2015 Eisaku Sato United Nations University Essay Contest

Submissions are now being accepted for the 31st Eisaku Sato Essay Contest. This international contest is open to anyone who has an interest in both the United Nations University and the designated contest topic. There are no restrictions as to age, nationality or profession.

The Eisaku Sato Essay Contest was inaugurated in 1980, and has been held annually since 1990. It is organized by the Eisaku Sato Memorial Foundation for Cooperation with the United Nations University, which was established by the late Eisaku Sato, former Prime Minister of Japan, with the monetary award that he received with his 1974 Nobel Peace Prize.

Theme

“Describe the current relationship between the USA and China with reference to their respective responsibilities and roles in international society. Discuss how the United Nations could work with these two superpowers in order to tackle global issues more effectively.”

Organizer

Eisaku Sato Memorial Foundation for Cooperation with the United Nations University

30th Eisaku Sato Essay Contest

Prizes

A grand prize (¥500,000), a second prize (¥200,000) and several honorable mentions (¥50,000 each) will be awarded. Winners who are able to attend will receive their prizes at a ceremony to be held at the United Nations University in Tokyo.

Deadline

31 March 2015

Guidelines

Essays may be written in either English (3,000–6,000 words) or Japanese (8,000–16,000 characters).
All essays should be typed on A4-size paper and include an abstract of up to 450 words (English) or 1,200 characters (Japanese).
Submissions must be original and unpublished papers, and must include reference notes and a bibliography if other authors’ works are cited.
To enter the 2015 Eisaku Sato Essay Contest, please submit four copies of your essay along with a cover sheet listing your name, affiliation, age, gender, nationality, mailing address, and (if available) telephone/fax number and e-mail address, to:

The Eisaku Sato Essay Contest Secretariat
c/o United Nations University Library
5-53-70 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo 150-8925, Japan

Please note that submitted essays will not be returned. Any essay that does not follow the criteria specified above will be disqualified.
The winners will be notified by September 2015.
Award winning essays will be disclosed on the Foundation Website (
http://satoeisaku.com/)

Inquiries

For further information, please contact the Foundation at: sato.eisaku.mf@unu.edu, tel./fax 03-3409-0707



Source

The Hydra-headed Nature Of Political Parties And Their Effects On Democracy

 By Ademola Ahmed Olaoluwa


When Nigeria successfully put in place a democratically elected government in 1999, after a democratic set up an anfractuous and flexuous transition programme, the citizenry was exhilarated by her success and the attention of international community was mesmerize by this feat. Democracy as a word originated from the word Greek city-state of Athens where democracy emerges a check on despotic aristocracy, dictatorship, monarchy, oligarchy and feudal system (Anyaele, etal :2006).

Democracy as a concept may be defined as a system of government under which the people exercise the governing power either directly or through representative periodically elected by them. It is required that the minds of the citizens should be relied and held together by certain predominant ideals and this cannot be the case unless each of them sometimes draws his opinion from the common source and cogent to accept matters of belief. Merriam-Webster (2003).

Paradoxically, the Nigerian as a state and its young bird democracy has been beset with phenomenal violence and atrocities ranging from those that come in the form of religious crises, like Sharia, Niger-Delta militancy, ethno religious conflicts, the Boko Haram insurgency, electoral violence, politically motorated assassinations – all with alleged political undertones. (Omodia, 2009, Omotola, 2010).

Democracy is no doubt, a continuous process. It therefore follows that as the process increases; there must be satellite growth in the institutions responsible for livable democracy. Apparently, one set of institutions for democratic growth are the political parties without which the majoritarian miniature of democracy would be practically impossible. In Nigeria and Africa generally, before the coming of Europeans, the whole idea of political party was an alien phenomenon.

However, nationalist pressures during colonial era quickened the pace of constitutional development, which in turn stimulated the development of political parties (Sklar quoted in Adele 2001:42). More on political parties but while the democratization wave was blowing over the country, it was caught up in what has been described as the victory and crises of democracy in Nigeria (Muhammad, 2006) – a drift that is attributable to fragility of some democratic institutions. Since democracy is a continuous growth, there must be a ancillary growth in the institution that is responsible for livable democracy.Thus, political parties in Nigeria have become, as elsewhere, an established institution of democratic politics .
The hydra – headed nature of political parties in Nigeria democracy is not a novel idea to politics. It has been with it but overblown negation tendencies and impact in Nigeria. Politics has made it rather discordant to the politics of today. When its gain entrance to Nigeria democracy just like other nations, it became a different ball game that has been witnessed since the return of Democracy in 1999 in Nigeria. It is apparent that avalanche of sand starts from its atom likewise the existence of a river is not a day occurrence, a drop a drop, they say.

