Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ilorin

Wednesday, 23 May 2018

Dynamic-galvanizer launches poetry album – “Man of the Moment”

Unknown 08:05 National Dailies , 0 Comments

~~~~ Ukor Jonathan and Bakare Gbolahan

Mr. Umar Saidu Isa, popularly known as, Dynamic-galvanizer, has held his album launch themed “Man of the Moment” on Saturday, 19th May, 2018 at Mazabs for Events, Tanke, Ilorin.

The motivational event was graced by high profile individuals from the University of Ilorin and Kwara State University in the likes of Dr. Mahfouz Adedimeji, Alh. Jublil Yusuf and also reputable unions like the Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ), Unilorin Chapter, who also launched and supported the album with whooping and exciting amounts.

Many other motivational speakers and poets were allotted time to lecture and perform, and take the audience to a journey of life through their words.

The incumbent president of UCJ Unilorin, in his speech titled; ‘Believe in yourself even when nobody believes in you,' projected how he came for his second degree in Law without minding age been against him and he also enjoined the audience to focus like an eagle.

After the event, our correspondence met with the Man of the Moment himself for an interview.

_____________________________________________________________________________

UCJ: Congratulations on this massive feat you achieve. Can we meet you?

Mr. Isa: My name is Umar Saidu Isa, I am a poet, an expressional motivational speaker, singer, rapper, audio producer, voice over artist, a graphic designer and an entrepreneur. I am also a staff of the Kwara state University.

UCJ: You go by the name – ‘The Dynamic Galvanizer’. Can you tell us the origin or etymology of this choice of name?

Mr Isa: I choose this name because most of my poetry works are based on motivation. To galvanize means to motivate people into action, so I galvanize.

UCJ: When did you start writing?

Mr Isa: I started writing in my secondary school…

UCJ: …writing poems?

Mr Isa: Yes, in my secondary school.

UCJ: And you have been performing since then or just writing?

Mr Isa: Yes, I’ve been performing right from my JSS 1, right from 2006.

UCJ: What can you say of the interest Nigerians show towards poetry as an art?

Mr Isa: Okay. It has not really been that accepted compared to how the pop music is been accepted but we are trying to push it and that is why this kind of event has been organized. So, I could actually encourage Nigerian youths, most especially, to actually put poetry in the same position that they put pop and other music genres…yes.

UCJ: Your style of art is quite unique; you sing, present and rap. Why did you choose to do your performance that way?

Mr Isa: Well, I wanted it to be mixed up since in Nigeria, this kind of environment, most people (like 90%) are interested in entertainment, so I decided to spice it up a little bit with rap and songs because they wouldn’t want to listen to just poetry like that.

UCJ: Would you agree that poetry is boring?

Mr Isa: It depends on the way you put it, you know…it depends on the way the poet writes it or presents it, that’s what makes it boring. But for people who are not intellectuals, they say it’s boring, people who only are focused on the beats of music or are used to hip-hop or fast music would not appreciate poetry because they only get high with the musical instrument instead of listening to the words, so such people would not appreciate poetry.

UCJ: Okay, now “Man of the Moment”, the theme of the event. What inspired that theme?

Mr Isa: Okay! I named the album after the fourth track of my album which is ‘Man of the Moment’. It speaks about constant struggles towards your goals, and that when you struggle constantly, success would definitely smile at you. And I’ve seen this event as an achievement, so I believe today I’m the man of the moment. Being the man of the moment means you have achieved all what you have been struggling for and today you are standing proudly to claim it.

UCJ: The African time syndrome surely manifested here today. How did you feel or what was running through your mind at that time?

Mr Isa: Well, I wasn’t too bothered because I have seen a lot of event being treated that way – when you say 10:00, they come 10;30; when you say 11:00, they come around 11:30 or 12:00. And I knew people were definitely going to turn up but they are just used to that attitude towards events. I would like to encourage them to put a change to that.

UCJ: How would you describe the turn-out today?

Mr Isa: Yeah! I’m really impressed with the turn-out today, although compared to some entertainment events they would have had more crowd than this. But looking at an event of this level and having this kind of crowd I’m impressed. So, thank you.

UCJ: How can people assess your motivational works? Do you have a blog, website or through the social media?

Mr Isa: Yes, yes. My audio poetry, songs and other works can be gotten online on my website which is www.dynamicumar.com. Through the social media, you can get it on: Intagram: dynamicgalvanizer, Facebook: Umar Saidu Isa, Twitter: poeticumar and on Whatsapp 07032044605.

UCJ: What advice would you give to upcoming artists that would love to perform poetry?

Mr Isa: I would like to tell them not to give up on whatever it is they are doing because entertainment and hip-hop is the trend now. So, I’ll like to advice them not to give up on whatever they are doing and try their best to take themselves to the top. They should never give up.

UCJ: Okay. Thank you very much. Do you intend launching another album in the nearest future?

Mr Isa: Yes, yes.

UCJ: Have you started working on it?

Mr Isa: No, I’ve not started yet (laughs). I’m yet to sell this one so…(laughs).

UCJ: Thank you for your time, sir.

UCJ, Unilorin

FOSSSA Demands Apology Letter From Speaker, Welfare Secretary Over Irregularities

Unknown 07:53 Unilorin Dailies , 0 Comments

~~~Zainab Iwayemi

The SRC of the Faculty of Social Science has requested for an apology letter from her Welfare Secretary and Speaker concerning matters on souvenir distribution in the faculty during an SRC sitting on Saturday, May 19th, 2018 at the Faculty of Social Science, Unilorin.

The Welfare Secretary; Com. Kenny was questioned on the distribution of souvenir in the faculty for 2017/18 session as the number of souvenirs given by the UICPC did not tally with that distributed in the Faculty. The welfare secretary was however initially suspended but was recalled and told to tender an apology letter with a fine.

