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Tag: Students

  • Agony of LAUTECH students

    Agony of LAUTECH students

    The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has been shut for  months, leaving the students stranded. Many of them are complaining about the rent they paid before the school was shut. They wonder whether their landlords will ask for another rent when the school reopens. DANIEL OLADELE reports.

    When two elephants fight, they say, the grass suffers. This aptly describes the fate of students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, who have been idling away at home.

    The institution, jointly owned by Oyo and Osun states, has been shut for the past six months over the owners’ inability to fund the school. Since the school cannot get regular subvention, it was run with Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR), which was not enough to meet its needs.

    Workers are being owed months of salaries and arrears. This led to a disagreement between management and the workers’ unions, which have held series of protests over non-payment of salaries. Last June, the workers’ unions, comprising the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) declared indefinite action and demanded the remittance of the 23-month subvention owed the institution by the owners and the payment of their salaries.

    According to the unions, Oyo State owes eight months subventions; Osun, 15 months. The non-residential institution is now a ghost town, with some of its notable structures overgrown by weeds.

    The situation has got students worried. They said their future is at stake. They have reached out to the Ooni of Ife, the Olubadan of Ibadan, the Alaafin of Oyo and other traditional rulers for help.

    Few weeks ago, the students took to the streets to protest the continued closure of the school and the rumour of fee increment. It was alleged that Oyo State Governor Isiaka Ajimobi suggested fee increment at a town-hall meeting held last month in Ibadan, the capital.

    It was said that the owners proposed 65 per cent increment for indigenes of Osun and Oyo, and 75 per cent for non-indigenes. This, they said, would raise the fee to about N350,000.

    Ajimobi was quoted to have said: “LAUTECH will continue to maintain joint ownership with Osun State in accordance with the Supreme Court judgement. We have sent people to look critically into the situation of the school. We await their response. We also want the school management to look inwards how to generate income to cater for the overheads.

    “They should take a cue from schools, such as Babcock University, which is not being funded by the government and yet, runs smoothly. The government can now look into supporting the school in some little ways. The management, lecturers and students should agree on a way forward to solve the problem.”

    Since LAUTECH is not a residential school, the students live off-campus. The rent many of them paid at the beginning of the last session has lapsed, even though they spent only a few months in school. The final year students have vowed they would not pay another rent, because they only have weeks left before their final examination. This may lead to confrontation between them and their landlords when the school resumes.

    Olanrewaju Ajayi, a final year Urban and Regional Planning student, wondered why he should pay another rent when he only has two weeks left. He said his rent was due in August when the school was expected to end the session.

    He said: “The strike is causing a lot of issues for students, especially the graduating classes. Apart from making us feel uncertain about other programmes we have after graduation, the rents paid in our off-campus hostels have been wasted. Does anyone expect students who have not been in school in the past six months to pay for the period they were not around?”

    Another final year student, Titus Oluwatomi, said the best way to resolve the issue is for the landlords to declare the period rent-free. “After my final exam, the next thing that preoccupied my mind was the National Youth Service. I never expected I would still be in school by now. Paying another rent was not in my plan before the school went on strike in June. Since we did not use what we paid for, let the landlords overlook the rent. I can’t pay a dime.”

    A 300-Level student, who simply gave her name as Adeife, lamented the strike, saying: “This strike has not helped anyone. I only wake up and do nothing all day in  the last six months. There is nowhere to engage in temporary work, because of the economic situation in the country. One is in fact not productive. I can’t even remember anything I was taught. I see my mates in other schools moving to the next level and I am stuck at a level for more than a year.”

    Sholagbade Adeyemo, a 200-Level student, said it would be bad if the landlords did not show concern on the effect of the strike on students. He said: “It would not be good if landlords say it is not their business if the school is on strike or not. They should know that the occupancy of their houses is dependent on whether the school is in session or not. I don’t expect any landlord to threaten students with ejection if they didn’t pay for the period they were not in school. Students also need to reach out to the landlords and discuss this issue.”

