Bakre Oluwafemi popularly called jakre, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) best graduating student for the 2012/2013 session, finished from the department of electrical and electronics engineering with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.86. In this interview with Tolu George he talks about his experience in UNILAG and his prospects for the future amongst other interesting issues.
As the best graduating student for the 2012/2013 session. How do you feel?
There are two ways in which I can express my feelings. I am quite happy and elated on one hand, because I think it is a reward for all my hard work over 5 years, and I feel it is truly deserved because I paid my dues. On the other hand I feel ashamed in a way, because in the league of best graduating students my CGPA seems to be the lowest since my 5 years stay in this school.
Have you always been topping the class from your primary school days?
No, I think the turning point in my life started when I was in primary 5, from my nursery school up until primary 5, I was always between 2nd and 4th position, but from primary 5, God took charge of my life really, and from primary 5, I started taking first even through my secondary school days, I even graduated as the best in my secondary and won many awards including the Awokoya chemistry competition in 2008. When I got to the UNILAG, in my first year I was top of the class, but then I dropped to being the 3rd best until my 4th year, when I again became the best in my class.
When did you know that you were likely to graduate as the best student in UNILAG?
I had no idea, because I had three friends whose grade points were very close, there was just like a 0.01, 0.02 difference between our grade point, they didn’t know themselves, and I was the mutual friend among all of them. So graduating as the best student all boiled down to who got a 5.0 grade point in 500 level 2nd semester, and you would not believe it, we all had a 5.0 grade point which made the whole thing interesting. I have known Bolutife Awonaike, the best female graduating student for the 2012/2013 session since my 2nd year in this school, she finished with a 4.85 CGPA, Abdulhameed Lasisi my very close friend, who finished from civil engineering with a 4.85 CGPA also and Onagbola Kofo who was the best in the College of Medicine, she finished with a 4.84 CGPA.
What do you think made you achieve this feat?
Sleepless nights, that’s on the side though. I think I am a product of good advice and prayers. I also have a lot of mentors, and anyone that is above me, I always try and meet them to find out what I can gain from them, I always stuck to the good advice I got from some of my mentors. God has also been really good and kind to me. Let me share this experience with you, as funny as it may sound, there was a time when God postponed an exam, because I wasn’t ready for it. My sleepless nights also went a long way. I can proudly say that I don’t think anybody worked as hard as I did in my class and everybody knows, so it’s not about that guy was lucky, and all my classmates know that it’s an award that I truly deserve.
Who are your mentors you talked about?
My mentors are my parents. Despite coming from humble beginnings, they worked really hard to achieve success in their ongoing careers. They really are my pillars of support.
Other notable mentors include Elijah Olawaye, the faculty president of engineering, two years ago. Babalola Adeniyi, the best student in electrical engineering, four years ago. Ogunsola Bolutife, Oluwatobi Adekanye, Damola Agboola who were really influential during my time in UNILAG; and many others. They were serious minded and always willing to help.
What motivates and inspires you?
For me the first thing really is to be able to make my parents proud, that’s what really pushes me, to be able to call my mum or dad and tell them I had 5 point this semester, the way they will all rejoice and shout and celebrate. The fear of failure is also something, that also pushed me, failure for me is anything lower than A. I can’t go to bed knowing that I would get a B grade in a course, that is why most times I always read through the night, because I didn’t want to get a B grade, it was always A grades and even the A grades were always 80s and 90s, that was always the aim.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Honestly, I don’t know, I am still praying to God about that. I am not the kind of person that fixates his mind on something. I have my ideas, but I don’t know where I can end up, I may probably be a lecturer, but what I really wish for is to have my own company, my own business which will involve engineering. The whole essence of the business is to give back to the community, add value to people’s lives and give back to the world. That’s just the aim for me.
What was your worst experience in UNILAG?
That will be my EEG 201 exam, Professor Mowete took that course. That was one of the most simple courses in this school, but because I was told before I got into the UNILAG that professor Mowete is hard, I became very jittery in the exam hall and I had a B grade in that course, but I knew that I could have done better, if I had set my mind straight and I had not listened to those rumours. I later went on to have A grades in all the courses he later took because I had learned the hard way not to listen to rumours.
