Category: Campus Life

This is certainly the season of strikes. First, it was the Academic Staff Union of Universities who locked horns with Federal Government over unmet demands. Recently, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) entered the fray. Nevertheless, students in polytechnics across the country want all issues resolve before the union embarks on an indefinite strike. CALEB IJIOMA (AAP) reports.

These are sad times for students who attend public universities or polytechnics in the country. There seems to be no end to the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). As if that is not enough, polytechnic lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), also downed tools over the inability of the Federal Government to accede to their demands.

Prior to that, the union gave a month ultimatum to Federal Government at its National Executive Council meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, held in March 2022, to meet its demands or face the closure of all polytechnics.
The ultimatum expired on 4th May,2022. Hence,they embarked on a 2-week warning strike which started May 16.

ASUP National president, Anderson Ezeibe, in an interview with CAMPUS LIFE said their demands were clear. He noted that embarking on an industrial action was legitimate and the union had no choice since the Federal Government failed to respect their agreement.

Ezeibe said the union suspended its 61-day strike in 2021 following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Government.

” It is for the government to meet the demands, the demands are quite straightforward, and we have also given more than enough time. In 2021, after 61 days, we suspended our strike for 3 months, the 3-month period of suspension expired on the 12th of September last year. Between September and now, we have been patient enough,” he said.

The union is demanding the release of the N15bn revitalisation fund to address the decay in infrastructure in the sector, payment of outstanding arrears of minimum wage, the release of reviewed normative instruments for institutions, management, and accreditation, the appointment of rectors, and addressing the breach of the provisions of the Federal Polytechnic Act as amended in 2019.

CAMPUS LIFE gathered that Yaba College of Technology(YABATECH), Lagos, Isa Mustapha Agwei Polytechnic, Lafia, Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti, have joined the 2-week warning strike.

Students are however worried about the grave effect this strike would have on their studies. Therefore, they are calling the Federal Government to fulfill its agreement with the union to avert an indefinite industrial action.

 

Students seek end to strike

Precious Okafor, a student at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Ojere, Ogun State, appealed to the Federal Government to grant ASUP demands and halt an indefinite strike that would delay students.

“ With the ASUP strike, our academic journey is being slowed down. Our examination is close. Education should be treated as a priority and not an option. The Federal Government should do something about their request. It is not easy teaching students for months without getting paid, where does the government expect them to get money to feed ? I appeal to our leaders to grant ASUP’s request,” she said.

Omokehinde Yusuf of Federal Polytechnic Ilaro (FPI),Ogun State, said the strike was a setback for students. He urged the Federal Government to do the needful by meeting the union’s demands.

His words: “It is a setback for students. I am begging the Federal Government to please answer ASUP and do the needful.”

Abdullahi Babatunde, a student at the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, (OYSCATECH), Igbo Ora,Oyo State, said the strike has increase the hardship of polytechnic students because a lot has been spent on hostel rents. It is, however,not refundable.

“In a period like this when the economy of the country is nothing to write home about, the strike has increased the hardship of polytechnic students as a lot has been spent on hostel rents. Such fees are not refundable. If the union embarks on an indefinite strike, as the election draws closer, polytechnic students will become a tool in the hands of callous and selfless politicians.

“This can lead to loss of lives of our colleagues. The condition of our lecture rooms and learning environment will worsen before the end of the strike,it will negatively impact academic activities.

“ The strike will make students idle and even encourage some social vices in the community. Now, students who source money from school through some petty small business would suffer.

“Hence, leaders should meet the demands of the union and prevent an indefinite strike,” he said.

Teniola Amoo, a Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti student, said incessant strike by lecturers is discouraging students from obtaining a higher institution degree in Nigeria.

“Why is it so hard for them to settle ASUP? At this rate, lecturers are always going on strike, most students won’t even want to go to school anymore in Nigeria. This is terrible,they should consider our future and reach a compromise,” she said.

Olamiju Olatomiwa of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic(AAP) berated certain individuals for obtaining the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential form and turning a blind eye to the challenges rocking the education sector.

