OAU AMPHITHEATRE UNDERGOES PARTIAL RENOVATIONS AHEAD OF CONVOCATION CEREMONY

By Jesuloba Akano

Renovation works have been ongoing at the Obafemi Awolowo University Amphitheatre following its closure in May. The 5,000-capacity amphitheatre, used for lectures and social events, was shut down after part of its roof partially collapsed during a torrential rainfall. The incident occurred during a SER 001 – Use of English lecture, a core special elective course for freshmen, leaving several students with minor injuries and two others with major injuries.

Since its closure last session, most lectures originally held in the amphitheatre have been rescheduled to smaller, less convenient venues. Speaking with a Course Representative for Political Science and a Part 2 student, David, he explained that the collapse significantly affected a course in his department offered across three faculties last session. According to him, lectures had to be shifted to early morning hours, causing logistical challenges in finding adequate space for the large number of students.

"Last semester, when I was still a Part 1 student, the collapsed roof meant we had to resort to 7 am–8 am classes three times a week at the 1,000-seater lecture theatre," he lamented.

OAUPeeps can confirm that most classes usually scheduled for the amphitheatre have been relocated to other venues due to the ongoing renovations. However, David noted that as a Part 2 student, his departmental courses—comprising 5 out of 7 of his current courses—now have smaller class sizes, making alternative venues sufficient.

"I'm not being affected by the renovation now because the highest number of attendees for any of my departmental courses is 250 students. We can easily use other lecture theatres like ODLT 1 & 2, FBLT, EDB 317, or ICAN LT," he added.

When contacted about the timeline for the renovations, the institution's Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, declined to provide specific details. "All I can tell you is that you have seen it is being renovated, and you can observe how it progresses," he stated.

However, the OAUPeeps correspondent spoke with the project's engineer, who clarified that the current construction work is not a full-scale renovation. According to her, the goal is to make the amphitheatre fit for use during the upcoming convocation ceremony, with comprehensive renovations set to commence afterwards.

As per the proposed academic calendar, the convocation ceremony is scheduled to occur between December 11 and 14.

Meanwhile, OAUPeeps can confirm that one of the students injured during the roof collapse, Amubieya David, has fully resumed school. According to an anonymous source, the other injured student has also fully recovered but may not be returning to OAU, though reasons for this decision remain undisclosed at the time of this report.

‘Operation Feed OAU Students Daily’: Great Ife Students’ Union Launches Free Meal Initiative

 By Odekunle Ayomide

In a bid to alleviate hunger and ensure academic focus among students, the Great Ife Students’ Union has unveiled the Operation Feed OAU Students Daily initiative. Spearheaded by the union's Welfare Officer, the program launched on Monday, November 25, 2024, aims to provide free meals to students during these challenging times when many struggle to meet basic needs.

The initiative, which aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), reflects the union’s commitment to student welfare and global standards.

In an interview with an OAUPeeps correspondent, A.Z., one of the contacts listed on the project’s flyer, explained that the initiative was born out of the current economic hardship in the country.
“Our target is Zero Hunger, SDG Goal 2. The major reason for this initiative is the economic situation of Nigeria,” he said.

To ensure the program's smooth implementation, the welfare officer and his team collaborate with campus food vendors. The vendors have agreed to participate by providing meals in exchange for increased publicity and advertising for their businesses.
“We reached out to different food vendors on campus, and most of them responded positively. Each vendor specified how many students they could feed at their convenience. It was a collaborative agreement without any compulsion,” A.Z. explained.

How the Initiative Works

Students interested in benefiting from the program have been directed to register online by providing details such as their name, department, faculty, matriculation number, phone number, and reasons for applying for the initiative.

While registration is ongoing, A.Z. revealed that there is a provisional allocation of 5,000 tickets to be distributed to registered students once registration closes.
“Each ticket is uniquely designed to prevent duplication. Every ticket has a specific number and signature. Once a ticket is signed, the corresponding name will be marked on the list, ensuring individuals cannot collect more than one ticket, even if they use multiple email addresses,” he explained.

