Students at the Lagos State Unibersity (LASU) have for carted home majority of prizes at the just concluded 9th & 10th Nigerian Tertiary Institutions Model United Nations (NITMUN) Conference 2017 held in Abuja.
NITMUN is a part of the larger Model United Nations (MUN), which serves as an educational simulation and/or academic activity in which students can learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations.
During the NITMUN 2017 proceedings, students from various tertiary institutions in Nigeria represented various organs and structures in the United Nations.
Through it, participants got involved in researching, public speaking, debating, and writing skills, in addition to critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership abilities.
The five-day event with the theme “Tackling Unemployment and Youth Involvement in Cyber Crime” was held between Saturday 2nd and Wednesday, 6th December, 2017. It ended with award presentations to outstanding participants.
Lagos State University won the Best School Delegation to the NITMUN 2017. That is the first time the school is winning such.
The Coordinator, Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations (CIPPR) at LASU, Mr Ademola Adekoya attributed this feat to the school delegation’s outstanding performance at the conference.
“The delegation from the Lagos State University were outstanding at the robust Committee sessions, general meetings and various presentation sessions,” he said.
EduCeleb.com gathered that the delegation comprised of 12 students and was coached by Dr Henry Hunjo and Mr Jeariogbe Olaniyi.
Twelve other prizes also went to LASU’s contingent. These include; six (6) Best Committee Awards, Most Valuable Delegate Award, 3rd Overall Best Female Delegate, 2nd Best Female Delegate, 2nd Best Male Delegate, Rapporteur and Award for the Outstanding Staff Adviser at the Conference.
“With this development and achievement, the Lagos State University has joined the League of Schools that have won the Best School Delegation Awards at the NITIMUN Conference,” Adekoya added.
Toheeb Tiamiyu went home with the award of Outstanding Delegate in Committee Sessions for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) committee.
Also, Faith Uzuegbu won that of the Human Rights Council (HRC) just as Akinsiwaju Sanya got that of the Special Committee on Youth Action on Cyber Crime (SCYACC).
Other award winners were Lawal Ademola Ibrahim, Ngozi Umeodinka and Benjamin Obaniwa representing the committee on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) respectively.
Akinsiwaju Sanya got another award as the Most Valuable Delegate while Ngozi Umeodinka
was also awarded the 3rd Overall Best Female Delegate.
The 2nd Best Female Delegate Award went to Biola Rasaq just as the Best Male Delegate was Akintola Phillips. Onyejiaka Jerry Prince got the Rapporteur award.
Of all the staff advisers at the one week event, LASU’s Mr Jeariogbe Olaniyi was awarded the Outstanding Staff Adviser. He is a member of staff at the Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations (CIPPR) at the university.
Receiving the delegates in his office on Friday, 8th December, 2017, LASU Vice Chancellor, Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun showered praises on them for being worthy ambassadors of the university.
Adekoya said that the delegation was “unofficially received” then as the VC had “promised on behalf of the University Management to have a grand reception for the team in January, 2018.”
They had paid a courtesy call to his office shortly after they arrived back at the university from the conference to present him their prizes.
EduCeleb.com reports that the VC had in November announced the approval and funding of the delegation’s participation at the NITMUN.
“This achievement will open doors of scholarships for you,” he assured the students.
He also promised to properly host them formally at a later date.
In his words, “All of you have done the University proud, I won’t be saying much now. We will receive you properly at the right time. You have made us proud. This achievement must be celebrated in the University Annual Report. Your pictures will also be in the 2018 University Calendar.”
He further commended Dr. Henry Hunjo; Acting Dean, Students’ Affairs, Dr. Oluwafemi Obayori; Principal Assistant Registrar, Students’ Affairs; Mrs. Omolola .O. Dosunmu and Mr. Jeariogbe, for the teachings, mind moulding, and adequate preparations provided for the Delegates to achieve the great feat at the International Conference.
Present at the presentation were the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Professor Oyedamola Oke, DVC Academics, Professor Olumuyiwa Noah, the University Librarian, Dr Adebambo Oduwole, Principal Assistant Registrar, Students Affairs, Mrs Dosunmu, and her counterpart in the Vice Chancellor’s Office, Mr Wale Anthony.
Meanwhile, a student at the University of Nigeria, Nnsuka (UNN), Henry Uwakwe was adjudged the Most Outstanding Male Delegate. He served as the Secretary General at NITMUN 2017.
He, along with the Most Outstanding Female Delegate, Success Enyinnaya of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), and the Most Outstanding Staff, Mr Jeariogbe would be going to Geneva on a free ticket representing Nigeria at a global edition of MUN.
