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Tag: Ipetumodu

  • I stayed alone for four years to avoid distractions —Oduduwa varsity’s best graduating student

    I stayed alone for four years to avoid distractions —Oduduwa varsity’s best graduating student

    Ibraheem Kabir Adeyemi, a graduate of Computer Science from Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu (OUI), Osun State with a cumulative grade point average (CPGA) of 4.94, emerged the best graduating student at the 5th convocation ceremony of the university recently. Twenty-year-old Adeyemi, who claimed to have lived a “triangular lifestyle” in his days at the university, spoke to GBENGA ADERANTI about the secrets of his academic success, among other issues.

    YOU have just emerged the best graduating student of Oduduwa University. What was your CPGA?

    I graduated with a CGPA of 4.94.

    Why did you choose Oduduwa University?

    I chose Oduduwa University because I could see the potential in the school. Being a relatively young university, the kind of structures which the school management had been able to put together in such a short period of time, really impressed me. I also had a family friend who graduated from there, and he really convinced me that the standard of teaching was excellent. He got a scholarship to study in the UK after he finished.

    How many times did you sit for university entrance examination before you got admission into OUI?

    I sat for the Joint Matriculation Examination (UME) once before I got admission into OUI, though OUI was not my first choice.

    How was the experience waiting for admission?

    Waiting for admission was a real turning point for me. That was the point I realised that in life, you can only depend on yourself for support, and you will only get what you work hard for in life. I was really anxious during that period, but I thank God everything worked out for the better.

    At what point did you decide to apply for admission into OUI?

    I decided to apply to OUI as my backup school in case my first choice school did not work out. Though I was picked in my first choice school, I was not given the course I wanted. OUI gave me the chance to achieve my dreams and took it.

    What were the reactions of your parents when you told them you were going to study at OUI?

    My parents were really supportive of my choice. They understood that it was what I wanted. I had to convince some of my siblings, because I come from a very big family and my parents always encouraged us to share ideas with each other.

    What was your preferred course and why?

    My preferred course is Computer Science because I have always had a flare for computing as a kid. I always had interest in how this device has been able to revolutionise the world as we know it. Growing up, my uncle had a cyber cafe where I would go every weekend. He would allow me to surf the web, play games and solve problems online. I guess that is where I first developed my love for computing.

    What were your experiences at the university?

    My experiences in Oduduwa University were really memorable. I had lot of good experiences in the school. I guess my best experience was going to check my result at the end of each semester. Most of the time, I  knew I was going to have all As, so it was self gratifying for me because I believed that all my hard work for the semester had not been in vain.

    I guess my worst experience was in my third year. I lost one of my very close friends. It was a really tough period because i didn’t have a lot of friends. So, losing one of them really made me sad.

    How did you manage to come tops in the school, considering the distractions one faces as an undergraduate?

    When I resumed in my first year, i had my mind set on being the best that I could be.  I made up my mind that what was important was my studies only, and I was not going to allow anything hinder me from achieving my goals, no matter what. I had friends, but I have always been blessed with the ability to see through people.

    I always knew when someone was a good influence or not, and I thank God for the few friends I had in school. My resolute rectangular life (class, hostel, mosque and library) kept me away from all forms of distractions. I always stayed alone throughout my four years, because I enjoyed my privacy a lot.

    At what point did you resolve that you were going to be the best graduating student?

    That would be in my third year. I met this lecturer who took a real interest in me. He made me to realise that although I was a really brilliant student, being brilliant is not enough to achieve success in life. There is a difference between being able to excel in academics and being able to excel in life. He explained to me what it takes to be a computer scientist and the need to excel in whatever I lay my hands on.

    How did you achieve this feat?

    Hard work, God’s favour and determination really helped in achieving my goals. I also gained a lot from tutoring other students, because this helped me in refreshing the things I had read a long time ago and also made me recognise the aspects I needed to improve on.

    Tell me the challenges you faced as an undergraduate of OUI?

    I faced a lot of challenges as an undergraduate, but with God’s help and grace, I was able to overcome them. One of the most important was changing the general cliche that smart people are not sociable. I engaged in other projects apart from academic work and picked up other hobbies apart from reading. I thank God I was able to balance them all.

    What were the factors that helped you to come tops?

    I would say the major factor was being resolute. I was extremely determined to achieve my objectives, no matter what, and this helped me a lot in achieving my goal.

    Do you have any plan to lecture in the school?

    considering the fact that the institution is willing to absorb its best students?

