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!!!

PRESS RELEASE: Students' Union Leaders Appreciate Jonathan, Condemn 'Political Tools'

PRESS RELEASE

Revolutionary greetings to all and sundry in the South West Zone, Osun state, Ife community and the generality of Great Ife Students on a successful host of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR for a special meeting with the Council of Obas in South West.

The leadership of the Students’ Union is appreciative of the listening character of the President as well as the efforts of individuals who facilitated the meeting with the President. It is imperative at this point to relay the product of the discussion with the President. The Speaker of the SRC addressed the President and submitted the protest letter which he personally received and gave assurances that the major issue in the letter – increment in fees is going to be addressed holistically in no long time as there are other schools that are affected. He committed himself to address welfare issues that affect OAU specifically.

Although some self-centered and politically-sponsored individuals attempted to unleash their demonic resolutions to deter and dissuade the union leaders from making pressing demands that will enhance the welfare of Great Ife students on campus, to make necessary demands for the reversal of fees and the reinstatement of some of our suspended students from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. On his way out, the president stepped out to the cheers of the students, receiving a lot of applause from the entirety of Great Ife students and commuters having heard that he had committed himself on the increment.
Meanwhile, just as the Union President conveyed to His Excellency, we again implore the president to stick to his promise, as a man of honour and integrity, as Great Ife students are in great anticipation and expectance. The cheers you received today at the time you were leaving were premised on the fact that we believed you will address the increment immediately. Mr President, the reversal of increased fees should also be extended to all Federal Universities and pump funds into education in the interest of the country.

However, we condemn the attitude of some individuals who portrayed themselves as elements of frustration and cheap political tools. Through this medium, we warn them to stay away from OAU campus as they are not unknown to the leadership of the union. We maintain our ground as Intellectual Fighters for Emancipation and not as uncoordinated confusionists and anarchists.

The leadership of the Union is very much undistracted in the maximization of this opportunity to solve the myriad of problems confronting Great IFE students. We also remain committed to the execution of our proposed projects and the completion of ongoing ones – Angola and Mozambique hall water projects, Great IFE app, Union website, and buses for campus shuttle, union hostel, among others.


La Lucha Sigue…
SGNED:
BAMIDELE OLUDARE J. IBIKUNLE ISAAC M.
P.R.O President

I Regret Not Having Yoruba As Speaker -Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday publicly lamented that he was unable to make a Yoruba politician the Speaker of the House of Representatives after 2011 general elections because of the selfish agenda of some Yoruba leaders.

He spoke at the Yoruba Unity Summit with the theme: “National Development: Wither the Yoruba,” which held at the Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Jonathan who was the special guest of honour at the event organised by the Yoruba Unity Forum, said he recognised the Southwest as a key player in the country and was still haunted by that unfortunate incident in 2011 when his desire to repay the Yoruba for their support for him was lost.

Mulikat Akande had then vied to be Speaker of the House of Representatives but lost to Aminu Tambuwal of the Northwest because of inadequate support from her Southwestern colleagues.

Recalling the events, the President said: “I thank you all for the support in the past elections. One of the problems I faced in the National Assembly is that I felt the right thing should be done because our party, the PDP, has a formula.

“We have six geo-political zones in the country and when the President emerges from one of the geo-political zones, the Vice-President emerges from another geo-political zone, the rest core offices, the Senate President, the Speaker, Secretary to Federal Government, the chairman of the party must come from different geo-political zones.
“The idea is that, whenever we are distributing board positions and some of these appointments, whenever we are appointing ministers, all these people sit to take decisions. In that case we want all the geo-political zones to be in the inner caucus that take critical decisions.

“The last time, it was difficult for me because I insisted that the Southwest must get the Speaker. Of course, I couldn’t go through with it because some of us within the Southwest didn’t want it, based on some personal reasons. I am still suffering from that till today.

“That is one of the reasons the leaders said, this time around, we must work collectively so that whatever position is zoned to the Southwest, we should get that position. People should not rob it from us.”

He expressed his belief in one Nigeria and challenged the Yoruba to be united even as he declared that the contributions of the Southwest to national unity would always be cherished.

Jonathan also noted the significance of the Southwest in the nation’s economy as he recalled that the region, particularly Lagos and Ogun states, control 55 per cent of the economy, a reason he remains committed to providing the people with infrastructure, electricity and other resources to further boost the economy.

“With unity, we can go to the moon. The Yoruba will not be left behind,” he added.

The President noted that the Yoruba had joined the national political fray with vigour and enterprise and were never afraid of internal debate among themselves, a reason for their being in the vanguard of demand for a national conference, as had just been concluded by his administration.

He again promised to implement the recommendations of the conference although he pointed out that there were some things he could not say or do immediately, as they could be deliberately given partisan consideration by desperate politicians who “are even ready to kill.”

Also, Akande noted that the Southwest had been relegated in the political arrangement of the nation not due to any deliberate action of Jonathan but because of Yoruba disunity.

“We should support his re-election bid, and we believe that he will reward us by reinstating us to our rightful place,” she stated.

In his fiery remarks, Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, urged President Jonathan not to be bothered or intimidated by former President Obasanjo’s criticisms because they are only made out of spite, which cannot be appeased.


Source
Photo Credit: State House Photo