“ ASUP strike, if it extends beyond the initial two weeks, will lead to a total lockdown of major tertiary institutions in the country and yet each day we hear someone getting nomination form to contest for president. They can pay N100 million for just a form in APC but cannot solve lingering educational crisis. Now we have to contend with unnecessary delay. It seems the education of students is of less concern to the Federal Government.

“They should take the educational system so seriously as they would to the forthcoming elections. The Federal Government should seat with the leadership of ASUP and discuss their needs and how to address the situation,” he said.

Adeleke Opeyemi, a student at Oke Ogun Polytechnic Saki, Oyo State, said students who wish to undergo their National Youth Service Corps Programme would be delayed further.

“My school calendar has already been affected by COVID-19 which has already deprived me of NYSC. Now, if the strike is prolonged, my plan will be affected again and most students will also be affected. Three of my friends will clock 30 soon, and our prayer is that we should have finished before they clock 30 so they can go for service. Any prolonged would cut short our dreams,” he said.

Abidemi Joseph, a student at Gateway Polytechnic, urged the Federal Government to listen to the demands of ASUP to avoid toying with future of students.

“The government should please listen to ASUP. I can’t afford to stay at home because of any indefinite strike.This will affect students and the education sector in general,” she said.

 

Student leaders urge Fed Govt to accede to ASUP’s demands

President,National Association of Polytechnic Students ( NAPS ), Asiegbu Kingsley, urged the Federal Government to look into incessant industrial actions by lecturers and provide a solution.

He appealed to the government to listen to the demands of ASUP or face a peaceful demonstration by students in Abuja.

“ We humbly appeal to the Federal Government to listen to the demands of the union. There have been incessant industrial actions across the country, hence, that looks like the norm in the education system. Attention to this plea will help salvage our future. We have neither seen nor heard a good father promising his children bread and giving them stones. We may not hesitate to go on a shutdown Abuja peaceful demonstration,” he said.

Also corroborating the president’s statement, the senate president of the association, Adeniji Temitope, said students would not allow any political gathering if lecturers’ demands are not met.

“If ASUP embarked on another strike action now it will have negative effects on Students, delay in graduation, unbalanced academic calendar among others. We want the Federal Government to desist from this nonchalant attitude towards our lecturers because we are not going to allow any golitical gathering or whatsoever to go on until our lecturers are attended to,” he said.

In addition, the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology Igboora (OYSCATECH), student union president, Oladokun Babatunde pleaded with polytechnic lecturers to be considerate in their actions and consider thousands of Nigerian students.

” The Federal Government should look into this very fast before things get out of hands as ASUP are already planning to go on an indefinite strike, which is going to put an end to the academic calendar. They should address all lingering issues.”

“I also plead with the management of each institution, lecturers and the Federal Government to consider thousands of polytechnic students as our education is our pride,” he said.

 

Hope on the horizon, Fed Govt pays minimum wage arrears

ASUP President, Anderson Ezeibe in a chat with CAMPUS LIFE noted that the Federal Government, last Wednesday commenced the payment of lecturers’ minimum wage arrears, which is a part of the union demands.

While speaking on the union’s industrial action and if all demands would be met before the strike can be called off, he said: “Not necessarily, the strike is a two- week warning strike, it is like a protest.”

He, however, noted that members of the public will be briefed about the union’s next line of action after a week.

“We are going to brief members of the media, the two weeks warning strike will end on Sunday. This coming Sunday. It is just a week old now. We are going to brief members of the public as time goes on,” he said.

Tertiary students across the country have decried the killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto State.They want government to bring her killers to book and curtail the excesses of religious extremists. Report CALEB IJIOMA (AAP), PEACE OLADIPO (FUOYE), TOSIN ODUNEWU (UNILAG), SAMUEL AGBELUSI (AAUA), FORTUNE AMAECHI (ABSU) and GLORY THOMAS (OGITECH).

Last Thursday, social media users and students across the country received with shock the death of Miss Deborah Samuel, a 200-Level Economics student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Wamako, Sokoto State.

