The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Students

  • Hijab: Muslim students insist on trial

    The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos Council, has urged an Ikeja Lagos  High Court, to proceed with the hearing of its case against the state government on  the wearing of hijab by female students in public schools. The society made the request through its counsel Mr. Gani Adetola-Kazeem (SAN) before Justice Modupe Onyeabo.

    At the resumed hearing, counsel to the MSSN, Mr. Adetola-Kasim (SAN), argued that the state had several times requested for time to work out settlement terms, but nothing was forthcoming.

    He submitted that prior to the yesterday’s  date, he had written to the state Attorney-General to intimate him of the matter, but there was no response.

    He, therefore, asked the court to proceed  on hearing the case, since according to him, the state government had not responded to a proposal for terms of settlement sent since last year when the matter was filed.

    Adetola- Kazeem urged the judge to let the case proceed to hearing in next adjourned date as it affects the fundamental rights of the students and of high public interest, which cannot wait any longer.

    The government through its counsel,  Mr. Samuel Ajanaku, had pleaded with the court  to grant further adjournment  to settle out of court with the society over the  ban on wearing of Hijab by female Muslim students in primary and secondary schools.

    Mr. Samuel Ajanaku told the court that the delay from the government to work out a reasonable term of settlement and present same to the court was due to bureaucracy in the system.

    He, therefore, urged Justice Onyeabo to grant further adjournment to enable both parties conclude on the settlement terms.

    Justice Onyeabo granted the request of the state and adjourned the case till April 24, 2014.

    The Muslim Student Society of Nigeria(MSSN) had dragged the state government to court over the ban of hijab in public schools in the state.

    In the suit they argued  that the ban by the state violates their fundamental human rights.

    The applicants are also contending that banning female students from using Hijab on or outside the premises of any educational institution in Lagos State “is wrongful and unconstitutional”.

     

  • Ibadan poly lecturers call off strike

    Members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), The Polytechnic Ibadan chapter, on Monday  called off  its two months-old  strike.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the union went on strike on Dec. 30, 2013 over various demands, including under funding of the institution.

    Other demands were proper constitution of the Governing Council and payment of  the 40 per cent balance of hazard allowance which management promised to pay since 2013.

    The union also  demanded  the appointment of a substantive rector  which the state government had already done.

    The Registrar of the institution,  Mr Hezekiah Fehintola, in a statement made available to NAN on Monday  confirmed that the institution resumed after a fruitful meeting with the new Rector, Prof. Olatunde Fawole.

    Fehintola added that arrangement  had been put in place for students to resume in all campuses immediately.

    NAN reports that students were seen receiving lectures on Monday during a  visit to  the campus.

    Miss Ebulomo Ariremako  of the Department of Office Technology  said she was excited when the union called off the strike.

    “I have been praying for the resumption because I was just at home doing nothing,’’ she said.

    Miss Olayemi Adewole, a student in the Geology Department, expressed concern that the strike had  affected the academic session.

    “Although I was not happy with the strike; I was busy  sewing clothes  with my mother which reduced the  boredom,’’ she said.

    Mr Adegoke Sharafa  of the Civil Engineering Department expressed the hope that academic work in the institution would continue uninterrupted  since a new rector and registrar had  been appointed.

    “Now that a new rector and registrar had  been appointed, I expect a good academic session for our institution,’’ he said.

    The ASUP Chairman, Mr Adebayo Phillips,  also confirmed to NAN that the union had called off its strike  while lectures had commenced immediately. (NAN)

  • NDDC hostel excites students

    NDDC hostel excites students

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has completed a 174-room Hall of Residence for students of the Federal University of Technology in Owerri (FUTO), Imo State. MOHAMMED SANI (400-Level Public Health) reports.

    It is bigger and imposing,” Jacinta Izuaka, a 300-Level student of Food Science Technology of the Federal University of Technology in Owerri (FUTO), Imo State, said after the commissioning of the ultra-modern hostel built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the institution. “It certainly has more spaces than the existing hostels on our campus,” she added.

    Jacinta was expressing the mind of students when the 174-room hostel was opened for use last week. For the NDDC, the occasion was a defining moment because it was delivering on its mandate.

    NDDC Chairman Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw led members of the commission to the university to open the building. Ewa-Henshaw said the commission would step up its partnership with higher institutions in the Niger Delta to promote quality education.

    He said the hostel would provide a conducive learning environment and help students in their studies.

    The NDDC Managing Director, Mr Bassey Dan-Abia, spoke about the agency’s contributions to educational development. He said since human capital development tops the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, the commission would strive to provide infrastructure that would help achieve the goal.

    He said: “One of this administration’s policies for the development of education is the provision of infrastructure to stop over-crowding of students and increase access to decent accommodation, in line with the millennium development goals. We are working to achieve this aim.”

    On how it is assisting other agencies, Ewa- Henshaw said the commission provided science equipment to secondary schools, retrained 500 science teachers and 225 principals and vice principals for capacity enhancement in schools management and administration.

    He said: “We will, in line with President Jonathan’s directive, consistently complete and deliver many more projects for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta in the coming months and years. Particularly, more hostel projects will be embarked on for the benefit of our students in universities across the region.”

