The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Students

  • How workers, students dupe Abia Poly

    How workers, students dupe Abia Poly

    First, it was a case of ghost workers. Now, Abia State Polytechnic is being rocked by allegations of certificate forgery. Some students are said to be conniving with some workers to swindle the institution of millions of naira, through the cloning of receipts for payment of tuition. SONNY NWANKWO from Aba reports

    It all began earlier in the year when the management of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba discovered that some workers secured employment in the institution with questionable credentials.

    The management promptly invited officials of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to vet some of the certificates. They found many wanting and the management sacked them.

    A similar scenario played out at the postgraduate level. The institution’s authorities were shocked to find that the Masters and doctoral certificates tendered by some lecturers were fake. This was the first major problem the management tackled. Its Acting Rector, Prof Ezionye Friday Eboh,  said verification of certificates would be periodic.

    Besides, the management stumbled on another can of worms: receipt racketeering. Some students connived with some workers to clone the school’s payment receipts. This deal, according to the management, has been going on for years, with millions of naira lost.

    However, with the introduction of e-payment by the management, luck seems to have run out for the racketeers. A team of workers from the Bursary Department, who were on school fees’drive, discovered that about 70 per cent of students in one examination hall had fake receipts.

    This startling discovery, however, led to the suspension of the 2016/17 first semester examination last month, a development that resulted in protests, especially by students with genuine receipts who saw management’s action as ‘unjust’. It took a combined team of security personnel, who were deployed to the insitution, to stop the students’ actions from degenerating to chaos, though the exam was later rescheduled for a later date.

    The management, which apologised to students for the inconvenience, said its action was  aimed at tracking funds to stop them from ending up in private pockets.

    But in the last three weeks that the exam was stopped, the money realised from tuition jumped from N43 million to N60 million.

    Findings by The Nation revealed that the racketeers formed a triangle. The students on one side, some unscrupulous workers who aided them; and some cyber café operators who perpetrated the cloning of the original receipts that students use for clearance before being allowed to sit for examinations.

    The source said the suspected workers who were caught pleaded guilty, asking to be given a second chance. They cited the delay in their salaries and arrears as the reason for soiling their hands. Others owned up to the crime for selfish reasons, the source added.

    The source explained to The Nation  how some unscrupulous cyber café operators cloned original receipts of the school, producing fake ones bearing the name of the impostor but with a different serial number.

    Workers embarked on an industrial action over the non-payment of their salaries between last July and January, this year. It was suspended in March, following the government’s intervention which promised to clear outstanding debts before the year runs out.

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu appointed Eboh, a professor of Economics, to take over from his predecessor, Martin Iheanacho, a professor of Sociology from the University of Port Harcourt.

    Eboh’s appointment in February, sources said, was a prelude to allegations of managerial incompetence, sharp practices and unpaid workers arrears and salaries, among others, under Iheanacho’s watch. In the end, Ikpeazu removed Iheanacho and dissolved the polytechnic’s Governing Council headed by Chief Chukwu Wachukwu. Eboh took over in acting capacity, while Mr. Friday Omenihu was made the Bursar.

    The new team was given the mandate to sanitise the institution and restore same on the path of greatness for which it was once reputed. The management promised to plug all leakages, pay workers’ salary arrears and raise the institution’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    However, it took Eboh only a few months  to discover the fake certificates.

    The problem has claimed some casaulties. One of the students who was the alleged kingpin of the syndicate has been apprehended and suspended. Another source told our reporter that a cyber cafe owner was being detained by the police.

    It also has resulted in some positive results. In a telephone chat with our reporter at the weekend, Eboh confirmed that over N60 million had been realised from fees, from N43 million.

    Eboh, who described the actions as ‘criminal’ declined comments on the kind of punishment that would be meted out to erring workers and students, adding that such move could jeopardise or preempt police investigation.

    He said some arrests had been made by the police who were investigating the matter.

    “If there is any time to shield anyone, it is not now!” Eboh said. “We are cleansing the system which was the reason why the government asked us (the management) to be here.”

    He said the e-payment system was part of measures to curtail activities of fraudulent individuals who were hell bent on sabotaging the government’s efforts in repositioning the institution to meet global standard.

