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We are still addressing sundry misusages because there are so many to highlight that we cannot rest the issue yet. In fact, it might take a whole book to tackle just a little of the curious lot you see every day. This week’s selection is no less perplexing, as you would find out presently.

Sire

The way the verb sire is recklessly misused tends to get comical many a time. From such misusages, you get the impression that many writers’ understanding is that to sire is to give birth, and this could be attributed to anybody, man or woman. This is the wrong conception in the sentence below:

It must be the highest act of irresponsibility for a man and woman to sire children and set them loose into the world with begging bowls in hand.

‘A man and woman cannot sire children; only men sire children. Hear out the dictionary: to sire is “to become the father of a child. So, the writer’s idea has to be conveyed in another way, thus:

‘It must be the highest act of irresponsibility for a man and woman to produce children and set them loose into the world with begging bowls in hand.

‘Produce is used in the suggested correction to mean “bring into being.” That is what men and women do!’ (“Pop” Errors). A woman does not sire to become a mother. A woman will become a mother when she gives birth, puts to bed or is delivered of a baby.

Speak with/Speak to

Communication etiquette is the issue in the difficulty some experience in using these otherwise simple terms acceptably and correctly. Do not forget, that we have long agreed that communication must be courteous, among other things, to be effective. This is the central concern in highlighting common specimen misusages of these expressions as follows:

Jean spoke to his boss about the problem.

Here is what “Pop” Errors, says about the above misusage from the perspective of polical correctness, a euphemism for proper and courteous locutions: ‘This is a most politically incorrect usage, as it has not minded the highly nuanced meaning of the phrasal verb speak to. It is impolite for Jean to speak to his boss, unless he is seeking “a favour for somebody else” (Cowie & Mackin, Oxford Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs). Speak to is mostly used to refer to when you “scold, reproach somebody, with the aim of improving his conduct” (ibid.). It is more polite and politically correct for Jean to speak with his boss (that is, “have a conversation with” him) (OALD), as when “Moses went to speak with God, but God spoke to him.” The subordinate speaks with, while the superior speaks to.’

Staff

The word staff may qualify as the most misused English term. This columnist recently corrected a veteran journalist who used expressions like “he is a staff,” “they are staffs of this corporation,” asking him to say instead: “he is a staff member,” and “they are staff members . . . . He conceded grudgingly, but not forgetting to register his disagreement and displeasure with the condescending bite back, “well, if that’s what you prefer.” It was not just a matter of preference, but rules and correct usage. Next, we consider two specimen misusages, one after the other.

Read Also: Journalists, beware of fake news

 

(a)…The County Education Officer has put out a vacancy announcement to recruit five staffs.

“The issue here is the treatment of collective nouns. Because staff, as a collective noun, refers to the body of workers in an organization, it is not correct to write five staffs; to describe more than one individual worker, use staff members or members of staff, and for just one worker, a staff member or a member of staff. Use staffs only when describing more than one body of workers, for example, when talking of the staffs of two different corporations. But do not ever say two, three, four or five staffs in reference to individual staff members. We, therefore, recast, thus:

“The County Education Officer has put out a vacancy announcement to recruit five staff members” (“Pop” Errors).

And now the other example, which “introduces an interesting dimension:

(b). . .UNPOL said it was assigning a staff to coordinate with BIN on immigration issues, and BIN should deploy more staff in the marshal’s office which has only three staff currently.

“We already agree that it is incorrect to write a staff or three staff. That these gaffes occur in the same sentence shows how serious this problem can get. The expression more staff is, however, worth highlighting, because it is superb usage. It tells the reader that BIN should strengthen the body of staff members in the marshal’s office. But note that it will be wrong to say, deploy more staffs in the marshal’s office, for reasons already explained above” (“Pop” Errors).

Stationery

Once and for all, let us stop pluralizing the word stationery as in the sentence below:

Whether it is vehicles or television sets or stationeries, it was not Tony’s appetite alone that was at stake.

According to “Pop” Errors, “Stationery is one of those words that are not normally pluralized. There are several determiners or modifiers, thank goodness, to indicate a large quantity or variety of stationery, if and when required, such as: many items of stationery; many varieties of stationery and so forth. Meanwhile, we cure the afflicted sentence thus:

“Whether it is vehicles or television sets or stationery items, it was not Tony’s appetite alone that was at stake.”

 

 

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) is the backbone of infrastructural development, training and equipment procurement in public tertiary institutions.  However, JUSTINA ASISHANA reports that contractors’ failings, poor project implementation and opaqueness of project procedures are undermining the impact of the grant.

 

In 2010, the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna had only one capital project – construction of Cyber Security Science Department – funded by the Federal Ministry of Education. Nine years later, the project has not been completed because of inadequate funding. However, between 2010 and 2018, over 10 projects, embarked upon and funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in the university, have been completed.

Juxtaposing these situations, it is not surprising that most tertiary institutions execute projects through TETFund. They have come to rely heavily on this fund for the structural, physical and academic development of their institutions.

The 2011 TETFund Act established the intervention agency, with specific responsibility for managing, disbursing and monitoring the proceeds of the two percent education tax on assessable profits of registered companies. It is for public tertiary institutions.

Section 7(i) to (e) of the TETFund Act 2011 provides, among others, for the provision and maintenance of essential physical infrastructure for teaching and learning, instructional materials and equipment, research and publications, academic staff training and development and ‘any other need, which in the opinion of the Board of Trustees is critical and essential for the improvement of quality and maintenance of standards in higher educational institutions.

The Director, Central Research Laboratories of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. Musa Toyin Yakubu, said: “If there was no TETfund, our universities will not survive. In this university, we live and breathe TETfund. Our buildings, most researches and staff development are always done under the auspices of TETfund. I think they should just name all universities, Universities of TETfund”.

