The Nation Newspaper

Tag: graduate

  • Graduate empowers pupils

    A graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Bimbo Akinsanya, has dedicated her time and resources to transforming the lives of teenagers through her Bimbo ‘n’ Friends Initiative.

    Bimbo said the need to inspire students in public schools to lead better lives motivated the creation of the project.

    To mark its first anniversary, a four-day event was organised at Moremi High School, Ile-Ife, last week. The resource persons at the event, Dr Omotunde and Onyinye Obienu, spoke on topical issues, including hygiene, sex education and social etiquette.

    One of the partners of the initiative, Dr Brown, a sanitary pad manufacturer, donated the product to the female students.

    Project Beautify started the second day. Volunteers tidied up the already renovated library of Ife Middle School, Eleyele, and the library was ready for use the next day.

    On the fourth day, the library was launched.

    Mr Damilola Oguntunde spoke on: “Having a vision for your life.” This was followed by a debate between School 1 and School 2. School 2 won.

    On the initiative, Bimbo said: We have a growing burden in our heart to reach out to students who are caught in or vulnerable to vices, such as drugs or substance abuse, and we decided to carry out our responsibility by creating an atmosphere where everybody feels worthy”.

    She added that the organisation was confronted with the challenge of funding of vital projects.

  • NDLEA arrests varsity graduate with 2.185kg of meth

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a graduate of Business Administration with 2.185kg of substances that tested positive for methamphetamine.

    Ifeanacho Somadina Victor was held at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

    He was to board an Ethiopian Airline flight to Malaysia when the drug was detected in his bag.

    NDLEA commander at the airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, said that the suspect was found with the illicit substance. According to Hamza, “we have arrested one Ifeanacho Somadina Victor. He had parcels of substances that tested positive for methamphetamine. The case is under investigation”.

    The suspect, who hails from Enugu State, said he smuggled drugs out of frustration. “I am a graduate of Business Administration but have been jobless since I graduated in 2008. After several years of joblessness, I became a commercial bus driver in Lagos. I am single and I live in Badagry. A man I met at a hotel promised to assist me in getting a job in Malaysia. I was happy to travel out of the country even with drugs out of frustration but I was arrested in the process. They promised to pay me 3,500 dollars but I regret everything now because I feel empty inside”.

    Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, described the arrest Ifeanacho’s involvement in such a criminal act as disappointing.

    “It is very disappointing for a university graduate who knows the implication of his action to get involved in drug trafficking.

    “Besides, he was taking the drug to Malaysia where he would have been executed if caught with narcotics. I am happy with the arrest and call on members of the public to support the agency in the eradication of illicit drugs” Giade stated.

    The suspect will soon be charged to court, he said.

     

  • ‘I’m a mother, graduate, bus driver’

    ‘I’m a mother, graduate, bus driver’

    •Meet Blessing Ekwueme, Abia’s first woman commercial driver

    She is every bit a model. She has made history but does not wear that honour like a badge. She is calm, yet very active, inspired and focused on her responsibilities and vision.

    Mrs. Blessing Ekwueme is the first woman commercial driver in Abia State. She is so happy at what she does that she cannot imagine taking her feet off the accelerator in the foreseeable future.

    She received a National Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics from Alvan Ikoku College, Owerri, and tried very hard to work with the Immigration and later the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). None of them clicked. She set up a trading business, buying crayfish from Calabar, Cross River State, and selling in Abia. One day, some fellows stopped by her stand, bent down and took away her stock. Why? She was not registered with the market union, she was told. That was it for selling crayfish.

    Undaunted, she turned to driving, starting as a commercial bus conductor and taking home only a stipend. Five years ago, she decided to sit behind the steering herself and do the driving. But first, she needed to learn to do so. Will her boss teach her? Yes, and she paid attention while he did. Today, she fills her large bus with passengers and takes them to their destinations, and back.

    Ekwueme is conscious of the fact that she operates in a male-dominated environment and not only is she courageous and determined to make the most of it, she is equally aware that she is a model to other people, especially women.

    She is married to an oil rigger with whom she has three children. And she is happy to be contributing to the family upkeep, conscious of her role as a helper to her husband on the home front.

    Mrs Ekwueme, who now operates a bus on the state youth employment scheme, spoke exclusively with SUNNY NWANKWO, detailing how she combines her many parts. Excerpts:

     

    Family and education

    My dad is married to two wives. My mother is the first wife. We were seven in number, but one of us, the first daughter, is late. Our most senior brother is a politician but he doesn’t stay at home with us.

    I come from a responsible home. My dad was a civil servant, while my mum is a farmer. They trained me well.

    I am married with three children. My husband is from Afor Umuda Ohuhu in Umuahia North Local Government Area. He works as a rigger at an oil company at Port Harcourt. He is at work for about three months and comes back to spend one week with us. In the face of this, I accepted to do something so that I don’t stay idle or join other women in gossiping and creating problems for my family.

    I still believe that I am made to be a helper to my husband, so that is why I am supporting him and I think that we have a happy home today.

    I had my NCE (National Certificate in Education) at Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, Imo State. I studied Economics there from 1998 to 2004.

    I looked for job but it wasn’t that easy for me. When I was told that Immigration was recruiting, I applied but it didn’t work out. I applied for Road Safety, did their training but after much, my name was unable to come out. So, I said no, let me do business on my own I don’t want to be dependent on any person. That was why I decided to do business.

     

    A stint in business

    Doing business or trading is all part of my profession. I started with selling crayfish; when I go to Calabar, I will buy them in bags and come down here to sell not until one day I encountered a little problem when I went to a local market at Ariam in Ikwuano Local Government Area to sell my crayfish when people on union came and confiscated my goods that I was not supposed to sell anything in their market because I didn’t register with their union. I pleaded with them, but they refused to release my goods to me. So, when I went home I started thinking of the alternative because I really want to help my family. Staying idle might cause a lot of things for me in my home because I have seen some other homes that are broken today because the wife was not able to assist the husband in sharing some of the responsibilities in the home.

     

    The road to driving

    It was at that point that I decided to join transport business as a bus conductor where I was stipends. I joined driving 5 years ago. We were driving from Umuahia to Port Harcourt. While I was still doing the conductor work, I met one of the drivers and explained my intention to become a driver, but that depends if he can teach me how to drive even if it is for two weeks. He eventually did and I started practicing on my own, not until today that I am perfect. I really find joy doing it because I can take care of myself and my family.

     

    Family’s initial reaction

    Initially when he heard it, he wasn’t all that happy because he was saying that since I want to join commercial driving, that it will turn me to be a tout. But I made him know that my mission going into commercial driving was not to be stupid, and that I would still maintain my integrity, and I’m happy today that I’m still making him proud.

    My mother in-law, like her son, initially objected to the idea of me going into driving. But I had to let her know that their own time and ours are not the same; that things were easier for them then, but now things are very hard. I told her that she shouldn’t expect me to fold my arms just because I went to school and therefore shouldn’t do the driving work because they were seeing it that I was going to mess around with men. I assured her that I was going to do the work better. After much battling, she came to understand that I am not the lazy type and that I mind my business. They are happy with me.

     

    Adapting to driving

    Commercial driving is not easy, especially when it is seen to be a job for the male folk. So, it wasn’t that easy for me to adapt because I faced a lot of challenges from male colleagues. On many occasions my vehicle was impounded and money demanded from me by these boys that collect money for daily tickets. That stopped when they understood that I am ready for the work.

     

    Contact with Abia Youth Empowerment Scheme

    They have seen me operating on Ubakala-Umuahia route. When the engine of the bus I was driving broke down, the owner of the bus said I should not be going far distance anymore, that I should be running the local route, so I started driving from Ubakala to Umuahia. The Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Mr. Sunny Nwakodo saw me on several occasions driving and made enquiries about me. The people he asked told him that I am a perfect driver, that I driver very well and like men too.

