The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Students

  • Students’ remarkable week

    Students of the Mass Communication Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), held their yearly Week, tagged: “Jackson Week”. The event featured a vocational training, where the students learnt craftwork. JAMES OJO (300-Level Mass Communication) reports.

    It was a week they all looked forward to, but none expected the large turnout at the event. It was the yearly Week of the Department of Mass Communication of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

    Students, under the aegis of Mass Communication Students’ Association (MACSA), turned out in gorgeous attires for the event.

    The week-long event started with a vocational training, where students learnt website development, computer programming and video editing.

    The participants were also trained on how to make cakes, bags, beads and shoes. The training was followed by a seminar on finance management and how to start small scale businesses.

    On the second day, there was a novelty football match in honour of the Head of Department (HOD), Dr Greg Ezeah. Second year students of the department worn the contest.

    On the third day, the students organised a lecture with the theme: Journalism today: The realities of professional practices. It  held at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium (PAA) and was graced by speakers, including the Special Assistant to Niger State Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Jide Orintunsin; Exxon Mobil’s Country General Manager on Public and Government Affairs Mr. Paul Arinze, and Dean, Faculty of Art, Prof Pat Okpoko.

    Orintunsin, a former Niger State correspondent of The Nation, spoke on the challenges confronting journalism in the country. He listed lack of professionalism, corruption and unfavourable working conditions as threats to journalism practice in Nigeria, arguing that the challenges had not helped in the development of the profession, despite its significant role in the society.

    Orintunsin stressed the need to uphold professionalism and journalism ethics, describing the pen profession as an “all-comers’ affair”. He said journalism does not have specific criteria for membership compared to other professions.

    He said: “Today, most journalists see news coverage from a commercial point of view. The integrity of contemporary journalists has been compromised by economic hardship and realities. The trend of sensationalism of news item by editors does not depict the credibility, objectivity, accuracy and trust associated with the profession.”

    The trend, he said, must be stopped at this time anti-corruption has become the new mantra.

    On the risk faced by journalists in  their duties, Orintusin urged the government and security agencies to create an enabling environment for journalists to carry out their tasks, noting that democracy would not thrive without a vibrant media.

    Arinze, who spoke on Business communication, urged students to tap from the numerous opportunities in Mass Communication, adding that the discipline prepared students to become entrepreneurs.

    He said: “Studying Mass Communication is one of the best decisions you can make as today’s communicators must necessarily become tomorrow’s business leaders. Mass Communication prepares students to report news and become newsmakers. Journalism is not limited to ink and paper reporting alone; there is more to it.”

    He advised students to be business-savvy and engage in capacity building in this age of technology and social media.

    Highpoint of the lecture was the presentation of awards to the speakers.

    The fourth day featured a cultural event. Students from all parts of the country were clad in their native attires. They also prepared their local delicacies to serve their colleagues to promote cultural understanding. The event featured a cultural dance contest, wrestling and drama, among others.

    On the last day, the students held an award night, where they honoured their colleagues who distinguished themselves in various endeavours. Students described the Week as remarkable in the history of the department.

    Chidiebere Kalu, a 400-Level student, said it was the best departmental week he had witnessed since he was admitted into the department.

    The MACSA President, Victor Agi, praised students for  attending  the event.He appreciated the association’s Staff Adviser, Mr Jude Agbo, and lecturers for their support and contributions to the success of the event.

  • Students donate equipment to faculty

    The Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has taken delivery of new laboratory equipment. The materials were donated by the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS).

    Delivering the equipment, the association’s president, Benjamin Idiakhoa, said PANS’ gesture was to satisfy students’ needs.

    The donated materials included four microscopes, three cartons of porcelain dishes, four cartons of conical flasks, eight weight balances and 100 dispensing bottles.

    Receiving the equipment, Dean of the faculty, Prof John Akerele, said it was first time students would be donating to the faculty, saying: “It is very hard to find students committed to development of their school as we have seen. The donated materials will help in research and learning.”

    Prof Magnus Iwaugwu of the Department of Pharmaceutics hailed the association for the gesture. He said the equipment would improve quality of research carry out by students.

    Josiah Omoba, a 300-Level student, praised PANS for the intervention, stressing that students usually experienced difficulty in using some materials in the laboratory. He said: “We appreciate this act of generosity. This indicates PANS is feeling our pain.”

  • Students train 1,000 pupils

    Students train 1,000 pupils

    The Hope for African Girls Initiative (HAGI) has organised Girl-Child Empowerment Seminars in 10 schools in 10 communities in the country. The programme, designed for public secondary school pupils, was created in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so as to end poverty, provide equitable and inclusive quality education and give pupils learning opportunities, among others.

