The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Creating access for Southern out-of-school children

    Creating access for Southern out-of-school children

    Earlier in the year, President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned the first almajiri model primary school constructed by the Federal Government in Sokoto. Since then, the Government through the Ministry of Education and her agencies, built about 100 of such schools in different parts of the country.

    Several of these schools have been fully completed and are being furnished. Some are nearing completion, with the supervising Minister, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the nation’s Minister of State for Education working round the clock to ensure that the contractors deliver before the close of the year and in line with approved contractual specifications.

    With efforts to address the challenges posed by the almjiri out-of-school children now in top gear, the Federal Government is now conscientiously working on the implementation of a novel educational programme targeted at the out-of-school children in South-East and South-South.

    Like the almajiri programme, the out-of-school educational programme is a well thought out plan to ensure the trader boy-child in the South-East and the children of the South-South fishermen and other less privileged persons are not denied access to quality education because of their social and economic backgrounds.

    Furthermore, the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that Nigerians from all geo-political zones of the Federation benefit from programmes and policies aimed at improving the quality of education nationwide. Having built a structure in the north with over eight million children out of the 10million out of school children in the country in the process of receiving needed education, it was only important to tackle the remaining less than two million children in the south.

    The programme is being handled by the Minister of State for Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike who is coordinating the efforts of Federal Government agencies and their counterparts at the state level to ensure that the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan is dutifully implemented.

    It is imperative to point out that before the Federal Government commenced the implementation of this programme, it involved the major stakeholders at the State Level. These stakeholders are expected to take a cue from the Federal Government and ensure that there is a trickling down effect of the programme in the interest of the larger majority of less privileged Nigerians in the South-East and South-South.

    Under the programme, the Federal Government is building special basic education schools laced with vocational and technical components in all the eleven States of Southeast and Southsouth. The State Governments are to provide land for the schools, while the Federal Government through its interventionist agency, the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, will fund the construction of these schools.

    Already, relevant curriculum is being worked out by the Nigerian Educational Research Development Council, NERDC, in conjunction with the Highbury College, United Kingdom for the schools. The curriculum will be ready before the physical structures of the schools are in place. Experts from both institutions are working round to clock to ensure that the curriculum that will be developed will be a realistic approach towards impacting into the less privileged children basic education, vocational and technical skills.

    The input of states and other stakeholders are being harnessed in the process of developing this functional curriculum. This is important because upon completion, the Federal Government will hand over the schools to the states for administration. The Federal Government will also supply books and other relevant instructional materials to all the children that will attend these schools, the way the almajiris in the north are being catered for.

    The essence of the interventions to accommodate less privileged children in educational programmes by the Jonathan administration is simply to underscore the point that no tier of government in the country can look the other way while our children roam the streets.

    For Nigeria, the overall objective is Education for All. This is what every officer in the administration under the direction of President Jonathan is working hard to achieve.

    •Nwakaudu is Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of State for Education.

     

  • Varsity holds thanksgiving

    To appreciate God for the unity of Christian students at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), the Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS) and members of the University Chapel have led the university community in a thanksgiving service.

    The service was also to thank God for the parcel of land acquired for the fellowships on campus. The land, which was named Ecumenical Centre, houses the building of Redeemed Campus Fellowship, ECWA Student Movement, Deeper Life Campus Fellowship and Christ Apostolic Church Campus Fellowship among others. The service was the first of its kind since the establishment of the university.

    In attendance were the chairman of the University Chapel, Dr T. W. Jacks, the Chaplain, Rev U.I. Ibeme, the sub-Dean of Student Affairs Unit, Prof Mary Fajonyomi, Prof Ayo Oni, members of staff and students.

    Oni said: “We have been seeking for a land on campus where fellowships can worship and I thank God that we are on that land today, with facilities for every fellowship.”

    Students could not hide their joy as they recounted their struggles for places of worship. A graduating student, David Oladipo, said: “Gone are those days we worship in classrooms, lecture halls and under tents; we now have a place where we can worship God without fear or harassment. I am really happy.”