This observation may not be far-fetched, especially as an investigation conducted on some federal tertiary institutions in the North-Central confirmed that TETFund has been crucial to capital development in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

However, even with the impact TETFund is making, it is not all smooth sailing. On the surface, it seems institutions have done well with the intervention funds.  However, some of the funds are not being accessed because of some funny play by contractors who may be conniving with the departments saddled with the responsibility of assigning projects to contractors.

Investigation showed that most of the funds allocated to universities were not being accessed as allocated yearly, because of the inability of contractors to meet the deadlines given to them. As a result, approved funds are not usually accessed until years later.

 

How contractors delay work

The contract awarding process involves biddings, and institutions usually give preference to the lowest responsible bid. However, The Nation learnt that some of the contractors do not provide accurate information about their capabilities.

Such was the case of the contractor who was first awarded the contract for the construction of the School of Engineering and Engineering Technology Phase II at FUTMinna.

It was gathered that the contractor was given the contract on July 7, 2015 – same day the construction of the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology Phase II was given to another contractor. The contracts were supposed to be completed on July 19, 2016.

An investigation by The Nation revealed that while the contractor in charge of the School of Agricultural Technology delivered on time, the contractor handling the School of Engineering dilly-dallied until the contract was revoked.

When questioned over the delay in the project, FUT Minna Vice-Chancellor Prof. Abdullahi Bala said the contractor diverted the funds to another project.  He added that during recession, in early 2016, prices rose and the contractor could not meet up.

He said: “The contractor handling the School of Engineering project, instead of putting efforts in making sure that he goes by the terms of the agreement, he mobilised his resources elsewhere to some other projects, so the project in FUT Minna suffered. When the recession came in late 2015 and 2016, the prices doubled, and he came back asking for variations. He told us that he was being affected by the depreciation of the naira.

“However, if he had done his work within the specified period , the depreciation of naira would not have affected him. Therefore, a project that would have been completed in 2015, we are still struggling with it, and this is 2019. It is just about now that we had to get another contractor to come in for us to complete it.”

In a document obtained by the reporter, the contractor of the contract was stated as Messrs Gridtech Construction. The total sum of the contract is N176,165,959.

A similar issue of incompetence or clear fraud may have been suspected in a contractor’s handling of the construction and furnishing of a lecture theatre for the Institute of Education Phase II, at the permanent site of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA).

The contract, awarded to CF Cofel International Ltd Suleja, Niger State, was terminated while it was only 10 per cent complete. The contract sum was N410,877,888 and the contract was awarded in September 2015 and expected to be completed in February 2016.

Documents obtained revealed that N230,091,617 was released. However, the reporter could not get any information on whether this amount was given to the contractor. No member of the university management was willing to cite the reason the contract was terminated. It is also not clear if the contract has been re-awarded to another contractor.

This reporter could not reach the contractor to get his side of the story.

When contractors delay execution of projects, institutions experience delays in accessing TETFund grants. The Nation discovered that just as contractors do not provide adequate information about their capacity to do a job, they do not disclose their ability to assess funds to implement the project or provide the necessary equipment.

Therefore, while the monies wait for disbursement, there are delays in the project as most institutions like the FUT Minna and UNILORIN claimed they would not release any fund unless the project followed due process.

FUT Minna VC said: “The delay in projects is not because of non-payment because the monies are already there waiting as TETFund releases money to the institution who will in turn release to the contractors according to the work done. So you see, some contractors, they will delay and delay because of inadequate capacity.”

 

TETFund projects

2015-2019        

Between 2015 and 2019, at UNIABUJA, of 11 projects awarded under TETFund, only one, the construction and furnishing of library/resource centre building for the Institute of Education Phase I, at the permanent site, has been completed.

Other projects such as the supply and installation of two generators, construction of power equipment house and entrance gate for the Institute of Education Phase I, construction and furnishing of an administrative building for Phase I and II, construction of entrepreneurship centre some of which were awarded in 2015 are still ongoing and are at different stages (40-80 percent) of completion.

At the FUT Minna, within the period under review, 25 projects were awarded of which 16 have been completed while nine are still at various stages of completion. The Federal University, Lafia, has had 26 projects with 17 completed and at in various stages of completion.

At the Federal University, Lokoja, majority of the 28 projects initiated had been completed when our reporter visited in August.

One of the students said the multipurpose complex was inaugurated earlier in the year while the other projects were being used. Going round the institution, to the block of laboratories and classrooms complex, it was observed that the laboratories were equipped and had some students were carrying out practical sessions.

At the University of Jos (UNIJOS), out of 10 TETFund projects (2015-2018), seven have been completed and handed over to the institution. The projects remaining include the construction of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, and the rehabilitation of the burnt Library – all at the Naraguta campus, Jos.

At UNILORIN, none of the building projects under 2013 to 2016 merged TETFund annual interventions have been fully completed.

The construction of the extension of the main library has already been roofed and awaiting finishing touches and fixing of the windows, doors, and others; construction of the administrative block for Environmental Sciences, Department of Quantity Survey, Estate Management, Surveying, and Geo-informatics are still underway.

Workers were seen on site in the proposed departments of Estate Management, Surveying, and Geo-informatics.  However, they were jittery upon sighting this reporter and disallowed her from taking pictures.  They also refused to answer questions on the  project and threatened to beat her up.

 

Shoddy Work or Poor Maintenance?

In some of the institutions visited, it was discovered that the walls of recently completed projects were already cracking and the paint peeling off while some of the infrastructures,  especially the chairs brought with TETFund grants for the lecture rooms had already broken down.

At the Federal University, Lafia, the collapsible chairs in the Department of Computer Sciences, tagged TETFund 2013, had broken down in some of the lecture rooms.

At UNIJOS, some of the projects like the proposed Faculty of Management Sciences, and the proposed centre for film and communication arts, as well as the faculty of engineering, despite having been completed still needed painting or furniture.

At the Federal University, Lokoja, a visitor is greeted with rows of blocks of classrooms and laboratories that already have their paints peeling and walls cracking. Although the new structures constructed from 2018 are still standing, other structures with inscriptions of 2011-2013 already show signs of wear and tear.

