The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Students

  • Reps condemn killing of varsity students

    The House of Representatives yesterday condemned the killing of some students in Nasarawa State University, Kebbi.

    While urging the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar and other security agents to take steps to forestall further breakdown of law and order in the affected areas, the House mandated its Committees on Army, Security and Police Affairs to carry out an investigation into the incident and report within two weeks.

    The House urged the Nasarawa State Government to take steps to ensure security of life and property in the affected areas.

    The resolution of the House followed the adoption by Kingsley Chinda (Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency).

    While presenting the motion, entitled: ‘Killing of students of the Nasarawa State University by men of the Nigerian Army’, the lawmaker, who spoke after the House had observed a minute silence in honour of the slain students, said the recent killing of some students of the Nasarawa State University, who embarked on a peaceful demonstration to protest the non-provision of water and electricity in their campus by the authorities, was condemnable.

    He said the soldiers, who were drafted in to bring the situation under control, “began shooting sporadically, beating up and manhandling as well as throwing tear gas canisters indiscriminately at the students.”

    According to him, “the deployment of police or military men armed with live ammunition to university campuses in the guise of quelling students’ protests is wrong and unacceptable.

    “The present case is one too many in cases of extra judicial killings by men of the Nigeria Police and the Armed Forces that daily take place on university campuses and several parts of the country against defenceless, innocent students and citizens and is condemnable.”

    Chinda said the incident has created tension in the university community as many people were reported to have deserted their homes for fear of attacks by men of the Nigerian Army and/or reprisal by the students.

    The lawmaker said the situation is generating ill-feelings and bad blood between the university students and the Nigerian Army and if not checked, could lead to an escalation of the violence.

    The motion was unanimously adopted as members condemned the deployment of soldiers to quell a peaceful protest by students.

  • Four students get Rotary’s scholarship

    Four students get Rotary’s scholarship

    Tears of joy flowed from parents of four indigent post-primary school students when the names of their children were announced as winners of the maiden scholarship awards of the Rotary Club of Enugu Education Endowment Fund. To them, it was a great relief as Rotary has taken over their financial burden in training the students.

    The scholarship worth N60, 000 a session for each student runs for three years. A total of N720, 000 will be spent on the students from SSI to SS3.

    The students are Miss Nnadi Anastasia Ngozi and Miss Ezemuoka Francisca Chinaza both from Queens School, Enugu.

    Others are Chibuzo Solomon Chukwuma from Uwani Secondary School Enugu, and Ede Peter Chiemerie of Union Secondary School Enugu.

    Reeling off the names at a colourful ceremony at Modotel, Enugu, the chairman of the local organising committee for the event, Mr. Vin Odo explained that the N45, 000 disbursed to each of the students on the occasion was only for first and second terms, adding that the fee for their third term would be released when they present their second term results.

    Odo, who urged the students to remain committed to their studies, reassured them of the preparedness of the Rotary Club of Enugu to release their school fees promptly.

    The President of Rotary Club of Enugu, Mr. Uchenna Nnamani, represented by Prof. Iheanyi Okpala said that with their burning desire to touch the lives of the needy in society, they went out and identified some indigent but brilliant young people who wanted education but were incapable to continue with their dream due to financial difficulty.

    Okpala, of the College of Medicine University of Nigeria Nsukka noted that since Rotary International stood for truth and justice, its 4 – Way Test philosophy was fully applied in the selection process of the four recipients of the scholarship to ensure fairness.

    He said: “Before they were selected, members of our screening committee went the extra mile to ensure that the parents of the award winners were not capable of paying the school fees of their children. The father of one of the students was shot dead by armed robbers when she was just one year old.”

    He also disclosed plans by the Rotary Club to renovate the Oji River Leprosy Centre as well as pursue its sickle cell eradication campaign in rural communities.

