Category: Campus Life

Students of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) trouped last week to elect new leaders into the offices of the Students’ Union Government (SUG).

The election, which was held at the newly completed College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC) and College of Environmental Resources Management (COLERM) buildings, had nine presidential candidates, which observers said was the highest in history of the school.

Preceding the elections were series of activities including presidential debate, manifestoes and campaign. Tension was heightened prior to the election date due to the number of aspirants and desperation on the part of some of the aspirants.

When the election results were announced by the Independent Electoral Committee, Temitope Adesipo of the department of Pasture and Range Management was returned as the president-elect. Others elected were Azeez Edunjobi, Vice President, Dolapo Ayokunmi, General Secretary, Azeez Salawu, Public Relations Officer and Obinna Ezemmaduekwe, Welfare Secretary among others.

The elected officials have since been sworn in.

Parents of students of the Lagos State University (LASU) have urged the management of the institution to review its new fees to be paid by 100-Level and 200-Level Direct Entry students. The parents said the fees were too exorbitant to be afforded by them.

They spoke under the banner of Concerned Parents of LASU students at a press conference held in Lagos last weekend.

Mr Akindele Olugbola, who read the press statement, said: “We perceived the new fees as unaffordable. We the parents of LASU students are oblige to inform the general public of our predicament. We call on the public to join us to rise against the attempt to take education out of the reach of our children.”

The statement reads further: “Sequel to the official bulletin issued on Monday, 17 September, 2012 wherein the breakdown of school fees for 2012/2013 academic session was stated. We held a peaceful protest across various quarters of the university’s main campus, Ojo, decrying unbearable fee.”

“As a matter of fact, we were marvelled at the released. Our expectation has always been that intakes of the year mentioned above would be considered as returning students which presumably will bring down against what we paid when they were admitted. This is intended to make education affordable and whittle down the risk of death of public education amongst Nigerians and residents of Lagos State.”

Olugbola called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), civil liberty groups, non-governmental organisations, human rights groups, students’ bodies and pro-democracy groups to appeal to the Lagos State Government to review the fees to what they could afford to send their wards to school.

In recognition of the fundamental role tertiary institutions play in the development of any nation, the media team of the Good Governance Group of Nigeria has visited Ibrahim Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai.

The team, which was led by the Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, urged the Niger State government to prioritise funding of its higher institution.

He emphasised that the wide margin between Nigeria and other developed nations of the world in terms of educational development required urgent collaborative efforts of the people at various levels of leadership positions in the country to act.

Mr Maku, who also praised the state government for providing basic infrastructure at IBB varsity, said the institution would a model among its peers if the government releases more funds for its development.

In his remarks, Minister of National Planning, Dr shamusdeen Usman, expressed satisfaction with giant strides of Niger State government for infrastructure in the state university, urging it to continue with bold steps.

In another development, the League of Democratic Students (LEADS), has honoured the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Adamu Kolo , with a merit award of performance. The body said the he was awarded in recognition of his commitment to the development of the state university.

The national president of LEADS, Mr Ochekwu Morgan, during the presentation of the award, said the body observed the pragmatic approaches of the vice-chancellor over the years towards taking the university to the level of excellence among its peers.

He also disclosed that Prof Kolo’s laudable antecedents and intellectual ability as well as his commitment to effective service delivery at any leadership position stood him out for recognition by the organisation.

Responding, Prof Kolo thanked the body for the honour, pledging to continue his developmental activities in the institution.

The inter-faculty games organised by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) started well, but ended in controversy, STANLEY UCHEGBU (400-Level Accounting) reports.

Track field stunts, incredible kicks and dazzling gymnastic feats were the major attractions at the just-concluded inter-faculty games at the University of Calabar (UNICAL). All the sporting activities took place in the Abraham Ordia Stadium on campus.

The games were organised by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) through the office of the Director of Sports, Sunday Iyoma. Among the events were football, badminton, long jump, table tennis, lawn tennis, volley ball, scrabble and chess.

Ten schools in UNICAL participated in the contest. They are faculties of Agriculture, Allied Medical Sciences, Arts, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Education, Law, Management Sciences, Social Sciences and Sciences. For a week, the faculties slugged it out with one another to clinch the coveted positions.

In the football game, Management Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences, Allied Medical Sciences and Law got to the semi final after tough preliminary matches. Later, Law team was sent packing after being trounced by the Management Science team. It was the second time the latter would be defeating the former at the semi-final stage. Allied Medical Sciences team was trounced by Faculty of Basic Medical Science.

