IN ROCK LIES TREASURES

Picture of some of the 100 level students in attendance.

It appeared the die was cast on Monday, 25^th august, 2014. The stage was however set for the much anticipated 100 level orientation programme. The fresher’s of the department of Earth Sciences seemed to have long for this occasion wherewith their curiosity would be fed by enlightenment about the world of geosciences like an anxious worker waiting patiently for the train to come by.

The event started about an hour past noon time with Public Relation Officer of the association (NMGS LAUTECH)_ Ariyo Oluwafemi who anchored the event got the ball rolling with a little chit chat with the attendees (who were mainly the 100 level students). Moments later the opening prayer and singing of the National/University’s anthem which were anchored by Christopher Ola (the immediate past president) and Banjo Olaleye (former general secretary of the association) respectively.

Dr Okunlola giving his lecture to the 100 level.

The distinguished personalities who graces the event were Dr O.G. Bayowa (The Department’s H.O.D.), Dr Okunlola (the guest speaker), Mrs A.O Adewoye (the former H.O.D./100 Level Adivisor) and Mr A.O. Afolabi (NMGS LAUTECH Adivisor). Without further ado the master of ceremony invited the speakers of the occasion consecutively to come give their speech as they came this order; the president (Taiye Owate), the H.O.D. (Dr Bayowa), the NMGS advisor and then finally the guest speaker. The programme did go smoothly as planned even though we had four people speaking almost immediately after each other but the students weren’t all bored thanks to the way the speakers spoke explicitly enough. Mr Owate in his speech gave a warm welcome to the 100 level students and applauded them for taking time to make themselves available for such an occasion. He however, encouraged them all to show good attitude toward their education whilst Dr Bayowa in his short speech gave a little insight to the students about the rudiment of the department. He (Dr Bayowa) also gave words of advice to them encouraging them to be hardworking as it imperative to academic success. Mr Afolabi who spoke after the H.O.D.  talked on the aspect of academic excellence. He stated that for a student to achieve academic excellence such a student ought to imbibe these: love for the course, assertiveness, passion and discipline.

Dr Okunlola did absolutely a great work in his presentation as he did justice to giving the student a talk that they would for a long time appreciate because he was able to enlighten the students well enough about the nitty-gritty of the world of geosciences. He made the student know that as geoscientists we are stewards or rather caretakers of earth resources and environments.

 SOME OF THE KEY NOTE IN DR OKUNLOLA’S PRESENTATION ARE:

·         KEY SOCIETAL PROBLEMS GEOSCIENCES AIM AT SOLVING
Housing
Food
Clean Water
Transportation
Health Care
Energy…

·         DUTIES OF THE FIELD OF GEOSCIENCES

- Conserve soil and maintain agriculture products.
- Develop natural resources in a way that safeguards the environment.
- Maintain quality water supply.
- Reducing human suffering and property loss from natural hazards such as volcanic eruption, earth quakes, floods, lanslides, hurricanes…

·         OUR MODE OF OPERATION
- Outdoor laboratory
- Study the past and hold firm the key to the future

·         FIELDS WHER THE KNOWLEDGE OF GEOSCIENCES IS NEEDED
- TELECOMMUNICATION
- MANUFACTURING
- AGRICULTURE
- OIL & GAS
- TOURISM
- SOLID MINERALS
- EDUCATION ET AL
He also hinted in his presentation that geosciences is a professional course that spawns to a lot different areas of expertise. VIZ:

- ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
- ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
- GEOCHRONOLOGY
- GEOCHEMISTRY
- HYDROLOGY
- PALEONTOLOGY
- GEOPHYSICS, JUST TO MENTION A FEW.
The entire meeting paned for 2 hours as Dr Okunlola presentation climaxed the whole event, although the down side was that there was no time for questions and answer because of time constrain. The event ended with the aspect that makes the mouth of the audience go yummy and brings smiles on the faces of the partakers.

The 100 level student did also had their own say as to what they felt about the whole 100 level orientation programme. Here are some of some comments gathered after the event

-          It was ok. It really widened my scope about geology as whole. Kudos to the lecturers who spoke _ Olajide Adedayo

-          I will rate the programme 8/10 _ Damilola

-            i will rate it a 9/10. The NMGS executives did try their best in this one _ Paul

-          I loved everything but just that there wasn’t time for questions and answer that would have crowned the whole event. However it was great _Anonymous

-          It was great and well organised _ Susan

-          It will rate it 8/10

-          I loved the presentation by Dr Okunlola. It was really a detailed one. And refreshment was on point (lol). I will rate it 8/10

-          The orientation programme did make sense. I was scared at some point but they are all allayed now _ Anonymous

REPORT BY
ARIYO OLUAWFEMI PAUL
(ariyopaul@gmail.com)
     NMGS PRO