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Tag: seminar

  • Row over seminar

    Row over seminar

    There is controversy over a seminar organised by graduating students of Pharmacy Department of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and the Students’ Union Government (SUG) to educate youths on the consequences of drug abuse, reports EZEKIEL EFEOBHOKHAN (400-Level Pharmacy).

    THE symposium whose objective was to promote a drug addiction-free generation and to sensitise undergraduates on the adverse effects of drug abuse may have been organised in good faith. But, the seminar, organised by graduating students of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and the Students’ Union Government (SUG), started and ended in controversy.

    Some of the graduating students alleged a scam in the organisation of the event. The immediate past president of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students (PANS), Samuel Ugwumba,  petitioned the security department to investigate why the programme should be held during the Yuletide.

    The security officers stopped the event, which was to hold in the university’s Banquet Hall, with the theme: The youth cankerworm 2014.

    Samuel alleged that PANS’ name was being dropped by the organisers, saying there was no time the association was contacted for the event. He accused his predecessor, Henry Makinde, conniving with the Students’Union members, alleging foul play in the appropriation of funds for the event.

    He said: “Henry connived with some Students’ Union parliament members to organise the event, which I was rightly informed was purportedly being held by the Substance Abuse Committee of the parliament to enlighten students on the negativities of drug abuse. But, how can an event, which is meant for students, be organised in a period when 90 per cent of the would-be participants have already gone home for Christmas holiday?

    “I have decided to expose the organisers. After contacting most of the dignitaries at the event, most of them denied knowledge of it. I also met with the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof John Akerele, who should be the chief host at the event. To my greatest surprise, the dean denied knowledge of the event and wondered why his name was being used for the event without being informed.”

    Reacting, one of the organisers, Unachukwu Odera, described Samuel’s conduct as unprofessional.

    Unachukwu said: “I was surprised to hear somebody describing the event as a scam. Samuel has been devising means to drag the name of his predecessor, Henry, into the mud. The event was expressly put together with the approval of the management. The venue was given to us free of charge.

    “However, Samuel made several attempts to stop the programme from holding and he mobilised hoodlums to destroy the publicity banners, misinformed the security officers and also made a Facebook post that the event was a scam. He contacted all the invitees to disregard the invitation to the venue, while impersonating the incumbent president.”

    Unachukwu said the targeted audience was final year students, who were still on campus because of their projects’ submission. He added that the event was organised by PANS but by the graduating class in collaboration with the SUG.

    Responding, Henry, who spoke to our correspondent on telephone, said: “Don’t mind Samuel; he has been targeting me to destroy my image and personality. Do your own investigation and find out if the event was a scam.”

    Efforts to reach the dean of the faculty for comments proved abortive as he was said to be on an official assignment.

    After the security officers investigated the alleged scam, the event  was allowed to hold. The current PANS president, Darry Emazor, stayed away from the event, saying the association was not part of it. He described the controversy that trailed the event as unfortunate, urging PANS executive to stay away from it.

    A 400-Level Pharmacy student, who pleaded anonymity, urged the parties to sheathe their swords and promote unity within the union. He said: “I know that one of the major objectives of PANS is to foster unity among pharmacy students. We must not sacrifice this objective on the altar of selfishness and personal differences.”

    Guests at the event, included Mr Tunde Akamu, Mr Isidore Ayojei, Mr Kayode Dada and Mr Ayo Olusanya, who are all pharmacists.

    Speaking on the topic: Navigating the corporate world, Olusanya said everyone, at some point, would need direction and someone must show them the path to take. His words: “Work is an integral part of human existence, even the richest man in the world would still want to work in order to earn more money. That is the same reason why we sell ourselves to the world. As young pharmacists, we have to be branded and espouse professionalism.”

    Advising the participants, Dada said: “The service you will render in life is beyond your certificate; it is in you. You do not have an excuse to fail; you just have to increase in standard.”

    The guests were presented awards. Henry, the chairman of the organising committee, thanked the guests and participants who graced the event.

  • Uproar trails entrepreneurship seminar

    Uproar trails entrepreneurship seminar

    Uproar has trailed a free entrepreneurship seminar organised by Students’ Union Government of the Federal University of Agriculture (UNIAGRIC) in Makurdi, Benue State in collaboration with a Port Harcourt-based TSR Consult.

