The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Students

  • ASCON boss urges students to apply training

    STUDENTS in in-service training have been urged to put their training to use in their work place.

    The Director-General, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) Mr Ajibade Peters, gave the advice at the graduation of 79 participants for Third Regular Course of the institution in Badagry, Lagos.

    He was represented at the event by the college’s Director of Programmes, Mrs Cecelia Gaya.

    He said: “In the past, I have had cause to remind graduating participants on occasional like this that one of the major challenges participants face after the completion of their programmes is to make deliberate effort to transfer their learning to the work to improve their performance and that of the sponsoring organisations. If they can’t make these efforts, two things will happen; they would lose the opportunity to add value to their organisation and at the same time, lose what they have learned. I therefore urge you to make every effort to put whatever knowledge, skills, insights and ideas that you have acquired from your courses to use for the benefit of your organisation and the country at large.”

    Peters noted that Nigeria faces a lot of challenges. He stressed the government’s determination in a three-pronged agenda, namely, strong inclusive and non-inflammatory growth with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 11.7 per cent; employment generation and poverty alleviation; as well as value re-orientation of the citizenry.

    “As public servants occupying the ‘engine room’ of government’s machinery, we have a very critical role to play, individually and collectively, in the transformation of our dear country. Indeed, as the principal and central organ responsible for the formulation and implementation of government policy, plans, programmes and projects, the success of the transformation agenda rests squarely with the public service and public servants.

    However, for the public servants to provide the requisite support and assistance to government to successfully realise the results of the transformation agenda, it must attain a high level of organisational efficiency and effectiveness with a ‘critical mass’ of highly professional, result-oriented, ethical and accountable public servants. This means that the public service itself needs to be transformed,” he added.

    Two of the participants Mr Babangida Muhammad Akuyan and Mrs Udenze Iheaku Udeaku, both shared their experiences with The Nation.

    While Akuyan is the Operations Manager, Community and Social Development Agency, Bauchi State, Mrs Udeaku is a Public Operations Manager of the Nigeria Shippers Council, Apapa, Lagos.

    “I studied Conflicts and Management Resolutions, he said, adding: “I found the course more interesting because I was made to realise during the course that conflicts is inevitable to mankind. It’s a daily occurrence in organisations and homes. So therefore, one must learn to manage it if it cannot be totally eradicated.”

    For Udeaku, her experience during the field trip, which formed a part of their programme, would remain unforgettable.

     

    “It was heavily raining that day, Udeaku recalled, “we thought we couldn’t do it, but we were encouraged to embark on it despite the downpour. We went to market Road in Badagry and spoke with some entrepreneurs. We interacted with representatives of the Ministry of Works. In the end, it was a successful undertaking.”

    Declaring participants as ‘Asconians’ earlier, Peters admonished them to identify with any ASCON alumni centre closest to their duty posts.

  • Boko Haram kills seven students, two teachers

    Boko Haram kills seven students, two teachers

    •Churches burnt

    After about 10 months break, Boko Haram made a bloody return to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital at the weekend, attacking a school and killing nine people.

    The dead are seven pupils and two teachers of Government Day Secondary School.

    The attack, which took place on Sunday night, has forced the tightening of the curfew on the town. Yobe is one of the three states under a state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan last month.

    The others are Adamawa and Borno.

    The insurgents also attacked a military checkpoint around the Pilgrims Area of the town, injuring three soldiers, but two of the insurgents were killed during a counter attack by the military.

    Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesman Lt. Lazarus Eli, who confirmed the death toll, said three insurgents were captured. Some weapons including one AK47 riffle, one RPG bomb and 48 rounds of 7.62 (special) ammunition, among others, were recovered.

    The insurgents according to eyewitnesses gained entrance into the porous school and lunched attack on the students at about 9.30pm in their hostel.

    Mohammed Idi, one of the injured pupils who sustained gunshot injuries, told our correspondent at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the Gen. Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, Damaturu that he was shot as he came out of the hostel while hearing gunshots.

    “We were sleeping in the hostel and, suddenly, we heard gunshots very close to the hostel. We got confused and many of us scattered. I immediately came out and saw one of the Boko Haram militants who started shooting at us.

    “I was shot in the leg and the bullet went through my bone. I fell down and tried to run, but I could not run because my leg was very stiff with pains. Somebody came and dragged me by the hand. I initially thought I was in the enemy’s care until I realised that it was one of our students trying to help me to escape,” Idi said.

    The school authority confirmed that nine people died from the attack.

    Our correspondent who visited the school observed that only final year students were there, writing their National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations. The others have fled from the school. One of the supervisors said three of the students killed were final year students.

