GAMJI PRESS UDUS

GAMJI PRESS UDUS Gamji Press Udus is one of the arms of National Association Of Campus Journalist. We inform & educate.

๐—ข๐—ฃ๐—œ๐—ก๐—œ๐—ข๐—ก: ๐—ช๐—ต๐˜† ๐—ก๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฎ ๐— ๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฉ๐—–๐˜€ ๐—ช๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต ๐—ก๐—œ๐—ก ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฉ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด By Abdulmumeen ZubairIn a country that prides itself as Afric...
07/05/2026

๐—ข๐—ฃ๐—œ๐—ก๐—œ๐—ข๐—ก: ๐—ช๐—ต๐˜† ๐—ก๐—ถ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฎ ๐— ๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฉ๐—–๐˜€ ๐—ช๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต ๐—ก๐—œ๐—ก ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฉ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด

By Abdulmumeen Zubair

In a country that prides itself as Africaโ€™s largest democracy, it is ironic that millions of Nigerians still struggle to perform the most basic democratic responsibility of voting. Every election period in Nigeria comes with the same frustrations of endless queues at INEC offices, delayed registrations, unavailable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and millions of citizens denied the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

Rather than strengthening democracy, the current voting system continues to discourage participation and deepen public distrust in the electoral process.

For years, Nigerians across the federation, particularly during general and presidential elections, have faced numerous challenges associated with voter registration and PVC collection. The inefficiency and inconsistency of services provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have made what should be a simple civic responsibility unnecessarily difficult.

It has now become a routine for citizens to spend several hours, and sometimes days, trying to register or correct their details at INEC offices. Students studying outside their home states, workers posted away from their registered locations, and travellers who are unable to return home during elections are often disenfranchised simply because the system is rigid and outdated.

What makes the situation more troubling is that many patriotic Nigerians who desire credible leadership and legitimate governance are repeatedly frustrated by the process. Some succeed in registering while others do not. Among those who register successfully, many still struggle to collect their PVCs before election day. In the end, countless citizens are denied participation in deciding the future of their country.

The consequences of this dysfunction is glaring. According to reports from the 2023 general elections, about 93.47 million Nigerians registered to vote, yet only 24.9 million eventually cast their ballots. This represented a mere 26.72 percent voter turnout; the lowest since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999.

Statistics further show that voter turnout has steadily declined since the 2003 general elections, which recorded one of the highest levels of electoral participation in Nigeriaโ€™s democratic history. Since then, public enthusiasm for elections has continued to weaken.

One major reason for this decline is the growing loss of confidence in INEC and the electoral process itself. Many Nigerians no longer see the value in wasting time at registration centres only to face disappointment at the end. This frustration has fueled political apathy, especially among young people who believe that the system is designed to exclude rather than include them.

Nigeria must therefore begin to rethink its voting system. Instead of relying heavily on PVCs, the country should consider adopting the National Identification Number (NIN), managed by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), as a means of voter verification.

The NIN system already serves as a centralized identity framework for millions of Nigerians. Unlike PVCs, it is not tied to a particular polling location or local government area. This means that eligible citizens who are outside their registered states or localities during elections could still exercise their voting rights from wherever they are in the country.

Under such a system, voters would simply present their NIN at polling units, where INEC officials could verify their eligibility electronically. For this to work effectively, however, the Federal Government must provide adequate verification devices and digital infrastructure to support seamless accreditation nationwide.

The logic behind this proposal is that NIN already links personal records and serves as an official means of identity verification for citizens and legal residents. Since every Nigerian is eligible to enroll for NIN from birth, the system is potentially more inclusive, accessible, and efficient than the current PVC-based structure.

Adopting NIN for elections could significantly reduce voter disenfranchisement, improve participation, and restore confidence in Nigeriaโ€™s democracy. More importantly, it would help ensure that legitimate governance truly reflects the will of the people.

A democracy that makes voting difficult for its citizens ultimately weakens its own legitimacy. If Nigeria is serious about strengthening democratic participation and building public trust in elections, then meaningful electoral reform of this nature can no longer be postponed.

04/05/2026

On a light note, Danfodites' response when asked if they will be resuming today.๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

Are you also part of the team "no"? Or you will be found in class when checked on? ๐Ÿ˜Œ. Let's have the team you belong to, in the comment section.