At UNILORIN, it was also observed that  TETfund projects, which are not up to 10 years, had cracks appearing on most of the buildings. Part of the block in the Faculty of Life Sciences showed serious signs of decay while the Center for Laboratory Research had cracks and peelings.

However, this reporter was unable to ascertain if the decay was a result of poor maintenance or shoddy work by the contractors.

Some of the workers said that not all the projects were given to experts.  One, who preferred not to be named, said increased supervision of project implementation was necessary.

“One question the school needs to ask itself is if these buildings constructed stand the test of time and do the contractors do what they are meant to do?

“On my part, I think they need more supervision both from TETFund and the institution. If this is done, I am sure the contractors would do the right thing and not cut corners unnecessarily.”

Pointing to one of the TETFund buildings already peeling, he said, “Look at that building, the plaster is already peeling off.  This project was done under 2009 intervention which means the project was completed sometime in 2010 or 2011. The right contractors should be given the job, those who know the job, give it to someone who knows his onions and they will do the job better.

“If you go round the university, you will see buildings with cracks all over, these are buildings that are not more than 10 years. I built my own house earlier than that and there haven’t been any cracks.”

A CAC search revealed that some of the contracts were not given to experts. An example is Elnita Nigeria Limited whose objectives, according to a CAC search, “include to carry on the business of hotel, restaurant, tavern, beerhouse, and lodging, housekeepers, licensed wine, beer, and spirit merchant and to run amusement and gambling, casino and to do all things incidental thereof and holiday camps and to organise, promote and carry on all amusement businesses.”

However, Elnita Nigeria Limited won the contract for the electrical installation of the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology Phase 2 at the FUT Minna. Though the project has been completed and students are using the facilities, time will tell if the work will stand the test of time.

 

Help in time of need

In October 2016, the three-storey building housing the UNIJOS Library, the faculty of social sciences and management sciences was gutted by fire.

In a bid to provide relief to the institution, TETFund intervened and the award for the rehabilitation of the central library was given to Amber Blaze Limited in March 2018. The library building at the time when the reporter visited the institution in July was about 85 percent complete.

While the previous library complex housed some faculties, the new library complex is being entirely used for library activities.

A source told this reporter that in addition, some equipment was bought for the library but not currently in use.

“It is looking nice now. Everything brought in the library is brand new. There are also ICT machines in here and servers. We were told that this whole building will be used for the library now. We do not know what will be put downstairs but upstairs, which is currently locked, have all the furniture and other infrastructures”, a student told the reporter.

Read Also: Too many varsities ‘will weaken’ TETFund

 

The rehabilitation of the burnt library is to gulp the sum of N701,203,727 but, according to one of the Staff, only N485,011,887 has been received while the balance is being awaited to complete the rehabilitation.

 

Secrecy over disclosure of process

The procurement process for the TETFund projects are usually handled by the Department of Physical Planning or the TETfund Desk officers in the institutions, however, the officials in charge of these departments do not easily give information about projects.

At the Federal University Lokoja in Kogi State as the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Angela Freeman Miri was not around and did not respond to calls and messages to her phone.  The meeting with the Registrar, Mr. Usman Suleman Obansa did not yield any result as he said, “it is only the VC that can give you such information or give theTETfund desk officer the go-ahead to give you information. You know it is the office of the Vice-Chancellor that handles the TETfund issue.”

When approached, the TETFund Desk Office said he could not share information without the VC’s permission.

Officers at the Federal University, Lafia diplomatically avoided setting up a meeting despite assurances following the submission of an FOI request.

The Vice-Chancellor was said to have traveled on an impromptu trip.  All promises that all information will be mailed to this reporter were not fulfilled.

At UNILORIN, efforts to get information on the procedural process in the award of the projects led nowhere as the office of the Vice-Chancellor, when contacted, directed the Reporter to two Professors, Adeola Abdullah Adedeji of the Department of Civil Engineer and the representative of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology in the institution’s TETFund Committee and Musa Toyin Yakubu, the Director of the Central Research Laboratories.

However, the two Professors could not provide the details and directed the Reporter to the Department of Physical Planning. There, the Director of Physical Planning, Dr. Adams Bashir Olajide said he would not attend to the Reporter unless with express permission from the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem. All efforts to get the Vice-Chancellor to speak on the projects proved abortive as his Secretary said he was out of the office.

It was the same scenario at UNIJOS.  The institution’s Public Relation Officer, Abdullahi Abdullahi who readily gave out information about TETFund projects, could however not give details of how the projects were awarded.  This Reporter could not meet with the VC, Prof. Seddi Sabastian Maimako because he was out of town when the Reporter visited.

However, at FUTMinna, the VC, Prof. Bala explained that award of contracts must follow due process, especially as VCs are the ones to answer queries regarding the projects.

“I have told the Department of Physical Planning and Bursary to keep me informed of everything that has to do with TETfund. There is nothing unusual there. I am in charge of the institution and should know what is happening to our projects.”

However, many workers were of the opinion that the procurement process was skewed in favor of those who are known by the Departments of Physical planning in the institutions.

The VC of FUT Minna said that some of the officials’ in charge of this task do not carry out their duties judiciously while he stressed the need for adequate technical evaluation before a project is awarded to a contractor.

“There is also, the problem of capacity of the contractors, some of them could not do the kind of work but again, I blame it on the institution because of the procurement law demands that you must do a technical evaluation, in doing the technical evaluation, you pay due diligence to what you are doing, sometimes, you should be able to identify such problems.”

“Our university sometimes sends our staff to confirm some of the projects claimed to have been done by the contractor; they will need to have the physical evaluation to confirm the claim. These are some of the little things and the problem that comes in to delay the projects but the problem itself is not from TETFund, it has to do with the procurement process, some of the capacity within the university, some of the capacity with respect to the contractors but TETFund has been very supportive in many of these cases. Sometimes, even when the university has not done its bit, TETFund tries to see how they can help in making sure that we make progress on these projects.

