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Tag: OAU

  • OAU PG students accuse management of dismissing colleagues

    •VC: we’ll resolve issue 

    Some postgraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) at Ile-Ife in Osun State have accused the management of victimisation.

    Addressing reporters at the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Osogbo, Osun State capital, leader of the students Andrew Segun Oguma said four members of the students’ committee who spearheaded the agitation against an alleged exploitation were terminated on the excuse of late payment of their last semester tuition fees.

    According to them, while other students, who had not paid ay their school fees were given till December to do so, members of the committee were dismissed.

    The students noted that despite several meetings and apology letters to the management and the PG College, the Provost of the College, Prof. Gbenga Alebiowu, insisted that “the apologies were not in conformity with his dictates”.

    They said: “The postgraduate students, on two different occasions, (aside other countless individual attempts) met with the provost of the college in interactive sessions within the hall of residence to extensively discuss our challenges.

    “After series of communications with the provost, which all proved abortive, an official letter on our demands, dated September 12, was sent to the vice chancellor and this was also ignored.

    “On September 26, there was a meeting of postgraduate students’ committee and the provost, which ended in a stalemate. Yet, he requested that the matter be rerouted and addressed to his office, rather than through the vice chancellor.

    “On September 27, postgraduate students collectively submitted the requested letter to the provost with a week timeline for response. During the one-week timeline, the responses we got were decision extract that addressed nothing in our requests but put the students in more frustrating conditions.

    “Directives were tailored towards putting undue pressure on students by compelling them to pay all outstanding fees, else the termination of studentship; termination of four committee members studentship among whom are students who have done final oral examination and another who the Senate had sat on his result.

    “All this response emerged just because we appealed that students should no longer be charged fees after the final oral examination.

    “Putting all of these efforts together, it is glaring that we, postgraduate students, have exhausted all meaningful internal mechanisms which have unfortunately yielded no positive result.

    “However, it has become a truth that the provost is not ready to critically consider our demands nor yield to appeals coming from different quarters but hell-bent on ensuring that students are continually exploited and made to unsparingly suffer.”

    Contacted, Prof. Alebiowu refused to comment on the matter.

    He advised our correspondent to speak with the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the university.

    Also, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, in a text message on the matter, said: “Sorry, I am presently outside the country attending a summit on higher education. The termination was because the students did not pay their fees and were also insulting.

    “However, the issue is now being resolved as the students have written a letter of apology. The PG College board will meet next week.”

