The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Students

  • Expose fraudulent lecturers,students told

    Expose fraudulent lecturers,students told

    The acting Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Prof. Friday Ezionye Eboh, has assured old and new students of the institution of quality service delivery. This is even as students were challenged to expose lecturers that indulge in sharp practices.

    Eboh, who spoke during the 23rd matriculation of the institution, said that the essence of the quality service delivery was to equip students with the right training and knowledge that will enable them compete favourably and even outsmart their counterparts on the global stage as a result of the training acquired.

    While thanking members of the institution’s tripartite worker’s unions for supporting his administration, Eboh told the students to take advantage of the peaceful and conducive academic environment in the institution.

    To minimise wastages to the barest minimum, Eboh said management has introduced an e-payment system that captures all fees and charges made by the students through the list of approved financial institutions.

    Eboh, who equally thanked the state government for bailing the institution out of its financial and managerial gaps, assured workers that their inconsistent arrears and salaries would soon be a thing of the past.

    “Though challenges remain, rest assured that we won’t be swallowed by them.We should not allow the ugly experiences of the past to becloud our sense of purpose and direction. We must hold tenaciously to global best practices in this enterprise.

    “As part of our efforts to eradicate indiscipline, we have instituted the Ethics and Quality Assurance Committee to report and investigate all cases of sorting and other forms of intimidation by workers. Students now have telephone number of the (acting) Rector to call and report any case.

    “We are currently discussing with one of the service providers on the internet connection to the whole school. We have also populated website with research and other scholarly publications of members of staff,” the rector stated.

  • Kogi varsity students sack union leader

    Kogi varsity students sack union leader

    THE Kogi State University (KSU) Students’ Union Government (SUG) crisis has come to a head with the impeachment of the president, Philip Omepa. He was removed by the parliament for alleged funds misappropriation and destruction of the union property.

    But, Philip is contending that his impeachment cannot hold because he has completed his tenure. He claimed that the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Mohammed Sanni Abdulkadir prevailed on him to remain in office until the election of a new president.

    The SUG’s Public Relations Officer, Cosmos Ogiri, who has been feuding with Philip for allegedly collecting bribe from Governor Yahya Bello, resigned to avoid impeachment.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the parliament impeached Philip during an emergency sitting, where the allegations against him were considered. It was gathered that Gabriel Okolo, member representing Animal Science Department, moved the motion for Philip’s impeachment.

    The allegations against Philip include receiving the bribe from the government, embezzlement of funds for the construction of students’ centre, and refusal to appear before the committee investigating misappropriation of the N300,000 voted for national convention of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

    Other allegations include embezzlement of stipends meant for members of the executive and judicial arms, destruction of union vehicle and embezzlement of money allocated for bus repair, deceit in the discharge of his duty as president and incompetency.

    Conveying the parliament’s decision to the VC, Registrar, Dean of Students’ Affair, Chief Security Officer, and Nationla Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the Speaker, Usman Attaja said it was in line with Article (3), and Article (3), (7) (4, Paragraph A) and Article (10) (1), Paragraph (a) of the SUG constitution.

    The speaker urged Philip to return the union’s property in his possession and stop parading himself as president.

    The Vice President, Anthony Edogbo was sworn in as Acting President. Anthony promised to correct wrongs of Philip’s tenure.

    The Acting President said: “I apologise to all students for the way the affairs of the union were run by the Philip-led executive since the assumption of office. I want to assure our teeming students that efforts are being made to ensure that the institution is re-opened for academic activities.”

    Reacting, Philip described the allegations as frivolous, accusing the speaker of an agenda to cause disaffection in the union. He said he was not given fair hearing by the committee set up to investigate him.

    Philip described the government as the mastermind of his travail, saying the plot was to silence students while the school remains shut over teachers’ strike.

    He said: “I see those who are calling the shot in the SUG as agents being used by government in its ploy to elongate the duration of the students’ stay at home. I have every reason to believe that they (parliament members) have been bought over.

