CHILD ABUSE MUST END.

 by Ogunsola Oluwatosin

It is now a cause of concern with the rate of child abuse in the country. Many grown up in the country are gradually turning into monsters. There has been a lot of alarming reports of grown men defiling toddlers and little children not even up to the age of ten.

A research conducted has revealed the country has the largest cases of child defiling which is gradually becoming a cause for alarm. At least cases of rape are reported daily on the pages of various newspapers.  Only last week there was a case of a thirteen year old girl that was defiled by a man in his forties, which leaves us pondering, are our men gradually losing their sanity?

This heinous and barbaric act should be stopped before it gets completely out of hand, because we are talking about our future leaders here. We should think about the emotional pain and also the physical pain being melted to these innocent girls.

Our legislative and judiciary are not helping matters as corruption has eaten deep into the system which makes it difficult to rely on them but if stiff laws are passed on these culprits, it will deter them from engaging in this abnormal act.

If this problem is not addressed soon enough, in few years, Nigeria might emerge to be one of the countries with highest rate of child abuse around the globe.

It has to end now, a death penalty should be passed to any individual that engages in this act and also parents should be held accountable for not taking care of their children appropriately and putting them in harm’s way. Child defiling is a serious disease that should be eradicated before it gets out of hand.

MENACE OF STREET HAWKING IN NIGERIA

 by Ogunsola Oluwatosin

In a recent tweet, the governor of Kaduna state threatened that “any child of school age hawking in Kaduna will be asked to bring his parents who will be arrested”. Expectedly, the tweet went viral, giving force to vibrant discussions on the vexed issue of street hawking by children of school age, particularly in the Northern part of the country. It is a crying shame that for all these years, Nigeria has remained unable to address the challenge of street hawking and begging.

The menace of street hawking can never be over-emphasised. Unfortunately, it appears to be a normal business in Nigeria, hence most people do it.

Street hawking entails selling various items on the street, sachet water, bottled water, bottled or canned drinks,  beef rolls, sweets, gums, sunshades, phones,, power banks, wallpapers, vegetables, and some other items. Many children are found hawking or begging for money on the street, during high traffic jam intensity, and selected areas in a bid to survive and make a living.  What gets one thinking is the fact that these kids have parents, but most of them seem unconcerned, some even goes as far as begging in the streets with their kids. So many of these kids gets killed, raped, hit by a reckless driver or stray bullet, face teenage pregnancies or have to undergo abortion.

Measures such as providing free education to all children at primary and secondary level all over the country, strict enforcement of the law against child abuse, arresting parents whose children are found hawking in the streets could be used to control and gradually eradicate child abuse of any form, especially hawking an d begging alms in the street.

LASSA STRIKES IN NIGERIA

by Ogunsola Oluwatosin

Lassa fever is a disease usually contacted from rats. It is an acute and often fatal disease with fever. This illness was discovered in the year 1969, when two missionary nurses died in Nigeria. The virus is named after the town in Nigeria where the first cases occurred.

Lassa fever is endemic in parts of West Africa including Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria.  However, other neighbouring countries are also at risk as the animal vector for the virus, the “multimammate rat” is distributed throughout the region.

According to a research carried out by World Health Organisation, in rare cases, the disease can be transmitted from person to person through direct contact with an infected person’s blood or bodily fluids, through mucous membrane, or through sexual contact. The virus is not transmitted through casual contact, and patients are not believed to be infectious before the onset of its symptoms.

The disease is now spreading vast like wild fire in Nigeria. Nigerian citizens are now so afraid of rats and other rodents so much that they even abstain from taking cassava flakes (garri), because they believe rats mostly infect the cassava flakes and there is no safe way of detecting the virus in it.

With the rate at which different diseases are taking many lives in Nigeria, it’s just a matter of time before Nigeria start experiencing “under population”.

Nigerian government should create medically educational programs which will be aired on local stations where most of the population within the country will be able to view it, and also they should see to it that medical care is taken extremely serious in Nigerian hospitals before more devastating damage is caused in the country.

INTEGRITY: SAFEGUARDING AN EGG

Few days past, my head wouldn’t allow me have an unbridled moment, deprived me of harmonious breathing, regarding how well integrity can be defined.

I am a believer of integrity being indispensible.
Time immemorial, integrity wasn’t a scarce commodity compared to its staunch absence in today’s world.

Then I came to a halt, reminisced and concluded that the detailed stories of how the prophets spent their lives connote the true and unbiased definition of integrity. I am not convinced by the well structured lives they lived, but exactly how they perfectly they maintained not breaking the egg of integrity.

