The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Poly elects union leaders

    The students of Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY), Iree, have elected new leaders into the offices of the Students’ Union Government (SUG). The election was held for over three hours in the six faculties of the polytechnic. About 1,300 students participated in the exercise.

    Of the 12 vacant positions, seven were contested while three had unopposed candidates. Two had no candidates. The position of president was keenly contested between Abiodun Osin and Olasanmi Fasakin.

    At the end, the results were compiled by the members of the Independent Students Electoral Commission (ISEC) led by Jonathan Adeyanju, HND 1 Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

    Abiodun was returned as the president-elect, having polled 1,212 votes as against Olasanmi, who had 556.

    Other elected officers included Taiwo Ogunlade, Vice President, Kehinde Raji, General Secretary, Adeniran Babatunde, Assistant General Secretary, Adewale Salawudeen, Treasurer, Adeniyi Adetayo, Auditor-General.

    Others are Tijani Abdullahi, Financial Secretary, Azeez Mudasiru, Public Relations Officer) and Samuel Folorunso, Welfare Director.

    A student, Sunday Abioye, HND II Mass Communication, said the election was fair and credible.

    Abiodun thanked his supporters and promised to deliver on his programmes.

    In a related development, the National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS), Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY), Iree chapter, held its election last weekend, to usher in new leaders.

    The election was held at the Baptist High School, Iree. The exercise began around 11:45am and ended by 1:55pm. Seventy-one voted in the exercise. They cut across the three senatorial districts and 30 local governments areas of the state.

    The office of the president was contested by Gafar Usman and Lateefa Ajayi. When the results were declared by the National Association of Osun State Students Independent Electoral Commission (NAOSSIEC), led by Monsuru Durodola, HND II Applied Chemistry, Gafar, from Boripe Local Government, was declared the president-elect having polled 43 votes against Lateef’s 25.

    Others elected included Abolore Ogundapo, Vice President, Olumuyiwa Ogunleye, General Secretary, Muibat Mohammed, Assistant General Secretary, Kazeem Alade, Financial Secretary, Ayomikun Adesogbon, Treasurer and Jonathan Adeyanju, Auditor-General.

    Others were Idowu Olapade, Public Relations Officer 1, Habeeb Mustapha, Social Director, Taiwo Lawal, Welfare Director and Sakiru Okiki, Chief Whip.

    Gafar praised the electoral officers for creating a level playing field for all the contestants.

  • Student kills snake in hostel’s premises

    Student kills snake in hostel’s premises

    Few weeks after the residents of Awolowo Hall in the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) killed snakes around the hostel, another snake has been killed by students around the area. The serpent was killed at the front of Block 7.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the snake which was killed last Thursday had been lurking around the Block 7 lawn where students always spread their clothes for drying. A student, who went to pick his clothes, saw the snake and alerted his colleagues immediately.

    This degenerated into chaos as students ran away from the scene. But a student, Gideon Ogunniran, waited and pursued the snake with plank. He killed the serpent after a about 10 minutes search. It was after this time that other students came around to catch a glance at the dead snake.

    They, however, discovered a lizard being swallowed by the snake before it was killed by Gideon. The students later left the scene for other halls of residence to perform Aro (campus joke) with the dead snake. They laid the dead snake on the pathway to the female hostels to cause fear.

    Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE on the incident, Surajudeen Mutairu, 400-Level English, advised his colleagues to be vigilant.

    It should be recalled that similar incident happened same hall and Adekunle Fajuyi Hall where a snake was found in a room recently.

  • ‘Christians and Muslims must live peacefully’

    What inspired you to become a catechist, a role dominated by older men?

    I became a catechist not because I wanted to. So, I may not be able to speak of what inspired me to become a catechist but what inspired and still inspires me to remain one. I see the office as a calling, which comes with challenges and exposure because, as a catechist, the primary responsibility is to support the chaplain in fostering the liturgical life of the catholic community. I love adventures, especially in matters of religion and spiritualism. I love the church with a passion. It is all of these that keep me going. Though it is dominated by old men, the position is accommodates all, irrespective of the age of the occupant. I feel a sense of belonging.