Happy resumption Danfodites!๐ŸŽ‰ May this semester offer you nothing but amazing experiences.

๐”๐ƒ๐”๐’ ๐ˆ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐œ๐ญ๐ฌ 34 ๐†๐ซ๐š๐๐ฎ๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐‘๐š๐๐ข๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐š๐ฉ๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐งImadojemu Isabella reports,The Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto ...
28/04/2026

๐”๐ƒ๐”๐’ ๐ˆ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐œ๐ญ๐ฌ 34 ๐†๐ซ๐š๐๐ฎ๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐‘๐š๐๐ข๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐š๐ฉ๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐Ÿ๐ž๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง

Imadojemu Isabella reports,

The Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto has inducted 34 of its graduates into the Radiography profession during the department's 7th oath-taking and induction ceremony held at the Emir Zayyanu Auditorium on Monday, 28th of April, 2026

The Head of Radiography Department, Dr. Umar Abubakar Ciroma, congratulated the inductees and charged them to be worthy ambassadors of the institution and the profession wherever they practice.

In his address, the HOD reminded the graduates that the lessons they have learned extends beyond the classroom, emphasizing that their training has prepared them for real world professional challenges.

He encouraged them to believe in themselves and to continually strive for excellence in their chosen field.

"I urge you all to keep believing in yourselves and never stop striving for excellence," he stated.

He further described the occasion as not only a celebration of their graduation, but also a recognition of their dedication and resilience throughout their academic journey. He urged them to cherish the relationships built with colleagues and classmates, explaining that such connections are vital in professional practice.

The event was attended by notable dignitaries including the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Bashir Garba who doubles as the chief host, the representative of the Sultan of Sokoto, the Provost of College of Health Sciences, Prof. Abdulgafar Jimoh, Heads of Departments from various faculties, as well as members of staff from the Radiography department and the teaching hospital.

As part of the ceremony, the inducted students were honoured with handshakes from the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar, and the Provost in recognition of their resilience and academic performance.

Highlight of the event included the recognition of outstanding students, with Rad. Omonzejele Mary Itohan emerging as the Best Graduating Student, while Rad Usmanu Umar was named the Second Overall Best Graduating Student.

The ceremony also featured the administration of the oath, marking the formal transition of the graduates into the professional field.

The event was concluded with a closing prayer offered by the Head of Department of Nursing sciences, Associate Prof. Muhammadu Auwalu.

The induction marks a significant milestone for the graduates as they prepare to contribute meaningfully to healthcare delivery and standard professional practice.

Where Football Dreams Take Shape: The Story of NPFLโ€™s New TeamsBy Agbolade AbdulbasitPeople usually talk about the team ...
28/04/2026

Where Football Dreams Take Shape: The Story of NPFLโ€™s New Teams

By Agbolade Abdulbasit

People usually talk about the team that wins the trophy at the end of the season while the teams that work hard to get to that point often do not get enough credit. The 2025/2026 Nigeria National League season was a deal as it was not like a competition but a battle where teams had to be smart to win. In the end four teams made it to the top league in Nigeria.

These four teams played well in the playoffs. They did not make mistakes. The teams are Sporting Lagos FC, Inter Lagos FC, Ranchers Bees FC from Kaduna and Doma United from Gombe State.

The Nigeria National League is not a second division anymore. It is where teams prove they are good enough to play with the best. Getting a spot in the Nigeria Premier Football League is a thing. It changes how people see the players apart from making team owners richer and the coaches more professional. For the fans it makes the weekends more exciting. They get to celebrate as they get see their team on the news.

The 2025/2026 season was very competitive all thanks to the Super 8 playoff format. If a team won one game they could make it to the top. If they lost one game they could get sent down to a lower league. There was no room for error as all teams were fighting to be the best.

Before the playoffs, the teams played games in different cities. Every game was important as they were determinants if a which team would make it to the top. Once the top eight teams were chosen the competition got even tougher.

Inter Lagos FC did well because they played smart and worked hard. Doma United played defense well. They did not let the other team score easily. Sporting Lagos FC found the teams weaknesses and used them. Ranchers Bees FC did not make mistakes, hence, their success.

Inter Lagos FC is a team that wants to make a name for itself. They played well and made it to the top. They are joined by Sporting Lagos FC, who were sent down to a league in the 2023/2024 season but came back stronger. Doma United played quietly, did very well and got their deserved promotion . Ranchers Bees FC had a defense that was good enough to secure them the top 4.