Why the hydra headed?

This resounding question I asked myself when a political party has failed to deliver smooth governance without an avalanche of crisis and contours in Nigeria democracy. It is saddened that the essence of political parties has been long buried when it hit the skids to provide the citizens a sustainable democracy.
In critical analysis, no one is an island of knowledge and it is obvious that a tree does not metamorphose into a forest. Therefore, personal interest by the domineering caucus of political parties rather than establishing rules and laws to engineer the progress and a free atmosphere to the citizens. This is bane of our democracy. It is evidently seen in politic in Nigeria.

Effects on democracy

The growth of democracy can also be determined or hindered by the weak structure of the political parties. This is attributed to lack of internal cohesion amongst the politicians.The political parties are jam-packed by veracious politicians in the society, this goes in view of the former vice president of Nigeria Aatiku Abubakar as was cited by Ajayi (2007) that ‘the godfathers’, that is, political cabals are gradually taking over the Nigeria political institution parties and the role of the electorate are diminishing and the concept of godfathers as ‘owners’ of political parties or section thereof is a threat to the development of democracy’.
Godfathers today are vehicle of delivery of mission and interest of the politicians in the democracy. They predestine the victory of election because politicians pay homage to the godfathers in political parties. They put the rules and laws behind the bar and bend the rules and laws to their path. The trend is rather unfortunate to the smooth governance and delivery of ‘almighty dividends of democracy’ in Nigeria.

Indeed, it has greatly pollard and cause some parties to divides into branches and factions. This has been one of pandemic endangering our polity. I therefore, go by the word of a philosopher Albert Einstein saying "Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism — how passionately I hate them!" The problem associated with the cancerous phenomenon is that the cabals are no less a people of the society. Therefore, jeopardizing and impignorating the future of the citizens. It is indeed a bizarre scenario in democracy.

Against this background Gambo was right when he opined that “the Fourth Republic political godfathers are essentially predatory in their motivation to influence electoral politics” (1) Indeed from the look of things, godfathers are a major plague of party politics in the country. To understand the more reasons why the Fourth Republic godfathers exhibit atomic political behaviour in promoting their exclusively defined interest. Undoubtedly, godfathers of a party employ whatever means, legitimate and illegitimate to ensure victory for their godsons in return for unlimited and intangible benefits. The above view was that of Chimaroke Nnamani.

Equally, the political parties are not internally cohesive generating an immense havoc to the democracy resulting in the hydra-head nature of political parties. According to Wright (1951), there are in individuals and groups inconsistencies in the sentiment, purpose, claims, politics or option of social entities, for example, radical difference in political ideology, religion or institution. When the parties initiate actions based on their respective orientations, the inconsistencies as may lead to social tension and such social tension in terms of magnitude may determine the probability of conflict. If the conflict as a problem of resolving the inconsistencies do not succeed and if tension is high enough and regulatory arrangements are ineffective, conflict is likely to escalate to a level of open violence among the contending parties (Dauda, 2010). The Nigerian state is confronted by a plethora of inconsistencies and tension of various proportions arising from incompatibility of individuals and group interests in political succession and sharing of the perquisites of office. The tension in political succession and sharing of the perquisites of office. The tension sometimes snowballs to political violence among political parties which can as well lead to serious threat to democratic survival and consolidation.

From the foregoing, Nigeria would have been one of the leading economies of the world but its movement has been anti-clockwise due largely to the fact that monumental resources are channelled into security votes, conflict resolution and reconstruction as a result of perennial political violence. Since political power is the major source of wealth in Nigeria, the contest for political office is always a ‘do or die’ affair (Ake, (1981) Tenuche, 2011). No country will grow under such an intense antipathy and asperity. There is need to fundamentally redress the hydra-headed cankerworm of pervasive political duress which negate and retard development in Nigeria and safeguard the survival, growth and sustenance of the country’s incipient and embattled democratic set up.

Presently, political fate lies in the hand of politicians. But the political future of political parties in democracy, her development and growth which requires a collective effort depends on the political parties in a state. Also,political parties should not be in exisyence during the election periods. Rather, they should from time to time rasie political platform to enlighten,orientate and educate the masses.To achieve this loft measure, we need strong political institution and not hydra-headed of political parties in democracy.

