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Tag: Covenant University

  • Leadership through innovation

    Leadership through innovation

    Some undergraduates have been trained on how to use their innovation and free enterprise skills to change communities. It was at a leadership seminar organised by Enactus Nigeria at the Covenant University in Otta, Ogun State. JENNIFER UMEH (HND II Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic, Offa) reports.

    Students from various tertiary institutions converged on Covenant University (CU) in Otta, Ogun State to learn leadership skills at a five-day leadership training organised by Enactus – an international non-profit organisation promoting free enterprise among students.

    The event with the theme: Achieving personal success through self leadership, was held from February 19 to 23, drawing participants from 32 tertiary institutions.

    The goal of the training was to equip the participants with skills that would boost their abilities in project and financial management ahead of the 2018 Enactus national challenge where students from the participating institutions are expected to showcase their entrepreneurial projects.

    According to the organiser, the training would enhance the students’ leadership ability and help them create strategic partnerships on common project.

    In his opening remark, Enactus Country Director, Michael Ajayi, described Enactus as a platform for breeding future business leaders, adding that the organisation was established to mentor students and train them to be problem solvers. He said the trainees are taught how to leverage modern technology and innovation to impact lives in their immediate communities.

    He said: “Enactus has become a veritable platform for transformation of lives. We equip students with all necessary business and leadership skills through a learning process. This exposes them to mentoring and creates opportunities for them to practically experience what the corporate world looks like, even as students.”

    Facilitators and selected resource persons from diverse sectors engaged the participants on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), mentoring, financial management, research, monitoring and evaluation, innovation and technology and project ideation.

    Some of the facilitators included LEAP Africa founder, Ndidi Nwuneli, a social entrepreneur and Mandela Washington Fellow, Grace Ihejiamaizu and pioneer Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic of the Covenant University, Prof A.A. Atayero, among others.

    A session facilitated by Act Foundation, the event’s sponsor, had participants grouped into various teams with the aim of coming up with innovative ways of solving a SDG challenge of particular community in an entrepreneurial and environmentally-friendly manner.

    The Enactus judging criteria were used in evaluating the presentations made by each team. Ajayi said each student-team could now focus on their projects based on the skills and guidance they got from the leadership training.

    Some of the participants, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, described the event as worthwhile, saying it made positive impacts on them.

    A student from the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY) in Kwara State, appreciated Enactus for giving her the opportunity to attend the leadership training.

    She said: “I learned skills that will help me to improve in managing projects and evaluating progress I undertake. Every session of the event was productive. I have learnt that the size of the project we may be working does not matter, what we need is to give our best to make lasting impacts on the lives of others.”

    Babatunde Odekunle, leader of Ekiti State University (EKSU) Enactus team, said: “The training has given us skills to become great leaders to connect with people around the world and also exposed us to ways we can empower communities and people through different projects. If anyone is looking for opportunities for self-growth and making meaningful impacts on the lives of others, Enactus is a great platform to explore.”

    Segun Ogunlana, a student of University of Ibadan (UI), said he found a session facilitated by the founder of LEAP Africa, Ndidi Nwuneli, impactful. “I am proud to be part of this training, which took me out of my comfort zone,” Segun said.

    The leadership training set the foundation for the Enactus project year. The event was chiefly sponsored by Act Foundation with the support of Enactus Alumni and Covenant University.

  • Covenant Varsity to represent Nigeria at global competition

    Covenant Varsity to represent Nigeria at global competition

    Covenant University is to represent Nigeria at the global CFA Institute Research competition this year.

    The university came first in Nigeria’s stage of the global CFA Institute Research competition in Lagos on Saturday to emerge as Nigeria’s representative at the competition  coming up in Dublin, Ireland, on April 4 and April 5.

    It beat University of Lagos and Obafemi Awolowo University, which emerged second and third place winners.

    Eight universities in Nigeria took part in the competition.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CFA competition in Nigeria was sponsored by Zenith International Bank in partnership with CFA Society in Nigeria.

    The CFA Institute Research Challenge is the world most prestigious investment research competition among university students globally.

    It is aimed at promoting best practices in equity research among the next generation of analysts.

    The competition promotes ethics and best practices in investment research through hands-on mento-ring and presentation.

    Speaking at the final stage of the competition, Chairman of Zenith Bank, Mr. Jim Ovia, said the bank had always anchored its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards empowerment, development, building skills, talent and capabilities among the youths.

    He said the bank aligned with CFA Research Challenge’s overall objective of providing a platform for university students to put into practice their theoretical knowledge.

    “It is a way of encouraging the professionals to inculcate the spirit of professionalism and ethics right from very early stage.”

  • Why Covenant University won’t accept sale of handout – Don

    Why Covenant University won’t accept sale of handout – Don

    The Chairman, Covenant University (CU) Publication Committee, Prof. Solomon Oranusi, says the university has zero tolerance for the sales of handouts by lecturers to students in order to fight intellectual theft and plagiarism.

    Oranusi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the privately-owned university was striving to rank among the 10 best universities in the world.

    Covenant University, Ota in Ogun established in October 2012, is a faith-based institution owned by the Living Faith Church Worldwide and it is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

    The institution ranked sixth in the July 2017 ranking by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    Oranusi said the feat achieved by the university, despite its young age, was as a result of due diligence to academic research and excellent teaching methodology.

    “It is zero tolerance, that is, there is nothing like lecturers selling handouts to their students in Covenant University; you don’t try it; and as for textbooks, we don’t produce just any kind .

    “We run textbook publication of international standard.

    “We are not producing any textbook for our students to use; we produce for other authors, who want to publish materials, in the university.

    “All the textbooks we use in CU must meet the standard set out by the international standard committee on publications.

    “The university is now reckoned with because we maintain the policy of due diligence to academic research and second to none teaching methodology,’’ he said.

    Oranusi, who is a Professor of Microbiology, said the policy of no sale of handout had earned the university the reputation in the publishing sector.

    He added that it was a form of hard-earned quality control.

    “Books must pass through academic reviews; through this committee, before we send them to reviewers outside the university.

    “The reviewers give their result before any decision can be taken on a book, which is finally sent to the International Standard Desk for ratification before publication.

    “Research works are held in the highest esteem by the university and we also have a zero tolerance for plagiarism.

    “So, for you to publish anything or use some other people’s work, it must be certified.’’

    Oranusi implored private universities to contribute their quota to the fight against intellectual theft by stopping all forms of plagiarism.

    “Private universities should fight to protect intellectual properties.

    “Intellectual property is in different foray, now looking at how some are using other persons’ materials without properly referencing them.

    “For us, every seminal we hold and every project from our undergraduates, masters and doctoral degrees as well as paper presentations go through online checks before they are approved,’’ he said.

  • Grow informal sector, don urges Fed Govt

    A professor of Economics, Covenant University, Ota Ogun State, Isaiah Olurinola, has urged the Federal Government to provide an enabling environment for the informal sector to thrive.

    He said the informal sector had outperformed the formal sector, describing the former as the greater employer.

    If properly nurtured, Olurinola said, the informal sector had the potential to increase employment and output phenomenally.

    Olurinola gave the advice while delivering the CU’s 10th inaugural lecture on Thursday, last week.

    He spoke on the theme “Repositioning the informal economy for employment creation and entrepreneurial development in Nigeria.”

    The don said that the informal sector was responsible for employing 50-60 per cent of non-agricultural labour in Nigeria.

    “The informal sector has rescued many people from open unemployment to informal employment in the urban labour market.

    “The Federal Government must be bold enough to take the bull by the horn in tackling the challenges facing the sector,” he added.

    He said the study he carried out identified three categories of operators in the informal economy:- those well above poverty line, those slightly above poverty line, as well as those still in poverty.

    “Each of these groups needs policy actions that will improve their position in the informal economy. The formal sector too, should be programmed to reduce the current high rate of unemployment. All macroeconomic and microeconomic strategies should be put in place to ensure the achievements of Sustainable Development Goals  which is to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.”

    He identified some of the challenges of the informal sector as including: lack of skilled and faithful manpower to run enterprises; lack of access to formal credit facilities/financial support; frequent harassment by local government officials and uniformed men; and poor infrastructural facilities especially irregular power and water supply. Others include poor road network; dearth of skilled, faithful and God-fearing workers as well as shortage of consistent data collection and storage in an easily accessible way to facilitate research studies on the informal sector.

    Olurinola advised Federal Government to close the gap of mutual trust and confidence between the government and the sector.

    Chancellor of CU the university, David Oyedepo, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, Living Faith (Nationwide) Prof. Briget Sokan, said there was the need for the Federal Government to re-orientate all her agents to adopt a friendly approach than the prevailing hostile way of collecting taxes from operators in the informal sector.

    Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Aderemi Atayero, said the role of the informal sector could not be overemphasised, adding that it had provided employment opportunities for over 75 per cent in the Sub-Sahara African.

     

  • Nigeria can save N2trn from wheat importation – NCGA president

    Nigeria can save N2trn from wheat importation – NCGA president

    The Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), says Nigeria can save N2 trillion from the importation of wheat, if appropriate measures are put in place to boost cassava cultivation.

    Mr Segun Adewunmi, the National President of NCGA, disclosed this at the 1st Cassava Stakeholders’ Workshop organised on Wednesday by Covenant University, Ota, Ogun.

    “Cassava can actually trigger massive industrial revolution if the Federal Government can address challenges confronting the planting of cassava in the country.

    “There are over 20 products that could be exacted from cassava; Products like ethanol, industrial starch, glucose syrup and sweetener were incidental raw materials for numerous utility items with limitless market potentials,’’ he said.

    The NCGA president said that the nation spent over N2 trillion annually to import ethanol, industrial starch and wheat into country and this is not healthy for the economy.

    He advised the Federal Government to support farmers by providing sufficient funds that could be used in carrying out research in tackling virus diseases ravaging cassava.

    Adewunmi said that the ability of the Federal Government to do this would boost foreign earnings and create jobs opportunities for the teeming unemployed youth.

    Dr Angela Eni, an Associate Professor of Virolgy, Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Ota, said that the project that convened the workshop was called `West African Virus Epidemiology’ (WAVE) for Root and Tuber Corps.

    Eni, also the convener of the workshop, said that currently the first phase of the project was to address virus diseases affecting cassava productivity.

    She stressed the need to address virus diseases affecting cassava productivity because it is a tolerance crop that could grow on any soil and also serve as food security for Africans.

    “The kind of yield farmers get from cassava could provide food for over 800 million Africans.

    “But there is a problem of virus diseases affecting the tuber, which made tuber yield to be low,’ she said.

    She said that there was a new virus disease called ‘Cassava Brown Stream Virus’, which was not present in West African but ravaging cassava in East and Central African.

    Eni said that this virus had virtually affected the tubers and had reduced productivity from cassava.

    “The biggest objective of WAVE that is happening in West African is to ensure continuous exclusion of cassava brown stream virus from West African countries.

    “WAVE is preparing to respond rapidly in case the cassava brown stream virus spread to West African countries so that we do not have the repeat of Ebola crises,’’ she explained.

    The four days workshop with the theme: “Cassava Virus and Clean Seed Awareness,” opened on July 3 and will end on July 6.

  • Covenant University develops rapid DNA isolation method

    An Associate Professor of Virology in the Department of Biological Sciences, Covenant University, Dr. Angela Eni has, in conjunction with one of her students, Miss Oluwaseunnlafunmi Oke, developed a rapid and inexpensive DNA isolation kit for secondary schools, using locally available materials.

    The research was aimed  at introducing DNA extraction laboratory practical in secondary schools across Africa.

    DNA, according to Dr. Eni, is a molecule that carries the hereditary material of organisms.

    “Generally, it is housed within the nucleus in the cell of cellular organisms or eukaryotic organisms. For prokaryotic organisms like bacteria, that do not have a membrane-bound nucleus, the DNA is housed within the cell membrane,” she added.

    Extraordinary advances in the DNA era of science, she averred, has opened a unique window of opportunity that empowered humans to proffer solutions to the myriad of agricultural, medical and environmental challenges we face.

    The professor added that applications of recombinant DNA technology has resulted in the production of better yielding plants with resistance to pests, new vaccines and enzymes to prevent diseases as well as bacteria capable of cleaning up oil spills.

    These dramatic gains, Dr. Eni noted, are however like the green revolution, lost to many Africans because the necessary facilities required to benefit from and maximise the recombinant DNA technology revolution is lacking in most African nations.

    “Worse still is the fact that the indigenous manpower required to spearhead the desperately needed solutions for Africa is grossly limited,” she asserted.

    Stating the motive behind the research, Dr. Eni, who is the Team Leader of the Covenant University Hub of the West African Virus Epidemiology (WAVE) for root and tuber crops, said she observed that both her undergraduate and postgraduate students struggle with molecular biology concepts and techniques mainly because these were not introduced to the students on time and appropriately. This, she said, had been a recurring challenge over the years, hence one of the solution would be to bring DNA or the molecular biology studies home to young people in a practical way that they would understand and early enough to capture their interest.

    She said one of the reasons both secondary schools and some higher institutions in Nigeria do not teach their students DNA extraction is because the kits required for conducting these “young mind entrancing” laboratory practical are either too expensive and/or unavailable in most schools in Africa, including some higher institutions.

  • Students’ council chief wins Covenant University’s top award

    A student of Architecture, Winner Deji-Folutile, has emerged the best graduating student of Covenant University for 2015/2016 academic session.

    Deji-Folutile, who is the student council chairman at Covenant University to win the award, recorded a CGPA score of 4.974.

    He was honoured at the institution’s convocation ceremony held on Thursday.

    He was the first students’ union leader to win the award in Covenant University’s 14-year history.

    Deji-Folutile has a track record of excellence as his worst results since he gained admission to the institution few years ago were two B’s.

    He scored A’s in all other courses.

    He had the best results in the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examination Council (NECO) at Faith Academy, Ota.

    He also had the third best result in NECO in Ogun State for 2012.

  • Two post graduate students allegedly drown in Lagos beach

    Two post graduate students allegedly drown in Lagos beach

    Two post graduate students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have allegedly drowned at the Elegushi Beach in Lagos.

    According to their friend, Ginika Okolo who took to social media to mourn them, the two women Funmi 24, and Shola, 27, were swept away by high tides on Sunday while celebrating a friend’s birthday.

    The duo who graduated from Covenant University were said to be on the verge of completing their Master in International Law and Diplomacy at UNILAG.

    Mourning her friends, Okolo blamed the absence of life guards and other safety measures for their death.

    She said: “Some of us have been awake and have cried our lives out. I shut the day because of the death of these two. OH LIFE WHAT A WASTE!!!!

    “Our tears have turned to anger because their lives were carelessly taken away by Elegushi heavy tide. Is there not a rescue team? Don’t people pay to enter the beach? Funmi, 24 and Shola, 27, had bright futures.

    “Graduated of International Relations from Covenant University (2007-2011) and on the verge of completing their Masters from Unilag in International Law and Diplomacy. This is so sad but we must bring awareness because their lives are not worthless to carelessly die like this.

    “If you went to Covenant University, Bells Secondary School, Home Science Secondary School, University of Lagos and you know their families, loved ones or you have loved ones who have been victims, you need to join this campaign.

    “We need wave alarm system, emergency medical unit, patrol unit, good rescue team in all Nigerian beaches.
    “Funmi and Shola were wonderful young girls who were taken away carelessly. R.I.P my loves you will always remain in the sands of time,” she wrote.