CAMPUS LIFE gathered that the cause of her death was  a voice note the deceased sent to her class’ WhatsApp group. She was said to have protested  the incessant sending of Muslim messages to the group by her mates.

The voice note made in Hausa was translated as:  “This group chat was not created for you to be sending nonsense. It is for past questions, updates about tests … Not for nonsense or some rubbish prophet.”

She was later accused of blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammed (SAW), killed and her corpse set ablaze.

Her murder has since sparked outrage across the country with many condemning it and calling for perpetrators to face the wrath of the law.

The Sokoto State Government also shut the school till further notice.

 

Students incensed, want govt to bring

perpetrators to book

Mohammed Halimat-Oyibo, a student at  Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, condemned the killing of Deborah. She described it as a sin.

“For me, it was a wrong action to take. There is no religion that says kill because your religion was insulted. Killing is a sin already. The government should make sure those arrested in connection to her murder should face the law,” she said.

Toheeb Shittu of the Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic said the police and relevant authorities should avoid playing hide and seek and those involved should be severely dealt with.

“First, the event is a reflection of how far we have failed as a nation; letting religious beliefs reduce how we see ourselves. People now praise religion over humanity and it is  a slap on the faces of every single person that claims ‘religious’ but does not regard the essence of humanity. It is hard to solve this issue and the government has much to do.

“The killers have to face death sentences. This is not the time for the Police and relevant authorities to play hide and seek. All those involved in the death of Deborah need to be arrested and made to face the full extent of the law,” he said.

A student at Obafemi Awolowo Univerisity (OAU), Abiodun Adesanya, said the murder of Deborah was an unfortunate but avoidable incident. He advised  religious leaders to  be careful with their teachings.

He said: “The gruesome murder of Deborah Samuel is an unfortunate but avoidable event. This is not the first time we are experiencing such in this country, particularly in the northern region. There are ways to curb this ignominy.   The Federal Government and particularly the Sokoto Government must bring  Deborah’s killers to book. Justice delayed is justice denied. If this is not done, no one knows the next “Deborah”.

“Religious leaders should be careful with what they teach their subjects.

‘’The government also needs to encourage formal western education in the north, even as religion should be inculcated in their syllabus.”

Amanda Odiete of the University of Benin said the school should remain shut and perpetrators made to face the law.

“Her murderers must be apprehended, the school should be shut down for a while,” she said.

Olagija Oluwapleumi, a student of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) said the constitution needs to be made rigid to avoid a  recurrence.

“The death of Deborah is saddening. It is  a clear display of  the government’s failure to secure students’ lives, even Nigerian lives as a whole. It’s quite awful that the Nigerian constitution is flexible, and the only way to avoid the recurrence of this is to have a rigid constitution.Nobody has the   right to kill for blasphemy, I hope  the government will do the needful,” she said.

Eunice Musa, a student at the University of Abuja, said the government should investigate and ensure that the school is penalised for not curtailing the issue. She said government needs to ensure that the activities of religious extremists are not tolerated.

“A similar situation occurred in Kano some time ago, a woman was killed and a rich official bought the case (used the money to take over the case and ensured the release of the perpetrator). What the government should do is investigate why a school didn’t even have security and if they had one, why was no report made?

“Another thing should be ensuring that  activities  of religious extremists are no longer  tolerated,” she said.

Oladapo Kehinde Olawale, a 400-Level student at Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ogun State,said: “It is heartbreaking to hear the death of a fellow student. Government should ensure it deals with everyone involved without any  bias.”

Oyewole Jeremiah, a student at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY),Ogun State, said:  “The murder of  Deborah  is totally unacceptable and  culprits must not go scot-free.  Students must be taught how to tolerate each other.”

A student at  Landmark University,Omu Aran, Kwara State Michael Uzoma noted that the deceased deserves   justice.

Ayo Genesis, a student at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State,said: “It is indeed  sad because the girl in question did not do any thing strange. According to some Muslims, this is not even the first time such would happen, so why that kind of treatment?  Justice must be served.”

Chime Augustine, a student at Modibbo Adama University of Technology(Federal University of Technology) Yola,said mankind has always found excuses to perpetuate evil.

