Post UTME Results Released

This is to inform every candidates of the 2014 OAU Post UTME that the results of the examination are out. The Results the Screening conducted on Saturday 2nd August, 2014 was released at 11.45pm same day.

Deputy Dean, DSA, Dr Yinka Adesina Celebrates Birthday

We wish to congratulate our very own man, Dr Yinka Adesina on his birthday. The entire OAU Peeps Crew and friends use this medium to pray God for you, long life, more prosperity and good heath. Many happy returns!

We also want to use this medium to request your help at resolving the lingering crisis in our school. We want to resume back to school soon.

Dr Yinka Adesina of the Department of Mathematics is currently the Deputy Dean, Division of Students' Affairs, Obafemi Awolowo University.

OAU 2014/2015 Admission Discussion Thread

Yes! Post-UTME is now over. Let all candidates that applied into OAU for the 2014/2015 admissions meet here. Let us hold our discussions here and update ourselves on latest developments. Previous cut-off points too will be discussed here.

OAU Post-UTME Held Amidst School Closure

The Post-UTME for aspiring students of Obafemi Awolowo University for the 2014/2015 session has finally been held today as sheduled. The exam which drew over 20,000 persons comprising about 17,000 candidates and their guardians into the Campus went on without any hitch.

Many of the aspirants who took the screening test who spoke to our various correspondents on Campus express satisfaction over the conduct of the exercise. They said they are happy to have completed every exams prior to their admission into the school and they remain hopeful that resumption will be soon.

Notwithstanding, many of the candidates who spoke with us lament the toughness of the questions given to them. In her words, one Adebimpe said "the exam is too tough for somebody is just leaving Secondary school. I believe OAU sets her Post-JAMB to favour the Predegree candidates"

We were already informed late yesterday by the Director of Information & Strategy, National Secretariat of NANS, Comrade Sam Adegbola that the initially announced disruption of  the exercise will no longer take place.

Many of the Candidates of today's exercise may not resume as a bonafide Undergraduates of OAU until June, 2015, that been the earliest. This is due to the already crumbled academic Calendae of the University. Anytime earlier than that can only be achieved if the rumour of integrating two Academic Sessions, that is the 2013/2014 Seession into 2014/2015 Session.

At the moment, the students that were admitted for the 2013/2014 academic session are yet to receive a single lecture. Here we are in August, 2014.

My Situation Report On School Closure -Bentigol Opeyemi Ojewale

SITUATION REPORT ON THE CLOSURE OF THE UNIVERSITY

There's no doubt in the saying that "the foolish man seeks happiness in the distance,the wise grows it under his feet". Though I've clamored it several times that we shouldn't subject ourselves to any form of deceitful updates by anybody who calls himself/herself as comrade/advocate of the #OAUSAYSNO. Some people among us,till now,do find my updates incriminating to their personalities."Don't you know that this good man,though you trip him up seven times,will each time rise again ?" -Proverbs 24:16.

With a view to confirming my arguments so far,here's the resolution of the congress held by OAU ASUU on 15th July,2014,which has been misinterpreted in different forms to us;

 ** Congress deliberated extensively on this,acknowledging that the University Administration acted within its remit in closing the University and that if such an action had been taken for the peace ,security ,and well-being of the University community ,it had ,indeed ,been well taken.

** Congress was also informed that the Students' Union had made a representation to the OAU ASUU EXCO apologizing verbally,for what they said was the "unruly behaviour of their members during their protests over increases in sundry fees/charges levied by the University in June.Congress,however,rejected the apology as reported by the Chairman and ,instead ,requested that a letter be transmitted to the OAU ASUU Congress,showing the apology and an undertaking that such an unruliness would never recur.

N.B:

** The meeting lasted for 4hrs and 25mins, and the resolution was that;

Having considered the academic ,socio-economic and political implications of the indefinite closure ,the Congress observed that the efforts of the University Authority to address the divergent issues bordering on the closure of the University are worthy of note.Hence ,the University should further intensify its efforts at doing everything needful to re-open the University as soon as possible.

**We've been fed with different kinds of updates,which had been misleading in nature,on the reasons why we shouldn't pay. Here are my questions; "WHY HAS THE LEADERSHIP OF THE GREAT IFE  STUDENTS' UNION REFUSED TO COMMUNICATE TO US ON THOSE POINTS THAT WERE STRESSED IN THE RESOLUTION ABOVE ? WHY ARE THEY DISSEMINATING THE INFORMATION THAT WE SHOULDN'T PAY WHEN MOST OF THE COMRADES HAD PAID BEFORE THE LATE REGISTRATION'S ACTIVATION ?

Well,I'm using this medium to communicate to a common reasonable reader of this piece to  try and do something to defend himself/herself against deceits.With this,I would say; "you look at things not  as they are but as they can be ". GREETINGS TO Y'ALL !

Regards



 The writer of this Opinion, BENTIGOL Opeyemi Ojewale is a 400L student of  the Department of Management & Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University. You can reach Bentigol through his e-mail: tudop2010@gmail.com

Students' Union Warns Student Leaders Over Osun Guber Poll

FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE UNION
(As At TODAY, 2nd August 2014)

Revolutionary greetings to Great Ife Students. In the nomenclature of the Union to update students on the recent activities of the Union ever since the closure of the school, the following is the state of the Union.

LAST UNIVERSITY SENATE MEETING
The last University Senate meeting held on Thursday,31st July to deliberate on issues of review of the fees, resumption, new calendar vis-a-vis registration, report of the last panel among other issues was inconclusive due to the acclaimed complexity of issues set before the Senate. To this end the Union would like to use this medium to inform the Great Ife community it maintains its openness to holistic dialogue on all issues such as review of the fees and late registration so as to ensure quick and enduring resumption of students back to campus.

BRAND NEW BUS DONATED TO THE STUDENT'S UNION

Since the inception of our administration, it is a known fact that the political gladiators from major political parties have been engaging us seeking our support just as it is being done all over the state, but our position has always been that they should do projects for OAU students such as donation of buses, scholarships, etc. In particular, both APC and PDP have promised us a bus each. Meanwhile, on Thursday 31st July, 2014, the PDP Guber aspirant, Senator Iyiola C. Omisore, donated a brand new 18 seater bus to the Students' Union.

This indubitably will aid the mobility of the Union especially in times of struggle and make the Union enjoy mobility autonomy as against the constant seizure of the Union bus by the management whenever the Union has issues with the University.

It is pertinent to warn all those, comrades inclusive, who have collected money from the political gladiators and promised to "deliver" OAU campus by crook or by force to desist from such acts as rigging, violence,etc. Let both the APC and PDP comrades and apologists on campus be reminded that they must desist from violence. Only votes would count! Let it also be reiterated that the Union leadership has not and would not collect any money from anybody for purpose of supporting any candidate in the coming elections, our demand will always be for project without any support condition attached.

ON LATE REGISTRATION AND RUMOURED SUSPENSION OF UNION LEADERS

We commend the unflinching solidariity of those that have not paid the hiked fees. The position of the Union remains that STUDENTS SHOULD NOT PAY. Late registration now is illegal and it behoves only on the University Senate to redraft new timetable.

In the same vein it has been rumoured that the Union leaders have been suspended from the University. We use this medium to inform the generality of Ife community that this is not true as we believe that any action of such from the management will only be a call for unrest on the campus. All members of the leadership of the Union still remain valid students of the University.

We remain committed and undistracted in the struggle for the liberation of the Nigerian child and the rescue of his future. ‪#‎OAUsaysNO‬.

Aluta Continua.

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Signed:

IBIKUNLE Isaac M.                                                                                             SHITTU I. Olatayo 

President                                                                                                                Secretary-General

Full Text Of President Jonathan's Remark At The Launch Of The Victims Support Fund

Remarks by His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCF at the launch of the Victims Support Fund on Thursday 31st July, 2014

PROTOCOLS

1.              I welcome you all to this all-important occasion as we set out to demonstrate our love and care for those who have been affected by terrorism in our country.

2.              At this point in time in our nation’s history, we have two clear choices before us. The first is to sit down and bemoan the tragic consequences of terrorism in our land. The second is to stand up and take action that will show that good will always overwhelm evil. By this fund-raising initiative, we have chosen the latter. We are reaching out with a cuddle of comfort and a show of support to our people.

3.              One aspect of Nigerian culture I have always been proud of is our preparedness to always be our brother’s and sister’s keeper. This was on display in 2012 when we experienced the natural calamity of flooding. As we fund-raise today, I am confident that this quality, domiciled in the minds of our people, will once again give expression through your work and the generosity and large heartedness of the good people of Nigeria.

4.              Let me quickly share a story with you.  On Thursday, July 24th 2014, at exactly 12.35pm, a courier letter arrived in my office from Aba, Abia State. In the package was a bank draft for N5,000 sent in by a kind-hearted Nigerian, Dr. Uchenna Nnanna-Kalu, whom I never knew. He sent in the draft as his own contribution to the Victims Support Fund that we are launching today. I share this story because it touched my heart. Very clearly, Nigerians are very good people.

5.              Many lessons are contained in this seemingly little package of gesture. The first is that any amount donated to this cause would do. He gave what he could, apparently from the bottom of his heart. In seeking to provide succour to the victims of terror attacks, no amount is too small. The N5,000 Nnanna-Kalu gave can clothe a whole family or pay for their food for some days. We should therefore not think that our contributions have to be extremely large before they can be useful.

6.              The second lesson from Uchenna's gesture is that you cannot defeat the Nigerian spirit of good neighbourliness. Those who are trying to define Nigeria on the basis of ethnicity and religion are missing the point and they will continue to miss the point. Injury to one Nigerian is injury to all Nigerians. Discomfort in any part of the country is discomfort to all.

7.              We all want a peaceful country where everybody will be happy, where everybody will feel free. This generation must not be allowed to bequeath any speck of hatred to the generation that is to come. We all must work to bequeath a country of equity, fairness and justice to our children.

8.              What Nigerians expect this event to demonstrate is that tragedy, though undesired, brings out the best and not the worst in us. We might be passing through some challenging and tough times. These times as is often said will not last. There is something constant in our culture as Nigerians: We do not allow fellow citizens to bear tragedy by themselves alone.

9.              It is true, we are navigating a very challenging phase in our journey as a nation. This phase has brought out the extremes of inhumanity in the misguided elements who are hiding under the guise of religion to destroy a country we are working so hard to build.

10.         Collectively, rather than despair, we want to repair.  The world only makes progress when we solve problems. Problems cannot solve themselves. Lamentation cannot solve problems. We solve problems by standing up and taking action! Nigerians are equal to the task.

11.         On July 16, 2014, when I inaugurated the Victims Support Fund Committee, I did say that this is not the kind of projects we would love to wish on ourselves. We would rather be laying foundation stones for more housing projects than compensating people whose houses were destroyed by the terrorists. We would rather be launching more mass transit projects than compensating people whose buses were burnt. We would rather be attending weddings and naming ceremonies than attending funerals of the victims of terrorism.

12.         Today, as we seek to raise funds to cater for the victims of terrorism in our land, we are doing this with every sense of responsibility to the citizenry. This is just one of the several steps this administration is taking to address this unfortunate development in the land.

13.         The fact that we are setting up a victims support fund does not mean we have accepted that terrorism is here to stay. No! Never!! Rather, this is just one of the short-term measures in our overall strategy against the enemies of peace and progress. We will not allow evil to overcome good. No! We will not!!

14.         I understand perfectly that millions of Nigerians are worried about the threat of terror in our country. It is a new phenomenon that took us virtually unawares. I never for once thought that I would, in my life time, hear of Nigerians strapping bombs to themselves and blowing up innocent people. We would have sworn that it is impossible!

15.         Ten years ago, no Nigerian would have imagined it. We thought it was something that could only happen in other countries. But here we are today witnessing this sordid phenomenon. Mr Chairman, fellow citizens, we will defeat terror and I will lead Nigerians to achieve this.

16.         Distinguished guests, when some twisted minds kidnapped innocent schoolgirls and have since kept them captive for months, many Nigerians never believed it could happen in our beloved country!

17.         In our efforts to rescue our daughters, we have had to battle with the dilemma of demonstrating military might and endangering their lives or undermining the sovereignty of Nigeria by succumbing to the blackmail of the terrorists on their own terms. Let me restate that we will not give in or give up to terrorists. We will continue to explore all options that will safely bring our daughters back home. I repeat: We will not give in or give up.

18.         We will come out of this a tougher and better nation. In these trying times, we have seen Muslims and Christians, Northerners and Southerners, men and women, and Nigerians from all walks of life rise up in unison to condemn the terrorists.

19.         Rather than destroy the spirit and essence of our Nigerianness, the terrorists have succeeded in uniting us and making us to see that they are a common threat to all. By bombing mosques and churches, they have shown to us that they are enemies to all. By killing Muslims and Christians, they have demonstrated to every Nigerian that their evil agenda does not discriminate. Unintentionally, they are motivating millions of Nigerians to see them as a common enemy whose only purpose is to steal, to kill and to destroy.

20.         As Nigerians, we must find strength in these trying times. We must redefine our sense of purpose at moments like these. We must tap into our sense of unity, peace and progress in the face of these relentless assaults by these enemies of peace and dispensers of horror.

21.         Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, we cannot determine what terrorists do with their minds but we can determine what we do with ours. It is our collective duty to defeat this evil philosophy that thrives on bloodshed and sorrow. If we truly believe that God created all of us, what then can be the basis for us to take human lives believing that we are doing God a service? If we believe that God is a God of love and peace, why should we sow hate and wage war in the name of the same God?

22.         I call on all Nigerians who have a sense of purpose to join hands with the government to defeat all destructive ideologies in our country. As a government, we will not relent in the pursuit of these individuals until we bring them to justice. We will not fold our arms and allow individuals with narrow agenda undermine the integrity of Nigeria. We will not achieve victory overnight, but our steps will continue to be strong, sure and steady.

23.         We are taking steps in investing heavily in building schools all over the country to keep the minds of our children and youths productively and positively engaged. We are building Almajiri Schools. We are equipping young men and women with mental resources without letting them forgo their religious obligations. When the pupils finish from these schools, they will not only know their religion very well, they will graduate with skills that will keep them productive for the rest of their lives.

24.         We have also launched the Safe Schools Initiative, not just to provide a conducive learning environment for our kids but also to assure parents and guardians that their wards are safe and secure. If care is not taken, the misguided actions of terrorists can have a lasting impact on parents who would be too scared to allow their children to seek education in the future.

25.         In addition to these, we have also launched thePresidential Initiative on the North-East  (PINE), as part of the overall development strategy of the government.

26.         We have strengthened the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund to be better able to provide a social security protection for all Nigerians. The fund is now better placed to protect the most vulnerable Nigerians, women and children especially, from deprivations and financial insecurity. We have taken steps to recalibrate the pension administration system so as to ensure that those who serve our nation continue to live a life in gratitude to our nation after retirement.

27.         But while we earnestly await the manifestations of greater fruits of our efforts, we cannot but pause to spare a thought for the millions of people whose lives have been ruined one way or the other by these terrorists. As we look into the future, we must also address the realities of the present. People have lost loved ones. People have lost property. People have been maimed for life. People have become refugees in their own country for no fault of theirs.

28.         The reason we set up the Victims Support Fund Committee is for all of us, everyone who is public-spirited, to reach out to the victims. We want to galvanise the support of Nigerians to provide succour to victims of terror all over the country. The Victims Support Fund Committee, as I said at the inauguration, will help to mobilise collective efforts and resources in support for the victims.

29.         Mr Chairman, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I want to challenge us to think deeply about how privileged we are to be able to give. It is a divine privilege that we cannot explain. The victims did not wish this calamity upon themselves. They did not pray for it. It could have been anyone. But for the mercy of God, we could have been the ones needing support as a result of this insurgency. But in His infinite mercy and grace, the Almighty God has decided that we should be the ones giving support, not receiving it.

30.         We should therefore reach deep into our hearts and deeper into our pockets to help wipe away the tears of our people in need.

31.         Let me conclude by reminding us of the divine wisdom from our Almighty Creator. One of the five pillars of Islam is the practice of Zakkat: The faith enjoins all faithful to give a certain percentage of one's income to the needy.

32.         In Christendom, the phrase “God loves a cheerful giver”, and that “it is more blessed to give than to receive”, is well acknowledged. I urge us all to give generously. May the Almighty God bless you most abundantly.

33.         I thank you.