    In his  remarks, the founder of Enugu Rotary Club Education Endowment Fund, and past Governor of Rotary International District 9140, Dr. Ben Aghazu, expressed hope that his N25m target for the fund would be exceeded in years to come, stressing that with over N13m already raised, the future would be brighter.

    Describing himself as a miracle man, established by God in his own wisdom, he revealed that if not for scholarship that came his way from an unknown foreigner, he would have dropped from class three in secondary school, as his parents were poor.

    He continued: “Apart from secondary school, I also attended the best engineering school abroad on scholarship and because of this story; I decided to pay back to the society in appreciation for what the Lord has done for me. In fact, during my 1994 – 1995 year as Rotary District Governor, I founded the District Education Fund which has now given scholarships to over 360 students in tertiary institutions in the country. I urge the recipients of the award to be of good character.”

    Aghazu announced that Rotary International had appointed him to serve on its board for Conflict Resolution and Scholarship globally, pointing out that as the only African in the board, he would work to ensure that students from Enugu State benefit from the scholarship scheme.

    Earlier, the chairman of the Enugu Rotary Club Education Endowment Fund board of Trustees, Prof. Jonathan Azubuike stated that the scholarship scheme was the brainchild of former Governor of Rotary International District 9140 Dr. Ben Aghazu, in 2009 – 2010 Rotary Year, after he had received the Gold Merit Award which is the club’s highest honours.

    He recalled that in appreciation of the honour bestowed on him by the club, Dr. Ben Aghazu invited his friends who made donations to ensure that his noble idea to do something unique for Enugu metropolis was achieved. He added that the establishment of the scholarship fund was to further demonstrate his love for mankind. He called on the wealthy individuals in the society to emulate him.

    Responding on the scholarship award, the students and their parents thanked Rotary for intervening at a period they had lost hope of continuing with their education due to financial difficulty. They prayed God to bless the members.

    Responding on behalf of the students, Ede Peter Chiemerie of Union Secondary School Enugu said they never knew that kind-hearted people still exist in the society, stressing that the scholarship came at a time they had lost hope of continuing with their education due to financial handicap.

    Peter Ede said without the scholarship, he had already decided to withdraw from school, as his mother could no longer find anyone to borrow from; as his father died in an armed robbery attack when he was still a year old.

    While re-emphasising the need for a complete free education up to secondary school level, Ede thanked Rotary International for its love for young people and prayed God to bless members of the Club, especially the initiator of the scholarship fund, Dr. Aghazu, the Kpakpandu Nnewi. He promised that they would study hard to justify the investment on them.

    The Enugu State Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Poverty Alleviation, Mr. Godwin Ogenyi; past governor of Rotary International District 9140, Lady Ogugua Nwankwu, past club presidents Prof. Arthur Ikeme and Dave Osuagwu, were among the dignitaries who attended the event.

  • ‘Why Nigerian students excel abroad’

    David Oni is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Dave Abion Consulting, an educational consulting firm for those intending to further their studies overseas, especially in the United Kingdom (UK).

    A graduate of Mechanical Engineering from Greenwich University, London, his experience at the institution convinced him to regard the UK as the ‘perfect study destination’; and influenced the establishment of the firm, upon his retirement from British Petroleum (BP).

    Oni said Nigerians studying abroad excel because lots of educational facilities are provided, which is missing at home.

    “What I would say is that most Nigerian students excel when they travel abroad more than they would have excelled here. So when you add their capability to the opportunities open to them when they are in the UK like world-class libraries, good lecturers, good facilities and excellent environment they excel. I won’t compare them to UK students but most of them do excel beyond the expectation of many people,” he said.

    Oni, former Chairman of Odua’ Investment, said acquiring education in world class institutions abroad has become a fad, especially among Nigerians as it makes them more marketable to employers anywhere in the world. Aside, he said foreign institutions enjoy good facilities and uninterrupted academic calendar that endear them to many who can afford their tuition.