  • OAU students’ union President impeached

    OAU students’ union President impeached

    The Parliament of the Obafemi Awolowo University Students’ Union has impeached the President of the Union, Oyekan Ibukun Edwards.
    This resolution was reached by the parliament at a sitting which held in Awolowo Café of the University’s Awolowo Hall of residence on  Saturday November 4.
    The Parliament impeached the President on the grounds of alleged gross misconduct which included his alleged involvement in the attack on students last Wednesday.
    The Secretary-General and Public Relations Officer of the Union, Boluwajaiye Adeoluwa and Okediji Simon were also suspended respectively for not attending the parliamentary sitting.
    They were said to be  viewing a television programme in the Awolowo Hall Common room not too far away from the venue of the parliamentary sitting.
    Their suspension is meant to last for two weeks. The Parliament also prohibited absent parliamentarians from attending two subsequent sittings.
    The sitting had in attendance 52 parliamentarians at which 37 voted for the impeachment of the Union’s President,  while the remaining parliamentarians abstained from voting.
    In an interview with our correspondent, a member of the OAU Students’ Union Parliament, Odetoyinbo Fiyin commended the resolutions of the Parliament.
    He said the  resolutions of the Parliament to impeach the President and the suspension of absent parliamentarians, and other two Union executives amounted to victory for the students.
    “I strongly believe that the impeachment of the President has been lingering for a long time. He has committed so many misconducts, he is also known for absconding congresses I can go on and on,” Fiyin stated.
    Another parliamentarian identified as Honourable Saheed said “The President was suspended by the Parliament because of his involvement in a cultist attack which happened recently. The President did call a sitting on Wednesday and at a point during the course of the sitting, cultists came to attack students and the Union bus conveyed the alleged cultists in and out of the university’s premises.
    “The President is the custodian of the Union bus which is a non-commercial bus, so he definitely knows about the attack because the keys of the Union bus are kept in his custody,” Saheed stated.
    The Clerk of the Union, Hon. Tosdam, while speaking with our correspondent said that the President had to be impeached because he has committed several offences and that his involvement in the cultist attack of November 1, 2017, is prime among such deeds.
     “The President was alleged to have invited cultists to come to attack students in a parliamentary sitting that he did call, which held Wednesday, November 1. The cultists who came to attack our students were conveyed to and fro the university campus with the Union bus and he masterminded the attack. This is an archetype that cultism is likely to return and history should not be allowed to repeat itself. The resolution of the parliament as regards the impeachment of the union President is valid and there is no going back,” Tosdam said.
    Falayi Temitope, the speaker of the Union told our correspondent that the impeachment of the Union President was well-deserved.
      “The President of OAU students’ union has been impeached. He was impeached on the grounds of gross misconducts which included his involvement in an attack on students.”
    ” Mr. Oyekan Ibukun Edwards was impeached as OAU students’ union President because he cannot be trusted on matters as regards students’ security; he allowed students to be beaten blue black by cultists who were conveyed to and fro the university premises in a bus which was meant to be in the custody of the president. He did invite the cultists that came to attack students at the university students’ union building on November 1st, 2017, ” he stated.
    Falayi also claimed that the parliament suspended the Union’s Secretary-General and the Public Relations Officer for failing to attend the parliamentary sitting. He added that parliamentarians who were absent at the sitting have bagged suspensions for two parliamentary sittings.
    However, the embattled President  in a statement rejected his impeachment and the suspension of two union executives, claiming it was a “kangaroo impeachment.”
     The statement reads in part, “My attention has been drawn to news flying around social media that the president has been impeached, the Secretary General and Public Relations Officer of the union have been suspended for two weeks. May I use this medium to inform you all that it is not true and not in tandem with the sacrosanct Constitution of our Union”.
     With the resolution of the Parliament, the Union’s Speaker, Falayi Temitope, automatically assumes the position of the Presidency due to the vacancy of the office of the Union’s Vice-President.
    The erstwhile vice-president had been suspended by the management of the University.
  • Poems for Independence Day by OAU students

    Poems for Independence Day by OAU students

    The National Association of English and Literary Studies (NASELS), Obafemi Awolowo University Chapter on the Sunday October 1 celebrated the  independence day with different poems  under the theme Tears Of Laughter.

    These are the poems rendered by different poets and poetess;
    *Buaha Dansabe Kuni*
    Every Octo-first, with the heart inside us burning,
    We laugh, though, with our conscience mourning.

    *Nwude Princess Ifeoma*
    The Giant at Fifty-seven!
    Where on earth is your Haven?

    *Adekunle David:*
    Nigeria
    In You flow the tears of the patriots,
    Our fears and cries are your introits.

    *Owolabi Damilare*
    Nigeria: our green is gone,
    And our prided white is torn.

    *Adeyemo E. Oluwatosin:*
    The truth we pose to hate today;

    lie we will paint as fate someday.

    *Ruthie:*
    Now, all hail the giant of Africa!
    Oh dearest Goliath, behold your replica.

    *Akinfenwa Olaitan!*
    Failures compiled, Nigeria wobbles, helplessly.
    Fatally crippled, she stands, Independently.

    *Popoola Faith Oluwabusayomi:*
    Freedom we say,
    Not to doom or destruction,
    But for the future to fusion,
    For our lost harmony to gain.

    *Ogunlusi Ifefikayomi Oreoluwa:*
    Nigeria, thou art a great and blessed country among nations,​
    Nigeria, thou art full of visionary leaders and enthusiastic creations.​

    *Ovbokhan Okuonghae:*
    Nigeria; the depraved of the brave
    Nigeria; ace in prevarication graves.

    *Jacob Timothy. O:*
    Nigeria! Land of meek and Onions
    Onion leader, meek followers.

    *Adeife Victor:*
    Nigeria; the gold that rushed out of the quarry.
    Nigeria; the dwarf that declined growing fat with merry.

