₦airaland Forum

Apt

PASSENGERS STRANDED AT KWARA EXPRESS, OVER POOR MANAGEMENT, VEHICLE BREAKDOWN AND OTHERS . Hundreds of passengers are currently stranded at the Kwara state owned transport company, Kwara express, managed by harmony holdings Ltd, over inability of the transport company to properly coordinate the station and provide vehicles to convey passengers to their destinations. As at 8:40 am, vehicles slated to take off by 6:30 am are yet to be available. Hundreds of passengers are currently stranded and disappointed, not sure of when they would embark on their journey. While passengers continue to wait and complain without any official speaking to them on the reason for this ugly situation, an official who didn't mention his name came forward at 8:21 to explain reasons for the delay. According to him, all their vehicles are undergoing repair. He blamed the damage on the bad roads. He also added that, the unavailability of fuel in the state also contributed to worsening the situation. Furthermore, he added that, there is no sufficient drivers to convey passengers to their destination, but he assured passengers that the vehicles shall be available shortly. Destinations of the passengers cut across the country, ranging from Jos, Makurdi, Abuja, Kogi, Lagos etc. Speaking with some passengers, Lai Ishola, a passenger heading to Jos condemn the management of harmony, the company managing the transport company. According to him, he had purchased the ticket a day before his journey, wondering how a responsible organization would not fix it's vehicles until the day of the journey. Zainab Balogun, another passenger heading to Abuja faulted the transport company. She threatened to sue the company for unnecessarily wasting her time despite booking 2 days to her journey.

MUSLIMS ARE CO BELEIVER IN JESUS. Robin Scott Scott shared this on her Facebook page:

Christians and Muslims are more alike than different.

Please read that which I have discovered - Robin

1. Jesus taught that there is only One God and Only God
should be worshipped as taught in Deut 6:4, Mark 12:29.
Muslims also believe this as taught in the Qur’an verse
4:171.

2. Jesus didn’t eat pork as taught in Leviticus 11:7 , and neither do Muslims as taught in the Qur’an verse 6:145.

3. Jesus greeted with the words “as salaamualaikum” (Peace be with you) in John 20:21. Muslims also
greet each other this way.

4. Jesus always said “God Willing” (inshallah), Muslims say this too before doing anything as taught in the Qur’an verses 18:23-24.

5. Jesus washed his face, hands, and feet before praying.
The Muslims do the same.

6. Jesus and other prophets of the Bible prayed with their head to the ground (see Matthew 26:39). Muslims do too as
taught in the Qur’an verse 3:43.

7. Jesus had a beard and wore a throbe. It is Sunnah for Muslim men to do the same.

8. Jesus followed the law and believed in all the prophets, (see Matthew 5:17). Muslims do too as taught in the Qur’an
verses 3:84, and 2:285.

9. Jesus’ mother Maryam dressed modestly by fully
covering her body and wearing a headscarf (hijab) as found in 1 Timothy 2:9, Genesis 24:64-65, and Corinthians 11:6.
Muslim women modestly dress the same as taught in the Qur’an verse 33:59.

10. Jesus and other prophets of the Bible fasted up to 40 days (see Exodus 34:28, Daniel 10:2-6. 1Kings 19:8, and Matthew 4:1-Muslims do so also during the month of Ramadan. Muslims are required to fast the full obligatory 30 days (see Qur’an 2:183), and others take it a step further
by fasting an additional 6 days to increase their rewards.

11. Jesus taught to say “Peace to this house” when
entering it (see Luke 10:5), and to also greet the people in the house with “peace be unto you”. Muslims do exactly what Jesus did and taught. When we enter our homes and the homes of others we say “Bismillah” and also greet with
“as salaamu alaikum” (peace be upon you) as taught in the
Qur’an verse 24:61.

12. Jesus was circumcised. Circumcision is 1 of the 5 fitrah in Islam, so Muslim men are required to be circumcised.
According to the Bible in Luke 2:21, Jesus was eight days old when he was circumcised. In the Torah, Allah/God stated to the Prophet Abraham that it is an “Everlasting covenant” (see Genesis 17:13). In the Qur’an verse 16:123
Muslims are required to follow the religion of Abraham. The Prophet Muhammad said, “The Prophet Abraham
circumcised himself when he was eighty years old.”

13. Jesus spoke aramaic and called God”Elah”, which is pronounced the same as “Allah”. Aramaic is an ancient, Biblical language. It is one of the Semitic languages that also include Hebrew, Arabic, Ethiopic and the ancient Assyrian and Babylonian language of Akkadian.
The Aramaic”Elah” and the Arabic “Allah” are the same.
The Aramaic “Elah” is derived from the Arabic “Allah”, and it
means “GOD”. “Allah” in Arabic also means”GOD”, the Supreme GOD Almighty. You can easily see the similarity in their pronunciation so this concludes that the God of Jesus is also the God of the Muslims, of all mankind, and all that exist.

(Do share to promote peace in the world)

DEAR GOD, BRING BACK THE OLD CHURCH. Yesterday, I didn't write much while wishing my respectable Christian friends happy Christmas. I only wrote happy Christmas and that was all. A Christian friend who is aware that I hold Christians in high esteem send a private message, asking why my Christmas message didn't show my usual passion. I am therefore using this opportunity to explain my reason. On July 18, 1993, Guardian newspaper reported a mind pleasing news on its front page. The caption says, church expels Chuckumerije. Comrade Uche Chuckumerije as he was then addressed was the information secretary of Ibrahim Babangida administration in 1993. According to the news, the church of Nigeria, Anglican Communication have quietly excommunicated Chuckumerije for his alleged role in the political situation in the country. Sources at the Anglican church of Pentecostal, where the then information secretary usually worshipped before his appointment, alleged that Comrade Chuckumerije had not proved to be a good Ambassador of the church with his present position and defense of what is considered a day light robbery of the winner of the June 12 presidential election. For this, he was expelled from the church. I then fast forward to today, seeing what is happening in the churches, I asked myself, what has happened to the church of Christ ? What has happened to those good practices?...... It is in the midst of that thought that I wrote my Christmas message and I do not actually know how to express my self. I reasoned that, just this year, we saw how some churches had become ground for protecting government officials who raped the nation dry. Where pastors collect so much to defend political criminals hiding under religion. I asked myself, Has the teaching change? While wishing my friends a wonderful Christmas celebration, I would advised that every individual do a self reflection of where we have missed the way. We must go back to scriptures and reevaluate our actions if they conform with the teaching of Jesus Christ whose birth is being celebrated. I would also pray to God, to please in his infinite mercy, bring back the old church, where morality, decency, Godliness, love and general well being of the nation is anchored on patriotism. May I hear you say, Dear God, bring back the old church? Happy Christmas once again.

HOW TO MARRY A YORUBA GIRL... Forget the court wedding. Forget the church or Mosque wedding. All those one's na for your pocket. If you like, go to court 100 times, you may also decide to shutdown the Mosque or church claiming to be doing marriage, in Yoruba tradition, all that one na for your pocket. Yoruba girl is not a girl you meet somewhere and just take to court or religious place for marriage. It may be legal, but traditionally, you are not married. What I am saying is that, in Yoruba tradition, for you to marry a Yoruba girl, you must dobale... Did you hear what I said? I said, for you to marry a Yoruba girl, you must as matter of necessity, DOBALE...This is the order in over 80% Yoruba community. On a lighter note, for your so called marriage to a Yoruba lady be recognized traditionally, you must do the traditional marriage where you are required to provide all the traditional requirements such as obi (kolanu) , isu(yam) , Oyin(honey) , iyo (salt) etc... For the purpose of those asking what is dobale, you will have to pay me to tell you. Lol. Anyway, I will tell you , but you owe me. N1500 recharge card. If you are not ready to pay your debt, don't read it. Okay, Dobale means that legendary protestations every aspiring husband of a Yoruba girl must do along with his friends. Lie down flat before the whole gathering. Prostrate on the ground in public before the parents of the bride. Do so before the family of the bride. Do so again before the friends of the bride. Again before the leaders of the community. And even before the younger ones of the bride..That is what is called dobale. Lol... Oro lana (In laws are special are special) in Yoruba land. If you want to marry a Yoruba lady, be ready to dobale uncountable times and treat your in law with special respect. YORUBA'S DON'T DEMAND FOR MILLIONS OF NAIRA FOR THEIR DAUGHTERS IN MARRIAGE, THEY ONLY DEMAND FOR MILLIONS OF RESPECT AND DUE RECOGNITION. A Yoruba proverb goes thus '' Tio ban WA owo lo, to WA pade iyi lona, tete ya pada sile ko lo dupe '' Meaning,if you are looking for money, and then meet honor along way, just go back home and be thankful. This is so because, If you get the money, you are still going to use it to buy honor.