    After some time, he called me and asked me some questions which I answered. Satisfied by my responses, he gave me the key to a bus, telling me to drive it to Aba and back. That day, I did well; I went to Aba three times. So, when I came back, I delivered well. That was when he decided to give me key to the bus and until today; I am still driving the bus. I didn’t pay any money to him. He just gave the key. What we normally do is a daily account depending on the number of trips. But basically, each trip is N5,000.

     

    How impactful has the driving experience being

    At least, I am using it to encourage other women, telling them that whatever a man does, a woman can do it much better. They should wake up and make Abia a better place just like our governor has been preaching. Now that I am doing it, there some areas I have been assisting my husband. At times, when they asked my children of their school fees, if my husband is not around, I pay it and don’t necessarily have to wait for him to come back and do it.

    It is also giving my parents, my mother and father in-law joy. At least they are proud of me. So the job has really helped me.

     

    Coping with male colleagues

    It is not easy to be the only woman in the midst of about 30 men. You know that men are “Lions”. Being in their midst looks as if you are carrying a chicken to a lion’s den. At times, our chairman, Sunny Nwakodo used to be there for me when they come up to challenge, humiliate or intimidate me. He will always remind them that I am the only woman in their midst and that they should pamper and carry me. I think they are not happy seeing me coming up to challenge them, but at a time, they begin to see that I am destined to do so; that is my nature. I am born strong to be strong and hardworking. They have no other option than to obey what the chairman said.

    Being among male colleagues, sometimes, I feel intimidated but because I know it is something that I am bound to see and a decision I made, I have to take up whatever that I see and now I don’t feel it all that. Whenever they challenge me, I react and I am still there (laughs).

     

    Any plans leaving the business?

    I am not thinking of dropping driving for now, unless I am being rewarded by the state government as the first Abia female driver with a lucrative and mouthwatering job (laughs out loud).

    One day, one of my passengers said that he was going to talk to Chief T.A Orji, our governor, although I don’t know whether he has the means. He said I need to be recognized, rewarded and promoted for having the nerve to not only break into a field dominated by men, but doing the job even better than the men.

    So, I am looking forward to be rewarded with a better job that is better than driving and risking of one’s life on the road. If the job comes, I will have no option but to drop commercial driving. But if it doesn’t come, I will continue with the one that I am doing now at least, I am feeding from it.

     

    Risk in the business

    I believe that there is no means of livelihood in this life that is easy. Before you make money in this life, you must undergo some risks. I don’t see it as a risk but a means of survival.

     

    Relationship with passengers

    Since I know that passengers are always right, when they become funny, I will understand. I will try to pet them so that I will get what I want from them.

     

    On using her gender effectively

    Just because I am a lady, many of the passengers believe that I drive carefully. Many people do wait for me at our loading bay because, according to them, they feel more relaxed and comfortable because of the way I drive. So, I have many passengers that do patronise me. I am satisfied and encouraged when I hear about the good things they say about me.

     

    Coping with the job and responsibilities at home

    My husband’s kid sister is staying with me. She helps in some house chores the way I direct her. At times when the kids are ill, she will take care of them till I will come back. The job actually doesn’t stop me from performing my responsibility as a woman. I do the things I am supposed to do for my husband, although it is not easy but there is nothing I can do because it is the type of world we find ourselves. I believe that one can only rest when he or she is old. But for now that I am still young, that is when I know that I am supposed to lay a good foundation for my family.

    To other women who are in other spheres of life dominated by men outside commercial driving, they are just like me. I am advising them to carry on because they I know that they will still experience peace in their homes just like I am experiencing in my own home. I am proud to say that since I got married, there has never been any time my husband visited police station maybe because of a trouble that I caused. So, women who stay at home to gossip should desist from that and engage themselves into meaningful ventures in order to help their family and also meet their personal needs without depending so much on their husband to do it for them.

