BREAKING: President Jonathan Bows To OAU Students' Union Threat

For many that believe that many Nigerian leaders hardly listen and yield to the cry and pleas of their people without a tone of war may be right afterall.

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has finally succumb to the threat of the Students' Union of Obafemi Awolowo University to work against him if he refuses to take action on the increased school fees of the school and other bothering matters affecting tertiary institutions across the nation.

The willingnes and readiness of President Jonathan to ensure an immediate action is taken on the requests of Ife students was revealed today by the Presidency.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth & Student Matters said this via his twitter page some fews hours ago that the president has directed the Minister of Education to meet with Chairmen Governing Councils and Vice Chancellors of Universities on student welfare.

He further noted that the direction was in reference to Obafemi Awolowo University's school fees and that the direction will look into other schools.

Meet Oluremi Sonaiya; Former OAU Lecturer & Sole Female Presidential Candidate

In the forthcoming 2015 presidential election in Nigeria, only one female candidate will be contesting for the presidency, according to the list of presidential candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Prof. Comfort Oluremi Sonaiya, a former lecturer at the Department of Foreign Languages at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, is the only candidate representing the female gender among the male-dominated candidates.

Sonaiya will be contesting under the umbrella of KOWA party, alongside running mate, Saidu Bobboi.

In 2008, she was named an International Ambassador Scientist of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, and until recently, Sonaiya was the National Public Relations Officer of KOWA Party.

KOWA was registered as a political party on July 16, 2009, by a group of Nigerian Civil Society, activists, professionals and technocrats.

The KOWA party claims to be different from other political parties. Its website says: “We are mostly political activists, professionals and politicians who did not find a level playing ground in the God-father-dominated Political Parties. This means that we are not your typical, conventional, rotten politicians. We are different.”



Source: roughbutdiamond.blogspot.com/2014/12/former-oau-lecturer-prof-oluremi.html

OAU Students Slam Union Officers Over Threat Against Jonathan's Re-election

The press statement issued earlier today by the Obafemi Awolowo University Students' Union has been greeted with various criticisms by students of the institution.

The SU President, Mr Ibikunle Isaac and the SU Public Relations Officer, Mr Bamidele Oludare had told journalists that students of OAU are ready to work against the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan if he fails to accede to their demands with utmost urgency. Reacting to this development, a student activist in the school, Comrade Olubanji Oluwole a.k.a Engels has described the threat from the Union officers as a deviation from scientific struggle as opposed to speculative struggle.

Comrade Engels argued that the President of the Students' Union cannot speak on behalf of the entire OAU students on such a critical issue without consulting the students first as that amounts to a deviation from the democratic tenants of Great Ife Students' Union. ''The President and PRO probably woke up one day to conjure positions on behalf of mass of students. This press statement is not only a deviation from the democratic tenet of Great Ife Students' Union, but a deviation from scientific struggle as opposed to speculative struggle.''

''If you want to negotiate money with Jonathan, do not use students' interests as canon fodder'' he(Olubanji Oluwole) advised.

With similar tone, another student of the institution, Akinbode Akinloluwa condemned the act of the Union Officers. Akinloluwa wrote ''As far as I'm concerned, the release has the heading 'OAU students threaten to oppose Jonathan's re-election' I am part of this Union either directly or indirectly, let me now ask; When did the CEC or SRC tabled this and deliberated on it before speaking on our behalf? Or who gave Ibikunle the go-ahead to speak on vital issues like this? Or was there any referendum conducted within Dec 14 that I left campus and now?''

OAU Students Threaten To Work Against Jonathan's Re-election

Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to fulfill the promise he made to them on reduction in the fees charged by the management of the university or be ready to lose the February 2015 presidential election.

The Student Union President, Mr. Isaac Ibikunle, and the Secretary, Mr. Oludare Bamidele, said this in a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Monday.

The president had held a brief meeting with the student union leaders when he visited the OAU to attend a political meeting organised by some Yoruba leaders on the campus.
Ibikunle had told our correspondent that the President promised to act fast on the demands of the students for reduction in the fees charged by the management of the university.

He noted that some students from poor background had dropped out of school because of the exorbitant fees being charged by higher institutions.

The student stated that crime would continue to be on the increase if education, which is the only sure way to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, was priced out of the reach of poor students.

