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Tag: Obafemi Awolowo University

  • There should be changes in educational curricular – OAU VC

    There should be changes in educational curricular – OAU VC

    The Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU ) Ile Ife Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede has said that there should be a change in the Educational curricular of Nigeria.

    He made mention of this while giving an opening speech at the Faculty of Education interdisciplinary conference which was held at Ododuwa hall Ile Ife.

    He said, “I will implore the faculty of Education to resuscitate the part time program during the long break so that many people will be able to have proper educational knowledge”.

    Read Also: Four OAU students suspended  for criminal activities 

    While showing his dissatisfaction over the state of education in Nigeria he said “Many students do not have extra knowledge ,especially in management and that is making the government not to have any confidence in their graduates for employment”.

    “There should be a room for change in the curricular for education in Nigeria” he added.

  • Adeneye urges campus editors on developmental journalism

    Adeneye urges campus editors on developmental journalism

    Chief Dayo Adeneye, who was represented by Mr. Waheed Adeshina disclosed this during the convention of the National Association of Nigerian Campus Editors, NANCE at National Union of Journalists, NUJ Secretariat Hall, Oke Ilewo, Ile-Iweroyin, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Saturday, 7th of October 2017.

    He urged campus editors to work hard in their various institutions in order to represents all students with their pen.

    “Pen is indeed mightier than sword, you can make difference from school. Many of the mainstream media persons we have today started from school.”

    “Make sure you make impact with your pen. Don’t just criticise, recommend solution, the schools authorities need people like you and when they begin to make use of your recommendation, you have done impact journalism”, he said.

    Also at the event, Odunayo Adams, the head of gossip desk at Naij.com who delivered the keynote on the topic: “Open Source Journalism and New Media” said that the social media platforms are enough tools for new media.

    “With social media platforms, you can get all your sources. The things needed for you as a journalist is to fact check. Don’t just use your social media platforms for uploading of pictures”, she advised.

    Also, as the tenure of Lukmon Fasasi, from Obafemi Awolowo University ended on Saturday, NANCE, the umbrella body of campus editors across the country held transition process which ushered new executives with Omole Isaac from Obafemi Awolowo University, as the new President, Tomori Uriel from University of Ilorin emerged the Vice President, Jonathan Oladimeji from Ogun State Institute of Technology emerged as the General Secretary, Adejumo Kabir also from Obafemi Awolowo University was elected as the Public Relations Officer, Aladelusi Oluwatosin from Federal School of Statistics emerged Regional Head, Hamid Fatteh also from Federal School of Statistics became the Financial Secretary and Atoyosoye Abigail from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic emerged as Treasurer.

    However, Mr Bakene Nurain, the Public Relations Officer of Tai Solarin University of Education admonished the new executives to work towards making the association better.

    “I congratulate the new executives and I urge them to leave the association better than they met it next year by the time they as giving account of stewardship next.”

  • Students unhappy over state of the nation

    Students unhappy over state of the nation

    The Student Union Government of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife has shown displeasure of the state of nation even despite the celebration of Independence.

    This was contained in a Public Statement obtained by The Nation, signed by the Public Relation Officer Okediji Simon and the President  which reads, ” Obafemi Awolowo University Students’ Union uses this medium to congratulate all Nigerians, at home and in diaspora, on the independence anniversary of our dear country.

    Today, it is importance that we all engage in sober self-reflection and thorough introspection to judge the need for celebration or otherwise of this year’s independence anniversary of our fatherland.

    While it is obvious that our nation has nothing inspiring and rejuvenating to mark its increasing age on yearly basis, we believe that the voices of over thirty five thousands students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife as well as demands of Nigerian masses deserve a befitting amplification to register our displeasures and grievances to the Nigerian government and all well meaning international communities.

    Dear citizens of noble country, it is most unfortunate to note that after 57 years of independence from the solipsistic British colonial rule, we still taste from the bitter plagues of hunger, disease, illiteracy, poor economy, internal insurgency, terrorism, etc. Our nation has been ploughed into enormous debts, national embarrassment and global mockery as a result of bad governance and irresponsible leadership across all the three organs and tiers of government.

