The Chairman of Board of Governors of Lead Forte Gate Schools, Ogudu GRA, Lagos, Rev. Tunde Lemo has reemphasised the commitment of the school to always produce graduates that would become world class leaders in future.

He made the promise recently while addressing the gathering at the school’s 14th graduation ceremony, saying the school’s vision has always been to produce world competitive students.

Noting that the school since inception is known for excellence in academic, moral values and other aspects of life, Lemo said all these were as a result of conducive environment the school operates.

He listed, among others comfortable classrooms, well-equipped library and laboratories as well as functional ICT facilities and God’s benevolence as some of the driven forces behind the school success.

Lemo, who is a former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria equally pointed out that the school does not also joke with extra-curricular activities which he said the school was using to help students in creativity, confidence, social interaction that will in turn help them in their academic.

He however congratulated the outgoing students on the completion of their studies in the school and advised them to remain good boys and girls as they move up in life.

Also speaking, the principal of the secondary arm, Mr. Ben Greyling while reechoing Lemo’s promise to sustain the standard of the school urged the Federal Government to give more priority to education.

Workers of the College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies, CAILS in Ilorin, Kwara State who are under the umbrella of the Committee of the Unions of Tertiary Institutions, CUTI and joint members of Academic Staff Union, ASU; Senior Staff Union, SSU and the Non Academic Staff Union, NASU on Tuesday cried out over nonpayment of their salaries by government.

The workers, who painted a pathetic picture of their situation while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin said aside owing them three months backlog of salaries, they were also being owed another seven months half salaries in 2014 which they said had put them in miserable conditions.

The workers, whose leaders; Mohammed Farouq, Shina Agboola and disclosed to newsmen that the staff of the institution had not been able to go to work anymore due to the hardships they encountered because of their situation even at the dangerous end of the academic year activities.

They expressed more worries that when the categories of workers of tertiary schools that had not been paid were mentioned by government last week, their case was not included which they claimed sent wrong signals out that government had become insensitive to their plight.

Listing some other problems they encounter, the workers said government through the Governing Council had shut the academic staff out of the conventional conferences and seminars while those of them, including the non academic staff who had cause to attend do so on their personal accopunts.

Contrary to speculation that the Federal Government is planning to handover the Federal Government colleges otherwise known as unity schools to the state governments, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Macjohn Nwaobiala has cleared the air on the issue, saying there was no such plan either now or in near future.

He said the motive for establishing unity colleges, which according to him was to foster national unity among young Nigerian students of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds through secondary education is perfectly working.

Nwaobiala, who made the declaration in an interview in Lagos recently, asked rhetorically that how many state governments were able to run their schools effectively despite their claims to have made education their first priority.

Most times, he noted, it is still the Federal Government that bails them out, especially concerning the basic education through the Universal Basic Education Commission sponsoring some of their major developmental projects and programmes.

“Aside that,” he added, “We even need to also ask ourselves about how is their respective model colleges are being fared? We all know the answer. So, the Federal Government colleges will remain a symbol of national unity by the grace of God.”

However, the perm sec acknowledged the fact that the FG does not also fund education well as a result of what he termed scarce resources and used the medium to call on parents, groups, philanthropists and corporate bodies to join hands with the government to move the sector forward.

For 456 graduating students of King’s College, the purpose of who he was in Lagos, Nwaobiala congratulated them on the achievement and urged them to make excellence their watch word so as to be able to fulfill their dreams and contribute meaningfully to the national development.

Speaking earlier, the director and principal of the college, Otunba Oladele Olapeju asked the new graduands to match on no matter the challenges before them, saying nothing good comes easy in life.

He reminded them that the knowledge and skills the college had imparted on them would greatly help them in their next and subsequent engagements and they should therefore make good use of them.

To would-be his successor, Olapeju who is due for retirement in November after putting in 33 years of service wants King’s College to maintain its first position among the 104 unity colleges nationwide.

The Vice-Chancellor of National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Vincent Tenebe; the Director of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. D. C. Uwaezuoke and Chairman of the college’s parents’ forum, Mr. Emmanuel Oriakhi, among others graced the occasion.