He said OAU students and the entire students all over the country would work against the president if he fails to fulfill the promise he made to them on the fees and other matters relating to the education sector.



Source: The Punch

The Labours Of Our Recent Heroes...

In Nigeria, 2014 was very hectic. Boko Haram became very emboldened and for once, it felt as if the north was being governed by Boko Haram and the remaining by Goodluck Jonathan but hey! Its always hectic for Nigeria, so why the fuss? It was a year exactly on November 12 2014 when Professor Festus Iyayi died on his way to attend a national Executive Council meeting of Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) in Kano. The ASUU branch in my school (Obafemi Awolowo University) celebrated the anniversary with a colloquium. I do not know whether the event was a national ASUU event but the poster that was out on campus to announce the event got me thinking about several things: The man Iyayi, what he fought for in his life, his legacy, the current state of education in Nigeria…

I waited patiently for my fellow students on this day, for the other stakeholders in the education sector too, to remember Iyayi and to honour him for his role in the attempt to liberate the University system but behold! I got none. Even on social media, we were too busy discussing sundry issues like Kim Kardashian posting her nude, or is it semi-nude pictures online to ‘break the internet.’ We are always too busy to think deeply. (Apologies to those who are guilty of this)That day sealed the claim that Nigerians have a very short memory. No student organization/union did anything to appreciate such a man. Anyway, you cannot blame we young ones totally, it is just how Nigeria is, Iyayi just wasn’t ‘Nigerian smart enough.’ He was too patriotic in a country that consumes her own. Such a talent! Hardworking, honest, intelligent… A literary and social critic with award winning novels. People like him don’t stay in this country; they leave for another place where they will be appreciated for all their many talents and abilities. Iyayi refused to join the brain drain, despite losing his job at a point.

Many questions remain unanswered concerning Iyayi’s death. What truly killed him? What caused the accident? (we all know it was the reckless driving of Kogi State Governor,  Idris Wada’s convoy that caused the accident) But the many conspiracy theorists claiming that it was a murder, are they correct? The picture of Iyayi’s corpse that circulated on the internet is not something I can publish here, it’s too gory but it is on Sahara Reporters. His death was ruled as an accident, which seems true but the circumstances surrounding the accident are questionable, the silence that followed his murder is also questionable. Iyayi’s death has joined an already long and growing list of unsolved cases in Nigeria:  Alfred Rewane, Kudirat Abiola, Olaitan Oyerinde, Dipo Dina and M. K. O. Abiola’s death, the abduction of the Chibok girls… The list continues.

Another issue with Iyayi’s death is the state of what he stood and fought for in his lifetime. Many of his former colleagues have trampled on his grave repeatedly by hiking tuition fees in their respective Universities. University Students joined their lecturers in demanding for a revitalization of the system, the battle seemed won after six months of struggling and just a few months after the battle, fees were hiked to as high as over 300% in some schools. The claim is that the intervention fund is yet to be released despite the fact that it was deposited in the central bank before the strike was called off. There are many technicalities involved in accessing the funds and these has been the excuses of University managements but whose fault is that? Students? Parents? The finger points back to the university management. I dare say that ASUU only won the battle and not the war. The struggle continues until the money is accessed by all the universities. If the government can trample on Iyayi’s grave by adding his death to a growing list of unsolved cases then why can’t we students do the same? If Iyayi’s comrades who are ASUU members can do it then why can’t we do it too? The ASUU case is for another day.

          Another hero (For me, calling her ‘heroine’ will diminish the importance of what she did in such a patriarchal society) is late Dr. Stella Adadevoh who has been claimed by Western countries even more than us. She reaffirms the notion that nobility runs in the blood because she’s from the lineage of noble men; Herbert Macaulay and Samuel Ajayi Crowther. She singlehandedly saved Nigeria from the dreaded Ebola virus. (yes! Singlehandedly) Imagine if she had referred Patient Zero, Patrick Sawyer to Lagos University Teaching Hospital, with the contacts and the risks. What if she had allowed him leave for Calabar, Imagine the transport from Obalende to MMI Airport, the contact with people in the plane, people in Calabar, and if he had made it to the conference. Nigeria might have become history, we won’t be thinking of corruption or elections. We owe the whole #SaiBuhari and #GEJTransformation noise to this woman.


