'THE UJUZI' Officially Launched

A book titled 'THE UJUZI' was officially launched on saturday, 4th July
2015 at AUD2 Lecture Theatre in the Obafemi Awolowo University.

The launching had in attendance Omotayo Akande,TY(Current President of OAU Student's Union) Joshua Igba popularly known as Neonatar, Deji Solanke from the News Agency of Nigeria,NAN), Damilola Opaniran from the Union of campus journalist,University of Ibadan, some students from the University Of Ibadan University  and the Obafemi Awolowo University.

The book titled The Ujuzi is a compiled work of nine young writers: Ife Akintola (OAU), Damilola Opaniyan (U.I), Soogun Omoniyi (Crimea University, Ukraine), Ademola Adamson (OAU), Ayomide Odutan(OAU), Yakubu Hassan John(OAU), Olumide Adewumi, Adigun Olayemi Paul(OAU), Ikomu David(OAU) and Ayodeji Akintola aka Deji Akin(OAU) who is the lead author of the book. The book is a collection of contemporary African short stories and Poems.

Performances from the likes of Tee law, Odun Ewi Cultural Group, and Sani Michael (Mr Lively, the M.C) thrilled the audience.

The President of the Obafemi Awolowo University Student' Union also spoke about writing, Hon. TY explained that 'nothing great starts without writing'. He also spoke of the decadence of interest in writing in our
generation  and in his words claimed that 'writing should be an act and not a profession' .

Some other executives of the Student's Union were also present; the PRO, Ojedokun Emmanuel and the Fin sec, Ay.sug.

The Pathway to Academic Success - Segabio

 

 "The shortest way home is not always the quickest"

 

For real there is no shortcut to success,diligence and hardwork is the path that lead to
success.  Great height that great men attained is not as a result of sudden flight but they kept climbing when others are asleep.You labour in the "closet" and receive the reward in the "open".
 

 "Behold a man who is diligent in his work will stand before kings and
note mere men".

 

 However,challenges are inevitable in the path to success, don't be discouraged, never give up.

  Greatness or success' story is not complete without extreme sacrifice. When some people waste time on frivolities,try as much as possible to remain focused."Not slotful in business,fervent in spirit
and serving the Lord". One-time best graduating student shared his experience on campus.There was no power supply a day prior to the day he had one important examination.He made use of the street light near his hostel to read while some lazy students slept off.
 Conclusively,sacrifices are not easy to make but then,when made are
rewarding.Make a decision today!

 

 

Segabio is an upcoming writer and a new member of OAU Peeps News Agency.

OAU Post-UTME Form Is Not Yet Out

There has been rumour making rounds that Obafemi Awolowo University Post-UTME form is out but it has confirmed that it is false as the form is not yet out. This was confirmed to OAU Peeps News Agency by one of the staff in the Admission Unit of the university.

'People have been calling me since yesterday, even I have received many calls about the Post-UTME form, but i keep telling them that it is not yet out, and now I'm telling you that it is not yet out. They should debunk the rumour, we will let you know when it is out' The staff said.

However there are strong indications that the form may be out next week if NASU protest stops.

OAU SU CEC Releases Her Version of The Truth

In a Press Release issued by the Central Executive Council of the OAU Students' Union, certain clarifications were made on issues bordering the Union ranging from Neonatar’s eviction, the allocation of SUB bar to the removal of persons from the Great Ife Students' Union facebook page. Below is the Release:

FROM THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 29/6/2015

PRESS RELEASE

THE TRUTH AS IT WERE
Gentlemen of the press, the conscious republic of Great Ife students, the working masses, the oppressed and oppressors and above all the down trodden. It is apposite at this crucial time of the Great Ife Students’ Union that the union amidst pool of hypothetical turbulence and emerging realities, the union comes to an unfounded truth that silence is no longer golden. In the last few weeks, a lot of waters have passed under the bridge and these waters if not properly channelled pose the future threat of floods. Issues ranging from Neonatar’s eviction, the allocation of SUB bar the removal of persons from the facebook page, the absence of union officer from the “handing over meeting”, the new students ’ union and challenges. At this juncture, I will begin to take it one after the other for the sake of clarity.
ON INIMICAL WELFARE CONDITION
“The welfare state is the farewell state.”
It is no gainsaying that the welfare condition students of this citadel of intellectualism have been subjected is not just sordid but regrettably appalling. The shortage in supply of water which is much of an herb or chocolate-like colour is gradually becoming a mainstay of water supply married with the erratic and superbly-epileptic power supply which could almost cause downward seizure whenever there is a heavy downpour. The students’ body language is very lucid. The discontentment expressed by Great Ife Students is an evidence of an imminent radical action which is just a matter of days from now. The students of the republic of Great Ife having duly paid the astronomical and pocket-tearing fees as charged by the university management expect an astronomical increase in their welfare. It is so unfortunate that reverse is the case here. The popular slogan now is “In OAU the more we pay, the less we get”

OUR DEMANDS;
• An increase in the supply of colourless, odourless and tasteless water
• Constant and regular electricity supply
• Provision of palliative Hostel-based generators
• Construction of more hostel for students’ accommodation

We will not sacrifices the welfare of our students on the sacred alter of stable academic calendar. We know how paramount the welfare condition is to academic success.

ON REINSTATEMENT
The June 30th deadline issued by the congress of Great Ife students is fast approaching. We will not recline to start practical action towards the reinstatement of the suspended students as we are already making preparations to do. By June 30, we will have exhausted the grace of consultation and dialogue. We are very expectant that the university management will yield to our demand before sorting to the last options.

ON NEONATAR’S EVICTION AND HIS THREAT TO THE PRO
Greatest Ife, Articulate Ife, it is better for this information to be late than never. It is a testament of truth that “where information dies, rumour thrives”. I will use this medium to explain to the general public the grey area on the eviction of Neonatar from the Union building. Upon assumption of office on the 28th march 2015, the Central Executive Council (CEC) took a bold decision to relief the Union building of unnecessary occupation and erection of illegal structures which was an integral part of the agenda of renovation of the building .A month after the above date, the leadership of the CEC through the office of Secretary General served an EVACUATION NOTICE to all the occupants of the Union building of which the Neonatar venture was part. Neonatar occupies an illegal structure which he inherited from the Ibikunle-led administration. However, that structure was directly opposite the office of the Director of sport, it was visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that the DOS lacked privacy and ventilation. Neonatar once pleaded with the Public relations officer to switch office with the DOS{Sport} so he can continue to occupy the structure but I declined due to the location of the office. When the time for eviction had lapsed, Mr neonatar instead of honourably vacating the structure resulted to cheap blackmail and unneeded propaganda. He misinformed the generality of Great Ife Students that the union officer destroyed his board, he went ahead promising to sponsor Anti-TY tenure News, after comically referring to himself as the media prime-minister, this act of pure un-professionalism leaves me pondering if this was the same brain behind the great initiative which I so much admired. Greatest Ife, I made bold to assert that Neonatar was not evicted from the Union building because of political or personal vendetta or a product of witch-hunting as he had claim in several press outfit but because of the renovation process of the union building which we believe is long overdue. As an individual who believe in the spirit of prosperity and natural justice, I leave Neonatar to these justice who adjudge without impunity. However, I have found a veritable ground in my heart to forgive him despite his threat and attack on my personality and office.

ON THE REMOVAL OF PERSONS FROM FACEBOOK
If facebook were to be twitter, the name TY, Immanuel Kant and Hon.Seun would have been the most trending name on the social media. The rumour on campus travelled like wildfire that the honourable Public Relations Officer of the most radically organised union, the Great Ife Students’ Union had turned into an Alpha and Omega and Adolf Hitler on the facebook page thus removing anyone who speaks against the TY-led administration. If there was any report that got me aghast, it was this. I began to wonder when I can remove people from the page when my status is not different from any other student on the page. I make it emphatic to say here that I AM LIKE ANYOTHER STUDENT ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE. I AM NOT THE ADMIN OF THE PAGE NOR IS ANY CEC MEMBER AN ADMIN NOT EVEN TY, THE PRESIDENT. There is a need to say here that that page was created by F-Jay (The Students’ Union President 2010/2011) and he is yet to hand over the admin of the page to any union officer. This is one of the major reasons we clamour for proper handing over of union records. Same rules apply to the former PRO who is yet to hand over the Union blog, the BBM Channel and some other vital information outlet.

ON THE STUDENTS’ UNION BAR AND EVICTION OF S.O.J
The Students’ Union bar and the eviction of S.O.J is one of most topical issue in the past few weeks. However, on this issue, the inimical silence of the students’ union is not just “criminal” but modestly and morally unjust. Silence seems no longer effective as a golden tool on this issue. When the new administration came on board, we discovered that one appalling section of the union building was the Union Bar and odorous toilet. We however came to discover that the bar was been managed as at that time by 2 individuals, Bolster and S.O.J. Our investigation confirmed that this unholy alliance was a marriage of inconvenience from inception. As an administration which strives to achieve and maintain integrity, after the evacuation letter sent out on the 28th April, 2015, the bar was declared vacant and proposals were submitted to the office of the Secretary General. Five (5) individuals submitted proposals and showed interest in running the bar. On June 11, the Interview was conducted and all five individuals showed up for the Interview including the former occupants- S.O.J and Bolster. It is very important that I state here emphatically that all the 9 CEC Members and 3 members of the leadership of the SRC were present and collectively we made decisions. It was agreed upon that the bar would be shut down after the interview pending the time when the new owners will be declared by the leadership of the union.
It was however very surprising that the Welfare director in person of the Secre Nene unilaterally decided to open the bar on June 18 for Mr. S.O.J thus almost resulting to unnecessary uproar. Greatest Ife let it be said that Mr. S.O.J is no longer in charge of the bar because the union have to come to discover that these two occupants did not manage the bar well when it was under their care. As i write, the bar is under renovation and experiencing massive facelift. Mr S.O.J later came out with the claim that he paid two (2) years rent to the former administration and at that stance he is still in charge of the bar until his rent expires. However, this act by the two parties is tantamount to fraud and intellectual scam. The Students’ Union have decided to pay the “purported balance” which has been considered the bone of contention only for Mr. SOJ to show up on Thursday, 25 June 2015 with some non students who look terrifying and horrendous and totally un-welcoming to students.

Greatest Ife, Articulate Ife, the truth has got just a single colour and it’s the only cure to open wound. The students’ union, having duly considered issues centred on security, social responsibility and antecedents in the union decided to issue the bar to another individual.

I use this medium to inform the generality of Great Ife Students that renovation works have began in the bar and in coming weeks the expected facelift in the union bar will be seen by all and sundry.

I must record an unfortunate security development. On the day Mr SOJ arrived the building with this non- students, security report from the interim members of the security committee was that this guys came in with firm arms and another diabolical aids. The interim security committee were able to apprehend two of these guys when the welfare officer led some guys to break the security room and aided their escape. I must say that the decision to change the management of the bar is a unanimous decision of the majority of union offers present at the interview.

The sacred image of the union is the ultimate price at this point in time. i must say that the promises made to the generality of Great Ife Students at the altar of electioneering and on the podium of our swearing-in will be fully implemented. We beseech Great Ife Students to continue to shower on us the love, trust and unceasing prayers as we continue to stir the ship of the most radically organised union.

REINSTATE OAU 6

ALUTA CONTINUA!!!
VICTORIA ASCERTA

EMMANUEL OJEDOKUN (IMMANUEL KANT)
PRO

OMOTAYO AKANDE (TY)
PRESIDENT

Breaking News: Five Of OAU 6 Reinstated

Five of the six suspended students whose reinstatement has been one of the major issues in the Obafemi Awolowo University Students' Union circle got a big present for the new month as their studentships were reactivated today.

