The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Students

  • Students defend SIWES reports

    Students defend SIWES reports

    Students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), have defended their industrial training reports. The defence, which was initially postponed to give adequate time for students, who had not completed their log books, was held at the department.

    Coordinator of the exercise, Mr Patrick Olele, re-scheduled another dates for students whose examiners were unavailable.

    Students who successfully completed their defence took turns to take photographs. One of them, Harrison Okeke, 500-Level Mechanical Engineering, said he was pleased with the conduct of the exercise, adding that he was happy to carry everyone along as the class representative.

    Juliet Ezengwa, a 500-Level Mechanical Engineering, condemned the attitude if her colleagues who downplayed the exercise and went about taking pictures.

  • Students’ leaders sworn in

    Members of the Students’ Union executive of the Kogi State University (KSU) in Ayingba, who were recently elected, have been sworn in.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Hassan Isah, who chaired the swearing-in ceremony, congratulated the students’ leaders and advised them to work as a team to promote the interest of students.

    John Idachaba, the union president, said his agenda was to promote the welfare of students, stressing that his office would be open to suggestions from progressive-minded persons to facilitate growth of the union.

    “Let me put it on record that we shall pursue our mandate with vigour and remain consistent to the delivery of our promises, which include fighting for the rights of students. I know quite well that the best way to appreciate students is to implement the social contract between us,” he said.

    The event was attended by Prof Z. O. Apata, Deputy VC (Administration), Prof Steve Metiboba, Deputy VC (Academics), Mr J.A Zhizhi, Registrar, Benjamin Ogwo, Dean of Student Affairs and students.

  • Students chase out teachers, workers

    Students chase out teachers, workers

    Students of the Edo State School of Nursing yesterday chased out their teachers and other workers to protest the appointment of a new principal.

    The students locked the gate and stopped people from coming in.

    Lectures were paralysed as the placard-carrying students vowed to continue the protest, until their demands are met.

    It was learnt that the new principal was to take over yesterday but the handing-over was disrupted by the students’ protest.

    President of the Student Union Government Anyanbu Johnson said: “The principal will retire today and the government appointed Mrs. Osazuwa, who is the Principal of School of Midwifery as our principal.

    “Our grievance is that she does not have the criteria to be our principal.

    “The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria stipulates that the principal of a nursing school must be a nursing tutor and not a midwifery tutor.

    “We are saying no to the appointment of a midwife. She was the principal of School of Midwifery and the school has not been accredited in the past three years. There are only two students in that school.

    “Our school was also not accredited. We want to speak with the government on this matter.

    “We have qualified lecturers in our school that the government should appoint and not from midwifery that is a specialty under nursing.”

    Another student, Osadolor Marris, said they wanted the government to reverse its decision and work towards the school’s accreditation.

    “We do not have tutors. The nursing council said our hostel must be ready before our school would be accredited,” she said.

    Commissioner for Health Aihanuwa Heregie could not be reached for comments.

    Sources said Mrs. Osazuwa was appointed in an acting capacity, pending when a substantive principal would be named.

  • Students set agenda for new VC

    Students set agenda for new VC

    Students of the Nasarawa State University in Keffi (NSUK) have welcomed the appointment of Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Akaro Mainoma, with request for water and accommodation. KAMALUDDEEN ABUBAKAR and MAKAMA SANI (200-Level Geography) report.

    The appointment by the Nasarawa State Government of Prof Muhammad Akaro Mainoma as the Acting Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Nasarawa State University in Keffi (NSUK) was greeted with excitement by students. To them, the appointment of the new helmsman is historic because it is the first time an indigene of the state would be administering the school.

    But, before the new helmsman could settle down to work, students gave him various tasks to do: they want on-campus accommodation, water and reinstatement of the Students’ Union Government (SUG).

    Prof Mainoma took the mantle of leadership from the immediate past Acting VC, Prof Aminu Mikailu, who replaced the suspended VC, Prof Shamsudeen Amali, under whom a violent protest shook the school because of water shortage. Three students died in controversial circumstances during the protest and the incident led to the closure of the school for months. It was re-opened last year June.