The importance of what that woman did can never be overstated and there is no posthumous honour that can be equal to what she did. Although, there has been several calls for her honour and I’m sure she will still get more recognition in death but she’s someone we should never forget. CNN named her alongside Lupita N’yongo, Angelina Jolie, Chimamanda Adichie on a global list of most inspiring women of 2014. She deserves it and even more. Unlike Festus Iyayi, the Western Press has claimed her, even the mainstream Western countries recognized her role in saving the world. A Western Journalist called her ‘British trained’ Nigerian doctor because of her postgraduate training at the University of London. Her MBBS degree at the University of Lagos was shoved aside and the celebrated aspect is her British training. To racial bigots, she’s too noble to be black, and even Nigerian.  On a YNaija.com poll for person of the year 2014, she scored 40% of total votes. (As at 26 December 2014) She deserves the Nigerian of the year award and she deserves a memorial that will last as long as the present generation of Nigerians lives. For me, Stella Adadevoh is my Person of the year.

   Ameyo Stella Shade Adadevoh and Festus Ikhuoria Iyayi, you will never be forgotten. Like Britons said of their dead soldiers, I say:

They shall Not Grow Old, As we that are left grow old, 
Age Shall not weary them, Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, And in the morning,
We will remember them. 

      I have made up my mind, that I will keep these ones forever, even though I can’t live forever. That I will keep them away openly, open enough for future generations to see, and to ask who they were. I will be a bridge, between today and tomorrow, I will tell of their commitment, their loyalty and their patriotism, their virtues I will sing so that they might live forever. Above all, I will tell of how they were/are Nigerians. Sleep on, patriots.


Ibiyemi Ayodele Eagles

He blogs HERE

OAU Student Wins Etisalat Merit Award

Ayomide Thompson Ajayi, a 200 level student of the Faculty of Technology, OAU, came second in the recently held Etisalat Merit Awards Scheme.

Ayomide gave a 5-minute presentation on The Creation Of A Platform (Website) For Waste Recycle Management

Five institutions were present at the event – namely: University of Lagos, University of Benin, Adekunle Ajasin University, Ladoke Akintola University and Obafemi Awolowo university.
The ceremony took place on Wednesday, 17th December, 2014 at Oriental Hotel, 3 Lekki Road, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Nigerian Youth Inclusion In Governance; Catalyst For Genuine National Development

By Prince David Adetula

The 2015 General Elections in Nigeria is almost here and one incontestable fact is that we will be having new set of leaders and extension of the administration of some of the present leaders at various levels of government. The obvious continued sidelining of Nigerian youths from being at the helms of affair may largely continue if we do not take actions as concerned youths. Much more beyond street protests and social network activism, I strongly believe a Nigerian youth has more to offer in government leadership if given the opportunity.

How about Youth? I define Youth as that transcendental period of life from being a child to an adult. For the sake of this topic, I crave your indulgence to consider agile and competent Nigerians within the age bracket of 18-35 years old as youths. Without sole consideration of the current political structures in many Local, State and Federal governments, the youths over the years have not risen to obvious height where their impact can be strongly felt in leadership.

Demographically, the population of Nigerian youths constitute the active majority which is the needed number in any standard setting to decide what goes on in the nation. Since some schools of thought will say Politics is a game of number which I quite agree with to a very large extent, how then is it that the political representation Nigerian youths at echelon positions is near nothing?

Some factors have been responsible for this ranging from poor credible youth representation, illiteracy and ignorance to unfavourable government policies. The blame for this cannot only be accredited to external forces as youths themselves do not help matter. It is quite disheartening to know that the youths many at times find it very excruciating to have a clear-cut definition of what they represent and who they are, let alone them gaining the deserved recognition in the socio-economic and political world.
Practically, you will see a 53 years old man regarded as Youth Leader in a political party, then, you begin to ask yourself questions, does this mean that we do not have capable and credible young minds that can lead their colleagues? Or how does this add up?

Many of the old cabals and leaders hide under the leaking umbrella that has an inscription: ''the nowadays youths in Nigeria will be worse than the old men and women who are in power today and they will even perform more badly if given the slightest chance.'' Yes, they may be right to an extent after all, there are several indications to their claim but I will want to agree with the words of Dr. (Ms) Evelyn Ndali Oputu OON during the 40th Convocation Lecture delivery at Obafemi Awolowo University that Nigerians youths are not entirely what they are popularly said to be. Our youths are only greedy and selfish because of the non-suitable and non-working environment they find themselves. Give them the right conditions and see the beauty of a Nigerian Youth! I have observed discussions and intellectual contributions of our youths on social platforms concerning crucial national issues and I cannot but say, we still have more than enough capable youths who can turn things around and help us fulfill the promise in our land.