    Participants were taught how they could use their skills in Information and Communication Technology to be self-reliant and how they could venture into various profitable businesses while studying.

    The event witnessed a high turnout of students, who thronged the Science Lecture Theater, where it was held. The seminar was anchored by Mr Anthony Ohama, the principal consultant at the TSR Consult.

    Ohama gave tips on how to pass job interviews, emphasising that accuracy was key to securing employment. He organised a mock aptitude test to assess the intelligence of the participants.

    However, there was uproar at the venue when Ohama brought out books and software packages to sell to the students. The participants described the seminar as a gimmick to extort them, wondering why they should buy the N8,000 materials if the seminar was free.

    Students described the price of the book and software as outrageous. Ochigbo Ejeh, a 300-Level Mathematics and Computer Science student, said: “I think the seminar is a ploy to extort money from us. But, I won’t pay anything.”

    Jacob Nyitar, a 400-Level Statistics and Computer Science Education student, said: “I was told that the certificate of attendance was N1,000. So, I came with the money for certificate only to discover there were other charges in the form of books and software.”

    Frankmark Francis, a 200-Level Microbiology student, said: “Though the price for the materials is quite moderate, I cannot get one because of financial constraint.”

    The student union Vice President, Emmanuel Juku, said he was surprised by the sale of the materials. He said: “The Students’ Union liaised with consulting firm to organise a free seminar. So, when students discovered that it was not free, there was disturbance in the hall. Despite the uproar, students were enthusiastic about the event.”

  • CIIN holds seminar

    The Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) is holding a seminar in Benin City from today till Friday.

    The institute’s Director, Corporate Communications, Joseph Obah in a statement, said the seminar’s theme is: ‘Maximising channels of distribution for insurance penetration’.

    It stated that the event would engage the participants to seek the avenues for actualisation of the Financial Inclusion Strategy (FIS) of the Federal Government geared at making financial services available to the grassroots population with minimal hindrances.

    It further read: “The two-day seminar will be attended by insurance operatives whose roles can make insurance count more in the national economy.

    “These include branch office managers, product lines managers, marketing executives, agency managers and research and development managers among others.”

    CIIN’s Director-General, Kola Ahmed, said the institute’s seminar would feature sessions, which would  enable participants maximise the opportunities for sharing networth experiences on the  evolution of a strategic action plan for exploring the full market potential of the insurance industry in tandem with Government’s vision for an insurance industry that could turn its fortunes around to rank amongst the 20 largest markets in global ranking by 2020.

    Chief Yemi Soladoye, CEO, Risk Guard Africa, would be the main speaker.

    He would be joined by other eminent speakers in X-raying the seminar theme.

  • Oyo college hosts agric seminar

    Barring last minute hitch, the Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology in Igboora (OYSCAI) will host academics from several schools in agricultural symposium.

    The 2014 edition of the event is being organised by the college in collaboration with Livelihoods Support and Development Centre. The event with the theme: Sustaining agricultural development: Whither Nigeria is to hold between November 10 and 14.

    The Deputy Provost and the chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chief Isiaka Adekunle, said the programme was expected to draw farmers, agricultural experts and scholars from different parts of the country, especially from higher institutions to the campus.

    Some of the lead authors expected at the event include Prof A.B. Ayanwale from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof G.O. Adeoye of Agronomy Department of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof J.O. Okunlola from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof O.A. Babalola from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUUNAB), and Dr S.A. Yusuf of Agricultural Economics Department, UI, among others.

    The symposium, according to the organisers, will chat a way forward on how to sustain agricultural development in the country. It will, among others things, consider topics in soils, farming systems and environmental sustainability, farm management and sustainable agricultural finance as well as organic and low external sustainable agriculture.

    Other sub-themes to be examined include challenges of climate change and responsiveness, intervention projects in sustainable agricultural development, livestock, fisheries and wildlife management. The opening ceremony will hold on November 11. Other events to be done include exhibition of agricultural products, annual general meeting and excursion.

  • Church holds seminar for students

    The youth wing of Insight Bible Church, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State has held a seminar with the theme: Youthful and useful.