    On what stands Dave Abion Consulting out, Oni said: “like some other consulting outfits, Dave Abion is not given to frivolities: In every sphere of human endeavour, there are always gatecrashers, but we stand out for a number of reasons. First, our organisation is recognised by the British High Commission and the British Council. We are also affiliated to the ICEF, an International body that recognises quality and brings quality education consultants in contact with quality education providers. People know us in the industry and we also know our students and their parents very well. We operate nationwide and are fully registered with the authorities. We have offices in Ikeja, Victoria Island, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

    He said the outfit also develops a mechanism whereby it keeps track of their products after graduation.

    “We encourage our students to keep in touch with us through email, letters, telephone, text message. When you are still studying, we ensure that there is regular communication between us and we keep that up after your graduation. That’s how we are able to learn that four or five of our students came out with first class degrees in their undergraduate studies last year. When they finish, many of them prefer to stay abroad for a while at least to get quality job experience. Apart from piloting them towards quality education that will make them stand out anywhere, we are interested in how they progress in their careers overseas and on their return to Nigeria.

    Aside underfunding, Oni argued that another challenge plaguing Nigerian education system is misplaced priority.

    “If you go to Britain, they try to adjust their educational system to the political and economic realities of their country. For example, you are looking for a plumber or electrician, where are the institutions where you train plumbers and electricians here in Nigeria? UK, USA, Canada, Germany and Australia have institutions that train and certify this category of people.

    In Nigeria, everybody must go to university and you have lots of graduates who are not employable.

    “A good plumber could earn more than a university professor in the UK. The plumber is trained in the technical college and is happy to be a plumber. Here, everybody is running after university degrees. Government has to fundamentally develop a policy on education and be determined to provide the proper level of funding needed to execute the policy. The private sector should also be encouraged to play a key role,” he said.

     

  • Bowen varsity starts law with 50 students

    Bowen varsity starts law with 50 students

    Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State has strated its Law programme with 50 pioneer students.

    The inaugural session and dedication of the faculty was held last week following full approval of the programme by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Council of Legal Education.

    Addressing the students, the Dean Faculty of Law, Prof Jonathan Fabunmi urged them to be focused on the goal of becoming well-trained lawyers.

    He said: “As students of Bowen University, you are faced with challenges of striving to be the best and as pioneering students of Law Faculty, you are faced with even greater challenges. Not only must you strive to attain the degree of excellence for which Bowen is known, you must also strive to meet the requirements of the legal profession to which you are aspirants. You belong to a legal profession, a noble profession, a pathfinder, you are, therefore, expected to give your best at all times and be a light to others.”

    He also admonished the students to uphold the principles of excellence and godliness as espoused by the university’s founding fathers, saying since the establishment of the university 10 years ago, the principle has been faithfully observed.

    Going down memory lane, Fabunmi said the Prof Adebisi Adebowale-led Council of the university took a decision in 2010 to establish a Law Faculty. A committee was set up which prepared the academic brief. The Law Library and other infrastructural facilities were put in place, while academics were recruited, and other requirements of the NUC for establishing a Law Faculty met.

     

     

     

  • UNIBEN admits 5,915, warns against indecent dressing

    UNIBEN admits 5,915, warns against indecent dressing

    The University of Benin, Benin City on friday  admitted five thousand, nine hundred and fifteen students  after subscribing to relevant matriculation oath for the 2012/2013 academic session.

    Prof. Osayuki Oshodin, Vice- Chancellor of the University at the ceremony charged the matriculating students to be loyal and true to the matriculation oath of obedience and respect to the authority of the University that has offered them admission.

    He admonished them to protect and guard their new status jealously, and avoid any unwholesome behavior that may pose threat to the peace and progress of the University.

    While administering the matriculation oath, Prof. Oshodin said the University administration frowns at the indecent clothes many of the female students put on in the name of fashion.

    He said the attitude is disgusting as it has been identified to be one of the major factors responsible for cases of sexual harassment experienced by students.

