Many times I wonder if am truly Nigerian. I don’t even know how much love I have for the country and how much I trust she has in me. I am an African woman, a Nigerian woman for that matter. As much as I know that there is a special image to be protected by me I still find it difficult to totally submit to that fact. I guess it’s because of the many things I go through as a Nigerian in my own father’s country.

O.k., lets be precise, the Nigerian woman has a face or ought to have a face and a voice; a mind strong enough to cause and see change happen. Some are of the opinion that the men have failed woefully (I don’t totally agree with that). But don’t you think it takes two to tango? Every failed man has the support and push of a woman, so that difficult general may have a terrible lieutenant.

It’s our month of independence and all you may have to do to show love to our beloved country is to keep up a good face and voice for us. Women have been used to pass across wrong messages. When you watch video or musical clips that ought to be x-rated, you find a lot of faceless women. I call them faceless because many of them do not mind dancing and acting nude. A woman with a face of sound morals and integrity will not do such. It is easy for men to generalize and insult women because of the three of four they met at different times who could not prove them wrong. Even politicians are having a good time with enough young girls to carry around. When will you say NO?! I mean an affirmative NO! Many think they are saying no but their faces and actions are screaming YES!

I don’t want to begin to mention names or call any woman a model that can be imitated because there are so many leaders/models on the outside whose secret escapades cannot be taken after. You are an African queen, a woman of strength and great inner ability and potential. The power to change the world lies quietly within you. There are o many things you need to say NO to, say NO to your family’s bad history or background; say NO to those friends who wants to lure you into unprofitable activities; say No to those boys or men who think you are nothing but a sex tool; say No to father or family who wants to trade your beauty and life for the sake of family gratification. You may have to say No to yourself too because there are time you feel like giving up by damning all the consequences of making it.

There is a great king at the other end. The guy is at he airport waiting for your great arrival. Please make him proud. Raise up the right voice that would make you a legend whose husband and children will call blessed!

Catch yah!
Adetutu

ABOUT THE BOOK

For the typical FRESHMAN (fresh undergraduate), who is free for the first time the need for guidance cannot be over emphasized, as one false step can amount into several irreversible negative consequences.

SURVIVING THE ODDS is written especially to help the FRESHMAN settle into school quickly viz identifying priorities on campus.

Based on the author’s experience, SURVIVING THE ODDS offers tips and counseling on :
§ Evolving a practical time plan
§ Making your time plan work
§ Calculating your GPA & CGPA
§ Raising extra cash
§ Partying & Clubbing
No doubt you will be better prepared for the challenges of campus life upon reading this book, keep your copy and continue to refer to it through out your stay on campus and you will have no regrets.





THE AUTHOR
Born in Lagos in the early ‘80s, Oluwakorede Asuni, is an avid reader, a prolific writer, and passionate public speaker, he has addressed numerous youth gatherings and presented a number of papers all aimed at raising public consciousness for the numerous ills that plague the youth.
He is presently a 400 Level student of the Department of Physics, Olabisi Onabanjo University (formerly Ogun State University), Ago Iwoye, Ogun State and hopes to become an expert Telecommunications Engineer in a few years.
For him there is a need to rehabilitate, re-orientate and empower the young to adequately prepare them for the challenges ahead.

It dawned on me that power (electricity) is of extreme importance to communication (and existence!).
I was recently planning a wireless internet access in a community that greatly needs the service. All was well, until suddenly, the fact that I have to power my servers, routers, radios and other network components, stared me in the face. While one can easily run on petrol or diesel powered generator at the operational base, how do you power your on-site or is it off-site equipments?*!

Power generation and distribution has been a twin calamity threatening our national development, while some nations of the World has achieved several decades of no power outage (even it is rumored that certain African countries have celebrated 2-5yrs anniversary of uninterrupted power supply to their citizens) it has remain a major challenge to Nigeria.

With several power generating plants dotting our national geography, abundant oil reserves and available technical no-how, one wonders why this ‘giant’ of Africa cannot provide uninterrupted power for 1 day for at least 50% of her citizens.

Oh the Nigerian factor.

The Nigerian factor takes different shapes depending upon the context in which it is considered, but it generally implies that things don’t work in this country, or that things are not right in this country.
The ‘Nigerian factor’ is akin to a curse, - so blessed yet impoverished.
The Nigerian factor is the reason why our youths queue up everyday for VISAS to foreign lands– and they keep going back after several refusals – they sometimes even take destiny in their own hands and attempt to swim across the red sea (or is it the pacific now) between Morocco and Spain.
The Nigerian factor is the reason why our universities turn out …………. graduates every year (fill the blank !).
The Nigerian factor is the reason why NITEL the teleco behemoth of Nigeria could not live up to expectations (and still does not!) and one wonders what her past directors (now owners of private telecos) are doing at their PTOs that they didn’t do with NITEL.
The Nigerian factor is the reason, why Nigerians are specially frisked for drugs at foreign airports.
The Nigerian factor is the reason, governors name every street, building and NEPA poles in their state, after themselves and presidents give themselves national honors.

It is the Nigerian factor that encourages every occupant of an office – especially public officers – to divert funds into their oversea accounts – ask Govs. Fayose Alayemusiga … etc.

I could go on!

Until the Nigerian factor is eliminated and a new national image, orientation and mentality is arrived at, nothing – I mean N-O-T-H-I-N-G will work in this country.

The Internet, started out as a United States department of defense (DoD) project.
A network of several computers connected with the major aim of securing important data and communication in the face of a nuclear attack.

The internet, however has outgrown it’s primary design and has become today, the hub of entertainment, commerce, information disemination, governance and productive activities world wide.
We have situations where nations have embraced the concept of e-governance, where all issue concerning governance, from tax collection, to contract awards, elections of public figures and so on are done partially or totally via the internet.
e-commerce has also come to replace traditional markets with the virtual market place where citizens of the world trade with one another at the speed of light and without constraints of distance, currency and other limitations of the regular markets.

The INTERNET as assumed such dimensions and relevance that one will conclude readily that if it should be managed it should by an international association of qualified experts, guided by rules, laws or conventions agreed upon by the nations of the world- at least those with significant presence of the internet- however, this is far from being the case, the INTERNET is managed by the United States department of commerce through an American Company, based in California the Internet Company of Assigned Names and Numbers – ICANN .
The implications of this is that the self acclaimed world police can at any time decide with sole autonomy the future of the INTERNET and by implications the future of the world at the slightest provocation.The destinies of several millions of people whose lives are dependent one way or the order on the INTERNET such as Korea (who runs all arms of her government in the internet).
Such countries as Iran, Iraq and others in the U.S. bad books believe that one day the United States could at any whim or caprice shut down their web portals and deny their citizen’s access to the Internet.

These fears would be unfounded, were it that an international association like the ITU -International Telecommunications Union- manage the internet at least if such actions as blocking internet access is taken, it will have been a decision of the whole world through their selected representatives and we can collectively agree that a decision by a majority of the world is good justice – at least in the eye of the majority.

Let’s lend our voice to the ongoing global process to make the INTERNET more accessible to all.
Say what you can now! Else you wake up tomorrow and you no longer have access to the Internet because you mother gave water to some tired Irannians, traveling through your neighborhood !

DOING EXPLOITs

Exploits have been variously defined by people and authorities as adventurous, and with brave endeavors (often with great risks of danger) and whose eventual result(s) give feelings of satisfaction and advantage.
Doing great exploits can be safely compared with going into a totally new area of human endeavour or an established one where people had previously recorded paltry results and emerging outstanding.

We all want to do exploits (at least judging by the strength of the shouts that greeted the declaration of this month as “Our month of great exploits”), to become exceedingly important and relevant; we all want to “sneeze” and thousand others catch cold, but we have a common limitation and that is PERCEPTION.
By perception, I mean the way we SEE, HEAR, UNDERSTAND and KNOW our world and the issues surrounding us.
Our perception shapes our character and attitude which affects the quality of our relationship with God, members of our immediate communities and our careers and in the overall determines if our works become relevant and can be considered as great exploits.

