By: Josephine Awomodu

Educators have been complaining about the toilets being locked for a while and not available to meet their pressing needs. This inconvenience has affected a lot of educators so much that an educator who was reportedly ailing and needed to use the restroom in haste had to be rushed to another faculty to ease herself because the toilet in the faculty was inaccessible.

After several complaints to the executives and the body in charge of the toilet, educators were made to understand that the closure of the toilet was due to the improper disposal of sanitary towels in the toilet that had blocked the toilet.In lieu of this, this article is an enlightenment of the effects of improper disposal of sanitary towels.

Sanitation systems were designed for the purpose of with urine and excreta passage which must have shaped the circumference and breath of the pipes, hence, they can’t cope with menstrual materials. Menstruation materials will therefore clog the sewer pipelines as they are unable to pass through and cause the system backflow, if flushed down the toilet.

Pads and tampons, when flushed in the toilets, get saturated with liquid and swell up, this also results in sewage backflow, which is a serious health hazard. The adhesive wings and the perforated plastic layers of the commercial sanitary napkins are not easily biodegradable. The sewage blockages, mostly due to accumulation of excessive quantities of solid waste or sand, will result in hardening of the sludge in the pits.

Blockage of sewage systems is a global problem and a major contributing factor is flushing of menstrual products in toilets. The deodorized sanitary products used by women and girls contain chemicals used in bleaching such as organochlorines. When these deodorized sanitary products are buried in the soil, they’ll disturb the soil microflora and decomposition will take time.

It was discovered that some people who live alongside river banks throw menstrual waste into water bodies which contaminate them. These materials, soaked with blood, breed places for germs and pathogenic microbes. Sanitary products soaked with blood of an infected woman or girl may contain hepatitis and HIV viruses which retain their infectivity in soil and live up to six months in soil.

As for the clogged drainage with napkins, it has to be unblocked and cleaned manually by conservancy workers with their bare hands without proper protection and tools. This exposes the workers to harmful chemicals and pathogens. For a safer disposal and to avoid blockage next time, simply wrap your towel in a nylon or paper and put it in a bin.

Incineration is a better technique to dispose of menstrual waste, however, burning of pads releases harmful gases that affect health and environment. Burning of inorganic material at low temperature releases dioxins which are toxic and carcinogenic in nature.

By: SeilatOlaide

It is no longer news to most University of Ibadan students that the first semester examination will be starting on 9th January 2023, this induce a lot of feelings ranging from anxiety to fear of what the examination and its outcome would look like.The coming examination will bethe first of it to be taken by new students (100lv) of the university and this tends to trigger a lot of reaction and action in them thereby pushing them into reading at the expenses of their health and other various things. To this is why it’s very important to understand how to cope with during examination as freshers in order to perform excellently well so ss to merge with flying colours.

Examination is a mean of testing and asserting if learning has truly taken place, there is definitely no point of learning when it can’t be applied and put to practical, to show howfervently one has learnt a particular discipline there must be thorough practice of such discipline.This implies that what has been taught should be well learntand question could come on how to study for an exam. The best way to study is to stay in a well-organized and neat environment which can stimulate a lot of information and get accommodated by sense of the mind, an organize place will therefore stir the desire to learn as well as a conducive environment

After a conducive environment has been chosen, it’s important to note that necessary materials to be studied should be related to what one has been taught. In search of a better material, to have an explanatory note is the best but this shouldn’t cause a deviation  from the major content given in the class room as this could reduce one’s grading with a hung thought of performing excellently well, addition of points outside a given note should come after knowledge on the wants of the lecturer as some require a full note within what has been given in class while others may prefer an addition to what has been given.

As a fresher in a university, it is of nature to be curious about how to make good grades. As it’s a new stage of migration from the high school level and not all will know there are some adjustments at the tertiary level which is so much different from the high school, the university level requires a more comprehensive knowledge on facts than in the high school. It should be known that one’s knowledge about a discipline just be broad and broadly written if the course requires it, this helps to perform so well and the essay form writing style will be well appreciated.

One can’t cope with an examination by jeopardizing or neglecting one’s health, in the process of preparing for an examination it must be noted that the health status shouldn’t be taken with levity, therefore it then should be provided with that adequate rest, nutrition food and fruits, and regular exercise will stimulate the brain muscle enhancing easy assimilation. Since examination can’t be done by someone who can barely raise his or her hands, this shows to attend to an exam one has to be physically, socially, mentally, financially and emotionally fit which will in turn give a higher chance of a good performance.

It should also be noted that examination period is a different period in the process of being a student because this will give the result of the months of staying in the school.To portray a good result, one has to work for it. The preparation doesn’t start few days to the examination but the preparation starts as of now with appropriate guidelines to prevent an imbalance state of the body and mind which will affect the performance.

By: The Scribe

At the bank of the return from stagnancy that lasted for close to 8 months, we were at first greeted with the oils and waters of having to get used to academic process and its environments. This was a feeling that came in a form of a woman that experienced her first birth, it was all new to the core that having to recall the experience proves strenuous as of extracting an oil from a water. Being a semester that has been fashioned by series of trails, uncertainties, breaks and rebuilding of academic energies, it as well came with its gifts which all enjoyed on a state of relativity. As we approach the deadly timeline of the semester, here, we try to check on the positives and negatives of the semester as well as how it has shaped every student.

In light of the return from the long strike to the academic camp, there were strides in a battle of getting balance and reshaping all to a form of old times. Times of this were like forcing a horse to a river bank which will only be of a forceful move, to this effect, it has been directed to the advent of brains getting off the mark which resulted in the very slow start to the semester. To this recollection submerged almost 3-4 weeks of booting and restarting the energy vehicle and tapping into the order of the natural body as per the used to (then new) present stound.

Even through the expense of this, it again proved to be a very special semester as the number of weeks that later emerge to being of useful was very much shortened. It is of course a negative on the part of both students and lecturers in that before the strike action, through the two weeks expended then, nothing was covered and after the strike suspension, about 3 extra weeks were used to get all systems back on track thereby summing the wasted weeks to 5 weeks. The implication of this is what everyone has been witnessing for the past 2-3 weeks as all shades of courses have been coming in full force from all ends.