    Eboh, who assured that management would pay off workers’ salaries arrears before this month, thanked Okezie for making the school’s monthly subvention regular, promising that the subventions would be judiciously used.

    Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic Abia Polytechnic chapter Mr Precioius Nwakodo, said the union would not react until the management concluded its investigation.

    “ASUP will not wish to speak on the matter. The management has  inaugurated a committee to investigate the matter. We want to wait for the outcome of the investigation. We are, however, watching the development,” Nwakodo said.

    Abia State Polytecnic Student Union Government’s (SUG) President, Igwe Samuel, turned down interviews on hearing our reporter’s mission; nonetheless, two students: Patricia Ebube,  Kingsley Emeka and few others denied ever being involved in the school fees racketeering.

    The students, however, lauded the management for taking such a bold step, calling for the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the act.

    “We are not against the management of the school going after the people that are owing the school in one way or the other or maybe going after those who faked school fees receipts. But I am against the abrupt stopping of our exams. They should have arrested those involved in the evil act and allowed the examination to continue,” said Emeka.

    “Now that they (management) stopped the exams just to allow them to go and pay the school fees which they (students) had refused to pay means that the management was not serious. Does that mean an examination body, such as the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB), will also suspend the conducting of their exams because a few persons, for instance, were caught cheating in the exam hall,” Ebube added.

    “I have heard of this thing (receipt cloning) before, but I never believed it until our exam was suspended,” added Ebube.

    “It is good that they have been able to apprehend some of the people they claimed were behind the illegality. Those caught should be prosecuted and punished to serve as a deterrent to students who may wish to engage in such ugly act in the future,” Ebube added.

  • Firm to train students on ICT

    Information and Communication Technology (ICT) consultancy firm BSO Mega System Computer, is set to organise ICT trainings for secondary school pupils in Lagos State.

    The training is meant to acquaint them with in-depth knowledge of the ICT beyond the popular social media engagements such as facebook, whasapp and others, which many of them have become addicted to.

    The trainings, which will commence at the resumption of the third term, will be purely practical as against merer class work many schools are used to.

    The firm’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bello Dada Obashua, said the exercise is imperative because ICT has become an integral part of human existence in the contemporary world.

    He noted that with the introduction of computer-based examinations by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and other professional bodies as well as the demand for ICT knowledge for prospective job seekers, the workshop would equip the pupils for the challenges ahead.

    “We want to ensure that no student fails because of his/ her deficiency in computer knowledge. ICT has impacted on nearly every aspect of our lives; from working to socialising, learning to playing. In fact, ICT has become even embedded in our culture so we must provide the students with relevant and contemporary experiences that will engage them successfully,” he said.

    He identified some of the programmes to include: computer-based examination technology, data processing, networking, web designing, internet technology, video and picture editing among others.

  • Why we shut down school, by PTI students

    Why we shut down school, by PTI students

    Students of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State, have explained why they shut the school last Thursday. They said management’s failure to release money for their week and the inability to address accommodation challenges led to the protest. GBENGA OJO reports.

    It was a protest the management of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) in Effurun, Delta State saw coming, but nothing was done to prevent it. Last Thursday, angry students shut down the school in demonstration against what they called “poor state of accommodation and welfare”.

    For several hours, the school gate was shut by protesters, who barricaded the entrance and prevented movement in and out of the campus.The students stormed the school entrance at 6am with musical instruments and turned the passageway to a dance floor. Revolutionary songs of the late Afrobeat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, such as Trouble sleep, yanga go wake am, blared from the ultrasonic speakers mounted at strategic locations at the gate.

    The protest followed a warning action the previous day, during which students shunned lectures to draw attention to their plight. When the management did not respond, the Students’ Union leaders mobilised students for the early morning demonstration, blocking all the access points into the institute.

    The school employees and other visitors on appointment were turned back by the protesters, who paralysed activities in the institute. Some workers, including High Court judges living in the school staff’s quarters, were not allowed to leave the campus. Also, JSS 3 pupils writing examination were prevented from entering the school.

