The Offa Students Union (OSU) Senate Arm 2023/24 academic session, ably led by Muhammad Khalilullah Olarewaju (Smart), has concluded its 2023 Parliamentary Summit.
The Summit, which was a 5-day long programme, was full of different activities such as Senate Sitting Business (25th of October), Premiliminary Stage for Quiz and Debate Competition (26th of October) and Senate Sport Day which was Football Competition Between OSU Senate Team and Printbest Football Club (27th of October).
Speaking at the grand finale at Offa Descendants Union (ODU) Hall on Sunday, October 29, the Senate President Muhammad Khalilullah expressed immense appreciation towards all and sundry who made the series of programme become realities.
He addded that the OSU Senate Presidency has been challenging as well as pushing him to be a better version of himself.
He partly said, “All glory and adorations belongs to the Almighty. It has been an incredible and fulfilling journey from the moment I won the election to the numerous engagements I have had with individuals both within and outside the Offa Students Union Umbrella.
“The experience has been more challenging than I initially anticipated, but it has also been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Serving as the Senate president OSU NHQ has had a great impact on my personal growth. It has taught me to be mentally and emotionally resilient, and I can feel the positive influence of OSU in shaping me into a better individual. I have been continuously learning, growing, and becoming a better version of myself through this experience.
“I’ve learned patience, hope, critical thinking, efficient planning and administration of thoughtful ideas. I consider myself incredibly fortunate and privileged to have had the opportunity to work with the most exceptional team in accomplishing a significant achievement.
“When individuals with diverse backgrounds and unique perspectives come together with a shared interest in achieving a common goal, it becomes a powerful catalyst for fostering peaceful coexistence. Our journey was filled with moments of agreement, disagreement, laughter, patience, sacrifices, and compromises. Sometimes, it’s what it is..
“Throughout this process, we learned the importance of effective communication, understanding, and respecting each other’s differences. It was through these experiences that we grew both as individuals and as a cohesive team. Our ability to navigate through challenges and work together towards a shared vision is a testament to the strength and unity within our group.”
He thereafter appreciated Alhaja Rafat Bola Shittu, Iya Adinni of Offaland; Alhaji Aliyu Abdulrauf, Provost of Kwara State Health Technology Offa; Doctor Muhammad Abdulsalam Olabisi, Chief Medical Director of Offa General Hospital; Doctor Ajibola Afolabi; Chief Medical Director of Afolabi Hospital Offa; Honourable Thomas Jare Olatundun, Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) Chairman of Offa Local Government; Dr (Mrs) Suhurat Olatinwo, Head of Artificial Intelligence Technology (AIT) Department, The Federal Polytechnic Offa; Jimoh Shamsudeen Olamilekan, Cheif Executive Officer of Braintech IT Consult Offa and Yunus Damilare Oyetunde (Coy Emerald), The Chief Executive Office of O-range Cyber Security & Training Services Ltd.
He also applauded Arakunrin Foundation and Muhydeen Okunlola Kayode (MOK) Foundation, the latter represented by Mr. Saheed Lawal.
Speaking during the event, Honourable Thomas Jare Olatundun showered accolades on the students Union for provision of a platform that promotes education which Offa is known for and spirit of camaraderie among students from different schools, exposures, religions and social backgrounds.
He also addressed the recent yearnings in some quarters that the military should take over the Nigeria affairs. He argued that the worst of democratic rule is preferable to a good military regime.
“Nobody in the nation prays to go back to the military era because of its vast advantages. That is not to say there’s no advantages embedded in military rule.
“Even people running music studios were regulated. You could not play songs and constituted public nuisances to your neighbour. It became an offence then.”
Also, Dr (Mrs) Shuhurah Ikeola Olatinwo, the HOD of Artificial Intelligence Technology (AIT) Department,
The Federal Polytechnic Offa, allayed fears in some quarters that the Artificial intelligence would take jobs from humans in the nearest future.
“I believe all secondary schools have one or two subjects on ICT now, so we are all familiar with it because if we are to talk about AI, we will realize that it was birthed by Science.
“When we are Artificial intelligence, we should examine the meaning of the words, artificial refers to what’s not natural. So, we are dealing with a machine intelligence which strives to imitate human intelligence.
