The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Students

  • We are not aliens, physically challenged students cry out

    We are not aliens, physically challenged students cry out

    An empowerment programme organised by Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Campus Club at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State turned an emotion-filled session when Miss Rebecca Umorhen narrated the struggles physically-challenged students face in the society.

    Fighting back tears, Rebecca decried the neglect, loss of affection, lack of care and stigmatisation against students living with disabilities.

    Her words: “We are despised wherever we find ourselves. Our fellow students think of us as aliens. At social functions, our siblings and family members introduce us as friends. We can’t play with others when they are playing. We don’t even think of marrying or getting married as people find us unattractive. We suffer neglect and stigmatisation in virtually all facets of life. Most times, we find this life unbearable. It was never our choice to be created or to be put in these conditions we find ourselves today.”

    Rebecca reminded the society that the physically-challenged are human beings created by God and deserve to be treated with respect and love. The 300-Level Mass Communication student, who spoke on behalf of over 40 physically-challenged students, maintained that they also have vision and prospects, stressing that they deserved equal right and fair treatment like normal persons.

    She urged people to have a rethink and engage the physically-challenged fairly. She pleaded with government and school authorities to pay adequate attention to their plight, noting that they could not assess scholarship and incentive to make them get education and employment opportunities as graduates.

    The founder and outgoing president of the club, Onyekachi Nwankwo, said the club decided to empower the physically-challenged in the school to give them a sense of hope and belonging as members of the university community.

    Onyekachi described them as special students whose zeal and determination to succeed should serve as source of inspiration to other students. He noted that the club was poised to affecting the lives of every student in the school positively.

    He frowned at the way people treated the physically-challenged persons, arguing that society must accord people living with disabilities some respect and not treating them badly.

    The Ambassador urged the students to remain determined and believe in themselves. High point of the occasion was the presentation of gifts to the students.

     

     

     

  • UNILAG Alumni offer students employment tips

    TO address unemployment among youths, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Alumni Association has organised a seminar for the 2015 set of thegroup.

    The workshop, which  held at the school’s Multipurpose Hall, was also aimed at educating the outgoing set on the reality of the labour market.

    The event had as theme: ‘Workplace readiness and employability’.

    At the maiden edition, Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi, who spoke on ‘personal branding for employability’, explained that graduates were faced with unemployment and the competition of young professionals that were laid off or returning from the Diaspora also  citizens of other countries competing for the same job and entrepreneurship openings.

    This, he said, had created a paradigm shift from the graduates programmes to postgraduate degrees as a benchmark for employment.

    He said many youths were investing time and resources in post-graduate education but still fall behind in the knowledge of personal branding.

    He explained that branding of oneself had gone beyond seeking employment or apprenticeship; rather one’s total personality would be weighed against expectations of the present and the future.

    Awoyemi, who is Chief Executive Officer, Proshare Nigeria Limited, also warned the students to be cautious of what they post on social media as it would be a criterion for assessing their employability skills.

    “Employers or recruitment agencies will take your name and search your footprints on social media that is the first place to vet your personal brand in today’s world. for those who are eager to respond to their first stimuli, to type what comes to your head immediately, to post that sassy meme or to spit out in anger, opens your employability in ways you hardly imagined.”

    He pointed out that students could take advantage of an additional global language which is an essential criterion for multinational companies.

    He advised the students to desist from blaming parents or schools for poor academic training but rather seize opportunities to advance their knowledge. National  Social  Secretary, UNILAG Alumni, Mr Akin Akinteye, said the event was organised to enlighten the 2015set about the labour market, which would prevent them from the challenges outside school as well as  reviewing the cause of unemployment in the country.

     

     

     

  • Students cry out over ‘grounded’ van

    Students cry out over ‘grounded’ van

    Students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) are not happy over the condition of their union’s official vehicle. The vehicle has been abandoned for over two months by Students’ Union officials, reports UCHECHUKWU EKWUEME-DURU (400-Level Industrial Technology Education).

    WhAT is the state of the official bus given to the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) in Niger State? This is the question students are seeking an answer to from management.

    The condition of the 2000 model Toyota Sienna is generating ripples, following an allegation that it has been in bad shape since the school resumed last year.

    The bus, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, was donated to the union by Governor Aliyu Babangida Muazu three years ago, when the then union leaders had an accident with the 2002 Honda Civic official vehicle.