    The students said the protest was informed by the poor condition of living in the halls of residence, non-fumigation of the hostels and management’s refusal to release money for their 2017 Students’ Week.

    “The management has failed to provide accommodation for female students after they were made to pay N10,000 compulsory accommodation fee,” a member of Students’ Union Government (SUG) said.

    A female student, who simply gave her name as Ese, said: “We have about 15 students occupying a small room that is meant for eight people. There is also a room with capacity for 20 people, but it is being occupied by 44 students. This can lead to spread of different kinds of diseases.”

    The last straw that broke the camel’s back, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, was the inability of the school to give out money for Students’ Week as it is usually done. It was gathered the management told students to go and source for money for the Week if it must hold. In response, students, it was learnt, urged the management to convert N2,000 they paid for sport for the Week’s activities. The management’s refusal led to the protest.

    “Why should we be asked to go source for money when we paid N2,000 for sports and it was itemised in our school fees? Since we didn’t participate in any sport, we told the school to convert the money for Students’ Week, but they refused,” a protester said.

    After several hours of demonstration, some management staffers, led by the Vice Principal, Mrs Emily Ahragba, were allowed into the school for a meeting with students’ leaders.

    At the meeting, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Speaker, Prosper Omosikuwe, tabled the students’ grievances before the management team.

    Responding, Mrs Ahragba said the protest was caused by misinformation among the students. She denied management did not want to release money for Students’ Week, saying the approval of the money was delayed by the absence of the Principal of the institute, who was said to be out of town.

    On the complaint about accommodation, Mrs Arhagba said: “I personally went to the hostels and felt bad when I saw many students in a room meant for eight students. We are aware students live uncomfortably in the hostel. The school principal is not happy, so also the management. We are addressing the hostel challenges, but it appears the information is not well-circulated among students.”

    The Vice Principal directed the Director of Service, Dr C.I. Oghene, to brief the students on how the management had been addressing accommodation challenges.

    Dr Oghene explained that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) donated a hostel building to the school to solve accommodation problem, but said the building had not been completed because of paucity of funds.

    He said: “Management has sent a letter to the NDDC to handover the building to the school, so that we can complete the remaining works ourselves. But, up till now, handing over has not been done. We hope everything would be in order as fast as possible, including the fumigation of hostels.”

    Deputy Director for Academics (DDA) Mr O.C. Siakpere  explained that the N2,000 itemised for sport in the school fees was not meant for Students’ Week, but for the upgrade and maintenance of the institute’s sport facilities. He condemned students’ plea for the money to be converted to mark Students’ Week.

    The Librarian, Mr R.T. Obashe also frowned at the students’ claims on the sports money. “This is really strange; it’s not done anywhere,” he said, adding: “How can management convert a money paid for sport in the school fees and give it out to students to mark their Week?”

    The peace meeting, which lasted for hours, ended with the management approving N2 million for Students’ Week. The authorities said it would be the last time the school would give out money to support Students’ Week.

    The SUG president, Theophilus Ukuoma, said the protest could have been prevented had the management shared information with students.

    He said: “Since they have approved money for our Week and also promised to put accommodation in place as soon as possible, we will hold them by their words when the time comes.”

    He said the management need not wait for students to protest before coming out with information on action being taken to address students’ plights.

     

     

     

     

  • Study hard to build your minds, Omatseye tells students

    Study hard to build your minds, Omatseye tells students

    Chairman of The Nation Editorial Board, Sam Omatseye, has advised the Kings University (KU) students to give their best to their studies. He told them never to be discouraged by material challenges, noting that it is only through quality education they could build their minds.

    Omatseye gave the charge at a forum with students of the KU’s Department of English and Literary Studies, at the Institute of African Studies of the University of Ibadan (UI) on Thursday. The celebrated columnist and poet was the guest lecturer at the maiden personality lecture organised by African Studies Graduate Students’ Association.

    Omatseye, who engaged the students in a question-and-answer session, gave them tips on how they could make the best of their efforts to becoming renowned writers. Omatseye’s novel, My Name is Okoro, which narrated Biafran War from a minority angle, became a subject of discussion. The students had the opportunity to ask questions about the work, which is part of the books they are studying in their discipline.

    The author praised the students for asking “vital, relevant, and thoughtful questions”, while encouraging them not to lose focus.

    The students described their time with Omatseye as “enriching”, saying their encounter with the writer would encourage and empower them with information to become successful in their career.

    Their lecturer, Ademola Adesola, hailed Omatseye for creating time to share knowledge with the students. He said: “We hope the seeds of ideas Omatseye has sown in these students would surely germinate and grow into great feats that will make him proud of the time he spent with them.”

    At the forum were a member of The Nation Editorial Board, Mr Femi Macaulay, and former Associate Editor of The Nation, Mr Taiwo Ogundipe.

     

  • Women, students get free cancer screening, eyeglasses

    A women’s services foundation, International Inner Wheel (IWC), yesterday sponsored free cervical cancer screening for 100 women and donated free eyeglasses to 100 students in Lagos.

    The event held at the Mushin Primary Health Care Centre.

    IWC President Yemisi Alatise said cervical cancer though deadly can be prevented if detected early.

    She said the beneficiaries of the screening were women who could not afford it and that the IWC would pay for the treatment of those in whom the cancer is detected.

    Alatise, however, enjoined the women to practice safer sex and avoid smoking.

    National Representative/President, National Governing Body of IWC in Nigeria, Lady Uche Agbim, said the project had been successfully executed in all the states in the federation and “Lagos State being the last to take place.”

    The free eyeglasses programme, according to Agbim, is important because early eye tests help in preventing blindness.

    She said: “Eye test play a huge part in making sure your eyes stay healthy, apart from revealing whether you need to start wearing glasses or need to change your prescription, it also helps to detect some common medical conditions”.

    In her address, the District Chairman, Inner Wheel District 911, Wemimo Olasanya said over 1000 women had benefitted from the project.

    According to the organisers, IWC, which was founded 93 years ago in Manchester by Mrs. Oliver Golding, is the largest women’s service oriented organisation in the world.

  • Day ex-militant leader donates to 500 widows, gives scholarship to students

    Veteran  actors and the Okrika Council of Chief have commended ex-militant leader High Chief Ateke Tom for showing love to  500 widows  in Okrika, Rivers State  through the provision of food items, wrappers and scholarship to students

    As one of the activities marking his birthday,  Tom, who is fondly called Daddy by his people, donated rice,  noodles, soaps, wrappers, salt, oil and other  items to the widows in the area.

    Two days before the date with the widows, the ex-militant leader also gave scholarship to five students in the tertiary institutions and five students in primary and secondary school. There are also many who are acquiring different kind of skills under his sponsorship.

    Mrs. Patience Uzokwo, popularly known as Mama G,  and Gentle Jack led popular Nollywood actors to the occasion. Others are friends,  Ijaw Youth National President, former and present council chairman of the area and members of Okrika council of chief.

    Declaring the event open, the chairman, Okrika Council of Chief, Chief Biriowu Opuayaraya said every historical event is led by great men, adding that Ateke is one of the great men in Okrika.

    He said Okrika people was proud to have Tom as its son.

    Opuayaraya said: “We are happy that a great man is leading this great history in our own time. The widows are happy and they are going to pray for him. If you look at the guests present you would know that Ateke Tom is the face of the world. Through him these well known guests are in Okrika today.

    “This is not the first time he is assisting the widows, the orphans and many others who come to him for help. Those who knew him will tell you that this is his nature, he is not doing it for political reason or to impress anybody but for the sake of humanity.”

    Mama  G, who addressed the widows on behalf of others Nollywood stars , called on politicians and privileged individuals to support and respect women whose husbands have died.

    Mama G said: “I want to inform you that  as a widow that  there was a time in my life that I could not find what to eat. What remain was to cook  sand as rice and give it to my children to eat.

    “I want to call on politicians and privilege individuals in the country to help widows in our society. I advise every woman to ensure that they train their children well, both male and female, in fear of God because tomorrow they will stand for you.

    “I also urge men to try and respect and support widows because they are going through difficult times. Some of these women are not remarried because of the respect they have for their late husbands. All of us as widows thank Chief Ateke for remembering us.”

