The Nation Newspaper

Tag: STUDENT

  • IG offers student scholarship

    Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar has granted scholarship to Cynthia Ovia, a graduate of International Relations/Political Science from Tansian University, Umunya, Anambra, to study Psychology/Criminal Law in Britain.

    Chancellor of the university, Prof John Bosco Akam, who revealed this while presenting the new Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Edward Orji, to the university community announced that the gesture was because Cynthia won a state award during her youth service in Anambra State.

    He informed that aside Cynthia, who is a Deputy Superintendent of Police, three other graduates of the school who won state awards during the NYSC, were Daniel Amadife (International Relations), Joseph Markus Adam (Political Science) and Umenwanne Patricia Chinwendu (Microbiology).

    Presenting the new Vice-Chancellor, Akam said that Orji, a professor of Environmental Biology, Biotechnology and Agro forestry since 2004 takes over from Prof Nduka Uriah whose five-year tenure has ended.

    On his part, Orji thanked God that he emerged after a competitive interview session with 10 other outstanding professors.

    He said during his tenure, skill acquisition and academics would go hand-in-hand for graduates to be entrepreneurs and learn kills and be job creators and not job seekers.

    He added that his administration plans to start a postgraduate school as well as establish more schools, dealing with natural sciences, environmental sciences.

    He promised to hire more qualified professors and lecturers both on part-wtime and adjunctant.

    Prof Orji warned against factionalisation among and students.

     

  • Final year students float events for graduation

    It was fun as the Final Year Brethren (FYB) of the Department of Continuing Education (DCE) in the Institute of Education and Language Arts (IED), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife held a picnic to unveil the programmes outlined for their FYB week. The students also held a prayer session to appreciate God for protecting their lives to the end of their studies.

    The picnic, which took place at the Zoological Garden on campus, kicked off at 11:005am with prayer by Shada Olayinka, an English Education student. This was followed by introduction of participants. There was also a dance contest, which was won by Oluwadamilola Odelade.

    The Chairman of the FYB Committee, Shola Undiandeye, addressed the students, urging them to remain in prayers, saying the struggle continued until their final exam in the school. He later announced Aetos Dios (which means golden eagle) as the name by which the DCE and IED class of 2013 would be called. Shola said was selected name to show the world that being an educationist is not the end of the world. He said it would make students more versatile and productive. “Considering the fact that most of the students in the two departments applied to study law but were thrown to the Faculty of Education, we do not look at ourselves like rejected people but life enhancers and value givers. The name indicates the resilient and never die spirit we have built thus far,” he submitted.

    He explained programmes already planned by the committee to mark the students’ final exit from the institution. The event, which is slated for the second semester, includes an excursion, lecture, traditional day and a dinner.

     

  • NGO holds seminar for students

    Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), a women-focused non-governmental organisation (NGO), has held a seminar for students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

    Tagged:Winning without compromise, the event was held at the International Conference Centre of the institution and attended by successful women, who were part of the resource persons. They included Head, Corporate Communication, Moni Pulo Limited; Mrs Julia Oku-Jacks, Stanbic IBTC Bank official, Miss Aisha Ahmad, Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, Founder, Rainbow Bookclub, Mrs Koko Kalango, Managing Director, Rise Networks, Ms Toyosi Akerele and Dr Bisola Onajin-Obembe, a lecturer in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

    Henshaw, in her lecture entitled:Societal peer pressure, advised the participants not to be influenced negatively by their peers.

    Oku-Jacks said one of the aims of the programme was to prepare undergraduates for workplace, business and health issues by challenging them at an interactive session to unveil, discuss and resolve their expectations and also share opportunities. She added that the programme had already been held in UNIPORT, University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and the University of Ibadan (UI).

    The event, which was well attended by students also, featured stage performance by UNICAL’s Students’ Union Government (SUG) Director of Socials, William Usese, and a comedian known as Koboko.

  • Mass Comm. students welcome freshers

    The Department of Mass Communication of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), has held an orientation to welcome the new students into the department. The event was held at the Students’ Union Government (SUG) building.

    In her address, the president of the department, Omodunni Alero, urged the freshers to abide by the rules and regulation of the school. The Head of the department, Dr Babatunde Oyinade, challenged the students to be studious and justify their “hard-earned” admission by being proactive. He warned them against engaging in cultism and vices which could truncate their studentship.

    Speaking on The press as the fourth estate of the realm: Fact and fallacy, the guest speaker, Mr Kayode Akinmade, said for Nigeria’s democracy to survive, the press must serve with the truth. The former Ondo State Information Commissioner commended the press for always ensuring that justice prevailed in the country. He, however, maintained that the press, as the fourth estate, had a duty to be responsive and responsible to the society.