What was your best experience in the UNILAG?
My best experience was my first time I walked into the faculty of engineering; I was so overwhelmed by the structures and the environment in general. My first 5.0 grade point was also an experience that I would not forget in a hurry, when I walked to the board and I saw that I had a 5.0 grade point, I was so emotional and I called my parents. I had other 5.0 grade points in UNILAG, but that particular one was really special.
Did you live a balanced life; in the sense that was it all just reading for you or you had time for playing and partying too?
I lived an overbalanced life and I give thanks to God for that. I was the sports secretary of my department in my fourth and fifth year. I was the head of sports committee in the whole faculty in my final year too. During my free time I used to go for some barbecue events too. I also spent time with friends as I had a lot of friends, I am sure I made more friends in this school than most of my classmates. I am friendly, I love making friends especially, if you are serious minded. I don’t discriminate. I also participated in and won the gold medal for University of Lagos Engineering Society(ULES) FIFA video game competition. I even organised numerous inter-class football matches during my time in UNILAG.
As best graduating student of UNILAG, do you think you are on the same level academically when compared to brilliant students from top rated schools like Harvard University?
Definitely! The thing is most Nigerian students usually underestimate their lecturers. Our lecturers are world class. There a lot of things that I have learnt here that I can go outside and brag about. I got quality education in UNILAG and I got it at a very cheap rate, it was almost as if I was given free education. We pay as little as N15, 000, which is nothing compared to what those students in Harvard and other top schools pay and I am sure I got the same quality of education. I don’t believe in letting my environment limit me, if there is something that you are not being exposed to, you expose yourself to it. I don’t expect my lecturers to teach me everything in class; I go out and learn as much as I think I should learn.
What are your hobbies?
I love playing video games; I love playing and watching football. I love swimming too, though I can’t swim, I love dancing too, though I can’t dance very well. I love to listen to rhythm and blues and also rap type of music.
What challenges did you encounter in the process of achieving this feat?
The power situation was a major challenge. I remember a time in which I had a 4 unit course in my second year. The night before the exam, there was no electricity anywhere in school, so myself and my roommate had to use the street light close to the senate building to read, all because I didn’t want to get a B grade in the course, other students would have just decided to sleep, but for me I just told myself that I could not let the imperfect environment cost me my grade. The laboratory courses I did were also a major challenge. If not for the laboratory courses, I would have finished with a 5.0 grade point. In those laboratory courses, you can write as much as you can and at the end of the day, you will still be given a C grade or B grade. There was time I had A’s in all my courses except the two laboratory courses I took in which I had C grades.
How has life after school been so far?
It’s been fun. I am working in a place where I am learning so much. Learning is just the thing for me, anywhere I can learn also make money.
What was growing up like for you, were you always confined indoors to reading?
Not at all, I was a very normal kid. I was very playful; and damaged a lot of things. I really enjoyed playing in the rain and even fell into the gutter like other kids. I also feel blessed to have had my parents around growing up; they were really influential in making me the man I am today.
Now that you graduated as the best student in UNILAG, what next after school?
So many people have ideas for me, but I am still praying to God about it, but left to me it will be to going for my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exercise, then I would probably go for my masters’ degree and then my PhD degree and if I get a good job offer. I would work for a while before I do my postgraduate studies.
Tag: UNILAG
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‘How I emerged UNILAG’s best graduating student’
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UNILAG bows to protesting students
Authorities of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) yesterday bowed to pressure from the students of the institution to reverse the increment in the fee for late registration.
This followed a protest launched by students of the university against the decision of the authorities to increase the fee for late course registration from N5,000 to N25,000 and the introduction of N5,000 fee for online editing.
It was also gathered that students were being asked to pay up to N1, 000 to register for GST courses.
As early as 7am, the students shunned the heavy rain and barricaded the main gates of the university, disrupting academic activities on the campus. They bore placards with inscriptions like: “Late registration fee of N25,000 is illegal”, “No reversal of the illegal fees, no exam.”