Our perceptions considered can be mainly of two types
CHARACTER BASED PERCEPTION
PERSONALITY BASED PERCEPTION

CHARACTER BASED PERCEPTION (OLD SCHOOL)
They are perceptions influenced by character ethics which are based on a strong system of positive values such as integrity, self-discipline, fidelity, humility, service and honesty. Character based perceptions are built on solid foundations of good principles.

PERSONALITY BASED PERCEPTION (NEW SCHOOL)
They are a more ‘material-centric’ way of seeing and doing things based only on such things as image (how do people see me) and employing tools of deception and manipulation like faking interests in others just to psyche our audience in order to remain in their good books.
Steven R. Covey (Author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) posits that in the last fifty years, people embraced the Personality Based Perceptions more than ever in their bid to be regarded as successful but today we are all living witnesses of what our NEW SCHOOL perceptions has done to the entire human race. Today we have the highest record of distrust, double talk, war and other human based afflictions than ever recorded in history.

Some of the factors that influenced the shift to the New School are:
Fear & Insecurity: Fear that the future may end up bleak, fear that we may not be doing it right, fear that we might just fail, fear that God may not be listening, we become insecure and begin to scheme wickedly so as to remain relevant at all cost-even at the cost of peoples life. Oh, haven’t you heard of money rituals?
Impatience: I want it now! People want to acquire material wealth and want it now! They loose patience; embrace credit which eventually outstrips their productive ability, and eventually the possibility of their advancement is threatened. In order to save face, they device clever plans to transfer their misfortunes on others.
Greed: Often times in our quest to succeed at all cost, we ask “what is in it for me”? (in terms of material benefits) and if nothing is in the offering for us, we back out.
Popular culture: we want to follow trend and ‘be among’. We begin to see things only in the light of popular opinion.

In doing exploits, you have to subscribe to a change of perception especially if you are a practitioner of the NEW SCHOOL perception - which unfortunately most of us are.
This will involve a deviation from what today has become norm and totally embrace the quality principles of living as clearly stated in the timeless books of the Bible.

ASUNI OLUWAKOREDE
+234 805 6249391
oluwakoredeasuni@gmail.com
www.oluwakoredeasuni.blogspot.com
http://brosko.tigblogs.com

Courses: At the University, your workload is divided into courses (synonymous to subjects in the Secondary school), which are taught and examined on a semester basis. Courses are usually differentiated into types as follows:
§ Compulsory: courses specified by a Department, Faculty or the University that a student must take and pass.
§ Elective: Courses specified by a department from which a student may choose (in conference with the level/course adviser) to make up the additional units required for the award of a degree.
§ Pre-requisite: A specified course whose knowledge will be required at a higher level, one must take and pass this course(s), else you may be denied taking the higher level course(s).
§ Concurrent: Specified courses at the same level, which must be taken alongside and passed in a specified semester or academic year.
* Taking a course means registering for such course at the commencement of the session/semester, attending classes/practical, turning in assignments, registering for and taking examinations.

Faculties: The University is divided into small units capable of standing on their own and are called Institutes, Schools, Colleges or Faculties. These units are further divided into departments and/or units for the easy moderation and administration of courses.
A typical Faculty/College/School/Institute is staffed with academic staff (members of staff with special trainings to teach, lecture, supervise research works as well as perform other academic duties) to achieve the desired academic standards and non academic staff who equally contributes to the smooth running of the faculty.
All members of staff have met a minimum requirement of qualification, and most of them are old enough to be your parents, so it is very important that you respect them, for disrespectfulness to any member of staff is tantamount to insubordination and is punishable.
Some of the Faculties/Colleges/Schools in the University includes:
§ Faculty of Medicine
§ Faculty of Education
§ Faculty of Law
§ Faculty of Management Sciences,
§ Faculty of Science
§ Faculty of Agricultural Sciences
§ Faculty of Engineering and Technology



