The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akure

  • Behold FUTA whizzkids

    •Siblings invent electricity notification app

    Two brothers, Taslim and Abdulrahman Salaudeen, studying at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State, have designed a mobile application that notifies users of the school’s electricity supply status. Their innovation is helping off-campus students to reduce the stress of trekking to the school in search of electricity, reports. DANIEL OLADELE (300-Level Forestry and Wood Technology).

    Erratic power supply remains the country challenge. All sectors experience the problem. The universities are not left out. But there is  charity news for students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). Two of their colleagues have designed a mobile application to help the school out of its power challenge. Taslim and Abdulrahman Salaudeen’s innovation notifies users of the electricity supply status in the school at any given time.

    For off-campus students, this is a big relief. They no longer have to trek to school, only to find out that there is no light.

    The Salaudeens UpNepa  mobile is helping off-campus students to reduce the stress of  trekking to the school to check whether there is electricityor not.

    The app, which was released last month, has been accepted by students and it is on “full operation”. But its innovators  said they would not relent in making it better. When it was first released, the device was built to notify users about electricity status only. But, the inventors introduced updates, which make the app to show history of electricity in the school and notifies users of their colleagues using their devices in any location on the campus. The mobile application has also been equipped with an instant messaging service allowing users to communicate with ease.

    Students using the app described it as “special intervention”, hailing the siblings for easing their burden. To off-campus students, the device is a succour from the challenge of trekking to the school to charge their electronic devices.

    On how they conceived the innovation, Abdulrahman, who is staying in an off-campus hostel with his elder brother, said he heard about how students subjected themselves to stress of trekking to the school to charge their laptops and other mobile gadgets only to discover that there was no electricity on the campus.

    He said many would wait for hours in the hope that the light would be restored, but got their hope dashed after wasting time without being able to use electricity.

    Abdulrahman, a 200-Level Computer Engineering student, said: “I considered that a waste of time and energy for students. As a software developer, I pondered over new ideas to reduce the stress. That was the root of how this idea popped up in my head.”

    UpNepa has been gaining widespread acceptance among FUTA students. Abdulrahman noted that the success of the mobile application could be linked to its acceptability by the users.

    “Our users love it and they are happy to have a tool useful to them in their devices. We are glad it is helping them in some way,” he said.

    For those wondering how the application works, Abdulrahman said UpNepa is run through the aid of sensors planted on each of the school facility covered by the service.

    “The application automatically detects the status of electricity with the aid of sensors. The sensors detect electricity status at the location where they are planted and immediately send signals to the software through an online database.”

    Highlighting the roles he and his co-inventor played in the development of the software, Abdulrahman said he is in charge of the operations of the software.

    He said: “My role is the technical aspect of the project, which includes development of the mobile app and regular release of updated versions of the app. My partner, who happens to be my brother, handles legal issues and the business aspect of the software, but we do the general planning together.”

    Taslim, a 400-Level student of Department of Remote Sensing and Geology, said it had not been easy for them to maintain the users’ satisfaction and meeting their expectation.

    Timilehin Ayeni, a 300-Level student and user, was full of praises for the siblings, saying the application ahad helped him to plan his time.

    He said: “Most times after lectures, I always wait extra hours to charge my laptop and phones. By the time I feel like going back to my hostel in the town, I won’t be sure whether electricity has been restored or not.

    “But, with this application, I can check if there is light in my hostel or not. I can also find out how long the light has been restored. With this information, I can decide to go home if the condition is favourable for me. I don’t have to wait for hours in school when there is electricity in my hostel.”

    Also, Paul Eweola, who lives off-campus, said the intervention was timely, noting that the mobile application had saved him of energy.

    “Before now, whenever I felt like charging my gadgets, I would need to go to school to do this, but I usually didn’t have any idea whether there was electricity in the school or not. With the software, all I need to do is to log on UpNepa application. This gives me clear idea on whether there is electricity on campus or not, so as not to waste my time.”

