The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Students

  • Students hold week

    Students of Business Management Studies at the Samuel Ajayi Crowther University have held their Fun Week. The event was held for four days.

    This event was put together by the Social Director of the National Association of Business Management Studies, Miss Damilola Oseni, a 300-Level student.

    The programme started with awareness on dress code tagged Back to school. Students of the department, who were dressed in secondary school uniform, marched round the campus with school bags and notebooks.

    The following day, a seminar was held in the university auditorium. The guest speakers, who included Mr Adeyemi Mapaderun, a company executive, and Mr Obitunde Obiyemi, chairman of Ekiti chapter of Career World Consulting Ltd, spoke on Challenges and opportunities for strategic entrepreneur in Nigeria. Lecturers and students of the department attended the lectures.

    On the third day, students went on an excursion to Erin-Ijesha Waterfall. Students described the experience as educative.

    The event was ended with a Variety Night, which comprised music performances from upcoming artistes such as Malique, Rainymilly and Shaddy. Awards were also presented students.

  • Career fair for students

    A Corps member serving in Enugu State, Tosin Adesile, has floated a career fair for graduates and students with a view to proffer solution to the unemployment challenge facing the nation.

    The fair is billed to be attended by the Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Tunde Lemo, who would present a keynote address on Opening new grounds: Breaking the barriers of unemployment through sustainable development. The programme will be chaired by Sen. Adegbenga Kaka.

    Other speakers include Prof Raheem Bello, Online Editor, The Nation newspaper, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, Dean of Social Science Faculty, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Omololu Soyombo, Mr Gbenga Adeyinka, Sir Prince Niyi Olatidoye and Seyi Law, all comedians, will be at the occasion.

    The Ogun International Career Market (OGIOCM) is a career building programme designed to rescue frustrated youths from the grip of unemployment. The participants will be taught how to turn idea to money-spinning venture.

    The programme, which is coming up on June 13 in the main auditorium, UNILAG, would afford job seekers and prospective entrepreneurs opportunity to meet employers of labour and gain motivational tips from successful people.

    Tosin, a Mass Communication graduate from UNILAG, said the programme had been designed in a way that people who were ready to break free would be the ones to benefit from the programme.

    Expected participants at the event include post graduate student, members of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), students, graduates and other categories of job seekers who want to generate employment for others.

    Highlight of the event will include business talks and motivational lectures. Gifts would also be won at the event.

     

  • Students fled as fire guts hostel

    It was 5:30pm last Saturday and students were relaxing in their rooms. Suddenly, the shouts of “Fire, fire, fire…” rented the air. The scream came from the IB Block, a female Hall of Residence in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS).

    In no time, occupants of the hostel barged out of their rooms, moving in different directions. Before the fire could be put out, a room had been completely burnt.

    The fire, which was said to have started in the hostel’s matron office, was said to have been caused by faulty electrical appliance. The office could not be accessed at the time of the incident because the matron, who was with the key, had left the office. Ceiling of the common room was also affected.

    Smoke bellowed from the affected room as the inferno raged, burning the ceiling cardboards. In the ensuing chaos, many students struggled to move their valuable properties out of their rooms, while male students rushed to the scene to help put out the inferno. The students climbed the top of the building to remove the roof made of zinc sheets in order to put out the fire.

    The Acting Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the university arrived at the scene with security officers, who came with fire extinguishers to extinguish the inferno.

    One of the occupants of the burnt room, Shafa’atu Danjuma-Baba, said she was in her room when she perceived a smell of a burning wire. “I quickly disconnected the electrical connection in the room but I realised that the bulb and the ceiling fans were still working,” she said.

    She said shouts of “fire” from her roommates alerted her that there was problem. “We all ran out for help,” she added.

    Many students were affected by the smoke. Three female students were rushed to the school clinic. When CAMPUSLIFE visited the university health service department in the evening, a nurse said the students were hale but denied our correspondent access to see the affected students.

     

  • Unregistered OOU students march over exemption from examination

    Students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, yesterday protested the decision of the institution’s management to bar unregistered students from participating in the examination that should have begun yesterday.

    They barricaded the entrance to the main campus and prevented people from going into the school.

    The Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations), Mr. Mohammed Abdulkadri and the Ijebu Area Commander, Mr. Usman Alabi, urged the students to shelve the protest, but they were adamant.

    The police eventually dispersed them with tear gas.

    In a statement on Sunday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, advised students who were yet to regularise their status to stay clear of the institution.

    The Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Saburi Adesanya, said the regularisation was in line with the National University Commission’s (NUC’s) directive requesting all universities to provide a comprehensive students’ audit within the next six weeks.

    Adesanya told reporters that the only way to achieve this is to compile a list of authentic students, who have paid their tuition fees.