Sporting Lagos FC coach, Shola Adegun said that the Super 8 playoffs were very tough. He said it was painful to lose at the end. His words show how hard it is to play in a tournament where one mistake can make a difference.

The end of the NNL Super 8 is not the end of the season. It is a beginning, for the Nigeria Premier Football League.

The NNL Super 8 showed that being consistent is not enough to make it to the top. Teams need to be strong, smart and able to handle pressure. Making it to the top is not the end, it is the beginning of a harder and more challenging journey.

๐— ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ฌ๐—ฎ๐—ธ๐˜‚๐—ฏ: ๐—จ๐——๐—จ๐—ฆ ๐—”๐—น๐˜‚๐—บ๐—ป๐˜‚๐˜€ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ช๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—˜๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—Ÿ๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—ธ๐˜€ ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ธ๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐— ๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—ช๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต ๐—œ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜๐˜†, ๐—ฃ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ณ๐˜‚๐—น๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€By Muizat Abuba...
25/04/2026

๐— ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ฌ๐—ฎ๐—ธ๐˜‚๐—ฏ: ๐—จ๐——๐—จ๐—ฆ ๐—”๐—น๐˜‚๐—บ๐—ป๐˜‚๐˜€ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ช๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—˜๐—ฑ๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—Ÿ๐—ผ๐—ผ๐—ธ๐˜€ ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ธ๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐— ๐—ฒ๐˜ ๐—ช๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต ๐—œ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐˜๐˜†, ๐—ฃ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ณ๐˜‚๐—น๐—ป๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€

By Muizat Abubakar

โ€œ(School nah scam) is a reflection of the frustration of a generation of graduates who did everything right but still struggle to find opportunities,โ€ said Muneer Yakub, a doctoral scholar of Texas University, Dallas, United States of America (USA). โ€œTo succeed, you need to be intentional about school by seeking practical experience that makes you valuable and adaptable,โ€ he continued.

Dr Yakub is an alumnus of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), one of the leading universities in Northwest Nigeria. He recently clinched the Outstanding Graduate Student Award (PhD) for the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The recognition conferred by the Office of Graduate Education, celebrates not just academic excellence but leadership, research impact, and service to the university community.

He also emerged as the overall winner of the Outstanding PhD Award for the US varsity in 2026.

Before the recent accomplishments, Dr Yakub has distinguished himself both in academics and leadership. Within his stay at the university, he received 16 awards, including the Julia Williams Van Ness Merit Scholarship, alongside the Natural Sciences and Mathematics Travel Award.

He also held multiple leadership roles; Graduate Representative in the Graduate Student Congress, President of the International Student Ambassador Program, and Graduate Representative on the University Education Committee.

Amid multiple postdoctoral offers readily available, Dr Yakub is determined with his academic journey, saying โ€œIโ€™m looking at opportunities in research, either in industry or academia. In the coming months, Iโ€™ll decide where to go next.โ€

Yet, behind these left-and-right achievements lies a deeper story, one that raised questions of excellence compensation in the Nigerian education ecosystem.

Hailing from Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria, Dr Yakub was born and raised in Nigeria's megacity, Lagos. Recently, he concluded his PhD program on the platter of gold at the University of Texas, Dallas, where he studied Molecular and Cell Biology. His research focused on antimicrobial therapy.

His journey to academic excellence was never a straight path. Like many Nigerian students, his early post secondary days were marked by uncertainty, marred with repeated attempts to secure admission.

โ€œI wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), organised by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams twice and scored 220 both times. I initially applied to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in 2014, but when my West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result came out, I did not clear all my papers,โ€ he recalled.

After sitting for the General Certificate Examination (GCE) and UTME in the following year, he applied to study Medicine and Surgery in UDUS โ€œmost peaceful university in Nigeriaโ€. However, an error occasioned during the post-UTME examination altered his fate.

โ€œI got three papers instead of four during the exam, which affected my score. Eventually, I was admitted to study Microbiology in 2015,โ€ Dr Yakub said, reminiscing about his first year as an undergraduate.

