The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Students

  • 23 ‘special’ students get scholarship

    To ensure that no student drops out of school on account of financial and physical constraint, the management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Akoko, has awarded N1.150 million worth of scholarships to 23 students. They were given N50,000 each.

    The scholarship scheme was part of various supports measures given to students by the Students’ Support Centre of the university. The scholarships were given to the physically-challenged students.

    Presenting cheques to the beneficiaries, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, who was represented by his Deputy (Academics), Prof Francis Gbore, reiterated the institution’s commitment to assist the awardees.

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    Responding on behalf of others, a 400-Level student of the Department of Mass Communication Boboye Adeusi, appreciated management’s kind gesture. He appealed for the scheme’s continuation, which he described as a model and ideal initiative that should be emulated by other institutions.

    Earlier, Students’ Support Centre coordinator, Dr Adediran Ikuomola, said the institution values all students as demonstrated through the scholarship. He said the centre would continue to work on the challenges faced by the students and explore more creative ways to make the centre more functional.

  • UNILORIN trains students on cosmetics production

    The Technical and Entrepreneurship Centre (TEC) of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State, has held a workshop for students of the university on how to make cosmetics and personal health products.

    The Resource person, Mr. Abdul Ganiyu Abiodun of the Low Cost Investment, Ibadan, urged participants to do their best to become independent.

    He explained that he never worked for anyone since he graduated as an Industrial Chemist more than a decade ago.

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    Abiodun said to survive in the business, it was important to produce quality products and maintain the standard.He said packaging of products attracted customers to new producers in the market “but that lasts only in the short run’’.

    Abiodun demonstrated how to make items, such as after-shave, hair cream, candle, disinfectants, body cream and spirit.

    TEC Director, Dr. Jamiu Odusote, urged the students to take full advantage of the workshop. He also urged them to approach the centre if they encounter any challenge in the course of getting raw materials.

    According to him, this was part of the university’s drive towards graduating employers rather than job seekers.

     

  • Students, youths express disappointment over shift in election date

    Bauchi student leaders and youths have  expressed disappointment over the shift in the February 16 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    They also passed a vote of confidence on the Speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara to continue in office beyond 2019.

    The spokesman of the forum, Prince Mohammed Sani Hassan and Comrade Alhassan Adam,  at a   news conference, said  Dogara has all it takes to take the National Assembly beyond 2019.

    They said: “We all met and decided to pass a vote of confidence on Speaker Yakubu Dogara beacuse of his excellent style of leadership, selfless services to humanity and dedication towards the building a prosperous Nigeria.

    “We are optimistic that Dogara’s victory at the poll will bring a better life to Bauchi as a state and to Nigeria as whole

    “We believe that destiny can never be denied it can only be delayed.

    “We as students and youth leaders in Bauchi state and Nigeria are really disappointed with the action of INEC for the postponement of the election.

    “We hereby pass a vote of non confidence on INEC and we also call on INEC not to repeat this type of action in the future they should prepared fully before announcing a date for election.

    “People travel all across the country to vote and now their efforts is in vain.

    “We believe Honourable Dogara will emerge victorious at the polls on saturday because we have fully moblised for vote and we will support him.

    “We have confidence in him, his nationalistic outlook is appreciated by the people of Bauchi state in all works of life

    “He is a leader that doesnt show religious or ethnic differences, he is the type of leader we need in Nigeria, his concern is how Nigeria and Bauchi state will move forward to the next stage of development without rancour or discrimination.

    Speaker Yakubu dogara gave respect to all religion institutions  and traditional institutions, he believe in one love, one people and one nation.

    “We the students and youth leaders of Bauchi state will do all it takes to ensure Dogara’s victory,  we also call on all our youths and students to come out and vote peacefully and avoid violence at the polls.

    “We also call on INEC to conduct free, transparent and credible election that will be accepted by all political parties and we also the security agencies to be neutral and avoid manipulation at the polls.”

  • Students storm INEC offices for ad-hoc job

    Students nationwide are trooping to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices across the country to be registered as ad-hoc staff following the suspension of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.