    He said the Official Secret Act and other laws introduced by successive military regimes hampered the press from performing its watchdog function in the society. Akinmade, therefore, called for the inclusion of press freedom and freedom of information in the country’s constitution to enable the press performs optimally.

    Quoting Prof Ralph Akinfeleye, the guest speaker said: “We need the press freedom to articulate the dividends of democracy. We require a free press to cover the National Assembly, the Local Governments and elections”.

    The lecture was followed by an interactive session, which was attended by media practitioners within and outside the state. After the orientation lecture, a social gathering was held at the Mass Communication Relaxation Centre where some talented students displayed skills in music, drama and dance.

     

  • Students lament poor facilities

    Students lament poor facilities

    Students of the Department of Theatre and Media Studies, University of Calabar (UNICAL) have called on the school management to provide them with the necessary production facilities.

    The students made the call when they were on a rehearsal section of a play entitled: “The Gods Are not to Blame,” by Ola Rotimi.

    While some complained about inadequate directorate and production equipment, others complained about lack of finance. They further enumerated the importance of Theatre arts and pleaded that the school management should come to their rescue.

    Geoffrey Ovuoba, a 300 level student in the department who is also the Technical Director of the production and Victor Ejen who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE on behalf of the production crew, said that lack of production equipments is a big drawback to the students.

    Geoffrey narrated the challenges faced by the department to include renting of costumes and Light. According to him, “few Light can cost up to N 50, 000, Lights like sport light cost N50, 000, smoke generator N16, 000, etc. These are equipment the students cannot afford”.

     

  • UI loses student

    Barely two weeks after Deborah Odunayo, an Education student of the University of Ibadan (UI) was crushed to death by a bank vehicle, the university community has again been thrown into mourning with the death of a Civil Engineering student last week.

    Mohammed Bankole, 400-Level student, died after he was struck by unknown ailment. He gave up the ghost at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

    Before he breathed his last, Mohammed was said to have sat for an examination, which he managed to write in the institution’s health centre.

    The late Mohammed was described as a“reserved person” by his friend, Habeeb Kolade, 400-Level Mechanical Engineering.

    Oluwasegun Oyeleye, the deceased’s classmate, described the late Mohammed as “cool-headed and quiet”. He said: “Mohammed was a quiet student and he never had issues with anybody. He will be greatly missed.” Another classmate, Dennis Popoola, described the deceased as intelligent and calm.

    The remains of the late Mohammed have since been interred in his Ota home, Ogun State. When CAMPUSLIFE visited Civil Engineering Department, the members of staff and students gathered to discuss the incident, with many of them praying that premature death be put to end in the school.

  • Medical student, others win in quiz competition

    ’I will return to win N1m

    Nineteen-year-old Kelechi Nwoku is on a mission to raise funds to sponsor her sister for further studies abroad.

    The student of Abia State University, Uturu, has the ambitious goal of raising N1million. And to achieve the goal, she entered for the My Education Quiz Play, a television game show that allows players to accumulate money for answering quiz questions correctly.

    She learnt about the competition from a popular blog, sent a message to the organisers and was lucky to be among those picked to participate.

    The game show, fashioned after the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire show, is sponsored by the Foundation for Effective Leadership and Development (FELD) to help students win grants towards their education.

    Kelechi won N210,000 during the recording of the show last month. This money has come in handy for the 200-Level Medical student who said it has gone into paying her school bills. However, she sill hopes to return to win N1 million for her sister.

    “I am studying medicine. My clinical fee is N200, 000 the remaining N10, 000 will be used to buy clothes; but I promise to come back and win N1 million for my sister,” she said.

    Last month, FELD, a non-governmental organisation, gave out a total of N2million to 25 winners of the quiz competition.

    The winner who are secondary school pupils and undergraduates from various schools in Nigeria were presented with their cheques at a ceremony in Lagos last Friday.

    Speaking at the event, the Chairman of FELD, Hon. Paul Adingwupu, said the initiative is to complement’s efforts in education.

    “Government cannot do everything. It needs to be supported to reach out to the people. On that premise we felt that we should do the needful, that is, give our support no matter how little. So, we started the foundation,” he said.

    He said the ultimate sum for secondary school category is N1million while that of tertiary institution is N2million.

    “We are happy to help restore hope to the lives of the people. The students and their parents/guardians are excited and we are happy that we are touching lives,” Adingwupu added.

    Also, Mr. Godfrey Osakwe, Project Director, FELD, said the competition seeks to support and motivate students in secondary school and tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

    He further said the game is designed as a way of learning with particular emphasis on school curriculum of participating groups with general knowledge questions as well.

    “The project is expected to serve as a veritable platform for students to showcase their brainpower and inspire others to action, with constant studying. All that is needed to participate is to text EXCEL to 35811,” he said.

