Category: Campus Life

Bright Bassey, 500-Level Nursing Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, is a writer and the founder of Youths Aflame Network International (YANI), an organisation that orientates youth towards positive change. He told  what inspires him.

 

What is your organisation all about?

Youth Aflame Network International is an organisation aimed at touching the life of youths, especially in the area of sex, drug and alcohol. We believe youths are the future of our country and so the need to make them realise the effect of youthful vices in their lives. We organise workshops, seminars and conferences for youths and teens.

Why so much passion for youths?

Just like I said earlier, the youth are the future of our dear nation and much priority must be given to them. The government has done little or nothing in sensitising us on the dangers of premarital sex, and drugs. Out of my desire to see a society devoid of immorality and social vices, I decided to focus on developing and training teenagers and youths on the dangers of premarital sex, alcohols and drugs.

This passion started in 2009 when I had a dream and saw myself speaking to young people. Since then, I took it upon myself to contribute my own quota to see that the lives of our youth of which I am one are transformed. This is only possible by passing the adequate knowledge they need to them.

You have written two books, can you tell us about them?

I wrote my first book: Is premarital sex and alcohol really that bad?’ And the second Youths and teens, the future begins now. They were published in Nigeria, USA and Germany. I was inspired to write them from my few years experience as a speaker and counselor to youth who have lost focus and direction in life, and I am glad that the life-changing words in the book have been impacting youth positively all over the nation and beyond.

But why so much focus on sex?

My experience in the Nursing profession and as a nursing student created a deep passion in me to raise a sex-pure generation of youths. I decided to focus majorly on sex and wrote my books on it when I saw youths and teens being admitted to the hospital because of abortions, HIV/AIDS and other sex-related ailments daily. I have seen many of them die from complications. To encourage youths on abstinence, I preach the message of abstinence anywhere I find myself.

How do you see yourself in a few years time?

I see myself owning a big secretariat where youths and teens that need to be counseled, encouraged and motivated can come and receive hope. I see myself owning an orphanage/charity organisation where lives will be touched and hope will be given to hopeless children.

What do you think is the solution to the problem of Nigeria?

Nigeria is a country with great potential. The solutions to our problems lies first in the hands of God, and our leaders. We are all potential leaders so we all have a part to play in seeing Nigeria reach the Promised Land. Once we all can act as role models in our schools, homes and workplaces, within a short time, project, Nigeria will be a huge success.

Your final words for Nigerian youth?

I strongly believe there is a place called tomorrow for every Nigerian youth. We should remain optimistic and focused encourage ourselves; forget our past and look forward to a greater future. We should refuse to model people who are not worthy of emulation. Together we will make Nigeria a better place.

The emergence of cult groups in our tertiary institutions in the early times, I must emphasise again, was precipitated by socio-economic cum political factors and the radical zeal of the students to fight it. There was, therefore, a need to find relevance within this order. But gradually, and because of the highly intellectual nature of Soyinka and his friends it became apparent later that some students cannot fit into this class thus began the mushrooming of other groups or cults who constit

uted themselves into a protection group that fought and advanced the “rights and privileges” of their members including passing exams, acquiring girlfriends, accommodation, etc.That was when a noble idea began to derail, it happens anytime standards are lowered in any facet of life. What we are passing through today as a nation is because we lowered our standards for mediocrity to reign supreme, unfortunately this has permeated every area of our lives and we are now stuck in a quicksand; the more we strive to get out the more we sink in. One of the fallouts is this issue I’ve been discussing since last week.

The possible effects of cultism on the learning process cannot be exhausted as both intra and inter-cult clashes negatively affect students because it often leads to outbreak of violence on the campus which leaves students wounded, maimed or killed as the case may be. It sometimes leads to rustication or expulsion of both innocent and guilty students. There is no gainsaying the fact that when any of the aforementioned happens, the learning process, the psyche of students and the peace of the campus are adversely affected. In cases of closure, hospitalization, suspension or incarceration, the resultant effect is that learning is suspended for some period of time.

When the phenomenon became pronounced attempts were made to deal with it through the law. In 1989 Decree 47 was enacted. It pronounced jail term for any cultist found guilty by the Federal Government. Rivers State government also made a law stipulating a ten-year jail term without an option of fine for culprits of cultism.

One year into our current political dispensation that is in 2000, former President Olusegun Obasanjo issued a three-month ultimatum to all Vice-Chancellors to eradicate cultism from the campuses. Some higher institutions also set up anti-cult groups consisting of the student bodies and some security agents to monitor and check the activities of cultists on campus.

This Presidential ultimatum backfired and was seen as an exercise in futility because the VCs were under pressure from the Government to keep their jobs and they found collaborators in their students who came out, denouncing cults they never belonged to. Criticism trailed the ultimatum with some saying the existence of these cults can never be exterminated by such an exercise that reeks of heavy financial inducement, psychological manipulation and draconian laws as cultism subsists and escalates on our campuses not because of the absence of penal legislations that spell out sanctions but a manifestation of the dysfunctionality of the society. Cultism, the argument goes, is not only present in our tertiary institutions but in all levels of our educational system and a lasting solution to the problem, therefore, lies outside the purview of draconian laws and naked power show.

It is not surprising that the proliferation of cult groups continues unabated perhaps due to the lukewarm attitude of the government and the university authorities to enforce the rules. There are even allegations that some Vice-Chancellors were sponsoring cult activities in their universities to silence voices of dissent or to give perks to known cult members to keep them in check. This line of reasoning is rife in some campuses.

The proliferation of cults, if we are honest with ourselves, still boils down to the total collapsed of our value system, and unless we go back to recreate what values we want to drive the way we relate to one another the menace will continue. Sometimes I wonder why Moral Education which served as our compass in the society was expunged from the educational curriculum. It should be re-introduced for spiritually reawakening. The parents, religious organizations and government are to work jointly on this measure. Parents should be more vigilant about the activities of their children within and outside the home.

The home front for me is fundamental because that is where the character of an individual is supposed to be formed. I listened to an interview granted CNN last week by the South Sudanese super model Alek Wek where she said what kept her head high in the volatile fashion industry were the values her late father instilled in her, today she is a super model touching the lives of thousands in her home country which is still recovering from years of one of the most brutal civil wars in Africa. Wek, who escaped to London at the age of fourteen was able to withstand the negative culture and values of the West because her father planted a seed in her heart that served as her moral compass through life. That is what value does, it transcends boundaries which is why The Bible in Proverbs 22v6 says “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Wek did not turn from that ancient path.

Speaking with some undergraduates on the issue, I discovered that majority of those who enlist in cults are either forced to or were not abreast of the hard facts about cultism at the outset. “Jambites” are lured in by rosy promises of dominion on campus, protection from “enemies” and other “forces.” But then, the tolls begin sooner than later. There are frequent reports of students who had lost their lives in the stiff initiation rites. Then the survivors, far from protection, become targets of rival cults; are hounded by the police, the campus, the student union authorities and the civilized world.

Cult groups on campuses come in shades. There are the hardened and the peripheral. The latter quickly shed their obnoxious affiliation once they fling the doors of the Ivory Towers behind them, barely enduring the frightening reign of chaos. The former are career cultists who would graduate to mind-boggling dare-devilry. Whichever one, they can all be re-orientated into orderly, civilized conduct.

I approached some undergraduates for solutions from inside and the summary of their suggestions include; improved facilities and living conditions on campuses so as to minimize perceived strain in the social system most say underlines cultism. They also suggested that universities should be reorganized, funded and provided with sports facilities so as to make them attractive, involving, so that youthful exuberances of students will find a rewarding outlet in competitive sports like football, athletics and others which could engage students in their spare times. They also said effort where students form vigilante groups to monitor cultists should be encouraged. Prompt action concerning cases of cultism is also a necessary condition as delay in taking actions against offenders worsens the situation. It is suggested that any member of the public, no matter how highly placed, linked with the activities of cultism in campus should be tracked down and brought to book.

Finally, they said the elite class is heavily culpable for the menace of cultism in the universities as some percentage of the pool of bodyguards, assassin squads and rabble-rousers they conscript are cultists. “Most politicians now recruit educated bodyguards or assassins because they can think and won’t leave trails,” one of the students told me,” and where do you find them? You find them as cultists on university campuses.”

Medical Laboratory Science students from 12 universities converged in Calabar for their annual conference. ISAAC MENSAH (500-Level, University of Calabar) reports.

 

MEDICAL Laboratory Science students from 12 universities converged on Calabar, Cross River State capital, last week for their 38th Annual National Biomedical Conference.

The conference of the Nigerian Medical Laboratory Science Students Association (NIMELSSA) was tagged:Canaan City 2012. Participants arrived for the programme on Monday and were camped at Edgerly Memorial Girls Secondary Schools, Calabar.

On Tuesday, the students, clad in branded shirts, moved in a carnival-like procession round the town to the public about the event. The following day, the programme was declared open at Monty Suites conference room at 12 noon.

The chairman on the occasion, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, represented by Prof Emmanuel Uko, a haematologist at the UNICAL Teaching Hospital (UCTH), said the conference was necessary to enable students appreciate their discipline more.

The UNICAL chapter president, Edet Ame, in her welcome address, said the choice of the conference theme was expedient following outbreaks of Lassa Fever in parts of the country, Ebonyi State in particular. She stressed that the outbreak underscored the need for public enlightenment and awareness about the scourge.

The national president of the association, Chiladi Isomah, said the essence of the programme was to empower students academically and professionally. He thanked the guest lecturer, Prof Dennis Agbonlahor, for accepting the responsibility.

Prof Agbonlahor, a former Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University(AAU), spoke on Public health implication of Lassa Fever: The role of medical laboratory scientists. He said Lassa fever, a disease caused by a single stranded Ribonucleic Acid virus of the Arenaviridae family and transmitted to humans by rodents, derived its name from a remote village called Lassa in Borno State. He urged the Federal Government to establish zonal diagnostic offices for Lassa Fever in the six geopolitical zones to eradicate the disease.

After the lecture, the students inaugurated NIMELSSA Coaster bus project.

Dignitaries at the event were the UNICAL Vice Chancellor, Prof James Epoke; head of Medical Laboratory Science Department Dr Inyang Etoh; Obong of Calabar Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V; Deputy Provost, UNICAL College of Medicine, Prof Anne Asuquo, and Dr Chris Omoto, an Associate Professor.

Omoto, in his lecture, noted that early diagnosis of Lassa Fever was the best prevention for the scourge, which he described as a fast killer. He said: “After six days of infection, symptoms manifest and it becomes difficult to even treat. Thus, early treatment is required, and for the treatment to be effective, there must be early diagnosis.”

On Thursday, the participants visited Tinapa Business Resort. It was funfare at the water slide and sport pool as the students played volleyball, snooker and table tennis. The next day, the association organised a quiz contest tagged “Busy Brain Quiz Competition”. It was held at the UNICAL Conference Centre.

There were 21 questions to be answered with 30 seconds per question. It was keenly competed by participating universities. At the end of the quiz, AAU emerged winners while UNICAL took second position and EBSU came third.

The winner, Ikede Ehizojie, a 500-Level student of AAU, told CAMPUSLIFE that he did not prepare for the competition. He said he was happy on his success, adding that the feat would make people change their views about AAU, which he described as the fountain of intellectualism and knowledge.

In the evening, all roads led to the UNICAL Hotel, where an award and gala night was held. The event featured a beauty pageant.

Twenty-eight persons were honoured by the students for their efforts in raising the status and prestige of the profession. The people awarded included the Obong of Calabar, Elder Barivole Jacob, Dr Opuada Stowe and Dr Chris Elemuwa, among others. The duo of Collins Agene, a student of AAU and Victoria Edet of UNICAL emerged Mr and Miss NIMELSSA. They were presented with prizes.

The students concluded the conference with an election into the national executive council of the association. The election produced Onos Jegede, a student of AAU. Onos said he would not betray the confidence reposed in him by his colleagues.

A 300-Level participant from RSUST, Victor Denor, told CAMPUSLIFE the conference was educative.

University of Calabar (UNICAL), University of Benin (UNIBEN), Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Macdonald University, Imo State University (IMSU), Usmanu Danfodio University (UDU), Sokoto, University of Jos (UNIJOS), Igbinedion University, Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Niger Delta University (NDU) and University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) participated at the conference. Each chapter was led by its president.

Students are fostering unity through cultural and traditional festivals on campuses. ESTHER MARK (400-Level Mass Communication, University of Jos) writes.

 

The hall was filled to capacity. Students, lecturers and other guests were ready for the programmes packaged for the event.