The final match was as tough as it was entertaining for the contending teams, as each fought hard to lift the trophy. The teams were smartly dressed in shades of blue Adidas jerseys as they jogged to the pitch amid cheers by the of spectators. Red Cross Society officials were on hand to give first aid to injured players.

A spectator, Owolabi Faleti, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, tipped the Management Science team to win the trophy. In the stadium were representatives of the Vice Chancellor, Prof James Epoke, and Students’ Union officials.

After 90 minutes, the match ended goalless. The game could not proceed to extra time because the day was getting darker. The referee decided the winner must emerge through a penalty shootout. The decision favoured the Faculty of Allied Medical Science, which mauled Management Science with 5-4 points.

The game, however, ended in controversy when the losers alleged that a part-time student of Marketing was among the players of the winning team.

SUG Financial SecretaryAkpan Blaise, said the winning faculty hired mercenary to win the trophy.

According to him, when Management Sciences played against Law team a similar case arose and three days after the match, the losers petitioned the SUG.

Akpan said the union cancelled the result and fixed a replay. “Now, the same thing has repeated itself in the final match between the Faculty of Allied Medical Science and Management,” he said.

Fortune Augustine, a Management Sciences student, said the final match was a gang-up against his faculty. “All of them ganged up against Management Sciences because we have been champion over the years,” he posited.

Bassey Nkanu, 300-Level of Accounting, said impersonation would have been checked if a technical committee was constituted by the organisers. “The technical committee would have ensured that all participating players are bona fide students of each faculty and the university.”

Despite the controversy, the president of the union, Ayi Ekpenyong, decorated the winning team with medals and handed over the trophy to the team.

In all the contests, Faculty of Education topped the medal table with 14 gold medals, five silver medals and six bronze. Followed Education on the table was Faculty of Allied Medical Science with three gold medals and a silver medal.

Others were Faculty of Social Sciences with two gold medal; Faculty of Law, one gold, five silver and two bronze medals; Faculty of Science, one gold, two silver and four bronze medals; Faculty of Management of Science, a gold and a silver medal; Faculty of Basic Medical Science, a gold and five bronze medals, Faculty of Arts, four silver medals and Faculty of Clinical Science with a bronze medal.

The coach of the Allied Medical Science, Emmanuel Ilen, denied that he enlisted foreign players in his team. He said the student in question is in 300-Level Public Health in his faculty. He said the issue should have been raised before the match was played but “they waited until we won the trophy, which shows that they were up to something.”

Sunday said that the reason for the inter-faculty games was to breed sportsmen that would represent the university in inter-varsity sport competition. He advised losers to accept defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship.

TO ensure their promotion to the next class, 100-Level students of Geography Department, Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), went on a field trip to Maloney Hill in Keffi.

The hill, which is covered by the rubbles of houses built during the colonial era, is about 300 metres above sea level. It was named after Captain C.W. Maloney, who was the colonial representative in that area. It is behind the palace of the Emir of Keffi.

There was excitement as the students climbed to the top. They were guided by some of their lecturers.

The activities started with the convergence of the students at a popular Comfort Zone on campus by 8am. Thirty minutes later, the students were divided into 17 groups with about 16 students in each. They were later addressed by Mr Akwa Labaris, Dr Mahmud Abubakar and Mr Kpalo Sunday Yusuf, all of who are lecturers in the department. They stressed the need for the students to conduct themselves in an orderly manner. They also remind the students of the security challenges in the North, urging them to take note of suspicious object they may find on their way.

Exactly 10am, the students departed. When they descended from the hill, the students visited the Emir’s palace, where Dr Abubakar addressed the emirate council. Other monument visited included Antau Bridge, oldest bridge in Keffi, which was constructed in 1962 by Ahmadu Bello Administration. They also visited Keffi Roundabout and main market.

One of the students, Blessing Samuel, said: “The excursion was educative but stressful. It afforded us to know some important historical issues about Keffi in addition to climbing Maloney hill.”

Falahu Abubakar, another student, thanked officials of the department for “providing is with the practical knowledge of our course.” Firdausi Ahmed said he felt like a Geographer after he came down from the hill.

The people of the Niger Delta and indeed, the country at large. People have been displaced from their homes. Mothers are crying, looking for their missing children. Properties worth billions have been washed away and destroyed by the torrents of water that flooded many states recently.

Children cannot go to school because their schools have been flooded. They have turned to refugees in makeshift camps for those who are displaced. But for the fact that God promised that he will not destroy the world again with water, one would have thought that the end of the world had come.