    Not to economise the truth, Nigeria is fast losing her relevance in the comity of nations due to a drastic fall in her economic strength; her inability to combat and overcome the protracted Boko Haram insurgency that had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in the North Eastern part of the country; lack of foresight and progressive mentality of most Nigerian politicians which are key to attaining economic growth and political advancement, and lastly; the failure of the government to put all the existing institutions to work towards the path of progress.

    From the foregoing, it cannot be gainsaid that our nation has suffered heavy blows of setbacks in politics, science and technology, commerce, innovation and invention.

    Nigerian government has totally disregarded the place of the youth in nation building through its open insouciance and insensitivity to their plights.

    Nigerian government has failed to understand that a nation that refuses to educate its youths is certainly toeing a path of social perdition, political doom and economic disaster.

    By choosing not to properly fund the education sector, the government is depriving the youth of the essential weapons required to fight oppression, selfish leadership regime and tyrannical tendency of the ruling class.

    Therefore, it is our duty as youths to take our destinies into our own hands.

    As we celebrate this year’s independence anniversary, the following are our demands to the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as the Management of Obafemi Awolowo University:

    1. That education should be properly funded in order to raise the current standard of Federal Government-owed institutions across the country

    2. That Federal Government should invest more of its energy in charting a new course of development in the country that will encourage massive and effective diversification of Nigerian economy

    3. That Nigeria Government should immediately revisit the recommendations of the last National Confab organized during Goodluck Jonathan-administration or fast track other means of engaging the public on important national discourses such as Restructuring, Devolution of Power, etc.

    4. That the Federal Government should sincerely combat insecurity in the Country as Nigerians are tired of constant vitriolic Boko Haram attacks, Fulani Herdsmen ambushes, Badoo Ritualistic killings, etc.

    5. That the Federal Government of Nigeria honours its agreements with all trade/professional unions that just suspended their nationwide strikes in order to ensure smooth running of our various institutions

    6. As a matter of fact, the Federal Government should consider more peaceful and diplomatic means of attending to IPOB agitation for balkanization of the Country rather can deploying the military to the zone when the situation hasn’t gone beyond the competence of the Nigerian Police Force

    7. We demand the Management of Obafemi Awolowo University to make learning and living condition of students on campus more conducive by building more lecture theatres, well-equipped laboratories and hostels

    8. We demand the University Management to ensure students have constant water and power supply

    9. We demand the University Management to constantly embark on cutting of grasses and clearing of bushes to guarantee a safer, and healthy living environment

    10. We demand the University Management to renovate all the existing halls of residence

    Finally, we encourage all Nigerians to keep their hopes alive. We should also bear in minds that all hands must be on deck to attain progress and greatness for our dear nation.

    Our Union can be strong again and our nation will definitely redeem her dented image in global scene only when we have a unity of purpose and untiring drive, fully devoted to promoting the cause of peace, development and progress.

    And in the end, our  nation will come of our this Stygian darkness.

  • OAU resumes October 1

    OAU resumes October 1

    The authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) , Ile-Ife have directed the students to resume the second semester academic programme on Sunday, 1st October, 2017.

    In a statement by its Public Relations Officer of OAU, Abiodun Olarewaju, the university 24th September earlier date have changed because of the parents’ call for repair of facilities in the hostels to make them conducive for students.

    According to the statement, students are to come into residence on Sunday, 1st October and resume academic activities  on Tuesday, 3rd October, 2017.

    The statement further said: “We also wish to encourage our students to make the semester ‘aluta free’ by shunning any act or utterance that is capable of igniting a situation that can truncate a smooth academic calendar for the second semester. We wish all our students a safe trip to the campus and a successful semester.”

  • Pointless policies

    Professor Juliana Taiwo Makinde provided information worth thinking about when she delivered the 307th Inaugural Lecture of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on September 12. She is “the first female Professor of Public Administration in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and also the first female Professor to give an Inaugural Lecture in the Department of Public Administration, OAU, Ile-Ife.” She focused on “Policy Somersaults, Poverty of Policy Implementation and Corruption: Obstacles to Development in Nigeria.”

