PEN PRESS UDUS

NOSA Health Week '26: UDUS Optometry Students Organize Free Eye Screening for the University Community

Sharafdeen Rumaitha Odunola reports,

The Nigeria Optometric Students' Association (NOSA), Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) Chapter, organized a free visual screening exercise as part of its NOSA Health Week 2026 activities.

The screening, which took place on Thursday, 9th July 2026, marked Day Two of the association's Health Week programme and was held in front of the school clinic at the permanent site.

The exercise attracted students and other members of the university community who came to have their eyes examined by optometry students under professional supervision. Participants underwent various eye examinations, including visual acuity tests and other basic eye health assessments aimed at detecting possible vision problems and promoting early intervention.

In addition to the visual screening, attendees also had the opportunity to check other health indicators, such as blood pressure, further promoting awareness of preventive healthcare.

The outreach formed part of NOSA's commitment to encouraging regular eye examinations and educating the university community on the importance of maintaining good eye health. The association emphasized that routine eye check-ups play a vital role in the early detection and management of eye conditions, even when no symptoms are present.

The free screening exercise reflects the association's dedication to community service and its continuous efforts to promote healthy living through accessible healthcare initiatives within the university.

Beyond the Classroom: Why Extracurricular Activities are Equally Important as Good Grades

By Luqman Kamaldeen Oladayo

“Regardless of how high your CGPA is, you need basic soft skills before that stellar grade can set you apart.”

These are the words every Nigerian student must now learn. The value that the university education of this century equates is no more measured solely by the number of lectures attended or the grade point average recorded at graduation. World employers, researchers and education experts now agree that students who actively participate in extracurricular activities graduate with skills that lectures alone cannot provide. Thus, for students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), this presents an opportunity that should not be overlooked.

For the sake of clarity, the extracurricular activities in question include participating in students' union politics, debating engagements, moot and mock court competitions, exercise, sports, entrepreneurship clubs, literary associations, volunteer groups, cultural organisations, journalism, and departmental associations. Although these activities do not directly earn academic credit, they, however, contribute significantly to a student's personal and professional development.

Moreover, recent research consistently shows that students who participate in extracurricular activities possess the likelihood of becoming more engaged with their education than those who do not. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), schools and institutions that provide more extracurricular opportunities generally record higher student engagement and, in many cases, better academic outcomes.

Nevertheless, the benefits extend far beyond academic performance. A 2024 study based on the OECD Survey on Social and Emotional Skills found that participation in sports and arts clubs significantly improves leadership skills, teamwork, effective communication, emotional regulation and strong resilience among students. These are the very qualities world employers increasingly seek in graduates entering today's severely competitive labour market.

The OECD further reports that students who are largely involved in extracurricular activities consistently demonstrate stronger social and emotional skills than those who do not participate. Importantly, these benefits attached are observed as proportionate across both male and female students and among students from differ socio-economic backgrounds.

For universities like UDUS, extracurricular activities go beyond being involved to also serving as practical laboratories where classroom knowledge is transformed into real-life experience that matters. As law students sharpen advocacy skills through moot court competitions and debating, Mass Communication students gain practical reporting experience through campus journalism. Engineering students, on the other hand, apply technical knowledge during innovation competitions, while medical and pharmacy students take part in health outreach programmes that expose them to community service and what truly happens in the health facilities.

Nevertheless, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) further recognises extracurricular programmes, particularly sports and community engagement as effective tools for developing confidence, leadership, civic responsibility, problem solving skills and healthy lifestyles. According to UNESCO, these programmes complement classroom learning by helping students apply values in real-world situations and become active contributors to society.

Unfortunately,with these very obvious perks attached to being extra, many students of higher institutions still believe extracurricular activities are distractions and by extension deteriorating academic nurture. An important caveat to establish here is that, while it's indisputable that maintaining a healthy academic balance is essential, demonstrating proactiveness towards the skills that would set one apart is equally pertinent.

Studies by the Institute of Education Science further indicate that students who effectively combine academics with meaningful extracurricular involvement often develop efficient time-management skills, stronger self-discipline and better interpersonal relationships, compared to those that focus solely on academics.

At UDUS, many opportunities to explore beyond respective primary assignments have, since, already existed through faculty associations, religious organisations, sports, entrepreneurship initiatives, journalism, volunteer programmes and cultural societies. However, participation remains discouragingly low in many of these areas, often because students underestimate the long-term value of these experiences while leaning towards focusing exclusively on classroom performance.

Therefore, there is a need to educate and sensitize students in institutions of higher learning that graduate recruitment in the labor market has now become increasingly competitive, employers are now paying attention not only to certifications but also to leadership experience, problem solving skills, organizational skills, communication ability, teamwork and creativity amongst others, which are the qualities extracurricular activities help to build over time.

Conclusively, the reality is, where a university degree opens the door, the experiences gained beyond the four walls of the lecture halls often determine how far a graduate with stellar grades can attain opportunities after graduation. So, for students of UDUS, extracurricular activities should no longer be viewed as optional entertainment, but rather an investment in personal growth, ability to stand phenomena and lifelong success.