To further enhance transparency, face recognition technology and other verification methods are being employed.
“We have a committee divided into teams for publicity, design, confirmation, verification, and slot allocation. This ensures the program is credible and benefits those who truly need it. That’s why we included a section for applicants to state their reasons for applying,” A.Z. added.

Further speaking, he explained that the union has planned a rotational schedule with vendors to avoid overburdening them. A.Z. emphasized that the initiative also benefits vendors by promoting their brands across campus.

“For instance, if a vendor offers five slots per week, we will ensure the schedule does not overwhelm them. The publicity they gain will also boost their businesses, making this a win-win arrangement,” A.Z. explained.

Student Reactions

The initiative has received widespread applause from students. Olamide, a Dramatic Arts student, described the program as “a splendid idea.” “This initiative helps us focus on our studies without worrying about feeding,” she said.

Another student, Tofunmi, highlighted its significance, stating, “Many students face food challenges. This initiative allows us to focus on our studies without worrying about what to eat. It also ensures we stay healthy and energized to carry out daily activities.”

Jesudarasimi, another student, praised the effort behind the initiative. “To a certain extent, this is a good initiative. Considering the economic situation, it will go a long way in solving problems for some individuals,” she said.

Grace, a Law student, commended the union for the thoughtful initiative. “When I saw it, I was impressed. This is great for less-privileged students who struggle to make ends meet. I have a friend whose parents can’t provide for her adequately, and this will help her a lot,” she said. However, Grace expressed scepticism about whether the initiative could cater to every less-privileged student on campus.

Despite her approval, Grace does not plan to register for the program. “I live with my parents and don’t need it because I’m feeding from home,” she explained.

OAU Hostels Exhausted, Freshers Decry Accommodation Crisis

By Heritage Ayoola

Newly admitted students at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) have raised concerns over the difficulty of securing accommodation on campus. On Monday, November 11, 2024, the university opened its online portal for students to ballot for bed spaces in the hostels. However, within minutes, all spaces were filled, leaving many freshmen without a place to stay. This incident follows a similar occurrence on Monday, November 4, when the portal was opened for balloting, yet most freshmen who tried to ballot were unable to secure accommodation.

Accommodation Crisis: A Recurring Challenge

Accommodation issues on campus are not new. For years, the university has struggled to increase its accommodation capacity. However, with the growing number of admitted students and rising housing and transportation costs in Ile-Ife, the demand for limited on-campus spaces has intensified

The Great Ife Students’ Union recently tried to ease the burden by releasing a review of transport fares within the campus. Despite this, students staying off-campus still spend a significant amount on daily transportation. For instance, those in Lagere spend ₦600 daily, while students in Mayfair spend ₦500. Over a week, transport costs can add up to ₦3,000, which is a major expense for many students.

Current Transportation Fares By Bus on OAU Campus

In August, the Association of Campus Journalists, OAU (ACJOAU), reported a hike in accommodation fees for hostels in the Maintenance area near the school. While the university has also increased on-campus accommodation fees from ₦30,000 to ₦50,000, the revised fees are still significantly lower than off-campus alternatives, with many students preferring on-campus accommodation to save on housing, transportation, and security costs.

Freshmen Share Their Ordeal

Speaking with one of the affected freshmen, Ibukunola, she lamented her unsuccessful attempts at securing accommodation despite trying twice. “I tried to ballot in the first week of November when the portal was opened, but it was displaying ‘hostel exhausted.’ The second time, I was on the portal around 9:57 a.m., but it was already showing ‘accommodation exhausted’ and logged me out a few minutes after 10:00 a.m.,” she said.

This unpleasant situation has made attending classes challenging for her. She further lamented, “Lectures have started in my department, and I am currently managing in PG Hall. An ultimatum was given that we should vacate the hostel by Friday, November 15. I am tired. They are supposed to make everything easier for freshers, but this is not good at all. Imagine someone coming from a far place and not having a place to stay.”

