The Nation Newspaper

Tag: STUDENT

  • Varsity student stab colleague to death

    Varsity student stab colleague to death

    •Remanded in prison

    A student of Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Moshood Owolabi has been remanded in prison on the orders of a Magistrate for his alleged stabbing to death of another student of the institution Mr. Kolade Oluwaseun.

    Oluwaseun woke up a healthy boy on Sunday, January 12, full of life as he donned his dress and made for a shopping complex near his school to make photocopies of some documents in preparation for the semester examination that was to begin later that week.

    At the shopping complex, Oluwaseun, a 400-level student of Mass Communication decided to join a group of students in a restaurant when he discovered that the business centre he wanted to use was yet to open, a decision that later turned tragic as he became a dead person a few minutes after joining his friend.

    He was engaged in a hot argument and later fracas with a 200-level student of Physical and Health Education at the university, Moshood Owolabi  a.k.a. Essential (28), who allegedly stabbed him to death with a broken bottle.

    The Nation investigation revealed that fracas broke out among a group of students, which included the duo, at the restaurant at Toll Gate area of Ibadan, at about 10:30am on the fateful day. The students were said to be taking soft drinks when the argument led into a brawl.

    Before anyone knew what was happening, Owolabi was said to have stabbed the deceased. Though he was rushed to Adeoyo State Hospital, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oluwaseun was confirmed dead on arrival and his body deposited at the morgue.

    Owolabi was promptly arrested, but he denied stabbing Oluwaseun, alleging that it was his friends that hit him with bottles when they saw that the deceased had injured him with a broken bottle.

    Owolabi, whose face was also sutured by the side of his left eye following injuries he received, told The Nation that it was a slang uttered by Oluwaseun that brought about the fracas.

    Giving account of how it ensued, he said: “Kehinde Oladimeji, a 400-level student of Accountancy, who is my friend came to me on Sunday morning that I should follow him to do photocopy of some documents and smoke jedi. We were joined by Emmanuel Harrison (400-level Mass Communication) and Obayomi Obabukoye Franklyn (100-level Business Administration). The photocopy shop was not yet opened so we went into a shop to take soft drinks.

    “While taking the drink, two guys joined us. Later, Seun came and said ‘you guys are enjoying, but you are inviting pile.’ He, however, said he would take the drink because it was cold. We asked him to pick a glass cup.

    “On his way back to the table, he started uttering slangs and shouting: ‘who dey suffocate?’ Franklyn a.k.a. Da Grin then said: ‘Seun, you have come o. Before you came, everywhere was calm, why are you shouting? Don’t you have exams on Friday?’ Seun said he had papers and Franklyn asked him again ‘Then why are you shouting?’ Seun became angry with that and gave Franklyn a punch.

    “We all stood up and challenged him for doing that, asking him whether it was because he was in 400-level and Franklyn was in 100-level. He kept quiet. I stood up and also challenged him on why he punched Franklyn and he smashed the cup in his hand and started ‘jabbing’ me with it because he felt I was siding with Franklyn.

    “Others stood up when they saw blood gushing from my face and started beating him. By then, I was looking for water to clean my face. I eventually removed my shirt to clean the blood. By the time I went back inside the shop, I saw Seun on the floor; everybody had ran away. Some women started shouting that he should be rushed to the hospital.

    “I tried getting a cab but due to the blood running all over me, the driver refused to answer. The sales girl also ran away but when she came back, she met only me. She was advised to hold me responsible since I was the only one left. I was not the one who stabbed Seun. Kenny, Franklyn, Harrison and others were the ones who descended on Seun when they saw my bloodied face. They picked bottles and started using it on him.”

    When asked why they should react to ‘who dey suffocate’, a phrase he claimed he didn’t know its meaning, Moshood said “that is the work of the devil.”

    Moshood admitted to the police that he used to smoke Indian hemp because it helped him to read very well had a strange picture of an axe, gun, hammer and other weapons in a box found on his phone. And when asked why he had such a picture he said he copied it from the display picture of a friend called Bobby, also a student of the same institution.

    Both Harrison and Kehinde, who were witnesses to what happened on that Sunday have, however, punctured Moshood’s argument in their explanations.

    Narrating his own side of the story, Harrison said: “Seun came and greeted everybody. He went to buy Pepsi and came to us, uttering some slangs. Franklyn now told him not to shout as he was not the only one in the shop.  He turned to castigate Franklyn for talking to him and gave him a punch. The duo started fighting and Moshood joined in defending Franklyn.

    “While all these were happening, we ran outside and came back inside. I was even shouting and pulling Moshood off. Before we knew what was happening, we started hearing breaking of bottles. Moshood and Seun came outside and Moshood stabbed Seun on the neck.

    “Kehinde and I ran to the school gate to alert the security there. I also ran back to the toll gate to get the ambulance there so that we could rush Seun to the hospital. By the time I came back, Seun was bleeding. Kehinde used his shirt to bind the neck.

    “Even, when Moshood was trying to get a cab, he beat up an old man; he was beating up everybody on his way. Blood was flowing all over him and everyone was scared seeing him like that. When we got to the hospital, we were told that Seun was B.I.D. (Brought In Dead).”