โ€œI accepted the admission with the intention of rewriting JAMB. But in my first semester, I fell in love with the course, the curriculum, my lecturers, and my coursemates so I decided to stay.โ€

Dr Yakub embarked on his academic pursuit confidently in Danfodiyo university. He finished his first year with a strong CGPA of 4.75, maintaining his first-class standing into the second year. By his third year, the grade continued dropping until he eventually graduated with the CGPA of 4.37 (second-class upper) in 2019

What many frame as a โ€œgrace-to-grassโ€ story marked a defining moment in his academic career. He was actively involved in extracurricular activities on campus, positioning him for pregnant success. โ€œMy CGPA dropped in my third year because I became actively involved in extracurricular activities.โ€

While in school, he was appointed as Editor-in-Chief of Ad -Daleel Press. Becoming a campus journalist with Digest Press, Dr Yakub finally rose to serve as the President of National Association of Campus Journalists (NACJ), UDUS Chapter.

The deanery recognized his active involvement on campus, the reason for his selection among the members of the electoral committee that oversee the conduct of the 2019 Student Union Government (SUG) election.

โ€œDuring my SIWES, I interned with The Nation Newspaper where I gained experience that helped me navigate my role as the NACJ President, especially improving in investigative journalism.โ€

Through his extracurricular engagements, Dr Yakub came in contact with mentors who introduced him to global academic opportunities. โ€œI interacted with Professor Jimoh Amzat from the Sociology Department, who had completed his postdoctoral studies in Germany on scholarship.โ€

โ€œI was also acquainted with other lecturers who exposed me to the world of scholarships.โ€

After graduating in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt. But for Dr Yakub, it created an unexpected opportunity. He noted that the lockdown placed him with an opportunity to research scholarship opportunities, building connections with friends and groups that provide tips on scholarship applications.

He reached out to the universities, submitted his transcript, and navigated the process strategically. He got admission into the University of Texas at Dallas on scholarship in August 2020.

At Texas, Dr Yakub found a different academic environment, one defined by accessibility, opportunities, structure and proper funding. โ€œIn the U.S., there is access to resources and funding. Materials I had only seen in textbooks during my undergraduate years were readily available.โ€

He contrasted this with his experience at UDUS, where he recalled โ€œWe had about two microscopes for over 300 students. There werenโ€™t enough materials to go around.โ€

Aside from under-funding, there are other differences that make it easier to excel academically in the US. For example, Nigeria adopts the UK grading system where a score of 70 and above is A. In the USA on the other hand, 94 and above is A. This challenging system raised the bar high, creating room for healthy competition.

Although the yard stick was far higher. And for an international student, the system is far more demanding. Scoring any grade lesser than B results into a failure. However, the globally recognised doctoral scholar maintained that it was easy to get A. As the students write exams every three to four weeks on the module they had covered, this allowed ample time to study deeply.

Quiz, presentation, assignment, and attendance formed a part of the final grade. This system seems easy compared to Nigeria where students only take final exams at the end of the semester after weeks of non-stop academic activities.

Dr Yakub's story highlights a critical tension within the Nigerian education system which places a heavy burden on grades, often at the expense of broader development.

Developmental skills like leadership, communication, critical thinking, among others, often go unrecognized, if not being rewarded at all.

While Nigerian universities continue to produce globally competitive graduates, constraints such as underfunding, limited infrastructure, and rigid evaluation systems expose gaps to the full development of studentsโ€™ potential.

20/04/2026
20/04/2026

NUNSA-UDUS x Gamji Press, UDUS: 7th Induction Ceremony of the Department of Nursing Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

GAMJI PRESS UDUS, in collaboration with Nunsa-Udus, will be providing live coverage of the 7th Induction Ceremony of the...
20/04/2026

GAMJI PRESS UDUS, in collaboration with Nunsa-Udus, will be providing live coverage of the 7th Induction Ceremony of the Department of Nursing Sciences, scheduled to hold today.

We invite you to join us as we witness this significant academic and professional milestone of the inductees.

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ข๐—ณ ๐——๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ: ๐—›๐—ผ๐˜„ ๐—™๐˜‚๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜€ ๐—”๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต ๐—™๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐˜€By Abubakar Muizatโ€œI took an energ...
05/04/2026

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ข๐—ณ ๐——๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ: ๐—›๐—ผ๐˜„ ๐—™๐˜‚๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜€ ๐—”๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต ๐—™๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐˜€

By Abubakar Muizat

โ€œI took an energy drink in my 200 level to help me stay awake through the night so I could study, but when it got to 12am, I found it difficult to understand what I was reading. The next morning, I was blank in the exam hall,โ€ Mansoor, a 300-level student, said with a sigh as he recalled his early days in college.