Jeremiah, another freshman, decried the stress of the entire balloting process. He described it as “an entire waste of time.” According to him, “I missed the first balloting, but during the second, the portal showed ‘accommodation exhausted’ by 10:01 a.m.” Unable to secure on-campus accommodation, Jeremiah now stays at Road 7, spending up to ₦900 daily on transportation. He also highlighted the unproductive hours spent in shuttle queues after lectures. “If there is no car and I have to trek, it affects my academics. The first time I had to trek the distance, I got to school very late. But when you don’t find a hostel on campus, what will you do?”

The plight of Emmanuel, another freshman, is slightly different. She was unable to pay her full school fees, which disqualified her from balloting for accommodation. “When I went to the hostel to meet the porters, they told me I cannot use half payment to ballot for a hostel,” she said. Having already resumed to school, Emmanuel is now forced to rent accommodation in town, which costs her ₦500 daily on transportation. “I will continue to manage the situation. I cannot participate in any other ballot process since I have not paid in full,” she added.

Samuel, a freshman in Surveying and Geoinformatics, described the balloting process as “tougher than he thought.” Despite paying his school fees in full and logging into the portal promptly at 10:00 a.m., he was met with the message, “male hostel exhausted.” Currently, Samuel stays in Mayfair with a friend and lamented how transportation expenses drain his finances. “Of the money they give me, transport fare takes everything away,” he said.

What Next for Freshers?

This ongoing accommodation problem is making life difficult for freshers who are trying to adjust to university life and attend classes. As the semester continues, students are hoping the school management will come up with a better solution to reduce their struggles.

There's More To Be Done: Newly Sworn Nassors President Charges Members of the Department

By Ayomide Emmanuel

The National Association For Students Of Religious Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University chapter, has inaugurated new executive members to oversee the department's affairs for the 2022/2023 academic session.

In his inaugural address, the department's President, Comrade Akinnibi Miftahu Oyempemi, expressed his gratitude to the Nassorites for trusting him with the mandate to lead the department. He also showed appreciation to the department and past executives for their efforts in funding department activities and providing for students' needs. However, he emphasized that there is more work to be done.

He stated, "My fellow executives and I have made several promises to the students based on our manifestos, which I have titled the PROPELLER plan" Elaborating on the PROPELLER plan, he mentioned that it is centered on six agendas: Library Renovation, Freshers' Orientation, Religious Library Summit, Skill Acquisition Programs, Scholarship Provision, and Tutorials.

He further reaffirmed the executive members' commitment to an all-inclusive agenda for all students. He assured them that his fellow executive members would collaborate with all relevant units to ensure that students' voices are heard and that even the smallest complaints are addressed.

SayNoToFeeHike: Great Ife Students Demand

        

By Ifeoluwa Adegboyega

Amidst ongoing tensions and students' agitation over the past few weeks, which followed several inconclusive meetings between the university management and representatives of the Great Ife Students, Great Ife Students took to the University campus gate on Tuesday, October 3rd, to stage a peaceful protest. 

The primary basis behind this demonstration was the recent hike in school fees, with students demanding a substantial 50% reduction in the fees set by the university management.

During this protest, the students of Great Ife were observed brandishing placards bearing slogans such as #SayNoToFeeHike, #Let the Poor Breathe, #FeeMustFall, and #You paid 9k, You want Students to pay 90k, among others, in a collective display of their discontent.

According to the report, the Director of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) department, acting as the representative of the Vice-Chancellor, took the initiative to address the assembled students, acknowledging their concerns...

In his statement, he disclosed that the ICT department currently faced a staffing shortage attributable to the prevailing 'Japa' phenomenon, which had adversely impacted the department's ability to expeditiously process Post UTME examinations. Consequently, this situation had led to delays in activating the installment payment feature on the student portal.

It was reported that, the Director assured the gathered Great Ife students that the installment payment feature would be fully operational by day's end, whereas, the Great Ife Students' primary demand, which is a 50% reduction from the initially proposed price, remains unaddressed by the university management...