Our heroes and heroines have repeatedly proved this in time past that tenacious and sagacious leadership translating to good governance and productive drive is not proportional to age. If the likes of Yakubu Gowon and Shehu Shagari could lead this same nation well as the Head of State and President respectively during their youthful days, I strongly want to conclude we can still do it and even in a very better way!


RECOMMENDATIONS
1) Aggressive sensitization of Nigerian youths to take their rightful place in today's governance. The era of “Leaders of Tomorrow” should be over, we are needed in today’s government to make things happen.
2) There is an urgent need for a clear representation of the youths at various spheres. Unity amongst youths at various levels is inevitable to achieve this. The group umbrella of Nigerian youths can eventually metamorphose into a full-fledged political party in no time.
3) Campaign for Youth inclusion in governance. The few youths privileged to be somewhere influential in the system need to help this project. We need to state in one voice a substantial percentage of Youth involvement in governance.
4) There is a need for the youths to demonstrate high level of competence and credibility even as things stand. We can create viable and workable model of governance experimented via leadership roles in our various capacities outside the targeted spot.
5) The youths need to work and support political figures that have youth friendly programmes and those that work/ready to work with Nigerian youths.


Remember, if you are not part of the solution, you are certainly part of the problem. Things need to change!


Photo Credit: Cruise Nigeria

Merry Christmas Great Ife

The season that reminds us of God's great love that led to a great gift. Show that love and give that gift!

  

A Merry Christmas to all our esteemed readers.

From The Entire OAU Peeps Crew

UI Student Blasts Union Officers Over Silence On Colleague's Death

In a protest article written by a student of University of Ibadan, the Students' Union leaders have been condemned for maintaining criminal silence over the death of one of their colleagues who died as she was rushing to meet up with a test fixed for some hours from Christmas.

Below is the protest article:

THE CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE OF U.I STUDENT UNION

The criminal silence of the student union over the death of one of our future and bright talent is tantamount to betrayal, felony and admission of incompetence. The Students' Union is supposed to fight and demand for the interest of the students but is unfortunate and pathetic that we have a puppet cum rubber stamp Union.

It would be recalled that a student of the faculty of Agriculture and Forestry in the person of Miss Adebayo Mercy, 400 level Agronomy died after attempting to come back to school for a test slated to hold on the 24th of December. Despite this colossal loss the Students' Union neither uttered a word nor send condelence message or solidarity visit to the deceased family. Isn't that a criminal negligence of duty on their part?

Unionism is not only scientific aluta but using diplomatic method to protect the people you are representing. The death of this lady is avoidable if there is vibrant and indefatigable Students' Union leadership. The Union should have negotiated with the school management to shift the exam date to around January which in my own opinion is possible and such a request will be swiftly acceded to.
Leadership is a matter of sacrifice and if the current Union leadership cannot sacrifice their time and energy to protect teeming Uite's then they should resign and allow capable and indomitable comrades to mount the throne and it is time the Odesola Oluwafemi Led Union realise that they are not elected to serve as tools in hand of desperate politicians but to protect the interest and welfare of the students.

‪#KickOutToothles
‬BullDogLeaders.

INEC Ad-Hoc Job: Are We To Submit Anything?

Someone sent this in:

Good day! Please are we required to submit some documents like our ID Card, Letter of Admission, Acknowledgement Slip etc to each state INEC secretariat? This is because some friends in OAU are submitting the Acknowledgement of Registration with a copy of their ID Card and JAMB Admission letter. Anyone with useful and valid information on this?

INEC To Use Card Readers During 2015 Election

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Public Relations Officer in Sokoto State, Alhaji Mohammed Musa, has said that the commission will use the card reader for accreditation of voters during the forthcoming general elections to allow for transprent polls.

Musa spoke at a one day workshop organised by Nigeria Police Sokoto State Command for stakeholders ahead of the 2015 general elections.
He also disclosed that despite the fact that many might doubt its ability to use card reader, INEC is very confident that it would be a huge success.