     

    Advice to women

    I want to be a leader which I have equally started through this process (commercial driving). I am advising other women to come out and be up doing because these days are not days that you fold your arms and wait for a man to fend for you or for manner to fall from heaven. They should come up and join me. I need people that could come up and join me to do this job that I am doing. Even if they don’t have their own car, they can drive for someone just as I am doing until when God will give them their own car.

    I don’t see it as only for the men, I see it as a general work for everybody. Most of the problems we encounter in some homes today is as a result of idleness; when your husband go out to work and you relax at home, when he comes back and you ask him for something, he might not be able to give you exactly what you asked because you may not know what he is seeing to get that money and he might have other plans for that money that he came back with. So, you will see that a women staying at home and not helping her husband causes a lot of problems.

    At least the people around here are proud of me. When they see me, everybody would want to greet me because I am doing well. I used to tell my younger ones that I am today loved by all is simply because I did not fold my arms and I don’t beg anybody for anything, even in my family I don’t beg anybody for anything instead, I love giving out, so it bring joy and happiness to me, my family and the community as a whole.

     

    Relaxation?

    Yes, I do relax on Sundays. I attend Sunday Service; I have enough rest that I need against Monday and I still believe that I will not do it forever. A time is coming by the grace of God, when I will have proper rest. But for now, I don’t think I need rest.

  • An orphan-graduate’s return to his ‘roots’

    An orphan-graduate’s return to his ‘roots’

    Orphans are usually not given a chance in life. For those who grew up in orphanages, it is only by God’s grace that they can rise. Such is the story of Akinyemi Ephraim George, who grew up at the Little Saints Orphanage in Lagos.  His fellow corps members stumbled on his story when they visited the orphanage for their Community Development Service. To George, it was a home-coming and a reminder of how he became a graduate, reports KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE.

    Who are the parents of Akinyemi Ephraim George?  Are they still alive?  Do they know that their son is now a graduate of Accounting from the Crawford University in Igbesa, Ogun State?

    George does not sell provisions as depicted by the heap of food and household items behind him in this photograph.  He is passing out with thousands of other 2013/2014 Batch B corps members today after completing the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

    The items were given by the Batch B corps members serving in Lagos State to the Little Saints Orphanage Home, in Akowonjo, a Lagos suburb, where he grew up with hundreds of other abandoned children, last Friday.

    The stories of the abandoned children touched the hearts of the corps members who visited the home as part of their Community Development Service.  They sighed in disbelief as they watched a documentary on how the orphanage rescued abandoned babies who came to the home emaciated, sick or near death.  They marvelled at the before and after photos of the children which showed marked difference in their well being weeks after receiving adequate care.  The most touching of the stories was that of baby Mary who was found with three stab wounds inflicted by her frustrated mother a few weeks after her birth.  She miraculously survived and has been adopted by foster parents.

    It was therefore a great joy to the corps members when Mrs Mayen Famous, a member of the Board of Trustees in charge of boys’ hostel announced that George was one of such abandoned children.  They cheered loudly as the quiet 25-year old was called forward to share the stage with the NYSC Coordinator for Lagos State, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi who led the corps members to the home.

    Mrs Adeyemi said the choice of Little Saints Orphanage was made by the corps members, not because they were aware one of them grew up there but to give back to the society in fulfilment of one of the cardinal programmes of the NYSC.

    “NYSC is here because we want to impact on the orphanage community.  NYSC has four cardinal programmes – the orientation, primary assignment, community development and passing out parade.  The corps members here are rounding up their service Thursday.  They decided to use the visit to cap all the CDS activities they have done all year including constructing classrooms, toilets, embarking on HIV/AIDS peer education and the like.  We want to thank the orphanage for the privilege,” she said.

    The visit may just have been routine for others but for George, it was nostalgic.  Had he not been brought to Little Saints Orphanage about 15 years ago, he may not be a graduate today.

    The young man remembers little of his biological family.  “I came to the orphanage when I was 10.  I learnt my mother got pregnant for my dad and she abandoned me.  But my father picked me up and took me to his home and my step mother brought me up.  Because of the way she maltreated me, I was pushed out.  I left home at six.  My step mother sent me to hawk.  I lost some money and she told me to go and look for it.  I lost my way and could not go back.  I roamed the streets for about two years before the police brought me here,” he said.