    *Owoeye Rebecca Odunayo*
    Nigeria a land where positions are struggled to attain
    One country, with various tribes contain.

    *Olawoye Boluwatife E.:*
    Nigeria; a domain where suffering masses enjoy crumb
    Nigeria; leaders in affluence aware plays dumb

    *Opaaje Alexander Damilola:*
    This promise land of many decades
    Let’s call the saints’ interventions for our aids

    *Adebobuyi philip (Philipology):*
    Nigeria; No! Dusk’s bells toll…
    Will we gauge those falling pillars
    Wouldn’t we bite our sandy fingers…?

    *Akinremi Damola*
    Our leaders must realize that the law for self-enrichment is not the key,
    But everyone’s enrichment is what should be the Will.

    About the poets and poetess

    *Buah Dansabe Kuni* is a young thriving writer who cries with the pen daily, aiming to amend the odds of the society. Studies English language at OAU.

    *Nwude Princess Ifeoma* is an  English language student of OAU. A poetess, Speechwriter and Public speaker.

    *Adekunle David* is a student at the department of English, OAU.

    *Owolabi Damilare* is the current General Secretary of Nasels-OAU chapter, a poet, and an oap at Greatfm 94.5.

    *Adeyemo E. Oluwatosin* is a budding tree of poetry, studies  literature in English at Obafemi Awolowo University.

    *Ruthie* is a 200l student of the Department of English, OAU. She’s an aesthete.

    *Akinfenwa Olaitan* is a 300level student of the Department of English, OAU. She’s a budding fine writer.

    *Popoola Faith Oluwabusayomi*
    Is a student of English in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife who fall for writing.

    *Ogunlusi Ifefikayomi Oreoluwa* is a student of Department of English, OAU.  A blogger, a poet and a PR.

    *Ovbokhan Okuonghae* is a final year student of mass communication, University of Benin. A poet and inspirational speaker.

    *Jacob Timothy o.* is a student of history department, 300 level obafemi Awolowo university ile-ife, osun state.

    *Adeife Victor* is a graduate of mechanical engineering. He’s a writer, graphics and engineering designer.

    *Owoeye Rebecca Odunayo*
    is a student of Department of English, OAU. A writer, a poet and a speaker

    *Olawoye Boluwatife.E.* He is a student of the department of English *OAUIFE.*A poet.

    *Opaaje Alexander Damilola* is a student in English department, OAU. He’s well known for his literary prowess in literature for being a poet and an orator.

    *Adebobuyi philip (Philipology)*
    is a student of the department of Linguistics and African languages, Oau. A poet,a political analyst and a publicist.

    *Akinremi Damola* is a student of Obafemi Awolowo University,
    Department of philosophy and his a poet.

  • Ekiti Assembly hails deputy governor on elevation to Prof. at OAU

    The Ekiti State House of Assembly yestrday congratulated Deputy Governor Kolapo Olusola on his elevation to a professor.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olusola was last week appointed a professor in Building Technology by the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) at Ile-Ife in Osun State.

    The appointment was backdated to 2012.

    He had been a lecturer for 20 years before venturing into partisan politics and was, subsequently, made deputy governor of Ekiti State.

    In a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Stephen Gbadamosi, Speaker Kola Oluwawole Oluwawole described the honour as well-deserved.

    He thanked God for making Olusaola reach the zenith of his academic career.

  • OAU seeks solutions to national problems

    OAU seeks solutions to national problems

    Eminent jurists and other legal luminaries converged on the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife at a four  day  national conference organised as part of activities marking its 55th anniversary.Legal Editor, JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU reports

    Eminent jurists and other legal luminaries converged on the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife,  to proffer solutions to various problems, cutting across disciplines, confronting the country.

    Participants at the four-day  national conference organised by the Faculty of Law of OAU urged all hands to be on deck in seeking solutions to  the country’s problems.

    The Law Moot Court  was organised as part of activities to mark the  55th  anniversary of the Faculty.

    The theme of the conference  was “ “Law and socio-economic change in Nigeria: Issues, contexts and perspectives.”  It had several sub-themes that affect almost all aspects of our national life.