    Outgoing speaker of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Chukwuma Kingsley, praised the brothers and urged the university to promote the mobile application, with the aim to improve academic rating of the school.

    He said: “This particular set of students has proven to be problem solvers with their innovative minds. I can only urge the management to take advantage of this innovation to promote the school and invest resources in the project to encourage more students.”

    The speaker highlighted challenges that could be solved by students’ innovation, saying the long queue usually experienced in banks whenever students are to pay their fees could be solved by encouraging student-innovators.

    He said: “Whenever the school resumes, we experience hours of long queues in banks to pay our school fees. I believe these students can bring innovative solution to solve this issue if the school encourages and invests in the mobile applications they have designed to make our life easy on campus.”

    Apart from UpNepa, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the siblings are also developing applications to ease processes on the campus.

  • Ondo: 110,000 pupils to benefit from Home Grown School Programme

    The Ondo State Government says over 110, 000 pupils will benefit from the Home Grown School Feeding Programme which took off on Monday.

    Mrs Olubunmi Ademosun, Special Adviser to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Multilateral and Inter Governmental Affairs, made the disclosure in an interview with the newsmen on Tuesday in Akure.

    She revealed that 1,500 cooks had been mobilised across the 18 local government areas of the state for the programme.

    “Environmentalists have also been trained and mobilised to ensure that the food are prepared in hygienic way.

    “110,000 Primary 1-3 pupils across the three senatorial districts of the state will enjoy the free daily feeding.

    Read Also: Ondo: Abraham’s men allege threat to life

    “I must commend President Buhari for this initiative that will not only alleviate the burden of parents, but also increase the nutritional status of children.

    “We pledge one hundred percent support for the success of this programme,” the governor’s aide said.

    Ademosun assured that all government machinery have been mobilised to ensure the success of the programme.

    The newsmen reports that a technical team from the Office of Vice President Yemi Osibajo had held a two-day strategic stakeholders’ meeting on the project in June 2017, preparatory to its take off in the state.

    NAN

  • NPC advises FG to criminalise owing of salaries of media professionals

    The Nigerian Press Council (NPC) on Monday advised the Federal Government to declare owing of salaries of media professionals a criminal offence.

    The council said this would improve the quality of coverage of elections in the country.

    The Executive Secretary of the council, Mr Nnamdi Njemanze, gave the advice in a communique issued at the end of a two-day capacity building workshop on “Responsible Media Coverage of Elections held in Akure, Ondo state”.

    Njemanze said that participants at the workshop observed that journalists had become vulnerable in the hands of politicians because of poor welfare, ownership challenges and other anti-social chauvinism of ethnicity and religion.

    He stressed the need for media owners to ensure prompt payment of salaries and allowances of their staff and enhance their welfare with a view to reducing their vulnerabilities.

    He, therefore, urged media owners to conduct their business in such a manner that would engender national development devoid of ethnic, religious and social biases.

    “The workshop also recommended that NPC should set a minimum standard of welfare for journalists in public and private practice and sponsor a bill to this effect, “Njemanze said.

    He said that participants at the workshop also recommended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should provide reflective jackets with PRESS written on it for all accredited journalists on election duty.

    The executive secretary also advised government to ensure the prosecution of fake journalists apprehended during elections with a view to ridding the profession of impostors.

    Similarly, he said, the workshop recommended that journalists should arm themselves with the Code of Ethics of Journalism and the Constitution of NUJ to guide them in their reportage.

    He admonished media professionals to always apply the ethics and principles of balanced reporting during coverage of elections and avoid unnecessary use of adjectives to counter hate speech.

    The secretary said that the workshop objected to an attempt to have a separate law to regulate the Social Media and hate speech, saying existing laws if enforced would take care of their excesses.

    Reports confirmed that no fewer than 52 persons attended the workshop, 36 of whom were journalists drawn from print, broadcast and online platforms.

    NAN

  • Peace returns to Akure after Hausa, masquerader clash

    Ondo State government said last night that peace had returned to Sabo, Akure where there was a minor misunderstanding between Hausa men, masqueraders and their followers.

    It was learnt that trouble started when a local masquerader allegedly had a misunderstanding with an Hausa man.

    Confirming the conflict, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Security Matters, Alhaji Jimoh Dojumo, said security agents had restored peace.

    He said the Commissioner of Police, State Director of DSS and other security chiefs had met with the aggrieved parties in order to forestall escalation of the crisis.

    Dojumo said security operatives had been stationed in strategic places in the Akure metropolis to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

     

     

  • Maths competition: Unilag student emerges overall best

    Mr Daniel Itsuokor, a 400 level student of mathematics, University of Lagos (Unilag) has emerged overall best out of 56 participants in mathematics competition organised by National Mathematical Centre (NMC).

    Unilag also triumphed over 14 other universities that participated in the competition.

    Prof. Stephen Onah, the Director/Chief Executive of NMC disclosed this during the closing ceremony of the competition on Friday in Sheda.

    Represented by Prof. Peter Onumaiye, the Coordinator, Mathematical Sciences Programme of the NMC, Onah said five participants won gold medals, nine got silver medals, while 14 went home with bronze medals out of the 56 participants.

    The director congratulated the participants for the performance and urged them to remain focused and be good ambassadors of mathematics.

    He advised the participants not to look at what they would benefit from working hard, rather, they should have goal or target and work hard to achieve it.

    Itsuokor, who spoke on behalf of other participants, expressed gratitude to the centre for the opportunity given them to exercise their capabilities in the knowledge of mathematics.

    The overall best attributed his success to hard work and determination and encouraged other students to embrace mathematics, saying studying the course was not so difficult as presumed by some students.

    Prof. Benjamin Oyelami, the Coordinator, Academic Planning, NMC, said the essence of the competition was to encourage students of mathematics to study hard and be ambassadors of the subject in the world.

    He said “Nigeria needs to be developed and to develop a nation, you need trained minds; minds that are innovative.

    “And that is the reason why your parents sent you to the university to develop your minds.”

    According to him, mathematics is the only science course that develops minds of people to be able to reason and develop things.

    “So, you have been trained and I believe that after your graduation as you go into the world, you will make Nigeria proud,” Oyelami said.

    He advised the medalists to continue to work hard “as to whom much is given, much is expected”.

    He encouraged other participants who could not win any medal not to lose hope, but have confidence in themselves.

    A total of 14 Nigerian universities took part in the 2018 National Mathematics Competition for university students which started on April 17.

    At institutional stage, Unilag came first, followed by Federal University of Technology Akure in second place, while University of Nigeria Nsukka claimed the third position.

    NAN

     

  • Students protest in Akure over fees hike

    Scores of aggrieved students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko ( AAUA ) yesterday marched on major streets of Akure, the state capital to protest the sudden hike in their tuition.

    The students numbering over 1,000 blocked major roads in the town, thereby preventing vehicular and human movements for several hours.

    The protest affected social and commercial activities in many parts of the town, as many shop owners hurriedly closed their shops, even as commercial drivers boycotted the roads.

    The students converged at the Oja Oba junction in the heart of Akure and condemned the sudden hike in their tuition from N25,000 to N180,000/N200,000.

    They accused the State Government of being callous alleging that the action of the government was against the economic realities in the state.

    The AAAU students were also at the popular Adegbola Newspapers Distribution Centre, Fiwasaye, Cathedral and Adegbemile area amongst others chanting various anti-government songs with placards.

    They were however dispersed with teargas by the anti-riot policemen deployed to curtail the protest.

    Read Also: Tutition fee hike: AAUA students plead with authority

    They were led on the protest by the Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ondo axis, Adewumi Adebowale who insisted that the students will not pay the new tuition.