He said, “Though, some may say it is not possible but we are assuring Nigerians that it is doable hence we want to ensure that we get the very best for free, fair and credible election come 2015”.

According to Musa, it will be practically impossible to rig in the forthcoming elections, saying that INEC has removed polling units from traditional rulers’ residents, as well as religious places to ensure transparency.

He insisted that all efforts have been put in place to avoid the worrisome delay in voting which often time served as the cause of electoral violence.

He noted that INEC has also adequately addressed the issue of underage voting across the federation.
“Issue of underage voting has been giving INEC headache for quite a long time but now, we are on top of the situation hence all registration has been thoroughly edited. Though, not 100 but 90 percent sanitized. We have some of the under age cards with us now,” Musa added.


Source: Leadership News

Full Report On Fire Incident At Moremi Hall

ON THE FIRE INCIDENT AT MOREMI BLOCK A
ROOM 304.

   It is true that there was a sardonic fire incident at Moremi Block A, Room 304 yesterday 18 th December, 2014. From the accounts available to the Union, no member of the room was around when the incident occurred. Many of the occupants had returned home for the purpose of the break and festive period. There was however a part 2 nursing student who was in the room earlier in the day to cook with her gas cooker and rest for few hours after cooking before she left for lectures.
    Occupants around reported that they began to perceive smoky emissions from the room around 12noon when electricians were working on the floor lights. They also said they heard sparks in some rooms before the fire started. The burning
lasted almost an hour before University fire service workers came around the hall to attend the situation. As at the time the fire was put off practically everything in the room had been destroyed by the fire. Some of the items damaged are: the nursing students’ laptop computer, clothes of occupants, their textbooks, notes and materials, plates, pots, beds, provisions, etc. Reports from the only available
occupant read that there were no working sockets in the room.
   As at now there has not been any ascertained cause of the fire outbreak in the room. Power supply to the block (A) has been stopped as humming sockets were later discovered in some rooms on the block after the fire incident. The Union is using this opportunity to implore students that are still around in the various halls
of residence to be extra vigilant about electrical connections in their rooms and ensure that they report all spoilt sockets to their hall executive or hall management for quick repairs.


See Pictures from the incident below

Signed:
Bamidele Oludare J

Seasons Greetings From The Vice Chancellor

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole has sent his regards to all the members of the Obafemi Awolowo University community in this yuletide.

In his goodwill message, the VC wishes the staff, students, alumni, friends and benefactors of the citadel happy Christmas; "On behalf of myself and the members of the University Management Team, I wish to seize the opportunity of the Yuletide to wish the members of staff, students, our Alumni, friends and benefactors of the university, a happy Christmas season and prosperous new year"

In same vein, the crew members of OAU Peeps News Agency use this medium to wish the entire Great Ife community happy celebration!

Moremi Hall Gutted By Fire

The biggest female Hall of Residence in Obafemi Awolowo University was earlier today gutted by fire.

The fire which razed a room at the uppermost floor in Block A of the
Hall took the intervention of the fire fighters to be totally put off.

The exact cause of the fire outbreak is yet to be known as the time of
filing this report.

This will be the second major fire outbreak in the Halls of Residence
this year. It will be recalled that a room in Block 7 of Awolowo Hall was burnt beyond recognition some months ago.
Pictures from the incidence can be seen via our twitter handle(www.twitter.com/oaupeeps).

INEC Ad-Hoc Job: Job Descriptions For PO & APO

For many Great Ife students and graduates that applied for the INEC job to be engaged during the 2015 General Election, below are the responsibilities

you will be expected to take care of:

PRESIDING OFFICER

JOB DESCRIPTION

> Shall be at the LGA two days before the election to confirm posting
> Collect all materials from the SPO on eve of elections and properly document them
> Shall be in charge of the PU and paste all necessary materials such as postal, etc
> Supervise the Assistant Presiding Officers posted to the Polling Unit
> Shall educate the voters on the election process and arrangement of polling unit
> At the end of the voting process, he shall add the results from the voting points where available and declare the winning party
> He shall paste a copy of the results at the Polling Unit
> He prepares reports and submits to Supervisory Presiding Officer

EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Must be a serving NYSC Member.




