Youth: The Voting Power House

By Adigun Olayemi Paul 

As we journeyed through the part of making yet another history in our nation, it is time for you to determine the destination of it, it is you that will determine what you want not some cabals, you need to realize that voting for the right person is the sole aim of politics whereby politics is played with transparency and not brutality which has come to stay for some years now, you need to disbelieve that election is for some people and you not participating in it. Let me reiterate it that the decision you make now has a long way to go in determining the success of our democracy, whereas the term democracy draws down to the fact that it is for the people and by the people, folding your bare arms worsen the matter.

As a youth, you stand the chance to redirect the motto of our democracy in which all its functions are imbedded in you, needing the determination to arrest the mind of your fellow ones to vote for the right person, our democracy should be determined by the youth because the youths stand a chance to live more than the old ones whereby making it a total capturing when they have all gone, youths can determine the democracy of this country.

As virtually all the primaries has been concluded whereby the party faithfuls have determined their own candidates and elected their own flag bearers, it is equally the time for you all to envisage the qualities of these flag bearers and cast your vote to the person you think can help this country out of her condition. Browse out the profile of the candidates, check their manifestos, do more research rather than praising or criticizing. Unfortunately, many fall for propaganda here and there. Know that your vote is the strongest tool to determine the rate at which we want our country and democracy grow, I know that we are all elites but their should be a medium to gear you up towards the betterment of our country. You are all complaining about this and that about our politics, why not sit down and define some strategies to pull people together and educate them on the power of voting.

Nigeria operates an open ballot system of voting, this gives you chance to know the ethics of politics, your right is to vote and not criticize any individual as you are able to judge them through your fateful hands. Candidates will be cascading about to lure people into their great room, but may I tell you that a man of honour is honoured and vice-visa, do not let what you will eat in just few minutes be a destruction to you and many others for as long as four years to come, do not let them intimidate you with the school of thought of lies but rather get your fact ready and accurate so as to be able to vote for the candidate of your choice; who you think can make this country great!

USA and other developed countries in the world started from a point. Infact, today's beautiful Rome was not built in a day, but the fact still remains that in as much as you have the tool in your hands, then the decision is totally yours. Here comes another room for improvement and history telling scene. Building this nation belongs to all of us, it is our collective responsibility.

Latest Webometrics Ranking: Convenant University Tops As OAU Slips

Bishop Oyedepo's Convenant University has been named Nigerian best University and the 15th best in Africa for this quarter according to the Webometrics university ranking.

The ranking which is the first from the popular university ranking group this year indicates that Obafemi Awolowo University which retained the number one spot for the past four consecutive rankings has slipped to the second spot. There are little changes in the top ten as Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) both climbed one spot each pitching them at the 6th and 8th positions respectively.

Just like the previous ranking, no Nigerian university could make the top ten as the best in Nigeria could only manage the 15th position. Below is the ranking of the Nigerian top ten;

1) Covenant University Ota
2) Obafemi Awolowo University
3) University of Ibadan
4) University of Lagos
5) University of Ilorin
6) University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
7) Ahmadu Bello University
8) Federal University of Technology Akure
9) Landmark University
10) University of Nigeria

The "Webometrics Ranking of World Universities" is an initiative of the Cybermetrics Lab, a research group belonging to the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), the largest public research body in Spain. The Ranking Web or Webometrics is the largest academic ranking of Higher Education Institutions. Since 2004 and every six months an independent, objective, free, open scientific exercise is performed by the Cybermetrics Lab (Spanish National Research Council, CSIC) for the providing reliable, multidimensional, updated and useful information about the performance of universities from all over the world based on their web presence and impact.

Editorial: Mission Is Possible

By Gbadamosi Elias

I wonder what I’ll call this generation of mine if Wole Soyinka could call his a wicked and wasted generation. With what nomenclature will I tag my generation if Pat Utomi could call his generation the one that ran away? What shall I call my generation that parades video vixens, drug peddlers, yahoo bandits and nudists as heroes and role models?

Young people of this generation, I cry you mercy to lend me your ears for the future we’ll lead is fast approaching.We all desire a new Nigeria and say it social media every day. We all crave an end to the numerous intractable problems bedeviling our country and we seek a beginning that will herald profuse prosperity for our country.

A new Nigeria will not be built in a day nor will it be built on the streets of Facebook and twitter. We will only be able to build a new Nigeria when we come out on the streets of NIGERIA to work assiduously for what we believe in. “Life is an oyster but it cannot be broken on a mattress”. For us to leave a lasting legacy, we must with both hands embrace knowledge for knowledge is the bedrock of any positive revolution. We must as a matter of fact downplay our interest in lousy entertainment and immoral fashion for both will only lead us to a primrose path. Let us not through ethnic chauvinism and religious triumphalism fall into the misprision of our heroes past. Ethic and religious sentimentalism are two deadly viruses that we must try to expunge from our genes for we can only change our individual and collective destinies when we unite.