    Quoting copiously from the bible, Ibeme, in his sermon, stressed the importance of unity in the church. He noted that denominationalism was not God’s agenda for the church, urging Christians not to see themselves as different groups.

    Jacks expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof M. M. Daura, for his love for Christian students by allocating them land on the campus.

  • Crawford partners Israeli Institute

    Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State, is partnering with the Galilee International Management Institute, Israel for a world class MBA programme that would benefit Agriculture, pharmaceutical and marketing companies.

    The programme would attract the presence of experts from the institute to teach courses on High Tech Processes in Banking Operations, Food, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Process, Insurance and Risk Management, Telecommunication Processes, and Industrial Management.

    Further to this, all participants would proceed to Israel for a month intensive course module in High Tech components of various compulsory courses.

    According to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor S. A. Ayanlaja, the programme will be highly beneficial to corporate organisations, and individuals, since Israel is known to be one of the world’s most advanced countries in terms of science and technology.

     

  • MTN Foundation upgrades 22 labs

    The MTN Foundation (MTNF) will inaugurate science laboratories it rehabilitated in four public secondary schools in Lagos tomorrow at Vetland Senior Grammar School, Ifako Ijaiye.

    The four are among the 22 that the foundation, which is the corporate social responsibility arm of MTN Nigeria, will refurbish in the first phase of the MTNF Science & Technology Laboratory Scheme in the six geo-political zones.

    The project is aimed at improving learning and practical teaching of core science subjects, namely Chemistry, Physics and Biology and ultimately improves performances in the core science subjects.

    The beneficiary schools were selected following rigorous assessment of Expressions of Interest (EOI) by their state Ministries of Education to the foundation.

    “Science and technology is the bedrock of modern society. Through this scheme, we hope to make significant contribution to giving Nigeria a sound footing in science and technology,” said Wale Goodluck, Director, MTN Foundation.

    The upgrade includes renovation of existing laboratory space/rooms in the beneficiary schools, provision of laboratory furniture, supply and installation of modern science and technology equipment for each of science subject laboratory, provision of generators, and one full year’s supply of consumables and fuel for the generators.

    In addition, the MTN Foundation is also undertaking the training of 24 science teachers and laboratory attendants in all beneficiary schools.

     

  • Union moves against exploitation

    Union moves against exploitation

    To ensure business vendors do not exploit students on services, the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) held a parley with stalls owners to agree on prices of items.

    The meeting was held at the instance of the Director of Welfare, George Aniekeme.

    Addressing the vendors, the Task Force chairman, Mr Dominick Asuquo, who also represented the school authorities, told the vendors the union leaders met with management with a proposal to fix the price of food at N100 per plate. “But, the management, after serious deliberation decided it should go for N150,” he said.

    Asuquo said management decried the high prices of goods, citing the electric bulb, which is sold off-campus at N50 but given to students at a higher price as an example. He said the authorities has approved the proposal for price reduction, which was released by the Welfare Director’s office. He added: “We are not here to negotiate; the price list has been approved by the university authority.”

    Comparing prices, George said a plate of any food with a sachet of water, which was being sold at higher amount to UNICAL students is sold at N150 at the College of Health Technology, Calabar and N100 to students of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO). He said all the union wanted was to harmonise the prices with those obtainable in institutions in the region.

    He threatened that “something will definitely happen should you fail to comply with our price list.” George said vendors should not place the same prices on items being sold outside the campus with the ones being sold in the university. He emphasised that commodities must be cheaper at students’ hostels.

    To ensure compliance, the Welfare Director displayed a copy of a sealed stamp to the vendors, saying his office was ready to close down any stall that did not comply with the new prices. He cited other instances when commodities were sold at higher price to students.

    He read out the new prices of goods to the vendors. Going by the list, hair cut is now N50 as against N100, shaving is fixed to be N30 against N50, Internet service is now N100 for an hour as against N150, a plate of food with sachet water is N150 as against N200, 35cl of Coca-Cola bottle is N50 as against N60, passport photograph is now N250 as against N400 among others.

    “Other items not captured in this list must have 10 per cent decrease from what is obtainable outside as constant check will be conducted to ensure compliance,” the memo reads in part.