    The event, which was held at the church premises, had in attendance students from different institutions, including University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic (AKPOLY), University of Calabar (UNICAl) and Abia State Polytechnic (ABPOLY).

    Mrs. Justina Iheji, Chief Executive Officer of Sweet Flavours Confectionary and a resource person, advised the students to be innovative and useful to the country. She said: “My company is a product of N5,000 I borrowed from a friend nine years ago. It is not enough to have an idea; you need to have passion, determination, creativity, dedication and flexibility, in order to move your brand to a greater height.”

    Iheji told the students that successful entrepreneurs never stopped thinking about innovation and how they could start new businesses. She urged the students to start small.

    Another speaker, Pastor Emem Mark-Davies, spoke on how the students could achieve education excellence. She said: “God’s standard for His children is excellence not average. If you need to be useful, you need to be educationally sound to become a pacesetter that will impact and change the world for God.”

    One of the participants, Victor Udofia, said: “This seminar has changed my mindset. I am going to change the world with what I have learnt here today.”

    The highpoint was the presentation of trophy to Eti-inyene Ndarake, who won in the Bible challenge.

     

  • Hotel security seminar holds in November

    A one-day executive workshop for the nation’s hotels, catering outfits and other stake holders earlier scheduled for Friday, October 10, has been postponed till November 21, 2014, in Lagos.

    The workshop is organised by a team of professionals in the hospitality industry, including Nigerian Hospitality Security Network, Finale Hotels Services Ltd and BNK Consulting Services with the support of the Nigeria Police Force.

    With the theme “Security Challenges In Hotels And Hospitality Industry In Nigeria-The Way Forward” the workshop’s objectives according to a press release signed by the Coordinator, Mr. Bright Uwabor, include sharing experience with security experts and knowledgeable speakers on the current security challenges in the country; establishing baseline awareness and integrate the Security challenges which are imminent in Hotels and hospitality industry in Nigeria; assessing and analyzing the range of obstacles, risks and threats that affect the Hospitality industry as well as their capacities and vulnerabilities.

    Other goals of the capacity building programme are: changing the non-chalant attitude of some hoteliers and subsequently to be more security conscious and embrace modern methods of addressing them as well as developing sustainable strategies and acquainting participants with the various appliances and gadgets to be used in averting criminal tendencies.

    Highlights of the event include presentations by security experts, law enforcement agents, and renowned academia and formal launch of a hospitality magazine.

    The Keynote address will be delivered by the Chief Host, AIG Umar Manko, while the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and his Deputy, Mrs. Orelope Adefulire, are the Special Guest and Mother of the day respectively.

    Other guests expected include: State Commissioner for Tourism and Youth Development, Mr. Disun Holloway, Chief Femi Falana, an academia, Prof. Ishaq. Oloyede, Chief Ignatius Edema, Chief Executive of Halogen Security, Mr. Trevor Ward. The Royal Father of the day is the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, Eleko of Eko 1.

     

  • Entrepreneurship seminar for corps members

    Entrepreneurship seminar for corps members

    Corps members serving in Lagos  State, last week, learnt some basic skills in business development and entrepreneurship in a seminar organised by the Joan Agha Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

    The event was held to equip the serving youths to cope with challenges of life after school. The seminar with the theme: Promoting entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths: Building a successful career also featured discussion on how they could create employment and turn their challenges to fortunes.

    It was done in conjunction with Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa and Growing Business Foundation.

    President of the foundation, Mrs Joan Agha, said that by the end of the seminar, participants would have explored opportunities available, set up and develop businesses to facilitate their entrepreneurial skills.

    “It is a known fact that people die using only 10 per cent of their talent. So, you should deliberately condition your mind to know what you want and make the best of the present times by being grateful for the little things that come your way,” Mrs Agha said.

    The foundation, she said, also have mission to touch lives, build a nation, offer scholarships, empower women and the youth to engender a peaceful society. Mrs Ahga added that the foundation would give medical aids to the needy across the country.

    The participants were charged to look up to successful people in business and told to avoid boredom, feeling unworthy, frustration, anger, and worry. They were told to focus on qualities that could make them attain their goals.

     

  • Seminar for school bus drivers

    Seminar for school bus drivers

    An association, Automobiles and Road Safety Initiative, will on Monday hold a workshop for school bus drivers.

