Students from some tertiary institutions in Edo State gathered for a fashion show held at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). The show was organised by Evol Entertainment to promote entrepreneurship and fashion among youths . EZEKIEL EFEOBOKHAN (Pharmacy) reports.
University of Benin (UNIBEN) was literally shut down on Friday when Evol Entertainment – a subsidiary of la Evol de moi – held its yearly fashion show on the campus. It was the sixth edition of the event with the theme: Healthy You. The show was sponsored by Nature Field Makers of Healthy Multivitamin.
By 3pm, lecture halls were empty and hostels deserted as UNIBEN students and their colleagues from neighbouring institutions, such as Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Igbinedion University, College of Education, Ekiadolor and National Open University (NOUN), among others, trooped to the UNIBEN Indoor Sports Hall to witness what was described as the biggest fashion show in the institution.
Security and protocol officers had a hectic time controlling the crowd trooping into the hall. At 5pm, the show started and the hall was filled.
In his address, the chairman of Evol Entertainment, Dr Agogbuo Chigbo Joshua, said the show was initiated to promote youth entrepreneurship and also to provide a platform for youngsters to pursue their talents in fashion designing. He said the show offered a platform for young fashion designers operating from campuses to showcase their products to the world.
Agogbuo praised members of the UNIBEN community for their “unflinching support” since the show was initiated five years ago, noting that many students had leveraged the platform to launch their fashion designing talents.
He urged well-to-do individuals and the government to support the show by investing in the fashion industry. He said the fashion sector had the potential to generate gainful employment for youths.
The show began with top fashion designers showcasing their products. Tete Clothing opened the stage with its classic African collections paraded by elegant models.
Mck Daisy followed suit with its collections of stylish outfits. Its parade wowed the audience; the crowd screamed intermittently as photographers scrambled to capture the moments.
Mac Topaz Clothing, owned by a UNIBEN alumnus, enthralled the audience with its collection of neatly-sewn Agbada (flowing gown) and other traditional attires elegantly presented by hefty guys.
Other fashion designers that paraded their collections included Mrak A, Gee Collections, Thieves Fashion and 20Collections, among others. The show ended with a display of Clyopatra and Kings Collection by Clyde Harris.
Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Phillip Obinna, a 500-Level Medicine and Surgery, hailed the organisers for the “epic show”.
He said: “All I can say is that, the show is the best ever held by Evol Entertainment. I witnessed the previous edition, but I can confirm this is the best held so far.”
Also, Clementina Iredia, a 300-Level Theatre Art student, said: “I am happy to have attended the event. I initially thought it would be boring, but this edition proved to be the best held so far. There couldn’t have been a better way to relax than to be at the fashion show.”
“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Today world has evolved through laws and revolution. From the Hobbesian state of nature, humans evolved through times and conditions to make world more organised. It must be said that protests played key roles in what the world has become today.
Voices of people have refused to go under the strength of oppression. In fact, no human civilization has become successful without protests. The vehicle of progress in any society is fueled by the oil of protests. There are thousands of instances in history where protests shaped the destiny of a people, giving hope to generations.
America is largely free today from racial discrimination and segregation because a woman named Rosa Parks. She stood for her rights by sitting down and refusing to vacate her seat for a white woman. Martin Luther King Jr. and other people of good conscience would later lead protests and marches against racial segregation until the American Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional. It is now history that a black man once sat in the white house.
Similarly, South Africa broke loose from the shackles of apartheid because some persons refused to keep quiet in the face of oppression. They protested. They kicked. They demanded for their freedom and the oppressor was compelled to set them free. Although a protester, Nelson Mandela, would later become South Africa’s first president in post-apartheid era, never again will a South African live under the tent of apartheid.
Protest has been used by nations to reshape their destinies. Students, too, have had reasons to protest. In Nigeria, during the golden days of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), protests were used by students as a powerful weapon against the brutal rule of military governments. Students were at the front of a vanguard protesting against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 elections.
The University of Benin (UNIBEN) Students’ Union has earned good reputation for employing protest as a tool for social change. The union has always been in the forefront of the protests declared by NANS. Students of the school have never been known to be docile when handling internal issues affecting them.
I recall one of the most popular protests in the history of UNIBEN. It was in 2009 at the school main gate. I was a fresher. The then union president, Prince Harrison Ehimiyen, led a demonstration against fee increment. To make the protest effective, the union chose the day former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, was to deliver a lecture in the school. By noon, over 3,000 protesters had gathered at the school main gate and they were determined to prevent Ibori and his entourage from gaining access into the campus.
The songs of solidarity filled the dusty air. Green leaves were waved endlessly. The protesters did not mind the heat from the scorching sun. Prince Harrison addressed the crowd time to time. He would tell us why the protest was necessary, why we needed to hold on and why we must remain peaceful.
The protest forced Ibori and his entourage to sneak into the campus through the gate linking Osasogie. Immediately we learnt of that, we took the protest to the main auditorium where the ex-governor was to deliver lecture.