His words: “My experience with these religion extremists is a very bad one. It is only God that is saving us the Christians in their area. This has been going on for years not just today.”

He noted that with education and  poverty reduction,  religious extremism can be curbed.

“Religion is one of the excuses mankind uses to perpetuate evil. The only thing to be done is to improve the standard of our society and improve our education.

“Maybe with education and poverty reduction,we can curb religious extremism. Government can do that by  putting the necessary things in place,” he said.

Peter Adekunle, a Law student at  Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba- Akoko, said: “This is a barbaric act that needs to be thoroughly investigated. If the matter is not carefully handled,it can escalate into a religious war. Those culpable should be severely punished.”

Aiyegbeni Esther, a 200-Level University of Lagos (UNILAG) student, said: “If the penalty for speaking out against something was death, a lot of people would have been dead by now.

“Her death was uncalled for, it was just the forceful taking of a young life.

“Also, if we want to be honest, it seems very   difficult to curb religious extremism, especially when the people are deeply rooted in it. The law says we are not to go into jungle justice but report any activity or anyone to the Police. If that act had been reported, I am  sure the story would not have been like this.

“Maybe it is time for the government to do what killers do too. When you kill unworthily, you in turn will be killed because these senseless killings are saddening.”

However, Ogundimu Ololade, a student at Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, believes the case would be swept under the carpet.

” I do not  see  government doing anything about it.This is not the first time this is  happening.  It is a recurring decimal. If the government really wanted to take action towards tackling religious extremism, it would have done it,” he said.

Oladipo Ayobami, a student at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, said: “In  this century and age, our eyes should be open. We are students and we are expected to be humane than this. I felt bad. Religion should not create terrorists out of us.

“The government must ensure justice prevails. Those responsible should be brought to book,they should be made a lesson to others who may have this kind of intention.”

Oyindamola Rihanat, a 300-Level  Mass Communication student at Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) described the act as unjustifiable, stressing that it underscored the tense security situation of the country.

Her words: ” It is unjust and it feels like we have no government. We live in a lawless country.  How would students feel comfortable burning another student right on campus? The act is unjustifiable and it underlines the  terrible security situation of the country.

‘’As far as  I am concerned,  government needs to act right and punish the offenders severely  to serve as warning to others.”

Hussein Abdulbasit, National President, Political Science Students, said: “What happened in Sokoto is a simple and complex case of injustice by the ignorant ones who  hide under the umbrella of  religion to show their intolerance.

‘’Blasphemy is not good, Islam frowns at it, but Islam does not give anyone or group the right to serve justice on anyone unless by the appropriate authority.

“The mob that killed  Deborah, are they the Sultanate council to have done that? So, irrespective of what Deborah did  to have stirred the rage, the same Prophet teaches us to be calm in the face of anger in one of his reported collections of Ahadith (sayings of the prophet).

“Dike Chukwumerije, one of the foremost Nigerian performance poets, noted that  no society can rise above mentality.

‘’As a nation, there was the need for mutual respect between the two dominant religions.

Deborah was angry that  Muslims were sending religious messages to the class group. She reacted to the point of being accused of blasphemy.

“The Muslims in the same group were not patient enough until this inhuman act was carried out.

“The realisation of mutual respect for each other would make us accept that Christians are living in Saudi Arabia and Muslims are living in Europe collectively.”

Johnson Wisdom, a  400-Level FUOYE student said: ‘’I feel Nigeria as a country should have gone past religious discrimination. It is  against protection of human right. It is  against our morals/values. It is against our constitution, it’s against our culture.

“It should not be encouraged. It is an enemy of civilisation. May this country know peace and unity.

“The government should act according to the  constitution and  ensure the protection of all citizens irrespective of religion or ethnic group and deal with perpetrators.”

A UNILAG student who craved anonymity said:” Peaceful coexistence is almost impossible when there is no similarity,  in any aspect of life with the northerners. Educational system,  legal system, marriage system language, duties and cultural practices; none are the same or even alike.”

