THE NATION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2012
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CAMPUS LIFE
‘True federalism is solution to Nigeria’s problems’
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HE 59th inaugural lecture of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, has been held. Titled Diabetic Economy: A paradox and a dilemma, it was delivered by a professor of Economics, who is also the Dean of Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Prof Oladapo George. Having declared the occasion opened, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Saburi Adesanya, read out the profile and academic works of the lecturer. In his lecture, Prof George noted the topic of the lecture could not have come at a better time given the prevailing economic condition in Nigeria. “I have chosen to address a contemporary issue which underlies the fabric of our progress, development and collective existence as a nation,” he observed. He defined diabetes as fatal disease capable of affecting critical functional units of human body such as kidney, hearts, eyes and other vital organs. The lecturer said Nigeria was suffering in the midst of plenty. “In many ways, Nigerian economy has been exhibiting the symptoms of diabetes in many areas, which
•Prof George (third left) with body of OOU principal officers after the lecture From Muritala Omikunle OOU
make it to unable to harness its potential in natural, economic and human recourses to develop.” The don said Nigeria’s problem was not lack of money but how to spend it. He highlighted some of
the causes of the diabetes symptoms to include bad leadership, wastage of recourses, unproductive planning and corruption. He said the consequences of these aforementioned diseases were volatility in income, rising inequality, distortion in government policies and probability of state failure. Proffering solution to the prob-
lems, Prof George said effective and qualitative leadership, constitutional review, good governance, true federalism, adoption of appropriate trade and fiscal policies would make Nigeria to retrace its step to greatness. Dignitaries that attended the lecture included Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Mr Segun
Odubela, Alake of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Acting Registrar, Mrs Omolara Osisanya, Liberian, Mrs Paustina Oyesike. Others were Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof Samsudeen Abayomi, Dean of Faculty of Education, Prof Bilesanmi Awoderu and members of Abeokuta Club.
Ogun students threaten protest over bursary
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HE National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) has urged the Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to approve the bursary payment and scholarship to students for the 2010/ 11 and 2011/12 academic sessions. The president of the association, Azeez Ayodele, during a press conference at the NUJ House, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta, last Thursday appreciated the governor for his achievements in primary and secondary schools, but pleaded with him to extend the same gesture to the students of tertiary institutions. “We believe in the governor, but we plead with him not to rob Peter to pay Paul. The free education given to the primary and secondary school
Varsity disowns college
•The new MSSN leaders after their inauguration
Muslim students elect executive
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T was reminiscent of a day of reckoning for the outgoing leadership of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State University (LASU) chapter, when it presented its achievements to the members. The event, which was held in the university’s Central Mosque, also witnessed the swearing in of the new executive. The members of the incoming executive were screened by the Shu’ra (consultation committee) saddled with the responsibility of conducting a test for the nominated Muslim students across different faculties. The outgoing Amir, Abdulmojeed Olayinka, 400-Level Mathematics, said he appreciated the members for standing tenaciously to make his team successful. Abdulmojeed, who urged members to remain united and support
From Musbaudeen Shekoni LASU
the new executives, added: “You supported us because you realised everybody cannot be leaders at the same time, which is why you must also extend your support to the incoming executive.” The Shu’ra committee, which selected the leaders, comprises Hakeem Adelu, 400-Level Economics Education (Chairman), Nurudeen Emmanuel, 500-Level Law (Secretary) and Ismail Abdulmalik, 400-Level, Industrial Relation and Personnel Management (member) among others. Hakeem said the assignment to choose the members of the executive was cumbersome but added that the criteria used by the committee to select the members included knowledge of the Qur’an, Hadith, Islamic History, Fiqh, appearance and composure and knowledge of current affairs.
When the members of the news executive were Abdulmojeed was selected as the Amir for another term. Others were Abdulwasi Kewulere, Naibul Amir, Abdulaziz Bakare, General Secretary, Qosim Okeshola, Assistant General Secretary, Musoliudeen Ahmed, Financial Secretary, Abdulganiyy Aminu, Public Relations Officer, Abdul Rasheed Muhammed, Director of Studies, Yekeen Miftaudeen, Asset Management Officer, Abubakr Fashanu, Business Chief, Hammed Kosoko, Welfare Director and Nurudeen Yusuf, Editor-in-Chief. Lateefah Olupitan, 400-Level Zoology, became the Amirah, Kaothar Bakare, Naibat Amirah, Baseerah Raji, Secretary Sister’s Circle, Fatimah Kassim, PRO, Mariam Arole, Librarian, Zainab Ogunbowale, Treasurer and Mujidat Haroon, Welfare Director (Female).
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HE management of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) has dissociated itself from a publication in the media linking it with African Thinkers Community of Inquiry College of Education (ATCOICOE). The college allegedly invited applicants for admission into various programmes that were purportedly being undertaken in affiliation with ESUT. The uni-
From Tosin Adesile and Oluwatobi Makinde ABEOKUTA
pupils should not divert government’s attention away from the students of tertiary institutions, who are indigenes of Ogun State,” he said. He added that they were not out to attack the government, neither were they being used by any political party or politician, “but we are out to protect the interest of our members failure of which may result to protest.” According to Azeez, delay in payment of bursary, lack of concern to the plight of the association by the government and insecurity in tertiary institutions within the state were among the reasons for the planned demonstration. From Chinenye Igwe ESUT
versity management denied it was running an affiliate programme with the college. In a release by the Registrar of the university, Mr Chris Igbokwe, ESUT management said it wished to inform the public that ATCOICOE applied for affiliation with the university but the process was yet to be completed. “The Management of the University (ESUT) dissociates the university from the said publication and further states that ESUT does not run any outreach centre in any part of Nigeria, either by itself or in affiliation with any Institution,” the statement reads in part.