Consultancy Services

This Reporter’s discovered that the Federal University Lokoja awarded huge amounts for consultancy services.  In the 2014 normal intervention project, N52 million out of N53 million allocated to Mevic Consultancy limited for consultancy services; while in the 2013 special intervention projects, Mevic consultancy was paid N77.2 million out of N90.8 million allocated for consultancy service. Coming across this document, one wonders why such huge sums were paid for consultancy.

 

• This investigation was supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).

 

I guessed last Thursday that we would be back today to Thaumatococcus Daniellii. This plants goes by other names, one of which is Sweet Prayer Plant.  My  friends who read my comments last week thought there must still be more to say about it. Who would not want to learn more about the medicinal uses of a leaf in which his grandmother and mother cooked MOI MOi and AGIDI for him or her?

Last weeI explained to some of them, the medicinal uses of this leaf after my first exposure in 1994, to its healing effects on the liver. In 2002, I was privileged to attend a natural medicine products conference in Accra, Ghana, co-ordinated by some universities in South Africa and in the United States. Mr. Olajuwon Okubena, who makes Jobelyn, Nigeria’s leading herbal medicine formula, invited me and I informed many Nigerians in alternative medicine business and practice. No fewer than 20 of us Nigerians were  at that conference to give Nigeria the single largest contingent among participating African countries. Thaumatococcus Daniellii was presented to the conference. I took not much interest in it, even when we  were told its fruits was the sweetest thing on this planet, about 2,000 to 3,000 times sweeter than sucrose or table  sugar. What made the sweetness interesting was that  the taste could  linger on the tongue for days. Besides, the calories were so small that it many not bother the diabetic’s blood sugar balance mechanism. Before I proceed, I would like to  return to the mention I made of this plant last Thursday I wrote…..

“THAUMATOCOCCUS DANIELLII. Calm down, as young people say in stressful conditions. This name  is not a thunder clap. I will unmask the masquerade in a short while. I first heard of the medicinal properties of this leaf in 1994 when my wife had our last child at Duro Solaye Hospital, on  Allen Avenue, Lagos. Like his brothers, he came with neonatal jaundice, the  traditional management of  which I had become some what aware of. I removed all beverages and glucose formulas from the new mother’s side table in the ward and replaced them with flasks filled with marigold tea and mild Aloe Vera powder tea. Both stimulate the liver. From the  breast  milk, the  baby picked it up.

In neonatal jaundice, the baby’s liver is too weak to conjugate bilurubin, the yellow component of red blood cells breaking up. An abnormally high level of bilurubin may cross into the brain and damage it, making the  baby become a “vegetable” for  life. If the baby’s tummy ran on the Aloe Vera and Marigold teas from the mother’s breast milk, a dilution is advisable. Soon, my son’s jaundice cleared. But I could not offer the recipe, for understandable reasons in an hospital environment, to a mother in the opposite bed whose baby had three Exchange Blood Transfusions ( EBTs). In  an EBT, some of the blood is  removed and replaced  with some  of  someone else’s blood. People who know the spiritual  consequence of this do not approve of it. This woman obtained the voluntary discharge of her baby and herself.  No one expected to see them at the first post-natal clinic weeks after. Meanwhile, she took the baby to her village in Epe, Lagos State of Nigeria, where  the leaf of Thaumatococcus Daniellii was routinely boiled and the water extract fed to the baby.  At the first post-natal clinic for babies born that  time, this baby was one of the most developed and  healthest!  Since that time, I advise the use of the water extract of this leaf by anyone who complains of jaundice or sickcle cell crisis which involves the liver. I suggest it for Ebola  prevention and management because the liver is one of the organs easily damaged, and, as we know, there is no life without the liver. When I was confronted with a recent case of jaundice, I remembered  this leaf and suggested the use of the powder of the whole leaf. And to the amazement of every-one who followed the case, the jaundice wasted no time in disappearing. Ladies and gentlemen,

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Thaumatococcus Daniellii is the leaf in which our grandmothers and mothers cooked moi moi and eko (Yoruba) or Agidi (lbo). We all remember the sweet fragrance this lot gave moi moi and agidi.  We ate  the stuff ravenously and almost ate the leaves. When we throw it away, goats ravanously devour it, anywhere. They probably know what we no longer know about this leaf … its medicinal value. Our women of today are  killing us. They have replaced moi moi leaf (ewe-ran, Yoruba) with cellophane wraps which inject not only xeno-estrogens into food but petroleum residues as well.

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The few studies I have  checked on Thaumatococcus Daniellii say it prevents and  reverses oxidative damage in the liver and in the kidneys”.

Additional  information today

Every part of the plant is useful. The fruit, also called MIRACULOUS BERRY, is used in traditional medicine as an emetic, relaxant, pulmonary challenges. The seed is used as an emetic and for pulmonary (lung) challenges.

The leaf sap is useful as an antidote for the venoms, bites and stings. It is used as a sedative and as treatment for insanity.

The seed is chewable raw. It keeps the mouth sweet even when sour food is eaten about one hour later,  or longer. It is in this regard that it is used in some countries to sweeten bread, fruit, tea and foods such as corn pap.

I FEAR and hate snakes, and would rather have someone else kill them. But I was excited, though, with some caution, wheI  heard  the news  last  week  that snake  oil  was  now available for sale in Nigeria…in commercial quantity. The excitement was because Snake oil has wonderful healing properties. The caution was because, hundreds of years ago, snake oil became so adulterated and ineffective in many cases that the two words were used to described fakery in  the sphere of business.

Snake oil is made from snake fat, well known for essential fattty acids  and their ant/-inflammatory health benefits. I was exposed to Snake oil in 1966, for the treament of a swollen knee joint and pains in a fractured, healing  femur (thigh bone), after a taxi knocked me down in Ibadan.  The snake  fat which I massaged into the joint and femur, came from a PYTHON slain for its medicinal fat. Some scientific evidence suggest that python fat is the best snake fat for human health purposes.

