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Tag: Eyitope Ogunbodede

  • Make determined efforts to succeed in OAU, VC advises news students

    The Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, has advised the newly admitted students to make determined efforts to ensure success in their academics.

    He said that this would make them to justify their admission into the university.

    Ogunbodede gave the advice on Monday in his address at the institution’s matriculation for those admitted for the 2018/2019 academic session at the Oduduwa Hall Amphitheater.

    He congratulated the students for being lucky to be admitted into the university.

    The VC said that out of 37,059 students that made OAU their first choice, only 6,650 were admitted.

    According to him, the institution has been able to produce satisfactory and qualitative manpower that meets the needs of both the nation and the international community.

    He appealed to them to maintain the standard of knowledge and intellectual excellence the school had been known for globally.

    The VC admonished the students to face their studies squarely by combining academic excellence with culture in a challenging, competitive and diverse academic environment.

    Ogunbodede advised them to learn from their qualified and resourceful lecturers and seek counsel from the right channel, especially, from the Students Affairs Division and the institution’s Health Centre.

    Read Also: OAU students protest alleged proscription of unionism

    The Vice-Chancellor advised them to keep away from their colleagues that might want to lure them into any form of immorality.

    “The university seriously frowns against all forms of anti-social behaviours that are capable of disrupting the smooth running of its academic calendar.

    “Therefore, we implore you to desist from anti-social displays.

    “But only make choice of friends that will positively influence you and cultivate attitudes that will lead you to overall success,” he said.

    Ogunbodede said that the university had zero tolerance for cultism, examination malpractice, violent behaviour, flagrant disregard to constituted authority and sexual harassment.

    He also advised them to eschew every form of deplorable behaviour and other similar vices to safeguard their studentship and ensure successful academic career.

    NAN

     

     

  • OAU students protest alleged proscription of unionism

    Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife on Tuesday took to the street to protest against the alleged proscription of the students’ union by the management of the institution.

    The students under the aegis of Action Committee of the Great Ife Students’ Union said they are challenging the power of the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede to proscribe a “democratic union of the institution.”

    The protest affected free flow of traffic for about an hour at Olaiya Junction, where the aggrieved students gathered to sensitize members of the public about their plight.

    After the protest, the students led by Comrade Dunsin Olowolafe addressed a press conference at the Osun State chapter of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

    Olowolafe alleged that the university proscribed the students union of the body’s resistance of the “unfavorable accommodation policy which tried to increase the tuition fees at the Faculty of Health Sciences to N85, 000.”

    He accused the university management of selecting some new Hall executives to impose the “unfavorable accommodation policy” on the students.

    He said: “The accommodation policy was a wicked response to the crisis of congestion on the university campus. The residential hostels which accommodated about 70 percent of the students were decongested by driving majority of the students to town/off campus, a situation which degenerated into a transportation crisis on the campus.”

    Read Also: UNILAG students charged with attempted rape

    Olowolafe said the students who are now living in town are facing untold hardship of hike in house rent and exposed to series of crimes and attacks.

    Demanding a probe of the Vice Chancellor and recovery of funds meant for the construction of four new affordable halls of residences, he called for “inauguration of a democratically elected students’ union, an end to ban on the freedom of students to associate freely, end to brutality by porters, school security and the police.”

    Other demands by the students include “sufficient and quality lecture theaters and residential hostels, proper funding of education sector with at least 26 percent of the country’s budget, public probe of all released to the institution, payment of all owed wages and allowances of education workers and the implementation of new minimum wage.”

    In a reaction, the university said the decision to suspend the central students union was taken in the overall interest of the majority of students.

    In a telephone chat, the university spokesperson, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, said the protesters were only exhibiting “undue youthful exuberance,” saying the unionism in the university was never proscribed but suspended “because of infighting among the students over union dues and this could result in loss of lives and property if not checked promptly.”

    He said the university management was more concerned about peaceful conduct and protection for serious students, who were determined to be focused on their academic pursuit.