    It had participants from  various disciplines and professional groups in the country.

    The Dean of the faculty, Prof.  Demola  Popoola, said  the challenges that law is facing cannot be meaningfully addressed with the instrumentality of  law alone.

    He said this was why the faculty invited historians, social scientists, economists, and even accountants to give perspectives on the theme of the lecture and because it believed that the problem that faces any society could hardly be resolved through the instrumentality of just one discipline.

    “Now, that is apart from the fact that knowledge itself is holistic and it is for convenience sake that they are actually demarcated into convenient beats.  Even the dichotomy between the sciences and the humanities had not always been there. The sciences actually broke away from philosophy, physics itself used to be called natural philosophy.  Up till now, you find that there is increasing move to humanise the sciences just as we also trying to inject scientific methods into the humanities.

    “ Now law cannot escape from this and that is why we took a decision that the theme of the conference and the conference itself is going to be interdisciplinary in conception and that is the only way that we can actually underscore our relevance in the present state of social and economic anomaly that the nation is going through’’.

    On the performance of the university graduates in the country, Popoola said: “We have  Senior Advocates of Nigeria in the civil service, in the corporate world, in actual practice of law. Our products are recurring decimals and  they are doing us proud everywhere. Each batch has been particularly encouraging and that is what has been sustaining the current generation of our lecturers.

    “We thank God for what we have been able to achieve, we might not,  like other institutions be where we actually would have  like to  be,  but I think that in terms of our products, their  quality and so on, we can beat our chest and give all glory to God for all the landmark achievements  we had recorded as I said in the judiciary”, he said.

    Chairman of the conference Planning Committee, Prof. Babafemi Odunsi, said: “ The Faculty of Law and OAU are committed to important developments at national and international levels, and ever set to make inputs as considered apposite.

    “This is what informed the theme of this particular conference. As we all know- with recession, inflation, increasing rates of poverty, widening gaps between rich and poor, disillusionment with political leaderships  and so on, Nigeria is faced with fundamental and confounding socio-economic issues.

    “It is our hope as organisers that this conference will offer meaningful contributions to the discourse on how Nigeria can effectively combat the socio-economic challenges, particularly with the mechanism of Law” Prof. Odunsi said.

    The university Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, represented by the Deputy provost of the Postgraduate School, Prof. Yetunde Ajibade,  who traced the establishment of the faculty to the late Lord Denning, noted that it was one of the fruits of the committees set up for  the establishment of Faculty of Law in the then University of Ife, when it took off in October 1962.

    “Since then the Faculty, which is today fondly referred to by both the students and alumni as‘Ifelaw’, has grown in leaps and bounds, increasing the fortunes of the university, while also earning for itself a very distinguished record for the quality of its Law graduates. The Faculty has produced some of the most brilliant Lawyers in Nigeria’s 55 years of Legal Education, who are today not only the leading lights of the bar and the bench, but proudly sits at the top echelon of both.

    “The enviable position of the Faculty has however not come without some sacrifices. On this note, I must salute the industry and doggedness of the successive deans of the Faculty who have left no stone unturned in ensuring that the Faculty remained the toast of most Secondary School leavers desirous of becoming Lawyers in Nigeria. In equal measure, let me also commend the resilience and  commitment of all members of staff of the Faculty, who have ensured over the years that Ifelaw, remained a worthy brand.

    Chairman of the occasion, Prof. J. O. Fabunmi said that there are infrastructural decay, crisis in energy, health, education, and transportation sectors impunity by pubic officers and endemic corruption in the system, adding that all these vitiating factors are almost rendering the economy comatose.

    “To redirect the country to the path of growth and sustainability Muhammadu Buhari on being sworn in as president of Nigeria in May 2015, adopted a policy of change with the slogan of change begins with me. The message is that Nigerians should change from their old ways of doing things to a new way of transparency, accountability and faithfulness. The vigorous pursuit of this policy has gradually changed the perception of the world that Nigeria is one of the most corrupt nations.