Managing proprietor, Victory group of schools, Lagos, Dr. Christian Olaniyan has charged the newly graduated students to be good ambassadors of the school by imbibing and exhibiting the lessons and morals they had acquired during their studentship.

He gave the advice at the 42nd valedictory and graduation ceremony of the school recently.

According to him, the Victory group of schools has groomed several successful men and women who today occupy various key sectors not only in Nigeria but outside the country.

While urging the graduands to continuously embrace virtues of perseverance, hard work and punctuality which they had been exposed to in the school, he also asked them to follow good footsteps of those who left before them and have recorded successes in their endeavours.

Olaniyan noted that since the inception of the school in 1969, he had never had a cause to regret its establishment.

In his speech, the principal, Mr. Jolayemi Odedele thanked God for a successful academic session despite the social, economic and political challenges confronting the country.

He urged the graduates to muster courage to be able to arrive at an enviable goal in future, adding that they need to be steadfast and prayerful.

A special guest and former student of the school, Mrs. Omodunni Yusuf, who was admitted into the school in 1973, recalled the legacy and morals the school has left in her, which has moulded her into a better person.

In their remarks, the head boy and the head girl appreciated the school for giving them laudable legacy which birthed in them intellectual excellence, morals, hard work, discipline, among others.

The private school owners have called on both the Federal and state governments to start enforcing the policy fixing six years duration for primary school children.

They said that was necessary in view of the fact that many parents are no longer allow their children to complete primary six before securing admission for them in secondary schools.

They also asked governments to stop forcing multiple taxes on them, saying such action is draining their finances.

Speaking under the aegis of League of Muslim School Proprietors (LEAMSP), Lagos State chapter at their 10th summit in Lagos recently, the group said their operations were being badly affected by the two issues raised.

They however expressed surprise about the way parents manipulate the system and get their children sitting for common entrance exams and secure admission into public schools, especially unity and model colleges without them completing primary school.

They said such was always the case yearly when primary four or five pupils who instead of returning after long vacations to continue with their studies would have gained admission into unity or model colleges, leaving their classes almost empty and incomes dwindle.

“That has been our experience every year whereas we would still have to pay salaries and meet other financial commitments for that academic year,” the group stressed.

On the summit with the theme: “Striving for excellence,” both group’s leadership at the national and Lagos State level, Alhaji Taiwo Tijani and Abdulwahid Obalakun respectively asked members on their part to put make their schools teaching and learning friendly by providing all that required to make it so.

They said sound education was key to development hence the need to always strive for quality to enable them producing globally competitive students.

In her contribution, the guest speaker, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, who spoke on “Achieving first class output in our private schools,” said functional and qualitative education could be achieved but only when every proprietor provide, among others comfortable classrooms, well-equipped laboratories and libraries, competent and dedicated workers and ICT system in their schools.

Soyombo, who is the director-general, Office of Quality Assurance, Lagos State, listed other areas for proprietors to achieve first class output to include but not limited to adequate funding, good planning, relevant curriculum, effective communication, rewarding excellence, garner external support and cooperation from all stakeholders and good leadership style.

She said that was why they would all need to comply with government guidelines for their operations.

“Truck crushes okada rider to death” (The PUNCH metro headline, July 8) I have always wondered how when a truck or any other articulated vehicle crushes a man he still survives. For me, except there are some extraordinary or supernatural powers shielding the fellow the chances of survival are remote, if non-existent. This is just my own take—what do you think? Please note that most dictionaries and reference books approve the application as excerpted, but I strongly disagree!

We continue with the front and inside pages of The Guardian of July 7, which did not nurture truth: “A debt relief (debtrelief) programme proposed by the Debt Management Office (DMO) will also help states….”

“UI is Nigeria’s best varsity, eight (eighth) in Africa” What next: when shall we be the best on the continent?

“Editors guild (Editors’ Guild) donates N1m to NIJ”

The next grammatical crises are from The Guardian Editorial and Opinion Page of the edition under focus: “… an order from the President that all revenue generating (revenue- generating) agencies must pay into the Consolidated Federation Account….”

“These include Baga, Gwoza, Bama, Monguno, Dikwa, Michika, Mubi and Baga amongst (sic) others.” Nigerian Army at 52: the fact of inclusion implies that there are other cities. Most people misuse words like ‘include’ and ‘some’. In other words, the extract should have ended at ‘Baga’.