Com. Kenny explained that the UICPC gave him 600 souvenirs and instructed him to wait for some days. Upon recounting, the souvenirs were 587, however; 2, according to him were taken forcefully by the class reps of Political Science and Criminology, 6 CEC members took some "unauthorized" and the remaining 5 were no where to be found.

The Vice President, Com. Ayoola, objected that the souvenirs were not taken unauthorized but by the President's order as he felt they might be busy when proper distribution commenced. Also that she witnessed the class rep. of Political science collecting a souvenir but was not taken forcefully.

Comrade Kenny further buttressed that the sharing formula adopted was: number of 300 plus 400 level in each department, all over the overall, mutiplied by 600. He however claimed to have distributed the souvenirs according to the adopted formula.

On the other hand, he revealed that he deducted the number of books collected by the CEC from those given to their various departments. For instance, political science was meant to collect 77, but was given 72 since some members already were in possession of some.

Hon. Sanni from political science blamed the welfare secretary and asserted that he saw the welfare secretary give a keke driver a copy of the souvenir. Com. Kenny however denied it.

He stated that the issue on ground was borne out of selfish interest and not for FOSSSA's interest.

He explained further that during the week, himself and the speaker; Ajala Abdul Salam had spat on each other's face and that the speaker said "I will deal with you unconstitutionally". He claimed to have replied in Yoruba with words that meant "when the Honourables are not in their right senses". This assertion was confirmed by 2 witnesses in the house.

Sen. Agbarism suggested that the president and the welfare secretary take responsibility for the missing souvenirs by paying a sum of #140 for each souvenir as a suspension would not help but lead to mutually assured destruction (MAD).

A motion was moved and seconded for the speaker to step down from his seat to be represented by any other honorable since the matter involved the speaker himself. Hon. Goni Farook was appointed the acting speaker.

The house resolved that out of the 13 missing souvenirs, 5 would be the President's responsibility as they were taken by his order and the remaining 8 will be provided by the welfare secretary.

After much deliberation, a 21 working days suspension was considered and comrade Kenny was declared suspended for 7 working days.

On the other hand, a motion was moved for the suspension of the speaker from 2 sittings. But the acting president suggested he should pay a fine instead and direct it to the director of welfare.

A motion for an open apology from the speaker was moved and finally agreed upon with 2 honourables appointed to follow up.

However, in other to strike balance, a motion was moved for the recall of the suspension of the welfare secretary in substitution for an apology letter and fine for the missing copies of the souvenirs.

Sunday, 20 May 2018

UNILORITE launches NGO for social development

Unknown 07:39 UCJ Interview , 0 Comments

A student of the University of Ilorin, Oluwaseun Awogbenle also known as Primebaba has co-founded an NGO called Millennials Active Citizenship Advocacy Africa Network, MACAA.

In an interview with him, he reveals that MACAA aims to build the active interest of youths in politics through the digital technology.

UCJ – Can I meet you?

Primebaba – My name is Oluwaseun Awogbenle, a 400 level student Biochemistry student, University of Ilorin. I am the co-founder of Millennials Active Citizenship Advocacy Africa Network, MACAA and former speaker of Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin.

UCJ- What does an average Nigerian have to know about MACAA?

Primebaba- MACAA is a network that seeks to inspire a critical mass of active citizenship. What we intend to do is to actually bring about a sense of belonging into the politics. What we are doing is trying to rejuvenate, reenergize. We understand that so many people especially young people have been disillusioned because of hopelessness basically. Not so many people want to be a part of politics because they believe that it has nothing for them.

So what we are set out to do is actually to get more people engaged for the greater good because we understand that there are two sides to citizenship; there is the demand schedule and supply schedule of citizenship. When you talk about supply then you talk about what government has to do for you. When you talk about demand; it has to do with as citizens what you want from government and then how do we demand it. So what we are doing is to actually get more people engaged in politics because what we see every day is apathies and young people who are not exactly interested in political process. Like I said earlier, they have been disillusioned and because the politics have not really looked positive overtime so too many people don’t want to get involved in the process.

So what we want to do is to actually inspire people but specifically we are into the millennial generation. We have a clarity that millennial as a generational cohort, two generational cohort before now; the gen X, we have the baby boomers. More than anything else, millennial actually have what we call the specialness of this generation and then one of the things that define this generation and makes it quite unique is that this is the only generation that has fully immerse in the world of digital technology. You know, you talk about the iphones, the androids and the selfies. These are some of the things that distinguish millennials. Aside from that, there are quite a lot of things. The fact that they have an entrepreneurial spirit, the fact that they are open-minded, they are liberal.

So what we want to do is that we are trying to see how we can actually transform the dynamism of millennials as a recipe for powerful social and political change because we understand that there is a specialness of this generation as a few of these qualities are highlighted. We are trying to see how we can transform the specialness and uniqueness of this generation into a lasting political change.

Now, in simple terms, we have more young people who are disinterested, who don’t want to come on board because they believe that politics have nothing for them. So what we want to do is actually to inspire and encourage more people to get in touch with the process because in the real sense of it, when you say you don’t want to get involved in the process because you don’t want the process to sap all of your energy, in the end the process ends up sapping the energy that you thought you were trying to conserve- emotionally, physically and even financially. The policies from this process determine how what we wear, how we wear them, what you eat and how you even eat them- you talk about monetary policies, physical polices. All of these things are the result and outcome of the process and when people don’t get involved, the quality of the outcome might not be savory or favorable but when you have more people get involved and get engaged you know it brings about transparency into the process and then the process will be quite balanced.

Like I talked about the demand and supply schedule, which is actually commensurate. When the demand goes up, there is likely to be a commensurate increase in supply because government has to sit up and know “oh more people are getting involved and there is really no time for frivolities. In the end, the fulcrum is going to be balance and we will have equilibrium.