    ‘’In this connection we must appreciate the strong determination of the present administration to stamp out corruption and other malpractices in the system and the efforts of agencies of government such as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), the Independent Corrupt and other Related offences Commission (ICPC), the Department of State Services (DSS)

    ‘’The theme of the conference tallies with the government policy of change. The theme is divided into 17 sub themes covering wide area of human endeavours. I expect a critical analysis, discursion and evaluation of there sub- themes indicating where we were, where we are and where we are going.

    “A case in point is that of Magu, the Acting Chairman of EFCC.

    “ The Senate has passed a resolution that unless Magu is removed from office, it will not consider any nominee for appointment submitted to it by the president. Another case in point is the controversy over the 2017 Budget which remains unabated,” Fabunmi said.

    The key note speaker, Prof. Omotoye Olorode said: “Clearly, the character and the central economic, political and social interest of the  ruling class have not changed in any fundamental way since independence.

    “Opportunities for social transformation in favour of the large majority of the people have always been there. Some of these opportunities have accrued to the masses of the Nigerian people only incidentally as part of social engineering strategies of the Nigerian ruling class. Needless to say, the ruling class has continually reproduced, the ideology of imperialism and the class had became entrenched between 1978 or so and today.

    The ruling class under military and civilian dispensations has superintended a state where state apparati had been used largely to entrench its hegemony  at the expence of national development and of socio-economic advancement  of the large majority of the people. Laws and policies, serve the state that they control inspite of the efforts of legal activists on the Bar and Bench to use it to serve the cause of the people. Some of the gains which the mass of the people have made, from the incidental transformations and a whole lot of the mitigation of negative consequences of the transformations have also been made possible by the political action of lawyers and judges and of other fractions of civil society who are committed to building a peoples’ state and establishing a peoples’ jurisprudence.

    “Let me conclude by paying fulsome tribute to members of the Nigerian Bar and the Bench,  living and dead, young and old, who have courageously struggled to understand the material base of law in society, to humanise law and use it to defend our people. In particular, I will like to dedicate this lecture to those of them that have directly touched our lives during our agitations for human dignity and for a better society but who have passed on. I will like to mention in particular late Justice Rosaline Omotoso, the late Comrade AlaoAka-Bashorun and the late Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehnmi ( SAN) and  Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM). I will also like to acknowledge the courage and the sacrifices of my young (lawyer) friends and comrades who were always been with us in the trenches and who continue to promote law on the side of our people”

    Former Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami (PCA) said: “It is on record that the faculty pioneered law reporting in Nigerian universities when in the 70s it started the erstwhile, very rich and popular University of Ife Law Report (U.I.L.R).

    “Not only did  it report decisions of the courts of record in the country,  but also embarked on reporting retrospectively important decisions of the high court and the appellate courts which hitherto remained unreported. This unique venture by the faculty opened a new frontier which considerably eased law practice because it produced law reports at a very reasonable and affordable price. It also ended the spring of surprise which influential or prominent legal practitioners who had access to unreported judgments of courts, especially Federal Supreme Court and West African Court of Appeal, on both the court and opposing counsel,” Salami said.

    Mr. George Etomi, whose goodwill massage was read by the Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof. Dejio Adekunle (SAN), said: “As a lawyer who has advised local and international clients on many of the areas captured by this sub-themes of this conference and privileged to have a grasp of their importance to the national economy, it gives me joy to know that this prestigious Faculty is living up to its responsibility by leading discussions on these subject areas which are of national significance.

    “ If Nigeria must achieve its economic potential, we not only need to have the befitting regulatory framework for agriculture, aviation, banking and finance, capital markets, and intellectual property just to mention a few, we also need to have knowledgeable lawyers who can advise on the application of the respective legal framework, taking our social realities into context. We will need those lawyers as advisers in government, business corporations, law firms and even on the bench but there is no better place to begin to train them than in the university. As the 1 sixth President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, once said: “The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.

    To enable them excel, he urged law students and  young lawyers to acquire as much knowledge as possible of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)  and other international bodies, the provision of cross-border legal services is increasingly a global phenomenon. With time, more lawyers from outside this jurisdiction will be able to provide their services to governments and businesses in Nigeria just as much as Nigerian lawyers will be able to advise clients in other jurisdictions. Knowledge is a critical factor in competing on a global stage. We must therefore prepare for this reality and equip ourselves accordingly, particularly paying attention to our law students and young lawyers.

    “I have been impressed by reports of the successes recorded by OAU Law students at many international competitions on Arbitration, Human Rights, Space Law and Taxation among others and I must urge as many of us who can to lend our hand of fellowship to the Faculty to sustain such achievements.

  • Nigeria’s first Institute of Advanced Studies begins operation in OAU

    Nigeria’s first Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS), will begin operation this month at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State.

    He said IAS Fellows will have “access to the highest level of professional expertise, mentorship, and resources, essential for success in an increasingly competitive global academic arena.”.

    A statement by Prof. Jacob K. Olupona, who is championing the institute, has said.

    He said the inaugural event of the IAS is expected to be opened by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo with the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Temitope Ogunbodede as the chief host

    Olupona, who is a professor of African Religious Traditions, Harvard Divinity School, and Professor of African and African American Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, also of Harvard University, said “the major focus of the pioneering institute is mentorship within the academic community

    He said the IAS  “will offer postdoctoral programmes that will provide a new generation of scholars with the skills and resources necessary to effectively respond to the pressing demands of our rapidly changing higher educational system.”

    He added: “Through a rigorous curriculum and with the dedicated support of distinguished scholars from leading African and Western universities, IAS will train its Fellows to become excellent university teachers, researchers, scholars, and public policy analysts who will effectively engage discussions on the challenges confronting our contemporary society in a globalized world.”

    ”The first activity of the IAS will coincide with its inauguration on July 24, 2017 when it will host a two-week residential summer seminar at Obafemi Awolowo University for pre-doctorate and recent post-doctorate students.

    “The seminar will be a first-rate non-degree advanced level programme. The goal of this seminar, in keeping with the best academic traditions around the world, is to provide the IAS Fellows with critical training in theoretical and methodological approaches in their respective disciplines, as well as practical professional skills essential for success in the academy, such as information technology, writing and publishing in peer reviewed journals and presses, mentoring and networking, curriculum development, field work and archival research and entrepreneurship.”

    He said the seminar discussions and workshops will be run by scholars from the pool of the highly distinguished international academics who will continue to serve as mentors and supervisors to IAS Fellows after the conclusion of the summer seminar.

    He said: “The institute will also serve as a venue for young scholars to enroll in a year-long programme during which they will receive specialized training that will allow them to turn their doctoral dissertation manuscripts into high quality publishable materials, such as peer-reviewed journal articles and academic books,” he added.

    The Harvard lecturer had established the Olupona Foundation for Education, Equality and Peace in memory of his parents, Venerable Archdeacon and Mrs. Olupona, dedicated members of their community in Ondo State,  who were deeply committed to educational advancement and religious dialogue and reconciliation in Nigeria.

     

  • Advanced Institute takes off in OAU

    The Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) will take off this month at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, it was announced at the weekend.

    The Institute, which is a brainchild of Prof. Jacob K. Olupona, is Nigeria’s first.

    Olupona is a professor of African Religious Traditions, Harvard Divinity School, and Professor of African and African American Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University.

    According to his statement, the IAS “will offer postdoctoral programmes that will provide a new generation of scholars with the skills and resources necessary to effectively respond to the pressing demands of our rapidly changing higher educational system.”

    He added that “through a rigorous curriculum and with the dedicated support of distinguished scholars from leading African and Western universities, IAS will train its Fellows to become excellent university teachers, researchers, scholars, and public policy analysts who will effectively engage discussions on the challenges confronting our contemporary society in a globalized world.”

    The major focus of this pioneering institute is mentorship within the academic community, Prof. Olupona explained.

    The first activity of the IAS will coincide with its inauguration on July 24 when it will host a two-week residential summer seminar at Obafemi Awolowo University for pre-doctorate and recent post-doctorate students.

    “The seminar will be a first-rate non-degree advanced level programme,” he said.

    “The goal of this seminar, in keeping with the best academic traditions around the world, is to provide the IAS Fellows with critical training in theoretical and methodological approaches in their respective disciplines, as well as practical professional skills essential for success in the academy, such as information technology, writing and publishing in peer reviewed journals and presses, mentoring and networking, curriculum development, field work and archival research and entrepreneurship.”