Young people are the most resourceful in any society. The power to effect positive change lies within us. Let us channel all our strength to the onerous task of social re-engineering and nation building. Let’s strife to rediscover our lost values; let us develop ourselves spiritually, morally, socially and intellectually for the gargantuan task that lay ahead. Capable ones amongst us should not take the back seat when the overambitious and power-hungry ones hijack the center stage.

“To some generations much is given; from some generations much is expected”. Ours is not the generation that enjoyed proceeds of the oil boom. We are neither the ones that won the federal government scholarships nor are we enjoying qualitative education like our fathers and mothers did. Truly, Nigeria has not done much for us but we must still strive vigorously to expedite the holistic development of our dear country. Our children are coming and it will not be good to pass onto them this present mess called Nigeria. The mission to build a new nation is possible and the time is NOW.

OAU Releases Pre-mobilization List For NYSC 2015 BATCH A

This is to notify every concerned persons that the Obafemi Awolowo University's pre-mobilization list for NYSC 2015 BATCH A has been pasted at the Division of Student Affairs's notice board. Goodluck to our prospective corp members!

Feature As 'OAU Peeps Face Of The Week'

Names are the current trend on Obafemi Awolowo University campus; we see different names from the walls of Halls of Residence to the spaces between steps on the staircases in Academics. Mostly perhaps for political reasons, business reasons, religious reasons or other personal reasons. However the editorial crew of OAU Peeps News Agency (www.oaupeeps.com) has therefore decided to help the general populace not just to place faces to these names but also to meet the men and women behind the faces through interviews and perhaps short biographies.

We hereby call on the bearers of these names to come and answer the question on everybody’s mind: Who are you?

Have you got what it takes to feature as the 'OAU Peeps Face of the Week'? kindly contact us through any of these means for more details.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/oaupeeps
Twitter: www.twitter.com/oaupeeps
E-mail: campusface@oaupeeps.com
Phone: 08138276857, 08063429623

NB: If the current calendar of the school is anything to go by, i.e examinations starting 31st of March, we will only have few persons to feature, so kindly indicate interest NOW. It will be on a first come, first served basis.


Ojelabi Jesujoba
Public Relations Officer
OAU Peeps News Agency

Apply For The 'Transparency International School On Integrity 2015'

About School

What is Transparency International School on Integrity?

Transparency International School on Integrity (TISI) is an annual state-of-the-art anti-corruption and accountability training for future leaders. This year TISI 2015 will take place during 6 – 12 July, 2015. TISI exposes its participants to the latest developments in the field of anti-corruption and accountability and offers real opportunities to try and implement their ideas in practice.

Following a rigorous selection process, selected students spend 7 highly intensive days learning from leading anti-corruption and accountability professionals. TISI seeks to create a peer-to-peer learning and integrity-building environment that links theory with practice and helps young leaders to acquire better skills in bringing the anti-corruption message across.

School lectures, seminars, training and field trips provide TISI participants with a unique blend of international and local know-how, while also challenging the students to approach the subject from outside the box and offer novel, previously untested solutions. Since 2010, TISI has welcomed almost 500 youth leaders from more than 85 countries worldwide.

Is this School for you?

This one is easy. TISI is for senior students, graduates and young professionals eager to learn how to make a stand against corruption and to achieve greater transparency in their country. The seven-day format offers a powerful mix of an intensive academic schedule, unconference-like atmosphere and continuous peer-to-peer interactions which all makes it into an unforgettable one-week-long adventure.

TISI usually hosts an equal share of participants from private and public sectors, NGOs and academia from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Such diversity in background and experience further strengthen our applied approach to anti-corruption and transparency. So, the students not only learn about the causes of corruption but also spend a larger part of their time learning practical ways in which societies can become more transparent and accountable.

In July 2015, once again we will welcome around 140 future leaders from more than 60 countries for a seven day event in the beautiful Lithuanian capital Vilnius. The number of places and scholarships is limited, so we encourage you to apply fully prepared and well in advance.
What will you learn?

TISI is organized in cooperation with Mykolas Romeris University in Vilnius. Upon completion of the TISI course, the students receive 6 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits, which only stresses the fact that you come to school to learn and are required to do additional preparatory reading before the School starts. The course reading material is published in advance and students are encouraged to get in touch with TISI organizers for additional reading suggestions.

The School curriculum is presented through a variety of learning modules such as lectures, seminars, training, discussions, field trips, film screenings and social events. The program follows a conscious schedule which, as the week goes by, gradually moves away from introductory topics to seminars and training aimed to address particular subjects and let participants to acquire new skill sets. In short, the aim of the program is to leave you inspired and empowered by creating opportunities to learn in small groups as well as through mentoring hours.

