The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CRUTECH

  • CRUTECH aims to top NUC ranking

    The Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) is strategising to top the next ranking of the National Universities Commission (NUC), president of its alumni association, Mr Eyam Abeng, has said.

    Speaking during the launch of a N400 million fund for the association’s proposed alumni centre in Calabar, Eyam said the body is consulting with stakeholders in the education sector in and outside Nigeria to make the dream a reality.

    He said the project is one of many steps being taken to improve the standard of learning in the institution.

    He noted that the state-of-the-art centre will comprise a 500-seater auditorium, Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre for 50 computers, and a guest house, among others.

    “The establishment of the alumni centre represents a vital part of the national executive council’s commitment to providing a platform for members and our future alumni.

    “I believe this alumni center will assist our alma mater to become one of the very best universities in Nigeria in terms of research, technology transfer and ‘technopreneurship,” he said.

    Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Anthony Owan-Enoh, lauded the alumni for their vision, saying he would do his best to support them.

    He said it was worthy of emulation that the old students continue to make efforts to improve their alma mater.

    Chairman of the occasion, Odey Ochicha, a former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stressed the need to revive the education system for advancement.

    He advised policy makers to pay more attention to the education of the youth.

  • CRUTECH alumni protest land encroachment

    The alumni association of Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), has urged workers and students of the institution to protest the alleged encroachment of the institution’s land by Efut, the host community.

    National President of the association, Mr Eyam Abeng, who described the situation as “shocking and embarrassing,” called on the state government to urgently intervene.

    Abeng lamented that Efut community is taking advantage of government’s seeming indifference to the university.

    He assured workers and students of the university that the alumni would not sit back and watch “unscrupulous elements” tamper with either the land or any property of the university.

    Abeng said: “I am very disappointed by the development. Alumni are very upset because the host community is supposed to be strategic and progressive partners of the university and not invaders. I have visited the quarters to ascertain the level of damage these unscrupulous elements have done by illegally claiming ownership of land belonging to CRUTECH.

    “I won’t blame them completely because the state government in the last six to seven years has demonstrated lack of interest in the only state-owned university.

    “I also want to use this opportunity to assure the management of the university, staff and students that they are not in this fight alone. The alumni will as a matter of fact, use every available means within the ambit of the law to reclaim the already trespassed land while moving expediently to stop further encroachment.”

    He expressed fear over the security situation in the university as a result of the encroachment and appealed to Rivers State Governor Ben Ayade to set up a special patrol team to beef up security in the institution.

    “With the development strides of the current Vice Chancellor which is evident in the rapid infrastructural development going on, the university needs more attention from government especially in the area of security now that there are unknown faces within the school community,” he said.

  • Students bemoan strike in KSU, CRUTECH

    Students bemoan strike in KSU, CRUTECH

    The National Association of Universities Students (NAUS) has condemned the closure of the Cross Rivers State University of Science and Technology (CRUTECH) and the Kogi State University (KSU) in Anyigba, over workers’ unpaid salaries.

    The association’s national president, Jonathan Adekunle, said it was illegal for the schools to be shut against students’ wishes, calling on the CRUTECH’s and KSU’s managements to re-open the campuses in students’ interest.

    His words: “Let it be known that NAUS strongly condemns the closure of the schools. We see the action as ungodly and embarrassing because the closures are against students’ wishes. We also condemn treatmented out to students of the affected schools. We believe the welfare of workers remains the obligation of the government and ask the governors to pay their workers immediately.”

    Through the statement, Adekunle said NAUS had passed a vote of no confidence on Governor Liyel Imoke for his lackadaisical attitude and failure to adhere to the letter the association submitted to him last month to meet with the aggrieved lecturers for resolution.

    He also appealed to Governor Idris Wada to immediately resolve the crises rocking the KSU, stressing that NAUS was worried over the failure of government to pay workers their entitlement.

    The association gave Imoke a week ultimatum to re-open CRUTECH, failure of which would lead to a protest.

  • Day CRUTECH leaped for Coke Studio concert

    Day CRUTECH leaped for Coke Studio concert

    TEKNO’S performance was mad in Port-Harcourt, so I do not expect anything less from him today. This is Cali”, said a male student to a girl walking beside him. “So I heard. My cousin told me about it, but for me, it is May D. I must take a selfie with him today”, she replied firmly, not missing a beat.

    The conversation continued among different groups of students at the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), when the trending musical road show, Coke Studio concert, berthed on campus, confirming how much students have come to revere the concert, sponsored by Coca-Cola Nigeria Plc.

    Way ahead of the show, they discussed the skills of May D, Tekno and Selebobo, the headliners of the concert which was just about to begin at the school’s Hall 2 car park.

    For a visitor just entering the school, there were already signs of a huge event, going by the posters and the venue décor, swathed as it was in yards of red cloth emblazoned with the Coke Studio logo and dotted with huge barrels filled with bottles of ice-cold Coca-Cola.  On an elevated platform, the official DJ of the concert, DJ Lambo, was in fine form dishing out popular tracks with relish.

    The branded Coke Studio bus, which had arrived at the campus a few days before, was also stationed at the venue, for students to get onboard to have their songs recorded or attempt a quick ‘freestyle’ over a pre-recorded beat. The double-decker bus which has state-of-the-art studio facilities also comes with 70-inch TV flush mounted inside and outside, a DJ booth and is Wi-Fi enabled.

    “It was fun and challenging”, said Dominic Odey, aka Jektur, a 400 Level Wood Products Engineering student, who recorded a track on the Coke Studio bus. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced. “The Coke Studio bus is mind-blowing. I think all upcoming artistes have to try recording a track on it. It is going to test how much they understand the music production process and help them identify how talented they are,” he added.

    With a dancing competition, the show started in earnest me, with the MC in charge of the proceedings. Apparently, dancing is a major talent at CRUTECH, as the students displayed their mastery of every popular dance step from “Shoki” to “skelewu”.

    A singing contest also revealed the stagecraft of CRUTECH’s aspiring singers and rappers who vied for the coveted opportunity to collaborate on stage with the stars. The highly entertaining competition was won by 100 Level student, Clement Omang and 400 Level student, Emmanuel Akogwu whose dreams of performing alongside May D and Tekno came true.

    First on stage was Selebobo who got the party started with his popular tracks including “selfie” and “oroma baby”.

    Close on his heels came Tekno. The fast-rising artiste decided to give his fans much more than a dramatic performance, throwing into the crowd his personal items, including his neck piece, shirt and even his footwear! A breathless Dickson Enyieko, a 100 Level student, who caught Tekno’s shoes, could not believe his luck, as he clung to them with his might.

    R&B crooner, Mr. May D, was the star performer of the day. He held nothing back as he dished out his most loved tracks that had the crowd dancing and singing along. He thanked Coca-Cola for the opportunity to participate in the Coke Studio campus concert.

    “Coca-Cola’s novel idea of bringing together aspiring artistes and accomplished musicians is just what Nigeria’s music scene needs right now,” May D said, adding that, “It is a great concept that will give young musicians the exposure they need while they polish their skills. That’s why the Coke Studio bus is an important part of the campus concert experience,” he said.

    Brand Manager, Colas, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Olufemi Ashipa while reviewing the success of the concert said, “What we witnessed here was amazing. Their orderly conduct and participation was very impressive. One could tell from the level of the excitement that the students were pleased the Coke Studio concert”. He added that the concert will continue to excite university campuses with the very best in entertainment.

    Kingsley Ubi, a 400 Level Wood Product Engineering student and the current ‘Mr. CRUTECH’ was full of praises for Coca-Cola for staging a concert of this magnitude on the campus, which he said had brought back smiles upon the faces of the students. Echoing his sentiments, Vice President of the Student Union Government (SUG), Emmanuella Oyo-Ita said the Coke Studio concert has helped the students balance their academics and social lives.

    The Coke Studio Campus Concerts moves on the University of Ibadan next, leaving a trail of appreciative students and aspiring artistes from seven campuses.

  • Unfazed by ASUU strike

    Unfazed by ASUU strike

    They are twins who have passion for creating something out of nothing.

    Peter Olowhu and Paul Akem, known as Double P at the Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH), are multi-talented identical twins. They are carving a niche for themselves in various vocations.

    Born in 1990 into the family of Mr and Mrs Inung, both indigenes of Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, who are Kaduna-based petty fashion designers, the twins in their final year, are surmounting the family challenges with their latent skills.

    Both are gifted in music, fashion designing and interior decorations. They are exhibiting the talents on campus to survive. Peter is studying Civil Engineering while Paul is an Architecture student.

    While activities in CRUTECH are perpetually paralysed because of the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, the twins are smiling to the bank, utilising their gifts to service their colleagues and lecturers.

    When CAMPUSLIFE visited the campus last week, the twin brothers were seen sewing clothing materials for their clients.

    When our correspondent sought to know why they did not go after the campus was closed down, Peter said since they were admitted into the institution, they had never gone back home.

    “We always engaged either in church activities or managing big events but we do communicate with them on phone,” he said.

    Paul added: “We are proud to say that our parents only pay our fees, while we handle the rest. Look at how healthy we are; it is not by our strength but by the grace of God.”

    Peter and Paul started earning money immediately after their admission into CRUTECH.

    “As we were leaving Kaduna for Calabar after our admission, our parents gave us two sewing machines to take along so that we could work while we go to school. We did not turn down the offer because we knew it could fetch us money. In school, we started having customers, who come to amend their torn and oversize clothes; this gave us popularity. We later extended our services to lecturers and non-teaching staff,” Paul said.

    Peter said: “We acquired the skill from our parents who are fashion designers; we started developing interest in tailoring at a tender age. But then, we were doing it as an hobby. Our parents mandated us to be focused on the vocation but we did not take it serious as kids. Rather, we boasted that we wanted to be engineers in future. Later, we started seeing the opportunities in it as we earned little money from amendments we did for customers. From that moment, we gave full attention to the trade.”

    Averagely, the twins make N1,000 daily depending on the number of “jobs” they deliver. “In terms of charges, our service is affordable because we are dealing mostly with students,” Paul offered.

    Apart from tailoring, the twins also sing.

    They released a couple of songs and performed in various campus fellowships’ events. Did their parent also teach them music?

    “No, they are not musicians,” Paul said, adding: “And we cannot say music is our primary calling because we do so many things apart from it. We have released four gospel songs and we have been receiving positive feedbacks from people.

    The fact is that we tend to concentrate more on music because we believe it is the best way to pass our message across to the youth.”

    Has it been easy combining academics with business? Peter responded: “We work based on our timetable. Every morning, we draft our to-do list, which helps us to manage our time judiciously. Both of us do not have lectures simultaneously because we are studying different courses. What we do is when one is not having lectures, he does all the work while the other is in the class. We are proud to say that we have no setbacks in our academics.”

    What would they do after school? Paul said: “We are going to focus on our music because that is where we derive our happiness. Because every investment requires capital, we may practice our profession for a while to raise some money, but our intension is to own a studio where we can only record gospel songs.”

    Are they distracted by ladies? “No, we are not into any relationship because we don’t want distraction. More so, our religion does not permit that. Though it is difficult not to have female students as client but we try our best to manage our relationship with them,” Peter rejoined.

    The twins advised the youths to always take God first in everything they do and harness their potential for the service of humanity.