UNILORIN HOSTS THE SECOND NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE

   
The beginning of October was eventful for the National Association of Basic Medical Science Students (NABAMSS) as they held their 2nd National Scientific Conference tagged “Extremity and Laxity in Teaching and Practise of Basic Medical Sciences: A Major Impediment to its Progress in Nigeria” at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State. Tijani Sheriffdeen reports.

The conference which held from the 4th to 7th of October 2016 at the University of Ilorin remains indelible and memorable in the hearts of many, as it went down with a number of gripping and intriguing events. The conference started with a community outreach to Tanke Ile-iwe community, Ilorin on Tuesday, 4th of October. The people of this community were giving medical attention; many of whom were tested and given appropriate drugs to combat diagnosed ailments. The outreach came as a success due to the kind gesture of the Kwara State Ministry of Health in sponsoring the community outreach. The welcome party that night necessitated the coming together of participants to meet one another. In attendance at the conference were the University of Nnamdi Azikwe (UNIZIK), Anambra State University (ANSU) and the host school, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). At the welcome party, schools competed against one another in dancing, singing and other interesting and relaxing activities.
The second day of the conference was designed to be the Academic/seminar presentation day. The programme which started around 11 am had in attendance the National President and Vice-President of NABAMSS, Mr Anokwulu Osmond and Mr Udegbulam Kingsley respectively. Also present at the event were the financial secretary, Mr Ubawike Queen-Betty, the Treasurer, Ijezie Collins and the Director of Socials, who doubles as one of the hosts of the conference, Mr Izuogu Tochukwu of NABAMSS. The National staff adviser was also on sit, in person of Dr. B. U. Enaibe; also present was the Head of Department of Anatomy of the University of Ilorin, Dr. Akinola. Mr Ibrahim of the department of Anatomy was also sighted at the programme. The first lecturer, Dr. David Ofusori of the department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Obafemi Awolowo Univeristy, Ile-ife, spoke extensively on the theme of the conference; he did justice to the topic by looking into the two sides to the topic of the lecture. The second lecturer, Dr. O. J. Olajide of the department of Anatomy, University of Ilorin took the participants to another dimension, by helping them understand how they could be better Basic Medical Scientists.
The skype chat with Dr. Ogundele Lekan Michael, of the department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University was another interesting part of the conference. He spoke to the audience on the advance part of Basic Medical Sciences, which was really interesting as seen in the ovation that greeted the end of his lecture.  It would interest you to know that the participants at the conference showed of their cultural attire at the cultural session of the programme. The Igbos where beautifully wrapped in their attire, while the Yorubas at the conference didn’t shy away from representing their tribe wonderfully well. Also, some delegates were seen in Hausa attire, which gave the programme a beautiful colour.


At the dinner of the conference, which was staged to wrap up the whole conference, Presidents of the visiting schools and the Executives of the National body expressed their appreciation to the committee in charge of the conference. They didn’t fail to praise the University of Ilorin for grooming its students well, as they said students from this University where well behaved and accommodating throughout the conference. At the end of the beauty pageantry session, Mr Tobi of the university of Ilorin was crowned Mr NABAMSS, while his female counterpart, Miss Kunmi from the same university was crowned Miss NABAMSS. It was indeed a big night for the host University.

IGBINEDION'S DAUGHTER WEDS MANTU'S SON

The wedding ceremony between Orobosa, daughter of Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and her hearthrob Umar Mantu, son of politician Ibrahim Mantu, took place yesterday in Abuja.
It was an expensive ceremony in all regards. See more photos..

PMB URGES CORP MEMBERS TO PURSUE DREAM AND MAKE NIGERIA GREAT AGAIN-NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday urged Nigerian youths to remain focused in life, pursue their dreams and reject those fanning embers of discord and disintegration of Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

Buhari made the call when he received more than 100 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in Daura Local Government Area of Katsina.

The President, who received the Corp members at his residence in Daura, urged them to make Nigeria great again through pursuit of knowledge, patriotism and commitment to values that promote national unity.

He pledged his unalloyed commitment to the unity and prosperity of Nigeria.

President Buhari, who specially recognised those corps members from the Niger Delta and South-Eastern states serving in Daura, praised the vision of former President Yakubu Gowon in setting up the scheme in 1973.

According to him, the scheme has creditably promoted national unity and cohesion by exposing young people to the uniqueness and cultural diversity of Nigeria.

“I asked for those from the other extreme of Nigeria because I very much appreciate the NYSC scheme and whenever I see General Gowon, I always thank him for that,” he said.

Speaking specifically to corps members from the South Eastern states, the President said: “tell your colleagues who want Biafra to forget about it.”

“As a military commander, I walked from Degem, a border town between the North and the East, to the border between Cameroon and Nigeria.

I walked on my foot for most of the 30 months that we fought the Nigeria-Biafra civil war in which at least two million Nigerians were killed.

We were made by our leaders to go and fight Biafra not because of money or oil, because oil was not critical factor then, but because of one Nigeria.

So if leaderships at various levels failed, it was not the fault of the rest of Nigerians who have no quarrel with one another.

So, please tell your colleagues that we must be together to build this country. It is big enough for us and potentially big enough in terms of resources.

Those who work hard will earn a respectable living. I have seen this country, I fought for this country and I will continue to work for the unity of this country,” the President said.

In his remarks, Egbewumi Adebolu, the Corps Liaison Officer in Daura, thanked the President for the honour of receiving them and making their stay in Daura memorable.

He said the youths strongly believed in the programme of the President to reduce unemployment and create jobs for more Nigerians.

Adebolu thanked the President for his personal gifts of cows, bags of rice and cash to corps members in the community for Sallah celebration

FIFTY-ONE CORP MEMBER TO REPEAT OR EXTEND IN FOUR STATE- NAN

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has ordered 51 corps members under Batch B Stream 1 to repeat or extend their service in four states in the country for violating various rules.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the cases of indiscipline were recorded in Nasarawa, Sokoto, Niger and Enugu states.

11 erring corps members each were affected by the disciplinary action in Nasarawa and Sokoto states, while Niger and Enugu states recorded 24 and 5 cases, respectively.

The management of the NYSC explained that the offences included failure to report for service after documentation, absenteeism and truancy at places of primary assignment.

Habiba Bappah, the State Coordinator of NYSC in Nasarawa state, made this known to newsmen in Lafia during the passing out event of the corps members.

According to Bappah, 1,936 Batch B stream 1 corps members in the state successfully passed.

She said the 11 corps members were among the 13 ordered to extend their service in various degrees for various offences they committed during their service year.

Bappah said that two others got four months extension for absconding for some months without permission.

“11 will repeat the service year because they did not serve for a single day. Some of them came to camp, did their documentation and took off. 2 are for 4 months extension of service because they absconded for about 3 months,” said the coordinator.

Bappah also explained that out of the 1,936 passing out corps members, 12 were selected for honours awards in various categories, while 18 others would get commendation letters.

“They did very well in various categories like the State’s awards, Chairman’s award and State Coordinator’s award. We appeal to the government to always identify with those that have done well and give them automatic employment.”

In Sokoto state, five corps members out of 2,112 lost their lives during their service year, according to the state coordinator of the scheme, Thomas Yamma.

Yamma said in Sokoto that 7 corps members would repeat their service year.

He also said that 11 corps members were to repeat their complete service year, while 7 had their service extended by between 2 and 4 months, for various offences.

“Happily, 4 corps members received state merit awards, four got chairman’s awards, while six others bagged commendation letters. On the whole, the corps members had exhibited high sense of commitment and diligence. I must also hasten to commend the management of the Service, Sokoto State Government and the Sultanate Council of Sokoto, for their sustained support to the scheme,” Yamma said.

The NYSC also extended the service year of 24 corps members in Niger for continuous absence from their places of primary assignment without permission.

The state Coordinator of the scheme, Bolade Loto, made this known at the passing out parade of the 2015 Batch B stream one corps members posted to the state.

She stated that 10 corps members received State Merit Award, while 10 others received recommendation for initiating various projects that impacted on the lives of the people in the state.

However, she revealed that two corps members died in the course of their service year.

The coordinator said that 2,193 corps members passed out in the state.

In Enugu state, 3 corps members also lost their lives in the course of the programme; one died in camp and two others died in their home states.

The NYSC State Coordinator, Nwano Ukagha, told NAN that this year’s event was low key.

NAN reports that there was no gathering and passing out parade which usually holds at Okpara Square in Enugu.

The corps members were requested to collect their discharge certificates from the headquarters of the local government area where they served.

She said that 5 corps members would be repeating their service year for various reasons bothering on truancy and dereliction of duty.

MAN ARRESTED OVER DEFRAUDING PEOPLE OF ABOUT N4BN

Following over a hundred petitions from across the country on the operations of an alleged Wonder bank and its nefarious activities, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday October 6, 2016 arrested the Managing Director of “Lets Partner With You Ltd”, Patrick Shanchi Nwokike at his residence in Enugu, Enugu state.

Petitioners indicated that the company had over the past five years solicited and obtained deposits of more than N4bn from the general public with promise of mouth watering interests in return.

According to investigations conducted by the Commission, the company has no license to solicit and manage funds for the public nor was it registered with Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), or the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC).

Further investigations revealed that a 10% interest was for some time paid on invested capital which, for no justifiable reason, was suddenly stopped and all efforts by depositors to have at least the capital of their investments returned, nor terminate their investments proved abortive.

Many of the complainants alleged that the operators of the scheme especially, Nwokike, not only live very flamboyant lifestyles but acquired several personal assets as well as using their deposits for philanthropic enterprise.

The company was also found to have over six accounts in about four banks with the Nwokike and his wife being the only signatories to the accounts.

In his statement, Nwokike who acknowledged that depositor’s funds with his company was about N4bn, denied operating both money lending and investment business as alleged by the petitioners.

He stated that his company is into partnership business which receives money from interested partners who desires interest from their money after it might have been infused into businesses especially that of small scale traders.

Nwokike argued that the present problem facing his company is as a result of the general economic downturn in the country; an argument punctured by his depositors who said his company started defaulting even before the present economic woes.

Investigation is still on-going to ascertain the extent of the company’s operations, its culpability, likely recovery of funds and possible prosecution.

FROM THE DESK OF TIJANI SHERIFFDEEN OPEYEMI VIII

                     NIGERIA WON ALL MEDALS FOR PARTICIPATION

Olympic is not to win but to participate. This must have been the words that motivated our great country to show only participation in the just concluded Olympic event in Brazil; Rio16. But come to think of it, those countries that went home with gold, silver and bronze medals, don’t they have an inkling of what the words above mean? They should also have come to participate like Nigeria so that at the end we may all leave together to allow the Olympic medals stay in Brazil.

The very good thing about Olympics is that, one gets to know the very next country hosting the event early enough. This will help the country get prepared and also help athletes fasten their belts again. For those that might have got medals in the concluded Olympic event, they would be more prepared to sink their names into the beautiful book of history. Just as those who muffed, would be getting prepared to do better at the next event. So saddening our country Nigeria doesn’t see things that way. One reason they have been excelling beautifully in every Olympic event they participate in.

I have no doubts that the coiner of the clause “Olympic is not to win but to participate” did that to help countries like ours feel among, a clause to compensate our efforts and time at the event in ensuring the success of others. What a compensation it is really!

We fumbled at the 2012 Olympics in London, and we had excuses like our athletes didn’t get to train well, among other unheard claims. I wouldn’t understand why parents would beat and snap at their children for not preparing early enough for examinations, when it actually is what their country preaches.

We are always very confident we can do things other nations can too, with just little time to practise, no wonder we are leaders in most of this things. I wouldn’t understand why our nation won’t see things the very right way; I think it’s the underdeveloped syndrome that is affecting us, because the developed nations show they are developed in almost all aspects if not all. Just take a look at the first ten countries at the just concluded Olympics, you will get my stand. While other nations are progressing we are too anyways, since the Minister of Sports considers bronze medal a success. If a Minister can be proud of a bronze medal which they did nothing to help achieve, then we should all be celebrating the success or what do you think? Looking back at the time the Dream Team VI arrived the Olympic venue among others; one would begin to understand the relentless efforts of the authorities concerned in seeing through the success of their bronze medal. If there is on person who should be saying half bread is better than none, it should be Samson Siasia or the Captain himself, John Mikel Obi, and not the man who should have ensured things were fine before athletes leave for the country hosting the Olympics, and not that alone, ensuring they have a good stay while outside the country. Congratulations to the Dream Team VI and its officials, you made us proud!

Many nations came with new and young athletes, we were still seen parading our old stars, when we don’t even have a body that checks to know the welfare of the athletes, how would we have a body that would scout for new athletes that can fly the flag of our nation high? I wouldn’t know why some states like Lagos state still keep hosting sport festivals, when we aren’t seeing the products. We get to see young people performing wonderfully well in those events, and after few weeks they return back to the stage they used to be. No progress at all, only that they get one shinning thing like gold on their necks. The talents they aim at finding at the sport festivals are just to show the world that we have young stars too. Universities keep deceiving their selves too with hosting West African University Games (WAUG) and other events. What has it yielded? Have we got better people to represent our nations or those who will just go to Olympics to participate only and get to see faces of sport Icons like Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps and others.

The sporting events that used to give us hope is now failing us too, what sector can we then brag of? Developed nations have learnt their lessons from the just concluded Olympic in Brazil, they would return back to work on those lapses, so that they can triumph in subsequent outings. No, Nigeria wont, until months to the next Olympic, may be then we wouldn’t even get the half loaf we were forced to celebrate. The body governing the Sports world in our country isn’t fit to be there. The body has to be checked. We don’t want to lose the sport sector too.

Our athletes are back, let them know the next step, let them start now, enough of participation, we want to win too. Let’s leave the “Olympic is not to win but to participate” thing for other nations.

TIJANI, Sheriffdeen writes… (sheriffdeentijani@gmail.com, 07033254385)

PHOTOS OF SEYI TINUBU'S WEDDING 2016

SEYI TINUBU AND LAYAL HOLM


Seyi Tinubu, one of the sons of APC chieftain, Bola Tinubu , and his fiancée, Layal Holm, got married on Saturday, August 6, 2016.

 In attendance were family, friends and dignitaries of the powerful family including the Governor and Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode and Dr. Idiat Adebule, Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, Governor of Oyo state, Abiola Ajimobi, the Oba of Lagos amongst others.