OPINION: Reporting Live From SIWES!

 

As an undergraduate in Nigeria, participating in the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is really necessary. Shortly after the second semester examination, Agric Tech students of Yabatech were placed at various farms so they could participate in the SIWES program which would help broaden their knowledge about their course of study. However, half way into the program there have been mixed reactions as touching SIWES; different students with different opinions. Check them out bellow. 

“It is nice participating in SIWES because I have learnt so much about feed formulation, poultry and catfish production. By the way; living in the same house with people exhibiting different characters have enabled me to learn about understanding one another and being conscious of the human psychology before taking any action. The whole scenario reminds me of Big Brother Africa if I may add. These days I tend to be more inquisitive; considering the fact that the manager at the farm where I was placed asks questions before signing my log book every week, and he expects I and my colleagues to reciprocate the gesture. There have been ups and downs, but all the same we thank God. I have also been privileged to meet the former Permanent Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture. SIWES has been revealing. There are some things I know about some people now, which I never knew before.” – Ibegbunam Ifeanyi

“I enjoy working at the big pen because I have learnt so many things pertaining to diseases that affect chickens. Now I know the procedures involved when picking eggs. I have learnt what cause mortalities and how to prevent it.” – Azeezat Sakarayau

“SIWES has been tough since the first day we started. We have not really enjoyed a lot” – Bukola Shodeinde

“SIWES has been interesting and my best moment has been packing of poultry waste. I have no regrets going for the program.” – Halimat Adeyemi. 

“SIWES has been like enslavement to me, but I have learnt a bit. If I had packed poultry wastes and droppings, I wouldn’t want it to happen again, but thank God I did not pack it.” – Biola Majaro

“SIWES has been great to me and for some reason I have been keeping to myself. And my loneliness tends to make some people angry. My best moment here is when me and my colleagues atend churches to sing. And my worst moments are the times when there is no food.” – Henry Momoh

“I recall when I was asked to assist in carrying chicks from the deep litter to the battery cage system. I had to carry two chicks by their leg on each hand. With time, it increased to 6, then 8. At a time it was 10. For 3 solid hours we carried chicks to the pen. My hands ached throughout the night. SIWES has been stressful but good. There was a day I kept chasing a chicken around the farm. Hilarious!” - Chima Nkiru

“My best moment here in SIWES was when I spoke to a friend I have been keeping malice with. Actually I have been longing to talk to him in a long while. I have learnt a lot. Most especially, I have learnt to speak my mind and what I feel exactly. There was a time a chicken laid an egg on my palm. The egg was hot and I love eating it raw.” – Bidemi Ogunmuyiwa.

“SIWES has been so challenging and to be candid it has not been easy. The most hilarious moment in the house was when one of our colleagues (Adedotun Awe) was wearing his pant/shorts as though it were a G-String and pacing up and down in the room.” – Aboluwade T.J

 

“SIWES has been fun to me but sometimes I feel down-heartened because of lack of co-operation between me and my colleagues a times, including me. I know I mess up sometimes, notwithstanding we are still good. I regret packing poultry dung. And I have had something that can be likened to a crush on a female colleague. Apart from the agricultural knowledge which I have acquired, I have learned other things like how to cook. My happiest moment is when I was at the beach, swimming.” – Adedotun Awe

“I have been able to live with people from different backgrounds, tribes and come together as one big family. I have learnt a lot about poultry management. I now know the differences between layers and broilers. I have learnt a lot about their Feed Formulation. I have learnt about hatching in Catfish production.” - Elijah Affiah. 

“SIWES has been awful because it looks stressful than it was said to be. My happiest moment here is when we are eating egg. I have learnt a lot such as debeaking and vaccination.” – Tomisin Oke. 

“SIWES has been fun. My best moment is when I participated in debeaking and my worst moment is when I packed poultry manure.” – Maorufat

“I have not really enjoyed SIWES. However, I have learnt about the diseases that affect the birds and fishes. I won’t forget when my face was almost burnt during an environmental sanitation. Some part of my beard and teddy disappeared immediately after the incident.” – Michael Dickson.

“I have learnt a lot since I have been here, but the worst experience is the food aspect. I cannot eat what I feel like eating. I had to succumb to the opinion of majority. I have learnt a lot. I have learnt how to take care of the chicks. I have learnt how to rear fish from start to finish.” – Balikis Badmus

Agric Tech's H.O.D 'Limbs for Life' Foundation Walk.

The H.O.D walk started around 8:30am. It was spearheaded by the Head of Department, Agric Tech, Engr. Amosu. People present at the event include students of Food Technology, lecturers, the bursar, the managing director of FUNMAN. The Rector of the college should have been there but for some reason she couldn’t make it. The HOD’s daughter and son-in-law were also present. All Agric Tech students were invited but the turnout was really low because most students were tied up with their SIWES programme. However, some past Agric Tech students were there to support the movement.

The walk started from Yabatech to Maryland. The walk ended around 10:30AM and after that every participant moved down to Protea Hotel in Ikeja. There was a brief seminar and lunch that lasted for at least 3hours. Media partners include Channels, TVC and Nigerian News Agency. 

The theme of the walk was ‘Limbs for Life’ foundation, some amputees were also present. For the records, the HOD of Agric Tech has been an amputee for over 11 years, notwithstanding she is very vibrant. Also, a professor/doctor from Ibadan delivered a lecture that made most people realize that being an amputee is not the end of the world. He further stated that, amputees from the age of 40 don’t have limbs again and they are mostly men.

'I Saw A Lot of Creativity and Unity in AATS This Session' - Remarks From A Graduating Student.

Timade

Check out this brief interview with Timade Julius, an ND2 student in Yabatech Epe campus who just passed out from the college. He is originally from Lesotho in Southern Africa but he grew up in Nigeria. He kept it blunt in this chit-chat with the Vice President, Ifeanyi Ibegbunam.

Has YCT Epe made any impact to your life?

Hmmm!!!! Sure, it has in a couple of ways. The college really impacted educationally and agriculturally, also, emotionally. That is talking about anger control and raising a family. And am really going to miss my family

Anger control? Are u hot tempered? And how did YCT help you manage that?

Yeah, been around a lot of younger colleague, with a lot of annoying behaviors wasn't easy. At first, it was really difficult for me, but when I got close to Enitan, Sarat and some other peeps, I mingled. So I just thought of everyone who makes me mad as my lil bro, that way I'd just look away, as though nothing happened. Though I almost lost it on Friday night. Also raising a football team with difficult breads of students, always playful. Most times I forget they are students, I'd be expecting more from them, but I managed to blend into their style and a balance was created. Am really proud of them and I'd miss the round leather family

What do you think about the school soccer team as the squad’s captain? Do you see them going places?

Wonderful team. Surely, all they need is disciple, commitment and a little bit of luck. I see them as a real contender for next year's Dean's and Rector's cup

Great! So assuming you had the power to change one thing in YCT what would that be?

Lecturers manner of addressing students. It is so inappropriate.

Hmm. Why is it so?

From my perspective, the department’s population is still very small. Plus most students are kids, so it’s an advantage for some lecturers to act up. because I noticed the lecturers don’t really do it to all students. And am sure it’s going to stop soon.

Real talk. So how would you rate the performance of AATS this session?

AATS was awesome this session. I saw a lot of creativity and unity. Amazing. They won my heart which is always something difficult to win. Thumbs up.

Cool. Apart from your round leather family what will u miss about YCT?

I'd miss my family, my room, all the students, lecturers and what have you. But most importantly, I'd miss my family ( Enitan, Sarat ), Vivian and Tomisin and my homies at Lamba.

'I Broke My Teeth When I Started Skating' - YCT Female Skater Pours Her Heart Out!

Balikis Akodu

You don't find a female skating everyday. So it is only appropriate to acknowledge one when you bump into her. Check out this interview with Balikis Akodu, a passionate skater schooling in Yabatech Epe campus.

Hello Balikis

Hi

I noticed you love skating a lot so what made you take interest in that?

Actually I think it is fun like every other game but it can be hectic in the beginning. I broke my teeth when I started, but I did not give up. It is said that if you are trying to get something and it is very hard, don’t stop. Just make sure you get it. So that’s just it. I love it very much because it makes me smart. I don’t think I have much fat like other girls. This is due to the fact that I skate a lot. And it is fun.

Do you intend taking it up professionally after school?

