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Tag: UNILAG

  • ASUU tasks UNILAG on members’ welfare

    ASUU tasks UNILAG on members’ welfare

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos Chapter, on Friday urged the institution’s authorities to improve on the welfare of its members.

    The union’s Chairman, Dr Adelaja Odukoya, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, expressed satisfaction with the authorities’ attitude toward provision of an enabling environment for effective teaching and learning in the university.

    He, however, said there were still concerns in the area of welfare of the union’s members.

    “You know before now we had issues with the university authorities, which, to an extent, has been largely resolved.

    “The major challenge we are facing today as a union is that of accommodation for our members.

    “A situation whereby a lecturer will be coming from far distance every morning to carry out his or her mandate every day has its effects on quality service delivery.

    “I know it could be better and that is why we are calling on the school authorities to look into the issue and seek ways of finding a lasting solution to it,’’ the don said.

    Odukoya said that one must have enough rest and less stress for his body to function well, and for him to be at his best.

    He said the conclusion of daily academic activities late at night could amount to a disservice, not only to the lecturers, but also to the students and the university at large.

    Odukoya, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science, urged the university authorities to reconsider their stand on the issue of annual leave for the union’s members.

    He said that a lot of the lecturers were unable to go for their annual leave because of the various programmes that were being run in the institution.

    “I still want the authorities to expedite action too in this area because we need the leave once in a while to rest, and to also do some other personal things.’’

    The don said that the lecturers were doing a lot in the area of self-development by way of attending workshops and other developmental programmes.

    Odukoya said plans were underway to organise leadership training for ASUU members in the university.

    “The training is expected to hold in the various chapters of our universities nationwide.

    “We are yet to have any particular date for the training, but as soon as we get directive from the national body, we shall commence,’’ he said.

  • Bed bug: UNILAG rehabilitates hostels

    The University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Tuesday said it had changed the facility managers maintaining its halls of residence for effective maintenance.

    The change follows protest by students about the menace of bed bugs in UNILAG hostels last October.

    The Deputy Dean of the Students’ Affairs of the institution, Dr Karo Ogbinaka, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the university management was taking steps to improve the welfare of students by rehabilitating the hostels.

    “Because we want to get the best for our students, the facilities in place now are a lot better. It is in the light of this that we have decided to change the contractors we are using as facility maintenance managers.

    “We have also changed all the mattresses, fumigated the halls and this is what had delayed the allocation of bed spaces to the students. They, however, started moving in from Sunday, Jan. 17,” he said.

    Ogbinaka said that renovation and reconstruction works on the halls started last year. He added that one of the halls, El-Kanemi, is being converted from wooden bungalow structures to concrete en-suite type.

     

    “We are re-constructing the El-kanemi Hall for expansion to accommodate about 1,000 students.  We are also renovating the Sodeinde Hall and the students are really excited about this development.

    “Some university workers are also moving into these halls as hospitality staff. They have been trained to run the hostels like what obtains in highbrow hotels, with a feeling of home away from home. The hostels will no longer necessarily be the normal place to sleep and wake up alone as there are many fresh innovations being put in place,” he said.

    He called on parents, students and other stakeholders to show more understanding.

    “The existing halls of residence have been overcrowded, overused, and the facilities have been overstretched,” he added.

    Meanwhile, the university has refuted claims that it shut the postgraduate students’ hostels while the students were writing examinations.

    The Deputy Registrar, Information, Mr Toyin Adegbule said the hostels were shut because postgraduate students are on vacation.

     

  • UNILAG shuts postgraduate students’ hostels

    UNILAG shuts postgraduate students’ hostels

    RESIDENTS of Henry Carr Hall at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) were on Monday barred from entering their hostel.

    Electricity was cut off around 11am and water supply stopped at 4pm. The hall has three blocks of rooms and houses Masters and Doctorate degree students.

    The students were served with a quit notice on January 12, effective from January 14. When the notice was served, many of the students had not returned from holidays. The hall executives met with the hostel officers and the exit date was extended to end of the month.

    But when a new notice was served, the date had changed.

    The notice reads: “Following the memorandum received from the Dean of Students Affairs (a photo copy is hereby attached) today concerning the notice of evacuation from the Hall of Residence, we, members of the Hall Management Committee (HMC), wish to formally appeal to you and all the students to please obey the directive of the Dean. You will assist us to be instrumental to its obedience because it has to be obeyed immediately. The directive has been given since Monday, January 11, 2016. Administratively, we expect everyone to have evacuated the Hall latest on Monday, January 18, 2016.”

    The statement infuriated the students whose one-year payment will elapse in March.

    The students were asked to evacuate their rooms because the school will be hosting some ECOWAS students.

    The students expressed anger, saying they could not imagine why the authority acted in such manner.

    They later met with some university officials, including hall executives and hostel officers.

    A student, who did not want to be named, said the executives were still trying to come to an agreement that would favour everyone.

    “The students were told to vacate the hostel but the session is not over. Some of us are not through with our exams and some of us come from long distances. We want the school authority to allow us stay till January ending. I believe they were in a tight corner yesterday because of the ECOWAS students’ arrival. We would be having a congress tonight (Tuesday) to discuss our options”, he said.