    Dr. Salim Mohamed Umar said the state hospital had received 11 bodies and seven students with various gunshot injuries.

    One of the injured students said the insurgents tied the hands of one of the students who took them to the house of one of the teachers. Four people, including the teacher, were killed in that house.

    Dr. Umar said one of the dead students had some defensive injuries on his hands. He explained that all the students killed were either shot on the head or in the neck.

    The latest attack ended almost 10 months of relative peace in the state capital, Damaturu and other parts of the state.

    The situation compelled the state government to upgrade the curfew to 6pm to 6.00am, from 9pm to 7am.

    Some parts of the state capital, such as Potiskum Road, Ali Malami Estate, and Pilgrims, were locked down by men of the JTF during the search for the attackers.

    Also at the weekend, four churches were bombed and burned in attacks attributed to Boko Haram.

    Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Jos, the President of the Nigerian bishops’ conference, told the Fides news service that the army had moved in to the area in the northern Borno state, bringing a greater sense of security to the population, after the attacks on churches, which were followed by the looting of stored food and livestock.

    The raids were likely the work of Boko Haram units, in coordination with Islamist groups that have been ousted from neighboring Mali, the archbishop said. He called for a “regional approach” to the violence, in which authorities from Nigeria, Niger, and Mail would work together against the Islamic militants.

     

  • Akpabio seeks probe of students’ riot

    Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has demanded for an investigation panel to probe last Wednesday’s riot at the University of Uyo.

    The authorities confirmed one student dead in the mayhem while four officials of the National Union of Nigerian Students (NANS) were killed in a road accident same day on their way to the institution to resolve the crisis.

    Engineering students of the university embarked on a peaceful protest against the N100 increase in transport fare from the temporary campus to the permanent site at Nsukara Offot.

    The protest turned violent and the police were called in to restore order.

    A 200-level geology student, Kingsley Umoette, died in the process.

    Akpabio, who was on an on -the- spot assessment of the situation, described the riot as criminal and pre-meditated.

    The governor, who was conducted round by the vice chancellor of the University, Prof. Comfort Ekpo, said the rioters took undue advantage of the disagreement between the authorities and the students to destroy the school’s academic records.

    According to him: “This act is a disaster. My observation here is that the destruction of the buildings was targeted at the 20-year-old school records and examination results.

    “It was a pre-planned arrangement by miscreants, who are ‘professional students’ using the opportunity of the peaceful protest to raze down buildings where the school’s academic records were kept.”

    He asked the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the case and suggested the involvement of visitor to the institution and the minister of Education in getting to the root of the crisis.

    He sympathised with the institution over the sad incident and pledged the state government’s readiness to build and hand over two hostels to the university as soon as the school allocates a site for the project.

    The vice chancellor said the increase in transport fare was introduced with the knowledge of the students’ representatives in a committee set up on the issue.

    The President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) in the university, Lucky Inyang and the vice president of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Ubon Marcus, regretted the incident, blaming it on miscreants who hijacked the peaceful protest.

    The State Police commissioner, Umar Gwadabe, said the 45 suspected rioters arrested are being screened, promising that those found culpable would be charged to court.

     

  • What June 12 means to students

    What June 12 means to students

    The Nation recently visited some schools in Lagos to get student’s view on the June 12, 1993 Presidential election . Sampson Unamka presents their views

    Jessica Dougherty a JSS student of Turning Point College Isolo said:

    “To my own understanding June 12 reminds me of a philanthropist, a great patriot and a politician M.K.O Abiola who fought and died for Democracy of Nigeria.”

     

    Shola Ayanlere, SS 2 student said:   “June 12 is a day that is declared public holiday and meant for children to celebrate.”
    Akintunde omokehinde, SS2 student of Queen’s college Akoka Lagos, said:  “June 12 is being recognized in Lagos state as a public holiday in remembrance of the late mogul chief MKO Abiola.”
    Adeyemi Dare, 17 years old student of Government College Lagos, said:
    “June 12 to my understanding came into being as a result of the struggle for democracy under military. The election held on that day was described as the best and most free election in the country up to
    date which Chief MKO Abiola won. June 12 is seen as a remembrance day for Abiola and democracy in Nigeria.”
    Abubakar Olawale, 20 years old student said:

    “June 12 is a day we were supposed to be celebrating democracy but turned sour because the election was annulled. It should not be celebrated because it’s a day we ought not to remember. Many lives were lost, many houses were burnt, we had to revert to army things, and Nigeria had to wait another 6 years to experience democracy under those who know nothing about ruling.”
    Obah Raymond Azubuike,  20,  applicant said:

    “June 12 is the true democracy day, but a legend MKO ABIOLA is being celebrated instead, because he offered his money, name and subsequently paid the supreme price for the entire nation to have a democracy.”
    Okolo Juliet, 19 years old student and ND holder said:

    “June 12 was the day that MKO Abiola ran for the position of the president in
    1993 and was presumed winner but was denied the position and the
    election I think was the first democratic election Nigeria ever had, I
    read it in a book.”
    Ohenhen Iyosayi, 17 years old student of Soundmind Group of schools, Iyana Ipaja, said:

    “June12, 1993 was the only election that has ever been conducted in Nigeria were all Nigerians picked Abiola of SDP, as winner of the elections And Abiola who was the winner was denied his mandate because Babaginda refused to declare the election result. The following year, Abiola fought for his right but still didn’t get it; then Shonekan later became the Head of State in 1994. From my own understanding June 12 was the only election ever that Nigerians came together as one and
    pick a Head of state. My teacher told us about June 12.”
    Rasheed Ojelab20 years old student of TASUED, said

    “June 12 was the day presidential election held between Abiola of SDP and Tofa of NRC. MKO Abiola of Social Democratic Party defeated Basiru Tofa of National Republican Convention. Surprisingly, the elections were later annulled by military government, Ibrahim Babangida, leading to a crisis that ended with Sani Abacha heading a coup later in the year. June 12 is a memorable day.”
    Opakunbi Rachel, 400 level student of Bowen University said

    “It is the freest and fairest election ever conducted in the history of this nation because the two contestants from NRC and SDP were both Muslim and nobody complained about it but
    went out en-mass to vote for their candidate of choice which happens to be Chief MKO Abiola.  Nigeria would have moved from where it is now to a greater height if Chief MKO had won, but because of the annulment we are still crawling. June 12 is like a plague on us in this country, it is a truthful thing that has ever happened but we tried to wave it off just because of certain reasons best known to those who did it.”
    Olojede Seyi Ebenezer, student of UNILAG said:

    “June 12 to the best of my knowledge is a day set aside for the remembrance of the winner of the 1993 election. A man who is nationally recognize as a democrat and a sport man. He is known as the father of democracy in Nigeria because he fought for true democracy, this man is no other
    person than late chief MKO Abiola.”
    Olayiwola Feyisayo, student of Lagos State Senior Model College Igbokuta said

    “On June 12 1993, millions of Nigerians voted in the best election ever conducted in the history of the
    country between Chief M.K.O Abiola and Alhaji Tofa. Nigerians voted massively in favour of Moshood Abiola and also Bashir Tofa (the opponent) was said to have sent congratulatory message to Chief MKO
    Abiola. There was happiness all over Nigeria, there was hope that a new damn had come. I heard of a story of a tailor during that period that refused to be paid for the services he rendered. He was so
    overjoyed that at last hope has come to the people and also bus conductor and driver were offering free ride, you didn’t have to pay for anything. That was the spirit and mood until Nigerians received a
    rude shock from the military led by Ibrahim Babagida. He announced the annulment of the result of the election without reasons. The fact was that MKO Abiola was supposed to win the election.”

  • UNIUYO protest: Six students die

    UNIUYO protest: Six students die

    Six students died yesterday over the violent protest at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO).

    Among the dead is Kingsley, a 200-level geology student and Donald Onukaogu, the Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

    There is controversy over how Kinsley died, but the NANS senate president and four others died in a road crash in Abia State. They were on their way to Uyo to mediate in the crisis.

    UNIUYO students accused security operatives of killing Kingsley, popularly known as ‘KC’, during the protest over the alleged exploitative tendencies of Vice Chancellor Prof. Comfort Ekpo.

    A member of the Students’ Union Government, who pleaded not to be named said a security agent shot Kingsley dead.

    He said Kingsley’s killing angered the rest of the students who set ablaze the Vice Chancellor’s Office, Deputy Vice Chancellor’s Office (Academic) and Records Office.

    A visit to the city campus of the university showed that 12 vehicles, some of them owned by the university, were destroyed during the protest.

    The students also destroyed equipment in the Exams and Records Unit, Finance and Accounts, Internal Audit and Cash Office.

    The Computer Maintenance Department was also not spared, as hard discs and other facilities were removed by the students.

    The peaceful protest over hike in transport fares, which started early on Wednesday, degenerated, resulting in the destruction of property.

    Speaking to NAN, the Chairman of the UNIUYO branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Mr Anyim Nwachukwu, said that he was not aware of what exactly led to the protest.

    Nwachukwu said that when the crisis started, he and some lecturers “managed to escape from campus”.