    According to him: “They are exhibiting undue youthful exuberance. They are always fighting over union dues and if this was not attended promptly to could claim lives and loss of property. The university only suspended the central union not at the departmental, faculty and halls of residence.

    “On the accommodation, we have 6,750 freshers in need of where to stay and we have only space for 6,000 against the over 33,000 students’ population. This is the reason the management is calling on well-meaning Nigerians to come and build hostels in support of the school. Also, about their demands for adequate funding of education, they know appropriate quarter to direct their demand.”

  • AD’s Salis rejects Lagos gov elections, alleges irregularities

    Lagos State Gubernatorial Candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) Owolabi Salis has rejected last Saturday’s governorship poll, alleging various irregularities.

    Salis spoke at a press conference at his residence on Tuesday.

    Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner of the election by the Returning Officer of INEC in the state Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede.

    He polled a total of 739, 445 votes to defeat his closest rival and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Jimi Agbaje who got 206,141 votes while Salis polled a total of 3,370 votes.

    “I am not accepting the results of the last Saturday gubernatorial election as it is complete fraud on the people of Lagos State,” the AD candidate declared.

    He alleged the election was marred with “multiple voting, intimidation, and collation fraud.”

    Read Also: INEC threatens to drag politicians to court

    According to him:  “The election is full of many machinations as many voters were intimidated and lot of multiple voting occurred in many polling units.

    “The collation fraud was huge as the ruling party did everything to discredit the candidate of AD and relegate us by putting us in the sixth position”.

    He alleged all the votes of the party were counted along with those of other parties at the collation centres, adding that the act was done in connivance with Police and ad hoc staff.

    “I do not believe Sanwo-Olu won a clear contest. I am going to court. I have overwhelming evidence and will get lawyers that handle electoral matters to look into these irregularities committed against my party in the just concluded election”, he said.

    “It is very easy to win the case when you have enough evidence. We will follow the matter to a logical conclusion and we believe we will get justice,” Salis said.

    Salis vowed he would still remain relevant politically and not relent in advancing the course of the less privileged in the society.

  • Dickson takes restructuring debate to OAU

    The Bayelsa State Governor,  Seriake Dickson, has taken the ongoing debate on restructuring to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
    The  state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said in a statement on Monday that the governor would deliver a major lecture on restructuring at the prestigious university on July 12.
    He said the governor was invited by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof . Eyitope Ogunbodede, to deliver a lecture on the topic, “Restructuring and the Search for a Productive Nigeria”.
    Dickson has been at the vanguard of the  crusade for restructuring to evolve true federalism, power devolution for a stronger and egalitarian country.
    The governor has insisted on a restructured Nigerian Federation built on fairness and justice which could aspire to be among the greatest in the world.
    He has held series of meetings with political leaders across party lines where he demanded implementation of the recommendations of the All Progressive Congress Committee on Restructuring led by the Governor òf Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El Rufai.
    The commissioner also quoted Dickson as saying that the issue of restructuring would take a centre stage in the campaigns during the forthcoming general elections.
    Iworiso Markson said that it was the repeated  view of Dickson that the election would be a referendum on restructuring,
    According to the commissioner, the governor would also comment on pressing national issues considered to be in the general interest of the country.

  •  OAU reinstates suspended students

    The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, has reinstated two of the students that were suspended last year.

    The students were reinstated by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Eyitope Ogunbodede, during a meeting conveyed by the Dean of Students Affairs, Isiaka Aransi, amongst other official of the varsity.

    Omole Ibukun, a final year student of Civil Engineering and Oluwalade Babatunde, a 300 level student of English were suspended after their involvement in the power outage protest in October.

    The Vice Chancellor also ordered the reactivation of the online E-portal of other four students; Kazeem Olalekan, Oyedeji Samson, Gbenga Oloniniran, and Afolabi Samuel.

