'Cross River will soon be delisted from ELDS'- S.A. to Gov. Ayade

Prince Micheal Abuo is the Special Assistant to Cross River State Governor on Students Affairs and Youth Mobilisation. He once served as the Director of Information in the Students Union Government, University of Calabar (UNICAL) where he studied Microbiology. In this interview with Chinwendu Ohaeri of Campus Light Magazine, Abuo applauds Governor Ayade’s one year in office, stressing his achievements as the Special Assistant to the Governor and what Cross River Students stand to benefit next e years. Excerpt: 

Prince Abua in a group selfie with Campus Light crew

Campus Light: Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Prince Abuo: I am Micheal Abuo from Ogoja  in Northern Cross River State (CRS) while my mum is from Warri South,Urhobo in Delta State, my father is from Cross River State. I am from a royal family (Obet) of the Mbube Nation which is why I have a prefix, ‘Prince’ to my name. I was born in Jos, Plateau State.I attended  Nsisuk International Nursery School here in CRS. I went to both National Youth Service Corp Secondary School and St. Patrick Collage, Calabar and graduated from the prestigious University of Calabar. While in the university I was a senator of the Faculty of Science Senate as at 100 level, which was legendary. At 200 level, I contested for SUG President. After much ado, I was asked to step down for Ipuole Johnson and I was afterwards elected in same regime as Director of Information. While in the office I was a member of UNICAL Radio Steering Committee inaugurated by then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bassey Asuquo to lay a process for the start-up of the UNICAL Community Radio Station. Part of the recommendation of that committee led to the upgrade of the Department of Theatre Arts to ‘Theatre and Media Arts’ as it is called today. I was also elected as the Secretary of the Northern Senatorial District (Ex-Officio North) of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter while in 300 level and served as the Deputy Chairman of the National Association of Microbiology Student, (NAMS), UNICAL chapter. After my graduation from UNICAL, I founded Cross River State Political Network, CRISPON a nongovernmental cum sociopolitical organization geared at building the gap between government and the governed and providing a platform for youths to get leadership experience and network for the good of our state. It was on the back of this platform that I was nominated by the United State Government to represent Nigeria/West Africa in the International Visitors Leadership Program, (IVLP) at the United States for the Young Political Leaders Project. We were 30 participants in that year’s IVLP, from thirty different countries across the world. I was the only Nigerian and West African. There were four Africans in all.. Other representatives were from Europe, Asia etc from the class of Ministers, Special Advisers to Presidents, State and National Parliamentarians etc. It is still on the back of this platform that I got to where I am today. I have over 230 works of poetry published in my book titled "Thoughts of A Rainforest".

Campus Light: How has it being like since you were appointed into this office?

Prince Abuo: This is my third appointment in this government. When my boss, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade came into office, he asked me to serve in this government as his Media Aide. That was due to my experience as a campus journalist those days under the Nigeria Union of Campus Journalist. After about 3 months, he reassigned me to be the Personal Assistant on Students Affairs. Media work is relatively easy compared to coordinating students’ affairs. I found it relatively easier serving as a Media Aide because your major role as a Media Aide is promoting what the government is doing and then counter propaganda against government when they come from people. Here, you deal with students who are an unpredictable set of people. There are high expectations from people all around me especially on finances. Expectations range from the issues of subvention for National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS), to scholarships, challenges of bursary, requests for support of both youth and student activities etc. Subsequently, my office was upgraded by His Excellency, Senator Prof. Ayade from Personal Assistant to Special Assistant Student Affairs and Youth Mobilization. That is how it has been.

What are your basic achievements since you got into office?

Prince Abuo: Well, my office has facilitated processes for over 100 CRS students in the Chevron Scholarship program and over 50 students for the Federal Scholarship Program. We have built a cordial relationship with National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS). On the issue of NACRISS’ subvention, the state government is looking into that since. We are currently faced with challenges. So, there is no more glitch between the students and the government. My office facilitated a face-to-face interaction between students/youths of different groups and the Governor which was the first of its kind. This government is leading the ranks in students’affairs and youth mobilization. Since His Excellency came on board there has not been any strike action in Cross River State University of Science and Technology (CRUTECH) and we will maintain that. My office has equally organized the first ever government led voluntary sanitation exercise to keep Calabar clean in partnership with different groups. We went around Calabar Metropolis to practically sensitize our people on the need to be environmentally friendly. We have also launched an anti-cultism and back-to-book project in Cross River state in order to encourage our young people to go back to their studies and to forget about cultism, hooliganism, and other social vices and go back to their books as a means of encouraging reading habit in the state. 

Campus Light: What should CRS students expect next 3 years?

Prince Abuo: There are plans for the building of a Student/Youth Complex in Calabar metropolis were students can stay for e-reading and research. The centre will have relaxation points, with a serene environment for refreshment and indoor sporting. It will also house reprographic, art and Informational and Communication Technology (ICT) Unit, Office Space with 24/7 power supply for the students of Cross River. There are plans for upgrading my office to a Department of Students’ affairs which will be a hub for students’issues in CRS. The architectural designs for these projects are on course and the source for funding is centered on the World Bank, African Development Bank, Tertiary Education Trust Fund etc. I have presented all these proposals before His Excellency and we are hoping to kick-off soon. Our attention too has been drawn to the state of the State Library and soon with the setting up of the library board those issues will be addressed. My office will be launching an initiative which will contribute to the transformation of Cross River State from an Educationally Less-Developed State (ELDS) to Educationally Developed State (EDS) in the country. This will be done in partnership with the Ministry of Education, CRS via our Back-To-Book-Project and After School Trainings for Students. I know our dreams can be achieved within 7years because His Excellency Senator Prof Ben Ayade has a burning passion for students and Youths in the State. 

Campus Light: Don’t you think that ELDS helps our students get admission in higher institutions?

Prince Abuo: Well, for me and for my Governor, we believe that if you set your mind together in a particular perspective, your body will follow. We are poised to rearrange our dynamics as a state from negative to positive. Ostensibly, if there are Nigerian sates that are making it on the platform Educationally Developed State, like Imo, Abia states, Akwa Ibom, Lagos etc then we can make it. If there are advantages for those who are EDS, then, let us have the advantages. We are looking at liberation from everything negative. The tag ‘Educationally Less Developed’ has spiritual, psychological and emotional effect on CR citizens, children and future generation. As a state known for many academic ‘firsts’ in history, we have no business being categorized under any demeaning standard. 

Campus Light: One of the pressing issues for students is the issue of bursary payment, scholarships and subvention what is your office doing about that?

Prince Abuo: You know, we have realized that there is no central bursary payment system in the state. Some local governments pay bursary while others don’t. We want to centralize the bursary payment system so that every Cross River student will benefit from it. For scholarships and subvention due to the current economic situation in the country and monumental development projects of this administration these issues are facing review and will be addressed accordingly. Several memos have been written to that effect and action will commence as soon as His Excellency gives approval.

Campus Light: Will that apply to CR students schooling outside the state?

Prince Abuo: If His Excellency approves the bursary payment, it will surely apply to all the students schooling within Nigeria. But, we will set up a selection process which will fairly apply to all students regardless of where they are.

Campus Light: What is your word of advice for the students and parents? 

Prince Abuo: Parents should advice and support their children to pursue their passion guided by the principle of God and societal ethics. During my secondary school days at St. Patrick’s College, Calabar I was the Senior Prefect. Shortly before then, I was selected to be in science class contrary to the recommendation of the Vice Principal Academics that I should be the in Arts Class. My father wanted me to be a science student.  I did better in art subjects compared to my science subjects, but my Dad wanted me in science class. Here am I today in politics which is arts-related. I later told myself that if I studied arts, I would have done better because I have the initiatives and endowments when it comes to social relations, leadership and management. Interestingly, since I graduated, I have not used my Microbiology Certificate for any job as I went into private hustle after graduation. This is my first government  job upon graduation. So, students should not give up irrespective of where they are today and should understand that it is not just their certificate that will get them a job or make them fulfilled in life but passion guided by determination and effort. Parents should not impose courses on their students. They should allow their students to explore the world and do what they can do to the best of their capacity. As young people, we should discover ourselves and grow. Self discovery is not time bound. Youths should be diligent, creative, innovative and passionate in whatever they do and success will come hugging. 

Campus Light: Do you have any political ambition?

Prince Abuo: Yes I do. My political ambition is for God’s grace to help me attain the greatest results in my current office. I want to succeed where I am and come up with ideas that will solve problems. By so doing, we will build stair cases for future platforms to serve in higher capacities.

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NIGERIAN TAKES OVER I.T.M UGEP

Prof. Angba (Right) in a handshake with Dr. Pedley (Left) 

A Nigerian, Prof. Austin Angba has taken over the leadership of Institute of Technology and Management (ITM), Ugep. Prof. Angba was appointed as Acting Rector of ITM by the Cross River State Governor, Senator Prof. Ben Ayade recently.

ITM was established about 2 years ago in affiliation with Highburry Collage, United Kingdom. Since its inception, ITM was under the management of the UK government.

During the handover recently, the former Rector, Dr. William Pedley congratulated Prof. Angba for his appointment and applauded the state government for its new wave of concern for the development of the school. He promised his unalloyed commitment to the school management and the state government. He said “whenever you need my assistance, I will be there. The facilities are in order and of super standard. You can take a tour round the school and witness that yourself”.

Before his appointment, Prof. Angba was a lecturer in the Faculty of Agriculture, where he once served as a Head of Department. He was also appointed by the Vice Chancellor to serve as the Deputy Director STEP-B Project University of Calabar where he delivered meritoriously.

Dr. Pedley chatting with Prof. Angba

Prof. Angba’s appointment is expected to take effect immediately, following the mandate from the state Governor, Sen. Prof. Ayade.

Apart from being the first Cross River citizen to occupy the office, Professor Angba is the first Nigerian and the first black man to head IMT, Ugep since its inception. He took over from an European group who managed the school for some time.

During his visit to the school, Prof. Angba had an interactive session with the members of the school. The students and the staff were happily converged at the conference room when he arrived the school. Prof. Angba took out some time to give words of encouragement to the staff and students who were filled with happiness that the institution which had been on break for some time has resumed fully.

The Rector led the entire school in a prayer session which lasted for about 19 minutes. He urged teh students and the staff to take up their individual responsibilities very seriously because the school has taken off on a full swing and there is no room for liturgy.

Prof. Angba leading a prayer session

Prof. Angba noted that the problem with Nigerian education system is indiscipline, laziness and carelessness. “We have commenced in earnest and there is no going back. The students must be ready to learn and the teachers must be ready to teach. No room for laziness.

“The positive reports about this are everywhere and I am here to sustain it and make it better. This is world class institution built to the United Kingdom standard, facilities and philosophy so we will produce world class students of international repute”.

Prof. Angba led the members of the management to a tour round the ultramodern school facilities, staff quarters, refectory, lecture rooms, etc.

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VC constructs new desks for students

Cross Section of desks

Not less 1600 seats have been made available by the University of Calabar (UNICAL) management for the students. This was revealed to Campus Light by Dr. James Okpiliya who is the Director Centre for Educational Services (CES), during an interactive session.

Dr. Okpiliya said the seat project was occasioned by the need to provide more comfortable classroom environment for the students during their lectures and classes.
The 400 units of classroom desk which takes up to 4 students per desk will be installed in the CES building to replace the old desks that have been grievously damaged because of long usage.

It can be recalled that when he took over as the Vice Chancellor of Unical, Prof. Zana Akpagu declared that his policies and plans are channeled to alleviating the sufferings of students and providing basic welfare which the students need to succour academic pressure on campus.

In a chat with Campus Light, Dr. Okpiliya said this driving passion of the Vice Chancellor as an alumnus of Unical is yielding positive results. “All these seats will be installed in the students’ classrooms. We want to give our students the best. We had to invite the constructing firm to fabricate the seats here in the school community where we would do step-by-step supervision of the whole process to be sure of the materials they are using. The students themselves are part of the project so they will not allow you use fake materials for their own thing. The VC has a plan and he will actualize it”, he concluded.

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Abia Killers Banded

The Abia State Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) working closely with the authorities of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU), and the security outfits in Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), have arrested four young suspects believed to be involved in the murder of three ABSU students at Isuikwuato Local Government in which two of the victims were beheaded amd their heads dropped along the ABSU Main gate in the wake of the day.

The suspects were arrested around MOUAU and Umuahia respectively. They include Chikezie Macdonald (a.k.a Walking Dutch) aged 22; Chidozie Obi (a.k.a Small body) aged 21; Chukwuemeka Awom (a.k.a Arch Angel) aged 25 and Chigozie Francis Eberendu (a.k.a Starboy) aged 23.

The suspects, who were paraded at the Abia State Government House during the week, are members of a cult group known as Burkina Faso which had severally troubled the students community. Students reporters revealed that the BF cult group is one of the most terrific cult outfits in ABSU as their fratanous efforts could eliminate any joint effort by any opposition cult group. Theres is the purported report that the said suspects conspired with others at large to carry out the devilish acts at the residence of the three victims at Chido Lodge, Uturu, on March 12, 2016. They maimed the students and left them in the pool of their blood.

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VC constructs new desks for students

Not less 1600 seats have been made available by the University of Calabar (UNICAL) management for the students. This was revealed to Campus Light by Dr. James Okpiliya who is the Director Centre for Educational Services (CES), during an interactive session.

Dr. Okpiliya said the seat project was occasioned by the need to provide more comfortable classroom environment for the students during their lectures and classes.
The 400 units of classroom desk which takes up to 4 students per desk will be installed in the CES building to replace the old desks that have been grievously damaged because of long usage.

It can be recalled that when he took over as the Vice Chancellor of Unical, Prof. Zana Akpagu declared that his policies and plans are channeled to alleviating the sufferings of students and providing basic welfare which the students need to succour academic pressure on campus.

In a chat with Campus Light, Dr. Okpiliya said this driving passion of the Vice Chancellor as an alumnus of Unical is yielding positive results. “All these seats will be installed in the students’ classrooms. We want to give our students the best. We had to invite the constructing firm to fabricate the seats here in the school community where we would do step-by-step supervision of the whole process to be sure of the materials they are using. The students themselves are part of the project so they will not allow you use fake materials for their own thing. The VC has a plan and he will actualize it”, he concluded.

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IMT gets new Rector

The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade has appointed Prof. Austin Angba as the Acting Rector for Institute of Management Technology, Ugep in Cross River State.

Before his appointment, Prof. Angba was a lecturer in the Faculty of Agriculture, where he once served as a Head of Department. He was also appointed by the Vice Chancellor to serve as the Deputy Director STEP-B Project University of Calabar where he delivered meritoriously.

Prof. Angba’s appointment is expected to take effect immediately, following the mandate from the state Governor, Sen. Prof. Ayade.

Apart from being the first Cross River citizen to occupy the office, Professor Angba is the first Nigerian and the first black man to head IMT, Ugep since its inception. He took over from an European group who managed the school for some time.

In a briefing, Prof. Angba expressed sincere appreciation to the state Governor for giving him an opportunity to serve at such a capacity. He promised to contribute his quota to the development of the state’s education system by coming up with trending policies that will revamp the school and make the state outstanding.

Following his credible academic and professional achievements, members of the academic community are convinced that Prof. Angba will deliver satisfactorily in his new task. The Public Relations Officer of University of Calabar Alumni Association, Mr. Emmanuel Adariku said the personality of Prof. Angba is fit for the position. “He is a committed and devoted academician. He is surely the right man for the job”.

Prof. Angba noted that the school is a veritable platform for investors to come in and play a major role by investing to its development. “I urge our home-based philanthropists, businessmen and politicians to come in and invest in the school. This is the best time for us to show our love for the state by impacting in the education sector. We implore private individuals and corporate organizations to invest. IMT is a veritable platform for organizations to work on”.

The university don equally promised to make Prof. Ayade’s regime a legendary one while commending the Governor’s efforts and policies so far.

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Text Book is not compulsory-Dr. Okpiliya

Dr. James Okpiliya is a member of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) Governing Council, a member of the UNICAL Senate and a Lecturer in the Department of English and Literary Studies. Shortly after the expiration of his tenure as the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Okpiliya was appointed as the Director Centre for Educational Services (CES). In this interview with Gift Adah of Campus Light, the don spoke about the much debated issue of sale of textbooks in universities arguing that it should not be compulsory.


CL: What has been your experience since you achieved this height as the Director of CES?
Dr. Opkiliya: I was Chairman of ASUU before I came over here. I have been used to dealing with people that are more mature than I and with different psychology from the students. I think this new job is just a carryover experience. I deal more with students here and little with staff. I work with students and their leaders to ensure that they are comfortable, to ensure that the mission and vision of the University about them are fully actualized. I have learnt a lot since I came here because life is all about lessons. I have learnt that one needs patience to deal with students. The students call me frequently. When they flash me, I would call back even without knowing who is flashing. When they send me call me messages, I would call, whether I know them or not. It is a lovely experience and of course a new lesson for me.

CL: Can you see any difference between CES students and regular students?
Dr. Opkiliya: Significantly, there is no difference between the CES and the regular students. The only difference is that while the regular students go for youth service, the CES students don’t. Another addendum there is that the CES students pay tuition while the regular students don’t. There is no other difference. The course contents are the same; they use same textbooks and are taught by same lecturers. They use same classrooms and libraries.

CL: Why are CES students not given the opportunity to participate in youth service regardless of the huge sum of money they pay and the time they spend in school?
Dr. Opkiliya: Fine. This argument has been on for a long time. We have pushed it forward to the NYSC and the National Assembly. You know that NYSC is a creation of law. There is a law establishing it. There are certain things that are contained in that law. So, unless those contents are repealed and new inclusions made, there is nothing we can do about it. The law doesn’t cater for the part time programs that are run within the country. Before now, no one ever imagined that younger people will go into part time program. But because of the quest for certificate and the slim quota universities have, students now resort to part time programs.

CL: What is your office doing about it?
Dr. Opkiliya: Well, before I became the director, I was the Deputy Director under Prof. Eze Bassey who was then the chairman of association of Directors of consultancy programs in Nigeria. Since then, we have been pushing this issue of youth service. I am worried because as the Director I want my students to be comfortable in the program they have enrolled for; I want to encourage more people to run the program, thus, raising the IGR level of the university. I want to prove my mettle. If we eventually achieve youth service mobilisation for CES students, we will end up having more influx of students in this program.  We want the students to join us in this fight. We are pushing for exclusion certificate but it is not a part of the law. We are trying. It pains me sincerely that these young ones are not allowed to serve their father’s land.

CL: Here, in the campus, the answer scripts of CES students have ‘CES’ inscription boldly written on them which is not applicable to regular students. Why is it so?
Dr. Opkiliya: There are two different sets of students. There is nothing strange there. It is for administrative purposes. It doesn’t affect the marking and grading systems.

CL: If you go to IPPA, IOC and IOE which have higher concentration of CES students, you will find out that there are a lot of practices there which call for questions such are sale of textbooks. What is your opinion about textbook marketing in universities?
Dr. Opkiliya: Good. If you are a farmer you cannot go to farm without your tools. If you are a human being you must eat. If you are student, you must read books. Those books must be relevant to the program and the course you are doing. There is nothing wrong about sale of textbooks in the universities but it is wrong to force them on students. Textbooks are not compulsory. If books are recommended by the department, there should be a benchmark to the cost at which those books are sold. I have told students in all those places that if there are practices which they are not comfortable with, it is their duty to report them to me. They can put the complains on a piece of paper, list the names of those involved and pass under my door. Don’t write you names on it. Make it anonymous and I will surely investigate act on it.

CL: Do you have any advice for the students?
Dr. Opkiliya: The students should read their books and make their parents proud. This is not a time for them to freelance and move about. They should shun unethical practises and be focused.

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