    Ewa-Henshaw announced the approval of the university’s request for a 500KVA electric transformer and generator for the hostel.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chigozie Asiabaka, said NDDC had fulfilled its mandate of facilitating the rapid and sustainable development of the Niger Delta with the projects. He praised the commission for delivering the hostel, and requested for more facilities.

    President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) Godson Okeke said the new hostel had given students a reason to believe in the government and the commission. “We have thoroughly inspected the project and we certify that it is worthy to be occupied by our students,” he said.

    Uchenna Ohalete, national secretary of Igbo Youths Ambassadors, described the edifice as a well-thought out initiative. He said: “This is one of the biggest projects in FUTO. It will enhance the welfare of the students and go a long way in alleviating the problems they encounter in securing hostel accommodation.”

    The traditional ruler of Dindi-Ihiagwa in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state, Eze Kinsley Eze-Odu, described the hostel as a “jumbo edifice” that would elevate the status of the university. “As the Eze of the institution’s host community, I am not Oliver Twist but I must ask for more facilities to help the university authorities to properly manage the increasing students’ population,” he said.

    The state-of-the-art hostel has a 696 bed space and amenities for occupants’ convenience. The building has a big water tank linked to a solar-water treatment plant.

    Other facilities include super markets, cybercafé, games rooms and rooms for physically-challenged students.

  • Peaceful students, trouble-shooting parents

    Peaceful students, trouble-shooting parents

    With the furore that accompanied the decision of students of Baptist High School, Iwo, to wear different, albeit unapproved school uniform(s) to school recently, reflecting their religious beliefs, one would have thought that the school and indeed the entire community would be on fire.

    But on February 10, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola chose to visit and douse the tension, everywhere and everything were calm. The semi urban town was as usual quiet, so also was the secondary school that grabbed the headlines in the media recently for the wrong reason.

    By 7:45 a.m. when The Nation arrived at the sprawling premises of one of the most popular schools in Southwest, most of the teachers were already at work but the majority gathered in twos and threes, silently discussing the expected event of the day.

    Wearing curious looks, the teachers and the five principals in the school attempted to carry out the instruction of the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary for the area (Osun West), Mr Adisa Olabamiji, to convene a single general assembly for all the students in the school. They were expecting the governor who pledged to visit the school for a peace meeting with all stakeholders in the crisis to address the general assembly.

    A total of 92 students had worn unapproved uniforms to school the week before to create chaos and attract the attention of the world to the uniform crisis rocking the ongoing reform in the secondary education system. While some wore church choir robes, some came to school in traditional egungun (masquerade) costume, stirring tension and controversy on the propriety of the school uniform policy of the state.

    But on this Monday morning, the students were in their normal joyous mood as they clutched to each other, trooping into the compound in large number. Unlike their teachers, the presence of some adults who converged inside the school compound near the gate, did not change the students’ mood. They were friends, colleagues and manifested no sign of segregation.

    This was conveyed in the way non-Muslim students clutched to their hijab-wearing Muslim friends and the happiness expressed in the way they exchanged banters as they walked into the compound. Obviously, to them, there was neither threat nor trouble. Peace could be read on their faces while they bubbled in friendship spirit. To the students, all was fine!

    They all appeared in the approved uniform distributed to them by the state government. With common chocolate brown trousers, skirt, shorts or pinafore as appropriate, the students donned yellow or gold colour top to match, with a beret to differentiate the schools. Female Muslims students, however, wore hijab as a mark of their religious belief.

    After a short period of foot-dragging, the bell for assembly rang at exactly 8:10 a.m. but the students did not gather quickly. It took them another 10 minutes before they responded to the call for assembly. At that time, suspicion was filling the air on the turn which the planned event would take as the crowd of adults at the gate was swelling.

    Then, the Tutor-General addressed the assembly. He told them that the state government meant well with the new policy, adding that the mega-school being constructed would accommodate most of the high school students in the area. He highlighted some of the specific aspects of the policy aimed at making the students better adults in the future. Mr. Olabamiji urged them to show understanding with the government and maximise the opportunities being offered them.

     

    The school

     

    Baptist High School, Iwo was established in 1955 by the Nigerian Baptist Convention. It was a first-class secondary school with full boarding facilities. Located in the then serene Adeeke area of Iwo but development later expanded the town to the location.

    It has produced several renowned personalities and carries the name of the Baptist church high. In spite of the take-over of all mission schools by the government in 1976, members of the church and the alumni still see Baptist High School, Iwo as a missionary school of sort.

     

    Build up to the event

     

    As the assembly was going on, the crowd of locals made up of parents and government officials began to grow steadily. At 12:27 pm, the helicopter conveying the governor appeared on he sky an appearance that threw the students into a frenzy of jubilation. They screamed and jumped as they moved towards the direction where the chopper was to land. They criss-crossed the lines they had formed to usher him into the open field, venue of the meeting, flouting directive of security agents. But they were not punished. It was emotional!

    A minute later, the green helicopter marked 5N BLI, touched ground. The ecstasy, particularly among the students and locals was palpable. They pressed towards the governor as they screamed: “Ogbeni, Ogbeni,” waving their hands.

    Aregbesola did not disappoint them. He also waved as soon as he became visible through the helicopter’s window in his school uniform. With a broad smile, he alighted from the copter and was led by security agents towards the waiting crowd. The governor ignored the thick dust generated from the preponderance of legs marching the graded piece of land as he trudged into the thick crowd. They massed him in ecstasy. It was a rousing welcome at its best!

    Then, the meeting commenced. It was an outpouring of emotion.

    After the opening prayer by representatives of the Christian, Muslim and traditional worshippers communities, the Secretary, Iwo Local Government, Alhaji Kamardeen Alao, welcomed the governor and members of his cabinet.

    Hailing Aregbesola for the systematic way he handled the crisis, he recalled that the deputy governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, had visited the town to discuss with warring religious leaders but that it was good that the governor eventually came.

    He prayed for peace to continue to reign in the town and lauded the Aregbesola administration for the production of the learning tablet dubbed “Opon Imo.”

    Giving the reasons for the meeting, the Tutor-General, Mr Olabamiji, explained that the parley was to find a lasting solution to the crisis and to distribute Opon Imo to the students. He reiterated the need for peace to reign in schools and to support the Aregbesola administration.

    According to him, “our governor observed that poor results have been emanating from our schools. He was not happy. That is the reason he has been introducing several reforms in the education sector including appointing a principal as a Permanent Secretary (PS). It has never happened in the history of this state. With the many reforms, teachers are now working harder because they are happier and students are doing better in public examinations.

    “Eight days ago, trouble started in this school but we thanked God that our intervention changed things. We have held several peace meetings including the one called by governor last week. This is the biggest peace meeting.

    “This government believes that we are all one and religion should not tear us apart. Hence, he brought the government here to have a face-to-face meeting with stakeholders. Christians were not represented at the Osogbo meeting, hence, Aregbesola decided to come down here.”

    The PS disclosed that the school has a total of 2,123 students including 479 students in Senior Secondary School 3 (SS3).

    The Deputy Governor who also doubles as the Commissioner for Education, Laoye-Tomori explained that the gathering was not a political meeting but that people should not be surprised to see the crowd because Aregbesola has a magnetic pull.

    Addressing the crisis, she said: “The governor watched how some students came to school in unconventional uniform. But as a father to all, he directed that none of them should be punished. He has invited their parents and had a successful meeting with them on Friday. His coming (here today) is to broke permanent peace. Both the students and the parents are here.

    “For us in the Osun State, the importance we attach to education makes us put education in the front burner. We are determined to produce true leaders of tomorrow. That is why we provide appropriate tools and facilities that enhance learning. We always work for peace in our schools and everywhere in Osun. (And) in furtherance of the technology-based education, the governor will distribute Opon Imo to our students here today.”

    The Deputy-Governor sued for peace and love among students. “Let parents also lead in showing love,” she said.

    As the programme progressed, religious leaders were called upon to present their positions on the issue. First to speak was the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Iwo, Rev. Dr. Bayo Ademuyiwa.

    Ademuyiwa said, the Christian community, most of who are the parents were pained by the troubles emanating in the school system. Emphasising that the troubles are unnecessary, he said Christians would continue to reject wearing of unconventional uniform to school.

    “We are pained that unnecessary issues are troubling our education. CAN says ‘No’ to wearing of unconventional uniform. Our governor sees equity. He is not partial. We think the governor should make a statement on this. Christian children began to wear unconventional uniforms when they realised that their counterparts in other religions wore it without being punished.

    “At the meeting with the governor, religious leaders agreed that no child should wear unconventional uniform. Our children didn’t wear it today because we prevailed on them while Muslims wore theirs.

    “Christians want equity. Please define conventional uniform for all of us,” he said.

    He, however, charged students to concentrate on their studies, and not the uniform issue.

    In their presentation, spokesman for the Muslim community, Sheik Idris Mogaji, pointed out that Western education experienced delayed growth in Iwo in the early times because Muslims discovered that many of their children that went to school abandoned the religion for Christianity. “We are not interested in using force. We are just following the Qur’an. We support the government and its activities,” he said. He also alleged that Muslims are always criticised for sticking to the precepts of the Qur’an.

    In their presentation, spokesperson of the traditionalists Miss Ifawole Anifalaje, simply declared: “We are for peace and traditional religion does not support violence.” She thereafter pronounced a lengthy blessing on the gathering and the entire state.

    The representative of the Oluwo-in-Council, Chief Akeem Oyebimpe Bello, sued for peace among all stakeholders. He admonished students to concentrate on their studies and reject offer to be used as cannon fodders.

    He said: “Children, pay more attention to your studies than any other thing. The future belongs to you and education is what will help you to fulfill your dreams in life. This generation of your parents would soon grow old. This problem is age-long in Iwo. It was muffled by previous governors. We have held meetings with leaders of the two religions and we believe this administration will resolve it once and for all.”

    SS3 students in the school were given the Opon Imo by the Deputy Governor. She disclosed that government was working towards distributing 150,000 copies of the tablet across the state.