    She showed “discontinuity in government policies as evidenced in the way First Ladies embarked on new programmes as soon as they come on board.” Her list: “The Better Life Programme” (BLP) was put in place in 1987 by the late Mrs. Mariam Babangida when her husband General Ibrahim Babangida was the Military President of Nigeria.  After her exit, the “Family Support Programme” (FSP) came into existence in 1994 after General Sani Abacha became the Head of State in November 1993.  After Mariam Abacha came Mrs. Fati Abubakar who initiated her own programme and suspended that of Mrs. Abacha.  Her own programme was named “Women’s Right Advancement and Protection Alternative” (WRAPA).  With the exit of Mrs. Abubakar, WRAPA metamorphosed into “Child Care Trust” (CCT) under the late Mrs. Stella Obasanjo.   The pet project of the wife of the successor of Obasanjo – Turai Yar’Adua was “Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation.” Dame Patience Jonathan also had her own pet project which she named “Women For Change Initiative” while the present First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has her own project called “Project Future Assured” (PFA).” She observed that the list “reflects discontinuity of programmes in Nigeria…Each First Lady, rather than continue with the predecessor’s programme, preferred to embark on a new one.”

    Makinde also listed “some somersaulted policies”: “They include policy on poverty alleviation, and policy on education.  Starting with policy on poverty alleviation, it is on record that since independence, many programmes, which include Operation Feed the Nation (OFN: 1979), the National Directorate of Employment (NDE: 1986), the Better Life Programme (BLP: 1987), People’s Bank (1989), Community Bank (1990), and the National Poverty Alleviation Programme (NAPEP 2001), had been established by various governments at one time or the other to tackle the problem of poverty and food insecurity.” Her conclusion: “In spite of all the above-mentioned programmes, poverty is still very visible among Nigerians.”

    This brings us to the pointlessness of policies that never get to the point. Makinde said: “Various studies have shown that most government policies have failed, at the implementation stage, to achieve the desired results.” Policy making without successful policy implementation amounts to daydreaming.

     

  • Patient needs N10m for renal transplant

    Miss Yomade Balogun, a 29-year-old graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has pleaded with good-spirited Nigerians to assist her to raise the sum of N10 million to enable her to undergo renal transplant in India.

    Balogun, who is a Sociology and Archaeology graduate  is billed for her second renal transplant in India,  according to a medical report dated August 30, 2017 and signed by Dr. A. A. Sonanya for the Head of Nephrology Unit.

    In a letter with reference number SUB/LASUTH/MED/2017/303, the report stated: “The above named is a known patient of our unit, who presented for the first time in April, 2017. She had a renal transplant done about two-and-a-half years ago in India prior to presentation.

    “She subsequently developed a failed renal allograft  and is now on maintenance haemodialysis (once a week).

    “She attends regular out-patient nephrology clinic and is currently being worked up for a repeat renal transplantation. Therefore, any assistance you can render will be most beneficial to the patient.”

    The mother, Mrs Sade Balogun,  a civil servant and a widow, appealed to Nigerians to assist her daughter in prayers and cash donations.

    “Yomade wants to live. She still has dreams and believes so much in what the future holds,  and if God has kept her till now,  then there is more to her life,” she said.

    Mrs Balogun, along with friends and well-wishers who initiated #Saveyomadeagain, gave her account details as Balogun Yomade, Diamond Bank: 0053729632 (Naira account); Balogun Yomade Diamond Bank: 0051136447 (Dollar account).

    For further enquiries, interested donors can contact the family on these phone numbers: 08130733723, 0816 170 4065 and 07036345534.

  • OAU 3.8million saga: How I was beaten, battered – VP

    OAU 3.8million saga: How I was beaten, battered – VP

    Recuperating Vice President of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Students Union, Miss Jacob Tosin Grace has given her own account of the violent clash at  the Central Executive Meeting of the Union on September 6th, 2017 during which she was alleged to have been involved in a fight with Social Director, Adedayo Emmanuel.

    Our correspondent who went to the Seventh Day hospital, Lagere where Grace is receiving treatment  met her in Ward four of the hospital, lying on the hospital bed with bruises on her face, breasts and supported with a Plaster of Paris.

    She said she has been avoiding the Student Union’s building due to the threats and harassments from several persons but decided to attend the meeting to discuss the money disbursed to the union.

    “A meeting was convened for members of the executive council and the meeting ought to hold by 5pm but didn’t start until 7pm and it held in the President’s office. Before the meeting, I had not been going to the Students’ Union Building because there have been threats against me- both sexual and oral from persons I do not want to specifically mention.

