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Tag: UNILAG

  • Clinical Sciences wins UNILAG debate

    The Faculty of Clinical Sciences of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has emerged winner of the university’s 2015 debate tournament.

    The duo who represented the faculty, Jeremiah Adewale (Physiotherapy) and Minka Naton (Medicine and Surgery) were presented with laptops and cash prize of  N50,000 each.

    The annual Inter faculty debate which started last month had the theme “Leadership and National Development.”

    Clinical Sciences and three other faculties (Education, Environmental Sciences, and Engineering) qualified for the final held last Tuesday.

    Debating on the topic: “This House will dialogue with Boko Haram”, Adewale whose team opposed the motion argued that it was necessary for the law to take its course so that insurgents who have wreaked havoc, discouraged investment as well as tainted the image of the country should be fought “fire with fire”. This, he said, was the only logical way to revive peaceful co-existence in the country.

    On the opposing side, Ronald Adimoha who represented the Faculty of Education suggested a peaceful dialogue and granting amnesty to the insurgents, would not only arrest the conflict of interest but preserve lives.

    Speaking on his team’s victory, Adewale, noted that he was determined to win as he had identified weaknesses from his past debates. He expressed his gratitude and advised his colleagues to study harder.

    However, giving his view on Boko Haram, the 400-Level student called for dialogue in the place of military action.

    “I am an advocate of dialogue; it is the key to solving Boko Haram in the country.  Going to war will only bring great consequences, because in elementary science you can only fight fire with water,” he said.

    The Faculty of Environmental Sciences came second and its representatives got Infinix Hot Note phones and N30, 000 each, while the third place representatives of the Faculty of Engineering represented by two students, got Techno phones and N20,000 each.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello, said the debate was organised to help the students to think fast and enable them to tackle issues in any given condition.

    He advised them to always embrace debate and desist from thinking that they cannot do it. He added that the school looked forward to rewarding winners bountifully in the next debate, which is a way of motivating and placing much importance to debate.

    The Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Babatunde Babawale explained that insurgency was a cause for concern for the nation and opinions generated from such debates may be helpful in addressing the problem.

     

  • UNILAG panel probes student’s death

    UNILAG panel probes student’s death

    •Buhari condoles with family

    A four-man panel has started probing the death of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) student, Oluchi Anekwe, who was electrocuted on the campus last week.

    The panel, according to the spokesman of the institution, Mr. Goke Oke, is headed by Professor Mustapha Danesi  a professor of medicine.

    The spokesman also denied the claims by the deceased family that she died in the institution’s medical centre due to workers’ negligence.

    He said: “I know our medical employees are professionals and experts and I believe they acted according to professional standards. However, the panel will investigate the matter.”

    Oke, who appealed for calm and understanding during the investigation, said he empathised with the family of the deceased and did not seek to engage them in brickbats

    He also said Oluchi’s parents had not been contacted in respect of compensation and that the institution was in contact with the electricity company to remove the cable from its premises.

    [ad id=”403656″]“The university, being a community in itself, is located within the Akoka/Onike community and it cannot dissociate itself from its environment. The power station is just behind the school and we cannot be hostile to them,” he said.

    Miss Anekwe, a 300 level student of the department of Accounting, died when an electric cable that runs over a hall of residence, New Hall, snapped and hit her.

    The institution is still investigating the alleged rape of a post/UTME candidate by one Dr Akin Baruwa, who claimed to be a part-time lecturer of the institution.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the late Oluchi’s family, describing the incident as unfortunate. The president’s condolence message was sent through the Federal Government delegation to the victim’s family.

    The delegation, which comprises top government officials, was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.

  • How UNILAG girl died, by sister

    How UNILAG girl died, by sister

    Uju Anekwe, sister of the 300-level Accounting student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) who was electrocuted last Tuesday, relived at the weekend the last moments of her sister, Oluchi.

    They were together during the incident in Akoka, the university campus. Uju is a 200-level student of Medicine in the university.

    Their father, Basil, recalled how he received the tragic news.

    Uju, who was injured in the incident, came down from the family’s apartment with her friend. She walked gently, limping on her left leg. She had bruises below her nose and on her right arm.

    She said: “It had been long that I visited her on Akoka campus, since I moved to the College of Medicine in Idi-Araba. That Tuesday, I visited her and she told me to meet her at the University Chapel, because she was attending a Catholic mass. I saw her bag full of books. She was supposed to write ICAN exam next week.