ASSISTANT PRESIDING OFFICER


JOB DESCRIPTION

> Assist the PO to collect and document materials received.
> Works under the supervision of the Presiding Officer.
> Ensures that there is flow and proper arrangements of the voters.
> Ticks the name of the voter registry.
> Assist with the sorting and counting of ballot papers and materials.
> May manage a voting point if need be.


EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Must be a serving NYSC Member, Student of penultimate year in Federal
Tertiary Institutions, Former NYSC Member that participated in
2011-date Electoral activities or Federal Government Employee Grade
Level 07-09 possessing minimum of National Diploma/equivalent at State
Level.

Course Registration For Rain Semester Activated

Course Registration for Rain 2013/2014 Session has finally commenced today, Wednesday, 17/12/2014 at 2.00pm.

Kindly use the SHARE button to tell peeps.

Okorocha Picks Imo APC Governorship Ticket After Losing Presidential

The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has picked the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in absentia as he was still in Lagos for the party’s National Convention which ended on Thursday evening.

Okorocha’s emergence as the party’s governorship flag bearer in the state came barely few hours after coming fourth in the just concluded APC presidential primary elections at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

During the Owerri event, which took place at the Imo International Conference Centre, the Commissioner for Lands and Urban Planning, Uche Nwosu, who was secretly adopted as the APC governorship candidate by the party’s delegates, announced his withdrawal from the race.

Speaking before the ratification of the Governor’s candidature, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mr. John Alamba, said that the party had the power to substitute any candidate that withdraws from the race.
Nwosu, in his brief speech said that his withdrawal from the race was based on personal and family reasons, adding that the interest of the party supersedes his personal ambition.

He enjoined the party members to give same support and solidarity to the new candidate, Governor Okorocha.

Apart from the delegates, also present at the event were all the state executive of the Imo State All Progressives Congress, except the Chairman who was still in Lagos, members of the Okorocha’s cabinet and other state appointees.


Source

OAU Graduates 127 First Class Holders

No fewer than 9,094 first degree students of Obafemi Awolowo University will be graduated tomorrow.

Addressing a press conference as part of programmes to mark the institution’s  40th convocation ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Professor Bamitale Omole hinted that “the Senate of the university has approved the graduation of 9,094 first degree graduates drawn from 13 faculties in the institution.”

According to him, “the breakdown include “127 students, who made first class honours, 2,360 and 4,256 students with second class upper and lower divisions respectively, while 1,232 made third class, just as 123 would graduate with ordinary pass.”
Professor Omole reacting to the performance, represented by the chairman of ceremonial committee, Prof. Titi Kuku, announced automatic scholarship for first class graduating students in the institution, adding that some of them may be given jobs at their respective faculties as graduate assistants.

OAU CDL Spam Expredites With Online Degree Programme Admission Offers

The Centre for Distance Learning, Obafemi Awolowo University has created a short-lived happiness for some students seeking admission into the prestigious citadel, especially those that are yet to be admitted and were part of the 2013/2014 predegree academic session.

In similar messages sent to many of them reads

"Congrats! You have been offered admission into B.Sc. Accounting at OAU. Login to http://eportal.oaucdl.edu.ng Username: Your Pre-Degree No, Password..."

These students were very excited when they got the message on the phone thinking it is the long awaited normal admission to resume the 2014/2015 academic session in Ife. They later got to understand it is admission to undertake the newly introduced online degree programme after explanation by colleagues and friends.

 Many of them have since showed their displeasure at what they regard as Spam messages as they only took advantage of their contact with the school to send them the promotional message. One Wale said 'I was so happy when I got the message, only to discover OAU CDL just deceived me. I did not apply for any online programme and I don't see any reason why I should be sent that fake message from an authentic source'

Nigerian Communications Commission Essay Competition

Essay Competition - Broadband: A Catalyst for National Development

The Nigerian Communications Commission hereby announces an essay competition, open to all undergraduates enrolled in all tertiary institutions within Nigeria. Please download and fill the Registration Form and Undertaking.

Details are as below.

Essay Topic: Broadband: A Catalyst for National Development

Objectives Of The Competition

Increase awareness on the subject matter.
Engage and enhance research skills.
Encourage academic competition and excellence.
Build the capacity of undergraduates

Methodology

Undergrauduates will write not more than 1000 words and not less than 500 words on the essay topic.
Only first 500 entries representing undergraduates from tertiary academic institutions across the country.
Winning essays will be selected based on Content, Grammar and Style.
The winning essays will be announced by the First Quarter 2014.
All entries must be sent on or before December 16th, 2013.
Participants are expected to register with their personal details and signed authentication as genuine Nigerian undergraduates.