    In response, four vendors spoke on behalf of their colleagues. Anieka Jona, who spoke for soft drinks and snacks sellers, complained that before the SUG came up with the new prices, low sale had been recorded by the merchants.

    She said: “I don’t know how the new price list will affect our sales but some female students now buy fridges and sell drinks in the hostels. This is a very big challenge for us.”

    George responded that the vendors should help to identify such students, re-affirming that accommodation in the university’s halls of residence did not give students freedom to trade.

    Ugo Chukwu, the owner of a popular eatery called Yugobite, who spoke for food vendors, said the union should have negotiated the prices with the vendors before imposing it on them. He said price reduction would not affect the quality of food but may affect the quantity, which could make students consume food up to N200.

    George responded that the food sellers should visit the College of Health Technology to find out where the vendors on the campus buy their raw food materials.

    Godwin Udofia, speaking for barbers, said N50 for hair cut was not feasible because of the high cost of fuel and rent. Responding, Asuquo said the barbers should not complain because the electricity in the hostels was stable.

     

  • Osoba, others for NIJ convention

    It will be a great re-union for old students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, as they converge on Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, for their convention on Saturday, December 1.

    In a statement signed by Mr Moshood Adebayo, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the association, veteran journalist and former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba would be the chief guest of honour at the convention which holds at the MOKLAND Hotels, GRA Ibara-Abeokuta as Chief Guest of Honour.

    The royal father of the day is the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu, Amororo II and Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, Towulade of Akinale, while the mother of the day is Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Alaba Lawson.

    The lecture of the convention titled: Government Management of Public Opinion for National Development will be delivered by Dr. Doyin Okupe, the Senior Special Adviser (Public Affairs) to President Goodluck Jonathan.

     

     

     

    Prof. Lai Oso of the Lagos State University, will also deliver a roundtable lecture titled: ‘’Between Iwe Irohin and Emergence of the Social Media: An Assessment of the Credibility of Information’’ on Friday November 30.

     

     

     

    During the convention, election of new national officers that will run the affairs of the Association for the next three years would also hold.

     

  • Fun at Science Week

    Fun at Science Week

    It was fun all through at the Faculty of Science of the Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH). Students under the banner of Faculty of Science Students’ Association (FASSA) held its week amid fanfare.

    The Week started with an excursion to Tinapa Resort, where students were conducted round the complex before converging at the pool side.

    Afterwards, there was a procession around the school. Students were clad in colourful attires to mark the day. More than 500 students of the faculty took part in the procession led by the president of the association, Ferdinand Egor, and the Vice President Florence Emenike. The procession started from the faculty building and was rounded with refreshment.

    Part of the activities lined up for the week included chess, scrabble, lawn tennis among others. There was also a beauty pageant, which produced Mr and Miss FASSA 2012, who were won by Abang Benson and Alice Ndem.

    Alice said: “As the queen of my faculty, I will try my best to ensure that the female students dress decently by being a good example to them.”

    Florence expressed appreciation to students of the faculty for conducting themselves peacefully during the week-long event.

  • Complaints trail Queen’s College PTA meeting

    It was complaints galore at last Saturday’s Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meeting of the Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos held in the aging gymnasium of the 85-year-old college.

    Parents complained about poor feeding, unsatisfactory classroom instruction, overloaded timetable, dilapidated structures and poor toilet facilities.

    They also expressed disappointment about the incomplete supply of textbooks and uniforms they had paid for and demanded that they be provided the list of books rather than being made to pay N20,000 and above only for half of the books/uniforms to be supplied.

    Another source of contention was the parents expected to visit their wards after the meeting but were not allowed to do so. According to the college rules, visiting days hold only once in a term, and the one for this term was held last month. Parents received SMS messages last Thursday informing them that Saturday was PTA meeting/Visiting Day. But, after the meeting, the college management did not allow the parents to see their wards, which caused many to rail at the PTA executives.