    The Vice- Chancellor therefore wish that the female students will always appear responsible at all gatherings.

    Advising the students against Examination malpractice, that is a serious misconduct in the institution, Prof. Oshodin said the University authority has zero tolerance for such nefarious act, and its ready at all time to apply appropriate sanctions against offenders.

    “The burning issues of cultism is of great concern to the University. I know some of you may have been initiated into one cult group or the other before you gained admission into this institution, let it be know to you that the our security network will fish you out”.

     

  • Students to hold roundtable

    Nigerian students studying in the United Kingdom are planning a youth entrepreneurial roundtable for July in Abuja to develop the potential of youth in the country, an official has said .

    The President of the Nigerian Students Association in the Diaspora, UK chapter, Mr Olalekan Oshunkoya, made this known during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    He said the essence of the event is to sensitise young people to the ways of developing their potential.

    Oshunkoya noted that lack of employment for young people after graduation retarded progress and hampered nation building. He, however, decried crave by the youth to travel abroad in their quest to make quick money, adding that such attitude was inimical to the ability of the youth to explore their potential.

    He expressed optimism that the planned conference would help to promote entrepreneurial skills development and boost the youth participation in nation building process.

    “We are actually looking at the potential of young people; we know Nigeria has been dependent on oil for a very long time, but what is the future of Nigeria?

    “What are other things we can do? Where are the potential. What are the entrepreneurial opportunities in those areas?

    “We are bringing stakeholders in government; in private sector to look at it, everybody visiting Nigeria what they see is just oil, there are other things, that you cannot see.

    “We are going to expose those things in a global roundtable and debate it, and expose young people to career opportunities outside the traditional oil industry.

    “And then, in technology, in education, in research; the idea is to ensure that young people are aware of the opportunities at home.

    “Then they can come back home and be part of the process that brings change; we believe that democracy is about public participation.

    “The fact that we are outside the country doesn’t mean we are no longer part of the government anymore.”

    Another thing we are doing in July, taking place in Abuja is Nigerian students’ enterprise conference.

    “We are going to be having the Nigerian students’ enterprise conference, to let young Nigerians and students know, that there is a potential for Nigeria beyond oil.”

    He advised youth interested in pursuing education abroad to garner experience in choice field of study to enable them actualise their aspiration.

     

     

     

     

  • Leaders for Osun students

    The National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS), Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY), Iree, has inaugurated a new executive. The ceremony, which was held at the New Lecture Hall 7, was attended by the chairman of the association’s electoral commission, Bashir Fatai and president of OSPOLY Students’ Union Government (SUG), Abiodun Osin.

    Fatai dissolved the outgoing executive before swearing in the new officials. In his admonition, Abiodun noted that the youth in every society remained the dynamic, energetic, courageous and productive. He charged the incoming members of the association to work for students who elected them into the offices.

    The new executive is led by Gafar Usman. Others are Abolore Ogundapo, Vice President; Olumuyiwa Ogunleye, General Secretary; Muibat Mohammed, Assistant General Secretary; Kazeem Alade, Financial Secretary; Ayomikun Adesogbon, Treasurer, and Jonathan Adeyanju, Auditor General.

    Others are, Idowu Olapade, Public Relations Officer 1; Habeeb Mustapha, Social Director; Taiwo Lawal, Welfare Director and Sikiru Okiki, Chief Whip.

    In his remark, Gafar noted that his administration would discharge its responsibilities without fear or favour to any group. He also promised to make life better for the members of the association.

  • Medical students challenged on research

    Medical students in the University of Calabar (UNICAL) have been charged to see academic research as a veritable way of acquire knowledge as against the traditional practice, which places emphasises on reading. The charge was given during a workshop by Research Africa on modern technique in research.

    Addressing participants, STEP-B Project Manager, who is also the Director of Research of the institution, Prof Emmanuel Ezedinachi, urged students not to wait till their final year before getting involved in research.