    The sales girl who spoke in confidence also confirmed that it was Moshood who stabbed Seun contrary to the acussed claim, stressing that Moshood was apprehended when he was about to escape on a motorcycle.

    In a telephone chat with the Director of Corporate Affairs of the Lead City University, Dr Ayobami Owolabi said the incident has thrown both the institution and the family of the deceased into mourning. He said being a police case the institution would take appropriate action against Moshood after the police must have concluded their investigation

    When contacted, the police spokesperson in Oyo State, Olabisi Okuwobi-Ilobanafor, confirmed the incident and said that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, for further investigations.

    Meanwhile, Moshood on Monday, January 20 appeared before Magistrates’ Court 2, Iyaganku, Ibadan, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder. The sitting magistrate, Alhaja Sefia Oyediran, remanded him in prison custody and adjourned the case till February 3, for further hearing.

  • Student dies in road crash

    Student dies in road crash

    Students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Anambra State resumed on a sad note after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

    They got the news that Chisom Johnson Nwanaso, a student in the Department of Botany, died.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that he died in a car crash on January 2 at the institution’s temporary site.

    His remains have been buried at his hometown, Abagana, amid tears from relatives and students.

    Meanwhile, academic activities have started in earnest, with some departments conducting exams for their students on the day of resumption.

    A tour showed that students were resuming en masse for the academic session. Ifite, a students’ community, has gained its liveliness.

    The popular Garba Square, where students read, is also back in full swing. Business activities have resumed on the campus.

    The Administrative Building continues to receive a large number of students, mostly freshers doing their clearance.

    Posters of students contesting for elective posts in the Students’ Union Government (SUG) are everywhere on campus.

    Some departments, such as Mass Communication, English and others in the Faculty of Engineering, Education and Arts, have started their outstanding 2012/2013 second semesters exams as scheduled by the university.

    At the Department of Mass Communication, students clad in their blue and orange uniform, were seen taking examination.

     

  • College student wins FME debate

    College student wins FME debate

    The Federal Government has been commended for organising theAnnual Youth Debate Competition, through the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), for students of tertiary institutions in the country.

    The Provost, Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo, Prof. Adeyemi Idowu, gave the commendation at the competition, hosted by his institution.

    A student of the college won the competition, which had participants from seven tertiary institutions in the South.

    Idowu described the debate as heart-warming and novel, noting that it would help promote healthy rivalry and friendship among the participating institutions, and enhance oratory skills and the intellectual development of participants.

    He thanked the FME for choosing the institution to host the competition, reiterating its readiness to continue to partner with relevant government agencies on matters relating to education.

    Earlier, the representative of ministry, Mr. Amudipe Gabriel, an Assistant Director, Student Affairs and Youth Department, FME, said the competition was organised to give students in tertiary institutions a platform to air their views on national issues and proffer solutions.

    At the end of the debate which was titled: Skills acquisition and self-employment: A panacea for youth employment, a student of the college, Ibironke Oluwasegun, beat those from six tertiary institutions to emerge winner. He scored four points more than his closest rival, Osifor Favour of the University of Benin, who got 34 points.

    Other contestants are Jegede Christianah (Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State), who came third with 33 points; Adekugbe Olajumoke, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba- Akoko, 4th with 32 points; and Okoli Chidi, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, fifth position with 28 points.

    The participants also include Ojo Fehintola, Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, sixth position and Adebisi Akin, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, seventh position with 27 and 11 points.

    The event held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium was attended by important personalities, including principal officers of the college among whom were the Deputy Provost, Dr. Olufemi Olajuyigbe and Registrar, Mr. Felix Eniola Aderinboye.

     

  • Rival unions fight to be students’ voice

    Rival unions fight to be students’ voice

    In the late 1970s, Anambra State youths studying in higher institutions came together to establish the National Union of Anambra State Students (NUASS) as their apex body.

    This was during the administration of Chief Jim Nwobodo as governor of the old Anambra State.

    The union was registered with the Ministry of Education and also recognised by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

    For decades, Anambra students identified with the union and established local chapters in their institutions.

    But a few months to the governorship election in the state, the union became polarised, leading to the birth of Anambra State Students’ Association (ANSSA), which is claiming to be the apex body for all Anambra State students.

    ANSSA’s founders claim that the union has been in existence since 2012.

    It was learnt that some aggrieved NUASS members floated the splinter association because, according to them, the union has become inefficient and moribund.

    Penultimate week, all hell was let loose when the rival groups clashed at Noble Suite Hotel in Awka, the Anambra State capital, where ANSSA was meeting. But for the quick intervention of riot policemen, the fracas would have degenerated.

    NUASS, led by Israel Anozie, a student of Anambra State University (ANSU), alleged that ANSSA members were being sponsored by politicians for selfish reasons. ANSSA denied the allegation.

    ANSSA, which is being led by Emmanuel Ngini, a 300-Level student of ANSU, claimed the union was founded in 2012 but was not recognised by the government.

    Our correspondent gathered that the Ministry of Education denied ANSSA registration beacuse its aims and objectives were the same as those of NUASS.