    One of the widows, Mrs. Charity Jack who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, said God would keep Tom alive to continue his good charity, “Nothing will happen to you, God has always protect those who feed the destitute and widows. So our prayer is that God will not allow you to die before your time.

    “What you gave widows today may be little in the eyes of the people but it is great in the eyes of the widows who have nobody to help them. Because you have remembered us God will remember you and give you many more years.”

    Tom said he is worried with the pain women undergo in training and fending for their children after their husbands’ death.

    He said: “Today is my birthday; it is not a day I make long speech, it is a day to honour my creator and show love to those around me. People should always know that there is somebody somewhere; some are your neighbour who needs your help. Learn to lift the burden of other people; to be frank it gives me joy each time I gave a token to someone in need of help.”

  • Protesting PTI students shut down campus

    Protesting PTI students shut down campus

    The peaceful atmosphere on the campus of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta state was on Thursday shattered as angry students of the school protested alleged inhuman treatment by administration.
    The protesting students, who took over the premises of the campus from as early as 6am, locked all access into the school, sacked the private security guards manning the gates and prevented workers and other visitors from entering, thereby preventing the normal academic and commercial activities from commencing  for the day.
    The Nation gathered from some of the students who agreed to speak that the primary source of anger of the students were the unhealthy environmental conditions those staying on campus live in as well as the refusal of the school’s authority to heed demands from students.
    According to a member of the school’s Students’ Union Government (SUG), who did not want his name mentioned, besides the fact that the school’s authority had failed to provide hostel accommodation for female students and had been charged N10,000 each for accommodation.
    “Basically, what is happening right now is students’ protesting what they think is their right. Overtime, the management of the school has put us in a tight corner where we can’t express ourselves. When we resumed this session, there were many agitations but our student leadership had been able to maintain peace.
    “What led to the protest is that the female students paid an additional N10,000 to their school fee which is supposed to be for accommodation when accommodation is not available. In a room, we have about 15 female students squatting in a small room. We also have a room of 48 female students to a room. You will agree with me that diseases are rapidly spread among females.
    “The girls have been complaining but we have tried to calm them down. Several times, there is no light for practicals but we still maintain discipline. What we are doing is our right. These are three point-demands; give the female students hostels or refund the accommodation fee they have paid.
    “We live with snakes right now. Our hostels have not been fumigated and the grasses have overgrown. What we are asking the management is will any of them allow his daughters live in the kind of hostels we have in this school? There are many issues confronting us but us talking to them emotionally as their children,” the aggrieved student  said.
    Although efforts to speak with the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Brown Ukanefemoni, was unsuccessful as he was said to be on vacation, Students Affairs Officer, Joseph Ajima, who could be reached said the issue had been resolved.
    “The issue has been resolved. We are in our offices now. Do they tell you there are snakes in the hostels? Do they show you the snakes in the female hostels? Did you enter the hostel? You can come and see whether there are snakes now that the gates have been opened,” Ajima said.

  • Three college students top Cambridge exams

    Three students of Oxbridge Tutorial College (OTC), have topped the 2016 May/June Cambridge International Examinations.

    The students-Mr. Bawo Theodore Ajuyah (AS Level), Mr Chidozie Onyeze (AS Level) and Miss Amarachi Tony-Ubah (A Level), were honoured in Chemistry, Mathematics and Sociology respectively.

    The trio were honored alongside their counterparts from other schools at the maiden British Council Recognition and Outstanding Cambridge Learners Award.

    Oxbridge Tutorial College also emerged the only sixth form institution that won the British Council recognition for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at maiden event which attracted dignitaries including top executives from the British Council, educationists and the media.

    The awardees expressed appreciation to OTC for  the sound academic footing they had  and which prepared them for the next phase of their academic journey. They also thanked their parents and teachers

    “’For me, this award is evident of the excellent tutelage I received at Oxbridge and is also a recognition of all the hard work I invested in my A-level programme. This motivates me to work harder in my current field of study to attain greater heights” said one of the awardees, Amarachi Tony-Ubah.

    “’A student is nothing without a teacher,” added Onyeze.