    He said: “The protesters are students who failed to meet the May 17 deadline to comply with the instruction before the commencement of the examination of 500-level law students.

    “The deadline was shifted more than three times to allow them complete their registration, which some of them refused to do.”

     

  • Ondo students protest ‘non-payment’ of bursary

    Students in tertiary institutions, who hail from Idanre Local Government of Ondo State, yesterday protested the “non-payment” of their bursary allowance by the state government.

    The students also decried the incessant power outage in the council since the beginning of this year.

    They barricaded major roads in the town and carried placards with various inscriptions, such as “Governor Olusegun Mimiko, where is our money”; “Pay our bursary now” and “We are tired of empty promises”.

    They also demanded the payment of the National Association of Idanre Local Government Students’ grant.

    The protest, which began around 8am, took another dimension when the students stormed the Idanre Local Government Secretariat at Owena. They chased away the council workers and locked the secretariat gate.

    The National Vice-President of the National Association of Idanre Local Government Students, Comrade Ali Olaide, said they could not understand why the state and local governments refused to pay the money, despite the huge resources accruable to the state on a monthly basis.

    She said, last week, a representative of the association met with the Chief of Staff (CoS) to the Governor, Mr. Kola Ademujimi, who hails from Idanre, on the matter without any positive result.

    Miss Olaide said: “The total amount approved by the government for bursary is N3 million, which should have been paid without controversy. We have politely exploited every possible avenue to ensure that the money is paid on time.

    “Many local governments have paid the money, but here in Idanre, the reverse is the case. Why is this council always backward in everything? In the past two months, we have not had power supply in Idanre.

    “The state and local governments are aware of this, yet nothing has been done. Idanre is a great town with good people. We will not allow greedy people to rubbish it.”

    Efforts by the Council Chairman, Mr. Akinnayajo Marcus, to pacify the students were rebuffed.

    Former Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Students’ Affairs Ola George said the government had paid the bursary of all indigenous students.

    George said the students were agitating for book allowance in their council and not bursary.

  • Students hail council chief

    STudents of Oke-Ogun origin have urged public officials in Oyo State to emulate the performance of the newly-inaugurated Caretaker Committee chairman of Atiba Local Government, Dr Jacob Ogunmola.

    The students, under the banner of National Association of Oke-Ogun Students (NAOS), spoke through their president, Wasiu Owolabi.

    Wasiu said the association was commended the achievement of the council chairman, who he said had only spent three months in office.

    The council facilitated payment of bursary allowances to 894 Oke-Ogun students in different higher institutions.

    “We are not suprised that Dr Ogunmola, with what he is doing, has surpassed the achievements of his predecessors,” Wasiu said.

    He added: “Distribution of Ajumose First Aid box to all public primary and secondary schools with relevant drugs monthly; distribution of exercise books to pupils in public schools and inauguration of health equipment like 400 pieces of digital blood pressure measurement for hypertensive patients and the distribution of 400 glucometer for diabetic patients are some of these unprecedented feats. He does not forget the aged and staff of the council.’”

    Wasiu thanked Governor Ajimobi for appointing Dr. Ogunmola, adding that students would continue to support his administration.

    While praising the State Chairman of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Yekinni Popoola, who presides over the affairs of Irepo Local Government, he urged the chairman to continue to float populist programmes which have continued to endear the hearts of people to their administration.

    Responding, Ogunmola said he was motivated with the praises heaped on him, saying that it will motivate him to do more. He assured that they should expect more educational support packages soon.

     

  • Opportunity for Graphic Arts students

    Graphic Arts students in higher institutions have been invited to a contest to visualise and design a logo for the SOS (Sonala Olumhense Syndicated) column.

    The winning entry will get $300 and the runner-up, $200.

    Entries, along with contact details, should be sent to visualisesosandwin@gmail.com.

    The closing date is May 22. Winners will be announced on May 30.

    For further information and enquiries, interested students can contact Taiwo Obe, Group Executive Director, Harpostrophe Limited on +234 802 313 0829, Skype ID: Araisokun or Twitter: @araisokun

    For 30 years, Sonala Olumhense, known as SO or vice versa, wrote exclusively for The Guardian.

    On 28 April 2013, that era came to an end. Believing these times call for a new way and thinking, Sonala will shortly debut a new syndicated column to be known as SOS (Sonala Olumhense Syndicated).

     

     

  • Students protest poor facilities in Ibadan

    Students of the Federal College of Agriculture and the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday protested the poor condition of social amenities on their campuses and poor sanitation in their hostels.

    Both institutions are situated on the same premises with the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), an arm of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), in Apata.

    As early as 7am, the students barricaded the main entrances of the colleges, preventing people from going in.