    Students were prompted to ask questions when the union officials could not use the bus for functions on campus. The bus, students alleged, may have been in bad shape because of improper maintenance.

    Some students claimed that the bus engine has been damaged by the carelessness of union leaders. Some alleged that the bus could not be repaired, adding that this may be why it was abandoned at the Students’ Union office.

    “The current state of this 12-seater bus is not only discouraging, but also annoying,” a Chemistry student said, adding: “The car has been parked and abandoned for two months.”

    When CAMPUSLIFE visited the union building to assess the condition of the vehicle, our reporter found dents on it. A patch of engine oil spread under the vehicle. Also, there was dirt underneath the bus, indicating that it may have been grounded for long. The upholstery was also covered with dirt.

    Students criticised the union officials for poor maintenance, asking the SUG to repair the bus or face students’ wrath.

    A SUG official, Justice Nwaigwe, a 400-Level-Physics student, told CAMPUSLIFE why the bus was abandoned for so long. “We have been explaining to students why the bus is left in the condition it is. We feel the pain more than the rest of our colleagues. We know it does not speak well about the union, especially under our leadership, but

  • Students get tablet

    The management of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has kept to its promise to digitalise learning in the school, with the distribution of mobile computer to freshers last Thursday.

    The initiative, known as “One student, one PC tablet”, was introduced by former Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Is-haq Oloyede, but the project is being implemented by his successor and the current VC, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali.

    Ambali said the initiative was to make students active players in the information age, urging them to use the device for their academic benefit through e-learning.

    A beneficiary, Ganiyu Quadri, a 100-Level Mathematics Education student, said was delighted when he received the tablet, noting that he did not have smart phone to search for information on the Internet. “The tablet will afford me to do research online and also widens my knowledge, especially on the mathematics field,” he said.

    A 100-Level Microbiology student, Rasaq Olaoye, said the management had set the pace for school’s technological advancement.

    Olaitan Giwa, a student of Agriculture, said the device would improve students’ academic performance and complement lecturers’ efforts to impart knowledge on students through modern techniques.

    Students, however, appealed to the school management to make the Wi-Fi network available for them to use gadgets optimally.

     

  • Students showcase products at varsity’s exhibition

    The Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) in Ekpoma, Edo State, has organised a public lecture and product exhibition.

    The event held at Reverend Chris Oyakhilome Auditorium.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof C.A. Agbebaku, described the exhibition as an outcome of effective vocational training embarked on by the Centre.

    She said the continuous entrepreneurial seminar being held by the Centre was an indication the university was living up to its billing to produce skilled graduates empowered sufficiently in vocations and academic.

    She hailed the Director of the Centre, Prof P. E. Agbebaku and lecturers taking the course. The VC added that the entrepreneurship study was added to the school curriculum to explore students’ creativity and to create of opportunities for graduates in the face of unemployment.

    She praised the students who designed various products displayed during the exhibition, saying she believed the students would make quality products for international market.

    The Director of the Centre said the course would be made available to all students, noting that a paint produced by the trainees was used to paint a building on the campus.

    Products displayed included beads, shoes, belts, art works, flowers, tie and dye, paints, body cream and perfume, among others.

    At the event were Managing Director, Ray Royal Construction Company, Revd Mathew Okpebholo; Managing Director, Irhebor Bakery, Mr Paul Agbonifo, and Managing Director, Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) Dr Godwin Ehigiamusoe.

     

  • Students challenged on academic excellence

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has held its 11th Academic Counselling Seminar with the theme: Education beyond borders. Secondary school pupils and students from various tertiary institutions in Lagos attended the event held in the UNILAG’s main auditorium.

    Speaking on the theme, the Acting Head of Department at the Faculty of Education of the University of Abuja (UNIABUJA), Dr Abdulwasiu Gabadeen, urged participants to create academic values for themselves.

    He highlighted challenges facing students, saying dysfunctional institutional, lack of parental control, peer pressure and uncontrolled used of technology were part of the factors contributing to erosion of societal values.

    Dr Gabadeen recommended inter- and intra-institutional collaboration to check the ills in the nation, adding that there was need for re-orientation of youths to engender competency and integrity.

    He said: “Leadership is a key factor in promoting quality education and good character. Our leaders must practise the ideals of strategic leadership to advocate for needed change in the society.”