    When the Education ministry denied it registration, the association, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, approached the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

    “Some disgruntled elements connived to establish a new Anambra students’ body and went to the Ministry of Education for registration. Their plan fell flat when they were told that the association would not be registered because it would duplicate the functions of NUASS. We later learnt that they went to the Ministry of Youths and Sports with the help of some politicians to get their group registered at all cost. We believe the students are being used by some political leaders to polarise our union, which is why we oppose the formation of ANSSA as a students’ body,” a member of NUASS said, pleading not to be named.

    When ANSSA members learnt that NUASS had finalised plans with the government to pay students bursary, they hurriedly organised a “secret meeting” tagged “Brainstorming session to discuss bursary payment and scholarship issues”.

    When NUASS got wind of the meeting, Anozie, its national president, mobilised members in the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) in Imo State, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State, and the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in Rivers State and stormed the venue of the meeting. Riot policemen were invited to disperse the students.

    In an interview with CAMPUSLIFE after the incident, Anozie said Ngini was trying to factionalise the union to make it a stooge for politicians in the state. Anozie said he mobilised students to disrupt the ANSSA meeting because he believed security agents would arrest him should there be a security breach there.

    He said: “We got information about the meeting from a NANS official, who asked if I was aware of a secret meeting by ANSSA members on bursary payment at Noble Suite Hotel in Awka. I was surprised because I knew there was no such meeting. When we got there, we saw Ngini, who is claiming to be the president of ANSSA, saying they were organising students-stakeholders meeting on bursary and scholarship. When we asked them where they got authorisation to hold such meeting, they started shouting on us. It was in the process of exchanging words that fracas broke out.”

    Asked if he was aware of ANSSA’s existence before that clash, Anozie said that the conveners of the splinter group became aggrieved after the reconciliatory meeting chaired by a Director of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education.

    “After that meeting, some students that are not members of the executive body in their various schools conspired to float another association as conduit pipe to extort money from unwary politicians. I heard that they went ahead later to register the body under the Ministry of Youth and Sports when they were turned back at the Ministry of Education. Is Youth and Sports Ministry supposed to be in charge of educational matters in the state?” Anozie queried.

    The ABU chapter president, Emeka Okoye, a 400-Level Water Resources and Environmental Engineering student, said: “The NUASS has been in existence since the 1970s; how can a group of students come up with the idea of dividing the union for selfish reason? They established ANSSA last year and started claiming to be a national body. In fact, ANSSA is a fraud and it will soon go into extinction.”

    But Ngini, a 300-Level Mass Communication student, denied the allegation that ANSSA was established for political reason, saying the association was floated as a substitute to the “moribund and inefficient” NUASS.

    He said: “I can confirm to you that ANSSA is duly registered with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which is the body charged with registration of associations. The NUASS officials are claiming that they are recognised by the Ministry of Education but we are talking about registration.

    “They came to disrupt our programme where students were expressing their opinions on issue of bursary and scholarship with education stakeholders. They came and disrupted the whole event. We did not come together to put pressure on the government for anything but all we wanted was to ensure that the welfare of the students is attended to. But these people came and destroy everything.”

    Ngini alleged that he was beaten up with Robinson Okoye, the event’s chairman, adding that valuables, such as wristwatch, mobile phones, laptops, ATM card and N35,000 cash were stolen by the intruders.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that members of the rival groups were detained by the State Security Service (SSS) in Awka but the NANS president, Yinka Gbadebo, reportedly facilitated their release.

    There has been no love lost between the opposing groups since then.

    But which between the groups is the legitimate body since both were registered by government? Which ministry is supposed to register students’ union? Why did ANSSA meet in a hotel instead of campus? Which is the legitimate apex body for Anambra students – NUASS or ANSSA?

  • Honour for student-broadcasters

    Honour for student-broadcasters

    The reward for hard work, according to the saying, is more work. For the student-volunteers working for the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Radio 94.1 FM, more work awaits them as they were honoured for their excellent contribution to the development of the radio station.

    The students were rewarded with gifts and cash prizes during 2013 Day of Excellence programme organised by the media outfit. The week-long event was also to celebrate success of the UNIZIK 94.1FM, which recently won Best Campus Radio Station in Nigeria.

    The activity began with courtesy visits by staff and student-volunteers to media houses in the state, including Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), Silverbird Rhythm 95.7FM and Purity FM.

    The ABS General Manager, Pastor Ginikanwa, said the feat was well-deserved, adding that he would suspect foul if the station had not won. He promised to initiate partnership between the ABS and UNIZIK FM, while praising Vice Chancellor, Prof Boniface Egboka, Director of the station, Prof Kate Omenugha, and the radio’s Manager, Mrs Ify Obi, for their efforts in achieving success. He urged them to put in more efforts to maintain the achievement.

    At Rhythm 95.7, the Head of News Department, Andrew Thomas, who spoke on behalf of the station, hailed the campus radio’s achievement, saying it was big feat for the six-year-old media organisation. The Purity FM management showered praises and encomiums on the campus station.

    The UNIZIK FM hosted the Rhythm 95.7 FM to a novelty football match, where staff of both radio stations engaged themselves in a physical exercise. The match ended 3 – 0 in favour of the Rhythm FM. Thomas, who featured in the match, said the game was about forging partnership between radio stations in the state.