    Two of their representatives, Samuel Aremu and Mutiyat Bashir, expressed gratitude to the governor for the tablets. They also appealed to parents to allow them concentrate on their studies by shunning any action that is capable of causing chaos in the schools.

    Samuel said: “We students have no problem among ourselves. Those misbehaving are being sponsored by their parents. Parents, let peace reign.”

    “We are not happy about this chaos. We beg our parents to let peace reign. We can’t concentrate on our studies in an atmosphere of chaos. Government, please do something about it,” Bashir said.

    Addressing the crowd, Aregbesola, after singing three Yoruba songs that emphasised the importance of education, told the audience that he attended school in a local community but thanked God for taking him to his current position.

    “I came to address you children, especially. This is the only platform for you to become great in life. You can be great if you pay attention to your studies and work hard. That is why we take education seriously. No state takes education as seriously as the Osun State. I want to advise you to face your studies. Your future is important to us. Let our investments on you show.

    “When you see us running up and down, it is because we want you to have a great future. Don’t let such ugly incident recur. Wise people don’t show protest in a way that will destroy the society. When they push you, don’t push yourselves.

    “For efficiency, we divided school management into three with three Tutors-General as heads. We have also employed over 10,000 teachers, 58 per cent of the number of teachers we inherited. We give free food and fruits, all with a view to improving the quality of education in the state. We can only be proud to see you succeed. Don’t let us regret what we are doing. We are building excellent schools. It is all because of you and future generations. We have paid N400 million for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examination this year. We spent N850 million yearly to remove the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) levy. This government has good plan for you.”

    The governor disclosed that a section of the society went to court over the matter because the government is neutral. He said the government could not go further on the issue pending the determination of the case. But he emphasised; “Those inciting people against us will fail.”

    Aregbesola declared: “I have decided to visit you today after I heard about a little misunderstanding and consequent bad behaviour by a very tiny number among you, which does not by any stretch of the imagination approximate the spirit of amity and scholarship in this school and even the community. The manner in which you have all received me has put a lie to the antics of mischief makers, who made futile bid to impress upon the whole world that this school and indeed Iwo town are on the verge of civil war.

    “On the contrary, what I have seen are happy students in gay mood willing to project the Omoluabi ethos and looking to the future with great hope. This indeed is our desire for you. Our philosophy of education is the creation of the total man, a man who is physically, intellectually, morally and spiritually equipped to contribute to societal development. This is a man who views his acquisition and life attainment as instruments in the service of society and improvement of fellow citizens. This new person stands confident and radiates love to fellow human beings and is never threatened by other people who are different from him or her in some respects.

    “Education is the means by which this new man is produced. Our interest in education even goes further. The world is now a rapidly changing place. Knowledge has become the basis of power and no longer the old notions of large territory, large army, large human population and large deposits of material resources.

    “The most powerful nations are those that know how to use resources and trade in knowledge. Our world is now controlled by those who know technology and not those who have it. It means in essence that a nation that knows how to manufacture cars, tractors and nuclear weapons is superior to those who merely have the money to buy them. The former is the master while the later is a mere servant.

    As we are, we are already marginalised in that world and our pie will further shrink in the future if we do not prepare our youth to compete favourably in that imminent future. We are therefore preparing those who will be political leaders, scientists, clergies, diplomats, inventors, captains of industries and leaders in all respects in the next 20 years, at least.”

     

    Education: before and now

     

    The governor rolled out data on steps taken and policies introduced so far to address the poor state of education. He enjoined all stakeholders to support the efforts aimed at putting the state on the world map, particularly in the area of teaching and learning and its attendant harvests.

    His words: “Let me briefly intimate you with our commitment to education since our inauguration three years ago. The first thing we did was to convoke an education summit which was attended by eminent stakeholders in education, including Prof. Wole Soyinka. The reforms we have carried out emanate from the summit. We realised that there was shortage of teachers and as of now, we have employed 10,407 teachers in all categories of schools. We now have a total number of 12,715 teachers in primary schools and 7,848 teachers in secondary schools. This is 54.8 per cent more than we inherited. We have also employed 564 non-teaching staff in schools.

    The salaries and pensions we consequently pay every year is N16.8 billion for primary school teachers while N10.3 billion is expended on same in secondary schools. So, on salary alone, we are spending a total of N27.1 billion. For the free school uniforms we gave to pupils, we have spent N900 million. For the free school feeding programme, we commit N3.6 billion every year. For the furniture supplied to the schools, we have committed N2.5 billion. Before we came, no school had instructional materials and again, on this, we have spent N503 million. The total grants to schools stand at N856 million against N122 million recorded for previous administration. We have also paid N400 million for WAEC fees against N38 million paid by previous administration.

    We have spent so far N1.2 billion on Opon Imo and this includes the delivery of 50,000 units of the tablets, some of which will be distributed in this school today. We have spent N14.4 billion on capital projects so far for the construction of brand new 13 elementary schools, 14 middle schools and 12 high schools. Work is ongoing. We have also spent N1.6 billion on school renovations and will continue until all our schools are all centres of excellence.