    “The government is using the recently constituted leadership of Kogi chapter of the Joint Campus Committee (JCC), a body that is supposed to oversee the activities of students from all campuses in the state, to weaken the students’ resolve to protest against the authorities over the continued closure of our campus.”

    But, Usman, who also chairs  JCC described Philip as a “drowning man.” He denied the claims of being used by the government to destabilise the SUG. He said students were disenchanted with Philip’s leadership style.

    The Governor’s Director-General of Media and Publicity Mr Kingsley Fanwo denied claims that government infiltrated the JCC. He described the allegation as a “tissue of lies”. He distanced government’s from what he described as “internal wrangling” of students, saying it would not be involved in such “trivial matter”.

    The union has been embroiled in controversy, since its inauguration more than a year ago. There have been allegations and counter allegations of collusion with government to frustrate  the striking workers’ efforts to draw attention to their plight.

    Former Dean of Students’ Affair Dr Usman Ogbo lampooned the students’ leaders for what he called their bad public conduct. He lamented that the union leaders were bickering over money, while academic activities have been grounded for more than three months.

    Students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, described Philip’s impeachment as welcome.

    They said his tenure was marred by stories of failures.

    Bridget David, a 300-Level Law student, said the impeachment was long overdue. She described Philip as a selfish president, adding that his leadership was corrupt and self-serving.

    He said: “The cancellation of the April 1 protest remains fresh in our mind. Since that day, it was crystal clear to many of us that Philip is feeding fat on our plights.”

    Other students said none of the two camps has their interest at heart.

  • Exxon Mobil donates 5000 tablets to Kaduna students

    Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited, an ExxonMobil affiliate company in Nigeria, has donated 5000 tablet computers to students in public secondary schools in Kaduna State.

    This is under the state’s Smart Education Initiative of ESSO Exploration and Production Nigeria to improve students’ access to education within the state.

    The gadgets are equipped with school curriculum, e-text books along with past questions and solutions for national examinations, which will aid students’ academics by providing them with access to knowledge.

    “This initiative fits into our social investment strategy, which supports improvement and capacity enhancement of institutions at all levels of Nigeria’s education. It also mirrors similar educational programmes supported by ExxonMobil affiliates across Nigeria,” said Paul Arinze, General Manager, Public and Government Affairs for ExxonMobil affiliates in Nigeria

    “We hope this investment in smart education systems for high school students will have a carry-over effect, leading to improved performances of students, and an improved quality of working class in Kaduna State”he added.

    Group General Manager of the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), represented by the Manager, Public Affairs, Ahmed Aminu, urged beneficiaries to make the most of the opportunity with respect to digital education.

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, explained the value of the project in addressing some educational gaps in the state.

    The governor added that the proper utilisation of the tablet computers would enhance the national competitiveness of students in Kaduna and help build human capital within the state.

  • Students decry burglary at off-campus hostels

    Students of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida (BIDA POLY) in Niger State have decried incessant burglary in the off campus area. The complaint followed cases of theft in the off-campus hostels, where students are live at the mercy of hoodlums and burglars.

    Some students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, complained of weak security patrol in the area, which they said gave miscreants freedom to break into students’ hostels and cart away properties.

    A Higher National Diploma (HND) 1 Public Administration student, Matthew Chukwu, said he was yet to get over the shock of meeting his room almost empty. He said: “I have gone home for the semester break. On returning, I found out that my room has been burgled by unknown persons. They almost empty my room. They carted away my electronic devices and other valuables.”

    Another victim, Grace Odusola, a Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Management student, said burglar took away a laptop she borrowed from her friend. “The ugly incident happened on my birthday. I was sleeping when the burglar broke in. The laptop I borrowed from my course mate to type my assignment was stolen. I could not explain how the burglar broke in. Now, I have to buy back the laptop,” she said.

    Babatunde Banjo, HND II Electrical Electronics Engineering student, said his hostel was burgled overnight by hoodlums, who carted away students’ kitchen utensils.

    Reacting, Students’ Union Government (SUG) Welfare Director, Monsuru Babalola, condemned the incident, stating that the SUG had swung into action to apprehend the perpetrators.

  • NUGA: UAM spends N500 million on facilities as Games kick-off today

    NUGA: UAM spends N500 million on facilities as Games kick-off today

     

    Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, said on Friday that his institution spent N500 million in upgrading facilities for the hosting of 25th Nigeria University Games (NUGA)

    Kucha told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that apart from upgrading existing facilities, new ones were constructed, all aimed at ensuring the success of the Games.

    He said the facilities would be useful even after the Games as they would be handy for students to train.

    He expressed optimism that the university would not only host the games, but also top the medals table.

    “We are ready for the Games; the athletes have trained well and we are sure of medals.

    “We are going to win, not just medals, but gold in at least seven events; we will win in Taekwondo, Judo, Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Handball and Table Tennis,” he predicted.

    He however said the university would not compete in three sports, namely Cricket, Swimming and Wrestling.

    He said the university was collaborating with the police, the local vigilance groups and the university’s security, to ensure protection of lives both during and after the fiesta.

    Also speaking, a Taekwondo coach for the Bayero University, Ibrahim Yahuza, commended the host University for providing “good accommodation” for the athletes.

    “The accommodation is 80 percent good. It is okay for both the athletes and officials,” he said.

    A cross section of athletes also said they were satisfied with the accommodation

    NAN reports that the nine-day sports fiesta, which kicks-off April 22, will feature 53 universities.

  • Entrepreneurs, students get fresh challenge

    A contest for startup entrepreneurs and students across the country will hold on April 24, 2017 at Oriental Hotel, Lekki Expressway, Lagos.

    The contest which  is organized by FinTech Associates, a Nigerian FinTech solution provider, the Digital Finance Institute, a digital finance think tank based in Canada and Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria Centre for Financial Studies is part of the First National FinTech Conference.

    The Startup Pitch Challenge invites startups entrepreneurs that are involved in financial technology to apply for a chance to pitch their solutions before a panel of expert judges at the FinTech Nigeria Conference event.

    “The challenge allows startups to have some stage time to showcase their innovative technology and receive valuable feedback to refine their solutions and scale, as well as to join in growing the ecosystem in Nigeria,” the Executive Director and Founder of the Digital Finance Institute, Christine Duhaime, said.

    The  Knowledge Events Executive of Fintech Associates, Detan Akinhanm, said: “This initiative is planned to tap on the creativity of the Nigerian youths and we look forward to product pitches that have the potential to change the financial services landscape”.

  • Students urge Buhari to let treasury looters face the music

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and the students community in Rivers State have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure no treasury looter escapes the long arm of the law.

    The students, who pledged their support to Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade, said they would be happy to see more treasury looters head to prison, if convicted.

    The students, who spoke under the Joint Campus Committee involving all the Students’ Union (SU) of tertiary institutions in Rivers State,  told the state governor, Nyesom Wike, to appoint one of them as his aide.

    Speaking on behalf of the students, Comrade Wondikom Chikwu Obinali, Chairman NANS JCC, and Comrade Orji Broda Kenneth, Chairman, Council of SUG Presidents in Rivers State, said no country in the world underestimates Students’ Union.

    Kenneth said the union wondered why the present administration has refused to consider the plight of overseas students on scholarships.

    The students called on Wike to look into infrastructural decay at the Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology (RIVCOHSTECH) and the Rivers State School of Nursing.

    Said Kenneth: “The leadership of students’ community in Rivers State is in support of President Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade. We are calling on the relevant agencies handling corrupt cases to speed up the trials of treasury looters in the country.We will be glad if more are being convicted and sent to prison.This would serve as a deterrent to others.

    “We believe that government a continuity, so we want the Governor of Rivers State to continue with the scholarship offer of the last administration.

    “We are also appealing to Governor Nyesom Wike to appoint a Special Adviser on Students’ Matter. We are worried that this vacuum has cost to students dearly. We benefited much during the previous administration because we had students’ representative in that government.”