    George, whose surname is George, like every other child in the orphanage after the founder, Mrs Dele George, described growing up at the home as perfect.

    “Everything has been given to me by Rev Mrs Dele George.  I did not lack anything.  When I was in primary school and a teacher used to refer to me and others as orphans derogatorily, Mrs George went to the school to warn them that we have been adopted by her so should not be called orphans.  I am doing well.  The orphanage has done enough for me,” he said.

    However, George admitted that he sometimes felt emotional when he saw other parents visiting their wards during his university days.

    Would he like to be reunited with his parents despite the neglect he experienced as a child?  “Yes,” he said.  “Because of the love of God, I will forgive and accept them.  But I don’t know if they are alive or not.”

    Now that he has been educated, George wants to give back to the orphanage that gave him so much.

    “During my NYSC, I was able to acquire some skills. I learnt to make cocktail, small chops and Chapman.  After service, I want to do my ICAN so I can become chartered, and my masters.  Before then, I hope to get a job so I can give back to the orphanage,” he said.

    George already has a job waiting and may only be learning of it now he has  completed his NYSC.  Mrs George, founder of the orphanage said the offer was made by visitors to the home.

    “He already has a job waiting for him so we are very happy about it.  It came from some people who visited the orphanage and saw him.  It is a very good job,” she said.

    Mrs Famous thanked the NYSC for pitching in to support the orphanage in a big way this time around.  They donated items such as bags of rice, cooking oil, toiletries, cereals, beverages, milk, diapers, noodles, drinks, biscuits, stationeries, clothes, and others.

    Despite the cost, she said the home seeks admission for the children in either public or private tertiary institutions.

    “He is among the second batch of children from the home to graduate from the university.  We have them in various universities.  Because we do not want them waiting at home for admission for a long time, we enroll them in private universities.  We have tried getting admission for them to the University of Lagos, but it has not worked out.  However, Yaba College of Technology admitted two of them last year.  We took seven and they admitted two, which we consider a success.  We have some of them in Babcock and other universities,” she said.

    When asked whether any of the universities has offered to help by waiving fees, she said no.

    “The only thing they have done is to give us time to pay up but none has offered to waive the fees because we are an orphanage,” she said.

    So far, Mrs George said the home has produced 25 graduates – with three more joining them before the end of the year.

    “At present, we have produced 25.  We have three of them coming out this year to bring the total to 28,” she said.

    Mrs George said the vision of the orphanage is to the give the children the best – the reason why they do not restrict them to public institutions.  While grateful that many Nigerians have helped out, she urged more Nigerians to support the Little Saints Orphanage and others to take vulnerable children off the streets.

    “This is vision God gave us; so we must give them the best.  We have a few sponsors that help us with their education at different leves.  Some individuals sponsor nursery education, some secondary, while others sponsor tertiary.  But just a few are doing it.  We are appealing to more Nigerians to join us and other orphanages to give these children good education.  If the orphanages did not pick them up, where would they be today?  Nigerians have a big heart, but few are helping us,” she said.

    The visit to the Little Saints Orphanage changed the outlook of many corps members who condemned the habit of abandoning or maltreating children.

    Egwu Friday, a graduate of English Education from the Lagos State University (LASU), described the practice as embarrassing.

    “The situation of the children was embarrassing.  It is wonderful how they were transformed.  It is a good thing we came.  It will encourage us that when we have something, we know we should give,” he said.

    Another graduate Lynda Efidol, who studied Health Information Management at the University of Lagos, said the visit was a first for her but would not be the last.

    “When watching the documentary, I felt bad that a woman who gave birth to a baby could harm her.  It is good that we came here.  I have never visited an orphanage before.  This is the first time.  But I will be coming back,” she said.