Maybe because they were messengers of God coupled with them being special and extraordinary.
Puzzled about why I concocted egg and integrity?

I nurture an intrinsic notion that integrity is as delicate as egg to protect. A pinch of display of disintegrate is enough to crush your valuable asset, the one you’ve kept for many of years.

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defined integrity to be “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.”

Maybe factually integrity incepted from God himself.
That, he arduously kept and fulfilled his fore promises to man to be his provider and helper is typically an example.

To his prophets, he promised and kept them all. Various other examples may be incognito to me and you but they occur in some corners of life.
Few are those whose lives are worthy of this sentence: My father is an integrious man because his values are congruent with and evident in his words, actions, personality and life.

In the world of today, you wonder why people are neglectful in living a life worthy of emulation and failed in attempts to become role models to the up and coming generations.

Covetousness and greed are the benchmark of today's leaders, their respect and honour are spinning in the mud.

Examples of such leaders are not farfetched in the black race. There, you see generians stick to wheeling the power and inflict death and hazards on the proponents of change. I was thrown into awe when I heard an African leader who is obviously more than 90 and lucky not to have become an unseen ancestor, didn't debunk the rumour linking to him another presidential ticket of the same country he has ruled for over 36 years. It was an absolute display of shame and loss of integrity.

Gone are the days, when the religious leaders adhere to the teachings of Christ and Prophet Muhammad(SAW). Apparently, they now infuse their own subjective ideas, making it seem Godly and orate them to their gullible followers.

I sometimes wonder if the swearing-in ceremony of politicians in our dear nation is not scenery. Maybe the scripts are nollywood oriented, who knows?

If you desire a happy ending, being integrious is inevitable.
Moral principles, honesty and adherence is the key.