The strand seems to be of a one that almost all lecturers wanted to be done with their course before next week since the week that follows is a new year week and the one after sums the emergence of the first semester examination. Students have been put on a motion to manipulate and face all courses all at once. In this have we seen the smash of test after test, assignments and project work strolling in all in the name of continuous assessment continuation and different projects and group work. The form has been shaped in a style that the adaptation and effect of this on students wasn’t put into any measure of consideration as almost all (lecturers) are all at the target to get it all done with regardless of how it is being carried out.

To the mention of the above will take us back to the drama that unfold concerning the half salary payment to lecturers in the month of October and the fact that the withheld salary of 7 months is yet to be paid. We won’t be anyway totally wrong to say the hard forth and the shape of the semester has been designed in such a way of this as lecturers were not 100% dedicated to their lecturing activities after the event of half salary payment. Their attitudes towards lecturing became questionable and it was understandable to some extent.

The fact that the bulk of the negatives of all will always fall on the head of students gives the impression that the sides of students are not always put into consideration in matters that concern them. That the negatives of tussles that occur in the academic world is made to lie at the camp of the student world is something unjust and needs to be considered as an externality. In a situation where the students are short of the power and strength to fight back and be at the will to choose what they want and how they want it, then, students are left with no option than to accept it all as it slides in. The acceptance is therefore not to a defeat but accepted due to the fact that it has being seen as a negative externality.

The semester is therefor on the way to the exit way, it has become of note to face it with some extra strength and attitudes required to conquer it. That we are here to keep the semester in run implies that we still value education and ready to sacrifice other alternatives (working and earning) for schooling. It is of necessary to take it up and attack it with our full strength so that the smile that comes in at the of the tunnel will shine full lightnings. It of essence to locate the driving motivation and better get ourselves prepared for what it’s to come.

By: The Scribe

Ranging from the node and known facets by which the fashion of curriculum is designed that stretches the acquisition of honors postulates the seen and unseen struggles being faced by individuals/students under the umbrella of the Faculty of Education house. It can be rightly said that this house is a one that habitat minds who are projected by the public as sub-half in its house and seek for a completion elsewhere. Even through the activities surrounded by the way line meant to be experienced along its shapes, it thereby rolls out the confirmation of what is being faced by students under this umbrella.

What are we saying? The faculty of Education known to be the mother of all faculties which birth other disciplines through the order of the professions seems to be seen as a one that is of low quality in terms of its intelligence. How true or untrue this is strolls further to some level of argument with strongly backed reasons. But to the extent by which some members of the public or other individuals from other faculties tend to view education students and the disciplines enriched in it as a whole is what this article tends to address. The basis of the activities, the quality of the faculty, duties engage in by the students of the faculty and how well or bad they’ve performed will be stretched during the course of this article.

Firstly, it is of note to address and lecture minds who see education students as pushovers owing to the cut off marks that serves as a benchmark for admission into the faculty. One would wonder when cut off marks became the measure of intelligence or how sound a group of individuals are. Out of this idea is one that points out that students from other faculties who fail to perform well tends to be ‘erosioned’ to the faculty of education. This was actually a former practice by the university management which has been stopped about two sessions ago so as to nullify the saying this article is trying to correct that ‘Education is not a dumping ground and educators are never pushovers’

The faculty of education is often characterized with high population due to the number of departments it housed. Out of these departments is the department of Arts and Social Sciences Education and Science and Technology Education that have more than 3 sub departments with the former having 11 sub department and later having 4 sub departments. Many a people often feel the high number of the faculty’s population postulates that it is filled with weak bones and pushovers. Anyone seeming to generalize on this reasoning is considered weak in logical circumference. To this high number of students is one of the reasons the faculty is considered the most populous in the university.

It is mandated to be of notice that faculty of education students offer much courses than any other faculties. Ranging from faculty courses, departmental courses, general courses and borrowed courses from departments of borrowed course (teaching course) sums the bulk of courses they offer. Owing to this is where education students experience clashing of courses on timetable between faculty of education timetable and another faculties’ time table. The faculty of Arts, Social Science and Sciences where education students offer courses from seem not to put into consideration its effect on them. How well do you expect a student who miss about 80% of a course lecture to perform in continuous assessments and examination? Still, they strive hard to perform excellently.

Should we say the faculty of education students are not always put into consideration when issues surrounding academics are being debated on? The string of clashing of courses, education taking exam first even through the bulk of courses they are made to take further register the statistics which has to do with their low performance sometimes. At this point, it is of note to further stress on this examination time table design. Education, Agriculture and Law faculties (which the other two takes lower courses in their departments compared to education) kicks off the exam after one week of GES examinations. An education student offering about 7 – 8 courses within the faculty is meant to run that within two weeks.

Moreover, at the end of these two weeks, such an individual is meant to join his/her borrowed course faculties for another stretch of exam where his counterparts in this faculty have been on off for two weeks. This is quite an obvious reason that explains the low performance often recorded of education students. Even through these adversaries, it is of note to register and reckon the fact that education students have always put in their best to perform well and sometimes top the rank of scores in their borrowed courses results. The degree of weight placed on a student offering 14 courses across two faculties in semester can never be compared to one who takes 7 courses in same semester in a single faculty.

Going a step higher from the academic’s world, in other activities like sports, education students have always been raising the flags high both within the university against other departments and across the country in competitions like Pre-NUGA and NUGA. Also, in debates, we see education students representing their hall of residence well and not letting the faculty down in such occasions/competitions. In the students’ political world, it is of known to the entire university’s length and breath that education students never fail to display the true act of political activities and have always demonstrate such in a way that serves as role model to other faculties. 

Conclusively, in the steps and printings laid by this article, it won’t be anywhere acceptable and encouraging to still see mouths lashing low of education student’s credibility and intelligence. Considering the nature of the faculty’s career that is on motion to train future teachers who in turn be the mastermind of tomorrow’s education drivers. Are these pushovers? Also, the department of Arts and Social Science Education and Science and Technology Education students tend to be in a race of bagging double honors, yet some call these individuals pushovers? Maybe this article is better off concluding on the notion that those referring to faculty of education students as pushovers are saying such out of the well of jealousy. It is wide enough to state at this line that faculty of education students are educators and never for once pushovers!