  • Graduate dies on first day in Law School

    Collins Nwoha, a visually-impaired law graduate, finished from the Imo State University (IMSU) as one of the best students. He died on the day he resumed his Bar programme at the Enugu Campus of the Nigerian Law School, reports EKENE AHANEKU (300-Level Optometry).

    The registration at the Augustine Nnamani Campus of the Nigerian Law School (NLS) in Enugu State was not that rigorous, but Collins Nwoha, a visually-impaired graduate, posted to the campus, could not complete his registration before he died. It was the late Collins’ first day on the campus.

    What could have caused his death? That was the question law students of the Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, could not answer last week when the news of his death spread.

    A pall of gloom descended on the institution’s Faculty of Law. Students wailed; some lecturers broke down in tears, wondering why a brilliant student should die in his prime. The late Collins studied Law at the university.

    Being among the best students in his class, the late Collins was part of the first set of graduates mobilised for the Bar programme.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the deceased enthusiastically left his house in Owerri for Enugu at 6am penultimate Monday for the Bar programme. He showed no sign of illness. On arrival at the Law School at 9am, he started his registration like others, with the help of his sister, Joy, and classmate, who always volunteered to carry the late Collins in his car.

    Two hours into the registration, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the late Collins complained of headache and fever. His classmate asked if he should take him back home to see his family doctor. The late Collins politely told his classmate to allow him complete his registration before leaving.

    At 3pm, Collins visited the Law School clinic, where he was unable to see a doctor. After waiting for several minutes, the deceased reportedly told his sister and classmate that he was strong enough to complete his registration and planned to travel back to Owerri the next day.

    He completed his registration at 5:55pm and was allocated a temporary bed space in Snake Island Hall. As the late Collins’ classmate was leaving the hostel, his condition  was said to have worsened, making his sister, Joy, to scream for help.

    The deceased was rushed to the clinic, where a doctor laboured to stabilise him to no avail. Collins died in the clinic.

    His classmates said the late Collins’ visual impairment could not deter him from achieving excellence.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that his brilliance made his colleagues to select him as their representative in the Students’ Union Government (SUG).

    “The late Collins never saw his disability as a problem rather he was encouraged to do more than what people with two eyes cannot do,” a student said

    Austin Chibueze, who saw the late Collins moments before his death, said: “I am still in shock. We travelled to Enugu together in the same vehicle. We went in for our registration together. I saw him going to his room in the evening but the next news I heard was that Collins is dead.”

    Nwachukwu Ceevero, president of IMSU chapter of Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN), described Collins’ death as a tragedy, saying he would be remembered for his exceptional brilliance. “The death of Collins Nwoha reminds us of the fleeting nature of human existence. It is a tragedy because he had laudable dreams even as a visually-impaired student. But those dreams could not materialise. He will always be remembered for his exceptional brilliance,” he said.

    Prince Ndiokwere, the union’s Chief Judge when the late Collins was a member, said: “I have no words to express my grief because Collins’ death is a great shock to me, especially when I consider his achievement,  despite his disability. He was full of dreams but we cannot question God.”

  • Graduate marks birthday with orphans

    Graduate marks birthday with orphans

    •Gives UTME  forms to two

    A graduate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Akintan Akindele, has marked his birthday with orphans of Ondo State Children’s Home in Akure. He donated gifts to the orphans.

    Akintan, who was the president of the National Association of Business and Administration Students (NABAMS), graduated in 2009.

    He said: “Celebrating birthday among friends and family is good, but it is more rewarding to celebrate with the less-privileged and make life meaningful to them.”

    Items donated included a bag of rice, noodles, a bag of salt, detergents and soaps. The highpoint of the occasion was the cutting of birthday cake.

    The celebrator paid for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms of two students in his home town, Ukonyande in Ikale area of Ondo State. The beneficiaries are EhinmisanMorenike and Joseph Aanu.

    Akintan said:”I noticed their hard work and focus and I discovered that they do not have the means to obtain the form. I decided to extend a hand of fellowship by supporting them.”