BY OYINDAMOLA BADEMOSI

GRUMBLETONIAN IN YEAR THREE

Very late last year, I completed my durational assignments as a sophomore in the university. Though, the excitement that accompanied that was irresistible but alas, I was at that point a grumbletonian who grumbled to the difficulties which lied  ahead me. Colleagues and friends at Lagos State University School of Communication would bear me witness that your four years sojourn in Lasusoc will have you taste life on the main campus for the first two years and the other two years at Ojuelegba, Surulere campus. What could have being the reason for my grumbling? Surulere is suitably not yours if you are not of the working class. Accommodation won't come easy if you are not fully loaded as fondly said. If a single room will only go for about a hundred and fifty thousand naira, tell me how much an apartment would cost. This got me entangled and was faced with constant pounding headache. Besides, it was a fresh session, fresh school fee to be paid. Where do I put my hope? I wasn't really concerned with the school fee, Arike (Big sis) won't take that for a joke. She was indeed willing to sacrifice her savings if I could conjunct with two or three of my course/class mates for the rentage, but at the end no one turned up for the partnership. I eventually resolved to travelling from Igando to Surulere. The creator knows it was intense, inevitable. Then, how do I link my residence and my school? Igando to Iyana-iba costs commuters fifty naira and hundred naira at the maximum, depending on the time you set out of your home. Perpetual gridlock on Iyana-iba to Mile-2 never allowed me take bus. I almost on all occasion resolved to motor-bike patronage. Only two on the bike is allowed together with the bike man, with each passenger paying #200 or #250 naira depending on your negotiation skills. Getting to Mile-2, I'm a bit free from gridlock and most likely join a bus to Orile, costing #50 and finally Orile to Ojuelegba costs a hundred naira. Under bridge Ojuelegba is the last bus-stop, and the point to my school can be pedestrianized. But on occasions where I needed to catch up with 8:00 am classes and/or I must submit an assignment(s) at the fresh hours, then taking bike again is the solution...additional charge of #100 naira. A simple arithmetic will tell you the sum is #600 and to and fro is #1,200 or a bit less. This daily cost is apart from my feeding, bulky materials waiting to be photocopied, various assignments to be done and typed. Numberless times, I've heard people say they have no shoes, but Muiz doesn't have a laptop and in this case I had no choice other than paying a hundred naira per page for typesetting even when the assignment is up to 10- 15 pages. Little needs to be said about you giving to colleagues who in one way or the other had helped you either monetarily or goodwill. This is when I had to respond to phenomena like "Guy how far nah? I fit see 200 hundred for your hand?" To whom much has been given, reciprocation is inevitable. This, in addition to my feeding cost, photocopied materials and typesetting was blatantly not a joke. Yet again, I was saddled with social responsibilities regarding my department. I became the social director of the stupendous Journalism Students' Association in Lasusoc. It's an apparent thing  students procrastinate a lot. This nonchalant attitude almost got me into trouble. After paying the school fee, I really don't know what popped into my head that made me neglected course registration from eve of the semester when the portal was opened and made necessarily available to the last drop of time. In fact, the portal was closed precisely the day I was ready for registration. Anguish, regret, pain, self-dislike all engulfed my soul immediately. I feigned a smile, because the breakdown of me will affect those on my shoulder and this made me laugh even at the face of detriment. Yes, I made a silent supplication to God, the most Gracious and the most Merciful. Lo and behold, the portal was re-opened the following day. Just wow, I was able to register GNS 301(Logic and Science), Mac 301(International Communication 1), Mac 303(Issues in Nigeria Mass Media), Mac 305(Communication Research 2), Mac 307(Specialized Reporting 2), Mac 309(Editorial Writing), Mac 311(Newspaper&Magazine Production), Mac 313(Fundamentals of Marketing Communication), Mac 315(Interpretive and Investigative Reporting) and Mac 317(Online Journalism). GNS 301 is a general course for the third year students irrespective of your discipline or field. MAC 301 is titled International Communication 1, with Dr Olugboji as the lecturer, sheduled for 8:00 am to 10:00 am every tuesday. Mac 303 is issues in Nigeria mass media, was co-handled by Mr Lanre Biobaku and Dr Olunifesi Suraj, every wednesday 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Mac 305 is Communication Research 2, was taught by Mr Olugbenga Kalejaye and Dr Awodele. Dr Owolabi taught us Specialized Reporting, Mac 307, taking us through lots of individual and collective assignments. Somewhat, it was interesting and tedious at the run. Our dear Dr Jide Jimoh took us to the pool of editorials, as Mac 309 is titled Editorial Writing and even brought a member of the editorial board of The Guardian newspaper for enlightenment. Our Mac 311 is Newspaper and Magazine Production, and yes we must produce either of the two. Considering our number, we settled for magazine production. The editorial board are to be voted by the members of the class. Initially, I was chiefly voted the Editor-in-Chief but, seconds after my name after was suggested, I heard a voice right behind me saying"this idiot no get money nah, and the Editor-in-Chief suppose get money." Laguda Sheriff was the suggester, LOL. His idea was welcomed and this prompted my appointment as the Editor for our magazine production. As the editor, a lot was on my shoulder. Asides the Editor-in-Chief and Editor, we had also the line editors, the advertisers, lithographer and graphic editor. Foremost, I assigned reporters to the available desks; Education, Sports, Entertainment&Fashion, Health and Art&Religion. This sprang up commotion and needless noises were made  mostly by girls in my class. They queried my choice of action saying"Muiz, why would you put me under education beat? What do I know about education? Lol. Jesus, Muiz why did you assign me to Health beat and you know that me and the editor for Health are not on talking terms? Countless of these were thrown at me, but only God knows where the calmness came from. Then I created a whatsapp group for editorial talk, restricted to only members of the editorial board. The cost of the production was around #250,000. Later, the story changed and we were merged with the part time students, making us produced newspaper