“There are lots of things that the computer science field has inaugurated so that some particular machine may imitate humans. We have different types of AI, but they are divided into two: one is into the capability of what the machine can do and the other is, into the functionality of the machine.
“You and I have been in constant communication with AI and might not know. AI has been conceived since the manufacture of the computer system. We are in the fifth generation and witnessing massive strides in the usage of AI as well as it awareness.”
She went on to list different activities her department proposed in order to preach the gospel of AI.
Dr Olatinwo donated a sum of N50,000 to the union.
Furthermore, Yusuf Abdulmujeeb Eyitayo of Department of Doctor of Optometry, University of Ilorin lamented on excessive intakes of harmful substances by the Nigeria youths of nowadays.
Yusuf identified drug abuse “as a scourge to the overall sustainable development of the nation.”He added that it is” a serious issue; a global and International issue particularly in developing countries.”
He thereafter stated that drug abuse can be countered by resisting peer pressure, seek professional help, obtain education on dangers of drug abuse, take prescribed medication, foster a strong family relationship, take time off for self care, learn healthy coping skills among other things.
DEBATE, QUIZ AND RAINS OF PHILANTHROPY AND DONATIONS
The grand finale of OSU Senate Parliamentary Summit also witnessed a quiz competition for junior secondary schools and debate for senior secondary schools. The participanting schools were Offa Grammar School Offa, Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA) Secondary School Offa, Mustapha Standard College Offa, Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School and Nawar-Ud-Deen Grammar School Offa.
In the quiz competition, Mustapha Standard College Offa took first position, NOWA second and Nawar-Ud-Deen Grammar School Offa took the third position.
In the debate, Nawar-Ud-Deen took the lead, followed by NOWA and Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School Offa came third.
The Muhydeen Okunlola Kayode (MOK) Foundation once again displayed its commitment to make impact in the lives of local students by generously announcing to pay the 2024 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees for three exceptional students in Offa.
These students earned this opportunity through their remarkable performances in debate and quiz competitions.
The beneficiaries of this heartwarming gesture are Teniola Iroye from Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA) Secondary School, Maroof Rukayat from Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, and Mustapha Zainab from Nawar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, all from Offa. These young talents have demonstrated their dedication and excellence in academics, and now, they have the chance to shine even brighter with their WAEC fees fully covered by the MOK Foundation.
In addition to this exceptional act of philanthropy, the MOK Foundation extended their support to the schools and Offa Students Union by making a generous donation of N70,000. This contribution is bound to be instrumental in various initiatives aimed at enhancing educational opportunities and fostering community development.
Represented by Mr. Saheed Lawal, Mr. Muhydeen Okunlola Kayode, the founder of the MOK Foundation, expressed his commitment to empowering local youth and providing them with the tools they need to succeed.
In the same vein, Arakunrin Foundation also supported the Summit with a whooping sum of N20,000.
Relatively, O-range Cyber Security & Training Services Ltd, based in Offa generously offered three Offa students the unique opportunity to undergo three months of free training in ethical hacking and cybersecurity.
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Yunus Damilare Oyetunde, known as Coy Emerald, announced the scholarship at the grand finale of the 2023 OSU Senate Parliamentary Day.
The three lucky students, whose names have not been disclosed at the time of this publication, will receive personalized guidance from O-range Cyber Security & Training Services Ltd’s team of experienced professionals. The training will cover various aspects of ethical hacking, vulnerability assessment, network security, and information security.
Additionally, as a testament to their commitment to the Offa community, O-range Cyber Security & Training Services Ltd donated the sum of N50,000 to the Offa Students Union (OSU), Senate.
Following suit, Jimoh Shamsudeen Olamilekan of Braintech IT Consult Offa announced a donation of N10,000 to the union as well as given 3 slots to the students to learn graphic designing for free.
Other dignitaries at the event were Taofik Adekunle Jimoh, Lecturer at The Polytechnic Ojoku; Comrade Sulaiman Faruq, Director General at the National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS) NHQ; Lawal Habeeb Akorede, Immediate past OSU Nat’l Senate President; Abubakar Abdulsalam, former OSU President; Adeyeye AbdulQudus Aderemi, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) NAKSS President among others.