    If given the chance to, I would like to impact knowledge and I would also like to apply my skills in the emerging start-up sphere in Nigeria in order to make our country a better place. I have a secret passion in helping others achieve their goals. That is why my friend and I are launching an online tutoring platform where students can meet capable tutors in various skills they have interest in, such as programming, academics and the likes.

    What is that thing about OUI that you are not going to forget in a hurry?

    It has to be the lecturers. I met lecturers who changed my orientation and made me think differently every day. The mosque too. It was always my safe haven; always very quiet and serene.

    How easy was it for your parents to pay your school fees?

    My father is a businessman and my mum is a retired teacher. My parents are the most remarkable people even though they don’t have much. They are willing to do anything for their children so far as it is for their education. it was not easy but they always found a way. I thank God for them.

    Was there a time you felt like quitting the institution?

    Not really. My understanding of education as a whole changed a lot when I went for internship. I realised that especially in the field of IT, most of the skills you require are in the outside world; they are not taught in the classroom. Even people who are not IT majors can pick up those skills and become more relevant. I realised that I had to be focused on academics and also learn relevant skills like programming and the likes in order to be relevant in the industry.

    What is your plan for the future?

    I would like to be successful.

     

  • Encomium for new N94m Osun school

    Encomium for new N94m Osun school

    Just days after inaugurating the state-of-the-art Ilesa Government High School, Ilesa, the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, unveiled the St. Augustine’s Government Elementary School, Ipetumodu, in Ife North Local Government Area of the state.

    It cost the state N94 million to build the school which has 10 classrooms, a computer centre and a library.

    The school also has an office for the head teacher, a store, a power office and a conference room.

    It comes with a borehole, power transformer and a recreation and sporting centre.

    So far, out of 100 elementary schools, 50 middle schools and 20 high schools promised by the present administration, 20 elementary schools, 22 middle schools and 11 high schools have been completed.

    ?At the inauguration Aregbesola said the school and others that had been launched earlier were designed to be able to attract the best brains from their catchment areas that would be prepared for the public middle schools, where excellence was the watchword.

    ?He said: “Today marks another epoch in the new dawn of education infrastructure in the State of Osun. The last time we gathered for this purpose was on Tuesday, October 24, 2017, when we commissioned Ilesa Government High School, Ilesa.

    “In the order of our new elementary schools, the most recent was the commissioning of the AUD Government Elementary School, Sabo Osogbo, on November 29, 2016. ?

    “On March 21 this year, our trains moved around simultaneously, to celebrate the official opening and commencement of learning activities at four newly-built government high schools; namely: Ataoja Government High School, Osogbo; Osogbo Government High School, Osogbo; Wole Soyinka Government High School, Ejigbo; and Adventist Government High School, Ede.

    “These schools were the first set of completed high school infrastructure embarked upon by our administration and have since been put to use by end-users, the students and their teachers”.

    Aregbesola added that beyond new buildings, he had renovated 40 other schools that have a total of 1,694 classrooms that can accommodate nearly 90,000 pupils; and provided more than 100,000 desks and chairs, toilets and boreholes.

    Earlier in his remarks, the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba ?James Adedokun Adegoke described Aregbesola as a true democrat who had heralded unprecedented development in the state.

    The Monarch thanked the government for its developmental strides in the state, particularly Ipetumodu.

    “We have seen true “Omoluabi”? ethos in all Aregbesola has done particularly in his commitment to promises made to the people of the state.?

    “This government has done so much for us and we really appreciate it because no government has ever been conscious of development as this government has demonstrated”, Oba Adegoke emphasised.?

    In his address, the Education Commissioner, Mr Wasiu Kolawole Omotunde-Young praised Aregbesola for being committed to fight against educational decadence.

    He reiterated the government’s commitment to the education sector.

    “This state-of-the-art government elementary school is designed and constructed to be a first class school aimed to eradicate decadence in the education sector.

    “Our government has commissioned many of these schools and we will still commission more as we are committed to the quality and functional education in the state,” he said.?

    In his remarks, the Chairman House Committee on Education in the State House of Assembly, Folorunso bamisayemi backed the governor’s spending of funds the state borrowed for development.

    “Aregbesola has shown high sense of prudency and transparency in the management of the state’s resources particularly on the money which the state borrowed.

    “To us as legislators, we strongly believed that if the state did not borrow at the time it borrowed, many of these projects would have been impossible now, considering the exchange rate.