    Penultimate Friday, all roads led to the UNIZIK’s Mass Communication Complex where members of staff of the campus station were rewarded for their contribution to the development of the outfit.

    The chairman of the event, Chief Dike Ibemesi, a broadcaster and lecturer of the department, said the success of the radio station should not be seen as its best, urging the staff to remain committed to excellence and keep the station at the top.

    Prof Omenugha appreciated the Vice-Chancellor for supporting the station. The Head of Mass Communication Department, Dr Ify Dunu, said she was excited by the station’s feat for beating stations such as University of Lagos (UNILAG) FM, which was established long ago before the UNIZIK station and better equipped.

    Mrs Obi announced the moment everyone was waited for. She told Prof Omenugha and the General Manager of Purity FM, Mrs. Miriam Menkiti, to present the awards.

    In the Best Programme category, Literary insight anchored by Elochukwu Ezeumeanya and Ekene Ezeumeanya was adjudged the best. Best English Presenter went to Ikenna Nwokedi while Best Igbo Presenter went to Elochukwu Ezeumeanya.

    Other winners included Benjamin Ani (Best Disc Jockey), Benjamin John (Best English Newscaster), Chibuzor Okoye (Best Igbo Newscaster) and Chidiebere Ndukwe (Best News Editor).

    The Best Reporter prize went to the duo of Benjamin John and Oby Okeke, who had a tie. Award for Most Consistent Programme went to Good Morning UNIZIK anchored by Pilot 1.

    The award for Most Resourceful Volunteer went to Chiagozie Udeh, while the star prize of the day – Most Reliable Volunteer Worker – went to Chidiebere Ndukwe. He won a brand new laptop, who was given out by the Vice-Chancellor.

    Mrs Obi congratulated all the winners, urging them to continue to work hard for the success of the station. Those that did not win were advised not to relent in contributing their quota to the development of the station.

    The winners expressed gratitude to the management for recognising their efforts, stressing that the honour would spur them to make more sacrifice for the development of the station.

     

  • AOCOED alumni train Student leaders

    AOCOED alumni train Student leaders

    Diplomacy is more effective than protests, students’ union leaders of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) Otto/Ijanikin have been told.

    They were taught to employ diplomacy at a seminar organised by the alumni association of the college.

    Addressing the about 100 students, National President, AOCOED Alumni Association, Comrade Adeyemi Adesanya, said unionism in the 21st century is anchored on diplomacy and not violent protest as is still practised in some institutions.

    Adesanya said: “This programme was conceived because we realised students union activities on campus has to go in conformity with the present day unionism in the world.

    So, we decided to organise this workshop for about 100 of them across all categories of SU; and we have invited resource persons from all areas of student unionism. We felt with their level of understanding with management, they needed more encouragement with respect to their grievances.”

    Commending the immediate past Students’ Union (SU) for their good conduct while in office, Adesanya said the alumni body will make efforts to improve the relationship between the current SU leaders and the management.

    He said presently, students face challenges ranging from poor classrooms, lack of public address system in classrooms as well as poor road network, which he said the alumni body is looking into.

    Adesanya said the alumni association was resuscitated earlier this year and is trying to get off the ground. However, despite various challenges, he said it has made modest achievements.

    “We have secured job for our members and are putting some of them on course, especially with the Lagos State government,” he said.

    Also speaking, the PRO, Comrade Oluwole Femi Johnson said the alumni website will soon be uploaded.

    He said: “We are almost at the final stage of the association’s website and once it is done, we shall place adverts in the dailies for our members to log in their resume online. Through that platform, we can connect with all our members worldwide. We have now secured a plot of land in the college where the alumni secretariat will be built. We just did the structural design. But even if it’s to lay the foundation alone, we want to achieve that before the end of the first quarter of next year. We hope the college also assists us as we cannot do it alone.”

    The speaker AOCOED SU Comrade Yussuf Olamilekan, while praising the alumni for the partnership, pleaded with the management to reduce the N25.000 fee management slammed on students that have graduated but have spill over.

    Former College of Education Academic Staff Union chairman AOCOED chapter Comrade Victor Akinola spoke on: ‘Conflict management, resolution in tertiary institution: Role of administrators and Students’ Union’. Alhaji Muhideen Sikiru, a Students Affairs officer in AOCOED treaed Accountability as panacea for a successful administration of Students Unionism, while Mr Ashade oladimeji a consultant, spoke on ‘Conflicts among the three arms of the SU.’

     

  • Reward for excellence

    Reward for excellence

    Student-contributors to CAMPUSLIFE were honoured at the Fifth CAMPUSLIFE Award held in Lagos last weekend. FEMI OGUNJOBI (400-Level Language Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) PHILIP OKORODUDU (500-Level Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, Delta State University), EDDY UWOGHIREN (100-Level Medicine, University of Benin) and KINGSLEY AMATANWEZE (400-Level Material and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka) report.

    There was silence in the hall decorated in red and white to reflect the brand colours of the sponsors – Coca Cola Nigeria Limited and Nigerian Bottling Company Limited. The students, who are writers from different higher institutions, smartly dressed – some in suits and others flowing gowns – moved quietly into the hall.

    They were all anxious, because they could not tell who among them would win the coveted prize – Reporter of the Year. The welcome speech by the compere, Ayo Owodunmi, a presenter with Radio Continental, invigorated the atmosphere.

    Welcome to the Fifth CAMPUSLIFE award, a yearly event organised by The Nation in conjunction with Coca Cola System in Nigeria to reward student-contributors to CAMPUSLIFE.

    The event with the theme: Challenges and prospect of university administration in Nigeria was held at the Lamboghini Event Centre in Lekki, Lagos.

    Prof Pat Utomi, the guest lecturer’s entry excited the students. Charging them to provoke debates on how the nation could move forward despite its limitations, he said he was thrilled to know there were students who still possessed progressive thoughts about the declining education system.

    Utomi looked at the university administration system in the past, saying admission regulation in universities, such as University of Ibadan, was strict compared to schools in the United Kingdom.

    He said: “In our days as students, the educational system of Nigeria was so strong that it was easier to be admitted into Harvard University than to be admitted into the then University College, Ibadan. The future of this country depends on the knowledge of the youth and the values they uphold. Our colleagues who went to London to study were seen as average students who could not meet requirement to study at home.

    “But today, there is no such thing again. The drop in quality of education has watered down the process of administration in our universities. Gaining admission into a Nigerian university is as easy as you can ever imagine. All those strict admission regulations have disappeared; a student cannot just apply to any school in London, he must fulfil the admission requirement.”

    Recalling how as an undergraduate he challenged the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, the late Colonel Joe Garba, on Nigeria’s foreign policy, which, he said, prompted the minister to visit his school to address students, he wondered why the youths of today are reluctant to read.

    Utomi said: “As students, you have as much part in determining the future of the country as anybody in positions of authority.”

    He charged the students to use their articles to expose the ills in the society, saying everybody cannot be leader at the same time. Utomi, who left after the lecture, presented prizes to two winners. He congratulated the students on their achievements, urging them to use the award positively.

    At the end of the lecture, Utomi asked: “What is the mission of your generation?”

    Mr. Clem Ugorji, the Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, challenged the students to follow Utomi’s path. He stressed that the strength of any society depended on the values its youths uphold, adding that Coca-Cola would not relent in investing in programmes that would add value to the youths.

    He said: “You are planting a seed in your life that only you will harvest in no time. We believe we are investing in people who are going to fix the wrongs in the society.”

    Things changed when it got to the award stage. As the categories were being introduced by the compere, the students became nervous.

    The award was divided into seven categories of Culture Report, Campus Sport, Personality Profile, Opinion, Investigative Report, Entertainment Report and CAMPUSLIFE Reporter of the Year.

    In the Culture Report category, there were three entries with four nominees. The nominees were Gilbert Alasa and Tolulope Ogunleye with entry report For their culture, they rise, which they co-authored; Taiwo Isola, a student of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), with the entry Cultural display at its best and Johnpaul Nnamdi, a Corps member, with the entry Projecting African culture in French language. Johnpaul picked the prize.

    In the Investigative Report category, Kamaludeen Abubakar, a 200-Level Geography student of Nasarawa State University in Keffi (NSUK), won with his entry, Who killed them?

    Kemi Busari, 400-Level Political Science student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, won the Entertainment category with his entry, A comedy taken too far.

    Gilbert Alasa, 400-Level Foreign Languages, University of Benin (UNIBEN), won the Opinion prize, with his article titled: “We need a new amnesty”; Tolulope Ogunleye, a graduating student of Mass Communication of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) won in the Sport category with “A race of life”, while Uche Anichebe, a student in Nigeria Law School, Lagos campus, won the Personality Profile prize.

    Gilbert won the coveted CAMPUSLIFE Reporter of the Year with his report titled: “Wild world of campus pimps”, which was rated best by the judges.

    The gathering rose as the compere announced the overall winner. With measured steps, an elated Gilbert, walked to the podium to receive the prize. As he made his way through, others stood up to honour him. Gilbert made history; he is the first student-writer to win the prize twice.

    Editor of The Nation, Mr Gbenga Omostoso, praised the students for keeping faith with the newspaper, which, he said, has provided a platform for youths to contribute their quota to educational and national development. He also thanked the sponsors for keeping faith with the project.

    In attendance were the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), Prof Boniface Egboka, represented by former Head of Mass Communication, Prof Kate Omenugha; Vice-chancellor of Bells University of Technology in Ota Ogun State, Prof Adebadoyo Adeyemi, represented by Dr Adebowale; Head of Mass Communication Department of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Charles Oni; country coordinator of Enactus Nigeria Mrs Adesuwa Ifedi; Online Editor, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, Editorial Page Editor Mr Sanya Oni and Managing Editor, Mr Waheed Odusile, all of The Nation.

  • Kwali agog for conference of Nigerian students

    Economic and social activities aer on the upswing in Kwali, headquarters of Kwali Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as the community gets ready to host over 10,000 students.

    The students are billed to attend the 2013 edition of the triennial conference of the Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES).

