OAU Dean Urges FG To Review Privatization Programme

The Dean of the Faculty of Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Taiwo Asaolu, has told the Federal Government to re-examine its privatization programme for the process to achieve set goals.

Asaolu, a professor of Management and Accounting gave the advice while delivering an inaugural lecture on Tuesday, last week themed; "Privatization in Nigeria: Regulation, Deregulation, Corruption and the Way Forward".

The don said that the implementation of privatization in Nigeria had encountered difficulties, due to a lack of due process and policy inconsistency.

He said that assets of some privatized enterprises were deliberately under-valued and that the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) did not play the role set by the council and the extent laws.

"For instance, the privatization of the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria built at the cost of 3.3 billion dollars but was transferred to Rusal, a Russian company at the cost of 250 million dollars.

"Only 130 million dollars of the said 250 million dollars has been paid leaving a balance of 120 million dollars.


"The BPE failed to exercise their oversight role on the privatization process while the anti-corruption agencies blatantly refused to prosecute violators of the law,’’ Asaolu said.

The professor cited Ajaokuta Steel Company, Volkswagen of Nigeria, Daily Times of Nigeria, Delta Steel Company of Nigeria as some of the companies sold at less than their value.

Asaolu said that for any national privatization exercise to be credible and honest it must be backed by appropriate technical valuation methodologies in order not to be regarded as dubious and questionable.

The don said that one of the advantages of privatization was that it created job opportunities for the citizenry of the country but if not well manage it could lead to high rate of unemployment.

"Government has a role to play in providing strong and competent regulation, check corruption and non-accountability of the BPE.

"There have been allegations that portrayed the BPE as being wasteful and deficient in transparency and accountability.

"In 2007, for instance, it allegedly spent a whopping N56.1bilion out of N117.22billion it realized from a sale of public enterprises that year.

"The BPE compromised on due process in the sale of public enterprises.

"This clearly shows that something has gone wrong with the privatization policy of the Federal Government which must be urgently reviewed,’’ Asaolu said.

Credit: Pulse.ng

SU Elections: “I Have Not Endorsed Any Candidate” – TY

By David Adetula

The Students’ Union President of Obafemi Awolowo University, Omotayo Akande a.k.a TY has thrown to the bin the speculations pervading some corners that he has anointed and endorsed some certain persons to vie for offices in the Students’ Union elections coming up later this semester.

In recent times, especially during the periods after the Harmattan semester examinations, some students who obviously wish to involve in the Students’ Union leadership have started their underground campaigns as they move from one room to another to seek support. Some of them in the course of convincing their electorates, they have stated that they have the backing of some of the current Students’ Union heavyweights.

Addressing journalists yesterday at the end of the 2015 Campus Editors’ Summit that held at Pit Theatre of the institution, the SU president said he will not be surprised if anyone goes to the public and uses his name to garner political support especially before the protagonists of this administration but however insisted that he has not endorsed any candidate at this moment.

“For now, TY has no candidate and I won’t be surprised if people start going around and start saying I am the TY-endorsed candidates. You know it is politics, when some people know you are a friend to TY and they want to campaign to you, they will say TY is endorsing me and when they know you are the ‘enemy’ of TY, they will tell you TY is not endorsing me and condemn TY. It is normal.” TY said.


The Union President further stated that it is however too early to start playing politics as the current administration still has a lot to achieve even though it has achieved majority of what is stated in its manifestoes. He said there are lots of administrative assignments before the administration that is not making it prioritize the Students’ Union elections for now.

It will be recalled that the previous Students’ Union administration was at the centre of a serious controversy as it was alleged to have endorsed a particularly presidential candidate which some political commentators have even described as a major role player in the eventual loss suffered by the candidate. If the current academic calendar for the Rain semester is anything to go by, the SU elections that will usher in a new set of leaders of the Union is expected to come up between January and February, 2016.