    Prof. Olupona said that seminar discussions and workshops will be run by scholars from the pool of the highly distinguished international academics who will continue to serve as mentors and supervisors to IAS Fellows after the conclusion of the summer seminar.

    ”The institute will also serve as a venue for young scholars to enroll in a year-long programme during which they will receive specialized training that will allow them to turn their doctoral dissertation manuscripts into high quality publishable materials, such as peer-reviewed journal articles and academic books,” he said.

    The inaugural event of the IAS is expected to be opened by the

    Acting President Yemi Osibajo is expected to be at the inaugural event to be hosted by OAU Vice Chancellor Prof. Temitope Ogunbodede.

  • ‘I want to enable faster diagnosis for tuberculosis patient without any prick’

    ‘I want to enable faster diagnosis for tuberculosis patient without any prick’

    Dr Olanisun Olufemi Adewole, a Pulmonologist/consultant Pulmonologist at OAUTHC, and Associate Professor of Medicine at OAU, Ile-Ife was recently named as one of the ten nominees for the Innovation Prize for Africa.

    His project is a Sweat TB Test, A non-invasive rapid skin test to detect Tuberculosis Sweat TB Test. In this interview, Dr Adewole gives an insight on his innovation and how to encourage innovation in the continent

     

    Congratulations on being selected as one of the 10 nominees for Innovation Prize for Africa 2017. Were you expecting the nomination?

    Thank you. It was a rigorous process and if you have not been to someone else’s farm, you are likely to think your family farm is the biggest. Anyway, I was optimistic believing that something good will happen.

    –What informed the project you submitted for consideration?

    This is what I have been working on for some time. It relates to my daily experience with patients and their care givers. This is to ensure prompt diagnosis and reduce burden associated with seeking care.

    –What do you think gave you an edge to be among the top ten finalists against numerous other applicants for the prize?

    Well. I think many factors may be involved. The magnitude of the problem the innovation addresses, the out-of-the box approach; also the science behind it. I also think the likely impact of the innovation is another factor. Overall, I think Heaven smiled on it.

    –In what particular way do you think your entry will contribute to addressing challenges in the continent?

    This work will enable faster diagnosis for tuberculosis patient without any prick. It is a low cost intervention that can be deployed at all levels of health especially in rural centers to support TB control programs as it is presently. And of course it will enable and serve as encouragement to local scientists to develop home grown and patient-centered solutions.

    –What challenges did you have to cope with before coming up with your solution?

    It was the usual issue of scientific process. This involve many attempts before you finally reaches Eureka!

    Adapting available tools to make it suit our goal is another. But I want to state that the University and the teaching hospital were supportive, So, I’ll like to appreciate the management of the OAU and OAUTHC and my immediate boss for their support.

    –What will be required for your project be easily accessible to those who need to use it?

    To achieve that; there’ll be a need to do a lot of marketing and distribution. The awareness will need to be created, and recognizing the role of regulators is also important. It is a low cost device so anyone can afford it and use it. It is a pan African solution, so scale up will start from Nigeria and gradually expand to other African countries. So we will need to leverage on existing health platforms.

    –What is your advice to aspiring innovators in the country?

    First, the whole reason for innovation must not be missed out. It is about creating a significant and positive change. So aspiring innovators must reflect the change they desire in all aspects of their life.  They must be changed to be a change agent. They will need to build and develop their competencies and skills through all possible means within their reach. They must also seek to be individuals with integrity. It is character that will sustain anyone. It is important for them to also network and stand on the shoulders of giants, if they want to see far. Knowledge and wisdom come from God, so I will encourage them to seek God who is the ultimate source.

    –What can the government and private sectors do to provide an enabling environment for more innovation and utilization of the new ideas?

    Let me just say that government should make it easier for innovative ideas to thrive and grow in Nigeria. Government should patronize local innovations. I also think private companies and wealthy individuals should become social/angel investors that will provide support for startup innovators.

    –How do you intend to utilize the prize money if you are among the top three winners?