“With UnionCare, our automated customer center, our customers enjoy round the clock (round-the-clock) access to a full range of banking support (banking-support) services, with multi-language assistance.” (Full-page advertisement by UNION BANK)

“Lagos Court of Arbitration pledges committment (sic) to its mandate” Commitment is basic in the circumstance and so does not require any pledge!

Contrary to Mr. Bayo Oguntunase’s assertions last week, “practice makes perfect” is very correct! In addition, both “all hands on deck” and “all hands to the pumps” (British English) are right. Similarly, “the likes of somebody/something” (a) which means ‘used to talk about someone you do not like or do not approve of: I do not want you spending time with the likes of him. (b) Used to talk about people of a particular type: Information is collected through the likes of FBI, CIA and Scotland Yard. I think the mix-up originated from Mr. Oloko (below) and was inadvertently publicised (Mind Your Grammar, DAILY SUN, every Thursday) by Mr. Oguntunase. I take secondary responsibility/blame for my unusual lack of interrogation of this particular contribution. Mr. Charles Iyoha’s advice on this is appreciated and noted.

The like of somebody/something (also somebody’s/something’s like) (formal) something similar to someone or a particular person or thing, or of equal importance or value: This will be a show the like of which has never been seen before. The man was a genius. We shall not see his like again. (Credit: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English New Edition for Advanced Learners, among other references)

Wrong: “Let me repeat again….” Right: Let me repeat….

“Commission supports move to draw from ECA to bailout (bail out) states”

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A regular contributor to Wordsworth asserted on May 3, Page 66, that “practice makes perfect” could not be changed to “practice makes perfection”. In a surprising twist, the contributor, however, stated on July 5, Page 66 that “practice makes perfect” was wrong and “practice makes perfection” right from his “language laboratory”. Why is this confusion? To the best of my knowledge, the dictionaries approve only of “practice makes perfect” as an idiom, an unchangeable, fixed English expression. KOLA DANISA/ 07068074257

PLEASE take note that certain words, phrases and terms that are of American English origin or Stateside English are preferred in British English (BE). They include “wastebasket” (Americanism) is preferred to “waste-paper basket” (Briticism/Anglicism); “industrial action” (Americanism) is preferred to “strike action”, e.g. The train drivers have voted to take strike action.-(Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (NEW 8TH EDITION) page 1479; “Study” (American English) is preferred to “study room” (British English)—OALD page 1484; “driver’s licence” (Americanism) is preferred to “driving licence” (Briticism). Another note: Driver’s licence/ driver’s licences, British English; spelt “driver’s “license” in American English (see BBC English Dictionary, page 346).

“Insurance coverage” (American English) is preferred to “insurance cover” (British English). Please see the Economist’s STYLE GUIDE: the best-selling Guide in English Usage, Page77; insurance coverage (not “insurance cover”)!

Wrong: Practice makes perfect. Right: practice makes perfection— from a handout written by M.J. Oloko, ENGLISH MASTER, IKOSI High School, Ketu, (Nos 81a & 81b). Note on usage: As Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the Afrobeat legend would say, “Teacher, don’t teach me nonsense”! Don’t teach our children rubbish!

“Practice makes perfect”, means “only by doing a thing again and again can you attain skill or efficiency”, is an English proverb. Nobody has any licence—poetic, pedagogical or literary—to change or alter a formal proverb or idiom, Thanks. BAYO OGUNTUNASE (08056180046)

ARE the priests of usages becoming errant? How do we rationalize the curious shift from the form that has helped to sustain gender equity? One is talking about sentences starting with the indefinite pronoun “one” where the word and its possessive form “one’s” is retained all through in such sentences. One is here responding inter alia to Papa Oguntunase’s in The Sun. On this one, the priests of usage have goofed abysmally. Replacing the possessive form with the masculine, “his”, will again draw the ire of feminists. Reverting to the staus quo ante is urgently advocated. (FOLORUNSO B. F., Ilesa/08169500840

Kogi State government has completed the multimillion naira Nigeria -Korea Friendship Institute of Technology for skill acquisition.

The institute is located within the premises of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, the state capital.