My story shows that Nigeria is not a stranger to snake fat. All over the country, folk medicine appreciates python fat. In Southwestern Nigeria, the Yorubas call it Ora Ere (d:m-r:d). The Ibibio of Southern Nigeria call it Adana Asabou. (m:d-m:r:d).

Worldwide, the Chinese are probably the people most associated with Snake oil which they make from the fat of the Chinese water snake. I guess this is the snake the Yorubas call Ejo JOMI JOKE ( r:d-r:r:d:d), a snake which lives in water and on land. When researchers investigate the Chinese Snake oil from the species of snakes, they found it contained large amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids. As we know these acids are good for treating such ailments as inflammation and the pain they cause, bursitis, arthritis and many, if not all, of the ailments which end in … it is. Over many centuries, however, Chinese Snake oil brands would appear to have lost their reputation for effectiveness because of many factors. One of these is that the quantity of the original snake fat may have been reduced in proprietary brands sold worldwide. It is possible, also, says many market critics, that all sorts of dilutions may be going on. In some cases, it is said products with no Chinese reliable snake fat is sold to unsuspecting buyers. Some people who distrust the Chinese turn to the Japanese who make their own Snake oil from ERABU snakes, the same species as the Chinese water Snake oil.

We are reassured  of the fficacy of the original Snake oil by a 2007 German study which confirmed that mice fed on original Snake oil performed better than those fed lard alone. Another problem which a proprietary Snake oil may suffer from these days of the commercialisation of medicine and large-scale consumption is the sources and quality of the raw material…about decades ago when a Nigerian network marketing company introduced SEA CUCUMBER to the Nigerian market. The sea cucumber is  not a plant but a small sea animal whose contributions to human health are immeasurable. I wondered in those days how the Malaysian company managed to obtain sea cucumbers from their natural habitats for not only the whole of Asia but the entire world. It turn out that the sea animals were farmed in artificial ponds.

Snake oil benefits

Irrespective of the possible draw backs in any proprietary formula, Snake oil will continue to excite some of us for many reasons, including…Skin health

It reduces irritation, moisturises, shields the skin from a hostile environment and irritants which may cause infections, cracking, drying or damage.

Cognition

This has to do with receptivity and ability of the brain to classify, store and retrive information. Eicosapentaenoic acid, an EFAs, a component of Snake oil, is associated with improved brain function and a decrease in nervous system disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Immune boosting

Researchers are still  checking Snake oil for immune boosting factors. None would appear to have popped up. But there are obvious effects that microbial strain on the immune system tends to be less or even disappear in Snake oil users, especially the elderly.

Hair care

For women who may be seeking an addition for their hair care wardrobe, Snake oil  goes well with  Hemp oil and Orange peel powder. They improve the health of the scalp, hair follicles, prevent hair breaking, bring the shrine on hair and elongate it.

 

Heart health

 

Like the Omega-3 oils from fish and plants, some factors in Snake oils lower blood pressure, clean up the blood vessels and lower risks of heart attacks and strokes.

 

Mood and anxiety

 

Theee are growing questions in Nigeria today. Also of growing concern to physicians and their patients alike are changing hormonal profiles which affect just about anything from fertility and anxiety to unnecessary anger or misplaced aggression. It is suggested that anger spells can be quietened by rubbing some Snake oil on the temples or on the chest.

Pain and healing

There is an analgesic factor in Snake oil which may be of interest to pain sufferers. This applies to surgery patients as well. The anti-inflammatory potential in Snake oil eases pain, and the healing factors help injuries or wounds to heal fast and well.

Gratitude

Our  thanks go to those researchers who have revived our confidence in Snake  oil medicine. Gone would appear to be those days in which thriving vendors sold rock oil in the  United States and in Europe, passing it for Snake oil. Gone should be those days, as well, when a district court jailed Clark Stanley for deception. In Southwestern Nigeria, snake fat is still as popular as in the 1960s when I firstknew about it. It is sold almost in every market. And this makes me wounder where the purveyors get many pythons to kill for their fat that ORA ERE is never out of circulation. This leads me to an ethical question.

Ethical question

The python is a loving and protective snake. So, why do we kill it for its fat? There are many stories of women who lost their way in the forests and have been protected by this snake until they were found by hunters who killed the snake. The fat of this snake is less in demand than its tails which traditional Nigeria medicine men would pay anything for because of the primordial and magical power it is said to possess.

About 40 years ago, my younger sister went to the bush with other women in the village to fetch firewood for cooking. When she became tired, she folded her shawl, placed it on the “ground” and sat on it, unknown to her that she placed it on the head of a python. The python is said to be not annoyed by whatever you do it, provided you do not touch the tail which it hides in the soil. When the women were  ready to head home and my sister rose and picked her shawl,bher eyes met with those of the python. She began to scream. But the python did not move. Rather, it continued to stare at her. Then, she fled, as fast as she could homeward, still screaming, wasting valuable energy she could have saved for her leg muscles. Back home, the men asked if her shawl was still beside the snake. It was; Yoruba elders believe the python would not leave the location, whatever the danger to it, because it would believe it had been asked to protect the firewood and the shawl. Sure enough, the snake was still there waiting for my sister to despatch it. The men killed the python and took its tail home!

You are welcome to Nigeria, Snake oil from Asia.

 

From Hamzat Ibrahim

 

National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) joint campus committee, Niger State axis has honoured the Vice-Chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Prof. Mohammed Nasiru Maiturare.

He was conferred with the award of excellence during the 2019 International Students’ Day, at Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna, Niger state, with the theme: “Unity, Education and practising corruption- free society.”

Presenting the award, the chairman, joint campus committee, Jamilu Ebbo, said Maiturare’s exit as vice chancellor would leave a large hole to fill.