    Speaking on The cankerworm, a lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundation and Counselling Psychology, Lagos State University (LASU), Dr Airat Sulaiman, said higher institutions had been infected with moral decadence, which he said contributing to the moral failure being seen in the nation.

    She said: “Decadence is a cankerworm facing all tertiary institutions and it has five tentacles which are examination malpractice, indecent dressing, drug abuse, cultism and sexual promiscuity, harassment and prostitution.”

    Dr Sulaiman said the vices were responsible for high rate of rape, abortion, killing and spread of HIV/AIDS disease.

    She advised the participants to uphold the moral values, saying the society needed to go back to the basis.

    The seminar also featured quiz contest, which had all Muslim students across faculties participated. The Association of Muslim Law Students (AMLAS) emerged winner of the contest, while Muslim Science Students’ Association (MUSSA) and Engineering Muslim Students’ Society (EMSS) were first and second runners up.

    Scholarships were given to eighteen students, who scored highest score in an examination organised by the MSSN.

     

  • UNILAG killing: Students seek better security

    UNILAG killing: Students seek better security

    Some students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have urged the institution’s mangement to improve security on the campus.

    The call is coming against the backdrop of the killing of a student on campus by some gunmen.

    A 400-Level Economics student, who pleaded for anonymity, said he was worried that intruders could enter the campus, kill and get away without being apprehended.

    He advised the institution to devote more attention to intelligence-gathering and get students involved in security affairs.

    He said: “For some groups of people to just come to campus, shoot someone and leave; that shows that the security is not good enough. I heard they searched at the gate that night but those people could have parked somewhere and walked into the school. But for those guys to have entered the school with that motive, despite the fact that they saw the security guards, it means they must have been sure that nothing would happen to them. It also shows that the school security is slack because I heard that it was around 10 am the following day that the dead body was finally removed.

    “I think the first thing is that the school should strengthen the security. They should spend more on intelligence. The students know what is going on, but sometimes, they are afraid.They need to inculcate the students into the security system of the school. That way, the school would know more about what is going on at a particular time, because it is students that are involved in these things and would relate better with their fellow students in terms of giving information.”

    A 400-Level student of Engineering Tobi Oyewole also called for a more secured campus.

    “It is because the school’s security is not tight, that is why some hoodlums can just enter and kill someone. My lecturer even told me that people hawking fish come into his office to advertise their fish for him and he will be wondering who allowed them inside. It is obvious that UNILAG security is not as tight as the security of an institution should be. Do they search cars? Or even open booths to check the contents? ” he asked.

    However, some other students are satisfied with the Security Unit’s performance, insisting that they are doing their jobs right and students must learn to be responsible for themselves.

    A 400 level English student, called Tobi, said students should not move around late at night.

    “The security men are doing their jobs well enough. What else can they do? It is up to the students to protect themselves and watch their own backs. I was not in school when the incident happened, but I was told it was late at night. It is not very responsible to be seen walking outside at that time, so we all just have to be careful,” she said.

    Another student of Zoology, who simply gave his name as Emmanuel, said the institution is well-secured, as there are security cameras at strategic locations of the institution.

    “The security level is ok, especially when you compare it with that of other schools. At least here, one can walk around the school at anytime and you will still see security guards around,” he said.

    But to Emmanuel, the UNILAG management should provide more lighting.

    “But they can do better by increasing the lighting of some areas of the campus like the area around the Faculty of Education, because it is usually dark at night. Reducing dark corners would reduce security risks. They should also be able to train their security to conduct random searches on people that look suspicious as well as operate a track and monitoring system where the students are monitored from time to time in order to create a pattern that can either point at something suspicious about the students or otherwise,” he said.

    Deputy Registrar, Information Unit, UNILAG, Mr Olagoke Oke, said the student that was killed is not registered with the institution.  However, he said security has been tightened on campus.

    “We are tightening up security within the campus”, he said.

    He advised the students to report any suspicious acts going on around them immediately and to always be careful and watch their backs.

  • Students welcome VC

    The Students Representative Council (SRC) of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has paid a  visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Prof Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, on his appointment.

    Receiving members of the council, the Vice-Chancellor charged them to uphold the good virtues of academic excellence and uprightness that have been the trade mark of every alumnus of ABU.