    Read Also:Sex for marks: Students hail sack of OAU Professor

    “I have no interest in the victimisation of any student. I love a vibrant union but it should be done in a right manner.

    “The university is not interested in jailing the students. We will like to establish that the university is not in anyway interested in the victimisation of students and we never charged any of our students to court. It was done by the state. We want our students to be of good character for smooth running of activities,” he said.

    The Vice Chancellor however promised to lift the ban on union activities.

    When asked about the other former union executives who fought over fund last year, Tosin Jacob and Adedayo Emmanuel, the Vice Chancellor  said they have been placed on a two-semester suspension.

    “We cannot compromise the suspension of those who brought national disgrace to the school.”

    However, reacting to this development, one of the reinstated students, Omole Ibukun, said, “It is not yet a victory until we are rid off victimisation and repression on Nigerian campuses, especially in OAU.”

  • Sex for marks: OAU sacks Professor

    The Governing Council of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife has dismissed Prof Richard Akindele for sexually harassing Ms Monica Osagie, a student of the university.

    The Council announced his dismissal at its meeting yesterday following the recommendation of the university Senate on June 20, 2018.

    The Senate had considered the report of the committee set up to investigate the allegations of sexual misconduct and established that Osagie was truly sexually harassed by Akindele.

    In its report to the Council, the Senate noted that:

    “Professor Akindele had an inappropriate relationship with his student Miss Osagie.  This was established through their conversation in the audio recording; his reply to the query; the oral evidence; and the printed ‘WhatsApp conversations’ tendered before the Committee.

    “He had acted in a manner that is seen to have compromised his position as a teacher and examiner, in that, his conversations with Miss Osagie were about examination scores and inducement of favour for the alteration of examination scores.

    Miss Monica Osagie, a student in the Masters of Business programme, had released a recorded telephone conversation, which went viral, in which the lecturer identified as Akindele  demanded five rounds of sex to enhance her marks.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede said that the University Senate at its meeting on June 14 considered the committee’s finding that Akindele had an inappropriate relationship with his student.

    He said this was established through their conversation in the audio recording,  his reply to the query,  the oral evidence  and the printed ‘WhatsApp conversations’ tendered before the committee.

    The vice chancellor  said Akindele had acted in a manner that  compromised his position as a teacher and examiner  in that  his conversations with  Osagie were about examination scores and inducement of favour for the alteration of examination scores.

    Ogunbodede said :  ” He offered to change Miss Osagie’s purported “33%” result to a pass mark in consideration for sexual favours;  this was established in the audio recording which he admitted.

    ” His claim that Miss Osagie knew that she had passed with a score of ‘45’ but was seeking to score an ‘A’ and that this led to him being sexually harassed by Miss Osagie cannot be supported by any evidence.

    ” Professor Akindele’s actions in requesting for sexual favours from Miss Osagie to change her examination scores was scandalous behaviour that has brought ridicule to the name of the university and has tarnished the reputation of the university, as it portrays the university as an institution where its teachers and examiners trade marks for sexual favours.

    ” From the evidence, Miss Osagie had no idea that she scored ‘45’, a pass mark as later claimed by Professor Akindele, although she later found out she did not fail the course.

    ” Professor Akindele’s claim that he reported Miss Osagie’s ‘harassment’ to his colleagues cannot be supported by any evidence as all his colleagues denied it and one mentioned that she only talked about the matter with him after the audio recording was released over the internet.

    ” Professor Akindele operated in a position of power and authority over Miss Osagie and as such sexually harassed her.

    Read Also: Sex-for-marks: Prof. failed me deliberately, says student

    The Senate therefore found him “liable for all the allegations of misconduct levelled against him” and recommended his dismissal.

    To check sexual harassment in the university, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede, said the institution had strengthened its Sexual Harassment policy which was approved since 2013 and was developing a whistleblowing policy to encourage students and members of staff to report cases.

    ” The Council, at its meeting of today, Wednesday, 20th of June, 2018, having considered the recommendation of Senate, as well as the report of the Joint Committee of Council and Senate, decided that Professor Richard I. Akindele should be dismissed from the services of the university for gross misconduct.

    ” The university has also taken further steps to ensure the total elimination of Sexual Harassment (SH) in the OAU community.

    “The university has a legal duty to prevent sexual and gender-based harassment within the institution and ensure that both men and women are protected from this menace; and thereby provide conducive environment for teaching and learning,’’ he said.

    Ogunbodede said in order to create conducive environment for teaching and learning, the university was creating more awareness and disseminating information on what constitutes sexual harassment within the university.

    He said the veracity of  sexual harassment concepts includes sexual solicitation and advances, sex exploitation, prostitution, seduction, pimping, sexual assault, unwanted touching, vulgar sexual jokes and  rape among others.

    Ogunbodede said that OAU was fully committed to the eradication of sexual and other types of harassment from the university and would do all that was  possible to nip the menace in the bud.

    ” OAU has zero tolerance for sexual harassment and as a renowned university will do everything humanly possible to maintain the rules and regulations of the university,’’ he said.

    Miss Monica Osagie, the alleged victim in the sex-for-marks scandal, had told the investigative panel that Prof. Richard Akindele allegedly failed her because she refused his sexual demand.

    She said she did not score 33 per cent as the lecturer claimed, alleging that he failed her so that she could accede to his sexual request.

    According to her lawyer, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Monica gave evidence at the panel .

    Monica, a Master’s student, released a recorded phone conversation, which went viral, in which the lecturer, identified as Akindele, demanded five rounds of sex to increase her marks.

    The committee, which held its session at the Pro-Chancellor’s Lodge, admitted only Monica and her lawyer.

  • Sex scandal: OAU ASUU chapter hails prof.’s suspension

    The Academic Staff Union ( ASUU ), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, says it is satisfied with the suspension Prof. Richard Akindele, who was allegedly involved in a sex-for-mark scandal.

    Dr Adeola Egbedodun, the Chairperson of the union, in a statement in Osogbo on Friday, commended the university management for the prompt action taken on the recommendations of the investigative panel.

    The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede,  on Thursday confirmed the suspension of the professor.

    Ogunbodede, in a statement, said he had received and considered the interim report of the committee set up to investigate the allegation, as revealed in the audio recording.

    He also said that the female voice in the audio which went viral had been identified as that of Miss Monica Osetobe Osagie, a postgraduate student on the Master of Business Administration programme.

    Read Also: OAU sex for marks: I was never invited by the committee – Monica Osagie

    Egbedokun, however, urged the Vice Chancellor and his team not to relent in their efforts to get to the root of the matter and ensure that justice was done.

    “The Obafemi Awolowo University Branch ASUU commends the administration for the step taken towards ensuring sanity in the system.

    “The union expresses satisfaction on the prompt action taken by the administration.

    “ASUU OAU reiterates its commitment to defending the integrity of the code of conduct of the university and to upholding its ethical standards.’’

    Egbedokun, however, urged members of the union to always adhere strictly to the code of conduct guiding their appointment in the university as they carry out their lawful activities.

  • Fashion out activities helpful for food – VC

    The Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, has called for activities that can be helpful to farmers and other stakeholders in the business of food and raw materials production.

    Ogunbodede made the call on Wednesday at the 2018 Annual In-house Review of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan.

    Our reporter confirmed that the review had the theme: “Agricultural Research and Innovation for Sustainable Food and Industrial Raw Material Production’’.

    The vice chancellor said that research institutes should fashion out relevant activities for food and raw materials distribution, preservation, product development and food security.

    Ogunbodede said that the institutes should focus researches on renewable energies such as solar and windmill to mitigate climate change effects.

    He said that researches should also focus on crop and animal production with flood, heat, drought and pest resistance.

    The vice chancellor said that research should be farmer demand-driven, market-oriented, problem-solving, industrial-demanded and generally acceptable for high adoption.

    Ogunbodede also said that education on the effects of climate change should form an integral part of school curriculum and be taught at all levels in agricultural science.

    He said that subsidy on agriculture by governments should target farming activities that could stern the effects of global warming.

    “The subsidy should focus on farming activities that can address water, energy and chemical changes of production environment.

    “Nigeria will be food and nutritionally secure if government will promote a guaranteed market to farmers, and the activities of middlemen be removed from marketing of agro-materials and food crops.

    “The Federal Government should legislate against free range of domestic animals that often willfully destroy farms, causing clashes between crop and livestock farmers (cattle herdsmen),” he said.

    Earlier, the IAR&T Executive Director, Prof. James Adediran, said that the institute conducted a number of researches which were demand-driven and market-oriented in 2017.

    “These are mainly in area of development of land information system and integrated soil management, varietal development in maize, kenaf, integrated pest/disease management in cowpea and maize.

    “There was also genetic improvement of pigs, local chicken through artificial insemination, multi-locational trials to develop new technologies, improving diet to reduce incidence of diabetics in human, improving quality of soya products, among others,” he said.

    Adediran said that IAR&T also participated in various externally-funded projects with good outcomes, adding that some improved varieties of maize, cowpea and soya bean seeds had been provided for farmers and other stakeholders.

    He gave the assurance that the institute would continue with ongoing projects and propose new ones, as well as make more impacts on dissemination of research findings to the end users.

    “Finally, we are also focusing on income generation activities that are sustainable, including transfer of improved technologies to promote entrepreneurship in agriculture,” he said.

    In a lecture on “Post-harvest Handling of Food Crops in a Changing Climate: An Outlook on Food Research in IAR&T’’, a food scientist, Prof. Adetayo Ashaye, called for emphasis food fortification.

    Ashaye said that food control systems should be developed and operated in accordance with fundamental principles including a food chain approach, risk analysis, transparency and involvement of concerned stakeholders.

    The food scientist said that marketing companies and cooperatives were essential for handling produce and reducing post-harvest losses.

    “Proper coordination of their activities is very important.

    “In reducing post-harvest losses for vegetables, proper packing is required to ensure that they don’t lose freshness in the process of transportation; for roots and tubers, their processing/harvesting must be done timely and carefully,” he said.

    Representatives of research institutes and other major stakeholders in agriculture attended the event during which awards were presented to some outstanding workers of the institute.

    NAN

     

  • Audio: OAU probes sexual harassment allegation

    The management of Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU ), Ile-Ife, on Wednesday reaffirmed the institution’s zero tolerance for sexual harassment of students.

    A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, quoted the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, as saying that sexual harassment remains a serious offence contrary to the anti-sexual harassment policy of the institution.

    He said the attention of the institution’s authorities was drawn to an audio recording now trending on the social media of a telephone conversation ostensibly between one Prof. Akindele and a female student of the university.

    “The recording suggests that the lecturer was demanding sex in return for grade which clearly amounts to sexually harassing the lady.

    “Since the matter came to our notice, the university has begun the process of identifying the characters involved in this apparent breach of its regulations.

    “To this end, the university has set up a high-powered committee to investigate the allegation and submit its report within one week. Anyone found culpable will be dealt with decisively.

    “It is totally and morally reprehensible and the university will never condone such act by any staff or student,” Ogunbodede said.

  • OAU’s resumption now April 29

    The Management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife has postponed the resumption date of the institution to 29th of April, 2018.

    The decision was taken after a brief senate meeting with the university official at the early hours of today.

    The Vice Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede, said fresher’s resumption is now 29th of April while Stalites are to resume by 13th of May 2018.

    “We postponed resumption so that we can be able to renovate the different halls of residence so that it can be ready before they resume” he said

    “All internal programs like TP, SIWES and IT is to come to an end by March 30th so that renovations can start as early as possible, so that students would vacate the halls of residence” he added