In his remarks, the vice chancellor thanked the students’ body for recognition.

Read Also: NOUN gets new Deputy Vice-Chancellor

 

He said that this year’s international students’ day must bridge the gap and promote students’ interest and make way for remarkable development among Nigerian youths.

He also urged the students to behave as future leaders at all times to unify, educate in order to reduce corruption in the society in line with the theme of this year’s event.

Impressed by the event, the Professor counseled the students to organise more meaningful events that champion the cause of growth and development in the society.

 

By Glory Thomas

 

Tell us about yourself.

I am  Mrs. Adedokun Yetunde, I am from Osun State and I am 23 years old. My  husband is Mr. Akindele Bamidele from Ogun State. I am the second in my family; I have an elder brother and a younger sister. I am the first graduate of the family, my brother actually dropped his educational ambition for me due to financial constraints.

I got married in year 2018 when I was in HND 1 second semester, with the support of my family. My marriage has been a blessing  and I give thanks to God. I gave birth in 2019, six days to my last paper in school.

Were you married before securing admission?

No, I was not.

How did you manage to combine school and home?

I was able to achieve this through the support of my husband. He is  very understanding. He really stood by me, though we both agreed before coming together and he also believes in me.

Ordinarily, a brilliant lady like you should graduate first before settling for marriage. Why did you choose marriage first? Was it by accident?

No, it wasn’t by accident, I didn’t see marriage as a barrier to success. So, it was actually my will, it was what I wished and also the will of God. Besides, my marriage has been a blessing to me in every way.

Read Also: 22-year-old emerges LAUTECH overall best student

 

Did you face any form of harassment from lecturers? How did you handle it?

No, I didn’t because I am the gentle type, I didn’t face such.

How did you manage your relationship with your classmates, especially the males?

Actually, I’m  the gentle  and easy going type, I don’t really talk or mingle with people right from my ND days. I had just one friend and she was my roommate. I can only greet people but I will like to say my relationship with everybody was cordial.

Can you share your one or two unforgettable experiences while  in school?

Due to the kind of person I am, I don’t talk nor go out. I am not social, so, I did not involve myself in any kind of experience.

My life has been a triangular one right from time; from school to my hostel, from hostel to the fellowship. So, there is nothing so special I did while I was in school. The only day that is unforgettable was the Convocation day due to the honour.

How did you gain admission into OGITECH?

I got admission to Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa (OGITECH) through a family friend that graduated from the school, some years ago.  Although I did not have it in mind to come to OGITECH, all I wanted was to go to a university. I made OGITECH my second choice because I didn’t plan to study there but when the university issue did not work out, I had to come here.

What was your reading style?

I read at my convenience.  I did not have a specific time for reading because, most times, I was on schedule. So, I read when the opportunity was there to read.

What was your social life like?

I never attended any party when I was in school,because I don’t like it.

How will you rate yourself?

I will rate myself 90 per cent because no one is perfect.

What were the challenges you faced during your days in school?

From my background, it wasn’t easy in terms of finance.But I thank God that I sailed through, because many that went through this kind of situation dropped out but with determination I made it.

What is your next line after OGITECH?

I am planning to convert my HND certificate to B.Sc and I am looking forward to acquiring a professional qualification.

What is your advice to other students that may be in your shoes?

I will like to tell them that, in everything they are doing, they should not look at the treasure of friends; they just have to be determined, and they should not look at their background. My parents are not learned. I am the first graduate in the family. I have an elder brother that had to step down for me to go due to financial problems. I will advise them not to disappoint their parents; they just have to make them proud.

You said you gave birth six days to your last paper in school. How did you manage to write the last paper?

It was not easy but I just had to do it with the help of my mum and   mother-in-law, who  took care of my baby while I read and wrote the exam. I give thanks to God. I wrote the paper and went back home the same day.

The astronomical tuition fee being paid by students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, is yet to be reduced, two years after the increment. However, its students are hoping the fees would be reduced soon, given that Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo has reduced fees.  Phillip Anjorin, 200 Level  student of Mass Communication, reports.

 

oyous celebration erupted among students of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) when news of tuition fee reduction broke out in a circular by the management on August 16.

Sequel to this, students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) are optimistic that the management would change its unyielding position on fees reduction.

RUGIPO students were paying N102,000 (non-indigenes) while the indigenes paid N92,000 before the reversal.

According to the circular, signed by the Director of Academic Affairs, Mr. Gbenga Ademiluyi, non-indigenes are to pay N86,000 and indigenes N77,600 from the 2019/2020 academic session.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that a fee review committee has been set up for students of the Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa after the students took to the street on April 20, to protest the high tuition fees. The action led to the suspension of academic activities for six weeks.

Meanwhile, AAUA students,  as at the time of filing this report, had not received any news of steps towards the reduction of fees which were raised from N35,000 to between N100,000 and N150,000, depending on faculty.

Also, our reporter noted that a ‘status quo’ policy was enforced at the beginning of the 2018/2019 academic session which made the students pay the same amount they paid in previous session regardless of level.

In interviews with CAMPUSLIFE, students expressed varied opinions. Some were hoping that the reduction train would berth at AAUA soon  while others were not so optimistic.

Lasisi Samuel, a 300-Level student of Banking and Finance, said the Students’ Union was wary of the management over fears that it can manipulate their results.

He said: “The Students’ Union is scared of the management. They are also students after all, so, they don’t want to miss what they primarily came here for, which is passing out with good grades.  The fear that the management has the power to influence their grade is limiting the extent to which they can agitate for a reduction.”

He, however, believed that the tuition fee would be reduced as Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, while seeking for a second term in office, would want to be in the  good books of the masses, especially students.

He said: “AAUA’s tuition fee will definitely be reduced based on the fact that the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, is contesting for a second term in the governorship election which will hold next year, by God’s grace. I am sure he will want to do things that will make him be in the good books of every citizen of Ondo State.

