The Nation Newspaper

Tag: undergraduate

  • ‘Gunmen’ attempt to arrest undergraduate

    There was tension yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, as three gunmen invaded Al-Hikmah University to “arrest” a female student.

    Some vigilant male students rebuffed the attempt to take away the 200 Level student.

    The institution’s management condemned the behaviour of the gunmen, who claimed to be security agents, whose action sparked a melee that disrupted lectures.

    Policemen from nearby Adewole Police Station came to douse the tension.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. AbdulKareem Alege, said it was wrong for security operatives to carry out any operation within the campus without formally notifying the management.

    His words: “What happened yesterday was a case of misjudgment by a law enforcement agency.

    “They came to the campus and tried to arrest a female student.

    “We intervened because students insisted that their colleague cannot be arrested without the knowledge of the authorities.

    “It is very unfortunate that anybody will come to the campus and to make an arrest without informing the authorities.

    “We thank God I was the only person injured. I was trying to clear the debris that the students put in the vehicles.

    “These people were in mufti. That is what is more disturbing. If you come in uniform and you want to make an arrest, you still need to tell the authorities.

    “We called for the police and they came. The people who came to make the arrest are with the police now and the student is safe here.

    “The situation is calm now. We cannot obstruct the police from carrying out their work but this time we are going to make sure that somebody accompanies the lady.”

    The state police command confirmed that the gunmen were policemen, but berated their “unprofessional attitude”.

    Police spokesman Ajayi Okasanmi said: “The command wishes to inform the public and concerned parents/guardians of students of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin that the feeling of disquiet that occurred yesterday at the university was as a result of an unprofessional attitude displayed by some policemen.

    “They are being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as directed by the Commissioner of Police, Ambrose Aisabor.

    “The occurrence is not in any way a security breach or a scare or failure of police standard operational procedure.

    “The command is hereby advising the people to go about their businesses.”

  • ESSAY CONTEST FOR UNDERGRADS

    ESSAY CONTEST FOR UNDERGRADS

    The Nation CAMPUSLIFE, in collaboration with AfricanLiberty.org and Network for a Free Society, is calling for entries into an essay competition.

    Details are as follows:

    Question: Freedom creates prosperity. It unleashes human talent, invention and innovation, creating wealth where none existed before. Discuss.

    Eligibility: All African Students in any tertiary institutions (university, polytechnic, college of education and technical schools) in Africa. The format of the text should be in Microsoft word and not more than 1,500 words.

    Interested students can visit www.africanliberty.org for background materials. Note that plagiarism is not allowed; any text or sentences copied from other people works must be indicated in quotation marks and credit must be given at the bottom of the paper to the author. Any entry that contains plagiarised work will be disqualified.

    On the first page of the completed essay, please write your full names, department, level of study and name of institution. Also include your email address and mobile phone number. Send your entries to adedayo.thomas@gmail.com

    Entries will be received between March 6 and June 6, 2014. Late entries will not be accepted. Winners will be announced on July 3 , 2014. All entries will get a free book titled Why Liberty by Tom G. Palmer OR Foundation of a Free Society by Eamonn Butler. Please be sure you include your postal address if different from your school address.

    Prizes: 1st – George Ayittey (Platinum Prize): $1,000 and scholarship to 2014 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA)/ASFL at the University of Cape Town Business School, South Africa, from August 14-17, 2014

    2nd – Anthony Fisher (Gold Prize): $700 and scholarship to 2014 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA)/ASFL at the University of Cape Town Business School, South Africa, from August 14- 17, 2014

    3rd – Derenle Edun (Silver Prize): $500 and scholarship to 2014 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA)/ASFL at University of Cape Town Business School. South Africa, from August 14- 17, 2014

    4th – The Nation CAMPUSLIFE Media Prize (Bronze): $300 and scholarship to 2014 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA)/ASFL at the University of Cape Town Business School, South Africa, from August 14- 17, 2014.

    We also have eight consolation prizes of $50 each.

     

  • Undergraduate employs graduates in dance academy

    Undergraduate employs graduates in dance academy

    Twenty-two years old Marie Bassey is a student of the University of Benin where she is studying Industrial Chemistry. As an undergraduate, she has already employed two graduates in a dance academy she founded three years ago. The dance academy known as Marie Dance Academy is located within the premises of the Church of God Mission founded by late Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa.

    Two winners of the Nigeria Got Talents show, little Amarachi and robotic dancing sensation, the Robots for Christ were tutored at the academy.

    Marie’s love for dancing began at age seven when she joined other kids to dance in the church which later helped to develop her dancing skills.

    She told reporters in Benin City that she started the academy with N80,000 proceeds she realised from the sale of birds she reared. She said her parents initially kicked against her decision to take to dancing as a career but started supporting her when she was able to blend her studies with dancing.

    “I am an only child and it is difficult when your parents expect so much and you tell them you want to dance. I told my father I love dancing but he did’nt approve of it. It was my mum that was always sneaking me out of the house and encouraged me to dance. I made sure I stuck a balance between dancing and my books. When he saw my grades improved, that was when he started supporting me. It wss when Amarachi won the first N10 million and I told him this was what came out from dancing and he was like ‘you should dance more’. After Robot for Christ won recently, he has been calling on me to dance more. When I sold the birds, I just started. I didn’t know what I was doing but at the end, it made sense.

    “I opened as a result of the help I got from the Bishop. I talked to him about my passion for dancing and how I love to train kids and teenagers. He encouraged me to do that. I found this space that was empty. I removed all the trash and fixed the studio as a dance studio. Winners of Nigeria Got Talent show in 2012 and 2014 are from this academy which is why I want people to know about the achievements of the academy and also encourage younger generation to take to dancing as a career. Dancing is a huge investment waiting to be harnessed.”

    The duo of Robot for Christ, Etiosa Ewere and Efe Nosa, both students of the Benson Idahosa University said their lives have changed since they won the N10 million prize money of the show.

     

     

  • Pan-Atlantic varsity to begin undergraduate studies

    From next year, the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), formerly called Pan-African University, Lekki, Lagos will begin the admission of students for undergraduate programmes into the School of Media and Communications and the School of Business Administration.

    Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Juan Elegido, said at a briefing last Thursday that the institution would begin its undergraduate education gradually to ensure students imbibe its rich culture.

    For 11 years, the university had built a credible reputation both home and abroad as a privately-run institution that offered quality postgraduate education in media, communications, and business – with the Financial Times of London rating its Lagos Business School (LBS) the second best in Africa and the 55th in the world.

    Despite its new name, which came into effect from last Friday, Elegido assured Nigerians that the quality of education will remain the same, especially as it transforms into a full-fledged university, offering undergraduate and postgraduate education.

    The name change was forced by a decision of the African Union (AU) to establish a university by the same name which is being hosted by established institutions in five member countries, including Nigeria.

    The AU Pan-African University’s College of Life and Earth Sciences is being hosted by the University of Ibadan.

    Elegido said the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has agreed to link the new name, Pan-Atlantic University, to the old, Pan-African University, when the institution features in its brochure for the first time next year when it begins accepting students for first degrees.

    “The NUC (National Universities Commission) has approved the name. What JAMB has agreed to do is that in the JAMB brochure, instead of just putting Pan Atlantic University, it will say formerly Pan African University so that at least the students who are considering what universities to apply to may be aware,” he said.