    “We discussed the N3.8 million subvention the management released to the union and the issues raised at the meeting were basically hinged on capital projects which I have been vehemently against. In fact, I was against the purchase of the bus bought by the Union president a while ago and I did release a statement dated 1st of May, 2017 condemning the act.”

    At the meeting several items on the agenda was discussed. Some of them bothered on construction of relaxation centre, construction of a staircase along the school’s Architecture studio-Alumni hall axis, and refurbishment of the union’s library. However, issues of the packages of the freshmen which were proposed at the rate of 1.4 million were rejected. Grace said since the Union President had failed to initially disburse funds for her concerning the freshers packages for the newly admitted students, she stood up and asked to be excused.

    “I was tired at the meeting because I had an exam that morning and fatigue was setting in. I wanted to take my leave but the Director of Socials, Adedayo Afolabi Emmanuel, (Lamba) stood at the door preventing me from going out. Lamba and I have not been talking for months and this is not unconnected to the alleged bus saga and plans by some executive council members to facilitate my suspension based on the flimsy allegations that I had plans to impeach the president.”

    “I pushed him out of the way telling him I wanted to leave; but he slapped me, beat me, hit me on the breasts, head-butted me, and tore my cloth. None out of the remaining six executive council members came to my rescue although the only person absent at the meeting was the Assistant Secretary General. They held me and my clothes were already torn. I was looking for an instrument of self-defense and somebody handed me a bottle.

    “I hit the bottle on the table, it didn’t break, I hit it on the floor and it did break. I picked up a piece of it to scare Lamba but the Union PRO, Okediji Simon collected the bottle from me and Lamba beat me again for the second time.”

    Grace who is still nursing several bruises from the wounds inflicted on her in the fight stated that no member of the executive was willing to help her or stop Adedayo Emmanuel from inflicting more injuries on her until the Speaker of the House rescued her.

    “The Welfare director left me and the remaining CEC members inside after I broke the bottle while the Union PRO, Zuma collected the broken bottle from me though I never planned on using it. I was shouting until the Speaker of the Parliament forced himself inside and took me out of the president’s office. I couldn’t support myself anymore and was getting unconscious, so I was rushed to the University Health centre.

    “On getting to the Health centre, I could not be attended to because I needed a security report. I ought to be transferred to OAU Teaching hospital but they couldn’t do that because their doctors were on strike, so I was rushed down here (Seventh day Adventist hospital) with an ambulance on Wednesday. I was taken to the casualty Ward at first, then I was moved to this Ward (Ward four). I had a scan done on my left shoulder, chest and the doctor told me that they would do a skull x-ray too,” She added.

    She said that the President and some others came to the hospital on Wednesday claiming they wanted to see her at all cost and when the doctors told them she needed rest, they threatened to make the hospitable ungovernable.

    Stating that  she still has pains on the throat, neck, breast, head and legs, she called for legal actions to be taken against Lamba and other union officials that watched him beat her being beaten.

    The Director of Socials while speaking with our correspondent on phone confirmed reports that they had a meeting on the 5th of September on what to use the backlog of N3.8m the school management released for.

    “We had a meeting on what to use it the backlog the management released for and different people came with different ideas although the three most important were picked. All executive council members were present at the meeting except for the Assistant Secretary-General (Siewen) who had travelled home. The VP was saying that we should give her a kind of amount for freshmen’s package, but we told her that freshmen’s packages can wait and that freshmen can collect their packages anytime. I too was angry too because my proposal was turned down. She was leaving and asked whether she would get the money or not and I blocked her when she was leaving and told her to calm down.”

    “Immediately, she shouted at me. She slapped me four times and she ordered me to leave her way. She was following me about. This got me angry. Before I could get another round of slaps; I choked her neck, held her cloth, but they separated us and when they separated us, she found a bottle. She hit it on the table, it didn’t break, she then smashed it on the floor, took the broken part and was charging towards me. I was close to the exit; I studied her, held her hands and we began to struggle. She wanted to stab me but ended up hurting me with the bottle. Blood came out of my hand and I head-butted her more than twice. ”

    The Speaker of the Union’s Parliament promised that the parliament would take action as regards the matter; he told our correspondent that the Parliament would sanction all officers involved in the matter for discussing how to spend money which is a parliamentary issue, and for a fight occurring in the President’s office without anyone stopping them.

    “I saw students banging the door of the president’s office but to my greatest surprise the President and Financial secretary came out of the office claiming that they had a meeting ongoing but I could hear cries and shouts of a lady inside. I forced my way inside and I saw the VP with torn clothes, she was looking tattered and battered. I got a key and took her out through the secretary-general’s office, I also did get her a shirt to cover her semi-nude body, she then fell on the floor. We got a bike and she was taken to the university’s health centre.”

    All efforts to reach the President of OAU students’ union, the secretary-General and the Dean of the school’s Division of Students’ Affairs proved abortive.

  • ASUU strike and non-compliant varsities

    ASUU strike and non-compliant varsities

    Some universities did not join the nationwide strike called by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for various issues.  However, the ASUU leadership says their non-compliance does not discredit the strike, report KOFOWOROLA BELO-OSAGIE, ADEKUNLE JIMOH (ILORIN), AIWERIE OKUNGBOWA (ASABA), and SOJI ADENIYI (OSOGBO).

    The campus of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife is unusually not busy. The hustle and bustle of academic activities have reduced. Classes are not going on. The reason is not because of the nationwide strike called by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on August 13. It is because the institution is wrapping up its first semester examination of the 2016/2017 academic session.

    Its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Biodun Olarewaju, said the examinations would be concluded this week and the students would begin a short holiday that would last no longer than a fortnight before they resume for the second semester.  He confirmed plans by the university to conduct the post-UTME screening for prospective candidates this month.

    “We will finish this week. Some, who were meant to write last Friday and Monday but did not, are waiting to do so. We will give the students a break of one or two before resuming for the second semester.  They do not have to go home; this is not a sessional exam. Those who don’t have money to go home can stay and those who want to can go home. We will do post-UTME this month,” he told The Nation on Tuesday.

    However, that is not the news. The news is: OAU is not part of the ASUU strike.  This is because OAU is usually one of the institutions noted for compliance with directives from the national leadership of the union.  But this is not presently the case.

    When asked why the institution did not join the strike, Olarewaju said the lecturers were magnanimous enough to consider the welfare of students, given that the university was behind in the academic calendar.

    “We put the interest of our students at heart because we have not been meeting up with the academic calendar, so our lecturers decided we should join the strike.  We are grateful to OAU ASUU chapter for that,” he said.

    However, The Nation found that the lack of compliance has more to do with crisis in the local chapter of the union than the magnanimity of the lecturers.

    Before the call for the industrial action, the OAU ASUU had been bedevilled by crisis occasioned by the appointment of Prof. Anthony Elujoba, as Acting Vice Chancellor, which a faction of the union, led by Dr. Caleb Aborisade, insisted did not follow due process. But another group led by Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, has the blessing of the university authorities.

    It is this group that claimed that the directive of the national secretariat of ASUU could not be obeyed because the union was not informed about the strike.

    Sunmonu said:  “The directive to embark on a strike was not communicated to my committee. The directive from the national ASUU was not directed to us, but as faithful ASUU members we still considered it at our congress. And the decision of the congress was that since we were not communicated officially, the referendum to go on strike or not was not before us.”

    However, on his part, Aborishade, who said his group was the one recorgnised by the national ASUU secretariat, said that his “loyal members complied with the strike order.”

    According to him, the strike is for the future of the education sector.

    He said: “As far as we are concerned, the OAU is on the same page with ASUU national secretariat. My members were in compliance with the directive of the NEC, which is to fight the rot in the university system. The greatest offence anybody can commit in ASUU is to break a strike which some people have decided to do. We resolved at our congress that we will not disturb anybody from holding exams; they go by their own conscience, and it’s by choice. For example, my own exams, there is no way it can be done, because I am on strike. Though the university authorities are trying to intimidate my members by issuing queries to them, we still complied with strike order.

    When asked to comment, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eyitayo Ogunbodede, said OAU lecturers were not interested in the strike.

    The Nation, however, gathered that past leaders of ASUU, including Dr. Dipo Fashina, were in the university to reconcile factional members of the union in the interest of all. OAU is known for taking active positions in union matters in the past.