    Winners in the tertiary institution category include Anthony Onyeahialam, University of Lagos (N280,000), Adesoji Adeoye Joseph, University of Lagos (N240,000); Odejide Joshua, Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) (N210,000); Abdulmajeed M. Kabir, Osun State University (N50,000).

    Others are: Jimoh Abubakar Sadiq, Lagos State University, (N50,000); Robert Paul-Ikhuoria, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma (N35,000); Praise Hansel, Redeemers’ University (N20,000); Odewabi Ayodele, Ekiti State University, (N15,000) and Olori Babajide, Lagos State University (LASU), N15,000.

    In the Senior Secondary School category, Glory Okpara won N190,000; Maduka Ebuka, N130,000; Idemudia Emmanuel, N130,000, Akogwu Ozomena, N100, 000, and Emmanuel Onwubuariri, N100,000.

     

  • Student feeds 500 pupils

    A Master’s student of the Lagos Business School (LBS), Oluwagbemileke Otun, has reached out to pupils of Ogombo Primary School, Ogombo Village, Lekki, with food and books.

    Oluwagbemileke, founder of Ten for Ten Accessories, an outfit that started as an entrepreneurial project in LBS post-graduate class, said the gesture was part of her firm’s effort to give back to society.

    Oluwagbemileke started her medium-scale business with a loan of N5,000 given to students with the criterion to make N5,000 profit weekly for three months. The aim of the initiative was to use the accrued interest to provide scholarships to indigent children.

    Oluwagbemileke’s outfit sells quality accessories, such as wrist watches, earrings and others. She is committed to ameliorating hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria.

    At the school, where she donated the materials, about 500 pupils benefitted.

    Oluwagbemileke was accompanied by LBS Master’s Programmes Director, Dr Nubi Achebo, and her colleagues.

    The pupils were excited as they received the free lunch, dancing with the students.

    The event also featured a quiz competition, where the pupils competed in Mathematics, English and Current Affairs. Winners were given books as prizes.

    She described the donation as a fulfilment of her commitment to join the fight against hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria.

    “For every accessory that is worth N10, 000 which people buy, we feed 10 children. The reasons for pursuing this cause are: in Africa, more than one-quarter of children under five are underweight. Malnutrition is still a major cause of child mortality in Africa, where one in five children will never live to see their fifth birthday.

    The Head Teacher of the school, Mr Sarafa Iyiowun, who was represented by his Assistant, Mr Ayuba Arohundara, commended the gesture, saying the donation would go a long way to encourage the pupils to face their studies.

    In his remark, Achebo advised the pupils to face their studies and to always care for people when they grow older.

    He said: “Hunger and malnutrition are the main challenges in Africa, which pose great threat to education. Lagos Business School supports students’ activities that are entrepreneurial and add values to the society.

     

  • Student donates to orphans

    As part of activities to mark his birthday, Joel Adeniyi, 400-Level part time student of Criminology and Social Work, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), has donated materials to Grace Orphanage home in Akure, Ondo State.

    The donation was made in collaboration with Minds and Moments Initiative, a students’ group, which comprised undergraduates spread across Ondo and Ekiti states.

    Food items and tissue papers were donated to orphans in the home, while the celebrant cut his birthday with the motherless children.

    Speaking on the rationale behind the gesture, Joel cited biblical reference in James 1:27, which obligated people to look after orphans and widows.

    He said; “The orphans are special set of people not to be forgotten in our world today. They are also created by God but fell victim to circumstances beyond their control. They have future and they are also leaders of tomorrow. Many of them have grown up to be great personalities in life. They also have right to live. Therefore, they deserve to be remembered and catered for. They deserve to be given sense of belonging and not to be neglected.”

    Official of the orphanage home, who simply identified herself as Miss Ruth, who received Joel and his colleagues, said words alone would not be enough to appreciate the celebrant’s gesture towards the children. She challenged youths and well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the gesture.

     

  • ‘I built my first filling station as a student in the university’

    Beautiful and industrious Princess Uzamat Folasayo Akinbile, has an exemplary story that will inspire a lot of young women. Her young looks will, no doubt, make not a few to think that she is probably a 20-year-old who inherited a fortune from her parents. But she is 39 today and her riveting story says it all about how she rode her way to success through determination at a time when many of her mates depended on handouts from ‘generous’ men while staying in the citadels.

    Garbed in a simple cream lace fabric, she carried no airs while exchanging banters with her aides as she made her way to usher the reporter into her office.

    She recalled how, at barely 25, she had plunged into the business world in her undergraduate days at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) where she studied Pharmacy and how she has faired in business.

