The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Students

  • Leverage on opportunities in digital world, ICT experts urge students

    Students have been advised to showcase their creativity to tap into opportunities in the digital world. The advice came from Information and Communication Technology (ICT) entrepreneurs who spoke at a summit held in Afe Babalola Auditorium of the University of Lagos.

    The Country Head of India Institute of Technology (IIHT), Mr Joshy Hajosh, Chief Executive Officer of Commit Communications, Dr Niran Oyelade and Building Technologist-turned Software Developer, Mr

    Rotimi Oladapo, spoke to students on the theme: Digital literacy.

    Chairman of UNILAG Radio, Prof Ralph Akinfeleye and Head of Department of Mass Communication, Dr Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika hosted the event.

    Prof Akinfeleye said the summit would stoke the students’ passion in ICT, with the aim to make them relevant in the digital world.

    Ogwezzy expressed optimism that the summit would make students to go completely digital.

    She said: “We don’t want a situation where our graduates would not be able to compete with their peers in the digital world. We are now in a world of media convergence. So we have to set the standard for the world to see.”

    Hajosh said IIHT was committed to empowering students with the skills and knowledge on database management, security storage management, software programming, web development and cloud computing.

    Dr Oyelade said opportunities abound for a youth versed in digital literacy, adding that the emerging trend would make digital knowledge competitive among graduates.

    Oladapo said students should explore all avenues at discovering the potentials that will drive their academic development and career.

    He tasked students to make new discoveries in technology and other fields with the use of application software and use of digital gadgets.

  • Oyo students hail Ajimobi

    Governor urged to pay bursary

    Congratulatory messages are still pouring in for the Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, on his re-election  during the April 11 governorship poll. Ajimobi is the first governor to break the second term jinx in the state.

    The Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) chapter of the Federation of Oyo State Union (FOSU) hailed him on the feat, saying his re-election calls for more work to bring the state out of the woods.

    Its President, Babalola Davies, in a letter to the governor, urged him to work hard to justify the people’s support.

    Oyo people, he said, invested their hope and aspirations in the mandate given to Ajimobi, urging him to take the state to greater heights.

    The letter reads: “On behalf of the entire students of Oyo State studying in Lagos State, we wish to congratulate Your Excellency on the successful re-election as the governor of our dear state. As you look forward to the commencement of your second term in office, we urge you to be prepared to work harder to justify the fresh mandate given to you by the people.

    “Governance is a sacrifice even as we urge you to be magnanimous in victory and carry every body along in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.”

    The Commissioner for Education Solomon Olaniyonu, who received the FOSU executive on behalf of the governor, promised to deliver their message to his principal.

    The students appealed to Governor Ajimobi to facilitate the payment of their bursary, scholarship allowance and other benefits they enjoy.

  • Students lament poor Internet service

    STUDENTS of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos are worried over the state of the school’s internet facility. The facility was donated by the National Communication Commission (NCC), but students are claiming that it is not being maintained.

    A student, who declined to give her names, said: “The school Internet is not functioning properly and with the poor service, the service is restricted to students. Only the Higher National Diploma (HND) students are given Wi-Fi to access the Internet service. This is a communication institute and the Internet facility should be up and doing for students to get information and materials online.”

    Another student, Grace Omale, said the Internet service is not useful to the students since they cannot access it. She said they have complained to manangement.

    Grace said: “The Internet service is of no use to the students. In the last six months, we have made several complaints to the management, yet nothing has been done.”

    But, the Head of Computer and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Unit, Theresa Abiodun, said the school has sought NCC’s intervention to resolve the issue. “We have made complaints to the NCC, but they made it clear that the Internet facility was not subscribed for. That is why the internet fluctuates. But, we are working to get it back to normal.”

  • Two students killed in Edo cult war

    Death toll in the ongoing rival cults war in Edo State is increasing by the day since cult related killings began last week.

    Several persons have been killed in Benin City and environs.

    Latest victims are two students of the Edo State College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi in Ovia South-West local government area of Edo State.

    The two students were shot dead while going to attend lectures on Tuesday morning.

    Examinations that were supposed to commence at the institution have been postponed after students of the college barricaded the highway to protest the killings.

    Provost of the institution, Dr. Friday Obasogie, who confirmed the killings, said the victims were on their way to school when they were ambushed and killed by the gunmen.

    “The students were going to school when the perpetrators ran out of the bush, attacked them and ran back to the bush.

    “It is cult clash; you know that it has been in Benin for over a week now. The police have brought the situation under control.

    “The semester’s examination has been postponed by one week to enable the tension die down,” the Provost stated.

    Spokesman for Edo Police Command, DSP Stephen Onwochei, said investigation has commenced into the killings.

    DSP Onwochei assured that those behind the killings would never escape justice as a manhunt for them has been launched.

  • Lorry crushes AAU student to death

    There was tragedy on Thursday along Uhumudumu Road in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State, when a young girl suspected to be a student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, was crushed to death by a lorry.

    Crowd of sympathizers gathered at the scene to catch a glimpse of what happened while vehicular traffic was on a stand still for several hours.

    An eyewitness account revealed that a motorcycle popularly known as Okada carrying the young girl was trying to overtake another Okada when they collided with each another and the girl who was a passenger in one of the affected motorcycles fell on the road and was crushed to death by the moving Tipper.

    Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Iruekpen Division, who were on ground to ease traffic flow later took the lifeless body of the young girl to a nearby mortuary.

  • FUTA students okay library

    The ‘Nimbe Adedipe Library of FUNAAB, has been described as very conducive and one of the best in tertiary institutions in the Southwest because of its good ventilation and lighting.

    This was the conclusion reached by Miss Adefolalu Deborah, a 400-level student of Architecture at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and her classmates, who studied: “Measurement of Artificial Light Levels in Library Buildings of Federal Universities”.

    She said FUNAAB’s Library was very spacious and encourages good reading even when there was no electricity because the natural lighting through the windows was adequate to illuminate the reading areas of the library.

    She also praised the clean environment in FUNAAB.

    “The arrangement of the buildings was unique compared to the ones we have seen before. They are remarkable. I am very impressed with what I have seen so far. The campus is very clean,” she said.

    On his part, a FUTA lecturer that accompanied the students, Afolami Adewale, an architect, appreciated the work of the architect and other professionals that designed the FUNAAB Library.

     

  • FUTA forestry students tag trees

    FUTA forestry students tag trees

    As part of its contribution to the beautification of the environment and education, the International Forestry Students Association, (IFSA), Federal University Technology, Akure (FUTA) chapter, has embarked on the tagging of all exotic and indigenous trees that dot the university campus.

    The name tagging exercise is one of the activities marking the 2015 IFSA Week.

    Flagging off the event, the Dean, School of Agriculture & Agricultural Technology, (SAAT), FUTA, Prof Shadrach Akindele, lauded the students’ initiative, describing it as a noble drive worthy of emulation by students of other universities.

    The Head of Department, Forestry and Wood Technology, Prof Tunde Ajayi, said the name tagging would enable members of the FUTA community and visitors to identify the names and uses of the trees at a glance.  He explained that some of the trees were planted while some were pollinated.

    IFSA President, Opeyemi Adaramoye, said the students decided to tag the trees to beautify the environment, broaden knowledge and give practical expression to what the students are learning.

    The association vice president, Rebecca Adelola, is optimistic that the project would make the students and their course of study relevant locally and globally.

    IFSA is a worldwide body with headquarters in Europe while the Nigerian headquarters is domiciled in FUTA.

     

  • Students bemoan strike in KSU, CRUTECH

    Students bemoan strike in KSU, CRUTECH

    The National Association of Universities Students (NAUS) has condemned the closure of the Cross Rivers State University of Science and Technology (CRUTECH) and the Kogi State University (KSU) in Anyigba, over workers’ unpaid salaries.

    The association’s national president, Jonathan Adekunle, said it was illegal for the schools to be shut against students’ wishes, calling on the CRUTECH’s and KSU’s managements to re-open the campuses in students’ interest.

    His words: “Let it be known that NAUS strongly condemns the closure of the schools. We see the action as ungodly and embarrassing because the closures are against students’ wishes. We also condemn treatmented out to students of the affected schools. We believe the welfare of workers remains the obligation of the government and ask the governors to pay their workers immediately.”

    Through the statement, Adekunle said NAUS had passed a vote of no confidence on Governor Liyel Imoke for his lackadaisical attitude and failure to adhere to the letter the association submitted to him last month to meet with the aggrieved lecturers for resolution.

    He also appealed to Governor Idris Wada to immediately resolve the crises rocking the KSU, stressing that NAUS was worried over the failure of government to pay workers their entitlement.

    The association gave Imoke a week ultimatum to re-open CRUTECH, failure of which would lead to a protest.

  • UNILORIN students dance against child abuse

    The yearly inter-faculty dance was held on Saturday at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). Students renewed their commitment to the war against child abuse at the event, held at the Management Lecture Theatre. It was attended by students from all faculties, who participated in a dance competition held to commemorate the event.

    The contest, which is scheduled to hold for four consecutive Saturdays, is organised by Strictly Street Dancers (SSDC).

    The panel of judges, comprising students and some professional dancers, said the contest was to show the world that war against child abuse could be won through dancing.

    Contestants introduced different styles of dance during the contest, including hip-hop, traditional and contemporary dance steps. The judges said the contestants would be assessed based on their costumes, attitudes, stage management, precision and crowd response.

    The judges said beyond entertainment, the dance steps would make people to have a sense of responsibility and make efforts to stop child abuse.

    The participating students came from faculties of Arts, Education, Science, Engineering, Business and Social Sciences, Communication and Information Sciences.

     

  • Dickson’s N100million bursary excites Bayelsa students

    Dickson’s N100million bursary excites Bayelsa students

    Students of Bayelsa State studying in various higher institutions across the country have every reason to be happy. The Governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson, during the week released N100million for the payment of their bursaries.

    Dickson did not just release the money, he presented a cheque to the state’s Scholarships Board indicating that he wanted the students to be paid with immediate effect. The leadership of the National Union of Bayelsa State Students (NUBSS) was present at Government House, Yenagoa, where the government presented the cheque.

    The Secretary of the State Scholarship Board, Mr. Collins Ifidi and the President of NUBSS, Mr. Richard Bolouebi Lawyer, jointly received the cheque.

    With a standing ovation, the welcomed the development. They poured encomiums on the governor describing him as a “talk na do” and countryman governor.

    Addressing the leadership of NUBSS, Dickson explained that, the presentation of the cheque was in keeping with an earlier promise he made during his visit to Amassoma, the community hosting the Niger Delta University, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.

    He reminded the students of their role as future leaders and emphasized the need for them to refocus their studies on developing their innate potential. He stressed that education was the only potent weapon to change society for the better.

    He said: “Today is my pleasure again in fulfillment of our cardinal principle of making education easier and see to it that, we give all necessary support and encouragement to our students.

    “I like to present this cheque of N100 million. But, before I do so, let me call on all the students in our state, who are leaders of tomorrow that  you have a lot of work to do.”

    He assured the students of his administration’s commitment to their welfare. Dickson said his government was prepared to continually increase the educational infrastructure and develop the manpower base of the state.

    He also expressed concern over the fast-eroding moral values in society tasking the students on value re-orientation. He pointing out that, the infrastructural development of his administration will not have much impact, if the people do not imbibe the right values.

    He said:  “Not only do we call on you to study; not only do we call on you to dedicate yourselves to acquiring knowledge, so that, you will compete favorably with your peers for any position in this country or anywhere in the world.

    “But you have to know the peculiar problems that this society has that we must deal with. I will like you all to take this message to your colleagues that you must work with government to change the mindset of the people.”

    In his response, the President of NUBSS, Mr. Richard Lawyer thanked Governor Dickson for the money and applauded the government’s strides in the educational sector.

    The state chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) described the governor’s gesture as a welcome development. The Chairman, NANS, Zone B, Comrade Believe Ezekiel Wisdom, said Dickson has fulfilled his promises to the students.

    He, however, advised the scholarship board to live up to their part of the bargain by ensuring that all the eligible students of the state benefit from the bursary. He said the board should establish a transparent mechanism to ensure that only authentic students benefit from the money.

    He said: “The governor has done his own part. We commend him for this kind gesture. The bulk of the process now lies on the scholarship board. We want the scholarship board to live up to expectations.

    “We don’t want to hear complaints. We want them to hear that everybody benefits from it. They should move round the various campuses in the country to ascertain and verify Bayelsa students in each higher institution. If they sit in their office, there is every likelihood that many people will be shortchanged”, he said.

    He further advised the scholarship board to publish names of all the beneficiaries adding that such publication would go a long way to show how the money was disbursed. But he begged the governor to carry the activities of NANS along in his administration.

    Wisdom said the governor by fulfilling his promise deserves to be supported for a second term in office. “Any leader who makes promises and fulfill them deserves the support of his people. If the governor wants a second term, he should be supported to get it”, he said.