The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Handouts

  • College bans religious titles, handouts

    It is now an offence for academic and non-academic staff of the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti to use religious, traditional and chieftaincy titles for official purposes.

    Announcing the ban at a pre-convocation press briefing on Monday, the Provost, Prof. Francesca Aladejana, listed such titles to include “Chief”, “Alhaji”, “Pastor”, “Alfa”, “Otunba”, “Elder”, “Prophet”, “Deacon”, among others.

    She ordered workers to stop using such titles for official correspondence and inscriptions on their office doors henceforth “since the college is an academic environment.”

    The provost said the ban became necessary because of abuse of the titles as if to suggest that they were no longer operating in an academic environment.

    She also noted that the ban was to encourage the workers to pursue higher degrees.

    “Some of them were using the titles as cover up. They didn’t want to go for higher degrees. But when I came on board, I stopped all academic and non-academic staff from bearing chiefs, Pastors, Alhajis or whatever. This is an academic environment.  It is either you are Mister or Doctor,” she said.

    Already, Prof Aladejana said the move has proved effective given the number of workers that have enrolled for PhDs.

    “The step I took had really paid off. More than 30 are now pursuing PhDs in various schools. Many had gotten masters degrees and this has improved delivery and qualities of education in the College.

    “I have sent warning signals to them that all I want to hear is Mr. Mrs. or Dr, Prof and so on, we have since discovered that use of such titles is a form of cover-up to achieve what could not be ordinarily achieved,” she said.

    The Provost also announced a ban on the sale or purchase of handouts on campus.

    She said investigations had revealed that many students had become lazy, such that they no longer study or attend lectures but would pass their examinations upon buying handouts from lecturers.

    Prof Aladejana disclosed that the department of quality assurance, which she established, would henceforth ensure that any student or lecturer whose class attendance falls below expectation would face appropriate sanctions.

    “Attendance of students and lecturers are being closely monitored because it is no longer business as usual,” she said.

    Speaking on the institution’s 22nd Convocation coming up today, the provost said 2,348 students would graduate and collect their certificates same day – a departure from the old practice when they were prepared after many years.

    The provost praised Governor Ayo Fayose for retaining her as Provost, despite the fact that she was appointed by his predecessor, Kayode Fayemi.

     

  • The disabled don’t need handouts

    The disabled don’t need handouts

    A lawmaker in Kogi State is reversing the notion that all disabled persons need is occasional gifts. Through the Institute of Disabled Persons (IDP), Hon. Adeyemi Abidemi Adebola is training People Living with Disabilities (PLWD), reports JAMES AZANIA 

    The great thing about the outreach is not just that the needy are getting attention but that an erroneous notion is being reversed. Somehow, most people tend to see people living with disabilities or PLWD as perhaps only good for the occasional hand-out, a bowl of rice here, a wheelchair there or N1,000 some other time.

    Hon. Adeyemi Abidemi Adebola, a lawmaker in the Kogi State House of Assembly, said he thought PLWDs need a lot more than gifts. Give them education or train them, he said. That way, they will not only fend for themselves; they will also contribute to the growth of the society.

    That is why the organisation he founded, the Institute of Disabled Persons (iDP) located in  Egbe area of the state is empowering PLWDs with education and skills.

    The reporter observed a steady stream of enthusuastic beneficiaries into the iDP office.

    Most of them were on crutches or  aided by others, but they moved with purpose heading in one direction, somewhere in Iyale, Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    It was an engaging sight.

    After bidding my time, I approached one of them, Grace Ogalie, a young lady with a cherubic face and countenance, who on crutches moved towards the same direction as the others. After some pleasantries, she hesitantly told me her name and where she and others were headed.

    Ogalie was born with healthy, normal limbs. She only became disabled following a lethal administration of polio vaccination when she was a toddler.

    Ogalie, who is a holder of a Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSSCE) has however remained up and coming. Highly talented, she is honing her skills in music, and for this, she was out early this morning to join others in a musical programme being arranged for PLWD by the Institute of Disabled Persons (iDP).

    My interaction with her was quite inspiring, as I got to meet others in the programme, who spoke of hope and their plans for the future, despite the seeming odds.

    A cross-section of PLWDs that I spoke with expressed a feeling of abandonment by government. They clamoured for the establishment of special schools as obtains in other states like Lagos, where there is a Technical (Special) College solely for the training of PLWD.

    They commended the efforts of iDP, saying the organisation has given them a sense of belonging and reawakened their spirit.

    Meeting with the Founder of iDPs, Hon. Adeyemi Abidemi Adebola, a politician and lawmaker in the Kogi State House of Assembly and why he is lending a hand to PLWD was another eye opener.

    Adebola, the House Minority Whip is also the youngest lawmaker in the state and is indeed using his youthful energy and resources to impact positively on the most vulnerable in the society.

    iDP according to him, took off formally in 2013, but that the urge to lend a helping hand to the needy predates.

    Hear him, “Being a lawmaker is public service, working for the disabled is serving humanity, I see it as not too far from each other. The essence of life is to help that cannot help themselves. There is no way we can appreciate God and our existence other than to care for the people that need help. If you travel abroad; Europe and America, you’ll cry for the disabled people here in Nigeria”.

    Shedding more light on the institute’s programme, Adebola said iDP’s was formed to advance the rights of PLWD, which he said is the most important and to cater to their welfare.

    “When we talk of welfare for the disabled, people often think of handouts and feeding, perhaps more of pitying agenda for the disabled. I think the greater welfare is for disabled people to have access to quality education and training so that they can contribute to the development of themselves, the nation and mankind generally.