The School features three teaching modules that cover the public sector, the private sector and civic empowerment tools. Each module deals both with theory and practice and includes:

Public sector - grand and small corruption, measuring corruption, state capture, political party financing, public procurement, etc.

Private sector – international anti-corruption mechanisms, corporate reporting standards and corruption in different industry sectors, such as the media or sports, etc.

The civic empowerment module addresses the role of citizens in monitoring the activities of the state and explores ways in which people can become involved in the public decision-making process, in reporting corruption and in anti-corruption activities.

While the 2015 School program is currently being finalized, please see the 2014 curriculum for a glimpse of what the week at TISI looks like.

Location

MRU_buildingThe School on Integrity is organized in cooperation with Mykolas Romeris University in Vilnius. It is the second largest university in Lithuania with 21,000 students and 200 doctoral candidates. Its mission is to educate young people to become creative, innovative and productive members of society in all areas, from science to culture and technology.

How to apply

The application process

Applying is really simple - just fill out and submit our online application form. Please note that you will be asked to upload a short motivational letter along with your Europass CV. We strongly advise that you prepare these in advance and have them ready before you start filling out your application form.

Who can apply?

The School is open to senior students, graduates and young professionals under the age of 35.
We welcome individuals from public, private, non-governmental and academic sectors, from all academic backgrounds.

TI School does not discriminate its applicants on the grounds of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, political beliefs, marital, familial or parental status, sexual orientation or any other basis.

Fees & Accommodation

The course fee is EUR 550. It covers tuition fee, course material, accommodation, meals and extra-curricular activities.

The students will be staying at the Mykolas Romeris University student campus, which provides an effective working environment and allows to keep TISI fees to the minimum.

Do not hesitate to let us know if you have particular needs or certain preferences. TI School team will do their best to meet your needs and make sure nothing spoils your stay in Vilnius.

Once we have confirmed your admittance, we kindly ask you to transfer the participation fee of 550 EUR to the following account by 15 June 2015 the latest:

Transparency International Lithuanian Chapter
Bank Name: AB SEB bankas
Bank Address: Gedimino pr. 12, LT-01103 Vilnius
Bank Code: 70440
IBAN: LT62 7044 0600 0144 8550
BIC: CBVILT2X

Please indicate the purpose of the transfer: Your name/surname – TISI 2015 participation fee

Application deadline

Students applying for TISI 2015 without a scholarship are encouraged to apply as early as possible and will be accepted on a rolling basis. Deadline for scholarship applications is 1 May 2015, for non-scholarship applications - 15 May 2015.

Non-EU students are encouraged to take into account the possible length of visa-related procedures and apply well ahead of the deadlines. Non-scholarship students will be notified of their results within two weeks of their application and no later than 1 June 2014.

Please note that citizens from a number of countries may be eligible for TI School scholarships. For more details, deadlines and procedures of scholarship applications please see the Scholarships section.

Visa

Participants from non-EU member states that require a visa to enter Lithuania will be issued an invitation letter upon request. Please address this request to admissions@transparencyschool.org. Please note that an invitation letter will only be issued to those participants who have already paid the registration fee.

Cancellation policy

Please note that a refund of 500 EUR will be offered to all cancellations made in writing (by email) ONLY until the 15 June 2015.

An administrative refund fee 50 EUR will be withheld.
No refunds will be issued for registrations cancelled after 15 June 2015.

If you have any additional questions or encounter difficulties while filling out the online application form, please contact us at admissions@transparencyschool.org.

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships will be available for students from certain countries. Full scholarships cover transportation, tuition and accommodation expenses. Students seeking to receive full or partial scholarships are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. In certain cases, students may be also offered partial tuition fee waivers to cover a part of their course expenses.

Students from the following countries may apply for full or partial scholarships: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Iceland, Latvia, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine.

Scholarship application deadline - 1 May 2015

Students applying for a scholarship will be notified about the results of the selection procedure by 22 May 2015 at the latest. Those not granted a scholarship but possessing outstanding academic or professional merit and motivation will be invited to attend TISI 2015 at their own expense.

If you wish to apply for a scholarship, make sure to fill out the appropriate section in the online application form, stating your reasons for applying.

For additional questions regarding the application procedure, fees, scholarships or other general inquiries, please contact us at admissions@transparencyschool.org.


To apply, follow this link

GEJ Hosts Val Dinner For Widows & Kids Of Soldiers Killed In Boko Haram Attacks (Photos)

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan celebrated Valentine in a special way with the widows and children of soldiers killed in Boko Haram attacks. See photos below:

Photo Credit: State House