    “As at the time we approved the loan, the exchange rate of naira to dollar was about, 150 dollar to 170 dollar but today exchange rate is about 350 dollar to 400 dollar, telling us that the state might not be able to either borrow at all or do as much as it did. With the benefit of hindsight, the loan has paid for itself,” he said.

    Ilesa Government High School as well as the four inaugurated before it penultimate week boast of 72 classrooms, six offices for study groups, six laboratories, 18 toilets for girls, 18 toilets for boy, science library, art Library, facility manager’s office, bookshop, sick bay, bursar’s office, three principal’s offices, three general staff offices, one senior principal’s office, store and a security shed/reception.

    Also the school has a 1,000 seater capacity hall with additional storage space for equipment, utility, a stage, office, and toilets; sporting facilities, including an Olympic-sized football field, 7-lane tartan tracks, a pavilion and basketball/tennis court.

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who was the Ilesa Government School inauguration, charged Aregbesola to maintain the tempo for peace and development of all parts of the state.

    A parent, Mr. Kola Ibirogba, said with the Aregbesola administration’s policies and programmes there is a new dawn in the education sector.  He called on parents to play their own parts in the education of their children by promptly paying taxes and token required for the maintenance of facilities.

     

  • 12 injured in Ashipa/Ipetumodu clash

    12 injured in Ashipa/Ipetumodu clash

    No fewer than twelve persons have been injured in a violent communal clash between Ipetumodu and Ashipa in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State.

    Trouble reportedly started on Wednesday when youths of the two communities clashed at an inter house sport competition held of the Community High School, Ipetumodu, a few meters from Ashipa.

    Dangerous weapons like cutlasses, clubs, knives, broken bottles, axes were allegedly used by the youths before the police came to disperse them and bring the situation under control.

    It was gathered that by Thursday night the Ashipa youths allegedly set the Akinola Market in Ipetumodu on fire and simultaneously shooting sporadically into the air to scare the residents of Ipetumodu.

    An Ipetumodu chief, Adedeji Asalu, accused the Ashipa of initiating the clash.

    But a community leader in Ashipa, Chief Julius Ogerinde, said it was not true that the clash was started by the youths of Ashpa

    According to him, the people of Ipetumodu was not happy because result of the white paper released by the government on the ownership of the land where the Akinola market was contructed was not in their favour.

    Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Folasade Odoro, said normalcy jas returned to the two communities.

     

  • Peace returns to Ipetumodu, Ashipa as warring communities sheath sword

    Peace returns to Ipetumodu, Ashipa as warring communities sheath sword

    After nearly two weeks of hostilities, which left many people injured, the warring communities of Ipetumodi and Ashipa in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun  State have finally embraced peace, following the intervention of the state government. ADESOJI ADENIYI reports.

    Peace has finally returned to the two warring communities of Ipetumodu and Ashipa in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State. The two communities have been at each other’s throats for sometimes now, following a dispute over their boundary. Though there is relative peace after the intervention of the Osun State Government, the residents are yet to recover from the losses they recorded during the clash that started penultimate Wednesday. Shops were still under lock and key and farmers not on their farms. It was gathered that some of those, who fled the sleepy town in the wake of the bloody clash are yet to return home.

    More than 20 people reportedly had various degrees of injuries with some of them suffering severe machete cuts. The warring communities were fighting following the location of a new market in Ipetumodu which the people of Ashipa were allegedly dissatisfied with because they said it was constructed on their land.

    During the fracas, an indigene of Ipetumodu was allegedly shot while one of the hostels built in between the two communities by the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba James Adegoke Adedokun for students of a tertiary institution in the area was allegedly burnt by some angry people from Ashipa.

    Apart from the hostel, many houses were also burnt in the two communities while properties worth millions of naira were destroyed. It took the timely deployment of security agents drawn from the Mobile Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to prevent a further degeneration of the situation.

    When The Nation visited the two communities over the weekend, there were still relics of the bloody dispute. In Ipetumodu, an armoured personnel carrier (APC) was stationed in front of the Apetumodu Palace and there was still a heavy presence of mobile policemen to curb any disorder. Burnt shops and houses were in sight, while markets and some residential houses were under lock and keys. Broken bottles used freely during the fracas by the warring parties were still scattered by the road side.

    Ashipa town was deserted except for very few people who gathered in groups to review events of the past week and a half.ý

    Some residents of the two communities who spoke with The Nation were still bitter about what happened even as they traded accusations over who was at fault. For example, a leader in Ashipa town, ýOmotoso Oyewole , and the Asalu of Ipetumodu, Barr. Afolabi Adedeji, expressed regrets over the development but on behalf of their communities blamed the other party.