    Tomilola Oladele, an Applied Mathematics student, said she paid her rent the week the school was shut by the workers. She said: “I have lost six-month rent because of this strike. If I had known, I would have delayed the payment and used the money for another thing.

    “Believe it, my landlord would be happy now. Some others are yet to get their rent. Many of them would not overlook it because of the current situation in the country. So, when students resume, many landlords would smile to the bank knowing that they have rents to collect.”

    Since there is no hope in sight on when the school will resume, the students fear that many of them may not be able to pay for the period they were away. But, a caretaker of a female hostel, who simply gave his name as Mr. Martins, said rent is like electricity bill, which a customer must pay whether or not there is light. “I can only speak for the hostel I manage. The rent will not be overlooked,” he said.

    Meanwhile, aggrieved students last Wednesday distrupted a congress held by ASUU members.

  • ‘I’ll improve students’ welfare if elected’

    ‘I’ll improve students’ welfare if elected’

    A contestant for the Students’ Union Government (SUG) Welfare Director at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti (ADO POLY), Ridwan Atiku, has promised to unite students if elected.

    Ridwan, in an interview with CAMPUSLIFE, said his mission was to promote unity and make the union accountable to students.

    He said: “I know all the problems we are facing in school and I want to work hand in hand with management and fellow students to address the challenges.”

    If elected, Ridwan said he would organise series of seminars for students to promote entrepreneurship and financial literacy. He also said he would keep the school management on its toes to ensure  regular supply of water and electricity to hostels.

    His words: “I would regularly meet with porters to ensure that all hostels are clean. I plan to organise educative programmes aimed at improving financial literacy and free enterprise. I would facilitate soft loans for students, who may want to do business.

    “Also, there are outreach projects aimed at promoting the physical and mental health of the students. I believe health is wealth. If students are healthy, they would be able to carry out normal activities on the campus.”

    Ridwan said he would discourage malpractice and cultism, stating: “Students must study hard to achieve their aims.”

    The previous positions held by the aspirant included Treasurer of Dynamic Marketers’ Club, Welfare Director of Akoko North East Students’ Association, Director of Protocol for Junior Chamber International (JCI), Editor-in-Chief of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Adopoly and Director of Training for Seed of Africa.

  • Why we organized open technology house seminar for our students – AUN

    The American University of Nigeria (AUN) has said its open technology house seminar would help develop and keep students of the institution informed about modern technologies.

    The Open House featured three tracks: Web Design and Applications; Database Management and System Modeling Track, and Server Administration and Telecommunications.

    Dean of Computer Science, Dr. Mathias Fonkam, at the end of the eight series seminar in Abuja, said that most people do not understand the capabilities of the technology they carry.

    “Today the mobile phone you carry is a whole computer, hundreds of thousands of times faster than the computer that landed man on the moon. Most people still use it for nothing but calls.

    “We pool other universities here and we try to present short workshops to the community to introduce them to some of these technologies so that they can leverage them in their day-to-day activities in their organizations or at personal levels.

    “If you look at the strategic plan of this University, technology is labelled as a key pillar of that agenda.  It is expected of us that we go beyond teaching students or doing research.

    My hope is that you will learn something from this to better leverage those technologies to enhance your productivity daily,” he said.
    He went on to explain how the open house can help them understand some of the functionalities of their handheld devices.

    Fonkam said the focus of this event was “to share innovations in mobile technology that are transforming our world” with the University and the host community.

    “We tell you how you can use your phone, how you can connect your phone to the cloud, how to use free resources from cloud in computing, to store information or to interact with others, how to use database technology, how to use excel to manage your business, and so many other things,” he stated.

    He said the use of technology would also assist those in leadership positions in the country to take decision.

    “Technology when properly applied can help people in leadership management positions to see how they can understand the complexities of managing the people and their organizations to achieve better results.