“Also, Dr. Tunji Abayomi will work towards the reduction to boost the governor’s chance and build a good image for him which will help him in retaining his position as the Pro-Chancellor of the university. But, I must say the students should not expect a drastic reduction.”

A 300-Level student of Educational Management, who simply identified herself as Iretioluwa, thinks AAUA students missed their chance to argue for fee reduction. She applauded Akeredolu’s predecessor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko-led administration for maintaining the previous tuition fee rates and making essential amenities accessible for the common masses.

She, however, berated the Students’ Union’s decision to gather the students together after the management had released the final resumption date. She believed that this made the students be at the mercy of the management and state government.

She said: “The Students’ Union calling for congress after resumption simply makes no sense. It simply placed the students in the hands of the management, which they put to good use by ensuring that the congress did not hold.

“Anyway, the probability of the governor winning the election, if it is a fair one,                                                                                                                                                         is extremely slim because there has been hike on lots of amenities which were previously at a subsidised price. Now, pregnant women are paying money before delivery; secondary school students are paying for WAEC and our own tuition fee has been increased, too. I have no choice but to commend the era of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko for making life easier during his administration.”

She further expressed dissatisfaction at the optimism of students during the six-week mid semester break. In her opinion, all hope is lost as far as the tuition fee is concerned.

“In the first instance, the students should not have resumed from the six-week break, so far as the result of the series of meetings held with the Governor was not disclosed then.  The optimism of students at that time was high. But, unfortunately, it was a waste.

“As it is, all hope is lost because the Governor and the Pro-Chancellor are adamant about the fee. I see no possible change in our tuition fee”, she added.

Janet Etigwam, a 200-Level student of Accounting, thinks the Students’ Union did a yeoman’s job to fight for a reduction though their efforts did not yield any result.

“I watched the video where the President (Sampraise) went to Alagbaka House. Though people are seeing the funny side of it which led to the popular deriding slang ‘God Bless the President’, we must acknowledge the fact that he tried his best.

“The students also did all they could in their capability, even sacrificing six weeks for the struggle, thereby causing the previously set examination timetable to be shifted twice. It is just that the government is stubborn and adamant and it is their intention to afflict the students. At the end, we all have to agree to the government’s plan and lay low. We cannot say anything for now because we do not know what is happening underneath but we are all placing our hopes in God,” she said.

A 400-Level student of Mass Communication, Godspower Olorunsaanumi, politically known as Baba Shade who is contesting for the Presidential seat of the Students’ Union Government urged the parents and stakeholders to step into the matter as he stated that the Students’ Union cannot fight the battle alone.

He said, “The issue needs to be revisited. The fee has been causing a lot of problems for parents and students. There is hope it can be reduced if the right people can employ the right channel at the right time. Until our parents and major stakeholders in the state wage into the matter, there is nothing the Students’ Union can do.”

He further stressed that some of the promises made when the fee was hiked cannot be met because the payment turnout was low. He advised the incoming administration to seek sponsorship or partnership from the private sector as the government alone cannot fund the University effectively.

“Some of the suggestions made by the management and government like free Wi-Fi for all students, increased wages for Students Work-Study Scheme workers (SWSS) and others cannot be met because you cannot compare the percentage of students who pay when the fee was hiked to those who pay when the fee was still low and you have to consider the economic situation of the country too.

“My advice is that they should think out of the box and also know that government alone can’t fund education. We need investments from the private sector too.”

The effect of the tuition fee increment is also telling on the students and residents of Akoko area who previously choose AAUA to further their academics.

Read Also: University system and need for reform

 

Bidemi Samson, a student residing in Ikaram-Akoko who recently completed his secondary school education, disclosed that most students in Akoko axis no longer pick Adekunle Ajasin University as their first choice institution because of the hike in the tuition fee. Though it is inconvenient for the students and their guardians/parents, it is a better option schooling in other less expensive institutions than the amount they pay at AAUA.

“Before the fees got increased, most students who graduated from secondary schools in Akoko often choose AAUA as their first choice. But now, not everybody can afford N150,000. We have to pick a university that is not in Ondo State. The closeness and proximity to family and friends that we previously have access to is no longer there.  It hurts though but we have no other choice. We will go school. I can only beg the government and everybody involved in the decision-making process to please consider the fact that this increment is having an effect on us who are not even students of AAUA at this moment.”

Madam Mathew, an octogenarian Landlady of a student residential off-campus villa pleaded with the government to reduce the fees. According to her, students are finding it hard to pay house rents ever since the fee was increased and this has adversely affected house owners in the area.

“Sometimes when I want to get my house rent money from my tenants and they are complaining. I have no choice but to consider them. It is not easy to pay N150,000 school fees and still find it easy to pay house rent.  Some of them have practical they pay large sums for, materials to buy and feeding too.  We all know what the economy is saying. So I will beg the government to remember that the decision made is affecting house owners and traders too.  Our dear Governor should please help to reduce the fees that the students are paying to make the burden bearable for the students”, she said.

In an interview with our correspondent, Irewole Alli also known as Delano, the Chief Press Secretary to the Students’ Union President said the Sampraise-Led administration was able to achieve a lot despite the various obstacles faced in his period.

He said, “The major challenge we faced was the status quo policy which made students pay what they paid the previous session. But despite that, the administration was still able to achieve things.

“No student is paying any faculty due compared to previous years. Take Law faculty for example, we previously pay N7,500 and N3,500 for faculty and departmental due.  Also, I must inform you that no department is paying above N1,000 as their departmental due, which shows that it has been substantially reduced. We had to make negotiations as we are aware of the current economic situation in Nigeria generally. Faculty of Science pays N40,000 previously for their field trip. We reduced it by 50 per cent.

“The portal was open for a full session without any late payment fee. Students who have not paid their tuition fee are writing exams without any harassment. There are more shuttle buses now and they are properly organised. We really did lots of things visible and non-visible to the student populace”, he said.

