OAU Fee Hike Novella (Episode 2)

(Continued)

...Segun,sola and the other rummies were surprised at Tunde that he cried.Haba,Tund e why you dey cry now? sebi na rumor.Tunde didnt want to answer them but on second thoughts he replied,saying even if na rumor,make i dey cry now,una know say rumor dey come true for OAU,where will i see 40k,i lost my Dad last Month and surviving here has not been easy,i have 3 younger sisters and am the only guy,you now say i shouldn't cry,infact i should weep. Tunde's other rummies were lost on what to say and the mood in the room changed to a very sober one.

Somewhere else near Awo cafe,students were seen discussing groups with different opinions been brought up.What is Ibikunle saying about this? Saheed queried. Ibikunle ke? Well he hasn't said anything o, maybe he wil say something before today ends sha. Later that same day,everywhere in the halls of residence was filled with arguments and counter arguments about the rumor. Tunde notwithstanding his mood went to the football pitch to play when the argument broke up again,he couldnt stay there for too long as he started developing headache,he decided to rest in his room.

Sola was in the Mozambique hall when the news filtered in that the DSA has confirmed the increment,he left Gbemisola his girlfriend abruptly and went to his fearing that Tunde may have heard the news and wouldn't be in good state,never did he know that he would be the one to break the bad news. On entering the room he saw Tunde reading and calmly said 'I Know you've heard that the DSA has confirmed the increment but... Not letting Sola finish his statement, Tunde stood up and started pacing the room around,thinking aloud.

Segun oblivious of what was going on came in and said,una dan hear stay congress dey today sha? Make we cum discus aw we go do Aluta unto dis fee increment.Aluta ko,aluin ni,Richard another rummie of Tunde retorted,if they like they should increase the fee to hundred thousand i will pay.

Tunde didn't take Richard's statement light as he lauched a heavy blow on Richard's face.Seeing stars but later regaining consciousness Richard threatened to retaliate but Segun and Sola stopped him.Hissing, Tunde stormed out of the room...


The writer of this story, Oyedeji Olanrewaju is a Part 2 student of  the Department of Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University. You can reach Oyedeji through his e-mail: Olanrewajusamuel8@gmail.com

OAU Fee Hike Novella (Episode 1)

This is a non-fictional story on the OAU fee hike,feel free to drop your comments and criticisms

EPISODE 1

Oh, so it is morning? Tunde asked as he yawned turning from one side of his bed to another,looking sideways he saw that Sola was the only one left in the hostel with him,he started wondering what could be wrong that everybody would have left the room so early on a Saturday Morning leaving him and Sola. Tunde was about to ask what was happening when Sola spoke without mincing words, 'you dey find our rummies abi?

Dem dan go Awo jare,they talk say dm paste sumtin dia about fee increment,but you know say OAU na land of rumors,so i dont believe them'. Without waiting further Tunde started laughing,surpri sed at his actions Sola looked at him with scorn,just then Tunde stopped laughing and bursted out saying 'When Omole no want make we give am sms,increment ko,subsidy ni' abeg i wan go toilet jare.Sola stopped him and said,where you wan see water or you wan go spoil that toilet again.No jare,na shotput i wan throw,Tunde said. About 30minutes later, Tunde and Sola Ten other rummies came inside arguing fiercely,Tomide was saying 'imagine 95,000 for science students,ehn my popsy no go fit pay for Salewa,my sister wey just gain admission' Segun also voiced out fiercely,saying well na still rumor.

Just then Tunde rushed inside,asking 'abeg,how much dm increase stalites fee to? We dey hear 40k sha,on hearing this Tunde burst out in tears. Why did he burst into tears? What happened next?Who is Tunde and is the NEWS a rumor?

Watch out for episode two of this novella dedicated to the #OAU Students struggle.


The writer of this story, Oyedeji Olanrewaju is a Part 2 student of  the Department of Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University. You can reach Oyedeji through his e-mail: Olanrewajusamuel8@gmail.com

Happy Hometriculation To Great Ife Freshmen

Normally, by this time(09:00am), I should have been armed with my fork and spoon secretly pocketed in my trouser as I celebrate with my fresh friends. No thanks to OAU management and the alutarious Intellectual Fighters for Emancipation.

Today, August 7 was initially scheduled for the Matriculation of our freshmen based on the calendar released for the 2013/2014 academic session. It is quite unfortunate that the school closure has destroyed all plans.

As a freshman who should have been translated into a bonafide Great Ife student today, how do you feel about the disruption of plan?

OAU Remains Nigeria's Best University -Webometrics

Contrary to widespread reports, and in further confirmation of its academic excellence and intellectual supremacy over and above other Universities and Institutions of Higher Learning, the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has, again, been rated the first and the best University in Nigeria and 19th in Africa.