CAN condemns killing, seeks justice

Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has condemned the killing of Deborah and called on the Federal Government to investigate the murder and “swiftly bring perpetrators to justice”.

In a statement entitled: ‘Deborah’s Killers Must Be Brought To Book’, CAN’s  General Secretary, Joseph Bade Daramola, described killing for any God as ungodly, satanic, foolish, reprehensible, and unacceptable. He warned the government and the security agencies against treating perpetrators of such dastardly acts with kid gloves.

The statement reads:  “The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) condemns in strong terms the gruesome murder of a Christian, 200-Level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Deborah Samuel by some extremist fellow students on alleged blasphemy.

‘’The unlawful and dastardly action of the perpetrators must not only be condemned by all right-thinking people but the security operatives must fish them out, and prosecute them as is expected of them.

 

“It is the failure of the security agencies and the government to rise to such criminalities in the past that gave birth to terrorists and bandits. And as long as the State fails to bring these beasts and criminals amidst us to book, society will continue to be their killing fields.

 

“We acknowledge the swift reaction of His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III who not only condemned the criminal and religious intolerant action but called on the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice. We expect that the State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, would ensure that the matter is not swept under the carpet, as it was before.

 

“Killing for any God in the name of blasphemy is ungodly, satanic, foolish, reprehensible, and unacceptable. This is not a Stone Age and Nigeria is not the Banana Republic. Nigeria remains a non-religious State where no religion is supreme to the other.

 

“We acknowledge and commend the restraint of the Christian students of the College who refused to embrace self-help and reprisal attacks on those who murdered their colleague. It is our prayer that those vampires in religious garments will not push the country to a religious war. This is why both the government and the security agencies must stop treating them with kid gloves. Enough is enough”.

A University of  Lagos graduate of Philosophy, Bola Agunbiade, has said students prefer studying abroad as a result of  the insecurity in the country, among other challenges.

“Nigerians travel abroad to study because of   insecurity  and the general apprehension in the country. Even if you are financially buoyant but do not feel safe, of what good is your money? People resign from high paying jobs just to relocate themselves and their families abroad,” she said.

In an interview with CAMPUS LIFE, the graduate urged the government to stop paying lip service to education.

Agunbiade, who said incessant industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU), had done more harm than good, called on Federal Government to agree to the union’s demands.

“The government might not be able to give them all that they (ASUU) are demanding, but it is important that they reach a compromise. It  should do all it  can to meet ASUU’s demands, maybe not all. It is the union’s right, and their members see all that obtains in the private universities, what their contemporaries are getting, and they feel something must be done for them too. At least, for the sake of Nigeria and the youth, this strike should end so that schools can resume,” she said.

Agunbiade, however, charged government to provide  public universities with standard facilities to enhance learning.

“Public universities should  have facilities fit for a school. For example, it is theory they do most of the time, so, it is until they graduated from the school that some of them became exposed to the practical and modern aspect of their courses. Many standard facilities are not available in public universities.

“Many Nigerians want to go to school to acquire education, but the facilities are just not there. So, the facilities need to be made available in universities. The absence of that is what results to people who studied a course in the university and go to an entirely different profession for work. For some of them, they were not properly exposed to standard facilities,” she added.

The Director of International Office, Aston University, United Kingdom (U.K.), Matthew Dean, has reiterated the  institution’s commitment to assisting   Nigerian students who want to study abroad.

Dean told CAMPUS LIFE last week that  the university would provide jobs   for students who plan to stay after their studies.He added that the institution is one  of the  universities in the UK  to offer such.

He said: “We have  many Nigerian  students who  have come to study in Aston University in the last 30 years. So we are  to talk to students that are interested in coming to Aston in Birmingham, it is a really good time to study in the UK at the moment because not only are we post-pandemic, we are moving back to normal teaching and face to face.

‘’The UK government also announced the graduate immigration route visa for students who graduate with a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate degree which means after they finish studying they can do two years of working in the UK.”

Dean also said the institution was focused on offering high-quality courses in business, management studies, engineering, law and social sciences.

He stressed the need for students to have employability skills.