Shops owners refused to open their shops and traffic stood still while the protests lasted.
The Director of the Centre for Information Technology and Systems (CITS), UNILAG, Prof. Alex Ike Mowete, who attempted to address the students, was booed. It took the timely intervention of some students’ leaders to save him from being mobbed by the angry students.
He was hurriedly moved into the nearby mosque where he stayed till students left the area.
Students were seen chanting war slogans and calling on the Vice Chancellor, Prof Rahmon Bello, to reverse the decision. They also went to the recently-unveiled statue of the deceased Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe near the Senate building, invoking his spirit to save them from the ‘draconian’ law.
One of the protesting students said: “The normal late registration fee used to be N5,000, but we were surprised to discover that even when the portal was said to have been reopened, we could not gain access, and enquiries at the office of the Dean of Students’ Affairs revealed that we would need to pay another N25,000 instead of the usual N5,000.
“In fact, this is against the fact that another N5,000 had been introduced at the beginning of this session, which they tagged NHIS fee. We feel that it would not be right for the management to just think they can be milking us dry. Our parents are paying tax but we cannot see what the taxes are being used for. So, we cannot be overburdened again.”
Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South West, Comrade Olatinwo Jeremiah, a 400 level student of Building Technology described the increment as an injustice to them.
“UNILAG students are agitating for the reversal of payment of GST fees as well as the imposed fees on editing of course forms which was free. Students are now asked to pay N5, 000 to edit courses. Late registration payment has also been increased from N10,000 to N25,000. All the students demand is the reversal of these payments.
“Early this morning, we demanded to see the Vice Chancellor, but we were told he was called to Abuja this morning to attend a Council of Vice Chancellors meeting. Some other management staff attempted to talk to the students, but they were booed as the main aim was to see the Vice Chancellor.
“However, the Dean of Students Affairs has announced that the portal has been opened for free editing of courses. Though I have not personally confirmed, some students said they have confirmed it.”
The NANS spokesperson noted that all the demands of the students must be met before Monday morning to avoid disruption of the forthcoming convocation scheduled to hold on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. He added that if the management remained adamant, the whole of NANS, South West would dabble into the case and mobilise students across all tertiary institutions in the South West for mass protest.
Adeniji Leke, a 500 level student of law in the institution and the acting coordinator of the Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), UNILAG Chapter, noted that the protest was a child of necessity considering the ‘unthinkable increment’ of late course registration and editing fees. He asserted that the portal should be opened for free editing before examination.
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UNILAG students’ protest
Students of the University of Lagos on Friday protested a hike in tuition fee following closure of the course registration portal.
Meanwhile, the university authorities on Thursday said the registration portal is not closed.
The university’s information outlet – LagMobile, quoted the university as saying “add and delete continues to be free. No increase in late registration. Students are to remain calm.”
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‘How we built a race car in Unilag’
Abraham Imohiosen, a 500 level Computer Engineering student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and team manager of a group of students who recently built a race car speaks to Tolu George on the motivation for participating in the Shell Ecomaraton competition, challenges of building the race car and benefits of embarking on the project.
Can you explain what the competition is all about?
The Shell ecomarathon competition is an event that is organized around the world in 3 different continents. The aim of the competition is to encourage students to build fuel efficient vehicles that are worthy of futuristic innovation. That’s what we are trying to do here; we were invited by Shell Nigeria last year to participate and represent Nigeria in the competition.
We were not the only ones, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) and University of Benin (UNIBEN), were invited as well. This year, it’s UNILAG and UNIBEN that will be participating and representing Nigeria in the competition. So that is that about the competition, now about our project, we actually entered into one of the few categories of the competition that’s the battery electric category, in these category students are going to build vehicles that will be powered by batteries.
Now there are other categories like the petrol categories, the diesel category, and the hydrogen cells category. In this category you power your vehicle with your petrol, diesel. So for the project we would be using an ICE engine (international combustion engine). A hydrogen cell is the one that you use for your battery. Our project is divided into four different parts the electrical system, the mechanical system, the materials system.
