with some universities such as the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, paying as high as N800m as monthly wage bill. With this reality on ground, federal tertiary institutions are not likely to witness any positive changes in capital development in the coming year. This low budget, as far as I’m concerned is an indication that government is not serious about development.

For a country at this pathetic stage of development, I thought the government would take it in its stride to know that the primary responsibility for funding education, particularly higher education, research and innovation rests with it. For a country that desires to transit to a knowledge economy and harbours what is turning out to be a largely illusory aspiration to become one of the top 20 economies in the world by the year 2020, it is incumbent upon the government to deploy appropriate resources that would facilitate the development of its human capital at all levels of education. Development does not come about without deliberate and careful planning. The government may have so much on its hands, but if it is able to solve the problem of education, it will discover that it would be far cheaper in the long run to address other challenging sectors like power, health, environment, agriculture and others.

One of the most significant of Nigeria’s many paradoxes, I have observed, are the glaring disconnect between the country’s resource base and the decrepit state of the tertiary institutions available. This situation was recently captured by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities who claimed that Nigerians spend about U.S. $500 million, or about N78.5 billion, on foreign universities annually. The increasing readiness of Nigerians to pursue tertiary education abroad in spite of the often prohibitive cost is a testimony to how bad our education has fallen in standards. The reason is we are often on familiar turf of incessant strikes, inadequate infrastructure, cultism, and low levels of teaching and research which have worsened rather than improved over the years. Government policy is also lamentably inconsistent, veering between demands that tertiary institutions become financially independent, and the refusal to grant them the autonomy vital to achieving that goal.

There is little doubt that the huge amounts being spent on tertiary education outside Nigeria could have very beneficial effects on the sector if a larger proportion of it was utilised within the country’s borders. For that to happen, however, there has to be a comprehensive and deliberate programme aimed at the revival of tertiary institutions. Their major requirements should be identified and concretely addressed, especially those relating to lecture halls, laboratories, libraries and accommodation for staff and students.

The curricula of the various institutions must be re-examined in line with current global trend; this will involve the rationalisation of some programmes and the expansion of others. I want to point out Mass Communications as an example here. In the last Campuslife workshop we had, and in other forums I have attended recently, the issue of seasoned journalists teaching students was raised, yet our system is so rigid that if you do not belong to the academic community or possesses certain degrees you cannot lecture, no matter how experienced you may be.

This is not what is obtained elsewhere in the world where professionals with vast experiences in almost all fields of study are noted for teaching students. What would a professor tell a student about the practical aspects of journalism when he has actually never been in the field? I must point out that I’m not by any means inferring that a professor cannot have that knowledge; he may only have the theoretical knowledge. This is the main reason most students find out, albeit later, that the theoretical aspect of their course is totally different from the practical aspect. Our universities should know that times have changed and the world has left us far behind.

What is true with Mass Communications is also true with courses such as Architecture where our students are still battling with T-square while the world has moved on with 3D technology. Today, there’s no course that cannot be studied online, even Medicine is now studied online and journalism and other courses have gone virtual. Yet we are still here clutching a 20th century methodology when others are going places.

While I hold a very strong view that education should be made available to indigent but bright students who cannot afford it, it is however becoming clear that the long-standing debate between tertiary education as a right, as opposed to a privilege is now glaring. A truly qualitative tertiary education is relatively expensive and will have to be paid for. The Nigerians spending millions of dollars outside the country’s shores seem have already realised this to the disadvantage of their own country. If Nigeria can offer an educational experience that meets global standards, it will result in positive benefits for all citizens, and for the country as a whole.

In the run off to the 2011 presidential election, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) was asked during the presidential debate whether he has any children studying abroad and if he sees anything wrong in that. His answer was straight forward, yes, he has children studying abroad and he sees nothing wrong studying abroad if one can afford it. What started gradually, mostly with specialized courses that are not obtainable in the country then has assumed this proportion because those in authority are not bold enough to confront issues. Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, former Education minister who dared to confront the cabal milking Unity schools dry and reform secondary school education was frustrated out of office. Why are we like this?

I want to be quoted to have written this piece for two sets of people – the successful and the unsuccessful. That I will be successful is not a word of mouth but a conviction of the mind, which must become a reality. I have seen so many people struggle in life to succeed. They do everything possible to be successful.

To them, success depends only on the amount of hard work they can put to their job in their chosen fields. Sadly, some don’t get the desired result.

There is another set of people who believe success is meant only for certain classes of people. This set of people believes they cannot and will never achieve success no matter how hard they try. To them their names have been removed from the success book.

