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Tag: Usmanu Danfodiyo University

  • Assembly suspends three leaders for ‘misconduct’

    Three leaders of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) Students’ Union Government (SUG) have been suspended for by-passing the parliament.

    The legislative arm of the union, during an emergency sitting suspended the President, Ibrahim Kalgo, Financial Secretary Muazu Bello and Welfare Director, Abdulraman Abubakar for executing projects not approved by the Student Representatives’ Assembly (SRA).

    Kalgo and Abubakar were suspended for an unapproved elongation of Jattau Bridge, a walkway that extends fromthe  hostel to the academic area. The rehabilitation of the walkway allegedly cost N1,142,600, but construction was not approved by the parliament. The embattled union leaders were also indicted  for excess withdrawal to the tune of N59,880, above the approved amount for reconstruction of a reservoir at the female hostel.

    The Speaker, Sadiq Abdulrahim, said Bello  was suspended for giving the president and welfare director access to the union account to execute the unapproved projects.

    The president and financial secretary were suspended for three weeks, while the welfare director’s suspension will last for four weeks.

    Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE after the sitting, Sadiq justified the suspension, saying: “This is a matter of democracy; when union officers are found wanting in any of their activities, we need to suspend them to enable us carry out thorough investigation.”

    The speaker said the parliament relied on the Reference 81 item XII of the union’s constitution, which states: “The SRA shall, when necessary, suspend any officer for a period of not more than eight weeks to conduct an enquiry into allegations made against such officer.”

    In his defence before members of the parliament, Ibrahim allegedly admitted by-passing the SRA in executing the projects, but pleaded with members not to suspend him.

    Muazu described his suspension as unconstitutional, saying it was only the congress that could suspend them from office.

    He said: “We may have had our faults for breaching the constitution, but we have pleaded with students publicly when we held the  congress. Students accepted our apologies, but the parliament went ahead to suspend us. This is against the rule.”

    The financial secretary said students overlooked their faults because the money was spent on projects that bordered on their welfare.

  • Ex-Corps member creates jobs from allowee

    A recently discharged National Youth Corps (NYSC) member in Zamfara State, Olatunde Mustapha, saved his monthly stipend to establish a small-scale business. Months after, the business has turned into a profit-making enterprise and has created direct jobs for youths. IBRAHIM ADEYEMI writes.

    The fear of being jobless after school pushed Olatunde Mustapha to the world of innovation. The ex-National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, who was discharged last week, set up a small-scale business enterprise with his monthly allowance.

    Olatunde saved his N19,800 stipend for more than three months and turned the money to seed fund with which he started an event management firm. The 28-year-old graduate of Sociology from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) opened the business just before he was discharged by the NYSC.

    In an interview, Olatunde told CAMPUSLIFE that he could not afford to be jobless after his National Youth Service; the reason why he became self-employed.

    He said: “I know what it means to be jobless and I don’t want to pass out of NYSC and remain in my parents’ house. In order to be self-reliant, I thought of what to do after service. Then, I remember I have a flare for event planning and management.

    “I saved my monthly allowance for more than three months and established myself. Just within a short period, the N19,800 has multiplied profitably for me.”

    With N59,000 seed capital, Mustapha established 4M Global Concept – a firm for event planning and management, media consultancy and sales of provision.

    Advising Corps members to embrace entrepreneurship, Mustapha said there would be no unemployment if the youth could innovate and create jobs.

    “Many youths keep looking around for nonexistent jobs when they can use their brain and create jobs for themselves and others,” he said.

    At the time he was passing out of the NYSC last week, Olatunde had engaged eight youths in his business to manage different chains of activities in his firm.

    He said: “I have employed eight staff and I still intend to employ more. My company has a salary scale of nothing less than N150,000 monthly paid to staff I directly engaged. I make more than N50,000 in profit after deducting my overheads.”

  • Excitement as varsity investors partner to build hostels

    The protracted accommodation challenges faced by students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) may disappear soon, as the school mulls partnership with private investors to build Halls of Residence.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Abdullahi Zuru, said the school was willing to partner with private organisations and non-governmental organisation, including Tony Elumelu Foundation and United Bank of Africa (UBA), to build hostels in the school.

    He said: “The university management is seeking partnership with the UBA and other private investors to build hostels for the school, which also is part of business strategy.”

    Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof A.A. Alieru, told CAMPUSLIFE that the school had opened its doors to allow private investors build affordable hostels in the school, given the challenge of accomodating students.

    The dean said the plan was in line with the Federal Government’s aim to allow private investors partner with tertiary institutions in improving infrastructure.

    He revealed that the school had received letters of interest from various companies, among  which is JAIZ Bank, in building hostels.

    Students expressed excitement, following the revelation.

    A 100-Level Agricultural student, Saliman Abdulateef, hailed the school the development, saying: “It is a good decision by management. I look forward to the period when every student would be accommodated on the campus.”

    Habeeb Orelope, a 100-Level Forestry student, urged the school to make liaise with its partner in making the hostels affordable.

    Kaothar Abdulazeez, a 200-Level Physics student, said the proposed hostel would be a relief to students who paid high cost to get hostels outside the school.

    The Students’ Union president, Ibrahim Sheu Kalgo, pledged the union’s support to the management in alleviating the accommodation challenges facing students.

  • Sokoto varsity students study in bush for exam

    Sokoto varsity students study in bush for exam

    The rowdy state of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) main library  has compelled students to take to the bush to study for their semester examination, which started last Monday. The problem is compounded by the ongoing Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) strike. SHUKURAT HAMZAT (300-Level Biology) reports.

    The Central Library of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) has literally shifted to the bush as students write their first semester examination. The ongoing Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) strike has made the library inconducive for study.

    The uncontrolled movement of students in and out of the library has made it rowdy.

    To escape from the noise, some students are going into the bush to read.

    When CAMPUSLIFE visited the savannah behind the Halls of Residence, it saw students sitting on mats and studying quietly at various spots in the open area. Except for the chirping of birds and sound of the wind, the students said they found the environment serene for studying.

    The NASU strike has virtually paralysed academic and other activities. Many students did not expect the examination to start soon and the release of the timetable caught them unawares.

    It has been hectic for returning students, as continuous assessment tests and examinations are being conducted simultaneously.

    Students troop to library and classrooms to read during the day and the night. Others, who cannot cope with the rowdiness in the library and classrooms, find solace in the bush.

    Some students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, said they went to the bush because of its proximity to their hostels, compared to their classrooms and the library which are far from the Halls of Residence.

    A 200-Level English Language student, Immaculate Audu,  said she assimilated better in a serene environment like the bush.

    “I don’t like going to classrooms to read because they are far away from the hostel. More so, classes are always noisy. I like total silence if I must assimilate what I am reading and I get that in the bush serenity. Although there are flies and other insects, you can’t compare the peace in the bush with the rowdiness we have in the classroom or library,” she said.

    Another 200-Level Microbiology student, Aulatu Salisu,  said she is easily distracted by side discussions. She said she easily loses concentration on her studies in a noisy environment; the reason she chose to go into the bush to read.

    She said: “The tranquility in the bush is favourable for studying. I will continue to read in this open space till after the examination. It is quiet and peaceful. This is better than the situation we have in classrooms and library where students engage in needless discussion. I would be distracted in those places. Besides, the distance between the hostel and academic area makes me stay here.”

    She urged the Students’ Union Government (SUG) officials to collaborate with the management to clear the bush and make it more comfortable for reading.

    A 200-Level Chemistry Education student, Rebecca Musa, said disruptive noises in classrooms and their distance from the hostel made her to read in the bush.

    “Honestly, the distance to classrooms is discouraging. The time I will waste to trek to the classroom would have been used to read several pages of my notes. I can read anywhere, whether it is noisy or not.

    “But, I don’t believe in wasting time. I read in the bush when I don’t have much time to trek. I stay in classroom to read when I am around the academic area,” Abubakar Abdullahi, a 200-Level Physics student, said.

    Rebecca Musa, who wrote continuous assessment test and examination simultaneously, protested the situation, saying the semester was disorganised. She blamed it on lecturers’ laziness, noting that all tests should have been concluded four weeks before the examination.

    “This semester is disorganised. We didn’t have enough time for lectures and reading. I will advise the school to adopt orderliness so that students’ energy won’t be overstretched,” she said.

    Aulatu also complained, saying: “It is very bad that nobody shows any concern in the management. Many of us are stressed outright now, because we have been made to write tests during examinations. I had two tests on Friday, one on Saturday and three papers next week. There is another test on Thursday and examination on Friday. How do they expect us to cope?”

    Rahmat Alabi, a 400-Level Adult Education and Extension Service student, said writing test during examination was becoming a norm in the school.

    She said: “Although it is not a recent phenomenon, it is becoming a norm in UDUS and I don’t see anyone changing it. We have seen lecturers starting their examinations weeks before the timetable is released. After lectures, they would give assignments and still conduct tests in short period. They don’t give students time to read and prepare for anything. It is that bad. I expect the school to prevail on these lecturers to stop the practice.”

    Ibrahim Usman Bature, a 400-Level Chemistry student, blamed his colleagues for not reading ahead of the examination. “We know that it is a practice in the school to hold examination and test in the same period. As students, we should be ahead of the game. If any student fails, he carries the burden himself, not the school,” he said.

    When the timetable was released by the school’s Examination Committee, 100-Level students were excluded. The decision, according to the committee, was to compensate for the delay in releasing admission lists; a problem said to be caused by the new Joint Admission Matriculation board (JAMB) policy.

    Considering the challenges faced by freshers, the committee extended lectures for 100-Level students only for five weeks, after which they are expected to write examination within six days. This decision is being trailed by mixed feelings.

    Blessing Omahu, a 100-Level Agriculture student, said the extension could result in mass failure, wondering how the school expected students to sit for more than 10 papers in six days.

    She said: “There is no doubt the first semester is short, but the school should have allowed us to start the examination with our senior colleagues. Extending the lecture is not in anyone’s interest, because many lecturers have almost completed their courses’ outlines. Going by the timetable, 10 courses will be written in just six days. It is going to be a marathon examination for us and many may fail.”

    Ismail Zubairu pleaded with the school management to change its decision, expressing worries over the duration of the examination.

    He said: “Ever since I heard the news, I have been worried about the way and manner the exercise would be arranged. It would definitely be choking. I plead with the school to reconsider the decision and extend duration to about two weeks to allow us prepare for our papers.”

    Reacting, Dean of Students’ Affair (DSA), Prof Adamu Aliero, urged the 100-Level students not to panic about the five-week extension. According to him, the school would look into the possibility of conducting examination for freshers in six days. The examination timetable, the DSA said, may be extended to two weeks.

    On the simultaneous conduct of tests and examinations, the DSA blamed it on the students, saying most of them refused to return to school four weeks after the school announced resumption.

    He said: “Returning students caused the challenges they are facing themselves. When the school resumed, many students refused to return, not until after four weeks. During this period, only a few lectures were held. If the students want their lecturers to stop conducting tests during examination, they must resume on the date announced by the school.”

    Prof Aliero said the school would henceforth,  be firm on registration, adding that any student, who failed to register after registration would be asked to defer for a session. He warned that the school would no longer tolerate late resumption.

     

     

  • Tackling low self-esteem

    Tackling low self-esteem

    A women group at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) has held an interactive session with female students to tackle low-self esteem and close interaction gap between teachers and students. SHUKURAT HAMZAT and SELIMOT AMUZAT (300-Level Biology) report.

    How to help womwn tackle low self-esteem was the focus of an interactive seminar held by members of the Female Staff Association of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) for female students.

    The seminar, with the theme: What it takes to be a successful female student, held in the school’s Multipurpose Hall II, was aimed at fostering a cordial lecturer-student relationship and closing interaction gap between teachers and students.

    A senior lecturer at the Department of Adult Education and Extension Service, Dr Asiya Bagudo, who initiated the seminar, said the programme sought to build confidence in female students to enable them approach their lecturers and share their challenges.

    In her opening remark, the chairperson of the event, Dr Constance Shehu, said the association was established last year to help women achieve their academic and professional potential. She said the seminar had the purpose to create interaction between female students and members of the association to share ideas on how they could solve common challenges.

    Dr Shehu said: “We noticed that there is a wide gap between us and female students. This gap is largely created by fears among students to approach us. Some of you have the feeling that lecturers are not approachable and this seminar is aimed at creating avenue for engagement between us.”

    Prof Aysha Madawaki, a member of the association, said the interaction between lecturers and students should go beyond the classroom, noting that lecturers have the duty to ensure that their students are psychologically balanced.

    She said: “It is not enough to come to the classroom and teach. As lecturers, we need to engage our students to ensure that they are psychologically prepared for the future. As female students, you should add extra effort to every of your set goals and share your challenges with us. Beyond good character and following the school rules, you need to have clear-cut ambition to contribute meaningfully to the development of our society.”

    While addressing the students, Prof Asabe of the Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies advised them to remain focused and remember their purpose of being in the school. She urged participants to always engage in extra-curricular activities.

    “With proper planning, focus and seriousness, you can combine education with marital life,” Prof Asabe told the students, some of who expressed regrets over combining schooling with homemaking.

    Dr Maryam Abubakar Koko advised the students to be creative and focus on their primary aims in the school.

    She said: “You have to create passion for entrepreneurship, because it will give you financial freedom. As a married woman, I never allow my business to divert my attention away from studies. I still want to attain higher level in my profession. You must have this ambition too.”

    Participants praised the organisers, but listed some of the challenges facing female students.

    A student, Ayisha Ahmad, urged the women association to liaise with the school management on behalf of student-mothers to provide a daycare in the school to enable them bring their babies to school.

    She also mulled the idea of a female students’ body to champion the cause of women facing victimisation and harassment.

    Responding, Dr Bagudo said protecting female students from harassment and victimisation was part of the reasons the seminar was held.

    She said: “We knew there are a lot of things going on in the school, which students did not want to share with us because of fear. There are a lot of challenges, which put our ladies in discomfort. Our girls are getting carried away and they don’t know how to face their life challenges or who to turn to for advice. As adults with more experience, we need to guide you through and champion your cause.”

    Dr Bagudo advised students to be free in sharing their challenges with female lecturers. She promised that the association would act on the students’ observations.

    A mother of seven and lecturer, Dr Maryam Koko, said the platform would give female students a voice to be part of the school development. She urged the participants to be focused on their studies, while sharing her person experience.

    She said: “I was a mother while I was a student. Initially, I found it challenging as a woman, but I didn’t allow challenges to weigh me down. Combining motherhood with education can be tough, but it should not be seen as limitations to pursing our academic goals. A challenge can serve as a boost or push to attaining success.”

    Dr Shehu, who is a consultant gynaecologist at the Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), said the association would be a platform for mentoring female students towards achieving their potential.

    A participant, Faith Onyebuche, a 400-Level Biological Science student, said: “I had thought the seminar would be boring, but it turned out to be a programme where questions that had disturbed my mind were answered.”

  • The need for a functioning Law Clinic cannot be overemphasized – Justice Usman

    The need for a functioning Law Clinic cannot be overemphasized – Justice Usman

    As part of the line up of activities scheduled  to promote justice and fairness in Sokoto state, the Law students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto have  visited the Attorney General of Sokoto State, Justice Usman Suleiman and the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Bello Abbas, respectively.

    The visitation was done to enhance the chance of interviewing of pre-trial detainees of Sokoto prisons, advocation on ending violation against women, promoting girl child education, among others.

    In an interactive session with  Justice Suleiman Usman, the group of law students, who were lead by their staff adviser, Ibrahim Sheu emphasised the need to have a functioning Law Clinic in Usmanu Danfodiyo University so as to enhance their studies as law students of the school.

    Responding,  the Attorney General expressed excitement over the attempts made by the students. The need to have a functioning Law clinic he said,  cannot be overemphasised. He furthermore pledged to employ all legal means to support the idea of the students.

    While with Justice Bello Abbas, he pledged his support towards the advancement of the clinic by providing decided cases of the court and giving out research materials to build up the clinic library.

    The students however spoke to our correspondents,  expressing their delights over the new development.

    “The clinic would benefit tremendously from the visitation by giving law clinicians the opportunity of interviewing detainees through Alternative Dispute Resolution ( ADR ),” Sulaiman Amina, a 300level student proclaimed.

    Attahiru Haruna who is a 400 level student explained that the advocacy visit is aimed at presenting the caliphate judicial clinic to the ministry of justice and the state high court, in an effort to have them partner with with the students in different activities.

    “We really appreciate the efforts of the Caliphate  Law Clinic for embarking  on such initiative program,” he added.

  • Usmanu Danfodio varsity SUG task students on life after school

    Usmanu Danfodio varsity SUG task students on life after school

    The leadership of the Students’ Union of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto has thought it wise to feature its predecessors to discuss trending issues concerning students’ unionists and unionism in Nigeria.

    The event, which was held at the university auditorium, was themed: “Students’ Unionism and Life after School.”

    The program according the current union leader of the school, Idrees Maibasira was to “compare the past with the present to get better bright future of Students’ Unionism in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.”

    Present at the event were past Students’ Union leaders of the school who were invited to make sincere juxtaposition of Students’ Unionism of the school between past and the present.

    In his opening remark, Vice Chancellor of the school, Prof Abdullahi Abduzuru said: “Today is a very special occasion and a remarkable initiative of the current SU administration. They have thought it wise to engage individuals who have experienced life both within and outside the campus, and will be speaking from firsthand experience.”

    As part of the plans to make deep prospects of “Students’ Unionism and Life after School”, nine vibrant past union leaders of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto formed a discussant panel and plenary. The panel was properly moderated by the duo of Suraju Sifawa, a veteran journalist in Sokoto and Ibrahim Dogondaji, the Director of Sokoto State Mobilization and Enlightenment Commission.

    On his part, Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, who was also once a union leader of the school in 1992, Prof Nasiru Yawuri, expressively compared Students’ Unionism of the past and the present. He outspoke his mind disappointedly over what the union has grown to become over the years.

    “The Students’ Union, unlike what we left behind, has depleted in morality. It has become a platform for display of money and affluence. And, students’ unionists of nowadays have become errand boys to politicians,” he lamented. He added that “there is no reason why Students’ Union leadership should get intimidated by the management.”

    While encouraging students to be courageous and radical when it comes fighting to protest the right interests of students, he moaned emotionally, saying “during our time, we stood our ground alongside the management over students’ welfare, unlike today when money is the priority of most students.”

    He however advised students to embrace good moral character in order to get to their promised lands.

    Bashir Umar, who was the Students’ Union President in 2011 hailed the speech of Prof Nasiru, he said: “Before success, there must be struggle.”

    Dr. Shadi Sabeh, the two-time consecutive president of Students’ Union of the school in 2002 and 2003 respectively, who is now a successful lecturer and entrepreneurer spoke to the students on the need to embrace entrepreneurship.

    “It is true that year-in-year-out, tertiary institutions dose out graduates. However, we don’t have a corresponding increase in job creation. Therefore, you should not see bagging a degree as a guarantee to getting employed. Add value to yourself by building your capacity. Think of creating jobs and not taking jobs. Humility is also a vital key to making money. Believe me, If jobs are what you’re looking for, they do not exist,” he urged.

    Also, Mansur Ngaski, the current assistant manager of Zenith Bank, Sokoto, who was also  a union leader in 2004 remarked on the need for students to diversify as the Nigerian economy diversifies. “There are a lot of opportunities in such a developing economy like Nigeria’s. But there are too much wastages, particularly among the youths. So, as the government provides enabling atmosphere for businesses to thrive, we as youths must also manage our resources, reduce our spending and be financially disciplined.”

    Amina Abdulazeez, a one-time female union leader in 2013 admonished students on the need to be productive and creative. Innovation, she said is what is called ideal entrepreneural skill.

    In her words she said: “There are one hundred and one jobs for whoever is ready to innovate. Despite my second class upper, B.sc degree in political science, my skill in photography made me who I am today.”

    Speaking on the importance of entrepreneurship, Alhaji Mahmud Sani, the 1993 union leader of the school and now a politician, also emphasised that “If you retire as a civil servant, you’re going to die a poor man.”

    CSP Suleiman Gulma, the 1992 SU president, then described the panacea to the recessed Nigerian economy as “active involvement of all stakeholders and continuity in policy implementation.” Youths involvement in entrepreneurship,  he said would save the country from economic quargmire.

    Dean of students affairs, Prof Adamu Aliero hailed the efforts of the Students’ Union for organising such a positive thought-provoking event.

    The event, he described as an eye-opener for students.

    He however advised the students to have respect for age.  Experiences of the elders, he said should not be over-looked by any student who wants to excel in life.

  • Kachikwu reitrates FG commitment to exploring energy sources in river basins

    Kachikwu reitrates FG commitment to exploring energy sources in river basins

    The Minister of State for Petroleum, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu says that the Federal Government remain focused on its pursuit at exploiting and exploring of the energy  source and potentials of the country.

    According to the Minister, a new policy is in place to further reposition the petroleum ‎ministry towards harnessing the reserves in the frontier basins for economic growth.

    Kachikwu made the remark in Sokoto Wednesday at the opening of a 2-day Petrole‎um Technology Development Fund in collaboration with Sokoto state Government and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto “Regional Technology Knowledge Sharing Programme (RTKSP) on Hydrocarbon Potentials of Sokoto state”

    According to Kachikwu who was represented by the Executive Secretary, PTDF, Dr Bello Aliyu Gusau as the Guest of honour noted that Sokoto basin has enormous reserves in energy potentials which should be harnessed to fast track positive mechanisms in the energy sector.

    “We have to domesticate the process of developing and delivering the right frame work that will guarantee the achievement  of set objectives”, he pointed out.

    He noted that the inland basins were a significant component and pivot for promoting a responsive approach to attain the required results for possible realisation of ‎energy.

    ”We will create the enabling environment and strategic ‎framework that will encourage full participation of relevant stakeholders for the realisation of our potentials”, he added.

    Earlier in his welcome address, Vice Chancellor of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru described the theme of the knowledge sharing on hydrocarbon potentials as a responsive and purposeful step towards exploring the energy reserves of the Sokoto river basin.

    “It is an avenue for ideas and knowledge driven approach to strengthen the will and determination of the state’s to synergies with the federal government in harnessing the hydro potentials in Sokoto/ Bida basins ‎respectively.”

    Zuru said the university was ready to actively partner stakeholders to deepen the process of exploring of hydrocarbon potentials for the benefit of Nigeria.

    “It is in this light that the PTDF stepped in to establish it’s chair in petroleum chemistry, construction of ‎a departmental building in Pure and Applied Chemistry,a 100 capacity ICT centre”, disclosing that it further assisted its zeal to introduce a programme in Petroleum Chemistry at both first and doctoral degrees.

    The Guest Speaker‎ and Director, National Centre for Petroleum Research and Development, Prof. Muhammad Bello Abubakar of the ATBU noted that the country has large energy reserve for exploration in its basins especially the Sokoto basin.

    He stressed the need for states with these reserves to take advantage of their comparative potentials to harness the hydrocarbon to support and boost the economy.

    “This will further domesticate the variables and components to meet the densely population’s demand for energy”, he stated.

    In his goodwill message, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar while noting that oil had remain a key aspect through which the economic prosperity of the nation is being measured due to its role in revenue generation, said if its exploration in other parts of the country would foster and put the country on the pedestal of peace and unity, so be it.

    According to ‎royal father” if explored, the revenue should be channelled to profitable venture so we don’t loose it’s benefit”

    He noted that the exploration of oil and gas in other parts of the country like the Sokoto basin would further ease the common man’s desire to live a better life.

    Prominent in attendance at the auditorium of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, ‎Sokoto venue of the occasion were former Governor Ibrahim Saminu Turaki of Jigawa state among others top government functionaries.

  • Union leaders visit National Assembly

    Members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) have visited the National Assembly in Abuja for excursion. The students, who are members of the union’s legislative arm, were hosted by the Senate and House of Representatives.

    The visit was aimed at exposing members of the union’s Students’ Representative Assembly (SRA) to legislative procedure in the National Assembly, in order to help acquire skills in running the union effectively. The 18 participants in the excursion were selected from all faculties of the school.

    Receiving the students of behalf of the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, described the visit as worthy, saying the National Assembly’s leadership usually welcomed youths to learn about legislative procedures.

    At the House of Representatives, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, recognised the presence of the students during a regular sitting of members. He urged them to be observant while the legislative proceedings went on.

    After observing proceedingsthe in the Green Chamber, the students paid a courtesy visit to three senators from Sokoto, Aminu Sheu Shagari, Aliyu Wammakko and Abdullahi Ibrahim Gobir.

    Wammakko informed the students of the need for the Federal Government to establish a polytechnic in Sokoto State. The lawmaker said he wanted the proposed polytechnic to be sited in Silame, a remote community outside the state capital. Having a school in the area, Wammakko said, would boost development.

    Senator Shagari urged the students to take their academic pursuit seriously, while also advising them to use their involvement in unionism to boost their political participation. He noted that he was not in politics because of the influence his father, Alhaji Sheu Shagari, a former president. He said political participation was informed by the need to serve humanity.

    In an interactive session with Senator Gobir, the lawmaker told the students that hard work and determination remained the key to unlock success either in academic or politics. He said the essence of politics was to render selfless service to humanity. He urged the students to be patriotic and use their experience to improve the rating of the school.

    The SRA Speaker, Aminu Hashidu Danjuma, who led the students, said the excursion was educative and an eye-opener for the participants, saying: “We are now acquainted with the day-to-day legislative activities of the National Assembly.”

    Hashidu urged lawmakers from Sokoto to use their influence in initiating projects that would improve the welfare of the students of the school.

    Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Adamu Aliero, hailed the students for the excursion, saying: “I believe the visit would improve their knowledge about legislature.”

  • Solving students’ accommodation blues

    Solving students’ accommodation blues

    Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) Pro-chancellor Justice Pearl Enejere (retd) has discussed with the school’s Students’ Union leaders the accommodation crisis facing the students. IBRAHIM ADEYEMI reports.

    For students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), there seems to be better days ahead on their accommodation problem as the Pro-chancellor, Justice Pearl Enejere (rtd), has waded in to solve the persistent challenge.

    They have been facing inadequate space in the Halls of Residence, which regularly led to fights. Only a quarter of the students’ population usually gets bed spaces in the dormitories.

    In tackling this challenge, Justice  Enejere has met with students’ leaders to exchange ideas on how best to solve the problem.

    At the meeting, which held in the Pro-chancellor’s office, were the Speaker of the Students’ Representative Assembly (SRA), Aminu Hashidu, his deputy, Nurudeen Aliyu, and General Secretary Ubaidullah Dabo.

    Justice Enejere expressed concern about accommodation in the school, wondering how students were coping with the congestion.

    Aminu, who spoke on behalf of the students’ leaders, stressed that accommodation remained the major challenge impeding students’ academic performance. He added that many could not cope with their studies because they could not find a place to lay their heads.

    He said: “Only very few students get accommodated every year. Even, the available spaces are not conducive for students because there is always a problem of congestion. This has led to squatting. Both the male and female hostels are always overcrowded by squatters, who could not get accommodation. We have a room for eight students being occupied by over 20.”

    He pointed out that the Students Union took some steps and wrote proposals to the management on how to reduce the challenge of accommodation for students. The efforts, he said, were yet to yield any result.

    Aminu urged the management to allow private investors come in and build affordable hostels for students. According to him, building new Halls of Residence is the best way to tackle the challenge.

    Responding, Justice Enejere promised to communicate the students’ opinions to the Governing Council. She stated that the process of tackling the accommodation crisis had begun with the meeting with the students’ leaders.

    She said: “The problem of accommodation is not peculiar to UDUS alone; it is a challenge facing all tertiary institutions. That is why I am specifically concerned about tackling the problem here in Sokoto. The truth is, providing accommodation for thousands of students is not always easy. But, we must make efforts to reduce the pain on students.”

    The Pro-chancellor said many private investors and corporate organisations did not fully understand the potential of investment in hostels, noting that financial institutions were afraid of embarking on such investments.

    She pledged to tackle the issue with urgency and asked the students’ leaders to be part of the process to solve the crisis.

    A student’ leader, Idris Maibasira, who did not attend the meeting, raised concern over the number of students admitted yearly. This, he said, usually compounds the problem.

    He said: “UDUS admits students without considering the increase in number of hostels to accommodate students. I will urge the Pro-chancellor to address the issue in the best interest of the students.”

    The Dean of Students’ affairs, Prof Adamu Aliero, hailed the Pro-chancellor’s move, describing the effort as sincere.

    The dean said although the school’s internally generated revenue was low, he assured that stakeholders would work tirelessly to ensure that the accommodation crisis is resolved. He pledged that the school would open hostels under construction by next session to ease students’ pain.

    Aliero revealed that most private organisations, who approached the school to invest in building hostels on the campus came with the intention of exploiting students. He urged students to be patient and ensure maintenance of the available hostels.