    What are the challenges of being a catechist?

    The challenges of my office are many because the chaplaincy is still evolving. Personally, the office demands me to love and care for people. I face the need to learn more about the church and life. Also, there is the challenge to live reflective of the Christian faith.

    What is the role of the Nigerian Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS) in the life of students in tertiary institutions?

    The responsibility of NFCS is to help its members live according to Catholic principles and also to offer an alternative model to the society. Jesus Christ is the standard so, we preach against social vices, such as cultism, examination malpractices and hooliganism.

    What have been the major challenges of your office?

    There were times I really wished I was not a student so I could give all my time to the work. The biggest challenge is time and resources, especially finance to run the many programmes that keep coming up.

    NFCS recently hosted its members to a five-day convention in Jos. how did you ensure their safety?

    Security belongs to God. Notwithstanding, we made a very solid arrangement with security agencies to ensure participants were secured. With God and the efforts of the security forces, we had a hitch-free convention.

    How do you combine the work with your studies?

    Though it has not been easy but the grace of God has been sufficient. I don’t know exactly how but I find myself coping.

    Christians in the North face serious hostility from a certain sect that has extreme views on religious matters. What can you say about this?

    We should all be worried by the incessant attacks on Christians in northern Nigeria. Attacks on churches and other religious temples is very inhuman. The question I keep asking is: What have Christians done wrong? We must pray fervently and draw closer to God. No matter how badly wounded we have been, we must subscribe to peaceful coexistence. I use this opportunity to call on those behind the violence to have a rethink. Human life is sacred. Christian or Muslim, God created them all, and no man has the right to fight for the supreme God.

     

     

  • WOTCLEF holds send forth for outgoing Corps members

    WOTCLEF holds send forth for outgoing Corps members

    It was all fun when the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF), Oyo State chapter, organised a send forth and welcoming party for the 2011 Batch “C” and 2012 Batch “A” Corps members.

    The event, which took place at KS Motel, Ibadan, last week, was attended by the state coordinator of the foundation, Alhaja Adijat Malik; the secretary, Alhaji Suleiman Raheem; Schedule Officer of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Vanguard, Mr Austin Okoroafor and Corps members.

    Okoroafor congratulated the outgoing Corps members for a successful service year, praising them for their selfless service and immense contributions to promoting and projecting the aims and objectives of the Vanguard.

    He said: “Let me use this opportunity to thank the Batch C corps members, both the executive council and floor members, for helping to pilot the affairs of the Vanguard for a year. Without your contributions, this Vanguard would not have been where it is, presently.”

    Alhaja Malik praised the Corps members for using their service year to serve humanity. She implored the Batch “B” Corps members to maintain the good legacy their outgoing colleagues left behind.

    Ezinne Anonyuo, who will be through with service today, said joining WOTCLEF opened her eyes to modern day slavery.

    “Enlightening people, especially those at the grassroots on child labour and human trafficking, was full of challenges and, at the same time, fun because I have passion for it,” said Oluwatosin Jemiyo.

  • Because I’m a Nigerian

    Because I’m a Nigerian

    For sometimes, I have tried not to comment on happenings in Nigeria, preferring to toe the line of Pastor Elijah Kumuyi of the Deeper Life Bible Church, who declared a well publicised two-day national prayer and fasting with the hope that everything would fall back to normal as soon as possible, and engender the Nigeria of our dream.

    However, certain events have attracted my attention to which I must comment as a Nigerian. The precarious nature of the Nigerian State has made her vulnerable to many social vices and left her at the mercy of self-centred individuals who choose to enrich their pocket and watch our beloved country plunge into tribulation.

    Because I’m a Nigerian, I cannot pretend not to see the effect of social network on the youth of today. Science and technology has taken man to heights never imagined; and, in the process, man has exploited such opportunities. The effect of social network on the youth of today cannot be over-emphasised.

    Since the evolution of social networking sites in 1999, overzealous youths (and in some cases adults) who, rather than embrace technology for betterment of all, are busy extorting innocent people of their hard-earned resources.