In sum, it is obvious that hydra-headed nature of political parties is not a new idea in democracy and without it no meaningful impact will be made in politics. However, the effects of political parties are egregious and take a gander at people on the face. It has metamorphoses into hydra-headed monster in which if nothing is done capable of truncating our hard earned democracy.
Nigeria’s current democratic experience is caught up in the dilemma of democratic renewal and regression. This flows from the series of occurrences which revolves around viability of the current political parties. While it is true that political parties are like piston in the engine of democratic practice, the extent to which they acquire value and stability, party cohesiveness and development of a coherent political doctrine are vital ingredients that make them viable element in democratic growth and sustenance.


References
(Anyaele, etal :2006).
Merriam-Webster (2003).
Omodia, S. M. (2009) Elections and Democratic Survival in the Fourth Republic of Nigeria.
The Journal of Pan African Studies, 3(3):
Omotola, J. S. (2010) Political Parties and the Quest for Political Stability in Nigeria: Taiwan
Journal of Democratic 6(2): 125 – 145
Muhammad, A.A. (2006), ‘Reflections on the Victory and Crisis of Democracy’ in, Saliu H. A. et.al (eds.), Democracy and Development in Nigeria, Vol. 1, Conceptual Issues and Democratic Practice. Lagos, Nigeria: Concept Publications limited. Pp 194 – 215

Ajayi, F. “Nigerian Political Godfatherism in the World of Baale Molete” www.nigeriaworld.com down loaded on the 3oth March 2007

Ake, C. (1981) A Political Economy of Africa, Nigeria: Longman.

Vice Chancellor's New Year Message To The University Community

Happy New Year to you all. As we celebrate the start of a new year, I wish you the best of health and happiness in 2015. I welcome, in particular, our students who are resuming studies after the Christmas and New Year break.

I wish to convey my very best wishes and sincere thanks to all of you as we wrap up an eventful 2014 and shift our attention to 2015. The past 12 months have been marked by noteworthy achievements and changes. Therefore, as we reflect on the past year, I believe that we have many reasons to have enormous pride in our accomplishments and look forward with enthusiasm and hope to achieving more in 2015.

Permit me to cite a few outstanding examples: (1) the new webometric ranking released in July 2014, by the Cybermetrics Lab of Spain, a world-renowned Research Council, and which was circulated round the world, again rated our University as the first and the best University in Nigeria. This was the first time that a Nigerian University would be so ranked four times consecutively; (2) Early in 2014, the University won an $8million grant from the World Bank to establish the OAU Knowledge Park (OAK-Park). The OAK-Park will create a world-class model for uptake and commercialization of research and technology. Also, the Centre will harness the innovative energy and skill of Nigeria’s teeming youth into entrepreneurial activities by using appropriate skill-enhancing trainings and mentoring models that will further stimulate creativity and excellence in research and innovation, and expand learning opportunities for staff and students and, indeed, other researchers within the West Africa sub-region; (3) In furtherance of my commitment to the deepening of ICT use in the University, wireless internet access (Wi-Fi) was extended to Faculties of EDM and Agriculture; Department of Local Government Studies; and Civil and Chemical Engineering Buildings. This year, concerted effort is being made to extend same to the remaining Faculties, Angola and Mozambique Halls, and a few Roads in the University Senior Staff Quarters in addition to the existing ones on Roads 7, 9, 23 and 24. Also, an ICT-driven Sanako Digital Language Laboratory with simultaneous interpretation machines in different languages was installed in Faculty of Arts; (4) The University held the 24th Edition of the NUGA Games and it was a glorious outing. Indeed it was adjudged to be the best NUGA games in the recent past especially in terms of its organisation, specifically the ability of the University in ensuring that all games were held within the University and (5) The welfare of staff and students continue to be of our utmost priority. In particular, many members of staff, academic, administrative and technical were promoted in the past year and many were sponsored for attendance at conferences, workshops and trainings both within Nigeria and abroad especially in the US, UK, France, South Africa and Ghana.

In the area of infrastructural development, I am happy to inform you that a number of projects that started at the inception of this administration were completed and commissioned during the last convocation in December, 2014. These are the Moot Court, Ecology Building, Pharmacy Phase II Building and Clinical Lecture Theatre. Prior to this, the new network of roads at the ultra modern Central Market, the International Olympic Size Swimming Pool and the 8-Lane IAAF Certified Tartan Track were all commissioned and put into use. It is also important for me to inform the Community that construction has commenced of a 10 storey new Senate Building (Jubilee House) that was fund raised by the present administration.