From the small town of Olomoro in Isoko North Local Government of Delta State to the capital city of Asaba, from the riverine Bomadi LGA to Patani, the linking town between Delta, Bayelsa and Port Harcourt; from Udaba Ekphei in Etsako Central Local Government Area in Edo State to the oil-rich town of Omuku in Rivers State, speed boats are now being used to fiery human beings and their luggage across highways made for vehicles.

Sir Isaac Newton, one of the greatest scientists of all times, in his Third Law of Motion, stated: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Man has been, over the years, either consciously or unconsciously making the earth unsafe through its activities. The burning of fossil fuels, releasing of green house gases into the atmosphere is now yielding fruits, howbeit negatively.

Destruction of the mangrove through gas flaring in the Niger Delta, smokes from car exhausts, over exploitation of forest resources, torrential rains and such like are all contributory factors to the scenario that we are presently experiencing.

Heavy rainfall, coupled with the release of water from the Kiri Dam in Adamawa State, Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroon flowing into the Benue river and the water from the Upper Volter flowing into the Niger river have tremendously increased the water level of the Benue and Niger rivers.

The rivers, due to excess of water, overflew their banks engulfing its tributaries which extend to various areas in Nigeria. The speed at which the overflowing water was moving to cover every space was overwhelming. Places that were hitherto considered unreachable by the flood are now completely under water.

The National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) had said that people from riverine communities should vacate their communities but the situation has gone beyond their expectation. Many local governments have been completely submerged by water. In Delta State alone, twelve local governments were overrun by water. In some places, roofs of buildings indicated that there are houses at the site and residents, with no place to go, have turned oil platforms, boats and farmlands to makeshift homes with no food and clothes. With the continued rainfall and water associated diseases, the situation is pathetic.

The flood, which started sometimes in July in some parts of Edo and Kogi states, may not have reached its peak going by the available statistics. There are concerns by experts that should there be a collapse of dams in Nigeria especially the Oyan dam in Abeokuta which is as high as a 10-story building, some parts of the southwest and Niger Delta could be completely submerged.

The Niger Delta, located in the atlantic coast of southern Nigeria, where River Niger divides into many of its tributaries is the bearer of most of the burdens of the flood. The region, with the largest wetland in Africa with about 2,370 square kilometres consisting of water is in a dire need of relief materials. Temporary settlement camps have been set-up by state governments in the Delta region but they seem not to be enough as many people, with their belongings that they could rescue from the flood, are still stranded in villages and competing for space that is yet to be flooded.

The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Barrister Chike Ogeah, noted in an interview recently that ‘there is a real prospect of an outbreak of disease on the residents who depend on the flood water as their main source of drinking water’. The people of the flooded areas are susceptible to such water borne diseases as malaria, dysentery, cholera and diarrhoea. Also, there is the danger of being exposed to sea animals like the crocodile just as some houses have become fish ponds.

It is a good thing that the Federal Government deemed it fit to categorise states according to the level of damage and render assistance.

Well meaning Nigerians who have the interest of the people at heart and still believe in the complete sovereignty of the Federal Republic should offer assistance to save people from dying from hunger and starvation occasioned by the flood disaster.

Monies allocated to alleviate the suffering of the displaced persons must be properly accounted for. Efforts must be made to ensure that the recent occurrence of armed robbery in Oharisi Primary School in Delta State where displaced persons were robbed of their little belongings must not occur again. It baffles me as to how sane persons, who are supposed to be of help to displaced persons, suffer their unhappy patriots. This is no time for looting, only men of proven character should be appointed to committees that would be setup to manage the resources accruing to the resettlement of the flood victims and all efforts must be in top gear to see that there is no “jungle justice” is the execution of the committee’s duties. The time to be our brother’s keeper is now for a stitch in time saves nine.

Philip, 400-Level Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, DELSU

As a young child growing up, my mother instilled socially-correct moral principles in me. I learned from her that “two wrongs can never make and right.”

Years ago, I read about a father who took law into his hands to seek vengeance. His eldest daughter rebelled against his wish to associate with people involving in drugs and sexual promiscuity. At a night, the police called to inform the father that the daughter had been found dead from an overdose of drugs. In a state of rage, the father loaded a gun and drove to the house were his daughter had been living. He shot all her daughter’s acquaintances he saw in the building. Many father might have be tempted to do the same, however two wrongs never make a right.

