Son of Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, the late Afenifere/National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) leader and former governor of old Ondo State, now Ondo and Ekiti states, Mr. Tokunbo Ajasin, is to be conferred with the prestigious traditional title ‘Adafen Onomagbe’ (Senior Omolowo), today.
A statement by President-General Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba (Grand Council of Yoruba Youths), Awa Bamiji, said the conferment will be done by the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, inside the palace.
According to the statement, the Grand Council of Yoruba Youths will be in attendance, alongside Leaders of Thought from Afenifere/NADECO, Arewa Consultative Forum and Ohanaeze.
The occasion will be concluded with rich cultural heritage of Owo, as well as Iwuye ceremony that will feature traditional music, dance and festivities.
Son of Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, the late Afenifere/National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) leader and former governor of old Ondo State, now Ondo and Ekiti states, Mr. Tokunbo Ajasin, is to be conferred with the prestigious traditional title ‘Adafen Onomagbe’ (Senior Omolowo), today.
A statement by President-General Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba (Grand Council of Yoruba Youths), Awa Bamiji, said the conferment will be done by the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, inside the palace.
According to the statement, the Grand Council of Yoruba Youths will be in attendance, alongside Leaders of Thought from Afenifere/NADECO, Arewa Consultative Forum and Ohanaeze.
The occasion will be concluded with rich cultural heritage of Owo, as well as Iwuye ceremony that will feature traditional music, dance and festivities.
A Law graduate of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Miss Faith Falade Olayinka, has bagged a First Class in the 2015/2016 Bar Part II final examination of the Nigerian Law School (NLS).
The news of her feat excited members of the Law faculty which graduates did well in previous Bar exams.
Last year, Opeyemi Akeem Longe and Ebunoluwa Bamigboye, finished with a First Class at the Law School. They were hosted by the university for making the school proud. Akeem, who also finished with a First Class in his Bachelor of Law (LLB) programme, had the overall best result at the Law School.
According to a memo to the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, by the Dean of Law, Prof E.A. Taiwo, many students from the faculty performed well in the last Bar Part II final exams.
The memo quoted Prof Taiwo as saying: “Quite a number of our students finished with very good grades but Miss Falade Faith Olayinka’s performance was outstanding as she finished with a First Class Honour.
“Miss Falade graduated in her Bachelor of Law (LL.B) degree from the university during the 2014/2015 academic session with Second Class (Upper Division). She was the third best graduating student in her set with Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.34. Her performance has made the faculty and the university proud.”
Meanwhile, the university has extended this year’s Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) undertaken by its students for five weeks.
SIWES Director Dr Olanrewaju Olotuah, said the internship, which would have ended on November 7, has been extended to December 12 because of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.
During the period, the school supervisors could not visit the students on industrial training to assess their activities. This prompted the management to extend the programme for five weeks to allow a thorough supervision of the student-trainees.
Dr Olotuah said: “The completion date for the internship has been shifted from November 7 to December 12, 2016, which adds up the duration of the programme to 24 weeks altogether. The decision was made to give room for proper supervision of our students undertaking their internship.”
He advised the students to be committed to their training, saying supervisors could visit them without a prior notice.
SIR: I have been following the drama concerning the appointment of Mr. TokunboAjasin as a member of the NDDC by President Muhammadu Buhari. In the course of this drama, there was never a time when anyone disputed the qualification, capability, integrity or the character of the President’s nominee; some have even gone ahead to praise his leadership and professional qualities. So what is all the brouhaha all about?
Some Ilaje people claim that Mr. Ajasin’s appointment was illegal because it contradicts the Act that set up the NDDC. The Ilaje community, particularly the ones that live in Ugbo believe that they and only they could be appointed to the NDDC board. They postulate that the NDDC Act 2000 that sets up the Commission makes it mandatory that the nominees to represent each of the nine states be indigenes of the oil producing communities quoting Section 2(1) (b) of the NDDC Act, 2000 to buttress their claim:
“one person who shall be an indigene of an oil producing area to represent each of the following member states, that is, Abia State, Akwa-Ibom State, Bayelsa State, Cross River State, Delta State, Edo State, Imo State, Ondo State, and Rivers State.”
My understanding of the clause “oil producing area” that seems to be the bone of contention is that it applies to the totality of the Niger Delta area comprising the states named in the act. If the framers of the act intended places other than states it could have said so. It could easily have said Ilaje, Eket, Oron, Ughelli, Oloibiri etc. But it did not. So why input into the act what it does not say. Just like the 13% derivation applies to the states rather than the communities, if communities or local governments are the reference point, the act could have said so in the manner in which 774 local governments are recognized in the constitution.
To argue otherwise through the use of subterfuge is fraudulent. If previous governments acted illegally and in corrupt manner as they were wont to do, a new government that prides itself in fighting corruption and rectifying several past injustices should not follow the same track. This is a government of CHANGE and just as it has been doing in various sectors of the Nigerian polity, it must institute a change by doing what is right in this situation. But the same people who want to continue business as usual are the ones clamouring for more of the same. When you fight corruption, certainly corruption is bound to fight back. The scenario currently being enacted is the vicious face of corruption fighting back.
A change government cannot afford to buckle under the weight of these corrupt people, otherwise Nigeria is finished. Government should stay focused and ignore the irritating distractions. The courts are there to adjudicate where anyone strongly feels an injustice has occurred. The government cannot succumb to threats, intimidation and bullying to pervert the course of justice, otherwise the country is heading for chaos and anarchy.
Ten months after assuming office, Vice-Chancellor of the Adekunle Ajasin University at Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, has held an interactive session with students on his plans for the institution. RICHARD ADURA-ILESANMI (400-Level Mass Communication) reports.
Prof Ajibefun
In January 6, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun stepped down as the Rector of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) in Ondo State, following his appointment as Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Adekunle Ajasin University at Akungba, Akoko (AAUA).
His appointment followed the expiration of five-year tenure of the immediate past VC, Prof Femi Mimiko. Ten months after assuming office, Ajibefun has met with students tell them his plans and mission at the university.
For over two hours, he answered questions from the students, who thronged the meeting tagged VC-Students’ Forum at the Olusegun Obasnajo Hall on the campus.
The meeting, Ajibefun said, is aimed at identifying students’ strengths and weaknesses, and to suggest ways of engaging the students as major stakeholders in moving the school to the next level.
He said: “One of the reasons for calling the meeting is to interact and rub minds with you. We want to know those areas where you are doing very well and to also know the areas where you have some challenges in order to see what can be done to solve the challenges that you might be facing.”
Congratulating the students for what he called “privilege” to study in the institution, the VC said his predecessor’s ingenuity and reforms had raised the institution’s bar of excellence and placed it as the best rated state-owned university in the county.
He said: “Prof Mimiko did a great job. He judiciously used the resources accrued to the university and this is why we have all these facilities in place. His ingenuity is one of the reasons the university was ranked as the Best State-Owned University in Nigeria. We are also grateful to the government for prompt release of fund to the school.”
Ajibefun promised his administration would step up the reforms to ensure the school remained the best, soliciting the students’ support in realising his objectives. He pledged that transparency and accountability would be the compass of his administration.
Students, the VC urged, must imbibe the spirit of hard work, commitment and dedication to square up with alumni of the school, who, he said, are contributing positively to the cause of the nation
He added: “I am surprised by the quality of students I met in AAUA. The management is receiving commendations for the good conduct our students have shown. This is my tenth month in office and I have never seen our students blocking the road or causing unnecessary riots. We want you to maintain that good behaviour, because it is in your own interest to behave well so that the institution could give good recommendation on you when the need arises.”
Ajibefun urged the students to always use dialogue in pressing home their grievances, rather than resorting to violence, which he said may destabilise the peace in the institution. He maintained that Aluta (a students’ parlance for violent demonstration) did not have a place in academic environment.
“What is logical today is dialogue. When we dialogue, we can solve a lot of problems. But when students embark on Aluta, management would ask them to go home and they would beg to come back. If school property is destroyed, you would come back to pay more for what is destroyed. Academic calendar would also suffer in the process. This is why you must be peaceful in your conduct and engagement,” he said.
The VC said he would not condone extortion of students by any lecturer, emphasising that his administration remained committed to the ban on sale of handouts and paying money to boost score. He told the students to report any lecturer extorting them in whatever form, assuring that the school would protect anyone that gave information on erring lecturers.
He also warned students against indulging in cultism and examination fraud, saying any student caught would be expelled.
Students, who spoke at the forum, raised concern about inadequate facilities and personnel in the school. They urged the management to boost facilities in the school Health Centre and provide hostel accommodation.
They also wanted the VC to provide libraries in all faculties, resuscitate the school solar lights and invite more banks to the campus.
Responding, Prof Ajibefun to promised to address the issues as soon as possible to give the students a new lease of life.
The VC said the hostels being built by the Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (OSOPADEC) and other bodies would soon be completed. He added that the university had signed Memorandum of Understanding with some private individuals and firm to solve the accommodation problem facing the students.
The Visitor to the Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) and Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has inaugurated a 23-member Governing Council.
Swearing in the council members in his office in Akure last week Wednesday, Mimiko said his administration would continue to support the university to make it achieve its vision of becoming a standard 21st century institution.
The council is led by Ambassador Oladele Akadiri, while the Registrar, Mr Bamidele Olotu, will serve as secretary.
Other members are the Commissioner for Education, Jide Adejuyigbe; his Finance counterpart, Chief Yele Ogundipe; Secretary to the state government Dr Aderotimi Adelola; Prof Jacob Olupona, Alhaji Mohammed Modibbo, Prof Macaulay Iyayi, Prof Oluyemisi Adebowale and Dr Funke Oyebade.
Mimiko said the council members’ selection was based on achievement records, experience, integrity and commitment to service. He urged them to institute innovative ways of complementing the effort of the government in making the school a world-class citadel of learning.
He said: “I am happy to note that Adekunle Ajasin Univeristy is now a force to reckon with in the comity of universities in the country. The landmark achievement of the Vice-Chancellor and his team made it possible through management of the funds released by the government and educational funding bodies and a robust relationship with the immediate past governing council.”
The VC, Prof Femi Mimiko, hailed the governor for appointing the “experienced hands” to oversee the activities of the institution.
He said: “I must commend the visitor for putting together this unbelievable, solid governing council for our university. I stand to be corrected, I do not know of any university today that has this status. We have distinguished men and women from experienced background, a professor who lectures at the Harvard for over 20 years, a distinguished career ambassador that has done so much in the service of his fatherland.”
He expressed confident that the council would provide the leadership that the institution needed to improve its standard.
Akadiri appreciated the governor for the opportunity given members of the council to serve. He assured that effort would be made to ensure that all resources would be utilised and managed to achieve the vision of making the university a world-class school.
The maiden edition of the annual magazine of the Sparkle Media Group, which is based at the Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, has hit the market.
The 60-page variety magazine, it was gathered, is a publication by a group of students in the department of Mass Communication.
Speaking during the event, the group’s President, Abiola Idowu, said the magazine was a dream come true, noting that it was designed to set the pace for journalistic excellence on the campus.
Abiola attributed its success to the hard work, commitment and dedication of members, saying they were able to set aside their personal engagements to realise the magazine.
One of the leaders of the group, Emmanuel Oyebade, said its vision was to perform the traditional functions of the media which were to inform, educate, and entertain. He added that the group had grown since inception, with members drawn from various higher institutions of learning in the country.
Editor of the magazine, Julius Omokhunu, commended the team spirit and ingenuity of members, pleading on them to redouble their efforts to give the group a pride of place in the media profession.
High points of the launching included unveiling of the group’s website and blog.
Presenting the magazine, its grand patron and head, department of Mass Communication, Dr Babatunde Oyinade, lauded the group for the initiative and charged them to do more.
Electioneering returned to Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) last week, following the lifting of ban on political activities.
Students’ Union Government (SUG) election was held last week.
Three aspirants obtained forms for the post of Students’ Union president. They are Ayodele Oladimeji, 300-Level History and International Relations, Kazeem Ganiyu, 300-Level Economics and Segun Ikuegbede, 300-Level Public Administration.
However, Ayodele and some other aspirants were disqualified for their failure to meet the Cumulative Grade Points Average (CGPA) benchmark set for aspirants.
On the election day, there was tension on the campus as thousands of students trooped to the polling centres to vote for choice candidates.
Segun got 2,189 votes to defeat his rival Kazeem, who polled 1,895 votes. There was excitement on the campus when Segun was driven into campus shortly after he was declared winner in a sports utility vehicle.
Others elected included Temidayo Alarape,Vice President, Saheed Olasunkanmi, General Secretary, Soji Mobolaji, Assistant General Secretary, Oluyemi Akinbobola, Financial Secretary, Adetitun Bankole, Public Relations Officer, Tosin Famubode, Social Director, Adeola Onifade, Sports Director, Felix Oladosu, Welfare Director and Akinola Daniel, Treasurer.
Mass Communication students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) have emerged victorious in the debate organised by the Association of Mass Communication Students (AMCOS), Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, chapter.
AAUA students defeated their counterparts from the JABU to win the contest held on the host’s campus. Students of Mass Communication from Wesley University of Science and Technology, Ondo (WUSTO) and the University of Ibadan (UI) also participated in the debate.
AAUA was represented by Akinlolu Ejiranti, 300-Level, Julius Omokhunu, 200-Level and Joseph Onoolapo, 100-Level. The topic of the debate was: “Is sovereign National Conference the panacea for terrorism in Nigeria?”
Students of the premier university opposed the motion while their counterparts from AAUA supported the view. At the end of the first round, AAUA won by 33.1 to 32.0; JABU defeated WUSTO to make it to the final round.
Having defeated the UI to move on to the final round, AAUA faced the host institution in what could be described as a clash of the titans. AAUA supported the motion that “Corruption is the root cause of terrorism in Nigeria”, but JABU students opposed it.
At the end, AAUA came first with 44.3 points, JABU 40.1 and UI got 38.3 to become first and second runners-up respectively. Speaking after the debate, AMCOS president at AAUA, Omodunni Alero, praised the organisers for creating level playing field for the contestants.