This was confirmed in an appreciation message from one of the affected persons, Olubanji Engels Oluwole, on his facebook page.

Full details later...

OAU 6: Students' Union Maintains June 30 Deadline Given To The Management

The Students' Union of Obafemi Awolowo University has insisted and maintained the June 30 deadline given to the university management to reinstate the remaining six (6) suspended students.

In a recent Press Statement co-signed by the Public Relations Officer, Ojedokun Emmanuel a.k.a Immanuel Kant and the President, Akande Omotayo a.k.a TY, the Union has retained her initial position that the Union will not recline to start practical action towards the reinstatement of the suspended students as preparations toward that are in top gear.
"The June 30th deadline issued by the congress of Great Ife students is fast approaching. We will not recline to start practical action towards the reinstatement of the suspended students as we are already making preparations to do. By June 30, we will have exhausted the grace of consultation and dialogue. We are very expectant that the university management will yield to our demand before sorting to the last options."

It will be recalled that the Students' Union leaders told the Congress of students on the 16th of June, 2015 their efforts so far at ensuring the reinstatement of the suspended students and the resolve to end consultations and dialogues come June 30. The deadline was eventually adopted by the congress as part of the resolutions.

The suspended students include Olubanji Oluwole, Adabale Olamide, Adewumagun Johnson, Ibirogba Samuel and Sanyaolu Olajuwon.

Meet OAU Graduate With Three First Class Degrees

On the 27th of June this year, Onoriode Reginald Aziza, a graduate from the prestigious Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University will be having his graduation ceremony from Cambridge University. Bellanaija profiles the outstanding excellence of Onoriode in an interview. Relax and read:

The star of today’s show is deserving of all the celebration we can muster because he has distinguished himself on three different levels of academic pursuit. Graduating from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife , with a first class degree, he went on to achieve the same feat at the Nigerian Law School. In June 2015, Onoriode Reginald Aziza graduated from the Cambridge University with another first class degree.

Onoriode’s father is a retired civil servant, and his mother is a professor at the Delta State University. Talking about his parents, he says that his father counselled consistent hard work.

We love the raw honesty and brilliance of Onoriode’s story! “Although I had a penchant for childish excesses, good parental discipline and support from my siblings led me in the right path, and into starting my schooling at a tender age. I believe this gave me a spirit of extreme determination, a trait I believe, is my most distinct feature."

When you read the story, you’ll know why our excitement knows no bounds.

I Was Never a Genius
After strenuous struggles at the prestigious Kings College Lagos, I was admitted to study law in Obafemi Awolowo University at 15. Young, naïve and free-spirited, I took up the challenge of studying law – and a daunting challenge it was! My initial years were rough. I initially had a writing style used across all examinations, but wildly fluctuating grades quickly taught me to pick courses only after careful enquiry, and tailor examination answers to the tastes of the particular lecturers. After initial skirmishes with unpleasant grades, I later became consistent and my CGPA hovered around a 4.4 from the second semester of my third year until my very last result. The fact that I am the only first class graduate of the Faculty of Law in the last four years confirms the difficulty of the task.

The Daunting Feat of Law School
Proceeding to the Nigerian Law School at 20 presented even more challenges: I was forced to compete with my colleagues in the Yenagoa Campus and with the five other campuses of the Law School system; I was exposed to seminar-styled lectures sometimes running into six hours in length with only a thirty minute break, as opposed to the maximum of two-hours I was accustomed to in the university; I was compelled to challenge myself on a national scale against the best and brightest of students around Nigeria; and I was constantly reminded that as the best graduating law student from OAU, I had to replicate this excellence on a national scale. I had the benefit of fantastic lecturers at the Yenagoa Campus of the Law School who showed me the nuances of the system and how to make the most of it. After ceaseless hours of working through the year and during the externship programs, I sat the bar examinations and made my 2nd first-class and finished as the second best in Nigeria.

I recall joking with my friends that whilst I do not have the dexterity of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo on a football pitch, I may have the ability to score a hat-trick of first-class results. The Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge was the venue, the flagship Masters of Corporate Law (MCL) Degree was the target and I prepared myself for an epic battle of intellect.

Challenges!
Funding a Masters in Cambridge is a big issue. Prior to resumption, and facing the prospects of having my admission revoked, I wrote ceaselessly to prominent Nigerians, Senior Advocates, Governors, Ministers and Governments, requesting funds and promising to be bonded in service to them or to the country upon my return if granted the funds. As expected, my entreaties were met with a mixture of deafening silence and tenuous, pontifical excuses. Thankfully, I finally secured a scholarship just in time to commence the program.

Cambridge and the MCL brought competing to an entirely new level. The minimum eligibility requirement to take the MCL was a first class in the university, and the course admits a maximum of 25 students in the world. With an eventual cohort of 23 students spread through 16 countries and all continents, including students who had concluded doctoral programs, and students working in the Central Banks and Securities Commissions of their home countries, I had no doubt that around and beside me were some of the best and brightest brains in their respective countries. The prospect of learning with and competing against them was scary and refreshing in equal measure. Whilst realism told me it would be difficult, optimism told me it is possible.

Lionel Messi of Academic Excellence! Hello Hat-trick
From my first breath in Cambridge on September 29th 2014 to my final examination on June 5th 2015, I was motivated by a single goal: ensure the world knows that the best students in Nigeria can compete with, and excel against the best students in the world. I had no precedents to work with as none of my friends who had finished from Cambridge before me made a first-class. Fortunately, I was classmates with an amazing senior colleague of mine from OAU (who like me, also made the first class in Cambridge). His presence gave me a compass with which to navigate the academic seas of Cambridge amidst the tumultuous waves of a crashing Naira exchange rate, without sinking my boat.

Whilst ensuring a realistic sense of what was important, I ensured I made the most of Cambridge. I traveled, met new people, explored and experimented (sometimes determining not to eat the cuisine of one country more than once in a particular week)! I secured vacation placements with law-firms in London, attended balls, garden parties and formal dinners, undertook a pro-bono project with the Law Faculty, served food to the homeless on the streets of Cambridge, and locked myself in the library when needed. At the end of the second term, of my 4 courses, I had secured 3 first class results and 1 first class with distinction. Mathematically, even with a term left, the deal had been done, and nothing but an absolute shipwreck in my final term could deny me the hat-trick. The final term went just as well as the previous terms and finally, the results were officially released: I had my 3rd first-class in the bag, and I was just 23! The 1st first-class felt good, the 2nd first class felt great; the 3rd was outright emotional: saying I was on the Mt. Everest of ecstasy does not do justice to the feeling!
Keep Raising the Bar
Borrowing from the wisdom of an old English judge, it appears that those with a taste for fairytales seem to think that in some Aladdin’s cave, there is hidden a virtue variously called ‘natural talent’ or ‘genius’ and something in the art of reproduction confers it on some children and not on others, which makes them excel better than others. Whilst I cannot attest to the truthfulness of this claim in other disciplines, I know it is non-existent in law. I can attest to the fact that I was born with no knowledge of commercial law, civil litigation, or competition law: knowledge of the law resides in the pages of books. I thus believe, as did Justice Melville Fuller of the US Supreme Court, that “the world furnishes many examples of the superiority of the truly earnest and laborious mind over the merely intellectual.” Academic excellence therefore does not reside in in-born gifts but in unrepentant effort. Irrespective of your circumstances, I urge you to set the goal, raise the bar, and pursue. Dreams are neither too big nor goals too high, but minds are either too small to conceive them or arms too short to achieve them. Yes, you can!

Culled from Bellanaija