TANSIAN UNIVERSITY, Second home...

Tansian University is another product of the efforts of Rev. Monsignor John Bosco Akam, a lover of education, no doubt about it, his tribesmen call him a chieftaincy title, “Nna - Ife , meaning The Father of Enlightenment/civilisation". Tansian University derived its name from Rev. Fr. Michael Iwene Tansi, a selfless servant of God who died about 40 years ago and on whose honour, the Late Pope John Paul II visited Nigeria in Jan, 1998. Rev. Monsignor Akam followed the footsteps of Fr. Iwene Tansi in his selfless service to humanity, (I know about 30 students who are studying under his scholarship programme in Tansian University) and on setting up Tansian University, he named it Tansian to immortalize the Late Iwene Tansi (maybe the guy was/is his mentor, I don't know). Tansian University is temporary located at Oba, Idemili - South Local Government of Anambra State, just opposite the site where Pope John Paul II addressed the crowd during his visit in 1998. I can rightly say that Tansian University has come to stay within these two and half years of its inception, it has gone through a lot of troubled waters and it is still standing its ground and as well progressing excessively. Never seen a man who smiles in the face of troubles like Monsignor Akam, maybe its because he is guided by his philosophy of life "Age Quod Agis" some Latin words meaning "That which is good, that which is noble, that which is right, do it, whether you receive a pat at the back or not", interesting, only few people will go with that but he does. I have listen to Monsignor Akam several times, and guided by his speeches, I've realised that making it in life is not about been pessimistic or listening to pessimism, it kills your spirit of success, it is about been optimistic, believing in yourself and in God, it is about not allowing problems whatsoever to weigh you down, but standing tall in the face of all the troubles within and around you with faith. I am glad I am a Tansian student, I feel great because I am really inspired. Tansian is a university that all the professors and doctors, the Pro-chancellor, the VC, registrar and all the rest of them have time for the students. Interactive sessions are called at least once a month where staff and student air their views and grievances alike and are attended to by either the Pro-Chancellor or the VC. As of the time of this post, Tansian University had rather a small compound for the growing population but we were promised that by the time we come back from our long vacation in Oct., that shall be a story of the past and to God, I believe that with faith. Tansian is among the cheapest private universities in Nigeria, though because of the reshufflings and rearrangements to make us (students) comfortable, we are called upon every now and then to pay for this or that, which is most of the times less than N 5,000. I believe in God too that at the level Tansian University is growing now, that will very soon become a story of the past too. I commend the staffs of Tansian University who are offering their services, not for the love of their salaries but for the love of education and progress. I appreciate the efforts of my Head of Department, Rev. Fr. P.O.J. Umechukwu (PhD), Mr. Raphael Onwudinjor and Mr. Oliver Uja, all in the department of Mass Communication, they are doing their best. I join with them and my co-Mass Communication students in Tansian University to look forward for our great high power studio which we anticipate before Nov. this year. My course mates wonderful, I love them all. The TANSIAN THEATRE GROUP is another family that keeps me going when I feel down. It’s really a home here. Because of my numerous posts on the Net about Tansian University, most people allow themselves to have a misconception that I am receiving some incentives somewhere to promote Tansian University, that's a big NO. I am a student of this nascent and fast progressing school, I am really getting what an undergraduate student should get; sound education, good morals, plus great inspirations from great people, so why should I keep quiet. I love writing, expressing my views (of course, why I am doing Mass Communication) so why not write about my experiences in Tansian University?

NIGERIA, a change we must make...

I graduated from secondary school in 2003 with high hopes, higher than Everest, it all got higher when my lovely Aunty wanted to send me to Canada to continue my studies, I was happy, I was walking tall and telling it to anyone who wanted to listen, even to some who didn't.
I started imagining that I had grown wings when my Aunty even sent my admission letter right from Canada to me. This was in 2005, I was 19, I was sure I was going to celebrate my 20th Birthday in Canada since I was to start school there on the 3rd of Jan. 2006.
But things happen, things I don't want to remember, though I do remember, I don't want to say them. So I had to stay in Ngieria and go through the horrorful ordeal of seeking for admission in Nigerian Universities, which has to take one at least 3 or more years to gain, except one belongs to one of those high and mighties.
I thought the world was closing down on me, I thought I was at the wrong hand side of God when my 20th Birthday came and I was still in Nigeria. I was disappointed, weighed down, felt rejected, ejected and dejected, worst of all, I felt like a box full of food ruins.

But now at 23, and in a Nigerian University (private with a difference), I feel different, I feel God had it all planned for me. I now thank God I didn't move a step out of Nigeria. If I did, I wouldn't have known about Nigeria and Nigerians the way I know about them now. I wouldn't have known that Nigerians are suffering because of bad leadership, I wouldn't have known about suffering myself, it would have sounded strange when I hear about people suffering in Nigeria. Now I am glad I stayed, I am greatful to God I know my people; I know their problems as well as its sources.
Its now left for me (and any other young man who cares) to study hard, make out make out my own way (create a job if there isn't one out there), to help my people (Nigerians) the little I can. I have to do something; I believe everyone was born to do something.

If I can train just five poor students in school, if I can give shelter to only five people, if I can feed just five people, if I can solve a hunger problem in five little towns, if I can give justice to five people, if I can save five lives before I die, Ishall die knowing that I have done something.

If I can do more, wow! I really have lived the way a human being should live. But if I do less, well, I think I shouldn't have lived at all! Oh yes, I shouldn't have, because I would be useless.

Staying back in Nigeria was just the will of God, I can always travel out of the country (when I have worked my way, legally, into money and I have started doing something). I can do a post graduate degree or something outside Nigeria, I can go on a vacation, I can go on a business trip, I can pay a visit but I can never reside in any country outside Nigeria. I love Nigeria, I love Africa, its a good continent spoilt by bad leadership, greed, bribery and corruption but I believe we (the young and studying) can make things right, yes, we can, we can make a change soonest!

Life

I think life is difficult for us when we see it as a difficult life. I might sound stupid but come to think of it...