What is the benefit of competitions?
The competition encourages teams to use eco friendly materials in every way possible. Apart from racing on the track for fuel efficiency, because that is the ultimate goal of the competition, there is actually an off track session of the competition and in that part there is a price category, an award category called the communication award. So the communication award is actually given to the team that can put up, the most decent entry as per communication and publicity, so publicizing your team, communicating to people around in your locality about the competition and what you are trying to do. So that is that about everything
Is Shell funding the whole project?
Yes Shell is funding the whole project.
So what is next after this competition?
After this edition of the competition, we don’t just plan to sit back and say oh we’ve gone for one we are okay now we are good, we plan to go for subsequent competitions, in Europe, Asia and the Americas. So, for now we are participating in the European competition, the next time we would be going out we would be participating in the Asian competition, so as soon as they start the middle eastern/Africa edition we would be going for that as well.
Most students will not want to associate themselves with projects like this; they rather go to parties or engage in things that are ephemeral. So what basically inspired your entering into the project?
First of all, I don’t totally agree with you. I think if students are actually given the opportunity they will, if they give them the option of going to parties than actually participating in something like this they would actually choose participating in something like this. For me, at least may be I don’t go to a lot of parties, truly the project was like an only option for me, because you have a project and you don’t have any choice you have to do it
Only option in what sense?
Yes, I am not really the party type I spend most of my time studying.
So it was like a big break for you?
Yes, a very big break
How did you get members of the team?
We got the team members through the UNILAG mobile and some newspapers. We had a very huge turnout, there were some interviews and our supervising lecturers, picked some of the few that had what it took to actually deliver these project.
So how are you balancing school life and this project?
It was not been easy when we started initially, but we had to find a way to balance things out, and I believe almost everybody in the team did.
Who are the other team members?
Our leader is professor Mowete. We also have other supervising lecturers like Dr. Amuda of the department of Metallurgical and Materials Science, Engineer Tunji of Electrical Engineering, Engr. Mohammed of Electrical Engineering Dept, Dr. Gbeniyi of Mechanical Engineering and Dr. Balogun of Electrical Engineering. For the students, we have other Segun Adebayo, 400 level Mechanical Engineering, Shade Agbaje, 400 level Mechanical Engineering, Rueben, 200 level Materials Engineering, Obinna Agba 500 level Electrical Engineering, Paula Aliyu, 500 level Computer Engineering and David Emukpere, 500 Computer Engineering. Others apart from myself include, Boye Abayomi, 500 level Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Ciramo Ojetunde, Creative Arts Dept., he was in 400 level as at the time we started this project but now a graduate, Tunji Salami of the Department of Mass Communication, Eze Owualah of the department of Chemical Engineering and Emeka Author also of the department of Chemical Engineering. We had a lot of people that contributed to the project one of them was Ibrahim Akanbi, we have sola, I have forgotten her surname, so those are the people we have working on the project and together we were able to put up what we have now, and it’s quite impressive, because when we look at it, we just smiled that even though this stuff is not 100%, this actually impressive for the time we had to work on it.
What were the challenges you faced in building the car?
First of all experience, I really appreciate what our lecturers did, initially they gave us the opportunity of exploring ourselves and seeing what we would come up with, so we had the issue of inexperience, for instance, I planned to buy some electrical components, because I didn’t really know that or I thought they were not available in Nigeria, instead of me resorting to local market first I bought the items from the UK and it took considerable time before the items arrived and so that took some time before I could actually get on with actual work on the project and also we had inadequate tools around unlike in some other parts of the world where you can easily get access to these tools or equipment, over here if you don’t have it you have to improvise in some very manual way. Also we had the challenge of logistics – when we had to get things, the hold up around was very serious, and it slowed us done. Also the local vendors of these materials around they don’t really know, they don’t have technical details about it, you understand you might want to buy an electrical component, you know am using these because am in electrical engineering, when you want to communicate with your colleague about it. You will call may be a number like x25570, you understand but when you go to the market and mention something like that the vendor will be confused he does not know, so he will probably have one local name that will probably be funny when you hear it. And two of you cannot really communicate, so you find yourself spending a lot of time there, you find yourself going there and not getting what you want even though it might be right under your nose. We had some other challenges but those are the two I can wrap my mind around now.
What are the benefits this project has brought to you?
Like I always tell my friends who is working with on this project, the project is a very big project and I have actually been able to aspire more than I was aspiring before. I would have envisioned a better last 6 months of my life because it has been very engaging, I can remember what I was doing 6 months ago, and that’s how 6 months seems so short. So in all this project has been very engaging, it has been a very big period of learning for me and also getting to know some other new people there, the members of my team
What future projects would you be working on?
What I want to do is not very conventional, actually am not going to be working on anything like this again, I plan to continue my career and study in the field of physics. Actually I don’t want to digress too much from electrical engineering
Do you think you stand a better chance to win the competition?
Frankly, I don’t think so.
Why do you hold this view?
The competition is actually very innovative, so we are first timers even though we might want to make ourselves believe that we can actually win, the truth is that for most teams that will be participating for the first time like ourselves, our focus is to actually meet minimum standard of the competition, because there are actually rules, every year the competition organizers give out rules so if you don’t meet the minimum technical requirement for the competition you would not be allowed to race, so it’s like you didn’t come for the competition at all. So what we are aiming at is to actually meet these minimum requirement and get on the track, get our vehicle to race from the beginning of the track to the end of the track, then subsequent competitions our plan is to optimize our vehicle, and actually put in an entry that is going to say ok I want to compete with the best teams in this competition.
Do you think projects like this will bring about development in Nigeria?
I believe that Nigeria cannot move forward if we keep telling ourselves that we have the resources, we have the manpower, we have the brains to do it, we have to actually do it before we can move forward and its projects like this that can actually make us do something, you can imagine the next time I would be trying to do something, instead of building a prototype of a car, I might be thinking of building a real car, from there I will be thinking of building an airplane.
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UNILAG students protest ‘water shortage’
Occupants of Biobaku Hall in the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have protested what they call “lack of water and partial closure of toilets” in the hostel.
The students said they were unhappy with poor water service in the hostel and the stress of fetching water from far distance.
The students took to the street with placards and singing solidarity songs. They demanded immediate repair of facilities in the hall.
The students complained that water had stopped running for a long time, saying the development made over 500 occupants to go through stress of fetching water from three water taps outside the building.
An occupant, Seyi Olabisi, a 400-Level Urban and Regional Planning student, said: “We stay in queue for several minutes every morning to fecth water to have our bath. That is abnormal.”
Modiu Olaguro, President of the University’s Press Club, expressed displeasure on the situation, describing it as stress to both the students and the cleaners who would have to carry buckets of water from the ground floor to the third floor daily.
The protesters planned to take the demonstration to the residence of the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Kayode Amund, but some of them opposed the plan.
Razaq Olamilekan, President of the Education Students’ Association (NUESA), was quoted to have said that as a student leader, he could not lead a protest against the school authorities.
The students carried placards with inscriptions such as “#BringBackOurWater” and “Students are suffering, DSA is snoring”, among others.
The angry students were addressed by an official, who identified himself as Engr Adeyemi from the Department of Works. He pleaded with the students, explaining that the delay in restoring water back to the hostel was because of a logistic problem.
In response to the to the protest, management has commenced repair work on the water facility and the construction of new water pipes to serve all floors in the hostel.
At the time of this report, two water taps were being repaired and plumbers were seen running pipes to different floors.
Speaking on the protest, the Hall Chairman, Moyosore Adebanjo, said the beauty of the protest was that it was peaceful, saying management’s quick intervention was commendable.
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Eminent journalist Dare advocates restructuring to save Nigeria
•Dignitaries celebrate ex-UNILAG VC Ajayi at 85
Yesterday was a day of honour for former University of Lagos (UNILAG) Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ade Ajayi, as he celebrated his 85th birthday.
Eminent Nigerians showered encomiums on him, noting his life of virtues and excellence.
The event was held at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan (U.I.).
Renowned journalism teacher and Editorial Consultant of The Nation, Prof. Olatunji Dare, who was the guest lecturer, called for substantive re-structuring of Nigeria to save the country from collapse.
Speaking on “100 years after amalgamation: The Nigerian condition”, the frontline columnist described as “sorrowful” the nation’s socio-economic condition.
Bemoaning the nation’s challenges, especially the violence being perpetrated by Boko Haram, Dare said the ongoing National Conference, which is expected to correct many of the ills, might not achieve the objective because of the discordant tunes being sung by many of the delegates.
Dare said: “A re-structured federation, based on a new constitution truly warranted by the preface ‘We the People’, has been the recurrent demand in recent times. There was much hope that the on-going National Conference may bring that about. But judging by the hazy status of the conference and by the reports on the deliberations, the hope could turn out to be misplaced.”
He listed other problems facing the nation as infrastructural decay, over concentration of power at the centre, epileptic power supply despite billions of naira spent on building new plants, dispiriting health sector, mass unemployment, fallen educational standards, ethnic animosity, religious crises and corruption, among others.
Dare warned of the inherent danger in the failure of restructuring, saying: “As the centre faces growing challenge from Boko Haram and other forces, its legitimacy and authority will weaken to the point that those nationalities strong enough or determined enough to break away will do so. Without substantive re-structuring, the Nigerian state will wither away.”
He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to show that he is in charge and assert legitimacy.
Criticising the centenary celebrations, Dare said: “This is hardly an inspiring note on which to celebrate the first centenary or to inaugurate the second centenary of what President Jonathan, in a prefatory broadcast to the milestone, described as ‘a unique country’, one ‘brought together in a union like no other by providence’.”
At the event were Ajayi’s wife, Christiana; Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, represented by Commissioner for Physical Planning Muyiwa Ige; Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, represented by his deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; U.I. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Isaac Adewole; Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe; Prof. Akin Mabogunje and Prof. Niyi Osundare.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, was represented by Oba Kole Ojutalayo. The Elekole of Ikole-Ekiti, Oba Ajibade Fasiku, was there, among others.
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‘My challenges starting small security firm’
Chief Operation Officer, Maximus Event Security Company (MESC), Mr. Bukola Olonimoyo, acquired Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Yaba, Lagos. He speaks to Blessing Olisa, how his security outfit was well thought out to become a small scale business entity with prospects for growth that would make it a well structured outfit.
We work to ensure full security at events – weddings, birthdays, funerals, concert shows, annual general meetings, luncheons and other forms of engagements that involve having many people. At such places, hosts are usually unaware of other things around the scene. It was registered in 2012. Prior to that, I worked with Unikem Industries Limited in Lagos.
How it started
I didn’t set out to be an event security operator. I am a UNILAG mechanical engineer graduate. But I have always had a passion for bodybuilding. When I saw bodybuilders on TV, I began training. Sometime later, I started working for a company as a security staff where they trained me on what to, and what not to do when it comes to event security and how to work it effectively.
Why work for a security outfit?
Then, it was more of voluntary service for me. Also, condition then warranted it. Since I graduated in 2009, getting a job was quite hard. I then thought that instead of sitting at home, I could wisely engage my time. My goal was while securing events, I would show people my CV and get employed. As it went on, I began to enjoy it. It took me to lots of places. I got to meet lots of very influential people. When former USA president, Bill Clinton, came to Nigeria, I met with him. I was one of the personal bodyguards to Arnold Schwarzenegger, then Governor of California, when he came to Nigeria for Thisday Awards. When I posted the pictures on Facebook, people, even my friends in America, asked how I met him. That was how the business part of me kicked in. I then decided to understudy my boss without giving him an inkling. So I developed a concept of what my own vision of a security firm would be. And though parts of it are yet to be actualised, I know it is a gradual process. I am willing to take it one step at a time.
Cost of setting up?
Despite the vision I had, most companies were already established and there was no room for small businesses. Even if you wanted to start, you had to make noise. But I didn’t have the financial power to make much noise. Luckily, for me, I had a friend that was interested in security whom I told to help me get some items like the costume on the uniforms because I wanted to create a stand-out from others. This cost about $1,000 to import. We made our gadget, like a cross belt, as a unique symbol. My first job was from my UNILAG colleague. We met in my old company and he invited me to provide security for his wedding. I did. It was successful. From there, we got a lot of jobs because I was smart enough to have shared my business card at that event. For close to two years now, every Saturday we have an event.
Teething problems?
In addition to getting necessary gadgets to start, next was to get staff to imbibe with our dos and don’ts. Events business is quite different. Those already in the system know what is expected of them in events. Factors like how to talk to guests, compose yourself, politely ask for the invitation where a guest list is provided, generally interact, need be taught. Part of it was practically having to tell them what I learnt from my former company that we must do. As a new company, we needed to make ourselves relevant. We need to market ourselves and convince clients, event centres and event planners that we are a good alternative. By and large, God has favoured me in that respect because even when I meet those event planners, they see us differently and they are willing to work with us despite what they are used to. Till date, I work on improving MESC. Currently, we have armour-like costume and ‘FBI jacket’, to suit client demands.
Meeting client demands with costume?
Some clients need us to be fully kitted because they want our appearance to be as intimidating as possible. They don’t want riff-raffs and unwanted guests in their event. We display a show of force because they cannot have military personnel guard their event. There is little a force official can do in terms of interacting with guests. They are only there to prevent violent crimes. But we deal directly with the guests by asking for their invites and accosting uninvited guests. If it is an outdoor event where you have a lot of possible loopholes, we put on the armour to look really intimidating. Any other time, we just use our ‘FBI jacket’. We are always simple, neat and presentable.
MESC team?
On my speed-dial, I have close to 50 guys. Our regular staff are about 25, who on every weekend have events to secure. Also, dispatching them to events depend on the client. We make recommendations based on the number of entrance and exit points in the hall. If it is two, we do a minimum of four guys. Then, if it is more than that, depending on the size of the venue or the estimated number of guests, that determines the number of guys to be deployed.
Business progress?
You know, business is about getting what you put in. Here, I constantly buy equipment – batons, pepper spray, handcuffs and teasers because they are often lost or damaged. So, investment continues like paying for the running of our website to keep it updated. Continually, we reprint our business cards to get words across about us. You just continue investing in your business with the hope of getting it back and you have to pay your staff as well.
Staff punishment?
In the instance of losing tools, the affected staff pays half of the cost of the item. But most times, we let it go because things do get lost in one way or another. And while trying to prevent somebody from entering or in a radical situation, equipment get lost.
Assessing the business?
We are like a N20million-per-year venture and we are planning to upgrade it. But you have to look at what is coming in and going out. I think I am not doing badly in terms of taking care of my basic needs – food, clothing and shelter.
Future prospects?
At present, event security is not fully standardised. I would like to ensure that is done to make it a fully structured company where we pay salary to our staff to improve the image of the company. The reason for the non-standardisation is because it is like a part-time work. You get paid based on the work you do, not on a salary scale. It means if you recruit 200 men, you pay them off at the end of the event. I envisage having over 200 staff and pay them salary to improve discipline.
Growth plans?
To continuously bring out new costumes that will be more season-relevant. Also to earn government’s recognition as a full-fledged security company that is part of the protection apparatus to help tackle aspects that cannot be left to the police. Private security should get to that point where we will carry arms to reduce pressure on the police force instead of putting them on special duties to man events where the likelihood of perpetrating crime is low.
Bomb explosions or theft?
We have tackled, but not totally eliminated, theft in venues which are mostly done by the guests or waiters. If we are able to prevent unwanted guests, we can’t wade off invited guests and waiters certified to be there. So, there is little one can do about that. If I am covering an event, I make sure there is a surveillance team inside the venue to fix eyes on everybody, including waiters, servers and guests. We do this based on the social status of the host. We produce parameter security around the venue with two undercover agents dressed like guests who move around to ensure nobody is taking food, drinks or phones – two major things that get lost at events. We often spot perpetrators before they commit the crime. For bomb, we try and search everything going into the hall.
Regulatory agents?
We have National Association of Private Security Company Owners. Police also regulate to cover some things we don’t do. When we make arrests, we hand over culprit to the police because we can’t prosecute but work directly with the police in most cases.
Hazards on duty?
Sometimes street urchins we prevent from getting into the venue attempt to stone us after events. A few times, we sustain injuries in the line of duty. I’ve seen people being stabbed with broken bottles. This is not regular or common, but it does happen.
Ladies on guard?
Sometimes, we engage ladies, depending on the job, like in conferences where we need to conduct body search.
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UNILAG immortalises Sofoluwe
Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Rahamon Bello, has urged the Federal Government to review the funding of universities upward.
Speaking while delivering the second annual memorial lecture in honour of his predecessor, the late Prof Adetokunbo Sofoluwe on Monday, Bello lamented that Nigeria’s budgetary allocation to education (and university education in particular) is far less than that of many African countries with smaller economies and the UNESCO recommendation.
The late Sofuluwe Sofoluwe served as Vice Chancellor of the university between January 31, 2010 and May 11, 2012 when he slumped in his office and later died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Idi Araba.
The lecture, with the topic: Funding of University Education in Nigeria: Trends, Challenges and new Directions, organised by the UNILAG Alumni Association (UNILAG branch), held at the Afe Babalola auditorium of the university. Bello canvassed funding per student, which he said would make universities enjoy relative autonomy and avail them of more funds to address the core businesses of the institution.
“Federal Government of Nigeria is hereby called upon to consider a re-evaluation of the funding pattern of universities because the current practice does not promote efficiency and best practices while stability and scholarship will be better promoted with autonomy of fund accrual,” he said.
He expressed concern that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has become a major intervention grant for infrastructural development in the universities while the funds released for overhead and capital expenditure are dwindling and do not meet the reality of the needs.
Chairman of the UNILAG branch of the alumni association, Dr Ayodele Ogunleye, an associate professor, said the lecture was held to celebrate Sofoluwe’s intellectual and administrative legacies as well as to promote the values that he struggled to advance throughout his life such as human rights, social justice and freedom of expression.
He said the association plans to endow the Sofoluwe Dustinguished International Award for Excellence during the third edition of the lecture next year.
Meanwhile, the authorities of the university renamed the Senate recreational park after Sofoluwe on Sunday.
The park located close to the Senate Building of the university, was designed by a team of environmental scientists headed by Dr Mike Adebamiwo.
It consists of a transition space for movement, a seven-foot sculpture of the late professor facing the entrance of the park is at the centre, a memorial wall and an iconic picture made of mosaic tiles, and sitting area.
Many, who attended the lecture and inauguration, described Sofuluwe in kind words. The Vice Chancellor, Prof Bello described him as a very humble man.
“He means different things to different people, he was a friend, boss, mentor and that amiable personality you always want to see when you are down,” he said.
Dr Abraham Oshinubi of the college of Medicine said he was a wonderful and easy going person who was generous and humble to a fault.
His niece, Mrs Bunmi Taiwo, also described him as “a very generous uncle that you could always go to when you need money to finance anything.”
Sofoluwe’s wife, Dr Olufunmilayo, said she was impressed by the school’s gesture to remember her late husband.
“He was a wonderful, caring and loving man. I am very overwhelmed and surprised at what the school management has done. It was a great and good surprise and I give all the glory back to God,” she said.
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UNILAG alumni remember Sofoluwe
The University of Lagos Alumni Association, Lagos State Branch will hold the second Annual Memorial Lecture in honour of Late Prof Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe, former Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos next Monday at the Afe Babalola Auditorium.
The lecture entitled: Funding of University Education in Nigeria: Trends, Challenges and New Directions will be delivered by the incumbent Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Rahamon Bello.
Prof A. Ogunye will chair the occasion while Sir Kessington Adebutu, M.D / CEO, The Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation is the Special Guest of Honour.
National President of the association, Dr Sunny Kuku, is the Chief Host, while the UNILAG branch president of the association, Dr A. Ogunleye, is the host.