    In Kaduna State, students besieged the 23 local governments for the ongoing training of INEC ad-hoc staff for the general elections which begin on Saturday with the presidential and National Assembly polls.

    The trainees also comprised serving and former corp members, MDA staff members and  students of federal or state tertiary institutions alike.

    Secretary-General Kaduna Polytechnic Students’ Union Comrade Mubarak Abdulganiyi described the development as; “an indication of hardship in the country.”

    Idris Ibrahim, a student from Usman Dan Fodio University (UDUS) undertaking his training at Igabi LGA also agreed with Mubarak.

    “Poverty is the principal cause and with the effect of the strike, students crowd the centres. If people have work to make ends meet, they wouldn’t be so disturbed about INEC ad-hoc staff”.

    While Olorunshola Samuel – an undergraduate of Kaduna State Polytechnic undergoing his training at Kaduna South also lamented over the development:

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    “The incapacitated government and the self-centered academic union have led to the enormous participation of students in the ongoing INEC Ad-hoc training”. The hard-working students who don’t want to remain idle have to be engaged in the training to earn a living”

    For Ogunwole Moses, who is undertaking his training in Kaduna South LGA simply believed the catchy payment and ASSU strike are responsible for the turnout”.

    It’s crystal clear that the enormous participation of students can be attributed to the effect of industrial action being embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), as well as the intense idleness and hardships growing among students. It’s therefore necessary of them to opt for a temporary income jobs while FG-ASUU negotiations continue.

  • Students urge FG to fund education

    STUDENTS have called on the Federal Government to listen to demands of the striking university lecturers and fund education for the country’s growth.

    This was the resolution at the weekend in Lagos during a protest by a coalition of student groups from different campuses in Lagos State.

    Speaking to The Nation, the National Mobilisation Officer of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Wole Olubanji, said the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) are justified in their demands, going by the conditions in tertiary institutions.

    He said: “ASUU and ASUP are justified in their course. It is the Federal Government that has been reneging in its agreements with the body, and the agreements are still relevant today. We have universities without schools and laboratories, pointing to the fact that government have to fund education.”

    Asked if the demands made by the university lecturers are realistic, Olubanji said: “When government was going to bail out the banks, was it realistic to spend as much as a trillion naira on bailing bankrupted institutions. But they did that because they had interest in their deposits saved in them. But we are talking about institutions that affect the general Nigerian masses.”

    “Why should a government exist if it cannot benefit the citizens? Government should to use the resources of the country to advance its citizens, and it can be done by education.”

  • Fear of exams grips OAU students

    Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile Ife have expressed fears over the exams date for the rain semester of the 2017/2018 academic session.

    They told our correspondent the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike will impact negatively on the examinations slated for January 14, 2019.

    In separate interviews, they appealed to the institution’s authorities to postpone the exams to give enable the lecturers prepare them for the exams.

    The students complained the strike has not enabled lecturers to cover many grounds or allowed them to prepare well.

    An OAU student Ilara John said: “For over 5weeks that the strike has been commenced, I have never had any lectures.

    “All our lecturers are part of ASUU and they have not been coming to classes at all.

    “I am afraid as I don’t even know maybe we would do exam or not because I don’t even understand the materials given to us before the commencement of the strike.

    “I have just been staying in my hostel, without going for any classes.”

    Another student Ayanfe Temiloluwa said: “This ASUU Strike has caused a lot of harm.  I have just been sitting at home not going for any classes.

    “I am almost forgetting everything we have been taught.  How are we going to do exams for the classes we have not been going?

    “How does the school wants us to pass when we don’t have anybody teaching us?”

    “I implore that the school management should do something about this and that the Federal Government should heed to the call of Academics Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and give them what they demand so that we can have better educational system.”

    Adejare Oluwatobiloba said: ” The ASUU strike here has not been that effective due to non- compliance of some lecturers.

    “Nevertheless, students have been thrown in a state of dilemma as to whether the rain semester academic calendar will be extended”

    “Academic activities in some departments especially some science related course have been on hold right from the beginning of the strike while in other departments, the strike has been partial.