    During the meeting, the PTA executive committee led by Alhaji Farouk Mogaji brought the parents up to date on the hostel project for which parents of newly admitted pupils paid N47,000 as levy. (Old students’ parents paid N17,000). He said while the project is expected to cost N248 million, the association had expended N75 million to bring it up to the first floor. He pleaded for more funds to complete the project.

    To raise more funds, he told the parents that the Exco had produced 25-page raffle ticket booklets which would be distributed to them according to the number of children they had in the school. He also spoke of plans to organise a fundraising programme, like the PTA of King’s College did for a similar project.

    While some parents suggested they would be ready to pay more, many others rejected the demand for more money, with some recommending that the association approach a micro finance bank to raise funds to complete the project. Some also questioned how the EXCO managed the funds paid by parents.

    “At FSTC, Yaba, the parents pay only N7,000 for PTA levy but you see them commissioning projects every term. They feed the children well. I don’t know why we have to spend so much at Queen’s College,” fumed a parent to others seated around her.

    Condemning additional levies, a mother of three, two of whom were admitted into the college this term, said they were told they would not have to pay more again.

    “I have two children that came in this year. I paid N94,000 for PTA levy. I met the PTA Chairman and he said our children would not be registered in the college if we didn’t pay the levy. But he also assured us that it was to be paid just once. The moment you come here, you just start spending money. Some people left because they could not afford it. Just budget N200,000 for a child. The essence of this meeting is to come and pay again. In fact, I am regretting bringing my children here,” she told The Nation.

    Explaining the need for more funds, Mogaji said the Exco would meet to decide how much parents will be billed to add to fund the building project.

    “We had said the N47,000 was a one-off payment for the building project but we may meet and add N10,000 to what children will pay for PTA Levy next term. The raffle ticket is voluntary, we are not imposing it on parents,” he said.

    Addressing the parents about the challenges of the college and their response as stakeholders, the new principal, Mrs E. Osime said she was disappointed about the state she met Queen’s College on resuming this term. She added that money to run the college is inadequate and does not come timely and urged the parents to support the management to feed the girls properly.

    “I read in the minutes about somebody talking about funds coming in late. The government funds us but the funds are not adequate, regular, and they come in anyhow. Yet there are several responsibilities, expectations from you to us. The carrying capacity of this college is 400 students per class. I have a class that is 570. In fact, no class is 400.

    The pressure to have girls in this college is high. I will be happy if we can have only 400 in each class.

    “I am going to ask you to help the school feed your children properly. Don’t give us money. Just convert the money into food. Let me enter the store and see bags of rice, onions and beans and I will tell you Mungode,” she said.

    She, however, refuted claims that the girls are not well taught and that there is insecurity in the college.

     

  • NANS honours VC, ex-leader

    NANS honours VC, ex-leader

    The main auditorium of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) was filled with students last Tuesday when members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B converged to inaugurate a new leadership to pilot its affairs.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Boniface Egboka, and former president of the association, Comrade Jude Imagwe, who is now the Special Assistant on Youth and Students’ Matters to President Goodluck Jonathan, were also honoured.

    Their was camaraderie. As the NANS and students’ union leaders entered the hall various Aluta greetings rented the air – “Greatest Nigerian students oo; Greatest gbaga gbogo, greatest gbooogboo.” Their colleagues responded in an equal thunderous tone.

    For a couple of minutes, the wave of salutation continued because of the presence of Imagwe’s who the students described as one of their own. Perhaps Imagwe ascendancy to the presidency is a reminder that they can also get to the top one day.

    Earlier on before the commencement of the programme, Imagwe paid a courtesy visit to office of the Vice-Chancellor. In his remark, the ex-students’ leader said he was impressed by the “ground-breaking achievements” recorded by the Egboka-led management.

    Imagwe, who is the first post-graduate student to be elected as NANS president, said there was difference between a Vice-Chancellor and a father, describing Egboka as a true father who took students and staff of the university as his children.

    “I bring you greetings from the presidency. As a Vice-Chancellor, you are overseeing a critical sector of the education programme of the President Jonathan administration. Most Vice-Chancellors dislike hosting NANS or students’ union leaders because they think the unionists will disturb their administration. But today, things have changed, we have passed the stage of violent protests in Nigeria,” he noted.