Yes, I would like to have my own skating group, so as to bring up some set of people because people think it is something hard but I do tell them that it is something they can do. Don’t think because this thing is hard. I don’t see any difference between skating and riding a car or bicycle. When driving one may encounter dangers or accidents but that doesn’t stop you from driving your car. 

So as a female who enjoys skating, how do you feel? Do people look perceive you as being awkward? 

With this I think I have come across many people. They will see me and be like “Wooww!!”. I believe there is nothing a guy can do that a woman can’t do better. So I think in this society I have achieved a lot of friends. It’s because I am a female and I skate. I think I am the only female in this neighborhood doing so. I love it.

 

 

YCT FASHION ZONE: 'If You Want To Dress, Think of Comfort First' - Tomisin Speaks!

Tomisin Oke

In Nigerian universities, fashion has taken a different form. So how would describe today’s fashion in Nigerian higher institutions? What is in vogue and what’s not?

In some school, they kill the dressing 

Like which schools?

Schools like Unilag, Yabatech, Uniben. You know some top schools like that, they are always on point in terms of dress sense. The only thing is that everybody can’t be the same. There are some people that would want to go extra miles, dressing indecently and all that. You mustn’t expose everything for you to be smashing. When people want to dress, don’t do it because you see someone else doing it. Do it because you feel comfortable in your clothe. Most time when I dress I make sure I am comfortable. That is the first thing on my mind. I don’t want to go somewhere looking for what to use in covering my leg, I don’t want to hop a motor-bike with the thoughts of my pants showing. I dress so cool without having to expose anything. So if you want to dress, think of comfort first. Do something different, you don’t have to follow the trend. 

In Epe campus, how would you rate fashion? And besides do you think we should dress very well considering the location of the school. It’s almost like we are in the forest. Imagine Tarzan wearing blazers/suit in the jungle, does it make sense?

Laughs. Well, basically I think it is just because of the activities in the school. In Epe we are used to going to farm, doing dirty things such as farm practice and having to touch the earth most of the time, having to touch goats and rabbits. You don’t think it makes sense wearing a blazer jacket and sneakers before washing the pens at the piggery. Also, another factor is the little time you have. You are like ‘who am I dressing for?’. I always want to look cool. Every opportunity I have, I make sure I look good.

So as somebody that dresses elegantly, it is obvious that heads turn

[Laughs and blushes]

The heads turning is mostly that of the guys. People would admire.

Definitely. 

So how many guys approach you in a day? Give us an estimate.

[Laughs]. In Yabatech I wouldn’t even know how many heads are turning. First I dress to feel good. When I am walking I notice some people looking, some whispering

Like how many?

I don’t know. Quite a number. [Laughs]. You don’t expect me to count how many guys approach me in a day. 

Just give us a rough estimate.

Are you saying for the whole week or the whole semester? I don’t keep records. [Laughs].

You were among the nominees for Miss Agric. And Azeezat said assuming she didn’t win you would have emerged as the winner. Do you have any grudge against her winning? Do you think she deserves it? 

She is a very good friend of mine. We are very close. I do not have any grudge with her. I did not even expect I was going to be nominated because I did not even know it was going to occur. Abiola Majaro was my escort for the dinner; he said he was going to mention my name. And I told him I was not interested and that I don't want to be in the spotlight.

So you don’t like the spotlight?

Not like I don’t like the spotlight, but it wasn’t on mind basically. My intention was to come to the dinner and have fun. When she was nominated as Miss Agric I did not have any grudge. Firstly, she is a pretty lady in her own way and she deserves to have it. Some people thought I would be miss agric because I was looking hot during the dinner party. Nevertheless, it was fun.

' There Is More To Football Than Playing To Show Off' - Soccer Gist With A YCT Player!

Gideon Akinyele

Hello Gideon

Hello Fecko

So I was at the main campus during the match which took place at the sports centre and you participated in the football match. So how would you describe the outing?

First of all I never expected us to be at the main campus for that kind of tournament. Kudos to the sports director in the person of Onyekachi . He did a very good job. Thanks to God almighty that made it possible for us to play there. During the tournament we wanted our voices to be heard that there is somewhere in Epe people don’t know of. There are excellent people that are yet to be seen. We were driven by that passion and we had a lot of fans.