    The International Conference Centre of the group also known as ‘NIFES Land of Promise’ is located in Kwali and as preparation for the conference hots up coupled with the on-going construction work on the site, the community wears a new look.

    When Leadership visited the conference site, locals engaged in the putting things in order were seen at work. Food vendors who have indicated interest in catching on the conference to do brisk business were seen awaiting the attention of the conference organizers. Boreholes have been provided, roads rehabilitated and electricity provided to serve not only the conference venue but to light up the nearby households.

    Indeed the conference is believed to be one of the largest public gatherings ever to take place in the community.

    National Director of NIFES, Mr. Bala Usman said apart from impacting the community positively, the conference will address issues relating to national rebirth and transformation.

    He said NIFES considers the youth and students as the future of any nation and its economy.

    Usman who unveiled the agenda of the upcoming event said the conference was being put together to give the Nigerian youths, strong moral foundation of character, values and knowledge required for the transformation and rebirth of the country.

    According to him, “the role of the youths and students in nation-building, national development and global transformation is very critical and cannot be over emphasized. The youths occupy a central place in the strategic agenda of any nation that is conscious of its growth, prosperity and future.”

    He stated that the energy and vibrancy of students and youths, if nurtured and properly harnessed could bring enormous gain and positive impacts to the nation.

    “It is in this light that we in NIFES consider the duty of building and nurturing our students and youths especially in the tertiary institutions in Nigeria , to be fit and capable of living successfully, a priority.”

    He said NIFES has been silently and resiliently working with the students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria, responding to the cry of the nation for men and women worthy to be ‘Ambassadors for the Nation’ and  to take her to the promise Land.

    Since 1968, the Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES), a Faith based indigenous organization and student ministry has been in the fore front of raising capable, credible, well trained and trusted leaders for the Nigerian society and the global community. NIFES presently works in 323 campuses in Nigeria with over 30,000 students.

    To achieve its vision, once every three years, the group organizes Missions’ Conference tagged WITNESS. WITNESS 2013 is therefore, NIFES’ 27th National Conference and the 8th National Missions Conference aimed at enhancing greater understanding of the multi-dimensional perspectives for global mission’s involvement and kingdom work with God while bettering the cause of nationhood.

    This edition of the conference with the Theme: ‘The Ambassadors’ scheduled to hold at the NIFES Conference Centre, Kwali Abuja, is packaged to bring over 10,000 students and youths across Nigeria together, to be equipped and empowered for the huge task of nation building and national development, kingdom growth and development, and global engagement for the 21st century.

    The conference is aimed to among other things rebrand the youths to fear, seek and put God first in everything they do rather than seek personal gratification as well as raise youths and students who are willing to stand for one Nigeria because of their unity in Jesus Christ.

     

  • Graduating students beg management over mass failure

    There is a lingering controversy in the Accounting Department of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) in Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State.

    Of the 78 graduating students that wrote the school’s 2012/2013 final year examination in the department, only 29 were cleared for graduation while the other 49 have been asked to repeat the session.

    A source in the department said the affected students’ failure to pass Strategic Management course made the management to take the decision. The students are asking the authorities to wave the course to allow them graduate.

    “Initially, 24 students were officially certified for graduation. Along the line, names of five students were slotted in to make it 29. To me, that is curious and I sense foul play,” one of the students told CAMPUSLIFE.

    The affected students were said to have made several efforts to persuade the management to allow them graduate with their colleagues, but their plea fell on deaf ears as the management refused to shift ground.

    When it became clear that the management would not wave the course, the students were said to have contacted a stakeholder in the university to plead on their behalf. But the university maintained its position that the students would retake the course.

    Some of the students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, urged the authorities to consider their situation, saying they could not afford high tuition to be paid next session.

    One of them, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “The problem is just a course that we failed. When the result came out, we were surprised there was mass failure. We called for our scripts to be remarked but the management said there was nothing they could do about it. I have never failed a course since I was admitted into this university. It is surprising that I am failing a course for the first time and management is saying I cannot graduate. What that means is that I am going to pay another tuition fee next session to retake the course. This is the height of insensitivity.”

    Another student said: “I see no reason our scores should not be upgraded. I still wonder how we all failed that simple course. The university should be considerate and have mercy on us. To pay such a huge amount as tuition to retake the course amounts to exploitation. This should be utterly condemned.”

    A parent, who spoke with our correspondent, expressed displeasure over the refusal of the university to wave the course.

    She said: “We have made several efforts to persuade the management to allow these students graduate but our pleas have been ignored. Even in federal universities, they still make amendment for graduating students in situations like this one. So, I will have to cough out another N500, 000 again for my child to graduate?”

  • It’s been one year of sorrow

    It’s been one year of sorrow

    …Parents of UNIPORT 4 relive ordeal

    JUSTICE is yet to be dispensed after a mob at Umokiri Aluu community in Ikwerre LGA, Rivers State, meted out jungle justice to four undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) who were accused of stealing. Today makes it exactly one year when a Geology student, Ugonna Obuzor (18); a Civil Engineering student, Lloyd Toku Mike (19); a Theatre Art student, Chiadika Biringa (20) and a Mechanical Engineering student, Tekena Elkanah (20) were killed by a mob that also burnt their bodies.

