The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Students

  • Brothers’ arrest sparks students’ protest

    Brothers’ arrest sparks students’ protest

    Two University of Ibadan (UI) students, who are brothers, nearly landed in jail following their disagreement with a trader over a N450 Blackberry charger. Abdullahi Aliyu, a History student and his brother, Shehu, who has just graduated, were saved by their colleagues’ protest, which prompted Oyo State Commissioner of Police Sam Adegbuyi’s intervention. MERCY ADEDIGBA (100-Level Communication and Language Arts Education) reports.

    IT was a trivial matter but it nearly landed two brothers in jail.

    Abdullahi Aliyu, a History student at the University of Ibadan (UI), and his brother, Shehu, escaped being charged to court last Friday, following a disagreement over a N450 Blackberry charger.

    Abdullahi and Shehu, described as a fresh graduate, were arrested and charged to court by the police after being accused of disguising as soldiers to retrieve the money Abdullahi paid to a phone accessory trader, who sold a faulty Blackberry charger to Abdullahi. The duo were beaten up by the police before being taken to Ojoo Police Station.

    When other students got wind of their colleagues’ arrest on Friday morning, they took to the streets in protest. Abdullahi is a member of  the Students’ Union Government (SUG) and a representative of Nnamdi Azikwe Hall of the Residence.

    The students described the police action as “unjustified”.

    Activities in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, were brought to a halt. For several hours, the students blocked major highways, singing and threatening a showdown.

    They blocked the UI-Ojoo Road, Ojoo-Moniya Road and Iwo Road.

    To avoid the festering of the violence,  Oyo State Commissioner of Police (CP) Sam Adegbuyi, deployed riot policemen to the police station and the roads blocked by the students. The heavy police presence did not deter the students, who vowed not to return to their campus until the brothers were released.

    The development prompted the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Adebayo Ajuwape, to lead a delegation comprising his deputy, Prof Isaac Abiona, SUG President Nifemi Ojo, Speaker Bello Onifade, Editor-in-Chief of the UI chapter of Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ) Haleem Olatunji, and General Secretary of Tedder Hall Temmy Gista to meet with Adegbuyi at the Police Headquarters in Eleyele.

    Adegbuyi assured the delegation that the  brothers would be released after the resolution of the disagreement.

    The CP said: “I have already called theDivisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge to facilitate the release of the students. But, all the parties to the matter need to come for the resolution of the disagreement. We don’t want to hear anything afterwards.”

    The brothers were released at 3.40pm last Friday. There was jubilation when they were brought to the campus by the DPO of Sango Police Station, Mrs Joyce Maiyaki. The protesters dismantled the barricades on the highways and left the Ojoo Police Station.

    Recounting how it all happened, Abdullahi said he was returning to school after a visit to his grandmother in Ojoo.

    “I stopped by at the Ojoo Roundabout to buy a Blackberry charger. I negotiated with the trader and he told me to pay N450. I bought the charger and left for school, without confirming if the charger was good or not. When I got to campus, I discovered the charger was bad.

    “I returned it to the trader, but I met his wife at the shop. After I explained the issue to her, the woman told me to go and meet her husband. When I saw the husband, he directed me back to his wife. And both of them started playing me around.”

    In anger, Abdullahi said he patted the trader on the shoulder, but the trader responded with punches. The student said the trader invited his fellow traders, who mocked him and told him to forget about getting back the money.

    He added: “They started mocking me. I remember one of them said, if I don’t want the charger, I should wait till the next two months when they would take delivery of new stocks. I left in anger and told them I was coming back.”

    Abdullahi, said he invited Shehu, who recently graduated from UI, to prevail on the trader to return his money.

    “When we got there, I discovered my brother knew one of the traders. They were discussing about how to pay back the money when the wife of the trader started shouting that a soldier had come to beat her up. She went to bring policemen, who held my trousers and asked me if I was a soldier. I told them I was not a soldier. Before I could explain myself, the policemen started slapping me on the face. They dragged me on the ground.”

    His brother’s plea to the policemen fell on deaf ears. Abdullahi claimed the policemen manhandled them. According to Abdullahi, they were accused of beating up policemen while disguising as soldiers.

    Abdullahi said: “We were asked to write statements. We were supposed to be released the following morning, but the policemen demanded that my brother must write another statement implicating us. They beat him mercilessly when he refused to write anything.

    “The policemen said they would charge us to court. My brother said it was okay. We called our lawyer immediately. The matter was taken to court and our lawyer asked the police to release us on bail. We were told the hearing in court is to hold on November 29. This triggered the students’ protest.”

    Bello, in a chat with CAMPUSLIFE, said he was happy the struggle “paid off”. He said the “innocent victims” would have been sent to jail if not for the students who cried out to the authorities. The SUG leader urged students to always stand up against injustice, using non-violent means to achieve their aim.

    Bello said: “The manner with which we approached this incident showed that we can always fight for our rights using non-violent but radical measures. I am happy by the outcome of the protest, because nobody was injured.”

    He said the incident showed the police still lacked professionalism in engaging civilians. According to him, there is need to train policemen on handling disagreement among civilians.

    “If it was not the maturity displayed by the DPO of Sango Police Station, the matter would not have been resolved the way we did. The police need to reassure the populace that they can be trusted. We must see them upholding professionalism in the discharge of their duties. Roping people into crimes they did not commit is not the best way to show police are our friends. There must be justice and fair play in their conduct,” he said.

     

     

  • UNIABUJA probes students’poor performance

    The University of Abuja has promised to look into the academic performance of its students between 2008 and last year.

    In a statement,  the varsity’s Deputy Registrar (Information), Waziri Garba, said the probe would help the improve students’ performance.

    According to the statement, the university’s Senate at its 159th regular meeting has set up a 13-member committee to carry out the assignment.

    The committee has Prof M. A. Maisamari Dean, Faculty of Education as chairman.

    The job of the committee, the statement said, is to investigate the academic performance of students of the university during the period to halt their poor performance.

    “The committee is to, among other things, look at the distribution of class of degrees of granduands for each academic programme over the period, review the admission process and identify any lapses as well as evaluate campus life, students’ reading culture, personal study time, library usage, students involvement in distractive activities and the value systems.

    “The committee is also to assess teaching at the institution including depth of coverage, understanding, attendance at lectures, lecture venues, quality of examination and marking scheme. It will also evaluate the state of facilities and infrastructure including physical and electronic, as well as the quality of the lectures bearing in mind subject mastery, specialisation, workload on lecturers, adequacy of staff and environmental factors, among others,” the statement added.

  • Students yearn for more Glo campus show

    Students yearn for more Glo campus show

    Globacom’s show – Glo Campus Storm – took place at the Enugu Campus of University of Nigeria at the weekend, with students craving for more.

    Besides the presence of top artistes, who entertained the crowd, there were also the Mr. Glo Campus Data Dude and Miss Glo Campus Data Diva crowns, which were contested for by 18 women and 18 men.

    At the end of the contest, a 500-Level undergraduate of Medical Radiography, Ogbuefi Pascal, emerged Mr. Glo Campus Data Dude (UNEC). Ikpe Igbe Joy, a 400-Level student of Law won the Miss Glo Campus Data Diva.

    The winners went home with N100,000 each.

    Runtown was the first artiste to perform. He appeared on the stage in a bespoke black sweats shirt and shades and took off powerfully,  singing and telling the crowd the story of his ‘growing-up’ days in Enugu, which earned him cheers from the appreciative  fans. The fans were treated to many of his hit songs.

    Next was MI, who was ushered on stage with a standing ovation. The nation’s No.1 rapper did not disappoint as he dished out one hit after the other to the delight of the crowd, which kept asking for more.

    Egberi Papa 1 of Bayelsa, Timaya, was the third and last artiste of the evening.  He put up a spectacular performance that kept the audience awed.

  • Chlorine leak: Students, others, escape death in Bauchi

    Accidental leak of a chemical substance suspected to be chlorine from a cylinder in Bauchi on Friday, endangered the health of some students of a private school, Rainex Hallmark International College, who were attending classes.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the cylinders, presumably empty, said to be owned by some businessmen from Kano, were kept in premises close to the College, located in Fadaman Mada Area of Bauchi.
    A woman who described herself as the ‘Director of the School’ told NAN in a telephone interview Saturday that the incident occurred at about 10 am on Friday.
    “The students affected were both boys and girls. We had to rush them to the Specialists’ Hospital, Bauchi, where they were treated.
    “I cannot tell you the exact number of those affected because I was not in my senses as we were trying to save their lives.
    “We thank God that they have all recovered and there was no loss of lives,” said the women, who did not want her name printed.
    An eye witness, who pleaded for anonymity, told NAN that apart from the students, other people conducting various trades around the area were also injured.
    “What actually happened is that the owners were trying to load the cylinders into a van, using a crane, when a mishap occurred and remnants of chlorine in one of the cylinders started leaking.
    “People started running for their lives as the leaked chemical spread into the atmosphere, affecting the eyes and entire body.
    “The situation was contained after some minutes but the damage had been done. We thank God that there was no report of death,” he said.
    A panel beater at the vicinity, Muda Olawale, told NAN that he and his son were affected but that they had recovered now.
    When NAN visited the place of the incident on Saturday, leaves of surrounding trees and grasses were seen completely burnt as a result of the chlorine chemical emission, just as the remains of lizards and other tiny living things litter the area.
    Contacted for his comment by NAN, Bauchi Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahmoud Mohammed, said he would issue a statement on the matter at a later time.
    NAN recalls a near-similar incident in July 2015, when chlorine chemical leak as a result of burst at the Lamingo Water Treatment Plant of Plateau Water Board in Jos, claimed the lives of eight people and injured no fewer than 50 others.
    Two students of the National Film Institute (NFI), Jos, which school is located close to the water treatment plant, were among the victims that died in the Jos incident. (NAN)

  • Students, transporters to Obiano: fix road or forget second term

    Students, transporters to Obiano: fix road or forget second term

    The second busiest road in Anambra State is in such disrepair that students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), commercial bus drivers and motorcyclists who ply it have told Governor Willie Obiano to repair it or risk losing their vote in the forthcoming governorship election.

    The Ifite-Awka-Amansea Road, which had a facelift under the Peter Obi administration, has apparently been abandoned by Obiano’s government. The road links the NAU.

    As a result of its disrepair, many students haved been involved in road crashes on the road. Drivers lament the toll on their buses.

    The motorcycle operators otherwise known as okada, told The Nation that they no longer operate the route as it has become impassable, thereby denying them the opportunity of making money.

    The Ifite-Awka-Amansea Road appears to have been abandoned by the state government of Obiano, though it had a facelift during the regime of former governor Peter Obi.

    The 5km road has continued to give residents of the two communities of Ifite and Amansea sleepless nights, while businesses had equally collapsed in those areas because of the bad road.

    The worst affected portions include such areas as Miracle, Chioma, God is Able, Saint John Lodge that link hotels housing thousands of students of UNIZIK.

    Ifite-Awka Road is the second busiest road apart from the popular Zik Avenue in the capital city and a few poles to the state Government House.

    It links the Amansea community and is the shortest route for the students, which has a population of over 40,000.

    However, the dilapidated condition of the road has reduced traffic as well as increased transport fair from N50 to N150.

    The deep pot holes have made it impossible for vehicles to take the route, while the drainages have equally collapsed, leading to flooding in the areas.

    When The Nation visited the area, it was a pitiable site to behold, as one of the commercial bus drivers, Mr. J. C Okonkwo was seen carrying stones to fill some portions with his conductor.

    One of the Unizik shuttle drivers, Okechukwu Chukwudi pleaded with the state government to come to the aid of the students and commercial bus drivers as they have no other means to survive the economic recession in the land.

    He said most of the business centers and traders had packed up, as nobody was coming to patronize them as a result of the bad condition of the road.

    Another driver, Chinedu Onwudiwe expressed sadness that he visits his mechanic on daily basis because of the damage the road has caused on his bus.

    A student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Kingsely Tobias, lamented that drivers of the few buses that ply the route now had increased their fairs to about 100%, which according to him, had been difficult for students to cope with.

    For Miss Sandra Emenike, another student of Unizik, the deplorable road is posing a serious threat to human habitation in the areas.

    Mrs. Sandra Ulachi, a civil servant in the state, told The Nation that the condition of the road is hampering socio-economic activities.

    When contacted, the state commissioner for works, Lawrence Chinwuba, refused to comment on the road, after the state government had lied on a local radio station that the road had been given a face lift by pouring stones on it to make it passable.

    When The Nation asked him what actually was going on as it concerns the road from the state government, he told the reporter that he would call back which he never did.

    The commissioner is a kinsman of the state Governor and had been known in the state as more of a talker than a doer.

    He takes delight in the sufferings of the people, the reason most of the roads had been abandoned in the state and majority of the people including his party members believe he is incompetent to handle works ministry.

    Speaking with The Nation in anger, a 22 year old student, who did not want his name in print vowed that students, motorcycle operators and commercial bus drivers would make it impossible for the current administration to return to power.

    He said, “This present administration led by Governor Willie Obiano has failed to follow the footsteps of former governors Chris Ngige and Peter Obi.

    He asked, “Is that how they want to come for a second term?”

     

  • Nigerian students shine in Dubai

    Nigerian students shine in Dubai

    STUDENTS of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) in Delta State, put up a remarkable performance at the just-ended yearly Technical Conference and Exhibition – PetroBowl competition – at the World Trade Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE). It was organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).

    Five universities won tickets to represent Nigeria at the African regional contest held last  March, at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). Of the five, only FUPRE, Niger Delta University (NDU), and Igbinedion University, Okada, made it to the event through sponsorship.

    Delta State University (DELSU) and Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) could not make it.

    Thirty-two universities participated in the global contest. FUPRE got to “Elite 8” by defeating two world-class universities – University of Manchester in the United Kingdom (UK) and University of Houston in the United States (U.S.). the institution eventually emerged the fifth Best Petroleum University in the world.

    Petro Bowl Competition, initiated in 2002, is a platform for student-chapters of SPE to exchange ideas on latest techniques in the petroleum industry. They are asked technical and non-technical questions about oil exploration and best practice.

    FUPRE has represented Africa three times. In 2014, it emerged African champion in the regional contest, and represented Africa at the World Petro Bowl in Amsterdam, Netherland.

    Also last year, FUPRE represented Africa at the global contest held in Houston, Texas. The team leader, Stephen Ibrahim, a 500-Level student of the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, told CAMPUSLIFE that his team members gave their best performance and brought their experience to bear in the contest. Coming fifth in the contest, he said, would give the team a leverage to review its performance and come out stronger in future contests.

    A member of the team, Bilau Adeniran, also in 500-Level Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, said he was proud of the team’s achievement. He said: “I show my deepest gratitude to Almighty Allah for everything. I am proud of my team. The competition did not give us victory only but also made us a family.”

    SPE is the largest individual-member organisation of serving managers, engineers, scientists and other professionals in the upstream segment of the oil and gas industry, with more than 168,000 members in 144 countries. The Society has 368-student chapters across the world.

     

  • Foundation brings hope to students

    The Students’ Affairs Division of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has held its Career Guidance Week, which afforded members of staff and students to engage in talks on leadership, entrepreneurship and career.

    The event, which was organised by the Counseling Unit of the Students’ Affairs office, featured a contest, where students had an opportunity to display their leadership abilities. The winners were rewarded with cash prizes and take-off grants to start small-scale businesses. The prizes were provided by Salimo Wits Foundation, which partnered the organiser.

