By ‘DESADE

As the mind peruses

Through the thick darkness,

Blends the thoughts

With the fraught of the walk

Tossed sideways with no pity

Downwards the lane, I sat, thinking.

Being weird but sane

My holism gives the egoism

Silent without, but booming

Is the stentorian voice within

To nullify the nays

And reintegrate the yeas.

There is naught in there

Out there lies the peace

So much chaos to rend the heart

But the breeze can drain the pain

It’s better to be out than to be in.

Jocularly, laughter bursting forth

From the beneath me,

I feel the life in front of me

Then, in a second,

Nothing seems to be friendly.

Another second,

I wanted myself, I switched.

Times change, I change too

We all change but I do faster

Not mad but being wild

In my own way, I blend.

It’s a burden to wear

Wears off again the next sec.

In tete a tete with my soul

Feels cooler than before

I am changing, still changing

It’s being odd but not being lost

It’s a state, having some sweeping

And dumping, It’s a state where

We all find ourselves.

A short epistle of Nigerians’ consciousness to time factor.

The major tenet of African time says, “You don’t do things at the right time, else you appear too subservient to time.”

Someone said that the maxim, “time is value” is of great importance to a Nigerian. This is very true as all actions, reactions and inactions of Nigerians revolve around time consciousness. Nigerians great respect for time is shown in their creation of another Time that best suits their demands which they know as the “African time.” So when a Nigerian fixes a time for some important event, don’t be surprised when the event starts at the allocated time, the next day. That’s among the wonders of the African Time.

Scholarly attempts to define African time have proved abortive as it has become difficult to pin point it to a single definition. Some people opine that African Time would bring the similitude of European time-consciousness to Nigerians, other say that it would give our leaders a sense of belonging when they reference a certain completion of projects to a particular time.

If you are going to attend a wedding ceremony of a Nigerian. And the invitation card says that the programme would start by 10am. You would be doing yourself a great deal of mistake if you get to the event centre few minutes before the scheduled time as early bird. Of course, the wedding ceremony would have begun but you would be the only MC, DJ and attendee kick-starting the ceremony.

Nigerians continuous (dis)regard for time is shown in whatever activities they engage in. If you invite a Nigerian to a dinner at 8pm, you must not be too hungry to eat the food because the Nigerian wouldn’t show up quite soon. So expect him around 10pm or 11pm and please when he comes, do not thank him for coming too early. Else you would have no choice but to listen to his eulogy of time.

The African time though not widely known is what made people all over the world know the characteristics of a Nigerian. Nigerians keeps adding more hours to the scheduled time in relation to events and that’s what makes them distinct. But never confuse this time phenomenon with procrastination, they can never be the same.

Even school students nowadays show fervid love for the African time. A school would resume by 8am and you would see some students sauntering around the school gate around 10am, then you would wonder if it is still the same school they are attending.

A friend of mine was telling me a story the other day. He said a Nigerian was invited to a programme by his European friend abroad. And as per African time, the Nigerian got there three hours after the scheduled time and was surprised that the event has far ended. He was both right and wrong. He was right to have used the African Time but was wrong to have used it at another man’s country.

There are many contributions by people of wits who try to make explanations to how the African Time operates so an innocent person would not be caught unawares. Many deliberations brought about some guidelines that best describe the operation of the African time. The following are the guidelines for African time.

If you’re invited to an event and you hear when the MC says the following, be rest assured that the African time is in operation:

1. We are sorting out some logistics.
2. I hope everyone does not have difficulty coming here.
3. Give a round of applause to the organizers of this event.
4. Our guests of honour would be with us in few moments.
5. This is the biggest event you can ever attend.
6. We have back-up generator in case power supply fails.
7. Before we commence the programme, you can do a brief introduction among yourselves.

But some many people express their displeasure over the negative effects of African time. They say it is a disregard for Father Time and would tarnish the nation’s image globally. But that’s just mere talk. It is not valid argument. A student may come African Time to an examination and find his friends discussing answers to the examination questions. Moreover, if you are invited to a food feast by your neighbor you don’t have to come early or you may be creating the impression that you are hungry and only your neighbour’s meal can suffice you.

The African time factor is very applicable to the project implementation of the Nigerian government as well. If the Minister of Transportation says, “we will complete the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in two years’ time.” Of course, the citizens would jubilate, but they as well know that the project would be completed in five, six, seven or eight years or may never be completed. That is just the African Time in operation!

Amnesia is when a person can no longer memorize or recall information that is stored in memory. It is very rare, despite being a popular theme for movies and books. Being a little forgetful is completely different to having amnesia. Amnesia refers to a large-scale loss of memories that should not have been forgotten. These may include important milestones in life, memorable events, key people in our lives, and vital facts we have been told or taught.

           TYPES OF AMNESIA

There are many different types of amnesia. Below is a list of the most common ones:

1. Anterograde amnesia: The person cannot remember new information. Things that happened recently and information that should be stored into short-term memory disappear. This usually results from a brain trauma, when a blow to the head causes brain damage, for example. The person will remember data and events that happened before the injury.

2. Retrograde amnesia: In some ways the opposite of anterograde amnesia, the person cannot remember events that occurred before their trauma, but they remember what happened after it. Rarely, both retrograde and anterograde amnesia can occur together.

3. Transient global amnesia: A temporary loss of all memory and, in severe cases, difficulty forming new memories. This is very rare and more likely in older adults with vascular (blood vessel) disease.

3. Traumatic amnesia: Memory loss results from a hard blow to the head, for instance, in a car accident. The person may experience a brief loss of consciousness or a coma. The amnesia is usually temporary, but how long it lasts normally depends on how severe the injury is. Amnesia can be an important indicator of concussion.

4. Wernicke-Korsakoff’s psychosis: Extended alcohol abuse can lead to progressive memory loss that worsens over time. The person may also have neurological problems, such as poor coordination and a loss of feeling in the toes and fingers. It can also be caused by malnutrition, specifically a thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency.

5. Hysterical (fugue or dissociative) amnesia: Rarely, a person can forget not only their past but also their identity. They may wake up and suddenly have no sense of who they are. Even if they look in the mirror, they do not recognize their own reflection. A driving license, credit cards, or ID card will be meaningless. It is usually triggered by an event that the person’s mind is unable to cope with properly. The ability to remember usually returns either slowly or suddenly within a few days, but the memory of the shocking event may never come back completely.

6. Childhood amnesia (infantile amnesia): The person cannot recall events from early childhood, possible because of a language development problem or some memory areas of the brain not fully maturing during childhood.

7. Posthypnotic amnesia: Events during hypnosis cannot be recalled.

Source amnesia: The person can remember certain information but not how or where they got that information.

8. Blackout phenomenon: A bout of heavy drinking can leave a person with memory gaps, where they cannot remember chunks of time during the binge.

9. Prosopamnesia: The person cannot remember faces. People can either acquire Trusted Source it or be born with it.

SYMPTOMS OF AMNESIA

The following are common symptoms of amnesia:

1. The ability to learn new information is impaired in anterograde amnesia.

2. The ability to remember past events and previously familiar information is impaired in retrograde amnesia.

3. False memories may be either completely invented or consist of real memories misplaced in time, in a phenomenon known as confabulation.

4. Uncoordinated movements and tremors indicate neurological problems.

5. Confusion or disorientation may occur.

6. There may be problems with short-term memory, partial or total loss of memory

7. The person may be unable to recognize faces or locations

By Karshams

On one dark night, a friend of mine came to complain to me about the irrationality of some supporters of the SU aspirants. He vehemently ventilated that some students were against his favourite candidate who he said was the most popular. He said some students went ahead to drill holes on his favourite candidate’s banner that was placed at strategic locations on campus. Hardly had I responded when another friend tipped that the acts were normal since violence, has overtime, been associated with politics. He cooed that atleast, aspirants have not gone on a spiritual war against one another.

To be candid, defaming other candidates just to claim victory in an election is no great feat. But of course, we are in a society where everything counts especially in relation to politics. It is no longer news that political aspirants develop bad blood against one another which often leads to intense antagonism, damaging one another’s campaign materials and many more. I was so shocked when I heard from a friend who said he would do whatever means to win an election even to the extent of manipulating the elections’ result. Pathetic though, but we are faced with this sad reality.

If students-politicians are beginning to damage one another’s banners and other campaign materials, publishing wrong information against one another, then we have to ask ourselves that what kind of governance would be in operation by these leaders. Most people would opine that there are no saints whatsoever in the Nigerian political system whether major or minor, so one need not be blindfolded by the illusion that there are good politicians. Shall we then accept this opinion and conclude that anytime there is an election we already know that there would be violence but we would pray and hope that the violence would be mild? Is this true democracy?

I have read messages tarnishing a person’s reputation during an election but I was quite surprised that the name whose image was tarnished or was about to be tarnished was not moved at all. Infact he did not address the allegations. But few days after he had lost the election, he then opened up that he had counted the allegations levied against him as “mere political propaganda” but this is after-elections and whosoever publishes mis-information about him, he would take seriously and would go ahead to file a law suit. Then I guffawed. One who fights for true democracy or rather better governance chooses to acknowledge that one can tarnish another person’s image just to win elections? But then, that is not even the problem. The problem is that the election that emanates from such as it is called “mere political propaganda”; how better governance would it bring?

Constantly we are caught in this sad reality which has pervaded our stratosphere—and showcasing itself in the University of Ibadan. However, there is a saying that “if it from Ibadan, it must as of necessity be the best.” Though politics is a wider term, but UISU politics should act in tandem with the above saying; however, every political activity seems to follow the regular pattern of the Nigerian politics: “defame to win,” “render your opponents incapacitated to win,” “surprise and attack,” “after winning the election, expect your opponents to wage a continuous war with you,” “be ruthless to your opponents” and many more.

For two years, the Students’ Union was proscribed for a protest clamouring for the students’ right and it had in attendance about three thousand or more students. Many students as well as social critics vehemently rejected the proscription. They said it would incommode the students’ rights. For these two years, the students held one another in solidarity with fervid optimism that all would be well and the Students’ Union would be reinstated. Now our hope have come to pass, and we would be going to polls soon. But then, the solidarity is beginning to shake. In less than two months, students have begun to show negative attitude towards one another with statements like, “you either support my candidate or be in danger,” all in the name of politics. If this continues, I fear that this Union of ours would be proscribed again.

Departments, Faculties, Halls of residence, Stakeholders’ association as well as religious bodies have been pulling weight behind their candidates. This is quite understandable as it is part of the tenets of democracy; majority would surely carry the vote. But the thing I am more concerned about is the credibility of these endorsements. Everyone just wants to support their candidates to win elections, but are less concerned about the integrity or otherwise of these candidates. They seem to only care about their prestige like, “how should it be heard that we failed to support our very own,” an attitude similar to the Yoruba lingo that says; omo wa ni, ama gbaruku ti— he is our very own, we’ll throw our support for him.

Even at that, one needs to access the case of U-Turn in students-politics. It is known that to win elections students-politicians would need to make their moves by pledging several allegiance to different individuals. So eventually they emerge winner, they would constantly have to battle to implement policies favourable to supporters A or B or C. I heard a case of a student who always works against his department’s candidate(s) during elections, but now he aspires to vie for a post at the SU level and he has been making amends for his acts which he said was in the time of ignorance. And the department’s stakeholders who are more concerned than supporting their candidate than on his integrity accepted him and forgave him for he knew not what he was doing.

It is always said that the quest for a true democracy may never see the light in Nigeria because the political situation in the country is contaminated. And more so, it is unfortunate that this political contamination has affected the grassroot level, therefore the political situation at the federal level is in operation at the grassroot level. If a nation is to develop for better, changes need to commence from the grassroot level, but when the grassroot level is filled with contamination, how then would the nation improve. Similarly, if any nation is to change for the best, the system of governance in operation has to be efficient and effective but if otherwise, all hope for a better country may forever be an illusion.

I will therefore advise the UISU aspirants that bitter politics or rather dirty politics should not find its way in the University of Ibadan. Going for political posts should be borne out of the need to serve and not for mere records or the desire for instant fame. Democracy should be true. Elections should be free and fair. If your opponents have better plans than you do, rather than defaming them or creating barriers against their political voyage, the best you can do is to rally round and support them. This is infact democracy! Also, that you lost an election does not signify the end of your political sojourn because success is infact a sum of repeated failures. So shun the whims and caprices that characterize the national politics. And if we are all advocates of change, then let the change begin now!

By Herald

The biggest debate competition in the whole of West Africa began on Saturday. The first round of the speech contest started on the 9th of November 2019. The contest took place at the New Faculty Lecture Theatre, Technology. The ten halls debated with their opponents on various topics as being paired.

“WHAT NIGERIA NEEDS IS A VALUE WITHOUT ADDED TROUBLE” SAYS BOROKINI ADEMAYOWA

While the speaker from Obafemi Awolowo hall was talking, she said that “what Nigeria needs is a value without added trouble.” Speaking on the topic Value Added Tax increase in Nigeria, Justified or not? Awo hall was of the motion that it is not justified. Borokini while speaking against the VAT increase said the so called VAT is nothing but just a value added trouble. Festus Ogunlola, the speaker from Bello hall who was in support of the increase in VAT said the “increase in VAT is not just justifiable but inevitable” the second speaker from Bello hall (Michael Barnabas) said VAT increase tends to increase the minimum wages from #18,000 to #30,000.

“NIGERIA REMAINS AN ORDINARY COUNTRY BECAUSE THE LEVEL OF EDUCATION REQUIRED FOR GOVERNANCE IS ORDINARY LEVEL” SAYS HABIB ASUDEMADE

While the speaker from Zik hall was supporting the topic “Should tertiary education be compulsory for political office” Habib Asudemade posited that Nigeria remains an ordinary country because the level of  education for governance is ordinary level, he further explained that  the higher school level is the extra to the ordinary in our O’ level. Queen Elizabeth ii hall was against the motion, while Adeyemo Mary was speaking, she postulated that Nelson Mandela said Education is the most powerful weapon to change the future, the education can be formal or informal.

“WE GET EDUCATION TO KNOW AND NOT TO BE CERTIFIED” SAYS NNATAH IJEOMA

Is distance learning an effective model for education? This was the topic for Ransome Kuti hall and Queen Idia hall. While Speakers from Idia was supporting the topic, Ijeoma said “we get education to know and not to be certified” She said the distance learning program emphasizes knowledge over certificate. Eguaoje Joy who is also a speaker from Idia hall asserted that “Nelson Mandela was able to obtain a degree from university of South Africa from behind bars” therefore making distance learning a suitable model of education. While speaking against the topic Abiodun Oluwadamola a speaker from Kuti hall said that “In online education you do not need to pass, you only need to know how to pass” He further explained that  “distance learning is looking good from afar but far from looking good”

IS NIGERIA REALLY GETTING OVERPOPULATED OR WE ARE UNDERDEVELOPED? ASKS ODEYINKA OLUWATOBI

The speaker from Independence hall while opposing the topic: Should there be childbirth restriction policies in Nigeria? inquired that “is Nigeria really getting overpopulated or we are underdeveloped?” he further asserted that Nigeria cannot be said to be overpopulated when we do not even know our population. While Obeya Mark a speaker from Alexander Brown hall was speaking said that “Nigeria is currently biting more than we can chew and it’s only a matter of time before we choke”

“IF AT ALL WE VALUE TERTIARY EDUCATION, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE PAY FOR ITS ACQUISITION” SAYS BAKARE OLUWAFEMI

The introduction of tuition into Nigerian Tertiary institutions Justified? This was the topic between Kenneth Mellanby hall and The Lord Tedder hall. While Bakare Oluwafemi a speaker from Mellanby hall was supporting the topic says “If at all we value tertiary education, it is essential that we pay for its acquisition” The speaker from Tedder hall(Bolaji Taiwo) while speaking asked “if payment of tuition does not increase the quality of education then what’s the justification for its implementation?” The second round of the contest will takes place on the 15th of November but prior to that the faculty contest will come up on the 14th of November at New faculty lecture theatre, Technology.

By Betterdays

Just the like how the popular expression, “no one knows tomorrow,” turned out to be true because no one, not even the meta-physical ones saw this coming. This session landed on all students like a bang, a session with rapid semesters. The session itself appears jam-packed. However, the first semester is now done and dusted and second semester is two weeks down and before we know it, the session will come to an exit.

To this end, one must acknowledge the fact that many events have happened in the Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education in the first half of the session. Undoubtedly, all hands appeared to be on deck in the Department of Arts and Social Sciences Education, the Executive Council with the approval (or not) of the Departmental Consultative Council, did successfully stage some events. While that of the ‘Excos’ was obvious, one may view that the DCC activities is based on the activities of the hallow chamber. But on the credibility and ratings of the events, it is left for Assesaites to discern and decide.

Words when spoken are like broken eggs, once uttered it can’t be retracted. Not too long ago, while seeking for votes, the incumbent set of office holders at the department level made some juicy promises to the electorates and even on the day of manifesto swore to fulfil the content of their manifestoes. Even if it is a known fact that most of what they read out to the audience was a copy and paste plan and half-truth promises, the responsibility of every lies told is on the speaker. Having used half of their tenure, it’s time to exhume the buried copies of each executive’ documented promises.

Just as people say, charity begins at home, the task of making the society a better place starts from the school environment. If we are to hold national office holders accountable for their actions and how the resources entrusted with them are managed, then we must start from the ones closer to us, that is, the faculty office holders. If they could afford to spam Whatsapp groups with campaign messages and visit most electorates to tell them what they intend to do, they should as well ready to use the same medium to reach out to the same electorates on what they have been able to do.

Albeit, the third arm of administration is still not in place, we are of the belief that before the end of the HOPE administration, it would be resuscitated. Still, no stone will be left unturned and no one, not even the ‘key post’ executives or principal officers of the consultative council will be exempted from the thorough review of activities and performance. The huge figures of the sum total of honourables and executives in the department will not discourage the investigation simply because both the head and the neck are never too heavy for the leg to carry.

It should be remembered that the purpose of having students write exams at the end of each semester is not only to stress them out but also to keep them on their toes in the second semester having seen their first attempt scorecard. Sequel to this, the soon to be made available over ten review of department executives, honourables members and consultative council is not aimed at exposing either of them but to show them what they have done right, what they did wrong, what promises they are yet to fulfill and how best to serve educators right.

To a corrupt leader, every follower is a fool, blind and deaf to what is happening; but to a sane follower, every leader must be accountable for every decision made because they are the recipient. Only bad leaders run when followers are not chasing them.

By Betterdays

Many decades ago, there have been the issue of perceived gender inequality between the two sexes. At some point, myth or legend had it that some female child were buried alive because they had lesser strength. In some families too, the females have been relegated to the kitchen, care of the home and some were not allowed to work. There were so many restrictions for the feminine gender including zero participation in politics, absence from the public space, exemption from heavy duty, lesser pay and the like. To a reasonable extent, these are injustice to the feminine gender and warranted the campaign, struggle and movement tagged, termed or themed feminism.

Feminism that seems to be the rave of the moment started as far back as 1912 when some group of women felt disturbed that the societies prioritize the male gender over the female, and that the women are not equally treated as men in the societies. As at then, their efforts was to make a change and create equal opportunities for both men and women. Although, except one is a misogynist, on no account should one treat the feminine gender unfairly for any reason, but still, either out of confusion or calculated effort should one think any amount of social movement can make two different people equal.

Since the days of the feminists have long gone in the West, it’s left over advocates in Nigeria have turned the campaign and movement upside-down and inside out with unsavory spoken words, crazy demands and clout chasing. Most times when some Nigerian feminists speaks, their words are just not succulent to the hearing let alone be enticing to the brain for processing. They communicate as though in a rivalry battle with the opposite sex and as though they are practicing misandry.

Fashion wise is another area where the Nigerians got the interpretation of feminism wrong. To the Nigerian pseudo-feminists, they are of the belief that the feminine gender should be allowed to dress the way the feel and want irrespective of whether the dress sense is right or wrong. They care less about their image in the society; all that matters is there should be no restrictions or limitations to what they can put on. Little wonder the present day society is filled up to the brim with young females roaming the streets dressed but unclad, exposing sensual body parts salaciously. If only they would yield to the words of their creator before it’s too late, then the following scripture verses would be of help to them. 1 Timothy 2 verses 9-10 (RSV), 1 Peter 3 verse 3 (RSV) and Qur’an 24 verse 3.

In the realm of family and marriage, prior to the suffocation of the country with Nigerian interpretation of feminism, the institution of marriage was sacred, peaceful and long lasting. The women of those good old days were virtuous and the men, responsible. But with the influx of wrong feminism some feminist now see themselves as a match to their husbands, they wrestle with the man for the head of the family title and most frequently, they feel comfortable lording over their husbands. It tends to confuse when you see creatures of God trying to tell God his words holds no water to them. Everything about the confused Nigerian feminists is against the contents of Genesis 3 verse 16 (RSV), 1 Timothy 2 verse 11 (ASV) and Qur’an 4 verse 34.

Albeit, most religious issues are controversial but the negative effects of Nigerian feminism on our religious lives and activities is nothing to write about. It appears the existence of feminism according the wrong interpreters is to upturn every commandments of God, the creator of the universe. All in the name of freedom or equal rights, religious places are saturated with females who claimed to be believers or adherents of God’s words doing opposite of what is right or contained in the holy book they use to preach. Most females now wants to be seen, heard and recognized like men in public whereas it is stated clearly in the holy books as contained in 1 Timothy 2 verse 12 (ASV), 1 Corinthians 14 verses 34-35 (NKJV). From the foregoing, the impacts of Nigerian feminism is negative in the areas of fashion, marriage and religion. On a lighter note, feminism then was a cause to cushion some correctable difference between men and women not an avenue to reorder the sequence of God’s creation and plan. Feminism no matter how strong its campaign is cannot put both genders side by side in all ramifications. Feminism shouldn’t be about making two differently created, wired and configured genders equal in all senses by force or misandry.

By Josmat Jerry

   There has been a lot of misconceptions and mis-interpretations dazzling around the world on this concept, did I just say misconception? YES. Looking all around and reasoning along with every field of study, very branches and categories of learning in all areas, any time the word “creativity” is mentioned, studied or dealt with, it has always been given only one single interpretation – ‘bringing new things into existence”.

Suddenly, lots of folks have been brainwashed to accept this, they’ve been made to believe this faulty definition without getting it examined. On checking the definition at the first instance, it appears to be perfectly correct to the extent that it would be largely accepted as 100% true and valid. Giving it a closer examination, it then appears to be false, ‘bringing new things into existence?’, let’s all reason along with this, Is there any new thing on this earth?, Who is capable of creating something new nobody knows of if not God? Are we really creating new things? Critically looking at all things around us, they aren’t really new things, they are just same things done in a different way which appears to be new. Creativity is just the act of doing same thing in a different way, when an old thing or things of recent time is been reshaped and remolded with another approach which then tends to become new. Ben Carson says, “Creativity is just learning to do something in a different perspective.”

There is a phrase referred to as “God in exhinlo” which draws back to God being the creativity originality which draws back to God been the first creator of everything, the term describe further that HE also put this trait in every one of us to be creative. Again, people mix up the expression “new things” for something else, they term it as producing or bringing in the main originality of something. New things referred to in this wide known definition simply refers to the same thing done in a different way which is the first of its kind that becomes something new. As earlier said, about 80% of people have misinterpret this to a context they are made to believe.

Creativity deals with our inner thoughts, our inner mind, it originates from our in depth thinking, our intuitive knowledge or by revelation. Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. Creativity is characterized by the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena, and to generate solutions. Creativity involves two processes, thinking then producing. Note that, ‘if you have ideas but don’t act on them, you are imaginative but not creative.’

Moreover, Creativity is a combinational force, it’s our ability to tap into our inner pool of resources (knowledge, insight, informative, inspiration and all the fragments populating our minds) that we’ve accumulated over the years just by being present and alive and awake to the world and to combine them in extraordinary new ways. Digging deep down into our inner minds to reason and find new ways of approaching an entity that makes us creative. Creativity requires passion and commitment. It brings to our awareness what was previously hidden and points to new life. We must also put to note that creativity and risk works hand-in-hand, to be creative, one has to be willing to take risks and discomforts. You must be able to exhibit full dedication to your handwork and make use of several methods, uncountable trials and errors. Thomas Edison, the man behind the invention of light (bulb), he went through various testing combinations, numerous ways in which he can arrive to his final destination – discovering bulb light, one of his trials and errors resulted in a fire outbreak that destroyed his equipment, but this doesn’t deprive him from trying other approaches, he didn’t relent in his quest, he was all centered on his goal and he indeed achieve the seemingly impossible.

Through our efforts in creating and bringing up something that seems new, such isn’t achieved easily, it involves hard work, self-discipline, determination, self-efficacy, self-esteem and also faith. We must also put into consideration that been creative, like doing something in a different way, one needs to do something no one has ever done, for a new innovative to come into life, it must pass through new processes so that it turns out totally different from all others or previous ones.

We as humans are unique in our minds, we think differently and view things from various perspectives, and this tends to send a great message to us that we all have the ability to be creative in our own way. The Creator of the universe has deposited something super in each one of us, we are characterized with numerous intuitive knowledge, and our creativity trait is powerful enough to change the world for good. The sole responsibility that lie on us is to make the best use of this great gift, there is a natural force of creativity ability in you – discover yourself!

By Kareem Shamsudeen

The Founder of Punocracy, Nigeria’s First Strictly Satirical Blog, Mr. Kunle Adebajo, made this declaration at the Punocracy Prize for Satire ceremony which held on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at the U&I building, UI. Mr. Kunle Adebayo confessed that it was difficult organizing the award ceremony, but he was happy that the ceremony came through. “I’m really glad we did.” “I really think planning an event has something in common with laundry during rainy season,” he stated.

Mr. Kunle Adebajo further mentioned the objectives of Punocracy. According to him, “the objectives include; treading interest in politics, we look to diversify content development and finally we want to have fun.” He also made mention of the distinctiveness of the logo of Punocracy. “Let me tell you briefly about the logo.” “The logo is a compass but you will notice that one arrow is bolder than the other, and what this is basically talking about is that satire has two meanings; the primary meaning and the undertone which has implied meaning,” he explained.

While making brief comments on satire generally, Mr. Adebajo noted that, “at this moment, nobody is celebrating satires as political commentary and I think this is problematic.” “Satirical literacy is really important and it is already an endangered specie.” “For me, I believe someone who finds it difficult to understand satire will find it difficult to be tolerant or appreciate satire.” “Satires do a better job in mirroring the society than other sources of writing.” “Satire is truer than other forms of articles,” he stated.

Mr. Adebajo, however, said choosing November, 9 for the award ceremony was because it was convenient but he also linked the date historically to when the East Germany denounced the Berlin wall. He then went ahead to declare November 9 as the “World Satire Day.” He also said, “We are trying to fight against the ills in the society not by ammunitions but by humour, sarcasm etcetera.” “I look forward to celebrating this with you today and many more years to come,” he concluded. 

By Kareem Shamsudeen

On Saturday, November 9 2019, the New Faculty Lecture Theatre, Faculty of Science was filled to its brim as the largest debating competition widely known as “Jaw War” kicked off. The theme for this year’s edition is Africa: Dark Continent; stepping into the Light and the arguments from various halls of residence as well as faculties would address the theme, while proffering solution where necessary.

The first round of the event was for the Hall Category where various halls went against one another and each trying to prove superiority through well-defined speech. The winner of the last edition of Jaw War, Sultan Bello Hall competed with Awo Hall on the topic; VAT increase in Nigeria: justified? Alexander Brown Hall went against Independence Hall on the topic; Should there be a child birth restriction policy in Nigeria? Kenneth Mellanby Hall and Lord Tedder Hall argued on the topic; Introduction of tuition into Nigerian tertiary institution, justified or not? Queen Idia Hall and Ransom Kuti Hall both locked horns on the topic: Is distance learning an effective mode of education? While Zik Hall challenged Queens Hall on the topic: Should university degrees be compulsory for political office holders?

After a fiercely educating debate, Bello, Zik, Idia, Indy and Tedder halls won for the first round. However, the points for each pair are: Sultan Bello Hall 68.42 vs. Obafemi Awolowo Hall 66.42, Queen Idia Hall 71.4 vs. Ransome Kuti Hall 69.3, Nnamdi Azikwe Hall 66.6 vs. Queen Elizabeth Hall 63.3, Alexander Brown Hall 62.9 vs. Great Independence Hall 67.4, and Lord Tedder Hall 63.3 vs. Kenneth Mellanby Hall 62.1.

The judges however gave the speakers the modalities to watch out for such as time management among others, in preparation for the next round to avoid losing points. The next round of the Jaw War would be for the Faculty Category and it is slated for November 14 but the return leg for the Hall Category would be on November 15.

By Kareem Shamsudeen

Speaking on the topic titled: What Satire is and How it can be Used for Change, Dr. ‘Yinka Egbokhare, the author of Dazzling Mirage made this statement at the Punocracy Prize for Satire ceremony which held on November 9, 2019 at U&I building, UI. She affirmed that, “When you choose to write satire, you will have a smaller audience.” “Basic literacy is hugely lacking.”

She furthered by saying, “satire was originally intended to create change. “It was not meant for just a play of words, to amuse or to create laughter.” “The aim of writing satire is to bring change. Satire bring change.”

Dr. Yinka Egbokhare also mentioned that “the purpose of satire is to make the readers learn from the errors.” “When we write satires, let us look at national problems.” “Let it be that your attempts should make these problems corrected.” “You must always have a motif.” “Satire is a way of insulting and talking about issues.” She then explained the types of satire which are the Horatian satire, the Juvelian satire and the Menippean satire with their distinctiveness.

She also advised that “you can write satire without mockery and infusing negativity” and also on the need for “cultural intelligence” because “satire can be the moral reform of the society.” “If you write in anger, you will get responses in anger,” she said. “When we are writing, let it be that we are writing to bring about change.” “Good writing is what makes the people to go back and discuss,” she affirmed.

Dr. Yinka Egbokhare furthered mentioned that “what satire does is to help the nation to develop and see itself for what it is, so that it can grow and develop better.” She however concluded by asserting that “please write to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, but please when you do, make use of cultural intelligence so they won’t celebrate you posthumously.”

Also speaking on the topic titled: Why Humour is sometimes needed to make a Point, at the award ceremony was Mr. Tijani Mayowa, an Investigative Journalist. . He said “laughter is a universal language.” “Laughter does not have depth, but a lot more people can relate.”

While speaking on satire, he said the readers should be able to get the message. “They should get the humour, but much more important than the humour is the message.” “Once they find a point that resonates with their experience, people tend to enjoy satire,” he stated. He also mentioned that “Nigeria can laugh her way to the top.” This is because, in his words, “when people are laughing about the problem, they are talking about the problem and when the people are talking about the problem, someone is under pressure to work towards the problem.” He however advised young journalists to focus more on satire.

Mr. Mayowa further asserted that “with satires, you are going to reach a larger audience.” “Everybody is interested in humour.” “That is reality we should leverage on.” “Political humourous writings have the potential to reach large number of people and it is prophetic in nature,” he concluded.

The university setting conventionally is designed for academic activities, however, there are certain events that can cause backtrack in the students’ academics which often times cause the students to struggle towards maintaining their excellence. So far so good, some departments have started lectures since the resumption day itself while others have not. But since we are in the third week of resumption, academic activities would begin in earnest.

This semester is filled with many events that can cause distractions for the students, but then, it is pertinent to say that every student need to place focus on their academics to guarantee their success. Most students would think that the fact that there are lesser courses for them to take during the semester, they may as well dilly-dally with their academics until the eleventh hour. It is commonly said that he who fails to prepare, prepares to fail, students are advised to give priority to activities that are most important.

It is no longer news that the SU election is around the corner, and most students find it difficult to place focus on their academics because they are mostly bombarded by aspirants vying for one post or the other at the SU level. We would not advise that students should reject these aspirants since rallying round to gain support of the majority is one of the tenets of democracy, but it would be wise if they could caution them if it seems that the aspirants are taking their electioneering campaign too far.

As much as we would like to say that the students should exercise their civil rights, we would also advise them to give proper scrutiny of the aspirants they want to vote for. We heard cases that there is intense antagonism among the candidates which have culminated in mild violence such as destroying banners, defamation of one another’s image and many other dirty politicking. It is quite unfortunate that dirty politics is finding its way in this prestigious institution such the students are advised to assess candidates properly before they cast their votes for them so as to prevent kangaroo leaders.

Even before or after elections, study comes first. Study shows itself in all ramifications and as Francis Bacon says Reading maketh a full man. Students are expected to face their studies squarely even when they engage in campaigning activities for their preferred candidates. They should make sure they do not engage any acts of violence which can jeopardize their admission.

To the freshers, we would advise that they should not be blinded by the recent waves of politics on campus. Much as they would like to have a first-hand experience in politics they should also be mindful less they sacrifice, unnecessarily, their academics for campaigning. And as the adage says to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Generally we would advise every student to give their focus to their academics because at the end of the session everything would count and the results would not say you were the campaign manager of so and so candidate. So stay woke!

Do have a wonderful week. Happy reading!

By ‘Desade

Ding dong ding dong

Sounding louder and faster

It’s here, no more away

Be awake those who slumber

Here we are, we are back.

Ding dong Ding dong

Pens to scribble on papers,

Books await to be penned on. 

Here we are.

Here we are again.

Ding dong Ding dong

Time ticks

Tick tack tick tack

Moving the bodies to get on it.

To and fro through the land

Kissing our boots

With its brownish powder

Ding dong Ding dong

It sounds, counting on.

Here we are.

All racing and pacing

All running and walking

All playing and taking

the fun out.

Here we are.

Greetings to the time

For giving us time

to set out time.

Tick tack tick tack We are here again.  

By Betterdays

Just about few days to the end of the month of August, the long awaited revival of the apex body of students that had been proscribed was reinstated by the same constituted authorities that did ab-initio. All hearts seem to be full of joy and lips filled with laughter at the breaking of the news. This new found joy stemming from the restoration of the students’ grand voice was so prominent and loud that students did not hesitate to engage the social media in their celebration. To many, the management has not only tampered justice with mercy, but was also magnanimous to announce election to elect new union officers in just nine weeks’ time after the reinstatement.

Albeit, there were speculations that the Union is returning likely as a toothless bull dog or that the soon-to-be union officers will be acting a scripted drama by the management, however, students interested in occupying the Kunle Adepeju building have not in anyway allowed such rumors hold them back. From the look of how the awareness broadcasts have been suffocating WhatsApp groups and statuses, it is like students have been pre-informed of when the ban on union activities on campus will be lifted. For the sake of clarity, the writer is not opposed to students having aspirations, but the caliber of aspirants aspiring may want to kowtow the paths of their stripped-of-title predecessors.

Just as usual, all are allowed to create awareness about their aspiration, though only a handful will make it to the day of the poll if they didn’t chicken out of the race out or disallowed from continuing as a result of not being endorsed by their faculty or hall of residence. Albeit, Baluba kingdom had more than one aspirant gunning for the same position and had to subject them to endorsement process which later suffered post-endorsement tantrum by one of less favored aspirant, the most interesting part is that the race for this year’s union presidency is gender balanced. Irrespective of what happens at the poll or whoever emerges, one must not fail to bring to the aspirants’ knowledge some things to note and ponder on so as not to repeat same old mistakes.

To start with, for every (and any) aluta to be successful, the choice of strategies to be employed must be carefully and intelligently chosen. This is because; the last aluta that led to the proscription of the union was as a result of adoption of wrong strategies and failure to know when to compromise which plunged the union and students into tragedies. In the literary work titled The Art of War, Sun Tzu stated that “hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” The situation may not have exacerbated if only the right strategies were used. Unionist needs to know that it’s not all battles fought that they would be conqueror and when it appears force is not yielding anticipated results, resulting to number of dialogues is not a show cowardice. Sometimes, victoria can be ascerta in the absence of continua aluta.

Undoubtedly, the basis of the struggle and demands (then) were germane and pivotal to students’ welfare on campus, yet so many are of the opinion that the infamous speech delivered by the suspended union president on his inglorious inauguration day at the Trenchard hall was provocative, insensitive and confrontational considering the choice of words and manner of articulation. One must not in the course of projecting him/herself lose him/herself. Leaders must not forget to remember that the figures after six are way bigger and more than seven. None should be blindfolded or misled by the encomium showered.

Again, to the many lots aspiring to be elected now that the Union has been reinstated, the writer wishes to bring to fore that wisdom is the principal thing and in all getting, getting wisdom and understanding is tantamount, sacrosanct and paramount to political offices. So many only care about their meeting of requirements to contest and the inclusion of the certificate of office held in their credentials when running for office, only a handful care about having the in-depth potentials to handle, manage and deal with the challenges that accompany the position they hold. Such was the case of the suspended union officers as noted by Onifade that “some of them in the ‘Patriotic Intelligentsia’s group were either patriotic but not intelligent or intelligent but not patriotic; except a few.”

Howbeit, the university portray itself as preparing the students for the future, it has, at any slight chance, shown that it is hell-bent on preparing the future for the students in terms of the restrictions placed on freedom of expression of students on campus. While no one dares to put any chunk of the blame on the management for their partial failure to impact in students the qualities required of a leader on large scale either through classroom teaching or seminar, yet, many students, graduates and undergraduates, are fond of taking turn on social media to vent out their frustration using mendacious, derogatory and malicious comments.

In time past, the acrid vituperations on the personality of the Vice Chancellor by some students under the guise of protest and demanding for their rights and privileges is appalling and obnoxious and so persistent to the extent the integrity of persona is at the brim of besmirch and the persona is forced to refer to the students whom he is in parentis loco with as contumacious children due to their lack of respect and manners.

In drawing the curtain, it should be remembered that despite the long unprecedented closure of the school, several truncations and disruptions of the academic calendar, physical, emotional and psychological trauma students were subjected to during the period of the imbroglio, not a single one out of the demands were met until there was an intercession and clear sign that the Union had been defeated. This is to unequivocally warn students that “before they (union officers) consider having an argument with their boss (management), a good look at both sides — management side and students’ side — is advisable: this will prevent trying to outshine one’s boss.

With the reinstatement of the union either on the grounds to put students in eramus servientes or libertas, and that elections will be held sooner than later, whoever it is that emerged as president of the students’ union should, for the time being, use the surrender tactic. Little or no power can and/or should be wield. Enough time is needed to work things out and transform weakness to power. All winners should observe the 22nd of law of Robert Greene that says “when you are weaker, don’t fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead. Surrender gives you time to recover. Don’t not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you — surrender first.” This is one mistake the ‘incomings’ should not repeat.

OLUWATOYIN Betterdays is a 400 level student of the department of Arts and Social Sciences Education in the Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan. He is a writer and student journalist and can be reached via +2347010124528.

By Karshams

Disclaimer: Reader’s discretion is strongly advised

I am the tour guide, let me take you on a voyage around this historic country.

How do I even welcome you to this great country, Nigeria? Should I begin by referring you to search, using Google, for the World Poverty Capital? Or I should just put it to you directly that you are highly welcome to a country with plethora of corrupt leaders? Whichever way you’d prefer, welcome to my country because this is Nigeria.

You see, Nigeria as a country is not difficult to identify or define. No matter which angle you look at it you’ll always get the proper glimpse of this country. My love for this country is so much that if I am given a citizenship of UK, I’d gladly accept it. Well, I’m just being Patriotic.

I hope you all know that Nigeria is the giant of Africa. Believe it or not, Africa is the centre piece of Nigeria’s foreign policy but then, Nigeria’s title as Africa’s giant comes with commendable acts of corruption, especially from those who glue their bottoms to the seats at Aso Rock Villa and those who address themselves as constituted authorities but in actual sense, constitute no authorities.

I am also sure you know that Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, but it would worry you to know that Nigerians are dying of hunger. You may want to ask if that’s possible. Well, this is Nigeria where the nation’s wealth is siphoned by private individuals in the forsaken names Presidents, Sinators, un-Honourables, Governors and the like. You see, we can’t really blame these people as it is glaring that they try their possible best all-round the clock to ensure a better Nigeria and their achievable feat is that about 90 million Nigerians are in “extreme poverty.”

I am not sure whether it’s a rumour, but I heard Nigeria also is Africa’s largest producer of rice and the price of rice is too cheap that the citizens afford to buy less or none of it. I would also like to clarify that the current mishaps in the country is not the product of bad leaders. The current administration especially engages in “tactical governance,” which Nigerians fell in love with it that they have to call for a revolution for change of governance.

Nigerian leaders are up-and-doing. They struggle in their own minds to build a country of our dreams by vehemently making sure that the citizens remain silent in the face of tyranny. That’s the Freedom of Silence. Though, this is not stipulated in the Constitution but our political leaders have a way of creating their own kind of law. Therefore, Nigerians are coerced to remain silent since it has become their unconstitutional right.

Nigeria as the only giant of Africa boasts of many great resources both material and human wise, that even the western countries do not have, no wonder Donald Trump keeps making crazy commentaries on Nigeria.

Nigeria is the only country in the world that has “President-within-presidents.” This is a common phenomenon in Nigeria. You see, if you are the President of Nigeria, you must be under the control of another president (s) who probably may comprise your family members, friends etc. People call the other presidents, “cabals.”

It is known that a single president cannot be competent enough to make decisions for this country, so he/she has to take dictates from fellow unconstitutionally-recognized presidents and in that way, the country will transcend faster than a jet with supersonic speed. Asides Nigeria that boasts of this nice but shitty development in governance, which other country does this?

In addition, Nigeria is the only the only security-conscious country in the whole of the universe that her military requires spiritual assistance to watch off the evils of insurgents’ attacks. This is though dismally hilarious, but it’s a welcome idea. Nigeria has many religious faithfuls and if everyone raises their voice to the Most High to completely annihilate the terrorists while the military goes to sleep, no doubt insecurity would no longer become a topic of interest in Nigeria.

You may want to ask that, does the President himself or any of the political office holders leave their royal castles unprotected while they supplicate for divine protection from the above? A simple answer is that the way the president or any of our political leaders protect themselves must not necessarily be similar to how ordinary Nigerians are protected. In Nigeria, there is a huge gap between the rulers and those that gave legitimacy to the rulers. It is still democracy, but not the one that was aptly defined by Abraham Lincoln.

I know this may sound quite incredulous but Nigeria is the best country in terms of educational system. Seriously, Nigeria’s educational system is drastically on the decline but this is still something our leaders have to be proud of since they enroll their children in foreign universities.

Infact, the amount of naira injected in the educational sector is so large that the members of ASUU and other bodies continually have to go on industrial actions to advocate for better educational system in the country.

Nigeria’s educational system is alright at least Nigerian varsities take joy in ranging between “800 and 1000” in World Universities Rankings while ascribing different tags to their initial nomenclatures such as “first and the best,” “the nation’s first choice,” “oba awon university” and so forth.

Very soon, Nigeria would boast of her own locally-made aeroplane even in this bad governance that has sunk the country low. A pessimistic-Facebook user one said “that would when Nigeria is re-colonized.” But I disagree with that idea. Building a locally-made aeroplane is a development that has been in existence. With local items like cardboards, pencils, rulers, blade, rubber bands etc., who says Nigeria cannot build her own aeroplane?

What more can I say about this giant of Africa. Maybe I should say that this giant is a man who in Mugabe’s voice left six cars and gymed for six packs. Ridden with confusion, no sense of belonging and fear in his heart, he hopes to scare away the little ones. While receiving mockery, sarcasm, excretion and contempt from the other end, the giant is still proud of his achievement—his broad but empty chest.

And this is Nigeria.

Insomnia is a type of sleep disorder. Individuals with insomnia find it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or both. People with insomnia often don’t feel refreshed when they wake up from sleeping, either. This can lead to fatigue and other symptoms. Insomnia is the most common of all sleep disorders, according to the American Psychiatric Association (APA). In fact, the APA states that about one-third of all adults report insomnia symptoms. But between 6 to 10 percent of all adults have symptoms severe enough for them to be diagnosed with insomnia disorder.

The APA defines insomnia as a disorder in which people have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Doctors make a clinical diagnosis of insomnia if both of these criteria apply:

1. Sleep difficulties occurring at least three nights a week for a minimum of three months.

2. Sleep difficulties creating major distress or functional difficulties in a person’s life.

CAUSES OF INSOMNIA

The causes of your insomnia will depend on the type of sleeplessness you experience.

* Short-term insomnia may be caused by stress, an upsetting or traumatic event, or changes to your sleep habits.

* Chronic insomnia lasts for at least three months and is usually secondary to another problem or a combination of problems, including:

* Medical conditions which make it harder to sleep, such as arthritis or back pain, psychological issues, such as anxiety or depression substance use. Insomnia can occur at any age and is more likely to affect women than men.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Trusted Source, people with certain risk factors are more likely to have insomnia. These risk factors include:

1. High levels of stress

2. Emotional disorders, such as depression or distress related to a life event

3. Lower income

4. Traveling to different time zones

5. Sedentary lifestyle

6. Changes in work hours, or working night shifts

Certain medical conditions, such as obesity and cardiovascular disease, can also lead to insomnia. Menopause can lead to insomnia as well.

INSOMNIA SYMPTOMS

People who experience insomnia usually report at least one of these symptoms:

1. Waking too early in the morning

2. Unrefreshing sleep

3. Trouble falling or staying asleep.

These symptoms of insomnia can lead to other symptoms, including:

1. Fatigue

2. Mood changes

3. Irritability

      Treating insomnia

There are both pharmaceutical and no pharmaceutical treatments for insomnia.

Your doctor can talk to you about what treatments might be appropriate. You may need to try a number of different treatments before finding the one that’s most effective for you.

The American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a first-line treatment for chronic insomnia in adults.

Sleep hygiene training may also be recommended. Sometimes, behaviors that interfere with sleep cause insomnia. Sleep hygiene training can help you change some of these disruptive behaviors.

Suggested changes may include:

* Avoiding caffeinated beverages near bedtime.

* Avoiding exercise near bedtime.

* Minimizing time spent on your bed when you’re not specifically intending to sleep, such as watching TV or surfing the web on your phone. If there’s an underlying psychological or medical disorder contributing to your insomnia, getting appropriate treatment for it can alleviate sleep difficulties.

* Meditation is a natural, easy, drug-free method for treating insomnia. According to the National Sleep Foundation, meditation can help improve the quality of your sleep, as well as make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Fasansi Fatimah

A man embarking on a journey does not stop unless he gets to his final destination, but he could take a few minutes or hours of rest before he continues. This is the case of students’ resumption after the short semester break. Just like every journey has its end, this semester also marks the end of academic activities for the session and the determiner of every students’ fate, either good or bad. Students are expected to return back to school now that the break is over so as to continue the academic session. May this semester be a blissful one for every student!

We welcome all students back on campus, it is our belief that the break was enjoyed in one way or the other, it was also an avenue to relax after the examination. Here comes the concluding part of the session and it also serves as the determiner of our success as students. Now that the first semester is over, it is normal for everyone to anticipate the examination result, may we all come out in flying colors. As much as everyone knows what he/she has done based on their abilities, the attainment of success lies with the Supreme Being that crowns every little effort with success. May everyone have the cause to be grateful whenever the result is released.

 Those that feel they’ve done well in the just concluded examination should not relent on their effort, rather, they should put in more effort so as to achieve the best in the end. It is not over until it is over, this semester is an avenue to work harder for everyone especially those with the feeling that they’ve not done well. Irrespective of what the result says, every student should ensure that he/ she does not stop working towards achieving the best. That 4point is still achievable.

This semester serves as the second semester the fresh students would experience on campus and also one of those various steps towards achieving success. You should also see these semester as an opportunity put more efforts in your studies and an avenue to work towards a better grade point. To those that feel they did not do well in the previous semester, this is an avenue to work harder and achieve your aims, and those that started on a good note should not relent on their efforts to avoid any form of disappointment whatsoever, may God crown our efforts with resounding success. Both the stalites and finalists are not new to the semester of the school, everyone should endeavor to work better on their week areas and learn to support one another for a better result.

As it is known that the second semester is always full of activities and events as a means of relaxation of the body and mind for the session. Everyone should endeavor to participate in these events, but in the process of engaging in these activities, the main purpose of being on campus should not be forgotten which is our academics. Therefore, academic activities should not be neglected no matter how busy or active you get in the process of being engaged. Distractions is inevitable this semester but as much as you seem to be distracted from your academic activities, endeavor to caution yourself on how to balance both academics and pleasures.

It is no news that the students’ union election is around the corner, every students are implored to play a good part towards achieving a better union, the success of the school and everything that concerns it is our responsibility, so we all should help the school progress by voting in the right candidate. May this semester be a productive one for us all.

The first TV in Nigeria will be 60 years on Thursday 31st October 2019. The first Nigeria television was established on 3_1st October 1959. The first TV in the African continent was known as Western Nigeria Television (WNTV).WNTV was launched by late chief Obafemi Awolowo. This launch of a TV station led to Television broadcasting in Nigeria, Mrs. Anike Agbaje-Williams was said to be the first broadcaster on Nigeria TV. WNTV later became a part of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in 1977 when the Obasanjo regime declared that NTA is the only TV station that is recognised to cover news and presents all other programmes. Television broadcasting has grown in the last sixty years of its establishment; it has advanced in technology and has gotten a wider range. Television broadcasting in Nigeria will be sixty years this year, how did it worked in the early 60`s? How is it operating now? What will be the hope of Nigeria television tomorrow?

 Television started with black and white here in Ibadan, NTA Jos is the first TV to show a coloured TV broadcast in Nigeria. Television in years back has been a tool for propagating the ideas of government, a medium of educating people and a platform where veterans in various art skills are discovered. WNTV has brought to limelight the likes of   Sunny Ade, Herbert Ogunde, Jimi Solanke and Wole Soyinka.  It is inarguably that TV yesteryears do focus on producing content that contributes to people`s moral, emotion and cognitive development. Nudity was an anathema in yesterday`s Television broadcasting.  In the words of the Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, while commissioning WNTV, revealed that the aim of establishing the Television is for “mass education“, a medium of mass information and instruction. Television yesterday worked in line with the vision of the pioneer, several programmes that preach good morals are been aired on TV, programmes like Checkmate, Tales by moonlight and the village Headmaster etc.

 Television in Nigeria today is a such that has really advanced in technology, unlike yesterday`s TV which granted station the use of UHF in broadcasting, but today VHF is what is used which allows more channels. Is today`s television still in line with the vision of the former Premier of the western region? How many hours of programmes are dedicated to educate and teach morals to Children? The content of today`s TV has become a such that programmes aired on TV do not only affect viewers cognitive thinking but also contribute to ill-acts in our society.

The popular “Big brother naija show“ do not only affect the way people see sexual purification. It helped people to become frustrated and it even discourage education etc. What has really happened to the TV today? Negative news is what is been casted which has influenced the way other countries see us. The filmmakers only portray the negative things in our society rather than embracing the good. Commercials are dominating the TV of today. Some of today`s TV stations have become mouthpieces for government. Some TV`s today lack adequate equipment and also refuse to train their workers.

The future of Nigeria TV is rested on the shoulder of regulatory bodies, Content Writers and Viewers. Tomorrow’s TV will be better if the revolution can begin now,  TV stations which have become mouthpieces of government and political groups will have no place in tomorrow`s TV. TV stations that refuse to invest in its workers and also get adequate equipment will most likely be flush out in this nearest tomorrow.

In conclusion, the TV was a king yesterday, the audience is the king today, content will be the king tomorrow. Any station that cannot provide quality content will have no place in tomorrow`s TV. 

The sweetest semester which students are usually anxious to see is here. Second semester is usually known for more extracurricular activities, faculty, department, hall programs, and election here and there. Various weeks are celebrated and students are the ones expected to attend such programs. First semester has come and gone, let’s not loose guard as we begin another week of academic activities.

To the latest students, experience has been garnered on how life is been lived on campus, it’s time for self-reflection to know what to do and what not to do. Do not allow yourself to be used as a tool for electioneering at the expense of the main goal in the great citadel of learning.

To stalites, it is not unhidden on what entails second semester, the transient nature of the semester is well known, let the proper academic work start with full force now and not wait till weeks to examination.

Finalists are working even when others are on mini break, you are almost at the end of the tunnel, let the vibe be increased.

You are all welcome to the second semester of 2018/2019 academic session

By Josmat Jerry

It may seem that there’s nothing you can do about your stress level. There will never be more hours in the day for all your errands, the bill aren’t going to stop coming, and your career or responsibilities will always be demanding. The 24 hours seems not to be enough for your assignments, trainings, rehearsals, lectures, meetings, church programmes, 5 times prayers as a Muslim, your favourite hobbies, football matches, visitation to the saloon, class tests etc.

But you have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of stress management. Managing stress is all about taking charge, directing, been in control and been in power: taking charge of your emotions, your thoughts, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for academics, relationships, relaxation, and fun, plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on. The strategy and tactics to be deployed in managing stress will be discussed as follows.

The first approach to managing stress is to avoid unnecessary workload. Not all stress can be avoided, and it’s not healthy to avoid a situation that needs to be attended to or addressed. You may be surprised, however, by the number of “stressors” in your life that you can eliminate. Taking on more than you can handle is a surefire recipe for stress and you must learn to say NO to additional responsibilities. Know your limit and stick to them. To avoid stress, analyse your schedule, responsibilities and daily tasks and tackle them in order of priority and importance.

The second approach to stress management is by altering the situation, if you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it. Figure out what you can do to change things so the problem doesn’t present itself in the future. Often, this involves changing the way you communicate and operate in your daily life. Be more assertive and don’t take a backseat in your own life. Deal with problems head on, doing your best to anticipate and present them and make sure you stick to your decision.

Another attempt to manage stress is to adapt to the things that bring stress. If you can’t change the stressor, change yourself. You can adapt to stressful situations and regain your sense of control by changing your expectations and attitude. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress, so stop setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Sometimes you just have to adjust your standards and learn to be okay with “good enough”. It is also good to reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities when it seems as if you getting you down. This simple attitude can help you keep things in perspective.

Adjusting your attitude deals with how you think, and how you think can have a profound effect on your emotional and physical well-being. Each time you think a negative thought about yourself, your body reacts as if it were in the throes of a tension-filled situation. If you see good things about yourself, you are more likely to feel good; the reverse is also true. Eliminate words such as “always”, “never”, “should”, and “must”.

The fourth attempt to stress management is to accept the things you can’t change. Some sources of stress are unavoidable. You can’t prevent or change stressors such as the death of a loved one, a serious illness, or a national recession. In such cases, the best way to cope with stress is to accept things as they are. Acceptance may be difficult, but in the long run, it’s easier than railing against a situation you can’t change. Don’t try to control the uncontrollable. Also, when facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities for personal growth because as the saying goes, “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”

Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that people make mistake. Let go of anger and resentments. Free yourself from negative energy by forgiving people easily and moving on with a free mind. An act of making time for fun and relaxation is another strategy to stress management, beyond a take-charge approach and a positive attitude, you can reduce stress in your life by nurturing yourself. If you regularly make time for fun and relaxation, you’ll be in a better place to handle life’s stressors when they inevitably come. Relaxation time is the time you have to recharge your batteries for a new activity and spending time with friends and loved ones will help a lot as you laugh and make fun thereby keeping your sense of humor that makes you forget about the stress.

Lastly, you need to adopt a healthy lifestyle to manage stress. You can increase your resistance to stress by strengthening your physical health. Exercise regularly as physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise three times per week. You also have to be mindful of what you eat as well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and drugs as they only provide a temporal relief from stress. Don’t avoid or mask the issue at hand, deal with problems head on and with a clear mind. When you are through with the day’s activities, get enough sleep as tiredness will only increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally. “Stress is inevitable and being stressed is optional.”

By Ojediran Temitayo

The annual speech contest tagged SUPERBOWL took place on the 25th and 26th of October 2019 at 5pm for each of the days. The contest took place at the Wole Soyinka Theatre. Superbowl is a speech contest among students of University of Ibadan. It is an initiative of Dr. Bisi of Communication and Language Art. The contest has been in existence since 2007 and beautiful speakers have been discovered, nourished and polished by Superbowl. This year`s edition is a special edition organized to commemorate with UI at 70.

The speech contest had three phases: the preliminary stage, semi-final and the final. Forty-five speakers registered for this year`s edition.  All the 45 speakers spoke at the preliminary stage where best 25 contestants were shortlisted to speak at the semi-final. At the preliminary stage, all speakers assumed the role of a character in the Nigerian politics, among the characters that the speakers represented were, Minister of Environment who spoke on how waste can be turned to wealth, First Female President addressing Nigerian citizens, a just elected governor delivering his inaugural speech and the First Lady of Nigeria who spoke on the missing Chibok girls. After all the speeches, the best 25 speakers qualified to speak at the Semi-final.

As stated earlier, 24 speakers qualified for the semi-final of the speech contest, the semi-final took another way, all speakers spoke for three minutes on any of the Sustainable Development Goals and also thirty seconds on impromptu speech. Among the SDGs topics included, Attainment of Zero Hunger, Eradication of Poverty and Free Education to mention a few.  10 speakers were selected among the 24 contestants for the final of Superbowl 2019. The best three speakers would be awarded a laptop, book voucher worth #50,000, sponsorships for undergraduate and postgraduate studies among other gifts.   The final would take place on the 30th of November 2019 by 4pm at Trenchard hall, University of Ibadan.

By Kareem Shamsudeen

On Saturday, November 2nd, 2019, in a Book reading and Conversation with the author of Edwardsville by Heart, Kola Tubosun, organised by Arts ‘n’ chill (agbowo), the author enlightened the audience on his several personal experiences that inspired him to write the poems. Moderated by Ayodele Olofintuade, a Nigerian writer, she quizzed the author to make granular review of some of the poems in his poetry collection.

Kola Tubosun however stated that “the book was conceived as a travelogue which was the record of the three years I stayed at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.” “I was there to teach Yoruba.” He also added that he wrote the poems within “six weeks period.”

While addressing the creation of ideas in his poems, Kola Tubosun, mentioned that it was always part of him to write on his memories. “I knew I was going to write on my memories.” “Things that happen to you have huge personal significance,” he added.

The author whose poems were written in a simple language explained that people tend to find pleasure in simple language. He also added that “Arts is everywhere.” “I remember when I was writing, missing home and thinking on the relevance and significance of where you are,” he added.

Kola tubosun, a linguist, who also worked with Google stated that one of the reasons why there is a poor google translation of Nigerian indigenous languages was that there is no data to effect the appropriate translation. “There is no data to make it work,” he stated.

While reacting to the questions posed by the audience, he further stated that everyone should be limitless and curious as well. “Be curious, meet new people.” “I aspire to be someone who can talk on any subject anywhere,” he added. He then encouraged the audience to open their minds and they should not limit themselves.

By Kareem Shamsudeen

Speaking on the topic titled: “Citizens Participation as a Categorical Imperatives in the National Security Architecture,” Prof. Charles Adeshina, Head of Department, History, UI, affirmed the citizens constitute features of the country. “You all constitute a feature of this country,” he stated. The topic which he discussed on Thursday 31, October 2019 at Pifa Hall, Distance learning centre, UI was a commemoration to the 5th Annual Professor ‘Bayo Okunade Intervarsity Debate.

Though, he expressed concerns on the Nigerian youth’ declining patriotism to the country. He, therefore, defined the Nigerian youth as “those whose body are in Nigeria, whose minds are in UK and whose hearts are in America.” Showing his pessimism for Nigeria, he said “I also dream of a great country that is safe.”

Using the Fulani herdsmen as a background to his discourse, he shared his encounter with a Fulani along the Abeokuta express way who, he said, “was ready to sacrifice his life for his cattle”. He also added that the problem with the Fulani is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. “In Ghana, they have similar Fulani people and what they did was to constitute an Operation Cow leg, comprising soldiers and police men.” “The Fulani in Togo, Ghana, Benin, are one,” he explained.

Prof. Charles also mentioned that the rather than seeing the Fulani as terrorists, “we have to begin to re-calibrate our knowledge.” “The Fulani have proper understanding of the flora and fauna of your environment,” he added. He, however, went ahead to mention the things that have made the Fulani what they are. In his words, the three essence of the Fulani are: “Munyah which means patience, discipline, self-control; Septende which means modesty and appearance, and Hakikilo which means wisdom.”

First of, we welcome every student to another semester. While some students still take joy in gallivanting in their respective homes considering the fact that they finished their first semester exams very late, the university setting has a way instilling the consciousness that academic activities have begun in earnest.

This semester, of course, will end this academic session and whatever we engage in academic wise would serve as an imprint to our academic results. However, there are many events to witness in this semester, so it would not be books, books and books. Atleast, it is also pertinent that the students gallivant a little without losing focus on their primary purpose on campus.

Thankfully, the Students’ Union has been reinstated. Glory be to God. And sooner than we expected, we will be going to polls. Although there are many concerns as to the activeness of these aspirants when they get to office. Some students opine that the yet-to-be-elected leaders would be mere puppets as none of them would dare clamour for the students’ right even when situation warrants it, owing to what became the case of Ojo Aderemi. Whether this would turn out to reality, we all have to sit patiently and watch as the drama unfolds.

However, this semester is when the fate of many would be known. Freshers, especially would perhaps have begun countdown the day when the legendary Book-of-Life would be released. Many a fresher already anticipate the day they would see their results. Well, one ought not to be scared on the excellence or otherwise of one’s results especially if one is self-assured of ones works. So we would advise the freshers to take calm and not put themselves in unnecessary apprehensiveness while expecting their results, which probably may come later than they expect.

In addition, like the first semester, this semester is also an avenue for every student to put more effort in academics because what is worth doing is worth doing well. It is quite understandable that the first semester was hectic and there were likely loopholes in our academic performance, this semester is the best time for us to fill up any loopholes in our academic performance because failure to do so is calling for an early exit from the University. For some students, this semester is when lesser courses would be done, so there is ample time to prepare well for tests and examinations.

And yes, the largest public speaking event in Sub Sahara Africa popularly known as Jaw War would take off this semester, around November. For the fresh students who have not witnessed any jaw war events but through the stalites have heard about the event should endeavor not to miss it. Asides from being an interesting event, it is also avenue to gain more knowledge as pertinent issues are addressed. In the last edition, Sultan Bello Hall clinched the top spot for the “hall category” while the Faculty of Education came first for the” Faculty category.” This edition, we look forward to more fiercely exciting arguments from speakers across various halls of residence and faculties.

Towards the end of this semester, every student, especially the freshers would be expectant of the hall weeks, departmental weeks and so forth. These weeks are social events that create platforms where students relief themselves of academic burden by gallivanting and meeting new people. And to round off this semester, there would be series of dinner organized by various facilities and departments. The dinner is usually at the tail piece of the semester. After exams are ended, enjoyment is next.

Just as the second semester brings glad tidings we all should be careful less we fall prey to its invisible trap. Most students get carried away during this semester because they are a lot of exciting events. Thus they tend to lose focus which later affect their academics at the end of the year results. At this time, it is pertinent for every student to set their priority right. As it is necessary to flex, so is it important to place focus on academics. Students also need to draft a scale of preference for whatever activities they would engage in to serve as a check for them, as it would be disastrous to place priority to less important activities.

Much as we all struggle to get good grades, we should all pray for a better Nigeria because what are good grades when there is little or no employment. Let everyone remain hopeful that Nigeria would be a safe haven and that can only be achievable with our collective efforts.

We wish you all a hitch free semester.

Do have a wonderful week. Happy reading!

Any comments, reservations, suggestions should be sent the Editor-in-Chief via email assesapressorganization@gmail.com or phone number @ +2349061949587

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By Kareem Shamsudeen

The President of Arts and Social Sciences Students’ Association (ASSESA), Mr. Adio Victor, in an interview with Assesa Press, on Thursday 31st  October, 2019, affirmed that Assesaites would gain a lot in the excursion to Oba Elegushi’s Palace tagged “ Royal Cruise”. He also said that asides from gallivanting, Assesaites would also experience an intellectual discussion with Chief Nike Okundaye on “Creative Thinking and Improvisation.” “Prof. Nike secure to administer out gifts to students who answer excellently within (sic) the questions and answers question,” he stated.

Mr. Adio further added the visit to Oba Elegushi’s Palace is both a courtesy and an academic visit, as Oba Elegushi himself would enlighten Assesaites on the topic themed “Impact of Nigeria Education and Its Curriculum on Culture.”

While addressing the issue of security pertaining to the excursion, he said that the executives have gone through necessary authorities to guarantee maximum security. In his words, “we have management insurance package for everyone following us.” “We also partner with Peninsula security and they are assuring us of safety.” “Also, we are sure of maximum security as far as the excursion is concerned.”

When quizzed on the recent cancellation of after-exam events in the university and how it may affect the excursion, Mr. Adio remained hopeful that such would not be the case with Assesa’s excursion as the executive have sealed their dealings with the university’s regulations. “Infact, we will be going with a staff and by the University bus.” “The aim of this excursion is not to assault or molest anyone’s right, it is rather designed to learn beyond the environment.” “Let’s go to Lagos and see beyond Cocoa house,” he explained.

Speaking on the high price of the excursion fee, the President said that there are considerations in relation to the fee, but the executives have to make provisions as regards the cost of living on island. “The #9000 will cover transportation, feeding, accommodation, party, beach entrance (Elegushi is a private beach), and Nike Art gallery entrance fees,” he stated.

He, however, concluded by saying that the executives hope that a minimum of fifty Assesaites would turn up for the excursion as Assesaites are showing interest already, including non-Assesaites.

BY Olusade Adediran

There is an explanation to tender when the eyes begin to speak. It’s awkward when an aged man tries to showcase his virility with valour at that fragile stage of his life, so also is it a state of fatuity for a man to sit down to wish and does nothing to make it happen. It’s been said that sitting down and wishing makes NO MAN great. That remains a forever and an enduring fact!

   We are in a dispensation where a man is commended when he breaks a ground. Likewise, when he yields to sloth, many bodies by-pass him and they rise to do much more beyond expectations. This is a world full of them, you and me. The English Dictionary defines procrastination as, “the act of postponing, delaying or putting off, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness”. Many are suffering from this. While many are not aware, it has formed the existence of others. To hit the nail in its head is to say that the nonsensicality of such a habit marks that very man of such character and habit a time waster, knowingly or unknowingly. There is a saying by Charles Dickens which says “My advice is to never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time”. Dickens calls it a thief of time. And that’s it!

 However, it is pertinent for us not to mingle confusion with procrastination. They are two different concepts. In a state of confusion, the subject doesn’t know what do, he is at a crossroads but procrastination is borne out of laziness, setting a time in the future for something that could be done now. Good stories always have their challenging contents because nothing good comes on one’s palms easily. You get virtually every good thing by fighting for it. You don’t remain dormant and commanding. Those who have been up and doing can have the board being swept by their toils. Great men are being celebrated from antiquity till infinity!

    Knowing that procrastination is nothing good if one wants to be successful, it is also important to know few factors that are responsible for procrastination.

 One is fear of failure. One who fears to make mistakes ends up being a slave under fear. He is ruled by it consciously and unconsciously. Making attempt is not a crime, but nobody wants to make mistakes often and often. But he who gets off the couch to do something is better than the one who fears the outcomes of actions. Fear has no worthwhile benefits worthy of veneration. Fear will only contribute to such a person’s stagnancy and before he/she knows it, time, opportunities will have passed. Begin with something and be confident in it. When you fall, you rise again. At least, from the mistakes made, you come up being a better person and you are more confident.

Another lethal cause is Excessive Perfectionism. You feel you can only do something when you are fully persuaded that you can do it. Or you make attempts when you know the outcome will be what you are expecting. A problem arises when you begin to think you can only do what you know you can do best. Do not limit your abilities. This also could be exhibited as a result of fear. Fear of “what if, what if I failed, what if nothing came out of it, what if I became a laughing stock” and all of that.. No!!! A positive mindset is deliberately and constructively built. This causes such a person to run away from works that are tasking. Come out of it. Perfect what has not been perfected outside your mini world. Take actions; be submissive, smart and wise. Learn the lessons, get encouraged. Mingle with the people who have the same mindset as you, and having the same vision. This really works. At times, what we need is a helping hand or a team.

There is also Low Energy Levels. This is caused by so many things. For some people, it could be due to genetics, which can be treated with immediate medical attentions and check-ups. Another causing factor could be a disordered schedule. Man must know what his body wants and how to live each day as he ought to. This is common to people with relatively unhealthy lifestyles. Check and scrutinize your daily activities e.g. sleeping could be abnormal if it takes a lot of time. All these and many more are core factors causing low level of energy in individuals. If it’s now beyond one’s personal control, it is better he goes for a comprehensive medical consult.

Lastly, there is the Lack of Focus. Lack of focus brings about prevarication. No vision, no focus, no direction, no certain destination. All these amount to confusion. To get rid of procrastination, a target should be in view. And deliberate actions must be taken too. A man with no vision keeps wandering and he keeps procrastinating. Focus births results can be pleasant or unpleasant. But at least, you know why what happened occurred. Hit at it, again and again and again.

  It is better the problem is nipped in the bud before one falls between a rock and a hard place. Set for yourselves inspirational yet attainable goals. Set them. Goals get you directed and focused. But they mustn’t be too high in order to avoid unwarranted falls. Know what you want and go for it, ignoring the side-talks and distractions.

   I end this with a quote by Charles R. Swindoll, which says “The habit of always putting off an experience until you can afford it, or until the time is right, or until you know how to do it is one of the greatest burglars of joy. Be deliberate, but once you’ve made up your mind– jump I”. It’s just because a year from now, you may wish you had started today. Start something now!

By: Fasansi Fatimah

Time is one of the greatest phenomena in life, if not the greatest. As time ticks, it creates a sort of consciousness for humans on pertinent things that should be done. Or didn’t an old adage say “time waits for no one?” Time is very essential and when used appropriately becomes a valuable asset. One who does not heed to time wastes it and discard its warning—and the result, detrimental! Time does not respect anyone; it is allocated to everyone. However, what matters most is how one’s time is judiciously used.

One important lesson to learn in life is the ability to manage one’s time appropriately; because if one fails to manage one’s time, one will be enslaved by another who has managed his time efficiently. A popular adage says, “A stitch in time saves nine”; this demystifies that whatever has to be done must be attended to immediately without any sluggishness, because time operates on a progressive train. And an unnecessary wastage of time could be costly. One major problem in life is the inability of people to manage their time appropriately; most people have great plans in life but for the lack of time management, their visions forever remain illusion.

Procrastination is a killer of a great future and it should be fought in every possible way because it is more poisonous than a snake’s venom. It is very common among individuals to prolong things that are meant to be done immediately because of the belief that there is still enough time for that particular task to be carried out. This however creates a wrong impression on individuals who procrastinate, and before such realize what is going on, the time is wasted.

In life, everyone should be able to use one’s time efficiently; whatever it is that should be done at certain moment, should be done! Time management is one of the greatest efforts ever. In academia, most students fail not because they are not brilliant but in their inability to manage their time which affect setting their priorities. Students who procrastinate in their academic studies are most likely to lose life-long opportunities in their career choices.

Furthermore, over-confidence is great killer of intellectual acumen. When individuals know that they have the ability to do something easily, they tend to relax and believe they can do it within a short period of time and in the process, they realize that the time is far spent and they are unable to achieve their aims on such tasks. Overconfidence does not only affect students in academics but in all aspects of human endeavors. A person who out of over-confidence disregards time will achieve nothing but failure in life.

For one to be successful in life, one should be able to learn how to manage one’s time effectively so as to achieve the best. Goal setting is the first thing to do in time management, every individual should be able to set a particular goal for himself and that goal should be achieved within the time span allocated for it.

Time planning is very important in life. Effective time management determines one’s success in life. One should plan oneself for ahead of time so as to be able to get a positive result. A goal that is set without proper time planning will account for nothing.

Working towards achieving one’s aim is paramount on the road to success. It is very important for one to work hard so as to achieve desired purpose in life.

 Finally, prayer is the key to every success story in life. One needs to be prayerful along with effective time management so as to achieve a good success story in life.

BY KUNLE SOTIBI

“We live in a culture where we’re bombarded with so much noise and so much insecurity.”-Lisa Ling

Peace is germane and sacrosanct in human society. Where there is peace of mind, everyone will live in oneness, togetherness and development will be possible. In a terrestrial habitat where the inhabitants cannot sleep with their eyes fully closed, then there is problem. And when it gets to the point that the rich can’t afford efficient security, things have fallen apart and unfortunately, the centre (government) cannot hold.

The topic of insecurity in Nigeria has been a popular discussion; it has become a thing of mind troubling the citizens. Kidnappers have taken over the expressways and armed robbers have been a pain in the head to innocent citizens who toil so hard to survive but when they are to reap the fruits of their hard labour, they are been robbed of it.

The activities of Bokoharam; a terrorist group in the North Eastern part of the country, has made many homeless, jobless; children have become orphans and as a result of that, their future have been negatively influenced. Many have to move to the Internally Displaced Persons’ Camp (IDPs) where they have to struggle for livelihood. The terrorist did not only destroy lives and properties but as well abducted innocent secondary schools students. In April 2014, 276 female students were abducted from a secondary school in Chibok a town in Borno, which till date, they have not been released.

As the country wrestle Bokoharam, another security threat is the Fulani herdsmen who have made many farmers poorer and their farmlands desolate. They are reported to be guiding their cattle with sophisticated guns which they also use to assail those who accost them. They have migrated from the North to the South part of the country and they have been a threat to the citizens. Hardworking farmers plant crops but the herdsmen made their harvest fruitless.

What is trending is the issue of kidnapping and arm robbery by those who are identified to be “Fulani speaking gang”; they have flooded the expressways and launched attack against travelers. Many have lost their lives and lost their goods and belongings as a result of the obnoxious attacks.

If the government fails to give the citizens quality education,  and good healthcare centres and infrastructural facilities are not forth coming, at least they should protect the masses’ lives as well as the belongings they laboured for. It is the duty of the government to protect its citizens but when it fails to do the needful, the citizens find the possible opportunity to leave the country. The parasite called insecurity needs to be eradicated before the host can be at peace and prosperity. The security personnel should double their efforts and do what they are employed to do—protecting the citizens!

VinDiesel, an American actor once said that, “It’s insecurity that is always chasing you and standing in the way of your dreams”. When insecurity chases us, where can the masses go? A society where there is insecurity is prone to aggressive attack from insurgents and these incessant attacks can tear the country apart.

If I were to be blinded by the euphoric level of my heart, I would have just begun with appreciation messages to worthy individuals that have brought about this feat. But that, for a start, may be a foul play, readers reading this content should have the privilege to gain pertinent information other than reading appreciation messages. Then what is the content all about? Do not dismay, for here it goes!

            To be candid, I have had the intention of creating an online residence for Assesa press (better still website), but I had thought there might be a prohibition restricting a departmental press like Assesa press having a website. This had greatly baffled me. In a conversation with Mr. Kunle who is a member of the same press organization, he had suggested the same website thought I had with me. Opinions have become twain and strong enough to fast track the development. Amidst procrastination, challenges, bureaucracy, Assesa press website has officially been launched! Words cannot indeed appreciate everyone who has in one way or the other contributed to this achievement. To all members of Assesa press: Fatimah, Nadrah, Sade, KSC and Betterdays, I am grateful to you all!

I hope it will not be a cliché to say that’ life is full of challenges’. Bringing up this website will challenge members to write more and be better. Operating both the offline and online forum of a press organization is no small feat, It does require commitment, doggedness etc all along. My mandate has been taking Assesa press to the next level. This, however, is not a one-man business; it takes absolute commitment from members, commitment that will take the press organization to a step higher. I therefore crave for members support to ensure this. This achievement to some may not call for this wordy address; well, I have not written this address to showcase my writing skills. It is just a proper way to begin.

Messages of thanks cannot be too much, I once again thank all members of Assesa press and other individuals (too numerous but worthy of mention) for this reality. I hope the sky remains bright. I hope this achievable feat opens more doors for successes and greatness. May our pens continue to write ‘nothing but the truth’

Kareem Shamsudeen

Editor-in- Chief, 2018/2019 session

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton