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Tag: Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)

  • Latter Day Saints renovate theatre, donate surgery machines to OAU

    TWO surgery machines – Anaesthetic and Suction germane to the performance of complex surgeries in the theatre- have been donated to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Health Centre, Ile Ife, Osun State.

    The medical equipment received by the school management was donated by Latter -Day Saints Charities (LDS), the humanitarian arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints to support health care delivery in the university community.

    Speaking during the commissioning of the renovated clinic theatre and the donated items, OAU Vice Chancellor Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede reiterated the needs for well- meaning Nigerians to support development in ways they can.

    Appreciating the body for continued support of the institution, he noted the gesture and those of other corporate bodies is advancing development drive for the institution.

    Ogunbodede said: “This is not the first time the church is assisting the university. This time, however they also renovated a section of the health centre.”

    He noted that in recent time, the body has supported the centre with provision of borehole, donation of wheel chairs and refrigerator.

    These gestures, he noted would go a long way in enhancing the function of the health centre.

    Read Also: ARCON advises OAU on architecture

    “Health is so important that every minute counts. If a patient is brought to the medical centre and no serious attention given, within one second such a patient can be lost.

    “As a medical person I know what it means to have these machines and we appreciate the infectious action of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints.”

    Deputy VC and Chairman of the Health Centre Management Board, Professor Chris Ajila thanked the group for donating equipment he termed worthwhile.

    He admonished the medical staff to ensure thorough maintenance of the equipment.

    The church delegation led by President Joseph Uba, the Stake President of Ile-Ife, expressed said the gestures were the church’s acts of service to humanity prompted by love.

    Advocating also for proper maintenance for the equipment, he added that the members of the church are joyful supporting humanity with provision of necessities in obedience to the dictates of Jesus Christ.

    Area Welfare Specialist of Latter-Day Saints Charities (LDS), Chidi Ibeakuzie, explained their gesture is not politically minded.

    He pointed the church is doing lots of health and water projects across the country motivated by love and commitment to the good of humanity.

    He added in six- month time, the group will come for routine inspection of donated items and will find ways to scale up project in the institution if satisfied with findings.

    “We like to partner with people to do humanitarian projects. We are mainly concerned with the actual needs, not wants of the people.

    ‘’In Osun State and its surrounding, we have done lots of water and medical motivated projects,” he expressed.

  • Medical officer advises youths to donate blood to reduce stress, heart diseases

    Mr Awe Adegoke, a  medical officer  from the Department of  Dermatology , Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU) , Ile Ife, Osun, has advised youths  in particular and the general public to always  donate blood to save lives.

    Adegoke  said that blood donation was voluntary in a press statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday.

    The medical personnel added,  “If you donate blood, you are giving life to someone in need of it. There is no substitute for human blood as scientists are yet to discover that.”

    The statement said that he spoke at a programme tagged  ” Walk for Life” organised by the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria ( CYON) from Ile- Ife.

    It was organised   to sensitise the public on the dangers inherent in  social vices  such as  committing suicide, abortion, drug abuse,and  premarital sex.

     

     

    Adegoke said  ” Adults between the ages of 18years and  65 years  and anyone who weighs at least 50kg and is in good health can give blood.

    “The only exception to this are  pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.”

    He  said that  by donating blood, the donor would be reducing stress , improving their  emotional well-being and also helped them to  reduce heart diseases.

    “Donors may experience dizziness, nausea and pain after the exercise. Donors need to drink more water,   eat healthy foods and avoid strenuous activities.”

    NAN also  reports that the walk  by the youth  started from SS Peter & Paul Catholic Pro-cathedral,  Lagere , and ended at SS John & Paul Catholic Church,  Oranfe.

    They displayed cardboards with such inscriptions  as : “Life is Precious!”,  “We are Pro-lifers! “, “Say no to Suicide! Say No to Abortion!”, ” Stay Alive! Live! Say No to Drug Abuse!”, ” Say No to Premarital Sex!” while walking around the community.

    The Parish Priest of SS Peter & Paul Catholic Pro-cathedral, Rev Fr Paul Akinyode,  said that not everyone would take heed to their campaign but all that mattered was  the teachings and the stand of church.

    “When you walk for life, you truly stand for life. Things happening in our world today are disheartening, the use of drugs is rampant to the extent that when a person is taking soft drink, , you can’t really be sure that its an ordinary drink.

    “What we are saying with our mouths,  let us live with our lives. We can’t say we believe in life and keep working against life,” Akinyode said.

    He advised that young people should be brought back to God, and enlightened youths on the  need to use their mobile phones to always spread the truth.

    Also  the Parish Priest of SS John & Paul Catholic Church,  Oranfe and the Parish Pastoral Council chairman ,  Rev Fr David Olaniyi and Sir Sam Umukoro ,  who welcomed the youth to the parish.

    Fr Olaniyi  advised them not to do things that were against the purpose of God in their lives..

    Olaniyi admonished the youth to always think about the spiritual aspect of everything they did and not just the physical.

  • ‘Enforcing the study of indigenous languages will save them from extinction’

    Stakeholders have advocated the compulsory study of indigenous Nigerian languages to ensure the continuity of the African, nay Nigerian culture and traditions.

    A former Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Wande Abimbola (Awise Agbaye), reiterated the need for indigenous languages to be the accepted medium of communication, especially in schools.

    The professor of Literature spoke at the annual lecture of the Department of Linguistics, African and Asian Studies (LAAS), University of Lagos (UNILAG). The lecture was titled: “Yoruba Studies in Nigeria before and after the death of Adeboye Abimbola”.

    Prof. Abimbola, who lamented that indigenous Nigerian languages are dying off because of neglect, stressed that it is the work of everyone to ensure a new rebirth for African languages.

    He said: “Our mother tongues are dying off because of neglect; we are all responsible for the decline and eclipse of African languages, and this should not be the case. We all should work to ensure there is a new rebirth for African languages.

    Read Also: Heralding Save Nigerian Indigenous Languages

    “The work is more than what academicians or government alone can do. We can only lay the blueprint, but every home should inculcate the habit of communicating in our indigenous languages.

    “This rebirth should also start from schools, especially the nursery schools. There should be a law that all nursery schools must teach Nigerian languages; the children must sing in our languages. Our languages should be used at all levels of education; it should be the medium for learning and communication. It is only on the African continent that somebody studies in school through the medium of someone else’s language; that does not happen anywhere else on the earth. That is one of the vestiges of colonialism which we should change.”

    The Head of Department, Prof. Iwu Ikwubuzo, noted that the language is the people’s identity, without which the people will be lost.

    He said: “Our language is the first dialect, our mother tongue, while English Language is the second tongue. We should be proud of our language by speaking it, even in the Diaspora; we owe it a duty to make our indigenous languages the medium of expression in our families because if we lose our language, we lose our identity. Language is our culture and we must not allow it die.”

    The Prof. of Igbo Studies noted that the lecture was to honour the late Emeritus Prof. Adeboye Babalola who established the department, introduced and promoted the study of indigenous Nigerian languages, literatures and culture.

    He added: “This lecture is to honour the one who established the department, introduced and promoted the study of indigenous Nigerian languages, ensuring that the languages, literatures and culture grow. Today is great for the department because the lecture is to appreciate him for his great contribution. The late Emeritus Prof. Babalola was broad-minded, and his vision to promote and project Nigerian languages and literatures went beyond the Yoruba language and culture to other ethnic groups. He projected other Nigerian languages because I am a product of the department and my major is Igbo Studies.”

    The late Emeritus Prof. Babalola was a student of Igbobi College, Lagos, and became the first African principal in 1958. He wrote the lyrics and composed the school’s anthem. He was also the first lecturer in the Department of Yoruba at UNILAG.

  • Morale low after OAU don’s kidnap, says ASUU

    The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ife chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has said the abduction and release of its lecturer, Prof Oladitan Adegbehingbe, by gunmen has affected the morale of workers.

    The union said the fear of re-occurrence of the incident had destroyed academic, teaching and research activities in the university.