    “The biggest change we have in Nigeria and I believe this is huge Africa is not technology but people related. Most of the time we are focused on the technical part rather than the people. People matters a lot,” he added.

    The Dean said the President of AUN, Margee Ensign had made a commitment to recognize and reward students who come up with software systems that can make a huge difference in the community.

    On the impact of AUN’s technology seminar on the economy, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Hussaini, of the School of Information Technology and Computing (SITC), said that the show would benefit both private and public sectors.

    According to him, the technology seminar would not only to improve how people efficiently handle their day-to-day activities in their offices, but to manage their businesses as well.

    He added that businesses within and outside Yola have also adopted some ideas from the initiative to improve the efficiency of their businesses.

    Also, a Prof. of System Dynamics in the university, Prof. Jean Cleron, urged the government to adopt modern technologies to help grow the economy.

    “I don’t think it is too important to be obsessed with whether the technology is new or not. What is important is to be able to use the technology even if the technology is not that new. But if you can really absorb that technology and use it to help the economy to develop.

    “This is what we are doing. I don’t think there is any other place in Nigeria where this is done. Not only in Nigeria even the entirety of Africa. I believe that Africa will never make it if Nigeria does not make it.

    “See the responsibility that you have? We are conscious of that responsibility and we are trying to bring you some of the tools that you need to get there,” he said.

     

  • MR. O INSPIRES DELTA STATE STUDENTS

    BUDDING comedian, ‎Ovie-Omo Destiny Akpoyibo, better known as Mr. O, has taken the second edition of his bi-annual youth empowerment program, Mr. O Goes to School, to Delta State.

    An info-edutainment show, the comedian says that it is geared towards inspiring secondary school students to find their potentials and explore.

    Held at ‎Council Hall, Oleh, I‎soko South Local Government Area recently, the show featured mentorship, career talk, music, comedy, capacity building and lots more.

    ‎Shedding more light on the reasons he came up with such concept, Mr. O, a Banking and Finance graduate from Niger Delta University, stated that schools play host to a large number of people in our society and are major custodians of young people drawn from different backgrounds.

    “This is where young people spend most of their peak time relating and fraternizing with peers and as such get lured and influenced into lots of anti-social and amorous activities that make them vulnerable to social vices. Therefore, it is of great necessity to take this campaign to them in an unusual platform that would naturally stimulate their participation and enlighten them all together on these issues,” the comedian said.

    Among those who graced the occasion were Sir Itiako C. Ikpokpo, Barr. Duncan Afahokor, Lady Gladys Ighokpo, Hon. Charles Mallam-Obi, Barr. Oghogho Bawo-Oteri, Amb. E.  Uyero, Ms Elo Oboma, Mr Edafe Udoma-Edoka, Richard Gbajimi, Alexander, Mr Bishop, Comr Ben Ebegbare and over 220 students/ participants drawn from senior secondary schools across Isoko.

  • OAU graduates 6827 students

    OAU graduates 6827 students

    The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, commenced her 42nd Convocation Ceremonies for undergraduates and postgraduate students on Wednesday with 6827 students graduating.

    The Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Anthony Elujoba who presided over the ceremony gave an very insightful lecture on “The philosophy of doing things right.”

    He remarked in his lecture that most of the problems encountered, not only by the university but the country is the failure in doing things right which has been the source of most problems.

    While highlighting his numerous challenges as well as the successes during his administration, he stated that he belonged to no camp as he prefers to assume a neutral stance.

    “I belong to no camp, nor party. Everyone is my friend.  I have no foe. It has been a sleepless challenge to serve as VC for the past four months. However, we need to put the past behind us and look forward to growth whilst making truth and faith our watchword, “Professor Elujoba stated.

    He also stated  that the university had been peaceful and accountable under his four month watch and pleaded for peace and cooperation amongst sister unions for the purpose of a smooth transition at the end of his six months acting tenure.