Our University also successfully hosted the President of our nation, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on Friday 28th November, 2014. Also, the University 40th Convocation was held between Wednesday, December 10 and Friday, December 12, 2014. Both events were huge success.
Apart from the student agitation over the increase in charges which was eventually resolved after major reductions, the University witnessed an atmosphere of great industrial peace and harmony. I will like to seize this opportunity to thank the various unions for their partnership in fostering an atmosphere of peace that tremendously helped the growth of the University.

However, to continue in this enviable direction, it is important that we do not forget the best institutional values and ethos which have made our University to be the envy of all. We should do this by avoiding, like a contagious disease, all forms of academic and administrative malpractices, which can erode our valued and cherished legacies as an institution.

On our own part, we will continue to be proactive in meeting the demands of a growing, dynamic and changing community of staff and students, as well as other stakeholders. No doubt, there are still needs to be met in the provision of sufficient classrooms, offices and laboratory spaces. The good news is that while we continue to judiciously expend Government subventions and capital appropriation for the projects that they are meant for, this administration will continue to vigorously network, solicit and cultivate men and women of goodwill, corporate institutions, alumni and philanthropists to continue to help develop our University.

I believe that our University, and all of you who are part of it, will continue to make us proud in 2015. We will maintain our momentum and actively work to shape our own future as one of the nation’s premier public research universities. This is a great University and we must endeavour to keep it as such.

Thank you for being part of it and thank you so much for helping to make the past year so memorable. I invite you to join me in this great task of taking the University to greater heights.

Thank you and God bless.



Professor Bamitale Omole

Vice-Chancellor

Press Release: Students' Union Leaders Give Mid-Term Account Of Stewardship

FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE UNION

WELCOME ADDRESS AND MID-TERM ACCOUNT OF OUR STEWARDSHIP: “AWE 2014”

"A man without answers for posterity is an epitome of failure"
We like to use this medium to welcome everyone back on campus and wish us a happy new year. With due civility and veneration we salute the doggedness, consciousness cum resoluteness of Great IFE students in standing with the current leadership of the Students’ Union in ensuring that the dividends of a 21st century Union are delivered to Great IFE students and the Great IFE community as a whole.

OUR MANDATE:
Over the years, in the history of our union, confrontation of issues with massive mobilization of students for demonstrations had been the means of venting disapproval and grievances on issues as it affects them. This measure due to the then existent order, had produced results as well as its attendant consequences on all and sundry in its diverse pictures.

Today, the question is no longer whether the course we are fighting is just or not, for that is incontestable BUT whether the mechanisms and methods of prosecuting the cause is still as potent and productive?

As a brief reflections on the past, the current make-up of the Union leadership emerged as an alternative to the status quo, crisis managers and never crisis-instigators. Flowing from this; movement from *consultation, *consolidation and *confrontation has been the fundamentals of every strategic plan towards attending any problem that it is faced with. This in the final analysis is set to project a constructive, result oriented and developmental unionism. We promised to employ mediation, high profile deputations and students' interest based lobbying, negotiation, boycott, sit-ins and the last/physical resort, confrontation in meeting the desires of Great IFE students.
Also we pledged to re-brand the Union into one which is financially meticulous such that more funds are dissipated on developmental endeavours for the benefit of all and sundry within the mental and physical space of the Great IFE community. This is in line with 21st century best practices of students' movements in developed countries such that we can be respected and indisputably accepted as stakeholder in the varsity system and comity of unions globally. On the basis of the foregoing we promised AWE2014 which the OAU students bought into and thereafter voted us in.

THE CHALLENGES
With reverence to dictate of reason and respect for the most obvious, it is correct that we address first our challenges. Not for provision of excuse but to position us for better service. Some of our challenges were:

The dearth of true traditions and conventions of the union due to the longtime proscription, a situation that gave room to ungodly manipulation of such to sooth personal interests instead of general interest by various components. No handing over of union property no matter minute (but for the structure christened Students' Union Building, SUB) which would have aided the smooth start of the union activities, at a time when the management and various terrestrial and cerebral forces had more than enough to fight us. No union finances at our disposal even as at the time of starting the increment struggle, except when we solicited and when we collected freshers' dues which was wholly spent on the about four months long struggle. Even after having access to finances we could hardly spend because passing of budget met brick stone and fire until the 10th week into the first semester due to internal crisis. The increment in fees was wickedly flung at the toddling union in order to consume it but for the doggedness of Great Ife students.