    The disabled people have a purpose in life and it is positive. We must assist them in fulfilling it.

    “Once their rights are enforced they don’t need to be pitied; they have what they deserve, naturally and socio-politically, based on natural justice. They are human beings. We have to understand that they can add value to our economy. The disabled people have made giant strides all over the world; they have written books, they are great sportsmen and women and they have been leaders too. So, they have something to contribute beyond their disability. As a matter of fact, most geniuses in life are often thought to be disabled. Look at Albert Einstein for example”.

    Bemoaning the lot of PLWDs in Nigeria, coupled with the attitude of government towards them, the lawmaker vowed to bring to issue to the public domain. The iDP he said is also will come out with a the “seven things the President-elect must do for the 20 million disabled people in Nigeria”.

    As the saying goes that ‘heaven helps those that help themselves’, Adebola stated that the disabled have a role to play in the struggle for their rights, asserting that the profile of PLWD has risen significantly.

    Listing the mode of operation of the institute, he said it has developed a template for partnership with reputable institutions for the training of PLWD, identification and development of inherent talents and ploughing monies raised at their shows into supporting them.

    His words: “Our ambition is to build the largest campus for the physically challenged in Africa. We have started as an institution liaising with existing colleges, associations and entities that relate to PLWD. We staged a play in 2013 to raise funds for disabled people and in 2014 we realised that some of the disabled people in Kogi State have talent. So, we helped them to produce a music album which was launched at the School of Disabled in Iyale, in Dekina local government.

    “We have close to 500 active members. What we do basically is that we keep on exploring their productive rights and in advocating for their rights which is even more important in the disability struggle.

    Government has not done anything so far but when the new government sets in next month we have seven agendas- Promote Disability and Disability Right Agenda, Improve the Educational capacity of Disabled people, Use technology to solve the problems of disability,  Improve Medical Conditions, Overseas training for Disabled people, Medical practitioners and

    Teachers, World Class Research Centre for the Disabled, Employment Quota for Disabled people) that will be jointly executed by organizations, institutions and government- We have been doing it without government but in fact, any government that has conscience will attend to the issue of disabilities. PLWD also vote. And, don’t forget that our profile has increased. In the war against Boko Haram for example, a lot of soldiers have been amputated, blinded and facing serious disability issues, all of which has impacted on the profile and the best thing that can happen is to pass the Disability Rights law immediately. It has been rejected twice in the National Assembly, although we here in Kogi State have passed it, but the governor is yet to assent to it”.

  • UNILORIN warns against handouts

    UNILORIN warns against handouts

    The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has warned lecturers to desist from selling handouts to students.

    A circular signed by the Registrar, Mr E. D. Obafemi, noted that the management was aware of the resurgence of the practice, described as illegal, on campus and warned that those caught would be punished.

    The circular reads: “The Administration has received reports that in spite of the circulars prohibiting the sale of handouts to students, there is a renewed activity of this illegal business on the campus.  The sale is perpetrated by lecturers using devious means and agents such as shop owners and class representatives to reach the students.

    The unwholesome practice must not be allowed to continue given the growing positive image of the University.

    The attention of all Deans and Heads of Departments is once again drawn to the extant circular proscribing the sale of handouts to students.  Any lecturer found violating this directive will be brought to book.

     

  • ‘Handouts destroyed reading culture’

    INTRODUCING  handouts and forcing students to buy them to pass examinations is one factor that has killed reading culture among students, the Chief Executive Officer, Standard Mandate International, Mr Nelson Ayodele, has said.

    He spoke at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Army Library Services Book Fair at the Command Day Secondary School, Ikeja Cantonment, Maryland.

    He said: “I was in the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), then and this was in 1983. Things began to change; we stopped going to the libraries because lecturers came up with the idea that if we bought their handouts, we would pass. We bought handouts, crammed and passed; some of us even graduated with a distinction.”

    According to him, this was not the best option for them as the practice made many to stop reading and conducting research.

    ‘’All we needed to do was read our lecturers ‘handout and pass his exams,” he added.

    He praised the Nigerian Army Library Service for the four-day book fair with the theme: ‘Rejuvenating the reading culture in Nigeria: Empowering the citizenry through books.’

    The Director of Nigerian Army Library Service (NALS), Col. Charles Adisa Bossman, said the event formed part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards national development.

    He said the NALS decided to extend its services beyond the military.

    “The central focus is to improve the reading culture in Nigeria, so we invited seasoned publishers to bring in their books at very low cost,” he said.

    Noting that the theme was apt, Col. Bossman stressed that NALS  selected motivational topics that would move people to read. He called on associations of like minds to take advantage of the fair.

    The President, Nigeria Library Association, Mr Rilwan Abdulsalam, said librarians play a very important role in the book chain.

    Librarians, Abdulsalam explained, play a dual role from pre- to post-production of books, and making sure that books follow all rules.

    “We hope that the military personnel in service, retired and the civilian will cease the opportunity to make use of the fair wisely,” he added.

    On the reason for the event, the Commander, Nigerian Army Education Corps, Maj.-Gen. Sunday Adebayo, said NALS felt they needed to sensitise students, the public and their officers having realised that reading culture was dying.

    “We also realised that the book policy is heavy on parents as they complain that the books are too expensive. So, we decided to bring the publishers together to know how to get cheaper books,” he said.

    Gen. Adebayo feared that if nothing was done to revive reading, in  10 years,  the country might record a huge examination failure among students as according to him, the culture of reading might have further degenerated.

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, was represented by the General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major General Tamunomeibi Ibifuro Dibi at the event.