    The total recurrent annual expenditure on elementary schools is N21 billion, amounting to N84,000 per capital spending on each pupil while for secondary schools, it is N13.43 billion and per capital of N30,000 on each pupil. Our capital expenditure on all schools stands at N31.31 billion.

    We are not just bandying figures. These are good money spent and reflected on increased school enrolment and healthy and well-fed school children; in the cutting edge instrument of Opon Imo; in conducive environment for learning; and in drastically improved performance in internal and national examinations. They are reflected in brand new uniforms; in fulfilled teachers who now have instructional aid for the first time; in promptly paid salaries; and ultimately in self assured youths bracing up with confidence to the future.

    Beyond our financial commitment, we have invested hope in you; the hope that you will realise your greatest potentials and be a winner in your life endeavour; the hope that you will redeem our future that looked bleak hitherto. You cannot let us down. It is our hope that Nobel Laureates; renowned clergies like Pastors Adeboye and Kumuyi; Imams like Sheik Adelabu; army generals like Petinrin; great entertainers like Moses Adejumo (Baba Sala), Kareem Adepoju (Baba Wande) and King Sunny Ade; inventors like Prof. Makanjuola; eminent jurists like Kayode Esho and Emmanuel Ayoola; astute diplomats like Hastrup and Fafowora; and great politicians like Bola Ige.

    I want you to know that our concern for you is getting the best education available. You should, therefore, avoid distractions and indiscipline. We view you all as created equal by God and are therefore our shining stars. We cannot place any group above other.”

     

    Government’s position on the crisis

     

    Aregbesola insisted that a pending case against the government on the case renders it incapacitated to act further.

    “We are a product of the rule of law and this has guided all our actions. As we have said in the past, we have not approved the use of hijab in any school. Let me repeat this again for the hearing of mischief-makers who have been working tirelessly to bring religious war to our state; those prompting chaos and conflagration in our state; those who have well established antecedent of violent behaviour; those sowing the seed of discord in our schools and community and inciting one religion against another (and they will all fail miserably by the grace of the Almighty), that the government did not at any time approve the use of hijab in any school, before the matter went to court. It is the court’s position that the status quo ante be maintained until the case is determined. This means that where it is in use, it will be maintained and it should not be extended to where it is not. This is the beauty of democracy, where there is respect for the rule of law.

    We have set up a committee on discipline in public school and when we receive their report, we shall begin to enforce discipline in all schools. The future we are preparing you for has no place for unruly and undisciplined persons. Order, they say, is the first law in Heaven.

    Yoruba people have a tradition of accommodation and inclusion; that is why our families are interwoven around all religions. Some people, goaded from hell, however, are working to break our bond of unity by beating the drum of religious war. They will fail and only they and their families will dance to that evil beat,” Aregbesola concluded. He, thereafter, set up a six-man committee headed by Barr. Gbadegesin Adeseji. The committee has one week to examine the crisis and submit its recommendations

     

  • Students battle diarrhoea

    Students battle diarrhoea

    Did 35 students of Ekiti State University (EKSU) catch diarrhoea from the water they took? The students claimed it was from the water, but the producer is denying their claim.OLATUNJI AWE (300-Level Political Science) reports.

    Ekiti State University (EKSU) students and a water producer are trading words over the ailment of some students. The students, who live in Satellite Phase I and II and Osekita, in the state capital, were said to have caught diarrhoea after taking different brands of sachet water.

    At the time of this report, more than 36 students had been admitted into the university’s health centre. No fewer than six patients are treated daily. “The disease spreads quickly and it is sending more students to the health centre; some have gone home for treatment,” Omowunmi Olayinka, a 400-Level English and Literary Studies student, said.

    The students accused water firms of producing unhygienic water, wondering whether they were certified by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    Some students visited a producer in Osekita students’ area and met with the owner, who vouched for his company’s integrity. His company, he said, operated under a “very hygienic condition”. He denied that his company produced the contaminated water.

    He was quoted as saying: “I can categorically state that we have been following due process in the production of sachet water and I can prove this by taking you into the factory to see with your eyes. We can go further by you taking sample of our products from different places in the factory for hygienic test in a place of your choice.”

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the students were not satisfied with this explanation. They reportedly told the producer to visit the campus clinic to see victims, who complained of stomach upset and ask them how they contacted the diarrhea.

    “We are not here to destroy the reputation of your company, but we would appreciate it if you stop the production and distribution of the sachet water until it is proven that your product is not the cause of the outbreak of diarrhoea. We are not against your business, but we would appreciate if you go with us to the university health centre to see the victims and confirm from them,” a victim, Abdulrasheed Bello, a 200-Level student, reportedly told the producer.

    He followed the students to the health centre and met with an official of the clinic. The official reportedly told him: “We have had over 20 cases of students who have been discharging excessively, having severe stomach upset and other symptoms of diarrhoea.”

    In an interview with CAMPUSLIFE, a matron shed light on the cause of the disease, which she said may not be unconnected with the unhygienic lifestyle of students “who never wash their hands after using the toilet”. She said such negligence could cause diarrhoea.