A successful person is somebody who has been able to achieve his aim, fame, wealth or social position. Someone who starts a project and sees it to the successful end. They guide other people to bring their own project into completion.

Success is one of the cheapest commodities one can get to buy in the market only if you have a good negotiating skill. One bargains for the kind of success he wants, whether short-term or long-term. This is because there is a thin barrier between hope and fear. While the foolish allow fear to weaken them, the wise take advantage of the lesson that is learned between consequence and circumstance and keep hope alive.

The difference between a successful person and others is not necessary lack of strength or knowledge but rather a lack of will. A successful man always looks for opportunities where others see nothing. They find a lesson while others only see a problem. They are solution-focused because they consciously and methodologically create their own success, while others hope success will find them.

I always know that the successful mind is as fearful like everyone, but it is not controlled or limited by fear. They ask right questions – the ones which engender productivity, creativity, positive mindset and stable emotional state. We gain strength, courage and confident by every experience when we stop to look fear in the face.

We must do the things which we think we cannot do. Fear cripples more than physical presence of danger. If one must develop courage to do things he fears, he must keep doing it until one has a record of success. This is a sure way to conquer fear. You can conquer almost any fear if you will make up your mind to do so.

Many have failed in life, many are still failing and many will still fail. Failure story continues because people fail to prioritise responsibility and take salient decisions. They don’t deal with problems and challenges quickly and effectively. They run away from risk and never improve themselves on problem-solving technique. The failed to understand that between hoping times and worrying days is a yawning gap.

While many people seek pleasure and avoid discomfort, successful people understand the value and benefits of working through the tough stuffs that many avoid. They know money and success are two different terms. Unfortunately, we live in a society which places emphasis on money. Like many other things, money is a tool. It is just another resource. Unfortunately, too many people worship it.

There is no easy road to success. Life, as many view it, is not a bed of roses. To enjoy it, one must fight, endure and innovative. I used to think that the best method to succeed is to avoid challenges and see failure as an enemy. But I have learnt that when a man continues to hope and fear failure, he would remain obscure.

People pretend they do not need ‘much’ money when they do; some say that they can manage any job but they always crave for better one. Some that want good job always become mendicants. What a wasted life!

Where are those with guts to give success – real success – a shot? Gut is strength of character. This is mandatory for anyone who wants to get to the top and remains there. Having an exciting destination is like setting a needle in your compass. From then on, the compass knows only one point – the targeted goal. And it will faithfully guide you through the fiercest storms.

A friend once said to me: “I am timeless”. This can be translated to mean the fact that while the dart and storm times come and go, I remain. Those we celebrate as great achieved greatness not because they had two heads but because they faced fears and overcame the challenges. If it is to be, it is up to you.

Habeeb, 500-Level Law, UNILORIN

To bridge the gap between theory and practice in financial reporting, the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) under the Ministry of Trade and investment, in collaboration with the World Bank, Abuja has organised a two-day seminar for students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

Students from Accounting, Finance, Business Administration and Economics departments were selected to participate in the awareness programme, which goal was to furnish them with information on the application of accounting principles that meet international standards.

The event was graced by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof Bayo Lawal, University Librarian, Mr J. O. Omoniyi, Dean of Business and Social Sciences, Prof Ayo Jimoh, Mr Iheanyi Anyahara, lecturers from Economics, Accounting and Finance, and Business Administration departments, Dr Hakeem Mobolaji, Dr K. Yahaya and Dr Rotimi Gbadeyan respectively.

The facilitators were Prof A. R. Anao, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, who was represented by Mr Nelson Anumaka, Prof Grace Offorma of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); Mr Iheanyi Anyahara of the FRC and Mr Goodluck Obi of KPMG, who was represented by Mr Adesola Adeyinka.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FRC, Mr Jim Obazee, was represented by Mr Olumuyiwa Ajibade.

Prof Lawal praised the Council for bridging the gap between town and gown in accounting practice. He thanked the body for choosing UNILORIN as beneficiary of the seminar.

Topics such as The role of universities in entrenching credible financial reporting in Nigeria, Trends and development in financial reporting: Understanding the global environment for business and The need for international financial reporting standards (IFRS) were among issues discussedr.

The programme also featured a book donation by the FRC. Four copies each of 45 different research works, oldest of which was published in 2008, were donated to the school.

Mercy Adekola, 400-Level Economics, said: “Since accounting is the language of business globally, it is pertinent that we understand the new lexicons to be relevant in the global business.”

Funmi Awoyefa, 400-Level Accounting, said: “The knowledge I have acquired from the seminar is invaluable. I express my appreciation to the facilitators.”