    When contacted, the state command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said the police were yet to establish if such incident occurred.

  • Group inaugurates student association in Covenant varsity

    Group inaugurates student association in Covenant varsity

    A new chapter of the Africa’s Young Entrepreneur Students Association (AYESA) has been inaugurated at Covenant University in Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

    The inauguration is an evidence of Africa’s Young Entrepreneur (AYE)’s commitments to developing and empowering young entrepreneurs in Nigeria and across Africa.

    AYESA in Covenant is not only about having students who start their own businesses, it is also about students who set their own goals in life as AYESA assists them with means to achieve them.

    According to Summy Francis, AYE President, “It is about initiatives and proactive attitudes to solving problems that matter to people. It is about the university working closely with the surrounding society and private sector.

    “AYESA is about understanding what you need to know to achieve something, and how to learn it. And this last part is what universities have a hard time adjusting to.

    “For students to be creative, innovative and entrepreneurial, we cannot merely have them memorize what the curriculum requires, and cannot just keep them in the classroom.

    “Real innovation and creativity happens in interaction with real life. Hence our platform will help them interact more with independent entrepreneurs within the AYE network present in 19 African countries that have the best interest of the young ones at heart,” Francis said.

    Prof. Charles Ayo, Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University, while delivering his speech at the inauguration observed that the institution shared similar vision with AYE, noting that the institution is envisioned with raising a new generation of leaders in all fields of human endeavour.

    According to him, the lack of leadership capacity is evident in all businesses in the country.

    “If you ask me what we have as a continent, I would say the whole continent is in disarray, therefore making it practically impossible for anybody to maintain development and when you think of development, you will remember an environment that is beclouded with anarchy, no way to survive,” the VC noted.

    Prof Ayo however noted that the Chancellor of Covenant University, Dr. David Oyedepo was right about the introduction of a degree programme on entrepreneurship in the institution affirming that entrepreneurship is the future for Africa.

    Similarly, Prof. Iyoha Francis, Dean of College of Business and Social Sciences said that business trust is more than physical capital which keeps people on in a business hence the need for all tertiary institutions in Africa to embrace AYESA.

    The Dean stressed that people think being unethical could bring immediate results but the long run effects are very terrible, which are the values AYESA is dedicated to impacting on African Students

    “So as you go on in this your crusade, please ensure that you build this business trust into your people. Let them know that it is better to be ethical in business dealings because it has effects on every aspect of business transactions”, he advised.

    The management team of Covenant University, who gladly welcomed the initiative, expressed satisfaction at the inauguration of the AYE Students Association in the institution.

    Elated Igwedinma Anofienem, AYESA Students’ Managing Director (also Students’ Governor, Covenant University) emphasized the need for such initiative to be introduced on all campuses of higher learning in Nigeria and in Africa as this is a solid medium to eradicate unemployment.

     

  • Covenant University school graduates 50

    Covenant University school graduates 50

    Covenant University Secondary School, Ota, Ogun State, has graduated the first set of final year students of the institution with a charge to continue to strive for excellence in their future endeavours.
    Principal of the school, Mrs Florence Johnson, gave the advice at the school’s fifth speech/prize giving and maiden graduation.
    Fifty students passed out at the ceremony witnessed by members of the governing council, parents, teachers and other guests.
    Mrs Johnson who noted that the students will face challenges, urged them to always hold their “head high and your heart wide open.”
    “Every battle you win matters most not only to your family, it matters to your society, your country and the world at large,” she said.
    “Remember that we would be physically there to advise you; that is why you must set your direction into a positive attitude and strong spirit,” Mrs Johnson stated.
    She praised the founder of the school, Bishop David Oyedepo, and wife Pastor Faith who is the Vice President (Education), the Education Commission of the ministry, governing council members, parents and teachers for the support that has ensured the success of the institution.
    She highlighted various achievements of the school which includes awards won by students in various academic and sporting competitions.