  • Leadership retreat for students

    African Liberty Organization for Development (ALOD) in collaboration with Language of Liberty Institute and a Ghanaian think-tank, IMANI, has called for application from pro-liberty students across tertiary institutions in West Africa to participate in a leadership retreat aimed at enhancing students’ leadership capacities.

    The event with the theme: Forging new strategies for sound and inclusive policies in Africa, will hold on Saturday and Sunday in the Conference Room of the Office of Civic Engagement, Lagos State government Secretariat in Alausa.

    ALOD Executive Director, Adedayo Thomas, said selected participants’ logistics, including feeding, transportation and accommodation would be borne by the organisers.

    Prospective participants are expected to write essay of not more than 300 words, stating their activities and contributions to the promotion of idea of libertarianism in their institutions. Facilitators are drawn from various countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and United States (U.S.).

  • Firm woos students with digital learning resources

    A Nigerian firm, Vericore Technologies Ltd, has come up with digital solutions aimed at helping young ones learn irrespective of their learning styles.

    Mr Felix Imafidon, Chief Operations Officer of the technology firm, said the WizitUp™ educational solution, which features a tablet, called Wizpad, was a product of research into teaching and learning styles of teachers and pupils.

    The product was presented to the public for the first time at the Lagos International Trade Fair Business-to-Business Exhibition which took place at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island last month.

    Imafidon said WizitUp™ was the result of a two-year research into how to attract all kinds of learners.

    He said the product exploits children’s attraction to technology to develop content that would help students learn on their own as well as in the classroom.

    He said: “WizitUp is an innovative approach that blends learning and fun for today’s students, and uses different methodologies to meet the needs of all students, irrespective of their learning styles.

    “Wizitup™ transforms education with the use of digital tools, for self learning, teaching in the classroom, and enabling smart schools.

    “Students nowadays are better clued about technology than their parents and teachers, and use it on a regular basis.  A large part of young people’s lifestyle is engrossed in technology and so it is only smart to use the reality of these students as part of their teaching and learning, else learning will remain difficult.”

    “The WizitUp™ Learn-on-the-go tablets, referred to as ‘WizPad’ allows students to learn at their own pace using ready-made contents in the form of cartoons, games, illustrated textbooks, and practice tests.”

    Imafidon said the content of the Wizpad was developed in line with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) curriculum and it is currently available for students in primary schools.

    In the classroom Imafidon said WizitUP provides teachers with resources and teaching aids such as songs/rhymes, animations, simulations, illustrations, e-books and lesson plans, which can help engage pupils’ attention, making classes more fun.

  • #ReopenLAUTECH

    #ReopenLAUTECH

    Almost six months after the institution was initially closed over strike by staff protesting non-payment of outstanding salaries, the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho,  has remained shut with the students denied the opportunity of learning.

    The crisis in the university has reportedly further degenerated over lack of necessary funding by the two state governments of Oyo and Osun. While Oyo in whose territory the institution is located is said to be paying part of its dues, Osun has allegedly not been living up to expectations.

    It is really sad that the authorities and owners of the university have not been able to resolve the crisis up till now. While students in other institutions, both public and private, have had their academic calendar uninterrupted, LAUTECH students have been left in the lurch, uncertain of their future.

    Those who should have graduated and joined their colleagues in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are stuck, while irreparable damage must have been done to the lives of some of the students during the forced holidays.

    The agony that students and staff of the institution have been forced to endure due to no fault of theirs is just unimaginable and one can only hope that reasons will prevail soon as promised by the Oyo State Governor for the university to be re-opened before the end of the year.

    The committee, the governor said, has been sent to the institution to assess the situation and come up with recommendation on what can be done, should urgently do a thorough job that can ensure lasting peace in the university.

    Ordinarily, one would have expected cooperation between the two state governments headed by governors from the same party on this issue, but what is playing out at LAUTECH is a clear case of lack of concern for the plight of the students and lecturers.