Entries will be sent in via the following facebook link;

http://www.facebook.com/nigerian.communications.commission.

Further inquiries can be made to the following number: +234-9-4617000 ext. 7153

OAU SU PRO, Bamidele Pleads With Critics As 2014 Fades

With just 23 days to the end of year 2014, Comrade Bamidele Oludare, the Public Relations Officer of Great Ife Students' Union has come out publicly to seek for the understanding of his critics. Below is the recent Release from him:

STUDENTS’ UNION FROM ME TO YOU: GREATEST IFE.

From the depth of my heart and in full consciousness of my thought and action I write this. I implore my die hard critics to read and think twice before disagreeing with me on this for this is a real reflection of the person called BAMIDELE OLUDARE J.

 

Fraternal greetings to the generality of Great IFE students and members of the Great IFE community. It is important that I begin with appreciation of all who have always provided the unflinching support needed to perform my duties as the Public Relations Officer of our prestigious Union. Without dissipating words on irrelevances or the irrecoverable past, permit me to pick issues from the most recent happening on the University campus: the issue of cultist invasion into the University and my said affiliation or role as the case may be in the same. I MAKE BOLD TO SAY GREATEST IFE, I AM NOT A CULTIST. I NEVER MOBILISED CULTISTS INTO THE UNIVERSITY. My presence at the SUB was not to beat up anyone.

However, just as one may not be able to avoid the human being in him/her is what i believe led to my immediate statement on social media about the whole issue. It is important that i say at this point that I have no personal issues with the suspended students. It is visible to all and sundry that we have our ideological differences but we only continue to play into the hands of the devil when we refuse to tolerate our differences and manage our excesses. It remains a statement of fact that those differences in ideology and principle are what make the beauty of the Union, the sweet taste of our existence as students and the preparation of our minds for the world ahead of us. To all and sundry who might have been put in a state of fear as a result of all of these I tender my apologies.
At this point I consider it imperative that I address holistically any other issue that might have been before now beginning from the struggle against increment in fees to every other issue that may directly or indirectly appear that Great IFE students were sold for pieces of gold and silver that I AM NOT A PARTY TO ANY OF ALL THESE. I have never collected anything from anyone against the interest of the generality of Great IFE students. I have only done my duty as it was expected. This is not a defence for any one either in the Union or not that may be found culpable of such acts but myself alone.

He who comes to equity must come with clean hands they say. I, at this period in history, have come with a clean heart and a ready mind to give qualitative service and to make restitution with the Generality of Great IFE students who gave me this mandate. I am not oblivious of the call to wake up to the reality of my failure to perform well as far as my duties are concerned. I apologise to all who voted me and have always supported me if I have in any way disappointed you. I have returned to my thought bank to map out strategies for better service to the generality of Great IFE students and the Great IFE community as a whole.

This is a product of my desire to see a peaceful union and a refusal at this point to heed the clarion call of the generality of Students will mean I have chosen the part of destruction. If anyone either consciously or unconsciously has insulted me, rained abuses or even curses on me, my family and my unborn generation, I use this medium to say I am sorry and I forgive you as I expect forgiveness and prayers from you.

To my critics who I before now see as antagonist, I implore you to see an iota of truth in this and let’s put our energies together for the benefit of our generation. This article is not to mean I am now an ANTI-Ibikunle person, NEVER! I belong to his administration and will work with him in the interest and only in the interest of great IFE students.

SIGNED:
BAMIDELE OLUDARE J.
P.R.O
Great IFE Students’ Union

Ibikunle, Olori Agree To A Cease Fire Following ASUU's Intervention

The rift between the Students Uniion President, Ibikunle Isaac Motunrayo and the Vice President of the Students Union, Funmilola Oladejo a.k.a Olori may have ended following the intervention of the national chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU).