    Nevertheless, OAU is not the only institution that did not the strike. Others include the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), which has not embarked on strike since 2001; the Kwara State University, Malete, and the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka.

    All the institutions have local issues.

    Explaining the no-compliance at DELSU, the immediate past ASUU chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Mordi, said although the lecturers backed the decision by the national body to go on strike, the chapter could not comply with the directive because it did not recognise the election that ushered in the chairman, Prof Abel Diakparomre.  As a result, he said, the chapter did not participate in the process leading to the strike.

    Mordi hailed the decision the strike, saying “the strike action is long overdue”.

    He accused the Federal Government of “freely making agreements and breaching them”, stressing that ASUU demands were geared towards arresting the downward spiral in the tertiary education sector.

    At KWASU, which had just resumed for a new session when the strike was announced, there are two factional chairmen, Dr. Adesola Dauda and Dr. Issa Abdulraheem.

    Both said the branch did not join the strike.

    Dauda, whose faction is recognised by the national body of ASUU, said his faction was still on observer status.

    He said: “The ASUU national is on strike but KWASU is not because we are on observer status. We have just joined ASUU and by their constitution we have to observe. We are on observer status if we have the capability to join.  But up till now, I am still having problem with my university management. The university management does not want union to exist in KWASU.”

    Abdulraheeem, recognised by the KWASU management, said the strike was not being observed in the university.

    “We are not on strike. We have just resumed,” he said.

    At UNILORIN, the local ASUU chapter that has the heart of the university management has gained notoriety within the national leadership of the union for not complying with strikes. This has been the case since 2001 when 49 lecturers of the university were sacked for joining a national strike.  Though they were reinstated in 2009, the university has two factions of ASUU, the stronger of which does not comply with strikes.

    Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) Prof Sidikat Ijaya said the university had gained positively from not going on strike.

    Speaking at an international conference organised by the Social Studies Association of Nigeria (SOSAN) and hosted by the university, at the start of the strike,  Ijaya said: “This non-participation of UNILORIN in all strikes called by ASUU has been responsible for the unbroken academic calendar and peace we have on campus in the last 16 years.”

    However, the factional ASUU Chairman, who is recognised by the UNILORIN management, Dr. Usman Raheem, said the union agreed with ASUU on the reasons for the strike.

    He said the lecturers did not join the strike because the chapter was not informed about it.

    Raheem said: “UNILORIN is not observing the strike called by the national union of ASUU because of obvious reasons.

    “Since 2001, UNILORIN has not been part of ASUU national, which has also been carrying its activities without us. The reasons for the strike and need for it were not communicated to us at UNLLORIN. So, the referendum for whether it will hold or not in this university was not conducted because it was not communicated to us.

    “However, we came across the reason the national union is calling the strike. We believe in it; we believe that ASUU has a reason to agitate for the implementation of the 2009 agreement, which the Federal Government signed with the union. It is just honourable that the Federal Government honours the agreement. We support the move to force them to do the needful.”

    Reacting to the reasons for non-compliance in the institutions visited, National ASUU President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, said ASUU was aware of the local issues in the chapters and excused the unions to sort out their domestic issues. Nonetheless, he said their non-compliance did not discredit the union’s struggles as it recorded more than 90 per cent compliance.

    “Any branch that has crisis, we know they have a disability and as such they cannot present a common front.  In each organisation, there will always be weak areas.  But it does not detract from the integrity of our struggle.  Over 90 per cent of our branches are on strike,” he said.

    He however accused the UNILORIN chapter of being hypocritical by supporting the reasons for the strike, but not joining in the struggle.

    Ogunyemi said: “Can you not see that it is contradictory? You believe in what someone is doing but you cannot do it; you say you were not invited.  They know they have violated the ASUU constitution.  UNILORIN has always maintained this moral bankruptcy.  They want to reap where they did not sow.  Don’t be surprised this has been happening in Ilorin. UNILORIN is not a good university to showcase when it comes to moral steadfastness.”

    The ASUU chief also condemned the university management for persecuting lecturers loyal to the national body.

    “Our members who are loyal, they have sent them out – placing them on suspension. The secretary of the union has been suspended for more than six months.  We protested but nothing was done – so there is official connivance,” he said.

    ASUU is billed to meet with the government again today in Abuja to negotiate issues that led to the strike. The union is demanding: The registration of Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company, NUPEMCO; payment of complete salaries in federal universities (salaries have been incomplete for about a year) and better funding of state universities; payment of arrears of earned academic allowances; release of funds for rehabilitation of public universities; implementation of guidelines for retirement benefits of professors; exemption of universities from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and resumption of funding for universities staff primary schools.

    If all goes well, students may soon be called back to the classroom.

     

  • OAU: Show of shame as SUG excos fight over N3.8m

    OAU: Show of shame as SUG excos fight over N3.8m

    Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Students’ Union Vice President, Jacob Tosin ( Emerald ) and the Director of Social, Adedayo Afolabi ( Lamba ) fought dirty on Tuesday, 5th of September, 2017 at the CEC meeting that held at the office of the President of the Union, Oyekan Ibukun.

    Investigation revealed that the kerfuffle is connected to N3.8 million Students’ Union backlog fund released by the University management on Thursday, 31st of August, 2017.

    We gathered that the council resolved to embark on some projects with the backlog fund which include; refurbishment of union library, construction of SUB relaxation centre and construction of staircase around Alumni-Archi axis while the Vice President, Emerald expressed her displeasure over the decision because they declined her proposal.

    The Welfare Director of the Union, Ajiboye Adekanmi, who spoke to our reporter in an interview was quoted saying:

    “The Vice President was not pleased with the decision because we denied her the funds for fresher’s package. We told her to wait for the disbursement of of 2016/17  session but she flared up.”

    “While she proceeded to the door to exit the meeting, Lamba engaged her but she raised alarm of harassment. Emerald attacked Lamba first before he retaliated. Later, she opened the fridge of the president but could not find any bottle except a malt bottle on the shelf which she broke to attack Lamba. When both party engaged in another round of physical combat, Lamba headbutted the Vice President, Emerald. They both sustained injuries and they were taken to university health centre”, Welfare Director said.

    The Financial Secretary of the Union, Omisakin Kehinde also shared story related to that of the Welfare Director with our reporter.

    “We got a backlog from management and we all discussed on what to you the money for.  Emerald raised the issue of fresher’s package which was discarded since she already has N1.4 million in her proposed budget. She hot vexed. While trying to leave, Lamba blocked her but she slapped Lamba. Both engaged themselves physically before we could separate them.”

    “Emerald searched fridge, later got a bottle on the shelf, broke it and charged Lamba while Lamba also headbutted her”, Omisakin stated.

    The Secretary General of the Union, Boluwajaiye Adeoluwa, while speaking in a public group said the matter was not a big issue. He said two grown up individuals were unable to control their anger and it escalated.

    However, the PRO of union, Okediji Simon Zuma and the President, Oyekan Ibukun denied any form of interview with our reporter on the saga.

    While speaking with Lamba in a telephone conversation, he told our reporter that he only prevented the VP from going out which led to the saga.

    “When we could not meet her demand, she vexed but I held her back jokingly. She slapped me times without number,  broke bottle and I headbutted her which was self defense”, Lamba argued.

    Meanwhile, on getting to the University health centre we were told that the Vice President, Emerald has been transferred to 7th day Adventist Hospital, Ile Ife due to the fact that government doctors embarked on strike.

    On our visitation to the 7th day Adventist hospital, we met the University Acting Chief Security Officer, Mr. O. Babatunde who said the Vice Chancellor of the institution has ordered the security unit to investigate the incident and file comprehensive report to his office.

    He said: “The Vice Chancellor is already aware of the matter, he has placed to me that we should investigate and file comprehensive report before today the end of Today. Fighting is becoming too rampant and we are getting irritated with the officers behavior”

    He further buttressed that the management don’t want to regret reinstatement of the Union.

    However, all efforts to speak with Emerald proved abortive as she was seen receiving drip with swollen face at the time our reporter got to the hospital.

    One of her friends who spoke to us under the condition of anonymity for security reasons said the VP was mercilessly rough handled by the Director of Social and nobody sees anything wrong with Lamba deeds.

    While reacting to the incident, a member of the SU parliament,  Ayuba Quadri was quoted saying:”It’s quite sadder and embarrassing that, isn’t only some ridiculous adults that have brought the country into the present degeneracy, but, it’s sufficed also to acknowledge the retrogressive roles played by youths in this downfall, we are as a nation, today.”

    Another student who pleaded anonymity also told our reporter that the Union is fast becoming a death trap and if care is not taken, the union leaders will dent the image of the institution.

     

     

  • Ex-CAMPUSLIFE man bids for Kogi Assembly seat

    Ex-CAMPUSLIFE man bids for Kogi Assembly seat

    Less than a year after he completed his Master’s Degree in Conflict, Development and Security at the School of Politics and International Studies of the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom (UK), Oluwaloseyi Babaeko declared his interest in politics. The CAMPUSLIFE reporter is set to represent his Kabba/Bunu Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly. WALE AJETUNMOBI writes.

    During his days at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Oluwaloseyi Solomon Babaeko was admired by fellow students for his political activism on the campus. Courageous and outspoken, Babaeko became a thorn in the flesh of students’ leaders who reneged on their campaign promises.

    The former CAMPUSLIFE correspondent deployed his oratory and writing skills to correct several abnormalities within students’ bodies, such as the Students’ Union Government (SUG) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).

    As a Master’s student of Conflict, Development and Security at the School of Politics and International Studies of the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom (UK), Babaeko became a rallying force among students of African origin, because of his activism. As the Secretary-General of Nigerian Students’ Society (NSS) at the University of Leeds, he leveraged the platform to rally support and raise funds for Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

    The Kogi State-born graduate of Local Government Studies sees politics as a tool for social emancipation at the grassroots, and a platform to promote public good. Leaning towards the socialist ideology, Babaeko believes any political arrangement that does not empower people to fight poverty and underdevelopment at the grassroots should be changed.

    As a CAMPUSLIFE correspondent and writer, his regular contributions mainly focused on politics and nation building. Babaeko’s political involvement took another turn when he decided to play politics in the mainstream, joining the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Last week, he announced his plan to represent Kabba/Bunu Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly in the 2019 general elections.

    On what informed his decision to join politics, Babaeko said he was disturbed by “adverse impacts” of governance on the youth and vulnerable people in his hometown, saying the high rate of joblessness in Kabba/Bunu Constituency indicated there had been no meaningful development for many years in that place.

    Quoting the words of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States (U.S.), who famously said: “The people are the only sure reliance for the preservation of liberty”, Babaeko, said he was ready to sacrifice his time and energy to bring positive change to his constituency, which he described as a “Jerusalem.”

    He said: “The pathetic and worrisome situation across the 15 wards that make up the Kabba/Bunu Constituency demands that something needs to be urgently done to salvage the situation. This is why I hearkened to the clarion call of my people to step in as the proverbial sacrificial lamb for the rescue mission to salvage the situation with a total commitment to rebuild our Jerusalem that lays in ruins.

    “The task of rebuilding and repositioning Kabba/Bunu Constituency for the benefit of the people is going to be an arduous and tasking exercise that will require collective efforts of all the people. I call on all good people of Kabba/Bunu to rise now above pettiness, religion, political affiliation and creed, and join hands in our quest to develop our constituency.”

    Babaeko said he chose to realise his political ambition on the UPN platform, because the party recognises the people as the primary focus of politics and governance. He said his programmes are people-oriented and development-focused.

    He said: “Politics is not new to me, because I have been involved in politics and nation building all my life. I studied Local Government Administration for my first degree and I have a Master’s degree in Conflict, Development and Security from the prestigious University of Leeds. My horizon is broadened, because I study and play politics. My aim to run for the Kabba/Bunu seat is not to amass needless wealth or lord it over the people. I believe my constituency can be another fast rising city if people are empowered economically and socially. My ideas and plans for the people are issues-driven and development-focused.

    “I understand the pain my people are going through, going by the failure in the current leadership. I believe 2019 presents them another ample opportunity to right the wrong choice they made in the last general election.”

    Babaeko said he would not be distracted by violence that usually marred elections in his constituency, saying that his aim is to build another Jerusalem for the Kabba/Bunu people.

    “We will show love to all and malice to none,” he said, assuring that access to quality health services and education would be his priority in the 100 days if he is elected. He also promised to build a world-class Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre to empower the youth, adding that there would be free internet access in public schools’ libraries.