    “The truth is that students have been at the receiving end of strike. The management should therefore consider us students by extending the school calendar.”

    OAU vice chancellor however maintained the exams will hold as scheduled on Jan, 14 2019, insisting the academic calendar will not be extended.

    He said: “We have had several senate meetings and it has been going on well.

    “We have ordered our lecturers who want the progress of the academic calendar to take up the courses been taken by the ASUU members.

    “There is nothing like shifting the academic calendar. They are rumours.”

     

     

  • Students advised to be self-reliant

    Students have been advised to stop depending on non-existent white collar jobs. They should rather engage in activities that will make them self-reliant.

    At a workshop organised for secondary school leavers in Agege at the 7th edition of Beyond Secondary Education, the students were advised to embrace skills acquisition.

    In a keynote address by the Director-General, Quality Education Assurance, Ministry of Education Lagos State Ronke Soyombo, said the programme is pivotal to the future of young people.

    She added that the workshop would ensure that the youth were prepared for leadership positions, stressing that it would sharpen their skills as resource managers.

    Soyombo, who was represented by the Zonal Director, Quality Education Assurance, Alimoso zone, Ajose Kemi said: “As youths, your shoulder lays the future leadership of this great nation; we are therefore preparing you for the leadership roles you are bound to play.

    “Leadership is a professional cross you must all carry at one point or another. One cannot become a leader on a platter of gold. Hard work, diligence, focus and determination are essential to becoming a successful leader.

    “You must continually be involved in capacity building to engender more productive results that will lead to improved learning and development.

    “You must imbibe a work ethic that will propel you to the top with clear vision of what your goals are.

    “The educational and leadership skills you acquire will motivate and inspire you to the zenith of your chosen careers.”

    Soyombo urged other stakeholders to support programmes that would assist the development of education, noting that it makes positive impact on society.

    “Let us re-awaken entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation in all areas. Let us get our youths off the streets, let us acculturate them with values, and let us create an enabling environment that would see them prosper,” he said.

    Also speaking, the convener of the programme, Adewale Adeleye said the country could not afford to toy with the future of those seeking to manage Nigeria’s socio-economic and political future.

    “No doubt, the future of these young leaders of tomorrow has taken the front burner. Their vision of a robust future, opening doors to a whole lot of opportunities as they progress from one academic level to another must be pursued.

    “The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance on the Lagos State Child’s are doing everything possible to enhance quality of education for the students. Let every stakeholder be a collaborator.”

     

  • Foundation gives hope to students in Ekiti schools

    Excitement was in the air in Ayede-Ekiti in Ekiti State last weekend as the third Micbeth Empowerment Foundation (MEF) School Debate Competition brought out the best in the students of two major secondary schools in the community.

    Education has been described as the best legacy that can be bequeathed to the future generation but many children are out of school in Nigeria due to poverty and lack of benefactors.

    In Ekiti State, education is the major industry with many indigent parents doing everything possible to send their children to school to ensure their better tomorrow.

    But a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Micbeth Empowerment Foundation (MEF), which has education as one of its areas of interventions, is changing the narrative.

    The foundation is giving hope to many students in Ayede-Ekiti, one of the major communities in Ekiti State by giving scholarships to students in public schools.

    The two major public schools in the town, Ayede Grammar School and Government Science School are benefiting from scholarships awarded annually by the foundation.

    The beneficiaries of the scholarship are drawn from best performers in the annual MEF Schools Debate Championship established to stimulate healthy competition among the schools’ children and test their knowledge of English language and key issues affecting education.

    Since 2016, MEF had developed three key areas of intervention which include scholarship, debate between the two secondary schools in town and broad consultation with stakeholders through Education Summit.

    This year’s debate, the third in the series, which held at the Event Centre of St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Ayede-Ekiti lived up to expectations with stakeholders including teachers, students, retired school administrators, parents and the clergy being part of the event.

    The occasion was powered with funds from donors to the foundation with the International Breweries Plc, Ilesa also supplying one of their products, Beta Malt for the audience’s refreshment.