ASUU waded into the crisis and effected a meeting between the two major parties involved and they both tendered their grievances. After a whole lot of discussion, a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) was signed by Ibikunle and Olori. Below were the resolutions jointly agreed to by them:

1. Immediate ceasefire on physical assault and media attack was reached by all present.
2. The process for the reinstatement of all suspended students should begin immediately.
3.  All detained students and others should be released with an undertaking that nothing must happen to the opposition within and outside OAU campus.
4. A student congress should be called by the Union leadership between the first and second week of  second semester (Rain semester), and under the observation of ASUU representatives and periodic congress should be held henceforth.
5. The stakeholders were agreed on the need to strengthen the EXCO as a TEAM rather than distract the process of peace and safety with impeachment moves.
6. The paraded students should be given psychological therapy.
7. Everyone should work for the progress and interest of the Union.
8. ASUU will take care of the bills of the hospitalized students.

INEC Recruiting Ad-Hoc Staff For 2015 General Elections

INEC Recruiting Ad-Hoc Staffs For 2015 General Elections

DEADLINE: 11th December, 2014

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to revalidate and upgrade its Ad-Hoc Staff Recruitment Databank in preparation for the forth-coming 2015 General Elections. The positions identified and the respective job descriptions are State Constituency Returning Officers, Senatorial District Constituency Returning Officers, Federal Constituency Returning Officers, State Assembly Constituency Returning Officers, Collation Officers, Supervisory Presiding Officers, Presiding Officers, Assistant Presiding Officers.

ELIGIBILITY

 

Outlined below are the various positions available and their requirements, Please make sure you read the instructions below before you begin your registration.

STATE CONSTITUENCY RETURNING OFFICER

Requirement: Must be a Serving Vice Chancellor of any University or Retired Justice/Judge of Federal High Court.

SENATORIAL/NATIONAL AND STATE CONSTITUENCY RETURNING OFFICER

Requirement: Must be a Serving Professor in any Federal Tertiary Institution or Retired Justice/Judge of Federal High Court.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA (LGA) COLLATION OFFICER

Requirement: Must be A Lecturer of Federal Tertiary Institution Or Member of the following Professional Associations (NMA, ANAN, PSN, NSE, NIA, NIQS)

SUPERVISORY PRESIDING OFFICER

Requirement: Must be an INEC Staff or Federal Public Servant (Ministries, Departments and Agencies) Grade Level 10-14 at State Level.

PRESIDING OFFICER

Requirement: Must be a serving NYSC Member.

ASSISTANT PRESIDING OFFICER

Requirement: Must be a serving NYSC Member , Student of penultimate year in Federal Tertiary Institutions, Former NYSC Member that participated in 2011-date Electoral activities or Federal Government Employee Grade Level 07-09 possessing minimum of National Diploma/equivalent at State Level.

Returning enrollees should enroll based on the appropriate category that currently applies to them.

If you wish to begin your registration now click here
 
For detailed job description of the positions identified, please goto information for Electoral Officials on the Home Page of the website.

Release These Suspects Now!

RELEASE THESE SUSPECTS NOW!!!

It is quite unfortunate that some two young men suspected to be cultists have been held up in Awolowo Hall for about 24 hours since their arrest by some students. Before aberration becomes a tradition on this sacred land, we have to reason logically and weigh arguments carefully from the two factions involved else the innocent ones will be condemned unjustly. The peculiarity of the examination time and urgency of the message contained in this article will not give me the opportunity to explain things the way I see them but hopefully, I will write again one of these days.

The two suspected cultists have been said to have confessed to the allegations leveled against them but without mincing words, that was done under duress and before the fiery ‘Court of Awoites’. Headboy had a similar issue yesterday! The same faction that was attacked or that engaged these suspected cultists somewhere outside the campus are the same people moderating their case, I ask myself, can one be a Judge in his own case?

I am not a Law student but I have friends who are students in the Faculty of Law and I read about these things, God forbid, if anything bad happens to these young men that have been beaten blue black and held up for this long, many innocent Awoites will not be spared on a good day because no competent Court of Law has pronounced these ones guilty, hence are still presumed innocent!
I will not but plead with Great Ife students to understand the current political gulf in our Union and the two obvious factions who can do anything within their powers to pervade and propagate propaganda to gain students’ favour at any time. We are intellectuals and we should not be easily swayed away by their words. Our judgement should be premised on nothing but fair hearing before we take sides.

I call on all Great Ife students who recognize human right to freedom and expression to join me to call for the immediate release of these imprisoned ones now!

Two wrongs can never make a right! Illegality can never be legal!! It was Hon. Headboy yesterday, it may be you or me tomorrow!!!