We must admit that shortcomings abound in certain areas, meanwhile these have been/ are being addressed. Despite the odds we still have successful mid-term records under our campaign slogan "AWE2014" of which we shall appraise without further ado.

A (ACADEMIC PROGRAMS)
We have succeeded in securing prompt mobilization for NYSC and release of results as against the usual unnecessary delays OAU is known for.

We were also able to achieve putting a stop to forceful sales of materials and unnecessary/excessive billing of students in the name of textbooks, materials or handbooks by some departments/ lecturers.

W (WELFARE PROGRAMS)
We have secured functional wells in Angola hall and Mozambique hall.
Bridges along Fajuyi/Akintola Halls and Fajuyi/Awolowo Halls link paths 90% completed.
Over 100 students got installment payments through the efforts of the Union
Over 100 students got work study as against the usual meagre number that enjoyed this in times past.
Refurbishment of Awo Hall reservoir
Constant supply of qualitative water through tanks and taps to the tanks
The Union advanced loans to some students to pay their fees.
Constant water supply to the halls through alternative power supply to the dam was ensured.
Three (3) buses were secured during the tenure to aid internal transport system, excursions and other trips.
Preliminary work on the over 1,500 bedspace-capacity students-union hostel such as securing Architectural, Structural detailing and Mechanical and Electrical designs as well as bill of quantity needed for its construction.

E (EMPOWERMENT AND OTHER PROGRAMS)
Availability and test-running of the prototype of the Great Ife app, the professional/career network for linking OAU students and alumni & companies.

Two days entrepreneurship summit and 10day skill-up program organized to breed young and skilled students, exposing them to the world of business and becoming young Entrepreneurs.
Social programs such as; +First of Many, +Coke Studio, +Ongar cooking competition, +Campus invasion by WEMA Bank, Swag+Minds, among others were organised /co-hosted to empower and project OAU up-coming stars to the world.

Ongoing work on the documentation of the union's history.
Reinstatement of three (3) out of the suspended students, although the Union has made it clear to the authority that all be reinstated. Enough of divide and rule tactics.

PROGRAMS/EVENTS TO EXPECT IN SECOND SEMESTER
At this juncture which we must reassure you that we are dedicated and committed to the service we swore to offer. To this effect, with your unwavering support, we shall accomplish the following programs this second semester:
Congress, symposium and debate.

Reinstatement struggle to be furthered through symposium, constant political education, mass actions as well as other tactics.
Commissioning of completed various union projects such as the wells/taps, the mini pedestrian bridges, the buses, Great Ife app, etc.

Union website, free newspaper booth at SUB and Students Union Constitution app.
Bamidele Aturu Public Lecture & Inter-varsity debate.
Sourcing for funds for and starting the union hostel project.
Launching of compendium on union history.
Securing more buses
Constitution review, etc.

We shall strive to achieve these and more because the work goes on, for hope still lives and the faith will never die and upon this we stand and shall never do otherwise, so help us God!
Amandla Awetu!


Signed
BAMIDELE OLUDARE J. IBIKUNLE ISAAC M.
The P.R.O The President

UN Moves To Halt The Execution Of 54 Soldiers For Mutiny

The Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary or Summary Executions, Christof Heyns, has stated that “appropriate action including communication to the government of President Goodluck Jonathan is being considered regarding the imminent execution of 54 soldiers in Nigeria.”

This followed a petition submitted to Mr. Heyns by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, in December 2014 in which the group asked five UN human rights independent experts to individually and jointly use their “good offices and positions to urgently request the Nigerian government and its military authorities not to carry out the mass death sentences imposed on 54 Nigerian soldiers for what the government claimed was disobeying a direct order from their commanding officer.”

The development was disclosed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni in a statement dated January 4.

According to Mr. Mumuni, “SERAP has been in discussion with Johel Dominique at the Office of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, arbitrary or summary executions both on the telephone and via email. Johel Dominique has confirmed that the Special Rapporteur is considering appropriate action to avert the imminent execution of 54 soldiers on death row in the country. We have also confirmed to the Special Rapporteur that SERAP has the consent of Mr Femi Falana, SAN, the legal counsel to the 54 soldiers to file the petition.”
“SERAP welcomes the decision by Mr. Christof Heyns to intervene in the matter. Given his longstanding human rights commitment and achievements, we have absolutely no doubt that Mr. Heyns will work assiduously to ensure that justice is done in this matter and we wish him well as he strives to do that,” Mr. Mumuni stated.

