Issue One: April 2010

Association Executives
MAIDEN EDITION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
Taiwo Alphonso Oyesamni [Economics] NIGERIAN STUDENTS’ JOURNAL.
President

Nuradden Yakubu Tanko [Economics]

I am glad to announce the coming of this masterpiece of
Vice President transformation, depicting our commitment and showcasing our
academic contributions to the Eastern Mediterranean University,
Jennifer Umeh [Int’l Relation]
Secretary General
North Cyprus and beyond. This publication has come to stay. As
the saying goes ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’, and with our
Efanga Okokon [Civil Engineering] concerted efforts, there shall be no mountain too difficult to
P.R.O
climb, if we all embrace the positive change associated with the
Odiegiri Joy [Computer Engineering] creativity of mankind. This is the leverage on which this journal is
Treasurer based, as it seeks to enlighten and gratify thirsty minds. Each edition will improve on the
previous one, courtesy of our ideas, contributions and the giant strides we are making as
Abdullahi Nuradeen [Int’l Finance]
Financial Secretary Nigerians, full of talent and enthusiasm.

Dawodu Damilola [Public Rel/Advertising] This bulletin will help reflect our fascination with ideas. It will raise our knowledge about
Director of Socials
the world in which we live —especially at a time when our association is making spirited
Abdulrasaq.A. Suleiman [Int’l Trade & efforts along with the university administration to give a positive direction to the welfare of
Business] the Nigerian students. I urge us to put all hands on deck to make these dreams and
Director of Sports
aspirations a reality. It is imperative to say that our sojourn here on this campus and in this
Onyekachi.G. Ezulike [Economics] country will be incomplete without proper documentation of our experiences, ideas and
Welfare Director knowledge. I am confident that this bulletin will serve as a springboard for us to display our
Odutola Funmi [Computer Engineering]
creative talents, and leave our footprints in history.
Special Duties
I personally thank the university, the students, the editorial crews and well wishers, who
Daniel Ihesiaba [Information Technology] have supported us in producing this maiden edition. Thank you all!
I.T Director

_______________________________ TAIWO ALHONSO OYESANMI, PRESIDENT, N.S.A. EMU. Oyesanmi82@yahoo.com

Mitterand Okorie [Int’l Relations]

Editor
_______________________________ Graduation Success and Joy for Nigerian Students
Your Contributions Wanted! Did you know?

This is your bulletin! We look
forward to your contributions and
news! Send your work to:
donmitt2000@yahoo.com
 67 Nigerians graduated from E.M.U in the Fall 2009/2010 semester
st
 8 of them graduated with High Honors (1 Class)
nd
 20 of them graduated with Honors (2 Class Upper)
Congratulations to all our graduates!

Tourism Ministry To Send Four Students For Underwater Research!

The N.S.A President Mr. Taiwo Alphonso Oyesanmi was informed by the Vice Rector Dr. Majid Hashemipour about a letter from
the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation expressing interest in sending 4 individuals for underwater
research and archaeology activities at EMU in the Spring 2010 semester. EMU has offered this service free of charge in order to
strengthen bilateral ties between the University and Ministries of the Federal government of Nigeria.

www.emu.edu.tr
The only university in Northern Cyprus officially recognized by
The Nigerian Ministry of Education.
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PARENTS AND STUDENTS PRE-GRADUATION NIGHT

The Nigerian Student Association in collaboration with the University hosted the parents of
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2010 Fall semester Nigerian graduates in E.M.U Beach Club on the 8 of February 2010. It
was a warm reception for the parents who marvelled at the coordinated effort of the
Association to grant them such hospitality and warmth. There were some words of advice
from one or two parents who encouraged the students to be steadfast in their academic
pursuit, and we were further honoured by the presence of the Nigerian Ambassador to
Turkey. Finally, just to crown their visit, the University took the parents on a touristic sight-
seeing spree around North Cyprus.