Departments: These are smaller units of Faculties, they moderate individual disciplines (sometimes with varying options) and examples includes:
Department of Accounting, which offers training to students, admitted for the study of Accounting. Another example is the department of Physics which offers as much as 3 options of training as follows:

* Pure physics
* Physics with Electronics
* Geophysics

The Grade points
(You will be examined at the end of each semester, usually after 12-15 weeks of course work (lectures, practical, field trips etc), examinations are usually written, though in certain situations oral tests are conducted to confirm if you have attained the minimum standard expected in a course for promotion) use for examination.
Generally, the minimum pass mark at the university is 40%, though in some cases it may be a little higher.
Credits are awarded as follows:
Marks Grade Points/Credits
70 & above A 5
60-69 B 4
50-59 C 3
45-49 D 2
40-44 E 1
0-39 F 0

The Grade Point Average (G.P.A)
Results obtained in each course offered during each semester will be cumulatively added together and averaged specially, using the Grade Point Average (GPA) also called G.P which is calculated for the semester in which examination is taken and then for the entire duration of your University career as your Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) which eventually determines the class of degree you will be awarded at the end of studies.

UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

University administration in Nigeria is modeled to meet world class standards and professionals of very good pedigree are handed the mandate of running these institutions.
The University is far from what you may be familiar with in your elementary and secondary schools. At the University there are no Principals, year tutors or teachers, but a complex (yet simple) system of organization, hierarchy and structure.
Here is a list of offices and officers saddled with the responsibility of running a typical University from day to day:
§ The Vice Chancellor (VC)
§ The Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC)
§ The Registrar
§ The University Bursar
§ The University Librarian
§ Deans of Faculties / Provost of colleges
§ Directors of Directorates
§ Heads of Departments/Units etc

THE VICE CHANCELLOR (V.C)
The Chief Executive Officer of the University can be male or female who is selected according to the University’s laid down procedure. He is charged with the responsibility of running the University, usually a highly learned person, who must be experienced in and familiar with issues concerning University management and administration.

THE DEPUTY VICE CHANCELLOR (DVC)
The DVC’s appointment is similar to that of the VC .He is assigned duties and responsibilities as per the rules establishing the University. However, He basically assists the VC in the day to day running of the University.
Some Universities have more than one DVC, each overseeing specific areas as academics, administration etc.

THE REGISTRAR:
Is the Chief Administrative Officer of the University. He is responsible to the VC for all administrative matters, he is the secretary of the University Senate and head of the registry, which comprises:
§ The academic division
§ The establishment division
§ Council and general administration division
§ The Student affairs division
THE BURSAR
Is the Chief Accounting Officer of the University. Responsible for the collection of tuition and other fees on behalf of the University. He disburses funds to all arms and departments in the University and offers advice on funding and general management of the University.

THE LIBERIAN: Is another important personality, who is in charge of the vast library resources of the University. Note: The library resource includes Books, booklets, pamphlets, magazines, journals, newspapers, research publications, text books etc.

DEANS OF FACULTIES/PROVOSTS OF COLLEGES:
Are the administrative and academic heads of Faculties and Colleges, they are assisted by Sub-Deans, and Faculty officers, who are suitably qualified persons.

HEADS OF DEPARTMENT (H.O.Ds.):
Are the Chief administrative and academic officers of the various departments. Usually an experienced and suitably qualified lecturer. Other officers that assists him, includes:
§ DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATION OFFICERs (DEO): Are lecturers placed in charge of all examination matters – collation of examination questions, results etc in each department
§ COURSE ADVISER/COUNSELORs: Are lecturers designated by individual departments to offer advice and counseling to students on courses to take and when to take them.
§ LECTURERs: They are men and women with special trainings to impart knowledge in specific areas of endeavours.

Excerpted from my book SURVIVING THE ODDS.