    Adebowale said the new tuition introduced into the university by the state government was outrageous. He also promised to do everything to resist the hike.

    He urged the students not to resume academic activities until the State Government or the University’s management, reverse the tuition.

    Reacting to the new development, President of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the University, Ijanusi Olawale said no student of the university would pay the new tuition.

    He declared that the university will not be opened for academic session unless the state government reverts back to the old tuition, saying the new tuition cannot be afforded by their parents.

    He urged the students to remain calm and refuse to pay any money or resume until they hear from the leadership of the SUG,stressing that they had remained at home for three months.

  • Ondo FRSC cautions Motorists against recklessness.

     

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ondo State Command, has advised passengers to caution drivers against reckless driving during the ongoing Easter festivities.

    The Deputy Sector Commander and Head of Operation, Olusegun Ogungbemide gave the advice while speaking with reporters in Akure, the state capital.

    Ogungbemide said that it had become imperative for FRSC to advise members of the public on the necessity of cautioning drivers against reckless driving in view of the spate of carnage on the road.

    He said that the command had always admonish and encourage passengers not to keep quiet in the face of reckless driving.

    His words “It is not just about drivers alone, members of public also have responsibilities as a passengers in any vehicle they are.

    “Passengers need to admonish drivers tactfully anytime they are going reckless without distracting them. It is their responsibilities to advise drivers to keep to safety rules.

    “Data available to us has confirmed that passengers are always  the victims anytime there is crashes while drivers, most of the time, escape unhurt.

    “That is why passengers should always be proactive anytime  they are in transit so as not  to allow their life to be wasted by any reckless drivers, especially, during this season.

    Ogungbemide, who said that command had sensitised various stakeholders in respect of up coming easter season, explained that FRSC had deployed men of the corps to critical areas of the state, especially highways, to ensure smooth easter season.

    According to him, the command has stationed emergency ambulances in most critical areas such as Akure, Owo and Ikare Akoko axis in case of crashes”

    He added that his men were working day and night to make sure that crashes do not happen and eventually if it happened, our men are expected to be there within 15 minutes to rescue the victims.

    According to him, the command has removed vehicles parked on obstructions on the highways.

  • FUTA matriculates 412

    For the first time since 1957 when the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure (FUTA) was established,new students numbering 412 were on Thursday admitted into the college for the 2017/2018 academic session.

    This is apart from Higher National Diploma (HND)11 and National Diploma(ND)11 Students,which facilitated the increment in students population.

    Speaking at the matriculation ceremony,the College Provost,Dr Samson Odedina hailed the National Board for Technical Education(NBTE) for approving five additional new courses for the institution.

    These include National Diploma Computer Science,National Diploma Forestry Technology,National Diploma Fisheries Technology,National Diploma, Horticulture and Land Scape Design and Higher National Diploma,Pasture and Range Management.

    Odedina enthused that the institution now has 13 academic programmes for National and Higher National students, stressing that the management of the college was encouraged by the youth who have voluntarily chosen FECA go advance their career in Agriculture.

    He said “the College has continued to focus on her pursuit of excellence in teaching,value chain training, research and service to the society as enshrined in the college’s watchword of ‘Agriculture with Result.

    “Your decision to study Agriculture is the best any youth can make in Nigeria especially now that the federal government is diversifying the nation’s economy and tackling youth employment through Agriculture”.

    The Provost who lamented on the manner Nigeria and the World at large were infested with many social vices through which many youths had lost virtues of hardwork, morality, honesty and punctuality.

    Odedina however said they had chosen the college to rededicate themselves not only to provide training in agriculture, but to mould the character of students to become assets to their families.

    According to him, “this college has zero tolerance for cultism, fighting and any form of hooliganism. As new students, count yourself as the luckiest in the history of the college as tremendous improvement had been made in student oriented facilities especially the 40 year old generators replaced with new ones, new water tanker for water supply, new internal access roads among others”.