    The don said the directorate was established to emphasise and make research continuous culture, especially in the academia. According to him, Research Africa was an online platform that helped potential researchers to access funding agencies based on the quality of written proposal.

    In his remark, a member of STEP-B project, Prof Bassey Okon, said the aim of the workshop was to open the minds of the medical students and let them know that there was more to the discipline than the routine of clinical diagnosis and therapy.

    Prof Okon advised students to see academic research as an avenue to stand out saying, “if you ask the right questions, you can achieve anything.” He added that all that was required of the participants was the will and commitment, assuring that with STEP-B project, getting funding for viable research was no longer a problem.

    The students were tutored on various methodologies of research in the field. Researchers such as the Dean of Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Prof Anne Asuquo, encouraged the students to diversify into other areas and take research seriously.

     

  • Accommodation gets tough in DELSU

    Accommodation gets tough in DELSU

    Fresh and returning students of Delta State University Abraka are having a tough time securing accommodation in the university’s hostels available on campus.

    As at the time of compiling this report, many of the students who resumed for a new academic session last week are yet to secure spaces in Abraka, Ethiope and Council Halls, the three main hostels on campus.

    Our correspondent gathered that the delay was caused by decision of the hostel management to use a balloting system in place of the first come, first serve system that was used before.

    The balloting exercise which started on Monday has been disappointing for many students, especially those who picked NO.

    Frustrated by delay and disappointment of the balloting system, some of the students are now looking for spaces in privately owned hostels within and outside the campus.

    A student who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity said the balloting process has effectively reduced the number of students who will stay in the hostel for the session. She added that the first come first serve arrangement was better because it gave those who resumed early an advantage.

    She said: “This balloting system has reduced the number of people who will stay in the hostel. Once you pick NO, there is nothing you can do other than making alternative arrangements. I prefer the first come; first serve system because it gave those of us who resume early an advantage in securing hostel accommodation.

    Our correspondent also gathered that some students who were lucky in the balloting exercise are making brisk business by selling their slots to desperate students at exorbitant prices.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Oyo students elect leaders

    •Ajimobi praised on good governance

    The National Association of Oyo Students (NAOS) has elected leaders at the national level of the association. The elected officials will steer the affairs of the association for an academic session.

    The election took place amid tight security at the Old Atiba Local Government Secretariat, which now houses the NAOS secretariat.

    Daud Temitope, a student of the University of Ibadan (UI), became the president while Hassan Adebayo, a student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) was elected Speaker.

    At the inaugural sitting presided by Hassan, the 400-Level Political Science student charged the members of the executive to rise up to the challenges facing the association. He observed that the time when elected officials would shy away from responsibilities had gone, adding that the association must be repositioned to attain an enviable height.

    Daud thanked God for his election, noting that his administration was faced with a great task. He said every member of the association would be carried along in the implementation of his programmes. He assured members that the association’s secretariat in new Atiba Local Government, Ofa Meta, which is still under construction, would be completed soon.

    Meanwhile, the Federation of Oyo State Students Union, (FOSSU) has praised Governor Abiola Ajimobi for “giving governance a new meaning in the state”. This commendation was made at the FOSSU senate meeting, which took place at the headquarters of Ibarapa Central Local Government, Igbo-Ora, last week.

    The National President of the union, Olansile Muili, while briefing senators of the union in a meeting presided by Ezekiel Ayansola, said he met the governor on the need to initiate a youth-oriented programme which, he said, the governor agreed on.

    He said the governor had agreed to sponsor the maiden Abiola Ajimobi Inter-tertiary Institutions Debate Competition in which all students of Oyo origin in tertiary institutions will participate. He added that plans were underway on the payment of bursary and scholarship, adding that it would be paid immediately after the biometric exercise.

    Ezekiel expressed happiness with the development, advising the president and the other executive members to work towards the realisation of the contest.