Campus Journalists Across Nigeria Hold Summit In OAU

By David Adetula

Campus Journalists from various tertiary institutions across the Nigeria were gathered at Obafemi Awolowo University for a 2-day Campus Editors’ Summit (CES) which discussed the possibility of a common ground for politics and journalism in Nigeria.

The event which had several campus journalists including editors and reporters of different campus media outlets from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Ibadan (UI), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), University of Science and Statistics (USS) and other institutions in attendance started out with a Pre-Summit Conference and hang out at Best Friend Hotel in Ile-Ife where the aspiring professional journalists had the opportunity of meeting one another and exchanging contacts in preparation for the later which held on Saturday, October 31st at the Pit Theatre of the institution.

Guest Speakers at the event included Mr Richard Mammah, the Editor-in-Chief of the Pan-African Newspaper and Mr Tunde Dairo, the media aide to Senator Babajide Omoworare and also a former Public Relations Officer of the OAU Students’ Union. The speakers in their different speeches acknowledged the important role being played by journalism to the social development and sharpening of the society which is directly governed by politicians.

Richard Mammah in his lecture delivery rode on the horse of history down to the periods of colonial era when the media was a strong tool used by the prominent Nigerians and activists then to agitate for a politically-free state of Nigeria which yielded. He however did not give a yes or no answer if journalism and politics should tangle.

“Friends, colleagues, can the media be separate from the politics of the era? Again I say yes and no. As a variable part of that society and culture, it is an integral part of, it is automatically embedded, but as a profession and vocation that is beholden to objectively chronicling, dissecting and critiquing the same social, political and cultural currents of the day, it is expected to rise above the fray, and in the manner of Caeser’s wife, come to equity with clean hands.

“Thus, while the media cannot be just distant and aloof, it also cannot be abrasively partisan. It is a vocation of good sense, integrity and forthrightness; and the moderator for it when it then decides to jump into the arena is then to ensure that it is absolutely beholden to serving the larger interests of the greater good of the greater numbers of the people of the South West and Nigeria.” Mammah said.


Senator Omoworare’s aide who was represented by Mr Kingley Ogunne aka Osemele substantiated that though the morals of Journalism and Politics are not the same in this part of the world, nonetheless, they can never be two parallel lines.

“The morals of journalism are not the morals of politics in this part of the world. Some politician are not absolutely truthful in their action, when a journalist make any report in error, admittance and correction with a corrigendum may not be a difficult measure to adopt but a politician may find it absolutely difficult to do same.

“When you criticise management or student leadership for any ill or wrong, it is not just for the fun of it but to force them to effect change or the entire system is changed. Is this not a political result?

“Ideal politics and practice of ideal journalism are of no serious deference, while one is service to the people, the other is a social barometer to gauge and monitor societal developments. Will it not the be save to conclude that it is best to bring the virtues, morals and standard of journalistic practice on board our political engagements if we intend to rectify the ill?

“Politics and journalism can never be two parallel lines, they can never do without meeting, and they are not separable in the real sense of it.” Tunde Dairo submitted.

The 2015 edition is the maiden edition of the Campus Editors’ Summit and first of its kind in the Nigerian tertiary education sphere. The summit was hosted by Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University.

ASUU Shifts Ground, Lectures To Commence November 2

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Obafemi Awolowo University chapter has shifted grounds on their members’ commencement of lecturing as lectures will begin on Monday, November 2.

Confirming the development, the Students’ Union officers on separate channels have said they have received an indication from the teaching staff that they are considering starting lectures on Monday.

The Students’ Union has however restated her position that the welfare of the students particularly as regards the renovation of the hostels should be a prior consideration by the university management before talking about resumption. The Union appreciates the Management for yielding to the quest for fumigation of the halls against bed bug infestation but however said fumigation is just one of the two basic demands of the Union.


Some departments have also pasted their time-tables while some other are expected to do so on Monday. Power supply within the University community has been epileptic for some days as water supplies remain stable.

JAMB Modifies 2016 Registration Process

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board JAMB has said that it has made some modifications on the 2016/2017 registration as it concerns selection of institutions by candidates.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the board, Dr Fabian Benjamin, the board has made provision for “preferred choice” to give candidates ample opportunity of gaining admission.