    The producer said the disease could also be caused by retailers, who he said, may be selling products they had stored during the protracted Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

    Folake Alomilagba, a 200-Level Economics student, said: “I can recall that a lecturer mentioned a woman in the school area who sells sachet water she stored in her shop during the ASUU strike.”

    Another victim, who is a 100-Level student, said: “I did not take the sachet water they alleged to have caused the diarrhoea. I took a different brand of sachet water and before I knew what was going on, I had severe stomach upset and was terribly stooling . On getting here, the nurses said I needed treatment.”

    The school has launched an investigation into the matter. Its Chief Security Officer, Captain Augustine Ajayi (rtd), and Reverend Father Olaogun of the Department of Sociology told students to collect samples of all sachet water sold around the school for laboratory test. CAMPUSLIFE gathered that NAFDAC could be invited to conduct the test.

    “Refuting the “producer’s claim of high standard”, Kolawole Jide, a 400-Level Economics student and Students’ Union Government (SUG), presidential aspirant, said: “The company’s water sachet does not carry production and expiry dates.”

  • Students honour Odegbami

    Students honour Odegbami

    The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, has organised a seminar for students on maximising career prospects in sports.

    Former Green Eagles – the name the national team bore before it became known as the Super Eagles– star Chief Segun Odegbami took the students through practical ways of combining sports and studies to achieve success.

    He advised them to be focused, saying: “My message to you today is to be the best version of who you are. All you need to do is to act in a manner you want yourself to be in the future.”

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Femi Mimiko, who was represented by his Deputy, Prof Rotimi Ajayi, praised the union for organising the programme.

    “We are sponsoring 95 athletes to the Nigerian University Games(NUGA) this year and hopefully, they will come back with gold medals. We have improved the state of our sporting facilities. Our gymnasium is second to none in this country and we are about building another football pitch. I think the students’ union have done a good job by bringing up such an event that will educate our students on the opportunities in sports,” he stated.

    The programme was attended by Nigerian athlete, Omolara Omotosho, Hon Lawrence Adegbeyigbe, Director of Sports, Ondo State. The students presented award to Chief Odegbami.

  • Scholarship for 50 students

    Scholarship for 50 students

    At its launch in August last year, Louis Carter Foundation, Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area, Anambra State paid the hospital bills of many indigent patients in the area. Now, 50 bright but financially weak students have benefitted from the foundation’s public spirit, having been given scholarship.

    There are criteria for selecting beneficiaries. Bright but financially weak students will be assisted to pursue their education, the foundation announced at the 60th birthday anniversary of the foundation’s chairman, Chief Louis Izuchukwu Onwugbenu, who also chairs the Louis Carter Group Limited.

    On that occasion he handed over magnificent school building to St Louis Nursery/Primary and Secondary Schools as well as handed over her daughter in marriage. He was a happy man and many taught he was just speaking for speaking sake until penultimate week he summoned students across Nigeria for the scholarship.

    He also handed over a three storey ultra modern school building for St Louis Nwafor Uruagu Primary school to Bishop of Nnewi Diocese , Most Reverend Hillary Okeke as a gift to mark his 60 years birthday.

    He said the gesture was to alleviate the sufferings and predicament of the poor but academically and intellectually endowed students to enable them leverage on the condition they found themselves for the betterment of their families.

    Onwugbenu, an industrialist par excellence announced that 23 Senior Secondary 1 students  (SSS1) and 20 university undergraduates successfully emerged to benefit from the foundations scholarship scheme for the 2013/2014 academic session. He said the health , job creation , wealth creation and feed the poor schemes as well as other arms of the foundation are all active and have their programmes running too.

    Louis Carter Foundation according to Onwugbenu gives students at the secondary school level 25,000 per student per session while each undergraduate received N100,000 per session.

    The money were handed over to the beneficiaries not without a food for thought that he had a humble beginning, hence they should be mindful of the essence of the support and make their families proud with good grades and sound character, informing them that he had traveled round the world, an experience he said had exposed him to know the importance of education. He told them his money would have tripled had he sound education at is initial stages in life.

    “There can be a world leader from you. The President of the United States of America, Barak Obama is of African origin. There is nothing you can do successfully without education. You have the opportunity to study now. Avoid bad peer group who might lead you astray in the course of your study. We will not hesitate to drop anybody found wanting. I am ready to train you to any level and even if I’m not there my son will take over from me,” Chief Onwugbenu advised the students.

    He reminded that success without succession is failure hence he is bringing up his son to step into his shoes to contribute in making more families proud and informed that the foundation had been doing charity unofficially for many years but only started official documentation of its activities in the last two years before officially inaugurating a board for it.

    Complimenting the speech, Chairman of the foundation, Lady J. N. Nwangwu said progress of the students would be monitored as they enjoyed the largesse. She explained that one of the reasons for the foundation was to promote academic excellence among its beneficiaries who would be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of humanity and society.

    She also explained that parts of the mission were to train the students to acquire relevant life skills for higher education and meaningful living, to provide an enabling environment for competitive spirit among the students as well as inculcate sound morals to them.

    Nwangwu described the founder as a believer in human capital development which she said was the reason for his (Chief Onwugbenu’s) deep interest in education.

    “He has awarded countless number of scholarships to indigent students from primary schools to post-graduate levels. Also this passion for providing quality education to the less privileged compelled him to build primary and secondary schools in the premises of St Louis Catholic Church, Uruagu, Nnewi,” Lady Nwangwu concluded.

    She said the vision of the foundation is , ‘’to alleviate the sufferings and predicament of the poor but academically and intellectually endowed. To promote academic excellence among the beneficiaries of the foundation who will be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of humanity and the society.

    While the mission is to ensure that, ”the students to be trained to acquire relevant life skills for higher education and meaningful living in the society and to provide enabling environment for competitive spirit among the students of the foundation as well as to inculcate sound morals among the beneficiaries’’.

    In her speech , the Chairman of Anambra State Post Primary School Services Commission (PPSSC) Board also known as state Education Commission, Lady Joy Ulasi described Louis Carter as a philanthropist who wants Nnewi to be known more as an academic community apart from commerce and industry for which it is already known.

    She told the beneficiaries that the reward for hardwork was more work “and if you work hard no challenge will overwhelm you. Aspire to achieve the best, aim to live up to expectations. Remember to whom more is given much is expected and that is more reason you should fully use the opportunity given to you.”

    In a speech one of the earlier beneficiaries of the Louis Carter foundation, Master Ike Chukwuemeka expressed their inestimable gratitude to Sir Louis Carter Onwugbuenu  known also as Okpata-Ozuo-Ora Nnewi.

    Chukwuemeka expressed shock that despite volatile economic situation of the country , the foundation was so magnanimous in charity as many of them least expected to be partakers having not come from Nnewi and thanked the foundation for getting beneficiaries from across the country.

    ‘’ We are all like viable seeds which you, a great former have cultivated in his large and fertile land which is devoid of weeds, pests and rodents with a very favorable weather. I want to pose this question to everybody here; can anything stop these viable seeds from growing? No! Lucidly is what everyone has on his or her lip as an answer to this question and so shall it be. We shall all assembly here one day m celebration of the various successes we have achieved. However, if nothing can stop these seeds from growing, what about Daddy’s biological children? I strongly believe that they have already made it and God will not fail lo continue working in daddy’s vineyard even as he is working in that of others’’.

    But another beneficiary, Chiagozie Cynthia Okonkwo of Umumejiaku Uruagu Nnewi described Chief Louis Izuchukwu Onwugbenu as a philanthropist par excellence and thanked God for granting them the opportunity to be trained by Louis Carter.

    ‘’However gratitude they say is the least of the virtues and ingratitude the highest of the vices, sequel to this, we wish to present our unalloyed gratitude to our esteemed philanthropist. We still find it difficult to believe that we are the first beneficiaries of your philanthropy. Bearing in mind that knowledge is power and the greatest legacy you choose to educate youths than to invest your money in some other material things.

    ‘’Sincerely speaking, it is only one all out of thousand that can stand such challenge of picking up the less privileged parents in our society who in one way or the other have found if difficult to train their children. You have therefore become the hope of the hopeless, the eyes of the blind and the dream of those dream were dead. If we have the opportunity to advise the Elites of this community, we will suggest that they should borrow a leaf from Chief Louis Izuchukwu Onwugbenu’’.

    The first son of Louis Carter , Emeka Onwugbenu  assured that the foundation would be sustained even after his father and after himself as it was properly deliberated on as a family foundation to reach out before instituting hence everybody is contributing to the foundation’s sustenance.

    He said it was not easy to moot a concept and live to witness the actualisation, and that the foundation board of trustees would do a good job.

    He said: “I am very confident that they would do a good job to ensure the right people benefit and the foundation achieves the mission and vision of establishing it in the first place.  The foundation is laid in such a way that it would outlive my father and myself.”

    He informed that the   both indigenes and non-indigenes resident in Uruagu were considered during selection of beneficiaries and students that passed JSSCE Exams preparing for SSI as well as students found to be really indigent  through information ascertained from teacher, school authorities and parents with academic excellence as the attarction.

    On the undergraduates , he said students that gained admission into higher institution were asked to present their Admission letter whether indigenes or not but resident in Uruagu as well as students found to be really indigent with information ascertained from teachers, school authorities and parents and academic excellence as his or her core competent.

    He said having passed through rigorous management training from his father that he would not fail in his expectations both at the company and in the foundation but called for prayers as God is the center stage of whatever they are doing.

    The list of the students and their names showed that many are studying  Engineering and many are not from Anambra state like Onyima Michael from Ebonyi state and Iwoanya Chinonso from Imo state among others.

    Cross Section of the Beneficiaries with some guests and donor Chief Onwuegbenu on black cap flanked left by Son Emeka and right Lady Joy Ulasi , Chairman Post Primary School Services Commission, Board (PPSSC) with other members of the Board of Trustees of Louis Carter Foundation

     

  • A matter of choice

    Despite the upgrade of facilities at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) hostels, some male students still prefer to live off-campus. INNOCENT EMMANUEL (200-Level Mass Communication) finds out why.