At the entrance of the main auditorium was a charismatic lecturer, Prof Eddy Eragbe, who had just completed his tenure as the Dean of Student’s Affairs. He addressed us and gave his assurances that our concerns would be considered. He appealed to us to call off the protests. Quite satisfied, we ended the protests and joined Chief James Ibori’s lecture.
A few weeks after, the hike in the tuition fees was reviewed downwards. No student was rusticated or expelled for involving in the protest. The union was not proscribed, perhaps we had saner management.
Fast forward to this year, history repeated itself but with a twist. Last November, UNIBEN students were led by their leaders to peacefully protest against a hike in tuition and hostel fees. The protest was necessary because the new fees, if allowed, may prevent the children of the poor from accessing education.
It would interest the world to know that instead of negotiating with the students’ leadership, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Faraday Orumwense, announced the rustication of five students, including the union president, Ogbidi Osemudiamen, for leading a peaceful protest. The Vice Chancellor also suspended the union.
Having cleverly realised his actions contradicted section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which gives Nigerians a right to peaceful assembly, the Vice Chancellor swiftly reversed the decision to rusticate the five students. The students would now return to their studies but without returning back to students’ unionism.
Prof Orumwense ought to know that there is no such thing as partial justice or half justice. When it comes to justice, half a loaf is never better than none. In fact, only a full loaf of justice can be regarded as justice indeed.
Therefore, at the risk of being tagged a tyrant and a person who flagrantly disregards democratic processes, Prof Orumwense needs to immediately restore students’ unionism on the campus. The VC does not even have the legitimate right to ban unionism in the first place.
I will admonish students to remain peaceful and law-abiding, believing very strongly that they would overcome. And to overcome, they must stand for their rights and resist any attempt that would make education inaccessible to the poor.
David, a student of Human Society and Crime, writes from Lagos
The University of Benin (UNIBEN) has reinstated the five students that were suspended for leading a protest last November. It said it took the action, following the students’ apology and stakeholders’ intervention. LINUS OKODUWA reports.
The University of Benin (UNIBEN) has reinstated the five students that were rusticated early this month for alleged misconduct.
In a statement by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr M.O. Osasuyi, the management said it rescinded the rustication, following the students’ letter of appeal and intervention by stakeholders.
The statement reads: “The managment has lifted the rustication placed on five students by the Senate of the university on February 1, 2018. This is sequel to consideration of the letter of appeal from the affected students and intervention from stakeholders.
“They are to resume academic activities and duly register for the 2017/2018 academic session.”
A source said the school predicated the reinstatement on the promise that the erring students would not be allowed to take back their positions in the Students’ Union Government (SUG).
The erring students were suspended from their studies for daring to lead a peaceful demonstration against fee increment. Their rustication followed their appearance at Student Disciplinary Committee (SDC) set up by management.
Two of the affected students are members of the SUG; three non-members. They are SUG President, Elvis Ogbidi, Public Relations Officer Goodnews Ehiabhi, Julius Aidenagbon, Innocent Momodu and Benjamin Majekodunmi.
The SDC recommended three of them – Elvis, Julius and Innocent – for two-semester suspension, while Goodnews and Benjamin were rusticated for four semesters. Five other students were exonerated.
The management, it was learnt, found the students’ protest, which held last November, insulting. The demonstration disrupted the 47th Founder’s Day and 43rd convocation of the school. This made the authorities to respond with the suspension of the students who led the protest.
According to one of the erring students, the decision to embark on the demonstration was taken after the union leadership met with students, following the announcement of increment in tuition and accommodation fees by the school.
It was learnt that tuition and accommodation fees were hiked by over 200 per cent for the incoming students. Before the increment, freshers usually paid N50,000. With the hike in fees, a fresher is expected to pay N133,400 as tuition. The SUG President and members of the union executives kicked against the hike, resulting in the protest.
During the demonstration, it was gathered that the students sought audience with the Vice-Chancellor and urged that the hike be reverted.
After the protest, the school ordered students to vacate their hostels till further notice. Soldiers were drafted into the school to ensure that students complied with the vacation order. Electricity and water supplies to the hostels were cut off. On December 12, the school suspended Students’ Union activities.
Sponteneous jubilation trailed the news of the students’ reinstatement in the school’s Halls of Residence. When CAMPUSLIFE visited some hostels, students gathered in groups, discussing the development.
Students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, welcomed the news, but they wondered why the school wanted to stop the students’ leaders from taking back their positions. They said the school lacked power to stop any students from participating in students’ unionism.
A 300-Level student, Sandra Ukofon, said the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Faraday Orumwense, was ill-advised before rusticating the students, noting that the demonstration was peaceful.
She said: “We are happy with the news of the reinstatement, but I still believe that the decision to rusticate the students was not smart. The protest was not violent. We only blocked the school main gate and demanded that the VC address us, with a promise to reduce the fees. There was nothing wrong in that. Previous SUG leaders carried out violent protests and they were not suspended. Students took protests to the Ring Road area in Benin City and nothing happened. Why did the school have to suspend any students for peaceful protest?”
Another student, who pleaded anonymity, said the management acted in bad faith when it suspended the protest leaders.