  • BIDA POLY students to check results online

    The Federal Polytechnic, Bida (BIDA POLY) is to create an online platform to ensure early release of results.
    In an interview with CAMPUSLIFE, the Deputy Rector, Mr Augustine Oghenejivwe, said the academic board’s activities had been reorganised to make compilation of results faster.
    Oghenejivwe explained that the new method would give students access to information about the school without travelling long distance while on break. He explained that the online platform would also give parents true picture of children’s academic status and eliminate deception.
    He said: “We are already putting plans in place to release result before the semester begins in order give parents an opportunity to know the academic standing of their children The move was taken to prevent students from deceiving their parents and also to save them unnecessary stress of travelling down to the school to check results while the school is on break.
    The Deputy Registrar for Academics, Mr Dauda Danlani, hailed the academics board on the initiative, stressing that it was wise to release results on time given the challenges faced by students whenever results comes out late.
    Danlani said the school upgraded its system software as a measure put in place to ensure the successful take off of the online platform.
    A senior staff at Management Information System (MIS), Mr Olayemi Olalekan, said the unit would facilitate conversion of hard copies of results to a softcopy. “Other plans are in place to improve on the achievement by linking it up to students’ page for them to check their results while they are at home” he said.
    Students lauded the development, describing it as “brilliant innovation”. Innocent Musa, a Higher National Diploma (HND) II Public Administration student, said the initiative would ease students of stress.
    Kehinde Oniwe, a National Diploma (ND) II Accountancy student, expressed mixed feelings. He said: “The release of result online will no doubt reduce the stress of travelling down to the school, but I feel student results should be released for the world to see. It should be secret.”

  • Regularise admission with JAMB, students told

    The Registrar of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida (BIDA POLY) in Niger State, Mallam Mohammed Baba Ndana, has appealed to graduating students to regularise their admissions with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    Ndana said the appeal was necessary to enable students who did not write Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) normalise their admissions with JAMB ahead of their graduation, saying the exercise would afford the polytechnic an opportunity for proper documentation. Any student who failed to do so before the final examination, the registrar said, would not be allowed to graduate.

    He stressed that the law setting up JAMB gave the body responsibility to conduct admission for tertiary institutions, adding that students who did not have their documents regularised with JAMB would not go for National Youth Service.

    He advised students to comply with the regularisation requirement, adding that the school would give them opportunity to comply before graduation.

    A Higher National Diploma (HND) II Mass Communication student, Comfort Waziri, said since the regularisation was mandatory for all students without JAMB admission, she said ND II students should take the advantage before using their diploma certificate for Direct Entry into the university.

    Mary Achogu, ND II Business Administration and Management student, said: “It is good the announcement came this period when we have enough time to do it. Many students may not want to go through the stress of applying for regularisation at the JAMB office. With the penalty for not doing it, students should do it on time to avoid unnecessary delay.”

  • Mass Comm students host PR retreat

    The graduating class of Department of Mass Communication of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, has organised a Public Relations Retreat with the theme: The rise of advertising and the fall of public relations.

    The event, organised by part-time students, was held at the Students’ Union Building (SUB). The guest speaker and chairman of the Lagos chapter of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mr Olusegun McMedal, described public relations as a profession that “safeguards reputation”, adding that its objectives were to achieve good goals for clients.

    He attributed challenges facing the profession to activities of non-professionals, noting that the practice of public relations should not be left in the hands of people who only want to make profit.

    McMedal advised students interested in public relations to apply for NIPR training programmes and membership to learn from the professionals.

    Another speaker and Chief Executive Officer, Mega Guards, a private security firm, Mr Richard Amuwa, said the rise of advertising was not the reason for the challenges facing public relations, noting that advertising also has its challenges.

    Amuwa also spoke on nation building, admonishing the students to imbibe good character. He said education should not be about building big structures, but to produce brilliant graduates that would serve the country for better purposes.