UPCOMING! Wanted! Articles, Interviews, Puzzles, Poetry,

17th March: Executive Audience with EMU President
th
26 March: Visit to Lefkosa correctional facility
nd
2 April: Easter Concert at EMU Activity Center
rd
23 April: General Meeting and Congress in the Mechanical
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Engineering Amphitheatre 30
April: Annual Elite Award Night at Beach Club
th
18 June: Graduation and end of Semester Picnic at Bedis Picnic
site, Salamis.
MEETINGS WITH ALUMNI AND PARENTS: EMU is on
tour in Nigeria again and is delighted to invite parents and
graduates to meet us for an evening in:
Lagos: Protea Hotel, 28 April, 19.00
Benin City: Royal Marble Hotel, 1 May, 19.00
Abuja: Protea Hotel, 4 May, 19.00
Kaduna, Asaa Pyramid Hotel, 6 May, 19.00
Ilorin, Kwara Hotel, 8 May, 19.00
Advertisements, Goodwill Messages,
Photographs and more...
It is our pleasure to announce that we are planning the 1
st
ever EMU Nigerian Student journal. We therefore urge all
those interested in having their views published to prepare
their essays and articles as soon as possible.
Essays are to have an academic or social character; this
means you can write on issues relating to society or on
issues related to your department. However, as we are all
aware, our environment has an international character;
therefore, there is a pressing need for topics that cut across
ideological and cultural barriers.
Articles may fall within the scope of Politics, Economics,
Technology, Poetry or Literature, or any other subject of
interest. All essays would be subject to critical review.
th
The deadline for submission would be on April 30 2010.
Articles should be sent to: moonhawk88@gmail.com.
ISSUE OF E-PASSPORTS TO NIGERIAN CITIZENS

Efanga Okokon,P.R.O for Nigeria Students Association: Date: April 19-24, 2010 Venue: EMU Courtesy: The
effangadta@yahoo.com Nigerian Embassy, Ankara

NSA WEBSITE ON ITS WAY!

FLASH SPORTS NEWS! In the presence of the Nigerian
Keep an eye on the International Center Web Site at:
Ambassador to Turkey, the EMU Nigerian football team played
http://ic.emu.edu.tr. The NSA website will be with us soon.
out a thrilling 4-4 draw with their Cameroonian counterparts.

Check out: http://www.emu.edu.tr/contactus/liaisonoffices.aspx

for a full list of EMU’s representatives and agents across Nigeria.