    “We were only throwing pebbles, water in sachets and bottles after it because obvious that the police only arrived at the scene to kill us. They (the police) were shooting sporadically and firing tear-gas canisters at us.

    “They (the police) fired tear-gas canisters into the female hostels. Many of our female students got injured. Their bullet killed Kingsley”, the SUG official said.

    But the police said they could not explain what killed Kingsley because his body was brought from inside the campus to the road where the police stood by the students during the protest.

    Police spokesman Etim Dickson said only one person died during the protest.

    Dickson said 45 rioters comprising of UNIUYO students and others from Bida Polytechnic and Madonna university were arrested during the protest.

    “It is has been established that one student died during yesterday’s protest by University of Uyo students. A 200 level Geology student died. We were able to get this from the students who brought the body from inside the campus to the road.

    “You know we cannot enter the campus, we have to be outside. It was the protesting students who brought the body to us on the road and it was collected from them.

    “The mother of the deceased has come to us. She made a statement. I want to say one 200 level student died. The cause of the death we don’t know yet.

    “Also, about 45 other students coming from different universities were arrested. Some of the students arrested during the protest came from Bida Polytechnic and we also have some from Madonna University.

    “What killed the boy from inside the school we don’t know? They only dropped the body on the road because they said they wanted to carry the body to government house and we told them no, it is not their duty and we collected the body from them.

    On the students’ claim that a trigger-happy policeman shot their colleague, Etim said: “Let the students find out who shot the boy and at what point? They will claim but investigation will prove. Even there is a big charm tied to the left wrist of the body. I don’t know whether it is a modern wristwatch.”

    UNIUYO students staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday following the introduction of N2,000 GST fee and N200 transport fee for science students from their campus on Ikpa Road to the permanent site in Nsukara Offot by the university management.

    The students accused the vice-chancellor of incompetence in managing the affairs of the institution. They demanded her sack.

    The accident, which led to the death of the NANS senate president and four others, occurred at Ariam in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State. It was along the Umuahia -Ikot Ekpene federal highway. Seven other students sustained injuries.

    The accident involved a Hiace bus in which the students were travelling and an articulated vehicle (trailer) that was coming from Akwa Ibom, which lost control before ramming into the students’ bus.

    The NANS president was a Master’s student of Computer Science/ ICT at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State.

    The other students who died in the crash are: Abdulazeez Kabir Oladimeji (University of Ibadan), Jerry Sorkaa (Benue State University), Japhet Duru (Federal Polytechnic, Nekede) and Asa Ejiate (Delta State University). The deceased were travelling to Uyo for mediate in the UNIUYO riot, which claimed life of a student on Wednesday.

    The bodies were deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia mortuary. The injured are receiving treatment at the hospital. One of the students was treated and discharged. He left for Owerri.

    There was tension within the medical centre as students of tertiary institutions within Umuahia and its environs stormed the place.

    Abia State Governor Theodore Orji visited the hospital immediately he learnt about the incident, which described as a calamity. He said it was disheartening for future leaders to die through accident.

    The coordinator, Zone B of NANS, Chinonso Obasi thanked the governor for sympathising with them.

    National Association of Nigerian Students, Joint Campuses Committee (NANS JCC) Chairman, Comrade Fortune Ifeka expressed shock over the death of Onukaogu.

    In a statement in Nnewi on behalf of the students of Anambra State, Ifeka said if their deaths were caused by the police as alleged, the policemen should be fished out and made to bear the consequences of their action.

    He added that it is regrettable that over 15 students had been killed in the last two months in manners that could have been avoided if the strikes and closure of schools were not on.

    A few hours after the death of the Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Donald Onukaogu, and four other students, who were travelling to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital to mediate in the riot that engulf the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) on Wednesday, the NANS president, Comrade Yinka Gbadebo, and some officials of the students’ body were attacked yesterday in Ibadan by Operation Burst task force.

    Operation Burst is the Oyo State joint security outfit.

    Gbadebo was said to be leading a pack of protesters, mainly students of higher institutions in Oyo State. The protesters barricaded the road leading the University College Hospital (UCH), demanding that all campuses be shut down to mourn the death of the NANS officials, who died in an accident yesterday along Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene highway.

    The Nation learnt that operatives of the task force visited the scene to disperse the protesters, who prevented the motorists from having easy movement along the road. Gbadebo was said to have directed the students not to leave the road, urging them to stay back. This led to his arrest by the task force men.

    The task force later released Gbadebo on the spot and he was taken to a hospital in Ibadan, for treatment.

    Gbadebo, who was responding to treatment declined to comment on his whereabouts.