Reacting, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bamitale Omole, attributed the giant strides recorded by his administration to the unparalleled research output, administrative acumen, technical know-how of the academic, administrative and technical staff of the University, adding that only a focused leadership, which is the hallmark of his management team, can produce such a spectacular feat.

Professor Bamitale Omole, then applauded the dedication to duty of all stakeholders in making sure that the ideals of the founding fathers of OAU become a reality in its entirety. He urged the Federal Government not to relent in its efforts to improve the funding of education, particularly for the universities, so that the increased penchant for travelling abroad to undergo academic programmes that could be taught better by our lecturers here in Nigeria would be a thing of the past

For more click on the links below:

Rating of Nigerian Universities
Rating of African Universities

Prof. Bamitale Omole Expected To Be Named INEC Returning Officer For Osun Poll

With just few days to the Osun state governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) is yet to name who will be the Returning Officer for the Poll.

Indications however emerged today that the Obafemi Awolowo University Vice Chancellor, Professor Bamitale Omope may be selected to be the Returning Officer. The source who pleaded anonymity said Omole is a VC of the only Federal University in Osun state, so according to the trend of INEC selection, he is favourite for the job. He however sited the examples of Professor Adebiyi Daramola of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) and Professor Isaac Azuzzi of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti as Returning Officers in both Ondo and Ekiti elections respectively.

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OAU SU Clears Air On Alleged Division, Indict VP As Betrayal

FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE UNION

(As At Today, 6th August 2014)

‘’ Most times, lie gets halfway the world before the truth manages to get its pants on ’’ - Winston Spencer Churchill

Since the autocratic closure of the school by the management on 18th June and Great Ife students left the barricades, the leadership of the Union has not failed in its duty of holding regular discussions to appraise matters. Today the leadership of the Union met to reappraise issues that concern the 2014 Parliamentary Session of the Union and the ongoing struggle against increment in school fee. Variety of matters were discussed ranging from the current state of the struggle and some germane administrative issues were holistically assessed especially the most recent of them. An encompassing resolution of the meeting was to give re-assurances to our students on our commitment to the struggle and to clear the air on all allegations levelled against the leadership of the union. Prominent issues discussed are:

ON RESUMPTION AND THE STRUGGLE AGAINST INCREMENT IN FEES:

Last week the University Senate was supposed to meet to decide on issues of the review of the fees, reopening of the school and resumption of students back to campus as well as other policies surrounding the fees among other issues but the meeting was inconclusive. Also the threatened commencement of late registration was not implemented by the management due to the efforts of the various mediating intermediaries and the constructive means the union used in prosecuting the matter. We commend the solidarity of students who maintained their stand with the Union. It is pertinent at this crucial point in history that we restate our commitment to the struggle and that we will continue to prosecute the struggle using constructive methodologies that will give the needed results as we had promised during our electioneering. Our methodologies led us to opening negotiation through mediators with the management where some concessions were gotten and the same got the management to agree to work study and instalmental payments for indigent students without leaving behind the review of the fees. We remain committed to the mandate which was given to us at election into various offices which the current saddening closure is not part of. We have been assured by our various mediators, bodies and individuals, that final resolution of all contentious issues is being achieved to achieve resumption this month. We have been and will continue to prosecute the struggle and run our administration within the ambit of this mandate of constructive and result-yielding methodologies of attending to issues.

ON THE RECENT RELEASE BY THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNION AND THE RECEIPT OF A BUS FROM SEN. IYIOLA OMISORE:

The leadership of the Union received with great amazement the release by the Vice President on the Union Facebook page on the evening of Monday, 4th August where she raised allegations against the remaining leadership of the Union on the receipt of a bus donated to the Union by Sen. Iyiola Omisore and the prosecution of the on-going struggle on the general. She claimed not to be aware of the issue of the bus at all.

It is pertinent to state here:

That the VP was in attendance at the meeting in May where the donor assured to intervene on the crisis and promised the donation of the bus and readiness to help the Union on other projects especially on the on-going struggle of hike in school fees. This was far back in May, no electioneering in view. She (Olori) expressed concern at another meeting of the Leadership on the delay of the bus as she hoped to use it in preparation for the orientation week which is incidental to her office since she was aware management would frustrate us with mobility because of our struggle. She also expressed joy at the arrival of the bus last week Thursday and even congratulated the President on the receipt of the Bus and DEMANDED for what to celebrate it with, only for her to come out the following Monday to express ignorance of the receipt of the bus. What a high level of hypocrisy and betrayal! The question that is still difficult for us to answer is: why is she doing this? Whose script is she acting out? She raised issues regarding externalised actions and why they were struck out, particularly the planned Ibadan action, the same reasons that struck out the Osogbo action is why the Ibadan action was struck out, these reasons ranging from the advice of our lawyers and advisers and Olori cannot claim not to be in the know of all these. In case the management fails to honour our invitation for dialogue and/or moves of our solidarising mediators, our attention was advised to be centred on the Abuja action because of the fact that Abuja is the seat of the Federal Government and and capable of yielding needed result for we have exhausted all that needed to be done both physically and strategically such as several press campaigns and mass sensitisations we had. All resources and logistics are to be concentrated on this AND OLORI was made the grand strategist to plan/mobilise for the action due to her NANS connection. This she never did and never intimated the leadership, instead she was busy with her money making partisan-politics ventures. Since she couldn’t deliver on the Abuja action, she was called to divert attention to the day of the coming of the president Goodluck Jonathan in Ife. Her response was that ‘’she can’t be part of any protest, that she has an INEC job to do to raise cash and that she won’t waste her time fighting for any students who are catching their fun at home and have also gathered enough fund to pay their school fee’’. So who is deceiving who?

Well, we are not surprised because her unholy association with the Osun State NANS/JCC has been the shade in her eyes or how do we explain her involvement in the leafleteering at Ilesha and the rally for APC at Osogbo? Time they say is the ultimate judge!

In the leadership meeting preceding orientation week, it is the same way she prevailed on all other executive members to suspend actions to allow total concentration on her orientation programme only for her to appear later in public to blame us for the suspension. What a duplicity! Great Ife, the minute of the meeting is there for verification.

That the report of the meeting with Sen. Iyiola Omisore and the leadership of the Union with respect to the expected donation/intervention was mentioned at a congress of Great Ife students before the Orientation programme and NOBODY objected to it or requested that we reject the donation then (Olori inclusive), so why now? Where were all the self-acclaimed lovers of the image and sacredness of the Union and its traditions when this issues where presented at the congress? All those raising the issue of ‘’persona non grata’’ where were they then? The truth and falsity of the persona non grata issue will be a subject of another day. Great Ife our vigilance must be brought to play here so we don’t allow ourselves to be used as puns on the chessboard of political-mischief makers and rotunda messiahs.

That we didn’t go to Sen. Iyiola Omisore to beg for a Bus, he intercepted us at the palace of the Ooni (20th May, 2014) and promised to see the VC on our behalf the day after, it was after his meeting with the VC that he invited us to a meeting that was attended by the leadership of the Union, Olori inclusive, where he briefed us of the outcome of their meeting and promised to provide a bus to aid our mobility and subsequent struggles as a Union. This also was reported at the Congress.

That the Bus given to us is an unbranded and un-numbered brand new Bus. We did the branding on the Bus and wrote the inscription on it, if the inscription on it is the issue, it should be so stated. Not the hypocrisy, calumny, lies and deceit that is been peddled around.

Great Ife! You have now been obliged with information from both sides, we leave you with your conscience to decide just as we are still watching with keen interest the political drama being played on the social media and we will not allow anybody or group of individuals to super impose their selfish interest over the collective interest of Great Ife Students. We only avail you with the truth as you have a right to it. Union leadership remains one, Olori our constitutional wife inclusive for this trying period will surely pass over and the lips of truth shall be established forever.

Greatest IFE we remain committed to PROMPT RESUMPTION of our students back to the University campus and restoration of normalcy in the university as well as HOLISTIC RESOLUTION of all lingering matters being fallouts of the increment struggle. We have not deviated from the mandate we were given at our election into our various offices- the alternative to the status quo. On the security of the hope of the Nigerian child no matter his/her status and the path to a better Nigeria – EDUCATION we stand.

NB:
We hope the partisan-admins of this page will not delete this post and remove genuine students and their comments as you have been seen to be doing. Just yesterday, you still perpetrated the evil. We appeal that you desist from these infringement on students’ rights of expression for this group page is gradually losing credibility. God bless you! ...La lucha sigue!

Signed:

BAMIDELE Oludare J.                       SHITTU I. Olatayo                          IBIKUNLE Isaac M.
P.R.O                                                       Secretary-General                              President.

"Save Me From Death" -OAU Student Cries

An extraordinary ambition of a 26-year-old designer and graduate of Sociology from Obafemi Awolowo University to export made-in-Nigeria designs abroad is threatened by kidney disease. Solomon Elusoji writes that with N9 million for a kidney transplant, that dream will become a reality

Yomade Balogun is just 26 years old, but already in a tug of war with Death. Although she’s been brave, even heroic – for being on the battleground with Death for eight years – her energy seems to be waning. As the clock’s arms move – tick tock, tick tock – Death seems to be winning. 

And once again, Nigeria is on the verge of losing one of its young minds that has shown astute leadership skills – a trait the country needs desperately for her great future.

Balogun, an indigene of Ondo State, is a graduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University (Sociology and Anthropology).

She is equally a chartered Personnel Manager after sitting for and passing the qualifying exams of the Chattered Institute of Personnel Management.

Balogun was deployed to serve the country in Gombe State during the 2010 Batch C NYSC scheme and she served with pride.

Shortly after her service year, she followed her dream to have a world-class clothing label and to become a top employer of labour in the country.

So her quest for creativity, innovation and quality delivery propelled the young Balogun to start the company called Adornare Clothing and Accessories, a company which has been providing clothing and organising training to empower young Nigerians.

Her desire to provide out-of-the-box products led her to start the “Made Erratic (ME)” label. The ME label was created to make bespoke wears for all occasions.

Starting with just raw talent, some formal training and a great amount of passion, Balogun was able to channel her energy to create an opportunity that other young people can benefit from.

 

But her dream to run a world-class clothing and accessories company may appear to be hitting the wall as Balogun is currently hospitalised, battling a kidney disease.

Many of the people that have met the ever smiling lady before she was hospitalised would not believe that she has been fighting a prolonged battle of her life since 2006.

On that day when fate struck her this fatal blow, she woke up in her hostel on the university campus and was rushed to the health centre. Her body swelled and she was held in the cold embrace of fear. She was later diagnosed of Alderman (a medical condition that is characterised by body swelling).

She was just in her second year in the university, but was told that she had very high cholesterol. The information came to her as a rude shock but for the next two years of her life, Balogun was on medications. Still, she graduated with distinctions.

 

In 2008, she became better and life appeared to be squeezing her lemons into lemonades. But after her national youth service program in 2011, she had a major health crisis that threatened to end her dreams. But she fought back to stay alive. She was rushed to the Gbagada General Hospital in Lagos, where she was diagnosed with kidney infection.

Distressed by the diagnosis, the strong-willed Balogun didn’t allow the kidney infection to stop her from chasing after her dream. She took her medications, fought the disease and made efforts to be a blessing to all those around her.

But in 2012, despite her valiant efforts to stay strong, the disease escalated to stage four. And in search of a better treatment, Balogun was taken to the Ekiti State Hospital where she continued the battle of her life.

After an entire month in bed, she started to show signs of recovery. But the cost of transport and the difficulty associated with travelling from Lagos to Ekiti for hospital visits necessitated a transfer to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

So the fight continued and the doctors in LUTH struggled to manage the disease. But soon, another tragedy struck. The doctors at LUTH went on strike. She was then taken to Gbagada General Hospital. While at the hospital, she went through a series of test and treatment after which she was advised to undergo a kidney transplant immediately, if she wanted to stay alive.

According to one of her schoolmates back at OAU, Peter Okolie, “Yomade has always dedicated herself to being a blessing to those around her.”

In the last eight years, she has been in and out of hospitals and has had to take more medications than most people would take all through their life.

Despite all these, Balogun continues to wear a smile and believes that the fight is not over until she wins over the disease.

Currently, she is presently undergoing dialysis twice a week at the Gbagada General Hospital and Clinix Health Care, under the supervision of Dr Busari with hospital no 210770. The cost of the bi-weekly dialysis is very heavy and the dialysis is not a permanent treatment for the disease.

Tragically, Balogun lost her father to an auto-accident on the 20th of March 1992 (22 years ago) and the responsibility for her medical bills and care has been handled only by her mother.

As it stands, the recommend treatment is a kidney transplant. The cost projection for the kidney transplant according to St Nicholas Hospital is about N9 million, which her mother, a civil servant with Somolu-Bariga Local Government in Lagos State cannot afford.

All those that have met Balogun would attest to the fact that she is a promising young lady that is a beacon of hope to this generation.

She has always put the interest of others before her own. She has always looked at the best in other people and she has a tender compassionate heart. Even through her health challenges she has always found opportunities to be a blessing to those around her. “Posterity would hold us accountable if we allow her light to go out simply because we chose to fold our hands when we could lend a helping hand,” said Okolie.

“Balogun needs N9 million for a kidney transplant, Please kindly make a donation to any of the accounts stated below – Balogun Yomade Yewande: Diamond bank: 0041932927, Diamond bank: 0051136447 (dollar account) , Guaranty Trust Bank: 0130520176, Zenith Bank: 2084974783.

“Nothing is too small, every assistance is appreciated. I want to live to fulfil my dream. Now, I need well-meaning Nigerians to save me from dying,’ Balogun said, expressing faith in her countrymen.

“Balogun Yomade needs N9 million for the kidney transplant, if she must stay alive to be a blessing to this generation. She’s is an extremely nice person. Despite the fact that she’s on a sick bed, she keeps encouraging us and telling us she would not die. If she dies without help, it will send a wrong signal to the rest of the world about us as a country,” said Balogun Adebimpe, her sister.

For further information Balogun can be reached through her sister, Adebimpe on 08052562404 or 08034228346.

Source: This Day