Sorry to cut you short. You said you have a lot of fans. When you say that, are you referring specifically to the female fans?

Yeah, I was referring to the female fans. [Smiles].

So during the match were you playing to entertain the female fans or were you playing to score goals?

You know we are human beings and we have Morales. Females are good cheer leaders. And when most guys see the females they would do the unbelievable.

I couldn’t agree more with that last sentence.

You can testify to that. [Laughs]. By the way, we had some setbacks.

What kind?

Like my favourite number 2 in the person of Adedotun Adedamola aka Dotman aka Agbaowo sustained an injury a night before the match. It was so painful because he could not participate despite the fact he bought a new boot and jersey.

I can imagine how sad that is.

[Laughs]. It was so painful. He even called his parents to come watch him play, and unfortunately everything turned out to be bad. But we never know what would have happened assuming he played.

You know it doesn’t answer the question. Did you play to entertain the female audience or you played to win?

Well, we played as a team. I was not even fit because I sustained an injury in the course of the match. Before I played for the crowd, but as you grow up you realize that there is more to football than playing to show off. In football, the spirit falls together and everybody rides together. We would have won the match if not for our keeper. It was very painful.

Who is your favorite footballer and football club?

I am a Manchester United fan

Same here.

Man U for life. And my favorite player is Merci. The guy was borne with football. I’d like to ask you a question.

Oh, ok.

What was your anticipation when you watched us play?

YCT Football Squad

To start with, I will be very blunt with you. I am not really a football person. My favorite game is Basketball.

Wow.

However I love watching soccer. So when we were at the main campus, I was expectant. I wished we won the match. Meanwhile, I was happy that we played our first match ever at the main campus. So regardless of the outcome, I would have still gone home happy. I wasn’t really interested in the score line, I was interested in the game and you guys did a great job. So final question, how do feel when you get positive remarks from people?

I feel motivated. Everyone has the talent to play football, so it now depends on how you put your talent to use.

Meet The Self-acclaimed 'Strongest Man' In YCT Epe

Good day Joseph Okonji aka Banky

Hey my Vice President, Feckman

So why are you called Banky? Prior to now, the only Banky I know is EME’s Bankole Wellington

Banky started as far back as last year when I gained admission. There was this Kangol hat I used to wear, coupled with my teddy style. When people saw me they were like this boy looks like Banky, and coupled with my music. Then they started calling me Banky and the name just stuck like that.

Oh, interesting. So rumours filtered in that a certain student claimed he is the strongest man in school. And I think you know who the person is?

Laughs. Yeah.

Yeah, the person happens to be you. So what prompted you to say that?

Actually I wouldn’t say I said that because it all went back to when we did our freshers week party, when we were contesting in a arm wrestle. So we competed and I actually came out the strongest in that contest. So ever since they gave been like ‘this guy e be like na him strong pass’. Even among the students, when it comes to physique, I think I am the most muscular. So the P.R.O was like ‘na him strong pass’. And when it comes to physical combat coupled with the respect people give me.

Physical combat? So did you go to any Taekwando or Taichi school?

[Laughs]. No, when it comes to my physique people get scared. When it comes to fighting with me, they tend to see me as one strong gentle guy. 

Definitely if you have that kind of physique the ladies will always be there, So how have you been treating your female fans? I believe you have female fans.

[Exhales] Ahhhhh. My female fans. [Laughs]. That is a strong one. Actually, you know one man’s food is another man’s poison.

Okay

Just as some ladies are liking it, some others are also scared of me. When I meet some of them, they are like ‘I can’t even believe I will be able to talk to you because of the way you look and walk’. Most of the ladies say Banky is a nice guy. Actually I tend not to hurt anybody. I think I have been treating all of them in a way that I will leave a landmark. They will remember me for being that Big and Nice Guy.

So out of the numerous ladies, has anyone tickled your fancy? Is there that special one?

[Laughs uncontrollably]. The special one?

Yeah.

[Laughs again]. You wan kill me. Actually all of them are special.

So in other words all of them are your girlfriends?

[Laughs]. No, no, no! Well, actually everybody knows that I have actually been dating a particular one.

You mean everybody but me. I don’t know. So who is the particular one?

[Laughs timidly]. It is Uche Okwara.

Wow. So thank you very much for your time.

You are welcome.