    “We left the chapel to New Hall to buy popcorn. When we got there, the vendor was reparing the popcorn machine. We told him we would come back. We stopped nearby the popcorn vendor to buy 3-in-1 bracelets. Then, I told her to let us wait for the popcorn but she said she was going back to church for Catholic students’ meeting. It was a few minutes past 7pm.

    “We came out of New Hall gate and standing on the road. I told her we should go to her room but she was adamant, saying I should give her one of the bracelets that we bought a moment earlier. As I was about opening my bag, I heard a loud bang and we were thrown apart. All I could remember at that moment was that I was shouting and screaming for help.

    “I noticed electric sparks of white blue light. It all happened within microseconds. I initially lost consciousness. When I regained my consciousness, I saw people running away from us. I tried to stand up but I could not, because I was still feeling electrical shock in my body. As I turned, I saw my sister (Oluchi) with the electric cable around her leg.

    “I don’t know where I got the energy; I got up and screamed for help. Nobody came to our rescue. One man came later and he single-handedly pulled Oluchi away from the cable. Others came and stopped a taxi and rushed her to the Medical Centre within the campus. I joined another taxi.

    “When we got there, we didn’t receive immediate attention until 30 minutes after. She could have stayed alive a little longer if the doctor had attended to her. The doctor did not even show sympathy and care. They only offered to give me a drip but they left my sister unconscious.

    “As a medical student, I knew my sister needed urgent attention, but the people in the clinic seemed helpless. I told them I would not allow them to give me the drip until they attended to my sister. Later, one of the nurses brought two tablets of Panadol. We stayed for some time before they brought an ambulance to take my sister to LUTH.”

    Uju blamed the school for not providing facilities at the clinic, saying: “The Medical Centre does not even have a toilet roll. What does the school provide for the Medical Centre to cope with emergency?”

    Anekwe, a senior employee at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said: “Oluchi’s life could have been saved. When they brought out her body, I checked it and I discovered that the only stiff part was Oluchi’s left arm where the electric cable struck her. Every other part was moving freely. And this shows she was left to die because the nurses and doctors, who attended to her, did not know what to do when she was rushed to school clinic and LUTH.”

    On how she learnt about the incident, Anekwe said: “I got a call from my first son, telling me Oluchi was seriously sick. I did not believe him, because Oluchi and her sister came home at the weekend. We all went to church together and she was lively. She returned to school on Sunday and I promised to send N30,000 to her for upkeep.

    “On Tuesday evening, I withdrew the money from ATM, with hope that I would ask somebody to deliver the money to her on Wednesday before I left for work. I got the call from Chinedu, who asked me to come back home, that Oluchi had been admitted. When I got home, Chinedu took me in his car and headed for LUTH.

    “As we entered the LUTH gate, he did not take me to hospital but he drove to mortuary area, where I saw Nkem and my wife’s sisters. I asked what they were doing there, but none of them replied. It was then I knew tragedy had hit my household. The N30,000 I wanted to send to Oluchi was paid at the mortuary. While this was happening, my wife did not know what was going on…”

    Anekwe criticised UNILAG for not equipping its health centre with good facilities and competent medical personnel. He said the late Oluchi was not attended to for more than 20 minutes after she was rushed to the clinic.

    He said: “I was told the doctors were asking for Oluchi’s medical card before she could be attended to. As doctors, are they not to save lives first? If they had attended to my daughter and told me the medical bill is N2 million, I would look for the money and pay it, because her life is more important than money.

    “But, they did not attend to her. No effort was made to revive her and no medical test was conducted on Oluchi before she died. When they wanted to transfer the body to the mortuary, a doctor wrote on a plain sheet and gave Nkem to take the body to the LUTH morgue. Nkem rejected it because the note contained a statement that indicated that Oluchi was brought in dead. This was to cover their inaction that led to the death of my daughter.”

    Although the family accused the UNILAG management of carelessness, Anekwe said there would not be any legal action against the school and Eko Electric Distribution Company (EKEDC) – owners of the cable that fell on the girls. He wondered why the university did not remove the cable after weeks of complaints by students living in the New Hall hostel. He said it was wrong for the school to allow EKEDC to run cables not meant for the hostels across the campus.

    Anekwe said: “We will not take any legal action against the school and the power company that owns the cable. I don’t want any compensation from them. If UNILAG management approaches me for compensation, I will ask them to give me my daughter or go to hell with their money. I don’t want their money; I want my daughter.

    “It would be wrong if UNILAG usually pays compensation for such carelessness. As a parent, I will never accept any offer, whether money or material, from the people who watched my daughter to die. If they are thinking of compensation, let UNILAG use the money to equip its clinic and hire competent medical personnel. The people presently in their clinic are killers.”

  • Calypso’s ‘Skuki and Friends’ tour climaxes at Unilag

    Calypso’s ‘Skuki and Friends’ tour climaxes at Unilag

    The Skuki and Friends Campus Concert, organised in partnership with Calypso Coconut Liqueur, came to a climax last Wednesday as the tour hit the University of Lagos.

    The show held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the university’s sport complex.

    The show, tagged “Skuki and Friends”, witnessed a large turnout of students and other bigwigs in the entertainment industry who added glitz to the evening. Participants enjoyed Calypso cocktails, loads of goodie bags and a special free makeover for the ladies.

    This event marked the grand finale of the first phase of the campus tour which had been staged in other university campuses.

    Artistes at the Unilag concert included Skuki, Sheliroy, Adekunle Gold, CDQ, Chidinma and Kiss Daniel.

    Brand Manager, Calypso Coconut Liqueur Ms. Alabata Joy said: “We felt there is commonality between the audience that will love to come and watch the Skuki show and our target audience. So we envisioned that a campus tour sponsorship will be a good platform to engage, interact with the students and give them a good treat,” she added.

  • Sprite brings trump dance to UNILAG

    For the scores of students and guests who attended the 2015 edition of the Battle of the Year (BOTY) Nigeria Break Dance competition, which held on Saturday, August 22nd, at the Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium and on Sunday, August 23rd at the Indoor Sports Hall of the University of Lagos, the events could be described in just one word –exciting!

    From start to finish, the performances by the contestants appeared out of this world. From the amazing body twists, to the break dance stunts, the 2-day event practically had the audience fully awed as they watched mind-blowing dance moves each contestant displayed to outshine the opponents.

    The 2015 edition, sponsored by Sprite, featured the B-Boy crew battle, B-Boy one-on-one, popping, locking and krumping break dance categories. The first day of the event kicked off with more than 150 dancers registering to participate in this year’s competition. At the end of the one-on-one battle, 24-year old Michael Obi and Victor Amanjo emerged winners of the locking and popping categories respectively, while 16-year old Bolu Ewedemi and Adesanya Bolaji came tops in the krumping and B-Boy one-on-one categories, respectively.

    Interestingly, this year’s competition featured one female, talented 21-year-old, Roseline Udochi, better known asLady Rage, who participated in the krump category. Although she put up an impressive performance, she only made it as far as the second round of the competition.

    Speaking on her passion for break dancing, the 300-level UNILAG undergraduate stated that, though break dancing appears to be more skewed towards males, her love for krump spurred her to enter into the 2015 contest. “Dance, for me, is a form of self-expression, irrespective of your gender. I love what I do, dancing, and I am not intimidated by the boys,” Udochi said.

    With the last of the one-on-one battle categories, krump, over, anticipation shifted to the main battle of this year’s competition – the B-Boy crew battle – which took place on Sunday, the second day of the competition.  Of the thirteen crews who entered for the battle, four of them, namely, 619, Floorworkz, Space Unlimited and Squad One made it through to the semi-final round.

     After a keenly contested six-round face-off, with each crew displaying their very best moves, Space Unlimited eventually clinched the golden ticket to represent Nigeria at this year’s International BOTY World Finals in Braunshweig, Germany, courtesy of Sprite.

    Speaking at the event, the Senior Brand Manager, Flavours, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Toyin Nnodi, remarked that “What we have seen at this year’s competition clearly confirms the fact that Nigeria is a country with many youths who have amazing talent. Sprite is committed to being the spark that fuels the passions of Nigerian youths, and we are happy to have brought this to life at this year’s edition of the BOTY event.”

  • High tension cable eletrocutes Unilag student

    High tension cable eletrocutes Unilag student

    A 300 level student of the Department of Accounting in the University of Lagos was electrocuted to death Tuesday night by a high tension cable that fell on her.

    The student identified as Oluchi Anekwe met her untimely death in front of the popular New Hall in campus.

    According to an eye witness, Oluchi was coming from the library and on reaching New Hall, a high tension cable fell on her and she was electrocuted to death before help came.

    A parliamentary member of the Nigeria University Education Student Association (NUESA), Hon.Ojo Temitope Olufemi, in a message on whatsapp confirmed this incident and also the demise of the victim this morning.

    He added in the broadcast message that residents of various Halls (Sodeinde, Eni Njoku, Makama, Fagunwa and Madam Tinubu) in New Hall to be very watchful and careful so as not to fall victim of this incident.

    Similarly, the University of Lagos Students’ Union (ULSU) in a statement signed by Comrade Abiodun Martin- the Union President and RT. Jawosimi Oluseegun- the Speaker of ULSU parliament on the incident said; “the ULSU regrets to announce the passing away of one of us our very own Oluchi Anekwe, a 300 level student of Department of Accounting. Oluchi, till her death was a 1st class Student and a very active student in class. Our condolence goes to her families, relatives and friends. We pray that God grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.”

    The statement added that the Union called the concerned authorities to swing into action so as to prevent future occurrences. This is because they believe the event that led to her death is entirely avoidable if measures have been put in place.

    The statement further reads, “All academic and social activities of the school and of the students are hereby declare suspended for today (9th September 2015) and no unnecessary sound around the school campus must be made in honour of Oluchi.”

    As the time of filing in this report, the school management has not released any statement on the incident. Also, the Security Unit only disseminated information that her body has been deposited in a mortuary.

  • Sprite brings trump dance to UNILAG

    For the scores of students and guests who attended the 2015 edition of the Battle of the Year (BOTY) Nigeria Break Dance competition, which held on Saturday, August 22nd, at the Indoor Sports Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium and on Sunday, August 23rd at the Indoor Sports Hall of the University of Lagos, the events could be described in just one word –exciting!

    From start to finish, the performances by the contestants appeared out of this world. From the amazing body twists, to the break dance stunts, the 2-day event practically had the audience fully awed as they watched mind-blowing dance moves each contestant displayed to outshine the opponents.

    The 2015 edition, sponsored by Sprite, featured the B-Boy crew battle, B-Boy one-on-one, popping, locking and krumping break dance categories. The first day of the event kicked off with more than 150 dancers registering to participate in this year’s competition. At the end of the one-on-one battle, 24-year old Michael Obi and Victor Amanjo emerged winners of the locking and popping categories respectively, while 16-year old Bolu Ewedemi and Adesanya Bolaji came tops in the krumping and B-Boy one-on-one categories, respectively.

    Interestingly, this year’s competition featured one female, talented 21-year-old, Roseline Udochi, better known asLady Rage, who participated in the krump category. Although she put up an impressive performance, she only made it as far as the second round of the competition.

    Speaking on her passion for break dancing, the 300-level UNILAG undergraduate stated that, though break dancing appears to be more skewed towards males, her love for krump spurred her to enter into the 2015 contest. “Dance, for me, is a form of self-expression, irrespective of your gender. I love what I do, dancing, and I am not intimidated by the boys,” Udochi said.

    With the last of the one-on-one battle categories, krump, over, anticipation shifted to the main battle of this year’s competition – the B-Boy crew battle – which took place on Sunday, the second day of the competition.  Of the thirteen crews who entered for the battle, four of them, namely, 619, Floorworkz, Space Unlimited and Squad One made it through to the semi-final round.

     After a keenly contested six-round face-off, with each crew displaying their very best moves, Space Unlimited eventually clinched the golden ticket to represent Nigeria at this year’s International BOTY World Finals in Braunshweig, Germany, courtesy of Sprite.

    Speaking at the event, the Senior Brand Manager, Flavours, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Toyin Nnodi, remarked that “What we have seen at this year’s competition clearly confirms the fact that Nigeria is a country with many youths who have amazing talent. Sprite is committed to being the spark that fuels the passions of Nigerian youths, and we are happy to have brought this to life at this year’s edition of the BOTY event.”

  • UNILAG set for sports festival

    UNILAG set for sports festival

    Determined to train best sportsmen and women that will be the nation’s pride, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Students’ Union Government (SUG) has unveiled its plans to hold maiden sporting fiesta tagged: UNILAG Sports Festival 2015.

    The week-long event, with the theme: Think great, do great, is billed to start September 6 at the institution’s sports center.

    At a press briefing last weekend, the union Sport Secretary, Stephine Etiaka, said the objective of the event was to develop sport talents of the students.

    She said: “The sport festival has been set to be an event that would make the nation proud of the students’ talents in sport. It is planned with a mission to improve sport participation among students and to train the best sets of sportsmen and women for the nation.”

    Stephine expressed optimism that the events would draw participation of students in both campuses of the institution, management staff and stakeholders in the sport sector and the media.

    The highpoint was the unveiling of the event logo by the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Rahmon Bello, represented by the Dean, Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Tunde Babawale.

    The VC said the event must focus on conveying the message of positive thinking and productivity to the students. He added that the sport festival would not only make positive impact on the university community, but also leave a mark of pride in the heart of students.

  • UNILAG alumnus wins Harvard 7Up scholarship

    UNILAG alumnus wins Harvard 7Up scholarship

    Bankole Rasheed Makanju may be the fifth recipient of the 7Up Harvard Business School scholarship since it was introduced in 2009. However, Bankole’s victory represents hope for  public school education in the country.

    Makanju is the first graduate of a  public institution to get the scholarship.

    Applicants for the scholarship have to be accepted into Harvard Business School (HBS) before applying.

    Previous recipients have been young Nigerians who had their first degrees abroad.

    However, Makanju is a 2010 Electrical/Electronics Engineering graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). He also attended King’s College, Lagos for his secondary education.

    At the scholarship unveiling last Thursday at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos, Marketing Manager for Seven-Up Bottling Company, Mr Norden Thurston described the 28-year-old’s  admission into HBS as a rare feat.

    “To go to school in Nigeria and graduate in Nigeria and be accepted into Harvard Business School is difficult. He is the first Nigerian to study from a public university to win this scholarship,” he said.

    But that was not all that made Makanju win the scholarship. Thurston added that the young man was the one candidate, who demonstrated a passion to return after his studies to make an impact in Nigeria.  Rather than describe the country’s problems in his application, he said Makanju made assessors to see possibilities.

    Makanju said the application process for HBS was challenging but that he did all he could to prepare for it. He described himself as being fortunate to have gotten the scholarship.

    He also told The Nation that his education was good enough to provide the foundation he needed to excel in the world of work.

    Makanju hinged his reason for applying to HBS on his desire to learn how to build internationally-recognised Nigerian business brands.

    “I want to help build great Nigerian brands; build big Nigerian businesses; build something that Nigerians can travel and be proud of as truly Nigerian; just help set up Nigeria as a place where you can actually grow a business and take over the world and serve the rest of Africa,” he said.

    Seven-Up General Manager, Human Resources, Mr Yinka Adesina, said the scholarship initiative is the firm’s way of grooming great leaders for Nigeria and that recipients are under no obligation to work for the organisation after their studies.

    He said the unveiling of the 2015 recipient was brought to UNILAG to inspire secondary school pupils, undergraduates, and corps members present to prepare for their own great futures.

    He urged them to take the guest speaker, Lanre Olushola’s talk about leadership as their own take home from the programme.

    Olushola, author of The Money Book, said he was both an alumnus of UNILAG and HBS. Underscoring the importance of Seven-Up Scholarship initiative, he added that attending HBS changed his life.

    “When I attended HBS in 2007, my life changed; my business went to another level. We need to celebrate SevenUp for this initiative,” he said.

    Addressing the topic: ‘15 Steps to Successful Leadership’, Olushola told the youth that to become extra ordinary leaders, they need to work on their character, build their competence and capacity.

    To do this, he said they should have the right vision; synchronise and align it with their core values; have positive mental attitudes; act on time; possess sound judgment; and be flexible.

     

  • UNILAG to hold fashion show

    All is set for the University of Lagos (UNILAG) fashion show week aimed at promoting local fashion and dressing styles. The event will hold next Wednesday at Education Glass Hal in Faculty of Education.

    According to the coordinator of the event, Julian Kalu, the essence of the show is to promote the fashion and improve the dress sense of students.

    Human Resource Manager of Caprilibra Global Entertainment, Mr Arab Olakunle, said the event would be a platform for designers to showcase and sell their collection to the participants.

    The show will feature activities, including runway, dance, drama and comedy, among others. Hip-hop sensations, such as Dija, Lil Kesh and Shaydee will add glamour to the event.

    The show is sponsored by GQ Nigeria and Caprilibra Global Entertainment, while Zaron Cosmetics, House of Tara, Vogue, H & M and SpiceTV are supporting it.