A WATCH, A NEED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS (INTRO.)

By: The Scribe

Charged of the press is the required sense to inform the populace of the of ongoing within the length and breadth it covers (its boundaries). This connotes that when matters of checkmating and pointing of need for correction is at hand, there arise the warranted notion to swim in and perform the role (by the press). We will all agree to the idea that letting issues slide by without the press painting its pen style on it, in watching, informing and correcting, such will not connote the presence of an effective ‘claimed’ Fourth Estate of the Realm charged with such duties.

It is also of noteworthy to clearly stress yet again (as we did in our previous articles) that the press is not an organization set to critique the activities of the executive arm or the legislative arm. It is also not an organization that is all bent in ‘praying’ towards the fall of either of the previously mentioned parties so as to use such to grow its (press) space. Whereas, it comes to a point (most times) that through the activities of the press trying to disseminate information and clarifying matters, in such light to keep its location up to date, lines shall surely cross! And when such line crosses, it is warranted as respected individuals (that we all are) to pick sense from the entire ‘confusions’ (which might not be) and process out through critical thoughts.

There is a glimpse of understanding which is obvious to almost all that forces might tend to work against each other due to the hard tussle for power. This is envisioned as a political way of life which is ever present in any of such setting, but once such is beginning to affect the duties and responsibilities meant to be carried out by these parties, then, there is need to voice and correct such before it tends to slip off hand. In a bid to point to notion of some activities that seem to be on quest of danger, some indications will be called upon to decorate this discuss.

Individuals who hold positions tend to have a wrong orientation of what such role entails as close to 60% of these individuals who have eyes to serve in an executive or legislative position knows of little of the role and responsibilities. Firstly, to any leadership role comes the advent of sacrifice and utmost dedication, sacrifice that come with some quantifiable prices, sacrifices that are costly and those that are inevitable. But it is quite displeasing to seeing individuals holding positions stretching forth legs and seeming all calm when all is said to be – ‘fire on the mountain.’

It is an unacceptable idea and attitude to see the acquisition of leadership roles as an instrument to generate popularity or get the populace to know ‘you’ the more or a stepping stone to an envisaged position. It is also of the need to note that some are not even aware of their roles to other organs of the umbrella they are, by roles, we mean the constitutional duties that guides them and serves as a daily pledge/oath to the office they hold on to. Some who know it by heart are either too engrossed by the beauty of the office they hold or they willingly neglect the acts of those duties/roles. Acting in this sense connotes an act of irresponsibility and charges of ineffectiveness.

At the expense of these deficiencies and absence of accountability lies the failure to carry out charged responsibilities as at when due which can further bring about some interconnected failures. Also, these can be tagged as negligence of duties as ineffectiveness points at the strikes of not producing the expected outcome through the resources available. Even to such individual lies the negative tagged label of failure which can serve as a constraint to any futuristic ambition aimed at. One wonder if such person ever reason at these laid out consequences or even aware of these and yet decided to consciously ignore and enjoy life.

As stated earlier, the press is not on motion to attack or all bent in finding faults in activities carried out by its other arms, all we seek is to inform and correct. We are never an instrument used to set up an arm against another, stressing the notion that we are non-partisan further registers our evergreen credibility. This article as accorded by its ideas is just an introduction to what its nose perceives. There is need to at first send signals and then wait to see if the signals are yielded to or not. It will be of joy to the writer of this piece if to whom this is directed make corrections and set it all on order, if not, the pen shall then speak in a more direct format.

To whom it may concern, note that the press has eyes everywhere and the press is always watching. Never interpret the silence of the press to ignorance, lack of mastery or taking sides. Here, the pen has spoken to an extent and will slide for now, not to rest but to keep its signal tabs high and watch the aftermath. This particular pen is a very special one made for this special turnout occasions. Trust me when I say it shall not be used for any other responsibility so as to preserve its strength for what seems to come. Dear all, THE PEN IS WATCHING AND SHALL SURELY BE BACK!

By: The Scribe

Waking up to the swing of time path and how much it turns to be a flexible elastic instrument seems to cut all and sundry most times unaware. Not that we don’t know how to open our eyes or check through its demi tie to our wrist for its readings and calculations, but that it flows in a motion we most not comprehend its swings. Some people might even be of the opinion that maybe the running of time is beyond what anyone can fathom or that it is being stylishly controlled by some honorable invisible forces of our age. But the point the mentioned set of words is trying to drive out is that time moves in a fast motion that seems to be surprising when compared to the minds ability to run through.

Let us not bore ourselves much with the above illustrations as it seems too rigid to reason (even to this writer). The essence of its inclusion in this piece of writing is what we need to iron out. But mind you, this writer won’t fail to always reference to the previous paragraph as it is going to serve as a point of contact to this discuss. The fact that there is time stipulated for every sort of event to occur already registers in our minds that some things are meant to happen and must surely come to pass at such allotted time frame. Even with this, when the time appear for such to manifest, it seems to come too early most times and come too late in another rare scenarios.

What are we saying? The academic calendar of the university was given a new breath of life after the suspension of the ASUU strike on October 17, 2022. An updated academic calendar was rolled out which stressed all clear that the University had already expended two weeks of the semester during the period of January 31, 2022 to February 11, 2022 out of the 13 weeks of lectures stipulated for the semester. It further expressed that as of return, the school will only run the remaining 11 weeks which will elapse come January 6, 2023 in continuation of the already spent two weeks.

We should recall that out of these 11 weeks was the first week after resumption spent getting all set for the return to academic after 8 months of its stagnancy. Left with 10 weeks of activeness which does not seem to make us charge for the semester at its realization. The rate of fall in activeness is quite understanding owing to a long range to quiet as per teaching and learning which has drained all to remembering how to hold one’s pen and even recall a six digits matric number which is to tell how bad it was of. Out of those 11 weeks did we witness some courses kick starting around its 3rd or 4th week which is originally the 5th or 6th week of the semester. How bad!

Isn’t the semester a cunny one? As of this new week, the semester is entering its 9th week where almost 70% of courses are yet to reach the half way line. At normalcy, a 9th week is meant to be filled with second rounds of test and almost starting the last or second to the last topic of a particular course. But with the way the semester is designed, it shapes to being an abnormal one which is readily on a red alert. We must also bear in mind that out of these 11 weeks lies two weeks of Christmas and new year celebrations which indirectly points that most courses won’t be on during those weeks. What does this spell out? How do we interact this scenario? Is it a dilemma? Isn’t it a cunny semester?

Dear reader, it is of utmost care to come out clear and loud to our respective faces that it is high time to wake up. The semester through its fashion has set its designs for itself which is not going to be turned back, weeks we spent in trying to boot, get our minds on shape and reboot is over. If you are still booting at this time frame, I hope you won’t be left out of the whole process. The semester is right at our hinges on its climax stage, evidences are all around us as we have been receiving those lashes through assignments, presentations, impromptu tests and announced test. This semester is one of those semesters set aside to test out the strong ones and separate the men from the boys.

This article’s purpose is not to plant fear or nervousness in our heart, it is of the goal to remind you of the present stance, its nature and also to make you realize the danger of not moving with the speed the semester is. For all who thirst for knowledge must be ready to sacrifice for it in true morality what it entails. Though it’s not of our fault that the semester is like this but it is of our expectations to stand up and fight it through so as to smile the loudest when the result of how well we approach the semester swings in. Intellectual reader, know ye very well that it is too late to give up on anything, just accept the situation, set your time to a to-do task and find some self-motivation to charge yourself on for the semester. May we not be left out!

By: The Scribe

Owing to the current state of the country that has witnessed a failed score considering the economy sphere, the fluctuations experienced through the flexible fall in the naira currency value is quite notorious and alarming in an emergency way line. In economics thinking, such when the value attached to a currency keeps depreciating results to an obvious crisis as regards the nation’s economy. Resulting negatives like hike in price of essential commodities (inflation), increase in the trend of a further futuristic fall of that same value, too much of money in circulation which all these mentioned defects keeps the strengths of such currency in an epileptic state.

As experienced in the last couple of years (say 3-4 years) where the naira value has been stumbling in a worrisome format. Questions asked in the causes of this effect have always surround the fall of the domestic production in Nigeria which emanated from the deficit experienced in net exports (imports greater than exports) and the loss of crude oil control. At the mention of crude oil stirs up the debate surrounding the monopoly authority given to crude oil as a major controller (about 80%) of the Nigerian economy. It drags the naira figure along through its own fluctuating rise and fall thereby postulating and dictating the path it takes.

Reading through the central idea this article sets its eyes on, this article therefore is not here to debate or tell history of how crude oil come to be the major driver of the nation’s economy but here to critically analyze the proposed birth of a new currency. It sets to look into the whys of the action, what lead to the whys, questions on if it will be effective and also strolling to the left side of its possibility to digress from the objectives and motives. Dear reader, as this article puts on a forecast glass and sets a ruler to measure the chances and possible fate of this proposed action, do well to reason along with its lines.

THE WHY

A nation whose currency value trend lies not in the hands of the known controlling force of the economy is set to be on a loose end that can stray off anytime. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), it realized that the flow of money in circulation is on a high numerical state and further stressed that CBN, being the only authorized channel to print money, can no longer account for the exact money in circulation. This might sound ironical but it is to tell of how much the economy has lost its authority to control her top asset. The way out, according to CBN, is to gather and collect the money then print a new one and sensibly disburse it economically (in a way the current issue won’t resurface).

Again, as stated in the immediate previous chapter, the CBN has lost its authority in controlling the currency in circulation, I know you dear reader will be curious of who the masked controllers are. Do not be shock when I expressed that some individuals who control high bulk of cash are the long hands driving the turns of the economy from their closet. The negatives of such economy performance become a positive to them which make the loudest smile at the cries of the country. Also in the masked ladder is external force who controls the flow of money and economy trend outside the country, they do this by joining hands with corrupt minds of the country to import in goods at the detriment of exports.

WILL IT USHER THE ECONOMY BACK TO NORMAL?

In line with the objectives of the Federal Government through the CBN to bring the currency in circulation to a reasonable state, there have been roll out of guidelines for all to remit their cash in hand to commercial banks which new notes will then be disbursed to all. To the extent of what will this be effective? Looking through the view of the economy setting of Nigeria, redesigning of the currency seems to be a more strategic way to tackle both the excess of money in circulation and gaining the value of the naira currency. It has been seen that if the challenges that lead to the issues on ground is not properly checked out, this naira revamping process might die off early.

Scenes where individuals are depositing huge amount in clean bails of cash printed 15 years ago tells of the extent to which such persons have the power to channel things to their corner. In essence, close check should be placed on at what rate this new money will be disbursed to the economy for if there are to be any loophole in the process, the present state will then better off what is to come next. At the apex of every negative circumstance faced by the country is the roaring flames of corruption which can be envisioned in the factors that lead to the fall of naira value and the high flow of money in circulation. So, corruption must also be put in close check.

CHANCES OF ANY FAILURE?

This is a straight forward question that tends to ask if the Central of Bank of Nigeria in conjunction with the Federal Government is bound to fail in this approach. Issues like this are really a very sensitive matter that can either make or further paralyze the economy, the value of naira and the possibility of experiencing a depression. With the hope that the CBN will have seek close and credible advice from economic experts and in due sense carefully follow the advice. One thing to clearly understand in this whole matter is that the move of the CBN to redesign the naira currency as a solution to the problem is of thumbs up but the process of doing this and how they will do it is of major concern.

As we patiently await the roll out of the beauties of new range of currency, which the last of such occurred on September 30, 2009 where they redesigned ₦50, ₦20 and ₦5, come December 15, 2022, our eyes shall see a new naira and our nose will smell of such famous scent as of old. Through this process, we much optimistically hope it will achieve and meet its set goals/objectives.

By: The Scribe

Overtime, efforts to create and organize a universe that seems freely engaging, accommodating and free of life’s bottlenecks had yielded abortive. Rounding about the context to measure and brain test the assurance of we having an atmosphere that is free of harsh turn of events is not a possibility. Sometimes, there are some contexts that have both been naturally and artificially designed to reduce or adjust the reigns of evil deeds and its abnormality in the human race, but these has every time proved to be far from being the lasting solution. To some cases, these measures or practices which have been implemented to curb an action seems to being of an automatic multiplier to such misdeeds. Should we then abandon the efforts to make the world a better place and leave it to its forsaken deeds?

Nigeria, widely known as a very religious country portrays a stance of one that only has such as just a face value and not in its contents. Series of events that perfectly support this assertion are within our society and obvious to the sense. The practice of religion is stressed to be a way that’s meant to shape our thoughts which then influences our behavior so that we can become acceptable to the ethics of the normal world. Reverse has been the case as we have the high rate of crimes, misdeeds, acts of evil, the show of action that depicts and question the presence of conscience, the frightful loss of lives and many more.

Religion in the original sense was introduced as a path of guidance, direction towards light, the reveal of a brighter light to personal freedom, an element of peace and a route to give us a clear path to the rightful enlightenment. Before the advent of religion in Nigeria, our ways weren’t off the track of fairness to humanity, we were even more respectful of individuals through our traditional knowledge. The core essence of religion introduction was to better shape and orders our steps towards customizing such traditional beliefs and acts to a more acceptable way of life. This is to say the emergence of religion and its intentions were very clear and its objectives were not as the present manifestations.

Series and uncountable religious places we have scattered across the corners of the country, yet we act not according to the ways of the religious teachings. Nigeria would have been a better place to live had we act that which we read, hear and preach everyday. Religious leaders are always on their toes striving and sweating as they earnestly preach that which the people need to hear which will then shape their lifestyles, but through the architects of the nation, people are engaging in what their heart desire. Although, we have the presence of religious leaders who rather than putting people on the right path are busy directing them towards the pit of destruction all to acquire personal fame.

There’s no disputing the fact that no country can be a perfect land to dwell in, religion knowing this seek to order our steps and reduce the burden of these inevitable imperfections. Without the innermost conformity to the ways stipulated by religion, the wide gap to attaining perfection will only keep on enlarging towards an impossible closure of such gap (later on). Religion which is meant to safeguard lives, bring in harmony to our heart and society in general will thus be our enemy that usher in the greatest devilish features if the ways aren’t followed as instructed. Such expression is what we experience in Nigeria where even though we are great worshippers of religion, yet our engagements seem as though we serve gods.

The problems of the country right from insecurity, unemployment, loss of innocent lives, inconsistent inflation of goods and services, cyber crimes, bad leadership system, wide gap between the haves and haves not, concentration of the national treasure in few hands, corrupt practices, unfulfilling the rights of individuals, deceits, holistic inequality and so on, all these wouldn’t have been a worry to mention had we channel an active manifestation of our religious teachings. Such teachings teaches us to be God fearing, love others as you love yourself, be truthful as ever and keep by heart the commandments of God.

It’s only a sad situation seeing these negativities mentioned above waxing stronger day in day out in the midst of religion wonderful teachings. If we patrol our religious places and partake in the activities shaped to make us see light and how to reach such, what then pushes us to neglect these and then chose to go the other way? Is this even a matter of conscience and God fear or just what we want to practice to please our dear self? What do we tend to gain in displaying acts that hinders another in enjoying same measure of better life we are swimming in? Do we even realize these unwelcomed acts when we manifest it? I guess we surely do.

As the only notion that guarantees the overall betterment of all and shapes our society and nation to being of a safe place to dwell in is peace, it will then be of a great help to all and sundry if we as of now carelessly take heed to the rightful ways we were taught and put such into acts. With this, what’s channeled to lift our sense of behavior and make it more interesting to the other individual wouldn’t be one that harm and set us to war against one another. As to peace and love walks hand in hand, religion as of like also peaches peace and love.

By: The Scribe

There is no way climate change can be explained with industrialization being left out, this is because they are both interconnected as one leads to the other, mans needs to increase in wealth of its economy extended his activities towards industrialization, industrialization which is a process of manufacturing of goods and services has negatively resulted into climate change in recent regions of the world. In a tropical region in Africa like Nigeria the high level of industrialization which result into air pollution of the  country has extremely affected the climatic condition of the state leading to so many damages to life and properties, this call for check as if left unattended to many will be forced to seek for another place of abode.

Climate change can be referred to as variation in weather conditions over a period of time. It is a shift in weather pattern of a particular place due to the focus on the use of technology which gave birth to industrialization activities that include manufacturing of products. Agriculture has been the mainstream of most economic growth in the past and this had little or no effect in the climatic condition of a any state or region, however there was a need to shift to the use of technology to promote a more commercial production and marketing to boost the economic system with the aim of reaching the demands of the people, this led to industrialization in the 20th century.

Human industrial activities which include burning of fossil fuel like coal, oil and gas led to increased level of atmospheric carbon dioxide however depleting the ozone layers and resulting into a climate change which varies from extreme sunray to heavily rainfall causing natural disasters in various regions. This has caused a lot of problems to the health of man and animals and some of the effects of climate change and industrialization includes the following:

Seasonal period could be predicted without scientific research and effort in the past, the prediction influence the schedule of timing in the area of production or activities planning, but pollution resulting from the activities industrialization  has depleted the ozone layers leading to the experience of earlier rainfall and  summer than the usual, this changes occur from the effect of pollution on the weather condition, this changes have directly affected human plans and activities, food production and cultivation have been constrained. Agriculturist crops have their time of the season where there is an abundance in their harvest but due to this change there is limitation in the abundance of food and

Variation in weather condition comes with excessive hot temperature and rainfall, this extreme sunray affects the comfort and serves as a threat to animals on earth, the effect of sunray on the skin causes blisters, sores, dryness, sun burn, and cancer which increases the chance of health threat of living beings, extreme rainfall at the wrong timing also leads to natural disasters like flood, storm and extreme lightning which causes lost of life and properties of the people in a particular region.

Ocean is known to be cool which is one of the need of the aquatic animals but due to the effect of industrialization the warming of the ocean wreak havoc to the life of animals on in the ocean, this can harm animals and make the amphibious animals seek for another habitat causing their migration, it directly affect the life of man and his livelihood since there would be shortage in its farming of sea animals.

With these effects of climate change coming from industrial work, it doesn’t uphold to the fact that solution can’t be actualized to prevent the damages it causes to the habitats and the living organism in the environment, some of the solution includes the following

Investing in renewable energy is one of the best method of mitigating climate change this include switching from burning fossils like gas, coal, and oil into the use of clean and renewable resources which includes solar, wind, geothermal power, this reduces the pollution into the air that later affect the ozone layer

The ocean absorb carbon dioxide for keeping a stable climate, some activities which include mining, over fishing, and necessary exploiting the minerals in the ocean would lead a climate change, this shows how important the ocean is to be protected to prevent climate change and maintenance of a stable climatic condition, ocean warming can be prevented by reducing industrial activities to prevent its warming.

Majority of the means of transportation requires the use of fossil fuel to work, the idea of switching  to a sustainable  transportation like electric van and reduction in the use of plane for transporting will reduce the amount of pollution that comes into the atmosphere,  a reduction in this promote balance climatic condition.

By: Kreative Ace

Over the years, Queen Idia Hall has housed several thousands of University of Ibadan undergraduate female students.

This implies that the structure as well as its facilities would face a series of wear and tear (would need to be revamped) in order to provide adequate comfort and safety to residing and incoming Idiates which will ensure a reduction in domestic accidents and issues like the recent sighting of serpents in the hall.

After careful observation of the Queen Idia Hall, It has been noticed that there are some issues which ought to be addressed so as to prevent Idiates from experiencing rounds of ‘further Shege’. To mention a few, they include; Dilapidated roofing sheets, damaged doors, fans as well as faulty switches, damaged facilities in the kitchenettes and rest rooms and the dormant water tanks alongside figure head bulbs.

Further expressions will be stated to tell of where and how these damaged facilities are situated.On the issue of dilapidated roofing sheets, which is more rampant in Block C, the roofing sheets at the staircase region are damaged. It gets even worse when the atmosphere is windy and leaks water through the ceiling during a rainy day. This is so dangerous especially as it is in the stair area for residents can easily slip off due to the stair wetness.

There’s a great need to for a change of the roofing sheets and ceilings so as to prevent accidents.Some room occupants go through the stress of having to change their bed bunks and suffer heat because of the damaged room fans and bed bunks which can as well be a frustrating experience. Some kitchenettes pipe systems in the Hall are leaking which makes it difficult for residents to cook or wash dirty dishes.

This makes some residents stress themselves to go outside to wash or stay in their rooms to wash and cook. If the pipe system is fixed and the tap in the sinks as well as the bulb are working, it can reasonably reduce the number of residents who violate the Hall rules of cooking in the room.

Also in the restrooms are faulty facilities like bulbs, taps and shower where some doors in the bathroom have completely been removed from their hinge which then gives room for invading of one’s privacy.

In the bulb matter, some places in and outside the Hall building especially the stair case area need change of bulbs as the ones available aren’t working.

Changing damaged bulbs would ensure the safety of residents especially at night. With the Hall thoroughly illuminated, residents can easily find their way around as well as easily detect dangerous objects or animals like the recent case of serpents being found in Queen Idia hall.

In the Hall premises, there are some water tanks that have been abandoned.

Such being in use would have further serve the hall better as the ones available are not enough to serve the entire residence of the hall.

Dormant water tanks should be place in use in order to reduce the long queues at the tap section.Some of these which have been reported to the school authorities by the residents experience no change. It ends up being the victims of these faulty facilities that gets to repair or manage it.

But, if these faults are continually ignored by the authorities, it spells impending doom for the residents of Queen Idia Hall.

By: Josephine Awomodu

Since school resumed, lectures have begun aggressively and tests are drawing closer. Leaving your house or hostel as early as 7a.m or 6a.m to attend classes and returning at so late can be really hectic and tiring. As a student, you also want to have your personal study time to catch up on all your lecturers have taught you. But, where’s the time? Where’s the strength?

How do students deal with their classes that clash?

Having 3 to 4 clashes in a week is a bit huge and dealing with each is not totally feasible. A student whose class runs from 7 in the morning to 7 in the evening, but has two clashes within that period, how does the student catch up on the latest updates on the course? Reach out to their friends? Well, reaching out to a friend in another department is easy, but where’s the time to do the catch-up?

Being up and running for about 8 to 10 hours makes you return to your home tired and exhausted. First, you’d want to munch on something to refill your energy, and then sleep sets in. It’s natural that the human body feels sleepy after eating foods that contain carbohydrates and proteins.

A student could fall asleep at 9 p.m and wake the next day, preparing to spend another 8 to 10 hours outside the house. And before you say “jack”, notes are piling, courses are left untouched, time flies, and tests draw closer.
How are students expected to maintain a balance when their classes clash? How should they balance their attendance for every class that clashes? How should students understand their lectures when they have to forfeit one course for another? Well, it’s you, the student, who has to fix yourself.
A well drafted timetable for all your activities (academics and non-academics) will help greatly. Every schedule that reoccurs should be drafted into a timetable. Have your sleep time, study time, cooking time, eating time, and others. With a well drafted and respected timetable, you should be able to cover up classes you missed due to clashes. Don’t forget to have a trusted friend whose notes you can rely on for every lecture missed.

By: The scribe

At first, right along the horizon of a strike that seems not to end too soon was the mental and emotional struggle to get things right and back on track. Though, the timing of this drama seem like a wasted effort to tag as being significant, that it ended someway somehow 4 weeks ago put a comma to the issue. It was a comma that sends signs of the aftermath to come as the issues that spurred the strike were left on a thin line which can be cut off easily through the way it was begging for answers.

The expected answers came two weeks ago when it was learnt that members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were paid half salaries for the October pay.
One would think the employers of ASUU are maybe trying to check to how the lecturers will cry out on this or if they wont care. Scenes were seen of the reactions that spurred out as branches of ASUU went on a heated deliberation with rumors of their possibility to consider a 3 weeks warning strike. Some branches were even said to have ordered their members to stay off work until their pay is fully remitted. It was then pegged and shifted further by the intervention of the House of Assembly Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who has been a major instrument in pouring sweet aura to the wounds of the university lecturers.
Can a man not paid in full of his duties carry such out with a potential strength? I doubt that. Even a ministerial man whose belly is filled with emptiness of strength will not perform well when he’s called upon. Also, the emotion break off caused on lecturers that tend to have been affected off by this action to pay them on half is said to further boil down to experiencing shift over in their commitment towards teaching. Another strand where the lecturers might have experience a loss of aura is the thought of the mistreat they have suffered in the hands of the present administration.
As much as we mention the drop in the energies powered towards teaching and learning, emphasis will be placed on the constant drop in the quality of education the country have been experiencing in past years.

Although, lecturers might want to set aside the fact that they are being mistreated and therefore swim in the waters of the passion they have for their work and gain strengths from such, but to how long can they bathe in such polluted water? How can one explain the feeling of being out of pain for 8 months and then getting the first pay to be of half salary? Surely, half salary shall amount to half commitment.
If we are to measure the potential drop of universities lecturers since they were paid on half, then one would have seen how this has affected their normal flow of the educational process.

The commitment level amidst the thought that I am working base on half salary is of low range as lecturers come to lecture room with the mindset of not draining much of their energies. To an adage that says to whom much is given, much is expected, then, can it be wrong if the lecturers feel to whom less is given, less is expected?

Shall we then watch and fold hands to the gradual declining of education value across the country? As a lot clinches on the wings of education to further show them light for a better future, wouldnt one say they all have their hopes hanging as the future of education gangs on in a feeble state? A very sad situation to consider of the present plight that has befall the education system. What becomes of the generations to come if the present state is nothing to write about? What it tends to become later on is one that seems like moving from fry pan to fire. Rather being on a forward lane, the state of things as of education is on a backward lane, so ironically to say.

Awaiting the next stage of dramas come next month which might spur out should the Federal Government fail to pay part of the 8 months salary arrears as promised. Public universities in the nation cant endure going for another strike as the just concluded one will take about 2-3 years for them to overcome and get back to normal. Issues like strike, lack of learning infrastructure, salary debts and the likes only throw the quality and future of education into deep pit which might be hard or impossible to replenish. Will education still remain the key to a shining light come the next 4-5 years? Lets provide the answer in our minds.

By: Josephine Awomodu

Being a student in a Nigerian university is a hurdle to cross, it doesnt seem rosy and easy. From the moment you gain admission up to the time you become a bonafide student, it becomes a battle of the strongest between 2 participants, the student and the school. You, as the student, is caught between the need to make excellent grades and the need not to fail any course. Here are some for you to overcome the tide:1. Do not underestimate any course no matter the hype. Predecessors could say, “that course is simpleyou don’t need to read I’d say, “please read, study, read, and study”. Take every little and every simple course like they’re difficult. Take every course that seems difficult more seriously.2. Now that you have known your courses, identify your weaknesses and strengths. Identify which course is likely to be your strength, and leverage it. Likewise, identify the one that could pose to be your weakness and tackle it. 3. Structure a schedule for your courses. Create a timetable that suits you well; create something within the time frame to which you can commit.4. Dont violate your schedules. If you set your timetable for Monday, 4-6p.m, with ABC and XYZ courses, do not violate it, come what may and ensure you respect the dictates of your timetable.5. Now, make every single commitment worth it. Don’t just read, don’t just follow your timetable. Make your dedication valuable, ensure that you’re learning during your study time and be intentional in your studying. Study to understand, to know and to remember.In conclusion, study in a smart manner, don’t just study hard. Be smart about it so as to maximize your time.Happy resumption, Assesaites! The press wishes you a sweet one!

BY: FPO

Welcome to a new session in the First and Best University, to the Freshers, congratulations and to the staylites, welcome back to school. School has started and classes are also starting, the hectic academic work load is beginning to choke? Here are some tips on how to cope with the stress of University of Ibadan.First of all, what’s stress? According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, Stress is a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, studies etc. Also, stress is something that causes strong feelings of worry or anxiety. In an institution such as university of Ibadan, a lot of things tend to stress up the students especially the newly admitted students, some of which may include;1. Difficulty in balancing school works and social life: This is the problem most newly admitted students encounter, balancing school work with social life might be conflicting at first, but with time everyone should adapt to balancing the two.2. Loneliness: Loneliness might also cause stress, it might take some time to adapt to life without your family, and some might even be home sick or feel disconnected from their new environment.3. Financial difficulties: Financial problems can also cause stress, brooding on how to solve your financial problems can as well prove to be stress demanding.4. Exam anxiety: University of Ibadan is well known for her high academic standards and high grade examinations, this can make the newly admitted students and even the staylites to get worried about their exams which also causes stress.With some of the causes of stress mentioned above, the following are what can be done to reduce academic stress.1. Exercise: This is very important, exercise helps you to stay fresh and sharp and helps to ease stress. After a hectic day, you can just take a walk out in the night or better still go to the gym for some exercise. Do not underestimate what exercise can do for you.2. Talking to someone: a sure cure for loneliness is finding someone to talk to as talking to someone helps to empty your mind. It will also help you to reduce the mental stress of keeping lots of thought in your mind.3. Time management: In a University where you are all alone and where you make decisions are of independent, it’s important to know how to manage your time and do the right thing at the right time. Read when you are supposed to read, sleep when you need to and eat when you need to.4. Eat well and sleep well: Exercise, talking to someone, time management is important but eating and sleeping well is “importanter”. Eat a complete balanced diet and sleep when you have to.My advice to all Assesaites either fresher or Staylite is to avoid stress and unnecessary anxiety, and take life easy unto a one step at a time.

By: The Scribe

Along the walk of academic journey embarked on few years ago, the charging tyres that fuels the run has almost worn out. It gave these red signals not because of indolent acts, but it has elapsed its expiry date. Such a scenario when a walk of four calendars was unfairly extended to one of seven calendars, when the rightful path shown to is now likened to one of faint prosperity. This and many other similar thoughts filled my heart during the just concluded mandatory break. The 7-8 months stay off book walls came to me unprepared like a thief in the night.The above were the words of a Nigerian student whose simple arithmetic forecast calculation of his graduating year was dealt a huge blow following the just ended eight months long strike. It proved to be a range of months that showed forth the future that awaits education stand in Nigeria, not only that, it was in fact a rough glance to the experience of after-school hunt students tend to face. The experience to some was one that came all welcomed as it gifted to them a chance to explore themselves, their environs and fatten their bank accounts while to others, they were banked on the claws of silent days.All back in school with broken heart, emotional drains, half dead brains, loss of aura to charge for academic excellence like before and the hope for a better tomorrow. After 8 months of back and forth between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, the president of the union came out to express lines of seeing light in the issue for the first time, some even joked to question why the light was never envisioned at the beginning of the tunnel (smiles). Either way, the fact that innocent students had to stay off school and wander all across the country with lots of destinies at stake remains a matter that raises question marks.

After the Eight months strike embarked on by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) which forced students of public institutions to be out of school from February 14th-October 14th 2022.
Normalcy has been restored as various public institutions have announced resumption date, University of Ibadan as part of these public institutions announced Friday 21st October 2022 as resumption date for students.
Now that you are here after the strike.
This is the time to start the academic work proper, attend all classes and take notes as necessary.
As a fresh student, this is the time to acclimatize with the academic environment, seek advice whenever you are faced with any challenges, there are many responsible stalites and Finalists whom you can talk to, they have been in your shoes before.
It is important to complete all registrations as specified ranging from Medical, course registration, department, faculty,hostel registration e.t.c This will give you peace of mind and will enable you to concentrate on the academic tasks.
Furthermore as a new student, it is important for you to know your lecturers, as you are attending classes try to know what your lecturers want so as to guide you in knowing how to deliver in test, assignment or exams.
Also, do not waste any time because your time has started, you have about two months between resumption and exam, the earlier the better.
Now that you are here as a returning student.
You know the areas which you need to work on, you know where you are lagging academically, you know the goals you set at the beginning of your sojourn in the University of Ibadan, this is the time to start academic work fully, settle down quickly and don’t waste time.
Now that You are here as a Final year student.
Let the journey to excellent academic destination continue, you have come along way, this is not the time to slack or slumber.Draw your plan on how to be effective in your Project, classes and personal business.
This is to welcome all students of university of Ibadan back to school,let all work begins.
Now that we are here.

By: The Scribe

Barely one year after the recent Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike which lasted for almost 10 months amidst the pandemic outbreak, we are yet back again to the roundtables. Funny enough, we are arranging tables and chairs for the visit of hats and gowns they’ve gotten accustomed to, we are setting microphones to inhale the same set of words they’ve always breath-in and they will also be visited by same press folks who will publish similar bunch of news. With my knowledge of simple equation during my primary school days, I know that same calculation will project same result. I am sure we are all wise enough to know that doing and repeating same thing every time will always result in same end. 

In the country we find ourselves in, we are made to believe ASUU strike is a custom and tradition that must be performed at some specialized point in time. A friend of mine recently voiced that ”somewhere in our mind, upon hearing or reading the acronym ASUU, what comes next to our heart is the phrase STRIKE. He went further to say the word ‘STRIKE’ now seem to be a new synonym for the acronym ASUU.” Again, it is now a norm for a public university student to automatically add 1 year to his/her years of study in a bid to pay respect to unforeseen circumstances (strikes). Maybe as from now on, they should increase this to 2 years as this strike tradition seem to be a yearly sacrifice. 

In recent times, ASUU has been likened to a young man who is being owned the sum of ₦100,000. When he needs cash, he runs to his creditor and demands for the whole ₦100,000, his creditor gave him ₦10,000 and promise to pay up within the next 2 months. The man after receiving this ₦10,000 worries not his creditor for the balance and waits till he consumed the ₦10,000 before asking for his balance. By this time, the creditor is out of cash. The man who is meant to keep on pressuring his creditor to settle his credit as he has promised chose to lay low expecting his creditor to come in and drop the cash on his table as promised.

The activities and approaches of ASUU as being illustrated in the previous paragraph better explain why we experience the reign of strike almost every calendar. We’ve been singing this same song for the past couple of years, yet we are always camped in the hole. At every single strike that emerges, there are series of manifestations that are being delayed or cut short, some of these students even get uninterested towards anything pertaining to the four walls of education (dropping out) and some other lose interest due to the value they desire that has now been robbed off them. The saying that education is not a gift but a right seems to have lost its meaning, because if education is indeed a right then such shouldn’t be unfairly handled in this manner.

One question that keep running in everyone’s heart each moment the drama between ASUU and the Federal Government surfaces is, “why wage war every time over same issue?” “What were the deliberations of the last roundtable all about?” “Was the last strike action a camouflage which bears no result?” If it surely yields positives, dwelling round same old issue wouldn’t have to come alive. Can we conclude that this is all a comedy show purposely created for us by both parties to entertain us? No wonder Chris Ngige, Minister of Labor and Employment said ASUU only embarked on a leave but not a strike. Be it a strike action or a leave masked under the clothing of strike, we need answers and not only mere answers, there need to be a stop to all these comedy episodes. We are tired of it all.

Now that the same old song is being streamed yet again, how do we put a stop to it? We must recall that this is a country where less than 9% of its annual budget is dedicated to an economy developmental variable sector of education, there lies the root of it all. Arrangements should be set by each parties to find a way round this corner and make things right. Nigeria is a blessed nation filled with promising minds, then must we kill this off before we realize the bad deed that has been done? Must this country be attached to the title of destiny destroyer? Yet, we know that these ones we possess are the future we gather to build, why do we decide to act as both the builder and the destroyer?

Our only hope is that this one wouldn’t be a situation where we’ll have to be counting days, week and months that we’ve been deprived of education. We hope that as the roundtable routine resumes this Wednesday, February 23rd, and other subsequent meetings, it will bring positive results. For now, we can only keep our arms crossed in expectant of the drama fallouts. May it yield forth what our hearts truly yearn for.