    The Nation reliably gathered during the week that even the lead suspect who reportedly raised the alarm that the murdered students were thieves was yet to be arrested. His alarm was said to have attracted the attention of the vigilance group that rushed to the scene to hold the victims and also strip them naked. They later paraded the deceased students naked on the streets of the community until they arrived at the palace of the traditional ruler and were later lynched for allegedly stealing laptop computers and cell phones.

    But after carrying out an investigation, the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Mohammed, cleared the victims of the allegations levelled against them. At a news conference held in Abuja, the IG said the allegations levelled against the deceased students were false and baseless. The parents of the deceased students had invited the IG to take over the investigations after declaring that they had lost confidence in the police in Rivers State, having failed to rescue the victims from the mob before they were killed.

    The police had claimed that they were over-powered by the crowd, and that before they (police) could reinforce and storm the scene, the hapless students had been killed and burnt.

    Umuokiri community is widely referred to as university village because of its nearness to the university campus, particularly the Delta Park Campus. The community hosts more students of the institution than the other eight sister communities of Aluu because of its proximity to the school. Most of the private hostels are located in the community and the students patronise them more than the ones located elsewhere.

    Incidentally, many of the students in the community alleged that the natives of Umokiri were good at maltreating their tenants. Twelve of the suspects arrested in connection with the incident, including the paramount ruler of Aluu, Alhaji Hassan Welewa, are still in custody awaiting judgment. So also are the victims’ families and the world at large.

    The prosecution opened his case at the last sitting in August. The police officer who led the team that investigated the killing was also in court at the last sitting in August. His evidence was yet to be concluded. He was the first prosecution witness in the matter that has more than 20 witnesses.

    The parents of the victims are agitated. They want justice to be done in the case and very fast too. They believe that justice in the case would ease the pains they are suffering over the deaths of their children.

    Three of the parents who spoke to The Nation on life without their deceased children in the last one year, prayed that justice would soon be done in the case.

    Few days after the killing had elicited public outcry, students of UNIPORT and some members of the teaching staff embarked on a protest march, blocking the East-West Road of the school. The protesters also moved into Umokiri community, destroying houses in protest against the killing of their colleagues.

    To keep the memories of their deceased loved ones alive, the parents of the Aluu 4 plan to launch a foundation known as Four Friends Dream Alive today. According to them, apart from immortalising the deceased students, the foundation would form a platform for campaign against insecurity and insufficient hostel accommodation on campuses, among others, with a view to preventing a re-occurrence of the fate that befell their children.

    For fear of arrest after the incident, the community was deserted by its residents for several months, leaving only members of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), who were drafted to secure it against the angry UNIPORT students.

    Following the students’ protests, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph A. Ajienka, shut down the institution and ordered all the students to vacate their hostels and go back home until peace returned. The school was under lock and key for close to one month to forestall complete breakdown of law and order which could lead to the destruction of properties in the school.

    Most of the students refused to vacate the school. Few days after the shut-down, a student and a youth corps member were shot by unknown gun men in front of the school.

    Parents of the four victims, popularly referred to as UNIPORT/ALUU 4, relived their agonies in separate chats with The Nation.

     

    I have memories of my burning son each time I see fire —Lloyd Mike’s Mother, Mrs. Jane Mike Toku

    “But for the grace of God, I don’t think I would still be alive today,” said Lloyd Mikes’ mother, Jane. “What happened was so sudden and devastating. Every Friday seems like a black Friday for my husband since the incident happened. The moment it is Friday, he slips into a kind of mood that seems like the world is standing still for him.

    “For me as the mother, it has not been easy for me either, because Lloyd and I were very close. There were things he could tell me which he would not tell the father. Going to the kitchen has not been easy since my son’s death, because I watched a little bit of what happened to my baby.

    “I saw how he was beaten again and again, and how he was tortured, torn and burnt. So, each time I go near fire, it brings back the memory. I go to the kitchen and feel a little bit of heat. It takes me back to that incident and the next thing is that I will begin to cry and walk out of the kitchen.

    “For this one year, to tell you the truth, it has not been easy. What would I say about his younger ones? No day passes without they remembering him. All they do is to sing and play his music. We had to move away from where we were living for this place to see if we can forget. There, it was as if his presence was everywhere around the house. As you moved from one part of the house to the other, it was as if he was around, and the next thing you remember is the pain he went through.

    “People die every day. If he was sick and died, there would not have been any problem. But the torture, the pain he went through is what has refused to leave my mind. The moment it is 3 am, my eyes are dried of sleep. All I do is to think about my boy and his three friends and what they went through.”

    She said her boy’s growing up days were good. According to her, although Lloyd was a bit stubborn, he was obedient and respectful.

    “He swept the house, bathed his younger ones and assisted in other house chores. But he did not know how to cook. Lloyd was the only child in the family for 11 years. My husband and I had already resigned to fate that we might not have another child. But when we least expected, the others came.

    “So, for a very long time, he was the only child we had. You can imagine the kind of love and affection that were poured on him. Even after the other ones came, our love for him did not wane. Lloyd was like my husband. Most people did not believe that he was my child.