โ€œThat was not the worst part,โ€ he continued. โ€œI have an ulcer and it triggered an episode. Since then, I have stayed far away from energy drinks and other stimulants.โ€

The situation experienced by Mansoor is not isolated. The struggle to keep up academically has quietly evolved into a pattern of survival, one that comes asking for health in return from many students studying health-related courses at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

๐—ช๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—•๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—–๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฒ

The popular opinion is that medical school is very demanding as students are expected to absorb a large volume of information within a short range of time. When exams approach, the pressure intensifies. Moments like these make coping mechanisms like energy drink consumption and โ€œTill Day Break (TDB)โ€ the order of the day.

โ€œOur examination timetable is back-to-back with no breaks. I have to stay up at night to prepare for exams,โ€ Aisha, a 400-level student, said, exhaustion evident in her voice. โ€œI have tried everything, but nothing works. I do not like reading during the day because I end up understanding little to nothing. We also have lectures that make reading during the day almost impossible.โ€

๐—™๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—™๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ฒ, ๐——๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ

These acts became an habitual one for many students because of the fear of failure. The fear of remaining in a class while their colleagues move ahead to the next class makes students do everything possible to pass as well. The previous academic session saw a significant number of students repeating the year in the MBBS programme, tightening the margin for error and raising the stakes.

โ€œLast session, when they released Pharmacy and MBBS results, the news was everywhere in college. So many students had failed and it scared me,โ€ Suleiman said.

โ€œI was at 100 level then and it made me rethink my career choice. I realized that repeating a class is not a walk in the park in medical school, so I came in prepared to do anything to survive.โ€

โ€œAt 200 level, we had lectures from 8am to 6pm most days. I was always sleepy and exhausted, so I had to take โ€˜Predatorโ€™ to stay awake to read,โ€ he added.

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ 200-๐—Ÿ๐—ฒ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—น ๐—ฆ๐—ต๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ธ

For many medical students, 200 level marks a turning point. After a relatively familiar 100 level which seems like an extension of secondary school topics, they are introduced to courses like Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry. These are courses characterised with being dense, abstract, and filled with unfamiliar concepts.

โ€œBefore entering 200 level, I heard from my seniors that Anatomy was difficult, but nothing could have prepared me for how hard it actually is,โ€ Hauwa said. โ€œWe have lectures and practicals throughout the week, and I come back home too tired to study. Sometimes, the workload piles up during exams.โ€

Interviews by this reporter with 200 level students suggest that it is at this stage that many begin experimenting with stimulants.

๐—” ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜„๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐——๐—ฒ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—™๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—œ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป

The most commonly consumed energy drinks on the Usmanu Danfodiyo University University Teaching Hospital Teaching Hospital campus are โ€œFearlessโ€ and โ€œPredator.โ€ This is evident in the stacks of these energy drinks and the empty cans that fill classroom waste bins every morning.

A single bottle costs about โ‚ฆ500. Over a month, a student can go on, drinking about 25 of these bottles, with expenses on these drinks rising to around โ‚ฆ12,500 or even more. This accounts for about 63 percent of the Nigerian Educational Loan Fund (NELFUND) monthly upkeep. With over 932,000 students supported across 288 tertiary institutions, many depend on this allowance, forcing them to choose between their basic needs and spending on academic survival.

Meanwhile, businesses around campus thrive on this increased demand.โ€œBefore exam season, I sell about one pack a day. Now, I sell two to three packs daily,โ€ Abdul, a sales representative at a campus stall, said.โ€

This growing dependence is not just a campus trend but also a stronger indication of a wider pattern. The Nigerian energy drink market is estimated to be worth 250 million dollars in 2024, with projections to reach 355 million dollars by 2030. Globally, consumption exceeds 5 billion litres across more than 160 countries.

๐—ช๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—œ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—•๐—ผ๐˜๐˜๐—น๐—ฒ

โ€œAnytime I take โ€œPredatorโ€, it helps me stay awake, but I feel very hungry and sometimes my heart beats really fast. I was once informed that it is not safe, but I do not know the reason behind that,โ€ Favour said.

Energy drinks are designed to boost alertness and focus. Their ingredients include caffeine, sugar, taurine, guarana, and other stimulants. Caffeine, specifically, works by reducing fatigue and increasing alertness, but not without consequences.

Studies show the effect of high caffeine intake as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, insomnia, and nervousness. In severe cases, it has been associated with serious cardiovascular complications. The recommended daily caffeine limit is 400 mg, with excessive intake posing serious health risks.

There are also reports of extreme outcomes, including acute kidney injury linked to heavy consumption, and worsening of ulcers due to increased gastric acid secretion.

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—›๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต ๐—ง๐—ผ๐—น๐—น ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—”๐—ฑ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ

โ€œAs a psychiatrist, I have seen students who entered medical school with intact mental health but later developed anxiety and even schizophrenia,โ€ Professor Yunusa, the Head of Department of Psychiatry, UDUS said.

โ€œSleep is a physiologic phenomenon. It helps with restoration, improves the immune system, consolidates memory, and supports tissue repair,โ€ he added. โ€œAn adult needs 8 hours of night sleep. Lack of sleep can lead to forgetfulness, irritability, easy fatigability, weak immune system and increased susceptibility to illness. Caffeine has also been reported to trigger psychotic disorder.โ€

Giving medical students advice on how to prioritize their health while achieving excellent performance in academics, Professor Yunusa explained, โ€œStudents have 24 hours in a day. If you spend 8am to 5pm in class, that leaves out 15 hours to take care of other things. Stay back and revise the day's work from 5pm to 8pm, socialize for one hour, and do other activities. Go to bed by 9pm and wake up by 5am, that is 8 hours of sleep as recommended. Revise again before class and review everything you have been taught during the weekend. With this, you can be prepared for exams without relying on stimulants,โ€ he advised.

๐—™๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ฎ ๐—ช๐—ฎ๐˜† ๐—ข๐˜‚๐˜

While the usage of stimulants is becoming a culture, not all students are or remain in the dangerous cycle. Fatima explained how she tried to use stimulants too, but failed at it.

โ€œI used to take stimulants for TDB in 200 level, but I no longer do. It did not work. I have found what works for me to be studying during the day consistently. Discipline is key, she said.

Many medical students are gradually trading their health and financial stability for academic survival. With the alternative being failure, the real question remains, โ€œIs the price worth the grade?โ€

JUST IN: UDUS Governing Council Appoints New Deputy Vice ChancellorsIbrahim Abdullahi Ajibola reports, The Governing Cou...
03/04/2026

JUST IN: UDUS Governing Council Appoints New Deputy Vice Chancellors

Ibrahim Abdullahi Ajibola reports,

The Governing Council of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), on Wednesday, 1st of April, 2026 has approved the appointment of three Deputy Vice Chancellors (DVCs) to strengthen the institutionโ€™s administrative, academic, and research leadership.

Gamji Press UDUS obtained from the University's official Facebook handle that the appointment is in line with the provisions of the governing law and aims to reinforce the governance framework of the university.

Those appointed include Professor Muhammad Malami Maishanu of the Department of Accounting, who will serve as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), and Professor Shehu Usman Gulumbe of the Department of Statistics, appointed as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic).

Also appointed is Professor Aliyu Jibrin of the Department of Theriogenology and Animal Production, who will serve as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Development).

The newly appointed DVCs are anticipated to bring their wealth of experience and academic expertise to bear in advancing the universityโ€™s mandate in line with global best practices.

Just as renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie reportedly lost her 21-month-old son to alleged over-sedation during a ...
03/04/2026

Just as renowned author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie reportedly lost her 21-month-old son to alleged over-sedation during a diagnostic procedure at a private clinic in Lagos, Nigeriaโ€™s healthcare system continues to witness tragic deaths arising from routine medical treatments; incidents that have sparked widespread public outrage.

Yet, without structural reforms that promote accountability, competition, and innovation, these failures risk becoming a feature of the system.

In this article, published as part of the Liberalist Centre's Next Advocates Liberty Project, GAMJI PRESS UDUS' Sebiotimo Abdullateef examines these recent healthcare tragedies and argues for the adoption of competitive healthcare models as a pathway to improving quality, safety, and patient outcomes in Nigeria.

Read more:
https://gamjipressudus.com.ng/why-nigerias-healthcare-system-needs-competitive-model/

Address

Sokoto
840001

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when GAMJI PRESS UDUS posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to GAMJI PRESS UDUS:

Share

Category