    They decried the lack of water and electricity in their hostels.

    The protest caused a gridlock on the Ibadan-Abeokuta expressway. Policemen from the Apata Divisional Police Headquarters were on the scene to prevent a break down of law and order.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) met with principal officers and student leaders of the colleges for about three hours to resolve the dispute.

    After the meeting, the managements of both institutions closed the campuses pending the resolution of the issues raised by the students.

     

  • Students protest poor sanitation on campus

    Students protest poor sanitation on campus

    Academic and socio-economic  activities were totally paralysed at the Federal College of Agriculture and Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moore Plantation, Apata, Ibadan, on Monday  as students of the two colleges protested against the poor condition of social amenities on the campuses .

    Hundreds of students of the two colleges located at the same premises with the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training(I.A.R&T), an arm of the Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU) protested over shortage of electricity and water supplies into their hostels.

    The protest affected residents of Apata who were prevented from resuming work on Monday as the Ibadan-Abeokuta expressway which leads to the city witnessed an unusual traffic gridlock early yesterday morning .

    According to one of the students, who spoke to our reporter under the condition of anonymity,  the protest is  over  poor sanitation in their hostels.

    The protesting students barricaded the main entrances into the colleges as early as 7.00a.m, preventing staff and students from going into the two campuses.

    It took the timely arrival of a team of police officers from the Apata Divisional Police Headquarters  before the situation could be brought under control.

    The Divisional Police Officer(DPO) in charge of the Apata police station, thereafter, held a peace meeting with principal officers and student leaders from the two federal colleges.

    After the meeting that lasted for about three hours, managements of the two institutions decided to shot down the campuses pending the time the issues raised by the students will be resolved.

  • Students, teachers trade words over exam

    Students, teachers trade words over exam

    After examination, students tell tales of how they tackled the questions. When the results are released, the tales continue, depending on whether the majority are successful or not.

    At the University of Calabar (UNICAL), there are students who do not read or attend lectures but prefer to go to parties. Such students are seen on campus during examination. When the results do not favour them, they cited various reasons ranging from strict invigilation to lecturers’ lateness to class and complicated course outline for their failure.

    Lecturers complain that students don’t start studying until examination is around the corner. They wondered how students would prepare for exam two weeks before it starts and expect to pass all the courses. When examination gets closer, the school library and classrooms are packed with students. Yet, students still fail exams.

    Some students who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE said lecturers contributed to their failure. They complained that lecturers do not start their lecture until two or three weeks to examination.

    John Ngam (not real name), a student of the Faculty of Allied Medical Science, UNICAL, said: “Two weeks to our exams, that is when lecturers come with photocopies of materials with diagrams for us to study for exams. In such situation, we are left with no choice but to burn their mid-night candle in order to get acquainted with the materials given to us. We study the materials aggressively but how many of us understandd the scope?”

    A Radiography student, who identified herself as Tracy, said: “After the August 2011 riot, semesters have been unnecessarily short but students are expected to attend all lectures without giving us break to adequately prepare for exams. This makes some of us to resort to cramming of formulas and equations that could have been learnt with ease. And when one crams to write exam, one hardly remembers anything in the examination hall. I will urge the management to look into our curriculum and see if they can reduce the work load. Many of us can no longer bear it.”

    In anger, a 500-Level student of Radiography, who did not say his name, said he and some students were delayed in writing examination because they did not submit their class admit card. “The invigilators told us to wait outside. We waited for about an hour before they later called us in. A few minutes after, we were asked to submit the answer booklets. How do they want us to pass the exam is such manner?” he said.

    There is no reason for students to start reading at the beginning of semesters, said a student of the Faculty of Management Sciences, who simply identified himself as Emmanuel. “At this period, the course outline will still be in progress. So how do we read a topic we have not been taught?” he wondered.

    A 500-Level Law student, Jessica, said the management should borrow a leaf from institutions such as University of Benin (UNIBEN) where students were given three to four weeks to prepare for semester examination. She said: “Here, we given two weeks, which is not regular, to prepare for eight to 10 courses. Last session, there was a paper which students failed woefully. We did not prepare because there was no time to do so. This was why the Dean of Law faculty ordered that the exam should be retaken.”

    A student of the department of Political Science told CAMPUSLIFE, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “I no longer understand what is going on in my department; it seems Political Science department is the toughest in UNICAL. The lecturers are too strict and many students are complaining. We need management to come to our aid.”

    A student, who is known on campus as Jackson, said students should be blamed for failure in examination. He said laziness made students to pile up work until examination caught up with them. “What students are supposes to learn in three months, they will abandon it and engage themselves in unproductive things. When the exam comes, they will race against time to read for ten courses in two weeks. Some of them will cram and still mess up at the end,” he said.