Great Ife SRC Resumes From Recess: Conclude Constitution Of Standing Committees

 

By Ayomide Emmanuel

The Great Ife Students' Union Students' Representative Council resumed from its recess after the Rt. Honourable Speaker Toheeb Ajadi announced to the Honourable members at the late hours of Friday, 18th November 2022 at the Awolowo Cafeteria should go on recess due to security reasons and interruption of power supply.

Recall it was earlier reported by OAUPEEPS News Agency that the SRC constituted the Budgetary and Finance, Transportation Management Commission at the floor of the house.

Consequently, the house resumed from its recess at the late hours of Saturday, 19th November 2022 to constitute the standing committees and the Judicial Council in accordance with the provision of the Great Ife Students'Union Constitution. 

The resumption of the recess which experience a low turn up by honourable members of the house received series of point of orders and reactions raised by honourable members of the parliament against the honourable Speaker of the house of being impartial in the proceedings of the house in accordance with the section 10 sub-section 4 of the Great Ife Students'Union Constitution. 

The house experienced a major setback as honourable members of the house were seen throwing shade at each other.  Another major setback was the agitation of equal representation of all faculties in the constitution of standing committees. The agitation which was powerfully spearheaded by a honourable Radical was faulted by honourable lev that the agitation is not backed up constitutionally.

However, the house proceeded to the constitution of the standing committee and the Judicial Council.

Select Committee 

Honourable Joseph(Faculty Of Technology) Secretary 

Honourable Big Tos(Faculty Of Social Sciences) Chairmen

Honourable David Oyeniyi(Faculty Of Law)

Honourable Deji(Faculty Of 

Honourable Time(Faculty Of Education)

Honourable Ola D Great(Faculty Of Technology)

Honourable Subaru(Faculty Of Administration)

Honourable Wale White(Faculty Of Administration)

Honourable Rotimi(Faculty of Social Sciences)

Honourable Oseni Malik(Faculty Of Agriculture)

Honourable Arole(Faculty Of Arts)

Honourable  (Faculty Of Clinical)

In accordance with the section 51 of the constitution which give provision for the Judicial Council, the honourable members of the house constituted into the Judicial Council after which they in turn accept the appointment. 

Judicial Council 

Abiodun Adesanya(Faculty Of Law) Lord Chancellor 

Adewale Sodiq(Faculty Of Social Sciences)

Adedapo Taiwo Emmanuel(Faculty Of Education)

Peter Olalekan(Faculty Of Arts) Registrar 

Balogun Sunday(Faculty Of Technology)

Jessica (Science)

Adewole Oluwaseun(Faculty Of Law)

Adetinuji Samad(Faculty Of Pharmacy)

Akinsola Olalekan Jeremiah (Faculty Of Social Sciences)

Shittu Aminat(Faculty Of Agriculture)

Chuck Emeka(Faculty Of EDM)

Abdulganiyu (Faculty Of Education)

Damola(Faculty Of Arts)

Great Ife SRC Goes On Recess Amidst Constitution Of Standing Committees

 

  Parliamentary sitting       

By Ayomide Emmanuel

The Great Ife Students' Representative Council in its first business sitting for the 2021/2022 parliamentary session which held at the late hours of Friday, 18th November 2022 at the Awolowo Cafeteria constituted the Budgetary and Finance Committee, Transport Committee amidst other various standing committees which were to be constituted in accordance with the Great Ife Students' Union Constitution. 

The constitution of the committee members was done by honourable members of the parliament where honourable members nominated their fellow honourable members or themselves. 