    The beneficiaries thanked Akintan for the gesture and promised to take their academic pursuit serious.

     

     

     

  • Lucky graduates

    Lucky graduates

    Fresh graduates trained by VDT Communications Limited, an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) firm, in its free one-year Modular Trainee Engineers programmes have been employed after the exercise. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

    As part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) to reduce unemployment, VDT Communications Limited, a broadband communication firm, hase given free training to some graduates in its second Modular Trainee Engineers’ Programme.

    At their graduation in Lagos, the firm’s Managing Director, Mr Abiodun Omoniyi, praised the trainees’ willingness to acquire expertise in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He offered them employment in the company.

    The graduates, who underwent the free modular training programme, were paid allowances, during the exercise.

    Omoniyi said the programme was necessitated by the need to help the government in reducing youth employment, noting that many job seekers could not be engaged because they lacked competency and adequate expertise to add values to employers.

    He said: “Having identified the challenge, VDT decided to take the bull by the horns by initiating modular trainee engineers’ programme for school leavers. The selection process for the annual programme involves an assessment test and interview, which make the successful candidates to be enrolled into the programme for one year. We make the programme free of charge.”

    Omoniyi congratulated the trainees on the “successful completion” of the programme, urging the government and policymakers to close the gap between theory and practice. Omoniyi said there was need to initiate curriculum that would give students practical knowledge in their disciplines and make them employable after school.

    He said:“A practical experience is critically imperative for students and graduates to be employed in the world of ICT,” he said, adding that the firm possessed facility and resources to train manpower for the nation’s ICT sector.

    “We are looking forward to the time we will be in the position to enroll many more candidates into this programme to increase our youths’ potentials for gainful employment. Such opportunity will yield tremendous positive impact on the trainees, our economy and the nation.”

    A participant, Musa Haliru praised the management of VDT Communications for creating a platform for the youths to explore their potentials in ICT, saying: “The training has impacted an unquantifiable knowledge on me.”

    Another trainee, Justina Ugherughe said the programme was unique because the participants, instead of paying for the training, were paid stipends while they underwent the exercise. She hailed the firm’s belief in the youths, saying she would make efforts to impact knowledge gained on others.

    VDT’s Chief Technical Officer urged the trainees not to rest on their oars, urging them to improve on the skill they learned from the training. “Don’t be a jack of all trades, be a master in one and become all-time professional in it,” he advised.

    The ceremony was witnessed by top management of the firm and members of staff. VDT Communications is a bulk internet provider that provides digital leased circuit and wireless network to a wide range of companies, including financial and telecommunication firms.

     

     

     

  • 519 graduate at RUN

    The Redeemer’s University (RUN) has churned out 519 graduates in its fifth convocation ceremony held last Thursday. The graduates, according to the management, were found worthy in character and learning.

    In his speech at the ceremony held in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Youth Centre.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Debo Adeyewa, revealed that 17 of the graduands graduated with First Class.

    Some of them, who had distinguished themselves in various disciplines, were awarded cash prices.

    Noting that RUN was born out of prophecy, Prof Adeyewa advised the graduates to “challenge the challenges of the nation”. He encouraged them to rise above standard set by the university and display wonder of God in their endeavours.

    The VC disclosed that all the academic programmes including post-graduate of the university had been fully accredited, saying university got the best technology-driven institution in Ogun State by the Nigerian Computer Society.

    The overall best student, Miss Kehinde Oluwatoyin Babaagba, who had Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.96 in Natural Science, was awarded N190,000. She appreciated God for the feat. Kehinde recalled how her journey started, remarking that she had become stronger, bolder, better and wiser and ready to launch into the world.

    The graduating student, who did best in their studies, included Miss Ufuoma Odjegba and Rotimi Odunayo in the colleges of Management Sciences and Humanities respectively.

    Dignitaries present at the event included the Visitor to the university and wife of the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Folu Adeboye, Chancellor, Prof Tekena Tamuno, Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Julius Okojie, Ogun State Commissioner of Education, Mr. Segun Odugbela, Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal and his wife among others.