    Students described appointment of Prof Mainoma, who they called an erudite scholar, as a round peg around a hole. Declaring their unalloyed support for the new leadership, the students said Prof Mainoma’s administration could end the challenges they face in accommodation and access to potable.

    Rabi’u Tijani Omame, who was suspended as the president of SUG in the wake of the violence, said the coming of Prof Mainoma was a step in the right direction.

    “The appointment of such an erudite scholar could not have come at a better time than now. It is a welcome development and we are using this opportunity to declare our unalloyed support to his administration in taking the school and its students to higher grounds,” he said.

    Muhammad Abdulbasid, a 400-Level Microbiology student, praised Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura for redeeming the school from academic relegation.

    He said: “Appointment of Prof Mainoma is capable of putting the institution on the threshold of academic development because students know him as visionary scholar. I expect nothing less than excellent performance from him, especially because he is the first indigene of the state to be VC of the school. His priority should be security and solving challenges facing the students.”

    Some students believe Prof Mainoma may have come to face enormous challenges in repositioning the school because, according to them, the immediate past leadership did little or nothing to address the cause of the violence. Water remains a wanted commodity in the school’s Halls of Residence.

    They said the administration of Prof Muka’il did not fare well to solve the problem. Even, the N20 million released by the Federal Government to sink boreholes could not be accounted for. This has compounded the woes of students, who also battle accommodation challenge.

    Ruth Maga, a 200-Level Geography student, said: “I want to believe Prof Mainoma is sent by God to carry out godly assignment in this trying moment. He has a lot to achieve in the course of his assignment because we are still battling with water problem. Whenever there is no supply from the state Water Board, we are left to our fate.”

    Students also want the new management to make efforts to partner with organisations that fund education to provide on-campus accommodation because of biting rent and insecurity in off-campus residences.

    A former SUG official said: “The former acting VC signed an agreement with a private company under Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement for the construction of hostels on the campus. Work is currently ongoing on that and I want the new leadership to ensure continuity in that direction and even work hard to woo more companies and bosies that fund education to alleviate our accommodation problem.”

    On the proscribed students’ unionism, students urged the new VC to unban their union, saying lack of union was compounding their problems. Musa Barau, a student, said: “We are daily being faced with problems but with no organised body to fight for our cause. The challenge now, more than ever before, underscores the need for us to have a constituted students’ union not to only fight for us but also organise us for a purpose which inspires.”

    Prof Mainoma, in a chat with CAMPUSLIFE when the suspended SUG president, Omame, led its officials to his office, said his administration would focus on social and academic development of students, adding: “Students welfare will be my priority; I am appointed here because of students.”

    He also promised to reinstate the students’ union. “I promise to reinstate the students’ union officials and release their operational vehicle. I want to also call on the student to continue to support the administration of Governor Almakura as he is making efforts to build three blocks of hostel in the school.”

     

  • Stop abusing ICT, provost urges new students

    The Acting Provost, Federal College of Agriculture (FCA) Akure, Ondo State, Dr David Akanni, has expressed concern over the abuse of internet usage, particularly the youths.

    Speaking at the 2013/2014 matriculation of new students into the college, the provost noted that even though the social media has helped to improve networking, it has become a serious distraction to many youths.

    “Close to 24 hours, a lot of you are hooked on to facebook,in the process, you lose quality time. With this development, participation in sporting activities has gone down,literary creativity has been abandoned,public lectures participation has become tedious to students,” said Akanni, who was represented by Dr Emmanuel Moyinjesu.

    Besides, Akanni urged the students to shun cultism, examination malpractices, rape, thuggery and other social vices.

    At the ceremony, 256 Higher National and National Diploma(HND and ND) students swore the matriculation.

    The Acting Provost said the event has conferred on them the bonafide membership of the institution and offers them all the rights and privileges recognised by the College Authority.

    He said such rights include obtaining identity card, living in the students’ hostels, right to access information in the library, and inclusion of their names on the college register.

    The Registrar, Dr Pius Adebisi urged the new students to comport themselves and be good ambassadors of the college within and outside the campus.

    He urged them to face their studies squarely in order to have a bright future.