    “My son had great dreams for us the parents and the younger ones. It was his desire to finish school quickly and start making money so he could send his younger ones overseas to study. He had always told them that the Nigeria school system and environment were not good enough, and that they shouldn’t worry, he would send them abroad to study.

    “You could imagine the kind of joy that overwhelmed my heart when I overheard him telling them that. My husband and I were not around. I just walked in when he was talking to them. I was like thank God, this boy is already making plans for his younger brothers. If so, then we had a shoulder to lean on tomorrow, I concluded in my heart.

    “The father was very optimistic of him, and kept challenging him to graduate quickly so he could begin to take responsibilities for his younger ones. But like a candle in the wind…”

     

    Life without my son is like food without salt, says Chiadika’s mother

    For Chiadika Biringa’s mother, Chinwe, one year without his late son is an experience she does not wish even her enemy.

    She said: “Honestly, I did not know that I could still be alive till today. This informed the reason for my giving praises to God Almighty every day. Life without Chiadika is like food without salt. But I won’t question God. He gave Chiadika to me. If He did not permit Chiadika’s death, He would have averted it. Since it pleased Him, I give glory to Him for my life.

    “I have always believed that jungle justice is not good. Nobody is guilty until he/she is found guilty. All I want now is justice.”

    She described her late son as awesome, brilliant, gentle, friendly, respectful and compassionate.

    She said: “I will always remember him for his care, love and observance. Chiadika was a child that each time I made my hair and stepped into the house, he would be the first to observe and admire me. When the father shaved his hair, he would be the one to observe first and commend it.

    “What am I talking about here? What can I say about my gifted son? There are lots of things to remember him for every day. He would rather go without food for his younger brothers to eat, if there was shortage in the house.

    “He loved me so much. You know he was my first son. So, we were very close. He was very instructive and took every piece of good advice given him.”

    Suspecting mysterious connection in the death of the four first sons of their parents, she asked: “Why must they be first sons, of the same age bracket? It is only God that can tell, and I want Him to unravel it.

    “He grew up with hard work and discipline. He attended Staff Nursery and Primary School, Federal Government College, Rumuokoro, and later proceded to the Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Borokiri, both in Port Harcourt, and then UNIPORT where he was in second year Theatre Arts before he was abruptly caught off in cold blood.

    “My son was a brilliant chap for whom no heart quaked on whether or not he would pass his examinations and very well too, because he was above average in class. My child was in ‘B’ brain category. He went into Theatre Arts because of his passion for acting and dancing.”

     

    The vacuum created by Ugonna’s death can’t be filled —Father, Mr. Messiah Obuzor

    “One year without Ugonna has been quite difficult for the family. It is something that we didn’t imagine could happen. The vacuum created by Ugonna’s absence cannot be filled. I still have not actually come to terms with the fact that the boy is not there, because on a daily basis, the thought of him is there. Not just with me alone but with the other siblings. Words cannot capture it. We grieve over it every other day. It has happened. We look up to God.”

    Recalling the growing up days of his late son, he said: “Ugonna grew up under my own tutelage. The only time he had left my immediate environment was his early years in secondary school (junior secondary school). Thereafter, he came back and lived with me until he left secondary school.

    “He left my immediate environment again when he entered the university for two years before he was killed.

    “I knew him well enough. He never lied to me, irrespective of the situation. We were not just like father and son, we were like the best of friends. He was as tall as I am. He didn’t have any major lack that someone should tag him a thief and kill him. Well, I know that God knows the truth.”

    The soft-spoken father explained why the bereaved parents decided to float a foundation, which would be inaugurated in honour of the victims today.

    According to him, “We cannot continue to sorrow for life. What happened to us could have happened to any other child that is exposed to a similar situation in the university environment.

    “We have the feeling that if we just let it go, it will still continue to be happening. The essence for setting up the foundation is to fill some gaps within the university communities in order to forestall a re-occurrence of what happened to us.

    “We are of the view that if we float a foundation, we can intervene in certain areas where students are exposed to risk in the university environment, so that what we will not be able to do, the foundation can.

    “We are going to build hostels in the university, so that students will no longer live off campus to face what our children faced when they were killed.

    “Again, the foundation intends to carry a campaign that will sensitise the police enough such that if there is any activity going on within the school environment which the students are not comfortable with, they can reach out to the police. If any of the students had called or reached out to the police when they were killing our sons, maybe the police would have got there before they were killed.”

    On Ugonna’s unfulfilled dreams, he said: “As a young man, Ugonna dreamt of becoming a great man. He actually wanted to read Civil Engineering, but when that didn’t appear to be what he was realising, he opted for Geology. But he still kept his dream of becoming a civil engineer alive. He would always tell me that after his course in Geology, he would still go back to read Civil Engineering. And for his age, I assured him that he had no problem; he could still go on if he wished. And because he was an intelligent child, I knew he could do it. Unfortunately what happened just happened.”

    Eighteen persons, including the paramount ruler of Aluu community, Alhaji Hassan Welewa, a retired police sergeant, a woman and three students of the university were held and charged to court in connection with the killings.