Below are the Constituted Committees members and with there Chairman and Secretaries respectively 

Budgetary and Finance Committee 

Honourable Michael (Faculty of Clinical Sciences)

Honourable Aspiring Billionaire(Faculty Of Technology) 

Honorable Tajudeen Olayinka (Faculty of Administration) Chairman 

Honourable Alabi Fawas(Faculty Of Arts)

Honourable Ewatee (Faculty Of Education)

Honourable Olaitan Timilehin(Faculty Of Dentistry)

Honourable Peter (Faculty Of Pharmacy) Secretary

Transport Management Commission 

Honourable Abike(Faculty Of Social Sciences)

Honourable Taiwo Salaudeen(Faculty Of EDM) Chairman 

Honourable Sunbade(Faculty Of Education) Secretary 

Honourable Afeez(Faculty Of Science)

Honourable Riddo(Faculty Of Technology)

Honourable Samad Oshodi (Faculty Of Agriculture)

Honourable Ashinyabi Timilehin(Faculty Of Arts)

However, due to security reasons and interruption of power supply, the Rt. Honourable Speaker Toheeb Ajadi announced that the Honourable members should go on a recess and to resume on Saturday, 19th November 2022 by 4pm while the remaining committee remain un-constituted    

Blackout at parliamentary sitting

Junior Chamber International OAU: Induction and Award Ceremony

By Onyekpe Okechukwu 

The Junior Chamber International Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University Chapter inducted new members into the organization on Saturday 19th of March 2022. The event started by exactly  3:48pm with the recitation of the creed by both the inductees and members of JCI as a whole. The M.C of the occassion, Cooperate Emcee invited the dignitaries to the high table, he then as usual lightened the mood in the hall , after which was followed by a welcome speech by the president of JCIOAU Miss Feyisayo Awopetu. 

Mrs Oluwatoyin Atanda, the keynote speaker of the occasion graced the occasion virtually, she duly apologised for her absence from the induction. She mentioned a lot of things on JCI to advice and motivate the inductees to work harder. She stated “ JCI Nigeria will be 65 years old this year" what a wonderful speech she gave 

Professor S.S Okoya, the staff adviser came up and he stated how he was excited about the induction of new members into the association. He also said he was happy about the current president being a female due to the fact that he want females at the arms of affairs. He ended by congratulating the inductees.

Cooperate Emcee came up with up with more fun activities and giveaway to make the audience lively. A beautiful spoken words performance was presented by All I Memunat. The Erstwhile President of JCIOAU; Femi Adeyemo started off his speech with a brief story about himself while asking the inductees about what made them join JCI. Shortly after, the Induction started with the inductees who were well dressed coming out to recite the Creed and also read a section of the constitution.

Prof Lara Oradiay who was duly represented by Dr Adekoya admonished the new members to ensure they carry the roles of JCI; impact lives and give back to the society. She ended the speech with a charge for them saying “Be different like Daniel in the Bible”. Soon after Awards were offered to outstanding members of the association by the president. The Board members were introduced to the audience and the president gave vote of thanks

Breaking: Obafemi Awolowo Sets To Host Pre-Nuga Games

 

By Olukanmi Abidemi ÀBÍMÓ

The Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) organizes university-level sports events in Nigeria. It hosts an interuniversity sports competition called the University Games. The first NUGA games were held at the University of Ibadan in 1966. Presently, there are over eighty universities as members of NUGA, both private and public owned.

NUGA approves fifteen different sporting events at the University Games: track and field, badminton, basketball, chess, cricket, handball, hockey, judo, soccer, squash, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, and volleyball, after which the games have grown overtime to sixteen

However, just like other competition, there's always a preliminary stages whereby teams come together to play and in order to them to be qualified for the main event. 

Obafemi Awolowo University, set to host pre-Nigeria university games PRENUGA for Zone C. The tournament which will feature 16 games and 10 different universities. 

According to OAU Student Union director of Sports elects, he stated that "Obafemi Awolowo University will be hosting this year's edition of the Pre-Nuga games, slated to commence on Sunday, 13th of February, 2022 and end on the 16th of February, 2022. We'll be hosting the likes of

FUTA, AAUA, Uniosun, Elizade University, JABU, OUI, Redeemers University, Adeleke University".

Speaking to our Correspondent, Oluwanoni said OAU will be participating in all the sixteen sport of the Nuga games: Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Chess, Cricket, Football, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Scrabble, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis and Volleyball.

OAUpeeps gathered that the Pre-Nuga is  meant to  determine the institution which will be representing the zone in the official NUGA games tournament.