in the stead of magazine as fore planned. Mr Thanny was our coach for Mac 313, Fundamentals of Marketing Communication, 12-2 pm on Mondays. I was lucky to have been taught Interpretive and Investigative Journalism by two of the well respected scholars in the communication field  in Nigeria and Africa at large, Prof Lai Oso and Dr Olujimi Kayode. And lastly, I did Online Journalism as a departmental course, coached by Dr Tunde Akanni. The first semester was just an admixture of fun and it's dear opposite. That thing invented by stupid Henry Fischel called '"exam" came calling irresistibly, I'm sure you all know it's inevitable. Several bulky materials to be read and digested, online materials inclusive. The tale of the semester always consume more money, time, energy and attention. Who loves failure? None I guess. The dilemma that hovers around where to stay for exam sucked joy out in me and I couldn't but conclude to spend the 5-days in the school premise. I was well prepared for the mosquitoes' attacks and the inconveniences. I did well to leave my house very early for Surulere because my first paper was scheduled for 8:00 am. Jokingly, my colleagues asked if I was evicted from Gulder Ultimate Search or MTN Project Fame. From time unknown, I know Muiz is loved and I could obviously see lots of my mates drenched in pity, all imagining how I'm going to survive this phenomenon of struggle and strive. As God won't neglect his beloved, a course mate and trouble lover, Vanessa offered me accommodation for the whole of the period. I was joyous to hear that. She gave the same offer to two of our classmates, a guy and a lady. So, we became four to spend this period together. As an eventuality, I got an accommodation better than that of some of those who were my pitiers priorly. The exam lasted only the span of five days. Vividly, I really can recollect that I completed my exams on Friday, 29th April, 2016. I was enthusiastic to return home. Some of my mates asked that I stay back for some merriment which I declined all because I was ready to go home, I honourably rejected the offer. Whatever is destined to happen won't escape happening. I got to under-bridge Ojuelegba, boarded a almost full vanagon bus, only the door was next to me on the right, meaning, I sat at the entrance. The driver ignited and we set off. We've only journey for five minutes, I was about complaining the vehicle's movement was slow and not speedy. Seconds to this time, what I could hear was passengers' shout, "Jesus Jesus", "Wetin dey happen? 2ce. Alas, it was break failure. This happened at Shitta junction. Before I fully knew what was happening, the bus had strucken the pillar upholding the bridge around there. The driver crazily drove the vehicle and saved himself, then eloped with his conductor. Passengers were severally injured, but it was as if I was the only injured person, because helpers gathered only around me. At first, i thought I was free from injury because I was bruise less. I tried standing from the ground, but couldn't, I swear the pain was severe. Oh God! I couldn't walk. I was helped up by some NURTW workers (Agbero) and asked to stay still for ten minutes I could eventually limp, steadily. I was a bit grungy after the accident, but I tried limping to the other side of the road to continue my journey home. I boarded a tricycle (Keke napep) to Orile. I sat inconveniently in severe pain and other passengers were singing sorry song for me just to comfort me. The gridlock from Orile to Mile-2 was so heavy and wasn't ready to move at all. I opted for bike but same was the story from Mile-2 to Iyana-Iba. This time it was crystal clear I won't board a bus. I called another bike and asked if could take me to the popular Dada street in Ojo, he replied yes and we sef off. The bike man was a mourner of my pain, telling me sorry every now and then. We got to Dada street, Ojo, friends were hailing my return, being ignorant of what has happened. The next was they saw me fell off the and everyone was thrown into astonishment, asking what has happened. I was immediately referred to an orthopaedist. I was at Ojo for almost two weeks where near and dear one took awesome care of me. Well wishers far and wide. My phone almost got tired of calls and text messages. A female friend told me "it is better you stand up from that sick bed or else I will just die" LOL. And yes the first semester faded.
LASU resumed the second semester on the 1st of June, 2016 few days to Ramadan. I began to receive all manners of threat from girls in my class and wholly, my faculty. Some said "Muiz, we know fully this is time you don't hug, peck, handshake and play with girls. But be ready for us, coz we gonna spoil your fast.". This really got me. I had no choice other than begging. I had to neglect resumption for two weeks. LOL. This time I was quick about registration, to avoid the fate I met in the first semester. I registered; ENT 302 (Practical Entrepreneurship), Mac 302(International Communication 2), Mac 304(Media and Society), Mac 306(Media management), Mac 308(Photo Editing), Mac 310(Broadcast Programming Techniques), Mac 314(Community Journalism), Mac 318(Population Communication) and Mac 398 (Media attachment). Mr Lanre Biobaku was our coach for ENT 302, given that he's the coordinator for ENT in Lasusoc. Under this I did writing and publishing. Mr Kunle Akinjogbin was our lecturer for Mac 302 and Dr Tunde Akanni taught us Mac 304. Mr Lanre Biobaku and Dr. Mrs SANNI were for Mac 306 and we had Dr Owolabi and Chief for Mac 308. Mac 310 was for both Dr Suraj and Dr Olugboji. Dr Owolabi  again was for Mac 314 and favourite Mr Kalejaye taught us Mac 318. The media attachment is only I.T report. The beginning of the second semester was welcoming and receptive. A lot was done, a lot came in and out. Something made the second semester a memorable one for me. Let me gist you that I became an actor in the second semester. Don't be entangled, here is the reason for that; The broadcast students in my class were propelled to come up with a short story, shoot, edit it and submit the finished product as partial fulfillment of their Broadcast Production 2. A story was eventually written by Adegbite Taiwo, titled: THE ADVENTURE OF BOSCO. As a journalism student, this doesn't concern me but, I was found fit to act as BOSCO. Muiz Olawale owns this quote "You are forever a novice to what you don't know." I never knew acting is not an easy task until I got engaged. Rehearsals upon rehearsals as part of our pre-production wasn't a joke. It was truly demanding as well as entertaining. We had to travel down to the ancient Apa kingdom in Badagry west. We were given a receptive welcome by the monarch, The Alapa of Apa kingdom. We.sacrificed almost three days for the production.

BY GANIU MUIZ OLAWALE.