    The four-day event tagged, “School Bus Drivers’ Safety Training Workshop,” is designed to equip the drivers with broad knowledge and skills to drive safely, save lives, time, money and the bus.

    The President of the body, Mr Samuel Oriowo, said the courses would be handled by experts who are passionate about the competence of drivers conveying pupils/students to and from their schools.

    Saying that certificates would be awarded to participants, Oriowo added: “On the completion of the workshop, the drivers should be able to imbibe the culture of safe driving; mastered the Collision Prevention Formula and employ techniques to manage their emotions and behaviour while driving. Also, they must have been exposed to factors that they can control before driving; understand factors capable of challenging safe driving and master the habit of vehicle inspection before embarking on driving on daily basis, among others.”

  • Life after school seminar for students

    The General Secretary of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) Students’ Union Government (SUG), Chukwuemeka Iyom, has held a seminar to enlighten students on life after school.

    The event with the theme: Leadership and academic enhancement, was held at the university’s International Conference Centre.

    Speaking on Life after school, the university Bursar, Mr Peter Agi, told participants that life after school could be challenging contrary to students expectation of securing decent jobs with ease. He urged students not to depend on government to provide them with  employment, adding that job opportunities for fresh graduates were limited.

    Agi told the students to set their priorities from school and learn to preserve their future by acquiring relevant skills and winning attitudes for success.

    “While white-collar jobs are limited in the labour market, it is advisable for young graduates to explore other avenues such as self-employment and skills acquisition,” he stated.

    Other speakers at the seminar included Prof Cyril Ndifon and Prof Austin Angba.

    Highlights of the event were the presentation of awards to guests, including Mr Anthony Ezeukwu, General Manager, Pan-Ocean Oil Corporation Nigeria Limited; Chief Edwina Egwuanumku, Dr Nkem Tilije, Hon Prince Chinedu, Ogbuefi Lucky Okuji and Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

    Others were Hon. Ubong Etuk, Special Assistant to Akwa Ibom State Governor on Projects; Admiral Medani Charles and Hon David Etuk who awarded scholarship to some students in various institutions of higher learning.

    Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Chukwuemeka said: “The challenges of life after school are quite enormous, hence we decided to prepare the students as well as open their eyes to various realities as they advance in their career lives.”

    A participant, John Essien, 500-Level Nursing Science, said: “The seminar was indeed a major eye opener. Before now, I thought life after graduation was going to be a bed of roses but I was mistaken. I have to start planning for my future now. For me, the seminar is timely.”

  • Seminar for students’ leaders

    Student leaders at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, have been charged to always use dialogue and consultation in engaging management of the institution for conflict resolution.

    The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Rotimi Ajayi,  said this at a two-day training workshop held for students’ leaders of the institution at the National Institute for Educational and Administration, NIEPA, Ondo State.

    The annual workshop was designed to impart leadership etiquette and effective students’ unionism in Nigerian universities.  The theme of this year’s event was “Leadership and Responsible Unionism.”

    Prof. Ajayi, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof Femi Mimiko, attributed the prevailing peace in the university to the dialogue between management and students’ union leaders.

    While admonishing them to follow the legacy laid by their predecessors, Ajayi said it would be shameful on them if the university experience student unrest during their tenure.

    “If your predecessors had worked for stability for over five years, I see no reason why you should not sustain the tempo. Don’t allow yourself to be misguided; you must be in constant touch with the management through the Dean of Students’ Affairs to resolve any pressing issue because students are at the centre of our administration”, he said.

    The DVC also read the riot act to them, saying: “You are not allowed to address any student on any agitation or demand when you have not discussed such with the Dean of Students’ Affairs. You are not allowed to proceed on any expedition that is not approved by the management. You must learn to respect constituted authorities and all staff of the university. You must obey all rules and regulations as stipulated in our handbooks.”

    He challenged them to complement the efforts of the management to move the school forward rather than sabotaging it through unnecessary unrest.

    The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Olujide Ajidahun, said the workshop was to let the student leaders know their core values as leaders, give them opportunity to bare their minds and put them on the right track.

    “Service should be uppermost in your hearts. As leaders, you must deliver; it is not how much you get from a system but how much you give. So work as a servant-leader,” he stated.

    Some of the students who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE praised the initiative.