The Nation Newspaper

Tag: leaders’

  • Pensioners elect new leaders

    The UNILORIN Branch of the Federal Universities Pensioners’ Association (FUPA) has elected new officers to pilot its affairs for the next four years.

    Mr. M. A. Oyenpemi is chairman, while Alhaji A. A. Lawal, vice chairman.

    Other officers include: Mr F. S. Kugbayi, Secretary; Mr Adebayo Ogunsola, Assistant Secretary; Mr Sunday Oyeniran, Treasurer; Mr T. O. Famuyiwa, Financial Secretary; Mr Kehinde Olufolaju, Internal Auditor; and Mr. Gbemisoye Alade, Public Relations Officer.

    Elected Ex-Officio members are Mr E. I. Saliu and Alhaja S. A. Elelu.

     

  • African leaders praise NEPAD

    African leaders praise NEPAD

    African leaders have praised  the role of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) in keeping the dreams and potential of the African continent alive.

    South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma, gave the commendation during the African leaders 33rd NEPAD, Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) meeting in Johannesburg shortly before the start of the African Union (AU) Summit.

    Zuma said the continent was now reaping the benefits of responsible macro-economic management and deepening integration into the world economy.

    He noted that an investment in infrastructure programmes, regional integration and intra-African trade was Africa’s solution for sustainable growth and development.

    AU Chairperson and Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe applauded NEPAD’s breakthroughs in project conceptualisation and implementation on the continent.

    He said NEPAD had provided critical synergies between and among African institutions, thereby enhancing the much-needed continental integration.

    Mugabe urged NEPAD to play a leading role in capacitating Regional Economic Communities to fast-track Africa’s quest for industrialisation and value addition of its vast mineral resources.

    He said: “Surely, the African people cannot continue to be hewers of wood and drawers of water, while others delight in their resources, in our resources.’’

    Macky Sall, the Chair of the NEPAD HSGOC and President of Senegal, also underscored the achievements made by NEPAD in advancing regional integration through infrastructure and capacity development projects.

    He stressed the need to tackle illicit financial flows from Africa and to enhance the capacities of African member countries to negotiate mining and oil contracts for the social benefit of African people.

    Sall also commended the NEPAD Spanish Fund for African Women’s Empowerment, in line with the 2015 summit theme.

    The NEPAD Agency Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, reported back on concrete results made for the period January to June 2015.

    He said the agency had achieved greater results and each had quantifiable impacts that were geared toward the industrialisation of the continent.

    Mayaki highlighted some of the key achievements to include the establishment of an Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance aimed at reaching out to 25 million farmers by 2025.

  • Leaders for campus journalists

    The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State chapter of the Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ) has inaugurated its leaders.

    Zubair Ja’faar Alabi, a student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, was sworn in as president of the writers’ club, having defeated his opponents in a keenly contested election.

    Other members of the executive are Ajiboye Adegoke, Vice President (Administration), Israel Fawole, Vice President (Editorial), Samuel Oniwinde, General Secretary, Mikail Abdulhameed, Financial Secretary and Azeezat Busari, Public Relations Officer (PRO).

    In his speech, the electoral committee chairman, Oluwatomilola Boyinde, urged the executive members to promote values of the pen profession, urging them to bring sanity to the students’ union.

  • ‘Let legislators choose their leaders’

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to allow legislators to choose their leaders in a democratic manner.

    In a statement signed by NANS’ President, Tijani Usman, yesterday, NANS said the legislators should be given a free hand to decide those with impeccable credentials to lead the National Assembly.

    “Nigerians are in a hurry to witness the change promised by the APC. The party should not allow itself to be entangled in issues that do not portend well for the polity.

    “The party must desist from trying to have overbearing influence on the legislature, including choosing its leaders.

    “Allow Senators and Members of the House of Representatives to elect their leaders in a free and transparent process.

    “Agreed, the APC is the majority, but other political parties also have a say in who emerges. Therefore, let the process be devoid of interference from political parties’’, the statement said.

     

  • Student leaders hail poly administrators

    Student leaders hail poly administrators

    Executive members of the National Association of Polytechnic students (NAPS) have visited the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State to assess the institution following some  allegations levelled against its leadership.

    The visitors, led by NAPS President Salaudeen Lukman of Kaduna Polytechnic, praised Oko Poly administrators for the manner they have led the institution.

    There were charges of reckless suspension of lecturers and undue rustication of students among other allegatiuons.

    The NAPS chief said it would have been suicidal if the union had acted based on information it received from various quarters against the school management.

    He said that allegations of suspending lecturers with ignominy, rustication of students with reckless abandon and other anomalies, were heaped on the Rector of the school, Prof Godwin Onu.

    Salaudeen, who said NAPS boasts of 21 million students in the country, said their visit had changed their perception of the happenings in Anambra and the institution.

    He said during the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) their students were blackmailed, harassed, intimidated in the country especially in Lagos State, during their protest and in other states, but they moved on.

    NAPS therefore commended Oko Polytechnic Rector Prof Onu for bringing innovations in the school system and introducing Computer Based Test (CBT) in the institution.

    He said the introduction of CBT gave raise for petitions by some lecturers in the institution, who did not like the idea, adding that any lecturer that does not like it should resign henceforth.

    Salaudeen, said that the incoming administration of president elect, Mohammadu Buhari, has zero tolerance for corruption, adding that those who had been swimming in corruption would not go unpunished.

    After seeing some of the development strides in the school, NAPS president described the Rector as an agent of change, adding that the Association had selected him as the best polytechnic Rector in the country.

    Furthermore, he said that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Association would meet any time from now to pick a date for the award ceremony on the Oko Rector.

    He said, “We are highly disappointed in some of the lecturers who had been complaining against the Rector, other Rectors in the country should emulate Prof Onu, we are indeed weakened by his achievements in this place”

    “Do not have any form of U-turn in your policies, members of NAPSD will serve as your enforcement agents in this country, and from the rate things are going, we believe that federal polytechnic will be the first in this cadre to be made a university in this country”

    “We are not going to accommodate any further blackmail from the academic staff of this institution, enough is enough, and NAPS will take it personal, we want to rescue our education sector” Salaudeen threatened.

    The chairman of the institution’s governing council; Dr. Azubuike Odukwe, told The Nation that the coming of the (NAPS) students will now give the institution a moment of respite.

    He praised the students for coming to the school, at least to verify some of the allegations leveled against the Rector, who according to him, had brought light to the school.

    According to him, “some people want to pull this institution down because of selfish interest, I want to advice the students that any where they see themselves in future, they should be on the positive side and not negative, no matter what ever pressure”.

    “You should not allow anybody to mislead you in any thing you do, if you build the body, it helps the brain, this institution was built in a very lousy foundation and that is why we are rebuilding it now”.

    For the Deputy Rector, Academics, Dr. Mrs. Gladys Anene, people should know that only God makes kings.

    She told The Nation that God would reward members of NAPS who came to verify the situation of things without relying on rumour to make mistakes from a distance.

    Speaking with The Nation after the student’s visit, the Rector, Prof Onu, commended members of the institution’s board for being progress oriented and the understanding group.

    He said that all the petitions against him and flagrant setting up of panels for one investigation or the other in the school amount to distraction without the petitioners knowing it.

    According to him, “I have seen red in this institution but God has been alive, whether they like it or not, this institution must change for real, if God is with you, anybody fighting you will hit the rocks”.

    “The level of extortion by lecturers was so alarming in this school and some of the lecturers failed to realize that some of these students are finding themselves, these are the kind of anomalies we are fighting against here and not suspension of lecturers”.

    “They are extorting poor students and if you query that, they run to their association that you are fighting them, they label you enemy of progress and blackmail you, but we can’t continue like that,” Onu said.

     

  • Computer Science students elect leaders

    Members of the National Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS), Crawford University chapter, have elected their leaders.

    The elections, which held last Friday, started with the screening of candidates by the electoral committee; this was followed by a debate and manifesto during which the candidates explained their programmes for students.

    Voting started at 11am in the department’s Lecture Room and ended at 2pm. The position of the president was keenly contested.

    Samuel Jegede emerged the president-elect with 69.20 per cent of the total votes. His opponent, Chibuzor Umeilechukwu, had 28.8 per cent. Godwin Umekwe garnered 89.40 per cent votes cast to become the vice president-elect but contested unopposed.