     

     

  • ‘Our graduands are made superstars’

    ‘Our graduands are made superstars’

    It was a memorable day as St Jude Private School FESTAC bade farewell to its pupils.

    The event tagged: ‘2013 graduation and prize-giving day,’ include activities such as prayers for the graduands, song rendition, reading from the Holy- Bible, and various cultural performances among others.

    The Rev father Serbastine Nwankwo who was the officiating minister gave words of encouragement and motivation to the pupils on how to attain stardom.

    He said St Jude’s products are built to be a super star, and therefore they must always strive to attain greatness at all times.

    She said: “You must remember that this school is reputed for sterling qualities. We are committed to producing superstars that will take the world by storm. So let me say to you graduands of today, have the world on your fingertips. Take charge and fly like eagles.”

    One of the parents, Mr Gabriel Ofikulu praised the school. He equally lauded teachers’ efforts saying they are doing wonderfully well.

    The head teacher, Mr Benedit Osai Etim stated identified dedication among teaching and non teaching staff toward achieving greatness as the secret behind the school success.

    There were also presentation of prize and certificates in different categories to the pupils as rewards for their performance so as to spur them towards greater performance.

     

  • MUSON graduates demonstrate skills

    MUSON graduates demonstrate skills

    IT was a night of music brilliance at the sixth graduation concert of MTN Foundation (MTNF) which held at the MUSON Center, recently.

    Like an annual ritual, music buffs stormed the Agip Recital Hall, cheering and clapping as each rendition faded away. There was no doubt, the student artistes who were going to be graduated the next day were a new crop of music revolution for the country.

    Exhibiting their mastery of various instruments, bringing stage drama into music and matching creative with sonorous voices, the MUSON indeed as scored another point as a training centre of excellence. The artistes had trained in the various aspects of music for two years.

    The concert, which was the sixth in its series was said to be the biggest graduation concert organized yet. The concert became a tradition after the first graduating set of the beneficiaries of the Foundation’s music scholarship initiated it. The MTNF scholarship to the students covers their tuition and text books, among others.

    Among the graduands were Segun Adeleke and Kpalap Bright who set the ball rolling, performing Carol and Fughetta, originally put together by a famous British composer by the name Gerald Finzi; Adedaramola Olaore a voice major had rendered “Song of the flea” originally composed by Moussorgsky a Russian Composer admired for his outstanding operas and colourful music inspired by the history and folklore of his homeland; Oladugba Michael performed “The Beautiful Show” by J B Arban. Though on a trumpet, he came through to the audience like the great Saxophonist and Jazz Musician – Kenny G.

    The chariots of Fire rendition came from Ernest Bisong and Irene Ozinegbe. Ozinegbe’s first love for a musical instrument is said to be the huge bass instrument, which she dramatized through a voice over performance. Bisong on a violin, complemented Ozinegbe, making their rendition a delight to listen to.

    The rendition of Omi by Elizabeth Olaitan was particularly dear to members of MTN Foundation present. The composer of the song Kehinde Oretimehin, won the first MTN Foundation prize for an outstanding student in 2008. Olaitan herself also finished second runner-up in this year’s award ceremony. It was particularly pleasant for them to see their investment in Oretimehin has yielded fruits.

    Conducted by renowned voice instructor and conductor, Emeka Nwokedi, the Chamber Orchestra which comprises of the graduating students and other students performed two numbers in honour of MTN Nigeria and MTN Foundation. The first number was entitled “Y’ello Song”, followed by “Thank You MTN”, a number composed by Mbazuigwe Chizurum.

    The MTNF/MUSON project commenced in 2006, when the Foundation was approached by the school to assist some students of modest means who might not be able to pay the fees needed to run the diploma programme. According to Ambassador Hamzat Ahmadu, MTN Foundation, the Foundation surprised the institution by providing scholarships for all the students. To date, a total of 162 students have graduated from the music school in a period of six years and have gone ahead to prove their mettle in their chosen areas of specialization.