    This year’s debate was attended by teachers and students from the two contesting schools. It was also attended by the Anglican Archdeacon in charge of Ayede Archdeaconry, the Venerable Simeon Olaoluwa Olajobi, an educationist, Prof. Olajire, retired teachers, school administrators and lovers of education.

    The topic for debate was “Should Corporal Punishment Be Allowed in Schools?”

    Speaking in favour of the topic was Ayede Grammar School while Government Science School opposed the motion.

    The Chief Speaker for Ayede Grammar School was Omolere Deborah while the supporter was Awoyemi Blessing. The Chief Speaker for Government Science School was Ogundele Juwon while the supporter was Ashaolu Grace.

    The panel of judges was led by former President of All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) in Osun State, Mrs. Modupe Olagunju, who anchored the debate and reeled off the guidelines of the competition and the criteria for the award of marks.

    Students who were not representing their schools and other members of the audience were also given the opportunity to speak for and against the motion to add colour to the competition while the marks were being computed.

    At the end of the debate, Government Science School scored 65 points to defeat Ayede Grammar School which obtained 31 points.

    Recall that Ayede Grammar School won in 2016 and 2017. That explained why the students of Government Science School and their teachers celebrated their first win this year.

    Both winners and runners-up received cash prizes which would be used to fund their education. They were also decorated with medals but the icing on the cake was the trophy presented to Ogundele and Ashaolu who represented the victorious Government Science School.

    The topic for next year’s debate is “Does Internet Cause More Harm than Good?” The two schools have one year to prepare as the next edition comes up in 2019.

    At the event, two beneficiaries of the scholarship, Yaya Pelumi and Ayodele Alaba gave words of encouragement to other students and showered encomiums on MEF for adding value to their lives.

    Speaking earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of MEF, Mrs. Yetunde Daramola, explained that the NGO was established to give support to education in public schools, particularly in rural communities.

    According to her, the motivation behind the establishment is based on the need to develop future community leaders. On the motivation behind the scholarship scheme, Mrs. Daramola, an Engineer, revealed that MEF conducted an assessment in Ayede students in 2014 and discovered that many of them were deficient in the English language.

    This led to the establishment of a mentorship programme for about six months preceding scholarship to our students for their senior secondary education.

    She said: “Last session (2017/2018) MEF decided to review the procedure to conduct assessment prior to the scholarship award. The following were observed: Very poor ability in the mastery of Mathematics; students don’t understand the basics: fractions, probability, ratio, LCM, angles all of which are common entrance questions.

    “My advice is that class quizzes be based on fill in the answers as opposed to objectives to establish adequate subject knowledge. I believe, in most cases, students guess answers on objective questions.

    “At the end of the assessment, the two students that passed pulled their marks from the Civic and English questions only. I need to state here that from next year, a pass in Mathematics will be required.

    “I appeal to parents, teachers and students to put in the required efforts to ensure a pass in

    Mathematics.”

    Speaking further on the debate, Mrs. Daramola said: “The maiden debate took place between SS2 students of both schools in 2016 with Ayede Grammar School emerging as winners. The first edition had no consolation prize, the winner was awarded 100,000 Naira project.

    “The 2nd Edition also was won by the same school. The consolation prize was a project worth N150.

     

  • UNILORIN students say institution’s charges lowest in Nigeria

    Mr Emmanuel Animashaun, the President, University of Ilorin Students’ Union Government (SUG), on Monday said the institution charges were the lowest in the country.

    Animashaun made this known at a press conference organised by the Union to mark its administration’s first 100 days in office.

    According to him, the students have realised that in spite of the hike in school fees and other charges by other universities, the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) school charges remain the lowest among Nigeria’s universities.

    The university recently increased its tuition fees by 35 per cent, which amounts to about N21, 000.

    The SUG president said that the relationship between the union and the university management was peaceful and constructive.

    He said that this had translated to the peace and the uninterrupted academic session experienced for the past 18 years.

    According to him, the union engages the UNILORIN management with constructive argument to reach conclusions as regards students’ welfare.

    “We wish to publicly reiterate that in our union, we are not rascals but radicals who will always stand our ground in protecting our members, but we do it in constructive and diplomatic ways.”