    Others elected include Samuel Salami, Software Director, Caleb Chibuike, Hardware Director, Henry Isaiah, Director of External Affairs, Precious Aderimiki, General Secretary and Tayo Fabiyi, Sport Director.

  • ‘Honest people’ll become leaders’

    ‘Honest people’ll become leaders’

    The lawmaker-elect for Oyo Federal Constituency, Akeem Adeyemi, has said only honest and industrious people will be elected as principal officers of the House of Representatives.

    Adeyemi said there is always room for lobbying for any position, noting that the need for jostling by those who want to lead the House became imperative because every member is qualified.

    “Somebody who was elected to represent his constituents and wants to lead the 360-member house must strategise, lobby and jostle to get the position.

    “Why must we give it to somebody who doesn’t lobby or jostle to get it? You contested to represent your constituents just like I did. For you to aspire to be my leader, you must prove some points to me and I must be convinced.”

    The son of the Alaafin of Oyo also lent his voice to the call for the reduction of emoluments paid to lawmakers.

    “In any era when you are yearning for change, the remuneration accrued to federal lawmakers must be reduced to the barest minimum if it is exorbitant,” he said.

  • Creating exemplary leaders

    Creating exemplary leaders

    The management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State has held a workshop for Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders. YOMI AYELESO (300-Level Business Administration) reports.

    To stop violent unionism, the  Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State has held a workshop for  Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders. The yearly seminar, the institution said, would equip the students and keep them abreast of the best methods for making their demands.

    The training was organised by the Students’ Affairs Division and its aim was to make students leaders responsible after their election.

    The training was held at the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in Ondo town, with the theme: Leadership and responsible unionism. It was attended by all  union members.

    Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, said the training was designed to integrate the students’ leaders into procedures of unionism to ensure effective representation and performance.

    He said: “We gather students’ leaders every year to introduce them to best practice in students’ unionism and to show them the workings of executive, legislature and judiciary to prevent friction between the arms of the SUG and ensure effective representation and performance.”

    The VC, who was represented by the Deputy VC for Academics, Prof Oluyemisi Adebowale, said the training would enable the students’ leaders to deliver their promises to students and also ensure the peaceful, responsible and effective students’ union administration.

    He congratulated the participants for being part of the training, urging them to deploy their wisdom and strength in the service of their colleagues and humanity. He assured them of management’s support in building a university they would be proud of.

    The VC said: “Over 14,000 students of the university have given you their mandate to take decisions on their behalf. They have surrendered their rights to you to act on their behalf. My candid advice to you is to embrace and imbibe the spirit of responsibility, transparency and fairness.”

    The Acting Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Dr Bolanle Ogungbamila, said the training was to breed responsible leaders for unionism. He said the effort had yielded good results, because the school did not witness disruption of academic calendar in the last three sessions.

    Ogungbamila said the training was necessary in view of dearth of ideology and tolerance among politicians. He said: “The political landscape is characterised by low political ideology, intolerance and low level of sportsmanship. The combination of these behaviours has resulted in the negative political attitudes that are detrimental to national development.”

    The training, he said, will help the participants become responsible leaders and prevent the school from becoming a recruitment ground for political thugs and misfits.

    The school management brought resource persons from government agencies and parastatals to talk to the participants on the theme of the workshop.

    Chairman, Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), Prof Olugbenga Ige, who spoke on Redefining the role of 21st century students’ union leaders, said students’ unionism is the interface between students and management, saying it has the sole objective of ensuring that the rights and welfare of students are protected.

    Prof Ige said: “Students’ union leaders have duty to let the management know what the students need at a given period and present their colleagues’ opinions about the school policy to the authority for proper action. They also have duty to make students see reason to accept management’s policies. In doing so, the union plays role of a middle man.”

    In breeding 21st century students’ leaders, Prof Ige said it requires clear definition of responsibilities, providing access to appropriate professional development and acknowledging the union’s role in improving image of the school and students’ academic performance.

    The ODIEC chairman said the student leaders must listen to feedback from their colleagues to take right actions. He also urged the management to reward the union leaders for their good deeds.