It would be recalled that SERAP had in a petition dated December 23, 2014 and addressed to five special rapporteurs stated that, “It is not right or fair to try everyone in mass proceedings, and that such unfair trial should not send someone to the gallows. Imposition of mass death sentences is in breach of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria is a party. This Covenant limits the circumstances in which a state can impose the death sentence.”

The five special rapporteurs are Christof Heyns, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Juan Méndez, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Pablo de Greiff, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence; Mads Andenas, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; and Ben Emmerson, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism.

According to SERAP, the courts-martial held in secret were “a mockery of justice” and ignored issues raised by the condemned men that “suggest lack of transparency, accountability and general deficiencies” in the handling of the security budget and arms purchases.

The petition copied to Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights also stated that, “Under international law, cases involving capital punishment such as the present one require the full and scrupulous respect of the guarantees of highest standards of fairness, due process and justice.”
“All human rights depend for their enjoyment the right to life, which is the most fundamental of all rights. The right to life symbolizes everything that the United Nations works and stands for, be it in the area of peace and security, development or human rights. To reject the act of irreversibly taking someone’s life is to embrace belief in human progress and dignity,” SERAP also argued.

According to the organization, “The imposition of mass death sentences is unjust and incompatible with fundamental human rights. The UN General Assembly to which Nigeria belongs has called for a worldwide moratorium on execution. In fact, the Special Rapporteurs have pointed stated that the right to life is a fundamental right, not a toy to be played with.”


The organization stated further that, “The UN has also acknowledged the discriminatory and arbitrary nature of judicial processes and the danger of the death penalty being used as a tool of repression. It has documented evidence to show that the death penalty is no deterrent, stressing that “depriving a human person of his or her life is incompatible with the trend in the twenty-first century.”

It would be recalled that on Wednesday December 17, 2014, the Nigerian Army’s 7 division General Court Martial convicted 54 soldiers for conspiracy to commit mutiny and sentenced them to death by firing squad. The facts of the case indicate that the soldiers, from the 111 Special Forces, were charged for disobeying a direct order from their commanding officer, Timothy Opurum, a Lieutenant Colonel, to take part in an operation to recapture Delwa, Bulabulin and Damboa in Borno State from Boko Haram terrorists on August 4.

The United Nations human rights experts are part of what it is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights, is the general name of the independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms of the Human Rights Council that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world.

Signed
Adetokunbo Mumuni
SERAP Executive Director


Source
Photo Credit

Why Bovi Did Not Host The 'Headies 2014'

Many followers of Nigeria’s most prestigious musical awards were left stunned when they got to know that comedian Bovi would not be hosting the Headies 2014.

Questions started coming from all angles and some even came up with different suggestions like something went wrong between the organizers and the popular comedian.

Well, the real reason he couldn’t host the show has finally been revealed. The show was initially slated to hold on October 25, 2014 and he was in for the date and preparations and rehearsals had already started when the organizers decided to change the venue and the date due to some logistic reasons and he was already billed to have a show on the new date picked. So he couldn’t just combine two shows in one night.
Considering the calibre of the awards, the organizers had to get someone of a like mind with him in the name of BasketMouth and everyone present at the awards knew it was a job well done by our host.


Source: Vanguard

Life Returns To OAU Campus As Rain Semester Begins

Obafemi Awolowo University for the first time in year 2015 witnessed the most influx of students who are returning to commence academic activities for the Rain semester of the 2013/2014 session on Sunday, 4th January 2015.

Students and staff members also resumed work today, Monday January 5 after the prolonged Christmas and new year breaks. Some students who have not resumed yet continued to troop in numerously as at this evening. Academic activities have also started in some departments while some are yet to commence. The general timetable has been out and few departments visited also had their departmental timetable already out and pasted. Department of Botany as at 6:00pm on Monday had its draft timetable for the Rain semester pasted on their notice board and also Chemistry department had their finalized timetable up.
Department of Chemistry once again proved their attitude of early lecture commencement as the department held some of her classes today. CHM 102 was held as early as 8am this morning with some students in attendance.

Though the university community still looks scanty, a visit by our correspondent to the New Market showed their readiness for the start of the year as many of the shops there were open for business as usual.

Some fellowships which were on ground for their usual activities during the break continued with their schedules. Full academic activities have been predicted by many to resume next week since the semester is a short one as most part of the coming month, February will be spent as break at home by students and many of the university community occupants.