    “I can’t forget to thank all the people who, over the last two years, sat me down in class and drilled topic after topic into my head. I know I would not be where I am now if not for the diligent and knowledgeable teachers of this school. I am very grateful,” Onyeze added.

    For Ajuyah, he owed his parents for the success.

    He said:”Words cannot describe how appreciative I am to God for giving me such wonderful parents. They have motivated and guided me all through my secondary and pre-tertiary education. Besides just attending classes, my parents instilled in me the drive to have a work ethic and positive attitude to my teachers and classmates. ”

    Responding, the  management of OTC thanked the awardees,  individuals and corporate bodies that have aligned with the the dream of the college over the years.

    “We enjoin other well-wishers to congratulate our students in recognition of their outstanding achievements. Our appreciation also goes to all our partners whose support has helped in the delivery of world-class education using international best practices in preparing future leaders of our nation.

    “Over the years, Oxbridge Tutorial College has consistently produced some of the best results in the country and our students have progressed on to both Ivy League and Russell Group universities in different parts of the world. We also have a proud history of a robust network of alumni who are leaders in their respective callings, both nationally and internationally.

    The British Council Recognition and Outstanding Cambridge Learners Award resonate with our commitment to academic excellence as Nigeria’s first and leading sixth-form college.

  • Akeredolu wins as Ondo students elect leaders at 10th convention

    Members of the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) have elected leaders who will oversee the association’s affairs for one year.

    The election took place during the 10th convention of the body  on Saturday in Akure, the Ondo State capital. The electoral process was conducted under close supervision of independent observers and security agents.

    About 105 delegates from 55 recognised tertiary institutions nationwide were accredited to elect the leaders.

    The electoral committee chairman, Oluwatobi Ebiwonjumi, while announcing the results, declared Comrade Emmanuel Akeredolu as president-elect after polling 87 votes of the 104 total votes cast. Emmanuel defeated Ayomipo Oloyede, who got 10 votes, and Wealth Akerele, who got six votes. A vote was voided.

    Ebiwonjumi described the election as peaceful and credible, thanking the candidates for displaying maturity during and after the election.

    The outgoing president, Charles Iwakun, congratulated his successor, noting that his determination to conduct free and fair election was achieved. According to him, the outgoing administration set good pace for the development of the association, advising Akeredolu to consulate on his achievement. He urged his successor to be magnanimous in victory by extending a hand of fellowship to his opponents.

    Akeredolu, a student of Ekiti State University (EKSU), thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him. He promised to bring positive change to the association, pledging to work with his opponents.

    Mr Alex Gbologe, an observer from the National Orientation Agency (NOA), who spoke on behalf of the independent observers, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election. He said the process was devoid of rancour, fighting and abusive words.

    Other elected include Vice President, Omotayo Olibamoyo, General Secretary, Gbenga Ogunderu, Public Relations Officer, Alex Adesuyi, Treasurer, Oluwagbenga Ogunji, Director of Special Duties, Oluwaseun Aruwajoye, Financial Secretary, Opemipo Amusa, and Social Director, John Daudu.

    Others are Sports Director, Temitope Menawonu, Assistant General Secretary, Janet Akinyuwa, Senate President, Lawrence Oguniyi, Deputy Senate President, Tony Odimayo, Chief Whip, Excel Oloriegbe and Clerk, Oluwafemi Omolaja.

  • UI SUG president faults suspension of union activities

    UI SUG president faults suspension of union activities

    University of Ibadan Students’ Union President, Ojo Aderemi has faulted the school management for suspending union activities on the campus.

    The President who was reacting to seven weeks closure of the institution by the management insisted that the students embarked on a peaceful protest following the decision of the students on some outstanding issues.

    “Nobody has the right to dissolve the Union because it is not a cube of sugar,” Aderemi said.

    According to him, “For more than three semesters now, we have been denied issuance of ID cards, which is ours by right.. It was in representation of our grievance that led to the peaceful protest carried out on democracy day.”

    The President also insisted that it is lawful for the students to use electric cooking plates, so far it was made use of in the kitchenette.

    “It  is not against the law. It is lawful according to our student Information booklet,” Aderemi stated.