UCJ- What inspired you?

Primebaba- What inspired me is simple, the fact that, more than anything else I have an conviction, as much as I see young people listening to music and they are quite passionate about, as much as I see them watch football, movies as much as I see them get interested in entertainment and the rest of them. If a measure of the energy, a considerable measure of the energy and the passion that they put into these other things can actually be invested in to politics. I think we would be better for it.

You know what I see every day and I continue to see are young people who are disinterested because the politics have disillusioned them into believing that they should box themselves into a corner and just be domicile somewhere while some persons should continue to do it. So what we now have is that the quality of the outcome of that process is not always favorable and in the end we all have to pay for it. The other time we had a situation in which fuel scarcity had to go for a long time because some persons fail what they were meant to do.

Most importantly, it now leads to a growing disconnect which really gets to me. I feel like the whole essence of democracy has actually been defeated and that is why our vision is to strengthen and deepen our democratic governance. Because we know that once we achieve what we want to do we would be able to strengthen and deepen democratic process and practices across the continent.

Particularly I had my experience. During the last local council elections in Kwara State particularly, I was out on the queue and I decided to observe a few of the polling unit around my area. I could canter up to as much as two or three polling unit. The last polling unit that I was, I was going to take pictures as a citizen reporter not even as a journalist per say but I was going to take pictures of the process because I had an understanding that we all have a role to play in trying to ensure the quality of the process. So we had a situation in which most of the people that were on the queue were those that you call the impoverished voters, they were the elite nor exactly educated of the society so what I saw was the aged people having to determine the fate of the rest of us.

That clearly played out in the 2015 elections where less than 30 million Nigerians decided who became the president in 2015 out of a possible 180. But about 90 million Nigerians registered to vote in 2015 but about 30 million people coming out. Today, Nigeria’s work force is about a 125 million and then you look at what you have commensurate of people that come out to vote, most times, there is always an imbalance.

So they thought, the impoverished voters that I was probably going to stand in the way perhaps a possible manipulation of process so they had the ears of the police, they called the police, the police whisked me away but before they did that I was brutalized right there, I was hit, I was bitten, I could not remember the number of slaps I even got. I was extorted in the end. The brutality and all of that equally cumulated to the fact that yea I was willing to press charges but as some point I realized that somehow you could turn your mourning into a strategy and that is why I am equally convinced about what I could do.

You know if I had gotten justice for myself, justice could have been my own victory but it could be a shared justice when you have movements like this where people are willing to come open and then when people understand that they must have a role to play. For every 24 hours in a day, it is not so much when young people begin to tune in to just 30 minutes to watch news. Its part of it, just to know what is going on; just to know oh, I have a commissioner somewhere; what’s GDP? What is monetary policy? What’s physical policy? What’s the present inflation rate? Not so many people care about this but these are things that determine what eventually happens in the end.

These are things that determine the value of the money that you hold in your hand. In the end, I just want to see more people get involved and actively engaged. But the indifference and docile attitude that we have to politics basically is not particularly encouraging. Like someone said the greatest ark of human history bends towards people understand that none of us has all of the answers and that all of us just have to come together to roll our sleeves and get our dirty.

UCJ- What are your activities?

Primebaba- Basically we understand and realize that there is a uniqueness of this generation and I talked about the fact that millennials are the first generation to fully immerse in a world of digital technology. What we are doing is that we are going to be leveraging on digital technology as a recipe. For most of the things we are going to be doing, it’s going to be digital technologically inclined and then how to make the process more opened and transparent. Because what you see are more people who have phones, gadgets, and are not really interested in politics. So we are going to be having tweets interactions to see how we can also influence and effect campaigns over whatsapp and all of these social media platforms.

It’s going to be digitally inclined whatever the plan is because we know that that is what appeals to young people- they are always on their phones more than ever before so we see the need to get them involved through digital means.

UCJ – Do your organization have anything to do with the 2019 general elections?

Primebaba – Apparently not, I think it is just a mere coincidence. The scoopful I had with the police was last year November, 2017 and then I got the clarity in December; about a month after. Then we worked on registration process for about four months. I think it is just a coincidence, I think this is genuine and sincere. But it’s a positive that it’s coming at this time because it’s a time when people have to get involved. It’s a win for democratic governance in the end.

UCJ – In what ways will your organization help in nation building and good governance of Nigeria?

Primebaba – Nation building is the assignment of this generation, I am excited that more people are getting excited about the initiative and they want to come on board. So we are going to have provision for people to sign up over our website- www.maccanigeria.org.

We understand that there is a need to balance global challenge with local responsibilities. So what we intend to do is to actually have a critical mass of MACAA network across the State of the Federation. Like they say all politics have to start local, so we know that we can only balance global challenge with local responsibilities. We are going to have more people getting engaged at the grassroot, people that would be talking to even the counselors, we are going to have people consistently engaged- because that is what we want to imbibe. We want to imbibe that culture of consistent engagement. We would continue to provide platforms in which people can assess whoever it is that is representing them. So we are going to be breaking down, shatter all forms of barrier because what we have over time is we don’t have such engagement and it is this engagement that can actually enrich the politics.

The interesting thing is when we have a consistent level of engagement, we can improve the level of confidence and trust in the system and approval rating will equally go up. But when we have a situation in which there is disconnect and nobody is talking to anybody. Like they say, when there is no information, there is always room for speculation. More people speculate that government isn’t really serving their interest. For instance we have people in Kwara State; they are going to consistently engage the government. It’s going to be a bottom up approach and not a top down.

UCJ – What support do you need from youth?

Primebaba – We want more people to sign up and join as much as they actually feel convinced about the whole ideas. Signing up will not mean anything; it does not mean you have joined a political party. Signing up will be that you are taking a pledge to be an active citizen. It means that you are pledging to be an actively engaged citizen. So you are pledging that henceforth, you are going to get interested in simple matters of governance, henceforth anytime you see your Governor talking on the TV, you are not going to change the channel going to watch HIpTv.

So it’s not a big deal at all. You are pledging to say I am going to take my PVC today and I am going to vote the next time. It does not mean joining a political party, it does not mean running for public offices. But what we are saying is that you are getting involved and you are getting to do what you should do as a person. The signing up isn’t much. It’s like to say “today, I am going home by 7pm and I am going to watch the news, I am going to mobilize in my society, I am going to let the government know that our water is no longer functioning, we are going to organize and strategize to get the government to fix our road for us”. It’s as simple as taking basic actions that will eventually go a long way to affect the result, the outcome and the quality of the process.

UCJ – What advice will you give to youth who want to start up NGOs?

Primebaba – It’s more about conviction first. Once you have conviction and clarity of what you want to do, it gives you an impetus and it gives you a drive, it apparently results into determination and confidence. It also brings understanding that you have to fight doggedly.

I was reading recently and someone said “face your challenges and run rather than see your challenges and run”. It is important that you face it and challenge it. It’s always going to get discouraging, I mean everything almost everything in life is discouraging.

Just like Mark Zuckerburg said “the idea of a single eureka moment is the dangerous lie”. You have more people who have gotten inspiration to start something today but they feel like the idea is not worthwhile or wholesome enough to get them to where they desire to want to be. But that’s the dangerous lie because ideas don’t really come out fully formed. They only get better as we work on them. I did not get the clarity about millennials in just one day, it’s taking a whole lot of time to eventually build and we are going to continue to build until we eventually get there.

Even in government, reformation is not a destination. That’s why we even have government change baton every four years. Look at how made Lagos is and then you see that a certain Governor comes and decides to change the place and people are still feeling it.

It calls for continuous yearning. They must have the passion and the drive and that thirst that I think I can do this and most importantly the hunger. The hunger must be there. There are nights when it will be lonely, scary and difficult. There are nights when it will be just yourself and nobody is really encouraging. There are times when you feel like you should actually give up. Nobody will actually encourage or motivate you. You just have to be self prepared because people equally have things that they are going through in their equal lives.

More than anything else, they have to be self prepared because they are times when things will actually get discouraging and they cannot afford to just give up. Once people are self prepared and convinced about what they want do, about any idea, they should get started. They should not wait for when they think this is the perfect state, when they think the idea is right. Ideas don’t get fully formed; they only get better when we work on them.

Friday, 18 May 2018

CONFUSION TRANSMISSION: A Poem Inspired by the Police IG's Speech

Unknown 01:28 National Dailies , 0 Comments

~~~ Ukor Jonathan

Sequel to the trending IGP's, Ibrahim Idris, video footage which shows him stammering in an attempt to read out his own speech, someone was inspired to write rather than to just be amused. The speech was read on Monday to commission the Police Technical Intelligence unit in Kano state. Where many had made jokes and savagery remarks regarding this, a Poet, Ukor Jonathan (aka Jon Ukor, aka Liberty) pens his thoughts in this poetic piece titled "CONFUSION TRANSMISSION".

The poem is a 5-stanza literary work with each stanza having 6 lines (non-metrical), except the fourth stanza which is metrical. He writes of the paradox of living in Nigeria, the pretense of both the rulers and the ruled, and the culpability of all and sundry. As a closing remark, he admonishes the citizenry, from the upper class to those under bridges to "First remove the moth in thine eye /Then inform countrymen of the beam in theirs".

He hopes to achieve not just the so-called restructuring of the nation but for the restructuring of the Nigerian minds and for a clearer mindset of future generations:

CONFUSION TRANSMISSION

By Ukor Jonathan

      We live in a paradoxical world
      As the wealthy take from the poor
      The poor deceive the ignorant
      The ignorant believe in their folly
      The fools take pride in their foolishness
      Until it gets to the third person

      We breathe an air of pretense
      A cordiality that chokes our windpipes
      Intimacy of lust and fake love
      Religion of mere spirituality
      Free salvation now up for auction
      Still we blame the third person

      We laugh at our child's innocence
      "how charming", we would say
      Yet slander the other man's child
      A tyre round his neck before saying Jack Robinson
      Pronounce him guilty before a trial
      "People are wicked", we yet say

      It's an apprehensive transition
      I mean... this trending transmission...
      Which already has an effect on the Nigeria nation
      A sheer confusion on our generation
      Poor educational system, dwindling living condition
      Not forgetting the worldwide renowned Greencard humiliation

      We are all culpable
      So don't blame the third person
      First remove the moth in thine eye
      Then inform countrymen of the beam in theirs
      Before we are blinded by this confusion
      Before it is transmitted to another blind generation

©Jon Ukor

Ukor Jonathan is a 400L student of the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, University of Ilorin. He has been writing poem as far back as 2011. Most of his works can be assessed on his WordPress account:

www.everythoughtweb.wordpress.com. His personal favorites are: The Goodness of Bad People, Grief, Vintage Lies, Its a Sunday in Nigeria, Tabula Rasa, Brothers Meet Friends, among others.

Thursday, 17 May 2018

“Promote a Journalism of Peace” – Pope Francis

Unknown 22:40 International Dailies , 0 Comments

Stephen Charles

Stephencharles77@yahoo.com

The 13th of May 2018, represented a symbolic day slated for the commemoration of the world communications day. Pope Francis, as a customary way of marking the day, gave his message which was released on the 24th of January in memory of St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists.

The theme of the message being; “The truth will set you free”, the catholic pope seized the medium to advance the drive for a 'Journalism of Peace' rather than that which is based on witch-hunts and falsehood. He pointed out that humans are made in the likeness of God and are able to express all that is true, good and beautiful, but when they yield to pride and selfishness, the mode of using their ability to communicate becomes distorted.

Francis testified to the fast-changing nature of the current world of communication and digital systems and pointed out that fake news is on the spread.

He explained “that fake news has to do with false information based on non-existent or distorted data meant to deceive and manipulate the reader” usually for the advancement of specific political or economic goals.

He traced the origin of false news to the origin of man -the time of Adam and Eve and pointed out that no one can feel exempted from the duty of countering these falsehoods.

Explaining how to identify false news, Pope Francis noted that they go viral, spreading so fast that they are difficult to stop and that they appeal to the insatiable greed so easily aroused in humans. He agreed that an impeccable argument can indeed rest on undeniable facts but noted that “if it is used to hurt another or discredit that person in the eyes of others, however correct it may appear, it is not truthful”.

Francis pointed out that truthful statements can be recognized from their fruits as to “whether they promote quarrels, foment division, encourage resignation; or on the other hand, they promote informed and mature reflection leading to constructive dialogue and fruitful result.

He finally went ahead to fuel the drive for the promotion of peace via the news of truth and charges both journalists and the general public to promote a journalism of peace, noting that “the best antidotes to false news are not strategies but the people”.

The Mission of Nigerian Media in the Face of Political Reality

Unknown 22:30 UCJ Opinion , 0 Comments

–– Stephen Charles

Stephencharles77@yahoo.com

The popular cliché of the media being the fourth estate of the realm is today, not such an uncommon one in any society where a democratically elected government is orthodox. It is one which bestows a considerable magnitude of importance and recognition on the mass media as being a highly dignified and politically neutral body, a watchdog that looks out for the excesses and lapses of the government with regards to the discharge of its constitutional obligations.

As the fourth estate of the realm, the media is one which is considered to be the fourth platform of authority in succession with the legislative, executive, and judicial arms and ensures that the latter discharge their constitutional duties in a manner fully representative of the interests of the people.

In the face of this highly-placed obligation, the Nigerian media is no exception. It is in fact charged with the constitutional responsibility and given the liberty with regards to informing, educating and enlightening Nigerians on the policies, deeds and misdeeds of the government and by this means, ensure that the virtues of good governance and true federalism are upheld.

In fact, the section 22 of the Nigerian constitution fully acknowledges this highly valued and indispensable obligation, stating that “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people”.

By virtue of this constitutional provision, the Nigerian media is given the freedom and charged with the civic duty of upholding the “the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy” contained in chapter two of the Nigerian constitution as well as making sure, through its daily functions that the government performs its duties and is fully accountable to the people. It is meant to keep an eye out for situations or areas in which the government seems to be functioning outside the code of conduct set by the constitution and points the attention of both the government and the governed in the direction of such with the ultimate goal of having them corrected and ensuring that the more orthodox and constitution-abiding path of governance is threaded.

In the light of these, one is then forced to ask: Is the Nigerian media performing these highly place duties and of course without prejudice, unscrupulousness, and subjectivity? Is the government truly and fully held accountable to the people in tandem with the demands of the constitution? Has the media fully been allowed and given the mandate, liberty, and protection needed to carry out its obligations without any hindrance whatsoever?

Considering the magnitude of contempt, harassment, and mortal danger frequently dealt on media workers; considering the seeming covert nature of the of the so-called accountability of governmental persons with regards to certain key and sensitive issues in governance; considering the depth of corruption into which a handful of Nigerian media houses are terribly rooted, being active partisans simultaneously in both politics and media business; considering the manner in which the same constitution which empowers the media has simultaneously come to limit same and provides them with no protection in the face of their daunting responsibilities, one cannot but leave out a moment of considerable trepidation and doubt when asked to provide answers to these questions.

However, and a few issues must be rectified if the media is to function objectivity and execute its constitutional obligations without fear or favour.

First, ethical and objective practices which are the true virtues of the profession must be frequently upheld in the media and offenders in that regards should be promptly sanctioned in accordance with predetermine penalties.

Public officers should equally be made to understand the powers and duties of the media and that they are accountable to the people through them. True press freedom and independence should also at all times be upheld and politicians should be refrained from owning media houses if possible.

In a nutshell, the Nigerian media should be given a certain degree of constitutionally recognized immunity to certain laws that are more of a hindrance to the effective execution of its functions if it is to be expected to function to the best of its capacity without fear or subjectivity. The freedom of information should also at all times be guaranteed. If all these are ensured, then the answers to the afore-raised questions should definitely turn out to be positive ones.

UNILORIN: Security Management Allay Fear Over Insecurity on Campus

Unknown 22:12 UCJ Interview , 0 Comments

~~~Iwayemi Zainab

The incessant security concerns on campus has left many with little to hope for. While some students feel their safety on campus can no longer be guarantee – in the past, female students in private hostels have claimed to be victims of sexual, psychological and physiological assaults.

In an interview with the security management, that is, The Chief Security Officer (CSO), Deputy Chief Security Officer (DCSO) and the Operation Officer (OO) – Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ilorin, unraveled the miseries on the state of security on campus, the installation of CCTV, new recruits for the unit, security negligence by students and solutions to insecurity on campus.

UCJ: Can we meet you?

CSO: My name is I. M. Tijani, Chief Security Officer (CSO).

DCSO: I am Imran Balogun, the Deputy Chief Security Officer (DCSO), I am in charge when the CSO is not around.

OO: R. A. Ali, the Operation Officer.

UCJ: What can you say about insecurity on campus?

DSCO: There is no insecurity on the University of Ilorin campus. I can confirm that to you. What do you mean by insecurity? Is it a situation where by you have people panicking, running up and down, eh! I want to do this o, yesterday there was robbery o.

UCJ: In cases where gadgets such as phones and laptops that are being stolen, Isn't that part of insecurity?

DCSO: Students phones are stolen among themselves. We are not suppose to be watching your phones for you, if a student from Oke-odo sleeps off while charging his phone is it the security that would watch over the phone for him? I hope You understand.

OO: Someone's carelessness cannot be likened to the security.

UCJ: Are you saying there is no insecurity on campus?

OO: In a case where someone is either given bruises, struggling to take something from another person, that is insecurity or when you are sleeping in your hostel, instead of you to lock your window /door, you let it open and someone sneak in while you are asleep isn't that insecurity?

CSO: You See, to add to that, there was a time students' movement were restricted? But, our students now move freely.

DCSO: At night, come to this area (security unit) you will see them(student) tapping the server of this GTBank. They will sit there. It is recently we just told them(GTBank) to off their wifi or lock it so that students will read.

UCJ: What about cases where students lament about being afraid or possibility of being raped by guys ( for instance, the case of Arafims hostel last session)?

CSO: Has any lady been raped on the campus?

UCJ: No lady was raped.

CSO: Please, drop the question.

UCJ: Can you briefly highlight the basic functions of the security unit?

DCSO: To secure lives and property of the university community.

UCJ: Does that include using wipes on students? ( During the recently GNS exam conducted, students complain of security using wipes on them).

OO: It's a lie. Did you get the number of students and the name of the security that used wipe on students? Let me give you a scenario when the immediate past SU President, Eminent was slapped by a lecturer, what happened? Was the lecturer not known? If students were wiped by security man, what happened to the security man?

DCSO: If it happened, the students must have been aggrieved and must have reported the incident.

CSO: We don't have such record where a security man wipe a student, because no student has come to us to make report that he has been wiped by security man.

UCJ: It has come to our notice that most people who carry out theft are not Unilorite?

All three: That's a lie, about 80 percent or almost all of them are student of Unilorin

UCJ: For those who are not unilorite, how do you go about this cases? Do you just let them go?

CSO: No

DCSO: No

OO: No, their cases are in court, including our own students.

CSO: What happen normally is that if a non-unilorite is arrested for stealing, we refer such person to F division from there the DPO charge the case to court. If in court/police the person can be released on bail, it is not the security that release him on bail. We don't bail here. But our students, we keep them here, within the school to face the SDC. Once they face the SDC, and are being expelled that is enough issue. But pending the time he will be arranged before the SDC, he will be within the university because they are our students. Until they have been dealt with finally.

UCJ: What are he major challenges faced by the security unit?

DCSO: The university has been helping us in one way or the other. They gave us some gadget to use. We are expecting some new hands anytime from now.

OO: Another one is the porosity, that means the leakage which the university is getting control over.

UCJ: What do you mean by leakage?

OO: That is accessibility. Because of the large expanse of land, the Fulani usually encroach into the university and some do cause havoc.
You know the university has been dealing with them. The case has gone to court within some time now Fulani intruders will not come to the campus again.

UCJ: In an interview with the SU president, when asked about CCTV camera, it was revealed that it is a security matter. Why do we lack functional CCTV camera in our lecture halls? Don't you think that the installation of CCTV would reduce theft?

CSO: You said we lack functional CCTV, how do you know they are not functioning?

UCJ: We have actually seen one around, I ELH, but it isn't functional because issue of theft still arise there?

DCSO: It depends on the direction of the camera. When issue occur you know the professioners can't beat the CCTV camera. If it is the rotating type, it moves, there are those who move in before it comes back, even if it is a second, there are those who beat it and there are those who mask themselves and when such occurs a camera can't unmask a person.

UCJ: Mask? In unilorin?

CSO: It's just an example, mask does not necessarily means using cross or whatever object to cover your face you can do like this (putting five fingers across his face) can you know who I am? What am I doing if I do like this? I am masking my face.

UCJ: Does that mean the CCTV is functional?

All three : Yes

UCJ: And has it been effective?

All three: Yes

DCSO: I will advice you to go to NOC, when you get there they will be able to tell you where we have CCTV cameras in the school because they control it and we have our men there. There is another one at VC's office.

CSO: With the one at LT1, even on phone we can view what is happening there – number 2, If they are not functioning I'm sorry to say it is students that is causing it not to. You know why? There are those of you who have hidden agenda, they like to do scenes as though they are adult, but they shouldn't be doing it in the open.

OO: Students remove bulb because of their...Canal Nonsense and when you remove the bulb the camera cannot function properly.

CSO: Let me give you a scenario the one at LT1 picked 2 students, a lady and a guy they were romancing themselves, then they were only 2 in the lecture theatre and they were there for long for almost 30 minutes the two of them.

DCSO: The CCTV is functioning so we have one at VC's office another one at NOC (that is the control panel) they cover everywhere so all the CCTV are functioning.

OO: When the CCTV is facing here (using hand gesture to denote one side) how do you think it will capture those on the other side?

UCJ: Has the SU been cooperating on security issues?

All three: They have been cooperating.

OO: They call us in the night 2:00am, 3:00am...and sometimes we call for meeting if need be.

UCJ: What is the required age for retirement of security personnels ?

All three: 65years.

UCJ: But we noticed we have less young men/women compared to the age mentioned?

CSO: How do you recognize a security man?

UCJ: They are usually on uniforms?

CSO: We have those who are not on Uniforms.

OO: They do undercover jobs.

CSO: We have young ones, so those we normally see, the aged ones, they are yet to reach 65, so you can't expect them to retire before 65.

OO: Like I am, and I have joined the university since 1982 and I am not 65 years old.

DCSO: If you see any one that is old, he is yet to reach 65.

CSO: Both security man, drivers, portals, non teaching staff retires at 65 while teaching staff at 70.

UCJ: What advice would you give to students?

OO: They should listen to instructions from the security. The way they stay overnight without anybody, if a student stays in the classroom for a period of time alone, that could be unsafe.

DCSO: They should simply obey rules and regulations. When you obey rules and regulations the university will be safe.

CSO: They should handle their students hand book like their Bible or Quran. I some don't open their Bible and Quran. But Students should make use of their handbook, any student who follows his student handbook from A-Z will not have any problem. And each and every students were given the student handbook on admission before the orientation day my advise to them is that they should be law abiding. Security does not harass a law abiding student, but whereby you want to test the strength of the security. There are those of you who remove their ID card. Like you are wearing your ID card nobody will disturb you or ask you to show your ID card secondly, the dress code issue is stated in the handbook, students should abide by the dress code.

OO: Securities are not enemy to students even we expect students to give security information so that there will be campus of peace and happiness. If students sees things that are wrong and they refuse to report such. How do we control that issue? Some of them see more than we do, because there are many on ground, so they can give security Information.

DCSO: Then you journalist should help the university, If you see anything going on, inform the security, I like as you have come here to clarify some issues the students gave you. We are very security conscious we have capable hands to handle the situation the problem is that students should cooperate with us so that we can achieve our goal.

OO: If you spend just 10 minutes here you will see cases we handle, lots of cases but you people will not know because you are not in charge.

UCJ: Can we have the general security number so that student can have access to it?

All three: We gave it already. During orientation.

CSO: Even there is leaflet but here it is 09053927816 at any time 24 hours this phone is never switched off.

Ramadan: Unilorin MSSN holds forum

Unknown 16:06 Unilorin Dailies , 0 Comments

The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, University of Ilorin has held her first episode of knowledge forum, in Ilorin.

The Guest lecturer, Abu Ja'far spoke on the adjurations of students on the best practices in preparation for Ramadan.

He informed that the first preparatory step towards Ramadan is Repentance while others were supplication to Allah, making provision for foodstuffs, specifying beneficial books to read through the month for spiritual refreshment.

Furthermore, the guest speaker admonished his audience that fasting only begins upon sighting the crescent and so it is important to wait on the Sultan of Sokoto for his final announcement in that regard.'

The lecturer also stated that eating predawn meal is recommended for an individual: "predawn meal is a highly rewardable act. However, the best practice is to delay it while the reverse turns the case for fast-breaking".

Moreso, the Mullah hinted the congregation on the acceptable things to be done which were swimming or taking a shower, use of inhaler, Kohl, injections that provide energy among others. However, use of drips, lustful kissing between spouses, masturbation, and deliberate regurgitation are not accepted. Also that eating forgetfully during the day of Ramadan does not vitiate one's fasting.

In the category of people exempted from fasting, the scholar mentioned that the terminally ill as well the old are excused from fasting during Ramadan, but must make up by feeding one who fasts. On the other hand , temporary ill, women on their menses and post-natal bleeding should not fast during Ramadan but spay pack the missed days.

Other MSSN Executives present were Adewunmi Ibrahim (the president), Agboola Uthman (Ass. Gen. Sec.) Soaga Hassan (PRO) Mikãil Mutalib (Coordinator, Mgt Sci.), Hamza Habib (librarian), Ridwan Omotosho (Secondary School Coordinator).

INEC Hosts Youth Strategy Development Meeting

Unknown 11:47 National Dailies , 0 Comments

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in conjunction with Youth Initiative Advocacy Growth and Advancement, YIAGA, has organized a youth focused state consultation meeting, at the INEC Office in Kwara State.

The gathering which was graced by NGO, CSO, and Pressure Group leaders, was a brainstorming session which allowed for due consultation from different perspectives, towards aiding the execution of the primary objectives of INEC.

The meeting which happened on Wednesday, May 17, was declared open by the Publicity Officer, INEC, Mr Sheriff, while the welcome address was given by representative of YIAGA, Mr Olasupo Abideen. Directors from various departments in the INEC also graced the event, to assist in decision making.

The meeting saw discussants and INEC officials divided into sub groups to tackle various issues that were tabled for scrutiny. The Guide questions included issues like; "INEC Youth Strategy Development Goals, Objectives, Principles, Values and Targets; Identifying Youth Issues In the Electoral Process".

At the end of the event, participants were able to map our strategic solutions to the problems highlighted at the inception of the event. The recommendations and suggestions reached were collated for dispatch to INEC Headquarters in Abuja, where they will be looked into critically, and adopted where necessary.

The event was signalled over with a closing prayer, as parties gathered for refreshment and photographs.

Akinyemi M. Adedeji,
UCJ, UNILORIN.

Wednesday, 16 May 2018

Operation Clean Law: Lord Kenny Speaks

Unknown 21:07 UCJ Interview , 0 Comments

A sanitation exercise was carried out in the class areas of Faculty of law, University of Ilorin on 12th May.

The exercise tagged ‘OperationcleanLaw’ was initiated by Ebitanmi Kehinde, a 400lvl student of the department of Common Law in conjunction with the office of the welfare secretary of the society. The cleaning exercise was done alongside a Cleanliness awareness campaign as students were seen holding placards with inscriptions.

After the cleaning, our correspondence met with him for an interview.

LP: Good evening, sir. Can we meet you?

LK: My name is Ebitanmi Kehinde popularly known as Lord Kenny.

LP: On the Operation clean law, whose initiative is it?

LK: The whole idea was mine, it’s my initiative and I told the welfare secretary and she bought the idea though she said she had something similar in mind. So we actually carried it out together.

LP: When you used the word ‘we’, who did you refer to as we? Is it you and the welfare secretary or members of the society?

LK: I carried out the project in conjunction with the welfare secretary, so we made the project open to LSSite to volunteer and luckily we had quite a number of people who volunteered for the sanitation exercise.

LP: Did you do the 'operation' in your personal capacity or as the Assistant General Secretary of the society?

LK: I did what any well-meaning LSSite could have done.

LP: The equipment, detergents and any other thing utilized were provided by who?

LK: It was an aggregate of my personal fund and donations gotten from LSSites who out of their generousity also donated towards the cause. Therefore, I would like to use this medium to appreciate everyone who donated and participated in the sanitation exercise in one way or the other.

LP: What is your purpose for initiating and carrying out such an exercise?

LK: A renowned statesman once said that “Think of what you can do for your society not what the society can do for you”. I believe this statement encapsulates the progressive and ideal mentality an individual should have as a member of a society who truly desires to contribute to the growth and development of his society. Thus, the underlining wisdom in this statement has been my guiding principle for a long time. Hence, the reason why I embarked on the project tagged: "Lord Kenny Mark-Up LSS project" wherein I sponsored the procurement of whiteboard markers and refilable ink for same last semester. Similarly, this time around, I observed that the faculty needed some level of sanitation, so, I thought of it as something I could do in my own way to contribute to the betterment of the society.

LP: How do feel about the support of LSSites and their turn up? Do you think it was impressive or below your expectations?

LK: The turn up was quite encouraging. They were very supportive.

LP: On a scale of 100 how supportive would you say they were bearing in mind that there are about 700 LSSites?

LK: Quite a number of people came and it’s a good one.

LP: Thank you sir for your time.

Omodara Ruth,

LSS PRESS.

Saturday, 12 May 2018

UNILORIN SIWES holds orientation

Unknown 07:46 Unilorin Dailies , 0 Comments

The University of Ilorin Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) Unit has held her annual SIWES pre-placement orientation program for penultimate students at the University auditorium, University of Ilorin.

The orientation program was an attempt to enlighten students on safety, log book filling and other necessary knowledge needed to embark on SIWES.

The program was introduced by the moderator who informed that “SIWES gives great opportunity to sharpen knowledge in various studies and the program is an annual occasion which is always done in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF). ITF has been taking care of funds since 1973”.

The Director of SIWES, Unilorin; Dr. Wasiu Raji in his welcome address admonished that “SIWES is a mandatory skill acquisition program with the goal of bridging gap between class room and laboratory teachings and also expose students to machines unavailable on campus”.

He explained further that “about 4600 students from eleven faculties will undergo SIWES this year in companies across the country. Letters have been issued to students to introduce to various companies. The most effective start to building manpower and resources among graduate is to allow knowledge sharing and technology transfer between academia and industry."

The Director disclosed that his office would seek for placement in companies for students and work closer with the University’s Alumni Association to give priority to Unilorites when they come for SIWES.

The speaker acknowledged the cooperation of ITF and representatives of industries as well as the support from the Vice Chancellor and his administration.

He however sought the University’s help for a vehicle to aid coordinators’ supervision and urged students to uphold values like punctuality, respect among others at their SIWES.

The Vice Chancellor; Prof. Sulyman Age who was ably represented by the DVC Management Studies, Prof. Bolaji Ahmed explained that the “objective of the SIWES is to strengthen future employees. For several years, university directorate repeatedly presents students to companies all over the country”.

The speaker appreciated the great work of the SIWES Director and his predecessors who have upheld the integrity of the program and assured them support from the VC.

Mr. Simon Ogbonna; the area manager of ITF in his address appreciated the work of the management of the institution and stated the need to supervise the students on attachment. He solicited maximum support for the SIWES as it prepared students for future industrial work situation and admonished that “supervisory allowance would not be paid to unsupervised students”.

The speaker explained that SIWES is an opportunity to apply knowledge in real work situations bridging the gap between theory and practice. Also that “most students may not know what they are expected to do due to lack of proper orientation and it is pertinent to remind you all to be good ambassadors of the institution”.

Mr. Simon Ogbonna reminded that “Nigeria is looking for job creators not job seekers”. He concluded with an urge for students to change their mindsets and take the program serious by using it to acquire right skills, abilities and competence.

The programme witness award presentation to ITF, Lubcon and Kamgroup by the VC’s representative.

The ITF head of training; Mr. Jibril spoke on the roles of bodies involved in management of SIWES and informed that the Federal Government allocates fund to ITF through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for the scheme as well as mandates employers to offer attachment.

The speaker explained that ITF is charged with formulation of policies and guidelines as they organize SIWES Orientation Program and also process master and placement lists from institutions among other functions.

Furthermore, he revealed that other bodies were involved in supervision (like NUC, NBTE and NCCE) and functioned to vet and approve master and placement list as well as organize orientation courses in collaboration with ITF.

The SIWES accountant; Mrs. Morounfade Shakira gave guidance on E-payment allowance and stated the importance of providing correct bank details.

A representative from Kamwire informed the nature of SIWES in Kam industries as they were interested in technical students. He concluded with the expectations from their companies to employees (students).

Mrs. Orji from the Human Resources Department, Lubcon talked on the procedure and allocation to departments in Lubcon. Safety hints were given by the state capital representative of Dangote flour mills.

The Director of SIWES unit gave general guidelines for writing industrial attachment report.

UNILORIN: Jaiz Bank begins operation on campus

Unknown 07:32 Unilorin Dailies , 0 Comments

Jaiz Bank, the most recently built bank on campus situated at Block 3 along the University walk way, University of Ilorin has begun its operations.

The Unilorin Jaiz bank just like other Nigerian conventional banks provides financial services to students and staffs but neither gives nor receives interest. The Bank claims to refuse to finance ventures like drugs, alcohol and gambling as it believes can cause harm to the society.

The MSSN Da'wah coordinator; Abu Sekinah informed the students on the development of Jaiz Bank during the Joint Faculty Ta'leem (JFT) program held on campus.

UCJ, UNILORIN