While conducting Journalists round the institute, the Senior Special Adviser to the governor on Special Project, Hon. Alfa Ibn Mohammed stated that the project which started in 2013 was ready for official opening.

He explained that the facility was vocational centre, adding that the facility was a deliberate attempt to give succor to unemployed masses in the state as a joint venture by both parties.

He pointed out that the project was jointly financed by the Korea and Kogi State government.

He stated that the centre would be the first of its kind in West Africa with state- of-art facilities.

According to him, the centre is meant for both the educated and non- educated individuals to acquire skills capable of making them economically independent.

Students of the Federal polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, last week, finally had the opportunity to go to the polls to elect new Students’ Union executives.

This was three months after the last Students’ Union executives led by Ajibola Oladapo handed over to the management.

The election which ought to have been conducted last semester was postponed due to unstable academic calendar and failure of the last Students’ Senatorial Council to constitute the electoral committee on time.

A visit to all the four faculties which served as polling units showed peaceful atmosphere during and after the election as security agents were on patrols.

Also the turnout of students was high and they displayed commendable level of patience and discipline.

The result which was announced by the Ado Poly electoral Commission(APECO) at the School Multipurpose Hall has Jacob Oluwatuyi of Building Technology Department emerged as the President with a victory polling 824 votes to defeat his closest rival, Alao Olalekan of Science Technology department who had 409 votes. Aborisade Pelumi from Business Management department came third with 371 votes while Lawal Taofeek of Computer Science had 172 votes to come fourth.

Other winners are Grace Emupene, General Secretary; Sunshine Tunde as the Financial Secretary; Olayinka Johnson, Treasurer elect; Owoyemi Akinwale Desmond also emerged as the Social Director and Adeboboye Kunle emerged as the Welfare Director.

Others are Oluwafemi Arowosafe Public Relations Officer, Lubi Judge also won the Sport Director.

Following the announcement of the results, some students who could not hide their feelings expressed their excitement, reactions to the conduct of the election.

The Entrepreneurship Action Us(ENATUS) is set for this year’s edition of its annual competition among undergraduates nationwide.

No fewer than 40 institutions comprising public and private universities and polytechnics will have representatives participating in the edition, which is scheduled to hold in Lagos between 11th and 12th of August. ENACTUS is a global charity organisation biased in youth entrepreneurship development among students of higher learning.

As usual, during the competition, participating schools will in turn showcase their various innovative projects carried out in one year and how they positively impacting lives of their beneficiaries with an independent panel of judges evaluate the works for rewarding purposes. Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti won the last year’s edition.

For this year with the theme: “Enabling progress,” the acting country’s director, Michael Ajayi, in a press release said the competition would go in three stages with the winning team to represent Nigeria at the global version slated for Johannesburg in South Africa between 14 and 16th October.

He noted that the edition would also feature various teams showcasing their projects under Sahara Light up Nigeria Challenge, Season II.

He listed participating schools to include Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; Babcock University, Ota; Baze University, Abuja; Bayero University, Kano; Benue State University, Makurdi; Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti; Federal Polytechnic, Idah; Federal Polytechnic, Mubi; Federal Polytechnic Nekede; Federal Polytechnic Offa;

Among others are Federal Polytechnic Oko; Federal University of Technology, Akure; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Kaduna Polytechnic, Kogi State University, Anyigba; University of Ibadan; University of Jos; University of Lagos; University of Nigeria, Nsukka and so on.

During the combined policy meeting held in the Idris abdulkadir auditorium of the National |Universities Commission on Tuesday, July 14, 2015, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) fixed the cut-off marks at 150 and 180 for admission into the nation’s diploma and degree awarding institutions respectively. Candidates therefore expected individual universities to advertise the dates for their Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination to set in motion the final lap of the admission process.

Apparently, the body had also decided to limit the number of students who could sit for the Post-UTME examinations in their choice institutions by arbitrarily pegging a cut-off mark, and posting the remaining to some other institutions. By so doing, JAMB has usurped the powers of the universities to set the cut-off marks for the Post-UTME and of candidates to pick a second choice university. This is just one in a chain of blunders so far committed by JAMB in the last five years of policy flip-flops, and it is one blunder too many!

