A friend of mine with whom I attended university, visited me last week at my residence. She is a sports analyst with a mainstream media house in Lagos state. I had just returned home from a lengthy sojourn away from urbanity, so we had a lot for discourse. A question popped out, “Tina, do you know Cyprian Ekwensi?” She looked puzzled at the question, and appeared lost in thought. Finally, she blurted “I honestly don’t know him, is he a footballer?” Bewildered, I sarcastically replied “Yes, and he plays for Warri Wolves FC”. However, she knew I was joking, so she prodded me to tell her the truth. I went on to explain to her all what she didn’t know about one of Nigeria’s foremost authors who also was a veteran broadcaster.

Recently, the federal government directed all primary and secondary schools across the country to immediately implement the teaching of history as a standalone subject. This implementation is to be kick-started at the beginning of the next academic session in the country. This decision-cum-directive by the Buhari-Osinbajo led Presidency has garnered widespread accolades (and critique) nationwide and I am not indifferent to it at all. The wealth of “Historical Knowledge” has so long been denied our young minds and such, has led to the unwavering flair for foreign culture and values which is NOT slowly creeping into our belief system and lifestyle. The truth is; an average Nigerian does not currently care about a certain Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello or Nnamdi Azikiwe. There are salient issues like unemployment and poverty to tackle. Hence, it is a commendable initiative by the Nigerian Federal government to bring back HISTORY to its pre-tertiary educational institutions as a standalone subject.

However; the implementation of this new curriculum in the schools and colleges would not be easily profitable if collective efforts are not engaged. The need for vision and responsibility must not be sidelined in this educational quest. In essence, the direct study of the Nigerian people history and their relatedness with other elements of the human race must be prioritized as the core of this new curriculum. As mentioned earlier, a larger portion of school children nowadays, owing to their exposure to the well-portrayed visual, audio and audiovisual gifts of ICT, are conversant with a generous amount of foreign history and cultural knowledge whilst down here in Nigeria, they are bereft of indigenous knowledge; (e.g. “Who Is Cyprian Ekwensi?”). History (Charity) begins at home, so they say!

History is wide and consequently, teaching it as a subject at schools would require adroitness and efficiency. This goes to say that it is imperative for all schools to recruit capable graduates of History to teach the subjects to the young students- who sadly are amateurs in the understanding and knowledge application of Nigerian History. The keywords here are “capable graduates”, but because of the rot in the educational benchmark and administrative standards; we should not be surprised that quite a lot of schools would not do this. The educational stakeholders in the country should know what to do as regards mandating the recruitment of “Qualified and capable” teachers of history by all schools. The future of our young children should not be shaped by mediocre and academically indigent teachers.

Perhaps, something worth reorienting is the general attitude of parents towards their children on cultural teachings and historical knowledge acquisition. It might be quite alarming that a lot of parents do not directly teach their children certain “firsts” at home before sending them to schools and expecting the teachers to do the rest. Personally, I have only travelled to my parents’ respective hometowns on just one occasion, when I was in junior secondary school. This is the jet age and if parents do not want their culture eventually obliterated after being ignored for a long time; then they should consistently teach their children important elements of ancestral culture and history. These can be done through vacations, visitations, excursions, documentaries and oral teachings.

Lastly, there is no society that can thrive on paucity of any form. If the Nigerian government is truly intentional about the need to bring back cultural relevance and teaching to the education sector; then it should be ready to take responsibility for the scheme’s ground-laying foundation. The need for a stable political system cannot be overemphasized! Policies that support education growth and development in the country must be implemented! The education sector must be funded abundantly!

The Nigerian education sector is not something to be proud of right now, just like other sectors such as security, health and finance. However, this latest move by the Federal government could be just a reason to smile. Or maybe not? Questions are waiting to be asked.

Bolu Daniels is a social commentator from Lagos.
He writes via @Bolu_Daniels on all social media platforms.

For two days, several campus journalists from various tertiary institutions in Nigeria gathered at the University of Ibadan for a workshop organized by the Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ibadan Chapter (UCJUI). ADEOYE DANIEL AND OKEYALE AZEEZ were there.


The University of Ibadan chapter of the Union of Campus Journalists on Friday, 2nd September, hosted the 2016 edition of the Annual National Campus Journalists Workshop. It was a two day workshop which was held simultaneously at the Students Union Building of the institution as well as the Trenchard Hall of the school. The workshop spanned between Thursday 1st September and Friday 2nd September 2016.

The workshop themed – “Journalism and Campus Journalism: Bridging the Gap” had widespread attendance of Pressmen from the host institution - University of Ibadan, Federal School of Statistics Ibadan, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Ojere Abeokuta, Crawford University Ogun State, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, University of Lagos, University of Ilorin, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomosho, Federal University of Technology Minna and the Federal University of Technology Akure. Participants at the workshop included Journalists from the different schools present, Mass Communication students from the University of Ibadan, freelance journalists from other tertiary institutions as well as .Media Communication NGOs.
The workshop featured a series of Lectures given by seasoned professionals that includes Miss Dulcie O’ Dwyer, an OAP with Rainbow FM, Mr. Nseobong Okon-Ekong, the Deputy-Editor of This Day Newspaper, and Mr. Dayo Aiyeotan, the Executive Director of the International Center for Investigative Reporting, Nigeria.

The workshop also featured the Creation of an Interim Committee for the National Union of Campus Journalists (NUCJ). This Committee was charged with the responsibility of the revival of the National Union of Campus Journalists which is meant to be the national body for all the associations of campus journalists in institutions of higher learning in Nigeria.

In his lecture titled “Universities, Corruption and the role of campus journalism”, Mr. Dayo Aiyeotan – the Executive Director of the International Center for Investigative Reporting, Nigeria believes that there is continued corruption in the country because it has been allowed. According to him, ‘the only reason why corruption prevails in the country is because of impunity on the part of the corrupt leaders which was as a result of lackadaisical and inactiveness on the supposed watchdogs in the society”. These watchdogs, according to Him include Journalists and other members of the press. He therefore urged Campus journalists to ask questions as it remains an important tool of keeping the authorities in check knowing there is a watching community that demands accountability.

Speaking further, the 1986-Theatre Arts graduate of the University of Ibadan cited the Freedom of Information Act as enough insurance for the campus journalists in case of any resistance by the school management. He encouraged the aspiring ‘mainstream’ journalists to be persevering and dutiful while carrying out researches without fear or favour of positions or people.

Amidst explaining the concept of investigative journalism and how it is relevant in curbing corruption, he encouraged the audience to embrace Computer Assisted Reporting in the case of dearth or withholding of information while investigating relevant issues like the institution budget, procurement funds, admission numbers and models, projects and infrastructure development, sexual harassment, cultism among others.

The University of Ibadan Alumnus finally charged the student journalists to establish vibrant and critical campus media or transform existing ones to meet that standard as remains a strong tool of social control in the campus community.

Mr. Nseobong Okon-Ekong, the Deputy Editor of This Day Newspaper during his lecture titled “Centenarian News Analysis and News Writing Style in the advent of the New Media” reiterated the fact that social media has transformed journalism – deputy editor, this day newspapers. The Calabar-born Journalist simultaneously lauded and lamented the advent of the New Media saying “These days, everyone is a journalist, forgetting that the profession in the real sense is not without its ethics and ethos that should be complied with”. However, he also reserved praise for the new media as he believes it has changed the face of journalism to genuine news reports and delivery in real time, thereby bringing the best out of journalists.

Mr. Nseobong took time to explain modern ways of news writing to the participants whilst also advising them to externalize processes and reports as a source of cove and insurance against institutional threats especially when prying into relevant institutional issues in investigative journalism.

On a lighter note, the speaker upon his introduction as a deputy-editor pepped up the campus journalists not to play second fiddle or remain second in command like him jesting “If you will be anything, be number one, don’t be vice or deputy like me ...” to which the participants replied with loud laughter.

Also speaking at the workshop, an OAP with Rainbow FM, Miss Dulcie o’ Dwyer reminded the participants especially campus journalists to “remember ethics and respect privacy” in the discharge of their duties. The United Kingdom-schooled Nigerian OAP spoke on the topic, “Journalists in the business of Content Marketing”.

Using her live radio show whose contents deal with true life stories as a practical example, the esteemed OAP revealed that regardless of the pressing pining to awe her listeners, she does not divulge details of victims of abuse or otherwise without their express permission as it even takes only a strong person to come forward in the first place.

In her closing remarks, she advocated the use of ‘Google Alerts’ by journalists to keep them abreast on issues of interest and concern to them and at the same time advised campus journalists to be more innovative and inquisitive as well as improving their innate skills in the discharge of their responsibilities.

In the same vein a caretaker committee of the National Union of Campus Journalists was set up at the workshop setup with the assignment of reviving and reforming the National Union of Campus Journalists – the national body of all the Associations of Campus Journalists in Nigeria. The members of the committee were nominated by the representatives and heads of the several Union of Campus Journalists and Press Clubs that were present in a meeting that lasted from the late hours of Thursday, 1st of September, 2016 to the wee hours of Friday, 2nd of September, 2016. The schools represented at the meeting are the host institution - University of Ibadan, Federal School of Statistics Ibadan, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta, Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Ojere Abeokuta, Crawford University Ogun State, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, University of Lagos, University of Ilorin, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomosho, Federal University of Technology Minna and the Federal University of Technology Akure.

At the end of the gruelling meeting, AbdulRahman Wahab of the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Sheriff Tijani of the University of Ilorin, Adebayo Moshood of the University of Lagos and Bola Abass of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho were nominated as members of the Interim Committee. Tosin Oloyede of the University of Ibadan was nominated as the Financial Secretary, Seidu Jamiu of the Federal University of Technology, Minna was nominated as the Public Relations Officer 2, Timileyin Abayomi of the Federal University of Technology, Akure was nominated as the Public Relations Officer 1, Adeoye Daniel Boluwatife of Crawford University was nominated as the General Secretary and Jafar Zubair of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho was nominated as the Chairman of the caretaker committee.

The committee has till December, 2016 to set up a functional National Union of Campus Journalists which is expected to not only serve as a platform for convergence of all campus journalists in Nigeria but also as a regulatory body, educating the stakeholders and promoting best practices of campus journalism in the country.
The newly inaugurated Chairman of the caretaker committee in his acceptance speech has pleaded for nationwide support to “function maximally and realize the goal of delivering a National Union of Campus Journalists that we all can be proud of associating with by January, 2017” .

With numerous questions asked at the end of the workshop, the participants interviewed by the correspondents were of the unanimous opinion that they are better off leaving the workshop than they had been before the training.

DhimxyMaxwell:
It is with sad hearts we announce the death of ABISOYE TAIWO, a hundred level student of the department of Forestry and Wildlife Management (FWM), FUNAAB; who was reported to have been shot dead this morning at Camp.

May his Soul Rest in Perfect Peace

Bros or Sister,

thanks for d R.I.P wishes, however it has been confirmed dat he has been transferred to UCH for neurosurgery at the moment.

so, let's save d R.I.P. till when we don't need it for Taiwo.

Thanks.

The National Association of Computer Science Students (NACOSS), Crawford university chapter has won the latest edition of the Departmental Football Competition last Friday. The competition which started in April is an annual football competition which is usually organized for the departments by the Football Association of the institution. This one had NACOSS play against GEMSA (Geology and Mineral Sciences Students association).

The competition at the inception had 7 departmental teams competing in it. The departments were NACOSS (National Association of Computer Science Students), NABAMS (National Association of Business Administration and Management Students), NUASA (Nigerian Universities Accounting Students Association), NESA (National Economics Students Association), NAPSS (National Association of Political Science Students), IREPSA (Industrial Relations and Personnel students Association) and GEMSA (Geology and Mineral Sciences Students association).

The Final Match which started by 4:30 pm, was played between NACOSS and GEMSA on the school football field with the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Rotimi Ajayi, the P.R.O of the institution, the School Acting Bursar, Mrs. Kemi Ojo, the Football Association Chairman, Dr. Adeola, the Football Association Coordinator, Mr. Solomon Aransiola and other lecturers as well as academic staff members of the school. Students and Non-academic staff were also present at the final match to cheer both teams on. At the end of the match, NACOSS defeated GEMSA by 2 goals to 1.

The Vice-Chancellor who kicked off the final, in his post-match speech applauded the winning team NACOSS for their dogged determination which was demonstrated in the game. He praised both teams for their efforts in reaching the final which he described as “difficult yet entertaining”. He assured them of support from the school in subsequent competitions whilst at the same time promising to incorporate other games into the sports scheme of the School Sports Association and the University as a whole.

Both teams were presented with Certificates of Excellence while the winning team was presented with the trophy by the vice chancellor and they were also rewarded with an undisclosed amount of money. The Player of the Tournament was OVOH OKPUHIGBO (300L COMPUTER SCIENCE) while the Highest Goal Scorer was AKINADE AYOMIDE (300L GEOLOGY AND MINERAL SCIENCES). The FAIR PLAY AWARD was given to GEMSA for their meek temperament throughout the competition.

Crawford University is a private university which was established by the Apostolic Faith Church in 2005, it is domiciled in Igbesa, Ogun State.

owkay

Seun:
Your dog is not lean; he's perfect, but you should stop mixing his kibble with rice. Feed him pure kibble, or rice and shawa/titus fish.

Seun, pls how do I send a message to you here?? I mean a direct message
kindly help me out.......It is very important.
thanks