    Mary Anurika, one of the coordinators, said the programme was initiated to solve women and young girls’ challenges. She said HAGI  would promote gender equality and inspire young girls to create opportunities in education and business.

    She said: “HAGI intends to provide the much-needed guidance for young girls by building leadership and personal skills, to give them confidence to dream big and contribute to the society at large.”

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the organisers, who are mainly tertiary institution students, used the seminar to empower over 1,000 young girls in six states, mentoring and equipping them with critical skills to build confidence and leadership capacity.

    The HAGI Executive Director, Miss Jennifer Umeh, a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), said education of the girl child remained crucial to national development. She said there was need for sustained sensitisation and enlightenment of the public to give priority to girls’ education.

    “Education is very important, because when you train a child, you have trained a nation. We also believe training a child will boost the economy of the nation,” she said.

    While praising government’s effort at giving the girl-child the right to education, Jennifer noted that government alone could not do, urging corporate and non-profit organisations to assist in providing quality education in public schools.

    The programme was held in schools, including Kwara, Enugu, Anambra, Lagos, Rivers, Abuja, Ogun and Imo states. The event also featured spoken words contest, which had 120 tertiary institution students participating. The winner was rewarded with N100,000 cash prize.

    Winner of the competition, Valentine Ogunaka, said: “Winning the competition gladdens my heart and it will prod me to keep my voice loud amid the massive waves of silence on critical issue. I do humbly appreciate believing that being heard and getting rewarded at the same time signify a win-win for the girl child, as well as people that are passionate about stemming the tide of poverty.”

  • Physically-challenged students decry descrimination

    Physically-challenged students decry descrimination

    Students living with disabilities at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) have discussed their challenges, calling on management to initiate programmes to end discrimination against them, reports SARAT ALABIDUN (400-Level Applied Chemistry).

    They were in the middle of their meeting in a classroom when the CAMPUSLIFE reporter walked in. Immediately, their  attention shifted to the ‘intruder’, who sat at a corner watching the proceeding.

    It was the second meeting of  physically-challenged students at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS). The students, under the aegis of the National Association of Physically-Challenged Students (NAPCS), gathered to discuss their challenges.

    The NAPCS President, Abdullateef Adetiba, a 400-Level Sociology student, said: “A good constitution is a necessity for the association to be fully recognised on the campus.”

    Abdullateef, who was elected the previous week, urged members to come up with ideas on a new constitution. He said the document must reflect the aims and aspirations of the association and its members, adding that the constitution must be written to cater for the physically-challenged who would be offered admission in the new session.

    He added: “Our major concern is to join the forces to tackle discrimination against the physically-challenged students. We are human beings too. We need to have a fixed projects and programmes for the members. This must be done through our annual due to ensure that we don’t go about asking people for money.”

    Physically-challenged students, Abdullateef believes, have not been treated fairly by the university authorities. He hoped to change their situation, despite the short period of his tenure.

    He said: “I would continue to serve the association in any capacity. I am a proof that physically-challenged students can be successful in whatever field they find themselves. I have been on scholarship since my 200-Level.”

    After the meeting, some of the physically-challenged students shared their heart-rending stories, urging the school management to consider their plight.

    Tukur Isah, an Education English student, told the story of how he became physically-challenged. He said: “I had an accident on Makera Road when I was travelling back to Lagos. I broke my leg in the accident. I have accepted my fate, but I will never be a beggar.”

    Tukur urged people to stop discriminating against the physically-challenged, saying many of them could perform better in academics.

    Ibrahim Hamisu, a 400-Level Nigerian Languages student, said the physically-challenged should be blamed for the manner the society deals with them. He said many people with disabilities lack confidence and self-esteem, saying: “Just look at how this meeting is scanty; many of us don’t even want to attend.”

    Ibrahim said his greatest wish was to tackle discrimination against people living with disabilities. “Sometimes, when we get late to class, our lecturers won’t allow us into the classroom. They do not consider the fact that we get to class with much difficulty,” he said. He urged the school management to reduce fees for the physically-challenged to encourage them to study.

    For Umar Luqman, a Primary Education student with visual impairment, the way the physically-challenged students are being treated can discourage them to get education. He said: “We have to stay on the queue for several hours during registration with our colleagues. We have never enjoyed our stay in the hostels, because the facilities are made for people without disability.”

    For some of them, their conditions have motivated them to achieve their dreams. Ahmad Zubair, a 200-Level English Literature student, said his physical disability would not make him lose hope in his ability. He said: “I got my leg broken while playing soccer sometimes in the 2006. I was in hospital for two years. Being physically challenged, people think we cannot do anything. I am happy to say still engage in sport and my condition does not affect my studies. I believe I can achieve my dream despite my condition.”

    Bashir Muhammad, a 300-Level Agriculture student, could not stand for three years after he was born. He has a one-sided paralysis, but he believes he can work in in the farm. He said: “I can create an enterprise. I can be a farmer and I can still do things that normal people do in the farm.”

    The Dean, Students Affairs (DSA), Prof Adamu Aliero, debunked the claims that the school is not concerned about the physically-challenged students. He admitted that there are no facilities for them.

    The DSA said: “We have special rooms for the physically-challenged students in the hostels and whenever we notice such category of students, we give them special consideration. Disability is not inability.”

     

     

  • Students seek truce between management, lecturers

    Worried by the lingering industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), students of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State have appealed to the management and their lecturers to return to the negotiation table.

    The institution chapter of ASUU, through its chairman, Dr Sola Fayose, declared an indefinite strike two weeks ago over the management’s inability to pay lecturers’ outstanding salaries.

    Some students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, said the strike is taking negative toll on their pursuits, urging the management to accede to their lecturers’ demand for them to return to the school.

    A final year student, Marcus Amudipe, lamented the development, saying students should not be the made to bear the brunt of the action.

    He said: “When two elephants fight, the grass suffers. My advice to both parties is for them to dialogue and find a common ground for the sake of students.”

    Mary Fagbiye, a 300-Level student, expressed displeasure over the strike, urging the lecturers to reconsider the management’s offer.

    Noting that the strike has distorted the school calendar, Mary appealed to the parties to settle their differences and end the strike.

    She said: “I can’t blame the lecturers for going on strike, because they deserve to be paid for doing their jobs. But, they still need to be considerate, because the strike has stalled academic activities and it has greatly affected the school calendar. Both parties must dialogue and come to a resolution as soon as possible.”

    Adebola Adekanye, a student, decried the strike action. She wanted the both parties to sheath their swords and return to negotiation to discuss permanent solution to the matter.

    She said the lecturers deserved to be paid, but urged the striking workers to embrace dialogue to protect the future students.

    The lecturers vowed not call off the strike until their outstanding three months salaries and seven months deductions are paid.

  • AUN offers scholarship award to 67 students

    The American University of Nigeria (AUN) at the weekend said it has increased its scholarship award for new students to 67.

    The institution, in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Daniel Okereke, said that examination for the scholarship awards would hold on July 30th, this year.

    The examination centres, according to the statement include: Intels Integrated Logistics Services, Port Harcourt, Federal Government College, Enugu, Mauve 21 Event Centre, Ibadan, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Arewa House, Kaduna, and Robert Pastor E-Library, AUN, Yola, Adamawa state.

    “The American University of Nigeria will hold scholarship examinations for newly accepted students joining the university for the 2016/2017 academic session on Saturday, July 30, 2016,” the statement said.The institution stated that 36 scholarships would be awarded to 36 students with the highest scores in the 2015 Joint Admissions and Matriculation (JAMB) examination nationwide.

    Another 30 scholarships, the statement said, would be awarded to five candidates from each of the six geo-political zones under the university’s regional scholarships program. The statement reads: “36 Scholarships will be awarded to candidates with the highest scores on the 2015 Joint Admissions and Matriculation (JAMB) examination from all the 36 states, and one scholarship will be awarded to the candidate with the highest scores on JAMB UTME nationally.

    “Another 30 scholarships will be awarded to 5 candidates from each of the 6 geo-political regions of the country under the university’s regional scholarships program. Winners of the JAMB based scholarships will be selected based on results of the 2015 UME, while the regional scholarships winners will be selected primarily based on their performance on the 2015 national scholarship examinations.

    “All 2015 UME candidates newly accepted into the university for the Fall 2016 Semester are eligible and invited to sit for the regional scholarships examinations. Candidates transferring from local and foreign universities as well as Direct Entry candidates are ineligible to write the scholarship examinations. “All eligible candidates must bring with them their acceptance letter into AUN and either an international passport, national identity card (ID Card), or Voters Registration Card containing their photograph.

    “Candidates freshly seeking admission and those who have applied, but are yet to be notified of their admission into AUN, and their guardians can phone the test centers to receive permission to take the special scholarship examinations.  Those freshly seeking admission into AUN will need to complete an AUN admission application form at the venue of the examination before being allowed into the testing hall.

    There is no fee attached to this scholarship examination.”

  • Students demand reopening of OAU

    Students demand reopening of OAU

    A group of students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put an end to their stay at home by opening the university for resumption of academic activities.

    The management shut down the university indefinitely last month due to the violent protests by Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU).

    They claimed that the process that produced the new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayobami Salami, was faulty.

    Berating NASU and SSANU for the shutdown of the institution, the students said the appointment of a new vice chancellor shouldn’t have disrupted academic activities.

    They expressed dismay that the activities of the unions, which do not have a say in the appointment of the university helmsman, were responsible for the indefinite closure of the school by the management.

    In a statement yesterday in Ibadan, the students enjoined the President to use his good offices to ensure that the right solution that would lead to the immediate reopening of the university is embraced.

  • Students, workers kick against Dickson’s disposition to state varsity

    The only Bayelsa State-owned university, the Niger Delta University (NDU), is in dire straits. The institution located at the Wilberforce Island Amasoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, has been shut down since April, 2016 following the inability of the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, to manage his financial obligations to the school.

    All categories of workers in the university are on strike. Dickson has been unable to pay them their salaries for about seven months. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT),  the Non Academic Staff of Universities (NASU), have all downed tools.

    But at the receiving ends of this industrial dispute are the students whose academic activities and future aspirations have been suspended indefinitely. The devastated students were driven out of school. Many of them roam the streets while others engage in menial jobs for survival.

    The students of NDU have however, reacted to the statement credited to Dickson that the institution should seek ways of funding itself. The governor recently in a meeting told the Governing Council of the school to stop depending on the state government for its funding.

    After the meeting, a statement sent through the office of Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the governor insisted that his administration would no longer sustain the existing funding system because of the present poor financial situation of the state.

    The governor said a situation where the state government’s monthly subvention of about N480million was spent on recurrent expenditure was unsustainable. He expressed concern over the bogus wage bill of the university and the need for its  leadership to be prudent in the use of funds.

    But investigations by the Niger Delta Report indicated that the students are angry with the governor accusing him of trying to privatize the only university in the state.

    Jeremiah is a student of Biological Science Department. Following the strike, he turned to vending newspapers on the streets of Yenagoa for survival. “Since there is no job for us (students), I have to go to the streets. I am now a vendor. I hawk newspapers for ends to meet’’, he said.

    He also said it was wrong for the governor to relinquish the financial commitments of the state government to NDU. He said sending the management of the university to revenue-generating spree would make the school unaffordable and inaccessible to Bayelsans. He said such attempt would place heavy financial burdens on the students, many of whom came from poor backgrounds.

    “It is a state university. That alone means that it needs to be taken care of by its owner. It is not a private school, neither is it a federal school. Hence, by law the state should fund it.

    “NDU can generate 20% of its required resource. It can actually get funds from hostel fees. The school workshop that can also produce furniture for sales and the school football team can go out for competitions, but it would not be enough to sustain the needs of the school’’, he said.

    He further said that NDU would be extinct if the government stuck to its gun that it must fund itself. “Bayelsa is a developing state. We know the governor wants to make NDU self-sufficient but his approach is drastic and irrational.

    “We cannot start building a house from the roof. He has to share his vision, ideas, and strategies to the workers, then they can work with him”.

    To Angilia, a student of the Department of English and Literary studies, asking the school to fund itself in a state where the government has no strong Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) base was an indirect way of keeping the school permanently closed.

    She said: “The Strike has delayed our academic calendar. By now we should have gone far. Now we sit at home with no hope of going back to school. I have therefore resorted to menial jobs. I do house-keeping for a staff’s quarter of one engineering firm.

    “it is not a good time to ask a university like NDU to fund itself considering the present economic crisis. While we were still in school, some students could not meet up with their financial demands. This new IGR drive will definitely lead to increase in fees that will consequently lead to dropouts. We appeal to the Bayelsa Governor to put himself in the shoes of the workers and students and work a way out”.

    Another student of the Department of Political Science, Gesi, said it was impossible for NDU to fund itself. He said the school required time to grow and develop to the level of catering for its financial needs.

    Gesi, who said he resorted to performing in shows for survival, added that any attempt to shift the financial burden to the school management would have adverse effects on the students, their parents and the state’s education.

    He wondered why the governor was talking about financial autonomy at a period he declared emergency in education.

    “NDU would need more time to fund itself. This new IGR drive will be a weapon to ruin the purse of parents and the destruction of the academic pursuit of the student. Fees will be increased and eventually faculties that cannot meet up financially will be scrapped.

    ‘’Within this short period, I have heard of robbery cases and also a murder case that involved the students of NDU. I therefore appeal to both parties, the school authorities and the government, to reconsider their stand”, he said.

    While Eto, a student of the Department of Computer Science asked the governor to jettison his plan, Emmanuel of the Department of History and Philosophy said: “The strike has not been anything close to positive as it has awarded me an automatic extra year in the institution.

    “We Niger Delta University will need time to generate enough funds. We appeal to the governor to do his duty by paying the workers of NDU to enable us return to school”.

    Furthermore, workers in NDU said it was hypocritical and illusory for the governor to have asked the university to fund itself when Bayelsa as a state could not generate internal revenue to sustain itself.

    The workers vowed to keep the university shut until the state Governor, Dickson, pays them four out of the about seven-month salaries he owes them.

    The aggrieved employees under the auspices of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT),  and the Non Academic Staff of Universities (NASU), took the decision in a meeting they held recently in Yenagoa.

    The angry workers also warned the government against any plan to sack any of them insisting that they would only return to work after the full payment of their four-month salaries. The chairmen of SSANU, Mr. Fakidouma Wilcox; NAAT, Mr. Dienagha Ekepet, and NASU, Mr. Kenneth Akpafegha of NASU, attended the meeting.

    The unions said: “We frown at the state governor’s decision to pay academic staff and technical workers of the university while vowing not to pay the senior and junior staff until the workforce is downsized.

    “Going by the National University Commission (NUC) employment ratio of 4:1 in the university, NDU is understaffed. Therefore, the governor should not think of downsizing as his action will be met with a brick wall.

    “We will not suspend the sit-at-home order until at least four months salaries are paid in full to our members and we will withdraw our members on essential duties after one week if the government does not comply.

    “We wonder why a government who has been boasting of declaring a state of emergency in the educational sector should allow the death of the only state university in the state which has so far turned out over 14,882 graduates since its inception thereby changing the educational fortunes of the state as an educationally-disadvantaged state.”

    But the governor said he had released funds for the payment of the workers’ January salaries and called on them to suspend their strike. Dickson who spoke through his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, said the government was commuted to the welfare and the development of NDU.

    He said: “The Bayelsa State Government has met its agreement of releasing 100% of the January salary to ASUU, NASU and graduate assistants as requested by the unions. So, as we speak, that payment has been made.

    “We are all aware that NDU is our pet project, as it is the only state-owned university. So, this government is committed to the welfare of the academic and non-academic staff, as well as the students community of NDU. We want our students to return to school and pursue their academics.”

  • Don plans soft skills training for students

    Recruitment consultant and Senior Lecturer, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Dr Soji George, has identified lack of soft skills as a major reason many graduates do not readily get jobs.

    To address this problem, George is organising a two-day seminar to train students of the university who are close to graduation.

    George said his firm, J. Soji George, is partnering Exxon Mobil and a non-governmental organisation, Foundation for Leadership and Education to organise the seminar coming up on July 12 and 13 for first and second class 300 and 400-Level students of the Faculty of Business Adminstration.

    The don said inadequate funding forced him to limit the participants to only those two classes and advocated for sponsorships of more soft skills training for undergraduates.

  • Students berate Mimiko over planned anti-Buhari protest

    Students berate Mimiko over planned anti-Buhari protest

    The Ondo State chapter of the Joint Campus Committee (JCC), an arm of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has condemned the planned protest against the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    JCC urged students to resist being coopted into the protest, which is said to be at the instance of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    Anthony Atolusi, JCC chairman, described the governor’s action as a plot to embarrass President Buhari and paint the Federal Government in bad light. He said Mimiko’s move would not boost the chances of the governor’s candidate in the coming governorship election in the state.

    Atolusi said: “The action of the governor to be planning a protest against the anti-corruption is only a plot to paint the Federal Government as incompetent, it is also a gimmick to boost the electoral chances of Governor Mimiko’s candidate in the governorship election in November.

    “Students, being leaders of tomorrow, have the responsibility of bringing sanity back to our society. We want to tell Mimiko and his party that Ondo JCC and youths believe in Buhari’s anti-corruption war. At the end, we believe money recovered will be used to create good jobs for all.”

    Anthony said the students’ body had started a sensitisation of students within the state not to be political tools for any politicians. He said JCC would not fold its hands and allow a few individuals to use the machinery of government to enrich themselves and their families at the expense of all citizens.

    He added: “Our commonwealth was plundered and shared in the bedroom of these people. They used funds meant for security and development of our country to purchase choice properties. Now they are asking some youths and students to come and carry placards in protest against anti-corruption war. We will not support such demonstration.

    “We are urging all students in Ondo State to resist any attempt to lure them to convene, mobilise and protest against the anti-corruption crusade of President Buhari. We will not be part of illegality.”