    He said President Jonathan was determined to make a difference in the education sector. “This is why in next year’s appropriation bill, education received the highest percentage in line with UNESCO recommendation,” Imagwe stated.

    Prof Egboka, while welcoming the ex-NANS leader, acknowledged Imagwe’s meteoric rise in his career, describing him as a goal-getter which should be a source of inspiration to the youths and students.

    He said students are the center point of his administration which informed his “students’ first” philosophy.

    “All of us are students, age or status immaterial. The professors and lecturers are also students in the school of life. The child is the father of the man and here we take the welfare of our students seriously. Our students’ union election is a model for Nigerian democracy because we organise it in a free, fair and democratic manner without any form of intimidation or imposition. We stand for positivism here while human resources are our greatest asset,” the VC said.

    After the meeting, Imagwe was conducted round the campus before the award ceremony. During the programme, the country representative of West African Students’ Union (WASU), Sheriff Zadok, in his presentation, eulogised Imagwe and Egboka for being students friendly.

    Prof Egboka and Imagwe were presented with Progressive Leadership Merit Award. Former Students’ Union president of the university and the Personal Assistant to the VC Kizito Okonkwo was also honoured for his service to the Nigerian students.

    Imagwe said he was delight by the honour, promising to always fight for the students’ interest.

    The incumbent Students’ Union president of UNIZIK, Victor Onuegbu, said the successful hosting of the event on the campus was a boost to the image of the university. He appreciated the Vice-Chancellor for his support and thanked Imagwe for his humble disposition.

    After the award, a new executive of the students’ body in the zone led by Ike Okorie was inaugurated by the outgoing zonal co-ordinator, Ezekiel Nwankwo.

     

  • Herdsmen waylay UNILORIN students

    Herdsmen waylay UNILORIN students

    It was around 8:45pm when students were returning to their hostels after academic activities last Thursday at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). Others were going to nearby off-campus residences in commercial vehicles.

    However, a few minutes into the journey to the town, two armed Fulani herdsmen allegedly emerged from the bush and stopped the vehicles. They robbed the passengers and the drivers of vehicles going in and out of the campus. The attack threw the halls of residence into chaos when students learned of the incident.

    The robbery, which was said to have lasted for about 30 minutes, occurred at the staff quarters junction. According to an eyewitness, the robbers were masked and carried guns, daggers and machete.

    Students and drivers were dispossessed of their valuables which included laptops, phones and cash.

    The president of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), Abdulmolik Aremu, was not spared.

    Eyewitnesses said Abdulmolik, on seeing the robbers, opened the door of the vehicle he was riding in and ran for his dear life. But he could not escape from the scene, he was hit with a rod by the robbers.

    “When he (Abdulmolik) got to a safe place, he diverted oncoming vehicles back to the campus. Before the security personnel could get to the scene, the robbers had run away,” said a student who escaped being robbed.

    The SUG president collapsed on getting to the Students’ Union building. He was immediately rushed to the school clinic.

    When students in the hostels heard of the news, they carried all sorts of materials, vowing to kill the robbers. However, they were pacified by the union officials, who asked the students to join them in boycotting lectures until the “porous security” was addressed on campus. They booed the union leaders, saying they were part of the cause of their problems.

    One of those things that annoyed the students, according to a student who does not want his name in print, was the epileptic power supply on the campus. The 400-Level student said the SUG never did anything to ensure the campus was lit at night.

    As the rancour between the students and the SUG leaders went on, the three Deputy Vice-Chancellors, professors Bayo Lawal, Wahab Egbewole and Yisa Fakunle arrived but they never alighted from their vehicles. They pleaded with the students’ not to cause further confusion. They advised the students to formally channel their complaints to the authorities.

    The General Secretary of the union, Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, said part of the agreement reached between the management and the SUG included the barring of Fulani herdsman on campus, functional street lights at strategic locations and additional security checkpoints.

    “We agreed that if there was no power supply from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the generator should be on between 7pm and 12am” Abdulrahman added.