He said: “The hostels are bad. There is no water even to bath. Yet, the management deemed it necessary to increase the accommodation fee. We embarked on the protest to tell them that it was the wrong time to increase the accommodation fee. It is good that our colleagues have been recalled, but they should let the SUG leaders return to their posts.”
Ekene, another student, said Elvis personally cautioned the protesters not to destroy the school property during the demonstration.
He said: “I was part of the protest. I saw the SUG president making a plea to students. He appointed some persons to watch out for the protesters in order to ensure that no one destroyed any property. We marched to the main gate and blocked the road. It was then the VC came to answer us. I think the reason why these students’ leaders were victimised was because they did not agree to what the VC said on that day. The union’s Public Relations Officer, Goodnews, spoke the mind of the students that day and that was probably the reason he was suspended for four semesters.”
Victor Uwayianye, another student, said: “After they used soldiers to terrorise us, the school came with rustication of our leaders. They couldn’t tell us whether the action of the SUG leaders was wrong. That was a clear case of vctimisation. The school knew that it was wrong; that probably explained why the students were called back.”
Students, last week, boycotted lectures for two days in response to their colleagues’ suspension. The boycott followed the directive of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) President, Aruna Kadiri.
A meeting between NANS leadership and the school authorities in which the reinstatement of the students were discussed ended in a stalemate last weekend when the school demanded that the erring students must write an apology letter before they could be recalled. This move was rejected by the students’ leaders.
Elvis maintained that the protest, which led to the suspension, was non-violent, noting that there was no reason for their suspension from their studies.
He said: “I heard about our reinstatement through a press release by the school PRO. We have been vindicated at last. I have maintained that the decison to suspend us was a pure case of victimisation. I am glad we have been reinstated by the school. I have always said I have a clear mandate from students to lead them. On this mandate I stand. No matter how tortuous the journey may be, the truth will always prevail.”
The University of Benin ( UNIBEN ) says it has recalled five students recently rusticated for their roles in the Nov. 23, 2017 students’ protest.
The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Faraday Orumwunse, made this known on Tuesday in Benin at a news briefing.
Orumwunse said the recall of the students followed the appeal in writing by the rusticated students, the Students’ Union as well as the intervention of well-meaning stakeholders.
He said from all indications, the protest was uncalled for and designed only to serve the illegitimate purpose of portraying the university in bad light while disrupting its academic calendar.
The vice chancellor said it was difficult to understand why the students’ union would call for a protest within 24 hours of receiving the assurance of the Pro-Chancellor that the issues raised in their letters would be reviewed.
According to him, management holds the views of students’ representatives in very high esteem and has always shown willingness to dialogue with the students.
“Nevertheless, management will not tolerate a situation where a few individuals will deploy the students’ union engagement mechanism for the furtherance of illegitimate purpose,’’ he said.
The vice-chancellor said it was untrue that the Chancellor of the institution and Emir of Kano, Mohammad Sanusi II, was involved in determining the school’s new charges.
He explained that the Governing Council of a university headed by a Pro- Chancellor was solely responsible for the financial operations of a university and not the Chancellor.
The vice-chancellor, however, said the management had reviewed the issues that led to the protest.
Our reporter recalls that students of the institution on Nov. 23, 2017 during the institution’s 47 Founder’s Day and 43rd convocation ceremonies protested the increase by the school management of accommodation charges.
Factional President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NAN), Comrade Aruna Kadiri, on Wednesday led a protest at the University of Benin to demand the unconditional reinstatement of five students of the institution who were rusticated last week.
The five students who are executive members of the institution’s SUG were rusticated for protesting against increment of various fees in the institution.
Those affected included the SUG President, Osamudiamen Ogbidi, Justus Aidenagnon, Innocent Momodu, Goodnews Ehiabhi and Patrick Majekodumi.
The school management said the protest was meant to disrupt its 47th founders’ day lecture and 43rd convocation ceremony.
Comrade Kadiri urged students of the institution to stay away from lecture venue until the rusticated students are recalled.
The protest by NANS came after a meeting with the institution’s management failed.
Sources at the meeting said the school management had asked the rusticated students to write a letter of apology.
The source claimed that the affected students and NANS leadership rejected the condition because the protest was peaceful and geared towards expressing their grievances.
The university’s spokesman, Mr. Micheal Osasuyi said, “The students remain rusticated and management has not given any conditional offer.
“What happen is that people came to beg on their behalf. And if they (students) are appealing, they know the necessary step to take,” Osasuyi said.
The Management of the University of Benin, UNIBEN has revoked the registration of religious groups and fellowship on campus.
This was made known in a statement released by the university management. The ban is due to the multiplicity of fellowships on campus and the use of lecture halls/classrooms/open fields for meetings on Sunday morning.
However, the management spared the Students Christian Movement / Christian Union Nigerian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES) and Scripture Union Campus Fellowship; the Nigeria Federation of Catholic Student and the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria to continue their religious activities in the school.