    “I have been in business since my secondary school days when I used to accompany my mother on business trips to various communities where she purchased foodstuffs to sell. I also helped her to sell at the shop. We were then living in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

    “I actually started my own business after I left secondary school. I went into buying and selling till I got admission into the University of Ibadan (UI) where I studied Biochemistry for some time. I opened a shop called Princess Ventures at Sango area of Ibadan, Oyo State, because I was already an accredited agent of Procter and Gamble. I was selling some of the company’s products like biscuits and diapers. I later left UI because I did not like Biochemistry. So, I secured another admission into the University of Lagos to study Pharmacy”.

    Despite the change of environment because of her studies, she still exhibited her business acumen, albeit, as a foodstuff merchant, not too far from school environment.

    “At UNILAG, I was still juggling business with studies and because I lived around Yaba, I got another shop and I continued to trade in foodstuffs like rice, beans, flour and commodities such as flour and sugar in large quantities. Along the line, I established a computer school and a cybercafe that attracted a lot of patronage from residents”.

    The final turning point, however, came in year 2000 when she was encouraged to go into oil business by one of her mentors, an opportunity she grabbed with her two hands.

    “I went into oil business in 2000 while I was still in school through the encouragement of one of my business mentors, Alhaji Olaoluwa Adeogun, an oil magnate, and I started building a filling station even before I graduated from the university. You see, I have never worked for anyone in my life and I was so sure I could succeed in business against all odds. The start up capital came from personal savings from the foodstuff business.

    “Upon graduation, a company offered me a job with a salary of N250, 000 among other perks of office but I declined the offer because I did not want to work for any one”.

    She must have had it tough juggling studies with her new-found fame as a business woman? The reporter asked her. She replied: “Ah, combining studies with business wasn’t easy at all. It affected my studies in a way. At a point, I had epyremisis for about five months when I was pregnant. So I had to abandon my studies, hence, I had an extra year and graduated in 2006”.

    Akinbile, who now helms a group of businesses spanning oil and gas with a `chain of filling stations, pharmaceutical and information technology, recalled the ebb she experienced in business a few years ago.

    “I will never forget 2007 because it was a year my business was dealt a terrible blow as a result of simultaneous fire and robbery incidents. In October 2007, one of my stations was infaded by armed robbers and millions of naira carted away barely a few weeks after the filling station located in Ajasa near Meiran, Lagos State, started operation . As if that was not enough, on November 12 of the same year, a fire incident arising from generator explosion during the discharge of fuel rocked one of my filling stations. Although I lost money and vehicles to the incident but I thank God that five of my employees who were victims of the incident did not die.

    “I am relatively successful because I have adhered to certain principles of running medium scale businesses into greater heights. The rules of running a business and making a success out of it are not cast in iron but require a deep understanding and relative financial discipline to apply those rules. My pharmaceutical company(Musaroq Pharmaceuticals) is a sole representative of big overseas-based drug manufacturing companies, while another subsidiary, Musaroq Information Technology Ltd., is growing from leaps and bounds and a new filling station was just opened in Ikorodu”, she added.

    The Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State- born business amazon and mother of four who threw her hat into the ring to contest for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011, however, did not fail to tell the reporter her reasons for plunging into partisan politics.

    “I have been successful in business before I ventured into politics. I had expressed my grievances about the way Nigeria was being administered to my senior brothers in South Africa. But they asked me: ‘If everyone leaves the country on the account of leadership inadequacies and economy, who will salvage it?’ They suggested I should contest for a seat in the legislative house to lend my voice to the quest for change through efficient laws and policy formulation that could guarantee good governance and better life for the people. And I had no choice than to hearken to their call”.

    Although, she did not secure the ticket to represent the people of Alimosho Constituency 02 but she was later to be appointed a Supervisor for Agriculture, Rural and Social Development in Agbado/Okeodo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, and she described her acceptance of the appointment as a personal sacrifice.

    “I accepted my appointment as Supervisory Councillor because of the love I have for the people of my constituency. The acceptance was a personal sacrifice so that I can continue not only to protect their interest but to further serve them better; otherwise I was comfortable with being a business woman and my salary as councillor is far less than my monthly earnings in business.

    “In order to serve my people better and to complement the effort of the Hon. Augustine Arogundade- led administration in Agbado/Oke-Odo LCDA, I am going to inaugurate some projects on June 22, under my pet project called ‘The Goodwill Project’. The projects include a 12-feet culvert in Omoroga/Akintan, Meiran, while about 10 community development associations will be given a N50, 000 grant each. 100 artisans will also be assisted with tools under my ‘Tools for job initiative’.

    “This is not my first time of reaching out to my people; many residents have benefited from my charity in the past, especially in the areas of health education and free treatment for infirmed mothers and their children. I have given free medical treatment to people and I have also distributed drugs, mosquito nets and other items to empower indigent residents who don’t have means of livelihood or resources to sponsor their children’s education. I am not tired yet of doing more because it’s a calling to help humanity not to actualise self-seeking goals.”