His words: “The job market as we all know is very competitive.  It is not good enough just to have your academic study you also need your employability skills.”

The Regional Manager, Africa, of the  university, Babajide  Ogundeji, said  various scholarships  were available for students.

He  added: “Each year we send over £2 million to cover scholarship costs across the globe. We increased it this year to £3 million. Nigerian students studying with us can enjoy between the scholarship opportunity. Last year, a Nigerian student won an enterprise scholarship which is full funding. The scholarship goes to students that are academically qualified and motivated. In the last one year, we got over  400 students from Nigeria.”

 

An international student from the Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, Janet Akor, has called on the Lagos State Government and Lagosians to take concrete actions toward ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment.

Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, she sought the full participation of Lagosians in collaboration with the Clean Community Campaign (CCC) to create awareness among citizens on the need for environmental consciousness.

This, she said, was due to the growing population and the vast economy of the state.

She said the campaign was dedicated to addressing the consequences of environmental degradation through periodic sensitisation online and offline.

Akor stressed the need for healthy living and proper waste disposal while encouraging them to take responsibility for the cleanliness of their own community.

According to Akor, the population of Lagos was growing 10 times faster than that of New York and Los Angeles, noting that Nigeria’s most densely populated city had almost 25 million people and was increasing to about 600,000 yearly.

“As with many cities in developing countries, many residents lack an adequate water supply and sanitation: fundamental human rights essential for the health of all people.

“Poor access to improved water and sanitation in Nigeria remains a major contributing factor to high morbidity and mortality rates among children under five,” she said.

She stated that the use of contaminated drinking water and poor sanitary conditions result in increased vulnerability to water-borne diseases, including diarrhoea which leads to the deaths of more than 70,000 children under five yearly.

“Nigeria is already experiencing the effects of climate change. There are variable and extreme weather events: increased temperatures, variable precipitation, floods, droughts, desertification, land degradation, and loss of biodiversity.

“These changing weather patterns are already disrupting livelihoods, leading to even deeper impoverishment and conflicts over the dwindling resources,” she added.

 

Rational drug use entails essential parameters that require patients ‘to receive medications that are appropriate to their clinical needs, in doses that meet their individual requirements, for an adequate period of time and at the lowest cost.’  This concept automatically confers some rights and more on drug use.

It is germane to note that  a particular drug may have numerous classes. It is the duty of the prescriber to choose which will be the best for a particular patient in the eradication of a particular disease. For example, for a patient with  bacterial infection, there are different classes of antibacterials such as: the penicillins (e.g amoxicillin), the fluoroquinolones (e.g ciprofloxacin), the cephalosporins (e.g cefuroxime), the macrolides (e.g azithromycin) etc, but  to achieve an effective therapeutic outcome, the best will be chosen based on some clinical and patient-based considerations.

As for the right clinical condition, a patient who needs to be treated for hypertension should receive what is strictly deserved and not being managed for an ailment he/she  is not nursing. As simple as this sounds, it is not an overstatement to say that people fail  in this regard. Common in clinical settings are scenarios wherein patients would not  be satisfied with just one drug no matter how loud their health-care giver is. For instance, from experience, malaria treatment is not yet complete until you add an antibiotic for  many.  Even if there is no slightest exhibition of a bacterial infection, not even when you ask them to go  for a test and it glaringly  proves otherwise.

No matter how severe a particular disease condition, it will never in any way alter the dose prescribed by your health care giver.

Also, this is one of the situations wherein self-medication is really discouraged. Even if you are using a right drug for the right clinical condition, the dosage you require may be entirely different from that of the next person with due justifications by your prescriber. Let them do the job they got schooled and paid for.

Drugs should also be administered via the right route. Due to one or  more considerations, your prescriber is at liberty to choose the best route to introduce a medication for your best interest. Routes of drug administration include: oral (the mouth), sublingual (under the tongue), subcutaneous (beneath the skin), intravenous, intramuscular, topical, inhalations, inserts etc. Choosing the best route for a particular patient is crucial  to  perfect drug administration.