He further disclosed that the street protest strategy was put on hold to ensure the safety of the students. He said the struggle for the reduction was not over as there were plans on ground that will be useful for the next administration.

“As regards the tuition fee, we tried our best, though for now it is without result. We went into extensive negotiation with the Governor for three days during which we were told that the final say resides with the Governing Council headed by the University’ Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Tunji Abayomi. During the six weeks strike, we had to organise meetings with him at his residence both in Akure and Akoko.

“Unfortunately, he did not see reasons with us and stood his ground that we were paying a justifiable amount. We took it upon ourselves to initiate meetings with the decision makers after the students involved in the protest were harshly treated because we care about their safety and welfare. We tried to be diplomatic with them but all is to no avail.

“Anyway, plans are already in place by the current administration such that even if the mission cannot be completed during this tenure, the next tenure will be able to see the plans and try to actualize it so as to make schooling easier for the students”, he said.

Our reporter observed that students are allowed to pay tuition fees twice in a session to make the payment easier. Also, the policy of ‘No payment, no Exam’ which propelled the students’ protest on April 20 has been abolished which enabled the students to write their exams without fear of being sent out.

Dr. Olusegun Owolewa, the Dean of Students’ Affairs further informed our reporter that no counter measures would be taken to hasten the students towards paying the fees, despite the negligence shown by then.

Moses Emorinken, Abuja

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Wednesday revealed that over 60 per cent of adolescents and young people across the country do not have significant knowledge about HIV and adequate sexual education about the disease.

This was made known by the Director-General of NACA, Dr. Gambo Aliyu, during a press conference to commemorate the World AIDS Day, with theme: ‘communities make the difference’.

According to him, “Nigeria accounts for more than half of new infections and deaths from AIDS-related illness according to the UNAIDS 2018 report. Less than 40 per cent of our adolescent and young people, who are the leaders of tomorrow, have correct knowledge and comprehensive knowledge about HIV.

“This year’s theme is ‘communities make the difference’, therefore, we recognize the essential role that communities have played and continue to play in the AIDS response at the international, national and local levels. Communities include networks of people living with or affected by HIV, women and young people, peer educators, counselors, community health workers, door-to-door service providers, civil society organizations, religious and traditional leaders, policy makers and activists.

“Communities are vital to facilitating an enabling environment that promotes equal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care services for Nigerians. They are also vital to safeguarding the rights of Nigerians living with HIV.

READ ALSO: Nigeria is on the path towards controlling HIV —NACA DG Gambo Aliyu

“As Nigeria strives to achieve epidemic control in an environment where international funding for HIV is reducing and Nigeria’s domestic funding for HIV is estimated to be below 30 per cent, the efforts of communities is urgently needed to ensure that HIV remains on the political agenda and galvanize International and National funding for HIV”.

According to the Senate Committee Chairman on Primary Health Care, Sen. Chukwuka Utazi, “This campaign is key to Nigeria’s effort to achieve the third 90 UNAIDS target (that is, percentage of Nigerians living with HIV on treatment who have suppressed viral loads) by 2020.

“As we launch this campaign early next week in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigerian communities will be charged with the responsibility of supporting their fellow Nigerians living with HIV to achieve undetectable viral load for their own good and for the good of Nigeria”.

The Chairman ATM Committee, added: “As we review Nigeria’s 2018 score card towards achieving the 90-90-90 UNAIDS target, it has been established that with regards to the first 90 (i.e. percentage of people living with HIV who know their status), 74 per cent of Nigerian women 15 years and above living with HIV know their status however only 63 per cent of Nigerian men 15 years and above living with HIV know their status.”

Agency Reporter

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) said on Tuesday, it has introduced School-to-farm programme at basic education level to inculcate practical agricultural skills among learners in primary and junior secondary schools.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Hamid Bobboyi made this known at the opening of a three-day workshop on the implementation framework of the programme in Kaduna.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants include UBEC officials, directors and desk officers at State Universal Basic Education Boards in charge of schools agriculture programme.

Bobboyi, who was represented by UBEC Director, Administration and Supplies, Rev. Edwin Jarumai, added that the programme would prepare the learners for a life-long learning in line with the commission’s mandate.

He noted that over the years, the teaching of agriculture as a subject was mainly theoretical and less practical, which left most learners ignorant of proper agricultural practices.

“In view of this, UBEC has approved 2.0 per cent of the Universal Basic Education Grant for the school-to-farm programme to make agricultural science more practical and hands-on at basic education level.

“The objective is to provide learners with requisite skills to stimulate self-employment, equip them with functional entrepreneurship and life skills, promote dignity of labour and self-esteem and expose them to biological process of agriculture.”

The executive secretary said that the learners would be exposed to cultivation of farm produce like maize, cassava, yam, guinea corn, and vegetables, as well as livestock like poultry, rabbit, snail and fisheries.

He added that the programme would equally build the capacity of teachers and community members who would be part of the implementation of the programme.

READ ALSO: Northern Govs frustrating basic education for Almajiris – Ex UBEC Boss

Bobboyi explained that the objective of the workshop was to familiarise the participants with the approved guidelines and build their capacity on the implementation of the programme.

“It is also designed to develop instruments for monitoring, share experience and adopt best practices.

“It is expected that at the end of the workshop, participants will come up with mechanism that will ensure sustainability of the programme in different geographical zones of the country,” he said.

Earlier, the Director Academic Services, UBEC, Malam Wadata Madawaki, said that the programme, if successfully implemented, would boost agricultural production in the country.

Madawaki called on all stakeholders to support the commission in ensuring the success of the programme.

Also, the commission’s Director, Social Mobilisation, Malam Bello Kagara, said that the programme would enable UBEC deliver equitable access to quality and functional education at basic education level.

According to him, the acquisition of practical agricultural skills will add value to the lives of learners and make them self-reliant.

Prof. Sadiq Abubakar of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, commended UBEC for the initiative, which he believed would be “a useful legacy for the coming generation”.

(NAN)