  • Pupils dedicate victory to slain students

    Herbert Macaulay (Blue) House, the winner of the third Inter House Sports Competition of First Foundation Private Schools, Kubwa Abuja has dedicated its victory to victims of Buni Yadi attack.

    According to the House Captain, Master James Odum (pseudonym), the attack by the violent Islamic sect Boko Haram which claimed the lives of 43 students of Federal Government College Buni Yadi, Yobe State in February, was unfortunate.

    The children called for better security for students in the country.

    The captain said: “Our teacher always informs us of what is happening around the world every day.

    “He came in one day and told us that 43 students were killed while sleeping in their hostels.

    “None of us was happy throughout that day and it’s unfortunate.

    “Some of my mates also told us other things about the attack which everybody has condemned.

    “Since then, we have been training hard to make sure that we get a medals in this competition so that we can dedicate it to the dead souls.

    “We are happy that we eventually won the competition and we are dedicating the trophy to the memory of those students that lost their lives untimely.

    “We want government to arrest the evil people that carried out the attack and also provide adequate protection for students everywhere in Nigeria.

    “We were also told that a plane with over 200 passengers has been missing. It’s our prayers that they find it.”

    Earlier in her welcome address, the Proprietor of the school, Mrs Zainab Adeleke had said the third edition of the event was meant to mentally and physically prepare the children for the challenges of the future.

    “We are aware that these impressionable children have to be exposed to sporting activities early enough to aid their growth.

    “Apart from being prepared mentally, the physical fitness of the children is also of great importance to their development in life.

    “That is why we always ensure that we don’t miss this opportunity because we discovered that the children are not only excited about the competition, their academic performance has also been on the rise since the inception of the games,” she said.

    The competition featured various athletic events in 100m; 200m, 400m×4 relay as well as Dress your Partner Catch the bus and Invitational Relay Race by invited schools.

    Pupils from nursery and primary sections of the school participated in the events to the delight of their parents.

    Obafemi Awolowo (Green) House took the rear position while Ahmadu Bello (Yellow) House and Nnamdi Azikiwe (Red) took second and third positions respectively.

  • Four students die in Edo road accident

    Four students of the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State were Friday killed in a road accident.

    The accident occurred at kilometre 12 along Benin-Sapele-Warri express road.

    It was learnt the students were going to Delta State to attend the funeral ceremony of a grandmother of one of their colleague.

    Three died on the spot while one among the five injured died at the Benin Central Hospital.

    One of the victims who gave his name as Collins said they were 14 inside the vehicle including the driver.

    Collins said they had a burst tyre which made the vehicle to somersault.

    Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Mr. Luka Ikpi who confirmed the accident attributed it to over speeding and loss of control.

    He said three persons died and five injured were rescued and taken to the hospital.

    Meanwhile, a primary six pupil of Emokpa Primary School along Upper Forestry road was also Friday electrocuted.

    The pupil was said to be picking dirt’s as a punishment for coming late to school when he mistakenly held onto an exposed wire.

    Witnesses said the wire was cut-off by a wind that accompanied the recent rain.

    The body has been deposited at a mortuary but police spokesman, DSP Moses Eguaveon could not be reached for comments.

  • Union Bank trains students on financial literacy

    Union Bank trains students on financial literacy

    Union Bank of Nigeria (UBN) Plc has chosen St. Mary Private School, Lagos, to promote its financial literacy project in the country. The development ensures that the bank provides a long-term financial literacy support to the school.

    The initiative would help in curbing financial recklessness among students. It would also prepare students for the future and teach them how to imbibe certain values, culture and behaviours, said Emeka Emuwa, Union Bank’s Group Managing Director and Chairman, Financial Literacy and Public Enlightenment Sub-Committee.

    Emuwa, during a visit to the school, said students would be better off with the training when given at a younger age.

    He said: “We are engaging them on savings, culture, entrepreneurship, financial habit and other aspects of financial education. This, we believe, will empower our young’s ones to make sound financial decisions in future thereby achieving our aspiration of financial inclusion in Nigeria. We at Union Bank see opportunities as this, where we are part of the process of educating our children and equipping them for the future, as a privilege.”

    Emuwa said educating children means enlightening the society, adding that children are good at passing information to people of various cadres.

    ”Based on this, a great number of people would be financially literate. Also, the financial inclusion strategy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would achieve its objective of making millions of people access financial services, ‘he added

    The School Supervisor, Rev. Sister Patricia Okwegba, commended the bank for choosing the school as one of the institutions through which it would promote financial literacy.

    Okwegba, who hoped the school is now better informed on financial inclusion, added that the training would help students to be financially prudent.

  • Lawmaker gives bursary to needy students

    Lawmaker gives bursary to needy students

    No fewer than 780 students of tertiary institutions from Badagry Federal Constituency benefitted from the bursary allowance given by a member of House of Representatives, Hon. Rafeequat Onaba-miro, at the Badagry Grammar School, Lagos State.

    She said the gesture was to assist parents to reduce the hardship they face while training their wards at the higher institutions of learning.

    Onabamiro said, having faced similar challenges as a student, one of the ways to give back to society is to assist needy students who struggle to receive an education.

    She noted that the lack of access to education endangers the mind and exposes it to disease. She, however, expressed disappointment that her efforts to better the lots of people have not been well complemented.

    According to her, some structures she provided to make life better for them were compromised. She said: “It is with great sadness I report that despite all counsels given and promises made by recipients of three buses for commercial transportation, these young men have run them aground within a short time.”

    She advised parents to be more responsible in the growth of their wards. “It is very important that parents guide their children because if they are not well trained at home, it will influence their conduct in the public.”

    Onabamiro maintained that the beneficiaries of the bursary award cut across the 20 political wards in her constituency. They were chosen after thorough scrutiny to ascertain that the students were actually in the institutions they claimed. “

    In the last two years and nine months, a number of economic programmes, financial and humanitarian services have been rendered for the benefit of our people. It is my hope that these programmes have bought about a positive economic return to the beneficiaries.”

    One of the beneficiaries, Sule Sego said the bursary will assist most of the students because things were really difficult. “What our House of Representatives member has done is a big relief to some of us, who are struggling to remain in the school.

    She has demonstrated that the progress of Badagry youths is in her mind.” He urged other politicians to come to the aid of youths who deserve assistance not only in their educational pursuit but setting up small-scale businesses as part of a measure to arrest the escalating insecurity in the country.

  • Lawmaker gives bursary to needy students

    Lawmaker gives bursary to needy students

    No fewer than 780 students of tertiary institutions from Badagry Federal Constituency benefitted from the bursary allowance given by a member of House of Representatives, Hon. Rafeequat Onaba-miro, at the Badagry Grammar School, Lagos State.

    She said the gesture was to assist parents to reduce the hardship they face while training their wards at the higher institutions of learning.

    Onabamiro said, having faced with a similar challenges as a student, one of the ways to give back to the society is to assist needy students who struggle to receive education. She noted that the lack of access to education endangers the mind and exposes it to disease.

    She, however, expressed disappointment that her efforts to better the lots of people have not been well complemented. According to her, some structures she provided to make life better for them were compromised.

    She said: “It is with great sadness I report that despite all counsels given and promises made by recipients of three buses for commercial transportation, these young men have run them aground within a short time.”

    She advised parents to be more responsible in the growth of their wards. “It is very important that parents guide their children because if they are not well trained at home, it will influence their conduct in the public.”

    Onabamiro maintained that the beneficiaries of the bursary award cut across the 20 political wards in her constituency. They were chosen after a thorough scrutiny to ascertain that the students were actually in the institutions they claimed.

    “In the last two years and nine months, a number of economic programmes, financial and humanitarian services have been rendered for the benefit of our people. It is my hope that these programmes have bought about positive economic return to the beneficiaries.”

    One of the beneficiaries, Sule Sego said the bursary will assist most of the students because things were really difficult. “What our House of Representatives member has done is a big relief to some of us, who are struggling to remain in the school. She has demonstrated that the progress of Badagry youths is in her mind.”

    He urged other politicians to come to the aid of youths who deserve assistance not only in their educational pursuit but setting up small scale businesses as part of measure to arrest the escalating insecurity in the country.