    As long as the law establishing the university remains unamended, the two state governments concerned must discharge their responsibilities and not allow the kind of present situation that suggests that they don’t care about education as much as they claim to do.

    If for any reason, any of the state governments is no longer interested in owning the university and cannot afford to pay the required bill, it should declare its position and not give room for unnecessary speculations. Having been set up at a time when the two states were one, there will be nothing wrong to reconsider the continued joint ownership of the institution now that the states have been split and now have other commitments.

    What is playing out in LAUTECH presently amounts to playing unnecessary divisive politics with the future of the students, and all the stakeholders involved must resolve to settle the matter amicably immediately.

    Owning a university is not a joke. It is either state governments, who have the penchants for establishing universities for political reasons, have the capacity to fund them or not. Having established one like LAUTECH, the concerned state governments cannot afford to abandon their responsibilities.

    Education at all levels is a fundamental right which governments at all levels cannot deny its citizens. The time to #ReopenLAUTECH is now.

  • Row over Niger Delta students’ election

    Row over Niger Delta students’ election

    Three students were arrested by the Rivers State Police Command during the violence that marred the Niger Delta Students’ Union Government (NIDSUG) election. The violence followed Juliet Manyo’s election as the union’s first woman president. EMMANUEL AHANONU (Political Science, University of Calabar) reports.

    ONE WEEK after the election which produced the first woman president of the Niger Delta Students Union Government (NIDSUG), the tension is yet to be doused.

    The president-elect, Juliet Manyo, is preaching peace, but those contesting her election seem not to be listening to her. NIDSUG is the umbrella body of students from the South-south. Three of its members are being held by the police following the violence that marred the election.  The election of Juliet of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) followed the union’s convention held at WAG International Hotel in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    The process was said to be “highly contentious” by her opponents, who accused her predecessor of installing a puppet.

    After Juliet was sworn in, she was led to Rhythm 93.7 FM in Port Harcourt to give her inaugural speech.

    This irked her opponents, who allegedly mobilised people to the radio station. As Juliet was reading her speech, dozens of people invaded the radio station, vandalising equipment worth millions of naira.

    The people said to be members of the union fighting the outgoing administration, led by Akpomiemie Obada, threatened to burn down the station. They wondered why Juliet was being referred to as the union president and allowed to broadcast her speech when there was controversy over her election.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that they forced their way to the studio after they overpowered the station’s security guards. They were said to be armed with various weapons, including spiked clubs and broken bottles. The management called in the police as the protesters made their way into the studio. The studio’s equipment were vandalised before the police arrived.

    Our correspondent gathered that the protesters were led by the union’s erstwhile Public Relations Officer (PRO), Ekadi Daubi, who was alleged to have spearheaded the anti-Obada sentiment. Three persons, including Ekadi, were arrested in the studio after the destruction.

    A top management official of the station, who asked not to be named, told CAMPUSLIFE that the vandals would be released after their family members sign an undertaking to replace the damaged equipment.

    “We have told the police not to release them until they are made to buy the equipment they damaged in our studio,” the source said.

    The violence followed months of crisis in the union, which led to several postponements of the election. Delegates arrived for the election from universities in the nine Niger Delta states. Former and serving state coordinators of the union and its Legal Adviser, Kalada Nonju, supervised the process.

    Addressing the delegates before the election, Obada thanked members for supporting his administration, saying the union had became stronger under his leadership.

    The Convention Planning Committee, Boma Wakkike accredited delegates before the election.

    Announcing the results, chairman of the electoral body, Abasa Uloho, said Juliet scored the highest number of votes to defeat her rival, Jumbo Okah of Imo State Polytechnic.

    Amos Akuro is the vice president for Administration; Henry Enyioha is the Senate President.

    Nonju, said the election was free, fair and peaceful. He advised union members to be law-abiding and urged the new leaders to put the union’s interest above any personal matter.

    Juliet promised to take the union to greater heights, pleading with members not to encourage thuggery. She promised to fufil her campaign promises, adding that she would embark on sensitisation across campuses to promote peace within the union.

    She said: “We intend to give a facelift to our union and review its relationship with politicians and leaders in Niger Delta region. We will run an all-inclusive administration that will help students achieve their academic pursuit. We will beam our focus on empowerment of women and fight for students’ bursaries. We aim to equip our national secretariat with modern gadget for effective performance. We also hope to collaborate with the police to bring up programmes that will lead to reduction of vices on our campuses.”

    Juliet said the task ahead was enormous, urging members to support her. She said she would purge the union of “criminal elements” using it to cause mayhem and defraud politicians.

    She added: “There are many evil-minded persons causing crisis in the union to defraud politicians. We have seen situations when some of them went to use the name of the union to collect money from government and politicians and share. We urge them to desist from this dishonest act and have a rethink. We will not hesitate to expose them if they do not stop.”

    Students’ leaders, who attended the  convention, expressed confidence in the president. They hailed Obada for the union’s achievements in the past two years, urging his successor to sustain the gains.

    National Association of  Imo State Students (NAISS) President Sabinus Nwachukwu, a final year Political Science student, advised Juliet and other members of the executive not to disappoint their supporters.

    “The new administration must mend fences and consult the former executive council when necessary,” he said.

     

  • Dickson moves to rescue stranded scholarship students abroad 

    Dickson moves to rescue stranded scholarship students abroad 

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, is worried about the plight of state’s students studying abroad under his administration’s scholarship scheme.

    The students were said to be having a tough time over non-payment of their fees with the schools threatening to expel them.

    A human rights activist, Aluzu Augustine, particularly raised the issue of Bayelsa students stranded at the Kings University College, Ghana.

    Aluzu raised the concern sequel to a letter addressed to the students by the Registrar of the school, Simion Peter Isekpo, threatening to expel the students if Dickson failed to pay their fees.

    The letter said in part: “Management of the university wishes to inform all students being sponsored by the Bayelsa State Scholarship Board that should your outstanding and current fees not be paid by October 15, 2016 deadline, the university would have no choice but expel you from the university on October 16, 2016.

    “Also affected undergraduate and postgraduate students who have completed their programme would not be allowed to participate in the forthcoming congregation in November 2016”.

    Already, it was gathered that the Ghanaian school banned the affected students from participating in school activities, but had yet to issue a circular expelling them.

    “We have been told that the governor is sending a delegation to our school. But for now we have been stopped from taking parts in school activities. 

    “Those of us in hostels had been asked to vacate. We are just hanging around waiting for the governor”, an affected student who spoke in confidence said.

    But the governor was said to be handling the matter including a similar situation in the United Kingdom with urgency through his Senior Special Assistant on Students’ Welfare, Mr. Owoupele Jeremiah.

    Jeremiah confirmed that Dickson had directed that funds should be released for the immediate payment of the students to enable them participate in examinations and access their certificates.

    He said: “Today the governor told me he had graciously  given approval and directive for release of funds  to quickly address the payment issues for Kings College, Lincoln and universities in the UK whose certificates are pending. 

    “A well-structured payment plan has been established to be implemented phase by phase by the board . 

    “This will allow the government to address them so that their certificates can be released to enable them use same for their various endeavours.

    “While some may find this development with skepticism it is intended to let the public know that the government is responsive and willing to deal with issues of development in human capital.

    “The resources are lean but with a pyramid of preference the needs will be met eventually.  The scholarship board will do the needful and the affected  students will receive their privileges restored in the affected institutions”.

    When contacted, Aluzu said: “We have been informed by a reliable source in Kings College that the students are aware of the impending visit of Bayelsa state Government to their institution and they are waiting for them. Nothing concrete so far

    “We pray the Government truly do something this time around and not just another hokum talk like we witnessed in 2013 because education remains the bedrock of every society”.