    A female student, who is yet to begin her exams, wondered how she is going to cope.

    “Where do I start looking for accommodation now when my exams are close by and how do I combine searching for accommodation and reading for exams? I don’t really know what to do,” she said.

  • Alumni doctors give back to UNILAG

    The 2005 graduates of the College of Medicine University of Lagos (CMUL) have donated items, including training mannequins for medical students.

    They also organised career fair for the students worth N2.6 million.

    Speaking at their reunion dinner at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island, Dr Omolabake Okunubi, a Medical Scientist with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), said the alumni saw the need to give back to their alma mater having realised some of the gains of Medical practice after graduation.

    She said the idea of the reunion was to meet colleagues again after 10 years of graduation and exchange ideas on ways to move the nation’s health sector forward.

    Okunubi, who noted that about 400 students were trained at the fair, said: “One of the things we are doing is to organise a career fair for medical students in the College on prospects of medical practice which we were not privy to until we graduated from the College. Some of the students don’t know what next after graduation, so this informed the title of the career fair: ‘After Medical School, What Next?’”

    Dr Ini Usoro, an occupational physician with IBM, Lagos, said students must add value to their degrees while still in school.

    “Medical knowledge can be applied to any field. I want to advise those young ones coming behind us not to leave the College with the degree alone but with something extra such as the desire to make a difference wherever they find themselves.  They should strive to be solutions and create change in their environment,” he said.

  • Don’t turn UNILAG to jungle, union leaders told

    Don’t turn UNILAG to jungle, union leaders told

    •Mrs Akinsode administering the oath on the students’ leaders
    •Mrs Akinsode administering the oath on the students’ leaders

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Rahmon Bello, has advised Students’ Union Government (SUG) leaders to be tolerant and show spirit of sportsmanship during their tenure.

    The VC said the students’ leaders must conduct their affairs with justice and ensure orderliness in the school, saying: “Don’t make UNILAG to look like a jungle, where there is no justice and order.”

    Bello spoke on Wednesday at the swearing-in ceremony of the union leader. The event, held at the Multipurpose Hall, was attended by the top management officials of the school.

    The VC said: “As students’ leaders, we want you to graduate and go with the image of an institution that knows what it is doing. When you create an image of a university that does not know the right from the left, it is going to affect you when you go out to look for jobs.

    “When there are issues, let us come to dialogue table. That is what democracy is preaches; rather than taking your grievances to the pages of newspapers and social media.”

    Bello urged union leaders to embrace dialogue in challenging situations, saying the method would guide SUG in making decisions. The VC praised the outgoing union leaders led by Abiodun Martins for writing a new constitution for the union.

    While presenting certificates of return to the SUG leaders, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Tunde Babawale, said the management expected the students’ leaders to expand the frontiers of constructive unionism for others to emulate.

    The Principal Assistant Registrar for Legal Service, Mrs Olufunke Akinsode, administered the oath on the union leaders led by Mohammed Olaniyan, a student of Faculty of Business Administration.

    Other members of the union include General Secretary, Emmanuel Afolabi, Sports Secretary, Anita Kaizer, Public Relations Officer, Jumai Fagbui, Assistant General Secretary, Ridwan Bello, Treasurer, Rilwan Lawal, Internal Auditor, Taiwo Okikiola, Financial Secretary, Oluwatobi Ojo, Social Secretary, Onyeka Oluku, and Welfare Secretary, Emmanuel Adebayo.

    Mrs Akinsode also inaugurated members of Students’ Legislative Council, faculty, departmental and halls of residence executives, after which election of the principal officers of the legislative council was held.

    Adeyanju Adeonipekun emerged the Speaker; Abdul-Hammid Olagunju became the Deputy Speaker, while Olamilekan Popoola emerged as Clerk and Pedro Akinnubi, Chief Whip.

     

     

  • Success tips for medical students

    Success tips for medical students

    Final year students of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos will be graduating better equipped thanks to Tomeb Foundation, in partnership with Exxon Mobil, for offering them success and leadership tips.

    The participants, who gathered at the at the LUTH auditorium for the seminar with theme, Achieving Goals, last Thursday, were also given copies of the book, The personal business plan: A blueprint for running your life, courtesy of Exxon Mobil.

    A facilitator, Dr Ibipo Abdurraheem, who spoke on: “Principle and Practice of Goal Setting and Achievement” noted that young medical doctors were not immune to the wave of global unemployment.

    “The situation is not helped by the continuous decline in the quality of training,” said Abdurraheem –Salami, who teaches at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    He advised the students not to wait until graduation before charting their course in life.

    “Write down your goals, be clear in your objectives and make plans to achieve them and work on your plan every single day,” he counseled.

    He told them not to allow fear of failure to stop them from setting goals but adopt the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Bound) model of goal setting.

    Country Managing Director, Accenture, Mr  Niyi Yusuf, who spoke on: “Art and Science of self knowledge”, challenged participants to identify their inner assets, as self awareness would help them know their strengths, weakness, values, and habits, among others for self improvement.

    “Because we are all different in the way we react to things, learn and synthensise information, It is helpful to occasionally spend time in self reflection to gain better insight about ourselves,” Yusuf said.

    To thrive in life, Yusuf advised them to do what they are passionate about.

    He challenged participants to ponder over some posers such as, what drove them to their present situation, the kind of company they keep and the environment they go; the passion behind their goal; how exceptional they are among their contemporaries; their I’m understanding of success, as well as optimism in the face of travails, among others, noting that if they could provide answers to those questions, they can then place themselves on a scale and see how they fare with respect to making it in life.

    “Everyone is valuable and unique; everyone has a unique contribution to make in life and work and that responsibility for making that contribution lies solely with that individual,” he added.

    Founder, Tomeb Foundation, Tunde Popoola, said the nonprofit body started by his family in 2012, focuses on: education, youth development, leadership and sustainability.

    “What we are doing today is part of the activities we usually carry out to engage young people. Our vision is to inspire people and communities to be able to do more with their lives.

    Popoola who also delivered the third lecture: ‘Dealing with procrastination’ said the foundation offers scholarship to secondary school students, mentoring to aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as leadership training through seminars.

    “Tomeb Foundation is also representing Nigeria on the global entrepreneurship monitor forum which is an association consisting body of researchers into entrepreneurship. Our role is to conduct research on entrepreneurship as far as entrepreneurship in Nigeria is concerned.”

  • Frustrated

    Frustrated

    • Pathetic stories of visually-impaired applicants denied admission by UNILAG because of Maths
    • We’ve always been fair to physically challenged applicants –UNILAG
    • Controversy over ability of visually-impaired to pass Maths

    Of all the subjects that are taught from primary level to tertiary institution, Mathematics is obviously the most dreaded by students. This obviously accounts for the poor performance of candidates in the subject, especially in results released by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) over the years. If this is the situation with candidates who have no problem with the sight, what would be the fate of the visually impaired candidates? INNOCENT DURU in this report digs into the challenges of the visually impaired students in studying Mathematics and the allegation of some of them that they were denied  admission by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) for not having credit pass in the subject.

    Olawoyin Damilola David, a visually impaired young man, is very sad. He is sad not because he has challenges with his sight but because his ambition of acquiring university education is currently about being dashed.  Before he attempted and scored 220 in the recently released Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, he had attempted the examination  twice without success.  In his first attempt, he scored below 200 and the second time he tried, the result was not released because “ I  registered twice- in Delta State and Lagos State. I registered in Delta but I had nobody to stay with over there, I came back to Lagos State to buy another form. When they announced that the results had been released, I checked but mine wasn’t there. That was why  my poor mother, a widow for that matter, went everywhere she could to borrow money to buy another form for me because she doesn’t want me to be a liability in the society.

    “After I succeeded in passing JAMB the third time, I was wrapped in excitement, jumped as high as I could and punched the air repeatedly in exhilaration because I thought I had surmounted the hurdle that stood between me and my dream of having university education. I applied to study Mass Communication in UNILAG and was already having a mental picture of myself broadcasting in the studio.”

    When the list of admitted applicants was released by the institution, Damilola confidently strolled to the school with the aim of seeing his name on the admission list but what he saw jolted him. His name was conspicuously missing and his sweet dream and ambition  put on the line.

    He was, however, not alone as a number of his colleagues had a similar problem.

    “When we tried to know why we were not given admission, they told us that we didn’t meet their requirement of having credit pass in Mathematics. The reason was strange to us because visually impaired students don’t write Mathematics in WAEC examination.  When I sat for WAEC IN 2012 in Ogun State, the officials specifically asked us (visually impaired) candidates not to write Mathematics. They said the results would not be released if we should do it.

    “ Actually, it is difficult if not impossible for a visually impaired  person to have credit pass in the subject.  It is questionable if any does because even for sighted students, Mathematics is a nightmare. It is visually impaired candidates that are assisted that can come out with credit pass in the subject.

    “As I am talking to you right now, my frustration level is in the danger of reading zero. As visually impaired persons trying go to higher institution, we are only trying to be relevant in the society and should be encouraged by the institution instead of all the discouragement we are getting. My pain is aggravated by the mood of my wretched mother. She was very happy when I passed JAMB hoping that her efforts had paid off. She has been very sick since I told her that I was not admitted by the school. ”

    Samuel Dabiri Oluwaseun, 23, is another visually impaired applicant that was allegedly denied admission by the institution for not having credit pass in Mathematics.

    Unlike Damilola, who has a poor widow running around for his well being, Dabiri has nobody to ask for help. He told The Nation that his parents had separated and that he lives at the mercy of kind- hearted Nigerians. “Everything about me is sponsored, including the shoes I am wearing.”

    Like Damilola, he had unsuccessfully attempted JAMB on two occasions, scoring 151 and 181 respectively. In his avowed commitment to achieve his dream of going to the university, he got help to obtain the form the third time and fortunately for him, he passed, scoring 226.

    With tears running down his eyes, Dabiri said: “After achieving my dream of passing JAMB, I became optimistic that my ambition of studying  Sociology in UNILAG was certain. My joy was further boosted when somebody volunteered to foot my bills in the university. My file has been treated and only waiting for my admission letter as a confirmation that the institution actually admitted me. Now, that help is almost slipping off my hand. One thing with people like us is that helpers don’t often come. When they come and you don’t make good use of it immediately, they may not be available again tomorrow.

    “I am shocked that the institution could for any reasons discriminate against people like us. We learnt that they admitted about 5,000 sighted candidates and admitted six out of the 27 visually impaired that applied to the institution. We even heard that some sighted applicants who scored below what we scored were admitted by the institution. Why on earth would they do that? This is injustice and there is an urgent need by the government to intervene in this matter. If every institution should be meting out the same treatment to people like us, what would be our fate? Do they want us to take to the street and start begging for alms?’’

    Dabiri’s colleague, Kalu Joseph  scored 218 in his JAMB examination and looked forward to studying Christian Religious Studies (CRS) education in UNILAG but was not admitted because he doesn’t have credit pass in Mathematics.

    “It was shocking to learn that I was denied admission because I don’t have credit pass in Mathematics. I think it is just an afterthought, and a deliberate attempt to scheme us out. The subject is not easy for the visually impaired to learn. The facilities are not there. We are aware that they have been waiving it for our colleagues over the years because they know it is a herculean task for people like us to pass it. They have brought untold sorrow to my life and aggravated my unpleasant condition as a virtually impaired person,” he said.

    Lukman Olalekan and Abiodun Lateef Alabi, from Osun and Oyo states respectively, also lamented their plight.

    Lukman said: “As a visually impaired person, I have always not supported the idea of begging for alms. This is why I am giving my all to acquire university education. Unfortunately, UNILAG is out to jeopardize my ambition and that of my colleagues. I scored 211 in JAMB and that is no mean feat for somebody without sight. My colleagues and I who scored above 200 in JAMB deserve some commendation and no condemnation because many sighted candidates didn’t score as much as that. This alone is enough for the institution to admit us without stress. If I am eventually denied the admission and not allowed to achieve my ambition, I would be forced to take to begging to survive. Right now, going to school remains my only hope of having gainful employment and not having to be a liability on anybody.”

    Lateef also expressed disappointment over the development, saying: “It is unbelievable that the institution would add another form of darkness to our condition. The government should look into this and make sure we are not denied the opportunity of  achieving our ambition in life.”

     

    Applicants with Mathematics also allege they were not admitted

    While the visually impaired applicants that were allegedly denied admission for not having credit pass in Mathematics are yet to come to terms with the fate that has befallen them, it was shocking to also find that those who had credit pass in the subject were also allegedly not given admission by the institution.

    The victims told our correspondent that the institution authorities said they were not admitted  because their subject combination in JAMB was not  correct.

    24 year-old Awiri Christian said he has credit pass in Mathematics and scored 223 in JAMB but was shocked that he was not admitted.

    “It came to me as a serious shock because I met all the requirements. Their claim that my subject combination was wrong was frivolous. I wrote English Language, Government, Literature and CRS in JAMB. I didn’t just choose those subjects because I could pass them. I carefully studied the brochure before I selected those subjects when I was filling my JAMB form. I scored 223 in JAMB. I wanted to study Political Science and I am sure that those combinations are apt for the course. Besides, we don’t just do anything without consulting with the leadership of our association, especially those in the various institutions we are applying for admission.   In fact, our colleagues who are studying the same course in the institution presently used the same subject combination to gain admission into the school.”

    Like others, Christian had sat for JAMB on two occasions without making success out of them.

    “ My frustration is that this is the first time I have passed JAMB in the last three years. In my first attempt, my results were not fully released making me to score below 200. They released three out of four subjects and after waiting to see if they would release the last one, they eventually removed the previously released result and wrote ‘absent’ there.

    “If I didn’t give up at that point and through dint of hard work and God’s favour I succeeded in my third attempt, why would the institution deny me admission for no genuine reasons?  If I end up not being admitted  with my score in JAMB, it means I would go back to  square one. I would have to go back to writing JAMB all over and now that my morale is abysmally low, how would I concentrate and pass? If I pass again, how am I sure I would get admission? The treatment is unfair,” he stated in emotion laden voice.

    Mustafa Yusuf Olagoke also has credit pass in Mathematics but allegedly not also admitted by the institution.

    “I have credit pass in Mathematics and also scored 230 in JAMB. With the results, I was convinced that I would get admission into the school to study Political Science  All the excuses that some people don’t have credit pass in Mathematics and that some of us did the wrong subject combinations are cooked up. This was not the practice in the institution over the years that we have been following the admission process.

    “I have broken every barrier in my determination to acquire higher education  but the UNILAG authorities have placed artificial barrier on my path. It is unfortunate. I did the right subject combinations. Our association in the institution even called to discuss the appropriate subject combinations with us before we filled the forms.

    “Before now, the immediate past admission officer, late Mrs Adare, would make sure that every visually impaired applicant that scored above 200 was given admission. What she was always doing was to invite the candidates to verify their results and confirm that they are actually visually impaired. Once she did that, the applicants would be taken.”

    Narrating the effect of the development on him, Mustafa said: “ I have been  feeling terribly bad since I got this information. I am a music lover and supposed to be playing my musical instruments before I was asked to come and talk to you but I was in my room crying and wondering what would become of my life if  I eventually don’t get this admission. My parents are equally traumatized because their joy of living to see me acquire university education is under serious threat.

    “Christian and I went to secondary school using the scholarship provided for us by people who appreciated our love for music.  After we finished secondary school, we had nowhere to go again. Fortunately for us, mummy (the proprietress of Bethesda Home for the Blind) picked us up and has been taking care of us since them.”

    In a chat with The Nation, the proprietress of the vocational centre, Mrs Chioma Ohakwe, said: “ Denying the applicants admission by the university is a painful. It is difficult for the visually impaired to write Mathematics. Nigeria does not have the technology that can enable them to  learn and perform well in Mathematics.  Before now, visually impaired persons could not operate computer  but with the development of a software called Job Access With Speech (JAWS), they can now do that.  The software reads out everything on the computer for them.

    “For the past three years,  they have been admitting our students, they always waived Mathematics for them because they know what it entails. Eight of our students that applied to University of Nigeria, Nsukka and three others that applied to Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) have been admitted. They saw their conditions and showed compassion to them by waiving Mathematics.

    ‘’The issue of subject combinations is also out of it. The management of the institution should do something about this because most of these children are orphans. They depend on kind-hearted people to sponsor them. If the opportunity is lost, they may have to wait for a very long time before they would get another.’’

     

    Why many visually impaired shun Mathematics

    Findings  revealed that most visually impaired students who attend public schools across the country don’t get good attention from Mathematics teachers. State-owned schools are said to be highly culpable in this regard as they lack the basic facilities and resource persons needed to impact knowledge of  Mathematics into the students.

    Reliving his experience with Mathematics in public school, Dabiri said: “I didn’t do Mathematics in my Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) because all through the years I spent in school, the Mathematics teachers saw us as a surplus to the class. They would come to the class, go straight to the board and start writing. After writing, they would ask the class to look up and briefly explain what they must have written.

    “Thereafter, they would ask if we understood. The sighted ones would say yes sir, while we would keep quiet.  When I saw that it was beyond me to go along with the subject, I decided to focus my attention on other subjects. Most public schools don’t have any facility and human resources to help visually impaired to learn Mathematics. For good part of my days in the secondary school, we didn’t have Mathematics teachers.”

    Kalu on his part said: “I didn’t bother to sit for Mathematics examination when I  did my SSCE because I didn’t do it in secondary school. I had my secondary school in a public school in Abia State and I must say that the attitude of the Mathematics teachers were not helpful. I was only listening to what they were teaching without understanding what was being taught.  Mathematics is a practical subject and there was no way I could have understood it by just listening to the teacher teach me the subject like somebody telling a story.’’

    Mustafa told our correspondent that he wouldn’t have made credit pass in mathematics if he did not leave a state-owned school for a federal government one. He said: “ I went to a public school for my junior secondary education. There, the Mathematics teachers never bothered about us -the visually impaired. They were teaching the class as if we were all sighted.  This made me to leave the school for a federal government secondary school. In the federal government schools, the Mathematics teachers gave good attention to the visually impaired. They have provided us with Braille, Maths frame board and other basic tools that aided our learning.

    “The challenge we had to deal with was with construction. It is impossible for a visually impaired  person to do construction. We always leave out construction questions in WAEC examinations. All we do is to indicate that we are visually impaired.

     

    Controversy over ability of visually impaired to get credit pass in examination

    Controversy has, however, trailed the ability of the visually impaired to pass Mathematics at credit level.

    An educationist, who simply identified himself as Dr Ben, said it is practically impossible for them to pass Mathematics. He insisted that any visually impaired person that passes the subject must have been assisted to do so.

    “Let us face the reality, it is impossible for visually impaired persons to get credit pass in Mathematics. Where is the basic tool they need to attempt the examination?  These people respond to things they could hear or touch. To start with,  they need a talking scientific calculator to solve a number of the questions. This is not anywhere around their reach. They have no tool to draw and identify shapes. So tell me how they end up passing.

    “We, as a country do not yet have what it takes to impact Mathematical knowledge to the bind.  The teachers do not also have the capacity to teach these children effectively. They are only trying but their efforts in all honesty is not enough. The implication here is that when such students who claimed to have passed Mathematics get to higher institution, they would not be exempted from taking courses related to the subject because they have proven that they know it. this can lead to rustication.”

    Mr Olufemi, a visually impaired ICT expert, also shared Dr Ben’s line of thought. He said: “ Visually impaired cannot pass Mathematics because we lack the equipment and human resources to do that. It is only when all these are put in place that visually impaired persons can attempt to do well in Mathematics. I even had a friend who because he came from a rich home had all the necessary tools but when he sat for WAEC, the best he could get was ordinary pass.  Visually impaired persons who score credit pass in the subject must have been assisted.”

    Abiodun, a  Mathematics teacher  in one of the federal government secondary schools in Lagos State, however, says it is not impossible for visually impaired to pass Mathematics at credit level.

    “It is not impossible. The only challenge here in our school is that the visually impaired have been merged with the sighted. This makes it difficult if not impossible to give the necessary attention to the visually  impaired.  In the past, we had special classes for visually impaired and had all the time in this world to come to their level. One could sit beside them and explain things one after the other. When you teach, they would be using their Braille to write.

    “When they want to write the answers for you to mark, they would type everything out in words. They have no ability to work out the calculations. They only can use their computer to type everything out in words. Their challenge is in the area of drawing tables and curves. This is pretty difficult for now.’’

    Reacting to the controversy, Mrs Jean Obi, the leader of Nigerwives and former test developer for WAEC, said it is difficult for visually impaired to pass Mathematics but not impossible.

    “ The problem is mainly in the area of drawing diagrams and calculations. Fortunately we have produced a drawing board called tactile. It makes it possible for a teacher to draw a diagram and make the visually impaired students feel what it looks like. When this is done, they would have a mental picture of what such a diagram looks like and can draw it later on their own.  We have sent about 50 of  these boards to our organization in Abuja.

    “In the area of calculation, the problem is that they would need talking scientific calculators. This is very expensive. We are still looking at how we can get them cheaper for students in the country. you can scribble and do calculations for sighted students but you can’t do that for the visually impaired.”

    Sharing her experience from an international workshop she attended in Campala, Mrs Obi said: “ During the workshop, we the participants exchanged ideas about the challenges involved in teaching Mathematics to the visually impaired.  Participants from Kenya made us to understand that visually impaired students were used to not taking Mathematics lessons. But in the last four to five years,  their government said every student in the country must be given equal opportunity in the area of education.  They provided the necessary tools and an enabling environment and made it compulsory for every visually impaired student o take the subject. We can also do the same here in Nigeria with the support of the government, the teachers, students and other stakeholders.

    “The workshops we have also done across the country show that a good number of the teachers are not competent to teach these children. You can’t teach what you don’t have. Another challenge is that the number of students in most classes are too large. There are about 60 to 70 in some classes. This makes it impossible for a teacher to  teach effectively. I must give kudos to the Lagos State government for their efforts in  giving quality education to the visually impaired. They really stand out. we would want other states to emulate them.

    UNILAG reacts

    The authorities of UNILAG have, however, denied the allegations levelled against them by the applicants.

    The Deputy Registrar Information, Mr Oke Olagoke, said: “ We admit based on the vacancies we have. At present, we have 32, 00 applicants out of which only 4, 800 would be admitted. We always admit everybody that meets our requirements and those of JAMB. Besides, we have a policy to always encourage physically challenged that meet our requirements. We give specific assistance to them in the areas of accommodation and Braille writing.”

    On the allegation of scheming out the candidates on the ground of wrong subject combinations, he said: “ Whatever we are doing is in consonance with JAMB brochure. A candidate needs to study the brochure very well and not assume that what university A accepts would be accepted by B.  I will advise that such candidates bring their documents for us to verify their claims.”

     

    Private  school owners versus  WAEC

    In another development, some private school operators have accused WAEC of not always bringing examination papers for visually impaired during public examinations. This lends credence to Damilola’s claim that he and his colleagues were not allowed to sit for Mathematics by the officials when he sat for SSCE, although he said that he wrote the  examination in a public school.

    “WAEC doesn’t bring question papers for visually impaired students that write exams in our school. Anyday the students are to write Mathematics in WAEC exams, visually impaired students don’t come because there is a precedent by the examination body that it is not meant for them. For us, it is quite understandable because of their condition,”  Mrs Abu, a  school proprietor, said.

    Reacting to the allegation, Mr Demianus Ojijeogu, the Public Affairs Officer of WAEC, said: “ It is not true that we don’t supply materials for visually impaired candidates to write Mathematics in our exams. We have a special unit that caters for all the needs of disable candidates. Over the years, we observed that blind candidates don’t offer Mathematics and they don’t do science practicals in the WASSCE. This was out of their own choice and not because provisions were not made for them by us.

    ”But this year, a total of 199 visually impaired candidates sat for Mathematics and a certain percentage scored credit pass. We make Braille available for them and during exams, if sighted candidates are given one hour, they would be given extra 30 minutes or more. We also make provisions for albinos too. We have factored all this into our preparations for the exams. We don’t leave anything to chance. We treat them specially.’’

  • UNILAG, Muslim students tango

    UNILAG, Muslim students tango

    Members of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) are angry with the management for allegedly interfering in its affairs. MUSILIU OLORUNLEKE reports.

    Members of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) are angry. To them, the suspension of their  activities infringes on their freedom to right of association.

    •Prof Bello
    •Prof Bello

    The school suspended the group’s activities following, a petition by some aggrieved members to the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Rahamon Bello. The petitioners, it was learnt, accused MSSN leaders of corruption and urged the management to dissolve the executive council to allow for election.

    The VC consituted a panel chaired by Dr Luqman Adams of the Faculty of Science to investigate the matter.

    The panel did not find any of the MSSN leaders guilty of corruption. But, it abolished The Shura (consensus), a process through which members select their leaders.

    The panel’s recommendations read in part: “The MSSN bye-laws should be reviewed, especially the section on the composition of the Shura. The inclusion of postgraduate students, area units and area council representatives on the Shura should be discontinued. Representatives of the Muslim community (Staff Adviser) and a (Muslim) nominee of Dean, Students Affairs should be included in the Shura to serve in advisory capacity.

    “The current MSSN executive should be allowed to complete its tenure. However, a committee should be set up to review the MSSN bye-laws to conform to the university rules and regulations before another election is conducted.

    “The current MSSN Staff Adviser, Dr Tajudeen Yusuf, has offered to resign his position having served as the Staff Adviser since 1999. Subsequently, the position of the staff adviser should be occupied by two persons (one male and one female) who must be Muslims. Their appointment will be done in consultation with the Muslim community.”

    The VC sent the panel’s report to the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Tunde Babawale, for action. The DSA upheld the panel’s recommendation that the MSSN’s exeuctive council’s tenure had expired and ordered it to hand over all property in its possession.

    A memo titled: “Completion of tenure of office”, signed by the Deputy DSA, Dr A.K. Adebayo said: “The current executive members of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria came into office in September 2014. By general practice and in accordance with the rules and regulations guiding students’ associations, clubs and societies in the university, there should be  elections as your tenure lapsed in September 2015. You are hereby expected to forward your hand over notes to the staff advisers on or before November 9, 2015.”

    It also directed that the keys to the MSSN vehicles and secretariat, including cash be handed over. It did not state whether election should be held immediately or in January when the school is expected to resume.

    Prof Babawale also wrote to the UNILAG Muslim Community on the appointment of Dr Ismail Musa of Islamic Studies Department and Dr Hikmat Koleosho of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences as MSSN’s staff advisers.

    The DSA said the management would implement the panel’s recommendations and asked the Muslim community for suggestions on how to promote peace and brotherhood in the group.

    A congress presided over by the embattled Amir (president), Abdur-Rasheed Adeoye, and suspervised by Dr Musa and a representative of the DSA, identified simply as Mr Raji, was held.

    In line with the panel’s recommendations, the congress reviewed the bye-law setting up MSSN.

    During voting, 116 participants voted for the adoption of the reviews; 23 were against.

    The outcome of the congress was not adopted because it was not in tandem with the panel’s recommendations.

    A top member of MSSN, who did not want his name in print, said: “The management has inordinate interest in the affairs of the MSSN. They have prevented the emergence of a new set of executives by opposing the reviews of the bye-law and supporting the action of faceless petitioners within the body. The management’s action may further fuel crisis in the body.”

    On the implication of the crisis, the Amir said: “It means all the assistance being rendered to incoming students during screening will be no more. The yearly orientation we hold for freshers to engage them on ways they can prosper academically, socially and spiritually has been suspended. The much-needed academic tutorials we organise for Distance Learning Institute (DLI) students is on hold. It means entrepreneurship programme our members attend during holiday has been cancelled. This is not fair.”

    On the outcome of the bye-laws review, Abdur-Rasheed said: “It is one of the conditions given by the management to conform to the school regulation. The review was done as directed and we held our Annual General Meeting to adopt the reviews. 116 students voted for the adoption of the review, while 23 voted against it. For any decision to be made, two-third must be in favour of that decision. The outcome of the vote showed that we met the required quorum. Despite that, the outcome was rejected.”

    Members of the body have launched social media campaign against the suspension of the group’s activities.

    Their campaign is being conducted through the hashtags: #BringBackOurMSSNUNILAG and #MyMSSNUNILAG.

    They said the suspension would inconvenience some of them, who are benefiting from MSSN scholarship and assistance.

    The suspension would dash the hope of participants in Holiday Training Programme (HTP), a yearly entrepreneurship programme where Muslim students are trained in vocational skills.

    Ibrahim Animashaun, a 200-Level student, described the suspension of MSSN acitivities as uncalled for, saying: “I am bitter about the whole situation.”

    Rasheeda Opere, a 300-Level  student, urged the management to reverse its decision and investigate the petitioners.

    Fatimah Alaafin, a 300-Level student, said: “I am surprised at the whole development and the decision of the management. It is only in Nigeria that this happens.”

    The initiator of the social media campaign, Isiak Sonibare, a 300-Level student, said the aim was to draw attention to the group’s plight.

  • Excitement, fun as Sprite Triple Slam ends in style in UNILAG

    Excitement, fun as Sprite Triple Slam ends in style in UNILAG

    After weeks of touring major Nigerian campuses to engage students in the three elements of basketball, music and dance, leading lemon-lime flavoured soft drink, Sprite, has concluded the 2015 edition of its Sprite Triple Slam activation in a grand style.

    Held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), the final activation had in attendance, multiple award-winning and international music act, D’banj, as guest artiste, celebrity guest and basketball promoter, Sound Sultan, as well as Cool FM On Air Personality, Dotun, as compere for the day.

    Speaking at the event, Marketing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Patricia Jemibewon, described Sprite Triple Slam as a strategic engagement platform that connects to the passion of youths and allows them to express themselves.

    According to Jemibewon, “Sprite Triple Slam brings to the fore the creativity of the Nigerian youth and is also a veritable avenue for true expression.”

    On her part, the Senior Brand Manager, Flavours, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Toyin Nnodi, expressed satisfaction in the success recorded so far with the activation, stating that the huge turnout that characterised the Sprite Triple Slam activation in all the locations is a testament to its popularity among the youths.

    As with the other locations, the UNILAG activation was filled with loads of fun, energy and captivating performances from the students. The dance category was particularly intriguing with lots of acrobatic display from the participants.

    Commenting on the event, 19-year-old Ikuomola Afolabi, who emerged one of the top players in the basketball category, lauded the initiative and described the activation as authentic and inspiring.

    Another participant in the dance category, Ifionu Chukwunonso, said that “Just like Sprite promised in the media, Sprite Triple Slam has not only exceeded my expectation, it is now certainly one thing that I will be looking forward to every year.”

    On his affinity to the Sprite brand, Sound Sultan remarked that the brand is a firm supporter of his passion points; music and basketball.

    In his words, “I am here because of the love I have for the game, and fortunately  Sprite supports my  passion.  I have seen incredible talents here today, I hope they keep it up because the sky is just their starting point.”

    The event reached its climax with D’banj’s enthralling performance. Starting with some of his recent songs; “Knocking on my door”,  “Bother you”, “Top of the world” and “Don’t tell me nonsense”,  the Kokomaster took the crowd on a journey back to his early days in Mo’Hits records, delivering some of the hit tracks such as “Suddenly”, “Olorun Maje”, and “Igwe”.

  • Unilag honors Adebutu, others

    Philanthropist and Chairman of the popular Premier Lotto Baba Ijebu Sir Kensington Adebutu, was the only individual bestowed with the ‘honoree alumnus’ award  at the University of Lagos alumni Association distinguished award at the weekend.

    Though Chief Adebutu, who celebrated his 80th birthday few weeks ago, was not an alumnus of the 52 year old institution; yet he was deserving of the award owing to his philanthropic gestures in health and education  through this Kensington  Adebukola Adebutu Foundation, said Bisi Olatilo of the Bisi Olatilo show, who anchored the show.

    Bankole Cardoso, the only son of Dr Ameyo Stella Adadavoh also received the alumni post humous award on behalf of her mother. Adedavoh, it will be recalled, forestalled a national calamity when she detained a Liberian national Patrick Sawyer who was already infected with ebola virus disease, from leaving First Consultant Medical Centre Obalanded where she then worked as the lead consultant physician and endocrinologist.  She later contracted the disease from sawyer and died in Tuesday August 19 last year.

    Spotting an ash suit with ash flowery tie and milk coloured shirt to match, the octogenarian stood tall as Olatilo read his profile. Kessington was later joined on the podium by friends and family members as his award was presented to him by UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof Rahamon Bello and Chief Funsho, wife of the Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun,

    Expressing his acknowledgement, Adebutu said he would have proceeded on his vacation immediately after his birthday bash, but had to put that on hold because of his love for UNILAG.

    “I am so overwhelmed (with the award)” said the octogenarian.

    “Sincerely, I love UNILAG so much that I had to reschedule my holiday which I’d planned to embark upon after my 80th birthday.

    ‘I had been associated with over 100 universities since 1984. I was even appointed the chairmen Board of Trustees of a university; yet I’ve not seen one so dear to my heart like UNILAG.

    “In Kessington Adebutu Foundation which I set up, our main job focuses on health and education because we believe a healthy and educated soul can never go hungry. My foundation has always partnered with UNILAG and we shall continue to partner with UNILAG in her laudable programmes.”

    Chief Adebutu promised to meet with Prof Bello after the event to see further areas of collaboration between his foundation and the university.

    Speaking with reporters Mrs Amosun, also a UNILAG alumnus, and one of the special guests of honour, said the honourees are deserving of the honours owing to their contributions to their country and their alma mater.

    On the message of the event to other old students generally, she said:

    “I’ll like to tell the media to help us spread the word that it is important for every single person to take responsibility for the environment that we live in. We need to sustain it otherwise it will become extinct and we shall have nowhere to live. We need to use our resources wisely to the benefit of our amla mater.”

    UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof Rahamon also said of the event.

    “When people of that caliber were honoured, they you know that Nigeria is moving in the right direction. UNILAG believes in honouring our own and this is just one of the occasions.

    “We appreciate our alumni and what they are contributing to the economy. This is our own little way of acknowledging them to do more for the nation.

    On what current students need to learn, Bello added: “We use this event to make them (students) realise that when they are steadfast and consistent, they can always reach any height they attempt to. We use this occasion to tell them that it’s not every alumni that you see here are from a rich background. They all came from diverse backgrounds but attained heights by dint of hardwork.  We are therefore using this to challenge them that they can even surpass these people in their own times.”

    Earlier, the National President of the alumni association Olor’ogun Dr Sunny Kuku, who congratulated the awardees, drew their attention to the some projects with which the association is in partnership with UNILAG.

    According to him, there is a proposed 500-capacioty bed hostel project put at N2 billion; remodeling of the old alumni building, as well as the planned Moremi cab shuttle park Project which would gulp N20 million and N15 million respectively.

    Other projects, according to Kuku include, construction of alumni park/BRT terminal (N15million); seed capital for a functional secretariat (N20 million); include: mini bus (N11 million); and30KVA generator for the new alumni building (2 million).

    Others  honorees include veteran journalist Prince Tony Momohin, Nimi Dimpa Briggs,  Mr Bola Temowo, Adenuga David Adewale of the Wale Adenuga Productions, and former vice chancellor Tai Solarin University of Education Ijagun Ogun State Prof Victor Olusegun Awonusi, and executive Governor Gombe State  Hassan Dankwambo, among others.