    The prize money will be used to spin it out of the laboratory and university. It will be used to produce the device in large quantities in order to scale up and for further research and development so that we could roll out the second generation device. Some amount will also go into training and building capacity.

    –Tell us more about your background and what you have had to do to come up with this innovative project

    I am a Pulmonologist/consultant Pulmonologist at OAUTHC, and Associate Professor of Medicine at OAU, Ile-Ife. I had my basic medical degree from the University of Ibadan, where I graduated with MBBS degree in 1997. I did my internship at University College Hospital, Ibadan before proceeding for my NYSC in Kogi State and was awarded a State commendation award for excellent performance. I completed my postgraduate medical training in Internal Medicine and was awarded the Fellowship of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in 2005. I have been working as a consultant/Lecturer at OAUTHC/OAU since 2007.

    I’ve had opportunities to travel to UK, US and other parts of the world for training. I’ve grown in my career and broadened my horizon through travel and research grants. The   innovation is a product of one of the research grants.

    I’m happily married to Temitayo and blessed with wonderful children.

    -Any other thing you think we should know about your project?

    None at the moment, other than to thank the Africa Innovation Foundation for supporting and inspiring innovators in Africa with this notable initiative.

     

  • Prof. Elujoba: OAU students force judge to reverse remand order

    Prof. Elujoba: OAU students force judge to reverse remand order

    Students and workers of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on Tuesday forced a judge at the Osun State High Court, Ede, Justice Oladimeji David, to reverse his earlier order remanding the ex -Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, in Ilesha prison.

    The reversal came after the students and workers protested the judge’s ruling and locked the courtroom.

    They also prevented the judge and other officials from leaving the court premises.

    This continued until the judge ordered that the former vice chancellor should be sent to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) custody as demanded by the protesting group.

    Justice David also rescheduled the case from July 19 to July 14.

    Members of the institution’s Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) were more vocal in their protest as one of its members broke an egg on the court’s exit to prevent the judge and others from leaving the courtroom when they heard that the ex-vice chancellor should be kept at Ilesha prison.

    Some OAU students and workers also broke the court’s gate to forcefully remove Prof. Elujoba from the scene, but he refused to leave the place, saying “he will not go against the court order.”

    Prof. Elujoba and the university’s bursar, Mrs. Josephine Akeredolu, are standing trial for alleged misappropriation of N1.4 billion.

     

  • Dike takes Poetry to OAU

    Dike takes Poetry to OAU

    Amidst recent ethnic strife and calls for dissolution of the country, ace Nigerian Performance Poet, Dike Chukwumerije, has called for unity in Nigeria

    Speaking ahead of his next “Made in Nigeria” performance poetry show slated to hold at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife on July 29, 2017, Dike described the calls as unwarranted because the average Nigerian today is a product of shared experiences drawn from multiple sections of the country and the uniqueness of the character of the Nigerian is a result of his/her interactions with other Nigerians over time.

    “Call me what you will, but Nigeria is my mother,” Chukwumerije said.

    “She is responsible for it all. If I amaze you with this ability to constantly pull light out of darkness, to combat recession with a heady mixture of kokoma and gyration, to climb out of any pit you throw me into, and instantly become recognizable anywhere I go, it is also because of this, that I was shaped by her contradictions and forged in the fierce furnace of her womb, so that somewhere on my soul, burned into its very essence, is a stamp no adversity or hate-filled speech will ever erase… And it reads, simply: ‘MADE IN NIGERIA’.”

    He was quick to point out that these do not mean that there aren’t conflicts or misrepresentations but that these should always be seen for what they are – the exceptions and not the norm.

    “Remember that for every recording of two people talking xenophobia, there are hundreds of conversations, up and down the country, about tolerance that no one ever records and sends around on Whatsapp. This urge to inherit the fights of our ancestors is the greatest abdication of responsibility possible. For they lived their lives. Shall we not live ours?”

    The ‘Made in Nigeria’ Performance Poetry production is a 120-minute long linked series of poems telling of Nigeria history from amalgamation to the present day, projecting the uniqueness of the Nigerian experience, and conveyed through a mix of comedy, music, dance and drama. It has been performed before thousands from Abuja, Lagos, Enugu and Benin over the last 10 months.