    Animashaun pledged his commitment to ensuring that the union served as the bridge between the students and the university management.

    “My administration is planning to use its resources primarily for the purpose of activities, programmes and projects that can contribute to all-round education.

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    “That can also sustain the necessary atmosphere so that eventually we will have contributed to raising giants for our nation and the world at large,’’ he said.

    The SUG president highlighted major areas of breakthrough in the institution as including the alleviation of problems with results, encouraging sports activities and catering for students’ welfare.

    He, especially, noted the renovation of school hostels had attracted zero increment to school charges.

    Animashaun said that as part of his administration’s blueprint, the new Students’ Union Executive Council had embarked on an empowerment programme.

    He said that the programme tagged: “Earn as you Learn’’ was aimed at collaborating with some organisations, which offered to employ some of the students who wished to earn money while still in school.

    The SUG president revealed the efforts he had made to ease the problem of transportation, which had long been an issue on the campus.

    The Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Lateef Ajibade, commended the union for representing the students very well and for cooperating during the meeting on school charges’ increment.

    The dean, who was represented by the Sub-Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Alex Akanmu, charged the students leaders to ensure that the students maintained the university facilities.

    Ajibade urged the students not to relent on their peaceful conduct but to continue to represent the university in good light.

  • Students win in itel Mobile dance contest

    After six weeks of intense dance competition in seven

    universities, and hundreds of video entries pouring in on social media platforms, Africa’s mobile phone giant, itel Mobile, has drawn the curtains on its #iGotTheMoves dance competition.

    This was followed by a grand finale, which saw a group of student dancers emerging winners and smiling home with the N500,000 grand prize, among other various gifts.

    Various institutions, such as Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Yaba College of Technology (YABATACH), Lagos State University (LASU), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, University of Ibadan and Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNNAB) competed for the grand prize.

    After an electric dance battle among contestants, Ogundare Adenike Tosin, a student of Hospitality Management in LASPOTECH, emerged the overall dance winner with a prize of N300,000, while the runner-up and online winner, Oreoluwa Oladapo and Akinyele Temidayo from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) and LASU, went home with N100,000 each.

    On her victory, the ecstatic winner, Ogundare Adenike said: “This is a dream come true. I had contested earlier in the campus dance competition and won N50,000 and now I won again the finals. Dancing has always been my passion and I’m grateful to itel Mobile for creating this platform for me to showcase my talent and pursue my dreams of becoming a professional dancer. With this cash prize, I can finally enroll in a dance school and become someone great. I’m so honured. Thank you, itel Mobile.”

    For those who were unable to attend the event, they could only imagine the fun fans had, especially with the presence of performers, such as Terry Apala, Victor AD, and Junior Boy. They kept the crowd grooving, cheering and moving their bodies to the sound of good music, sending hot vibrations around the city of Lagos for three hours.

    The N500,000 was not the only icing on the cake, as itel ensured that a lot of fans went home happy. The first 100 people to arrive the venue were presented with goodie bags, and they had first-hand user experience of the latest and most sought-after selfie – centric flagship devices of the brand; the itel S13 and itel S33.

    These new smartphones are trendy, reliable and affordable. They flaunt a powerful camera sensor of 13MP with dual rear cameras for clearer and brighter selfies. Embedded in them are also awesome specs like Android 8.1 (Go edition), multifunctional fingerprint sensor, 1GB RAM _ 8GB ROM, with an expandable slot of 32GB, facial recognition, among others.

    Addressing reporters on the contest, Oke Umurhohwo, the Marketing Communications Manager, itel Mobile, said the contest was aimed promoting dance  and projecting the camera sensor mounted on the itel S13 for clearer selfies

    He said: “itel Mobile over the years has grown from just a feature phone brand to a smartphone brand that understands the needs of young Nigerians and we have continued to tailor our devices towards providing the best trendy and reliable mobile experiences at an affordable rate. Having the opportunity to start this dance campaign is our way of showing that we care and we celebrate creativity, among our target audience.”

    The contest was done in conjunction with media firms, such as Boomplay, Visha, Oraimo, and Scooper.