There are times in when we learn lessons the hard way. Romans 12 Vs. 17 to 21 read: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

The horrible lyching of four students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Chidiaka Lawson, Lloyd Toku, Tekena Erikena and Chidiaka Biringa, is no longer news. This demonic act by the locals of Aluu Community in River State has attracted criticism from near and far. The reason for the killing of the youths is not in any way tenable. In fact it was barbaric.

A lot of people in this country take laws into their hand on a daily basis. Reasons are not farfetched. Crimes happen as a result of wanting to take revenge. The criminals then apportion blame on the devil. Some have attached their own cases to witch craft. But God will judge us all by our intention.

Amanda’s boyfriend was snatched away from her by her best friend. In anger, she stabbed her friend to death. Taking the law into her own hands, forgetting that two wrong can never make a right. How did she manage her temper? Was the boyfriend only man on earth? Why didn’t she allow God be the judge over the situation? Amanda was sentenced to death. They both lost their lives. Lessons learnt the hard way.

The actions of the UNIPORT student who went to burn property in Aluu were equally wrong. Anyone in their shoes would have done the same, even after seeing the video clips of the barbaric act. I am a student too and the murdered students were my colleagues in the pursuit of academic certificates. I felt bad, I shed tears but there should be restraint.

The brutish killing of the students was another poignant reminder that we now live in a wicked and sick society. The video clip of the gory scene showed the extent to which our country has travelled in infamy. People believed they were judges and that they can be judges in all situations, forgetting that two wrongs cannot make a right.

They imposed a punishment of death without trial; we, as colleagues, are against that kind of punishment and act. But the community has suffered an equally stern punishment without trials in the hands of the youths that sought to revenge the brutal killings of their colleagues.

This is not what a sick society should look like. With no respect for socially accepted principles and law and order, one wicked act summons the other and a vicious circle of vengeance and counter vengeance continues forgetting that two wrongs cannot make a right. Shall we all continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid, said the Holy Bible.

Twelve houses were burnt in the retaliation for the killings. Properties worth millions were lost, just the same way the lives of the innocent students were brutally snuffed out. In Nigeria today, when a thief is caught, instead of handing him over to the police, he will be beaten to death and burnt. The thief may have been wrong, but the killers have done the worst by taking the law into their own hands.

Vengeance is of the lord and those who do evil will always get their rewards. Paying evil deeds with evil is wrong. When you kill a thief, the offence you have committed makes you worst than the thief. Because the one who took a life is worse than the one who stole a phone. In most cases those who try to repay evil with evil always commit a worse crime that the initial offender.

It is better to live life with the reverence and awe for God, knowing that he is the judge of all. He doesn’t pays to play God or take a life. We all know that some criminals deserve to grim punishment, but let us not allow the seed of revenge to grow in our hearts.

Esther, 400-Level Mass Comm., UNIBEN

Let me reassure you of my utmost respect for your office and for you as a father, leader and most of all the number one citizen of Plateau State. I want assure you also that I do not belong to the society of cynics, who always see something wrong in any policy your administration implements. Neither do I fit to the class of pro-government sycophants.

Many of your critics prefer to criticise, rather than give you a pass mark on some developmental feats recorded in your tenure. But anybody with a clear conscience will acknowledge your effort to bring Plateau State to the path of development. Not only has infrastructure such as roads and bridges been fixed to the surprise of many of us, you have admirably restructured the government by incorporating more youths who are believed to have better ideas and energy to key into the current trend of governance.

However, I want to seize this opportunity to bare my thoughts on things I feel are not right. I write this piece because I am very sure I do not share these sentiments alone.

Initially, I had said I would not bother not until I was faced with the stark reality of my inaction. Upon reaching home as a fresh graduate, I was elated by the flattering accolades of family members and friends. But this, in no time, was watered down when I met Pam (real name withheld).

Pam is my neighbour. The kid has no glint of hope as he narrated his ordeal since his school (a public school) went on strike six months ago. Pam has been on the street and his dream to be a graduate is turning to a nightmare. I would have shifted the blame on his parents for not enrolling him into a private school, but I learnt that Pam’s parents are state civil servants, who have been on strike for a long period of time.

There is a saying that education is the bedrock of every society. This is true. You will leave no stone unturned in your negotiation with the labour union to see that teachers go back to the classroom and thousands of children like Pam go back to school.

Although, reports have it that the labour union are not considerate, and the government will not dance to their tune either. Should children of the poor in dire need of primary education that will shape their lives and the society roam the street due to the war of ego between the government and the labour union?

