African Liberty Writing Fellowship calls for applications for 2024/2025.

 

“The African Liberty Writing Fellowship program is a year-long program designed to train young Africans with career interests in academia, media, public policy, or any other critical-and-analytical-writing-related career in opinion article writing. We have helped our fellows get featured in leading African and non-Africa media outlets. You may visit our Media Hits page to see what fellows published in the last four cohorts. 

Accepted applicants will complete a five-week mandatory online training. The top candidates from the five-week training will be admitted as African Liberty writing fellows. The five-week training starts on May 21, 2024 and ends on June 18, 2024. The writing fellowship starts on July 8, 2024 and ends on July 8, 2025.  

BENEFITS: 

• Access to expert instructors.

• 12-month writing fellowship.

• Get published in Africa’s top newspapers.

• Monthly stipend for top contributors.

• Opportunity for TV and radio features. 

ELIGIBILITY: 

An applicant has to be enrolled in, or must have graduated from, an African institution of higher learning. Or, be an African pursuing higher education outside the continent”

APPLICATION: 

Visit the application page and complete the application form here. 

Applications should be submitted on or before April 30, 2024. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered”

For more information, visit the African Liberty website.

Students Lament over the Limited Time to Prepare For Tests, Projects and Exams

 

By Oluwasegun Akintunde

Is it safe to say that lecturers across the faculties and departments on the OAU campus are intentionally treating students' academics with levity, or is it just too much workload on them that has made it seem like they are stretching themselves and their students thin to finish their syllabuses for the semester? Or is it the unavailability of venues for the said classes and exams that's the issue?

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have voiced their grievances over the need to attend lectures, submit various assignments, and present papers while preparing for ongoing tests. Traditionally, tests have been scheduled days before the D-day to enable students to prepare well.

Various students testified that having lectures and tests simultaneously means limited time to adequately prepare because lecturers often aim to finish the course outline without giving sufficient explanation on specific topics.

A.B, a part 2 student in the Department of Accounting, mentioned that the tests he will be doing are 'ON GOD,' emphasizing that calculating the workload feels overwhelming due to lecturers not providing breathing space to cover past notes.

He opines that the school is trying to balance the calendar at the detriment of students' results. He also complained about the stress of rushing to school only to find out classes have been canceled. He said, 'Lecturers are always canceling classes with joy but are always ready to set questions for us during tests/exams.'

A final year student in the Department of Public Administration stated that they are not stressed in some aspects but feel pressured by assignments and presentations. The project alone is a source of stress, as its acceptance depends on the supervisor's mood.

He emphasized, 'WITHOUT YOUR PROJECT, YOU CAN'T GRADUATE BECAUSE IT'S A SIX-UNIT COURSE.' To have breathing space in this school requires focus—shifting focus and knowing what's important will help students cope. Already, students have had to cope with unpleasant conditions, including bad network and electricity.

A part 2 student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering lamented having four tests this week for core courses, requiring significant attention and preparation except for Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Faruk, a part 2 student in the Department of Economics, mentioned having four tests in the outgoing week, leading him to stay overnight on campus for four consecutive nights, adversely affecting him mentally and health-wise.

What can be done about these issues on the part of lecturers, school management, and students?

OAU Students Shine in AFEL Economic Impact Challenge

By Ogunlana Klistivivi

In a recent announcement on its official Instagram page; AFRICA’S FUTURE ECONOMIC LEADERS (AFEL) unveiled Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) as one of the distinguished winners in its inaugural Economic Impact Challenge which commenced in October and concluded in December of the previous year.

The challenge saw the active participation of law and economics students from eight different universities across southwestern Nigeria. AFEL designed the challenge with a dual focus on economic policy advocacy and outstanding research and presentation, emphasizing the vital role of advocating for policy implementation and analyzing how continental policies influence local businesses.

Winners in both categories are set to receive monetary compensation. The advocacy category's top winner will be awarded 100,000, with the first and second runners-up receiving 50,000 each. Meanwhile, in the research category, the winner will claim 250,000, and the first and second runners-up will be awarded 150,000 and 100,000, respectively.

After a meticulous evaluation by competent judges, AFEL proudly announced the winners from various schools who made remarkable contributions to the economic discourse:

Category 1: Policy Advocacy and Implementation

1st Place: University of Ibadan

2nd Place: Obafemi Awolowo University

3rd Place: Babcock University

Category 2: Policy Research and Presentation

1st Place: University of Ibadan

2nd Place: Obafemi Awolowo University

3rd Place: Adekunle Ajasin University

The OAU team consists of eight students; including Mercy Akande, Tijani Halimat, Toluwalope Awodele, Damilola Shado, Samuel Ogunbadeniyi, Samuel Ayelagbe, Victor Oladepo and BenAmin Adeniji, all from the Department of Economics presented a research paper titled “The Impact of AfCFTA on the Growth of Agribusiness SMEs in Nigeria.” Their paper addressed challenges such as limited financing, infrastructure deficits, and trade barriers faced by agribusiness SMEs. Additionally, they highlighted specific benefits that AfCFTA could offer, including lower tariffs, reduced transport costs, streamlined border procedures, and a wider customer base.

In an interview with OAUPeeps News Agency Correspondent; BenAmin Adeniji, the Team Lead, shared insights into the competition.

“The competition required a minimum of four and a maximum of eight students from both economics and law departments representing the school. But the law students were not responding. At first, they gave us two students, but they later opted out, and we had to replace them with economics students. But in the end, we give glory to God because we later overcame all of the hurdles, to come second behind UI.

“It was a virtual competition that spanned through November and December, and the results were announced on January 8. We were asked to write a research paper, present it, as well as do advocacy.

“Our case study was to advocate the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTA) to our community. And we started by interviewing people on campus, asking them if they were familiar with AFCTA. In the second stage, we wrote a research paper where we picked an SMSE (AACE Foods), and we looked at how AfCTA can directly or indirectly affect them.

“The Economic Impact challenge was a groundbreaking achievement as well as an eye-opener for us. It provided the platform and opportunity for us to express ourselves and our prowess while working together as a team. So, we are saying a big thank you to AFEL and the organizing team. We appreciate the opportunity.”

OAU Reduces School Fees After Meeting With Union Leaders

 

By Ifeoluwa Adegboyega

In response to demands from the Great Ife Students, the management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has officially disclosed a minimal reduction in school fees, subsequent to the initial fee increase.

This decision was reached after an extensive meeting between the University's management and the Great Ife Students' Union on Monday, September 25th, 2023.

Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, the University's Public Relations Officer, confirmed in a press release that the meeting was initiated by the University's management due to the students' consistent calls for a reduction in the initially approved fees.

Despite the Student Union request for a 50% reduction, the University's management clarified that the revised charges were set at the minimum level required to maintain the university's operational efficiency.

In response to this situation, Vice Chancellor Professor Adebayo Simeon BAMIRE, in a press release, announced the following fee reductions:

Humanities: Returning students' fees have been reduced from #89,200 to #76,000, while fresh Humanities students will now pay #131,000 instead of the initial #151,200.

Sciences and Technology: Charges for returning students in these faculties have been lowered from #101,200 to #86,000, and fresh students will pay #141,000, down from the initial #163,200.

Pharmacy and College of Health Sciences: Returning students in these faculties will now pay #109,000 instead of #128,200, while fresh students will pay #164,000, down from the initial #190,000.

The university's management, as outlined in a release, has also agreed to allow students to make payments in two equal installments.

Furthermore, they stated in a press release that the payment portal is now accessible to students for fee processing.

Great Ife Students' Union Requests Fee Collection Suspension In Response to Fee Hike

By Fadipe Oluwatimileyin

Amidst the recent fee hike in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, the Great Ife Students' Union has taken an assertive step by addressing various financial institutions, demanding a temporary suspension of student fee collections.

In response to their dissatisfaction with the recent fee increase, following a stakeholders' meeting, the report outlines the unanimous resolution among students to withhold fee payments until the university management revises the fee hike.

The students' union further asserts that the fee increment was implemented without considering the prevailing economic conditions and contradicts directives from the House of Representatives, the Presidency, and the Federal Ministry of Education, all of which mandated a freeze on fee hikes in federal universities. This move aims to exert pressure on the university management to reconsider their decision.

Following the stakeholders' meeting, the union indicates that the letter has been sent to multiple financial institutions, including Access Bank, Diamond Bank, Ecobank Plc, FCMB, First Bank, Fidelity Bank, GTBank, Polaris Bank, Union Bank, Wema Bank, Zenith Bank, and UBA.

In their press release, the students' union emphasizes that a failure to comply with their request may lead to confrontations between the student body and the financial institutions involved.

In their concluding remarks, they further stress that the decision now rests in the hands of these financial institutions on campus, as they must weigh the options of complying with the students' appeal or potentially facing challenging situations.

Obafemi Awolowo University Adjusts Students' Fees for 2023 Academic Session Following Senate Decision

 

By Joshua Ajayi-Sanni

With the new academic session on the horizon, the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has disclosed revisions to the students' fees for the upcoming academic year. 

The new fee structure was unveiled by the University's Public Relations Officer in a press release and made available to OAUpeeps News Agency.

According to the statement, fresh students in the Faculties of Arts, Law, and Humanities will pay #151,200

While returning students in these faculties will pay #89,200. 

Similarly, fresh students in the Faculties of Technology and Science will be charged #163,200, with returning students in these faculties facing a fee of #101,200.

This fee adjustment is not specified to these faculties alone; new students entering the Faculties in the College of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Pharmacy will pay #190,200 and #128,200, respectively, while returning students in the same faculties will incur fees of #128,200 and #89,200, respectively.

The management extends its best wishes to the students for a successful academic programme.