The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Muslim students celebrate week

    Muslim students celebrate week

    The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Yaba College of Technology branch expressed concern over what it calls rising immoralities among youth.

    At the celebration of the Maiden Edition of the Annual Islamic Propagation Week (IPW) branch’s the Amir (president), Abdul Azeez Arisekola said: “The society today is filled of atrocities, immoralities, enmitys; illegalities have become the order of the day. We live in a world where in the name of liberty, nudity is put above dignity. Every attempt to correct these abnormalities is in a shambles. Whosoever tries to convince others is being regarded as a nonentity, but we say these things be put to an end.”

    Ali also condemned the injustice perpetrated by leaders, saying:“Our world leaders today have failed; they have perpetrated the highest level of injustice considering the issue of the Palestinians. The Israelites have been made to occupy a land that does not belong to them and as well have occupy the space of the Palestinians on the world map and the whole world kept quiet! Our silence is Haram,”.

    Ali deplored the tagging of Muslims in the South West by some people as Boko Haram.

    “Once you are dressed like a Muslim, you are an automatic Boko Haram. People today cannot differentiate between Islam which means peace and Boko Haram which is the name of a small group of people who are antagonistic to Western and Islam does not preach violence; it is not against Western education,” he said.

    He said the theme of the week The Empyreal Crescent (A Refreshing Renaissance) was chosen in order to address the current happenings in the country and the world over. He said Islam preaches love and unity.

    “The theme of the week is centred on the pure teachings of Al-Islam that has come to stay in this campus of ours. The teachings that is, established on truth and entrusted with peace; the religion of Islam preaches love and unity. Enough is enough; this ideology is against terrorism and vandalism,” he said.

    “In addition, my sincere advice also goes to my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters to hold on to the rope of Allah and not to go in division. We must have trust and sincerity in our leaders in as much as they govern us with the Quran and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W).

    It is only with this that we can achieve success in totality. We must hold firm to the bond of brotherhood and shun any form of differences among us as Allah has said that the most honourable servant in His sight is the most pious,” he urged.

  • ‘Entrepreneurship vital to growth’

    ‘Entrepreneurship vital to growth’

    Graduates of Petroleum Marketing have complained about the discrimination they face in the labour market, what did you do to stop this?

    We have tabled the issue before the institute’s management and they promised to sensitise the managements of oil and gas and allied industries to see why they need to stop the discrimination and give equal employment opportunity to graduates of the department alongside others. They promised to achieve this by organising seminars and conferences for students and human resources managers of companies.

    Did you face any challenge during your tenure?

    The major challenge I had was changing the views of my members of the executive about leadership. We also had to deal with the overbearing attitude of our departmental heads who always influenced the association’s decisions. Though we did not allow that to deter us but it wasn’t that easy coping with such challenge.

    What were your achievements?

    We organised some professional short-courses and excursions to relevant companies for members and non-members. We also launched the first APEMBUS website and reviewed the association’s constitution. All these were aimed at developing our members to meet the industry’s demand and to also stabilise the activities of the association.

    With your experience, what would you describe as function of campus leadership?

    To lead students on campus presents one with opportunity to create a positive change as well as developing one’s leadership ability in order to impact on the larger society. Our country needs many messiahs that will lead her out of wilderness. But first, one must think of what he has got to contribute to the improvement in the lives of followers before thinking about the benefits that may come afterwards.

    How do you think students can contribute to nation building?

    For this country to be transformed positively, students need to acquire entrepreneurial skills. For us to have a new Nigeria where everything works, the youth must understand and practise entrepreneurship. I think this would bring out the best in us to contribute to the nation’s development.

  • Murder in a bachelor’s pad

    Murder in a bachelor’s pad

    It was supposed to be a short visit, but it turned out to be a journey of no return. That day, the late Wunmi Adebayo of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, left her Mobalufon Hostel to visit an acquaintance in the nearby Golden Estate. She had visited the estate several times and had become a well-known face there. But something unusual happened during her last visit. She did not return home alive. Her friends did not know anything until her body was found. Where was she killed? Was it in her acquaintance’s home? Who killed her? Her acquaintance or robbers? These are the puzzles the police are expected to unravel in their investigation.

    When the news of her death broke, there was confusion because of the stories of how it happened.

    A version had it that she was on her way back when she was attacked by robbers, who wanted to rape her but her refusal prompted them to shoot her in the face. Another had it that she was attacked by ritualists.

    Last Saturday, there was a twist to the story. It was gathered that she was allegedly killed by her acquaintance. According to a source, who is close to the bereaved family, the police have discovered that Wunmi was killed when she found her acquaintance and his gang with a gun.

    The source said the police have arrested the suspect, who is being remanded at the Ogun State Police Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

    “But it didn’t end there. The family decided to investigate the death of their daughter; they invoked Wunmi’s spirit to kill whoever was responsible for her death. This is Ijebu, and I believe this is not new to you because the traditional procedure is a common practice in many parts of Nigeria, particularly when the circumstance surrounding the death of a person is suspicious,” the source told our correspondent on phone.

    The source added: “Perhaps, after being continuously tormented by the (Wunmi’s) spirit, the suspect confessed to the murder this morning (last Saturday). He said Wunmi came to his house unannounced. When she entered, she met him and his friends drinking and making merry with guns on the table. On seeing this, Wunmi was shocked, scared and tried to run but was prevented.

    “She was then forced at gun point not to try to go away from the building. She was beaten by the assailants who attempted to gang-rape her. When she resisted, she was then shot in order not to reveal what she saw in the boyfriend’s apartment. The suspect then shot himself to fake the story that Wunmi was killed by ‘robbers’ as he ‘saw her off.’ Since Wunmi is no more to tell her story, the suspect thought he would get away with the murder and that no one would discover what actually transpired.”

    But, the Commands Public Relations Officer (PRO) Muyiwa Adejobi, denied that the suspect had confessed to the killing. Responding to our correspondent’s text, Adejobi said: “The suspect has been interrogated but it is not true that he has confessed to the crime. It is just a rumour being spread on Blackberry; so disregard it. Investigation is still in progress.”

    TASUED’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Mr Gbenga Omilola told our correspondent on phone, that the late Wunmi was a student of the institution, adding that the incident had not been reported to the school management officially.

    “We cannot comment further on the crime because the incident did not happen on our campus. More so, the family members of the murdered student have not come to lodge any complaint. Even if they come, we can not do much because this is a criminal case that should be handled by the police.”

    He said the suspected killers are not students of the university.

    A close friend of Wunmi, who also spoke to CAMPUSLIFE on the condition of anonymity, said: “Wunmi believed the guy was a Yahoo-yahoo guy, but he is actually an…If she’d known this, I am sure she would not have dated the guy.”

    Esther Ajayi, a fellow student, described the incident as unfortunate. She advised female students to be wary of boys, who spend money heavily. She said: “I will tell my fellow students not to be madly in love with money. We must all learn from this incident. It is better we wait for God’s time than to follow boys who spend…money about. May the soul of Wunmi rest in peace.”

    Olayemi Ayeni, another student, said: “All that glitters is not gold, after all. This is another lesson for Nigerian undergraduates.

  • Corps member tackles unemployment through freelance writing

    Corps member tackles unemployment through freelance writing

    A Corps member serving in Lagos State, Abiodun Awosusi, has held a a seminar for his colleagues on freelance writing to tackle unemployment.

    The training, which was tagged “Corpers Writing Opportunities”, was in line with the new policy of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to boost skill acquisition and entrepreneurship among the serving youths.

    Biodun, a graduate of Medicine and Surgery from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), is serving at Mother and Child Health Centre at Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area. The workshop was organised in conjunction with Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneuship Development unit of NYSC, Jobberman, Ribena and Etisalat.

    Speaking, Biodun said unemployment remained a threat to the youth population in Nigeria. “President Goodluck Jonathan, during the presentation of 2012 budget, acknowledged that unemployment is a threat. National Bureau of Statistics says in 2011 that there were 16 million unemployed youths in Nigeria. This value is about 16 times the entire population of the Gambia. The current estimate is 23.9 per cent. This statistics is deeply disturbing. There should be concern from the policy maker that many unemployed young people walk on the streets when they can explore freelance writing opportunities to make money,” the Corps member said.

    He said he did not believe government could solve the problem of joblessness in the country. Biodun said: “I have read the plans of various ministries to create jobs particularly the ministries of Agriculture, Trade and Commerce, Youth Development and Finance. YOUWiN initiative said it will provide about 110,000 jobs in four years. Some forward-thinking governors are also recruiting massively and promoting entrepreneurship. Osun State recruited 10,000 young people. Can all these efforts effectively tackle the huge unemployment in Nigeria? I believe the answer is no. Private sector and individuals must step in before the unemployment rate exploded in proportion no one can control.

    That is why I created Penpreneurs to contribute my quota to tackle this challenge.”

    Participants were taught how to make money through writing, resume writing, and business plan and proposal designing. They would practise what they learn after the training in various online firms that specialise in blogging and writing services.

     

  • Varsity inducts doctors, dentists

    Varsity inducts doctors, dentists

    The vision of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is to become a formidable professional body committed to fostering effective and efficient health care delivery with high ethical standards and protecting the interest of its members.

    This was a dream come true for the 201 newly inducted medical students at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

    Despite the heavy downpour, Academicians, parents, wellwishers and students thronged the Amphi Theatre, venue of the induction.

    A release by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the college, since inception, had graduated over 3400 doctors and dentists. This year’s ceremony which was the 31st professional induction, was not without the torturous and discouraging sides; one of the graduating students, Mr. Oyelami Ifedayo died three months ago while some of them repeated severally. One of the lecturers, Prof. Otas Ukponmwan also died three months ago.

    The provost, College of Health Sciences, Prof. Solomon Ogunniyi, while congratulating the new doctors and dentists who ‘are graduating at a time the university and the college are celebrating 50th and 40th anniversaries respectively, charged them to maintain links with their alma mater and strive to keep the flags of the college and the university flying wherever they are.

    He expressed gratitude to the new doctors and dentists for the ongoing construction work on the 500 seater lecture theatre and four seminar rooms within the teaching hospital premises. He did not fail to acknowledge the 40 microscopes which the university supplied to the college while praising the teaching hospital management for providing the building which is being used as a medical library.

    ‘’Lastly, to my young colleagues, you should be aware that you have responsibility to our country; to use the knowledge and skills that you have acquired for the advancement of our country and to set good examples of moral behaviour’’, said the provost.

    Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole in his address advised the inductees to use their acquired skills for the advancement of the country’s health system.

    He said their patients, relations and loved ones must be treated with consideration and in humane way. He added that appropriate explanation and kind words of encouragement can make a big difference.

    In his submission, the Chairman of the state NMA, Dr. Onipede, said he was delighted with them as they have passed through the ‘crucible of fire’ which the medical programme epitomizes with the many challenges, obstacles, hills and valleys that you had to contend with right from the time the dream of becoming a physician awoke in you to the point of your University Matriculation Examination (UME), screening, multiple examinations as an undergraduate and to this very moment of your induction (UME).

    “In striving to become the best physician you can be protect and promote the good name of your parents. In return, your parents and families can take great delight in your accomplishments and progress which will bring them joy, happiness and pride. You also will benefit when you exert yourself to be the best physician you can in that you envelope yourself with the prayers, gratitude and love for those human beings who are permitted to cross your path in this earth as your patients’’, he charged.

     

  • Fellowship sends forth final year students

    Fellowship sends forth final year students

    The Scripture Union Campus Fellowship (SUCF), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) sent forth its final year students last Sunday. The programme, which kicked off by 1pm at the FUTO Hall of Mercy was attended by many students.

    Seventeen final year students, known as the ‘Triumphant Generation’ were sent-forth. The finalists were so full of joy. In his welcome address, the co-ordinator of the Triumphant Generation, Chigozie Ndukwe, a final year student of the Department of Project Management, thanked God for His mercies and grace upon their lives from their first year till now. He stressed that life in FUTO was not a bed of roses that they faced challenges, but God saw them through. He said: ‘There were storms of various magnitudes but we are grateful to God for keeping us and helping us to triumph after five years in this citadel of learning.”

    Highlights of the send forth programme included a message entitled ‘Grace and Unity’ which was presented by Elder (Dr) Emma Ndukwe, the National Council Secretary of the Scripture Union Nigeria. Others were a choral presentation by the fellowship choir, thanksgiving and special performance by the final years, presentation of gifts and awards and refreshments.

    A final year student Ogochukwu Ofoma, of the Department of Biotechnology, expressed gratitude to God. She said:”It had not been easy, there have been many stumbling blocks, but we thank God for His mercies.’

    Another final year student, Kelechukwu Chioke, of the department of Civil Engineering said, ‘My heart is full of mixed feelings now. I’m a little bit sad that I will be missing some persons very close to me after now, but I thank God for everything.”

    Also during the programme, the newly elected executives were inducted. The induction was conducted by Elder Solomon Esukpa, the SUCF National Director. They were prayed for and inaugurated.

     

    Among the new executives include; Onyekachi Iroh, 200-Level Environmental Technology, as President; and Blessing Asonye, 200-Level Maritime Management Technology, as Vice-President. Owei Johnson of the Deparment of Electrical and Electronics Engineering became the General Secretary, Howells Nworie, 200-Level BiochemistryPrayer Secretary; among others.

    Also present were Engr. Ekpo E. Ekpo, Scripture Union (SU) Nigeria National Chairman; Engr Joe Igbokwe, former Owerri Area Chairman, SU Nigeria and so many other officials and dignitaries of the Scripture Union Nigeria and the Scripture Union Campus Fellowship.

  • VC donates buses to students

    VC donates buses to students

    Last Thursday, students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) welcomed their Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, amidst applause to the Sport Complex of the university, the venue of the official commissioning of six blue Renault Logan MCV shuttle buses.

    The vehicles were donated by the management to ease the transportation problem of the students. About 500 students attended the event which was also graced by the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Lateefat Durosinmi, Registrar, Mr Ayodele Ogunruku and the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju.

    Speaking, Prof Omole stressed that the donation of the shuttle buses was part of his programmes to relieve students from stress. He said it saddened his heart to see students, especially from the faculties of Health Sciences and Agriculture flagging down vehicles when going to the teaching hospital complex and farm settlements.

    “Back in my days, there was no provision of shuttle buses such as these let alone air-conditioned mini buses. I could remember we would trek miles just because we needed to be in the system. The provision of these buses is solely to make the system easier and more convenient for you such that we want you all to shuttle in luxury,” the VC said.

    He, however, urged the students to manage the mini buses as their own, adding that measures had been taken to curb the excesses that might arise the use of the buses. He promised to provide more vehicles if students maintain the ones they were given.

    Thanking the VC on behalf of the students, the president of the Association of Campus Journalists, Samuel Adegbola, praised the management for donating “air-conditioned mini buses for our use.”

    He said: “Students of OAU wish to make our gratitude known to the management for the provision of these buses. They are like a dream come true because we have been expecting the gesture and we are promising the management that we will protect these buses and guard them jealously. They are additions to our collection and we will definitely protect them at all cost.”

    After the commissioning, the VC drove one of the vehicles amidst applause from students.

     

  • Tension in AAU over suspension of union poll

    Tension in AAU over suspension of union poll

    There was mounting tension at the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma over the suspension of Students’ Union Government (SUG) election by the management. The election, which was initially scheduled to hold today 13, has been postponed indefinitely.

    The decision of the management was contained in a bulletin issued last week and signed by the institution’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Chris Adamaigbo. The statement said the earlier timetable had been withdrawn to allow for more consultations with the relevant stakeholders of the university. It reads: “The election will still hold on a date to be communicated later and all inconveniences are regretted.”

    But the decision of the authorities did not go down well with students, who alleged that the management was out to disqualify aspirants that were not ready to do its biddings.

    However, the Secretary General of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone B, Richard Ekutu, last Monday called on the management to organise free, fair and credible election.

    Before the suspension five students had picked the nomination forms to contest for president. They included Famous Osawaru, 400-Level Law, Alexander Oleije, 400-Level Law, Joel Asuenimeb, 200-Level Accounting Education, Andrew Okosun, 300-Level Engineering, Isaac Ariajegbe, 400-Level Engineering and Chucks Ojie, Computer Science.

     

  • Varsity begins new session

    Varsity begins new session

    The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) has commenced the 2012/2013 academic session after a long break. The newly-admitted students have commenced registration.

    Despite the security challenges in the state, CAMPUSLIFE observed that students trooped into the school during the first week of resumption. The new students were seen moving from one office to the other to receive and process documents.

    James Agwu, a fresher in Biochemistry department, said he was happy that the school finally resumed after months of waiting. “I have been at home waiting for the day I would resume as an undergraduate of this institution. I am happy that the period of boredom is over and I can now engage my life productively,” he said.

    When asked if he was disturbed by the insecurity in Maiduguri, he simply replied: “I have absolute faith in God to keep and protect me from evil. I am looking forward to a hitch-free stay on campus.”

  • When will Nigerian youths start inventing?

    When will Nigerian youths start inventing?

    I read the astonishing story of a 19- year-old British boy who built a “spacecraft”, installed it with a camera and took pictures of space. According to the story, British teen Adam Cudworth decided to make his own spacecraft, one just big enough to house his camera, a GPS tracking device – a radio transmitter and a microprocessor in an insulated weather-protected box. His home-made spacecraft, attached to a large helium balloon, launched more than 20 miles into the sky and captured some incredible images and video for two and half hours.

    Cudworth’s pictures and video footage captured the curvature of Earth (he tweeted some of the images as they appear). The teen did it all on a budget of about $320 (about N52,000), using only the knowledge he had acquired from his Physics A-level courses. Cudworth bought his camera, a Canon A570, for just under $50 (N8,250) at eBay over a year and a half ago. The project took him about 40 hours to complete in his spare time after school. His pictures are comparable to the images that NASA’s team produces after having spent hundreds of millions of dollars on technologically-advanced satellites.

    What intrigued me further about the story was that Cudworth seems modest about the feat, calling the project just a hobby, saying: “I just wanted to set myself a challenge, but I’m amazed at the results. I have no background in astrophysics or anything like that; I’m just an engineering student.”

    My mind started whirling when I read the story and the question I kept asking myself formed the title of my piece today. Why are our youths “intelligent” in the wrong things? Why would an individual spend quality time to learn techniques of hacking into people’s emails to gather personal information for fraud? I can go on asking all negative questions without answers throughout this piece.

    Some years back at a forum organised by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), I remembered bringing this up when the agitation for local content in engineering was at its height. I asked a couple of engineers, young graduates and undergraduates this same question. The answer I got, which you may still get when you ask the same question today, is: There are no incentives to encourage inventions in the country.

    I’ve written in the past of how difficult and suffocating our environment can be, but I also pointed out that, in some countries, great innovations came out of difficult and impossible situations and we should not use that as an excuse for indolence. So, why are our youths not innovating?

    Part of the answer to the question, I believe, lies in our educational system which lays undue emphasis on passing exams, acquiring a certificate to search for jobs that are more elusive now than ever.

    Between 1960 and now, Nigeria has introduced and implemented not less than three educational policies: the 7:5:2:3, 6:3:3:4 and now the 9:3:3:4 (elementary, secondary and university). There is now a clamour for a reintroduction of Higher School Certifictate (HSC) which was a two-year post-secondary programme that prepared students for university education. It was jettisoned some years back. The clamour followed the yearly poor performance of secondary school leavers in the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO).

    Another related structural problem which most of them harped on is the low budgetary allocation to the education sector, particularly the vocational and technical sub-sector. Additionally, the Nigerian educational curricula appear to be designed as a “factory” for producing graduates who are made to believe that the only employer of labour is government – federal, state and local. Consequently, many of the graduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions come out of the ivory towers with this mentality.

    Inventions do not happen in a vacuum because they have to be tailored toward addressing the needs within the society; and we have needs in this country. But, it is unfortunate to note that we have cultivated a new value system for making fast money as well as generally living on the fast lane which diverts our youths from concentrating on what really matters. Innovations are not expected to be perfect at the first instance; they are, oftentimes, perfected along the way. But one sad fact about Nigerians is their penchant for a perfect innovation. A Nigerian would want a 2012 edition of a foreign product oblivious of the fact that the said product had passed through series of processes before becoming “perfect.” Almost all products, from cars, electronics to even toiletries, fall into this category.

    No society, I must emphasise, has become an industrialised nation without technological capabilities. An effective technological culture must take its roots from a functional vocational/technical curriculum which will serve as a “watering ground” for innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth and development. This means that Nigeria needs a new paradigm for effective transformation of its economy and educational institutions, particularly vocational and technical ones.

    My main concern is the university system which I strongly believe completes the transformation of man from a statistic to human capital. In this state of know-how and know-why, he can power creativity to propel human advancement. Leaders shape culture and values, and along with institutions determine human progress in the main. So, why does Nigeria not experience the promise of progress and innovation even with the establishment of more universities? The simple answer is that universities in Nigeria have not been producing leaders that have the knowledge and sense of service to guide social change, or the spirit and courage to contain those blocking progress. I urge our youths to dig deep into their consciousness and look beyond government toward the needs of society and start inventing, no matter how crude the inventions may be.

    Celebrating our reporters

    One of the cardinal goals of the CAMPUSLIFE project is to equip our reporters with the requisite tools to not only become world-class reporters and writers, but to be leaders of change in their generation as well. I want to salute and celebrate three of our reporters, David Osu of FUT Minna, Ayodeji Adesina of UNILAG and Olajide Adelana of Ekiti State University for making us proud.

    David was nominated for the Youth Advocacy Group for Education First, a United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Global Initiative on education. Ayodeji and Olajide were, on the other hand, among three finalists in an essay competition organised by the Bible Society of Nigeria. Keep the flag flying guys!