    The Provost urged the students to obey the the college rules and regulations, stressing that they should report criminal activities to the authorities for appropriate actions.

    The College Registrar, Dr Ademola Adebisi administered the oath of allegiance on the students as members of the college community.

     

  • Ondo Football Agency workers protest 20 months unpaid salaries

    The workers of the Ondo State Football Agency ( ODSFA ) on Thursday protested over 20 months unpaid salaries by the agency’s management.

    The News men report that ODSFA is the body in charge of Sunshine Stars FC of Akure.

    The peaceful protest that took place at the gate of governor’s office, Akure, saw the workers carrying placards to show displeasure with the way the agency is being run by the management, especially the civil servants seconded to the agency.

    Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “Due to unpaid salaries, workers’ marriages have broken up’’ and “ODSFA pay our 20 months unpaid salaries’’.

    Others are “Our past leaders in ODSFA have put our lives in danger due to unpaid salaries’’, Arakunrin ( governor ) save our souls’’ and “Two workers have died due to 20 months unpaid salaries’’.

    The Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, while addressing the protesting workers promised to relocate his office to the agency on Monday and look into the issues raised by the workers.

    Yusuf-Ogunleye said most of the problems in the agency were caused the by the past managements of the agency, but noted that government was a continuum.

    The commissioner said government had taken steps and moving to ensure that the monthly subvention of the agency was increased to ensure some of the problems faced were settled.

    “The governor has directed the commissioner for finance to look at it and I have met the finance commissioner today, and as soon as the finances increased, the monthly subvention for ODSFA will be increased.

    Read Also: Herdsmen’s kids, others to be immunised in Ondo

    “We will meet with you by Monday to find a lasting solution. We are not here to deceive you, most of the reasons you are here was part of last administration’s fault.

    “Immediately they lost elections, the salaries of players were increased, creating problems for the incoming administration,’’ he said.

    However, Samuel Patani, a staff of the agency and leader of the protest, said some of his colleagues had died due to unpaid salaries for several months.

    Patani said that monies being sent to the agency were only being used to cater for Sunshine Stars and other workers were neglected.

    “We have two, three workers lying in the hospital that needed to be operated on, but they don’t have money to pay, one of them is having enlarged prostate, we don’t want him to die.

    “The management always claim that the money coming in is small, and we always tell them to consider us as we have obligations to meet too.

    “Our children are dropping out of school, we want government to help us and look into our situation,’’ he said.

    Patani noted that the last government owed the workers 14 months, while the current government is owing six months salaries.

    NAN

  • Ondo to partner relevant stakeholders to disease-free meat

    The Ondo State Government has expressed readiness to partner with relevant agencies and organisations to ensure access to disease-free meat in the state.

    Mr Adegboyega Adefarati, the Commissioner for Agriculture, stated this while receiving representatives of the Food and Agricultural Organisation in his office on Wednesday in Akure.

    Adefarati said that adequate control of diseases in animals was crucial to human health, noting that most of the diseases affecting humans could be traced to animals.

    According to the commissioner, the state government is determined to ensure that animals brought into the state or slaughtered for human consumption are free of diseases.

    Read Also: Expectant mother, five others die as building collapses in Ondo

    “I want to assure you that the state is ready to partner with FAO and other interested agencies to ensure adequate sensitisation on disease control and hygienic meat in the state,” Adefarati said.

    Earlier, Mrs Nifesimi Ogunkua, Associate Professional Officer ( Programme ), who led the FAO team, said they were in the state for an awareness and sensitisation campaign on Rinderpest disease eradication among cattle breeders.

    The highlight of the visit was the presentation of some mini radio sets to the commissioner for distribution to members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association and slaughterhouses.

    Ogunkua said the radio would enable them to listen to national radio programmes on disease control and eradication.

    NAN