    Wolimoh said: “We were holding a protest in Ibadan when Operation Burst came to attack us. The NANS president was manhandled by the policemen, who injured him on the head and right eye. Five other students were also injured but I will not tell you the hospital where they are receiving treatment.”

  • UNIUYO: NANS Senate President, four others die on peace mission

    The crisis that led to the killing of four students of  University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom  and the subsequent closure of the institution has claimed the life of the Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students [NANS], Donald Onukaogu and four others in a  motor accident.
    Seven others survived with injuries in the accident which occurred at Ariam in Ikwuano local government area of Abia state along the Umuahia -Ikot Ekpene federal highway when the  Hiace bus the students were traveling collided with  a trailer  from Akwa Ibom state which lost control before ramming in to them.
    The students leaders were said to be on their way to Uyo to mediate in the crisis that erupted in the university two days ago.
    The corpses have been reportedly  deposited at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia mortuary, while the injured are receiving treatment.
    Sources at the Federal Medical Centre confirmed to our reporter that twelve persons were brought to the hospital after an accident with five confirmed dead and six in critical condition.
    Earlier, while conducting the governor round the doctor on duty at the casualty ward, Dr Kalu said that the accident victims were brought in that morning and were said to have had a head on collision with a lorry at Ikwuano on their way to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
    .s.
  • Counsellor admonishes female students

    Counsellor admonishes female students

    A call has been made to women to reposition themselves for the challenges in the society, as home makers and builders.

    This call was made by Dr Ogunsuyi, Mrs Olusanya and Mrs Owele, during an interactive session by the Guidance and Counselling Unit of FUTA for all female students.

    The resource persons said because of the enormous domestic responsibilities of women in the home, there is the need to enlighten female students on how to combine and manage such responsibilities with their career so that they can become worthy leaders, astute business and career women.

    Taking them through the rudiments of leadership, Dr Ogunsuyi said they must possess qualities like punctuality, truthfulness, courtesy and modesty among others. She also enjoined them to shun immodest dressing and uncontrolled emotions.

    Mrs Olusanya warned the ladies against involvement in illicit sexual relationships which can jeopardise their future dream. Mrs Owele encouraged them to work hard so as to complement their future husband’s efforts. She said: “A woman should not become liability to her husband. You must be skilful and keep yourselves abreast of global trends so as to break even,”she said.

  • Students protest blackout

    Students protest blackout

    OAU students last Friday night took to the roads on the campus to protest a black-out, which lasted for 48 hours. The protest, which lasted for over an hour, with witnessed by many students who left their rooms and lecture classes to express their displeasure to the management. A 500L student of Medicine, who simply identified himself as Ayo, told CAMPUS LIFE:”This is not the first time such will be happening. They refused to reinstate our Students’ Union and now they’re simply saying we can’t read. Last session, it was a four-day black-out and we all knew the implication when our results were released. Although reasons for the black- out was unknown as at the time of this report, the electricity was restored back at 9:45am on Saturday with shouts of “up Nepa!” renting the air in hostels as students rush to charge their gadgets as well as to iron their clothes.

     

  • Students lament poor facilities

    Students of the Department of Theatre and Media Studies, University of Calabar (UNICAL) have called on the school management to provide them with the necessary production facilities.

    The students made the call when they were on a rehearsal section of a play entitled: “The Gods Are not to Blame,” by Ola Rotimi.

    While some complained about inadequate directorate and production equipment, others complained about lack of finance. They further enumerated the importance of Theatre arts and pleaded that the school management should come to their rescue.

    Geoffrey Ovuoba, a 300 level student in the department who is also the Technical Director of the production and Victor Ejen who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE on behalf of the production crew, said that lack of production equipments is a big drawback to the students.

    Geoffrey narrated the challenges faced by the department to include renting of costumes and Light. According to him, “few Light can cost up to N 50, 000, Lights like sport light cost N50, 000, smoke generator N16, 000, etc. These are equipment the students cannot afford”.

  • Students’ riot: Fodiyo Varsity shut down indefinitely

    Barely a week to an examination, authorities of the Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, yesterday closed the institution indefinitely following students’ violent demonstration on Monday night over outages.

    The authorities have, however, raised a committee to investigate the remote cause of the riot.

    Since its establishment in 1975, the university has been adjudged the most peaceful until Monday night when a group of students stormed the staff quarters to vent their grievances.

    The university wore a forlorn look hours after the students were ordered to vacate the campus.

    Several students in were seen yesterday carrying their luggage to the town. Their exodus caused a temporary traffic gridlock at the Dandima Roundabout few kilometres from the university campus.