In his words, “What we did initially was that you only have one choice. Now, we have made it in such a way that if you miss the University of Lagos; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaira, you will have an opportunity of going to another school.


Before, all universities will be in first and second choice and that will not solve any problem. We have now decided to put a few of those schools we feel will have more spaces as more preferred.

Institutions placed on the more preferred choice are those that are mostly not oversubscribed. This is because it will not make any sense if you place institutions like the ABU, UNILAG, OAU and UNN, when in actual sense they cannot even admit one third of the candidates that will choose them as most preferred.”

We therefore advise candidates to ensure they visit accredited registration centres for registration where they will be properly guided on this new option and ask questions if the need clarification.

CES 2015: OAU Set To Host Over 10 Universities On October 31

Obafemi Awolowo University will be hosting over ten other Nigerian universities as the maiden edition of Campus Editors' Summit holds.

The first ever Campus Editors' Summit (CES) will hold on October 31st 2015 by 10am at Pit Theatre under the aegis of the Guild of Editors, Association of Campus Journalists, OAU.


The Guild of Editors consists of all editors of news agencies on OAU campus. The summit is aimed at training and developing objective editors who will assert the strength of the pen without fear, favour or bias. The training is open to all students even as the theme encompasses a broad topic 'Journalism & Politics; a two parallel lines?'.

The Group Managing Director of Daily Times, Richard Mammah among many other notable personalities in the world of journalism and politics will be present in the program. Prior to this time, the ACJ OAU has held several press conferences in other universities to acquaint them with what CES 2015 entails. Schools visited include University of Ibadan (UI), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Ladoke Akintola University of Science and Technology (LAUTECH), Oduduwa University (OUI) and others.

Report: Nigeria U17 6-0 Australia U17

Nigeria reached the Fifa U17 World Cup quarter finals after annihiliating Australia 6-0 in their second round game in Vina Del Mar on Thursday morning.

Complete with the presence of Funsho Bamgboye and Udochukwu Anumudu who missed out of the Golden Eaglets' last group game owing to cards suspension, the Joeys were torn apart by the ruthless Nigerians at the Estadio Sausalito.

Victor Osimhen bagged a hat trick and is now the outright leading scorer in the competition with seven goals from four games as Emmanuel Amuneke’s lads scored twice in the first half, then added four in the second half to set up a last four encounter against Brazil in Vina Del Mar on Sunday.

Osimhen set the ball rolling with his fifth of the tournament in the 22nd minute by bursting forward with pace and power on the left, before turning his defender and sliding the ball past goalkeeper Duro Dragicevic.

Australia had no answer to Nigeria’s passing and movement as Kelechi Nwakali scored the second from the penalty spot four minutes later after Bamgboye was brought down in the box recklessly by two onrushing defenders.


However, Cameron Joice almost pulled a goal back for the Joeys, but failed to convert on a miserable night for the Australians.

In the second half, the Auusies looked incoherent as they gave the ball away far too easily, while Nigeria were playing with a swagger and got their third through Osimhen in the 73rd minute as he pounced on a cross which Dragicevic had failed to clear.

The lanky 16-year-old striker completed his hat trick six minutes later when he pushed aside the Aussie defender and shot into the roof of the net past the hapless goalkeeper.

Tony Vidmar’s lads were stunned, but far worse was to come as the Eaglets capitalized on more shambolic defending to score two more goals before the end of the game.

First, substitute Essien was on hand to head home from close range before Chukwueze’s missile completed the rout against the side who came into the game with the ambition of breaking their jinx against the defending champions.

Nigeria were a class apart and the Aussie fans sportingly applauded as they became the first team to score six goals in a Fifa U17 World Cup knock out phase as they attempt to win the trophy for the fifth time.

The Golden Eaglets, who have now scored 14 goals, have set up a date with Brazil in the quarter finals on Sunday.

Source: Goal.com