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 Nostalgia? What Suddenly Changed? POETRY CORNER
The serenity of my room has offered me once again an arena for reflecting.
ME AND MY CYPRUS
And in these moments of tranquillity, funny but vivid memories found fertile
ground for germination; those memories were significantly embedded in my
The cool clear crystal beach
teenage years and I have found time to reconcile the social fabric of old to the
The place I once sat on a stone in the heat,
social realities of today. If these reflections sound funny to you—please laugh.
Thinking of all this land could mean to me,
If they seem esoteric—bear with me. If they seem interesting—read on. If
When suddenly I felt a sharp pain on my
they seem offensive—I apologize, this is only the product of my reverberating
neck;
curiosity.
Ouch! I had been stung by a bee-
As a teenager in one of the largest cities in Eastern Nigeria, there were things I saw that are
Me and my Cyprus.
no longer obtainable; fortunately or unfortunately these appertain to the social traits of
girls. I mean, there was a time when all it took to get a girl was to either be good looking or I have gained strength and resolve for the
measurably funny. They would smile and find some way to hook up for another round of coming years,
juicy laughter. But now, things seem to have changed. Nowadays, if you start to weigh the Wont forget my fears and silent tears,
conditions on which you are to buy the friendship of a young lady, you might just decide There is always enough for all of us,
not to try. And he who makes it a strategy to endear himself by making her laugh—sooner I used to think I was a roughneck,
or later gets to find out he is but a part time comedian. So what changed? Is it Until I got an A in calculus.
Me and my Cyprus
globalization? Fuel scarcity? Or is it just the reigning thing, because for we Nigerians there
is always a reigning thing. Now my point of view changes,
I remember when girls used to be so shy. When a boy they admired summoned the No wages, binges or lounges, I’m ready for
courage to ask them out, they would play with their fingers, with their face to the ground, all challenges,
and with their legs they would draw random numbers. If there was a flower around and One by one they come and I am up to the
she would start playing with the leaves, you would know the ‘runs’ had clicked. But not task,
anymore. In fact, the word ‘shy’ seems to have disappeared from the dictionary of today’s All I can think of is my paycheck
naija babes. They are now often so bold that men blab having been hit with one of their So please when I am through don’t let me
punch lines. I once asked a girl ‘can we be friends?’ She replied ‘we are already friends.’ ask.
Me and my Cyprus
Thinking I didn’t phrase the question well enough, I asked ‘I mean can we be close friends?’
She replied, ‘If we are not close, would I be speaking with you?’ In my mind I said ‘Na wa Many of my friends have come and gone,
oo!’ Which kind chick be this now? ‘Let’s be serious’. And she gave me the final blow ‘Are Some finished their studies, one became a
you not serious? If you are not, I am oo!’ I shook my head in disbelief. What changed? con,
Where did they get this boldness from? Was it all Westernization? I’m still here with so many of different
There was a time when Mr. Biggs, Crunches, Tantalizer, King Fisher, etc. used to be the continents,
biggest things to happen to a young girl, but not anymore. If you are not talking about the Africans, Europeans and Asians, one
latest glamour restaurant—you are wasting your saliva. Even more fascinating is that those Uzbek,
of us bold enough to take them to the latest restaurant were lucky with the expense, This is my life as a student.
Me and my Cyprus.
because ladies then were nervous about ordering the most expensive dishes, not just for
fear of creating a questionable impression but also for not wanting to put us in debt right All I have learnt from here,
inside the restaurant. Today, the reverse is the case. There now seems to be an intention The instructions I have had to adhere,
from the girls to use an outing as an experiment to know how deep the guy’s pocket is. Makes me endure the journey, until its
Women now order the most expensive dish —even though most times they end up not end,
eating a quarter of it. I know how many times I have heard guys talking about how they had It’ll soon be over all hands on deck,
to drop their mobile phones as collateral for debt in a restaurant. Sometimes those without I will surely miss all my friends.
shame would simply ask the waiter the road to the toilet and disappear. A while ago, I was Me and our Cyprus.
talking to a friend and he told me how one evening when he was walking home with his
Enfanga Okokon.
new found girl, the chick demanded to eat some suya [barbecued meat]. Getting to the
effangadta@yahoo.com
suya stand, the girl demanded a suya of 2,000 naira to be sliced for her. Open-mouthed I
stared and wondered again about the thrill of this new phenomenon. What is a girl going to
do with 2,000 naira suya? What does this girl want the guy to think? Does the girl see
nothing disturbing in her gluttony? I am not saying it’s wrong, I am not passing judgement, I Student Exchange Programmes
am just wondering—what suddenly changed?
I wish I could have an opinion here. I wish I could say I support or I detest the new trend. Find out how you can benefıt from
Unfortunately that’s not what this piece is aimed at. It is not my intention to canonize the a student exchange programme at:
http://ic.emu.edu.tr/
old trend or demonize the new. My wandering mind just managed to get its claws into old
memories. Meanwhile I would be happy if today’s women who feel interested or aggrieved
by my discovery could come forward and supply answers to this simple question; ‘what
suddenly changed?’
Mitterand Okorie. afro_hero@hotmail.com

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 GRADUATION
FASHION ZONE
Hello fashionable people! It’s your girl Jenny D’ fashionista bringing ADDRESS
you all you need to know about fashion. Spring is a beautiful season Whenever its
and whenever I hear spring I think colours. So, even if you like to look graduation
subtle, spice your outfit up with bags, or accessories with a touch of time I am
colour. Another thing to note is the comeback of the floral pattern; always excited.
they come in all styles like long sleeve minis, bandage skirts, I am even more
jumpsuits and even maxi dresses. It’s still a bit cold, so don’t pack up your jackets yet. And excited when I
for those of us who don’t like jackets, there are dressy jackets which were the trend of fall hear how well
09. Also blazers would be useful this spring. I particularly like velvet blazers. I think they students who
look amazing. I also love the boyfriend blazer - it looks chic on girls. A lot of guys are afraid have graduated from this prestigious
to experiment with colours but I think bright coloured shirts looks good on guys. The colour school are doing, because it gives me
I love to see is light pink. I think it’s gorgeous. For the guys we would also be seeing the hope that I too can achieve
jumpers this spring. Guys, please do not experiment with your jeans or trousers. Keep them something great and that the strain
black, blue, grey or any other subtle colour, and add some skinny jeans to your closets. For involved in acquiring knowledge is not
shoes we have seen shoe boots rocking this season and they come in a variety of styles. I all in vain. To the graduating students
advise every girl to get a pair - high pumps, gladiator sandals, and peep toes are still making this is another step towards the
their mark in the fashion world. For guys I love loafers, be they Gucci, LV, Zara, Ralph future. Some of you might think that
Lauren, Russell and Bromley or Bally. I also think every one should accessorize with a this a time to rest on your laurels but I
designer belt or glasses, especially boys. I have been talking about dressy fashion; now to tell you life is just starting and the
regular fashion. For boys I recommend a t shirt, with a jumper, jeans and loafers, and for certificate you have acquired is
girls, a t shirt, a jumper, skinny jeans, low pumps and a killer handbag. Ladies, I don’t know armour to prepare you for challenges
about you, but I love designer bags. They give you this edge and make you exude ahead. I realize that some people are
confidence. It’s spring, so ladies you get to experiment with colour with your eye shadow. I afraid to graduate because they are
recommend Mac, Barry Manilow, L’Oreal and Sleek. As much as spring is about colours I confused on what step to take next.
still love black. It’s a colour that makes you look classy and every girl needs to have an LBD Dear graduates, don’t be afraid, life is
(little black dress). It’s a necessity. full of opportunities. Don’t be afraid
Finally, the most awaited event of the year - the award ceremony for Nigerian students. to take risks, do not get discouraged.
Ladies, get your dresses ready, be they mini, long and flowing, knee length, body hugging, The sky is big enough for all the birds
backless, boobtube or halter. They could be lace, sequin, velvet, chiffon, floral or plain to fly in. Don’t let anyone discourage
depending on your style. Guys, get your suits and tuxedos ready. Also your bow ties and you. There are many dream killers out
ties. Something I would like to see guys wearing this time around are designer ties. My there, be careful not to find yourself
favourite is from Louis Vuitton and guess the colour? Pink! Thank you, fashionable people in that bunch, but also be smart
for reading and, remember, I will be at the awards with my handcuffs to arrest anyone who enough to recognize constructive
commits a fashion crime and you do not want me to arrest you. As the French say, Au criticism. When you fall, pick yourself
revoir. up, life is full of ups and downs and no
one achieves greatness in a day. Do
Jennifer Umeh: jenizlle@yahoo.com not let your talents die because you
feel that a degree is all you need. Let
___________________________________________________ your talent and degree work together
and learn to diversify. The essence of
To all our graduates, we say congratulations! your education is to equip you with
courage and eradicate the fear of
Today is memorable, because for some of us, today marks an end to living in a place we trying. You graduates are like brave
have come to know as home. Today marks an end to seeing some of our dear friends and soldiers who have won a battle. To be
colleagues, but most of all today marks the beginning of a future that is brighter than the a graduating student is one thing, but
sun. We would miss you all and we hope that God in his infinite mercy would guide and to be a Nigerian graduate is a
protect you all. Once again congratulations class of 2010, fall semester. We wish you all the different ball game, because most of
best in life and in your individual endeavours. you have struggled with coping in a
foreign country with financial
___________________________________________________ problems, health problems and other
struggles. Yet you came out victorious,
Scholarships for New Students! I say more power to your elbow.
Read about EMU’s generous new scholarship system for international students at:
http://ic.emu.edu.tr/ Jennifer Umeh:
jenizlle@yahoo.com
___________________________________________________
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