Importantly, drugs should also be given at the right time.There is a high extent of predictability of a treatment failure for a patient who is placed on a drug to be taken every six hours (four times daily) when he or she knows fully well that the nature of their career will not give them the chance to follow such a regimen. As spelt out by your prescriber, drugs should be used  at the required time.

Drugs have specifications for storage and handling. Storing a drug that is meant to be kept under room temperature in a freezer, exposing a drug that would lose its efficacy upon getting in contact with atmospheric moisture, keeping a drug that is rather meant to be kept in a cold environment  in a hot place, the outcome is surely predictable.

Some would still go ahead to take  drugs that have  changed  colour or become smelly.  Sometimes, it is not always about the drug not ‘working,’ our inactions in handling may be a contributing factor too. Drugs can be babyish in nature too, hence, please handle with care.

Most drugs are chemical entities that can make or mar our body system depending on the kind of approach we embrace in administering them. It is important to listen to health care providers,  use the right drug for the right condition, via the right route and the right dosage at the right time.

 

 

Hydration is vital to the human body as it helps with

digestion, regulation of blood, flushing toxins, boosting skin health.

However,  people know dehydration is inadequate water in the body.

Overhydration is the imbalance of fluid caused by excessive consumption of water or the retention of more water than the kidney can remove from the body. It is also referred to as water intoxication, water poisoning or hyperhydration.

Drinking too much water decreases the sodium content of the blood which is called hyponatremia. Hyponatremia results in mild symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headache, loss of appetite, weight gain. It can also cause  more life-threatening problems such as  swelling in the brain, seizures, coma, heart failure, stroke and death, if left untreated for a long time.

There is no universally accepted water intake recommendation but the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2005 recommends 2.7 to 3.7 litres or 9 to 13 cups of water daily as the adequate intake. This could vary depending on factors such as age, gender, diet, weather, occupation and medical conditions.

An adult takes more water than a child would and the recommended water for men (3.7 litres, approximately 13 cups) is higher than for women (2.7 litres, nine cups) except when a woman is pregnant (10 cups) or breastfeeding (13 cups). A person who lives in Nigeria would drink more water than one who lives in Canada because of the difference in the weather.

Athletes who participate in endurance activities like marathons, long cycling races, triathlons,  rugby players and hiking are at higher risk of overhydration because they consume almost double the amount of water regular humans would. This could be corrected if the athlete eats more food rich in sodium and “intermittently switches between electrolyte drinks and regular water” between races.

Overconsumption of water could also be psychological. According to the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), “80 per cent of compulsory water drinkers represent neurotic females with a history of schizophrenia, depression and anxiety”.

Medical conditions such as diabetes, liver disease, congestive heart failure, kidney problems and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – Ibuprofen, diclofenac, aspirin etc – hamper the excretion of water from the body. Alcohol is also a major cause of water retention in the body.

Signs that you might be drinking too much water are, completely colourless urine (your urine should not be dark yellow or white), frequent excessive urination (the average human would pee every three to four hours), muscle cramps, weakness or spasms, excess sleepiness, swollen feet and lips, drinking water when you are not thirsty, lingering headaches etc.

Measures to prevent overhydration include,  keeping an eye on your urine colour, sipping water at intervals instead of chugging everything at once, talking to your doctor about your water intake if you have a special medical condition or are an athlete, and drinking  water when you are thirsty or with meals and reducing  water after taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or  alcohol.

 

• Odunewu is a student at University of Lagos (UNILAG).

 

 

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has given full accreditation to four courses run by Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos.

In a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellor,  Prof. Charles Ayo, the NUC listed the accredited four programmes as Microbiology, Computer Science and  Information Technology in the Faculty of Basic, Medical and Applied Sciences. Also accredited is Mass Communication in the Faculty of Arts, Management and Social Sciences.

Full accreditation was given to the four courses by the NUC following the accreditation that was carried out last December by a team of academics and professors from various universities across the country.

Following the success of the accreditation, Ayo expressed satisfaction with the exercise.

He said: “The fact that we got this done is a validation of the good work that we are doing as an institution. It is not an easy task for a university that is barely three years old to record such a feat.