The compere, who wore a typical Igbo regalia, took the audience unawares. He chanted: Cha cha cha Igbo Kwenu! Ya; rie unu, ya; zuo unu, ya; nuo nu, ya; kwezuonu, O. The audience thundered back: Ya!

Lyrical tunes flowed from local gongs and drums during a musical interlude. With this, the atmosphere was electrified and it was time for the day’s business.

This was the setting at the yearly Igbo Students’ Cultural Day at the University of Jos (UNIJOS). During the programme, each tribe in Nigeria was represented by its registered union on campus.

Over the years, students cultural backgrounds have used the platform to foster unity among themselves. From the Southeast to the Southwest and to the North, students always defy geopolitical divisions to embrace one another’s culture to promote unity.

In campuses, there are registered indigenous associations, which are expected to associate with other cultural unions to encourage understanding. In UNIJOS, over 30 indigenous associations are registered. Virtually all ethnic groups in Plateau State have unions on the campus. At the meetings of these associations, the welfare of members and accommodation of other ethnic nationalities for the agencies.

Students and Corps members attended a workshop organised by Face-Out Malaria and AIDS (FOMA) penultimate week to discuss the spread of HIV/AIDS. GILBERT ALASA (400-Level Foreign Languages, University of Benin) was there.

 

ART of the objectives of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is to ensure that people are aware of their vulnerability to the deadly scourge. But recent reports showed that, despite funding, the transmission of HIV/AID is increasing, especially in developing countries. Experts believe that more community-based sensitisation programmes, investment in health facilities and personal responsibility are needed to fight the disease.

But how far can these go? This was the question raised penultimate week at a sensitisation workshop organised by a non-governmental organisation, Face-Out Malaria and AIDS (FOMA). Founded in 2005 to create awareness among the rural dwellers, FOMA, through its programmes, appears poised to restore hope to communities that are vulnerable to deadly diseases.

According to its co-ordinator, Olatunde Adeoti, a student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan (Ibadan Poly), the NGO has held HIV/AIDS-related programmes in more than 90 communities in Oyo State, with intervention programmes on malaria.

The event took place at the 500-capacity hall on the Saki campus of the polytechnic. In attendance were the Okere of Saki, Oba Sheikh Kilani Olatoyese; the Rector, Mr Adeniran Adebisi, Chief Host, Dr Y.Y. Muslim, representatives of Family Health International (FHI), officials of Local Action Committee on Aids (LACA) and Roll Back Malaria Programme and students.

In a lecture entitled Health-related MDGs: Is Nigeria on the brink?, the guest lecturer Dr M. O. Adewunmi, a Virologist from University College Hospital, Ibadan, decried the poor attitude of government, which according to him, had worsened the prevalence of the disease in the country. He urged governments to establish more treatment centres.

“Governments have a role to play in achieving better health standards for its citizens. But what we have here in Nigeria is high degree of poverty and low education, which are responsible for the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country, “he noted.

Adeoti charged Nigerians to emulate philanthropists that were making impact through their huge investments in combating global pestilences. He said: “We must believe in ourselves and in our capacity to adapt to the challenges we face as a society to ensure our country is free of HIV/AIDS.”

Awards were conferred on selected persons that contributed to the campaign against the virus and the outgoing members of the association.

The event also witnessed the launch of the maiden edition of a magazine tagged FOMA Herald. Adeoti commended the editorial crew of the magazine for realising the publication within a short time frame. Afterwards, a drama presentation on malaria and HIV/AIDS followed. The audience described the performance as “extraordinarily captivating”. In a bid to assert the brand leadership of the magazine, FOMA Herald King and Queen were crowned. A member of the editorial team told CAMPUSLIFE that the purpose of the crowning was to have annual brand ambassadors for the publication.

Aside the sensitisation rally held a day before the conference, there was also free HIV screening and counselling on the campus for students. Corps members serving in the area coordinated the screening sessions.

Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, a Corps member, Sunday Ugwu, said the war against HIV would be successful in rural areas when young people are employed.

Adeoti hinted that the war against HIV/AIDS was challenging at the grassroots due to the over-concentration of health resources in the urban areas. “Personally, I am yet to see tangible investments to combat the disease in rural areas. If the Millennium Development Goals must be achieved in 2015, individuals and corporate bodies must make spirited efforts by way of investments. We are all part of this global threat. Let us together save our generation.”