    The celebrated case of Cynthia Osukogu, the young business woman, killed in a hotel in Lagos, is a good case study here. When the perpetrators of these evil are caught, as usual, the blame goes to the devil but when the evil act is successful, it is a good business.

    As I write this piece, the number of social networking sites is growing at an alarming rate; there are over 200 social networking sites worldwide most of which have become an avenue for crimes. If Cynthia had known that her Blackberry friends would snuff life out of her, she definitely would not have joined any group on social media.

    I will not, unlike my President Jonathan, complain of criticisms. I would rather see it as the beauty of democratic governance and the freedom of expression and simply tell myself: I dey kampe. Instead of picking offences in the words of citizens who voted me into power, I would resolve to surprise them by surpassing the achievement of any president before me and tackle the issues of terrorism, corruption and unemployment to the fullest.

    Because I’m a Nigerian, I cannot pretend not to see our shoddy preparation before major sporting events across the globe. Spending over N2 billion in less than three months for a contest that comes up every four years is profligacy of the highest order. While other countries like China are already preparing for the Olympic Games in 2016, my dearest country would wait till three months before the kick off and expect its athletes to perform wonders and win gold medals.

    It is high time that well meaning Nigerians who are not biased lent their voice to the clamour for state police. The media has been awash with arguments for or against the creation of state police most of which are geared towards their own personal objective. Some governors backed the idea because of their selfish agenda. However, there are Nigerians who are well grounded on the issues of state policing who can give us their unbiased point of view.

    The hope of regaining the Bakassi peninsula has been lost forever. The International Court of justice (ICJ) had in its ruling of October 10, 2002, ceded the oil rich region to Cameroun and in 2008, the region was formally handed to Cameroun by the Nigerian government even though the citizens of Bakassi are Nigerians.

    Reader, imagine your hometown where you were born and where you grew up suddenly being taken away from you. Will it be possible for you to see another place where you are relocated as your hometown? Would it be wrong if we ask the ICJ to revisit its decision?

    Because I’m a Nigerian, I will not fail to appreciate the doggedness and the fighting spirit of the Nigerian junior national female football team, the falconets and the disabled athletes during the Junior World Cup and Paralympics games for putting in their all to make sure that despite all the challenges, they still put smiles on the faces of Nigerians with their scintillating performance and setting of world records.

    Dearest falconets and ‘wonder athletes’, you have shown the true Nigerian spirit by putting aside all forms of social, cultural and religious differences and working together as a team to make Nigerians proud and put our country on the medals table, may all those in positions of authority borrow a leaf from you to take our country to its rightful place.

    Yes, because I’m a Nigerian, I will emulate our elder statesman and former president, General Yakubu Gowon to continue to pray for the unity of Nigeria. Like him, I will ask God to allow us to ‘go on with one Nigeria’. I may not have the resources to form a non-governmental organisation called ‘Nigeria prays’ like him, but I do have my knees and my closet to quietly pray for the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria and I enjoin all of us to do the same. Pray, Nigeria, pray.

  • Group sensitises public on environment

    The Green Law Society (GLS), a students’ group at the Faculty of Law of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), has held an awareness programme to sensitise the public on the need to preserve the environment.

    The programme was held in the moot court room in the faculty and was well-attended by students, lectures, and lawyers including Barrister Victor Ayeni, who was represented by Mr. Alonge Opeyemi.

    An environmental expert, Dr Olakunle Olatunmile, who spoke on Changing the world: A collective responsibility, said the problem of environment was global, emphasising the need for everyone to contribute to the effort to save the environment from degradation.

    He said: “Individuals have degraded the environment so much so that if care is not taken, our planet earth may run into more disaster. It therefore places a demand on everyone to save the environment and by that, saving the future generation.”

    He further stressed the fact that, all hands must be on deck to reduce desertification, deforestation, bush burning, overgrazing, overharvesting, improper disposal of waste, biodiversity extinction, over-exploitation of natural resources among others.

    Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE after the event, the president of the society, Sope Adeyanju, said the mission of the group was to educate people from the campus to the street on need to protect and nurture the environment. A participant, Ezekiel Adeshida, said his personal awareness about the need to protect and nurture the environment has received a boost.

  • For justice on campus

    For justice on campus

    The judicial arm of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal University of Technology (FUTO) has trained and inducted new members into the union’s Bar Association. FRANCIS EGWUATU (300-Level Mechanical Engineering) reports.

     

    As they filed into the hall, the students were taken for lawyers moving into a court chamber. But they were engineering students attending an oath-taking ceremony. They were all “called to the Bar”.

    The event took place at the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO). It was organised by the judicial arm of the Students’ Union Government (SUG).

    The FUTO Bar Association (FBA) is a body under the SUG’s judiciary, which is responsible for its legal process in running the affairs of students. A six-week training at the SUG’s School of Paralegal Studies (SSPS) is a criterion for students who want to be inducted into the FBA to become barristers on campus.

    At the end of training, the prospective barristers write exams to test their knowledge in para-legal studies. After the test, the successful students will be “called to Bar”.

    The association inducted students who passed the exams penultimate week. It awarded some of them doctorate degrees and made others senior advocates.

    Their senior colleagues in the association graced the event, which was held amid razzmatazz.

    With their black robes and grey wigs, the inductees were all smiles as they took the oath.

    The event started with an opening prayer after which a kolanut was broken to commence the programme.

    The Chief Judge of the SUG, Victor Osigwe; his predecessor, Smart Aniekwe; President of the association Vitus Chikelu and a host of other past members graced the ceremony.

    Prof G.F. Okoroafor, FUTO’s SIWES Co-ordinator, in his lecture, advised the barristers against delivering wrong judgment among themselves. He said as student judges, they should avoid being sentimental in decision-making and pronouncement.

    Afterwards, the inductees were “called to bar”. They were called one after the other to receive certificates in character and learning. Every inductee swore an oath to always place the general interest above their personal gain.

    One of the inductees, Frank Osueke, 300-Level Petroleum Engineering, told CAMPUSLIFE that he was pleased with the outcome of the event, and he praised the executive arm of the union for supporting the initiative.

    Aloysius Nwokedi, 200-Level Electrical Engineering, expressed joy after his formal recognition as a member of the barristers association. He said his reason for becoming a student barrister was to defend the defenseless and pledged to use the knowledge he acquired to uplift the students of the school.

     

  • Dept gets female president

    Dept gets female president

    There was a spontaneous jubilation by female students in the department of Political Science of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) last week following the suspension of the president of the department and immediate ascension of one of them, Shakirat Adesina, as the acting president of the National Association of Political Science Students, (NAPSS).

    The president, Charles Aiyedun, who is in 400-Level, was allegedly suspended indefinitely for failing to honour invitations by legislative arms of the association. The Speaker of the parliament, Adeniyi Adediran, 300-Level student, said the suspended president was invited three times by the parliament to ascertain the state of the association but Charles did not honour the invitations.

    “In view of that, the honourable members, after due deliberations, found it expedient to suspend the president because we believe in accountability,” Adeniyi said.

    He added: “The Vice President has been asked to take over in acting capacity in order to continue the administration pending the time the suspended president will present himself before the parliament of NAPSS.”

    He advised the students and outsiders to refrain from relating to Charles as president as such relationship would be at their own risk. Shakirat said she accepted the offer because of the department’s constitution and not in act of betrayal.

  • Awards for graduating students

    Awards for graduating students

    Students have been advised to remain steadfast and pray to overcome rough times instead of praying for an easy way out.

    Nbilamut Gamno, a member of the Plateau House of Assembly, gave the charge while delivering a keynote address during the dinner and award night of graduating students of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Television College (TV COLLEGE), Jos.

    The event was held at the college’s auditorium.

    Nbilamut urged the graduates not to shy away from the realities of life because the rough times were inevitable.

    He said: “I pray for the rough part for you because, in life, one cannot escape this rough part and what makes it interesting is that the rougher the struggle, the sweeter the victory.”

    He also advised the students to follow the tenets of journalism, saying it would lead to a positive change in Nigeria.

    The event featured musical and dance performances, keynote address and presentation of awards.

    The audience was thrilled by the performances of Veezluze, a Hip Hop artist, and the dance steps of the Fly High crew.

    The Best Graduating Students award went to the duo of Cecilia Okeke, Journalism Department, and Jemimah Jack, Production Department.

    Also, CAMPUSLIFE’s Johnpaul Nnamdi was awarded the Outstanding Reporter. The Best Lecturer in the Production Department went to Mr Olaniyi Oladokun while Best Lecturer in Journalism Department went to Mr Chris Kwaja.

    In his acceptance speech, Mr Kwaja thanked the students for the honour and urged them not to relent in their endeavours. On behalf of the government of Plateau State, Kwaja gave N100,000 each of the best graduating students.

    The Rector, Dr Ayo Fasan, wished the graduates luck as they step into the larger society.

  • Blackberry thrills students

    The University of Calabar (UNICAL) was agog last week when Blackberry held its Campus Super Crew show. ISAAC MENSAH (500-Level Medical Laboratory Science) was there.

     

    Fun-loving students had a field day last week when Blackberry hosted its show, Campus Super Crew, at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

    In their numbers, the students filed into the Chinua Achebe Art Theatre (CAAT), venue of the show.

    Adorning all shades of casual wears, the students filled the 5,000-capacity lecture theatre. The show had earlier been held at three universities – University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), University of Lagos (UNILAG) and University of Abuja (UNIABUJA).

    UNICAL’s programme was anchored by Andre Blaze, a radio and television presenter. There was also a raffle draw that had a student smiling home with a Blackberry smart phone.

    A day earlier, there was an audition for 47 groups of students, who displayed their skills in music. Ten crews scaled the audition for the stage performance contest during the show. The crews were Black Diamond, One Bowl, Fresh House, TGC, DNAK, Reflex, Porsche, Day Walkers, Crack Boss and Black Owl.

    The show started at about 4pm. A student with the stage name MC Koboko held the audience spellbound as he dished out jokes immediately the show began. Afterward, a Calabar-based choreography group, The Savages, entertained the students with their astonishing performance.

    Speaking, the Product Manager, Blackberry Campus Tour, Alex Jang, said the show was being used by the mobile phone giant to engender socialisation among the youth; a move he said would foster youth development.

    He said: “The programme is aimed at engaging Nigerian youths by harnessing their talents as well as exposing them to something bigger. Blackberry is committed to more than selling devices.”

    He said winners of UNICAL zone would face winners from other zones at the grand finale where they would stand a chance of winning a scholarship to attend the London School of Music for two weeks, feature in Y Magazine, Blackberry Nigeria Top 10 Radio Show and perform at the youth award event.

    Jang said as part of measures to facilitate the programme on hosting campuses, the mobile brand recruited Blackberry Campus Ambassadors in universities where the show was held. In UNICAL, ambassadors are Nkemjika Okorafor, 300-Level Animal Science, Blessing Thomas, 400-Level Electronics and Computer Technology and Cyril Okoi, 200-Level Marine Biology.

    The stage performance contest, which was divided into rounds, had the selected 10 musical groups slugging it out to qualify for the second round. Each contesting group had a singer, rapper and an instrumentalist and performed the remix version of any Nigerian hit songs. Some of the contestants were cheered by the audience, while others got booed out of stage.

    Five groups moved on to the next stage. When the contest came to an end, Black Diamond emerged winner while Fresh House came second and Day Walkers, third.

    The winning group had Victor Edoja, 400-Level Marine Geology, Williams Usese, 200-Level Curriculum and Teaching and David Evare, 200-Level Curriculum and Teaching. They were presented with prizes.

    David told CAMPUSLIFE: “I’m very excited and grateful to God for the victory. I started singing while I was in primary school, but my skills were honed when I got to secondary school where I joined the school choir. I promise to make UNICAL proud at the grand finale.”