“With the  accreditation granted, the degrees awarded in the four programmes by the university are valid and recognised. Thus, certificates issued to graduates are presentable anywhere in the world, and also acceptable and usable to mobilise for the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme,” he said.

He thanked members of council of the university and a staff for their dedication and urged them to continue to work harder to give the institution a good standing in the country  and globally.

Meanwhile, President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mrs. Comfort Olu Eyitayo,  has pledged the support of the institute to the university.

The ICAN President, Mrs. Comfort Olu Eyitayo, during a visit to the university, said the institute was building synergy with educational institutions across the country to ensure corporate governance and accountability.

She said her visit was imperative for  students to  realise the importance of the profession and keep its ethics.

Welcoming the president, Ayo expressed delight at the visit of the ICAN team to the institution.

He noted  that the school authorities would continue to look for opportunities for its students to collaborate, learn from experts and  add value to the society.

What a man can do, a woman may not necessarily do better, but she can do.

It has been said concerning women, that their place is the kitchen.

However, the status quo is fast changing in the 21st century. Women’s voices are being heard, but they have not been able to raise their heads and voices high enough.

Women are beings of unusual characteristics. Multitasking is one of their  major attributes. Women have been seen to be exceptional when they decide and have the opportunity  to exhibit their strength.

In business, in entertainment, Nigerian women  are soaring high. If given the opportunity, Nigerian politics would be much better with their input.

Women have ‘something’ to give to the governance of our dear country. They have solutions, ideas that, if  developed, would change the fortunes of the nation.

Women  should believe  in themselves that they can contribute to make the nation  better as ministers,  lawmakers, representatives and so on.

Women participate in electioneering.They constitute a majority. If they can channel their energy  and passion into supporting each other,  they would  surprise the male politicians.

In Rwanda, women have 50 per cent representation and men take the balance. We can also have a system like that in Nigeria. This will lead to an equitable society where  both genders participate actively in governance. The major reason every state presents a representative is to have the yearnings of that specific area and people heard.

Having the female gender coming into the circle of decision makers would bring an end to marginalisation as it were. Building great female political actors is not rocket science. It  starts from proper  upbringing of the girl-child. The average girl-child in Nigeria does not dream of becoming a politician. A larger percentage of female students studying political science do not dream of going into politics.This is because they believe, they do not have a chance. This is visible in school politics.

In our homes, a girl-child should be able to speak when the boy-child is speaking. A  girl-child who has the courage would become a woman of political power.

Education should be given to the girl- child. Women are exceptionally brilliant when they are given education. Education enhances the mind. The mind is regenerated through  knowledge.

Culture should not be a hindrance. In Nigeria, we adore our cultural values and this has helped us very much. Still, our cultural values should not be a barrier in the drive for of a better country. Queen Amina fought for her people. Neither should religion also stand against women exercising political powers.

In the Bible, Deborah saved her people from destruction. Our religious beliefs should allow women to have their voices and contributions in  politics and governance.

Women have proved to do exceptionally well, when given opportunity.

The media should also assist in propagating the need for women in politics. I have seen several male candidates receiving the coverage of the media, leaving females with their fate.

Political parties and sponsors seemingly do not get interested in supporting female candidates, either to be their representatives at the local, state and federal  levels. They do not see potentials in them. This has greatly made the few interested female candidates to lose interest. How many women can afford the sale of the All Progressive Congress nomination form of N100million?

Many cannot, they do not  have the financial muscle to activate their vision alone.

Men  are the head but the women are the neck. What’s the essence of being a leader without solutions, ideas and know-how to develop the nation? Men can play their role alongside women.

This is a clarion call to our fathers, husbands, sons, uncles, male colleagues  to support women. To help these women have impact on our  country.

We need more Queen Aminas of Zaria. We  need more Deborahs of the Bible to raise and help in achieving the Nigeria of our dreams. Women who are capable, not those who would vote, but those who would be voted for.

This is not a feminist call, but a call for female political giants to stand up and be counted. Women should be allowed to contribute their own quota too.

• Oladipo is a Mass Communication student at Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE).