The organiser of the International Students Festival (ISFIT) has concluded plans to announce the 450 successful students from across the world who will be attending the festival come February, 2015.

With the theme ‘Corruption’, the ISFIT has decided to discuss this common global vice at this salient time when it is affecting the economy of many countries, as it is being institutionalised in many nations today.

Speaking on the rationale behind the festival which was conceived in 1988, and the President of the association, Marius Jones, admitted that the initiative was to assemble students from all over the world to trade ideas and engage in fruitful discussions on different national burning issues.

The international student festival was conceived in 1988, the initiative was to assemble students from all over the world to trade ideas and engage in fruitful discussion thereby, encouraging international relationship and cooperation among students.

It was eventually kick-started in 1990 in Trondheim, Norway and since 1990 till now, isfit has dished out many inspiring themes, among which are: Human Right in 1994, Quality of Life in 1997, Solving Conflict in 1999, Peace Building in 2009 and Trade your ideas held in 2013, among others.

The International Students festival,no doubt is the place to be for any students who is ready to trade ideas.

Tosin Ayodele, an ambassador of the organisation in Nigeria, when asked of the objective of the organisation, revealed that “ISFIT, no doubt, is a place where ideas are hatched and priceless lesson garnered. We also wish to use the festival to spur students across the world towards using the lessons learnt to the benefit of their locality and their respective countries.”

“As an organisation, we seek to inculcate burning desire to raise and prepare students for present and future endeavours”, he added.

The Press Council, a conglomerate of all writing units of The Polytechnic, Ibadan; has inaugurated a new executive members that will paddle the affairs of the council for the next session.

Held on Saturday, October 25, at the council’s conference hall in the institution, the council is to be chaired by Kolaru Joseph Ademola, while the other executive members are Abanise Sunday as Vice Chairman; Oladimeji Olajumoke as General Secretary; Sao Daniel Pedetin as the Editor- In- Chief and Adekunle Bukola as the Assistant General Secretary.

Others are Oluwayomi Gbenga, who will serve in the capacity of the Deputy Editor­In- Chief; Thomas Enoh as Financial Secretary; Ajumobi BolanJe Omowunmi as Welfare Officer; Ale Oluwaseyi as Public Relations Officer; Adeosun Tobi as Protocol Officer, while Afolabi Taiwo will serve as the Production Manager of the council.

More so, the units of the Press Council; Independent Bureau of Information (IBI), Liquidator, Mobile Information Unit and Press club unit are to be headed by Makanjuola Tomi, Balogun Samuel, Alaba Damilare and Oladosu Tolulomo respectively.

It has been said that history repeats itself when we don’t learn from it. The only crime the students of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) committed was that they decided at one point in their lives to pursue a future in Maiduguri. This is the reason they appear to be victims of insurgency.

The fears of these students are predicated on the security challenges that besieged the campus during the last academic session, especially the March 14, 2014 crisis, where stray bullets and grenades hit the university. This was followed by many other crises around the university community which sent reverberating shivers down the spine of the university students. The July sand storm was another incident that left indelible experiences on the memories of the students.

The consciousness of all the repeated crises have raised fears and hopes in heart of the students, as the university reopens for a new session.

A returning student, Aliyu Saidu who spoke on a sober note said, “Resuming for the new academic session is a great risk. Many things have happened on this campus that one should begin to recount. After long hours of lectures and class activities under the Maiduguri sun, one would expect a peaceful night rest, but the occasional night explosions and gunshots from neighbouring communities negate this expectation. There were midnight explosions that lasted for hours; daylight gunshots, sudden rumour of insurgent’s attack and many others.”

James Agwu, a newly-admitted student of the university who expressed surprise at the large turn-out of students for the new session said, “It amazed me when I resumed and saw large numbers of students. I thought Maiduguri crises would have discouraged students from resuming, but I was wrong. The students seem to have accepted the insurgency as a normal way of life.”

But for some students of the university, the challenges of the previous session, left a psychological effect on their minds. Emeka Uchenna, a graduating student of Chemical Engineering, who shared his personal experience with Campusbeats said, “It was when I left Maiduguri that I understood that some things are not normal. I had thought living in Maiduguri amidst the insecurity crisis is normal until I travelled out of town for the break. If I suddenly hear any loud sound around me, my heart leaps and my body is at alert. Even when I was in the South, I responded to sudden sound with fear. At such times, my mind only calms down when I reminded myself that I’m no longer in the North.”

When asked about his fears for the new session, Halima Mohammed said: “My fears are many, but that of the forth coming 2015 general elections tops the list. We’ve seen the violence that trailed election results in the past. The Ekiti crisis is a typical example. For a town like Maiduguri that is sitting on a time bomb, next year’s election is going to be a defining time in the Nigerian history. If the outcome of the election isn’t what the Northerners anticipated, Maiduguri can be overcome by insurgents and that worries me.”

Ayodeji Hamzat, a 300-Level student of Accountancy narrated his many futile attempts to secure an inter-university transfer to any of the universities in the South West. He said, “I have already given up on those schools. I will finish my studies here in Maiduguri”. When asked if he wasn’t deterred by the security challenges in the city, he said, “I can’t just wake up one morning and say I want to leave Maiduguri. How would I sit for JAMB again after five years of heat, explosions, gunshots and sandstorm? I’d gone too far to begin again. It’s not everybody that has the courage to gather the broken pieces of their lives together and start all over.”

The life of an average UNIMAID student according to Victor Mshelia is a life of total faith in God. He said: “When midnight explosions rock neighbouring communities, where do you run to? It’s at such moments you look up to your creator. With the look of things, the insurgency does not appear to be nearing the end, considering the fact that the Chibok girls are still being held hostage. My cardinal fear is that the insurgents might at anytime launch an offensive on Maiduguri and by implication, at UNIMAID, after-all, the March 14 crisis wasn’t a direct attack on the campus, we were just victims of their conspiracy.”

In his own words, Idris Suleiman, the Chairman, Mosque Committee, Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, College of Medical Sciences said: “We pray that the government finds a lasting solution to the insurgency. The remedial approach of the government to this crises only provides temporary solution to a permanent problem. It’s high time the government stopped putting our lives on the line. It is self-deception to think that all is well when we know that Maiduguri is sitting on a time bomb. We plead for a peaceful and an enabling environment that is conducive for learning.”

Isola Taiwo

(400-Level, Human Anatomy, University of Maiduguri)

Bowen University Iwo, Osun State, last week held its 9th convocation ceremony. At the event, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Mathews Ojo presented about 1,018 students, drawn from the Faculties of Agriculture; Basic Medical Sciences; Science and Science Education; Social and Management Sciences, for the institution’s first degree award, having completed their academic programmes in their various faculties.

During the occasion, 55 of the graduating students were specially recognised in view of their outstanding academic performances in their various departments.

Emerging as the overall best graduating student of the year, Olise Tamuno of the Department of Economics, shared her experience on the campus.

“Initially, learning was very difficult for me because I could not concentrate, as my mind would always wander. After much efforts and prayers, I was able to regain my concentration and assimilation skills. It was a serious battle which the Lord allowed me to over come.

“And from my academic experience, I can tell incoming students that securing an admission into the university is not the ultimate; it is just a step in one’s academic pursuit. There is a lot of work to do to retain your studentship and justify your mission in academic race to achieve excellence. A wise student will build his or her CGPA from 100 Level,” she said.

Speaking on how the university had helped to achieve her dreams, she said: “Bowen University is an institution where academic excellence and character building reign without bias.

“The campus environment, the rules and regulations that guide the activities in the university promote discipline and learning. There is no room for truancy and laziness in Bowen University.”

Olise also attributed her academic excellence to hard work. “No success is attainable without God,” she added.

In view of her academic outstanding result as overall best student in the university for the 2014 graduating class, Olise went home with a New Horizon laptop and many other gifts, including cash prizes.

Students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) last week witnessed the maiden edition of the UNIBEN Talent Quest (UTQ) organised by Koko News publication in collaboration with the Students’ Union Government (SUG).

Anxious spectators drawn from both campuses of the university and neighbouring community, were at the event, which was held at the Akin Deko Auditorium.

Campusbeats learnt that over 90 students bought forms to participate in various arts, ranging from singing, dancing, acting, painting and acrobatic displays, among others.

Of the 80 students that were at the first day of the audition, which was held for two days at the Banquet Hall Basement of the university, only 42 of them made the second stage, while only 21 eventually made it to the final round.

While speaking at the grand finale, Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi, a former Minister for Works, in his speech, praised the organisers of the event, adding that UTQ is one that will go unparalleled in the history of Nigeria, as no other higher institution has come up with a similar idea, aimed at harnessing the talents of youths into a productive and befitting engagement.

Ogiemwonyi also recounted his undergraduate days at UNIBEN and said that the training he got from his lecturers was what was standing him out, while also encouraging the students to hold on to the teachings they receive from their lecturers.

Editor-in-Chief of Koko News publication, a 400-Level student of the Department of Medical Physiology, Daniel-Didi Uwadia, said the aim of the event was to promote, publicise and encourage students who are exceptionally gifted in various arts.

“For many years, UNIBEN has been nursing lots of talented singers, actors, dramatists, comedians and many others who by virtue of circumstances of their position in life have not found the necessary media to actualise their talents,” he said.

Daniel-Didi revealed that the event would help to increase the entrepreneurial and self-dependency skills of UNIBEN students, while also providing them with entertainment.

The event was anchored by MC Papi, a UNIBEN artiste, and the students took to the stage to showcase their talents. The panel of judges comprised Dr Chris Ugolo, Dr Okosodo Okomama, Mr MacDonald Anyangbe, Silverbird Benin, Lawrence Osarenkhoe and Professor Sir Victor Uwaifo, who was the chief judge.

Mouths were agape as the audience watched with bewilderment as the 21 contestants gave their performances. The highlight of the event was when a student, Joseph Obinna, drew and painted the portrait of Victor Uwaifo in less than two minutes.

Another student, Garrick Graham gave a speech on Abike, while Titilayo acted the role of an Olokun Priestess from Ashante kingdom, while she depicted the wicked role Nollywood actress, Patience Nzokwor, played in the movie.

Precious Okukusie, a 300-Level student of the Department of Adult Education and English Literature, emerged as the winner, winning a cash price of N100, 000, a recording deal with lockdown entertainment and was also named as UNIBEN Ambassador.

Caroline Igben, a dancer from the Department of Theatre Arts, was the first runner-up. Emily Omili of the Department of Fine Art and Amanda Onoabhagbe were the second and third runners-up.

There was jubilation when Sir Victor Uwiafo, popularly called Guitar Boy, climbed the podium to thrill the students with his guitar skills.

The event also featured presentation of awards to Linda Iheme,CEO International Initiative for Youth Inspiration and Development (IIFYIGD) and Sir Victor Uwaifo.

Speaking with Campusbeats, Precious said: “Determination and the zeal to be better is what stood me out.”

Other students who spoke with Campusbeats said the event was a perfect way of relaxing, while Dr Okosodo revealed that originality and professionalism were the criteria for judging the contestants.

The SU president, Ifidon Ikhide, stated that the event was an avenue to develop talented students by providing them a stage to hone their skills and showcase their creativity and proficiency.

Eddy Uwoghiren (200-Level, Medicine and Surgery, UNIBEN).

Universities and polytechnics in the country have been challenged to come out with an innovative breakthrough in technology that will spearhead development in the country.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State said this while delivering a lecture titled: ‘Education as a Panacea for National Security and Developmental Challenges,’ at the 6th Prince Bola Ajibola annual lecture, hosted by the Magna Curia Chambers of the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, recently.

Speaking at the event which took place at the Oduduwa Hall of the university, the guest lecturer, Governor Aregbesola, said: “Since our colonial masters left this country, our institutions are yet to come out with any innovative breakthrough in technology, which is a sign of decay and bad omen for the country that wants to develop.”

He continued by saying that through lack of investment in education, successive administrations in national and state governments have crippled the educational system that what seems to matter now is the acquisition of certificate.

He also emphasised that the Nigerian state today is assailed by manifold layers of insecurity, and its progress is hampered by a myriad of developmental challenges all because of the continual erosion in the quality and standard of its educational system.

“For a country to realise its sustainability, education must be a priority of its leaders by investing huge amount of money as Osun State is doing at the moment,” he emphasised.

Governor Aregbesola noted that education must prepare a man to advance himself, community and nation. He, however, gave kudos to the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Bamitale Omole, for the doggedness he showed as an electoral officer during the recent governorship election in the state.

The Chairman of the occasion, Professor Nurudeen Adedipe, Pro Chancellor, Fountain University, said Governor Aregbesola was the right man to speak on the issue of education following his giant stride in education.

Professor Omole, who was represented by Professor Ajayi Adebisi, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, stressed that the topic of the lecture was most appropriate at the time the nation is facing security challenges.

Professor Adebisi said that the chambers were right in choosing the governor.

Also at the event were the Deputy Governor of the stae, Titi Laoye Tomori; Dr Olusanya Adegboyega and Prince Bola Ajibola, among others. The honourees, Prince Bola Ajibola and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, were presented with awards of excellence.

Afeez Lasisi (OAU)

No fewer than 100 graduands of the Faculty of Education, Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, were recently inducted by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.

The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Chibuzo Ogbuagu, in his address, congratulated the g graduands, while also charging them to be worthy ambassadors of the university.

Professor Ogbuagu, who was represented by Professor E.U Ikonne, lauded the efforts of the faculty, saying that the faculty is the mother of all faculties.

The Registrar of the Teachers Council of Nigeria, Professor Addison Mark Wokocha, who was represented by Professor Steve, said, “this council has almost one million members and it is a privilege to have you all on the team now.”

Explaining the objectives of the body, Professor Steve, said the motive of the body was to restore what the teaching profession should be.

Focal points of the event were the presentation of the inductees by Professor Ikonne to the council for oath taking and the presentation of certificate by Professor Steve to one of the inductees, Chimaroke Obiageri.

The Dean Faculty of Education, Professor Uwakwe Uwakwe, appreciated the input of the vice-chancellor, in trying to make the institution a world class one.

“It is because of the doggedness of the vice-chancellor and the collective efforts of our faculty members that this university is witnessing her maiden induction of education graduands.”

Speaking on behalf of the inductees, George Arinwa thanked God for making it possible for them to witness the day, adding that they would endeavour to make the university, the Teachers Registration Council and the society at large proud.

Speaking with Campusbeats, Ugonna Okonkwo, a graduand of Education Chemistry, said he was happy and elated to be inducted as a teacher by the Teachers Registration Council.

Uchechukwu Amanze and Favour Nnadi (ABSU)

Procter & Gamble (P&G) Nigeria, a leading consumer goods manufacturing company, has shortlisted 129 teams to participate in the first stage of the P&G CEO Challenge Competition from various universities and business schools across Nigeria.

Its first online case study challenge to be held in Nigeria, the Corporate Communications Official, P&G Nigeria, Ridwan Sorunke, at the launch of the competition at its corporate head office in Lagos recently, said that the competition was part of P&G’s commitment to touch and improve lives through talent development, as the competitors will get hands-on experience and coaching from senior business leaders on how to solve real business challenges.

“Talent development is top business priority for us at P&G because our people are our greatest competitive advantage. This makes us aim at attracting, hiring and retaining the very best talent,” he said.

Ridwan also noted that the P&G CEO Challenge is a virtual competition for university students across the globe, which is aimed at identifying, developing and grooming business leaders of tomorrow.

The competition requires interested participants to form a three-man team from the same university who will together attempt to resolve the case studies that will be thrown to the competitors in the course of the challenge.

“The competition will be in five stages and stage one has been kicked off with the 129 teams that have been shortlisted. We have designed a case study-based challenge to give them the opportunity to experience working on world class brands and developing their business acumen via face to face interactions with top P&G leaders at the stage 3 of the competition, deliberating on solutions to business cases,” he said.

Talking on the modalities for the competition, Sorunke said that the first elimination round is the Brand Manager Challenge in which 20 teams will be promoted to the second stage, which is called the Country Manager Challenge. Five teams are expected to emerge at the second phase level and move to the third phase which is the CFO Challenge.

And from the CFO Challenge, a team will be promoted to the COO Challenge, competing against a team from South Africa and North West Africa region to determine who will represent the region at the last phase, the CEO Challenge, where they will face their global counterparts. This phase will be taking place in Dubai. The winner of the CEO Challenge will emerge the overall champion of the competition.

The winning team will be sponsored on an all-expense-paid international trip, but there will also be consolation prizes, including iPads, for grabs by the competitors.

For having successfully conducted her 2013/2014 Convocation Ceremony, accolades have continued to pour in for the management, staff and students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), led by distinguished administrator, Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali.

Titled: “So Far So Fine,” a press briefing was held with the vice chancellor of the institution, where he presented the institution’s annual report to the visitors. He also noted that the 2013/2014 session was “academically rewarding and generally successful.”

In a congratulating remark to the university, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, represented by Professor Adebisi Balogun, acknowledged the ranking of the University of Ilorin in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large, saying “it is a sign of great hope for the Nigerian university system.”

Professor Okojie tasked the academic staff of Nigerian universities to take advantage of the windows of funding provided for research by various donor agencies in the world and other agencies of government in Nigeria.

“The University of Ilorin is setting a great pace in the pursuit of excellence in teaching through the hard work and dedication of the institutions leadership which is obvious from this ceremony that the institution is poised for higher levels of excellence,” he said.

The Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, represented by the state Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Saka Onimago, in his goodwill message congratulated the university on the auspicious occasion.

The mother of all accolades came from President Goodluck Jonathan, who, for the second year running, has nothing but words of praise for the university.

The president hailed the institution for its notable feats, while also commending it for its laudable achievements, especially its recent ranking as the best university in the country and the 20th in Africa by the International Higher Institutions Ranking Agency.

Represented by the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, the president said: “It is gratifying to note that the University of Ilorin has been ranked the first University in Nigeria, the 20th in Africa and No. 1842 in the world in the recently released 2014 University Web-ranking conducted by the 4 International Colleges and Universities (4ICU). And so we appreciate the notable achievements of this university.

“I want to say that this achievement has been made possible through your focused mission, peace, orderliness and stability within your campus.”

President Jonathan also restated his administration’s commitment to support with adequate funding the educational sector and to tackle youth unemployment within the country.

Mallam Shekarau, during the visit to the university, also commissioned some of the newly completed projects on ground. Some of these projects include a researchers’ lodge, a new faculty lecture theatre, an ultra-modern multi-purpose hall, a central research laboratory, a metallurgical science lecture theatre, as well as landscaped parking lots.

Other commendations came from the convocation lecturer, Professor Dzulkifli Abdul Rasak of the University of Malaysia, who is also the president, International Association of Universities (IAU).

Odeyemi Afis Olawale

Professor Dzulkifli spoke on a paper titled: “Innovation: A Trans-Disciplinary Approach.”

Appreciating the successes recorded by the institution in the last two years, Professor Ambali said: “Working with a dynamic team of serious-minded men and women is indeed a privilege. There is no way one could have gone far without such a formidable team of highly-dedicated Nigerians, which includes our peaceful and socially responsible students.”

Congratulating the graduating students, Professor Ambali advised them to let self-discipline, self-control and selflessness be their watchwords at every stage as they move on into the larger society.

Odeyemi Afis Olawale

(300-Level, Education History, UNILORIN)

The Niger Delta Students’ Union Government (NIDSUG), under the Obada Akpomiemie-led administration, recently held a one-day seminar on the theme: ‘Education as Panacea for Peace Building in the Niger Delta,’ an event which also doubled as the inauguration ceremony for the new executives of the union.

Held at the Omasi Hall in Bellwood Hotel, Asaba Delta State, the Coordinator-General of Nigerian Youth and Community Development Association, Comrade Edward Odum, was the guest speaker.

In his lecture, Odum noted that the theme was not only timely, but also the key to building a sustainable Niger Delta. He traced chronologically how the discovery of oil in Olorbir had turned to a sour blessing to the indigents, citing the instances of the cruel end of Ken Saro Wiwa and others, till the emergence of militancy and later the resolution by late President Musa Yar Adua.

“Considering critically the part of the national anthem ‘To serve with heart and might; one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity,’ it goes to say that you are to commit totally all you have in you to bring about the desired peace. Peace brings about togetherness and Niger Delta needs to speak in one voice and in unity, because without that, there can’t be any form of development.”

Odum also added that students are pressure groups that can help the government formulate policies for benefit of peace and society building. “Students need to educate the government on policies that will bring about development because they are the ones who voted the government in in the first place.”

He further charged the students to shun cultism, examination malpractice and to be gainfully employed in established skills development centre.

In his acceptance speech after his inauguration, Obada noted that “the pivotal task of the administration is to lift our union to the summit of greatness. We have pledged to transform NIDSUG and the transformation will be achieved in all levels of our union by harnessing the creative energies of our people. Being a Niger Deltan is a blessing; it is also a great responsibility, because we must not involve violence to press home our demands.”

Speaking on his administration’s target, he said that the organisation would push for programmes and policies that would benefit the students, while attention would be focused on liaising with all necessary quarters for creating greater access to quality education.

On his own part, the pioneer president of the union, Genesis Idikibiebuma, advised the incoming executives to try and make the association better than they met it, while the outgoing president, Tonbara Michael Yalah, noted that his administration was able to secure lots of job vacancies for NIDSUGIANS.

Dignitaries that graced the event include Dr Felix Tuodolo , Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Ijaw Affairs, who chaired the occasion; Honourable Godwin Ettah, Cross River State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary; Jude Ezeibe, erstwhile national president of NAASS; Mr Kalada Nonju, Legal adviser of NIDSUG and Honourable Emmanuel Oruebo, Special Assistant to the Minister of Sports, among others.

Emmanuel Ahanonu

(Serving corps member, Enugu)

Edward Oluwasegun Omiwale was one of the students who recently graduated from the Bowen University, Iwo. Having made a First Class in Economics,  he speaks with Lanre Akinmoladun in this piece on managing time on campus and striking a balance between academics and extra-curricula activities. Excerpts:

What does it take to be a First Class graduate?

It takes knowing yourself and being yourself. This is very important, because you must be able to know when you can read and assimilate better.

Also, starting well is very important as well as ending well. But basically, I will say knowing your God is the key to success.

What would you say about your colleagues that came out with Second Class and Third Class?

Some of my friends confided in me that they might come out with Second Class degree because they didn’t take their 100-Level serious.

But for me, I made up my mind at the outset that I would start well and finish well. It is not that they didn’t read their books, or that they allowed extra-curricula activities to take much of their time. The truth about me is that I understood myself and my God.

How were you able to manage your time on campus?

I didn’t miss lectures. I read on my own and at times, I would go for rehearsals, because I was a member of the drama unit in my school.

If I did not go for rehearsals and lectures, I read in my room. Sometimes at night, I went to a quiet place to read. My activities revolved round drama meeting, classroom, library, chapel and hostel.

During examination period, I read at the library. I preferred reading at night. My school doesn’t give room for much of social clubs. In my 300-Level, I was the assistant financial secretary of my department. I didn’t participate in any sporting activities, but I watched my department or unit football matches.

Did you have issues with the opposite sex?

I didn’t have problems with them. If they wanted me to teach them any particular course, I offered such assistance and nothing else.

What were your scores in UTME and WASSCE?

Three of my UTME subjects were released. My Mathematics score was not released. I got 191 without Mathematics score. At the secondary school level, I had three A1, three B2 and three C1. Mathematics was my best subject then. I had A1 in Mathematics.

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, was my first choice, and its cut-off mark was not less than 200. When my father got to the JAMB office, he was asked to pay N50,000 to process the release of my Mathematics score. Some of my mates that got admission into OAU are just proceeding to 400 Level because of disruption in academic activities. But I’m glad I eventually got admitted to Bowen University and thank God, here I am today.

After a successful outcome of the Annual University Crest Award (ANUCA) held recently, the management of the organisation has deemed it fit to award the Vice Chancellor of the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Professor Sola Fajana, as the Most Friendly Vice Chancellor of the Year.

Speaking with Campusbeats on why he presented the award to his VC, Dabira Ayotunde, the CEO of ANUCA and also a student of the university said that besides the institution being one that encourages its students to be entrepreneurial, Professor Fajana is a father that supports his students to the core.

While appreciating the organisation for the award, Professor Fajana said: “This is an assurance that our students are making use of the entrepreneurial skills they learn here, as JABU is the first entrepreneurship university in Nigeria. And it is also exciting to know that ANUCA, which is the first inter-university awards in Nigeria, is an initiative of a student of this university,” he said.

ANUCA is a platform to celebrate and encourage Nigerian students who have made a mark in their various institutions.

“This is the first edition of ANUCA and it fulfilled its promise of supporting and encouraging students through award recognition. There were 30 categories and the winners were drawn from different universities in Nigeria,” Dabira said.

Some of the winners include DEVON of Federal University of Agriculture (funaab) FM, as the Best Student On-Air Personality; Shituu Abdulquadri as the Student of the Year; Nubian Diamonds as Best Student Company; Torch Magazine as Best Campus Magazine; Royal Empire State as Best Student Modeling Agency and AOG Graphic as Graphic Designer of the Year, among others.

Oyegbile Olajide and Adedokun Adetutu, both students of BOWEN University, Iwo, were crowned Mr and Miss ANUCA 2014, respectively.

The Anti-AIDS Club of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) recently held a health awareness jogging tagged ‘UNILAG Jog for Life,’ a programme which saw students from different faculties of the university converge to jog in creating awareness about HIV/AIDS.

‘UNILAG Jog for Life’ was part of the activities held to mark the Health Week of the club, which had the theme: ‘Getting to Zero; The Role We Play.’

Activities such as peer to peer health awareness campaign, film show, health seminar, as well as novelty games with other student associations were held to celebrate the week.

At the maiden edition of the ‘UNILAG Jog for Life,’ the participants were kitted in white and grey branded T-shirts with the inscription, ‘I support abstinence and mutual fidelity,’ ‘Zero discrimination in workplace,’ which according to the organisers were donated by Hope World, a health organisation in support of the club’s initiative.

According to the president of the club, Tomiwa Ogunmade, “the event is an initiative aimed at creating awareness of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases which threaten the dreams and aspirations of the youths of this generation.”

The club’s aim is to sensitise the university community on the ABC of HIV/AIDS which he listed as Abstinence, Being faithful and Condomisation.

While jogging, the students took the awareness to halls of residence on campus, singing and dancing. Some of the hostels visited include Moremi Hall, Jaja, Mariere, New Hall and Amina Hall.

The participants, who displayed their resolve and passion to see an HIV–free generation, displayed the use of condom to students they came across during the jogging exercises.

“There is nothing to be ashamed of. If abstinence isn’t possible, then the use of condom is stongly advised,” the Financial Secretary of the club, Oluminde Morolayo, said.

Another participant, Adewale Onagbesan, a student of History Education said: “what we are doing is spreading the message; not the virus.”

Ibezim Nene, a member of the club, described the event as significant, considering the theme. While adding that it would be good news to hear that HIV/Aids in Nigeria is at zero level, Ibezim also explained that young people have the role of informing other youths not to stigmatise those infected, as well as teach others on the safety tips to avoid the deadly virus.

On why the group is passionate about reducing HIV/AIDS in the society, Azubuike Chima, a 300-Level student of the Department of Philosophy said: “It is all about living a healthy life and if we care about our future, then we must talk about a healthy life. We want to live; so we have to speak up on what matters to our health.”

Another participant, Duruem Progress, a student of the Faculty of Business Administration, commended the effort of the Anti-AIDS Club of the university, saying that it is an activity that must continue.

Mosquito nets were also given as prizes to some of the participants, while Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF) partnered the club by conducting free HIV/AIDS counseling and testing for the participants.

Adeyemi Olalemi

(UNILAG)

Professor Oyewale Tomori, President Academy of Science  and, Chairman Experts Review Committee (ERC) on Polio Routine Immunisation In Nigeria, in this interview by Sade Oguntola, has decried the level of seriousness of Nigeria  to health, saying it explains why Nigeria, since Ebola was discovered in 1976, is yet to come up with its cure, looming yellow fever epidemic and cases of polio.

Why has there been an increase in cases of diseases that were not around before and older ones also re-emerging; some of these diseases are transmitted also to humans from animals?

Things are changing because humans too are changing, our lifestyle has changed. Cases of zoonotic diseases, which are diseases of animal population, are also occurring because humans are encroaching into their environment. They have diseases among themselves and if you do not go there you do not get these diseases. There must be a direct contact with whatever thing that is in their environment.

Take the case of Ebola, which is the more current one, it is assumed that it is found in fruit bats and chimpanzees. The niche of the fruit bats had been eroded due to deforestation and so on. The cases found in places like Gabon have been traced to dead chimpanzees, which people used as their meat. Now in the ecology of the animal, whatever that has killed that animal, you may also contract. So Ebola virus is a good example of diseases coming to man because of his infringement on animal’s niche.

Many people assume that the current strain of Ebola circulating is the virulent one, is this so?

It is not really so. The mortality with the current Ebola is not as high as what it was in the past incidence. It was about 80 per cent in the past and we are getting about 50 per cent. If it was more virulent, it should kill more people. The death rate depends on many factors, including the person’s body immunity; the dose of the virus one gets; quality of accessed medical care and so on.

What could have happened in this situation is that in the area where Ebola occurred, Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, their health infrastructures are almost zero. Soon after the war, they have not really recovered.

Also, the denial of the governments and the culture of our people contributed to the problem. First, when it occurred in Guinea, both Liberia and Sierra Leone said it is not their problem. And then the disease kept spreading to different countries. So there was the initial denial by our government. Even when they now found out that there was a problem, they could not cope. It was way beyond them.

Take the issue of the culture, when people get sick, you force them into a treatment centre, where they do not know or see what is going on in the centre, but the next thing is to see a dead body being brought out. So people are scared. Then, this is compounded with the fear that the doctor is also dying of the disease, too.

Of course, they say if cannot take care of their doctor, how can they take care of my patient. So, they will rather go and look for a traditional healer. All these are factors that helped the easy spread of Ebola.

Ebola is a disease said may probably be in existence for millions of years, looking at its family history. Is this true?

It belongs to the filoviruses, which are virus that are filamentous in nature. The earliest group to think about is Marburg, and then the Ebola group itself. Marburg has been in existence for quite some time, so also Ebola. Unfortunately, it is when you discover a thing that you say you have found it.

Like Lassa virus for example, it was first found in 1969. But there is evidence that way back between 1955 and 1957, missionaries who have been in Liberia had antibodies to Lassa virus. So Ebola virus could have been in existence for ages like any of these ones too.

First time it was in 1976 and if not for the fact that Belgium missionaries were involved, they probably would have gone and nobody will know that something happened because a lot of these diseases that happen in mothers village, nobody got to know.

Most of the diseases that were discovered in Africa, you will relate it to a foreigner. Take Lassa for example, American missionaries got sick when they went to Jos and that was how we found out; take Ebola, it was Belgium missionaries who were infected and you can name other virus.

These diseases have been occurring and affecting our people, but nobody cared about them until one expatriate comes and it becomes a big noise, which points to one thing: we do not care about our health. If Ebola had occurred in 1976 and we still do not have a vaccine for it, whose faults is it? If Ebola had occurred, say first in London in 1976, there would have been a vaccine for it now.

If Ebola had reminded where it was initially, without any spread, nothing would have happened. If we consider our health important enough, both the scientists and the government would take action about it both as a group and as Africans.

Does these explain the re-emergence of many diseases, including zoonotic ones?

It is possible for a new disease to re-emerge just as older ones might also reoccur when their control measures relax. Take measles for example, when there is up to 90 per cent measles vaccinate coverage, there will only be occasional cases of measles, and not an epidemic.

Now, if next year, the government does not buy measles vaccine or the funds for its vaccine is diverted into something else, because it is assumed that measles is no more a problem, there will be children who the routine immunisation will not take care of.

For instance, if there is 30 per cent immunisation coverage, for every 5 million children, you had only vaccinated 1.5 million children. At the end of that year, 3.5 million children have no protection against measles. Multiply that by another three years, you are talking of about 10 million children without antibodies and so why will you not get an epidemic?

So that is why diseases that we thought we had controlled come back. Control of any disease is eternal vigilance, if you have not eradicated any disease; you have to constantly be up pursuing it otherwise, it requires just a number of people bringing it back into that community. Where the vulnerable ones now becomes more in number than those who are protected, a stage is set for an epidemic.

Is that why we still have polio in Nigeria?

This year, we have had only six polio cases. However, we still have what is called vaccine derived polio in circulation, which brings the number of cases to about 20. Why is it a different story for polio? If other countries have controlled polio by doing proper high quality vaccination, we have not. In our country, the quality is not good; we are not sure whether the vaccines they have given are okay. We do not even know the number of our population to start with and so we do not know whether we are vaccinating every child. And once you have a population that is not protected, you will continue to have polio; this is what is happening in Nigeria.

Also, almost all election year is followed with an upsurge of polio cases and the reason being that the year before election, our government abandons everything, not just health, and all the money generated is channelled towards winning the election. Therefore, money is not available for vaccines, funds are not available for field activities and so if you take off a year vaccinating your children, you are going to have pay the following year with cases of the disease that is what is happening.

Currently, we have vaccine derived polio circulating which has been ranging since 2005 and we have not been able to control it. Nigeria has the highest number of vaccine derived polio cases in the world. And we do not talk about it. So whether it is the vaccine derived polio or the wild polio, the fact is that we still get polio cases.

The looming yellow fever outbreak, are we out of the woods?

No, the problem is still there. Yellow fever comes in circles and the circle is dependent on how many people are vulnerable. The last yellow fever epidemic was about 1991, but then what is our routine immunisation coverage like? The mosquitoes are still around and the virus is still around, all you require is one virus getting into the proper population and you have an epidemic coming.

How can Nigeria win the battle against these emerging diseases?

First, integrity of the government and the people. The government lies to us, and we also lie back to the government. Eternal vigilance must be there all the time. A very good disease surveillance system, it is like insurance. You do not realise the good of insurance until an accident occurs. So the thing is to keep insuring ourselves against that disease by having a good disease surveillance centre backed with good laboratories.

The National Association of English and Literature Students (NASELS), ABSU chapter, last week elected its new leaders, who will steer the affairs of the department for the 2014/2015 academic session.

The election, which was chaired by Mrs Nwizu, a lecturer in the department, was witnessed by huge turnout of students of the department.

Chisom Awa, a 300-Level student emerged as the president, with 133 votes, while his opponent, Peter Okereke polled only 32 votes.

Others are Vice President, Asonibe Marydoris; Secretary, Ehiogu Kate Nwaasinachi; Director of Socials, Ogbonna Francis and Financial Secretary, Obi Obiageri Favour.

In his vote of thanks, Chisom appreciated the students for deeming him fit to pilot the affairs of the department, while also promising to take the department to an enviable height, with the aid of the new executive and co-operation of the other students of the department.

The outgoing president, Olughu Michael Ikenna, in his valedictory speech, charged his successor to be focused and hardworking.

Speaking with Campusbeats, a lecturer in the department, Dr Akpuda Amanze Austine, said he was happy that the election was free and fair.

Uchechukwu Amanze and Favour Nnadi

(ABSU)

students of Department of History, University of Benin (UNIBEN) recently gave a pause to their normal academic activities, despite the closeness of their examinations and embarked on a crucial excursion tour at different locations around Benin metropolis.

Four locations were visited, all of which turned out to be exiting for the students. The excursion was organised by the new executives of the department.

At the first stop, the students visited the palace of the Oba of Benin, where they were received by the Kingdom Librarian, Mr Nosa Owie, who addressed them and took them around the royal abode.

Also on the course of the excursion at the royal palace, the librarian explained briefly to the students the history of the kingdom and the indications of various artifacts in the palace. Some of the great rulers of antiquity were also discussed in details.

She also took time to answer the questions raised by the students about the ancient kingdom of Benin.

From the palace, the students proceeded to the Benin Museum, where they were granted a sight-privilege to different art works depicting different cultural heritage in Nigeria.

After spending a little time at the museum, the students left for the popular Idubor Art Gallery in Benin, where they were also shown different art works before taking individual and group photographs.

The last location of the outing was the Benin Zoo, where the students were happy seeing different animals at the zoo, coupled with the dance party organised for them at the same location. It was all fun and educating for students who availed themselves the opportunity of being part of the outing.

Speaking on the success of the excursion, the public relations officer of the department, Mr Ugwu Samson Chika, told Campusbeats that the outing was a success in totality.

“It is entirely a success as you can see, and we all satisfied,” he added.

Austine Chukwu, a 100-Level student of the department, described the outing as a memorable one.

“It is one outing we can’t just forget in a hurry and we are all happy it went this way,” he added.

Sunny Ibeh

(200-Level, Department of History)

Nigerian students at home and in Diaspora have been called upon to rise against the inhuman attacks on schools in Nigeria. This call was made by the Vice President, external affair of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ogunkuade Oluwatosin, at a press briefing in Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State.

While making this call, Ogunkuade called on Nigerian students, the West African Students Union, as well as the International Students Association to campaign against this unjust act against humanity, citing the attack in Potiskum, Potangora and the abducted Chibok girls.

“These attacks have led to the deaths of a lot of students, especially youths who are meant to be the future of tomorrow. If these students are being killed now, then where is the future?”

The Federal Polytechnic Offa graduate added that NANS is not affiliated to any political party, and will only support the government that takes into consideration the welfare of Nigerian students.

Ogunkuade went ahead to state that NANS will not restrict itself to students of tertiary institutions, “the association will focus 50 per cent of its attention on students that are not yet in higher institutions, especially those in secondary schools, and one of its mission is to see that the knowledge of Computer Based Text (CBT) is introduced at secondary school levels,” he said.

The press briefing which was held at the Kwara State library complex, was a commemoration of the celebration of the international students day by the NANS/JCC Kwara axis and had in attendance comrades and students from various higher institutions of learning in the state.

Due to the new grading system introduced by the school management, students of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu Campus last week, made a peaceful protest to show their grievance over the unfavourable impact of the new grading system on their results.

The protest witnessed high turnout of students from all departments without displaying of placard so as to implore the school management to return back to the old grading system.

However, the students complained that the management uses 70 and above as AA in 2011/2012 session before the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) accreditation and the grading was increase to 75 and above as AA in 2012/2013 academic session after accreditation, but the grading system which increase to 80 as AA without any trace of NBTE accreditation led to the protest.

Meanwhile, the new grading system which suppose to be applied to the newly admitted students, was applied to the staylites and outgoing students of the polytechnic drastically demote the result of the students in Upper credit down to Lower credit while reverse is the case as it elevate the result of the students on probation.

The Dean, Students Affairs, Alhaji Tailor who addressed the protesters said the school management have not mandate any Head of Department (HOD) to implement the new NBTE grading system on the result of the students but any one that do so has committed error.

Alhaji Tailor implored the students to allow the school management to continue its agitation over the new grading system and pray that the outcome will favour the students.

Ademola Fagbemi

(Mass Communication, HND 2, Laspotech)

It was celebration galore at campuses across tertiary institutions in Abia State as thousands of students received free lunch, courtesy of philanthropist, Uche Ogah Charity Apostolate. Celestine Ihejirika, who monitored the distribution, brings the report.

over 5,000 students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike and Abia State University Campus Umuahia, among other tertiary institutions in the state, were recently fed by a charitable organisation known as Uche Ogah Charity Apostolate, which distributed free lunch to various institutions in the state as part of its philanthropic gesture.

Indeed, it was a pleasant surprise to students of these institutions and other passers-by when a truck loaded with free foods arrived the vicinity of the campus with assorted food and drinks, that were distributed instantly under the watch and admiration of both academic and non-academic staff of the institutions.

To many, it was just like a dream because tertiary institutions in the history of the state have never recorded such gesture either by government or individual/group.

Speaking with journalists on the history making event, the coordinator Chief Ezenwa Onwukwe, said the visit was for the first phase of the programme, pointing out that the second and final round would cover other higher institutions in Abia and Okigwe respectively.

According to Chief Onwukwe, the gesture is part of the programme design by the initiator of the Apostolate, Dr. Uche Ogah, to demonstrate his love and encouragement to students at that level, noting that the programme had been on in the state even before Dr. Ogah’s gubernatorial ambition came to limelight, he said.

The coordinator stressed the programme has no political undertone, but personal desire of the initiator to extend his goodwill to the students whom he considers as future leaders.

Some of the students who could not hide their feelings, especially Charity Amakiri, a 300-Level student of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, told Campusbeats that for the free lunch provided them this critical time, students from the state will work hard to ensure success of Dr. Uche Ogah come 2015 general election.

Another student, Joseph Obot, a 400-Level student from Abia State University, described the gesture as God-sent, coming at a time when they hardly afford three square meals daily, and prayed God to reward him in multiple folds.

Meanwhile other students who spoke with Campusbeats and pleaded not to be named, expressed their delight, said they are happy with Dr. Ogah’s gesture.

They thanked the philanthropist for his love for Abia students, assuring him that bonevance will not go unrewarded as they’re ever ready to work for his transformation dream of making Abia students to compete favorably among their contemplaries. They urged others to emulate the footprint of Dr. Uche Ogah’s Charity Apostolate foundation in the state.

Two students of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Abdulazeez Muh’d Bashir and Abdulkareem Abdulhakeem Ibraheem made the university proud recently, as they both emerged first and second prize winners respectively in the 2014 edition of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) Essay Competition.

Abdulazeez is a 200-Level Combined Law student, while Abdulkareem is a 400-Level student of the Department of History and International Relations.

The duo emerged the winners alongside Onah Calistus Chinonso, the third prize winner, who is a student of the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka.

Over the years, it has always been a battle of great minds at the competition and of course this year was not an exception as it featured over 200 entrants who are undergraduates from various Nigerian tertiary institutions, out of which seven finalists were invited for the essay defence late September.

Three UNILORIN students were among the finalists and two of them eventually emerged winners. The first prize winner was awarded a sum of N125,000, while the second prize was a N100,000 prize.

Both of them were also given a Samsung Galaxy Tab each and were treated to an all-expense paid flight trip to the 46th CIPM Annual Conference held at the International Conference Centre, Garki, Abuja between October 14 and 16 this year.

Writing on the topic ‘Expanding Employment Opportunities for Nigerian Youths: The Self-Employment Imperative,’ the students who participated in the essay competition recommended various ways to tackle the issue of employment in the country.

Last year and 2012, Alao Idris and Muhammed Abdullahi Tosin, both also students of the university, were among the winners of the competition respectively.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management is an institute of learning on human resources and personnel management. It organises essay competition annually for undergraduates of Nigerian tertiary institutions.