Tag: Anchor University

• By  Uwaifo Favour Ndidi

For students at Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos (AUL), life is more than just lectures and late -night assignments,  it’s also packed with sports, clubs, fellowships, and countless campus events.

 But for many students,  keeping up with academics and extracurricular activities can feel like walking a tightrope.

 For many undergraduates, academics and extracurriculars feel like two full – time jobs. Finding  an equilibrium between these two worlds requires  planning, discipline, and sometimes sacrifice.

“Sometimes I’m racing from a lab practical straight to basketball field,” said Mary Agwu, a 300-Level Medical Laboratory Science ( MLS) student.  “ I literally eat lunch on the way, that’s how packed my schedule is.”

 Different activities  on campus aren’t just for fun, they are part of the university’s drive to produce well – rounded graduates.

Read Also: Fubara’s return: MOSIEND calls for peace, unity, inclusive governance

From the school’s media crew to the entrepreneurship hub, students said  these groups help gain real-word skills, though the workload can be brutal.

 However, students who learn to balance both academics and extracurricular life often graduate with stronger interpretational skills, broader networks, and greater self- confidence.

 For Allison Emmanuel, a 300-Level English student, active in the Debate Club, it is  not easy, but these activities make him  more  confident and help  develop his skills beyond academics.

 “But I learned quickly that if you don’t manage your time, you’ll either fail your exams or miss out on what makes campus life fun,” he said.

 “To cope, we have developed strategies creating detailed schedules, and prioritising tasks,” said Odebo Oluwatobiloba, a 300-Level Mass Communication student.

 Moving forward, he said, the secret to survival is planning.

 “Students set up late night reading sessions, and campus leaders often postpone meetings to avoid exam clashes. The  secret is not doing it alone,” he added.

 “Still the struggle is real, the key is creating schedules, and sometimes sacrificing sleep or social outings, if you don’t plan your time, your time will plan for you,” he said.

 For Oladosu Victor, a school volleyball player, he keeps his academic life in balance by making sure he creates a schedule which he  follows strictly.

 In addition, he set out his priorities straight and this has helped him a lot.

“Though it sounds easy,  when put into action it requires a lot, just trust me when I say it pays off at the end,” he said.

 Just like Oluwatobiloba, another student Chime Peace said: “Balancing both sides is stressful sometimes, but at the end of the day, it prepares us for life after school – where you will always have to juggle multiple responsibilities.”

 According to her, if a student spends at least an hour everyday for like three months in learning any extracurricular activities, there is no way that particular student will not become an expert in that activity.

 She noted that it is all about focus, dedication and determination, and not getting easily distracted.

She said: “God has been  helping me  to balance  both academics and extracurricular activities.

 “ In everything you do add God because we are nothing without him.”

Mr Ayodeji Olaniyi , a lecturer in the Faculty of Social and Management Science,  believes that balancing academics with extracurricular activities is not only important but also highly beneficial for students’ holistic development.

By Nwobodo Precious

For years, accommodation has been a pressing concern for students across many Nigerian universities. But at Anchor University, Lagos, students have lauded school authorities  for improvement in their hostel facilities.

Adekanmbi Mary, a 300-Level Mass Communication student said: “I love the fact that our hostels are on  the campus. It feels safe and convenient. The rooms are well-structured, and I have easy access to lecture halls, the library, and other facilities.”

Conducive learning ambience

Unlike public institutions, where students often live off-campus and face issues with security, and unstable power, the school  insists that students reside on campus. This is an advantage, as it creates a secure and focused learning environment.

“The hostels are close to everything. I don’t have to worry about transport or late-night stress. It helps me concentrate more on my studies,” said Bernard Success, a Medical Laboratory Science student.

Read Also: Nigeria’s economy stabilised, now respected globally – Tinubu

Students’  voices

Students highlight the sense of community that comes with living on campus. For some, hostel life has become an opportunity to build lasting friendships and grow socially.

Andrea Peterside, a 300-Level student said: “When I was in 200-Level,  I shared a room with three others. It was fun—we learned to live together, share ideas, and even study as a group. That kind of bond is special.”

The price of convenience

Although hostel fees were recently adjusted to reflect rising maintenance costs, many students believe the value they receive justifies the payment.

Oladosu Victor, a Mass Communication student said: “Accommodation is more than just a bed—it’s where I rest, read, and prepare for classes. Here, we have steady power, reliable security, and an environment that helps us succeed academically. That’s worth paying for.”

A bright future

For many students, the improvement in hostel facilities  represents more than convenience; it symbolises the school’s commitment to student welfare. Students hope the management will keep investing in hostel facilities.

Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos, has announced the commencement  of its law and postgraduate programmes.

The institution also announced the establishment and take–off of its School of Postgraduate Studies and inauguration of the first batch of students admitted for the 2023/2024 post graduate programmes. The PGD programmes are in Business Administration, Computer Science and Microbiology.

Speaking at a media briefing at the institution, Anchor University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Oye Bandele, said more opportunities are now available for students in the school to study in a competitive learning environment.

According to him, the university has developed standard curriculum for its law programmes based on the new NUC CCMAS benchmarks. He added that Lagos being a cosmopolitan city, the institution will emphasise contents that will match the realities of her complexities for quality legal education.

Bandele said  there would be specialised pedagogy involving Google classrooms and dedicated online teaching – learning modes and deployment of hybrid and flexible learning systems for quality learning and training.  He stated that students now have the opportunity to get admission into Computer Engineering and Medicine through its collaboration scheme with NUC recognised universities from Poland and Commonwealth of Dominica respectively.

Read Also: CBN uncovers FX violations, vows to crack down on culprits

 The VC  also said the university would continue to conduct drug and pregnancy tests for freshers and returning students.

He said: “I am happy to inform you that the initiative took off unhindered. At resumption this session, no students was allowed entrance into Anchor University without being subjected to drug test and clearance.

“Council also approve that there will be continuous drug tests after entrance, so there is no hiding place for bad boys in Anchor University.”

 He added that at a recent meeting of its Parents Consultative Forum, the university was mandated to continue her zero tolerance to hard drugs, immorality and gangsters.

Bandele said parents who felt threatened by these measures have been advised to seek transfer for their children to other institutions or they would be  expelled.

 He said as a private faith-based institution, the university would not compromise on the tenets of their faith.

“We have to equip our undergraduates and postgraduates students with holistic and quality education that will lead to unique products with uncommon credentials of character, competence and courage,” he said.