The statement reads parts,”The Student Affairs Division of the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria has revoked the registration of all fellowships and religious groups on campus with effect from 18th January 2018.This is due to the unhealthy multiplicity of fellowships on campus and the use of lecture halls/classrooms/open fields for meetings on Sunday morning.. New guidelines will be announced for re-registration of fellowships.
Meanwhile, the afformentioned fellowships are NOT affected by the ban as they can continue with their activities”
The University of PortHarcourt has so far established its dominance in athletics at the ongoing Nigeria University Games Association (NUGA) Games at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (UAM), by grabbing medals across athletic events.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that athletics are being staged at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.
The institution won its first medal in the women’s 200m through Idamadu Oghenefejiro, who finished the race in 23.75 secs beating another UNIPORT contender, Etim Alphosus who returned 24.08secs to settle for silver.
Moyosore Badejo of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) won the bronze with 24.92 secs.
Also in the men’s 200m, UNIPORT’s Harry Harrison, returned 21.68 secs to earn a gold, Adegoke Enoch of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), clinched the silver medal in 21.79 secs, while Ogoma Eseroghene also of UNIPORT finished in 22.10 secs for the bronze.
However, in the men’s 400m hurdles, Ochonogor Chibuzor of UNIBEN won gold medal in 53.9 secs, pushing Jugo Daniel of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) to claim silver in 55.8 secs, while Emoji Stephen of UNILORIN took bronze with 56.4 secs.
In the women 400m Hurdles, Nathaniel Glory of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu Ode, won gold wth 58.87 secs, while Akpan Uwemdimo of UNIPORTclaimed silver in 63.06 secs.
Ogochukwu Njoku of Delta State University, DELSU to bronze having returned 67.73 secs.
Also, the 100m Hurdles women gold was won by Oghenekome Okolosi of DELSU in 16.23, Akpan Uwemdimo of UNIPORT clinched silverin 16.35 and Moyosore Badejo of UNILAG bronze 18.48 secs.
The men’s 110m hurdles was won by Yusuf Mohammed of ABU who returned 15.26 secs, while Ochnogo Chibuzor of UNIBEN finished in 16.25 secs for silver and Onyianta Chidubem of UNN bronze with 16.25 secs.
In the Pole Vaults men final, Ababa Edwin of UNIPORT, vaulted 3.85m to win gold, Biamegh Bernard of UAM took the the silver with 3.10m, while Paul Azubike of BSU clinched the bronze after a 2.80m vault.
In men’s Javelin, Onyejiaka Uchenna of UNIZIK threw 51.82m for gold, Nwaonicha Precious of UNIPORT 49.40m for silver and Nwoye Ifeanyi also of UNIPORT took the bronze with 46.37m.
In the women’s category, Aniefuma Judith of UNIPORT, threw of 34.60m to win gold, while her schoolmate, Ugeh Veronica, threw 32.90m for silver and the bronze went to Nyough Ternenge with 26.18m.
UNIPORT also established its supremacy in the women’s Short Put when Aniefuna Judith, hit a distance of 12.88m, Ugeh Veronica also of the same institution threw 10.41m for silver and Blessing Bede of ATBU won bronze with 8.32m throw.
In the men’s Discus event, Nwonye Ifeanyi of UNIPORT won gold with 52.70m, Onyejiaka Uchenna of UNIZIK, got silver with 36.18m, while Shadrach Julius of FUD took bronze with 34.44m.
The Triple Jump women produced Uche Brown of UNIPORT as winner with a jump of 12.18m, her schoolmate Nwaelehia Chingarum jumped 11.93m for silver and Olaosebikan Esther from EKSU claimed the bronze with 10.30m.
In the high jump for men, Madago Prosper of UNIBEN jumped 1.80m for the gold, Oluwayemi Jerry of UNIPORT, 1.75m for silver and Osehel Meshack of AAU 1.75m for the bronze medal.
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday approved the appointments of Wale Babalakin, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and AVM Muktar Mohammed as chairmen, governing councils of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Bayero University Kano (BUK) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, Kaduna State.
The President also approved the reconstitution of the boards of 19 agencies and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Education for four years.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said this in a statement issued in Abuja by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Chinenye Ihuoma, yesterday to announce the reconstitution of the governing councils of 23 of the 40 federal universities in the country.
Adamu, who also appointed Ahaji Isah Ashiru and Dr. Jibril Oyekan as chairmen of the governing councils of University of Benin (UNIBEN) and University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), said their appointment was for a period of four years.
The minister said the reconstitution does not affect the 12 new federal universities in Lokoja, Otuoke, Gashua, Dustin-ma, Oye-Ekiti, Lafia, Gusau, Wukari, Kashere, Birnin-Kebbi, Duste and Ndifu-Alike-Ikwo, established by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said the institution affected were those whose governing councils’ tenures had elapsed or would expire on April 9, 2017.
“Pursuant to his powers under the laws establishing the federal universities in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstitution of the governing councils of 23 out of the 40 federal universities in the country for a period of four years, in the first instance,” the statement said.
“The institutions affected are those whose governing councils’ tenures have elapsed or would expire on 9th April, 2017.