    Perhaps, the most painful part of the crisis was the burning of the student’s hostel by irate youths, as they knew nothing about the crisi over the disputed boundary.

    A student, ýAdeyemo Adetoro, who was a victim, lamented the loss of their personal belongings to the ugly incident. According to him “we all had to run for our dear lives, leaving all we had in the hostel. We only came back to see that the hostel had been burnt.” ý

    Mobile policemen are still positioned at every strategic point and everywhere was silent with no sight of residents around the communities, especially in Ashipa.

    Ipetumodu and Ashipa which are about 40 minutes drive from Osogbo, the state capitalý,ý ýbefore the clash had been in peaceful co-existence, intermarrying and engaging in commercial activities despite the existence of the age-long boundary problem.

    Though the police have arrested no fewer than 14 suspects from both sides of the clash, the state government seemed more concerned about settling the land dispute amicably between the two communities.

    Last week, the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola summoned the leaders of the two warring communities to a meeting, where after a long discussion with them, he made them to embrace one another to demonstrate they have agreed to sheath their swords. ýAt the meeting, the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba James Adegoke and the representative of the Alashipa of Ashipa, Ojediran Olaleke, other chiefs and leaders of the township associations of both communities made a pledge for a commitment to peace. ý

    Aregbesola charged the two warring communities to ensure promotion of communal peace and progress which is one of the cardinal programmes of his administration or face government sanction.

    The governor also urged the monarchs and leaders of the two communities to warn the youth in their areas not to further engage in acts that could further jeopardise the peace of the communities and the state at large. ýHe told them to always uphold the ethos of ‘Omoluabi’ which the state is known for, saying that development can only thrive in an atmosphere where there is peace and unity.

    However, Aregbesola called on security agencies to comb the nooks and crannies of the communities to recover arms that were not licenced in a house-to-house search to forestall further use of weapons in future. He also pointed out that a committee will be set up look into the remote cause(s) of the crisis and proffer solution to the problems identified by the leaders of the two communities.

    He held that the two communities got it wrong by resorting to violence instead of dialogue, adding that it was regrettable that they were fighting when the state is going through massive development of infrastructure. ýThe governor disclosed that it will be a bad signal for investors who are thronging Osun on a daily basis to be faced with the issue of communal clashes, warning that the state government will not hesitate to come down heavily on erring communities. ý

    According to him, “It is so sad that this is happening at a point that investors are coming in into the state on a daily basis and your communities have decided to solve your differences through fight which we have all seen here as unnecessary. ýWith the on-going clash in your domains commercial activities have been brought to a halt and property destroyed, student who have nothing in your dispute are made to bear the brunt by the burning of their hostel. Why should students be given the opportunity to have a bad impression about your communities? ýI am not happy that this is happening in our land, it doesn’t send a good signal, shooting of gun doesn’t do us any good; we should find a lasting solution to these happenings. ýThings like a market day should not cause problem. ýI want to use this opportunity to beg the two communities to allow peace to reign from now on, we should maintain status quo till the committee we are going to set up comes out with its recommendations. ýHenceforth, any of the two communities found wanting will be seriously dealt with, because we will not allow anything short of peace and security in the state.” Aregbesola said

  • Oduduwa varsity students shine

    Students of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu (OUI) Osun State have held participants spell bound at a seminar organised for private universities students at the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ilesa, Osun State.

    The event was organised by the Association of Nigerian Private Universities to stimulate the students towards positive thinking and joint action to rescue Nigeria’s education failing system.

    Speaking during the two-day event, leader of the OUI team and 300-Level Mass Communication student, Eriye Uche, called for a concerted effort by all to move the country’s education system forward.

    He recommended a tripartite remedial approach – adequate funding, discipline and expanding the research base and potentials of the nation’s ivory towers as solutions to address the perennial quagmire being experienced in Nigeria’s education system today.

    Another OUI student, Daniel Eluyemi, who is a finalist in the Microbiology department, made a case for government intervention in all private tertiary institutions in Nigeria in the areas of infrastructures, and donation of books to aid teaching and learning.

    On her part, Miss Cynthia Uzochukwu of the Department of International Relations sought for more purposeful and result-oriented curriculum which should encompass entrepreneurial programme meant to prepare students for different vocations, professions and enterprises.

    She enjoined administrators in Nigerian universities and curriculum designers to be more creative in their efforts to give a new meaning to Nigerian educational system.