Also, several accounts of the sick and pregnant women who have lost their lives due to unavailable immediate medical care from their local government areas because health clinics are affected by the strike are as well worrisome. Many homes have gone broken for the reason that their bread winners are civil servants. Pipe borne water is no longer running in the pipe.

The cliché that when two elephants fight, the grasses suffer seems to aptly describe the present condition of the hapless citizens of the state. The strike has dealt a blow on almost every aspect of the social life in Plateau State – from the top to the grassroots. Arguably, many may point accusing fingers at the labour union for its uncompromising stance, nonetheless I am of the opinion that the people of the state willingly gave you their mandate and you must not let them down.

It is often said that your generation was a very lucky one. And I concur. Your generation’s fortune lied in the fact that you had an almost impeccable education with high moral standard, which is elusive in this generation. Such education and system presented endless possibilities and opportunities which I will not shudder to say prepared you to be a one-time military governor of the old Benue and Plateau states and now the executive governor of Plateau State.

I will not be making a grave mistake if I say that so many children like Pam have their future enveloped in agony by a protracted strike, which several negotiation committees have fruitlessly tried to put to an end to.

A writer once wrote about the conscience of a man being the final arbiter. This way, if the welfare of the people you lead and the future of this generation are dear to your heart, it is expedient for your government to end this prolonged strike. This is a prayer that should be heard if not for anything, for the sake of Pam and other children who are members of this generation.

Johnpaul just finished from Television Journalism, TV COLLEGE Jos

President of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Students’ Union Government (SUG), Hassan Odutayo, has assured students of the institution that his administration would protect their interests and foster good relationship with the management. He also assured the students they would benefit from the college’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) system, as well as prompt release of results among others.

Hassan, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE at the SUG secretariat last week, said the executive which came on board last August was saddled with the task of cleaning the mess of the previous administrations.

“Upon our assumption, we met a lot left by past administrations, which I do not want to mention here because it will amount to reopening old wounds. What the new executive is interested is how to forge ahead and ensure we overcome over those challenges” Hassan said.

He added that his executive had met with the monarch of Ijanikin, the college’s host community, Oba Momodu Ahsafa, chairman of Oto/Awori Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Kayode Roberts, and the Provost, Mr Wasiu Bashorun to support his administration, noting that the responses from the people were encouraging.

Meanwhile, the Vice President of the union, Gbolahan Ajeniya, has appealed to Governor Babatunde Fashola to provide the union with a mini bus to make its activities easy. He urged the governor to borrow a leaf from Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, whose administration donated buses to all state-owned institutions.

“When last year Lagos State government gave out a new Toyota Hiace bus to all unions in this college and LASU (Lagos State University), we thought the government would also give us but we did not get one. We are, therefore, using this opportunity to appeal to Governor Fashola to come to our aid. We need a mini bus that will make our activities faster,” Gbolahan appealed.

The Nigerian Association of Zoology Students (NAZS), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) chapter, has hosted its 2012 departmental lecture and awards tagged The DNA revolution and man. The programme, which was its fourth edition and organised in honour of Prof A.M. Imevbore, was held in the conference centre of the institution.

In his lecture, the guest lecturer, Prof Idowu Awopetu of the Zoology department, said the method used by scientists to solve the molecular structure and chromosomal organisation of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) was a tortuous one, which started in the 1860s.

He said the stages were divided into six, observing that that the principles of genetics were universal across living systems. From historical perspective, he explained that the science of genetics was founded with the publication of Gregor Mendel’s paper titled Experiments on garden egg in 1866. “It became established in 1900 after its rediscovery. Since then, a lot of new research works has been added but the basic principles established by Mendel and the classical general geneticists remain intact,” he said.

On the usefulness of DNA to human life, Prof Awopetu said it could be employed in generating useful transgeneric plants and animals and also in crime detection. There was excitement among the audience when the don observed that substitution of one amino acid would solve sickle cell anaemia problem.

The NAZS president, Tobi Bakare, thanked lecturers and students of the department for their support towards the success of the programme.

The lecture also featured the presentation of award to distinguished lecturers, who themselves in their various fields. The awardees included Prof Sola Fajana, Vice-Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Prof Sola Akinrianade, former VC of Osun State University, Prof J.I. Awopetu, Prof S.O. Asaolu and Prof I.A. Ojo.

Others are Prof Israel Obisesan, Prof Olaniyi Onayemi, Prof G.E. Erhabor, Prof Adesuyi Adejuyigbe, Prof I.A. Ojo, Prof V.A. Adetiloye