“In making these appointments, Mr. President had taken cognizance of the requirements for membership into governing councils, which include among others, a minimum of a university degree, high integrity and commitment to educational development of the country as well as geographical spread in order to reflect federal character and foster sense of belonging.”
The chairmen for the reconstituted governing councils include: Chief Mike Olorunfemi, University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Wale Babalakin, UNILAG; John Ofem, Federal University of Technology Owerri; Sen. Nkechi Justina Nworgu, University of Calabar; Joshua Waklek, University of Ibadan; Niniola Nimota Akanbi, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University; Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, BUK; J.N Waku, Federal University of Technology, Akure and Alhaji Sani Maikudi, University of Abuja, among others.
Those appointed as board chairmen include: Prof. Ayo Banjo, National Universities commission (NUC); Chief Emeka Nwajiuba, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund); Hon. Dr. Ekaete Obon Okon, National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA); Dr. Mahmud Mohammed, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC); Prof. Zainab Alkali, National Library of Nigeria (NLN); Dr. Abubakar Saddiq, National Examination Council (NECO) and Dr. Gidado Bello Akko, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC).
Others are Prof. Gidado Tahir, National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE); Prof. Leonard Karshima Shilgba, National Business and Technical Education Board (NABTEB); Prof. Adamu Baikie, Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN); Alh. Maigari Dingyadi, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE); Sen. Mallam Kaka Yale, National Teachers’ Institute (NTI); Prof. Buba Bajoga, National Mathematical Centre (NMC) and Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Also appointed are Chief N. N Nnabuchi, National Institute of Nigerian Languages (NINLAN); Chief Paul Unongo, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC); Prof. Saliba Mukoro, Nigerian French Language Village (NFLV); Prof. Modupe Adelabu, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and Prof. O Oladusi, Nigerian Arabic Language Village (NALV).
“The boards, consisting of the chairmen and members, will be inaugurated on a date to be announced soon,” the statement said.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved the appointments of Wale Babalakin, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and AVM Muktar Mohammed, as chairmen, Governing Councils of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Bayero University Kano (BUK), and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
Buhari also approved the reconstitution of the boards of 19 agencies and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Education for a period of four years.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, disclosed this in a statement issued by the ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Chinenye Ihuoma, to announce the reconstitution of the governing councils of 23 out of the 40 federal universities in the country.
Adamu, who also appointed Alhaji Isah Ashiru, and Dr. Jibril Oyekan as chairmen of the governing council of University of Benin (UNIBEN) and university of Ilorin (UNILORIN), said their appointment was for a period of four years.
The minister said the reconstitution does not affect the 12 new Federal Universities in Lokoja, Otuoke, Gashua, Dustin-ma, Oye-ekiti, Lafia, Gusau, Wukari, Kashere, Birnin-Kebbi, Duste, and Ndifu-Alike-Ikwo, established by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said the institutions affected are those whose governing councils’ tenures had elapsed or would expire on April 9, 2017.
“Pursuant to his powers under the laws establishing the federal universities in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstitution of the governing councils of 23 out of the 40 federal universities in the country for a period of four years, in the first instance. The institutions affected are those whose governing councils’ tenures have elapsed or would expire on April 9, 2017.
“In making these appointments, Mr. President had taken cognizance of the requirements for membership into Governing Councils which include among others: a minimum of a university degree, high integrity, and commitment to educational development of the country as well as geographical spread in order to reflect federal character and foster sense of belonging,” the statement said.
The chairmen for the reconstituted governing councils include Chief Mike Olorunfemi UNN, Nsukka; Wale Babalakin, UNILAG; John Ofem, FUTO; Sen. Nkechi Justina Nworgu, UNICAL; Joshua Waklek, UI; Niniola Nimota Akanbi, ATBU; Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, BUK; J.N Waku, FUTA and Alh. Sani Maikudi, UNIABUJA, among others.
Those appointed as board chairmen include: Prof. Ayo Banjo, National Universities commission (NUC); Chief Emeka Nwajiuba, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund); Hon. Dr. Ekaete Obon Okon, National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA); Dr. Mahmud Mohammed, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC); Prof. Zainab Alkali, National Library of Nigeria (NLN); Dr. Abubakar Saddiq, National Examination Council (NECO); Dr. Gidado Bello Akko; National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC); Prof. Gidado Tahir, National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE); Prof. Leonard Karshima Shilgba, National Business and Technical Education Board (NABTEB) and Prof. Adamu Baikie, Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
Others are: Alh. Maigari Dingyadi, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE); Sen. Mallam Kaka Yale, National Teachers’ Institute (NTI); Prof. Buba Bajoga, National Mathematical Centre (NMC); Dr. Emmanuel Ndukwe, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB); Chief N. N Nnabuchi, National Institute of Nigerian Languages (NINLAN); Chief Paul Unongo, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC); Prof. Saliba Mukoro, Nigerian French Language Village (NFLV); Prof. Modupe Adelabu, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE); and Prof. O Oladusi, Nigerian Arabic Language Village (NALV).
“The Boards, consisting of the chairmen and members, will be inaugurated on a date to be announced soon,” the statement said.