    He said he was overwhelmed by the visit, assuring that he was ready to give moral and needed support to the activities of the students that would promote the image of ABU in general.

    Maiturare pledged that his doors would remain open for useful suggestions that would help his administration achieve huge success at IBB University.

     

     

     

  • Students cry out over ‘grounded’ van

    Students cry out over ‘grounded’ van

    Students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) are not happy over the condition of their union’s official vehicle. The vehicle has been abandoned for over two months by Students’ Union officials, reports UCHECHUKWU EKWUEME-DURU (400-Level Industrial Technology Education).

    That is the state of the official bus given to the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT MINNA) in Niger State? This is the question students are seeking an answer to from management.

    The condition of the 2000 model Toyota Sienna is generating ripples, following an allegation that it has been in bad shape since the school resumed last year.

    The bus, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, was donated to the union by Governor Aliyu Babangida Muazu three years ago, when the then union leaders had an accident with the 2002 Honda Civic official vehicle.

    Students were prompted to ask questions when the union officials could not use the bus for functions on campus. The bus, students alleged, may have been in bad shape because of improper maintenance.

    Some students claimed that the bus engine has been damaged by the carelessness of union leaders. Some alleged that the bus could not be repaired, adding that this may be why it was abandoned at the Students’ Union office.

    “The current state of this 12-seater bus is not only discouraging, but also annoying,” a Chemistry student said, adding: “The car has been parked and abandoned for two months.”

    When CAMPUSLIFE visited the union building to assess the condition of the vehicle, our reporter found dents on it. A patch of engine oil spread under the vehicle. Also, there was dirt underneath the bus, indicating that it may have been grounded for long. The upholstery was also covered with dirt.

    Students criticised the union officials for poor maintenance, asking the SUG to repair the bus or face students’ wrath.

    A SUG official, Justice Nwaigwe, a 400-Level-Physics student, told CAMPUSLIFE why the bus was abandoned for so long. “We have been explaining to students why the bus is left in the condition it is. We feel the pain more than the rest of our colleagues. We know it does not speak well about the union, especially under our leadership, but we are trying to put things in place. Currently, we are making plans to get a new vehicle for the union. After this is done, we will then look into the condition of the Toyota Sienna bus to know if it can be repaired.”

    Students expressed their grievances on the state of the bus, accusing the union leadership of incompetence.

    Salim Maikudi, a 200-Level Water Resources and Aquaculture Technology student, said: “I don’t know the reason why that van has been parked there since January but no matter the reason, it is not justifiable. I will simply say that it doesn’t portray the union in good light.”

    Andrew Chinaza, a 300-Level Cyber Security Services student, bemoaned the development, saying: “I wonder how our SUG leaders feel when they walk pass that vehicle every day. It is bad to know that the vehicle has been in this poor state for over two months and students have not asked them to repair it. I hope our SUG officials would see reason in this and act on it immediately.”

  • Lecturers, students race for charity

    Lecturers, students race for charity

    Law Students’ Society (LSS) of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), at the weekend, organised a marathon for charity. Over 200 people, including lecturers and students of the Faculty of Law participated in the race held within the campus.

    The LSS president, Cornel Gabriel, said the race was aimed at raising funds for the less-privileged and to make participants to keep.

    He said: “We plan to help the less-privileged living among us by raising funds to take care of their basic needs. We, at the same time, want to make students and lecturers to keep fit, because many have not exercised their bodies for months.

    We cannot overlook the advantage of regular exercise. Even the Holy Book says that exercise profiteth little so that little is important to add to the much that you have. So, that is exactly what we are doing and this is the first of its kind at the Law faculty.”

    Male participants went on three rounds marathon, while their female counterpart went for two rounds across the dedicated perimeter on the campus.

    The winners, Pearl Nwaezeigwe, a 400-Level student and Idowu Lawrence, a 100-Level student, got N10, 000 each. The first ten finalists also went home with prizes.

    Gabriel advised that students and lectures must engage in constant exercise, saying: “A fit person is a sound person.”

    Pearl said she was no expecting to win the female category of the marathon, but said she usually holds a walk at 5am daily.

    For Idowu, it was not an easy task, because the marathon routes were not demarcated. He said he had to swerve between vehicles and other road users during the marathon.

    The event was sponsored by Red Bull, which supplied athletic kits and energy drinks to the participants.