Universities are chosen by students in consultation with their parents or guardians based on many crucial criteria. Financial considerations are of overwhelming importance for the majority of candidates who seek admission into public tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Components may include the amount of fees charged, the cost of transportation and the cost of living in the institution. Some universities that increased their fees arbitrarily in recent years have experienced drastic reduction in the level of patronage. In a country where poverty is as real as death for the majority, the factor of cost cannot be over looked!

Even the few candidates, who are free from the shackles of poverty and select certain public tertiary institutions for more noble reasons like the quality of their programmes and cultural integration, would not like to see their family visions or pet dreams shattered through the incompetence of others. The power to choose is a universal right of every one in a democratic dispensation; the Nigerian government must guarantee this right at all times.

Reputation is another important criterion in selecting or avoiding some universities. The University of Ilorin has emerged as the most sought after institution in Nigeria because of her reputation of running uninterrupted programmes. Others are avoided like plague because of rampant tales of cultism. Some parents and guardians would rather their children and wards stay at home than confront the risk posed by cult activities on some university campuses!

In retrospect, it was two sessions ago precisely that UTME candidates were stripped of the right to a second choice of university/course by JAMB under the current leadership on the excuse that many universities already have more than enough candidates from the first choice list alone. I reasoned then as I still do now, that there are many candidates and institutions that would benefit greatly from the opportunity of a second choice university or course. It appears that the chickens have come home to roost!

Five years ago, the merger of the Monotechnics, polytechnics and colleges of education matriculation examination (MPCEME) with the University Matriculation Examination (UME) that produced the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 2010 was hailed as a landmark achievement by the JAMB registrar. It was hoped then that it would improve access to and the quality of candidates admitted into the tertiary institutions, and iron out the dichotomy between the universities and the polytechnics.

But alas, there has been no improvement in the quality of candidates admitted into the tertiary institutions. As at the last edition of the MPCEME conducted in 2009, a total of 342,499 candidates applied to the polytechnics and colleges of education. Five years later, the number of candidates selecting the colleges of education and polytechnics as most preferred institution in the UTME has dwindled to less than 40,000. To further aggravate the situation, less than 20 percent of applicants to the polytechnics are interested in technology based courses: the merger had failed to achieve the intended objective and actually aggravated the situation in these institutions!

Beyond these, the reliability of JAMB’s UTME remains in doubt. In the past, the performance of candidates in the UTME has been found to be at variance with the Post-UTME. In fact, candidates with lower scores in the UTME have frequently posted better performance in the Post-UTME than candidates with higher scores. There is no proof that the situation has changed yet! Imposing the high scoring UTME candidates on the universities may actual deny them the opportunity to select the best candidates for admission.

The confusion brought upon the nation at large by the arbitrary decisions of the JAMB leadership, and the untold emotional trauma to candidates that have worked hard to attain known cut-off marks of universities is most unwarranted and highly regrettable. A swift reversal of this obnoxious decision would be necessary to assuage the frayed emotions of a nation.

The National Association of Nigerian students (NANS), Zone B has congratulated one of its own, Mr. Jerry Ehiwario on his emergence as the Special Assistant to Delta State Governor on Student’s Affairs.

This was contained in a statement issued at the Delta State University, Abraka by the association’s Public Relations Officer, Pedro Obi.

Pedro in the statement said Jerry Ehiwario’s appointment truly exemplifies reward for handwork and loyalty to a worthy cause.

“To the average Nigerian students in Delta state, Jerry is synonymous to handwork, a grass root oriented student leader.

“We have unshaken believe in Jerry’s capacity and ability being a former student leader to deliver on set goals, his appointment is truly a round peg in a round hole.

While thanking the Governor for the appointment, Pedro also called on him to equally in his magnanimous nature, look at the status of the office and upgrade same to Senior Special Assistant for a better coverage

The wife of the Niger State Governor Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello has blamed poor performance of school children on worn infestation.

Hence, she urged parents to ensure constant de-worm of their children for better academic performance.

Speaking after declaring open the sensitisation of de-worming of school children organised by the Nigerian Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists (NAHAP) in Minna, she said worm infestation makes children ill and slow down their level of participation in school activities.

According to her, most infestations are chronic causing anemia, malnourishment, impairment of mental and physical development.

While stressing the need to de-worm children in schools, she commended NAHAP for organizing the programme while appealing to parents to allow their children benefit from it.

THISDAY Style welcomes us today: “Assistant Style Editor FUNKE BABS-KUFEJE and AYODEJI ROTINWA profiles (profile) the man, his plan and his chances….”

“THE Nigerian Army, conscious of its commitment to its constitutional duties especially as regards to the defence of the territorial integrity of our dear nation….” Get it right: either as regards the defence or with regard to the defence— not ‘as regards to’.

THE NATION, SATURDAY, and THE NATION ON SUNDAY of July 4 and July 5 respectively take over from THE GUARDIAN: “JTF alerts public on (to) new antics of kidnappers” In addition: for headline purposes, why not eliminate ‘of’ this way: JTF alerts public to kidnappers’ new antics

“Most of those who have worked with Idris said his unique characteristic is (was) his daily ability to ‘clear his table of any issue before closing at work.”

“He must put his foot down to arrest indiscipline in his party and clean up the Augean stable (stables) of corruption in our nation and the economy.”

“…in the rain or under (in) the scorching sun for a rigour that is totally avoidable.” “…challenges up and coming (up-and-coming) actors”

“Wada’s hide-and-seek game” Ripples: delete ‘game’ as it is encompassed.in the idiomatic expression.

“Bank related (Bank-related) frauds and forgeries have been on the rise in recent times with over N23billion losses recorded in the last one year.”

“NFF sacks Super Eagles (Eagles’) coach, Keshi”

Finally from THE NATION family: “Agent: Alampasu not club less (clubless)”

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First come first serve, Practice makes perfection.

Beaten once shy twice. By P.M AKUJOBI (08028308118) from his pamphlet entitled “Corrected 420 COMMON MISTAKES (page 21).Corrected by me: First come, first served. Practice makes perfect. Once bitten, twice shy.

WRONG: Practice makes perfect.

CORRECT: Practice makes perfection. By PRINCE DR. K. JOLAYEMI, from his pamphlet entitled EDUCATE YOUR MIND WITH 525 COMMON MISTAKES IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE (page 9) 08033357825.

These pamphleteers and others wrote all the rubbish, which I’ve highlighted over the years in another column. I’ve books on English proverbs and Idioms. How can any reasonable person attribute the errors to me? It is carrying eccentricity too far. It is insanity – the very height of madness to even do that. I don’t assert what I don’t know. Thanks!

For writing last Sunday. “The next grammatical crises are from The Guardian Editorial and Opinion Page of the edition of July 7, 2015”, Ebere has been under the Grammar Hammer charged with “the crime of logorrhea”!

The background story, CRISIS: “Crisis” is widely used by journalists, working for such employers as the B.B.C., Daily Express and New York Times, for any kind of difficult situation – e.g. “the oil crisis”; “the water crisis”; “the coal crisis”. It is also the normal Communist word for the political and economic situation in any non – socialist country.

“The crisis of the capitalist world in its economic aspects” (Comment, 29.11.75). the difference between Communist and non – Communist journalists is simply that for the first the capitalist world, everywhere and in all its activities, is in crisis all the time, but for the second only about half the times”, so asserts Kenneth Hudson in his book, THE DICTIONARY OF DISEASED ENGLISH (page 52).

Nigeria was crisis–free between 1960 and 1963. Since 1964, Nigeria has been in crises. The crisis could have come to a head this year but for divine providence. Yet still, a crisis was manufactured in the National Assembly (NASS) by people who want to reap where they did not sew!

In the instant context, Ebere could have used “grammatical infractions/infringements or breches”. Period! (BAYO OGUNTUNASE 08056180046)

COLUMNIST’S RESPONSE: According to one of my dictionaries, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, there is nothing wrong with the usage of “crises” as faulted above. From the reference book comes this elucidation: “A situation in which there are a lot of (sic) problems that must be dealt with quickly so that the situation does not get worse or more dangerous

Emergency: The country now faces an economic crisis. / The Prime Minister was criticised for the way in which he handled the crisis. / The current debt crisis / a major political crisis / I was relieved that we had averted yet another financial crisis. / Oil companies were heavily criticised when they made large profits during the oil crisis of the 1970s. / The car industry is now in crisis. / He doesn’t seem to be very good at crisis management.” It may interest Baba Oguntuanse to note that the abuse/misuse of the English language in Nigeria has reached a crisis point that must be addressed without resort to semantics and noun restrictions because of our peculiar sociolinguistic environment where we talk of “beer parlour” instead of “pub”!

IN the late 80’s I wrote an article in The Guardian and National Concord titled “Grammatical Flaws” stressing inter alia the distinction between “its” and “it’s” stating that the former is a possessive adjective/pronoun based on the role. Mr. Oguntunase tøok me up on this claiming he had.consulted this and that textbook on this simple elementary grammar and would not agree with me. Other writers soon took up the gauntlet supporting my claim but he stood his ground becoming cantankerous. Amazing, a simple three-letter word causing him to embark on such an extensive research! Three decades after history is repeating itself.incöntrovertibly. Oguntunase is some character. Regards. (Komolafe G. O., Ilesa)

It was excitement galore last weekend when a female leader popularly known as Amirah of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) University of Lagos chapter, Hajia Tawakalitu Sarumi wedded.

The colourful wedding ceremony was held in Ketu area of Lagos.

The bride, a 400-level final year student of Adult Education got married to Alhaji Hassan Taiwo Adesina, who is a Lagos-based engineer and National Secretary of the Muslim congress.

The couples expressed gratitude to Allah for His mercy with much thanks to their parents and well wishers. In her appreciation, the elated Hajia Tawakalitu glorified Allah and adores Him for making the day a reality. “I also give kudos to my parents and all well wishers who have come to grace this occasion.”

Professor of Hematology and consultant hematologist at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Edo State, Prof. Halim Daye has advised Nigerians to undergo regular blood screenings if they want to live long.

He gave the advice while delivering the University of Benin 159TH inaugural lecture, titled, “We should pay more attention to our blood, else”, last Thursday.

Prof. Daye bemoaned what he called “I don’t care attitude of most Nigerians. Many Nigerians are so concerned about their outward appearance. They don’t care about what flows in their system. Many persons do not even know their blood group.

“Some persons even go ahead to get married these days without blood testing thereby endangering the lives of their children.”

Halim reiterated that Health is wealth therefore people should not play with what matters so much. “Many blood diseases can be managed if detected early. This is one reason we should ensure we undergo a full blood screening at least once in six months.”

The professor of Hematology said there is the need for government to immediately declare a state of emergency on Hepatitis B Virus which he said is 40 times more infectious than HIV/AIDS and affects one in every four Nigerians.

Halim recommended that government should immediately provide infrastructure necessary to run blood test in health centers nationwide.

He also pleaded with relevant authorities to invest in the training of Hematologist and also research grant for persons specialising in hematology.

While stressing the need for the Senate to immediately pass a law which would make Pre-employment screening a must for both private and public sector of the economy, he cautioned workers at health centres to take precautions against HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis when handling patient’s blood and proper use of sterilizers and disinfectants.

He further called on medical personnel to ensure that blood for transfusion is properly screened to avoid blood transfusion diseases.

Observing that there is need for the government to develop a health policy frame work that would ensure a mandatory periodical blood checks for all citizens especially school children and workers, he called on the media and Non-Governmental agencies to do more of enlightenment campaign to educate people on the need to undergo regular blood screening.

A non for profit organisation, ‘Beyond Tomorrow’ recently held enlightenment programme for students of University of Benin, Edo State.

Speaking at the forum, President, ‘Beyond Tomorrow’ and founder, Centre for Statistics and Research, South Africa, Braimah Bello said the programme was aimed at enlightening the students on what it takes to be excellent and exceptional in their various fields of study and life in general.

The seminar was themed, “Black excellence and exceptionalism.”

According to him, the seminar was to ignite the minds and lifting the veils off the eyes of the students, so as to ensure that the illusions at to what the life after school hold for them would be properly put in perspective.

Speaking on the topic, Purpose driven student, Consultant, Community Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital(UBTH), Dr. Adeleye Omokhua who is also a facilitator of the seminar said that the Purpose driven student is like a moving vehicle with the driver and the driven.

President Muhammadu Buhari has been lauded for exempting Governing Councils of federal universities from the order for dissolution of Boards of Federal Government’s parastatals, agencies, institutions and government- owned companies.

A group, Peace Advocacy Committee, PAC, in a press release signed by its secretary, Barrister, Adeyemi Adetise, made available to newsmen in Osogbo, said the president has demonstrated with his action that he has respect for rule-of-law and due process.

It recalled that in his inaugural speech, President Buhari assured that his administration would, at times and circumstances, uphold rule of law and due process, adding that he has laid good example for other leaders to follow.

By exempting the governing councils of the universities, PAC said autonomy of the universities has been further reinforced.

The statement reads: “President Buhari has always been preaching peace, due process and respect for the rule of law in all his programmes, so, he has demonstrated it for not tampering with the laws that established the autonomy of the University boards across the country”.

The Head of Department, Human Kinetic Education, Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, UNILAG, Prof. Grace Otinwa and Prof. Sunday Oyediran of the Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences in the same university have charged parents to inculcate discipline and morality in their children so that they can excel in their endeavours now and in future.

They gave the charge at the valedictory/prize-giving ceremonies of Good Shepherd Schools, Atan-Ota, Ogun State. A total of 203 students from the school’s three campuses in Lagos and Ogun States graduated at the event.

Speaking on the topic: “Blueprint to Goodprint,” Otinwa said parents must be able to teach their children the acceptable behavior in the society that can help them live out their dreams.

She however reminded the graduating students of three stages in life they must not waste, namely: learning, earning and yawning.

Explaining that the learning stage ends at 30 years while the earning and yawning stage spanned between 30 and 60 years and the life after retirement, respectively, the professor asked them to develop a blueprint at this their age that will make them to achieve the kind of footprint they want to leave behind?

She counseled them further, saying “As you enter the university, make up your mind to excel in your studies by developing excellent spirit and back it with determination.”

In his own exhortation, Prof. Sunday Oyediran also urged parents to pay adequate attention to their children by imbuing in them good morals.

The West African Students’ Union (WASU) has conferred WASU Golden Award of Credence on the Chief Medical Director of St Raphael Hospital Limited, Dr. Anthony Omolola.

WASU is an umbrella body for students in tertiary institutions in Liberia, Ghana, Togo and Nigeria.

The students who gave him the award in Lagos last week said the honour was based on the strong contribution of Omolola to health and education sectors as well as his exemplary leadership style, which they said were worthy of emulation.

The president of the group, Oluwafemi Williams said the purpose of the award was to celebrate the honoree and indirectly asking him to do more for the humanity.

Reacting, the honoree, who was overwhelmed by the accolades showered on him, assured the students of his continuous service to humanity.

While dedicating the award to West African youths and President Muhammadu Buhari, he pointed out that he saw the award as a rare privilege having joined other past awardees in the sub region. “I salute your courage for keeping the light of the West African unity burning and I am sure the efforts won’t be in vain,” he prayed.

A renowned Professor of Radiology at the University of Lagos, Akoka, Mr. Rasheed Arogundade has emphasised the need for federal and various state governments to inject enough money into the running of medical colleges, saying such would enable them to train their students with modern equipment and facilities that would in the long ruin help curtailing the frequent medical tourism abroad by Nigerians.

He made the observation recently while delivering his inaugural lecture at the university, saying the focus of government has always been on the hospitals while neglecting the institutions that produce medical personnel.

Prof. Arogundade, who is the President of National Post graduate Medical College of Nigeria, spoke on “The detective in a radiologist.”

While expressing fulfillment for reaching the peak of his career, he however regretted that many medical graduates from Nigeria because of poor practical experience back home while in school are oftentimes faced with problem of using modern facilities when they find themselves practicing overseas.

He pointed out that despite the fact that Nigerians are as brilliant as their counterparts elsewhere around the world, their performances are being threatened by poor or non available training equipment and facilities.

“That is why we are also having problem of wrong diagnosis in the country’s health sector,” he stressed.

He however insisted that it was only when government start pumping in more money into medical education to address those challenges that they will be solved,” he said.

Arogundade used the occasion to appeal to the management of UNILAG to separate the Department of Clinical Radiology from Radiotherapy, otherwise known as Clinical Oncology for better service delivery.