    President of the foundation, Mr Dan Ekoko, represented by Mr Sunny Ikhioya, a member of Board of Trustees, said the foundation had the aim of empowering business-minded students and help develop next generation of leaders.

    Ekoko said: “I am delighted to announce to you that Salimo Wits Foundation will work with students as partner and friend to provide them with adequate training, tools, business networks, guardianship, mentorship and other supports required to actualise their business ideas, dreams and ambitions.”

    Over 150 students registered to be part of the foundation’s activities at the end of the event. Ekoko said opportunities remained open for others who wish to register.

    He said the foundation’s vision was to build leaders and make change with global impact. The mission, he said, was to redeem the future of the nation by investing in youth through value, principle and character-based training.

    Ekoko said the foundation had created a social network platform that would help like-minded youths, seeking change in the nation, to organise youth-based programmes. The platform, he added, would hold transformational programmes and projects that would improve the living standards and wellbeing of the people.

    Gift items, including books on leadership and drug abuse, were given freely to the students. Other members present included Mr Roland Eyetu, Mr Kingsley Ewere, Mr Emmanuel Owoyemi, Mr Vincent Prosper and programme officer, Mr Akin Adelakun.

  • Ex-students donate to host community

    A group of ex-students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, have returned to give back to the host community where they stayed during their undergraduate years.

    The former students, who are now professionals and experts in their respective fields, visited two government-owned schools to put smiles on the faces of teachers and pupils.

    The ex-students, who graduated in 2007, were at Imere Primary School in Ago-Iwoye to donate teaching materials. They were received by the head teacher and teachers. Some of the items donated included mathematical sets, pens and exercise books.

    Speaking on behalf of the ex-students, Oladele Ayomide said the gesture was to appreciate the community for hosting them while they were in school.

    He said: “We are deeply indebted to our host communities and our alma mater for the many opportunities offered to us. We have had so much opportunity in our lives. We feel a deep responsibility to make the world a better place for future generations. We have benefited from good people of this community.

    “We believe that next generation should grow up living in better society and having the best. For our communities to progress, it is imperative that all children have access to world-class education. We view our donations as an instrument to effect positive change. We have contributed a significant portion of our resources by donating materials in form of appreciations to this community.”

    Other programmes planned by the ex-students include training of students and other interested members of the community in agriculture and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

    After their first stop, the team proceeded to Ahmadiyya Secondary school where similar items were donated. Their arrival at the school generated excitement among pupils.

    Head of Political Science Department, Dr Tobi Ariyo, hailed the ex-students’ gesture, describing the initiative as first of its kind from ex-students.

    Other members of the team are Tosin Odunuga, Assistant Coordinator, Adeola Onafowonkan, General Secretary, Adekunle Adebabam, Assistant General Secretary, Olawale Sanusi, Special Duty, Seyifunmi Ifebanjo, Public Relations Officer, Ayo Akinjagunla, Publicity Secretary, Olusola Odupitan, Financial Secretary, and Temitope Aje, Welfare Director.

    Other members are Temitope Odunmosun, Olamide Olaewe, and Kazeem Musa.

  • FUTA staff, students on war path

    FUTA staff, students on war path

    Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State have backed  their embattled Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adebiyi Daramola, and Bursar, Mr. Emmanuel Oresegun, as the staff unions continue their protest for the duo to go over fraud allegations. DANIEL OLADELE reports.

    Workers and students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State, may be on collision course as the crisis over the invitation of the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Adebiyi Daramola, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) rages.

    The institution was thrown into confusion last week when the news of EFCC’s invitation of the VC and Bursar, Mr Emmanuel Oresegun, hit the campus. Both were summoned by the anti-graft agency for interrogation over alleged misappropriation of  funds.

    The VC and Bursar were released the next day, eliciting protest from members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). The protesters picketed the Administrative Block, calling on the embattled VC and the Bursar to go.

    The protest, which started at 2p.m., disrupted academic activities. The protesters moved round the campus, chanting anti-management songs.They expressed displeasure with the “leadership style” of Daramola, insisting that he must step down.