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NO HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR PRESIDENT BUHARI. I do not wish to wish President Buhari happy birthday. I want to be the person who openly doesn't wish president Muhammadu Buhari happy birthday. This is my way of protest against the silence of the President over the mass killing of shiite in Zaria. From reports, hundreds of Nigerian citizens were killed, yet the President keep mum. This is not only wrong, it is a sign of arrogance of the first order. While his spokesmen are quick to issue statement concerning rumor online, they do not find the lives of over 100 Nigerians worthy of any attention. Even when foreign countries such as Iran, UK, USA etc had shown concern, even when the leader of Iran had reportedly called the President, even when Senate and house of Representatives had set up investigative panel, the president do not find it worthy of his attention. The concern of the over 170m Nigerian seems not to matter, they don't deserve explanation or reassurance. I am not happy with the President and I will not wish him a happy birthday.

Hum

Hum

Expulsion of student leaders stirs hornets’ nest at NOUN

By ENO-ABASI SUNDAY. on November 26, 2015 12:35 am
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/11/expulsion-of-student-leaders-stirs-hornets-nest-at-noun/
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noun-logoTENEBEThe establishment of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) by the Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration opened a new vista for tertiary education seekers to actualise their dreams, using the distance-learning platform. With a burgeoning youth population in the country, news of the school recording its highest enrolment figures not long ago sounded like music to the ears. Suddenly, the school is mired in controversy as students are calling for the sack of their vice-chancellor, Prof. Vincent Tenebe, and some principal officers for alleged extortion and endemic corruption. The expulsion of two student leaders has added a new dimension to the brewing fracas, writes ENO-ABASI SUNDAY.

UNEASY calm reigns at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), over the recent expulsion of two student leaders of the institution, following their role in the call for the removal of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe, and some principal officers of the school for alleged corrupt practices.

Already, the duo, Messrs Abdulrazaq O. Hamzat, a master’s student of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution, who was also president of the Congress of NOUN Students (CONS), (the unofficial students’ union of NOUN students across the country), and Elias Ozikpu, a Mass Communication student, who also served as the group’s public relations officer (PRO).

The expelled student, apart from heading to the court to challenge their expulsion, which they consider illegal, have also petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Human Rights Commission, National Universities Commission (NUC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Police to look into the allegations, which they have raised.

In their petition tagged, “Unlawful Expulsion Over Call for the Sack of Vice Chancellor of National Open University Of Nigeria,” the twosome, who said they were among leaders of CONS, which has been articulating the interest of NOUN students because the management of the institution has, on several occasions, withheld approbation on the existence of any students’ association in the university, maintained that CONS, at its Tuesday, November 10, 2015 congress called for the “immediate sack of the vice chancellor and other top principals of our institution over extortion and endemic corruption taking place at the institution. And as a result of our call, the university announced ourexpulsion four days later over what it described as ‘being found wanting in character.’

The students said they were also writing to bring to the knowledge of the aforementioned agencies of government and the general public, the gross injustice inflicted upon them by the institution’s management.

The expulsion letter to Hamzat dated November 11, 2015 and endorsed by the school’s registrar, Mrs. Josephine O. Akinyemi, titled, “Expulsion From The University, read inter alia, “Please recall that the management of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) set up a Students’ Disciplinary Committee to investigate your alleged involvement in acts of publishing and/or circulating reports, which contained various false and misleading information about the operations of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

“The committee during its overall sittings, invited you to appear before it in person and clear yourself of the said allegations, but you failed or neglected to honour the various invitations by the committee.

“The committee was therefore left with no option but to believe that your refusal failure and/or neglect to appear before it was a clear confirmation of the disregard you have for constituted authority, and an affirmation that you have no defence to the allegations.

“The management, upon the receipt of the report of the committee noted that you breached the rules and regulations governing the conduct of students of the university and engaged in acts calculated to disrupt activities of the university, a conduct likely to bring the university into disrepute.

“The committee also found you wanting in character, which apart from learning, is an essential ingredient for the conferment of a degree of this university on you.

“The management of the university, after considering the report of the students’ disciplinary committee, has therefore directed that you be expelled from this university with immediate effect.

“You have however requested to handover any university property in your possession including your student identity card to the director of your centre,” it concluded.

Ozikpu’s expulsion letter referenced NOUN/REG/SDC/013/Vol.1, and dated November 11, 2015, which was also titled, “Expulsion From the University,” read in part, “Please recall that on Tuesday, 3rd November, 2015, you appeared before a Students’ Disciplinary Committee set up by the management of the university to investigate your alleged involvement in acts of publishing and/or circulating reports, which contained various false and misleading information about the operations of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

“The committee was left no doubt from its interaction with you that you have breached the rules and regulations governing the conduct of students and also engaged in acts calculated to disrupt the activities of the university and ultimately likely to bring the university into disrepute.

“The committee also found you wanting in character, which apart from learning, is an essential ingredient for the conferment of a degree of this university on you.

“The Management of the University, after considering the report of the Students’ Disciplinary Committee, has therefore directed that you be expelled from this university with immediate effect.

“You are however requested to handover any university property in your possession, including your student identity card to the director of your centre,” it stated.

However, in the petition to the different government and security agencies, the two students claim that the university unlawfully expelled them for the following reasons:

Firstly, “For exposing a series of ongoing official corruption sanctioned by the management of the institution against students. Upon raising this alarm, the management reacted by denying the existence of corruption at the university before writing a petition against us to the Lagos State Police Command, alleging that we had threatened the life of the vice chancellor and incited fellow students against the management of the institution. The Nigerian Police, upon careful examination of the case on September 10, 2015, when we honoured a second invitation, cleared us and pointed out that the allegations by the university’s management were non-existent.

Secondly, “For asking the management to officially allow the existence of a students’ association at the university in line with Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Article 20 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We had done this by attaching a document, which we titled ‘Ten Points Demands by Students of National Open University of Nigeria’. In this document, we detailed ten issues facing students and suggestions on how to get these issues resolved. The management did not reply our correspondence, including a reminder that was sent on the matter after a few weeks. Instead, a memo dated October 28th, 2015 was circulated to all study centre directors, instructing them to not allow meetings by members of CONS, or any gathering at their respective study centres. The said memo also criminalised our personalities on the same charges that the police had cleared us since September 10, 2015.

They two students also wrote that the third reason for rusticating them was, “For contesting and writing severally to the university to correct the deliberate manipulation of academic grades. The university had manipulated 11 subjects belonging to Mr. Elias Ozikpu, and subsequently requested that the sum of N110, 000 be paid as a condition to review these manipulated results. Payment of this fee, considered illegal by the victim, could not be paid.”
They further pointed out that, “We have made several internal efforts since 2012 demanding explanations from the management on why students pay exorbitant fees on course materials without having them in return,” adding that “… fees for these materials are payable every semester and this depends on the number of courses a student offers.”

According to the petition, which stated that, “both unlawfully expelled students are final year students who had rounded up their programmes and are expected to graduate in January 2016, the duo expressed “shock that the management proceeded to increase several other fees without compunction. Consequently, we came to the conclusion that students needed an association for the protection of our interests, in which we even indicated that we might be open to management’s view on how to go about the association if it was granted. But, the university, realising an association of students would question these illegal fees, strongly opposed it by criminalising us and tagged it ‘a self-destructive mission’ in the said memo of October 28th, 2015.

The expelled students, who maintained that they were expelled for daring to blow the whistle against injustice and exposing the alleged sleaze in NOUN to make room for public scrutiny, added that, “We do know that it is our civic duty to ensure that our education sector and indeed the entire Nigeria is free of corruption and all ills. We kindly beseech you to launch a proper investigation into this matter upon receipt of this letter.”

When The Guardian contacted NOUN’s Director of Media and Information, Dr. Ronke Ogunmakin, she declined to comment on the issue saying, “I am not in Nigeria presently. I will be back next week.”

However, in an apparent reaction to some of the issues raised by the embattled student leaders, especially the rampant charging of illegal administrative fees by study centre directors, which has overburdened the students, the school issued a statement promising to apply serious sanctions on erring directors, who engage in such illegal collections.

It further warned against any practice in study centres that would work against the goals and values of the university as well as its determination to provide the best learning environment, physically and intellectually, which it maintained was already being achieved through its expansion of operational facilities and student population, which now stands at over 200, 000.

The statement also warned students against paying any other charges, except those stipulated by the university authorities, which must also be paid into authorised accounts of the institution.

In the statement, Prof. Tenebe emphasised that, “No study centre has the authority to charge and collect fees from students,” just as he advised the students to regularly visit the school’s website- www.noun.edu.ng, to keep abreast of current developments in the institution, including the approved fees.

He emphasised that the current educational revolution at NOUN was unprecedented in the annals of tertiary education in the country, adding that the goal of the university was to radically restructure the contents and methods of the nation’s tertiary educational system in a revolutionary paradigm (Open and Distance Learning), that would systematically equip Nigerian students, theoretically and practically, make them resourceful and entrepreneurially conscious; and enhance their creativity and capacity to develop a firm grasp of the world.

“NOUN is conceived and designed to be a foundry for the production of expert thinkers – graduates who are intellectually trained to make a positive impact on their society,” he declared.

He also disclosed that because of the global demand for qualitative Open Distance Learning, NOUN has evolved a highly functional system, now regarded as a model for other nations of world, especially in Africa.

Meanwhile, the Africa Centre for Education Rights and Advocacy is calling on the Federal Government to discountenance the call for the sack of Tenebe and his principal officers.

A statement issued by the centre’s regional president, Dr Abayomi Ogundele condemned such calls, adding that the students were ignorant of the towering image of the university both at home and abroad in providing quantitative and qualitative education to all seekers of education with ease and flexibility.

“The centre frowns at the recent behaviour of the students acting under the auspices of NOUN students congress as jobless persons who were expelled from other universities in Nigeria and hiding under the non-existing platform to cause confusion,” the statement read.

The statement added that the centre got involved in the matter because as an advocacy and enlightenment unit in the education sector, it is aware that the university has maintained the highest level of accountability and transparency both to students and the Federal Government in handling public funds.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/11/expulsion-of-student-leaders-stirs-hornets-nest-at-noun/

Gbenga Olawepo outlines Nigeria’s greatness
http://mrrights.com.ng/index.php/2015/11/25/gbenga-olawepo-outlines-nigerias-greatness/

The Chairman of Bresson AS, Honourable Gbenga Olawepom Hashim has outlined several points indicating the greatness of Nigeria. ‘’We have gathered here to talk about a great country Nigeria’’, He declares.

According to him, ‘’Nigeria is great not just because it is the 7th most populous country on the planet. It is an important Nation not only on account of her oil wealth. Nigeria is significant more because of the energy of her people, whose creativity and resilient spirit of enterprise continues to assure her progress even in the face of seemingly hopeless situations’’.

The globally respected business man and politician stated these in a paper presented at the imperial college, London at the Nigerian Societ’s annual symposium on 20th November, 2015 titled Nigeria: facilitating resilient and sustainable infrastructural development.

He explained that, ‘’It is due to the hard-work and industry of the ordinary Nigerians- the nation’s greatest asset, that Nigeria attained a GDP rebased at $510 billion in 2013 exceeding that of South Africa to become the biggest African economy even in the face of her parlous infrastructure’’. Adding that, ‘’the feat is the result of the toiling of small scale entrepreneurs, who continue to create value without adequate electricity, cottage food processors, without affordable financing,farmers without the scantest of state support; artisans, bold and imaginative business men and women,dynamic financial managers, young innovators creative artistes and hardworking professionals.

Discussing further, Olawepo said, Price Water Cooper predicts that the country’s economy will probably grow to be the 9th largest economy in the world by 2050. The basis for this has already been laid over the past ten years with the country recording 6-7% annual growth consistently. In 2015, even with the collapse in oil price – the country’s major export- the economy still managed to grow at 2.8% compared to 1.2% of South Africa; 1.5% in the Euro Zone; -2.6% in Brazil and 2.0 % in the US last quarter. These occurred despite more than fifty per cent collapse in oil revenue and slowdown in government business due to the inauguration of a new government..

He further added that, Growth in the Nigeria Economy is expected to be sustained as the economy has acquired a resilience beyond oil and natural resource exploitation which accounts for only 14% of GDP as long as the political and security situation remains stable.

He also pointed out that, Nigeria has also recorded a robust expansion of her middle class, which Standard Bank reported has grown by six-foldsbetween the year 2000 and 2010.

Outlining the role of diasporan community in the growth of Nigeria, Olawepo stated that, The Nigerian diaspora community is an integral part of the Nigeria growth story. In 2013, foreign remittances to Nigeria was a record $21billion USD. This forms part of the incredible contributions of Nigerians abroad, innovators, small business operators and ordinary folks eking out a living for themselves the hard-way – picking off tough jobs that a lot of people in their host communities ignore.

Citing examples to back his claim, he maintained that, Brilliant people of Nigerian decent stand up daily to be counted as part of the positive pages of the rising Nigerian story. The Imafidon twins Paula and Peter broke the world mathematic record passing the Cambridge Advanced Level Math at age 8, the youngest ever to do so. Chinedu Echeruo, founder of Hopstop.com purchased by Apple at a price of $1billion USD is blazing the trail in the ICT world.

‘’Dr Victor Olalusi who scored 5.0 CGPA at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences at Russian National Medical University in 2013, arguably the first in the world to do so are among a growing list of sterling performers.’’

‘’Back home in 2012, four Nigerian teenage girls namely Duro Aina, Akindele Adeola, Faleke Oluwatoyin and Bello Eniola figured a way to generate electricity from urine to power a generator for six-hours.’’

‘’Recently, 24 year-old Oluwatobi Olasunkanmi won the William Charnley Prize for the best First Class in Law at the University of Cambridge. Right here in this hall we have Mervin Azeta, a female Chemical Engineer who has just completed her Master’s degree here at Imperial with a distinction, having achieved a first class honour in her first degree from the University of Benin, Nigeria, and I know there are similar more stories of great achievers in this gathering today.’’ He said, adding that, this is the Nigerian spirit that turns out outstanding achievers from the harshest imaginable environment.

He concluded that, Your guesses are as good as mine, where Nigeria can be in the next ten years if her hardworking people can enjoy the infrastructure support that their peers in comparable middle income countries take for granted.

http://mrrights.com.ng/index.php/2015/11/25/gbenga-olawepo-outlines-nigerias-greatness/

Seriously,?

This is the simple demand that got 2 of the student activists expelled.

YOU MAY BE PARTLY CORRECT

>: (

.

I concur

HOW NIGERIAN INSTITUTIONS COERCED STUDENTS INTO BECOMING HALF BAKED GRADUATES

By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat

‘’Take your certificate and go, don’t ask questions, don’t develop your reasoning, don’t experiment what you learn, just take your certificate and go’’.

It is no longer news that some Nigerian graduates have been described as half baked graduates. Close observation of some graduates sometimes give credence to that description.

However, while it is true that half baked graduates themselves should take adequate responsibility for their inability and incompetence, other parts of the blame should actually be directed at the Institutions that produced them.

It is instructive to note that, lack of facilities doesn’t necessarily make a graduate half baked, neither do lack of adequate funding, what often make graduates half baked is the attitude inbred-ed into them.

Let me state that, anyone that has passed through Nigerian higher institution in recent time would agree with me that, management policies in many of these institutions are geared towards producing weak and docile students. Students may enter higher institution with positive attitude towards learning, but end up come of with negative attitude. Hardly do students go into institution with negative learning attitude and come out with positive one. This is the reality of the situation.

Indeed, some of these institutions parade world class lecturers and study materials, but the sharp practices they engage in are such, which force students to conform to negativity.

While education is the ability to ask critical questions about situations with the aim of finding solution,Nigerian institutions often force students to keep mute in face of questionable practices. Students who defy the general norm of keeping silent in face of such questionable practices are adequately punished for doing what responsible students should do. Some times, they are expelled for doing the right thing.

It is true that students read about best practices in books, but their lecturers, leaders and management often engage in something different. Any attempt to ask questions often lead to coercive shutdown.

On 10/11/2015, Students of National Open University of Nigeria under the aegis of Congress of Noun Students called for the immediate sack of the institutions Vice Chancellor, Prof Vincent Ado Tenebe and 4 others over accusation of monumental corruption and extortion. In return, the University announced the expulsion of two leaders of the students Congress.

What was the crime of the expelled students? They asked the university to account for over N14000,000,000.00 (Fourteen Billion Naira) it regularly received annually from students as course material fee without providing those materials. There are other similar demands contained in the 10 points demand of the students.

According to the University’s announcement on its website, it said, ‘’This is to bring to the attention of all students of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and the general public that the under listed persons have been expelled from the University on the basis of being FOUND WANTING IN CHARACTER.

1 Mr. Hamza Abdulrazak Oyebanji Matric Number NOU070173152 Department of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution: School of Arts and Social Sciences.

2 Mr. Elias Ozikpu Matric Number NOU110770565 Department of Mass Communication School of Arts and Social Sciences.

Both Students are President and Public Relation Officer of the Congress of Noun Students respectively.

By the admission of the University based on its announcement, the students committed no crime. Their lack of character is simple as a result of asking questions which is regarded as a taboo. How dare mere students ask the almighty management to account for funds.

When Section 40 of the Constitution of Nigeria said every Nigerian have freedom to association, expression etc and the management of some institutions decided to deny students those rights, students are expected to conform. Any one who try to question such illegality is punished and all others tends to believe what they read in books were mere illusion about rights, what they see being practiced is regarded as the ultimate.

These coercive enforcement of negativity gradually affected the general reasoning of most students in such a way that, anything they read from book is simply regarded as meaningless. What they are left with is the bad practices they see from their teachers.

For example, If I read in the book that this is the right way, and I see the same institution that gave me that book as acting contrary, any developing mind should ask questions about why the authorities are acting contrary to what is taught. But in Nigeria, such questioning is a taboo. You are expected to conform without saying a word. If you want to prove you are too stubborn like they refer to those who ask questions, they punish you with all might. This is why every student simply concentrate on what they called, ‘’take your certificate and go’’.

Take your certificate and go, don’t ask questions, don’t develop your reasoning, don’t experiment what you learn, just take your certificate and go.

While engaging my University on why certain illegalities are taking place, they felt threatened and reported me and others to the police. Rather than address the issues raised, they reported that we are threatening the Vice Chancellor. After they failed to provide any meaningful evidence to back such claim, the police felt disappointed. But a police officer privy to the issue came close to us and said, ‘’shebi you are already in your final year, don’t argue with this people again oo, just take your certificate and go’’.

In a similar development, when my colleague went to the University, the PRO of the school said similar thing to him. ‘’This one that you are proving to be intelligent, are you not simply planning to be here for like 20 years? Instead of just taking your certificate and go, you are busy showing yourself.

The following week (last week), myself and the colleague were eventually expelled from the National Open University of Nigeria for simply asking what the University does with our money,since it doesn’t provide the materials paid for.

In conclusion, we should all understand that, students who graduate under similar exploitative environment, but remained silent or see nothing wrong with the system could hardly change when they are out of the system. Their ability to reason properly and express themselves have been damaged by the same institution that should build them. That institution should be held accountable for heir half baked nature.
http://mrrights.com.ng/index.php/2015/11/19/how-nigerian-institutions-coerced-students-into-become-half-baked-graduates/

Like what exactly did the management told you they did wrong? My brother, you are a huge disappointment to great students. These are people who are fighting for students rights to all they were denied, when people like you are hiding. They stood for truth and justice, and even when they were announced to have been expelled, they never stand back. They maintained their stand and continue to fight for justice. If they committed any crime, the management would be the first to tell the world what crime they did, but even the management doesn't accuse them of any crime. All they they said, which is right in your portal, is that, they are found wanting in character. Which crime is that? For asking the University to provide what students pay for, they were expelled and you are here saying trash

This can not stand

This expulsion can never stand. Some students are already mobilizing for protest at the hq

I will appreciate if the moderator can move this post to the front page. Thanks

This is the truth, know the situation before you go in

Students pay up to 3000 for a course and they will not get the material. Is that how it is done in other places? The fact that some people can accept the violation of their freedom of association does not mean it is right. What is wrong will always be wrong

its funny, but true

IS OPEN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DEMAND OUTRAGEOUS?
By Abdulrazaq O Hamzat
http://mrrights.com.ng/index.php/home/

Students of National Open University of Nigeria made certain demands
from its management some months ago, failure to response has now led
to the major confrontation between the students and the management.
Last week, the students call on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the
Vice Chancellor and others. And in return, the University announced
the expulsion of two of the student leaders. Myself (Abdulrazaq O
Hamzat) and Elias Ozikpu. We are therefore making this demand public
for the purpose of public assessment.
It is of popular understanding that, the National Open University of
Nigeria was established on 3 core principles. These 3 principles are:
1.Affordability 2.Accessibility 3.Flexibility.
The University, according to its founding objectives was to provide
platform for all Nigerians irrespective of their economic
status,location or background to access tertiary education to improve
their lives.
However, it is regrettable that these 3 core principles by which the
University was established has now been compromised. The University is
no longer affordable, accessible nor flexible as stated at the time of
its establishment.
We came to the above conclusion because, a federal University, where
students officially pay over N100,000 every session cannot claim to be
affordable. This is apart from the unofficial fee amounting to over
N50,000. Open University today is the most expensive federal
university, it is also the only federal institution, where students
have no freedom of association, or freedom to complain over the undue
violation. It is our view that, if the University is no longer
affordable as it pride itself to be, it can not claim to be accessible
nor flexible. Affordability birth accessibility and flexibility.
We therefore note that, our quest to uphold the 3 core principles of
the University gave birth
to these demands, hoping that the University would look into it for
the good of all Nigerians. We want to also note that, this was our
patriotic act to internally resolve all issues concerning students.
SEMESTER FEE
After paying a session fee, the University receive separate fee in
second semester. They call it, semester fee. The fee was initially
N2,500, it was increased to N13,000. We are asking: What is semester
fee? Why the increase? Why should students pay for semester fee, after
they had paid for the session fee?
COURSE MATERIAL FEE
National Open University of Nigeria have over 350,000 students, and
the total fee received from students every year for course material is
over N14, 000, 000,000 (Fourteen Billion Naira). Students pay for
course materials which is mandatory,but the University never provides
these materials. Students have to source for extra funds to buy the
materials else where and if you can’t, you lost. So, we are
asking,what does the University do with the N14, 000, 000,000
(Fourteen Billion Naira) it receives for course material since it
doesn’t provide the materials? Why should students continue to pay
these fee since they don’t get what they paid for?
EXAMINATION FEE
Every student pay N1000 per course as examination fee and the total
fee received by NOUN every year for examination is N5,600,000, 000
(Five Billion, Six Hundred Million Naira). For each course registered
by students, he or she must pay N1000 as examination fee. In total,
the University receives N5,600,000, 000 (Five Billion, Six Hundred
Million Naira) yearly as examination fee. We must ask: Why should
students pay a separate fee for examination, after they had paid for
the session, semester etc? Is the session examination not part of the
session?
RESEARCH PROJECT FEE
It is not clear why the University charges a COMPULSORY registration
fee for research project for final-year students. Last semester
(2014/15 academic session), this fee was charged at N10,000. Now, the
University has, for unknown reasons, and without any official notice
to its students, decided to increase this fee to the sum of N15,000.
For its post graduate students, the University increased the research
project fee from N15,000 to N40,0000.
We must ask:Why should student pay the University such huge amount for
a research that would be carried out by the students themselves?.
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FEE
The University charges a COMPULSORY registration fee of N10,000 for
Industrial Training which is usually deducted directly from the
student portal. Additionally, students pay another N1,000 which must
be paid separately into the University’s Stanbic IBTC Bank account for
the same Industrial Training! Therefore, for embarking on an
Industrial Training alone, students of the University pay Eleven
Thousand Naira (N11,000) to the management. We must ask: Why should
students pay the University for an industrial training that would be
done by the students themselves? Why should our students be paying for
I.T, when students from other Institutions get paid to undergo the
same training?
TEACHING PRACTICE FEE
The University also charges the sum of Ten Thousand Naira (N10,000)
from each student in the department of Education before they under-go
teaching practices. This is an exercise in which students from other
institution get paid to undergo, yet, Open University students have to
pay its own management to undergo the same exercise.We must ask:This
payment is for what?
RESULT VERIFICATION FEE
It is not clear why the University also charges a fee for what it
termed 'Result Verification'. This fee is payable every year and it is
charged at N5,000. Despite this fee being paid, students who have
attempted to verify the authenticity of the controversial results have
largely collided on a rock. At no point did the University ever
responded adequately to any student inquiry about result verification.
So, if results are not verifiable, how then can the National Open
University of Nigeria justify the receipt of this money from students?
Please note: The total amount the University receive every year as
result verification fee is N1,750,000,000. (One Billion, Seven Hundred
and Fifty Million Naira)
LAW SCHOOL
The National Open University of Nigerian currently has 3 sets of law
graduates of which, none has been mobilized to the Nigerian Law
School. We are saying, enough is enough. Graduates of Open University
should be admitted to the law school. We shall be directing our
agitation, not just at the leadership Of NOUN, but also at the Council
Of Legal Education and National University Commission.
NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS
Each students of NOUN have been paying N6,000 as NYSC regularization
fee to its own management, yet no students of the University had been
mobilized. Why should students continue to pay?
IT IS OUR RIGHT TO HAVE FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION

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