Many public tertiary institutions lack sufficient hostels to accommodate their teeming students. CAMPUSLIFE reporters visited the hostels of various institutions and discovered that the blame for the state of the hostels is shared by the management of the institutions and the students.
MANY students of tertiary institutions depend on campus hostels because they are cheaper than off-campus accommodation.
But only a few public tertiary institutions can boast of adequate hostels. Fewer still can boast of hostels which are in good condition.
A visit by CAMPUSLIFE to some hostels run by the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA), University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Benin (UNIBEN), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Federal Polytechnic, Bida, University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Federal Polytechnic Offa (FEDPOFFA), revealed that their facilities are in bad shape.
UNILAG
By Babatunde Kawthar
Though the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has 13 undergraduate halls of residence, it can only provide accommodation for about 20 percent of its students.This problem has put a lot of pressure on its hostels as majority of its students have resorted to squatting with their colleagues. As a result, the hostels are congested.
The male halls are more congested than the female halls because men find it easier to squat. Also, two male undergraduate halls are under renovation.
A room in a male hostel allocated to only eight students can be inhabited by 20 students. According to Jude, a final year student, the least number of occupants in any room he had ever stayed in is twice the number of those allocated to the room officially.
“See, once you get accommodation, just know that the least you can be in that room is twice the original occupants. In extreme cases you can even have multiples of four,” he said.
The pressure is evident in the condition of the rooms, the kitchenette and rest rooms. The halls are dirty.
“I can never stay in Makama Hall. Yes, many of UNILAG hostels are dirty but the condition of Makama is worse,” a female student lamented.
Chuma, a resident of Eni-Njoku Hall, said he watches what he eats to avoid using the hostel toilets.
“I can’t eat just anything; the toilets are too dirty and I have to avoid anything that will upset my stomach. The smell from the toilets can make you throw up,” he said.
The situation of the toilets in these halls, many believe, can be reversed if there is constant water and power supply to the halls. But some students do not think so. According to them, the neatest halls actually have inadequate power supply.
Students without bed spaces sleeping in a classroom
Adam, a year four student, said: “Biobaku and Kofo seem to be neater than most hostels and they rarely have light, unlike Moremi and other hostels on campus with better power supply. I think the neatness of the hall is dependent on management.”
While the institution has banned squatting by ensuring only legal occupants are allowed into halls of residence, this policy has proved ineffective. Off-campus halls, which could serve as alternatives, are too expensive for some students. This makes them to sleep in classrooms and areas designated for overnight reading. Faculties of Engineering and Environmental Sciences are the rendevous for these students.
Besides squatting, CAMPUSLIFE observed that many halls are not well managed with maintenance rarely done.
Except in extreme cases, such as when the the students protested to draw the attention of its management to the problem of bedbugs, and the institution was forced to fumigate all its halls of residence and change the mattresses, the halls management prefer to do surface maintenance. For instance, the outside walls are repainted to give the impresion that renovation was being done than fix the toilets and bathrooms.
Also, some halls lack fire extinguishers and fire alarms. While this does not make the hall completely unsafe, it puts residents at risk. A resident of Kofoworola Hall said: ‘Some days ago, there was a small fire outbreak caused by electricity, water could not be used to quench it. Students had to scream to call the attention of the hall officials. This is something we could have quenched with a fire extinguisher.’
UNILAG prides itself as institution of first choice for students and the nation’s beautiful bride and hence must strive for excellence in all aspects, including students’welfare. Certainly, students said, it could do more to improve the conditions of its halls, and should not while doing this, convert the halls to postgraduate halls or make them unnecessarily expensive as we have seen in some cases.
OAU
By Gabriel Ayodeji
Living in the halls of residences at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is an exercise in endurance. Students are at the receiving end of the good and the bad. One reason is the large population of hostel residents. There are about 35,000 students in OAU with about 11,000 residing in the school’s hostels, which include four for the males, four for the females and one for the male and female Postgraduate students.
As one of the second generation institutions in the country, having being built in 1963, OAU has most of her public facilities erected over 50 years ago. Many of these, including the hostels, are poorly maintained.
CAMPUSLIFE discovered that some rooms in Moremi, Fajuyi and Awolowo Halls of Residence were abandoned for years, following a fire outbreak.These rooms have remained unrenovated ever since, despite the pressing needs for more hostels on campus.
The pressure of population on hostel facilities is a threat to hygiene. Students cook indiscriminately in spaces not meant for such, leaving the drains clogged and the surroundings messy.
One of the burnt hostel rooms yet to be repaired at OAU
An Estate Management student, Ahmed Jinadu, attributed the dilapidation of the hostels partly to population explosion.
“The contractors that built OAU in 1960s never envisaged the population we have in the halls of residence. In a way, this makes cleaning of backyards and corridors quite strenuous as students were never meant to cook at their backyards – as it is done now – causing an accumulation of liquid and solid wastes in the hostel because of overpopulation,” he said.
Apart from inadequate accommodation, utilities, such as water and power, are a luxury. Two out of three pumping machines at the University’s Dam are damaged leaving the institution with just one machine which can efficiently work for eight hours. With most of the reservoirs in the halls disconnected from pipelines, water has become erratic in the past three years because it takes little time for the functioning reservoirs to get empty.
Ogunrinu Gbenga Oladayo, a Student’s Union executive, described the maintenance culture as ‘poor’, blaming the university’s management for its awful disposition towards the dilapidation of the facilities.
“After the tenure of Prof. Rogers Makanjuola as Vice Chancellor, the eras of two VCs afterwards before the emergence of the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Anthony Elujoba, marked the periods of setbacks for the institution. The huge amount of money allocated by the Federal Government for the maintenance of hostels and implementations of other projects were diverted into personal purses at the detriment of students,” he claimed.
UNN
By James Ojo
Overcrowding is a problem at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).
Eruesegbefe GodsRay, a resident of Eni-Njoku, a male Hostel, said sometimes 12 students were forced to stay in hostel rooms meant for fewer than that number.
“They should address the issue of overcrowding in the hostels. In a particular room, you can see up to 12 students,” he lamented.
Though the female hostels are slightly better, Nkem Jika said about seven students stay in a room in Akpabio, a female hostel.
“Seven or six students in a room makes it congested,” she said.
But the students commended the school management for regular supply of electricity and water. However, they lamented the poor state of the hostel toilets as well as the environment, which they said was usually unkempt.
Hinweokwu Ugwuanyi, who stays at Nkrumah Hall (female hostel), said the toilets are hardly clean.
“The only issue we have in the hostel is the toilet end. Most times, the place is messed up. But in other areas, they are really trying. There is constant light and water,” she said.
Eruesegbefe said the lack of water supply in the hostels affects the toilets cleanliness.
“The toilets are few. Sometimes, everywhere around the hostels are messed up. They should put an overhead tank so that they can be flushing directly,” she said.
Juliet Ozioko, a resident of Akpabio Hostel, said the toilets are dirty because of cleaners’ inability to do work well, and poor tiolets habits by students.
“On the side of toilet facility, it is appalling. Cleaners do not clean the toilets well and some students do not even help matters. You will see some girls pouring faeces on the floor of toilets, thereby messing up and stinking. It is bad for our health,” she said.
Juliet also said water is not available in all hostels, adding that power supply is inadequate.
“The four necessities of life are food, water, light and toilet facilities. However, in UNN not all of these are made available to the students. In the area of water not all hostels enjoy the privilege of having adequate water supply. Hostels, such as Akintola, Akpabio and Okpara, have steady adequate water supply while others do not.
On power supply, she said: “When students really need it to read at night, it is not provided but during the day when we are at lecture halls, it is there wasting.”
Ebong Solomon, a resident of Alvan Ikoku male Hostel, described the state of facilities in the hostel as “very poor”.
“The school needs to do more. The vice chancellor has been trying to improve the facilities but the pace of the refurbishing must be increased. Security has been beefed up by putting iron doors in all the rooms in the hostel but the general outlook or appearance of the hostel must be improved. The electrical connections must be fixed. The hostel needs to be painted after several decades,” he said.
FUTMINNA
Abdulsalam Mahmud
When students of the Federal University Minna talk about their hostels, the poor state of toilet facilities is tops their minds.
CAMPUSLIFE visited the ‘Block A’ Male Hostel of Gidan Kwano Campus. The facility is in a state of disrepair. But the students are to be blamed for bad toilets habit.
The toilets and bathrooms compartment on the second floor of the hostel block were poorly lit. The floor is slippery – the result of repeated urination and excretion. Worse still, it smells. A tall student, was seen urinating on the corridor without entering the toilet.
Another student, who was waiting to use the bathroom, hissed in disgust, his mouth covered with a handkerchief, to keep out the offensive smell from assaulting his nostrils.
“I no no why some guys no go ever get sense,” he said in disgust. “Person don big, but go still dey behave like animal’’, he lamented as he made his way to find a relatively clean toilet.
Meanwhile, a chocking smell of fresh excreta from the deserted bathroom hit the toilet area.
In virtually all the toilets on the block, an army of flies was seen perching on the urine-soaked cistern, lobbies and faeces-embellished toilets’ floors, even as a foul, and toxic odours emanated from indiscriminate urination.
Usman Mustapha, an engineering student who resides in the hostel, decried the deplorable condition of the toilets, adding that lack of functional water system and bad toilet etiquettes by some students had made them unsafe for use.
He said: “It is quite unfortunate and worrisome that students, who ought to have common sense and be properly cultured, misuse the toilets. On several occasions, I have seen mature students urinating right at the entrance lobby, instead of going inside toilets. At times, if you are not lucky, a mountain of faeces will greet you by the time you enter to shower in the bathroom.
FUTA Minna
“In fact, those of us whose rooms are close to the toilets and bathrooms are the worst hit, as the offensive smells of urine and excreta that pervade our rooms cause discomfort.”
Usman lamented that some cleaners employed to tidy the toilets do not do their work well. He also pleaded with the university management to build more toilets and renovate the damaged ones.
“There is need for cleaners to be adequately provided with vital cleaning instruments, sanitisers and detergents to aid their work,’’ he added.
The experience is not different for Patience Uzor, who stays in a female hostel on the Bosso Campus of the university. She said that some students dread taking their baths and using the hostel’s toilets because they are filthy.
She lamented that the floors of some toilets are littered with blood-stained sanitary towels, urine and excreta. She blamed the school management for the problem.
“It is true that students contribute to the deplorable state of the toilets through improper and unhygienic handling of the overstretched toilet facilities. However, the school management cannot be exonerated either.
“The fact that most of our toilets’ lightings are not functioning, regular supervision of cleaners is not done, and some toilets’ doors are damaged, corroded and having cracked walls show the indifference of the university management towards students’ good health. A visitor coming to the hostel toilets for the first time doesn’t need a soothsayer to tell him that they haven’t being a beneficiary of any renovation work since they were built,’’ Patience said.
A top management staff member, who refused to be named because he was not mandated to speak on the issue, however, said that students who reside in campus hostels should not treat their hygiene with kid gloves.
He said: “They say charity begins at home. Students, who misuse hostel toilets, can be described as uncultured. They lack good morals and proper upbringing right from their homes. The questions are: Are they exhibiting the same attitude in their various homes? Do some of them have cleaners or maids who tidy their toilets and bathrooms at their home? What about the off-campus students? Who clean their bathrooms and toilets? I think it is high time our youths and students had value-reorientation. Let them develop a culture of properly maintaining facilities which the university management has provided for their own use and benefit.’’
UNILORIN
By Toyin Ali
At the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), the number of students who live off campus are more than those on campus thanks to insufficient hostel accommodation.
At the University’s main campus, six hostels are owned by the school management while the rest are owned by individuals. Of the six hostels, five are occupied by female students. Only one is meant for the males.
The only exception is the College of Medicine, which has all its hostels owned and controlled by the university management for students studying Medicine, Physiology and Anatomy. Most of them stay on campus.
For non-medical students, especially the males, living on campus is not a tea party.
Ali Adediran, a Law student, complained about the condition of the male hostel.
He said: “Although the Student Affairs unit is trying its best to put the only male hostel in the best condition but the situation of things keep aggravating. For instance, the hygiene of the hostel environment and convenience is nothing to write home about.
“Most times, the convenience will be left untidy, with mole of faeces occupying everywhere. The issue of water supply also surfaces sometimes when the water taps dry off. However, I wouldn’t fail to recognise the effort of the management to fix issues on time.”
But female students fare better. Ololade Omobola of the Faculty of Physical Science, gave a pass mark to the University Management for putting in place necessary measures to cater for the affairs of the female students.
However, she lamented that issues are not addressed on time.
“For instance, Block B of the Lagos Hostel has light problems. That has been the situation for the past few days. In addition, there is occasional case of laptop theft and general mismanagement of hostel property,” she said.
Maryam Adesina, a Law student, resides in one of the private hostels on campus. She gave a good account of its management. She, however, raised issues about the high cost to students.
UNIBEN
By Ezekiel Efeobhokhan
But for the population burden, many students say the hostels at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) are in a fair state.
The hostels were initially designed to accommodate eight students in a room but illegal occupants, popularly known as squatters, could double the number.
The toilet facilities, windows and doors were recently renovated by a former Students Union president, Raymond Omorogbe. However, work has stopped since his tenure ended but the students are still expecting the continuation of his good work
“The hostel condition in Hall 4, though not perfect, is better than when I first got admission,” said Mathew Osagbovo, a final year Agricultural Science student. “But this vice chancellor has done lots of renovation in the hostels and this has brought the hostel to its present manageable state.”
When asked to rate the state of the hostels, another final year student, Peter Irabor, of Geology, scored it 40 per cent. He said the hostels are over populated because the management refused to build new hostels.
Others, however, blamed the management for lack of maintenance culture.
“We pay more than N8,000 every session as maintenance fee, where does the money go to. Yet, we have overgrown grasses, dirty water and some lockers don’t even have doors,” said a female student who simply gave her name as Keffi.
The only hostel with a perfect condition is the newly built NDDC hostel, allocated only to Medical, pharmacy and nursing students. CAMPUS LIFE learnt that renovation was ongoing in the existing clinical hostel.
Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Michael Osasuyi, said with two female hostels under construction, the problem of congestion would soon be a thing of the past.
On hygiene, he said the students have a large part to play in sustaining the recently-renovated hostels.
“The hostel may be dirty and unusable but that may be due to congestion which will soon be a thing of the past. But the students should be able to learn how to maintain the school’s property as this can go a long way for the sustenance of hostel facilities,” he said.
FEDPOFFA
By Jennifer Umeh
The hostels of the Federal Polytechnic Offa (FEDPOFFA), in Kwara State are relatively new, given that it is not too long since the institution moved to its permanent site.
However, the students are yearning for cleaner surroundings and regular electricity supply.
‘’We do not have regular electricity in our hostel apart from the electricity supply, the institution complements it with five hours of electricity supply through its main generator. Water is also pumped during this period,” said a student who does not want to be named.