    Addressing a press conference in Ife, the chairman of the union, Dr Adeola Egbedokun, disclosed that the union had met to deliberate on the “unfortunate incident,” saying interaction with Adegbehingbe and his wife, Bernice, revealed that the kidnappers identified as Fulani herdsmen collected ransom from the victim’s family.

    He called on relevant security agencies to come to the aid of members of the OAU academic community, including lecturers and students, which he said are now living in fear following the incident.

    Observing that kidnapping was not new in Nigeria, he said its “upsurge and gradual incursion into Osun known to be among most peaceful states,” was worrisome.

    Read Also: Gunmen release OAU professor

    He said the spate of crime across the country should be of concern to governors as chief security officers of their states, the police, traditional rulers, among others.

    He, therefore, charged relevant authorities to intensify efforts in fighting insecurity in all parts of the federation.

    “We advise members of the public and the OAU community to be security conscious and report cases of crime to the law enforcement agencies without delay. Security issue is now everyone’s business since we don’t know the next victim of this heinous crime,” he concluded.

     

  • 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

     

     

  • Pollution: OAU says water from dam safe

    The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has assured members of the institution and other stakeholders of the safety of water from its dam.

    A statement issued on Monday in Ile-Ife by the institution’s  Registrar, Mrs M.I Omosule, said suspected land grabbers  had polluted the dam with chemicals which led to the death of several fishes and other aquatic animals.

    According to her, the university community was lucky as the pollution was at the lower level of the dam.

    She said that inspite of this, all necessary steps had been taken  to ensure  the safety of the water and the health of the public.

    Read Also: OAU sex-for-mark jailed six years

    Omosule stressed that thorough assessment of the situation was immediately undertaken

    She stated that the pumping of water was only resumed after necessary and satisfactory steps had been taken so as to confirm and ensure the safety of the discharge from the waterworks.

    The registrar enjoined members of the  university community to go about their normal activities without any fear of poisoning, molestation or attack.

    She also said that the issue had been reported to the police and other law enforcement agencies.

    NAN

  • Awosika challenges youths on self-reliance

    Chairman, Board of Directors of First Bank Plc. Mrs Ibukun Awosika,  has urged Nigerian youths to be self-reliant and be optimistic in overcoming challenges of life.

    She made the call at a workshop organised by the bank for students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on Friday in Ile-Ife, Osun.

    While narrating her life experiences and how she climbed the ladder of success, Awosika advised youths to be prepared to be champions in any given society they might find themselves.

    She said that “the struggle of man which begins at birth is a necessity for every individual to face.

    “Every human must be determined to weather the storm of life, if success is desired.

    “Students should think of what they can do for Nigeria, rather than wait for what Nigeria can do for them because the country is a land of opportunities, despite all odds.

    “Our students should not allow the challenges of the nation to dampen their morale, rather, they should see themselves as one of those who will impact positively on the nation.”

    According to her, when the society changes for the better, the outcome will result in emergence of good leaders who will take the nation to greater height.

    Read Also: FirstBank plans youth mentoring with Awosika

    The bank chairman, business magnate, author and motivational speaker said  “If every Nigerian is good, we won’t produce bad leaders” and urged the students to believe in themselves and be patriotic.

    She added that “every season is different in life and you can only succeed during your own season because it has its own time.

    “Ask yourselves as youths, how prepared are you to make your own impact during your season?.

    “You are accountable adults at this stage. Be old enough to discipline yourselves,” she counselled.

    Awosika also advised the students not to do what they wanted if left in an open ended setting, stressing that what they did would hunt them one day.

    NAN

  • Lecturer sends students out of class for not buying textbooks

    It was not a good morning for some students of the Faculty of Arts of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, last Monday. A lecturer taking a course titled Poetry in Yoruba Language (YOR 303) sent some 300-Level students out of the class for their failure to buy four textbooks.

    The lecturer, Dr Benard, of the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, barred defaulting students from attending her lecture because they could not afford to buy the selected textbooks of anthologies of Yoruba poetry, which cost N1,700.

    The lecturer’s action contravened a directive by the Federal Ministry of Education, barring teaching staff of public tertiary institutions from forcing students to buy textbooks and handouts.

    To punish the defaulters, Dr Benard conducted a continuous assessment test for a few students who bought the textbooks.

    The lecturer’s decision caused discontent among students, who queried the lecturer’s decision to bar them from attending the lecture.

    A student, who spoke under the anonymity condition for fear of being victimised, said: “There is need to educate Dr Benard that this is OAU, where lecturers don’t force students to buy books. Dr Benard is laying too much emphasis on those textbooks as if she authored them. The punishment is unfair to us, because we are not required to buy textbooks.”

    Another student, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Since I have been admitted into OAU, this is the first course I would see a lecturer sending students out of the class because of textbooks. I don’t understand, because I know OAU does not force students to buy reading materials or textbooks.”

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that Dr Benard, from the outset, promised to punish students who failed to buy the four textbooks.

    The fate of defaulting students could not be ascertained as at the time of filing in this report. There was no indication the lecturer would conduct a make-up test for the affected students.

     

  • OAU matriculates 8,158 students

    The Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU ), Ile-Ife, on Wednesday matriculated 8, 158 students and warned them against social vices.

    Prof. Eyitope Ogunnbodede, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, gave the charged, while addressing the students during the 2017/2018 academic session matriculation ceremony at the Oduduwa Amphitheatre of the university in Ile-Ife.

    Ogunnbodede urged the newly admitted students to desist from any anti-social behaviours capable of disrupting the smooth running of the university.

    According to him, the university has zero tolerance for cultism, examination malpractices, violent behaviours, flagrant disregard to constituted authority and sexual harassment.

    He said that the warning was imperative to safeguard their studentship and ensure successful academic career in the institution.

    “I will strongly advise that you steer clear from these deplorable behaviours and other similar vices in order to safeguard your studentship and ensure successful academic career,” he urged.

    Read Also: OAU has the best ICT Facility in the country – VC

    Ogunbodede appealed to all “freshers’’ to support the management for all hands be on deck and shun indiscipline in order to complete every session on scheduled.

    He observed that their admission to the university coincided with a period of near economic recession in the country, when funds were not readily available for constant provision of municipal services.

    He, however, assured them of the readiness of university authority to address issues affecting students as promptly as possible and give priority for the provision of essential needs.

    Ogunbodede advised them to combine academic excellence with culture of “omoluabi” in a challenging, competitive and diverse academic environment.

    “Omoluabi” is being ones brother’s keeper.

    He urged them to beware of their colleagues who would want to lure them to join bad groups.

    The matriculating students had undergone two weeks orientation to familiarise themselves with the university’s environment to enable them inculcate the ethics of the institution.

    NAN

  • OAU staffs react to closure of the varsity by the state

    Staffs of the Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU ) Ile Ife have reacted to the closure of the varsity gate and some strategic points by the officials of the Osun state revenue at the early hours of yesterday.

    One of the staff who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that both the Faborode and Bamitale Omole-led administrations are the cause of the problem the varsity is going through. The issue has been a carryover from Faborode’s administration.

    She further explained that the Bamitale Omole administration used its Technical varsity building project as an excuse for nonpayment. The building project is the primary reason why the deficit payment by the varsity to the state revenue service accumulated.

    Comrade Akinnibi, an Elder statesman of the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities, OAU Branch, said “the school should return what belongs to the Osun state Government even though the money has been in existence before the Ogunbodede led administration. They should return what they owe the state.”

    Another official of the varsity who pleaded anonymity said, “Ogunbodede is doing his best to make sure things work out well.”

    “All activities have been crippled because the keys to our different offices are all inside the Senate building which has been locked up by the Aregbesola-Led administration.

    “The school bursar should also be held responsible for the accumulation of debt by the school a source.”

    Attempts to get to the Vice Chancellor, Public Relations Officer and other officials to give additional clarifications and information proved abortive as their phone lines were not reachable.

    It can be recalled that the school senate building has been shut down by the Osun State Revenue Service over the debt of N1.8bn owed by the school.