    Some of the participants, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, described the training as educative, praising the management for sustaining the workshop.

    The SUG president, Olukayode Ogunade, said: “The event has been a huge success, which I believe has imparted on us positively. I want to appreciate the management for this training to make us better.”

    On his part, the union Senate President, Joseph Akinkuotu, said he learnt new methods of practising unionism from the training.

  • Medical students get leaders

    Medical students get leaders

    Members of Imo State University Medical Students Association (UMSA) went to the polls last week to elect their leaders. EKENE AHANEKU (300-Level Medicine and Surgery) reports.

    Medical students of the Imo State University (IMU) in Owerri have gone to the polls to elect their leaders . The election was held on the Owerri and Orlu campuses.

    Preclinical students voted at Histology Laboratory in the Anatomy Department in Owerri; clinical students did theirs at the medical complex of Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH) in Orlu.

    Forty-six students in 300-Level and 30 others in 400-Level were accredited when the process started at 10.45am.

    While the first 46 accredited voters was casting their ballots, more of their colleagues in 300-Level arrived for accreditation. They were told to wait at noon. Their 100-Level counterparts took their turns at 12.45pm.

    A fresh ballot box was reserved for all clinical students in Orlu during the exercise to enable them vote separately. The first round of voting ended, after all preclinical students had voted.  The same process was adopted at the IMSUTH where clinical students voted.

    The Electoral Committee Chairman, Elochukwu Obi, a final year student, ended the process at 1pm, and collation began. Over 253 students voted in Owerri; 215 voted in Orlu making a total of over 469 voters.

    When the results were announced, Bright Nwatamole emerged UMSA president, with 275 votes to beat Ebube Eze, who got 187 votes. Edith Nwadike emerged Vice President 1 unopposed, but the Vice president II, Tobenna Ofor, beat Nelson Ogu with total votes with 390 votes.

    Miracle Echebiri is Assistant Secretary General; Declan Abams, Director of Welfare; Uzoma Obasi, Assistant Director of Welfare; Jackson Nwosu, Director of Socials; Clinton Uzukwu, Assistant Director of Socials and Vivian Eguogwu, Assistant Financial Secretary.

    Love Amaugo, an unopposed candidate for  Assistant Treasurer, could not garner the constitutionally required 75 per cent of votes. The electoral committee chairman advised her to go for by-election.

    Bright hailed his colleagues for electing him as their leaders, saying: “The whole process took time and resources. I feel very happy, because at the end of the day, I emerged victorious. I really thank all medical students for considering me worthy to lead them.”

    Ebere Okpara, a member of the electoral committee, said: “We have done our job without fear of favour from any quarters. The contestants have described the process as free and fair. But, it was not easy travelling from Owerri to Orlu every day to sensitise students on the electoral process. The just concluded election will be followed by another round of elections for Student Representatives’ Council members. After this, we can now go back to classroom for our studies.”

    Nnamdi Okpara, a 300-Level student, said: “The best candidates have emerged in a free and fair election. I can say without fear of contradiction that there was no irregularity in the exercise. But, even if there is, it could not be more 0.1 per cent, which is insignificant.”

     

  • Law students elect leaders

    Law students elect leaders

    Members of the Law Students’ Society (LSS) of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, have elected their leaders.

    The elections started with screening of candidates by the electoral committee. There was a presidential debate and manifesto night at which contestants wooed students for votes.

    Voting started at 9am at the Moot and Mock Court in the faculty basement and ended at 5pm. The race for  president, General Secretary and Principal Liaison Officer was tough.

    Quadri Olaniran emerged the president-elect, polling 491 votes to beat his rivals, Kayode Olugbemi and Abiola Odetomi, with 351 and 136 votes.

    Daniel Adedigba scored 329 votes to emerge Principal Liaison Officer, beating four others. Tola Akinduro is  the General Secretary and Fikayo Ademola, Vice President.

    Others are Ajibola Olanrewaju, Sports Director, Olusegun Adeniran, Financial Secretary, Christianah Aiyeetan, Treasurer, Kolapeju Fagnewasa, Director of Socials, Olugbenga Adeyeye, Public Relations Officer, and Uthman Aderibigbe, Assistant General Secretary.

    Representatives of classes were also elected.