    STUDENTS of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) enjoy some benefits for staying on campus, yet some prefer to live outside. Such benefits are subsidised prices of commodities, security of lives and ease of movement. But many male students still prefer to reside off-campus. While female students are praising the management for maintaining facilities in the Halls of Residence, their male counterparts appear not bothered.

    What is the reason for this? Chidiebere Kalu, a 200-Level student, said off-campus residences are “simply comfortable” for the boys.

    Chidiebere, who resided in Alvan Ikoku Hostel during his first year, had, upon resumption for second year, decided to live off-campus. He said apart from dirtiness of his colleagues, students living in school hostels are faced with challenge of theft.

    Another 200-Level student, Stanislaus Asogwa, who also resided in Alvan Ikoku Hostel, said: “Dirt and overcrowding of school hostel are my reasons for leaving. It affected me in my first year and I fell ill just when examination was about to commence.”

    While boys are leaving, female students, however, feel comfortable staying in the school hostels. Ogochukwu Enoch, a final year student residing in Okeke Hall, a female hostel, praised the management for upgrading the facility. She said: “I lived in this place during my second year, the condition of the hostel was not as good as what we are witnessing now.”

    Christiana Chijioke, who resides in Akintola Hall, said she felt secure on campus than anywhere in Nsukka. “Maximum security is guaranteed in the school. More so, the distance between my department and the hostel is not far. It is also cheaper to stay in school because we do not pay for water, electricity and other services. So, what am I going to do off-campus?” said Chijioke.

    But some students complained that the male hostels are not well-maintained just like the female hostels. This, they argued, was among reasons the boys prefer living off-campus.

    Ndifreke Ekanem and Kelechi Iwuanyawu, who could not get spaces in male hostels, said they were given temporary accommodation in the Akintola Hall, a female hostel. According to them, they enjoyed staying in female hostel because “facilities in the hostel are well-maintained”. They said they were disappointed when they learned of the living condition in the male hostels.

    Joy Harrison, a final year female student in Awolowo Hall, dismissed the complaint, saying male hostels are unkempt because of squatting of many illegal occupants, a situation she said led the overuse of the facilities.

    Linus Okechukwu, a 200-Level student, who lived in Alvan Ikoku Hall in his first year, agreed with Harrison, saying: “Boys are messing up the facilities every day. Newly-built bathrooms in Eni Njoku Hall have been turned to dumpsite by the occupants. This is a clear example of how boys can mess up facilities,” Linus said.

    Festus Iyorah, a 200-Level student, who was in Mbanefo Hall during his first year, said cleaners maintaining male hostels always felt bad whenever there cleaned the hostels’ toilets because of the manner students make the facilities untidy.

    Despite the excuses, there are some male students who prefer to live on campus. While many agreed that squatting is making living condition in the hostel worse, they argue that the squatters cannot be stopped from entering the hostels because of the high rent in off-campus residences.

    The management was advised to divide rooms in the male hostels into corners as was done in female halls. Students said if rooms were divided into corners, a student bringing in a squatter would have to share his own corner with the squatter. The method, they said, would reduce number of squatters and messing up of the school hostels.

     

     

  • Students need more classrooms

    The Federal Government has been urged to establish more schools in new sites to address the problem of overpopulation in the classrooms.

    Dean, Faculty of Education, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Prof Rafiu Okuneye said the country’s growing population was responsible for large class sizes.

    The don spoke at the 17th yearly lecture of Uduogie Ivowi Educational Foundation in Lagos.

    The theme was: ‘High school enlargement and large class sizes: Implications for total quality assurance.

    Okuneye advocated for large provision of infrastructure and equipment to ensure quality assurance, as class sizes affects quality.

    He said the recommended 30 and 40 pupils to a teacher per classroom should be encouraged, lamenting that population and educational policy has made this unrealistic.

    Okuneye said a large class can intimidate a less experienced teacher or even confuse him or her on the approach or method to use. “Class control will also become more tasking and involvement of students in class activities will be impossible,” Okuneye added.

    He said because of a large class size, assignment are rarely given or marked by teachers, and students’ note books are not often checked as they should.

    The don said quality assurance was associated with higher institution of learning than primary or secondary school education where standards are hard to attain.

    He charged governments to establish a quality assurance agency for secondary schools, saying that there is a culture quality In basic education because of supervisory role of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) as well as universities which are under the purvew of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

     

  • Union supplies water to students

    Union supplies water to students

    The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of The Polytechnic, Ibadan (BADAN POLY) Adeseun Ogundoyin Campus, has started distributing water to students and residents of Eruwa, Oyo State.

    The distribution covered Anko, Isaba, Oke-Ola and Sango. The president, Atilola Yakub, said the water distribution project was part of his welfare package for students.

    “This project is aimed at alleviating the sufferings of students caused by water scarcity in this area. We are concerned about the welfare of our students and we would do everything in our capacity to serve their best interests. We cannot leave everything to the school management alone. We know we have to play our part to drive the vision of the institution,” he said.

    Atilola said water distribution would continue as long as water scarcity persisted in the area, stressing that the school management was in support of the project.