    Some members of the staff said: “Prof Daramola cannot be facing corruption allegation and still be the VC; we don’t want another Saraki-style in FUTA”. The protesters also warned the VC against coming to the campus.

    SSANU Chairman Comrade Dele Durojaiye said the union members would not stop the protest until the VC and Bursar stepped down.

    He said: “We forwarded petitions against the management on the monumental fraud and corruption going on this university. And that is what we are fighting for. What we are saying is that the moment you are being investigated by any anti-graft agency, you should step aside. We want the government to dissolve the council, because we believe the council is equally corrupt.

    “We are also telling the government that not until Prof Daramola is removed, this university will be under lock and key. We don’t care if it takes more than three months. We are joining forces with reasonable Nigerians, with President Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption in this university.”

    The leadership of the protesting unions directed their members not to go back to their duty posts, but to converge in front of the new Senate Building daily until the VC and Bursar are gone.

    The FUTA management, which spoke through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Olatunde Arayela, said there was no basis for the protest, because the VC had not been pronounced guilty by any law court. He advised the workers to return to their offices, saying it was unfair for anyone to call for the VC’s resignation over an unproven allegation.

    “The VC and Bursar were only invited for interrogation and as law-abiding citizens. They heeded the invitation but not detained by the anti-graft commission as reported, Prof Arayela said.”

    Students have thrown their weight behind the embattled VC and the Bursar, accusing the union members of sending “frivolous petitions” to the EFCC.

    Students’ Union Government (SUG) President Oluwasegun Oladele, who spoke for the students, said they rose in defence of the embattled VC and Bursar because they found the allegations baseless and an attempt to smear the person of Daramola.

    The students said the workers’ protest could plunge the school into a needless crisis, calling on them to stop it.

    A statement by the SUG president reads: “The Students’ Union deems that the petition against the VC and Bursar as frivolous, baseless and an attempt by the petitioners not to only throw the institution into crisis, but also tarnish and destroy the hard-earned reputation of Prof Adebiyi Daramola.”

    The SUG said members of the staff lied when they claimed the management had not approved their productivity allowances since 2012. Oluwasegun said: “This is totally false. And from our checks, the Governing Council did not approve the payment of the allowances, rather re-appropriated the money to provide services for students.”

    The SUG accused the staff unions of being only interested in “business as usual”, insinuating that SSANU and NASU wanted the management to share the school’s Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) as welfare packages.

    The SUG highlighted some of the VC’s achievements, saying the management, led by  Daramola, had carried out student-oriented projects which have impacted on academics and students.

    Oluwasegun added: “We advise the staff unions to join hands by supporting the lofty vision of the Vice Chancellor and the university management to develop FUTA.They must know that we are not in any way fighting them, but we want them to be considerate and be partner in progress in FUTA.”

  • Nasarawa sacks five principals for charging fees in schools

    The Nasarawa State Government says it has removed five principals from different schools for charging fees from students.

    Ramatu Ajuji-Abubakar, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, made this known during interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Lafia on Tuesday.

    “From our investigation so far, we discovered and have removed five principals of different schools for charging students fees”, she said.

    She further threatened to sanction any principal in public schools caught collecting fees from students.

    According to her, the free education policy of the State Government is still in force from primary to secondary levels.

    “Students are not supposed to pay any money and any principal caught extorting money from the unsuspecting students in the name of school fees would be sanctioned.

    “Students in all the public boarding schools across the state are not to pay money or give any food item as the government has taken full charge of their feeding”, the commissioner said.

    She explained that the state government, through the ministry, had set machinery in motion to check illegal practices by principals.

    Ajuji-Abubakar added that, the government has provided massive infrastructure at both primary and secondary schools in the state in order to provide environment conducive for teachers and students.

    She said in spite of the huge investments of government in providing infrastructure and feeding for boarding students, government was still battling with the high influx of students from private schools.

    She cautioned the leadership of Parent-Teacher Association in the state not to charge the students any money without permission from the ministry as doing so would not be tolerated.